Oh What A Merry Christmas Day

 

Walt Disney Birthday Week: There's A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow

 

There's A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow

There's a great, big, beautiful tomorrow

Shining at the end of every day

There's a great, big, beautiful tomorrow

And tomorrow's just a dream away

Man has a dream and that's the start

He follows his dream with mind and heart

And when it becomes a reality

It's a dream come true for you and me

So there's a great, big, beautiful tomorrow

Shining at the end of every day

There's a great, big, beautiful tomorrow

Just a dream away

 

Walt Disney Birthday Week: Just One Dream

 

Just One Dream

One dream

We come from everywhere with just one dream

This home is where we all can share in just one dream 

One day

I still believe if we can see the possibilities

The world can be a better place 

So many miracles are happening around us every day

Look to the mountaintop, not the mountain in your way 

Side by side, heart to heart

We can finish anything we start

Anything can be done

With just one dream 

Sometimes

The hardest thing to do in life is try to understand

The reason why we have to cry 

One friend

You know that's all it takes is just one friend to lend a hand

A helping hand, that's all it takes 

So many people miss the miracle of what it is to care

Love is what brings us all together, anyway 

Side by side, heart to heart

We can finish anything we start

Anything can be done

With just one dream 

Hand in hand, we can do

What it takes to make our dreams come true

Each of us, if we trust

In just one dream 

We are the wings

We can fly into forever

Like a promise of the sun

We're born to shine 

We have the strength

We can change the world together

Build a stairway to the stars we can climb 

Side to side, heart to heart

We can finish anything we start

Anything can be done

With just one dream 

Hand in hand, we can do

What it takes to make our dreams come true

Each of us, if we trust, in just one dream 

In just one dream

 

Walt Disney Birthday Week: Feed the Birds

 

Walt Disney's favorite song came from Mary Poppins- Feed the Birds. He would often ask the Sherman Brothers to sing it for him at the end of a stressful week.

 

Early each day to the steps of Saint Paul's

The little old bird woman comes

In her own special way to the people she calls

Come, buy my bags full of crumbs

Come feed the little birds, show them you care

And you'll be glad if you do

Their young ones are hungry

Their nests are so bare

All it takes is tuppence from you

Feed the birds, tuppence a bag,

Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag

Feed the birds that's what she cries

While overhead, her birds fill the skies

All around the cathedral the saints and apostles

Look down as she sells her wares

Although you can't see it, you know they are smiling

Each time someone shows that he cares

Though her words are simple and few

Listen, listen, she's calling to you

Feed the birds, tuppence a bag

Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag

Though her words are simple and few

Listen, listen, she's calling to you

Feed the birds, tuppence a bag

Tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag

 

Walt Disney Birthday Week: A Suitcase and a Dream

 

Suitcase and a Dream

Plenty of people, they started with nothing

Just a suitcase and a dream

They packed up their cases and went to new places

Just a suitcase and a dream

They made the world into a place like you have never seen

It's like they hit the jackpot on a slot machine

Yeah, yeah, yeah

Gotta suitcase and a dream

A suitcase and a dream

Mr. Disney, he traveled west just a few bucks to his name

Along the way he met Mickey Mouse and the world would never be the same

He had a suitcase and a dream

A suitcase and a dream

Suitcase and a dream

It don't matter if you're rich or broke

It don't matter if you've given up hope

All you need is a little drive

To make your dreams begin to come alive

Everybody's got their ideas 

and me I've got mine too

So I packed up my suitcase and packed up my dreams

And now it's time to follow through

I've got a suitcase and a dream

Suitcase and a dream

 

Happy Birthday, Walt Disney!

On this day in 1901, a baby was born in Chicago, Illinois who would change the world. Named after his family's pastor Walter Parr, the baby's famous name would become known by billions around the world- Walt Disney.

 

His father wouldn't provide him with much encouragement when it came to artistic pursuits, but his Aunt Maggie would sneak him the crayons, pencils and paper that would guide him to his destiny. 

Animation, film, theme parks- Walt Disney conquered every field he chose to engage in. But every legend has to start somewhere and today we celebrate his beginnings. Happy Birthday, Walt Disney!

 

“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls- in 1923 Walt Disney arrived in California to follow his dreams. Dreams which led to extraordinary achievements and wondrous adventures! Adventures where natural majesties, bustling communities and groundbreaking discoveries would all find a place in his heart. Today we invite you to explore your dreams as you experience your very own California Adventure!”

-Disney California Adventure 

Opening Announcement

 

“One of the things that I’ve learned from Walt that I use in my everyday work and life is that nothing is impossible. The quote of his that I love the best is, ‘Actually, it’s kind of fun to do the impossible.’ I try to remind myself and others of this every day.”

-Ralph Castaneda

 

“Walt Disney’s secret was to do things you don’t need, and do them well. And then you realize you needed them all along.”

-Ray Bradbury

“Think beyond your lifetime, if you want to do something truly great.”

-Walt Disney

“I still think about Mr. Disney all the time. It’s funny but sometimes when I feel discouraged or have a problem I can’t work out, I find myself thinking ‘If only Mr. Disney were here, he would know what to do.’ And I’m sure he would.”

-Annette Funicello

"I am so honored. You cannot have any idea what a feeling it is for me to be here at DISNEYLAND today to wish him a Happy Birthday. I know that you all love and enjoy and feel these wonderful experiences when you come to DISNEYLAND and you see his films and everything, but to have been part of the team to have been part of the gang that put together some of these enchanting experiences- there’s no words to describe it."

-Richard Sherman

"His dedication was not just making people smile- he taught in his very special way respect for life and land the world over making people realize if you wish upon a star, fantasies really can come true. Many times I visited his Magic Kingdom and believe me when I say my dreams came true."

-Annette Funicello

"I grew up with DISNEYLAND. I can't imagine my world without it. Walt put it best when he said 'DISNEYLAND is a work of love'. And like all happy endings, it will be ours to treasure forever more."

-Neil Patrick Harris

"Just imagine- if you were standing right here over 60 years ago, you'd be standing in the middle of an orange grove. One visionary man stood right where you are now, but instead of orange trees, he envisioned a Magic Kingdom. This man's name was Walt Disney. And his dream would be called DISNEYLAND."

 

Walt Disney Birthday Week: Baby Mine

 

Baby Mine

Baby Mine don't you cry

Baby Mine dry your eyes

Rest your head close to my heart, never to part

Baby of Mine

If they knew all about you

They'd end up loving you too

All those same people who scold you

What they'd give just for the right to hold you

From your head down to your toes

You're not much goodness knows

Let your eyes sparkle and shine

Never a tear, baby of mine.

 

A Space Age Christmas 1957

 

Christmas at Walt's

 

1952 - Robin Hood and His Merrie Men

After World War II, the countries of Europe sought to rebuild. As a result, they restricted transfers of money earned within their borders to outside countries. England's prohibition hit Walt Disney Productions particularly hard as it was Disney's biggest market. While Mr. Disney thought about possibly starting up an animation studio in the U.K., it proved to not be feasible, so he started up a live action wing that could produce live action films. The first film was Treasure Island, which was a huge success. In 1952, Disney released its second live action film- The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men.

 

The movie was a modest success, leading the company to go full tilt towards making live action pictures. The additional benefit to these live action films was that they required less supervision from Walt Disney than the animated ones; his attention had turned to building his Magic Kingdom.