The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning

I bought the new DVD "The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning" this week and I must say, I loved it! It is a MUCH better story than "Return to the Sea". "Ariel's Beginning" is actually a prequel, taking place about a year before the events of the original. It tells the tale of a time when music was forbidden from the kingdom of Atlantica. It does a good job of telling how certain characters got to be where they were in "The Little Mermaid", including Ariel's introduction to Flounder. I thought the story had a lot of heart. There were moments that really touched you. The characters were well-done. Ariel is back to being the independent, head strong troublemaker we're so used to. There is just something about a responsible Ariel that made "Return to the Sea" so wrong. What's great about this movie is how more attention is given to Ariel's sisters. You're able to see who they are, how different each one is, and how they interact with each other. Ariel's interaction with her sisters are some of the best parts of the movie. I do have two complaints though. One is with the characterization of Flounder. He is way too brave in this film. That is not the Flounder we know at all. He's supposed to be a guppy! And second, for a movie whose story revolves around music, the music in the film isn't all that memorable. No song really stands out for me. "Ariel's Beginning" isn't a perfect movie. It doesn't hold a candle to the original and belongs nowhere near any theatrical release. But for a DVD prequel, it's pretty darn good. It also reminded me that I really need to get out to New York to see the Broadway show. That thought has slipped my mind since I joined the Disney cast. We'll see how that goes.

A Sad August

In terms of being a cast member, this month is a very sad one. Many of the wonderful people I've gotten the pleasure to work with and know are leaving. August looks to be a busy month. I suppose it mainly has to do with people going back to school. A lot of the seasonal cast are finishing their time here and going back to their normal lives. They're going back home, to places all over the world. I've learned a lot about the "magic" in my five months of working for Disney so far. I've learned that the magic of Disney resides not in the concrete and steel of the parks, but in the hearts of the cast that bring it to life. These are very special people. These are people who have to go through much adversity each and every day to bring smiles to the faces of the guests that walk through those gates. They are my friends. They are my colleagues. And I've grown very much attached to them. I am so grateful for the time I've gotten to spend with them. I will always remember them and hold those memories close to my heart. And I will miss them very much.

Thank you, my friends. I hope I will see you again someday. And until then, I hope pixie dust will follow you wherever your journeys take you.

The Princess and the Frog

There is a teaser trailer up for Disney's newest fairy tale, "The Princess and the Frog." It looks like it has a lot of potential! And it's great to see a return to traditional animation. Check it out!

The Princess and the Frog

WALL-E

I finally got to see WALL-E and I have to say that WALL-E is the sweetest movie I have ever seen... by far! Pixar seems to have this incredible ability to take animals or inanimate objects and give them qualities that make them more human than you would expect. Ironically, in this movie about robots, where there is very little dialogue, the story is the most human out of all the Pixar films. I don't want to go into too much detail about WALL-E because I don't want to spoil it. If you haven't seen it yet, go see it. It is the best movie I've seen in the last year. Yes... even better than Enchanted. *gasp* I know! But it is. It's everything you expect from Pixar. It's a smart and heart-warming tale that just touches you.

Independence Day at Disney

The last two nights, I was lucky enough to be able to see both fireworks celebrations at the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. I wasn't too impressed by the Magic Kingdom ones. I thought the New Year's ones were much better. It had a nice ending though, with the castle draped in star and flags. I think the Epcot celebration was better. The best part involved turning off the fireworks on the World Showcase lagoon and diverting everyone's attention to the U.S.A. pavilion and having the fireworks appear there. It acted pretty much like Epcot's castle for the night. And of course, with any special Epcot celebration, about two weeks worth of fireworks are launched in its finale. If you can only see one of these, I says go with Epcot.

Hossa's Betrayal

Marian Hossa said winning was the most important thing to him. He said he would take less money to play for a contender. He said that money wasn't everything. Well, we can definitely say that Marian Hossa is no liar. Yesterday, the Penguins' top winger signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings for just $7.4 million. He rejected a long-term deal offering pretty much the same amount of money a year from the Penguins. He also reportedly turned down a 9-year, $9 million per deal from the Edmonton Oilers. So he didn't do it for the money. He went to the team he thought he had the best chance to win with. Unfortunately, he didn't think that team was the Penguins. It's hard not to feel that this was the slap to the face of the Penguins. He rejected a chance to become Sidney Crosby's permanent wingman for one shot at the Stanley Cup with the team that took it from us. Even though he was only here for a short time, this feels like a betrayal. Decisions like this are not guaranteed to bring you championships though. Just ask Paul Kariya. Penguins fans today feel both stunned and disappointed. And this gives us all the more reason to despise Detroit. First, they took our Cup, now they've taken our players. But boy, do they ever look unstoppable now.

Hossa, we could have had something special. You could have been a Penguins legend. But now you've become one of our villains.

A Special Day

Today was a very special day for me. It was the anniversary of my first ever day at Disney. It was seven years ago to be exact. I'll never forget that day. It was a day that changed me and launched my life in a whole new direction. I look back and think of all the experiences and lessons I've gone through over the last seven years and I'm just amazed. It's crazy to think how one day could affect so much. The very first moment I saw Cinderella Castle is a memory that will live in my heart forever. That moment gave birth to the dreamer that I am today. I am here right now, fulfilling a dream, because of that very first moment. Tonight, I celebrated this special occasion by dining with a good friend inside that very castle that started it all for me. We were hosted by our friends, Cinderella, Fairy Godmother, Suzy, and Perla. It was a magical and fitting evening filled enchantment and pixie dust. Going to dinner, I came upon a funny realization. Seven years ago, a ferry boat took me towards Cinderella Castle. And today, I arrived at the castle from the Magic Kingdom itself. This is my world now.

Lightning Sign Ryan Malone

Ryan Malone has accepted a 7-year, $31.5 million contract from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Each of the first two years will pay him between $7 and $8 million. Ok, Ryan is a good player... but $7 million?! What are you smoking, Tampa?!

Good-bye Gary

This weekend, the Penguins traded away the rights to soon-to-be free agent Gary Roberts, along with Ryan Malone, to the Tampa Bay Lightning. It wasn't too much of a surprise. The Penguins were not expected to keep either so it was a good idea to get at least a draft pick or something for them. Gary Roberts only spent a year and a half with the Penguins but in that small timeframe, he became a legend here. He was the epitome of a warrior. At 42 years of age, he played his heart out on every shift, not caring what happens to him or the guy he was charging full force into. He was a great leader for the young Penguins. His mythical status among Penguins fans was epic. But he could not be kept. He was simply too old and too costly to keep, especially for a fourth-liner. Gary, your time here was very much appreciated and you will always be remembered.

Gary Robert's Greatest Moment as a Penguin

The Final Adventure

It is being reported that on September 27, all the clubs in Pleasure Island will close. Disney will turn the area into more of a retail experience. I can't say that I'm surprised. I've been there many a night where those clubs were so empty, it was sad. In fact, if not for cast members, I'm pretty sure the place would be a ghost town. There is one exception, however. And it breaks my heart to have it included in the clubs that will shut down, The Adventurers Club. This to me was the only club worth visiting in Pleasure Island. It is the most beloved club among guests and cast. Each visit was always different and such a blast. I can't believe it's going away. I am so going to miss the tales of Hathaway Browne, Otis T. Wren, Pamelia Perkins, Samantha Sterling, Fletcher Hodges, and the rest. This club was popular and always lively. But I guess, you can't just keep one club in the place. You have to get rid of them all. I'm gonna try to visit a few more times before it closes. I'll miss you guys. Kungaloosh!

Sierra Performs at the Tony's

It's been a while since a Little Mermaid post. So here's one. It's Sierra Boggess singing a shortened version of Part Of Your World at the Tony Awards.

A Look Back

It's been about two weeks now since the end of the season. Time away from hockey has been good for me. It's given me time to focus on other things. Ok, "other things" meaning Disney. But the loss of hockey has hit me a little hard as well. I've spent the last 9 months completely enveloped in this amazing story of the Pittsburgh Penguins. And now it kinda feels like, "Okay, story's over. Go home." Now what do I do? I think it would be nice to take a look back at the Penguins' season. Although it ended in heartbreak, this really was an incredible year.

Highlights of the 2007-2008 Pittsburgh Penguins:

- Filled with such high expectations coming from their surprise performance the previous season, the Penguins came out of the gate very poorly. The first part of the season was mediocre at best.
- People immediately pointed the finger at coach Michel Therrien and calls for his firing were loud and clear.
- Mark Recchi is let go from the team.
- The ridiculous body count. The Penguins suffered so many injuries this year, losing guys like Max Talbot and Adam Hall for extended periods. Mark Eaton was lost for the season. Injuries were so bad that Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal were the only Penguins to play all 82 games.
- Gary Roberts beating the snot out of Ben Eager!
- The loss of Marc-Andre Fleury to a high-ankle sprain.
- The shocking emergence of Ty Conklin, who leads the Penguins on a huge winning streak.
- The magnificent Winter Classic between the Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres. Now that was hockey at its finest, an event you'll always remember.
- The loss of Sidney Crosby. When Crosby went down, it seemed like the Penguin's playoff hopes were dashed. That is until...
- Evgeni Malkin takes the team on his back and delivers a dominating MVP-caliber performance in Crosby's absence. Not only did the Penguins stay in the playoff race, they chased the top seed.
- The blockbuster deadline trade that brought Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis here in exchange for Erik Christensen, Colby Armstrong, Angelo Esposito, and a 1st round pick. Hal Gill was also added on deadline day. The Penguins made a statement that they wanted to win and want to win now!
- Crosby and Fleury return but Hossa falls to injury.
- The Penguins win their first division title in a decade. And better yet, most of their players are healthy for the playoff run.
- The Penguins just steamroll through the Eastern Conference, easily disposing of the Ottawa Senators, New York Rangers, and Philadelphia Flyers. Fleury, Crosby, Malkin, and Hossa are superb!
- The Penguins fall just two wins short of the Stanley Cup against the Detroit Red Wings. The Game 5 triple OT thriller will live in Penguins lore forever.

