Like so many other families I know, my family has a lot of annual traditions. Besides our yearly vacation to the Happiest Place on Earth, we also like to visit other areas of the state, like Donner Lake, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and the closest of all, the California State Fair. The fair, which runs for three weeks every summer, is held in Sacramento every August, a mere thirty minutes from my hometown.
Besides the caramel corn and funnel cake, we go for the arts and crafts exhibits, the hypnotist, and the endless supply of guest speakers. While these speakers are usually celebrities and bands, I was ecstatic to see that this year the fair would be the proud host of a trio of Disney Legends. Tucked away in the corner of the Toytopia exhibit, sandwiched between a display of legos, Dr. Seuss original artwork, and a very noisy yo-yo show, I came face to face last Sunday with a table at which three Disney Greats sat.
On the far left was Bill Farmer, the current voice of not only Goofy, but Mickey's beloved pet Pluto as well. While he signed pictures of Goofy he was more than happy to give Mickey's pal's classic "hyuk, hyuk" laugh and swap stories with Disney fans.
Next to the voice of Goofy sat Disney Archives Director, official historian, Disneyana speaker, and author, Dave Smith. As I waited in line for the next Disney legend's autograph, I got a chance to talk to Mr. Smith. Besides being a very friendly man, he has a job that any Disney fanatic would love. Not only is he sent to Walt Disney World on business trips (a fact he seemed quite happy about), but Mr. Smith also has a Silver Pass—a special ticket that allows him to get into Disneyland, which I was fortunate enough to get a once in a lifetime peek at. (Someday I hope to have one of my own!) With all these perks, I figured a man who has been with Disney as long as Dave Smith has would have unlimited access to the parks. But it just goes to show you how exclusive the elite Club 33 is, that even Dave Smith, Disney Archivist for over 30 years, does not have a membership. (Although he did say that if he ever wanted to go, he knows people that could get him in. Lucky man!)
Next to Dave Smith, and the most popular of the three autograph signers, was Margaret Kerry. Now an adorable woman in her 60's or 70's, Margaret Kerry was once the model for none other than Peter Pan's moody companion, Tinker Bell. Ms. Kerry, who wrote "Happy Thoughts!" in the book I had her autograph, was the very opposite of her snooty animated counterpart. She wore her Disney name badge with pride, showing pictures of her on the Andy Griffith show and with Marc Davis, the man who turned her into Tinker Bell, to all who were interested.
As if these three Disney Legends weren't enough to turn my yearly trip to the California State Fair into a bonafide Disney experience, I was happily surprised to find a Disney animator in the building. Larry Scholl, Disney story artist extraordinaire, sat at a drawing table offering to draw people as their favorite princess or action figure. As a girl with a Disney obsession, I couldn't very well pass the opportunity up, and took the chance to have myself drawn as a princess reading a book.
After meeting all the Disney Legends and being drawn into Disney history, I truly felt like my annual family tradition had been transformed, as I went from State Fair visitor to Disney Princess in a matter of minutes. Meeting such influential people in the world of Disney was a thrill for me, and it just goes to show you that even when you're too far away or too broke to visit the real home of Disney magic, somehow the magic always has a way of coming to you.
