Disney-Pretty

              There are many reasons to go on vacation.  Some seek adventure and others need to relax and blow off some steam.   Families plan to spend time together and share an experience, complete with photos and video, to look back on years from now as a happy time when everyone was together.  Walt Disney World offers all of these things.

While I do go to Disney World for all of these reasons, and return often because the experience never fails to thrill, there is one big reason I make the nearly three hour flight from Logan International Airport to Orlando.  It makes me feel pretty.

I think of being on vacation as the having the opportunity to be my best self.  I have the time and freedom to put on make-up, put extra effort into my hair styles, and wear my favorite sundresses.  I pick up trinkets from shops throughout the resort and admire the new bracelet on my wrist from Epcot’s Mexico or my new headband from Downtown Disney.  With the Florida sun on my spaghetti-strap adorned shoulders, I count new freckles and can almost feel my hair color getting lighter.

While I’ve seen some sport sweats and fanny packs in even Disney’s best restaurants, I sit down for dinner with my travel companions and relish the feeling of my brand new mini skirt on my tanned thighs.  I always buy at least a few new items to wear for each trip, and most often I pull off the tags an hour before our meal reservation in our hotel room.  Wearing brand new clothes in one of my favorite places makes me happy enough to inspire a natural glow.

I can’t imagine how many miles I’ve walked throughout the parks and beyond.  While I’m certain I’ve never lost an ounce of weight  on Disney property, given my tendency to eat my way through it, and my affinity to the dining plan, there is certainly the self-esteem building feeling from having gotten some solid exercise.

Nothing makes a girl feel prettier than a little romance.  There is nothing more romantic than getting dressed up, attaching myself to the arm of my man, and hearing my heels click on the pavement as we walk to dinner at one of our favorite Disney World restaurants.  We’ve enjoyed dinner in Epcot’s San Angel Inn, and it was perfect.  The atmosphere gave the illusion that we were miles away in Mexico, and the table for two, under low lighting, gave the illusion that we were the only two people in the world.

When the trip is over, and I’ve finally given in and put on my sweatpants, I sit on the plane ride home and smile at the smell of sun still lingering on my skin and the knowledge that the next trip is not so far away, because we’ve already planned it on the Magical Express.  With the sundress I bought from a kiosk in Disney’s Animal Kingdom packed in my carry-on, I know I’ll be able to feel Disney-pretty, even at home.

-Darlene Ballard

First and foremost, I’d like to apologize to you, dear reader, for the lack of recent posting.  All of us here are gearing up for an all new project, coming your way soon.

We are excited to announce the ”See Ya Real Soon Radio Program,” an all new podcast bringing you discussions on all of the latest Disney news, rumors, and just plain ol’ fun!  Each week, our roundtable panel of Disney-philes will talk about what’s happening in the world of Disney and beyond.  We’ll have reviews, previews, interviews and conversation, all presented in a fun, entertaining format geared specifically for adults.  We’ll let you in on travel tips, answer your questions and listener e-mail, and discover in-depth park secrets many people miss.

Looking for that much-needed Disney “fix” in-between vacations?  We’ve got you covered.  We’ll talk about not only our favorite aspect of the parks, but our not-so-favorite things as well.  Starting up (very) soon, you’ll be able to download episodes through iTunes, or listen directly on our site.  For a sneak preview of the site, and to meet the podcast team, visit www.seeyarealsoonradio.com.

We’d LOVE to hear from you, and read your comments on the air!  Start sending us your questions, show ideas, or just say “hi!’ at seeyarealsoonradio@gmail.com.

As we speak, the whole team is working feverishly to prepare the first episodes.  We’ll have more news real soon, so stay tuned!

-Steve

The Disney Store Times Square

I recently spent a couple of days in New York City.  The last time I was in the Big Apple, the Disney Store was still located on Fifth Avenue.  They have since closed that location and opened up a new venue in the middle of Times Square.  The Times Square store was heralded as ushering in the new generation of Disney Stores.  After the Walt Disney Company re-acquired management of the Store in 2008, a rebranding was announced.  Steve Jobs, Disney’s biggest shareholder, would lead the charge into making your Disney shopping experience different that the average retail venture (not unlike his unconventional Apple Stores).

