Showing posts with label Mice Chat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mice Chat. Show all posts

Monday, July 28, 2014

The Southern Seas and the Ports-O-Call at Walt Disney World


Head on over to Mice Chat and check out my latest article that talks about the Southern Seas and Ports-O-Call, two Walt Disney World cruise ships that really show what the Vacation Kingdom of the World was like in the 1970s.

And yes, if you're wondering why I'm referring to them as cruise ships, chalk it up to nomenclature! They were used specifically for the World Cruise and other cruising activities.

The Southern Seas cruises past Discovery Island!

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

The Last Standing Magic Kingdom Ticket Booth

From the beginnings of Disneyland, you had to purchase tickets in order to experience an attraction (some attractions were sponsored by corporations and were free, like Adventures Through Inner Space). The seminal term for an amazing experience, an E-Ticket, was coined based on the 1959 additions to Disneyland. When the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, tickets were used as well. It wasn't until the late 1970s, when Disney experimented with a multi-day passport and eventually shuttered the ticket system when EPCOT Center opened. One of the reasons was that every attraction that debuted at EPCOT Center was considered an E-Ticket.

At the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, we're down to one free-standing ticket booth. The previous one was located outside of The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh but was removed when the tree from Pooh's Playful Spot was relocated to directly in front of the Pooh show building. The last ticket booth is currently being used as a Disney Vacation Club information kiosk. I have had a question about a remaining booth that was in or near the Yankee Trader. Any thoughts?




It's also used as a landing pad?



Fitting with the inter-galactic theme of Tomorrowland, Disney Vacation Club welcomes visitors to earth with a few choice images. Including one the local population being stabilized, apparently.

I'll end with a few random shots.


It looks like the door hasn't changed much over the years.


Check out my Mice Chat article on the differences between a 1975 Walt Disney World vacation (with ticket books) and a 2014 vacation.



How often have you walked past this piece of Magic Kingdom history?

 Looking for a great title on the first 25 years of Walt Disney world? Check out Jeff Kurtti's Since the World Began.

Friday, February 14, 2014

Happy Valentine's Day from Totally Minnie!

I wrote a column about Totally Minnie for Valentine's Day last year at Mice Chat. It was a great look back at a time when Disney tried to change Minnie Mouse's image to align it with pop culture (as we've seen recently, not always a great idea). The initiative included a year-long tribute to Minnie Mouse that was comprised of television specials, a parade at Disneyland and a stage show at Walt Disney World.



Check out my article at Mice Chat: Totally Minnie for Valentine's Day!


There was also a record that includes ten fast-paced songs!



Did you have this album? Did you ever get to see the parade or the stage show back in 1986?

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Mice Chat Anniversary

I wanted to help spread the news about the amazing events taking place during the Mice Chat Anniversary Celebration (February 7, 8, and 9, 2014). There are going to be some amazing programs, meet ups, games and a chance to meet Jeff Heimbuch!

Check out some of the links and if you're going to be in the Southern California area, make sure to be there. They've really pulled out all of the stops on this one.



DON'T MISS OUT: MiceChat Anniversary
February 7th through 9th - at the Disneyland Resort! 



FRIDAY February 7th

ALL Proceeds from your ticket will go toward saving the home Walt Disney was born in!



Journey back with us to the year 1901. William McKinley was President of the United States, Major League Baseball had just been formed, and a man named Walt Disney was born in a small house in Chicago Illinois. The modest family home on the corner of Tripp Avenue and Palmer Street was designed and built by Flora and Elias Disney, Walt and Roy Disney's mother and father. Both Walt and Roy were born in this home and lived there until Walt was four and Roy was twelve years old.


We have already lost too many buildings that were an incredibly important part of Disney history. 


 


Join the folks at the Save Walt Disney's Birthplace project as we explore Walt's early history and discover how we can preserve the home where he was born! We guarantee you'll be wowed and entertained and leave satisfied that you are doing something very important. 




