My favourite Disney collaborations

My favourite emails always have 'Disney' in the subject line. One specific email category is always guaranteed to make me smile... new Disney collaborations!

I love it when my favourite brands work with Disney to create exciting new products which just happen to be perfect for me (and for my Instagram account). However, the only difficulty comes when I have to narrow down my wishlist to one or two items. These collaborations tend to be a bit pricey and my bank account would have a hissy fit if I let myself buy EVERYTHING I wanted to.

Here are some of my favourite Disney collaborations... 

Disney x Cath Kidston 

I was really excited when I heard about Cath Kidston's collaboration with Disney as I could definitely see the potential for some beautiful new designs. The first collection (Winnie the Pooh) was released on the day of my operation last September which meant it wasn't on my radar at the time, but my lovely work colleagues clubbed together and bought a few items for me which I absolutely adore. They bought the overnight bag, mug, bed socks and passport cover, and my friend Sarah also bought a little make up bag for me from the collection.

When the second collection (Mickey and Minnie) launched, I made sure I was sitting at my laptop ready to order my favourite items the second they went live. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite that simple. A few of the items I wanted sold out within seconds, it took me approximately three hours to order three items, and one of the items they sent me was the wrong one and had to be returned! However, putting those irritations aside, I do really love my notebook and little coin purse (which I actually use to store my earphones rather than coins). I'm now eagerly awaiting the details of their next collaboration!

Disney Pixar x Vans

I quite literally screeched with excitement when the email announcing the Disney Pixar x Vans collaboration landed in my inbox. I love everything about Toy Story and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to buy a pair of Vans trainers for the first time. After much deliberation, I bought the beautiful Woody and Bo Peep trainers and I'm in love. The trainers are such good quality with a fantastic level of detail and, crucially, they're just as comfy as my trusty Converse!

Disney x Pandora 

I've already blogged about my Disney Pandora bracelet but it's definitely amazing enough to warrant another mention. I started my Pandora collection a few months before our trip to Walt Disney World in 2015 and I was spoilt for choice when I decided to buy a couple of Disney charms as holiday souvenirs. I eventually narrowed it down to the classic Walt Disney World charm and the Mickey pendant charm, then decided to buy more when we went back in 2016 because I'm so in love with this collaboration. I bought the bracelet, the clips, the Belle charm and the Minnie charm as part of a great discounted deal, and my parents-in-law bought the Mickey swirls charm and the Minnie headband charm a few weeks later. I can't wait to go back to Florida in April to add another charm to my Disney-themed bracelet!

What's your favourite Disney collaboration? 

Christmas presents... the entertainment edition

I won't be writing just one 'What I got for Christmas' post this year as I like to write about things in detail, so the post would be far too long with way too many photos. Instead, I thought I'd write a series of posts on the gifts I had for Christmas, split into a few different categories. I love categorisation.

I had so many lovely presents from my family, Neil, Neil's family, friends from work and other friends scattered around the country... thanks everyone! :)  Hopefully everyone enjoyed the presents I gave to them as much as I love the gifts from them.

The first category I've chosen is... Entertainment!

I had 5 DVDs for Christmas this year from my family. We watched Nativity 2 on Christmas Day, and I can't wait to watch the others. I've never seen Cars but I've heard great things about it. Toy Story is just a classic which everyone loves, and I loved Olympus has Fallen and Gatsby when I saw them in the cinema. I want to make sure I watch all my new DVDs before the end of January... I'll let you know how I get on. I think I might need a new DVD rack!

I also had the Nativity soundtrack for Christmas from my sister, brother-in-law and nephew. For those of you who know me well, you'll know that I absolutely love the Nativity and Nativity 2 films and soundtrack. With catchy songs such as Sparkle & Shine and Good News Song, I'll definitely be listening to this CD all year round and not just when it's Christmas!

I also had two lovely books for Christmas this year... The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World from my brother, and The Hummingbird Bakery Cake Days book from Nicola, Mathew and Osian. The Disney book is already making me 'homesick' for Florida as I want to find out more and explore some of the hidden and fascinating facts detailed in the book, and I can't wait to bake some treats from the Hummingbird book. 

So I've got plenty to keep me occupied for the next few months! What DVDs, CDs and books did you have for Christmas? 

Hollywood Studios

I had no idea what to expect from Hollywood Studios when I went to Walt Disney World for the first time 18 months ago, so it wasn't on my list of top 5 things I was most excited about. I wasn't particularly interested in how films are made back then, and I thought that would be the main focus of the park. However, this year I knew exactly what to expect so I was very excited about going back. You can never fully grasp the scale of Hollywood Studios (or any of the Disney parks) until you've experienced it in person!

Hollywood Studios is home to two of my favourite rides in Walt Disney World - Rock'n'Roller Coaster and the Tower of Terror. Both these rides usually have a substantial queue, but they're totally worth the wait. Rock'n'Roller Coaster isn't a very long ride, but it's brilliant while it lasts. It also has the bonus of blaring Aerosmith music the whole way around. The Tower of Terror is just a whole different sensation... I scream with genuine terror on this ride, but I absolutely love it. It also gives you a great view of the park...!

Pixar Place is one of my favourite areas in Hollywood Studios. The design of this area is phenomenal, but then I wouldn't expect anything less from the geniuses at Pixar. Toy Story Midway Mania is (obviously) situated in Pixar Place. Midway Mania is an interactive 3D ride based on classic carnival games. I'm not actually very good at these games, but the ride is great fun whether you get a high score or not. And everyone loves to wear 3D glasses once in a while! You can also meet Buzz and Woody in Pixar Place if you're prepared to queue for a very very long time...

I also love the landmarks at Hollywood Studios. I did think the Sorcerer's Apprentice hat could have done with a bit of a spring clean this year but it's still an impressive sight as you walk in to the park.

I went to see the Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage show in Sunset Boulevard for the first time this year. I was expecting great things, but I was genuinely blown away by the half hour production. Everything was spectacular, from the set to the costumes to the very enthusiastic singing and dancing. Belle and Gaston sing live throughout every show, and the Beast's characterisation is fantastic. I was humming my favourite songs from Beauty and the Beast all day after watching this show!

Fantasmic also takes place in Sunset Boulevard, in the open-air amphitheatre. Fantasmic is Hollywood Studios' night show and, although it's my least favourite of the three night shows at Walt Disney World, it's still pretty amazing. The show features fireworks, water effects, pyrotechnics, lasers, music and projections on to large mist screens featuring scenes from the Sorcerer's Apprentice and other classic Disney films. Fantasmic is actually quite scary at times as it depicts a battle between good and evil taking place in Mickey's dreams/nightmares, but Mickey Mouse obviously triumphs over evil in the end. You get to see loads of your favourite characters in this show and there's always a great atmosphere in and around the amphitheatre, so it's definitely worth a look.

Hollywood Studios went all out to promote Monsters University this year, and I especially loved the Monsters University display outside the main entrance. Just like everything else in Disney World, it was massively intricate and totally flawless!

Although I didn't get to meet Sulley and Mike Wazowski from Monsters University at Hollywood Studios as the queue was too long, I did get a hug from Pluto. Pluto is one of my favourite Disney characters so I was extremely excited about this. He's so cute!

Just like the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, I can't write about everything I love about Hollywood Studios or the blog post would take four days to write. So again, this has just been a flavour of the main things I love about Hollywood Studios.

What do other people think of Hollywood Studios? Is it your favourite Disney park?