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.

Background Sounds and Hidden Messages

Posted on by Gary Cruise
Our friends and family know that Carol and I are avid Disney fans and they often ask us for advice before they visit the theme parks. One thing that we always tell them is, “Take time now and then to simply look around . . . examine your surroundings and notice the level of detail … Continue reading "Background Sounds and Hidden Messages"
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A Disney Kitchen

Posted on by Gary Cruise
A few weeks ago we were sitting at our kitchen table when I said to Carol, “We have Disney stuff in every room of the house except the kitchen. Why don’t we have it here too?” She raised a single eyebrow and gave me that look . . . you know the look that every … Continue reading "A Disney Kitchen"
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Disney Scrapbooking

Posted on by Gary Cruise
Carol loves to create scrapbooks filled with all of our special Disney memories . . . or does she? Every time we take a Disney trip she picks up a blank scrapbook, a package or two of “scrapping accessories” and gathers every bit of paper she can find. By the time we get home she … Continue reading "Disney Scrapbooking"
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Disney Fun Around The Country – 2016

Posted on by Gary Cruise
About a year ago I wrote a blog describing several Disney fan events that take place around the country. Carol and I really enjoy them; it’s an easy way for us to keep the magic alive without making that long trek south! It’s always fun sharing good times with people who also share our Disney … Continue reading "Disney Fun Around The Country – 2016"
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Trip Planning 1971 – 1992

Posted on by Gary Cruise
A few weeks ago, while writing a blog about FastPass+ and the new My Disney Experience system my thoughts turned back to the early days at Walt Disney World. In the first decade it wasn’t absolutely necessary to plan any aspect of your trip in advance. Most people there were just “winging it”. But then … Continue reading "Trip Planning 1971 – 1992"
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Windows on Main Street

Posted on by Gary Cruise
Do you ever stop to look at the windows on Main Street USA? Each of those windows pays tribute to someone who has a significant place in Disney history . . . and each window tells a story. When Walt first imagined Disneyland he wanted Main Street to resemble the commercial hub in a turn-of-the-20th-century … Continue reading "Windows on Main Street"
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Disney Postage Stamps

Posted on by Gary Cruise
Yes, you read that title correctly; there really are Disney postage stamps! They’ve been around since September 11, 1968 when the US Postal Service issued a stamp commemorating the life of Walt Disney. That stamp featured a portrait of Walt, surrounded by children of the world. It was an immediate hit with stamp collectors around … Continue reading "Disney Postage Stamps"
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Disney Soaps and Lotions

Posted on by Gary Cruise
Do you have a shelf that looks like this? Is your travel bag filled with these? When you work on a crossword or Sudoku puzzle do you have one of these in your hand? If you answered yes to those questions you are in good company. I think almost every Disney fan takes home a … Continue reading "Disney Soaps and Lotions"
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The Candlelight Processional

Posted on by Gary Cruise
Just a few weeks ago Carol and I enjoyed the Candlelight Processional at Walt Disney World and once again it was every bit as inspiring as the first time we saw it thirteen years ago. We were instantly mesmerized back in 2002 when a herald of trumpets focused our attention on the orchestra which played … Continue reading "The Candlelight Processional"
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