Disneyland Park celebrated its 56th anniversary of
its opening yesterday. But for those who couldn't wait to get that party
started, there was the Disneyana Fan Club's annual convention.
Photo by Paul Schnebelen
Held just down the road from the Park at the Anaheim Crowne
Plaza Resort in Garden Grove, CA., this year's festivities actually got
underway on Tuesday with a special off-site luncheon that was held at Garner
Holt Productions in San Bernardino.
Once the conventioneers returned to the hotel, it was time
for the Disneyana Fan Club's welcoming reception. Where Disney Legend Alice
Davis and Maggie Richardson (i.e. the niece of famed Disney artist &
designer Mary Blair) shared stories about Walt & Ms. Blair.
(L to R) Disney Legend Alice Davis
and Maggie Richardson. Photo by Paul Schnebelen
The next morning, this year's convention officially got
underway with a collector's brunch / fundraiser for Ryman Arts. From there,
there were all sorts of entertaining panels & presentations. Like the one
that noted Disney author & historian Jim Korkis and some yutz-whose-name-I-forget
swapped stories about the development & construction of The Walt Disney
World Resort.
How come Korkis got the good
podium? Photo by Paul Schnebelen
Then Nick Farago & Roger LaRoque gave a talk about how
their Disneyland postcard guide served as the inspiration for Bruce Gordon and
David Mumford's theme park opus, "Disneyland the Nickel Tour." And speaking of
books, Wednesday afternoon's event featured an author's panel where Jim Korkis,
Don Peri, Nancy Temple Rodrigue and Andi
Stern all got to talk about their latest Walt-related work.
(L to R) Jim Korkis, Professor Andi
Stern, Nancy Temple Rodrigue and Don Peri.
Photo by Paul Schnebelen
Afterwards, conventioneers got the chance to meet with this
year's authors as well as purchase autographed copies of their books.
Photo by Jim Hill
Next came Thursday's selection of panels &
presentations. Which kicked off with a talk by longtime Disney designer Kevin
Kidney …
Kevin Kidney holds up a Mary
Poppins-inspired miniature carousel.
Photo by Paul Schnebelen
… who brought along some of the paper sculptures that he and
Jody Daily created which were used to create some of the individual decorative
float elements for Mickey's Soundsational Parade.
Photo by Paul Schnebelen
Next up was Karlos Siqueiros, the manager of concept
development for Food Operations at the Disneyland Resort. Who – as part of his
presentation – talked about some of the seasonal novelty items that his
department has created / is creating for the Parks.
Photo by Paul Schnebelen
This panel was a particular favorite with conventioneers.
Given that Siquerios brought along Duffys filled with chocolate chip cookies
for every attendee at this year's Disneyana Fan Club annual convention.
Photo by Paul Schnebelen
Then – after a lunch break – Ron Miziker took to the stage
and took DFC members back to the Summer of 1971. When Walt Disney World was
just weeks away from opening and Ron was in charge of crafting / stage-managing
that Resort's three-day-long grand opening.
Ron Miziker holds up a copy of the
master plan for Walt Disney World's grand opening.
Photo by Paul Schnebelen
Miziker also shared some photos from October of 1971.
Including this shot of the very first performance of WDW's Electrical Water
Pageant.
Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc.
All rights reserved
After this, conventioneers got to peek behind-the-scenes at
Disney's voice department. As character voice veterans Tony Anselmo (voice of
Donald Duck) and Bill Farmer (voice of Goofy) worked with relative newcomer
Brett Iwan (voice of Mickey Mouse) and longtime producer Ben Hoppe recreated a
recording session for a "Have a Laugh" sequence.
(L to R) Ben Hoppe, Brett Iwan,
Tony Anselmo & Bill Farmer. Photo by Paul Schnebelen
The afternoon's entertainment wrapped up with a presentation
by noted animation authors Charles Solomon and Jerry Beck.
(L to R) Charles Solomon and Jerry
Beck. Photo by Paul Schnebelen
That evening, conventioneers attended a special celebration banquet.
Where song stylist Susan Egan performed as well as reminisced about working on
projects like Disney's "Hercules" as well as the Broadway musical version of "Beauty and the Beast." After this banquet, attendees got the chat to with this Broadway
veteran as well as get Susan's autograph.
Susan Egan meets with her fans at
this year's Disneyana
Fan Club annual convention. Photo by Paul Schebelen
That – to my way of thinking – was what made this year's
Disneyana Fan Club annual convention particularly enjoyable. That you not only
got to hear great stories from company insiders like Bob Garner …
Veteran television producer Bob
Garner. Photo by Paul Schnebelen
… you also got to have face time with Disney animation
legends like Mark Henn.
Mark Henn signs autographs for DFC
annual convention attendees.
Photo by Paul Schnebelen
I mean, where else are you going to hear Eddie Sotto sharing
great behind-the-scenes stories about the design & construction of Euro
Disneyland followed by Alan Halcrow interviewing master animator Eric Goldberg.
Eric Goldberg (L) talks with Alan
Halcrow about some of the challenges that he
has faced over the course of his
animation career. Photo by Paul Schnebelen
Of course, for the collectors in the card, Saturday's Show
& Sale was the best part of this event. Where they could wander the
convention space at the Anaheim Crowne Plaza Resort and come across
one-of-a-kind Disney-related curios (like signs from Marty Sklar's retirement
party from WDI) …
Photo by Jim Hill
… and/or shop for Imagineering-exclusive at the traveling
version of Mickey's of Glendale.
Photo by Jim Hill
As you strolled the aisles at the Show & Sale, you'd discover all sort of
amazing merch …
Photo by Jim Hill
… not to mention fan favorites like Margaret Kerry, the
original live-action reference model for Tinker Bell in Disney's 1953 animated
version of "Peter Pan."
Think Tink. Margaret Kerry. Photo
by Jim Hill
This is why the Disneyana Fan Club's annual convention has
become a must-do for Disney enthusiasts from around the country. Not only
because attendees get to see all sorts of great panels & presentations, but
because these people also then get the chance to renew sometimes-decades-long
friendships with other Disneyana fans.
Photo by Paul Schnebelen
Special thanks to Paul Schnebelen for allowing JHM to make
use of many of the photographs that he took at this year's event. If you'd like
to learn more about the Disneyana Fan Club, please click on this link.