Imaginerding: Disney Books, links and more!

DVD Review: Santa Buddies

2009-11-23T20:30:00.001-05:00

Santa Buddies (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo) [Blu-ray] 2009. Not Rated.

The following review was done by my 11-year old son. This is a review of the Blu-Ray/DVD Combo pack that we received as a review copy. He is slightly biased--in addition to his love of Disney and video games, dogs are one of his favorite things.

This is another great combo set that contains a Blu-Ray and a DVD disc--perfect for family viewing and for keeping one in the car or play room. On with the review:

The movie is a great children's movie that is good for watching with the family. It has a kind of slow beginning. As it goes on, it gets better and better. It has very cute and funny moments. One of the cutest moments was when there was a little dog who was singing a song about Christmas spirit.

I've watched Snow Buddies, Space Buddies and Air Buddies. They have the same characters in each one. There is a new character in each movie. The prequel to all of the Buddie movies is Air Bud. The dog, Buddy, is the father of all of the buddies (Budderball, B-Dawg, Rosebud, Mudbud and Buddha). For you to completely understand the story of the Buddies, you should watch Air Bud and Air Buddies to completely understand the series.

It is a Christmas classic where something happens to Christmas and it might never happen again. But something dramatically swoops in to save Christmas Day.

I would recommend it for people who enjoy the spirit of Christmas and for people who enjoy a good story. Make sure that you have a nice, warm hot chocolate and warm, buttery popcorn for this chill of a tale.

Make sure to tune in later this week for some Santa Buddies crafts and surprises!

He also picked these two video clips to share with everyone.

Geek-End Update, Saturday, November

2009-11-20T23:07:00.001-05:00

Major Pepperidge at Gorilla's Don't Blog takes us inside Monsanto's House of the Future though a Life pictorial.
Richard at Photos From the Parks shares some great shots of the Court de Anges at Disneyland.
Michael at Progress City, USA takes a close-up look at the newly released Fantasyland plans.
Samland shares information on the real pirates inside the queue of Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland.
AJ at the Disney Food Blog takes a tour of Minnie's kitchen.
Jack Spencer from All Ears shares photos from One Man's Dream.
Donnie at I'm a blogger, Dottie...a Rebel (a great Pee-Wee Herman reference) posts about the Midget Autopia's remains in Marceline.
Wade Sampson at MousePlanet shares all of the plaques on Pleasure Island.
Didier Ghez at Disney History posts an interview with the granddaughter of Disney's first librarian.
Meet the World is taking us back to a 1982 Disneyland trip with views of Fantasyland under construction.
Bob Cowan looks at Mickey, Yen Sid and Joe Grant.

How To Catch a Rabbit!

2009-11-17T23:07:00.002-05:00

Anyone who knows us at Imaginerding is well aware that we consider Splash Mountain to be the ultimate Disney ride. Although Andy's favorite ride is Spaceship Earth and mine is the Haunted Mansion, we both agree that Splash Mountain offers a great story, wonderful songs, a fun (although wet) ride and a lot of details. Other rides may have better lineages (Haunted Mansion and Pirates) but Splash is an all around "really-good" ride*.

On one of our research trips, we were able to ride Splash Mountain twice without any wait. We took as many pictures as we could in the queue and the daylight areas of the ride for future posts.

Just for you, though, we broke our rule and took a flash picture inside the ride--just this once. We saw this book on our first ride and didn't have our cameras out. Andy nailed a great shot on the second go around.

We present to you another book update: How to Catch a Rabbit by Brer Wolf.

Since I wasn't able to snag a review copy of this title or step out of the log, I can't do an official book review. What I can tell you is that I would not recommend this book. After spending nearly 10 minutes following the author's escapades throughout the attraction, I can safely conclude that Mr. Wolf is a hack and that the book did not help Br'er Fox secure any rabbits while on the ride. Near the end, Br'er Fox did catch the rabbit, but ended up throwing him into the briar patch after some quick talking by said rabbit.

If you can get your hands on a copy of this rare item, it is worth it from a collector's standpoint. Otherwise, I would leave this title in the swamp.

Once again, another great reason why you need to slow down, look around and enjoy the details while you are in the parks.

As the famous architect Ludwig Mies van der Mouse once said, "Walt is in the detail."

*As voted on by George and Andrew.

Spaceship Earth by Jeff B

2009-11-15T19:11:00.000-05:00

Jeff B is one of my favorite amateur photographers on the web. I have featured his photographs before and I really appreciate his artistic vision.

The shot below is a great look at Spaceship Earth at Epcot. I asked Jeff B to tell us some more about how he created this stunning photograph.

http://bighugelabs.com/onblack.php?id=3997929266&size=large

Where and when did you take it?
The camera was very close to the direction sign that is in the lower right hand side of the photograph. This is just past the leave a legacy display at EPCOT. It was taken slightly after closing and I was fortunate that no one walked through the frame and there were no stray strollers left in the area.

