being alone, together.

Nothing’s quite so clear now
Do things, fight things
Feel you’ve lost your way?
You decide, but
You are not alone
Believe me
No one is alone

— Into the Woods

It’s been just over a month since the world has seemingly been placed on hold. With stay-at-home orders and lockdowns in place, it’s easy for one to feel isolated and alone. Many of our favorite pasttimes have been temporarily taken away from us – sporting events, concerts, movie theaters and even all six Disney theme parks around the world. Places that we once enjoyed going to and used as an escape from the real world are now closed. It is quite haunting to think that for the first time since Walt opened Disneyland in 1955, Mickey Mouse cannot be found greeting Guests anywhere, and the sounds of animatronic children from across the globe cannot be found singing the melancholy tune of “it’s a small world after all” at any of the worldly theme parks. However, there is a sense of comfort knowing that everyone – and I mean everyone – around the world is experiencing the same hardships – everyone is being asked to place their hopes, their dreams and their lives on hold. Everyone is feeling alone, together.

The world right now is filled with so much uncertainty, and nothing seems to be clear. Everyone’s heads are filled with the same unanswered questions – “when will I be able to go back to work? When will I be able to see my friends and family again? When will my life go back to the way it was?” The thing is, everyone is asking these same questions. Isn’t it comforting to know that your head is not the only one yearning for these answers? To know that you are not the only one being told to only leave your home for essentials?

There are so many instances in life where we feel alone – whether it’s being fired from a job, losing a loved one or ending a relationship after nearly a decade. Those are times when we may tell ourselves, “no one can understand how I feel. No one is going through what I am currently going through. No one feels what I feel right now” – and you may be right. Maybe someone you are confiding in has never lost their job before, and no matter how hard they try to sympathize with you, they never truly can. These are times we may feel truly alone, truly isolated, and truly misunderstood. However right now, in this pandemic, should not be one of those times.

Believe me, no one is alone, even when we may feel it. We always have people that we can turn to for comfort and support – whether that be a family member, significant other or a best friend. There is always going to be someone who is there for us, someone who cares for us and someone who wants to see us smile again – even if they do not understand exactly how we feel. What they do understand is that we are hurt and in need, in need of someone to show us compassion. Right now, everyone is feeling alone, everyone is feeling hurt, everyone is feeling isolated. We need to be there for one another, because there is no greater time to understand when we are all alone, together.

remember the magic

So, what’s everybody doing? Or, should I ask, how is everybody doing? 

I’ve been spending this time in quarantine feeling a lot like Rapunzel. I’ve been cleaning – which oddly enough is something I love to do – laundry, reading books, writing, trying new recipes, baking, going on walks and taking a stretch, yet I have not sketched. However, my roommate is doing PLENTY of that. Something else I have been doing is dreaming – dreaming of things I will be doing after this time of social distancing is over.

I guess you could say I’m also feeling a lot like Belle – dreaming of far off places. Places I’ve always wanted to visit are consuming my brain, my dreams and my Pinterest boards. From Italy, to Greece, to Paris, to Marceline, Missouri… my dreams are taking me all over the world. My dreams are not just taking me to far off places, but to places that I hold very near and dear to my heart – one being Walt Disney World.

Walt Disney World has always played a large role in my life. I have been visiting the parks ever since I was just under one year old, and currently have the privilege of being able to make magic for this remarkable company for almost three consecutive years. Now, I am feeling a void inside of my heart, a void knowing that I temporarily am unable to create the magic that I have been feeling ever since I was young. I am dreaming of creating that magic again, dreaming of making a difference in not only vacations, but in people’s lives. That’s the power of Disney, and that’s why I love working for this company.

You may think I’m crazy to say I can make a difference in people’s lives just by working for one of the top vacation destinations in the world. However, anyone that has been to Walt Disney World knows there is a certain magic present that cannot be explained. There is a sense of escape from the troubles that surround us, transporting us into a world of wonder, and a happy place full of fantasy and dreams. I experience that feeling of magic first hand every time I step foot on Main Street U.S.A. – listening to the joyful tunes sung by the Dapper Dans and the Main Street Trolley Show, smelling the sweet aroma of fresh baked goods coming from The Confectionary, watching tearful faces in awe as they see Cinderella’s Castle for the very first time. Still, nothing will ever compare to the magic I’ve experienced working as a VIP Tour Guide.

