Monthly Archives: January 2013

Downtown, No Finer Place For Sure

For most visitors to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, a typical vacation isn’t finished without picking up some souvenirs from Downtown Disney. After flying most of my day, I’ll usually head “Downtown” that first day since I’d rather not waste my day in the park. It’s a great place to get into the mood of being at Walt Disney World. Shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and nightlife are all a big part of what makes Downtown Disney great for any guest. However, the funny thing is Downtown Disney was not initially intended for guests on vacation.

When the Disney company was flying under the radar with it’s Florida project, they purchased an amazing amount of land, but to be completely legit and do what they pleased with the land they had to form a town. They, in fact, created two towns; Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista which gave power to the Disney company to do what they wanted and govern their own district in Florida. (The area as a whole was called the Reedy Creek Development District.) As the project developed, it was thought that the two towns would also have housing developments. Along with housing, there also needed to be shopping so that residents wouldn’t have to drive 20 miles to Orlando just to get food, clothing, and other items needed to survive. Lake Buena Vista was to open with planned homes by the end of the 1970s so the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village was built and opened in March of 1975.

As housing developments turned into more hotel rooms, due to Disney seeing more money being made with guests staying on property, the ideals of the Shopping Village also changed. It was renamed the Walt Disney World Village in 1977 and was marketed towards visitors of Walt Disney World as a place to grab souvenirs during their vacation. When Michael Eisner and Frank Wells took over in 1984, they saw big potential in the Walt Disney World Village. Restaurants and entertainment became a focus to add to the shopping and by the end of the decade, ideas of expansion brought a new nighttime scene to the Village.

Church Street Station, a district of Orlando by the old Atlantic Coast railroad line, became a popular night club area in Downtown Orlando. Church street was renovated in the late 1970s and saw major success in the 1980s. It’s key to success was allowing admission into multiple nightclubs for the price of one. The Disney company saw this and decided to replicate the idea with a new idea at the Walt Disney World Village called Pleasure Island, named after the land in Pinocchio. The new Pleasure Island had several nightclubs, a comedy club, an outdoor music stage, and several places to grab a bite to eat or a cocktail. Pleasure Island opened on the same day as the new Disney-MGM Studios (now Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park) and the combined two areas were renamed the Disney Village Marketplace.

When the Disney Decade took full swing in the 1990s, there was an abundance of new hotels and theme park attractions that were added to Walt Disney World. By the mid-1990s, the theme park destination had huge buzz and was packing hotel rooms. Supply and demand led to further expansion of the Village area. Due to crowds growing at the shopping district and at Pleasure Island, the new area, the West Side, was added in 1997 and the entire lot, including all three sections, was rechristened as Downtown Disney. The West Side added an eclectic mix of restaurants, nightlife entertainment, and shopping. The newly named Marketplace became less crowded due to the addition of West Side, keeping shoppers and diners happy. The West Side also gave families or folks who didn’t want to pay the entrance into Pleasure Island a place to go at night.

With the latter statement, Pleasure Island lost some of it’s sparkle when the West Side opened. With the House of Blues, AMC, DisneyQuest, Cirque Du Soleil, and several other entertainment venues, many folks so no need to pay the admission for Pleasure Island. In 2004, Pleasure Island nixed the admission fee to enter the “island” and instead decided to charge for the nightclubs themselves. That meant many guests could enjoy some of the other benefits to the area like the outdoor stage, the Comedy Warehouse, the Adventurers Club, or several of the restaurants and shops in the area. Unfortunately for Pleasure Island, this wasn’t enough for Disney executives and they pulled the plug in September 2008. The area currently has a few restaurants, but is mostly a shell of old buildings left over from Pleasure Island. Plans to renovate the area as Hyperion Wharf, a turn of the century nautical district, were created in 2010 and would have been implemented right away, but due to the economical recession and a lack of faith in the project without the right funding put it on indefinite hiatus.

