October 2, 2013: Balloons Around The World, Groucho, The Twilight Zone, Toy Story and The Police.

Today is Balloons Around The World Day, a day when we celebrate the joy that balloons bring to people all over the planet, particularly balloons used to make objects by balloon artists. If you are at Walt Disney World you should have no trouble finding balloons and you can even have balloons in your room when you arrive. If balloons make you happen, go out and get you some.

On this date in 1890, Julius Henry (Groucho) Marx was born in New York City. It’s easy to look back on The Marx Brothers and think how corny some of their material was but then, you have to remember, they created those jokes and routines. Groucho was always a bit risqué and heavy on the double entendre (“We took some pictures of the native girls, but they weren’t developed yet, so we’re going back next year.”). The Marx Brothers were featured, in animated form, in Disney shorts, The Bird Store, Mickey’s Gala Premier, Mother Goose Goes Hollywood and The Autograph Hound. The theme of Hollywood Studios fits perfectly into the era of The Marx Brothers so let’s go soak up the atmosphere in the Hollywood that never was.

On this date in 1959, The Twilight Zone made its debut on CBS-TV. The series serves as the inspiration for the Tower of Terror attractions at various Disney parks.  While we are at Hollywood Studios, let’s go get dropped in a somewhat imperfect elevator from the top of a haunted hotel.

Gordon Matthew Sumner was born on this day in 1951 in England. Mr. Sumner and his band mates performed at The Magic Kingdom in the early 1980’s and I wish I could have been there. The Police were definitely one of my favorite bands, and I eventually saw them in Charleston, West Virginia, but it would have been awesome to hear Sting singing at Walt Disney World. Sting went on to write music for The Emperor’s New Groove but let’s honor him by singing a chorus of “Roxanne” in front of Cinderella Castle and imagine how it might have been.

John Morris was born in New York on this day in 1984. John did voice work for The Nightmare Before Christmas but there is no doubt that he is better known as the voice of Andy Davis in the three Toy Story films. My daughter is a huge Toy Story fan and I feel is appropriate to mention once again that she has a picture of Buzz and Woody autographed by John Lasseter, her hero. We’re back at Hollywood Studios, where we should enjoy a little Toy Story Mania.

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