Inside the Whimsy Works by Jimmy Johnson

I pre-ordered a copy of Inside the Whimsy Works: My Life with Walt Disney Productions by Jimmy Johnson (Edited by Greg Ehrbar and Didier Ghez).

A full review will be coming soon to Communicore Weekly (the Greatest Online Show™) and the Disney Review at Mice Chat.

I'm a huge fan of Mouse Tracks (by Tim Hollis and Ehrbar)  and the Walt's People series (by Didier) but I wasn't sure what to expect from Jimmy Johnson's biography.

The book is based on the diaries that Jimmy kept and gave to the Disney Archives. Greg and Didier did a bit of editing magic on it and present this amazing Disney resource to us. Jimmy had a pretty amazing career and, at times, seemed to be in the right place at the right time. He really pushed the music publishing for Disney and was instrumental in helping to shape the company.

What truly is spectacular about Inside the Whimsy Works is that you get a really good sense for what it was like to work at the Disney Studios, but not in animation. Most of the memoirs that we see deal with animation; very few step outside and look at other areas of the company. We're fortunate that Jimmy's memoir has been released.

I definitely recommend this book as a purchase, even though I'm not more than two-thirds through it. Besides getting a great book about the history of the company, you're helping to support more independent Disney-related research and publishing!

Wonderful World of Customer Service at Disney by J. Jeff Kober

I received a review copy of J. Jeff Kober's book, The Wonderful World if Customer Service at Disney.

I've been reading Jeff's writing at Disney at Work for many years and enjoy his thoughtful articles on customer service inside and outside of Disney. Jeff also shares insightful articles on the business side of Disney with the unique perspective of a former employee with ties to the organization. I've really enjoyed his articles on My Magic+ and the MagicBands.

A full review will be coming soon for Communicore Weekly (the Greatest Online Show™) and The Disney Review at Mice Chat but I wanted to offer a mini-review in the meantime.

There have been many books written about customer service and Disney. In the mid- to late-1990s, Disney was often held up as the leader for customer service across most industries. Jeff offers a unique perspective because he's no longer writing from inside the company but is applying his knowledge from his years with Disney and from his years teaching organizational practices in customer service.

You'll find a lot of the same information from other customer service books that focus on Disney, but Jeff is able to add many personal anecdotes that serve the lessons well. Especially since the anecdotes are all related to Disney theme parks, it's very easy to put yourself in Jeff's shoes and think about your own reactions. Jeff offers many common sense approaches to customer service at all levels in an organization. He also discusses ways to build customer service into your organization before you run into problems or issues.

The Wonderful World of Customer Service at Disney is a great choice for anyone responsible for leading customer service in their organization, no matter what their level. Front line employees and executives will be able to glean the basis for building or restructuring service at their organization.

Maharajah Jungle Trek Aviary

One of the more enjoyable experiences at Disney's Animal Kingdom is a leisurely stroll through the Maharajah Jungle Trek. It's a great way to slow down and experience a section of a theme park that truly takes you out of the park experience. I often jest that Disney's Animal Kingdom Park is a half-day park, simply because of the lack of major attractions. If you take the time to slow down, though, you'll get to experience a rich tapestry that is really astounding. My main argument is still that the Joe Rohde brand of theming was a bit of overkill, to say the least.

Maharajah Jungle Trek

Bird Aviary

One of my favorite sections is the aviary. I'm not sure why, unless it's the proximity to the birds or that it is really hard to believe that you're in Central Florida. (Photos were taken in 2010 and 2013.)

There are some amazing birdhouses inside the royal aviary. Let's take a look at some of them.

There are bird-related decorations throughout the aviary.

Do you have a favorite birdhouse or section of the Maharajah Jungle Trek?

Check out this great book on building Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Saving Mr. Banks Video Clips

Disney has released a few video clips to whet our appetite for the March 18, 2014 release of Saving Mr. Banks. Check out the press release for more details.

Enjoy!

