Day 101: 100 Years of Wonder

January 9, 2023

Dear Disney,

As of January 1st, 2023, the Disney Company began celebrating their 100th Anniversary. Celebrations are not expected to begin until the end of January, with the Celebration Kickoff on January 27th.

For Darling and I, we plan on using the 100th Anniversary to highlight individuals that have made Disney special to us, whether it is Imagineers, Animators, Studio Executives, or Specialized positions.

We will also be highlighting the history of the parks and the different rides and events that have remained throughout or have come and gone.

Till tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Jim Dear and Darling

Day 89-100: Disease, Depression, and Disney

December 28, 2022 through January 8, 2023

Dear Disney,

Shortly after Christmas, and a little before, Darling, the kids, and myself got sick. We all got the flu.

At first, we tried to keep the daily letters going, but it quickly was determined that we were not capable of doing that. Between the fever, the chills, and the general malaise, we missed some daily updates.

Once we missed some daily updates, we began to feel overwhelmed. One missed update made two updates, then three. Till, here we are today: twelve updates late and sitting in mild depression and anxiety.

My plan was to continue to make late updates, but every day the hole was not getting any smaller. Darling said the obvious, “Make an update explaining that we got sick, and we could not make those updates.”

So that is what we are doing. We sincerely apologize for missing those updates, but alas we are not able to.

We will continue to update the letters on a daily basis, assuming our health, physical and mental, are capable.

Till tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Jim Dear and Darling

Day 88: Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special

December 27, 2022

Dear Disney,

Darling and I waited until after Christmas to watch this movie. Holiday Specials have a 50% success rate, so by waiting until after Christmas if the special was good then it would extend the season at least one more day; if the special was bad, it would not interfere with the season. We watched this special, with little expectations, and we were happily surprised.

As this special is still a recent release, we will complete the review with limited spoilers. Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special begins where we leave the Guardians after Thor, Love and Thunder. Peter Quill had been explaining to his fellow Guardians what Christmas was. Mantis, wanting to make Peter happy, convinces Drax to go with her on an adventure to get Peter the perfect Christmas present.

The special is witty, with smart dialog and funny individual scenes. The over-arching story is simple but engaging. The special effects are limited, but what is there is well done.

Darling and I thoroughly enjoyed the special. We did not expect to find a loving and caring Holiday Special in the Marvel Universe, but there is now one. If you enjoy the Marvel Universe, this is a great addition.

Till tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Jim Dear and Darling

Till tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Jim Dear and Darling

Day 87: Lovepop’s Mickey and Friends Christmas Tree Adventure Review

December 26, 2022

Dear Disney,

Darling wrote about her love of all things advent. If you were to ask her, the Lovepop Advent Calendar was amazing! However, I would like to give an open and honest and, relatively impartial, revieMw of Lovepop’s Mickey and Friends Christmas Tree Adventure Advent Calendar. I want to remind everyone that this is not sponsered or affiliated with Dear Disney. At the time of publication, Dear Disney has received no compensation for our views. With that said, let’s review.

When I first purchased the advent calendar I was a little frustrated. The box was small and I was unsure how Darling would feel about the advent. I am used to advents being relatively big and combersome. For the last few years, I have purchased for the kids Advents that are 2 feet square, so when this advent was a small rectangle (6.45" x 4.84" x 2.2"), I was unhappy with the product compared to the cost. That being said, the box was well crafted and sturdy. I was very happy with the apparent durability of the box itself. I purchase these advents months in advance, so I hid the advent and waited.

On the first day of December, I gave the advent to Darling and she was delighted. She opened the first card and out popped Mickey Mouse and I realized my first opinion was wrong. Obviously, small papercraft objects would fold flat and could easily fit in the small box.

After seeing the first popup of Mickey, my opinion of the advent calendar change drastically. Not only do I think that the advent is worth the money, but I would have paid even more. With each day the story and the pop-ups became more and more detailed. Yes, there were some days that the pop-up was not a pop-up, but rather a 2d piece of scenery or a bird or a hat. These pieces were interesting, but not compared to the 3d pop-ups! The advent spoiled us with the amount of amazing pop-ups.