Meanwhile, the Marketplace and West Side areas continue to have success with new shops and restaurants. Several locations have become staples of the property like the Lego Imagination Center or the World of Disney store in the Marketplace or the Cirque du Soleil tent on the West Side. It goes without saying that renovations are constantly happening, like the newest addition of Splitsville, a bowling and entertainment complex. There are some changes needing to be made and have been discussed, such as a new Cirque do Soleil show or the updating of DisneyQuest, but those will come with time.

Downtown Disney has become a permanent fixture of the Walt Disney World property and has become an essential part of many trips for guests. It’s continued renovations keep it fresh while still feeling familiar. It’s a fun, friendly, and safe place to do a little shopping, grab some dinner, or party it up on Walt Disney World property.

What do you like to do at Downtown Disney? What should become of the old Pleasure Island spot? Leave your thoughts and comments. (Bonus points to anyone who can name the musician who sings the lyric which I used as the title for this article.)

Josh Taylor



https://ModernMouseRadio.com

DLR Talks #2

Ryan Brown and the live video show was back this past weekend. This time around we did a special “Armchair Imagineer” edition of the show. Kinks are still getting worked out but we hope you enjoy this edition of the Disneyland Resort talk show. Also, be sure to answer our weird Disney Question of the week. Some of the best answers will be read on the next live show.

Weird Disney Question: If you could do anything besides get an autograph or a photo with a Disney theme park character, what would you do and with whom?

Ryan Brown

Modern Mouse Radio #12: Top 10 Disney World Attractions We Wish Were Still There


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Walt Disney said of Disneyland that “It would never be complete,” and that has been applied to Disney parks around the world. We love that the parks are always changing and improving, but there have been some parts of the theme parks that we wish we still had the chance to see. This week we focus on what we would still love to see at Walt Disney World, but can’t because they’ve been replaced or taken away. We pick out some of our favorites we want back from the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Downtown Disney.

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Top 5: Long Lost Friends Not at Long Lost Friends Week

Back at the original announcement, towards the end of 2012, for Limited Time Magic for Disney Parks, guests were given several examples of possibilities. One of the more anticipated of those limited time opportunities was “Long Lost Friends” week. A chance to meet some of the characters that rarely if ever make an appearance at any of the parks these days. It’s always know that you’ll be able to find Mickey, Donald, Goofy, and the rest of the main stays, as well as the latest film characters, like a Wreck-It Ralph, but what happens to the costumes of past film stars, or the characters that aren’t as popular as a Goofy anymore? Well, they either get tossed in the garbage, stored away in some Disney vault, or get redesigned for a week long event for Limited Time Magic. This past week at the Magic Kingdom, guests were able to meet the Three Little Pigs and the Wolf, Clarabelle Cow, Horace Horsecollar, many of the stars from Robin Hood, Ludwig von Drake, and Scrooge McDuck.

Long Lost Friends

I love this concept and the costumes that were brought out of the vault and redesigned. Truthfully, we could see more forgotten costumed characters throughout the year, but it hasn’t been announced yet. That being said, I am somewhat disappointed we didn’t get to see more characters, especially some that are really long forgotten, or some that would have a great merchandising benefit for Disney. So what characters do I wish they would bring back for Long Lost Friends week? Well, here are my top 5:

5-Huey, Dewey, and Louie. Classic characters that have been around since Walt Disney’s foray into animation are usually seen at the park on a frequent basis. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy. They can all be seen daily and are obviously some of the more popular characters in the park. However, certain classic characters can’t be seen which includes the nephews of a certain Donald Duck. Huey, Dewey, and Louie have been three small ducklings that have lasted past some of the former forgotten classic characters. (Yeah, I’m talking to you Clarabelle Cow!) A very popular trio during the 1940s and 1950s, they were as much a part of the Donald Duck shorts and Donald himself was, and offered some of the best mischief around as far as Disney cartoon shorts were concerned. The trio also made a comeback during the 1980s with Duck Tales and even lasted into the 1990s with the Disney Afternoon show Quack Pack. To me, this would have been a pick because my grandmother and mother remember seeing the cartoon shorts, while I remember them more from their Duck Tales and Quack Pack years. It could be a multi-generational love affair with the three lovable nephews of Donald Duck.

