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Cover Photography © Tim Devine Issue 35 The Pangani Forest Exploration 42 Contents Trail: A Place of Calendar of Events...... 8 Enchantment Disney News & Updates...... 10 MOUSE VIEWS...... 15 Guide to the Magic by Tim Foster...... 16 Hakuna Matata! Hidden Mickeys by Steve Barrett...... 20 The Festival of the 48 Photography Tips & Tricks by Tim Devine...... 22 Lion King Disney Legends by Jamie Hecker...... 24 Disney Cuisine by Allison Jones...... 26 Disney Secrets by Jamie Hecker...... 28 JAMMitors: Disneyland Magic The Rhythm of Epcot 54 by J Darling...... 30 FEATURED ATTRACTION Stitch’s Great Escape!...... 32

FEATURED FILM Ratatouille...... 36

Mineral King Resort: Wandering the World...... 72 By the Numbers...... 73 The Dream That 60 In Search Of...... 74 Quick Quiz...... 76 Never Was Kids Korner...... 78 Mystery Quest...... 82 Tim & Lou’s Top 10...... 84

The Story Behind the Horses of Main 68 Street U.S.A. Pixie Dust When we as fans talk about Walt Disney World or that Disney magic, we often use the phrase “pixie dust.” It may be as simple as equating a magical moment with being “showered by pixie dust,” or describing a chance encounter or coincidental occurrence as being the result of a “sprinkling of pixie dust.” Even as we share our best wishes to those close to us in times of happiness or sadness, we’ll often include a “bit of pixie dust” in our messages of comfort and encouragement. We all know what pixie dust is of course (though did you know that the name is purely a Disney invention, and was only referred to as “fairy dust” in the original Peter Pan play and novel by J. M. Barrie?). But how did it come to symbolize something more than just a way to fly? When we playfully speak of pixie dust today, we often use at as a metaphor for something magical. Indeed, “pixie dust” has become the very symbol of that Disney magic. Any why not? If the ability to fly can be accomplished as easily as shaking a bit of dust on ourselves, the ability to experience that Disney magic should be just as easy, and it is. It’s not just walking into the parks or watching the fireworks that gives us that sense of magic. It’s remembering all those magical moments, even when we’re not in the parks. It’s remembering that special Cast Member experience. The special moment we shared with a loved one. The awe and wonder we experienced as we saw something new. That warmth in our hearts when we watch a tearful moment in a Disney film or see the world through our child’s eyes. That Disney magic can touch all of us at any time, even when we’re least expecting it. Where does it come from? Well, it certainly comes from our love of Disney, and for everything that Walt Disney stood for, but in the course of believing in magic, even if it’s just for a moment, it’s fun to believe that those special feelings come from something tangible. Like a warm smile, a ray of sunshine peeking out from behind a rain cloud....or even a sprinkling of, yes, pixie dust. (Thank you Tinker Bell!)

Enjoy the magic! Tim Foster

2 · Celebrations Editor Tim Foster

Associate Editors Lou Mongello Michelle Foster • Catherine Lusby

Contributing Writers Steve Barrett J Darling Tim Devine Jamie Hecker Allison Jones Beci Mahnken

Creative Direction and Design Tim Foster Associate Art Director Michelle Foster

Customer Service Senior Manager Lisa Mahan

Social Media Director Jessica Clawson

Contributing Photographers Tim Foster, Tim Devine, Barrie Brewer, Lisa Mahan, Loren Javier, Jamie Hecker

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©2014 Celebrations Press, Inc. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the express written 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 the Walt Disney Company, 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 appropriate. 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 Making Disney Magic One the greatest things about Walt Disney World is that special Disney Magic that we all experience. Often it’s Letters through the simple actions of a Cast Member (who in my mind are the biggest part of the magic!), or seeing a new detail that you hadn’t noticed before. But the greatest reward comes from those times when we, as humble guests, can create some of that Disney magic ourselves! Our family had just such an occurrence on a trip a few years back, and we were hoping we could share it with you. Back in the days of the paper FastPass, my daughter and I were in Epcot, enjoying the sights and sounds of the world of the future. Earlier in the day we had gotten a pair of FastPasses for Test Track (though earlier we were actually able to walk right on before the lines got too long). Anyway, Hidden Mickeys on the Highway! it was the middle of the afternoon, the Florida sun was I was on route 19 North by my house and this truck getting awfully hot, and we decided to head back to our passed me. At the next red light I snapped the “Hidden resort for a dip in the pool and some rest. But what about Mickey”. Yes, Hidden Mickeys are everywhere. This truly our FastPasses? They were set to expire in another hour or made for a magical day! so, and we definitely wouldn’t be able to get to the park in time to use them later in the day. So we decided to head on Andrea Kerkentzes over to Test Track to see if we could give them to someone else. As luck would have it (good or bad, depending on your point of view), the FastPass kiosks had just run out of tickets at that very moment. We saw a young couple turn away from the machines with a dejected look on their faces (I think the FastPasses had literally run out at that exact instant). By now the standby line was well over an hour, and we could hear the couple lamenting that there was no way they could wait that long. It seemed like they were first time visitors, and this would definitely have been a highlight of their trip. Well, now it was our turn to create some Disney magic. We walked up to them and asked them what had happened, and they explained how they were hoping to ride Test Track but had gotten there a bit too late. “Never fear,” we said, and handed them our unused FastPasses. Best of all, their time window had just opened, so the couple was able to walk right on. The joy on their faces was unforgettable, surpassed only by the joy on our own faces as we experienced that something special, the ability to create that Disney Magic for someone else.

Brian Tomlinson • Philadelphia

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 Jessica Clawson first visited Lori Elias credits her pas- Ray Harkness thanks Disney professional soccer and Walt Disney World when she sion for Disney to long- for saving his marriage. enjoys writing from his was almost 14 years old. She time friend Tara Miller, After being shown the joys home in Berea, Ohio. Kevin certainly made up for the a Cast Member with the of a vacation by his lovely has been published on ESPN lost time though, reading Disney Cruiseline. Lori is wife Nancy, he now cannot Cleveland, On the Fly, and and learning everything she a Cleveland-area middle imagine being away from Cleveland.com. Kevin is a could about the magic of school music teacher by day, work if it doesn’t involve a life-long Disney fan with a Disney, not to mention mov- freelance writer by night, Disney resort. When not particular interest in the ing a thousand miles to live and Disney fan 24/7. She has touring the parks, Ray life and works of its founder, within 20 minutes of Walt written for a number of writes for his blog Grumpy’s Walt Disney. Disney World. She has been music publications, and is Hollow under the name a part of the Celebrations thrilled to be able to share Grumpwurst (grumpyspace. team from the very begin- her love of all things Disney. blogspot.com). ning, and enjoys sharing her knowledge and love of Disney with all she meets.

Cari Keebaugh is a professor Jim Korkis is an of English specializing in internationally recognized children’s and young adult Disney Historian whose literature and culture. Her writing and original primary passion is for all research has been utilized by things Disney, and when other Disney Historians as she’s not at WDW, she can well as the Disney Company. frequently be found either at home watching Disney films with her awesome husband or at work surreptitiously eating large Mickey Mouse lollipops under her desk.

7 · Celebrations Calendar of Events Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival Presented by HGTV Epcot March 05 - May 18, 2014 Discover dazzling gardens, high-energy entertainment, family fun and more at this spectacular springtime event. Sprouting once again in 2014, the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival will be brimming with special experiences for every age and interest.

Expedition Everest Challenge Disney’s Animal Kingdom May 04, 2013 - May 03, 2014 From the scavenger hunt and 5k obstacle race to the lively Post-Race Party, an evening of excite- ment awaits! Expedition Everest Challenge beckons thrill- seekers to embark on a course that’s sure to test your body, mind and spirit. At the end of it all, you’ll be rewarded for your efforts with a special celebration. Event festivities include: • Expedition Everest Challenge • runDisney Kids’ Races • Post-Race Party

Star Wars Weekends Disney’s Hollywood Studios Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Weekend I: May 16 – 18, 2014 Presented by Chase Weekend II: May 23 – 25, 2014 Epcot Weekend III: May 30 – June 1, 2014 September 19 - November 10, 2014 Weekend IV: June 6 – 8, 2014 Take your palate by the hand for an unforgettable tour of Join Star Wars celebrities and characters for special shows, eclectic cultures and global cuisine offerings. Don’t miss exciting presentations and more! From Friday to Sunday the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, and watch each weekend, immerse yourself in the beloved saga that for more information as the event approaches this fall! takes place in a galaxy far, far away. You can also pull back Festival Highlights the mask, go behind the makeup and get an autograph • Nearly 30 international food and beverage marketplaces from an actual Star Wars actor. Bring along a favorite • Signature dining experiences with world-renown chefs memento, or purchase one in the Park, and have it signed • Exciting culinary demonstrations and beverage seminars by some of the very people who portrayed your favorite • The Eat to the Beat concert series, with nightly perfor- characters. mances from popular hit-makers

Photo ©Disney 8 · Celebrations 9 · Celebrations Disney News Disney Parks Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of “it’s a small world” n an historic, global event, Guests and Cast Members at shared optimism, hope, and humanity of people through- IDisney Parks around the world united in song to celebrate out the world.” the 50th anniversary of “it’s a small world,” the classic Dis- ney Parks attraction that opened as a tribute to peace and New Video Features People Around the World Singing hope at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. Fans from around “It’s a Small World” the world joined the festivities in a first-of-its-kind, online To help announce the celebration, Disney Parks released global sing-along at SmallWorld50.com. a video featuring people around the world singing, dancing On Thursday, April 10, 2014, hundreds of voices from Dis- to and playing “It’s a Small World.” Filmed across six conti- neyland Resort in California, Walt Disney World Resort in nents in more than 25 countries, the video featured inter- Florida, Tokyo Disney Resort in Japan, Disneyland Paris in national “performers” – including bagpipers in Scotland, Bol- France and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort sang the unfor- lywood movie actors in India, a firefighter in New York City, gettable theme song of the “happiest cruise that ever sailed and members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir – to create the seven seas.” one worldwide video. Fans around the world also were invited to join the global That video and others were part of the launch of Small- sing-along virtually. SmallWorld50.com launched as a “glob- World50.com, the global website for the attraction’s anni- al hub” of music and harmony where Guests could record versary. Fans around the world were encouraged to par- videos of themselves singing the classic song and create ticipate online by recording on the Small World 50 website virtual “it’s a small world” dolls to benefit UNICEF (United Na- videos of themselves singing “It’s a Small World” and by tions Children’s Fund). UNI- creating virtual “it’s a small CEF provides health care world” dolls to share with and immunizations, clean their friends through social water and sanitation, nu- media. trition, education, emer- The Walt Disney Company gency relief and more to will donate $150,000 to ben- children around the world. efit UNICEF in honor of the ”‘it’s a small world” has 50th anniversary of “it’s a inspired hundreds of mil- small world,” plus $1 for every lions of people through its sing-along video recorded timeless theme,” said Tom on SmallWorld50.com and Staggs, chairman, Walt Dis- another $1 for every virtual ney Parks and Resorts. “Ev- doll created on the website, ery moment of every day up to $100,000. Disney began there are Disney Guests its relationship with UNI- enjoying ‘it’s a small world’ CEF in 1964 with the debut somewhere around the of “it’s a small world” at the globe. The 50th anniversa- New York World’s Fair. More ry of this attraction repre- recently, Disney and UNICEF sents a celebration of the have worked together to cre-

10 · Celebrations Photos ©Disney ate a brighter tomorrow for thousands of children through now iconic style. programming that helps foster imagination and creativity. In 1963, Walt Disney was asked to create an exhibit for Disney Store added to the Golden Anniversary celebra- the 1964 World’s Fair to salute UNICEF and children around tion with the “it’s a small world” doll collection, inspired by the world. With Walt’s blessing, Marc Davis, one of the origi- the original Fantasyland attraction, and stores nationwide nal Disney animators, designed the boat ride attraction offered fans a chance to celebrate at “it’s a small world” through the regions and countries of the world. The first events. version of “it’s a small world” entertained and thrilled more than 10 million visitors in New York from 1964-65. In 1966, af- The Creation of a Classic ter some major enhancements, including an enlargement One of the most beloved attractions in the history of Dis- of approximately 33 percent, the attraction found a perma- ney Parks, “it’s a small world” is featured at all five Disney Re- nent home at Disneyland in California. sorts around the world. The original attraction premiered In the attraction, hundreds of dolls “sing” the familiar at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York City, created by Walt Dis- song, “It’s a Small World,” in five languages (English, Italian, ney himself and WED Enterprises, which eventually became Japanese, Spanish and Swedish). Academy Award® winning Walt Disney Imagineering (the creative masters behind Dis- composers Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, ney theme parks and attractions). who won two Oscars® for their work on Disney’s feature The attraction features a gentle boat ride through a Lil- film “Mary Poppins,” were asked by Walt Disney to create a liputian land populated by colorfully dressed Audio-Anima- simple, yet catchy piece that could be sung in many differ- tronics dolls representing children from many regions of ent languages while Guests traveled by boat through the the world singing a simple song about universal harmony. attraction. The resulting song, “It’s a Small World (After All),” A team of WED artistic geniuses, including Disney Legends became one of the most well known and happiest of all Dis- designer Mary Blair and costumer Alice Davis, created its ney tunes.

11 · Celebrations Disney News

used technology on eye-popping floats adorned with Dis- Disney Festival of Fantasy ney characters from more than a dozen fairytales. Set to an all-new musical score, the dazzling parade floats will soar up to three stories tall with spirited performers donning Parade Debuts at Walt dramatic costumes crafted at ten different design houses across the country. “The parade celebrates and pays homage to what the Disney World Resort Magic Kingdom is all about,” said Randy Wojcik, senior show nchanting stories and characters from Fantasyland director Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Creative Entertain- Ecome to life for Magic Kingdom Guests in a new, daily ment. “It has the most beautiful floats, enchanting charac- spectacular – Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade. ters, vibrant costumes that come to life; and the choreog- The fanciful tribute to Fantasyland highlights several raphy is just glorious. Yet, it is also very kinetic, relevant and new and classic Disney and Pixar stories on a grand scale. powerful on a scale never seen before at Walt Disney World.” There’s nearly 100 performers – on stilts, swings and flying Seven unique units comprised of nine spectacular floats rigs – donning vibrant costumes in this lively mini-Broad- will march down Main Street, U.S.A to the beat of an original way cavalcade soaring to new heights on Main Street, U.S.A. soundtrack inspired by favorite Disney films, composed by The parade, which began Sunday, March 9, is already Mark Hammond, known for his work on World of Color at thrilling park Guests with eye-filling scenes: a fire-breathing Disney California Adventure and the Flights of Fantasy pa- dragon, a pirate ship with smoking cannons, a music box rade at Hong Kong Disneyland. The parade has its own voice that’s a seashell, sassy Bubble Girls with cotton-candy hair, with a theme song customized for each float followed by a a mega-sized bagpipe, and more. medley of songs woven throughout the cavalcade. Disney Festival of Fantasy parade is the first of a new gen- “It’s visually stunning, like mini Broadway shows rolling eration of parades for Disney Parks featuring never-before- down the street,” said Wojcik.

12 · Celebrations The Float-By-Float Lineup: their heels to high-energy choreography. The Princess Garden: This pageantry of princesses cel- Brave: Celtic couples and a vessel shaped like an enor- ebrates Disney royalty. Cinderella, Tiana and Belle accompa- mous bagpipe announce the arrival of Merida perched nied by their respective princes, ride in a garden of topiaries high on her majestic crown. Scottish dancers step to mel- with woodland creatures, birds and more. Cinderella’s dress odies of the Great Highlands in celebration of the popular playfully twirls like a turntable, while Swan Court couples Disney*Pixar film, “Brave.” lead the 50-foot-long majestic float, capped off with a spe- Sleeping Beauty: The heroic Prince Phillip battles a cial appearance by Anna and Elsa from Disney’s hit animat- Steampunk-inspired Dragon as the wicked Maleficent. This ed feature, “Frozen.” float stretches 53 feet in length and 26 feet tall with a prick- Tangled: A massive long ship on the high seas show- ly spinning wheel dead center of the float. With fiery eyes cases Flynn Rider and Rapunzel in search of adventure and and glowing effects the spectacular dragon was built on an another Best. Day. Ever! Rapunzel’s iconic tresses weave articulating chassis allowing the float to bend and flex as it throughout this 36-foot-long float decked out with swaying moves along the parade route – a first for Disney parades. pendulums carrying dastardly thugs. This float was designed in a partnership with Tony Award- The Little Mermaid: Ariel and her friends sit atop a col- winner Michael Curry. There’s Prince Phillip, thorn-inspired orfully kinetic seashell music box that boasts an enchant- stilt performers, dramatic raven dancers, plus the three ing musical jubilee. There’s no shortage of whimsy on this good fairies, Flora, Fauna and Merryweather Under the Sea float with conga dancing fish kicking up their Finale and Mickey’s Airship: The parade culminates fins and bubbles galore. Shimmering fabrics and intricately with a 90-foot-long magical caravan of characters featur- designed costumes for the Lion Fish, Coral Fish, Seashell and ing Pinocchio, Dumbo, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Sea Horse performers are runway-inspired. the Mad Hatter, Pluto and more in a splashy carnival of col- Peter Pan: Straight from Never Land come Peter Pan and or. There’s Pegasus horses, dancing hippos and sassy Bubble Wendy soaring high aboard the famous Jolly Roger pirate Girls with cotton-candy-like hair celebrating Storybook ship complete with smoke effects and special surprises. A Circus in New Fantasyland. Sporting zany new costumes rainbow arch shines over Skull Rock and Tinker Bell nestled Mickey and Minnie Mouse sit sky high in Mickey’s Airship among giant flowers, while Captain Hook takes center stage — a giant hot air balloon that rounds out Disney Festival of on a swinging anchor. “Newsies-inspired” Lost Boys kick up Fantasy Parade.

Photos ©Disney 13 · 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...!

15 · Celebrations Myths of Walt Disney World

ecrets. Legends. Little known facts. Walt Disney World is filled with all sorts of Shidden details and stories, so many in fact that a big part of the fun of being a Disney fan is in discovering all those fun-filled tidbits. But like so many other legends, stories sometimes change over time. Perhaps it’s the case of a few different tales being mixed together, or a tall tale that’s repeated so often that it becomes believable. Sometimes it’s nothing more than a classic case of “whisper down the lane,” where stories and facts are distorted over time to create a whole new legend that sounds plausible, but turns out not to be true. Myths and urban legends have been around as long as there were people to tell them, but in today’s world of the In- by Tim Foster ternet, blogs, and message boards, it doesn’t take long for a falsehood to get legs and wind up being published everywhere. So it’s no surprise that there are lots of Disney myths floating around these days, and in this article we’ll look at a few of them.

