Geek-End Update, Saturday, May 29, 2010

• Jamie at WDWorld posts about one of my favorite areas in the Animal Kingdom.
• Park Blogs reviews a book that I have been wanting to dig in to for a long time!
• Vincent at Drawn to Illusion investigates a stop-motion short.
• Future Guy at Futurprobe rhapsodizes about his favorite year at Epcot.
• Meet the World ends his series on Club 33 with a wonderful look outside from the balconies.
• Brian Sibley at decidedly disney discusses his run-in with Ducky.
• Have you read Part Five of Disney's America by SamLand?
• Greg at the Disney Obsession shares a great photo and a tranquil thought.
• Richard at Photos From the Parks takes us to the Soarin' Queue.

Progress City Archives Cornucopia:
Michael's Internet was down most of this week and he wasn't able to post anything. We sifted through his archives to provide a few articles that you may have missed over the past few years

• http://progresscityusa.com/2009/12/03/retro-neverworlds-the-lost-potties-of-denmark/

• http://progresscityusa.com/2009/08/11/neverworlds-lava-lagoon/

• http://progresscityusa.com/2009/04/29/neverworlds-bicentennial-special-port-disney/

• http://progresscityusa.com/2008/03/06/third-theme-park-its-dot-com/

• http://progresscityusa.com/2007/11/22/thanksgiving-special-neverworlds-part-i-disneys-america/

• http://progresscityusa.com/2010/01/11/retroworld-the-lake-buena-vista-stol/

• http://progresscityusa.com/2009/07/21/i-for-one-welcome-our-new-go-bot-overlords/

• http://progresscityusa.com/2009/03/10/visiting-the-village-summer-1976/

• http://progresscityusa.com/2008/10/18/the-future-of-further-study/

• http://progresscityusa.com/2008/09/08/semper-absurdia-1971-1998/

• http://progresscityusa.com/2010/02/26/hooray-for-bollywood/

• http://progresscityusa.com/2009/09/22/best-press-release-ever/

• http://progresscityusa.com/2009/08/09/1943/

• http://progresscityusa.com/2009/10/14/im-so-so-sorry/

The Next Sweatbox is coming! Check out 2719 Hyperion for more details.

“I never get involved in politics.”

Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderlandis being released on June 1, 2010. We watched our preview copy this weekend (since we didn't get the chance to see it in the theater). I wasn't prepared for so much of the movie to be done in CGI, but I expected Tim Burton to create truly lush and gorgeous environments. Fortunately, the CGI, even on the Blu-ray, looked fantastic on the television.

One of the surprises, was how well the Cheshire Cat worked as a computer-animated character.Take a sneak peak at the character with the following video clip:


A dapper tabby with the ability to appear and disappear, he floats in and out of Underland at his whim. Seemingly calm and casual, his beguiling grin cleverly hides his complete cowardice, but he soon redeems  himself, helping Alice find her true destiny.
FULL NAME: Chessur
FAVORITE FOODS: Tea and scones
FAVORITE COLOR: Blue

Book Update and DVD Reminder

Don't forget that Questar is releasing a slew of different programs about Walt Disney World on DVD and Blu-ray on June 1st. I am previewing the six-pack and there is new material included:

• Disney Parks: The Secrets, Stories and Magic Behind the Scenes (Six-Pack)
• Disney Parks: The Secrets, Stories and Magic Behind the Scenes [Blu-ray plus DVD and Digital Copy]
• Disney Parks: The Secrets, Stories and Magic Behind the Scenes
  

• Warp and Weft: Life Canvas of Herbert Ryman by John Stanley Donaldson (must order direct from the publisher)

• Cast Member Confidential: A Disneyfied Memoir
  

• Once Upon an American Dream: The Story of Euro Disneyland
  

• ART OF MICKEY MOUSE, THE: ARTISTS INTERPRET THE WORLD'S FAVORITE MOUSE (Disney Miniature Series)
  

• HERBERT RYMAN PAINTINGS AND DRAWINGS
  

SHOW US YOUR BEST FUTTERWACKEN!

Until we watched the Blu-ray preview copy of Alice in Wonderland this weekend, I had no idea what the Futterwacken was nor why anyone would want to enter the contest (besides the prizes)!

ATTENTION ALL ALICE FANS: IT’S TIME TO GATHER YOUR MUCHNESS FOR
DISNEY’S ALL NEW “ALICE IN WONDERLAND” INSPIRED DANCE-OFF

WALT DISNEY STUDIOS IS ASKING YOU TO
“SHOW US YOUR BEST FUTTERWACKEN!”

Prizes Include iPads, Blu-ray™ Players, Autographed Alice Memorabilia and More

FUTTER WHAT??

In celebration of Frabjous Day and the upcoming Blu-ray™ & DVD release of ALICE IN WONDERLAND on June 1st, Walt Disney Studios is asking America to “Show Us Your Best Futterwacken!”

For those who haven’t seen the film, this is the crazy, awesome dance performed by The Mad Hatter. In the world of Alice’s Wonderland, the Futterwacken is a dance of unbridled joy.

