Thank You & Optimism for 2021!
It’s time for our last blog post of the year! Of course, there’s the obligatory message of good riddance to 2020 and optimism for 2021. We also want to offer a sincere thank you for your support during this difficult year, and offer an update on an ongoing initiative that our readers helped make possible.
We’ll start by once again thanking everyone for the the outpouring of support for our attempt to Help Give Back to Disney Cast Members and the Local Community. We are incredibly humbled and heartened by all of your support: DTB readers proving yet again that you are all the best!
Your donations thus far will fund over 270,000 meals for those in need. That’s wonderful and we couldn’t be prouder of everyone who has contributed, but with the scale of these layoffs and the unemployment numbers in Central Florida–plus more layoffs hitting during the holiday season just this week–even more help is still urgently needed in our community.
Two mobile food distributions have been held thus far funded by Disney Tourist Blog reader donations. The first was in November at Rock Church in Kissimmee, where 749 families received enough food to provide 33,815 meals.
Sarah and I volunteered at the second of these, just before Christmas at a mobile food distribution in partnership between Second Harvest and Good Samaritan Outreach in Orange County.
That food distribution provided 47,747 meals to 803 households or 3,842 people. Second Harvest did a write-up on their blog (including an awkward video interview with us, in case anyone is wondering why we don’t vlog) about the event.
It’s difficult to fully put the experience into words. While we knew about how dire things have gotten in Central Florida–news reports of multi-mile long lines for food banks have become the norm–it was nonetheless sobering to actually see and experience this ourselves.
The line for the food distribution began forming hours before distribution started, as some families worried about the food running out and wanted to ensure they’d receive groceries. Per Second Harvest, overnight lines like this have become a common occurrence.
We volunteered at the mobile food distribution for about 4 hours, constantly assembling bags/boxes of groceries and loading them into cars. During that time, there was never not a long line of vehicles. It was surreal, and we still cannot imagine going from a dream job helping to make the magic at the beginning of this year to worrying about going hungry over the holidays. It’s heartbreaking.
Many of you have supported this initiative, and we’ve now raised over $70,000 for Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, making it the biggest fundraiser in the organization’s history! Your donations have made a significant impact, one that we cannot fully articulate and you might trouble fathoming. If you have the means, please consider making a donation. Every $10 contribution buys 40 meals, illustrating quite literally that every dollar makes a difference.
Back when we launched the fundraiser, we wrote that “whether you live here in Central Florida or not, this is your community too as a Walt Disney World fan.” While the circumstances are saddening, it’s uplifting to see that so many of you took this to heart. Second Harvest informed us that over 85% of donations to our drive came from outside Florida. Again, thank you so much for the support–it truly means a lot to us and has been a small bright spot in an otherwise depressing year.
Beyond your support for the food drive fundraiser, we want to also thank you all for making an otherwise miserable year a little more bearable. While there have been some uncomfortable and contentious topics, the vast majority of regular readers have contributed thoughtful insight in a balanced and respectful manner. It has not gone unnoticed.
Comments sections that are not useless and toxic are a rarity nowadays on the internet, and we realize how fortunate we are to have a healthy one here. It’s great to see comments with feedback, experiences, and tips that help others. We are incredibly thankful for the sense of community. So thank you all for that.
Additionally, thank you for “tolerating” the blog getting weird and off-topic at times. We’ve been trying to balance helpful advice with (attempts at) humor and escapism, realizing that it has been a rough year for everyone and the real-world news is often bleak. Hopefully we’ve done a decent job at this.
Most of you probably didn’t “need” several consecutive Festivus posts (I’m told “no one else watches Seinfeld anymore,” which, if true, would be some of the most depressing news of the year) or that one really horrifying post about Cats at Walt Disney World (I’m told that has “haunted my nightmares for months”), but you abided my nonsense anyway.
Writing these eccentric posts, tossing in an obscure and unrelated pop culture reference to see if anyone picks up on it, and going off-topic a bit more than normal has been one of the ways I’ve gotten through this chaotic year. So even though the opposite might seem true, that bizarreness is actually what’s keeping me sane.
We’ve also taken some much needed time to disconnect and recharge this holiday season, going on walks while the weather is nice, and giving Walter and Yossarian the attention they crave (file photo above because we’ve never been able to top this Christmas “masterpiece”). I’ve also become addicted to Breath of the Wild, which is somehow the first Zelda game I’ve ever played.
