The shoulders of giants

Creating cohesive story through the pathways and pavement of Future World may seem like an impossible task. After all, there are no dusty bike tracks, like those that can be found in Asia, or jewelry encrusted marketplaces, such as in Adventureland, in Future World. Such a challenge would seem daunting, until you remember that Future World has the entirety of creation to build around and upon. The innovation of mankind leads the way for guests that as they enter Future World West (The Land, Imagination, and The Seas pavilions) in a series of pavestones. This courtyard, referred to as Inventor’s Circle or the Discovery Tiles, was added to Epcot in 1998 and showcases the great achievements, breakthroughs, and explorations of the human race.The six outer circles meet at the center circle paver, and radiate out in five sections. Surrounding this circle paver, the courtyard introduces us to some of the greatest thoughts by some of the foremost pioneers. Their words offer humility and insight into what true innovation is: the ability to look at something in a new light, with the collection of work from all of mankind to work from.

To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk. Thomas Edison Inventor 1847-1931

Every great advance in science has issued from a new audacity of imagination. John Dewey Educator 1859-1952

Discovery consists in seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking what no one else has thought. Albert Szent-Gyorgi Biochemist 1893-1986

If I have seen farther it is by standing on the shoulders of giants. Sir Isaac Newton Mathematician and Physicist 1642-1727

Nothing in life is to be fears. It is only to be understood. Marie Curie Physicist 1867-1934

From there we move out into the history of discovery, starting with the Prehistoric Era, then moving through the Middle Ages, Renaissance Period, Industrial Revolution, before reaching the work of the 20th Century. In each of these circles are discoveries that have proven critical to the continued success of humankind. Within each of these historical markers is not only the event itself, but also the name of the inventor (if known), the year in which the discovery was made, and the location where the breakthrough took place (if known).

During the Prehistoric Era we find the most basic of human needs being met. Tools to work and hunt with, heat for warmth and cooking, the beginnings of stable civilizations take shape with the first forms of farming, and the basis of global communication are all unearthed. The courtyard markers for the Prehistoric Era are:

Stone Tools 2,000,000 BC Unknown
Fire 500,000 BC Unknown
Agriculture 8000 BC Sumerians
Wheel 3500 BC Sumerians
Alphabet 1600 BC Phoenicians

The Middle Ages represent a time of great need as much has been lost during the Dark Ages. Though discoveries are not made in leaps and bounds, an innovation that has led you straight to this site was made, the printing press. The only paver found in the Middle Ages is:

Printing Press 1450 Johannes Gutenberg Germany

In the Renaissance Period there is an explosion of thought and work completed on our place in the universe. From earth’s specific place in the cosmos to the structures unseen by the naked eye, our understanding of who we are, where we are, and what we are made of, begins to take shape. Found among the Renaissance Period pavers are:

Sun Centered Solar System 1543 Nicolaus Copernicus Poland
Microscope 1590 Zacharias Janssen Netherlands
Astronomical Telescope 1609 Galileo Galilei Italy
Scientific Method 1620 Francis Bacon England
Microorganisms 1626 Anton van Leeuwenhoek Holland
Cell 1665 Robert Hooke England

With the dawning of the Industrial Revolution, we see man’s ability to create pick up steam and thrust us headlong into a golden age of discovery. Some of the world’s most substantial breakthroughs are made in the fields of locomotion, health, communication, and electricity. The courtyard’s markers for the Industrial Revolution are:

Steam Engine 1712 Thomas Newcomen England
Electric Generator 1831 Michael Faraday England
Internal Combustion Engine 1860 Jean-Joseph Etienne Lenoir France
Germ Theory of Disease 1862 Louis Pasteur France
Genetics 1865 Gregor Mendel Austria
Pasteurization 1865 Louis Pasteur France
Telephone 1876 Alexander Bell America
Electric Light 1878 Thomas Edison America
Radio Waves 1887 Heinrich Hertz Germany
Wireless Telegraph 1895 Guglielmo Marconi Italy
Electron 1897 Joseph Thomson England

The 20th Century brought with it time; time to ponder the larger questions and smallest corners of world, time for leisure, and time to reach out to the stars above. Television and the world wide web introduced new forms of entertainment and new ways to communicate, while penicillin granted us better defense against illness, and the skies were filled with airplanes and rockets to the moon. Pavers for the 20th Century area of the courtyard are:

Quantum Theory 1900 Max Planck Germany
Atomic Energy 1901 Marie & Pierre Curie France
Airplane 1903 Orville & Wilbur Wright America
Liquid Fueled Rocket 1926 Robert Goddard America
Penicillin 1928 Alexander Fleming England
Television 1928 Philo Farnsworth America
Computer 1930 Vannevar Bush America
Nuclear Reactor 1942 Enrico Fermi America
DNA 1944 Oswald Avery America
Transistor 1948 William Shockley, John Bardeen & Walter Brattain America
Microprocessor 1971 Ted Hoff, Federico Faggin & Stan Mazor America
Genetic Engineering 1973 Stanley Cohen & Herbert Boyer America
World Wide Web 1990 Tim Berners-Lee England
Antimatter 1996

This small courtyard is filled with irony and promise. On one hand we, as guests of Epcot, are standing upon the discoveries of greatness that affect every piece of our daily lives, and yet we do so without even taking pause to notice what we are walking upon. Still, we are presented with only a handful of the dramatic innovations conceived by humankind throughout our history. With these marvels in our past, is it any wonder that future, as presented within Future World but includes the world as a whole, indeed looks bright?

You've seen Pooey

Everyone has seen a production by Spielberg, Coppola, and Anderson, but how many of us can say they’ve seen Pooey?

The streetmosphere characters of Disney’s Hollywood Studios are, by far, some of the greatest performers I have ever been witness too. They are bright, quick witted, and have a wonderful ability to capture your attention and hold it long enough to engage you in the scene they are creating. Of all of these characters, however, my favorite is Director Vladimir Pooey. He is affable, sympathetic, and knows how to make, and film, a scene.

As with any great director, Pooey is never far from his camera and business cards. The cards themselves feature great word play and some fabulous details about Pooey, including his studio name and location, phone number, a testament to how great his work is, and his tagline. This keepsake is a wonderful memory of your work with Pooey, and one that is sure to bring a smile to your face years after your encounter.The next time you find yourself on the boulevards of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, be sure you keep an eye out for his next production, it just might star you!

From villages and family farms

With the longer days of summer comes extra hours of sunlight that allow us to sit on our back porch with friends and family, enjoy a meal, and make memories that will last for years to come. As with most memories, the food that is consumed can often be what is remembered longer than the company. This summer, when planning your next evening on the porch or dinner party, consider this crisp salad below.The Endive Salad with Walnut Cream comes from World Showcase’s France. While not on any menu, the salad is featured in the cookbook perched near a window, and several loaves of delicious crusty bread, in the Boulangerie Patisserie. The recipe itself comes to us in an untraditional fashion, but is nevertheless scrumptious.

ENDIVE SALAD WITH WALNUT CREAM

Wash some medium-size endives, trim the pointed ends, and cut them into quarters lengthwise. Dip the leaf ends in a little paprika, and arrange the endives in a ring on a serving platter, ends outward. Mash a slice of Roquefort with enough good-quality walnut oil to make a thick cream. Spoon the cream over the root ends of the endive quarters, garnish with a few shelled walnuts, and serve with brown bread.

The cook book also suggests wine pairings for various endive recipes. For endive salads that include walnuts, the book recommends serving, “a white Côtes de Jura with its own walnutty notes.”

The clearest way

The entrances to each of the parks feature a land or area dedicate to creating a break from reality and further involve guests in the story they are taking part in. In the cases of the magic Kingdom’s Main Street U.S.A. or Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Hollywood Boulevard these areas are lined with shops and details critical to the development of the story. Guests are enthrall and enchanted at, but also easily dismiss, the depth of these lands as they make their way towards their destination. However, the disregard shown to these entrances are nothing compared to the contempt shown towards Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s Oasis.

Between the lack of retail space and attractions, coupled with the steep incline guests must endure for the breathtaking view of the Tree of Life, there is not a single area in any park that is rushed through more often than the Oasis. The shame of this occurrence is that the Oasis is teeming with life, quiet areas, and small features that should qualify it as a treasure in its own right.

The animal exhibits and architecture introduce guests to the theme of the intrinsic value of nature in a manner that is familiar to guests. The animals themselves are identifiable, even with slight differences, such as the smaller member of the deer family, the Reeve’s Muntjac. The plaques that describe the animals’ habitats and personalities also include a quote or proverb key to understanding the ideas being presented within the park. Some quotes include:

Listen to the voice of nature for it holds treasures for you. Native American Proverb

The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Mahatma Gandhi

The clearest way to the Universe is through a forest wilderness. Henry Thoreau

As we make our way, as guests, from the architecture that is based upon the early 20th Century style of American Arts and Crafts to the wilderness and universe beyond we are presented with plants, waterways, and rockwork the create shade and a cooling environment. These alcoves and walkways are the CliffsNotes or short stories that showcase how we are assisted by the plants and wild places of our planet, while at the same time these wildernesses create homes for a variety of beautiful animal and plant species.

