The Fabulous Disney Babe
Page 3 of 3

Doobie was gone to the other side of the theatre; I headed over there, and saw Imagineer Bruce Gordon, who wrote the One Man's Dream film that's playing at DCA. Good job-even without the banners! Richard Sherman was there, as well. It turns out with Walt's Centennial, the Sherman Brothers' book Walt's Time is finding a new audience. I have the Deluxe Boxed-Set Presentation Case Edition, which has a pretty-cool-for-a-Disney-geek CD in it called "The Merry-Go-Round of Life". You can get it at CamphorTree.com. (Note: Mention you read it here when you order, and you'll be eligible for the "buy one, get one free" offer, even after the normal December 5th expiration)

Howard Green, who wrote Remembering Walt, another good book to have about Walt, with Amy Boothe Green, was downstairs, and - quelle surprise! Andreas Deja (brilliant animator: Jafar, Scar, Gaston) was back - I'm very anxious to see his next film, Lilo and Stitch, as I want to see how Hawaiian life is captured. I pointed out my Big Cushy Chair to Doobie, who just shook his head at me. Hey, you wanted me to do interesting stuff! I heard why they messed up Diane's microphone! We asked around as to where to find a good nosh at eleven at night (the helpful Academy ushers were helpfully turning on and off the lights, to get us out of there), and Richard Sherman suggested Jerry's. I'd never been, so Rebekah rode with me. On the way to the car, we hooked up with the Lemon Drop kids, the Best Cast Member in the Entire World, and a group of nice people who discussed obscure Disney films like The Unidentified Flying Oddball aka A Spaceman In King Arthur's Court, Condorman, and (my addition to the list) Atlantis. Sorry.

If you are ever near the Beverly Center beeline from the Hard Rock Cafe across the intersection and try Jerry's. They have great egg creams and pickled tomatoes. Bless you, Richard Sherman. As if I didn't worship you before....

It was hard, being at Disneyland, to remember that Michael Eisner, Roy Disney, and a host of other people were also celebrating Walt across the country. Not everyone could make it to a Disney park, and everyone celebrated Walt in their own way. On my way out of the park, I looked back at the scene that had changed so little and said a silent Thank You to Walt, who made it all happen.

Walt, however, liked to point out that it was people who made Disneyland, and Founder's Legacy, the What Would Walt Do people, have issued a special 100th year pin for guests to give Cast Members who are coated with pixie dust and treat every guest as if they were a personal friend of Walt's.

New What Would Walt Do pin

To order the pins, go to WhatWouldWaltDo.com . I had originally intended for an interview with Thomas and Allison Keaney, the masterminds behind this CM recognition project, to go in this spot today. I'm glad Disneyland and the Academy honored Walt, but apologize for the delay. I now have pins, and watches on the shelf. Sorry! Thanks also to Jon for suggesting that I note accomplishments with names so that people don't have to wear out their search engines while trying to read this monster. I'm off to tuck my award-winning daughter into bed. But I have one last thought:

Walt spent every day like it was his birthday, constantly dreaming up new ideas with the joy of a little child unwrapping presents. If we all behaved in that manner, the world would be a better place

-- Fab

Discuss It

• Discuss this column on the LaughingPlace.com Discussion Boards

Related Links

• Coverage of Disneyland's Celebration
  Includes video of the entire event
• WhatWouldWaltDo.com
• LaughingPlace.com Review of Remembering Walt

-- Michelle Smith

Michelle Smith can be reached using the Talkback form below or by emailing her at [email protected].

The Fabulous Disney Babe's column is posted every Friday and when ever else she has something to say. For more on Michelle's background, see her first column. She also offers The Fabulous Tour: Disneyland Secrets and Stories. Click here for more information.

The opinions expressed by our Michelle Smith, and all of our columnists, do not necessarily represent the feelings of LaughingPlace.com or any of its employees or advertisers. All speculation and rumors about the future plans of the Walt Disney Company are just that - speculation and rumors - and should be treated as such.

-- Posted December 7, 2001