Space is strictly limited to 70 guests for this FABULOUS event. 



SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8th


Celebrated Imagineer, Tim Delaney, will lead a fascinating presentation about the building of the most beautiful Magic Kingdom of them all, Disneyland Paris. Learn about the challenges, creative opportunities, and wonderful stories that make this park so unique in the universe of Disney theme parks. This will be a breakfast event at the ESPN Zone (bacon, bacon, bacon) with a 90 minute audio/visual presentation and an opportunity to meet a true creative genius. Event is limited to 125 guests and will sell out quickly.


Tim Delaney's 34 years at Walt Disney Imagineering included 19 years as a creative director and Vice President of Design. He has been instrumental in all phases of design from initial concept through design development, corporate sponsorship, project production and onsite construction supervision through completion. As a designer, illustrator, painter, creative director, producer and art director, Delaney has lead teams that have designed and constructed over $1.2 billion of Disney Parks and attractions worldwide, including Anaheim, Orlando, Paris and Hong Kong.Tim has been awarded the 2002 Ray Bradbury Award for Lifetime of Creative Excellence. He was the subject of the popular BBC documentary ''Shoot the Moon.'' And, in, 1995 he was awarded the Themed Entertainment Association award for best attraction for Space Mountain at Disneyland Paris.

Tim will sign copies of Disneyland Paris From Sketch To Reality (copies of this beautiful book are available at a VERY special price for this event only)


Put your Disney skills to the test as Fishbulb presents one of his famous eye spy/scavenger hunt events. This two hour event will be free to enter (you'll just need park admission). There will be fun prizes sponsored by Fairy Godmother Travel and this is always a great way to meet fellow MicePals and have a great time in the park.




Communicore Weekly Musical Meet-up - Feb 8th, 6:30pm

Meet Jeff Heimbuch and learn more about the epic Communicore Weekly Musical project. This event will be presented in the same location as the Game Show. Two great events, one great location. SIGN UP FOR INFO HERE






Monorail Man's EXTRA Limited Time Magical Game Show - Feb 8, 7pm




The game show has become a MiceChat anniversary tradition. Why? Because Monorail Man isn't just a Disney nerd but a game show nerd as well. And what excuse do we need to have a good time and win prizes? The show lasts for about an hour and prizes will be given throughout.SIGN UP FOR INFO HERE




SUNDAY FEBRUARY 9th MiceChat/MiceAge Classic Sunday in Disneyland


Breakfast at the Riverbelle Terrace, a grand circle tour of Disneyland aboard theDisneyland RailroadMark Twain trip around the Rivers of America, MiceChat noon meet with prize giveaway, group photo, lunch with friends, D23 Fanniversary Scavenger Hunt, "Practically Perfect Tour," farewell meet withgrand prize giveaway.

It's a MiceChat tradition that's not to be missed. All are welcome to join us for as much or as little of this day of magic as they'd like. All events, except for the Evening with Walt Disney and the Breakfast with Tim Delaney, are free (you just need theme park admission).

Add your email address below to be notified when the final event schedule with dates/times/locations of all of the above listed activities is available. 

SIGN UP FOR INFO HERE

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Perry the Platypus in Caribbean Plaza

Check out my article at Mice Chat to read about the history of the Caribbean Arcade and some new Five Legged Goats!



Tuesday, December 10, 2013

My Magic Plus and More


Including some shots of Phil Holmes in the parks!

I visited Walt Disney World last week and gave a mini-review of the Magic Bands, My Magic + and Fast Pass + over at Mice Chat.

I also found the Jitney on Main Street!

What are your thoughts on My Magic Plus?


Monday, October 28, 2013

Pleasure Island at Mice Chat


My latest article for Mice Chat takes a look at a Pleasure Island brochure from 1989. It's a fascinating time for the nighttime entertainment spot since it was one of the first big projects greenlit by Eisner. A lot has changed over the years.