What a season, huh? So where do we go from here? Well, Ray Shero, it's up to you to keep as much of this team together as you can. (That means keeping Marian Hossa!!!) And come October, we start this all over again. Wow, I dunno if I could take another season like this. But whether or not I can take the drama, I will be with the Penguins on every step along the way.

Stanley Cup Final - Game 6: Red Wings - 3, Penguins - 2

So this is how it ends. It's over. After 102 games played, the Pittsburgh Penguins fell two wins short of hockey's holy grail. Congratulations to the Detroit Red Wings. They deserved the Stanley Cup. They were the best team in the NHL this year. They were so good, it was infuriating how they systemically picked teams apart. They deserved this night. But you know what? The Penguins proved that they were the 2nd best team in the NHL. I am so proud of these guys. I am so proud of this team. They never quit. They never gave up. They fought with everything they had until the final horn. They were just an inch away from tying this up. That's just how the Penguins are. This season was absolutely magical. It was the greatest season I have ever been a part of. There were so many stories, so many incredible moments. I will look at them in detail on a later day. It's just hard to right now. It was especially upsetting to see the Stanley Cup brought out on the ice of the Mellon Arena and handed to another team. That was to be our Cup, our dream, our destiny. We came so far, fought so hard, reached so close... and yet came up so short. It's hard not to be disappointed. At the start of the series, when all the analysts were making their predictions. Something common that was said was that the Penguins will win the Stanley Cup. They would win many. But not this year. They were not ready. It was said that before they could win, they had to lose. And so they have. But in losing, they have shown so much. This was an incredibly young team with so much skill and talent, but they were untested. We got to see this young team grow up. This group of boys became men in front of our eyes. They gained experience that cannot be obtained in any other fashion. If they were not ready before, they are now. Let Detroit enjoy its last hurrah. Our day will come and it will come soon.

Thank you so much, Penguins. I am so proud of you.

Knob Hockey

My friend just sent me these Knob Hockey videos. They are absolutely hilarious. I remember the ones from previous years. It's nice to see the Penguins involved in this year's.


Sidney rallies the Pens. "Mighty mighty Pittsburgh!" LMAO!




Interview with Scary Gary.




Video Breakdown of Crosby




Holmstrom vs Fleury




And my favorite... Ruutu gets under Detroit's skin



Ruutu: Knock knock!
McCarty: Who's there?
Ruutu: **** You!

Awesome!

Stanley Cup Final - Game 5: Penguins - 4, Red Wings 3 (3OT)

OMG! OMG! OMG!!! At close to 1 am, I'm tired and trying my hardest to stay awake and then it happens... and I fall out of my chair, onto my knees, screaming and shedding tears of joy. I have not experienced a game so intense and emotional since Game 7 of the 2001 Eastern Semis against Buffalo. Wow! I thought it was over. It felt like it was over. The series. Our season. Our dream. I thought it was over. The Penguins gave up a two-goal lead and trailed 3-2 to the Red Wings with less than a minute left in what seemed like our season. The Detroit crowd was ready to welcome the Stanley Cup. But then with Marc-Andre Fleury pulled, Max Talbot and the Pittsburgh Penguins said, "NO! WE ARE NOT DONE!" Talbot scored with 34 seconds left sending the game into overtime. It was an overtime that would go into 3 rounds. The Penguins and the Red Wings would end up playing a 2nd game tonight. Sudden death is what they call it and that's exactly what it felt like. I couldn't breathe. I was too scared to. Any shot, any bounce, any hit could end this and it would be over. But the Penguins refused to go down without a fight. Sergei Gonchar was lost to injury. Without our top defenseman, the rest of our core stepped up like they did so many times this season. Fleury was incredible! He was the main reason we were still even in the game. The ending was as storybook as you could imagine. Gonchar came back to help the powerplay, even though he was in pain. And Petr Sykora, who had been invisible all series, said on national television that he would score the winning goal... and he did. He called it! Amazing! The goal was a beautiful shot off a precise pass from Evgeni Malkin. After much lackluster play, the Malkin-Sykora combo finally showed up and at the time the team needed them the most. I'm so proud of these guys right now. This game will go down in Penguins lore. The Red Wings were ready to hoist the Cup and we took the moment away from them. "Not yet", we said. We are still in this!

14 wins down, 2 to go!

Stanley Cup Final - Game 4: Red Wings - 2, Penguins - 1

It is a dark day in Penguins Nation. They are down 3-1 in the Stanley Cup Final. Though not impossible, any comeback now seems like an incredibly daunting task. They now have to win 3 straight games, two of which are in Detroit. They have to win three straight against a team that has shown such poise and unflappability. The Red Wings have simply too much experience. They are too smart. They remain calm in every situation. They simply do not break from their game plan. To give them a lead is to watch them shut down and suffocate your team. They have played like champions. The Penguins, though showing much grit, passion, and character, do not have an answer to such experience. The most frustrating thing about this is that the Penguins can play to their level. They can beat the Red Wings. They showed it in Game 3. But that didn't carry over to Game 4. The intensity wasn't there. While there is always hope, our dream of hoisting Lord Stanley Cup is growing more faint with each loss. What an amazing journey this season has been... I'm not going to bail on them now. Penguins, we started this together. We'll end it together. If Monday is our swan song, we'll go down together... but we'll go fighting.

Stanley Cup Final - Game 3: Penguins - 3, Red Wings 2

What a game! That was so intense! Game of the Year candidate right there! And guess what, folks? The Pittsburgh Penguins have finally showed up. With the energy of the Mellon Arena crowd behind them, they answered the bell and struck back against the Red Wings. Coming into this game, Detroit simply looked invincible. Tonight, the Penguins proved that they aren't. Not only did the Penguins show that they can play with the Red Wings, they can beat them. It wasn't easy though. They had to fight for everything. Sidney Crosby showed tonight why he is the face of the league and the best player in the world. Hossa was great with him. The Malkin line finally looked visible. Brooks Orpik was a beast all over the ice. Darryl Sydor, in his first game of the playoffs, didn't look out of place and provided much help on the attack. Fleury was solid in net. This is how you play Detroit. Speed across the neutral zone, finish your checks, and keep throwing the puck on net. Do not relent! Also, it's a great idea to get the first goal. Detroit can't clamp down on defense if they're trailing. Take this win to heart boys. Learn from it. Build on it. We're back in the series. We still have a shot at the Cup!

13 wins down, 3 to go!

Stanley Cup Final - Games 1 & 2

Game 1: Red Wings - 4, Penguins - 0
Game 2: Red Wings - 3, Penguins - 0

Wow... what can I possibly say? It sure seems like the Penguins have met their match. Detroit has completely imposed their will on the Pens through the first two games. It's like watching a more mature and experienced version of the Penguins that just doesn't make mistakes. Their speed is incredible. The positioning is perfect. Their passes are deadly. Their puck control is just smothering. It's like anytime there's a loose puck, a Red Wing is always there. It's like there are 15 of them out of the ice. The Penguins can't do anything! And when they somehow get a chance, Chris Osgood is there to shut the door. How can a team be so dominating? The Penguins breezed through the Eastern Conference and now they're being surgically picked apart by the Red Wings. Is the West that much better? It's like watching a machine killing the Penguins with precision. What the hell happened to Evgeni Malkin? Where is Petr Sykora? The Red Wings are sending their shutdown line against Crosby's. The Malkin line simply has to pick it up, big time! I don't know what the Penguins can do. We're going home now where we are unbeatable, so we have that going for us. But will it be enough? I'm just left stunned and shaking my head, much like the entire Penguins bench.

Come on, guys. Someway, somehow, we have to come back. We've come so far, we can't let it end like this. Game 3 is a MUST WIN!

The Cast Experience

With such a long break until the Stanley Cup Finals, I thought it would be nice to make a Disney post for once. I've been a cast member for a few months now so I thought I might share a little of what my cast experience has been like. You know, I had been such a fan of Disney. That magic meant so much to me. There was a fear that by moving to Orlando and becoming a frequent visitor, my view of the magic would change. There was a fear that it could fade, that it wouldn't mean as much. But that wasn't the case. The magic stayed as strong as ever. In fact, I couldn't imagine going back to just taking vacations to Disney. Becoming a passholder kind of spoiled me. I could visit Disney pretty much whenever I wanted. But you know what? Although I got to visit more often, the experience wasn't that different. It was still the same old magic I was always used to. That view would finally change when I joined the cast.

In the last few months, I have not only visited Disney frequently, I've been exposed to the world behind the scenes at Disney. In fact, I've seen the inner workings of the part of Disney that's the most magical of all. It is a completely different world behind the curtain. There's this belief that working for the mouse destroys the magic. For some, perhaps that's true. I had that fear myself. But something unexpected happened when I became a cast member, the magic became stronger than ever. Through being a part of making that magic and getting to know the other people who do the same, I've gained such a greater appreciation of what goes on at Disney. Walt Disney World feels so different to me now. I no longer feel like a guest, even when I'm not working. It no longer feels like I visit Disney. I now am Walt Disney World and people visit me. This world is mine. I am a part of making the dreams that happen to people every day. And in the process, I've become very protective of Disney and its magic. It's my duty now to help it live on. I am still very much awestruck at the things I get to see and be a part of. The experiences you get as a cast member can't be obtained anywhere else. Last weekend, I stood in the Main Street train station with the performers preparing to welcome thousands of guests into the Magic Kingdom. On one side of us was a massive crowd of people waiting at the entrance of the park. On the other, a completely empty Main Street, U.S.A. It was untouched, pure, and so enchanting. At the end of it stood the object that's held my heart for the last seven years, Cinderella Castle. It just glistened in the early morning's light. I remember just standing there, marveling at this beautiful scene and realizing that all those people behind me, paying all this money, don't get to see this. That just made me realize how special it is to do what I'm doing now. I love working for Disney. In fact, I prefer working there over just visiting there. It feels weird to be at Disney and not do something for them. I get to experience a version of the magic that many will never see. And at least for me, it makes the magic all the more real. It all seems more real to me. My character friends are as real as you and me. The pixie dust that flows all around Disney is real... because we make it real.

