Main Street USA - The Best Street in the Whole Wide World!

Main Street USA late 1970's

There's just something about the old time Americana feel of Main Street USA.  Perhaps it's the sweet harmonic sounds of the Dapper Dans greeting you or the Suffragettes with their victory sashes serving as a reminder of how far we have come as a nation.  Maybe it's the clang of the trolley overflowing with petticoat laden ladies and handsome lads donning boaters and spats.  Or is it the clip-clop sounds of Clydesdale shoes and  the 'ahoo-ga' horn reminding you this is a very active street?  

Thanksgiving Tradition!

Then again it could be that glorious Castle standing 183 feet tall in the distance; a backdrop for countless beautiful (and some down-right kooky) family memories spanning over four decades. In fact, it's all of these, the sights and the sounds, mixed in with the melding smells of cotton candy and popped corn that welcome my family each and every time we enter the Magic Kingdom, reminding me we are in our favorite place on Earth!

The Magic Kingdom is without a doubt my favorite Disney theme park, but not for the same reasons so many others admire.  Simply put, from the moment I enter, I know I am home.  While most folks tend to rush through Main Street to get to the different "lands", we have always enjoyed and truly appreciated the keen attention to detail, themed shops and street characters that Main Street has to offer. 

Always so thrilled to visit with Scoop and the Ladies!

As annual passholders we get to go quite frequently, and often find ourselves searching for specific characters.  I mean, how neat is it to be in a place where both the Mayor and Fire Chief are accessible to you?  In fact, every time we go, we make sure to look for Mayor Weaver as well as Fire Chief Smokey Miller and say a proper hello.  (Side note - as a parent I find it's a great civics lesson while on vacation!)  And ladies, let's not forget before the "Spice Girls" - there were countless Suffragettes fighting for "girl power"  - and one of the Main Street characters, Hildegard Harding, reminds us how far we've come!  Our favorite character to look for on Main Street is Scoop Sanderson the Main Street Gazette Reporter who also happens to be quite the Pin Enthusiast!  

Grand Marshals - October 2, 2015

All the Characters of Main Street have such dynamic stories they are willing to share, if you just take a moment and engage them. Last October, while on a girl's trip, it was one of these chance meetings that led to a remarkable experience.  We stopped to speak with a group of the street performers and posed for pictures. We were there celebrating our friend who is an amazing cancer survivor.  Little did we know there were ears nearby listening and before we knew it, she had been made Grand Marshal for the day, and we got to tag along for the ride.  

Michael outside The Plaza Restaurant in 1976

Of course, I love all the lands the Magic Kingdom has to offer.  Each one is so carefully themed and the details bleed through right down to the trash cans!  But without a doubt, it is always Main Street USA that fills my heart with that overwhelming joy one experiences while at a Disney theme park!  So next time you find yourself entering the Magic Kingdom, put the cell phones and cameras away, take a deep breath (so you can smell that fantastic popcorn and cotton candy) and take a leisurely stroll.  Make new friends, as you relax,  The rides will still be there after you do, I promise, and you just may learn a little something you didn't know, not just about Walt Disney World, but about America's history!

Now I know many of you worry about your little ones being entertained without the thrills at the Disney Parks my friend Megan has written a great blog about the many ways to entertain the kiddos at Epcot! Visit her at  Bibbidi Bobbidi Mom 

When Opportunity Knocks!

Sometimes in life chance meetings lead to great things!  That is exactly what happened last October, at my very first Dapper Day.  While I was waiting to meet Michael, and his kids, I noticed this highly spirited lovely lady donning my favorite "color" - polka dots!!  Her bright smile was so full of energy, I just had to say hello, and I was so glad I did.

I really didn't like her - I was Mickey's gal!

See, ever since I can remember, like many of you, I have loved all things Disney!  As a young child, I was convinced that I would marry Mickey Mouse.  After all I was his girlfriend, not Minnie, she made Mickey chase her all the time.  Whenever my parents asked where we wanted to go for our family vacation, my response was always Disney World.  Without fail they would make my wishes come true, and we would visit the parks at least once per year.  My siblings and I would ride the classics; Mission to Mars, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Snow White's Scary Adventures, The Jungle Cruise - you name it.  Upon exiting the park, my tradition was the same -  popcorn and a Mickey Head balloon to go, and passing out on the monorail ride back to the Ticket & Transportation Center!

With My Parents, Daughter & Aunt on my 40th Birthday.

