September 12, 2013: Video Games Day, Maurice Chevalier, Bill Gilbert and Hans Zimmer.

Today is Video Games Day. I think that among my 8^th grade students every day is Video Games Day. I remember when video games were the Pong and Bowling games at the entrance to Heck’s and Hill’s Department Stores. We loved the Bowling game and had a vocal celebration every time we reached the beer frame. Eventually the games improved but I still argue that the greatest game play is on some of the older games and I still remember thinking that games would never get better than the Atari 2600. Wow. Go to Downtown Disney (soon to be Disney Springs) and enjoy a few hours at Disney Quest. On our various visits to WDW, Disney Quest has been better and worse but lately it’s been pretty fun.

This is Maurice Chevalier’s birthday. Born in 1888 in Paris, France, Chevalier was the epitome of the French gentleman. Probably his most famous moment is the song “Thank Heaven for Little Girls” but in our little corner of the World, he was in the live-action In Search of the Castaways and did the theme for The Aristocats. Lumiere from Beauty and the Beast is a tribute to Chevalier. So let’s go to the Magic Kingdom’s New Fantasyland and experience a little time with Belle.

On this date in 1894, Bill Gilbert was born in Louisville, Kentucky. Gilbert was the voice of Sneezy in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Gilbert appeared in over 200 movies and appeared with the great comedy teams of the day. His trademark routine involved manic fits of sneezing, appropriately enough. I directed you to the new Mine Ride, still under construction, yesterday but it’s appropriate again in honor of a Kentucky boy.

Hans Zimmer was born on this date in 1957 in Frankfurt, Germany. Zimmer hooked up with The Buggles as a teen in London, England and then went on to compose music for over 100 films including The Lion King and Pirates of the Caribbean. There are certain names you associate with movie music, John Williams, Danny Elfman and Hans Zimmer are certainly at the peak of that list. Let’s hit the Festival of the Lion King at The Animal Kingdom to celebrate Hans.

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