disneyland Archives - Journeys Are My Diary

Disney Confessions

April 14, 2016 by Bel

Amy posted her Disney Confessions Part One some time ago and I’ve been meaning to do mine ever since. I noticed that a few have appeared on my Twitter feed too so it’s reminded me to get it done. The idea is obviously to confess your feelings on popular (or unpopular) opinions when it comes to loves (and hates) of Disney. This is what I came up with.

I really hate all the animal Disney movies. I’m sure it’s partly because I’m just not an animal fan anyway, but I find them all that bit duller than the movies with people characters.
In connection to my above confession, I think Lion King is one of the most overrated Disney movies in existence. It’s a nice story but it’s definitely not worth the hype. That said the theatre/stage show is amazing. I also dislike Finding Nemo, though loved the show at Animal Kingdom.
Still connected, I really wasn’t fussed with Animal Kingdom when we visited Florida last year and to be honest I nearly skipped the park altogether. Watching the girls meet Pocahontas was really the only highlight of the day for me, though I enjoyed Expedition Everest and again as mentioned above, I did like the Finding Nemo show.

Though I tried to put it to one side when we visited WDW, I really have an issue with face characters at the parks. Its pretty much impossible to look like the animated people but I hate that they don’t. At least with the costume characters, they do look like their on-screen counterpart. I almost wish all the Princes and Princesses had the weird heads like Jake, Sofia etc. but that would probably be creepy.
I have a slight issue with collecting, when it comes to anything Disney. On the whole, it doesn’t really matter what the product is, if Disney makes something you can collect – I want it. From Pandora/Chamilia charms, to Disney Traditions, to Pop Funkos, to Tsum Tsums. Sometimes its just safer for me not to start, otherwise I end up spending thousands. I think Megan and I worked out we’d spent almost £400 on Tsum Tsums to date!

I hate that Disneyland Paris is half in English and half in French. I hope that doesn’t sound incredibly racist as I don’t mean it that way but English is such a universal language that I wish everything was in one language. It’s hard to understand some of the shows that have one line in English and then one in French.
I wish Disney would stop making live action re-makes, but I have to admit I really enjoyed Cinderella, Jungle Book looks good and I actually can’t wait for Beauty and the Beast either. While I wish Disney would come up with new animated movies (even if Frozen was overdone, it was great – as was Inside Out, Zootropolis etc.) I do enjoy pretty much anything Disney throws out. Cinderella was a really great movie and I even loved Maleficent.
I rarely watch Disney movies. To be honest, I rarely re-watch any movie so it’s really not that weird. However I tend to only reach for a Disney DVD, if one of the kids (usually Lily) suggests it, despite owning nearly all of them.
I would rather champion a villain than a princess or princess any day. While my favourite movies are definitely those with people in, majority of the time I prefer the villains to the good guys. With the exception of Belle and Megara (though I adore Gaston and Hades), I pretty much always prefer the villain of the movie. Ursula, Maleficent, Jafar, Hook, etc. I would also rather cosplay as a villain over a princess any day.

What are your Disney Confessions?

Trips of a Lifetime

March 11, 2016 by Bel

This week my best friend has headed off to Florida for almost 4 weeks. A part of me is super jealous but it also makes me think back to this time last year, when we too were planning for the trip of a lifetime to Florida. In April 2015, we headed off to Orlando for two weeks and really did have an amazing trip. We stayed in a pretty nice villa, visited all the Disney Parks and of course took a trip to Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Since I’m not the type of person to re-visit places over and over, it got me thinking where I’d like to take the next big adventure. Here is my top 3 picks.

1 – California

Truth is, my main reason for wanting to visit California is Los Angeles. And my main reason for wanting to visit LA is Disneyland (and Universal). However that’s honestly not the only reason!

For a start, LA is somewhere I have always wanted to go. I think originally it was because Buffy and Angel were filmed there! However it’s also on the opposite coast to the only two places I have visited in the USA (New York and Florida) so it would be nice to see a bit further afield. I’d love to see the Hollywood sign, stroll down the Walk of Fame and maybe even explore a bit further, like San Francisco and the Golden Gate bridge. Then, eat at Pier 39 restaurants like the Crab House. That would be a dream.

2 – Italy

Though not technically the holiday of a lifetime, I can definitely say that Italy is somewhere I have always wanted to go – as have the girls. While a beach holiday would be lovely, especially somewhere all inclusive like loveholiday offers, I would also enjoy a sort of touring holiday.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is by far my top place to visit in Italy, but I would also love to ride a gondola, see the Colosseum in Rome, go to the Lake Como area and travel to Florence too. I have been to France, Germany, Spain and Denmark so it would be really lovely to add Italy to the list as well.

