once upon a time Archives - Journeys Are My Diary

Travel Diary – 18th June 16 – Paris Day Two

June 28, 2016 by Bel Leave a Comment

Yesterday I started my Travel Diary with our Day One in Paris. Day Two was spent largely at a convention, but I’ll recap on that a little. We did manage to sight-see as well though, so there’s some actual Paris too.

As I mentioned before, our convention was called Fairy Tales (Chapter IV). It was run by a company called Xivents who have been doing these conventions for a few years. The guests who were attending were Lana Parrilla (Regina), Colin O’Donoghue (Captain Hook), Rebecca Mader (Wicked Witch), Sean Maguire (Robin Hood), Liam Garrigan (King Arthur), Amy Manson (Merida) and Greg Germann (Hades). There were panels scheduled in the morning and afternoon, then time for photographs, autographs, Meet and Greets etc. The majority of the information was in French unfortunately and while they did try to communicate a lot in English too, organisation was poor and it was quite confusing at times.

Nat and I started off the day by watching a panel, we then had a few photoshoots and autographs. The morning went fairly fast and we headed off for lunch at McDonalds.

We headed back to the convention and watched another panel. We then had a little wander to look at the stalls but ultimately headed back to the hotel early to drop off our stuff and then catch the train into Paris.

Our first stop on the nightime tourist spots was Notre Dame. I had seen this last time I went to Paris, but Nat hadn’t been before so we started here. Next we went to the Moulin Rouge. I hadn’t managed to see this myself last time and it was fairly spectacular to see at night, though not at all what I’d expected. Here we decided to eat crepes for dinner and sit and enjoy them outside the Moulin Rouge before catching the train to the Eiffel Tower. Again I had seen the Eiffel Tower last time (and even gone up it in fact) but we went to see it again so that Nat could.

Sadly at this point we missed the last train home but we didn’t let it faze us too much and just grabbed a taxis back. It was pretty late by this time and we headed straight to bed. Sadly the hotel had a function on (possibly a wedding) and it was REALLY loud. The room wasn’t at all soundproof and the music went on till at least 2.30am so that was a bit of a struggle.

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Wednesday Wishlist – Disney Style Books

May 18, 2016 by Bel Leave a Comment

I have to admit that I’m super excited about this week’s wishlist, because I’ve been working on it for absolutely ages! I don’t read half as much as I’d like to as I’m always busy sewing or blogging, but if I did, I would read ALL these books I have listed and many more. This week I wanted to show off some of the many Disney/Fairytale style books that I’ve come across over the last few months. Some I’d never heard of before and others being sequels to books I already own or have read.

Disney style books

Disney is one of my favourite topics ever but I love a good spin on it too. Nearly all of these books follow that idea and so hopefully if you’re the same, you’ll like the sound of a lot of these books.

Starting off with Poor Unfortunate Souls, this book has been on my wishlist for a while now. When we visited Florida last year I discovered Fairest of All and The Beast Within, both of which I regretted not buying. However for my birthday the following month, I was lucky enough to get bought both. This third book is about Ursula and honestly she is pretty much my Villain spirit animal. It’s not released yet but I would love to own this book and add it to my collection.

As Old as Time is a similar story, it’s pre-order and not released yet. However I’ve had my eye on Once Upon a Dream and A Whole New World (Chris just bought me this a few days ago) in hardback for a while (they just got released in paperback) and now spotted this Beauty and the Beast Twisted Tale coming out soon. I have yet to read any, but I plan to start AWNW this week!

The next couple of books, Unhooked and Never Never, are both Peter Pan/Hook themed books. They both appeal to me to read, though I’ve heard nothing about them other than reading the information on Amazon. There is one on the next line down called Wendy Darling (and its a Part 1 I believe) and this is the same sort of thing. They all just sound like good books. Finally on this line is a book called Fairest and its part of The Lunar Chronicles series. I currently own Cinder which is by the same author and while I haven’t read it yet, I’m told it’s really good.

On the middle line is a book called Once Again, its by the same as the Twisted Tales but I think it’s co-written. From what I can gather its two stories in one, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. Since I mentioned Wendy Darling above, I’ll skip on to Kingdom Keepers. This is a series that I only recently discovered and have to admit I’m thoroughly enjoying. The first book, Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dark, I actually bought for Megan for her birthday, but Lily and I ended up reading as a bedtime story. Once we’d finished, I moved onto Kingdom Keepers: Disney After Dawn. Since we only read one chapter a night, it does take quite some time to work our way through, however Lily was lucky enough to get bought the next 3-4 books for her birthday so we should have enough to keep us going for a while. This particular book I listed is a sort of spin-off series I believe, called Kingdom Keepers: The Return. Obviously we will be finishing our current series, before heading off into that one though.