Becoming a Walt Disney World VIP Tour Guide has been a dream of mine for so long – a dream I never expected to come true. I remember seeing people dressed in plaid vests walking around the park with families – sometimes celebrities, riding some of my favorite attractions, watching fireworks and sharing smiles and laughs. I always thought to myself, what is that person’s job and how do I get there? Fast forward and three roles later in many different locations, my dream comes true of becoming a VIP Tour Guide. I remember a question I was asked during my interview and training was, “why do you want to become a Walt Disney World VIP Tour Guide?” To me, that answer was simple – I wanted to connect with families and create magic in a way I was never able to do before, and make a difference in their vacation, their lives and in their memories. However, all the while I was busy creating magic daily for my guests on tour, they were actually creating the magic for me.

I learned something from every family I spent time with, and I always took away something from each tour at the end of the day. There was good in every day – laughs shared, connections established and magic made. I always felt like I made a difference in either their day, their vacation, their memories or even their lives. It’s hard to put into words the feeling when a family tells you how special you made their vacation, or how they will never forget this day and trip after they have suffered a recent tragic loss. The only word that comes to mind for me is magic, and I cannot wait to experience that magic again.

Soon, I will be able to feel that magic again. Soon, I will be back creating that magic. Soon, we will all be entering the theme parks for the first time in what feels like forever, hearing the words in our head that Walt once said – “To all who come to this happy place, welcome.” See ya real soon!

There’s just no telling how far I’ll go…

If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.

I have always classified myself as a dreamer – someone who wholeheartedly believes in magic, fantasy and the impossible. Walt Disney was a dreamer – he had countless visions, fantastic and what could be considered absurd ideas. Walt’s journey was not an easy one as he faced many hardships, but he never lost sight of his dreams. At age 22, Walt was forced to declare bankruptcy on his studio. However, that did not stop him. It took Walt years of hard work, devotion and dreaming before things started turning around for him, thanks to the help of a very special mouse. The rest is history.

Walt possessed the courage to follow his dreams, and he took countless risks. Would Walt have become the pioneer of cartoon films and creator of Disneyland if he had not taken chances? My guess would be no. He went after what he believed in, what he dreamed in, and did what he believed he had to do. Now, what do Walt and I have in common? We are both dreamers, and apparently risk takers. Walt has always inspired me in many ways, but his journey has truly helped inspire my decision to go after my dreams – the dreams I have had since I was a little girl. With that being said, I am proud to say I have accepted a position with the Walt Disney Company, booked a one way flight to Orlando, and I am not looking back.

Anybody that knows me knows of my deep passion for Disney. Well, some may call it an obsession, but I prefer passion. I embarked on a life changing journey almost two years ago – I began my journey on the Disney College Program. I use the words life changing because that is exactly what the program did for me, it changed my life. It was not until my time as a Cast Member that I realized the Walt Disney Company was the company for me. The Walt Disney Company was a company I could see myself pursuing a career in, a company that meant so much to me growing up, a company I truly loved. I made the difficult decision to return home after my program ended, however, I knew it was the smartest decision for me at the time. In return, I have learned more about myself the past year and a half than I could have ever imagined or hoped for. Even though I have grown, my dreams of working for my favorite company have not changed – they have only grown stronger.

I’ve never been one for “what if’s,” which made my decision to pursue my dream career at Disney a no brainer. I never want to look back on my life and wonder what could have happened if I built up the courage to follow my dreams. What would have happened if Walt decided to give up after he went bankrupt? Continuing to follow his dreams, no matter how big, after that was a risk, but he chose to do so. I know I am taking a risk, but I know it’s a risk I will never regret taking.

Is packing my bags, quitting a full-time job and moving to Florida to pursue a dream a smart decision? Absolutely not. In fact, it’s absolutely absurd. I know that. However, I know in my heart that this is the right path for me. This very well could be a step towards making my crazy, huge dream come true. I’m sure people looked at Walt and thought some of his decisions were absurd, just like I’m sure people will do the same to mine. Walt never gave up, and I’m not giving up either.

I’m a dreamer, and I’m hoping to find my “Mickey Mouse” soon. I firmly believe my upcoming role with Park Operations is setting me on the path to achieve my ultimate goals. I truly could not be happier to be moving back to the most magical place on earth where I will be creating magic and impacting lives daily. Always remember to keep dreaming, and never lose sight of your dreams.

