Disney World & Cruise Trip (Photo Dump)

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The Best Demi-Matte to Matte Korean SPFs

 Hi Subbies,

So right before Amazon Prime Day, I had a discord seminar about what K-beauty items to get. Well, one of the guests asked me "Are there any Matte SPFs?"...since she is not into glowing skin. It had me stumped so I ended up doing some research because the Korean SPFs and other skincare enthusiasts don't like matte sunscreens and even though American formulations can provide that glow everyone wants, they aren't very eye-sensitive or provide a casket-ready face or the end of the day gritty greasy ball look. Usually in western SPFs, use Titamin Oxide/Mineral-based or Denatured Alcohol in the ingredients list, or a Gel-type SPF usually has a dryer/matte dry down. What I found is that Matte and Demi Matte SPFs in Korea are marketed using Keywords like "Airy", "Watery" and "Mild" so be on the lookout for those words next time you want to buy one. However here are finds so you can look no further. 

Cream/Lotion

• Thank You Farmer Sun Protect Relief Sun Cream 4.6
• Dr. Ceuracle Sun Control No Sebum Sun Lotion
• Purito Daily Soft Touch Sunscreen 4.6
• Haruharu Wonder Black Rice Moisture Airyfit Daily Sunscreen 4.7
• Scinic Super Mild Sun Essence 4.8
• Ippun Beetroot Airy Floral Sunscreen
• Jumiso Awe Sun Airyfit Sunscreen 4.4
• Tocobo Bio Watery Sun Cream 4.7
• Heimish Moringa Ceramide Watery Sunscreen 5.0
• Dr.G Green Mild Up Sun SPF50+/PA++++ 4.8
• D 'Alba UV Essence Waterfull+ Sunscreen 4.9
• Soon Jung X Director's Moisture Sunscreen 4.8
• Soon Jung X Director's Mineral Sunscreen 4.6
• Make:PREM UV Defense Me No Sebum Sun SPF 4.8
• BEAUTY OF JOSEON - Relief Sun Aqua-fresh Rice + B5 SPF50+ PA++++

Gel

• Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel 4.6

Sun Sticks

• Beauty of Joseon Matte Sun Stick 4.8
• Abib Airy Sunstick Smoothing Bar 4.5
• Real Barrier Aqua Soothing Sun Stick SPF50+PA++++ 4.7
• Round A'Round Green Tea Airy Sun Stick
• DewyTree Urban Shade Cool Calming Sun Stick Light Finish 

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My Top K-pop Songs So far in 2024

 Hey Subbies,

I wrote a dissertation before re-editing repeatedly, but something told me I needed to get this out soon. After my Trip to WDW, I was drained especially since I also got sick towards the end of my trip. Oh someone tried to break into my car in May so I was busy filling a police report and an insurance claim to get my car door fixed. I really want to edit but I took many photos, so I'm a bit exhausted. Then I went down the HYBE vs MHJ rabbit hole no pun intended and people with sense are over it at this point "Ignorance must be bliss for the many but Two wrongs don't make it right." MHJ I knew too much about this woman before she signed on to HYBE but I see some things never change. And why are we okay with throwing innocents under the bus to shield adult's bad behavior. I've been alluding to this in past music posts but HYBE has been an overdue restructuring, especially in the Planning & Communications and Talent Cultivation departments. May into June there were all kinds of beefs and I was waiting for people to come to their senses. I was waiting for a Mera video to drop or my other YouTubers that took a hiatus to drop some gems because some of the gurls were wild'n and they needed to take a mental health break. Then people out here really trying my patience with child-like behavior not just online but offline.

