Into the wilds

Go back to the opening of the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT Center, or even Disney-MGM Studios and think about your favorite attractions from those early years. Likely it is the attraction experience itself that your memories are drawn to. Now, turn your thoughts to attractions that have opened in the past fifteen years. I imagine somewhere in there you are picturing a queue from something like the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Expedition Everest, or Toy Story Midway Mania. Queues have moved away from corrals and rows of switchback and are becoming the new preface to the stories of Walt Disney World.

These queues are now the pinnacle and tidemark of great attraction storytelling, but storytelling as a whole has been a longstanding cornerstone of Disney. So, what about storytelling as a whole park? What park keeps itself on point while conveying story elements of the land or attractions they reside in? While there is room for argument, as there always is, the leaps and bounds made in theme narration truly shine throughout Disney’s Animal Kingdom.The story starts in the parking lot, a desolate, scorching hot slab of pavement, where the inherent value of nature is nowhere to be seen. This is, by design, in sharp contrast to the lush, green, cooling environment presented to guests as they reach the Oasis, the land which divides Disney’s Animal Kingdom from the outside world. From there, the hub of the park, Discovery Island, celebrates the beauty and bounty of nature through bright, colorful designs before sending guests out into specific points across the globe.

Africa, or more specifically Harambe, has grown roots in its eastern Africa home. While not tied to a single nation, Swahili is the chosen language of the town and can be found throughout the land and attractions. Traditional and more modern styles of architecture can be found throughout the main thoroughfare. There are even signs of Harambe’s history, from remnants of long destroyed fort walls to benches and signposts demarking the year Harambe gained its independence. From postings and other details it is clear Harambe’s economy is tied to two things: art and tourism.Meanwhile, the principalities found in Asia appear to be thriving. Tea has long been the export of Anandapur and Serka Zong, and there are glimpses of this agriculture past from the shops to the tea trains of Expedition Everest. With travelers flocking through this area, family homes have been converted into hotels and eateries. Yet, the spirituality of Asia’s people has never been stronger, with shrines present throughout the land, some in a state of repair and others continually in use.

While not much is there to go on, Camp Minnie-Mickey has the distinct feel of a summer camp in the Adirondack region. Like the other regions of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the most obvious sign of location isn’t the structures, but the type of foliage found within its borders. Sure the well, benches, and cabin-like structures deepen the tale, but it is the trees, shrubs, and flowering plants that really put the camp in its place.
Lastly, but certainly not least, is the balance of sideshow versus science known as Dinoland U.S.A. Carnival games and rides have cropped up along a stretch of route 498 in Florida. The gas station has become an attraction, filled with more dinosaur figures than is prudent to count and catalog. Yet, just down the road a paleontological dig is taking place, postings from resident grad students fill bulletin boards and their raucous dormitory, Restaurantosaurus, and the museum is filled with exhibits and boasting a new technology that will bring the past to life.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom has been mindful of the minutest detail, yet tells a grand story of humankind’s relationship to the other creatures that inhabit, or did inhabit, planet earth. There are lives being lived in every corner of this park, and the facets of these daily lives are there to be seen, touched, and learned from. While the overall narrative of the intrinsic value of nature is present throughout the park, each land has its own story to tell, just as the plethora of vignettes within each area have their own tales. It is the layering of these stories that tells the complete and stirring chronicle that is Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Disney This Week - 17 July 2011

George Taylor is setting up the Imaginerding galley with 1986 Disney kitchenware.

Continuing his wonderful tradition of creating Disney shirts for DesignerLand, this week Richard turns his towards Ayefour Corp. Need help trying to untangle that company crest? Say the name real slowly (I-4)…

When heading into the wilderness, or Wilderness Lodge, what is the one thing you need? S’mores, and AJ Wolfe and The Disney Food Blog have you covered.

Kristen Hoetzel has an excellent list of substitute restaurants to dine at when you can’t get in to those hard to ADR locations for Cooking With Mickey.

A Makin’ Memories article from Melissa Loflin this week reminds me of that old saying, “Go to the Boulangerie Patisserie for the pastries, but stay for the cheese plate," or something like that.

FoxxFur turns the spotlight on, well, Spotlight Magazine. at Passport to Dreams Old & New.

Continuing her look back at Walt Disney World of yesteryear, Sarah Holodick gives readers of Eating WDW a glimpse into the Crystal Palace, circa November of 1985.

Chuck Lionberger confirms a belief I had for Star Tours fans on DisneyDaddy readers, skip the Fastpass and stick to Star Tours’ queue.

ZannaLand and Suzannah DiMarzio take a peek at the new décor found in the rooms of Port Orleans – French Quarter.