I was anxious to see for myself this new, reborn Disney Store.  I must say, I walked away impressed, but not blown away.  The new store is much smaller than its predecessor, but the space is well-managed.  On the main floor, the two walls on either side depict the Manhattan skyline in silhouette form.  Every so often, images are projected, depicting a multitude of different characters, synced up with sound cues.  It may be a fireworks display, or you may see one of your favorite characters fly by.  While we were there, we saw Peter Pan, the house from Up (followed by Kevin the bird, tangled up in balloons), Winnie the Pooh (searching for a honey tree), and, my personal favorite, the lantern festival from “Tangled.”

The merchandise, while still geared mostly toward little ones who want to play dress-up, was far better than any Disney Store has had as of late.  Adults could find some unique character t-shirts, mugs and the like.  Snow globes and Christmas ornaments were available, and there’s even a small Marvel Comics section.  But I’d still like to see some more Disney home/kitchen decor.

There was plenty of NYC specific merchandise (surprising, considering how hard it is nowadays to get resort–or even park–specific merchandise down in Walt Disney World).  All in all, I found it to be a really nice, fun, well-run store.  But it was, mind you, still a store.  There was no special Disney “experience”.  It wasn’t, as had been promised, anything different than shopping at any other store.  If you’re a Disney fan, however, and you happen to be in the NYC area, it’s worth fighting the Times Square Sea of Perpetual Tourists That Stop Directly in Front of You and Guys Trying to Hand You Flyers to check it out (I left with an Oswald the Lucky Rabbit plush, making the whole New York trip worth it).

Disney’s The Lion King in 3-D  

It’s been many years since I’ve seen The Lion King in its original form (although I’ve seen the stage production a few times since), so I was excited to see it in 3-D.  It did not disappoint.  It reminded me that the movie, no matter in how many dimensions you see it in, is a masterpiece.  Artistically, musically, directorially, in every way a masterpiece.  It represents the pinnacle of Disney animation (check out the MUST SEE documentary “Waking Sleeping Beauty” for a behind the scenes look).  While it’s not necessarily everyone’s favorite Disney movie (mine is Beauty and the Beast), it is arguably the best.  Seeing it in 3-D allows you to notice things you hadn’t before, and because the film is so cinematic as it stands, it lends itself to 3-D beautifully.  There are scenes that look as if they were created specifically for 3-D, even though the artists at the time would never have dreamed it would be re-released 17 years later in that form.  Well done, Disney.

After grossing so much at the box office, I wouldn’t be surprised if Disney started re-releasing more and more of their library in 3-D.  I think it’ll be tough to make any of them as good as The Lion King though (However, I’d be anxious to see The Little Mermaid).

That’s PRINCESS Rapunzel to you!

Congratulations to Rapunzel, co-star of Disney’s “Tangled.”  The girl with the 70-ft long hairdo was declared an official Disney Princess yesterday in a lavish, star-studded royal ceremony at London’s Kensington Palace.  The other nine official princesses were on hand for the celebration, but Rapunzel herself arrived in London about a week early to do some sightseeing.  Her hair could be seen in front of Big Ben, the Tower of London, and other historical sites.

Disney’s Animal & Blue People Kingdom

I suppose I wouldn’t be a self-respecting Walt Disney World blogger if I didn’t address the really big news announced recently.  Disney, as I’m sure you’ve heard, is teaming up with James Cameron to produce an “Avatar”-themed land in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, with many more projects around the world to follow.  I’m afraid I don’t have anything new to report on this front.  Not a lot of details have been released yet (or can be expected to be released anytime soon…they’re still in the “blue sky” phase of planning).

I will say this, though:  Opinion appears to be sharply divided between people who love the movie and are excited for the expansion, and people who think it’s a bad idea.  Personally, I can’t possibly think of how any add-on Animal Kingdom would be a bad one (I know many folks were holding out for the long-rumored Beastly Kingdomme, but it appears those plans have finally gone the way of the unicorn).

Admittedly, I am one of the few people on both Earth and Pandora who has not seen “Avatar” in its entirety (nor, to be honest, do I have any desire to.  I’ve seen both Pocahontas and Fern Gully, I think that’s enough).  But I can’t argue that the visual effects and imaginative world created by James Cameron would make a really kick-ass theme park land (especially at night).  That is, of course, if it’s done right.  And Disney Imagineering tends to do things right (especially when they’re given proper funding, which they most certainly are in this case).  The thought of the combination of two of the most creative minds on the planet, James Cameron and John Lasseter, sends chills down my spine.  And the lush landscaping and heavy not-so-subtle message of conservation in the movie makes it a perfect match for AK.

