Purpose - Disney Cicerone

The Armor We Choose: Finding Grace in Painful Places

Disney Cicerone December 30, 2022 0 Comments

Armor. That's what she had to put on, every day. Amidst cat calls, pranks, and those who watched and waited for her to fail so they could pounce, Grace Huntington walked a daily minefield with invisible protective gear making her not as invisible as she wished she could be. Walt had warned her about this in her job interview for the story department at Walt Disney Studios. He was honest with...

“Did you know that… ?” Seeking the Truth in Disney Stories

Disney Cicerone June 14, 2022 0 Comments

I once had a conversation with a former Imagineer who told me something along the lines of, "Disney people are storytellers." And boy, isn't that the truth? Sometimes Disney fans, creators, and even Cast Members hear a story about something in Disney history and get so excited to hear a "secret" that they immediately pass it on as fact without tracking down the primary source (my professor...

Repurposing The Magic: How We Reimagine Our Moments

Disney Cicerone November 2, 2021 0 Comments

It occurred to me the other day that so much of what we see at Disney isn't actually what we think it is. Or it used to be something very different, but we don't realize it. Let me explain. When you ride on Splash Mountain and sing along (jubilantly, if you're anything like me) with the geese and the swamp critters at the end, you probably aren't thinking about how they were all...

Mastering Time like Dr. Strange

Disney Cicerone September 18, 2021 0 Comments

Ok, confession time. I didn't always love Marvel. I used to roll my eyes when people went on and on about it, not understanding why superheroes were a thing. But one day, my husband and I decided to watch all of the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies in chronological order, and that was it. I was hooked. I know that Marvel isn't traditionally Disney, and maybe you feel the same way I used to about...

Where do you find yourself in the story?

Disney Cicerone June 5, 2021 0 Comments

Hey Disney friends! Let's consider some deep Disney thoughts today. Are you up for it? Yes? Great! Let's make some magic.... First, think of a wonderful thought: Your favorite Disney ride, movie, and character. Go ahead, I’ll wait. No really, take your time. Got your answers? Ok, let’s go. What you answered reveals more about you than you know, and I’m not talking about those...

Life Lessons from Disney Photography

Disney Cicerone April 13, 2021 0 Comments

Photographing Disney as has opened my eyes to a new way of seeing the magic, and has taught me a few lessons along the way that extend far beyond taking great photos. How we view the parks and the world around us depends on more than the lens we use or the subject matter at hand. It all starts with us, and how we choose to capture what we see. Here are four lessons I've learned from...

How Grief is a Catalyst for People and Purpose

Disney Cicerone October 4, 2020 0 Comments

The Disney community is grieving this week. I know I'm not alone in feeling it. From the loss of some of our very favorite performers (I'm looking at you, Yehaa Bob) to the thousands upon thousands of brilliant cast members who won't be returning to bringing us the magic anytime soon, we are all in a start of disbelief. This can't happen to Disney... it's our happy place. Those cast members,...