How did you set up the shot?
The photo was taken with a fisheye lens which really distorts straight lines near the edges. This creates the curved ground and exaggerated curves on the Spaceship Earth’s legs. It also produces an incredibly wide view. I purposely shot off to one side (in this case the right side) to a) get close up to the direction sign which increases the photo’s depth and b) to include the building that houses Project Tomorrow. My camera was mounted on a tripod and shot using a shutter release cable.

Was there any inspiration for it?
Yes, I was trying to capture that futuristic vibe and colorful glow that Future World (particularly around SSE and Innovations Plaza ) exhibits in the evening.

How did you artistically retouch the photo?
I shot the image 5 times using different exposures each time (-3,-2,0,+2,+3). The images were combined and tone mapped using Photomatix to produce what is commonly known as a High Dynamic Range image. I pushed the color balance pretty far to the warm side. The image was then transferred to Photoshop where there was some further local increase in color saturation and then finally sharpening.

You can see more of Jeff B's photos at his flicker stream.

Geek-End Update, Saturday, November 14, 2009

2009-11-13T22:49:00.000-05:00

This update covers 10/31-11/14

TokyoMagic at Meet the World does some great reverse Theme Parkeology with some EPCOT in Anaheim.
Disneyland Nomenclature takes a fascinating look at the etymology of the term Cast Member at Disneyland.
Michael at Progress City, USA reviews the Sherman Brothers Songbook.
Tony at the W.E.D. Page takes us back in time for a look at the Village Marketplace.
DisneyShawn takes a detailed look at the Red Car.
Kevin Kidney sahres the new Hot Car and the designs of a classic Disneyland vehicle.
Cory Doctorow at Boing Boing looks at how the ambient sound at Walt Disney World was created.
Daveland gives us more Studio and a Trip Report.
Didier Ghez at Disney History points us to a great new blog.
Paul F. Anderson at The Disney History Institute regales us with an oft-heard and admired tale.
Samland reviews a book that I have not picked up yet, but I can't wait to read it!

Let's Visit Paradise Falls!

2009-11-11T22:03:00.001-05:00

As part of the promotion of UP, Disney/Pixar has released 8 retro-style travel posters. Some of them are reminiscent of vintage Disneyland attraction posters and evoke the artistry of 1950's and 1960's Disney. I'm not sure if I can pick a favorite! Click on the image to see a larger view.

You can read my review of the book The Art of UP, here.

Balloon Science Fun!

2009-11-10T22:46:00.007-05:00

Here is another Activity Sheet from Disney/Pixar that you can print out and share!

Balloon Science Fun!

• Helium has a lifting force of about 1 gram per liter.
• An average size party balloon is approximately 30cm (one foot) in diameter.
• It can hold approximately 14 liters.
• That’s 14 grams of lift power per balloon.
• Estimate and subtract the weight of the string and the latex balloon.
• Formula: 1 balloon = 10 grams of lift power.

How Many Balloons Would It Take To Lift:

Disney • Pixar’s Up Blu-ray Combo Pack?
At approximately 227 grams (or 0.5 lbs) in weight, it requires approximately 22 balloons to send the movie Up, up and away!

A Blu-ray Disc Player?
Most models weigh just over 2 kg (4.5 lbs.) which requires 200 balloons to add a whole new meaning to Blu-ray “high definition.”

Your Neighbor’s Dog?
A happy Labrador Retriever dog weighs in at about 32 kg (70 lbs). It would take approximately 3200 balloons to lift this furry friend off the ground.
The voice of Dug (the Dog) in the movie Up is actually the voice of Co-Director / Screenwriter, Bob Peterson.
A Bicycle?
The average bicycle weighs approximately 19 kilograms (or 42 lbs). You will need approximately 1,900 balloons to turn a 2-wheeler into an air-bike.
Before the Wright Brothers built their first flying airplane in 1903, they operated a small bicycle repair shop.
A Sumo Wrestler?
The average weight of a Sumo wrestler is approximately 148 kg (or 326 lbs). That means it would take about 148,000 balloons to send this guy Up.
Sumo wrestling was established as a national sport in 1909.
A Small House?
This figure can vary in terms of quantity of balloons given the size and scale of the house. Let’s say the house in Disney/Pixar ’s movie Up weighed about 46,000 kg (that’s 101,413 lbs). That means it takes approximately 4,600,000 balloons to send Carl's home Up and away!
Nearly 70 animators worked on the movie Up during peak production.

You can read my review of the book The Art of UP, here.

DVD Review: UP

2009-11-09T22:37:00.002-05:00

Up (4 Disc Combo Pack with Digital Copy and DVD) [Blu-Ray]

I won't be posting a review of UP in this space; countless other bloggers and media outlets will be raving about it. Needless to say, if you didn't have the chance to see UP in the theaters, then you do need to see this movie!

Instead, I want to discuss the extras and why you should buy the combo pack--even if you don't own a Blu-Ray player, yet.

Dug's Secret Mission:

This is an amazing Pixar short that is, woefully, too short. It takes place right before Carl and Russell meet Dug and it ties wonderfully into the film. It will have you running around yelling "Squirrel" all day!