Finally on the middle line is another book which I believe is co-written, by Riley Pearson (the author of The Kingdom Keepers) and Dave Barry. There are several books in this series too and again I haven’t read any of them, but given that they are by the author of The Kingdom Keepers, I would definitely give it a try.

Finally on the bottom row is a couple of cheeky additions. Return to the Isle of the Lost is a sequel book to The Isle of the Lost: A Descendants Novel. All I really know of the Descendants is the Disney movie that was on TV last year, which I watched with the kids, but I did buy this book for Lily and we haven’t got around to reading it yet. Given that the first book is good, then we’d probably want the sequel too! My next cheeky addition is actually Once Upon a Time (OUAT) related and though there were several to choose from, this one is my top pick. OUAT isn’t technically Disney but it’s pretty damn close so any book connected to the series is something I want to read.

Finally that leaves three books which I only found today as I was searching for last minute additions. I honestly know nothing about the three picks but the blurbs appealed so I threw them on. Disneylanders and The Disneyland Quest, remind me somewhat of the Kingdom Keepers style book. The last one, is Fairy Godmother themed and is part of a series, some of which Megan owns but hasn’t read yet (The Snow Queen and The Sleeping Beauty). The series is called Five Hundred Kingdoms and from what I can gather, all the books can be read independently.

So these are some of my treasure finds but I’d love to know if you have any other suggestions!

Birthday List Countdown – One Month to Go!

April 28, 2016 by Bel Leave a Comment

Today marks one month until my birthday and I thought I would celebrate by sharing a few bits and pieces I would love to receive! Over the next month you might see one or two more of these, as and when I find other things I like. However for now, these are my (off the) top (of my head) items.

Birthday Wishlist – Disney Style

It’s probably no great surprise, that everything on my list is Disney. That’s not to say it’s the only thing I like, but its one of the few I’m passionate enough to want to own or collect. Another amusing thing about my list is that it’s pretty much half villains and half Beauty and the Beast!

While I’m not going to explain each and every thing (the list is done on Polyvore so if you click on each item it will tell you where to get it from), I will explain some bits. For a start the Beauty and the Beast traditions ornaments. These Mrs Potts, Cogsworth and Lumiere are all new and I love them all. As you can tell, Beauty and the Beast is my favourite so I would love these to join my collection. The “Belle” necklace is because “Bel” is what I go by so I would actually love this for a duel reason and the cushion, makeup bags etc are just because I like them.

For the villains side, I would really love Regina to add to my Pop Funkos (but I’m pretty sure Lily knows this so fingers crossed this year), also I have the Evil Queen in small but I would like her in the regular size. There are loads of other Funkos I like though so its hard to pick. The Ursula cover book, is the third in a series that I have the other two of. The villains bag I’ve wanted for ages and the colouring book is pretty new and I haven’t spotted it before. Recently I treated myself to the QoH plush and I seriously regret not getting Ursula when she was in store – so connected to that is this old hag plush which I don’t think is technically Disney but I’d like her. Finally that leaves a book called Never Never that’s been on my wishlist for ages (but is still too expensive to buy myself) and some DVDs which I’m still missing from my collection.

I’ll be keeping an eye on other things over the next month so keep any eye out!

Once Upon a Time Bounding – Captain Hook

April 25, 2016 by Bel Leave a Comment

Pretty much everyone knows what Disneybounding is, but to be honest you can bound as any fandom. Myself and my best friends Nat and Amy are heading to Paris in June, for a OUAT fan convention called Fairytales. We are there for a long weekend (Fri-Tues) and we’re even popping into DLP while we’re there too. Because of that my mind has wandered as to what we might wear while we’re there. Today I’ve put together a Captain Hook bounding outfit – a) because he’s one of my favourite characters and b) because it’s probably who I will bound as. Colin O’Donoghue will also be attending the convention so that’s a major factor!

Captain Hook – OUAT Bounding

Since we’re going to be in Paris during June and inside a hotel, I probably won’t bother at all with a jacket. At the moment I’m torn between this type of a corset top or instead wearing a light black blouse with a waistcoat over the top (I’ve been looking for fabric to make this from). The jeans are black flocked velvet and I know I would get plenty of use from these. To finish off the outfit a few rings, a hair bow and the choice of a pirate ship necklace or even a replica of the one Captain Hook wears on the show. It’s a really simple bounding to put together and I can’t wait to give it a whirl!

