Ring in the 2020 New Year with Magic Kingdom Livestream

by Ray Keating

DisneyBizJournal.com

December 31, 2019

If you’re not going to be at Walt Disney World on New Year’s Eve, you can still ring in the New Year with Disney.

The New Year’s celebration from the Magic Kingdom will be livestreamed tonight. The online festivities get started at 11:50 PM EST on the Disney Parks Blog. Tune in here to catch the “Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks.”

Source: Disney Parks Blog

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution and the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

Ray Keating’s Authors and Entrepreneurs Podcast, Episode 43: Time, Space ... and Getting Things Done

In this episode, Ray Keating talks about the importance of managing time and space for authors, entrepreneurs and author-entrepreneurs. He stresses finding the right tool for time management.

Tune in at

http://www.buzzsprout.com/147907/2378942-episode-43-time-space-and-getting-things-done

Get the Right Planner for 2020 - Perhaps THE DISNEY PLANNER 2020?

This is a photo of my personal planner used in 2019. It was my first published planner – The Realistic Optimist TO DO List & Calendar. It uses my TO DO List Solution system, and as you can see, it got plenty of work throughout the year. It also helped me to have my most productive year ever as a writer. I hope you’ll find value in one of the TO DO List Solution planners in 2020. 

Choose Your TO DO List Solution 2020 Planner from Ray Keating...

THE DISNEY PLANNER 2020: THE TO DO LIST SOLUTION combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement and fun for Disney fans, including those who love Mickey, Marvel, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pixar, and more. Go to https://www.amazon.com/dp/1698855494

If you love the Pastor Stephen Grant thrillers and mysteries, then enjoy character quotes, book excerpts and thoughts from Ray Keating each day with THE PASTOR STEPHEN GRANT NOVELS PLANNER 2020: THE TO DO LIST SOLUTION. Go to https://www.amazon.com/dp/1672814324

THE LUTHERAN PLANNER 2020: THE TO DO LIST SOLUTION combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done – using monthly, weekly and daily to-do lists – with encouragement, inspiration and consolation from the Christian faith. Go to https://www.amazon.com/dp/1678626465

6 Big Reasons to Love “The Mandalorian”

by Ray Keating

DisneyBizJournal.com

December 30, 2019

The Disney+ streaming service launched to great success, with the Star Wars show “The Mandalorian” playing a part in that triumph.

Here are 6 big reasons to love “The Mandalorian.”

1. Under the guidance of creator and showrunner Jon Favreau, “The Mandalorian” quite simply ranks as interesting, entertaining storytelling. In fact, “The Mandalorian” is one of the best TV Westerns ever made – though it happens to take place in space in a galaxy far, far away. Viewers are treated to the lone gunman – the Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal), or “Mando,” is a bounty hunter – who is drawn into taking on powerful forces in order to protect the innocent – in this case, “The Child” who has lovingly become known as “Baby Yoda” among fans. Along the way, we are treated to gunfights, busting broncos, and tips of the hat to particular Westerns, including The Magnificent Seven.

2. “The Mandalorian” ably combines many of the best aspects of Star Wars, namely, adventure, humor, danger, mystery, joy, hope, mysticism, excellent special effects (Disney reportedly spent a staggering $100 million on the first season of this television series!), and characters worthy of being cared about by the audience.

3. “The Mandalorian” stands out as the example of the opportunities available for great storytelling in the Star Wars universe beyond the Skywalker saga and its immediate orbit.  In the right creative hands, Star Wars offers a great deal of potential. 

4. Beyond Pedro Pascal as the Mandalorian, we are treated to an assortment of fine performances, including, most notably, Carl Weathers as Greef Karga, Gina Carano as Cara Dune, Werner Herzog as The Client, and Nick Nolte as Kuiil.

5. What would Star Wars be without a good droid? In this case, we have IG-11, who not only is distrusted by the Mandalorian, but journeys on an arc of redemption.

