For protection

From the Hub of the Magic Kingdom the various lands can be explored, but what is it precisely that draws us in? The bridge to Liberty Square (and Frontierland beyond) doesn’t offer a view of Big Thunder Mountain or the Haunted Mansion, you cannot see the Spanish fort of Adventureland, the host of flying elephants is blocked by Cinderella Castle and the carousel beyond in Fantasyland, and even Tomorrowland only offers the briefest glimpse into the attractions of the future. Instead, we must rely on what can be seen right in front of us, or what we know to be beyond. In most cases, that means paying particular attention to the bridges surrounding splintering away from the Hub.

While some are modest, I can remember two bridges pulling at me as a child, the spire lined walkway to Tomorrowland and the tribally adorned planks leading to Adventureland. These days, with the white towers of Tomorrowland but a memory, I am drawn towards the Adventureland bridge, with its tropical vegetation, carved sign, and, of course, its shields.

Along each side of the thatched and hewn-logs passage are two shields, each covering a pair of crossed spears. In the center of each oblong shield, save one blank example, is a painted tribal portrait, in addition to the individual details and color schemes. I can remember these faces staring at me as a child, and having the urge to continue looking at my shoes. These days, they seem to be familiar friends, prodding me on to my next adventure.

Good food, cold drinks

Once upon a time there were no table service restaurants within Disney’s Animal Kingdom, save the Rainforest Cafe that lived on the border between the Oasis and the parking lot. In recent years, both Asia and Africa have stepped up to provide sit down dining respites from the heat and humidity of the park. In Africa’s Harambe, that meant providing the very popular counter service restaurant, Tusker House, with a buffet make over.Once inside Tusker House you feel as if you have stepped immediately back outdoors. With sheets of fabric strewn across the ceiling, wires crisscrossing the square, and an assortment of goods neatly arranged the entire buffet area feels like an open air marketplace. Even the copious amounts of serving stations get in on the act, appearing as vendor carts that could be rolled away at a moments notice.Having been a counter service establishment once upon a time, the seating areas of Tusker House are expansive. Décor ranges from a hunting lodge motif to an education center, and even includes a detailed safari board, in case you’ve forgotten when your expedition is set to depart. With so many spacious accommodations remaining from the counter service days, it is not surprising to see rooms only marginally occupied with dining guests.Moving back towards the carts, and more importantly the food, each station offered a specific variety of dishes. The menu included:

Whole Grain Breads and Rolls
Chocolate Mango Bread
Mealie Cornbread
Lavosh
Apple, Endive, and Walnut Salad
Caesar Salad
Tomato and Cucumber Salad with Fresh Mint and Yogurt Dressing
Mixed Greens
Tunisian Couscous Salad
Fresh Green Bean and Red Onion Salad
Curried Rice Salad with Golden Raisins
Peri-Peri Marinated Baked Salmon
Saffron-Infused Root Vegetables and Cabbage
Pearl Couscous with Sweet Basil
Spiced Vegetables and Tofu Tandoori
Jollaf Rice
Sweet Plantains
Rotisserie Chicken
Samosa
Cape Malay Curry Chicken
Basmati Rice with Toasted Almonds
Orzo Pasta
Seafood Stew with Tamarind Barbeque Sauce
Spit-Roasted Beef Top Sirloin
Kenyan Coffee Barbeque Pork Loin
Ham and Bean Soup
Marrakesh Couscous
Roasted Potatoes
Blatjangs (Spicy South African Preserves)
Mango Chutney
Mixed Dried Fruit Chutney
Hummus
Taboule
Chocolate Volcano Cake
Carrot Spice Cake
Baklava
Strawberry Mousse
Coconut Macaroons
Lemon Bars
Pecan Chocolate Tart
Passion Fruit Tart

