My Favorite Things to Do at Epcot

Hello!

Wednesday I talked about

Spaceship Earth- Probably the most iconic ride, Spaceship Earth is located at the front of the park which makes it the easiest to ride as soon as you enter. It’s slow, air conditioned and methodical, showcasing the ever evolving world of technology through animatronics and dim lighting. This is always the first ride I go on upon entering the park!
Living with the Land- This ride is peaceful and very educational; it takes you through The Land’s home grown fruits, vegetables and fisheries as the rider learns the importance of taking care of and properly using the Earth. This ride is a always a must when you want to take a break from the heat (though wait times may be super long).
Teppan Edo- This restaurant is a MUST GO TO for anyone looking for food at Epcot. Despite all of the choices at the World Showcase, this Hibachi house has many different options for food and has decent pricing despite the fact that there is a show along with your meal. There is never a dull moment here, as my family was sat with another the few times we’ve gone and we left with new friends!
IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth- These are the evening fireworks and fountain work that lasts about 15-16 minutes. The music and lighting effects are gorgeous, bu you need to show up at least a half an hour early to find a good seat. The good news is, while I was on the Boardwalk with my family, we still saw most of the fireworks!
Frozen Ever After- Once known as Maelstrom, the Frozen Ever After ride is located in the Norway Pavilion. After its refurbishment Elsa and Anna took the place of the old theme and while it’s still the same layout, it’s new and popular characters cause this ride to have mega long wait times almost all day.
Mexico Folk Art Gallery- It’s always worthwhile to walk through the Mexico Folk Art Gallery upon entering the Mexico Pavilion. There they display art and cultural information regarding Dia de los Muertos (now inspired by the movie Coco). Walking around this small gallery is a pleasure, as there are so many small and unique details- I just wish there was more to view!
Eating at the Land- The Land is a great, specifically the Sunshine Seasons Food Court. There’s tons to select from, and with the atmosphere and plenty of seating. To top it all of off, the food has a decent price compared to other restaurants in Epcot without requiring a reservation.

Disney Ornament Haul and Review 11/14/18

Hi Disney Lovers!

It’s a slightly small haul this time around due to recently purchasing my first property, but it’s still a haul! With Christmas only a month away, the stores are beginning to sell ornaments for trees. I enjoy decorating my trees and have two (the large one in my living room and a slightly smaller one in the bedroom) trees to decorate with one being Disney themed.

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Woody is sold through Hallmark and was picked up at Walmart for $5.97. Overall he is well made and looks true to character- he isn’t too weighted where the tree’s limb bends under the weight which is nice, but the ribbon to hang him up is a little long so he sits on top of the branch. A really nice addition to my growing collection as I really am loving the pose he is in as well! It adds character to him.

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This Elsa is another ornament sold through Hallmark that I had gotten at Walmart for $5.97. This is a pretty ornament that is decently made. The only issues is the paint on the face can be a little iffy and I had to look through multiple ornaments before picking the one I own, and the fact that she is very bottom heavy and pulls the branches down. Other than that I’m super excited with adding her to my ornaments and actually prefer this one over the Olaf’s Frozen Adventure Elsa ornament, whose paint job is much more lackluster.

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This pair of vintage winter Mickey and Minnie ornaments were purchased at CVS for $5.95, each sold separately. I love the earlier styles of Mickey and Minnie and didn’t really have any complaints with either ornament; both are well made and have decent weight but not enough to weigh them down. I’m so glad I scooped them up when I saw them last week because I returned to the store yesterday there weren’t any left!

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These Mickey ornaments were found at the Disney Store in the Tanger Outlet in Hershey, PA. These were purchased over the summer but I had waited to post them until I had more to show. Each ornament in this series has a Disney princess style on them (example is Tiana has a green ornament with lily pads on it). Each set came in a pack of eight for $24.99 but since they were at the outlet and it being the Christmas in July sale, I got 2 packs for $12.99 each which basically is two for the price of one. They are glass with glitter and well made, but they are smaller than a basic glass ornament which can be a cute touch without being overbearing. I’m happy I found them and hope to see if I can find more next time I’m in the area.

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Disney Sketchbook Mini Ornaments are fantastic for trees that are on the smaller size. They are about 3 inches in length each and are simple in design. I picked up the Winnie the Pooh ornaments on the Shop Disney website for $29.99, and while typing this out and being unable to locate them on the store site (meaning they may be sold out), Amazon sells them for $28.95. I highly recommend adding these to your tree for a small and simple touch.

