Nostalgia Nook—Polly Pockets

It’s that time of the month again! Time to go back in time and remember something fun from my youth. Last month at my birthday, a group of us recalled our Polly Pockets. We even looked up pictures of them to remember them! So, let’s dive into the world of Polly.

60 Days to Go: Disney Memories (#2)

With the last entry reminding me about my character breakfast at the Wilderness Lodge, I've decided to share some other character dining experiences:

--At an ice cream social held at the California Grill, Chip comes over and tries to pull my dad's shirt off. It takes a few minutes to realize he's actually tugging at the emblem on the shirt. My dad worked for ABC when it was taken over by Disney and we had one company picnic (One. Disney, I love them, but boy are they cheap!). At the picnic, everyone was given a shirt with the Disney gang printed on them. Chip was trying to pull at himself to show that he was on my dad's shirt! My dad and Chip then started to get a few laughs at mocking how cheap Eisner was.

--At Chef Mickey's, we were with a large group of friends when they started to giggle. My back was to the main room so I didn't know what was going on. Suddenly, I feel my hair start to be mussed with--pushed on top of my head and then over my face. I turned around and there's Dale, playing with my hair.

--A few from the Liberty Tree Tavern: Keeping with the theme, Chip signed my sister's autograph book and then threw it into the fireplace. Our last trip, Dale tried to run off with my poncho after posing for some pictures. And finally, we learned you should never give Goofy a bell. As some cast members brought out a cake for a lucky birthday patron, Goofy rang the bell so hard and so often, our ears were ringing by the end of the celebration.

And one from trips past, told often by my parents:

At Fort Wilderness, there was once a breakfast with Melvin the Moose (when he isn't at Country Bear Hall, he lives in Pioneer Hall). The Country Bears were part of the breakfast and when they came in, my dad said he had never seen my toddler self move so fast. I crawled over him and away from where the bears were.

So, I would suggest doing a character meal at least once during your foray to Disney. Memories will be made and the food's good!

70 Days to Go: Disney Memories (#1)

I figured I'd share with you some of my favorite Disney memories, every ten posts.

The first one is actually one of my earliest, from when I was a little girl. It's of an Epcot restaurant called the Odyssey. Designed in a futuristic decor, the restaurant also provided entertainment. You could watch Disney characters (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, etc) dance around in space suits that looked like they were made from tin foil. Since I was so young when I went, I can hardly remember the music or the food served, but I do remember that I loved to go there. And that lasts longer than anything else. It tugs my heart every time I pass the building that housed the restaurant, now vacant.

Dear Disney, Bring it back! Love, Me.

A Plea

Here's a sad story:

Back in 1990, The Disneyland Story aired to celebrate Disneyland's 35th anniversary. Hosted by Harry Anderson (Night Court), the special went through the history of the California theme park. It was a great special that also highlighted what would come in the parks. My family taped the special and we would watch it often. 

Well, one day after several years with the tape (which also held The Care Bears Movie II and Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealer), it got taped over. We lost Rainbow Brite and The Disneyland Story ( The Care Bears Movie II we were able to keep) and the family was sad. We knew it was lost to the ages and every so often, scenes from the show creep into my mind and I get sad again. 

A couple years ago, I was able to get Rainbow Brite and the Star Stealers on DVD--a treasured piece of my childhood returned after an excited friend called me to tell me where to get it. It gave me hope that I might be able to get some other treasured childhood pieces returned to me as well. So, I took to the internet to see if a copy of The Disneyland Story was available. I knew it was a long shot as it had been just a TV special and surprisingly, Disney had never hinted at releasing. But I held out hope--Disneyland had just celebrated its 50th anniversary. There could've been a chance that the old special was released as part of the celebration. No such luck. 

And now comes my plea--either for those who read this or for the people at Disney. If you know where I can obtain a copy, please tell me. And if there isn't a copy--Dear Disney, Release it. Please?