1 2 3 4 5 - Celebrations Magazine

Enjoy the magic of
Walt Disney World
all year long with
Celebrations
magazine!
Receive 6 issues for
$29.99* (save more than
15% off the cover price!)
*U.S. residents only. To order outside the United
States, please visit www.celebrationspress.com.
To subscribe to Celebrations magazine, clip or copy the coupon below.
 YES!
Send check or money order for $29.99 to:
Celebrations Press
Please send me 6 issues of PO Box 584
Celebrations magazine
Uwchland, PA 19480
Name
Confirmation email address
Address
City
StateZip
You can also subscribe online at www.celebrationspress.com.
Cover Photography © Tim Devine
Issue 39
First in the Parks:
The Magic of the
Walt Disney World
Rope Drops
42
Contents
Calendar of Events............................................................. 8
Disney News & Updates................................................10
Creating 3D Before 3D:
How Walt Disney
Brought Worlds to Life
50
Disney Attractions
Around the World:
Part 2
54
MOUSE VIEWS...........................................................17
Guide to the Magic
by Tim Foster............................................................................18
Hidden Mickeys
by Steve Barrett......................................................................20
Disney Legends
by Jamie Hecker..................................................................... 22
Shutters & Lenses
by Tim Devine..........................................................................24
Disney Cuisine
by Allison Jones.......................................................................26
Disney Touring Tips
by Siera Duiser.........................................................................28
Disney Secrets
by Jamie Hecker.....................................................................30
Disneyland Magic
by J Darling............................................................................... 32
FEATURED ATTRACTION
Honey I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set....................34
O’ Canada!
The Disney Heroes
Hall of Fame
58
64
FEATURED FILM
Into the Woods....................................................................38
Wandering the World.................................................... 72
By the Numbers...................................................................... 73
In Search Of............................................................................ 74
Quick Quiz...............................................................................76
Kids Korner............................................................................78
Mystery Quest......................................................................... 82
Tim & Lou’s Top 10............................................................ 84
Celebrating a New Year of Magic..
Your Way
Ah, the start of a new year, and the promise of great things to come. Every year brings a new opportunity
to celebrate something special, whether it’s a holiday, a birthday, an anniversary…
or even your first trip to Walt Disney World.
Regardless of what you’re celebrating, Walt Disney World makes for a wonderful setting.
And no one celebrates like Disney! No matter if it’s the blooming of a new Spring, a festival of culinary treats
from around the world, the mischief and ghoulish delights of Halloween, or the splendor and warmth of
the Christmas season, Walt Disney World puts on a party like no one else can. The Disney Festivals are a
great time to visit, when the magic of the parks and resorts is enhanced by those extra special touches
that Disney adds during those special times.
But of course, every day is special at Walt Disney World. No matter what the occasion, you can make
memories that will last a lifetime as you celebrate your own special event at the most magical place on
Earth. What better place to propose to that special someone, or take someone for their Sweet Sixteen.
Or how about a once-in-a-lifetime family reunion, or, perhaps most magically of all, taking your little
one for their very first visit to the Magic Kingdom.
Every day is a cause for celebration, and when you combine that with that special Disney Magic, you can
share an event with your family and friends that will create enough magical memories to last a lifetime.
And dare I say, a little sprinkling of pixie dust on your special moment!
So…what will you be celebrating this year?
Enjoy the magic!
Tim Foster
2 · Celebrations
Editor
Tim Foster
Associate Editors
Michelle Foster • Catherine Lusby • Lou Mongello
Contributing Writers
Steve Barrett
J Darling
Tim Devine
Jamie Hecker
Allison Jones
Sara Duiser
Creative Direction and Design
Tim Foster
Art Director
Michelle Foster
Customer Service Senior Manager
Lisa Mahan
Social Media/Marketing Directors
Jennifer Bright Reich • Jessica Clawson
Contributing Photographers
Tim Foster, Tim Devine, Nick Comande, Lauren Javier, Jamie Hecker
Basic subscription rate is $29.99 for six issues ($35.99 for Canada residents, $54.99 for other international residents).
To subscribe online visit www.celebrationspress.com. Single issue price is $5.99. All orders must be prepaid and are
payable in U.S. funds only. Celebrations (USPS 025-286) is published bimonthly in the U.S. by Celebrations Press, Inc, 308
Sundance Drive, Chester Springs, PA. 19425. Periodicals Postage Rate Paid at Chester Springs, PA and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Celebrations, ATTN: Subscriptions, 308 Sundance Drive, Chester
Springs, PA 19425. SUBSCRIBERS: If the postal service alerts us that your magazine is undeliverable, we have no further
obligation unless we receive a corrected address within one year.
Advertising inquiries (including information on advertising rates and opportunities) can be sent to:
[email protected].
We are always accepting story proposals and contributions. You can direct such inquiries to:
[email protected]. Unsolicited materials must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope.
By sending in unsolicited materials such as photos, you agree that Celebrations Press is not responsible for their
safety or return.
©2014 Celebrations Press, Inc. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of the publisher. Statements and opinions herein are those of the authors and advertisers and do not
necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.
Celebrations is owned and operated by Celebrations Press, Inc. and is not affiliated with, authorized or endorsed by, or in
any way officially connected with the Walt Disney Company, Disney Enterprises, Inc., or any of their affiliates.
Walt Disney World Resort® is a registered trademark of The Walt Disney Company. The Twilight Zone® is a registered
trademark of CBS, Inc. This publication makes reference to various Disney copyrighted characters, trademarks, marks,
and registered marks owned by The Walt Disney Company, Disney Enterprises, Inc., and other trademark owners. The
use in this book of trademarked names and images is strictly for editorial purposes, no commercial claim to their use,
or suggestion of sponsorship or endorsement, is made by the authors or publishers. Those words or terms that the
authors have reason to believe are trademarks are designated as such by the use of initial capitalization, where appropriate. However, no attempt has been made to identify or designate all words or terms to which trademark or other
proprietary rights may exist. Nothing contained herein is intended to express a judgement on, or affect the validity of
legal status of, any word or term as a trademark, service mark, or other proprietary mark. While every care has been
taken to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication, the passage of time will always bring changes in
operating schedules, attraction openings and closings, and policies. The authors and publisher shall not be held liable for
any information (valid or invalid) presented here and do not represent The Walt Disney Company.
3 · Celebrations
Letters
Fore! (Disney Style...)
My Dad is a huge Disney fan and has inspired instilled
that love of Disney in myself and my sister. I found this
Hidden Mickey in my backyard, the ball is a golf training
aid but was bitten by a squirrel and the result is a classic
Mickey!
The Pasquarello Family
Conshohocken, PA
Disney Tsum Tsum: The Stackabilities
By Rachel Comande
Who would have ever thought that the material used
for screen cleaners could be used to make a cute collectable toy? Apparently someone did, and that someone
of course was Disney. Originally introduced in Japan,
Disney Tsum Tsums are cute plush toys that represent
beloved Disney characters. In 9 months, more than 1.6
million Tsums were sold in Japan. Tsum Tsums are available in 3 different sizes; small, medium, and large. “Tsum
Tsum” translates to “Stack Stack,” and for good reason
too. These plush characters are stackable. But what
made Disney Tsum Tsum so popular? It wasn’t the characters, and it wasn’t their “plushiness,” it was actually a
Disney Tsum Tsum app!
In 9 months, the Disney Tsum Tsum app was downloaded more than 14 million times, achieving the top
4 · Celebrations
spot in both the Japanese Android Store and the Japanese Apple App Store. In the Disney Tsum Tsum app, players match three or more Tsums in a line in order to score
points and coins. The further someone progresses in the
game, the more Tsums they can unlock. Many Tsums in
the game were converted into plush form which furthered the popularity of Tsum Tsums and led to their
release in the United States.
On July 1, 2014, Disney Tsum Tsum was released in
America. Both the app and plush were a big success.
Over 30 different characters were released including
the Disney Originals, (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy),
Pixar Favorites, and Winnie the Pooh and friends. Tsums
can be found on the Disney Store website and in Disney
Stores across the United States. When they were first
introduced, because of their overwhelming popularity, a limit of four of one character was placed on Tsum
Tsums. Since then, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Alice and Wonderland, and seasonal characters have also
been added to the Tsum lineup. What will be next? And
more importantly, who is your favorite?
Got a question, photo or story you’d like to share? email them to: [email protected]
5 · Celebrations
6 · Celebrations
Contributors
Nick Comande is a retired
Firefighter/Paramedic from
the city of Racine, Wisconsin.
Previous work included his
book Climbing for Causes.
He has more than a soft
spot for Walt Disney World
and has visited it many time
since 1972. Nick has helped
countless numbers of others
in planning trips to the
land of the large Mouse and
has been writing WDW tip
sheets for friends since 1995,
earning himself the unofficial title of Disnoid.
Rachel Comande lives in
Racine, WI. She loves Walt
Disney World, and the first
of her yearly visits started
when she was only nine
months old.
Rachel really enjoys the
parades, shows, and
attractions, and she hopes
to someday be an Imagineer.
Cari Keebaugh is a professor
of English specializing in
children’s and young adult
literature and culture. Her
primary passion is for all
things Disney, and when
she’s not at WDW, she can
frequently be found either at
home watching Disney films
with her awesome husband
or at work surreptitiously
eating large Mickey Mouse
lollipops under her desk.
Lindsay Mott participated
in the College Program and
then worked seasonally
for more than five years
at Walt Disney World. Her
time was centered around
Magical Moments and
seeing fireworks as many
times as possible (especially
Wishes). She is back home
in Alabama working in
marketing and freelance
writing, but her heart will
forever be split in two,
with half remaining in the
Happiest Place on Earth
Lori Elias credits her passion for Disney to longtime friend Tara Miller,
a Cast Member with the
Disney Cruiseline. Lori is
a Cleveland-area middle
school music teacher by day,
freelance writer by night,
and Disney fan 24/7. She has
written for a number of
music publications, and is
thrilled to be able to share
her love of all things Disney.
Ray Harkness thanks Disney
for saving his marriage.
After being shown the joys
of a vacation by his lovely
wife Nancy, he now cannot
imagine being away from
work if it doesn’t involve a
Disney resort. When not
touring the parks, Ray
writes for his blog Grumpy’s
Hollow under the name
Grumpwurst (grumpyspace.
blogspot.com).
7 · Celebrations
Calendar of Events
Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
Epcot
March 4 - May 17, 2015
Discover dazzling gardens, high-energy entertainment,
family fun and more at this spectacular springtime event.
Sprouting once again in 2015, the Epcot International
Flower & Garden Festival will be brimming with special
experiences for every age and interest. Festival highlights
may include:
• Educational designer presentations
• T hemed flower and garden displays where you’ll learn
new tips and techniques you can try at home
• Interactive play areas for kids
• Topiary displays of Disney characters
• An energetic concert series featuring live performances
of popular hits
Expedition Everest Challenge
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
May 1 -2, 2015
Embark on an evening of excitement, from a scavenger
hunt and 5k obstacle challenge to a lively post-race party.
The Expedition Everest Challenge beckons Guests of all
ages to set out on a course sure to test the body, mind and
spirit. And when the contest comes to a close, competitors can even be rewarded for their efforts with a special
celebration.
Expedition Everest Challenge Highlights
• 5K trek with obstacles
•Clues to solve before you reach the summit
• Course through Disney’s Animal Kingdom® at Night
• Disney Entertainment on-course and at the post-race
celebration
Disney Princess Half Marathon
Magic Kingdom/Epcot
February 22, 2015
Here’s the run that’s fit for a Princess – a 13.1 mile course
through the most magical place on earth including the
Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Princesses of every age are
invited to join the fun during the Disney Princess Half
Marathon weekend. Invite a girlfriend and make it a royal
team effort with each Princess running to earn her very
own Disney Princess Half Marathon Finisher Medal.
runDisney Kids Races
May 3, 2014
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Here’s a chance for even the youngest adventurers to participate in fun-filled races designed for kids 4-10 years old.
Activities include running, climbing, and searching – just
like mom and dad! And every child who participates in the
runDisney Kids Races goes home a winner with their very
own finisher medallion! Encourage your young adventurers to join the fun. Reserve early - space is limited.
Mighty St. Patrick’s Festival
March 2015
Downtown Disney
Kick up your heels for familyfriendly festivities filled with singing, dancing and more! Whether
you’re looking for high-energy sets
showcasing authentic live music or
a step-by-step workshop teaching
you how to dance like the Irish,
you’ll find it all during the Mighty
St. Patrick’s Festival at the Downtown Disney area and Raglan Road™
Irish Pub and Restaurant.
Photo ©Disney
8 · Celebrations
9 · Celebrations
Disney News
Schussler Creative
Announces The
BOATHOUSE: Great Food,
Waterfront Dining, Dream
Boats at Disney Springs
S
chussler Creative, specialists in the creation and consultation of attractions, restaurants, retail stores and
entertainment venues worldwide, today announced their
latest project: The BOATHOUSE: Great Food, Waterfront Dining, Dream Boats – located at Disney Springs at Walt Disney
World® Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Schussler Creative
also is the creator of other restaurant/retail attractions at
Walt Disney World Resort including Rainforest Cafe and TREX™ Cafe (located at Downtown Disney®), and Rainforest
Cafe and Yak & Yeti™ (located at Disney’s Animal Kingdom®
theme park).
Opening Spring 2015 as one of the new venues in The
Landing at Disney Springs – a re-imagined and exciting district of entertainment, dining and shopping — The BOATHOUSE will be an upscale, waterfront dining experience
featuring spectacular floating artwork: dream boats from
the 30’s, 40’s & 50’s.
The incredible culinary experience of The BOATHOUSE
will be showcased in an expansive restaurant with three
distinctive bars including The Captain’s Raw Bar, The Admiral’s Club Bar and The Dock Bar, which is built over the
water. Other spectacular nautically-themed rooms include
The Runabout, Twin Transoms, and The Lake House. There
will also be two private dining rooms for special events,
conventions and presentations: The Regatta and The Trophy Room. The BOATHOUSE restaurant will be managed by
internationally renowned and award-winning Gibsons Restaurant Group, celebrated for exceptional food and extraor10 · Celebrations
dinary service (recently named Best Steak House in Chicago). Guests will enjoy a gourmet menu served daily until 2
a.m. featuring steaks, chops, fresh seafood and a raw bar.
The BOATHOUSE restaurant will immerse guests both on
land and on water with live music and romantic Captain’s
guided tours aboard The Venezia, a beautifully crafted
40-foot wooden Italian Water Taxi featuring champagne
toasts and chocolate-covered strawberries. There also will
be the exhilaration of guided Amphicar rides that launch
from land, entering the water with a splash, taking guests
on a 20-minute tour of the landmarks of Disney Springs.
The Harbor Master will orchestrate daily flag ceremonies,
accompanied by a lively musical performance of beloved bugle songs, performed aboard a classic 1800’s antique steam
boat. Authentic nautical items, custom engraved paddles,
distinctive lake-themed merchandise, and other unique
items “Made on Earth™” will be available at The Ship’s Store,
adjacent to The BOATHOUSE restaurant.
“Combining dining with interactive entertainment, The
BOATHOUSE helps bring to life our vision of Disney Springs
as a welcoming place for guests of all ages to enjoy with
their friends and family amid the charm of a waterfront
town center,” said George A. Kalogridis, president, Walt Disney World Resort.
“We are very excited that The BOATHOUSE is joining the
Walt Disney World family at Disney Springs,” said creator
Steven Schussler. “We are proud to bring the culinary expertise and impeccable service of Gibsons Restaurant Group
to The BOATHOUSE. The outstanding cuisine, the excitement of Amphicars, the Italian Water Taxi, and live music
will make The BOATHOUSE a must-see destination for Walt
Disney World guests from all around the world. Walt Disney
Imagineering has created a wonderful, interactive, culinary
and entertainment experience at Disney Springs. We are
proud to be part of this magical experience.”
Disney Springs
Representing the largest expansion in Downtown Dis-
Artwork ©Disney
ney history, Disney Springs will be a one-of-a-kind Disney
experience, treating guests by day and night to great dining, shopping and entertainment amid beautiful open-air
promenades, flowing springs and waterfront charm. With
an air of sophisticated grace and design that harkens to
Florida’s waterfront towns at the turn-of-the-century, Disney Springs will be home to four distinct, outdoor neighborhoods opening in phases: The Landing, Town Center, Marketplace and West Side. The Landing, as the first of the four
neighborhoods and home to unique and memorable dining
experiences including The BOATHOUSE, is scheduled to open
in spring 2015.When fully completed in 2016, Disney Springs
will double the number of shopping, dining and entertainment venues – from the current 70 to approximately 150.
Disney Springs is part of Walt Disney World Resort, the
number one family vacation destination in the world, located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. For dining reservations
and more information about The BOATHOUSE, guests will
be able to visit Disneyworld.com in the future.
11 · Celebrations
Disney News
New Morimoto Asia
Restaurant to Open at
Disney Springs
C
hef Masaharu Morimoto is teaming up with Patina Restaurant Group to open Morimoto Asia as Walt Disney
World Resort brings to life Disney Springs, an entertainment-dining-retail district re-imagined from Downtown
Disney. To open in summer 2015 at The Landing, in the heart
of Disney Springs, Morimoto Asia is the Japanese master
chef’s first pan-Asian dining experience.
Morimoto Asia’s extraordinary, 36-foot tall, two-story layout includes a vast range of areas to explore including open
terraces, grand hall, private rooms, long bar, cocktail lounge,
waterside seating and more. The restaurant is being designed by STUDIO V Architecture.
“We are delighted to work with Morimoto to create this
12 · Celebrations
one of a kind restaurant, which will be a spectacular dining destination at the new Disney Springs,” said Nick Valenti,
restaurateur and CEO of Patina Restaurant Group.
“I’m very excited to bring this new concept to Disney,
something I’ve always dreamed of,” said Chef Morimoto.
“It’s a wonderful chance to share some of my favorite foods
from across the Asian continent.”
Morimoto Asia’s culinary elements will provide flavors
from across Asia, while exhibition kitchens will showcase
the continent’s traditions. Included among them are streetfood stalls, Peking duck carving and dim sum. Morimoto’s
inspiration and perspective will create an unmatched dining experience in this richly layered setting.
“We’re thrilled to bring Chef Morimoto’s renowned culinary style to Disney Springs as we expand the range of dining experiences for our resort guests as well as local Florida
residents,” said George A. Kalogridis, president, Walt Disney
World Resort.
For dining reservations and more information about
Morimoto Asia, guests will be able to visit Disneyworld.com
in the future.
Fresh Flavors, Gardens,
Music and Fun on Tap
March 4-May 17, 2015 at
22nd Epcot International
Flower & Garden Festival
S
pring 2015 will bloom with a fresh take on lush gardens,
inspired flavors and lively entertainment during the
75-day Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival March
4-May 17 at Walt Disney World Resort. New Disney character
topiaries, including a nod to the blockbuster animated film,
Frozen, will offer colorful selfie and family photo ops. Outdoor Kitchens will serve a fresh take on sweet and savory
noshes. And guests can get “hands-on” with festival fun during Disney-led gardening seminars.
• Frozen will melt hearts in the park’s World Showcase: Disney’s first Anna and Elsa topiaries will appear in a scene
from the Oscar-winning film’s finale. Other brand-new Disney character topiaries will be Chip and Dale taking a star
turn in two whimsical front-entrance “Goofy About Spring”
Photos ©Disney
floral vignettes. Topiary Goofy and friends will be in on the
fun.
• Fresh new menu items will debut at the festival’s Outdoor
Kitchens where, for the third festival year running, guests
can taste garden- and spring-inspired tapas-sized food and
beverages and have their complimentary Garden Passports stamped as they stroll the World Showcase promenade.
• A Southwest desert garden will premiere as a thriving ecosystem.
• Ten new mini-gardens will surprise guests around every
corner. Guests will discover a new “health garden,” a pepper garden, a dinosaur-plant garden and a Shakespeare
garden, among others, each designed with a storytelling
element.
• Guests can discover the story of the Monarch butterfly’s
epic journey across the continent and see butterflies
emerge from their chrysalises at Tinker Bell’s Butterfly
House.
• A weekend concert series will rock audiences every Friday,
Saturday and Sunday. Performers will include Gin Blossoms, Pablo Cruise, Village People and a lineup of top bands
representing four decades of pop music.
• Disney gardeners will lead weekend how-to Gardening
Seminars at the Festival Center, where guests also can pick
up signature festival merchandise.
13 · Celebrations
The Buttercup Cottage Outdoor Kitchen Offerings at 21st Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
• W hen the sun sets, illuminated topiary and play gardens
will glow brightly for an after-dark festival experience.
“This is one of our most ambitious festivals ever,” says Eric
Darden, festival horticulture manager. “We’re telling stories
we’ve never told before. You’ll get a fresh taste of spring —
it’ll be like the first spring farmer’s market for America.”
As park guests nibble on inspired Outdoor Kitchen goodies, they can wander among multiple themed gardens and
children’s play areas. Nearly 100 expertly crafted topiary
characters, including Snow White, Bambi, Mickey Mouse,
Simba and Peter Pan, will animate the landscape when Epcot transforms to a vibrant wonderland of sweeping garden beds and exhibits.
