Fun Ways to Keep the Disney Magic Alive
Okay, we’re in uncharted territory here. Disneyland and Walt Disney World are closing for the most extended stretches ever. On Monday, every Disney theme park in the world will be closed, also a first. So, what can we do without the parks? Here are a few ideas to keep the magic alive during the park downtime.
Check Out Ride Videos
Nothing works as an exact substitute for riding a Disney theme park attraction. After all, Disney brags about 4-D technology, which is a made-up term. It reflects the way that Imagineers introduce aromatic fragrances and other effects to rides. When you watch a video, you can’t feel the wind whip in your face or feel the mist that simulates the feel of a beach.
Still, ride videos are the next best thing to visiting the parks. Our friends Josh and Jenna over at ResortTV1 have published an entire playlist of attractions. I recommend that you pull it up on a television and leave it running in the background all day. You’ll feel better about life on a subconscious level because Disney rides provide good vibes.
Cook a Disney Meal
I’m the type of cook who keeps the fire department’s phone number nearby whenever I put something in the oven. However, I love Disney so much that I overcome my utter inability to cook and give some recipes a shot anyway.
I’m not joking about this. Anytime a Disney park store sells a new cookbook, I buy it. I’ve got the Disney Festivals Cookbook sitting out right now and have studied several recipes that I plan to ruin one day soon.
Why do I keep trying? Disney cuisine is so memorable that I fantasize about it when I’m not there. I’d eat healthier and enjoy food more if I lived in Orlando. And I know from experience that attempting Disney recipes brings me a lot of joy.
Delish has kindly published 40 different takes on Disney favorites. Meanwhile, D-23 has posted dozens of actual Disney restaurant recipes! Even *I* can cook some of these without burning the place down.
Create a Disney Shrine
Here’s something that you don’t know about me. I have an entire Radio Flyer red wagon filled with Stitch stuffed animals. It wasn’t my idea, though.
Early in our relationship, my wife and I watched Lilo & Stitch, and she fell in love with the character, even though Lilo is clearly better. So, I started buying her Stitch merchandise and never really stopped. In fact, don’t tell her that I have three more items in an online shopping cart right.
As a Disney fan, I’m sure that you have a few favorites that you love. As such, you should give them a presence in your home. Go shopping (online, of course) for merchandise of Disney Princesses or Marvel superheroes or Star Wars Jedi warriors or whatever makes you happy.
Check out what Prince Charming Dev has done with his background in the video linked above. Take inspiration from that and design a special Disney spot in your home. We have – no joke – four of them, and I smile whenever I glance at them.
Learn about Disney
I have a file on my desktop from August 8, 2019. On that date, I started writing an article about ways to learn more about Disney. Frustratingly, I never could quite make it work. So, I’m skimming my notes now for this suggestion.
In recent years, Disney has opened up more about both its management techniques and its Imagineering practices. On YouTube, you can watch Imagineering in a Box, a remarkable video series that demonstrates how much thought cast members put into all aspects of the parks.
Each of the clips is only a few minutes. However, there are 36 of them. So, I recommend that you subscribe to the channel and watch the clips at your leisure.
I’m about one-third of the way done, and I’ve managed to get a couple of friends addicted to them, too. For Disney fanatics, Imagineering in a Box takes non-employees behind the curtains to see how the parks really run.
The other way to learn about Disney involves Quizlet flashcards. There are actually a lot of these. I recognize that not everyone wants to lose the magic. Those who enjoy discovering how the sausage gets made will love these quizzes, though.
Plan Your Next Trip
You may not fully appreciate it, but you have a rare opportunity right now. For the first time ever, Disney parks around the world aren’t open for business. For this reason, casual Disney fans aren’t thinking about the parks.
You have a rare opportunity right now. You can take advantage of this unprecedented lull to plan your next trip. When you’re not at the parks, fantasizing about your next vacation can help you get through the day. AND you have this unique chance to do your due diligence to plan it all.
I strongly suggest that you speak with a MickeyTravels agent to start planning your next trip. As a friendly reminder, these professional Disney vacation experts don’t charge for their services. It’s an entirely free way to prepare the vacation of your dreams. Speak with one today so that you’ll feel like a Disney trip is right around the corner.
Watch Disney+
This suggestion borders on common sense. Everyone knows that streaming video viewing will go through the roof during the next few weeks of the Coronavirus pandemic. People are stuck in their homes and looking for ways to pass the time.
Obviously, Disney+ is one of the best ways to combine your need for entertainment with the desire to fill the void of closed theme parks. Somehow, Disney’s made it even better, though.
The company will release Frozen II on Disney+ on Sunday. That’s three full months ahead of schedule! In case you’ve been on a deserted island for the last few months, Frozen II has become the most popular animated movie EVER.
Disney has correctly determined that it can entice some new subscribers to Disney+ this way. Since everyone’s about to have so much downtime, a blockbuster title like Frozen II should drive sales.
In fact, Disney+ now offers the top four (!) of the top five movies of 2019! Avengers: Endgame, The Lion King, Frozen II, and Captain Marvel are all available on the service. And that’s remarkable since Disney+ is barely four months old.
PS: The #8 and #9 films, Toy Story 4 and Aladdin, are also available. If you don’t have a Disney+ subscription by now, you’re doing yourself a disservice. It’s $5.99 a month! Treat yourself!
Watch an Old Livestream
I’m going to circle back to our friends Josh and Jenna again. As you may know, ResortTV1 hosts weekly livestreams from the parks. Members of the MickeyTravels and MickeyBlog families have sometimes appeared on these shows (you’ll even find me for about 10 seconds in one, but I’m not going to link it). However, that’s not why I’m recommending them.
Instead, I’m suggesting this because I know from experience that Disney livestreams bring the magic into a home. When it comes to working from home, I’ve got a 20-year head start on the rest of you. And one of my preferred ways to work is to watch Disney park videos.
People like Josh and Jenna do a terrific job of allowing viewers to live vicariously through their park visits.