We are looking forward to another amazing DFC Expo weekend event on October 25 and 26, 2025. While we work on the program of events, one major change is our Disneyana Fan Club’s Disney Legends Ceremony on Saturday. This time, it will be a lunch event with our “Lunch With a Legend” instead of a dinner.
We are honored to bestow our DFC’s Disney Legend award at our “Lunch With a Legend” event to Tania Norris. Tania is a former imagineer as an interior designer. She joined WED Enterprises (Walt Disney Imagineering) in 1964 and worked on many Disneyland and Walt Disney World projects during her years with Disney.
With her interior design training and interest in antiques, it was natural for her to work on the design and look of New Orleans Square being planned for Disneyland and the interior of Club 33 during a renovation during the 1960’s.
But, her most noted contribution to Disneyland's history is the design of the purple wallpaper in The Haunted Mansion. You know the wallpaper, the one with all the scary eyes. Tania mentioned that there were no “scary” wallpaper to be found and she “doodled” one out of necessity.
Tania also gave a “hand” for the another great big, beautiful attraction at Disneyland. Imagineering used a cast of her hands for most of the female animatronics in the Carousel of Progress and maybe some animatronics is The Pirates of The Caribbean.
We hope that you will join us for Saturday’s Presentation Day and help us award our Disneyana Fan Club's Disney Legend award to Tania Norris.
We are honored to bestow our DFC’s Disney Legend award at our “Lunch With a Legend” event to Tania Norris. Tania is a former imagineer as an interior designer. She joined WED Enterprises (Walt Disney Imagineering) in 1964 and worked on many Disneyland and Walt Disney World projects during her years with Disney.
With her interior design training and interest in antiques, it was natural for her to work on the design and look of New Orleans Square being planned for Disneyland and the interior of Club 33 during a renovation during the 1960’s.
But, her most noted contribution to Disneyland's history is the design of the purple wallpaper in The Haunted Mansion. You know the wallpaper, the one with all the scary eyes. Tania mentioned that there were no “scary” wallpaper to be found and she “doodled” one out of necessity.
Tania also gave a “hand” for the another great big, beautiful attraction at Disneyland. Imagineering used a cast of her hands for most of the female animatronics in the Carousel of Progress and maybe some animatronics is The Pirates of The Caribbean.
We hope that you will join us for Saturday’s Presentation Day and help us award our Disneyana Fan Club's Disney Legend award to Tania Norris.
Saturday Morning Presentations
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The Women Who
Made Early Disneyland Cindy Mediavilla and Kelsey Knox |
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Over 70 years ago, Walt dreamed of a place “where that the parents and the children could have fun together". From a park bench, Walt’s Magic Kingdom idea began while he was watching his two daughters ride the merry-go-round. Walt then created WED Enterprises and pooled together the various creative talents around the studio (animators, set designers, engineers, construction workers, contractors, and others) with the goal of designing and creating “The Happiest Place on Earth.”
In keeping with our mission in preserving the legacy of Walt Disney, we are excited to present authors Cindy Mediavilla and Kelsey Knox with a morning presentation during our DFC Expo on Saturday, October 25, 2025. Their book, “The Women Who Made Early Disneyland: Artists, Entertainers, and Guest Relations”, focuses on the unsung and lesser-known women who were instrumental in designing, building, and operating Disneyland before and after its debut in 1955.
We will hear about how Cindy and Kelsey met, the inspiration for their book, the research involved (especially during the COVID shutdown), and the decisions involved for the structure of the book.
Learn more about some of the women artists, designers, and Imagineers, like Mary Blair, Harriet Burns, Joyce Carlson, Renié Conley, Alice Davis, Dorothea Holt Redmond, Ruth Shellhorn, and Leota Toombs Thomas. The presentation will also highlight some of the entertainers, Miriam Nelson, Judy Marsh, Betty Taylor, the mermaids of the Submarine Voyage lagoon, and the Tinker Bells who flew over Sleeping Beauty Castle. Lastly, the discussion will focus on “the guest relations”, those who helped with creating the image of Disneyland, including the hostess of the Aunt Jemima restaurant, Bonita Granville Wrather, Dorothy Manes, Julie Reihm Casaletto, Cicely Rigdon, and the many tour guides, diplomats, linguists, storytellers, and hostesses at the park.
Walt knew that “It takes People to Make the Dream a Reality” and we hope that you will join us as Cindy and Kelsey tells us stories of the amazing women involved in making Walt’s dream a reality over 70 years ago and how their creativity still influences the parks today. (Photos: Cindy Mediavilla and Kelsey Knox)
In keeping with our mission in preserving the legacy of Walt Disney, we are excited to present authors Cindy Mediavilla and Kelsey Knox with a morning presentation during our DFC Expo on Saturday, October 25, 2025. Their book, “The Women Who Made Early Disneyland: Artists, Entertainers, and Guest Relations”, focuses on the unsung and lesser-known women who were instrumental in designing, building, and operating Disneyland before and after its debut in 1955.