Fiona Doyle has found a great Disney’s California Adventure sign that ties to the past of Walt Disney Studios at DF’82.

This Happy Place, written by Stelle and Chelle, is asking, “What do Walt Disney and Christian Bale have in common?” Think you have the answer?

Andy Jackson shows us how Walt Disney World is tuning fish at Eating (and Drinking) around the World.

Over at Disney at Work, J. Jeff Kober takes a look at a new interactive game coming to the Magic Kingdom.

Silent Saturday - Admiral Joe Fowler and Magic Kingdom (October 2010)

Who is the Rocketeer?

The Rocketeer celebrated the 20th anniversary of the film’s release last month. When the feature was first released, the popcorn-munching flick that made every boy dream of flying (myself included), there were details from The Rocketeer in almost every corner of Disney-MGM Studios. In fact, a scene from the final production had even been shot in front of the replica of Grauman’s Chinese Theater. Elsewhere, the Bulldog Cafe sat alongside other popular facades in the backlot and the Rocketeer himself could even be seen flying above the Great Movie Ride during the fireworks spectacular known as Sorcery in the Sky.These days, the Rocketeer still has a home in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Most guests are aware of the frozen beverage station, Peevy’s Polar Pipeline, replete with replicas of Peevy’s rocket jet pack drawings, the jet pack and ‘hood ornament’ helmet. Lesser well known, though still a sought after spot, is the Rocketeer’s handprints in front of the theater, though perhaps ‘hand’ isn’t the particularly right word in this situation. But what about those fans who want to see more from The Rocketeer represented in the parks? Well, then you’re in luck as there are still two spots to stop in at.First, over at One Man’s Dream, just before the entrance to the film portion of the tour, are display cases feature classic cult films. While a Dip Mobile model from Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and helmet from TRON each draw their own crowds, or some of the same swooning fans, it is the Rocketeer’s Jet Pack that we’re interested in today. Shining in the exhibit light, the jet pack looks as if it is brand new and ready for its first flight. Where is Cliff Secord when you need him?The last stop on our Rocketeer tour takes us to the Studio Backlot Tour. After watching the water tank demonstrations, guests are ushered through a prop house on their way to boarding a tram tour. It is a shame guests can’t spend more time in this facility, as there are shelves and shelves filled with wonderful pieces of movie history just begging for the opportunity to be ooh’ed and ahh’ed. One particular section of elevated shelving features an array of objects from The Rocketeer. Included on the two shelves is a photograph of the Bulldog Cafe, a helmet, no less than five jet packs, and even the statue of ‘Lucky’ Lindy, who became Cliff and Peevy’s test pilot for the jet pack.20 years out, and The Rocketeer still has a rabid following and some well placed nods inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios. While the film may not hold as prominent a spot in the park that it once did, it is still given high honors where it is included. For fans of The Rocketeer, these locations are must visits when at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Dining and entertainment

There is something to be said for the environment in which a meal is served. An enticing room can salvage, though perhaps not electrify, a mediocre entree. With that in mind, the first palate tempter for a guest at Walt Disney World is the sign which adorns the door and beckons guest in.

In the Magic Kingdom, the placards which entice guests not only have to offer up an omen as to the type of fare and environment the guests are entering, but they also have to stay consistent to the land in which they subsist. Notice, for instance, the uniform angularness of the dining signs’ characters in Tomorrowland, as opposed to the scrolling letters of Main Street, U.S.A. or western flair found in Frontierland’s fonts.

Transitions are also critical when it comes to restaurant signs that hover between two lands. For instance the adventurous spirit and every day charm that is encompassed on the posting for the Crystal Palace, situated between on the corner of Main Street, U.S.A. and Adventureland. Similarly, two shingles have been placed out for patrons of Columbia Harbour House, one colonial in nature for Liberty Square and one which contains a bit more whimsy for Fantasyland.

No matter how you slice it, signage is just as important to the meal experience as the decor of the restaurant itself. You can never tell what miniscule detail is going to call to the tummy rumblings of a passerby guest.

Established 1875

Here’s the situation, you head to Port Orleans – Riverside to check out Ol’ Man Island, do some fishing, or are heading back to your room for a midday break from the heat. Suddenly, you realize you haven’t had lunch and your stomach is growling worse the Expedition Everest’s yeti…

Like most resorts in Walt Disney World, Port Orleans – Riverside comes fully stocked with a quick service dining option. The Riverside Mill has several stations for guest to mix and match meal items (such as a hot entree from the grill and an ice cream sundae from the dessert section) before checking out. Riverside Mill is spacious and has plenty of tables to choose from, which means the likelihood that the seating area would be full is minimal and there are seating options for everyone, including a large number of window tables. The day I picked the Mill for my lunch, I selected a sandwich meal for a taste test.From the Specialty Shop, I picked up the Roast Beef and Blue Cheese on Ciabatta. Ciabatta seems to be the new popular bread to use in sandwich shops everywhere, so I wasn’t surprised when it appeared in Walt Disney World. The intriguing part of the sandwich, for me at least, was the combination of blue cheese with roast beef. Generally, roast beef sandwiches I’ve eaten are paired with cheddar or a similar type of cheese. The unfamiliar combination of meat and cheese works extremely well, as the creamy, salty bite of the blue cheese mingles well with the juicy, savory slices of roast beef. Top it off with some sandwich staples, lettuce and tomato, and you have a sandwich that makes for a satisfying lunch option.

