Happy Birthday to Everyone’s Favorite Mouse!
Walt Disney once said, “I only hope that we don’t lose sight of one thing- that it was all started with a mouse.”
Everyone’s favorite mouse is turning 85 today, Nov. 18. Mickey might be the mouse that started it all for Disney, but Mickey’s story however began with a different character, a rabbit. While being a part of the Disney Brothers Studio, which was a part of Universal Pictures, Walt created Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, which was a major hit. When Disney left Universal Pictures he lost the rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.
Walt and one loyal animator who stayed with Disney, Ub Iwerks, had numerous nights of brain storming to create the next big character. After countless attempts, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was transformed into Mortimer Mouse. One tale that is told is that Walt’s wife didn’t like the name Mortimer and suggested he changed it, eventually leading to Mickey Mouse.
Disney and Mickey Mouse have both been in my life since I was a little girl. Every year my family and I go to Disney. No matter how many times I’ve gone, no matter what age I am, I am always excited to go as I was the first time I went to see Mickey Mouse and all his friends.
Last February my sister and I participated in the Disney Princess Half Marathon. Throughout the race the characters were there to take pictures. Of course I made sure we got a picture with the one and only Mickey Mouse. So happy birthday to the mouse that started it all! 
