Remember those very select days that you played hooky from school? Maybe a special relative had come into town and your parents awarded you a day off. Maybe your family was taking a trip, and you were granted permission to miss school. Homework usually went along with you though, and so you never really escaped. And maybe as an adult, you simply took a day off work, because you a)needed time to yourself, b)had important business to attend to or c) maybe you just wanted to play!
Well, I’m in the C category today, but for a special reason. Many of my friends have each reached a special milestone birthday this year. And for the past decade, we’d planned on getting together for something fun to celebrate this monumental year. These are friendships that were maintained since grammar school. Many of us still see each other, visit each other and spend time together whenever we can. We’d talked about taking a cruise, a weekend trip to Palm Springs, having a spa day, but as destiny would have it, we’re going back to our roots and reliving our childhood, a place we were fortunate to visit many times while growing up. The Happiest Place on Earth. The “E” Ticket for sure. Disneyland!
So today as you read this, I may be taking a trolley car on Main Street, riding the Matterhorn, streaming along in a boat and listening to the haunting “It’s a Small World” song or simply eating a Monte Cristo sandwich in the Blue Bayou Restaurant.
Here’s some intriguing facts about Walt Disney:
Mickey Mouse was almost named Mortimer – Yes, it’s true. While traveling with his wife Lily, Walt at the age of twenty-seven, made a sketch of a mouse and asked her opinion. She loved the idea of the mouse but didn’t care for the name he’d decided on. Mortimer was surely too pompous a name. The mouse needed something cuter, and she preferred, Mickey. Thankfully, Walt Disney agreed!
Disneyland had a dress code – I know, unheard of in this day and age. But Walt had a strict policy of no facial hair for his employees. Often, even unkempt guests were turned away from the Park, if they failed to live up to the Disney dress code. Only recently was that code changed for employees. They are allowed to sport neatly groomed beards and goatees to adhere to the code. With one exception – Walt Disney didn’t seem to mind moustaches. After all, he wore one almost his entire life!
“Kurt Russell” — were the last words written by Walt Disney. No one knows why. Not even the Disney child actor, now famous movie star, has any idea why that is. But the words “Kurt Russell” were scribbled on a piece of paper by Walt as he lay dying.
Disney’s Home – Walt Disney maintained a one bedroom apartment above the Fire Station on Main Street in Disneyland while the park was being built. He used to light a lamp in the window, so his employees would know he was working in there. Now, the apartment is just as it was, and that lamplight ever glows in his honor.
Mickey and Minnie Mouse were married—Well, actually the people who were the voices of Mickey and Minnie that is. Wayne Allwine was the voice of Mickey for thirty-two years. He fell in love with Russi Taylor, the voice of Minnie Mouse and married her in 1991. They remained married until Wayne died in 2009. Isn’t that sweet?
Tell me about your Disney loves? Movies, characters, trips to Disneyland or anything Disney from your childhood. Let’s share experiences!
Be sure to look for my Harlequin “FREE” Online Read, Secret Designs on the Billionaire, coming this January! And February 2015 – Her Forbidden Cowboy is available for
Nothing is off-limits for this cowboy in USA TODAY bestselling author Charlene Sands’s story of fame and redemption
Jilted by her ex-fiancé, Jessica Holcomb finds refuge at her former brother-in-law’s beachfront Southern California mansion. There she discovers country superstar Zane Williams still hunkering down after the devastating loss of his wife.
These two wounded souls find their easy friendship healing. So Jess’s sudden attraction to Zane comes as a complete shock. Even more shocking, Zane’s acting like a jealous boyfriend, running interference with men who show interest. Is he just being overprotective? The answer becomes clear when Jess ends up in his bed…
Charlene Sands is a USA Today Bestselling Author of 35 novels, writing both western and contemporary romance. She's a lover of all things romantic, especially her bold, rugged, heartstopping "real good men" heroes! She's the recepient of the National Readers' Choice Award, the Bookseller's Best Award and the Cataromance Reviwer's Choice Award. When not writing, she spends time with her "hero" husband, enjoying Pacific Beaches and drinking iced mocha cappucinos!
