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Cover Photography © Mike Billick Issue 48 Highway in the Sky: The Magic of the 42 Contents Disney News...... 8 Monorail Calendar of Events...... 11 MOUSE VIEWS...... 13 Guide to the Magic by Tim Foster...... 14 Walt Disney and the Hidden Mickeys by Steve Barrett...... 16 New World of Television 50 Shutters & Lenses by Tim Devine...... 18 by Jamie Hecker...... 22 Disney Cuisine by Allison Jones...... 24 Disney Touring Tips by Carrie Hurst...... 26 Main Street Disney Secrets Harmonies: 54 by Jamie Hecker...... 28 Magic The Story of the by J Darling...... 30

Dapper Dans FEATURED ATTRACTION Big Thunder Mountain Railroad...... 32

FEATURED FILM The Hidden Treasures The Jungle Book...... 36

of the Pecos Bill Tall 60 Wandering the World...... 70 By the Numbers...... 71 Tale Inn & Cafe In Search Of...... 72 Quick Quiz...... 74 Kids Korner...... 76 Mystery Quest...... 80 Tim & Lou’s Top 10...... 82 Celebrating America With the 66 Voices of Liberty The Magic Behind It All Oftentimes when I visit Walt Disney World, I get lost in the magic as the real world disappears and I find myself fully immersed in the fantasy and wonderment of these incredible destinations created by Disney’s Imagineers…inspired by Walt Disney himself. That experience – that moment when we realize that we are truly part of the story – is one that we never forget, and is one of the many reasons why this place is so special. But the next time you feel that sparkle of magic, take a moment to think about all of the effort and imagination that went into making that world become a reality. It’s everywhere you look: the architectural details, the authentic props, the background music, the ambient sounds…even the aromas. And let’s not forget the rich backstories that the Imagineers have dreamed up to guide them along the way in creating an authentic, richly detailed setting. Even if you don’t know the backstory, you can sense that one must surely exist. For this is not just a few random props strewn about to add an air of authenticity to an otherwise ordinary setting. This is a fully realized place; whether we’re talking about the lush exotic jungles in , the nostalgic and decrepit surroundings of the Tower of Terror, or the romantic avenues in the France pavilion in World Showcase. Every detail is painstakingly recreated; from the cobblestones under your feet to the cobwebs on the light fixtures and everything in between. Take a moment to think about the incredible team of people that have created these immersive worlds. Oftentimes we’re talking about hundreds of people; everyone from storytellers and craftsmen to composers and engineers; these are the unnamed people whose efforts often go unrecognized, but are always appreciated. As Walt Disney once said, “When we consider a project, we really study it – not just the surface idea, but everything about it. And when we go into that new project, we believe in it all the way. We have confidence in our ability to do it right. And we work hard to do the best possible job.” That effort shines through to this day, and we can be grateful that the teams of artisans and Imagineers who strive to make our dreams become realities still hold those words of Walt Disney near and dear to their hearts.

Enjoy the magic! Tim Foster

2 · Celebrations Editor Tim Foster

Associate Editors Michelle Foster • Lisa Mahan • Lou Mongello

Contributing Writers Steve Barrett J Darling Tim Devine Jamie Hecker Allison Jones Carrie Hurst

Creative Direction and Design Tim Foster Art Director Michelle Foster

Customer Service Senior Manager Lisa Mahan

Social Media/Marketing Directors Lisa Mahan

Contributing Photographers Tim Foster, Tim Devine, Mike Billick, Garry Rollins, Lisa Mahan, Jamie Hecker,

Basic subscription rate is $29.99 for six issues ($35.99 for Canada residents, $54.99 for other international residents). To subscribe online visit www.celebrationspress.com. Single issue price is $5.99. All orders must be prepaid and are payable in U.S. funds only. Celebrations (USPS 025-286) is published bimonthly in the U.S. by Celebrations Press, Inc, 308 Sundance Drive, Chester Springs, PA. 19425. Periodicals Postage Rate Paid at Chester Springs, PA and additional mail- ing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Celebrations, ATTN: Subscriptions, 308 Sundance Drive, Chester Springs, PA 19425. SUBSCRIBERS: If the postal service alerts us that your magazine is undeliverable, we have no further obligation unless we receive a corrected address within one year.

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©2015 Celebrations Press, Inc. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the express writ- ten permission of the publisher. Statements and opinions herein are those of the authors and advertisers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. Celebrations is owned and operated by Celebrations Press, Inc. and is not affiliated with, authorized or endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with , Disney Enterprises, Inc., or any of their affiliates. Walt Disney World Resort® is a registered trademark of The Walt Disney Company. The Twilight Zone® is a registered trademark of CBS, Inc. This publication makes reference to various Disney copyrighted characters, trademarks, marks, and registered marks owned by The Walt Disney Company, Disney Enterprises, Inc., and other trademark owners. The use in this book of trademarked names and images is strictly for editorial purposes, no commercial claim to their use, or suggestion of sponsorship or endorsement, is made by the authors or publishers. Those words or terms that the authors have reason to believe are trademarks are designated as such by the use of initial capitalization, where ap- propriate. However, no attempt has been made to identify or designate all words or terms to which trademark or other proprietary rights may exist. Nothing contained herein is intended to express a judgement on, or affect the validity of legal status of, any word or term as a trademark, service mark, or other proprietary mark. While every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication, the passage of time will always bring changes in operating schedules, attraction openings and closings, and policies. The authors and publisher shall not be held liable for any information (valid or invalid) presented here and do not represent The Walt Disney Company.

3 · Celebrations Letters

A Masterpiece!!

Last year, in my Drawing 2 class, we were asked to make a collage out of a magazine. Since Disney is such a big part of my life, I knew what magazine I was going to choose. As much as it pained me to do so, I decided to use Celebrations as my magazine of choice, cutting it up to rearrange the images. We used the collages as reference to create a colored pencil drawing. I thought you might want to see the final product. You may recognize the images from issue #24. I was able to finish the project on time, despite my teacher’s concerns. Some areas I had to rush through, especially the briar patch area, but hopefully I’ll find time to go back and add more detail later. Thank you so much for creating such a wonderful magazine!

Mikayla Doggett Mansfield, CT

Got a question, photo, or story you’d like to share? email them to: [email protected] 4 · Celebrations 5 · Celebrations 6 · Celebrations Contributors

Kevin Carpenter works in Lori Elias credits her pas- Ray Harkness thanks Disney Shaun Jex is a columnist professional soccer and sion for Disney to long- for saving his marriage. and reporter for the Citizen’s enjoys writing from his time friend Tara Miller, After being shown the joys Advocate newspaper of home in Berea, Ohio. Kevin a Cast Member with the of a vacation by his lovely Coppell, Texas, where he has been published on ESPN Disney Cruiseline. Lori is wife Nancy, he now cannot lives with his wife and Cleveland, On the Fly, and a Cleveland-area middle imagine being away from two children. He is the Cleveland.com. Kevin is a school music teacher by day, work if it doesn’t involve a author of the local history life-long Disney fan with a freelance writer by night, Disney resort. When not book “Legendary Locals of particular interest in the and Disney fan 24/7. She has touring the parks, Ray Coppell” and the host of a life and works of its founder, written for a number of writes for his blog Grumpy’s weekly YouTube podcast Walt Disney. music publications, and is Hollow under the name titled “It Happened in thrilled to be able to share Grumpwurst (grumpyspace. Coppell”. her love of all things Disney. blogspot.com).

Lindsay Mott participated Chris Smith loves Walt in the College Program and Disney World because it then worked seasonally makes him feel like a kid for more than five years again. When he visits the at Walt Disney World. Her Happiest Place on Earth, time was centered around Chris completely returns to Magical Moments and that state of mind, ready to seeing fireworks as many explore distant jungles, ride times as possible (especially in pirate ships, and fly in Wishes). She is back home rockets. Chris loves to share in Alabama working in the magic of Disney with his marketing and freelance wife Alexis, and his children writing, but her heart will Koty, Samuel, Scarlett and forever be split in two, Alice Anne. Chris works on with half remaining in the Disneykidagain.com, a Walt Happiest Place on Earth Disney World Blog for Disney kids of all ages.

7 · Celebrations Disney News

scene transitions from black and white to the colorful 3-D Spectacular New world of the film. Driven by John Debney’s “The Jungle Book” film score, the show’s live music is arranged in Indian styles that feature Nighttime Show, the sitar and tabla drums for beloved tunes including “The Bare Necessities,” “Trust in Me,” and “I Wan’na Be Like You.” ‘The Jungle Book: Alive with Big-screen images from the film combine with impression- ist projections and narration by the panther character Ba- gheera, to open a portal into the artfully-told story. Magic’ Comes to Disney’s The 25-minute show is awash in special effects that in- clude fire, and massive water-screen projections. While Kingdom some of the cast tell the story from water’s edge and inside the theater, multiple barges and boats become additional ive singers, dancers, musicians and fire performers cel- sets pulsating with dozens of performers, scenic backdrops Lebrate the epic story of The Walt Disney Studios’ “The and light and fire effects. Jungle Book” in a limited-engagement nighttime extrava- “We’ve been fortunate to work with an amazing team of ganza opened on May 28, 2016, at Disney’s Animal Kingdom collaborators from around the world, from the filmmakers theme park at Walt Disney World Resort. behind the blockbuster movie to a creative team of artists Performed beneath the stars in the park’s new outdoor who helped to infuse our show with authentic aspects of 5,000-seat Discovery River Theater, “The Jungle Book: Alive the culture of India,” said Michael Jung, executive creative with Magic,” debuts as the park introduces additional night- director, . time entertainment including a post-sunset Kilimanjaro Poignant film moments resonate, as when “wolf-mother” Safaris adventure and visually stunning Tree of Life “awak- Raksha says farewell to Mowgli and tells him, “You will al- enings” with Discovery Island song-and-dance merriment. ways be my son.” As the journey proceeds, guests will flinch “The Jungle Book: Alive with Magic” welcomes guests to at the sudden roar of tiger Shere Khan that leads to a thrill- the dangerous, captivating world of the young “man cub” ing chase, and they’ll laugh at antics of Baloo, the free-spirit- Mowgli and the jungle that protect and threaten ed bear and pal of Mowgli. As the tale unfolds, the audience him. Featuring traditional Indian music as well as the wild- can’t help but be mesmerized by the hypnotic charm of Kaa. ly popular songs of The Jungle Book, the show immerses Breathtaking water-screen images of an elephant herd, guests in the culture of and beauty of India and the peril of a virtuosic fire performance and dynamic live percussion the jungle with singers, musicians, dancers and visuals. build to a frenzied show climax. For the show finale, the cast As the show opens, barges festooned with Indian ban- of “The Jungle Book: Alive with Magic,” performs an Indian- ners and intricate flower decorations float into view carry- influenced mega-medley that becomes a boisterous mash- ing river-bound singers, dancers and musicians. up of the acclaimed film’s top tunes, and performers spread The show’s opening number begins with an ethereal Indi- throughout the aisles to transform the amphitheater into an chant in the Rajasthan style, then builds to an energetic one huge immersive party celebrating the music, story and sound featuring drummers and performers offering gifts world of “The Jungle Book.” of light with a dance of candles. The music segues to the As guests depart Discovery River Theater, they can con- film’s score, and the show’s water screens rise to reveal an tinue celebrating in other areas of Disney’s Animal King- image of the ornate cover of “The Jungle Book” story by Ru- dom, where the evening comes alive with wondrous new dyard Kipling. As the book pages open, an engraved jungle nighttime experiences and a party-like atmosphere.

8 · Celebrations Photos ©Disney 9 · Celebrations Disney News

Entrées include Berber-Spiced Lamb Chop with Mustard Tiffins, Nomad Lounge Greens, Lentil Stew and Mint Chutney (Africa); Berkshire Pork Tenderloin with Huitlacoche Tamale, Hominy Succo- tash and Red Mole Sauce (South America); Miso-glazed Black Newest Dining Experiences Cod with Forbidden Rice in Steamed Bok Choywith Turmer- ic Sauce (Asia), and Grilled Head-on Shrimp with Tomatoes, At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Roasted Fennel, Olives and Sea Urchin Butter Sauce (Europe). For vegetarians, the Roasted Market Vegetable Curry with elebrating the adventurous spirit of world travelers Quinoa, Zucchini and Lime Chutney brings a taste of Asia. Cand explorers, “Tiffin” is the Indian word for a lunch- box used by travelers. The 252-seat restaurant in Discovery Nomad Lounge Island is open daily for lunch and dinner with menus that With 55 seats inside, and 46 seats in a covered outdoor takes diners to Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. area, Nomad Lounge offers a half-dozen small bites such as a vegetarian summer roll, a seared Wagyu beef skewer, hon- Global Menu ey-glazed coriander-spiced pork ribs, Indian butter-chicken From the familiar to something new, the menu offers wings, seasonal fish balls with shishito peppers and house- diners starters such a Lobster-Popcorn Thai Curry Soup made head cheese and chicken liver pate with chutney. with Basil and Peanuts (Asia/Africa) and marinated grilled The lounge offers cocktails with African, Asian and South octopus (Europe). Sustainable seasonal fish crudo (South American flavors, imported beers and a South American America) and a salad of roasted baby beets and goat cheese and South African wine list. Non-alcoholic beverages in- with walnut granola and a sun-dried cherry vinaigrette clude Asian and African premium loose-leaf teas and coffee (North America) round out international creations. beans from Columbia, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Tanzania.

10 · Celebrations Calendar of Events Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend Eat to the Beat November 03 - November 05, 2016 Treat your senses to a musical feast at this multi-week Future World, concert series featuring sizzlin’ tunes from a variety of A fun-filled fitness weekend is capped off by a magical popular artists. nighttime race and celebration. The Disney Wine & Dine Festival Dining & Tasting Events Half Marathon Weekend offers a series of events the whole Discover new dimensions of flavor as you sample incred- family can enjoy, including races for all ages and Disney’s ible dishes from all over the globe. Health & Fitness Expo. Demonstrations & Seminars Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend events include: Take some tips from the pros as you get an inside look at • Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon the care and craft of these food and beverage creations. • Mickey’s Jingle Jungle 5K • runDisney Kids’ Races Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party • Disney’s Health & Fitness Expo September 02 - October 31, 2016 • Finish Line Party Explore Magic Kingdom park to collect candies, sweets Epcot International Food & Wine Festival and all kinds of frightfully delightful treats! Black cat and September 14 - November 14, 2016 cauldron buffs will love the bounty of boo-friendly spirits Epcot they’ll discover at the happiest haunted happening on Each fall, as the seasons transform, so does Epcot—where Earth—Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party! Each year, dozens of unique flavors and fun experiences unfold across Magic Kingdom park hosts grim grinning ghosts, eerie the park. Festival highlights include: entertainment and Disney Characters that go bump in Global Marketplaces the night, so you’ll want to start polishing your pumpkins Satiate your hunger and thirst with afresh food, fine wine now! And since the tone of this event is “not-so-scary,” that and craft beers from a host of global marketplaces. means children of all ages can enjoy all the fun!

Photos ©Disney 11 · Celebrations

elcome to MouseViews, a special section of WCelebrations Magazine where you’ll get an insider’s peek at the Walt Disney World Resort. In every issue we’ll bring you a treasure trove of tips, secrets, magical moments, special insights, little known facts and a whole lot more! Whether it’s a different look at a familiar attraction, a hidden secret waiting to be discovered, or a helpful piece of advice for your upcoming trip, you’re sure to find lots of fun-filled information inside.

So put on your Mickey ears, set your imagination free, and get ready to discover all of those things that make Walt Disney World the most magical place on Earth.

Ready? Then here we go...!

13 · Celebrations What’s In a Name (Part Two) n our last issue, we took a look at some familiar names associated with Walt Dis- Iney World and talked about how they may not be so familiar after all. (For ex- ample, why the proper home of Spaceship Earth is spelled “Epcot” and not “EPCOT,” or “Epcot Center.”) But that was just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, and in this issue we’ll talk about some more of those Disney names that everyone is familiar with, but often misspeak. This time we’ll begin with the classic icon of the Magic King- dom, and the very symbol of Disney as a whole.

A Home Fit For a Princess It’s often that first breathtaking moment for new visitors to the Magic Kingdom, by Tim Foster and even for those of us who have been there dozens of times, it never fails to make you stop in your shoes and marvel at its majesty and larger-than-life appearance. This is , and when you think of Walt Disney World (or Disney as a whole), it’s often the first image that comes to mind (along with that fellow with the big round ears, but that’s a story for another time). The proper name for this grand palace is one that is frequently misspelled, though it’s an honest enough mistake. Many people will refer to it as Cinderella’s Castle (with the possessive apostrophe “s”), though the proper terminology is simply Cinderella Castle. Admittedly, it seems to make more sense in the possessive form… after all, it is her castle, right? But officially there’s no apostrophe-s at the end. So why is it simply called Cinderella Castle? The best explanation would be that Cinderella Castle (as well as the other castles found in Disney parks throughout the world), aren’t meant to be literal interpreta- tions of what we’ve seen in the films. Instead, the actual designs for the castles were inspired by those found in real life. For example, at Disney- Tim Foster is the creator of land was inspired by the castles of medieval Europe; the Neuschwanstein Castle in Celebrations magazine and Bavaria chief among them. (Note too that Sleeping Beauty Castle is also not referred the author of the Guide to the Magic book series, which to in the possessive.) Cinderella Castle is fashioned after the architecture of the includes the Guide to the Magic French castles and chateaux of Fontainebleu, Versailles, Chenonceau, Chambord, for Kids and the Deluxe Guide to the Magic Autograph & Sticker Book. Tim is also the creator of the www.celebrationspress.com website.