The Frozen topiary vignette at World Showcase Plaza will
pop with color as Anna’s and Elsa’s icy world, illustrated with
white and silver blooms of delphinium, alyssum and other
floral varieties, transforms to a brilliant spring palette featuring Gerbera daisies, petunias, Sweet William and other
flora.
A Health Garden near The Land pavilion in Future World
will display ancient medicinal plants including garlic, aloe,
chamomile, fennel, mint and others. Plants used to develop
modern prescriptions will be papaya, periwinkle, turmeric,
14 · Celebrations
yew, thyme and valerian. And the new Shakespeare Garden
at the United Kingdom pavilion will feature roses to represent Romeo and Juliet: “What’s in a name? That which we
call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Also in
the garden: rosemary from Hamlet, lavender from The Winter’s Tale, plus representations featuring poppy, lily, honeysuckle and willow.
Tinker Bell’s Butterfly House will return with hundreds
of winged beauties fluttering above and lighting upon their
favorite nectar-producing plants. Dozens of Disney-crafted
“flower towers” and beds of multi-colored blooms will add
to the floral splendor of the park’s landscape. At least 70,000
bedding plants will surround the Future World east and west
lakes alone; on the water, 220 mini-gardens will be set afloat.
Several special weekend happenings will include Art in
the Garden Weekend (March 27-29); Florida Fresh Weekend
(April 24-26); and Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc.
Weekend (May 8-10).
For more information about the 22nd Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, call 407/W-DISNEY (934-7639). As
the festival nears, more details will be available at epcotinspring.com. The festival, including all gardening programs
and exhibits, is included in regular Epcot admission.
Photos ©Disney
15 · Celebrations
W
elcome to MouseViews, a special section of
Celebrations Magazine where you’ll get an insider’s
peek at the Walt Disney World Resort. In every issue we’ll
bring you a treasure trove of tips, secrets, magical moments,
special insights, little known facts and a whole lot more!
Whether it’s a different look at a familiar attraction, a
hidden secret waiting to be discovered, or a helpful piece of
advice for your upcoming trip, you’re sure to find lots of
fun-filled information inside.
So put on your Mickey ears, set your imagination free, and
get ready to discover all of those things that make Walt
Disney World the most magical place on Earth.
Ready? Then here we go...!
17 · Celebrations
Disney Firsts
T
he history of Disney (whether we’re talking films, parks, or technological innovations), is resplendent with notable “firsts.” Many are well known, such as Snow
White and the Seven Dwarf’s status as the first feature-length animated film, and the
first use of a synchronized sound track in animation with the release of Steamboat
Willie. But there are many other “firsts” to be discovered, some of which are rather obscure. Join us as we take a quick peek at five random (but definitely notable)
“firsts” in Disney history.
by Tim Foster
Tim Foster is the creator of
Celebrations magazine and
the author of the Guide to
the Magic book series, which
includes the Guide to the Magic
for Kids and the Deluxe Guide to
the Magic Autograph & Sticker
Book. Tim is also the creator of
the www.celebrationspress.com
website.
Mickey Mouse’s First Words
As mentioned earlier, the first use of a synchronized soundtrack was for the 1928
animated short, Steamboat Willie. The film is also notable for being the public debut
of Mickey and Minnie Mouse (although both had appeared a few months earlier in
a test screening for the short Plane Crazy). However, even though the film featured
numerous sound effects and a humorous rendition of “Turkey in the Straw,” as well
as the sounds of Mickey laughing and whistling, Mickey didn’t actually speak. He
also didn’t speak in the follow up shorts The Gallopin’ Gaucho, The Barn Dance, or Plane
Crazy (re-released after the success of the first films). In fact, Mickey wouldn’t talk in
any of his first eight films. It wasn’t until the release of 1929’s The Karnival Kid that audiences first heard Mickey Mouse speak (voiced by Carl Stalling, though Walt Disney
himself would eventually provide the voice of the world’s most famous mouse). And
what were those immortal words? “Hot dogs, hot dogs!”
The First Walt Disney Company Stock Certificate
April 2, 1940 was an auspicious day in Disney history, as that was the day the first
stock certificate was issued for Walt Disney Productions. 17 years later, the company
went public in an IPO, with shares priced at $13.88. Today, (as of this writing), the
price of a share was $89.21
(which in of itself is nearly
triple what it was a mere
five years ago). Incidentally, when Disney purchased
Pixar on May 5, 2006 (in an
all-stock deal worth $7.4
billion), it automatically
made Steve Jobs (then CEO
of Pixar) the largest individual Disney shareholder,
with 7% ownership of
shares. Not too bad!
The First Use of Computer Animation in a Disney Film
This one is a little tricky, as it depends on how you define “computer animation.”
The first fully computer animated feature length film was Pixar’s Toy Story (1995),
though since the film was produced by Pixar and distributed by Disney, it technical-
18 · Celebrations
ly wouldn’t be considered Disney’s first computer animated
film. For that distinction we’d need to fast forward to 2005’s
Chicken Little, which gets the nod as the first fully computer
animated film produced by Walt Disney Pictures. But computer graphics had been utilized in Disney films before the
release of either of those movies.
The Rescuers Down Under (1990) was the first Disney film
to utilize a new animation process called the Computer
Animation Production System, or CAPS (which was actually developed by Pixar). The software replaced traditional
hand-painted cels, and also allowed animators to simulate
three-dimensional multiplane effects, used to great effect
in Beauty and the Beast (the second film to use CAPS), particularly in the ballroom scene.
But even CAPS wasn’t the first use of computer generated
imagery in a Disney animated film. That honor goes to 1985’s
The Black Cauldron, which goes down in history as being Disney’s first animated feature film to utilize computer generated imagery, which was used to animate various elements
such as bubbles, a boat, a floating orb of light, and the cauldron itself. (Technically speaking, computer graphics were
first put to use for 1986’s The Great Mouse Detective, which was
in production at the same time as The Black Cauldron. However, since The Black Cauldron was released first, it gets the
gold medal.)
The First Guests to Visit Disneyland
It’s a great thrill to be the first Guest to enter a Disney
park. The streets are empty, and in the case of the Magic
Kingdom, you get to behold the sight of Cinderella Castle
towering at the end of Main Street U.S.A. with nary a soul
in sight. (For more on this one-of-a-kind experience, check
out our feature article on page 42!). But imagine being the
first person to have EVER entered the Magic Kingdom. For
that matter, imagine being the first Guest to enter ANY
Disney park. That distinct honor goes to Dave MacPherson,
a 22-year-old college student from Long Beach, who had
waited all night to purchase that coveted first ticket. (Dave’s
ticket was actually “ticket number 2,” “ticket number 1” having been pre-purchased by Roy O. Disney for posterity). The
first children to enter the park were cousins Christine Vess
Watkins and Michael Schwartner, who were five and seven
years old at the time. Walt Disney posed for a once-in-alifetime photo with the pair, who (along with MacPherson)
received lifetime passes. Christine and Michael were invited
back to Disneyland in 1975 to help celebrate the park’s 20th
anniversary.
Photos © Disney
The First Disney Park Audio-Animatronic Figures
Audio-Animatronic figures have become synonymous
with Disney, and for good reason. The origins of Animatronic technology go all the way back to a small bird developed
by Imagineer Lee Adams, whose expertise was electronics.
The first Animatronic figure was inspired by a mechanical
bird that Walt Disney had gotten in New Orleans (the inspirational bird is now on display at the “D23 Presents Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives” exhibit at the Museum of
Science and Industry in Chicago, Illinois). Soon after, the infamous “dancing man” (which used Buddy Ebsen as a real life
model) was created by Roger Broggie and Wathel Rogers.
But the first Disney attraction to make use of this new technology was The Enchanted Tiki Room in Disneyland, which
opened in 1963. The multitude of birds that performed during this whimsical tropical show were synchronized to a
musical score via an ingenious method of using audio tape
with prerecorded tones to vibrate a metal reed that closed
a circuit to trigger a relay. The relay would send a pulse of
electricity to a mechanism that caused a pneumatic valve
to activate a specific part of the bird, whether it be an eye,
a beak, or wing. More Animatronic figures were unveiled at
the 1964/65 New York World’s Fair (and eventually relocated
to Disneyland), including the Carousel of Progress and Great
Moments With Mr. Lincoln. But the first Audio-Animatronic
figures were the tiki birds, which continue to delight audiences to this day, and whose origins go back to a small souvenir that Walt Disney picked up on a whim. Humble beginnings indeed!
19 · Celebrations
Hidden Mickeys in Conservation
Station at Rafiki’s Planet Watch in
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
C
onservation Station at Rafiki’s Planet Watch is an area rich with Hidden Mickeys. In fact, it’s one of the most Hidden Mickey-dense places on Disney property;
you can find more than 40 Hidden Mickeys here! It’s an ideal environment for the
novice Hidden Mickey hunter to experience compelling Hidden Images in an efficient, inside (i.e. out of the heat) scavenger hunt. I highlight a few more of the Conservation Station images below.
by Steve Barrett
1. Locate an opossum on the right side of the mural just inside the entrance to Conservation Station. There is a side profile of Mickey Mouse in its eye.
2. Toward the middle of the mural at the front, near the entrance, a green snake
sports a black classic (three-circle) Mickey on its upper back.
3. Along the lower part of the entrance mural on the left wall, to the left of a hippopotamus, a llama has a dark brown classic Mickey on its neck.
4. On the left lower wall, at the hippo’s right side, an alligator sports a small dark
classic Mickey to the left if its green eye.
5. To the right of the alligator on this wall, Mickey Mouse’s smiling face is under a
frog’s right eye (the left eye as you face the frog).
Steve Barrett is the author of the
Hidden Mickeys Guide Book Series
(Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and
the Disney Cruise Ships) available in
the Disney Parks and in book stores,
Amazon, and on Kindle and other
downloadable formats.
The WDW and Disneyland Hidden
Mickeys Guide books are also offered
as iPhone and Android apps. Steve
and his wife Vickie (hiddenmickeygal)
are the webmasters of
HiddenMickeyGuy.com, and are on
Twitter @hiddenmickeyguy and
Facebook as Hidden Mickey Guy
Disney’s Hidden Mickeys Hunter.
6. Directly above the frog with the smiling Mickey is a walrus with a dark classic
Mickey on the left side (your right) of its neck.
7. Just inside the first entrance to the “Song of the Rainforest” area, turn to the right
panel to see a classic Mickey indentation on a tree. It’s about four feet up from the
floor.
8. Inside the “Song of the Rainforest” area, a white classic Mickey is outlined on a tree
by door number six, to the left of the words “The Accidental Florist.”
9. Walk out to the lobby and look at the right side of the tree with the “Song of the
Rainforest” sign (the Grandmother Willow tree). A side-profile Mickey indentation appears on the tree under the sign and to the lower right (as you face her) of
Grandmother Willow’s face.
10.At the right side of the Rainforest area, on the left front of the tree with the cockroach display, a light brown butterfly about six and a half feet up from the floor
has a tiny black classic Mickey on its back between the wings.
Photos ©Steve Barrett
20 · Celebrations
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
21 · Celebrations
Bob Gurr
O
by Jamie Hecker
Jamie Hecker has been a lifelong
fan of Disney, and is passing on his
love to his sons. He and his family
visit Orlando annually and always
look forward to their next trip.
When not in Orlando, he resides
in northern Virginia with his
beautiful wife Suzanne, two boys
and four cats.
You can read more about his
“hidden Disney” musings at
myhiddendisney.blogspot.com/
22 · Celebrations
ne of the many reasons that Disneyland became an instant success is the kinetic elements it showcases. The perimeter features an authentic railroad
with steam trains circling the park. Guests can travel along Main Street, U.S.A. in
turn-of-the-century cars and trolleys and they can travel along water, such as the
Jungle Cruise. Dark venues, including the Haunted Mansion, feature continuously
moving ride vehicles. Thrill rides, such as the Matterhorn Bobsleds, especially convey the Disney brand of exhilarating speed.
If a Disneyland attraction had any element of movement, chances are good that
Imagineer Bob Gurr was involved with it. “If it moves on wheels at Disneyland, I
probably designed it,” Gurr recalled. Gurr’s impressive list of accomplishments with
Imagineering includes, but is not limited to, the original Autopia cars, the Omnimover ride concept, the Disneyland Monorail system and its counterpart at Walt
Disney World, the Main Street, U.S.A. vehicles, and all four Disney-built attractions
for the 1964 New York World’s Fair.
Bob Gurr, born and raised in California, has always been mechanically inclined,
fascinated with the design and function of automobiles and airplanes. He studied
industrial design at the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, and following
graduation in 1952, went to work for the Ford Motor Company. His time in Detroit
was short-lived and he returned to Los Angeles to strike out on his own, establishing R. H. Gurr Industrial Design. Through a serendipitous relationship with the son
of Disney Imagineer Ub Iwerks, Gurr learned that WED, as Imagineering was then
known, was developing cars that didn’t yet have a designed or built body. Gurr was
hired as a consultant to tackle the cars, which would eventually become the Autopia attraction. Walt was so impressed with Gurr’s mechanical and design acumen
that he hired him full time to work for WED, beginning a Disney career that would
last for three decades.
Like many fellow Imagineers, Walt had his full faith and confidence in Gurr’s ability to resolve problems. Gurr’s original fleet of forty Autopia vehicles, patterned
after Ferraris, proved to be mechanically deficient when they were showcased on
Disneyland’s opening day. Gurr recalled, “about half the cars were out of commission
(after the first day), and within a week, I think two of the forty cars were the only
ones left running.” Walt, understandably, wanted the problem fixed and immediately provided Gurr with the necessary
resources to service and maintain the
fleet. It was a prime example of learning
by doing, something that the early Imagineers excelled at. “What we were asked
to do generally didn’t exist. You just grab
your pencil and you start,” said Gurr of
the early years.
In 1959, Disneyland unveiled its first
major update to the park, featuring the
Matterhorn Bobsleds, the Submarine
Voyage, and the Disneyland Alweg Mono- Strother MacMinn and Bob Gurr test drive
rail System. Gurr’s design and mechani- an Autopia vehicle
cal expertise was involved in all three, notably the bobsled
ride vehicle and the design of the monorail, now an iconic
element of Disney theme parks.
Walt always wanted a monorail in Disneyland, and it was
during a trip to Cologne, Germany in 1958 that he found
his inspiration. He sent Admiral Joe Fowler, Disneyland’s
General Manager, over to inspect the monorail and strike
a business deal with Alweg, the operator of the train. Gurr
was tasked with designing Disney’s version. Recalled Gurr,
“I immediately had to learn everything about (the German
monorail) which I’d never seen in my life. Didn’t know anything about it, and in a matter of two or three weeks, come
up with a preliminary design, how we would do it, what the
structure would be like, and particularly what it’s going to
look like.” Gurr also knew that he had to work the aesthetics
to match Disneyland’s Tomorrowland. His particular challenge was to mask the inelegant underpinnings of vehicle
where it met the track. “The German train is like a blocky
looking loaf of bread with a slot on the bottom sitting on a
stick. Pretty ugly. I wanted to hide that it was a box on a stick
and the old Buck Rogers thing with a pointed rocket with
the little sled runners, 1938 Buck Rogers, that would do it.”
With that simple strike of futuristic inspiration, the Disney
monorail adapted its classic look.
Just as impressive as the design was the speed with which
the Monorail was put into production. With coordination
from Alweg’s engineers on the beams and other mechanical elements, the attraction debuted at the 1959 Disneyland
expansion. Gurr proudly recalled that it “took eight months
from the get go to giving Vice President Nixon (the inaugural) ride. That’s how fast this company moves.”
Gurr’s credits go beyond the monorail in terms of mass
transit. Imagineering has perfected the technology to continuously move Guests through attractions and control
their experience. Known as the Omnimover, it made its
debut at Disneyland in 1967 in Adventure Thru Inner Space.
Gurr’s mechanical and design expertise helped to create
the ride system, assisting lead engineer Roger Broggie and
designer Bert Brundage. The Omnimover has its origins in
the original Disneyland PeopleMover and before that the
Ford Magic Skyway from the 1964 World’s Fair. Walt always
desired a high capacity ride system, and the Omnimover,
which debuted after his death, fit the bill. It ideally directs
Guests to pre-determined lines of sight to control the experience. Think of how the Doom Buggies in the Haunted
Mansion pivot and turn to maximize the show scenes.
This concept came to fruition when Gurr and fellow
Imagineer John Hench were discussing attraction ideas.
Said Gurr, “We’re just kind of kicking around different ways
of how can you arrange shows, how can you arrange the
segue from one scene to another, because John was always
talking about [how] rides are like movies and you have to
have logical segues and you have to control the point of
view.” Gurr continued, “you know we can do a car and we
can put…on a chassis and the chassis can go up and down
and it could turn and then we could have this car body turn
relative to the chassis so you could look in all directions and
then when the car would go up and down you could keep
it level or you could tip it, whichever you wanted to do, and
it would look in all directions.” This technical breakthrough
allowed Imagineering to configure the Haunted Mansion as
an Omnimover ride rather than a walk-through attraction
as original envisioned.
Not only were Gurr’s design and concepts critical to the
launch and success of the Omnimover, he also gets credit
for coining its unique name. As a licensed pilot, he recalled
the omnirange (an aviation navigation tool) and the word
‘omni,’ meaning all, and the goal of moving Guests through
attractions, and casually coined the phrase Omnimover. “It
was just a name in a conversation and the name stuck. You
have to watch out what you say around here. It was nothing
more than as simple as that.”
Gurr went on to help develop transportation systems
for Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom before retiring
from the company in 1981. Gurr later made technical contributions to Imagineering for the Tokyo DisneySea show
BraviSEAmo.
In addition to being named a Disney Legend in 2004, Gurr
was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award from
the Themed Entertainment Association in 1999. Bob Gurr
is still alive and attends Disney fan community events to
share his fantastic Disney stories.
23 · Celebrations
Take Better Photos By Studying Your
Bad Photos
O
by Tim Devine
Tim Devine is an avid photographer
and the owner and webmaster of
www.themagicinpixels.com, a website
created for and dedicated to fellow
Disney Photography Enthusiasts. In
addition to a large gallery of photos
you can browse, you’ll also find tips,
articles and equipment reviews
to help you create magical photo
memories of your Walt Disney World
Resort vacation.
Tim lives in South Jersey with his wife,
Karen, and their sons, Billy and Ryan.
Do you have a photography topic that
you would like to see in this column?
Please email
[email protected]
ne of the beautiful things about digital photography is the fact that you get
an instant preview of what you had just captured. Unlike film, where you had
to wait until the end of your vacation to get it developed, you get an immediate
glimpse as to what you just photographed. This allows you to make corrections or
adjustments on the fly while still in the moment so you can refine your settings and
angle and take another photo.
Studying “bad” photos will help you to develop your eye and improve your ability
to look critically at your photos to find the imperfections in a seemingly good photo. There are many, many reasons why a photo can go bad: poor exposure, improper
focus, composition, lack of eye contact, awkward pose, external intrusions, closed
eyes, hands covering faces while waving, shutter speed too slow, and many more, all
of which can combine to wreck what could be a great photo.
For the purpose of this edition of Shutters and Lenses, I would like to use some
of the rejected photos from recent trips to Walt Disney World to illustrate why the
photos went bad and what I did to correct the problems:
Flash Blowout:
For this photo of my son Ryan with Rico and Frederick from Hollywood Public
Works, my flash was set to fire a full-charge, as I had been taking photos of a different show from a distance away and forgot to reset the flash power prior to taking the first photo. I noticed it on the preview and knocked it way down to get the
proper photo.
Improper Focus:
Be sure to check your photos to make sure that your camera focused on what you
wanted it to focus on. One tip that I frequently recommend is to set your camera’s
focus point to the center point and leave it there. This ensures that the camera will
always try to focus on the same stop every time, instead of having the focus points
jumping all around and grabbing whatever they can.
Lack of Eye Contact:
Merida from the Festival of Fantasy Parade is never shy when she sees a camera
24 · Celebrations
Photos ©Tim Devine
and on this particular showing of Festival of Fantasy she
was in rare-form. Once she noticed me, she struck a series
of six different poses in rapid succession which was great
fun to photograph. Notice in the “bad photo” that she hadn’t
quite been looking in my direction.
Amputating Limbs:
You must be very careful not to “amputate” limbs and extremities in your photos by over-zooming. The ONLY time a
cut-off looks good in a photo is when it is about half-way between joints, for example in the middle of a shin, middle of
the arm, etc. and even then you must be careful. For the photo of the Little Mermaid in Festival of Fantasy, I accidentally
cut off her left hand. I corrected the mistake by zooming-
out just a touch and taking another picture. Simple as that,
but resist the tendency to over-zoom; it is a very common
mistake that a lot of people, including myself, often make.
Shutter speed too slow:
Remember that you need to keep the shutter speed fast
enough to stop action so you don’t get motion blur or camera shake. Neither is desirable unless you are intentionally
doing so for fireworks, moving water, or things like that.
Hopefully these tips give you something to think about
when you take a photo and it just doesn’t look quite right.
There are lots of little things to notice when you start picking apart your photos in a critical manner, and noticing the
little things will help you improve your skills and get the
best possible photos you can. Until next time!
