Some hats...

Walt Disney World is a world filled with hats - plenty of hats. Plenty of hats present plenty of photo opportunities. Over the years I have had the opportunity to take many photos in Walt Disney World and from time to time I try to find a theme, or commonality in the photos. I have taken photos of all the windows on Main Street U.S.A., and you know the significance of Main Street U.S.A. windows. I look for interesting trivia shots and try my hand from time to time with nighttime photograhpy with differing results. And from time to time I like to have a little fun with hats. Who doesn't. Right?

Next time you find yourself in the parks and need something to do, find some hats and have some fun.

More to follow...

Postscript: thank you to everyone who has taken the time to share your thoughts and recommendations about Disneyland. The have been insightful. Please continue to share.

The Poll: Round One

Okay, first things first. I have a confession to make. Here goes,

I have never been to Disneyland.

Okay, there, I said it. Yeah sure, I have been to Walt Disney World many many times and I have been Disneyland Paris twice; once while it was actually called EuroDisney. I have the sweat shirt and guidemap and a few other items to prove it. But to Disneyland, to Walt's park, I have never been. And I call myself a Disney Geek. Yeah, right.

I am planning to correct that oversight sometime in the next 365 days. So, apart from all the advice I am looking forward to receiving from my pals, I thought I would start with a little poll. For this, I need your help.

Help Mrs. Doc and I plan our trip by answering this question. If you only have one day to spend in Disneyland, what are the Top 5 things (in order) that you must do? If you wish to elaborate with why it is on your list, or with other useful tips, please feel free to do so. Once I have a nice selection of replies I'll compile the information and share it here.

Thank you for helping us out. I know it will be helpful, not only in our planning (as we don't really know how long we may have in the area) but with other readers who may be considering a trip to the park that Walt built.

More to follow...

Where In The World

The Disney Obsession would like to congratulate our good friend Doc Terminus of Passamaquoddy fame for correctly identifying the .25 of our last photo. His answer, somewhat creatively, spelled out Midway Mania with "My ironic dissertation will allow you many a nod! its Adventureland!" Hmmmm.

So, let's try another 1/4th of a picture. How about this?

On a slightly different note...things appear to be settling down a little in Doc's World. I hope to post a bit more regularly; at least for the next few weeks.

Balloons

There are as many first day traditions as there are Disney fans. Whenever it is possible I like to take a stroll down Main Street U.S.A. on that first day. The music, hustle and bustle, the colors, the smells and all that happiness combine to say, "Welcome Home!"

Where In The World: An Update and 0.25

Life can sometimes come at you fast and that has been the case for me during these past few weeks; actually since returning from Alaska. With that in mind, I will spend a few moments this morning bringing the Where In The World series up to date.

First, we placed a photo in the contest on April 25th (wow, that seems like a long time ago) that featured "No. 1 Toys." The sign can be found on a wall in the patio area of the Yak & Yeti Local Foods counter service in Disney's Animal Kingdom. My good from Ryan wrote in with the correct location. And on a personal note, let me recommend the egg rolls at the Yak & Yeti. Probably the best egg rolls on Disney property.

On May 16th the Obsession featured a photograph of an old Coke machine; something I wish I had setting in my "adventurers room". No one wrote in on this one, which leads me to think that the Where In The World series may have run its course. We'll see. Instead of leaving the photo out (Its been there over a month), I will go ahead an say that this particular Coke machine can be found Chester & Hester's Dinosaur Treasures, also in Disney's Animal Kingdom.

In the hope that there may be one or two of you out there that still check The Disney Obsession from time to time, I give you this...I call it, Where In The World 0.25, meaning that it is one-fourth of the total picture.

Have fun and check back in soon. Tomorrow I'll display the first of a new series called "Disney as Art."

More to follow...

Remiss...

Pronunciation: \ri-ˈmis\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French remis, Latin remissus, from past participle of remittere to send back, relax
Date: 15th century

1: negligent in the performance of work or duty: careless
2: showing neglect or inattention: lax

synonyms: see negligent

In writing about "Pals" last week I featured some photographs of the contents of a certain package I received from one of my many pals. But it wasn't long after I hit in the "publish post" button that I realized there was additional art that I could include. You see, I am blessed with a number of wonderful pals; family, friends and co-workers, who from time to time decide that my cluttered upstairs room could use a bit more to see. A few more things that help me to pass the time away from my central Florida home.

So, I was remiss last week in only posting one photo (well, two). This evening, I correct that small oversight, help the stars to realign, contribute to world peace in our generation and hopefully allow for a good nights sleep.You're looking at some park maps from Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea along with a map from a park that I miss nearly as much as I miss Walt Disney World, Disneyland Paris. You'll also see a little something with the Fab Four; someone out there knows I love The Beatles. After all, I was a pre-Shea Stadium baby.

Thanks to my pals Lori and Fee for adding a little more sunshine to my days.

This makes me think it may be time to begin something new on The Disney Obsession. I won't go into much about it now, but let me simply share some words scribbled on a nearby Post It note. "Blog idea...'In My World' - photos of Disney around the house" Yeah Doc, that's all we need, photographs of some of your collection.

More to follow...

"Pals"

You may remember some of the films of the Eighties that starred a group of young actors that became known as the "Brat Pack." This group, collectively, gave us some memorable films including two in 1985, The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo's Fire. One actor who starred in both of these films, Emilio Estevez, went on to play William H. Bonney in 1988's Young Guns.

Alongside Emilio, Kiefer Sutherland played Josiah Gordon "Doc" Scurlock. Doc was the poet warrior of this band of outlaws and he narrates the closing scene of the film as he shares the fate of each member of the group. It is the last line of his narration that lends itself to the title of this post. Sutherland says, "The epitaph read only one word...'Pals'."

I want to share with you something that has been said already by many others in this community; this collective of Disney enthusiasts, who proudly wear the badge of "geek". We're a compassionate and caring group! True, we are not the only collection of like minded individuals who celebrate our friendships. There are others can be equally as compassionate and caring. But, we are who we are, so we celebrate the inspiration that we provide and receive from each other. We have each others back in this.

We're a giving group; don't believe me? Have you taken a look at the current Dream Team Project total? We are, in big and small ways, working together to create and share some magic with terminally ill children. Not a bad thing to do.

But we also give each other little bits of magic from time to time; magic beyond our friendships and shared memories. Sometimes these bits of magic arrive in boxes. This was the case for me on yesterday.

I have a friend, a pal, if you will, who knew that I was unable to attend the recent 20th Anniversary celebration at Disney's Hollywood Studios. It is Doc's effort to spread those recession vacation dollars around and experience other parts of the world. (Long story - another post.) So, the post arrives and in it I find:

Thank you Ryan! Pal!

More to follow...

Postscript: you can't tell from the photo, but there are at least four of each park guide map. My pal knows that (for some unknown, idiosyncratic reason) I get four copies of all the ephemera I collect. Strange? Maybe. But its me and my pal(s) look out for me - they have my back.