Letters to the Editor
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The January Forever Magical column took a look at visiting Disneyland with foreigners

I know what its like to tour with someone from outside the U.S. Once I had a foreign woman and she didn't even need to go on any of the rides, she just wanted to look at everything, and kept telling me how amazing it is to just be there, and it's true. When I told her we should go on the Haunted Mansion, she couldnt believe how scary it was, because she thought it would be just like any other fun house. It really is a great place to bring anyone, and its fun noticing things for the first time.  --ST

This same thing is true when visiting Disney parks overseas. I was amazed by how much fun people were having at Tokyo Disney even though (at least to me) they didn't really understand everything that was going on around them.  --Anon

The February Forever Magical column discussed Disneyland's 45th Anniversary and the real meaning of Disneyland

While I agree with you Rebakah in most respects, do you not feel that as nice as many of the new activities are (e.g. pin trading, fireworks, that there is more an emphasis on making more $ from guests and less on giving back (e.g. making sure all attractions are highly maintained and the place spotless)? I think with Cynthia Harriss, the place is much better than under Pressler, but I can't but feel that today, the balance between taking an giving has shifted away from its balance.  --Anon

The March Forever Magical column discussed celebrities at Disneyland - both world famous and Disney famous - and received a lot of reader response

Last year, while waiting for our group at the exit of Space Mountain, my mother-in-law saw Matthew Perry. We had to wait an extra long time and saw this group go into the exit then come back out. They then started to talk to a cast member and we overheard that the ride was down. We went over to hear more details and thats when we noticed him. Very grungey looking, but him nevertheless. I am a huge fan of the show Friends, but I couldn't help still being jealous that my mom got to see Space with the lights on and I didn't.   --A

This Forever Magical column was excellent! I've seen a handful of famous people at Disneyland, but the one that meant the most to me was when I got to meet Bob Baranick. He was really nice and had some great things to say. Great job on the column!  --M

I am a CM and I saw John Stamos, from the old television show Full House. I was at the turnstile motioning for the guest to enter the attraction,Star Tours, when I saw him. He had a baseball cap on which partially hid his face. It took me a while to recognize him, but it was neat to see my first celebrity while working.  --Anon

I have a friend who is a hostess at the Blue Bayou and she has told me of her many celebrity sightings such as Jack Nicholson, Nicolas Cage, and Patricia Arquette as just a few guests entering Disneyland's famed Club 33.  --Anon

I would like to second your comments regarding the charming Steve Davison. He is definitly a "child at heart", a joy to work with, and is the perfect talent to create many more warn attractions and events at Disneyland.  --BB

We ran into Baby Spice at a Main Street restaurant a few months ago. She was very nice to a little girl that asked for a picture and an autograph. I think the little girl's dad was more excited, though. I was enjoying a New Year's a few years ago and saw Michael Jackson and his entourage wlaking on Main Street away from Disneyana. It was very strange because they kept a five-foot distance between the Gloved One and anyone else. Here we were having the time of our lives with dear friends, so we almost went up to him to ask him to join us. He looked that lonely.  --U

I saw Pat Benatar pushing a stroller with her husband.  --M

Last year, somewhere between January 18-25th 1999, John Stamos (from Full House) was in Disneyland the same day we were. He came with his son, and wore a baseball cap, and blended right in. A cast member who rang through his purchases informed us that yes, that was John Stamos. That was the name on his credit card. He had no escorts, and unless you really took a good look at him, you would have never known who he was.  --MG

I have seen several celebrities since I became a Cast Member at WDW almost three years ago. But the neatest one happened a couple of months ago. I was working at the Magic Kingdom, and I got to talking to an elderly gentleman standing near the pin cart on Main Street. When he stepped away to speak to another Cast Member, his wife mentioned that he had just won the Disney Legend award and showed me a picture of him with Walt himself! He turned out to be Al Konetzni, who had a hand in designing Disney merchandise for several years, including the famous lunch box shaped like a school bus, filled with Disney characters. I had that lunch box when I was a kid, and I remember playing with it and imagining all the characters in school together. To this day, I have a special fondness for merchandise showing all of the characters from the movies together, and it started with that lunchbox. And to think I met the man who was responsible for it!  --Anon