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Roundtable Contributors: Elizabeth
Caran (Outlander
Travel), Princess Fee (DF’82), Estelle Hallick (This Happy Place),
Alan Mize, Jeremy Morrison (Spins The World),
Melissa Sue Sorrells Galley (Mouse on the Mind), Blake Taylor (BlakeOnline.com),
Andrew (Disney
Hipsters Blog), and yours truly.
Estelle Hallick (This Happy Place)
Further proof that our Muppet dreams are indeed coming true a.k.a.
this new movie is really happening! Ty Burrell of ABC's Modern Family (love the
synergy Disney!) is set to star as an inspector in the upcoming caper, arriving
into theaters in December 2013. Now I'm not a regular viewer of Modern Family,
but my coworkers are constantly singing its praises and so are the SAG Awards.
This week, Ty was nominated for Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A
Comedy Series.
Alright, alright... I'm convinced. (Have you checked out his Minute Maid commercials?)
I'm still hoping this Muppet movie grabs onto the nostalgia factor and
inserts a few celebrity throwbacks from the good ol' Muppet Show days. Now
wouldn't that be a treat... I, for one, thought the last movie planted too many
"it" celebrities who might not have the star power to sustain that
timeless, classic feel I love about these films.
As we get closer and closer to the filming start date, I can't wait to
see what else is in store. (Specifically, who will become Piggy's latest
competition?)
Princess Fee (DF’82)
A slightly different angle on news from Disney this week for me. There
has been an appointment of a new General Manager of Consumer Products for the
Walt Disney Company. The man who has been in charge of Marvel Entertainment
International, Simon Philips, has been put in charge of Disney licensed
products. Philips will be in charge of the Europe, Middle East and Africa
markets. As per a statement from the Walt Disney Company, he will be in charge
of licensing product, publishing and Disney Store business. Let’s hope that he
brings his magic touch with Marvel, which has been an immensely profitable
‘name’ in recent years, to Disney for the EMEA region.
Andrew (Disney Hipsters
Blog)
I love relaxing on vacation.
Sure, epic Magic Kingdom 'rope drops' have their place... But for the most
part, I like to chill. The addition of the new RFID transaction option is just
another way to leave my troubles behind. I already use my Key To The World card
for purchases while on vaycay... And this just makes it all the more easy to
waste my money.
I'm super excited to see
what the additional rollouts of this NextGen nonsense will bring. As it stands
now, it seems like only good things will come from this for experienced Disney
World guests. Providing me more opportunities to stuff my face full of zebra
domes.
Blake Taylor (BlakeOnline.com)
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I, along with I'm sure many of you, giddily enjoyed (vicariously via
Twitter) last week's multi-day press event in Walt Disney World. While there were many prolific highlights
from the festivities, my favorite of all the goings-on had to be New Fantasyland's
grand opening ceremony. Held on Thursday,
December 6 in front of Cinderella Castle, it featured special appearances by
Mickey Mouse, Disney Parks Chairman Tom Staggs, Once Upon a Time's Ginnifer
Goodwin, 2007 American Idol champion Jordin Sparks, all seven dwarfs, and a
royal procession of Disney princesses. Among those in the crowd watching were
Paige O'Hara (the voice of Belle), Jo Anne Worley (the voice of the wardrobe in
Beauty and the Beast), Jodi Benson (the voice of Ariel), Ron Clements and John
Musker (directors of The Little Mermaid), and Roy Patrick Disney. Oh yeah, and
Dumbo showed up.
The namesake of Disney's fourth animated feature emerged from the dark
for a special one-time appearance during the New Fantasyland opening ceremony.
Aside from extremely rare character greetings over the years when his ride was
occasionally down for refurbishment, Dumbo is about as sparse as they come for
in-Park sightings, thus his surprise entrance during Thursday's ceremony
prompting uproarious shouts from the crowd.
While Disney has not released any plans of giving Dumbo a permanent meet
& greet, the audience's shocked, enthusiastic reaction to him makes it
clear that he'd be a hit with Guests. I for one would love a picture with Dumbo
after all these years!
Elizabeth Caran (Outlander
Travel)
This past week, Disney
Cruise Line surprised the port in Galveston with news that it would no longer
sail from there starting in 2014. This cancelled about 19 cruises that were
tentatively schedule for the first half of the year. However, Disney has
apparently made the decision to sail all four ships out of Florida for the
first half of the year, bringing the ship back to Canaveral. There are various rumors as to why they made
this decision, but my best guess is that they simply weren't moving much
inventory from this port. There have been many sales and specials trying to
attract guests to this new port and they've even fiddled with itineraries a
little trying to attract new cruisers, but frankly, with the closest major
airport an hour away in Houston, it's not an easy sell, even for Disney
diehards. Although this port was less than ideal for Disney, I do hope they
continue to explore other ports for the Caribbean/Bahamas market. Canaveral is
great, but choice is always appreciated by guests.