Partly Cloudy:

The hilarious short film that preceded screenings of Up. Everyone knows that the stork delivers babies, but where do the storks get the babies? The answer lies up in the stratosphere where the cloud Gus is a master at creating “dangerous” babies, which prove to be more than a handful for his local delivery stork Peck. Directed by Pixar story artist, animator and voice actor Peter Sohn.

Adventure is Out There:

This action-packed documentary tells the story of the filmmakers’ own trek to the tepuis mountains of South America to research the design and story of the film.

We weren't sure what to expect when we watched this documentary, but it turned out to be one of the best parts of the UP experience. The whole family mentioned that it made the tepui seem less fantastical and much more grounded in reality. We could relate to the flora and the environment of the South American scenes. Plus, it was fun to see all of the Pixar employees getting wet and how their drawings, sketches and paintings evolved into UP.

Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital Download Combo Pack:

I have received review copies of the combo packs before and I absolutely love them! Basically, you get a Blu-Ray copy with all of the extras that only a Blu-Ray can provide, along with a DVD version of the movie (with some of the extras) and a digital version that you can watch on your computer or portable device. Everybody wins! You can have the DVD version for the kids' room or the car, the Blu-Ray for the good television and the digital version on the laptop so the kids can watch it on the flight to Walt Disney World. The Blu-Ray disc does contain ten additional features, behind-the scenes bonus features and games. Hours and hours of additional entertainment.

As a special bonus, here is a sheet provided by Disney/Pixar for your little adventurer (or yourself), entitled Adventures In Your Own Backyard!

Click on the image to see a larger version.

This movie will be a favorite for many generations to come and is helping to define character animation in the digital age.

SQUIRREL!

You can read my review of the book The Art of UP, here.

Book Update

2009-11-04T22:24:00.006-05:00

I just received my copy of South of the Border With Disney: Walt Disney and the Good Neighbor Program, 1941-1948by JB Kaufman. It looks amazing and the reviews have been great.

The latest volume in the Walt's People series has arrived: Walt's People - Volume 8edited by Didier Ghez. It looks like Didier has compiled some more fantastic interviews. The print runs on Didier's works are never very large, so you should snap it up soon!

DVD Review: Walt Disney Treasures Zorro Seasons 1 & 2

2009-11-02T23:00:00.001-05:00

Out of the night,

When the full moon is bright,

Comes the horseman known as Zorro.

This bold renegade

Carves a "Z" with his blade,

A "Z" that stands for Zorro.

WOW! This is the perfect DVD set to introduce or re-acquaint yourself with Zorro. Growing up in the 1970's, I saw a few reruns of the 1957-1959 series and I knew about Zorro from the various films and pop culture references. I never had the opportunity to see them as presented on television, so I wasn't as familiar with the Disney series. When I popped in the first disc of my review copy of season one, I was hooked from the get go.

This is the first time that the entire two-season collection has been offered in its original black and white airing; previous releases were Disney Movie Club exclusives and had been colorized. I was surprised at the intelligence, warmth, humor and excitement in this 50-year old television series. You are immediately drawn into the characters and the plot lines.

Leonard Maltin introduces the set (as in all of the other Walt Disney Treasures) and he waxes poetically about the series. What caught my attention was when Maltin mentions that Zorro was a precursor to the Lone Ranger and Batman. As I watched the series unfold, I noticed the similarities: Don Diego de la Vega (Zorro) was a wealthy nobleman; he had a secret cave located under his hacienda; he had a faithful manservant that assisted his work; and he was a masked man that stood for justice. Bob Kane has said that Zorro was an early influence during the creation of Batman.

The series' writing was very comical. Don Diego's man-servant, Bernardo, was an immediate favorite. Bernado portrays himself as a deaf-mute in order to help spy for Zorro. The hapless Sergeant Garcia became as sympathetic as he was inept; it was obvious that his heart was in the right place. The following clip is a song sung by Sergeant Garcia and is a perfect example of the interaction between Don Diego, Garcia and the ancillary characters.

As expected, the series is full of swashbuckling action, daring sword fights, brazen and over-the-top villains, horse chases and beautiful senoritas.

This set is great family fun and will provide many hours of entertainment. I can't tell you how many sword fights that I have had with my sons since we started watching Zorro. Of course, we were using foam swords and I always played the evil Comandante!

This set will make a fantastic Holiday present for the Disney enthusiast in your family.

DVD Review: Mickey's Magical Christmas

2009-11-01T21:59:00.004-05:00

Mickey's Magical Christmas: Snowed In at the House of Mouse November 3, 2009

Mickey's Magical Christmas is a re-release of the 2001 DVD feature. If you didn't have a chance to pick up a copy then, you can lay your gloves on this DVD treat that will become a family tradition for many years to come. I received my review copy and we waited until after Halloween to watch this one. It was a great way to start off our Christmas Holiday season!

The DVD is 65 minutes long and is filled with treasures that will delight everyone in your family.

In this full-length adventure, a huge snowstorm leaves Mickey, Minnie and many other friends stranded leading Mickey and his guests at the House of Mouse to whip up an impromptu party that includes instilling a “Humbug”-quacking Donald Duck with the holiday spirit. Everyone shares their home movies and even grumpy Donald starts to smile when they realize the “Best Christmas of All” is the one you share with friends and family.