We will hear about how Cindy and Kelsey met, the inspiration for their book, the research involved (especially during the COVID shutdown), and the decisions involved for the structure of the book.
Learn more about some of the women artists, designers, and Imagineers, like Mary Blair, Harriet Burns, Joyce Carlson, Renié Conley, Alice Davis, Dorothea Holt Redmond, Ruth Shellhorn, and Leota Toombs Thomas. The presentation will also highlight some of the entertainers, Miriam Nelson, Judy Marsh, Betty Taylor, the mermaids of the Submarine Voyage lagoon, and the Tinker Bells who flew over Sleeping Beauty Castle. Lastly, the discussion will focus on “the guest relations”, those who helped with creating the image of Disneyland, including the hostess of the Aunt Jemima restaurant, Bonita Granville Wrather, Dorothy Manes, Julie Reihm Casaletto, Cicely Rigdon, and the many tour guides, diplomats, linguists, storytellers, and hostesses at the park.
Walt knew that “It takes People to Make the Dream a Reality” and we hope that you will join us as Cindy and Kelsey tells us stories of the amazing women involved in making Walt’s dream a reality over 70 years ago and how their creativity still influences the parks today. (Photos: Cindy Mediavilla and Kelsey Knox)
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Former library school lecturer and public librarian Cindy Mediavilla is currently an author and independent scholar who retired from both the California State Library and the UCLA Department of Information Studies in 2015. After writing several books on library topics for the American Library Association, she’s become fascinated with early Disney history and so, with Kelsey Knox, co-wrote The Women Who Made Early Disneyland: Artists, Entertainers, and Guest Relations (Lexington Books, 2024). Cindy's MLS degree and PhD are both from UCLA’s Department of Information Studies. |
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Kelsey Knox is the University Archivist at her alma mater, UC Santa Cruz. She has a BA in American Studies, where she wrote her senior seminar paper on American Ideals in Disneyland and subsequent Disney parks, and an MLIS from UCLA. The Women Who Made Early Disneyland: Artists, Entertainers, and Guest Relations (Lexington Books, 2024), co-written with Cindy Mediavilla, is her first book. |
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Celebrate Happy!
Stories From 70 Years of Walt's Original Magic Kingdom
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At the DFC Expo last May, our attendees were treated to a great presentation with authors Tim O'Day, Don Hahn and Christopher Merritt. They spoke about their book, "Disneyland 70th: The Happiest Place on Earth”, told details about the writing and research for the book and gave stories that they found about the designing, planning and operating of Disneyland.
If you didn’t attend that event, we hope that you don’t miss our next event, where we are delighted to have the addition of the wonderful Rebecca (Becky) Cline to the morning presentation. Becky will share additional stories of the past 70 years from Walt’s Original Magic Kingdom. Did you know that Becky was awarded the Disneyana Fan Club’s Disney Legends award last year? The DFC’s Disney Legend award was designed to honor those cast members that continues to make a huge impact in maintaining Walt Disney’s Legacy. (Photo Credit: Stephen Russo) |
Becky Cline joined The Walt Disney Company in 1989, and became a member of the staff of the Walt Disney Archives in 1993. Today, as Director of the Archives, Becky is charged with collecting and preserving all aspects of Disney history and making the material available to researchers from all areas of the Walt Disney Company as well as to historians, writers, documentarians and fans around the world. Her many responsibilities include maintaining and conserving the Archives’ collections of historical documents, artwork, character merchandise, costumes, props and memorabilia. In the years since the Archives was established at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California, it has grown from a one-person department to it’s current staff of twenty-three, and has come to be recognized as a model among corporate archives in the country.
In her position with the Archives Becky has also enjoyed participating in the research and development of many new and exciting programs and fan-based initiatives for the Walt Disney Company - most recently as part of the development and operations team for D23: The Official Disney Fan Club.
Born in Glendale, California, and raised in Los Angeles, Becky attended Glendale College and California State University Los Angeles, majoring in Theater Arts. After college, she worked for two years in the Rare Books Department of the Huntington Library in San Marino, California, where she received her first taste of library/archives work.
As an author, Becky has written and contributed to numerous articles on Disney history for magazines such as Disney twenty-three, Disney Magazine, The Disney Channel Magazine, Persistence of Vision, The E-Ticket, and the Disney Insider Yearbook, as well as many Disney internal publications and websites.
In her position with the Archives Becky has also enjoyed participating in the research and development of many new and exciting programs and fan-based initiatives for the Walt Disney Company - most recently as part of the development and operations team for D23: The Official Disney Fan Club.
