Lunch Worthy
Several years ago, I had a colleague in higher education, Carol, who had an interesting story about changing her major back when she was a student in college. Changing her major wasn’t the interesting part; nearly 70 percent of all…
Happy Birthday, Disneyland!
Today, July 17, marks Disneyland’s 69th birthday. Happy Birthday! Reflecting on nearly seven decades of joy, happiness, and magic, it’s astonishing to recall that many, including Walt’s own wife and brother, doubted the park’s success. They believed it would be…
Christmas in July
I’m going to shift seasons this week. With mid-July fast approaching, we are already halfway through the summer of 2024. Memorial Day and the Fourth of July are now behind us, and some of you are even home from this…
What’s in a Name?
I’ve taken a page out of Dale Carnegie’s classic book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, by loving to learn people’s names, remember their names, and calling them by name in conversations. When I taught my first college class in…
America the Beautiful
I picked up Disney’s Land by Richard Snow again this summer, and on my second reading, a story really stood out for me. When writing about the twenty-thousand-plus American amusement parks that preceded Disneyland’s opening in 1955, Snow shares an…
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN AMERICAN?
Following up on last week’s article on The American Adventure, I want to continue that theme while we sit in the patriotic season between Memorial Day and the 4th of July. This week, let’s explore when it means for each…
THE AMERICAN ADVENTURE
When it first opened, Epcot was the future. “The 21st Century Begins October 1, 1982,” was more than an opening day marketing slogan. It was a vision. This vision for tomorrow was first found in the front section of Epcot,…
Feed the Birds
Like many other Disney fans, I was sad last Saturday when I heard the news that Richard Sherman had passed away. Fortunately, his legacy will live on through the unforgettable songs he and his brother, Robert, crafted for so many…
Blaine, Trains & Automobiles
Years ago, a friend of mine boarded a plane in San Francisco flying east to Fayetteville, North Carolina. Her son was a chaplain in the Army, and she was excited to spend Christmas with him and his family. She was…
How Does Disney Do That? by James Warda
I’m guessing you love Disney. Or, if not “love,” then at least in a somewhat committed relationship. Maybe with matching “BFF” bracelets. How do I know? Because I’m in love with Disney, too. Couldn’t quite tell you when it happened,…