25 · Celebrations
The Glitz and Glamour of the Hollywood
Brown Derby
T
By Allison Jones
As an Orlando local, Allison has seen
the growth of the Walt Disney World
Resort. She experienced the inside as a
Disney Cast Member and has planned
Disney vacations for over 10 years.
Allison Jones is a travel consultant
with Destinations in Florida Travel
and MouseDine. Destinations in
Florida is an Authorized Disney
Vacation Planner selling Disney
vacations.
MouseDine is a restaurant
consulting company for Disney World
Dining Reservations. Visit
www.destinationsinflorida.com
or www.mousedine.com for more
information on Disney Dining.
26 · Celebrations
his popular Signature Table Service Restaurant is located in the heart of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and is a replica of the Brown Derby restaurant that
opened in the 1900s near the corner of Hollywood & Vine in California. This fun restaurant brings you back to the Golden Age of Hollywood, when the original Brown
Derby was a popular restaurant for actors like Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, James
Cagney, Sammy Davis, Jr. and more. With a license from the original Brown Derby,
Disney’s Hollywood Studios brings this classic Hollywood fun to Disney World.
From the outside of the restaurant, you will see the large tan building with the
famous Brown Derby sign in the shape of a hat. The long maroon canopy at the
entrance paves the way into the restaurant. Even the beautiful flowers and landscaping at the entrance bring California to mind. As you walk into the restaurant
entrance, you’ll immediately notice the celebrity caricatures. Recreating the wellknown tradition from the original Brown Derby, these celebrity caricatures – hundreds of them – are scattered throughout the lobby and restaurant.
Once inside, you will be greeted by a host or hostess in a white or black tuxedo
who escorts you to your table with all the glitz and glamour of the olden days, making you feel like a real star. The restaurant features dark wooden tables and chairs
with crisp white table cloths. In addition to the caricatures covering all of the walls,
you’ll also notice a few additional iron decorations. There are tables throughout the
inside of the restaurant, with booths surrounding the outer rim. The ornate ceiling
and chandeliers add to the elegant atmosphere of the Hollywood Brown Derby.
The food, inspired by the original Brown Derby, includes the world famous Cobb
Salad and Grapefruit Cake. You’ll also find an assortment of traditional appetizers
including Butternut Squash Bisque, Artisanal Cheese, Blue Lump Crab Spring Rolls,
Andouille-Crusted Prawn, Local Greens, and Our Famous Cobb Salad. For entrees, you
can enjoy Herb-Crusted Grilled Loin of Lamb, Our Famous Cobb Salad, Pan-Seared Porcini Powder-Dusted Pork Tenderloin, Scotch Maple-Glazed Loch Duart Salmon, Crispy
Spiced Duck Breast, Noodle Bowl, Pan-Seared Coriander-Crusted Black Grouper, Ashley
Farms Free-Range Breast of Chicken, and Charred-Glazed Filet of Beef.
Be sure to save room for dessert with a mini sampler. You can choose from Amaretto Flan, Caramel Custard, Double Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee, Warm Berry Cobbler, Mini Grapefruit Cake, Chocolate Sphere, Milk Chocolate Cremeux, Crunchy
Sugar Cookie Puff, or Banana Toffee Cake.
Showtime!
But there’s much more to enjoy than the elegant, delicious food at the Hollywood
Brown Derby. Disney features several entertainment packages, including the “Fantasmic! Dining Package” and “Dine with an Imagineer.” The “Fantasmic! Dining Package” is a free bonus. When you book this package with Disney Dining or your travel
agent (before leaving home), you can enjoy a wonderful meal and receive a voucher
for admission to a special viewing area to watch that evening’s presentation of Fantasmic! There is no additional cost, so it’s a great way to not only have a wonderful
meal, but to also enjoy one of the most dazzling nighttime
spectaculars in all of Walt Disney World. The” Dine with an
Imagineer” package is a popular way to learn more about
Disney Imagineers. This experience includes a 4-course
meal in the private Bamboo Room at the Hollywood Brown
Derby. You can make a reservation for lunch or dinner for
this experience, where your whole family will enjoy hearing real life stories from an actual Disney Imagineer. You
can even purchase a souvenir plate at the end, personalized
by your Disney Imagineer host, making it a wonderful experience for the whole family. The “Dine with an Imagineer”
package does incur an additional cost and a reservation is
required. You can book online, by phone at 407-WDW-DINE,
or with your travel agent.
The elegant days of Old Hollywood are brought to life at
the Hollywood Brown Derby at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Plan a meal at this amazing restaurant during your vacation. This is a Signature Table Service Restaurant, so Disney
does require (2) table service meals per person. Advanced
Dining Reservations are suggested. Book online, by phone at
407-WDW-DINE, or with your travel agent.
To bring the glamour of the Hollywood Brown Derby to
your own home, we have the most popular recipe created
by the original Brown Derby for you to make at home. Enjoy
the Cobb Salad!
“Our Famous Cobb Salad” Recipe
Ingredients:
1/2 head iceberg lettuce
1/2 bunch watercress
1 small bunch chicory
1/2 head romaine lettuce
2 medium tomatoes, blanched & peeled
1 1/2 cups cooked turkey breast, diced
3 eggs, hard-cooked
1/2 cup blue cheese, crumbled
6 strips crisp bacon, crumbled
2 tablespoons chopped chives
Directions: Chop all greens very fine (reserve some watercress for presentation) and arrange in salad bowl. Cut
tomatoes in half, remove seeds, and dice fine. Also dice the
turkey, avocado, & eggs. Arrange the above ingredients, as
well as the blue cheese and bacon crumbles, in straight lines
across the greens. Arrange the chives diagonally across the
above lines. Present the salad at the table, then toss with
the dressing (below). Place on chilled plates with a watercress garnish.
Brown Derby Old-Fashioned French Dressing
Ingredients:
1/2 cup water
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 1/4 tablespoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/2 cup red-wine vinegar
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 tablespoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon English mustard
1/2 cup olive oil
1 1/2 cups salad oil
Directions: Blend all ingredients except oils, then add olive oil and salad oils and mix well. Blend well again before
mixing with salad. Serves 6 People
Visit Celebrations on Facebook to share your pictures and
stories about making this recipe at home. We would love to
hear your experiences!
Photo © Disney
27 · Celebrations
More MyMagic+.. Magic!
I
By Siera Duiser
Siera Duiser is a travel expert
with Destinations in Florida. She
specializes in family and romance
travel around the world. She has
a special love of all things Disney!
She now shares that passion every
day by planning magical vacations
for her guests. Contact Siera at
[email protected] or
call her at 734-771-1290 to book your
next family vacation.
28 · Celebrations
n our last issue, we told you all about the incredible MyMagic+ technology that is
now being used at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The My Disney Experience website and My Disney Experience mobile app are invaluable tools when planning your Walt Disney World Resort vacation. With all of the updates and changes
constantly happening with this new technology, we know that there are still questions and concerns as to how to best use it to your advantage both before and
throughout your vacation.
To recap, you can use your My Disney Experience account to make or modify dining reservations, make or modify FastPass+ selections, view resort reservations,
create an itinerary, view your Disney PhotoPass pictures, customize and order your
MagicBands, and so much more! As an on-site Guest, you will receive complimentary MagicBands that will serve as your room key, theme park admission, dining credits, FastPass+ selections, and room charging privileges. Disney has implemented this
technology to give you more freedom and hopefully provide a stress free vacation.
As with any new technology, there are sometimes bugs and kinks that need to be
worked out, and nothing works perfectly all the time. Each of the four Walt Disney
World theme parks offer MyMagic+ service centers with Cast Members specifically
trained to help you with any issues you may experience with your My Disney Experience account. Whether you are having trouble linking a dining reservation in
your My Disney Experience account, selecting a FastPass+ reservation, or have lost a
MagicBand, you can receive assistance in the MyMagic+ service center. Any time you
have any questions or concerns about MyMagic+, MagicBands, or FastPass+, you can
check with any of the Cast Members in these MyMagic+ service centers.
Here is where you can find the MyMagic+ Service Center in each park:
• Magic Kingdom’s MyMagic+ Service Center is located inside Town Square
Theater
• E pcot’s MyMagic+ Service Center is located inside Innoventions East
•D
isney’s Hollywood Studios’ MyMagic+ Service Center is located inside Sid
Cahuenga’s One-of-a-Kind
•D
isney’s Animal Kingdom’s MyMagic+ Service Center is located inside Creature
Comforts
One of the great things about FastPass+ is the ability to schedule your FastPasses
before you ever arrive in the parks. Once those first three pre-scheduled FastPasses
have been used, you are able to get additional FastPasses inside of the parks. However, each additional FastPass+ reservation must be made at a FastPass+ kiosk. They
are located throughout the parks, but it can be very helpful to know ahead of time
where to find these FastPass+ kiosks. There are Cast Members available at each FastPass+ kiosk location who are happy to help you make new selections or check availability for FastPass+ selections. You can make one FastPass+ selection after your first
three have been used. After that additional selection has been redeemed, you can
add another FastPass+ selection, and so on.
Here is a list of all of the locations of the FastPass+ kiosks, separated by each park.
Magic Kingdom:
• Mickey’s PhilharMagic
• T he Diamond Horseshoe
• T he Jungle Cruise
• Stitch’s Great Escape
Epcot:
• Innoventions West Breezeway
• Innoventions Plaza Tip Board
• International Gateway
• Innoventions East Breezeway
Disney’s Hollywood Studios:
• T he corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard
• Sunset Boulevard
• Toy Story Mania
• Muppet Vision 3-D
Disney’s Animal Kingdom:
• Disney Outfitters
• Across from Yak and Yeti Restaurant
• Island Mercantile
• Next to Tusker House Restaurant
Memory Maker
Another great component of MyMagic+ is Memory Maker. Memory Maker offers digital downloads of all of the
photos you take throughout your magical Disney World vacation. With the help of Disney PhotoPass photographers,
the whole family can be in the picture. Each time that you
take a photo with a Disney PhotoPass photographer, simply
scan your MagicBand and the picture will automatically be
linked with your My Disney Experience account.
Memory Maker doesn’t just offer downloads of the
photos that you have taken throughout your Walt Disney
World Resort vacation. You can also add enhancements like
the park icon, date, border, characters, or character autographs to your pictures to make them more personal and
unique. Plus, Memory Maker includes downloads of Magic
Shots, which is where a character or other figure magically appears in your photo. For instance, you can be floating
away with Mickey balloons, causing trouble with Stitch, or
amazed by Tinker Bell. You can ask any PhotoPass photographer if they are able to take Magic Shots and they will instruct you on how to pose for the perfect keepsake.
A brand new update that Disney just announced for
MagicBands and Disney PhotoPass services is that all Guests
who are wearing active MagicBands during their vacation
will have their attraction photos automatically associated
with their My Disney Experience accounts. Attraction photos are available at the following attractions:
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin inside Magic Kingdom
• Space Mountain inside Magic Kingdom
• Splash Mountain inside Magic Kingdom
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith at Disney’s
Hollywood Studios
• T he Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood
Studios
• Test Track presented by Chevrolet in Epcot
• Dinosaur in Disney’s Animal Kingdom
• Expedition Everest in Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Disney is also expanding this service to include attraction
videos so that your videos will automatically link to your
My Disney Experience account through your MagicBand.
Attraction videos are currently available for The Twilight
Zone Tower of Terror and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
If you do not have a MagicBand, you can still easily link
your photos to your My Disney Experience account with the
new touch points being installed at participating attractions throughout all four theme parks. Magic Kingdom currently has the touch points available, with Epcot, Hollywood
Studios, and Animal Kingdom following suit shortly.
Memory Maker is available for $149 when purchased in
advance (at least three days prior to the start of your vacation) or for $199 inside the parks or for immediate use (if you
are within three days of your trip). Memory Maker can be
purchased in your My Disney Experience account, added to
your Walt Disney World Resort hotel reservation, or inside
one of the theme parks. All Disney PhotoPass photos are
active in your My Disney Experience account for forty five
days after they have been taken.
Photo © Disney
29 · Celebrations
Disney Secrets Underfoot
W
By Jamie Hecker
Jamie Hecker has been a lifelong
fan of Disney, and is passing on his
love to his sons. He and his family
visit Orlando annually and always
look forward to their next trip.
When not in Orlando, he resides
in northern Virginia with his
beautiful wife Suzanne, two boys
and four cats.
You can read more about his
“hidden Disney” musings at
myhiddendisney.blogspot.com/
30 · Celebrations
alt Disney Imagineering has given us countless examples of rich storytelling, in which the thematic elements of an attraction, restaurant, or even an
entire land are captured in exquisite detail. At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the area
around Serka Zong and through the queue of Expedition Everest offers layer upon
layer of detail that sets up the story of Norbu and Bob’s Himalayan Escapes tours
and the legend of the Yeti. At Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, an entire corner of the park is intricately recreated as Radiator Springs from the Disney-Pixar
film Cars. With details at every sightline and above, it’s easy to miss some critical elements that can be found directly underfoot. Let’s examine several such items that
pay tribute to the history of the Walt Disney Company as well as Walt Disney World.
We all know the famous Walt quote that “it was all started by a mouse.” Mickey
Mouse, created in 1928, just five years after Walt and Roy established their animation business, became an American icon and laid the foundation for the company, providing the resources and name recognition that allowed Walt to push the
boundaries of animation and entertainment. Almost as well known is Mickey’s
short-lived name of Mortimer Mouse. Legend has it that Walt’s wife Lillian immediately rejected the name of Mortimer and Mickey was picked instead. Mortimer may
be a footnote in the book of Disney, but he occupies a small slice of Disney theme
park history. On Sunset Boulevard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you can find a
small tribute to him stamped into the pavement near the curb. It reads: Mortimer
and Co. Contractors 1928. The year, naturally, references when Mickey was born. The
fictitious name also helps to reinforce the theme that Sunset Boulevard is a peek
into Hollywood of the 1930s. A business understandably would place its name on
the work it did.
There are plenty of other details underfoot at the Walt
Disney World theme parks. Just like any municipality, Disney has to address the mundane issues of water, electricity,
and other utilities. They frequently run below ground and
are accessible via nondescript utility covers. The lids themselves, though, need not be bland and boring. Walt Disney
World has stamped a number of them with elements of its
own history.
From 1971 through 1995, the logo for Walt Disney World
featured a uniform wide and bold font with an oversized
D. Tucked inside the D was a Mickey silhouette, with the
face taking the form of a globe, complete with latitude and
longitude lines, meant to convey that Disney’s presence in
Orlando offered a world of vacation fun. Although this logo
is no longer in use, it can still be found around the parks, notably on utility hole covers. On your next visit to Walt Disney
World, scan the grounds for this throwback icon centered
on some of the lids. It’s been scaled back to just the capital D
and a simplified hidden Mickey inside, but offers an insight
to a bygone era at the Magic Kingdom.
Another integral chapter in the history of Walt Disney
World is the Reedy Creek Improvement District, or RCID. As
the Walt Disney Company was determining how to make
Walt’s dream of an experimental prototype community of
tomorrow a reality, it knew it needed land, and lots of it. Further, it would need an autonomous agency to aid and assist
with the development of the property. Disney petitioned
the Florida state legislature to create an Improvement District that “could act with the same authority and responsibility as a county government. The new legislation said that
landowners within the Reedy Creek Improvement District,
primarily Walt Disney World, would be solely responsible
for paying the cost of providing typical municipal services
like power, water, roads, fire protection etc.” The legislation passed and the newly minted Improvement District
was named for a nearby existing waterway, Reedy Creek.
The most notable references to this municipal entity are
the various RCID fire stations on property. However, it also
adorns various utility hole covers at the Disney parks. One
such example can be found near the intersection of Sunset
and Hollywood Boulevards at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
RCID, along with a wavy water symbol, is neatly featured on
the center. The logo is a small and easily overlooked tribute
to a milestone of the Magic Kingdom.
These are notable examples of utility hole covers at Walt
Disney World that celebrate Disney history. However, there
are plenty of other ground artifacts and utility lids at Walt
Disney World that further enhance certain story lines at
the parks and resorts. For example, the Port Orleans resorts
(French Quarter and Riverside) have a deep backstory that
involves the founding of Port Orleans along the banks of
the Sassagoula River. One small detail that adds depth to
the rich backstory is the inclusion of utility covers that read
City of Port Orleans - 1991. The year reflects the year in which
the resort opened. If only it was stamped 1704 to match the
birth of this fictitious locale!
We return to Disney’s Hollywood Studios to showcase a
final hidden secret underfoot. Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is one of Disney’s most explosive and exhilarating attractions. The premise is that the band is recording its next hit single at the G-Force Records studio before
heading out to its Los Angeles concert. The band graciously
arranges for a super-stretch limo for us to attend the same
show. What follows is madcap dash along the LA highways
and our timely arrival to the concert venue. The plaza out
front of the attraction has a grid of alternating white lines
along large terra cotta-colored squares. At each grid intersection is a notable circle in the shape of a vinyl record that
reads G Force Records. As you would expect, they’re all gold.
The next time you’re visiting the parks and resorts, either
at a commando crawl or a leisurely pace, take a few extra
minutes to seek out the hidden details and Disney secrets
that are underfoot.
Photo © Jamie Hecker
31 · Celebrations
When the Parks Close…But You Don’t –
The Disneyland Resort After Hours
T
By J Darling
J Darling is a California native and
life long Disney fan. Her parents first
took her to Disneyland when she was
2 years old. According to them, her
eyes just popped out of her head, and
apparently they never went back in.
Outside of her Disney fandom,
J is a singer, songwriter, blogger, and
theatrical actress.
You can find her music at
www.jdarlingmusic.com
and on Myspace at
www.jdarlingmusicmyspace.com. Her
blogs are available at
www.jjourneybook.blogspot.com.
32 · Celebrations
hough the Disneyland Resort often stays open until midnight during the summer and other holiday seasons, what happens on those days when the park
closes and Guests aren’t quite ready to retire? Disneyland Resort has some great
nighttime hangouts available to late night crowds, and one of the best is Trader
Sam’s at the Disneyland Hotel.
In May of 1989, the Adventurer’s Club opened as one of the most unique and memorable nightclub additions to Walt Disney World’s Pleasure Island. Pleasure Island was
an Adults-oriented experience that celebrated New Year’s Eve every night of the year
through street parties, fireworks, live music performances, and plenty of alcoholic libations. While several of the clubs were only host to Guests 21 years and older, The Adventure’s Club allowed youngsters (with guardian supervision) to join in and become
‘Members’ of this unique society of Adventurers. Everyone who walked through the
door walked into something that could have been a stop on the Jungle Cruise or a way
station for Lawrence of Arabia. Guests who walked through the doors of The Adventure’s Club ended up being inducted into the club as full-fledged members during the
nightly Membership Drive. With several ceremonies a night, it was next to impossible
to miss one. Colorful characters (ranging from an inept young explorer from Ohio, to
a French maid, a butler, a few expert adventure hunters, a talking stone mask on the
wall, and ‘the Colonel’ - a mounted puppet on the wall) taught Guests the Club Handshake, the Club Motto (“Some days you eat the bear, some days the bear eats you, but
always dress for the hunt!”), and the Club Creed:
“We climb the highest mountains, just to get a better view.
We plumb the deepest oceans, cause we’re daring through and through.
We cross the scorching deserts, martini in our hands.
We ski the polar ice caps, in tuxedo looking grand.
We are reckless, brave, and loyal, and valiant to the end.
If you come in here a stranger, you will exit as a friend.”
While the Adventure’s Club itself had enough wonderful showmanship and storytelling to fill an entire issue of Celebrations Magazine unto itself, Trader Sam’s is
the closest experience to the Adventure’s Club as possible. Many remnants of the
eclectic décor that once covered the Adventurer’s Club now occupy Trader Sam’s.
Named after the ‘head trader’ from the Jungle Cruise, Trader Sam’s Enchanted
Tiki Bar is a small hut beside the Tangaroa Terrace eatery at the Disneyland Hotel.
Inside, Guests find an intimate, dimly lit treasure trove that stepped right out of
Adventureland. Like the Adventure’s Club, there is always something lively going on.
Whether it’s an ‘erupting’ volcano on a portrait, or a sinking ship in a bottle, or the
live Hawaiian music played on the patio, Guest of all age are likely to be entertained.
(Guests under the age of 21 are allowed on the patio and into Trader Sam’s, however
they are not allowed in the bar.)
While there may not be quite enough food to make a full meal at Trader Sam’s;
there are certainly enough mentionable munchies available to satisfy Guests who
come hungry. The limited menu takes the idea of ‘bar food’
on an adventure. Instead of French fries, Trader Sam’s offers
Panko Crusted Chinese Long Beans with Sriracha Aioli. Instead of Buffalo wings, Trader Sam’s offers Sweet and spicy
Asian Chicken Wings or Tamarind Glazed Island Pork “Wings”
served with green papaya slaw. Fish Tacos, Chicken Lettuce
Wraps, Ahi Poke, and Cheese Flatbread round out the main
food offerings here. And, of course, a Dessert Flight is one
trip worth taking. It includes Pineapple Upside Down Cake,
Cappuccino Chocolate Chunk Brownie, and a Fruit Parfait).
