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Showing posts sorted by relevance for query joey chou. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query joey chou. Sort by date Show all posts

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Coco: "Miguel and Dante" Postcard (Artwork by Joey Chou)

Coco "Miguel and Dante" Postcard Artwork by Joey Chou

Hola mis amigos! From one of my favorite artists, the talented Joey Chou, comes this Disney·Pixar Coco inspired print titled "Miguel and Dante"! This gorgeous artwork was released this past February for the 2020 Epcot International Festival of the Arts and follows Chou's previous six Pixar creations which include: The Good Dinosaur (see HERE & HERE), Finding Dory, Up, Cars and The Incredibles. I would absolutely love to see every Pixar film in Chou's portfolio someday.

This is, per usual, the standard 4x5 postcard size I always collect (the best value for this art, retailing at only $5.99—also great if you don't have much wall space), but it's also available as a Deluxe size 14x18 matted print and a 18x24 Canvas Wrap.

Coco "Miguel and Dante" Postcard Artwork by Joey Chou

Chou's style is incredibly adorable. It's a unique balance of minimal designs, bright/soft colors and simple shapes/sharp lines. I couldn't begin to pick a favorite of his, but this one is up there now for sure! It just may be his most detailed yet. I know I've said that before, but he just keeps topping himself. Just WOW. The marigold bridge, the candles, the beads, the picado banner, Miguel, Dante and Pepita...it's all perfection—vibrant, masterfully composed (that depth is stunning) and cute as can be. It really captures the magic and heart of the film.

Before the shutdown, this could be found at the Disney Springs (or Downtown Disney in CA) Wondeground Gallery shop. At this point, if you're interested in this for your collection, your best bet tracking it down would be checking out current eBay listings HERE.

I can't wait to see what else Chou creates throughout the year! What film would you love to see him tackle next?  Whatever it might be, consider it purchased. Find out more about Joey Chou and his art on his Tumblr, blog, and Facebook page. If you like what you see, give him a follow on Instagram and Twitter as well! He's an awesome guy.

Coco "Miguel and Dante" Postcard Artwork by Joey Chou
Follow me on Instagram @danthepixarfan

Be sure to let me know all your thoughts in comment section below. Stay tuned to more from my Pixar collection right here daily!

Friday, May 18, 2018

Incredibles 2: "Edna" Postcard (Artwork by Joey Chou)

joey chou the incredibles edna art

Sorry for the delay darlings! I know this was supposed to be posted here yesterday, but I ended up getting home from work real late. I'm back though and, as promised, here's my quick look and review of this fantastic new Incredibles 2 inspired postcard featuring art by Disney freelance illustrator Joey Chou—simply titled, "Edna." If you've been following my posts (or social media) for a while, you know how much I've gushed about Chou's work in the past. If you missed my reviews on his previous pieces, check them out HERE! He's done some amazing Pixar prints based on The Good Dinosaur, Up, Finding Dory, Cars and now The Incredibles.

Though I categorize this art as "Incredibles 2" (since we're so close to the film, I imagine that's what prompted this release), this piece doesn't seem actually seem to be based on either of the two films; but rather just the character of Edna in general. First of all, everyone LOVES Edna. I mean, how can you not? She's absolutely a fan favorite and undoubtedly one of the funniest and most quotable Pixar characters to date. It was a unique choice to just focus on Edna here though, simply sitting in her house working on some of her super suite designs, but it totally works. It's very modern and minimal (just like Edna's house and her overall style), with some very "bold" and "dramatic" shapes, straight lines and pops of color. I love the feel— it's all incredibly cute and a nice tribute to the character. Classic Joey Chou.

joey chou the incredibles edna art

This is, per usual, the standard 4x5 postcard size (the best value for this art, retailing at only $4.95), but it's also available as a Deluxe size 14x18 matted print as well. You should still be able to find this currently at the Wonderground Gallery shop at Disneyland's Downtown Disney or Disney World's Disney Springs. If you can't make it to either of those locations, you can always check out current eBay listings using THIS DIRECT LINK.

