The 15 Day Disneyland Challenge

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I’m sure many of you have seen those posts on Facebook: “30 Day Movie Challenge,” “30 Day Song Challenge.”

Today, a friend of mine sent me a new one: The 15 Day Disneyland Challenge. While my initial thought was to do this on Facebook, I thought to myself, “Why not post on the blog instead? It would give readers an opportunity to know me better, and they could respond with their choices as well!”

Since a big part of the changes I have in store for Confessions of a DisNerd involve community and interaction, I felt this would be a great way to kick things off. I’m posting the picture of the challenge here; I lay no claim to being the inventor of the challenge, just an eager participant. Feel free to use it on your own Facebook walls, but I truly hope you will post and share here as well! Obviously here you won’t be able to post photos in the comment section, but as fellow DisNerds, I’m sure we’ll all know what each other is talking about.

If you’re more familiar with Walt Disney World, feel free to talk about that here as well – or even combine the two!

Tomorrow starts day one of the challenge: The attraction you have to go on multiple times. See you then!

Happy Birthday to a Timeless Voice

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If I had to choose one song in the Disney library to hear for the rest of my life, it would be Leigh Harline and Ned Washington’s  “When You Wish Upon a Star.” The lyrics are incredibly moving, speaking to the hopeful child in all of us: if you wish it with all your heart, and of course on a star, your dreams can come true. The melody fits perfectly as well – one is soothed in the belief that, for at least the three plus minute duration of the song, everything is going to be wonderful. The songwriters did an amazing job, and “When You Wish…” has been covered by countless musicians, both lyrically and instrumentally.

However, the original version is the one that remains with me. It’s the version that still plays in the walkway to Sleeping Beauty’s Castle at Disneyland. It still makes me slow my pace as I walk through, because I hear that voice, and feel… home.

That voice. Belonging to one man: Cliff “Ukelele Ike” Edwards.

The Man…. The Cricket… The Legend

On this day (June 14th) in 1895, Cliff Edwards was born in Hannibal, Missouri. Before he was known as the voice of Jiminy Cricket, as well as Jim Crow in Dumbo, and his appearances on The Mickey Mouse Club in the 50’s, he was a well known vaudevillian, singer and actor. He was the first person responsible for singing this familiar little tune on the silver screen:

Life, sadly, was not kind to Ike. Despite his resurgence as a voice fixture with Disney, he was also a drinker and drug addict with many financial difficulties, a grim reminder that dreams in the real world didn’t always come true. When he died, penniless and unknown in 1971, his body lay unclaimed for several days; no one knew who he was.

I’m hoping that today, many of you, dear readers, will remember and spread the word of who he was: A man who touched the world with his voice. Although his face may not be recognizable, any time you watch Pinocchio or Dumbo; whenever you think “I’m No Fool” as you cross the street; as you pass under Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, I hope you remember Ukelele Ike.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Edwards. Your life on Earth was not always the easiest, but your voice helped define generations of Disney lovers around the world. For that, we are eternally grateful.

Raising a DisNerd

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A letter to my  four and a half year old daughter:

My dear little girl,

I would like to start off this letter to you with an apology. I’m sorry we weren’t able to stay at Disneyland longer on our last trip. It broke my heart to see the tears rolling down your face as we headed toward our car to make the long trip home. To hear you pleading, “Pleeeaaaase can we go back and ride Pooh Bear?” Well, I wish I could have done that, but, alas, work beckoned for me the next morning and we had to go. As sad as I was to see your tears and hear your cries, I understood why – and it makes me smile a little.

We’re raising someone who has as deep a love for all things Disney as her mother and father do.

I think this trip I noticed even more than usual how much that love has grown. Watching you interact with characters, talking to them as if you were old friends… well, in a sense you are. Mickey and Minnie have been a part of your life from the beginning, as have so many others. To hear you say hi to Mickey and Walt as we pass the Partners statue warms my heart; at such a young age, you already know who Walt was, and what he meant to the company you’ve grown to love. Watching as you noticed areas of the park that could use touching up made me giggle. You really care about its upkeep!

I could tell you touched others as well. Mary Poppins couldn’t believe you were only four based on what you knew and said. Cast members enjoyed conversations with you. Rapunzel was an eager student as you patiently taught her to dance. And the memory of the two of you skipping down the walkway is a memory I’m sure we’ll all cherish for a lifetime.

