Pixie Tales...Story Telling, Through Music

The lyrics to a song can often tell a story or convey the message that one could not put in words.  When I listen to Disney Movie Soundtracks or Disneyland Resort Music it brings back some memories. 

Today I was listening to Pandora and Phil Collins’ you’ll be in my heart, from the Tarzan soundtrack was playing and I thought of the story Tim O’Day told at the D23 Expo.  The story took place shortly after 9/11 attack and he was walking through the Park and saw a crying women sitting in Town Square.  He stopped to talk to her and she shared that the world was in such turmoil, there was so much sadness because of what happened, that she felt she had to be here in Disneyland, had to be in a place that was built for HAPPINESS. Walt will always be with us and bring his magic to the Park.

Always...
I'll be with you
I'll be there for you always
Always and always
Just look over your shoulder
Just look over your shoulder
Just look over your shoulder
I'll be there always

Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite Disney movies and the Chorus of “Be Our Guest” always reminds me of how I feel when I hear the “chirp” as my entry to the Happiest Place on Earth is granted.  “Be our guest! Be our guest! get your worries off your chest....How could anyone be gloomy or depressed?  This describes how I feel when I see the Disneyland Train Depot, the berm and the plaque that reads, “Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy.”  Walt built Disneyland so children and parents could have fun together.

At the young age of 4, I had my first Disneyland experience and from that moment on my life was immersed in everything Disney.  I loved Mickey Mouse, the Mickey Mouse Club, and could not wait for our next trip to Disneyland. Growing up in Indiana, we traveled as often as we could; however, when Disney World opened in 1971 we visited and due to the close proximity it was more affordable for a family of 6 to visit.  Either way, as Ariel from the Little Mermaid Movie sings, Disneyland and Disney World are most definitely “Part of My World” and I visited often until I graduated from HIgh school.  

I wanna be where the people are
I wanna see, wanna see them dancin'
Walking around on those - what do you call 'em?
Oh - feet!
Flippin' your fins, you don't get too far
Legs are required for jumping, dancing
Strolling along down a - what's that word again?
Street
Up where they walk, up where they run
Up where they stay all day in the sun
Wanderin' free - wish I could be
Part of that world

Even after high school, Disney was a huge part of my life even though I was not able to visit the Park. Believe it or not, I spent a quarter of a century away from any Disney Resort Park. I kept dreaming that one day I would be able to return and share the magic of the Park with my Husband, Al. In 2007, that dream came true and I share my Happy Place with the love of my life to makes me the Happiest person in the world.  

A dream is a wish your heart makes
When you're fast asleep
In dreams you lose your heartaches
Whatever you wish for, you keep
Have faith in your dreams and someday
Your rainbow will come smiling thru
No matter how your heart is grieving
If you keep on believing
the dream that you wish will come true

No matter how old I get, I will always be a child at heart and when I visit the place Walt built for you and me, I will always respect and honor him.  His Dedication Day speech has been etched in my memory and Disneyland will always be a source of joy and inspiration to me. I want to share my love for Disney with everyone so they can experience the magic and happiness that I cannot express in words alone.  I hope you enjoyed this story through music. I will leave you with one last thing..Disney, you will always have a friend in me.

And as the years go by
Boys, our friendship will never die
You're gonna see
It's our destiny
You've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me

The Chronicles of Duffy...Love

On February 14, 2011, my mail order groom arrived on our doorstop.  I thought to myself that I could be happy with friends and was not interested in a mate. Boy was I wrong!  Val turned out to be my soul mate! Who would have thought that this arranged marriage could have such a happy ending.

Val and I were both adopted from the Disneyland Resort.  I was adopted from DCA’s Paradise Pier and Val from Company D. My adopted parents knew me better than I knew myself and today Val and I are like two peas in a pod. Last September we adopted lil’ Chip and like is so magical.

Because we were born at the Disneyland resort we know the most romantic places in the Parks! Get ready to fall in love for the first time or all over again by visiting some of our favorite locations:

• Watch fireworks cascading over Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Park.
• Take a romantic boat ride through the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction
• Snuggle up with your prince or princess in a seashell and go on an undersea adventure with Ariel and Eric.
• Make a wish at the wishing well, and listen to songs of Snow White at this tranquil, storybook setting in Disneyland
• Disney’s Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular in the Hyperion Theater at Disney California Adventure Park

The Happy Family 

The Chronicles of Duffy - Christmas, D23 and a Winner!

Christmas in July is traditionally celebrated in some parts of Australia, primarily because Christmas falls during their summer season. However, July is one of the coldest months in the “Land Down Under”. Since they find it difficult to follow certain traditions, like having a heavy meal, during the summer they follow all those Holiday customs for their Christmas in July celebrations. This unique celebration is referred to as “Half-Christmas” in Australia.

