Month: January 2024

The following are some of my favourite Disney-obsessed celebrities.

Lively is very vocal about her desire to participate in a Disney movie. Back in March 2018, she documented one of her visits to Disneyland on Instagram posing alongside all the Disney princesses.

She captioned the picture, “@Disneyland this is my official submission. Will work for minimum wage. Happy to be the Beast. Your move …” She added on another photo “@Disneyland can I please move in? Thanks.”

Ryan Gosling has been described as “a Disney freak” by Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro.

 

And let’s not forget the other fabulous Mouseketeers, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.

Milo Ventimiglia rocked a Mickey Mouse shirt when he appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” to talk about his love for Disney.

Ariana Grande celebrated her 21st birthday at Disney World.

Pete Wentz named his son Bronx Mowgli after the main character of “The Jungle Book.”

https://i.insider.com/5aa9351df375f62b008b45d7?width=700&format=jpeg&auto=webp

Ginnifer Goodwin herself confessed that she’s gone to Disneyland “probably a bit more than is healthy.”

Rachel Bilson loves “Sleeping Beauty” so much she named her daughter Briar Rose, an alias used by Princess Aurora in the film.

Jason Bateman dreamed of starring in a Disney film for years, and he finally got his wish when he was chosen to play fox Nick Wilde in “Zootopia.”

This has to be the funniest Disney scene of all time.

The Sloth DMV Scene from Zootopia

https://youtu.be/HHKwnUa3txo?feature=shared

Preview YouTube video The Jungle Book. I wanna be like you. King Louis

The Jungle Book. I wanna be like you. King Louis

Preview YouTube video The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) Scene: “Out There”/Quasimodo’s Song.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) Scene: “Out There”/Quasimodo’s Song.

Preview YouTube video The Little Mermaid – Under the Sea (from The Little Mermaid) (Official Video)

The Little Mermaid – Under the Sea (from The Little Mermaid) (Official Video)

Preview YouTube video Zootopia: Meet the Sloth. HD ( DMV Scene)

Zootopia: Meet the Sloth. HD ( DMV Scene)

Walt Disney was famously fired from a newspaper for not being creative enough. I make no apologies for attempting to justify my Disney obsession by featuring celebrities who are just as bad as me.

Disney created magic. The stuff of dreams, where anything and everything was and is possible. Bringing some of our favourite stories to life. Forever reminding us of what is good in life and to shun what is bad. The battle of good versus evil features in every Disney Movie.

I am off to watch the Jungle Book. Again.

 

All the best

Stay fab

Adele

 

Continued

8. Curious Disney Facts:

Bruce, the ‘vegetarian’ great white shark of Finding Nemo, was named after the mechanical shark used in Jaws. And who knew that several families have asked to scatter a loved one’s ashes into the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland.

 

9. Disney World Size: The Disney World resort is about the same size as San Francisco. And can you believe It would take 68 years to sleep in every single room at Disney World.

 

10. Disney Anecdotes:

‘Man is in the forest’ was a code used by animators to warn colleagues to get back to work when Walt Disney was coming down the hallway.

Disney played homage to Steve Jobs by flyiing its flags at half-mast on the day the Apple co-founder died.

 

11. Animation Facts:

Mickey Mouse was the first animated character to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame which is probably my favourite Disney fact.

Mickey was also the first animated character to talk which is fitting for a mouse of his magnifecence.

 

12. Disneyland Oddities:

Disneyland is home to numerous feral cats. I wonder why Pogo sticks are forbidden at Disneyland?

 

13. Disneyland Tidbits:

Who do you think was Walt Disney’s personal favourite character?  Well, none other than tie-wearing dog Goofy.

On a trip to Disneyland Paris, George Lucas decided to film the Star Wars attraction during a ride.

 

14. Animated Films:

– The following fact blows my mind. Just the talent and creativity that was in that room at the time. The ideas for Wall-E, Monsters Inc, A Bug’s Life, and Finding Nemo came from a single lunchtime brainstorming session.

– Though commonly referred to as seven ‘dwarves’, the film’s actual title is Snow White and the Seven ‘Dwarfs’.

 

15. Creative Process:

– To capture the movement of Aladdin’s low-cut baggy pants, animator Glen Keane watched M.C. Hammer videos.

– The Beast from Beauty and the Beast was created using inspiration from different animals. What animals were used do you think?

 

16. Disney Theme Park Facts:

– The Matterhorn rollercoaster at Disneyland has a secret basketball court inside for Disneyland staff to use.

– When the Pirates of the Caribbean ride opened in 1967, the only fake skeletons available to Disneyland designers were rather naff, so they used real skeletons. Euuughhhhhhh……

 

17. Disney Princesses and Siblings:

– Ariel was the only Disney princess to have siblings until Brave.

– The rest of the Disney princesses are all only children.

 

18. Disney Animation Fun Facts:

– Disney recycled much of its early animation in a technique called rotoscoping to cut costs.

– This is really very clever. Why re invent the wheel when you have all the footage? Large parts of the 1973 film Robin Hood were taken from Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs, The Jungle Book, and The Aristocats.

 

The Little Mermaid and The Hunchback of Notre Dame come second and third as my Disney movies.  I was given the three gargoyle cuddly toys as a gift and I adored them. The horse in The Hunchback is called Achilles and when given the order – Achilles heel, it always makes me smile. Demi Moore plays the beautiful Jasmine in the movie.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

https://youtu.be/jdIP2xmDqx0?si=DDHQTeSXoVo5_8na

Under the Sea from The Little Mermaid

https://youtu.be/GC_mV1IpjWA?feature=shared

 

I don’t believe there has been a bad Disney Movie. Some, of course, are better than others, but they never fail to deliver a magical experience.