We hope you all likewise have had relaxing, restorative, and safe holiday seasons–at least to the extent possible. Hopefully you got to see family and friends, even if via unconventional means. That’s exactly what we did, spending Christmas “together” with our families via FaceTime. Not exactly how anyone wanted to end a tough year, but 2020 is like the 999 (un)happy haunts in year form–there’s always room for one more disappointment.
Nevertheless, we are actually cautiously optimistic for 2021. Obviously, it won’t be like a Muppet Christmas Carol with everything magically transformed overnight and New Year’s Day being a fresh start (although I’d welcome three ghosts tonight if that’s all it’d take). The next month-plus or so will be pretty rough–possibly the worst of the last twelve months.
We’re hopeful that by mid-February things start improving, and in a hurry. With the post-holiday surge in the rear-view mirror and vaccine rollouts accelerating, our expectation/hope is that numbers plummet. It’s an odd dichotomy, but there truly is light at the end of the tunnel and cause for optimism…even if not immediate. We definitely don’t want to get ahead of ourselves, but we’re already imagining life going back to normal, making plans for late next spring, and hopeful that the “regular” Walt Disney World returns, with much of what’s missing restored.
In that spirit of optimism, we’ll wrap things up with some beautiful sentiment from Walter Cronkite in the holiday tag of IllumiNations: “During this glorious time of year, there is one message that rings out around the world in every language. Peace on earth, goodwill to men is a wish to hold in our hearts throughout each passing year. A gift of immeasurable value. A treasure being handed down with care, from generation to generation. And so our holiday wish is that everyone, everywhere share in the spirit of the season. Peace on earth, goodwill to men.” Here’s to a happy and healthy 2021!
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Any thoughts as we look back on 2020 and towards 2021? Feedback to anything mentioned here? Do you agree or disagree with our commentary? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Hi Tom & Sarah, I just donated to the food drive. THANK YOU so much for organizing it. Happy New Year. (we’re going to Disney in 8 days!!)
Thank you, Tom and Sarah. I have been reading your blog since our first trip with our little guy, then 2.5 years old and now 8.5 years old. My husband hears a lot about what “my Disney guy said”, which has become our short hand for anything I read on your blog. 😉 He is also an attorney, originally from Indiana, and wants your dream job. He also has a strange affinity for the Muppets. LOL. Seriously, we appreciate your insights and updates as well as your giving spirit. Sarah is truly your partner in crime. Who else could put up with all the Disney? The life of a Disney blogger is not for the faint of heart.
And along the lines of your love for the wacky and obscure, I’m wondering if you have seen the awesome hat featuring Sam the Eagle? It’s being sold in the Art of Disney store at Epcot.
Thanks again. Wishing you all the good things in 2021.
Happy New Year Tom and Sarah. Nice job with your articles in 2020 as they provided a nice escape from the constant bad news everywhere in the media. Reading your blog throughout summer and early Fall 2020 convinced me to keep my scheduled visits to WDW in Oct and Dec 2020. Those 2 trips were the highlight of 2020 for me. Thank you for your volunteer work and awareness for Second Harvest Fund. I am happy I donated to it.
Tom and Sarah
As always thanks for all you do. Have a great New Year. Our next trip is scheduled for the 50th Anniversary in October. Looking forward to the coverage and insight you might have. Hope to see you there.
All the best people still watch Seinfeld! I would read your show references to my husband and won him over to your blog, so after that he was open to your suggestions. (In true Seinfeld fashion, he is a skeptic at heart.) Also, the Muppets. It was through your blog that I even realized he was a big fan of the show! So of course it was necessary to visit Muppets in 3D when we were in the parks in early March. Prior to that I had had no interest. Finally, thank you for the gift list and I’ve added an item onto my list for myself: the Ravensburger Jungle Cruise board game. All the best in 2021!
Thank you so much for helping me get through this year with your practical advice and humor. I love how you analyze things and let us know what’s a good deal or not and because of you guys I felt REALLY special when I got a pin code email last month, haha! Thanks for all the hard work and I hope to meet you one day in the parks!
Happy New Year to you both! Your blog and content is fantastic – well-written, clever, and rich with detail. The tone you have set has attracted a wonderful audience, who add helpful comments and perspective, too. It’s great to see the well-deserved success you’ve had!
Thanks Tom and Sarah for you positive contribution to 2020. I love reading all you posts. We are in Canada and it helped keep the magic alive during our missed trips.
Thanks for all your work with the food banks as well. A true blessing.
