Issue 6 August 2011

The Hatbox Ghost
Comes Out to Socialize
Issue 6
August 2011
WDWNT: The Magazine 1
ST
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proofreading// Tom Corless, Jason Diffendal,
Ben Harris, David Smith
To Our Readers,
just yesterday we
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editor// David Smith
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web// www.wdwntthemagazine.com
phone// 206.666.2982
email// [email protected]
twitter// twitter.com/wdwnt
Front and back cover photo © Disney
facebook// facebook.com/wdwnt
© WDWNT Network 2011. All rights reserved. Any
redistribution or reproduction of part or all of the
contents in any form is prohibited. You may print or
download a single copy for your personal and noncommercial use only; and you may transmit the content
to individual third parties for their personal use, only
if you acknowledge WDWNT The Magazine as the
W
CO
writers// Sarah Hill, Sarah Holodick, Brian
Shapiro, Jenni Simon, David Smith, Marci
Smith, Jackie Steele, Michael Truskowski
m a g a z i n e
art&design// Patty Granger, Sarah Holodick,
Jenni Simon
WNT
photography// Patty Granger, Sarah Holodick.
Brian Shapiro
e.
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continue to improv
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Thanks to all ou
Sincerely,
David Smith
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DWNT: The Magaz
Editor-in-Chief, W
source of the material. You may not, except with our
express written permission, distribute or commercially
exploit the content, or transmit it or store it in any
other website or other form of electronic retrieval system.
WDWNT:
WDWNT: The
The Magazine
Magazine 22
WDWNT: The Magazine 3
c o nt ents
13
40
© Disney
44
F EATU R ES
22 The Hatbox Ghost
Goofy's Sky School
DEPARTMENTS
30 Adventures in Magic Kingdom
for NES
6 Highlights
a video game review
28 The Mayor's Corner
the mayor, Justin Heyman, discusses his
thoughts on the new management change
at Disney
40 Winnie the Pooh and my
Review
a movie review of the new Winnie the Pooh
movie
34 Remembering Jennings
Osborne
41
22
a look back at this months highlights
9 Ask Dave Smith
© Disney
30
reader’s questions are answered
13 Delving into the D.O.R.K
discovering the world of Disney
books, documents, and ephemera
19 Armchair Imagineering
a review what changes we would
like to see in the parks.
38 The Time I...
was in Indiana Jones Epic Stunt
Spectacular
42 Eating WDW
pizza at the Walt Disney World
Resort
44 Vinylmation Variation
a look at the latest in Vinylmation
46 Where in the World?
a photo hunt
36 Have You Tried?
behind the seeds tour at EPCOT
WDWNT: The Magazine 5
7.15.11
//JULY
7.15.11
highlights
New turnstiles open at Disney California
Disney Winnie-The-Pooh Hits
Theaters
© Disney
© Disney
7.19.11
Golden Gate Bridge removal begins
7.19.11
Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream
updated with Shanghai Disney
Resort and New Fantasyland
exhibits
© Disney
7.22.11
ESPN: The Weekend is officially
discontinued
7.19.11
Lightning McQueen debuts in the “Lights, Motors, Action!” Extreme Stunt Show
© Disney
A SK DAVE SMITH
7.26.11
(No, Not That Dave Smith)
When Disney’s Chief Archivist Dave Smith retired recently, WDWNT thought he would make an
excellent addition to the team. However, he didn’t return our calls, so we decided to just go out
and find someone with the same name. After going through an extensive screening process, we
finally found someone who knew the difference between the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland. So
each issue, our very own Dave Smith will answer your submitted questions. No, not that Dave
Smith… Dave Smith…
Official Closing Dates Announced
For Engine-Ear Toys and Greetings
From California Adventure
© Disney
Question:“What’s your favorite restaurant
on Walt Disney World property?”
– Cory L, New Jersey
7.30.11
Kabuki Cafe opens in the Japan
Pavilion at Epcot
Dave’s Answer: Certainly one of my favorite
activities at Walt Disney World is eating (and I
have the gut to prove it). However, it is almost
impossible for me to pick a favorite restaurant.
Each restaurant offers a unique experience and
cuisine, so each one is going to have a different
appeal depending on mood and circumstances.
Therefore, rather than list just one restaurant, I’ll
give you ten of my favorite restaurants:
© Disney
© Disney
• Kona Cafe – Inexplicably, this has become a
must-do on our trips, usually for a pre-Magic
Kingdom breakfast. Favorite items include the
macadamia nut pancakes and their version
of eggs Benedict. Lunch and dinner are also
surprisingly good.
• The Plaza Restaurant – This was the first
restaurant I ever ate at in WDW, so there is
definitely some nostalgia in play. Even so, this
is a relaxing eatery that offers a nice respite
7.31.11
from the crazy crowds of the Magic Kingdom.
Engine-Ear Toys, Bur-r-rbank
Ice Cream, Baker’s Field
Bakery close at Disney
California Adventure
WDWNT: The Magazine 8
© Disney
Besides, food always tastes better in the Magic
Kingdom for some reason.
• Boma – The only buffet on this list. It offers
unique fare at a high quality that makes this
my favorite buffet on property. Now if we could
only get that monorail spur over to the Animal
Kingdom Lodge…
• Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater – Food: Average;
Atmosphere: Spectacular. In recent trips, we
have taken to only ordering appetizers or dessert
here, but the amazing theming and completely
immersive experience more than make up for the
mediocre food. However, would it kill them to
update the movie loop every once in a while?
• Yak and Yeti – I’m as surprised as anyone that
this makes the list. However, I have a soft spot
for Asian inspired food, and this is my favorite
place to get it in WDW. It started out a little
rough, but has steadily been improving.
• Hollywood Brown Derby – I think this is one of
those love it or hate it places, and I love it. The
prices may be somewhat high, but everything on
that menu is good and prepared well.
WDWNT: The Magazine 9
• Chefs de France – Somehow, they got the
French serving staff at this restaurant to be
almost friendly. Cheap joke on the French
aside, this restaurant offers excellent French
food and a much lower price point than its more
refined cousin upstairs.
• Victoria & Albert’s – In my mind, the most
elegant meal I have been served anywhere,
anytime. If it wasn’t such a hit to the budget, I
would definitely eat here every trip. Saving up
for the chef’s table experience someday…
• Jiko – African-inspired gourmet food in an
elegant setting makes this one stand out. The
menu is crammed with exotic items, but my
favorite item continues to be the macaroni and
cheese. I just wish that this restaurant had a
better view of the savannah.
• California Grill – The ultimate restaurant at
WDW for me. Great menu, great atmosphere,
spectacular view. I absolutely have to eat here
every trip.
So that’s my list. Ask another person, and
you’ll probably get ten other answers. I think
it’s important for guests to try as many of the
options as possible and build their own list of
favorites. Dining at WDW can be as varied as,
well, the world, so go in with an open mind.
For more opinions about this topic, I strongly
recommend listening to the WDW News Today
Podcast, Episode 155.
“What attractions from Walt Disney
World’s opening 1971 still exist?”
– Jessica R, New Mexico
Dave’s Answer: Walt Disney World is a place
of change and expansion. Walt Disney was
never satisfied with keeping his park static, and
that philosophy continues to guide the company.
In the forty years since opening, Walt Disney
World has seen drastic changes and huge
expansions. The resort today would be almost
unrecognizable to a guest from 1971. However,
there are still a number of classic attractions
that still exist and are still entertaining guests.
