What's next for Plus the Magic?

That 4 Year Itch...

If you spend any time on blogs dedicated to niche markets or specific realms of fandom- especially small blogs without a sponsorship/ad revenue model- you often see the same thing start to happen. As time goes by, it inevitably gets difficult to keep things fresh, to present content in a unique way, to do something different than a hundred other blogs are doing. Sometimes readership and engagement drop off, sometimes a blogger gets stuck in a rut and/or doesn't find the same joy in the process anymore. Sometimes a blogger's perspective or experience changes, and the original concept is no longer a good fit. Whatever the individual circumstances, a time often comes when things need to go in a new direction.

That's where Plus the Magic has been for a while.

I'm planning to change things up a bit in the coming months. I'm not exactly sure yet what that change will be, but getting to decide for myself is part of the fun (and part of the challenge).

I'm not planning a radical departure from my typical content, but I'm excited to explore some new avenues. I hope some of you stick around to see where the winds of change take us...

Lost Traditions: The Vacation Postcard

With our ever-growing penchant for instant communication- messaging, texting, photosharing, email and social media posts- the time-honored tradition of the vacation postcard might just be in jeopardy. The act of selecting a postcard, then writing, stamping, and sending it- seems to have fallen out of fashion.

Let's not allow postcards to fall by the wayside! Who doesn't love getting a postcard in the mail?

Disney makes it easy to revisit this old school vacation mainstay. Postcards can be found in almost any gift shop, at both parks and resorts. There's usually a selection of individual cards, as well as sets in booklet form, like the Epcot example below.

Forgot to include stamps on your packing list? Never fear- you can buy stamps right at the register in most places that sell postcards.

You'll also find mailboxes in each park and resort. The mailbox below is in the Beach Club lobby, right next to Bell Services.

I mailed a postcard to my daughter during my recent visit (uh... wish you were here!), using Beach Club's mailbox. I dropped it in the box midday Friday...

...and it arrived at its destination with Tuesday's mail, after its 1200+ mile journey.

Do you still send postcards? Tell us about it in the comments...


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Happy Holidays from Plus the Magic

Sending out a wish for a holiday season filled with peace and possibilities...

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AllEars Guest Columnist

I recently had the pleasure of being a guest columnist, writing the feature article for the AllEars.net newsletter. AllEars.net is one of the oldest, most comprehensive websites by and for Disney Parks & Resorts enthusiasts. If you haven't checked them out yet, make it a priority- but set aside some time, because the information on the site is endless! For now, you can read my feature article, linked below.

The year was 1977. I was 9 and my sister was 10. We lived with our single mom just outside of New York City, in a tiny basement apartment that would flood whenever a heavy rain fell... 

Click here to continue reading full article:  Revisiting Walt Disney World... 36 Years Later

Disneyland Records: Chilling, Thrilling Sounds of the Haunted House

When my vinyl-loving daughter recently came home with this gem, I had an odd flashback to my youth. The memory is vague, but I recall this album being in the family collection in our old RCA television console/stereo/record player unit. This was a giant piece of furniture that took up most of the living room. The record player section had a built-in album storage area, right within the TV console. Very seventies.

First published by Disneyland Records (now Walt Disney Records) in 1964, the album has seen a few different versions over the years. This recent reissue was released in 2015, and it recreates the original 1964 version of the album. The cover features a classic haunted house painting by Paul Wenzel, which he created as part of the concept art for the Haunted Mansion attraction.

On Side One, a narrator tells stories that feature sound as part of the narrative. Side Two features a wide variety of sound effects. In addition to the standard screams, thunder, and creaking doors, there are also some unexpected sounds- cats and dogs who sound like they're in pain, crashes, explosions, dripping/water torture, and more. I love this warning on the back of the album:

Happy Halloween!

Do you remember this chilling album? Tell us about it in the comments...