14 · Celebrations and Chaumont. And that also answers our earlier question A Tropical Paradise of “Isn’t that Cinderella’s castle anyway?” The notion is that Our last visit will take us just outside of the Magic King- the castles we see in the parks are meant to represent the dom to one of the original Magic Kingdom resorts, Disney’s concept of a grand palace that is at the heart of this world Polynesian Village Resort. At least that’s how it’s known to- of fantasy, and not literally the specific home of the princess day, er, originally, er, at one time. Confused? OK, here’s the for which it was named. A fine distinction perhaps, but in a story… way it makes sense. When the resort first opened in 1971, it was known as the The similarly named Cinderella Castle can also be found Polynesian Village Resort (or Polynesian Village for short, as in , while Sleeping Beauty Castle can also it was sometimes called in official publications at the time). be found in , as well as Disneyland Fast forward to the 1980s when the resort received a subtle Paris, where it is known as Le Château de la Belle au Bois name change; dropping the word “Village” and thus simply Dormant (The Castle of The Sleeping Beauty). known as the Polynesian Resort. This was during the time Curiously, the restaurant inside the Magic Kingdom when more longhouses were added to the resort. In fact, castle is called Cinderella’s Royal Table, complete with the in 1999 the longhouses themselves were renamed to better apostrophe-s. Paradoxically, while Cinderella can call that represent the Polynesian Islands that inspired the theming restaurant her own, the same can’t be said for the opulent of the resort. suite inside, which is properly known as the Cinderella Cas- tle Suite. (At least we know that glass slipper belongs to her!)

Round and Round Just outside of Cinderella Castle is another attraction that often gets misidentified. This is the famed carousel that sits in the courtyard behind the castle. There are often two points of confusion when people speak or write about the attraction. The first is its name. While many people refer to it as Cinderella’s Carousel, its proper name today is the Prince Charming Regal Carrousel. It’s an honest mistake though; as the attraction was origi- nally called Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel until the name was changed in 2010. The name change came as a result of a new backstory. Here is the official version according to Disney: “…with peace throughout the kingdom, Prince Charming had time to practice for jousting tournaments [and] built a training device of carved horses, on which he could practice the art of ring- And so for a time the tropical paradise was officially spearing…the carrousel…drew the attention of the villagers… known as the Polynesian Resort. In 2014 though, the resort so Prince Charming had a second carrousel constructed closer underwent several major changes, including the addition to the Castle, where everyone could take a spin on this wondrous of the DVC bungalows, a major renovation of the lobby, and invention…this new carrousel is more befitting its regal location new dining experiences. Another part of the reimagining of in the Castle Courtyard – its rustic training horses replaced with the resort was a name change. On May 2 of that year, Walt ornately decorated prancing steeds adorned with golden helmets Disney World Resort President George A. Kalogridis an- and shields, flower garlands, feathers and other festoons.” nounced that the resort would be returning to its original, As you were reading the last few paragraphs, you may 1971 opening day name: Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. have noticed another subtlety (and the second point of And so, if you wish to refer to the resort properly, don’t confusion); the word “carrousel” has two “r”s instead of one. forget to include the word “Village.” For me, I’ll continue to That’s actually the old-fashioned spelling and it was chosen lovingly refer to it as the “Poly.” As long as the Dole Whips to reflect the nostalgic charm of the attraction. continue to flow, any name is fine by me.

Photos ©Tim Foster 15 · Celebrations Hidden Mickeys in hen I step into Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland, I often feel that I’ve stumbled Wonto the Western setting of a movie. I halfway expect tumbleweeds to roll across my shoes and cowboys in hats, boots, and spurs to burst out from the local saloon with guns drawn. Disney detail has that effect on me! This flavor of the Old West comes across at times with the Hidden Mickeys (and other Hidden Charac- ters) in Frontierland. 1. Along the entrance queue of , just after you pass by the WDW Rail- road tracks (you can see the tracks just behind this part of the entrance queue), a sticker is glued on the first hexagonal light cover you pass under. 2. Along the exit walkway from Splash Mountain, at the Laughin’ Place children’s play area, a classic Mickey is formed by the ends of three logs stuck to the wall to the right of the “Laughin’ Place” sign. 3. On the left side as you exit Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (in the exit closest to by Steve Barrett the Standby line entrance), a cutout in the reddish rock resembles a side profile of Tinker Bell. She’s behind the fence and between two metal carts, and she faces to your left. 4. Across the river from the docks on , look at the right end of the bridge in Frontierland for three rocks that form a classic Mickey. They’re located halfway between the last two vertical posts that support the handrail, about one foot down from the top of the rocks. The Hidden Mickey is in the second row of rocks from the top. (Note: This Hidden Mickey is also visible from the Liberty Square Riverboat.) 5. Halfway through Old Scratch’s Mystery Mine on Tom Sawyer Island, bright shin- ing gems embedded in the wall form a side profile of . He’s looking to your right. 6. In Fort Langhorn on Tom Sawyer Island, enter the Rifle Roost at the far right cor- ner. To get there, climb up the stairs to your immediate right after you enter the Steve Barrett is the author of the fort and walk across the right upper walkway to the far right Rifle Roost. On top Hidden Mickeys Guide Book Series of the right handrail, about halfway up the steps to the top of the Rifle Roost, (Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and there is a Hidden Mickey created by: a wood knot, an additional mark, and an in- the Disney Cruise Ships) available in dentation in the wood. the Disney Parks and in book stores, Amazon, and on Kindle and other 7. Also in Fort Langhorn, check out a classic Hidden Mickey hanging on the left side downloadable formats. of the outside wall of the Blacksmith’s shop. At the far left of the wall, markings on The WDW and Disneyland Hidden the side of a lower piece of horse bridle gear form an upside-down classic Hidden Mickeys Guide books are also offered Mickey. as iPhone and Android apps. Steve 8. Let’s revisit a few Hidden Mickeys that have endured. In the Frontier Trading Post and his wife Vickie (hiddenmickeygal) store, a cable rope classic Mickey is attached to a pole on a merchandise stand. are the webmasters of www.HiddenMickeyGuy.com, and This stand is moved around in the store from time to time. In this photo, the are on Twitter @hiddenmickeyguy stand is at the far left side of the store. and Facebook as Hidden Mickey Guy 9. Also in the Frontier Trading Post store, on the “How to Pin Trade” wall posters, a Disney’s Hidden Mickeys Hunter. cowboy’s lanyard has a black classic Mickey. 10. Inside Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe, find the plates sitting upright along a ledge near the ceiling behind the middle of the serving counter. On the third plate from the left, at the upper left and near the inside circle of the plate, three red spots behind the white bird form a classic Mickey.

16 · Celebrations Photos ©Steve Barrett 1 2

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17 · Celebrations Frontierland Shooting Gallery

es, pun was totally intended with that headline! While the home of Big Thunder YMountain Railroad does indeed play host to the Frontierland Shooting Gallery, what I’m talking about is the myriad of photo opportunities to be found in this rootin’ tootin’ section of the Magic Kingdom. From the rugged peaks of Big Thunder Mountain to the briar patch of Splash Mountain (and everywhere in between), you’ll find lots of great photo subjects. Better still, most of them can be captured outside in natural sunlight, making this a great place to take memorable photos even if you don’t have super expensive camera equipment (even smart phones can great some great shots!). So join with me pardners as we saddle up for a photographic tour of by Tim Devine the rugged Old West, Frontierland.

Tim Devine is an avid photographer and the owner and webmaster of www.themagicinpixels.com, a website created for and dedicated to fellow Disney Photography Enthusiasts. In addition to a large gallery of photos you can browse, you’ll also find tips, articles and equipment reviews to help you create magical photo memories of your Walt Disney World Resort vacation. Also, be sure to check www.themagicinpixels.com for information on Pixelmania!, an annual festival of Disney photography, friends, and fun in Walt Disney World .

18 · Celebrations 19 · Celebrations 20 · Celebrations 21 · Celebrations o many favorite attractions and shows at Walt Disney World are rich in details Sthat stay with Guests long after they have returned home. Iconic phrases help to extend a timeless quality to Disney theme parks. “Welcome, foolish mortals” quickly conjures images of Doom Buggies swirling through . Men- tion , and “dead men tell no tales” surely comes to mind. For those seeking adventure, perhaps “this here’s the wildest ride in the wilderness!” will bring a quick smile as they recollect the rollicking adventures of Big Thunder Moun- tain Railroad. Fans of Disney’s nightly fireworks pageants will immediately visual- ize bursts of color over Cinderella Castle when they hear “star light, star bright. First by Jamie Hecker star I see tonight.” However, not all iconic Disney phrases are affiliated with attrac- tions or shows, or even inside a park. One of the most-repeated phrases, so simple yet timeless, is from the monorail that whisks Guests around Walt Disney World; “Please stand clear of the doors. Por favor manténgase alejado de las puertas.” The man be- hind that cheerful, silky voice is Disney Legend Jack Wagner, a gifted voiceover artist who spent three decades as the official park announcer for Disneyland, as well as other Disney theme parks and productions. Wagner was born December 17, 1925 to French-born parents. His bi- lingual household allowed him to get an early start in show business, when he dubbed English speaking movies into French for foreign mar- kets. He discovered at this tender age that his voice was the key to future success. He also turned his attention to the business side of Hollywood, working as a contract Jamie Hecker has been a lifelong actor at MGM while in his teens. In fan of Disney, and is passing on his love to his sons. He and his family the early Golden era of television, visit Orlando annually and always Wagner appeared in episodes of The look forward to their next trip. Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Sea When not in Orlando, he resides Hunt, and Dragnet, to name a few. In in northern Virginia with his the talent-rich southern beautiful wife Suzanne, two boys market, Wagner also was a highly and four cats. You can read more about his successful radio personality, host- “hidden Disney” musings at ing the celebrity interview show Hollywood on a Silver Platter. At the height of the myhiddendisney.blogspot.com/ show’s popularity, it was in syndication to over 1,200 stations coast-to-coast. By his mid 40s, Wagner was an established voice celebrity, but was on the cusp of a major career shift. Disneyland was in his neighborhood, and it was inevitable that Wagner’s warm and rich baritone voice would eventually align with Walt Disney Productions.

Wagner, Disney, and That Famous Spiel Wagner, who was an opening day Guest at Disneyland on July 17, 1955, did freelance work for Disneyland through its early years, as a guest announcer and narrator for special programs such as Christmas parades. His Disney career officially began in

22 · Celebrations 1970 when he was hired full time as a production consul- try at Yesterland. However, his iconic “please stand clear of tant. Soon after, he was named the official park announcer. the doors...” remains. That audio loop is separate from the In this role, Wagner created dozens of recordings each day, in-ride recording, and is only played as the monorail doors since many of them were special announcements for a spe- are preparing to close. Disneyland, similarly, has a vintage cific event, or to welcome a certain celebrity to the park. To Wagner recording still in use to this day. Guests on the Mat- help facilitate a consistent quality of work and for speedy terhorn will hear his bilingual safety spiel, “remain seated recordings, Disney installed a state-of-the-art recording please; permanecer sentados por favor.” studio in Wagner’s house. Although he lived just a few miles Wagner, as a voice professional, did freelance work for away from Disneyland, Wagner could record all his park an- other clients outside of the Walt Disney Company. One no- nouncements from the comfort of his own home. Disney- table recording is near and dear to Magic Kingdom fans land also benefited from this arrangement; if an early park who fly into Orlando International Airport. Upon arrival, closing or late special event travelers board a tram announcement needed to to navigate them to the be recorded, Wagner could main terminal. For the record it and have it ready short ride, they’ll hear an for immediate use. At the audio recording welcom- height of his Disney career, ing them to central Flori- he was making recordings da. That same reassuring for Disneyland, Orlando’s voice used for Disney was Walt Disney World, Tokyo now greeting visitors to Disneyland, and Euro Disney Orlando’s airport. Wag- Resort (now rebranded as ner’s comforting tone was ). Wagner’s the key reason he was mellifluous voice, heard at hired for the airport proj- Disney parks on three con- ect. Said Carolyn Fennell, tinents, soothed Guests and director of community provided another layer in relations for the Orlando the Disney experience. He airport: “Jack has a very also did voiceover work for comfortable voice. It’s au- Disney’s Sunday Night mov- thoritative without being ies, Disney on Ice shows, threatening. One thing and various Disney Chan- you have in an airport nel shows. Disneyland of- is a lot of anxiety. To get ficials dubbed him, appro- people to relax and follow priately enough, the “Walter instructions is very hard Cronkite of voice-overs.” to do.” Wagner even recorded park Wagner relied on one announcements in the voices of characters such as Mickey simple ingredient for his recordings. ‘’I always have to make Mouse and . “I sometimes think of myself as the myself smile when I talk and think friendly thoughts,’’ he eighth dwarf,” he recalled, reflecting on the versatility of his said. Listening to his park announcements can’t help but voiceover work and studio skills. bring a grin to Guests’ faces. Over time, following his retirement in 1991, park an- Wagner retired in 1991 after vocal cord surgery limited nouncements needed to be updated – for example, to re- his skills. He passed away a few years later, on June 16, 1995. flect new parades and attractions. Wagner’s original entire However, his warm intonations that are still in use on the monorail recording required changes as new resorts came Monorail and Matterhorn have a timeless quality of their online, as well as new Magic Kingdom elements that needed own. For his contributions to the Walt Disney Company, marketing. His original entire recording is now another en- Jack Wagner was named a Disney Legend in 2005.

23 · Celebrations The Diamond Horseshoe s a Florida local growing up near Walt Disney World, the Diamond Horseshoe Aat the Magic Kingdom was always a must-do. I remember as a kid watching the live shows, funny actors, players, and the can-can dancers. This was a fun break from the Florida heat with lots of laughs and fun for the whole family. This show was held several times a day offering fun entertainment, all while we dined on a light, quick lunch. This was a regular experience at the Magic Kingdom with my family. For years the Diamond Horseshoe location was only used for special events, sea- sonal counter service meals, and private parties. It was often just a building you passed by on your way to Splash Mountain or Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. You can imagine my excitement when the Diamond Horseshoe recently opened as a sit- By Allison Jones down restaurant. We were there on its opening day as a new dining location. The restaurant is housed in a huge blue building with a red and gold sign that blends in perfectly with the streets of Frontierland. The Diamond Horseshoe is a quaint restaurant themed after the old west music halls, serving lunch and dinner. This building was originally built in 1971 with the opening of Magic Kingdom. As you walk into the Diamond Horseshoe, you will see the huge wooden stage in the back of the restaurant. In the middle of the stage sits an old player piano and two huge signs on easels. Dark red curtains with gold trim cascade down each side of the stage along with gold curtains across the back, all adding to the music hall atmosphere. The Diamond Horseshoe is a beautiful building, adorned with white walls and white staircases in the front and back of the restaurant. There are huge white, red, and gold chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. There are also white globe lights with red covers scattered throughout the building. As you walk into the restaurant, you will see huge white stairs leading up to the mezzanine that, while closed for dining, offers an incredible view of the whole restaurant. This seating upstairs used to be open during the live shows held in the Diamond Horseshoe. To the far left of the restaurant sits the kitchen. This music hall is quaint; so you As an Orlando local, Allison has seen the growth of the Walt Disney World can sit and watch the chefs prepare your meal and dessert (just a boot-step away). Resort. She experienced the inside as a This was a fun experience for the kids! My children enjoyed watching the chefs pre- Disney Cast Member and has planned pare the meals. We even hopped up to take a look at the dessert, before we even Disney vacations for over 10 years. ordered our entrees! Allison Jones is a travel consultant The round and rectangular tables are all wooden, with matching red wooden with Destinations in Florida Travel chairs. The walls are elegant with white and off-white decorations in the wallpaper. and MouseDine. Destinations in Florida is an Authorized Disney There are western-themed paintings, family pictures, and decorations scattered Vacation Planner selling Disney throughout the restaurant. Many of the pictures and paintings are enhanced with vacations. elaborate gold picture frames. MouseDine is a restaurant When we visited the Diamond Horseshoe on its opening day as a sit down res- consulting company for Disney World taurant, we walked right up to the host/hostess stand and were greeted with a Dining Reservations. Visit great big smile and a hearty “howdy!” There was only a five minute wait, and we www.destinationsinflorida.com or www.mousedine.com for more were shortly escorted to a huge round table for our group of four. The doors of the information on Disney Dining. Diamond Horseshoe stayed open, welcoming hungry cowpokes. As we sat down at our table, I could see the Chip and Dale meet and greet location outside across the street. This was fun entertainment for the whole family.

24 · Celebrations We started our western lunch with a cool Coca Cola bev- Save room for dessert! The dessert options include a erage. You can also choose from other Coca Cola products, Campfire Brownie or Apple Tart. The Campfire Brownie is tea, milk, or coffee. Our server immediately brought us a warm chocolate brownie with a graham cracker crust. It some warm cornbread with whipped butter. I loved the is then topped with a toasted marshmallow. We loved the cornbread in the red and white plaid napkin. The white Apple Tart and had a few of them during our lunch. This is plates and china, decorated with gold trim, took us back to an all-you-can-eat meal, so come hungry and ask for more. the days of the elegant old west. We wanted to try both desserts, so of course we asked for The menu is served family style with salad, your choice both (hey, we’re on vacation!). of entree, and your choice of dessert. The salad is called The Diamond Horseshoe is now a seasonal restaurant at the Frontier Salad, and is a scrumptious mix of greens, to- Walt Disney World. If it’s open during your Disney World va- matoes, onion, roasted corn, and cornbread croutons. This cation, be sure you make an Advanced Dining Reservation. salad is tossed with a zesty Chipotle-Ranch dressing. For the You can make an Advanced Dining Reservation at WDW- entree options, you can choose from several Saloon Feast DINE or on the My Disney Experience app. This restaurant is Favorites, such as Barbecue Pulled Turkey with Cornbread one dining entitlement on the Disney Dining Plans. We also and Seasonal Vegetables, Spit Roasted Ham with Country used our Tables in Wonderland card during our visit to save Beans and Seasonal Vegetables, or Stewed Beef with Mashed a little extra off the meal. Potatoes and Seasonal Vegetables. During my visit, the Sea- So if you have a hankerin’ for some good old home-style sonable Vegetables were green beans. They were delicious… cooking with an old west flair, be sure to check out the and nice and crispy, just as if they had come straight off the Diamond Horseshoe restaurant on your next Walt Disney farm. The Diamond Horseshoe does not have a children’s World vacation. It is an original attraction-turned dining menu, but they did offer to cook chicken tenders with restaurant, and a Frontierland experience that will keep French fries for the kids. (There’s that Disney magic again!) your whole posse happy!

