Mickey's Soundsational Parade

I have always appreciated all the work Kevin Kidney and Jody Daily have done to walk in Uncle Walt's footsteps. Thanks to these two brilliant men, they have preserved some great Disney artifacts, but also given us wonderful Disney treasures. Additionally, they have created some fun things for us to see in the Parks, like one of my favorite parades, Mickey's Soundsational Parade.

 

Here are just a few examples of their influence, and work, on this fun parade.

Be sure to follow Kevin and Jody by clicking here:

https://www.facebook.com/KevinandJody/

Chewie, We’re Home.

This is a coded transmission thanking Resistance Fighters for smuggling me onto and off of Batuu for a couple of days this week. My secret mission was to meet up at Oga’s Cantina to get my ship operation credentials for Hondo Ohnaka’s business venture, and locate a Porg who would be a decoy. Along the way, I met up with some old friends of the Resistance. But I had to avoid First Order troopers before blasting back into hyperspace. Bright Suns and Rising Moons!

My Favorite Dream

Probably a lesser-known Disney character that is still one I hold dearly is the Golden (or Singing) Harp from Disney's Fun and Fancy Free, the 1947 animation 'package' features, which was a collection of shorts. The big piece of trivia from this movie is it the last time Walt Disney himself would voice Mickey Mouse.

A few years ago, a few dear friends gave me the Walt Disney Classics Collection version of the Golden Harp. I just love her!

A couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine at Disneyland told me about pieces of his artwork that are being sold. When I saw his version of the Golden Harp, I knew I had found the backdrop to match the WDCC piece!

Back to My Roots

I've been buy way too many t-shirts lately. There are so many good ones! I saw this one today, and I did pass on a Lion King one I wanted. I just don't know if I really 'need' this one. I already know what my friends will say.

Click here to see more.

Time for Brackets

March Madness means a lot to some sports fans. I always lose at the traditional brackets, so I'm glad I've found two that I understand. Not that it helps me to win. Click on the links for the corresponding bracket to create your own. Disney will be releasing related branded merchandise soon!

 

Click here to view Disney March Magic Bracket information. 

Click here to view 'This Is Madness' Bracket information.

Throwback Thursday: More Disneyland Memories

My ‪Throwback Thursday is carrying over from last week's theme that dominated social media. Well, it did in my world. Disclaimer: I did not take any of these pictures, and found them on Kevin Kidney's blog. (PS: I not only love Kevin's blog, but his and Jody Daily's contribution to Disney.)

So, my #tbt is about a fond Disneyland memory. Whenever we went to Disneyland, I had to go to Welch's Juice Bar. No, I didn't have a deep love for grape juice that later would turn into a love for wine (total lie), but it was more about my love of Fantasia.

I can still picture in my mind the location of the Juice Bar and remembering being fascinated by the globes of juice that sprayed the purple liquid on the inside of the spheres. But what caught my attention even more was looking at the back wall behind the Cast Members

I was so sad when the new Fantasyland didn't include a nod to one of favorite animated features. I often wonder what happened to that artwork, and who the lucky person is who owns that artwork, if they were able to save it. Click on the image below to see a larger version of it.

 

The picture below was taken by Loren Javier, and it's of the Fantasyland Grape Juice Bar mural by Mark Seppala at the Disney Gallery, taken in 2011. Looks like it sold for $3,000. 

 Obviously the juice bar is gone, but it will stay alive in my Disneyland memories!

Happy 60th Birthday, Disneyland!

Today is a very special day for many of us. Or I should say, many of us Disney fanatics. Today is the 60th Birthday of the Happiest Place on Earth - Disneyland.

I wish you could see my Facebook feed. It's burning up with so many wonderful memories! I've been seeing so many posts on social media, and I'm adding mine to the mix. Many people have asked me why or how I became such a big Disney fan.  Well, one of my first childhood memories was being in a stroller and see the characters as we were riding the monorail. I really do remember that.

Growing up, we would go as a family. It was much easier back then. You could walk around the Park without having to pay admission. Later when I was older, we had a family friend who worked there, and I would get to go with my friend. I learned so much about the Park.

Then in college, I saw a sign that said, 'Work at Disneyland as you put yourself through school!' And I thought to myself, "Why not?" So in 1984, I became an official Disneyland Cast Member. I was an Attractions Host in Tomorrowland. It was the perfect place to not only work, but also launched a 26+ year career for me. If I can make the first Disney/Pixar reference, if you've seen Inside Out, Joy would have had to handle a Core Memory for me.

