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Enjoy the Magic of Walt Disney World All Year Long with Celebrations Magazine! Receive 6 Issues for $29.99* (Save More Than 15% Off the Cover Price!) *U.S

Enjoy the Magic of Walt Disney World All Year Long with Celebrations Magazine! Receive 6 Issues for $29.99* (Save More Than 15% Off the Cover Price!) *U.S

Enjoy the magic of World all year long with Celebrations magazine! Receive 6 issues for $29.99* (save more than 15% off the cover price!) *U.S. residents only. To order outside the , please visit www.celebrationspress.com.

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On the Cover: “A World of Fantasy”, photo by Tim Devine Issue 9 : 42 Contents Yesterday., Today and Letters...... 6 Tomorrow Calendar of Events...... 8 Disney News & Updates...... 10

MOUSE VIEWS...... 15 Guide to the Magic by Tim Foster...... 16 : Explorer Emporium by Lou Mongello...... 18 Blasting Off to the 50 Hidden Mickeys by Steve Barrett...... 20 Future Photography Tips & Tricks by Tim Devine...... 22 Pin Trading & Collecting by John Rick...... 24 Disney Cuisine by Allison Jones...... 26 The Story Behind Disney Touring Tips Studios 56 by Beci Mahnken...... 28 Magic by J Darling...... 30

FEATURED ATTRACTION “it’s a small world”...... 32

FEATURED RESORT Making Animation Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort...... 36 from Machines: A 60 FEATURED FILM History of Audio- The King...... 40 Lou Mongello’s Wayback Machine...... 70 Wandering the World...... 72 By the : World Showcase...... 73 Quick Quiz...... 74 In Search of: The Casablanca Plane...... 76 In Depth with 3D Kids Korner...... 78 64 Mystery Quest: Fantasyland...... 82 Tim & Lou’s Top 10...... 84 The Magic of Progress The New Year is upon us, and as always it’s a great time to look on the previous 12 months and reflect on all of the events and changes from the past year. That’s certainly the case at , where 2009 saw the opening of the updated Hall of Presidents and a major refurbishment to Space Mountain, as well as many exciting announcements, most notably the plans for a reimagined Fantasyland.

This brings to mind one of the major themes that is the driving force behind Walt Disney World: progress. Walt Disney was never one to rest on his laurels. He always strived to do better, to try new things, and to always keep the wheels of progress turning. That philosophy lives on today; you’ll find it in the breakthrough technological advances made by Pixar, the announcements made by Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman at the first Expo, and the ever-changing facade of Walt Disney World itself.

Change can be a scary thing; after all there’s great comfort in familiarity. Walt Disney knew that change was always risky, but he also knew that the potential rewards far outweighed the consequences of standing still. The ever-changing landscape at Walt Disney World is a testament to that fact.

We might lament some of the changes in years past. (I for one will always miss the original Journey Into Imagination and the previous finale.) But we mustn’t forget all of the wonderful innovations that have appeared, everything from new attractions such as and Mania! to subtle additions, including the staircase room in and the Davy Jones waterfall in .

Over at the of Progress, we can relive the technological advancements of the early 20th century to the tune of “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow,” but we mustn’t forget that the true lesson here is not a historical one, but a lesson for today. The promise of that great, big beautiful tomorrow is still here. As we look ahead to 2010, we can only imagine what magical changes are in store for us in the coming year—and beyond.

Tim Foster

2 · Celebrations Editors Tim Foster • Lou Mongello

Contributing Writers Steve Barrett J Darling Tim Devine Allison Jones Beci Mahnken John Rick

Creative Direction and Design Tim Foster Associate Art Director Michelle Foster

Associate Editors Jennifer Bright Reich • Kristin Isolde Eriksen • Catherine Lusby

Contributing Photographers Tim Foster, Tim Devine, Barrie Brewer

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

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©2010 Celebrations Press, Inc. No portion of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the express writ- ten permission of the publisher. Statements and opinions herein are those of the authors and advertisers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. Celebrations is owned and operated by Celebrations Press, Inc. and is not affiliated with, authorized or endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with , Disney Enterprises, Inc., or any of their affiliates. Walt Disney World Resort® is a registered trademark of The Walt Disney Company. The Twilight Zone® is a registered trademark of CBS, Inc. This publication makes reference to various Disney copyrighted characters, trademarks, marks, and registered marks owned by The Walt Disney Company, Disney Enterprises, Inc., and other trademark own- ers. The use in this 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 capitaliza- tion, 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 “It was all started by...”

With all due respect to Mr. Disney, it was not all started by a mouse. Instead, it was all started by you, Walt. Everything we see and experience in Walt Disney World, while maybe not directly from the mind or heart of the man himself, comes from his ideas, ideals, beliefs, and passion—much of which has been passed down to those who have followed him.

Many people forget that Walt Disney is not a brand name, not a place, but a man. Late in Walt’s life, he said, “I’m not Walt Disney anymore. All of this is Walt Disney.” And while that might have been true then, it’s even more pronounced now.

Walt Disney, even more than three decades after his passing, continues to inspire young minds, spark creativity within his Imagineers, and influence popular culture. He defined modern storytelling and created the concept of a theme park, while blending the two seamlessly. Today, we’re still immersed in and enchanted by the stories he told decades ago, and those that his influence and silent guidance have inspired today. Walt’s presence in the Disney parks is recognizable, whether it be from his love of nature, animals, and adventure that carried over to monumental undertakings such as Disney’s Animal Kingdom, or his desire for attractions in which families could have fun together that predicates experiences like Toy Story Mania! Walt’s utopian dreams of the city might never have been fully realized, but its fundamental goals of looking to the future and working together using all natural and technological resources available to us for a better tomorrow still permeate many of the messages in Disney’s films and “edutainment” concepts in the parks. Walt dreamed what was impossible, and he made it reality. He turned a desolate swampland into the world’s greatest vacation destination—and into a true modern of engineering, ingenuity, efficiency, productivity, and magic.

I want to believe that Walt, wherever he may be, is looking down on all of us as we smile and stroll along with our families in his parks. And I like to think that Walt, too, is smiling, knowing that what he set out to achieve has been realized to a degree that he might never have imagined, that he still excites, inspires, motivates, and encourages the young and old, and that he continues to make a positive difference in the lives of many. Thank you, Walt.

Lou Mongello

4 · Celebrations Contributors

Jennifer Bright Reich is a Mary Jo Collins has always Justine Fellows is passionate Adam Goswick first visited writer, editor, and creator been mesmerized by about travel, having Walt Disney World on his of DisneyWithKids.net, Space Mountain since enjoyed trips around the 16th birthday, and has been helping people traveling the first time she visited U.S.A., Africa, Asia, Europe sure to make yearly visits to Walt Disney World with Walt Disney World and and many islands. She is there ever since. He also kids save money, time, and wasn’t tall enough to ride the author of Passporter’s enjoys writing, which led sanity. Jennifer also founded it. Fortunately, she has Disney Planner and him to earn a degree in the new parenting website had many opportunities the host of Travel Girl Tips Professional Writing. After MommyMDGuides.com, since. Mary Jo is a proud for Disney World, finding a thriving Disney which is filled with tips that day one member of D23 travelgirlplans.com. fan community online, he doctors who are also moms and attended the first D23 Be careful-she’s been started DisTECH, a blog that use for their own families. Expo. She is also a finisher known to turn even the combines his two passions: Jennifer, her husband, and of the Walt Disney World most unenthusiastic Disney and technology. their four- and two-year- Marathon, ’s Race and Disney World traveler into You can find the site at old sons all look forward to a Half Challenge and the a fan. Justine lives with distech.wordpress.com. their Walt Disney World Coast-to-Coast Challenge. her husband Cris, and two trip. She lives in Tennessee with daughters, Kallie and Emma her husband, Andy, and their in Connecticut. two children.