Seinfeld is timeless! Happy 2021
People need hope. Your blog actually helps gives that to many people. Everybody knows there is horror all around. If that’s all you focus on you’ll become angry and mean spirited. Reading about something fun and realizing it’s okay to think about enjoying life (again) is not only good but necessary.
Amen! Lots of stuff sucks, but tons of stuff is great!
Thank you for your humorous and informational posts all year. I’ve looked forward to reading each one. You bring joy to many with your words and photographs. May 2021 bring a return to traveling safely and joyfully and lots of Disney magic!
Here’s hoping you both enjoy a bit of time off to reflect and give yourselves big pats on your backs. Your posts help millions of people with all aspects of Disney. Best for all in 2021 and beyond. Remember that a good WI cheddar cheese goes a long way towards relaxing, and limit Sarah’s caffeine!
Tom and Sarah,
Thank you for all that you do for the theme park fan community, and now also for the CM community! I read your blog almost daily and really appreciate your voice and perspective, including your jokes and obscure pop culture references. Your analysis is always thoughtful and takes into account multiple perspectives, while still offering your own personal commentary. I enjoy that you’re a fan of the parks, but you’re not a zealot or a purist. You’re a realist, and sometimes your voice can help temper the extremes on either side of a debate.
I read your blog for escapism, practical touring advice, and to hear your perspective. This past year has really hit the right balance for me and I’d encourage you to follow your own inner compass more than be guided by what fans or critics have to say. Keep up the amazing work!
“Nobody watches Seinfeld any more”. I’ll have to remind my wife of this as I turn off the TV playing Seinfeld reruns at night after she’s fallen asleep. She shares your same type of goofy humor. Happy New Year. It’s wonderful how you have put your resources to work helping people in need. Looking forward to hopefully, happy and more normal 2021 news as we put 2020 in the rear view mirror.
Thank you for your wonderful blog! It has been something to look forward to everyday this year. You have provided so much invaluable advice and inspiration to us – we are truly grateful. I wish you and Sarah all the best in 2021. I can’t wait to read about your adventures.
Happy New Year Tom and Sarah from Scotland.
Still avidly read your blog’s while hope slowly fades over visiting Florida in June ’21
Did you ever write a post about moving to Florida that I somehow missed?
Thanks for all your hard work!
CJ
Thanks for everything Tom and Happy New Year!! Your cautious optimism is shared by many and your posts keep us connected to the “Now”. From one Disney family to another we raise a glass to what 2021 will bring. (Hopefully a return of the People Mover…lol)
Thank you Tom and Sarah for another year of entertaining articles and amazing photography. Here’s to 2021! I can’t wait to see what comes next and I would love to see more photography-focused articles again.
Totally off subject, Tom, but I’m here Disney now and cannot find a review for Planet Hollywood at Disney Springs on your website
Do you have anything on it ???
Thanks
Thanks for all you wrote in 2020. It gave me something to look forward to every day plus the info was invaluable. I too saved big on one of our December trips (12/24 – 1/1) thanks to your Visa heads up.
Also well deserved kudos to you both with the fund raiser. Quite the success but most importantly was the day you spent 4 hours handing out the food. I’ve been with our local food pantry for 21 years. Twice a month we have our distribution and it’s incredibly rewarding. You think you’re helping others and you find the experience helping you as much if not more. Every food pantry needs their donors but I’ve always felt that people who only give money have no idea how rewarding doing the actual work is. Keep it up.
Lastly Seinfeld. I don’t like to reveal too much but when I started out Seinfeld was my mentor at the Comic Strip and Larry David a very close friend. Those episodes are based on a lot of truth. I remember Larry carrying around a Risk board with pieces on it from his home to the Improv and back. He even told me he had carried it like that on the subway. And believe it or not I was one of a handful (no pun intended) of people at the Improv invited to join a contest about being master of your domain. If memory serves me right it was started by Larry and Bob Shaw and it cost $5. I had turned it down telling Bob that I could never win because I was married and it wouldn’t be fair to my wife.
Wishing you both a very merry HAPPY, HEALTHY and PRODUCTIVE NEW YEAR!!!!
Thanks for all the great info Tom. Been following for years and your advice has made our trips more enjoyable. Have a safe, healthy , and happy new year !
Happy New Year and thank you so much for your wonderful blog which has been a daily pleasure especially this year. Hard to believe we were in Disney World the first week of March 2020 –and less than ten days later the world shut down and our home, NYC, became the pandemic epicenter. We are happy to have been able to make a modest donation to your Second Harvest fund as well. Thank you for the awesome work you are doing there!