It’s not just at the park I’ve noticed this love, though. At home, your go-to games are usually Disney-tinged ones. You love playing with your princess dolls. You ask for me to make up stories for you – “But make sure you use Disney characters I already know,” you remind me. When we read stories, 9 times out of ten, it’s a Disney book. Your first words besides “mama” and “dada” were “Donald Duck!”

I know that you haven’t had much of a choice; being given parents such as your mother and I, you were bound to be inundated with an appreciation for the mouse. However, I believe that God gave us someone who wouldn’t mind that fact too much. Instead of just accepting it, you embrace it wholeheartedly.

As you continue to grow, I pray for so much for you in your life. For wisdom, strength, faith and courage. I also pray that the magic never leaves you. That your face lights up at the sight of a castle. That you always remember your friends at Disneyland and never truly be ready to leave. That you sing about wishing upon stars and dance with a smile and a song.

And that you’ll never be too old to skip down the street.

Love,

Daddy

The Best Laid Plans of Mice & Men….

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Hello, dear readers. Today’s post will be short; I just wanted to write a short note to say I am still here, and I don’t plan on going anywhere; in fact, look for new posts coming later this week!

When I had planned my latest trip to Disneyland, I planned to utilize this blog, as well as the Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts to update and “live blog” from the area. Sadly, this was not to go down as planned. Between horrendous signals at Disneyland, general business at the park, and being in a good amount of pain from a tooth extraction that happened right before leaving, the updates didn’t come. to any readers who feel let down by this, I apologize.

With that out of the way, as said before, more blog posts are coming – make sure to check back, subscribe, follow me on Twitter and/or Facebook for updates as well when new posts are available. Thank you for your readership – it means a lot to this DisNerd!

Plaza Gardens Memories

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April 30th, 2012 marked the end of an era for Disneyland. Carnation Gardens Plaza was closed to make way for a new Princess Fantasy Faire location. The site of swing dancing, school choirs, bands, and other various performances has gone into Yesterland along with the Skyway, the People Mover, and so much more. It seems this piece of Disney history has hit so many people harder. Was it because they performed there themselves? Was it because they loved to dance there on Saturday night? Is it because another original piece of the park is being torn down to make way for something new? Perhaps it’s all of the above. Over the past few days I’ve read many personal stories about people and their connections to the Plaza Garden area. While I never performed there in choir (we sang at the Disneyland Hotel) or took a spin across the floor, there are a couple memories that stick out in my mind.

Even the man himself would dance here!

A few years ago, my wife and I were fortunate enough to see the original Mousketeers from the Mickey Mouse Club reunite on the Garden stage for their 50th anniversary . What a kick we got out of hearing the Mousketeers tell their stories, sing their songs, dance, and even seeing Cubby play the drums! Perhaps more entertaining were their legions of followers, screaming as if David Cassidy or Davy Jones had just taken the stage. The fact that these performers, so many years later, still held a place in so many people’s hearts was amazing and warming to see. Later that evening, we made our way back to the stage. It was dark and empty, just the backdrop for the show remained. Although the show was over, we managed to snag a few pictures up on stage, pictures that will remind us that we were briefly Mousketeers as well.

Why? Because we like you!

The other memory that sticks out in my mind does not involve the performing area at all, just the area surrounding it. Last December, my family and I were at the park and happened to see Cinderella in the Gardens area as we waited to see her, who should walk up but Alice and the Mad Hatter? Turns out they were in the area “conducting interviews” and needed a subject. And something to write on. Cinderella became the subject, and my daughter offered up her autograph book as the interview pad. As they kept interrupting the princess and her guests, Mary Poppins and Bert were taking a “Jolly Holiday” stroll to the same location and joined in the interview and ensuing silliness. There were so few areas in the park that accommodated such a gathering, such a grand time as the Carnation Plaza Gardens, and it will be truly missed.

Oh, it's a Jolly Holiday with Mary.... and Bert ... and Alice... and the Hatter.... and Cindy! No wonder it's the Gardens that we love!