The expected flavors, ingredients, and preparations were all present at Tusker House, but felt as if they had been toned down in order to appeal to majority of diners who may not be familiar with African cuisine. That said, the range of choices available were so numerous that it would be simply impossible to taste everything in a single visit to the restaurant, let alone a single trip to the cart stations. Among the group that I dined with the overall favorites were the Samosas, Tunisian Couscous Salad, Spit-Roasted Beef Top Sirloin, Tomato and Cucumber Salad with Fresh Mint and Yogurt Dressing, and the assortment of condiments.The desserts themselves provided a wide array of options, from fruit to chocolate, pastries to mousses, and everything in between. Nothing in this section, however, was a drastic departure from desserts found all throughout Walt Disney World. The notable winner amongst my party was the Baklava, hands down.Tusker House provides not only a break from the Florida heat, or African heat depending upon how you chose to look at it, but also a nice break from the monotony that can be vacation dining. More and more, Walt Disney World appears to be embracing the true differences in world cuisines, while still offering familiar components that children and hesitant adults will find appetizing. The ample amounts of space provided by the former quick service location also allows for a less cramped and quieter meal, as well as the ability to truly take in the surroundings. Overall, I would certainly mark Tusker House as a must try on the Walt Disney World food trail.

A journey that begins where everything ends

The upcoming TRON sequel, TRON: Legacy has whipped up a frenzy for long time and novice fans of the original film. This passion for vintage Disney science-fiction could not be contained by the digital world the of Encom, however, as interest has once again been piqued in the epic story of The Black Hole. Currently, the TRON: Legacy director and producer team of Joseph Kosinski and Sean Bailey are slated to remake the space odyssey, and they even found a way to drop in references to The Black Hole into their TRON sequel.

The original film featured the talents of actors Anthony Perkins and Maximilian Schell, director Gary Nelson, and designs by two Disney giants Peter Ellenshaw and George McGinnis. The visual undertaking was so dramatic, that it would go on to garner Visual Effects and Cinematography Academy Award nominations, as well as a Hugo nomination for Dramatic Presentation. The film featured a band of space explorers who stumble upon a derelict craft that which had been missing for the past two decades. Their investigation aboard the ship, the USS Cygnus, which is perilously close to a black hole has alarming ramifications.

The Black Hole was given a premiere spot in Disney’s 1978 annual report, which touted the gutsy and immense nature of the film. Perhaps it is time to venture back across the event horizon to see what Disney had to say about the film:

On October 11, 1978, we began production of the most ambitious motion picture in the history of the Disney studio, “The Black Hole.” Nearly everything about this mammoth undertaking sets it apart from our efforts of the past.

“The Black Hole” has the largest budget we have ever committed to a film project, more than 17 million dollars.

All but one of the principal cast are newcomers to the Disney family, including Maximilian Schell, Anthony Perkins, Robert Forster, Joseph Bottoms and Ernest Borgnine. Yvette Mimieux, who joins this excellent team of actors, has appeared for us only once before.

Director Gary Nelson, nominated for an Emmy for ABC-TV’s “Washington: Behind Closed Doors,” will oversee the longest production schedule in the history of Disney live-action filming. Nearly 14 months of simultaneous and post-production filming and processing will be required.

The entire studio creative team plus a group of “Imagineers” at WE Enterprises and four Academy Award winners (Peter Ellenshaw, Production Design; Eustace Lycett and Art Cruickshank, Special Photographic Effects; and Danny Lee, Special Visual Effects) are working together to create one of the most exciting films ever made. To accomplish this, an all-new computer camera system known as ACES (Automated Camera Effects System) has been developed and, in some scenes, as many as 12 different photo processes will be on the screen at once.

Black holes are the universe’s ultimate phenomena. Neither the science nor imagination of man has provided answers to the questions they pose. Some say that time stops as one enters the mouth of these dragons of space. Other suggest that they are doorways to another universe. Most simply refuse to speculate. And that is where our story begins: at the edge or event horizon of a black hole.

With the release of “The Black Hole,” scheduled tentatively for Christmas 1979, we anticipate a major new addition to the Disney library of classic films.

As a child, science fiction and pulp stories were the films that kidnapped my imagination and gave it lots of candy before returning it home. I lived in the worlds that had been cleverly crafted for me, often times expanding the tales into full day epics in which I was the hero or sole survivor. While Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Alien films were staples of this period, so to were the classic trio of Disney science fiction: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, TRON, and The Black Hole. As an adult it is truly exciting to see these films being discovered by a new generations and give new stories that treat the originals with the respect they deserve.