 

Eulogy to Wishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams

Wishes can come true, if you believe in them with all your heart.
And the best part is, you’ll never run out of wishes.
They’re shining deep down inside of you.
‘Cause that my friends is where the magic lives

Photo credit to Kelly Klupchak

For 14 years, Disney goers of all ages have watched the sky light up after long, yet exciting days at the Magic Kingdom with a magical gathering of Disney Dreams hosted by Jiminy Cricket. To many, Wishes was more than just a fireworks show, it was a constant reminder that all of our wishes and dreams can come true if we believe. Wishes, in a way, really captured the spirit and essence of Walt Disney. Walt said, “all of our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.” Well, isn’t that what the Wishes firework show is all about? Taking a chance, pursuing our dreams, and watching them come true? This, my friends, is one of the reasons why Wishes truly touched me, and why it also touched so many people, especially fellow cast members.

I will never forget the first time I watched Wishes with my roommates my first time in Magic Kingdom as a cast member. Something happened to me that night, and I was overcome with emotion. Working at Disney was a dream of mine ever since I was little, and in that moment, I had realized all that I had accomplished, and that my one wish was finally coming true because I believed. Listening to the wishes of Cinderella, Snow White, Ariel, Peter Pan, Pinocchio and Aladdin, I suddenly realized that these characters I had grown up watching over and over again were the ones who taught me to never stop dreaming or wishing. In that moment, I found where I was meant to be.

I must admit, working at the most magical place on Earth was not always glamorous. Wishes was always a reminder to me why I was there, and the magic I was creating. Every single night at Magic Kingdom, people of all ages would gather closely together on crowded streets waiting for the lights to dim, and the music of Wishes to begin. Every single night, little girls dressed in princess dresses with tired eyes would watch in awe as Tinkerbell floated across the sky, and fireworks filled the night sky. Standing in the middle of Main Street, I would look around and watch people’s reactions to a show that somehow meant much more to me than just a show, and everything made sense.

Wishes taught me that there are no limitations to my dreams, and anything is possible. It’s watching the unexpected happen, achieving something you did not think could be achieved, it’s believing in something more. “Just believe.” 

Thanks to Wishes, I will never stop dreaming, never stop believing, and never stop wishing. Wishes has given me memories that will last a lifetime with some of my closest friends, from the very first time I watched it in 2012 to my last in 2017. Thank you Wishes, for always reminding me on my toughest days to keep believing. I will never forget what just a little wishing can do.

Beauty and the Beast: An enchanted retelling of a tale as old as time

Let me begin by saying that I absolutely adored the new live-action Beauty and the Beast. Shocking, I know. Disney’s live-action remake of my favorite fairytale was true as it can be to the original, which is one of the reasons I loved it so much. It is extremely faithful to the original, which in my mind is pure cinematic perfection. Why change something that is beloved by so many? The answer is, you don’t. If it’s not baroque, don’t fix it.

At this point, I feel as if I could write a novel just on my thoughts from this wonderful movie that has consumed my brain the past 48 hours. However, my plan is to keep this as brief as possible and talk about what I think are the highlights of this beautiful rendition.

1. Belle

Emma Watson truly was able to recreate Belle in the most heroic way. Belle, in my mind, has always been adventurous and fearless, but Emma was able to portray her in a new light. The film touches more upon her character and what makes her an outsider in her small village. Belle is progressive, and she goes against the gender standards for women in her small-minded village. Shortly into the film you see women hand washing their clothes. Belle, however, has a better idea. Emma Watson told Entertainment Weekly, “I was like, ‘Well, there was never very much information or detail at the beginning of the story as to why Belle didn’t fit in, other than she liked books.’ Also, what is she doing with her time? So we created a backstory for her, which was that she had invented a kind of washing machine so that, instead of doing laundry, she could sit and use that time to read. We made Belle an inventor.” I LOVED this addition to Belle’s character.

We also see much more of the relationship between Belle and Beast, and just how much they have in common (love for books and not to mention, slightly stubborn personalities…) Belle and Beast both suffered from heartbreak and loneliness, bringing them together in a touching and romantic way. Belle was looked at as a funny girl in her village, and Beast was feared among the servants in the castle. Both felt like outsiders, something that they truly were able to bond over.

2.  Backstories

I loved how all of my favorite characters were given backstories. We learned what happened to Belle’s mother and why Maurice doesn’t talk about it, we learned about the Beast and his life before the curse, and we learned about Gaston and his days in the war. All of these backstories gave so much depth to the characters, something that was not depicted in the original. It made me feel compassion towards the Beast, love towards Maurice and even MORE hate towards Gaston. I must admit, I have always been a fan of Gaston, but I found him much harder to love after seeing this extremely dark side of him. They also showed the strong love and sense of loyalty between a father and daughter.

