Top 10 Ways To Make Your Life A Little More Disney

Have you ever had a bad day and thought that if you could just think about your happy place, you’d be better? I think about the opening ceremonies at Magic Kingdom or the lobby of Wilderness Lodge. I think about the pool at Animal Kingdom Lodge and the Festival of the Lion King show at Animal Kingdom. I think about that second before the Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster takes off at Hollywood Studios or tasting the perfect bite at Le Cellier Restaurant. Disney is my happy place and has brought me so much joy. So, I started thinking… how do I get that feeling in my house? How do I get that feeling every day?

10. Listen to free internet Disney radio

You have no idea how happy hearing music pumped in from the parks makes me feel…especially in my living room.  I often keep a radio station on that features Disney World ride tracks or songs from movies on my computer all day.  A simple search will give you about a dozen channels to choose from. In just the last 5 minutes, I smiled when I heard “MORROW, paging TOM MORROW” followed by the instrumental version of Sorcery in the Sky and then the track for Happily Ever After! If that doesn’t make your day, I don’t know what will!

9.  Find your favorite quote and paint it on your wall!

It is actually very trendy to have handwritten words on your walls these days. At least 5 of my friends have something to the effect of “I love things!” on their walls. So, I started thinking about what I would write on my wall. Of course, it has to be Disney inspired. So, what if on the wall that faces your front door it says, “To all who come to this happy place, welcome!”  Your office can have, “Hi ho!” neatly penned across the entrance. Above the bed, I suggest in curly cursive “If you can dream it, you can do it.” You will find yourself feeling happy whenever you read it!

8. Learn how to “modge podge”

I found this online and I absolutely freaked out! So, here is the idea! Do you know all the maps you have from the parks? Or pictures from family vacations? Or even Disney stickers? What about creating coasters out of them? Or placemats? Or a canvas to hang somewhere? I am working on coasters right now! Just went to an arts and craft store and asked for a little guidance, they were happy to give me some help!

7. Order an Address Plaque

There are a ton of options to choose from, but I suggest you support a local artist or go to an online marketplace where there are some seriously talented people. Just think about the smile that will creep upon your face when you look up and see your house numbers surrounded by your favorite mouse or scene from your favorite movie? If you don’t live in a house, there are also some very cool options to decal your door with or even dress up your apartment numbers.

6. Get some bling!

It is fascinating how much there is available in jewelry and accessories. I had wanted a Mickey Mouse Dooney and Burke purse for the longest time and I literally would drool over it online and in the stores at WDW.  Believe it or not, I won a gift card on a DVC presentation for the entire cost and was able to bring that little piece of magic home.  When I carry it, people stop me to tell me that they love Disney and that they have to know where I got it.  But, it doesn’t have to be a purse or even an obvious Disney piece!  I saw a necklace with a charm that said “let it go” on it.  Of course you can go as flashy as you like!  I had an Uncle who always wore a lapel pin with a character head silhouette.  Friends called him, “Disney Man.”

5. Get some Disney Shoes

Ok, I know that this seems like this should be part of #6, but just wait until you see a pair of Fox and the Hound shoes and you’ll understand why these need to be their very own part of the countdown.   Most of the ones that I would want were hand painted and it is seriously amazing that you can buy something that looks like it was ripped from my television screen.  Most of the shoes are Toms, so if you like them, check out marketplaces like ebay and etsy for some amazing choices!  Prices will range from $50-over $100.

4. Smell like Disney

If you do a little searching, you’ll find some small businesses that make candles, bath products and air spray to remind you of the smells you encounter in the theme parks! Selections include Yact and Beach Club, Pineapple Float (Dole whips!), and the Main Street Bakery just to name a few! I ordered the Soarin candle which is a crisp pine and orange scented mix.  This always makes me super happy to light and have my house smell like Disney! And if you are wondering about that Main Street Bakery one…yes, it really does.

3. Decorate Disney-Deco

Some of you might want your whole house to be covered in Disney art, some may consider one room. First, there is an entire Disney Paint collection full of bright colors and given names based on characters.  Then, between lithographs, character sketches and paintings that range from obvious Disney (like a painting of the three hitchhiking ghosts from the Haunted Mansion) or subtle Disney (like a fantastic painting I saw a few days ago which featured a view from a Jungle Cruise boat…only a seasoned Disney expert would know!) My personal favorites are the Thomas Kinkade Disney paintings. The Tangled one is my favorite and I am about 90% there on convincing my husband to buy it and display in our living room.

2. Scrapbook or shadowbox

I know this doesn’t actually add something out and in the open, but it is an excellent way to not only spend time, but to have something to look through.  I use this as stress management and then after it actually turns into stress, ha!, I have a beautiful memory book to look through or show others.  Shadowboxing is actually really cool because you can put 3 dimensional objects into a shadowbox.  When we ran a scavenger hunt last fall at Hollywood Studios, I made a shadow box with the sash we had to wear and included some objects we found.  It certainly makes my day when I see it in my den.

1. Become Chef Mickey

The amount of recipes and ideas online is truly astounding.  Last night, I made the Cobb Salad from the Hollywood Brown Derby, even the salad dressing!  Do you have a favorite Disney meal?  Look for it online! We have had Cape May buffet Clam Chowder, Mama Melrose’s Chicken Parm, and Kahlua Pork Sliders from the Food and Wine Festival.  At least once a month, we have a Disney dinner night at my home.  Now, it is not a guarantee that it will turn out as delicious as in the parks…results may vary!