4-Dopey and Grumpy. When I think of what the term Long Lost Friends means for the Disney company, I think of some of the characters created over half of a century ago. When I think of long ago, I think back to the original full length Disney film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Here, I see a huge missed opportunity. Snow White merchandise, as well as other princess merchandies, has always sold like hotcakes, but so does the merchandise for the Dwarfs. Dopey and Grumpy, specifically, still sell tons of merchandise. They even outsell some of the current film merchandise. So why not introduce those characters into this Limited Time offering? On top of that, you have a brand new attraction, featuring the Dwarfs, opening in New Fantasyland in the near future. Not only would these characters boost merchandise sales, but would also build anticipation for the upcoming roller coaster attraction at the Magic Kingdom.

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3-Pete. The original villain. Pete has been the bad guy since the 1920s. He also had a comeback in the 1990s on Goof Troop as well as in several cartoon shorts, either theatrical or House of Mouse oriented, since the 2000s. He is recognized by multiple generations, and could be a crowd pleaser. Of course, he could appear with Mickey too, giving these two old nemesis something to fight over. Who can get the longest meet and greet line.

2-Darkwing Duck and Launchpad McQuack. This one might be for my own well being, but with recent DVD and Blu-Ray releases of the old Disney Afternoon series, as well as an introduction of “retro” merchandise of the characters, this one seemed to touch my heart. As a boy growing up in the late ’80s and early ’90s, there wasn’t a cartoon character cooler, funnier, and more enjoyable than Darkwing Duck. Launchpad also had a stint in Duck Tales before being introduced into the Darkwing series. The two played off as an amazing duo. Darkwing being the straight man and Launchpad being the comedian. It played off of classics like Abbot and Costello or Laurel and Hardy. The show was for a generation who are now bringing their children to the parks and introducing them to the things they loved. Why not let someone in the late 20s now introduce their 7 year old to their favorite cartoon when they were growing up? It could also help if they ever wanted to reboot Darkwing Duck. (Fingers crossed!)

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1-Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. This, out of any of the aforementioned characters, blows my mind. Oswald, after decades of not being a Disney character, returned a few years ago to the creator of the character, and they have been playing that up. Epic Mickey was released and people wondered about who this old cartoon was. He was then introduced into Buena Vista Street at the Disneyland resort, plush dolls were being sold at Disney stores, t-shirts seem to be at places like Lucky Brand or Target, and Epic Mickey 2 just hit store shelves right before Christmas. As a company trying to push this long lost friend back into the public eye, why wouldn’t you use the most perfect avenue to do it. I guess I find it strange that he hasn’t been introduced as a meet and greet character in  any of the Disney parks at all since coming back to the company. Put Oswald on Main Street U.S.A. with Mickey Mouse and let them play off of the Epic Mickey franchise.

Well, that’s my top 5, but what characters would you like to see if they ever choose to do another Long Lost Friends week? What do you think of my choices? Leave your comments, keep the discussion going, and I will see you all soon.

Josh Taylor



https://ModernMouseRadio.com

Disney Film History: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

(Let me preface this by saying that I am not trying to steal the idea of the Disney Film Project or anyone else attempting to review Disney films. I feel as though I am bringing my own style to these reviews. I don’t have a film background, but I do have a history background. My focus with “The Whole Picture” is to showcase how the film was made, how well received it was or wasn’t, and how it has impacted the Disney company in the long run. All of this while still adding my own personal opinion of the film. I am planning to do all of the Disney animated, live action Touchstone, Pixar, and any other Disney brand film in chronological order.)

If I am going to start at the beginning, we of course have to start with the original Disney princess. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was announced by Walt Disney as “in production” in June 1934. To most Disney fans, this had to be crazy jibberish. You have to realize that Disney introduced sound with Steamboat Willie in 1928 and color had only been added less than two years earlier with the Silly Symphony short “Flowers and Trees” in July of 1932. The studio, at that point, was used to producing 5-6 minute short cartoons that came before the feature film. So why would Walt Disney and Co. want to risk it all to make a full length animated feature film with sound and color?