3. Music

What’s dinner without a little music? Well, in this case, what’s a movie without a little music? ALL OF THE ORIGINAL SONGS (AND EVEN THE SCORE) ARE INCLUDED. THANK YOU DISNEY GODS. Actually, thank you Alan Menken, musical genius. The original songs sound great (special thanks to the very talented Luke Evans,) and there are even a few new songs that really fit in the film nicely, especially with the backstory additions. My favorite new song has to be “Evermore,” which is sung by the Beast after he lets Belle go. It’s an absolutely heartbreaking song that is sung beautifully. The music does not disappoint.

No Beauty and the Beast review is complete without mention of the classic ballroom dance scene. This scene brought me to tears. It. Was. FLAWLESS. The way that Belle’s dress followed her as she twirled around the ballroom, the way Beast lifts Belle with the twinkling lights in the background… How can you NOT feel all the feels? This is by far my FAVORITE scene of the movie. Good job Disney, good job.

This movie completely blew me away. It was everything I had dreamed it would be, and so much more. I have seriously had the hardest time putting into words my feelings for this movie besides it simply makes my heart feel happy. Having seen the original more times than I can even possibly imagine (seriously, this has been a favorite of mine since I was one,) this live-action was a perfect retelling of a story that teaches you that true beauty is found within.

25 Things I Love about Beauty and the Beast

Ever since I was a little girl, “Beauty and the Beast” has always been one of my very favorite Disney movies. I had the privilege growing up to visit Walt Disney World often, which may help explain my passion. In fact, there is a home video of me about a year old at the “Beauty and the Beast” stage show at then MGM Studios and I could not look happier. Surely at that age I was mesmerized by the singing and dancing enchanted objects, but little did I know just how much this story would someday mean to me.

“Beauty and the Beast” has taught me so much throughout my life. It is so much more than just a movie, it’s a story that I will forever hold close to my heart. In celebration of it’s 25th anniversary, I have made a list of 25 things I love about “Beauty and the Beast.”

I love…

1. The way the film starts telling the story with beautiful stained glass windows.
2. The song “Belle.” It’s almost a six minute opening number, but it’s perfect. It tells so much about both Belle and Gaston’s personality, along with the town.
3. That Belle is the only one in the village wearing the color blue. It solidifies the fact that she feels like an outcast in her town, although they all think she’s beautiful. She later comes to find the Beast, who also is found wearing blue.
4. That Gaston is the only one in the village wearing a vibrant red. That also solidifies the fact that he is the villain, and quite evil despite his charm.
5. That Belle always has a piece of hair in her face, showing that she has imperfections regardless of her exterior beauty.
6. When Belle sings that she wants adventure in the great wide somewhere. This is such a powerful line that Belle sings that truly showcases her unconventional personality.
7. Phillipe. Isn’t he just the cutest horse?
8. Cogsworth’s witty and pompous personality.
9. Cogsworth in general. Some of his one liners, in my opinion, really make the movie. For example, “if it’s not baroque, don’t fix it” and “Well, there’s the usual things: flowers… chocolates… promises you don’t intend to keep.”
10. When Belle starts to show Beast her sassy and somewhat stubborn side. One of my favorite scenes in the film is when Beast is trying to get Belle to come down to dinner and he tells her that she cannot stay in there forever and she fires back with “oh yes I can!”
11. All of the food during the “Be Our Guest” scene! Beef ragout, cheese souffle, pie and pudding en flambe! Who wouldn’t want to eat that?
12. The enchanted rose. It’s just so beautiful.
13. Mrs. Potts’ compassionate and warm personality. In a way, she comforts Belle the most and gives her a motherly figure.
14. When the Beast saves Belle from the wolves. Talk about heroic.
15. The entire “Something There” scene. This is one of the first times we see interest between Belle and Beast, and it is one of my favorite songs. We start to see the softer side of Beast, all thanks to Belle.
16. When Lumiere gives Beast a makeover before his special dinner with Belle. He also gives him some great first date advice, “you must be bold, daring.”
17. The breathtakingly beautiful ballroom. This is definitely the film’s most memorable and iconic scene, and for good reason. The way Beast twirls Belle around that ballroom is every girl’s dream. 
18. When Beast lets Belle go because he loves her. This scene really shows how much Belle has changed Beast, and how much he truly cares for her. It’s heartbreaking.
19. The “Mob Song.” I must admit even though he is evil, there is just something about Gaston that I love. He’s always so focused on winning, no matter what it is, which could be seen as somewhat admirable. This song is such a powerful song leading up to the end dual between Gaston and Beast.
20. When Beast sees Belle come back to help him during his dual with Gaston. You can see his will to live rush back into him, and he suddenly has something to fight for.
21. The final words exchanged between Beast and Belle before he is transformed. Belle finally tells Beast how she feels…
22. The transformation. Beast transforms into a human RIGHT BEFORE BELLE’S EYES. However, she somehow still questions it…
23. BEAST/PRINCE ADAM. He seriously is my favorite prince of all time. He is such a complex character and I love watching Belle bring out the best in him. He’s not a bad looking prince either…
24. The message of this movie that true beauty comes from within. We must learn to look past what is on the outside because it is truly what is on the inside that matters. Being compassionate, like Belle when she takes her father’s place in the castle, and selfless, like Beast when he agrees to let Belle go see her father, is representations of true inner beauty.
25. How this movie changed my life. “Beauty and the Beast” has taught me it’s okay to be different. Belle, along with her father, was seen as an outcast in her town. The Beast was also different. Standing out is not necessarily a bad thing, neither is being different. Belle was also always able to look past appearance. Just look at Gaston, the most handsome guy in town. Every girl in town went crazy over Gaston, except for Belle. That was because she had the ability to look past his appearance to see his true self. She fell in love with a Beast, not because of his appearance, but because of what was inside.

