While most Americans officially give thanks on the fourth Thursday of November, expressing gratitude to loved ones gathered somewhere at the intersection of food and football, I find myself feeling most grateful on the last day of December. Not that I’m ungrateful on Thanksgiving. But with all the cooking and cleaning and political-conversation-blocking, I find little time to count blessings.
That time arrives in my house each New Year’s Eve, when there’s no turkey to carve or potatoes to mash. No plates to pass or glasses to fill. And with even the cable news networks in a celebratory mood, no voices in the living room debating who’s to blame for our national debt. As the clock nears midnight, my daughter’s asleep in her room, my wife’s dozing on the couch, and the only sound I hear is a countdown to the televised lowering of a light fixture.
That’s when I’ll pause to ponder what was great about this year before welcoming the next. And since, at my age, I’m likely to forget most of this year’s highlights by Groundhog Day, I figured I’d use this column to write them down. So here are just a few of the things I hope to remember about 2024.
My marriage turned 10, my baby-no-more turned 8 and, somehow, both of those girls still seem to like me. I marked my 20th year with Disney Vacation Club (and will celebrate 25 years with The Walt Disney Company early in the New Year). Disney Publishing released my first book, a passion project created in collaboration with one of my dearest friends (the children’s book Camp Mickey & Minnie: One Wild Summer, illustrated by Disney Fine Artist Bret Iwan – the official voice of Mickey Mouse). Speaking of dear friends, I was fortunate to be at the Hollywood Bowl to see 17,000 fans give a standing ovation to my “Goofy” friend and yours, the esteemed Disney Legend Bill Farmer after a concert apperance born from a Member Cruise. And speaking of cruising with Members, I had the rare opportunity to do so twice this year, first a Member Cruise in the Mediterranean and then a First Wave sailing to Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. I embarked on an expedition to the Galapagos (see pages 11-18) with National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions, and then walked in Walt’s footsteps through his boyhood hometown of Marceline (more on Marceline in the next edition of Disney Files Magazine). And perhaps most incredibly, in a year defined by digital disseminations of increasingly artificial intelligence, I got to keep producing an actual, printed magazine thoughtfully written by – and for – actual humans.
To 2024 and all those who made it worth remembering – including every Member reading this, thank you. And happy New Year!
What will you remember?
Ryan March
Disney Files Editor
Please note: Theme Park admission is not part of the ownership interest and is sold separately. Some options shown are Membership Extras. Eligibility requires new Members to have an ownership interest with 150 Vacation Points or more purchased directly from Disney. This is an incidental benefit subject to availability, change or termination. Fees may apply. Many Membership Extras require proof of Membership in the form of your valid digital Disney Vacation Club Membership Card and corresponding valid photo ID. Learn more online at DisneyVacationClub.com/MemExtrasPolicy.