3 – The Northern Lights

Now technically visiting the Northern Lights, isn’t a place, but its definitely the purpose of the holiday for me. It probably wouldn’t really be ideal as a family holiday (though I think the kids would find it beautiful), I’ve always dreamed of seeing the Northern Lights in person.

There are several different places you can go to, in order to see Aurora Borealis. I always assumed I would go to Iceland, but Norway, Sweden, Finland and Canada are all valid options too. I read somewhere that in February, the Northern Lights can even be seen from Scotland, but I don’t think that would be as exciting. I would love to tie in this amazing sightseeing experience, with staying somewhere amazing too – like the Ice Hotel in Sweden.

There are many other places I would love to visit like; New York again (this time with the kids and Chris), Niagara Falls, the new Shanghai Disney and Paris (though I will be doing that later this year – twice!)

Road Trip Tips

May 20, 2015 by Bel

I am always looking for spontaneous adventure! Next week is my birthday and I’ve looked at so many ideas from driving to Disneyland Paris, to hopping on a ferry to Ireland or Amsterdam. Experience Amsterdam on an ebike, zie Wispers nieuwe Nederlandse website wisperbikes.com/nl. There are themeparks to visit, restaurants to eat at and shops to go shopping – all of these would require me driving there and I’m absolutely fine with that. I just love a last minute decision. Age UK (charity) recently posted these tips, but I wanted to share mine with you!

For the cheapest offers, plan in advance! I know I said spontaneous adventures are my favourite, but a couple of years ago we went to Disneyland Paris and planning in advance definitely saved us a heap of money. We got a cheap Travelodge on the way out, a cheap offer on the actual holiday and also planning meant we could save! Our Travelodge on the night out, was £30 compared to the last minute one on the way back (£80!). Our holiday was £1 for the Ferry travel and £400 for the holiday, compared to the usual cost of about £1000 on the Disneyland Paris website.

Break up the journey and takes lots of stops! As with above, road trips are all very well but to really enjoy it, breaking it up (and ultimately extending the holiday) can make it way more enjoyable. Travel a large part of your journey and then do an overnight stopover. Set off early the next day fresh and ready for another good long drive. Likewise on the way home, do a good chunk of the driving but stop and sleep before finishing your journey fresh in the morning. Everyone gets tired and for the passengers in the car, they can sleep anyway. However its important that the driver definitely catches a few Zzzzs. Fatigue-related accidents are more common than people think, and when they happen, having Experienced Injury Attorneys on your side can make all the difference.

Always pack food and drink for the trip. Of course its always good to stop for a coffee break or even McDonalds but ensuring you have food and drink for the journey is also a good tip. Kids get hungry and thirsty easily anyway but its always good to have something to keep you refreshed. No matter where you’re road tripping to, you’re always subject to traffic jams! You don’t want to get caught out in two hours of traffic with nothing to eat or drink!

Take a SatNav or smartphone capable of navigation. Okay so technology isn’t foolproof but in this day and age its definitely a lot easier to have some sort of navigation helping you. As a driver its impossible to concentrate on the road and read a map, and road signs aren’t always that useful. A good SatNav will keep you alert and listening, while also helping you to get where you’re going. It might not be the best route, the fastest route or even the most sensible, but chances are it will stop you getting lost – or if you get lost, help you get unlost!

Keep an eye on petrol and prices! Petrol is incredibly expensive and so if you’re taking a road trip the costs can add up. Try not to leave buying petrol to the last minute as the chances are you’ll pay through the nose for it. Petrol stations near to airports, docks etc are likely to be more expensive as they know people often need petrol before immediately going somewhere or immediately coming back. Fill the car whenever you find it somewhere cheap and make the most of the lower price. Also cars tend to run better on the top end of the tank than they do on the bottom end!

Avoid driving under the influence As much fun as it may seem to get high on the road, it’s just one more danger to add to an already risky venture. According from experts at DWI guys, this sort of behavior can lead to serious consequences which goes from a traffic ticket to imprisonment or even death, learn more about DWI Guys at the link.

At Carrara luxury rehab centers, patients are treated with care and discretion, allowing them to focus entirely on their recovery journey. Each facility is equipped with state-of-the-art amenities that foster a supportive healing environment.

If you are a victim of a car accident as a result of a driver who is driving under the influence of alcohol or other substances, you can protect yourself from bad faith insurance tactics by documenting your claim process and consulting an insurance damages expert.