As a side, the sandwich comes with either vegetable pasta salad or fresh chips. The chips are quickly becoming a staple throughout Walt Disney World’s parks and resorts. More of a kettle style spud than your typical crumbly bag of chips, the chips supply a hearty crunch and a bit more salt to the meal.

The Roast Beef and Blue Cheese on Ciabatta shows all the signs of a well thought out sandwich, and not just a series of ingredients thrown together to get a dish out to the public. It is hearty enough for any appetite, and I wouldn’t be surprised, or opposed, to see spread to other quick service dining locations.

World Showcase Transportation

After yesterday’s long discussion about transportation in the Magic Kingdom, my mind wandered to my favorite spot in World Showcase as a child: on the second level of the omnibuses that made up the World Showcase Transportation. It made me go looking for this photograph.That’s the omnibus in the background. For those who remember, these busses were quick ways to cut down on some of the walking in World Showcase. Each stop had a section of sidewalk, generally between the lagoon and a planter that could provide some shade. The route included four stops: between Mexico and China (before Norway arrived on the scene), between Italy and The American Adventure, United Kingdom, and between Canada and the main thoroughfare to Future World. I spent many an afternoon aboard one of the omnibuses waiting to jump into the perfect seat, second floor, directly in the front.

While my love of the World Showcase Transportation is what attracts me to this photograph, it was obviously created to highlight the dancers from Japan. While it may seem like World Showcase has changed, and the cultural acts for each country, there are still a variety of traditional arts available on any given day throughout the pavilions.

Of course, it would be remiss of me to not note the hair and clothing stylings of these 1983 guests. I mean, check out the sweet athletic socks and gym shorts on this young visitor. Or better yet, the hair of the women in the background. Ah, the 80s!

Roll, bounce and float

There is a hustle and bustle in the Magic Kingdom. It is the huddled masses crushing in upon one another, trying to get from one place to another as quickly as possible, and before someone else in the same crowd can. This massive throng of humanity, also known as park attendance, increases each year, but once upon a time there was a different feel to the park due, in part, to the continual inclusion of transit. Let’s step back to the late 1970s and early 1980s to gain a bit of perspective.

For starters, we are not talking about the illusion of movement, such as Mission to Mars, or rides that occur in darkened buildings, including If You Had We Wings. No, we want full on motion, going somewhere, being a part of something on the move! Main Street, U.S.A. alone featured seven types of transportation: Plaza Swan Boats, Jitney, Fire Engine, Horse Carriage, Horse Cars, Ominbus and the Walt Disney World Railroad. Adventureland had the Jungle Cruise and Frontierland Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, but those were more about what you were seeing or being a rollercoaster than about being a form of transportation. The Rivers of America was really active, and included Rafts to Tom Sawyer Island, Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes, Mike Fink Keelboats and the Liberty Square Riverboat. In Fantasyland, we had one half of the Skyway and methodically moving Nautiluses of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, while Tomorrowland’s transit included the WEDway PeopleMover and the other half of the Skyway.

Depending on how you account for the Skyway (with each station allowing only a one way trip, I’ll go ahead and count it as two attractions), that is fifteen attractions devoted to transportation. These days, many of these attractions have been retired: Plaza Swan Boats, Davey Crockett Explorer Canoes, Mike Fink Keelboats, both stations of the Skyway, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and one of the Liberty Square Riverboats. The Main Street vehicle brigade is all but a distant memory. They each make their occasional appearance motoring up and down Main Street, with the most frequent being the Horse Car, but these appearances are so rare that I made sure to get myself photographed with the omnibus (my personal favorite of the Main Street vehicles) when I saw it out around Easter this year, as I didn’t know when I would receive another chance. So, where are we on the vehicle count? We still have a PeopleMover, Rafts to Tom Sawyer Island, the infrequent Main Street vehicle, Liberty Square Riverboat, and the Walt Disney World Railroad, barely a third of what traveled through the park at the pinnacle of moving attractions.

