Day 16

Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you

This was another easy one for me....assuming that I can pick someone who is no longer living...

"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." ~ Walt Disney

Let me pull out my weird card. I am a huge fan of Walt Disney. Most people just lump me in to the "Disney fan" category but I don't think most realize that it's more that I am a fan of Walt Disney the person. I have always been awestruck at the empire that he created. Theme parks didn't exist before Walt Disney. Cartoons with sound didn't exist either. He thought that up himself!

I read Walt Disney: An American Original when I was about 13 years old and the fascination only continued when I did an internship for the Walt Disney Company when I was 19. I worked for the company full time after college and I'm still a seasonal cast member just so I can still be a part of the magic from time to time. During all that time, I was taking it all in! Every aspect of Disney World fascinated me because I understood where it all came from - one person! Of course it was always a team effort and thousands of people make it all happen but it really all started with one person!

Walt Disney was always "plussing" his movies and attractions at Disneyland. He always took the time (and the money) to take everything to the next level. He invested in the storyline so deeply that those enjoying the final product completely lose all concept of reality. He made people truly believe that mice could talk, that elephants could fly and a little boy would never grow up. He perfected every detail of everything he did and then inspired everyone around him to do the same. This is why Disney movies and parks are so great and have that extra something that other movies and parks just don't have.

I love to read books about Walt Disney and the history of the Disney Company and I am constantly learning something new and I am always inspired by the thought that Walt put into his work and the thought that the generations of cast members after him continue to put into all things Disney.

I am a meeting and event planner and I am constantly trying to find ways to "plus" the events that I plan. I draw inspiration from "what would Walt do?" What can I do to make this experience even better for the attendees? What small little detail might go unnoticed by most but makes a big impact on the few that do pick up on it? I thrive on the small details and get a kick out of it when people do notice.

I could pull pictures of Walt from the internet but I have these pictures of the Partners statue at Walt Disney World that I thought I would share instead. The story behind the statue (because EVERYTHING at Disney has a story, has a reason) is that Walt is showing Mickey the way. Walt was busy inspiring others because he knew one day that he wouldn't be around anymore and he wanted his vision to be carried out. It was always said that Mickey was Walt and Walt was Mickey. Mickey will be around forever so Walt made sure that Mickey knew the way so that he could continue leading everyone else. It sounds so cheesy but I really think there is some truth to that. Anyways though, I love that story and love that statue!

I have tons of photos that I have taken of the statue over the years but my friend, Julie took these amazing pictures in 2009 when we went down to do the marathon.

"It's kind of fun to do the impossible." ~ Walt Disney

"You don't build it for yourself. You know what the people want and you built it for them." ~Walt Disney

"All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them." ~ Walt Disney