Photo © Disney 25 · Celebrations How to Have Fun While Waiting in Line o matter when you visit the Disney Parks, you’re going to have to wait for some- Nthing. Waiting is just part of the experience, and as a parent, it is a good idea to be prepared. I am sure you have created a great touring plan, planned out your Fast- passes, and will take advantage of getting to the parks early to minimize your wait times. However, whether it’s waiting in line for an attraction, to get into a show, or for your table to come available for your dining reservation, waiting is part of the Disney experience. Waiting in line at the Disney parks can be a stressful experience, especially By Carrie Hurst from the perspective of the children in your party! Think about the anticipation they are feeling while waiting to board their FAVORITE attraction, or even the “fear of the unknown” on a new one. But it doesn’t have to be that way. As parents, it’s good to be prepared to entertain your kids while in line. Since you are likely traveling with chil- dren of various ages, you need some plans in your back pocket to entertain everyone, and to keep the stress level down. Today I’m going to share some ideas with you about how to keep your kids entertained and your stress levels down while waiting in line. Take along some handheld games or Disney apps on your mobile device. While standing in a particularly long line, allowing your children to play some video games can make for a quiet, pleasant experience. Stow their handheld systems in your backpack – which is with you at ALL times – and allow them to choose ONE gaming device to keep in it all day. Or, download some Disney apps to your iPhone or Android such as Pooh’s Birthday Surprise and Peter Pan, along with coloring pages for your little ones. With WiFi in all the parks, you could even stream some Disney movies or shows while you wait. Look for the Hidden Mickeys! Mickey is ALL OVER the Disney parks. In fact, there’s a whole guide book devoted to finding them in obscure places, authored by fellow columnist Steve Barrett (Mr. Hidden Mickeys himself!). Have your kids look Carrie Hurst is a travel agent around the attraction you’re waiting for, and in the park area around it, to find with Destinations in Florida, spe- cializing in family travel, especially some Hidden Mickeys. How many can you find before the line moves? Keep a run- large groups traveling together ning record of the most Mickeys found that day and whoever finds the most gets to to all Disney Destinations, cruises, choose that evening’s ice cream treat. and more. A huge fan of family Blow some bubbles. We always have small bottles of bubbles stowed in our travel, Carrie feels that group vaca- touring bag. These are great for keeping our four-year-old entertained – and some- tions bring about priceless memo- times those around us – during our time in line. Granted, these are going to float ries for the whole family that will last a lifetime. Contact Carrie at around all those people waiting with you (so do be mindful that you’re not being a [email protected] nuisance to others). They also make nice entertainment while you are waiting with to book your next family getaway! the little one for the older kids to enjoy an attraction. Get out the camera. Have you taken a lot of pictures? Spend some time in line scrolling through them and sharing them with your kids. My little one loves to look at pictures of herself! Or, have some fun taking funny face pictures to entertain yourselves in line. Now, you can download apps for adding text to your photos as well as funny faces. Try using the Disney Side app. This one is quite fun! Make a new friend. Chat with the people around you. What have they enjoyed during their trip? How many times have they been to Disney? What resort are they enjoying? Perhaps you can even exchange some touring tips while you are waiting in line!

26 · Celebrations Take a look at some maps and plan your next steps. with a . However, if you think you and your kids can Our boys are obsessed with maps. Maps of ANY kind. They handle the standby wait time, you can enjoy all of the fun scour their Disney park maps, reliving the previous attrac- offered by the interactive queues. Walt Disney World has tions, planning what’s next, and discovering new paths to done a marvelous job of creating interactive queues for get to our next destination. You can pick up maps and times their young (and young-at-heart) Guests. The Many Adven- guides as you enter each park, or order ones from Disney. tures of Winnie the Pooh, the Flying Elephant, the com. Haunted Mansion, and the are ex- Enjoy a fun Disney treat. My children get super whin- cellent examples. There is now an interactive queue at Peter ey when they are hungry. And even though they “just ate,” Pan’s Flight that’s lots of fun too. You’ll also find interactive sometimes their boredom leads to hunger. To compensate queues offering up their own fun and diversions at Under for the fun food we eat in the parks, I make sure to have the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid, , and small boxes of cereal, granola bars, and sometimes pieces Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. There are little games to of fruit in our touring bag. Granted, these aren’t as fun as a play and hidden treasure to find, and it’s a great way to pass Mickey Ice Cream bar. BUT, it makes me feel better as a mom the time while you’re waiting in line. that they have some better options while we are waiting in Waiting in line at Walt Disney World doesn’t have to be line. boring; it can be a fun experience for everyone in your fam- Enjoy the interactive queues of the attractions. ily with a little planning. I hope these tips have given you You’ll miss the interactive queues if you ride an attraction some ideas to prepare for passing the time in line!

Photo © Disney 27 · Celebrations Walt Disney and the Disney Cruise Line n 1923, Walt Disney and his brother Roy founded the company that would even- Itually become the worldwide leader in animation and entertainment. Over the years, the name has changed – Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Walt Disney Produc- tions, and presently the Walt Disney Company – but the variety of content has re- mained the same. Walt personally ushered in several significant creative channels during his lifetime: cartoon shorts and eventually feature length animation, live- action films, television content, and theme parks that are all still the foundation of the company. One significant addition since Walt’s passing is the Disney Cruise Line. By Jamie Hecker We associate Walt with railroads, the iconic mode of transportation of his youth and ever-present in Disney theme parks around the globe. But Walt also has a rich personal history of cruising and sailing. In fact, boats are an integral part of the Dis- ney DNA. Think of Mickey Mouse making his iconic debut as a steamboat captain, or Disneyland’s on the Rivers of America. The Disney Cruise line is a natural extension of this heritage. The Disney Cruise Line began in 1995 under the direction of then CEO , when two luxury cruise ships were commissioned. The Disney Magic began service in 1998 and her sister ship, the Disney Wonder, came aboard in 1999. Each ship has a passenger capacity of 2,400 Guests. By 2012, the fleet doubled in size when two larger vessels, the Dream and Fantasy, began service each with a passenger capac- ity of 4,000. Two additional ships were recently announced, scheduled for sailing in 2021 and 2023. The ships were patterned after the majestic passenger liners of the 1930s, with clean lines, elegant ironwork and dual smokestack towers. Modern cruise ships functionally only need one, but Disney made the design decision to use a second faux tower to better evoke the golden era of liners. The color palette of black, white, red, and yellow lifeboats simultaneously reflects the look of classic liners as well as the color spectrum of Mickey Mouse, the original cruiser. Jamie Hecker has been a lifelong fan of Disney, and is passing on his Disney Cruise Line sailings are regularly sold out and receive high marks from love to his sons. He and his family travelers and critics. Launching such a capital-intensive division was risky, but to- visit Orlando annually and always day seems like an easy decision. Judson Green, former president of Walt Disney At- look forward to their next trip. When not in Orlando, he resides in northern Virginia with his beautiful wife Suzanne, two boys and four cats. You can read more about his “hidden Disney” musings at myhiddendisney.blogspot.com/

28 · Celebrations tractions, recalled, ”We woke up and realized we knew how Catholic priests who were returning from a pilgrimage.” to cruise from a functional point of view in respect to hotel, How, exactly, does all this come full circle? Where is Walt food and beverage, merchandise, entertainment and world on the Disney Cruise Line? His presence is felt all around. wide sales. If you think about all the disciplines reflected Each stateroom on a Disney Cruise Line ship features a pho- onboard a ship, we had them all except one…the ability to to of a dapper Walt and Lillian aboard the Italian passen- ‘drive the ship’…and that we could acquire. Our core compe- ger ship Rex, taken aboard their 1934 sailing to Italy. Their tency is Guest satisfaction. It’s something we realized could youthful exuberance, punctuated by a rudimentary plush easily be transferred to the high seas.” Driving a ship may Mickey Mouse doll in Walt’s hands, wordlessly sums up the have been an understated point, but the rest conveys that thrill and adventure of cruising. Disney does equally well on the high seas as it does in Dis- Other notable tributes to Walt appear in each of the four neyland and Walt Disney World. ships of the Disney Cruise Line fleet. The Wonder, for ex- How does all this relate to Walt? He, too, has a rich history ample, has prominent photos of Walt and his brother Roy of cruising, both for business and pleasure. It’s important to on display midship, just off the atrium on the dual stair- recall that transcontinen- tal passenger flights didn’t become a viable option un- til the advent of the jetlin- er age in the late 1950s. In the 1930s and 40s, Walt and his wife Lillian, and later with daughters Diane and Sharon, enjoyed the ambi- ance of trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific sailings to Eu- rope and Hawaii. Following Disney’s Goodwill Tour of South America that went on to yield and , Walt returned to on a leisurely seven- teen day sailing. Later in his career, Walt mixed busi- ness with pleasure when, in 1961, he and his family sailed to Europe about the SS United States, while principal photography for the live-action comedy Bon Voy- ways heading to the next deck up. All four ships feature age! was done onboard. world-class entertainment in the, appropriately enough, Guests today on a Disney Cruise Line vessel have round- Walt Disney Theatre. The entrance lobby mural features a the-clock activities and events to keep them entertained. sophisticated pose of Walt, perhaps reflecting on all his ac- Cruise ships in Walt’s era didn’t have all the amenities of to- complishments in animation. day’s ships, and the ever-active Walt found himself restless If you’re ever aboard a Disney Cruise Line ship, either for at times during the lengthy sailings. His daughter Diane Dis- the first time or as a repeating Castaway Club member, slow ney Miller recalled how on one particular family sailing, her down and take a few extra minutes to imagine Walt and father “would go out of his mind. He couldn’t find enough to Lillian casually strolling around the ship and taking in the do. On one trip, he got in a shuffleboard tournament with myriad activities and shows offered onboard.

29 · Celebrations Soarin’ Goes Global he Disney name is recognized the world over for creating unique entertain- Tment experiences for Guests. From the screen to the stage to unique park en- vironments and experiences the world over, Disney has built some equally unique relationships in order to accomplish those feats. Soarin’ over California is a headliner attraction no matter what park it has ap- peared in. Surprisingly though, in Disney California Adventure, it was initially met with skepticism. After all, why would Californian’s need an attraction that show- cases their home state? But once experienced, it’s hard to believe this innovative attraction was, at one point, a shelved idea. Imagineers had no idea how to bring By J Darling the experience of hang gliding over a landscape to life. The original plans called for something that’s been called a ‘dry cleaning effect,’ where Guests were suspended on a ride vehicle and would ‘fly’ over a stationary landscape. Deemed too problem- atic, the idea was shelved. Imagineer Mark Sumner solved the vehicle problem one weekend while at home…with his kid’s Erectors play set. He built a model of the idea, it was approved, and the attraction was built – after another two years of film- ing took place. The original IMAX film for Soarin’ over California was filmed from a helicopter, us- ing IMAX equipment shooting 48 frames per second. Though originally conceived in 1996, Soarin’ Over California would finally open in Disney California Adventure Park in 2001. Two years later, the attraction injected new life into the Land Pavilion in Epcot in Walt Disney World. Much like it’s initial launch in Disneyland, the opening of a Florida attraction based around the varied landscapes of California received some tentative critical concerns from Guests. However, all it took was one ride on the J Darling is a California native and attraction, and it soon became a fan favorite, boasting longer wait times in Florida life long Disney fan. Her parents first than it did in California! To this day, the attraction is an Epcot FastPass+ favorite. took her to Disneyland when she was But Soarin’ isn’t just another flight simulator attraction. It’s somewhere between 2 years old. According to them, her art and documentary. The inspirational score was written by composer Jerry Gold- eyes just popped out of her head, and smith. He was the son of a pilot whose father loved the diverse California landscape. apparently they never went back in. Once Jerry heard about the Soarin’ Over California project, he couldn’t wait to be Outside of her Disney fandom, J is a singer, songwriter, blogger, and a part of it. Rumor has it, his first ride was as much of a tear jerker for him as for theatrical actress. many inspired Guests. Jerry Goldsmith passed away in 2004, leaving a long-standing You can find her music at career in music and composition dating back to the 1970s. www.jdarlingmusic.com and on Myspace at Soarin’ Over the World www.jdarlingmusicmyspace.com. Her The unique ride system allows Guests of all ages to dangle their feet high above blogs are available at www.jjourneybook.blogspot.com. the curved screen as they tilt and sway through the film experience. But as breath- taking as the California scenery was, everyone knew that it was only a matter of time before Soarin’ Over California (or simply ‘Soarin’, as it’s known on the East Coast) would go global. And on August 15, 2015, nearly 15 years after the original at- traction opened, Disney announced the change from Soarin’ Over California to Soa- rin’ Over the World. The 15-year favorite that allowed Guests to get a bird’s eye view (and smell) of orange groves, mountains, deserts, and oceans (complete with spray) was finally getting a highly anticipated update. With the opening of (and the addition of Soarin’ to the

30 · Celebrations park’s attraction line up) and Disneyland’s Diamond Anni- new masterpiece, but the scenery has definitely changed. versary came the opportunity to update the attraction for Long standing relationships with far-away countries paid all the parks. Soarin’ Over California has been updated now off. Through special permits, Disney is able to take Guests to Soarin’ Over the World. on an exotic journey that is sure to inspire the imagination Though the attraction is the same at several parks, each and give Guests a taste of these exotic landscapes – and queue is unique. The queue in the Land pavilion at Epcot in- hopefully build a hunger for more. cludes an interactive bubble-popping game, while the queue The shot soaring over the infamously crowded freeways for Disneyland’s Soarin’ was designed as an aviation hangar, of is long gone. In its place is a long, elegant, celebrating great pilots of the past from all walks of aviation. sweeping tour of Paris with a sparkling Eiffel Tower. San Francisco has been traded for the towering red rock of Colo- Creating a New Journey rado’s Monument Valley. While shooting Reflections of China (the Circle Vision As grows, many have speculated, attraction that was once located in the China Pavilion at “What Would Walt Do?” The case for Soarin’ is crystal clear. World Showcase in Epcot), Disney received exclusive per- Soarin’ is arguably educational entertainment at its best. mission to film at the Forbidden Temple. Those types of re- Soarin’ Over California commanded 45-plus minute waits lationships were further nurtured to enable Disney to film in California Adventure since its opening. Soarin’ Over The in many of the exclusive locations found in Soarin’ over the World will, no doubt, give Racers (the World. China allowed Disney unprecedented access to film headline attraction from Disney California Adventure’s The Great Wall from their helicopter. 15 years of technologi- Carsland) a race for its FastPasses. Guests looking forward cal advancements bring Guests sharper images of views to visiting Disneyland Resort and Disney California Adven- from the around the world. The sweeping views are abso- ture this summer to experience the attraction’s opening on lutely breathtaking. Other vistas include Sydney’s harbor June 17th should keep in mind that Disneyland does not use and its iconic opera house, castles on the French country- the same MagicBand technology as Walt Disney World does. side, herds of elephants and other animals moving through While new FastPass+ technology is being tested, Guests the African wilderness, the stunning arches of India’s Taj should inquire upon entering the Park to see how to obtain Mahal, and breathtaking views between and above Niagara a FastPass, or head on over to the hangar upon park open- Falls. There is nothing about this attraction that isn’t inspir- ing. This is one attraction, however, that will be worth the ing to anyone with even the smallest sense of wanderlust. time waiting in the Stand By lines. Get ready to soar around Undertones of Jerry Goldsmith’s iconic score live on in the the world, Disney-style!

Photo © Disney 31 · Celebrations By Chris Smith

32 · Celebrations Main Photo © Tim Foster, Inset Photos © Garry Rollins owdy ! Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a popular attractions in the park and a nationwide phe- Hrunaway mine train roller coaster that races over, nomenon. Disney executives made the very interesting around, and through an intricately detailed monument decision to not include a Pirates attraction in Walt Dis- valley landscape in the Frontierland. Big Thunder holds ney World. This was because they felt that Florida was a special place in the hearts of many Walt Disney World so close to the actual Caribbean that Guest excitement guests and has developed legions of devoted fans that and anticipation for such an attraction would be low. race for the attraction as soon as the park opens…de- However, when the Magic Kingdom opened on October spite the fact that it is over 30 years old. This affection 1, 1971, thousands of Guests began asking one question is due in large part to the fact that Big Thunder is more over and over again: Where are the Pirates? than “just” a roller coaster. It is a completely immersive President of Walt Disney Productions de- experience with a fictional backstory that is rivaled only cided to give Guests what they wanted and tasked Imagi- by the real story of how Big Thunder Mountain came to neers with creating a Walt Disney World version of the be. But a word of warning before we begin, if any of you Disneyland classic on a breakneck timeline. Unfortunate- folks are wearin’ hats or glasses, best remove ’em – ’cause ly, this meant that the plans for Thunder Mesa were once this here’s the wildest ride in the wilderness! again placed on hold, and as it turned out, permanently.