I, like so many, will miss the Gardens. I’ll miss the entertainment, the space, the unexpected meetings. But Disneyland IS always changing. It doesn’t stay the same from one visit to the next.  The classic look and feel may be going away, but swing dancing will return there. Shows will find their way back to the stage. New favorites will emerge. My daughter loves the princesses, and plans for the new Fantasy Faire area look nothing short of beautiful. I can’t help but wonder, many years from now, if the Fantasy Faire gets replaced with something else, will she lament the renovation of a dear friend, as so many of us are doing now?

Perhaps so, but hopefully she’ll be able to look forward to sharing something new with future generations as well.

Farewell, Plaza Gardens, and thanks for the memories.

How to Play to DisNerds

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My wife and I, along with other people we know, are fans of ABC’s new show, “Once Upon a Time.” Aside from just being plain intriguing with its warped fairy tale characters and alter egos, it’s a product of Disney synergy at its finest. The Dwarves are named after their Disney counterparts, Snow White has been known to hum “With a Smile and a Song,” and Belle looks awfully familiar in her gold dress. Then there’s the case of the “antique” in one of the cases of Mr. Gold’s antique shop:

That push button Mickey phone must be a pretty magical antique – why else would he have it locked up?

Watching the show to see what special touches like that may be thrown in next is definitely a highlight for me. Of course, being on ABC, a Disney owned company, the show writers can throw Disney-esque references in there and get away with it.

Of course there are other references out there, not necessarily in a television show, not necessarily linked directly to Disney, but references that, being a geek for all things Disney, I eat right up.

For example, foods that remind me of Disney catch my eye, and sometimes taste buds as well. I can’t resist the scent of churros. While not a Disney specific product, boy do they ever remind me of a certain theme park in Anaheim. Taking a bite, for a few brief moments I can almost see myself standing by the churro cart at the end of Main Street, USA, and I think the people that sell churros outside of the parks know this. I’m a sucker for cinnamon, sugar and Disney.

If I need Orange Juice, what kind do I enjoy the most?

Oh Donald, I’m so glad you can be a part of my balanced breakfast!

Then there are those products that aren’t aimed at Disney fans at all; nonetheless, they hit the mark. A few years back, Avon sold a cologne for men called “RPM.” It was described as a fresh, citrus, and slightly woodsy smell. So naturally, what did it remind me  of? Soarin’ Over California. Of course, I bought it because I’m a sucker for scents of Disney. I once spent an hour at a nickel poker machine at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas just because the fountain I was sitting next to reminded me of the smell of the water in Pirates of the Caribbean. I’m convinced a former Imagineer designed that fountain just to ensnare DisNerds like me.

Apparently it doesn’t take much to get my attention with a mention, tie-in or even scent that brings about a Disney feeling or memory. The latest product to come my way and evoke those feelings?

Look, they even have a Skyway!

There are so many other examples I can’t even think of at the moment, but sometimes even I look at myself and think, “How crazy am I to let myself be so influenced by Disney?” Yet, tis the life I lead… the life of a DisNerd.

And for some odd reason, I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a perfumist out there trying to concoct “Eau de Pirate Water.”

Remember: The Bad Guys Never Win

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This past weekend, my wife and I took our daughter to see “Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic.” Having taken her the previous year to see to see a different incarnation, we assumed she would be thrilled to be going again. Instead, her response?

“I think I have plans that day.”

Upon further prying and questioning, her reasoning for not wanting to go was revealed: Villains. Fortunately for us, this particular show was bad guy lite. Just a handful to worry about: Gaston (brutish, but not scary), Huns (a threat to China, but not to us), and…Monstro the whale. Ahh, Monstro, you devilish whale, you. My little girl, who used to be inseparable from her plush Pinocchio, wants nothing to do with you. No movie, no ride at Disneyland, no Disney on Ice… not even Storybook Land. Casey Jr. is  okay, but riding a tranquil boat through Monstro’s mouth is out of the question.

Such a frightening ride.

Of course, she’s not the only person out there to be frightened by Disney.

My father told me of going to Disneyland when he was five years old. He was bound and determined to ride Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride all by himself; no parents, no siblings, he was a big kid. He could to it. Therefore, his parents let him. How did you like that ride, dad? “Scared the HELL out of me.”

My mom loved to tell the story of taking my sister to the movies when she was a toddler to see Snow White. Everything was fine until the Queen transformed herself into the witch. The theater fell into silence as the old hag crept through the dungeon. You could hear a pin drop. You could hear a cute little two or three year old say “Oh sh–….”

