Walt Disney Character Map of the United States

By: Nick

My wife and I collect globes and maps. I bought this puzzle map of the United States off of eBay a few years ago.
It was already assembled, and glued on a piece of cardboard, and my wife framed it for me.

Made by Jaymar for Walt Disney Productions.

I'm not sure what year it is from, but as Hawaii is included as a state, it was made during or after 1959.

Also, Disneyland is very prominently displayed in California, and there is no indication of Walt Disney World in Florida, so it was very likely before 1971.

So we'll just say that it's from the 1960s.

While not in the best of shape, with pieces peeling, some seemingly missing bits, and pencil marks, I still love it for the graphics of our favorite characters.

Wordless Wednesday: Monorail Action

Ceramic Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket Cookie Jar

By Nick
 
We picked up this Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket ceramic cookie jar at a fine cookware retailer, Kitchen Kapers, for $10. There was a minor problem. There is no top. 

  My wife immediately saw this could be used as a planter. 

This wonderful piece has graced our home for many years now. 

Marked down from $49.99.

So if you come across a great item that perhaps has an issue, try to figure out if you can repurpose it.
Just let your conscience be your guide. 

Traveling to Walt Disney World from South Africa

By: Shendl

I am a self-confessed Disney addict who unfortunately lives a VERY loooooong way away from WDW!!

This is about the planning that goes into a trip to WDW.

Your first step is to choose your Disney Vacation Planner (or DVP) and get a quote. The reason I book through an American Agent is that you cannot get the discounts Disney Offer if you book through a South African Travel Agent.

Oh and make sure that you have an Authorized Disney Travel Agent, that way you know you are getting the best service and they are definitely above board. BONUS about booking with an Authorized Disney Travel Agent is that you can pay it off over the months before your visit, if you use an SA agent; you have to pay it up front!! EEEK

I did an internet search and emailed a few agencies for prices; eventually I settled on my chosen agency and got a quote from my DVP, Julie B.  I am so glad that I got Julie as my DVP because we have since become friends and you can always use more Disney Friends!! She really went the extra mile and a half for me!!

After I made the booking, the next step was to get a VISA! Now getting a Visa to travel to the USA is a big process. You pay $130 each for your application and then you submit the documents and book your appointment. Your Visa is decided before you even get to the Interview based on your documents that you submitted. We were lucky to be granted 10 Year Travel Visa’s and I intend to make as much use of them as I can afford!!

Once we had our Visa’s…. it was time to book Flights. I did a lot of research prior to booking tickets about what airline we were going to fly, finally we settled on Lufthansa as I had heard really good things about them from friends that have flown with them before.

I watched the airfares everyday twice a day for a week before I booked the tickets. It fluctuated day to day and I finally got the tickets I wanted.  The downside to flying Lufthansa is the transit time in Frankfurt and the fact that you have to fly twice Johannesburg to Frankfurt and then Frankfurt to Orlando, 10 hours each flight. It is a draining journey but so worth it in the end!

Our currency, The South African Rand, is so much weaker than the US Dollar, so it costs us so much more to vacation in the USA. The Exchange rate at the time was R10 to $1. Basically you are taking your vacation amount in Dollars and multiplying it by whatever the Exchange is at the time to get your Rand value of the vacation. We were very lucky to get Free Dining which saved us a bunch of money and enabled us to bring a little extra spending money. You always need Extra spending Money Right?

 Our Next Trip in SEPT 2017 is in the planning stages already and the saving commenced the moment we got back from our Sept 2013 trip! Our Total Trip Budget including Flights, Spending Money, Accommodation and Food for the next trip is just under $9200 which is R110 000 in our currency. I try to put as much money away each month as I can into a special savings account and it is all tallied up onto a spread sheet so that I can keep track!!

I really can’t wait for Our next Trip to WDW!!

The Disney Exchange- Episode 9 Show Notes: Touring Disney's Hollywood Studios

By Nick

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

-The Disney Exchange is Lisa Green, David Hodges, and me, Nicholas Maglio

-Main Topic- Touring Disney's Hollywood Studios

 
-We start off the show with me asking Lisa to tell about her being chosen to host a Disney Side @Home Celebration, which was Mardi Gras themed.

 Photo: Lisa Green

-Dave launches us into our main topic, Disney's Hollywood Studios, by saying he doesn't spend a lot of time there! I know, right? And he doesn't play the lottery apparently.

-I bring up the Sorcerer's Hat, and how all of us are not particularly unhappy to see it go. Sorry.

-Dave goes on to tell of his DHS touring strategy; Rope drop, Toy Story Midway Mania with FastPass selections being Tower of Terror, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster and something else. 

Bite to eat? We all agree that Starring Rolls is the way to go! 

 -Dave also enjoys the shows, such as Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular.

-The wonderful Writer' Stop is discussed

-Lisa and I go back to what I feel was the heyday of the park, which was the early to mid 90s.