6. “The Child,” a.k.a., “Baby Yoda,” was a risky choice to lie at the center of the series. It could have gone badly wrong, especially if the look was wrong. Fortunately, Favreau and Company nailed it, and now “Baby Yoda” is a mega-hit among Star Wars aliens.

We now officially know that another season of “The Mandalorian” is coming in the fall of 2020. For good measure, two more live-action Star Wars Disney+ series are on the way – a Rogue One prequel and an Obi-Wan Kenobi series starring Ewan McGregor. If they pack half the punch of “The Mandalorian,” the future of Star Wars via Disney+ looks bright.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solutionand the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

Disney+ vs. Netflix

by Ray Keating

DisneyBizJournal.com

December 29, 2019

Netflix has built up a U.S. subscriber base of 60.6 million. Then along comes Disney+ in mid-November.

According to a report from Cowen & Co., Disney has picked up 24 million subscribers, including some free year-long subscriptions, such as via Verizon. Cowen estimated that 8 million of Disney+ subscribers are getting the service via free offers.

Interestingly, Cowen also estimated that six percent of Netflix subscribers that signed up for Disney+ wound up dropping Netflix – equating to 1 million switched subscriptions.

Netflix, again, has 60.6 million U.S. subscribers, and 158 million globally. Disney has stated that its expects to have 60 million to 90 million global subscribers by the end of 2024. As DisneyBizJournal has said before, we don’t expect that Disney will reach 60 million subscribers before the end of 2024.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solutionand the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

The Rise of Skywalker Earns 4 Stars! Has “Star Wars Heart” (Spoiler Free Review)

by Ray Keating

Review

DisneyBizJournal.com

December 21, 2019

DisneyBizJournal.com Movie Rating: 4 stars out of 5

DisneyBizJournal.com Box Office Rating:  $$$$ out of $$$$

When I was growing up and the Star Wars-vs.-Star Trek battle raged, I ranked as a Trek fan. However, while still appreciating Star Trek – particularly the Kirk, Spock and McCoy relationship in the original series and related movies – I gradually have become much more of a Star Wars than a Star Trek fan. Why? I came to an answer only recently. In the end, Star Wars has more heart than Star Trek. And yes, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker has plenty of “Star Wars heart.”

So, what’s “Star Wars heart”? Well, in the lingo of “The Force,” it’s a feeling emerging from a combination of joy, adventure, courage, determination, optimism, humor, a willingness to sacrifice, and hope, along with characters who moviegoers come to love.

After Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which suffered from a severe shortage of “Star Wars heart,” many people wondered if Star Wars could bounce back with The Rise of Skywalker. Director J.J. Abrams and the film’s cast pulled it off in stellar fashion. The Rise of Skywalker is a worthy end to the nine-movie, three-trilogies Skywalker tale. (Not, of course, the end of Star Wars stories.)

As for the reviewers who either didn’t like The Rise of Skywalker, or found it middling or uneven, I struggle wondering what movie they wound up watching. Because it certainly wasn’t the film I saw and thoroughly enjoyed. Maybe each of those less-than-pleased critics had a bad day, or perhaps they don’t like epic films that excel in storytelling (including some needed repairs after The Last Jedi), visual effects, emotional power, drama, and humor.

And unlike the character mess in The Last Jedi, The Rise of Skywalker stays true to and advances each character, which should be appreciated by Star Wars fans and filmgoers in general

Quite simply, to not like The Rise of Skywalker is to not like a great time at the movies.

As for the box office numbers, things look strong for Star Wars and Disney, with the opening box office tally as of Friday, December 20 (i.e., opening day), registering $149 million globally.

So, grab the popcorn (check out the cool souvenir popcorn bucket I picked up at an AMC theater) and a cool drink, and enjoy Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. And when you get a chance, go see it again. That’s my plan.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution and the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

Fans Ignore Critics – Apparently Love “Rise of Skywalker”

by Ray Keating

DisneyBizJournal.com

December 20, 2019

According to RottenTomatoes.com, fans seem to love Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – serving up a stellar score for the film. The fans’ assessment stands in stark contrast to the score offered by assembling reviews by critics.

