Sunday, September 23, 2012

Just Can't Wait to be...Queen?

While I live(d) in Minnesota, I was actually born in Maryland, unlike my other siblings.  When I was a year old or so, my parents decided to move to Minnesota, as my dad's family all lived there.

And until we bought our own house, we lived with my uncle, aunt, and...Nicest Cousin Ever.

We were young at the time.

And he wasn't named back then of course.  But I can't (or won't, is more like it) use his real name.

Now, NiCE is not a guy who likes Disney.  No.  We used to watch Disney movies together -- we still shout "Football!" during Robin Hood, and a tradition when we visited them was watching The Lion King 2: Simba's Pride.  But that's really the extent of his Disney past.  When we'd play with his toy animals (this is years later), he'd choose all the tough animals like snakes and dinosaurs, while I chose to be Kiara, Kovu, and Simba and Nala.

Speaking of The Lion King, the roles used to be...well, a different story.

Rewind back to when we lived with them: me, my mom, my dad, and I.

Our favorite game to play -- we played together a lot since we were young, the parents didn't want to play with us, and we're only three months apart in age (I'm the older one!) -- was re-enacting The Lion King.  The first one.

We'd play Simba and Nala.

Guess who was Simba.

Me.

That's right.

And the male cousin played Nala.

I've decided to call him that.

Anyway, the reason I shared that was because it makes me laugh (gender-switch!) and it's an interesting story about how Disney and I have been connected for a long time.

By the way, I tease NiCE/Nala all the time about this.  Drives him crazy; his favorite excuse is: "I was little then!  And Nala's pretty sweet."

See ya all real soon! Check me out on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and NetworkedBlogs for more Disney fun.  Coming soon -- Pinterest!

Thursday, September 13, 2012

The Law of a Disney Life

Lately, it's been pretty awesome here at college.

Why?

Because everywhere I go, someone makes some sort of reference to Disney!

Seriously, I think I should start keeping track. 

All the time I overhear college kids reminisce on their Disney VHS tapes--for example, before American Literature today, one girl was commenting on how her mother sold their old VHS player and now she doesn't have anything to use for watching her Disney movies!

The best Disney reference I heard today was actually during American Literature.  We were talking about Jack London's story "The Law of Life" (I recommend it!).  It's about an elderly Indian in Alaska left to die, as is "The Law of Life."  Professor asked us what we thought of the story, its take on a culture very unlike ours.

A fellow freshman raised her hand and mentioned how at the end, when the elderly Indian feels the cold muzzle of a wolf against his cheek (the wolves come at the end to *SPOILER* eat him), she imagined a completely different ending: the Indian becomes a wolf-whisperer, and they take him back to their pack, where he becomes like Mowgli...

Professor kind of paused here and when she spoke again, she made us laugh with: "Jack London, Disney-fied."

I could see that, can't you?

ttfn!

Monday, September 10, 2012

Today in Disney History...

Mickey's voice was born.

Well, to be exact, his fourth voice.  (Random question: who was the first?)

Bret Iwan was born today in California back in 1982.  He became Mickey's fourth (and current) voice after his previous voice actor, Wayne Allwine, passed away in 2009.  Bret took over a very important position, of course, but what's really amazing is that Wayne had done it for 32 years!

Bret is filling some pretty big shoes...and the footsteps (in answer to the above question) go all the way back to Disney himself!

From one of my new favorite sites, thisdayindisneyhistory.com: "...Disney looked within the company to find someone to perform the recognizable voice.  Iwan won the role after a company-wide search where a relative submitted Iwan as a possibility.  In a final audition, Russi Taylor, the voice of Minnie Mouse and the widow of Wayne Allwine, helped in selecting Iwan."

Bret and the Big Cheese himself!
Image from the Disney Wiki.

Here's a cute little video dedicated to Bret and his birthday today.  Happy Birthday, Bret!  Eat a Mickey ears shaped cake.  Now that I think about it though, you've probably heard that an awful lot today....


In honor of Mickey, see ya all real soon!

Just Another Off Day

The Disney Mermaid texted me today to tell me about Young Disney Freak and her growing Disney vocab: just had to share.

Note: I edited TDM's texts because I wanted to keep this...professional.

Before dinner, I received her first text:

Young Disney Freak and I were counting for hide and seek when YDF says, "Let's start over.  This is kind of an off day for me."  And I was laughing before I asked, "What did you say?"  So she said it again, added, "From Tangled!" then burst out giggling.

I began to laugh out loud, right outside the Cafeteria!  I have no idea if anyone looked at me, like last time when I laughed at something Disney-related.

