Tag Archives: disney

Photo of the Day – Cinderella Castle

By Kenn | Published June 2, 2010
Cinderella Castle

The iconic fairy-tale castle that's the Fantasyland gateway in the Magic Kingdom theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida (photo by Kenn Stearns)

Disney is the largest theme park operator in the world. Herbert “Herbie” Dickens Ryman created the first master drawing of Disneyland. He worked on every Disney theme park until his death in 1989.

As the chief designer of the castle, Ryman combined architectural elements from popular French castles with those from the fortress in the movie Cinderella. The iconic castle was constructed with a steel frame and fiberglass exterior to withstand Florida hurricanes. The mote around the castle holds more than three million gallons of water.

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Photo of the Day – Three Little Pigs

By Kenn | Published March 18, 2010
2009 Disneyland All-American College Band

A 2009 Disneyland All-American College Band performance last summer in Disneyland featuring the Three Little Pigs (photo by Kenn Stearns)

Last summer our daughter and 20 other students from colleges and universities throughout the nation converged on the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calf. for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. For 11 weeks these music students were provided the opportunity to perform with oversight from an impressive collection of Disney entertainment professionals, renowned clinicians, and accomplished musicians.

The photo above features the “Three Little Pigs” during a Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? medley segment staged on the forecourt of Cinderella’s Castle. This is Spring Break week in Texas. The three ladies crouching, including our daughter, reunited to attend the Houston Rodeo where Lady Antebellum performed. They moved their party to the Salt Lick Bar-B-Que for ribs and brisket. They jammed in our daughter’s apartment, celebrated on Austin’s famed 6th Street, and will soon be headed to the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. They’ve been texting, Skyping, dancing, laughing, singing, and celebrating non-stop.

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Livin’ The Dream in Anaheim

By Kenn | Published January 12, 2010
Last year our daughter spent the summer working at Disneyland, one of 21 music students selected for the 2009 Disneyland Resort All American College Band. They played at a variety of venues in Disney parks and most evenings would conclude their performance at the Main Street Train Station.
2009 All-American College Band

2009 All-American College Band performs at Main Street Train Station (photo by Kenn Stearns)

After a busy summer in Southern California all the AACB students returned to their respective universities and colleges. Some of the students participate in their school bands. Our daughter is a student at The University of Texas at Austin and is a member of the Longhorn Band which recently enjoyed the opportunity to travel to Pasadena for the BCS National Championship football game.

For our daughter it was a chance to return to Southern California. She reconnected with Disney employees, friends, and former AACB members. She also enjoyed performing in Disneyland with the Longhorn Band and at the same Main Street Train Station.

Longhorn Band performs at Main Street Train Station

Longhorn Band performs at Main Street Train Station

When our daughter was younger we took her to the Disneyland and Disney World resorts. Like many young girls she dreamed of being a princess and one day marching down Main Street in the parade. It comes as no surprise that for our daughter ”Where Dreams Really Do Come True” is much more than a marketing tagline and holds a special meaning.

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