Despite the overwhelming hysteria for the Mickey Mouse character and the critically acclaimed Silly Symphony shorts, Walt Disney didn’t feel like he had found the success he deserved. His name was never the feature on the marquis of any theater. The shorts were always a side note, merely an extra for audiences there to see the latest Humphrey Bogart film. Walt knew he had the talent at the studio and could push the boundaries of animation even further. So he chose a classic tale, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, as his first foray into feature film making, a task that put himself, his family, and the studio on edge.

The summer and autumn of 1934 were devoted to story development. The story was originally intriguing to Walt due to the possibilities of gags he could have with the Dwarfs. The Queens was also originally seen as short, fat, and comical looking. The film was originally going to play of of the studio’s knack for comedy rather than the drama they later devised. The budget for Snow White was set at $250,000 and story meetings took place for the rest of 1934. The project however, possibly due to doubt and unrealistic standards, was shelved by Walt Disney at the beginning of 1935. It wasn’t until he returned from a trip to Europe, rejuvenated and clear minded, that he decided the studio could take on the massive task of Snow White.

In November 1935, Walt had his story and had created personalities for all of his characters. (The dwarfs don’t have names in the Grimm tales.) Scenes were assigned to animators and the race was on. The original comedic storyline and a focus on the Dwarfs was still the task at hand, but as time went on the decision was made that Snow White and her relationship with the dwarfs as well as the now beautiful Evil Queen. Because of the change in story from a comedy to a drama, several scenes not pertaining to Snow White and her story were cut from the film, including fully finished scenes that took months to complete. Ward Kimball, now famous as one of Walt’s Nine Old Men, almost walked out on the operation after seeing his hard work being thrown in the trash.

A main concern for the film was the believability of animated human characters. This type of animation hadn’t been done before. The closest animation had ever gotten to drawing a realistic looking human was Betty Boop and she looks more like a triangle with a football for a head. Art Babbit decided to gather several animators at his home on a weekly basis to train in the art of drawing human figures. As his group of animators grew Walt Disney decided this was a good idea and moved the weekly gatherings to the studio and turn it into an art class. He recruited Chouinard art professor Don Graham to help his animators in their training. Enthusiasm for the project really developed in this artistic atmosphere, pushing the envelope and taking the time to get things right.

Unfortunately for the financier of the studio, Walt’s brother Roy, the budget continued to increase. The original $250,000 ended up becoming nearly $1.5 million . Walt put a mortgage on his home and pulled severeal loans from many different banks to finish the film. Even if the film did okay, the studio may not have gained it’s money back, but that wasn’t going to stop Walt from making his animated masterpiece and he put that problem on Roy’s shoulders.

The film, after several changes in story and development, finally made it’s premiere in December 1937. Three and a half years after Walt announced his feature film project and with all of his money (plus more) on the line, the premiere had to be a success. Thankfully for Walt and Co. the film was given at standing ovation and was praised in the media, even by the reporters who originally debunked Disney’s feature length endeavor as the downfall of Walt Disney. His once unrealistic standards of creating the first feature length sound and color animated film had not only become a reality but an overwhelming success. Walt and his film were the talk of every newspaper, radio station, and Time magazine. By the end of it’s original theatrical run in 1938, it had grossed nearly $7.85 million. That made it the top grossing film ever at the time, until Gone with the Wind in 1940.

The music from the film is also notable considering the songs were released as the first soundtrack to a film. There had never previously been an attempt to sell a recording of a films score or songs from a musical. I’m unsure if Walt or someone else at the Disney studio thought of the idea, but it definitely became a money maker for the studio. On top of that, having a soundtrack influenced the studio to create songs that theater goers could sing. “Whistle While You Work”, “Someday My Prince Will Come”, and of course, “Hi Ho” became instantly recognizable tunes and most likely helped increase sales in both record stores and at the movie theater. If you heard the song, you had to see the film or if you saw the film, you had to buy the record. The soundtrack made perfect sense and would only cushion the studio with what they needed for future films.

