Gary Cruise

Gary hails from Canada and he’s a lifelong Disney fan. In the 1950s he watched the original Mickey Mouse Club and The Wonderful World of Disney on a snowy old black-and-white television. Gary was mesmerized by the Disneyland that Walt introduced to the world during those Sunday night shows! In 1977 he took his young family to Walt Disney World for the first time and suddenly that Disney magic he experienced as a child was rekindled. Since then Gary and his wife Carol have enjoyed about 70 trips to Walt Disney World, 11 trips to Disneyland and 11 Disney Cruises.

2017 EPCOT Pin Event – Love is an Adventure

Posted on by Gary Cruise
Another year has come and gone and so has another EPCOT annual pin event. The “Love is an Adventure” pin event was held August 24th to August 26th this year and while many of us lament that we would have preferred that Disney left the event in September, this year if they had we would … Continue reading "2017 EPCOT Pin Event – Love is an Adventure"
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Pin Trading — The Early Years

Posted on by Gary Cruise
Over the last few weeks Carol has been eagerly preparing for the annual Pin Event at EPCOT. As I watched her getting ready I began to reminisce a bit about the early days of Pin Trading. There weren’t many Disney Pins around before the year 2000. Although the first pins began to appear in the … Continue reading "Pin Trading — The Early Years"
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Who’s Who in Duckburg

Posted on by Gary Cruise
Do you remember when Mickey’s Birthdayland first opened at Walt Disney World? It was June 18th 1988 and Mickey Mouse’s 60th birthday celebrations were in full swing! Mickey’s Birthdayland was set in the mythical town of Duckburg, in the equally mythical State of Calisota. Duckburg boasted that it was “A town that’s everything it’s quacked … Continue reading "Who’s Who in Duckburg"
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The Happiest Horses on Earth

Posted on by Gary Cruise
When you walk along Main Street USA and you hear that familiar tune start to play, “Clang Clang Clang Went the Trolley“you know exactly what’s coming! If you’re like Carol and I you always stop beside that horse-drawn trolley for a few minutes to watch those talented dancers perform . . . and you probably … Continue reading "The Happiest Horses on Earth"
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Dayton Disneyana 2017

Posted on by Gary Cruise
What is it that motivates a couple of normal, rational Canadian Disney fans to drive 656 miles to Dayton Ohio for a one-and-a-half day stay, then drive 656 miles home again? The answer is Dayton Disneyana. It’s a gathering of Disney fans from across the continent who meet in Dayton once a year to buy … Continue reading "Dayton Disneyana 2017"
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Mickey and Friends Gardening

Posted on by Gary Cruise
A few weeks ago a package arrived in the mail from Disney Movie Club. Carol opened it up and much to my surprise pulled out a packet of Disney themed garden seeds. Click on the image to see a larger copy Bambi is apparently a big fan of the Gloriosa Daisy. I said, “I’ve never … Continue reading "Mickey and Friends Gardening"
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The Architecture at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Posted on by Gary Cruise
I’m a big fan of Disney’s talented corps of Imagineers! When they design the theme parks we all enjoy so completely they do a masterful job. Every aspect of the product they create is realistic and immersive. The Hollywood Studios park is a prime example. When they began laying out the concepts for the new … Continue reading "The Architecture at Disney’s Hollywood Studios"
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Disney Fun Around The Country – 2017

Posted on by Gary Cruise
A few years ago I wrote a blog describing several Disney fan events that take place around the country. Carol and I really enjoy this sort of fan get-together. For us, they are an easy way to keep the magic alive without making that long trek south! The response to that first blog was immediate. … Continue reading "Disney Fun Around The Country – 2017"
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The History of EPCOT – A Timeline

Posted on by Gary Cruise
I’m a big fan of Disney’s Imagineers! They do a terrific job. One of the things that continually impresses me is the little details that they build into the theme parks, sometimes in the most unusual places. Some of them are right in the middle of high traffic areas yet people walk right past and … Continue reading "The History of EPCOT – A Timeline"
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Yo Ho Yo Ho — 50 Years of Piracy

Posted on by Gary Cruise
Today is a special day in Disney history! It was 50 years ago today that one of Disney’s most popular attractions opened! On March 18, 1967 guests at Disneyland were able to take their first ride on Pirates of the Caribbean. ♫ ♪ Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me! ♫ ♪ At … Continue reading "Yo Ho Yo Ho — 50 Years of Piracy"
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