  | Advent Calendar - 8th December | 
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						| DisneyDan 
						    Sunday, December 8, 2013 1:21:27 PM | 
					 
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				Today is the 8th December, which means it is time to open the next door of our Character Central advent calendar!
  
Click to find out who is behind today's door!
  
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						  | Advent Calendar - 7th December |  | 
					 
						| DisneyDan 
						    Saturday, December 7, 2013 12:57:01 PM | 
					 
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				Today is the 7th December, which means it is time to open the seventh door of our special Character Central advent calendar!
  
Click to see who it is today!
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						  | Advent Calendar - 6th December |  | 
					 
						| DisneyDan 
						    Friday, December 6, 2013 1:21:20 PM | 
					 
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				Today is the 6th December, which means it is time to open the next door of our very special Character Central advent calendar!
  
Click to find out who it is today!
  
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						  | Saint Nicholas Day |  | 
					 
						| DisneyDan 
						    Friday, December 6, 2013 11:30:30 AM | 
					 
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				Hello everyone,
  
Today is 6th December, which is Saint Nicholas Day.
  
Saint Nicholas was a bishop from what is now modern day Turkey in Eastern Europe, and was known for being a kind and generous man. 
Born in the 3rd century to wealthy parents, Nicholas inherited their fortune when they died, and gave it all away to the poor and those in need.
  
Often described as being very good to children, and known for secretly dropping gifts in the windows of those less fortunate, we can clearly see where the modern day legend of Santa Claus/Father Christmas/Pere Noel etc comes from.
  
He apparently died on 6th December somewhere around 343 AD in modern day Demre, Turkey.
  
After his death, due to his good deeds towards children, he was made patron saint of children. So, on this day - the day he died - we remember his life, his good deeds, and of course children.
  
There is one place at Disney I know of that you can see Saint Nicholas, and that's during the holidays at Disneyland Paris. Their "it's a small world" Celebration features a doll in the Dutch section that represents Sinterklaas, who in turn is basically Saint Nicholas.
  
 
  
Have a good Saint Nicholas Day everyone!
  
You can find out more about the real Saint Nicholas, you can visit the official page for him here at the Saint Nicholas Center.
   
Dan. | 
			 
		 
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						  | Advent Calendar - 5th December |  | 
					 
						| DisneyDan 
						    Thursday, December 5, 2013 1:15:04 PM | 
					 
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				Today is the 5th December, which means it is time to open the next door of our Character Central advent calendar!
  
Click to find out who is behind today's door!
  
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						  | Happy 112th Birthday Walt Disney |  | 
					 
						| DisneyDan 
						    Thursday, December 5, 2013 11:13:04 AM | 
					 
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				Today is 5th December, which would have been Walt Disney's 112th birthday.
  
Born in Chicago on 5th December 1901 to Canadian father Elias and American mother Flora, Walt found himself growing up in a rapidly changing world. The automobile, electricity and telephones were amongst the new technologies that were gradually altering the way people went about their everyday lives.
  
 
  
Soon came World War I, and Walt found himself too young to enlist - but he did anyway! 
While away he discovered his talent for drawing, and became known for decorating the helmets his comrades had found, with illustrations.
  
 
  
From there Walt developed his talents further, and found himself creating characters and shorts such as the Alice comedies and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.
  
 
  
Sadly Oswald wasn't too lucky for Walt, but it did spur him onwards to develop a new character in 1928 - Mickey Mouse. 
Mickey was Walt, and Walt was Mickey. 
  
 
  
 
  
Walt Disney was a creative genius, who was far ahead of his time. Bringing a whole new definition to the world of film and television, Walt pioneered many new concepts and technologies. 
Walt won more Oscars during his lifetime than any other person, a record that he still holds.
  
 
  
 
  
With his studio now one of the best in the world, Walt turned to other things. Bigger things. 
Walt's ultimate dream was of course Disneyland; a place where anyone can come and have fun, away from reality. 
In July 1955 Disneyland opened and has since become probably the most famous theme park in the world. Capturing Walt's very essence, and offering a true escape from the outside world, Disneyland was, and continues to be, the Happiest Place on Earth.
  
 
  
 
  
Of course, Walt's dream grew and grew, and so did Disneyland, to the point where Walt dreamt even bigger! 
Florida was to be the home of Walt's final dream, one which sadly he did not get to see through to completion (having passed away in 1966).
Walt dreamt of a huge community where people not only lived and worked, but where they played an vacationed; known as EPCOT. A complete city built from the mind of this brilliant man. 
Walt Disney World opened in October 1971 by his surviving brother and business partner, Roy, and was dedicated to Walt having changed the name from simply Disney World to Walt Disney World.
  
 
  
 
  
Although Walt's vision of EPCOT never came to fruition as he saw it, it certainly has come true. Walt Disney World has given Central Florida a different identity to what it had 50 years ago. From swamps to a metropolis filled with hotels, malls, other theme parks and indeed entire communities of people who live and work there. Walt Disney World itself has thousands of Cast Members who live and work at the resort, who come from all over the world, ensuring that Walt's final vision is forever captured in an amazing and colourful reality.
  
 
  
 
  
Over a century after his birth, we are on the brink of the 12th Disney Park opening (Shanghai, 2015), have a world filled with hundreds more movies, TV shows and even stores, a cruise line and much, much more. 
All the parks have their own little nod to Walt and his dreams, remembering the man who started it all.
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
Walt Disney lived to entertain, and entertained for a living. He gave the world a slice of imagination and inspiration that is unrivalled, and that will continue for many more decades. 
 
Happy 112th Birthday, Walt Disney. We thank you for your dedication to your dreams.
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  Dan. | 
			 
		 
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						  | Advent Calendar - 4th December |  | 
					 
						| DisneyDan 
						    Wednesday, December 4, 2013 11:33:29 AM | 
					 
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				Today is the 4th December, which means it is time to open the fourth door of our special Character Central advent calendar!
  
Click to see who it is today!
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						  | Advent Calendar - 3rd December |  | 
					 
						| DisneyDan 
						    Tuesday, December 3, 2013 12:52:05 PM | 
					 
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				Today is the 3rd December, which means it is time to open the next door of our Character Central advent calendar!
  
Click to find out who is behind today's door!
  
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						  | Advent Calendar - 2nd December |  | 
					 
						| DisneyDan 
						    Monday, December 2, 2013 10:29:58 AM | 
					 
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				Today is the 2nd December, which means it is time to open the next door of our Character Central advent calendar!
  
Click to find out who is behind today's door!
  
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						  | Advent Calendar - 1st December |  | 
					 
						| DisneyDan 
						    Sunday, December 1, 2013 7:38:51 AM | 
					 
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				Today is the first day of December, which means it is time to open the very first door of our very special Character Central Advent Calendar for 2013!
  Click to see who is behind today's door!
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