Currently, it’s been 75 years and Snow White still holds up today. Upon viewing the movie again, I have to say it was a definite risk for the Disney company. It never seemed overly cartoon-ish, in fact it’s quite scary, even as an adult seeing it. (We don’t even see the comedic Dwarfs until 20 minutes into the film.) The animation of all of the characters is done very well. To today’s standards, the faces of the human characters is a little rough, but the movements of clothing, facial expressions, and body language are all there. It’s as if you were to watch a live actor playing the role. Thinking that only a few years prior, most cartoons were in black and white and characters had no grasp of reality is pretty crazy. Even if you go back to look at Steamboat Willie from 1928, there isn’t a grasp of weight, natural movement, or emotions through facial expressions. In Snow White that was all brought to the forefront, and I think the studio has only done better with those human qualities since this feature.

My favorite scene, I think like many people is the soap scene with Dopey as he is easily the funniest of the dwarfs, but I also love the trasformation scene of the Queen into the Wicked Witch. Not only does it play out as some of the animator’s best work in the film, but it is also a very scary scene. It holds up as probably one of the scariest scenes in Disney animation history. I’m also a very big fan of the backgrounds in this film. They they create a mood for where the story is and by themselves are beautiful works of art.

The film has also inspired some of the greatest characters in Disney animation history. Snow White, Dopey, and Grumpy are all still top merchandise sellers. The songs are still as memorable as ever. An attraction at Disney Parks still exist, and a new one is being built at Walt Disney World. The film continues to stay relevant. I wouldn’t just say that Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a breakthrough due to it being the first feature length film by Walt Disney, but it is also one of the best out of everything they have done since then. 75 years later, we still quote it, sing it, praise it, and love it, and none of the future films would be possible without it.

Love it? Hate it? Leave your thoughts on Snow White! What’s your favorite scene, song, etc… Let me know.

Josh Taylor
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Next Film: Pinocchio

DLR History: Peter Pan’s Flight

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(Note from the Editor: Ryan Brown is now contributing articles every other Monday along with hosting the DLR Talks live video show. That being said, this is his first article. He will be covering Disneyland History. Enjoy)

Disneyland opened its gates to the public on July 18th 1955 with only a few attractions open and operational. One of these attractions was Peter Pan’s Flight — one of the few rides in the park that has remained since opening day.

The original concept for Peter Pan’s Flight was for guests to feel like they were Peter Pan. Flying through scenes of the Darling’s nursery, over London and to Neverland where guests would meet Captain Hook, Mr. Smee, Princess Tiger Lily, and the crocodile (later to be named Tick-Toc). It has been said that many guests did not grasp Walt’s concept and were surprised, even upset, that they did not encounter Peter Pan.

In 1983, Fantasyland got overhauled. One part of these renovations was the closing of Skull Island and the Pirate Ship Restaurant. Many of the props, rigging and lanterns from the restaurant were put into Peter Pan’s Flight along with a suspended track, to give guests the sense of flying, and an Audio-Animatronic Peter Pan. One fun addition to the ride was a “Hidden Mickey.” These little Easter eggs are created by Imagineers as a tribute to Walt and his vision. The “Hidden Mickey” placed inside of Peter Pan’s Flight was a set blocks in the nursery that spell out Disney (D15N3Y) and Peter Pan.

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After its renovation, Peter Pan’s Flight was a whole new experience. Flying over rooftops into the nursery, meeting Nana and the Darlings. Out their window you soar over a moonlit London with miniatures of famous landmarks. Passing the second star to the right, you find yourself circling Neverland in a star lighted sky. You journey to various places in Neverland visiting the ship of Captain Hook where you see Peter Pan fighting Hook. Then its off to the village of Princess Tiger Lily. The ride comes to an end with Peter and the Darlings making their way home as Hook tries to escape the jaws of Tick-Toc and finally a quick visit to the Mermaid Lagoon.

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Disney’s Peter Pan’s Flight is an example of Walt’s imagination and a ride that has spanned the generations. It brings new magic to children, takes parents back to their childhood, and creates new adventure for families to experience together. Next time you find yourself at the Disneyland Resort take the time to ride Peter Pan’s Flight and experience the magic for yourself!