Classic Myths Before we get into some of the lesser-known myths, we’ll touch on a few that are fairly well known. These have been discussed so many times that most Disney fans are probably aware that they’re not true, but nonetheless they’re still fun to share. The first takes us to the Haunted Mansion (as we press forward you’ll see that this attraction has quite a few myths associated with it). In the singing busts scene in the graveyard, one of the busts has fallen over. The face on the stone figure bears a striking resemblance to Walt Disney, and many people believe that it is in fact Walt warbling along with rest of the quintet. A cute story, but that’s not Walt Disney, it’s actually Thurl Ravenscroft, whose distinctive baritone can be heard quite clearly as the busts sing “Grim Grinning Ghosts.” His voice may be familiar, he sang the classic Tim Foster is the creator of Christmas song “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” from the TV animated special How Celebrations magazine and the Grinch Stole Christmas!, and he also performed the voice of Tony the Tiger. the author of the Guide to the Magic book series, which Another popular Disney myth has to do with the very symbol of Walt Disney includes the Guide to the Magic World, Cinderella Castle. As detailed in our November/December 2013 issue, a leg- for Kids and the Deluxe Guide to end somehow grew that the castle could be quickly dismantled in the event of a the Magic Autograph & Sticker severe hurricane. That’s not true, and a moment’s reflection will show that doing Book. Tim is also the creator of so would be highly impractical (how would the necessary massive cranes may be the www.celebrationspress.com moved into position?), not to mention dangerous. The castle is in fact quite sturdy, website. and can easily withstand the fiercest winds that a hurricane can muster. It’s not clear where this story began, but it may have started with the publication of photos of the castle during construction, showing the individual turrets being lifted into place by large cranes. Finally, no article on Disney legends would be complete without the bizarre tale of Walt Disney’s final resting place. The story is a bit morbid, but it’s become so prev- alent and persistent that even today, we are asked about it all the time. Without going into too many details, the story goes that Walt Disney was cryogenically frozen and is being kept “in stasis” beneath the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction in Disneyland. Aside from the fact that the first cryogenically frozen individual wasn’t frozen until a month after Disney’s death, it’s doubtful that, according to his daughter Diane, Walt Disney was even aware of such a procedure. In any event, Walt Dis-

16 · Celebrations ney’s final resting place is at Forest Lawn Cemetery, though would see when they looked through the bars. Unfortu- the legend persists to this day. nately, even though it may have been true at one time, such is no longer the case. If you have a photo of the chessboard, Newer Myths you can see it yourself. Set up the pieces, find your favorite Those myths have been around for quite a while, and chess opponent (or a good computer chess program), and while there are still a number of folks who believe them, see how it plays out. You’ll likely find that one of the play- most Disney fans know them to be false. Indeed, several ers can win very easily, and oftentimes in just a few moves. official Disney books address the myths directly, debunk- So what happened? Probably nothing more sinister than ing them and providing the true stories behind the tales. Cast Members inadvertently moving the pieces as they But new stories pop up all the team, and we’ll take a look at “cleaned” the area. If you do a Google search on images of the some of the newer Disney myths that are floating around chessboard, you’ll quickly see that the pieces have moved all today. over the place throughout the years. A few seem to be set First up is the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction, and in their proper squares, but others come and go and move the legendary chess board that you can see in the queue. Al- all over the board. Another related tale having to do with though briefly discussed in one of our past issues, the story the chessboard is that at one point the pieces were moved is well worth repeating. The legend goes that the two skel- during a cleaning, and everyone realized that they had no etons in the cell are locked in a perpetual stalemate; that idea how to put them back. Knowing that Marc Davis was the positions of the pieces on the chess boards are such very specific in his setup instructions, Cast Members real- that neither player can win, and they are destined to play ized that there was a unique way in which the pieces were for all eternity. This myth actually has a basis in fact, as the to be arranged. After a long search, an original sketch of Da- chessboard was originally set up in just such a position. vis’ turned up, containing his exact instructions for placing Imagineer Marc Davis mapped out the specific positions for the pieces. These instructions were taped underneath the the chess pieces to assure the stalemated board that Guests board just in case they were moved again. Is this true? The

Photo © Tim Foster 17 · Celebrations last part doesn’t appear to be true; else the pieces would al- An addendum to the story is that the Seal is only on dis- ways be in the proper place, but what of the rest? We’ll go on play in two places in the United States, here at the Hall of record as maintaining that the origins of the story are likely Presidents, and at the Capital itself (or the White House, or true, but alas, the notion of a perpetually stalemated board Independence Hall…you get the idea). But is it true? A call has been lost in the mists of time. (I still don’t think those to the Library of Congress turned up no documentation skeletons are going anywhere soon though!) from Congress regarding the Seal at the Hall of Presidents, Our next legend takes us to the nearby Hall of Presidents. and the researcher we talked to was skeptical that any such This one’s a two-parter, and while the first is easily de- permission would need to be obtained. A reading of the ac- bunked, the second part is a bit more challenging. The myth tual laws pertaining to appropriate uses of the Seal doesn’t centers around the Great Seal that’s in the carpet in the en- shed much light on the subject, as they are varied and vague tryway. Many people assume, and have written, that this is (and don’t address this question specifically). This legend is the Presidential Seal of the United States, and why not? This so persistent that Cast Members routinely tell the tale to is the Hall of Presidents after all! But actually what you see Guests as they wait for the next show to begin in the the- on the floor is the Great Seal of the United States, not the ater. It may very well be true, but in the course of research- Presidential Seal. Admittedly, the two are very similar, but ing the tale we have yet to find any actual documentation they are subtly different. That’s the easy part. The second that any such permission was obtained or necessary. We’re part of the legend is a bit more uncertain. It is commonly not quite prepared to say this one isn’t true there, so if any stated that Disney had to obtain a special Act of Congress of our readers have information on this we invite you to (or simply “special permission,” depending on which version share it with us. After all, it does make for a good story! of the story you hear), in order to put the Seal on display. We’re going to switch parks for out next legend, and this is one we know to be false. When you exit the rear of the Innoventions West building in Epcot, you’ll find a courtyard filled with plaques commemo- rating significant events in science and discovery. It is said that when you stand in the center of the courtyard, you’re actually standing in the geographic center of Walt Disney World. (Another variation says that you’re standing in the center of Epcot itself). Even a casual look at a map will prove this tale to be false, as the center of Walt Disney World (as best as can be determined, due to the irregularity of its boundaries), puts the center of Walt Disney World to

18 · Celebrations the east of the Epcot monorail line, right in the heart of an undeveloped patch of forest. The center of Epcot, incidentally, would put you in World Showcase lagoon (hope you brought your snorkel!). The origins of this myth are rather mysterious, particularly since it’s so easily disproved. Similar stories are told of the various survey markers that can be found throughout Epcot. While they are neat to find, and do have a geographic significance (as it relates to surveying), the markers don’t have anything to do with specific locations of significance in Walt Disney World itself.

From Legend to Fact Finally, we’ll touch on a unique set of stories, those that began as myths but have since become true (hey, this is Walt Disney World, anything can legend, but the plates are now seemingly set in their perma- happen!). Coincidentally, all of them have to do with the nent Mickey arrangement, so we may never now…unless a Haunted Mansion. The first involves one of the most iconic Cast Member or sympathetic ghost tells us for sure). Hidden Mickeys that you can find at the Magic Kingdom, Speaking of Haunted Mansion spirits, the Mansion’s most the three dinner plates on the table in the ballroom scene. infamous resident is arguably the bride in the attic. Once This Hidden Mickey has been around for ages, and contin- upon a time, some remodeling at the exit of the attraction ues to be a favorite for those visiting the happy haunts of necessitated the removal of a small post, leaving an irregu- Liberty Square. It has always been a great one to point out lar ring in the ground. Legend quickly grew that this was to Disney newbies, and was a wonderful introduction to the the bride’s wedding ring, which she flung out of the attic world of Hidden Mickeys. The only trouble was…it wasn’t window in a fit of despair. This story was so persistent that an official Hidden Mickey. When cleaning the set (or, to be Cast Members would point it out to you if you asked. Alas, more proper, “dirtying” the set), Cast Members would often it was just a legend, and in a subsequent minor renovation arrange the plates in a Hidden Mickey. The problem was the “ring” disappeared. Fortunately, the tale didn’t end there. that that wasn’t how they were supposed to be setup. There The “bride ring” story was so popular that it was incorpo- were specific instructions on how the different elements rated into the new interactive queue that was added to the on the table were to be arranged, and officially, those three Haunted Mansion in 2011. As you wander through the queue plates weren’t meant to be arranged in that manner. That you’ll find the bride’s ring embedded in the ground, and this didn’t stop Cast Members from creating the classic Mickey, is the real thing, not a leftover post remnant. but is also didn’t stop the next set of Cast Members from setting them back to their proper positions. What that Those are just a few of the Disney myths that have been meant was that when you toured the Haunted Mansion, told over the years, and we’ll explore more in future issues. you would usually be able to spot that Hidden Mickey… In the meantime, you can hear more about Disney myths but sometimes you wouldn’t (somehow that always disap- on episode #352 of the WDWRadio podcast, where Lou Mon- pointed me!). Over time though, the Hidden Mickey became gello and I had great fun discussing these and more (many so popular that it was finally made “official” and that’s how more!) in our latest Top Ten segment. Have a listen and see the plates are arranged today. (Or perhaps not…in hushed what you think, and in the meantime remember, don’t be- corners you may hear whispers that even that is an urban lieve everything you hear (or read!).

Photos ©Tim Foster 19 · Celebrations Hidden Mickeys of Africa longside exotic animals from around the world, Hidden Mickeys and other AHidden Characters populate the lands of Disney’s Animal Kingdom. By the time this park opened on Earth Day in 1998, the art and science of Hidden Mickeys had evolved such that some of the most creative Hidden Images anywhere can be found right here. Let’s visit one of the lands, Africa, and enjoy a few of these Hidden Gems.

1. Near Tamu Tamu Refreshments, on the walkway that connects Africa and Asia, a small utility cover and the pebbles adjacent to it form a classic Mickey.

2. Inside the small seating area behind Tamu Tamu Refreshments, a white Hidden Baloo (the bear from Disney’s The Jungle Book) is on the wall nearest the path to Asia. He’s often covered by a curtain, so you may need to move the curtain. by Steve Barrett 3. Also inside the small seating area behind Tamu Tamu Refreshments, a Hidden Scar (the lion) is in the exposed brown brick on a corner wall and under vases that are in recessed openings. His head faces right and his snout is just to the right of the corner of the wall.

4. In Tusker House Restaurant, walk to a small dining room on the left side of the hallway to the restrooms. A classic Mickey is formed by one of the magnets on an Assignment Board on a wall inside the room.

5. Outside, near an entrance door to the Mombasa Marketplace store, you’ll find a classic Mickey formed by a small utility cover (with the letter “D” in the middle) and the pebbles adjacent to it.

6. At one side of the Harambe Fruit Market, a short cement and flagstone path with Steve Barrett is the author of the benches leads through some trees. A large Mickey Mouse head in the cement Hidden Mickeys Guide Book Series marks the beginning of the path. It’s several feet in diameter. (Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and the Disney Cruise Ships) available in 7. Along the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail, to the left of the entrance to the build- the Disney Parks and in book stores, Amazon, and on Kindle and other ing with the Naked Mole Rat Exhibit, a small box of Asepso soap on a desk near a downloadable formats. lamp has a classic Mickey as the “o” in Asepso. The WDW and Disneyland Hidden Mickeys Guide books are also offered 8. In the far left corner of the room with the Naked Mole Rat Exhibit, a backpack as iPhone and Android apps. Steve sports a small classic Mickey emblem on the left side. and his wife Vickie (hiddenmickeygal) are the webmasters of HiddenMickeyGuy.com, and are on 9. Further along the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail, a three-dimensional head of Twitter @hiddenmickeyguy and Jafar is carved out of a huge 25- to 30-foot rock. You’ll find it past the gorilla view- Facebook as Hidden Mickey Guy ing area, to the right of the first section of the first suspension bridge. Check out Disney’s Hidden Mickeys Hunter. his nose, mouth and the peak of his turban on the left side of the rock.

10. On the back of The Tree of Life, and visible from the path between Africa and Asia, is a dark gray upside-down classic Mickey. Look above the eye of the hippopota- mus to spot him.

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21 · Celebrations Photographing People aking photos of attractions and park icons is a must when you visit Walt Disney TWorld of course, but some of your greatest photographic memories will come from the pictures of your family and friends. These are the ones you’ll most likely show off to your friends, family, co-workers, and even post to your favorite social media feeds. In this edition of Shutters and Lenses, we’ll be talking about taking portrait shots in order to help you improve your overall vacation photo album. By keeping a few simple tips in mind, your vacation photos will be vastly improved, and you’ll have a collection of memories that will last forever. Taking photos of people can be an extremely fun (or frustrating) task to under- take. The most important thing to keep in mind is to have your camera set and by Tim Devine ready for action. Nothing kills a spontaneous photo moment faster than when the photographer has to call a time out to setup or reset their equipment. Be ready beforehand.

Tips and Tricks When taking the actual photos, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind. My most important tip is to make sure you use your flash during the day for people shots. I know this sounds contrary to what you might assume, but using the flash will give your photos better color and contrast, fill in the shadows under eyes and noses, and will allow you to take pictures with the sun to the subjects’ backs or sides. As an aside, if you have a friend or family member who tends to blink every time you take their picture, particularly with a flash, you can use a bit of psychology to avoid those distracting closed eyes in your final shot. As you prepare your subjects Tim Devine is an avid photographer for their photo, count down the shot “3...2...1...” The trick is to shoot the picture on the and the owner and webmaster of count of 2 instead of 1. Your subject will be anticipating the shutter to click at “1” and www.themagicinpixels.com, a website you’ll catch them “off guard” with their eyes open. When taking photos with a flash created for and dedicated to fellow Disney Photography Enthusiasts. In inside of a building or restaurant, another tip is to have your subjects stand at least addition to a large gallery of photos 8 to 10 feet away from the wall. This will prevent distracting shadows from appear- you can browse, you’ll also find tips, ing behind your subjects. articles and equipment reviews You will want to use a medium to low telephoto focal length (a 70-200 millimeter to help you create magical photo lens is great for these pictures) to take the photos, especially close-ups. NEVER EVER memories of your Walt Disney World use a wide-angle lens to take a photo of a person. The wide-angle view will distort Resort vacation. Tim lives in South Jersey with his wife, their body in a most unflattering manner. A focal length that is too long will also com- Karen, and their sons, Billy and Ryan. press the depth of field and make faces look flat and less dimensional. By contrast, a Do you have a photography topic that nice effect can be achieved by opening the aperture and zooming in a bit, making the you would like to see in this column? depth of field shallower, which will make the backgrounds nice and soft while keep- Please email ing the subjects sharp and crisp. Just be careful that the depth of field is deep enough [email protected] to cover your subjects from side-to-side. Finally, be sure to focus on the subjects’ eyes! You will want to “fill the frame” by zooming in nice and close, but make sure to leave enough room around the top and edges of the frame so your subject doesn’t look like a mime trapped in a box. For groups of family members or couples, have them snuggle nice and close to show affection or family unity. When placing your arms around someone that you are posing with, keep your hands in the middle of their back rather than wrapping them around their whole body; this will keep your hands and fingers from showing, which creates distracting elements.

22 · Celebrations Taking Pictures of the Little Ones Lastly, it’s always fun to replicate the same photo or pose When taking pictures of your kids, get down to their level over and over on subsequent trips. You may have a favor- by sitting on the ground or taking a knee. Not only does this ite photo spot that becomes a tradition, such as sitting on make for a nicer composition by capturing memories from a particular corner of Main Street U.S.A. This is also a great a child’s eye level, but it also eliminates vertical distortion way to see your kids grow over the years, especially if you by allowing you to keep your camera parallel to the ground. take their picture next to something like the Wilderness Your kids will feed off the energy that you are conveying, Lodge Mercantile totem pole. Years from now, you’ll all be so if you want them to appear excited, happy, silly, or seri- amazed at how little they were when you first started going ous, you need to appear the same. (That should be easy to to Disney! You may also want to have a theme during a trip, do since we’re all children at heart, especially at Walt Disney such as having your kids jump in the air. By recreating this World!) Keep in mind that kids typically have a very short kind of shot throughout the different areas of the parks, span of attention, so it’s critical to be prepared ahead of you’ll end up with a fun series of photos that’s uniquely time so you can shoot at a moment’s notice. yours. Another favorite trick is to bring along objects that When taking pictures of kids with characters or perform- you can include in your shots from time to time, such as a ers, make sure you capture the candid moments before and stuffed animal, small figurine, or even a favorite Vinylma- after the posed photos. It could be something as innocuous tion. Let your imagination run wild, and just remember, as as a little one reaching out to touch Mickey’s nose or to grab long as you’re having fun it doesn’t matter if you look silly. Pluto’s whiskers. It’s these cute, touching moments that One last tip: NEVER take someone’s photo while they’re make for lasting memories, but you need to be on your toes putting food in their mouths. (Unless, of course, you’re going as they happen in the blink of an eye and disappear just as for a specific look or family “inside joke!”) It is not flattering quickly. Some of your best pictures will be the ones that the and you will probably end up throwing it in the recycle bin. subjects did not even know you were taking. Along those Hopefully these simple tips will help you improve your lines, pictures taken from behind of your kids walking, lean- “people photos” while on your next trip. These tips are sim- ing on a rail, or staring off into the distance also make for ple, brief, and should be easy to remember and apply, so go fantastic vacation memories. make some memories!

Photo ©Tim Devine 23 · Celebrations Frank Thomas or all of its different forays into various forms of entertainment, the true foun- Fdation of the Walt Disney Company has always been in animation. From the rudimentary Alice Comedies to Oswald, Mickey Mouse, and eventually the Silly Symphonies series, Disney was gradually elevating animation to an elegant art form, culminating with the release of the ground-breaking Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Animating the characters in this classic film was a daunting task, since they had to be believable and genuine in order to be relatable to the audience. A young artist by the name of Frank Thomas served as one of eight animators assigned to the dwarfs, and he was tasked with creating a pivotal scene in the film, the one in by Jamie Hecker which the dwarfs are tenderly crying over what they believe to be the dead body of Snow White. The scene required deep emotional maturity, and Thomas, just twenty-four years old at the time, handled it perfectly. He was an actor who emoted with his pencil rather than his body and voice. His career at Disney, which would eventually span 43 years, is defined by iconic characters such as Bambi, Pinocchio, Captain Hook, and Baloo. Many classic scenes from the early films were his creation, with perhaps the most famous being the romantic spaghetti dinner scene from Lady and the Tramp. Frank Thomas was born in Santa Monica, California in 1912. He attended Stanford University studying the Arts. While there, he met Ollie Johnson, who would also become a Disney animator as well as a life-long friend and colleague. After gradu- ation, Thomas continued his education at the Chouinard Art Institute in Los Ange- les. In 1934, he applied for and was accepted to Disney as an “in-betweener,” Disney’s entry-level animating position. Fred Moore, an early Disney animation legend, took Thomas under his wings. Thomas’ first significant animation work was the Mickey Mouse short Mickey’s Elephant. He quickly rose in ranks and was part of the select crew working on Snow White. Thomas recalled the early brain-storming story ses- sions directed by Walt and how it helped the film. “One of the wildest things we ever Jamie Hecker has been a lifelong did…started off so sane and simple. We were all going to talk about the characters: fan of Disney, and is passing on his love to his sons. He and his family how they were going to walk, how they would move, how they would do all these visit Orlando annually and always different things. Walt would say, ‘now this time you be Grumpy, you be Sleepy, you look forward to their next trip. be so and so, and let’s see what we get here.’…it was about research, thinking about When not in Orlando, he resides it and criticizing each other. ‘I don’t think Sleepy would do this, he’s too sloppy.’ The in northern Virginia with his thing got funnier and funnier. But the thinking we went through was the valuable beautiful wife Suzanne, two boys part…it was a new idea, something to try.” and four cats. You can read more about his Thomas’ next assignment was Pinocchio. He, along with Johnson and Moore, col- “hidden Disney” musings at laborated with Milt Kahl and Ham Luske to create the shape and form of the title myhiddendisney.blogspot.com/ character. Thomas and Kahl share credit for animating the puppet boy. Thomas’ work shines brightly on the “I’ve Got No Strings” dance sequence. His next assignment was the long-developing Bambi. It was originally intended to be the follow-up to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, but Walt Disney realized that he needed more time to refine the animation techniques needed to realistically depict the wildlife in the film. Development started in 1939, but the movie wasn’t released until 1942 when America was caught up in World War II. Thomas and Kahl were tasked with bringing the young Bambi to life, and they had the clout to develop scenes without Walt’s early supervision. Said Thomas,