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While wrapped and in it’s box, I bought the Babies First Winnie the Pooh Ornament (2018) for my nephew who will be celebrating his first Christmas (looked at it before wrapping). This ornament is a lead free metal that is well detailed down to the little quilt and honey wand rattle. I picked this up at CVS for $12.99, but if you’re at the Hallmark store you can grab it for $19.99. This is a great ornament to get for the new addition to the family, and I am excited to give it to my sister for him.

20181113_214340 Shout out to a purchase I made last year and kept safe until this year. I bought this Limited Edition Keepsake Santa’s Little Helper Pluto for $19.99. While a little hefty in size, this ornament is beautifully crafted with small velvet antlers and fuzzy wreath with hidden Mickey bulbs. By far this is my favorite ornament to date. Since it was Limited Edition it is no longer for sale at Hallmark’s stores but you can purchase it on Ebay for nearly the same price!

That’s it for my ornament haul this time. I hope you enjoyed it and let me know if you found any nice Disney ornaments I can add to my collection!

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Let’s Talk About Epcot!

Ah Epcot, the “edutainment” park of Disney. Out of all of the parks we visit this is the park my parents love the most (and it’s my second favorite as well). Since it’s grand opening in 1982, Epcot has had many changes but still to this day shows the innovation and integrity that Walt had planned before his death in 1966.

Ranking number twelve for the most visited theme park in the world as of last year, Epcot is revered for its cultural diversity within the World Showcase, fantastic food and it’s scientific aspects shown through Future World. There’s some pretty fun rides located at Epcot as well as more food selections than you could ever imagine, so there is something for everyone!

Park Areas

In Future World’s section, you can explore the scientific and the technological side of our world while keeping it entertaining for all ages. In this section of Epcot you get to seek out thrills on exciting rides like Soarin’ and the Test Track, or learn about how Epcot grows their own food at The Land.

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The World Showcase hosts 11 pavilions where you can shop, eat and explore the many cultures that reside there. You can try different foods and browse shops from countries like USA, Italy, Japan, Morocco, UK, France, Canada, Mexico, Norway, China and Germany. In several countries there are also rides and shows to attend, so you can’t plan spending only a few days at the park and think everything will be done!

What’s great is that Epcot celebrates several annual events throughout the year, which I’ll go over as well.

Annual Events

International Flower and Garden Festival- Disney plants special floral displays and topiary sculptures of Disney characters. They even host beekeepers there as well with honey samples to enjoy, and fellow gardners who can give helpful tips and tricks to boost your plant productivity.

Food & Wine Festival- Celebrate culture by sampling several wines and food from countries all over the world, even ones not a part of the Showcase. Being one of Epcot’s more popular, it also hosts seminars and live music for you to enjoy.

International Festival of the Arts- Brand new to the scene as of 2017, this festival celebrates the three arts: cooking, art and music. If Broadway and Showcase choirs aren’t your things, there’s also professional workshops, visual art galleries and food tastings.

Holidays Around the World- Christmas has never been more magical than at Epcot. With Candlelit Professionals, extended firework shows and storytellers who depict each cultures holiday traditions, this bustling time of year is one to visit at least once in your life.

No matter when you pick to go to Epcot, I always say to plan for at least a week; there is so much to do, tons of different foods to eat and great places to shop! Every time I go, I do have favorites but enjoy spreading my wings and trying new things- Epcot is the perfect place to do so!

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2018 Disney Stocking Stuffers

So I know that Christmas is still 2 months away, however I find that beginning to shop earlier is easier than rushing before the Holidays- I mean seriously I start shopping in July! If you have a Disney fan in your life and are looking for stocking stuffer ideas, look no further. I have 10 stocking stuffer suggestions (along with links) to help get you started out right for the holidays. Please understand these are merely suggestions and I am not being paid to advertise, I just love Disney and their products.

1.Tiny Big Feet Plush Pal

The Big feet plushes are a recent addition to the stuffed animal line where your favorite characters are given larger feet. While they are pretty cute, if you want smaller and more portable friends for your child (or plush collector), look no further than the Tiny Big Feet Pals! Each one is about 3 inches tall, squeezable and really well made. To make it even better, each plush is only $5.95 each and comes in an assortment of characters.

