Give to get….with Disney

Today I was honored to visit a Habitat for Humanity job site in Los Angeles, for an announcement made by Bob Iger (Disney CEO). And this has to be one the of the best ideas I have heard in a long time. Honestly, it is a WIN-WIN concept. Disney has partnered with Hands across America and in 2010, you are able to volunteer for one day and in return receive ONE day FREE at Disneyland OR Disney World. Yes, you heard me right. Sign up HERE - and select from volunteer programs in your area, then go work for a day and you will receive a certificate which will grant you access into either Disneyland or Disney World for one day of your choice before December 15, 2010. AND? Whole families can volunteer and work together (kids need to be at least 6 years old)….so you could be helping build a home, or cleaning up trash at a park on a Saturday together as a family…and go to a Disney park on SUNDAY (or any day that year). I gotta tell you…this had me grinning from ear to ear just thinking of all the families who will be able to visit Disney park with this opportunity. Not to mention all the great volunteering efforts that will take place over the year. But here is the thing…it is limited to 1 MILLION. So hurry over to this site and sign up. Do it today. Already have Disney passes? Go ahead and volunteer and you can donate your earned pass to a charity.

This event was fun. Got to hang out with with celebrities like Terri Hatcher, Kermit and my all-time favorite glam girl Miss Piggy. And I had a chance to chat with a few of the volunteers on site. These were neat young men, who told me how great it made them feel to help out families in need. They said they were grateful they had a home, and wanted to give back to their community. And in addition to that, they said they were learning valuable construction skills to help them get jobs. Not good with a hammer? That is okay…the volunteering programs offered are very diverse.

Yes, you are very cute Terri Hatcher. Now go eat something.

Video: Give a day, get a day with Bob Iger and friends…

Hey look it is Bob Iger (Disney CEO) helping make a Habitat for Humanity home!

And here is the somewhat edited video from the press event. Terri Hatcher, Miss Piggy and all others seemed to enjoy this announcement. Love the birds being released. Nice touch Disney. Of course the ‘handlers’ for Kermit and Miss Piggy I could do without. They were insane and militant about where to stand and how to shoot. And when the guy said ‘oh this is just mom blogger’ I could have screamed. But instead I just took my photo and then said “Good job Kermit. You didn’t blink.” which got a laugh. Lemons to lemonade people.

More from the latest Disney event…

Like I have always said, my love of Disney is in the details…and that extends to their press kits as well. Today we received, in addition to the Mickey eared hard hats a ‘tool box’ with lots of goodies inside. All the relevant press releases could be found on a USB. So all the other stuff was just for fun. I am particularly fond of Goofy’s ‘Elbow Grease” (which by the way is empty. Naturally) I plan to hand it to my kids next time I ask them to help me clean out the garage. Can’t wait for the eye-roll I will get on that one…

 

Give to get….with Disney

This post has two announcements…here is the first.

 

Today I was honored to visit a Habitat for Humanity job site in Los Angeles, for an announcement made by Bob Iger (Disney CEO). And this has to be one the of the best ideas I have heard in a long time. Honestly, it is a WIN-WIN concept. Disney has partnered with Hands across America and in 2010, you are able to volunteer for one day and in return receive ONE day FREE at Disneyland OR Disney World. Yes, you heard me right. Sign up HERE - and select from volunteer programs in your area, then go work for a day and you will receive a certificate which will grant you access into either Disneyland or Disney World for one day of your choice before Decemeber 15, 2010. AND? Whole families can volunteer and work together (kids need to be at least 6 years old)….so you could be helping build a home, or cleaning up trash at a park on a Saturday together as a family…and go to a Disney park on SUNDAY (or any day that year). I gotta tell you…this had me grinning from ear to ear just thinking of all the families who will be able to visit Disney park with this opportunity. Not to mention all the great volunteering efforts that will take place over the year. But here is the thing…it is limited to 1 MILLION. So hurry over to this site and sign up. Do it today. Already have Disney passes? Go ahead and volunteer and you can donate your earned pass to a charity.

