Vintage Walt Disney World License Plates

By: Nick

A few months ago I found these license plates that I've had since the early to mid 90s in the garage.
The first 2 are from my first visit to Walt Disney World in 1992.
Disney World celebrated it's 20th Anniversary in 1991.

Epcot was still Epcot Center. I loved the old Epcot Center.

These next 2 are from 1996.
I was at the Magic Kingdom on October 1st, 1996, it's 25th Anniversary.
Interestingly, it was not nearly as crowded as October 1st 2011, it's 40th Anniversary. Maybe people were staying away from the pink castle?

This next one is from the "Company D" store, a shop for Disney Cast Members. I was a Disney Store Cast Member at that time. CMO stands for Cast Member Only.

HONK if you love Disney!

Wordless Wednesday: Disney Characters on Parade, Walt Disney World's 40th Anniversary

Have You Been "Photobombed"

The definition of a photobomb is "the act of inserting oneself into the field of view of a photograph" according to wikipedia.
We have been the "victim" of this a few times through the years, sometimes accidentally, other times, very intentionally, as is the case with the 3 photos I'm going to share here.
I put victim in quotes because we actually don't mind a photobomb. In fact, we may have, on occasion, been guilty of doing the bombing. Shhhhh.
This 1st photo is from our very first trip to Walt Disney World in September of 2006. We were having dinner at Chefs de France at the French Pavilion in Epcot. I'd asked our server to take our picture, and our neighbors, well, the photo speaks for itself.

 

I really respected the full on waving from the gentleman. Usually a bomb is a simple smile, like his companion is exhibiting. We actually wound up having a nice conversation with this couple.

Next we have a really fun one, as it's not every day that you get photobombed by Peter Pan! Barbie and I were eating at Goofy's Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel, when we again asked our server for a photo. Pan swooped up from behind, and our server got the shot at the perfect moment!

Lastly, here I am waiting for the "Character Cavalcade", a special event that occurred on Walt Disney World's 40th Anniversary on October 1st, 2011.

Again, I am eating (what is it with food and photobombing?!) and Barbie is taking my picture, when the guy behind me decided to insert himself in the photo. . What makes this my favorite, is the expression on his wife's face! Priceless.

Actually, come to think of it, the young lady to my right is also photobombing!

Have you ever been photobombed? Or are you a photobomber?

Walt Disney World's 40th Anniversary Ornaments

By: Nick

On October 1st, 2011, Walt Disney World celebrated its 40th anniversary, and really terrific merchandise was released to commemorate that momentous occasion, including ornaments.

While we did visit on October 1st of that year, I spotted these earlier in the year at The Emporium in the Magic Kingdom, and bought them then and there.

Both collages, especially the one on the ball ornament, appeared on a wide range of merchandise, from t-shirts, hats and bags to address books and photo albums.

I think this Cinderella Castle collage is actually my favorite of the two. This ornament is porcelain and measures about 3.5 inches.

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This light weight ornament seems to be made of heavy cardboard, and has a red bow and a 40th anniversary medallion on it's hanger.





Here is to another 40 years of Walt Disney World magic!

Drinks are on me!

Guest Writer Wednesday

Drinks are on me!
By: Gaylin

I love the following three mugs. I like clear glass mugs so these were all easy choices for me.

The first one I got was at the store coming off the Tower of Terror. Did I tell you that I won't let myself buy a ride souvenir unless I go on the ride? It was difficult to talk myself into going on the ToT the first time but I do like it now! (note I said like, not love!)

This mug has the logo on the front in green and even though I have never put this mug in a dishwasher, the green logo is starting to peel off. I have stopped using the mug for this reason. One of the L's and one of the O's are nearly gone, darn.

The HTH is cut into the glass all the way around so it won't be wearing off.

The next one is one that I got while having lunch at Cinderella's Royal Table. This was before it was so hard to get into that restaurant, one day at the Magic Kingdom we walked up to the podium for the restaurant and asked "can we have lunch here if we are willing to eat late?", sure enough we got a 1:30 reservation!

If you ordered a Bibbity Bobbity Brew, (a milkshake) you got this souvenir glass mug to take home. Same basic shape of mug as the ToT one, but not frosted and the logo on the front has not peeled one little bit and I use this one quite often.

And finally on my last trip, I found this one, tucked in the corner of a shelf at the Arribas Brothers shop at Downtown Disney. It was on sale for 40% off so I grabbed it quick. It is not the same size and shape as the other ones but it quite nice. And it was the 4th to last one available. They had only been made for the 40th Anniversary and were selling them out as old stock. Glad I got one.

The 40th Anniversary Plates are Up

The second post I did was describing these 40th Anniversary plates. They are now hanging proudly in the kitchen, and I think they look great. This was an investment in Disney joy.

Disney Musings; The Happiest Place on Earth