Earlier this week, I asserted that critics don’t generally “get” Star Wars, and while not having seen the movie yet myself, the critics vs. the audience scores seem to back up this declaration. Indeed, as noted in the following graphic, fans got it right on The Last Jedi,while reviewers were dead wrong. 

So, I’m betting that the fans get it on The Rise of Skywalker compared to critics.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution and the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

Disney Stock Price Falls on “Rise of Skywalker” Reviews – Really?

by Ray Keating

DisneyBizJournal.com

December 19, 2019

Trying to explain stock price movements minute-to-minute and even day-to-day can be a dangerous game. That includes movement in the price of a share of stock in The Walt Disney Company based on critics' reviews of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

But in this Internet age of clickbait, why not, right? As a result, we see the following head line from Investor’s Business Daily: “Disney Stock Falls As Reviews For 'Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker' Come In.” It was stated: “Walt Disney has high hopes pinned on ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ to revive a flagging franchise, but critics are mostly meh about this finale to the monumental Skywalker saga. Disney stock fell...” – “down 1%.”

Hmmm. Given that we haven’t seen audience reactions as yet, and the reviews actually are not “mostly meh,” but instead are deeply divisive so far, ranging from declaring The Rise of Skywalker to be among the best or the worst Star Wars movies, perhaps we should keep our investing powder dry until we’re able to gauge what audiences think. After all, critics are, well, just critics, and their views often fail to line up with audience reactions and spending.

Disney might or might not have a hit on its hands. But I think it’s safe to say that The Rise of Skywalker will not be any kind of box-office bomb. Rather, this movie seems destined to make big bucks. Oh yes, and given The Mandalorian on Disney+ and the positive response to the Rise of the Resistance attraction in Disney World, “flagging franchise” might not exactly be the right phrase for the current state of Star Wars. More on that with our upcoming review of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker this weekend.

One more thing: Investor’s Business Daily did note that Disney’s stock is up 35 percent so far this year.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution and the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

Before Succumbing to Dark Side Reviews of “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”

by Ray Keating

DisneyBizJournal.com

December 18, 2019

But for the most extreme cases, I never put much stock in the opinions of movie critics. That’s worth keeping in mind before seeing Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

I haven’t seen the movie yet. That’s scheduled for Saturday afternoon. And yes, after seeing the film, I will write my own review. But whether it be my review or any other, it’s always best to see the movie for yourself, and formulate your own views.

And that piece of common sense might be more important when seeing a Star Wars film more so than any other movie. Why? It seems pretty clear to me that movie critics – and I’m generalizing here – tend not to “get” Star Wars. How can I make such an assertion?

Well, consider that the RottenTomatoes.com aggregated critics score for Star Wars: The Last Jedi was 91 percent. And that was for the worstStar Warsfilm EVER MADE. Therefore, when glancing at a RottonTomatoes.com score of 57 percent (as of this afternoon) from critics for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, I am heartened. 

Indeed, consider the following comment from Ryan Parker at The Hollywood Reporter: “It’s amazing. Last Jedi haters will be very pleased.” Yes! Bring on Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker!

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution and the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

ResortTV1 YouTubers Appreciate The Disney Planner 2020

by Ray Keating

DisneyBizJournal.com

December 16, 2019

The ResortTV1 YouTubers love and report on all things Disney. As stated on their YouTube page, they “do Live Streams in the Parks, Vlogs, Park Tours, Resort Hotel Tours, and Resort TV all in very high quality with many videos in 4K! We do a live stream in a park every Friday at 6:00 or 6:30pm ET, and we have new videos every day at 9:00am!”

In a recent video, they opened a package with The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution inside. Check out the reaction below starting at about the 48:43 mark of the video! Thanks, ResortTV1! 

