Hello, Everyone!

I've been wanting to do this post for so long now and I'm finally making the time to sit down and write it. You should know by now that I'm Instagram obsessed. I know a lot of bloggers don't feel the same, but it's like a second creative platform for me. Not to mention how many hours I've scrolled through looking at beautiful pictures. I just love it! 

One of my recent favorite things about Instagram has been Disney accounts. I've come across some truly stunning ones and I really wanted to showcase some of the amazing talent in this genre. 

adisneydreamforever 

You don't see many guys running Disney accounts, but Nick has a serious gift! He captures lots of characters and really highlights the happy expressions on their faces. Each row in his feed seems to match in color, which I find really satisfying. He's just started posting Halloween shots and I'm really happy about it!

whereiskirstie

This is definitely one of my favorite accounts I've found so far. It's just so beautiful to look at! She posts a lot of beautiful details she finds at the parks, or even her outfits that she wears. She has a real eye for it and I just love how she edits her pics.

evetaylorr

The special thing about Eve's account is capturing fun moments at Disney. For those of us who have been lucky enough to visit, there's always those moments that make your face light up from being so happy. Her snaps really capture the fun of Disney and why it might be the happiest place on earth.

dolewhipdani

The prettiest feed you ever did see! There's a major color scheme going on and it's so gorgeous to look at. She has a real mix of characters and park details that are just as pretty to look at. There's a lot of effort going into this account and it pays off.

disneywithabi

I really love the tone of color and softness to Abigail's pictures. She shows a lot of different locations in each of the parks, which is awesome. Most accounts focus on the main attractions, but this one's a true explorer.

windsintheeast

For some reason this account just screams magic to me. It might be the combination of brilliant editing and princess' smile at their adoring fans. Lexi also captures the beautiful colors of Disney and what the do for the experience. I don't know how she was able to capture so many amazing moments with the cast, but she rocks at it.

princepogiatdisney

If you're in the mood for some Disney Halloween pics, this guy is for you! He's been capturing some of the great things about the parks in October, and always looks like he's been having the time of his life. I really adore this one for the pure joy of it.

I really hope you find some new favorites among these! They really are some of the most stunning accounts I follow on Instagram of any genre. They're just so fun and remind me of why I need to go back as soon as I can. 

Who are some of your favorite Disney Insta/bloggers to follow?

Steph x. 

Eight Things From Disney I Wish Were Real!

After watching vlogs from Carrie Fletcher and her time at Disneyworld, plus Louise Pentland sharing the most gorgeous snaps from her park holiday, I seem to have Disney on my mind a lot lately. I caught the magic bug after my trip to LA last year, and I am already planning on dragging my boyfriend back there in 2018 (sorry Steve, it has to happen.) 

I've been wanting to write a Disney post for a while and the other day I got thinking about my favorite things about this genre. And also about what parts of the universe that I would love to be real for us. Just for a bit of fun, let's work our way through some of my favorite Disney movies and imagine what it would be like if we had a little more magic in the world. 

Animal Side-Kicks

I'm starting with the best one here. It's always been my favorite part of the movies: Pascal, Pluto, Sven, Maximus, Sebastian, and my personal favorite, Meeko (the adorable and ever-hungry raccoon from Pocahontus.) How cool would it be to have a cute companion to cheer you up and be your partner in crime? 

Castles

People really don't build enough castles these days. In the world of Disney there seems to be a castle in every region, and I feel like it needs to be a thing. If they all come with a firework display as well, life would be so much more magical!

Fairy God-Mothers 

I don't have any god-parents, or much by way of grand parents either, so to have a lovely lady with a magic wand be there when I need her sounds lovely! And not just for me, because I know out there are plenty of children who desperately need a fairy god-mother with them. It might made the world a happier place.

Balls 

I'm talking grand castles, guys in tuxedos, girls twirling in dresses fit for a princess, and (hopefully) and incredible feast table. I don't know about you guys but I have always had a secret wish to go to one of the balls like you see in Cinderella. I've never been overly-girly, but I think these dances need to make a comeback. 

Neverland 

Okay but imagine Peter Pan whisking you away when you were a kid to fly among stars, bounce on clouds, and fight a band of pirates. Every kid should experience that! And even though I wouldn't want to be a kid forever (and because Neverland doesn't have a good supply of chocolate) I still think this type of adventure would keep your belief in magic for a lifetime.

Mermaids

Oh, yes please! I've always had a fascination with mermaids and I'm not entirely convinced they aren't still lurking where humans haven't searched yet. If they're as lovely as Ariel, then I wish for them to be real!

The Avengers

I know it would also mean aliens would come to earth, but how cool would it be to take a trip to New York and see Spiderman flying from building to building? You might even get caught in some cross-fire and Captain America will come running in and save you. We could use some Iron Man technology to be honest. I'm so in!