Did you ever get to experience these clubs from 1989/1990?

Any great memories?

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

WDW Books and Communicore Weekly


In addition to the bibliography of Walt Disney World books, I created a shorter list of what I consider the essential books about Walt Disney World that every fan and researcher should own.
Leave a comment over at Mice Chat and let me know if you have a favorite Walt Disney World book ans which one it is.

Communicore Weekly

The latest episode of Communicore Weekly (the Greatest Online Show™) is up! Jeff and I discuss the history of the Disney Inn, the new Tinkerbell book, Gravity Falls on DVD and the Five Legged Goat at the Confectionery.

Monday, September 30, 2013

Empress Lilly and Disney Mountains


Thanks to a secret source and the amazing Daveland, I've got some more shots of the Empress Lilly, including some great interior shots.



I reviewed the 2007 release by Jason Surrell called The Disney Mountains. It's a great look at all of the Disney coasters and other mountain-based attractions. Check it out!
Make sure to stop by Mice Chat and leave a comment! Let me know what you think about the Disney Mountains and the Empress Lilly.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Marty Sklar's New Book and Communicore Weekly with Golden Horsehoe and Muppets


Jeff and I review Marty Sklar's new book, Dream It! Do It!: My Half-Century Creating Disney’s Magic Kingdoms in my ImagiNERDing column over at Mice Chat. Check it out and leave a comment!

We've also released another episode of Communicore Weekly (the Greatest Online show™). This time we look at a new interactive game at the Golden Horseshoe Review at Disneyland, the Muppet Movie on Blu-ray and some penguin Five Legged Goats!




Thursday, July 18, 2013

Walt Disney World Information Guide

I posted an article at Mice Chat a few weeks ago about a 1984 Walt Disney Travel Company package that I ran across. I'm always interested in how Disney promoted themselves before Eisner and this package was a gem.
The cover of the vacation package folder was pretty interesting because it highlighted 14 different aspects of a Walt Disney World vacation.


Right off the bat, the font choice for the cover is a more futuristic and EPCOT Center related.


The first box has three quadrants, all related to the Magic Kingdom.
  • Jungle Cruise
  • Pirates of the Caribbean
  • Cinderella's Castle (and flowers)

The second set has three images.
  • it's a small world
  • Big Thunder mountain Railroad
  • Spaceship Earth

The third set has four images and does not have a park icon (of course, there were only two parks at the time).
  • Golfing at the Lake Buena Vista Gold Course (is that the LBV Clubhouse in the background?)
  • Camping at Fort Wilderness, which also includes eating and bike riding
  • River Country. Good ole' River Country...
  • The Contemporary Resort

The fourth image includes three photos.
  • Journey into Imagination (and the monorail) at EPCOT Center
  • The Canada Pavilion
  • Frolicking at a beach near the monorail. My guess is that this is near the Polynesian (probably near the Transportation and Ticket Center). Like most every photgraph of water of the beach in the 1970s and 1980s, you will see one of the pontoon sailboats or smaller sailboats.
  • Captain Jack's Oyster Bar at the Walt Disney World Village
So, what do you think about how Disney promoted the Vacation Kingdom of the World back in the 1970s and 1980s?

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Disneyland Trip Report Walt Disney World Books


My latest column at Mice Chat is a list of Walt Disney World history books. 65 titles are on the list with several added from this year.
Communicore Weekly

The latest episode of Communicore Weekly (the Greatest Online Show™) features a Disneyland trip report from Jeff and a Disneyland Five Legged Goat.

I review Disney Dream Weavers by Chuck Schmidt.




Monday, January 28, 2013

Bob-A-Round and Bob-A-Long with Bob Gurr

After a year of hearing "Bob-A-Round Boats and Five Legged Goats," we finally get around to talking about the Bob-A-Round and Bob-A-Long Boats at Walt Disney World with our special guest, Bob Gurr!
I review a great book featuring an amazing film by Hayao Miyazaki The Art of My Neighbor Totoro




Tuesday, December 25, 2012

RING IN THE NEW YEAR AT THE WALT DISNEY FAMILY MUSEUM January Exhibitions, Programs, and Events


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The Walt Disney Family Museum always offers some amazing exhibits and programs. If you're in the area, I would urge you to stop in and enjoy the Museum and everything it has to offer.