Marc Davis and Thunder Mesa When the Magic Kingdom opened on October 1, 1971, With construction of Pirates of the Caribbean com- Frontierland looked much different than it does today. plete, and ’ hopes to salvage some portion The areas where the headliner attractions Splash Moun- of Thunder Mesa quickly dwindling, another legendary tain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad now reside were Disney Imagineer, Tony Baxter, started developing plans vacant lots. Disney’s plan was to fill this space with a mon- for a mine train style attraction in Disneyland that was umental project known as Thunder Mesa. Thunder Mesa almost identical to the runaway railroad concept for was the brainchild of famed Disney Imagineer Marc Davis, Thunder Mesa. The Baxter project was green-lit, includ- and could have been the most visually dominant theme ing a version of the attraction for Walt Disney World. park area ever developed for the Magic Kingdom. Groundbreaking for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Plans for Thunder Mesa called for two headliner at- in Walt Disney World took place in 1979 while the Dis- tractions along with numerous smaller offerings set neyland version was still under construction. The mas- inside, around, and on top of a massive mountainous sive project took 22 months to complete at a cost of ap- landscape. The first major attraction was the Western proximately $17 million dollars, including $300 thousand River Expedition, a western themed Pirates of the Carib- dollars worth of authentic mining equipment used to bean type boat experience. The second was a runaway adorn the queue and attraction. mine train attraction that travelled through ore mines The end result is a Magic Kingdom “weenie” that stands located inside the mountain. 197 feet tall, towering over the landscape of Frontierland Davis and his team created extensive plans and draw- on a 2.5-acre plot of land. The coaster track itself is 2,780 ings for Thunder Mesa. However, as costs for the Magic feet long (longer than the Disneyland version), with six Kingdom soared, Disney executives decided to place trains named U.B. Bold, U.R. Darling, U.R. Courageous, I.M. Thunder Mesa on the “Phase One” project list, which were Brave, I.B. Hearty, and I.M. Fearless. experiences that would be completed within the first The maximum speed of the attraction is approxi- five years after the Magic Kingdom opened. As such, the mately 30 miles per hour. As temperatures rise through- large crop of land dedicated for Thunder Mesa lay empty out the day and the grease on the tracks melts, the speed in Frontierland when the Magic Kingdom first opened. of the attraction gradually increases. The attraction also features a total of about 20 Audio-Animatronic figures. Where Are All of the Pirates? Big Thunder Mountain Railroad officially opened in Pirates of the Caribbean opened in Disneyland on the Magic Kingdom on November 15, 1980 (although the March 18, 1967, and quickly became one of the most attraction was in operation for soft openings on Sep-

33 · Celebrations tember 23, 1980). Unfortunately for smaller prospectors, Big quarters of the Big Thunder Mining Company. A substantial Thunder does have a height requirement of 40 inches. renovation in 2013 brought with it a completely reimagined interior queue. The building is constructed of worn and Tumbleweed and Barnabus T. Bullion aged timbers reflecting the frontier time period, with raf- Big Thunder Mountain has an intricate backstory that ters housing a variety of barrels, crates, and boxes. The pe- was recently updated. As the story goes, during the 1800s riodic flickering of lamps helps to emphasize the idea that gold was discovered in a monument valley mountain. The this is a working mine operation. result was a flood (pun intended) of prospectors all looking There are literally hundreds of fun finds in the indoor to make their fortune without much consideration given to building portion of the queue, including: the effect that mining would have on the mountain itself. • A sign informing Guests and workers that there will be “No With this influx of prospectors, the town of Tumbleweed Drinking, Fighting or Whistling. No Kidding!” arose at the foot of the mountain. The mountain “rumbled” • The Big Thunder Mining Company vault revealing why every time mining took place (the locals name it “Big Thun- Mr. Bullion and others have dared to challenge the spirits der” for this reason). Even worse, the miners continued to of the mountain, as it is packed with gold bars and other disrespect the mountain by drinking and partying all hours valuable minerals that actually “sparkle” upon detonation of the night in the adjacent Gold Dust Saloon. Finally, the of the remote blasting machines discussed below. “spirits” of the Mountain had enough of this debauchery and • A nearby bulletin board holding designs from a patent ap- unleashed a flash flood on Tumbleweed, and an earthquake plication for “Subterrascopes,” with actual Subterrascopes soon followed. Tumbleweed was effectively destroyed, and found later in the queue. the town and mining operations were abandoned. • An advertisement by the Tumbleweed Casket and Cabinet In 2012, Disney announced an entirely knew backstory for Company reminding prospectors that mining is a danger- Big Thunder Mountain, which picks up decades later: ous business. It reads “Cave-Ins? Flash Floods? Bad Beans? “Barnabas T. Bullion is the founder and president of the Big Thun- Life of a Miner is Fraught with Perils. Don’t be Caught Un- der Mining Company. The longtime mining magnate comes from prepared. Boot Hill Layaway.” a very powerful East Coast family and considers gold to be his very • A Butterfly Stage Line advertisement containing numer- birthright by virtue of his oddly appropriate name; in fact, he con- ous hidden tributes. Rates include a trip from Thunder siders the ultimate gold strike to be his destiny. And that is why he Mesa (the attraction’s predecessor concept) to Rainbow is having so much trouble with Big Thunder Mountain. According Ridge (the name of the town in Disneyland’s version of Big to superstitious locals, Big Thunder Mountain is very protective of Thunder Mountain), and Quake City (one of the numerous the gold it holds within, and the unfortunate soul who attempts to references in the queue to the 1975 Disney film The Apple mine its riches is destined to fail. And so far that prophecy is com- Dumpling Gang). Finally, the attraction includes a connec- ing to pass. The mine has been plagued by mysterious forces and tion with the Carrolwood Pacific, a reference to the minia- natural disasters ever since. And yet the Big Thunder Mountain Co. ture railroad that Walt Disney had in his backyard! is still in operation. In fact, Bullion is discovering new veins of gold • One of the most interactive portions of the new queue is and digging new shafts every day, offering a closer look at the Big an area with several remote distance-blasting machines Thunder mining operation that ever before. But a word to the wise that allow Guests to set off “explosions” in the Big Thunder from anyone attempting to visit the mountain: watch out for the Mountain landscape. runaway trains.” • A nearby sign mandating that miners are required to buy all of their supplies from the B.T. Bullion Company Store. A Re-Imagined Queue All sales are mandatory, and all sales are final. What else Guests begin their journey to Big Thunder Mountain by en- would you expect from a store with a manager named Cos- tering through the gates of an ore processing plant and fol- tas A. Lott? low an uphill path past numerous props of antique mining • Another sign instructing all miners that they are required equipment and related items. The southwestern plants and to bunk on the premises at the Big Thunder Boarding landscaping emphasize that this is a Utah desert setting. House. No exceptions! One of the funniest lines in the en- Upon reaching the top of the hill, Guests enter the head- tire queue is the note that meals are provided daily, baths

34 · Celebrations Photos © Mike Billick weekly. Mining is a dirty and, I suppose, a stinky business. series of turns and hills before eventually entering the min- • The “ventilation room” keeping the air that the miners ing town of Tumbleweed. Despite the fact that Guests only breathe safe. When Guests turn the cranks on these props, see the town of Tumbleweed for a split second, it is an ex- they not only receive a nice breeze, but also see a very fun tremely well themed area with numerous details for Guests vintage animation effect. to enjoy if they are paying close attention: • Working hard for an oppressive company and dealing with • A sign lists the population as “dried out.” recurring natural disasters sure can work up an appetite. • The Gold Dust Saloon is at the heart of the discontent of Therefore, it makes sense that we see an advertisement the mountain spirits. At night, patrons can still be seen for the “Hard Times Cafe.” The references to “Quake City” dancing in the upstairs windows of the Saloon. and the specialty being Apple Dumplings are yet more trib- • Next door is the Dry Goods Store of Tumbleweed, whose utes to The Apple Dumpling Gang. proprietors and D. Hydrate, and U. Wither…very appropri- ate given the environment the store is located in. The Attraction • Guests also see the flooded wagon of noted academic Pro- As Guests reach the bottom floor of the interior queue, fessor Cumulus Isobar, Rainmaker. Did Professor Isobar they enter a dual loading platform for their respective run- bring about the massive flood with his precipitation tal- away trains. In the process, Guests hear a classic safety spiel ents? Or was it the curse of mountain spirits instead? voiced by Dallas McKennon (who also voices Ben Franklin at As the trains climb the final hill, another “earthquake” The American Adventure): hits the mountain, clearly indicating that the spirits are “Howdy partners! For your safety, remain seated with your not happy with our adventure. The trains then pass a se- hands, arms, feet, and legs inside the train—and be sure to watch ries of unearthed dinosaur fossils and a series of bubbling your kids. If any of you folks are wearin’ hats or glasses, best remove pools and erupting geysers before finally reaching the end ’em—’cause this here’s the wildest ride in the wilderness!” of their roughly 3 minute and 25 second journey. Guests exit As the adventure begins, the trains roll out of the sta- the attraction on, appropriately enough, “Nugget Way.” tion and reach a dark bat cave with stalactites and stalag- The combination of a great thematic representation of a mites extruding from all directions. The trains then begin boom and bust mining town, an intricately detailed back- to climb the first of three lift hills, with the extremely loud story, very fun props and effects, and an exciting ride expe- clanking of the coaster echoing throughout Frontierland. rience makes it one the best attractions in all of Walt Disney The runaway trains bank left down the first hill into a World. It is indeed the Wildest Ride in the Wilderness!

35 · Celebrations By Lori Elias

36 · Celebrations he 2016 filmThe Jungle Book is Disney’s most recent Bringing the Jungle to Life Tforay into “live-action” remakes of animated classics (or These animals bear the voices of some of filmdom’s most in this case, one live actor working with computer gener- recognized and respected performers. Baloo is played by ated characters and scenes, as well as the voice talents of an comic superstar Bill Murray, whose film credits date back army of silver screen veterans). Maleficent (2014) and Cinder- almost 45 years and include such comedic classics as Cad- ella (2015) were successes among both critics and the box of- dyshack (1980), Stripes (1981), Ghostbusters (1984), Little Shop of fice, and The Jungle Book appears to be yet another triumph Horrors (1986, with music and lyrics by Disney Legends Alan for Disney Studios. Menken and the late ), Scrooged (1988) and The screenplay of The Jungle Book was written by Justin Groundhog Day (1993). In recent years he has also tackled Marks, with the film directed by . The score was more dramatic roles (yet still tinged with humor), includ- composed by John Debney, with songs from the original ing President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in Hyde Park on animated film by Disney Legends Richard M. and Robert B. the Hudson (2012) and The Monuments Men (2014). While The Sherman. Jungle Book is his first voice-over work for Disney, he previ- Both the animated classic and the new live-action movie ously voiced the title role in Garfield (2004) and Badger in The are based on two novels by Rudyard Kipling. Born in India Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009). in 1865, Kipling moved with his family to the United King- Idris Elba is “appearing” (or rather, sounding) in his second dom when he was young, and later to Vermont, where his of three consecutive Disney releases as his deep tones give American wife Caroline’s family had property. It was here, in life to Shere Khan. The two-time 2016 Golden Globe winner 1894, where he wrote the first of the two books, which bears (for the film Beasts of No Nation and the television series Lu- the same title as the films; The Second Jungle Book, which in- ther) was recently heard as Chief Bogo in , and will cludes both stories and poems, was completed the follow- soon delve under the sea as the sea lion Fluke in Finding Dory. ing year. Academy Award winner Sir Ben Kingsley (Gandhi) is the Though commonly referred to as a “live-action remake,” noble . Kingsley’s illustrious career spans both the only real “live-action” occurring in this version of The television and film, with a remarkable resume of esteemed Jungle Book is that of Neel Sethi, the 10-year-old actor who historical figures to his name: Itzhak Stern in Schindler’s List appeared at auditions solely due to a flyer given to him by (1993), Potiphar in Joseph of Egypt and the title role in Moses his dance teacher, and who performed all of his scenes in (1995), and Otto Frank in Anne Frank: The Whole Story (2001). He a Los Angeles studio. The flora of India’s dense, lush jungles has also gained acclaim for Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993), were computer-generated, using techniques attained from Sexy Beast (2000), Tuck Everlasting (2002), House of Sand and Fog earlier days in the Disney Studios (storyboarding the action (2003) Shutter Island (2010) and Hugo (2011). in pencil, a method traditionally used in creating animated Lupita Nyong’o, who earned an Academy Award for 12 films), as well as those used in both Avatar (2009) and Gravity Years a Slave (2013) recently joined the Disney empire as Maz (2013); namely filming Mowgli’s action against a blue screen Kanata in : Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015). She with a few scenic props to use as guidelines, and adding the returned for The Jungle Book in order to voice the wolf Rak- computer-generated scenery and animals later. sha, and will reprise her Star Wars role in the next install- Those animals were a crucial part of the production, ment of the franchise. as they served as young Neel Sethi’s co-stars. If it seems Scarlett Johansson is well-known to Marvel movie fans as though he was truly looking into the eyes of his furry as Natasha Romanoff, or the Black Widow, appearing in friends as he spoke to them, it’s because he had help from a Iron Man 2 (2010), The Avengers (2012), Captain America: The source that knows quite a bit about bringing animals to life: Winter Soldier (2014), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), and Captain Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. The company created animal America: Civil War (2016). Kaa is her most recent voice-over heads which were manipulated by puppeteers, so that Neel performance; she has also played Mindy in The SpongeBob could interact with the puppet heads and appear very real- Squarepants Movie (2004), various roles in the series Robot istic. A leading animation software called Maya was used to Chicken, and perhaps most notably in a critically perfor- create the animals, while ’s RenderMan software cre- mance as Samantha in Her (2013), opposite Joaquin Phoenix. ated the intricate nuances of shading and lighting. Giancarlo Esposito, who portrays , has been work- ing for Disney as a member of the cast of ABC’s Once Upon

Artwork © Disney 37 · Celebrations a Time, playing the dual roles of the Magic Mirror/Sidney Enhancing the lushly-designed jungle and this all-star Glass and in one episode as the Genie of Agrabah. Esposito cast is the music of Academy Award nominee John Debney has made guest and recurring appearances on a number of (The Passion of the Christ), who realized he had a deep emo- television series, namely Revolution, Law & Order, Leverage, Lie tional connection to the film that actually traces back to to Me, CSI: Miami, The Practice and Homicide: Life on the Street. He his parents’ generation. Lou Debney, the composer’s father, has also has a notable film resume that includes Malcolm X worked for Disney in the early days, having been in charge (1992), The Usual Suspects (1995) and Ali (2001). of assembly operation for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Christopher Walken, the voice of , recently (1937). He would later produce 100 episodes of The Mickey showed off his musical prowess in NBC’s production of Pe- Mouse Club and 80 episodes of Zorro, and was also the coordi- ter Pan Live! (2014), dancing across the decks as Captain Hook. nator of the series The Wonderful . Seven years prior, he starred as Wilbur Turnblad in the Because of his father’s job, young John spent many hours film version of the Tony Award winning musical Hairspray. at the Disney Studios, even running into Walt on several Walken, known for his unique delivery, has appeared in a occasions, as well as staff composers and Disney Legends variety of roles in films across the genre, including Annie Richard and Robert Sherman, who wrote most of the songs Hall (1977), The Deer Hunter (1978), Biloxi Blues (1988), Pulp Fiction for the animated film. Debney has credited his time in the (1994), Catch Me If You Can (2002) and Jersey Boys (2014). Shermans’ studio, watching as they created their own film

38 · Celebrations Artwork ©Disney scores, with influencing his own interest in music, and in es- • This was the final performance of comedian Garry Shan- sence he paid homage to them by including music from the dling, who passed away in March. He was the voice of Ikki original movie into the present-day film’s score. the porcupine. • Fans of Christopher Walken (King Louie) might notice that The Jungle Book Fun Facts: when Mowgli enters the palace, he shakes a cowbell, which • To make the animals appear the way a young child such as triggers King Louie’s emergence. Walken is renowned for Mowgli would see them, some of the beasts were created a sketch on Saturday Night Live, airing on April 8, 2000: fol- to be 150 percent larger than they would be in the jungle. lowing a performance of Blue Oyster Cult’s 1976 hit “(Don’t • In the 1967 animated film, King Louie was a bit of an Fear) The Reaper,” Walken’s character famously states, anomaly, as orangutans are not native to India. Research “Well, guess what! I’ve got a fever, and the only prescription conducted for the new film uncovered the Gigantopithe- is more cowbell!” cus, a species of ape related to the orangutan that lived in • Director Jon Favreau’s children – Max, Brighton Rose, and present-day India, China, and Vietnam approximately six Madelin – and the sons of Liev Schreiber and Naomi Watts to nine million years ago, becoming extinct around 100,000 – Sasha and Kai – provided the voices of wolf cubs. years ago. The creative team for the movie approached the • Favreau can be heard playing the ukulele on “I Wan’na Be “new” King Louie as the last representative of his species to Like You.” survive. • Composer John Debney utilized the compositional tech- • Kaa, voiced by Scarlet Johansson, is being portrayed by a fe- nique of leitmotif, giving each character their own “theme male for the first time. Jon Favreau felt that the cast was too song” that is heard as he or she appears. male-heavy, and wanted more of a gender balance. • 70 species of animals were rendered for The Jungle Book.