Ray Harkness thanks Disney Jamie Hecker has been a Jim Korkis is an Donald Myers Jr. first trip for saving his marriage. As lifelong fan of the Disney internationally recognized to Disney in 1986 at age 4 a self professed workaholic, brand and Walt Disney Disney Historian whose forever sparked his passion vacation was a 4-letter World. As an adult, he writing and original and love for Walt Disney word. After being shown rediscovered his love for the research has been utilized by World. Don is not only a the joys of a vacation by his magic of Walt Disney World. other Disney Historians as true Disney enthusiast, but lovely wife, he now cannot The still fills well as the Disney Company. also considers himself to imagine being away from him with the same awe and be a “Disney traditionalist” work if it doesn’t involve a excitement he experienced as well. He loves the history Disney resort. He and his on his first visit as a twelve and uniqueness of the wife, Nancy, have logged year old boy. He, his wife parks and resorts and has a almost 50 days in the and two sons regularly visit special place in his heart for parks since 2006. When Orlando and always look all of the extinct attractions not touring the parks, Ray forward to their next family of Walt Disney World. writes for his blog Grumpy’s trip. Hollow under the name Grumpwurst (grumpyspace. blogspot.com).

5 · Celebrations Letters

More Magic

You’ve printed so many cute pictures - just wanted to show you some of my own: my son Kevin, daughter-in- fairies from . It was both of them and my bff Laura is on law Carrie, and grandson Griffin on an entirely homemade costume. We the right. Halloween dressed as Geppetto, the got so many compliments and little Blue Fairy and Pinocchio. girls dressed at Sleeping Beauty that Jennifer Bozych wanted to take pictures with us. The , IL Helayne Wright costumes made this the best MNS- SHP so far. Looking forward to the next issue of Celebrations!

Amanda Rossman

First let me say your magazine is awesome. I always look forward to receiving it when I know it’s coming in the mail. I’m saving the issues to use in my Disney World scrapbooks once I put them together. I would like to share a photo from Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party in I just want to say how much I love 2007. These costumes got the most the magazine. I thought I would responses out of the four different share my friends and I in costumes ones we wore that year to four dif- at MNSSHP early this past Septem- ferent parties. We had cast members ber. It’s myself (in pink) and my best complimenting how great we looked friend Amanda Vann (in blue) and and other guests asking if they could Lori Holzapfel (in green) as the three take our picture. I’m in the left in

Got a question, photo or story you’d like to share? email them to: [email protected] 6 · Celebrations Say, What’s That?

About a year ago (and many trips to WDW since), my Mom (Odean Lukow) and I (Alexandra McVetty) went on the Backstage Magic tour. When our tour stopped at Epcot we made our way backstage at the into a Cast Member lounge. Inside the lounge our guide talked about Animatronics, showed us one of the dinosaurs used in Ellen’s Energy Adventure and encouraged us to take pic- tures. As our guide talked about the Universe of Energy, we looked around the lounge and saw that there were some bookshelves to the side of the room. There were quite a few about working at Disney World and how to pres- Last year my daughter and her two children and I went to ent yourself as a Cast Member. I noticed out of the corner Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. We had the best of my eye, some older books at the bottom of the shelf. time ever. We dressed as , Mr. Smee, Peter Looking closer at the books I saw one was titled Pan and . My daughter was Hook and her cos- Drawings. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. What kinds tume she made herself was so realistic many of the young of concept art or drawings from the ride could be hidden guest at the party thought she was really Captain Hook. in this book? Our tour group was getting ready to leave the Having our pictures taken with the real Hook and Smee lounge so I snapped a quick photo of the book. Even though was so much fun. my curiosity was extremely high, I knew I should just leave the book in its place. It was great to see this memento of a Jill Breakey great former attraction! Columbus, Ohio Alexandra McVetty After seeing some of the costumed photos in the last is- Winnipeg, Canada sue I just wanted to share a photo of my friend Casey, my daughter Morgana and I at Mickey’s Not So Scary Hallow- een Party. Thanks for the fabulous magazine!

Kerri Sue Callahan

7 · Celebrations Letters featuring not only , but also Astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Mike Fincke. Both astronauts rode in 1969 Camaros to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Apollo II mission when Mr. Aldrin was the second astro- naut to walk on the moon. After the parade, Mr. Aldrin held an autograph session in Exposition Hall for his recent books Look to the Stars and Magnificent Desolation: The Long Journey Home from the Moon. We were lucky enough to have our books signed and have a brief interaction with the famous astronaut. It’s great that NASA and Disney Parks are working together to promote the study of science and space. Hopefully, being a part of this memorable day will inspire my children in the future. Out of This World Mary Jo Collins On October 2, 2009 in the Magic Kingdom, my children and I were treated to a celebration honoring the return of Buzz Mary Jo is also a contributing writer to Celebrations and must Lightyear to earth after a 15 month journey aboard the have really caught the “space travel” bug from her meeting with International Space Station. The Space Shuttle Discovery Buzz Aldrin! Mary Jo was among the first to experience the newly brought him back to earth on September 11, 2009. We were reopened Space Mountain, and you can read her article about this a part of an exciting ticker tape parade down Main Street beloved attraction on page 50. Calendar of Events Disney’s Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey expertly crafted bonsai trees and whimsical topiaries will Feb. 11-14, 2010 grace the 300 acres of Future World and World Showcase Disney’s Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey, an event during the 17th annual Epcot International Flower & Gar- created to inspire and enrich high school students, returns den Festival. to Walt Disney World Resort. One hundred teens from across the country will pack their bags – and their dreams Atlanta Braves Spring Training – and head to Walt Disney World Resort, where they will March 2010 learn about careers in everything from culinary arts to ’s Atlanta Braves will return for animation, from set design and show production to the their 14th exhibition season at Walt Disney World Resort in business of sports and more. March 2010. Led by manager Bobby Cox and perennial all- Chipper Jones, the Braves have enjoyed nine division Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival titles while training at Disney’s 220-acre sports campus, March 3-May 16, 2010 and now feature one of the most promising young teams More than 30 million blooms in artfully designed floral in baseball. beds, lush rose gardens and floral floating islands plus

8 · Celebrations

Disney News be part of each show. Original songs composed by Randy Princess Tiana makes her Newman for the film livened the production, which was performed three times daily. Daytime pyrotechnics and whimsical puppetry rounded out the spirited, 15-minute royal debut at the Magic production. The 10-week experience at Walt Disney World Resort ran Kingdom through Jan. 3, 2010. “Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee!” also dazzles guests at in . alt Disney World guests were recently treated to the An hilarious movie adventure through the mystical bay- Wfirst-ever appearances by Princess Tiana, star of the ous of Louisiana, “The Princess and the Frog” opened in lim- animated feature film “The Princess ited release in New York and on Nov. 25, 2009, and the Frog.” before expanding nationwide on Dec. 11, 2009. Besides meet-and-greets with guests, Princess Tiana, Little princesses can enjoy a new Princess Tiana make- Naveen and other characters from the pic- over at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at both the ture starred in “Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee!,” a rousing, color- store and Magic Kingdom locations at Walt Disney World ful procession with a jazz-filled Mardi Gras theme. The good Resort. times rolled as festively dressed, bead-tossing revelers led Fairy Godmothers-in-Training sprinkle their pixie dust on Magic Kingdom guests to the Liberty Belle Riverboat dock. aspiring princesses with three makeover packages ranging The party moved onboard and the Liberty Belle paddle- from a combination of hair, nails and makeup to the royal wheeled her way along the river with singing and dancing transformation complete with Princess Tiana costume, to the sounds of a six-member jazz band. Nearly two dozen tiara, wand and more. All children must be at least three Disney dancers joined 30 randomly chosen park guests to years or older to receive the regal treatments.