All intrepid adventures will be tempted with something
beyond water at this watering hole. The drink menu includes typical bar offerings (beers, wines, soda) and more
than a few ‘house specialties.’ A few of the more notable
beverages include the Uh Oa! Pronounced just like it looks,
this drink is designed for sharing. In fact, four Guests could
probably be satisfied with one of these. Served in a small
‘volcano’, the Uh Oa! is announced by the staff chanting “Uh
Oa! Uh Oa! Uh Oa!” and lighting the top of the beverage on
fire! Small pinch bowls (built into the ceramic ceremonial
serving vessel) full of spices encourage Guests to join in by
sprinkling the spices into the flames. Sparks dance from the
blue flame with each sprinkle. The drink itself is made of
Light and Dark Rums, Orange, Passion Fruit, Guava, Pineapple, Grapefruit juices, Falernum, Cinnamon and Lime. Other
alcoholic highlights include Krakatoa Punch (made of Reserve and Spiced rums, Orgeat syrup, Sam’s Gorilla Grog and
Hibiscus Grenadine), Ka-blue-ie! (made of Light rum, cream
of Coconut, Pineapple Juice, and a splash of Blue Curacao),
Shrunken Zombie Head (made of Reserve and Aged Rums,
Photo ©Lauren Javier
Tropical Juices, Falernum, and Cinnamon), Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki
Tiki Rum (made of Reserve Rum, Cream of Coconut, Pineapple and Orange Juices dusted with cinnamon and Nutmeg),
Lost on Safari (a delicious combination of Dark and Spiced
Rums, Tropical Juices, Falernum, and Sam’s Gorilla Grog),
and Shipwreck on the Rocks (a potent mixture of Bourbon,
freshly muddled lemon and mint, with a spike of agave
nectar served in a barrel shaped ceramic mug). And for the
Guests who had the pleasure of being part of the Adventurer’s Club, ask the bartender for an Old Style Kungaloosh.
It may not be on the menu, but most of the bartenders are
skilled in making it!
Don’t care for an alcoholic libation? Trader Sam’s covers the
non-alcoholic spectrum as well. Guests choosing a dryer experience aren’t left out of the house specialties either. The Skipper Sipper, Schweitzer Falls (in homage to the Jungle Cruise
reference), and the Polynesian Punch are unique blends of
tropical fruit juices, lime, grenadine, Sam’s Gorilla Grog,
No matter what Guests order, there is no way to go wrong
with Trader Sam’s. The friendly staff helps take the edge off
of even the most adventure-weary Guests. Lovers of the
Enchanted Tiki Room and Disneyland’s tropical Adventureland will likely love this little hideaway that doesn’t close
until long after the parks have said goodnight. Take a moment to take a peek at the décor, even if a drink or snack
isn’t in the plan. Getting lost in Trader Sam’s is well worth
the detour. Keep a look out for the post card to the best
‘head trader’ in the jungle – Sam himself. There is enough
going on here to keep little adventures occupied while their
older counterparts kick up their feet and relax. Well worth
a detour when a little R&R is called for, Trader Sam’s is the
go-to venue for nighttime adventure, and best of all, it’s just
a short stroll away from the Disneyland Hotel.
33 · Celebrations
By Tim Foster
34 · Celebrations
Photos © Tim Devine
T
he Boneyard. Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station. Mission:
SPACE’s Advanced Training Lab. Tom Sawyer Island.
These are just a few of the many places at Walt Disney
World where a kid can be a kid, where they can play and
create wonderfully imaginative adventures that will take
them on a dinosaur dig, under the big top, to far reaches
of outer space, or in dark, mysterious caves. At one time,
little ones could also frolic in the Hundred Acres Woods
at Pooh’s Playful Spot (and can now enjoy the numerous
activities in the attraction’s queue), and have a soaking
good time at Donald’s Boat in Mickey’s Toontown Fair.
But while some of these play areas were loosely inspired by their respective movies, there’s a hidden gem
that puts kids right in the middle of one of Disney’s classic family films, and what better place to host a cinematic playland than the place where movie magic comes to
life, Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Nestled in the concrete canyons of New York Street is a
unique play area where you can pretend you’re on a wild
adventure while also pretending you’re playing a part in
a Disney movie. But which
movie? Well, have you ever
imagined what it would
be like to be shrunk down
in size? Now’s your chance
to see what it was like for
the kids in the 1989 film,
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.
The movie tells the
story of inventor Wayne
Szalinski and his electromagnetic shrinking ray.
Unfortunately,
things
get out of control, and
through a series of mishaps the shrinking ray is accidentally activated and shrinks his kids (as well as his neighbor’s kids) down to a quarter of an inch in size. Finding
themselves in the backyard, the kids embark on a thrilling adventure to make their way back to the house. Once
they find their way back, their troubles aren’t over, as
they suddenly find themselves in a (to them) giant bowl
of Cheerios, about to be eaten by their father! Only the
quick intervention of the family dog Quark saves the day,
and soon everything is back to normal.
The film starred Rick Moranis as Wayne Szalinski,
with the cast rounded out by Amy O’Neill and Robert
Oliveri (who played the Szalinski children), Thomas Wilson Brown and Jared Rushton (as the neighbor’s kids)
and Marcia Strassman, who played Wayne Szalinski’s
wife, Diane. The film was a surprise hit at the box-office,
grossing over $222 million worldwide, which at the time
made it the highest-grossing live action Disney film in
history (a record now held by Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead
Man’s Chest, which has grossed over $1 billion). The film
spawned two sequels, Honey, I Blew Up the Kid in 1992 and
Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves in 1997, as well as a TV show that
ran from 1997 to 2000. Because the name of the film has
lent itself to numerous sequels and park attractions, it’s
hard to believe that it wasn’t the original choice. Rejected
title ideas included Teeny Weenies and The Big Backyard!
The popularity of the film made it a natural inspiration for new attractions at Walt Disney World, and about
a year and a half later, on December 17, 1990, the Honey I
Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure opened on what
was then known as New York Street at the Disney-MGM
Studios (the area now known as the Streets of America).
The playground welcomes
children to go on their
own miniature adventure,
with the premise that they
have been shrunk by Szalinski’s shrinking ray. Along
the way kids will encounter 30-foot-tall blades of
grass, a giant spider web
(actually a series of rope
nets), a Giant Super Soaker
(watch out for large drops
of water as it leaks all over
the lawn!), large, squeaking
ants that you can actually climb on, giant bumblebees,
a slide disguised as a canister of Kodak film, and a huge
dog’s nose poking through the blades of grass (yep, that’s
Quark!). Careful though, Quark has a runny nose! Incidentally, each of those stalks of grass (45 of them to be exact),
holds two to three 28-foot blades of grass, and are supported by 500 pounds of structural steel. They can withstand winds of up to 80 mph (or a good-sized dog sneeze).
The play area is geared toward children four years and
under, though all are welcome to join in on the fun. The
entire floor is extra spongy, so you don’t have to worry
about any bumps, and a map at the entrance will give you
35 · Celebrations
an overview of things to look for. However, one thing you
won’t find on the map is a special Hidden Mickey. Look on
the dark concrete wall near the entrance to find it; it’s about
waist high and tiny — approximately 2” in diameter. Best of
all, you can spend as much time in the play area as you like,
though (parent tip!) it’s a good idea to agree on how long
you’ll stay ahead of time so there are no misunderstandings.
The Honey I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure is a
great place for kids to have fun and to use their imaginations, and it’s also a great place for parents to kick up their
feet and relax while the little ones let off some steam
(though we won’t tell anyone if you want to take a ride
down the slide!).
Honey I Shrunk the Audience
In November 1994, the Honey I Shrunk the Kids franchise
welcomed its newest member to the Imagination pavilion
in Epcot, with the debut of the 3D film, Honey I Shrunk the
Audience. The film was housed in the theater originally
known as the Magic Eye Theater, which, when opened, presented a film called Magic Journeys that utilized an innovative 65mm 3D process developed jointly by WED Enterprises
36 · Celebrations
and Eastman Kodak. The film was an imaginative view of
the world through a child’s eyes, making extensive use of
spectacular 3D effects. Magic Journeys closed on February
9, 1986 and reopened in Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom
on December 15, 1987. (After several years, Magic Journeys finally closed its doors for good on December 1, 1993 to make
way for the Legend of the Lion King theater show.)
The theater’s next show, debuting on September 12, 1986,
was a new film, Captain EO. The film, which was produced by
George Lucas and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, starred
Michael Jackson and Angelica Huston in a music filled science fiction adventure. The film thrilled audiences for eight
years before it closed its doors to make way for Wayne Szalinski and his infamous shrinking ray.
The premise of the film was that you were cordially invited to attend the Imagine Institute’s Inventor of the Year
Award presentation. Your host for the evening was Dr. Nigel Channing (who has since taken up residence as your
host for the Imagination Institute’s open house tour, along
with his purple pal Figment), and he was there to present
the yearly award to Professor Wayne Szalinski. In addition
to his Incredible Shrinking Machine, Professor Szalinski
Photo © Tim Devine
had also invented the Dimensional
Duplicator. As you might have expected, the awards ceremony didn’t
go quite as planned, and after some
misadventures with the Hoverpad,
Professor Szalinski attempted to
demonstrate the Incredible Shrinking Machine. Of course, things went
humorously wrong, and it was you,
the audience, that ended up being shrunk. Once you
mixed in a few hundred mice (courtesy of the Dimensional Duplicator), Gigabyte the snake, and Quark the
family dog, it seemed there was quite a problem! But
a calm Dr. Channing assured everyone that Professor
Szalinski would soon have everything back to normal
and that in no time he would be able to blow you up...
ummm...well, you knew what he meant!
The theater was notable in that the entire seating
area was actually on a platform that could be raised
four inches to simulate the lifting of the theater. The
music for the film was composed by Bruce Broughton, who has composed several movie soundtracks.
He earned an Academy Award nomination for the 1985 film Silverado.
While the film itself was in 3D, the
attraction was often referred to
as a 4D experience, as it included
other elements such as squirting
water that timed perfectly with
Quark’s final sneeze (and yes, that was
only water!).
Many cast members from the film, including Rick
Moranis and Robert Oliveri, reprised their film roles
for the attraction, joined by Monty Python veteran Eric
Idle in his new role as Dr. Nigel Channing. Marcia Strassman (who sadly passed away recently at her home in
California after a long illness), reprised her role as Diane Szalinski, playing a vital role in the safe “return” of
the audience. The attraction closed its doors on May
9, 2010, to make way for the return of Captain EO. But
you can still see Professor Szalinski in the queue of the
Imagination Institute with his coveted Inventor of the
Year award.
Just be aware of stray laser beams…
37 · Celebrations
By Lori Elias
38 · Celebrations
O
nce upon a time, long before there was a hit Disneyproduced television series on ABC called, well, Once
Upon a Time, composer Stephen Sondheim and writer
James Lapine drew on fairy tales to create a musical called
Into the Woods. The show opened in September 1987 at the
Martin Beck Theatre (renamed the Al Hirschfeld Theatre
in 2003), ran on Broadway for nearly two years, and this
December transfers to the big screen as Disney’s latest liveaction feature.
Into the Woods is directed by six-time Tony Award nominee Rob Marshall, an Oscar-winner for the movie musical
Chicago (2002). Marshall had previously directed the fourth
installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, On
Stranger Tides (2011), as well as the Disney-produced televised
musical Annie (1999), starring Tony Award-winners Audra
McDonald, Kristen Chenoweth and Alan Cumming, and
Tony nominees Kathy Bates and Victor Garber.
Much like Once Upon a Time, Into the Woods uses characters and story lines from a variety of famous fairy tales
originally written by the Brothers Grimm, as well as one
conceived by Lapine and Sondheim of a Baker and his Wife.
The couple has been cursed with childlessness by a Witch,
and the two are willing to risk all that they have in order
to make their wish for a child of their own come true. To
reverse the curse, they venture “Into the Woods,” where they
cross paths with a number of familiar names, including
Cinderella and her step-family, Rapunzel, Jack and the Giant
(of beanstalk fame), and Little Red Riding Hood, along with
her grandmother and the Wolf, all of whom have wishes of
their own. Their individual story arcs increasingly interact
as they pursue their respective quests:
Into the Woods to have the child,
To wed the Prince, to get the money,
To save the house, to kill the Wolf,
To find the father, to conquer the kingdom,
To have, to wed, to get, to save,
To kill, to keep, to go to the festival,
Into the Woods, Into the Woods,
Into the Woods, then out of the woods,
And happy ever after!
The journey is enhanced with songs such as the reflective
ballads “Giants in the Sky,” “No One is Alone” and “Children Will
Listen,” the patter of “Ever After” (the song quoted above)
and the provocative “I Know Things Now.” According to the
liner notes for the compact disc set Stephen Sondheim: The
Story So Far…, Into the Woods deals “with the consequences
of wishes, and what happens after happily ever after.”
Artwork © Disney
From the Stage to the Big Screen
Disney’s film is the third attempt to bring Into the Woods to
the silver screen. In 1994, the rights were acquired by American Zoetrope, the film company owned by Francis Ford
Coppola. A screenplay was penned by the respected team
of Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel (City Slickers, A League of
Their Own, Fever Pitch), with Sondheim and Lapine acting as
consultants. Penny Marshall was approached about directing the film, and she went so far as to amass a group of performers at her home for a reading of the script, including
some of the biggest names of the day: future Disney Legend
Robin Williams and Goldie Hawn portraying the Baker and
his Wife; Cher as the Witch; another Disney Legend-in-themaking, Steve Martin, as the Wolf and Mayim Bialik as Little
Red Riding Hood; Elijah Wood as Jack and Roseanne Barr as
his mother; Danny DeVito as the Giant; and Brendan Fraser
and Kyle McLachlan as Cinderella and Rapunzel’s princes. It
seems that such a remarkable cast would prove to create
an unstoppable film, but it was the cost of that cast that
grounded the movie before it could be made.
The rights to the film were purchased by Sony, who, in
1995, signed a deal with Jim Henson Productions to collaborate in producing family-friendly films. It was indeed
Jim Henson Productions who was to take over the new Into
the Woods feature, with yet one more future Disney Legend,
Billy Crystal, as the Baker, and his When Harry Met Sally (1989)
co-star, Meg Ryan, as his Wife, with Disney villainess-to-be
Susan Sarandon (Queen Narissa in 2007’s Enchanted) as the
Witch. Heading the film would be Rob Minkoff, who, with
Roger Allers, had directed The Lion King to silver screen glory
the previous year. New songs were planned, as were new
characters, in order to showcase the puppetry prowess of
Jim Henson Productions. While again this version seemed
to have all the makings of a hit, changes in the front office
of Sony pushed the making of the film to the back burner,
and thus it was never made.
But as is so often true, the third time is the charm! As his
work on Pirates of the Caribbean was winding down, director
Rob Marshall spoke to Lapine about bringing the musical
to the big screen. After sealing Lapine’s approval (as well as
his agreement to write the screenplay), Marshall pitched his
ideas to Disney, who was ready to finally move forward. The
final fruit of their labors hits theaters on Christmas Day
Like the unfilmed versions before it, Disney’s take on the
beloved musical features larger-than-life names. Perhaps
no film star alive today shines as brightly as Meryl Streep,
who headlines Into the Woods as the Witch. While she is
39 · Celebrations
known primarily as one of the greatest cinematic actresses
of all time, she has also shown off her singing prowess in
films including Postcards from the Edge (1990) and Mamma
Mia! (2008), and on-stage at Central Park’s Delacorte Theatre
as the title role in Mother Courage (2006). Nominated for a record 18 Oscars, Streep has won three Academy Awards: Best
Supporting Actress for Kramer vs. Kramer (1979), and Best Actress for Sophie’s Choice (1982) and The Iron Lady (2011).
James Corden portrays the Baker. Corden is known primarily for his work in the theatre, where he was acclaimed
in both London’s West End and on Broadway for his Tony
Award- winning performance in One Man, Two Guvnors, as
well as British television, for which he earned a British Academy of Film and Television Artists (BAFTA) Award for the
series Gavin and Stacey. His name became more familiar to
American audiences when in September it was announced
that he will replace Craig Ferguson (Disney’s Winnie the Pooh
and Brave) as host of the Late Late Show on CBS, following
Ferguson’s retirement in December.
Corden’s fellow Briton Emily Blunt plays the Baker’s Wife.
Perhaps best known for her roles in The Devil Wears Prada
(2006) and Gulliver’s Travels (2010) Disney film fans will recognize Blunt as Miss Piggy’s receptionist in the 2011’s The Muppets (in which her husband, The Office’s Jim Krazinski also
made a brief appearance).
Disney fans will also have no trouble recognizing the man
behind the mask of the Wolf: Johnny Depp, who has dazzled
audiences as Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the
Caribbean franchise. Depp displayed his musical talents in
another film adaptation of a Sondheim stage musical, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007); he has been
nominated for Academy Awards for both roles. His young
nemesis, Little Red Riding Hood, is played by Lilla Crawford.
While she may not be well-known to film-goers and television-viewers, theatre fans will recognize her as the title
character in Broadway’s recent revival of Annie.
Another child actor with a major theatre role under his
belt is Daniel Huttlestone, who portrays Jack. Huttlestone
played spunky Gavroche in the West End production of Les
Misérables before bringing the character to the big screen in
the 2012 film starring Russell Crowe and Hugh Jackman. His
mother is portrayed by the versatile Tracey Ullman. Along
with a number of her own series, Ullman has been seen in
acclaimed films such as Woody Allen’s Bullets Over Broadway
(1994), and television series including Ally McBeal, State of the
Union and How I Met Your Mother.
40 · Celebrations
Bringing the iconic character of Cinderella to life is Anna
Kendrick. While roles in the Twilight films and Up in the Air
(2009) have placed her in the limelight, she, like Depp, is an
accomplished singer, having been nominated for a Tony
Award at age 12 (the second-youngest actress in history) for
the musical High Society (1998) and starring in the movie musicals Pitch Perfect (2012) and The Last Five Years (2014).
Cinderella’s Prince must be handsome and heroic, and
few could better fit that bill than Star Trek’s Captain Kirk! No,
it’s not William Shatner, but the current generation’s Captain Kirk, actor Chris Pine, who starred in 2009’s Star Trek, as
well as Star Trek Into Darkness (2013). Pine returns to Disney
after a ten-year hiatus, having portrayed Nicholas Deveraux
in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004).
Two-time Tony Award-winner Christine Baranski plays
Cinderella’s Stepmother, reuniting with Rob Marshall after
portraying Mary Sunshine in Chicago. Television audiences
will recognize her from roles in The Big Bang Theory and The
Good Wife.
Mackenzie Mauzy, who has made her mark in the soap
opera The Bold and the Beautiful, is Rapunzel. She has also
been seen on the Broadway stage in the musicals A Tale of
Two Cities and the Tony- and Pulitzer Prize-winning Next to
Normal. Fellow soap opera veteran Billy Magnussen (As the
World Turns) plays Rapunzel’s Prince. Magnussen has made
guest appearances on numerous television series, many of
which are police dramas, including Law & Order, Law & Order:
Criminal Intent, NCIS: Los Angeles, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
and Blue Bloods.
Frances de la Tour, who portrayed Aunt Imogene in Disney’s
live-action version of Alice in Wonderland (2010) rounds out the
principal cast as the Giant. The British-born actress won the
Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her role as
Mrs. Lincott in The History Boys, which she reprised in the film
of the same name in 2006. She has been seen in recent films
such as Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), Harry Potter and
the Deathly Hallows: Part I (2010) and Hugo (2011).
Into the Woods Fun Facts:
• Into the Woods is the first Disney adaptation of a Broadway
or musical (though several Disney films have been adapted
into Broadway musicals: Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King,
Tarzan, Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid, Newsies and Aladdin).
• T he original Broadway musical was nominated for ten
Tony Awards, winning three: Best Book (script) for James
Lapine, Best Score for Stephen Sondheim and Best Actress
for Joanna Gleason (Mr. Holland’s Opus, The Wedding Planner)
as the Baker’s Wife.
• Along with Gleason, the musical starred Chip Zien as the
Baker, Kim Crosby as Cinderella, Ben Wright as Jack, Danielle Ferland as Little Red Riding Hood, Robert Westenberg
as the Wolf and Cinderella’s Prince and three-time Tony
Award-winner Bernadette Peters as the Witch.
• T he musical was revived on Broadway in 2002 starring Stephen DeRosa and Kerry O’Malley as the Baker and his Wife,
Laura Benanti as Cinderella, Molly Ephraim as Little Red
Riding Hood, Christopher Sieber as the Wolf and Rapunzel’s
Prince and Vanessa Williams as the Witch.
Artwork ©Disney
• Into the Woods composer Stephen Sondheim is an Emmy
shy of achieving “EGOT” (earning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar
and Tony; the elusive honor was most recently achieved
by Frozen co-composer Robert Lopez). He has won eight
Tony and Grammy awards; his Oscar comes from the song
“Sooner or Later,” written for Dick Tracy (1990).
• In 2010, the Henry Miller’s Theatre in Manhattan was renamed in Sondheim’s honor, a distinction reserved for
those who have made the most significant contributions
to Broadway theatre.