Of course there's no perfect dream job. Even some days at the Happiest Place on Earth weren't all that happy. It happens. However, looking back, oh so fondly, the friendships I would make have lasted a lifetime. So many of my friends back then still are in my life, and I'm so blessed for that. They are family to me.

It's funny how a common thing like a job, or the love of something fun, can bring people together. But it's those special bonds that keep us together through time and as we've scattered all over the world. I would be remiss if I don't mention our friends who no longer are with us. We still love them and think about them. We know they are smiling today as we all celebrate a very special place in our hearts.

And it doesn't stop there. There's another ring of Disney friends who, while I never worked with them at the Parks, are lifelong friends due to the common love of Disney. These would be my circle of friends who collect Walt Disney Classics Collection, Grand Jester Studios, pins and more. They are just as much part of my Disney family as any one of those Cast Members.

I'll borrow the title of a song Kala sings in Tarzan to tell all my Disney friends, "You'll Be In My Heart", and so will Disneyland.

And since our favorite mice, Mickey and Minnie, love cheese, here's one more big piece of cheese I'll leave with you today.

Happy 60th, my dear friend!

The Stockings Were Hung...So Were The Ornaments

Like many people, I have more Christmas decorations than room to display them all. But that means I can rotate what I put up each year. That allows me to see old, dear "friends" from Christmases Past. For example, take this ornament (not literally).

This one was given out to Disney Cast Members at the annual Disney Family Christmas Party. In 1989, we weren't as politically correct yet and had to say, "Holiday". Anyway, at these parties, the focus truly was on the Disney family. Cast Members from all parts of the Company (Park, Studio, Corporate, etc.) would come together at Disneyland to celebrate. In the years I worked at Disneyland, this is the only ornament I can remember that was given out, so it is very special. 

Then there is this one. 

I know it's a little hard to see and it looks shaky, but that's because I used Panorama to capture as much of the ornament as I could.  Let's see if this one is any better. 

This ornament commemorates the opening of EPCOT in 1982. EPCOT is my favorite of the (currently) four Parks that make up Walt Disney World, but I wouldn't get to experience it for my first time until January 11-17, 1988. I went with a group of my Tomorrowland friends and we had a blast! Thankfully they still had this ornament available, and I was able to remember that trip and EPCOT all in ornament. 

Not to mention everyone's favorite, Figment! Oh, and in case you are curious about the other side of the ornament...

In 1999, I had the opportunity to take my parents to Walt Disney World for their first trip to FL. After only knowing Disneyland, they really enjoyed seeing the "other" place, and like me, they enjoyed EPCOT the most. 

While we have fun memories of all four Parks, this next ornament helps me remember what was then Disney's MGM Studios. They enjoyed seeing the house front of 'The Golden Girls', which now is gone. So Jessica holds a special memory for me of that trip, and she sits on the mantel with her special Mouse-shaped holder.

I picked up a number of ornaments last month when I went to Walt Disney World to celebrate my 50th birthday. Do I have a favorite? It's hard to say at this point, but maybe one will win out over time. That sometimes happens when you reflect on the past. Or is that just a Figment of my Imagination?

As Christmas 2014 approaches, the stockings are hung by the chimney with care, but Santa has already given me my presents as I look over my decorations and reflect on fond memories. 

Happy 59th Birthday, Disneyland!

I'm sure most people are waiting until next year to make a big deal about it, but every Disneyland birthday is a big deal for me!  So in honor of the day, here are some #TBT pictures of past Disneyland birthdays.

The first two are from the 30th birthday on July 17, 1985. Boy, that was a busy day at the Park, full of Guests and media! From the Gift Giver Extraordinaire, I received a ton of buttons and a Mickey plush, but no big win. Just like in Vegas.

This shot is from the 50th birthday on July 17, 2005. That was a great celebration!

And lest we forget, today also marks the 25th anniversary of Splash Mountain at Disneyland! Here's a picture of when I was on the opening crew, and what was affectionately called the 'Tim Pig' for some reason.

They Arrived!

Well, both my cels arrived, and I have to say I love them both! I put the Disneyland 'Jiminy Cricket' in my office at work, but I'm still trying to decide if I should do the same for the Walt Disney World 'Off the Page' Sorcerer Mickey or bring him home. You can see below I've kept that one wrapped up just in case. My friend and coworker, Sharon, thinks I should hang it in my office. She also said it could go in hers.  Nice try!

 

I posted more information on February 26th. You can click here to read the details on each cel.