Anyway, I want to talk about the comebacks and the amazing sample literal what I wanted to see from K-pop this year has just been out of this world because I couldn't stand the generic overused 80s synth that kept haunting us. First, I did not expect Chungha to drop two bops the choreo is fire and her new label giving her creative outlet to create is what she needed she was seriously READY, and if she doesn't get to perform a main stage at the end of the year awards I will riot. I didn't expect Mr. Vampire to make up the Spotify ranks because on YT Music it was Untouchable all day every day but the production is so good that I can't skip being bitten by that song I guess. Kiss of Life's Midas Touch is seriously a Y2K Britney coded  Moulin Rouge Lady Marmalade's Collaboration with Christina, Kim, Mya, P!nk with a Medusa, Aphrodite, Arachne, and Lakshmi/Hera escalating all the senses. NCT Dream's Smoothie was like watching a version of all three Matrix Movies plus Red Velvet's Red Flavor had a baby; I've been updating my WordPress and added a couple things for SMCU; and people don't know NCT+ WAYV love their Innuendos. Okay, LE SSERAFIM's Good Bones although an interlude was giving major Durarara opening monologue vibes side note: aespa's Drama logo and concept had to be influenced by this show too. As for Easy it's another chill hip hop track and choreo fits the song to a T. Moving on to aespa and according to my stats Supernova is Interstellar (And yes I watched the movie again because I usually fall asleep during the important parts and it was spurned on by Suho and RIIZE's comebacks) and the use of Afrika Bambaataa's Planet Rock sample was Chef kiss and the "THAT'S HOT" cake gets it a Y2K check mark. DXMON's Burn Up is a pre-debut song that sounds like it should be a song debut and they are definitely Rock and Final Fantasy inspired that Taeyong's hair in Ay-Yo now lives rent-free in my head. TEN is literally up and down my Spotify stats I'm surprised he didn't place in the top 6 artists but I didn't expect another movie reference.  

MY 10 TOP ARTISTS SO FAR

1 Chungha

2 ITZY

3. aespa

4. Seventeen

5. IU

6. ATEEZ (Going to their tour)

7. IVE 

8. LE SSERAFIM

9. Kiss of Life

10. NMIXX

MY TOP SONG OF THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR

Chungha I'm Ready & Eenie Meenie ft Ateez Hongjoong

ITZY - Mr. Vampire

Kiss of Life - Midas Touch

NCT DREAM - Smoothie

LE SSERAFIM - Good Bones/ EASY 

aespa - Supernova

DXMON - Burn Up

TEN - Nightwalker

TVXQ - Rebel

Why did I think of (G)i-dle song as "One More Rollie" by Changmo lol in all seriousness, it was a very chill hip song but it sounds better in the car. Twice's Rush is definitely giving Y2K, especially with those funky synths, bass drum, and high hats. The LA LA LA Girls aka TripleS have done it again and if you don't know they are in a parallel universe as LOONA so instead of 12 there are 24 girls represented by Crows which is on par with  NCT memberships but I've been wanting to do a post about how much closer SMCU is to the LOONACU since LSM worked with LOONA after Jaden left. ARTMS finally (re)debuted with their title track Virtual Angel and make sure to watch it with your "Human Eyes," I really like Air which is a culmination of their works. Birth tops my list due to the very 00s rift and Flower Rhythm was giving me major J-pop ElectroPop vibes i.e. Perfume's 2007 Polyrhythm. NCT Wish's debut was giving me major East Coast/ NY 90/00's hip hop with Eros/Cupid and Psyche storyline, oh last year it was Crashes that ended in flames and now it falling from the heavens concept-wise for SM. Everyone this Q2 has been giving me my childhood Live-action version of Senshi-genre vibes from aespa's Sentai Daft Punk-influenced Licorice to IVE's Sailor Moon Maho Shojo/Magical Girl concept with Accendio. BABYMONSTER's SHESSH had to check it out for the use of Arabic scale and the overused YG sound and I was here for the rap line so I can't wait for the analysis archetype videos to come out to see if they actually create a new sound outside of YG stagnation. I'm surprised YooA Rofttop is on the list but another song with a crow concept plus a lot of people didn't know that she studied Hip Hop but they only saw her as a pretty face with the voice of an angel I guess. 

Honorable Mentions

(G)i-idle - Rollie

TWICE - Rush

Kim Jonghyeon - MOTTO

TripleS - Girls Never Die

AB6IX - Grab Me

NCT WISH - WISH

SEOLA - Without U

ARTMS - Birth (Going to their tour)

TWS - Unplugged boy

IVE - Accendio

YENA - Damn u

BABYMONSTER - SHEESH

YooA - Rooftop

 

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Disney World, is it a trip worth saving up?

 Hey Subbies,

I'm very excited to say that, I will be traveling to the World of Happiness place soon. I live in SoCal so I have talked about going Disneyland as a kid and more so on a whim these days lol. This trip is actually something I wanted to do for a while now. And you're probably wondering why!? Well, it's a long story when I was in middle school my mom's co-worker's friend invited us with her and her family because she wanted me to babysit her kids for their trip on Disney Cruise on the Wonder. Little did they know Disney is known for keeping Families occupied. Long Story short the closest I have ever been to parks was staying a day at the All-Stars Sports Hotel on the property. My mom did try again 2 or 3 years later when we visited Florida for another cruise but it seemed futile to get tickets without a park reservation in advance so we visited Downtown Disney instead now known as Disney Springs. I'm considering this as my inner child raincheck for my mom's inner child's experience we didn't get to have and boy it was not cheap of course.