10 · Celebrations Photos ©Disney 11 · Celebrations Farewell to Roy Edward Disney By Jim Korkis

oy Edward Disney, who was 79 years old, passed away Rfrom stomach cancer on December 16, 2009, at Hoag Me- morial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, California. Ironically it was the same day that his aunt Lillian had died in 1997 and one day after his uncle Walt succumbed to cancer in 1966. Roy Edward was born on January 10, 1930, to Walt’s brother Roy and his wife, Edna. Author Bob Thomas, who wrote biographies of Roy Oliver Disney and Walt, described Roy Edward, “He isn’t impressed with himself, or what he has done. He is essentially a very shy person. He was an only child, so the family doted on him. He also was always in the shadow of his uncle.” After attending Harvard School and Pomona College, Roy Edward launched his industry career in 1952, working as an assistant film editor on the Dragnet TV series that was being filmed on the Disney Studios soundstages in Burbank. Roy Edward joined the Walt Disney Studios in 1953 as an as- sistant film editor, where his credits included the landmark Academy Award-winning True-Life Adventures features and The Vanishing Prairie. As a writer and produc- tion associate, he received Oscar nominations for his work on the short subject Mysteries of the Deep in 1959 and in 2003 for his work as executive producer for Destino. Roy Edward produced and directed some 35 other TV and theatrical productions, including the landmark 1968 docu- mentary Varda, the Peregrine Falcon, before leaving in 1977 to become an independent producer and investor. “Walt could be tough on me, but God knows he was tough on everybody,” remembered Roy Edward. “I got along with him well. If he liked what I did, that was great. If he didn’t like what I did, it was tough. That wasn’t just with me; that was with anybody.” For the Wonderful , Roy coproduced the episode The Legend of El Blanco. He remembered that Walt

12 · Celebrations watched the screening, nervously tapping his fingers on the Gold, Roy Edward founded a very public “Save Disney” cam- armrest of his chair, which a warning sign that he was ei- paign that was the catalyst for to leave and ther not pleased or bored. be replaced by Iger. “When it was over,” Roy recalled, “he said, ‘I really don’t The quiet, self-effacing executive emerged as a forceful like that song at all, Roy.’ He then took what I had done and protector of Disney traditions. ripped it all apart. But in , it came out as one of his “People always underestimated Roy,” Peter Schneider, the favorite shows.” (Although it aired with a different musical former president of Walt Disney Feature Animation, said re- approach that Walt preferred.) cently. “You underestimate Roy at your peril, as many people While Walt could be a tough boss, he was also a warm un- have learned. The single most important thing in the his- cle. One time when a young Roy Edward was suffering from tory of animation at the company was Roy Disney’s persua- chicken pox, his uncle sat on the edge of his bed and told sion in 1984 of then-president Wells to spend a mere $10 him the story of Pinocchio, which was then in development. million on computer equipment to restore the animation “He scared me to death with the stuff about the whale quality lost through previous cuts. Not only did it restore and everything else,” remembered Roy Edward many de- colors and blushes, it also led to innovations in movement cades later. “I remember it very, very sharply and very clearly and forged the kind of style that distinguishes such films as even today. He was that good a storyteller. But when the .” movie came out, it was big letdown for me. It was nowhere Roy Edward was associated with the company over a 56- near as good as Walt’s version.” year period, and from 1984 to 2003, he served as vice chair- Roy Edward was first elected to the board of directors in man of the company’s board of directors and chairman of 1967 shortly after Walt passed away. In 1971, his father suf- the studio’s Animation Department. In recent years, he held fered a stroke and passed away December 20th. the title of director emeritus and consultant for the com- In 1977, Roy Edward resigned his executive position with pany, and he was the on-camera authority on many Disney the studio, but he remained on the board until stepping specials and DVD extras. down seven years later to help orchestrate a company coup An avid competitive sailor, Roy Edward held several that removed the then-current management and placed elapsed-time records for offshore races in the Pacific Ocean, Michael Eisner and in charge. Roy Edward asked including multiple wins in the grueling 2,225-mile Transpac to become the chairman of the studio’s animation depart- Race from Los Angeles to Honolulu. ment, and he is credited with revitalizing Disney animation. Roy Edward is survived by his wife, Leslie, and four chil- “I really credit Roy Disney completely with the renaissance dren from his marriage to Patricia Dailey Disney: Tim Dis- of Disney animation, beginning with The Little Mermaid and ney, Roy Patrick Disney, , and Susan Disney all the way through that great amazing series of classic Dis- Lord. He is also survived by 16 grandchildren. ney films,” said , for Walt Funeral services were private, followed by cremation like Disney and Pixar Animation Studios. the rest of the . Roy Edward’s ashes were scat- Roy Edward was also a tireless supporter of special proj- tered at sea. ects, from ’s documentary and book The Hand , president of Shamrock Holdings, said, “Roy Behind the Mouse, to the completion of the Salvador Dali– and I enjoyed a 35-year friendship and partnership. Roy inspired short subject Destino, to countless other projects was a man who was steadfastly loyal to his principles and he championed. to his friends. He was a gracious, humble gentleman who Roy Edward became deeply concerned with the direction could make the tough decisions life sometimes requires. He the Disney Company started heading after the death of carried the torch high and proud, and the world is a better Frank Wells. In 2003, along with his business partner Stanley place for his tireless efforts.”

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 Hang On Tight!

alt Disney World might not boast the fastest in the world (that Wtitle is currently held by Kingda Ka at Great Adventure in New Jer- sey, which reaches a top speed of 128 mph!), but you’ll still find a number of attrac- tions here that will more than satisfy your need for speed. So tuck your caps and sunglasses away in a safe place, get buckled in, and toss your arms up in the air as we race through the fastest attractions in all of Walt Disney World. To get us started, we’ll begin with an Honorable Mention. 10. Mission: SPACE Mission: SPACE is a centrifuge-based ride, simulating the sensation of motion by Tim Foster through a combination of spinning and tilting. As such, it doesn’t have a proper speed per se, but it sure feels fast! In fact, Mission: SPACE was designed with the help of actual NASA astronauts, who say it’s the most realistic simulation of space flight that they’ve ever experienced. You’ll experience forces up to 2.4G, more than twice the force of gravity at the Earth’s surface (effectively multiplying your weight by 2.4). Curiously, that’s not tops at Walt Disney World; the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster subjects riders to a (temporary!) force of 4.5G, and even boasts forces of 2.5G. But it’s the cramped quarters, realistic visuals, and sustained force that makes Mis- sion: SPACE the most thrilling space voyage you’ll ever experience—until you hitch a ride on the Space Shuttle, that is! 9. at Goofy’s Wiseacre Farm Naturally, this is the slowest of the Disney roller coasters because it was designed with little ones in mind. Your whimsical tour through Goofy’s farm races along at a peppy 25 mph, brisk but not too scary! (Just watch out for those chickens...) 8. Space Mountain Tim Foster is the author of This classic attraction might seem fast, but that’s mostly due to the compact de- the Guide to the Magic book sign of the track and the tight turns—not to mention the fact that you can’t see series, which includes the Guide to the Magic for Kids, the Lost where you’re going! Curiously, Space Mountain isn’t much faster than the Barn- Journals, and the Guide to the stormer, clocking in at 27 mph. Magic Autograph & Sticker 7. Primeval Whirl Book. Tim is also the creator of An innocent dinosaur ? Hardly! Boasting higher (albeit shorter) spurts the www.guidetothemagic.com of g-forces than Mission: SPACE, Primeval Whirl tops out at 29 mph. (Maybe I’ll head website. on over to TriceraTop Spin instead!) 6. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad It’s back to the Magic Kingdom for this fun-filled romp through the Old West! We’ll break through the 30 mph barrier as we race through an old mining town, quaking caves, and creepy dinosaur bones. Toss up your arms and give a big “yeehah!” as your runaway whisks you along at 30 mph—and even a bit faster in the afternoon as the sun heats up the grease on the tracks. (And be sure to hang on to yer hats!) 5. Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 30 mph straight ahead? Not so bad. 39 mph straight up and down? Now you’re talking! The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror actually shoots you down the old el- evator shaft at faster-than-free-fall speeds, thanks to a totally new ride system developed just for the old Hollywood Hotel. The innovative system consists of two massive motors (each 12 feet tall, 7 feet wide, and 35 feet long and weighing a stag-