Pamela Go Round



Never Ever Just Mary


Call Me Walt


Responstible

Press Release: Saving Mr. Banks on Blu-ray March 18, 2014

I was very glad to see the release announcement for Saving Mr. Banks in my email inbox. Not since the release of The Boys, Walt and El Grupo and Waking Sleeping Beauty has there been a film catering to the Disney nerd in all of us.

Did you get a chance to see this in the theaters? Are you going to pick it up on Blu-ray?

The Extraordinary, Untold True Story of the Origins of a Disney Classic

 Arrives on Blu-ray™ + Digital Copy, DVD, Digital HD and On-Demand March 18^th Starring Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson

Burbank, Calif., February 14, 2014 – Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment proudly announces the home entertainment release of the heartwarming drama Saving Mr. Banks, arriving on Blu-ray + Digital Copy, DVD, Digital HD and On-Demand on March 18, 2014.

Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson bring to life the untold true story about the origins of one of the most treasured Disney classics of all time.  John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side) directs this acclaimed film, which reveals the surprising backstory behind the making of Mary Poppins.  Determined to fulfill a promise to his daughters, Walt Disney (Hanks) tries for twenty years to obtain the rights to author P.L. Travers’ (Thompson) beloved book.  Armed with his iconic creative vision, Walt pulls out all the stops, but the uncompromising Travers won’t budge.  Only when he reaches into his own complicated childhood does Walt discover the truth about the ghosts that haunt Travers, and together, the set Mary Poppins free.

Featuring a stellar supporting cast that includes Colin Farrell (Total Recall), Paul Giamatti (Sideways), Jason Schwartzman (Rushmore), Bradley Whitford (TV’s The West Wing), Annie Rose Buckley (TV’s Home and Away), Ruth Wilson (The Lone Ranger), B.J. Novak (TV’s The Office), Rachel Griffiths (TV’s Brothers & Sisters) and Kathy Baker (Edward Scissorhands), Saving Mr. Banks was directed by John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side, The Rookie), produced by Alison Owen, Ian Collie and Philip Steuer, and written by Kelly Marcel and Sue Smith. Executive producers are Paul Trijbits, Andrew Mason, Troy Lum and Christine Langan.  

On Blu-ray and Digital HD, Saving Mr. Banks sweeps viewers away with enchanting high definition picture and sound, plus delightful, never-before-seen bonus features, including “The Walt Disney Studios: From Poppins to Present,” in which director John Lee Hancock takes viewers on an insider’s tour of Disney Studios today and reflects on studio life during the creation of Mary Poppins.  Additional bonus materials include “Let’s Go Fly a Kite,” in which the film’s cast and crew sing an impromptu version of the iconic song on set during the last day of shooting, and deleted Scenes.

Bonus Materials*:

·         The Walt Disney Studios: From Poppins to Present (Blu-ray & Digital HD) - Join Director John Lee Hancock on a tour of the Disney Studios lot, reflect on studio life during the making of Mary Poppins, and discover how Walt’s creative spirit still flourishes today.

·         Let’s Go Fly a Kite (Blu-ray & Digital HD) - Cast and crew sing break out in a rousing, heartfelt tribute to Composer Richard Sherman on the last day of filming.

·         Deleted Scenes                                                                                                      

Ø  Stargaze (Blu-ray & Digital HD) – A picture on Walt’s desk leads to a flashback of Pamela’s childhood.

Ø  Nanny Song (Blu-ray, DVD & Digital HD) – The Sherman Brothers perform a song for Pamela that she is less than thrilled with.

Ø  Pam Leaves (Blu-ray & Digital HD) – After yet another disagreement with Walt, Pamela leaves his office and heads for the airport.

*Digital HD bonus offerings vary by digital retailer

Disc Specifications:

Feature Run Time:                     Approximately 125 minutes

Rating:                                               Feature Film: “PG-13” in U.S., “PG” in Canada, bonus features not rated

Aspect Ratio:                                 Blu-ray = 2.40:1 1080p High Definition Widescreen

DVD = 1.78:1 – Enhanced for 16x9 Televisions

Audio:                                                 Blu-ray = English 5.1 DTS-HDMA and DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital Language Tracks

DVD = English 5.1 and DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital; Spanish and French 5.1 Dolby Digital Language Tracks

Languages/Subtitles:                               Blu-ray = English SDH, French and Spanish Subtitles

DVD = English SDH; Spanish and French Subtitles 

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?