These include:
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• It’s A Small World
www.magicaltravel.com
• Haunted Mansion
• Country Bear Jamboree
• zungle Cruise
• Enchanted Tiki Room
• Main Street Transportation (Horse-drawn
News Today
street cars, vehicles, etc.)
• Swiss Family Tree-house
• Dumbo
• Mad Tea Party
w w w. d i s n e y l a n d n e w s t o d a y. c o m
• Cinderella’s Carrousel (re-named)
• Hall of Presidents
• Grand Prix Raceway (re-named)
To submit your questions, please
email [email protected]...
NEWS
NEWS
PHOTOS
PODCAST
land
y
e
n
s
i
D
e
t
n
All th
a
w
u
o
y
on
infor mati place!
all in one
WDWNT: The Magazine 10
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WDWNT: The Magazine 12
R.K
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“Plans for Interama (1955). Copyright 1955
Popular Science.”
WDWNT: The Magazine 13
It would have been a permanent World’s
Fair. The world’s foremost futurists and
urban designers were called in to help plan
what some would call a “city within a city.”
A more-or-less circular outcrop of shiny
modern buildings would have circled a onemile-perimeter central lagoon. People of
all nations could stroll the promenade and
sample the wares of their global neighbors.
A large waterfront amphitheater would
play host to events from around the world,
which would play undisturbed by the sleek,
nearly-silent monorail whirring by on an
elevated track in the distance. Other guests
would busy themselves enjoying exhibits on
science and agriculture, or perhaps riding
a boat across the lagoon. Some would even
thrill to the experience of viewing aquatic
life through an underwater tunnel. And to
think, it would have opened on January 1,
1958 just outside of Miami.
What’s that? Not the “Permanent World’s
Fair” you were thinking of? We’re not
talking about EPCOT here. No, our story
goes back well before even the New York
World’s Fair of 1939. In fact, plans for a
permanent World’s Fair in Florida began just
after the armistice of the first World War,
when Walt Disney was a teenager returning
from his ambulance duties in France and
trying to make a start in the cartoon
business in Kansas City. This is the story of
Interama, an ill-fated plan for a permanent
exhibition in Florida. Much like the plans
for EPCOT, the concept for Interama would
change numerous times over the decades.
Eventually, after upwards of six decades of
languishing, plans would be abandoned and
only a few scant elements would be built.
In 1919, Miami Mayor Ed Sewell and
local leaders began the earliest plans for
what would have been a Pan-American
“Interama’s Theme Center, the Hemisphere (1955). Copyright 1955 Popular Science.”
Trade Mart. The project would not get much
traction until the 1930s when President
Franklin Roosevelt established the Good
Neighbor policy toward Latin America.
Disney fans may recall was eventually
responsible for “Walt and El Grupo,” the
Disney contingent to South America in 1941
that would eventually produce Saludos
Amigos and The Three Caballeros. The
implementation of the Good Neighbor Policy,
along with other inroads between Miami and
Latin America, prompted the Florida State
Chamber of Commerce in 1939 to officially
resolve to build a Pan-American Trade Mart
in Miami.
The resolution alone wasn’t enough to
get things moving. It would be another 12
years before The Inter-American Authority
was eventually formed in 1951. The
group repurposed 1,600 waterfront acres,
originally intended for a new international
airport, for the project. Futurist
architect Hugh Ferriss, who had served
as the official renderer for the New York
World’s Fair of 1939, was hired to create
master plans. The first visions of the
permanent fair were published in the
1950s. They included a semi-circular
lagoon-side complex that would be
divided into three different areas: art,
science, and industry. The focal point
or theme center would have been a 150foot wide domed amphitheater called the
Hemisphere.
Plans progressed through the 1950s,
seeing several major changes along the
way. In April 1955, three months before
the opening of Disneyland, updated
concepts for Interama were published
in Popular Science. (These renderings
“Plans for Interama (1955). Copyright 1955 Popular Science.”
WDWNT: The Magazine 15
“Interama 1955 plans (left) and Walt Disney World Showcase 1974 plans (right). Copyright 1955 Popular Science and
1974 Walt Disney Productions.”
look most like the 1974-75 concept for
“Walt Disney World Showcase,” which
would have been built just south of Disney’s
Transportation and Ticket Center and
eventually became part of the EPCOT
Center concept).
Plans continued to change through the
early 1960s. The Cuban Missile Crisis
and the “Red Scare” prompted the plans
to change scope a bit, with a larger focus
on free trade in the free world. Architect
Robert E. Browne took over the master
plan, and the compact circular design
evolved into a more natural series of
“islands,” each of which was devoted
to a specific theme. Despite continuing
changes in scope and concept, organizers
were confident enough to actually begin
construction on the project in 1964. The
originally-planned opening day had already
been missed by six years; opening was now
set for July 4th, 1968. By the time the
bulldozers broke ground on Interama in
September 1964, Walt Disney Productions
had already secretly purchased the first
three major land tracts in Central Florida
for its Disney World project.
When Walt Disney officially announced
plans for Project Florida in a 1965 press
conference with his brother Roy and thenGovernor W. Haydon Burns, a reporter
WDWNT: The Magazine 16
asked him about the effect that Interama
might have on his efforts to get industry to
participate in EPCOT. Walt didn’t express
any worry.
PRESS: “You may not be familiar with a
project called Interama at Miami. Can’t see
that this would be any competition with the
tourists. Do you see any competition for
corporate exhibitors between your project
and the Inter-America Cultural Center at
Miami?”
DISNEY: “I don’t think so because
we’ve had to contend with them in the
Los Angeles area and their exhibit at
“Concept for Interama’s International Area, circa
1962. Copyright 1962 Historical Museum of Southern
Florida.”
Disneyland is a little bit different than what they
might put into… on one of those trade shows or
something. We haven’t found that that was… it
hasn’t interfered with Disneyland.”
Walt was right… he wouldn’t see any interference
between Interama and EPCOT. While work on
Disney’s Florida Project went full speed ahead,
Interama continued to languish under constant
changes. At one point, a group of six architects
were brought in to determine what it should be.
By 1967, architect Minoru Yamasaki (who had
previously designed the World Trade Center’s
twin towers) was called in to finalize designs for
The Tower of Freedom, which would be a 900-foot
concrete tower with a restaurant on top. Planners
said it would “rival the Statue of Liberty” for fame.
But continued troubles with funding and lack of
a finalized concept delayed the project again and
“One of many concepts for the Tower of
again. Initial plans were scaled back once again,
Freedom, circa 1962. Copyright 1962 Florida
and plans for a simplistic Phase One, consisting
State Archives.”
only of the tower, were planned to try to spark
interest in the project.
By 1976, Walt Disney World had been open for five years, and plans had already been
revealed for the earliest incarnations of EPCOT Center, which would essentially take over
the vision of Interama moving forward. One last hope for Interama would have been the
1976 U.S. Bicentennial celebration. A publication from the Florida Historical Society
notes that this final set of plans for Interama would have showcased the development
as one that would “explore a new facet of governmental, cultural, and regional activity
as the United States moves into its third century of freedom." To borrow a line from a
certain Walt Disney World attraction, it would have been a salute to all nations but mostly
America.
In 1975, the federal government pulled funding from many bicentennial programs.
The Inter-American Center Authority disbanded shortly after, and Interama was dead 56
years after it was first envisioned. Only one planned development from Interama ever
really saw the light of day; in the early 1960s, plans were revealed for Interama to play
host to a new university. Today, on the land where Florida’s original permanent World’s
Fair would have stood, students of all nationalities hustle and bustle through their days
on the campus of Florida International University’s Biscayne Bay Campus.
