October 7, 2013: Techie's Day, World Habitat Day, Andy Devine, Toni Braxton and Buzz Lightyear.

Today is Techie’s Day. You know your local techie, the person you call when things, particularly electronic, don’t work. I am the school technology coordinator at Louisa Middle School and people call me when anything short of an ink pen fails to work. Many times all I have to do is walk in and touch the device and, boom, it works and, no kidding, turning it off and turning it back on usually works. Show some love for your local techie and at WDW this is major, think about how much tech is involved with your wonderful experience. Innoventions might be a good place to visit, there’s always something new there.

Today is World Habitat Day, a day devoted to making sure that people have adequate shelter. Help people out, repair an elderly person’s home, or help build a house for a needy family, get involved with Habitat for Humanity. Another way you might help is helping Give Kids The World, and organization that provides ill children that wish to visit WDW with tickets and a place to stay (at their own themed resort). Share the love.

Give Kids The World

“I wish I had a pencil thin moustache,

The Boston Blackie kind,

With a two-tone Ricky Ricardo Jacket,

And an autographed picture of Andy Devine…”

            Pencil Thin Moustache – Jimmy Buffett

Andy Devine was born on this day in 1905 in Flagstaff, Arizona. In my mind, Andy Devine will always be riding a nuke like a bull, waving his hat and screaming, “Yeehaw!” in Dr. Strangelove. Andy was a topnotch character actor and comedic sidekick. In 1973, Devine supplied the voice of Friar Tuck in Disney’s Robin Hood and he appeared in several episodes of Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color over the years. Let’s ride the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at The Magic Kingdom in honor of Andy and it helps to scream like a little girl.

On this date in 1967, Toni Braxton was born in Severn, Maryland. The “Unbreak My Heart Singer” appeared on Broadway as Belle in Beauty and the Beast and Aida in Aida. Toni was the first, and only, African American to play Belle on Broadway and Alan Menken wrote a new song for the musical called “A Change in Me” specifically for her and it has been in the musical ever since. Braxton has won six Grammys and sold 40 million records worldwide. Let’s go watch Beauty and the Beast at Hollywood Studios or the Village area of New Fantasyland.

The area formerly occupied by Take Flight in Tomorrowland at The Magic Kingdom reopened on this date in 1998. The space was repurposed to house Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. The interactive dark ride remains a favorite to this day. Try to get 999,999. We’ve done it and you can too.

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