Of all of the entrance plazas and lands of Walt Disney World, the Oasis is inflicted with the most complaints and is rushed through the most often. Yet, of all of the entrance areas, the Oasis is the single greatest example of how to cohesively introduce the greater story that is being presented by its park. The Oasis deserves to be explored, and its inhabitants admired, rather than being grumbled at and about.

New dig season begins

Today’s Back Issue comes to us, once again, from the richly detailed Dinoland U.S.A. in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. As it appears we have come to The Dino Institute just as they are beginning a new research year. While many of the names and characteristics are familiar to those who have seen quotes from the research staff throughout Dinoland U.S.A., there are a few surprises buried throughout the article. The article, New dig season begins, can be read in its entirety below.

The Dino Institute would like to welcome a new dig team for the season. This year promises to be one of best ever with the return of Dr. Bernard Dunn as Dig Team Leader. Dr. Dunn spent nearly all of last year excavating fossils in China, and he was sorely missed at The Boneyard. He obviously missed The Boneyard as well, for when asked what he thought of China, Dr. Dunn growled, “Nothing like the smell of Florida dirt to welcome you home.” While still a young boy, Dr. Dunn was a member of the very first dig team that developed our now famous Boneyard.

Among those joining Dr. Dunn again this year is Dr. Shirley Woo, who has had a long and distinguished association with The Boneyard research program. Also serving as a principle researcher will be Dr. Eugene McGee. Dr. McGee joins us from the Institute of Paleo-aquatic Studies, where he is well known for his radical ideas – most notably his theory that the Loch Ness Monster is real, and is in fact an Elasmosaurus. We look forward to many interesting lectures by him.

Our graduate students this year will be Mark Rios, Jenny Weinstein, and Sam Gonzales, who was born right here at The Boneyard!

How technical

MuppetVision 3D, the feature presentation from the Muppets at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s California Adventure, was created by Muppet Labs to showcase the unique opportunities that MuppetVision offers viewing audiences. Even though the invite top scientists from all over the world, and even though no one showed up, it doesn’t mean that the advantages of MuppetVision haven’t been capitalized upon. Take for instance camera producers, clearly they see the future, and the future is MuppetVision. As with all industries, competition drives the market, and MuppetVision is definitely spawning competition, as you can see different models of cameras to capture future films are being developed.

The camera above can be found at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, hanging from the rafters in the Studio 1 Store, while the camera below is featured in the MuppetVision 3D queue at Disney’s California Adventure.

We're on Mars

SPIRIT and OPPORTUNITY
The exploration rovers landed on Mars
01-04-04 and 01-25-04

“We’re back… and we’re on Mars”
Sean O’Keefe
NASA Administrator
Beginning in January of 2004 the Mars Rovers Spirit and Opportunity landed on Mars for what were to be 90-day missions to study the soil and rock composition of Mars. Each rover was equipped with a stereo panoramic camera pair, microscope camera, and three spectrometers, in addition to ten engineering and movement cameras. Missions should have wrapped up in early and late April of that year, but five and a half years later the rovers are still making their way around Mars. Spirit has traveled approximately 4.8 miles, while Opportunity has maneuvered along 10.38 miles of Martian terrain. The Sean O’Keefe quote engraved on the Spirit and Opportunity plaque, found imbedded in the Planetary Plaza area of Mission: SPACE at Epcot, is incomplete. The full quote reads, “We're back. I am very, very proud of this team, and we're on Mars.” If Mr. O’keefe was proud the night they landed, I can only imagine how proud he is, and should be, of a team whose rovers have lasted over five years on Mars.

In early May, however, the rover Spirit began movements that entrenched several of the rover’s wheels and made it possible for the rover to have issues with a rock underneath its belly. Currently, a test rover at Jet Propulsion Laboratory is being used to simulated the soil condition that Spirit has found itself in. the maneuvers developed with the test rover will be used to assist Spirit with its movement so that the drivers of the rover do not cause this unfortunate situation to become worse. The work currently being done with the test rover has been termed Free Spirit. You can view their progress at the Free Spirit site, and lets all hope this true hero of robotics is set free to continue his mission soon.

Spanning the continent

Art, history, and innovation meet at many junctures throughout Walt Disney World. Perhaps it is my love of railroads, or maybe it is my passion for the underappreciated corners of the parks, but the murals that bookend the Walt Disney World Railroad’s Main Street Station are some of the most classic examples of the combination of these three elements.