-I'm up next and I share my FP choices which are usually Tower, Rock'n or Toy Story, and Star Tours.

-The not so wonderful, (this opinion may not necessarily be shared by a certain co-host named Dave) Light's, Motor, Action is discussed. In fact I use the word "abomination," and Lisa agrees.

- I tell our horrible Fantasmic story, and how emotional One Man's Dream makes me.

-Lisa always Fastpasses Toy Story Midway Mania, primarily because she dislikes the queue so much, because it looks like the inside of her brain apparently! 

-She discusses must do attractions as well as her favorite part of the park, the Muppet's area.

-How long is Voyage of the Little Mermaid? I believe it's longer than the actual animated feature!

 

-The possible future of Indiana Jones, the attraction and possible film reboot, is brought up.

-Anyone know what's up with the upgrades to the the Great Movie Ride?

-We speculate on the future of DHS.

-Lisa's upcoming trip is briefly discussed. I express my view of running.

-We ALL agree, Tower of Terror is the best ride at the park! A red letter day!

-The Wheel of DIStany is spun and the topic is: Favorite Ride Vehicle

I ask for clarification of the topic and Dave brings up "elevator shaft" and I immediately steal that as mine!

Dave picks the Monorail and we question if that is a ride vehicle. He then says safari truck.

Lisa picks the People Mover.

We then go ahead and discuss every single ride vehicle that has ever been created before we wrap it up!

Thanks for listening, and if you enjoy the show, please leave feedback on iTunes!
TheDisneyExchange.com
twitter.com/disneyexchange
facebook.com/thedisneyexchange
instagram.com/thedisneyexchange

A Couple of Mug Shots

By Gaylin 

Every now and then I take a trip to a mall I greatly dislike here in Vancouver. Why? Because it has the Disney store in it. Why else? When I need a Disney pick-me-up and a trip is too far away, it is great to go there and feel the magic for a little while.

On one visit I got this lovely mug. Perfect way to have hot chocolate! 
 

The front has a lovely portrait of everyone’s favourite Tigger.

The back lets you know what time it is.

And the bottom lets you know that it was bought at a Disney store and made in Thailand.

Next I was mugged by my own sister! But that’s OK, because I love it when other people ‘shop Disney’ for me at their thrift stores. My sister found this mug in her local store and got it for me, in case I might like it. 

I like it very much. I have no idea if it was an actual ‘bought souvenir’ or possibly a ‘stolen from a sit-down restaurant’ mug. Either way, I know it is older and that it is in perfect shape.

The gold leaf around the rim doesn’t have a single nick or mark on it! 

And the trade mark shows that it was made in Japan for Walt Disney Productions – so maybe it was made for the Disney offices and not for a theme park at all!
.
I am just happy that it is now mine. So… have you been mugged lately?

The Disney Bubble

By Lisa Green

 

The Disney Bubble – it’s a very real phenomenon (doo-doo-do-doo-doo).  In fact, I’d ague that for most “Disney people”, The Disney Bubble is an integral, vital part of the Disney vacation experience and one of the primary reasons we feel compelled to return to Walt Disney World time and time again.

For those of you who haven’t yet experienced it, didn’t notice it, or haven’t known what to call it, the Disney Bubble is the total immersion in the magic of Disney upon arrival at Walt Disney World.  You enter the Bubble and everything changes – the worries, stresses, and cares of everything outside the Bubble disappear.  The weight of adult responsibilities – mortgage, bills, car repairs, office politics, home maintenance, kids’ homework, activity schedules, and so on just lifts away.  Once that weight is gone, you feel better, younger, lighter, happier.

 

For Disney Bubble addicts, once we leave the Bubble, one of our primary concerns is always when and how we will get back in.  This is why count-down calendars/calculators are so popular with us.  There have been particularly stressful times in our life when knowing that if we could just make it through the next XX # of days, we could get back to Disney and the Bubble would make everything seem better.  People that, sadly, have never experienced this most amazing aspect of Disney travel are the ones we can count on to be perplexed at our propensity to vacation at Walt Disney World over and over.  They ask, “Where are you going on vacation?” We answer, “Walt Disney World” and they look at us in confused pity and say, “AGAIN?”  If you haven’t felt the Bubble’s power, you cannot understand its draw.

My personal Bubble Testimony:  There were a few years there along the way when Megan was literally dancing 7-days-a-week and Joseph was involved in martial arts as a teacher, student, and national competitor.  We joked that people thought Raymond and I had gotten a divorce because we were never seen in the same place at the same time.  Every day’s schedule was based on a “divide and conquer” strategy.  Walt Disney World and the Disney Bubble helped our family reconnect, relax together, eat together and enjoy each other’s company while having fun – simple, old-fashioned good times.  Even looking forward to a Disney vacation gave us a common focus when our day-to-day lives were going in many different directions.