Throughout the episode, Mickey and the gang do their best to spread holiday cheer. Lucky for us, there are some classic holiday shorts mixed in with the newer House of Mouse shorts. The highlights are the 1952 Pluto's Christmas Tree and the 24-minute 1983 version of Mickey's Christmas Carol.

The first bonus feature of the disc is the premiere episode of The House of Mouse. This is a charming look at the beginning of the series and you get a sense of the creativity and talent of this short-lived series. The second bonus is The Sounds of Christmas-a Disney Sound Effects Featurette featuring the late Wayne Allwine, voice of Mickey Mouse for over 30 years. In the featurette, Wayne retells Twas the Night Before Christmas with the help of a few children providing sound effects.

Taken purely as a DVD aimed at fans of the holiday season, you can't go wrong with this title. The animation (except for Pluto's Christmas Tree and Mickey's Christmas Carol) is decidedly "made for television" and seems quite jarring, choppy and immature next to the classic animated segments. I am glad that I was able to add it to my collection, though, and I look forward to sharing it with my kids over the next few years.

For other Disney Holiday animation, you can read my review of the Walt Disney Animation Collection Classic Short Films: Mickey's Christmas Carol.

Geek-End Update, Saturday, October 31, 2009

2009-10-30T23:33:00.006-04:00

Scott at Destination: Disney has scanned a 1973 Nighttime brochure for Walt Disney World.
Matterhorn at Stuff From the Park posts an image of an early Peter Pan ride layout.
Disney Shawn takes us through the Servant's Quarters at the Haunted Mansion.
Comics Worth Reading looks at some favorite Disney reading.
Congrats to Major Pepperidge at Gorilla's Don't Blog on his 1,200th post!
Richard at Photos From the Parks offers some questions on the entrance way to Tomorrowland. He also shoots the defunct Tangaroa Terrace.
Matterhorn at Stuff From the Park posts some pre-Fantasyland illustrations done by Bruce Bushman.
Samland's Disney Adventure takes a peak at the Haunted Mansion LP. He also delves deeply into the Disneyland Haunted Mansion Pet Cemetery.
5 Kingdoms takes a look at Four Corners from around the globe!
Cory at BoingBoing links to a Homebrew backyard railroad that recreates Disneyland.

I hope that you have been checking out the great photos from FoxxFur and PeterRabbit over at Luau Cove Marina. They post three images a week and their shots are truly unique. Foxxfur is the owner of Passport to Dream Old & New--she is one of the foremost experts in themed design and her posts are always eye-opening and intellectually inspiring.

This is one of my favorite shots from the past week:

Walt, El Grupo and North Carolina!

2009-10-26T16:00:00.002-04:00

Michael Crawford, at the awesome Progress City, USA, has posted information about bringing the film Walt and El Grupo to North Carolina.

I have one last note, for our readers in North Carolina and southern Virginia. Some of us in the area are looking for a local theater that is willing to screen Ted Thomas’s Walt and El Grupo. So far, the closest engagements have been in Washington, D.C., but the filmmakers would love to get it in a wider release. As the best independent theatre in the area is the Carolina Theatre in Durham, we thought we’d focus our efforts there. If anyone reading this is in the region and is interested, please drop the theater a call or an email and ask them to book the film!

Call the Administrative offices at 919-560-3040.

Film suggestions should be sent to Phil Seib, the Cinema Operations Manager. Phil's e-mail address is phil@carolinatheatre.org.

Geek-End Update, Saturday, October 24, 2009

2009-10-23T23:33:00.000-04:00

Daveland starts a new Saturday series. Looks great so far!
Jerry at Cartoon Brew reviews a fascinating new book by J.B. Kaufman.
Michael Barrier looks at a familiar picture from the Disney Commissary.
Foxxfur at Passport to Dreams Old & New discusses Fantasyland the Second.
Michael Crawford at Progress City, USA has scanned a 1978 map of Ft. Wilderness.
Tony at the W.E.D. Page looks at Extinct Tastes from Around the World...Beaver Tales.
Early Amusement Parks of Orange County has some Disneyland construction photos.

DVD Review: The Legend of the Seeker

2009-10-21T20:31:00.000-04:00

Legend of the Seeker: The Complete First Season 2009, five discs, 22 episodes.

This was a series that completely swept by me undetected last year. A friend recommended that I try it and I had it added to my Netflix queue. When I was given the opportunity to receive a review copy, I jumped on it. I am very glad that I did!

The television show was produced for syndication by ABC Studios and distributed by Disney-ABC Studios. There are some hefty names attached to the series: Sam Raimi (of Spiderman fame) produced and developed the series; Robert Tapert (Xena: Warrior Princess); and Terry Goodkind (author of the Sword of Truth series of books). The series is based on the events in the Sword of Truth book series and like most adaptations, follows the books as closely as possible. Since the show is a one-hour weekly broadcast, the producers followed the overarching storyline and did their best to stay true to the characters created by Terry Goodkind.

