Book Update!

Three new titles to share with you! Don Hahn's Alchemy title looks astounding.

• The Alchemy of Animation: Making an Animated Film in the Modern Age
  
  

• Disney's Dogs

• Fodor's Walt Disney World® with Kids 2009: with Universal Orlando and SeaWorld (Special-Interest Titles)
• Fodor's Official Site.
  

Fromage Homage

Do you happen to know the secret behind the name on a crate in the queue for the Jungle Cruise? What about the license plates on the cars at the Sci-Fi Dine In? Who is Egroeg Sacul and why does it matter?

A good friend contacted me about a new website, called Fromage Homage. She thought it was a wonderful idea and deserved some help and PR. Fromage Homage is a wiki-based fan site (like an encyclopedia) geared towards collecting the details that honor the creators of the theme parks, movies and resorts. In the words of the owner, Daryll:

I’m really interested in all the little homages in parks and movies to real people, places, and things. It’s just amazing to me the depth that it gives the parks and the feeling it imparts. The more of them I hear of, the more I want to hear. I hadn’t really thought about homages to architecture, as in Foxxfur’s article, but that seems to fit right in. It brings to mind a series of articles I saw on MiceAge by Werner Weiss that compared the facades in the Studios to their California inspirations.

I was just thinking it would be great to have a searchable resource for all these references in the park. I only know a few, and documenting them is a lot of work, so I thought it would be good to open it up to everyone.

It runs just like wikipedia; anyone can add, edit and delete information on the various records.

Stop by, check the out the site and register as a user. This could turn out to be a very important tool for Disney enthusiasts and researchers.

Book Review: The Mouse Machine

The Mouse Machine: Disney and Technology by J.P. Telotte. 232 pages, 2008.

The Mouse Machine was a book that I was very excited to start reading. With a lot of books, you have a certain notion of what to expect between the covers; at first, this book disappointed the theme park fan inside me. When I really got my teeth into it, I realized that this is a work geared towards two types of people: Walt Disney (Company) enthusiasts and animation/film buffs. The theme parks are covered, but in the audio-animatronics area, mainly. Most of the work is dedicated to covering the advances that the House of Mouse created or stumbled upon during its sojourn into popular culture.

Obviously, several high points in the Company's history take precedence: sound, color, multi-plane and special effects are all covered in great detail. The book takes a while to get going and I was tempted to put it away several times. I am glad that I continued. After the first several chapters, you get used to the academic style and start to enjoy and think about the concepts. Telotte's intent was to create a work that showed how the technological leaps were not only to heighten the art form, but also acted as a link to technology and popular culture.

The aim of this book is to follow the company's lead in this regard, to offer a selective look at some of those, often-unseen--or unconsidered-- technological supports or developments that, in film, television, and the theme parks, have been crucial to the success of the Walt Disney Company and, at times, also a clue to its limitations.
--pp. 2-3.

Ub Iwerks and Walt garner special focus, but Telotte also looks at the other pioneers in the various film departments. A lot of time is spent in looking at the development of the animated shorts--how they changed the industry technologically and artistically. Telotte does seem to have a fondness, not only for technology, but for popular culture. The other major section of the book concerns the development of special effects for 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. He also looks at the development and similarities between 20,000 Leagues and The Black Hole. He offer his thoughts on why the first was a success and the latter, a failure. When Telotte discusses the major technological advances of the company, he does hit all of the milestones of the animation and film development. In the chapter on the theme parks, the focus is on a few of the modern attractions, like: Dinosaur, Alien Encounter and the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular. Most of the seminal theme park attractions are mentioned in passing or as antecedents with nothing more notable than as technological steps. Telotte tries to show the reader how society accepts the technology of the theme park attractions as part of the show instead of just as technology.

The chapter titles give a good impression of where the title takes us:

1. Sound Fantasy
2. Minor Hazards: Disney and the Color Adventure
3. Three Dimensional Animation and the Illusion of Life
4. A Monstrous Vision: Disney, Science Fiction, and CinemaScope
5. Disney in Television Land
6. The "Inhabitable Text" of the Parks
7. Course Correction: Of Black Holes and Computer Games
8. "Better than Real": Digital Disney, Pixar, and Beyond

There is much more to the work than I could cover in a review. Telotte advances many thoughts and concepts that lead to more critical thought about the company. Comparing what Telotte has written to the majority of the Disney literature and you find a competent and exciting work--you just need to get used to the writing style. Most works cover just the people and the art, while we see another side of the company through The Mouse Machine.