Baymax 

I would never need anything else in life if I had a cuddly and caring friend like this big inflatable puff. He made us feel all the feels in Big Hero 6 and I would happily have him as my companion. Not that he would fit in my car, but he would be useful when I hurt myself while running (it happens way more than it should.)

What would you love to see brought to life from the world of Disney?
Steph x.

Disneyland Bucket list: How did I do?

I think making a bucket list for every exciting place you travel to is such a brilliant idea. It lets you get the most out of your time and your goals for the trip are more meaningful. I made a Disneyland Bucket list before heading away, and after reading Paige's Disneyland Paris Bucket list Revisited post on her blog, I thought it would be cool to share mine too! She got up to some awesome stuff, so make sure you go check out it out.

My day at Disneyland was full of fun with my family. It made us all feel young and we all laughed so hard going on rides together. It's a day that I will never forget and hopefully I can go back soon to explore more of what Disney has to offer. Especially when the new Star Wars park opens!

Here's how I did on my list! 

Buy a pair of Minnie ears and wear them the whole day

Done! After a little exploring we stopped for coffee on Main Street and planned what to do next. We walked passed a little store selling clothing and I found my fluffy pair of ears. I probably should have waited to see some other designs, but I love the classic pair. Didn't take them off until we went to bed! I actually almost lost them on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, but luckily we were sitting at the front!

Eat a Mickey-shaped churro (or two) 

One thing's for sure, Disney make the best churros! I never found one shaped like Mickey Mouse, but I did eat a normal one during the parade. It was delicious and crispy; really craving one now!

Ride the Tea Cups with my Mum 

This has to be one of my favorite memories of the day. All four of us piled into a cup and my Dad spun it so fast that we were all cracking up laughing. It definitely felt like something out of Alice and Wonderland. I'll never forget going on this ride and sharing the experience with my family. 

Touch Snow White's Apple & hear the Witches' laugh

Yup, this was spooky! I didn't touch this one myself, but I did dare my brother to go do it and it was quite the surprise. We also stood outside the ride and waited for the Evil Queen to appear in the window. She's so scary!

Get my hands on Dole Whip from the Tiki Room

Sadly this was one that I didn't achieve that day. Every time we walked past, there were huge cues and they weren't letting people inside the Tiki Room for a while. I decided to give it a miss, but I will definitely go back and try my luck again next time.

Explore Cinderella's Castle

I have to admit that seeing this iconic castle for the first time was a little surreal. I never got to look inside because no one else in my family was very interested, but it's something I may have to take my Mum along to on our next visit.

Ride Splash Mountain (and get soaked) 

We had really bad timing for this one, especially since it's such a popular ride. We first came across it around lunch time, but all I could think about was food (of course.) Then it was late-afternoon when the weather was cooling down, so I didn't want to aggravate my fading cold by getting wet. I'm disappointed we didn't make this one, but at least now we know to get our timing right!

Take a picture in front of the castle

Done! And I even wore my Minnie ears for it too. The castle was a lot smaller than I was expecting, but still so magical to see it in real life. I can only imagine what it must have been like when the park first opened.

Stay and watch the fireworks show

This was the most magical experience of the whole day. We were lucky to get a great view of the castle and it was honestly better than I expected. Shooting stars, the best Disney songs (See the Light from Tangled!) and light projections on Main Street to include everyone. I got emotional watching it and I can't wait to bring my own children to see it someday!

Yell "Andy's coming!" at Toy Story characters and see f they fall down

It was actually really hard to spot Disney characters throughout the day. I only saw the Mad Hatter and Alice, plus Aladdin and Jasmine (who looked just like the animated character!) and finally Goofy. I never managed to spot the Toy Story characters, but I might use the Disney app and track them down next time. I'm dying to see if this works!

Make a wish in Snow White's well 

This one was tricky to find actually, and by the time we did find it, they had roped off the area for the parade :( I was really looking forward to doing this and from what I saw of the little area it was so cute! On our quest to see if we could get through, we did wander through Pixie Hollow, and that was really cool to see. Not a total loss after all!

Visit the Star Wars Launch Bay & check out the props

Tomorrowland was the first part pf the park that we explored, mainly because my family is all mad on Star Wars (myself included.) Launch Bay was such a cool exhibit and they had full costumes and models from the actual movies. It's also where you can meet certain characters and I had the coolest experience meeting Kylo Ren!

Overall I think I did pretty well! Next time I will know all the tricks, like hitting the busy rides while everyone is at the parades. I am itching to go back already and tick off the rest of my bucket list! 

What would be on your Disney list? 

Steph x.

Magical Moments At Disneyland!

