If you are reading this, you obviously love Disney. You probably have a piece of Disney in the kitchen or living room. Since I’m 13, my Disney styling is confined to my bedroom. Here are ways to keep the Disney magic in your room, but not overwhelm it to the point that your room is drowning in pixie dust and dreams (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing…) I rated each item a number between 1 and 5 based on the “Fanatic Scale”.

1. Mickey Clock
Fanatic Scale: 3
These are popular things. You probably know a few classic ones, like the ones where Mickey’s hands are the actual clock hands. These are so adorable! I have one in my room. You can get them at many places, ranging from Wal-Mart to the Disney Parks themselves. The prices depend on where you buy the clock.

2. Mickey Dice
Fanatic Scale: 2
These dice show Mickeys instead of the dots usually seen on dice. It is very subtle, and you wouldn’t notice the Mickeys unless you are studying the dice. They are meant to be hung from the mirror in your car for all the world to see, but I don’t own a car (too young to drive). Instead, they are hanging above my head, similar to where you would find a dream catcher. I have only seen them sold at Walt Disney World and briefly on the Disney Store website.

3. Pictures of your vacations
Fanatic Scale: 2
Everybody has pictures in their room! Some people have pictures or their friends and other people have picture of their family, and some even have both! Pictures of you on vacations are also pretty popular, which is why it has such a low rating on the fanatic scale. It also depends on how many pictures you have displayed. I personally have a BUNCH. I have a full shelf dedicated to pictures, and at least half of them are from Walt Disney World, some don’t even have pictures of my family in them-just the Disney scenery.

4. Pictures of Walt
Fanatic Scale: 4
Having pictures of yourself hanging on your walls is normal-but of somebody else might be considered weird. However, if they are pictures of your idol-that assumption gets thrown out the window! I have a few nice pictures of Walt Disney on my wall: including one of him and Cinderella Castle where the whole picture is faded. In another photo I have, Walt is posing with some film from one of his cartoons, and the original Mickey Mouse is on his shoulder. It is so cute! I got these at the World of Disney in Downtown Disney. I don’t remember seeing them anywhere else.

5. Vinylmations
Fanatic Scale: 3
Vinylmations seem to be replacing pins these days. They are little statues of Mickey Mouse, but without the details. Designs are added to make them look like Disney characters, food, rides or places. You can trade them in the Disney parks and stores. They are kind of hard to explain, but I am sure you have seen them somewhere. There is one for everybody. I have a spice rack in my room that displays some of my favorite vinylmations.

6. Gallery of Light
Fanatic Scale: 4
Robert Olszewski is an amazing artist and has created great Disney collectibles. My favorite thing that he has created has to be the Gallery of Lights. These little boxes depict scenes from the best Disney movies and rides. It looks like a picture frame with the light up scene inside. I only have one at the moment, which is Fantasia Mickey on top of his rock, but I hope to be getting one of the Disney Dream in November. Some other designs that I love include Cinderella Castle with Cinderella and Prince Charming dancing in front of it (and a shadow of the Partners statue!), the Hitchhiking Ghosts and the jungle cruise passing by some hippos. Gallery of Lights aren’t that big and can fit in with any room theme.

7. Comforter
Fanatic Scale: 5
A lot of little girls have had princess bedding.  As you grow up, it is harder to find a comforter that isn’t “kiddy.” I have a black, white, and gray Mickey Mouse themed comforter. I have seen some on the Disney Store Website that include the Mickey Mouse Club and Tinkerbell.  The last Time I was at K-Mart, I saw some very well themed Mickey Mouse bedding for adults also.

8. Shadow Box
Fanatic Scale: 5
I love shadow boxes. I have one in my room that includes memories from one of my Disney trips. Shadow boxes are a shallow box consisting of a frame and a glass front in which small objects can be displayed. You can hang them on your wall, or leave them on a table or desk for everybody to see. They come in different colors and layers so they will match any decor. You can get them at most craft stores.