And that was the whole point, an Advent filled with3d pop-ups. What Darling and I did not imagine was the scope of the pop-ups. For such a small box, the amount of things that came out and were represented by the story was too large for the space we gave to them. Next year, we are going to give this advent a 3-foot-long portion of our decoration area so that everything can be laid out better, instead of cramped together as it was this year.

We are not sponsored by Lovepop, but here is the link to purchase this Advent Calendar. If you, or someone you know, both likes advents and Mickey Mouse, I strongly suggest this advent calendar for them.

Till Tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Jim Dear and Darling

Day 86: Christmas Day

December 25, 2022

Dear Disney,

Christmas Day is here! Toys and Santa and stockings! Christmas Day is the highlight of the Holiday season. For Mickey and Friends Lovepop Advent, today is the final and most important day as well. Today we meet Santa!

Here is today’s story:

And here is Santa and his presents for all the good boys and girls.

Till tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Jim Dear and Darling

Day 85: Christmas Eve

December 24, 2022

Dear Disney,

Today is Christmas Eve. Darling and I are excited, and our children are restless with anticipation. For the last 24 days, we have gone along with Mickey and his friends on the journey to get Mickey a Christmas tree. Finally, after 24 days, Mickey has his Christmas tree!

Here is today’s story:

And here is the delightful tree!

Till tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Jim Dear and Darling

Day 84: Christmas Carols!

December 23, 2022

Dear Disney,

Darling loves Christmas Music and this year we have been on the lookout for a classic Christmas Record. Then today’s Lovepop Advent was Mickey’s Record Player and Christmas Record. Darling and I thought that that was serendipitous and we attempted to find our own Christmas Record. Alas, we could not.

Today’s story is:

Here is Mickey’s record player.

Till tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Jim Dear and Darling

Day 83: Feast!

December 22, 2022

Dear Disney,

One of the best things about the holidays is the food, and Lovepop does not disappoint. Today, Mickey and his friends get three dishes: turkey, vegetables, and a bone for Pluto.

Here is today’s story:

And the wonderful feast for Mickey and his friends!

Till tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Jim Dear and Darling

Day 82: Home!

December 21, 2022

Dear Disney,

Today we step inside Mickey Mouse’s house, decorated for Christmas. Today is another day that the advent calendar is a little less than other days. Not every day can be an amazing papercraft display.

Here is today’s story:

And here is the home of Mickey Mouse!

Till tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Jim Dear and Darling

Day 81: Goofy

December 20, 2022

Dear Disney,

Goofy is one of the most charming and loveable of classic Disney Characters. Everything Goofy does is genuine. Yes, he is not the smartest. Yes, he is not cutest, but I love Goofy. The Lovepop Goofy is just as cute and loveable as you would expect.

Here is today’s story:

And here’s Goofy!

Till Tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Jim Dear and Darling

Day 80: Chip and Dale

December 19, 2022

Dear Disney,

Today’s new additions was Chip and Dale!

I do not have any stories about Chip and Dale growing up. Darling and I both remember The Rescue Rangers, but Chip and Dale by themselves were not as popular.

Darling had a movie called Disney’s Christmas Gift that she would watch ever year that had a small part with Chip and Dale, but that is it.

As an adult and the advent of Disney+, Darling and I have been able to watch more classic Disney shorts, and Chip and Dale are some of the funniest to me.

Here is today’s story:

And the amazing Chip and Dale.

Till Tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Jim Dear and Darling

Day 79: Donald

December 18, 2022

Dear Disney,

As I have said before, Donald was my favorite Disney character while growing up. I enjoyed the humor of him always getting angry. As an adult, I find older Donald frustrating in his anger.

That being said, Lovepop Donald is cute and delightful.

Here is today’s story excerpt:

And the surly Donald.

Till tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Jim Dear and Darling

Day 78: Daisy

December 17, 2022

Dear Disney,

I am not sure what is better: giving presents or getting them. Today’s Lovepop Advent is all about giving presents to Mickey’s friends, starting with Daisy. I am trying to put myself in both Mickey’s and Daisy’s shoes. Mickey, fresh from a night with Santa’s elves is bring one of his closest friends a present. Meanwhile, Daisy is going to be getting a present from Mickey that she has no idea about.

I think that that is great. The fact that either side of this equation appears to be having fun and wonderful and enjoyable.

