Chase the Disney Blues Away!

Happy holidays, friends! I'm super excited about this post because we will be discussing one of my favorite topics - getting your Disney fix between trips. Let's face it, a Disney vacation is great but the days spent in the Happiest Place on Earth are quite small compared to the rest of the year. Many of us live too far from the parks to visit every day - or even every month - so we have to find other ways to satisfy the Disney craving. I hope this post will give you some ideas of ways to pass the time and please comment if I've missed any of your traditions!

First, it might be an obvious solution but Disney movies are a must. While we're all patiently waiting for Disney to get their streaming service live, you can still find beloved titles on Hulu and Netflix or tune into the family of Disney channels (including Freeform) if you've got a paid service provider. Another option is to build up your own collection; I'm a member of Disney Movie Club but I also check the bargain bins at stores and even browse the DVD section at thrift shops in hopes of finding one of my favorite vaulted titles. Sometimes all you need to get over the Disney blues is a little sing-a-long with the movie!

In addition to watching the movies, I've heard of some creative families that create menus to accompany them. You don't have to make ratatouille for Ratatouille (although you certainly could if you felt inclined) but consider a tea party for Alice in Wonderland or a fancy feast for Beauty and the Beast. It's one way to make the magic of the movies come alive in your home!

If watching videos is your thing, check out YouTube for some of the more consistent vloggers. I prefer to follow DISUnplugged, Prince Charming Dev, and This Orlando Life but there are a lot of vloggers out there that make great videos. Browse for your favorites and set one night every week to catch up on all of the new things happening at Disney!

Everything mentioned to this point is pretty frugal but there are definitely ways to spend money, in true vacation fashion, to get your fix. Shopping is something I try to limit while I'm in the parks but it's inevitable that I'll buy at least one or two souvenirs while I'm there. Thankfully, Disney has made it even easier to buy your favorite souvenir at home (or that thing you meant to buy on vacation and forgot...) by using their Shop Disney Parks app. It doesn't offer everything you can buy in the parks but it has a pretty fantastic selection and it will even give you an advantage to getting some special edition items because you won't have to wait in a physical line to purchase them. The next time you have a craving for Main Street Caramel Popcorn or Mickey Crispy treats, fire up this app and see what it has to offer.

If money is no object at all, there are a few monthly subscription boxes that are sure to delight. I haven't tried any of these boxes myself but you can easily search for them online and find several options. Some are focused on children and others are for pin traders, but you can figure out what fits your preferences. 

And finally, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the wonderful small businesses on Etsy. This is a fantastic place to find other fans that share their love of Disney through crafts and clothes. One of the biggest sellers are Mickey ears, which can be completely customized in thousands of unique ways. I recently received four new ears from various sellers on Etsy and couldn't be more happy with the results!

Last but definitely not least, plan your trip :)  Nothing satisfies my craving for Disney quite like imagining I'm there and deciding what dining, attractions, and resort amenities I'll enjoy. It's pretty much my answer to all of life's stresses and I hope it can do some good for you too. Even if you don't have an upcoming trip, plan a dream vacation and imagine the possibilities. I also plan these types of vacations, especially when I'm dreaming about Tokyo or Paris!

I know I've missed a lot of great ideas here so please share your ideas and let us know how you kick the Disney blues!