Fall Begins and Life Slows Down

After a very busy personal and work life season, I am ready for Fall! As a Californian who moved to Colorado many decades ago, in the first several years, I longed for Summer and all it brings. Now, it's this season I look forward to the most. No, I'm not into Pumpkin Spice Lattes or Halloween at all. I am into a more relaxed vibe with beautiful color, warm days, and cooler nights. And the evening rainstorms are wonderful! It's all a respite of sorts, a break between the activities of Summer and the busyness of Christmas. Let this season begin.

(Photograph copyright UC Denver.)

A Mickey Mouse Halloween at Disneyland

It was a beautifully warm Thursday afternoon in "Walt's park". What a perfect day to visit. Disneyland looked great! Taking the Horseless Carriage to Town Square for a little shopping, I decided to walk over to the Emporium. This gleaming, friendly looking Mickey pumpkin won me over, and I had to take a photo. Normally, I post something interesting about the Imagineering art of the Haunted Mansion (or Disneyland Paris' Phantom Manor), but this year, I'm more than a little tired of how ugly, dark, and sometimes outright evil the world has become and how this holiday is observed. So, friendly Mickey is in. I hope it puts a smile on your face as it did mine!

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

The Haunted Mansion's Memento Mori

Are you a fan of the Haunted Mansion? Do you wish you could be the Number 1,000 added to the "999 Happy Haunts" who reside there? If so, do I have a place for you! Follow me to the Magic Kingdom for a little insight.

Definitely the most unique gift shop in the Magic Kingdom and perhaps in all of Walt Disney World is Liberty Square's creepy Memento Mori. The atmosphere oozes the netherworld with gifts that help place you in the midst of the afterlife. Creepy or cool? But what did you expect when it is right down the path from the most otherworldly attraction in the park. 

Did the name of the store give it away? Is the little blue shop's name a pun built on the word "memento"? No, but the real meaning is even more interesting... and impactful.

Back in ancient days, the Latin phrase "Memento Mori" was often written on the top of letters and other important documents.  It's definition and common use meant "Think of Death", "Remember Your Death" or "Remember You Will Die". But it was not only an admonition to think about dying. It also meant to think about eternity and also with an emphasis to also consider how you will live your life now.

My heart is to honor and love Jesus now and into eternity, so my focus is on the things that will last beyond my lifetime. My mind is made up, so my life has purpose. 

What is your focus and your purpose?

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

The Walking Dead

The years? Circa 1987. The event? A Halloween party at my office. Being I was a bit tired of being seen as the "nice guy", I decided to surprise my friends and go all in as a zombie. Some are the walking dead on the outside, and others are the walking dead on the inside. Time to make some changes if that's the case.  Think of the possible "Before and After".

Before: As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 

After: But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Jesus Christ even when we were dead in transgressions —it is by grace you have been saved.

What makes the difference? Choosing to trust Jesus as the Savior of your soul and the king of your life. Believing He alone is the payment for your sin- those things you've said, done, and thought that displeased God. The very things you may even regret and not get free from! Let Him make that difference in your life and begin a fresh one. You have everything to gain- and only the burden and consequences of sin to lose!

California Adventure's Spooky Transformation

Halloween Time at the Disneyland Resort keeps getting more and more interesting. Used to be the Haunted Mansion's Nightmare Before Christmas and Space Mountain's Ghost Galaxy were the only real holiday focused attractions to be found. Not any more!

In an smartly designed effort to disperse the crowds- all the more important next year when Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge has opened- the suits and Imagineers have cooked up fresh ways to get guests to go to California Adventure instead of Disneyland. 

Granted, the original Twilight Zone Tower of Terror would have been a (super)natural one for a makeover, but Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout! now get transformed into something called Monsters After Dark. From what I can see from on line videos, guests only get to see Rocket and Baby Groot in this version- a definite step down from seeing all the Guardians. That said, it still looks like a fun diversion for the locals. 

Not to be left out in the sun, Cars Land and Buena Vista Street are transformed into spooking looking locations as well. If you can't make it to California to see it all, take a great photographic tour from the folks at the terrific Westcoaster site. The pics are just terrific! Take a look at their update. Be forewarned, though. You'll want to read every update afterwards!

(Photographs copyright Westcoaster.)

Decapitating Heads

The scariest of all Halloween activities! Is it found in the Haunted Mansion? Phantom Manor? Mystic Manor? What have the Imagineers cooked up?

No, the scariest, most frightening activity is not found at any Disney park. 

A Texas doctor talks about the process of removing heads from patients. This is something you find straight out of horror movies, and yet backers of Planned Parenthood continue to boast about what they do and call it good. Have we become that unsensitized to the value of human life? I guess so. 

What makes this any less gruesome than the Nazi experiments on human beings or members or ISIS decapitating Christians in the Middle East? One thing- these are helpless children- and we continue to justify it all. It's just like the ancient peoples who followed false gods and threw their children into fire as a sacrifice. We are very bit as barbaric and mislead. All under the guise of modern "wisdom". In reality, that should really scare us!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

YEE-HAW!

If y'all happen to be in the Metro Denver area and are looking for some family fun on Halloween night, check out Buckaroo Round Up! A western themed harvest party with a full blown cartoon western town to explore. Space is limited.

(Art and name copyright Roger Cousins.)

Pumpkin Patch #2

Next day, another pumpkin patch with our youngest daughter and her family. Still lots of fun on day two! The setting was a little bigger- Anderson Farms- and it was just as much fun for everyone involved.

This little granddaughter is no less a miracle than my red-haired grandson from the previous post. (And aren't all kids really miracles anyway?) During her pregnancy with this child, my daughter suffered a stroke early on, perhaps at two months and almost died. She had to go on special blood thinners two to three shots a day. Regular thinners would have caused her to lose the baby.

Not only did my daughter live, but our little granddaughter was born six months later. She's still a little feather- less than 1 percentile in growth and height, but she is fully normal and progressing well. Again, God proves himself personal and faithful.

I am so thankful!

(Photographs copyright Mark Taft.)

Mysterious Concept Art

Every once in awhile, the Disney Parks Blog highlights a piece of Imagineering concept art I've never seen. Today is such a day. Looking at the above piece, I am guessing it is for the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland or Disneyland Paris' Phantom Manor. Anyone in the know want to share the scoop?

(Art copyright the Walt Disney Company.)

Why Christmas Beats Halloween at Disneyland

Sure, it is just an overlay of an attraction and one of many offerings at Disneyland in California over Christmas- but what a terrific overlay it is! It's a Small World Holiday charms even the Scrooges in the crowd with its cheerful blend of Christmas tunes and decor. The exterior of the classic all-white building stuns the viewers with its thousands of colored lights, and the crowds begin running into the queue the moment the sun begins to set. It truly is magical- and nothing offered at the park for Halloween even comes close.
(Photograph copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Why Christmas Beats Halloween at Disneyland Paris

Take the most beautiful Disney park castle ever, sprinkle in some Christmas magic, and what do you get? Disneyland Paris' beautiful Chateau decked out for the season! And this is just the beginning. I've been to the park at Halloween, and it is cute, but oh, to see it at Christmas! Maybe one year...


(Photograph copyright the Walt Disney Company.)

Why Christmas Beats Halloween at the Disney Parks

Proof Number 1: Just look at the decorations! Nothing in orange and black can compare to the beauty of the icicles on the castles at the Magic Kingdom or Disneyland parks. There's more to come, so keep watch as I highlight other reasons Christmas reigns supreme over Halloween each and every year!

(Photograph copyright The Walt Disney Company.)