As usual, I greatly look forward to what's next from Mr. Chou. Could we expect another Incredibles inspired piece, this time focusing on the Parr family and/or the other supers and villains? Whatever it might be, consider it purchased. Find out more about Joey Chou and his art on his Tumblr, blog, and Facebook page. If you like what you see, give him a follow on Instagram and Twitter as well! Super nice guy.

What are your thoughts? Anything I should have mentioned? Let me know your insights in the comments below. Lastly, a HUGE thanks to my friend Claudia who picked this up for me during one of her recent Disneyland visits. It was seriously too kind of her! I'm so lucky to have great people out there looking out for me and helping me out with my collection. It's much appreciated. 

Friday, September 22, 2017

Cars: "Race Around Radiator Springs" Art by Joey Chou

Cars "Race Around Radiator Springs" Art by Joey Chou

As mentioned in yesterday's post, I had a lot of fun visiting Cars Land this past summer and seeing all the new artwork released celebrating its five year anniversary. I purchased most of the prints there (in the 4x5" postcard size), one of them being this "Race Around Radiator Springs" piece by one of my favorite Disney/Pixar artists, Joey Chou!

If you've been following my posts (or social media) for a while, you know how much I've gushed about Chou's work in the past. If you missed my reviews on his previous works, check them out HERE! He's done some amazing Pixar prints based on The Good Dinosaur, Up, Finding Dory and now Cars.

Chou's style is incredibly adorable. It's the perfect balance of minimal designs, bright and soft colors and simple shapes/lines. I couldn't begin to pick a favorite of his, but this one is up there for sure! It just may be his most detailed yet.

Cars "Race Around Radiator Springs" Art by Joey Chou

I love the inclusion of the minimalistic Radiator Springs buildings, Willy's Butte, and the field of tractors. I also really appreciate how the car light flowers, cactuses and mountains fill the foreground and background, giving the art fantastic depth—everything is composed masterfully. Not to mention best friends Mater and McQueen look out of this world cute!

Below is a photo of inside Ramone's House of Body art in Cars Land where I found this print and many more. I've already reviewed most of them (check my "art" label to the right of this page), but there's still a couple more to go which I'm excited about.

Note: This should also be currently available at the Wonderground Gallery shop at Disney Springs and Downtown Disney

cars land house of body art pixar cars

Disney·Pixar Cars fans, you won't want to miss out on this print. Get it while you can! And, if you have the space, it's also available in a bigger matted print size and an even bigger wrapped canvas size (as seen in the pic above). This postcard size is a convenient size (as much as I wanted to go bigger) and affordable at only $4.95.

As usual, I greatly look forward to what's next from Mr. Joey Chou. Hopefully a Pixar Coco piece or something for Incredibles 2? Time will tell! Whatever it might be, consider it purchased. Find out more about Joey Chou and his art on his Tumblr, blog, and Facebook page. If you like what you see, give him a follow on Instagram and Twitter as well!

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Up: "An Unlikely Adventure" Postcard by Joey Chou

pixar up postcard joey chou

A couple weeks ago, I posted THIS fantastic The Good Dinosaur postcard by a newfound favorite artist of mine, Joey Chou. Well it looks like Mr. Chou has been hard at work, as he recently released another outstanding piece of brilliance- this wonderful Disney·Pixar Up themed print entitled "An Unlikely Adventure."

Again, Joey's use of straight lines, texture, basic geometric shapes and bright colors (as well as pastels) makes for a really unique looking and beautiful minimalist design. His style is out of this world!

pixar up postcard

I found this at the Wonderground Gallery (in Disney Springs) during our Disney World trip last week. I was so excited since I had seen images of this design online, but hadn't expect to come across it! Note: This is also available at the California Wonderground Gallery in Downtown Disney.

This was the most affordable way to purchase the print, but there was a larger size (ideal for mounting/framing) and a wrapped canvas version at the gallery as well (that's the one I would have loved to get). Check out some of my pics from there at the gallery below!

pixar up postcard joey chou
pixar up postcard joey chou

Joey, you've officially made it on my shortlist of favorite Disney artists! I greatly look forward to checking out all of your older designs as well as what's in store for the future.

Find out more about Joey Chou and his art on his Tumblr, blog, and Facebook page. 