Bottom Line: This book is for the animation/film and Disney Company enthusiast. The tone is very heady and academic; most theme park-only fans will not find much of interest. Overall, Telotte adds a very solid work to the body of knowledge on the Walt Disney Company. I am glad I have the book and it adds new perspective to how we think about the monumental progress that the Walt Disney Company is known for.

Geek-End Update, Saturday, October 18, 2008

• Didier at Disney History gives an update on Walt's People, volume 7. It looks very exciting!
• Ryan at Main Street Gazette has a nice look at the real Sailing Ship Columbia. He also shares details on an upcoming wedding. No eggs will be served.
• Big Brian at Mousin' It Up has an article on the history of live entertainment at Walt Disney World.
• Doc Terminus at Passamaquoddy shares the news of a new section that has just opened: Interventions!
• Disneyland Nomenclature has a stellar article about the Circle Vision at Disneyland and all of its iterations.
• Wade Sampson at MousePlanet regales us with a wonderful look at Walt Disney and luck.
• Jack Spence takes an in-depth look at Ghirardelli at Downtown Disney. Mmmmm....candy...
• BeaconJoe at Progress City, USA begins an interesting look at Pleasure Island.
• Mark Sonntag at Tagtoonz posts a letter from October 16, 1932.

Destination Disney: Travel Questions and Photo Fun!

At the Destination Disney Travel Program at the Eva Perry Library in Apex, NC, we answered a lot of questions about planning a trip to Walt Disney World, Disneyland and the Disney Cruise Line.

The panel included Stephanie from MouseFan Travel, me and Elizabeth from the Eva Perry Library.

I wanted to share the list of questions that we received. Feel free to answer any that you want in the comments section.

1. Do FastPasses run out? How do I get them and use them?
2. How long should I schedule to do the Animal Kingdom?
3. Where do I eat? (Yeah...that question could have taken all night.)
4. How far in advance do I need to book dining reservations?
5. What types of character meals are there?
6. What are the advantages of the dining plans?
7. What are the busiest times? What do we do when it is busy?
8. I need info on the best place to stay at Disney with a party of five?
9. Will my 6 year-old (who loves the Magic Kingdom) like Disneyland?
10. Does Disney do Trick-or-treating?
11. We are driving down. How long is the drive and should we break up the drive with a hotel stay?
12. When do ticket prices go up?
13. Can you get multiple FastPasses at the same time and using the same card?
14. What are the Golden and Dream FastPasses?
15. What are the best guidebooks?
16. What do you thing of DisneyQuest?
17. What types of discounts are available?

The audience was stunned into silence by the depth of our knowledge!

I gave away two copies of Fodor's Walt Disney World® with Kids 2009 by Kim Wright Wriley. The copies were generously donated by Random House. Stay tuned to Imaginerding over the next week; I still have two more copies to give away!

Program Tonight?

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Lou's Not So Scary WDW Radio Show!

This week, on the WDW Radio Show, Lou Mongello and I discuss Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party held at the Magic Kingdom. Not only do we talk about the free candy, but we discuss events, tips and what to expect and look forward as you plan your visit.




Show 88, October 12, 2008

You can discuss the show on the WDW Trivia forums.

Don't forget that Andy and I will be making another appearance at the Eva Perry Regional Library in Apex, NC, for a table discussion...on planning a Disney trip!

Planning a trip to Disney World can be stressful, confusing, and overwhelming. Even if you've done it several times before! Join Stephanie Hudson from MouseFan Travel and George and Andrew Taylor from http://www.imaginerding.com/ on a panel to answer all your planning questions and help make your next trip the most magical ever.

Word is that there will be a few give-a-ways that evening; special surprises from the Imaginerds and MouseFean Travel!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008
7:00pm - 8:30pm
Eva Perry Regional Library
2100 Shepherd's Vineyard Drive
Apex, NC
Call 919.387.2100 for more details.