16 · Celebrations gering 66 tons), that sit atop the tower. The motors propel The Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster is a true thrill coaster, with an the elevator downward at speeds well in excess of initial launch of your limo that takes you from 0 to 57 mph those achieved during free fall. Now you know what all that in 2.8 seconds, propelling you 200 feet straight ahead. You’ll screaming is about way up on the 13th floor! eventually reach a top speed of 60 mph as you race through 4. a loop, a rollover, and a corkscrew, all to the thundering ac- Ironically, the fastest of the Magic Kingdom mountains companiment of some classic rock tunes courtesy of Aero- isn’t a roller coaster, but a flume ride. Splash Mountain is smith. mostly gentle and relaxing, but that final plunge of over 50 1. feet sends you into the briar patch at a blazing 40 mph. Of Ironically, the fastest attraction in Walt Disney World is course, it’s not the speed you need to worry about, it’s the also the tamest of the Disney thrill rides. Most of Test Track big splash at the end. My oh my what a wonderful day! takes place inside, with some thrilling hairpin turns, bumpy 3. Expedition Everest terrains, wicked braking maneuvers, and some (relatively Now we get to relaxing) environ- the true champions mental tests (ahh, of the Walt Disney the heat lamps!). World thrill rides, But once you break and what better through the crash place to start than in barriers, you’re off the shadows of the to the high speed fearsome Yeti. Dis- tests, where you’ll ney’s newest thrill race through steep, ride, Expedition banking turns, Everest, sends you on eventually hitting a teeth-chattering a top speed of 65 trek through the Hi- mph on the final malayas. You’ll need straightaway— to board a train for though it feels your journey to the much faster than base camp of Mount that. Fortunately, Everest. It promises Test Track isn’t to be a long journey, nearly as scary as but fortunately (?) it sounds, and it’s for you, you’ll be taking a shortcut that passes through the actually a thrill ride that nearly everyone can enjoy. Just be forbidden mountain. Unfortunately, this same forbidden sure to take off your baseball cap first... mountain is rumored to be guarded by the aforementioned Yeti, a fierce protector of the mountains, valleys, and forests. So there you have it, the fastest attractions in all of Walt He apparently doesn’t take too kindly to man’s encroach- Disney World. Fans of thrill rides should find plenty of ex- ment in these areas... citement, especially if you do them all together. Here’s a Expedition Everest hurtles along at a blazing 50 mph, touring tip for all you daredevils: Head on over to the Tower and as if that weren’t scary enough, you’ll soon encounter a of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios first thing in the broken set of tracks partway through your journey. At this morning, grab yourself a , and then get in line for point you’ll be traveling backward, reaching a top speed of the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster. After you’ve experienced your 40 mph. Oh yeah, and it gets mighty cold at the top of those one-of-a-kind limo ride, head back to the Tower of Terror mountains... and hand in your FASTPASS for a one-two thrill punch that 2. Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster will leave you screaming for more. The runner-up for pure speed at Walt Disney World is As for me? I’ll meet you over at the Voyage of the Little also the one attraction that features multiple inversions. Mermaid. Have fun!

Photo ©Tim Foster 17 · Celebrations Disney’s Miniature Golf ne of Walt Disney World’s hidden treasures might seem particularly appropri- Oate for the holiday season. It’s open all year long, and yet it’s unfortunately over- looked by most Guests. Located next to what is another great time outside the theme parks, Blizzard Beach, the Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Courses (plural) are full of wonder- ful sight gags and fun. Winter Summerland is a “Lou-sized,” 36-hole mini golf course, which is actually made up of two separate experiences. A collaborative effort between , Santa Claus, and his team of elves, it opened on March 12, 1999. Over by Lou Mongello the past 10 years, it’s entertained more than 1.5 million miniature golfers. One of the two courses reflects the nearby Blizzard Beach . It’s is a wacky, snow- covered, beach environment. The other course has a tropical holiday theme, complete with palm trees decorated with ornaments.

The Backstory Like everything in Walt Disney World—attractions, shops, restaurants, and prob- ably even the restrooms—there’s a story behind everything you see and experience at Winter Summerland. So gather round the fire, as I recall the tale of Winter Summerland. A long time ago (well, not really, but that has a certain ring to it, doesn’t it?), on a moonlit Christmas Eve, Santa Claus and his reindeer were flying back over Florida to the North Pole. Because the in-flight movie had just ended (Santa is a big fan of Disney’s The Santa Clause), he looked down and couldn’t believe his eyes. Not only Lou Mongello is the host of the was the line for Space Mountain only five minutes, but there was actually snow! In award winning WDW Radio podcast Florida! (And not the soapy Disney kind that falls on Main Street, U.S.A., either. We’re and the author of the definitive talking the real thing!) Disney trivia books, “Walt Disney Entrepreneur that Santa is (since he only works one day a year, he has lots of free World Trivia” Volumes 1 and II. He is also the producer of the newly time, I assume), he decided to build a vacation spot for his elves and called it Winter released Audio Guides of Walt Disney Summerland. World, a CD series that gives you a Santa packed up his Elfstream trailer and drove on down I-95 (with the requi- personal tour of the happiest place site stop to see pedro at South of the Border, of course) and headed toward sunny, on Earth. You can listen to the show snowy Florida! and discover more secrets, rumors The sunshine state had everything an elf could want: a water park, rides, snack and facts at Lou’s website: www.wdwradio.com shops, a spa, but it lacked a golf course. (And we all know elves are huge into the sport.) So, because some elves preferred the North Pole winters and others were enjoying the Florida beaches, they built two, 18-hole, elf-sized golf courses—a snowy one and a sandy one.

The Details The rest, as they say, might be history, but there’s lots to discover about these unique courses. Both have many interactive elements to them that will be en- joyed by golfers of all ages (and skill levels), including a few surprises. (Watch out

