Disney Things to do in Quarantine!

Long time, no see!  Of course, that's how everyone's feeling now--not just me for abandoning my blog for so long!  Honestly, it can be easy getting lost in everyone else's blogs and social media accounts dedicated to Disney, and start to feel like I have nothing new to add to the conversation, but THAT'S NOT THE POINT OF THIS BLOG!  The point is, I love Disney, and I love writing, and that's that.  So in the spirit of revisiting passions during self-quarantine, I thought of sharing a list of fun activities to keep you in a Disney frame of mind!

What to Eat

My friend Marla (a wonderful artist who also teaches the sip-and-paint classes offered at the Disney World hotels--follow her on Instagram @marla_e_artist) told me that Disney is sharing certain park favorite recipes on their app, My Disney Experience!  So far they've shared a Dole Whip recipe (blend 4oz pineapple juice with 2 cups of frozen pineapple, and add one big scoop of vanilla ice cream, to make 4 servings), and the Disney Parks Blog has a Mickey Mouse Beignets recipe, and churro recipe!  There are a lot of copycat recipes floating around on the great interwebs!  I've also seen Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bars and Mickey Ice Cream Sandwiches at my local grocery store (I currently have the sandwiches in my freezer).  I recommend using InstaCart or Shipt for any grocery errands (and please tip your shoppers)!  You can also make Mickey-shaped ANYTHING if you have cookie cutters, circular food (Oreos, Nilla wafers, banana slices), and/or imagination!  Just the other day I made a Mickey-shaped chocolate chip cookie sundae, thanks to my oversized Mickey cookie cutter!

What to Watch

Disney Plus is a great option if you need a daily dose of Disney!  I'm making my way through the Star Wars saga, myself!  For those who still watch TV, Spectrum is offering the new season of the DuckTales reboot (season 3) on demand for free until May 31!  (I have so much to say about how DuckTales is KILLING IT that I might have to make a separate blog!)  Over on WDW News Today, they've posted a list of character shows from Tokyo Disney made available to watch on YouTube for a limited time (some of these aren't available anymore).  You can always type in parade names and Point-of-View ride videos of attractions from any Disney park on YouTube and you'll find lots of fun things to watch!

What to Craft

The Flower and Garden Festival is my favorite Epcot Festival and I was SO BUMMED that I didn't get to go before the closures.  So I channeled that frustration into these floral Minnie headbands for my mom & myself with woodsy-looking wire, fake flowers, and headbands from Michaels!  I learned by watching a youtube tutorial years ago, and you can, too!  The Disney Parks Blog is also sharing video tutorials of how to draw a VERY LONG LIST of characters!  Disney Family also has a long list of crafts to choose from, including this colorful pom-pom Mickey pillow!

What to Wear

These days you might feel like it doesn't matter WHAT you wear--you don't have to go anywhere, and no one will judge you but your cat.  But our appearances affect how we FEEL!  Don't forget what Jerry told George when he showed up in sweatpants!  I have a long history (starting in 2012 when I first stumbled upon the tumblr account) of putting together Disneybounds (if you don't know, please drop everything and click here), in which you put together an outfit based on a Disney character (it's not a costume).  Canadian Leslie Kay and her friend dreamed this up years ago when they were getting excited for a trip to the parks--they were Disney-bound, and playing it up to get excited about their trip!  A woman after my own heart!  This trend has really blown up over the last few years and she even released a book this month!  If you have Instagram, you can follow the trend at @thedisneybound where she shares flatlays of outfits and pictures of people just like you and me in their Disneybound finest!  Another fun Disney fashion account to follow is @ashtinelikekutcher, who also posts flatlays (all the elements of an outfit arranged together and laid out flat, like an outfit display without the mannequin) of Disney-inspired outfits, and where to find everything!

