October 13, 2013: Day 365

365

Today is day 365. One year ago I started this blog of 365 Disney excuses and, as you know if you are a regular reader, we have had over 1500 excuses and 17,000 hits. More than I would have ever thought possible. I want to thank all the readers as we wind up this year and ask this question: Do you want more? Drop me a line at bxhamm01@bellsouth.net or leave a comment in the comment section.

Also, I would like to mention, where I get my information. First, my head, in 52 years I have accumulated a lot of knowledge, some of which I am sure of and some of which I have convinced myself of. Second, www.brownielocks.com, these folks have a huge archive of daily celebrations. Third, http://thisdayindisneyhistory.homestead.com, this site is an exhaustive source of daily events in Disney history. Fourth, www.todayinhistory.com, events, births and deaths, assembled in numbers beyond your belief. Finally, my original tool that I have used for years in my classroom, The Teacher’s Calendar by the Editors of Chase’s Calendar of Events has been a go to resource that I share with my eighth-grade students as well as readers of this blog.

Today is English Language Day. No matter what language you speak you can get assistance at Walt Disney World. There are people employed from all over the planet and they can speak your language and help you out.

On this day in 1962, Kelly Preston was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. Jerry Maguire, Cat in the Hat and in our little corner of the world, Sky High as Josie Stronghold. Sky High is one of my favorite Disney movies (along with Meet the Robinsons). I know that Disney owns Marvel now, and that Marvel heroes cannot be in Walt Disney World due to contracts with Universal, but there is an entire stable of heroes in Sky High that could be in the parks. I’m just sayin’. Hopefully we will have a hero park or heroes in the park some day, in the meantime search for Avatar, coming to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Finally on this date in 1947 Sammy Hagar was born in Monterey, California. Sammy was the lead singer of Montrose, his own band, Van Halen and now the Waboritas. Let’s ride one of our favorites, The Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster at Hollywood Studios or go to the Mexico Pavilion at EPCOT and enjoy a sample of the agave inside the stepped pyramid.

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

October 12, 2013: Christopher Columbus, bowling and raincoats.

October 12, 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Even though Columbus was not the first to find the Americas it was his voyage that led to the European migration to the new world. Columbus had some bad information, he thought the Earth was considerably smaller than it actually was but he knew it was round. When he reached the West Indies, he thought he had travelled far enough to reach the Indies. Okay, whatever worked. Columbus was Italian so lets visit the Italy Pavilion at EPCOT and celebrate.

Today is National Family Bowling Day and there is now bowling at Walt Disney World. Splitsville at Downtown Disney (soon to be Disney Springs) is a luxury, modern bowling and dining destination. Strike out for Downtown Disney and use up some of your spare time.

On this date in 1823, Charles Macintosh of Scotland begins selling his raincoats. Macintosh started out as a clerk but he left his position to devote himself full time to science. He was very successful and it was his work with chemicals, in particular naphtha that led to him producing raincoats by cementing layers of rubber. School children all over the planet wear their macs to school on rainy days and we were ponchos and other rain gear often when we are at Walt Disney World. Everyone knows you don’t leave WDW when it rains, that’s often the best time to be there.

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

October 11, 2013: Bob Hammond and Joan Cusack.

It is now 2:00 AM. I have been extremely exhausted and fell asleep at about 8:30 PM. In order to go back to sleep, this is a short and sweet blog.

Today is my brother’s birthday. Bob Hammond was born on this day in 1967 in Louisa, Kentucky. Bob works at the Ashland Alliance in Ashland, Kentucky where he has been involved in community development for the last 14 years. Yes, he’s been to Walt Disney World and, to give you some idea when his visit was, I had a Pal Mickey waiting for him at the Wilderness Lodge. You’ll love the Wilderness Lodge. Even if you don’t stay there, go visit.

My Dad, my Mom, my brother Bob in front, my cousin Mark Hardin, me and my cousin Mike Hardin. (Mark and Mike went to WDW early on.)

Joan Cusack was born on this date in 1962. Cusack starred in School of Rock with Jack Black, she was the voice of Abby Mallard in Chicken Little and Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl in Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3. The song that accompanies Jessie’s story, “When She Loved Me,” is one of the saddest songs that I have ever heard. If you need a good cry just listen to it a couple of times. Cusack won an Annie Award for Voice Acting by a Female Performer in an Animated Feature Production for her turn as Jessie. Visit Woody, Jessie and all the gang. You can usually find them at the exit from Splash Mountain.

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

October 10, 2013: Jodi Benson and Ed Wood.

On this day in 1961 Jodi Benson was born in Rockford, Illinois. Jodi is the voice of Ariel and Barbie. She has also worked in Hercules: Zero to Hero, Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp’s Adventure and 101 Dalmatians II: Patch’s London Adventure. Benson is also a Disney Legend, being dubbed in 2011. Let’s go to the Magic Kingdom and ride Under the Sea- Journey of the Little Mermaid.

Johnny Depp fans, listen up. My absolute favorite movie featuring Depp is Ed Wood. If you think Jack Sparrow is eccentric, you’ve not seen anything yet. Ed wood is credited as the worst movie director of all time and his movie, Plan 9 from Outer Space, is one of, if not the worst, movie of all time. Enjoy Johnny Depp unleashed and enjoy Ed Wood. Today is Ed Woods’ birthday; he was born in Poughkeepsie, New York in 1924. Let’s go see The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

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

October 9, 2013: Top Spinning Day, Bring Your Teddy Bear To Work Day, Leif Erikson Day, John Lennon and Peter Docter.

Today is International Top Spinning Day. Let’s go for a spin. Okay. I’ll move on now. You could ride any number of spinning rides at Walt Disney World. How about Dumbo?

Today is National Bring Your Teddy Bear To Work & School Day. If you worked at EPCOT, your Teddy Bear would be at work, Duffy Bear. Go see Duffy and get a hug.

Today is Leif Erikson Day. The great Viking explorer travelled across the northern Atlantic Ocean and was probably the first European to reach the new world. He called his discovery Vinland. Go to Norway in EPCOT and be sure to tell them that Vikings Rock.

Speaking of rock, John Lennon was born in Liverpool, England in 1940. The Beatles changed the face of music permanently. In 1965 Walt Disney met with Brian Epstein to discuss the Beatles performing songs for The Jungle Book. Walt ended up using similarly sounding voices for the vultures in the movie. In 1974, John signed the papers that ended The Beatles at Walt Disney World at the Polynesian Village Hotel. While we’re at EPCOT, lets visit the British Pavilion and enjoy the British Revolution.

One of the Pixar greats, Peter Docter was born in 1968 in Bloomington, Minnesota. Docter was the third animator added at Pixar and the tenth person hired by the company. Docter has directed Monsters, Inc. and Up, worked on Toy Story, Toy Story 2, A Bugs Life, Cars and Wall-E and contributed voices for Up, The Incredibles and Monsters, Inc. Just go to Hollywood Studios and do the whole Pixar Place thing.

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