Melissa Sue Sorrells Galley (Mouse on the
Mind)
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Next fall, the PGA Tour will
include six tournament stops, and for the first time in more than 40 years,
Walt Disney World will not be one of them. Unable to overcome the loss of its
biggest sponsor—The Children's Miracle Network Hospitals—Disney World simply
could no longer carry the cost of the tournament stop. Personally, this news
doesn't affect me too much—sure it's one less big sports group in the resorts,
but it's not like the golfers are running through the halls at 3 a.m. or
practicing cheers in the lobby at 6 a.m. That said, what will become of all of
those rolling green golf courses dotted around Disney's Lake Buena Vista
property? Disney's gift of space may have just gotten a little spacier, and the
possibilities are endless: A fifth gate? An entertainment complex? Something
amazing I haven't thought of yet?
Jeremy Morrison (Spins The World)
I searched for some time to find a topic for this weeks
roundtable. New Fantasyland? Been done.
Test Tracks grand re-opening? Er, did that last week. As I searched through seven days of news
from the Happiest Place on Earth, it donned on me - the topic was staring me in
the face. Mr. Disney himself.
Walt’s life began, and ended in the first half of December. Walt began his journey on December 5,
1901. 65 years later - on December 15,
1966 -with his brother Roy at his feet, Walt took his last breath in a hospital
across the street from his beloved studio.
In between, he became arguably the most influence person who has ever
graced show business.
I will not be providing his biography.
Plenty of detailed tellings of Walt’s life abound. I do want to acknowledge the life of a true
icon. I want us all – my fellow nerds
at this roundtable, and those reading – to take a minute to think about Walt’s
toothy grin, boyish optimism, and there’s-no-such-thing-as-impossible
attitude.
Without him, I would not have the simply joy of writing for my
website, or the Gazette. The films of my
childhood would be different. Lady would
never have bumped snouts with a Tramp.
Buzz Lightyear would never have saved the day. Millions of people around the World would
never have had the chance to stand on Main Street U.S.A. and witness fireworks
light the night sky. And we, my
friends, would still be strangers.
Thank goodness the opposite is true.
Disney connects millions. Through movies, magic, and a shared love of
everything he created. For that and more
we owe you, Mr. Disney. Unfortunately,
it’s a debt we can’t repay. Instead I’ll
offer, on behalf of everybody, a somber and heartfelt Thank You.
Alan Mize
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This week, let’s take a look
at something that combines my two favorite aspects of Walt Disney World - Epcot
and food. Earlier this year, Bistro de
Paris was closed to be re-imagined as a new French dining experience. This week, it reopens as Monsieur
Paul’s. Gone are the tuxedos and white
linen table cloths. In their place, a
more relaxed atmosphere seemingly better suited to entertain a theme park
clientele. My wife and I booked
reservations for Bistro de Paris for our upcoming trip in March knowing that
the change was coming and we’re excited to try the newest restaurant at Walt
Disney World. I’ve heard a lot of
concern over whether or not the menu would be “dumbed down” and based on the
menus I have seen, I don’t think that will be the case here. The pictures that have been released of the
food look fantastic and I’m sure the new décor will match. I feel like Bistro de Paris was always an
afterthought when it comes to dining in the France pavilion, so I hope that
this refurbishment will not only freshen up the atmosphere and food, but also
re-energize the restaurant and create another top notch dining destination
inside the gates of Epcot.
Ryan P. Wilson (Main Street
Gazette)
Since Kodak filed for bankruptcy protection in early 2012, it
shouldn’t come as a complete shock that Kodak sponsored areas in the Disney
parks is coming to an end. What it does mean is that there will be a lot of
subtle changes around the parks coming in the beginning of 2013. Park maps will
no longer bear the brand that has so long appeared as a staple on them. The
name on the Picture Spots scattered throughout the four parks will need to be
changed or simply removed. Some attractions, such as MuppetVision 3D, will need
to have the sponsorship iconography removed.
Kodak has not always been the only photographic company present within
the parks, both Polaroid and GAF had a presence in the parks once upon a time
and Fuji gave it their best shot as well, but they have been there the longest
and their mark on the Disney family vacation is indelible. I’m not too
concerned about how this will affect the parks, other than a single former
ticket kiosk in Disneyland, I’m more saddened by the current state of Kodak. As
for Walt Disney World, and Disney as a whole, this is another opportunity to
bring some items, maps and photo spots for instance, back under their own
banner and let them truly shine. Provided they give the departments responsible
for these elements the leeway to do what they do best.
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