Movie Magic is a great theme for this week at Focused on the Magic. If there was ever a Disney movie I've not liked, or felt the magic in, I've not met it yet. New movies or old, Disney does such a great job of finding the magic, and for that, I picked Oswald the Lucky Rabbit as my representation of Disney Movie Magic. 

Though Oswald doesn't have a full length movie of his own, he has several shorts and has cameos in several popular series. If you've got a fan of Minnie's Bowtique, look for him in the slumber party episode! Oswald has a really interesting history. 

While it all started with a mouse, I think really, ust a little while before, it all started with a rabbit. 

​Want to see more movie magic moments? Click here, and check out the other great blogs! 

Ahh!! Disney for the holidays! There's nothing quite so cozy to remind you of your home away from home. 

Sometimes I find the PERFECT thing at the store, and then nearly pass out cold at the price. Sticker shock, for sure! Doing Disney, or any theme, doesn't have to be expensive to look good, or have results! 

Last year we were at a little place that's a big deal in our area for good bargains on books and home decor and toys. It's only open a few times a year, that's part of what makes it such a big deal. They were doing a Halloween event for the kids, so we thought, why not? We get there, and they had massive piles of plastic pumpkin pails. I already love those, I do this thing every Halloween where I cover the lawn with them, and inside place one or two battery tealights. As it gets darker and darker, our yard is lit with pumpkins of all sizes, each glowing. We get about 200 trick or treaters so it's always fun to make it look special. Anyway...I'm there, saying ohh look at those, when I see it. Someone walking away with MICKEY shaped pumpkin pails. I ran all over looking for some. No luck. I was standing near the checkout, when I saw them. A box full. I must have knocked over eleven people getting to that box. I asked the cashier if they were someone's, she said yes. Sad, I moved on. An hour later, I poke my head back around. "Anyone claimed these yet?" A shrug, and am I'm sorry, I just can't sell them because they are someone elses. So I check out, get to the parking lot and think, you know...no one's coming back for those or else they already would have. So I run back, leave my name and number, and start looking online for some. Can't find them. That evening, the phone rings, and lo and behold!! THEY WERE MINE!! Mr. Disney Magic earned himself some major brownie points heading over there and managing to get there two minutes before they closed. So now, I've Disney pumpkins for the lawn too, and I'll have to share a photo with you later of them glowing! The photo at the top is the backside of the pumpkin, the front is Mickey's face.  

​But my point is...doing Disney, doesn't have to be expensive. Let's look at a few of these awesome decorations that didn't cost much to do time OR money wise! It's amazing how a few of these clever people have Disney-ied up their homes, and on the cheap!

 Click on the photo to take you right to their page. 

Have any of these inspired you to add a little Disney to your decorations? 

I love all the details of Disney Imagineers. I've said that many times, and chances are, I'll say it again. One of the neat things that really isn't looked at much is in the Star Wars Launch bay at Holloywood Studios. A window full of junk the jawas have collected. What fun things can you find in there? Do you see Anakin's backpck from Episode 1? C3P0's arm? Keep looking! 
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Halloween serves a purpose other than just allowing you to go a little crazy on the candy! It also lets you bring out your inner kid! What other time of year can an adult run around in a superhero costume and no one look twice? 

If you like to dress up, but you do a double take at some of the prices at the store, or lack of original choices (Every year, target always has the cookie, the hot dog and the banana costume. Do people REALLY wear those?!) then we've got some great ideas for you! Why spend a bunch, and have the same costume as everyone else? That's a lot of Dole Whips, my friends! 

Not only are these costumes going to be one of a kind, they are going to be awesome, AND use stuff that you either have in your closet already, or can easily, and inexpensively find. It just takes a little creativity, and you'll be showing your Disney side!

Click on each picture to find where it originated from. 

First up... Minnie Mouse! How simple is this? Turn it into a Mickey Costume by using red shorts, and tight black pants underneath! 

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Yellow skirt, blue top, red headband... you're Snow White! I wear this outfit pretty often, just because, and people definitely point out it looks like Snow White. Easy, and stuff in your closet! Just don't forget to grab an apple to complete the look! 

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Guy or girl, it's easy to pull off Mr. Smee! 

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Prince Eric has a look that's super easy to pull off, and I'm guessing almost every guy has this outfit already, just never thought of it!

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You don't even have to buy THIS bathrobe... you could use any hooded clock to be a Master of the Darkside. 

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Red shirt, yellow pants or a skirt and that equals Pooh! Super cute! You could find all orange and black for a Tigger! 

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It doesn't take too much effort to make one of these costumes, but I think you'll agree they are cuter, and easier to personalize to bring out the Disney Magic within you, than a costume from a store! 

​However you dress though, have fun, and keep it Disney! 

I LOVE the Small World ride. My oldest says it makes his eyes hurt, my youngest always says Whhhhhhhyyyyy and so this last trip, the way it worked out, we only got to go once, not twice. I'm not sure why I love it so much. Is it that glorious air conditioning, AND a nice place to sit as you take a gentle ride through the animatronic happy children singing? Is it the sloshing of the water, the bright colors (I am a very visual person) or maybe, it's the catchy song? I'm not sure, but I do love that ride. I also love the big clock at the entrance, but I never have time to give it a proper look, since we use our touring plan and never wait long in line. I'm not sure we've ever waited in line at Small World. 

But recently, I've been reading this fascinating Disney book, you can go here to see which one  and I love how I can just read a few minutes here and there and some up with so much amazing information that I never knew about. For example, did you know... 

When Disneyland was doing the dedication ceremony for Small World, children from many different nations each poured water, held in containers from all the different parts of the world, into the water channels? How amazing! I'm not sure how often that gets drained, but some water would surly remain, so it really is truly a gathering of all the different countries in that ride. Amazing! 

Another neat fact I saw on a documentary, is that the original Small World song was sung much slower. Only the chorus that was a little faster and even that was slower than the song that we all know today. I kind of liked hearing the original version sung by the creator, he was a more thoughtful, and yes, easier to understand version! 

Do you love Small World? Or does it make you scream, like my Disney kids? 

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