The Final Dance

This is it! The Penguins have vanquished 3 opponents. Only one remains... the Detroit Red Wings. This is a Stanley Cup Final that the NHL could only dream of. They have not had a championship matchup this good in over a decade. Two incredible teams. Two huge hockey markets. Two teams that were the dominant powerhouses of the 90s. Two teams that seem so evenly matched. But how ever much they are alike, they do have some differences. They each took different routes to get here. At the turn of the century, the once-proud Penguins faded away and suffered under a broken economic system. They spent years at the bottom of the NHL standings. But in doing so, they were able to rebuild in a way no one has seen in 20 years. They were able to stockpile premier prospects and, through maturity beyond their young years, arrive at the dance much sooner than anyone could have expected. The Red Wings on the other hand never left contention. Through excellent scouting, they were able to defy a system meant to support weaker teams. They haven't won the Cup since 2002 but have been a part of the picture each and every year. Contrary to popular opinion, they are not that old of a team. With guys like Zetterberg and Datsyuk, the Wings have formed a strong young core that will be around for years. Both teams have deadly offenses, but I would give the Penguins the edge there. They just have too much firepower in guys like Crosby, Malkin, Hossa, Malone, Sykora, Staal, and Gonchar. The Penguins have a great and very underrated defense but with guys like Lidstrom, Rafalski, and Kronwall, Detroit has the edge there. Osgood and Fleury have been the best goalies in the playoffs, but has Osgood really been tested? I'll give the Penguins the slight edge in net. On special teams, the Penguins have the advantage there. The Red Wings have excellent special teams as well, but the Penguins' powerplay has been scary and their penalty killing unbelievable. Coaching may be a push. Mike Babcock is a renown coach but Michel Therrien has displayed a remarkable ability to have the Penguins adapt in any kind of situation possible. They can play any type of game, from playing run-and-gun to traps, and win. That's a sign of a great coach. With intangibles, the Penguins have more skill and speed, but the Wings have a lot of experience. Which will win out? I don't know! This is the toughest opponent that Penguins have faced yet. This is the final that I predicted. Come on, Pens! Let's have it end as I predicted too!

The journey so far...



Four more wins till immortality!

ECF Game 5: Penguins - 6, Flyers - 0

May I present your...

2008 NHL Eastern Conference Champions - The Pittsburgh Penguins!!!

What a game! What a show! Learning their lesson from Game 4, the Penguins put their foot on the gas this game and did not stop for one second. They absolutely blew out, brutalized, and humiliated the Flyers. And in the process, sent their arch-rivals home with a bitter taste that will never leave their mouths. This was as dominating a performance as you could get. In the 3rd period, you could pretty much see the Flyers' spirits crushed. There was no fight left in them. Everyone came to play today for the Penguins. Marc-Andre Fleury got his 3rd shutout of the playoffs. The superstar trio of Crosby, Malkin, and Hossa all came up big. Ryan Malone and Jordan Staal are becoming playoff beasts. The ending was amazing. I have never seen the Penguins go this far before. I was too young to remember the Stanley Cup years. What a feeling! The crowd serenading the Flyers with the "Good-bye" song. Then switching to "We want Cup!" chants. The Penguins celebrating on the ice but following tradition, ignoring the Prince of Wales trophy. What a thrill! I am so proud of these guys and how far they've come. But you know what? It's not over yet! There is one more obstacle. There is one more foe in the way of the ultimate prize. Penguins...

YOU ARE GOING TO THE STANLEY CUP FINALS!!!

12 wins down, 4 to go!

ECF Game 4: #%&#@$ - 4, Penguins - 2

This was an extremely frustrating game on so many levels. In terms of gameplay, it was a story of three periods. The first was disastrous for the Penguins. It should have been expected though. The Flyers were desperate, playing to save their season. The Penguins, on the other hand, looked like they were getting ready for the Red Wings. As mature as they have become, lapses like this show that this team is still very young and has much to learn. The second period seemed like a stalemate, while the Penguins we knew came alive in the third. But two goals by Jordan Staal wouldn't be enough to make up for that horrible first period. Another source of frustration came from the officiating. Now I'm not gonna whine about it like a Flyer fan. But did they just decided to leave their whistles at home today? A game this brutal and penalties were virtually non-existent, except for the ones that burned the Pens in the first period? The last and probably biggest source of annoyance is Versus itself. It was a little noticeable at first but now it's just ridiculous how biased they are for the Flyers. Versus might as well be Comcast Sportsnet. Seriously! Every other word was heaping praise on the Flyers. They pretty much recited love poems to the Flyer fans all night. Any moment they got, they would show the Flyer fans. In Game 1, the Penguins staged a white-out with their fans. But instead of showing the Penguins fans celebrating in the thousands unified in white, they would cut away to some bar in Philly showing a few Flyer fans celebrating. WTF?! Yes, Versus is owned by Comcast, which owns the Flyers.. but come on. If you want to be a respectable network, you can't do this kind of stuff. That's why Versus will always be second rate and never be anything like ESPN. And one more correction, I am tired of people commenting on what a remarkable turnaround this Flyers team had, going from last place last season to the 3rd round here. Normally, yes, that would be an amazing story. But this isn't the same Flyers team. They gutted half the team and replaced them all with high-priced free agents. They bought this team. It's nothing like last season's team. It's not like last year's players got better, they bought players that were better!

Penguins, I know you're angry. Good! Use it, end this series on Sunday and never let it go back to Philly or Versus. Let's shut them both up!

ECF Game 3: Penguins - 4, Flyers - 1

Dear Flyers,

You are pathetic! Go ahead, whine about the officiating. Cry about the injuries. Make all the excuses you want. But face it, you cannot handle us. How does it feel that the most offensive team in the league unleashed a neutral zone trap on you, suffocated your team, shut up your fans, and still managed to drop 4 goals on you? BTW, Steve Downie is a worthless piece of crap. We love that he is on your team. Please keep him. He makes us laugh. When he gets what's coming to him one day, we'll laugh harder. Three-to-none. Thanks for coming, Flyers. We're going to Detroit!

Sincerely,
The Pittsburgh Penguins

11 wins down, 5 to go!

ECF Game 2: Penguins - 4, Flyers - 2

Want proof that the Penguins' skill is far superior to the Flyers? This was the game to show it. The Penguins seemed to just own the puck. The Flyers could do nothing but chase them around their own zone all night. On a night when Evgeni Malkin was off his game, Sidney Crosby put on a spectacular performance. And welcome back, Max Talbot! Mad Max scored the game winner. I love how Marian Hossa and Jordan Staal just pick people's pockets with ease. Marc-Andre Fleury was solid once again. And how about that beating Tyler Kennedy put on Upshall? The Flyers are getting chippy, but the Penguins seem to be winning through it. Alright boys, win Tuesday and the series is pretty much ours.

10 wins down, 6 to go!

ECF Game 1: Penguins - 4, Flyers - 2

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see this game live. I was busy making magic and spending the evening with my favorite person in the whole world! Watching the playback though was awesome. Best moment of the night. Malkin get drilled by Mike Richards only to get a breakaway and score with a 15-foot slapshot a few seconds later. That's how you respond to the Flyers' tactics! Wish I could say more but Disney calls!

9 wins down, 7 to go!

Timonen Out!

In what is horrible news for the Philadelphia Flyers, Kimmo Timonen has been diagnosed with a blood clot and declared out for the rest of the playoffs. This is a huge blow to the Flyers, who now have to face the deadliest offense in the league without their top defenseman. Timonen was also a big part of their powerplay. This is something the Penguins need to pounce on. The Flyers now have an open wound, strike!

There Will Be Blood

In the film "Gladiator", there is a scene in which Russell Crowe yells at the bloodthirsty audience, "Are you not entertained? Are you not entertained? Is this not why you are here?" Well, the fans of the NHL have gotten their wish. The Eastern Conference Finals will pit mortal enemies against each other, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers. To call this rivalry hostile would be an understatement. This makes Yankees - Red Sox look like a petty disagreement. The players hate each other. The fans hate each other. Heck, even the journalists throw objectivity to the wind when these two teams are involved. This will be an intense, emotional, and grueling series. The winner may not even make it out in one piece. You want playoff hockey, this will be playoff hockey! Penguins and Flyers fans will lose much sleep during the next two weeks. What does all this drama and brutality bring the victor? A berth in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Penguins are, and rightfully should be, the favorites in this series. They have home-ice. They have the better team. They should win. But the Flyers are a resilient, gritty, and not to mention dirty bunch of players. They can and will try to make a fight out of this. The Penguins will not leave this series unscathed. But they have to win. Yes, a win takes them to the doorstep of the Stanley Cup and brings us closer to a dream 16-years in the making. But they also have to win for the league and for hockey fans everywhere. The Flyers do not deserve to be here. To have a team like the Flyers to make it to the Stanley Cup would be a disgrace. The Penguins are the flag-bearers of the NHL, the Flyers are the exact opposite. This as much an ideological war as much as it is a battle on the ice. I hate the Flyers more than anything. I hate their fans. I hate what they stand for. And now, they are in the way of our dream. You want some, Flyers? Come get some!

