Disneyland 60

Welcome back to Taylor Talks!

Last night, my mom and I had recorded the Disneyland 60th anniversary celebration on television, but we didn't have the chance to watch it until today. Wow, I was really glad that we made time for it this morning!

I've never been to Disneyland before, but I was interested in the television special for obvious reasons. I mean, without Disneyland, there would have never been a Disney World. Without Disney World, I wouldn't have an abundance of amazing family memories, not to mention my job today! So I was interested in seeing the special and celebrating the Magic that is Disney, no matter what part of the world you're talking about.

​There was so much singing and dancing, special guest appearances by Disney stars from television shows and movies, and this incredible love for Disney throughout the celebration. From the incredible performances by stars such as Idina Menzel and Sir Elton John, to the beautiful dance numbers that showcased a pair of "Dancing With The Stars" pros, Derek Hough and Whitney Carson, I couldn't help but smile.

There were so many people who stepped forward to talk about the impact of Walt Disney on the world, or talk about the "Happiest Place on Earth" in general, and it was really incredible to see just how many people are part of the Disney family. The voices that brought our favorite animated characters to life, like Josh Gad ("Frozen" -- Olaf), and the actors who portray our favorite television personas, like Kerry Washington ("Scandal" -- Olivia Pope) or Ginnifer Goodwin ("Once Upon A Time" -- Snow White) all joined together for this amazing Diamond Celebration for Disneyland.

There was a brilliant parade showcasing Mickey, Minnie, Tinkerbell, and more. There were interviews with celebrities about why they love Disney, or Disneyland, or why they're happy to be part of the Disney family. There was even (spoiler alert here) an incredible appearance by none other than Dick Van Dyke! As Derek Hough led a performance of the "Mary Poppins" hit Step In Time, the movie's leading man stepped out to surprise the audience and even danced along! The legend is ninety years old and he was up there doing moves that he did fifty years ago! It not only brought tears to my eyes, but also to my mom's eyes, and then as the television cut to a view of the in-house audience, they were all crying too! It was just a beautiful and unexpected sight that added to the Magic of the celebration, and it was one of my favorite parts of the television special.

I think that one of the best parts of this Diamond Celebration was the fact that I realized just how lucky I am to be part of such an incredible group. I've always known how special the Disney company is. I've been incredibly excited to join the Disney family as a Cast Member. But I didn't realize just how big the family I'm part of is until I watched this celebration. I saw people featured who wore the name tags that I wear each day to work. I saw people featured who had their Cast Member I.D. hanging off of them, and it was the same I.D. that I use to get into work. I may not be a television star, or voicing a character in a Disney animated movie, but I'm part of the Disney family all the same. The Cast Members who work in the Parks bringing Magic to Guests each day are just as much a part of the Disney family as the celebrities that everyone associates with the Disney name. It was an incredible feeling to see how connected we all are, no matter the job or the part of the world in which we live.

Did you watch the Disneyland Diamond Celebration? I'd be interested to hear what your favorite part was below in the comments... remember that you don't need to leave an email address to be able to share your thoughts with me!

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Thanks!
Taylor

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