What to Listen To

I've been listening to a Disney mix on Pandora (I ask Alexa, "Play Disney on Pandora," and she says, "Disney--CHILDREN'S--radio, on Elyse's Pandora Account" and I feel like she's making fun of me every time) on those rare occasions when I'm not on the couch watching TV.  I'm not a podcast-listener yet, so I don't have any Disney ones to recommend, but I'm sure they exist!  You can also look up soundtracks on Spotify and YouTube.  On Instagram, @michaeldoesdisney was posting daily COVID-19 related Disney spoofs that are very entertaining to watch, and he also recommended an account, @disneyworldsounds, which uploads exactly what you'd think--minute-long sounds of Disney World, including ride music and announcements, parade music, voiceovers, and environment sounds (i.e. Main Street USA background music)!  You can also tune into one of my live couch concerts where I play originals and covers (including Disney songs and a special ukulele Disney medley I put together) on my instagram account, @elysebuckley!

What to Do

Now that you have some ideas, you can combine your favorites into activities!  I love having video chats with my friends, using the Marco Polo app, and Zoom for longer conversations, and I'm grateful to the US Postal Service for still delivering letters and packages to those in need of a pick-me-up (or essentials)!  You can have a video conference party with friends (perhaps you all get dressed up in your favorite Disneybound with a Disney-themed cocktail), a movie watch-party (my friends and I text reactions as we watch together), or send some heart-felt letters with doodles and photos to the friends you wish you were with!  Decorate your windows to make someone's walk a little brighter!  Make chalk art of your favorite inspirational messages and characters!  If you miss being at the parks, you can recreate some rides or park decorations, or even turn your bathtub into a lazy river!  Dress like Ellie and have a picnic on your own "hub grass!"  Comment with any other ideas below, and have a safe and fun time, making your own magic!

Eco-Friendly at Disney!

5 years ago, I participated in a challenge called 48 Days of Blue which gave a list of small changes to make in your daily routine to be more eco-friendly.  The number 48 comes from the number of days between Earth Day and World Oceans Day!  That's where I first learned how even a small change like not using a plastic straw could make a big impact!

🌍🌎🌏

Some of the easiest challenges I found were using a tote or cloth bag when shopping, using cloth napkins, bringing my own cup to cafes, and packing my own lunch.  This challenge has made me take some more time to think about my everyday choices!  If I'm planning on going to a restaurant, I try to remember to bring a container so if I have leftovers, I can pack them myself and not waste plastic or styrofoam to-go boxes!

2 of my favorite Disney Parks reusable cups! (Stainless steel straw is my own)

I'm so happy to see big companies making some changes to their practices and products, like Marshalls selling biodegradable toothbrushes, and Publix Supermarkets selling a set of 6 reusable metal straws and cleaner for $5.99.  When I visited the Florida Aquarium on World Oceans Day, I noticed they are now selling a wide variety of eco-friendly products, like Bee's Wrap (beeswax and cloth alternative to plastic wrap), reusable water bottles and lunch containers, 4oceans bracelets (one bracelet sold = 1 pound of plastic removed from the ocean), socks made from recycled plastic water bottles, and reusable straws!  Which made me wonder...  where is Disney on this eco-trend?

Maybe they're already doing an awesome job of stocking eco-friendly products (I've seen reusable water bottles and cups that come with washable straws, like those pictured above), but I haven't seen much else!  And with a park solely dedicated to animals, I'm surprised that the only eco-conscious thing I've witnessed so far was the decision not to stock plastic straws (they have paper now) or sell balloons.

This Halloween milkshake is from Magic Kingdom and THEY used a big old paper straw, too!

Disney, as a company, has been eco-conscious on a larger scope for some time, as you can see from their conservation fund efforts (click there to see the field of solar panels in a Mickey-head shape you can drive past on your way to the parks)!

I donated a dollar to the conservation fund back in 2008 and got this pin!

One big and exciting new offer at the parks is the line of reusable shopping bags exclusive to each park (and Disney Springs) in 3 different sizes each!

This is the big bag!  I had to stretch my arm out to get this photo! 😆

Another huge change is the makeover to Disney hotel showers--no longer do they have single-use plastic bottles of shampoo/conditioner (as cute as they were, with the tiny Mickey ears.. I've kept many from my visits in the past so I'm not too upset 😉), opting instead for pump-bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash attached to the wall so you can't throw it out!  This saves so much plastic!!