ECSF Game 5: Penguins - 3, Rangers - 2 (OT)

At this year's trade deadline, Penguins GM Ray Shero made a bold move in acquiring superstar winger, Marian Hossa. It was a move many labeled risky. Tonight showed why that move was a great one. Hossa scored two goals, including the series-winner in overtime. The Rangers had their backs against the wall and played hard, but the Penguins were able to weather the storm and pepper Lundqvist with shots. Although the Pens won this series in 5 games, it was a lot harder than the length suggested. Give credit to the Rangers, they were a great team and played hard. They gave the Penguins a fight every night. It just so happened that the better team prevailed. Congratulations, Penguins. You are going to the Eastern Conference Finals!

8 wins down, 8 to go!

ECSF Game 4: Rangers - 3, Penguins - 0

Well, so much for 8-0. The Penguins were bound to lose a game. It was just disappointing to see them lose in this way. This was lazy hockey. The Penguins were pretty much looking ahead and not at the team in front of them. Fleury played well. The defense played well. The penalty kill was again excellent. But for what seems the first time that I can recall, the blame falls on the Penguin superstars. What on earth was wrong with Crosby and Malkin? I have never seen them play so poorly. They made some incredibly bone-headed moves. They lacked effort and were arrogant. What kind of effort was that on Malkin's penalty shot? That was pathetic. And where the hell was Gary Roberts?! You guys better get your act together and end this Sunday.

ECSF Game 3: Penguins - 5, Rangers - 3

The Eastern Conference Finals are just one win away! Skill and discipline, that's what makes an awesome team and that's what the Penguins showed tonight. The Rangers had tons of chances tonight but were unable to convert. The Penguins, on the other hand, made the most of their chances, scoring 5 goals on 17 shots. Fleury was once again amazing, making 36 saves. Malkin was absolutely deadly! The stars of the night however were the Penguins penalty killers. Their PK is incredible! When would you ever think a Penguins' penalty kill could be called that? Every single one of them, playing together as a team, playing smart, sacrificing the body. They once again shut down the Rangers powerplay, including two 5-on-3s. The Penguins have put a stranglehold on this series and can close it out on Thursday. Let's do it boys! We have the final four in our sights!

7 wins down, 9 to go!

ECSF Game 2: Penguins - 2, Rangers - 0

The rust is officially off! Great performance by the boys in black! The Penguins showed their offensive might in Game 1, proving that no lead is safe against them. In Game 2, their displayed their defensive power. Fleury was back in form, getting his second shutout of the playoffs. He also showed he wasn't going to be like Brodeur and take any crap from Avery, giving him a good chop in the crotch with his stick at the end of the game. It looks like the Penguins are getting to Avery, not the other way around. The Staal line was the best line all night. For a defensive unit, their forecheck was something to be seen. This game should not have been as close as it was. the Penguins were obviously the better team. It just happens that Lundqvist is a fantastic goaltender. If not for him, the Pens would have had a lot more goals. We keep bumping into their great golies. First Gerber, now this. But we're the Penguins, no goalie is too good to stop us. Tuesday, we head into Broadway, where we've had some trouble in the past. Game 3 is huge. If we get the win there, the series is pretty much over. Let's go, boys! Let's put the Rangers out of their misery!

6 wins down, 10 to go!

ECSF Game 1: Penguins - 5, Rangers - 4

BLACK IS BACK!!!

This game was a story of two halves and two colors. The Penguins held a "white-out" today to rally their fans. I didn't seem right though. The Penguins wear black. The Rangers wear white. It looked like the fans were for the Rangers. But the Penguins wanted a "white-out" so I wore my white jersey. The first half of the game was ugly. This did not look like the team that decimated Ottawa at all. The 9-day layoff showed. They couldn't skate and just looked lazy out there. When they went down 0-3, I said "Screw it!", threw off my white jersey, and put on my black. Penguins wear black! And just like that, the game changed. The Penguins woke up. The Penguins sent out Ruutu, Talbot, and Laraque to stir up some emotion. They did more than that with Ruutu scoring and changing momentum of the game. Another quick goal followed from Dupuis and just like that, we had ourselves a game! The momentum continued into the 3rd with Hossa and Sykora giving them Pens the lead. Gomez would tie it up but in the end, Crosby and Malkin took it upon themselves to end the game with little over a minute left. This game was amazing! What a comeback win! Fleury was off his game tonight. Hopefully, it was just rust and he'll be back to form in Game 2. The Penguins showed a lot of character tonight, able to fight off rust and adversity. They made a statement. We are the Penguins and we can take over any game!

5 wins down, 11 to go!

Incredible Mermaid Picture!

Annie Leibovitz has released a new picture in her "Disney Dream Portrait Series" with celebrities as Disney icons. Pardon any bias, but this is the best one yet. It's Ariel!!! Here, Julianne Moore plays Ariel with Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps as a merman. It's amazing!

Bring On The Rangers!

*yawn* What? Is it time for Round 2 yet?

Oh wow, the Penguins haven't seen hockey for a week. It took long enough but we now know our opponent, the New York Rangers. Sigh, I really didn't want to see them this soon. This series will be ugly. The Rangers are a very good team. They have an excellent goaltender in Lundqvist and a solid group of veteran leaders in Jagr, Shanahan, Drury, and Gomez. The Penguins will also have to deal with "super pain in the rear" Avery. This will be a tough series. But you know what? The Penguins are still the better team and as difficult as it will be, they should expect to win this series. They can match and outdo whatever the Rangers can throw at them. We have a superior offense, a better defense, and comparable goaltending. And if Avery thinks he can pull off the kind of garbage he did to the Devils, he'll have to answer to Roberts, Laraque, Ruutu, and Malone. I just hope the week-long layoff didn't kill any momentum we had. Game 1, we gotta come out flying on all cylinders, just like against Ottawa.

ECQF Game 4: Penguins - 3, Senators - 1

Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Penguins on their first playoff series win in seven years!!! The last time they won a series, they boasted a lineup that included Mario Lemieux, Jaromir Jagr, Alex Kovalev, Martin Straka, Robert Lang, Darius Kaparaitis, and Johan Hedberg. The Penguins just totally decimated the Senators in this series. They looked like the superior team throughout each minute of this series. It was amazing. It begs you to ask the question though. Are the Senators really that bad? Or are the Penguins really that good? Perhaps, it's a little of both. The Penguins usually beat teams with their skill, not by sheer domination on every aspect of the game like that. This series win, especially against the opponent that knocked them out of the playoffs last year, will give them a lot of confidence as they move on in their quest for Lord Stanley's Cup. They'll have plenty of rest for the second round. Hopefully, it's not too much. We don't want them to lose any momentum. On to the Eastern Conference Semi-finals!

4 wins down, 12 to go!

ECQF Game 3: Penguins - 4, Senators - 1

This is how a great team performs on the road. The Senators, with the return of their captain and the crowd behind them, came out of the gates desperate and flying. They even scored the first goal. But the Penguins withstood their initial barrage. And then they took the game back into their hands and played the way they wanted to play. The game just shifted from a relentless Ottawa attack to the Penguins crushing them and suffocating any hope they had. The Ottawa crowd is just silenced in the third. It was great to see Staal and Hossa finally score. Hossa was probably the best player on the ice tonight. I hate to say something like this but this series is over. The Senators have had the life and will sucked out of them. It's time to break out the brooms.

3 wins down, 13 to go!

ECQF Game 2: Penguins - 5, Senators - 3

The Penguins were so dominant in this game, they almost beat themselves! 54 shots on goal! 54! That is absurd! How terrible are the Senators to let up 54 shots? The Pens rarely ever outshoot their opponents. The Penguins took an easy 3-0 lead and then lost their focus, letting the Senators tie the game on 3 sloppy plays. That sudden loss of focus is a concern. But once the heat was back on, the Pens displayed their might again. The Malkin line is just incredible! Crosby was great with 4 assists. Sykora... what a sniper! I'm starting to wonder if you can consider Hossa a sniper. He doesn't seem to be one in the mode of Sykora. He's a lot more patient with the puck, almost too patient. Gerber was amazing for the Senators. The Penguins could have had 10 goals if not for him. He is very difficult to beat. The Pens could only score on him through screens and making him go east-west. For the most part, it was a good performance by the Pens but they need to keep their focus for the full 60-minutes. Let this be a lesson to them.

2 wins down, 14 to go!

"it's a small world"

A Disney post for you! Here's the entire "it's a small world ride." I recorded this about a month ago but never got time to upload it. But now here it is! Enjoy! Also, I made it a point to zoom in on the funny suggestive parts. Hehe!

ECQF Game 1: Penguins - 4, Senators - 0

Now that, ladies and gentleman, is what we call a dominating performance! This was the complete opposite of last year's game 1, where the Penguins looked like a deer in a headlights in their first postseason appearance. From the moment the puck dropped, the Penguins dictated the play and had the Senators caught watching. The Penguins dominating every aspect of the game. Offense, Defense, Special Teams, Goaltending, everything... well, except faceoffs. Fleury was magnificent, earning his first playoff shutout. OMG, Gary Roberts is a playoff warrior!!! He was the best player on the ice today, scoring goals, smashing the opposition, and in the end challenging the entire Senators team. Malkin looked like an MVP. Crosby and Hossa were deadly, combining for 11 shots on goal. If not for some amazing saves by Martin Gerber in the 2nd period, this game would have been a huge blowout. And how about that penalty kill, completely shutting the Senators down, including two 5-on-3 advantages. Heatley and Spezza seemed invisible for the most part. And what was the deal with Ryan Whitney destroying Wade Redden? Whitney? Ryan Whitney? Wha??? This was a statement game to the rest of the NHL. This time, the Penguins are ready!