24 · Celebrations “When Milt and I started on Bambi, before the war, (Walt) told us, ‘you know, don’t show me anything until you’re satis- fied with it.’ It was over two month’s time that Walt waited. I did the art where baby Bambi runs up the hill and the butterfly lights on his tail, and he’s just learned to say ‘bird’… Thumper says, ‘that’s not a bird, it’s a butterfly.” Upon showing their work to Walt, Thomas received rare praise from him. “(Walt) had tears in his eyes and he said, ‘fellas, this is pure gold.’ That was one of my prize moments of all time. He never did it again.” With feature animation now taking center stage, the studio was honing and refining its talent core. A select group of nine animators – dubbed the Nine Old Men, a nod to the phrase coined for the Supreme Court during the Roosevelt presidency – served as principal and directing animators for all feature length films. Thomas proudly served as a member of this elite group of Disney artisans. Thomas had the good fortune to join Walt and other Disney personnel on the company’s South America good- will tour in 1941. Thomas witnessed a different side of Walt outside of the studio culture. While on the tour, Thomas recalled, “Walt would say, ‘we’ve all been working pretty hard, so next Tuesday we’re going to take the day off and we’re with the tenderness of the moment. going to rest.’ We’d start out resting at 7:00 in the morning. Not only was Thomas a top-rate animator, but he was ‘We’ll have a football game on the beach.’ It was the most ex- also an amazing pianist, performing with the in-house jazz hausting day he had. But he rested the way he worked.” An band Firehouse Five Plus Two. Other notable Disney veter- interesting sidebar to this trip is that Frank’s son Ted cap- ans such as Ward Kimball and Harper Goff were part of the tured the spirit of it in his documentary, Walt and El Grupo. rollicking quintet. What started out as a hobby soon devel- Thomas continued his stellar animation career with no- oped into a nationally famous band that performed fre- table characters, including some of Disney’s most famous quently at Disneyland, releasing over a dozen albums. villains. His Captain Hook had just the right blend of sinis- Thomas’ Disney career ended with his retirement in terness and bluster. He animated the evil Stepmother from 1978 after nearly 20 feature animation films to his credit. Cinderella, imbuing her with a cold and calculating person- His time at Disney spanned many changes, from the early ality. On a lighter note, he breathed whimsical life into The studio on Hyperion to the spacious Burbank facility that in- Jungle Book’s Baloo the bear, and recalled the challenge of the cluded an extensive backlot for the company’s venture into scene following the return of the ‘man cub’ Mowgli to his live-action television and films. Thomas spoke glowingly of village. As the heartbroken bear leaves, Thomas explained Walt: “He was the best director we had as far as knowing that, “there should be an aimless feeling to Baloo’s walk, in how to handle people, knowing how to get the work out contrast to his normal expansive confident manner.” of them. Walt had the ability to make you work over your Perhaps the best known image from Thomas’ animation head.” career is the tender scene between the elegant Lady and Thomas and his Disney colleague and close friend Ollie the street-savvy Tramp while they enjoy a romantic spa- Johnson remain linked even in retirement. Together, they ghetti and meatball dinner, which climactically ends with authored the seminal work on animation, Disney Anima- a tender kiss as a single strand of spaghetti is shared be- tion: The Illusion of Life. This 500 plus page masterpiece is tween them. Although the on-screen stars are the canines, considered the authoritative work on film animation. Thomas perfectly captured the spirit of the romance that For his lifelong contributions to the Walt Disney Compa- transcends us all, allowing filmgoers of all ages to connect ny, Frank Thomas was named a Disney Legend in 1989.

25 · Celebrations Join the Carnival at the Flying Fish Cafe ne of the most delicious seafood restaurants at Walt Disney World is the Fly- Oing Fish Cafe at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Resort. Fortunately, this destination is within walking distance of Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Stepping into the Flying Fish Café is like walking into a huge carnival, with a giant Ferris wheel on the back wall, parachutes with flying fish hanging from the ceiling, and colorful fish sculptures throughout. The whole family will enjoy the open kitchen, where you can watch the chefs prepare your food. Flying Fish features several delicious appetizers including the Signature Flying Fish Cafe Appetizer Duo, Crispy Maine Coast Jonah Crab Cake, Yellowfin Tuna Tar- tare and Crispy Tepura Tuna-Vegetable Sushi Roll, Vegetarian Sushi Roll, Chardon- nay-Steamed PEI Green Isle Mussels, Crispy Togarashi-Scented Calamari and Royal By Allison Jones Red Shrimp, and Worldly Artisanal Cheeses. You’ll also find a tantalizing selection of soups and salads, including the Chef’s Thunder Appetizer (Roasted Heirloom Beets and Fresh Vermont Goat Cheese), Soup of the Day, Epcot Land Pavilion Sweet Bibb and Red Oak Salad, Flying Fish Cafe Cae- sar Salad, and Fresh Mozzarella di Bufala. As mentioned earlier, the Flying Fish Cafe is one of the best seafood restaurants at Walt Disney World, featuring delicious entrees like the Signature Flying Fish Cafe Entree Duo, the Chef’s Special Thunder Fish Entree, Oak-Grilled Main Scallops, Flying Fish Cafe’s Idaho Potato-Wrapped Red Snapper, Chef’s Eco-Friendly/Sustainable Fish Selection, Fragrant Asian Spiced-Crusted Yellowfin Tuna Filet, Orechiette di Abru- zzo Pasta a la Bolognese, Native Pepperberry and Wattleseed and Juniper-Crusted American Kurobuta Pork and Slow-Braised Belly, and Char-Crusted Angus New York Strip Steak. The Signature Flying Fish Cafe Entree Duo is a Char-Crusted Angus New York Strip Steak and potato wrapped Red Snapper. The Chef’s Special Thunder Fish En- tree changes based on the season. Options may include Brioche and Herb Crusted Striped Bass, Oak-Grilled Florida Coast Cobia, or Pan Roasted Port Canaveral Golden Tile. The Oak-Grilled Maine Scallops include fine herbs, celery root, wild and culti- As an Orlando local, Allison has seen the growth of the Walt Disney World vated mushrooms, Romano, and risotto. Flying Fish Cafe’s Idaho Potato-Wrapped Resort. She experienced the inside as a Red Snapper is served with a rich leek fondue with veal glace de viande and red Disney Cast Member and has planned wine reduction. The Chef’s Eco-Friendly/Sustainable Fish Selection is Oak Grilled Disney vacations for over 10 years. Faroe Islands Salmon with brown laced cauliflower puree, roasted cauliflower col- Allison Jones is a travel consultant ors, toasted pumpkin seeks, and Istrian pumpkin seed oil. The Fragrant Asian Spice- with Destinations in Florida Travel Crusted Yellowfin Tuna Filet includes scallion-laced rice cake, a stir fly of bok choy, and MouseDine. Destinations in Florida is an Authorized Disney salsifis, snow peas, tiny shiitakes, sea beans, lime, and coconut infusion. Vacation Planner selling Disney For meat entrees, try the Orechiette di Abruzzo Pasta a la Bolognese with little vacations. ear pasta and rustic five meat ragout, and sun dried tomatoes with arugula and MouseDine is a restaurant Romano. Native Pepperberry and Wattleseed and Juniper-Crusted American Kuro- consulting company for Disney World buta Pork and Slow-Braised Belly are served with wilted greens, braised pork, leek, Dining Reservations. Visit and wild mushroom bread pudding with a huckleberry, pomegranate balsamico, www.destinationsinflorida.com or www.mousedine.com for more porcini, port wine and red onion compote. The Char-Crusted Angus New York Strip information on Disney Dining. Steak includes potatoes, vegetables, and a Foyot sauce. Be sure you save room for dessert at Flying Fish Cafe! One of my favorite treats is the Trio of Concession Sweets (following the carnival theme). This dessert includes

Photo ©Disney 26 · Celebrations popcorn mousse, caramel corn and cherry limeade popsicle, and dark chocolate fudge burger and pound cake fries. You will want to pull out your camera and take a picture of this fun dessert for your vacation scrapbook! Other desserts include the Signature Flying Fish Caramelized Banana Napo- leon, Ginger-Laced Sour Cream Apple Torta, Seasonal House Made Sorbets, Frangelico-Laced Dark Chocolate Mousse Creation, Creme Brulee, and “Our Chef’s No Sugar Added Spe- cialty” Cashew-Crusted Blueberry Goat Cheesecake. Flying Fish Cafe is a Signature Table Service Restaurant and does take Disney Dining entitlements. They take (2) sit down meals per person for this restaurant. Advanced Din- ing Reservations are also required. Call 407-WDW-DINE or your travel expert to book this popular restaurant. Prices range from $12-18 for appetizers, $22 for Market Price entrees, and $7-9 for desserts. Join the carnival fun and enjoy a delicious dinner at Fly- ing Fish Cafe on your next visit to Walt Disney World.

Caramelized Banana Napoleon For our Celebrations readers at home, I want you to get a taste of the Flying Fish Cafe with the popular Signature Fly- ing Fish Caramelized Banana Napoleon dessert. Enjoy! Ingredients 3 egg yolks 2 ½ cups whipped cream (divided) ter to large pan to a depth of 1 inch. 1 vanilla bean Bake at 300 degrees for 35 minutes. Remove pan from wa- 1 1/3 cups sugar (divided) ter, and cool. Cover and chill at least 2 hours. ¾ cup butter (divided) Melt 1/2 cup butter or margarine. Stack phyllo, brushing 5 frozen phyllo pastry sheets each sheet with butter and sprinkling with powdered sug- ½ cup powdered sugar ar. Cut phyllo stack into 16 (3-inch) squares. 2 bananas (cut into ¼ inch thick sliced) Place squares on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Whipped cream Cover with a sheet of parchment paper and a baking sheet. Grated chocolate Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden. Remove Directions from oven, and cool to room temperature. Whisk together egg yolks and 1/4 cup whipping cream; set Cook remaining 1 cup sugar and remaining 1/4 cup of but- aside. ter or margarine in a small heavy saucepan over medium Combine 1-1/4 cups whipping cream and 1/3 cup sugar in a heat, stirring until butter melts. Slowly add remaining 1 cup heavy saucepan. whipping cream, and cook, stirring constantly, 8-10 minutes Cut vanilla bean in half lengthwise; scrape seeds into or until caramel color. Set aside. saucepan, and add vanilla bean halves. Cut chilled custard into 6 squares. Place one square on Bring vanilla mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Re- each of 6 dessert plates. Top each square of custard with move from heat; discard vanilla bean. 1 phyllo square. Drizzle a small amount of caramel sauce Whisk about one-fourth of hot mixture gradually into yolk around custard. mixture; add to remaining hot mixture, whisking constant- Stir together banana and remaining caramel sauce. Spoon ly. Skim air bubbles from top of mixture. Pour mixture into evenly over phyllo squares. Top each with a second phyllo an 8-inch square pan. Place into a 13x9 inch pan. Add hot wa- square, and garnish, if desired. Enjoy!

27 · Celebrations Secrets of the Walt Disney World Resorts e’ve traveled through the parks at Walt Disney World examining hidden trib- Wutes to Disney, large and small. The lion’s share can be found in the parks themselves, but with a property of over forty square miles and dozens of resorts, it’s only natural that a few hidden secrets can be found outside the parks. Let’s examine a few that are close to the Magic Kingdom. Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground was one of the three original resorts at Walt Disney World. Although it wasn’t part of the opening day festivities on October 1, 1971, it did host Guests beginning the following month. It’s a sprawling By Jamie Hecker complex set against a wooded backdrop that accommodates recreational vehicle camping, tent sites, and fixed cabins. Its signature attraction is the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue, one of the longest running shows at Walt Disney World, with performances held daily at Pioneer Hall. The building is a charming replica of an old West dance hall that also hosts the Trail’s End Buffett and Crockett’s Tavern. The tavern is a counter-service restaurant with modest seating inside and distinctive rocking chairs on the expansive porch. The restaurant is of course named after frontiers- man Davy Crockett, a larger-than-life figure straight out of 19th-century American history. Disney fans will further recognize Crockett as a pivotal part of Disney’s television history. Fess Parker became a household name when he starred as Crock- ett in the 1954-1955 five-episode series that launched Disney into the new medium. Fittingly, inside the restaurant there’s a portrait of Fess Parker leaning on his rifle while wearing his trademark Davy Crockett coonskin cap. Next to Fort Wilderness, along the shores of Bay Lake, is Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. The resort is a testament to the majestic National Park lodges of the west, drawing inspiration from the Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone. It’s worth a visit to the resort if only to take in the cavernous lobby, complete with an eighty-two foot stone fireplace that evokes the various strata of the Grand Canyon. The Wilderness Lodge is the only Disney resort that has an official mascot, the brown bear. Its silhouette Jamie Hecker has been a lifelong fan of Disney, and is passing on his and image can be found throughout the resort as a symbol of strength and valor. love to his sons. He and his family It’s also here that you can find a special bear with a bona fide Disney history. Just visit Orlando annually and always outside the Wilderness Lodge Mercantile, where you can purchase your favorite look forward to their next trip. Disney souvenir, stands a totem pole that seems both out-of-place and yet perfectly When not in Orlando, he resides normal. Instead of typical Native American glyphs such as warriors, eagles, or other in northern Virginia with his wildlife, this pole features Disney’s most famous animated animals: Mickey, Donald, beautiful wife Suzanne, two boys and four cats. and Goofy. Anchoring this trio is, appropriately enough, a bear. While he may not be You can read more about his as familiar to the casual Disney fan as his fellow totem pole pals, he’s a Disney star in “hidden Disney” musings at his own right. That’s Humphrey the Bear, and he made his debut in 1950 serving as a myhiddendisney.blogspot.com/ foil to Goofy in the cartoon short, Hold That Pose. He was featured in four additional animated shorts before getting his own short-lived series. Perhaps Humphrey’s best known performance is the jaunty song “The Humphrey Hop” from the short In The Bag, a song that proved so popular that Disney released it as a single. The Wilderness Lodge also hosts artifacts from Walt Disney’s personal history. Both Disneyland and Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom feature steam trains traveling around the perimeter. Walt’s love affair with model railroads is legendary, culminating with the model railroad he built in the spacious backyard of his Holm- by Hills neighborhood in Los Angeles. Walt carved out an intricate half-mile track

28 · Celebrations layout, complete with a trestle over a ravine and a wind- Fort Wilderness and the Wilderness Lodge line the edge ing tunnel. Walt’s engine was a 1/8th scale replica of a 4-4- of Bay Lake, which connects to the Seven Seas Lagoon. The 0 model that he named the Lilly Belle after his wife Lillian. Polynesian Resort is one of three deluxe resorts along this Roger Broggie, noted Disney mechanical expert and fellow other magnificent body of water and it was an opening day railroad enthusiast, helped Walt immensely with the fabri- resort in 1971. The resort evokes the charm and cultures cation of the train. A proper railroad needs a name, so Walt of the islands of the South Seas, including Hawaii, Fiji, and christened his backyard railroad the Carolwood Pacific in Samoa. The Great Ceremonial House serves as the central honor of the street point of the resort, they lived on, North which features Carolwood Drive. the front desk The train featured and several no- a number of freight table restaurants. and cattle cars upon The decorations which guests would throughout the sit as Walt navigated lobby feature lush the train along the foliage and an or- tracks. When not nate lava rock wa- in use, the steam terfall. On one of engine and cars the walls on the would be stowed in ground floor is a a simple red barn. small lithograph The Disney family that represents no longer lives at the a significant mo- address and the cur- ment in Disney rent owner removed animation his- the train track tory. The cel shows when the property Mickey and Min- was remodeled. The nie Mouse in Ha- barn was retained waii, with Mickey by the family and strumming a gui- eventually relocated tar while Minnie to Griffith Park in dances the hula, Los Angeles, where complete with a it is maintained by grass skirt. It’s a the Carolwood Pa- scene from the 1937 cific Historical So- animated short ciety and open to classic, Hawaiian the public. The Lilly Holiday. It’s one of Belle is displayed at just two Disney an- Disneyland and two imations that in- of the original cars cludes all “fab five” are on display at the characters: Mickey, Carolwood Pacific Room in the Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Minnie, Goofy, Donald Duck, and Pluto, and features Walt Lodge resort. Walt’s daughter Diane Disney Miller donated himself as the voice of Mickey. these family artifacts to the Disney Company, which are now proudly displayed, albeit under protective glass, for all Disney secrets aren’t exclusive to the parks. Explore the Disney fans to enjoy. resorts on your next visit and see what you can find!

29 · Celebrations The Wonderment of Windows, Flag Poles, and Petrified Trees n this issue of Celebrations, we’ll take a random tour through Disneyland and look Iat a few of those unique touches that make this park, well, uniquely Disney! Our first stop is on Main Street U.S.A., where Guests get a chance to stroll through a bygone era, with horse drawn carriages clip clopping their way to the hub, and gas lanterns flickering along the sidewalks by night. Just above the first floor are the famed Windows of Main Street. Even with Disneyland’s forced perspective, these windows By J Darling are legendary to fans of Disney history. Many of the windows are inscribed in hon- or of the people who helped build Disney as a company, and to the many creative minds that continue to see Walt Disney’s legacy come to life. In Disneyland specifically, Guests can find tributes to legends such as Roland Fargo Crump (better known as Rolly Crump, a Disney Legend who contributed to such timeless classics as “it’s a small world,” the Enchanted Tiki Room, and the Haunted Mansion, just to name a few). These tributes typically include fictitious company names that make reference to the honoree’s role in Disney history. For example, Rolly’s window is above the Palm Reader’s storefront and reads, “Fargo’s Palm Parlor, Predictions That Will Haunt You, Bazaar, Whimsical & Weird, ‘Designs to Die for’, Roland F. Crump, Assistant Palm Reader.” Bob Gurr, designer of many Disney attraction vehicles, is represented by a window for the Meteor Cycle Co. Disney artists John Hench, Herb Ryman, and Peter Ellenshaw are honored by a window that reads “Instructors at the Plaza School of Art.” According to his window on Main Street, Walter E. Disney is in charge of the Dis- J Darling is a California native and neyland Casting Office. Many other members of the Disney family (Abigail, Elias, Roy life long Disney fan. Her parents first E., Roy O, Roy Patrick, Susan, and Tim Disney) appear as Sail Makers or Sailing Instruc- took her to Disneyland when she was tors for sailing lessons, according to their window. 2 years old. According to them, her Earning a window on Main Street is probably one of Disney’s highest honors, if eyes just popped out of her head, and not the highest, and in any event is arguably the most public. To be considered for apparently they never went back in. a window above Main Street U.S.A., the honoree must have already left their mark Outside of her Disney fandom, J is a singer, songwriter, blogger, and on the Disney Company. Many are instantly recognizable, but some are a little more theatrical actress. obscure. You can find her music at www.jdarlingmusic.com Street Lamps and Flag Poles and on Myspace at One of those names is Emile Kuri. While that name doesn’t come up often in casual www.jdarlingmusicmyspace.com. Her Disney conversation, his honor is well deserved. To start with, Kuri was responsible blogs are available at www.jjourneybook.blogspot.com. for the Art Direction on several Disney Classic films. He won the Academy Award for Best Art Direction for 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and was nominated for Best Set Decoration for Mary Poppins, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and The Absent-Minded Profes- sor (as well as several other non-Disney films). While his window above Main Street in Disneyland advertises his services as an Interior Decorator, his handiwork on Main Street isn’t actually inside a building. (Perhaps his window above Main Street U.S.A. in the Magic Kingdom would have been a bit more fitting, as it advertises him as an Exterior Decorator!) For visitors to Disneyland and Main Street U.S.A., the glow that you feel as you walk

30 · Celebrations toward Sleeping Beauty Castle was provided by Kuri, literally. While designing the picture-postcard perfection of this bygone era, Emile headed to Baltimore and (for less than 10 cents a pound) purchased some gas street lamps (which were well over a century old) that the city was replacing. The lamps weighed somewhere around 500 pounds apiece. In fact, in the early days of Disneyland, a Cast Member in period dress lit these lamps by hand every night. Today, while the lamps are still powered by gas, they no longer need to be lit by hand. (Incidentally, the lamps on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom were made from molds patterned after the original lamps, which still stand in California today.) Emile Kuri also designed the horse head hitching posts on Main Street in both Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom (patterned after one he used in a Paramount film). Finally, what would Disneyland’s Main Street be without a flag waving in the warm California breeze? Set designers are often known for their resourcefulness, and Emile Kuri than the Disney name all together! was no exception. The 65-foot flagpole needed a base, but Walt had a great interest in dinosaurs (as evidenced by Disneyland was having some problems with its budget in the Primeval diorama on the Disneyland Railroad), but not its early days. (As opening day approached, it’s said that Walt many dinosaur fans went so far as to buy a piece of prehis- had to decide between bathrooms and drinking fountains!) toric history! Walt Disney did just that. On July 11, about a One day, while driving on Wilshire Boulevard, Emile Kuri year after Disneyland opened to the public, Lillian Disney passed an accident scene in which a car had knocked over presented Walt with the remains of a petrified 200-foot tall a streetlight. Emile purchased the remains of the street- tree, which was estimated to be between 55-70 million years light and brought it to work. To this day, the base of the old! She is reported to have gifted it to Disneyland because, flagpole is still that very same streetlight base, which now “It was too big for the mantel at home.” The tree came from celebrates the philosophy of Disneyland with a plaque that the Pike Forest Fossil Beds in Colorado, which is now part of is inscribed with a speech that many Guests know by heart: the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. The tree is “To all who come to this happy place: welcome. Disneyland is your still there today and makes for a great spot to linger, or per- land. Here age relives fond memories of the past…and here youth haps to give scientifically minded younger Guests a piece of may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is Disney Edutainment. A plaque below the tree reads: “Petri- dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have fied Tree from the Pike Petrified Forest, Colorado. This sec- created America…with the hope that it will be a source of joy and tion weighs five tons and measures 7 ½ feet in diameter. The inspiration to all the world – July 17, 1955.” original tree, estimated to have been 200 feet tall, was part of a sub-tropical forest 55 to 70 million years ago in what is The Petrified Tree now Colorado. Scientists believe it to be of the redwood of As Guests move deeper into the park through Frontier- Sequoia species. During some prehistoric era a cataclysmic land and the Rivers of America, most will miss a little piece upheaval caused silica laden water to overspread the living of history as they hurry on their way to Big Thunder Moun- forest. Wood cells were changed during the course of time tain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain, or any of to sandstone. Opals were formed within the tree trunk it- the other widely popular attractions in the western end of self. Presented to Disneyland by Mrs. Walt Disney, Septem- the park. Some might take notice of the ‘ugly dead tree’ right ber, 1957.” against the waterfront. But it’s far more than just an ‘ugly It’s touches like these that not only transport us to cen- dead tree.’ It’s a preserved piece of history older than any turies gone by, but give each area of the park a real sense of other thing in the park. In fact, this piece of history is older substance that glitters with pixie dust.