Thursday, January 5, 2017

"Finding Dory" Postcard (Artwork by Joey Chou)

joey chou finding dory postcard

Disney freelance illustrator Joey Chou has been hard at work creating some masterful Pixar inspired art over the last year or so. Following two pieces he did for The Good Dinosaur (seen HERE and HERE) and Up (seen HERE), as well as illustrations for a Finding Dory book this past summer (seen HERE), a new piece from the talented artist has arrived. Here we have his latest— a Finding Dory inspired print called, well, "Finding Dory"! This is an incredibly beautiful image featuring the film's main cast: Jenny, Charlie, Bailey, Destiny, Hank, Nemo, Marlin and Dory herself.

I've enjoyed collecting the postcard sized versions of his prints (affordable at only $4.95 and convenient when it comes to limited space), but they're also available as deluxe sized matted paper prints ($39.99) and on wrapped canvas ($195.00).

joey chou finding dory postcard

This was released at the Wonderground Gallery (Disney Springs, FL & Downtown Disney, CA) back on November 5th, so I'm not sure if it's still in stock there at those locations. At any rate, you can still find this postcard (as well as the print or canvas versions) on the Shop Disney Parks app (which is what I did last week) or by calling the Disney merchandise guest services number at (877) 560-6477. You can also pick it up on eBay HERE.

I'm continuously impressed with Joey's work. His style is absolutely superb! I can't wait to see what Pixar themed creation he comes up with next (maybe we'll get a Joey Chou Cars 3 piece?). Find out more about Joey Chou and his art on his Tumblr, blog, Instagram and Facebook page. 

Friday, May 13, 2016

The Good Dinosaur: "A New Best Friend" Postcard (Art by Joey Chou)

the good dinosaur art a new best friend joey chou

Here we have yet another stunning The Good Dinosaur postcard that was sold exclusively at the Wonderground Gallery in Orlando, FL (Disney Springs) and Anaheim, CA (Downtown Disney) late last year! This print is called "A New Best Friend" and was created by none other than the very talented Disney design artist, Joey Chou.

This piece perfectly captures one of the most beautiful scenes from The Good Dinosaur. Arlo and Spot amongst the fireflies is one of my absolute favorite moments from the film, so I'm thrilled to have it represented here in such a simple, yet gorgeous, style. Pure magic!

the good dinosaur art  a new best friend joey chou

This was the most affordable way to purchase the print, but there was a larger size (ideal for mounting/framing) at the gallery as well. Unfortunately, this piece is currently sold out there at this point, but was I able to find it on eBay not too long ago. If you're interested in trying to track this down as well, check out this direct link to current listings.

If you missed my previous Joey Chou art related posts, be sure to check out "A New World of Adventure" (from The Good Dinosaur) as well as "An Unlikely Adventure" (from Up).

Find out more about Joey Chou and his art on his Tumblr, blog, and Facebook page. I can't wait to see what he comes up with next!

Monday, April 19, 2021

Monsters Inc. Postcard (Artwork by Joey Chou)

Calling all Monsters fans—From one of my favorite artists, the brilliantly talented Joey Chou, comes this Disney·Pixar Monsters Inc. inspired print titled, well, "Monster Inc"! This gorgeous artwork was released this past January/February at the 2021 Epcot International Festival of the Arts and follows Chou's previous seven Pixar creations which include: The Good Dinosaur (see HERE & HERE), Finding Dory, Up, Cars, The Incredibles and Coco. I would absolutely love to see every Pixar film in Chou's portfolio someday. By the way, spoiler alert, I'll also be posting on his brand new 2021 Ratatouille piece soon as well.

This is, per usual, the standard 4x5 postcard size I always collect (the best value for this art, retailing at only $5.99—also great if you don't have much wall space), but it's also available as a Deluxe size 14x18 matted print and a 18x24 Canvas Wrap.

 
Chou's style is incredibly adorable and instantly identifiable once you know it. It's a unique balance of minimal designs, bright/soft colors and simple shapes/sharp lines. I couldn't even begin to pick a favorite piece he's done, but this one is up there now for sure; especially given Monsters, Inc. is in my top 3 Pixar films! I know I basically say that every time, but he just keeps topping himself. Just WOW. It's all perfection—vibrant, masterfully composed and cute as can be. It really captures the magic, heart and emotion of the film's final moments. So iconic.
 
