The Cabinet Takeover

I hear it's #NationalCoffeeDay today. This seems like an appropriate time to address my mug/glassware issue.

I'm not sure when it happened. I wasn't consciously trying to convert this cabinet. But putting dishes away the other day, I realized I was sensing a strong theme...

You see it too, right?

Slowly but surely, my coffee mugs, glasses, and all manner of drinking vessel seem to have been taken over by theme park purchases.

I'm okay with this.

And because I like talking about mugs, I'm turning this into a three-post series. Stay tuned for two other mug-related posts, coming your way soon.



Ahhh, the coffee maker just beeped. Where's my Epcot mug?

A visit to Nomad Lounge

Tucked away in a quiet corner that will soon be a very busy pathway to Avatarland, lies Animal Kingdom's newest watering hole- Nomad Lounge. Opened in May 2016, Nomad Lounge is connected to Tiffins, the new signature restaurant in the park.

There is beauty throughout, both inside as well as in the outdoor area overlooking the water. It's inviting, warm, and visually stunning, with carefully selected details at every turn.

With impeccable attention to detail, top-notch service from my barkeep, and the highest quality drinks and food offerings- I can see Nomad Lounge quickly jumping to the top of my favorite places list.

I absolutely have a new favorite on-property drink:  the Annapurna Zing. It's the perfect refreshing mix of Bombay Sapphire gin, passion fruit puree, simple syrup, lime juice, and a splash of ginger beer...all  served in a many-angled glass with the most satisfying hold.

The vegetarian summer roll was a perfect accompaniment on a sweltering day...

One of my favorite parts- a nod to function alongside beauty. The designers included two of my favorite things to see under a bar- bag hooks and charging outlets. It's all in the details...

Have you visited Nomad Lounge? Is it on your to-do list? Tell us about it in the comments...

EPCOT Center Logo pins

As a Disney pin collector, there's a satisfaction that comes with finding that last pin you need to complete a set. And as a finicky collector, the pins I'm drawn to are few and far between- so when I find a set I love, and I can complete it? That's cause for celebration. My favorite pin set probably doesn't come as a surprise to regular readers: the EPCOT Center Logo pins.

Released in April 2015 as part of the Hidden Mickey Cast Lanyard series, these vintage Epcot icons have everything I love in a pin design- clean crisp styling, bold color, classic graphic design, symbols or signage rather than characters, and of course- they're vintage Epcot. The icons represent the original Epcot Center logos, including Horizons, Journey Into Imagination, CommuniCore, The Land, and The Living Seas.

I collected this set over the course of several visits. Ironically, I had to go to the other side of the country- to Disneyland- in order to find the last remaining pin I needed to complete the set. As I was scurrying through Disney's California Adventure on my way back to the Disneyland Hotel, I spotted The Land pin on the lanyard of a custodial worker sweeping up near the gates. When I approached him to trade, he told me he had just received it about an hour before, and he had no idea what it was.

You never know when you'll come across that final pin to complete a set. 

What do you think of the Epcot icon pins? Are you into pin trading at the parks & resorts? 

Tell us about it in the comments...

TAG-- Retro Travel Gear in Disney Springs

Have you checked out TAG at the Marketplace Co-Op at Disney Springs?

TAG (an acronym for travel-accessories-gear) is the newest shop/stall inside the open- floorplan marketplace. I was really excited about the retro-style travel theme of TAG. I've long been a fan of that retro travel look, perhaps stemming back to having had a father who worked for PAN AM in the Mad Men-era heyday of that brand. I couldn't wait to see what awaited me in this shop.

Reminiscent of the PAN AM logo, right?

I was at a work conference earlier this year, staying across the street from Disney Springs. TAG was set to open the day after I was leaving town. The store was all ready but was draped in fabric in the middle of the marketplace, barring entrance. That was brutal! When I found myself back for another work event in June, I knew I had to head over and check it out (along with the other newly-opened areas of Disney Springs).

The shop sells a mix of retro style and contemporary travel-related accessories, and is set up with travel-themed touches throughout...

The retro aviation theme was everywhere, including the register station above- designed to look like an airport checkin-in counter, complete with an arrival/departure board.

A flight from DLR to WDW? Sign me up!

I couldn't quite swing a purchase of the faux-vintage hard suitcase I coveted, 

so instead, I settled for a cool new luggage tag...

Have you visited TAG at the Co-Op Marketplace? What do you think of this retro travel theme? 

Tell us about it in the comments...

Vintage Photos at Disney's Guest Relations

Have you ever taken a look around inside Disney's various Guest Relations locations? Many of these spots have great vintage photos on display. During a recent visit, I made a point to visit Guest Relations in a few different locations, just to check out the photos. Here's a little bit of what I found...

Disney Springs

It was here that I first noticed these great shots- classic 70s and 80s images, 

many of which I hadn't seen before in any other place. 

Notice anything interesting about the next two photos?

They were shot before Disney implemented the now-classic "two-finger point"! 

 Epcot

No too many photos here, but a nice backdrop of classic shots such as the groundbreaking multiplane camera, Walt walking through Sleeping Beauty castle, and Walt standing in front of the Florida Project map.

Magic Kingdom

 The Magic Kingdom Guest Relations photos include shots of Walt, Roy, and 
Mickey Mouse, all in gilded frames that have a home-like feel. 

Hollywood Studios 

The Hollywood Studios Guest Relations vintage photos have an interesting twist. Instead of vintage Disney photos, all the shots here are of vintage Hollywood! Some of the photos date back to the very early days, when Hollywood was little more than dirt roads and farm land. Early pictures of the famed Hollywood sign (then reading "Hollywoodland"), as well as landmarks like The Hollywood Hotel, Hollywood Boulevard, and RKO/Desilu Studios also adorn the walls.

Have you visited Guest Relations? What do you think of the vintage photos? 

Tell us about it in the comments....