Living with Disney

So I was having a think about what my next blog post should be (it's been a while since my last....) and realised the reason I was finding it hard was because it's almost a year since I was last in a Disney park and there is no sign of a visit anywhere soon.  So how do I live with my love of Disney when I can't get to the parks?

To some people that might sound a silly statement to make but for those of us with a deep love and appreciation for Disney, and in particular the parks, it can sometimes be a difficult task.

Social media is great for finding out all the latest news but when you can't get to experience any of it in person watching your news feed can become quite a challenge. I will admit that sometimes I can be jealous of those who are gleefully experiencing all things Disney; or at least a strange combination of feeling happy for those getting to do Disney but tinged with a sense of petulant 'I want to be there' (imagine a toddler tantrum!!).

So here we are at the end of January 2016 and my mind drifts back to this time last year and my preparations for our visit to Disneyland Paris; even Facebook reminded me today with this photo!

New hat ready for exploring Disneyland Paris in February!!

And then I realised that we have no Disney vacation to look forward to this year, and part of the whole visiting Disney experience is the build-up to getting there. So what do I do to keep myself sane and the love of Disney strong?

Well I suppose I am lucky in that I co-host the Disney Dream Girls Podcast and get to talk with my good friend Michelle and our listeners most weeks about the parks, the news, the happenings and of course the food! (we always get onto food somehow!!).

I keep Disney close to me every day as I always wear something with a Disney connection. Most days I will wear one of my three Mickey Mouse watches, a bracelet with 'Mickey's' in it, a silver ring that is a mix of bling and 'Mickey's', my new Mickey Mouse necklace (birthday pressie from Simon) and always a pair of earrings and yes most likely Mickey shaped! My mobile phone has various covers; the current one is from Walt Disney World and it also has a case that is embossed with Mickeys! My handbag is covered in Mickey's and Minnie's and so is my purse! And my car is always adorned with a Mickey antenna topper; current one is a sparkly affair!! And then we get onto clothes; I have lost count of the number of t-shirts, tops, one dress, scarves and numerous hoodies with a Disney theme, never mind the pairs of socks and knickers!! I also have my four Disney tattoos to keep me company...soon to be expanding tattoos!!  More on this in another post!

Oh and don't forget pictures, posters, ornaments, soft toys, magazines, pins, toys and lots of mementos from park visits - I have all the park maps and time schedules from every visit going back to our first in 1991!! And then add onto this the books and DVD's & Blu-rays and it becomes pretty apparent the large part that Disney plays in my life. Even my most recent purchase will help to keep me distracted with a Disney vibe;

So while I may not get to experience Disney in person any time soon I will keep it close to my heart and appreciate it any way I can!

Countdown to Christmas - Day 17

17th December

So finally today I have managed to decorate my Disney tree, the last piece of Christmas decorating to be done so the house is now completely 'decked' out.

I have to say though that I am a bit picky when it comes to Disney decorations, as not only do they have to truly represent Disney but they also have to be very Christmassy. I am not a lover of just characters designed to hang on your tree, they have to have at least a little bit of Christmas about them.

But I do have everything from Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto to the Princesses to Stitch to Buzz and Woody to Dalmations and lots more besides.

Beauty & The Beast themed

Stitch - Naughty!

Stitch - Nice!

Chip & Dale

Dalmations

Toy Story

A couple of tinks!

The Fab Four ;)

 And here are a few shots of my Disney tree in all it's glory...

...hope you approve :)

Countdown to Christmas - Day 9

9th December

So here's the second post about spending my birthday at WDW, back in 2004.

I couldn't believe my luck when I discovered that a Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party was being held at the Magic Kingdom on my birthday, so I just had to get tickets - what a more perfect way to spend my birthday than to be at the Magic Kingdom, with my parents, Simon and both children and a special ticket event.  I was one very happy birthday girl!

I remember having to dress a little warmer than usual for a Florida holiday, as the evening was a little chilly.  But off we went, with our special wrist bands, all set for a fun filled evening.  My three year old daughter even wore her newly purchased Minnie Mouse outfit for the occasion.  Simon then found a Jack Skellington Santa hat and we had great fun buying it from the House of Treasure shop next to the Pirates of the Caribbean.

We enjoyed cookies and hot chocolate and saw the most amazing Christmas parade....it seemed to go on forever.  But the best bit, and probably the most memorable part of our whole vacation, happened when we were walking down Main Street on our way out of the park.

A cast member stopped us, now the cast member wasn't in character, she was simply one of the staff responsible for putting out the rope for the parade and keeping the area litter free.  But she stopped us or more specifically she stopped our daughter greeting her with a big 'Hello Minnie, I've been looking for you all day!'.  She then preceded to make the biggest fuss of our daughter, treating her as though she was Minnie even asking her for her autograph...pulling out an autograph book from her utility belt.

The moment was truly magical and made all of our day, and it is moments like this that make Disney so special, that encapsulates what makes Disney stand out from the crowd, what makes us go back time and time again.

Thank you Disney for all the memories you make for us every time we visit xx

Countdown to Christmas - Day 7

7th December

As yesterday's post was all about accessories I thought I'd continue the theme with hats!  Now no Disney park trip is complete without a hat purchase and as we have been lucky enough to visit parks near Christmas in the past we have a few Disney Christmas hats in our collection.


The classic Santa hat with Mickey ears was bought in Disneyland Paris

My Jessica Rabbit creation bought in WDW...

...and Simon's Jack Skellington also bought in WDW during a Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party (more on that to come!!)







And my most recent purchase, Minnie ears, bought from the Disney Store on Oxford Street, London whilst visiting London for a hen weekend a few weeks ago!

These were worn a couple of weeks ago when I became Santa's helper for an afternoon at my pre-school's Christmas Fair, and I had the task of running our Grotto and taking photos!!

At least working with pre-school children gives me a good excuse to wear them again over the next couple of weeks :)