Pacific Northwest Mouse Meet June 25, 2011

Last year I attended my first Pacific Northwest Mouse Meet and was I ever glad I did.

This year’s date: June 25, 2011

Not only did I get the opportunity to meet AllEars® fans from the west coast……

……but I got to meet and hear some amazing Disney Celebrities too. Here I am with Bob Gurr!

The event takes place over the course of one full day and it sure is jammed packed.

There are about 30 tickets still available for this year’s event so I want to clue you in on some of the fun to be had at the Pacific Northwest Mouse Meet!

There is one huge room where there are tables and chairs for everyone and vendor/collector/celebrity tables are around the perimeter. In another room, a stage and theater seating to hear from Disney celebrities.

The Pacific Northwest Mouse Meet is run by Don Morin and his planning committee! Having done my share of events in the past, I know how important a strong committee is to the success of the event.

I recently asked Don how the Pacific Northwest Mouse Meet event got started:

Don Morin: “As Disney Fans here in the Pacific Northwest, we would read about all of these great fan events happening around the country and at or near the Disney parks. Our idea developed from the desire to have an event closer to home that we could attend and not have to travel a long distance to participate.

Our first plans were for the event to be in a small Community Center with a few tables and grand hopes of 30 or 40 guests attending. It quickly transformed into a sold out 150 guest celebration of all things Disney. The event went well beyond our wildest dreams and we are now finalizing plans for our third year event! During those early days of planning and hoping that there were at least 30 Disney fans in the PNW, it is surreal to be here preparing for our third event to include two Disney Legends, numerous other celebrities and 400 amazing Disney Fans.”

I thought I’d give you my TOP FIVE reasons to attend the Pacific Northwest Mouse Meet in 2011!

#5 Swag — swag? You know all that cool free merchandise that folks give away! In addition to what you get as a registered attendee, the AllEars® table will have an assortment of goodies for you PLUS I’ll be having a silent auction (items from Club 33, Walt Disney Imagineering….) to raise funds in the fight against breast cancer!

#4 Incredible Collector Displays – like this Lego exhibit from 2010! Uber Disney fans set up displays of their special collectables for everyone to enjoy!

#3 The Return of the 501st Star Wars Team

Great photo ops with these folks!

I hear Darth Vader is a Disney fan too 🙂

#2 Special Celebrity Guests

This year Disney Legend and author Jack Lindquist – first president of Disneyland (he’ll be signing his book In Service to the Mouse!)

And yet another Disney Legend, Floyd Norman who has worked on films from Disney’s Sleeping Beauty to Pixar’s Monster’s Inc and Toy Story2!

Returning this year, is Disney Historian, author and former Imagineer, Jeff Kurtti (author of over 25 books).

and the #1 Reason — DOLE WHIP!

But you don’t have to take it just from me.

Here’s what has Don jazzed about 2011’s event!

“I am so excited for this year’s event as it becomes bigger, more interactive and “plussed up”. We are so honored and thrilled to have the opportunity to bring TWO Disney Legends, Jack Lindquist and Floyd Norman, to the Pacific Northwest. In addition, Guests will be taken on an exclusive behind the scenes tour of the Walt Disney Family Museum by Jeff Kurtti who was a driving force in the creation and design of this magnificent institution. New this year is an expansion of our incredible themed displays and more interactive events such as a live Trivia Contest, expanded Pin & Vinylmation trading, Main Street Magic and a Children’s story time.”

Here are some folks I met at the 2010 event who wanted to share their excitement and anticipation about 2011 with you.

Lori and Michael

We are making the 3 hour drive from Portland again this year to attend our second PNWMM! Last year Michael and I both enjoyed listening to all of the speakers including the original inspiration for Tinkerbell, Margaret Kerry! After corresponding for several years, we got to meet Deb Wills in person for the first time! We are looking forward to seeing her again and reconnecting with other new Disney friends. Oh, and how could I forget! Last year we had our picture taken in an original vehicle from Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride!!!

Anna Burch

My first Mousemeet was in 2010. Being from the Seattle area, I was SO excited to have something Disney so close to home. The event is only 15 minutes from my house, so it was REALLY close to home for me! There is such a huge Disney fan-base here in our area and the Mousemeet is the perfect event for all of us who just can’t get enough Disney.

My favorite part of the meet was meeting like-minded people. To my friends and family, I’m a bit extreme. To everyone at the PNW Mousemeet, I am completely normal. I love it. I can’t wait to see my new friends again and be immersed in a day of Disney. Since the economy has not been too kind to my family, we haven’t gotten to go to the parks lately and this event helps ease my ache to go visit Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Thanks to Don and his team for providing us with laughs, trivia, wonderful people and DOLE WHIPS!

Kayla Boe

My name is Kayla Boe and I reside in beautiful Lake Stevens, Washington. I was lucky enough to have attended the inaugural Pacific NW Mouse Meet in August 2009 and I was hooked!

After having an amazing time in 2009, I absolutely had to come back for 2010 and will be there for 2011! While I enjoyed every aspect of the meet, I think my favorite part is meeting new friends who share the same Disney passion. I have developed many new friendships and love any opportunity to get together and talk Disney!

The whole conference is an event to remember. From the guest speakers to the Dole Whip, it is truly a magical experience!

And finally a few words from Don pictured here with his wife Michele:

A few days before the very first PNW Mouse Meet, I was speaking to Margaret Kerry on the phone. I told her I didn’t know if I could pull off the event, that I can’t create the Magic that Disney creates.

Margaret, in her remarkable Tink wisdom replied, “Don, you’ve done everything you can for the event and you have created place, you don’t have to create the magic. Each and every Guest will bring a little bit of Pixie Dust in their pocket; THEY will bring the magic…”

“My hope is that each and every Guest at the end of the day leaves with a little more Pixie Dust in their pocket than they came with”.

If you’ll be in the Seattle, WA area on June 25th – come join the fun and purchase your ticket today! (no tickets at the door)

Photographs courtesy of Barrie Brewer!

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