Ultimately, however, before I or anyone else can pass any judgment whatsoever, we need to see the finished product.  Ten years from now, after the project has been completed for some time and the two sequels have been released, we’ll know just how much of good idea it was.  Until then, we’ll just have to sit tight.

Well kids, two years ago today, I published my first post.  Discussing the rumors of an upcoming addition to the Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland, the post was validated just a few short days later, when the rumors were officially confirmed at the first D23 Expo in Anaheim.  The accuracy of the “leaked” blueprints, coupled with the at-the-time-unusual way Disney confronted the rumors directly, still lead me to believe the prints were leaked by Disney as part of building buzz leading up to the announcement.

And not that there’s anything wrong with that.  If that was indeed the case, the move was a cunning one.  Not only did it successfully get people talking, it showed a drastic change in the way Disney handled things.  It wasn’t that long ago that Disney Parks treated public relations with military-like caution.  Walt Disney World was extremely hush-hush about its entire operation, neither confirming nor denying anything until the project was near completion.  The creation of the D23 fan club, the official Disney Parks Blog, along with a sudden strong presence on leading social network sites, proved that Disney knows people crave behind-the-scenes material as it happens, and true Disney fans want access to up-to-the-minute updates on current and future projects.  The veil of secrecy has, for the most part, been lifted enough to get a good peek at stuff, and Disney is finally acknowledging it has a strong (and often loud) fan following.  And projects like D23, Destination D events, and the recent Haunted Mansion’s Room for One More event shows Disney has found a great way to get these fans directly involved, and make some money off them in the process.

Yes, a lot in the Disney company has changed in the past two years.  And although we are still a good year away from its completion, I thought a good idea for my second anniversary post would be to revisit the Fantasyland expansion, and see how things are coming along.

As to be expected, a lot is different from when former Parks and Resorts chairman Jay Rasulo first made the expansion announcement at the ’09 D23 Expo.  Even more has changed from the leaked blueprints that came to light earlier that summer.  The initial plan called for a land-within-a-land for each of the major Disney Princesses, a Pixie Hollow area for Tinkerbell and friends, a circus area with not one but two Dumbo attractions, and something that appeared to be labeled the “Cheshire Coaster,” to replace Goofy’s Barnstormer.

Of course, as input from fans came flooding in, management began intervening, budgets started fluctuating, and, simply put, Imagineers’ ideas changed, the current progress shows deviation from the original plans.

The Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella sections have been eliminated altogether in favor of a Fantasyland princess meet-and-greet tent.  Belle can still be found in her cottage, next to Gaston’s Tavern, in the village next to the Beast’s castle.  The castle will house the Be Our Guest restaurant, featuring a state-of-the-art Lumeire interactive animatronic.

Ariel still gets her much anticipated ”Voyage of the Little Mermaid” ride, already up-and-running in Disneyland.  Pixie Hollow appears to have been scrapped entirely (for now), but Tink and her fellow fairies can now be seen over in Adventureland.

Dumbo will indeed move over to the area once occupied by Mickey’s Toontown Fair, with a new queue-less wait system.  The area will feature many other interactive games and attractions.  Goofy’s Barnstormer will not take on an Alice in Wonderland theme, but rather be re-themed from the country theme of the previous land to the Storybook Circus theme of the new one.  Goofy’s Barnstormer featuring the Great Goofini will have Goofy as an ace pilot in a death-defying aerial stunt show.

One of the most exciting changes to the original concept is the announcement of a new e-ticket attraction to replace Snow White’s Scary Adventures.  While the Scary Adventures will certainly be missed, Imagineers are working on a Seven Dwarves Mine Train Coaster.  It will tell the story of Snow White, much like the current attraction, but will hold a quicker-pace and even some mild thrills.  The coaster cars are a brand new design that has passengers swinging from side to side as it moves forward, much like a coal car in a mine.

