Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Welcome Aboard Magical Blogorail Teal

Welcome to the first stop aboard Magical Blogorail Teal. Enjoy the ride as we introduce ourselves, our blogs and share with you our inspirations for writing a Disney blog.

"To our new passengers: Aloha, and welcome aboard." OK, so I couldn't resist...

Today, for my first post as a contributor to Magical Blogorail Teal, I'm supposed to write about one of the most difficult topics there is....myself. My journey into the world of blogging was a rather simple one. Perhaps the biggest passion in my life is travel, but what I found over the years is that aside from the photos and a handful souvenirs, I didn't have much to show for my adventures. Over time, many of the stories began to lose their luster, and some of the details were lost in the "Gringotts Vault" that is my memory. So I decided to start a blog, partly in hopes of contributing to the online travel community, but also as a journal of sorts that I could look back on years down the road.



Tiananmen Square

In my short life, I've been fortunate to visit some amazing places, from Korea and China, to Amsterdam and Barcelona, with countless cruises on the high seas in between. My wife and I have traveled to Paris twice in the last few years, and both trips naturally featured a visit to Disneyland Paris. In addition, a couple years ago we ventured to California to celebrate New Year's at Disneyland, leaving only the Asian parks for us to scratch off our Disney "bucket list."


Seemed like a nice place to nap

When I first started blogging about my travels, almost none of my posts were related to the place I actually visited the most...Disney. The reason I didn't write about Disney was simple: I didn't consider it to be "travel." My wife and I reside in Central Florida, and have been Disney Vacation Club members for several years. As a result, we are fortunate to visit the Mouse once or twice a month. Back when I started my blog, I viewed our visits to Disney as just routine, and the last thing I wanted to write about was everyday life.

Central Park

What I soon came to realize, however, was that the few times I did write about Disney, those posts seemed to get the most activity in the blog-o-world. They were also the easiest posts to write, thanks to my vast wealth of incredibly useless Disney information. After pondering these phenomena for a while, as much as I wanted to hold on to my identity as "travel blogger," I decided the absence of Disney on my blog simply made no sense. To everyone outside of the Central Florida area, Disney is travel, so why fight it?


Us and the Gang at Club 33

Beyond that, Disney isn't just a place where we go to get away for the weekend. Like many, it's a place that has held a special place in my heart since I was a kid. Beginning in the early 80's, my family and I would travel to Disney every October so my Dad could take part in the annual Disney Golf Classic. Those trips were the most memorable of my childhood, and were something the entire family looked forward to every year. As an adult, my love of Disney has only grown, and thankfully, I found someone who's equally nutty about the Mouse in my awesome wife. She was very quick to agree when I suggested 3 years ago that we be married at Disney...



Our wedding at the Boardwalk

Since I've began writing more about Walt's Place, I've been fortunate to meet some great people in the Disney blogging community. It's fun to be a part of groups such as this one, and to relate experiences with people who share the same passion. It didn't take me long to learn that the Disney bloggers community is far from a small little group of friends. As the guy on the "Fun Spot" commercials would say....It's Huge!


Dinner at Victoria & Albert's

In my heart, The World of Deej is still a "travel blog," and those who stop by often will likely find reviews from my various adventures around the country, and sometimes the world. But in the end, it's Disney that plays the biggest role in my travel and blogging life.

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail is YourFirstVisit.net.


Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail loop should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ The World of Deej
2nd Stop ~ YourFirstVisit.Net
3rd Stop ~ DisneyFAITHful
4th Stop ~ The Many Adventures of a Disney-Lovin’ Spectrum Mom
Final Stop ~ Capturing Magical Moments

~Insert Dude-like Closing Here~

Deej

38 comments:

  1. What an AWESOME introduction post, Deej! I enjoyed learning about the inspiration behind your blog. I'm glad that you decided to add Disney to your "travels" and that you're part of the Magical Blogorail!

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  2. Welcome to the Blogorail, DJ! I truly enjoyed reading about your love of travel and how you started blogging. I'm so glad you found the Disney community and look forward to reading more about all your adventures!

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  3. Great pictures! Loved seeing them!

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  4. Great first post! I am a new follower of yours and can't wait to read more!

    Bitten by the Disney Bug
    www.disneybug.blogspot.com

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  5. Great Introduction! I look forward to poking around your older blog post and am looking forward to reading new ones! I have also done quite a bit of traveling but I always come back to WDW!

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  6. What a great way to get to know you! I love seeing all the pictures of you and your beautiful wife... especially your wedding day at Disney's Boardwalk Resort. Sigh! Looking forward to riding the Blogorail with you!

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  7. Welcome aboard, Deej! Thanks for reading My Dreams of Disney and commenting as often as you have been! I look forward to reading more about all of your travels!

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  8. Awesome stuff. Been reading you for a while now and it's great to see you on the blogorail.

    I started Disney blogging for exactly the same reason - I noticed those articles had by far the most traffic on my personal blog, so I figured why fight it and I just went with it.

    Can't wait to see more great posts like this in the future :)

    Chad
    Days In The Park

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  9. Welcome to the Blogorail! Your blog is quickly becoming one of my favorites. I love reading about your travels to Disney and beyond. Love the photos!

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  10. It's great to be with you Deej on Magical Blogorail Teal. I can't wait to see where this journey takes us.

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  11. Great post and I loved your different travel pictures. Thanks for sharing

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  12. I'm a new follower and was wondering what was your home resort? DVC? stop by my blog too.

    http://candoitmom.blogspot.com/

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  13. Great post! You are so lucky to have found someone who loves Disney as much as you. It took me a few years, but I have finally converted my husband to a Disney fan. I look forward to reading about more of your travels, and I am so excited you are part of the Magical Blogorail!

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  14. What a wonderful story and it is wonderful you have had the opportunity to travel the world. It will provide a wonderful perspective when writing about Disney. Welcome aboard the Magical Blogorail

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  15. Thank you for the warm welcome and kind words everyone!

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  16. Wow! You are so fortunate to have seen so much of the world...and so blessed to call WDW your fave place in the World! ;) Welcome to MB!

    ~Jodi, Magical Mouse Schoolhouse - MB Yellow

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  17. Awesome first post Deej! You're so lucky you can visit the mouse so often! I'm lucky if I can go once a year! :P And getting married in Disneyland too!? Oh so jealous! :P Can't wait to see more from Blogorail Teal! :D

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  18. Welcome to the blogorail! (love the dude-like closing, BTW!)

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  19. Deej, (as his family knows him) your stories always touch our heart. May you share more stories of your youth, and have many more stories in your future! Your Dad!

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  20. Great photos (as usual), but I especially love the wedding photo. I'm so jealous!! Hopefully I can talk to my hubby into a vow renewal at Disney someday :-)

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  21. I truly enjoyed reading your intro and I look forward to reading more. Love it!!

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  22. Excellent post. I myself reside in Central Florida and have been deeply in love with Disney for the longest time. In one more month I'm going to be a cast member, and I'm even blogging about my life, starting now on into when I become a Disney Girl. So good to know there's somebody out there who shares my passion. :)

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