1 win down, 15 to go!

The Quest Begins

In 1893, Lord Frederick Stanley, Governor General of Canada, presented a silver cup to the Montreal AAA, the country's top amateur hockey team. And from there, the legend began. For over a century, Lord Stanley's Cup has been battled for and defended as hockey's ultimate prize. The Cup has been passed down from generation to generation. It bears the names of greats like Richard, Béliveau, LaFleur, Howe, Gretzky, Messier, and Lemieux. To raise the sacred grail is the dream of anyone who has ever picked up a hockey stick. Boys leave their homes and families to chase it. Men sacrifice their bodies to touch it. They cry when they win it and cry when they lose it. They do it all for a mere shot at what it gives its champion, immortality.

And now the quest for Lord Stanley's Cup begins again.

My Predictions (Which are always useless)

Conference Quarterfinals

East:

8 Boston Bruins vs 1 Montreal Canadiens -> Montreal Canadiens
7 Ottawa Senators vs 2 Pittsburgh Penguins -> Pittsburgh Penguins
6 Philadelphia Flyers vs 3 Washington Capitals -> Washington Capitals
5 New York Rangers vs 4 New Jersey Devils -> New York Rangers

West:

8 Nashville Predators vs 1 Detroit Red Wings -> Detroit Red Wings
7 Calgary Flames vs 2 San Jose Sharks - > San Jose Sharks
6 Colorado Avalanche vs 3 Minnesota Wild -> Colorado Avalanche
5 Dallas Stars vs 4 Anaheim Ducks -> Anaheim Ducks


Conference Semifinals

East:
5 New York Rangers vs 1 Montreal Canadiens -> Montreal Canadiens
3 Washington Capitals vs 2 Pittsburgh Penguins -> Pittsburgh Penguins

West:
6 Colorado Avalanche vs 1 Detroit Red Wings -> Detroit Red Wings
4 Anaheim Ducks vs 2 San Jose Sharks -> Anaheim Ducks


Conference Finals

East:
2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs 1 Montreal Canadiens -> Pittsburgh Penguins

West:
4 Anaheim Ducks vs 1 Detroit Red Wings -> Detroit Red Wings


Stanley Cup Finals

Pittsburgh Penguins vs Detroit Red Wings -> Pittsburgh Penguins!!!



Who else did you think I would pick?

Cutest Team Photo EVER!

The Penguins put this year's official team photo on their site. There are actually two versions. The first is the standard "Everyone stand together" photo.



The second is absolutely adorable! You would never think you could use the word "adorable" to describe a hockey team, but this picture screams it. See for yourself.



I love this photo! It just shows how close-knit this team is and how much of a goofball everyone is. Funny observations from the picture. Hal Gill is HUGE! He looks twice as big as anyone else. Where is Petr Sykora sticking his head? Marian Hossa looks uncomfortable. Holy crap, it's Mark Eaton!

Flyers - 2, Penguins - 0

Today, the Penguins were faced with a choice. Be brave or be smart. I think a lot of fans wanted the Penguins to be smart but we couldn't expect them not to try their hardest. Luckily for us, we were wrong. In the last game of the year, the Penguins were faced with two choices... win and face the nasty Flyers in the first round or lose and face a struggling Senators team. The Penguins chose to be smart. From a fan's perspective, a Penguins-Flyers series would be amazing. But to the respective teams, it would be a nightmare. That series would be a war and causalities would be expected. We've seen the hatred between them during the season. In the playoffs, the intensity would reach a level few could even comprehend. Whoever would make it out of that series would not be in good shape. The Penguins and Flyers did NOT want to face each other. So the Penguins did not try to win this game. They decided to sit out Sidney Crosby, a very obvious sign that they did not care to win. The Penguins' concerns in this game were keeping everyone healthy and letting the returning Roberts, Hall, and Beech more playing time. They succeeded in that and now are rewarded with a series against the Ottawa Senators. This is the rematch the Penguins have been waiting for. And you know what, Ottawa? It's payback time!

Penguins - 4, Flyers - 2

GAME OF THE YEAR!!! I am so proud of these guys! They were amazing. This was playoff hockey. This was a playoff team. This was a war! The Flyers came into this hoping to play their game, trying to bully the Penguins around with their goon tactics. They hoped to take the superior talented Penguins off their game. But you know what? They failed! The Penguins stood united and said, "If you want a fight, we'll give you a fight. Whatever you dish, we'll dish back. And then we'll make you pay for it!" That's exactly what they did! The Flyers threw everything at the Penguins in the first period but they withstood it and in the second, they fired back. This was a team fighting together. Everyone pitched in. Everyone threw hits. Everyone stood up for each other. Orpik, Ruutu, Laraque, Whitney, Letang, Kennedy, they all gave the Flyers a taste of their old medicine. And OMG... Sergei Gonchar, you are ONE BADASS MOTHER #^$%@&! One of the greatest things I've ever seen in a Penguins game, Gonchar busting open Scott Hartnell's face! They hit back and made the Flyers pay for their stupid actions, scoring 4, count em 4, powerplay goals. Hartnell thought he would make a name for himself but in the end, he was a laughing stock to the Penguins. Crosby and Malkin played awesome! Fleury was phenomenal! This is how you win playoff games! Everyone contributes and your stars step up!

For the first time in a decade...

THE PITTSBURGH PENGUINS ARE THE ATLANTIC DIVISION CHAMPIONS!!!

Congratulation, guys! This was well deserved. We have one more game left. With it, we can take the No. 1 seed in the East and end the Flyer's miserable season. Let's Go Penguins!

Rangers - 2, Penguins - 1 (OT)

Yeah, this is really late. I didn't get to see this game so I can't much about it. But with two games left, the Pens are now 1 point away from the Atlantic crown. Word is Adam Hall and Gary Roberts are close to returning. Let's take those Flyers out of the playoffs entirely!

Part Of That World

So if you've been following this blog, you may have wondered why lately its been dominated by hockey entries with far fewer Disney posts. The answer to that is two-fold. One is well, the NHL season is coming to a close and the playoff race is heating up. Obviously, there's going to be a lot of attention to hockey then. The second part comes from a bit of change in my life. In the last month, my perspective of Disney has gone from that of guest to cast. So my guest experiences have been much more limited as of late and my new cast experiences, well, those aren't meant for the public eye. But I can definitely say that my experiences so far have been an absolute dream come true. If I could only sum up these experiences with one word, it would be "wonderful."

First, my fellow cast members have been a blast to work with. Everyone has been so nice, friendly, and helpful. Now I know that there are going to be people who aren't as nice and you'll wonder why they even bother to be here if they're like that. But a lot of the people here are special. I've never been to a place before where the people are so passionate about what they do and how much they believe in what they do. I've actually had a few people hold back tears in describing the magic of Disney to me. It's amazing to see passion like that. So many have come out of their way to make me feel welcomed. There always seems to be a smile somewhere greeting you. And it always helps to return one yourself. A smile goes a long way. There are so many people here like me. My hope is that I'll get to know a lot of these people and get to form some great friendships.

The second thing that has made my experiences wonderful so far has been the actual job itself. I now work for Disney. I don't think my mind has yet to fully grasp that concept. I am now part of making that very magic that has touched so many hearts, including my own. I've never had a job before that wasn't concerned with profit, whose main focus was to bring more money in. Yes, Disney is a corporate entity and a business first, so they do want money. But my role isn't concerned with that. My role is to purely make people happy. I'm there to take them into another world and help instill fantasy and magic in their hearts. My measure of success isn't how much money I got from them but whether or not they left with a smile. How amazing is that? I get to interact with so many people throughout the day. I know now more than ever that I am extraverted because I love the interaction. In fact, when my day is done and I head back to my empty apartment, I can't help but to feel a bit lonely. Sure, some guests can be rude and mean. But the majority of them just want a piece of that magic and it's so satisfying to be able to supply it.

This isn't a full-time thing. It's merely something I do on the side in addition to my real life. It's just a few days of week and I know not every one of those days will be so wonderful. But if I can keep that magic within my heart and remember why I'm here, I can pull through with a smile. It also doesn't hurt that you can sometimes look up and see Cinderella Castle. Not too many jobs can boast that. What makes this special is the fact that I'm not here because I need to be. I'm a cast member at Disney because I want to be. This is a dream for me. I truly feel that I belong here. I remember my first day when I was given my Disney name tag. Some people think name tags are demeaning, but not this one. It was a badge of honor for me. Seeing my name engraved in that little hunk of plastic, it was a dream come true that was almost 7 years in the making. I don't know how long it will last, but I will make the most out of it. I don't want any regrets from this. This place is magical. Me and all the cast, we're here to continue Walt Disney's legacy and keep his dream alive.

Penguins - 3, Rangers - 1

With four games left in the season, this was a huge win for the Penguins. They're now back atop the Eastern Conference. For how long, who knows. It's back and forth with Montreal. Marc-Andre Fleury has been amazing since his return. It seems as though he only lets in a goal a game. That's Fleury we're talking about! If he can keep this up, the Penguins will go far in the playoffs. The defense has been so much better lately. As scary looking as the Penguins' powerplay can be, there does seem to be a problem with it. They had 3 powerplays where they didn't get off a single shot. That has to be addressed. Evgeni Malkin has a scare when he was cut in the face with a skate blade but after getting stitched up, he seems to be ok. We need these team complete and healthy. Only 3 games left to go!