Jackie Steele is a bit of an anomaly in the Disney fan universe, in that his love of the parks came later in life. With the exception of a half-day visit to
the Magic Kingdom in high school, he didn't set foot in a Disney theme park until 2003. But the love was instant and soon evolved into a quest to know
more about where the Disney parks came from and what made them work. He has amassed a collection of more than 450 (and growing) Disney and
World’s Fair books, documents, and ephemera, which he lovingly refers to as the D.O.R.K. (Disney Origins Research Knowledge Base). You can browse
through the titles in his collection online at http://brkgne.ws/dork
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ARMCHAIR IMAGINEERING
In this column, the writers of WDWNT: The Magazine will try their hands at Imagineering
to review what changes they would like to see in the parks. If you have an area of a Disney
park you would like the team to tackle, please write to [email protected].
BY DAVID SMITH
WDWNT: The Magazine 18
WDWNT: The Magazine 19
And we certainly don’t need a fake baby elephant at the end that only serves to raise
questions about the authenticity of everything we just saw.
The whole experience of the safari seems like it was either designed by a committee or
Disney had no faith in either its product or in the guests. I know that Disney wants the
parks to be all about story, but sometimes telling the wrong story is just as bad as telling
no story. Kilimanjaro Safari is telling the wrong story.
Once additional complaint: I know they were going for realism, but did they have to
make the roadways so bumpy and have the bus suspension set to Whiplash mode?
Many of us would like the opportunity to take pictures of the animals, but it is nearly
It was an opening day attraction at Animal
Kingdom, and is easily considered the anchor
attraction of the Africa section of the park. Within
Disney parks, the Kilimanjaro Safari is a completely unique
experience. The attraction provides the opportunity to view animals such as
elephants, crocodiles, giraffes, and hippopotami in a recreation of their natural habitat.
The safari consists of a 20+ minute ride through the 100-acre savanna punctuated by a
mix of driver supplied and pre-recorded dialog.
In the story of the attraction, guests are embarking upon a 2-week safari adventure,
but become quickly involved in the chase and capture of poachers coordinated by
reserve warden Wilson Matua, thus ending the 2-week trip early. Interspersed with the
story, the vehicle driver assists guests in spotting and identifying the various animals
inhabiting the savannah.
When I first heard about Kilimanjaro Safari, I was excited to experience the attraction
and thought it was a great idea. However, the more I rode the attraction, the more I
began to dislike it. The concept was solid, but the execution was poor enough to make
me avoid the safari if possible.
At its most basic level, I like the concept of the attraction: Show guests how the animals
look and behave in their (somewhat realistic) natural environment. I don’t want to get
into the whole animals in captivity discussion (mainly because I’m not entirely sure
where I land), but if you’re going to keep animals captive, it should be in an environment
as close as possible to their natural habitat. So on that front, the Safari makes sense.
However, it feels like Disney could just not help themselves and made several key,
unforgivable mistakes with this attraction.
From the beginning, it feels like they forgot what the point of the attraction was. Let
impossible while being slung around. I can’t think of a single reason why the attraction
couldn’t be as good (and most likely better) with a smooth roadway.
So, those are my complaints. Now, how would I fix the attraction? I recommend two
major changes.
First, smooth out the road. If they want to have ruts and tracks on the side, go for it.
The actual path of the vehicle should be as smooth as possible though. By bouncing
guests back and forth, it is actually hurting the experience in the name of “realism.”
However, with a smooth roadway, guests will be able to become even more immersed
with the real centerpiece of the attraction: the animals. In addition, guests will be in
a better position to take pictures of the animals, thus improving both the re-rideability
and the lasting memory of the attraction.
Second, lose the story. The animals ARE the story. Focus on them, and focus on
providing the most authentic, but comfortable experience possible. The safari /
reserve theme is great, and should be continued. However, we don’t need the overt
anti-poaching message and story-line. At this point in time, I’m certain everyone
understands that poaching has a negative impact on wildlife. Everything animal-related
within the savannah must be real and at no point should guests be asking if the animal
they are seeing is real. By introducing fake elements, guests immediately become more
cynical.
Kilimanjaro Safari has the potential to be a great attraction capable of providing lifelong
memories and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The primary change I would make to
have it match its potential is to simplify the attraction. There is too much going on and
too many distractions that are unnecessary. As with many attractions, knowing when to
stop is key to success.
me help them: IT’S ABOUT THE ANIMALS! We’re at Animal Kingdom, and specifically
the safari, to see the animals. We don’t need the pointless and distracting “story”
about poachers. We don’t need a rickety collapsing bridge to add an element of danger.
David Smith dreams of becoming an Imagineer when he grows up. Until then, he enjoys visiting the Disney parks as often as
possible with his wife and two children. He can be reached at [email protected].
WDWNT: The Magazine 21
The Hatbox Ghost
Comes Out to Socialize
By David Smith
O
f all the attractions in the Disney
parks, none generate as much interest, rumor,
urban legend, or lore as the Haunted Mansion.
Originally conceived in 1957 by Walt Disney and
Imagineer Ken Anderson, the attraction quickly
established a tradition of mystery and myth. The
cryptic nature of the attraction just deepened as
the Disneyland building sat dormant and unused
from 1963 until the attractions opening in 1969.
Passing guests could only wonder about the
horrors that waited inside the strangely silent
structure. In the absence of facts, rumor and
legend ruled the day as people speculated about
what was really occurring inside, with each story
iteration becoming more and more fantastic and
improbable. One of my favorite stories was that
a cryogenic laboratory was being built in the
basement.
While the public was letting their imagination
run wild, the Imagineers were doing the same.
During the years of development, many ideas
© Disney
WDWNT: The Magazine 22
were proposed, tested, discarded, resurrected,
revised, discarded again, and so on in a never
ending cycle as Imagineers struggled to find the
right tone and story. Some of the creative team
was looking to create a cohesive plot focused
on the bride character, while other (and more
importantly, Walt Disney) were pushing to focus
more on a series of experiences and situations
rather than a linear plot.
When the attraction officially opened to the
public on August 9th, 1969, guests found that
while many of the grisly tales about the Mansion
where not true, the attraction did provide an
unparalleled entertainment experience with
the perfect mix of macabre sets and humor.
It quickly became one of the most popular
attractions in the Disneyland park, and even
now over 40 years later, is still considered one
of the best attractions ever built. Shortly after
opening though, a new Haunted Mansion legend
began being spread. This legend centered on a
character that many considered the scariest in
the ride, the character known as only, the Hatbox
Ghost.
The mystery surrounding the Hatbox Ghost
starts with an Imagineering internal memo
describing, “the evil, grinning face of a cloaked
figure disappears from the body and reappears
glowing hideously in a hatbox.” Mock-ups of
this figure then appeared with effects designer
Yale Gracey in publicity photos used in the
period leading up to the attraction opening.
However, for most guests riding the attraction,
the figure never appears in the attraction.
Further complicating the mystery is that the
Hatbox Ghost was used in Haunted Mansion
books and recordings for years. A number of
individuals though, primarily cast members,
have claimed to have seen the Hatbox Ghost
in the Haunted Mansion in the attic scene. So
the heart of the mystery is what happened to
it? Was it ever there? If it was there, why was
it removed?
For years, the only record of the Hatbox
Ghost actually being in the attraction were
stories passed on by those who had ridden
the attraction shortly after its opening. A
number of cast members claimed that the
figure was located in the attic where the bride
currently is situated. No photographs or
movies were ever offered as proof though,
so many began speculating that if the figure
existed at all, it must have been removed prior
to the public opening.
