81 years ago today, America's favorite Mouse was created and voiced by the man who started an empire and whose legacy lives on in each of us today. Although its been a long time since Walt Disney's death (and a short time since Mickey's most recent voice Wayne Allwine)
), it can be assumed that Mickey Mouse has became one of the most recognized symbols in the world...and a big part of my heart.

Happy Birthday Mickey Mouse! Though you're 81, you don't look a day over 50! (Also thanks for paying my bills...you rock for that as well.

(VIDEO: 1928's Steamboat Willie - Although this isn't Mickey Mouse's first animated film (the first being Plane Crazy in 1928) this is the short that the lovable mouse is most recognized for.)

Since Walt Disney World's Theme this year (and next) is all about celebration...it only seems fit to give Mickey a present for his birthday...so...how about lighting up all of Cinderella's Castle in a bunch of sparkling magical lights!

Do you want to know how this is done? Thanks to the Disney Parks Blog you can!

“Dipped in sugar” is how Cinderella Castle appears to Walt Disney World Entertainment’s senior show director Alan Bruun. And if you’ve seen the castle’s 200,000 holiday lights, it’s hard to disagree with the description — it’s a must see.

But how the Castle transforms for the season is just as remarkable. It takes about six weeks and involves hundreds of hours of manpower. Cranes are brought in overnight to place the LED lights around the castle and reach the highest spires. Here’s video showing some of the behind-the-scenes work that goes into lighting the Castle each year:

The Castle lights are also attached to more than 40,000 square feet of fisherman’s net dyed to specifically match the colors of the castle. There is blue net for the roof tops and gray for the walls. After the lights are hooked up on the nets, they’re programmed and tested and then written into lighting cues for the shows, according to Bruun.

To bring the lights together, 18 miles of electrical cable is used. And it’s all run on the amount of power that it takes to run three clothes dryers — it’s extremely energy efficient.

I've never been able to experience this in person myself, but I have seen videos sent from friends and over YouTube of how miraculous this event is. A lot of my castmember friends will be able to experience this and to tell the truth...I'm sort of jealous. If you know me at all, I'm a Christmas fanatic. This event not only looks beautiful and magical, but something to be shared with your entire family. If you get to make it to the parks this holiday season, I would suggest making your way over to the Magic Kingdom to see it in person!

(If you're viewing this on Facebook, you are not able to see the videos embedded in this post. To see the post in it's entirety, click here)

*SIDENOTE: I have so much to fill you guys in on, but It'll have to wait until later...it's 6:45 am now and most of my roommates left for Traditions and I wanted to see them off. I'm going back to bed in a second, but this is important. So just to clarify...update will come later.

A Legend was lost today...When people think of the Walt Disney Company, the first thing they think of is its most famous and love able icon, Mickey Mouse. Unfortunately that voice is temporary silenced.

On Monday May 18th, Wayne Allwine, the voice of Mickey Mouse, died at age 62.

The first time I ever heard the voice of Mickey Mouse had to be when I was around 3 0r 4. I don't remember the specifics but every time I heard a "Hot Dog!" or "Oh Boy!" Or "Hiya Pal!" my face lit up with excitement, joy, and laughter. It's wide known that there were a few voices of the infamous mouse including his creator, Walt Disney, but for my generation (and the one before), the Mickey we knew was Wayne.

I never knew Wayne personally, nor have I had the chase to see him in many interviews, but I feel like I still have a connection with him because of all that he has given to us. Not only in my childhood but even when I visit the park today and watch Philharmagic at the Magic Kingdom, or watch the Jungle Jam parade at Animal Kingdom. I even hear his voice when I meet Mickey at a Character Greeting. He truly is a legend and I thank him for all that he has given us. He not only lent his voice, but his personality and love to the character, which has made alot of difference to alot of my generation.

It even surprised me to fine out only two years ago that Wayne was married to Russi Taylor, the voice of Minnie Mouse. When I found that out, my face lit up like the 5-year old at heart that I truly am. That's something right there.

Taken from John Frost from The Disney Blog (in which I feel exactly the same way), "I like to think that now all three voices of Mickey Mouse are reunited somewhere discussing the affect that one little character had on their lives and on the world. Our lives are all richer for their efforts."

In 2008 both Wayne and Russi were named Disney Legends in a ceremony at the studios. Recently Wayne had been combating complications related to diabetes and was said to be in need of a kidney transplant. Sadly he passed away May 18th as a result of his illness. Official confirmation was made on his Disney Legend bio.

Thank you Wayne for all that you have given us, not only as a voice artist, but as a friend and loved one. Though I never knew you on a personal level, I would like to say that you are a BIG part in my desire to be a part of this wonderful company. You have changed my life, and for that, I give my thanks. Be blessed, and Rest in Peace. Say Hi to Walt for me okay?

"I get to take this wonderful American icon and keep it alive until the next Mickey comes along, and it will one day. It's holding him close enough to really love him, but not so close that when he leaves, it's gonna kill me." - Wayne Allwine

I signed on to my iGoogle account this morning and saw under my Walt Disney Quote widget this interesting quote by the man himself:

All right. I'm corny. But I think there's just about a-hundred-and-forty-million people in this country that are just as corny as I am.
- Walt Disney

This left me thinking back on all the jokes and back-burns I've received ever since I came back from my first program in 2007 about how the "chip" has been activated in my head and I am a slave of the mouse and all that other crap.

Lets back-track: I truly am a kid-at-heart. I watch the Disney Channel, Nickelodeon - The-N, Cartoon Network (in addition to all the grown-up stations like MTV, CNN, MSNBC, BET, etc.) and I do watch shows like Hannah Montana, Wizard of Waverly Place, Degrassi: The Next Generation, Instant Star, The Suite Life On Deck, Sonny With a Chance...shall I go on?

I've watched these networks/shows long before I went on my program, my love for the Disney Company just enhanced my liking towards these networks just a little more after coming back. I especially hit it hard after moving into my fraternity house after coming back and watching my networks a la kids and getting mocked because of it.

Let me point out that I'm not bashing my fraternity brothers, quite the opposite really: I'm questioning society as a whole when it's "not okay" for a 21-year-old man to like High School Musical. Case in point, i was just ridiculed as I'm typing this by one of my fraternity brothers (I'm writing this blog in my computer lab) because 'Fantasmic' is apparantly not a word and the chip in the back of my brain is being activated at this very moment.

I laughed at the South Park episode with the Jonas Brothers and Mickey Mouse, I'm not a total noob when it comes to my interests and what not - but I don't like being put down because of my likes and dislikes.

I love (almost) all aspects of Disney - if I didn't I wouldn't strive so hard to further my career with the company. I am a kid-at-heart. And yes, at times I can be corny, I may imitate Mickey Mouse, I may have a crap-load of pins at my disposal, and yes, I have Hannah Montana, all High School Musical, Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu, Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, Jake Epstien and many others on my iPod and listen to their music while walking to class

Am I a Disney-Freak? Yes. Am I proud of it? Yes. And you know what? Walt was right...there are over 40 million others like me who are proud of it as well. If it wern't for the corni-ness (is that a word?) of one man, the world would be such a different place!

So patronize me all you want. I'll continue to like what I like, do what I do and watch me ending being a CEO of Public Relations for some aspect of the Disney Company in 15 years, with a beautiful corner office, a spending budget, and a family I can share the experience with.