Category Archives: Disney at Home

Walt Disney World for Adults – Choosing a Bag

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Medium Backpack for WDWI felt I needed to add a qualifier to this post’s title.  If you’ve got little one’s (especially of the diaper-wearing variety), this article won’t be very helpful – in the end, you’re going to need a bigger bag than any of the ones I’m about to recommend.  I’m also not recommending a specific brand – the three bags featured today ranged from cheap (discount store) to not-so-cheap (upscale outlet mall) to pretty-darned-expensive (major department store).  You can find the perfect bag or bags for your next Walt Disney World vacation at a multitude of stores – brand doesn’t matter.

When choosing a bag for a day of park touring, I take a few things into consideration:

  • What size camera will I be carrying?Wristlet for WDW
  • Will I be going back to the resort mid-day or to dress for dinner or not at all?
  • Will I be toting anything for gathering character autographs?

Once I know the answers to those questions, I can choose from among the three bags I bring along.  They are: the small backpack, the smaller hipster, and the teeny, tiny wristlet.  I know what you’re thinking:  THREE bags?  This chick is bonkers!

All I can say is that after a dozen trips to Walt Disney World, I know what I like.  I like choices!  I don’t carry the same stuff everyday and I don’t want to tote around a larger bag than absolutely necessary.  WDW Park Touring NecessitiesAlso – I want my bag to always fit in the “stuff holder” provided on many rides and attractions.  If I’m not going to be collecting autographs, I don’t want to carry those supplies.  If I’m carrying my super-small camera, I don’t need a big bag.  If I’m not going back to the resort before dinner, I may need supplies for a little hair or make-up refresher.  I like to travel as light as possible and still have everything I need.  See how that works?  You don’t have to have multiple bags, one or two of the perfect size will do.

In EVERY bag, I need to carry:

  • Travel-sized sunscreen
  • Emergency medical supplies (ibuprofen, antacid, band-aids)
  • Smartphone and portable charger
  • Camera

Optional things I may WANT to carry:Small Hipster Bag for WDW

  • Extra pins for trading
  • Photo mats / ornaments / pens (for autographs)
  • Visor and/or hair utensils (I refer to as hairaphernalia, ’cause I’m clever that way)
  • Touch-up supplies like lipstick, oil blotting papers, pressed powder, etc.
  • Rain jacket or poncho (folded tightly)

When packing, I put the unused bags inside each other and they don’t take up much room or weight in my suitcase.  For touring without a bag, see my tips here.

What’s your favorite bag like?  Do you bring multiple options with you?  Do you have any tips to share that I haven’t mentioned?

 

 

 

 

Disney’s Million Dollar Arm – Spoiler-Free Review

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Million Dollar Arm Ticket StubI’m a baseball fan.  Always have been.  The St. Louis Cardinals is my team – my big brother, Mike, bought me my first Cardinals tee-shirt (Lou Brock!) in the ’70’s and Oh, the crush I had on Keith Hernandez when I was in high school…sigh.  I married a lifelong Cards fan and we’ve lived in blissful baseball harmony all these 25 years (this September 9th).  Consequently, Raymond and I both love baseball movies.  We will often kick off baseball season in the spring by re-watching a few of our favorites.  Field of Dreams, a perennial favorite, is just outstanding no matter how many times we watch it.  I was once burned, though, by another Kevin Costner movie – For Love of the Game (1999) – a chick-flick disguised as a baseball movie.  That cruel deception has made me wary of baseball movies – I walked into the theater expecting another epic baseball film and walked out royally pissed off really angry.  As usual, I digress.  Okay – back to today.

I didn’t want to read anything before seeing Million Dollar Arm, in spite of my fear of baseballMillion Dollar Arm Movie Poster movie deception, but I found a spoiler-free review in my twitter feed and trusted it enough to follow the link – so the great review here (by George Gensler) at Adventures by Daddy told me enough to know I could expect Million Dollar Arm to be a real baseball flick (with a dash of romance thrown in).  The movie’s based on a true story and if you go see it, stick around through the credits to see some wonderful actual photos and videos of the real people behind the story.

Why this is a fantastic baseball film:

Million Dollar Arm Movie PosterMillion Dollar Arm is about baseball.  And business.  And relationships, personalities, taking chances, and redemption.  I was drawn into the story right away – then experienced a huge variety of emotions.  Many scenes are funny, but I also felt sorrow, anger, joy, surprise, and frustration.  To be cliché, I laughed, I cried – and everything in between.  John Hamm does an exceptional job playing J. B. Bernstein – the sports agent main character.  His ability to manipulate viewers’ emotions is a huge part of what makes this movie work.  I have never been to India, but the parts of the film that take place in India were superbly filmed and edited – I saw India in a way I never have before.

The script, acting, and directing – along with an amazing musical soundtrack – combine to make you feel something for each character.  Those feelings may not always be positive, but that’s also what makes Million Dollar Arm good entertainment – and a GREAT baseball movie.  In fact, I haven’t enjoyed any movie as much as I did this one in quite a while.

On the fence?  Go on – there’s a great story there…even if you’re not into baseball – but if that’s the case, don’t tell me, okay?  I don’t trust people who don’t love baseball.

Have you seen Million Dollar Arm?  What did you think?      

ABC’s Once Upon a Time – Addicted and Unashamed

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ABC’s Once Upon a Time – Addicted and Unashamed

OUAT - Charming, Regina & SnowThis blog is titled “Living a Disney Life”.  The name was chosen very carefully and, I think, wisely.  Seriously, Disney is a big deal at our house!  We may have passed the time of having little ones at home that keep us in the know about the hottest TV shows on the Disney Channel/Disney Junior, but I will never outgrow the enjoyment of going to see the latest Disney movie in theaters.  I grew up with The Wonderful World of Disney – on our family’s TV – EVERY Sunday night.  It’s Disney….on Sunday night.  That’s how, I’m convinced, it was SO easy to become addicted to ABC’s Once Upon a Time.  And addicted we are!  Except for Joseph – and I’ll cut him some slack since he’s 18 and perhaps too young to appreciate all the subtleties, nuances and incredible plot twists – the sheer genius of every single moment of Once.

