Metal Disney Globe

By Nick

As a collector, I have a wide range of tastes. As you may know, I collect Disney. I also have collected comic books, Star Wars, and Muppets (before they were Disney). In addition, I have a sizable globe and map collection, reflecting my love of travel. So, put 2 things I love to collect together, and you have a sure fire winner, such as Star Wars and Disney, or Star Wars and Muppets

Another winner is this metal Disney globe. It’s a smaller globe, measuring 10″ from the base.







Brought to us by Walt Disney and Rand McNally.



I’ve dated this globe to the late 1950s. As globes are not dated, you can figure out roughly when they were manufactured by geopolitical names and boundaries. Now, I’m no scholar, as anyone I know will tell you, but this globe also has a couple of clues that helped me reach that conclusion.
First, I know it’s from after 1955 by this wonderful little graphic of Mickey inviting us to “Visit Disneyland and see All your Disney friends like ME.”




Then, the globe also shows Goofy riding a camel across French West Africa, which Wikipedia tells me was a federation that existed from 1895 until 1960. So, It had to be made somewhere between 1955 and 1960.
Best guess.



Mickey points the way, and lets us know “There’s something to learn Wherever you turn.”



Indeed, there are little bits of trivia all around this globe.























The base has some interesting characters, including Willie the Whale from the short cartoon “The Whale Who Wanted to Sing at the Met” from the 1946 “package film” ” Make Mine Music” from 1946.





I thought I’d share a picture of part of my globe collection. There are several more, scattered around the house.

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Disney World, Reasons to Smile: Story Behind the Photo

by Nick

There are several reasons why I'm smiling in this photo from nearly 8 years ago, January of 2007.

For one thing, it's sunny and warm. We had just flown in from the very dreary and cold Northeast United States. I'm smiling at the sun! It's also our first stay at a Disney Vacation Club resort, Old Key West. I'd rented points, and we loved it so much, we bought in a couple of months later. And finally, we're in Walt Disney World! How could I not smile?!

Disney Favorites of 2014

By Nick

2014 was a good year. We were very fortunate to visit Walt Disney World several times, and take a 4 night Cruise on the Disney Dream.

I shared food favorites this past Friday, but there was, of course, many other great attractions, experiences and entertainment, including one of my all time favorite movies ever, Guardians of the Galaxy. As these are in no particular order we may as well start there.

Guardians of the Galaxy is action packed, cleverly written, touching, fun, and, oh yea, funny. I got the 3D Blu-ray for Barbie for Christmas, because she loved it as much as me. If you haven't seen it, you really should.

Staying in the super hero vein, I would like to mention Marvel's Agents of Shield on ABC. Technically, it started in 2013, but it went from pretty good to great when they tied it in with Captain America: The Winter Soldier, (also highly recommended) making for one big, exciting, cohesive story full of great twists. Season 1 of Agents has recently been released on Netflix.

Speaking of ABC television, we discovered another favorite, Once Upon a Time. Yes, I know we are late to the party, and I don't feel this newest season was the best, but we love the show and all the Disney references they put in, and we had a great time binge watching the first 3 seasons, which can also be found on Netflix.

On to Walt Disney World. In January, we stayed at my new favorite resort, the Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort. Great location, great views, being able to hear the Magic Kingdom come alive early in the morning and watch the monorail and ferry go back and forth across Seven Seas Lagoon, the room was beautiful, the restaurants, the pools and the great beer selection at the bars.
I could go on and on.

On that same trip back in January, we had what I'm going to choose as best experience at Walt Disney World last year; being picked as the Celebrities of the Day at our favorite restaurant, The Hollywood Brown Derby in Disney's Hollywood Studios.

I say best experience at Walt Disney World, because we had really great experiences outside the bubble, which I would be totally remiss if I didn't discuss, so, in the interest of fairness, I have to mention Barbie getting chosen for a wand, or should I say, the wand choosing Barbie, at Ollivander's Wand Shop in Diagon Alley at Universal Studios. Our overall time at Universal was terrific fun, but this was my favorite moment, and as I type this, I'm looking over at the wand prominently displayed in our living room.

Back to Disney!
I have 2 days which leap out immediately as being favorites, overall, both of which are chronicled in trip reports, something I've started doing as a way to not only share our vacation with friends and family as well as blog readers, but mostly as a way for Barbie and I to remember.

The 1st day was on the Disney Dream, our first visit to Castaway Cay, and dressing as Santa and Mrs. Claus for the Halloween on the High Seas activities that evening.

 The second day was from our most recent trip. It was easily the most festive day of the holiday season for me, where we started the day taking the Behind the Seeds tour at Epcot, met Father Christmas in the UK, Barbie and I got our photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, we had and excellent lunch at the Biergarten in Germany, complete with Christmas Carols from the band there, watched the most moving of all the storytellers, La Befana in Italy, saw the Candlelight Processional narrated by LaVar Burton and were very amused by the antics of Sigrid and Julenissen in Norway! Whew! And I'm leaving stuff out, even!

Favorite attraction. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. It's very well themed, features my favorite Disney character, Grumpy, and it doesn't make me motion sick. What's not to love? A new MUST do each trip!

