Each year, when the time comes to start thinking about the theme baskets we’d like to prepare for the upcoming Auction, there is one person I can’t wait to talk to, because I know she’s going to put a big smile on my face. Even though she has yet to attend a MagicMeet, having been living in the United Kingdom for the last few years, her enthusiasm and “can-do” attitude, as well as her creative talents, have been a part of every auction we’ve held.

Mini-V, as she is known on our forums, is a very talented seamstress who has a magical machine - otherwise known as a Brother Embroidery Machine with a Disney cartridge - that lets her personalize virtually anything fabric with a Mickey, Minnie, or other character. (I would seriously love to get one of these machines myself, but my family won’t let me because they know nothing would be safe - everything would end up Mickeyfied somehow.)

Mini-V’s creative talents are being put to very good use for this year’s auction.

The Spa Basket (give me time, it will have a catchier name by July) is the closest a Disney gal can get to the Grand Floridian or Saratoga Springs spas while at home. Included in the basket is a complete towel set, a turban wrap, a waffle-weave spa robe, and custom fit spa slippers, all embroidered with Minnie Mouse. Mini-V also sent some fine French bath fizzies and soaps with character, and a little surprise for the winner of the basket. To complete the lot, real Disney H20 spa products will be included. To every Mom reading: this is the basket you wish you got for Mother’s Day today!

The "Kids in the Kitchen" lot started out with the discovery of a new Disney Magic in the Kitchen cookbook. I asked Mini-V about maybe making a child’s apron to go with it. Not only did she say yes - and created the most darling original Mickey apron - she included a kid’s chef hat and two pot holders! The lot will also include a Ratatouille Baking set (real cookware - not toys!) and some other surprises. Here Mini-V models the apron and hat before shipping them over from London.

It’s so much more than just the nice things she creates that makes Mini-V so special to me and to the auction. It’s the excitement she shares with every stitch. The messages back and forth are always sent with a smile and a sense of humor. It’s inspiring to hear how much she enjoys her craft, and how happy she is to be doing something that will help the Dream Team Project help children.

Many times I have wished I could hop a plane, fly across the Atlantic and give her a big hug to say “Thank you,” but haven’t been able to do so in person. But very soon I won’t have to, because she will be packing her bags, crossing the pond, and moving to Florida to live out her dream to be a Cast Member at Walt Disney World - something I just know she’ll be perfect for. And it will be very fitting to meet her at the Happiest Place on Earth.

[Ed. note: I wrote this in advance over a week ago, and only found out on the day that Friday was Mini-V’s birthday. So I am very pleased to wish her Many Happy Returns of the Day! as well as a very happy Mother’s Day to her and all the moms out there] 

Learn more about the Dream Team Charity Auction at MagicMeets: click here

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A couple of weeks ago, Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park celebrated its tenth anniversary. Some lucky Disney fans attended the WDWCelebrations “A Wild Decade” event on that day, and were able to bring us back some special items to auction off.

As part of the anniversary celebration, Disney provided a special opportunity to meet Imagineer Joe Rohde. Park guests stood in line for up to two hours for the chance to shake his hand, speak to him briefly, and get his signature on a few items.

Deb Wills asked Joe Rohde to sign a Limited Edition Laser Cel. This piece of art features a large cast of animated character, including a number that are rarely seen outside their films. The Cel comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and a “key” to all the characters depicted in the cel. The matted piece measures approximately 17 x 9”, and Joe Rohde signed the mat in black sharpie on the lower right corner.

There was a selection of special merchandise in addition to the laser cel available for the anniversary. Lou Mongello and PrincessTammi each donated to the Animal Kingdom Anniversary lot, which will contain an anniversary T-Shirt and backpack, as well as a signed photo of Joe Rohde and some other memorabilia from the day.

Once again, many thanks to Deb, Lou, and Tammi!

Learn more about the Dream Team Charity Auction at MagicMeets: click here

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A great thing about working on a team: one person doesn’t have to come up with all the good ideas. Our auction theme baskets come from the ideas of many people, and this particular one is the brainchild of Dream Team members Kate and Kelly. Thank you, ladies!

The Carolwood Pacific Historical Society is dedicated to the preservation of Walt Disney’s Railroad Legacy. Named after the elaborate one-eighth scale miniature railroad Walt built in his backyard, the society hosts several members-only social events each year, and operates Walt Disney’s Barn in Griffith Park, Los Angeles.

Michael Broggie, son of Imagineer Roger Broggie, and his wife, Sharon, are the founders of the Carolwood Pacific Historical Society (CPHS). Michael had spent a lot of time as a child hanging around Walt’s Barn and railroad while his father and Walt tinkered with the trains and the ideas that became Disneyland. Roger Broggie had worked in the Disney Studios machine shop, and helped Walt build his backyard railroad as well his beloved engine, Lilly Belle. Later, Roger was one of the first Imagineers designing and constructing Disneyland, especially the railroad encircling the park. He was responsible for all the transportation systems in the park, at the ‘64-64 World’s Fair, and Walt Disney World. Engine No. 3 at WDW is named the Roger E. Broggie in his honor.

Michael shares his father’s love of trains and recognizes the need to preserve the railroad legacy of Walt Disney. In addition to co-founding the CPHS, he has written several books, including Walt Disney’s Railroad Story: The Small-Scale Fascination That Led to a Full-Scale Kingdom, which contains hundreds of photographs and many interviews with people like Diane Disney Miller, Ward Kimball, Ollie Johnston, and many others. It is a beautiful hard-cover volume that deserves a place on every Disney enthusiast's bookshelf.

Sharon and Michael Broggie have very generously donated to our auction a signed copy of Michael’s book, a one-year membership to the CPHS, and a Walt Disney World Railroad Framed Pin Set! This very special lot is a wonderful treasure for Walt Disney history fans.

Check out the Carolwood Pacific Historical Society’s web page for more about the society and their upcoming events. If you are in the Los Angeles area on the third Sunday of the month, you can tour Walt Disney’s Barn and see a collection of Walt’s personal memorabilia and hear stories from CPHS volunteers.

The Dream Team Project sincerely thanks Sharon and Michael Broggie for this exciting donation.

Lou Mongello interviewed Michael Broggie on the WDW Radio Show Podcast, episode #9.

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WDWCelebrations is a new fan-based organization aiming to bring Disney fans everywhere together for a variety of occasions, both big and small.

What began as a grass-roots fan group determined to properly celebrate Epcot’s 25th Anniversary has grown into an organization that is working directly with The Walt Disney Company to create special fan events for celebrating Disney’s milestones, as well as our love of Walt Disney World. When setting up their new operating plan, the founders included a Charity Initiative, committed to donating a portion of all proceeds from sales of apparel, commemorative DVDs, and commemorative scrapbooks to charity. 

As part of that Charity Initiative, WDWCelebrations collected $2 from every commemorative Celebration 25 DVD sold, proceeds from merchandise sold on their website, and money left from their Illuminations Dessert Party budget, with the goal of giving back some of the Disney Magic we all love to some seriously ill children who could really use it.During their “A Wild Decade” event, held to celebrate Animal Kingdom’s tenth anniversary on April 22, 2008, they scheduled a very special moment towards the end of their very exciting day.