• T he original musical features some “mature” themes that
were reworked for Disney’s adaptation.
41 · Celebrations
First in the Parks:
The Magic of the Walt Disney
World Rope Drops
by Nick Comande
42 · Celebrations
Photo © Tim Devine
43 · Celebrations
I
magine what it would be like to be the first one through
the gates of a Walt Disney World park first thing in the
morning. Anticipation grows with every second. Minutes
seem like hours as you look forward to what lies before
you…an open, unblocked avenue leading to a world of magic, whether it’s the thrill of meeting with your favorite Disney Character, or being the first to board your favorite attraction. Best of all, you’ll get to experience the unique thrill
of believing that, just for a moment, you have the park all
to yourself.
But let’s face it, there can only be four lucky individuals
who can claim the honor of being the first to enter a Walt
Disney World park on any given day (five if you include the
International Gateway entrance of Epcot). And with multiple entrance kiosks spread out to accommodate the large
number of Guests, how would you even know if you were
the first person to enter the park when the OK was given
to “come on in”? While it might be nearly impossible to earn
the claim of “very first person to enter the park,” there’s still
44 · Celebrations
a great thrill in being among the first to pass through the
gates, and to see the parks in a way that very few have every
enjoyed.
Your quest to be among the first in the park can be a
once-in-a-lifetime thrill, but it will take lots of planning…
and little bit of luck. There are a number of obstacles along
the way that will affect your place in line. First, are you staying on or off Disney property? If you’re on-site, which resort
are you at and which park are you going to? For example,
if you are staying at the Contemporary Resort or the DVC
Bay Lake Tower, you can walk to the main gate of the Magic
Kingdom. If you are staying at a more remote resort, such as
the Caribbean Beach, you’ll either have to drive, take a cab,
or catch the very first Disney bus to get to any park in time
to get to the front of the gate, and even then there’s no guarantee that you’ll get into the park first. Face it; determination, commitment and even luck will play a big part in being
first in line. But even if you’re not the absolute first person to
pass through those magic gates, with a little effort you can
Photo © Nick Comande
be among the first, and oftentimes that’s just as thrilling.
Getting An Early Start
If you decide to take on the challenge of being one of the
first inside the parks, you’ll first need to do a little research.
Does the park you’re visiting have Extra Magic Hours in the
morning? For the uninitiated, Extra Magic Hours allow Resort Guests the opportunity to enter the park one hour before it is opened to the general public. If that’s the case, you’ll
want to time your arrival accordingly (assuming you’re staying on-site, if you’re not staying on property you’ll want to
avoid those parks on those days, as thousands of Guests
will have already arrived by the time you enter). In general,
you’ll want to arrive about a half hour to forty-five minutes
before the park’s opening. During special events days (like
Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios), you’ll
definitely want to get there closer to the forty-five minute
mark, or earlier.
Once you’ve arrived at the park, you’ll still have a bit of a
journey before you make it to the main entrance. For example, when heading to the Magic Kingdom by car, you’ll
need to take a monorail or boat to get to the main entrance.
For any of the parks, once you’ve arrived you may need to
go through security; where camera bags, backpacks, and
purses are checked. However, if you don’t have a bag you can
bypass the security line, and in the interest of getting to
the front of the crowds your best bet is to leave your bags
back at your resort. (Though if the rest of your party doesn’t
mind moving at a slower pace, you can always leave your
bags in their trusting hands so that you can enter through
the “No Bags” line.)
OK, you’re past security, you’re right at the entrance, now
what? Well, here’s where each park handles their openings
a little differently, so let’s visit each of the parks in turn for
some special tips.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, people will start to line up
early at the entrance, preparing to wave their MagicBands
so they can enter the park. About 15 minutes before the official opening, Guests are allowed through one of the many
gates and can then make their way through the Oasis, taking either the left or right side paths, passing exotic animals
along the way, until they reach the entrance to Discovery
Island. Be forewarned, the paths are narrow in spots and it
may be a little difficult to get to the head of the pack if you
don’t start out in front. Once you cross the bridge, you are
stopped by several Cast Members that are literally standing
behind the ropes. Here they gather Guests, filling in all the
available spaces to see a pre-show starring Safari Mickey,
Goofy, Donald, and Minnie on a safari bus.
The Tree of Life stands tall in the background as the show
concludes and the safari vehicle pulls away. At this point the
ropes are gathered and Guests are finally released into the
park to start their day. (Note that even though the event is
commonly referred to as the “rope drop,” the Cast Members
don’t physically drop the rope…instead they carefully gather it to the side before allowing Guests to enter…just in case
you were worried about tripping on it!) From this point on,
Cast Members will be on hand to point the way toward the
major attractions such as Expedition Everest, Dinosaur, and
Kilimanjaro Safaris, letting you know which way to go and,
for safety’s sake, reminding you to walk…don’t run. (Do keep
that in mind as you make your way into the parks. While
there’s a tremendous thrill in being among the first to get
to your favorite attraction, above all else be courteous and
mindful of your fellow Guests!) Depending on how quickly
you move (in a safe and orderly manner of course), you may
find yourself fortunate to be the first, or among the first,
to scale Expedition Everest, travel back in time on Dinosaur,
or view the beasts of the Serengeti on Kilimanjaro Safaris.
On non-Extra Magic Hour morning days, there are entrances on the right as you face the park, these are reserved
for Guests with Character Breakfast reservations. If you’re
one of these people, you’ll be afforded the opportunity to
stroll through the park and go directly to your restaurant.
Names are checked to make sure that you do have a reservation. Even though you won’t be heading to an attraction,
you will get to enjoy the beauty of the park with very few
people inside.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the process is much the
same. Most Guests will arrive by bus or car, but if you’re
staying at one of the Epcot resorts you’ll get the chance to
travel by boat. For the more adventurous, you can even walk
to the entrance of the park from the Epcot resort area. The
walk takes about 15-20 minutes, and is quite enjoyable and
tranquil. The pathway follows the canal that leads to the
Studios, and along the way you’ll get some gorgeous views
of the Swan and Dolphin resorts. Once there, Guests will
gather at the front of the park, waiting patiently for the OK
45 · Celebrations
to wave their MagicBands in front of the electronic readers and move forward down Hollywood Boulevard, about
10 minutes before the official opening of the park. Cast
Members will hold up the crowd at the intersection of Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards in order to watch the cinematic pre-show. Cast Members will work to make sure that
all of the spaces are filled in. This not only gives as many
people as possible a chance to see the preshow, but it moves
the growing crowds away from the main entrance. When
given the OK to move forward you can chose to head down
Hollywood Boulevard toward Toy Story Mania, or Sunset
Boulevard for the one-two thrill punch of the Twilight Zone
Tower of Terror and the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.
The most popular attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (and arguably all of Walt Disney World) is Toy Story
Mania. The quickest way there is head straight down Hollywood Boulevard toward the Great Movie Ride and turn
right just past the Tip Board to the Animation Courtyard.
A sharp left turn down Mickey Avenue will lead you to Pixar
Place and to Toy Story Mania. If you don’t have a problem
with stairs, you can take a path between The Great Movie
Ride and the entrance to the Animation Courtyard that
may shave a few moments off you travel time to Pixar
Place. FastPass Guests will be directed toward the right, and
standby riders toward the left. Be forewarned that even if
you arrive early, the standby line for Toy Story Mania grows
very long very rapidly, so if your intent is to be near the front
of the standby line, you’ll need to move very quickly and determinedly to make sure you’re at the front…in a safe and
controlled manner of course, no running please! (As an
aside, as we were preparing this story, Disney was doing experimental testing at Toy Story Mania that would require
all Guests to have a FastPass, meaning there would be no
standby line. While the original test only lasted a few days,
you’ll want to keep an eye on further developments if you
plan on visiting the parks later in the year.)
If you’re heading down Sunset Boulevard toward the
Tower of Terror and the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, there is no
trick to getting there. Just follow the Cast Members who
are leading the way, and in no time you’ll be screaming out
your lungs in sheer delight (or terror.)
Epcot
Epcot is the only Walt Disney World park that has 2 entrances. The main entrance (where the busses, trams, and
monorails drop off Guests) faces Epcot’s signature icon,
46 · Celebrations
Spaceship Earth, and the entrance procedure is very similar
to that of the Animal Kingdom and the Hollywood Studios.
About 15 minutes before the park’s official opening, Guests
can scan their MagicBands and proceed into the park. Here
you can choose to take a ride on Spaceship Earth (though
be aware that you may face some longer-than-normal lines
first thing in the morning, as many others will have the
same idea), or you can continue on toward the heart of Future World and the other headliner attractions such as Test
Track and Soarin’. While Guests can generally head to their
favorite attractions right away, be aware that occasionally
there will be a second rope drop in place at the respective
entrances to Future Worlds East and West. If that’s the case,
Guests will be welcomed into the attraction areas once the
park officially opens.
Epcot, which was built after the Magic Kingdom, did
much to accommodate larger crowds and therefore has
wider walkways to get from place to place. While this does
allow more people to enter the different areas of the park
in a less frenzied manner, it does mean there will be more of
you heading in the same direction…and a lot of Guests near
the “front of the line.” So again, try and maintain a brisk but
courteous pace to ensure an early arrival to your favorite
attraction.
The Land pavilion, home to Soarin’ (Epcot’s most popular
attraction, along with Test Track), has its own opening procedures. Guests are invited to enter the pavilion through the
right hand doors. To the uninitiated, you may see that the
left hand doors appear to be open (and less crowded), but
don’t be fooled. If you attempt to go through the left doors
a friendly Cast Member will direct you to the right and to
the proper entrance. Additionally, if the pavilion is especially busy, you may be directed in a particular direction with
the rest of the crowd. The purpose here is to facilitate an
orderly flow through the pavilion as Guests make their way
down to the lower level and Soarin’, so don’t be confused (or
try to go in the opposite direction). If you’re heading for Test
Track, you’ll find that this too draws large crowds, both FastPass and Standby, very quickly. A good tip, if you don’t mind
riding alone, is to opt for the Single Riders line instead. You
may find the wait time to be a small fraction of the wait
times for the other two lines, and sometimes you’ll practically walk right on (this strategy is useful throughout the
day, not just first thing in the morning).
Keep in mind that World Showcase doesn’t open until 11
am, at which time it has its own rope drop ceremony. But
Photo © Nick Comande
Co-author Rachel Comande standing in front of Cinderella Castle on a deserted Main Street U.S.A.
what does that mean if you’re entering through the International Gateway before World Showcase opens? Don’t
worry; you can still make your way to Future World. A rope
will prevent you from turning right toward the France pavilion, but you can stroll along the path that takes you past
the United Kingdom and Canada pavilions. Once past the
Canada pavilion you can continue on to the World Showcase promenade if you’re heading toward Test Track, or the
rose pathway that meanders past the Imagination pavilion
if you’re heading toward Soarin’.
When the park first opens, Guests entering via the International Gateway will be held up at the bridge that leads
toward France and the rest of World Showcase until the
park officially opens. Once you start walking toward Future World, you’ll be afforded some amazing views of the
surrounding areas, which are especially spectacular during the Flower and Garden Festival. If you have breakfast
reservations at Akershus in Norway, you’ll continue on past
the Mexico pavilion on your way to Norway (though keep in
mind the pavilions themselves won’t open until 11:00).
The Magic Kingdom
The Magic Kingdom, the oldest and most popular of the
Walt Disney World parks, typically draws the largest crowds,
but the effort and anticipation of being among the first to
enter the park is well worth the effort. There are actually
two sets of “gates” you’ll pass through as you enter the Magic Kingdom. The first is the actual admission area where
you’ll scan your MagicBand, while the second is the series of
tunnels that pass beneath the Walt Disney World Railroad
Station that leads to Main Street U.S.A. Approximately 15
minutes before the actual opening of the park, Guests are
admitted through the admission kiosks and into the front
courtyard in front of the train station. It’s here that you’ll
find the iconic flower bed that features the familiar face of
Mickey Mouse. This is a great time to get a group photo, but
you’ll need to hurry as this area fills up very quickly! Cast
Members will hold Guests at the entrances to the aforementioned tunnels.
As opening time approaches, the crowds will build quickly in anticipation of one of the most magical experiences to
47 · Celebrations
be seen at Walt Disney World, the Magic Kingdom Welcome
Show. Mickey and friends arrive onboard one of the Walt
Disney Railroad trains while festive music is played in the
background. Joined by an entourage of Main Street citizens
and dancers, the show culminates in a joyous countdown
to signal the opening of the park. Keep in mind that if you
were fortunate enough to make your way to the front of
the crowd, you won’t have a good view of the show, but you
will be among the first to enter the park. As the countdown
proceeds, Guests are permitted into the Magic Kingdom
(typically about five minutes before the official opening of
the park). On days where there is no preshow (usually during slower seasons), a family is chosen by random, typically
one with a child dressed as their favorite princess or Disney
Character. The family is then asked to help open the park by
throwing pixie dust into the air
as music plays and the grand
countdown is played over the
loudspeakers.
Once they pass under the
train station, Guests will find
themselves in the heart of
Town Square at the beginning
of Main Street U.S.A. It’s admittedly a mad dash to make your
way to front of Main Street
(though there will be plenty
of friendly Cast Members on
hand to make sure everyone is
safe and orderly, don’t forget to
do your best to cooperate!), but
if you can make your way to the
front you’ll be treated to one
of the most memorable sights
you’ll ever see…Cinderella Castle towering at the end of a deserted Main Street, a setting
fit for a princess (or prince)!
While you walk down Main Street U.S.A. (sometimes still
wet from a pre entry wash down), you can savor the views
of the empty streets and sidewalks, closed shops, and an occasional Cast Member wishing you a magical day. Soon you’ll
come upon another great photo opportunity; the Partners
Statue featuring Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse. This is a
great opportunity to have your family’s photo taken with
no one behind you, making for an excellent souvenir of your
trip. After all, this was Walt’s dream, a man of vision whose
48 · Celebrations
goal was to make a place for families and people of all ages
to enjoy themselves. A place where parents can bring their
children, to see them smile with shear delight as they have
one of the greatest times of their life. Who could ask for anything more?
As you make your way toward the individual lands, (assuming you’re still at the front of the line), you’ll encounter
another rope at each of the land’s entrances. Once the Cast
Members welcome Guests inside, they will lead you to the
headliner attractions (keep in mind that the Cast Members set the pace…you’re not allowed to go past them…so
don’t make any plans to run past them and make a beeline
toward Splash Mountain). Generally speaking, there aren’t
many shortcuts to take advantage of, but there is a path
that may help you get to Big Thunder Mountain and Splash
Mountain ahead of the multitudes looking to be among
the first to ride (while you
can’t go past the leading
Cast Members, this is a good
way to “catch up” if you fell
behind making your way
down Main Street). As you
make your way through Adventureland, look for a passageway on your right that
leads to several restrooms.
The passageway actually
opens up into Frontierland
on the other side, and if you
take this shortcut you’ll save
some valuable steps on your
way to the twin mountains
that anchor Adventureland
and Frontierland.
With a little bit of planning, a bit of luck (and a comfy pair
of shoes), you can find yourself in the envious position of being the first, or among the first, to ride your favorite attraction. You’ll also get the chance to see some wondrous views,
to enjoy the rare sight of the parks and walkways without
the crowds, and most of all, to collect a memory that will
last a lifetime. With adrenalin rushing as you pull back on
the safety bar to whatever pirate ship, mine train or doom
buggy you are sitting in, you can relish in the thought that
you made it here first. Out of the thousands that will visit
here on any given day, it was you that did it.
Photos © Nick Comande
49 · Celebrations
Creating 3D
Before 3D:
How Walt Disney Brought
Worlds to Life by Tim Foster
50 · Celebrations
F
rom film to attractions, the concept of immersing the
viewer into a fully-realized three-dimensional world
has revolutionized the entertainment industry. Rather
than being passive viewers, members of the audience can
now become a part of the action, and movie-makers and
Imagineers alike now possess the tools to bring their most
ambitious visions to life.
In the theaters, blockbuster films are nearly always presented in ultra-realistic 3D, particularly animated films and
effects-driven action and sci-fi movies. A wealth of new technologies has emerged to bring the on-screen images to life,
though the basic principles are similar to the old 3D films
that were all the rage in the 1950s (where the viewer wore
glasses with colored lenses, remember those?). The premise
of 3D imagery is that two images of the scene, from slightly
different perspectives, are projected on the screen, and your
brain is tricked into combining them into one, resulting in a
3D image. The specific techniques for presenting the images
on-screen vary. One method uses polarized light to project
the images simultaneously; the 3D effect is achieved by
wearing special glasses with polarizing filters, with each filter blocking the light used to project the image intended for
the other eye. (This is the technique used in attractions like
Mickey’s PhilharMagic, if you remove your “opera glasses”
you’ll see the two images together on the screen). Another
alternative is for the projector to rapidly alternate the left/
right images on the screen. The viewer wears special liquid
crystal shutter glasses that block the appropriate image
to the proper eye in sync with the projectors. It all sounds
very complicated, but the result is that the viewer “sees” the
movie from two slightly different perspectives, just like we
see the world in our everyday life. Our brain seamlessly combines the two images into a fully realized 3D environment.
Viewing 3D films is one thing; creating them is quite another. In the days of old, filmmakers simply used two cameras side by side and showed the film using two projectors.
Red and green filters were used to block the left and right
images, and the audience wore cardboard glasses with colored film to view the movie (the films themselves were actually black and white). It was a novelty to be sure, but the
images were far from perfect. Additionally, many filmmakers, in an attempt to cash-in on the 3D fad, often made films
that were short on plot but long on gimmicky 3D effects. 3D
films fell in and out of favor over the years, with occasional
resurgences, but never graduated to the same artistic and
critical level of mainstream films. It wasn’t until the year
Photo © Disney
2003, with the release of James Cameron’s Ghosts of the Abyss,
that a new wave of 3D technology ushered in a resurgence
in 3D films. Techniques for creating these films include traditional (but highly sophisticated) dual-camera systems,
motion capture or performance capture (where real actors’
motions are filmed and used as the basis for creating computerized 3D models), and computer animation, in which
the animators can use multiple virtual cameras to bring
their 3D worlds to life.
The technology used today is very innovative and complex, and the results can be absolutely breathtaking. But the
roots of creating a 3D experience go way back, long before
the advent of revolutionary computer and optical technology. Walt Disney developed several innovations that would
create the illusion of 3D on film, and also strived to transport Guests into fully realized, totally immersive worlds in
his parks.
Creating 3D Worlds on the Big Screen
The first fully computer-animated movie released by
Walt Disney Feature Animation was 2005’s Chicken Little (Dinosaur, from 2000, and the early Pixar films were also computer-animated, but they were only distributed by Disney
and not produced in-house). Early films such as Beauty and
the Beast (1991) and Tron (1982) also incorporated computerized visuals.
But creating a 3D experience actually goes back to the
earliest days of Disney animation, long before the advent
of computer technology. The first cartoon filmed in stereoscopic 3D was Walt Disney’s Melody from the Adventures
in Music series, released in 1953. It was followed a year later
by the Donald Duck/Chip ‘n’ Dale short, Working for Peanuts.
(Working for Peanuts was eventually remastered in digital 3D
and rereleased with the theatrical Disney Digital 3-D version of 2007’s Meet the Robinsons.) Both shorts were eventually shown at Disneyland in the Fantasyland Theater as part
of the 3D Jamboree show in 1956.
However, Walt Disney’s original innovation for bringing
a 3D look to his animated films goes back even earlier. In
the earliest days of hand-drawn animation, images were
drawn on cels, which were laid on top of each other and
photographed as one image. This allowed for a character
to be drawn separately from the background and other
scene elements, saving the animator the task of drawing
the same non-moving elements over and over. However,
creating the illusion of a 3D world rested solely on the artis51 · Celebrations
tic skills of the animator, and even then the challenge was
nearly an impossible one. For the most part, filmmakers
were content to have figures move against a static background. To create the illusion of motion, animators would
pan the background as the scene progressed (by moving
the foreground and background cels relative to each other
with each shot), but it was still a far cry away from creating
a 3D environment. Alternatively, animators could move the
camera itself to create the sense of motion.
Disney’s first animated film to incorporate a moving
camera was Plane Crazy (which coincidentally was Mickey
Mouse’s first animated appearance, though it was only a
test screening). One of the scenes from the film was a POV
(point of view) shot from the plane as it dove toward the
ground. To create the illusion, the filmmakers actually piled
books under the spinning background to painstakingly
move the artwork closer to the camera.
In real life, different tricks of perspective aid our brain in
perceiving a three-dimensional world. For example, when
driving down a road, nearby bushes and trees whiz past
our view, while distant mountains move much more slowly
(and stars in the sky don’t move it all). The
combination of these different elements,
moving at different speeds, allows us to perceive depth. The trick was, how could that
concept be brought to the world of animation (without the animator having to draw
each scene completely from scratch)?
The Multiplane Camera
The answer was the invention of an all
new animation process that made use of
a special type of camera, called the multiplane camera. Simply put, the camera allowed the operator to shoot several layers
of artwork at once. The different layers
were mounted separately within their own
independent frames, allowing the animator
to move the different layers of artwork past
the camera at various speeds and at various distances from
one another, all in the same shot. By leaving various parts
of the artwork transparent, other layers could be seen behind them, and through careful calculation of the timing
and movements of the different layers, an illusion of depth
is created.