Penguins - 3, Islanders - 1

What a bizarre game! Let me get this straight... Ruutu and Laraque score goals while Petr Sykora and Darryl Sydor fight? What in the... While we got the win and in the process extended our division lead and moved into 1st in the East, it came at a cost. Just as Sidney Crosby returned, we lost Marian Hossa, not once but twice! First, we got a scare when he was on the receiving end of a cheap low hit by Rob Davison. Hossa came back but it wouldn't be the last time he would be cheapshot. He would leave the game later from a hit from behind. I hope it's not serious. I fear it may be a concussion. Let's hope not. I hate games like this. You have everything to play for but a team like the Islanders have nothing to play for and decide to just take liberties on your star players.

Penguins - 2, Devils - 0

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the playoffs!

This was a huge win for the Penguins. Not only did it officially clinch a playoff spot for them, it gave them the potential tiebreaker against the Devils for the Atlantic crown. This means for the Devils to win the division, they MUST have more points than the Penguins. The division is now the Penguins' to lose. In their last meeting, the Penguins displayed their offensive power. Tonight, they showed they can be just as strong defensively. Newcomers Hal Gill and Marian Hossa played a huge part in the defensive show. Marc-Andre Fleury has pretty much locked in his role as the playoff starter. Congrats, Pens!

Islanders - 4, Penguins - 1

Well, that just sucked! The Penguins had no business losing this game. A Stanley Cup contender against a team out of playoff contention with nothing to play for. The Isles were also decimated by injuries. I guess with the Devils up tomorrow, this game just screamed "trap game." The Penguins were dominant in the first period. I guess they thought that would continue the rest of the game and got a little arrogant. As much as the Penguins have matured this season, this game shows that they aren't completely there yet. You have to question the decision to start Ty Conklin when Fleury has been so hot as of late. But with back-to-back games on the schedule, that could explain it with saving Fleury for the Devils. Each game is worth the same amount of points though.

Penguins - 7, Devils - 1

Lucky 7's?

The Penguins seem to have a thing for the number 7, with this being the 3rd time in the last two weeks that they dropped 7 goals on an opponent. Not just any opponent either. This was a battle for the top of the Atlantic Division. It ended up being not much of a battle. It was more like a beatdown with one team curled up in the fetal position. Malkin passed 100 points for the first time in his career and is right there with Alex Ovechkin in the scoring race. While his line continues to be impressive with 8 points between the three of them last night, the Dupuis-Staal-Hossa line is making its mark as well. Hopefully, Crosby will be back full healthy soon and we can make one heck of a run to the playoffs!

Penguins - 4, Lightning - 2

Bend it like Ruutu?

Moment of the game was when Jarkko Ruutu got his stick knocked away and skated up the ice kicking the puck like a soccer ball and then even passing it for a shot. Hilarious! This was a pretty dull game for two offensive teams. That is until the 3rd period where 3 goals were scored in the first 2 minutes. The Malkin line was great again. Staal looked very impressive. And how bout that Pascal Dupuis! Why is he playing better than Marian Hossa? Step it up, Hossa! The Penguins should have had two more goals but were a split-second late as they scored just after two periods ended.

Rangers - 5, Penguins - 2

Well, I guess you can't win them all. It was a very sloppy effort overall. It was a game of mistakes, it's just the Penguins made more mistakes. The Rangers were mostly able to keep the Malone-Malkin-Sykora line quiet. So has Hossa start playing for the Penguins yet? I don't think I noticed him. It's true that he's not a fit with Staal however. Staal's just not a playmaker. Hopefully, when Sid comes back, we'll see some magic. I pin this loss on Conklin's dad.

Three No. 1s

Check out this awesome quote from Max Talbot about the Penguins' star players.

"It's not No. 1 and No. 1-A. It's not No. 1 and No. 2. With Geno and Sid, it's Nos. 1 and 1. Throw in Marian Hossa and it's Nos. 1 and 1 and 1. We've got a lot of No. 1s. It's not a terrible problem."

The Other Side

Disney brings magic to the hearts of millions of guests that pass through its gates. That magic is what makes Disney special and unique and has people coming back over and over again for it. Anyone who can afford a ticket to go can experience that magic. Most don't realize it but that isn't the only type of magic that exists at Disney. There's a very different experience that you'll find behind the curtain. People say the magic ends when you cross that line, but I don't think it does. I think you get a different type of magic. There's a whole new world back there and you can't helped but to be humbled and awestruck by it. The magic that exists on the other side comes from the people there and the work they do to make dreams come true for people on both sides of the curtain. It's quite amazing! And I consider myself so lucky to finally be able to see this magic from the other side.

Penguins - 7, Flyers - 1

Hahahahaha... there is no other word for it other than OBLITERATION! The Crosby-less Penguins simply dismantled the Flyers. It felt just like last season! The Malone-Malkin-Sykora line was absolutely deadly! Evgeni Malkin keeps proving that he is one of the most dominatiing players in the game and is making a strong case for the Hart. Marian Hossa made his full-game debut and registered 2 points, including his first goal as a Penguin. Any time you beat the Flyers is great but to humiliate them like this, it's incredible!

That's right! Suck it, Flyers! Suck it!

Sid Writes For ESPN

Check out this article Sidney Crosby wrote for ESPN the Magazine. It's a very good read into what Sid thinks of himself and the expectations put on him.

Penguins - 7, Sabres - 3

Is it me or does it seem like the Penguins play better without Crosby? Must be a coincidence. Anyway, a dominating performance for the Pens last night. It was an entire team effort. Maybe it's just that the whole team comes together without Crosby to rely upon. Well, hopefully Sid and Marian will be back this Sunday. It seems like the Penguins do very well against finesse teams that try to outgun them. No one can outgun the Penguins. Their problem seems to be team that play trapping style defenses and try to suffocate the Pens, ie. Boston. I really hope we don't have to play the Bruins in the playoffs. They seem to have our number. We're much better off against a team like Buffalo or Washington. Also, it's likely the Pens will be without the services of Laraque for at least a game or more. His elbow didn't seem that serious, but it was still an elbow. With the Flyers coming, we could really use Laraque.

Penguins - 4, Capitals - 2

Again, I didn't get to catch this and I heard it was a great one. These weekend games are killing me! What an ending though! The game was tied with less than 30 seconds left in the game and Nicklas Backstrom scored in his own goal to give the Penguins the lead and the win. Wow! Still no Hossa. Hopefully, he'll be ready to go this week.

Panthers - 5, Penguins - 2

What a disgrace! There is no other word for it. The Penguin's effort in this game was shameful and pathetic. There is no way a team this good should play so poorly against an inferior opponent. But that's what happened. Fleury was horrible in net. The defense was non-existent. Ryan Whitney, you are not paid to stand and watch opponent forwards score on our goalies! Both Crosby and Malkin seem invisible. What's going on? What has happened to the chemistry of this team? We can only hope the return of Marian Hossa will light a fire under this team. They better get their act together real soon.

Oh... Em... Gee...

A 5-minute sneak peak at The Little Mermaid prequel! I can't believe I'm saying this about a direct-to-dvd but it looks awesome!!!

Penguins - 2, Lightning - 0

You know, this was a very low scoring game for one that was filled with so many scoring chances. Crosby looked like he hasn't missed a beat. I can't wait to see how Hossa looks at his wing. Malkin was amazing and looked like the dominant franchise player he was in Crosby's absence. Marc-Andre Fleury was solid and earned his tenth career shutout. I love seeing Ty Conklin come in at the end and congratulate Fleury with such a huge smile on his face. That's a team!

He's Back!!!

The Chosen One returns tonight!

Penguins - 3, Thrashers 2 (SO)

You knew it was going to happen. You knew this game was going to a shootout and you knew who the first Atlanta shooter would be. But so did Marc-Andre Fleury. He stopped Erik Christensen, like so many times in practice. Kris Letang, the Penguins' new shootout ace, didn't miss, however, and gave the Penguins the win. It was a good win to get in what was an emotional game. Fleury was terrific in his first start since December.

Senators - 5, Penguins - 4

Didn't see this game, I was at ESPN the Weekend making hockey's presence felt. If you watch Baseball Tonight or NFL Live this week and see some dude in a Penguins jersey... yeah! But from what I hear, this was a pretty intense and wild game. Sorry I missed it. Sucks that the Pens lost another but they put up a fight against a tough opponent with a very depleted team. That's only a positive.

Bruins - 5, Penguins - 1

The Penguins stunk tonight... but I don't care. What I care about is that WE LOST MARIAN HOSSA!!! What the @*^$%^*&@&#@!!! Oh come on! He didn't even play more than 10 minutes for us and he went down to an injury. He suffered an injury from a knee-on-knee hit from Glen Murray. In the blink of an eye, every Penguins fan in the world exclaimed in unison, "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" Luckily, early word is that it's not serious and he should miss only about a week or so. But an MRI is needed tomorrow to be sure. Come on, Hossa. We gave up a lot for you. We need you!

Penguins - 4, Islanders - 2

This would be a tough game for the Penguins but they pulled through. I don't know how they did but they won. With the emotional hangover from the trade deadline and going into the game missing teammates, no one would have blamed them for losing. They were outshot 52-21, yet they seemed in control for some reason. Ty Conklin was unbelievable. It's hard to see how Fleury can take his No. 1 spot away. Good job, Pens! Next game, you're getting three new teammates.

HOLY $#*%!!!

The NHL trade deadline has passed and for the majority of the day, the Penguins were quiet... that is, until the final 10 minutes. Going into this day, the two needs they had were a big, strong defensive defenseman and a scoring winger. The defenseman need was filled first with the acquisition of Hal Gill from Toronto in exchange for a 2nd and 5th round pick. While his speed and maneuverability may be subject to concern, he brings exactly what the Penguins need. He's someone who can deliver hits, log a lot of ice time, and penalty kill. Teams will have a harder time pushing around the Penguins' D in front of the net now. The need for a scoring winger came shortly after and left jaws dropped all over the hockey world.