Born in Glendale, California, and raised in Los Angeles, Becky attended Glendale College and California State University Los Angeles, majoring in Theater Arts. After college, she worked for two years in the Rare Books Department of the Huntington Library in San Marino, California, where she received her first taste of library/archives work.
As an author, Becky has written and contributed to numerous articles on Disney history for magazines such as Disney twenty-three, Disney Magazine, The Disney Channel Magazine, Persistence of Vision, The E-Ticket, and the Disney Insider Yearbook, as well as many Disney internal publications and websites.
Kaitlyn was born and raised in Southern California, and has been an animation fan her entire life. She began her voice over career through a unique contest at San Diego Comic-Con for the opportunity to perform a voice in the DVD release of “The Drawn Together Movie: The Movie”. Voicing characters for the film, led to her breakout role as ‘Tommy’ in Adult Swim’s “Mr. Pickles” and “Momma Named Me Sheriff”. Kaitlyn has voiced characters in many animated series since, including Disney’s “Amphibia” as ‘Felicia’, Cartoon Network’s “ThunderCats ROAR” as various inhabitants, Netflix anime “Aggretsuko” as ‘Retsuko’s mother’, and is currently in Disney’s “Mickey Mouse Funhouse”, “The Wonderful World Of Mickey Mouse” and “Minnie’s Bow-Toons” as Minnie Mouse herself. Kaitlyn enjoys her copious amount of books, dreams of having a cat, and learning to cook a great steak one day. Stay tuned for updates on Kaitlyn’s most recent projects by following her page, and the PRESS page in the menu above.
Saturday Evening Events
As we continue planning for the evening events, we invite everybody to come in your favorite Disney costumes! We will be holding a costume contest, Halloween Trivia-n'-Treat (no trick questions here) and Halloween Bingo! There will be treats, prizes and maybe a surprise, too!
Event Details
Where
Irvine Marriott
18000 Von Karman Avenue
Irvine, CA • 92613
When
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Panel Presentations From 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon
DFC Disney Legends Award and Lunch from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m.
Panel Presentations and Evening Activities From 5:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Saturday Package
Ticket price includes all presentations and lunch.
DFC Member - $ 139 per person (Up to 4 tickets)
Non-Member - $ 179 per person
Seating
There will be no assigned seating.
All sales are final.
Tentative Schedule
(times and guests are subject to change)
DFC EXPO FALL 2025
Presentation Day - Saturday, October 25, 2025
MORNING PRESENTATIONS
8:30 a.m.
Check-in
9:00 a.m.
Doors Open
Silent auction benefiting the DFC,
the Garner Holt Foundation and Ryman Arts begins
9:10 a.m.
Welcome and Introductions
9:15 to 10:15 a.m.
"The Women Who Built Early Disneyland"
Cindy Mediavilla and Kelsey Knox
10:15 - 11:30 a.m.
"Celebrate Happy! Stories From 70 Years of Walt's Original Magic Kingdom"
Rebecca Cline
11:30 a.m.
Minnie Yoo-Hoo!
A Visit from a Familiar Voice
Kaitlyn Robrock
Voice Artist
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Presentations Break
AFTERNOON PRESENTATIONS
DISNEYANA FAN CLUB'S DISNEY LEGENDS CEREMONY
"Lunch With A Legend"
12:30 p.m.
Doors Open
Luncheon Buffet Service Begins
1:45 p.m.
Introduction of Tania McKnight Norris
By Garner Holt
2:00 p.m.
Disneyana Fan Club's Disney Legend
Tania McKnight Norris
3:00 p.m.
"Hello Maggie"
Showing and Q&A
Willie Ito
4:00 p.m.
Live Auction
EVENING EVENT
4:30 p.m.
Trivia n' Treating
Stations Open
5:30 p.m.
Door Open
5:45 p.m.
"What is this!? Christmas Town??"
Animatronics and the Holidays
Garner Holt
6:45 p.m.
Dinner Buffet Service Begins
7:00 p.m.
Halloween Costume Contest
7:30 p.m.
Halloween Bingo
8:30 p.m.
Anthony Gonzalez
Voice Artist
"Miguel" in COCO
Silent Auction Ends
9:00 p.m.
Prize Drawings
from Trivia n' Treats
and Halloween Bingo
9:00 p.m.
Closing Remarks
Where
Irvine Marriott
18000 Von Karman Avenue
Irvine, CA • 92613
When
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Panel Presentations From 9:00 a.m. to 12 Noon
DFC Disney Legends Award and Lunch from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m.
Panel Presentations and Evening Activities From 5:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Saturday Package
Ticket price includes all presentations and lunch.
DFC Member - $ 139 per person (Up to 4 tickets)
Non-Member - $ 179 per person
Seating
There will be no assigned seating.
