Mickey Mouse Disney Dollars

Posted on June 11, 2016 by greenlisa9989@yahoo.com

Happy Saturday, Disney Friends! Continuing with last week’s theme – let’s look back in history and reminisce about the heyday of the Disney Dollar! I remember having a few of these around when the kids were little, but at the time they *gasp* struck me as inconvenient since I had to keep up with them between visits to Walt Disney World or a Disney Store. I can’t even remember how we got them to begin with, but I would love to have them back now! Have a great weekend, everyone!

Mickey Mouse Disney Dollars

By Nick

87 years ago, “Steamboat Willie” was released, making a star out of Mickey Mouse.
7 years ago, Disney released these Disney Dollars to celebrate Mickey’s 80th Anniversary.

The one dollar bill features the “pie-eyed” Mickey of the early 1930′s.

1928-2008, Mickey Mouse, Eightieth Anniversary.

The back of each bill features a nice illustration of Mickey’s evolution through his 80 years.

The five features Mickey as the Mickey Mouse Club Bandleader, from the mid 1950′s.

The ten features the modern, computer generated Mickey Mouse.

Happy 87th to the Big Cheese! (Mickey will turn 88 on November 18, 2016)

Now that Disney Dollars have been discontinued, I wonder what commemorative merchandise will be released for Mickey’s next big milestone birthday? Have you still got any Disney Dollars at home? Are you planning to keep them now or go ahead and spend them?

To read more about Nick’s amazing Disney collectibles and his many Disney adventures, visit the Disney Musings Blog (where this article first appeared). You can follow Nick on Twitter, on Facebook, on Instagram, and on Pinterest. You can also listen to Nick, our friend Dave, and me on The Disney Exchange Podcast where we talk about our love for all things Disney – new episodes every Sunday morning.

5 Types of Disney World Moms

Posted on June 10, 2016 by greenlisa9989@yahoo.com

People-watching is one of the activities I enjoy most at Walt Disney World. What a gathering place for the diversity that is the human population! All ages of folks from all over the world – all in one place where I can surreptitiously study them at will. A while back I talked about the different Disney Dads I see on vacation. Today it’s time for me to share some observations about the other half of the parenting pair.

5 Types of Disney World Moms

Crafty Mom – This one’s easy to spot! I like to imagine the Pinterest boards she’s accumulated prepping for the big family Disney trip. This mom’s family has matching tee-shirts or a coordinated Disney Bounding theme going on. Sometimes there are crafty visors, unique Earhats, homemade autograph books and little cloth backpacks. This mom is amazing! Her energy and attention to detail are enviable and those post-vacation scrapbooks will be absolutely fantastic! Deep down inside, I want to be this mom, but don’t have the patience it takes to complete all the projects. Or even one.

Super Mom – This is the mom who absolutely beams at her children’s happiness. She might like Disney in her own way, but positively loves the joy it brings her offspring. Super Mom eats on the run (usually leftovers from kids’ meals) and has mastered the art of multi-tasking. She’s there to catch the ice cream drips, hand out snacks, carry a giant backpack of supplies, and answer 347,639 questions with the patience of a saint. She derives fun from watching her kids have fun. There to make sure her family is comfortable and having the time of their lives, she’s in her element when she’s doing things for others. I don’t know how she does it, but Super Mom doesn’t even appear to sweat in the Florida heat. (Now, that would be a super power I could use!) My favorite Super Moms are the ones who are clearly adored and appreciated by their husband and children.

Sporty Mom – Sporty mom is fit and athletic. She and her kids love runDisney events and Sporty Mom can be spotted by her attire – she’ll be wearing an event shirt from a past race. Sporty mom enjoys the resorts with exercise rooms and running trails best because every day begins with a good workout. This mom serves and eats healthy food at home, but will splurge on a Disney vacation, knowing exactly how many steps she’s taken and how many calories have been burned.

Frazzled Mom – I always feel slightly sorry for this mom. Perpetually worried and not having as much fun as she could, Frazzled Mom is busy doling out sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, and “don’t go to far” followed by “stay where I can see you”. This mom in particular seems disconnected from the magic of Disney as if worry prevents active participation. I’m the biggest advocate in the world for minding your children, so in the early years, I was Frazzled Mom and am here to tell you there’s a sweet spot to be found between being cautious enough and over-the-top paranoid. This mom also tends to do too much scheduling because going with the flow isn’t in her DNA.