At this point, this can most likely still be found at the Disney Springs (or Downtown Disney in CA) Wondeground Gallery shop. If you're interested in this for your collection but can't make it there, your best bet tracking it down would be checking out current eBay listings HERE (that's what I had to do—I ended up paying around $15 for it).
 
Note: I also wanted to mention that there are two Pixar limited edition Joey Chou prints (seen below) that I don't have as they were not released at Disney and were never available in this convenient postcard size—a Wall·E one and an Inside Out one. Both are absolutely brilliant and I really hope to add them to my collection one day! 

 
I can't wait to see what else Chou creates throughout the year. What film would you love to see him tackle next?  Whatever it might be, consider it purchased. Find out more about Joey Chou and his art on his Tumblr, blog, and Facebook page. If you like what you see, give him a follow on Instagram and Twitter as well! He's an awesome guy.
 
Be sure to let me know all your thoughts in comment section below. Stay tuned to more from my Pixar collection right here daily!

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Ratatouille Postcard (Artwork by Joey Chou)

Bon appétit! From one of my favorite artists, the brilliantly talented Joey Chou, comes this Disney·Pixar Ratatouille inspired print titled, well, "Ratatouille"! This gorgeous artwork was released this past January/February at the 2021 Epcot International Festival of the Arts and follows Chou's previous eight Pixar creations which include: The Good Dinosaur (see HERE & HERE), Finding Dory, Up, Cars, The Incredibles, Coco and Monsters Inc. I would absolutely love to see every Pixar film in Chou's portfolio someday. He's well on his way at this point!

This is, per usual, the standard 4x5 postcard size I always collect (the best value for this art, retailing at only $5.99—also great if you don't have much wall space), but it's also available as a Deluxe size 14x18 matted print and a 18x24 Canvas Wrap.

 
I'll be reiterating what I said in my previous post since it honestly all applies here. Chou's style is incredibly adorable and instantly identifiable once you know it. It's a unique balance of minimal designs, bright/soft colors and simple shapes/sharp lines. I couldn't even begin to pick a favorite piece he's done, but this one is up there now for sure; especially given Ratatouille is one of my all-time favorite Pixar films! I know I basically say that every time, but he just keeps topping himself. Just WOW. It's all perfection—vibrant, masterfully composed and cute as can be. It really captures the magic, heart and charm of the film with a touch of whimsy.
 
At this point, this can most likely still be found at the Disney Springs (or Downtown Disney in CA) Wondeground Gallery shop. If you're interested in this for your collection but can't make it there, your best bet tracking it down would be checking out current eBay listings HERE (that's what I had to do—I ended up paying around $15 for it).
 
Note: I also wanted to mention that there are two Pixar limited edition Joey Chou prints (seen below) that I don't have as they were not released at Disney and were never available in this convenient postcard size—a Wall·E one and an Inside Out one. Both are absolutely brilliant and I really hope to add them to my collection one day! 


I can't wait to see what else Chou creates throughout the year. What film would you love to see him tackle next?  Whatever it might be, consider it purchased. Find out more about Joey Chou and his art on his Tumblr, blog, and Facebook page. If you like what you see, give him a follow on Instagram and Twitter as well! He's an awesome guy.
 
Be sure to let me know all your thoughts in comment section below. Stay tuned to more from my Pixar collection right here daily!
 
Follow me on Instagram @danthepixarfan

Saturday, April 9, 2016

The Good Dinosaur: "A New World of Adventure" Postcard by Joey Chou

The Good Dinosaur "A New World of Adventure" Postcard by Joey Chou

Here we have an outstanding The Good Dinosaur postcard that was recently sold exclusively at the  Wonderground Gallery in Orlando, FL (Disney Springs) and Anaheim, CA (Downtown Disney)! Over the past couple years, I've been drawn to a particular minimalist style when it comes to Disney·Pixar art (see work by some of my favorites like Jerrod Maruyama, Dave Perillo and Tom Whalen); so I was thrilled to have discovered another talented artist recently, Joey Chou, who really caught my attention with this beautiful Good Dino art. It's 100% my taste.