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution and the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

Disney Will Have Seven $1-Billion-Plus 2019 Releases

by Ray Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

December 16, 2019

Over the weekend, Disney’s Frozen 2 topped $1 billion in box office receipts. That makes the sixth Disney release in 2019 to exceed the billion-dollar mark.

According to BoxOfficeMojo.com, Frozen 2 has now raked in $1.03 billion worldwide. The other five billion-dollar babies so far this year for Disney have been:

• Captain Marvel at $1.13 billion

• Aladdin at $1.07 billion

• The Lion King at $1.66 billion

• Avengers: Endgame at $2.8 billion

• Toy Story 4 at $1.07 billion

But, of course, the next billion-dollar earner opens later this week – Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. That, too, will top a billion (perhaps $2 billion?).

Much has been made of Disney fumbling Star Wars. But The Mandalorian on Disney+ and the huge demand for the Disney World ride Rise of the Resistance tell another story. If director J.J. Abrams erases the failure (or at least reduces the sting) of Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi, most negative talk about Star Wars will give way to excitement about what’s next.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution and the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

Thumbs-Up from Disney Experts for THE DISNEY PLANNER 2020: THE TO DO LIST SOLUTION

If you love Disney, and are serious about reaching goals and getting things done day-to-day and month-to-month, then THE DISNEY PLANNER 2020 is for you. Consider...

"This is the ultimate to-do list. Oh, my gosh!... This is amazing." - Michael Kay, leading YouTube Disney vlogger

"That is really cool ... looks like fun." - ResortTV1, leading YouTube Disney vloggers

THE DISNEY PLANNER 2020: THE TO DO LIST SOLUTION combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement and fun for Disney fans, including those who love Mickey, Marvel, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pixar, and more.

With each day, you’ll enjoy quotes from Walt Disney, other Disney leaders, experts, fans, and hundreds of characters, along with facts about theme parks, movies and much more.

Ray Keating, who is the publisher, editor and columnist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and a novelist, entrepreneur, podcaster, and marketer, explains: “Spending each day during the year using THE DISNEY PLANNER 2020: THE TO DO LIST SOLUTION makes sense if you’re a Disney fan, if you want to enjoy valuable and fun quotes and facts from the Disney universe, and if you’re looking for a daily takeaway that will make at least a small difference in your outlook, your work, and your life.” 

Keating added, “The act of using ‘The TO DO List Solution’ requires reflection on goals; forces prioritization; allows for being more realistic about time management; and generates serious thought on how to best get things done (such as breaking down projects into manageable steps).”

Disney and Paid Promotion Woes

by Ray Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

December 12, 2019

The Walt Disney Company, according to a Wall Street Journal report, has run into some troubles regarding Japanese artists being hired to promote Frozen 2 on Twitter but failing to disclose that they were paid to do so.

The artists, according to the story, were asked by an agency being used by Disney to not reveal that they were hired to promote the film with their art. The artists have apologized, and Disney issued a statement saying that internal marketing guidelines were not followed.

The Journal noted, “The Federal Trade Commission said in 2017 that influencers ‘should clearly and conspicuously disclose’ paid work. Japan’s consumer laws bar false or misleading advertising, but an official at the country’s Consumer Affairs Agency said the agency hasn’t issued guidance on paid posts by influencers.”

Ethically, it would seem pretty straightforward that if one is being paid to promote or positively review a movie, television show, book, or whatever, that should be disclosed. Yes, honesty remains the best business policy – whether online or in a brick-and-mortar setting. The article ended by noting that those damaged by such controversies go beyond the entities doing the hiring: “Some artists said the practice was troubling because fans would assume any favorable post about a product or service was the result of an undisclosed payment, even when it wasn’t.” Indeed, this amounts to a passing matter for Disney, while the independent artists are the ones who could suffer more lasting damage.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solutionand the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

The Disney Planner 2020 for Christmas!

The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution is the ideal Christmas gift for the person who needs to get things done and loves all things Disney. 

Get it here.