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I love Mickey Mouse, he has always been my favorite!! I have a huge Disney collection in my house of Mickey Mouse stuff, a lot of it is still in the original package and never been opened. I have been to Disneyland two times and I loved it so much!! I started buyiny Disney movies before I even i kids, people thought i was crazy to have all these movies and no kids to watch them. Our Christmas tree is about 90 percent Disney ornaments!!! I even have a Mickey Mouse tattoo on my shoulder!!????????????
Have never been to Disneyland or Disney World. Not that I would not have gone if given the opportunity. I loved Disney characters and movies!
My husband took me to Disneyland in 1977. I had my first trip to Disneyworld in 1995. Loved how clean the parks were and the magic feeling in the air. Cinderella’s Castle and the Light parade. So cool! I also liked the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. So lifelike!
My children were lucky enough to go to the various Disneyworld theme parks for class trips and grad night concerts.
I have not been on any of the roller coaster rides.
My favorites include Pooh Bear, Belle and Ariel.
When I was a kid, I used to dream of a family vacation to Disneyland or Disney World, but it never happened. My family never did things together. I would love to be able to do something for my 50th birthday coming up in February, but I know it can’t happen.
Oh Charlene, I am with you in spirit today. Have a great time for you and me! I was gifted with a trip to Disneyland by my daughter and her family for my 50th birthday and it was the best ever!!!!! I love Disneyland and it really is the happiest place on earth!
Wow, I didn’t know a few of those trivia bits. My parents took us kids sometime in the 80s to Disney World. I’ll never forget it. Space Mountain was crazy scary back then! LOL. We would love to take our kids – but it’s so expensive I don’t know if that will ever happen. Oh well, they can go when they are adults then. 😉
planning on a Disney trip next year with some of the grandkids,,ive been several times but going to help with the kiddos this time,,my kids and grandkids love going to Disney
I’m a huge Disney fan. The movies, the parks, the emphasis on family and fun. We’ve taken the kids to Disney World twice and Disneyland once. Love it every time.
All the times I have been to Florida, I have never been to Disney World. But I love Disney movies and two of my favs are Mary Poppins and Lady and the Tramp..
Definitely a magical place and I hope you’re having a magical time 🙂
I love Disneyworld!! I’ve been there 2x but I could visit every year if I could 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
I love Disney… fav movies are Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid and Mulan… I remember going to Disney World twice… once I hung out with my grandparents… it was great! My fav souvenir, that I still have, is a stuffed Figment dragon… love that thing!
Before I was old enough to go to Youth group, Sunday nights were spent watching the Wonderful World of Disney! Nothing can ever replace those wonderful movies, watching with my family. Why or Why can’t those movies be shown over and over and over?
Charlene, I hope you’re having a magical time in Disney, it’s hard not to! I love Disney! A few years ago a couple friends from college days and I went to Disney World. We had the best time and took pictures with every character who crossed our path.
A couple years before that I was at Disney World with a friend and co-workers for a business conference. I saw Friar Tuck from Disney’s Robin Hood and screamed his name like he was a rock star…I think I scared the poor Friar that day. 🙂
We have been to Disney World several times, the first just weeks after it opened. It’s A Small World has always been a favorite. We are lucky enough to have friends who work there or have retired from there. They are allowed to bring a certain number of guests in every year. Whenever we visit family in Orlando, friends offer and sometimes we take them up on it. It is nice to be able to visit our favorites and taylor the trip to the children we have with us. I took my daughter and her son, who was about 7 at the time, one holiday season. The parks were open until 1 or 2AM. We started at 8AM when the Animal Kingdom opened. My grandson and I were going strong at midnight, but my daughter was tired and we had to quit. Ours was the only car in the Animal Kingdom lot (they closed at the regular time). Grandson was asleep before we got out of the lot. Nice to know I could still handle a full day at the park and outlast the younger folks. Not sure I would fare so well today. Grandson is 16 and 6ft. 3. I’d still outlast his mom : )
Hope you enjoyed your visit.
I wonder if Walt Disney wanted Kurt Russell to play him if a movie was made about his life. We’ll never know.