RING IN THE NEW YEAR AT THE WALT DISNEY FAMILY MUSEUM
January Exhibitions, Programs, and Events

SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS


Now through April 14, 2013 | Special Exhibition Hall
Special ticket price for Snow White: $10 general | Special combination ticket which includes general museum admission: $25 adults; $20 seniors and students; $15 children ages 6 to 17.
On view through April 14, 2013, The Walt Disney Family Museum’s special exhibition celebrates Walt Disney’s first feature-length animated film: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The exhibition showcases more than 200 works of art including conceptual drawings, early character studies, detailed story sketches, and animation drawings. Also featured are delicate thumbnail layout watercolors, meticulously rendered pencil layouts, rare watercolor backgrounds, colorful cels, and vintage posters all illustrating how Walt Disney advanced the creation of an entirely new art form.

Generous support provided by Wells Fargo.

Now through April 28, 2013 | Theater Gallery
Free for members or with Museum admission
Between Frames explores the evolution of stop motion animation in the United States in special effects, television, and film. The exhibition highlights behind-the-scenes photographs, rare armatures and puppets, and original storyboards from cult favorite films and television including King Kong, GumbyStar Wars, Jurassic Park, Robot Chicken, and Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas and showcases stop motion innovators like Ray Harryhausen, Phil Tippett, Will Vinton, Tim Burton, Henry Selick, and more.

SCREENINGS + DISCUSSIONS
Film of the Month: Sleeping Beauty (1959)
Screens 1/131, daily at 1:30pm (except Tuesdays and 1/19) | Theater
Free for members or with Museum admission | Without Museum admission: $7 adult; $5 youth

Additional screening: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Screens 1/131, daily at 4pm (except Tuesdays and 1/19) | Theater
Free for members or with Museum admission | Without Museum admission: $7 adult; $5 youth

The Disney Classics: Preserving Walt’s Vision
Saturday, January 19 | 3pm | Theater
General: $20 adult; $15 youth | Members: $18 adult; $14 youth
Perhaps no other film library showcases Americana more than the one created by The Walt Disney Studios. Ever careful to preserve this collection for future generations to enjoy, the Disney Studios has maintained the pioneering spirit of Walt’s dedication to exploring new technologies.

Theodore Gluck, the Studios’ Director of Library Restoration and Preservation, will present an exclusive look inside the processes used to bring these beloved films to a contemporary world. Starting with the development of Technicolor and continuing through the early days of CinemaScope, Gluck will demonstrate the challenges now faced by the Studio Restoration Team as they work to restore these world-renowned films to their original splendor.

(This program is presented in conjunction with the Museum’s feature exhibition, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: The Creation of a Classic).

SPECIAL PROGRAMMING
Look Closer
Friday–Sunday, January 25–27
11am, 1 & 3pm | Between Frames exhibition | Free with paid special exhibition admission
Hear expert highlights of our special exhibition, Between Frames: The Magic Behind Stop-Motion Animation.

CLASSES + ACTIVITIES
Learn from the Masters Series: The Conservation and Preservation of Animation Cels with Martin Salazar (Lecture and Tour)
Saturday, January 19 | 10am–noon | Learning Center and Special Exhibition Hall
General: $40 adult; $30 student (valid student ID required) | Members: $35

Drawing from The Walt Disney Family Museum’s collection of priceless Disney animation cels, Museum art conservator Martin Salazar will discuss how these cels were first created, explain the causes of cel deterioration, and demonstrate techniques he has developed to care for these treasures. Salazar will also discuss the ethical challenges faced by institutions when attempting to preserve fragile artifacts. The lecture will conclude with a guided tour of the Museum’s first major exhibition, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: The Creation of a Classic. Salazar will be assisted by Museum conservation technician Harvey Newman.