18 · Celebrations for Squirty the snowman!) The Summer side is a little more workbench of Santa’s Elves,” with a humorous description whimsical than the Winter side, as Christmas in the tropi- of the course in a poem. For example, Hole #1 on the Winter cal climate offers many great opportunities for sight gags. side reads: There’s Snow Place Like Gnome: “Aim for the door On one side, you might spot a flamingo, while on the other, / right up the ramp / Watch your ball / roll into camp,” which you’re sure to find a snowman or two. is appropriate because the hole has a small travel trailer And although there might have been two different ideas that marks a little campsite, complete with Elfstream trail- of what the course should be like, the elves are still one, big er. (Check out the bumper stickers, including the one that happy family, and they agreed that the course should end reads “Practice Random Acts of Toymaking.”) Sinking a hole- at an old campground lodge. Inside, Guests will find giant in-one is as much fun as rushing to discover what surprises presents, a Christmas tree, and the WinterNet computer. the next hole will bring. For example, Hole #9 is the Castle You may even spot San- a la Moat: “Wait for the ta and Mickey if you look drawbridge / to lower very carefully. Outside, down / Or into the moat there’s Santa’s Winter- / your ball will drown.” bago (the starter booth), And on the 18th hole, his sleigh, and a small you might just receive a snack and gift shop. special computer greet- Fantastic details ing from Santa Claus abound here, and himself, right off the Guests should traverse WinterNet. Much of the the course slowly and entertainment on the try to find many of the course comes not from wonderful ones that the completing a round, Imagineers have hidden. but from exploring and See if you can find San- seeing what you can ta’s “vacation pictures,” find along the way. including his elves and Winter Summerland reindeer enjoying a boat is the second themed ride with a water/snow miniature golf course skiing Santa in tow. Can at Walt Disney World. you spot the Donald and Gardens, Dis- Goofy nutcrackers? Be ney’s first miniature sure not to slip on (or try golf experience, is locat- and eat) the Peppermint ed near Disney’s Board- Pond! And take a picture Walk Inn. next to the statue of the Winter Summerland surfing/fishing/golfing is normally open from Santa at the entrance, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. presented to him by the “Greens fees” cost about “Elf Lodge—North Pole Chapter.” $12 for adults and around $10 for kids ages 3 to 9, per course. The snow course leads you toward the North Pole—I Guests will receive one Walt Disney World miniature golf mean “North Hole”—and past some familiar characters logo golf ball per each round played. If you play both cours- (maybe even a few elves) and possibly even a few familiar es in one day, you get a 50 percent discount on the second along the way. Look for sandcastles and surf- round. Annual Passholders might also be entitled to a dis- boards on the sand course, and try not to wake up sleeping count. Winter Summerland is a great place to have a special Santa, who is buried under the sand. event or birthday. Call 407-WDW-PLAY or 407-WDW-BDAY for Each hole on both courses is marked by a scroll, “From the more information.

Photo ©Disney 19 · Celebrations Hidden Mickeys at – West Side hen you visit Downtown Disney – West Side at Walt Disney World for enter- Wtainment, great meals or shopping, don’t forget to look for Hidden Mickeys! Here are some of my favorite Hidden Mickeys in the West Side.

1. A classic Mickey is etched in the sidewalk near , on the second slab back from Parking Lot Q, just past a manhole cover and near the grass. It’s on the right side, as you face the end of the sidewalk.

2. Under the main entrance staircase to the Cirque du Soleil show are restrooms for men and women. You’ll find tiles laid to approximate a small classic Hidden by Steve Barrett Mickey on the floor of each restroom, in a corner just inside the entrance doors.

3. Walk through the front door of the House of Blues and down the right side aisle. A classic Mickey is on the ceiling past the first server’s station.

4. Inside DisneyQuest Indoor Interactive Theme Park, symbols and figures that in- clude classic Mickey designs are woven into the carpets on the third and fifth floors in, respectively, Ventureport and The FoodQuest dining area.

5. In DisneyQuest, track lighting shaped like a classic Mickey hangs above the eleva- tor doors on floors two, three, four, and five. You’ll find it near the “Mighty Ducks Pinball Slam” (on the third floor) and near “Ride the Comix” (on the fourth and fifth floors). On the second floor, near “CyberSpace Mountain,” the lighting is above an elevator door on the opposite side of the elevator bank. Steve Barrett is the author of “The Hassle-Free Walt Disney World 6. In DisneyQuest, in the wall murals along the queue for “Pirates of the Caribbean: Vacation” and “Hidden Mickeys, A Battle for Buccaneer Gold,” the rightmost set of palm tree coconuts near the stairs Field Guide to Walt Disney World’s is shaped like a classic Mickey. Best Kept Secrets”. You can check out more Hidden Mickeys at Steve’s website: 7. The DisneyQuest classic Mickey logo is on trash cans (like the ones near the exit) www.hiddenmickeysguide.com and is illuminated on the floor and wall of the exit walkway.

8. Behind the reception counter inside the Wolfgang Puck Cafe, about two thirds of the way up the mosaic pyramid, a white tile and two smaller black tiles form a classic Mickey. Search for it to the right of a tall ceramic vessel standing on a shelf.

9. Inside Disney’s Candy Cauldron store, on the upper wall above the candy display, a dark marking on a stone in the second row of stones down from the ceiling forms a classic .

10. A large classic Mickey is in the cement between Pleasure Island Bus Stops 5 and 6, across from Planet Hollywood restaurant.

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21 · Celebrations Sometimes a Photographer Needs a Little “Support” ne of the most important pieces of equipment that a photographer can use Ois a good support system. They can take several forms: monopods, tripods, or even the top of a trash can. Even though the parks are light and bright during the day, eventually a situation will arise where you’ll wish you had a little extra support to ensure that you get the perfect shot you always wanted. Let’s talk about each type of support in turn. by Tim Devine Monopods A good monopod is ideal to carry with you when you’re walking around the parks during the day. You can photograph parades, characters, buildings, vehicles, and just about anything else you can think of with a monopod without having to worry about disturbing other Guests and Cast Members like you might if you carried a tripod all day. A monopod will provide you stability in a vertical direction and front to back (provided you are steady) but not left to right. Because gravity is a vertical force, the sideways sway is not as much of a concern anyway, especially because you’ll be shooting in mostly bright lights with a monopod in the parks. Monopods are not ideal for long-exposure nighttime shooting. However, if you can keep your shutter around 1/30 of a second or faster, you should be in good shape. Another ben- efit to monopods is that they take some of the weight of your camera and lens off of your arms and reduce fatigue after shooting all day. Tim Devine is an avid photographer Personally, I recommend the BOGgear RLD-1 Monopod Shooting Stick. (Check and the owner and webmaster TheMagicInPixels.com’s “articles” section for a full review and a link to purchase it of www.themagicinpixels.com, a for $35.) I had the opportunity to use one on a recent trip to the World, and I found it website created for and dedicated to fellow Disney Photography to be a very surprisingly useful tool in my arsenal. It’s lightweight and surprisingly Enthusiasts. In addition to a large sturdy, and it has a V-shaped head that you rest the camera’s lens in as opposed to gallery of photos you can browse, having to lock the camera to it via the tripod socket. This makes for extremely quick you’ll also find tips, articles and setup and takedown so you can shoot and move with the greatest of ease. I was equipment reviews to help you create even able to get nice, sharp photos inside of the caves on , where magical photo memories of your I would never dare to set up a tripod! Photographing the sinister paintings at the Walt Disney World Resort vacation. Tim lives in South Jersey with his Haunted Mansion load area? No sweat! wife, Karen, and their son, Billy, and recently celebrated the birth of their Tripods second son, Ryan Christopher, on Monopods are great for daytime shooting, but there’s simply no substitute at May 12, 2009. Be sure to check night for a good travel tripod. You cannot get top quality, nighttime images with- www.themagicinpixels.com for out one. Of course, you can raise the ISO very high and shoot with the lens wide current information on Pixelmania! a festival of Disney photography, open (large , smaller f/number), but you don’t need to worry about any of friends, and fun in Walt Disney World that with a good stable tripod. One thing you must be absolutely certain of, before December 3 through 6, 2009. anything else, is that the tripod’s load rating is enough to support both your camera and its heaviest lens at the same time. If not, be prepared to hear a sickening crash followed by breaking glass. To me, one piece that is just as important as my tripod is a remote shutter release. These take several forms (wired or wireless), but their function is the same. You use

22 · Celebrations a remote shutter release to activate the camera while it’s will also provide a means of support that you might not oth- on the tripod so that you don’t need to touch the camera erwise be able to get. For example, the fences in Disney’s Ani- at all once it’s in position to take the photograph. Pressing mal Kingdom’s walking trails are great for propping up your the shutter button can oftentimes introduce a bit of move- camera. Trash cans and walls will also do the trick. (Remem- ment into the equation, which might just be enough to ruin ber the self-timer tip we just talked about.) If you want to get your photograph. The remote release eliminates the need to a nice shot of the pyramid across the water from the San An- touch the camera. (Quick tip: If you don’t have a remote re- gel Inn, consider setting your camera on top of your bag on lease or if your camera doesn’t support the use of one, use the the table and using the self-timer to trip the shutter. Presto! self-countdown timer! Some cameras let you switch the in- The key to all of these things is that you need to have terval from 10 seconds to 2 seconds for just this very reason.) enough support to ensure that your camera doesn’t shake or Also, you cannot get the best possible fireworks shots un- move while exposing your photograph. Gear up, be safe and less you use a tripod and a several second time exposure courteous to other park Guests, and go take some great pho- because you want to capture both the bursts and the light tos! streaks. You cannot do that handheld! Be sure to check the “gear” section of TheMagicInPixels.com to see what’s currently in my equipment lineup with links to Trash Cans get some of that good stuff for yourself! As a last resort, trash cans—and walls and fence posts— Happy shooting!