Price: $5.95

Link: https://www.shopdisney.com/disney-tiny-big-feet-plush-collection-1489597

2. Adult Disney and Pixar Holiday Socks

Many people -including myself- usually make a certain face when receiving socks for Christmas (I own over 50 pairs of socks and don’t need more). That gets turned on its head when the socks you’re giving are Disney or Pixar themed socks! There are tons of choices to choose from, and each comes packaged in an ornament. They come in either XS/S or M/L and have a snug fit to them.

Price: $9.95

Link (for Disney themed): https://www.shopdisney.com/disney-holiday-socks-in-ornaments-collection-for-adults-1489295

Link (for Pixar themed): https://www.shopdisney.com/pixar-holiday-socks-in-ornaments-collection-for-adults-1489294

3. Lumiere Light Up Figurine Ornament

While Disney offers many wonderful ornaments for your holiday tree, the Lumiere ornament stands above the rest! 5 inches in height, this well made ornament looks like he just danced out of the movie. He even has his flames light up with a nice flicker effect to add a bit of flair.

Price: $24.99

Link: https://www.shopdisney.com/lumiere-light-up-figural-ornament-beauty-and-the-beast-1399770?request_type=mlt&gre_rt=ChM3NDM1MjQ0NDIzMTAxMjIxMjE0EAIaAklWIg1kZWZhdWx0X21vZGVsKAA

4. Disney Eeyore Womens Fleece Pants

If you have a special girl in your life who needs warm winter sleeping pants, these pants are the best ones! Originally sold at Wal-Mart, these are officially licensed, comfortable to wear and perfect for a comfortable movie night.

Price: $19-$30 depending on size

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Disney-Eeyore-Womens-License-Pajama/dp/B0771TZJGL/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1538765615&sr=8-1&keywords=eeyore+fleece+pants

5. Mickey and Minnie Glass Sketchbook Ornament

This ornament is the perfect gift for a special person in your life. Whether it is for a family member, spouse or significant other, this glass ornament is well crafted and since it isn’t Christmas themed it can be hung out all year round.

Price: $16.95

Link: https://www.shopdisney.com/mickey-and-minnie-mouse-glass-globe-sketchbook-ornament-1479186

6. Star Wars: The Last Jedi Pin Trading Starter Set

If someone you know is going to Disney this year or is looking to begin pin trading and is a Star Wars fan, this is the perfect thing for them! With flashy colors of red and black and four starter pins, your friend or family member is going to have a blast running around trading pins with this lanyard!

Price: $29.99

Link: https://www.shopdisney.com/star-wars-the-last-jedi-pin-trading-starter-set-1448103

7. K-2SO Action Figure

You don’t have to be a child to enjoy owning an action figure, and this one is no exception. Being a fan favorite character from Star Wars: Rogue One, this action figure looks amazing and holds together well during play or being displayed.

Price: $22.95

Link: https://www.shopdisney.com/k-2so-action-figure-star-wars-20-1440072

8. Tsum Tsum Leia Lip Smacker

While all of the Lip Smacker brand has been great, the smell and flavor of Leia- Cinnamon Buns are a great gift for anyone looking to keep their lips smooth during the winter months. While the amount of product isn’t too big, you can always keep the figure afterwards!

Price: $4.95

Link: http://www.lipsmacker.com/shop-by-form/tsum-tsum/tsum-tsum-princess-leia-cinnamon-buns.html

9. Pixar’s Coco Dvd

A fantastic movie recently released theatrically in 2017, Coco is a film that anyone who loves Disney would be excited to own. It comes in normal format, 4K Ultra or Combo; it’s rated PG.

Price: $22.95

Link (can be purchased at Wal-Mart, Amazon, Target or Disney): https://www.shopdisney.com/coco-dvd-1468004

10. Marvel Studios Legacy Ornament- Limited Release

For your Marvel fan, my last favorite pick is this Legacy Ornament. Not only is it limited release which makes it a fantastic collectors item but it is also a nice ornament which can be hung any time of the year in an office or den, showing off your favorite superheroes. Get it while it’s still there!

Price: $19.95

Link: https://www.shopdisney.com/marvel-studios-legacy-sketchbook-ornament-limited-release-1481295

The Incredible Sequel

It has been fourteen years since the groundbreaking superhero movie The Incredibles came out. Fans of the movie (like myself) had longed for a sequel but were fearful at the same time- after all, Disney sequels are a thing of Russian Roulette. Sometimes it’s a hit with a broad audience and sometimes….we never want to talk about it. How does The Incredibles 2 stand compared to its predecessor?