9. Quotes
Fanatic Scale: 4
I have talked about these before. Hallmark sells plaques that have Disney quotes on them. They are many different sizes. I have been collecting them for a long time, but I had NO idea what to do with them. One day I thought, hey! Why don’t I attach them to the outside of my door? They look really great on my door. Another idea on where to put them is right under where your ceiling meets the walls. I don’t have enough signs to do THAT, but maybe one day I will! You can only get the signs at Hallmark.

10. Plush
Fanatic Scale: 3
It seems that every character Disney has created has been transformed into a plush character. As I kid, I believe that every person HAS to have one. Whether you put them on display or not is based on your personality. I have two stuffed animals out and the rest are in a container in my closet. My favorites are obviously the ones that are displayed – a medium-sized Oswald The Lucky Rabbit and A Baby Oswald (a small one). They sit side-by-side. I got them from my local Disney Store awhile back, and I am not sure if they still have it. I did see the baby Oswald online though.

11. Lantern
Fanatic Scale: 5
I have a lantern in my room that I purchased at the parks. It is a black rectangle with a side profile mickey silhouette on all 4 sides. When a candle is lit inside of it, Mickey’s silhouette is projected onto the walls of the room. I got it in Walt Disney World during the summer of 2011. I love it a lot, even though it is just a simple little thing that adds to the magic.

12. Figures

Fanatic Scale: 3                  

Whether you prefer Lenox, Jim Shore or Precious Moments, favorite Disney characters have been captured in a figurine.  From a classic Eeyore to a graduation celebration, these figures come with memories and always make you smile.  My collection ranges from a 3 inch Peter Pan to a 12 statue of Walt and Oswald.  The best part is, you can never have enough!

13. Piece of Disney History   

Fanatic Scale:5

Somehow my parents were able to surprise me last Christmas with a miniature Haunted Mansion sign that was given to cast members.  It only measures about 6 inches tall but it holds a huge place of honor in my Disney collection.  It is the one piece of memorabilia that no one I know has been able to get their hands on!

Based on my self-designed fanatic scale, I scored a 43, how did you do? If you don’t have any of these things in your room, I suggest adding at least one.  They are details (some little and some big) that show both your love for the Walt Disney Company and your age. After all, you’re never too old to decorate with Disney!

Last Week’s “Where in the World?” picture was part of Expedition Everest, just like Tony E and Lindsey D stated.

See ya REAL soon!
~Makena

Quote of the Week: “Good afternoon. We’re gonna have a great jump today. Okay, first crank a hard cutback as you hit the wall. There’s a screaming bottom curve, so watch out. Remember: rip it, roll it, and punch it. “ ~Squirt, Finding Nemo

The post Decorate Your Room with Disney Flair! appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

As a Disney fan, I am always on the look out for anything Disney. Some of the coolest things in my Disney Collection I have found outside of the parks and the Disney Store. This month’s Collector’s Corner will feature a few items that I have found at tag sales and at a store called Savers which is found up in Connecticut (Northeast Area).  Savers is like a Goodwill/Salvation Army type store that accepts donations from the local community and businesses and most (if not all) of the profits go back into the community by way of charities, etc. In the spring and summer time I love to go to tag sales in search of finding some Disney collectibles. Between finding things at Savers and from local tag sales, I have really been able to build my Disney collection. The product is always changing/turning over at places such as Savers so its always a new hunt to try and find those cool Disney items. Plus with tag sales you never know what kind of cool older Disney items you might just find. I have found old Disney hotel mugs, Disney records, etc at tag sales.  I used to never be a person who really was into tag sales until I started seeing Disney items pop up from time to time.

I’ve included pictures of a few things that I have found at either tag sales or at Savers. The Scottish Mickey & Minnie plush set I found at a local church tag sale right up the street from my house last summer and I was pleasantly surprised to see that they were in excellent condition and still had the original older style Disney Store logo tags still on them. I personally had never seen these at the Disney Store and come to find out after looking them up on the Internet, I found this was a set/collection that the Disney Store featured where Mickey and Minnie were dressed in various international outfits.