In a letter submitted to the “The E Ticket”
magazine (Issue 18), Tony Baxter provided
some insight into the infamous inhabitant of
the Haunted Mansion:
“
...My guess is that the Bride is
currently in the exact location
of the Hatbox Ghost, as there
would be a hole in the floor for
the base frame of the figure
that would be useable at this
point. During the pre-opening
week (August 1st through the
7th) employees were invited to
ride, and during the test rides
for durability, we were able to
ride for two to four hours at a
time without getting off.
The Hatbox Ghost was in-
stalled and running during
this period. It is possible that
guests also rode in this time
frame and saw the figure. The
gag was to have his head become invisible, and then appear
in the hatbox and constantly
reverse back and forth.
”
Baxter’s account is consistent with the
other stories, but still no pictures or movies
were provided. As time went on, it seemed
that more and more people claimed to have
seen the Hatbox Ghost. The reports seemed
to confirm that the figure was definitely in
the attraction, at least through cast member
previews.
In the fall of 1999, Imagineer and Haunted
Mansion historian Christopher Merritt
submitted some new insights to “The E
Ticket” magazine (Issue 32), including a
picture at the time believed to be the only
know photo of the Hatbox Ghost figure.
However, this photo lacked any surrounding
context and may have been taken just prior to
installation in the attraction.
Then, in 2009, DoomBuggies.com
published a new photograph that showed the
Hatbox Ghost within the attraction. Finally,
here was definitive
proof that the
character existed in
the attraction. Since
cameras were strictly
prohibited during
cast previews, this
new photo was
almost certainly
taken by a guest.
The mystery was
WDWNT: The Magazine
23
© Disney
starting to clear up, but still not the ‘holy grail’
for Mansion fans- an on-ride movie showing
the Hatbox Ghost.
Then, just this year, Todd J Pierce of
DisneyHistoryInstitute.com came across an
old home movie of Disneyland dated August
1969. The video (available for viewing at
http://www.disneyhistoryinstitute.com/2011/07/
actual-home-movies-of-hatbox-ghost-1969.
html) includes interior shots of the newly
opened Haunted Mansion attraction and a
brief, but definitive, glimpse of the Hatbox
Ghost in his natural setting.
Having conclusive proof that the Hatbox
Ghost was in the Haunted Mansion, and seen
by guests, the final question is why the figure
was removed? Was it too scary? To answer
this, we can refer back to the word of the
Imagineers.
we were no longer trying to tell a story about
the bride. Walt's attitude was that he didn't
want a story, but a series of experiences and
situations. Perhaps this figure didn't lend itself
to this.” –from Christopher Merritt’s letter to
“The E Ticket” magazine, issue 32
In the Internet age, it’s difficult to find true
mystery in the Disney parks. Everything has
been photographed and videoed so much,
and so analyzed, that Disney park fans are
rarely surprised by anything. The Hatbox
Ghost, however, is a mystery that has spanned
decades and has captured the imagination
of Haunted Mansion fans everywhere. Even
now, people are clamoring for the figure to
be returned to the attraction. It’s a tribute to
the Imagineers that a semi-successful figure
which lasted only a few months, can catch
on and motivate so much discussion and
speculation.
KEEP TRACK OF THE
LARGEST EXPANSION
IN MAGIC KINGDOM
HISTORY AT...
The majority opinion seems to follow the
thoughts of Tony Baxter:
“Unfortunately, they couldn't get the head
on the body to vanish effectively in this
location. My theory is that it was designed
to work in the same way as the ballroom
and they tried to adapt the effect to this
more conventional location, and it wasn't
convincing."
Imagineer Wayne Jackson, who built the
figure in early 1969, agreed, saying:
“After a few months, we decided to change
it out, because the gag wasn't as successful as
we hoped." –from Christopher Merritt’s letter
to “The E Ticket” magazine, issue 32
However, Marc Davis had a different take,
suggesting that the removal was done based
on Walt’s vision for the attraction:
“Walt never bought what they had come up
with. I don't recall why we took this out, but
WDWNT: The Magazine 24
"Photoshop re-creation of the Hatbox Ghost in
his original position by Dan Olson"
WWW.WDWFANTASYLAND.COM
David Smith dreams of becoming an Imagineer
when he grows up. Until then, he enjoys visiting
the Disney parks as often as possible with his
wife and two children.
WDWNT: The Magazine 25
THE MAYOR'S
CORNER
By Justin Heyman
Around the Disney blog-o-sphere lately, there has been a bit of an uproar about
recent management changes throughout the Disney Parks and Resorts divisions. In fact,
this has been going on for a while, but somehow the advancement of Meg Crofton to the
“top mouse” for US and Paris parks suddenly has everyone up in arms. First, a quick
look at where parks have been headed that lead us here.
The “one Disney” initiative began about two years ago when Parks and Resorts
management felt a need to give guest a more cohesive and consistent Disney experience
no matter which park they visited. First merchandise got the treatment (a move most
fans stilldespise) then management was next. Al Weiss became the head of worldwide
parks operations, which allowed Meg Crofton to move in as head of Walt Disney World.
Company management was then moved around, with Jay Rasulo moved over to the CFO
role and moving the current CFO, Tom Staggs to the head of Parks and Resorts. With
Staggs now in charge and the one Disney initiative in full swing, development for US
parks would be a consistent story coast to coast (a move most fans despise). So now the
stage was set for what we experience recently. Al Weiss, a long time Disney employee,
retired from his post of President of World Wide operations for Disney Parks and
Resorts. Without the unifying position, Staggs was forced to make a decision and took
the opportunity to further align the management team with his goals. Meg Crofton was
promoted to President of Operations in the US and France. Under this new post, Crofton
WDWNT: The Magazine 28
will control Parks and Resorts operations for the Disneyland Paris Resort, Disneyland
Resort in California, and continue her control over the Walt Disney World Resort in
Florida.
In recent history we have had quite a few notable management changes dating
back to the replacement of Michael Eisner with Bob Iger as CEO and President of the
company. Some cheered, some booed, some said wait and see, but it seemed like everyone
had an opinion. As for me, well I was somewhere in the middle, and still am to this day.
You cannot say that under Eisner’s time at the head of the company that money and
time wasn’t invested in the Parks division. Two new parks at WDW, the Disney Cruise
Line, DCA (good or bad) were all additions to the state-side Parks under Mr. E. New
classics such as Star Tours, Muppet Vision 3D and Dinosaur all started under Eisner’s
time. Now, this isn’t an article about that, but I make the point because at that time
“we,” this Disney community, faulted the President and CEO. Now we want to hold
the Park Operations President responsible for the blunders, and quite frankly I find it
a bit ridiculous. The online community feels the need to find someone to blame for the
unpopular decisions of the day. Are we always fair? Is it always directed at the right
people? Probably not; the fact of the matter is not EVERY decision that is made for
the parks is made for the hardcore park fans. I need only mention the current state of
EPCOT (yes I will spell it that way) to ignite the twitter-sphere into a frenzy of activity
with people going on about Horizons and Spaceship Earth. In the end, if we didn’t love
the parks, we would have stopped wasting our energy on them long ago. The spirit and
magic are still intact and current management is in large part responsible for that. Meg
Crofton has seen things such as Star Tours 2 and the ongoing renovations and pluses of
most of the Magic Kingdom, including the Fantasyland Expansion. We cannot say that
she doesn’t invest in the Parks and continue to make them better.
