Disney Memories
by Paul Perrello
Part 1

Great vacations and celebrations
Can fade away in a year
But when we're making memories
Happy days are always here.
   -Disneyland Fun, Disney’s Sing Along Songs

Practically everyone can remember the first time they stepped foot into a Disney theme park. Strolling down Main Street, USA and catching a glimpse of Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland or Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World. Let's not forget purchasing our first pair of embroidered mouse ears or walking into Adventureland and right into the path of Pooh or Tigger. How many of us remember taking a boat ride "on the happiest cruise that ever sailed" on "It's A Small World" and promising to make it a family tradition to ride the attraction every time we paid a visit to Disneyland or Disney World.

I remember the first time I visited Walt Disney World in 1978. It was during my junior year in college. A friend and I decided we were going to drive to Florida for spring break and to meet up with friends in Fort Lauderdale. I insisted that we first make a visit to Disney World which 27 years ago only consisted of the Magic Kingdom.

The series "Disney Memories" that I am about to embark on gathers some of the fondest memories and recollections from a number of celebrities that I have had the fortune of meeting and interviewing over the past year. They reminisce about visiting a Disney park as Disneyland celebrates its golden anniversary. "Disney Memories" will share some of the obvious, not-so-obvious, bizarre and unusual recollections from Disney voice-actors to Disney legends to Hollywood superstars.

So where do I begin? How about the recollection of a successful Disney character talent and director who at a very young age had an unusual experience and reaction upon visiting Disneyland. Chris Sanders had no idea when he visited Disneyland at the age of seven that he would create one of Disney's most loveable but mischievous characters in contemporary animation. Sanders, who directed and wrote Walt Disney Pictures' 2002 movie "Lilo and Stitch" and provided the voice for Genetic Experiment 626, says as a young boy growing up in Colorado, he always wanted to visit "the happiest place on earth." Sanders says his grandmother recalls how the family traveled to southern California and stayed at a motel across the street from Disneyland. Sanders says when he and his family finally made it into the park, he got so excited he "threw up." Not exactly the kind of memory I would have expected from Sanders but nonetheless, one that is truly memorable indeed for him, his family and perhaps the cast member who had to clean up the mess. (Click here to hear Chris Sanders relate the story - MP3 format, 16 seconds)

From throwing up to going up high over the Magic Kingdom, it was a ride on Disneyland's "Skyway To Tomorrowland" that Jim Cummings fondly recalls as one of his favorite theme park memories. Cummings, who is best known as the voice of Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, too, says while he was sitting in a gondola on the ride he happened to look down onto the ground below and spotted the two costumed characters. Cummings said he thought it would be fun to approach the two characters after getting off the ride and have his photo taken with Pooh and Tigger. Easier said than done. The voice-actor said he met up with the pair and asked for a picture but he had to convinced Pooh and Tigger who he was by providing them with some dialogue as the characters. "It was fun," Cummings says after the costumed characters figured out who he was adding that Pooh and Tigger were "very gracious, you know, lots of hugs and kisses and it was just a lot of fun." (Click here to hear Jim Cummings relate the story - MP3 format, 17 seconds)

If there ever was a candidate for a walking and talking billboard for the Disney theme parks, Raven Symone would get the job. Not that the star of Disney Channel and ABC's "That's So Raven" needs any more work but she epitomizes what a company spokesperson should be. "Go Disney" shouts the teenaged-star as she is questioned about her fondest theme park memories. Energetic, enthusiastic, well informed and in her case bubbly, Raven says she has been visiting Walt Disney World since she was three-years-old. Raven does not miss a beat in sharing her favorite attraction. It is not what you would expect. Most people her age would say they enjoyed riding "Space Mountain," "Mission Space" and maybe even "Splash Mountain," but what Raven likes most is the "Hoop-De-Do Review." Standing in her very stylish black boots on a grassy lawn off to the side of Cinderella Castle, the 19-year-old Raven says she "loves the Hoop-De-Do Review" adding that she knows "every word, I know how it goes, and they know me."  (Click here to hear Raven Symone relate the story - MP3 format, 17 seconds)

Raven also admits she likes seeing people walking around Frontierland with the large turkey legs. The Disney star, who resides in Southern California, says she is also fortunate to live just thirty-minutes from Disneyland allowing her the opportunity to escape the real world and travel to a magical place. Raven, who got her television start at the age of three on "The Cosby Show," says she also likes Disneyland's "Downtown Disney" allowing her and other teenagers to do what teens do best, hang out. Just like her current television character that can see into the future, Raven says she can sense the love and fun people of all ages share when they are visiting a Disney park.

In part two of “Disney Memories�? one of Disney’s Broadway Belle’s will share her bathroom encounter with Minnie Mouse while a Nickelodeon celebrity recalls rescuing a co-star from a crowd of screaming teenagers.

Related Links

• List of all Paul Perrello Disney Memories Columns