Disney Vlogger Michael Kay Opens a Gift

by Ray Keating

DisneyBizJournal.com

December 11, 2019

Michael Kay is a fun and prolific vlogger-YouTuber on Disney. Indeed, as stated on his YouTube channel: “My name is Michael and I LOVE Disney. Whether it's sharing my favorite meet and greet interaction, my review of a resort or just some fun I love sharing my passion for Disney with all of my Friends.” In a recent video, Michael opened a package from the Keating family with The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution inside. Check out his reaction below at about the 16:45 mark of the video! Thanks, Michael Kay! 

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solutionand the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.

Book Excerpt: Inspired to Get Things Done by Walt Disney

by Ray Keating

Book Excerpt

DisneyBizJournal.com

December 10, 2019

My favorite quote from Walt Disney is: “I always like to look on the optimistic side of life, but I am realistic enough to know that life is a complex matter.” That quote captures my own outlook on much of life, and it served as an impetus for me to put together a to-do list system to help my own productivity and to help others. The following is the Introduction to The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution. In this Introduction, I explain why I wrote a Disney planner, and what “The TO DO List Solution” is, how it has helped me and can make a difference for you as well. So, check out the Intro, and I hope you can use and enjoy The Disney Planner 2020.

Introduction: Why Day-to-Day with Disney?

by Ray Keating

The purpose of a planner is to get organized, to make sure things are accomplished, and to set, work toward and achieve goals. In the essay following this one, I’ll make the case as to why the TO DO List Solution is a simple, but ideal tool for making all of this and more happen. But for now, let’s consider another question: Why does it make sense to work with The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution – emphasis on the word “Disney”?

First, and most obvious, The Disney Planner 2020 is ideal for the Disney fan. And today, that covers a big chunk of our popular culture, and it’s not surprising given that Disney ranks as one of the largest entertainment companies on the planet. 

So, being a Disney fan can cover a rather breathtaking sweep of entertainment, including Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and such friends as Donald and Daisy Duck, Goofy and Pluto. But it also includes animated feature films ranging from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937 to Frozen II in 2019. On television, Disney’s television shows have covered, for example, The Mickey Mouse Club, premiering in 1955, to ABC’s Once Upon a Time, running from 2011 to 2018, to The Mandalorian, with its November 2019 debut on the Disney+ streaming service.

Naturally, there are fans of the many Disney princesses, including Snow White, Cinderella and Aurora in early Disney movies, to more recent additions like Rapunzel, Merida and Tiana.

Of course, a major reason to be a Disney fan for millions of people are the theme parks around the world. There are six major locations in the Disney family – Walt Disney World in Florida (featuring the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom), Disneyland in California (featuring Disneyland and California Adventure), Tokyo Disney (featuring Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea), Disneyland Paris (featuring Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney Studios Park), Hong Kong Disneyland, and Shanghai Disneyland. And within each are lands or events that provide further focus for fans, such as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in both Hollywood Studios and Disneyland, annual festivals (including the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival), Toy Story Land in Hollywood Studios, Pandora – The World of Avatar in Animal Kingdom, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Oogie Boogie Bash in Disney California Adventure, and so much more.

Along with the theme parks come assorted hotel resorts that rank as destinations in themselves. In Walt Disney World, for example, such lodgings range from Disney’s Contemporary Resort opened in October 1971, to the currently under construction Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser (The Halcyon), which will offer two-night immersive experiences.

Don’t forget the multiple cruise ships, including the soon-to-launch Disney Wish, and various worldwide excursions through Adventures by Disney. Looking for an island oasis? Try Hawaii’s Aulani Resort.

But wait, there’s still more. If you’re a fan of the Star Wars movies, then you’re a Disney fan (see above and, yes, you must check out Galaxy’s Edge!). If you’re a fan of Indiana Jones, then you’re included as a Disney fan. If you enjoyed Avatar, then you’re a Disney fan. And most notably in recent years given the enormous financial success and pop culture impact, if you are a fan of Marvel movies, comics, video games and/or television shows, then you’re a Disney fan.