Disneyland fans on the other hand feel she is going to destroy the house that Walt
built. The bottom line there is she hasn’t ruined Walt Disney World and she won’t
destroy Disneyland. Tom Staggs has publicly taken a very team approach to running
Parks and Resorts. Under the collective leadership of Iger, Rasulo and Staggs, we have
seen everything from Toy Story Mania to the complete, and much needed, overhaul of
DCA. So let me leave you with this; if we can agree that overall the improvements in the
US Parks have been overwhelmingly positive with a few missteps here and there, and
those improvements have been under that collective leadership, who are we to doubt
their guidance now in bringing Crofton into the mix to continue the momentum of the
last few years?
Have a question for the mayor? Want to hear his opinion of the news of the
day. Send your comments, questions and topics to him at Justin@wdwnt.
com. Be sure to include your name and twitter so he can mention you in the
next edition of WDWNT The magazine if your topic is chosen!
WDWNT: The Magazine 29
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Adv e Magic
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Kin tendo
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Written By
Michael Truskowski
n June, Microsoft announced that a new game would be coming to the Xbox 360 Kinect this
fall that would allow players to wander around a virtual recreation of Disneyland, filled with mini games
based on attractions in the park. I will undoubtedly be picking up a copy the day it is released, and
expect a full review following that. Hearing of this game immediately took me back 20 years. Take
out the 3D graphics and motion controls, and this reminds me of something I played back on the NES,
Adventures in the Magic Kingdom. The game, published by Capcom, was released in 1990. It is a
collections of six mini games that take place within some of the most well known Disney attractions.
While we await the release the Kinect game, let’s go 8-bit and take a look back at this old favorite.
The premise of the game is that you need to find six keys located inside the park in order to open
the gates of the castle and start the parade. Right off the bat you will probably notice that while the
game is called Adventures in the Magic Kingdom and the box art clearly shows Cinderella Castle, the
layout of the park is clearly Disneyland. Having not had a chance to visit the west coast park yet by
1990, I was quite confused to see Pirates and Haunted Mansion so close to each other. And why are
they calling the Grand Prix Raceway the Autopia? It ends up not mattering all that much as, name
differences aside, all attractions featured in the game exist on both coasts.
When the game begins you get to pick a name for your character (if you do not choose a name,
it defaults to BAMBOO.7). You explore the park from a Zelda style overhead view as you go from
attraction to attraction. The six games are Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Autopia,
Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, and a Quiz game played in the overhead view. You may
play the attractions in any order. It is interesting to note that no actual Disney park music is played
in the game, despite being an officially licensed title. This is not to say it is bad (it is composed by
Yoko Shimomura, who also composed the music for the Kingdom Hearts series). The overworld music
always reminded me of the Baroque Hoedown from Main Street Electrical Parade, if only vaguely.
Space Mountain is a first person flying game. The goal
is to fly to star “F” where the key is located. You need to
pilot the spaceship through various turns and use missiles
to destroy asteroids and other spacecraft that block your
way (just like on the ride - for those of you who never rode
Space Mountain before that was a joke). This is actually
one of the more difficult of the games. You are given very
little reaction time when the buttons appear on the screen,
and you only get three misses. The key to this game is to
ignore everything else on the screen and concentrate on
the panel that shows you which button to press. A helpful
hint is in the later parts of the game when you are given a
choice to go left or right, always go left. It leads to much
easier combinations.
Big Thunder is a top down perspective game where the
goal is to get the train to one of four stations at the end
within a limited amount of time, and avoiding hazards such
as falling boulders. You can accelerate and decelerate
the train, as well steer down different tracks. There are
four stations at the end, and you only get the key by going
to the one you were instructed to at the beginning. If you
go to the wrong station, go back and start again. This
game is not terribly difficult, although it is possible to start
moving way too fast. Couple that with limited visibility
of what is coming up and it is very easy to head straight
toward a dead end.
Autopia is another top down perspective game. Pete
has the key and challenges you to a race. Along the
course are numerous obstacles, including water that must
be jumped over. Although you are supposed to be racing
Pete, it is never clear which car he is in. In reality you are
simply racing the clock. As long as you finish before time runs
out, you win. There are enough hazards that you are unlikely to
make it through on the first try, but the course is not terribly long
and so not too difficult to just memorize.
Haunted Mansion is a side scrolling platformer. You must
enter the mansion and defeat the boss ghost at the end (this
is the level to have a boss at the end). Your weapon of choice
is candles. You have a limited amount, but there are plenty to
be found throughout the mansion. Aside from the ghosts, other
dangers include numerous gaps in the floor. In fact later parts
of the mansion, you need to jump to and from moving chairs.
Falling into the gap immediately ends the level and you lose a
life. There is a particularly difficult section where you must ride a
chair past flying books that attempt to knock you off. Finally you
get to the boss. It takes quite a few candles to defeat him, but
you are in little danger of running out as the room is full of them.
Due to all the combination of elements, this is probably the most
difficult level in the game.
Pirates of the Caribbean is another side scroller. You need
to rescue stranded villagers and light a fire to signal that you
have done so. The villagers are scattered throughout the level,
and you need to find them all in order to complete it. There
are numerous pirates, many that throw cannon balls. You also
need to find the candle in order to light the fire at the end. The
candle can also be used as a weapon line in Haunted Mansion,
although this time you never run out. While not as difficult as the
mansion is, this level can be frustrating as you are completely
defenseless until well into the stage. You also are given no clues
as to where the villagers are, which can make it difficult to track
down one that you missed.
The final game is the only one not based on an attraction.
It is a quiz game. Several children in the park will ask you
questions about Disney trivia. Answering correctly will lead
WDWNT: The Magazine 32
you to the next child until you finally find the one with the dog, who is
wearing the key on his collar. While many of you who reading this are
undoubtedly quite confident in your Disney knowledge, some of the
questions could be pretty tough for your average player. Humorously,
the children claim that they are only asking you these questions to
prove that you are indeed Mickey’s friend, despite the fact that there is
no one else in the park.
Upon completion of all six games, you can now go to the castle
and begin the parade. As with so many of the games from the 8-bit
era, the ending is brief, so don’t get your hopes up that you are going
to see an amazing show. But hey, you finished the game. And it didn’t
take very long. This is good as there is no save feature or password
system. It must be completed in one sitting. This is not much of a
problem as the game is brief. What is great about this game is that it
is accessible to games of all types. And there is very little commitment
needed to play. Just pop the cartridge in and get started.
Ultimately this was an enjoyable game for a Disney fan, although
those who are not will likely find little value in it, as the mini games are
not very special theming aside. The other problem with the game is a
lack of replay value. Other than the random order of the questions and
the changing station goal at the end of Big Thunder Mountain, there
are no random elements to be found. You encounter the same ghosts
in the same order in Haunted Mansion. Space Mountain always follows
the same flight sequence. While not uncommon for games on the NES,
it does mean that after finishing once, there is little incentive to come
back.
But all flaws aside, this is one of those games I remember fondly.
Unfortunately there has never been a remake since its original release,
and it never showed up on the Wii’s Virtual Console. If you still have
your NES, this is not a terribly difficult game to find for sale online.
Kinect Disneyland will no doubt make this game look almost silly by
comparison, but we are now 21 years of technology more advanced
than when this game was first introduced. It may be showing its age,
especially compared to one that faithfully recreates the park in great
detail, where you move around by point your arm at the screen, but it
remains one of those quintessential pieces of my childhood that I still
love to revisit from time to time.
Michael Truskowski has been a Walt Disney
World fan for over 25 years. He lives in New
York City.