This weekend we’re traveling down to London and I can’t wait! We leave at 8pm Friday night (so a day time nap is on the cards) and we’re staying Friday night and Saturday in Travelodges. We’re going to MCM Comic Con and also to see Phantom of the Opera. This is my birthday treat and I can’t wait!

Guest Post – 10 reasons Disney is not just for kids

April 7, 2015 by Bel

Annabelle from Lillyringlet has been kind enough to Guest Post for me while I’m away.
Please go and check out her blog if you get a minute!

I love Disney – I love the music, colourful creature sidekicks and captivating storylines. The stories from the animation powerhouse invoke joy to millions around the world, they have won awards and yet they are still seen by many as for only children. Most of Disney’s fan base is in fact over 18 – so why is the stigma still there! Compared to 10 years ago, it is much better but still many people clearly see Disney animations as a form of entertainment either only for kids or something to struggle through as the kids enjoy it.

As a kid I did enjoy the films and certain characters but it is only now that I’m 27 that I can really enjoy a lot of the animations. I thought I would share my top 10 reasons to why I think Disney isn’t just for adults.

1. Cosplay

If you ever go to a convention you will find an array of people dressed as their favourite characters. While there are often little kids dressed as Disney characters, most Disney cosplayers are adults. Pinterest is full of amazing Disney cosplay outfits – it is because of the incredible characters and their outfits that so many people want to dress up like them.

While anime and cosplay have a much stronger connection in many people’s minds, when there are great Disney cosplays they go viral! Halloween 2013 a group of friends did Zombie Disney Princesses and within hours it was all over the internet! While there are some incredible anime cosplays that are truly spectacular (and award winning), it is the Disney cosplays that capture the imagination and media attention.

2. Parodies

Now in the days of video sites like YouTube and Vimeo, there are parodies about everything but Disney is one that is always highly popular. There are rap battles, hipster Princess Musicals and even Google translated (and then back to English) versions of Disney songs. There is a thriving community and clear love of this content as they are very popular. On 17th March one of the most popular videos among all adults ages 18-34 is a Cinderella vs Belle rap battle, and yet it is not as popular among the younger audiences! Disney may have come into our lives at a young age but there is a demand from those of us who are still young at heart.

3. Disney Weddings

Did you know that you can get married at the Disney Parks? That’s right – you can get married in Cinderella’s castle and now they have even started an engagement service! While little girls may dream of their wedding day, these popular services are aimed at an audience old enough to tie the knot.

4. Disneyland California

I love Disneyland – though I have only been able to go to EuroDisney! The rides, the shows, the shops and the parades are thrilling but have you ever considered how many of the rides and events are aimed towards adults? I remember vividly how I was too small to go on most of the thrill seeking rides when I visited as a kid. This is the case with many theme parks but none more so than Disneyland in California – it is renowned for being the best park for adult fans. When Disney have designed one of its parks with adults more in mind, then why is it hard to consider that their films also have them in mind too.

5. Wreck it Ralph

Now a video game theme film may sound like a reason to why Disney films are just for kids, as video games also have a reputation among certain groups to be childish, and yet it is a great reason to why it is. While this film played on many modern video game themes, styles and characters, there were so many references to old characters and themes that only older gamers could love or giggle at. The use of these older video game references and characters are a clear indication of being a film not just aimed at the younger generation.

While there are other great films to point at with some under lying themes that might go over audiences under 18, such as the complex emotions of being a father in Finding Nemo, or how hard it can be to say good bye forever to friends like in Toy Story 3, Wreck it Ralph shows it through both the storyline, retro video game characters and maturity of the main characters. It is a film that even includes PTSD, a mental alignment only really otherwise covered in the Hunger Games or Forest Gump, and the impact this has on an individual character. While there is action and fun for the kids, there is so much more levels for an older generation to enjoy.

6. Official merchandise

For Disney addicts like me, visiting the Disney Store has always been fun! Most of my bags are from this haven, as well as most of my mugs. Through the years I have collected lots of items, and while some of them may seem for those a lot younger than I, there are PJ’s, slippers, cookware and even purses that are aimed purely for adults.

In recent years Disney Store have reduced many aspects in their own stores but this is because they have found that they make more money selling licensing rights to the likes of Asda, Primark and Top Shop. There is now more adult Disney themed clothing than ever before!

Yes I do have the big fluffy cuddly toys, character notepads but I also have bags, purses and clothing that fits a size 14 me.

