April 18, 2013: I thought conductors were only on trains.

On this date in 1882, Leopold Anthony Stokowski, who conducted the music for and appeared in Disney's 1940 release Fantasia, is born in London, England.

Known as the conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the NBC Symphony Orchestra, and the Hollywood Bowl Symphony Orchestra, Stokowski was also the founder of the New York City Symphony. If you watch Fantasia you not only experience Stokowski’s music but the conductor himself. Honor Stokowski by visiting the Great Movie Ride at Hollywood Studios that has a section devoted to Fantasia.

 Hayley Catherine Rose Vivien Mills was born on this date in 1946 in London, England. Walt Disney's wife first saw 12-year-old Mills in the movie Tiger Bay. She arranged for Mills to meet Walt and the result was her American film debut Pollyanna (which earned Mills a special Academy Award). Also a Golden Globe Award winner, her Disney credits include The Parent Trap (as twins Sharon and Susan), In Search of the Castaways, Summer Magic, The Moon-Spinners and That Darn Cat!. The success of the song "Let's Get Together" (which she sang in The Parent Trap) also lead to the release of a record album on Disney's Buena Vista label, Let's Get Together with Hayley Mills. During her six-year run at Disney, Mills was probably the most popular child actress of the era! The whole feel of Typhoon Lagoon makes me suggest going to the water park to honor Hayley.

Film, stage, television actor and nemesis to Peter Griffith on Family Guy, James Woods is born on this day in 1947. In addition to torturing Peter, Woods has a varied Disney pedigree including: the voice of the villainous Hades in Disney's animated Hercules and the video game Kingdom Hearts, Rolie Polie Olie: The Great Defender of Fun and Recess: School's Out. There is no doubt that the best chance to honor Franco at Walt Disney World is to enjoy Fantasmic! at Hollywood Studios.

To me, Rick Moranis will always be one of the Mackenzie Brothers on The Great White North from SCTV. “Take off, eh!” Moranis was born on this date in 1954 and has appeared in many, many comedy films including: Ghostbusters, Spaceballs, Little Shop of Horrors and The Flintstones. Moranis also has a couple of Disney connections: Tuke in Brother Bear and Doctor Wayne Szalinski in Honey, I Shrunk The Kids and Honey, I Blew Up The Kid as well as the EPCOT attraction, Honey, I Shrunk the Audience. Unfortunately, the attraction has been replaced by the return of Captain EO. You can still honor Moranis with a visit to the Imagination Pavilion and riding Journey into Imagination with Figment. Just look for him, he’s there.

Quickies:

1775: Paul Revere and William Dawes cry, “The British are coming!”

Go to the Magic Kingdom and enjoy Liberty Square.

National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day. Stay on Disney property at any resort and use your pajamas there.

High Five Day. Of course in the characters’ case it’s a high four. Trust me.

National Golf Day. You can do a lot of golfing at Walt Disney World. You can even roll it into your WDW package.

Remember, your best excuse is always: waiting for your dreams to come true.