It's my good fortune to host an article on Mouseplanet that coincides with Thanksgiving. To that end, I've used it as an opportunity to express my gratitude for the many experiences I've had with Disney over the years. I hope you get a chance to take a look. And I hope you have a great Thanksgiving.
Happy Birthday, Mickey Mouse. It's on this occasion that I stop to think about the Partner's statue at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. At the bottom of this statue we see a reminder that "it all started with a Mouse."
What exactly does this inscription mean? Well, in one sense, it's about Mickey Mouse being Walt's first successful cartoon character after going it alone with his own company. That is certainly true as his birthday commemorates the premiere of Steamboat Willie at the Colony Theater 71 years ago. But I think it means much, much more.
We all know Mickey isn't a physical entity, yet he becomes even larger than life by thousands of drawings put into motion at about 24 images a second. Unlike a Hollywood star that stands out on their own, this star doesn't come to life without the effort of an enormous team of people all working together. Of course that includes his original animator, Ub Iwerks. And it includes others like the voice of Jim MacDonald and Wayne Allwine. But it's more than that. Mickey is due to the creative contribution of thousands of people who brought him to life through comic strips, films, music, t-shirts, watches, character appearances and so forth. I think that's why this Partner's statue is so relevant. Walt's not just holding Mickey's hand. He's holding the hand of people who have made this character and company a reality in the lives of so many through the years, and who continue to do so today.
Perhaps that's why this statue is chosen to represent the Partners in Excellence award for Disney Cast Members. It represents the great work many do to make the magic come to life. In that light, I think this sentiment is even better represented by the following quote made by Walt:
"...many hands and hearts and minds generally contribute to anyone's notable achievements. We share, to a large extent, one another's fate. We help create those circumstances which favor or challenge us in meeting our objectives and realizing our dreams." -Walt Disney
Happy Birthday, Mickey Mouse. And to all who partner with him.
Michael Eisner once wrote: "It is my hope that just as we are known for achieving synergy in marketing our product, we will become known for synergy in conducting our operations.
It's such a little thing at Sea World. You've seen benches that are reserved for parties with wheelchairs. This one is reserved for Guests with strollers. It's located in Shamu Stadium and is a blessing for parents who are trying to keep their littlest asleep while taking advantage of seeing the show.
What you see is an authentic Bob's Beverage Buck. It's part of the opening of Disney's Animal Kingdom. Bob refers to Bob Lamb, who opened the park back in 1998. Cast Member were working hard and furious to get the park opened. With Bob's Beverage Buck you could get complimentary sodas to help melt the heat away. It's just a little part of what helped to create the culture among the Cast Members at Disney's Animal Kingdom. 