39 · Celebrations 42 · Celebrations Photo © Mike Billick The Highway in the Sky: The Magic of the Walt Disney World Monorail By Lindsay Mott

43 · Celebrations alt Disney World is a place where you can leave all But that changed in June 1961 when the Disneyland Wof your cares behind and focus on the magic, your Monorail became an actual mode of transportation for Dis- hopes and dreams, and of course, your wishes. For many, neyland Guests. The track was extended to cover a total of this feeling hits as soon as they arrive on property, but for 2.5 miles and linked the Disneyland Hotel to . some, it’s not really a visit to the Most Magical Place on Earth Besides extending the track, a new fleet of Mark II mono- until you see that iconic futuristic train pull up soundlessly rails was introduced which now featured four each. In to the Transportation and Ticket Center and hear a famil- addition, the gold monorail was added alongside the red iar voice utter the famous phrase: “Please stand clear of the and blue monorails, and the iconic bubble dome on the top doors. Por favor manténganse alejado de las puertas.” For of the front car was enlarged. many, this is what starts (or ends) a perfect trip to Walt By 1969, the Disneyland Monorail had become not only Disney World, along with the familiar aromas and sights an incredibly popular mode of transportation for Guests aboard one of the most beloved forms of transportation traveling from the Disneyland Hotel to the park; it was also (and attractions) at Walt Disney World: the monorail. an E-ticket attraction unto itself. When the Imagineers be- gan working on the next generation of Mark III trains, they The Beginnings of the Future of Transportation knew they needed to increase their capacity to support Even before Disneyland opened, the monorail was part of their popularity, so the number of cars was increased from the plan for Walt Disney’s big dream. Walt had always had a four to five, with the total monorail reaching a length of 137 love of trains, and this would be another way to add a train- feet. The green monorail also made its debut at this time. style attraction to a different area of his park. Though he had planned to include a monorail system in Tomorrowland, Arrival in Florida and Expansion in California Walt and his Imagineers had a difficult time finding a suit- The next innovation for the monorail system was the able version to add to the new park. The forerunner of the Mark IV train. This model premiered in 1971, but not at modern monorail system was tested in Germany in the 1950s, Disneyland. When the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, its and two of his Imagineers introduced him to a monorail sys- monorail boasted ten trains of five cars each on two mono- tem created by the Alweg Corporation in Germany in 1958. rail tracks – the express and the resort monorail. The re- This system allowed Walt to see the potential for bring- sort monorail originally made stops at four stations: the ing a monorail to his park. Rather than a traditional sus- Transportation and Ticket Center, Disney’s Polynesian Vil- pended-track design, the Alweg Corporation had created lage Resort, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and the Magic a unique straddle-beam track with a slender design that Kingdom. The iconic monorail system now sat on a nearly would allow the beam to blend perfectly with the surround- three-mile long track that provided transportation from ing landscape in Walt’s world of “tomorrow.” Walt also loved the parking lot and resorts to the Magic Kingdom. Imagi- the combination of electric propulsion and rubber wheels neer based the design of the Walt Disney World on the beam that produced an almost noiseless operation Monorail System on the original monorails at Disneyland, – preventing distraction for Guests either on the attraction but gave them an updated look. These Mark IV trains held a or passing nearby. Walt Disney asked Alweg to design the total of 145 passengers, with 32 each in the two end cars and original 8/10-mile beamway around Tomorrowland and en- 27 each in the three middle cars. listed a young designer, Bob Gurr, to design the train. In 1982, the Walt Disney World monorail expanded even Through the efforts of this collaborative effort, the Dis- further with the opening of the four-mile Epcot line to pro- neyland Alweg Monorail System opened on June 14, 1959 as vide transportation service to the newly opened park. In the first, new-style daily operating monorail system in the 1988, the Grand Floridian station was added to the resort western hemisphere. The “Highway in Sky,” as it is known monorail line at the Magic Kingdom. in some circles, featured two Mark I trains; each with three Back at Disneyland, the Mark V trains were introduced in cabins, along with the now-iconic bubble top front. Walt had 1987, and the design was different – it was now designed to hoped to provide more than a scenic journey through Dis- resemble the Mark IV at Walt Disney World. The new model neyland; he wanted to use the system for transportation, was now white with an accent color stripe running along but at first the system was just a regular park attraction. the side: red, blue, orange, and purple. In 1994, the path for

44 · Celebrations the Monorail was changed so it would be diverted above the was later revealed that Monorail Purple had not been up- Eeyore section of the original parking lot, making room for graded and was scrapped. the new Jones Adventure attraction. The track was In 2012, the Mark VII trains shared the beam with the rerouted again in 1999 when construction began on Disney Manny, Mandy & Mona Monorails to celebrate the grand California Adventure, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & opening of at Disney California Adventure. These Spa, and the District. With the opening new friends took up temporary residence above Disneyland of the Downtown Disney District at Disneyland, a new sta- Resort to welcome Lightning McQueen, , and the rest tion for the Disneyland Monorail opened in 2001, providing of their friends from Radiator Springs. In June 2014, the Dis- a convenient second entrance to Disneyland park, which is neyland Monorail celebrated its 55th anniversary. still available for Guests today. In Florida, the Mark VI Monorail made its debut at Walt Disney World Resort in 1989. This version of the train had The Monorail Today wider doors, improved air conditioning, better communi- The current Disneyland Monorail is the Mark VII, which is cation systems, and increased interior height. Each of the very similar to the Mark III version and also bears heavy re- twelve, six-car trains is 203 feet long and has an overall semblance to Mark I, minus the bubble-top cab and upside- height of 10 feet, 5 ½ inches. The first two Mark VI Mono- down Cadillac tailfins. The Mark VII provides a new seating rails were operated and tested at night without Guests. In arrangement that allows Guests to sit facing the windows December 1989, Monorail Blue began to transport the first to give them a better look at the elevated view of Disney- Guests on the updated transportation system. This new land. Monorail Red debuted at the Disneyland Resort on fleet of monorail trains, built by Bombardier, increased July 3, 2008 as the first Mark VII train. Monorail Blue then Guest capacity by 30 percent. began transporting Guests later that summer, and the last The system was updated in the early 1990s with new train, Monorail Orange, went into operation in April 2009. It trains to complete the 12-train fleet. Today, the monorail

45 · Celebrations 46 · Celebrations carries nearly 7,000 Guests per direction each hour and will transporting Guests into a truly far-away land. These ultra- transport more than 150,000 Guests on a typical day, averag- modern, sleek, futuristic trains glide silently along a single ing over 50 million Guests annually. raised track, or the “highway in the sky,” and set the tone for Walt Disney World has a three-loop, 14.7-mile system of what Guests are sure to experience as they continue into elevated beamways that service six stations: Epcot, Magic the parks: a magical place that’s far removed from the real Kingdom, TTC, Disney’s Contemporary Resort (the monorail world. actually passes straight through the Contemporary’s open Through the years, this mode of transportation has A-frame concourse), Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, turned into a favorite “non-attraction” attraction for many and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. Trains travel on a Guests. And to most Disney fans, they know they’ve arrived 26-inch-wide concrete beam supported by tapered con- when they hear those famous words: “Please stand clear of crete columns approximately 110 feet apart. The beams and the doors. Por favor manténganse alejado de las puertas.” columns are constructed in sets of six and post-tensioned That voice, instantly recognizable to Disney fans every- together to form a single 600-foot structure. As trains move where, belongs to Jack Wagner, who was the official park along the beamway, they pick up electrical power from a announcer for Disneyland through 1993. Until a few years metallic buss bar. Each of the 12 monorails is identified by ago, Wagner’s narrations also provided an introduction to its own colored stripe: Peach, Teal, Red, Coral, Orange, Gold, the Magic Kingdom resorts that you passed by during your Yellow, Lime, Green, Blue, Silver, and Black. journey. New announcements have since come online, often pointing out special events and seasonal celebrations, but What Makes the Monorail So Magical? Wagner’s infamous safety spiel still remains to this day. At Walt Disney World, the Imagineers wanted to uphold The unique colored stripes on the side of each monorail Walt Disney’s vision of an immersive experience, ensuring help the operators to keep track of the various trains that that Guests left the real world behind. The Seven Seas La- circle the different loops around the parks. Part of the fun goon separated Guest parking from the entrance to the of staying at Walt Disney World is seeing if you can spot all Magic Kingdom, making the monorail an integral part of twelve colors during your trip. Seeing the colored monorails

Opposite Photo © Mike Billick, Top Photo © Garry Rollins 47 · Celebrations gliding along the tracks, particularly in Epcot, is a truly un- the right moment, you were treated to a holiday show that forgettable sight. You also get an amazing view of Future you would never forget. World as the Epcot loop travels well into the park before Another magical moment you can experience, if you completing a full circle back to the station at the front of time it just right, is the opportunity to see Wishes from the Epcot. This is a sight to behold during nighttime and special monorail as you leave the Magic Kingdom. Sure, you won’t holiday events, and especially at Christmas as the monorail hear the music, and you may lose sight of the fireworks as takes you right past the breathtaking Epcot Christmas tree you pass through the various resorts, but it’s still a sight you at the end of the promenade leading to World Showcase. At will never forget, and one that will live in your heart forever. one time the monorail passed through a spectacular light display, the Lights of Winter, that lit up in perfect synchron- Transportation of the Future? icity to the Christmas music playing along the promenade. While building his famous park, Walt Disney always had If you were fortunate enough to be on the monorail at just another project in his mind: EPCOT. The “Experimental Pro-

48 · Celebrations Photos © Mike Billick totype Community of Tomorrow” would be an ideal place When Walt passed away in 1966, the drive behind EPCOT was to live; a place where all of life’s frustrations and inconve- no longer there, and the focus turned to the creation of the niences (like the sound of trash being picked up) would all Magic Kingdom. Some of Walt’s ideas for Epcot – like the use be taken care of, and Walt’s vision included a monorail sys- of the monorail – made it’s way into the Florida parks, but the tem as a main form of transportation. Beyond EPCOT, Walt city of the future is still waiting to be built. envisioned the monorail as a solution for mass transporta- Over the years, the monorail has become a classic Disney tion needs around the world. attraction and a favorite for many Guests – young and old. Walt’s dream was that EPCOT would always be progressing The next time you board that highway in the sky, notice and innovating, inspiring companies to come up with new what color train you are on and think of the long history ideas for urban living. This city would be a hub-and-spoke of the monorail and its possibilities for the future. Oh, and design (much like the Magic Kingdom), with the monorail when boarding, be sure to remember to “please stand clear connecting the outlying residential areas to the city’s center. of the doors.”

49 · Celebrations alt Disney was never one for conventional Wwisdom. When television began rising in popularity after World War II, many in Hollywood Walt Disney saw it as a grave threat. The common fear was that, with TV sets readily available, box office receipts would plummet. To Walt, though, television rep- resented a glorious opportunity – one that could and the New bring the Disney brand into households across the nation and catapult his studio to new heights. In fact, Walt Disney Productions had been re- searching the possibilities of small screen produc- World of tion since the 1930s. Yet, despite palpable interest, the studio did not take its first step towards tele- vision until 1950, when it agreed to create an hour- Television long Christmas Day special on NBC. For Walt and his brother Roy, this decision served as an invaluable chance to test out the medium (as well as promote By Kevin Carpenter their upcoming animated feature Alice in Wonder- land) without making a long-term commitment.

50 · Celebrations Bringing a Disney Christmas to the Living Room to make a splash against heavyweight competitors (and This Yuletide extravaganza, “One Hour in Wonderland,” in- Walt’s one-time Christmas collaborators) CBS and NBC. Both vited viewers to a very special holiday party at the Disney networks outpaced ABC in ratings and market share, but studio – complete with Hollywood celebrities and classic Kintner and company believed this prestigious partnership cartoons. Slightly skittish about hosting the show alone, with the Disney studio heralded a change in fortune. Walt welcomed his friend (with ventriloquist This ABC-Disney agreement, though, did not come cheap- dummy, Charlie McCarthy, in tow) as co-host. The name ly. Walt’s willingness to finally dive into the weekly television “Walt Disney” may have been famous, but the man himself arena came with a rather large string attached – invest- had little experience stepping in front of the cameras. Walt ment in Disneyland. With the banks bearish on financing was so convinced that his homespun diction and fledgling the studio’s ambitious park project, Walt recognized that acting skills would drag down the production that he re- television was his next best option. Any network hoping fused to watch the results of each day’s taping. to sign Disney must also agree to purchase a substantial By the time filming wrapped, though, everyone at Disney amount of stock in the planned theme park. Paramount knew that the special was destined to be a hit. At an inter- Theaters, the parent company of ABC, obliged where CBS nal screening held for studio employees to give honest feed- and NBC balked. Their $15 million investment bought them back, four out of every five workers judged the production a cool 35% interest in Walt’s dream park. to be “excellent.” Audiences everywhere evidently agreed, as In truth, the timing was serendipitous on all sides: ABC the Disney Christmas special racked up more than twenty needed a hit show, Disneyland needed investment, and the million viewers. To put that in perspective, approximately television medium had finally matured enough to satisfy 90% of the national television audience was watching “One Walt’s high standards. He later recounted: “I had to wait until Hour in Wonderland” on Christmas Day. I was sure of top quality. Quality in our productions, in our With numbers like that, it was no surprise that the Disney ability to produce materials for this medium. Quality in the studio decided to air another Christmas show the following reception in homes. I waited a long time. It has taken until year. This time on CBS, “The Walt Disney Christmas Show” now for the elements I wanted to blend.” featured a more relaxed Walt flying solo with the host- Once planning for the new series got underway, the big- ing duties. Sixty minutes of Disney merriment – animated gest question was who would be the host. ABC pushed for shorts, a segment from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Walt himself to assume the role, confident that his dynamic as well as a visit from Peter Pan and Wendy – delighted the personality would captivate viewers. Walt, though, was not audience of children gathered in the studio. so sure. He had so little experience in front of the camera The show’s sponsor, Johnson & Johnson, magnanimously and was vastly more comfortable behind the scenes. Before agreed to install television sets in more than fifty hospitals long, Walt relented, reluctantly accepting the fact that no across the country so that the young patients (or the young one else could give voice to his vision for Disneyland better at heart) would not have to miss the Disney Christmas spe- than he. cial. Both studio and sponsor were rewarded for this benev- Still, it was a nerve-wracking day for Walt Disney when olent spirit with another ratings bonanza. he stepped before the cameras to film the debut episode of “Disneyland”. Although he had agreed to present the se- Enter ABC and “Disneyland” ries, Walt still considered himself a poor excuse for a host. The incredible success of these Disney-produced holiday As if confirming his worst fears, filming had scarcely begun specials left the television industry wanting more. Yet it before the director approached Walt with a concern. But it was not until April 1954 that the American Broadcasting was not his inexperience in front of the camera that was Company (ABC) finally sealed the deal. Following months the issue – he just needed to smile more. of negotiations between Roy O. Disney and his ABC coun- The truth was that standing on stage and staring out at terpart, Robert Kintner, the Disney studio inked an exclu- the stone-faced cameramen gave Walt little to smile about. sive three-year contract (plus an option for four additional As hard as it was to believe, the man who brought smiles to seasons) with the network for a weekly anthology series of millions worldwide was having trouble putting one on his hour-long programs. own face. This was the major coup that ABC had long sought, eager It was time for drastic action. Walt grabbed a paintbrush

51 · Celebrations and attacked one of the cameras. By the time he was done, no return. There’s no turning back.” But, as the October 27th the camera was sporting a freshly-painted grinning face, premiere date drew closer, the only ones still hoping that complete with grotesque ears and teeth. “Now,” Walt re- Walt would turn back were his Wednesday evening time- marked, “I’ve got something to smile back at.” slot competitors. That did the trick and filming moved forward in earnest. It was a very busy time at the Disney studio – managing both Showtime! the construction of Disneyland, which broke ground in July When the big day finally arrived, families all across the 1954, and the production of the “Disneyland” weekly televi- country tuned in to see what new wonders the Disney ma- sion series was no small feat. But then there was nothing gicians had up their sleeves. Aptly titled “The Disneyland ordinary about Walt Disney and his crew of magic-makers. Story,” the episode opened with an aerial shot of the Disney Expectations were sky-high for “Disneyland” and view- studio campus in Burbank, complete with busy employ- ers around the nation had the premiere date of October ees scurrying this way and that on Mickey Avenue. A short 27 circled on their calendars. Upping the ante even further, glimpse was then granted to two feature films still in pro- ABC had audaciously scheduled the show to go head-to- duction: the live-action adventure 20,000 Leagues Under the head with one of the top-rated programs already on the air, Sea, and the animated fantasy Sleeping Beauty. “Arthur Godfrey and His Friends.” The pressure was on and Walt himself then took over, inviting the audience to Walt knew it. take a sneak peek at the plans for his Anaheim park as the camera “walked” them down Main Street, U.S.A. Rather than simply telling the public about his latest entertainment enterprise, Walt brought the vision of his theme park to life in living rooms far and wide – something only possible through the power of television. He explained that the format for “Disneyland” (the show) mirrored that of the park – each episode would highlight a particular land and its genre of stories. To better illustrate this, Walt welcomed several of his studio’s stalwarts to give short previews of the four lands: • Frontierland promised to send viewers back into the America of yesteryear to meet the legendary men and women who shaped this fine nation. As such, Norman Foster introduced , who crooned “The Ballad of Davy Crockett.” • Producer explained how camera crews were busy traversing continents to film nature, in all her beauty, for Adventureland. Short clips were shown of the Some of this tension was self-inflicted, as the Disney stu- Galapagos Islands, Lapland, and an unusual Portuguese dio would be pumping plenty of its own money into the new bull fight wherein a group of men subdued a bull with only television anthology series. On average, each episode was to their bare hands, rather than using weapons to kill it. cost $100,000, quite a bit more than ABC was chipping in. But • , the legendary animator, shared his plans for Walt believed in doing work of the highest quality, and he the “Man in Space” Tomorrowland episode – including a de- would not be bound by the budget given to him by the net- lightful drawing of the Common Man losing the contents work. He even spent the extra money to future-proof the of his martini glass while afloat in zero gravity. telecasts by filming them in color, despite the fact that the • To cap it off, Walt returned to show off with shows were going to be broadcast in black-and-white. the “Laughing Place” segment from . In As excited as he was by his new show’s potential, Walt did only twenty short minutes, the studio had managed to confide some pre-debut jitters: “Sometimes I wonder why showcase the wide variety of adventures sure to be found the hell I got into this thing, but we’ve passed the point of in Disneyland – both the park and the show.

52 · Celebrations The episode’s second half served as a most deserving In the spring of 1955, “Disneyland” was honored with two tribute to Mickey Mouse. Several highlights were screened, Emmy Awards – as both the nation’s best variety series and ranging from his first appearance in Plane Crazy to The Sor- for one outstanding episode, “Operation Undersea.” The se- cerer’s Apprentice, which Walt declared the “greatest thrill ries’ seventh episode, “Operation Undersea,” took the idea of of [Mickey’s] acting career.” Before the final credits rolled, promoting an upcoming studio production to a whole new a short preview of the next episode – a truncated version level. Taking viewers behind the scenes of how the under- of Alice in Wonderland – was offered to whet appetites for a water sequences were filmed in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, return visit. the episode served as an informative and action-packed From almost the very moment the premiere ended, hour-long commercial for the soon-to-be-released Kirk positive reviews rolled in unabated. In particular, syndi- Douglas thriller. If nothing else, it was the latest demonstra- cated columnist Jack O’Brian enthused: “Nothing short of an tion at how adeptly the Disney studio could mix entertain- atomic explosion would seem to aim a deadening influence ment and promotion. on [Walt Disney’s] masterful amusement.” The occasional However, all of the plaudits and awards in the world were critic lamented the slow pace of the show’s first segment not enough to satisfy Walt Disney. Even after months of sky- (and its brazenly promotional nature), but virtually all were high ratings and adoring press clippings, he fretted: “It may won over once work out, but the animation no matter what began. happens, I’m The broadcast stuck for seven ratings only rein- years.” forced the many As it turned glowing reviews out, Walt had and confirmed, nothing to worry once and for all, about, and he that network ended up “stuck” television was in television for a indeed fertile whole lot longer ground for the than that. The Disney studio. studio’s weekly “Disneyland” had program, al- been watched though it evolved by 52% of the na- through many tional viewing different names audience, good and incarna- for a sterling 28.4 tions, quickly rating. That number dwarfed those of competitors CBS became a beloved part of America’s television landscape, (14.6) and NBC (7.7). Incredibly, the following week got even refusing to relinquish its grip on the viewing public until better, as the second episode grew to a 30.3 rating. By the many years after Walt’s passing. end of the season, “Disneyland” was a bonafide sensation But back on that first day of filming in the summer of and a mainstay in the Neilsen Top 10. 1954, the show’s eventual success and longevity must have The show’s success meant a much higher profile for Walt. seemed a world away. Filled with uncertainty at this new In many ways, “Disneyland” marked the beginning of Walt venture and his role as host, Walt Disney took a deep breath Disney as a public personality. He was certainly well-known and rose to the occasion. He turned to the camera, saw that before, but his exposure skyrocketed now that he appeared whimsically grotesque face painted on the front, and wel- on screens nationwide each week. “Uncle Walt,” as he is comed his viewers on this maiden voyage to a new world of fondly remembered, truly became just another member of entertainment. the family. And, yes, he was smiling.