Ryan Brown


Modern Mouse Radio #11: Interview with Disney Legend Rolly Crump and Jeff Heimbuch


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We were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to talk with Disney Legend Rolly Crump and Jeff Heimbuch about their new book “It’s Kind of a Cute Story” in this episode.

Rolly Crump is most famously known for his time at Disney Animation and Imagineering. As an animator, he worked on 101 Dalmations, Sleeping Beauty, and Lady and the Tramp. Working as an Imagineer, he designed It’s a Small World, The Haunted Mansion, The Enchanted Tiki Room.

Jeff Heimbuch helped co-author “It’s Kind of a Cute Story” with Rolly about his life stories. He is also a contributing writer at http://www.MiceChat.com and hosts his own podcast along with George Taylor called Communicore Weekly.

We hope you enjoy this look into the world of Rolly Crump as he shares how the book was made, working with Walt Disney, working after Walt’s death, and much more!

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Disney Character Trivia: Donald Duck

Think you know all about Donald Duck? A true original of Walt Disney and part of the “Fab Five”. Keith his knowledge of history and trivia to the forefront once again to explain this character who made his debut in the 1930s.

Keith Lapinig


http://www.KeithLapinig.com

Top 5: Reasons Pirates of the Caribbean is the Best Disney Attraction.

Seems that many attractions these days are all about being fast thrill rides that pack lines for a 60 minute wait. At Walt Disney Imagineering, E-ticket attractions are being planned all the time, and why not, these are the new attractions bringing back guests year after year. As time flies and guests find that new favorite thrill, it seems some of the older attractions get forgotten. Some attractions, however, get that magical rub to always be relevant and to always attract an audience no matter how old they get. For me, one attraction stands out in particular. That’s Pirates of the Caribbean. The original attraction at Disneyland opened in 1967 and has had the power to stay in the spotlight for over 45 years now. It is still respected as a technoligical breakthrough, even after all of this time. So why has the attraction stayed as popular as it has and is arguably the best Disney attraction Imagineers have ever created? Here are my top 5 reasons why.

5-Updates Made It Better. For some attractions, Disney fans complain about unnecessary updates to attractions, like the “Under New Management” addition to the Magic Kingdom’s Enchanted Tiki Room. Despite Pirates getting a near story change and the addition of several technological advances, fans of the attraction have embraced it. Is that due to the success and acceptance of the films or is it just that special attraction that can just change with the times? Whatever the case might be, the new updates of smoke screens, film star animatronics, and mermaid voices have been embraced by everyone.

4-The Ride is Worth the Wait. Some attractions, whether they are at a Disney park or at a local carival, aren’t worth a long wait. Let’s get real here. Who wants to wait 30+ minutes to ride something that lasts 2 minutes? It’s what I find so special about Pirates. No matter what version of the attraction you ride at any of the parks around the world, it’s an attraction that last 10+ minutes and you always have something to look at. The set designs, the animatroic humans, and the story are all compelling enough to keep your attention for the 10+ minute time frame of the ride. Also, due to the large capacity of the boats and the quickness of cast members getting guests loaded and unloaded from the attraction, the time spent waiting in line is usually less than the time spent on the actual attraction. It’s why I can usually get multiple rides on Pirates of the Caribbean during a trip. I love that fact about it.

3-Details. Simply put, Pirates is loaded with details. From hidden mickeys to small hairs added to the legs and arms of pirate animatronics, there is so much to take notice of. Something Disney Imagineers have done very well here is add small details to find. Even after riding this attraction countless times, I still notice new things I never had before. Disney also does a great job of keeping things looking fresh. Animatronics have multiple costumes and have their hair done nightly. New paint jobs are also applied to keep the attraction looking new, and if you had never ridden before, you may assume that Pirates of the Caribbean may have been built after the film series came out.