Joey's use of straight lines, texture, basic geometric shapes and pastels makes for a really unique looking and beautiful piece. This print is called "A New World of Adventure" and was available late last year.

The Good Dinosaur "A New World of Adventure" Postcard by Joey Chou

This was the most affordable way to purchase the print, but there was a larger size (ideal for mounting/framing) at the gallery as well. Unfortunately, this piece is currently sold out there at this point, but you can still find it on eBay HERE using this direct link.

Joey, you've officially made it on my shortlist of favorite Disney artists! I greatly look forward to checking out all of your older designs as well as what's in store for the future.

Find out more about Joey Chou and his art on his Tumblr, blog, and Facebook page. 

Friday, March 12, 2021

Bumkins Baby Toy Story Mealtime Collection Review (Bibs & More)

Last February at the 2020 New York Toy Fair, I happened to stumble across the Bumkins booth (which really caught my eye since Aidan had just been born a couple months prier and I was on the lookout for Pixar baby merch) and knew right away that I would need their adorable new Toy Story mealtime collection. Not long after that, I was so honored to have Bumkins reach out to me asking if they could send me the collection to review! I couldn't believe it and I'm still super grateful to this day. A huge thanks to them! 

Aidan was only 6 months old or so at the time (so he didn't totally understand what was going on), but he, my wife and I still had so much fun uboxing the package in the backyard and were in awe of all the cuteness (check out my original coverage on my Instagram story highlight if you missed it). We were sent the Pizza Planet Alien Silicone Grip Dish, the SuperBib 3-Pack (art my the amazing Joey Chou; one of my fave Disney artists), the Woody Caped SuperBib, the Buzz Lightyear Caped SuperBib and the Purple Spoon + Fork Set. Such a generous box of goodies! 

Note: Something that we weren't sent, but I wanted to mention here, was the Reusable Snack Bag 3-Pack (see & purchase HERE).

Flash forward to present day (Aidan is 15 months old) and he is still loving all this—now more than ever! Especially now that he's eating mostly all by himself in his highchair and continuing to perfect using utensils. Not to mention now he actually knows the names of and recognizes the Toy Story characters! Last year he didn't know much about Buzz, Woody and the gang, but now he certainly knows who they are/what what they're from. He gets excited about being Buzz or Woody at mealtime and eating off his favorite alien plate. I have fun asking him who certain characters are and find joy watching him be able to point them out. Proud Pixar dad moment! 

For a while, Aidan did not keep bibs on and would rip them off immediately (mostly why I'm doing this post a bit later; that and so Aidan would be old enough to actually use all this), but he's getting a little bit better about it. The bibs—and everything here for that matter—are quality made and exactly as described (though not exactly "tug-proof" for this strong little guy ;)! Plus is that not the cutest art ever? Heck I'd buy that art and hang it on my wall, it's that cute. 

Here's a closer look at each product and the official details from Bumkins:

Pizza Planet Alien Silicone Grip Dish ($17.95)—Inspired by Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story, we shaped this plate like a Toy Story alien. Little ones and parents will love setting the table with this friendly face. Our Silicone Grip Dishes are perfect for little ones learning to self-feed. Our dishes are perfectly sized for toddler portions. A strong suction base ensures they stays put – even with the most aggressive toddler! Great for use on highchair trays or tables. Silicone can withstand low and high temperatures, easily transitioning from the refrigerator or freezer to the oven or microwave. Made with 100% food-safe silicone that’s durable, stain and bacteria resistant.

  • BPA-free, PVC-free, phthalate-free and lead-free
  • Oven safe up to 400°F/204°C
  • Dishwasher-safe (top rack)
  • Measures approximately 7" tall x 9" across x 1" deep
  • For ages 6 months and up

SuperBib 3-Pack ($17.95)—These SuperBibs feature Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and a variety of other toys from the toy box. The bibs attach over the back of the shoulder with hook and loop closure for a quick, adjustable and tug-proof fit. With a handy crumb catcher / catch-all pocket for containing spills. Made from Bumkins lightweight, waterproof, easy-wipe, stain and odor resistant fabric. Single ply construction means no worrying about icky stuff growing between layers of fabric. Without a cotton layer, stains and smells don't stick. A pack of 3 ensures there's a clean one handy!