Everyone talks about Disneyland being a magical place, and I can definitely confirm that it's true. The whole day wasn't perfect, but there were some pretty special moments that happened to all of us. Even as grown-ups we had the best time and could feel a bit of the magic around the place. I thought I would share my magical Disney moments with you and see if you've ever experienced some magic at a park too!

Meeting Kylo Ren 

This wasn't something I expected to happen at all that day, which only made it even more fun. My family and me went into the Star Wars Launch Bay, which is full of awesome props from the movies. My brother jumped in line for something and I joined him not knowing what it was. The awesome and hilarious cast members kept us entertained in line then we went through to meet him. It was pretty scary! You hear is big boots coming then he marched us over to take photos. It was awesome! 

Riding the Tea Cups with my family 

There's something so iconic about this ride, so it had to be done. Everyone in line was so excited to get on and we all ran to an available tea cup when we were let in. Me, Mum, Dad and my brother all hopped into an orange one and spent our time laughing as my Dad spun us super-fast. It was just one of those moments where you feel pure joy. I loved it so much!


Paint The Night Parade 

 

The funny thing is, no one in my family was that enthusiastic about seeing the parade. We all thought it was just for kids. But after it caused the park to get a bit chaotic, we decided to hop under the rope and watch it anyway. It was absolutely stunning and I even started getting a few tears in my eyes because it was all so magical. The floats are beautiful and the music makes the atmosphere really fun. Adults definitely enjoy it as much as the kids do!


Pretending to be a X-Wing pilot at Hyperspace Mountain

 I'm a massive Star Wars fan, which is why Tomorrowland was probably my favorite part of the park. There was a huge line for this ride all day, but we finally bit the bullet and it was well-worth the wait! You sit in the pilot seat during a flight mission and dogfight with Imperial fighters (I know I sound nerdy, so bear with me.) The visuals definitely need updating, but it was still one of my favorite rides of the day. I had the biggest smile on my face when it was over.


Forever Fireworks Spectacular

Everyone always talks about these fireworks and now I know why. We got a prime spot looking right at the castle, which projects scenes from some of the best Disney movies. It's a total experience with the fireworks, favorite songs blasting, and they even made snow float down during the Frozen part! I genuinely shed tears as I watched the whole show. It was pure magic.


Best Churro I've ever had! 

It was on my bucketlist to eat a churro at Disneyland, so I was determined to make it happen. As we watched the second parade of the night, we finally found a vendor still selling them. They were honestly the best churros I've ever eaten! (and I've had quite a few in my time.) Super-crispy and delicious, it was the perfect way to finish off a magical day at Disney.



Have you ever had a magical Disney moment?

 Steph x.

What I Ate: A Day At Disneyland!

Breakfast

We ate really quickly before leaving the house since we had a long drive to get to Disney. I made some quick oats with chopped banana and strawberries on top. Perfect way to get some energy for an exciting day!

After visiting a few attractions we were desperate for a mid-morning caffeine fix. We visited Starbucks on Main Street to order some coffees, and we couldn't resist getting this Mickey cookie! It was pretty delicious. 

Lunch

We were wandering around Frontierland and came across the Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante. It's an awesome Mexican grill and the best part was sitting outside and watching the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad go past (we went on straight after lunch and it was so fun!) I got the fish tacos and it tasted pretty good. I would definitely go back there again. 

Second Starbucks run of the day! The others got cold drinks, but I went for another cappuccino. We also got one of these little snack boxes to share and keep up our energy levels. Taking breaks during your day at Disney is really important, especially if you want to make it to the fireworks show!

Dinner

After getting soaked on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, we decided to dry off while eating dinner. My Mum really liked the look of these bread bowls from Royal Street Veranda in New Orleans Square. I got the vegetarian gumbo and sat opposite the Rivers of America to eat. I didn't manage to finish it all, because I was saving myself for a churro later in the evening. 

Dessert

To escape the pre-parade mayhem, we stopped by the Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe for a little treat. The shop itself is super-cute and would make a great place to get lunch or an easy dinner. I got yet another coffee, plus shared this gorgeous raspberry Mickey macaroon with my Mum. It was amazing! Plus sitting outside with all of the lights and watching people go by was part of the fun. 

After the fireworks show and a long wait for the Peter Pan ride, we caught the beginning of the second lights parade and I finally found a vendor still selling churros! We bought a few and munched on them through the show and on the walk back to our car. It was definitely one of the best I've ever had.

I should add that I made sure to drink a lot of water throughout the day as well. I kept buying a bottle at each stop to make sure I wasn't getting dehydrated in the sun. 

And that was my day on a plate at Disneyland! There were so many other choices that I wanted to try and treats that I need to go back for. Disney spoils you for choice and it's definitely a part of the experience.

Do you have a favorite food you can only get at Disney?

Steph x. 