We will see you there, right?

Geek-End Update, Saturday, October 11, 2008

• Kevin Kidney posts a great look at the Swiss Family Treehouse Ticket Booths!
• Daveland focuses on the Matterhorn. The first post has some great shots of the construction.
• Mike at the Jungle is 101 has some more castmember behind the scenes photos!
• Ryan at Main Street Gazette has found the Command Post at Pixar Place.
• Foxxfur at Passport 2 Dreams shares an intelligent essay about Disney's walking attractions.
• Progress City, USA helps us gain some insight into seizing the future.
• Didier at Disney History points out a forthcoming book on Wally Boag.
• Wade Sampson at MousePlanet shares a great article on the effects and creation of the Adventurer's Club.
• Big Brian at Mousin' It Up takes a look at the changes in Mickey's outfit during his 50th birthday celebration.
  

With the posting of this Geek-End Update, we have reached 550 posts at Imaginerding! Thanks for taking this voyage with us. Besides the fame, fortune and dames--you are the reason that Andy and I do this!

Thanks!

Book Update!

I picked up a few items while at Walt Disney World last week. (The Disneyland Paris book was an eBay purchase and looks completely amazing!)

• Disneyland Paris From Sketch To Reality by Alain Littaye and Didier Ghez
  

• Tales From The Laughing Place Magazine I picked up the current issue at the NFCC Meet and Sale. It is a very beautiful magazine.

• Walt Disney World: Now, Then and Forever by Jeff Kurtti and Bruce Gordon. This item is a theme park exclusive, but you might be able to find a used copy on Amazon eventually.
  

• The Disney Bear: A Day at the Magic Kingdom. This book is a theme park exclusive.
  

The Souvenir Guides are smaller paperback versions that can be bought seperately or in a boxed set. The boxed set is the only way to get Everything Else in the World. They are also theme park exclusives. I added the Amazon links in case people sell used copies.

• Walt Disney World SC Resorts: Everything Else in the World
• Walt Disney World SC Magic Kingdom
• Walt Disney World SC Epcot
• Walt Disney World SC Disney's Hollywood Studios
• Walt Disney World SC Animal Kingdom
• Walt Disney World Sc Resorts
  
  
  

Meet the Imaginerds!

Andrew and I will be making another appearance at the Eva Perry Regional Library in Apex, NC, for a table discussion...on planning a Disney trip!

Planning a trip to Disney World can be stressful, confusing, and overwhelming. Even if you've done it several times before! Join Stephanie Hudson from MouseFan Travel and George and Andrew Taylor from http://www.imaginerding.com/ on a panel to answer all your planning questions and help make your next trip the most magical ever.

Word is that there might be a surprise or two! Maybe some give-a-ways!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008
7:00pm - 8:30pm
Eva Perry Regional Library
2100 Shepherd's Vineyard Drive
Apex, NC

Call 919.387.2100 for more details.

We will see you there, right?

Geek-End Update, Monday, October 6, 2008

I tried to keep up with the blogs while I was at Walt Disney World this week, but it was a very daunting task. The crowds were slight (except for Toy Story Mania) but it was still very hot and humid. We did an interesting social experiment and found that adults can live on pancakes, cheeseburgers and french fries. Plus, lots of soda! I had fun live blogging the attractions that we did and I appreciate all of the comments.

Now, on with the show!

• Hans Perk at A Film L.A. posts about a neato animation kit!
• Greg at the Disney Obsession has hit 100+1 posts!
• Epcot82 offers an opinion on the demise of Horizons.
• Lou at Louminations! shares a video on how to make the Cheddar Cheese Soup from Canada.
• Ryan at The Main Street Gazette posts some signs of refurbishment throughout the Magic Kingdom.
• Wade Sampson at MousePlanet offers a fascinating look at the origins of Pleasure Island.
• Vintage Disneyland Tickets has scanned a few pages of the 1969 Preview for Walt Disney World. Fantastic!
• Jack Spence shares an interesting detail about the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Can you spot it?
• Eightyologist at Eightyology has a fond look back at Horizons.
• Doc Terminus at Passamaquaddy takes a look at a classic song. An angling song!

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www.imaginerding.com