Mouse Magic Press

(Source: http://holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/May/loyaltyday.htm )

Loyalty Day is an opportunity to express and reaffirm our loyalty to our country. In proclaiming this day, President George W. Bush wrote: “We express allegiance to our Nation and its founding ideals, we resolve to ensure that the blessings of liberty endure and extend for generations to come.”

But, this day did not start with George Bush’ proclamation. It dates back to the 1920′s.

On Loyalty Day, we reaffirm our allegiance to our country and resolve to uphold the vision of our Forefathers. We should also take a moment to appreciate the members of our armed forces who are displaying the ultimate in loyalty and service to protect our freedoms, and liberty, and our way of life.

Loyalty Day was first celebrated in the 1920′s. Communism was on the rise, and feared in America. At the time, May Day (May 1st) was perceived by some as a Communist holiday. In a sense, Loyalty Day was intended to counter this.

The U.S. Congress made this an official holiday on July 18, 1958 with the signing of Public Law 85-529. Then President Dwight D. Eisenhower, proclaimed May 1, 1959 the first official observance of Loyalty Day.

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So, Loyalty day. There are many ways loyalty is on display at Walt Disney World…most of all seems to be the Disney Vacation Club (DVC). If you’re not aware, that is Disney’s timeshare offering, and if you buy in it rewards owners with discounts on tickets, deluxe accommodations for the price of moderate, etc. More on DVC if requested, but…

I also see loyalty when it comes to certain attractions. The Great Movie Ride at Disney Hollywood Studios on one end and The Carousel of Progress at The Magic Kingdom on the other end. The Great Movie Ride to me is dated and sorely in need of an update, but there are diehard loyal fans that don’t want to change it. On the other hand, The Carousel of Progress is ALSO out of date, but I am in the loyalist party that thinks it should NOT be updated, as it’s a point of time that Walt Disney himself personally oversaw.

BUT, for Loyalty Day, I have to go to the initial anti-communist leanings the holiday was invented for: The American Adventure at Epcot. I loyally attend at least one showing each trip I take to Walt Disney World. It is a tour-de-force of all that is phenomenal about Walt Disney Imagineering: Forced Perspective trickery for the show building; period details in the theming and cast members’ costumes, history lesson in edutainment, and the show itself with a gigantic rear-projection screen and dozens of advanced animatronics. In short, it is all I hold dear about Disney Parks. And what keeps me loyal.

So today, I salute YOU, The American Adventure, on this Loyalty Day!