Twitter: My Window to the World

When I first found out I was moving to a small island in Alaska, I must admit, I was freaked out. I couldn't believe how far from everything I loved I was going to be. Our first Coast Guard tour was in Miami Florida. Really far from my family in Seattle, but only 2 1/2 hours from Walt Disney World. WDW saved me in that 3 year tour. On my most homesick days, I could drive up to Orlando and be surrounded by my friends Mickey, Goofy and Minnie. I might be missing Mt Rainier and Puget Sound, but I could still ride Space Mountain and take a Friendship Boat across World Showcase Lagoon at EPCOT. Then I had twins, and moved to Northern Virginia and was so busy I didn't have time for much of anything. We did manage 1 WDW trip in October 2011 for the Food and Wine Festival. But DC has a lot to offer with museums, parades, festivals, and shopping. I missed being close to anything Disney, but at least I had a Disney Store near by if I needed a fix.

But then I got the news. After 4 years in the busy metropolis of DC, we were moving to Kodiak Alaska. Far away from family, friends, and Disney. I was in shock. The only way off this tiny island was by plane or ferry boat. And it's expensive to leave too. There's no malls, not even a Target, so finding anything Disney related was going to be next to possible. I'm not just a Disney geek, but a pop culture geek. So I was also losing access to first run movies, IMAX theaters, even 3D experiences. I couldn't imagine how I'd make it through the next 3 years. In the midst of my angst over moving, something wonderful happened. I found Twitter.

Now I'd had a Twitter account before I moved, but I didn't use it much. But as I settled into my new life in Alaska, and had more time on my hands, I began to explore Twitter more and more. What I discovered was amazing. A whole community of people who were as Disney obsessed as I was. And more importantly, people I could learn from. I began to become more than just a Disney fan. I began to learn about the history of Disney. I found out about "It's Kind of a Cute Story" and "Poster Art of the Disney Parks" through Twitter and bought the books. I read blog posts about EPCOT and how it has slowly lost its way from Walt's original vision. I remembered WDW trips as a child where I rode the Skyway and saw World of Motion and realized how special that was. I now know the names Tony Baxter, Marc Davis and Rolly Crump, thanks to Twitter.



My Christmas present!

I found others who loved movies, TV shows and random pop culture references as much as I did. The best show I was introduced to through my Twitter friends was Dr Who. How did I never know about this wonderful, amazing and charmingly bizarre show? Thanks to Twitter I started watching, stuck with it through the first season, and have become a full fledged Whovian. I have a lot of other movies and shows on my list that other Twitter peeps have suggested as well. To be able to discuss my favorite shows with others have led to long and fun discussions about Once Upon A Time, Downton Abbey, and Game of Thrones


My lock screen-I'm so obsessed w/Dr Who

Thanks to Twitter, I can still see the parks through everyone's pictures. And what pictures! Amazing long exposures and intricate details. I could see the opening of Sunshine Tree Terrace with the return of Orange Bird. I lived vicariously through the food photos at the Food and Wine festival and groaned along with everyone else at the large crowds and drinking team shirts. I watched the Voyage of the Little Mermaid open and could compare the DCA version to the WDW version. All from Kodiak! The transition to this small island was a lot easier than I thought it would be. Not only did I meet some fabulous people here on the Coast Guard base where I live, but I found a whole new community of people on Twitter I could chat with. On Twitter I'm not defined as a mom, or a Coast Guard spouse, or the wife of the Commander Officer of Kodiak. I'm just AlaskaDisneyGrl. And my new friends in Kodiak realized how much Twitter means to me too.



My birthday present from my friends in Kodiak


I look forward to more lively discussions, more reading of amazing blog posts, more pictures from my favorite photographers, more Podcasts, and hopefully, one day, the opportunity to actually meet some of you in person.

Until then,
@AlaskaDisneyGrl


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Trying out for the blogging team

Hello!
I've been saying for quite a while now that I wanted to blog again. Now that our big trip to Alaska is over, I was unsure what else I wanted to write about. But after becoming immersed in the world of Twitter, and reading other's blog posts, I decided that a blog didn't have to focus on my family. So I'm going to try going in an new direction, by making comments on things happening out in the big world while still being isolated on a small island that is only accessible by boat or plane.  I will admit, I might still mention my kiddos from time to time, because I am a stay at home mom. But I don't consider myself a "pixie-duster" who thinks Disney can do no wrong. I like to look at things with a clear eye, compliment when deserved, and suggest change when warranted. I want my kids to grow up knowing who Oswald, Rolly Crump, and the Sherman Brothers are.  In short, a place to write down my thoughts and see if others feel the same.
My current big project is our upcoming trip to Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure! It has been quite an ordeal getting it all planned. Not only is it logistically difficult to get off of Kodiak, but this is the first time I've ever taken my kiddos to DLR (Disneyland Resort). I've managed to get a hotel right across the street from the entrance, and a 2 bedroom at that. This means at night the kids can crash in their own room while the hubby and I can stay up and chat if we want to. I have a feeling we're going to be as tired as the kids though! Our last time in DLR was in January 2006. We had only been married for 5 months, and were going from Miami FL to Australia for our delayed honeymoon. I had insisted to stay in LA for an extra day so we could spend a day at Disneyland before continuing on to New Zealand/Australia for 2 weeks.  I had a feeling it would be a long time before we were able to come back. We did everything I loved there: Ate at Blue Bayou, saw the Haunted Mansion, enjoyed Fantasmic with desserts on the balcony above Pirates of the Caribbean, and shared a kiss under Walt's apartment by the Fire Station.  Now it's 7 1/2 years later, and everything is completely different.

Dinner at Blue Bayou 1/06

We'll be going to DLR with our 5 year old twins, a boy and a girl. This won't be their first Disney Park experience, however. When we were stationed in Florida, we went to WDW all the time, but when the kids were born in 2007, we didn't get back to WDW until 2011.  We brought the kids, who had just turned 4.  Although it was fun, it was also exhausting. We used a stroller, and took lots of breaks to minimize any possible meltdowns- which worked great! We also stuck to the very easy rides. This time, there will be no strollers, a lot of walking, and hopefully some braver kids who can try out some of the more "intense" rides, like Matterhorn or Splash Mountain.  We shall see.  I'm very excited to see all the changes in DCA as well. Everything I've seen and heard about Cars Land makes me feel like a kid again! I'll be excited to share with everyone how it all comes out. For now, we continue to keep the Disney portion of the kids a surprise.  Hopefully I can hold out on keeping my lip zipped until we leave!
Tang'rciqamken camiku (Alutiiq for "See you Next Time")
Keri