Here in Arizona, the summer temperatures do not put us in the Christmas spirit often, but the retailers have lots of Christmas in July sales. It is the perfect way to start Christmas shopping and save a few dollars. I have been staying indoors and have not ventured out much lately.  With all this fur and the Christmas sweater that I am so attached to, I get over-heated quickly and prefer to stay indoors. 

In celebration of Christmas in July, My Mom and Dad, hosts of Tales from the Mouse House podcast, launched a giveaway contest and we are happy to announce that our winner of the Tales from the Mouse House T-shirt is Christina.  Christina is a self-proclaimed teenage Disney Geek.  Congratulations Christina and thanks for being a loyal listener to my Mom and Dad’s cool podcast!

I am getting very excited for the D23 Expo and will visit with Mom, Dad, and Val. Katie is going on a separate vacation to play with her doggie friends. Although, I plan to report mainly on new attractions and going-ons at the Disneyland Resort, I’ll have some reports on D23 as well. Stayed tuned for my first real trip to the Park report! It will be my first time back since my adoption and I am so excited. Val is excited too because it will be his first time to the park.  He lived at Company D prior to joining our family.  Our good friend, Julie bought Val as a favor for Mom since we could not make a trip to the resort.  If you haven’t already done so, please read my blog about Val joining the family.

Don’t forget to visit our new webpage for Tales from the Mouse House Disneyland podcast: www.talescast.com.

Make it a Mickey Day! (That’s what Mom and Dad always say!)

The Chronicles of Duffy - Independence Day

Today I ventured out with my family to celebrate Independence Day. It was a hot day but we had a great time.

The park was not as crowded as we expected but it was 109 degrees and on Saturday, we set record high temperature of 118 degrees.

Mom took Katie and I for a walk around the park and we observed people fishing, feeding the ducks, picnicking and having quality family time.  Then we went back to our shaded area and relaxed with Dad. He is still recovering from a recent surgery so he did not join us on our walk.

In our community, the firework festivities were on Saturday and we did not watch them this year because it was too hot.  I am looking forward to going to Disneyland in August where I will get to see the best fireworks in the world.  We are getting ready to watch the Macy’s fireworks on TV.

Since it has been several months since I last blogged, I will catch you up on some of my adventures.  Katie, Val and I have been staying indoor just hanging out but on the weekend we get to run errands with Mom and Dad.  For Father’s Day, we bought Dad a new grill and we have been having lots of BBQs.  You should watch our youtube video of the first rotisserie chicken, Dad made.  It was yummy but very crispy on the outside.

Don’t forget to visit our new webpage for Tales from the Mouse House Disneyland podcast: www.talescast.com.  I will blog more after D23 Expo in August. Hope to see you there!

Make it a Magical Day!

The Chronicles of Duffy - Adventures with Buddies!

My buddies, Katie and Val have been joining me on some adventures. A few weeks ago we played in the snow, well Katie played while I observed. It is crazy to see snow in the region of Arizona that we live in. You can watch Katie’s antics on YouTube.  She is not as popular as the laughing baby but equally as cute.  This past weekend, it was beautiful and we explored the wilderness, of our backyard.  Katie loves to sunbathe and Val and I are beginning to enjoy it too. 

We enjoyed a Saturday afternoon hanging out at Starbucks with other puppies.  My big sis, Katie got a little nervous when another dog tried to sniff me.  She is so loving and protective of me. 

We went shopping for our spring flowers and this year, Mom and Dad are adding calla lilies to the garden.  They are my most favorite and don’t I look so cute in my picture with them? Love springtime and can’t wait to go more adventures.  What would you like to see me and my family do?

The Chronicles of Duffy - Adoption Day!

On an unusually warm day in December, I was daydreaming about joining all the kids that were laughing, playing, and making memories at Paradise Bay. When this lady walked in the shop, picked me up and said how cute I was, a man called her and she put me down and walked out of the store. A few minutes later this man came in the store picked me up and we went for a walk, next thing I knew I was in total darkness and could not really breathe.

I was scared until I realized I had been adopted into a loving family that LOVED all things Disney. So my adventures began on this day....my newly adopted parents vowed to introduce me to all their pals and create memories that would last a lifetime.

I was first introduced to Tim and Frank and found that they were the reason Mom left the shop when she was looking at me. Tim and Frank were friends they met on a recent Disney trip and Dad knew Mom would want to see them. Then we dined at Ariel’s Grotto but I had to stay in the bag because Mom was a little over protective of me. After dinner, I was tired so I went back to the hotel room and slept for the night while Mom and Dad enjoyed the World of Color and the Parks.

We stayed in California for the next two days then we went home to Arizona. When I arrived at my new home I found there was a furry friend to greet me and she had 4 legs and was named Kate.