To extend the life of our bibs, we recommend hang drying our quick-dry fabric.

  • Machine or hand wash; air dry completely before storing
  • BPA-free, PVC-free, vinyl-free, phthalate-free and lead-free
  • 100% polyester with TPU coating for waterproofing
  • Measures approximately 10” across and 9” from neck down
  • Sized to fit ages 6 to 24 months


 

Woody Caped SuperBib & Buzz Lightyear Caped SuperBib ($9.95 each)—For little ones who would like to dress up for mealtime, the Woody bib looks like the toy sheriff’s outfit with his hat as a snap-on cape on the back. The Buzz Lightyear bib features the space ranger’s signature uniform, complete with snap-on jet pack cape. Our SuperBibs attach over the back of the shoulder with hook and loop for a quick, adjustable and tug-proof fit. With a handy crumb catcher / catch-all pocket for containing spills. Made from Bumkins lightweight, waterproof, easy-wipe, stain and odor resistant fabric. Single ply construction means no worrying about icky stuff growing between layers of fabric. Without a cotton layer, stains and smells don't stick.
  • Machine or hand wash; air dry completely before storing
  • BPA-free, PVC-free, vinyl-free, phthalate-free and lead-free
  • 100% polyester with TPU coating for waterproofing
  • Measures approximately 10” across and 9” from neck down
  • Sized to fit ages 6 to 24 months

To extend the life of our bibs, we recommend hang drying our quick-dry fabric.

Purple Spoon + Fork Set ($14.95)—Little ones can dig into mealtime with our Purple Spoon + Fork Set. Stainless steel fork and spoon heads are sized and shaped for toddlers. The concave heads help keep food on the fork or spoon, helping promote self-feeding with solid foods. The outer fork tines are bent to help spear foods and keep food on the fork. Handles are textured silicone so they’re easy-to-grip. Safe to use – made from 100% food-safe silicone.

Do not leave child unattended with product. Discard if damaged or torn.

  • BPA-free, BPS-free, PVC-free, phthalate-free, cadmium-free and lead-free
  • CPSIA compliant
  • Dishwasher-safe (top rack)
  • Measure approximately 5.5” long x 1.25” wide
  • For ages 18 months and up

The quality, the artwork, the theming...it's all pretty much perfection. For all you parents out there who are Toy Story fans just like me (and are trying to get your kids into it at an early age ;), I can't recommend this collection enough! It's just so fun that us fans who grew up with these films now get to pass them on to our little ones—and we can do it in style thanks to Bumkins! 

Be sure to let me know all your thoughts and/or any questions you might have in the comment section below. Did you pick up any of the items here for your mealtimes? What has been your experience with them? I'd love to hear it!

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Finding Dory: "Come Swim with Me" Book

finding dory come swim with me book

Here we have Come Swim with Me, an extremely cute and interactive board book based the world of Finding Dory!

There are two main things that caught my attention with this release when I picked it up a couple months ago: first of all, it's illustrated by one of my very favorite Disney artists, Joey Chou. If you remember, he was also the artist behind the three Wonderground Gallery postcards I wrote about earlier this year (see his two The Good Dinosaur prints HERE and HERE as well as his Up piece HERE if you missed them). His illustrations here are just fantastic! His unique style is so charming and fits so well with this colorful underwater world.

finding dory come swim with me book

The next thing that made this book stand apart from a lot of other Dory books out there is the interactive feature. Just punch out the cardboard Dory from the very first page and help guide her home through the five detailed scenes. This is good for young kids who are developing coordination skills as they have to fit Dory through the different slits which vary in size, shape and placement on the page.

Kids will have fun meeting a lot of her fish friends along the way as well! Take a peek inside below...

finding dory come swim with me book finding dory come swim with me book
finding dory come swim with me book
finding dory come swim with me book
finding dory come swim with me book

As you can see, there is also some simple wording on each page (telling a very basic little story), however no author is credited.

finding dory come swim with me book
Follow me on Instagram @danthepixarfan

You can pick this up wherever Finding Dory books are sold for around $9.99. I highly recommend it for any young fan of the film! Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...