Atlanta Thrashers get:
Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen, Angelo Esposito, and a 1st round pick.

Pittsburgh Penguins get:
Pascal Dupuis and MARIAN HOSSA!!!

OMG... Marian FREAK'N Hossa! The Penguins didn't just get a scoring winger to play with Sidney Crosby, they got one of the elite snipers in the game! At first glance, this trade seemed like serious overpayment by the Penguins, but it may not be. Letting go of Christensen was ok. He just was never able to live up to his scoring potential here. Colby is a heartbreaker. He was a fan-favorite here and a great locker room presence. But as much as we loved him, he was just a 3rd line role player. Pascal Dupuis can pretty much do what Colby does. The biggest parts of the trade were Esposito and the 1st rounder. Esposito is a huge question mark. He has the potential to become a bona fide superstar or a complete bust. He had an amazing year as a 16 year old but has not played back to those levels. He was basically a high risk, high reward prospect. The first rounder is another question mark. This year's draft is supposed to be a deep one and the Penguins have given up many of their picks. But if they do well, all those picks will be late ones. For years, the Penguins have been about building for the future. Today, they sent a different message, "The future is now!" They paid a high price for this. Their farm system is dry and they don't have picks to replenish it. Marian Hossa is an unrestricted free agent after this season. He could leave for nothing. And if the Penguins manage to resign him, it will be very costly. But the statement for this year has been made. We've seen the core of that future grow up before our very eyes. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal, Marc-Andre Fleury, Ryan Whitney, Kris Letang... the core is intact. With the addition of Hossa, this team has become very... VERY LETHAL. It is now one of, if not the best team in the Eastern Conference. The expectations are set and the message is clear...

WE WANT THE STANLEY CUP NOW!

Original Cast Recording

I came home today and found a wonderful surprise in my mailbox. It was The Little Mermaid Original Cast Recording, sent straight from the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre! The CD was officially released this week, but I got the special version you can only get from the actual theatre... cause I'm a nerd like that! Anyways, I have to say this is the greatest CD I have ever heard! It's just so amazing!!! We've had the leaked Broadway workshop to listen to for the last two years but now the final version is out and it is so worth the wait! It's really funny to hear how some of the workshop songs have changed. But I think they've changed for the better. This CD is so beautiful, it literally had me in tears listening to it. OMG, this is pretty much the soundtrack of my life.

Thoughts on some of the songs.

"The World Above" - This was not in the workshop so it was a complete surprise. This is Ariel singing about how much she feel she belongs in the human world. It is so pretty and it feels like the lyrics were written just for me. It may just be my favorite of all the new songs.

This is where I belong
Beneath the clear wide blue here!
I feel completely new here in the world above!
It's like my life was wrong
And somehow, now, at last I'm in
My own skin
Up here in the world above!

There's so much light here
Light and space!
The sun's so bright here
Upon my face!
It feels so right here
Warm as love...
Life seems to be
Almost calling to me
From this strange new world above!

"I Want the Good Times Back" - I really like this song because it tells the backstory of King Triton and Ursula. They're apparently brother and sister! Wow!

"She's in Love" - This is a very silly, catchy, and almost out of place song sung my Ariel's sisters and Flounder. Some of the lines are hilarious!

"Her Voice" - This pretty much stayed the same from the workshop. Eric sings about the voice that haunts him.

"Beyond My Wildest Dreams" - My favorite from the workshop, it's been changed a bit. It's no longer just Ariel singing in her head. There are other people singing about her, which makes it resemble "Belle" somewhat. I love the change. It really conveys the scene of this wide-eyed yet confusing girl seeing this new world for the first time.

"One Step Closer" - This is another song that wasn't in the workshop. It's awesome! Eric teaches Ariel to dance. The song makes you want to dance yourself!

"If Only" - This has undergone a serious makeover since the workshop. No longer just a duet between Eric and Ariel, they mixed in Sebastian's reprise and a new section for King Triton. This is such a beautiful, yet heartbreaking song. If you don't feel something during this song, you have no heart.

"The Contest" - This wasn't in the workshop either but it's so funny. It's a bunch of women butchering "Part of Your World" trying to impress Eric.

"Part of Your World" - "Part of Your World" is the soul of the story and the anthem of dreamers everywhere. It's a difficult song to sing because to do it right, you have to feel it. Sierra Boggess did the song justice. I don't know how Disney found her, but they found the perfect Ariel!

These aren't all the songs. There are 29 total, but these wee the ones that really jumped out at me. I love them all though. I love this CD!

An Outrage!!!

Enchanted lost?! How is that possible?! It had three of the five songs! No way it deserved to lose. You know the only reason it lost was because the Academy is tired of handing Alan Menken Oscars. This is an outrage. #@$% YOU ACADEMY!!!

As for the performances, Amy Adams was wonderful in "Happy Work Song." It was very clear that she was scared up there but she pulled it off. Unfortunately, it was a horrible idea to have her sing there absolutely alone. Why is she alone? She sings that song to others in the film. Singing it alone, it makes her look like a crazy woman! As for "That's How You Know", Kristin Chenoweth totally butchered that song! I was looking forward to that one the most and it was the worst of the three. Chenoweth sang it all opera-like. What the hell! It's supposed to be a sweet and silly song. I don't understand why Amy couldn't do this. Well, at least Amy didn't get shown up by Chenoweth. Amy was the better singer tonight. "So Close" was awesome! They completely recreated the scene and did it right. Watching it on stage was almost as magical as seeing it in the theater. I loved it!

Once again... @$% YOU ACADEMY!!!

Sharks - 2, Penguins - 1 (SO)

OMG, dullest game ever! The Sharks make the Devils look exciting. Didn't they used to be known for offense? I didn't even notice Joe Thornton on the ice! What the heck was that? I was hoping for the game to go into the shootout when it was obvious that it was going into overtime. I figured everything in the shootout favored the Penguins. I was wrong. What happened to Conks? He was stellar in regular gameplay and just didn't even try in the shootout, letting all 3 Shark shooters score on him. How about that sick move by Ruutu? Going in ridiculously slow and then backhanding it with one hand. How does this guy not score more?! On the bright side, the Penguins got 4 points out of 6 against 3 very tough and different opponents.

Senators - 4, Penguins - 3 (OT)

I wasn't able to catch this game. I was at the Adventurers Club learning what a Ding Dong Daddy was. Don't ask. It was Part II of the Battle for the East and while the Penguins made it out with one point, it was a disappointing result. That's because they gave up a 3-goal lead and an opportunity to take the lead in the Eastern Conference. But there isn't much time to dwell on this game. The Sharks come to town today!

Penguins - 5, Canadiens - 4

It was Part I of the Battle for the East and while they came out of it bruised and scarred, the Penguins were victorious. What a game this was! The Pens faced a very tough opponent, high off the energy of an amazing comeback victory against the Rangers. It was in their building, in front of their intimidating crowd. Two great offenses. Two deadly powerplays. It was a great night for hockey. The Penguins also showed their character tonight. They lost a 2-goal lead against a team known for their comeback and stayed on course and took the win in regulation. Congrats to Sergei Gonchar on his 8th consecutive 50-point season and 600th career point. Evgeni Malkin now has a 4-point lead in the scoring race and is making his case for MVP. Jordan Staal with 6 shots on goal! Ryan Malone and Ryan Whitney continuing their stellar play. This is a team that has come together nicely! The upcoming returns of Crosby and Fleury will only make this team better. Part II of this battle is next and the conference is up for grabs against the Senators on Saturday.

Addressing Rumors

The trade deadline is approaching. In fact, it's this upcoming Tuesday. And with that comes a lot of trade rumors, the majority of which are completely false. But that brings us to this spicy little rumor that seems to be making its rounds around the net.

Penguins get: Martin Havlat, Tuomo Ruutu
Blackhawks get: Jordan Staal

That rumor is coming from thefourthperiod.com so I doubt it has much credence. Still, it scares me. Ray Shero, if you trade Jordan Staal, I and a great many Penguins fans will hunt you down and beat you mercilessly.

Penguins - 3, Panthers - 2

So when did Ryan Malone become a game breaker? 2 goals tonight including an amazing game winner. That wasn't a move you would associate with Malone but he managed to dance around 3 defenders and go 5-hole on Vokoun. The Pens went into the 3rd trialing 0-2 and pulled out 3 goals for the win in regulation, just barely! They always seem to make it exciting, don't they? Well, it was good to get this win because the Pens face a tough set of games ahead, with the Canadiens, Senators, and Sharks coming up.

Oh yeah... Evgeni Malkin is now the scoring leader! Who would have thunk it?

Penguins - 4, Sabres - 1

Forget the last two games, it was back to business for the Penguins. Malkin, again dominant. Conklin, impenetrable. Sykora, showing he's at last a dependable scorer. And the big news this weekend was that Crosby has resumed full contact practices, way ahead of schedule. Now, he either has the healing powers of Terrell Owens or he's still hurt but really good at hiding it. I really hope it's the first!

Hurricanes - 4, Penguins - 2

In some ways, this game was like the previous night's. In others, it was the complete opposite. Just like against the Bruins, the Pens fell to a hungrier team. Dunno what it is about their lack of intensity to start the last two games. Hopefully, it will be addressed. But unlike the Bruins game, which was a boring trap-fest, this was a high-flying offensive show. We proved that if you don't have the drive, you can lose multiple ways. These were the first back-to-back Penguins regulation losses in 2 months. That's pretty good! Also, The Penguins injured Rod Brind'Amour for the season with a torn ACL. You know, the Penguins are developing a habit of hurting Carolina players. First, there was Erik Cole, then Trevor Letowski, and now Brind'Amour. They really must not like us.