**Spoilers ahead**

The Incredibles 2 takes place immediately after the ending of the first ending when the Underminer attacks the city. After leaving the city in ruins and has the relocation division for superheroes shut down by the Government. When DevTech siblings Winston and Evelyn take on Elastigirl to try to return Supers to be once again loved by the public, Bob aka Mr. Incredible takes up the role of being the stay at home parent to Violet, Dash and Jack-Jack. In the midst of all of this happening, a mysterious villain called the Screenslaver arrives, calling for Elastigirl to jump into action.

This movie is breathtaking, almost literally. The animation has greatly improved since the original (which was still amazing so this says something), and the comedy is woven so seamlessly that it’s unexpected but welcomed.

While each character stood out in their own right, it needs to be said that Jack-Jack stole every single scene he was in. Unlike the first movie, he actually plays a decent part in the movie as he tests out each of his numerous powers. Pair him up with Edna and it made the best scene in the movie next to the raccoon fight scene. Violet seems to have a slight mental breakdown which seems out of character and definitely doesn’t help Bob during his struggles to hold down the fort, but I guess it’s understandable, especially when you have nose water shooting out like a hose when you go to a restaurant your date turned mind wiped class mate works. Fun right?

The voice actors for each character gave so much depth and emotion, specifically Elastigirl. Holly Hunter reprises her role and definitely does an outstanding job in delivering a vulnerable strength to Elastigirl as she returns to the superhero scene. Bobs voice actor does just as well displaying the overall fatigue of being an at home parent who is struggling to find his mojo while helping his children. It’s amazing how raw and real it is!

With the soundtrack, I don’t need to say much more than it’s all catchy and all downloaded on my Spotify list. It has a jazz and spy blend that makes you enjoy listening to it, especially when the trumpets and horns blair during the “Train of Taut” . I strongly urge you to listen to the soundtrack, you won’t be disappointed.

Despite this movies phenomenal voice acting, animation and soundtrack, this movie isn’t without flaws. It by no means is the masterpiece that was the first Incredibles movie, but still manages to stand on its own; however there are two big issues (not including the epilepsy issues it posed) that kind of took away from the movies full potential: the villain being the smaller scale issue and the mix mash of themes being the ever so larger.

Screenslaver was an amazing villain design, very dark and menacing and caused some serious terror with a decent view on how perception changes reality. Cool, awesome I like that. What I don’t like is how almost right away we can guess who the Screenslaver really is…and she is a bit underwhelming compared to Buddy from the first film. Granted this is only a small flaw in the film as the philosophy on the effects of technology and perception is actually pretty good, however this leads to the larger issue.

You don’t talk, you watch talk shows.

The biggest flaw this film has is jumping around on themes and not really sticking to a particular one. It has several themes like perception vs reality, public relations, social injustice of a single group, overuse of technology in daily lives as well as learning about the struggles of being an at home parent, the film juggles each theme so much that they get lost in translation and are never fully resolved. A great example is seeing Bob finally realize that sometimes being a hero is being the best father you can be as he gains understanding on how to care for the kids. We never see anything after the final fight with Evelyn, so what- does he just stop being an at home dad and return to work? Does he decide to continue staying home? Tell us movie! Sticking to one theme, or at least tying them up instead of leaving them adrift would have made for a much more compelling film.

In the end we have a great movie; it could have been better had the creators chosen and fleshed out one theme and made a villain with the same ferocity as Syndrome. Despite the flaws and while it is nowhere near the brilliance of the first film, The Incredibles 2 was still an incredible summer movie, don’t get me wrong! I adore this movie and it was still worth the wait- I can’t wait to buy it when it comes out on DVD.

Movie Score

Lessons: 6.5/10

Story Telling: 7/10

Acting: 9/10

Animation: 9/10

Overall Score: B

Shoutout to my friend Mia for the title name and idea for the article!

The New Perspective: Big Hero 6

I have to say, I wasn’t too big into this movie when it was first released in November 2014. Being the first animated movie released with Marvel heroes, Big Hero 6 takes a refreshing take on superheroes that can rival The Incredibles. While it was a highly successful film upon release, it didn’t gel with me like other Disney films; I’m sure it was because it was different than the Disney films I was used to seeing. I had no desire to watch the movie more than once- that is until I saw the TV show Big Hero 6 on Disney Channel XD a month ago, and it prompted another look. I can honestly say I have never been more glad to have given a movie a second chance, as the second viewing and on brought new waves of emotion to me that I lacked watching it four years ago.

