Am I the Only Mama Who Loves Frozen but DOESN'T Love The Mouse? #Disneyside Mama Drama

OK, let me  be honest:  I do not love Micky Mouse.  

I will wait while you gasp in horror.  

OK.  

I have not been to Disneyworld since I was a small child and I do not remember anything but the teacup ride.  I do want to go with my two little girls in the next few years, where it may be Most Magical, but we would probably only go One Time. Go ahead and gasp as you may.  Again.  

Not Sure of this Princess Thang?

I just do not get the magic.  I love Disney movies, especially the latest bit of cinematic perfection called "Frozen". My little girls and I (and even my hubby!) have been singing the songs, went repeatedly to the theater to see it, own the e book, the soundtrack, the dolls.  A certain adult lady in the Novak household may even have purchased a decorative Olaf pillow for my living room.  For herself.  Seriously.  

But I do not wonder much about Disneyland.

I have friends who go practically every year.  I have friends who have gone as adults before they even had children.  They went for themselves.  The cost alone keeps me from planning a trip anytime soon.  $4,000?  Seriously?  To stand in long lines and whaaaat?  

But then I see the glint of joy in my little girl's eyes.  A few conversations about taking a family trip to meet The Princesses and suddenly most conversations are punctuated with "When we go to Disneyland..." for weeks.  I got caught up in planning, attended a library meeting on doing Disney frugally.  My husband and I spent hours online comparing options.  Driving ten hours or just buying plane tickets?  A cruise or Disneyland proper?

Then I got the #Disneyside party opportunity for the blog.  They would send me everything I needed to throw a Disney themed party, and all I had to do was write about it.  WHEEEE!  Portia's 5th birthday was going to fall within their parameters so I applied and was invited in.

The extremely generous hostess gift was a lovely rolling suitcase from American Tourister.  I haven't had new luggage in decades, so this nifty little jobber was GREAT.  It's wheels turn and roll so you do not have to tip it and bear the weight at all, it just walks next to you like a well behaved child.  I'm jealous my husband got to take it on a trip before I did.

American Tourister is AWESOME.

The rest of the items in the suitcase...."everything I needed to plan my party" were not as exciting.  I'm going to sound ungrateful but I want to be honest...it was all Mickey Mouse themed and that was not what I would have wanted if I was planning a party theme.  Goofy tattoos?  Yellow balloons?


The 'party favors' were more like leftovers from the Disney Marathon; wristbands about the run,  signs to write messages to a runner on (if you were a spectator for the run.)  Uh...I'm not watching the marathon, I am planning a little girl's party.  She likes Minnie Mouse well enough, but that would never be a theme she asked for.  

Mickey Mouse Heaven, if that is your thang!

Disney Marathon bumper sticker?

There were other things in the package that were cool like Mickey Mouse cookie cutters and enough HP Photo Card packs to give away as prizes.  Unfortunately my three attempts to use a pack myself for party invites failed and I just did an online invitation.

I was a disaster with the photo cards, but I loved the idea.

We decided to go with a Disney's Frozen theme. I posted about our Frozen Party here. I just bought all the things I would usually buy to decorate and throw a party.  We had a family party of about twelve people and I handed out the photo card packs from HP.  I did use the craisins and Disney Marathon wristbands as they were blue and 5 year olds aren't discriminating.  We also had a Frozen playdate party with cupcakes for fifteen including adults.  I used the Mickey Mouse cups etc at Portia's preschool party for her 22 classmates and that will fulfill my obligation.  

I wish I was wowed with more Disney Magic.  There are lots of AMAZING women posting about their #DisneySide and I love their excitement and creativity...I guess mine is just "Frozen".

Our Frozen theme goody bags , #Disneyside HP Photo Card Packs to give away