“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…” What a great song and what a wonderful holiday. I love this time of year! For December’s DDL riddle I have a Disney Christmas movie question. In Mickey’s Christmas Carol, Scrooge McDuck plays Ebenezer Scrooge and Mickey Mouse plays Bob Cratchit. Which loveable Disney character stars as the ghost of Jacob Marley?
Photo Credit: Molly Beckley
Photo Courtesy : Root Photography
Amanda is another amazing friend that I met during my Disney wedding planning process. Her wedding was nothing short of fabulous. The ceremony was touching and intimate, the reception location was unique and all of her guests were treated to an unforgettable Disney experience. Amanda loved planning her Disney wedding. Her love for planning led her to becoming a travel expert for Mousketrips.com where she specializes in booking Disney vacation packages for wedding parties and guests of Disney weddings. Here are Amanda’s confessions of a Disney bride.
Photo Credit: Jeff Beckley
I can not imagine my world without Mickey Mouse. He has been a part of my life since the age of 3 when I first lay eyes on him while in Walt Disney World for the first time, and I am privileged to have been able to pass the love for this amazing pop culture icon down to my 2 little boys.
Mickey is a part of our every day lives in many ways. I must admit I have logged an awful lot of time on the telephone with Mr. Mouse. If my husband could take a look at my imaginary phone bill he would probably be alarmed that I might be being unfaithful to him with old Mickey! How many of you have said “If you don’t stop that right now, I am calling Mickey!” If you have never used this threat than you are a better Neurotic Disney Mom than I, because when my boys are getting a little out of hand I have been known to throw this statement out at them. If they don’t stop what ever naughtiness they are into at the mere mention of these words, then the phone gets picked up, some random numbers get punched, and I have a conversation with Mickey about how naughty children are not by any means allowed at his home. The conversation is always ended with “Yes Mickey, thank you, I will tell them what they have to do to redeem themselves.” My almost 5 year old looks so forward to his trips to Walt Disney World every summer, so whatever Mickey says, goes! If Mickey is not happy with his behavior then you better believe it is getting turned right around! At least for a couple minutes…
Copyright: Maria Hannon
Here’s a story of a lovely lady who was bringing up three very lovely girls (and one boy). All of them had spunk, like their mother, and went to Disney World. Here’s the story, of a man named Hannon who was busy with two kids of his own. They were three NDPs, living all together, but had they only known…
Imagine visiting the Magic Kingdom for the first time as a kindergartener. Imagine being fascinated by a topiary in the shape of an elephant. Imagine being nervous during a submarine voyage, being whisked in the air on a “Skyway,” or observing life-sized costume characters water ski while you passed by on a ferry boat. Our NDPs of the month didn’t imagine these moments; they lived them. They also didn’t imagine that all of that would one day play a critical part in them finding their future soulmate, but it did. Meet the Neurotic Disney People for this month, Brent and Maria Hannon (NDD#146 and NDM#130).
The characters of Winnie the Pooh have always been my favorite Disney characters. I remember watching the Winnie the Pooh animated series and the movies. I remember my parents reading the Winnie the Pooh stories to me at bedtime. I also recall these characters as some of my closest childhood friends. As I got older we grew more apart, but I always had a special place for them in my heart. I thought they had forgotten me, but after the experience I had at Disneyland a few weeks ago I realized that they are still very close to me.
People that know me know I have shopped for Disney items to place in my home. Of course I am a big Disney fan, but my love for Mickey Mouse is even bigger. I wanted to take the time to show how I’ve decorated my home office to reflect my love for “The Mouse.” I spend a great deal of time at my desk typing notes, making phone calls, or just getting ready for the next work day. I love the fact I can just look around and see my “collections” that remind me of Mickey Mouse and Walt Disney World.
I enjoy Disney shopping for things I can specially use in my home office as well as work. I have several Disney sticky pads, notebooks, and Kooky pens.
Copyright: E. Hughley
Quick, can you name your favorite Disney Character? I know that without a doubt and hesitation, mine is Mickey Mouse. This original, classic character started it all, and put the Disney Studios on the map. Mickey was followed up by some of the worlds most beloved and iconic cartoon characters ever to come from one studio. But can you name the oldest, continuing character in Disney history? Many fans remember that Walt’s earliest animations came about when he formed the Laugh-O-Gram Film Company in May of 1922. Here Walt and his fledging staff produced six fairy tale cartoons for the Pictorial Clubs Company, which soon went bankrupt and in turn causing the downfall of Walt’s first studio. But there was no permanent “Central” Character. After the failure of the Laugh-O-Gram Studio, Walt made that celebrated trip to California with only $40.00 in his pocket; it was here that he and Brother Roy started the Disney Brothers Studios. At the studio, they produced the first of the “Alice Comedies” starring a live little girl playing in an animated world. The first Alice, “Alice’s Day at Sea” was released on March 1st, 1924. Although the Disney Company acknowledges Mickey’s birthday on November 18th, 1928, his actual debut was the short “Plane Crazy” a silent film shown in early May, 1928. Alice preceded Mickey by four years and seven months!
Photo Credit: Molly Beckley
Here is the second half of the Disney Dozen for things my children must have on their Disney vacations!
#7. Clothing! This might not be something your children are attached to, but wearing the correct clothing while touring the parks in red hot heat is paramount to your Disney survival! We dress in as little clothing as possible! When purchasing summer clothes for my kids I always have our Disney trip in mind, and try to purchase shorts and sleeveless shirts made with very light weight material. I also make it a point to gather Mickey shirts and the like from places like Target.