*Spoiler warning*

Big Hero 6 follows Hiro Hamada, a troubled 14 year old genius who desires to join his brother Tadashi in San Fransokyo Institute of Technology to further his talents. After losing his brother in an accident, Hiro bonds with Baymax the personal healthcare companion created by Tadashi. Upon finding his science project stolen after the same fire that killed his brother, Hiro learns to lean on his new friends and discover his true potential while saving the day from a villain threatening the town.

Despite Big Hero 6 being a comedy, there are some seriously heavy themes that deal with stages of grief after a tragic death, self discovery and revenge. Both Hiro and the villain have lost someone close to them, all of the stages of grief are gone over in this film and done beautifully. We see how the anger and sadness over losing a loved one twists Callaghan to the point of destroying a town and murder, as we find out he stole the microbots and saved himself leaving Tadashi to die. In this one instance we see Hiro angered to the point where he orders Baymax to kill him, but is subdued by his friends. With anger being one of the staple grief stages, it often blinds rationality. The difference between Callaghan and Hiro was their support system during their time of grief. Hiro had Aunt Cass, Wasabi, Honey Lemon, Go Go, Fred and Baymax to cope while (at least not seeing anyone in the movie) Callaghan had none. Had Hiro not had any friends to fall back to, he may have very well killed him.

So what does BH6 teach us?

I thought about this movie and how it addresses the five stages of grief: denial and isolation, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. I dealt with it myself after recently losing my uncle to liver disease, which was what originally drew me to this movie after avoiding it for four years. What this movie does brilliantly is show its viewers how each person handles grief and loss differently; not everyone follows the stages to the tee or even in the order it’s listed. Some may not even go through every stage- it is a personal experience that varies. For Hiro, we see the struggles of depression, isolation, anger and acceptance- and he goes through some of these multiple times in the movie as he loses Baymax after the final fight. Disney has delicately sewn this theme into a superhero movie made for kids, and has done so well with it that can actually benefit kids in learning about death without going too far.

Long story short, this movie had started off as a one and done watch for me as I originally wasn’t too interested in its premise. Growing up -even as an adult- your tastes change over time. I have grown to love this movie and what it brings to the table in life lessons. We all experience death at some point in life and as much as we try to prepare for it, you really can’t. You don’t know how you handle it, or how it feels until you go through it. But like Hiro, if you have a good group of friends and family to help and understand you as well as try to push forward and live your life in your loved ones memory for the better, then it is worth all the love they had given you. I recommend this movie to anyone and am so happy I took time to rewatch it.

Movie Score

Lessons: 8.5/10

Story Telling: 8/10

Acting: 9/10

Animation: 8.5/10

Overall Score: A-

Top 10 Animated Disney Villains

It’s that time of year again, and while I have yet to experience the Not So Scary Halloween party, I would love to celebrate the start of October with my favorite villains. In order to be on my list, these bad guys must have gone toe to toe with the protagonist they were in a tv show or movie with (sorry Chernabog dear!) and have a prominent role in said show/movie. It is also open to include Pixar, as Disney owns it as well.

Please note that this is my opinion, and if you disagree feel free to post a comment. I love quite a few of the villains and while some may not have made my list, it doesn’t mean I don’t think they stand out in the err….worst way!

**Spoilers ahead**

10. Dr. Facilier

Disney did a fantastic job in designing and choosing a voice actor for Dr. Facilier. Also known as the Shadow Man, Dr. Facilier practices dark magic to “help” people as he plots to take over New Orleans. Not only do I like him, but he has developed immense popularity among Disney fans, leading him to become a member of the Villains franchise sold at Disney World. I put him lower on the list because aside from chasing after Prince Naveen and desiring his wealth, I never really felt like he had much weight as a villain.

9. The Evil Queen

A prominent member of the Disney Villains franchise, I’m actually not all that into the Evil Queen. The reason she makes this list is to simply put: she’s insane. She poisons someone just because they are considered fairer than her, and is also calculating enough to disguise herself to do so. To add onto her insanity, one of the most frightening aspects of the movie is her transformation into the witch form- and is one of the reasons I avoided watching Snow White as a child. Her breaking the fourth wall and showing outwardly a more sadistic side earns her the number 9 spot.

