I spoke on this a lil’ bit in this post and over here but just so you can get a better idea of who’s steering this ship, here’s a get-to-know-Mackenzie crash course (with an emphasis on Disney because, well, obviously).
My favorites
Mornings at Disney resorts, especially once I’ve got coffee in my refillable resort mug
Illuminations - the pre-show, full show, and post-show
Making so many wonderful, Disney memories with my husband, who you will see pop up on here from time to time
The excitement and anticipation involved in planning trips to the Disney parks
Gazing up at a sunset-sky in front of the France pavilion or Pirates of the Caribbean; bonus points if you have some caramelized pecan ice cream from L’Artisan des Glaces or a pineapple Dole Whip float in hand
The now-defunct Trolley Show at Magic Kingdom (RIP)
Betty the babirusa at Animal Kingdom; catch this lil’ cutie with her babirusa squad at one of the Oasis exhibits
The Skyliner; it is, in my humble opinion, the superior form of Disney transportation
Cast members who make your entire day; use those Cast Compliments, folks!
The Mufasa-Zeus bit in Happily Ever After; pure and unadulterated full-body chills
Eating so much salty, buttery popcorn in the parks that it starts to impact my blood pressure (oops…)
The fact that I can go anywhere and be like, “this smells like the front third of the lobby at Animal Kingdom Lodge - Jambo House” and people who know will respond, “mmm, yea - you’re so right” and it’s a totally normal conversation for everyone involved
Being a loud and proud Festival of Fantasy enthusiast
Also being a loud and proud Happily Ever After enthusiast
Disney Legend and former Imagineer Bob Gurr and his adorable get-ups
Riding Living With the Land, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Spaceship Earth over and over and over again
The “Silver Era” and “Bronze Era” of Disney animation; Mary Blair is my queen and The AristoCats is the soundtrack to my life (I have four cats with one named Toulouse and I think goofy, old, rich attorneys are oddly entertaining - ta-ra-ra-boom-dee-ay!)
The glorious smell of Mickey waffles wafting from Tusker House in the morning
Picking one of the many resort television music loop videos on YouTube to play on my computer or living room television (this one is my favorite)
Soaking up the ambiance and details of Main Street U.S.A.
Speaking of, watching Grayson and/or Neal absolutely tear it up on the piano outside of Casey’s Corner at the Magic Kingdom
Disney Lego sets; the professor that I was a graduate assistant for in graduate school was a Lego fanatic and gifted me the Cinderella Castle set when I graduated, and I still think about that thoughtful gesture all the time
Topolino’s, Woody’s Lunchbox, and Olivia’s Cafe for breakfast; sculptor Donald and ballerina Daisy have my whole entire heart!
The sensory experience that is Pandora - The World of Avatar (and how to feel a lil’ bit of the magic at home)
Admiring the landscaping and grounds-keeping across Walt Disney World property; as a gardener myself, I can cannot even fathom the scale of coordination and management that it requires throughout the year
That elated, giddy feeling in your chest when you scan into the first park of your Disney trip
Strolling through the Discovery Island Trail and Gorilla Falls Aviary at Animal Kingdom with a coffee in hand
Saving Mr. Banks (2013) and the live-action Cinderella (2015)
Disney War by James B. Stewart; oh, to be a fly on the wall of a Disney office or boardroom from 1980-2006…
Enjoying cocktails and appetizers on the wrap-around patio at Nomad Lounge while watching Timon and Rafiki sail by on the waterway to a dubstep version of “Under the Sea”; this is Disney magic, folks!
Freshly-showered and climbing into your warm and cozy resort bed at the end of the day, with the thrill and possibility of the next at the forefront of your mind
What kills my vibe
Being allergic to the sun while also spending entire days in the sun at the parks (bombastic side-eye)
Entitled and manipulative guests in the parks (read: line-cutters and people who talk throughout the duration of an attraction)
“Walt is rolling in his grave right now” or a similar statement to suggest anyone would know what a man who’s been dead for 58 years would think about anything
Figment hate; let! him! cook!
Strollers and other wheeled-devices gone rogue in shared spaces in the parks
Park guests who, despite being reminded multiple times in front of countless strangers, stand up or stick entire body parts out of ride vehicles or one of the four steam trains that circumvent the Magic Kingdom
The argument of whether Epcot should or shouldn’t feature Disney intellectual property (or “IP”)
Okay, this is a lil’ niche but cute shirts sold in the parks that are - surprise! - a boxy fit or a crop top (and you know you’ll see them a month later on sale and facetiously wonder why)
Park guests who make cast members’ lives a living hell (see the second bullet point)
Putting Disney CEOs and corporate giants - including Walt - on a pedestal
Grillin’ the live-action remakes for nOt BEiNg tHe SaME aS tHE aNimAtEd vErSioN
People who make fun of or cast judgement on those who love Disney and spend their hard-earned money on it; mind your business, please!
But in the same breath, the I’m-only-here-because-of-my-godforsaken-wife and I’m-a-beast-in-the-sheets-and-she’s-my-Belle shirts that somehow make it into the parks (and we are, unfortunately, really skimming the top of the odd-and-suggestive-theme-park-shirts barrel here, folks)
Okay, there’s a few more vibe-killin’ things than I initially thought there would be but I think it all boils down to…people. It’s fascinating that I love the Disney parks as much as I do given how people-y it is, but that’s a conversation for another time.
If you decide to stick around after that crash course, huzzah! If not, well, I’m sorry for insulting your shirt. I gave my introductions so please, dear reader, leave me comment and let me know some of your favorite Disney-related things. If you’re feelin’ spicy, drop those vibe-killers too.
Also, the new reader survey is another great way to allow me to get to know you, along with what brought you here and what you’d like to see in future posts.
Lastly - paid subscribers (there’s always room for one more…), keep an eye on your inbox next Wednesday for my first “real” post. It took me forever to nail down a topic because I’m basically bursting at the seams over here, so it goes without saying that I’m really excited for this one. Thanks for reading, y’all!
See ya real soon,
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