7. Disney Cakes

Merchandise doesn’t seem to be the only thing people can’t get enough of, so Disney have started a magazine on how to create Disney theme cakes and sweets! Again, this may seem like this is aimed towards kids on the surface but when you actually delve into the magazine it is clear that this is aimed towards adults with the complex designs and skills needed – there are even recipes that state how to make them child friendly.

Mix the UK’s growing love of baking and with constant love of Disney, this is a perfect piece of evidence to the thriving adult fan base. I’m addicted to the wonderful silicon Disney character trays that I have collected but the Minnie Mouse moulds are still my favourite.

8. Etsy

There are nearly 150,000 different Disney related items on Etsy – and that only includes the ones labelled with Disney! You can order everything from Little Mermaid aprons, Sleeping Beauty crowns to personalised Disney themed artworks. While there are some items for children, the majority of the items available to buy are aimed at adults. It paints a clear picture that there are thousands of keen adult crafters and a clear demand for these products!

On top of all those very gifted crafters, there are thousands who are not selling their items and keeping them – like me! After tracking down some Disney fabric I have been able to create an amazing skirt! When you add together the amateurs, professionals and official merchandise out there – that is a lot of products being made and sold worldwide.

This echoes on Pinterest, which is mainly used by people aged 25-45 – this social media platform is full of unique Disney products and crafting ideas beyond the grasp of younger audiences.

9. Adult references

Now when I say adult references, I am not saying that Disney is vaguer in anyway but that they often put in funny lines that only adults might understand from person experience. My favourite is from the Emperor’s New Groove where Kuzco when walking past a row of potential brides

The other memorable moments include, in Ratatouille when there is talk of getting too familiar with vegetables, Genie’s quip about how he thought “the earth wasn’t supposed to move until the honeymoon.” and Meg’s reference to

Skinner: “What are you doing in here?”

Linguini: “I’m just familiarizing myself with, you know, the vegetables and such.”

Skinner: “Get out! One can get too familiar with vegetables, you know!”

While small snippets of humour filled lines may be an obvious strand, it is the complex underlining of many of the stories that we love and adore. Many people know how The Lion King is based on Hamlet, but they often miss the subtle points to Shakespeare such as Timon’s “What’s in a name?” reference to Romeo and Juliet. What about the manipulative Iago from Aladdin who shares characteristic traits (and name) as the one from the great bard’s Othello? With films using complex narratives as a “Whore of Babylon” by Frollo in The Hunchback Of Notre Dame as he struggles with his urges towards Esmeralda or Ursula’s comment of “body language” being a way to win over a man (complete with sexualised side thrust) – Disney films are films with complex layers and can be enjoyed by all ages.

10. Once Upon a Time

Still not convinced – then you might have overlooked ABC’s series Once Upon a Time! As ABC are owned by Disney, they take on the classic fairy tale stories. If you haven’t seen the series, it may be that you feel it might be too childish like your opinion of the films many of the costumes and stories are based on. You are very wrong – in this series, even in the first series, you see the complex and very adult issues of affairs, warring parents, small town politics and betrayal. It may not have nudity, or violence like other series covering similar themes, but it manages to mix storylines and characters that youngsters and adults can enjoy on different levels.

With one of the main characters having his adoptive mum also being his step great grandmother, whose mother had an affair with his grandfather… it is not a series that can be fully followed by children and yet it has a huge following! One of the couples in the show has reach the final two in Entertainment Today’s search for this year’s TV show couple of the year! Fan’s coo over the use of updated versions of their favourite Disney outfits but also the twisted nature of many of their stories – there was a flurry when fans found out that they had made Mulan fall in love with Sleeping Beauty, or how Snow White was having an affair with Prince Charming!

Death, betrayal, topics and jokes that only adults will understand on top of the very revealing outfits makes this a wonderful series for avid Disney fans older than the traditional demographic.

Disney is where it is today because unlike many other animation studios that have come and gone, they have been smart enough to capture young and older audiences in the same film! Their films wouldn’t be so popular if the parents really didn’t want to sit through them! I know as a kid I had that issue with some of the Warner Bros films – they held no interest with my parents so I would have to wait until they were on VHS and buy them with my own money.

Disney has evolved in recent years, having realised the potential of older fans, and it getting bigger because of it. They are redoing some of their classics, such as Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella which are much darker – adults are the ones behind the buying power after all!

So enjoy Disney, and if anyone calls you a kid for being a Disney addict, just point to the deeper themes and basis for the stories as you will probably find it a lot more refined than those drooling over most chic flicks and soaps. Just saying – Disney rules!

Once again, please check out Lillyringlet to read Annabelle’s blog!