8. Gaston

No one is as conceited as Gaston! This handsome walking meme is yet another popular Disney villain who earns his place in our hearts because he is superficially handsome but ugly underneath. He is so well liked in his town that he turns the entire townsfolk into a mob against someone they’ve never met because he looks like a monster. He fixed his spot on the list specifically for his ability to sway a crowd, and stabbing the beast- but at least he gives us a long running gag!

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No one flexes like Gaston!

7. Maleficient

The Mistress of Evil herself graces this list; being an incarnation of evil and misfortune, she curses a baby for not being invited to her christening. A baby. Her elegant, sleek design and use of dark colors screams, “Evil” and is most likely the most recognized villain in Disneys arsenal. Her transformation into a dragon is what cemements her into my list; the fight scene between her and Prince Philip were amazing and I remember as a kid, gripping my couch in fear as they duked it out. I’d place her up higher on the list, but there are villains that stand out a lot more than she does!

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6. Cruella De Vil

Cruella is just plain crazy, I’m not going to lie. Anyone who wants to make a coat out of dogs and then chases down a truck full of them in an insane rage deserves to be in an institution and never released, just like the song says!

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5. Ernesto De La Cruz

Sometimes the scariest Disney villains are regular people who harm others for their own gain. After killing his friend and stealing his music for personal gain, Ernesto rose to fame and destroyed an entire families bond with no remorse. The first Disney villain to have actually killed someone with poison, what is frightening with a villain like Ernesto is that he doesn’t outright scream, “Hey I’m a villain!”. We are told he is a popular and amazing musician, never once shown his sinister side until Hector’s confrontation in the last part of the film.

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4. Judge Claude Frollo

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is one of Disney’s underrated films due to its darker tones. Frollo is one of the darker antagonists as his story is laced with lust and mass genocide against Gypsies and anyone who helps them. What makes Frollo a frightening villain is the fact that he is justified by God to commit these acts as well as a good person.

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Choose me, or the flame.

3. Scar

One of my favorite Disney villains due to aesthetics, Scar is known for the thirst for power and hatred that drove him to kill his own brother Mufasa and attempted murder of Simba. Scar is also best remembered as the villain who created the saddest Disney death of all time. If anyone is ever asked the saddest death in Disney I can guarantee it’s Mufasa’s death that will be given most of all; not only that but he has the best music number….not that it changes anything.

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2. Horned King

One of the most frightening villains in my childhood, the Horned King is the literal stuff of a child’s nightmare. He is one of the villains that is the most serious and darkest characters, with nothing much known about him except that he wanted the Cauldron to resurrect an undead army. He secures the number two spot just for being the most disturbing Disney villain released even to this day.

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He is U-G-L-Y

1. Syndrome

No villain has ever been as frightening as Syndrome. Scorned at his hero rejecting him, the once happy Buddy descended into madness and created weapons to use against heroes, killing many. A technical genius and a sociopath, Syndrome believed if he could sell his super hero tech to families everywhere that then no one would be super. This villain tops the list because he is almost the epitome of what makes a villain great to watch.

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Let’s Review: Mickey’s Anniversary Oreo

With Mickey’s birthday inching closer, Disney has been helping release new and fun things to celebrate. From Goldfish Mickey themed snacks to Disney’s Mickey Mouse Memories, this year has certainly celebrated in many ways both big and small. One of my favorite and much looked forward to releases is the Birthday cake Oreos that were dropped September 24th.

I’ve heard the cookie and creme are the same as the original birthday cake, which is cool and I had never gotten a chance to try that flavor. The packaging is very clean and easy on the eyes, trading the usual blue packaging for a white body covered in sprinkles (with Mickey on the front of course).

As soon as you open the packaging the smell hits you. This is one of the strongest smelling Oreos I have ever had, and trust me I have eaten many Oreos in my lifetime (huge fan). It smells SUPER sweet, almost as if daring you to try to eat it. The scent resembles that of a buttercream frosting straight out of the Pillsbury Dough boy brand if I had to compare it to anything. Each cookie has one of three designs (a 90, Mickey’s face or a party horn) and share the creme filled center with some colorful confetti shots.

Let’s talk about the taste. While the smell of the cookie can give you a toothache, it’s actually not as sweet as you’d think. The bitterness of the chocolate cookie perfectly offsets the creme center and legitimately tastes like a cake. This cookie is the closest thing to an Oreo resembling cake!