53 · Celebrations 54 · Celebrations Main Street Harmonies: The Story of by Shaun Jex

Photo © Tim Devine 55 · Celebrations 56 · Celebrations he idea was simple: create a barbershop to per- ney legend, the Osmond Brothers, who sang as a barber- Tform at Walt Disney’s fledgling Disneyland park in Ana- shop quartet at the time, happened to be at the park one heim, California. The group would capture that small town, day. The Dans noticed that the boys were all dressed alike turn-of-the-century feel that Walt envisioned for Main and asked if they could sing. An impromptu performance Street, U.S.A. The result was the Dapper Dans, and their act followed, with the Osmonds and Dapper Dans alternating would bring a touch of old vaudeville to Guests; combining songs. The Osmonds were so well received that they were four part harmony with elements of slapstick, humor, and promptly hired to sing at the Park for the summer. The dance. truth is slightly less romantic than this story of chance The group’s earliest incarnation came in 1957, when Park meeting, as the event seems to have been informally ar- Talent Manager Chuck Corson was tasked with forming ranged by a member of the Dans’ and the Osmonds’ vocal the group. Corson drew from his previous work as Stage coach Val Hicks. Manager for the vocal group Fred Waring and His Pennsyl- One of the group’s most iconic members, Charles “Bub” vanians. He recruited singers from Waring’s chorale and Thomas, joined the group in 1969. Born in 1911 in Lewiston, brought them to the park to perform as the Main Street Montana, Thomas formed his first barbershop quartet Quartet. Today, Guests can pay tribute to this father of the while serving in World War II. Thomas was also an accom- Dapper Dans by visiting his window on Main Street, U.S.A in plished caricature artist. For a time he traveled to hospitals, the Magic Kingdom. Corson’s window reads, “If It’s New, It’s entertaining patients with his drawings. He developed a the Latest - Talent Agents - Charles Casting Director.” popular ventriloquist act that he took to California night- It was not until 1959 that the Dapper Dans’ act truly began clubs and spent time performing with the USO during the to crystallize. Under the guidance of another Talent Direc- Vietnam War. tor named Sonny Anderson, the group became more than It was Thomas who brought the distinctive Deagan a simple singing act. Anderson wanted a group that could Chimes to the Dapper Dans’ repertoire. Thomas is said to entertain and hold the interest of parents visiting the park. have been introduced to the chimes by actress and singer The quartet had finally settled into a regular cast of per- Billie Bird. The two had performed together frequently formers with John Borneman at tenor, Roger Axworthy as while Thomas was a member of the 4 Dandies Quartet, and lead, T.J. Marker as bass, and Ted Nichols singing baritone. It at The Roaring 20’s Club that Thomas owned in Torrance, was Marker who gave the the Dapper Dan name, tak- California. en from early 20th century slang. The group incorporated The instrument was a curiosity, made by the J.C. Deagan jokes, tap dance, and interaction with park guests in addi- company around the turn of the century. Known as a shake tion to their singing routine. chime, it seems to have been based on the Indonesian ang- Walt and were fans of the group. The Dans klung. The angklung is a group of two to four bamboo tubes, often performed private shows for Walt while he ate his held by a bamboo frame and tuned to octaves. The Deagan breakfast at the Hills Brother’s Cafe. In his youth, Walt was chimes substituted metal for bamboo. Two small “feet” re- an aspiring vaudevillian and he carried an appreciation for side in the bottom of each tube, which strike the bell when the genre throughout his life. It was Walt who added the shaken. group’s signature four seat, tandem bicycle to the act, spe- cially commissioning it to be built by the Schwinn Bicycle The Dapper Dans Come to Florida Company. With the opening of Walt Disney World in 1971, the Dapper The bicycle remained a staple for the group in both the Dans act moved east. The original Walt Disney World Dans Orlando and Anaheim locations, until increasing crowds consisted of Dick Kneeland singing lead, Bub Thomas at made it impractical to use in the Magic Kingdom. The bike bass, Jerry Siggins at baritone, and Bob Mathis at tenor. The disappeared from both parks for a time, but was reintro- group performed in the new park a week before its grand duced in Disneyland for the 2005 “Happiest Celebration on opening, giving a concert at the GAF Photo Center for Dis- Earth.” ney employees and their families. One of the best-known stories from the group’s early The group performed at the park’s official dedication years occurred in 1961, when the Osmond family (later of on October 25th of that year, singing a collection of songs Donny and Marie fame) visited the park. According to Dis- from Meredith Wilson’s “The Music Man.” Wilson was in at-

Photo © Garry Rollins 57 · Celebrations tendance to direct the marching band in a parade, but not “My Dad got me into barbershop. I started singing in 1970 before he sang a few numbers with the group behind the when I was ten in Terre Haute, Indiana. We moved to Florida scenes. in 1972. We went out and learned the routines, but we didn’t The Dans’ base of operations was the Harmony Barber- get the part. Then Disney said that they had to start using shop, located on West Center Street in the Magic Kingdom. part time subs for the regular singers.” They took breaks in the shop and stored their chimes there. Both Ross and his father got the call back, joining the Dap- It also served as a bad weather venue and a place for up per Dans on a part time basis. Ross’ brother Rusty also joined close and personal interactions with Guests. the group and the three performed together for a time. The group paid homage to their musical roots by sere- Thirty-eight years later, Ross is still singing with the Dapper nading customers of the shop. The practice continued until Dans, though both Bob and Rusty have left the group. 2001, when renovations on Main Street moved the barber- “I work year round, a couple weekends a month.” Ross said, shop to the front of the park to make room for expansions “There are about 20 subs now on a regular basis. There are to the Emporium. The new locale increased foot traffic into eight full time. A lot of them are also involved in other Dis- the barbershop, making it impractical for the group to con- ney areas. Some guys in the Dappers also work with Voices tinue performing there. of America.” In 1978, several members of the Orlando Dapper Dans re- In 1983, Ross traveled to Japan for a few months to work turned to work at the Anaheim park, opening up several po- full time starting the Dapper Dans in Tokyo Disneyland. “My sitions in the group. The company contacted area barber- trip to Japan was one of the highlights of my time with the shop singers to audition. One local singer, Roger Ross came Dans. I was one of very few subs in the 80s. A couple of the and auditioned along with his father Bob. full time guys decided not to go. I was still going to college

58 · Celebrations and selling real estate. I took a semester off and had the Ross said. “For instance, the Oogie Boogie song from Night- agency take care, and off to Japan I went.” mare Before Christmas and a song called Trick or Treat Ross views the opportunity to perform with Bub Thom- from an old Donald Duck cartoon were introduced last year.” as as another highlight of his time with the group. Thomas Among the songs in regular rotation are Disney classics continued performing with the group until his passing in such as “Cruella de Vil” and “Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah,” as well as 1997. “I learned so much from him about entertainment,” American popular classics like “Mr. Sandman.” The group Ross said, “Having all of that experience and knowledge has will also regularly sing “Happy Birthday” to Guests wearing enriched me as a person and entertainer.” birthday buttons and invite visiting barbershoppers to join That influence can be seen in the various successful bar- them in song. bershop groups Ross is associated with outside of the Dap- “There are usually about six or eight songs that all barber- pers. An active member of the Barbershop Harmony Soci- shoppers know,” Ross said. “Songs like Wild Irish Rose, Coney ety, Ross won a gold medal at international competition Island Baby, Heart of My Heart, and Sweet And Lovely. When in 1992 with the quartet Keepsake and a bronze medal in visiting barbershops come they can come and sing a song 2015 with Main Street, a quartet comprised of former and or two with us and they get a card making them honorary current Dapper Dans and Voices members of the Dappers Dans. For of America performers. Ross also a lot of them it might be the high- serves as the head coach for the lighting of their singing career, sing- Tokyo Barbers, a Tokyo based bar- ing with the world’s most famous bershop chorus. barbershop quartet.” Since those early days in Anaheim, The Dapper Dans Today the group has turned into an insti- With close to four decades of tution with a global reach. In addi- work at the Walt Disney World tion to the American Parks, the Dap- Park, Ross is also able to provide pers have performed in Disneyland a unique behind the scenes per- Tokyo, Hong Kong Disneyland, and spective into what it takes to keep as the Main Street Quartet in Dis- the group running and why it has neyland Paris. Different members of become such an iconic part of the the group have appeared in televi- park experience. sion programs ranging from a 1976 “There are two .” Ross appearance on the “Tony Orlando said. “One performs Sunday and Dawn Show” to a 1993 episode through Wednesday and the oth- of “,” and a 2012 epi- er performs Wednesday through sode of “.” The group Saturday. Wednesday each group even made an appearance on celeb- performs for a half day with the other half used for re- rity gossip Perez Hilton’s webpage when they gave a perfor- hearsal. No two shows are alike and pretty much every song mance on a Southwest Airlines flight in the fall of 2014. has some kind of movement, with tap dance and straw hat When asked to explain this wide ranging and lasting ap- routines. Most of what we do is soft shoe and waltz clog peal, Ross is quick to answer. “I think it’s that the Dapper oriented tap. Most of us who become Dappers did not have Dans have the ability to become more personal with our previous tap experience, but were taught at Disney. A few audience. We’re approachable. We love interacting with the of the guys have formal tap training in their background.” crowd. We’re really ambassadors for the Disney company According to Ross, the group has a repertoire of about and barbershop singing. When you step onto Main Street, fifty songs, with an additional 12-15 for Halloween (when the you can go back in time and suspend your disbelief and be group transforms into the Cadaver Dans, a group of undead, whisked away to a special time. To be a barbershopper and singing cowboys that perform in Frontierland) and anoth- to sing with one of the greatest quartets in the world, on er 12-15 that are sung only at Christmas. Main Street U.S.A., is quite an honor. I hope the Dappers are “We learn one or two new songs a year for the holidays,” there forever, beyond my lifetime.”

Photos © Garry Rollins 59 · Celebrations 60 · Celebrations The Hidden Treasures of the Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe By Chris Smith

Photo © Tim Devine 61 · Celebrations he Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe, located in Frontier- ers, Bob Nolan, and the Sons of the Pioneers provided the Tland, is wildly popular with theme park Guests and of- charming narration and soundtrack. Interestingly enough, fers a variety of tex-mex food options for hungry cowboys Rogers, Nolan, and the Pioneers tell the story of Pecos Bill and cowgirls alike. Even though most Guests might see it to child stars Bobby Driscoll and Luana Patten. Interesting as just another counter service restaurant, the Cafe is ac- because Driscoll and Patten also appeared in the 1946 Dis- tually one of the most well-themed restaurants in all of ney film Song of the South, which served as the inspiration Walt Disney World, complete with an intricate backstory, for Splash Mountain, a Frontierland neighbor of the Pecos a funny slogan and code of conduct, and numerous hidden Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe. treasures scattered throughout the establishment that pay The animated rendition of Pecos Bill is fanciful and joy- homage to numerous historical and fictional folk heroes, ous, and recounts the story of a boy orphaned in the des- many of whom have their own ties to Disney. So join me as ert and raised by coyotes who grew up to be the toughest I take off my hat, dust off my spurs, and mosey on up to the critter West of the Alamo. Pecos out “loped” the antelope, out bar (the fixins’ bar that is), to explore the story behind Pecos hopped the jackrabbit, and even out hissed the rattlesnake. Bill and the restaurant that serves up “the tastiest eats and His numerous exploits include meeting his horse and best treats this side of the Rio Grande.” friend Widowmaker by fighting 50 buzzards; meeting Slue Foot Sue (the love of his life); taming a cyclone; bringing rain Pecos Bill, and Tall Tales from “Californy” to create the Gulf of Mexico; and knocking Pecos Bill is a fictional folk hero, the toughest, rootinest, gold fillings out of the mouths of cattle rustlers to create tootinest cowboy in the entire West. The history of Pecos the gold rush. began in the late 1800s as tall tales told around campfires. In 1995, Disney also released the live-action movie Tall Tale The earliest published references to Pecos Bill date back to that centered upon Pecos Bill and two other legendary fig- 1917 in stories by Edward O’Reilly for “The Century Magazine,” ures from American folklore; Paul Bunyan and John Henry. which were later reprinted in 1923 in the book “The Saga of The film recounts the story of a young boy growing up in Pecos Bill.” the early 1900s, and how the legendary figures help him deal Disney’s connection to Pecos Bill began in 1948 as part of with a family crisis. Although Tall Tale was not a huge com- the animated compilation film Melody Time. The film was mercial success, it did feature a star-studded cast, with Pat- the tenth animated feature released by rick Swayze playing the role of Pecos Disney, and the fifth of Disney’s “pack- Bill and Oliver Platt playing the role aged” films, followingSaludos Amigos of Paul Bunyan. (1942), The Three Caballeros (1945), (1946), and Fun and Fancy Free History and Exterior Facades (1947). The Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Melody Time featured the work of a Cafe originally opened in the Magic variety of noted Disney animators in- Kingdom on opening day, October 1, cluding , , 1971, as “The Pecos Bill Cafe.” However, , and Ward Kimball (who ani- the restaurant underwent a major mated Pecos himself), as well as Mary refurbishment in 1998 that included Blair and , who oversaw a name change to the “Pecos Bill Tall the color and styling for the film. Melody Tale Inn and Cafe.” As part of this Time was divided into seven segments refurbishment, Pecos actually con- that each featured colorful animation set to charming mu- sumed (pun intended) another dining spot in the process, sical scores: Once Upon a Wintertime, Bumble Boogie, The Legend The Mile Long Bar. Interestingly enough, the Audio-Anima- of Johnny Appleseed, Little Toot, Trees, Blame it on the Samba, and tronic heads of Melvin the moose, Buff the buffalo, and Max Pecos Bill. the deer that formerly adorned the walls of The Mile Long Pecos Bill was the longest of the Melody Time segments at Bar were relocated to the adjacent . approximately 22 minutes. Famed cowboy singers Roy Rog- The building housing the Cafe is massive and straddles

62 · Celebrations Artwork © Disney the borders of both Frontierland and Adventureland. The inside the doors of the restaurant about our hero Pecos and Tall Tale Inn and Cafe is very unique in that it has multiple how his restaurant came into existence: entrances and multiple facades that are themed in entirely “Considered by many as the meanest, toughest, roughest cow- different styles. On the Frontierland side, the exterior rep- boy of them all, Pecos Bill has been credited for inventing all things resents an old-West saloon, and is composed of blue blank western, from rodeos to cowboy dancing, to spurs, hats and lassos. construction. The roof of the saloon is stamped with the He can draw faster, shoot straighter and ride a horse harder than year “1878.” As we will soon learn, this is the year that Pecos any man alive. Unfortunately, we don’t know when and where he originally founded his famous watering hole. This saloon was born, just that he was raised by coyotes and that his name façade represents the area formerly occupied by The Mile comes from the river in Texas. Over the years, Pecos Bill along Long Bar, and features a sign for the restaurant with a pic- with his trusty horse, Widowmaker, have made quite a name for ture of our smiling hero, Pecos Bill, hanging out front. An- themselves forging new trails and taming others. Legend tells other sign hanging on the Saloon exterior advertises “Her- us several tall tales like the time Pecos Bill jumped on a powerful rick’s Vegetable Pills,” which are used to treat “Dyspepsia, twister and road it like a bucking bronco. Then there was the time Colic, Sick Headache, Constipa- when Pecos Bill dug out a path to tion, Diarrhoea, Worms, Fever create the Rio Grande river during and Ague, Indigestion.” a severe drought that hit his be- As Guests continue along the loved Texas. And then there was the path from Frontierland to Ad- day Pecos Bill was so bored he took venureland, they come upon the his handy six-shooter and shot out next façade of the Cafe, a Town all of the stars in the sky except for Hall that is stamped with the one. That’s why they call Texas the year “1867.” The Town Hall façade “Lone Star State.” In 1878, with the features a bell tower that was no encouragement of his friends, Pecos doubt used to notify the towns- Bill decided to open his own water- people of important meetings ing hole, a restaurant whose motto or, more practically, to called very much reflects its one-of-a-kind the western inhabitants in for owner. “The tastiest eats and treats meals throughout the year. this side of the Rio Grande.” Pecos Bill Just past the Town Hall is a called it the Tall Tale Inn and Cafe small window labeled “Chinese and it quickly became a popular Laundry,” a clear reference to hang-out for some of his legendary the enormous impact of Chi- friends. As time went by, it became nese immigrants on the West- a tradition when each friend paid ward expansion and the estab- a visit they would leave something lishment of the transcontinental railroad. behind for Pecos Bill to remember them by. As you can see from The restaurant continues to curve along the outer border the articles and artifacts that don the walls, many of which carry of Frontierland toward Adventureland, as both the interior inscriptions, Pecos Bill had some mighty impressive friends. Seems and the exterior of the Café blend into a more Southwest, that every trail eventually led to the Tall Tale Inn and Cafe.” Mexican-style décor, with the final exterior façade resem- As Guests enter the restaurant, the thematic details and bling the entrance to a Mexican hacienda, which ties in references go into overdrive, starting with a sign that re- seamlessly to a southwestern locale while blending nicely counts the Code of the West: “Respect The Land. Defend the into the adjacent Caribbean theming of Adventureland. Defenseless. And Don’t Ever Spit in Front of Women and Chil- dren.” You have to love that! Backstory A large stone fireplace sits to the immediate left of the Disney Imagineers outdid themselves in terms of a back- Frontierland entrance. Hanging above the fireplace is a story for the Café, providing a very detailed narrative just whimsical portrait of Pecos Bill and his trusty horse Wid-

