My Disney Books of Memories

There are some prizes in the world that means more to you than just the money spent on the item. This is true for so much of my collection, and sometimes luck evades me and such treasures are lost.  Things that can not be replaced by just a trip to the store.  This is a memory from July 1993 when I visited Disney World and got to see the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles at MGM Park.

Cowabunga Corner episode 60 I shared  video footage from going to Disney’s MGM to see the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  This was a trip each of us kids got when we turned 15.  We could choose where we wanted to go, and I wanted Disney World.  My mom and dad came with me on the trip, it was shortly after we got into the park that I realized what I was going to enjoy most.  The costume characters.  Not only did I want my picture with each of them, I wanted their autographs.  So we bought an autograph book right away.  I put inside the front cover of the book my name and address.  And went out looking for the characters.

Costume characters is a big deal to me.  I grew up wearing costumes, my dad has always made my costume.  I admire the people who do this for a living, bringing the dream of children to life.  A chance to meet their heroes.  So while I knew these were just people in costumes, I also knew they were doing this everyday in Florida weather for little money.  There’s more to wearing a costume than just doing it for the job.  I wanted to give each and everyone of these people attention to respect what they are doing.

My little red autograph book was filling up fast with characters such as Mickey Mouse, Goofy and Donald Duck.  I remember getting Roger Rabbit’s autograph and it took up two pages with the line “Tooooooooo Miiiiccchelllllle pppplllllleeeeeeaaassseee be my pal!  Love Roggggger Rabbbbbit!”  I loved it!  It was fun and in character.  I got Chip & Dale!  And yes I got stamps from all four Ninja Turtles, even April O’Neil autographed it.  Though a rain storm happened and we all got stuck at the Tom and Jerry show.  Dad had us leave as soon as the rain stopped.  When I realized my autograph book was missing, and not with us at all I felt it was lost for ever.  I was broken hearted.  It had so much personality to each of those wonderful autographs.

We had more to the trip, but that was our last planned day to be at Disney, which meant no more chances to get those autographs.  Though I poked at my folks, we won our tickets to Disney and had one more left that we didn’t use.  So on one of our last days in Florida for the trip, they took me by and let me use the last pass into Disney to go and get a new autograph book.  I was going in alone, so I was to only go and get the Turtles autograph and return straight to the car.  While I did get a few more than just the TMNT, it was only the characters I saw on my way out.  My new autograph book starts off with the four Turtles, followed by April O’Neil.  With a handful of other characters that I saw.  Though inside I was sad about my lost book.  It was gone. 

In the front of my new autograph book I wrote down my name and address, then wrote out a short message about my original book listing all of the characters that was in it.  That was to be my reminder of the book I truly enjoyed having put together.  For years I thought that would be the end of my autograph book.  I used the new one for other autographs, including taking it to Mirage Studios in 1993 and getting it signed by Cheryl Prindle on my one trip meeting her there.  It’s got autographs from the Words & Pictures Museum crew.  The new book found a place in my heart very dear to me.

One day a package arrived at my house.  A message written by a brother and sister who found my book while they were at the Tom & Jerry show.  They used one page of my book and ripped it out for their own keepsake.  They said how sorry they were for returning it so late to me.  I could not believe that this one little book had returned home.  With all of my autographs inside.  It means so much to me, as I read each of the autographs the memories of those signatures is clear as day.  I sent a Thank You letter to the ones who returned my book, though never heard from them again.

It was such a kind gesture for them to return the lost book.  Even a few years after it was lost.  I keep the two autograph books together.  Though the original one means so much to me, the replacement is just as important.  Every now and then I bring one or the other with me on trips, to where I get new autographs added to these old Disney autographed books.  One such autograph is Bill Farmer, the voice of Goofy for the last 30 years.  These two books remain cherished.  And I remain Thankful.

To the boy and girl who found this book way back in 1993 - Thank You!  It’s amazing people like you who remind those of us in this world that there are still awesome people who care about others.  I truly hope both of you are doing fantastic!

Have you ever had an item lost, that you really thought was gone for a long time, only for it to be returned?  What was the item?  How was it returned to you?  Please share your stories, comments and questions below!