As for me? Well, aside from the fact that, as stated in a previous post, I refused to ride Space Mountain due to lack of seat belts, not much phased me. Really. Unless, of course, you count the real mice that hide in the bushes of the Matterhorn, then I may be guilty of freaking out just a touch. But I digress.

After much cajoling, we finally got out daughter to the arena, sat in our seats, and generally speaking, everything was fine until the second half began with…. Pinocchio and a giant ice skating whale. At this point our little girl, tears rolling down her face, was screaming, “I COMMAND YOU TO GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!! I COMMAND IT!!!!” Instead of acquiescing to said commands, my wife and I held her hands, covered her eyes and ears and acted as human shields until the segment was over. Once it was over, she watched the rest of the show with rapt attention. On our way home, she said from the back seat, “I’m so glad we got to go to Disney on Ice today.” Then, looking in the program, said, “That silly Monstro didn’t even look like Monstro!” She had forgotten her fears (at least temporarily) and managed to have a good time and can’t wait for the chance to go again.

And that’s part of the magic of Disney – no matter how scary, how harsh things may get, good triumphs over evil, and we walk away happy, remembering for the most part, the good stuff. To this day, my dad still rides Mr. Toad, my sister still loves Snow White, and I ride Space Mountain without seat belts.

But I will still move to the other side of the line if I see a mouse in the bushes….

A Thank You Note

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Lately, I’ve been looking back, trying to figure out where exactly all of this DisNerdia “clicked” into place for me. I’d been a relative fan of it all my life, loving it as a kid, trying to be “cool” in junior high and not let that love show around the other kids in class. I remember seeing The Little Mermaid shortly after it was released on video, and thinking to myself, “This isn’t bad – for a kid and girl movie.” So what brought me out – what made me truly embrace the nerd within when it came to all things Disney?

Was it a movie?

Was it music?

Was it a person?

As it turns out, it was all of the above, combined into one experience, dating back to my sophmore year of high school. And I wonder if the person involved in this ever realized his actions and words had such a profound effect.

Brian and I were both involved in performing arts in high school, having been in a few shows together and in the same choir class. We knew each other, but in all honesty, that was about it. Then, there was a movie poster that changed everything:

Walt Disney’s Fantasia was going to be released into movie theaters for a limited 50th anniversary run. Last time I had seen Fantasia I was about 8, and, aside from The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, I remembered little from it. Yet I did want to see it again. Brian put sign ups in the choir room so we could go as a group, and I signed up. As it turned out, not too many people signed up, and it was in question whether the outing would happen. Being 15 years old at the time and having no transportation, I was prepared to not be able to go, but Brian offered me a ride to the other side of town to go see it. I must admit, I felt a little out of place on that car trip, not really knowing anyone all that much on our way across town, feeling a bit like a charity case being taken along for the ride. But it would all be worth it.

Seeing something as innovative and mind blowing as so many of the sequences were on a big screen blew me away. The idea of classical music providing the backdrop for some pretty stunning images (it still amazes me how well early hand-drawn animation has held up over the years) left me pretty speechless. I fell in love with the movie, the accompanying music, and really rekindled my appreciation for the Walt Disney Company as a whole.

The final segment, “Night on Bald Mountain/Ave Maria,” still amazes me with its contrasts of good and evil, chaos and peace.

In Brian, I found someone who shared this appreciation, someone I could talk about the newest releases and soundtracks to, as well as discuss company history and love of theme parks with. Beyond the realm of Disney, this actually helped me realize it was okay to like things some might consider “kids’ stuff.” It was okay to be my own person, with likes and dislikes apart from others. Brian and I kept contact through the years, even turning up (unbeknownst to each other) to the same group interview for The Disney Store. (For the record, we both ended up with part time jobs there!) We have since remained in touch and continue to be friends, one of our common bonds among many being our appreciation for Disney. It’s been nothing short of amazing to see our daughters have so many interests for things such as Disney movies, music and fields such as Imagineering!

This post stands as my thank you letter. To Walt Disney and Leopold Stokowski for envisioning Fantasia. To the Walt Disney Company for giving it a 50th anniversary theatrical release. And to Brian, for taking pity on a 15 year old kid and giving him a ride to the theater to see said movie. That small act of kindness meant more than you know in my life.