Don't try to take these bottles home!

What I would LOVE to see are more eco-friendly products being offered... with Disney themes!  How about some bamboo cutlery with Mickey heads cut out of, or branded into, the handles?  What about Animal Kingdom bamboo toothbrushes?  Bee's Wrap with Mickey heads printed on them, or princesses, or Zootopia characters?  Please let me know if these products exist somewhere!!

In the meantime, here are some easy ways to be eco-conscious at the parks!

My bamboo fork was perfect for my Italian dish at Flower & Garden!

1. Bring your own cutlery, especially during festivals!  My parents got me a set of bamboo utensils for Christmas, in a carrying case made from recycled water bottles and a carabiner clip.  It came in so handy at the Flower & Garden Festival this year so I wasn't tossing a set of plastic cutlery at every booth!

2. Bring your own reusable water bottle!  I wasn't sure if we could bring our own into the parks--I know you can't have an opened water bottle going through airport security--but my friend was visiting me and brought her own and they were totally fine with it! (Of course, you probably won't want to refill it with that Disney water fountain water 🙈--try asking nicely for refills at Starbucks and quick-service restaurants!  They might have to give you a cup, but it's better than a plastic water bottle!)

3. Bring your own bag! I bring a backpack on my trips anyway, so this one was a no-brainer!

Of course my list is all bringing your own stuff, but you can purchase reusable totes and adorable cups and mugs at the parks!  Starbucks has many drink container options.

Some Epcot drink container options!  You can be eco-friendly AND fashionable!

I'm such a big Disney fan, but I also care about the choices I make for the environment.  I'd love to see Disney using their brand to encourage the purchase of more sustainable, eco-friendly products to take home and to use again in the parks!

New Best Hangout Spot at MK

I took a magical Christmas-time trip to Magic Kingdom with my family this past weekend (can't remember the last time we all went together!) since my parents are visiting from NY for the 2nd Christmas in a row.  It was VERY crowded, and we decided, after a few FastPass rides, to relax with a WDW railroad trip around the Kingdom!  We were upset to find out that it actually isn't running due to the new Tron ride they're building--the construction is on or close to part of the tracks.  So not only was it not running that day--it won't be running for quite some time!

While this was initially a let-down, it ended up being a nice break from the crowds!  The conductors were still working at their station, delivering the sad news to visitors but welcoming us to have a seat, take a break, take pictures... They even gave us each a sheet of Mickey's 90th Birthday stickers!  We took a couple goofy photos (pun not intended!) and I tried taking a family selfie (direct-sunlight fail), and we just put our bags down and relaxed.

It looks out onto the entrance so you can see all the people excited as they come in!  I don't know if they would let people have a full-blown picnic on the seats, but I'd recommend trying it!  At least a little snack break!  The sky might even smile at you!

It's a great place for railroad fanatics too because, in the station, there are some display cases of train models and other train paraphernalia.  The top floor has a great view of Main Street, USA:

You can see the castle, the Christmas tree, and some Christmas decorations!  I bet it looks great at night, too.  On the inside they have old nickelodeons that actually work (and are free!) with black and white shorts and cartoons.

I got excited and thought this was Oswald out of the corner of my eye.  Looks more like Felix.  Oddly, they don't even show the cat that was in the bag!

A nickelodeon!

Just gorgeous!

So on super crowded days, or if your feet are aching, remember the stationary WDW railroad where they let you stay a while and take it all in!

New Flower Hunt at Epcot's International Flower and Garden Festival!