While animators such as Lotte Reiniger and Berthold
Bartosch has used equipment that would foreshadow this
52 · Celebrations
revolutionary technique, the first true multiplane camera
(which utilized four layers of artwork) was invented by
former Walt Disney Studios animator/director Ub Iwerks
in 1933 using old automobile parts. (Iwerks had temporarily
left the Walt Disney Studios in 1930, though he would later
return and was highly influential in creating new animation techniques throughout the rest of his Disney career.)
Though Iwerks created a number of cartoons utilizing the
new camera, their popularity was short-lived, and they are
notable today primarily for their historical significance.
It was of course Walt Disney and the Walt Disney Studios
that would take the multiplane camera to a whole new level. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs made extensive use of the
camera, which by now incorporated seven layers of independent artwork painted in oils on glass plates. Invented by
William Garity, the camera was completed in early 1937 and
was given a test run with the production of the Silly Symphonies short, The Old Mill. One of the primary differences
between Disney’s multiplane camera and the earlier incarnation developed by Iwerks was that the Disney version
had the art plates positioned vertically beneath a moveable
camera, allowing for much greater flexibility and freedom
of movement (Iwerks’ version had the plates standing up
before a horizontal camera.) The Old Mill would go on to win
the 1937 Academy Award for Animated Short Film, and the
multiplane camera was used prominently in subsequent
films such as Pinocchio, Fantasia, Bambi, and Peter Pan.
The final film to utilize the mulitplane camera was 1989’s
The Little Mermaid, though the actual animation was done
where; from the pirate precariously perched with one
foot on the dock and one
foot on the boat and the
pirates drunkenly singing
arm in arm, to the flames
raging inside the buildings
and the road that winds
its way past the overhead
bridge (making great use
of forced perspective). The
sounds of crackling fires,
cackling pirates, and the faA still from The Old Mill, showing how the multiplane camera was used to create the illusion of depth, from miliar strains of “Yo ho, yo
the spider webs in the foreground to the mill itself in the background.
ho, a pirate’s life for me!” fill
the space around you, and everywhere you look (and listen)
by a third party as Disney’s cameras were no longer operais filled with little touches and details that afford you the
tional. Having long been supplanted by computer technolchance to experience something new every time you ride.
ogy, the traditional multiplane camera has gone the way
Similarly, the graveyard at the Haunted Mansion is filled
of the typewriter, a relic of the past but one that had a sigwith several layers of action, with events going on simultanificant impact on future technologies. Today, you can still
neously in the foreground and background. Sure, everyone
see three multiplane cameras on exhibit at The Walt Disney
has enjoyed the harmonious voices of the singing busts as
Animation Studios in Burbank, the Walt Disney Family Muthey warble their way through “Grim Grinning Ghosts,” but
seum in San Francisco, and at the Art of Disney Animation
have you noticed the ghoulish tea party or the howling cats?
attraction at Walt Disney Studios Park in Disneyland Paris.
The conceptual idea behind these and many other attractions was to bring Guests into a fully realized world, filled
3D in Real Life
with all the sights and sounds that the Imagineers could
The notion of creating a “real life” 3D environment may at
come up with. The cinematic lessons learned through years
first seem contradictory; after all, we do live in a 3D world
of animation and live-action production (such as staging,
(well, there’s another place in Walt Disney World where you
lighting, props, and the blocking out of scenes) were used…
can experience another dimension of sound, sight, and
and are still used…to great effect to bring these imagined
mind…but that’s a story for another time). In this case,
worlds to life. And lest we think it’s all about sight and sound,
what we’re referring to is Walt Disney’s desire to immerse
don’t forget the added element of smell. Whether purposehis Disneyland Guests into fully realized and detailed enviful, like the burning embers in the Rome scene from Spaceronments. Disneyland was never about recreating the same
ship Earth, or unintended side effects, like the musty water
old carnival environment that people had long experienced.
aroma that permeates Pirates, these added elements add
It was a place where Guests would be able to experience
to the total sensory immersion that Guests experience.
new worlds; to be taken away to magical destinations in
Today’s Imagineers have the opportunity to employ newer
the realm of imagination. This was a natural extension of
technologies and innovations in today’s attractions, includDisney’s cinematic background, and indeed, many of the ating new-generation Animatronic figures with ultra-realtractions incorporated many theatrical elements to fully
istic movement (like Lumière from Enchanted Tales With
immerse Guests into the story of the attraction.
Belle), and ingenious projection techniques (such as those
To cite one example, Pirates of the Caribbean is filled with
used in The Seas With Nemo & Friends that place the charrich details and sensory elements. Visually, each scene is
acters from the film right in the aquarium with the actual
comprised of several levels of action. Things are happening
fish). But the goal remains the same, to create fully realized
simultaneously in the foreground, mid-ground, and back3D worlds where Guests can let their imagination run free.
ground. Think of the scene were the mischievous pirates are
Just the way that Walt intended.
ransacking the port-side town. Things are happening everyPhotos and artwork © Disney
53 · Celebrations
54 · Celebrations
I
n our last issue, we embarked on a tour around the world
to see how some of the most iconic Walt Disney World attractions were presented in other Disney parks around the
globe. Because every Disney park has its own identity, due
to the different cultures and customs of its host country,
many familiar attractions take on a whole new life. While
some of the details, both minor and major, may be different, the one thing that always remains constant is that
unforgettable Disney magic and attention to detail. Join us
as we continue our journey across the globe as we take a
look at two of the most famous Disney attractions of all, the
Haunted Mansion and “it’s a small world.” Passports ready?
Then let’s go!
The Haunted Mansion
As all fans of Walt Disney World know, the Haunted Mansion is a gothic manor situated at the end of Liberty Square.
But did you know that the Haunted Mansion resides in a different land in each park?
In Disneyland (shown opposite), it can be found in New
Orleans Square, for example. And Tokyo Disneyland wanted to place the
Mansion somewhere that
made sense culturally to
the park’s visitors. According to Imagineer Jason
Surrell, that meant placing
the Haunted Mansion in,
believe it or not, Fantasyland. Surrell tells us that
in Japanese culture, “ghost
stories are often categorized as fairy tales or
fables. Since fairy tales belonged in the Magic Kingdom Fantasyland, so, then,
would the Haunted Mansion.” Tokyo Disneyland’s
attraction is the exact same as that found in Walt Disney
World except for its placement in the park, the only change
was the addition of two huge griffins that guard the front
gate. These creatures were installed to help the Haunted
Mansion’s exterior fit into its Fantasyland home.
Unlike the Haunted Mansion in Tokyo, Disneyland Paris’
Phantom Manor (inset) completely breaks the mold of what
Photos © Disney
fans have come to expect from the Haunted Mansion. While
the ride track is similar – Guests will recognize the séance
room, the ballroom, the attic, and other iconic areas of the
Haunted Mansion – Phantom Manor has a very definite, and
very different, storyline. Second, Walt Disney famously proclaimed that the outside of the Haunted Mansion shouldn’t
look like a haunted house – he didn’t want to emulate the
dirty atmosphere of a carnival or midway in his new park.
“We’ll take care of the outside and let the ghosts take care
of the inside,” he famously told his Imagineers. Why, then,
does Phantom Manor look like a stiff breeze could knock it
down?
Phantom Manor’s outside actually has a lot to do with
its inside. (Spoiler alert!) Located in Frontierland, Phantom
Manor tells the story of gold tycoon Henry Ravenswood
(who dug his gold out of Big Thunder Mountain, right next
door, tying the attractions of Frontierland together in one
narrative) and who murdered his daughter’s fiancé to keep
her from leaving home. Convinced that her love would
come for her one day, Ravenswood’s daughter, Melanie, remained in her wedding dress, roaming the halls of the manor and waiting for the day her love would come back to her.
In the meantime, the walls of the once-stunning mansion
began to crumble and erode. Both the gold tycoon and his
daughter haunt the halls of Phantom Manor, he trying to
55 · Celebrations
keep wayfarers trapped in the house forever and she trying to help them – us – escape. Guests are whisked through
the manor – including variations on the famous ballroom
and attic scenes, complete with Melanie Ravenswood taking the place of the beating-heart bride and/or Constance.
However, instead of seeing Imagineer Marc Davis’ iconic
graveyard scene, we are instead ejected from the grounds
into the Old West town of Thunder Mesa. We quickly learn
that this is no ordinary western town, though – everyone
is dead. The mayor greets us by tipping his hat...and his
head comes with it. Skeletons shrouded in cobwebs reach
for each other, and for us. “Wait!” I can hear you say, “that’s
not the Disney attraction I know and love!” Indeed, it isn’t.
And that’s why the outside looks dilapidated and like...well,
like a haunted house. That way, the exterior provides some
ominous foreshadowing for what Guests can expect inside.
The French generally have a different attitude towards
the horror genre (and the American Old West) than most
Americans. If a Parisian is told they’re going into a haunted
house, they will expect a certain level of scariness and gore.
While Phantom Manor isn’t really gory (beyond the skeletons) or all that terribly scary, it is definitely more intense
than its American counterparts, and many children who
are fine with WDW’s Haunted Mansion may not be amenable to riding through Phantom Manor.
In addition, like most of Europe, the French population is
enamored with the American Old West – it’s exotic to them
in a way that regular graveyards and gothic structures
aren’t. Surrell quotes Imagineering legend Tony Baxter:
“Gothic mansions and graveyards are part of the neighborhood in France – they see them every day. There’s nothing
exotic or magical about it…We had to do something that
would appeal to that audience.” Thus, the haunted Old West
town of Thunder Mesa replaced the graveyard scene to
make the last bit of the attraction more appropriate for its
European Guests.
In the spring of 2013, a new Manor opened its doors in
Hong Kong Disneyland, featuring a trackless ride system,
amazing special effects, and a score composed by Danny
Elfman (who did the music for The Nightmare Before Christmas). Mystic Manor doesn’t follow the Haunted Mansion
template established in Disneyland and Walt Disney World,
but the attraction does acknowledge the Haunted Mansion
several times throughout the ride. For example, a bust resides in Lord Mystic’s study that looks suspiciously like one
of the quartet of singing busts found in the Haunted Mansion’s graveyard scene. In the next room, multiple paintings
56 · Celebrations
come to life, including one of a young woman who becomes
Medusa, much like that in the Portrait Gallery in the Haunted Mansion.
Mystic Manor in Hong Kong Disneyland takes its cue
from the various other Haunted Mansions, but like Phantom Manor, Mystic Manor has its own unique backstory – in
fact, Mystic Manor departs even further from the Haunted
Mansion than Phantom Manor does. (Spoiler alert!) At Tokyo DisneySea, one backstory of the park that helps tie multiple attractions together is the Society of Explorers and Adventurers, and that theme is continued here. One member
of this organization, Lord Henry Mystic, has invited Guests
into his home. The queue shows posters detailing “The Collection of Lord Henry Mystic” to help you identify the various collectibles that Lord Mystic picked up during his adventures, including various musical instruments, statuary,
and even a sarcophagus. Pay attention to these posters –
you’ll be seeing these objects up close soon enough.
Rather than a “Stretching Room,” Mystic Manor’s preshow takes place in a screening area off of a projection
room. Lord Mystic himself introduces the attraction to
you from said projection room, welcoming you to “a world
class collection of art, antiquities, and [his] first residence.”
A lively Animatronic Albert – Henry’s pet monkey and travel
companion – also makes an appearance in the pre-show. In
the first scene after boarding, Albert opens the music box
and inadvertently brings several artifacts to life. In the next
room, various instruments play themselves under the influence of the enchantment, and paintings come to life in the
room after. The effects – a blending of Animatronics and
digital animation – are astounding.
However, the enchantment turns nasty in the greenhouse, where a Venus fly trap lunges at you and a painting
freezes the entire room. Several suits of armor come to life,
(including a samurai uniform that begins attacking Albert),
canons fire themselves at your ride vehicle, and the Egyptian mummy (I told you those posters in the queue were
there for a reason!) is released from its sarcophagus. The
effects in the final rooms are particularly impressive, as an
entire wall of the manor is ripped away and a large statue
calls down lightning bolts around your vehicle. But Albert
is able to grab the music box and slam shut the lid, returning everything back to normal. While Mystic Manor departs
from Disney’s original Haunted Mansion, its incredible technology, amazing immersiveness, clever references to other
Disney attractions, and meticulous attention to detail all
mark the ride as distinctly Disney.
it’s a small world after all
One of Disney’s most popular, most iconic rides is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Its longevity is well deserved
– debuting at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York, ‘It’s a Small
World’ has come to represent Disney’s commitment to the
spirit of childhood and the bringing together of families
and cultures alike. And there’s no better way to conclude an
exploration of attractions around the world than to look at
the one that started it all!
After the attraction’s success at the World’s Fair, Disney
moved “it’s a small world” to Disneyland in 1966 (where the
name was slightly modified to consists of all lower case letters…the exact presentation of the name varies slightly
park to park, another unique aspect of this beloved at-
traction). Versions of the attraction can now be found all
around the world, in Walt Disney World (1971), Tokyo Disneyland (1983), Disneyland Paris (1992), and Hong Kong Disneyland (2008). In fact, because of time zones and park operating hours, the theme song “it’s a small world” is always
playing somewhere in the world at any given time of day!
The theme song was originally written by the Sherman
Brothers (who also worked on classics like Mary Poppins, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and The Tigger Movie), and it featured
instrumentation from all over the world, including Scottish
bagpipes, Tahitian drums, and Peruvian flutes, to name a few.
Photo © Disney
While all of the versions of the attraction around the world
use the iconic theme song, some versions have made slight
changes to the original score. For example, the instrumentation in Hong Kong Disneyland includes traditional Chinese instruments like a xiao (a large vertical flute), guzheng
(zither), and a pipa (a lute-like stringed instrument). Hong
Kong Disneyland’s version also includes four new languages:
Korean, Cantonese, Tagalog, and Putonghua. Also different is
Disneyland Paris’ score, which was arranged by John Debney
and recorded by the London Chamber Orchestra.
Besides the music, some versions of “it’s a small world”
contain different dolls. Disneyland features a doll that is
a tribute to Mary Blair, whose distinctive artistic style inspired the whimsical design of the attraction itself. In the
Paris scene, look for a little blonde
girl with glasses who is flying a balloon – that’s Blair! In addition, both
Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland feature dolls representing classic Disney characters such
as Cinderella (shown here), many
from their respective countries.
Mulan and Mushu can be found
in Asia, the Three Caballeros (Donald, Jose, and Panchito) are in the
Latin America scene, and Ariel and
Flounder can be spotted in the Pacific Island setting. See how many
Disney characters you can spot
across the “world.”
Coming Home
It’s only fitting that we’ve concluded our tour around the world
with a look at “it’s a small world.”
Being able to see classic Disney
attractions presented in unique ways that pay homage to
their host countries reminds us that while we all live together on this, our Spaceship Earth (though that’s a story
for another time!), one of the wonderful things we can celebrate is the uniqueness and diversity of cultures and traditions throughout the world. A tour through some of the
most iconic Disney attractions of all time brings this gift of
wonderment to life, and while we can enjoy that same Disney magic throughout the world, we can also enjoy the variety of cultures that indeed make our planet “a small world”
indeed.
57 · Celebrations
58 · Celebrations
Photo © Tim Foster
59 · Celebrations
A
long with the intricate pavilions and ornate landscapes of Epcot’s World Showcase, special experiences
help to immerse Guests into the country they are exploring. Shops, foods and attractions can temporarily transport
Guests to eleven lands across the globe, and three pavilions
run continuous showings of films that literally surround
their audiences with the beauty of these countries. Reflections of China takes Guests through history, with a look
back at ancient China as well as the land of today; Impressions de France blends music by great French composers
with images that range from cobblestone village streets
to the glory of Versailles. The last of these, O Canada, spans
its title nation’s ten provinces and three territories to give
Guests a taste of the vast land north of the border.
The original film was part of the Canada Pavilion since
the day Epcot opened in 1982. Disney created O Canada in
cooperation with the Canadian Tourism Commission, and
60 · Celebrations
filmed the movie in 360° Circle-Vision, so that the audience
would be enveloped by images from across the regions of
Canada. The movie was scored by film and television composer Richard Clements, whose other work for Epcot has
included music for Impressions de France and Magic Journeys, a 3-D movie running in the Journey into Imagination
Pavilion from 1982 until 1986, and was later moved to Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom, where it ran from 1987 until
1993.
The film introduced Guests to Canada with a mosaic of
photographs of its diverse population, greeting the audience “from the Maritimes, along the rocky coasts of the
North Atlantic…from Québec, with its French heritage
and joie de vivre…from Ontario, the most populated and
industrialized province of all…from the plains and prairies
of the heartland, where we tend vast fields of grain…from
the mountains and the shores of the west, and the tundra
Photo © Tim Foster
of the far north.” After being encircled by a troop of the
Royal Canadian Mounted Police, or “Mounties,” resplendent
in their distinctive scarlet coats, Guests were taken on a
20-minute journey across the world’s second-largest nation.
The original tour of Canada began with a rollicking guitar
and fiddle tune accompanying a look at Canada’s east coast
and the Maritime Provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia
and Prince Edward Island. Noted in the narration was the
famed Bay of Fundy, the site of the world’s highest tides.
Due to its large size and funnel-like shape, the bay, which
straddles eastern New Brunswick and western Nova Scotia,
boasts tides that typically reach 30 to 40 feet in height, and
have been known to extend as high as 53 feet!
Another treasure of the Maritimes, the schooner Bluenose, received a special mention. The Bluenose was built in
the small bayside town of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. In 1921
she was entered into the International Fishermen’s Race,
a regatta which had been instituted a year earlier to test
the maritime mettle of North Atlantic sailors. Unlike many
boating competitions of both that time and today, the International Fishermen’s Race pitted working fishing boats
against each other in the challenging waters of the Grand
Banks, a particularly rich fishing haven southeast of Newfoundland, with the winner receiving the most rewarding
prices for the fish they had caught during their quest. The
Bluenose went on to win the trophy for seventeen more
years, thus cementing her place among Canadian lore; an
image of the ship has appeared on Canada’s dime since
1937, as well as on three postage stamps and the provincial
license plate of Nova Scotia. Sadly, the Bluenose was damaged beyond repair after hitting a reef in Haiti in 1946, but a
replica vessel, Bluenose II, was launched in 1963 and continues to sail to American and Canadian ports, offering tours
and local cruises.
One of the highlights of the former film was the use of
authentic Canadian folk music, performed by famed Canadian singers. The Bluenose segment was accompanied by
a song by the same name, written and performed by Stan
Rogers, one of Canada’s most deeply-respected folksingers.
The song was written for a 1976 short film called Bluenose
in the Sun, a promotional documentary about the two Bluenose ships.
Another folksong, “Vive la Canadienne,” ushered in the
film’s next stop on its cinematic voyage: the city of Montreal, the largest French-speaking city outside of France, in
the province of Québec. From the streets of the city, Guests
were then taken inside the glorious Notre-Dame Basilica
of Montreal, accompanied by the majestic Prelude in D by
Montreal native Pierre Grandmaison, who has served as
the Basilica’s organist since 1973.
The next section of the film was used to highlight Canada’s vast wildlife and outdoor beauty, from its wooded lakes
to the wide variety of northern fauna; bald eagles, moose,
elk, and a mass of other four-legged friends, along with a
flurry of fiddling, took the film to Canada’s western prairies.
Scenes were shown from what was without a doubt the Calgary Stampede (though unnamed in this film), an almostannual tribute to the Old West held since September 1912,
when promoter Guy Weadick presented a vaudeville show
dedicated to the legends and lore of the western frontier.
Though World War I prevented the show from continuing
annually, as originally intended, it was reinstituted in 1919 as
a “Victory Stampede,” commemorating the end of the war.
Four years later, the Stampede joined forces with the Calgary Exhibition, putting on a joint event in July, where it has
remained a fixture on Calgary’s calendar ever since.
The Trans-Canada Railway, also unidentified in the film,
then took Guests through the Canadian Rockies and the
breathtaking lakes and rivers of Alberta, with its iconic
resort hotels, which modeled in the Canada Pavilion itself.
Ski tracks along the mountains led to a look at Canada’s
prowess at winter sports, including sledding, ice-skating
along Ottawa’s Rideau Canal and the country’s national pastime of hockey. The film then gave a quick glance at some
of Canada’s major cities: the capital city of Ottawa; Toronto,
Canada’s largest city; Vancouver, on the country’s west coast;
and Victoria, with its strong British influences in the city’s
architecture.
Performances by a military band, bagpipe troupe, fife and
drum corps, and military honor guard concluded the narrative portion of the film; unfortunately, specific locations for
these performances were not indicated. Guests were then
provided with views from across the country, to the strains
of “Canada (You’re a Lifetime Journey),” a bi-lingual anthem
to Canada’s natural beauty. The song was composed by Bob
Moline (who also wrote “Golden Dream,” featured at the end
of the “American Adventure” Audio-Animatronics show, as
well as “Listen to the Land,” which used to be heard in Epcot’s
Living with the Land attraction), with French lyrics by Guy
Bonnardot, and performed by singers John Zov and Juanice
Charmaine.
