Editor's Report - Nov 8, 1999

Editor's Report
Page 1 of 1

by Doobie Moseley (archives)
November 8, 1999
Look back on another busy Disney week and forward to the holidays. Also a touching look back at Club Disney.

"Then one foggy Christmas night, Rudolph Came To Say"

Christmas Time!
At Disneyland, it's beginning to look a whole lot like Christmas! Now, some may say the day after Halloween is just a little too soon to be seeing Christmas decorations. And I can understand their point. But for me, it's never too early. Just walking into the gate, hearing the music and seeing the tree puts me in a happy mood every time. And I think it rubs off on everyone around you. The Cast Members, the guests, everyone seems to be in a better mood when Christmas comes. And if Christmas comes on November 5th, that's fine by me.

So if Christmas has come to Disney, then it's got to come to LaughingPlace.com as well. So today we debut our new Disneyland Christmas Guide. Over the next couple of weeks the Disneyland Christmas Guide will be filled in with holiday pictures from everywhere in the park along with tips and information to help you get the most out of your holiday visit. And if you can't make it to Disneyland this holiday season, hopefully the pictures in the the guide will be the next best thing.

And since we're talking Christmas I'd like to take a moment to mention one of our most popular columns, Dispatch From Disneyland. Each month, Indigo publishes the Dispatch from Disneyland. This month I think he's outdone himself with a wonderful story of returning "home" to Main Street at Christmas time. Read this month's Dispatch From Disneyland and transport yourself back to Walt Disney's turn-of-the-century idealic home.

News

  • While not a lot of major stuff happened last week at the park, we've still got our Disneyland Update to fill you in on what did.
  • As mentioned above our Disneyland Christmas Guide is now open.
  • Both Disneyland and Walt Disney World announced they would ban smoking throughout most of their theme parks beginning January 30, 2000.
  • The Orange County Register had the whole Internet abuzz with its interview with Disneyland Executive Vice-President Cynthia Harriss. Ms. Harriss has become as popular with Disneyland regulars as Paul Pressler was unpopular. To her credit, Ms. Harriss says she's just finishing what Paul Pressler started.
  • Former Imagineer, and now Disney consultant, Bob Baranick discussed some of the recent changes in Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean.
  • Disney and Hong Kong finally came to an agreement regarding the building of a theme park in China. Click here for information on the park.
  • The Walt Disney Company released their 1999 earnings report, and all was not well. The Orange County Register had more information.
  • The Los Angeles Times had an article on the parents who would miss the recently closed Club Disney. And speaking of Club Disney, one of our readers was kind enough to send us this report from the final day at the Thousand Oaks, CA location:

Just a few scattered thoughts as I witnessed magic for a short time. Like a shooting star that shines so bright and then is gone, so was Club Disney. Tonight as I was at the Club to say goodbye I watched an 80 year old woman with puppets on her hands make sure that every 3 year old got a hug from Eeyore, I saw an 18 year old cast member lose at basketball to a 10 year old boy, I saw the last club house dance party out in the main play area with all the cast members and all the guests sing and dance, I also saw a cast member make sure that a little one got to be part of the circle of kids dancing. I saw nothing but smiles on the cast members faces as member after member wanted another picture with them. When I told this to my wonderful wife she said, but that was our job. No that wasn't a job You don't all hold hands in a circle and sing when your job is taken away from you, no these people were magic makers, These people were special, they played with our children, they taught them how to tap into their imaginations. Yes the shooting star has burned out but the memory will live on in the hearts and minds of those who got to be a witness to it. To all the GM's, Gam's, AC's, CSR's, Greeters, M1's, 2's and 3's, Creativity Coaches, Celebration Specialists, Those of you in OP's and Retail and in the cafe's and party prep I salute you.
- Dan who adds "if anyone wants to email my wife and wish her well or relay messages to other Cast Members her email address is [email protected]."

Thank you to all the Club Disney Cast Members and all the Disney Cast Members - past, present and future - who make the magic happen on a daily basis.

-- Doobie Moseley (November 8, 1999)

Editor's Report: Doobie's look at the world of Disney and what's coming up on LaughingPlace.com in the coming week.

The Editor's Report is posted every Monday.