In the province known as Westland, a wizard reveals to ordinary woodsman Richard Cypher (played by Craig Horner) the truth: that he is a child of prophecy, the first true Seeker the world has known in a thousand years, destined to wield the powerful Sword of Truth and defeat the evil tyrant Darken Rahlan. A mysterious woman named Kahlan Amnell (played by Bridget Regan), and a wizard named Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander (played by Bruce Spence) join the Seeker on his quest.

The first two episodes feel rather awkward, but by the third one we were drawn into the series and the characters. Some of the events and characters felt rather like a cliche until the world of the Seeker expanded and we met other characters while learning the powers of the Wizard, the Confessor and the Seeker. The characters grow and you truly start to care for them and the relationships they are creating.

The action scenes during the first half of the season are all played in slow-motion, which helps tone down the gore of fighting with swords. The scenes are intense and would probably be too much for anyone under age ten. I thought the special effects were outstanding for a broadcast television show and added to the story instead of detracting from it. The show was filmed in New Zealand and takes advantage of the beautiful scenery; you never quite get the feeling that it is taking place in our world. I marveled at how the female lead (Kahlan) was able to keep her Confessor's robes so white--especially during fight scenes and running through the forests. Maybe the wizard had a great dry cleaning spell!

If you are a fan of action/fantasy shows, the Lord of the Rings movies or sci-fi/fantasy novels, then you will love this show. Terry Goodkind fans will be pleased; he has given the show his stamp of approval and is working with the writing team on each episode.

The second seasons starts on November 7!

Geek-End Update, Saturday, October 17, 2009

2009-10-16T23:33:00.001-04:00

This update covers 10/4 to 10/16.

Futureprobe has linked to a video with the new spiel for the ~~TTA~~, er, Peoplemover.
Kevin Kidney shares the amazing new Enchanted Tiki Room Collectibles that he and Jody Daily created. He also posts about the Giant Cell in the Upjohn Pharmacy.
Martin's Videos has created a 47-minute video tribute to ImageWorks.
Disneyland Postcards has a look at a great postcard from 1964.
Richard at Photos From the Parks takes a look at the Fort Wilderness Marina.
Didier Ghez at Disneyland History posts a review of the Walt Disney Family Museum.
Michael Crawford at Progress City USA looks back at the Worldkey Information Systems.
Tony at the W.E.D. Page has some great shots of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
Scott at Destination:Disney encourages us to see Here Comes the Muppets!
Daveland shares an interesting Casey Jr. photo and a story about Ward Kimball.
Alian Littaye at Disney and More has posted an amazing interview he did with John Hench.
Foxxfur and PeterRabbit have a great shot of the Contemporary and Bay Lake Tower at Luau Cove Marina.
Have you seen the scans from the cover of the new Game Informer about Epic Mickey? I can't wait for this one.

Meet Our Neighbor: AJ from the Disney Food Blog

2009-10-14T22:35:00.001-04:00

The Disney blog-o-sphere has grown tremendously over the past few years with the addition of quite a few talented bloggers. It can be confusing to peruse all of the different sites and to try and place a person with a site. Therefore, Andrew and I decided that we wanted to highlight our good blogging buddies and ask them to answer a series of precise and predetermined questions. Andrew and I spent years in a Disney think-tank perfecting the questions presented below. For this Meet Our Neighbor segment, we asked AJ from The Disney Food Blog to muddle through our questions. AJ has a passion for dining at Walt Disney World and her blog is always full of tantalizing and tempting photos of mouth-watering eats.

Don't forget our other Meet Our Neighbor posts:

Greg (DOC) from Disney Obsession,
Ryan from Main Street Gazette,
Doc Terminus from Passamaquoddy,
Glenn from Passamaquoddy,
Dave from Davelandblog,
Foxxfur Chapter One, Chapter Two and Chapter Three from Passport to Dreams,
Richard Harrison from Photos From the Parks,
Jeff Pepper from 2179 Hyperion,
Ra y from Grumpy's Ho llow and
My eight y ear-old son. (he's ten, now--but answered the questions when he was eight!)

What is your earliest Disney memory?
Standing in the roped off, outdoor queue line for Journey into Your Imagination during Spring Break in unbearable heat. I don't know WHY my parents did that to themselves.

What is your single favorite attraction?
Space Mountain, but only when riding in the front of the car!

What is your favorite Disney and non-Disney movie?
Disney: Bedknobs and Broomsticks
Non-Disney: White Christmas

What is your least favorite park?
In Walt Disney World, I'd have to say DHS for atmosphere. It feels patch worked over there; I never know what I'm supposed to be experiencing from one section to the next. Maybe it's because the themeing is subtle in some areas; I'm just not keen enough to catch it.

What is your favorite park?
Again, in WDW, probably Epcot. It's a nostalgic thing for me. It was always my favorite as a kid -- World of Motion and Horizons were my favorite rides in Disney World. I actually don't remember much about visiting Magic Kingdom as a kid, but Epcot will always be a fond memory.
Now, walking into the park and hearing that beloved Epcot background loop soundtrack makes me feel like a kid every time.