So – big Disney TV action on Sunday evening.  It’s perfect!  Nothing makes me happier than ABC's Once Upon a Time(just like when I was little) – gathering the fam together, grabbing a snack or late supper, and watching great stories unfold in the comfort of our own living room.  So…this begs the question.  Is Once Upon a Time good enough?  Would I still watch if it were moved to another day of the week?  YES!  As we wrapped up Season Three this past Sunday – I have to say – this show just gets better and better!!!  Each and every episode of all three seasons – genius!  Packed with twists, thrills, surprises, joy, heartache – this show has it all!

OUAT - Red, Belle and HenryI don’t want to spoil the story-line for anyone who is just joining the OUAT mania.  I have to say, though, that just about every single Disney character you can think of has appeared in one or more (or all) episodes – and the characters are developed beautifully and fully to viewers’ satisfaction.  Snow White, Prince Charming, The Evil Queen, Rumpelstiltskin, Pinocchio, Geppetto, Jiminy Cricket, The Blue Fairy, Captain Hook (oh, sigh), Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, Mulan, Ariel, Aurora, Prince Phillip, Red Riding Hood and Granny!  The Wicked Witch of the West, Belle, Robin Hood, Marian – and many characters both well-known from Disney and classic fairy tales.  Additionally, there are brand new characters for the show.  The writers make it easy to keep up with (and adore) each and every one!  Some you love to hate (and others you hate to love) – it’s just perfect.

Curses, different realms, magic (with which always comes a price), time travel – this show has it all!  Good versus Evil – the lines are often blurred and unpredictable – which alone is probably OUAT - Rumpleone of the show’s biggest draws!  My compliments to writers Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis (both also wrote Lost) who focus on strong female characters who (mostly) do the rescuing as opposed to waiting to be rescued.  I’m proud to say I’m a Once fan and I cannot wait for Season Four!  Tiny spoiler ahead – WHO is the biggest, most sought-after character currently in the Disney parks?  Yep – She’s coming to Season Four!!!  Again – GENIUS!

How about YOU?  Are you a Once Upon a Time fan?  If not, have you thought about giving it a try?

Catch up – watch Once Upon a Time episodes here.

Add a Little Disney to Your Day

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Disney Mug CollectionIf you’ve accidentally stumbled upon this website and you don’t happen to be a True Blue Disney Fan, just click the back button now…you won’t understand this post.  You just won’t get it.  Unless you love Disney in a nearly irrational way, unless you pine for a Disney park from the time you leave – and count the days – until the time you return, the details that follow may seem foreign, obsessive, strange or silly even.  So…not a huge Disney fan?  Again, this post is not for you…just go.

Still here?  I’m talking to you now.  My dear Disney-loving brothers and sisters, YOU!   You understand me.  You sympathize with the main plight of my existence – I adore all things Disney and there’s no vacation in the world as good as a Disney one.  Surrounding ourselves with reminders of our happiest Disney days is essential – it’s what keeps us going day to day, right?  You understand, don’t you?

I’ve put together a list of some of the things I do to add a little Disney to my day.  What I want to know is this:  How many items on my list are also part of your daily Disney life and…what’s on your list that isn’t on mine?  Here we go:IMG_2115

1.  Start the day with coffee (sometimes tea or cocoa) – in a Disney mug!

2. Listen to the two P’s of Disney – Podcasts and Playlists.  My daily commute is about 35-40 minutes each way.  Plenty of time to enjoy a couple of podcast episodes or belt out a few Disney show tunes as I’m cruising down the highway.

3. Adorn the car with a Disney antenna topper.  I have a collection and like to rotate them out depending on the season.  Spotting my car in a parking lot always makes me smile.

Nemo Antenna Topper4. Disney casual wear.  I work in an office where business attire is required, but on the weekends, you’ll find me in my “Peace, Love, Mickey” shirt or my Avengers tee.  I’ll probably be sporting a Disney cap as well.

5. Disney accessories – Tinkerbell watch, Disney pin, Magic Band – all appropriate accessories for work or play!

6. Watch – Disney movies, TV shows, documentaries, YouTube videos of attractions – doesn’t matter to me – they all make me happy.  I’m seriously addicted to ABC’s Once Upon a Time.  Don’t judge.

7. Connect – Disney Twitter friends, Disney Facebook pages, Disney discussion boards/forums, Pinterest, Instagram – thousands of other Disney geeks just like me!  Nice folks, too.

8. Cook – I love trying out recipes from my favorite Disney restaurants.  Nothing like delicious 'Ohana Cheesy Potatoes in Process 1smells and tastes to trigger great dining memories and recreate the magic at home.

9. Read – Disney books, articles, blog posts, attraction and restaurant reviews, park news, touring strategies, you name it.

10. Talk Disney! – I’m lucky enough to have a spouse and offspring who love Disney as much as I do.  Conversations around plans for our next trip(s) and what Disney movie will next open in theaters is a daily occurrence.  (I’m also fortunate to have some Disney addicted friends and coworkers.)

Disney Dog Henry Jones, JuniorBonus – I love our Disney dog, Henry Jones, Junior.  Junior’s the best, most patient, tolerant member of the family who will never visit a Disney park, but embraces his family’s love of Disney just the same.

Now it’s your turn…how do you add a little Disney to your day?