Even though we are still a while away from the grand opening, construction appears to be barreling along a steady pace.  The Beast’s castle is up (it’s very small, but through forced perspective and the placement of its surroundings, looks to be towering off a long way in the distance).  Prince Eric’s castle facade is nearly complete, and the circus tents over next to the new Dumbo attraction are erect.

With the opening date so far off, I am without doubt that even more changes are to be expected, but with the framework for most of the new attractions already laid out, those changes will most likely be minimal.  I for one cannot wait to see the much-deserved facelift for the area, even if just for the improved landscaping.

I leave you today with this clip that I found absolutely hilarious.  This was at the Parks and Resorts presentation at this year’s D23 Expo.  Tom Staggs, who took over for Jay Rasulo as chairman.  He explains that when he first started in the position, he wanted to get an idea as to what all of his employees go through, so he helped out in various jobs around the parks and on the cruise ships.  My favorite line is when he’s cleaning up elephant dung and asks his supervisor warily, “Seriously? Jay did this?”  The video ends with him dressed as Tinkerbell, screaming his head off as he plummets toward Cinderella Castle on a zipline.  This short clip has shown that Staggs is without a doubt one of the most personable Disney executives I’ve seen in a long time.

Enjoy, and thank you to everyone for two magical years!  See ya real soon!

Who says Disney doesn’t listen to their fan base?

Last week, on August 15th, the Magic Kingdom’s Enchanted Tiki Room re-opened, reverted back to its (almost) original state, after being closed for over seven months.  Back in January of this year, a small fire broke out in the theatre’s attic, severely damaging the “Iago” animatronic.  Rumors immediately started forming that since Disney now had to refurb the attraction anyway, they would listen to the less-than-impressed public and eliminate the “Under New Management” additions to the show.  And Disney actually came through on this one (NOW:  If only a small fire would break out in Stitch’s Great Escape, prompting the return of X-S Tech, I’d be happy.  And I’d say bring back Mr. Toad, too, but I’ve actually grown a bit fond of Winnie the Pooh, and would hate to see him evicted on account of nostalgia. But for the love of all things good bring back the Adventurers Club, fire or not.  Now I digress).

Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room first opened in Disneyland on June 23rd, 1963.  Originally conceived as a restaurant, later cut-back to a fifteen-minute show, the attraction’s “stars” (the cast of 150 singing birds, flowers, and tiki totem poles) were the first ever audio-animatronics created and used in an Disney attraction.  Songs from the legendary Sherman Brothers were instantly stuck in guests’ heads for years to come.  At the time, such an immersive, technically advanced show was way ahead of its time, and it became an immediate hit.

When Walt Disney World opened in 1971, the Tiki Room opened as “Tropical Serenade”, and was a clone of the Disneyland attraction.  In 1998, Tropical Serenade was closed, and reopened as the updated “Enchanted Tiki Room: Under New Management.”

The new premise had Iago from Aladdin and Zazu from The Lion King as business partners, giving a new direction to the “outdated”  floor show that had been running since 1963.  Of course, Iago’s hijinks incurs the wrath of a Polynesian goddess, who rises up to show her displeasure.

The new format gained precious few fans, and downright ticked off Disney purists.  As for myself, I’m all for progress (although don’t you DARE touch the Disneyland version), but sometimes, even Disney tries too hard.  The fact that the show had Gilbert Gottfried singing should have a been a red flag that it wasn’t going to work.

When the new, old, show opened last week (the theatre and animatronics were greatly spruced up, and the sound remastered, but the show is still a lightly edited version of the original Tropical Serenade), the crowds in the queue outside sent a strong message.  It may not be flashy, modern, or exciting, but sometimes the old ways are the best ways.  Even the old school Florida Orange Bird, former resident of Adventureland, can now be found on merchandise. proving Disney fans provide a very strong market for nostalgia.

         …Oh, who am I kidding?  Kick the silly old bear out, bring back Mr. Toad!

Well, it’s been almost three years now since the doors to the Adventurers Club revolved for the last time.  But there is certainly no lack of Adventurers Club news and rumors.  If you had asked me a few weeks ago if I thought the Club would ever re-open, my answer would have been a bit reserved.  Yes, I would say, but not as we remember it.

