Best of 2012 Edition.

   Here we are friends.  This is the end of the first FULL year of Disney Hipster Blog...a seriously ridiculous and amazing hobby, that spun a little out of control.  This year brought us a lot of new venues. We now have a Facebook page, as well as a Tumblr (because we're like, totally 18 years old.)      This year also brought Disney Hipster Podcast to the world, and for that, I'm truly sorry.  We had the honor of hosting our first official meet up at Disney World, which was such a treat.  I seriously can't wait for the next one.
   Here is a round up of some of our more popular posts from this year!  Enjoy.

   Adam enjoying Columbia Harbor House...

  - In January we sat down for lunch at Columbia Harbor House, and enjoyed the pleasant aesthetics of the restaurant! Turns out A LOT of people feel the same way about this terrific spot!

Pooh Years Eve.

   Ok. You know that moment when your watching a Youtube clip of Winnie The Pooh in another language and realize its the creepiest thing in the world...but you keep watching anyway?  Yeah...go have that moment right now.

Sunday Quickie: A Few From Epcot's Germany

   Have you checked out the story behind the three Germany rulers?  Or, taken a look at the St. George Platz?  Clearly we love the Germany pavilion at Epcot...like in a crazy obsessive way.  Here are a few random shots from that beloved pavilion...

Layout & Background: Cinderella

   Adam got me the totally badass Layout & Background book from the Walt Disney Animation Studios Archive Series. While the book only has a short forward, and no other significant text, it is a complete wealth of beauty.
   Spread in chronological order, all the way through the 2011 Winnie The Pooh, this book looks at the beautiful images developed as backgrounds of classic Disney films...as well as the process of cropping the images.
   I'll be bringing you images from this book from time to time, seeing that I'm so obsessed with it.   Here are a few beauties from Cinderella. 

Animal Kingdom Artifact: Colonial Officer Thornwood Carving

   Located along the wall in our beloved sunset overlook at AKL's Jambo House, this wonderful little guy is carved out of thorn wood by the Igbo people of Nigeria.  Supposedly a colonial officer.  He is one of many wood carvings along this wall...but he is one of the biggest and more charming.

   I'm in the middle of reading Osa And Martin : For The Love Of Adventure. You may recall that the Sunset Overlook is dedicated to the adventures of Martin and Osa Johnson. As I work my way through the book we might have to visit here again for more Animal Kingdom Artifacts. :)

Boardwalk Artifact: Crazy Insane Person Chair.

   If we learned ONE THING from our one night stay at Disney's Boardwalk Resort, its that those fools got some cray cray artifacts.  One that struck my interest in particular was this TOTALLY INSANE chair located near the fireplace in the main lobby.  Enjoy.

A Merry Disney Christmas, From Sweden

   Merry Christmas all! In trying to find something easy/fun/special to post on my favorite day of the year I stumbled upon something totally random.
   Did you know that in Sweden it is a Christmas eve tradition to watch the 1958 Disney television special From All Of Us To All Of You? At 3PM on December 24th the vast majority of the country enjoys this classic clip show, comprised of both Christmas and non Christmas cartoon shorts.  The funny thing is...the Swedes have adopted Donald Duck as their perennial favorite, and the special is known as Kalle Anka oct hans banner onskar God Jul, or "Donald Duck and his friends wish you a Merry Christmas."
   Apparently Donald is just as big as Mickey in Sweden...which is pretty awesome.  Here are two versions of the show...one is the Swedish version...and another slightly different original version.
Makes sure to visit this extensive article about the history, which is detailed and fascinating.

  
   Merry Christmas everyone! I hope this is the best year ever for everyone, and that your obsessions with Disney continues to grow and inspire you!
   

Christmas Miracle! Flowering Mickey's Mini Garden

   I wrote a post over a year ago about my love of renegade gardening at Disney World... and have continued my hobby. Those of you who listen to the Disney Hipster Podcast are probably familiar with my obsession with Mickey's Mini Gardens, the teeny tiny plants growing in nutrient dense gel that are available for purchase at The Land at Epcot.
   Well my friends, I've successfully reared my kalanchoe with enough devotion...and she actually flowered!  Yay! Its a Christmas miracle!

use the macbook as a reference to how big she's grown...

she used to be so much smaller than her "brother"...another Mickey's Mini Garden.

pretty flowers! 

   Use the link above to see what a little turd my plant was just over a year ago.  This makes me unbelievably happy.  Merry Christmas to all! 

Sunday Quickie: Lets Go Meet Ariel

   During CM previews of New Fantasyland the new area was relatively quite...so we made sure to visit every attraction while there. (all three of them...if you include meet and greets, which we don't...so one, I guess.)   We were happy to finally meet Ariel though. :)

Disney Blog Roundup: 12/22/12

   Ho Ho Ho.  I hope everyones holiday seasons are going well.  I know that we've been running around like crazy, shopping, baking cookings, going to holiday parties and all that other nonsense.  Despite all the hustle and bustle there was a good amount of amazing Disney blogging going on! Check it all out:

   - Eating WDW's Sarah continues my favorite on going series! Snacks From Japan!

   - Passport To Dreams continues a streak of awesomeness with Awkward Disneyland Transitions! Curl up on the couch and read this whole thing.