This year, Disney announced that they have changed its park's reservation requirements for 2024 for single, couples, and small families. So you all know the drill this post is to help those including myself get ready for a trip to Disney World. I caveat that this post will be geared more towards people who live in Los Angeles, Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong, etc who have access to or are very familiar with a lot of the park's rides already and just want a new experience so to speak because there are so many videos scenario videos on how to tackle the parks that it is literally gamified due to the high demand. The genie+ system at Walt Disney World is its own beast. Personally, as a "Disneylander," this is going to be a very interesting trip because we are chill or just vibing over here sometimes to the point of breaking the rules in some cases.

Before I forget Florida even though the taxes are low they still have Gratuities law aka Mandatory Tip so you may see 15-20% gratuities fee for services rendered on your receipt i.e. sit down Restaurants, Bars and Beauty Salons. Make sure to factor that into your budget for each day because it really does add up and may burn holes in some tourist pockets.

Resort Hotel Booking 

Tip: Book at the beginning of the year or 6-months in advance; Hurricane Season is from mid-August to mid-October 

• Splurge: Disney Vacation Club, Disney's Polynesian; Disney's Grand Floridian; Disney's Contemporary; Fort Wilderness Resorts, Port Orleans French Quarter; Walt Disney World: Beach, Yacht club;
• Budget: Hilton Orlando, Coronado Springs Resort; Walt Disney World: Dolphin and Swan; All Stars Resorts: Pop Century, Art of Animation, Music, Movies, Sports; 
• Disney Budget Vacationer: AirB&B, Partner Hotels, Shoulder Hotels

Transportation

Tip: Give yourself a extra 20-30 mins to hour to travel between parks if you have a Lightning lane/ Virtual Queue booked.

• Personal Car/ Road Trip (24-72hr drive)
• Rental car 
• Flight (Intl fly in 24-48hr; Direct flight to MCO preferred) 
• Mears shuttle (Flat rate fee) to/from the Resort and Airport
• Disney Cruise Line Shuttle (Flat rate fee) to/from the Port, Resort and Airport
• Uber/ Lift (surge charges may apply based on demand)

Park-Resort Transportation

Tip: Use the restrooms outside the parks before entering. 

• Walt Disney's Transportation & Ticket Center >>
• Monorail 
• Magic Kingdom ~6-15mins
• EPCOT ~15-20mins
• Shuttle Boat 
• Magic Kingdom ~11mins
• Hollywood Studios >><< EPCOT ~10-20mins
• Shuttle Buses 
• Magic Kingdom ~11-20mins
• Hollywood Studios ~60-75mins
• EPCOT ~60-75mins
• Animal Kingdom ~60-90mins
• Minnie Van (Lyft app)
• Magic Kingdom ~5mins
• Hollywood Studios ~8-10mins
• EPCOT ~5-10mins
• Animal Kingdom ~7-10mins

• Skyliner 
• Hollywood Studios >><< EPCOT ~10-22mins

Park Demands
Tip: Buy the Park Hooper if you can afford it; Book the things you want to do 60 days in advance.

1. Magic Kingdom (MK) - High Demand
2. Hollywood Studios (HS) - Moderately High Demand 
3. EPCOT (EC) - Moderate Demand (A Foodies Dream)
4. Animal Kingdom (AK) - Low Demand (Park Hop to EPCOT/ Hollywood Studios)

See Hours & Events Calendar page 

My Personal Blackout Dates or Dates to Avoid:
(This will generally apply to Tourists and the Visiting.) 
Jan. 1-8, 13-17 | Feb. 12-22 | Mar. 23-31 | Apr. 1-3 | May 25-29 | Jun. 17-21 | Jul. 2-6 | Aug. 30 | Sept. 1-4 | Oct. 12-16 | Nov. 9-13, 23-30 | Dec. 23-31

Low (30 mins) | Moderate (60 mins.) | Moderately High (120 mins.) | High (180+ mins.)

*Opening and Closing times may vary based on the time of year so plan accordingly. 