Without further ado, here is today’s story.

Here is Daisy, in all of her paper goodness.

Till Tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Jim Dear and Dasrling

Day 77: Packages, Boxes, and Bags

December 16, 2022

Dear Disney,

Today begins Winter Break! Today begins the real gift getting season! And we at the Darling household are not the only ones getting presents, but Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto are getting presents from the elves to give to Daisy, Chip and Dale, Goofy, and Donald!

Darling really enjoyed today’s advent as the small parcels are extremely cute. They fit nicely in Pluto’s sled!

Here is today’s story.

And the cute packages.

Till tomorrow,

Sincerely,

Jim Dear and Darling

Day 76: Animals!

December 15, 2022

Dear Disney,

For the last 15 days, Darling and I have been invested in our Lovepop’s Advent. Each day, Darling has opened up the advent and I was amazed by the outcome. Today, was less so. Today was the first day that I was a little disappointed in the advent. Today’s additions to the adventure is a little blue bird and a rabbit.

Here is today’s story.

And the additions to the forest.

Till tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Jim Dear and Darling

Day 75: Santa Hats!

December 15, 2022

Dear Disney,

I feel like a broken record. I am so happy with the advent calendars this year and the Lovepop advent is wonderful. I had always purchased Lovepop birthday and anniversary cards for Darling, as she loves papercraft, but now I will be looking at the other items they have to offer.

After Christmas, Darling and I will do a full review on the calendar: the good, the bad, the indifferent. From first blush though, I really like it.

Here is today’s story:

And Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto in their new Santa Hats!

Till tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Jim Dear and Darling

Days 74: Woodworking

December 13, 2022

Dear Disney,

When I was six or seven years old, my grandfather made me and all my cousins’ toys for Christmas. The Mighty Ducks had come out that year and hockey was very popular. My grandfather made each grandchild their own hockey stick, and for the young kids, my grandfather made us all tops. I remember getting the top in my stocking, holding it in my hand, and pulling the cord, watching it spin. I can still smell the wood. In the subsequent years I lost that top. I’m not sure when I lost it, but today’s Lovepop Mickey and Friends Advent made me think of his toys. I miss those toys. I miss my grandfather.

The advent today was a toolbox and workstation. It appears that the elves have work to be done.

Here is today’s story.

And the wonderful pop-ups.

Till tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Jim Dear and Darling

Day 73: Toys

December 12, 2022

Dear Disney,

Is there anything better than toys on Christmas Day? I cannot think of anything, at least when I was a child, I could not think of anything. Coming into our living room on Christmas Day, seeing the presents under the tree.

Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto are surprised with gifts from Iggy, Higgy, and Ziggy: A train, a doll, and teddy bear!

Here is today’s story:

And here are the delightful toys.

I spoke about this yesterday, but I cannot express how happy I am with this advent. The pop-ups are well built. Sometimes, pop-ups are cheaply constructed or easily damaged. These are not. The figurines that are create are delightful, todays are particularly cute.

Everyday, I look forward to having Darling open the advent so I can look at what came out!

Till tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Jim Dear and Darling

Day 72: 100% Elf

December 11, 2022

Dear Disney,

When I was younger I thought Santa’s Elves was one of the coolest parts of Santa’s Workshop. They worked with their hands, they actually made something. Santa spread happiness and joy, but without his elves he was nothing. Today’s Lovepop Mickey and Friends Advent is all about the elves.

I am really enjoying the advent. I think the designs are cute, the product is well packaged, and I see this being an addition to Darling advents.

Without further ado, here is today’s story.

And the delightful certification.

Till tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Jim Dear and Darling

Day 71: Cup O’ Joy

December 10, 2022

Dear Disney,

The weather outside has been particularly wintery. Outside it is cold, windy, and wet. Inside, well…inside, it is warm and dry, with hands filled with warm cups of joy: whether it be coffee, tea, or, my favorite, hot chocolate.

For today’s Lovepop Advent, Mickie, Minnie, and Pluto our comforted by cups of steamy Hot Chocolate by there hosts :Iggy, Higgy, and Ziggy.

Here is today’s Mickey and Friends Christmas Tree Adventure story:

And here is the cup of Hot Chocolate.

Till tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Jim Dear and Darling