Before I moved to FL a year and a half ago, I wanted to fly down from NY just so I could participate in the egg hunt (or "Eggstravaganza") during Flower and Garden.  It looks like it started in 2014 with these eggs as the prizes:

from disneyparks.disney.go.com

Now that I see what the first options were, I'm so upset I didn't actually go!  😂  I think these are the cutest out of all the ones I've seen!  Later on they added ones like the Cheshire cat, Lady & the Tramp (2 different ones so you'd need 2 maps), Jessie and Woody, and Dory and Nemo.  You have to buy a map, then look around Epcot (there is also a Disneyland one, I don't know how that operates) for the character eggs hidden in all different countries around World Showcase.  It's the cutest Easter egg hunt EVER.  (They have other search-and-finds like the Ratatouille one a couple years ago you can read about here, the Festival of the Arts one where you had to locate a specific painting in each country, and the one I wrote about in my last post with Chip & Dale on hidden wreaths around each country.)

So I was thrilled when I got to participate last year and got myself a Mickey egg!  (I later found BINS of them at Cast Connection--a special store only Disney Cast Members are allowed into but they can bring friends and family as guests--I HIGHLY recommend a visit!  But this made it seem so not special that I didn't get any.  And where would I put them?  I value the one I earned!!  And I keep it on my bathroom counter.)

I saw the options for this year, and I wasn't crazy about them, but I did see a NEW search and find with a long-lost character, Spike the Bee, from Donald Duck cartoons of the 1950's and 60's!

Spike's Pollen-Nation Exploration!  Just like the other search and finds, you have to find something in almost every country.  This time you had to find a special flower or plant in each garden.  It was a bit easier than other search and finds because they were all on the ground, in specific gardens.  They each had a photo of the plant sticking up out of the ground with an adorable model of Spike hanging out right next to it.

                       

The one by Mexico was probably the hardest.  No, I'm wrong, the hardest for me was the one in Savanna because I didn't see that one!!  I'll have to check again next time if they're still up.  I didn't really mind because I had found all the rest and I could use process of elimination (plus they don't even check.  I actually heard a cast member ask if someone buying the map wanted their prize before they even started searching--where's the fun in that!!?).  

Before I bought the map (you get your usual discount if you are an Annual Passholder--which I JUST BECAME so this blog is going to get a well-deserved facelift, at least in content and frequency of posts!) I asked what the prize was.  It was a set of patches with characters on them.  (For Festival of the Arts last year, they were magnets of classic art pieces with Figment in them--I don't know if they did it this year.  For the Ratatouille one you could get a really nice quality pin with Remy and the vegetable of your choice.  For the Chip & Dale wreaths one you get a set of buttons--the circular pins with safety-pin kind of backs of the ornaments you found and one larger one of Chip & Dale.)

I was trying to be non-chalant about taking a photo of all the options so it's not the best angle:

(and someone else's hand--I'm not engaged 😂)

I was really torn between the Figment set and the Mickey set, but the Mickey set had Orange Bird, and Figment had 2 with just writing on them.  So, sorry Figment, you still have my heart, but there's just not enough Orange Bird merch going around (unless you go to the Disney dress shop--there's a dress, an adorable purse, and jewelry of him).  I haven't decided where I'm putting them yet but I'm happy with what I got!  I'd say the Exploration was totally worth it.  It's fun to have a purpose and notice things you normally may not.

As for the Eggstravaganza--the options this year include the updated cartoon shorts versions of Mickey and Minnie (not my cup of tea), Mike Wazowski and Sulley, and Cinderella and Belle.  If you are an AP you can purchase a set of 2 Star Wars eggs for $9.99 plus your discount.  They are of a storm trooper and C3PO!

I believe you can purchase the maps at various spots but I know for sure you can get them at the Port of Entry at the beginning of World Showcase, and at World Travelers, which is at the back entrance/exit by the Beach Club resort.  You can only redeem your maps at the main shops on either side of the entrance to World Showcase (definitely at Port of Entry, and I imagine at the one facing it too.  There is another one, right?  Anyway go to Port of Entry if you're in doubt!).

Pokemon, Amorette's, Ghirardelli, and More Merch from Disney Springs!

My parents came to visit my brother and me last week and the closest timeshare they could find was in Kissimmee, which is right outside Orlando.  So of course we all went to Disney Springs together!  First of all, if you are staying outside Disney property, definitely check out local stores, outlets and gift shops.  There are tons of souvenirs around!  I went to CVS and they had aisles of stuffed animals, mouse ears, and Disney mugs!  I bought a towel there!