So, dear readers, do you have anyone to thank for your love of Disney? Parents, friends, teachers, relatives…even Walt himself? Take the opportunity to do so, whether by blog post, a note, or a salute to the “Partners” statue in Disneyland as you walk by.

And then…. feel free to pass that love on.

Myth Informed

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As you walk beneath Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland, if you look closely at the ground, you’ll see a golden spike driven into the concrete. If you stand there long enough, there’s a good chance you’ll hear someone say, “this marks the geographical center of Disneyland when it was first built.” Many casual fans and newcomers may be fascinated with this bit of trivia, but most DisNerds will be biting their tongue, trying to decide if it’s worth the argument to point out the falseness of this statement.

The spike is located at the intersection of the blue and red lines. Does that look geographically centered to you?

A conversation about the man himself, Walt Disney, can take an even more devastating turn. Among many of the uninformed, or more to the point, misinformed, it’s often been stated that Walt was racist, sexist, or anti-semitic. These are fighting words. I had this happen on my personal Facebook page once; I came very close to “unfriending” someone, which is something I never do.

Some fans of Disney, myself included, get rather passionate about certain subjects. There are some bits of misinformation that might seem minor to others, but it’s hard for us to be silent. We have to choose our battles.

When someone tells us they remember in the 60’s during Disneyland fireworks when Tinker Bell would fly down, circle around the castle a couple times and fly back up, do we tell them Tink didn’t have that luxury (she flew straight down a wire), or do we let them cling to their memories?

When someone tells us their favorite Disney movie of all time is Fievel Goes West, are we able to not laugh in their face?

I have to admit, sometimes at Disneyland I overhear people saying things like “I’m not riding the Matterhorn right now. I’ll get fastpasses later,” and while part of me wants to tell them there are no fastpasses in place for the Matterhorn, the other part of me thinks, “Let them learn first hand.” And I keep my mouth shut.

Another reason I keep my mouth shut is the plain and simple fact that I know I’ll probably come across looking like a know-it-all. Maybe I am. No, come to think of it, I KNOW I am. However, I would honestly rather people were uninformed than misinformed. Because when I hear people say things like “You know, Walt built Disneyland around the Swiss Family Treehouse,” I can’t help but think…

….Walt’s cryogenically frozen head must be spinning in his chamber underneath the Pirates of the Caribbean.

Remembering Frank Wells

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Frank Wells, 1932-1994

On this day in 1994, Disney lost a true legend. Frank Wells, former President and COO of the Walt Disney Company, was tragically killed in a helicopter accident in Nevada at the young age of 62.

When “The Lion King” opened in theaters many saw a dedication in the credits that read: “In Remembrance Of Frank Wells – President of the Walt Disney Company 1984-1994.” I remember seeing those words, and knowing of the man, but not knowing the impact Mr. Wells truly had on the company.

Wells was one of the driving forces in the turn around of the Disney Company in the 1980s. According to his Disney Legends profile:

“During his 10-year-tenure, Disney enjoyed unprecedented growth and revitalization with annual revenues up from $1.5 billion to $8.5 billion. Disney stocks increased a whopping 1,500 percent, while its theme parks and resorts revenues tripled. Disney Consumer Products revenues rose 13-fold, while its filmed entertainment revenues jumped 15-fold. Frank helped make Disney one of the most successful film studios in the world.”

I would personally argue that the Eisner era enjoyed its greatest successes while Wells was in tenure for the company. He seemed to be the “Roy” to Michael’s “Walt.” For more on what Frank meant to the company, I highly recommend the fantastic documentary “Waking Sleeping Beauty.”

Frank Wells was also quite an adventurer. In 1983, he set out to climb the highest mountain on each of the world’s seven continents within a single year – a feat never before accomplished at that time. He scaled six, but was forced to turn back near the top of Mount Everest. His mountaineering exploits were chronicled in his book,”Seven Summits,” co-authored by Dick Bass and Rick Ridgeway and published in 1986. His love of mountain climbing was paid tribute in the Matterhorn at Disneyland.

The “Lost” Expedition

I still salute – rather quickly – every time my bobsled passes by. Thank you, Frank. Your contributions to Disney helped to rejuvenate the company and bring magic to a new generation of fans.