The era of exploration and the ever-growing frontier is depicted in the station by a mural showcasing the use of natural resources in the creation of the railroads’ lines and, in the second mural, the driving of the golden spike. This moment in history has been depicted throughout various attractions at the Magic Kingdom, including during the parade America on Parade and in the current version of the Hall of Presidents. Maybe, however, it is best to let the murals speak for themselves, to impart their stories and wisdom, and remind us of where we have come from and where we are going.

SPANNING THE CONTINENT

From the laying of ties to construction of trestles, railroads could not have spanned the continent without the abundance of America’s forests.

This artist’s interpretation shows the step-by-step process involved in railroad construction: from the felling of trees and hauling to a sawmill, to finished rail ties and sturdy trestles that spanned the might rivers and broad canyons.





A GOLDEN SPIKE IS DRIVEN

With the driving of the last spike linking east and west, telegraph wires buzzed across the nation with the news of the great accomplishment. Among these messages was the following, to President Ulysses Grant…

“PROMONTORY SUMMIT, UTAH, MAY 10, 1869. THE LAST RAIL IS LAID. THE LAST SPIKE DRIVEN. THE PACIFIC RAILROAD IS COMPLETED. THE POINT OF JUNCTION IS 1,086 MILES WEST OF THE MISSOURI RIVER. AND 690 MILES EAST OF SACRAMENTO CITY.”

An island filled with tropic beauty

Whether you know it as Blackbeard’s Island, Treasure Island, Discovery Island, or the obscure Raz Island, the sanctuary that sits in the middle of Bay Lake has been a part of the Walt Disney World landscape since before Disney owned the land. According to the legends of the island pirates galore have wondered the shores of this island, but today it sits just as weary and tired as their old bones might have been when they found rest upon her shores.While the dream of Ben Gunn’s Cave, the Admiral Benbow Inn, and the towering wreck of the Hispaniola may only have ended up being dreams that went out with the tide, Discovery Island (as it was last known) did have its own miniature shipwreck of the Hispaniola and enough treasure in the form of animal wealth that guests of Walt Disney World flocked to the island.Between January and March of 1976 Discovery Island, which originally opened on 4 April 1974, crafted the addition of the Thirsty Perch and the aviary that would come to be known as Avian Way when the island reopened on 1 April 1976.Though not accessible to guests these days, by boat or otherwise, Discovery Island still retains its sense of mystery as it can be seen anchored out in the middle of Bay Lake. For those guest taking a Motor Cruiser or a Motor Launch from Fort Wilderness, this past of pirates is almost within reach. At the very least the overgrown remnants and structures of the Hispaniola, Avian Way, Pelican Bay, and Tortoise Beach can still viewed as the high seas ferries you away.For more information on Discovery Island, be sure to check out the WDW Radio Show, Episode 94, where Lou Mongello and I take his Wayback Machine to dig up some of the history and treasure of this long forgotten and abandoned island.

We welcome you aboard

There is currently a tremendously touching story on the Orlando Sentinel’s website about a family’s interaction with the late monorail pilot, Austin Wuennenberg. You can find their story and video of their time with Austin here.

As to the cause of the incident that caused Wuennenberg his life, while a cohesive story is beginning to unfold, until the Main Street Gazette has received the official story we feel it is inappropriate and unwise to relate speculation.

It's law and order time

There are plenty of pieces of Walt Disney World’s past that I would love to bring out of extinction. Up near the top of that list was show called Dick Tracy and the Diamond Double-Cross. This show, which ran in the original Theater of the Stars at Disney-MGM Studios from 21 May 1990 until 21 February 1991, featured many of the hit songs from the Dick Tracy film which starred Warren Beatty. With its stylized set pieces, the Balonian Diamond, and a cast of characters that included not only Big Boy and Mumbles, but also Flattop, Breathless Mahoney, and Crewy Lou, the Diamond Double-Cross captured the spirit of the film, but it also captured similar success.

After less than a year, the show, which also ran on the Videopolis stage at Disneyland, took its final curtain call. This had been a show that I begged and pleaded with my parents to see and, on more than one occasion, sat through alone. And yet, even years later I could picture the dancers hitting their marks as they sang in chorus, “Calling Dick Tracy!” This song, written by Tom Child and Don Harper, would sporadically find its way back to the front of my memory and I would sing or hum it for a day or two before fading back into the recesses of my memory.