As a young adult, when the opportunity presented itself, I moved to Central Florida and became an annual passholder.  Visiting the parks almost daily only made my passion for Disney that much stronger.  Throughout the years, so many beautiful memories were made at the Walt Disney World Resort with my family and friends. Naturally, as time progressed, my friends and family saw my passion for Disney was only growing stronger and my knowledge and experience about the parks themselves became more refined.

RunDisney - Princess 1/2 Marathon Girl's Weekend!

Before I knew it, they all started turning to me whenever they needed help  planning their Disney Vacations, and they would often have other friends I had never met reach out to me as well.  Whenever changes came about at the Walt Disney World Resort, such as the introduction of Fast Passes, new attractions and resorts,  new restaurants and the Dining Plans, they knew I was their go-to-gal and would help them figure out the best options, making sure their visit was always chock-full-o-pixie-dust!

Chance Meeting at Dapper Day 2015 with Amanda Mann (left)

After meeting that lovely polka dotted clad gal in October, she presented  with a life changing opportunity to become a Travel Agent through her company.  It was a complete shift from what life had brought me so far, but a very wise man once said,  "We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious, and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths." With Walt's words in my head, and love, trust and pixie dust in my heart, I've opened a new door; sharing a life long passion with expert knowledge as I help make dreams come true.  What could be greater than that?


Before I go, I want to invite you to check out a great blog I have started following: www.bibbidibobbidimom.com - This fabulous Disney mom and fellow agent shares some wonderful tips and tricks - and she also has a fantastic children's princess inspired play wear company!

Disney Bounding - EarVenture Style!

While most folks dress down on vacation, one of my favorite things to do when I visit the Walt Disney World Resort is to dress up in a contemporary version of a character or theme park inspired look.  In fact, lots of folks throughout the parks do this, and you will hear it referred to as “Disney Bounding”.  If your look has more of a retro or vintage flair, you will also hear folks refer to you as “Dapper DIsney Bounding”.  

So what exactly is involved with Disney Bounding? Well, it’s easy, a little imagination, a dash of creativity, and a pinch of pixie dust!  The beautiful thing is that the sky is the limit when it comes to putting together an inspired look.  You can simply go through your closet, to a local thrift store, or online to find pieces and accessories that can easily, and economically convert into a themed look! In our home, everyone is involved, and the planning process gives us lots of family time together as we tweak, hot glue and bedazzle our perfect inspired look!  

Here are a few of our Dapper Disney Bounds from some recent visits.  Be sure to join our Facebook Group Meet Me in Disney, and share some of your Disney Bounds with us.

The Techvolution of Disney

Main Street circa 1976

We are all familiar with Disney live action remakes such as Alice In Wonderland, Cinderella, Maleficent, and we've all heard of the upcoming ones Beauty And The Beast, The Jungle Book, Sword In The Stone.  And of course, there are the alleged ones in the works (which could just be speculation) Dumbo, Mulan, Pinocchio, and The Little Mermaid.

With each new Disney Live Action flick that comes out, I find myself so excited , only to leave the theater feeling a bit empty.  I end up usually going home to watch the animated classic it was based on.  I get that technology evolves, and we need to find modern ways to entertain our children in a word where everything is instant gratification, action packed and sound bite driven.  But, are we cheating them from the classic nostalgic experiences, and the amazing creative and innovative artistry, created by humans totally unassisted by technology, that we grew up on that Disney represents?  Maybe it’s just time for me to finally accept that Disney itself has evolved far beyond what was ever imagineered by Walt himself, and well beyond its original animated roots. 

The evolution of Disney has me a bit torn.  While technology has always played a major role since its inception, so has vintage Americana.  I find myself questioning if Disney is evolving so fast technologically that enough emphasis on the preservation of all things classic has gone by the wayside.  When was the last time you stopped to smell the Main Street roses?  My last few visits, it saddened me to see families just high-tail it past Main Street to get to 'the lands'. While the Company has grown infinitely (see what I did there?) even in its tech savvy inception, a huge part of its charm was its timeless feel which I feel many of us are no longer appreciating and more importantly, preserving.  It’s up to us folks.  That which is not appreciated, eventually, goes away. 

Of course, this is just my perspective.  We would like to hear how our EarVenturers feel about the TechVolution of Disney.  Do you feel live action movies, and technological advances helps diminish a generational gap or are our kids cheated in some way from that classic experience we so enjoyed? Does Disney Americana give you the feels, or are you more about D-tech? Is this much ado about nothing and am I just old - hey - that's definitely a possiblity!

Sound Off via Social Media - Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram - #EarVentureGeeks.

We look forward to hearing from you!