While a visually beautiful film with a laudable use of
61 · Celebrations
music by Canadian composers and performers, in time its
documentary style began to feel dated, and the lack of identification of locations was a detriment to any Guests who
were not intimately familiar with the country. These issues
were rectified when the film was re-made, making its debut
in September 2007, and continuing to run to this day.
A New Film…With A Twist
The updated version of the film features comedic actor
Martin Short, a native of Hamilton, Ontario. It begins with
an unseen narrator offering a tongue-in-cheek poke at
what many people must believe actually occurs in Canada:
as a blinding blizzard surrounds the audience, they are
told that, “here in the Great White North, it snows 24 hours
a day, every day of the year; its frozen landscape is dotted
with igloos, homes for the vast majority of Canadians.”
A
Hawaiian-shirt-garbed
Short indignantly interjects
that no, this is not true, and
proceeds to take Guests on a
journey through his “home
and native land” (as sung
in the country’s national
anthem, which is the film’s
namesake).
This film opens with
what is a familiar sight—
and site—to most: glorious
Niagara Falls, which borders the United States and
Canada outside of Buffalo,
New York. After a glimpse
of Horseshoe Falls, which is
found on the Canadian side
of this natural wonder, Guests head northeast to the Bay of
Fundy, and are then whisked across the country—and six
time zones, as Short reminds the audience—to British Columbia’s Butchart Gardens. In 1904, cement magnate Robert
Pim Butchart developed a limestone quarry to supply a cement company he’d built on Vancouver Island. His wife Jennie wanted to create a work of beauty out of the quarry, and
so over the next several years developed a series of gardens
that now attract visitors from around the world (and are
in fact the inspiration for the lovely landscaping of the Canada Pavilion’s “Victoria Gardens”). Also featured is its island
neighbor Cathedral Grove, and its trails through forests of
Douglas fir trees found in MacMillan Provincial Park.
62 · Celebrations
The natural beauty of the country makes for a smooth
segue into the wildlife of Canada: like its predecessor, this
version features footage of animals who make Canada
their home, ending with the polar bear (and incidentally,
Churchill, Manitoba, is considered the “Polar Bear Capital of
the World”!). These kings of the tundra lead into the film’s
segment on winter sports. Curling gets a special mention,
and not only are skiing and skating on the Rideau Canal
(which is identified this time around) reviving their roles in
this film, but so is hockey, both in the community setting
and the National Hockey League. As the ice thaws, spring
and summer sports come into play, including whitewater
rafting, horseracing, lacrosse skateboarding and the sole
Canadian representative to Major League Baseball, the Toronto Blue Jays. From here the Bluenose has its mention
in the new film, accompanied by Scottish fiddling, which is
prevalent in the province of Nova
Scotia. (It’s not surprising, seeing
as the province’s name actually
means New Scotland.)
Short points out that in spite
of the propensity of natural settings, with quaint town names
such as Moose Jaw, Saskatchwan,
and Medicine Hat, Alberta, not to
mention Canadians’ love of the
outdoors, most of the populace
lives in the large cities scattered
across the country. The film then
provides Guests with an up-close
look at the coastal cities of Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta, and the Calgary Stampede; Toronto, with a
special nod going to the annual Toronto International Film
Festival, one of the silver screens’ biggest moments of the
year; and finally Québec City and Montreal, Québec, which
Short points out is the home of Cirque du Soleil, the internationally-known acrobat troupe that hosts a permanent
theater in Downtown Disney/Disney Springs.
Guests are then treated to a montage of Canadian-born
actors and singers surrounding the audience, including Michael J. Fox (Edmonton, Alberta), Mike Myers (Scarborough,
Ontario), Catherine O’Hara (Toronto), k.d. lang (Consort,
Alberta), Matthew Perry (born in Massachusetts, raised in
Ottawa) and Keanu Reeves (born in Beirut, Lebanon; raised
in Toronto). The final star is Short himself, who brings the
Photo © Tim Foster
film full circle by returning to Niagara Falls, and encouraging Guests to visit the country itself: “Hook a left near that
big silver ball and keep walking due north—you can’t miss
it.” Like its predecessor, this version concludes with “Canada
(You’re a Lifetime Journey”), but with a more contemporary
pop arrangement, and sung by Eva Avila, a native of Gatineau, Québec, and winner of the fourth season of Canadian
Idol (2006).
As the song states, “Canada, my Canada, you’re a lifelong
journey for the traveler.” While you may not be able to devote an entire lifetime to exploring the countless beautiful
sights of Canada, spare 20 minutes on your next trip to Epcot and enjoy the images and music—not to mention Martin Short’s endearing charm--of O Canada!
O Canada Fast Facts
• T he theater has no seating, but Guests are welcome to use
“leaning rails” throughout the center of the theater.
• Martin Short is placed in scenes throughout the movie,
including the Calgary Stampede, the hockey segment and
Cirque du Soleil.
• Short mentions crossing six time zones spanning the
country. Along with the four time zones used in the mainland United States (Pacific, Mountain, Central and Eastern),
Canada also utilizes Atlantic Standard time, which is one
hour ahead of Eastern, in the provinces of New Brunswick,
Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and most of Labrador
(the mainland region of Newfoundland and Labrador); and
Newfoundland Standard Time, which is 90 minutes ahead
of Eastern Standard Time and used on the island of Newfoundland, as well as a small part of Labrador.
• During the segment featuring the Toronto Blue Jays, baseball fans might recognize the film’s iconic moment of the
Jays’ Hall-of-Famer Joe Carter belting a walk-off homerun
against Philadelphia Phillies’ pitcher Mitch Williams to win
Game 6 of the 1993 World Series.
• Listen carefully and you may hear excerpts from “O Canada,” the country’s national anthem composed by Calixa Lavallée, just before Eva Avila begins to sing, and at the very
end of the song at the conclusion of the movie.
63 · Celebrations
The Disney Heroes
Hall of Fame
by Lindsay Mott
W
ith the release of Big Hero 6, our thoughts started to turn to
Disney Heros in general, and we realized that the history of
Disney animation (and Disney itself) is filled with all sorts of heroes;
some obvious, some not so obvious, but all deserving of that most
honorable of titles: Hero.
We thought it would be fun, in honor of the new Disney hit film,
to come up with a list of our six favorite Disney Heroes. And so here
they are, our nominees for the inaugural Celebrations Disney Heroes
Hall of Fame.
Along the way, we’ll share our reasons behind our selections, and
our thoughts as to what makes these characters so heroic.
But it was difficult (meaning, nearly impossible!) to narrow down
the list to only six, and we knew there were plenty of other worthy
candidates. So we turned to you, our readers, for some extra help,
and asked you who you thought should be included in the Disney
Heroes Hall of Fame. We’ll share those results (some surprising!) at
the end of the article.
But for now, let’s get started with our Heroes roll call, and head
straight to our first inductee, a boy who will never grow up (a
sentiment many of us share no matter what our age).
Ready? Then here we go...!
64 · Celebrations
First Appearance: Peter Pan (1953)
Origins: Peter Pan originated as the work of playwright and
novelist J.M. Barrie in the early 1900s, but Walt Disney turned
him into the original bad boy with his interpretation of the
classic story. Peter Pan spends most of his time in Never Land
but has formed a fascination with the Darling family and comes
to London to hear Wendy’s stories about his adventures. Peter
Pan is the leader of the Lost Boys and friends to the infamous
Tinker Bell. He also outwits and outfights Captain Hook and his
crew more than once. Peter Pan also has his very own attraction, Peter Pan’s Flight, at Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
Heroic Deeds: Peter Pan is fearless and takes care of Captain
Hook in a way that no one else can; he even chopped off Hook’s
hand and fed it to the crocodile in an early battle. He displays
pretty intense knife fighting skills against the more experienced Captain, but always seems to prevail. Plus, he can fly, and
that certainly never hurt a hero’s abilities.
He leads the Lost Boys and appears to be respected by all
those living in Never Land. He also puts himself in harm’s way
to protect his friends, including Tiger Lily, the Lost Boys, and the
Darling kids. In “Return to Never Land,” Peter Pan sticks to his
heroic traits by rescuing Wendy’s daughter Jane from Captain
Hook. He also works to get Jane to believe in magic to save Tinker Bell again.
Little Known Facts:
• T he voice of Peter Pan was provided by Disney child actor, Bobby Driscoll. He was also the
close-up model for the animators. Bobby was in
other Disney productions including Song of the
South and Treasure Island.
• T he original animation idea for Peter Pan was
that he would be a small boy and a more fairytale like creature; the animators eventually settled on the look of a nearly teenaged boy even
though Peter Pan doesn’t age.
• Peter Pan is great at impersonations; his best
Peter Pan
ones being of Captain Hook and Mr. Smee.
• Peter Pan has since been on “House of Mouse,”
“Jake and the Never Land Pirates,” and the ABC
television drama “Once Upon a Time,” along
with other books, video games, etc. He has
cameo appearances in “This is Your Life, Donald
Duck” and “The Lion King 1 ½.”
• Traditionally, Peter Pan has been played on
stage by an adult woman. Disney’s version is
one of the few where he is a boy.
• Peter Pan was nominated for “AFI’s 100 Year...100
Hero and Villain” list. He came in at number 269.
65 · Celebrations
Simba
First Appearance: The Lion King (1994)
Origins: Simba is the son of the lion king Mufasa and knows
that one day he’ll get to rule everything. He can’t wait to be king,
but his uncle Scar has other ideas and sets a trap for Mufasa
and Simba. Somehow Simba escapes, but he blames himself
for the death of his father and runs away, finding Timon and
Pumbaa. A run-in with his childhood sweetheart reminds him
of who he is and he returns to take his place as king.
Heroic Deeds: Simba starts out as a young cub at the beginning of the movie, with a touch of pride and a knack for getting
into trouble. After seeing his father die in front of his eyes, he
runs away from the pride and subsequently meets some new
friends, including a (seemingly) crazy monkey. During his exile, Simba displays his heroic nature by protecting Timon and
Pumbaa from an attacking lion, which turns out to be his former childhood sweetheart Nala. Simba is a hero because he is
able to face his past (after some convincing from Nala) and realizes he must return to face Scar, who has laid waste to the pride
lands and convinced the pride that Simbaa was responsible for
the death of his father (a terrible burden that Simbaa had carried throughout his whole life). But he risks his own safety and
fights Scar until the end, ultimately forcing Scar to reveal the
truth about what happened. After defeating Scar, he takes his
rightful place as king and restores order to the land, thus continuing the circle of life.
Little Known Facts:
• Simba also appears in The Lion
King II: Simba’s Pride, The Lion King
1½, and the spin-off TV series
“Timon and Pumbaa.” He was
also on “House of Mouse” and
has been in numerous video
games. “The Lion King” musical
is also a Broadway production.
• S imba voice was performed by
three actors. Young Simba is
Jonathan Taylor Thomas, with
66 · Celebrations
his singing voice provided by
Jason Weaver. Adult Simba is
voiced by Mathew Broderick.
• In some design concepts, Simba is actually shown with blue
eyes. In developing the older
version of Simba, the animators incorporated some of
Matthew Broderick’s appearance and personality into the
final design.
• In Swahili, “Simba” means “lion.”
First Appearance: Aladdin (1992)
Origins: His story comes from “The Book of One Thousand
and One Nights” (also known as “The Arabian Nights”), but he actually wasn’t original to the stories. Aladdin is a Middle Eastern
folk tale that was added to these stories in the 19th century by
a Frenchman. In the Disney version, Aladdin is a good kid who
finds himself dealing with some unfortunate circumstances.
He is caught under the watchful eye of Jafar, who acknowledges him as “the diamond in the rough” and is used as bait by the
evil wizard. He meets a Genie, becomes a prince, saves the kingdom, and wins the girl. And, that’s just in his first film. Not too
shabby for a street rat!
Heroic Deeds: Aladdin puts himself in harm’s way time and
time again to fight for the greater good and to save Jasmine
more than once. He first saves her in the marketplace without
even knowing who she is, and the pattern continues as he falls
in love with her. He confronts Jafar in his normal form and after
he turns himself into a giant cobra. Aladdin is able to convince
Jafar to ask to be turned into a genie. Jafar thinks this will give
him unlimited power, but it actually restricts his power and
saves the kingdom. At the beginning of the film, Aladdin shares
the food he worked so hard to get with two hungry children,
and he keeps his promise to give the Genie back his freedom at
the end. He has his ups and downs throughout the film, but his
heroic spirit runs through, like any good Disney hero.
Little Known Facts:
• Aladdin was Disney’s first prince to marry into
royalty.
• Aladdin actually had two voices. His speaking
voice was provided by Scott Weinger, while
Brad Kane stepped in when it came to the singing. You would probably recognized Weinger as
DJ Tanner’s boyfriend Steve from “Full House.”
• Aladdin has since made appearances in a number of places in the Disney universe. The original movie had two sequels, The Return of Jafar
and Aladdin and the King of Thieves, and was also
Aladdin
an animated television series for a while. He
has also made appearances in “Hercules: The
Animated Series” and “House of Mouse,” and has
cameos in “Lilo and Stitch” and “The Lion King 1
½.” He has also appeared in a number of video
games, several Walt Disney World park attractions, and is now the star of Disney’s “Aladdin –
The Musical” on Broadway.
• Aladdin was the most successful film of 1992,
with over $217 million in domestic revenues
and over $500 million worldwide. The film was
nominated for five Oscars and took home two.
67 · Celebrations
Anna
First Appearance: Frozen (2013)
Origins: Princess Anna of Arendelle is the younger sister of
Snow Queen Elsa in Disney’s latest animated classic. The story
of Frozen is loosely based on “The Snow Queen,” a Hans Christian
Andersen fairy tale, and Anna’s character resembles Gerda, who
goes on a journey similar to Anna’s to save her best friend from
the Snow Queen. In the Disney version, Elsa is misunderstood
and not evil and is cursed with the ability to freeze things but
not control it. She hides her power, but an argument with Anna
lets it out. Elsa runs away to the mountains and Anna goes after her. In the end, they defeat the villain and end the curse together.
Heroic Deeds: Anna is not your typical Disney princess or
hero (heroine if you prefer). She’s a little quirky and awkward
and not quite as graceful as some of the other princesses, but
like the rest, she’s daring and fearless, believes in the greater
good, and sacrifices herself to protect others, especially her
sister Elsa. She takes off into the wintery night alone to rescue
Elsa without thinking of herself or her safety. She offers to help
Elsa deal with her curse and won’t leave until Elsa forces her too.
In the end, the sisters save each other from the evil Hans and
the curse itself, but it’s Anna’s journey and faith in her sister that
gets them all to that point.
Little Known Facts:
• T he singing and speaking voice of adult Anna is
performed by Kristen Bell, who was also the prime
inspiration for the character. Anna’s awkwardness
and “not so princessy” nature were purposeful for
this character. Anna has the most voice actors
of any Disney Princess. In addition to Bell, Livvy
Stubenrauch provides Anna’s 5-year old speaking
voice, Katie Lopez her 5-year old singing voice, and
Agatha Lee Monn her 9-year old singing voice.
• Anna is the 12th Disney princess; being inducted
along with Elsa.
• Anna’s character was originally meant to be a
peasant with a frozen heart who was on an ad-
68 · Celebrations
venture to find the Snow Queen. But the filmmakers had trouble working out the relationship between them, until the film’s directors hit upon the
idea of making Anna and Elsa sisters, giving them
a dynamic relationship ( just like all sisters).
• Anna is confirmed to appear in the upcoming
Frozen Fever animated short. She’s been added to
numerous books and video games, and the sisters
of Arrendelle have all but taken over the Disney
parks.
• In March 2014, Frozen became the top-grossing animated film in box office history, with a worldwide
box office estimated at $1.072 billion, pushing past
Toy Story 3.
First Appearance: Hercules (1997)
Origins: Hercules has a problem. He’s the son of the Greek
gods Zeus and Hera but he is stripped of his immortality by Hades, and he has to work to become a true hero to reclaim his
rightful place on Mount Olympus. While he still has his god-like
strength, he needs the help of his friend Pegasus and his trainer, Phil the satyr, to go from a zero to a hero.
Heroic Deeds: Hercules sticks to his compassionate roots
and stays pure of heart by not letting his ego inflate too much
after becoming famous. It’s heroic for him to seek out his origins and then heed the words of his father Zeus to become a
true hero. He saves Meg from Nessus and the Hydra that Hades sends to him, along with a variety of other monsters. He
then shows his true heroic nature by sacrificing himself for the
safety of Meg. He defeats the Cyclops and, after regaining his
strength, is able to thwart Hades’ invasion of Olympus. He again
performs a selfless act by attempting to rescue Meg’s soul from
the Underworld, offering to trade his soul for hers, and then
diving into the river Styx to get her back. This sacrifice turns
him into a true hero and he becomes a god again, allowing him
to return Meg’s soul to her and ultimately to defeat Hades. But
his true heroic act comes when he gives up his immortality to
live with Megara. Hercules learns that a true hero is not just
about having strong muscles, it’s about being a good person too,
a lesson he learned through his love of Meg.
Little Known Facts:
• Hercules’ strength surpasses that of many of
the other gods. In the Disney Universe, only
Zeus and the Genie can rival or surpass him.
• Hercules appears again in the sequel Hercules:
Zero to Hero and again in Hercules: The Series,
“House of Mouse,” and the “Kingdom Hearts”
series. At Walt Disney World, he is a very rare
meet-and-greet character, but does make appearances in “Fantasmic!” and “Wishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams.”
•H
ercules is actually voiced by three different
actors. Young Hercules is Josh Keaton, grown-
Hercules
up Hercules is Tate Donovan, and his singing
voice is done by Roger Bart.
• In mythology, Hercules and Ariel would be related. Hercules’s father, Zeus, is the brother
of Poseidon. One of Poseidon’s many sons is
Triton; and, of course, Ariel is Triton’s seventh
daughter. This means Hercules is Triton’s first
cousin, and Ariel is Hercules’s cousin once removed. There is some question of King Triton’s
lifespan as The Little Mermaid takes place in the
1800s and Hercules takes place well over 3000
years in the past, but King Triton is a god and,
most likely immortal.
69 · Celebrations
Ralph
Little Known Facts:
• Wreck-It Ralph is voiced by John C.
Reilly.
• At the very beginning, Ralph was a supporting role in this film, with Fix-It Felix, Jr. being the main character, but the
writers decided Ralph’s story would be
more compelling. He was originally
designed as a monster, at one time being red and furry, before the designers
made him look like the abominable
snowman, which his final character
70 · Celebrations
First Appearance: Wreck-It Ralph (2012)
Origins: According to Disney’s official bio, “Ralph is a heavyhanded ‘wrecking riot’ with a heart.” He’s the bad guy in the
Fix-It Felix, Jr. arcade game and his low reputation is starting
to wear on him.
Heroic Deeds: Ralph sets out to change his status from villain to hero, unwittingly for selfish reasons. He thinks that being
a good guy will solve all of his problems, and the only thing he
needs to turn his fortunes around is a medal. While the effort
to turn one’s self into a hero is a good thing, Ralph initially goes
about it all wrong. After some initial mess-ups, including getting off on the wrong foot with Vanellope, he eventually stands
up for her when she is being bullied by the other racers in Sugar
Rush. He then helps her build a kart for the race (albeit for his
own purposes), but risks his newfound friendship with Vanellope by smashing her kart in order to keep her from racing.
When he learns the truth, he shows his true heroic nature by
returning to Sugar Rush to make everything right. Ralph is no
longer worried about just himself, and this is the mark of a true
Disney hero. So is self-sacrifice, which is exactly what Ralph does
when he realizes that Vanellope can’t leave the game (which is
now on the verge of being destroyed) , and he stays with her at
the risk of being destroyed himself. Fortunately, Ralph comes
up with a plan to defeat the bugs, saves the day, and ends up
being what he always wanted to be: a true hero.
somewhat resembles. At some points,
he even resembled Pete, the villain in
early Mickey Mouse cartoons.
• Ralph makes a cameo appearance
in Big Hero 6. He has also been seen in
some spin-off comics and video games.
He has made some appearances at
Walt Disney World parks including a
few parades and events and has his
own segment in the night-time castle
show “Celebrate the Magic” at Magic
Kingdom.
So, there are our choices for the Disney Hero Hall of Fame! But as we
said, this is a highly subjective list, and we’re sure everyone has their favorites. So we posed the question to you, our readers. Who is your favorite
Disney Heroes? Here are your choices, along with a few surprises!
Reader Nominations:
Roy Disney, the financial guru that made Walt’s
park a reality. – Ashley Lynne Blake
Bob Parr – Jamie Hecker
Mr Incredible! – Rod Wheaton
Rapunzel – Michelle Smith
Jack Skellington; he went the long way around
but saved christmas just in the nick of time.
– Glen Turner
Will Turner constantly was unselfish and gave
his life for the woman he loved! Of course, now
he is doomed for eternity to replace Davy Jones!