My Disneyland Bucketlist

I've probably started annoying some of you with my holiday talk, but I'm so excited because in a few short weeks I'm going to be in Disneyland! Coming from New Zealand, it's been a childhood dream to go to one of the parks, but America is just so far away. Time (and my parents) have been kind to me and I will be able to be a kid again for a day. 

I thought it would be cool to jot down a bunch of things that I really want to do, especially since we only have one day there. I really want to make the most of my experience, so here's my Disneyland Bucketlist:

Buying a pair of Minnie Ears and wear them the whole day

Eat a Mickey-shaped churro (or two)

Ride the tea cups with my Mum

Touch Snow White's apple and hear the witch's laugh

Get my hands on some Dole Whip from the Tiki Room 

Explore Cinderella's Castle

Ride Splash Mountain (and get soaked!)


Take a picture in front of the castle. All the selfies!


Stay and watch the fireworks show


 See the Iron Man suits at Innoventions in Tomorrowland


Yell "Andy's Coming!" at the Toy Story characters and see if they drop down


Make a wish in Snow White's Well


Visit the Star Wars Launch Bay and check out the props


Tour Tarzan's Treehouse




Let's see if I can do it all in one day!

What's on your Disney Bucketlist? Is there anything I should do?
Steph x. 

The Disney Tag!

Hello Everyone!

I came across this tag on a few other blogs and thought it would be a bit of fun. I feel like I've gained a new love of Disney this year, which has probably come from watching Cinderella too many times. I found this tag harder than I thought since it's so hard to choose just one favorite! We all have this problem, right?

Favorite Disney movie
There's no way I can pick just one! But my top three are Tangled, Meet the Robinsons, and Cinderella (the 2015 live action).


Favorite Disney Character
This is a tough one! I love too many. I might have to go with Sully from Monsters Inc. since he has a special place in my heart. When I was about 10 I had to have surgery and the day I got home my Dad got a call saying we had won a competition and I got a Sully toy! It made me feel so much better.

Favorite Disney Princess
It has to be Rapunzel from Tangled. I love her spirit and excitement about things, plus she's not a typical princess. I feel like she would get along with everyone because she's so sweet.


Favorite Disney Sidekick
Definitely has to be Rapunzel's sidekick Pascal. Who wouldn't want a sassy little friend who can sit on your shoulder?


Favorite Disney Song
For some reason "A Spoonful of Sugar" from Mary Poppins seems to stand out for me. That movie definitely has the best soundtrack!

Which Disney character would be your best friend?
Bert from Mary Poppins would be pretty fun to have as a best friend! I feel like we would just go on adventures whenever we felt like it. He has a great imagination and always sees the bright side of things, I like being around people like him. I'm a bit like Mary too, so we would get on well.

Who would be your Disney pet?
This has to be Rajah, Jasmine's pet tiger in Aladdin. I always thought it was the coolest thing ever when I watched the movie and no one would ever mess with you.


Have you ever been to Disneyland? 
No, it's heart-breakingly far from New Zealand! But we have plans to visit LA next year so it looks like I will be there soon! I'm currently saving every penny I can to spend in the gift shops.

Who is your Disney alter-ego? 
I might have to say Cinderella. I would secretly love to get dressed up in a big twirly blue dress, and I think since I'm a quiet person people often take that as being rude. But I'm a lot kinder than you think!  

Who is your favorite Disney villain? 
Definitely Yzma from the Emperor's New Groove! Her and Kronk are flipping hilarious. I have to say though, as a kid I was definitely most scared of Cruella de Vil. She was terrifying! Still scares me today, to be honest.

Do you collect anything Disney?
I seem to have started a habit of buying a small plush toy in the different Disney stores that I visit. I got Pascal from the one in Times Square (coolest Disney store ever!) and this year I got Sven from Honolulu.

What Disney film would you star in if you could?
This is kind of cheating (it technically IS Disney) but I would definitely go with the Avengers. Although it would also be awesome to play Mary Poppins or Anna from Frozen.

How old were you when you watched your first Disney movie? 
I was four! I still remember going to the cinema to see Pocahontas with my Mum and next door neighbor. My Mum even let us pick a small toy to take home. I got a small Pocahontas figurine and I still have it today! She sits proudly on my bookshelf and it's probably one of my most prized possessions, because it's such a lovely memory.

What do you love about Disney?
I've always loved the magic of it and how they encourage you to use your imagination. I think we need as much light and goodness in this world that we can get, the more heroic princesses the better! And it's something adults can enjoy along with their children which is important.

Who is your favorite Disney couple?
Probably Rapunzel and Flynn. They're not your typical Princess and Prince Charming, and I love how they're so different from each other. She's very naive and will befriend anyone, where as he questions everything, but they kinda just let each other be. So cute!

Well, that was fun! Can you guys pick just ONE Disney film you love most? (Or a few favorites!)

Let me know in the comments!

'Til next time x. 

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