Bruins - 2, Penguins - 1

I was only able to catch the final period of this game. Until Malkin finally scored late in the third, what was up with the Penguins' powerplay? For what's supposed to be our strength, it was dreadful! Still, we managed to keep it close. You can't win them all. And how about those amazing stops Ty Conklin had on Boston's two-man breakway and the follow-up by Phil Kessel? Wow! The Pens have another game up tomorrow, so not too much time to dwell on this.

American Idol Comes to Disney

Once one of my favorite parks, Disney's Hollywood Studios keeps doing more things to make me stay away. Sigh... see for yourself.

Studios gets "American Idol" show



If they didn't have Voyage of the Little Mermaid...

Downie says "No Mas!"

Here's video of Steve Downie skating away from a fight with Jarkko Ruutu on Sunday. What a gutless punk!

Prayers for Zednik

If you didn't see tonight's Sabres-Panthers game, Richard Zednik suffered a horrific injury. He accidentally got his throat cut by teammate Olli Jokinen's skate. It was a terrible scene to see, with so much blood on the ice. Zednik was taken to the hospital and is in surgery now. Let's keep him in our thoughts and prayers.

Geno Domination

I was away for the weekend so I didn't catch any of the game. But boy, do I wish I could have seen them.

2/9: Penguins - 4, Kings - 2
2/10: Penguins - 4, Flyers - 3

Look at this team! Just look at them! When Sid went down, people said they would be lucky to go .500. They are now 6-2-2 without Crosby. They are showing they are much more than one player. Everyone is stepping it up. Ryan Malone, Jordan Staal, Petr Sykora, Sergei Gonchar, Kris Letang, they'll all elevated their games. But no one has done it more than Evgeni Malkin. He has emerged out of Crosby's shadow and shown that he is without a doubt, one of the greatest players in the world. 21 points in 10 games without Sid. 7 points this weekend alone! He's taken this team on his shoulders and is running at full speed. We knew he was good, but this good? Amazing! You know what they say, adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it. The Penguins are showing who they really are. They are a good hockey team. And can you imagine when Crosby, Roberts, and Fleury return? They will be a great team!

Oh yeah... suck it, Flyers. Suck it!

Penguins - 4, Islanders - 3

"Dear Coach,

#@&% you!

Sincerely,
Ryan Whitney"

That was the message sent tonight. After getting chewed out in public by Michel Therrien, Ryan Whitney answered tonight with 2 goals and an assist. Kris Letang got the game-winner late in the 3rd period. There were some things to be concerned about though. Ty Conklin did not play well. He gave up a horrible empty net goal in the 1st and made mistakes throughout the night. I hope this isn't the end of his stellar play. Also, it's becoming more and more evident that the Penguins defensemen can't handle physical forwards. This has to be addressed. It was nice to get the win. We have a big weekend coming up with 2 games, including the Flyers. Since Crosby went down, we haven't been able to string together a winning streak. Let's start one now!

Noooooooooo!!!

This is indeed a sad day for hockey...

Marc-Andre Fleury has switched his gear from yellow to white. Who knows the reason for the change, but those yellow pads were awesome and distinctive. Farewell, yellow flower! :(

Belle & Ariel Sing Together

I just found this amazing clip on YouTube of Paige O'Hara (Belle) and Jodi Benson (Ariel) singing "When You Wish Upon A Star." It's beautiful!

Devils - 4, Penguins - 3 (OT)

What was that? The Penguins should have won this game. They outplayed the Devils for most of the game. The score should not have even been close. Did the Penguins become too confident? A complete breakdown at the end of the game. Although we got a point out of this, this result is very disappointing.

Penguins - 4, Hurricanes - 1

Although they trailed through the first two periods, this was the Penguins' game. Four different Penguins scored in this game. That is a testament to this team's depth. Ryan Malone has finally begun to show his potential... much later than expected. But hey, at least it's here. Nice to see Petr Skyora still plays on this team. And how awesome was that goal by Malkin? The Pens got Colby Armstrong back and expect Adam Hall and Kris Beech soon. Marc-Andre Fleury and Gary Roberts await down the line. This team is coming back together. Let's keep it up, guys!

Giselle!!!

Look what I found on Main Street today! The first Enchanted art piece I've ever seen! It looks awesome. $450... ouch.

Thrashers - 4, Penguins - 1

There is adversity and then there's what the Penguins had to deal with tonight. Nothing went right for the Penguins tonight... nothing! The officials might as well have been wearing blue Thrasher jerseys. There was no deliberate kicking motion on Nathan Smith's goal. That should have counted! On two different occasions, a Penguin gets his stick taken away from him and HE get the penalty?! And don't get me started on Jarkko Ruutu's ejection! How do you give a guy a fighting major when he didn't fight? Getting jumped on and punches thrown at you while not fighting back DOES NOT constitute a fight! That hit on Kovalchuk shouldn't even be a penalty and he gets ejected for it? Nice. This was just one of those nights that you just take and let go of.

Penguins - 4, Devils - 2

All teams face adversity. The great teams get through it and become better because of it. Tonight, the Penguins showed they can handle adversity. They faced the division-leading Devils with a completely depleted team and thoroughly outplayed them. The Penguins' depth was so bad that defenseman Brooks Orpik had to play left wing! But they managed to prove that they are more than Sidney Crosby. This will only give them more confidence. If this team can keep this up, they will be unstoppable when Sid and the rest of the team returns. Stand tall, Penguins, stand tall!

More Celebrity Disney

Disney just released another set of promotional photos by Annie Leibovitz, depicting celebrities as Disney characters. I love these photos.

Jessica Biel as Pocahontas.



Gisele Bundchen as Wendy Darling, Tina Fey as Tinker Bell, and Mikhail Baryshnikov as Peter Pan.



Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony as Jasmine and Aladdin.



And funny enough, Whoopi Goldberg as Genie.

A Look Back At 6 Months

I've passed the 6 month mark on my stay here by the most magical place on earth. In that time, Walt Disney World has transitioned from being a place I longed to visit to a place that has become an integral part of my life. Of course, since that very special first July morning at the footsteps of Cinderella Castle, Disney has always had a presence in my life. But the experience is much different now. Gone are the countdowns, the schedules, and the need to run around and do as much as I can. When you're a visitor on vacation, it's a cycle of longing to return, heaven for a week, and then the unbearable departure that leads to longing for the next trip. I think every Disney fanatic goes through that cycle. Fortunately, I don't have to go through that anymore. It's been so nice not ever having to say good-bye.

In the last 6 months, I've visited a lot. In fact, "a lot" would be an understatement. Disney's become as much a part of my life as going to work or even eating. And a common question that I get asked is, "Don't you ever get tired of it?" My answer is "never." It is an answer that many cannot understand. I believe understanding that is the line that divides people who just see Disney as a bunch of amusement parks and those who hold it up as something far greater. To a great many, Disney is just a place that has a bunch of rides and shows. Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Tower of Terror... that's what they think of when they think about the parks. But for the others, the ones who get it, they know it's not about the rides or any attractions. Sure, they are fun and definitely a part of Disney but that's not what draws people to it. What draws them... is "magic." But what is magic? To me, magic is freedom. It's the freedom to let go of reality, to let go of the notions of the world that hold us down. It is the feeling of setting loose your spirit, sending it as high as you can dream. It's closing your eyes and letting yourself believe in all the things you want to. It's abandoning cynicism and letting ideals and innocence take over. It's hope in the power of imagination and dreams. That's what magic is to me. How many times can you go on a ride before it loses its appeal? It's not about the rides. It's the magic of Disney that holds on to the hearts of all who love it. Not everyone can understand. But for me, it feels like Disney and I were made for each other. I'm a dreamer, a hopeless romantic, an idealist. All the things Disney is flows through my being. I was once told that if I had never been born, somehow Walt Disney would have created me. And I know I'm not the only one. Look at all the people who've come from all the corners of the world to live and work here. They didn't uproot their lives because they like a bunch of rides that much. They took a huge chance on their dreams because they believe in this place. They believe in this magic.

I'm so lucky to have been able to experience Walt Disney World the way I have over the last 6 months. Instead of the quick splash of a week-long trip, I've been able to see Disney in such a way that many don't get a chance to. I've been able to see it change and grow. I arrived in the peak summer months when everything was bustling and crazy. Then I saw the crowds thin out and experienced how calm this world could be. I saw amazing events like the Pirate & Princess Party and Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. I grew to appreciate a place that never struck a cord with me before, Epcot. I experience the fantastic International Food & Wine Festival. And the most wonderful season of all became even more incredible. Christmas at Disney was awe-inspiring. How could one not be moved by the Candlelight Processional or brought to tears by the Castle's Dream Lights? I got to experience all those special events by living here. But my time here has been about even more than that. There has been so much to see and do to here. From the classic excitement of the theme parks to finding hidden gems like Disney's enchanting boardwalk, magic seems to be everywhere. It even shows through its food. Whether it be a silly morning at Chef Mickey's or a charming afternoon at Beaches and Cream or an elegant evening at the California Grill, magic has never tasted so good. With so much time to spend here, I've been able to appreciate each little thing. I actually find myself sometimes not doing anything at Disney but just being there and soaking up the atmosphere. My absolute favorite thing to do is just hang around the Fantasyland-Main Street area of the Magic Kingdom. I love taking a simple carrousel ride, making a wish at Cinderella's well, and sitting back and watching her castle change colors in the night. I don't think there's anything better.

I've gotten to meet and share the magic with so many people during my 6 months here. For all those who came to visit, I got to be their guide to this wonderful world. For those who live and work here, I got to experience a new type of magic through them. I gained a new appreciation of what it takes to keep the magic alive in this world. With all the things I got to see and do and live, it's hard to imagine that it's only been 6 months. But you know what? There's a whole world I've yet to see. There is so much more to experience. And that's what I certainly hope the new year brings.