My Christmas Wishlist 2015

November 13, 2015 by Bel Leave a Comment

Over the next few weeks I’m going to be sharing some of my ideas for gift guides, including “for him”, “for her”, “for kids” etc. However I wanted to start off with a wish list of my own! This is my Christmas Wishlist 2015.

Christmas Wishlist 2015

As you will see, even at a glance, my wishlist is almost entirely filled with Disney. This is because Disney is probably my biggest fandom love, followed immediately by Harry Potter (which there are also several items for). Anyway, let’s get started!

On the left hand side of the guide, you will see an Inside Out board game and a Ticket to Ride board game. I absolutely love playing board games, both with my family and with my friends. Though we already own a version of both these games, I would love these versions (just like I would love Disney Villains monopoly still). Inside Out seems like such a great idea for Game of Life and a United Kingdom version of Ticket to Ride sounds fun! On that same side you will also spot two DVDs, Inside Out and Tomorrowland. Inside Out isn’t released yet but Tomorrowland has been for a while, I’d like both to add to my every growing Disney DVD collection. Finally on that side is a Thomas Kinkade Disney calendar. I had the mini version last year but I would love the full size version as my main calendar this year. I love the art work and even better when you’re done with it you could always frame the pages.

On the right hand side I have clothes. The dress is an Alice print dress from Hot Topic which I absolutely love. I have another dress from Hot Topic in this style and its my favourite Disney dress. I also have this exact print in a scarf (which I’m wearing now) and I love it. Not only that it’s black and I know I’d get lots of wear out of it, even in winter paired with a cardigan and tights. Secondly there is a set of PJs and these are Beauty and the Beast from Topshop. Last year I treated myself to a pair of PJs from Topshop and though they had cuff bottoms on the trousers (which I thought I would hate) I loved them and as such would love this pair for this year.

Heading for the middle of the wishlist you can see its basically an array of ornaments and Pop Funko figures. However there is a Harry Potter umbrella in there too. I love the Marauders Map print and I know I would get loads of use out of this – especially living in the UK where rain is our standard. Also not an ornament is the Disney Villains bag. This is from Loungefly and have I loved their stuff for a long time. In this style there is also a Disney Villains wallet but as it doesn’t have card slots I know I wouldn’t use it much. This bag however is amazing and I would love to use it as my every day handbag. Not technically an ornament, this candle is also on my wishlist. It’s available from the Disney Store and comes in a few different colours. I’m not a huge candle fan but I find myself more drawn to them this time of year. Plus it’s Disney. No brainer.

Finally, onto the ornaments in the middle. There are four Disney Traditions/Showcase ornaments and some of these are firm favourites while others are new to my wish list. I have loads of Beauty and the Beast ornaments already but since it’s my favourite, I’d love to have them all. The ornament of Belle with the Beast has been on my wish list since last Christmas so hopefully this year I’ll get lucky and manage to get it. The one of Mrs Potts is new (or at least I haven’t seen it before) and since I have one of Lumiere and Cogsworth together, I’d love to have this too. That then leaves the Villains. Maleficent joined my wishlist over a year ago, for my birthday last year when we watched the new Maleficent movie. I love this figure so much but sadly it went out of stock last Christmas and I ended up with the Evil Queen instead. It’s now back in stock in most places so I’d love to add it to my collection. Then there is the “hag”, who is the Evil Queen from Snow White. I’m not exactly sure what draws me to this ornament as it’s pretty ugly but I love it nonetheless. Next comes the Pop Funko and sure enough one is Disney (sort of) and another is Harry Potter. I started out my collection of Pop Funkos with only Disney and I’ve tried hard to resist branching out into other Fandoms as its a disaster waiting to happen. However we do have several others, including some Harry Potter. I love this Voldemort figure and it would definitely be my next pick to add to the collection, though I would happily take any I do have (which is only Harry and Dumbledore). Regina Mills aka the Evil Queen from Once Upon a Time is another figure I’d love. She is my favourite character by far and I hope to cosplay his exact outfit someday. While OUAT isn’t technically Disney, its definitely a branch of it and therefore adding the OUAT figures to my collection is a must! Finally that leaves Katniss Everdeen. Until a few days ago I didn’t even know Hunger Games existed as Pop Funko figures. Now I know, I sort of want them all. Katniss is available in several different variations but I think this is my favourite – like I said though, I would take them all.

I could have gone on and on but hey, Christmas is about giving not receiving – so instead of concentrating on what I’d like, I’ll soon be moving on to what you can get for others!

TV Favourites with Freeview Play

November 11, 2015 by Bel Leave a Comment

I was recently asked by Freeview Play to make a post about my favorite TV shows and while this sounds like a great thing to talk about (and it is!) how do you narrow it down to an actual list of favorites, when you love so many shows?

