LaughingPlace.com turns 9 years old today. The most important thing I do in this yearly message is thank those who've made LP possible. This year will be no different. If you are a regular reader of LaughingPlace.com, I encourage you to take a few minutes to read the names below and thank them along with me.
First, thanks to our myriad of writers and photographers who contribute regularly and occasionally to the site. Over the past 12 months that list includes:
- Captain Jon: Podcaster
- Lindsay Cave: Regular Columnist, Photos and Tales from the Laughing Place
- FanBoy: Blogger and Podcaster
- Bob Gurr: Regular Columnist
- Kirby Holt: Regular Columnist
- Megan Kaplan: Occasional Columnist
- Tetsuya Kawamura: Occasional Columnist
- Lee MacDonald: Regular Columnist, Photos and Tales from the Laughing Place
- Greg Maletic: Regular Columnist and Blogger
- Jim Miles: Regular Columnist
- Julie and Mike Neal: Occasional Columnists
- Ken Pellman: Regular Columnist
- Scarlett Stahl: Occasional Columnist
- Jim VanOstenbridge: Games
- Bob Welbaum: Regular Columnist
- Mark Wharff: Trivia Contests
- Rhett Wickham: Regular Columnist
Special thanks to the Discussion Board moderators who do a wonderful job behind-the-scenes (and some wish to remain behind-the-scenes so I won't mention any names here). And right beside the official moderators I want to thank the de-facto LP Discussion Board gurus who've contributed since day one in many cases and really set the tone for the community. Again, I won't mention any names, but all the community regulars know who they are and I really appreciate all of you.
Once again, a special thanks to three long-time contributors – Dave Mastanich, Doug Marsh and Denise Owsley – who've done a great job of covering everything on the West Coast since Rebekah and I moved to Florida 4 1/2 years ago. I know those red carpet premieres are hard work, aren't they? Thanks also to John "Indigo" Frost who long ago moved on to his own very successful blog but who played a big part in getting LP off the ground nine years ago.
Thanks to the workers on the other side of LP, the LP Store, for their hard work – Linda Kaplan, Megan Kaplan, Mark Kaplan and Jonathan Kaplan (we're a family business :)
A big thanks to our advertisers, especially Mouse Ear Vacations and Howard Johnson: Anaheim for their long-time support. Without them there would be no LaughingPlace.com today.
Finally, thanks to my wife and partner in LP, Rebekah. Everyday my job is to work on Disney stuff and I get to do that at home and at Walt Disney World right alongside my wife. Dreams do come true.
LaughingPlace.com readers unwittingly gave us a very special birthday present this year. They started a topic on the Discussion Boards called Your best LP memories. When we started LP nine years ago we knew we could create a website that served the Disney fan community and helped us make a living. That was our goal. But the stuff in this topic was stuff we never expected to occur. Thanks so much for sharing, everyone. If you haven't read it, I encourage you to do so by clicking here.
On behalf of Rebekah, thank you everyone and we look forward to the big ONE – ZERO next year.
Doobie.
PS – I've done my very best not to leave anyone out above. If I have, please know it's not intentional. Drop me an email and I'll correct my mistake.