July 17 - The Real Disney Ceremony?

[merlinjones]

While some of the Disney and Disneyland-related greats, such as Julie Andrews, Art Linkletter, Richard Sherman, Steve Martin, Herbie and former Disneyland management were at the press festivities, many more legends were missing than present.

To underscore the "come home" theme, I'd like to see the following Disney "family" at the true July 17th Anniversary (in addition to the above):

The Mouseketeers
Fess Parker
Hayley Mills
Dean Jones
Suzanne Pleshette
Tommy Kirk
Kevin Corcoran
James MacArthur
Tim Considine
Angela Lansbury
Kurt Russell
Jodie Foster
Johnny Whitaker
Dick Van Dyke
Don Knotts
Tim Conway
Alice Davis
Ollie Johnston
Karen Dotrice
Kathryn Beaumont
Lesley Ann Warren
John Davidson
Diane Disney Miller
Roy E. Disney (though I understand he will not be able to attend)
The New Mousketeers
The Osmonds
Wally Boag
Ike Eisenman
Helen Reddy
Shawn Marshall
Maureen O'Hara
Nancy Reagan
John Lasseter
etc.

A special parade and ceremony and rededication would be appropriate. Michael, please stay home.

Any others?

[TinkPink]

Great ideas. I can't think of anyone else- I never could have come up with that many! Of course I see this another opportunity to plug my Roy to Disneyland thread!!

[dramaqueen]

Do we have any way of finding out if any of these amazing people are invited? I think it would be a shame if Disney did not honor some of its legends and instead chose to cater to the young hot "Christina Aguilera" crowd.

[Indiana J]

What about Thrul Ravensclaw.. or is he around ne more

[Carlarella]

In Christina's defense, she was a Mouseketeer once.

Honestly, those are the people I would think the Disney Co. would have on hand to help celebrate this sort of thing. The media eats up that "How is Disneyland today different from when it opened" stuff like candy. Unfortunately I think most PR people look on the great majority of those people as C list personalities, which is sad. I love Tommy Kirk!

I'm kind of surprised they aren't doing a big TV celebration either, like they did back when DL turned 30. Anyone else remember David Hasselhoff riding in on KITT and singing "Do You Love Me (Now That I Can Dance)" to Minnie Mouse? :lol: It may have been one of the defining moments of my childhood. How scary is that?

[EmilyStrange]

What about Jodi Benson and Paige O'Hara?

[dramaqueen]

I know she was a mousketeer, but what I was trying to say is that these people are not media friendly because almost no one in the coveted 18-35 bracket will know who they are. They wanted to generate press by having very visable people for the kickoff that the media would want to take pictures. In our youth- obsessed society, these people don't have much media value- which is sad and tragic.

I hope Disney rises above that and honors some of the people who got them there. I would love to see them all in the parade of dreams on the 17th.

[Carlarella]

I know she was a mousketeer, but what I was trying to say is that these people are not media friendly because almost no one in the coveted 18-35 bracket will know who they are.

Sadly, this is true, and you've hit the nail right on the head. I fall into that age bracket and my boss still can't beleive I know who David Cassidy is, let alone understand why I listen to Tommy Sands. I hope that some of these people are invited so that my generation (that would be the Nintendo Generation, NOT Gen-X or Gen-Y) can get a little culture, too. At leat it wasn't Britney Spears!

Then again, have you noticed that a lot of classic Disney films are being released on DVD? A friend of mine at work the other day came across a new copy of "The Barefoot Executive" and just about freaked when she saw Kurt Russell on the cover! A whole new set of generations is getting to know these people again, so it may not be as bad as we think.

[dramaqueen]

Kurt Russell! There is someone else who should be there- he was a Disney kid from the word go- and his last decent movie was Miracle.

[Newseditor44]

I think you will all be pleasantly suprised and very happy with how it all works out... remember, this isn't the Pressler era anymore....

[Disneylandrocks55]

Wait, I'm confused, how are the osminds part of the "Disney Family"? Just wondering.. I guess I never knew.

[swagdaddy]

Here, here!

[Morrigoon]

Disneylandrocks55: Go back to your Walt Disney Treasures: Disneyland DVD and watch the "Disneyland at night" show.

Oh, AND the 25th anniversary show (man, I love Danny Kaye!)

[BDBopper]

That would be wonderful!

Of course it would be fantastic to have all of them be honored on July 17th. It is also the 50th anniversary of the Mickey Mouse Club so having all the Mouseketeers from all eras present would be grand.

[merlinjones]

>>Wait, I'm confused, how are the osminds part of the "Disney Family"? Just wondering.. I guess I never knew.<<

As little kids, the Osmonds performed at Disneyland as a barbershop quartet - which is where I think Andy Williams "discovered" them in the early 60's. Then at the peak of their fame, they returned to host Disneyland Showtime with Kurt Russell in 1970.

[TinkPink]

I think you will all be pleasantly suprised and very happy with how it all works out... remember, this isn't the Pressler era anymore....

I believe that!! I really do have faith in Disney. We have all been speculating and discussing what we think will and won't happen on the 17th. But none of us really have any idea- if we did it wouldn't be a surprise!

[Circarama]

How about Bob Gurr? He ONLY designed just about everything on wheels at Disneyland!

[Disneylandrocks55]

As little kids, the Osmonds performed at Disneyland as a barbershop quartet - which is where I think Andy Williams "discovered" them in the early 60's. Then at the peak of their fame, they returned to host Disneyland Showtime with Kurt Russell in 1970.

Sweet, I was just wondering because My parents went to college with them. Cool to know that they got their career started in DL.

[robotpirates]

I think anyone who was on the Disney Channel in the early 90s should be there, as well. If that doesn't cramp anyone's style.

[Disneylandrocks55]

I think anyone who was on the Disney Channel in the early 90s should be there, as well. If that doesn't cramp anyone's style.

DIsney Channel 90's rocked! Disney channel now is just another.. Nickelodion... with an occasionally good show. Oh how I wish the old days would come back! ahhhh.. the 90's. The days where you could watch Growing pains on Disney channel, or mr. magoo, and at night they showed the Mickey Mouse club. Sleepless nights always left me on Disney Channel... Okay, I'm exagerating a bit, but.. okay.. nvm.