1. Visit every Disney park in the world.
I have 3 down and have 2.5 more to go. I need to make a trip and see Tokyo Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland and by the time I have enough money saved for the trip, Shanghai Disneyland will be open. It'll be one great Disney-Asia tour!
UPDATE: Still working on this one. I think I'll be able to do this when I'm 40 and my kids are old enough to make the trip and worthwhile.
This is something I just accomplished this past February. I couldn't believe my luck! I've read about Maynard online for the last 10 years. He's been a celebrity in the Disney-geek world. He's really a Cast Member extrodanaire. For any attraction he's assigned to, he really gets into the character. And he's known for his signature photo pose! So as I was exiting the Enchanted Tiki Room, I noticed that the Cast Member clearing the room out looked oddly familiar. I asked if he was Maynard and he said Yes! So I asked if I could take a photo of him to cross it off my Disney Bucket List. He laughed and said of course. Here's the photo with his signature post!
UPDATE: I actually found him twice!
3. Visit Club 33
Club 33 is a private club and restaurant inside New Orleans Square. You can find the door near the Pirates of the Caribbean exit and is marked by the number 33. One day I will find someone with membership and beg my way inside!
UPDATE: Still working on this. I'm hoping to cross paths with someone one day who can get me in. I know people who have had the pleasure of dining there through their own connections. So...we'll see!
3. Go on a Disney Cruise
Some find this surprising, but I've never been on a cruise. I'm really not a boat/out to sea kind of gal but I will make the exception for a Disney cruise!
UPDATE: In progress! Hoping to schedule our cruise Spring 2013!
One of these days, I'd like to take a day and just walk around the park shooting photos. There's a lot of architectural beauty in the park and I'd like to capture as much of it as I can. I can only do so much with my daughter or other friends/family around. One of these days I'll do it. I don't have many photographer friends that are into Disney that would go with me, so I'm pretty much stuck to doing it myself.
UPDATE: Done! I was able to do this on Leap Day (February 29, 2012). You can read all about my 24-hour experience here.
This hotel is a real beauty! It's built right next to California Adventure and is huge! The theming is similar to the Wilderness Lodge in WDW. I've never stayed at a Disney property in Anaheim since there's really no reason to. The hotels are not like WDW where it feels like a resort and there are a lot of things to do. Disneyland is more of a local park than it is a resort, and as a result there are a lot of hotels right across the entrance that are much, much cheaper than the Disney hotels. And they are a closer walk to the entrance! So I've never been able to justify paying $300-400 a night for a Disney hotel when I can just pay $59 to stay across the street and walk 5 minutes. But one day I will.
UPDATE: Done! Thanks to my wonderful mother-in-law we stayed together at the Grand and it was a great experience! Super-nice, super-close to the parks, super-expensive!
6. Take my daughter to Disneyland Paris
My mom took me to Paris when I was a senior in high school because I was taking French. As part of the trip, I begged and begged and begged to do one day at Disneyland Paris. We did and it was so much fun! I remember the park being pretty empty but loving the castle (they have a fire-breathing dragon down below!), Alice's labyrinth, and different versions of the rides from Disneyland. It was a beautifully done park and a fun trip that was just my mom and me. One day I'll take my daughter to do the same.
UPDATE: Hoping to do this in the next few years. I have family in France, so I'd love to visit them and combine it with a trip to DLP.
7. Visit Disneyland during every holiday
I think it would be fun to say that I've experienced the park during every holiday. So far I've done Christmas, Halloween, New Years, President's Day, and soon Thanksgiving. Valentine's Day, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, 4th of July and St. Patrick's Day would be fun to add to the list. My favorite so far has been Halloween.
UPDATE: I was able to do Thanksgiving and Valentine's this year.
This ride is favored towards men winning. If you've been on the ride and know what it takes to do rapid-fire moves, then you know what I'm talking about. I'l leave it at that. But I still want to beat him!! One day, when he's old and moves slower, I'll swoop in and beat him fair and square.
UPDATE: Done! And I beat him 4 more times!! It was a very proud moment for me.
When my daughter is tall enough to go on Splash Mountain, I want to start doing really funny, stupid faces on the ride photos so we can build out a fun album from our trips. I did this with my roommates many years ago, just taking funny faces, and it was hilarious! I still look back at those photos and laugh at loud!
UPDATE: Started! So far it's one picture, but we're on our way!
10. Buy a Mickey Waffle Maker
Do you know how expensive these things are? They don't sell them at stores and I've only seen them at eBay for $100-200 a pop. The minute I see it in a store or at the parks, I will snatch up one of those puppies so I can enjoy Mickey waffles every day.
UPDATE: Still can't find one that's affordable. Maybe Disney Store will have one in 2013!
11. Retire and serve Mickey Waffles on Main Street
Did I mention that I love Mickey waffles? Once I get old and retire, I'll convince my even older husband that it's a good idea we move south. Then I'll work at Carnation Cafe on Main Street and serve delicious Mickey waffles to guests. It would be the greatest job!
UPDATE: I still have several years to go on this one. :-)
12. Find Peter Pan and take a photo with him
I found him once and I can do it again! Last time, there were some rude parents that cut in front of my daughter and I as we were waiting for a photo and a story (Peter was telling each kid a fun story instead of just posing for pictures). Well, right before it was our turn, 2 sets of parents swooped in and cut rushing towards Peter. It was so unfair. At that point my daughter was getting fussy so I didn't make her wait anymore. I snapped a photo of Peter but was disappointed it wasn't with my daughter. So, every visit I keep my eye on the look out because you never know when you're going to spot him.
UPDATE: Done! And we found him 3 times!
13. Write a book or planning guide
One day when I'm not busing working 50 hours a week or being a full time mom and wife, I will find time to write a Disneyland planning guide or book. Not to make extra money but because it's my passion. I love sharing planning tips with people who ask. With all the great guides and books out there, how will mine stand out? I'm a person who doesn't have a lot of time or like to over pack (I just bring the essentials) so this guide will be for busy folks like me who don't have a lot of time to read. Easy on the copy writing keeping it simple with bullet points, easy itineraries/schedules and lists. So keep your eye out for it! :-)
UPDATE: No progress. It's been a crazy year for me so not much time to work on this project. The blog will have to do for now. :-)
Happy New Year! May all your dreams and resolutions come true!
Good luck with the guide book and the rest of your bucket list! If I lived closer, I would have loved doing the photography day with you. Sounds like a perfect day!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lucinda! I would've love to partner up with you too on a photography day! Would love to do it at WDW. I feel like I didn't get enough photos on my recent visit.
ReplyDeleteI *love* this list! There's a few I've done but many that there's no way I'll be able to accomplish. Take the Disney Cruise. You will LOVE it! And so will your husband and daughter. Best trip I've ever had and I can't wait to do it again. I literally laughed so loud when I read #8! My wife always beats me, too. However, this last trip she and I took, I actually beat her! So funny! We usually don't ride Splash Mountain just because the wait is SO LONG every time we're there but we do the funny picture on Space Mountain and Tower of Terror. We've got quite a collection going. I, also, am still waiting for a visit to Club 33. Someday... And I will look for that book! :)
ReplyDeleteLOL!!! I'm glad you knew what I was talking about on #8!
DeleteYou need to post the Space Mountain and Tower of Terror photos! I want to see! :-)
I will try to come up with a few and post. :)
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