Many years ago, way back in the 1980's, someone told me about a secret place within Disneyland; a place that was closed off from the public and a person had to have heavy connections to visit. It became an almost mystical destination to me, like Brigadoon or Shangri-La. One day, I told myself, I will visit this place...

Leave The Toys At Home
Posted on - 7/28/2006
Modern technology, hailed by many as the means by which the world will be brought together, appears to often have the opposite effect. In bringing us closer to people all over the world, it often separates us from those who should be closest.

The Pirates Premiere
Posted on - 6/27/2006
Saturday, June 24, 2006. Today, I attended the premiere of the second installment of Disney's Pirates Of The Caribbean movie, as well as the unveiling of the enhanced Pirates attraction.

Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life For Me...
Posted on - 6/22/2006
Avast, ye scurvy scalawags and listen close, for I've a tale to tell. This here be a story that's risen straight from the depths of Davy Jones' locker, and I'll send ye there meself if ye don't heed my warnings. What I want ter tell ye about is the story of Dead Man's Chest, or more to the point, the legend behind the song ye know so well.

Into The Night
Posted on - 3/30/2006
A new tenant shares with us the strange tale of his arrival at our favorite old house.

Best Disney Movie Ever
Posted on - 3/15/2006
A number of years ago, I saw a small story on the evening news; one of those "human interest" stories they keep handy for slow news days. This particular story had to do with a 73-year-old gentleman who traveled 240 miles on a lawn tractor to visit his ailing brother. I remember thinking "Someone oughta make a movie out of that story." Little did I realize...

Hillbillies In The Mist
Posted on - 1/27/2006
Mike is experiencing a bout of pseudo-intellectual exhaustion, and just can't find the steam to cook up any nonsense to spout off about this week. In his place, he has invited a distant relative, Mr. Forsythe J. Plaintain, to give a review of his recent, first-ever trip across the Mason-Dixon Line to visit Disneyland with his family.

The Ties That Bind
Posted on - 1/14/2006
Recently, I had the time and opportunity to visit Disneyland by myself, something I'd never done before. I have to say it was a strange feeling at first, because it's not really a place designed for solo travelers. I took advantage of this unique situation and did something that had simply never crossed my mind before: sit quietly and think.

The Secret Of Life Is In Very Tiny Things
Posted on - 12/20/2005
I threw my back out recently, and as a result had a fair stretch of time to lay on the floor and ponder life and whatnot. And maybe it's because of the holiday season, or the time on the floor, but I realized the simple fact that it's high time I told someone close to me just how important he is. I dedicate this to my Dad.

Walt, Mark, Jimmy and Me.
Posted on - 11/26/2005
While traveling the Rivers of America, I have an epiphany: Is it possible to link three of America's finest storytellers within a single experience? For better or worse, I tried.

1976
Posted on - 11/12/2005
As I near 40 I find that for me to explain my enduring love for Disneyland, I sometimes need to look back to the visits I made as a kid. So by way of an introduction, I look back to a cherished family trip to the Magic Kingdom from 1976, a time when my life was much simpler, and the world around me seemed to be a much bigger place. Though I had been there once before, this was the trip in which Walt's vision became crystal clear and my love for the park was carved in stone.