Photo ©Tim Devine 23 · Celebrations The Pins of Fantasyland major refurbishment of Fantasyland has been announced, and it’s scheduled to A begin in early 2010. This month would be a great time to visit the major attrac- tions in Fantasyland to this point as recreated by the Disney pin team throughout the years. The centerpiece of Fantasyland is the mag- nificent ’s Golden Carrousel. As part of the countdown to Disney’s pin celebration in May 2001, Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel pin by John Rick was released. This open-edition pin, which was distributed in the Magic Kingdom, features the fantasyland landmark golden carrousel with the words “Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel” at the bottom. Little horses can also be seen on this pin. This pin was released at Disney- land as well. (And yes, Walt Disney World does spell carrousel with two Rs.) As part of the Celebrating Fifty Years—Jumbo pin series, November 2006 saw the release of our next pin. the Flying Elephant was part of the much-heralded Fantasy­ land opening day lineup way back in 1971. With an edition size of 750, this jumbo pin, created in the shape of an ear hat, features one red and one green ride vehicle circling Timothy Q. Mouse. This pin was part of a 20-pin series. Each pin in the series was created to celebrate 50 years of Disney theme parks and was packaged in a box that also included a bio of the Disney Design Group artist who was responsible for its creation. Disney’s Piece of History pins series has proved im- mensely popular over the years, and 2006 proved to be no exception. June’s release of that year paid tribute to John Rick founded the Central another opening-day classic. The edition size of the “it’s a Jersey Disney Pin Traders in 2002. You can visit the website at small world” pin was 2,500. The “piece of history” portion www.cjdpt.com and contact him at of this pin contains a fragment of the song books used by [email protected]. John is also one of the audio-animatronic children from the attraction. The the Hosts of the Disney Pincast- the three children depicted are pin-on-pin elements, and the only weekly podcast dedicated to book pieces are located in the small clear dome below them. At the base of the pin Disney Pins. It can be found at is the quote “it’s a small world.” Disney Design Group artist Rachael Sur created the www.disneypincast.com. John and his wife Sheila live in original artwork for this pin. central New Jersey. This next pin is an open-stock rack pin released in January 2003 as part of a series of 10 pins highlight- ing various attractions around Walt Disney World. The pin features the Mad Hatter and the March Hare from Alice in Wonderland riding in the tea cups. The March Hare looks quite astonished as the Mad Hatter appears to be pouring the tea from his teapot out- side the cup. There is also a known error of this pin: The eyes are flesh tone instead of white. The Hidden Disney Collection of 2006 celebrated unique experiences, locations,

24 · Celebrations and Hidden Mick- Another Fantasyland favorite, eys found at the ’s Scary Adventures, Walt Disney World was depicted with this pin in Resort. September 2004. With an edition size of 1,000, 2006 saw the re- this pin was an online exclusive lease of this special available at a fixed price from pin. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh ride now OfficialDisneyPinTrading.com and occupies the space that was once home to Mr. Toad’s Wild DisneyPins.com. The Hag is seen as she startles Snow White Ride. As you pass through Owl’s home in the current ride, with her poisoned apple at the entrance of the attraction you can see a picture of Mr. Toad and Owl on the wall. As on this gold-finished pin. The Walt Disney World logo is Imagineers often do, this photo was placed in the new at- across the bottom of the pin, and the pin has a “Disney Auc- traction as a nod to the wonderful extinct attraction that tions Exclusive” back stamp. was once housed inside the Winnie the Pooh building. This To illustrate the creativity of the pin is finished in a gold color and features a spinning ele- Disney Pin artists, how about a rep- ment. On one side, it shows Winnie the Pooh in Owl’s home lica of the trash cans in Fantasyl- gesturing to the infamous photo. The reverse side features and! With an edition size of 3,000, the actual photo of the two characters, Owl and Mr. Toad. this pin was released only at the This pin had an edition size of 2,500. Contemporary Resort in June 2002. 2008 saw the release of our It features a yellow trash can with next limited-edition pin to a purple edging. The trash can pin celebrate the five-year anni- has an actual swinging door and versary of Mickey’s PhilharMa- a Fantasyland coat of arms on the gic, which first opened in 2004. front featuring Tinker Bell. The coat of arms is beautifully This pin had an edition size of done in pink, purple, and gold tone. just 1,000, and it was released No trip through Fantasyland with in October. is pins would be complete without a dressed in a formal tuxedo and is wearing his blue Sorcer- pin from a long-extinct attraction er’s Apprentice hat. Behind him is a large golden number 5, there. March 2007 saw the release of with the stars and musical notes seen throughout the at- a pin from the “White Glove Remem- traction on it. The background is blue, and the number 5 is ber When…” series: The Mickey Mouse glitter filled. Alex Maher of the Disney Design Group is cred- Review. The Mickey Mouse Review ited for creating the original artwork for this pin. was an audio-animatronic musical at- The Disney Artist Choice traction housed in the Fantasyland Theater (now home to collections showcase the Mickey’s PhilharMagic) from October 1, 1971, to September 14, wonderful talents of the 1980. Mickey Mouse can be seen as a pin-on-pin element con- Disney Design Group Artists. ducting Huey, Dewey, and Louie. Of note: Louie appears to The work orders for an artist be wearing pink instead of his usual green. Displayed across choice pin typically allow the the top of the pin is a replica of the sign that appeared in artist unprecedented flex- front of the attraction from which the rest of pin dangles. ibility to interpret the sub- At the base of the pin is a blue banner that asks us to “Re- ject matter. In September member When.” This collection contained 18 pins, and each 2008, this limited-edition pin of 1,500 depicted Mickey and pin had an edition size of 750. enjoying a wild ride aboard ’s Flight. As you can see, Fantasyland has been uniquely inter- Tinker Bell is featured as a raised pin-on-pin element, and preted by the talented artists at Disney. With the refurbish- the cloud underneath the pirate galleon is a free-d element. ment on the horizon, I can’t wait to see what new pins will This pin also includes the Disney Artist Choice logo on the come from this realm and what childlike fantasies are yet bottom left side of the pin. to come!

25 · Celebrations Tony’s Town Square more! Love is in the air at Tony’s Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A., at the Mag- Aic Kingdom—the Italian restaurant right out of the movie . As you walk down Main Street, you’ll see the hostess stand for Tony’s Town Square. My family and I were greeted by the hostess with a great Italian welcome. She di- rected us inside a store to the main hostess stand. We stopped for a few moments in the lush seating area and watched the television, which was showing, of course, Lady and the Tramp. We were quickly escorted to our table inside the restaurant. There are three sepa- rate seating areas inside the restaurant, including a small area inside surrounding a fountain with statues of Lady and the Tramp and a warm fireplace. Right out- side this area is an atrium with seating surrounded by glass. This glass atrium is an By Allison Jones amazing spot to sit and enjoy all of the activities on Main Street. You can see people walking by, character meet and greets, and even the parade. You can go outside this atrium area for the third patio seating. This area is outside on the patio where you have an unobstructed view of the Main Street. For this visit, we sat inside the main restaurant at a table near the fountain and fireplace. Around the restaurant were lots of framed pictures from Lady and the Tramp, including lots of pictures of Tony. The restaurant is cozy, but it’s also lively with servers running in and out of the kitchen carrying incredible pastas and pizza.

