Letter From The Editor

11.02.09 - Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens sure are nice, but two of my favorite things are Disney and Christmas. Put them together and I'm pretty much on cloud nine, which is why I'm so excited to present you with our holiday issue! Let me tell you why...

First of all, I've always loved Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol — I love the book, and every holiday season, I cozy up on the sofa and watch my three favorite versions, starring Mickey Mouse, George C. Scott and Kermit the Frog. So it should come as no surprise that I can't wait to see the Robert Zemeckis and Jim Carrey take — coming from Walt Disney Pictures this month — and we're giving you a glimpse at it in this issue's first feature story.

Now if you haven't heard of Prep & Landing, trust me, it's going to become a perennial holiday favorite, much like Rudolph and The Grinch. This Disney animated Christmas special that was created for ABC basically gives you the inside track on the elves that prepare houses for Santa's arrival on Christmas Eve. Think James Bond meets Alias meets The Santa Clause — holly jolly hilarity!

And for anyone who's a sucker for Christmas nostalgia (like I am), you'll love strolling down memory lane as our archivists rekindle the Disney theme park magic of Christmases past, collectors will revel in the history of Disney Hallmark Christmas ornaments, and we can't forget the Christmas feast, so see how the famous Los Angeles eatery Tam O'Shanter — a favorite hangout for Walt Disney and his animators — decks its halls with holiday splendor.

Making this Christmas season all the more special is our cover feature, The Princess and the Frog. This animated film brings back the classic Disney fairy tale and the time-honored tradition of 2D hand-drawn animation. From its artistry and music to characters and story, this movie is spectacular, so we hope our special preview gets you even more excited for this soon-to-be Disney favorite!

Lastly, a big THANK YOU to everyone who joined us at the inaugural D23 Expo in September. It was so much fun, and we hope you had a great time! For those who couldn't make it, we've got a little photo log [in this issue] to show you a few highlights, but expect more complete coverage in our next issue.

Wishing you a joyous holiday season!



Steven B. Clark