Who is your favorite Disney character?
Mickey Mouse. I really wanted to answer something else, like the Evil Queen or Pinocchio. But that wouldn't be true. Every time I see Mickey Mouse my heart starts beating faster. And I'm a sucker for the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I already miss Wayne Allwine.

What is your favorite Disney song?
I'll have to go with nostalgia again on this one! My dad always bought park soundtracks on vinyl and somehow rigged up a way for us to listen to them in the car on the drive between Buffalo and Florida every year, so the themes from American Adventure, World of Motion, O Canada, and the other Epcot rides were burned into our brains. I was always a fan of Veggie Veggie Fruit Fruit, but I'm pretty sure that's because I'd lobbied pretty hard to get a plush version of the mariachi tomato.

If you could switch places with any historical or living Disney employee,who would it be and why?
I'm not sure about this one, so I'm going to say the first thing that popped into my head: Julie Andrews. She counts as a "Disney employee," right? I want to be Mary Poppins.

What is you're must eat food at WDW?
One!? You know I write the Disney Food Blog, right?! My "must eat" changes every time I eat at a new restaurant. Dole Whips, Tonga Toast, Mickey head rice crispy treats, Yachtsman steak with garlic butter, ooey gooey toffee cake from Liberty Tree Tavern, Mickey waffles...I think today my answer is going to be the Potato and Leek Soup from Rose and Crown. That's what I'm most looking forward to on my next trip.

Favorite place to stay at WDW?
I love all of the Disney hotels, but I feel most at home at Wilderness Lodge. Though walking to Magic Kingdom from the Contemporary and to Epcot from the Beach and Yacht Clubs and Boardwalk is pretty great...

What is your favorite place to be at WDW?
The Carolwood-Pacific Room at the Wilderness Lodge Villas when it's cold outside.

What is your favorite restaurant?
Jiko, California Grill, Citricos, Yachtsman Steakhouse, Casey's Corner, Le Cellier, Liberty Tree Tavern, Cinderella's Royal Table, Beaches and Cream, and the Pop Century Food Court.

What is the first thing you want to do on your next trip?
I've really had a hankering to ride the Haunted Mansion. All of the 40th Anniversary news made me excited to see things I'd never noticed before.

What is your favorite fireworks show?
Christmas Illuminations. They just go on forever with that finale! It's amazing. I'll never forget snagging a table on the Rose and Crown patio and just staring at that display. WOW!

Where did you develop your love of Disney?
My parents took us to the parks as kids. While I loved the Disney movies, I loved the parks more. As I mentioned -- Epcot had a certain hold on me. I just loved that place, and when I got older, I started booking trips while in college. I'd never stayed at the Disney resorts before, and staying for a long weekend at the Animal Kingdom Lodge while in grad school (free upgrade to savanna view) just knocked it out of the park for me. I've been hooked ever since.

If you had to choose parks or movies, which would it be?
Probably parks.

Which character do you associate with the most?
Which character is a bit confused, kind of slow, and likes to eat? Ah! Pooh Bear!

Does any forensic evidence exist linking you to the Kennedy assassination?
No comment. And the fact that I live very close to downtown Dallas means nothing.

Would you make any major changes to the current design of any of the parks?
This is a tough one. If I were to change anything, I'd hire a bunch of really smart people (like Imagineers) and tell them to do something new with DHS.

What is the most significant architectural feature of WDW?
Significant? Cinderella Castle. My favorites? The lobby of the Wilderness Lodge, Mary Blair's mural in the Contemporary, the Morocco Pavilion, and Norway's Stave Church.

What is the weakest Epcot country?
Italy. Include a gallery in the back of the pavilion. Have TWO restaurants, PLEASE! It's ITALY! I've traveled to several of the countries represented in Epcot's World Showcase, and Italy is by FAR the least well-represented. There's so much that could be done with that pavilion.

What is your favorite Disney guilty pleasure?
Besides writing the Food Blog? :-D The two things I love to do in Disney World are stay in nice hotels (definitely a guilty pleasure) and eat. We schedule our theme park activities around food. It's true. And while we exercise regularly while we're there, that's only to clear some space in our stomachs for the next meal.

I'm not kidding.

Where do you spend most of your time online when in the Disney-sphere?
I lurk and post on all of the major message boards and websites, but I spend lots of time over on http://Dismarks.com (Disney social news website) and http://www.WDWforGrownups.com (info and forums). I also spend a LOT of time writing and maintaining the blogs and websites that I run.

You are the CEO and you have to cut one division: film, animation, parks, music, ABC, or ESPN. Where do you start cutting?
The live-action films of late have soured me on that division. Honestly, I can't believe I'm saying that, but it's true. Please remind me of some good ones, because I'm feeling pretty rotten about this answer.

Do you have any money we can borrow or have?
Yes, just give me your bank account number and authorization codes, and I'll have it transferred.

What do you consider the most historically significant or defining moment in Disney history?
I have no idea why, but I really feel like moving into 2719 Hyperion was a massive moment in Disney history. Walt had already had a roller coaster career, and putting roots down must have been gratifying.