When the deep purple falls

Music is the soundtrack of our lives. This is never more true than when guests journey through the various adventures of Walt Disney World. The music selected to play in the background of the lands and attractions found throughout the parks and resorts are as key to the experience as the subtle hints of a yeti’s presence, the visuals of a runaway mine train, or the smell of Rome burning. There is just as much precision work to incorporating the perfect piece of music for an area as there is in sculpting the rocks to mirror a specific dessert. I could, and have, staked out a bench in a specific land to pass the time of day solely based on the music found there. However, there is one place I find myself drawn to time and time again.

There is a lot to marvel at within the opening avenues of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. First and foremost the architecture and design found along both Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards are stunning, and prime examples of a stylized heyday. And while the music of these two lanes are gorgeous, you have to venture all the way to the end of Sunset to find my musical happy place. That’s right, the Hollywood Tower Hotel.

The first tendrils of the standards from the 1930s drift over the garden walls and become part of the landscape of the green spaces of the Hollywood Tower Hotel. The toe tapping rhythms linger into the lobby where remnants of former guests still remain. Even after the frightful experiences of the unhinged service elevator, the haunting vocals hang over the courtyard off to the side of the hotel. In short, the music permeates the entirety of the Hollywood Tower Hotel and become just as much a part of the Tower of Terror as the scarring on the side of the building.

So, what comprises this evocative musical loop? The Hollywood Tower Hotel takes a trip back down the musical highway to include tunes that would have been popular in the year 1939 and songs that had transformed into standards over the previous decade. Performers on the playlist include Duke Ellington, Vera Lynn, Cootie Williams, Hellen Forrest, Noble Sissle, Henry Allen, and Jimmie Lunceford, among others. The pieces themselves have stood the test of time, and include I Can’t Get Started, Pyramid, Jungle, Sleepy Time Gal, Mood Indigo, Inside, Deep Purple, and many more.

The melodies that surround the Hollywood Tower Hotel are enough to soothe the nerves of guests spellbound by the continual screaming from the elevators above, while still enhancing the overall environment of the tower. In short, even if I am not taking a trip to the Twilight Zone, I am always drawn down Sunset by the haunting musical memories the Hollywood Tower Hotel’s loop evokes.

Disney This Week - 29 August 2010

Amanda Tinney is getting ready for Halloween, with pirate face painting tips on Disney Every Day.

DisneyShawn author, Shawn Slater, explores the connection between Lights, Motors, Actionand the world-renowned stunt coordinator, Rémy Julienne.

Matt Hochberg explains why the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame calls Disney’s Hollywood Studios home at Studios Central.

There is a cupcake mystery afoot at The Disney Food Blog, and AJ is hot on the trail!

Greg Grimsley contemplates living close enough to Walt Disney World to drop in for an occasional visit at The Disney Obsession.

The True Disney Fan, otherwise known as Jessica Clawson, measures the miles of fun that can be walked at Walt Disney World.

Over at Tulgey Wood, Jim Fanning explores a project by Richard Sherman that breaks with preconceived notions.

Melissa Loflin takes a moment to capture Harambe’s Independence on Makin’ Memories.

Heather McPherson, of The Daily Disney, catches up with California Grill’s amazing sushi chef, Yoshie Cabral.

The fine folks at Imagineering Disney have dug up the original 1964 introductory presentation on CalArts.

Marvelously young

Way on down the Sassagoula River, near the area known as Port Orleans – Riverside, there is a secluded island known as Ol’ Man Island. Like most river-bound islands, it calls to the children of the area as a natural wonderland. For children islands of this sort are treasure troves of new adventures, secret meetings, a place to hide from whatever ills them away from the island, and a place to have more fun than they can shake a stick at. As far as Ol’ Man Island is concerned, however, it was a built as just this type of refuge for children, with plenty of entertaining escapes just waiting to be discovered.

According to the local legend, the island was first inhabited in 1835. A young man, seeking the solace of the Sassagoula found an island where he could live tranquilly. As time passed by the nearby Riverside area began to flourish, as wealth poured into the area so did new inhabitants and new dwellings. Eventually the children of Riverside journeyed out to the island and found a wealth of engaging activities. A swimmin’ hole filled with chutes, spouts, and even a deck to lay out in the sun was the main attraction, but the island also had a well stocked fishin’ hole for lazy afternoons when dropping a line into the river was the only activity that would do. In tribute to the man who had assembled the island wonderland, the residents of Riverside named the island Ol’ Man Island as a “tribute to the ol’ man and the happiness he gave to the children and all of Riverside’s neighbors.”

Flowing together for more than a million years

Water is a critical component of life on earth, not to mention that it covers two-thirds of the globe. Water is, obviously, an essential element to weather and temperature, but since the dawn of time it has been fundamental part of daily living. Water hydrates humans and livestock alike, is used for irrigation of crops, houses a wonderland of food, fountains have been utilized as central meeting places, is traveled upon, and natural falls and pools of water are renowned for their beauty. The many forms and uses of water as an integral part of earth, and our place in it, are explored throughout the pavilions of World Showcase. While each pavilion presents at least one view of water’s role in a culture’s existence, on many occasions there is more than one work of water being showcased.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Mickey Mouse Cookies

Yesterday, we briefly touched upon the Nestle and Disney relationship and the commemorative tin Nestle released as part of Walt Disney World’s 25th Anniversary. Tucked away inside of the Toll House Tin was a recipe for Chocolate Peanut Butter Mickey Mouse Cookies. Last week I doubled up the recipe and made a batch, but let’s take a look at the recipe, some photographs of the preparation, and then we’ll have some thoughts.

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER MICKEY MOUSE COOKIES
(Makes about 2 ½ dozen cookies)

Ingredients:
2 ½ cups All-Purpose Flour
2 cups (12-ounce package) Nestle Toll House Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels, divided in half
1 cup Quick Oats
1 cup (2 sticks) Butter or Margarine, softened
1 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
1 cup Granulated Sugar
1 cup Packed Brown Sugar
1 ½ teaspoons Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2 Eggs

Dough Directions:
Combine flour and baking soda in small bowl.
Beat butter, peanut butter, sugars and vanilla in large mixer bowl until creamy.
Beat in eggs.
Beat in flour mixture.
Stir in 1 cup morsels and oats.
Freeze until slightly firm but not hard.

Baking Directions:
Roll dough into 1 ½-inch ball; press down slightly on ungreased baking sheet.
Roll a 1 ¼-inch ball; cut in half.
Attach halves to first ball as ears.
Repeat with remaining dough; place 2 inches apart.
Bake in preheated 350° oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until light brown and centers are still soft.
Let stand for 3 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool.

Decorating Directions:
Microwave remaining morsels in heavy-duty plastic bag on HIGH (100%) power for 45 seconds.
Knead; microwave at additional 10 to 20 second intervals, kneading until smooth.
Cut tiny corner from bag.
Squeeze to pipe chocolate to create Mickey Mouse faces.
Allow chocolate to set.

The cookies were easy enough to create, although they take up quite a bit of space on a cookie sheet, so allow ample time for baking multiple rounds of cookies. For the ears, while rolling one ball and cutting it in half will suffice, it is just as easy to make two smaller balls and attach them as ears. As for decorating, I went for a classic Mickey in the style of the old Walt Disney World ice cream Mickey bars, but the preparations had some problems. The first set of morsels I tried to microwave melted the heavy duty bag and started to smoke in the microwave, and then in the kitchen. I found it more useful to melt and mix up the morsels in a small cup or measuring cup and then spoon the chocolate into a plastic or piping bag.

As for the taste of the cookies, they were terrific! And I’m not usually one to enjoy the combination of chocolate and peanut butter. The oats and morsels add a nice texture to the generally chewy cookie, while the vanilla lingers around as an aftertaste, even with a strong peanut butter flavor. While baking is not my strongest kitchen gift, these are simple enough and tasty enough that I would whip up a batch again.

Nestle Toll House celebrates the magic

The relationship between Disney and the various companies that comprise Nestle goes back decades, as far back as Carnation hosting the Main Street Ice Cream Parlor at Disneyland beginning in 1955. Far beyond the American shores, Nestle was also one of the twelve founding sponsors of EuroDisneyland, now known as Disneyland Paris. When a new partnership was announced in 1992, which would take effect on 1 January 1993, it not only deepened the relationship between the food and entertainment giants, but it had a profound impact on one of EPCOT Center’s original pavilions, The Land.

