In a visually spectacular kick-off ceremony this morning in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle at
Disneyland in Southern California, Disneyland Resort President Matt Ouimet joined over 1,000 Disneyland Cast Members, plus their friends and families, in formally launching an exciting new program that will be a major part of the global celebration of the 50th anniversary of Disneyland next year.
"The Happiest Faces on Earth ... A Disney Family Album" is an unprecedented invitation to people around the world to send in their cherished Disney memories (especially their favorite Disneyland memories) in the form of photographs, snapshots or digital images (both old and recent). The hundreds of thousands of anticipated submissions will be woven together to create "The Happiest Faces on Earth ... A Disney Family Album," a series of extremely unique photo collages of Classic Disney characters and images from the last half century.
By contributing their favorite Disney photo memories to the oversized photo collages of "The Happiest Faces on Earth ... A Disney Family Album," people the world over will become active participants in the milestone "The Happiest Homecoming on Earth" 50th anniversary celebration of Disneyland, officially launching on May 5, 2005. The collages will then be on exhibit throughout the Disneyland Resort for 18-months during the entire duration of the celebration.
"Starting today on the 49th anniversary of Disneyland and extending through December 31 of this year we invite everyone in the world to send us their most treasured and special Disney photos, especially those of their unforgettable visits to Disneyland," said Ouimet. "This is an amazing program that will allow everybody to become part of this one-of-a-kind tapestry of memories during our upcoming milestone 50th anniversary."
To visually demonstrate the collage concept, "The Happiest Faces on Earth ... A Disney Family Album" program was launched this morning via the creation of an enormous photo collage of Mickey Mouse in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. Each of the more than 1,000 participants held a square, 3' x 3' color Disney image over their heads and when properly arranged and combined, created a gigantic smiling (and even winking) image of Mickey Mouse. The impressive visual was produced to accurately illustrate the photo collage technique that will be utilized in creating "The Happiest Faces on Earth ... A Disney Family Album."
Everyone is encouraged to submit their color or black and white photos beginning today 8:00am via information available at
http://www.disneyland.com/photos. All photos must be received by December 31, 2004 to be considered for use. A photo release form is available online and must be included with all photo submissions, along with appropriate contact information (name, address, email and phone number). Participants in the program are encouraged not to send original photos. Not all photo submissions will be used for various reasons. Confirmation emails and letters will be sent in spring 2005 to all participants confirming receipt of photo and, if the photo is used, notification of the general placement of the photo in the collages.
Photo imagery can also be sent via the following mailing options:
U.S. Postal Service FedEx/UPS
Happiest Faces on Earth Happiest Faces on Earth
PO Box 30464 c/o Data Services Direct
Salt Lake City, Utah 84130-0464 2481 S. 1560 West
Woods Cross, Utah 84087
Premiering on May 5, 2005 "The Happiest Homecoming on Earth," an extraordinary celebration of the 50th anniversary of Disneyland, will pay tribute to the millions of guests and Cast Members who have contributed to the rich legacy of "The Happiest Place on Earth" over the past five decades. The 18-month long occasion represents the biggest event in the history of The Walt Disney Company and is the first truly global Disney celebration (with commemorative events planned at each of the Disney theme parks around the world in an international salute to Disneyland).
To learn more about "The Happiest Faces on Earth ... A Disney Family Album," please visit
http://www.disneyland.com/photos. For general Disneyland information, or information on "The Happiest Homecoming on Earth" 50th anniversary celebration, please visit
http://www.disneyland.com.
For general information, call (714) 781-4565.