How do you feel about Disney's stance to remove Song of the South and other period specific pieces from its association?
Sometimes we try too hard to make everybody like us.

If you could change one thing about a Disney Movie, what movie would it be and what would you change?
Remove Dwayne Johnson from the Disney payroll.

Which Disney Hotel could you live in for the rest of your life?
Again, I'd have to pick Wilderness Lodge. They have the best jogging trail. And s'mores are readily accessible over at Fort Wilderness next door. Plus they have duck races every day. Who else has duck races?

What is your favorite Disney book?
Peter Pan Little Golden Book. Again, nostalgia. As an adult, though, I love the Behind the Scenes Imagineering books of the WDW parks.

Book Review: Hidden Mickeys, A Field Guide to...

2009-10-11T12:13:00.000-04:00

Hidden Mickeys, 4th Edition: A Field Guide to Walt Disney World's Best Kept Secrets 253 pages, 2009.
Disneyland's Hidden Mickeys, 2nd Edition: A Field Guide to Disneyland Resort's Best-Kept Secrets144 pages, 2009.

Steve Barrett is synonymous with the term Hidden Mickey.

You do know what a Hidden Mickey is, right?

A hidden Mickey is a partial or complete impression of Mickey Mouse placed by the Imagineers and artists to blend into the designs of Disney attractions, hotels, restaurants, and other areas.

The most common Hidden Mickey form is the tri-circle Mickey frontal silhouette: three circles that form Mickey’s round head and adjoining round ears.

Other images include a side or oblique (usually three-quarter) profile of Mickey’s face and head, a side profile of his entire body, a full-body frontal silhouette, a detailed picture of his face or body, or a three-dimensional Mickey. Sometimes, just his gloves, handprints, shoes or ears appear. Even his name or initials in unusual places may qualify as Hidden Mickeys. And don’t forget other characters such as Hidden Minnies, Donald Ducks, Goofys, etc.

--Hidden Mickeys Guide

Steve has just released the 4th edition of the Walt Disney World Field Guide and the 2nd edition of the Disneyland Field Guide. Each book measures 9" X 4", which makes it a great size to fit into your pocket or backpack while touring the parks.

This book is a great addition to your trip and will provide hours of entertainment while in the parks and resorts. Steve deftly states that it is not to replace the magic found in Disney parks, but to enhance your experience. The scavenger hunts are a way to provide another reason to visit the parks or to "liven up" a bored or distracted visitor. The repeat guest will also benefit from owning the book, especially if you are looking for a creative way to look at the parks in a different light.

One of the best uses of the Field Guides is with younger children while you wait in attraction queues or for your advance dining reservations. They can spend the time perusing the book and trying to find the hidden mickeys listed or you can distract them while getting them to use clues in the book.

My ten-year old son is an avid Hidden Mickey enthusiast and wanted to add to the review:

The Hidden Mickey is the term for a shape used to express the feeling for the beloved Disney Character Mickey. It is a Fun way to play Scavenger hunt through the streets of Walt Disney World!

If you want to spend some time searching for Hidden Mickeys, you won't find a better resource than Steve's guides.

As per recent FTC guidelines, I did receive both copies of the guides from the publisher for review. I do own and did purchase the previous editions for my personal collection.

The Zip-A-Dee River Run

2009-10-07T21:56:00.003-04:00

Michael Eisner became a proponent of building Splash Mountain the first time he saw the models that the Imagineers had built. It was a tenuous time for the Imagineers as their budget had been strangled by previous Disney bosses. The timely entrance of Eisner and his immediate buy-in to the Splash Mountain concept may have saved the Imagineers. See the quote from Disney War in a previous post. In fact, Eisner is credited with naming the attraction as well as suggesting it be presented as a mountain. Its working name was the Zip-A-Dee River Run. Marty Sklar recalls Eisner wanting to name the ride after the surprise hit Splash with Tom Hanks and Darryl Hannah that Disney lucked into. He even suggested adding Hannah's mermaid character to the attraction. Imagineers waffled on the name but held fast to the long understood and respected "Darryl Hannah ruins any attraction....guaranteed" mentality that permeated flume ride construction methods since the early 1400's.

Eisner tested the patience of the Imagineers by bringing his teenage son to the initial showing of the Splash Mountain model, calling his son an 'expert on theme park rides'. He was, in fact, their target market. Eisner's 14-year old son bought in once he saw the ride had the world's longest flume drop. This record was previously held by Andre the Giant's bathroom.

When the ride was nearing completion, Eisner insisted on the first test ride. He was covered in trash bags because the ride still had wet issues after the final descent. The ride passed his test as he asked to go again after the conclusion of the first test. Other accounts have Eisner getting drenched and after the ride saying he loved it but that the water was too much.

Hmmm....Eisner in trash bags....how prophetic.

The attraction has made residence in every Magic Kingdon-style park, except Hong Kong Disneyland and Disneyland Paris. In Toyko Disney, Splash Mountain has significantly reduced splash due to the colder weather (and the fact that the Japanese patrons do not like getting wet at theme parks).

