Random Disney Thoughts on Monday

GeauxFit-Catfish-ClassicI had an awesome weekend.  Being a Disney fan, a runDisney fan, and a Disney food fan – it was a winning lineup for Easter!  Friday, my office was closed, so I got to spend the day working on some projects for this very blog and for The Disney Exchange Podcast (for which I’m a host).  I also worked on designing some new door magnets for our upcoming Disney cruise, which I’ll share with you in another post soon.  Oh, and I also managed to squeeze in some shoe shopping…I love shoe shopping!

On Saturday, I participated in the GeauxFit Catfish Classic 5K.  This race takes place in Franklin Parish, Louisiana and is an enjoyable 20-ish mile drive from home to the heart of downtown Winnsboro for the race.  This time was extra special though.  I got to meet fellow blogger, Disney fan, and running fanatic, Karen Seal from Just Me and My Running Shoes.com.  I love Karen’s blog and I was so excited to meet her in person!!!  Meeting-Karen-SealShe is every bit as friendly and sweet as she seems on her site and we had a good post-race visit.  You know how it is when you find another Disney fan – we had lots to talk about!  We even made plans to meet up again in the future (hopefully) at the 2016 Glass Slipper Challenge.

5K race behind me, I could turn my attention to some other important items on my to-do list.  As some of you know, our Megan is planning a wedding.  The honeymoon will be at Walt Disney World (1-bedroom villa at Disney’s Grand Floridian DVC villas), but the wedding and reception will be closer to home.  Megan wants to tie in a bit of Disney magic to the event and I’m very happy to help her do that!  Mr.-and-Mrs.-Disney-Wedding-PinsTo start, Raymond and I brought back these Disney Mr. and Mrs. pins from our February trip for the happy couple.  Wedding TopperThen Megan selected this particularly adorable wedding cake topper from Better off Wed on Etsy to add to the theme.  She’s also decided her “something blue” will be in the form of a pair of spectacular shoes (a nod to Cinderella).  I’d LOVE to show you, but Megan says I have to wait until after the Wedding.

Jr-EasterFinally, we celebrated Easter Sunday with family, friends, and food – icluding those Maui Scalloped Potatoes formerly served at ‘Ohana.  If you ever had them, you’ll remember how delicious they were.  I’ve made them at home a couple of times before and they make me so rediculously happy – served along side an herb-crusted pork tenderloin and roasted carrots, our Easter dinner was perfect, if I do say so myself.Maui-Scalloped-Potatoes

How was your weekend?  Did you add a little touch of Disney along the way?

 

Cinderella Tea Set & Movie Comments

RM-Cinderella-Tea-Set-BoxBack in February, long before the live action Cinderella movie opened, Raymond and I were very typically spending an evening at home watching TV and working on our respective computers; sharing companionable silence with an occasional comment on this or that.  I noticed something in my Facebook news feed that caught my eye and I turned my screen around to show Raymond the beautiful blue and white Cinderella Tea Set for sale through the Disney Store online.

Raymond, in his usual way, managed to convey volumes in as few words as possible.  His comment, as he studied the picture through his reading glasses was, “You need one.”  Haha, I thought.  Very funny.  I did then notice that the production number was 3000 and mentioned that it was a limited edition set and that it came with a steep price tag.  This time he looked at me over those reading glasses, one eyebrow raised, and said, “Get it.”

We have a few tea pots, but I wouldn’t really call them a collection.  Teapot 1I have two that are Disney, like this Dalmatian, and three others that were given to me as gifts and are all very beautiful.  I enjoy hot tea very much, but I certainly didn’t need this pricy Cinderella tea set.  I couldn’t stop thinking about it though.  It’s hard to hold out against temptation when I have Raymond’s encouragement to cave!

The box arrived a day before we left for Walt Disney World, so I didn’t have time to do anything but check to make sure the pieces were unbroken.  When we got home, I took the time to appreciate the beauty of both the box and its fragile contents more completely.RM-Cinderella-Tea-Set-Certificate-of-Authenticity2 RM-Cinderella-Tea-Set-Certificate-of-Authenticity1  RM-Cinderella-Tea-Set-BoxedI have to say, Raymond was right – this was a great purchase.  The certificate of authenticity is written in French on one side and English on the other.  The shape of the teapot is elegant, the cups and saucers dainty and beautiful.  Sadly, there are no cream and sugar servers in this set, but the gold design on a blue and white background is gorgeous and depicts many of the Cinderella movie’s best moments.RM-Cinderella-Tea-Set-Teapot RM-Cinderella-Tea-Set-Saucer RM-Cinderella-Tea-Set-Detail RM-Cinderella-Tea-Set-Cup

Speaking of the movie.  We didn’t see it on opening weekend due to prior commitments.  During the movie’s first week post-release, I read many ridiculous (to me) blog articles about this unexpectedly controversial film – one mother wrote an entire post on why she wouldn’t be taking her child to see Cinderella, basically because there are moments dealing with death and loss, moments dealing with unkind behavior, moments dealing with falling in love, moments dealing with people consuming (presumably) alcoholic beverages, playing card games, and so on and so forth.  When we finally got to see Cinderella this past Saturday morning, I had no idea what to expect!  All that drama over a fairytale?  Maybe Disney ruined the story!