All sales are final.
Tentative Schedule
(times and guests are subject to change)
DFC EXPO FALL 2025
Presentation Day - Saturday, October 25, 2025
MORNING PRESENTATIONS
8:30 a.m.
Check-in
9:00 a.m.
Doors Open
Silent auction benefiting the DFC,
the Garner Holt Foundation and Ryman Arts begins
9:10 a.m.
Welcome and Introductions
9:15 to 10:15 a.m.
"The Women Who Built Early Disneyland"
Cindy Mediavilla and Kelsey Knox
10:15 - 11:30 a.m.
"Celebrate Happy! Stories From 70 Years of Walt's Original Magic Kingdom"
Rebecca Cline
11:30 a.m.
Minnie Yoo-Hoo!
A Visit from a Familiar Voice
Kaitlyn Robrock
Voice Artist
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Presentations Break
AFTERNOON PRESENTATIONS
DISNEYANA FAN CLUB'S DISNEY LEGENDS CEREMONY
"Lunch With A Legend"
12:30 p.m.
Doors Open
Luncheon Buffet Service Begins
1:45 p.m.
Introduction of Tania McKnight Norris
By Garner Holt
2:00 p.m.
Disneyana Fan Club's Disney Legend
Tania McKnight Norris
3:00 p.m.
"Hello Maggie"
Showing and Q&A
Willie Ito
4:00 p.m.
Live Auction
EVENING EVENT
4:30 p.m.
Trivia n' Treating
Stations Open
5:30 p.m.
Door Open
5:45 p.m.
"What is this!? Christmas Town??"
Animatronics and the Holidays
Garner Holt
6:45 p.m.
Dinner Buffet Service Begins
7:00 p.m.
Halloween Costume Contest
7:30 p.m.
Halloween Bingo
8:30 p.m.
Anthony Gonzalez
Voice Artist
"Miguel" in COCO
Silent Auction Ends
9:00 p.m.
Prize Drawings
from Trivia n' Treats
and Halloween Bingo
9:00 p.m.
Closing Remarks
Special Hotel Rates for ALL Attendees Coming Soon
We are delighted to have the Irvine Marriott as our main hotel for our DFC Expo Fall 2025 Weekend with the DFC's Disney Legend Award & Presentations on Saturday and Collectors' Day on Sunday. Hotel rate details coming soon - https://disneyanafanclub.weebly.com/hotel.html
We are delighted to have the Irvine Marriott as our main hotel for our DFC Expo Fall 2025 Weekend with the DFC's Disney Legend Award & Presentations on Saturday and Collectors' Day on Sunday. Hotel rate details coming soon - https://disneyanafanclub.weebly.com/hotel.html
DFC EXPO FALL 2025
Disneyana Collectibles Show and Sale
Collectors' Day - Sunday, October26, 2025
Free Admission!
DFC Members:
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
General Public:
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Special Parking Rates for ALL Attendees
Saturday's DFC Expo Parking for ALL Special Event Attendees
in the main hotel parking lot will be $13..
Sunday's DFC Expo Discounted Parking for ALL Attendees
in the main hotel parking lot will be $13..
If the Irvine Marriott parking lot becomes full or unavailable,
additional parking is available at regular price across from the hotel
at the Irvine Towers and Business Complex (NO discounted parking)
Parking Rates Restrictions:
No discounted overnight parking and no in and out of the lot.
Only 1 discount per vehicle.
Information and Discount Ticket
will be available at the Registration / Ticket Desk.
Room Hopping Policy
Irvine Marriott
DO NOT allow any Room Hopping.
It is strictly prohibited. Please adhere to their hotel policies.
Disneyana Collectibles Show and Sale
Collectors' Day - Sunday, October26, 2025
Free Admission!
DFC Members:
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
General Public:
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Special Parking Rates for ALL Attendees
Saturday's DFC Expo Parking for ALL Special Event Attendees
in the main hotel parking lot will be $13..
Sunday's DFC Expo Discounted Parking for ALL Attendees
in the main hotel parking lot will be $13..
If the Irvine Marriott parking lot becomes full or unavailable,
additional parking is available at regular price across from the hotel
at the Irvine Towers and Business Complex (NO discounted parking)
Parking Rates Restrictions:
No discounted overnight parking and no in and out of the lot.
Only 1 discount per vehicle.
Information and Discount Ticket
will be available at the Registration / Ticket Desk.
Room Hopping Policy
Irvine Marriott
DO NOT allow any Room Hopping.
It is strictly prohibited. Please adhere to their hotel policies.
DFC Expo Fall 2025
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Presentations and DFC's Disney Legend Luncheon Tickets
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Presentations and DFC's Disney Legend Luncheon Tickets
US Mail Registration Form (PDF Download)