2-The Film Adaptation. When Disney Pictures decided to turn some of their attractions into films, it seemed like a hit or miss situation. Tower of Terror was a made for television film which got praise, but the Country Bears was surely a flop for the company. Then Disney gave Jerry Bruckheimer the chance to make a Pirates of the Caribbean film and it seemed as if all the stars aligned. Is there a better Disney film beyond Curse of the Black Pearl in the last 10 years? The film was a major success, more than any of the other attraction inspired films, and the series is continuing through a possible 6th installment. Some people don’t enjoy the sequels to the original film, which comes with the territory of sequels, but nobody can deny the monetary success of the films that came from this long time favorite attraction. The film has even made it’s way into it’s own attraction at Disney’s Hollywood Studio. No other attraction has ever inspired a film which inspired a second attraction at the Disney parks.

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1. Human Animatronics. It’s been over 45 years since Pirates of the Caribbean opened at Disneyland and to this day, I don’t think there and any animatronic figures more impressive than those inside the Pirates attraction. We’ve come a long way since then. Radiator Springs Racers, which opened at California Adventure in 2012, shows us the evolution of animatronic figures. Eyes, projected onto the figure, can blink or change with the expression of the character. Animatronic figures can now move a bit smoother than older ones, but I still don’t feel like these match up to what was accomplished at Pirates of the Caribbean. Prior to the opening of Pirates, Disney’s venture into robotics started with the Enchanted Tiki Room and had progressed to the human figure of the Carousel of Progress in a matter of a year or two. Advancement in robotics was moving quickly and eventually progressed to what we see on Pirates then it seemed to have peaked. In my opinion, nothing can touch the realistic feel of the figures on that attraction, even if they are a bit cartoonish at times.

What are your thoughts on Pirates? Is it the best attraction ever created? In your opinion, why or why not? As always, thank you for reading and I’ll catch you all later.

Josh Taylor



https://ModernMouseRadio.com

Dia De Los Caballeros

Recently I wrote an article about It’s a Small World and stated that the famous attraction inspired several other attraction. You don’t have to look much further than the Gran Fiesta Tour at Epcot’s Mexico Pavilion. This It’s a Small World inspired attraction brings to life the beauty of a country most Americans associate with cowboys, sombreros, and burritos through the charm of Donald Duck and his friends,  Jose Carioca and Panchito Pistoles.

The attraction originally opened as El Rio Del Tiempo (The River of Time), a pump propelled boat ride with animatronics and filmed segments projected onto screens hidden within the architecture. The focus of the attraction was to showcase Mexico’s vast history, from Aztecs and Mayans to modern day Mexico City. Culturally, Mexico is shown as traditional with dances and Mariachis playing. The animatronics of the attraction really showcased the Small World look with children playing and dancing in the attraction. The distinct difference was a group of skeletons dressed as a Mariachi band showcasing Mexico’s view of afterlife and referencing Dia de los Muertos and sugar skulls.

The attraction was reworked in April 2007 after low attendance and a necessary upgrade to the film segments which had shown their age. The solution was the Gran Fiesta Tour starring the Three Caballeros. A facelift to the attraction, most notably in the film segments, and the introduction of Disney characters gave a new life to the attraction. Unfortunately there had to be losses and some of the historical segments of the attraction are lost in the story of Panchito and Jose trying to find Donald who is touring the country. The Mayan and Aztec histories are gone, but the attraction now showcases some of Mexico’s more scenic areas and focuses on present day culture and traditions. Other elements and cultural references have been added to the attraction like children swinging at a Donald Duck shaped pinata or the magic sarape which Panchito and Jose ride across the country while looking for Donald. The attraction ends with the Caballeros reuniting and performing a concert while fireworks go off over Mexico City.

The attraction lasts less than 8 minutes and is one of two attractions in the World Showcase that are actual ride through attractions. (The other being Norway’s Maelstrom.) In an American culture that doesn’t know much about it’s neighbor country, I would recommend this attraction as a great starting point in getting to know the people, traditions, and culture of Mexico. It’s worth the trip while you are waiting for your dinner reservations.

What are your thoughts on the Gran Fiesta Tour? Was El Rio Del Tiempo better? Are the Caballeros characters welcome in this attraction or are they a distraction from what the attraction really is? Let me know your thoughts. Adios Amigos.

Josh Taylor
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