The Land, known for its technologically advanced greenhouses, a strangely alluring Audio-Animatronics show, and a film depicting the nature of humankind’s relationship with the world around them, would undergo a staggering change in the first few years of the Nestle’s new sponsorship. The first changes to The Land pavilion’s attractions came in the renowned greenhouse boat ride in September of 1993, where the opening Symphony of the Seed scene, closing scene, and marquee Listen to the Land song were all removed. Listen to the Land was renamed Living With the Land and opened with a new rain water opening, new score, and a new global ending. Following this change, the refurbishment of The Land continued with the Kitchen Kabaret took its final curtain call in January of 1994. It would be replaced by a similar nutrition based show, this time featuring pop icons as food items. The final change made during this initial refurbishment phase was the Harvest Theatre’s shift from Symbiosis to Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable, a film that spliced scenes from Symbiosis, new footage, and the personalities from The Lion King to present the symbiotic relationship message to a broader audience.

The wide ranging partnership led to tie-ins between the various Nestle foodstuffs and Disney characters and films. Outside of the theme parks, however, there was very little cross-branding during the boom of the Nestle and Disney partnership. One of the only crossovers was the Toll House Semi-Sweet Morsels commemorative tin, celebrating the 25th anniversary of Walt Disney World. The tin featured a single panel focusing on each of the three parks found in Walt Disney World in 1996, while the fourth panel was an mash-up of images from all three parks.

The tin, which housed a bag of semi-sweet morsels had one more surprise in store, a recipe for Chocolate Peanut Butter Mickey Mouse Cookies. But, that’s an article for another day… maybe tomorrow…

I want to thank my good friend Jaime McKee for seeing this tin and immediately thinking of me. Disney and food, yep, she knows me pretty well!

Our richest resource

Here we are again, August 23rd. Three years ago this was just an ordinary day, now it demarks the beginning of the amazing journey known as the Main Street Gazette. I could have never imagined the road that was before me then, just as I cannot dream what the next three years have in store for me now, but I am truly thankful for all I have gained. The one thing I am most grateful for are the people I have had the opportunity to meet and become friends with over the past several years.

Time after time, the memories I carry back with me from a trip are of the new people I get to meet or the great times with old friends. And it doesn’t take long for new acquaintances to become fast friends, some of whom have become as close to me as family. They are not only the people you ride The Great Movie Ride With, but they are also the people you call, text, or email when there is news in your life or because you are simply having a bad day. This is the group of people who stand in line at the D23 Expo just to pick up a book for you, they modify their schedule to have a meal with you, they track down recipes during festivals for you, they send you old Disney memorabilia, and they drop hints to you about upcoming refurbishments, but that’s not why they are considered family.

While we all share a love for Disney, a passion that intersects at movies or the theme parks, or at all points of Disney entertainment, that is simply the starting point of much deeper connections. While we all come from different walks of life, have differing political and religious views of the world, none of that truly matters when you get down to the heart of the individuals. We begin to take an interest in their children and spouses, we love their quirks, and they in turn put up with ours. If the Gazette were to end tomorrow (it’s not, mind you), I would gladly part with it knowing that it has allowed me to forge some tremendous bonds.

My favorite memories from the past few years include almost altercations, sharing our knowledge and passion with intrigued strangers, glow stick duels, lessons in nighttime photography, tours of overlooked areas, dessert parties, new spouses and newborns, and more meals than I could shake a stick at. The things that each and every memory have in common are remarkable friends, wonderful conversations, and an heaping scoop of laughter.

For the sake of space (and knowing that I would likely forget someone that I would never wish to forget), I will just say that those of you in my Disney family know who you are, and I thank you, and cherish you, for being a part of it. To the Main Street Gazette’s readers, I hope each of you know the joy of your Disney family, and know that you are always welcome in mine. As always, I am humbled by the fact that so many of you keep reading my blathering, but so long as you continue to read the articles, I will continue to write them. Thank you, one and all.