Beauty & the Beast Teaser Trailer: How It Shows Us So Little but Tells Us So Much

It’s officially official… the live-action retelling of the Disney classic Beauty and the Beast is coming to theaters March 17, 2017 (or approximately 179 days but who is counting?) The official United States teaser trailer was released just a few months ago and has already broken numerous records. It pulled in more views during its first day than any other film. According to Disney, it had reached a whopping 91.8 million views during the first 24 hours, surpassing Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ teaser. But, you may ask, what is all the hype about and what is causing this teaser trailer just over a minute long to break records? That, my friends, is the magic of Disney.

Of course being the tremendous fan that I am, I have watched this trailer over and over again and I could not be more excited for this film. You may ask just how much can a minute and a half long trailer really tell you about a movie but in this case, it tells us so much about this beloved tale.

Now, let’s start from the beginning…

The Music

With the very first musical chord, nostalgia from the first 1991 film came rushing over me. The music is PERFECT and remains true to the animated classic and we can already see that from this trailer. The prologue music from the 1991 film and the music used in this trailer are the same and I am so happy about that. This gives me a good feeling about the rest of the music used in the 2017 film and gives me hope that they will remain true to the original soundtrack which needs no retouching. I mean, Alan Menken who wrote the music for the animated film is also responsible for the music in this movie as well…

The Castle

Pause. How magnificent is this castle? It’s dark and eery on the outside but still elegant and somewhat romantic. The first few seconds of the trailer where the exterior of the castle is shown reminds me so much of the scene when Papa and Phillipe ride up to the castle for the first time after getting lost in the woods. It was dark and gloomy and cold, which is exactly what is displayed in the first few seconds of the trailer. Next, the ballroom. The ballroom is exactly what I imagined it would look like in real life. Of course I have seen the REAL DEAL (and even dined in it) at Be Our Guest Restaurant, but this trailer gets everything right from the chandeliers to the golden hues to the piano. The inside of the castle looks completely abandoned. I personally like how they show the candles melting to show that time has passed.

The Portrait

YES! They just may have fixed a MAJOR error with the 1991 classic film and that is the age of Adam when he was transformed into a hideous (but cuddly) beast and we see this in the portrait of Adam and his parents. Adam in the portrait is clearly a young boy which makes much more sense in the grand scheme of things. Thank goodness. Also, the way that the Beast rips the portrait is yet another clue that this remake will be true to the 1991 film.

Belle, Luminere & Cogsworth

The voices of all three of these characters are perfect. You can already tell that the personalities of these characters are going to similar to the previous film. You can tell in just a few words that Cogsworth has a serious demeanor and a strict attitude. You can also tell that Luminere is quite the opposite of Cogsworth with a charismatic and optimistic personality asking “what if she is the one?” Obviously I have no complaints about Belle.

The Rose

Last but not least, the enchanted rose. It truly looks enchanted. We can already see that Belle has gotten herself into the West Wing…

Needless to say, this movie is going to be phenomenal and I cannot wait to see the full trailer that is being released with the 25th Anniversary Edition of the film on September 20th. I must admit, I am curious to see how they are going to do all of the enchanted objects but I trust Disney. Check out this side by side of the 1991 movie and the 2017 trailer to see all of these similarities for yourself!

 

 

From Tangled to Moana: Is Disney Having a Second Renaissance?

It’s A Great Blog After All has been featured on MoviePilot. Does this author sound familiar?

From Tangled to Moana: Is Disney Having a Second Renaissance?