Also at the Magic Kingdom, you'll find my favorite new afternoon parade, The Festival of Fantasy. Actually, there is only this one afternoon parade in Walt Disney World! We aren't parade fans, but this is worth seeing each and every trip!

Best Sing Along, (only Sing-Along ?) goes to For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. As I've written about here on Musings, because we don't have kids, we really didn't get bombarded with the juggernaut Frozen became, so we really actually liked all the Frozen themed stuff around the park, and this sing-along was amazing, if only to hear a few hundred people sing what are some really great songs.

Best Character interactions; We love getting photos with characters, and the best are when there are multiple characters that interact with each other. At Disney's Animal Kingdom, we met King Louie and Baloo, and they had an altercation over Barbie's affections! It was hilarious.

A close runner up, Mickey Mouse. He talked to us! And not only that, he asked if we would like to pose as the Hitchhiking Ghosts! That was awesome.

 
Favorite new Podcast? Well, that's easy! The Disney Exchange, hosted by Lisa Green, Dave Hodges, and me! Please check us out on iTunes!

What was your favorite Disney moment of 2014?

The Disney Exchange -Episode 003 Show Notes

by Nick

Podcast: Play in new window | Download 

-This weeks topic, the difference between DVC and Deluxe Resorts

-Dave talks about renting DVC points, and I refer to our first and only rental experience at Old Key West.

-Lisa and I explain that DVC Rooms have trash and towel service on the 4th day. Full service is on day 8.

-We talk about room sizes at DVC resorts, and the fact that a kitchenette/ kitchen is a great way to save if you like to cook.

-I explain that we never have need to use a microwave because of my immense stature.
I'm not fat, I'm big boned.

-Lisa immediately breaks one of her New Year resolutions which is to actually pay attention to Dave and me, and goes on to explain that she uses her kitchenette often.

-I give room square footage for DVC and we somehow find ourselves (okay, it was MY fault) discussing LAST week's show topic, transportation, again.

-Dave brings up the fact that some resorts are 100% DVC, such as Saratoga Springs and Old Key West, and I contemplate the next step after all the Deluxe resorts have a DVC Resort.

-Lisa and I disagree on which resort has the best location in relation to a theme park. It's Beach Club, and since I'm typing this, I'm right.

-Old Key West's, Saratoga Spring's, and Animal Kingdom Lodge's remoteness is discussed, and we all agree Animal Kingdom Lodge is AWESOME, especially during longer stays.

-Marathon Weekend (1/9-1/11) and the fact that there is no room availability on Disney property is discussed.

-I talk about why I feel having a higher floor at the Boardwalk Villas, and a Boardwalk View is important.

-Lisa rubs in tells about her Grand Floridian Villas point purchase and we discuss 11 month and 7 month booking windows.

-We talk about split stays, and the downside of changing resorts frequently during one trip.

-Lisa brings up the sizes of DVC Grand Villas and I get free and loose with Dave's money.

-We revisit the location of certain resorts to theme parks and, yep, I'm right, Beach Club is closer to Epcot than Bay Lake Towers is to the Magic Kingdom. I have no hard facts to back this up, but, again, my show notes, my rules.

-How cool are those Tree House Villas at Saratoga Springs?! Have an extra bed for me for free? Contact me on Facebook! :)

-Dave asks what our favorite DVC resorts are, and Lisa defers to me after accusing us of being snarky. My choice: The Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian and I explain the many reasons why.
Lisa's is Bay Lake Tower, and Lisa gives her reasons, which apparently includes strange men handing her towels. We reiterate the greatness of Animal Kingdom Lodge.

-We spin the Wheel of Distany, and land on the Worst Counter Service Restauarant:
Dave's - Pecos Bills
Nick's - ABC Commissary
Lisa's - Pizza Planet

3D Experiences at Walt Disney World

By Lisa Green 

You know how a few years back 3D movies started to make a comeback in the theaters?  You can now pay extra to see many new movies in a 3D format.  BAH!  This new 3D business is nothing like the really cool original 3D movies!  Those were the BEST!  The audience would practically jump out of their seats and screams were guaranteed as the images in the movie seemed to fly right at you.  People would regularly put their hands out to try to touch the 3D objects seeming to hover right in front of their faces.  What fun!  What thrills! 

These new 3D movies are nice and all, but are not nearly as exciting as they were in the good old days.  Thank goodness for Disney World – where you can find some of the very best 3D movie experiences on Earth.  They DO still make ‘em like they used to and you can find one at each of Disney World’s four parks.  If you haven’t visited before or if (GASP!) you passed up the chance, you really need to see at least a couple of these examples of motion picture genius next time you’re at the World.  Short on time?  I’m sharing my three favorites with you and, surprise!  I’ll give you a little commentary about why I think each show is worth a visit.