I would have thought they would have taken the Club’s interactive theatre aspect that everyone loved so much, and applied it to a whole new venture, most likely a restaurant.  A restaurant/bar would mean more money for Disney, and the Jekyll and Hyde clubs in New York City (much-rumored to be modelled after the Adventurers Club, and containing some eerie similarities) prove that the interactive nature of the Club can indeed be successful in a restaurant atmosphere.  In addition, a restaurant would be a much better fit in the newly designed Hyperion Wharf area of Downtown Disney.  The Club as a stand-alone bar worked marvelously in the context of Pleasure Island, but would sadly be sorely out-of-place in a family friendly shopping-and-dining district.

I would not, however, have guessed that Disney would use the same theming for club, but would rather use the opportunity to theme the restaurant in a different, unique way, better pertaining to the Hyperion Wharf story (whatever that may end up being).  I was pretty certain that while Disney would scavenge certain parts of the experience, the Adventurers Club as we all knew and loved it was dead.  Kungaloosh in peace, old sport.

…But then, some interesting things began happening, and it gets the ol’ wheels in Stevie’s head a-turning.

Back in May, a new lounge opened up at the Disneyland Hotel in California.  “Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar” serves up light fare and pun-named drinks like the “Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Rum,” the “Hippopotamai-tai,” and the “Schweitzer Falls,” (Dr. Albert Falls’ favorite drink, served “over-the-rocks,” of course).  Trader Sam, you may remember, is the head-shrinking salesman from the Jungle Cruise attraction.  And apparently, the tie-ins to other Disney attractions don’t stop at the Jungle Cruise or Tiki Room.  Sharp-eyed patrons can reportedly spot such relics on the walls as a letter from Adventurers Club curator Fletcher Hodges, who was apparently an old associate of Sam’s.

Disney giving a shout out to past, defunct attractions is certainly nothing new.  Mr. Toad and pals from his Wild Ride can still be seen inside the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and outside of the Haunted Mansion.  And Epcot’s Mission: Space includes many tributes not only to it’s predecesor, Horizons, but also to the Magic Kingdom’s Mission to Mars attraction.

But read on:  Disney will be opening up a stand-alone resort-of-epic-proportions, Aulani, in Hawaii next month.  In a recent exclusive interview from DIS-Unplugged podcast team members John and Kevin, a high-level Imagineer revealed some hidden secrets in the resort.  Including the backstory behind Aunty’s Beach Club, the on-site kid’s club.  The story is that Aunty and Uncle were world travellers, and brought back many treasures from their travels.  In fact, she revealed somewhat hesitantly, Uncle was a member of the Adventurers Club.  That’s all she would say, but photos of the club reveal several recognizable Adventurers Club artifacts, including the large group portrait of explorers in the jungle that hung askew behind the stage in the library (it was revealed after the club’s closure that the picture was in fact a two-way mirror, behind which the keyboard player performing as “Fingers,” the ghostly organist, could see what was happening on stage).

Not-so-coincidentally, Imagineer and earpiece-fashion-trendsetter Joe Rohde is the head designer of Aulani.  Rohde’s other credits include Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Hong Kong Disney’s Mystic Point (home to a new Adventurers Club-style establishment), Tokyo DisneySea (where he is the model for Harrison Hightower, owner of the Tower of Terror), and yes, the Adventurers Club.  His caricature can even be seen in the above-mentioned group portrait.  So it’s no surprise that he would reuse props from the Adventurers Club (many of which are reportedly from his own collection).  But for Disney to take the Adventurers Club story further than it already went, incorporating new characters and storylines, makes me take pause.

Lastly, Disney recently announced through the Disney Parks Blog that the whole Hyperion Wharf project has been placed on hold while Disney re-evaluates their plans for the area.  Not many changes have happened over at the old Pleasure Island, aside from some of the old clubs being demolished.  But Disney also said that all of the buildings planned on being demolished have already been so.  And the uniquly-theme facade of the Adventurers Club, though now just an empty, treasure-less shell, remains standing.

Adding to the mystery, an unconfirmed report states that one of the two Colonel Critchlow Suchbench puppets (the other one having been shipped to Hong Kong) was put up by Disney on an online auction site, only to be removed suddenly, without notice.

All of these put together, capped with the sudden hiatus on the Hyperion Wharf development, leads me to believe that perhaps Disney is finally realizing that, even three years later, fans and supporters of the Adventurers Club are not going away.  They may be starting to understand what a proverbial cash cow they’re sitting on with the characters, theme and story of the Club.  As it is now, any official Disney Parks Blog about Downtown Disney is inundated with comments imploring Disney to bring the Club back.  Websites, fan clubs, even an Orlando-based non-profit organization have sprung up to rally for the cause, and the masses aren’t getting any quieter.