Kid-at-Heart Mom – This mom is having the time of her life with her family. She’s wearing her favorite character t-shirt and a full pin lanyard. She’s eating a Citrus Swirl or a Churro or has some chocolate spots on her shirt from a Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar. Kid-at-Heart Mom is as swept up in the Disney magic as her kids are and she can be overheard talking excitedly about Tower of Terror or Expedition Everest. This mom knows how to relax and have fun while staying in the moment for her family.

Know a Disney mom? Are you one? Which type of Disney mom are you?

Disney World Favorite Random Details

Posted on June 9, 2016 by greenlisa9989@yahoo.com

You know that expression (attributed to Aristotle), “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts”? To me, that saying is never more true than when applied Walt Disney World. There are incredible components from the tiniest magical detail (like peanut shell impressions in cement) to the enormity of a single attraction like Expedition Everest (Animal Kingdom) or Jungle Cruise (Magic Kingdom) – add them together and the whole is more – so much more! That, I believe, is what makes Disney World infinitely more than a gathering of some hotels and theme parks – those millions of parts combine to make a destination like no other in the world.

Disney World Favorite Random Details

Let’s talk about a few of the parts that make up the wonderful whole of Disney World. Remember the other day when I talked about the things I think about while riding Spaceship Earth? This is sorta like that only these random favorites were chosen from the World at large based on my vacation history – small treasures gathered through the years that add to the happiest memories and keep our family coming back for more as often as we can!

Bouncy off-ramp – Have you ever noticed the exit ramp for Space Mountain’s extreme bounciness? No? Next time you leave the ride and you’re riding the conveyor belt, bounce a little bit on it. Seriously! It’s hilarious and fun and if you see me on those screens that show live video of guests leaving the ride, I’m the woman-of-a-certain-age jumping up and down. Every time.

Breaking plates – Is it just me or is the sound and feel of breaking plates on Toy Story Midway Mania ridiculously satisfying. Clearly this says something about my psyche, but that is what I love most about this attraction. So forbidden yet satisfying. Clearly I need help.

Yeti – it’s real! – Abominable snowmen…mythical creatures or not? Doesn’t matter! The queue for Expedition Everest has me 100% convinced the Yeti exists. I always wish there were a way I could take as much time as I wanted to see every single item in that Yeti museum and outfitter shop. If the line’s being held up by someone, it’s probably me! The footprint casts are my absolute favorite. If you’re too scared to ride this attraction – do not miss the queue!

Bathing beauties – I don’t get in line for Jungle Cruise (Magic Kingdom) thinking about those elephants in the water hole. The moment I see that one happy baby pachyderm though…instant happiness! He’s just the epitome of cute. Every time I see him, I wish I could buy him in lawn-ornament form to take home.

The first bite of a Mickey Bar – There are so many beloved snacks at Walt Disney World, but one stands out as my favorite for the thrill of the first bite. Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar – soft and creamy vanilla ice cream encased by a smooth, hard chocolate shell, shaped like Mickey Mouse. I peel the wrapper off carefully, clutch that thin wooden stick and savor the moment when cool chocolate gives way in an audible crunch and my teeth sink into that sweet ice cream. After that there’s no time to savor anything else since I’ve got to eat that puppy in record speed before it melts all over my hands and clothes!

Singing ‘Possums – You know the ones, don’t you? On Splash Mountain – there are so many animals and adorable details to take in, it’s hard to see everything. I look all around and enjoy the experience until our log floats us under those ‘possums, then I only have eyes for them and their extreme adorableness.

What about you? What random details are your favorites at Walt Disney World?

Currency With Character – Disney Dollars

Posted on June 4, 2016 by greenlisa9989@yahoo.com

Last month the news broke that Disneyland and Walt Disney World will no longer sell Disney Dollars. Guests who have Disney Dollars and wish to spend them can still do so, but the Disney Dollar is going away. As one would expect, Nick’s got quite a collection of this “Currency With Character” for us to discover. Have a great weekend, Disney friends!!!

Currency With Character – Disney Dollars

By Nick

Disney Dollars were introduced in 1987 at Walt Disney World and Disneyland.

For an in depth history of Disney Dollars, please check out disneydollars.net.

I bought my first Disney Dollars at the Disney Store in 1992, for use on my first trip to Walt Disney World that year. I saved a few, and have picked up more through the years.

Let’s start with the earliest dollars, 1s and 5s.

A waving Mickey greets us.

“May be used as legal tender only at Disneyland Park, Walt Disney World Resorts and the Disney Stores.” “Disney Dollars may be spent or collected and saved as souvenirs and are redeemable at any time before or after any time of inactivity.”

Series 1991.

Treasurer, Scrooge McDuck. Of course!

A Series