Sunday, September 4, 2016

Disney Deja Vu

One of the amazing things about the brand that is Disney is that it has been part of American pop culture for more than 4 generations. 

Because I'm a baby-boomer, Walt Disney, all his creations and continuing legacy have been part of my life since I was a kid. 

I have hundreds of childhood memories built on the foundation of Disney films, songs, and TV shows.  

One of the main sources of material for this blog are the Disney memories that continue to happen for me as an adult. Most of those come from my fascination with and visits to the Walt Disney World theme parks. 

One of the things I like the most is when something Disney related happens to me as an adult that brings back a vivid memory from when I was a kid. I call those "compound memories." That happened to me this weekend. It was very spontaneous and included two key elements. 

On Saturday, I rediscovered a benefit of modern technology that I really haven't ever really used. The process began when I added a couple of product codes to my Disney Movie Rewards account. 

When they were confirmed not only did I get rewards points but I was advised that a couple of movies had been added to my "Disney Movies Anywhere" collection. 

Although I have set up this account within the last year I haven't ever really used it. I just don't find myself watching movies from mobile devices. There's a reason why I have a 60 inch HDTV with a blu-ray player in my living room. I enjoy the big screen experience.   

These days I watch a Disney movies mostly when my granddaughter visits. It's always her choice because I own and enjoy them all. So its usually, Frozen, The Aristocats, or (as she would say it) "Co-co-hontas". 

But because my plans for this upcoming week may find me away from my living room in a place where watching a Disney movie would be entertaining, the ability to access DMA suddenly become relevant to me. 

The second element in this spontaneous compound memory was something that happen for, the first time this summer, Saturday night. Paula and I spent the evening in our back yard enjoying a fire in our small fire pit. 

We made grilled sandwiches in the fire, watched the colored flames and just enjoyed being outside together.

At one point I picked up my phone to change the music but decided on something different. I accessed the DMA app thinking it would be so cool to watch a movie from my backyard. I chose to "The Jungle Book". 

I moved my lawn chair a bit closer to my wife, she put her head on my shoulder, creating our own romantic little outdoor theater. 

As soon as the movie started streaming
the memory of the first time I saw it came back to me. 

I remembered that as a 6 year old I went to the drive-in with my parents to see this movie that I was so excited about. 

The quality of the audio that came from my phone was very reminiscent of the "tin can" like sound that came from hardwired drive-in speakers. 

The atmosphere transported me back to the night I saw The Jungle Book for the first time. As I told my wife,  the only thing that was missing was the echo of the sound throughout the outdoor theater and the popcorn. 

For the next 40 minutes with the Love of My Life next to me, I remembered exactly why the last movie Walt Disney supervised is my all-time favorite Disney movie. And now I have a new heartfelt moment to add to the collection of memories connected to it. 

The experience of this compound memory lasted until right after the scene where Balloo & Bagerra rescue Mogili from King Louis. But it came to an abrupt end when my phone's battery ran out. 

It was time to let the fire die out, put up the chairs and head back into the house for the night. 

Although I can't share the details with you now this upcoming week holds the promise of a plethora of unique Disney experiences and memories. I pledge to share them with you soon. 

But for now I am happy that I got to tell you about my Disney Deja Vu that I shared with my sweetheart in our backyard on a holiday weekend. 

Ever had a compound Disney memory of your own? I'd like to hear about it; especially those that have happened outside a Disney park.  

I love it when a great Disney moment comes together.