January - [New Year's Day, MLK Jr./ Susan B. Anthony Day] (MK)

February - (EP) [Washington's Birthday] Spring Flower and Garden Festival Starts

March - [Cesar Chavez - Good Friday/ Spring Break] 

April - (HS/EP) Springtime Surprise runDisney

May - [Memorial Day; Summer Break begins] 

June - [Juneteenth]

July - (MK) [Independence Day]

August - EU/ International Holiday Travel Month

September - [Labor Day]

October - (MK) Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

November - (EP) [Veteran's Day; Thanksgiving] Wine & Dine runDisney

December - (MK) [Christmas; Winter Break] Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

Genie+
Tip: You have a 10-15mins window after the Reserved time to make it the ride

• VQ - Virtual Que (Newer Rides)
• LL - Lighting Lane (Surge Charge Rate per Park to get on High Demand Rides)
• ILL - Individual Lighting Lane (Pay-to-Ride)

*RD - Rope Drop / Resort Early Access

Magic Kingdom Itinerary

• 6:45-7:15 AM Buy Genie+
• VQ: TRON Lightcycle
• (Summer/Fall VQ: Tianna's Bayou Adventures)
• RD/LL: Peter Pan's Flight, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Jungle Cruises, Haunted Mansion, Ariel's Grotto 
• ILL: TRON/ Peter Pan's Flight/ Seven Dwarfs Mine Train 
• ~ 8:30 - 9:00 AM Hotel Guest Early Access
• 8:45 AM Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• 9:00 AM  Peter Pan's Flight (*Genie+ Next Ride Pick Reminder for non-hotel guest)
• 9:20 AM Haunted Mansion
• 9:40 AM Jungle Cruises 
• 10:00 AM Pirate of the Caribbean 
• 10:30 AM Big Thunder Mountain/ TRON Lightcycle
• 11:00 AM Ariel's Grotto (*Genie+ Next Ride Pick Reminder)
• 12:00 PM It's a Small World/ TRON Lightcycle
• 1:00 PM The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh; (*Genie+ Next Ride Pick Reminder; VQ 2nd Chance: TRON Lightcycle)
• 2:00 PM Lunch Recommendations:
• Jungle Skipper Canteen
• Be Our Guest
• Crystal Palace
• Cinderella Royal Tables
• 3:00 PM Mad Hatter's Tea Cup Party
• Other options:
• TRON Lightcycle
• Swiss Family Treehouse
• Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
• People Mover
• Tomorrowland Speedway
• Carousel of Progress
• 4:00 PM Astro Orbiter
• 5:00 PM Buzz Light Year
• 6:00 PM Space Mountain
• 7:00 PM Dinner or Dessert Recommendations:
• Crystal Palace
• Jungle Skipper Canteen
• Main Street Bakery
• 8:00 PM Night Show: Happy Ever After
• 8:30 PM Last Ride of the Day/ TRON Lightcycle

*Disney World's Space Mountain may cause some back discomfort because its tracks have yet to be updated

Option 1: Animal Kingdom & EPCOT Itinerary

• 6:45-7:15 AM Buy Genie+ (Multi-park option)
• VQ: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
• RD/LL: Avatar Flight of Passage/ Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, Frozen Ever After, Test Track
• ILL: Avatar Flight of Passage/ Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Remy's Ratatouille Adventure
• ~7:30 - 8:00 AM Hotel Guest Early Access
• 8:15 AM Avatar Flight of Passage
• 8:45 AM Na'vi River Journey 
• 9:00 AM Kilimanjaro Safaris (*Genie+ Next Ride Pick Reminder for non-hotel guest)
• 10:00 AM Expedition Everest
• 11:00 AM Festival of the Lion King Show/ Finding Nemo: The Big Blue... and Beyond! (*Genie+ Next Ride Pick Reminder)
• 11:50 AM To-go Meal Recommendations:
• Satu'li Canteen
• Tiffins 
• Yak & Yeti
• Flame Tree BBQ
  