The Emporium, World of Disney and Mouse Gear. Mickey tee shirts, Tinker Bell jewelry and Disney trading pins. The list could go on and on when it comes to Disney products. Of course, I LOVE to shop for anything Disney anywhere I can find it. From Wal-Mart to The Disney store or our resort’s gift shop, I like to take my time and take in all the wonderful items Disney offers.
Here are some unusual items I am looking for that can’t be found at any of the stores I have mentioned:
A pen used by Shelley, a new Boticelli and the snipper that clipped old King Edward’s cigars. The fancies and fineries of ages are showed and a lady will always feel dressed a la mode in frillies she finds here.
Photo Credit: Jeff Beckley
When contemplating the planning of a Walt Disney World vacation with my little ones there are many things I must consider. My personal number one goal is to keep everyone in my family as happy as possible while in The World. In my opinion, a critical aspect of achieving this lofty goal is to have the right equipment! I have found that if my children have certain things accessible to them that they are used to having at home, we are in for a much less bumpy ride. A smooth one even! Here is the first half of the Disney Dozen for things my children must have with them on their Walt Disney World vacations!!
Contributed by: JB Conway (NDD#27) JB is the DDL Poet. He is also the author of Mouse of Zen: Disney Inspired, Mouse-Sized Poetry. To have your Disney Parks vacation images treated with similar pixie dust, please visit our studios located at Knell StudioWorks !
I want to feature three of the antique Disney toys in my home that never fail to give me a big smile every time I look at them. These toys may be a bit worn and not in mint condition, but in my mind I can hear the children’s laughter echoing from all the fun that they had playing with them when they owned them in years past.
My sister, Melissa at Christmas 2010, gave the first two Mickey Mouse toys to me because she knows how much that I love Mickey Mouse, so right off the bat they are extra special to me. The Mickey Mouse Push–Up Puppet (the toy on the right) was manufactured in 1977 by Gabriel Industries Inc. in Hong Kong, and it is quite fun to move Mickey around by pushing the bottom of the figurine in various places. The wind up Mickey Mouse (the toy on the left) was made by TOMY in 1977 in Taiwan and it actually still winds up and walks. It is definitely a little wobbly when it walks, but it is still loads of fun!
Photo Credit: Beth L.
Looking back, I was a reluctant poetry writer as a student. You see, if it didn’t rhyme – I checked out. It was a challenge for me to get past my childhood views when I was a teacher. If you show any hesitation with children in your classroom, they see right through you. I could tell them it was not my favorite, but had to show them I could get past it and have some creative fun.
Copyright: Disney
I’ve never been a fan of Bambi. There I said it. Despite the artistry involved, the wonderful character designs, and all the effort that went into the film, I don’t think it turned out particularly well. It’s a beauty to look at, but not all that fun to watch. With the release of the new Blu-Ray, I decided to take another look at it.
Ca’Sandra Phillips is our Featured Blogger of the month for April. As a member of the Walt Disney World Moms Panel 2011, she assists guests with all types of questions about Walt Disney World. She uses her experiences of visiting Disney without her children, while pregnant, while breastfeeding with an infant, and taking along baby gear and strollers to provide just the right answers.
Ca’Sandra visits Disney World at least two times per year because she lives in Atlanta, but mainly because she is a Disney freak! Her husband, a computer analyst and Disney fan, and her 2 children–a 4-year-old daughter and a 1-year-old son–are part of her trips and have taken quite a liking to the World as well. She says,
The way the story usually goes, Walt Disney was the creative force in the Disney company and his brother, Roy, handled the financial side of the house. But Walt himself was a pretty shrewd businessman who built up a multi-billion dollar company from scratch. While re-reading Neal Gabler’s Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination, I was reminded of some of the business and financial lessons one can learn from a study of Walt Disney’s life.
So you’ve collected pins, antenna toppers, and key chains. Your home has lots of Disney characters on your shelves. Some Disney art is on the wall. What’s left? How about adding that special touch to your kitchen? Maybe you cook every day and want to make a meal from your favorite Disney restaurant. Maybe you make some quick snacks and feel like some Mickey waffles now and then. It’s easy to create a Disney kitchen with the collectibles you use.
Go all the way and get everything from your dishes and glasses to a few aprons and dish towels. Add a spatula, measuring spoons, and a Mickey shaped egg ring. For cooking, you can still get Mickey Waffle Makers, a colander, and pasta scooper.
If you want to decorate your kitchen, there’s lots of choices. Go classy, retro, or design by character. Of course, towels, place mats, and cookie jars can do the trick. But what about adding some fun touches? Line an open kitchen shelf with Disney coffee mugs of every shape, size and character. Show off your collection of Disney cookie jars.
Imagine a chance encounter with Disney President and Chief Executive Officer, Bob Iger. You tell him you are a Neurotic Disney Person, and he nods knowingly which, in and of itself, is pretty gratifying. You get along very well, and at the end of your surprisingly pleasant encounter he offers you a job—any job your heart desires—at Walt Disney World. Salary, qualifications and career considerations aside, what is your response?
Previously I have written about my first race experiences here. Since then, I have gotten another three Disney 5Ks under my belt. I would like to talk about the most recent of these experiences, the Champion® 5K at Dick’s Sporting Goods Presents ESPN The Weekend (ESPN 5K for short). The race was held the first Saturday in March, only a week after my previous race, during the Princess Half Marathon Weekend. Read about our own NDH #19 Todd Perlmutter’s recap of that race on the Touring Plans blog here.
photo credit: Betsy Bates