After reading Steve Russo’s article last month looking back at his first year at MousePlanet (“Happy Anniversary“), I realized that there was an open spot on the publishing schedule that was six years to the day after my first article was published here (“A Practically Perfect Day with Hardly Any Attractions“). If that’s not a cue to reminisce, I don’t know what is.
Perhaps this is an exercise in ego. If it is, so be it.
Quick aside here: I know that the site says that I started writing the WDW Park Update in December of 2002, but that’s an issue with the conversion to the new site publishing format that took place a couple of years ago. While I filled in on a few occasions during the summer of 2003, I actually didn’t take over the Update on a regular basis until late August 2003. There are many who have been here since the beginning, and I may not have written the most stories at the site, but I’ve certainly done my share.
I’ve already told the story of how I got started here in MousePlanet’s own fifth-anniversary retrospective (“Happy Birthday MousePlanet”), so I won’t repeat it here. I will say, though, that it’s been an amazing ride so far. As near as I can count, I’ve written 293 Park Updates, 52 World View columns, 14 Business of Magic columns, plus a Screen Reviews and a More Mouse column, and—as of today—I’ve recorded and published 296 MouseStation podcasts (complete with show notes). That’s over 650 pieces on the site that I’ve written and almost 300 recordings. Whew!
But you know what? It’s been a load of fun. Why? Well, largely because of you! Yes, if you’re reading this column, then you’re one of the reasons that I continue to write. Not only do I get to share my love of Disney and my knowledge about Disney with people, but the people reading my stories actually enjoy them! How’s that for a kick in the pants?
Over the last six years, I’ve been able to share stories with so many people, and so many of them have shared their stories right back. And I’ve gotten to know so many wonderful people, from my fabulous colleagues here at MousePlanet to my other fabulous colleagues at many of the other Disney sites on the Internet, to some tremendously talented people at Disney, to the warm and caring Disney fans out there.
I’ve also been blessed with the support of the MousePlanet community in my fundraising endeavors for the March of Dimes, helping me to pay forward the miracle of my son’s survival to the charity that developed so many of the therapies, medications, and treatment regimens that enabled him to survive his micro-preemie birth and grow into the great kid that he’s become. Thanks to the generosity of MousePlanet readers and MouseStation listeners (as well as family, friends and co-workers), last year I was the #1 walker in my region, #2 in all of New York State above the New York City metro area. So far over the last four years, together we’ve raised nearly $14,000 to help ensure that all babies have a fighting chance to make it home safe and healthy. You can find out more and support me this year at my fundraising page (link).
I’ve spent afternoons chatting with Imagineers, gotten to talk to some of the closing cast of the Adventurers Club during the last nights of the show, talked with other creative types—entertainers, writers, directors, producers, designers, chefs, PR professionals and more—covered really cool press events, and spent hours with fellow Disney fanatics at MouseFests from 2004-2008 (and please, no questions about MouseFest, we don’t have any more answers at this time).
Someone once wrote to me and told me that they loved the Park Update because whenever they would see some sensationalist story about Disney on TV or in the newspapers, they knew that they had to wait until Monday so that they could get “the real story” from me. Wow! That’s a tremendous honor and a tremendous burden at the same time. Not that I mind the burden, as it just makes me work harder to make sure that I do a good job on it, but there are weeks that it seems like I’m climbing Mt. Everest (the real one, not the 199.5-foot version in Florida) as I try to put the Update together.
Looking back, I find it interesting to see how my focus and writing style has changed over the years. I started out writing a lot of “isn’t this cool” and “did you know” kind of stories; yet, as time goes by, while my journalistic method and quality has improved, I’ve also developed a much more critical slant to my writing. I don’t know if it’s all those years of having to write the Park Update each week, the coverage of the “Save Disney” battle and the surrounding corporate maneuvering, or just the increasing lack of sleep, but I seem to be a lot more hardened and less forgiving in my approach.
My podcast co-host pointed it out to me in December when he noted that he got into the frame of mind to stay at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort by reading a story comparing the resort to the real Saratoga Springs on the Web by “that other Mark Goldhaber.” While writing the show notes for the MouseStation podcast recorded live at our Hustle-tini meet, I listened to my answer to a question asking why we love Disney so much and realized that the wonder was missing there, too. It made me pause and consider whether I had actually lost my sense of awe and wonder in dedicating so much time to focusing on news and analysis, and I had to admit to myself that in some ways I had.
So now I’m trying to figure out how to regain that sense of wonder while still maintaining journalistic quality and integrity. How I can still provide unbiased news and analysis of what’s happening at Walt Disney World while getting back my sense of wonder and awe. In a sense, I’m trying to go full circle while not losing what I gained on the trip.
I also have to wonder what you readers are expecting from me. Is the somewhat detached style with which I write the Park Update comforting or reassuring to you? Do you wish that I wrote with more Disney fan passion? Did you like my work on the World View columns more than what I’m doing in the Park Update? And what do you think of the podcast, which sort of swings between the extremes? Do you think that the podcast should be more analytic and informative or more passionate and fan-like?
I’m going be pondering these thoughts for a while (while somehow trying to get more sleep at the same time), and I hope that the next few years will find even more interesting and exciting stories and experiences here at MousePlanet.
Thank you (and yes, I mean you personally) for reading and listening. It really does mean a lot to me.