She texted me again:

Then I should tell you [because you'll put this on the Blog] that she was sassy when she said it: "You know?  From Tangled?" like I was dumb or something!  Young Disney Freak is teaching The Disney Mermaid!  Even though I knew where it was from.

Can you picture a three-year-old saying that?  I sure can.

Her last text read:

We were playing follow the leader next (today is just full of Disney).  Every time I said, "This is kind of an off day for me," she'd pause, turn around, stare at me, and then burst out laughing.  It was so funny and all-around cute.

Young Disney Freak's tag line: Gotta love.

Kind of hard not to.

ttfn!  Hope you smiled or chuckled or laughed as much as I did.

(PS: Agh, the Internet and my computer do not get along well!)

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Didn't Know What to Make of That

So my new study partner (or "study buddy") from American Literature is also on the women's soccer team here at my college.  Wanting to support her and the team, I went to their game last Saturday.

Towards the end of the first half, two men and a young child come into my row and sit down one seat away from me.

The closest man was probably in his 30's and obviously the father of the child.  I didn't really get a glimpse of the other man, but I think he was older, maybe the grandfather.

Well, when they sat down, what struck me was that the little boy, around 3 or 4 years in age, held a Disney Princess umbrella.

Cute but at the same time, just a little weird...

He asked his dad (the man I assume to be his dad, as he was sitting in that man's lap the whole time) to untie the ribbon and open it, and the father replied, "Not now; later."

Maybe the little boy received the umbrella as a hand-me-down from possible older female siblings (that sounds very formal, doesn't it?).  It was just a little weird, but I'm cool with a little boy having one.  I'm not labeling Disney Princesses as girls only, but it was just a little weird.

I guess I took this as weird mainly because my unnamed brother, while he got into baby dolls like my sisters, never got into Disney Princesses like them.  He likes the movies, but he's not all about the toys and stuff.

What are your thoughts?  What would you make of a little boy with a Disney Princess umbrella?

They left during half-time, so they were only there for around ten minutes.

Got more great posts to share with you, so see ya all real soon!

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

What Would You Like to Know?

So I've been planning to interview Roomie for a post here on the blog, just to like introduce her to all of you.

However, I was wondering what you'd ask her if you could.

While I'll ask my already-planned questions, I'm more than willing to put your questions at the end.

And so just like with that other important question, send your own questions for her to me via Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, and even right here on Blogspot!  Try to keep them Disney-themed, as I don't want to make her spill her private guts to all of us, if you could.

Thanks everyone!

ttfn!

(P.S. -- sorry, my Internet is being really slow so I couldn't put links in without fear of losing this page!)

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Glowing with a Fantasmic Show

So much much earlier I shared with you about the new Mickey ears that literally "Glow with the Show."

Well, the ears received so much positive attention that Disney has extended their ability, meaning they're slowly making them work with more attractions and shows.  Before they only worked in the new Disney California Adventure.

Now they work in Disneyland Park!

And the first Disneyland Park show where you could "Glow with the Showwas at Fantasmic!



Why I love this so darn much:

First, the ears are fantasmic themselves.  Since I first heard about them, I've wanted one.

Secondly, Fantasmic! is probably my favorite attraction at any Disney Park, even though I have yet to see it in person.  So combining these two things I absolutely love is just...well, as they say: Magical!

What do you think?

ttfn!

For more great Disney fun, find me on Facebook, NetworkedBlogs, Tumblr, and now Twitter!

A Very Important Question

So my Disney Partner in Crime, Sara over at The Disney Den, has started a great series about why people have favorite Disney Princesses.  She's asked her followers (such as yours truly) on Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and Blogspot to share their reasons for liking a certain princess the most.  Check out her first post on Belle.

What am I getting at?

Her posts reminded me of a question I've been planning to ask you myself.  At first, I was just going to ask out of pure curiosity, but I've decided to "steal" Sara's idea and make a post about...this important question!

So let me know your answer to the question below, and I'll write a post with your answer included!  Send me the answers via Tumblr (the ask box), Facebook (post on my page), or Blogspot (comment on this post).

And now, the BIG question.

Drum roll please....

Do you like Aurora in blue or pink?  Or maybe you don't like her in either?  Why?


I forget where this picture came from...
Obviously from a Tumblr blog photoset.
Oh yes, I remember. It's from petitetiaras.tumblr.com
Awesome Tumblr blog -- you all should check it out.

Lemme know!

Personally, I like her in blue because I don't actually like pink -- it's too "girly" for me.  But I understand why they put her in pink (mainly, not to clash with blond-as-well Cinderella in blue/silver).

ttfn!

Oh, and if I didn't make it clear already, Summer Hiatus is over! Welcome back to the routine of blogging, THE Disney Freak, welcome back indeed.

And one more surprise: I'm now on Twitter!