Okay, so the Disney adult, Disney nerd, whatever you want to call it is really coming out of me here.

I cannot believe this year marks 100 years of Disney! Being a huge Disney fan, I thought I’d take some time here to not only say how much I love Disney, but to maybe shed some light on why.

I grew up on Disney movies and trips to Disneyland. My dad always loved Disneyland and I think that’s where it all really started for me as a kid. When I think of Disney, I think of happiness and magic and happily ever afters. There is literally not a single negative thought that comes to my mind, nor is there a negative memory. When it comes to Disney, for me- it’s a reminder to never grow up and to always believe in magic and see endless possibilities in just about anything and everything. Watching a Disney movie is like entering a different reality for a few hours, one where you know everything will turn out okay in the end, and isn’t that just a marvelous thing to have in this crazy world?

My very first, favorite Disney movie was Pocahontas and I carried around and slept with a stuffed animal Meeko up until I was probably 13 LOL. Shortly after came Peter Pan and then The Little Mermaid, which has been the one that’s stuck the longest- still my favorite Disney movie till this day. I can remember dressing up as Tinkerbell and Ariel for Halloweens as a kid and now I LOVE more than anything that I get to relive all of that same magic with my daughter and through her eyes. Her favorite Disney princess is also The Little Mermaid and I have loved watching it with her and hearing her say “mermaid” repeatedly and excitedly whenever Ariel is on screen.

There is such a magic to everything Disney does, and for me really that really starts in their movies, which then trickles down to why Disneyland is such a special place. In their movies, you see all the magic come to life and then that same magic you feel whenever you step foot in Disneyland (at least that rings true to me). I know some people will never get it, so I’m definitely not here to try to force Disney on anyone LOL I just know it’ always has and always will mean a lot and be a special, magical place for me.

Now that that little rant is over, let me give you some fun Disney related facts!

+ Disney was co-founded by brothers Walt Disney and Roy Disney, although Walt Disney is the more widely known. Walt was in charge of the animation party of the company while Roy took care of the business aspect. The original name of the Walt Disney Co was “Disney Brothers Cartoon studio.”

+ The actors who played Mickey and Minnie Mouse were married in real life!

+ Walt Disney kept live animals on the sets of his productions so that animators could study them to make them as realistic as possible.

+ Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was Walt Disney’s first original character. Mickey Mouse was his second.

+ There are currently 13 official Disney princesses: Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Tiana, Mulan, Merida, Pocahontas, Rapunzel, Moana and Raya.

+ Snow White is Disney’s first original Princess, the movie was released in 1937!

+ Pocahontas is the only Disney princess based on an actual real life person.

+ The Little Mermaid was the last Disney film to use a traditional animation process.

+ Walt Disney’s motto was/is : Dream, believe, dare, do

+ Bambi only uses 72 words throughout the film.

+ Gaston, from Beauty and the Beast, is the first male “villian” in a Disney Princess movie.

Looking up these facts has been nothing but entertaining for me, but I’m going to stop here LOL. Hope you had some fun reading and can carve out some time to watch a Disney movie this year to celebrate 100 years of wonder!!