   - Rich at Mouse Troop visits Three Overlooked Disneyland Attractions! I love me some Storybookland Canal boats!

   - Check out this Amazing Tangled Themed Birthday Cake over at Mouse On The Mind!  I need one of these next year! :)

   - Wow! Look at these amazing homemade Disney Christmas cards! From Estelle at This Happy Place. 

Themed Benches at Disneyland's Critter Country

   One of the biggest surprises of our Disneyland trip this past May, was how much we both enjoyed Critter Country.  Often maligned as a throwaway/ramshackle half land...I found it to be both charming AND extensively themed.
   A great example of this theming is found in the wonderfully sculpted "critter" benches.

Early Christmas Gift: From Disney Hipster Blog

   Normally I hate giving Christmas presents before the big day...but this one can't wait.  A few weeks ago we brought you some background music from Animal Kingdom Lodge...and now bring you the entire Animal Kingdom Lodge Christmas music loop.  This loop is immensely heart warming and puts me in the holiday spirit...in the weirdest way ever.

   Merry Christmas everyone!  Please feel free to spread the love and share this loop with whoever might enjoy it... 

The Dapper Dans: Christmas In Killarney

   I love the Dapper Dans.  I love Christmas.  I love the Dapper Dans singing Christmas songs.  Here is one of my favorites that I filmed on our recent trip! Enjoy.

   I hope that everyones holiday business is in order. You can probably tell that we've been extremely busy...aka, fewer blog posts.  Rectified in short order my dears. :)

The View From Up Here

   One of the most wonderful things about staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge is the ability to stay in a savanna view room.  These are rooms with balconies overlooking one of four savannas at the resort.  If, however, you choose not to opt for this luxury (it is a premium...and your bill will reflect this) fear not!  In addition to the Arusha rock overlook and the amazing Sunset Overlook there are several other more intimate places to animal watch!
   Flanking either side of the entrance to the Arusha rock overlook, on the main level of the hotel are these wonderful viewing stations!

 A view of the area, from the Arusha rock overlook...

 Super comfy rocking chairs!

Disney's Photopass Fun: Hugs.

   Last week we talked about being wacky for photopass photographers, which is something we don't like to do very much.  Something we DO LIKE quite a bit, is hugging characters!  Most adults get terribly awkward when their moment comes...but let me tell you, everyone loves getting a hug!  :)  Good thing is, the photopass photographers usually catch that special moment!

Sunday Quickie: A few from Sunset Boulevard

Disney Blog Roundup: 12/08/12

   So we're off to Florida again for a few short days.  In our absence, please enjoy some of these amazing reads from around the Disney community! :)

   -Estelle at This Happy Place Blog gets all excited about classic Disney Christmas movies!!! Which is your favorite??

   - Over at Mouse on the Mind, Melissa Sue has some fun Disney goodness on her desk! Love it!

   - Anyone wanna try the Tropical Macaw? Sarah at Eating WDW did!

   - Gorillas Don't Blog brings some nifty photos of Disneyland landscaping! Too cool.

   - Another terrific article from Passport to Dreams! The Awkward Transitions of Disneyland! 

Buena Vista Street Community Bell Ringers

   I love streetmosphere. Love. Love. Love. Love. Love it. What would Main Street USA be like without The Mayor and Hilda? Or Hollywood Studios without Vladimir Pooey, and his entourage??
   Until recently Disney California Adventure was somewhat lacking in decent street performers.  But with the addition of a wonderful new "stage" in Buena Vista Street we have been blessed with a snappy new crew of citizens.  Among these are a special group of singers for the holiday season...the Buena Vista Street Community Bell Ringers, whom which I am totally obsessed.

Disney World Double Exposure

   Recently our favorite photo app Hipstamatic released a new add on toward their lineup.  The multiple exposure option is a fun way to get a little creative with your shots while at Disney World.  I look forward to practicing with this on our next trip, but in the mean time here are a few that I snapped in October.  I think it adds a wonderful spin on park icons...

Kidani Village Savanna Time Lapse.

   Bumbling through Disney related videos the other day on YouTube, I found this little gem of a video!  I don't know why, but we've never thought to take a time lapse video of our view. Though this guys view isn't the greatest, it does get its share of animal activity.
   The video condenses several hours into about 20minutes of goodness.

   I only wish there was music to go along with the video!  If only there were more AKL background music loops available!  For now you'll have to be happy with the one that we've already provided...

Photopass: Be Wacky.

   We love the Photopass option at Disney parks. Actually, we kind of love when anyone takes our picture, but thats beside the point.  The only thing about the service that we don't really care for is the incessant nagging by the photographer to do something wacky.  

   Make a scary face! Raise your hands up with joy!  Because we're polite adults, and don't want to hurt anyones feelings, we often oblige these cues.   My favorite is when they say, Now, smile really big and pretend like your having a blast!  What do they think I'm doing at Disney World/Land? Cant you tell by my black clothes and sunglasses that I'm having a blast? 

   Here are a few of the horrible nuggets: 

Pretend like Adam just told a joke...

They LOVE LOVE LOVE making you do this...especially at Disneyland.

Sunday Quickie: A Few Cool Shots From Disneyland's Big Thunder Queue