Random WDW Picture

I kinda like this one. This has to be one of the better photos that I've snapped with my point-and-shoot camera! :)

Zz.

Random WDW Picture

Can never have too many photos of flowers and monorail at Epcot.

Zz.

Video of "Avatar" Announcement

The "Avatar" announcement is still big news around the Disney space on the net. We hear more info on how much it is estimated to cost.

Still, here's the video of the official announcement.

Zz.

Disney Hopes Swampy The Alligator Will Take On Angry Birds

Looks like Disney is hoping that Swampy could become as popular (or at least close enough) as Angry Birds. They have released an iOS game "Where's the Water" staring Swampy the Alligator.

Swampy stars in Disney Mobile’s “Where’s The Water?”, and while he lives in the sewers, he’s (ironically) a bit of a clean freak. Players must direct water into Swampy’s shoddy plumbing by cutting paths through the ground, all so Swampy can get his much-needed shower.

A few quick minutes playing the game has confirmed my suspicions: it already seems to have the same addictive charm that made Cut The Rope and Angry Birds such efficient timewasters.

Oh, that's all I need, being addicted to another iPad game.

But with Disney, you know that they won't just stop with the game. Oh no. It looks like there's a possibility for a whole set of movie tie-ins and merchandising, i.e. creating a franchise.

We'll just have to see if this catches on.

Zz.

"Avatar" Coming to Animal Kingdom Theme Park

The big news right now is that James Cameron has agreed to have an Avatar-theme world and attraction at Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park.

At a news conference, Cameron said that when he began talks with Disney designers, he "quickly realized their vision for this thing was far beyond what I imagined, and I've got a pretty good imagination."

The estimated cost for the Orlando project is about $400 million, a source familiar with the matter said. Construction should take about five years.

Planning is in the early stages, and executives gave few details on how Disney would recreate the fantasy world of "Avatar" and the creatures that inhabit it. The section will be located within Disney's Animal Kingdom park.

Considering that Cameron is planning on making at least another "Avatar" movie, this could easily spur more interest in this theme. He appears to be impressed with what the Imagineers had in mind and will probably allow some leeway in the design to fit into the overall Disney concept.

One could say "Harry Potter" who? But there is a difference here. There's already a built-in following to Harry Potter. You have legions of fans who are loyal to the boy wizard. We don't know yet about "Avatar", since we only had one movie, even if it was a humongous blockbuster movie. So it is dangerous to hope that there is a large, loyal "following" to a movie at this stage. What Disney can do is make it into a stand-alone world and attraction where you don't have to be a fan of the movie, or even know what it is, to enjoy the attraction and the theme. After all, you don't have to know "Toy Story" movies, or have seen "A Bug's Life" to thoroughly enjoy the attractions associated with those movies.

Zz.

Random WDW Picture

The view of the entrance to Disney's Hollywood Studios, from the walkway between DHS and the Boardwalk Resort.

Zz.

Dumbo Turns 70

The beloved movie "Dumbo" turns 70 this year with the re-release of the movie on Blu-Ray.

This article looks at the movie that was such a delight when it was released, and discussed some of the issues related to it, especially some of the controversial ones.

The most controversial scene in "Dumbo" involves the little elephant and Timothy's encounter with a group of crows in a tree high above the ground. The five crows, who are incredulous of Timothy's claim that he and Dumbo flew up to a high tree branch, are presented as black males. They all speak in a combination of jive slang and African-American dialect. The lead bird is named Jim Crow and his voice was provided by a white actor, Cliff Edwards; the other crows were voiced by members of an African-American vocal group, the Hall Johnson Choir.

In his book "The Disney Films," Leonard Maltin defends this scene. "The crows are undeniably black," Maltin writes, "but they are black characters, not black stereotypes. There is no denigrating dialogue, or Uncle Tomism in the scene." In the DVD commentary, historian Sigman states that the scene "wasn't meant in any way to be derogatory." And it is noted that the crows become Dumbo's enthusiastic supporters and it is Jim Crow who comes up with the idea of the "magic feather" that enables Dumbo to gain the courage to fly.

Maybe it's time to have a "Dumbo" party and see this movie again.

Zz.

Rerelease of "Lion King" Roared To A Box Office Champ

The re-release of "The Lion King" in 3D did better than even Disney executives were hoping. It gobbled up an astounding $29 million this past weekend.

And no, I haven't had the chance to go see it yet, but I probably will this coming weekend.

So, with the unexpected success of this movie, will Beauty and the Best be widely released in 3D as well?

Disney had been planning to release a 3-D version of "Beauty and the Beast" nationwide this fall, but instead only opened the film at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood this month. The movie played there for an exclusive two-week run, which was intended to promote the new version's DVD/Blu-ray launch in October.