Photo © Loren Javier 31 · Celebrations By Tim Foster

32 · Celebrations Photos © Tim Foster ATTEN…TION!!!!! The result was a science-fantasy community of the fu- As a new recruit of the Galactic Federation Prisoner ture, where the world of tomorrow was portrayed not as Teleport Center, it will be your mission to monitor the transfer a stark, cold vision of technology, but as a science-fiction of all incoming prisoners. During your briefing, an urgent fantasy filled with fanciful spaceships, intergalactic visi- communication comes in warning of the impending arrival of tors, and retro “Buck Rogers”-style architecture. The ki- a Class 3 prisoner (Class 3 is the most dangerous of all!). Despite netic sculptures, art deco details, and whimsical touches the concerns on the part of your recruiter, you are ushered into combined to create a fun-filled world of tomorrow, or as the teleportation chamber to ensure that the prisoner transfer the Imagineers call it, “the future that never was.” goes smoothly. One of the attractions that was completely overhauled Once you’re seated safely in the receiving room, the prisoner was Mission to Mars. After nearly 20 years, Mission to is beamed in, and it turns out to be none other than Stitch! But Mars was closed to make way for a totally new theater before you breathe a sigh of relief, beware. Stitch is up to his old, show, one that would combine the fearsome elements of mischievous tricks. It isn’t long before the teleportation room modern day sci-fi films like Alien with the latest Audio-An- is in complete chaos, with Stitch flying around the room and imatronic technology and special effects. The ExtraTER- wreaking havoc (and stealing a chili dog or two along the way). RORestrial Alien Encounter debuted in 1995, and quickly Eventually, things are brought under control, but not before became quite popular. Stitch makes his great escape. Just watch your step as you Unfortunately, Alien Encounter was seen by some continue your tour of Tomorrowland… Guests as a bit too extreme for their Disney tastes. The frightening effects and horror-movie storyline (com- omorrowland has always been an area of perpetual plete with the illusion of dripping blood-or was that oil?) Tchange at the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland. The struck many as not in keeping with the family friendly challenge inherent in representing a vision of the future philosophy of the rest of the park. Despite the grumblings without it quickly becoming dated had always vexed though, the attraction was a favorite of many, and con- Imagineers. The original theming of Tomorrowland tinued to entertain (or terrorize) Guests for many years. was based on the current architectural and technologi- Eventually though, it was felt that the attraction could cal trends of the time. The buildings were designed to stand a bit of “lightening up,” and what better way to do it be cold, stark, and monochromatic in keeping with the than by bringing in Disney’s newest animated character, movie futurism of the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. At the Magic the lovable (but mischievous) Stitch from the 2002 ani- Kingdom, the original attraction to occupy the building mated feature, Lilo & Stitch. Alien Encounter closed on Oc- in this corner of Tomorrowland was The Flight to the tober 12, 2003, and the building was refurbished to make Moon, which was one of the park’s opening day attrac- way for its new host. tions. Guests sat in a circular theater and got to experience their own lunar mission, thanks to moving seats Stitch Comes to Tomorrowland that simulated the rocket launch and a video screen on And so, just over two years after his film debut, the the floor in the middle of the theater acting as a view- cuddly (but devious) Stitch took up residence in Tomor- port. However, by 1975 flights to the Moon were no longer rowland with his very own attraction. Stitch’s Great Es- science fiction, and the attraction was updated and re- cape!, which opened on November 17, 2004, utilized many named Mission to Mars. of the previous show’s mechanical elements, while giv- By the 1990s it was evident that Tomorrowland needed ing them a whimsical overlay to keep in the spirit of the some major changes. The challenge was still the same; hit film. The X-S robot from Alien Encounter, Simulated how do you build a vision of tomorrow that won’t be ob- Intelligence Robotics (or S.I.R. for short), was given a new solete by the time it’s completed? Imagineers came up outfit and reassigned as the center’s Prisoner Teleporta- with a novel solution. Instead of looking to the future in tion Officer, known today as Sergeant C4703BK2704-90210. an effort to predict what tomorrow will be like, why not Skippy, the cuddly alien from Alien Encounter who suf- look to the past to see what the visionaries of yesterday fered some, er, minor teleportation glitches, remained foresaw? And so the redesign of Tomorrowland began. on hand, though in a more subdued role. The fearsome

33 · Celebrations alien was of course replaced with Stitch, and the teleporta- deliver your mission briefing, given by the Grand Council- tion center itself, while remaining dark and smoky, was em- woman. Once completed, the doors at the front of the room bellished with comically oversized robotic arms meant to will open leading you to the first portion of the show itself, control the incoming prisoner (the arms are Animatronic a standing area where your training instructor humorously marvels in their own right). While the show still featured gives you further information about your mission. At the some scary moments of darkness and intense effects, the conclusion of your briefing, you’ll finally head into the sit- addition of Stitch and the new storyline greatly lightened down theater where you’ll experience the main segment of the scare-factor of the show, achieved its goal of being more the attraction. family friendly. It’s here that you’ll encounter Stitch himself, one of the There are five areas that you’ll progress through as you more impressive Audio-Animatronic figures ever created. experience this attraction: the outer queue area, the hold- While Stitch initially fools the Prisoner Teleportation Cen- ing queue area, the preshow area, the stand-up portion of ter staff into believing that some mistake must have been the show, and the final theater section. The outer queue is made (he seems awfully cute to be a “dangerous criminal”), the general waiting area outside of the attraction, before he soon defeats the restraining system holding him in place you pass through the turnstiles. Once past the turnstiles, and causes havoc in the theater. The power goes out, and you’ll be in a holding area outside the main doors. People while the prison staff frantically tries to figure out what are admitted through the turnstiles in large groups cor- happened, you can hear (and feel) Stitch bounce across the responding to the holding capacity of the theater. From room, causing the laser cannons to fire wildly. Stitch’s antics this point on the group will progress together through the cause destruction throughout the chamber, and he even subsequent stages of the show. Once your group is admit- steals a chili dog along the way (you may want to hold your ted into the building you will be in the preshow area. After nose at this point). After several tense moments, Stitch is a few moments the television monitors will activate to seemingly brought under control, but ultimately makes his

34 · Celebrations Photo © Tim Foster escape despite the best efforts of the guards of the prison ue through the left-most door, you will end up in the front center. Cinderella Castle even makes a brief appearance row in the next room (this is the room you stand in while toward the end, as Guests catch a quick glimpse of Stitch’s your mission instructor gives you your briefing). Addition- romp through the Magic Kingdom as he makes his way to ally, if you let a few people in ahead of you they will fill in freedom. the far end of the row, allowing you to stand in the middle. Speaking of Cinderella Castle, Stitch announced his Magic • When you enter the theater, feel free to sit wherever you Kingdom debut with some personal decorations applied to like, there really isn’t a bad seat in the theater. Keep in mind the Magic Kingdom’s iconic symbol. Guests arriving at the that once you enter a row you’ll need to continue all the Magic Kingdom that morning were surprised to see that way to the end to make room for others. Stitch had…well, there’s no delicate way to put this…strewn • You must be 40” to ride. Some of the effects can be very in- toilet people all over the Castle and scrawled “Stitch is King” tense, and there are loud noises and periods of complete on the one of the turrets. Thankfully, Stitch’s “decorations” darkness. Be aware that throughout the seated portion were removed the following day. of the show there is a shoulder harness that lowers to Today, the addition of Stitch to Tomorrowland adds a restrain you. (But no, you don’t move. It’s simply there to whimsical touch to the Magic Kingdom’s vision of the fu- make some of the special effects more up close and per- ture. While he may not be as fearsome as the creature from sonal-puffs of air on the back of your neck for instance). Alien Encounter, he certainly causes his own share of dam- As the harness lowers over your shoulders, it WILL bounce age, but in a way that the whole family can enjoy…as long back up a bit once it touches you, so don’t worry about be- as you like chili dogs that is. ing scrunched. If you really want to ensure that the harness doesn’t come down too far, sit up a bit straighter that Touring Tips usual when the harness comes down, that will make it • Depending on how busy the parks are, you may not have stop a little bit higher. to use FastPass+ when visiting the attraction. When deciding whether or not to use FastPass, take note of the outside Little Known Facts queue areas. If the majority of the crowd is through the • Stitch measures only 39 inches tall, but he packs an unbe- turnstiles waiting in the area in front of the main doors lievable 48 separate functions in his small frame, making (the holding queue area), FastPass won’t be of much help, him one of the most advanced Audio-Animatronic figures you’ll just be admitted into that group (you still might wait in Walt Disney World. ten minutes or so for the doors to open). If there is a large • Many of the animators who worked on Lilo & Stitch part- crowd outside of the turnstiles (the outer queue area), nered with Disney Imagineers to create Stitch’s Great Es- then FastPass is quite useful. You will bypass that line and cape!. be in the next group admitted to the theater. Generally • In addition to being one the most impressive Animatron- speaking, a wait time of 20 minutes is a good cutoff when ics created in terms of articulation, Stitch is also the first deciding whether or not to get a FastPass (but be sure to Animatronic to spit water (but don’t worry, despite the check the queue areas out just in case). damage it seemingly does to the teleportation center, it’s • As you walk through the Galactic Federation Prisoner Tele- not really acidic!). port Center you’ll see many signs written in a seemingly • The role of Sergeant 90210 is voiced by Richard Kind, who nonsensical language. The alphabet was in fact inspired by also performed the role of Molt (Hopper’s bumbling broth- designs seen in the opening scenes of Lilo & Stitch. Imagi- er) in A Bug’s Life, as well as Van in Cars and Cars 2 (Van and neers worked extensively to turn the designs into an ac- his wife Minny are the couple that get lost in the desert as tual alphabet that can be used to write alien messages (see they pass through Radiator Springs, with Van refusing to if you can decipher some of the letters to write your own ask for directions.) secret message!). • Chris Sanders reprised his voice role of Stitch from the • When you enter the preshow area (the first area you come film, which he also co-directed and co-wrote. to when you enter the building), you’ll see three doors at • Kevin Michael Richards also reprised his role from Lilo & the end of the room. If you position yourself so you contin- Stitch, performing the part of Captain Gantu.

35 · Celebrations By Lori Elias

36 · Celebrations s displeasing as they may be when encountered in Speaking of Rats A“real life,” rats and mice have had a relatively charmed In order to bring these ideas to life, the audience must existence in the animation rooms of Disney Studios: Cin- care about the characters, and for these roles Disney derella’s cuddly companions Jaq and Gus (and friends); the amassed a voice cast that came from a wide range of ex- determined and devoted Bernard and Bianca, “rescuers” of periences. Stand-up comedian and self-described Pixar fan the orphan Penny in The Rescuers (1977); the crafty Ratigan, Patton Oswalt was tapped to provide the voice of Remy. brilliant Basil and the company of The Great Mouse Detective Remy’s right-hand (or right-paw) man Linguini was voiced (1986); and Reepicheep, the noble warrior of The Chronicles of by one of Pixar’s own: Lou Romano had worked in the art Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008). And of course we can’t forget department for Monsters, Inc. (2001) and as a production de- the plucky little fellow who started it all! signer for The Incredibles (2004). He also voiced teacher Ber- Still, a rat may seem like an unusual species for a hero, and nie Kropp in the latter, as well as Snot Rod in Cars (2006). He one who dreams of being a famous chef – cooking gourmet had planned only to provide Linguini’s role for the “scratch cuisine in an acclaimed French restaurant to boot—might track,” or rehearsal soundtrack, but director Bird was so im- be the unlikeliest of all! But Disney-Pixar struck gold with pressed with Romano’s take on the role that he was signed the endearing Remy, the champion of the 2007 feature Rata- on for the film! touille. Based on a story by Jan Pinkava and directed by Brad A similar circumstance occurred for Pixar animator Peter Bird, Ratatouille took audiences from the sewers of Paris to Sohn, whose scratch track for Remy’s good-hearted brother, its glistening city streets, and all the way to the podium of Emile, earned him that role. Sohn began his career at Pixar the Academy Awards. as a production artist for Finding Nemo (2003), then joining Part of the charm of the story is that the rat relationships the story team for the movie’s later scenes. He worked on are not unlike those of the humans. Like the cooks working the animation staffs for both The Incredibles and Ratatouil- together in Gusteau’s kitchen, the rats band together for le in addition to his vocal duties, and would go on to voice the good of their community. Django does not understand Squishy in Monsters University (2013). his son Remy’s ambitions for a better life—a common tale Another Disney veteran brought on-board was Brad Gar- for people found both in literature and in reality. And many rett, best-known for Everybody Loves Raymond, to portray have found themselves in Remy’s place, dreaming of a des- the legendary Chef Gusteau. Garrett’s distinctive bass voice tiny beyond their perceived limits. had given life to Dim in 1998’s A Bug’s Life and Bloat in Finding

Artwork © Disney 37 · Celebrations Nemo, as well as a number of Disney television series, includ- The Incredibles, accessed the rich musical palette of France. ing Mighty Ducks (1996-97), Hercules (1998-99) and Buzz Light- Giacchino incorporated instruments that are prominent year of Star Command (2000). His more recent Disney film in French music, such as the accordion, flute and clarinet; roles have included Hook Hand Thug in 2010’s Tangled, and and infused the score with undertones of jazz, a popular Chug in Planes (2013). medium in France; and even a hint of the French national anthem, La Marseillaise! Giacchino also utilized a classical-music technique often used by film composers called leitmotif: a short “theme song” for specific characters, the mood of which changes according to the plot. Remy has both a “rat” theme, led by a light, bouncy flute, heard in the film’s early scenes to represent his sneaky, thieving tendencies, and a “lush” string melody, first heard as he emerges from the sewers and shadows to see Paris for the first time, which expresses his true inner self as he experiences the beauty of the city. Another cheerful, relaxed leitmotif was written to underscore the friendship between Remy and Linguini, and Skinner and Colette have their own leitmotifs that musically express their emotions and actions. Giacchino composed a song entitled Le Festin (“The Feast”) which was performed by Paris-born pop artist Ca- mille, who would go on to voice Colette in the French-language release of the movie. Sung in the film with French lyr- A number of respected thespians of the stage and both ics by Boualem Lamhene, the song provides an insight into the silver and small screens used Ratatouille to venture into Remy’s thoughts: animated film. Janeane Garofalo (shown above with Patton “I am driven by hunger, so saddened to be/Thieving in darkness; Oswalt), who has proven herself as versatile in both comedic I know you’re not pleased/ But nothing worth eating is free…Free and dramatic television roles, portrayed the passionate Co- at last; won’t be undersold/ Surviving isn’t living; won’t eat what lette. Golden Globe and Tony Award-winner Brian Dennehy’s I’m told/ Let me free, I’ll astonish you, I’m planning to fly/ I won’t tough-yet- expressive voice was ideal for Remy’s world-wise let this party just pass me by…I am nervous, excited/ (oh) just read father, Django. Classically-trained British actor Ian Holm, an the marquee! A lifetime of hiding/ I’m suddenly free! My dinner is Oscar-nominee for his role in Chariots of Fire (1981), voiced the waiting for me.” tyrannical Chef Skinner. The esteemed Peter O’Toole, eight- time Academy Award-nominee for such cinematic master- Creating Ratatouille (the Film and the Food!) pieces as Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Lion in Winter (1968) Disney films are typically noted for the extraordinary re- and Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969), played Anton Ego, a dignified search conducted by their animation crew, and Ratatouille is restaurant critic with the highest of standards. no exception. Naturally, rats were brought in to be observed, And what would a Pixar picture be without John Ratzen- both singularly and in groups, in order to see how they berger? The Cheers fan favorite was back once again, this would interact. The movements of their bodies were stud- time as Mustafa, the well-worked waiter at Gusteau’s, thus ied so that their subtle nuances, such as the squeezing and continuing his unbroken streak of appearing in every Dis- contorting that occurs when the animals move through ney-Pixar movie to be made to date. tight spaces, could be replicated in the animation. As is standard for preparing a Disney film, much of the Musical Mice, er, Rats research also took place far from the Disney Studios. Mem- In order to underscore the animated version of Paris, bers of the team journeyed to Paris, where they not only ex- composer Michael Giacchino, who had written the score for plored the magnificent structures and bridges that make

38 · Celebrations up the City of Lights, such as Notre Dame Cathedral, the tograph the process and the finished products, so that the Pont Alexandre III (Alexander III Bridge) and of course the animated scenes would accurately portray the creation Eiffel Tower, but also traveled underground to get a rat’s-eye of Gusteau’s meals in the kitchen. Pictures of food in cook- view of the sewer system. books and culinary magazines were also studied in order A far brighter and undoubtedly more fragrant venture to achieve the correct lighting and angles to make the ani- was to dine in some of the city’s most acclaimed restaurants mated entrees look as appetizing as they would in real life. in order to make Gusteau’s as realistic as possible. The final Liquids are difficult to animate in order to make them product took elements from Guy Savoy on the rue Troyon; appear to move naturally, so sauces and wines were a par- La Tour d’Argent, the famed inn that first introduced forks ticular challenge. Fortunately, Pixar had recently completed to France during the reign of Henry III; the ornate Le Train another feature that had a great deal of fluid to deal with: Bleu, built for the 1900 World’s Fair; and Taillevent, located in Finding Nemo. Ratatouille’s animators found that by adjust- what was once the private mansion of the Duc de Mornay, ing the technical parameters of the software used in cre- built in 1852. (You can see the results of their research in some of ating the watery world of the Great Barrier Reef and the the concept art shown here). East Australia Current, they were able to swirl wine and stir Disney’s animators not only enjoyed fine French cui- sauces with a high degree of realism. sine, but they learned to create it as well! Members of the Previous films also gave animators a leg up when it came animation team took cooking classes in order to learn the to animating tablecloths and chefs’ coats, as well as Remy finer techniques of the culinary arts, including the types of and his pals. Software had been developed to create realistic utensils, pots, and pans used by trained chefs, as well as the fabric, fur, and hair for Monsters, Inc. (2001) and The Incredibles. interpersonal dynamics of a restaurant kitchen. Ratatouille The animation team expanded upon the existing software producer Brad Lewis even worked as an intern for a few to accommodate the amount of fur being animated for Ra- days at The French Laundry in Yountville, California, widely tatouille, as well as the extent of how the rats’ interactions regarded as one of the best restaurants in the country. with objects and each other would affect the look of the fur. The animators would then cook various recipes and pho- The animators took this attention to the detail and also

Artwork ©Disney 39 · Celebrations applied it to the facial expressions of the characters. Ap- est Audio-Animatronic character ever created for the Dis- proximately 160 controls were used to create Remy’s range ney parks, and had enjoyed a successful “career” at Disney- of emotions, and the animation staff studied French films land Paris before crossing the pond. Six days per week, four in order to mimic the shape of the actors’ mouths when times per day, the restaurant’s Maitre d’ would take a food speaking with a French accent to apply to the humans of cart throughout the restaurant, and as he would dramati- the film. cally lift the lid of a cheese tray, Remy would appear. Sport- ing a rat-sized chef’s toque, the Animatronic Remy would Accolades and Animatronics interact with Guests with endearing chirps, gracious hand The efforts of the actors and every member of the promotions, and even smooth dance moves coordinated to the duction team paid off: Ratatouille garnered five Academy restaurant’s music. Originally engaged for a six-month stint, Award nominations, including Best Sound Editing and Chef Remy proved to be so popular that he remained at Le Sound Mixing, Original Score, and Original Screenplay, win- Chefs de France until October 2013. ning the award for Best Animated Feature. In fact, the film Appropriately, Disneyland Paris will host the Parks’ great- dominated the Best Animated Feature category for all of est tribute to the film, beginning in the summer of 2014. A the year’s major awards, including the British Academy of new dark ride, Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), Golden Globes, and Na- de Rémy (“Remy’s Totally Whacky Adventure”), will open in tional Board of Review. In addition, Ratatouille was the big the Toon Studio section of the Walt Disney Studios Park, winner at the Annie Awards, given by the International Ani- where a section of the park has been turned into a Parisian mated Film Society, garnering ten honors which included neighborhood, complete with “hidden Remys” throughout Best Feature as well as awards for writing, direction, music, the architecture, fountains, and fence railings. In the new production design, and voice acting for Ian Holm as Chef attraction, Guests will ride in “Ratmobiles,” and through Skinner. the magic of three-dimensional animation and over-sized Ratatouille’s legacy has not ended, as its setting of Paris props, will be shrunk down to rat-size as they flee Chef Skin- was ideal for the film to make its mark on the Disney parks. ner through Gusteau’s restaurant. Speaking of restaurants, In early 2009, Remy – an Audio-Animatronic version of him Bistrot Chez Rémy, a table-service restaurant featuring anyway – took up residence at Le Chefs de France restau- larger-than-life décor will offer—what else?—Ratatouille, rant in Epcot’s France Pavilion with an experience called along with other French favorites. A new shop, Chez Mari- “Bon Appétit with Chef Remy.” At six inches, he was the small- anne Souvenirs de Paris, is also slated to open at this time.

40 · Celebrations Artwork ©Disney Ratatouille Fun Facts century lexicographer Pierre Althanase Larousse, it is up- • The title entrée is a stew made of tomatoes, zucchini, yel- dated and re-issued every five years; the current volume is low squash, peppers, onion, and garlic. As Colette mentions over 1200 pages. in the film, it was once considered “a peasant dish,” but re- • Real-life rats can have up to 500,000 individual hairs; Rata- fined renditions have been appearing in high-end French touille’s rodents were given “only” around 30,000. restaurants for many years. Thomas Keller, the multiple • The rats were painted using a French technique called James Beard Award-winning owner of The French Laun- pointillism. Developed during the Post-Impressionist dry, designed the version of Ratatouille used in the film, movement (late 1880s-early 1900s) in France, pointillism is which is called confit biyalid. credited to French painters Georges Seurat and Paul Sig- • Chef Keller also served as a consultant on the movie and nac, and consists of using small dots of paint rather than provided the voice for one of the diners at Gusteau’s. full brush strokes. From a distance, the effect is a rich hue; • As a young chef, Keller worked at Guy Savoy and Taillevent, close inspection will reveal tiny points of individual colors. two of the Parisian restaurants that inspired the design • Remy is the only rat who walks on two legs instead of four. of Gusteau’s. In the French release of the movie, Keller’s on- This was done for two reasons: so that he would not be screen role was voiced by Guy Savoy himself! cooking and handling food with paws that had been on • Because Disney was concerned that the public would not the ground, and to show that he was developing increas- know to pronounce Ratatouille, it was spelled phonetically ingly human qualities as he spent time with Linguini and (“rat-a-too-ee”) under the title on trailers and posters. the other cooks. • Patton Oswalt was approached by director Brad Bird after • Django shows Remy an exterminator’s shop where dead he heard Oswalt performing a comedy routine about food rats are displayed in the window. Creepily enough, this on the radio. is based on an actual location, Destruction des Animaux • Director Brad Bird had the actors voicing Linguini and the Nuisibles (“Pest Destruction” or “Pest Extermination”), locat- rats maintain their American accents in order to under- ed on the rue de Halles since 1872. score their status as outcasts. • Though Ratatouille had successful product promotions • One of the members of the kitchen staff is named Larous- with books, video games, and toys, plans to have Remy se. His namesake is the Larousse Gastronomique, consid- grace wine and food merchandise were scrapped after it ered the definitive book of French cooking. First published was realized that consumers were turned off by the idea by Auguste Escoffier in 1938 and named for nineteenth- of rats advertising edibles.

41 · Celebrations 42 · Celebrations The Pangani Forest Exploration Trail: The Place of Enchantment By Jessica Clawson

Photo © Tim Devine 43 · Celebrations hen Walt Disney World Guests share stories of their teers who work along the trail have left notes, papers, and Wfavorite attractions, they usually talk about the fast- observations on all of the animals that you’ll see along the est, loudest, or most exciting ones. Sure, Walt Disney World pathways. There are also (real) researchers along the paths is filled with twisting roller coasters, spooky scares, and that are more than happy to talk about the animals and an- drenching plunges, but it’s not always the biggest thrills swer questions from visiting Guests. that make for the most memorable moments. One of the As you embark on your journey, you are welcomed to the best things about visiting Walt Disney World is the discov- School and Sanctuary, as the area is called by the Harambe ery of those hidden gems; the out-of-the-way attractions Wildlife Reserve . This is your introduction to the Explora- and walkways that are brimming with rich detail and little tion Trail, and it’s here that you will learn that this is an area known treasures just waiting to be discovered. The Pangani of research and a safe haven for all, especially the animals. Forest Exploration Trail at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is just There are reminders to respect the animals and warnings such a place, and is actually an attraction that you may not to stay clear of areas that are unsafe for travel. (Don’t worry, even notice unless you’re looking for it…or happen to stum- that’s just a part of the fictional back story, the paths are ble upon as you exit Kilimanjaro Safaris. This walk-through actually very well marked, so finding yourself in an unsafe exhibit blends a message of conservation and education area is not possible.) The Reserve calls on you to keep an eye with imaginative storytelling, and is a perfect example of out for nests and footprints throughout your journey, and all the things that we in fact you’ll find sever- love about Walt Disney al sets on your way to World and the Imagi- the first observation neers who bring it all area. to life. Before you get there, The Pangani Forest you come across your Exploration Trail is first discovery; an located in the Village abandoned termite of Harambe in the Af- mound that has been rica section of Disney’s bisected in order for Animal Kingdom. The you to observe how back story of Haram- the termites used the be, which is Swahili for different areas of the “Working Together,” is mound to store food that it’s a village sur- and keep their nest rounded by wildlife, cool and dry. The sign with a special focus on placed there by the re- the conservation of animals. The major attraction in the vil- searchers provides additional information on the termite lage is the safari tour run by the Harambe Wildlife Reserve, mound and the insects that once called it home. Kilimanjaro Safaris. Here, Guests can take a “two week pho- The first animal exhibit that you encounter is the Endan- tographic safari” to see all of the amazing animals on the gered Animal Rehabilitation Centre. The sign explains that reserve. (That’s the back story anyway; your actual journey endangered animals are kept in this area for their care and takes about 20 minutes, so you don’t have to worry about protection by the students of the school. Here you’ll dis- bringing your suitcase!) cover Angolan Black and White Colobus Monkeys, which are typically found in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Exploring Pangani Congo, Tanzania, and Kenya. They have become endangered Pangani (Swahili for “Place of Enchantment”), is the fic- through over-hunting, so the researchers are keeping them tional property of the Harambe Wildlife Reserve, where safe in the hopes of growing the population. As you observe volunteers observe and learn how to care for the different this majestic species, look for chalkboards left by the re- animals that inhabit the area. The researchers and volun- searchers that tell about how the monkeys live.

44 · Celebrations ney’s Animal Kingdom. Originally, there were 324 animal images carved into the tree. When Jane Goodall visited the Animal Kingdom at Disney’s request, she and the Imagi- neers realized that there were no chimpanzees on the tree! Imagineers dutifully went to work and to Goodall’s delight, not only added a chimp, they added her favorite, David Gray- beard. You’ll find David near the entrance to “It’s Tough to Be a Bug.” An indoor Research Centre is the next stop on the trail. As soon as you walk in, you’ll see that this is the main hub for the students and researchers. You’ll find boards with the names of the researchers on duty and where they will be making observations that day. Corkboards detailing proj- You’ll find Okapi and Yellow-backed Duiker in the next ects that different students have been working on hang observation area, along with chalkboards with informa- along the wall, including the Spotted Hyena Field Project, tion about these particular species. During our journey, the found on the board located by the exit door. Shelves with researcher that works in this area explained that the most water, research books, and speakers line the walls, and you’ll surprising fact about the Okapi is that, while its looks re- find plenty of desks used by the students as they do their semble a zebra, it is actually more closely related to the gi- work. raffe. To demonstrate the similarity between the two, you’ll There are several exhibits inside this Research Centre. find a skull from each on display so you can easily see the The largest of the exhibits is on the back wall, where a Na- comparison. ked Mole-Rat burrow has been created and glassed in. This area is being used by the researchers to gather data on the animals and their natural behaviors. Typically, you’ll see the naked mole-rats asleep and clumped together since they are nocturnal animals, but if you’re lucky enough, you may spot one scurrying around the burrow. For all of those Hidden Mickey lovers, there are two that you can look for in this building. On one of the desks used by the researchers, you’ll find a desk lamp next to a box of Asepso soap. One of the ‘o’s in the name is actually a clever Hidden Mickey. Additionally, on a backpack in the far left of the room, see if you can spot another Hidden Mickey on the backpack’s left side. (You can see these Hidden Mickeys and more in this issue’s Hidden Mickeys column by Steve Barrett on page 20.) Other creatures that can be seen in this area include the African Pancake Tortoise, Tarantula, Madagascar Hissing Cockroach, Kenya Sand Boa, Ornate Spiny-tailed Lizard, and Incidentally, mixed in with the research boxes and boards African Bullfrog. All of these animals are kept in secured in this area is a box labeled “The Jane Goodall Institute” with cages for observation, and some have accompanying notes an address. This is a tribute to Jane Goodall, who is con- with additional information. sidered to be the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees Upon leaving this area, you’ll next enter the bird research and one of the leading spokespeople for animal conserva- forest. This aviary houses over a dozen different bird spe- tion and welfare. Incidentally, you’ll find another tribute to cies, including the Olive Pigeon, Magpie Shrike, Blue-breast- Goodall at the nearby Tree of Life, the central icon of Dis- ed Kingfish, and the Great Blue Turaco. Throughout the

Photos © Jessica Clawson 45 · Celebrations trees are dozens of nests that these birds call home. down and six feet deep. To keep them secure (and to ensure Lake Victoria, which runs through the area, is home to that they don’t escape!), there are cement walls that are hundreds of beautifully colored fish, including the Victorian dug deep into the ground that the meerkats can’t burrow Rock Cichlid. Various signs near the lake detail a conserva- through. Often you’ll find one meerkat running around the tion effort that is underway in an attempt to keep this spe- top area of the grounds. He is the lookout, and will bark to cies safe. The Wildlife Reserve was chosen to help with the the others if there is a predator nearby. conservation effort to protect the Cichlid. Another sign explains that a fish called the Nile Perch was introduced into Gorilla Falls this body of water for commercial fishing in the 1950s, caus- Walking up a small hill takes you to the viewing areas ing severe damage to the freshwater fish population that for the big stars of the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail, first lived in this region. the Western Lowland Gorillas. These animals are the pride The lake leads to another covered area outside of the ex- and joy of the Reserve and have a large area for observation otic bird aviary. In addition to being home to more of the called Gorilla Falls. endangered Cichlid, this glassed-in area is home to the Hip- The first observation area is the Troop Leader Research popotamus. Observations on the hippo take place here, and Post. It’s a glassed-in area that is similar to the gorilla view- the researchers have left many fun facts for the visitors to ing areas you might find in various zoos. What makes this enjoy. A corkboard with facts and maps is located on the area unique is the vast amount of photos and research wall, in addition to an actual hippo skull that makes for a material that has been posted throughout for the benefit great photo opportunity. You can also read an African folk of visitors. The shades along the top of the glass area are tale called “When Hippo was Hairy.” You say you’re not famil- covered with photographs that the researchers have taken iar with this tale? We won’t spoil it for you, but make sure while observing the different behaviors of the gorillas. A to go to the hippo observation area so you can read it for chalkboard features a drawing of a gorilla that explains its yourself; it’s well worth the effort! body structure. A cemented handprint is even available for Next you’ll mosey along the path to a large covered ga- visitors to see just how large a gorilla’s hand really is. zebo that the researchers use to observe the Slender-tailed The researcher in this area explained to us that the go- Meerkat. In talking to a researcher located in this area, we rillas enjoy walking around and sitting in the shade, which found out that the meerkats dig homes that are three levels can make them difficult to see at different points during

46 · Celebrations Photo © Tim Devine the day. While observing, we noticed several rabbits scurry- searchers detailing the activity patterns of the gorillas and ing about among a set of bushes, and we asked how they where they are usually located. It also explains that one side managed to survive in the same area as the gorillas. The of the stream is home to the family group of gorillas, while researcher explained that the gorillas don’t bother them at the other side is for the bachelors. all, as they don’t eat meat and have other objects to occupy This entire region is very large, and provides a great them so they don’t worry about the rabbits. She said the amount of space for the gorillas to relax, walk, and play. rabbits were actually more of a nuisance to the researchers Signs along the observation areas further explain the pur- and students because they like to take some of the gorillas’ pose of the border stream and the behaviors of the differ- food! ent gorilla groups. Regardless of where the gorillas are sit- Around the corner is a rope bridge that leads to an island ting, there are always great places to view them, so don’t surrounded by additional areas to observe the gorillas. In hesitate to move to a new area or move to another part of the island if you don’t happen to see any. Once you’re past the gorilla viewing area, you’ll find a map explaining the telltale signs of wildlife in the Harambe Re- serve, and how the researchers look for footprints, dung, and nests to aid in their research. Using these clues, the researchers can tell where the animals have been and where they were going.

Back to Harambe Continuing on through a cave and to the left is the back side of the Endangered Ani- mal Rehabilitation Centre, the first hint that your journey along the trail is coming to an end. You’ll find another chalkboard here that details daily observations of the Colobus Monkey. Just past this is a sign from Dr. K. Kulunda, the founder and director of the Conservation School, thanking you for visiting the forest and making a call to action to use your new knowledge to help spread the word about conservation and the preservation of the animals. Your journey now complete, you’ll exit back into the Village of Harambe, hopefully with a new sense of pride in the ways that the village is helping the animals, and with a willingness to spread the word this area, according to our Hidden Mickey expert, there is about conservation to others. The Pangani Forest Explora- something hidden on one of the larger rocks. Not a Hidden tion Trail may not be one of the big headliner attractions Mickey, but a hidden Jafar! The menacing figure has been at Walt Disney World, but who knows? Once you experience carved out of a 30-foot rock on the right side of the first sec- this wondrous area and its unique collection of wildlife, it tion of the suspension bridge, can you spot him? may just become one of your favorites, and a “Place of En- Once over the bridge, you’ll find a map left by the re- chantment” that you’ll enjoy for years to come!

Photo © Jessica Clawson 47 · Celebrations 48 · Celebrations Photo © Tim Devine Hakuna Matata! The Festival of the Lion King by Lori Elias

49 · Celebrations perfect host for live-action shows. Pocahontas and Her Forest Friends ran from 1998-2008 in the outdoor Grandmother Willow’s Theater. The show featured not only the title character, but also living and breathing creatures including a por- cupine, possum, ducks, and Meeko the raccoon joining an Animatronic Grandmother Willow in learning how to protect our forests and natural resources. Though Pocahontas and her Forest Friends was techni- cally not a musical, Guests did get to hear a performance of Alan Men- ken and Stephen Schwartz’s Acad- emy Award-winning song “Colors of the Wind.” The Theater in the Wild, located on the edge of DinoLand U.S.A., has played host to three musical productions since the opening of the Animal Kingdom in 1998. In its earliest days, when the venue was an open-air theater, Mowgli, Baloo, and friends thrilled Guests with a 30-minute version of The Jungle Book and the songs of Richard and Rob- ert Sherman, George Bruns and Ter- ry Gilkyson. Tarzan Rocks! took over the theater in July 1999. The high- energy musical featured Tarzan, Jane, and Terk alongside a troupe of gymnasts, aerialists, and inline skaters performing highlights from the 1999 film and the music of Phil Collins and Mark Mancina. The theater was enclosed after the closing of Tarzan Rocks! in 2006, isney’s vast library of animated musicals has provided and reopened in 2007 for its newest and current produc- Dthe inspiration for a number of live musical shows at tion, Finding Nemo – The Musical, the first non-musical Dis- the Walt Disney World parks. For example, Guests visiting ney film to be made into a live-action stage musical. Songs Disney’s Hollywood Studios can venture “under the sea” with written by Tony-winner Robert Lopez and Kristen Ander- Ariel in Voyage of the Little Mermaid, or re-experience Belle’s son-Lopez, who composed music for Winnie the Pooh (2011) romance in Beauty and the Beast—Live on Stage. and Frozen (2013), evoke favorite lines from the 2003 film, With so many of Disney’s films featuring heroes of a such as “Fish Are Friends, Not Food,” “Just Keep Swimming” multitude of species, Disney’s Animal Kingdom has been a and “Go With the Flow.” Dancers, acrobats, and innovative