So here it is, folks:  My official prediction for the fate of Adventurers Club.  Bear in mind this is based entirely on rumors and speculation, but for the first time since the closure of Pleasure Island was announced in June 2008, I believe that we may see the return of the Club.  Yes, probably as a restaurant to go along with the bar, and probably in a much bigger space, and probably with many updated changes to format, script, etc., but I think Meriwether Pleasure’s universe will live on.  I think that the likes of Pamelia Perkins, Hathaway Brown, and Otis T. Wren may once again be entertaining guests in Downtown Disney.  Only time will tell, of course, but one can only imagine the reaction such an announcement would bring from the fan community.  The Club, I would imagine, would be nearly impossible to get into without reservations for quite some time, and would undoubtedly become an instant success with tourists and locals alike.

Of course, as Meriwether Pleasure was often heard saying, “Sometimes you eat the bear, other times the bear eats you.  But always dress for the hunt!”  So I’m dressed in my riding boots and pith helmet.  Here’s hoping!

Disneyland opened it’s gates in 1955, and with it, the doors to the Golden Horseshoe Saloon, an entertainment house in Frontierland. Guests could cool off with a soda, catch a quick lunch, and, five times a day for nearly three decades, sing and laugh along to The Golden Horseshoe Revue. The Revue starred Slue Foot Sue (played originally by Betty Taylor), and Pecos Bill himself (played by a former vaudeville star named Wally Boag, who also wrote the show). Musical acts, comedy sketches, and Boag’s signature balloon animal skits (called “Boagaloons’) were a hallmark of Disneyland until 1986. When the show closed, it clocked in over 50,000 performances, giving it the record of the most performances of any entertainment show in the world, EVER, according the Guinness Book of World Records. Alongside Taylor for nearly all of them was Boag, with his wide-eyed takes, comically large carpet bag, and never-ending supply of broken teeth, which he would spit out at the audience.

Walt Disney and his family loved watching Boag’s antics on stage. Walt had a special private box built in the saloon so he could bring guests to the Revue (the box is still there, and is now open to the public). He even had Boag perform at a private party Walt threw for Lillian Disney, a week before the park opened.

At a special press-only event before the premiere of Mary Poppins, Boag revealed that back in his Vaudeville days, he was performing at the London Hippodrome, and needed the assistance of a young girl from the audience for one of his balloon animal acts. The twelve year old girl he picked at random was such a hit with the crowd, she stayed on with the show for the remainder of its UK tour. The girl, now grown up, was at the event to perform a duet with Boag, and turned out to be none other than Julie Andrews.

Walt was so impressed with Wally’s inherit talent and timing, he had him write most of the script for “The Enchanted Tiki Room” (where he also voiced the character of Jose), and assist with the writing of the Haunted Mansion. Boag was also instrumental in the creation of entertainment for Walt Disney World when it opened in 1971.

Comedian Steve Martin, whose first brush with show business came by working in the magic shop on Disneyland’s Main Street, USA, notes that Wally Boag was the first live comedian he ever saw. Martin couldn’t get enough of the act, and would spend time at the Golden Horseshoe whenever he could, to the point where he could recite all of Boag’s lines by heart. He attributes his comic timing, sense of humor, and desire to become a performer to Boag.

Wally Boag passed away last week, on June 3rd, 2011, at the age of 90.
Steve Martin released this statement through Twitter:

“My hero, the first comedian I ever saw live, my influence, a man to whom I aspired, has passed on. Wally Boag.”

The very next day, Betty Taylor, Boag’s long-time partner (and fellow Disney Legend), also passed.

Here’s a clip from a 1980 episode of “The Muppet Show” that Boag hosted, showing off his fast-paced timing and balloon animal skills:

Lying in the heart of Kissimmee, Florida, just a short ride away from all of the major Orlando-area theme parks, is a whimsical village.  This village, though not as recognizable, produces more magic than all of the Disney parks put together.  The Give Kids the World Village is a 70-acre, 140-villa complex, and has welcomed over 100,000 families from all 50 states (and a whopping 70 countries around the world) since it’s opening in 1989.

