Disneyland Alumni Club presents “55 Years of Music Magic”

Jim Hill

14 years ago

You’re a Disney fan, right? So I’m guessing that I don’t really need to explain the significance of the upcoming July 17^thto you.

Which brings me to my next question: Where are you planning on spending Disneyland’s 55^th anniversary?

The reason I ask is … Well — this year, anyway — there’s a surprising array of options available to you. If you’re looking to go to the Park itself that day, you coud take part in that foot rally the NFFC – Disneyana Fan Club will be holding. Or – better yet – you could drop by the Disney Gallery on Main Street U.S.A. and check out all of the cool new 55^th anniversary collectibles that Kevin Kidney, Jody Daily, Dave Avanzino and Noah have created.

If – on the other hand – you’re wary of the crowds and would prefer to do something outside of the Park … Well, there’s always Charles Phoenix’s snarky-but-still-sweet Retro Disneyland Slide Show. Which MousePlanet (as part of its 10^th anniversary celebration) will be presenting at the Crowne Plaza Anaheim Resort on the 17th.

Or if you’d like to put some real distance between yourself and the Happiest Place on Earth, you could then head up to San Francisco. Where Tony Baxter – along with former Disneyland presidents Jack Lindquist & Matt Ouimet – will be holding court at the Walt Disney Family Museum. As these three discuss the development of Disneyland as well as this theme park’s impact on
America.

As for me … Well, I’m thinking that the very best way to spend this particular July 17^th is hanging out at the Disneyland Hotel. Which is where the Disneyland Alumni Club will be holding its 55^th reunion in that hotel’s Grand Ballroom starting at 6 p.m..

Photo by Jeff Lange

Now what makes this anniversary event a must-see (besides the fact that it’s a fundraiser for a really great organization: The Children’s Hospital of Orange County) is that it’s a celebration of Disneyland music. Which means that – while you’re dining on that Free Range Breast of Chicken & Vegetable Ratatouille – you’ll be entertained by some of the most talented performers to ever play at that theme park. Among them the Dapper Dans, Rod Miller and Billy Hill & the Hillbillies.

And did I mention that – inbetween these performances by great musical acts like the JK Jazz Band and the Nocturnes Surf Band – you’ll also hear from Disney Legends like X. Atencio, Don Dorsey and Richard M. Sherman? Or that this event will be hosted by original Mouseketeers Tommy Cole and Sherry Alberoni?

Photo by Noe Valladolid

Best of all, you don’t actually have to be a member of the Disneyland Alumni Club in order to be able to attend “55 Years of Music Magic.” All you need to take part in this particular musical journey through Disney’s dream park is appropriate evening attire. And $95.00 per person.

Which – I know – sounds kind of pricey. But did I mention that every attendee will walk away with a keepsake wine glass as well as a souvenir program? And that Ron Dominguez, Roy P. Disney and Ron Logan will also be making appearances at this event? Or that the price of your ticket will be tax
deductible?

Know this, though: Tickets will not be sold at the door for the Disneyland Alumni Club’s 55^th reunion. So if you’d like to attend this celebration of Disneyland music, you’re going to need to order your tickets to “55 Years of Music Magic” in advance. Which you can do by clicking on this link.

Just be aware that – while all of the other events that are being held on July 17^thare special – the Disneyland Alumni Club’s 55^th reunion really is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime event. So if you’re a Disneyana fan and are going to be in the Orange County area around this same time, you should definitely consider buying a ticket to this CHOC Children’s fundraiser.

Your thoughts?