As most of you who read my blog will know, I started a small sewing business a few months ago and since then I’ve spent more time sat at the dining table, than I have in the lounge. For the first month I got really behind on all my shows, until I decided to use my iPad to catch up and then keep on top of all the shows I love. Not only that but I have been binge watching series’ like Grimm, Switched at Birth, Awkward, Constantine, Orphan Black and many more. I’ve realized that I like so many different types of genre and it doesn’t matter whether it’s a current series or an old one, I’m ready to give it a go! Using a ceiling mount for tv will make your space to look bigger because saves a lot of space and look very modern.

So here are some of my favorites.

Currently running – At the moment I’m really into the various superhero series that seems to be popping up everywhere. I’m watching The Flash, Arrow and Supergirl (which are all DC) and though they’re not currently airing, I also love Marvel’s Agent’s of S.H.I.E.L.D., Agent Carter and Daredevil. Other shows that I love and are currently airing are Once Upon a Time, Grimm (which as I mentioned I recently binge watched from series 1-4), Modern Family and Switched at Birth (another one I recently binged on 3 series of). There are of course a few other series that are between series and waiting to start, such as Game of Thrones, The 100, NCIS, Gotham and Vikings.

British TV – while most of the afore mentioned shows are US ones that we either get a day after the US or wait weeks for, there are a few British shows I love. Casualty and Holby City air every week, while X Factor and I’m a Celebrity are only on this time of year. Orphan Black is also a British show that I recently fell in love with and I’m waiting for it to start again. Though most of these shows are my guilty pleasures, I’m not afraid to say I enjoy them. We’re also watching Release the Hounds which is a recent find but an enjoyable light-hearted watch.

Cancelled shows – over the years there have been a lot of cancelled shows that I’ve loved, including Buffy, Angel, Firefly and Doll House (all Joss Whedon!). However I recently watched one series of Constantine and really enjoyed it and I started on Defiance (though I’m not sure if I like it or not) and I found out that had been cancelled too. I also enjoyed both The Following and Revolution, both of which have been cancelled and a recent TimeHop post reminded me of a series called Flash Forward which was so good and such a shame it was cancelled. Finally I’m just now catching up a the last few series of Glee. I was a hardcore fan for the first few but it dropped off and while I still enjoyed it for light-hearted entertainment, I wasn’t bothered either. Now, with my VIZIO smart tv I search for shows to watch and have plenty of series to go at, so I’m just making my way through 4-6 with the hope of ticking it off the list.

There are so many more shows I could give a mention to but I would be here all day. I hope to find and enjoy even more over the weeks to come but I’ll be sure to let you know of what I find!

TV To Get Excited For!

September 17, 2015 by Bel Leave a Comment

It’s September!! And for the most part, that can be a bit depressing – kids back to school, weather getting colder, days getting shorter etc. However there is one big plus point to me and that’s all the TV shows that begin again! For more family-friendly tv programs, check out AWKNG TV. Here are just a few new season tv that I’m looking forward to! Check with your tv provider if any of these shows will be available to you.

Arrow Season 4 and The Flash Season 2 – October sees the return of both Arrow and The Flash, both of which I love. While I originally struggled a little to get into Arrow, it’s now one of my favourite TV shows. I completely love The Flash too, but in a totally different way. Arrow is dark and a bit more adult, where The Flash is a lot more lighthearted but still gets me quite emotional. While I’m sure it will be the end of October before we get the TV shows, I’m still excited as the trailers start to trickle out. I’m a huge Superhero fan and these two series are some of the best I’ve watched when it comes to Superheroes.

Once Upon a Time Season 5 – I’m such a massive Disney fan and this is pretty much the closest you get to a Disney series for adults. While it wasn’t always as Disney orientated as it is now, its always been fairytale related and that’s one of my favourite topics (not to mention, there are villains and I love them!). Last season was left on a great cliffhanger and I can’t wait to see how it turns out. Not only that but I’m going to a OUAT Convention next year and I am seriously SO excited. Lana (Regina), Sean (Robin) and Bex (Zelena) are all confirmed guests so far and I’m sure there will be more!

Grimm Season 5 – I posted last week about my new found love for a tv show called Grimm. Well now I’m up to the end of Season 3 and about to start 4 so I can’t wait for Season 5 to air. It will be hard to watch on a week to week basis instead of binging, but I’m looking forward to it regardless!

Doctor Who Season 9 – While I’m not a huge Doctor Who fan, I’ve also really gotten into it over the last few years. Season 9 starts this coming weekend and I’m pleased about that. I’m still not 100% sure that I like the new Doctor but maybe 12 more episodes will help me decide! I’m sure the Christmas special will be good too.