A non-profit organization, Give Kids the World partners with other non-profits and fundraising groups to give children (ages 3-18) with terminal illness (and their families) an experience of a lifetime.  When organizations like the Make-A-Wish and A Wish Come True Foundations grant a “wish” for a child to visit Orlando, chances are they’ll end up at the Village.  Visiting families stay at no cost (a huge relief for many; even families that are “well-off” can find their savings quickly depleted when a child has an illness), and even meals and theme park tickets come free of charge.

The oil in the Village’s efficient and effective machine is the kindness and generosity of others.  Food (and food servers) are provided by Boston Market and Perkin’s Restaurant and Bakery, families get their own rental car courtesy of Avis, and all of the local amusement parks donate admission tickets.  Disney is of course one of the more popular wishes, but Give Kids the World highly recommend Universal Studios as well, who they say go above-and-beyond with hospitality towards visiting families.  The organization also works closely with SeaWorld, Busch Gardens Tampa, and many other area attractions.  Most parks give kids VIP treatment, including the option to pass to the head of the line on all rides and shows.

Many kids who stay at the village, however, are simply too sick to visit any of the theme parks.  Their experience is made just as magical by the Village’s whimsical, fun design and uplifting activities.  On site is an ice cream parlor (which serves ice cream for breakfast), a castle, a “safari theatre,” a carousel, and a one-of-a-kind playground.  Disney sends over many famous characters to meet those unable to travel to them.

The Village is run by a small board of administrators (including actor John Stamos, anthropologist Jane Goodall, Disney Parks President Al Weiss, former senator/astronaut John Glenn, and executives from Universal Studios, SeaWorld, Busch Entertainment, Boston Market, Hasbro, AAA, Walmart, and Proctor & Gamble, to name a few), but the bulk of the staff consists of volunteers.  Many locals give their time on a regular basis, as well as Disney cast members and those in the Disney College Program.  It’s also not uncommon for regularly visiting tourists to take a day out of their Florida vacation to volunteer their time at the village.

Pete Werner and the great folks over at the DIS Unplugged podcast (and the world’s largest unofficial Disney site,  http://www.wdwinfo.com/) have created a terrific fundraising effort called the Power of 10.  The idea is to get 10,000 people to get 10 friends to donate $10.  Now I slept through every math class I ever took, but they tell me the result would be one million dollars raised for Give Kids the World.  It’s a wonderful, unique mission that you can get involved in by visiting http://www.powerof10.us/.  Disney fans from all over the world have jumped on board, coming up with fun and creative ways to raise money for such a great cause.

Learn about volunteering at or donating to the Give Kids the World Village here.

   The jewel of Main Street is the town’s first and oldest department store, the Main Street Emporium.  The massive retail space, now encompassing an entire city block, started off as a small corner store in 1863.  According to etchings on the windows flanking the main door (facing the Town Square), it was founded by none other than storekeeper  Osh Popham.  Popham was a character played by Burl Ives in the 1963 Disney film Summer Magic (famous for such songs as “On the Front Porch” and “The Ugly Bug Ball”).  Apparently, Popham and crew moved to Main Street from New England after the movie takes place.  Popham was a natural salesman, and Haley Mills’ character from the movie ran a haberdashery and millinery across the street for a while.

   Starting off selling just general merchandise and everyday essentials, the store grew rapidly to include the “Latest and Greatest” products from all over the world.  In 1901, the Emporium doubled its selling space through a major expansion.  The date serves a double purpose: the Magic Kingdom actually did greatly expand the Emporium in 2001, exactly one hundred years after the year in the story.  1901 was also the year of Walt Disney’s birth.

  The difference between the old portion of the store and the new expansion is very obvious if you’re looking for it.  The amount of detail in both spaces is incredible.  Notice the brass, ornate doorknobs, the velour wallpaper, and the gold-framed photos of various “townsfolk.”  Even the merchandising team keeps with the theme.  Souvenirs are displayed in old shelves and stands, jewelry counters, and even old-fashioned candy jars.

