Saturday 30 March 2013

Now & Then...Part One

Our last visit to WDW in 2011 marked the 20th anniversary since our first visit back in 1991.  So we decided to re-create some of our first time experiences by recreating photos we had taken, some from our first visit in 1991 and some from 1996 which was the first time we had stayed in a Disney Resort hotel.

I don't think we did too bad - what do you think?

Now as we'd taken quite a few photos I've decided to split them up into small blog posts, with this first one focusing on the Magic Kingdom.

Let's start with various shots in front of Cinderella Castle...

1991

1996
2011


2011
1996


















And next we have Big Thunder Mountain...

1991
2011




























And finally Main Street, USA...

1996
1996

















2011
2011


















The differences are subtle, perhaps a change of position or a change of paint colour or a change in planting, but the differences are there and help to make every trip just that bit different.

Thursday 28 March 2013

Disney Ink

I spoke a while back about how Disney fits into my every day life, one way being my Disney themed tattoos.  Well I promised at the time that I would talk about my Disney ink in more detail at a later date, so here goes!

After a few years of watching the slue of 'ink' programs on television both Simon and I had become intrigued with the world of tattoos; we both loved the artistry involved and the stories behind the tattoos.  And we began talking about getting our own and what we would have done and why.

My reasoning was very simple - it had to combine the loves in life (family and Disney) as well as be designed by Simon.  The thought of having a piece of his art on my body was a no-brainer as far as I was concerned.

So my first tattoo is at the base of my spine and spans across my lower back with a tri-circle Mickey at the centre; this was designed by Simon, and tattooed by Gray Silva at Rampant Ink Tattoo Studio. It also incorporates Simon’s initials and those of our two children (if you know where to look!)
Disney's Animal Kingdom, Dinoland USA after riding Primeval Whirl, 2008
My next tattoo carried on the Disney theme, once again incorporating the classic tri-circle Mickey at it's centre.  This was designed again by Simon but with help from my tattooist, Rachel Huntington at Rampant Ink Tattoo Studio
Disneyland, Sleeping Beauty's Castle, 2010
My third tattoo is around my ankle and foot and has flowers with tri-circle Mickeys at their centres flowing off an abstract tri-circle Mickey.  This time I took Rachel some designs of tri-circle Mickey’s that I had come across on our previous visit to Disneyland, explained where I wanted the tattoo and that I wanted cherry blossom type flowers as well.  I told her all about ‘hidden Mickey’s’ and love the fact that she was able to get so many into one tattoo; between the main ‘Mickey’, the flower centres and tiny hidden ‘dots’ there are 11 hidden Mickey’s!  I also love the fact that those in the know see the 'Disney' element straight away but for others I have to point it out, and when they realise they are completely awestruck!
Magic Kingdom, Main Street USA, 2011
Now, it is true what they say - once you've had one tattoo you will want more!  I am now thinking about my next tattoo; what to have and where to have it.  It will of course have to incorporate a tri-circle Mickey...watch this space ;)


Monday 18 March 2013

Disney Memories

So there I was catching up on podcasts and found myself listening to The Minnie Minxes Episode 27 all about Downtown Disney at WDW and heard a passing reference to Pleasure Island...to which all on the show admitted to having never been there whilst it was still open.  This led to Simon and I screaming at our 'generic mp3 player', 'but we have and it was great!'  So here is a little trip down memory lane...

Pleasure Island was the nighttime complex at Downtown Disney and was in operation from 1989 to 2008.  We had our first taste back on our first visit to WDW in 1991...

1991 - leaving our motel, ready for a boogie!
1991 - having a beverage outside 'Mannequins'
The complex was a mix of clubs, restaurants and shops.  The clubs were designed to meet a variety of music tastes as well as comedy and included the infamous and much missed 'Adventurer's Club'.  Back in the early 1990's we were much more interested in the music scene and regrettably never got to experience the Adventurer's Club or the Comedy Warehouse as we were too busy having a 'boogie' ;)  I think Mannequins was probably our favourite place; the revolving dance floor was great fun!!

Leaflet - 1991
Partial inside of leaflet - 1991

Pleasure Island also had the unique feature of celebrating New Years Eve each and every night...
Me & my brother celebrating 'New Years Eve' - 1993
It was a great place to get a bit of 'adult' time and a change of pace from the theme parks. I do miss the club element and some of the more distinctive shops that were there but things change and we have to move with the times...I'm now excited to see how Downtown Disney changes into Disney Springs!

Who remembers the neon Jessica Rabbit?? Where is she now??

Sunday 3 March 2013

Forward Planning...Part Two

So a few weeks ago I did a little post about planning for my WDW vacation and in that post I had a list of things that are on my family's 'Disney To Do List'...well we have a few more to add;
  • Characters In Flight - balloon ride at Downtown Disney
  • Visit the new bakery in the France pavilion at Epcot - Les Halles Boulangerie & Patisserie, pictures and reviews online look lovely!
  • Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom
  • Phineas & Ferb: Agent P's World Showcase Adventure
  • Try a drink called 'Beverley' at Club Cool at Epcot (this is a result of watching Lou Mongello and friends drinking this during WDW Radio's 6th anniversary live broadcast!)
  • Boardwalk at night (only ever visited during the day before!)
  • Visit the Belle Vue Lounge at The Boardwalk Inn Resort to see the working carousel model - heard about this on Episode 310 of WDW Radio when Lou Mongello was chatting with Jim Korkis, and it sounded fascinating
  • Splitsville - bowling & food
  • Must buy shopping items - Dooney & Bourke bag of some description, car antenna toppers (I'm sure I've seen a seasonal pack so I can theme my car to whatever time of year it happens to be!
So what else should I be planning on doing?