** Picture of the Day 3 **

[PA Disneymania]

Chicago

 

[mom2rtk]

Soundsational Abu by mom2rtk, on Flickr

 

[Aladar2004]

 

[goopysolelady]

I guess it's officially time to say goodbye to the beach and summer....

 

[Aladar2004]

 

[PA Disneymania]

View of the Navy Pier in Chicago

 

[senecabeach]

 

[fractal]

Empty Beach by Chris Dikos, on Flickr

 

[BarkerBird]

"It has that thing - the imagination, and the feeling of happy excitement- I knew when I was a kid." - Walt Disney


Well that’s it, we’ve come to the end of the Diamond Celebration, 60 years of dreams, magic, changes, new beginnings and of course loss. The world lost Walt Disney on December 15, 1966. But I for one am comforted in the knowledge that he, Walt Disney, was able to see Disneyland become a success. It wasn’t so clear at first, or during the building of the park. Many thought Walt was crazy, crazy to spend all this money, go into debt and even risk his studio to make it happen. But it did happen, and he did walk the streets of Disneyland with it full of happy visitors. And today, 60 years now since it opened Disneyland is still the most magical place. The Disney company his huge, now with parks all around the world. But, there is only one, the original. The one that Walt himself watched be built, following his own vision. The one that he paced off in those orange groves in the early 1950’s.

The world has changed in 60 years, Disneyland has changed. But I think one thing has held true, the idea that you can come to this “happy place” and leave the world behind for a while. Forget what the world tells you, and believe in magic, the goodness of people, and that dreams can sometimes come true.

I don’t take visiting for granted. Even now as very much an adult, I still get that feeling when I’m going out though the turnstiles at the end of a visit, the feeling of hoping that I will return, and return soon.

Thank you to each and every Cast Member, from Mickey himself to the attraction operators, to the sanitation and gardening crews. Thank you for making the magic.

 

[goopysolelady]

Galveston Island, Texas:

 

[mom2rtk]

Soundsational Princesses by mom2rtk, on Flickr

 

[Scottwdw]

The new projection shows on the Tree of Life are fantastic. I like how they went with reality when showing the animals associated with animated movies. Here is the finale of one of the shows....


Circle of Life Tree by Scott Thomas, on Flickr

 

[klmall]

 

[fractal]

 

[Aladar2004]

 

[goopysolelady]

Now quite ready to give up the beach yet for this year ; northern part of South Padre Island, Texas. The sand dunes cover the highway, sometimes resulting in the road being closed entirely.

 

[mom2rtk]

Soundsational Genie by mom2rtk, on Flickr

 

[elmoandzoey]

Batteries not included by jagwriter78, auf Flickr

 

[Scottwdw]

Wasn't the composition I was looking for due to children on adult shoulders obscuring the fireworks off to either side so I cropped it into a portrait of the lightsaber.


The Great Lightsaber by Scott Thomas, on Flickr

 

[senecabeach]

Malta...