We're Off to Neverland

I am currently in route to my home away from home. And just behind me, in the burgundy colored mini-van, are my son, daughter-in-law and three of my five grandchildren. For me, that means this Labor Day weekend will be very special!

For you, it means that the content from The Disney Obsession will be nearly non-existent over the next few days, save for a post on Saturday. But if you wish to keep up with my “dream come true weekend”, stop by my Facebook page or follow me on Twitter for some updates from the park. Yeah, I haven’t quite got the hang of posting mobile content to the blog.

I promise that when I get back I will do my best to post more regularly. I do have some things ready to go and that I continue to work on. The thing is, I have been a little distracted lately.

I hope that you have a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

More to follow…

A New Hope

I love tomorrow! Yes, I love today too. Because all we have is today and our memories of yesterday. But for me, and perhaps for you, today does hold some thoughts of tomorrow. Tomorrow is what we hope for and that is what I love about it – hope. Albert Einstein said, “Learn from yesterday, live for today and hope for tomorrow.”

While pondering my tomorrow, today, I came across some quotes that encompass thoughts of tomorrow.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in, forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day, you shall begin it well and serenely." I also enjoyed this from Mark Twain, “Never put off till tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.”

Tomorrow is also found in music. The Beatles wrote a song titled Tomorrow Never Knows that includes a favorite lyric, “But listen to the color of your dreams.” In the Broadway musical Annie, the title character encourages the orphans, and us, by singing, “The sun will come out tomorrow.” And in Disney, the Sherman Brothers gave us, “There’s a great big beautiful tomorrow.”

Live for today, but have hope for tomorrow.

My tomorrow begins a journey that I have dreamed of for years now. The family will begin our Labor Day weekend trip tomorrow afternoon with our destination being Walt Disney World. While I am enjoying the drive south, listening to Disney music, talking and laughing with my wife, and having the grandchildren take turns riding with Papa, I’ll be thinking of the tomorrow that I hope for. We will call Friday. That tomorrow will be filled with adventures outside the parks. I will most like be awake that night waiting for Saturday to begin. For on that tomorrow, the dream comes true!

Shakespeare wrote tragically of “tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow” but I much prefer to look joyously on my tomorrow that lies three days away.

Yes, live for today. I do! For today is life! Have hope for tomorrow. I do! For tomorrow…well, tomorrow brings hope.

I love tomorrow!

Counting Down

A favorite thing to do with any trip to Walt Disney World, besides the trip itself, is the countdown. There are countdown clocks that we can add to computer desktops, widgets, and other methods that I am probably not familiar with. I am “old school” about this, in that, there is a calendar on my refrigerator that helps me countdown the days ‘til the magic.

There are other things I like to do that help build the anticipation. Last night for example, Mrs. Doc and I joined my daughter-in-law and three of our grandchildren, my sister and her family, and we spent the evening at the county fair. Is it Disney? No. But can it help build a little excitement? Yes. They had a ride that operated much like Primeval Whirl. Yeah, I didn’t ride here either. Once is enough.

Other anticipation builders? Disney Park music. Thanks to friends, my iPod is teeming with a wide variety of options that I can listen to. Film. In anticipation of Devon trying his hand at pulling the sword out of the stone, I thought a little primer in Arthurian legend may be helpful. And how best to introduction a nine year old to King Arthur then a leisurely read through Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur or Geoffrey of Monmouth’s History of the Kings of Britain. But then, that may be a little much for Friday night. So maybe we’ll just watch The Sword in the Stone.

Other ways of preparing is in how we use language; meaning how certain words or phrases slip into the vernacular of Disney Geeks. Phrases such as “The Single Digit Dance” or one I may have coined this morning, “The One-Week Waltz.” Another one I use when I am flying into Orlando International is, “The MCO Shuffle.” And, of course, what shuffle is complete without a stroll through the Disney “Ear”port.

So, one week to go. I suppose I need to re-pack. Just to be sure, again, that I haven't forgotten anything.

How about you? What pre-trip traditions do you have? How do you build the anticipation (as if it needs any help)? How do you count down the days ‘til Disney?

More to follow...

Remembering: Virginia Davis

Before there was a mouse, there was Alice.

In 1923, in Kansas City, Walt Disney began experimenting with the blending of live-action with animation. His experient yielded the "Alice Comedies." Disney made 49 featurettes about the adventures of Alice. Between 1923 and 1925, Virginia Davis helped in this pioneering effort by starring in the first 13 of the comedies. She was inducted as a Disney Legend in 1998. Sadly, Ms. Davis died this past Saturday at the age of 90.

The Disney Obsession wishes to extend its sympathy to the family of Ms. Davis.