If you’re planning a Walt Disney World vacation and haven’t yet embraced the Disney Bubble phenomenon, here are my tips for making the most of the experience:

1. Stay on Property.  Whether you’re a value, moderate, or deluxe resort fan.  This is an integral part of the Bubble Effect.
2. Use Disney Transportation.  If you fly to Orlando, use Disney’s Magical Express to get to the resort from the airport.  It’s included in your resort stay and Disney will get your bags from the airport for you.  Just walk off the plane and onto the motor coach.  It’s literally that easy to get right into the Bubble!  If you drive to Orlando, park your car at the resort and leave it there until it’s time to go home.  Bus, boat, and monorail are important parts of the Disney Bubble – let Disney transportation take care of you and eliminate the worry of driving directions, navigation, and parking.
3. If you must visit other, non-Disney theme parks which shall remain unnamed in this (and every) post, do not leave the Bubble to do it.  Try to stay at Walt Disney World just for Disney.  Go stay somewhere else if visiting other Orlando attractions.  Think of it like this – coming and going from the Bubble diminishes its power.  If you can, stay on Walt Disney World property either before or after visiting those other places.  I’ve I were you, I’d save the best for last, of course.

 

Do you believe in the Disney Bubble?  I have a theory that some people are, tragically, immune to the power of the Bubble.  We refer to these unlucky souls as “non-Disney people”.  I don’t know where their happy place is, but it is not at Walt Disney World.  Probably we shouldn’t try to convert them – it wouldn’t work anyway…plus, it leaves more room in the Disney Bubble for the rest of us.

What are your thoughts about the Disney Bubble?

This article was originally posted on Lisa's Living a Disney Life Blog

Editor's Note: Lisa can also be found co-hosting The Disney Exchange Podcast along with Dave Hodges and myself! - Nick

Cinderella’s Dining at Cítricos – Breakfast and Brunch with The Disney Princesses

By Nick

I didn't have any idea I'd be going to Cinderella’s Dining at Cítricos – Breakfast and Brunch with The Disney Princesses until just a few days before our wonderful breakfast at my favorite resort, Disney's Grand Floridian.

The breakfast, usually held in Cinderella Castle, has been relocated to Citricos while Cinderella's Royal Table undergoes refurbishment.

We attended this grand affair with our friends Kandi and John, and their children Jazzlyn and Grayson.

Barbie, me, Jazzlyn, Cinderella, Kandi, Grayson, and John

I'm very glad we went, not only for the experience, which starts with a photo with Cinderella herself, and continues into the lovely dining room of Citricos, where we also got to meet Belle, Snow White, Jasmine, and Ariel...

...but also for the food, because we were all very pleasantly surprised by the selection!

To start, we were brought coffees, teas, sodas, and our specialty beverages of choice, which were Mimosas, along with a basket of freshly baked multi-grain croissants, blueberry muffins and apple pastries.

For an appetizer, I had the charcuterie, while Barbie asked if it was okay to order 2 items, the charcuterie and the chicken noodle soup, and our wonderful server said "Yes!" Both were very good.

During the meal, wishing wands and swords were brought to the table for Jazzlyn and Grayson to use in the Magical Wishing Ceremony, where, with a little Disney magic "your prince’s or princess’ wish can come true!"

For entrées, both John and I ordered the steak, but instead of the slow-poached egg, we asked if we could substitute scrambled eggs, and were told that was not a problem. I ordered the steak medium rare, and it was more to the medium side, while John asked for his well done, and it was VERY well done, but still good. In the future, I will have to remember to ask for rare, as apparently, steak prep errs to the side of caution.

Barbie had the grilled ham and biscuits.

Kandi had the scrambled egg whites with hot ten-grain cereal, Greek yogurt topped with granola, a whole-grain croissant and fresh fruit.

Jazzlyn had Mickey waffles with sausage and bacon.

Desserts were a trio of a piece of cake they called crème brûlée, chocolate-raspberry cake, and a vanilla bean cream puff, the standout being, perhaps not surprisingly the chocolate cake.

The experience is not inexpensive, being $50 plus tip, but as far as character meals go, we felt it was absolutely one of the better experiences, and the food was a notch above a buffet.

Reservations for Cinderella’s Dining at Cítricos—Breakfast and Brunch with the Disney Princesses can be made by visiting DisneyWorld.com, or calling 407-WDW-DINE.

Mickey Mouse Ceramic Clock

By: Nick

I believe I bought this Mickey Mouse clock at The Disney Store while I was a Cast Member there in the early 90s, but I'm not 100% sure. I have no idea how much it cost.

He stands on a black composite base of some sort, could be wood.

The clock is easily removable to change the single AA battery if need be.

There are no marking indicating where it's from, except a China sticker on the bottom, and copyright Disney on his yellow shoe.

If anyone has any info on this clock, that would be awesome. Take your time.

Wordless Wednesday: Disney Love

Photos by Barbie and Nick