Gotham Season 2 – I’m not entirely sure when we will get this over in the UK, it might even be next year, but its released in the US soon. I didn’t enjoy all of Season One but it definitely had potential towards the end. I’m excited to see what might come from Season 2 so fingers crossed it won’t be a let down!

The Walking Dead Season 6 – TWD is SO up and down to me. I loved Season 1, Season 2 was okay and after that it became less stable. I enjoyed parts of the last few seasons but I couldn’t say I liked them in full. Hopefully season 6 will be an improvement but honestly I’m not holding my breath.

The 100 Season 3 – I loved both Season 1 and Season 2 of The 100 and it was yet another series that I binged watched, along with Chris. We were late getting into it but once we did, I remember several very late nights, watching “just one more episode”. Season 2 was left on a bit of a cliffhanger so I’ll be interested to see where they take it. A large proportion of the storyline was tied off so its going to have to head in a whole new direction for this new series.

Other notable mentions are; Heroes Reborn (a new/follow-on series to Heroes), NCIS (not top of the list, but I do love it and have seen every season), Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (I lost interest towards the end of series but hopefully this one will be better), Marvel’s Agent Carter (hated the beginning of Season 1 but loved it towards the end – excited to see what comes next).

If you want to have a wide variety of channels and shows to watch at home, you may consider calling your cable tv provider to upgrade your subscription.

Is there anything you’re particularly looking forward to this fall/autumn?

Things to Look Forward to…

July 10, 2015 by Bel Leave a Comment

I don’t know about you, but I need things to look forward to in life. Little milestone, events, days out, birthdays, holidays – whatever it is, just something in the not too distant future to look forward to. This time last year, I had a countdown running to LFCC (London Film and Comic Con) which was the first convention I’d ever attended AND the first time I’d cosplayed. I was also counting down to a holiday in Paris during October half term, though sadly that didn’t happen – and finally a wonderful trip of a lifetime to Florida the following Easter. Well all of that has been and gone now and I struggle at times to find things to look forward to. In fact, until a few weeks ago I really didn’t have any set dates and events penciled into my calendar. However, all that has changed!

picture from June 30th

Sheffield Film and Comic Con – A few weeks back, Amy and I decided we were dying to go to a convention again. I attended MCM in London during May but because I took the kids, I didn’t get the same level of enjoyment as last time and I also didn’t dress up. However Amy and I are going with the sole purpose being to cosplay and I’m excited! Amy is going as Disney’s Briar Rose (Aurora when she lives in the forest) and I’m going as Disney’s Belle in her blue peasant dress. I’ve already started on Amy’s costume and as soon as I can get the right grey for the skirt, it will be finished! I need to start on my own but I have a good idea what I’m doing.

Paris Weekend – As I mentioned before, last year we were supposed to have a family trip to Paris but we had to cancel it for a couple of reasons. I have been dying to go to Paris for pretty much all my life and I was devastated when all our plans crumbled. Over the last few months I’ve been looking into various ways to get to Paris cheaply, as ever since Florida my finances have been in a fairly poor state. There is a coach company that offers really good options, but also sites like Into the Blue experiences who offer not only day experiences, but also holidays too. They actually have a couple to Paris in fact. However in the end it looked like there might be another opportunity to go to Paris (see below) and so I jumped at that. Finances were figured out, options were looked into and even baby sitters were considered. But then I started to feel guilty that I hadn’t been with my family and maybe Chris and the girls would be sad if I went without them. In stepped my mum (a total hero) and offered to take us all away for the weekend in May and then there was a second thing added to my look forward to list!

Fairytales IV – As you can probably tell, I’m a huge fan of conventions. I’ve only been to a few but they are now becoming something I look into ALL the time. Well every year in Paris (for the last 3 years) there has been a Once Upon a Time convention and every year I’ve wanted to go. Last year we’d arranged a blog meet far too close to the date of the convention and this year we knew things would be tight after Florida. However next year there is really nothing stopping us… so let’s just say we’ve penciled it in and perhaps even booked a hotel ;)

There are lots of other things on the cards, MCM Comic Con in October, Storybrooke in April (though I have to admit to being jealous of SDCC that’s on this weekend), plus I hope to have the odd day here and there with the kids during Summer holidays. Amy and Liv are coming over in a few weekends time and we’re going to see Inside Out and even though that’s something small, again it’s just nice to have something to look forward to.

Guest Post – 10 reasons Disney is not just for kids

April 7, 2015 by Bel 1 Comment

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!