As you walk through the shop, you’ll notice the decorative Victorian style give way for the sleeker, more elite Edwardian designs.  Take a look up next time you’re in the Emporium, and you’ll see a fabulous piece of detail most people walk right by–er, I mean under.  The lighting fixtures are definitely a sign of the times.  You’ll notice two sets of sconces: some facing up, and some facing down.  The upward-facing sconces have little keys under the arms.  This is because they are gas lamps.  The chandeliers have been retro-fitted, however, with downward-facing electric lighting.  Because electricity was still a new feature, it wasn’t the most reliable service.  Keeping the old gas lamps as a backup ensured the store could stay open even in the relatively common event of a power outage.

In the main gallery of the newest portion of the Emporium, there is a beautiful hand-painted mural above the doors.  Created to mark the completion of the expansion (both in the back-story and in real life), the mural depicts the faces of many happy shoppers.  These shoppers are actually portraits of Imagineers who worked on the expansion.

Take your time and look around (at more than just the t-shirts and vinylmation), and you can discover all sorts of hidden little details, all of which support the thought-out and elaborate back-story.  All this in a department store that does more day-to-day business than any Macy’s or J.C. Penny in the country.

       For my birthday last month, I was very specific about what I wanted: A PS3, a full-size working replica of the DeLorean from “Back to the Future,” press credentials for the inaugural sailing of the Disney Dream this weekend, and a DVD copy of “Waking Sleeping Beauty.”  Well, one out of three ain’t bad.  As I’m writing this post from ashore, and not designing a Magic Kingdom level for Little Big Planet 2, or chilling out in the late ’50s (where I would totally tell everyone my name was “Don Draper”), you could probably guess I received the DVD.

     “Waking Sleeping Beauty” is an incredibly entertaining documentary that tells the story of Walt Disney Animation from 1980′s “The Fox and the Hound” through 1994′s “The Lion King.”  The film is a collaboration between current and past Disney film executives and producers, most notably Don Hahn and Peter Schneider.  It chronicles the rise and fall of Disney’s Renaissance, the neo-classical age in animation that lasted throughout the nineties.

    Unlike a typical documentary, “Waking Sleeping Beauty” uses no on-screen interviews.  Actual footage from news stories, press kits and vintage interviews are used, as well as a ton of rare, behind the scenes footage shot by various Disney animators (much of which was shot for their own personal use; all of which was shot against strict company policy).  Don Hahn narrates, and off-screen commentary is provided by several of the story’s key players.

   Although the film was distributed by Disney, and they of course own the rights, this is not a Disney-made movie.  There is no sugar-coating, nor is there any side-taking or pandering.  Although the film was made by the people directly involved in the subject, it offers an un-biased, balanced view of an era in which most people are quick to blame one person or another.

   Despite the very public battle that raged between Disney Czar Micheal Eisner, studio head Jeffrey Katzenberg, and animation chief (and Walt’s nephew) Roy E. Disney, the movie reveals that the downfall of Disney Animation was not the work of one person, but a culmination of various events, circumstances and ego-trips that eventually led to an inevitable demise.

   In spite of the tension caused by higher management, the movie also showcases the camaraderie formed by the animators, and how important it was for them to make a fun working environment, even (actually, especially) in the most stressful of times.  Most of the Disney animators at the time were new to the business, fresh out of Disney-founded CalArts, looking to make their mark on the industry.  There was some initial friction between the young newcomers and the old guard, animating legends who worked under Walt himself.  In the end, however, it shows that many of these fresh faces were more like the “Nine Old Men” than even them themselves knew.

    ”Waking Sleeping Beauty” is brutally honest, clever, and often funny.  It’s interesting to see old footage of some animators just starting out, including a disheveled Tim Burton, and a Hawaiian shirt-clad John Lasseter (I guess not much has changed save for status).  The film has it’s heartbreaking scenes too though.  The segment that covers the death of lyricist Howard Ashman, while the score for the final scene of “Beauty and the Beast” plays in the background, is absolutely tear-jerking.

  Overall, if you’re a Disney fan, a fan of a few Disney movies–heck, if you’ve ever even seen a Disney movie–I would say this documentary is a must-see.  If you are a Comcast customer, it’s available now on demand, but I would strongly recommend splurging on Amazon.com for the DVD.  It comes chock-full of delightful and interesting special features.  Also, I’ve watched it twice already, and plan to watch it again.  Probably right after my gig at the “Enchantment Under the Sea” dance tonight…

Here’s the trailer: