Tarzan, Dumbo, Broadway, and a Nanny | Disney Happiness Project

If you aren't familiar with my Disney Happiness Project, or even if you are, you might be stumbled by the title of this post! It does seem quite random!

It is time to catch-up the weeks from February and March! (and now that we're through with April, add that to the list!) So let's get started!



Week 16:

I don't use Spotify for much, but one of my playlists that I love listening to is one of music from Tarzan the Broadway Musical. The musical wasn't long-lived on Broadway, and in fact, I haven't even seen it, but I do appreciate the music!

I've always loved music from the film, but the expanded soundtrack from the musical is quite fun! When making the page for my book, I ended up writing so many song lyrics that I loved. Some are quite familiar, but others are unique to the stage show. Here are just a few of them:

Put your faith in what you most believe in.

With every ending comes a new beginning.

You've got to hold on.

Oh, I've been waiting for this moment. Oh, it seems like all my life. Here I am- my head is spinning because I'm finally living the life that I dreamed. it seems I've been waiting forever.

Struggling along for years and years... now it's all coming together.

For once I'm happy to be me.

Week 17:

I love Dumbo! I have a Dumbo pillow-pet, and a Tsum Tsum! Haha! If that does not show I'm a fan, I don't know what does :)

There was a day not too long ago where I found myself with some time to kill. Netflix was in front of me, and a moment later, I was watching Dumbo! I had just over 90 minutes to watch something, which was perfect for this movie! 

I had not seen the film since I was much younger, so it was nice to see it for the first time in a long time, and remember its themes that I love a lot! (Cue the Timothy Mouse quote on the page in the picture below) 

Week 18: 

I have always loved Broadway musicals, and I've been blessed to see a good number of productions! I've seen 4 Disney musicals on Broadway, and loved every minute of each of them. ABC aired their special, Backstage with Disney on Broadway: Celebrating 20 Years, back in December, but I didn't get to see it when it originally aired!

Live theater has always interested me. The TV special, reignited my love for it all! Disney on Broadway productions have that extra dose of magic that makes them stand out. They have that special something that I love and is part of the reason why I love Disney so much. The ABC special let me experience the magic of Disney on Broadway from the comfort of my own home. Whether in the theater, or at home, it makes me happy! 

Week 19:

Speaking of Disney musicals I've seen, one of them that I've seen twice is Mary Poppins. Talk about a good example of a feel-good musical that celebrates the everyday magic in possibilities. It reminds you to spend your time in things that matter, and never lose sight of hopes and dreams. Things may seem messy at times, in fact, they may BE extremely messy, trust me when I say that I relate to this idea, but they can be turned around the next moment without warning. Anything can happen if you let it.

When I was in High School, I participated in the Fine Arts program quite a bit throughout my 4 years, and now I go back to celebrate the work of current students and teachers. It makes me so proud to witness a production that impacts people in a great number of ways. Mary Poppins means so much to me and I walked away after seeing my former school's performances with a different appreciation for it. New themes and lessons applicable to my life now emerged and were presented in such a relative fashion. 

You couldn't wipe the smile off my face while watching the musical if you tried. Seriously, I wish I could go frolicking in the park, fly a kite, and tap dance on rooftops! Okay, that sounds like the best day ever!

Life is out there waiting so go and get it.

Go and chase your dreams, you won't regret it.

What has made you happy this week? Disney or not, I want to know!

x Lauren

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Resort Day and Reflection | WDW March Trip Day 5

After some very full, and long days in the parks, it was nice to take a day to just enjoy the Florida weather and take it easy.

We stayed at Disney's Port Orleans Resort- French Quarter for this trip, and loved it! The cobblestone streets, street-lamps, and brick and wrought iron everywhere were lovely! I enjoyed swimming in the pool and eating beignets for the first time! It was quiet and that made it very easy to relax. 

This relaxing day included going to Downtown Disney to get our shopping done and enjoy Earl of Sandwich, a must-have every time we visit! One nice thing was that boats ran from our resort to the Marketplace at Downtown Disney, and with the amazing weather we were blessed with the entire time, a breezy boat ride was very pleasant!

That night we went to the Polynesian for dinner at Kona Cafe, and to then watch Wishes! from the beach! This night required a bit of running around on our part, but once we were watching the fireworks from a swing on the beach, all was right with the world. 

The next day we spent more time at Downtown Disney before flying out later in the evening!

The fact that I was able to go on another trip to Walt Disney World is amazing, and I'm grateful for the opportunity. I work hard, and have chosen to spend my money on trips to Disney because it means a lot to me. It makes me so happy to be back there.

I've said this to a few people, but no, Disney doesn't get old. I never outgrow my curiosity of what Disney is up to! I don't feel like I'm going to a theme park when I go to the parks or plan a trip. I don't go there for the rides anymore. I've been on the attractions, and I've seen the shows, and those are still part of my experiences when I go, and I love that, but that's not all. It truly feels like a place where I meet up with friends, or even coincidentally run into friends I've made! I don't feel the pressure to run around and do everything!

I am completely happy just sitting on the grass around the castle for awhile, or grabbing a drink and talking with friends! It isn't chaotic to me. I am content doing whatever, and just wandering around. A spontaneous dance party? Sure! A short line to meet a character? Sign me up! Ride the railroad around the park? Why not? It doesn't feel rushed at all. Other people go to coffee shops, or wherever, to meet up with their friends. That is what Disney parks feel like to me! That is the only way I can best explain it!

So yes, as long as I can make it work financially, I will continue to go to the parks because it is important to me that I do things that will better my emotional health! I think it is better to spend money on experiences anyway. I continue to gain from the trip, even long after returning home. Looking through pictures of time frozen where I was genuinely and unapologetically happy, laughing and enjoying myself, brings such positivity to my life, and I wouldn't trade that for anything!

x Lauren

For those who care to see how we customized our MagicBands on this trip, here is a picture for you! We jumped at the opportunity to show our Disney Sides! How would you choose to decorate your MagicBand?

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Epcot and DAK Adventures | WDW March Trip Days 3 & 4

We spent two days at Epcot and DAK (Disney's Animal Kingdom). Interestingly enough, we park-hopped between the two both days, and even though they could have felt like the same day repeated, we did very different things each day!

Right now, Flower and Garden Festival is happening at Epcot. This was one of my favorite things during my college program last year, so I looked forward to seeing it again this year (and getting another Violet Lemonade!) Epcot is ridiculously beautiful this time of year with the topiaries and colorful flowerbeds. I wish the park always looked like this! 

I always love the Butterfly Garden :)

I'll take a fairy home in my size, please and thank you!

I love these guys! Even in topiary form, they are adorable, and I want to hug them all!

Beauty and the Beast... and Cogsworth... and a bunch of guests in France :)

I got the Yeti note, but apparently we were supposed to go for "cute Yeti"

Just Keep Swimming and Go with the Flow! I adore these photos with the cast, and they make me oh so happy! I'll be talking about my love for Finding Nemo: The Musical in a post soon :)

I love park days so much! No matter how many times I go, there is always something new to be discovered or experienced! I absolutely love it! 

If you haven't seen the pictures from my trip that I posted from the Boardwalk and Magic Kingdom, I've linked them for you so you can go see them! Stay tuned for one last post from this trip recapping it all, and then it is back to our regularly scheduled posts for the Disney Happiness Project :)

I hope you're having a good week!

x Lauren

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Fantastical Day at Magic Kingdom | WDW March Trip Day 2

The second day of our trip was perfect. That's right, I dare say it. We went to Magic Kingdom all day, and by all day I mean, 17 hours of magic, and joy, and pinch-me is this real pixie dust sprinkled atop everything! 

It was one of my favorite days for a number of reasons. One of those reasons being that Lane, my best friend, who lives and works in Florida, joined us for basically the entire day! (What a trooper, seriously!) If you saw the posts from my December trip to WDW, you might recognize him! He spent the day with me at all four parks then--you can see pictures from that day by clicking here :)

We started the day by watching the welcome show and enjoying breakfast in Cinderella's castle. We then spent the rest of the day doing things like watching Dream Along with Mickey, Festival of Fantasy and the Main Street Electrical Parade, witnessing the Frontierland Hoedown, relaxing in the new expanded Hub area, and of course, riding some rides. It's nice to not have a rushed agenda, and get to truly enjoy things we choose!

All of the pictures that I post from my trip are taken by me unless I note otherwise! I am quite proud of my pictures, and want to share them with others so I've posted them (obviously, haha), but do me a favor! If you want to use them for any reason or share them yourself, let me know and give me proper credit. You can do that? Sweet, that would be awesome AND greatly appreciated- Please do! Thank you :)

But now.... away we gooo! 

A spin on the classic castle photo :) @nicolettebemann and I LIVING for this lovely day!

A video posted by Lauren Spitler (@laurenspitler) on Mar 14, 2015 at 7:45am PDT

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*Photos taken by Christine

*I wanted to go see Pluto for a bit because my friend, Jarred, 

is good friends with the pup, and told me Pluto would love to see us!

*

*I know Lane isn't looking, but Pluto was rocking it!

"Dreams that Glow, Wondrous Dazzling Brilliantly

So Away we Go, It's a Festival of Fantasy"

This one is for Pascal :) 

I want to be a Lost Boy. Where do I sign up? Seriously, let me know!

Love my homegirl's hair! She likes to chase the wind, but I think the wind was chasing her!

Even though he's grumpy, he makes me smile! I love the Dwarfs, we all know that!

Enjoyed watching Katlyn, Christine's former roommate, do her thing in the flash-mob style of the Frontierland Hoedown, and then later in the Electrical Parade!

"Get ready for the magic, a spectacle beyond compare. There’s romance and adventure, there’s laughter and much more with our imagination. Imagine what’s in store!"

Dream Along with Mickey

"There's enchantment to be found in every fairytale."

"It’s time to set sail for adventure. An adventure that begins with PIRATES!"

Do you SEE Goofy's dance skills? I mean, Gwarsh! Haha!

"Any dream is possible, wishes do come true. You can reach the stars if you just believe. Share the magic in your heart, there’s nothing you can’t do. Anything is possible, so find a dream inside of you."

"Seize the Moment! Let your fantasies and dreams set sail!"

"Take the dream with you, wherever you may go!"

The hub expansion is gorgeous! (like, I'm in love with it)

Thanks to Lane for this photo, and the patience with us all :)

*Okay, THIS is why I love Disney and continue to go to the parks after all this time. I was eating a Mickey pretzel in Tomorrowland (important detail, I know!) and my friend, JD, recognized me and came up to say hello! JD and I were in class together during our College Programs, and he has stayed down there since then. I seriously loved running into him and getting to catch up, and had to get a picture with him later when I saw him around the Hub!

A picture from Tomorrowland for good measure, and...

to finish off the day, we thought a visit to the mines at midnight would be fun!

Seriously, this was such a great day filled with moments I will cherish forever! I will always be grateful for the people and places that make me happy :)

Pictures from our time at Epcot at DAK will be posted soon!

x Lauren

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