The contest challenges ALICE fans to submit their best interpretation of the Futterwacken dance to www.Disney.com/Alicedance and add their own original twists, turns and dance moves. So start gathering your muchness and go completely Gallymoggers as you Futterwacken vigorously!  The more creative your dance moves, the better your chance to win!

Oh and one of the coolest parts is being able to put your dance moves to Kerli’s song “Tea Party” featured on the Alice in Wonderland companion album, Almost Alice.  Disney's Almost Alice soundtrack features two songs by Kerli that provide the perfect beat to "show us your best Futterwacken!"

KLOTCHYN! (Head’s up!) Judging will be based on Dance Performance, Entertainment Value, Technical Quality, Creativity and Originality.

HOW TO ENTER:
Consumers must visit www.Disney.com/Alicedance to enter.  Entries should be no longer than 40 seconds in length and include your first name and the state where you reside. Directions on how to enter are clearly detailed on the website.  It only takes three easy steps to enter – record your video, add music and upload to Disney’s website.

The submission period for the contest begins at 3:00 p.m. PDT on Friday, April 30, 2010 and ends at 3:00 p.m. PDT on Thursday, June 3, 2010.

JUDGING & PRIZING:
There will be two (2) Grand Prize winning submissions and ten (10) First Prize winning submissions. Disney will announce winners on Wednesday, June 16th based on the following equally weighted criteria: Dance Performance, Entertainment Value, Technical Quality, Creativity and Originality.

Prizes include Apple iPads, Panasonic Blu-ray Players, Alice In Wonderland Blu-ray Combo Packs of the film, Mad Hatter Hats, Autographed Alice in Wonderland Nesting Books and iTunes Gift Cards.

Geek-End Update, Saturday, May 22, 2010

• Michael Sporn looks at one of the more amazing scenes in Dumbo.
• Meet the World introduces us to some great details of the dining rooms of Club 33.
• Ryan at the Main Street Gazette takes us back in time to the Independence Lake Project. 
• Head over to Progress City, USA and join me in saying, "Homina, homina, homina!" 
• Samland posts part four of his Disney's America saga.
• Matterhorn 1959 at Stuff From the Park has some great slides from New Orleans Square.
• Donnie at I'm a Blogger, Dottie...shares photos of the Disney home in Marceline.
• AJ, AJ, AJ...
• Be sure to check out Nate's enlightening post at WedWay Radio.

Don't forget about the next 2719 Hyperion Sweatbox Meet!

King Stefan's Banquet Hall

From opening day until April 28, 1997, you could enjoy meals at King Stefan's Banquet Hall in Cinderella's Castle. One of the biggest huh's? about Walt Disney World history was always why King Stefan's Banquet Hall was in Cinderella's Castle.

Let's jump in our CTX Time Rover...

In the photo above, you can see the Banquet Hall in all of its 1972 glory. Check out the carpet! And that giant camera. Shouldn't he have been taking pictures of his food for a future blogger? That is a giant mead goblet on the table...

Is it okay to call the waitress a serving wench?

One of my favorite books is Cooking With Mickey, Volume II: The Most Requested Recipes from Walt Disney World and Disneyland. It was published in 1987 and offers full course meal recipes from many restaurants, including King Stephan's.

How can you go wrong with Green Goddess Dressing?

Imagineering Sneak Peak Five!

High-flying Imagineer Bethann Brody and her son, Luke, playtest the system. - p. 95

If I can make out the design, it looks like the Imagineers are bringing back the Flying Saucers idea from Tomorrowland for a Cars attraction called Luigi's Flying Tires.

A sneak peak at an image from the new Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making More Magic Real book that is scheduled to be released on May 18, 2010.

You can read my review of the book here.

Imagineering Sneak Peak Four

A sneak peak at an image from the new Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making More Magic Real book that is scheduled to be released on May 18, 2010.

You can read my review of the book here.

Geek-End Update, Saturday, May 15, 2010

• Robert at A Filmic Light looks at some Snow White signage through the years.
• Donnie at I'm A Blogger, Dottie posts images from Main Street Marcelline. 
• Check out Part Three of Samland's look at Disney's America.
• With a title like this, it has to be good: PI Rear Views. 
• Matt at Studios Central tells us Why It Is There and what is used to be! 
•  Parkeology finally sheds light on the Grassy Knoll Incident in Tomorrowland!
• A.J. had me at Cinnamon Rolls!

Progress City, USA--Michael gets his own section this week!

• A Juicy Picture
• Well, I Swan
• EPCOT: Origins – The Tripartite Plan, 1975

A Special shout out to my friend, John Rozum. He has been blogging about the 30th Anniversary of the Empire Strikes Back!

A Third Sneak Peak of the Imagineering Book

A sneak peak at an image from the new Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making More Magic Real book that is scheduled to be released on May 18, 2010.

Imagineering Book Sneak Peek Two!

A sneak peak at an image from the new Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making More Magic Real book that is scheduled to be released on May 18, 2010.