For good measure, though we don’t delve into it in the following pages, if you’re a sports fan who enjoys ESPN, well then, you’re technically a Disney fan.

So, you get the idea. There are many ways to be a Disney fan, and if you love all things Disney, or significant parts of the Disney universe, then The Disney Planner 2020 is a fun way to be reminded of and motivated by such fandom each day.

Second, throughout the long and expanding history of all things Disney, the storytelling that lies at the center of this entertainment enterprise serves up characters, tales, quotes and moments that offer inspiration, insights, and humor. Indeed, many people love Disney for this very reason. Therefore, each day in The Disney Planner 2020, you are presented with a Disney character quote and a Disney fact that will, hopefully, provide a moment to reflect, to smile, to laugh, to get focused, to learn, and/or to be encouraged.

Third, The Walt Disney Company started in 1923, and has been a leader in the entertainment industry throughout much of its history. As the company approaches its 100^th birthday, there’s a heck of a lot to learn from this enterprise, and from the people who started and ran it, who have worked at Disney, who have studied it, and who are Disney customers. The lessons offered are wide-ranging, including how to start up and run a business; how to improve your career and work experience; how to deal with problems and seize on opportunities that crop up in all aspects of life, from family to career; how to treat others, including customers, employees, and co-workers; and more.

That learning process, of course, starts with Walt Disney, who was a unique entrepreneur in that he excelled at not just starting up and running the Disney Company in its earliest stages, but was at the helm to guide it to becoming a global leader in entertainment. He did so in an assortment of sectors, including film, television, and theme parks. That’s unique in that many entrepreneurs who start up businesses and lead them to a certain point of success, do not necessarily possess the skills to productively guide the firm after it’s reached a certain level of development. Since Walt was able to do so, there’s much people can learn from him no matter where they might be in life, business and career. 

In addition, Walt was a complete human being. I certainly don’t mean that he was perfect or without faults. None of us are. Instead, for all that he achieved in business, it’s clear from much of what he said and did, that Walt Disney understood that life was not just about business, but instead, also very much about family, faith and fun.

So, each day in The Disney Planner 2020 serves up a valuable comment from Walt, other Disney leaders like Bob Iger and Michael Eisner, creators such as Marvel’s Stan Lee and Star Wars’ George Lucas, or assorted people influenced by Disney.

Spending each day during the year using The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution makes sense if you’re a Disney fan, if you want to enjoy valuable and fun quotes and facts from the Disney universe, and if you’re looking for a daily takeaway that will make at least a small difference in your outlook, your work, and your life.

The Case for “The TO DO List Solution”

After establishing why a Disney planner is for you, a question that comes up is: How can the Disney fan get organized in order to make things happen? 

Life seems increasingly hectic, whether one is running a business, advancing a career, building a family, teaching others, juggling multiple tasks, managing retirement, or simply organizing a vacation to Walt Disney World, Disneyland or some other magical destination. It’s a challenge to get everything done on a daily basis, never mind making sure that you’re progressing toward your bigger goals.

Technology, of course, has been a tremendous benefit, but at times it takes something simple to be added to the mix to make a real difference. For me, that was the TO DO list. So, I now offer a helpful planner/tool called “The TO DO List Solution.”

Think for a moment about all of the roles you play in life, or perhaps a better way to put it, the many vocations or callings you have. For example, in no particular order, I’m a husband, father, son, economist, novelist, columnist, publisher/editor of a website, podcaster, reader, nonfiction author, golfer, moviegoer, active Lutheran, teacher, business owner, policy analyst, and marketer. I also would like to do more, including travel, moving, taking up some new hobbies, losing weight, and writing new books. No doubt, you have your own long list. So, how can we better manage the assorted undertakings in life – from the daily routine to special or out-of-the-ordinary endeavors? That is, how do you make it happen?