50 · Celebrations Photos © Tim Devine puppetry help to tell the story of Marlin, Dory, Crush, and mal Kingdom logo is a reference to this attraction.) “Good” the title character as they travel through their adventures was to be portrayed by Quest of the Unicorn, an attraction “In the Big Blue World.” which would take Guests through a maze inhabited by mythological beasts, leading to the secret home of the elu- Hakuna Matata sive unicorn. This section would also host a boat ride called Through all of the comings and goings, another show has Fantasia Gardens, inspired by the 1940 film. Guests would continued to enchant Guests several times each day since sail past hippos and crocodiles, as seen in the segment il- the park opened on April 22, 1998: Festival of the Lion King. lustrating Amilcare Pochinelli’s Dance of the Hours, as well The 30-minute musical was intended to be a temporary as the centaurs and fauns of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Sixth production, but proved to be so popular that it continued Symphony. to run until January 5, 2014. After a brief hiatus in order to Unfortunately, because the development of the Animal re-locate to a new venue, the show will once again take the Kingdom was significantly over budget, plans for this fan- stage in the summer of 2014. tastical area were tabled. This left a large area of the park Festival of the Lion King is based on the 1994 film direct- without any attractions, so the Imagineers put their heads ed by Rob Minkoff and Roger Allers. The movie featured a together to devise a relatively inexpensive idea to fill that star-studded cast that included James Earl Jones as Mufasa, void. Their brainstorming led to the creation of Camp Min- Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Matthew Broderick as Simba, nie-Mickey, which was originally intended to be a tempo- Niketa Calame and Moira Kelly as Nala, Rowan Atkinson as rary location until a permanent attraction could take its Zazu, Nathan Lane as Timon, Ernie Sabella as Pumbaa, Rob- place. ert Guillame as Rafiki, Jeremy Irons as Scar, and Whoopi Back in Anaheim, The Lion King Celebration was wrap- Goldberg, Cheech Marin, and Jim Cummings as the hyenas. ping up its three-year run at Disneyland in order to make The film earned an Academy Award for Hans Zimmer’s mu- room for the Hercules Victory Tour parade, which high- sic, and Best Original Song nominations for “Circle of Life,” lighted that film’s recent release. The jungle setting ofThe “Hakuna Matata,” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” the Lion King had a natural tie-in with the Animal Kingdom, last of which won the award for Elton John and Tim Rice. and the recycling of costumes, floats, and puppets that had Festival of the Lion King was brought to Walt Disney been used in the parade was certainly cost-effective, so the World through a series of events happening on two oppo- Orlando–based Imagineers jumped at the opportunity to site coasts. The show could be called a “spin-off” from The utilize the vivid materials from the popular parade, which Lion King Celebration, a parade that wound through the were then transported across the country for a show that streets of Disneyland from July 1994 until June 1997. Pre- would help usher in Disney’s newest park. senting almost 80 performers depicting the denizens of At first, Festival of the Lion King was performed in a tem- the jungle, the parade was a favorite with Guests, with its porary outdoor theater, as it was expected that the show, six colorful floats, African dancing, exquisite puppetry, and like Camp Minnie-Mickey, would exist only until the budget presentations of beloved songs from the film, including would allow for further development of the park. What “The Circle of Life” and “I Just Can’t Wait to be King.” was not expected was the popularity of both Camp Minnie- Meanwhile, across the country, Walt Disney World was Mickey and the show, as Guests flocked to hear the songs preparing for the April 1998 opening of Disney’s Animal King- written by Zimmer, John, and Rice performed live, and to dom. One of the areas of the park was to be called “Beastly take in the exciting acrobatics and puppetry. The musi- Kingdom” (also known as “Beastly Kingdomme,” or even cal’s run was extended, and the theater was enclosed and “Beastley Kingdomme,” according to various early plans for air-conditioned in 2003, which would continue to house the the area), which would have featured mythological crea- production until its recent hiatus. The new stage is located tures and was to be separated into realms of good and evil. behind Tusker House in the Harambe village in the Africa “Evil” would be represented by a roller coaster through an section of the park, and like its predecessor will be enclosed abandoned castle called Dragon Tower, which, somewhat and air-conditioned, seating up to 1375 Guests. (Camp Min- like the Yeti in Expedition Everest, included a fire-breathing nie-Mickey went on to attract Guests of all ages until its dragon bearing down on Guests as they passed through the closure in January 2014 in order to make way for the new castle halls. (In fact, the dragon that can be seen on the Ani- Avatar-themed land, now under construction.)

51 · Celebrations On With the Show! Though the venue may be new, the much-loved show is slated to remain largely as it has been. As Guests enter the theatre-in- the-round, they can choose seats located in sections named for animals from the film: elephant, giraffe, lion, and warthog. The show is introduced by four performers garbed in traditional African attire: two men, Kiume (Swahili for “masculine and strong”) and Nakawa (“good-looking”), and two women, Kibibi (“princess”) and Za- wadi (“the gift”). These hosts, with the assistance of Guests selected from the audience, lead the four sections of the crowd in learning sounds and movements of their respective beasts in order to greet the cast and to participate throughout the show. As the lights dim, approximately fifty performers costumed as jungle animals fill the stage. A hush falls across the theater as the familiar Zulu chant from “Circle of Life” sounds. (Did you ever wish you knew the meaning of those words, written and performed by South African composer and singer Lebo Morake? Won- der no more: the translation is, “Here comes a lion, Father. costumed acrobats who take over the stage. Delighting the Oh yes, it’s a lion. We’re going to conquer. A lion and a leopard crowd with their antics, the Tumble Monkeys perform a come to this open place.”) dizzying array of acrobat feats on the trapeze, gymnastic Rather than following the plot of the film, the premise of rings, trampoline, and horizontal bar, all synchronized to the show is that the animals – and Guests – have gathered a medley of tunes ranging from “The Streets of Cairo” (bet- to celebrate a joyous festival. Timon, Pumbaa, and Simba ter known as “The Snake-Charmer Song”) to big-band jazz himself join the festivities to the rollicking music of “I Just standards like Louis Prima’s “Sing, Sing, Sing,” “Caravan,” writ- Can’t Wait to be King,” arriving on the former parade floats ten by Juan Tizol and popularized by Duke Ellington, and and accompanied by performers on stilts, a magnificent Frank Silver and Irving Conn’s old favorite, “Yes! We Have No elephant, and a ceiling-high giraffe puppet. (The puppets Bananas.” used in the show are controlled by performers inside the The mood and the theater darken as a performer in animals, and can therefore interact with the Guests!) warrior attire uses an African drum called the djembe to Timon then leads the crowd in a sing-along of “Hakuna introduce the bass tones of Kiume singing Scar’s menacing Matata.” He is joined by the Tumble Monkeys, a quartet of anthem, “Be Prepared.” The stage literally becomes alight

52 · Celebrations Photo © Tim Devine with a dazzling fire-twirler. But this is the Happiest Place and storylines may differ, the vivid costumes, energetic per- on Earth, so the mood cannot remain scary for long! Kibibi formers, and high production values expected of a Disney and Nakawa lighten the mood as they combine in a wistful show remain. rendition of “Can You Feel the Love Tonight’ as a pair of ballet Regardless of whether you are in Hong Kong or in Orlan- dancers dressed as exotic birds take the spotlight for a ro- do: on your next trip to the Disney Parks, listen for Rafiki’s mantic duet, even soaring high into the air above the stage. call and join Simba, Timon, Pumbaa, and the citizens of They are joined by the entire company, who, led by Zawadi, Pride Rock in celebrating the Festival of the Lion King! reminds the audience that “we are connected in the great circle of life.” The Lion King on Broadway Simba and the four hosts then get the crowd moving and The longevity of Festival of the Lion King parallels singing with the popular tune, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” that of the Broadway production of the film. The over- (Younger movie fans and Guests may not realize that this whelming success of the Broadway staging of The Lion song is not a Lion King original. Though many trace its roots King, which opened in November 1997, has proven that to Pete Seeger’s 1952 recording or the Tokens’ rendition re- audiences are eager to see the beloved blockbuster leased in 1961, the song has actually been around since be- portrayed on stage. The musical earned thirteen Tony fore World War II! Written by South African songsmith Solo- Award nominations, winning six, including Best Musical. mon Linda in 1939, it was the first African song in history to (Still going strong at the Minskoff Theatre in Manhat- sell more than 100,000 records.) Children of the audience are tan, The Lion King is the fifth-longest-running musical welcomed to the stage and led in a parade around the the- in Broadway history.) ater as the Tumble Monkeys join in a bouncy dance routine. Disney musicals have continued to be a huge draw A medley of songs from the film is performed in a reprise for New York theatre-goers. Alan Menken’s scores have for the grand finale. been particularly successful. Beauty and the Beast, which ran from 1994-2007, earned nine Tony nominations and The Lion King Travels Abroad a win for Best Costume Design. The Little Mermaid, which In September 2005, Festival of the Lion King crossed the followed Beauty and the Beast at the Lunt-Fontanne The- Pacific to take its place in the Adventureland area of Hong atre on W. 46th Street, ran from January 2008 until Au- Kong Disneyland. It is held in Theater in the Wild, a 2250-seat gust 2009, and Aladdin soared into the Disney-operated theater-in-the-round that features a thatched-spire roof New Amsterdam Theatre in March. A few blocks away based on an architectural style found in Cameroon. The in the Nederlander Theatre on W. 41st Street, Newsies, show is performed in English; subtitles of simplified Chi- based on the 1992 live-action film starring Christian Bale nese characters are available for Guests seated in rows six and Robert Duvall, has been taking audiences by storm and higher, and two actors portraying monkeys add com- since March 2012. Originally intended as a limited run, mentary in Cantonese throughout the production. the choreographically-stunning show garnered eight The seating area is also divided into four animal sections, Tony nominations and won two, including Menken’s copying its American counterpart. However, its stage set- first Tony award for Best Original Score. up is notably different: each side of the main performance Another live-action favorite, Mary Poppins, graced the area has an elevated rolling stage with larger-than-life Ani- stage of the New Amsterdam from 2006-2013. The “prac- matronic characters, which are moved into the spotlight tically perfect in every way” musical featured the well- as the story demands. On one, Simba stands majestically known songs written by Richard and Robert Sherman, on Pride Rock; the second features an elephant; the third with a revised book (or script of a musical) by Downton sports a giraffe; and the fourth is the lush jungle home of Abbey creator Julian Fellowes. Pumbaa and Timon. Tarzan also swung onto Broadway for a fourteen- Unlike the Florida production, Hong Kong’s Festival of month run in 2006-2007. Two other shows are currently the Lion King is an abbreviated re-enactment of the film. in development: The Jungle Book and Disney’s most recent Narrated by Rafiki, this version includes actors portraying animated block-buster, Frozen, indicating that the magic characters not seen in the Walt Disney World show, such as of Disney musicals should be lighting the marquees of Scar, the hyenas, and young Simba and Nala. While the sets Broadway for years to come.

53 · Celebrations The Rhythm JAMMitors of Epcot

54 · Celebrations Photo © Tim Devine It all started with a mouse. Except for one time, when it started with a garbage can. by Cari Keebaugh

55 · Celebrations 56 · Celebrations s Tom Float stood in line for an attraction at the Disney- mento Freelancers. Between 1976 and 1990, Float worked Aland park, so the legend goes, he began to notice people with three corps’ drumlines - the Etobicoke-Oakland Cru- becoming irritable. The long line and the heat were starting saders (1976-77), Spirit of Atlanta (1978-81), and the Blue Devils to take their toll. Float, a drummer by trade, decided to al- (1982-90). Under his tutelage, the Blue Devils took home four leviate his own boredom by hopping out of line, borrowing consecutive DCI percussion awards (1983-86). After that, he a broom and dustpan from a nearby janitor and drumming worked with the Velvet Knights and the Kingsmen, where with them - much to the amusement of the Guests still he would meet some of the future members of the Trash waiting in line. Shortly after his impromptu performance, Can Trio, before contributing his talents to Disney. He is several Disneyland Cast Members approached Mr. Float endorsed by Vic Firth, and he even has a drumstick named with an offer for a job as an entertainer at Disneyland. for him! The Tom Float stick (STF), made by Vic Firth, has “a And thus, the idea for the Trash Can Trio (TCT) - prede- full tear drop tip and medium taper combine[d] for dura- cessor to the JAMMitors in Epcot - was born. In this article, bility and speed,” according to VicFirth.com. (When the TCT we’ll explore the warp, woof, whams, and flams of the JAM- formed, the STF stick became their official drumstick, and Mitors. Just grab the nearest mop, broom, or dustpan, and all of the drummers used them.) He was also inducted into you’ll be all set! the DCI Hall of Fame in 2004. The JAMMitors (a combination of “jamming” and “jani- While Float created the Trash Can Trio, he also instructed tors”) at Epcot are some of the most innovative performers and arranged the music for the Magic Kingdom Korps (a in the park. Spurning traditional drums like snares, tenors, small, non-competitive drum corp) at Disneyland. In 1995, and bass drums in favor of less traditional “instruments,” though, Disney decided they needed something new; some- the JAMMitors delight Guests throughout the day by laying thing entertaining for Guests who were walking through down sweet beats on - you guessed it - garbage cans! Their the park (or waiting in line). In short, they needed a new performances are anything but smelly, though - these are type of Streetmosphere, and Float had just the answer. some of the most experienced and talented drummers in Calling on former students Pete Sapadin and David the park. Most of the performers are DCI (Drum Corps In- Ramirez (both from the Velvet Knights corp), Float created ternational) alumni, a tradition that dates back to the TCT the Trash Can Trio. He wrote 99% of their set, according to and the inception of the “Stomp”-like performance sets. the now-defunct TCT website, which was created and main- Tom Float was an established and quite well-known per- tained by Sapadin. Sapadin was actually already working former even before his Disneyland days. He is an icon in the at Disney when the TCT formed; he was a sub for the Magic DCI world, having worked on staff for numerous corps. A Kingdom corps beginning in 1994. He once commented competitive drum corp can be roughly compared to a high about the TCT, “We’re all really good friends, and hang out school marching band, although DCI corps are bigger, usu- all the time.” ally better trained, and have older players. To be in a DCI Mike Langhans, also from the Velvet Knights, was invited corp, performers must be under 22, and according to DCI’s to participate as a sub but ended up becoming the third full- website, about 72% of DCI participants are college students. time member when one of the originally-cast drummers In addition, there are no woodwinds in drum corps, there backed out. Ramirez, as the group’s official sub, learned all are only brass players (trumpets, tubas, baritones, etc.) and three parts and thus was able to cover for anyone else if of course the drum line. The musicians not only play their they were to get sick. He filled in for Sapadin for a longer- show tunes, but they march in complex patterns as they than-usual stretch when Sapadin went to drum with the play. This is usually extremely physically and intellectually Tokyo Disneyland JAMMitors, an offshoot of the Epcot JAM- demanding - players not only have to memorize their music, Mitors (which was itself an offshoot of the TCT, as we’ll be but they have to play it while running across a football field seeing shortly). (while taking care not to trip over other corps members, The Trash Can Trio was such a big hit that the guys can their uniforms, members of the color guard, or the judges)! still be seen today performing in Disneyland, usually close Float was a member of the Anaheim Kingsmen drum to Tomorrowland. They may have had a rocky start, though corp from 1972-1974, during the first two years that DCI had - rumor has it that, during their debut performance, secu- been established, as well as with the Diplomats in 1973. The rity tried to throw them out! Fortunately, management got following year, he began working on staff with the Sacra- involved and let security know that, no, these were not or-

57 · Celebrations Photo © Tim Devine dinary janitors trying to cause a ruckus, this was the Trash streets of Epcot. Can Trio (and they were supposed to be causing a very en- Danny Raymond Jr., who was formerly with the “Holly- tertaining and musically-demanding ruckus)! wood Hit-Men,” became the second drummer to be brought In fact, the TCT was so popular at Disneyland that Walt aboard the JAMMitors. The Hit-men performed 30-minute Disney World Creative Entertainment (CE) decided that sets of contemporary brass and percussion pieces on New they wanted in on the good times too. During a trip to Dis- York Street at the then-Disney-MGM Studios. (Unfortu- neyland, some WDW admin folks saw Float and the Trash nately, the Hit-Men were “killed off” in 2001.) Raymond is as Can Trio perform and decided that this type of entertain- well-known in the drum corp world as he is in Walt Disney ment might go over well with Guests in Orlando. So, in 1996, World; he won two Individual Snare championships (1989 & they gathered up their own garbage pails and mops - as well 1990). The third drummer, Florida-native Anthony Parrulli, as some kitchen and gardening tools - to create their own began his drumming career with the JAMMitors and now TCT-spinoff. works as part of the Blue Man Group in Orlando. In fact, it was Parrulli’s brother who came up with the name “JAMMi- The Debut of the JAMMitors tors” for the fledgling group over dinner one night. This time, Disney brought in a show director, Mark Renfo, The staff of the JAMMitors has since expanded to include to help run things and give the JAMMitors a truly Streetmo- roughly 15 performers, including subs. There are multiple sphere-worthy showiness. The biggest difference between groups, some who work five-day shifts, some who work the Trash Can Trio and the JAM- two-day shifts, and others who Mitors would be the shows’ focus: are used for conferences, conven- while the TCT emphasized tech- tions, and miscellaneous special nical, difficult-to-play music, the events. According to Collins in JAMMitors would play excellent a 2008 interview, all JAMMitor music AND perform a comedy act drummers audition for and are as they played. cast to perform in a specific role Paul Collins, a longtime Disney (left, right, center/lead). Cast Member, was recruited as lead In keeping with the unofficial drummer. Collins has been with tradition established by the Trash Disney for more than 30 years - his Can Trio, most of the JAMMitors first Disney gig was in the Disney are veteran (or current) drum All-American College Marching corp members. Collins played band during the summer of ‘79. His with Sir Thomas Moore Cadets, tenure as a Cast Member truly be- Parrulli with Suncoast Sound and gan in 1982 though, as the original Spirit of Atlanta, and Raymond triple-bass drum in the Epcot Fu- with the New York Skyliners. Oth- ture Corps, where he played until er players have come from many 1990. He then transitioned over to other corps, too, including the the Caledonia Bagpipes trio (as the snare drummer for two Blue Knights, Madison Scouts, Boston Crusaders, and Magic bagpipers) in Epcot’s Canada pavilion before Disney offered of Orlando. Also in keeping with the TCT tradition, the JAM- him the chance to work with an “experimental band,” which Mitors are in charge of their own shows, most of which are led him to his current gig as lead drummer (foreman?) of written, arranged, and choreographed by Collins himself. the JAMMitors. The group began with a single show set, but they now Collins has kept the JAMMitors’ shows neat and tidy boast multiple sets, including those that utilize special in- ever since. In fact, he also went to both Tokyo Disneyland struments like the “gong show.” They also perform sets for and Hong Kong Disneyland to help launch similar Street- special Epcot events, such as the Flower and Garden Festival mosphere drumming groups there, and he holds the dis- (started in 2004) and the popular (and yummy) Internation- tinction of having trained the first Asian JAMMitor group. al Food and Wine Festival (started in 2008). They even have And he can still be seen sweeping and keeping beat on the special costumes and instruments for the Festival shows.

58 · Celebrations Photos © Tim Devine For the Flower and Garden Festival, the JAMMitors dress day to volunteering; every person who donated one day of as gardeners (their khaki costumes wouldn’t be complete volunteer work would be given a one-day Disney park pass. without dump-bucket hats, of course) and lay down their Dressed in the duds of a landscaper, builder, and painter, the beats on clay flower pots using small trowels and other gar- special JAMMitors Tour Crew wowed audiences from Times dening implements. The JAMMin’ Chefs, who play the Inter- Square, New York to Pier 39 in San Francisco. (While the JAM- national Food and Wine Festival, feature the musical styl- Mitors’ schedule was a surprise - no one knew where they ings of (and same musicians) as the JAMMitors, but they use would show up next - fans could track their progress and spatulas, pots, and other kitchen utensils (they also dress as receive hints about the next city on the tour by visiting the chefs, of course)! Both Festival sets serve up delicious drum- DisneyParksTour Twitter account.) ming and botanical beats. The garbage-can-banging, show-stopping performance The JAMMitors are massively popular today, but their was a “smashing” success in more ways than one - not only “sweeping” success wasn’t a given at first. Instead of hiring did Disney reach their goal of one million volunteers in just the group full-time immediately, Disney asked the trio to 67 days, but it was estimated at the time that the JAMMi- perform for a three-week period as a test run. Fortunate- tors went through over 100 pairs of drumsticks and just as ly, the test run didn’t even last that long, as their popular- many trash-can lids! ity quickly blossomed and they were offered full-time con- Since the “Give a Day” campaign has ended, the JAMMitors tracts (despite the tight budget Disney had at the time). have returned home to Epcot. The next time you’re walk- In fact, the JAMMitors are so popular that they are one ing through Epcot and you see some janitors wandering of the few Disney Streetmosphere groups to go on tour! through the Innovations breezeway with their cans in tow, During Disney’s popular “Give a Day, Get a Day” campaign you might want to stop and see if the janitors you’ve spied in 2010, the JAMMitors travelled the country, performing are actually the JAMMitors. So go ahead and clap, stomp, in 20 different cities to promote volunteer work. The cam- and sing along - after all, one man’s trash is another man’s... paign’s goal was to inspire one million people to devote one well, you know!