This R & D Interactive session with Mickey Mouse himself convinced Imagineers that individual encounters with characters was a rich new experience they could offer Guests. Image: Kevin Rice. p. 144.

Long before Turtle Talk with Crush, Lucky the Dinosaur and the Muppet Mobile Lab, the Imagineers hosted an open house with Mickey's Toon Elevator. Computer screens (including one on the floor) were set up on a motion base where toons zoomed past the windows. That day, the Living Character Initiative was born.

Sneak Peak at the New Imagineering Book

A sneak peak at an image from the new Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making More Magic Real book that is scheduled to be released on May 18, 2010.

Science fiction author Ray Bradbury (shown with Imagineers Card Walker and John Hench) helped conceive the original Spaceship Earth at Epcot; he returned in 2002 for a reworking of the original attraction. p. 37.

DVD Update!

I received my review copies of Disney Parks: The Secrets, Stories and Magic Behind the Scenes (Six-Pack)!

• You can also buy a Blu-ray copy: Disney Parks: The Secrets, Stories and Magic Behind the Scenes [Blu-ray plus DVD and Digital Copy]
  

Geek-End Update, Saturday, May 8, 2010

• Foxxfur at Passport 2 Dreams returns to her favorite subject: the Spooky House. This time she discusses why it is in Liberty Square.
• Vintage Disneyland Tickets presents a Popular Science scan of a 1963 Magic Skyway article.
• Vincent at Drawn to Illusion discusses Ray Bradbury and Walt Disney. 
• Disney Shawn looks at who lives on Main Street USA! 
• Ryan at the Main Street Gazette submits an article about the first landfilling at EPCOT. 
• Daveland shares some vintage Viewliner! 
• Didier at Disney History teases us with a quote about Clifton Meek.
• Wade Sampson at MousePlanet discusses Little Mermaid Island. 
• Samland presents Part Two of Disney's America.
• Stitch Kingdom links to a Disney held patent from 20 years ago that offers insight into today. 
• Besides mentioning ME by name, Jennifer at Broke Hoedown links to the forthcoming Epic Mickey Junior Novel.

Did you catch my review of the fantastic Walt Disney's Railroad Story at 2719 Hyperion? It has moved into my Top 5 All-Time Favorite Disney books: The Nickel Tour; Since The World Began; EPCOT Center; Walt Disney Imagineering (1995 and 2010 versions).

Wow...

I just received my review copy of Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making More Magic Real.

This is not an official review, but...ZOMG!

The Imagineers (and Melody Malmberg) present an entirely new 192 pages. My preview copy actually has tissue paper inserted between some of the pages (to stop my tears of joy?) and some very inventive, yet attached, pullouts.

The original 1995 edition is still in print and this book is intended as a companion, not a revised edition.

You need to get this book. It will be released on May 18, 2010.

X-Men, Volume 5

X-Men, Volume Five (Marvel DVD Comic Book Collection)

The original tales of Marvel comic books come to life in Volume 5 of the X-men collection. Relive the action of the popular animated series in this collectible compilation of the X-men adventures. The X-men must turn to their arch-nemesis, Magneto, in an effort to save the life of Professor Xavier! Watch the action unfold in the final episode, “Graduation Day, “and don’t miss a moment of X-men excitement in this 2-disc set, complete with 14 riveting episodes. Complete your X-men collection with this must-own final installment of this great animated series.

I reviewed Volumes 3 and 4 last year.

Is that you, Captain America?

This is the final disc of the Marvel DVD Collection. It is based on the Marvel Universe that was created in the comics. Yes, the costumes are funny looking, but the stories are a lot of fun. This set is perfect for the superhero and comic book lovers. They were produced during the era when comic books made a return and every channel on television was airing their own superhero animated shows. The X-Men happened to be one of the better series. When I put the dvd set to the ultimate test...my six-year old son loved it!

Maybe our cool costumes are hidden in that area!

---

Iron Man - 1994 Style!

Marvel Iron Man: The Complete Animated Series - 3-Disc DVD

From Stan Lee comes Marvel’s complete 1994 animated television series, Iron Man. Experience every thrilling moment – from the very first episode, to the final climactic battle – in this 3-disc collector’s edition. Witness the action-packed adventure from the very beginning as billionaire inventor Tony Stark dons his invincible suit of iron to battle the villainous Mandarin and the power of his ten deadly rings.

With fellow super heroes Nick Fury, War Machine, Scarlet Witch, Spider Woman and Hawkeye at his side, Iron Man faces off against a band of evil foes, including Whiplash…and confronts his own demons, as well.

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has just released the complete 1994 animated series. 26 episodes with over 572 minutes of Iron action.

This set is perfect for the comic book collector or anyone that loves Iron Man.

The stories are fairly typical for animation of that time period. Everything is based on the comic book canon and emulates that style. There are times when you might laugh at the costuming or plot, but the series was created 15 years ago. My six-year old gives it two thumbs up! He is a huge super hero fan and is ready for his second go-round with the set. This is a great DVD for anyone who is not quite old enough to see Iron Man 2 in the theaters, but wants to explore the super hero.