--Andrew

DVD Review: Mickey's Christmas Carol

2009-10-04T16:19:00.000-04:00

Disney Animation Collection 7: Mickey's Christmas Carol (2009)

This is the seventh release in the Walt Disney Animation Collection Classic Short Films series. You can read my other reviews here and here.

Just in time for the Holiday Season, WDSHE (Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment) has released a collection of four classic animated shorts. The headliner of the collection is Mickey's Christmas Carol which was originally released in 1983 along with the re-release of the Rescuers. We follow the familiar Dickens' tale with the addition of Disney characters in the lead roles. This short also marks the first time that Wayne Allwine voiced Mickey Mouse.

The second short is The Small One, which tells of a boy who must sell his beloved donkey since it is no longer strong enough to work. The boy takes the donkey to Nazareth since the boy's father wants him to sell the donkey. The short was originally released in 1978 in front of the re-release of Pinocchio.

Pluto's Christmas Tree is a very familiar 1952 Mickey Mouse short. Mickey is decorating his house for the holidays and decides to take Pluto with him to cut down a Christmas Tree. Normal Pluto antics ensue when it is discovered that the tree in their living room is also the house for Chip and Dale.
The last short is Santa's Workshop, a 1932 Silly Symphonies cartoon that is a musical look at Santa's Workshop at the North Pole. We see Santa going over the naughty and nice list, the elves caring for the reindeer and the machinations of the workshop.

The entire DVD clocks in at over an hour of animated holiday magic. It is sure to entertain the kids (and older kids-at-heart) during the upcoming season. Make sure to grab a cup of hot chocolate and a few of your favorite people to share these films with during the colder months.

Geek-End Update, Saturday, October 3, 2009

2009-10-02T23:33:00.000-04:00

Princess Fee at DF'82 looks at some steam power from Disneyland Paris. She also posts another great Point Photo!
Michael Crawford at Progress City, USA looks at some very rare World Showcase, sorta, concept art.
Matterhorn at Stuff From the Park shares an image during the painting of the Peter Pan mural.
Early Amusement Parks of Orange County has some early photos of the Carousel of Progress at Disneyland.
Tony at the W.E.D. page takes a fond look back at the Diamond Horseshoe.
Daveland takes an eerie look at the lighting in the Haunted Mansion.
Samland looks at three books this week: Walt's Words of Wisdom, Anaheim Vacationland and Knott's Berry Farm, The Early Years.
Scott at Disney Fan Ramblings reviews two books: The Mouse That Roared and Team Rodent.

Belated Geek-End Update, Tuesday, September 29, 2009

2009-09-29T11:01:00.000-04:00

I was on a research trip to Walt Disney World this weekend, hence the delay in the Geek-End update. This update includes posts from 9/19/2009 to 9/24/2009.

Princess Fee at DF'82 looks at Disneyland Paris' Au Chalet de la Marionette.
Early Amusement Parks of Orange County has some vintage photos of the Skyway at Disneyland.
DisneyShawn looks at some of the great restroom signs at the Disneyland Resort.
Major Pepperidge at Gorilla's Don't Blog shares some 1964 World's Fair photos of Progressland and the Autoparts Harmonic Orchestra!
Mark at Insights and Sounds posts a retrospective on all of the Space Mountains.
FoxxFur at Passport 2 Dreams posts the second part of her See the Village series. Part one is here.
Richard from Photos from the Parks gives us a great lesson on photographing the Haunted Mansion.
The Disney Blog celebrates 5,000 posts! Congratulations, John!

Kodak Picture Spot!

2009-09-27T20:17:00.000-04:00

Mary Blair at the Contemporary

2009-09-26T18:39:00.001-04:00

Main Street Flower Market

2009-09-20T23:33:00.000-04:00

In 2001, the West side of Center Street at the Magic Kingdom was turned into a new segment of the Emporium, creating one long shopping district that stretches from Town Square to the Hub. One of the areas that was lost was the Main Street Flower Market, as seen in postcard WDW-11605. Not only is the evolution of the characters evident, but make sure to check out the almost unwieldy plastic gloves they are wearing. At least Minnie still loves polka dots!

Main Street Flower Market
In a picture perfect setting, Mickey has hundreds of brilliantly colored blossoms to choose from, as he picks a bouquet for Minnie.
WDW-11605

In the following shot, circa 1972, you can see the front of the Greenhouse, which stood to the left of the Main Street Flower Market. You can see other pictures from the same series here.

At the north end of the Emporium is one of the two side streets that make Main Street seem longer than it really is. Here is the flower market, packed with colorful blossoms, both real and silk. A favorite picture spot, the flower market contains benches, flower wagons, and other props for photographic poses. The façades in this cul-de-sac are narrow and of different styles and are painted with different, contrasting colors. This gives the illusion that lots is going on here — far more activity and variety than the space might normally warrant. Flowers can be bought here at the Greenhouse — silk ones to be stored in the lockers under the train station or real ones (and topiaries) to be sent to the kennel at the TTC where a plant-sitter will take care of them until they are retrieved.
--Vinyl Leaves: Walt Disney World And America by Stephen M. Fjellman. p. 172.