Day 62 - 100: 100 Year of Wonder…Over

January 7th, 2024

Dear Disney,

The 100 Years of Wonder Celebration has been completed! And what a celebration it was!

On January 27th, 2023, Disneyland Resort opened the celebration with a new parade and World of Color Nighttime spectacular, remodeled Toon Town with the, much anticipated, “Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway” Disneyland Debut, and so much platinum decor.

In the fall, Disney World continued the celebration with a new fireworks show at Epcot and a return of “Happily Ever After” fireworks and entertainment at Magic Kingdom.

Walt Disney Animation put together an almost 9 minute short called “Once Upon a Studio.” This short brought the magic of the last 100 years of Disney storytelling into the present, bringing back the voices of as many characters as possible and using archival footage and dialogue to bring to life those who could not, like Robin Williams as Genie and Pat Carrol as Ursula.

For Darling and I, the 100 Years of Wonder celebration was both exciting and daunting. October 2022 was the beginning of Dear Disney as a company and experiment, bringing our thoughts and feelings about Disney Magic and nostalgia to life.  We continue to hope to bring together a positive community that embodies the best of us as we believe Disney should be doing. 

In early January 2023, we were able to participate in the celebrations at Disneyland. The platinum decor throughout the park glittered in the winter air, and the feeling of excitement was giddying. We could not wait to come back and enjoy the celebration in its entirety. 

So, in July, we went back to Disneyland. The celebration was in full swing! At Disney California Adventure, the re-imagined World of Color One was everything this nostalgia lover could want: the music was inspiring, the lights and sounds made us awestruck.  Watching World of Color One, I would find it difficult for anyone to find complaint in this Disney Magic.

At Disneyland, the newly remodeled Toon Town was everything that Jim Jr. could ask for.  He loves trains and was looking forward to “Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway.” For weeks before we left, he was watching the ride on youtube, eagerly anticipating his chance to be in those seats, watching Mickey and Minnie and Goofy! The ride was worth the wait.  The whole family, Darling, Lady, Jim Jr., and myself marveled at the design of the queue and the ride itself. 

Darling and I do not like watching parades, they have a tendency to be crowded and hot, but we found a spot near Town Hall and settled in to watch “Magic Happens.” Lady and Jim Jr. had an impromptu bubble party, and Darling and I took a moment to watch the parade and our children.  The juxtaposition of the parade music and the laughter of our children is really what makes magic happen.  

These moments are what Disney is all about.  I think, in the hustle and bustle of our modern world, with worries about money and time and politics, we forget the small things: a partner's smile, a child's laughter, a moment in time that will never be forgotten.

The events at Disney World appear to be magical, but, having no first hand experience, I can only say what some of our friends told us after coming back. Disney World continues to be breathtaking, and the 100 Years celebration only added to the experience.

Finally, the last real 100 Years of Wonder celebration event was the production and release of the Walt Disney Animation Studio short, “Once Upon a Studio.” The short, telling a quick story of all of the major characters coming to life in order to take a photo for the 100th Anniversary is a little lacking in plot, but what it makes up for is the emotional connection we have with these characters.  Watching Mickey and Minnie, Robin and Little John, and all of my childhood favorites interacting with each other for this short was everything I did not know I wanted.  Hearing Robin Williams’ voice as Genie and Pat Carrol as Ursula again, however quickly, brought a smile to my face and a tear in my eye. I thoroughly enjoyed it all.

However, everything has a beginning and an ending and we are now at this ending.  I do not know what is in store for the Disney Company's next 100 years, but I cannot wait to experience it.

Until next time,

Sincerely yours,

Jim Dear and Darling