1.  Mickey’s Philharmagic – Do NOT miss this one.  It is spectacular!  Don your “opera glasses” for this show that highlights our favorite Disney movie songs and packs a few extra surprises you’ve absolutely got to “see”.  I believe it’s called “smell-a-vision” – and in a really good way.  Plus Donald has a very big role (and you know how I feel about Donald)!  Fantasyland, Magic Kingdom.  This 10 minute show is appropriate for all ages – some might even want to see it again and again.  Let them, okay?

2.  Muppet*Vision 3D – This is an awesome way to take a big break from the Florida heat (or rain).  This attraction includes a 15 minute introduction before the 17 minute film – but the fun starts long before you enter the theater.  Take a few minutes to look around outside at the building before you enter the pre-show area.  Once inside, be sure to notice in all the sight gags that abound here – just what we’d expect from the Muppets!  If you notice a sign that says “the key is under the mat” – it’s perfectly fine for you to check!  I think all children from brave toddlers on up will find something to love about this attraction.

3.  It’s Tough to be a Bug – Located beneath the Tree of Life in the Animal Kingdom park – this attraction is clever and unique.  Reunite with some old friends from It’s a Bug’s Life and let them introduce you to the wonderful world of insects as you’ve never seen it before.  For this attraction, you’ll wear “bug eyes” to properly view the show.  There are some pretty significant surprises in this movie that may be too much for small children.

This article was originally posted on the Living a Disney Life Blog

Disney Food Favorites of 2014

By Nick

We ate a lot of great food in 2014, so I thought I'd take a look at some of our favorites.

My new favorite Snack, well, it's new to me anyway, is the Dole Whip Swirl. Pineapple and Vanilla. As a purist, I'd been avoiding it for the longest time, but Barbie thinks plain Pineapple is too sweet, so I gave this a shot. And, she was right, swirl is better!

Snack runner up and Barbie's fav, the Croissant Donut.

Favorite Breakfast: The All You Care to Enjoy Breakfast Platter (and then some, in our case) at Whispering Canyon in the Wilderness Lodge, which consists of Scrambled Eggs, Western Home Fries, Bacon, Sausage, Waffles, Buttermilk Biscuits and Sausage Gravy. Not only was the food delicious, but our server, Jeffro, was excellent.

Our friend Jill with Jeffro

  
Favorite Cheeseburger: Cheeseburgers are my favorite food. Surprisingly, the best Disney burger I had all last year was on the Disney Dream, from Tow Mater's Grill! So good, I forgot to get a photo of it!

Favorite Lunch: Afternoon Tea in the Garden View Lounge at the Grand Floridian. Delicious tea, alcoholic beverages, tiny sandwiches, and pastries. Plus we met and made friends with a wonderful couple. A great afternoon!

Favorite Epcot Internationl Food and Wine Festival offering: the Seared Sea Scallop at Scotland, moist and tender and the spinach-Cheddar Gratin and Crispy Bacon was amazing. So good, I had 2.

Favorite new beer: Einstok, Icelandic White Ale, light and refreshing on a hot day.

 
If I'm honest, no dinner entree stood out as being better than my perennial favorite, the Pork Chop at the Hollywood Brown Derby. 

I'd be completely wrong in not giving an honorable mention to The Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley at Universal Studios, which offers traditional British fair. We ate 2 excellent dinners there, and I look forward to returning in the future.

 The Bangers and Mash

Also, at Universal, they now serve warm Butterbeer, which is better than the cold, and that is saying something indeed!

Please stop back Monday for a variety of favorite attractions and experiences from 2014. 

McDonalds 100 Years of Magic Disney Glass Set

by Nick

In 2001-2002, Disney celebrated what would have been Walt Disney's 100th birthday with the 100 Years of Magic Celebration.

McDonald's released this glassy, er, classy, set of glasses to commemorate this occasion.

Each of the four glasses featured a park icon, with movie and character trivia, and even a quote from Walt!

This first glass features Spaceship Earth.
Park Trivia: EPCOT originally stood for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow
The Walt Disney quote: "Today we are shapers of the world of tomorrow."


Movie Trivia: Buzz Lightyear said "To Infinity and Beyond" only 2 times in "Toy Story"


Character trivia: Belle is the French word for beauty.


The inside bottom of the glass.


This glass displays Cinderella Castle.
Park trivia: Tinker Bell starts the fireworks nightly at the Magic Kingdom.
The Walt Disney quote: "Fantasy...lies beyond the reach of time."


Pinocchio had to be "brave, truthful and unselfish" to become a real boy.


Dumbo's real name was actually "Jumbo Jr.".

Bambi was taught that "twitterpated" meant falling in love.


Park Trivia for this next glass: There are 325 animal carvings on The Tree of Life at Disney's Animal Kingdom
The Walt Disney quote: "...nature herself writes the most interesting stories"


Goofy-first known as "Dippy Dawg"-stars in "Mickey's Jammin' Jungle" Parade.


"Simba" is the Swahili word for "lion".


The outside bottom of the glass.


Mickey's Sorcerer Hat at the Disney Studios is 122 ft. tall.


"Kiss Me" were the only words ever spoken by Pluto.
Donald's middle name is "Fauntleroy."


"...it was all started by a mouse." Walt Disney



Happy New Year, and here's to the next 100 years of Disney Magic!