• 12:15 PM >> TRAVEL TO EPCOT >>
• 1:15 PM The Seas with Nemo & Friends/ Turtle Talk With Crush (*Genie+ Next Ride Pick Reminder; VQ 2nd Chance: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind)
• 1:30 PM Remy's Ratatouille Adventure/ Living with the Land/ Journey into Imagination with Figment
• 2:00 PM Lunch Recommendations:
• Space 220
• Cool Wash
• Takumi-Tei
• Teppan-Edo
• 3:00 PM Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros
• 3:30 PM Frozen Ever After
• 4:00 PM Test Track
• 5:00 PM Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
• 5:30 PM Mission: SPACE
• 6:00 PM Spaceship Earth
• 6:15 PM Soarin Over California
• 6:30 PM Remy's Ratatouille Adventure/ Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
• 7:00 PM Dinner or Dessert Recommendations:
• Shiki-Sai 
• La Hacienda de San Angel 
• Tutto Italia Ristorante
• Biergarten Restaurant
• Le Cellier Steakhouse
• Kringla Bakeri Og Kafe
• Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie
• 8:00 PM Night Show: Luminous: The Symphony of Us

Option 2: Animal Kingdom & Hollywood Studios Itinerary

• 6:45 7:15 AM Buy Genie+ (Multi-park option)
• VQ: Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
• RD/LL: Avatar Flight of Passage/ Slinky Dog Dash, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Mickey & Minnie Railway, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror
• ILL: Avatar Flight of Passage/ Slinky Dog Dash. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
• ~ 7:30 - 8:00 AM Hotel Guest Early Access
• 8:15 AM Avatar Flight of Passage
• 8:45 AM Na'vi River Journey 
• 9:00 AM Kilimanjaro Safaris (*Genie+ Next Ride Pick Reminder for non-hotel guest)
• 9:30 AM Break the Fast Recommendations: 
• Pongu Pongu
• Satu'li Canteen
• Mahindi
• Nomad Lounge
• 10:00 AM Festival of the Lion King Show
• 10:50 AM Expedition Everest (*Genie+ Next Ride Pick Reminder)
• 11:45 AM DINOSAUR >> Tropical Americas Pueblo Esperanza
• 12:00 PM Brunch Recommendations: 
• Warung Outpost
• Anandapur Ice Cream Truck
• Thirsty River Bar
• Trilo-Bites
• Eight Spoon Café
• Nomad Lounge
• 12:15 PM >> TRAVEL TO HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS>>
• 1:15 PM Slinky Dog Dash  (*Genie+ Next Ride Pick Reminder)
• 2:00 PM Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage
• 2:45 PM Mickey & Minnie Runaway Railway
• 3:15 PM Times for Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular!
• 4:30 PM Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror/ Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
• 5:00 PM Toy Story Mania (*Genie+ Next Ride Pick Reminder)
• 5:30 PM Alien Swirling Saucers/ Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
• 6:00 PM Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance 
• 6:30 PM Star Tours
• 7:00 PM Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror/ Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
• 7:30 PM Grab a Late Dinner: 
• 50's Prime Time Café
• Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant
• Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano
• The Hollywood Brown Derby
• 8:00 PM Grab a seat for Fantasmic! 
• 8:30 PM 1st Night Showing: Fantasmic!
• 9:30 PM Grab a seat early for the 2nd Showing Fantasmic! -or- Last Chance to Ride
• 10:00 PM 2nd Night Showing: Fantasmic!

Hollywood Studios Itinerary
*Consider Reserving a Fantasmic! Dinner Package

• 6:45-7:15 AM Buy Genie+
• RD/LL: Slinky Dog Dash, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Mickey & Minnie Railway, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror
• ILL: Slinky Dog Dash
• ~ 8:30 - 9:00 AM Hotel Guest Early Entrance
• 8:45 AM Slinky Dog Dash
• 9:15 AM Toy Story Mania (*Genie+ Next Ride Pick Reminder for non-hotel guest)
• 10:00 AM Alien Swirling Saucers
• 10:45 AM Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! (*Genie+ Next Ride Pick Reminder)
• 12:00 PM Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
• 1:15 PM Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (*Genie+ Next Ride Pick Reminder)
• 2:00 PM Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage
• 3:00 PM Lunch/Dinner Recommendations:
  
• 50's Prime Time Café
• Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant
• Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano
• The Hollywood Brown Derby
• 4:00 PM Star Tours
• 5:00 PM Mickey & Minnie Runaway Railway
• 6:00 PM Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror
• 7:00 PM Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith/ Grab A Quick Dinner 
• 7:30 - 7:45 PM Grab a seat for Fantasmic!
• 8:30 PM 1st Night Showing: Fantasmic!
• 9:30 PM Grab a seat early for the 2nd Showing Fantasmic! -or- Last Chance to Ride
• 10:00 PM 2nd Night Showing: Fantasmic!

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