Here’s my two cents:  This isn’t a movie for small children, but not because it deals with actual things that happen to people in real life or make-believe, magical things that don’t.  Small children may find the movie boring and the subtle parts of the film that I found touchingly beautiful might be outside a pre-school-aged child’s ability to understand.  One little one sitting near us in the theater (which was heavily packed with princesses under the age of 6), loudly exclaimed, “I hate this movie!” about halfway through.

Cinderella is visually stunning and true to the story I grew up with.  It also offers a modern touch that, while keeping the story timeless, allows us to see the characters in a deeper, more genuine way than the run-of-the-mill fairy tale usually offers.  The main lesson in the movie?  Be true to your convictions and your heart.  Love, kindness, and courage will help you prevail in the most difficult times, even when it’s impossible to understand what motivates others to be hurtful.  As far as a story’s moral goes, what could be wrong with that?RM-Cinderella-Tea-Set

 

 

Walt Disney World Novelty License Plates

Today’s Saturdays With Nick installment brings us some adorable novelty license plates.  Nick’s collection of Disneyana constantly surprises me in its depth and variety and these license plates are just plain cool!  Don’t forget you can find Nick’s Disney Musings on all your favorite social medias:  Disney Musings Blog / Disney Musings on Twitter / Disney Musings on Instagram / Disney Musings on Facebook

Walt Disney World Novelty License Plates

By: Nick

A few months ago I found these license plates that I’ve had since the early to mid 90s in the garage.
The first 2 are from my first visit to Walt Disney World in 1992.
Disney World celebrated it’s 20th Anniversary in 1991.

Epcot was still Epcot Center. I loved the old Epcot Center.

These next 2 are from 1996.
I was at the Magic Kingdom on October 1st, 1996, it’s 25th Anniversary.
Interestingly, it was not nearly as crowded as October 1st 2011, it’s 40th Anniversary. Maybe people were staying away from the pink castle?

This next one is from the “Company D” store, a shop for Disney Cast Members. I was a Disney Store Cast Member at that time. CMO stands for Cast Member Only.

HONK if you love Disney!

Are You a Disney Geek? Take the Quiz!

Walt, Mickey, and MeWe go by many names – Disney Geek, Disney Nerd, Disney Maniac even – but we all have one thing in common:  Disney is more to us than a man, a theme park, or a movie-making company.  Disney is a way of life.  We are the Disney-addicted and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Are you a Disney Geek?  Take this quiz to find out.  Give yourself one point for every true statement.

  1. You have a Disney vacation planned.
  2. You’re using a countdown calendar or app to keep track of the number of days until that vacation.IMG_2380
  3. You have a Disney collection of some sort (pins, vinylmation, figurines, etc.).
  4. Your car shows off your DisneySide with an antenna-topper, magnet, or window cling.
  5. You are wearing a something Disney-related right now.IMG_1867 (2)
  6. You have at least one framed Disney picture hanging in your home.
  7. You listen to a Disney playlist while working out or cleaning house.
  8. You have ever cooked a Disney restaurant recipe at home.Disney Dog Henry Jones, Junior
  9. Your pet has a Disney name.
  10. You know the meaning of all of the following:  FP+, MDE, ME, MM+, TOT, BTMRR, EE, TSMWM, ADR, and SSE.
  11. You can say “Por favor manténganse alejado de las puertas.” perfectly and you know what it means.DSCN0958
  12. You regularly check the Orlando weather and you don’t live in Florida.
  13. Your morning coffee or tea is consumed from a Disney mug.
  14. You’ve been emotional (and unashamed) on Main Street U.S.A.Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar
  15. You have cravings for Dole Whips, Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bars, or Churros.
  16. You have at least one Magic Band and will keep it forever.
  17. You purchase at least one new Disney guide book every year.
  18. You have a treasured photo of yourself (as an adult) with your favorite Disney character.
  19. You read Disney blogs or listen to Disney podcasts.
  20. You write for a Disney blog or host a Disney podcast.

Scoring.

5-10:  You like Disney vacations and some Disney merchandise, but you’re not obsessive.

11-15: You’re a real Disney fan and it shows!

16 or more:  You are a certified Disney addict.

Leave a comment!  What kind of Disney fan are you?