So I haven't had a good margarita since I moved down here.  I went over to Dockside Margaritas in Disney Springs and got this Patrón Añejo Margarita (I had to look that up from the site).

Exactly what I had been craving!  You can read the menu here.

Then of course we went to the World of Disney!  I hadn't seen these mugs last time:

These are just 2 of the many cute designs like this!  The ceilings are always fun to look at in this store.  Here are Ariel and Pocahontas, and a little mural of Mickey and Minnie on a magic carpet ride with Aladdin and Jasmine!

These Mickey magnets are so pretty, but a little bit expensive in my opinion.  I bought three for my classroom, but I also got to use a resident discount!  I don't know if that's new this weekend, only on weekends, or for a limited time... But it was 15% off last Monday when we were there, and becoming 20% off the next day!  It was still 20% off when I went back this weekend!

Pokemon Go isn't going unnoticed at the Springs!  I haven't heard much about it in the news lately (we must be getting used to it), but a couple weeks ago Basin announced some limited edition Pokeball Bath Bombs!  Aren't they adorable?  I finally went back and bought one yesterday haha.  I was just too curious to see what was inside!  (I'll show you in my next post!)

Also, Starbucks was giving out free samples of a PokemonGo "Team Instinct"-inspired Mango Lemonade!  It was actually really tasty and refreshing!!  Where do I sign up for this team? 

We stopped by a new shop called Amorette's, which is a french patisserie that has these adorable Mickey-shaped financiers (like almond sponge cakes, according to Google.  Wish I had known this.  I would have bought one!) You can read the menu here.  

The financiers and most pastries are $8, and I was surprised that the mini cakes (which are decorated exquisitely) are only $15!  They also have boxes of beautiful pastel macarons.  The big-ticket items are the Mickey and friends cakes which are $65.

But so cute you can kind of justify it...

This woman is painting the ears (probably with chocolate).  There are decorations around suggesting an artists' workshop, and I was happy to find this painting of one of my favorite Disney parade costumes from the Festival of Fantasy:

And I love this wall of sprinkles in color order!!

Speaking of Sprinkles, I finally made it inside! 

I loved the Sprinkles in NYC and this is very similar.  They also have ice cream!  I was hoping they'd have some special Disney cupcake (maybe they do--I didn't read the menu), but I didn't find anything.  I was hoping they'd have 3 of their fancy dots on one cupcake to make a Mickey, or at least have one on display like a hidden Mickey!  

They had this adorable dollhouse-size display of their shop which I absolutely loved:

And I highly recommend buying the mix if you can--I tried the chocolate one (the cylinder with blue on the bottom)--it's my favorite mix yet!  It also makes you feel like you're doing it from scratch since you have to prepare various ingredients that aren't in the package (but that's what makes it so fresh).  I posted about it in my cupcake blog a couple years back!

I haven't tried it yet, but Sprinkles also has the first-ever Cupcake ATM!  I imagine it's only open during business hours because it's probably someone physically placing a cupcake in the little window.. I really don't know.  But it's a cute idea!

We stopped at Ghirardelli to get some ice cream treats:

Mine was the "Treasure Island Sundae."  It had a warm brownie in it, along with hot fudge and walnuts drizzled over the ice cream.  SO GOOD!

Before we left, I stopped by Arribas Brothers and found some cute glassware designed like Disney characters (like this Mickey vase--it's the only one I could get a clear photo of since the sun was shining right behind the window)

I love this Chihuly-looking chandelier!

 There were some cute miniatures in glass like the Genie, the Toy Story Aliens, Tigger, Pooh, and more!

My favorite was this gorgeous pegasus unicorn!  Reminded me of Fantasia!

A couple addenda to my previous post... I took a photo of B.B. Wolf's Sausage Co. menu (click for larger image):

So while they don't have turkey or chicken sausages, they do have a vegetarian option!

And here are some photos of the UNIQLO patches that I believe were not pictured in the website image I'd posted before.

Until next time!