59 · Celebrations 60 · Celebrations Mineral King Resort: The Dream that Never Was by Kevin Carpenter

Artwork © Disney 61 · Celebrations alt Disney needed to build a road. It seemed a simple Wtask for the man who did the impossible on a regular basis. This road stood as the last hurdle before Walt could bring to life his grand plans for a mountain resort in Cali- fornia. The design for his Mineral King resort was complete and all that remained was to build the road so visitors could actually get there. Surely this would not be a problem for the unstoppable Walt Disney…or so everyone thought. But the road to Mineral King would quickly become one of the toughest challenges in the history of the Disney Studios.

Magic in the Mountains Thirteen years earlier, in 1952, the only road that concerned Walt was the cobbled one he walked along in the small Swiss village of Zermatt. On vacation with Lilly, he was spellbound by this charming alpine hamlet. Zermatt possessed a rare dignity unlike so many other ski towns, owing in no small measure to its ban on automobiles. That left the picturesque town and snow-dusted chalets free from noise and pollution. Best of all, Zermatt inspired Walt to dream that such a place would be perfect for the mountains of California. This idea was relegated to the back burner while the studio focused on Disneyland, but Zermatt instilled an alpine spirit within Walt that guided what he would do in the coming years. He returned to the town in 1958 to film the live- action masterpiece “Third Man on the Mountain” and would even bring some of Switzerland home with him as the Mat- terhorn was installed at Disneyland the following year. By the time Walt agreed to chair the pageantry for the 1960 Olympics in Squaw Valley, he knew it was time to put his plans for a ski resort into action. He turned to Buzz Price’s Economics Research Associates firm and tasked them with finding the perfect venue in the heights of California. Unlike Disneyland and Disney World, where Buzz quickly zeroed in on the best possible site, Mineral King in the Sierra Nevada ment paradise. Mountains was not the first locale considered, with Mt. San The valley, though, was not currently available for devel- Gorgonio and Mammoth Mountain both one-time front- opment. It would not be until 1965 that the Forest Service runners. By 1962, though, Mineral King emerged as the clear agreed to consider proposals from parties interested in winner. developing Mineral King. Finally seeing his chance, Walt Buzz Price recognized the ideal location when he saw sprang into action. With much assistance from Card Walker it. Mineral King lay equidistant from Los Angeles and San and the Imagineers of WED Enterprises, he laid out his Min- Francisco, promising large crowds once fully developed. eral King plans for the government’s approval. Combining natural wonders and majestic slopes, the valley Much as Disneyland surpassed the amusement parks of could earnestly claim to be one of California’s crown jewels. that era, so too would Walt’s Mineral King go far beyond the All in all, Walt now had the perfect place for his entertain- typical ski resort. In fact, it would not be classified as a mere

62 · Celebrations Artwork © Disney ski resort at all. The Disney plan called for Mineral King to signed for the pedestrian. Visitors could walk freely among become a year-round destination, with activities for Guests the many shops, restaurants, and recreation facilities, all no matter the season. the while taking in the quiet scenery free from the sounds Walt took every opportunity to emphasize the European of the automobile. Themed as a quaint alpine village, all of atmosphere he hoped to foster at his Sierra Nevada resort. the buildings would nestle within the open spaces of the Much like Zermatt, automobiles would not be welcome on beautiful valley. Walt pledged that demolition would be the valley’s floor. Guests could leave their cars in a new sub- kept to the bare minimum. level parking structure, from which they would hop onto a Disney’s Mineral King would have something for every- small railway for the one-mile trip to the resort village. one. From skiing and ice skating in winter, to horseback And what a village it would be! With cars safely parked riding and fishing in warmer weather, the opportunities outside of the valley, the entire Mineral King town was de- for adventure were limitless. The very ski lifts that carried

63 · Celebrations skiers in winter would, by summer, transport eager hikers near and dear to his heart. Throughout his career, he had into the lush mountains above Mineral King. been honored numerous times for his dedication to envi- Skiing, of course, remained the major attraction. As such, ronmental matters, even being named a life member of the Walt promised to pull out all of the stops to make his resort Sierra Club in 1955. That award would carry with it a bitter stand out. He brought in Willy Schaeffler, the champion ski- irony as the next decade unfolded. er, to design Mineral King’s ski runs, ensuring they would be Several other development bids for Mineral King were the best around. There would even be closed circuit televi- also under consideration, making it anyone’s guess which sions set up to allow the more serious skiers the chance to plan the Forest Service would ultimately favor. Finally, in study their performance at the bottom of the hills. December 1965, word came down that the Disney Studio Every facet of the plan spoke to Walt’s desire to build a had been granted the preliminary right to develop the val- revolutionary mountain resort without disturbing the ley. But there was one condition: the road leading into Min- natural beauty of Mineral King. Conservation was a matter eral King must be updated to accommodate the expected

64 · Celebrations Artwork © Disney which surrounded Mineral King on three sides. That small detail remanded the entire plan into the National Park Ser- vice’s jurisdiction. Walt not only needed to build a road, but also to convince the National Park to allow it. Ironically, the only reason that Mineral King had not already been claimed by Sequoia National Park was due to its commercial history. In the 1880s, miners descended upon the valley in search of silver, building the very meager access road that now so badly needed updating. Since the National Park Service cannot claim land involved in commercial activity, Mineral King was instead placed under the control of the Forest Service. Walt, though, wasted no time in getting down to work. He dispatched his WED designers to study the best ski resorts in the United States and around the world. Much as they found when researching Disneyland’s predecessors, the competition left a lot to be desired. The world deserved a better mountain resort…and Walt Disney would be the man to give it to them. Just months before Walt’s untimely passing in 1966, the governor of California announced a $3 million grant for the construction of the all-weather road. Even though the total cost still amounted to more than $20 million, the project was off to a great start. It wasn’t long, however, before everything came to a screeching halt. Not only did Walt’s death dampen the studio’s progress, but a new player – the Sierra Club – entered the game, in direct opposition to Walt Disney Productions. Although at first in favor of recreational facilities at Min- eral King, the environmental organization favored modest enhancements to the valley’s natural landscape. And, while Walt’s plan took great pains to respect the valley’s integrity, it could hardly be called modest. This resulted in the Sierra Club’s somewhat awkward position of fighting against a development that it had initially increase in traffic. championed. The construction of the all-weather road Harboring hopes of attracting thousands of tourists through Sequoia National Park and, to a smaller extent, each week, the Forest Service correctly recognized that the the massive footprint of Disney’s Mineral King plan, put old road into Mineral King would never suffice. Only partly the erstwhile allies squarely at odds. Many conservation- paved, it was rendered useless once snow began falling each ists were aghast at the prospect of overcrowding in Mineral winter. Obviously, that would be a major problem for a pre- King, not to mention the collateral environmental damage mier ski destination. during construction. Despite the Disney Studio’s assurances that no redwoods would be destroyed, a compromise could A Bump in the Road not be reached. Everyone involved with the project agreed the road must The battle over Mineral King even spilled into our na- be upgraded. The problem was how to accomplish this, as tion’s capital. In the Sierra Club’s corner stood Secretary of the road happened to run through Sequoia National Park the Interior Stewart Udall. With the entire National Park

65 · Celebrations Service under his purview, Udall retained the final decision Finding some merit to the Sierra Club’s claim, the judge on whether or not to grant a right-of-way agreement for issued a preliminary injunction. Most legal observers saw the road to Mineral King. He was opposed by Secretary of little chance for the Club to ultimately prevail, but the Agriculture Orville Freeman, overseer of the Forest Service. court of public opinion was rapidly turning against Mineral After much argument and deliberation, Secretary Udall King’s development. This left Disney in a most unenviable acquiesced and reluctantly granted approval for the all- and frustrating position. Even though the studio was not weather road. named in the Sierra Club’s lawsuit, it was nonetheless vili- Stung by this setback, the Sierra Club vowed to fight on. fied in the media as a corporate predator out to commer- In June 1969, the organization filed suit against the govern- cialize the virgin environment of Mineral King. ment’s decision, alleging three main points: (1) the Forest Critics decried that the valley would become nothing Service did not have the right to grant a private developer more than a “Disneyland in the Mountains,” as if Walt’s plans such a large tract of land; (2) recreational development were for an amusement park rather than a year-round des- would violate Mineral King’s classification as a game refuge; tination resort. Robert Hicks, hired by Walt himself to over- see Mineral King, countered, “It is unfair to think that Disney did a good job at Disneyland, but will do a bad job elsewhere. Why not assume this project will be just as appropriate for Mineral King as Disneyland was for the recreation needs of Anaheim?” But that argument did little to sway the tide of opposition. All that the public saw was the Sierra Club versus Walt Disney Productions. Or, to put it another way, the defenders of nature standing up to the Hollywood machine. Truthfully, both sides had pure intentions for Mineral King. No one can fault the Si- erra Club for guarding the environment from encroaching development, but Walt’s entire plan had been designed around and (3) constructing a road across Sequoia National Park protecting the valley’s natural environment. In Mineral was illegal. King, he saw a place of great beauty that was inaccessible It was a compelling case. The Forest Service did appear for much of the year, and he hoped to open it to visitors year to have exceeded the allowable limit of developable land round. The Mineral King valley stood in the crosshairs beat Mineral King and many were surprised that the govern- tween conservation and accessibility –and it was beginning ment would overlook the valley’s role as a wildlife refuge. to look like there would never be a winner. The Forest Service countered that Mineral King’s status as a refuge did not preclude it from also being used for recre- One Last Hope ation. Delving any deeper into the lawsuit would only lead With planning at a standstill due to the lawsuit, the Dis- down the rabbit hole of legal technicalities. ney studio extended an olive branch to the Sierra Club in

66 · Celebrations Photos and artwork © Disney 1972. Walt’s original plans were revised in an effort to answer Mineral King into Sequoia National Park in 1978. This forever each of the conservationists’ complaints. Out was the all- ended any possibility for private development in the valley. weather road and, with it, the controversial construction in It was a quiet conclusion to a battle that had fiercely raged Sequoia National Park. In its place would be an electric cog for more than a decade. railway, running along the existing road’s path, operated at Although Walt’s plans for Mineral King will forever re- no-profit by Disney. main unfulfilled, one small remnant did manage to survive. In addition to sidestepping the lighting rod that was the Disney Legend Marc Davis had designed an Audio-Anima- all-weather roadway, this railroad would provide an effec- tronic dinnertime musical act for one of the resort’s many tive way to restrict entrance to the valley at peak times. If restaurants, and it was so beloved by his fellow Imagineers too many Guests were already at Mineral King, the train that it was adopted by Walt Disney World as the Country could simply be shut down for the rest of the day. This re- Bear Jamboree. Big Al, Trixie, and company are all that is left vised plan, besides addressing the objection to the road and from Disney’s dalliance with Mineral King. the threat of overcrowding, also scaled back the size of the For a company so accustomed to success, the missed resort itself. The number of planned ski lifts was halved, chance at Mineral King must have been a bitter disappoint- resulting in a smaller footprint along the valley floor. In all, ment. Not only were they unable to bring to life one of Walt’s Disney’s Mineral King looked leaner and meaner than ever. final dreams, but, for the first time, Disney was portrayed Unfortunately, it would not be enough. The Sierra Club as an enemy of the environment. This came as a mighty welcomed the revisions, but chose not to withdraw its legal blow for a studio that took its reputation as a role model action against development in Mineral King. After the pre- seriously. liminary injunction, further court rulings all went against The biggest reason for Mineral King’s failure, beyond even the Sierra Club. But the appeals process moved at a snail’s the yellow tape of the Sierra Club’s lawsuit, may have been pace, with more and more environmental studies being de- Walt Disney’s absence. So often throughout his career, the manded before Mineral King could be deemed suitable for world doubted Walt. Whether it was Snow White or Disney- development. land, skeptics had never been in short supply. Yet he always Eventually, the Disney Studio began to wonder if this proj- found a way to calm the storms of disbelief and bring his ect was still worth the hassle. By the mid-1970s, and with no dream to life. Without Walt’s personal leadership and vi- end in sight, Disney executives elected to cut their losses sion, the studio had lost its most effective advocate. Unfor- and move on. tunately, Mineral King is one of those rare Walt Disney fairy Congress ultimately rendered it all moot by annexing tales that did not come true.

67 · Celebrations The Horses of Main Street U.S.A.

68 · Celebrations Photo ©Tim Devine 69 · Celebrations would want them in his new theme park, Disneyland. Un- like Audio-Animatronic animals, these horses would need someone to care for and train them. Those tasks fell to Owen Pope and his wife Dolly, who Walt hired to train the horses to pull the stagecoach, the Main Street trolley and other things. In January 1971, the Popes relocated to Flori- da where they supervised the creation of the Tri-Circle-D Ranch, in order to support the live horses that would work at the Magic Kingdom. When the park opened, there were four horse drawn trol- leys going up and down Main Street. It cost ten cents (or an “A” ticket) for a one-way ride either up or down the street. The Popes retired in 1975, but continued to visit at least once a year for the rest of their lives. Owen passed away at the age of 96 in 2000, and Dolly passed away at the age of 89 in 2003. Today, Walt Disney World is home to around eighty horses, with roughly thirty of them being draft horses like the Bel- gians and Percherons that pull the trolley. Fully loaded with passengers, a trolley can weigh up to 4,000 pounds. Fortu- nately for the horses, the weight they need to pull is only around a hundred pounds, thanks to the finely-tuned bal- ance of the trolley on the tracks, and that fact that the tracks themselves around the Car Barn are greased. Incidentally, the horses themselves weigh close to 2,000 pounds each.

Car Barn The Car Barn, located between the Firehouse and the Harmony Barber Shop at the front of Main Street U.S.A., he Magic Kingdom is a living homage to Walt Disney’s was intended to be an area where Guests could get a first- Tlove of horses, with equestrian tributes in abundance hand experience with the horses. The building is referred to for those with a keen eye and a little patience. as the “Car Barn,” since the back-story of Main Street U.S.A. The magnificent draft horses that pull the trolley down takes place during the transition from horse drawn vehi- Main Street U.S.A. from nine o’clock in the morning until a cles to motorized vehicles (that are actually housed in ga- little after one o’clock in the afternoon are the most obvi- rage stalls behind the building). However, the interior deco- ous examples, but they’re not alone, as references to horses ration of the location is obviously themed to horses rather can be found throughout the park. than motorized vehicles. Walt Disney loved horses from an early age. When he A stall houses one of the Disney horses, giving Guests was just seven years old, he earned his first nickel from his a close-up view of these wondrous animals, as well as a artwork when he drew a sketch of a neighbor’s horse. The chance to hear a Cast Member talk about the Disney horses. neighbor, Doc Sherwood, was so pleased that he had the Surrounding the stall are actual horse-related items and artwork framed and hung in his living room. flyers from an earlier century, including horseshoes nailed Over the decades, Walt would go on to own a stable of facing up so the luck doesn’t run out. polo ponies and individual horses. One of these horses, Dia- Hanging on the left as Guests enter the building are the mond Decorator, actually portrayed Zorro’s ebony steed, fabled harnesses that are hand cleaned and polished every Tornado, in the popular television series. day that they are in use. Generally, they are put on two mas- Because of his love of horses, it was only natural that Walt sive sawhorses and it takes two Cast Members to do the job.

70 · Celebrations Photo © Tim Devine In addition, Guests can see authentic cavalry lanterns Pecos Bill’s Tall Tale Inn and Café: Widowmaker that are placed up above the posts. On the side of the barn In the 1948 animated feature compilation film, Melody is a window dedicated to “Owen Pope. Harness Maker.” Pope Time, one of the segments was devoted to Western hero Pe- actually made the original harnesses for the Walt Disney cos Bill and his faithful horse, Widowmaker. In the animated World horses at his home in Disneyland, behind Big Thun- tale, Widowmaker gets jealous of Bill’s new girlfriend, Slue der Ranch. One of the original harnesses, complete with Foot Sue, and bucks her to the moon when she attempts to the old “World Mickey” emblem, is housed under glass at the ride him. In Pecos Bill’s Tall Tale Inn and Café in Frontierland Walt Disney Horse Exhibit at the Tri-Circle-D Ranch at the (that opened in 1998), many of Bill’s famous friends like Davy Fort Wilderness Campground. Crockett and Paul Bunyan have left a bit of memorabilia on the walls. Widowmaker literally left his bit that had been in The Hitching Posts on Main Street his mouth during his adventures with Bill. It is hanging next Disney Legend Emile Kuri was one of the youngest set dec- to the large picture of his smiling face. There is also a pic- orators in the movie industry. In 1952, he joined the Disney ture of Bill riding Widowmaker over the fireplace. Studio where he remained for twenty-three years. During that time, he won an Oscar for his work on the film 20,000 Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride: Cyril Proudbottom Leagues Under the Sea (1954), specifically for the Nautilus’s Cyril Proudbottom is the clever horse owned by J. Thad- lush interior of red velvet furnishings, gleaming brass ro- deus Toad that appeared most prominently in the Fanta- coco decorations, and that magnificent pipe organ (which syland attraction Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride that operated from ended up in the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland). 1971 to 1998. In particular, Cyril was immortalized in a town Kuri had previously earned an Oscar for his work on the square fountain along with Mr. Toad in the attraction and, 1949 film, The Heiress. Part of the filming was done at an au- like his rowdy master, is still missed by today’s WDW Guests. thentic 1840 mansion, and the owner was especially pleased with the care that Kuri had taken of the house during the Headless Horseman’s Horse filming. In appreciation, he gifted Kuri with an original an- When the Magic Kingdom was being planned, there were tique hitching post from the property. For many years, it re- discussions of creating a Headless Horseman dark ride at- sided proudly in the front yard of Kuri’s house in Corona del traction based on the Disney animated featurette The Ad- Mar, California. ventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949) detailing school teach- Five years later, when Kuri was assisting with the design er Ichabod Crane’s encounter with the legendary creature. of Disneyland’s Main Street, he used that hitching post to As part of Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, the create a mold for the Disneyland hitching posts. That same Headless Horseman rides through the Magic Kingdom. Pre- mold was re-used nearly fifteen years later for the hitching viously, the horse was performed by “Ike” who was eventu- posts on Walt Disney World’s Main Street U.S.A. ally adopted out to a family in Texas. Today, the role is pri- Kuri would go on to be nominated for several more Acad- marily performed by Khan, who is half Percheron and half emy Awards for Best Art Direction, beginning in 1961 for The thoroughbred. Absent Minded Professor, in 1964 for Mary Poppins, and However, a ghostly horse does reside in the stable area finally in 1971 for Bedknobs and Broomsticks. He also won just outside of the Haunted Mansion. It is used to pull the a television Emmy Award in 1963 for his set decorating on black hearse that is near the entrance of the queue line. The Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color. only evidence of this unnamed horse is the marks of his “Working with Walt Disney was like working in another horseshoes on the ground and, once upon a time, an eerie world. He was the most fascinating and dedicated man I whinny sound. knew,” stated Kuri in an interview before his death. For those readers who truly love horses, a visit to the Tri- The Main Street horses and the famed horses that reside Circle-D Ranch at the Fort Wilderness Campground is highly at the Prince Charming Regal Carousel (detailed in Septem- recommended. Knowledgeable Cast Members will share ber 2010 issue of Celebrations) may be the most familiar, but stories of the real horses of Walt Disney World, and there is there a few other horses that reside (or have resided) in the a small exhibit honoring Walt and the horses of Walt Disney Magic Kingdom that we don’t want to overlook! World.

