One of my favorite places in the world is Legends Plaza on the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank, California. The first time I visited the studio lot, I had my picture taken right next to the famous “Partners” statue by sculptor Blaine Gibson. There are five versions of the statue, and visitors to Disney Parks know it well – a perfect vision of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse, looking proudly in the distance, perhaps at what’s been accomplished, but more intriguingly at what is yet to come. When I saw the latest catalog for Hallmark’s Keepsake Ornaments (a tradition in our family) ahead of the annual July release, many items caught my eye, but one stood out – a version of “Partners” set for release this fall.
Artist crafted by Kristina Gaughran and Ken Crow, Hallmark’s “Partners” ornament is dated 2018 and will be released as part of the next wave of Keepsake Ornaments on October 6. Check out the video preview…
As for my visits to Legends Plaza: My original thinking was that if I never had the opportunity to return to the studio, my photo would be capturing the moment – so I have the from February 2014 framed and hanging in my office. I’ve now been fortunate enough to have been invited back to the Studios on several occasions, and I don’t think it will ever grow old.
That said, I try to take a new photo each time to mark the occasion of being able to work with Disney/Marvel/Lucasfilm/Pixar by playing a small part in the promotion of their films. I have seven photos with the “Partners” statue thus far, and hope to take another when I’m in L.A. to attend the World Premiere of Disney’s Christopher Robin later this month!