Photo © Tim Foster 63 · Celebrations • Davy Crockett and George E. Rus- sell. Davy Crockett was a real-life frontiersman from the State of Tennessee whose legend- ary exploits became the fodder of campground tales near and far. Crockett’s stories became extremely popular in the 1950s when Disney ran a five-part mini- series about the folk hero that aired on ABC, to the point where Crockett and his coonskin hat became a cultural phenomenon. Fess Parker played the role of Davy Crockett, and of “Be- erly Hillbillies” fame played his best pal George E. Russell. The owmaker performing some Texas-sized lasso tricks. And King of the Wild Frontier did have his own attraction in the speaking of lassos, three separate ropes hang on the fire- Magic Kingdom in the form of the Davy Crockett explorer place’s mantle, with Pecos’ signature hat hanging nearby. canoes, but those have long since closed. For Pecos, Crockett Perhaps Pecos’ greatest contributions to the Cafe are his left behind his leather bag and powder horn, (opposite page, signature six-shooters displayed in a nearby case. left) as well as a drawing of “Old Betsy,” his very first rifle. For his part, George E. Russell left behind a handwritten note Mementos From Legendary Friends recounting Crockett’s encounter with Big Foot Mason that As we learned from the backstory of the restaurant, there is hidden high atop a shelf near the back of the restaurant. is a treasure trove of souvenirs from Bill’s legendary friends • Paul Bunyan. In 1958, Disney released a short film entitled scattered throughout the interior of the restaurant. Disney Paul Bunyan, which recounted the story and exploits of a gi- has literally established a “tall tale” scavenger hunt adven- lumberjack and his sidekick ox Babe. ture for Guests to follow. The folktale artifacts include: (a voice star for many Disney attractions, including Pirates • Slue Foot Sue and Widowmaker. It should come as no sur- of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion) provided the prise that Pecos’ very best pal Widowmaker and the love of voice of Bunyan. As mentioned above, Oliver Platt also por- his life Slue Foot Sue left some mementos behind. Sue pro- trayed Bunyan in the 1995 live action feature Tall Tale. Bun- vided her spurs and gloves, along with the note: “To Billy, yan’s gift to the Cafe is a fitting one, his trusted axe, with All my love, Slue Foot Sue.” Widowmaker has his very own the inscription: “To Pecos, from one giant to another. Best picture displayed on the wall along with his bridle hanging wishes, Paul Bunyan.” (opposite page, bottom middle) close beside. (opposite page, top middle) • “Wild Bill” Hickok. Wild Bill was a noted lawman, gunfighter, • Johnny Appleseed. Johnny Appleseed was one of Pecos’ co- and gambler in the old West and left behind some poker stars in Melody Time and received his very own segment in cards for display in the restaurant. But look very closely that feature. The Legend of Johnny Appleseed is narrated by and you will see that this is actually a “dead man’s hand” of Dennis Day and tells the story of John Chapman, better aces and eights, the hand that Wild Bill allegedly held when known as Johnny Appleseed, who leaves behind his apple he was murdered. orchard carrying only a bag of seeds, a tin pot hat, and a • Buffalo Bill Cody. Buffalo Bill was a famous cowboy who Bible to brave the expanding West and bring the tasty ben- was as widely known for his skill as a talented entertainer efits of apples to the expanding nation. The Melody Time as he was for his exploits on the trail. Bill donated a picture feature is heartwarming and exudes joyful inspiration of himself as well as his star-studded boots, with a note and innocent hope. For the Cafe, Johnny Appleseed donat- reading, “To my good friend Pecos. From one showman to ed his signature tin pot hat. another.”

64 · Celebrations Photo ©Garry Rollins • Annie Oakley. Annie Oakley was a famous sharpshooter Henry, was a legendary African American folk hero whose who eventually participated in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West claim to fame was his reputation as a “steel driving man” travelling entertainment troupe in 1885. For the Cafe, An- on the American railroads. Henry left his friend Pecos Bill nie left behind one of her famous six-shooters and a few numerous items to display in the Tall Tale Inn and Cafe, in- playing cards that appear to have been used in one of her cluding his hammer and a few railroad spikes. shooting exhibitions. (top right) • Jim Bowie. Jim Bowie, another famous American pioneer, • Kit Carson. Kit Carson was a famous American frontiers- was featured in the Disney film Davey Crockett, King of the man and wilderness guide whose real life exploits became Wild Frontier and the Davey Crockett television series. His intertwined with folk hero legend. In 1977, Disney released famous “Bowie knife” and a few poker cards are Bowie’s Kit Carson and the Mountain Men, which aired on NBC as a contributions to the Cafe’s decor. two-part series on “The Wonderful World of Disney.” It ap- • Casey Jones. The Brave Engineer is a 1950 Disney cartoon pears that Pecos Bill and Carson were very close, as Kit’s that recounts the story of legendary engineer John Luther map and compasses now adorn the walls of the Cafe. “Casey” Jones. Jones left Pecos some interesting mementos • The Lone Ranger. The Lone Ranger is a fictional cowboy including a coal bucket and oilcan on a not-so-easy to find hero who wore a signature black mask to protect his iden- shelf near the back of the Cafe, which also holds the afore- tity. The character became immensely popular due to a mentioned letter from George E. Russell. popular 1930s radio program and a long running television As you can see, the Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe is more program in the late 1940s and 50s. In 2013, Disney released than just a counter service restaurant serving up tasty food the live-action film The Lone Ranger starring Armie Ham- offerings. It’s an incredibly detailed experience complete mer in the title role and Johnny Depp as his trusted side- with backstory, slogan, code of conduct, and an American kick Tonto. Guests can find a case holding a black mask and tall tale museum. The next time you belly-up to the top- a single silver bullet hanging on a wall in the Cafe. However, pings bar, make sure you take the time to notice all of the the nameplate beside those items is blank. This leaves park details that are awaiting to be discovered. After all, where Guests asking one question: who was that masked man? else can you see Paul Bunyan’s axe, Johnny Appleseed’s hat, • John Henry. Henry, who was also depicted in the 1995 Dis- Slue Foot Sue’s gloves, and the Lone Ranger’s Mask over the ney film Tall Tale as well as the 2000 animated short John course of a delicious lunch?

Photos ©Tim Foster 65 · Celebrations Celebrating America With The Voices of Liberty by Lori Elias

66 · Celebrations Photo © Tim Devine rom the day Epcot opened – October 1, 1982 – the rich, quartets – who actually did sing in barbershops, as well Ftight harmonies of the choral ensemble Voices of Liber- as on city streets and local social events – gained popu- ty has been enchanting Guests in The American Adventure larity through the minstrel shows that would venture Pavilion. With a repertoire spanning stirring patriotic mel- throughout the 19th-century American frontier, providing odies, contemporary ballads, and of course Disney favorites, entertainment for the settlers. The tradition has contin- Voices of Liberty provides Guests with daily performances ued through the decades, and barbershop quartets and worthy of the world’s finest concert halls. choruses are still going strong, with thousands of singers While primarily performing 15-minute programs seven enrolled in the Society for the Preservation and Encourage- times each day in the rotunda of the Pavilion, Voices of Lib- ment of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, which erty also presents periodic concerts across the way in the promotes barbershop singing for men, and Sweet Adelines American Gardens Theatre. In addition to the group’s usual International, which provides an outlet for women who schedule, they are a mainstay of Epcot’s annual Candlelight enjoy the barbershop tradition. And of course, Walt Disney Processional, which is presented three times each evening World’s own Dapper Dans continue to charm Guests as they from late November until the end of December, featuring meander around Main Street, U.S.A. in the Magic Kingdom; a mass selected from high school and college the current music director of both Voices of Liberty and the from across the country (and even around the world), a Dapper Dans, Tony DeRosa, has himself been a member of professional , and celebrity narrators reading the international championship barbershop quartets. story of the birth of Jesus. Voices of Liberty is arguably the crown jewel in the ster- Voices of Liberty is comprised of twelve musicians – a ling career of Derric Johnson, who worked as a creative con- duodecet, for you wordsmiths – dressed in 19th-century at- sultant for Walt Disney World for more than thirty years. He tire and singing a cappella, or without instrumental accom- not only served as the group’s creator and first director, but paniment. Younger Guests might assume that the group is also composed many of the arrangements performed by taking its cue from the relatively recent surge in popularity Voices of Liberty. (And there is good news for choir directors of a cappella singing on display in the Pitch Perfect movies, and singers who would like to have a gander at these chal- the television series “Glee,” and such well-known groups as lenging works: many are available for purchase on John- Pentatonix and Straight No Chaser, but Epcot’s ensemble son’s website, derricjohnson.com.) predates all of that. “I am very thrilled to know ‘we got there Johnson was a student at Azusa Pacific University, about first,’” said the group’s founder, Derric Johnson. “In the early 30 miles from Anaheim, when friends who were majoring 80s a cappella music was not a pop or main-line musical en- in music helped him to realize that he was interested in tity. In fact, it was confined mostly to college glee clubs and pursuing his own musical studies. He went on to declare a barbershop quartets and choruses. But I always felt that minor in music, which he put into use while serving as an God only created one instrument, and that is the human assistant pastor in San Diego. The small church wanted to voice. I really wanted to major in that and bring a cappella develop its music program but had limited funds available, sounds to the world’s attention.” so Johnson stepped in, writing choral arrangements and A cappella ensembles actually have been performing for taking the choir under his wing, a job to which he dedicated centuries – it is one of the oldest musical art forms. The his time and passion for thirteen years. In all, he composed earliest “classical” music can be traced back to the church, and arranged more than 1500 pieces of music, many of which did not allow instruments until around the 10th cen- which were published, and led to further work as a clinician tury, as instrumental music was thought too secular for and composer. worship; some even considered playing instruments to be At this point – the mid-1960s and into the early 1970s pagan. Beginning in approximately the 12th century in Eu- – he moved on to form an a cappella group named The rope, groups of singers called troubadours and trouvères Re’Generation, who toured full-time and whose spirited con- would travel from town to town, singing songs of love, war certs and recordings quickly and steadily gained popularity. and even current events. Disney Cast Members working with Talent Casting for the Here in America, as Johnson mentioned, barbershop newly-opened Magic Kingdom heard The Re’Generation at

67 · Celebrations a concert in Jacksonville and felt that their repertoire, filled young and singers and dancers who had already been per- with patriotic songs and evocative of the senti- forming across the country in Disneyland for a number of ment so pervasive along Main Street, U.S.A., would be ideal years. Thus, in Johnson’s words, “The Re’Generation was out for the new park, and set up an 11-day performance stint for of a job.” In 1977, however, The Re’Generation released an a the group, erecting a temporary stage in front of Cinderella cappella holiday album, Christmas in Velvet. This recording Castle (as the permanent stage that stands now had not yet caught the ear of executives at the Magic Kingdom, who been constructed). asked to have the group perform their arrangements as “(They) brought us in to do four shows a day for 11 days costumed Dickens carolers in Liberty Square for the holi- – February 12-22, 1973 – to get Guest reaction to shows on a day season, as well as for the living Nativity Scene housed at temporary platform at the Castle Forecourt,” Johnson said. what was then known as Disney Village (now called Disney “The response was overwhelmingly positive. The perma- Springs). Johnson jumped at the opportunity, and so The nent stage was installed and we came back every February Re’Generation made their triumphant return to the Most for the next four years.” Magical Place on Earth. Meanwhile, it was decided that a full-time performing group at the Magic Kingdom would be a welcome addition, Voices of Liberty Arrives in Epcot and the Kids of the Kingdom were established, a group of It would only be a few more years until Epcot opened, and

68 · Celebrations when it did, The Re’Generation was act” to the Animatronic American Adventure show, typical- there, but under its new name: Voices ly feature patriotic favorites such as “America the Beautiful,” of Liberty. The chorus’s level of perfor- “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” “This Land is Your Land,” “This is My mance has been lauded from day one, Country,” and “The Star-Spangled Banner” The show also fre- a feat made all the more remarkable quently includes “Gonna Build a Mountain,” which has been given the short amount of time they covered by artists ranging from Sammy Davis, Jr., to the were given to prepare for their new Monkees, but was originally written by Leslie Bricusse and adventure: “We had one month of re- Anthony Newley for the musical Stop the World – I Want to Get hearsal before Epcot opened (which Off; a spirited arrangement of Stephen Foster’s “Oh! Susan- included wardrobe, orientation and nah,” complete with voices imitating the “banjo on my knee” various casting issues),” Johnson said. mentioned in the lyrics; slices of Americana that include “After we were established we had “Rocky Top” “God Bless the U.S.A.” and a haunting rendition group rehearsals for three days every of “Shenandoah”; the contemporary ballad “You Raise Me month and two weeks twice a year to Up,” composed by Rolf Lovland and Brendan Graham and establish and indoctrinate new mem- made popular by Josh Groban; and Disney favorites like “Let bers and prepare for the Christmas it Go” from (Robert and Kristen Anderson Lopez) and season.” Fortunately, standards for “When You Wish Upon a Star” from Pinocchio ( admission to Voices of Liberty were, and ). and continue to be, understandably Voices of Liberty extended its realm to the American high, so the singers have always been Gardens Theatre last summer, where they have explored a up to the task. “Through the years new repertoire, with nostalgic pop melodies like Barry Ma- we auditioned close to 1000 people nilow’s “One Voice,” “Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz each year,” Johnson recalled. “In those (Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg), and Disney hits that include early days we needed every soprano “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” written by for to lightly sing an E-flat above high C, Toy Story, “Friend Like Me” from Aladdin ( and altos with E-flat below middle C, ten- Howard Ashman), and “Seize the Day” from Newsies (Menken ors with high C and basses with a low and Jack Feldman). E-flat (and be) able to be heard on the Along with the thousands of daily Guests who pour into floor – our stage – without a micro- Epcot and the American Adventure Pavilion, Voices of Lib- phone.” (For non-musicians, this range erty has included among its audiences Presidents Richard encompasses four octaves, or almost 50 of the 88 keys on Nixon, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, and Ronald Reagan. a piano.) And while performers have rotated in and out of During President Reagan’s time in office, the singers also the ensemble over the ensuing years, last fall saw the retire- joined Mickey and Minnie Mouse to perform for the light- ment of its final charter member: Debbie Johnson, Derric’s ing of the national Christmas tree. wife! Well into its third decade, Voices of Liberty may have dis- In the early days of Voices of Liberty, the group’s reper- played both new faces and new tunes, but the standard of toire primarily centered around songs of the country’s first excellence and resulting ability to thrill Guests from around century as an independent nation. As Johnson explained: the globe continue to shine. And though Johnson’s time and “The repertoire was mine to decide, since my contract called energies are now devoted to his own performances and for me to write all the music as well as act as Show Director presenting clinics and workshops around the country, he for the group. We started with early American music prior is thrilled that his contribution to Epcot and The American to and including the Civil War. Once the show was well-es- Adventure Pavilion continues to be a crucial component of tablished we expanded the time line, but maintained the the World Showcase experience: “I am forever grateful to same ‘heart-felt significance’ as we had started.” Disney for believing with me in the power and thrill of the Today the repertoire has expanded to close to 100 songs. voice, trained and crafted to an excellence that is unmistak- Concerts in the rotunda, which serve as a sort of “opening ably universal.”

Photo © Tim Devine 69 · Celebrations hen we last parted ways, my companion and I to delay our trek to Adventureland a bit so we could Whad just enjoyed the classic circus-themed at- take a ride along the Rivers of America. The riverboat traction, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, and all the fun not only promised us a quiet respite from the parks, that the Big Top had to offer (adults are meant to play but tremendous views of the Haunted Mansion and Big here, too). Thunder Mountain Railroad that can only be experi- As is always the case when Wandering the World, enced aboard the Liberty Belle. hunger is a real problem that sneaks up on you. Since Once our journey was complete, we made our way we were planning on making our way to Liberty Square over to Frontierland. It was there that we heard the fa- anyway, we stopped by Gaston’s Tavern to get a quick miliar sounds of the Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade. Nev- snack to refuel. After we were able to get a proper rest, er one to resist a good dose of Wild West shenanigans, I we continued on our way to Liberty Square. Obviously, challenged my companion to a friendly sharpshooting our first stop had to be the Haunted Mansion. contest to see who was the best deadeye. I have to admit that due to the desire to maximize It was during our competition that I suddenly no- our time in the park, we have never really taken the ticed the tombstones that were scattered throughout time to soak in all the details of the redesigned queue the shooting gallery, and I realized why I was getting that was unveiled a long time that sense of déjà vu back at the back. But even with all of the sin- Haunted Mansion graveyard. Just ister new elements, the one thing like their Liberty Square coun- that I have always enjoyed is the terparts, these tombstones were graveyard filled with tombstones similarly emblazoned with offbeat that are engraved with whimsical epitaphs, such as “Butch was ner- and humorous epitaphs. vous, his hand did shake. He drew As we were reading the tomb- on Luke, his last mistake,” and ”Ol stones (including some of the new additions), I had Tom Hubbard, died with a frown, but a grave can’t keep a vague sense of déjà vu; as if I had seen these grave- a good man down,” and “One last drink was his demand, stones before but couldn’t remember where. I asked died a reaching, Red Eye Dan.” That is why it felt like déjà my companion if she was thinking the same thing, vu; we had actually seen them many years ago but had and while she had a similar notion, she couldn’t recall long forgotten about them. (For those that are curious, where she had seen them either. Temporarily stumped, I bested my companion this time…but I relish my victo- we thought to ourselves “Oh well, we’re sure it will come ries because they are few and far between!) back to us later.” In the meantime, we moved on and en- Sometimes the brilliant minds of Disney Imagineer- joyed the eerily dark (but delightfully air-conditioned) ing love a great gag, and they can’t resist making good tour of the dilapidated mansion. use of them in multiple locations. In this case, the path After disembarking, we decided that we wanted to less taken is a mental one – remembering where you’ve head back and enjoy the in Adventure- seen these great visual gags, details, or themes used at land, a journey that would take us through Frontier- other locations. land. On our way we saw that the Liberty Square River- Until next time, this is Ray, and you have been boat was about to head out for a cruise, and we decided Wandering the World.

70 · Celebrations Number of vehicles that ply the rivers of the Jungle Cruise, though only ten are in use at 15 any given time. The names of the boats (all named for famous rivers around the world) are: Amazon Annie, Bomokandi Bertha, Congo Connie, Ganges Gertie, Irrawaddy Irma, Mongala Millie, Nile Nellie, Orinoco Ida, Rutshuru Ruby, Sankuru Sadie, Senegal Sal, Ucyali Lolly, Volta Val, Wamba Wanda, and Zambesi Zelda. By comparison, there are 12 boats in Disneyland, 13 in Tokyo Disneyland, and 9 in Hong Kong Disneyland.