A Taste of Italy Our server quickly popped over to greet us, offer some of his favorite entrée sug- gestions, and take our drink orders. We chose some appetizers, including the Toma- to and Mozzarella Salad with basil and balsamic dressing and Zucchini Fries with breaded zucchini and a creamy Sun-dried Tomato Dressing for dipping. We also de- cided to try some of the soups, including the seasonal soup, which was Pumpkin Soup, and Minestrone Soup with Orzo Pasta. The appetizers that we tried were very flavorful, but my favorite was the Pumpkin Soup. Some of the other appetizers include Mixed Greens with house dressing, Feta As an Orlando local, Allison has seen the growth of the Walt Disney cheese, and croutons; Toasted Cheese and Garlic Bread topped with fresh tomatoes World Resort. She experienced the and basil; and Calamari topped with olive relish and marinara sauce. inside as a Disney Cast Member For lunch, the entrées feature sandwiches, flatbreads, salads, and pasta. Some of and has planned Disney vacations the sandwich and salad lunch entrées include Grilled Salmon with mixed greens, for over 10 years. Allison Jones is a beets, Feta, candied walnuts, and Orange-Shallot Vinaigrette; Chicken Florentine travel consultant with Destinations Calzone with chicken, spinach, onions, and mozzarella; Tony’s Flatbread with Italian in Florida Travel and MouseDine. Destinations in Florida is an sausage, pepperoni, onions, mozzarella, and roasted red pepper sauce; Meatball Sub- Authorized Disney Vacation Planner marine with meatballs, onions, and marinara sauce; and Caesar Salad with chicken selling Disney vacations. and Caesar dressing. MouseDine is a restaurant For a more hearty entrée, you can choose from some amazing pasta dishes, in- consulting company for Disney cluding Spaghetti with Meatballs or Italian Sausage; Shrimp Scampi with linguini, World Dining Reservations. Visit sun-dried tomatoes, and asparagus in a garlic sauce; Baked Ziti with ground beef, www.destinationsinflorida.com or www.mousedine.com for more ricotta, mozzarella in a marinara sauce; and Eggplant Catasta, which is layers of information on Disney Dining. eggplant, onions, fresh mozzarella, and marinara sauce over penne pasta. Crostini bread is served with all of the pasta dishes. Of the entrées, my favorite was the Baked Ziti. It was a large portion of beef, pasta, and cheese all crispy from the baking.

26 · Celebrations The dinner menu is a little different than the lunch Tony’s Town Square features some incredible desserts, menu. Some of the entrées at Tony’s Town Square for din- including Tiramisu with espresso-soaked Lady Fingers, ner include Seafood Diavolo with linguini pasta, clams, mus- whipped mascarpone, and dark chocolate shavings. Tira- sels, calamari, shrimp, and salmon in a spicy tomato sauce; misu is the most popular dessert at Tony’s Town Square. Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Marsala wine and mushroom Some other popular tasty treats include Pistachio Crème sauce over angel hair pasta; Chicken Parmigiana with light- Brûlée, Ice Cream Bomb with chocolate and vanilla ice ly breaded chicken breast with marinara sauce topped by cream with a rich chocolate coating, Lemon-Walnut Layer melted mozzarella and served over spaghetti; Mushroom Cake with vanilla cake with layers of lemon filling, Spumoni Ravioli topped with a sautéed spinach; Braised Boneless with layers of ice cream with pistachio nuts and cherries, Beef Short Rib with onions, oregano, whipped butternut Gelato, Chef’s Signature Cheesecake, and even Seasonal No- squash, and seasonal vegetables; New York Strip Steak with Sugar-Added Sorbet. red wine butter, roasted potatoes, and seasonal vegetables; and Vegetable Lasagna with layered vegetables and mozza- Tony’s Town Square is on the Dining Plan, and Advanced rella. Dinner at Tony’s Town Square is more romantic with Dining Reservations are highly recommended. The prices soft lighting and occasionally live , just like in Lady for lunch range from $5.49 to $9.99 for appetizers and $11.99 and The Tramp. to $16.99 for entrées. For prices for dinner range from $5.49 to $9.99 for appetizers and $16.99 to $27.99 for entrées. Des- Sweet Treats serts range from $4.99 to 6.49. If you’re a fan of Lady and the Every Italian menu deserves a sweet ending to the meal. Tramp, come dine with Tony at Tony’s Town Square.

Photo ©Barrie Brewer 27 · Celebrations Make the Most of Your Special Day at the Most Magical Place on Earth o matter if you’re turning 2 or 29 (for the first time, third time, or beyond), Nthere’s no better place to celebrate your special day then Walt Disney World. Even for those of us “somewhere in the middle,” Disney offers an abundance of opportunities to nudge and encourage us to embrace and celebrate our inner child. Here are a few ways to plus-up your special day. Get your birthday button and wear it with pride. When you arrive at any of the By Beci Mahnken, four theme parks, your first stop should be the Guest Relations desk. Let them know CTC-MCC it’s your birthday, and you’ll receive a button that states you’re celebrating. Pin it on a visible location and wear it with pride. The Cast Member will write your name on it as well, so as you walk through the park don’t be surprised if you get lots of Happy Birthday wishes from Cast Members and Guests alike. Let the resort know it’s your birthday. When you make your resort reservation, be sure to advise your Vacation Planner or Cast Member that you will be celebrating your birthday. It will be noted on your reservation, and you might receive a little surprise during your stay. You can advise the Cast Member again at check-in to be sure the note made it to the resort system as well. Let the restaurant know it’s your birthday. When you make your advance din- ing reservations and when you are introduced to your server, tell them, too. Some restaurants might provide a special surprise touch to make your meal even more memorable. Have your cake and eat it, too. You can preorder a six-inch cake to be delivered to most of the full-service restaurants by calling the Cake Hotline at 407-827-2955. Cakes are also available at many of the Disney-owned table service locations with no prior notice. Just ask your server if a cake is available to add to your meal. Create lasting memories with an autograph book. Many kids (and adults) enjoy Beci Mahnken, CTC-MCC, is the founder, president, and CEO of collecting autographs from their favorite characters. Start your day with an auto- MEI-Travel & Mouse Fan Travel. graph book and don’t be shy about telling the characters about the celebration. At An authorized Disney vacation the end of the day, you’ll have a memory book filled with happy birthday wishes. planner, Beci has more than 10 years Treat yourself to a magical experience. Your special day is a time to treat yourself. of vacation planning experience, What better way than to book a truly special experience you’ll remember for a life- specializing in vacation packages time. Maybe try a day of pampering at one of the world-class spas on property. Or and cruises, with a team of more than 50 affiliates nationwide. Visit book the Chef’s Table at Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. www.MouseFanTravel.com. One of my favorites is a fireworks cruise onboard your own private pontoon boat, or plus it up with a cruise onboard the Breathless 2, a 1930’s style mahogany run- about that accommodates up to seven Guests. Need something a little larger? The Grand 1 is a 45-foot bridge yacht that can accommodate up to 14 Guests. You can add decorations and catering options to any of these experiences. Call 407-824-2682 for options and prices. What’s the key to the perfect birthday? Don’t be shy! Tell people about it and enjoy the limelight and magic of your special day. Of course it’s also important to keep your expectations in check because not every location or experience will provide free stuff.

