"My favorite Disney memory is definitely last year's trip to Orlando and Walt Disney World," Dennis says. "It was not the first time I've visited a Disney park---I've been to Disneyland in Paris two times prior to this trip---but this was my first time to Walt Disney World and my first time in the U.S. I went there for eight days, together with my girlfriend and my brother, and it was something I had dreamt of doing all my life."
Just to get to the closest Disney Store, this week’s Disney Geek of the Week has to drive nearly five hours to Denmark and take a water ferry across the Kattegat Channel. How’s that for fan dedication? Dennis Nydahl comes all the way from Borås, Sweden. There, this Disney beundrare (that’s Swedish for “fan”) gets his Disney fix by watching films and diving into a good book. Some of his favorites are Neal Gabler’s Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination, Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston’s Illusion of Life: Disney Animation, and Christopher Finch’s The Art of Walt Disney. Dennis is studying to be a Swedish and Literature teacher so reading is right up his alley. And he’s named his dog Alice after Alice in Wonderland—another great literary work. Dennis tells D23 what it’s like being a Disney fan in Sweden, and some ways Swedes enjoy the magic of Disney.
Jiminy Christmas
“My two favorite Disney characters are Jiminy Cricket and Donald Duck. Their Swedish names are Benjamin Syrsa and Kalle Anka. This probably has to do with Donald Duck being the most popular Disney character in Sweden, and Jiminy Cricket being one of the hosts in the annual Christmas special Kalle Anka och hans vänner önskar god jul, originally named From All of Us to All of You. It is broadcast in Sweden every Christmas Eve at 3:00 p.m. The voice of Cliff Edwards, when singing ‘When You Wish Upon a Star’ at the end of the show, always gives me goose bumps. For me, that show is the highlight of Christmas.”
"One of my first Disney-related memories is of when I was about five years old and my mother took me to the local movie theater to see Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," Dennis says. "I remember being so afraid of the Evil Queen's magic mirror that I had to close my eyes for the first 10 or 15 minutes of the film."
So Deer to His Heart
“From All of Us to All of You has had a great influence on Swedish culture. “When You Wish Upon a Star” and “Bella Notte” are two of the most beloved songs in Sweden around Christmastime. And the clip of Bambi on the ice, unfortunately no longer a part of the Swedish version of the show, has led to the expression “Bambi på hal is,” which in English translates to “Bambi on slippery ice.” In Sweden, you use it when referring to someone who lacks a sense of balance. For example, ‘He’s like Bambi on slippery ice.’”
The Wonderful World of Copenhagen
“Unfortunately, Sweden doesn’t have any Disney Stores, so when I want to get some Disney-themed merchandise, I have to order from DisneyStore.com, or visit the store in Copenhagen, Denmark, that opened up last year, which is about a five-hour car drive. Besides that, I read books about Disney, the making of the movies and the Disney parks, or I watch a film from my movie collection. I also visit a Swedish web community dedicated to Disney movies, named MagicMovies.se, on a regular basis, and chat with people on the Swedish Facebook page.”
"I've always been a huge fan of the Disney Afternoon shows, especially DuckTales, Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers, and Darkwing Duck," Dennis says.
International Release
“I’m definitely looking forward to the upcoming animated Disney film Frozen. Disney has always had a wonderful way of turning Hans Christian Andersen’s stories into amazing movies. [Frozen is based on The Snow Queen.] Just look at The Little Mermaid, or short subjects such as The Ugly Duckling. So I have great hopes for this particular movie to become something really special.”
A Fantasy Land
“I’m looking forward to the expansion of Fantasyland at Walt Disney World. The expansion is the main reason why I’m saving my next trip to Walt Disney World to next year, as well as to get to celebrate my 25th birthday at the most magical place on Earth.”
By D23′s Billy Stanek