Thursday, May 19, 2016

Events: Disney World Vacation 2016 (Part 1)

walt disney world vacation road trip

Exactly a month ago, my wife Brita and I took the most perfect road trip down to Walt Disney World for a week filled with fun, magic and brilliant weather! What was extra fun about this trip is how spontaneous it was. We literally decided to go (and planned all the dining reservations, FastPasses, etc. + booked our resort) not much more than a week before we began our road trip down there. Usually we're anticipating a Disney trip for over a year before we go, so this was a bit different for us.

This was the very first time we ever took the long, 17 hour drive down to Florida (we usually take the easy flight of course); but given the slim time frame we gave ourselves, it seemed like the best (and cheapest) option. It was actually pretty fun! Loads of Disney music (and road trip snacks) helped the time fly by and set us in the right mood.

Over the next six days or so, I'll be giving you a detailed look into our days there! I hope you enjoy.

walt disney world vacation

On the night of April 16th, we arrived...and it was a glorious sight! We got to our resort and checked in pretty quickly and smoothly. This was our first time staying at the All Star Sports. It usually wouldn't have been an option for us (since neither of us are sports people), but it was the only resort with available rooms when we started booking only a week prior. Ultimately though, it didn't matter where we were. We were in Disney World and that's what mattered! The Disney magic and excitement was thick in the air regardless.

disney all star sports resort

After quickly popping in our room to drop off our things, we were off and running to Downtown Disney (or "Disney Springs" as it's now called...I still have to get use to that). We weren't wasting any time! We took a classic Disney transportation bus right on over.

disney all star sports resort
Our view from right outside our room
disney all star sports room

We were so excited for the dinner we had planned there; one of our favorites, Wolfgang Puck Express! I got the delicious Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf sandwich (topped with smoked mozzarella, garlic aioli and crispy onion strings- $14) and Brita got the equally yummy Barbecued Chicken Salad (romaine, cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, corn, crispy tortilla strips, poblano peppers, black beans and ranch dressing- $13).

wofgang puck express meatloaf sanwich BBQ chicken salad

We spent the next few hours shopping away at all of our favorite shops. It was so good to be back! I was in my natural environment snapping pictures left and right- every bit of Pixar related merch caught my eye. Here's a bunch of what I saw throughout the various stores (much of it spotted in my favorite store down there, the World of Disney); some of it might interest you if you're taking a trip down there soon! Take a look-

world of disney store
toy story lotso magnets
Magnets
pixar magnets
Magnets
finding nemo luggage tags
Luggage Tags
finding nemo snowglobe
Snowglobe
finding nemo mine mine mine
Note/Photo Holder
Purchased- More on these Dory mugs soon.

dory mug finding nemo
finding nemo crush mug

Purchased- Visit my full blog posts on these Mike Wazowski and Sulley mugs. 

mike and sulley mugs

Purchased- Art of Pixar concept art mugs. Full blog post on Sulley mug HERE (which links to the others).

art of pixar mugs
the world of disney store monorail characters
pixar character packs
pixar character packs
the world of disney store
the world of disney store

Nice to see Pixar well represented on gift cards there :)

pixar gift cards
mike wazowski hat
mike and sulley magnets
Mike and Sulley Magnets
buzz lightyear mug disney parks

 Here I am filling up my basket. I could have spent all night there!

world of disney store

Another one of my favorite places to be- the oh so classy Marketplace Co Op! Now with a Wonderground Gallery filled with amazing Dinsney/Pixar art.

marketplace co op disney springs
Market Place Co Op disney springs  
marketplace co op disney springs wonderground gallery

Purchased (post card size)- This Up inspired "An Unlikely Adventure" print by artist Joey Chou. Full blog post HERE.

marketplace co op disney springs wonderground gallery

It was a pretty quick first evening, since we only had a couple hours to spend there before the stores started closing, but it was a blast. I absolutely love the overall ambiance of Disney Springs! You can bet we made it back there later on during our trip.

Many, many more grand adventures to come over the next week! Stay tuned.