The print of Mickey Mouse saluting the American Flag was found at Savers for the bargain price of $3.99! I have seen this print before, but was again pleasantly surprised to find that someone was getting rid of this and it could be mine for just a few dollars.

Lastly the pin set was also found at Savers and features four Disney Broadway Collectible pins. These were from the four Disney Broadway shows Mary Poppins, The Lion King, Tarzan, and The Little Mermaid. I personally haven’t had the pleasure of visiting Broadway in New York City to see some of these Disney shows, so I was shocked to find this pin set in the display case at Savers just waiting for a Disney collector to snatch it up! As a huge pin collector, I didn’t have these pins in my collection already, and I knew that I probably wouldn’t be able to find this set all together in the original box again, so I bought it.  I have it on display in my home office which has been dubbed the “Official Disney Room”.

So my fellow Disney collectors, you never know where you might find a unique Disney item or an item that you never have seen before, so get out there and start searching those local tag sales and local consignment/thrift type stores.   You never know what you might be able to add to your Disney collection!

I would love to get pictures or emails from people who want to share something they found at a tag sale or thrift type store that has become a part of their Disney collection, so please feel free to email me at jen4wdwradio@gmail.com.

Good luck & happy hunting!

Jen is an avid Disney fan and collector.  She pretty much eats, breathes, and sleeps Disney when she is not there. If she is not planning a trip to the World, she is reading about WDW, learning about the history of the Walt Disney Company and Walt,  listening to WDW music, as well being an avid Disney collector.

The post Disney Collector’s Corner: Disney Collectibles in Unexpected Places! appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

I first visited Walt Disney World in Florida with my family in 1986 at the age of 11. This was the first time that I was introduced to the Walt Disney World Resort. As a child, I loved Disney movies and books, but didn’t know anything about Walt Disney World. After our first visit, my family and I fell in love with Walt Disney World and we returned on many family vacations.

During that first trip, we didn’t stay on Disney property, but soon realized the benefits and magic of staying on Walt Disney World property and wanted to stay at all the WDW resorts. I have stayed at Pop Century, All Star Sports, Music & Movies, Port Orleans French Quarter, Port Orleans Riverside (the old Dixie Landings), Caribbean Beach, Fort Wilderness, Polynesian, Grand Floridian, Beach Club Villas, & Old Key West. I have been to WDW over 30 times and look forward to returning every year.  I have been to Disneyland 3 times, but still haven’t seen Disney’s California Adventure.

Not only do I like to be immersed in the Magic while I am in WDW, I pretty much eat, breathe, & sleep Disney when I am not there. If I am not planning a trip to the World, I am reading about WDW, learning about the history of the Walt Disney Company & Walt,  listening to WDW music, as well being an avid Disney collector. I have been enjoying WDW Radio for about 2 years and I LOVE Lou’s Podcasts and listen to them daily while I am working. I am also a Celebrations magazine subscriber and LOVE the publication.

I am a huge Disney pin collector as well as a Vinylmation collector, but I pretty much collect anything Disney, especially stuff from the parks. I enjoy collecting even the simplest of items from the parks as its not only a remembrance of the visit/trip, but it also keeps me immersed in the Magic when I can’t get to Walt Disney World. I also appreciate the artwork that is associated with the pins, Vinylmation, prints, etc as the Disney artists are just amazing.

In the upcoming months, I would like to feature a monthly column featuring why people collect Disney, different pin trading/collecting tips, and I would like to see and hear from other collectors about their “most prized collectible”.

Please share your ideas with me!  What collectibles would you like featured in this column?  What is your prized Disney collectible?  Email me at jen4wdwadio@gmail.com, and I will try to feature your ideas in upcoming posts!

The post The Disney Collector’s Corner – Introduction to a New Series & Writer appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.