Press Release: Disney twenty-three celebrates Disney’s contributions to the 1964–65 New York World’s Fair in spring 2014 issue

We've been celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair at Communicore Weekly (the Greatest Online Show™) as part of our Season Three series. D23 is set to hold a major event this summer which will also include events and panels dedicated to the Fair (check out the details, here). The latest issue of D23 looks like it's going to be a winner. Make sure to sign up for the Gold level in order to get all the perks.

DISNEY TWENTY-THREE CELEBRATES DISNEY’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE 1964–65 NEW YORK WORLD’S FAIR IN SPRING 2014 ISSUE 

FEATURING RARELY SEEN CONCEPT ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY FROM THE FAIR, AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS WITH CHRIS EVANS, TINA FEY, AND THE MUPPETS

Plus, D23.com online exclusives include extended celebrity interviews and additional stories, artwork, and photography from the World’s Fair. 

 BURBANK, Calif. – FEBRUARY 13, 2014 – The 1964–65 World’s Fair in New York celebrated a time of optimism, growth, and progress. D23: The Official Disney Fan Club captures all the excitement of this epic event in the Spring issue of its publication, Disney twenty-three. The Fair, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, marked the creation of landmark Disney technology, music, and attractions including it’s a small world, Audio-Animatronics® technology, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, and the Carousel of Progress—with its memorable theme song “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow.” Disney twenty-three sat down with several Disney Legends responsible for these iconic landmarks including Marty Sklar, Alice Davis, and Bob Gurr. Stunning concept art and rarely seen photography from the Fair complement the stories in this issue, available exclusively to Gold Members of D23.

Disney twenty-three’s Spring issue also includes a look ahead at some of the latest entertainment coming from Disney. Ty Burrell, Tina Fey, Kermit the Frog, and Miss Piggy give readers a peek “behind the felt” at Muppets Most Wanted, which opens this March. Chris Evans talks about suiting up once again for April’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Plus, Jonathan Freeman discusses taking his characterization of the villainous Jafar from screen to stage, as Disney Theatrical Productions prepares to open Aladdin on Broadway this March.

Also included in the Spring issue of Disney twenty-three: 

• We celebrate D23’s fifth anniversary with a look at some of the club’s most memorable events 
• “Ask Dave” with Disney Legend and Chief Archivist Emeritus Dave Smith returns to print in the U.S. for the first time in nearly a decade 
• Disney trendsetters are all the rage—and on the page—in “The Hippest Place on Earth” 
• Regular columns including A Walk with Walt, PHOTOfiles, D Society, and more 

All D23 Members are invited to visit www.D23.com for additional members-only content, including extended Q&As with Kermit, Fey, Burrell, and the irrepressible Miss Piggy from Muppets Most Wanted. 

Other features coming to D23.com include:

• A closer look at the artwork from it’s a small world’s Tower of the Four Winds at the New York World’s Fair 
• Details on which parts of the World’s Fair attractions made their way to Disneyland 
• A drive though the Ford Magic Skyway, with an extensive photo gallery 
• Also in the Spring issue, D23 Gold Members will receive a reproduction of the “Souvenir Map and Small World Guide” from the centerfold of the commemorative it’s a small world, guide book.

Press Release: He’s Olaf, He Likes Warm Hugs, and He’s Now in Frozen Free Fall

This press release from Disney Interactive showed up in my inbox last week. I've enjoyed casual games like Bejeweled for their simplicity and ease. I downloaded the Frozen Free Fall app on my iPhone over the weekend and really enjoyed it. There are multiple level types that offer a good amount of variety.

Check it out and let me know what you think about it!

Press Release

He’s Olaf, He Likes Warm Hugs, and He’s Now in Frozen Free Fall

The Arendelle adventures continue in Frozen Free Fall’s newest update, with brand new puzzles, power-ups, and characters including the additiona of everyone's favorite snowman, Olaf! The challenges are up to 120 icy levels and stars Frozen’s wintery sidekicks:

·         Do you want to play with a snowman? Good news! Olaf is featured in new levels and will melt your heart with hot chocolate power-ups.