Now, I am aware of the liability of putting a driver in charge of safely navigating down Main Street, U.S.A., through thousands of oblivious guests, ferrying about other antsy guests, and possibly dealing with an unruly horse (we all have our days, and this is a worst-case scenario) or springing a leak and ordering guests to bail out into the Rivers of America, not knowing who can and cannot swim. Yet, it seems to me, the Magic Kingdom could do with a little more movement around its waterways and avenues.

It is well past the time to put the Main Street vehicles back into regular service. Think of how idyllic the Plaza could look with graceful watercraft, perhaps not swan boats but possibly a modified gondola equipped to hold more guests. The Rivers of America is meant to resemble a water highway, constantly ferrying goods and people along, not a sleepy river with the sporadic boat churning through. Boats piloted by guests, while the epitome of interactive, could cause some problems. However, adding a second riverboat that adds some diversity to the river, an ironside comes to mind, while not putting the control in guests’ hands would get the river flowing again.

I understand I have a rose-colored view of Walt Disney World from my youth, but I also like to think of what might be down the road, and then come to a happy medium in the middle. As a people, we are supposed to learn from our mistakes, but our successes are just as critical to our continued achievement. Yet, the Magic Kingdom has regularly syphoned away the vehicles that gave it life and personality. While the park may not have heeded how well the water and land craft brought a sense of vitality with them, there is still time to come about face and put a few more wheels in motion.

Frightfully sensitive to bright lights

I wanted to pause for a moment put out a brief reminder this afternoon.

I have been finding photos from the Main Street Gazette, some taken by me personally and some from vintage Walt Disney World press photos, which are being used elsewhere without credit. If you wish to use one of my photographs, or versions of press photos that I have edited, I have never had a problem with that! I only ask that you email me and ask first, as well as provide credit for where the photograph came from.

I have very deliberately not included watermarks on my photographs to maintain the integrity of the subject matter and to allow everyone to enjoy them unblemished. I would appreciate it if the respect I show to each reader and colleague were returned in kind. Thanks so much for your help in this matter!

Disney This Week - 10 July 2011

Imagineering Disney has come up with a really great concept competition. Time for me to start refining a few ideas!

Melissa Loflin discusses when the yeti met television at Makin’ Memories.

Over at Studios Central, Matt Hochberg explores the grounds of the Hollywood Tower Hotel.

Sarah Holodick has given me a reason to revisit Yak & Yeti with Eating WDW review of Dim Sum for 2.

The Disney Food Blog and AJ Wolfe look at one of my favorite spots to grab a cup in the mornings, the Royal Anandapur Tea Company.

George Taylor takes us back to America the Musical on Imaginerding.

Adventure Veranda scribe, Chris Fore, finds a curios EPCOT Center map.

J. Jeff Kober utilizes Disney at Work to showcase a magical moment for pets.

Vintage memorabilia buffs have three great items to check out this week. Michael Crawford posts a Future World button and World Showcase coaster at Progress City, U.S.A., while George Taylor put up a Walt Disney World merchandise bag at Imaginerding.

Silent Saturday - Harambe Lamppost (April 2010)

Wheelwright

I don’t often speak about the windows on Main Street, U.S.A., there are plenty of wonderful articles, texts, and books on the topic that cover these panes very well. These windows represent giants among men and women. There is the occasional window that doesn’t tower above Main Street, but that doesn’t mean these individuals are any less deserving. In fact, as is the case, sometimes they are even more worthy of the honor.

Broggies Buggies
Hand Made
Wagons
Surreys
Sleighs

Roger Broggie
Wheelwright

Roger Broggie came to the world of Disney in 1939 as a precision machinist, but is more commonly known for his dedication to railroads. From the Carolwood Pacific in Walt Disney’s backyard in Holmby Hills to the Walt Disney World Railroad, Broggie was instrumental in bringing the tracks to Disney. Among his many other notable contributions to Disney, he was instrumental to the film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Mr. Lincoln, and early work on EPCOT Center.

Roger Broggie is regularly referred to as the first Imagineer, and is no doubt deserving of the title. His involvement with the film and attractions of Disney was critical to the view each of us has of the Disney name. Broggie has been held in such high regard that he not only has a window on Main Street, U.S.A., but is also the namesake of the Walt Disney Railroad’s Engine #3.

The list of individuals tied to Disney that I wish I could have spoken with in their lifetimes is filled with remarkable people, and Roger Broggie is near the very top of that list. It makes me think that I should work a little harder to meet and/or speak with my heroes that still roam about as mere mortals.

Tael

As promised, we’re continuing our tour of the Animation Gallery in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Up today, the portion of the exhibit featuring the return of that tubby, little cubby all stuffed with fluff, Winnie the Pooh.

What more do you need to hear from me?