Me, Beyond Disney

On Twitter, I follow a lot of Disney people and we talk about lots of Disney things. Recently though, I was engaged in a fun conversation about movies and found out that some of my Disney friends and I had some movie likes in common, older ones including Humphrey Bogart, John Wayne and Clark Gable films.  This made me realize, while we all have a huge interest in common, there may be lots of other interests we have in common also!  So I thought I would take this post to share some things about myself other than my love for Disney. Who knows, maybe we will have more than just Disney in common!


Continuing with the movies, I also enjoy the occasional Romantic Comedy such as The Ugly Truth.  Mel Brooks and Monty Python are also pretty awesome! Love watching 007 movies and almost any action type flick. I don't really watch much television, but I am trying to catch up on past seasons of The Office and I catch the odd episode of House or White Collar when my family is watching them.  I also enjoy watching baking shows and different shows on the History Channel, though I don't get to see them often. I used to watch Dancing With the Stars because I would love to learn how to ballroom dance someday, but haven't seen an episode in a few seasons.

I am a big reader when school isn't keeping me swamped with work.  I really love historical fiction, my favorite author being Ann Rinaldi.  I am a Harry Potter reader and, as much as I don't want to admit this, I would be excited to go see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal. I also really enjoy Jane Austin after reading Pride and Prejudice for my senior thesis paper. I also collect childrens books, for my eventual classroom library and just because the are so fun to look at!  And of course, I keep the usual Disney books on my shelf, including Kingdom Keepers and the Official Encyclopedia.  Hoping to have a huge library someday, like those of Scott Otis and Glenn Whelan!

I am really into History, especially American history, though there is some European stuff I enjoy learning about, including the Tudor dynasty in England.  I actually sat through a Revolutionary War and a Civil War class in college just for fun, not for credit or anything because I find them so fascinating!

I love to cook but especially love to bake and make desserts of all kinds! I took almost all of the cooking classes my high school had to offer, it is just so much fun to create! I like watching shows like Cake Boss just to see the decorating ideas they have and my dream is to someday learn how to make and decorate wedding cakes, maybe even for Disney!

Music has always been a huge part of my life, about as much as Disney is.  I've played flute for 15 years  and find playing to be very relaxing.  I have also learned in the last couple years to play the entire saxophone family except for Soprano Sax.  As far as music that I listen to, I listen to almost everything, country is probably my least favorite though.

So there is a bit about myself! Feel free to leave comments and share with me some of your likes and dislikes, I would love to hear them!! If you are on twitter, feel free to follow and join the conversation also: twitter.com/lady_aurora.

Wonderful Book Release by Intrepid Traveler

Yes, I know this is a Disney blog, but that's no reason for me to not talk about one of my other passions.  I enjoy reading, especially fantasy books. One of my favorite fantasy novels is the Harry Potter series and because of this, I was naturally excited about the Wonderful World of Harry Potter opening up at Islands of Adventure, which has just recently opened. While I've not yet had the pleasure of visiting this park, I find reading information about it helps me to know more, and what better books to read than guide books, especially ones printed by a great publisher, Intrepid Traveler! Check out the amazing deal they have on the brand new Universal Theme Park Guide!

The Intrepid Traveler Celebrates the Opening of the
Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Half-price offer on 10th edition of Universal Orlando guidebook announced

(BRANFORD, CT) --- The Intrepid Traveler, the publisher of Universal Orlando: The Ultimate Guide To The Ultimate Theme Park Adventure, is celebrating the opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter with a pre-publication special offer on the guide’s tenth edition.

For a limited time, readers can get the book for just $7.98, including free media mail shipping within the United States, by visiting

http://www.intrepidtraveler.com/store/uoadvance/

The book is scheduled for publication in November, but those taking advantage of this offer will receive their copies in August.

“The book is at the printer now,” said Associate Publisher Sally Scanlon. “Once we have the book in stock, we will be taking down this special offer.”

The new edition contains the first eyewitness reviews of the new Harry Potter attraction at Universal’s Islands of Adventure including the ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, which introduces a unique technology using robotic arms on tracks to fly guests through an adventure with Harry and his friends at Hogwarts School.

For the tenth edition, the book has been completely redesigned inside and out, with 24 additional pages, including 16 pages of color photographs. The book is written by Seth Kubersky, an arts columnist and former Universal Orlando backstage employee, and Kelly Monaghan, a travel writer who has been covering Orlando attractions for over 15 years.

The Intrepid Traveler publishes a wide range of travel books, from Hidden Mickeys: A Field Guide To Walt Disney World’s Best Kept Secrets, to Paris Movie Walks, to The Weather is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful, a collection of travel quotations. Their full line of books can be browsed at

http://www.intrepidtraveler.com/store/

For more information, to request a review copy, or to schedule an interview with either of the authors, call 203-469-0214 and ask for the publicity department.