This South Valley couple has decorated their home with all
things Disney. But we’re not talking cheap figurines or plastic
toys
n By Kelly Savio Staff Writer
As visitors approach Bert and Andi Berry’s South Valley home, Mickey Mouse offers them a friendly wave and one of his famous smiles. But Mickey, standing about 2 feet tall, is just a taste of things to come.
The Berrys have, in a way, brought bits and pieces of the “happiest place on earth” home with them, creating a wonderland for their 14-month-old son, Trevis. But forget cheap plastic Happy Meal tchotchkes; only high-end Disney collectibles grace the Berry home.
Bert and Andi were both Disney fans before they met, but their love affair with the classic animation characters has only grown over the years.
“We got engaged right before a trip to Disney World, the cake topper at our wedding was Cinderella and Prince Charming, I wore glass slippers during the wedding, and Disneyland was part of our honeymoon,” Andi said, smiling. “We love Disney because it’s something family-oriented that anyone can enjoy, and it’s all about believing in and chasing your dreams.”
Though “Peter Pan” is Bert’s favorite Disney movie and “Cinderella” is Andi’s favorite, “Lady and the Tramp” is the couple’s favorite film, Bert said. They prioritize buying collectibles from those three films, but they have something to represent almost every classic Disney character and many of the modern characters, too.
“After all, as they always say, it all started with a mouse,” Andi said.
When Trevis plays in the family room of the Berry house, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Prince Charming, Mickey Mouse, Snow White, Pinocchio, and several other characters watch over him from their framed perches on the walls. Cogsworth, the uptight clock from “Beauty and the Beast,” stands sentry over family photos in the living room. Goofy, Donald Duck, Jiminy Cricket, Stitch and two of the seven dwarfs are among the permanent dinner guests in the family dining room.
The couple buys their collectibles from upscale Disney stores, such as The World of Disney, several of which are often found exclusively at the Disney parks, including The Disneyland Gallery, located above the Pirates of the Caribbean ride inside the Anaheim theme park, and the Art of Disney Epcot Gallery at Disney World in Florida. The collectibles range from platters and pitchers featuring Disney character faces, “big figs,” which are large figurines standing just taller than a foot, to serigraph cells, which are high-quality animation cell reproductions, and paintings of Disneyland and characters.
“I told Andi she could decorate the house however she wanted, but if she was going to do Disney, she had to decorate with the quality stuff,” Bert said. “Obviously, that’s just what she did, and we both love it.”
Many of the collectibles are gifts the couple bought each other to mark special occasions, adding sentimental value to the decorations in the house.
“We give each other Disney stuff for our birthdays, anniversaries, all kinds of occasions, so when we look at them, we’re not just thinking about the characters, we’re thinking about where or when we got it,” Andi said. “For example, we bought the Mickey collage we have up in the family room on our honeymoon.”
The couple had a Scotty dog named Jock after the Scotty dog in “Lady and the Tramp,” and during the holidays, their Christmas tree is decorated exclusively with Disney ornaments and is topped by Tinkerbell instead of a star or angel. The family plans to celebrate Bert’s upcoming 40th birthday at Disney World in Florida.
Though the couple has already spent thousands of dollars on the collectibles, they have no plans of slowing down; They continue to pick and choose the pieces they want to add to their Disney menagerie.
