By Devo CabDisney
“I hope we never lose sight of one thing- that it was all started by a mouse.” These words by Walt Disney have to be one of the most famous of all his quotes. Mickey has to be one of the, if not the most recognized characters in the world. And since Mickey got his start because of Walt, I’d say they make perfect partners! Together they have brought us some of the best movies, entertainment, and parks in the world.
In 1993, Disneyland unveiled its soon to be famous Partners statue directly in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle in the central plaza. “I think most of all what I want Disneyland to be is a happy place… where parents and children can have fun…together.” This Walt Disney quote is inscribed below the statue and I think it perfectly sums up what Disney was able to do with a little imagination and hard work.
Created by Imagineer Blaine Gibson, the statue depicts Walt Disney holding Mickey’s hand, appearing to look out over the happiest place on earth. The details are amazing, right down to the “STR” (Smoke Tree Ranch) logo on Walt’s tie, or the Claddagh ring on his hand.
Later, other recreations of the statue were created for the other parks and the Walt Disney Studios in California. You’ll notice some slight variations from one statue to another such as coloration or quotes on the plaque. For instance, the plaque in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World reads “We believe in our idea; a family park where parents and children could have fun-together.”
Regardless of what Disney Park you are visiting, a picture of the statue is a necessity! This task can prove to be a tricky one! It is a very busy area and a very popular one. Even when the crowds are light, you’ll find it a little difficult to get a good picture with the statue. I can’t tell you how many times I had a great picture in view, and the minute I snapped the picture, someone photo bombed me. I’ve actually taken some extremely funny photo bombed pictures. The temptation to share them here is great, but I’ll spare my victims the embarrassment.
The best tip I can give you is to observe and be quick! Watch for times when the crowd may thin out a bit. Once this happens you will need to act fast! Have the camera ready and be ready to jump in there. Don’t take your time to get in there and then try to figure out the perfect pose. You’ll be photo bombed. Have that perfect pose in mind before you jump in!
Better yet, have the Photo Pass photographer take your photo! You can’t really guarantee that you’ll be the only one in your photo, but these photographers are great, and they often have a reserved area set up that makes it the ideal photo area. The only problem is that you’re going to have to wait in line. This photo is going to have one of the longest lines in the entire park. But the wait is well worth it!
You won’t regret taking the time to get a photo of the Partners statue. There are so many good angles to get the perfect shot, and you can get really creative.
One last tip! If you are a Disney Infinity player, you can use your Magic Band to unlock something pretty special. I’ll let you figure that one out on your own, but I think you can figure it out. And who knew that your Magic Band could come in handy long after your Disney vacation.
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