Editor's Report
Page 2 of 3

Sharing a Dream Come True: After 9/11 Disney decided to move back the official opening of the Walt Disney: One Hundred Years of Magic until December 5th. But we already had a trip booked that included the original opening, October 1st and off we went. What a happy surprise when we found a note pushed under our hotel door letting us know there'd be a small ceremony in the Magic Kingdom to kick-off the celebration. It was simple - a speech by Walt Disney World Resort President Al Weiss and lots of characters. But it ended with a little girl singing Sharing a Dream Come True, the first time I'd heard the song, from high in the train station. Part way through the song she was joined by Mickey Mouse. It was a special moment.
Links: Kick-Off Opening Ceremony

"Play It": Disneyland's event to celebrate Walt's 100th was not going to be a big event. But when I heard the special guests would be John Hench and Richard Sherman and it would be held at the hub and there'd be a piano, I knew it would be a special one. The Sherman Brothers often tell the story of Walt calling them into the office on Fridays to "Play It", meaning play Feed the Birds for them. On December 5, 2001, Richard played it one more time for Walt in the center of Disneyland. Though he was surrounded by fans and media, you could tell, in his mind, it was just him and Walt - just as it was 35 years earlier. Just typing this gets me emotional. This, more than anything else on the list, will be my one enduring Disney memory of 2001.
Links: Disneyland's 100th Birthday Celebration

They're Baaack: On November 25, 1996 my best friend John Frost and I watched the last Main Street Electrical Parade glow away at Disneyland. At the time he said it'd be back within 5 years. I said "no way!" Who was right? Depends on how you look at it. Regardless, Disney's Electrical Parade did return to the Disneyland Resort in 2001. I'm not a huge fan of this parade, I thought it was time to go in 1996 and I wish it hadn't made a return in 2001. But the first time I heard though "electrosynthemagnetic sounds", I have to admit, it was special.
Links: DEP Opening Ceremony • DEP Pictures • DEP Interviews

"Are You Watching TV?": That was my introduction to the terrors of Tuesday, September 11, 2001. After waking up I started my normal work day on the computer and got a phone call. The call was my mother-in-law asking if I was watching TV and had I heard what happened. She explained that both towers of the World Trade Center had collapsed because airplanes had crashed into them. I was so confused, she's not the type to tease about little things let alone something like this. Unfortunately, she wasn't. Disneyland never opened on 9/11. Walt Disney World closed very early. No one arrived for their vacations the next couple of days and no one left as air travel was halted. The whole country came to a stop for awhile. Slowly, with the urging of our President, things began to return to normal. It became ok to have fun again. But there was a difference - we were at war and America was proud to wear red, white and blue. Disneyland raised its flag back to its full glory in an emotional ceremony emceed by Michael Eisner himself and punctuated with a live rendition of God Bless America. A couple of months later Veteran's Day was celebrated by inviting all of the veterans at the Disneyland Resort to join in the evening flag retreat. Disney has always been a part of Americana. It still is.
Links: Flag Raising • Veteran's Day Ceremony