July 22, 2013: Zod, Marlin, Pi and spoonerisms.

“Bow before Zod!” Terence Stamp was born in London, England on this day in 1939. Stamp has a long and varied career. In addition to Zod in the second Superman movies he also appeared in: Get Smart, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Alien Nation, Smallville and The Haunted Mansion. Let’s go ride The Haunted Mansion at The Magic Kingdom in honor of Zod and the phantom zone.

Today is Casual Pi Day, a day when we approximate the value of Pi. July 22 is selected because Pi can be approximated at 22/7. Go to EPCOT where there are tributes to knowledge down through the ages. Take a minute to look at the history of man’s knowledge between Innoventions and The Land Pavilion.

On this date in 1943, Bobby Sherman was born in Santa Monica, California. When I was a kid, Bobby Sherman was a teen idol and during the 70’s Sherman was such a huge Disney fan that he built a 1/5-scale model of Disneyland’s Main Street on his property. During the 1990’s Sherman became an EMT for the L. A. Police Department, so let’s visit the Volunteer Fire Department at The Magic Kingdom. While you’re there, pick up some cards to play Sorcerer’s of The Magic Kingdom. Even if you don’t take time to play, the cards are cool and FREE!

Marlin the clownfish was born on this day in 1947, well his voice was. Albert Brooks, the voice of Marlin was born in Beverly Hills, California. In addition to Finding Nemo, Brooks stars in one of my favorite moves, Defending Your Life.

This one’s easy, go watch Finding Nemo: The Musical at The Animal Kingdom. You won’t have to defend that decision.

Disney Legend, Alan Menken was born on this date in 1949. Menken is tied for third place in the number of Academy Awards, and has more awards than any living recipient, at eight (First is Walt Disney with 22). Menken has won his awards for the wonderful music he has produced including music in: The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Hercules, Pocahontas and Tangled.

There is no doubt that one of his most shining moments is Beauty and the Beast so let’s watch the stage presentation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

We mentioned Finding Nemo: The Musical earlier and while we are watching that, let’s also honor Willem Dafoe, born on this day in 1955. Dafoe, who played the Green Goblin in the Spider-Man movies, was the voice of Gil in Finding Nemo.

Selena Gomez was born in New York City on this day in 1992. Gomez started out on Barney & Friends, eventually moved on to Wizards of Waverly Place as well as The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and Hannah Montana. Selena is a singer as well as an actress recording songs for several Disney soundtracks. Visit the Back Lot Tour at Hollywood Studios to see the shed from Hannah Montana.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror opened at Disney-MGM Studios (now Disney’s Hollywood Studios) on this date in 1994. The attraction takes one inside a hotel that was struck by lightning October 31, 1939, which transported an elevator load of five passengers to The Twilight Zone. Make sure you make your trip, in fact several trips, up and down the tower.

Quickies:

1893: Katharine Lee Bates wrote “America the Beautiful,” in Colorado. Visit The American Adventure at EPCOT and enjoy the Voices of Liberty singing this and other classic bits of Americana.

1844: Reverend William Archibald Spooner invents “spoonerisms.” Spoonerisms are amusing reversals of letters in phrases, such as: “A lack of pies” for “ A pack of lies,” “Wave the sails” for “Save the whales,” or “Chipping the flannel” for “Flipping the channel.” Snow White’s friend Doc was prone to spoonerisms so check out the Seven Dwarfs’ Mine Ride, now under construction in New Fantasyland.

1849: Emma Lazarus was born. Lazarus wrote the “New Colossus,” the poem at the base of The Statue of Liberty. Go to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and look for the Muppet version of The Statue of Liberty in front of Muppets 3-D.

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