FROZEN is the most popular Disney movie of all time.

Unsurprisingly, Frozen was found to be the favorite Disney movie worldwide, with an annual 1.9 million Google searches.

https://i.insider.com/5cbe0c48d4ca470c885690b2?width=700&format=jpeg&auto=webp

Hi Ho Hi Ho

It’s off to bed I go….

Adele

 

It is no secret that I am obsessed with Disney and I could not sleep if I did not blog about Disney being 100 years old.

This great anniversary deserves celebrating, and because I went down the rabbit hole whilst doing my research, I have devoted three blogs to the great man, Mr. Disney himself and fellow celebrity-obsessed fans.  My greatest childhood memories include watching Disney Movies, either in an open-air cinema in Kano (Jungle Book), Nigeria, aged eight or in the cinema in Dublin.

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGJKCUrvv/

Fascinating Facts and Trivia About Disney and Disneyland

1. Walt Disney’s French Roots:

– Walt Disney’s original moniker was d’Isigny, showing his French roots.

– The name ‘d’Isignyland’ was considered for his animations set in Paris.

 

2. Famous Character Connections:

– Wall-E was named after Walter Elias Disney.

3. Model Inspirations for Disney Characters:

– Ariel and Belle’s proportions were based on real-life model Sherri Stoner, also a writer and producer for animations.

– Several characters like Goofy, Mickey, and Donald Duck are hidden in the background of newer Disney films.

 

4. Disney’s Innovations:

– Disney held the patent for Technicolor, making him the only animator allowed to make colour films.

– Disneyland, California, was built in the 1950s, and Walt Disney built an apartment for his family above the ‘Fire Department’ on Main Street.

 

5. Theme Park Facts:

– The theme parks use a patented ‘Smellitzer’ device designed to pump certain scents around.

– The architecture at Disneyland uses ‘forced perspective’ to create taller appearances.

 

6. Exclusive Club and Secrets:

– The exclusive Club 33, hidden above the Blue Bayou in New Orleans Square, has a strict membership of 487 with a waiting list of around 14 years.

Located in the Magic Kingdom in Florida, Disneyland in California, Disney Sea in Japan, and Shanghai Disneyland in China, the club is affiliated with Disney Park, although it is not actually owned by Disney. The club’s name refers to the exclusive membership that comes with its private dining rooms, parking, and other privileges, including access to special events, such as the annual Park Hopper pass. The membership to join the club is limited, and there are often long waiting lists for those seeking admission.

– Cinderella’s castle in Florida includes a swish 650ft apartment that is difficult to access.

 

7. Notable Voice Actors:

– Steve Martin used to work in the magic shop at Disneyland.

– Clarence Nash, the voice of Donald Duck, created the dog barks for 101 Dalmatians.

 

All the best

Stay fab

Adele

I love looking back over the last quarter of 2023 and choosing my favourite blogs. From my poems to publishing my Short Story- Flashing Pope. My poem- Mosquito Mind, was published by Mad in Ireland and Mad in America in December which was a great privilege. And my poem- Templenacarriga, which I wrote for my Aunt, is pretty special too.

Looking back at helping with The Dog Show at The Ballinasloe Horse Festival in October was another great memory. The Axe Lady and my Gypsy Blessing will always stay with me.

The death of the oldest dog in the world broke my heart. They do truly live on love alone ( Oh, and food, and exercise, and cuddles, and barking at delivery men, and belly rubs…… but apart from all that, they do live on love alone.) I would be lost without Buzz and Finn, they are my furry angels. Two adorable heartbeats at my feet.

 

1. http://adeleleahy.ie/short-story-flashing-pope/

 

2. http://adeleleahy.ie/worlds-oldest-dog-bobi-dies-at-31years/

 

 

3. http://adeleleahy.ie/poem-templenacarriga/

 

 

4. http://adeleleahy.ie/the-axe-lady-and-my-gypsy-blessing-part-one/

 

 

5. http://adeleleahy.ie/the-axe-lady-and-my-gypsy-blessing-part-two/

 

 

 

All the best

Stay fab

Adele

               

I love this photo of Buzz and Finn. If I could just teach them to sing an Abba song……….

Well, it’s been a year to remember, that’s for sure. Where do I start? I climbed Mount Everest, had a baby, taught an Orangutan in Borneo how to speak and played the lead in a movie with Brad Pitt that won an Oscar. Oh, and then I woke up. But it was an amazing dream.

In reality, I averaged 8,500 steps per day. This is blog number 482 over three years. I performed my poetry at Electric Picnic (Thanks to Charlotte and Stephen, The Dublin Writer )  and got to the final of The Fingal Poetry Slam and the Leinster All-Ireland Slam. I performed three stories at The Sugar Club Story Slam and did my first Open Mic Stand up gig before Christmas. Performing for the Festival in a Van and on The Skerries Poetry Trail were also highlights and several other Open Mics.

I attended a few spiritual and mind health courses as well as going to Marseilles as part of a steering group on mind health with Dublin City University (DCU). A few of my poems have been published and I finished the year running an Art of Poetry workshop with my friend Paula at Dublin City University. It went really well and I hope to edit our Anthology and put a performance together for the DCU Spring Festival.

I submitted my book chapters to agents and publishers and realised I needed to go back and re-edit. I entered numerous competitions for short stories and poetry which I will continue to do. As they say, fail, fail again, fail better. Rejections are merely milestones in fulfilling my dream of my debut Romcom being published.

 

Happy New Year

It’s going to be a great one; I can feel it in me water.

 

All the best

Stay fab

Adele