Remembering
Jennings Osborne
By Banks Lee
W
playground & Backlot Tour. Christmas was coming
soon and I was so excited, because I finally got to
see & experience the Osborne Family Spectacle of
Dancing Lights again!! Of course, things had been
added, and it was now up to 5 million lights, and
they danced, but it would still be great to
finally get to see these lights again in
person after over 14 years! The
best part though was that I
was able to work the lights as
crowd control and spend
almost every night there!
hen I was a little kid, during Christmas, my
grandparents would drive me around Texarkana to
look at Christmas lights. I loved, & still do to this
day, seeing all the different types of decoration,
lights, etc. One year my grandparents surprised
me with a trip 2 1/2 hours north to Little
Rock, AR to see the mother of all
Christmas light displays. It was
the Osborne family light
display, started by a man
named Jennins Osborne
when his daughter,
Breezy, asked for their
home to be decorated
for Christmas. Jennings
went all out and put up
nearly 1 million lights,
and over the years, his
display grew to around
3 million lights. I was
mesmerized. Never had I
seen so many lights at once!
Beautiful is putting it mildly.
I knew that we had to travel
here every year to see this display!
Unfortunately, the next year, the state of
Arkansas put a stop to Jennings display, and I didn't
get to go see them again.
Working those lights
was amazing. Every
night, I would have fun
with families, dance to
the music, tell the story
of the lights to anyone
who wanted to hear it, and
just had a blast! I would
also talk to my fellow Cast
Members about my personal
experience seeing the lights as
a kid, and how this just came full
circle for me. Little did I know that some
of my coordinators and managers were planning
something for me.
Fast-forward to 2008, when I started working
at Disney's Hollywood Studios. I worked in the
Backlands section at the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
Every year the Osborne family visits, and I
happened to be working the night they were at the
display. Later in the night, when the crowds weren't
WDWNT: The Magazine 34
as heavy, I got a call on the radio to meet my manager
at the LMA end of the Streets of America. It turns out
that Jennings & Mitzi had heard about my story and
wanted to meet me! I was so exctied to meet them,
and they couldn't have been any nicer! We stood there
and talked about the lights, my history with them, and
working for Disney.
Jennings introducing me to his daughter, Breezy, and
telling her about my history with the lights.
It only lasted about 10 minutes, but I felt like I had
known them for years. It was an experience I will never,
ever forget. Over the years since, I have kept up with
Breezy on Facebook, so when I heard about the news
today I was completely heartbroken. Jennings was an
amazing person. He not only cared about his family,
but about everyone. When you talked to him, he would
listen. My sincere condolences go out to Mitzi, Breezy,
and the rest of the Osborne family. You are in my
prayers.
The world lost a great man today, and I can only hope
that Jennings is somewhere up in Heaven, building a
brand new Christmas display for all to enjoy.
RIP Jennings Osborne, you will be greatly missed.
WDWNT: The Magazine 35
HAVE YOU
TRIED?
all the different methods of growing plants in
different mediums and we even got to sample
some of the produce grown in the greenhouse.
Thank goodness because I was getting kind of
hungry. What is it about Disney tomatoes that
taste better than any other tomato? Must be
...Behind the Seeds Tour?
magic!
Written By: Jenni Simon
I
We strolled past peppers, pineapples,
allspice plants and all sorts of unusual plants
I’ve never even heard of before. We saw
'm not a horticulture enthusiast. This may surprise a lot of people
pumpkins and cucumbers growing in the shape
who know that I’m descended from a very long line of farmers. I guess
of Mickey Mouse and a record setting tomato
somewhere along the way, that little gene that grants people the
plant. The tour went past those creepy eel and
wonderful gift to grow beautiful flowers and keep house plants looking
fish tanks, but honestly, I wasn’t brave enough
healthy, skipped right over me and landed on my youngest sister.
to glance at all the weird things swimming in
No, instead I was given the grim reaper thumb of death that kills any
there.
plants that cross my path.
When the tour was over we were allowed
So it’s probably no wonder that for years I avoided the Land
to ask lots of questions about gardening. And
pavilion and all the lush inventive gardens that wait inside. Just
believe me, I did! I wanted to learn how to grow
walking by the building, I swear I could hear the plants inside
screaming “No, keep her away!” Of course, that all changed once
vial of lady
Soarin’ Over California landed itself in the Land. And it happens to be
bugs which were
right next to a little attraction called the “Behind the Seeds” tour. Have
you tried this one yet?
Well let me say I would be the most hesitant person in the world
to take a tour through a garden. But as luck would have it, one day
my little sister, naturally gifted with ability to keep house plants alive,
asked me to take the tour with her while we waited to ride Soarin’.
When she suggested spending the next 45 minutes
wondering through hot sticky gardens and greenhouses
all I could think was “How Boring!”
But walking through those magical “Cast
Member Only” doors, my perspective of the
tour was quickly turned around. We started the
tour in a room full of creepy crawly and totally
cool bugs and insects. Videos played while the
critters buzzed around us, explaining how all of the
insects around us acted as a natural pesticide. I was
delightfully surprised when I was handed my very own
WDWNT: The Magazine 36
stored in a freezer for
hibernation. I was told that as I held
the tube in my hands, the warmth would slowly
wake them up and soon I’d have my own pets
to accompany me on the tour.
Next we saw the facility where they grew the
Mickey’s Mini Garden plants. While it was neat
to learn how they took a single cell and placed
it in nourishing goo to help it grow, I was much
more interested in learning how they selected
things as beautiful as Disney does. And I’m
proud to report that my dragon fruit grew until
it was too big to fit in my window and had to go
live in a new home. One of the most rewarding
parts of the tour came a few years later when I
brought my garden obsessed husband to Walt
Disney World and went on the same tour. It’s
amazing how much it can change throughout
the seasons and the tour was nothing like the
one I’d been on before.
Take it from a garden-fearing person; this
tour is definitely worth your time!
the hardiest plants so they wouldn’t die easily.
After the tour I ended up bringing a dragon fruit
plant home.
Next we went into the part of the
greenhouse that you see when riding the boats
through Living with the Land. We learned about
Jenni first started working with WDWNT after winning the “Who
Wants to be a Podcaster” contest. She’s been an avid Disney
fan since she first watched Snow White and become completely
obsessed after her visit to Walt Disney World in 1994. She lives in
Ohio with her husband, Tony and three cats: Dr. Marsh, Issabella
and Mickey. She still visits the parks at least once a year and
looks forward to WDWNT’s photo repots to get her through all the
times in between.
.
.
.
I
E
M
THE TI
© Disney
Written By: Sarah Hill
In 2006 I was interning at the Walt Disney World
Resort. It was also the year my older sister, Jenni,
got married. After flying up for her wedding I flew
back down to Florida with them, since they were
going to the Resort for their honeymoon. After
getting them settled in at their hotel, I went back
to work at the Magic Kingdom and left them to
enjoy their time together. One day we met up to
hang out at Disney Hollywood Studios and went
to see the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular.
Now I have been coming to Disney since the age of
three and have always insisted on seeing the show
when we made it over to the Studios. For anyone
who hasn’t seen it, before the show begins they
warm up the crowd and ask for volunteers to get
in on the magic.