Hollis said the success of "The Lion King" might cause Disney executives to reconsider that decision.

Zz.

The World At 40

With Walt Disney World about to turn 40 years old this coming Oct. 1st (and yes, I will be there when it happens), this is a good time to look at what it has become at this ripe middle age. This article gives a good overview of all the changes that are going on with this beloved complex.

We have plans to be there for the Room for One More Haunted Mansion event, and then celebrate with other Disney fans at the Magic Kingdom on Oct. 1st. I'm bracing for a very busy and crowded park on that day.

Zz.

Mouse Ears Hats

This article examines all the different Mouse ears hats that can now be found at Disney parks.

The popular souvenirs once were decorated only with a yellow embroidered name across the back. Today, they come in all sorts of forms, themes, dimensions, materials and limited editions. And more are on the way. There is enough variety that the ears could move from vacation remembrance to collectible.

 It's interesting that, until several years ago, we only could get the standard, black Mouse ears hat, with every limited variation. From what I've seen, it was until the 50th anniversary of Disneyland, when they had the gold Mouse ears hat that sold like hot cakes, that Disney discovered that these things can sell as well as anything else. From that point onwards, I've started seeing different variety of Mouse ears hat, often for many different occasions and events.

Zz.

Disney's Aulani

The recently-opened Disney's Aulani resort looks like a winner. And in general, it is. However, read this "trip report" and see if you think there might be some refinements that should be taken care of before long.

In particular, there are 3 issues that I can gather out of this report:

1. There was no Lilo!

So when we arrived at Disney's new Aulani hotel in Hawaii it seemed like a no-brainer that we'd find Lilo and Stitch here to welcome Hannah to the tropical paradise that filled her dreams and imagination.

We spotted Stitch almost immediately wearing a lei and a floral print hat, but no matter how hard we looked we couldn't find the spirited and eccentric little girl who seemed such a natural fit for a Disney resort in Hawaii.

Everywhere we went in the resort, we asked: Where's Lilo? We were variously told Lilo was at school, on vacation or surfing on Kauai – but none of the answers sufficiently explained the obvious storytelling oversight.

This is very, very strange!

2. Disruptive activities that destroyed the tranquility

I was surprised by the contrived and disruptive afternoon character poolside party that featured a Disney employee, using a public address system, extolling swimmers to scream, splash and hop up on deck for a hula contest. The pump-up-the-energy vibe so upset the tranquil mood that poolside loungers cringed at the paradise-wrecking spectacle.

A similar dry-land surfing lesson for kids withChip and Dale employed more amplified pep rally exhortations that echoed throughout the resort.

Horrors. If I were relaxing and having a leisurely time, I would have left immediately and complained! What, they have no other place to do such a thing?

3. Ruining what appears to be an amazingly original show.

I would have dismissed the overexuberance as grand opening jitters if not for the Starlight Hui, the resort's marquee event held several times a week. In an effort to avoid the pan-Polynesian luau common at most resorts, Disney produced a tradition-rich show that paid tribute to Hawaii, its people and customs.

As the stirring show drew to a close, a youth counselor jumped up on stage in a but-wait-there's-more moment and called out all the Disney characters one by one. The folklore-rich show steeped in myth and legend quickly devolved into a disco nightclub with the characters leading the crowd in the "Electric Slide" and other line dancing steps typically reserved for weddings and reunions. It left me almost dumbstruck until I jumped up to boogie with Hannah, who could care less about thematic consistency and coherent storytelling.

Y'know, this "Starlight Hui" is the very thing that I would really like to experience. I don't want to see another luau. So whoever thought of having such a thing instead of a luau should certainly be applauded. They took a different route than one that is done everywhere. But then to ruin it with such ending? Who was asleep at the wheel here?

Maybe I will wait a couple more years before heading on to there and let them work out all the kinks in their theming issues.

Zz.

At Airport

We are at MCO waiting for our flight back. The vacation is over. It was fun and we traded lots of pins. Our next trip is in 3 weeks for the Room For One More event and the 40th Anniversary of WDW on Oct 1st.

Studios

A warm and breezy day at the Studios.

Lunch

Waiting for Sci Fi dine in theater to open for our lunch.

DHS

Spending our last day at DHS. In line for Toy Story Mania.

At AKL

At Animal Kingdom Lodge lounging in the lobby after splendid dinner at Boma.

Ready for Dinner

Hanging out in the lobby of Boardwalk before heading out to AKL for our dinner at Boma.

Florida Project Day 3

Some new Vinylmation release previews. The 7 Dwarfs set is interesting.
PH
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Florida Project Day 3

Vinylmation artists answering audience questions.
PH
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Florida Project Day 3

Waiting in line for Vinylmation trading.
PH
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