71 · Celebrations hen we last parted ways, we had just taken a Even on an average day, the line waiting to board the Wleisurely boat ride across Crescent Lake toward Express Monorail can be quite long, and if the parks Germany. After enjoying a few of our favorite treats, it are especially busy you’ll often have to wait for several was time to figure out where to go next. We had been monorails to go by before you get the chance to board. walking about for a long time, and though we’d seen But don’t despair; if that’s the case head on over to the a lot of great things, it dawned on us that it had been Resort Monorail. You’ll find that the crowds here are quite a while since we had been at the Magic Kingdom. rarely large (and often non-existent). Not only does that (Heck, a new Fantasyland had opened up since the last allow you to easily board the next train, but you won’t time we’d been there!) have to jostle with the crowds for standing-room-only We all know that there are many ways to “get from space. After a couple of quick stops at the Polynesian here to there,” and in this case we decided to take the and Grand Floridian resorts, you’ll find yourself at the monorail. From Germany, it was a nice little walk back Magic Kingdom, all refreshed and ready to go! to the front of Epcot. If you have the time, you And of course no trip to can also choose a more Epcot is complete with- adventurous route. Few out one more ride on people realize that there is Spaceship Earth! a path that runs from the Those of you familiar TTC to the Polynesian Re- with the monorail know sort. The path can be a bit that when traveling on winding but it’s very scenic, the Epcot line, your des- and eventually you’ll want tination will be the Tick- to look for the boat launch, et and Transportation where you can take a small- Center (TTC). To get to er boat over to the Magic the Magic Kingdom, you have a few options, including Kingdom. This makes for an intimate experience, and the monorail itself, as well as the giant paddle boats. On is especially enjoyable as the sun is setting and you can this trip we decided that we were in a monorail mood, enjoy a cool evening breeze while you watch the resort so we disembarked the Epcot monorail, made our way lights dance across the rippling waves. down the ramp, and headed toward the entrances to As we so often find at Walt Disney World, there’s usu- the Magic Kingdom monorails. Monorails? As in, more ally more than one path you can take no matter what than one? Yep! your destination. You can choose to take the “familiar” Many people make the mistake in thinking that the path, the “out-of-the-way” path, or the “hmm, I’ve never only way to get to the Magic Kingdom is by hopping gone that way before but it looks like it will get me on the Express Monorail, which makes a direct trip there” path for a bit of an adventure. Sometimes, it’s nice from the TTC to the Magic Kingdom. But oftentimes to point your compass in a different direction and see that’s not the best way to go. Right next to the Express where it takes you. Monorail entrance is the entrance to the Resort Mono- Until next time, this is Ray and you have been Wan- rail, and you’ll often find that this is the better choice. dering the World!

Photo ©Tim Foster 72 · Celebrations 28,000 Gallons of water that flow through Splash Mountain’s flume system every minute. Amount of water, in gallons, that can be held in the reservoir behind Splash Mountain. 950,000 That may seem like a lot, but it’s only 1/6th the size of the aquarium at the Seas With Nemo and Friends.

Length, in feet, of the Zip-A-Dee Lady Showboat seen at the end of the attraction. While 36 impressive, the version in Disneyland is 28% larger! 45 Angle, in degrees, of the final drop into the briar patch. Cost, in dollars, of the construction of Splash Mountain. By comparison, Mission: SPACE 75 million cost 33% more at a cool $100 million.

Height, in feet, of the mountain itself. That makes it the smallest of the Magic Kingdom 87 mountains (though it sure seems tall as you crest over the final plunge to the briar patch!). It’s even dwarfed by the Tokyo Disneyland version of the attraction, which rises 12 feet higher.

Area, in acres, which the attraction takes up in the Magic Kingdom, four times as much as 9.2 its Disneyland counterpart (though they are both the same height).

Speed, in miles per hour, of your final plunge. That makes it the fourth fastest attraction 40 in all of Walt Disney World, behind only Expedition Everest, the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and Test Track.

Photo ©Tim Foster 73 · Celebrations David Greybeard By Tim Foster

My latest journey has taken me to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and in particular to the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail. Even though there were many objects of interest here, most notably of the living variety, I wasn’t interested in the okapi, hippos, or the various species of fish found in the meandering streams. No, my quest was for a special object, a crate of some importance that I had heard tales of throughout my journey. I searched high and low, and it wasn’t long before I found it: a crate marked for the Jane Goodall Institute. Jane Goodall was a famed researcher of the chimpanzee, and as I investigated the crate I recalled the name of her favorite chimpanzee, David Greybeard. I also recalled that a tribute to him could be found nearby, so I set off on my quest.

My first assumption was that the tribute would be found on this very pathway. I looked for the telltale signs of the famed chimp, but alas, my search came up empty. I did, however, come upon this magnificent animal, the gorilla. Gino, the silverback, is the head of the family troop and came from the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. That was all very interesting, but had little to do with David Greybeard. With no chimps in the area, I decided to shift the focus of my research from the outdoor world to that of film.

But which film? A Disney film, of course! By sheer luck the first film I watched,Toy Story 3, did indeed feature a very intelligent chimpanzee. He seemed to possess extraordinary observational skills (I later learned that his distinctive chatter was provided by none other than Lee Unkrich, the director of the film). I recalled that another famous monkey, Abu from Aladdin, was transformed into the clattering toy (which was called the Musical Jolly Chimp when it was first invented in Japan) by Jafar. Nonetheless, I felt that next clue in my quest would be found in the Pixar universe, so I decided to venture to Pixar Place at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

74 · Celebrations I soon arrived at the entrance to Toy Story Mania!, one of my favorite attractions in all of Walt Disney World (though I have yet to achieve a rank any better than “black cat”!). Unfortunately, the closest I found to an actual chimpanzee was this oversized toy, a Barrel of Monkeys (or was I undersized?). Upon further investigation, I found that the game was originally invented in 1965. That suggested to me that the next clue might be found from something else from that era, and I immediately thought of the Tarzan TV series that began airing in 1966, shortly after the introduction of the classic toy. I remembered the series well, especially the chimp named Cheeta. In a flash of insight I recalled that Cheeta himself could be found nearby.

It wasn’t long before I found the famous chimpanzee in the Tarzan scene in the Great Movie Ride. Unlike the Tarzan TV series that I watched as a youth, this was actually a recreation of the classic 1932 filmTarzan the Ape Man, which also starred Maureen O’Sullivan as Jane and Johnny Weissmuller as Tarzan himself (of course, the human stars were a trivial footnote to my actual quest). Unfortunately, the Animatronic Cheeta was the only chimpanzee I could find, and he certainly wasn’t symbolic of David Greybeard. I went back to my original line of reasoning and concluded that the answer must still be connected to Pixar somehow. I decided to visit another attraction based on a Pixar animal film (though these were of the six-legged variety).

The film I was thinking of wasA Bug’s Life, and the attraction was It’s Tough To Be a Bug, a 3D film housed in the base of the Tree of Life. Unfortunately, I didn’t find anything inside the theater (except for a terrible stink!), but little did I realize that I was closer to my goal than I had thought. A friendly Cast Member told me some interesting facts about the Tree of Life when I asked about David Greybeard. I learned that Jane Goodall herself was invited the park during its construction, and was admiring the Tree of Life, which at the time was intended to include 324 carved animal images on its trunk. Unfortunately, as Jane noted, none of them were chimpanzees, a significant oversight! Imagineers went to work and not only added a chimp, they added Goodall’s favorite, David Graybeard. Aha, I thought, this was it! Now if I could only find it. Fortunately, I didn’t have to look far, as the carving of David is located right by the entrance to the theater. Now if could only get rid of that creepy crawly feeling I got from all those bugs... (not to mention that pungent stench!).

75 · Celebrations How Well Do You Know Your Attraction Characters? by Tim Foster

Most of the attractions at Walt Disney World have 6. Philip Brainard extensive back stories, often including a cast of a. Cranium Command memorable characters. Do you remember where you’ll b. Space Mountain find these different characters? c. Journey Into Imagination with Figment d. The Boneyard 1. Dr. Marsh a. Living With the Land 7. Rick Blaine b. Dinosaur a. The Great Movie Ride c. Body Wars b. Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular d. Spaceship Earth c. Backlot Tour d. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad 2. Captain Gantu a. The Jungle Cruise 8. Zachary Taylor b. Soarin’ a. Main Street U.S.A. c. Stitch’s Great Escape! b. Pirates of the Caribbean d. The Walt Disney World Railroad c. Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade d. Hall of Presidents 3. Sarah a. Swiss Family Treehouse 9. Judy Peterson b. Country Bear Jamboree a. Test Track c. “it’s a small world” b. Ellen’s Energy Adventure d. Carousel of Progress c. Carousel of Progress d. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster 4. Constance a. The Universe of Energy 10. Panchito Pistoles b. The Haunted Mansion a. Gran Fiesta Tour c. The American Adventure b. Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room d. The Tower of Terror c. “it’s a small world” d. Mickey’s PhilharMagic 5. Nana a. Peter Pan’s Flight 11. Buddy Boil b. Horizons a. Toy Story Mania! c. The Liberty Square Riverboat b. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin d. Enchanted Tales With Belle c. Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor d. Captain EO 76 · Celebrations 12. Pierre 16. Professor Cumulus Isobar a. Impressions de France a. Journey Into Imagination with Figment b. Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room b. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad c. Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid c. Innoventions d. It’s Tough To Be a Bug d. Splash Mountain

13. Carlos 17. Patrick a. Gran Fiesta Tour a. The Seas With Nemo and Friends b. Tom Sawyer Island b. O Canada! c. Pirates of the Caribbean c. Soarin’ d. Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular d. Swiss Family Treehouse

14. Peach 18. Michelangelo a. Disney Junior Live on Stage! a. The Italy Pavilion in World Showcase b. Muppet*Vision 3D b. The Hall of Presidents c. American Idol Experience c. Spaceship Earth d. The Seas With Nemo and Friends d. The Magic of Disney Animation

15. Mushu a. The Magic of Disney Animation Quiz 4) B 9) B 14) D b. Reflections of China Answers 5) A 10) A 15) A c. The Maharajah Jungle Trek 1) B 6) C 11) C 16) B d. Rafiki’s Planet Watch 2) C 7) A 12) B 17) C 3) D 8) D 13) C 18) C

ANSWERS Cruise, and the odd photo is from the 1. The giraffe’s spot is bigger. 2. The 1964/65 New York World’s Fair KIDS KORNER (pages 78–81) Pangani Forest Exploration Trail 2. The block is a different color. 3. Mexico, written on a piece of pottery 3. The word “Disney’s” is missing. 4. The Lion King, sung by Zazu (much to WHERE AM I? GROUP 3: The odd photo is “B” 4. “Kilimanjaro” is spelled wrong. Scar’s dismay!) 1. The Seas With Nemo and Friends The main attraction is Buzz Lightyear’s 5. There is an extra zebra. 5. “Welcome to the happiest cruise that 2. Carousel of Progress Space Ranger Spin, and the odd photo is 6. The artwork is backward. ever sailed” 3. Living With the Land from Mission: SPACE. 7. The lamp is bigger. 6. The Pinocchio Village Haus 4. The Haunted Mansion 8. There is another tree. 5. Peter Pan’s Flight GROUP 4: The odd photo is “D” 9. There are extra numbers. SECRET SYMBOLS 6. Maelstrom The main attraction is Toy Story 10. There is an extra bolt. 1. Child’s face on the exterior attraction Mania!, and the odd photo is from the sign D-I-S-N-E-Y Pop Century Resort. FIND THE DIFFERENCE BONUS ANSWER 2. The “Aloha” sign at the exit 1. One Man’s Dream at Disney’s Africa 3. Flags above the boat entrance Hollywood Studios BRAIN BUSTERS 4. Silhouette figure in the India scene 2. Innoventions Sound, Sight, Smell, Taste, and Touch WORD SCRAMBLE 5. Number on the clock facade in the 3. Splash Mountain You don’t get a chance to visit the Taste 1. Elastigirl queue area 4. Pangani Forest Exploration Trail and Touch Labs thanks to Figment! 2. Mirage 5. Sight Lab in Journey Into Imagination 3. Syndrome WHERE AM I? With Figment FIND THE DIFFERENCE 4. Violet 1. Sun in the Mexico area 6. Mad Tea Party 5. Edna Mode 2. The CH’AO sign at the exit 6. Bomb Voyage 3. The tropical rain forest scene ODD ONE OUT 7. Frozone 4. Mask design in the South Pacific/ GROUP 1: The odd photo is “A” 8. Gazerbeam Australia room The main attraction is “it’s a small 5. Boat in the exterior sign world,” and the odd photo is from Gran MYSTERY QUEST (pages 82–83) 6. Toy soldiers in the clock in the queue Fiesta Tour. area (seen when the clock “chimes”) TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE 7. Paddle boat in the final “white” room GROUP 2: The odd photo is “C” 1. In the final scene, a figure on the 8. The Don Quixote figure The main attraction is The Jungle carousel is holding a Pinocchio doll

77 · Celebrations On what attractions will you find these animals? 1. A manta ray 2. A dog named Rover 3. An American bison 4. A black raven 5. A ticking crocodile 6. A polar bear

All of these letters (which spell out “Disney”!) can be found throughout the parks, can you figure out where each of them are located?

1 2

3 4

5 6

78 · Celebrations All of the images in each of these groups come from the same attraction...except one. Can you find the odd one in each group? Then see if you can figure out where they all are!

A B C D

1. The odd image is: ____ Main attraction: ______Odd photo location:______

A B C D

2. The odd image is: ____ Main attraction: ______Odd photo location:______

A B C D

3. The odd image is: ____ Main attraction: ______Odd photo location:______

A B C D

4. The odd image is: ____ Main attraction: ______Odd photo location:______

Answers on page 77 79 · Celebrations Can you name all five of the testing labs in Journey Into Imagination with Figment? (And can you name the two you don’t visit?)

The wildlife at Kilimanjaro Safaris looks to have been getting a bit, um, wild, and has done a bit of “redecorating” on the attraction sign. Can you find the 10 differences in the photos below?

______

BONUS QUESTION “Kilimanjaro” is the name of an actual mountain, and is the tallest mountain on the continent where it can be found. Do you know which continent that is?

80 · Celebrations See if you can unscramble these different characters from The Incredibles!

1. GRITELSAIL 2. GRAMIE

3. MONDYERS 4. LIVETO

5. DEAN DEMO 6. MOBB GYEVOA

7. ZERONOF 8. MAZEBRAGE

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’s your favorite attraction to the monorail in the future. There are back story? a lot of fun things to do over there - and I love finding out the stories behind the great places to eat (hint: Raglan Road!) attractions at Walt Disney World! Do you - and it would make it so much easier to know why the track is broken on Expedition “pop” over there for a bite during your park Everest? Or what happened to the mining visit if there were a monorail stop! company over at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad? Or where Figment came from? Is the Hall of Presidents a fun My favorite is trying to figuring out where, place for kids to visit? and who, all those ghosts are over at the The Hall of Presidents is so much more than Haunted Mansion...that should keep me a place to rest and get out of the hot sun!!! busy for a while - there are 999 of them! Really....trust me! It’s a fun way to learn some things about American history...I If you could pick one additional wish my Social Studies class at school was place for the monorail to go to, like this! The Audio-Animatronics are all so where would it be? amazing, you’ll forget that they aren’t real I think Downtown Disney should be added people. History comes alive! :)

81 · Celebrations scenery props. Which country was it, and Test Your Knowledge of where could it be found? “it’s a small world” 4. A brief snippet of the theme song from

“it’s a small world” was sung in a classic 1. In the Disneyland version of “it’s a small Disney film, can you remember which world,” many Disney characters appear one? For extra credit, do you know who throughout the ride. However, there sang it? aren’t any in the Magic Kingdom...except for one. Do you know where you can find 5. As your boat sails under the archway and him? into the attraction itself, there is a phrase written on a banner over the arch. What 2. The first version of “it’s a small world” does it say? didn’t appear at the Magic Kingdom, and it didn’t even appear in Disneyland. Do 6. When you first set sail, you can see you know where it first opened? Guests on the other side of a window up above you and straight ahead. 3. Though it no longer appears to be there, (Sometimes they’ll wave!). This is actually these was one country whose name a restaurant, what restaurant is it? could be found written out on one of the

Where can you find these cryptic inscriptions?

2 1 3 4 5

82 · Celebrations Can you determine where these photographs were taken?

3 1 2

7 Only the best explorers will be able to figure this one out... 8

Answers on page 77 83 · Celebrations Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Boo

1. Boo’s real name is Mary. How do we know this? In the cepts of the ending, and a large portion of them said that scene where Sulley and Mike Wazowski take her back to they thought going into the room would be a better idea. their apartment, you can see that she signed one of her However, in the end it was decided to depict the scene drawings in the upper corner. The part of Boo was voiced from Boo’s point of view, and to have the film end with by young actress Mary Gibbs, the daughter of one of the her heartwarming recognition of her new friend, “Kitty.” Story Artists who worked on Monsters Inc., Rob Gibbs. 7. Among the many toys in Boo’s room are the red-star Luxo 2. Just like her on screen persona, Mary Gibbs was quite a Ball (a Pixar “Easter Egg” that can found in nearly every rambunctious child! So much so that getting her to stand film), a Nemo squeak toy, and a Jessie doll from Toy Story 2. still to perform her lines proved to be an impossible task. 8. What’s that yummy cereal that Sulley uses to lead Boo into The solution was to follow her around with a microphone the bedroom? Why, Kreature Krisp cereal of course! The and record all of her vocalizations. The director used pup- ingredients of this yummy concoction include tentacles, pets, jokes, and other tricks to get Mary to say the proper seawater, mercury, sulfuric acid, lead, bile, blood, sweat, lines or utter the right exclamations. In the end, much of tears, anemone, deadly pufferfish, and depleted uranium Boo’s dialog was cut together from various things Mary (to preserve freshness). Everything a growing girls needs! said while she played in the studio. 9. When Sulley is waiting for Boo in the bathroom stall, you 3. The character of Boo went through many changes can hear her singing to herself. While the words are typi- throughout the film’s development. One of the early con- cal toddler babbling, the melodies are similar to “Beauty cept sketches showed Boo with red hair and ponytails, and the Beast” (from the 1991 Disney film), and, arguably, which became red horns when she was in her monster “One Song” from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. costume. Another series of drawings showed her with 10. Were there ever any plans to have Boo appear in another Rasta hair (frizzy dreadlocks, which you can Pixar film? At one point, yes. When possible storylines still see on her monster costume). for a sequel were being considered, one treatment 4. Before it was decided that Boo would be a was to take place ten years after the original. young girl, numerous ideas were considered In it, Sulley and Mike return to Boo’s closet for her character. At one point she was going to celebrate her birthday. Unfortunately, to be African-American, or perhaps even from by that time Boo’s family had moved. When Ireland. She was also much older, and had a back- they find Boo, now a teenager, she doesn’t remember story that had her enduring endless pranks them anymore. The only way that Sulley and Mike could played on her by her four older brothers. return to the monster world was to have Boo remem- 5. At this point in the story’s development, ber what it was like to be a child, and to make her Boo was going to be around 8 years old, laugh again. That idea was eventually scrapped, but and be quite fearless. However, she was has Boo appeared in any other Pixar film? When Toy made younger over time until the writers Story 3 came out, many thought that the character of finally settled on making her two years old. Bonnie was actually an older Boo. There is also a girl at 6. As the film was nearing completion, there Sunnyside Daycare who resembles Boo. She can even was still some question about how to end the be seen playing with a blue cat and saying “boo.” How- movie. Should the audience go into Boo’s room ever, Lee Unkrich (who co-directed Monsters Inc. and along with Sulley? Should the audience see her? directed Toy Story 3) has confirmed that they are Test audiences were shown storyboard con- not the same character.

Keepsake Image: “Pangani Enchantment”• Photography by Tim Devine 84 · Celebrations Artwork ©Disney Back Cover Photo © Tim Devine

““I definitely feel that we cannot do the fantastic things based on the real, unless we first know the real.” –Walt Disney