I always raise my hand and hope to get on
stage. The Indiana Jones franchise is a collection
of some of my favorite movies of all time and
to be a part of the action is a once in a lifetime
chance. This trip to the show happened to be
my opportunity; when they asked for volunteers,
I stretched my hand as high as I could and by
chance they called on me! I was in disbelief. I
asked if they were really calling on me or maybe
WDWNT: The Magazine 38
my sister or new brother-in-law, but no, they had
really picked me! I rushed up on stage in a surge
of excitement. On stage they asked our names
and I don’t remember what else. I was just too
amazed to be on stage that I barely remember
standing there for those first few moments. After
all of the newly casted extras were introduced we
were whisked off to the back of the auditorium to
get into costume for our scene.
In the back of the auditorium, there are racks
with robes and turbans for us to wear. The
Disney cast member picks out which costume
will go to each of us extras. The robes were
rough and made of heavy material. It made me
think of all the hot sweaty guests who had put on
them on in hotter months of summer and hoped
they had been well cleaned before I put them on
(which of course they had; It’s Disney after all!).
After we were suitably dressed we were able to
stand in the back and watch the scene that had
already started while we were getting ready.
For those who haven’t seen it the show it starts
with a recreation of a scene from Indiana Jones
and the Raiders of the Lost Ark where Indiana
finds a golden idol that happens to be part of a
booby trap. It begins with him falling into the
scene on a vine from the ceiling. He makes his
way across the room where spikes shoot up
from the floor with every step. After some close
shaves with the spikes he makes his way upward
ever closer to where the idol is. There he sees
skeletons that had met a not too pleasant end
on more spikes coming out sideways from the
wall. He carefully makes his way forward only to
fall into a trap door. Luckily, there is a vine to
stop him from falling to his doom (our hero can't
die in the first few seconds of the first scene!).
Next, there are three guardians lined up with
axes raised prepared to attack. Indy checks to
see if they are in fact traps but the first figure
remains still. He passes it and checks the
second and it seems stationary but once in front
of it the axe drops. He quickly moves past it and
the final guard, and takes one last respite before
reaching the idol. This place has been full of
traps, but Indy carefully thinks through his next
step before taking the idol. He has a bag of
sand, checks the feel of it to see if he thinks
it will be about the same as the idol, empties
a little out and quickly and carefully switches
the idol for the bag. The music dramatically
swells as the platform that formerly held the
idol begins to sink. Rocks begin cracking and
flames shoot through the cracks. A skull shaped
door opens an enormous boulder begins rolling
toward our hero. Indy runs as fast as he can
but the boulder catches up to him and it seems
he is crushed by its weight.
The action stops and the director and other
crew members come out and call Indiana back
to his feet. They then tell the audience how
the stunts were achieved. In the background,
the crew resets the scene and prepares for the
next scene. The extras from the audience are
then called back on stage to show off their new
bazaar attire. The temple background slides
away to reveal an open marketplace set. We
are instructed to huddle in different groups
and act like a crowd. They have us do different
warm-ups; some of which designed to make the
audience laugh. They explain that sometimes
extras will be picked out of the crowd to do a
little more to add to the scene. This extra was
then asked to play dead. The director pretends
to shoot him and he pretends to slowly die to the
audiences’ applause. We are told about how an
acrobat show will start up and we need to stop
what we’re doing and watch a little of it before it
turns into the fight scene where we need to root
for our hero (Indy of course!).
With the scene set, the extras ready and the
mats laid out, they began the scene. I was
amazed at how fast the action seemed to go.
In all the times I’d seen the show it seemed so
much slower but being up on stage all of the
events unfolding before me went by so fast I
barely had time to pretend to react. It felt like
the scene had just started when the extras
wrangler issued us to edge of the stage while the
action continued across the rooftops. We were
then rushed to another spot on stage so we were
out of the way for the truck chase. The whole
scene ends with the truck in flames and the
director coming out again to stop the action.
The director talks of how all of the stunts
were very carefully coordinated and how the
“easier” looking stunts are usually the ones that
go wrong. There is then a brief demonstration
of some stage fighting with one of the extras,
culminating with an impressive back flip which
breaks the illusion that he isn’t from the
audience and is actually a stunt man planted
in our group. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve
seen the show so many times or because of my
vantage point on stage but this part of the show
seemed a little less real up close. We were then
thanked for our help and taken off stage to
disrobe and return to our seats while they started
the next scene.
Whenever I think back to the experience it
seems surreal. Everything seemed to go so fast
and it was so different than any other experience
I have had at Walt Disney World. But you know
what, next time I’m at Disney Studios I’ll still
be there at the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular
with my hand raised just as high because who
wouldn’t want to be part of that magic?! Maybe
next time the whole thing won’t go by so fast,
but in the end nothing will replace the fact that
my sister let me share her time at Disney with
her.
WDWNT: The Magazine 39
Winnie the
Pooh and
My Review
By Brian Shapiro
I
admit I've never been much of a fan of Winnie the Pooh as a character. In fact, the only character I've
ever had any interest in from the Hundred Acre Woods is Tigger. However, I'm a HUGE fan of hand drawn
animation, so in spite of my indifference towards a certain silly ol' bear, I was eager to see Disney's latest
animated feature, Winnie the Pooh. The film was directed by Stephen J. Anderson and Don Hall, who each have
worked on various other Disney animated films such as Meet the Robinsons, Brother Bear, and The Princess and
the Frog. All I can say after seeing Winnie the Pooh is, if I wasn't a fan of A.A. Milne's characters before, I sure
am now!
Since it was my passion for hand drawn animation that got me into the theater in the
first place, let me begin by saying it did not disappoint! The artwork for the characters
and settings match the style of the original Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
The color palette used for the film is vibrant and pleasing to the eye. As they demonstrated in The Princess
and the Frog, the current crop of Disney animators are very capable of creating beautiful, fluid movement
reminiscent of classic hand drawn Disney films of the past. Though it has been done in previous Pooh films,
I particularly enjoyed the whimsical interaction of the characters and the onscreen storybook text. I could not
imagine making a film like Cars 2 without using three dimensional CGI animation, but there is no substitute for
the charm of two dimensional hand drawn animation, and Winnie the Pooh is proof of it.
Lasseter's influence in creating a story that has genuine laughs for children and
adults. If I wasn't a fan of Pooh's character going into this film, I certainly wasn't
a fan of the other characters such as Owl or Rabbit. However, in Winnie the
Pooh I found myself enjoying all of the characters as they each contributed in
some way to the story or humor of the film. Who knew Owl (voiced by Craig
Ferguson) was so funny! I also found myself enjoying the songs in Winnie
the Pooh. While there aren't any show-stopping numbers, I thought the songs
were entertaining and never tedious. I especially enjoyed the "Backson Song"
in which all the characters' fears feed on each other while over imagining about
the mysterious Backson.
There is very little to criticize about Winnie the Pooh. The voice actors, who
include Jim Cummings (Pooh and Tigger), John Cleese (Narrator), Bud Luckey
(Eeyore), Craig Ferguson (Owl), Jack Boulter (Christopher Robbin), Travis
Oates (Piglet), Kristen Anderson-Lopez (Kanga), and Tom Kenny (Rabbit) do
a great job of infusing their characters with personality. Jim Cummings has
provided the voice of Pooh and Tigger for many years now, but strangely, I
found his Pooh and Tigger sounded a little more gruff in this movie. Perhaps it
is a consequence of Cummings' aging, but this is only a minor quibble. In my
opinion, Cummings is right up there with Mel Blanc as one of the best voice
actors of all time.
