Two Dreams come true at Disneyland
A new Pirate in the Caribbean
To promote the DVD release of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest in 2006, Buena Vista Home Entertainment hosted the “Become a Disney Pirate” sweepstakes, offering one grand prize winner the opportunity to be caricaturized as a pirate in Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. More than a year after the contest ended, Jenifer Greenwell of St. Petersburg, Florida got to watch as her portrait was unveiled during a special ceremony at Disneyland Tuesday morning.
It seems that pirates don’t need to follow safety guidelines. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix
A Disneyland pirate displays his misguided effort at painting Jenifer’s portrait. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Jenifer’s grand prize began last May when she flew to Glendale to meet with Imagineer Jim Crouch, the artist who would create her portrait. (Crouch is also responsible for the portraits of Captains Jack Sparrow and Barbossa that appear in the attraction queue.) Jenifer had her first fitting for her pirate costume and enjoyed a rare tour of Walt Disney Imagineering. Disney brought Jenifer back to California in July for the debut of her portrait, but then decided to postpone the event. During that visit, Jenifer enjoyed a stay in the Pirate Suite of the Disneyland Hotel and got her first glimpse of the finished portrait.
Jenifer Greenwell and Jim Crouch, flanked by Disneyland pirates, pose with the original painting of “Mademoiselle Greenwell.” Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Mademoiselle Greenwell joins Captains Sparrow and Barbossa in the Pirates of the Caribbean rogues gallery. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Jenifer returned to Anaheim this week, and joined Jim Crouch and a band of Disneyland pirates for a small media event Tuesday morning. Dressed in his pirate finery, Crouch unvelied the four-foot tall mural of “Mademoiselle Greenwell,” and presented Jenifer with the original artwork. Jenifer, who just purchased a new house in Florida, said that the portrait will receive a prominent location in her home. The mural of Mademoiselle Greenwell will remain on display at Disneyland for one year.
Oregon woman wins first night in the Disneyland Dream Suite
Christine Terwilliger of Salem, Oregon, was the first winner of the newest prize in Disneyland’s expanded 2008 Disney Dreams Giveaway promotion. Terwilliger was selected at random on Thursday to receive the prize, which includes a one-night stay in the new suite; dinner at the Blue Bayou; the opportunity to appear as the grand marshall of, and priority seating for, Walt Disney’s Parade of Dreams; breakfast at the Plaza Inn; a gift basket and other perks. Disneyland visitors have 265 more chances to win a stay in the suite during the promotion that runs through December 31, 2008.
Christine Terwilliger of Salem, Oregon (fourth from left) poses just outside the Disney Dream Suite. Photo © Disney.
