 | Happy 114th Birthday Walt Disney |
|
| DisneyDan
Saturday, December 5, 2015 8:15:00 AM |
|
 |
Today is 5th December, which would have been Walt Disney's 114th birthday.
Born in Chicago on 5th December 1901 to Canadian father Elias and American mother Flora, Walt found himself growing up in a rapidly changing world. The automobile, electricity and telephones were amongst the new technologies that were gradually altering the way people went about their everyday lives.
Soon came World War I, and Walt found himself too young to enlist - but he did anyway!
While away he discovered his talent for drawing, and became known for decorating the helmets his comrades had found, with illustrations.
From there Walt developed his talents further, and found himself creating characters and shorts such as the Alice comedies and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.
Sadly Oswald wasn't too lucky for Walt, but it did spur him onwards to develop a new character in 1928 - Mickey Mouse.
Mickey was Walt, and Walt was Mickey.
Walt Disney was a creative genius, who was far ahead of his time. Bringing a whole new definition to the world of film and television, Walt pioneered many new concepts and technologies.
Walt won more Oscars during his lifetime than any other person, a record that he still holds.
With his studio now one of the best in the world, Walt turned to other things. Bigger things.
Walt's ultimate dream was of course Disneyland; a place where anyone can come and have fun, away from reality.
In July 1955 Disneyland opened and has since become probably the most famous theme park in the world. Capturing Walt's very essence, and offering a true escape from the outside world, Disneyland was, and continues to be, the Happiest Place on Earth.
Of course, Walt's dream grew and grew, and so did Disneyland, to the point where Walt dreamt even bigger!
Florida was to be the home of Walt's final dream, one which sadly he did not get to see through to completion (having passed away in 1966).
Walt dreamt of a huge community where people not only lived and worked, but where they played an vacationed; known as EPCOT. A complete city built from the mind of this brilliant man.
Walt Disney World opened in October 1971 by his surviving brother and business partner, Roy, and was dedicated to Walt having changed the name from simply Disney World to Walt Disney World.
Although Walt's vision of EPCOT never came to fruition as he saw it, it certainly has come true. Walt Disney World has given Central Florida a different identity to what it had 50 years ago. From swamps to a metropolis filled with hotels, malls, other theme parks and indeed entire communities of people who live and work there. Walt Disney World itself has thousands of Cast Members who live and work at the resort, who come from all over the world, ensuring that Walt's final vision is forever captured in an amazing and colourful reality.
Over a century after his birth, we are on the brink of the 12th Disney Park opening (Shanghai, 2015/16), have a world filled with hundreds more movies, TV shows and even stores, a cruise line and much, much more.
All the parks have their own little nod to Walt and his dreams, remembering the man who started it all.
Walt Disney lived to entertain, and entertained for a living. He gave the world a slice of imagination and inspiration that is unrivalled, and that will continue for many more decades.
Happy 114th Birthday, Walt Disney. We thank you for your dedication to your dreams.
Dan. |
|
|
 |
Hello everyone,
We were travelling yesterday and so I couldn't post an advent calendar blog, so today I'll share two photos instead of the usual one.
Let's see who is behind the doors today!
[ Read More... ] |
|
|
|
|
 |
Hello everyone,
Today is the first day of December, so it is time to continue our annual tradition here on the Character Central blog - our special Disney character advent calendar!
So let's find out who is behind today's door!
[ Read More... ] |
|
 | Happy 87th Birthday Mickey and Minnie Mouse! | |
| DisneyDan
Wednesday, November 18, 2015 8:08:04 AM |
|
 |
Hello everyone,
Today is the 87th birthday of the two most famous mice in the world, Mickey and Minnie Mouse.
On 18th November 1928, Walt Disney's Steamboat Willie debuted to the public, and stars were born.
Without Mickey and Minnie, we wouldn't have the Disney company that we have today. For that we are eternally grateful to Walt Disney, and of course Mickey and Minnie, and look forward to many more decades of fun and laughter with them.
Happy 87th Birthday Mickey and Minnie!
In our usual style, here is a photo cavalcade of some [ Read More... ] |
|
 | Happy 69th Anniversary Song of the South! | |
| DisneyDan
Thursday, November 12, 2015 10:33:36 AM |
|
 |
Hello everyone,
Today is the 69th annviersary of the premiere of Disney's Song of the South. A film that has caused controversy over the years, Song of the South is not one that readily celebrated, however, the characters do appear at the Disney parks around the world. We love to meet the Brers, and so in my usual style, I thought I would share some of our favourite moments with them, [ Read More... ] |
|
|
 |
Hello everyone,
Continuing with our Character A to Z, today we feature four characters from the Star Wars universe, that all star with 'A'; Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker, Asajj Ventress and Aurra Sing. All four of these characters have previously featured exclusively at Star Wars Weekends at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Sadly, earlier this week, Disney announced that Star Wars Weekends would no longer be featured at the park, and therefore 2015 was retrospectively the last year that (probably) all of these characters would come across the galaxy for a visit.
Let's take a look at each of them in turn. [ Read More... ] |
|
|
 |
Hello everyone,
Today the Disney Parks Blog announced that in preparation for the brand new 14 acre Star Wars Land coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World, Star Wars Weekends would no longer be presented, making this past year retrospectively the last one. This is quite a blow for the park, and Star Wars Weekends will be desperately missed by pretty much everyone.
In the same announcement they confirmed that the Star Wars Launch Bay - a new in-between attraction in preparation for the new land - will open on December 1st, and will feature character [ Read More... ] |
|
|
 |
Hello everyone,
In today's installment of our Character A to Z we take a photographic look at secret Agent P and Special Agent Oso.
Whenever the world is in danger, you can always rely on a secret agent to step from the shadows to put things right!
Let's take a look at some of our encounters with these amazing agents at the Disney Parks around the world. [ Read More... ] |
|
 | Character A to Z - A is for Aladdin and Abu! | |
| DisneyDan
Monday, November 2, 2015 1:43:32 PM |
|
 |
Hello everyone,
In today's installment of our Character A to Z we take a photographic look at Aladdin and Abu.
The best of friends, Aladdin and Abu are always looking for adventure in Agrabah.
Let's take a look at some of our encounters with them at the Disney Parks around the world. [ Read More... ] |
|