I’ve become far better organized – though far from perfect – with the TO DO list becoming my main planning, organizing and execution tool. “The TO DO List Solution” provides confidence that everything that needs to happen will be remembered; most (though not necessarily all!) will be accomplished; changes can be factored in (just add the item to the list); and life will be more organized. 

In addition, the act of using “The TO DO List Solution” requires reflection on goals; forces prioritization; allows for being more realistic about time management; and generates serious thought on how to best get things done (for example, such as breaking down projects into manageable steps, and checking each off along the way). And as one checks off each completed item, your sense of success and accomplishment is enhanced, with hope and confidence growing. 

By the way, it also helps to put everything on one TO DO list. That is, while one can limit the use of “The TO DO List Solution” to certain aspects of life – most think of it for “work” – it pays to include much of life in “The TO DO List Solution.” After all, your daily life and long-run goals have work, family and other endeavors and responsibilities intertwined and overlapping to various degrees. “The TO DO List Solution” covers most of life.

Along the way, using TO DO lists led me to think about a more effective TO DO list. For quite some time, my TO DO list process involved periodically making a big TO DO list covering longer term goals; drawing up a weekly TO DO list usually on a Sunday night or early Monday morning; and then breaking that down into daily TO DO lists. I used all kinds of means for making this happen, including the usual planners/datebooks, notebooks, smartphones, et al. While this process proved to be a tremendous benefit, it led me to realize that having the right tool to create and utilize my TO DO lists would be a major plus.

Hence, I created “The TO DO List Solution.” It was driven by meeting a need in my own life, and it followed with the realization that if I benefit from this, others might as well. I hope this becomes a handy tool in your efforts to set and achieve all sorts of goals.

Ways to Use The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution

The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution can help Disney fans become more productive.

The following are my thoughts on why I organized The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution the way I did, and how to best use it:

• First, the arrival of the New Year serves as an excellent moment to assess one’s goals, and to adjust, subtract and add to them, accordingly. So, this book starts out with the annual, big TO DO list. This calendar also is set up so that this big TO DO list can be updated at or near the start of each subsequent month, from checking off accomplishments (Wooo!) to adjusting goals to adding new efforts.

• Second, a TO DO list is established at the start of each week throughout the year. This naturally feeds off of the big, annual TO DO list, as well as encompassing other regular and irregular matters that must be done. Since I argue that most of life’s undertakings – from the smallest to the largest, from work to family life, from daily routine to Disney vacation planning, and so on – be included, the weekly TO DO list is quite lengthy. I offer 55 boxes (with an extra one for whatever else you might need to toss into the mix). To fit on one page, these boxes might be seen as being relatively small. But I find in making my weekly TO DO lists, I tend to abbreviate, and by doing so, it limits my weekly list from being pages long and allows for a helpful one-page review. When each item on this list is accomplished, I put a slash mark through it, and with each slash, a moment of accomplishment is recognized.

• Third, soon after I started using TO DO lists, I came to realize that the weekly list needed to be further broken down into daily lists. Again, I’ve done this here, with each individual day allowing for TO DO items. The left-hand column allows for either numbering the items or assigning times for each. There are days when my TO DO list merely requires a list that I get done in no particular order, while other days require some exact times. This book allows for either option, or a mix. The right hand column allows for checking items off as accomplished – again, always a positive during the day. In addition, a “Key Reminders/Thoughts” box is included for each day to highlight the most important points, needs or objectives.

• Fourth, I appreciate a good thought or quote each day that adds some value to my thinking and outlook. As we’ve already noted, with The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution, those quotes and thoughts come from the Disney universe – which adds some extra fun into the daily mix.

Finally, the fact that you set goals, think about how to achieve those goals, and choose to seek out and use tools like The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution says something very positive about your outlook on work and life. If I might say, I think Walt would approve.

Ray Keating is the editor, publisher and economist for DisneyBizJournal.com, and author of The Disney Planner 2020: The TO DO List Solution and the Pastor Stephen Grant novels. He can be contacted at  raykeating@keatingreports.com.