Photo: Disney Legends website

This Just In...

Depending on what part of the country you live in, you may call them garage sales, rummage sales or yard sales. And our friends across the water call them boot sales (and I have picked up a fine trinket or two from a few of them; in fact almost missed a train because of one in Stratford-upon-Avon. But that is another story entirely.) Me personally, I call them yard sales.

My brother-in-law Russ is a connoisseur of yard sales. Seriously, he is a professional. He will visit sale after sale and come home with items as small as a set of coasters, or as large as a jet ski with trailer. He also came across a rather large collection of antique cameras. I am fairly certain these would sell for a considerable amount of money and he took them home for next to nothing. His collection of pencil sharpeners is rather impressive too. But whatever it is, Russ is a master!

Every so often, Russ, like other family and friends will think about me when they run across something of a Disney nature. For which, I am very appreciative. So, it was not surprising that a few weekends ago Mrs. Doc answers the front door and is given a rather large package addressed to me. Obviously, I am excited. I quickly opened the package and found a first edition The Art of Walt Disney by Christopher Finch. Wow! The book is huge and will take more than a few minutes to go through. You’ll see that the dust jacket is missing as is the paint bucket, but the raised image of Mickey holding a paintbrush is there as are the 458 pages of incredible content.

The stack of books I have to read has just gotten taller. And this, before I lay in a copy of Pierre Lambert’s Mickey Mouse.

Thanks Russ. I know you probably don’t read The Disney Obsession, but I thank you anyway. What a wonderful surprise!
More to follow…

please stand by...

...and please keep your feet, arms and legs inside the blog at all times. The Disney Obsession will resume shortly. Thank you for your attention.

Honestly, things have been a little busy around Doc's house as I make plans for my first trip to Walt Disney World with the grandchildren. It will also be my first trip with my daughter-in-law who is something of a photographer herself. So we have been exchanging tips, ideas and so forth. For the record, the last trip with my son was in June 1994. As I recall, we came home with several episodes of Stupid Home Video. I can only hope we can make it home a few hours more.

Last night, after a wonderful dinner, we all poured over park maps and discussed our plans for the days we'll be there. Afterwards we jumped into YouTube and previewed some of what we'll be experiencing along a few things we won't. Who can passed up a chance to watch the Hyperspace Hoopla? The family loved it.

Status? Devon is completely ready to combat the Evil Emperor Zurg and Shelby is looking forward to visiting The Seas with Nemo and Friends. Jack-Jack; well Jack-Jack learned to say Tur-tle.

But back to blog at hand. In a few days I'll try to post a few items I have been working on. One having to do with a book and the other with IllumiNations. So as I am fond of saying:

More to follow...

Watching The Days Go By

It's alright, okay, you can go ahead and admit it. You just had the urge to sing a Talking Heads song didn't you?

"Same as it ever was,
Same as it ever was."Onward.

I am definitely living in one of the most exciting times of recent memory. Earlier this year my wife and I fulfilled one of her grandest dreams; that of taking an Alaskan cruise. Later this year, on October 17th to be precise, I will have the honor of escorting “my princess”, my daughter down the aisle on her wedding day. And as I have previously written, this Labor Day Weekend has a particular significance.

I posed a question to each member of my family making this particular journey. The question was, “What I am most looking forward to on my trip to Walt Disney World is…” The results are in.

Devon – “What I am most looking forward to on my trip to Walt Disney World is riding Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin and seeing what our hotel looks like.”

Shelby – “What I am most looking forward to on my trip to Walt Disney World is to seeing Minnie Mouse and going to see shows.”

Gregory – “What I am most looking forward to on my trip to Walt Disney World is seeing my babies’ expressions and excitement watching the magic of Disney cover my kids like a warm blankie.”

Jennifer – “What I am most looking forward to on my trip to Walt Disney World is hearing the giggles and the unending can we do this, ride that, get this and what’s next as their minds try to wrap itself around all there is to see and do.”

Mrs. Doc – “What I am most looking forward to on my trip to Walt Disney World is watching the Devon and Shelby experience their first Disney trip and watching my hubby's dream come true.”

Oh, and we can’t forget Jack-Jack. True, at two years old, he may not be particularly passionate about any one attraction (though I can see him running rampant around Pooh’s Playful Spot). But, he too, chimed in with an answer. Jackson is most looking forward to “una una dis, okay?”

All in all, I would say that 2009 is shaping up to be a banner year.

This just in! Jack-Jack can now say Mickey Mouse. It sounds something like M-I-N-K-E-Y M-O-O-S-E.

This, of course, conjurs up memories of one of the great lines in motion picture history:

"The Moose says you're closed, but I say you're open."

More to follow...