– John Antonides
If it can be a real person, then Walt Disney of
course! I grew up watching cartoons he envisioned, filmed on a camera he invented.. Every
Sunday I looked forward to watching him on
any of his shows. Then he invented the amusement park for families, he’s the ultimate hero!
– Glen Turner
71 · Celebrations
T
he last time we parted ways, my companion and I
had just finished visiting different resorts via the
launch boats on Bay Lake. We eventually made our way
back to the Wilderness Lodge because we really enjoy
wandering around this property…both outside and inside. One of the things I love about this resort is the fact
that it reminds me of the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
at Disneyland.
After we got our fill of wandering the outside trails
and watching the geyser shoot into the air (and finding
the Hidden Mickey amongst the rocks!), it was time to
figure out what to do next. Of course, the conversation
quickly turned to food and there was some discussion
about eating at the Whispering Canyon Cafe. But I realized that it had been a while since
we had eaten at Trail’s End at Fort
Wilderness, so we decided that that
would be our next stop. The only
question now was how to get there.
Should we take a bus or hop on the
boat again?
A Cast Member overheard our
debate and pointed out that we
could actually walk from the Wilderness Lodge to the Fort Wilderness Campground.
That sounded like a nice, relaxing alternative, and with
that the Cast Member pointed us in the direction of the
trailhead and we started off on our journey. It wasn’t
long before the landscape quickly changed; one moment we were on resort property and the next we were
deep in the woods with nary a soul in sight. The chaotic sounds of resort life and families having fun by the
pool quickly faded away, leaving us to enjoy the sounds
of animals and the rustling of the tree branches…the
kind of quiet people often seek out as they hop in their
car to get away from it all.
As we were walking we noticed something else...our
pace dramatically slowed. My companion and I are
72 · Celebrations
naturally brisk walkers, but as we were surrounded by
woods (with very little to remind us that we were still
on Walt Disney World property), our stride shortened
and our pace slowed. One thing I really liked was the opportunity to see indigenous wildlife like squirrels and
various birds. But the craziest things we saw was an
armadillo. Imagine our surprise when that critter scurried by!
Another thing that was apparent was that we were
pretty much alone on this walk. I would guess that was
because many people either didn’t know about the path
or preferred a quicker ride between the resorts. But at
one point, the quiet was disturbed with the sound of
“on your left!” We quickly turned and saw a couple of
people on bikes heading our way. I
hurriedly asked them where they
got the bikes, and they hollered
back that they rented them back
at the Wilderness Lodge. (We later learned that you can also rent
bikes at Fort Wilderness.)
While the walk wasn’t a long
one, we immediately saw the benefit of having a bike if you’re the
type of person who might be seeing yourself going back
and forth between the two resorts. For those staying at
the campgrounds it would be like living in the country
but only being a short car ride away from civilization.
After about 20 minutes we arrived at Fort Wilderness
and quickly made our way to Trail’s End for a yummy
lunch consisting of good old American comfort food.
Many times here at Wandering the World, the path
less taken is more figurative than literal. But don’t be
mistaken, Walt Disney World Resort has many paths
that are literally less traveled. Your task is to find them
and take them.
Until next time, this is Ray and you have been Wandering the World.
30 million Number of blooming flowers on display throughout Epcot
of butterflies that take up residence in Tinker Bell’s Butterfly
1,000Number
House
of plants, trees and shrubs that are planted for the festival,
500,000Number
250,000 of which are annuals
in pounds, of the giant Sulley topiary. The topiary is made of 4,000
4,300Weight,
plants that fill his 13-foot frame.
of floating mini-gardens, each three feet in diameter, in the two
225Number
ponds that border the promenade between Future World and World
Showcase
of Cast Member hours it takes to prepare for the yearly Spring
24,000Number
spectacular
of Walt Disney World horticulturists on hand to install the festi400Number
val landscape, topiaries and exhibits
Photo ©Disney
73 · Celebrations
Captain Nemo’s
Organ
By Tim Foster
I recently found myself reminiscing about one of my favorite longlost attractions at the Magic Kingdom, 20,000 Leagues Under the
Sea. It was thrilling to go beneath the waves and relive the scenes
from one of Disney’s classic films. Although I hadn’t seen the film
in quite some time, one of the scenes that always stuck in my head
was the scene where Captain Nemo broodingly played the large pipe
organ. To this day it still haunts me, and I recalled tales that the
very same organ seen in the film lay somewhere in this land. Even
though I could no longer ride the submarines, I thought it would be
fun to seek out this cinematic treasure, so I set off on my quest.
After a bit of researching as to the whereabouts of the
organ, I discovered something quite interesting. It seems
that back in 1955 (just a year after the film was released),
there was a 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea exhibit put
together at Tomorrowland in Disneyland. There were many
props from the movie on display, including the infamous
giant squid, and sets and models of the Nautilus itself.
But one of the biggest highlights of the exhibit was the
recreation of Captain Nemo’s Grand Salon, complete with
his famous pipe organ. The exhibit was a huge hit, and no
wonder; the set designer had just won the Academy Award
for Art Direction. The exhibit was open for a year, so the
question was, where did the pipe organ go?
I decided to make my way back to Fantasyland via
Adventureland, thinking I might find a clue in the original home
of the attraction. Along the way, though, I heard the familiar
sounds of an organ playing in the background. Could this be it?
I searched high and low, and by high I mean really high, for I
soon found the source of the organ music in the branches of a
very tall tree. Alas, it wasn’t Captain Nemo’s organ, but it was
a reference to an equally well known Disney film, Swiss Family
Robinson. I learned that the bouncy tune that the organ was
playing was called the Swissapolka, written by Buddy Baker
and Bob Jackman. But as charming as it was, this wasn’t the
instrument I was seeking, so I continued on my search.
74 · Celebrations
I soon wandered past the Pirates of the Caribbean, and I
suddenly realized that I had seen a similar scene of an evil
captain playing a haunting pipe organ; none other than Davy
Jones in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, no doubt
inspired by Captain Nemo himself. I thought I might find Davy
Jones inside, but alas, he was nowhere to be found. (I did
hear that he had once appeared as an apparition on the misty
waterfall at the beginning of the attraction, but his spectre
has since been replaced by that of Blackbeard). I also learned
the actual organ from the film had been on display with other
Pirates of the Caribbean memorabilia as part of The American
Film Institute movie villain showcase at Disney’s Hollywood
Studios back in 2010. Interesting, but still not the quarry I
was seeking.
Continuing on through Liberty Square, I once again heard
strange musical sounds coming from a dilapidated mansion.
I soon found the source of these ghoulish musical notes,
and found that were “played” by Guests as they wandered
past an odd structure comprised of the images of many
instruments that sounded when touched. I also came
across this familiar looking organ, and did a quick doubletake, thinking that I had found it! But alas, this wasn’t the
one, a fact I quickly surmised when I saw the inscription
“Ravenscroft” above the organ keys. I realized this was
a tribute to Thurl Ravenscroft, whose distinctive voice
can be heard inside the mansion singing “Grim Grinning
Ghosts” (coincidentally, also written by Buddy Baker,
who had penned the aforementioned Swissapolka). But
something told me I wasn’t far from the real thing...
As it turned out, I was a lot closer than I thought (well, sort
of, but we’ll get back to that). In the famous ballroom scene,
amidst all the flying and dancing ghosts, I saw a massive and
ominous pipe organ being played by a talented but creepy ghost.
The melody was a twisted version of “Grim Grinning Ghosts,”
but it was the organ itself that interested me, for there it was!
Captain Nemo’s original organ, resting in peace for all eternity
at the Haunted Mansion! Delighted with my discovery, I couldn’t
wait to share it with my fellow travelers. My mood turned
somewhat bleak, however, when one of the mansion’s butlers told
them that while the organ I saw was indeed inspired by the one
seen in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, this wasn’t the actual
organ. The real one, I was told, resides in the Haunted Mansion
in Disneyland. But even though the news was a bit disheartening,
I realized that this was as close as I would get. Even though it
wasn’t the actual organ from the film, it’s origins were definitely
inspired by the original, and that was good enough for me. Now
if only I could find a way out of this graveyard...
75 · Celebrations
Disney’s World of Color:
How Much Do You Know?
by Tim Foster
1. W
e all know Figment is basically purple, but
what color are his wings?
ink
a. P
range
b. O
ellow
c. Y
reen
d. G
6. W
hich of the following princesses had a special
color ink specifically formulated for her by the
Disney art department?
a. S leeping Beauty
ulan
b. M
riel
c. A
inderella
d. C
2. W
hich of the following was not one of the
original spotlight colors created specifically for
IllumiNations?
umpkin
a. P
int
b. M
angerine
c. T
d. L avender
7. I n what year did the TV show “Walt Disney’s
Wonderful World of Color” begin?
a. 1 961
b. 1 954
c. 1 970
d. 1 967
3. W
hat was the first Disney animated short to be
in color?
a. F lowers and Trees
lane Crazy
b. P
he Old Mill
c. T
he Skeleton Dance
d. T
8. A
t the Wilderness Lodge, what color is the flag
on the boat heading for the Magic Kingdom?
reen
a. G
urple
b. P
ed
c. R
lue
d. B
4. W
hat color is Pluto’s collar?
range
a. O
lue
b. B
reen
c. G
e doesn’t wear a collar
d. H
9. I n Cars, what is Chick Hick’s main paint color?
a. L ight blue
reen
b. G
idnight Black
c. M
range
d. O
5. W
hich of the following is not a fictional
passenger line on the Tomorrowland Transit
Authority PeopleMover?
urple
a. P
ed
b. R
reen
c. G
lue
d. B
10. M
any of the walkways throughout the
parks are tinted to provide contrast to the
surrounding foliage. What color are they?
a. L ight yellow
iolet
b. V
c. S ky blue
agenta
d. M
76 · Celebrations
11. A
t the entrance to the Land pavilion in Epcot,
there are tile murals that line the walls on
both sides of the walkway. The murals are
identical in all respects except for one tile.
What color is that tile?
a. S apphire blue
uby red
b. R
earl white
c. P
d. E merald green
12. D
uring the production of Snow White and the
Seven Dwarfs, the women who worked in the
ink and paint department volunteered to
add a bit of “make up” to each and every cel to
make Snow White more realistic. What was it?
bit of blush on her cheeks
a. A
ed lipstick
b. R
touch of eye shadow
c. A
ighlights in her hair
d. H
13. Tinker Bell’s outfit is green, what color is the
outfit of her fellow fairy Silvermist?
a.Silver
b.Blue
c.Violet
d.Pink
ANSWERS
KIDS KORNER (pages 78–81)
WHERE AM I?
1. Splash Mountain
2. Tomorrowland Transit Authority
PeopleMover
3. Mission: SPACE
4. Toy Story Mania!
5. The Boneyard
6. T he Haunted Mansion (worn by
Constance the Bride)
RATS!
1. Remy (Ratatouille)
2. The Dormouse (Alice in Wonderland)
3. Basil of Baker Street (The Great Mouse
Detective)
4. Gus (Cinderella)
5. B
ernard (The Rescuers/The Rescuers
Down Under)
6. Nobi (The Lion King-don’t worry, you
still get credit even if you didn’t know
his name!)
STRIKE OUT
Secret Phrase: “It was all started by a
mouse.-Walt Disney”
BRAIN BUSTERS
95 (symbolizing the year 1995, the year
that Pixar’s first full-length film, Toy
Story, was released)
FIND THE DIFFERENCE
he jewels found throughout the Seven
14. T
Dwarfs Mine Train come in six colors. Which
of these colors is not one of them?
mber
a. A
lear
b. C
urple
c. P
range
d. O
15. W
hat is the only color that can be found in
every flag of the World Showcase countries?
reen
a. G
hite
b. W
ed
c. R
lue
d. B
Quiz Answers
1)B
7) A
13) B
2)C
8) C
14) D
3) A
9) B
15) C
4) C
10) D
5) A
11) D
6) C
12) A
WORD SCRAMBLE
1. Rapunzel
2. Flik
3. Merida
4. Buzz Lightyear
5. Baloo
6. The Beast
7. Violet Parr
8. Marlin
MYSTERY QUEST (pages 82–83)
1. The train is a different color.
2. The man is missing.
3. The train crossover is missing.
4. The track is straight
5. The house is gone
6. The house roof is taller
7. There is an extra glass support
8. The window is one pane of glass
9. There is an additional window
10. There are extra trees
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
1. 1988
2. C
itricos, Narcoossee’s, The Grand
Floridian Café, Victoria & Albert’s,
1900 Park Fare (buffet dining)
3. Mizner’s Lounge
4. Alice in Wonderland
5. Main Building, Sago Cay, Sugar Loaf,
Conch Key, Boca Chica, and Big Pine
Key
6. Sandy Cove Gifts and Sundries
7. Disney’s Grand Floridian Society
Orchestra
SECRET SYMBOLS
1. Logo for the Basin White shop
2. Logo for the Summer Lace shop
3. Logo for The Grand Floridian Cafe
4. Logo for M. Mouse Mercantile
5. Peter Pan silhouette found in the
marble tiling on the floor in the main
lobby
WHERE AM I?
1. G
rand Floridian Society Orchestra
bass drum
2. Soap display in Basin White
3. T he Alice in Wonderland-themed
children’s area of the Beach Pool
4. The grand staircase in the main lobby
5. T he giant antique bird cage in the
main lobby
6. Shingles on the life-size Gingerbread
house on display during the
Christmas season
7. Antique car by the entrance of the
Grand Floridian
8. Close-up of the saxophone used by
the Grand Floridian Society Orchestra
FIND THE DIFFERENCE BONUS ANSWER
China and Italy
77 · Celebrations
In which attractions will you find the
following props?
1. A Mickey-shaped fishing bobber
2. A model of the EPCOT city
3. A lunar rover
4. A giant Candyland game board
5. Xylobones
6. Five pearl necklaces
Mickey Mouse may be the most famous rodent in the Disney
Kingdom, but there are lots of other furry friends to keep him
company. Can you name them all?
1
2
3
4
5
6
78 · Celebrations
Following the clues below, strike out the appropriate words in the
grid. When you’re finished, the remaining words will spell out a
famous quote about our pal Mickey.
Answers on page 77
79 · Celebrations
In Cars, what was Lightning McQueen’s race
car number?
It looks like someone wandered through the miniature train
village in the Germany pavilion in World Showcase and did a bit of
damage. Can you find the ten differences in the photos below?
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
________________________
BONUS
QUESTION
What two World
Showcase pavilions
can be found on
either side of the
Germany pavilion?
80 · Celebrations
See if you unscramble these famous Disney heros and
heroines.
1. LUZAPNER
2. LIFK
3. DIMEAR
4. ZUBZ THARGILER
5. LAOBO
6. HET STABE
7. LOVETI RAPR
8. LANRIM
Answers on page 77
In each issue, our Kids Korner columnist will answer questions that are too tough
for the grown-ups! If you have a question for her, send it to:
[email protected].
If you could ride another Disney
dream come true, isn’t it?!?! Actually, they are all
animal, who would it be?
so much fun that I couldn’t say which is the most
Why Pegasus of course!!! Hercules is such a lucky
fun. I would suggest doing them all...multiple
guy to have such a cool best friend. It could be
times, to see what’s your favorite!! ;)
a ride that is a mix of Soarin’, Dumbo, and a
4D movie. Imagine, flying through the air on a
Is the Flower & Garden Festival fun for
winged horse...soaring, dodging, and diving as
kids?
you help Hercules fight the Titians! Maybe even
Actually, it’s my favorite, and not just because
a Buzz Lightyear-like blaster to get points to save
my birthday is in the Springtime too :) There is
Olympus....hmmm...I can almost see it :)
so much to see and do, even for kids. One of my
favorite things to do is to find as many topiary
Which is the most fun, Sorcerer’s of
characters as I can, there is always somebody new.
the Magic Kingdom, Agent P’s World
Another is to visit the Butterfly House - I still
Showcase Adventure, or Treasures of
hope to have a butterfly land on me! You can let
the Seven Seas?
your parents rest or sample the food items while
We always make time for Agent P when we
you check out the play areas. This year there was
visit Epcot, and for finding the hidden treasures
a Muppets Scavenger Hunt with clues throughout
around Adventureland. But becoming a Disney
World Showcase to search for that tricky frog,
Sorcerer and defeating those dastardly villains is a
Constantine!
81 · Celebrations
Test Your Knowledge of
Disney’s Grand Floridian
Resort & Spa
1. The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa was
the first new Magic Kingdom resort
to open after the Contemporary,
Polynesian, and Fort Wilderness. In
what year did it open?
2. The Grand Floridian features five
sit-down restaurants, can you name
them all?
3. Those aren’t the only places to grab
a quick bite of course, can you name
the lounge that resides on the second
floor of the main lobby?
4. The Grand Floridian offers several
pool areas for splashing good fun. One
is a miniature “water park” geared
toward children, inspired by a famous
Disney animated classic. Can you
name it?
5. The Grand Floridian resort actually
comprises several buildings, all
individually named. Can you name
them all?
6. What is the name of the sundries
shop at the Grand Floridian?
7. I n addition to the piano player that
occasionally delights Guests relaxing
in the main lobby, you may also hear
a 6-piece band playing on the second
floor. What is the name of the band?
Where can you find these cryptic inscriptions?
1
82 · Celebrations
2
3
4
5
Here a few obscure locations found at the
Grand Floridian, can you figure out where?
2
1
4
3
6
5
8
7
Answers on page 77
Only the best
explorers will
be able to
figure this
one out...
83 · Celebrations
Top 10 Things You Didn’t
Know About Baymax
1. Big Hero 6 is the 54th animated feature in the Walt Disney
Animated Classics series, and the first to feature Marvel
Comics characters (as opposed to films like The Avengers
that were distributed, but not produced, by Disney). Baymax’s first appearance was in the comic Sunfire & Big
Hero 6 #1, created by Steven T. Seagle and Duncan Rouleau,
released in September 1998.
2. Baymax’s voice was performed by Scott Adsit. Previously,
Adsit appeared on the NBC comedy 30 Rock as Pete Hornberger, as well as the animated programs Moral Orel and
Mary Shelley’s Frankenhole that appeared on Adult Swim. In
referring to Scott’s performance, producer Roy Conli said
“The fact that his character is a robot limits how you can
emote, but Scott was hilarious. He took those boundaries
and was able to shape the language in a way that makes
you feel Baymax’s emotion and sense of humor. Scott was
able to relay just how much Baymax cares.”
3. B ig Hero 6 was actually released under the title Baymax in
Japan and Germany.
4. As with many Disney animation projects, new computer
software was developed to bring the film to life. Among
them was a program called Denizen that was used to create the 700 or so characters that live in the city, and another called Bonzai that created (what else) the city’s
250,000 trees. For Baymax, a new rendering system
dubbed Hyperion (a reference to the street that
was home to the Walt Disney Studio, which
took up residence there in 1926), allowed
for innovative illumination effects, such
as the light shining through Baymax’s
translucent vinyl covering.
5. Inspiration for Baymax’s design
came from a research trip undertaken by director Don Hall and his
design team to Carnegie Mellon
University’s Robotics Institute. It was
there that they were introduced to a new field
called ‘soft robotics’ that incorporated inflatable vinyl in the creation of artificial
beings. This eventually lead to the concept of Baymax’s inflatable, vinyl, (and huggable) design.
6. T he actual concept of a huggable robot came from production designer/artist Lisa Keene, who has also worked
on such Disney classics as Tangled and Frozen.
7. W hile the basic design for Baymax was driven by groundbreaking technology, the look for Baymax’s face was inspired by an ancient copper bell that Hall came upon while
visiting a temple in Japan. Known as Suzu, these bells are
round and hollow and contain pellets that make a distinctive sound when shaken, much like a jingle bell.
8. T he challenge of creating Baymax’s armor proved difficult. Hall already knew that he didn’t want a mechanical looking robot in the mold of WALL-E or C-3PO, so the
problem was how to provide Baymax with mechanical
armor without losing his “huggable” qualities. According
to co-director Williams, “A big part of the design challenge
is when he puts on the armor, you want to feel that he’s
a very powerful intimidating presence...[but] at the same
time, design-wise he has to relate to the really adorable
simple vinyl robot underneath.”
9. Curiously, the researcher that first showed Hall the soft, inflatable vinyl arm that inspired the design of Baymax was
developing it for use in the health care industry as a nurse
or doctor’s assistant. In the film, Baymax is introduced
as an inflatable robot built by Tadashi (Hiro’s older
brother) to serve as a healthcare companion.
10. Baymax is one of the playable characters in
Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes, the
sequel to 2013’s Disney Infinity. The first
group of heroes included The Avengers,
Spider-Man, and Guardians of the Galaxy. A little over a month later, Baymax
became available as a single character
pack, along with other Disney heroes
such as Merida, Stitch, Maleficent, Tinker
Bell, Hiro Hamada (from Big Hero 6), Aladdin,
and everyone’s favorite Disney hero…Donald Duck!
Keepsake Image: “Castle Solitude”• Photography by Tim Devine
84 · Celebrations
Artwork ©Disney
Back Cover Photo © Tim Devine
“Disneyland [and the Magic Kingdom] is like Alice
stepping through the Looking Glass; to step though the
portals...is like entering another world.”
–Walt Disney