The show presented below, from You Tube user filmfreak11, is the version that could be seen in Disneyland, but is virtually indistinguishable from the Disney-MGM Studios show. Perhaps one of the best moments in the performance comes when Dick Tracy asked Breathless why should would get wrapped up with the criminal racket. Here response? “I guess I’m just a material girl.”

Magical Times

When asked what my favorite resort at Walt Disney World is, the person who asked the question is in for a detailed twenty minute dissertation on the merits of Value, Moderate, and Deluxe Resorts, pool elements, lobbies, furnishings, hidden details, and the stories of the resorts. When they walk away scratching their head they are probably pondering how they just received a copious amount of information but not a true answer. When you ask me the same question as it relates to Disneyland, there is one simple answer, the Disneyland Hotel.

While it is the only one of the three Disney resorts that I have stayed at, I have taken the opportunity to tour through the others, and the Disneyland Hotel still reaches far and above the other two. Maybe it is the history of the place or the attention to detail, but I simply love this resort. This evening I thought we would showcase some of the small elements, the images included among the vines and flowers of the comforters and the wallpaper that is filled with character, to give the readers an understanding of just how right this resort is.

Collectible vinyl series

When word, and pictures, began to spread last year about Disney’s foray into vinyl collectibles with its line of Vinylmations I had many questions. My first question amounted to, “Why am I seeing a Yeti at Disney’s Hollywood Studios?” While the artistic concepts, interpretations, and finished products range from intriguing to masterpieces, for the most part, the Park Series never seemed at home in their photographs. So, on my recent trip to Walt Disney World, I snapped some photographs of the original series figures in their natural habitats. Sadly, due to a technical malfunction, I lost about half of the images, but here are a few that appear right at home.

For more information on the Vinylmation collectibles, check out VinylNation and Shoes, Shorts, Gloves.

Disney’s Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf and Garden Pavilions

The Main Street Gazette continues to follow the tragic events of this morning's monorail collision, and will present any news that becomes available, and is appropriate, in as timely a fashion as possible in the coming days. In addition to this coverage, beginning this evening, the Gazette will also return to regular feature content.



I may have mentioned once or twice (okay, several times) how much pleasure I take in putting a round of miniature golf at Fantasia Gardens on every trip to Walt Disney World. I may even have a friend who was there for the courses’ grand opening. So it should come as no surprise that I couldn’t help but share this article on Fantasia Gardens just as soon as it came across my desk. The article, Disney’s Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf and Garden Pavilions originally comes from The Disney Magazine’s Winter 1995 issue.

Disney’s Fantasia comes to life! Disney’s newest experience, Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf and Garden Pavilions, is located on an 11-acre site to the southwest of Walt Disney World Dolphin and Walt Disney World Swan Hotels, near the BoardWalk Resort. The project will provide a wonderful Disney style experience for two distinct markets, a convention facility and a recreational amenity for Disney Resort guests.

Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf is a unique recreational experience with two 18-hole miniature courses that will appeal to both children and adults. An animated Starter Shack, that includes a snack bar and arcade, greets our guests and sets the stage for the theme.

For the family, the 18 holes of Fantasia Gardens, designed by Walt Disney Imagineering, is a fallback to the era of traditional miniature golf in a classical garden setting. Rolling grassy hills, sculpted hedges, elegant topiaries, sparkling ponds and formal flower beds work together to create an environmental garden setting reminiscent of “The Pastoral Symphony” sequence from the Classic Disney animated feature, “Fantasia.”

While beautiful and tranquil in setting, Fantasia Gardens also offers up a healthy dose of fun. Guests interact with whimsical, animated statues and dancing fountains. There are surprises around every corner as guests are challenged by the cleverly themed hazards based on five sequences from the film:

Toccata & Fugue, the introduction that sets a musical tone;
The Nutcracker Suite, that celebrates the seasons of the year;
The Pastoral Symphony, with its mythological cast of characters;
The Dance of the Hours, famous Alligator and Hippo ballet;
and of course, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, starring the one and only Mickey Mouse.

Focused more for the adult children, Fantasia Fairways is a one-of-a-kind challenge putting course. In a landscape setting that harmonizes with Fantasia Gardens, the par three and four putting holes will thrill and entertain the best of golfers. Exaggerated contours, water hazards and sand traps together with dogleg bends will demand both skill and luck to overcome.

Designed by noted American architect Michael Graves, the Garden Pavilions will extend the variety of spaces available for convention functions. In its open air, circus tent style, the pavilions will capitalize on Central Florida’s outdoor environment with patio decks, a sandy beach with lush landscaping. The two connected pavilions will accommodate a single large function or two groups simultaneously.