Like many great Disney animated films, Winnie the Pooh is a timeless tale that
is sure to resonate with generations to come. There is more fun, humor, and
story in the one hour of this film than in the entire three hours of the latest
Transformers film. If you see Winnie the Pooh while it is in theaters, it is
preceded by a wonderful hand drawn film short, The Ballad of Nessie, which
explains the origins of the Loch Ness Monster. There's nothing I enjoy more
than a big summer blockbuster with big action, big special effects, and big eyepopping 3D, but I really enjoyed Disney's latest animated Pooh adventure, and
coming from me, that says a lot!
Did You
Know?
Queen Elizabeth II invited
Pooh to her 80th birthday
party at Buckingham Palace.
To create 'Winnie the Pooh
and the Blustry Day," some
200 Disney artists used
around 1.2 million pencils
and made nearly 100,000
drawings of the characters.
Winnie the Pooh has his own
star on the Hollywood Walk
of Fame.
The real-life Christopher Robin
Milne's stuffed animals were
the inspiration behind the Pooh
stories. They now live at the New
York Public Library.
For More Fun Winnie the Pooh
Facts visit: http://disney.go.com/
pooh/fun-facts
For a movie that is barely over an hour long, the plot of Winnie the Pooh manages to
weave three storylines skillfully. Because of the film's very short running time, I can't say too much about the
plot without spoiling it. Predictably, the movie begins with the first storyline, which involves Pooh's search for
something to satisfy his ever growling rumbly tumbly. The second storyline involves Eeyore, who is missing his
tail and is searching for a replacement. The third storyline involves the disappearance of Christopher Robin,
possibly at the hands of a mysterious creature called a Backson. All three storylines intersect with each other and
eventually lead to a satisfying conclusion. There is a lot of humor and wit throughout, and one can sense John
WDWNT: The Magazine 40
WDWNT: The Magazine 41
EATING WDW
by Sarah Holodick
Did you know there are many places on property to get interesting and delicious
flatbreads and pizzas? I’m not just talking about Via Napoli, either. You don’t have
to settle for conveyor belt “pizzas” served at Pizza Planet and Pizzafari, quality can
be found at counter service, table service, and signature dining locations all around
the World.
Of course, Epcot’s Via Napoli has been
earning is fair share of praise since
opening in the Summer of 2010. I had
been slacking on getting over there for
one reason or another, but finally made
the pilgrimage to experience the pizza
myself. I ordered the “Piccante,” one of
their signature pies, which features spicy
Italian sausage. I have to say, I was thoroughly impressed by the
quality from ingredients to execution, and look forward to returning
many times. As a side note, their sangria is awesome as well.
Are you in the mood for a breakfast pizza?
Wolfgang Puck Express at Downtown
Disney Marketplace has an amazing
“Smoked Bacon Pizza” with scrambled
eggs, tomatoes, mozzarella, cheddar
cheese, and ranch dressing. I was skeptical
about breakfast pizza. I had visions of
the thick, amalgamated mess sitting on a
breakfast buffet line. My thought was the Wolfgang Puck Express
would hold breakfast pizza to a higher standard, and indeed it
does. The bacon truly is smoky, the crust is expertly cooked, and
the ingredients were fresh.
Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano at Hollywood Studios has a
few flatbreads on their menu, but I really enjoyed the “Carne D’
Italia Flatbread.” It features pepperoni, Italian sausage, pancetta,
and a spicy marinara sauce. While I would not consider the sauce
itself very spicy at all, the toppings did bring a little bit of spice and
heat. This flatbread is quite large with a hearty amount of toppings.
WDWNT: The Magazine 42
Not a bad option for an in-park pizza
fix, and merely a few steps away from
Pizza Planet.
Captain Cook’s Snack Company
in the Polynesian Resort offers
flatbreads which are surprisingly
well-made. While pretty basic in
appearance using relatively standard
ingredients, they are a good option
for quality flatbread from a counter service
restaurant.
California Grill at the Contemporary Resort
offers some pretty interesting flatbreads.
While the menu is constantly changing, I have recently sampled two
different flatbreads. The “Spiced Lamb” flatbread featured dates,
roasted olives, Sylvetta arugula, cucumber yogurt and Manchego
cheese. It is one of my favorite flatbreads from California Grill. The
“Rotisserie BBQ Chicken” flatbread with chipotle corn salsa, roasted
peppers, and Tillamook Smoked Cheddar is also quite delicious, using
more sophisticated ingredients.
Spiced Lamb
Rotisserie BBQ Chicken
Some other notable restaurants include:
• Chefs de France (Epcot): Tarte a la flame Alsacienne with crème fraîche, onion, and bacon.
• Contempo Café (Contemporary Resort): Marinated Beef Flatbread with oven roasted tomatoes, garlic,
onions, arugula, and goat cheese. Note that you can bring food from Contempo Café over to Outer Rim
to enjoy with some drinks since they do not serve food there.
• Territory Lounge (Wilderness Lodge): The Pulled Pork & Cole Slaw Flatbread is definitely on my agenda!
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By Brian Shapiro
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siast knows, the D Stre
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nd are the flagships fo
addition to trading op
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portunities at the D St
reet stores, there are
ar tist signings on a re
product releases and
gular basis. Howeve
r, Disney Store locatio
a sort of local D Stre
ns
are slowly becoming
et. Not only can you
find trading at Disney
find exclusive Disney
Store locations, you ca
Store Vinylmation serie
n
s as well. New York
London, Copenhagen
City, San Francisco,
, and Dublin each ha
ve a Disney Store with
themed for their loca
figures exclusively
tion.
In addition to these sp
ecial figures, Vinylmat
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and the recent Robots
Cutesters Like You,
Series 1 are all serie
s
tha
t were created exclusiv
all Disney Store loca
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tions and
fact, when the Robots
online at DisneyStore.
com. In
July 22, the first twelv
series was released on
e
Store location who
guests at each Disney
series product
purc hased a Robots
the opportunity
were awarded
an ar tist’s
to experience
sorts. They
signing of
a jumbo
received
handcard,
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signed by
the ar tists
responsible
series,
for the
the complete
picturing
of designs!
Robot set
Street, collectors
Just like at D
for stores to open
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ed up waiting
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luc ky guests to receive
to be one of the
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one of these cards.
maybe someday Disn
be
gin
ning of a trend, and
ey Store
Vinylmation mystery
lo
ca
tio
ns
wi
ll even have the
trade boxes found in
the parks.
If you want to find ou
t more about trading
opportunities and relea
your Disney Store jus
se dates at
t ask a Cast Member,
chec k out the Events
Vinylmation website,
pa
ge on the official
or go to the Vinylmat
ion Station at http://
com. What are you
ww
w.
vinylmationstation.
waiting for? There ar
e a lot
of great opportunities
awaiting you at a
Disney Store. You wo
n't want to trade that
Brian Shapiro, a lifelong Disney fan, lives in Pennsylvania
for anything!
with his wife and children. Although he can't get to the
Parks as often as he'd like, he enjoys the magic by showing Disney movies every day in his dental practice and
by collecting memorabilia like pins and art. Over the last
few years he has become passionate about collecting,
trading, and customizing Vinylmation.
WDWNT: The Magazine 45
HERE IN T
W
•
HE
?
D
HE
RE
IN THE W
O
R
L
Disney's Electrical Parade
@ Magic Kingdom
E WO RLD?
•
W
ISSUE 5 ANSWERS
TH
Entrance to Africa @ Animal Kingdom
I
N
W
? • WHE
D
L
RE
OR
Catch the answers to this month's Where
in the World? In our next issue coming
September 2011.
WDWNT: The Magazine 46
WDWNT: The Magazine 47
Hurry Back..
catch our next issue early september
WDWNT: The Magazine 48