Disney Home

I stumbled upon a great group of bloggers on Instagram who hatched an interesting plan. Each month, the group picks a topic and everyone writes a blog post with their own take on a Disney subject. The great part is that everyone links to the next blogger’s post at the end of theirs. It’s a great way to spread the word about Disney bloggers. If I’m not park hopping at the moment, blog hopping seems like a fine idea. Welcome to the Disney Friends Blog Hop #3: Disney Home!

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I don’t think that it’s obvious upon entering my home, but I love Disney World.

Unlike a lot of people who make that statement, I don’t have a family history of visiting the parks. We only went once when I was 8.

I didn’t “discover” my latent obsession until I was much, much older than 8 and the mother of my own kid.

Growing up in the 1970’s, I watched the Wonderful World of Disney on Sunday nights and I listened to my Sleeping Beauty and Snow White albums. My mother passed on her love for all things Annette Funicello, so watching reruns of the original Mickey Mouse Club was part of my childhood as well. Except for going to see every Pixar movie, I just didn’t carry Disney into adulthood. Like a lot of people, I thought it was just for kids.

For most people that have known me for years, the fact that I am now a “Disney Person” is mind boggling.

It is certainly not something that I saw coming and does, in a lot of ways, seem like the last thing I would have done. But here I am.

I don’t have an encyclopedic knowledge of Disney movies, but I have seen most of them at least once.  I will say that my interest lies more with the parks and the world building of those amazing Imagineers than it does with an attachment to the Mouse. (No offense Mickey. Clearly we are good pals). That being said, I’ve been known to hug Chewbacca and Sulley. Fashion conversations between me and Edna Moda and the Evil Queen have taken place.  Stitch and I shared a fist bump on the high seas. So, yeah, I’m a Disney Person.

This does not mean that I have Minnie throw pillows.

I don’t own any Disney ornaments or have a Goofy lamp. (Yep, there is such a thing. I Googled it.) I think that’s great if that’s what you are into, but it’s not really my thing. While I have a couple of Disney items around house (and A LOT of Disney accessories and clothing) most of the Disney magic that happens in my home is all about Disney World trip planning and prep.

Let’s take a little tour………

The Guest Room

Let’s just say that the guest room in my house often looks like this:

I start planning “the wardrobe” for our trips to Disney World pretty much from the moment that I know what parks we are going to be in each day. This includes what I’m going to wear and what my poor patient teenaged son is going to wear. It involves lots of shopping on Etsy and lots and lots of post its.  

I have only one thing to say in my defense: PhotoPass. Seriously, some the best pictures that I have of my son as he grows up were taken by PhotoPass Cast Members. I don’t know if my sister and I would have as many photographs of us together if we didn’t go to Disney World. Those photographers know what they are doing.  I think that, if you are a fan of Disney World, you are just so happy that it shows all over your face. Their job is to capture that. My job is to put together outfits that coordinate with our activities and surroundings. I take this job very seriously.

A park guest stopped and asked me if I worked there when I wore this outfit to Hollywood Studios. BEST COMPLIMENT EVER. Not to get TOO braggy, but this outfit was also Edna Mode approved. Okay, now onto the next room in question.

The Dining Room

Don’t most of us just use this room for the occasional meal? Generally it is the room that just houses the table where the mail goes to die, right? Or the place that you eat dinner when relatives come over. Well, for two super exciting but tense mornings every year or so, it is Advance Dining Reservation or FastPass Central. It’s where ALL of the magic happens, people.

I take Disney World planning  VERY seriously. Sharpened #2 pencils? Check! Nerd binder that I bothered to actually name “Nerd Planner”? Check! I even wear lucky Minnie Mouse leggings while I do it. Flight of Passage and Slinky Dog Dash FastPasses have been scored this way. ‘Ohana and Be Our Guest dining reservations have been secured. AT THE DESIRED DAY AND TIME. So….I don’t mess with the Dining Room mojo.

The Kitchen

This is a new little bit of Disney that keeps me smiling while I’m waiting for our NEXT trip. How can you be bummed out when this is what you see whilst washing the dishes?

Seriously. If flirty little Orange bird doesn’t make you smile,  you are dead inside.

This is also where I listen to Disney planning podcasts while I cook dinner. Mike from “Be Our Guest Podcast” has entertained me through a lot of meal prep. Thanks, Mike!

The Third Floor

This is where the REAL Disney World prep happens. Before our first trip to Disney World, I researched like it was my job. Nearly every blog I read or vlog I watched, at some point, mentioned the walking. All of the walking. “So much walking,”  they said. “Size of Manhattan!” they cried.

Knowing that I would most likely try to squeeze all the shows and attractions that I could into our trips, I knew that I needed to be up to the task. So, I slapped on my Minnie Mouse tennis shoes and exercised. (Note: I just said that I didn’t have Minnie Mouse throw pillows. Shoes? I got those.) Every year, I get healthier and more in shape.  That IS helpful at Disney but is super helpful in my life. So, thanks Disney. I’ll take the motivation wherever I can get it.

Everywhere Else in the House

When I’m planning a trip, getting over a trip or just plain missing the place, I listen to Disney Park entrance loops. Dorky? Yes. But I‘m hardly the only person that does it, I’m sure.

I find Dame Judi Dench’s ride narration for Spaceship Earth to be particularly soothing AND educational. The music of Soarin’ Around the World and the comforting baritone of Patrick Warburton giving ride instructions lowers my blood pressure. I feel zero shame when I close my eyes and listen to the Flight of Passage ride soundtrack on repeat. These things are good for the soul and I stand behind them. That is MY Disney home.

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The interesting thing about this topic is that regular park goers often say “I’m Home” when they arrive at  Disney World. As strange as it sounds to a lot of people, I get it. It doesn’t discount their real home. It doesn’t mean that their lives are in a holding pattern between trips either. I think that it just means that they feel at home in the parks. Disney World is a place where you can escape the parts of adulthood that aren’t so awesome and allow yourself to remember what it was like to be a child; all that wonder and willing suspension of disbelief.  Not caring a hoot what anyone thinks if you slap a pair of mouse ears on your head is very liberating. Who wouldn’t want to bring a little bit of that back home with them?

Now, check out what the next Disney Friends Blog Hopper has to say. Just click on the arrow below!

Here is a list of all of the Disney Friends Blog Hoppers!

• www.stressfreemickey.com
• www.skywaytowonderland.com
• www.kingdomcollectors.com
• foreeverdreamingofdisney.home.blog/
• www.mouseandthemagic.com
• www.coddiwomplerlisa.wordpress.com
• www.dustlesspixie.com
• www.disneyfamvacation.com
• www.aprincessandherpirates.com
• www.thecanadianmomsketeer.com
• www.confessionsofapixietraveler.com
• www.thedisneydinks.com
• www.paperangelsvlog.com
• www.hdgoursliceofhappiness.com