This event was fun. Got to hang out with with celebrities like Terri Hatcher, Kermit and my all-time favorite glam girl Miss Piggy. And I had a chance to chat with a few of the volunteers on site. These were neat young men, who told me how great it made them feel to help out families in need. They said they were grateful they had a home, and wanted to give back to their community. And in addition to that, they said they were learning valuable construction skills to help them get jobs. Not good with a hammer? That is okay…the volunteering programs offered are very diverse.

Animated Marcy. No. But like REALLY animated.

 

Check us out. Deb, Suz and I are gangsta tough Disney princesses…is there such a thing?

Yesterday I hung out at Disneyland enjoying all the new Halloween goodness. And I was able to hang with some of my besties in the blogging world including Debbie, Suz, Linda, Liz, Lisa and many others. Halloween is my favorite holiday. Mainly because it is the only holiday that doesn’t come with any pre-conceived ways to celebrate. One year you can go big or you can ignore it all together. No guilt and no remorse. And this year? Disney has gone BIG. Admittedly I wasn’t overly excited to watch the new Halloween fireworks show….but man am I glad I didn’t miss it. It had to have been one of the best Disney productions I have seen. FOR REALS. The only downside is that the real star of the show is the castle itself so you HAVE to have a view of the castle to really get the most out of the show…and that means limited viewing spots and putting up with lots and lots of crowds. BUT let me say IT IS WORTH IT. You can watch my should-have-had-decaf-shakey video of it (below), but it is something you will want to see in person. And the fire? You can FEEL it. Oh this was some thing I won’t forget for a long time.   In addition to all the amazing usual Halloween stuff going on at Disney, this year they have also themed Space Mountain (Called Ghost Galaxy). It is darker and faster, and really just as much fun as the normal ride. But what thrilled me tons? Was seeing JACK SKELETON and SALLY in PERSON. I may or may not have screamed. LOUD.  Apparently I was so excited, I couldn’t even manage to get a decent photo either…but trust me in person they look ADORABLE. And he TALKS to you. FUN right?

 

 

Do you guys know about Blue Sky Cellar? It is located in Disney’s California Adventure and it has all the sketches and models of the upcoming improvements and changes to the park (lots of what was talked about at D23). If you are interested in all that…very worth a visit. But I found the strangest thing while looking over these large concept cork boards, that had artwork representing the view of the park after the changes are complete.

Apparently ITS ME and I am in the future California Adventure! AND I AM CARRYING a bottle of WINE. Sooooo thoughtful of the Imagineers to capture me in my natural state…just cruisin’ the park with a bottle of alcohol like your average tourist blogger wino.

Hello. AWESOME.

Now I guess I just have to wait for the Disney animated full feature about me a blogger who has crazy dreams of being taken SERIOUSLY as a writer.

 

Come on Disney animators! I am certain it would be a box-office hit.

I know of at least 35 million other bloggers who could relate.

(But you can leave out the wino part if you want.

You know, if you want it to be a fantasy)

-

D23: Suzanne is trying to get me kicked out of Disney

See how proud I am of my Media pass?

Might be the last one they ever give me….

So I was joking before the big press conference with Michele (a Disneyland PR friend ) about asking when Cinderella was going to get her own blog. And she said (I’m realizing just now that this was more of a DARE than an actual suggestion) I should ask Jay Rasulo (Head of all the Disney Parks and Resorts. Yeah THAT guy) during the press conference. Suzanne totally and complete encouraged this idea with “Yeah you should. That would be funny.” See how she practically MADE ME DO IT? So right after the girl from LA Times and before the person from Reuters - I did it. My voice was shaky, but I managed to get a pity laugh from the press pool. Don’t believe me? Watch the video…Jack captured ALL of it.

Still not convinced to watch the video?

Well here are some of the highlights…

A canned good castle

I do Shakespeare and hit on a TRASH CAN

And I get totally freaked out by some animatronic thingy.

Good Times.

