The Fabulous Disney Babe
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The director of the school where I teach understands that Walt Disney's birthday is a religious holiday for me, so cheerfully gave me the day off, revealing that she planned to take her family to Disneyland that day as well. I had planned to leave bright and early for the Park so to have a good spot for the ceremony. I was greeted at my door by The Fabulous Disney Nana, who watches Alice until I get home from work. "Alice brought home a note from the teacher," Oh, no. "she wants you to come to school tomorrow." All right, who did she kill? What did she set fire to? I knew she was too good to be real, even when acting up. Blood will tell, you know. I opened the note:

Phew. Once-in-a-lifetime Walt's Centennial birthday ceremony or second-grade ceremony? Second-grade ceremony.

After videotaping the program and seeing Alice off to Reading class, I grabbed some blank tapes and headed off to Disneyland. I arrived five minutes after the ceremony ended, but was able to say hello to lots of people, which is what I do best, anyway. It's certainly not like I have to worry about there not being good coverage with Doobie and Rebekah around, so the pressure is off and I can worry more about getting personal-interest stories, which I consider to be more play than work.

Tim O'Day, who is featured in this month's Disney Magazine, greeted me with a "Hi, Pally!" Man, I've missed the O'Days. Imagineers Alice Davis and John Hench sat on a bench, chatting. Richard Sherman had really wowed the audience with his performance and was receiving congratulations from well-wishers. Cynthia Harriss, the President of Disneyland, wore black with a pretty red shawl. She was talking with Doina Roman-Osborne, one of the 2001 Ambassadors, (I didn't see Heri, sorry!) and took a moment to mention my Cynthia Bear article and ask where Alice was. I told everyone who would listen about Alice's award. Someone who worked closely enough with Walt to know told me: "that was more important. Walt would have wanted you to go to Alice's school instead of here. Family was more important to him than anything else." I was sorry to have missed Richard Sherman performing, but very glad to have been able to use my day off to be a proud mom.

Hench, Davis, Sherman, Roman-Osborne and Harriss pose for the fans (standing to the right of this picture)

I bumped into Randy Baumberger (Senior VP of Downtown Disney and Hotels), whose son is seven months old (sorry, I was dazed by all of the cuteness around me in Build-a-Bear) and then got my birthday button from Rebekah. Just then, Alice Davis, John Hench, Richard Sherman, Doina Roman-Osborne, and Cynthia Harriss had gathered around the plaque so that the fans behind the ropes could get photos of them. The people taking pictures were happy and grateful at this gracious show of class on their part; Alice, John, and Richard then took time to sign autographs - there was no shade, but they stayed for the fans without complaint.

I then went to see the One Man's Dream movie. I admit, I went with a little bit of a chip on my shoulder: I am a huge fan of Barnette Ricci's "One Man's Dream" stage show. Say what you want about "Barnette's Banners", it is nice to see that old chestnut Imagineers toss out so often come true: No good idea ever dies at Disney. in Fantasmic? See the Steamboat Willie from that show? And hey, there's the banners...I videotaped the displays in the foyer, including the multiplane camera, which is fascinating, then went in to see the film. I was able to forget that it was made for Florida until the Big Florida Section at the end. Go see it-it's touching and will make you fall in love with Walt all over again.

I then had a mandarin martini and Maui onions with Michael McMouseinfo at Avalon Cove. It was wonderful. I was expecting something akin to a Cosmopolitan, but it was clear. I think you'll like it. If you like peach and apple martinis, you'll love this one. We watched them set up the barges for LuminARIA, and talked about waiting by the Africa bridge at World Showcase in Epcot while they barged in the globe for Illuminations at two o'clock every day.