Overall it’s a pleasant change. While the smell may be sickeningly sweet, don’t be fooled. This cookie is a fun addition to add to your pantry and the serving size of 2 is all the sweet you’ll need. Happy birthday Mickey!

The Best of my Youth: The Proud Family

In the years I spent as a child watching cartoons on Disney, no show had ever broken barriers on race or stood out as a regular family animated sitcom better than The Proud Family. The Proud Family is an animated cartoon show that debuted in 2001 on the Disney channel. It was created by Bruce W. Smith and was nominated (and won) for multiple awards over the years, mostly for ‘Outstanding Performance in a Children’s Series’. To this day, this show is revered for it’s take on topics most TV shows would be nervous to air in today’s day and age.

The show follows Penny Proud, a young African American middle schooler, her family and friends during day to day life. Penny is a perfect mix of respectful and kind with the bratty ups and downs most middle schoolers experience. While she is the main character we follow in each episode, there are enough unique and spunky characters she bounces off of that it makes each one a joy to watch. The best thing about it is each character is relatable in some way, shape or form that makes you think, yeah I’ve experienced this to.

This show dared to touch upon subjects that most show nowadays would never show in fear of backlash. In episodes like Culture Shock, Seven Days of Kwanzaa and I Had A Dream, Penny deals with learning about and accepting her heritage as well as learning about others- including Black History Month. I episodes like The Altos, we learn about bullying and what a child deals with while their parents divorce through Sticky’s eyes. Nowadays tv shows are too scared of backlash to air things like these, heck Disney hardly shows anything remotely similar to it- but these are proof that children can handle and learn from shows the right way. It’s all about respect taught at a young age and being open to watch them.

TV shows of today need to bring a little more substance to them similar to how The Proud Family ran. It not only opens up the demographics of who watches them, but it also teaches youth without throwing it into their face blatantly. I know the show is also not perfect, as it does play to stereotypes mostly for comedy. Would shows like this help turn around today’s world? I can’t answer that, but at least our children would learn about morals and have a bit of a laugh doing so!

Disney and my Dog

When growing up on Disney movies, you tend to want to live with the things and people you experience while watching it. With some it was Dalmatians, clown fish, super heroes or being a princess; for me it was owning my very own Lady from Disney’s Lady and the Tramp.

When I was in eighth grade my parents decided it was time to get me a dog so I could have a companion. They knew I had a love of Lady and while it was their first time buying a pet, they thought they knew enough about the breed. The same thing happened when I got my dog; she was supposed to be playful, active and healthy like Lady was, right?

Wrong.

I get that all Spaniels are different and while you may have had a Cocker Spaniel that was everything I described, that’s great. My dog Daisy is every bit as lovable as a Spaniel is supposed to be but she is riddled with health problems.

When a movie or TV show comes out that entices people with an animal (in this case a dog breed), the breeders sell dogs to people who are uneducated or who just run out and impulse buy based on these characters. It happened in 101 Dalmatian’s release and thousands of dogs wound up in the shelter after people realize how active and unlike the character the breed really was. While Lady and the Tramp didn’t cause a large influx in breed purchases like the Dalmatians did, they were still popular enough that breeders readily over bred these dogs and destroyed an already fragmented genetic dog.

Lady

Cocker Spaniels are prone to a number of genetic diseases. Genetic diseases are problems inherited from their parents being inappropriately bred. While many Cocker Spaniels live healthy lives, those wrongfully bred come with a slew of problems from eye diseases, Hepatitis, Hip Dysplasia to Hypothydroidism. My parents weren’t aware of this and purchased Daisy from a backyard breeder and gave her to me as a Christmas gift.

No one tells you how medically needy Cocker Spaniels can be. From the time Daisy was a puppy, she’s suffered from a dropped bladder, eye problems, separation anxiety, seborrhea and several allergies. Times have been tough and she can be expensive, but growing up with her was actually more beneficial for me then never owning her. I spent the years owning her, researching the breed and the health problems, trying to keep her active and learning how to properly care for her breed. In doing so, I actually don’t see myself owning anything but a Cocker Spaniel because the love they give (regardless of their health) makes them a valuable breed to own.

Disney did the best thing in the world for a kid like me at the time. The company brought me a joy I never could have imagined owning. While it did have drawbacks with many people who bought their dogs, for me I grew to appreciate the breed I own. I don’t regret falling in love with the breed and I could never imagine life without Daisy in my life.

So thank you Walt, for bringing me and my dog together.

Spot

daisy