Minutes after this photo was taken by Jack my personal paparazzi Suz managed to ‘accidentally’ ruin my princess crown.

I don’t buy it for one second.

And this was Suz’s idea of personal security for the event.

She is always looking out for our safety like that.

I heart her.

But next time she tells me to do something, cuz it is funny…I might think twice.

Oh who am I kidding.

No I won’t.

D23: The Sandbox

One of the demo’s of new technology Jack and I were most impressed with was The Story Tellers Sand Box.

It can’t be explained….but just watch this.

You have to go at least halfway to really see the Disney Magic.

Its worth it.

D23 Interview: Robert Olszewski-Disney Sculptor

On my return visit to D23 (Disney Expo convention) I took Jack back with me…and one the first places I wanted to stop was to to talk to Mr. Olszewski. Jack has always been fascinated with his sculptures, and I was just hoping he would be in his booth wearing his traditional artist coat when we got there. He is not only a talented artist, he is a gracious man and answered many questions in a mini put-you-on-the-spot interview…

What were you like as a child?

I stayed alone and played alone. We lived on a remote farm and spent lots of time in the woods with my dog.

Where you an only child?

No I have a brother 7 years older than me. But I liked to be alone. I liked to make things I was always making things.

How many tradeshows have you done?

Hundreds (at this point he takes out an old, worn small pocket notebook which has recorded every trade show he has participated in since 1980, and tells us it is over 450 appearances. I make note of his type like handwriting which is SMALLER than 6pt font)

You have such small handwriting! Do you do everything in miniature?

Yes. I do. I love small. Small everything. As a child I collected stamps. And of course made models…

You are very prolific, how do you find the time?

I live a simple and good life. To bed after Jay Leno and up early to begin work. My studio is in my home. I love my work…and my life.

Well,

Mr. Olzsewski

we love your work too…

The one where I say 'blogger' is a dirty word.

Over the next 4 days I will be popping in and out of D23 (the grand mother of Disney conventions), and there is SO MUCH there to cover it is mid blowing. I mean, without even trying I ran into Betty White today. (And by ‘run into’ I mean she was on a stage and I was in the audience. But still. Its BETTY WHITE. The only woman in america who gives me hope for my GOLDEN years. I love her)…and I hung out with famous Disney sculptor Robert Olszewski (see photo) and had a fabulous interview convo with BIG TIME Imagineer Don Hilsen about his newest baby; The new “Cars” inspired land coming to California Adventure. They have sessions, movie previews, and celebrity appearances scheduled all day long (many over lapping…impossible to do it all.) for the next 4 days. And of course, as with any convention there are loads and loads of Disney products. Many booths are collectables, including things I never dreamed were collectables (like the antenna balls above), and Disney ‘inspired’ artwork (loving the Picasso Mickey above) and every facet of the Disney machine represented. I asked if I could borrow the Jonas mini van to pick up the kids from school just to mortify the hell out of them but they said no.

I realized something today while walking around the D23 floor with a giant Media badge on; I think ‘blogger’ is a dirty word. Well, not actually. But every time someone would ask me what media outlet I was with (as if to see if I was worth talking to) I had a hard time saying the words “I am a blogger”. I would pause and sometimes use my favorite euphemism “online journalist”. I mean you and I know that bloggers ARE the new media. That we are running the show. That more people are reading blogs at this moment than ANYTHING ELSE. And that many have higher readerships than some online newspapers. WE KNOW being a blogger is a BIG DEAL. And yet….it seems others don’t. Once you say it, it is out there. Just hanging in the air. And then comes the condescending ‘oh, uh, huh…how nice’. And what they are thinking is ‘so basically you can’t do anything for me can you?’.

I am returning to D23 for a full day of activities with my cool son Jack videographer on Saturday. I am hoping to score some celebrity interviews. And if they ask me the dreaded question ‘so who do you write for?’ I think I will reply “I write for the PEOPLE OF THE WORLD. And Sitemeter says I am huge in Norway” That autta impress them no?