Disney Fire Fighters Lunchbox to Celebrate National Fire Fighters Day

Photos: Nick 

The Walt Disney Players Christmas Carol LP

By: Nick and Barbie

Who has seen the animated short film, "Mickey's Christmas Carol," based on the Charles Dickens classic, "A Christmas Carol," released in 1983? Who knows that this Disney classic is largely derived from an LP record released in 1974 by Disneyland Records?

There are several similarities in the scripts, with many of the jokes being the same. The characters are mostly the same, with a few notable exceptions.

In both versions, Scrooge is Scrooge McDuck, Cratchit is, of course, Mickey Mouse. Goofy is Jacob Marley. The ghosts, in the animated short are played by Jiminy Cricket as the Ghost of Christmas Past, Willie the Giant, from "Mickey and the Beanstalk" is Christmas Present, and Pete is Christmas Yet to Come. On the LP, the ghosts are Merlin the Magician from "The Sword in the Stone" as Christmas Past, and the Witch from Snow White as Yet to Come. It is an enjoyable listen, and fun to hear the sometimes verbatim dialogue in the animated version.

Ready, Set, Snow! Disney Hallmark Ornaments Set

By Nick

Yesterday I shared the first 2 ornaments released in the "Ready! Set! Snow!" ornament set, which featured Mickey Mouse and Pluto.

This Donald Duck Hallmark ornament, entitled "Cool Duck Donald", was released on September 8th, 2012.

From the box:

Cool Duck Donald

Ready! Set! Snow!

Donald thought that sledding would be sweet, and he's in luck-gliding fast across the snow, he looks like one cool duck!

This ornament can be connected to others in the "Ready! Set! Snow!" collection. Collect them all to create a delightful holiday display!

Nello Williams

Cullen Brown

Hallmark Keepsake Artist

.

This ornament has a notch to connect other ornaments in the set. 

"Snow Stylin' Goofy", was released on October 6th, 2012, is part of a set of 5 ornaments, featuring the Fab Five, titled "Ready! Set! Snow!".

Snow Stylin' Goofy

Ready! Set! Snow!

Goofy's got some crazy moves 

as he rides on the sled.

Or maybe he's just making sure

his hat stays on his head!

The Minnie Mouse Hallmark ornament, titled "Merry Mittens Minnie", was released on November 2nd, 2012, and is the final piece in the set.

From the box:

Merry Mittens Minnie

Ready! Set! Snow!

Minnie's always ready for a sled ride in the snow, she warms her hands with cozy mittens-red to match her bow!

And here is the whole set together!

Goofy with Chip 'n' Dale Hallmark Ornament

By Nick

This ornament of Goofy with Chip ‘n’ Dale at a tree farm was a “secret reveal” from Hallmark in 2012, meaning it wasn’t in any media advertising in that years Keepsake Ornament line. 

Titled “Half-Off Hijinks”.

What exactly are these 2 chipmunks up to? Let’s read the box and find out.

Half-Off Hijinks!

Goofy and Chip ‘n’ Dale

Chip ‘n’ Dale would like a tree-

the season’s straight ahead!

But this makes Goofy wonder

if his sign has been misread:

he said that he would sell a tree

for only half his normal fee,

but rather inexplicably,

they cut off half instead!

Robert Chad

Hallmark Keepsake Artist

Now we know, Chip ‘n’ Dale took the sign literally! 

I wonder what would happen if I tried that at our local tree farm…naw, better not!

Mailed Walt Disney World Postcards

By Nick 

My wife bought me these Walt Disney World postcards one morning when I was too tired to get up and go to the flea market. They were $1 each, but worth the price in our opinion. We love postcards that are actually written out, telling of someone’s vacation, the weather, and how much fun they are having.

The older of the 2 cards takes us all the way back to July, 1975, taking a spin on the Tea Cups with Goofy.



Here we learn, not surprisingly, it was hot in July.



This next card is from 9/15/1983.



Again, we learn it’s hot.



I really love the fact that they describe how they went for 18 hours on 5 hours sleep.
Been there, done that!

Downtown Disney Friends

by Gaylin

I love going to Downtown Disney for more than just shopping, of course there is lots of good food as well and an amazing amount of theming as well. These are some of my favourite places to pose.

Can you find me? I am the one NOT made of Lego.

And here I am acting all goofy . . . get it? Goofy!

Just enjoying some sunshine with my friends.

Can't get in the photo with this guy, he is too high up. Wonder if he got a good photo of me?

Disney Dollars

By Nick

Disney Dollars were introduced in 1987 at Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
For an in depth history of Disney Dollars, please check out disneydollars.net.

I bought my first Disney Dollars at the Disney Store in 1992, for use on my first trip to Walt Disney World that year. I saved a few, and have picked up more through the years.

Let’s start with the earliest dollars, 1s and 5s.

A waving Mickey greets us.

“May be used as legal tender only at Disneyland Park, Walt Disney World Resorts and the Disney Stores.” “Disney Dollars may be spent or collected and saved as souvenirs and are redeemable at any time before or after any time of inactivity.”

Series 1991. 

Treasurer, Scrooge McDuck. Of course!

A Series

 .

A lovely illustration of Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle on the back.

Goofy looks proud to be honored with the 5 Dollar bill.

For my second trip to Walt Disney World in 1994, I picked up a few more Disney Dollars, including this fiver.

Same disclaimer as to where the dollars could be used, but with a notation that they could only be used in the U.S.A. and Puerto Rico.

The highlight of this is the absolutely beautiful illustration on the back.

1993 was Mickeys 65th birthday, and this momentous occasion called for a special dollar, and Mickey is decked out in a tuxedo to celebrate.

1993 was also the year that Mickey’s Toontown opened in Disneyland, which is commemorated on the back.  

Disney Dollars even came with their own fun envelopes. “Currency With Character”. Cute!

In the future, I’ll share some Disney Dollars from the recent past.

Step on up to Pete's Silly Sideshow in the Magic Kingdom!

By Nick 

 Me, Barbie, Goofy, Jill, Josh, and Josie

On Episode 25 of The Disney Exchange Podcast, Lisa, Dave and I discussed meeting Disney characters in Walt Disney World as well as on a Disney Cruise. We looked at where to meet characters in each park, but we missed a few I'm sure. One spot I KNOW we missed discussing was Pete's Silly Sideshow in the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World located within the  Storybook Circus section of Fantasyland.

Here, Pete, the perpetual Disney ne'er-do-well, has somehow managed to put together a sideshow of some of Disney's biggest stars!

Signs for this spectacle greet you as you enter this area, beckoning you to step right up!

The Sideshow is located to the right of Big Top Souvenirs.

Once you enter you are greeted by "Astonishing Acts of Curiosity", or Goofy, Donald, Daisy and Minnie as you've never seen them before!
Goofy is 'The Great Goofini", stunt goofster extraordinaire!

Donald Duck is "The Astounding Donaldo,"  snake mesmerist!

 

Daisy is "Madame Daisy Fortuna", teller of fortunes.

 

And Minnie Mouse is "Minnie Magnifique", with her dog act.

 

 

I found it somewhat interesting that the Imagineers chose the roles that most fit the personalities of the characters. Goofy, in his classic  "How To" cartoons, was a bit of a dare devil. Minnie is sweet, and her cartoons often have her interacting with dogs. And Donald and Daisy, let's be honest, have a bit more of an edge to them, and their roles here seem fitting.

There are PhotoPass photographers here to get your photos, as well as take pictures with your personal cameras.
The exit leads you directly into  Big Top Souvenirs, in case you are in need of a snack after all the excitement of Pete's Silly Sideshow!