Number of boats in Disneyland Paris. (There is no Jungle Cruise attraction in that park due 0 to the frequent cold temperatures in France.)

Gallons of water that fill the rivers of the Jungle Cruise. That may send like a lot, but it’s less 1.75 Million than a third of the amount of water in the Seas With Nemo & Friends aquarium.

Average depth, in feet, of the river. (By comparison, the rivers in the Disneyland version of 3 the attraction average five feet in depth.)

Length, in feet, of the waterways of the Jungle Cruise. If it were stretched out in a straight 2000 line and placed at the front of the Walt Disney World Railroad Station, it would reach all the way back to Prince Charming’s Regal Carrousel.

Speed, in miles per hour, of the boats. Looking for a faster ride? You can head over to the 3.2 Tomorrowland Speedway where the cars race along at nearly twice that speed!

Number of queues in the Hong Kong Disneyland version of the attraction. Each line fea- 3 tures a different language: Cantonese, English, and Mandarin. This allows Guests to experi- ence the attraction in their preferred language.

Year marked on a crate in the Jungle Cruise queue. The year is a reference to the birth year 1911 of , who was a key contributor to the planning of the Jungle Cruise and Main Street U.S.A. The crate reads “Goff’s Brand Crocodile Resistant Chest High Rubber Over- pants, 1911 Main Street Fort Collins Colorado” (Fort Collins being Goff’s birthplace).

Photo ©Tim Foster 71 · Celebrations Jack Sparrow’s Compass By Tim Foster

My adventures today took me to the famed Caribbean Sea and the land of pirates. I set off on my journey aboard a rickety boat, hoping to discover the plunder that the local pirates had tucked away. I soon saw the unmistakable figure of Jack Sparrow, lurking about in the shadows as the pirates were trying to coerce the location of the treasure from the town’s mayor. I figured if anyone would be able to find the treasure, it would be Sparrow, so I kept a watchful eye out to see if I could find him again. Sure enough, I located the scoundrel, trying to take a peek at a treasure map being held by a portly pirate. It occurred to me that if Jack had his famous compass he wouldn’t need the map, meaning he must have lost it somewhere.

I endeavored to find Jack Sparrow’s compass, for I knew that it would always point to the thing that you wanted most... and there was no better way to find treasure than that. I set off into the depths of Adventureland, and came upon the . Since the one-time inhabitants of this exotic tree were shipwrecked, it stood to reason that they might have some navigational equipment, and perhaps the compass that I was seeking. I searched high and low (and I mean literally high and low, as there are a total of 116 steps in the treehouse!), and while I found a number of interesting items, the closest thing I found to a compass was an old map and the ship’s log. But alas, no compass at all, and certainly not Jack Sparow’s.

I continued on into Adventureland, plunging deeper and deeper into the exotic lands of Africa and Asia found in the Jungle Cruise. It was there that I happened upon the boarding docks of the Jungle Navigation Company. I inquired if they might have an extra compass lying about that they couldn’t account for, but unfortunately nobody seemed to understand what a compass was (I took it that the excursions passengers took on the Jungle Cruise had a bit of, um, uncertainty to them as to whether they would return or not). But on my way out I spied this sign for Field & Co., that among other things advertised their services as spice dealers. That reminded of another infamous spice trader in the area...

72 · Celebrations I wandered into a building that seemed to be home to a band of miscreants called The Pirates League, and as I rummaged around I saw the unmistakable symbol for the East India Trading Company. At first I was confused as to why they would be in the Caribbean, but I was reminded of an exchange between Will Turner and Lord Cutler Beckett, “What is the East India Trading Company doing in the Caribbean?” “Well, we are East of India. Just the long way around. After all, when goods do not cross borders, then armies will.” Scary indeed! I thought I’d better conduct my search quickly, before I was spotted and accused of associating with known pirates.

I looked high and low, and while I did find several interesting trinkets (that had little to do with spices...I was starting to wonder what kind of outfit this was!), I couldn’t find Jack Sparrow’s compass. I did find a map of the world, and as I searched around I happened upon this interesting contraption. While it seemed to serve some sort of navigational purpose, I couldn’t quite tell what it was...but it certainly wasn’t Jack’s infamous compass. However, I noticed that it was pointing in a specific direction, so I set off on that path to see what I could discover. Perhaps Jack Sparrow (or a fellow pirate) left me a clue after all...

I wandered out into the Caribbean plaza, and realized that my initial journeys had taken me in the wrong direction, toward the southern entrance to Adventureland. Instead, I realized that I should have been heading toward Frontierland. So I set off in that direction, looking everywhere for the elusive compass. It wasn’t long before I stumbled upon Tortuga Tavern, a locale I instantly recognized as a favorite watering hole of Jack Sparrow and company. I thought this might be the hiding place of Jack’s compass, and after a bit of looking around I finally found it...Jack Sparrow’s famous compass, sitting right outside the entrance toward the left! Unfortunately it seemed to be permanently attached to the map it was resting upon, but it was of no consequence. For I realized that the compass wasn’t working, as I was craving a Dole Whip at the moment, and the compass definitely wasn’t pointing in the right direction...ah, the life of a pirate!

73 · Celebrations How Much Do You Know About Disney’s Far Away Lands? by Tim Foster

1. What does the word Anandapur mean, your 6. According to the back story, where does your destination in the Asia section of Disney’s tour take you on Kilimanjaro Safaris? Animal Kingdom? a. The savanna of East Africa a. Place of Many Delights b. Mount Kilimanjaro b. Land of Tranquility c. A safari in West Africa c. Friend d. The Pride Lands d. Land of Plenty 7. Which of the following sections of Disney’s 2. When traveling through the temple ruins of Hollywood Studios was NOT inspired by an the Jungle Cruise, which continent are you in? actual location in Los Angeles? a. Africa a. Sunset Boulevard b. Asia b. Pixar Place c. Europe c. Echo Lake d. South America d. Hollywood Boulevard

3. Which of these continents is not represented 8. Why are Future Worlds East and West on the at World Showcase? “wrong” sides of Epcot when you enter? a. Asia a. Because they represent locations on the east and b. Africa west coasts of the United States (for example, c. South America Soarin’, in Future World West, is set in California) d. North America b. Because the central compass in the park points to Disneyland, not true north. 4. What is the name of the mountain where you c. Because the park is “oriented” from the viewpoint encounter the fearsome Yeti? of World Showcase, which was originally planned a. Mount Everest to be in the front of the park. b. Yeti Mountain d. Because you are actually facing south when you c. Forbidden Mountain enter the park. d. Anandupar Mountain 9. There is an odd-shaped green planet on the 5. In Ellen’s Energy Adventure, where is Ellen’s map in the queue of Buzz Lightyear’s Space apartment located? Ranger Spin. What is it shaped like? a. Los Angeles a. Rex b. Washington D.C. b. Yoda c. San Francisco c. The squeeze toy aliens d. New York City d. Mickey Mouse

74 · Celebrations 10. What is the setting for the exterior of Star 14. The bell tower in the Italy pavilion in Tours – The Adventures Continue? World Showcase was inspired by St Mark’s a. Tatooine Campanile. In what city is the real tower? b. The moon of Yavin a. Rome c. Hoth b. Florence d. The moon of Endor c. Venice d. Naples 11. Which two astronomical bodies do you visit on your journey in Mission: SPACE? 15. In 1999, the Polynesian Resort changed the a. Mars and the Moon names of most of its longhouses to those of b. Mars and Jupiter several Polynesian islands. Which was the c. Mars and Phobos only longhouse that wasn’t renamed? d. Mars and the Sun a. Oahu b. Fiji 12. What city is seen on the mural in the final c. Samoa concert scene in Gran Fiesta Tour? d. Tahiti a. Mexico City b. Guadalajara c. Acapulco Quiz Answers d. Cancun 1. A 6. A 11. A

13. In Aladdin, the city of Agrabah is located near 2. B 7. B 12. A a river. What river is it? 3. C 8. D 13. B a. Nile 4. C 9. C 14. C b. Jordan c. Indus 5. D 10. D 15. B d. Euphrates

ANSWERS BRAIN BUSTERS WORD SCRAMBLE SECRET SYMBOLS KIDS KORNER (pages 78–81) Splash Mountain 1. SHOOTING GALLERY 1. Drawing in Maurice’s cottage in 2. RAILROAD Enchanted Tales With Belle WHERE AM I? FIND THE DIFFERENCE 3. TOM SAWYER ISLAND 2. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train entrance 1. Journey Into Imagination 4. COUNTRY BEARS sign 2. Spaceship Earth 5. BRER RABBIT 3. Gaston’s Tavern sign 3. “it’s a small world” 6. PECOS BILL 4. Maurice’s Amazing Popping Machine 4. The Great Movie Ride 7. RIVERS OF AMERICA popcorn cart 5. The Jungle Cruise 8. MOUNTAIN GOAT 5. Be Our Guest coat of arms on 6. The Haunted Mansion entrance sign MYSTERY QUEST (pages 82–83) FLOWING RIVERS WHERE AM I? 1. The Jungle Cruise TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE 1. Bow of the ship outside Journey of 2. Kali River Rapids 1. The fountain pool is larger. 1. There are six different colored gems: the Little Mermaid 3. Typhoon Lagoon 2. “Exclusive” is misspelled. red, green, amber, purple, blue, and 2. Bridge on the Seven Dwarfs Mine 4. Splash Mountain 3. There is an extra dormer. clear. Train 5. Tom Sawyer Island 4. The clock face is gone. 2. Snow White’s Scary Adventures, now 3. Dartboard chalkboard inside Gaston’s 6. The WIlderness Lodge 5. The stripes are a different color. home to Princess Fairytale Hall. Tavern 6. The door is closed. 3. 12,000 4. Sign for H. Goff Cartography across DISNEY TWISTER 7. The fountain is taller. 4. 84. The chandelier also boasts over from Journey of the Little Mermaid Poster #7 is the unique poster. 8. The weather vane is missing. 100 jewels. 5 Beauty and the Beast book display #1 and #6 have large centers in the green 9. There is an extra set of window 5. Pete, who made his debut in 1925, three inside Bonjour Village Gifts lollipop. panes. years before Mickey Mouse would 6. FastPass+ entrance sign for Ariel’s #2 and #9 have a different colored knot 10. The end column is missing. arrive. Grotto in the middle of the bow. 6. 183 7. Umbrella stand inside Maurice’s #3 and #5 have an inner ring flipped on FIND THE DIFFERENCE BONUS ANSWER 7. 7 ½ feet cottage in Enchanted Tales With Belle the red/yellow lollipop. Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain 8. Map inside H. Goff Cartography #4 and #8 are missing the “S” from “Circles”

75 · Celebrations In what attractions will you find these items? 1. A vanishing butterfly 2. A newspaper boy 3. A blue hippo 4. Dorothy’s ruby slippers 5. The backside of water 6. Upside down staircases

Can you figure out where you would find each of these rivers in Walt Disney World?

1 2

3 4

5 6

76 · Celebrations Most of these Confectionery posters have a matching twin, except for one. Can you find all of the matches and find the one poster that isn’t like any of the rest?

1 2 3

4 5 6

7 8 9

Answers on page 75 77 · Celebrations Where can you find Chikapin Hill?

Things are in a bit of dissarry at the American Adventure. Can you find the ten differences in the two photos below?

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BONUS QUESTION Who are the two hosts of the American Adventure show in Epcot?

78 · Celebrations See if you can unscramble these things you’d find in Frontierland in the Magic Kingdom!

1. THINGOSO RYELAGL 2. RDILAROA

3. MTO RYEWAS DANLIS 4. TUNCRYO RABES

5. RREB BRITBA 6. SCOPE LIBL

7. VIRSER FO CREAMIA 8. TINUMANO TOGA

Answers on page 77

In each issue, our Kids Korner columnist will answer questions that are too tough for the grown-ups! If you have a question for her, send it to: [email protected].

What is your favorite scene on the me, there is one ABSOLUTE favorite-must- Jungle Cruise? have that I get every time I visit the Magic Ha!! I laugh anytime someone says “Jungle Kingdom...the Dole Whip – I just have to Cruise”...backside of water *giggle.* How have that pineapple swirl!!! funny is this ride??? Even the scenes have their jokes – such as the hunters that “get it in the What was the first thing you end” or Sam and his “shrinking” business...but remember about your first trip to my favorite scene is with the elephants! They Walt Disney World? look like they are having so much fun and Most of what I can remember from my very just might squirt you if you get too close, first trip was the excitement in knowing but don’t worry...they have their trunks on ;) that I was FINALLY going to meet Mickey Mouse! There are so many “moments” that I Where is your favorite place to get think I can remember, or get a special feeling a sweet treat? about from seeing a picture. But I do vividly Disney is the best place for your sweet remember the very first time I met Tigger!!! tooth! I love exploring the parks for treats… I was waiting in line with my mom when he cupcakes, ice cream, pastries, even the Grey came bouncing and then sliding across the Stuff (it’s delicious!!). Sometime you just floor to me like a baseball player!!! He was need to stop by one of the bakeries just to just as excited to meet me as I was to meet enjoy those mouthwatering smells ;) For him!! WOW!

79 · Celebrations Test Your Knowledge of New Fantasyland 1. You can find a gem matching game in the 3. How many books are in the library at queue of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Enchanted Tales with Belle? How many different colored gems are there, and can you name each color? 4. How many candles can be found in the giant chandelier that is the centerpiece of 2. In preparation for the arrival of New the ? Fantasyland, Mickey’s Toontown Fair permanently closed in 2011. (Ariel’s Grotto, 5. New Fantasyland is home to the longest a princess meet & greet location, also running character in Disney animation closed in 2010, but has since been relocated history. Which character is it? to Under the Sea – Journey of the Little 6. How many Audio-Animatronic figures can Mermaid.) Another classic dark-ride be found in Under the Sea – Journey of attraction in Fantasyland closed to make the Little Mermaid? (You can give yourself way for the new experiences coming to credit if you can guess within ten!) the Magic Kingdom. What attraction was it, and what attraction now resides in its 7. Speaking of Under the Sea Animatronics, former home? how tall is the figure of Ursula?

Where can you find these cryptic inscriptions?

1 2 3 4 5

80 · Celebrations Can you figure out where these photos were taken?

3 1 2

4 5

6

8

Only the best explorers will be able to figure this 7 one out...

Answers on page 75 81 · Celebrations Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Baloo and Bagheera

1. The name Baloo was derived from the Hindi word for asked the directors if he could approach the role with his “bear” (bhalu). He is a sloth bear, though he is supposedly own unique humor and mannerisms. The results were so a Himalayan brown bear in the 2016 film. (Bagheera does successful that the final version of Baloo was largely based refer to him as a sloth bear however.) Kipling himself de- on the personality of Harris himself. scribed him as a “sleepy brown bear,” and his descriptions 5. Bill Murray performs the voice of Baloo in the new live-ac- of Baloo are consistent with the sloth bear, as brown tion film. Coincidentally, Bill’s brother, Brian Doyle-Murray, bears and Asian black bears do not occur in the Seoni area played the part of Baloo in the 1998 direct-to-video release where Kipling’s story takes place. The Jungle Book: Mowgli’s Story. 2. The animated version of Baloo may seem familiar to Dis- 6. Bagheera was voiced by Ben Kingsley in the 2016 live ac- ney fans; he would later “reappear” as Little John in 1973’s tion version of the film, while Sebastian Cabot portrayed Robin Hood, thanks to the new animation process of Xe- him in the 1967 animated classic. Sebastian Cabot’s voice rography developed by Disney Legend . This should be familiar to Disney fans; he played the part of Sir process allowed animators to repurpose existing animat- Ector in 1963’s The Sword and the Stone, and was the narra- ed sequences and to incorporate them into new films, tor of 1977’s The Many Adventure of Winnie the Pooh. saving time and expense. Astute viewers will also note 7. Bagheera is a melanistic leopard, commonly referred to as that Baloo’s dance with King Louie is the same as that of a . So if he is a leopard, where are his spots? Little John and Lady Kluck (with a few wardrobe changes Well, in real life black panthers do have spots, but they are of course!). hidden by the black pigment in the rest of their fur (“mela- 3. The storyline for the original version of The Jungle Book, nism” refers to the development of the dark-colored pig- developed by , maintained the dark tone of Rud- ment melanin in the skin). The effect is often called “ghost yard Kipling’s stories. However, Walt Disney wanted the striping,” and gives the fur an effect similar to that of film to be a fun adventure, and this led to major changes printed silk. No wonder Bagheera is so smooth and slinky! to both the story and characters, 8. Even though he is a black panther, Bagheera’s name means most notably Baloo. While very “black tiger” in Hindi (“bagha” means “tiger” in Hindi). serious in the original book, he be- 9. In the 1967 animated film, Bagheera discovers Mowgli in came a fun-loving, happy-go-lucky the jungle. In actuality, in Kipling’s story Bagheera was character in the final version of unaware of Mowgli’s existence until he heard rumors of a the film. wolf family adopting a man-cub. 4. To best serve the whimsical nature 10. You can also find Bagheera in Central Ameri- of Baloo, Walt Disney suggested ca…sort of. It’s there that you might come upon that Phil Harris voice the part. Even a known as Bagheera kiplingi. The spider though the production team was has an herbivorous diet, which is unique for initially resistant to the idea, Walt in- . The name isn’t coinci- sisted that Harris was perfect for the dental, it was actually named role, particularly since his comical for Bagheera and Rudyard Kipling portrayal would help to further tone by George and Elizabeth down the darker themes of Kipling’s Peckham, entomologists original stories. Harris himself was at who specialized in the first nervous to perform the role, and he study of jumping spiders.

Keepsake Image: “Monorail Flight by Spaceship Earth”• Photo © Tim Devine 82 · Celebrations Artwork ©Disney Back Cover Photo © Garry Rollins

“Here we experience the story of our country’s past... the colorful drama of Frontier America in the exciting days of the covered wagon and the stagecoach... the advent of the railroad...and the romantic riverboat.” –Walt Disney