This class is for participants ages 18+, all levels of experience. Space is limited. Registration required. Email: education@wdfmuseum.org to register or for more info.


Learn from the Masters Series: Stop Motion Puppet Construction with Ruben Esqueda (Class)
Saturday, January 26 | 10am–1pm | Learning Center
General: $55 adult; $35 student (valid student ID required) | Members: $45

Ruben Esqueda, independent filmmaker and animation mentor since 1998, will lead a hands-on four-hour master class for animators at all levels of experience. Participants will learn the process of building a professional quality stop motion puppet armature, which will be ready for use in animation by the end of the class. Participants will also learn other types of puppet construction including wood, ball and socket, and prefabricated toy puppet armatures. The class will involve the use of wire-cutting materials and epoxy, so comfortable dress is recommended.

This class is for participants ages 18+, all levels of experience. Space is limited. Registration required. Email: education@wdfmuseum.org to register or for more info.

Open Studio
Saturday–Sunday, January 5–6, & 12–13
1–3pm | Learning Center | Free for members or with Museum admission
Create stop motion animation in our Media Studio and try your hand at two early steps of creating an animated film—storyboards and concept art—in our Art Studio.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Pumpkins on Main St and Spooky Communicore Weekly


Mice Chat Article

Pumpkins on Main Street at the Magic Kingdom!

Check out my article at Mice Chat detailing the amazing pumpkins.

Halloween Edition of Communicore Weekly





Monday, September 24, 2012

WorldKey Kiosks at Mice Chat!


Head on over to Mice Chat to check out my latest article about the WorldKey Kiosks at Epcot Center. There isn't much information on the web, so I had to dig up information from older cast member publications and some promotional videos.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Walt Disney World Map and Communicore Weekly


Don't you love Disney maps?

Over at my latest Mice Chat column, I take an in-depth look at a 1971 Walt Disney World map that was featured in one of my favorite WDW books, The Story of Walt Disney World: A Commemorative Edition. This map was also in the hotel rooms of the Polynesian and Contemporary.

I pulled the image above from a video about U.S. Steel that I featured on this page about the construction of the Contemporary Resort.

Communicore Weekly

On this week's show, Jeff and I discuss King Arthur's Carrousel at Disneyland--did you know about this unique attraction's history? I review Walt Disney. We debate the merits of riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad during the day or night and Jeff offers an interesting tidbit. Jeff also covers a Five Legged Goat from Splash Mountain







Thursday, August 16, 2012

Picture Spots, Dreamfinder and Communicore Weekly!


Hang out anytime at ImagiNERDing and you will see that I do like some of the geekier spots, including the Kodak Picture Spots. Check out my latest ImagiNERDing article at Mice Chat about the picturesque Picture Spots.



Jeff and I review Ron Schneider's book From Dreamer to Dreamfinder at Mice Chat. This is definitely a must buy for every Disney fan.

Communicore Weekly
For this week's episode, Jeff and I tackle Discovery Island, the latest news about Walt Disney World's NEW Executive Producer Kathy Mangum and a dark and mysterious Five Legged Goat. For my Book of the Week, I review Disneyland Resort Then, Now and Forever.




Thursday, August 9, 2012

Disney Links and Communicore Weekly (Western River Expedition)!


This week, Jeff and I tackle the Western River Expedition--how it developed and what happened! We do a tag team review of Ron Schneider's book From Dreamer to Dreamfinder: A Life and Lessons Learned in 40 Years Behind a Name Tag. Speaking of Dreamfinder, what about a Five Legged Goat from Journey Into Your Imagination? We also take a peek at a pretty fascinating Window.

Don't forget to check out my articles over at Mice Chat!


Now, on with some of the best links from the past week or so!