·         Reindeer are better than people. That’s why Sven hits the spotlight, too, with his own puzzles and carrot power-ups.

Also with the update, earn “Daily Rewards” and prizes when you play the game every day.

So if the cold never bothered you anyway, download the Frozen Free Fall update today on the App Store and Google Play.

Communicore Weekly: World's Fair, Designing Disney and the Jungle Book

Welcome to this week's Communicore Weekly (the Greatest Online Show™)!

We've got some great segments for you this week.

• DISNEY HISTORY! -- Jeff and George return to the World's Fair as they continue their season-long look at the 1964-65 New York World's Fair! 
• BOOK OF THE WEEK! -- George looks into Designing Disney (A Walt Disney Imagineering Book) for the Book of the Week! 
• 60 SECOND REVIEW! - Jeff and George take a walk on the wild side and review The Jungle Book for the 60 Second Review! 
• FIVE LEGGED GOAT! - And finally, ride a piece of World's Fair history in this weeks Five Legged Goat! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9ocYGmwlHI&feature=youtu.be

Direct Download: http://www.bamferproductions.com/communicore/0109-CommunicoreWeekly.mp3

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Kevin Yee Walt Disney World Earbook 2013

Kevin Yee is one of my favorite independent authors and publishers. Walt Disney World Hidden History: Remnants of Former Attractions and Other Tributes is a perennial favorite and should be in every Disney library.

Since 2010, Kevin has been publishing The Unofficial Walt Disney World 'Earbook which looks at the Walt Disney World Resort month-by-month and catalogs the changes and additions.

The 2013 edition has just been released and it is well worth the purchase. A full review is coming soon to Mice Chat and Communicore Weekly.

• Jeff and I review of the 2012 'Earbook
• My review of the 2011 'Earbook
• My review of Walt Disney World Hidden History: Remnants of Former Attractions and Other Tributes

Concept Art from the Jungle Book

Disney is releasing the Jungle Book Diamond Edition on Blu-ray February 11, 2014.

Check out the concept art slideshow to get you excited about the disc!

Press Release: Imperial Update Unleashed for ‘Star Wars: Tiny Death Star’

I've spent some time playing Star Wars: Tiny Death Star and it's a fairly enjoyable business simulator game. Disney has released a few upgrades to the game.

The Empire is entering phase two of its destructive master plan in making the Death Star fully operational with the launch of the new Imperial Update.  

Now, Star Wars: Tiny Death Star players can go even deeper into the Dark Side with regular Imperial Events to fulfill the Empire’s sinister scheme of amassing resources and collecting special rewards. The game’s overhauled Imperial Assignments system gives players even more missions with additional requirements to be handsomely rewarded. An Events system has also been built to handle the multiple types of events players will be participating in. Finally, a brand new level has been created to access all the new rewards earned: the Cargo Bay.  

It’s time to start building resources for the Imperial Army as it will eventually require AT-ATs, TIE Fighters, etc. for the invasion of Rebel Bases and completion of the Death Star’s primary weapon!  

In the Imperial update for Star Wars: Tiny Death Star players will now have: 

• New Imperial Assignments System: The Emperor is demanding for more work to be completed, so do the Emperor’s bidding by visiting the new, Imperial Assignments center. 

• Complete over 100 new missions and be handsomely rewarded. 

• Weekly Special Events: Participate in special, limited-time events to protect your battle station.

• Exclusive Rewards: Earn completely brand-new rewards such as VIPs, Imperial Bux, Costumes, Levels, and Characters by completing assignments and special events. 

• Cargo Bay Floor: It’s your one stop shop to collect special rewards and packages as appreciation for service to the Empire. 

Star Wars: Tiny Death Star is available from the from the App Store http://di.sn/eOY, Google Play http://di.sn/cNb, Windows Phone Store http://di.sn/dNX, Windows Store http://di.sn/rHq, and Amazon App Store http://amzn.to/1e4wj44.

Are you playing Star Wars: Tiny Death Star?