28 · Celebrations My advice? Proudly put the pin on and spread the news And yes, adults are frequent visitors, too. that you are celebrating. Then kick back, relax, and enjoy Another more economical, yet truly memorable option, is your special day. You’ll be surprised what might come about to indulge in a haircut at the Harmony Barber Shop on Main when you just let the magic happen. Street, U.S.A. Get everything from a little color (I hear blue is great for birthdays!) to a child’s first cut complete with a “My When the Special Day Is Someone’s Else’s First Haircut” set of ears and a certificate. Have a special birthday girl or boy? You can turn them Looking for a birthday gift for a friend or loved one? Even into a fairytale princess with hair, makeup, and accesso- if you’re not able to be there in person to help them cele- ries at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Or they can join the Pirate brate, you can have a birthday surprise delivered to their League and get the full pirate treatment for their special Disney resort room. Disney Floral & Gifts offers a variety of day. Packages start at approximately $49.99 for both experi- goodies, including baskets, balloons, decorations, and plush- ences and go up depending on what you decide to include. ies. Call 407-827-3505 for ideas and pricing.

Photo ©Disney 29 · Celebrations The Happiest Place on Earth at the Most Magical Time of Year ixing the with the most magical time of the year is a win- Mning combination, and this past year was no exception, as Disneyland pulled out all the stops yet again for its magical 2009 holiday celebration. It’s fascinating to see how that holiday homecoming has evolved over the years from 1955 to 2010.

“Deck the Halls” The first Christmas in Disneyland was a bit less spectacular than what the cel- By J Darling ebration has become since December 25, 1955. Main Street, U.S.A. was decorated with a few wreaths strung from the tops of Main Street buildings, much like today. These days however, those wreaths take on a decidedly different shape—Mickey shape of course—and these wreaths greeted Guests this past holiday as they strolled into the park. An enormous Christmas tree at the end of Main Street near the flag pole heralded in the coming Christmas holiday. Smells from the Main Street Bakery wafted through the streets, encouraging families to slow down, grab a cookie and some hot cocoa, and absorb the merriment all around Walt Disney’s original Main Street, U.S.A. Wreaths hung on light posts welcomed Guests all the way down Main Street to the now snow-capped . Technological advance- ments have surely helped make Disneyland even more magical today than it must have seemed to those who entered the gates in 1955. Although it might seem a bit odd to see snow on Sleeping Beauty Castle, that’s one of the latest additions to Disneyland’s holiday displays. Back in Christmas 1955, J Darling is a California native and the landmark remained largely unadorned. Through the magic of Disney the past life long Disney fan. Her parents first holiday seasons, Sleeping Beauty Castle was covered in shimmery, glittery snow for took her to Disneyland when she was the holidays, despite the fact that this part of Southern California hasn’t seen snow 2 years old. According to them, her in more than 30 years. eyes just popped out of her head, and apparently they never went back in. (Not So) “Silent Night” Outside of her Disney fandom, J is a singer, songwriter, blogger, and In 1955, continuing the tour the park yielded another big surprise! A group of 12 theatrical actress. Dickens Carolers performed throughout the park. Guest choirs and bands from You can find her music at surrounding areas were also invited to perform in the park with the Disneyland www.jdarlingmusic.com Band. In the end, the effect was similar to Epcot’s Candlelight Processional. Some and on Myspace at 300 choir members performed on the steps of the Main Street Railroad Station. Un- www.jdarlingmusicmyspace.com. like some venues, which discouraged members of large vocal groups from making Her blogs are available at www.jjourneybook.blogspot.com. eye contact and sing directly to audience members, Disney trained these singers to connect with their audience and break what we in the performing world call “the wall” between performer and audience member. This past holiday, a smaller choir made up of Cast Members performed a version of the Candlelit Processional on se- lect nights. Because it’s not highly advertised and admission is limited, it’s definitely something to seek out on future holiday visits as an added treat. While much of the action happened on Main Street during Disneyland’s first holiday season, eventually got in on the action as well. But the decor here during the holidays keeps to the flavor of the area. New Orleans Square

30 · Celebrations takes on a unique Mardi Gras-meets-Christmas feel. This Disney fan. With roller-skating snowflakes, dancing stuffed year, Guests couldn’t find Jack Sparrow wearing a Santa hat animals, and of course, the big man himself Santa bringing in Pirates of the Caribbean, but they did find decorations of up the rear, it’s hard not to find something to like and smile blues, greens, purples, and golds hanging over the alley ways about during this street celebration of the season. of this enchanted place. The most prominent (and undoubt- edly unusual) decoration was a huge wreath cradling an al- Let It Snow ligator strung between two buildings! If you were standing on Main Street this past holiday sea- Guests to Disneyland’s recent holiday celebration could son, you might have heard a child wish for snow. Remember find one Jack wearing a Santa suit, but it wasn’t the rum- that snow on the castle? Now it’ll all make sense. The mes- loving pirate. It was Jack Skellington as he continued his sage here is: Believe in your dreams. Lights sparkled all over siege upon Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion. Jack moved into the castle, as if snow was falling on it. The castle remained the mansion in late September, and he didn’t relinquish his lit until the Believe in Holiday Magic Fireworks begin. holiday holdings until early January. Guests were welcomed This 13½-minute spectacular is probably the best of Dis- by the fractured neyland’s fireworks Christmas Scarols productions. It de- filling the air in this buted in 2000, and it strange, yet funny, and has since captured the perfectly fitting mix hearts of many fans. of Christmas and Hal- The opening beckons loween. Inside, Guests Guests to open their were treated to a hearts to the magic transformed attrac- of the holidays with a tion. In the ballroom, special version of “Re- for example, was a member the Magic.” huge spider-adorned As the rockets light Christmas tree and a up the night sky, fan- gingerbread creation fare from the Mickey that differs every year. Mouse Club chimes in, (Yes, Virginia, that is followed by tradition- real gingerbread!) My al Christmas songs personal favorite was the tree made of chain links and can- (such as “Toyland” and “Silent Night”), the “Dreidle Song,” and delabra. When Guests continued on to the graveyard, they finally recapping with another “Remember the Magic.” were treated to a snow-covered wintry welcome while But each year, the evening isn’t complete until the lights Grim Grinning Ghosts socialized Holiday party style. come up just a little after the fireworks have concluded Across the park, hasn’t been left out of the and “White Christmas” comes over the speakers. As the lyr- ever-evolving holiday spectacular that Disneyland under- ics drift over awestruck Guests, pixie-dusted “snow” floats goes every year. was transformed into down from the (usually) clear Southern California sky. This Santa’s Reindeer Round-up, with a herd of reindeer on dis- is the perfect moment for family photos as the bubble snow play. magically seems to flitter down from the sky, and it’s also One of Disneyland’s most popular attractions has always one of those perfectly created Disney romantic moments. been the parades, giving families a chance to see the charac- ters they love in action. And that has been part of the park’s With the holiday season having wrapped up and spring holiday as well. Each holiday, the Disneyland getting ready to blossom, we can look forward to the next Christmas parade—A Christmas Fantasy Parade—meets holiday season when a day at the park making memories this criteria with a bang. Featuring characters from Mickey with those you cherish will be the kind of gift that can’t be to Woody, this parade reaches out to every generation of broken, returned, stolen, or lost along the way.

Photo © J Darling 31 · Celebrations By Donald Myers Jr.

limb aboard and set sail on a musical journey and then jets over to Asia for stops in China, Russia, In- Cspanning the entire globe, cheerfully told by the dia, and . You then make your way into the third world’s children. If you listen closely to their message, room, which takes you on a journey to the continent you’ll surely discover “it’s a small world after all!” Of of Africa, starting with Egypt. The fourth room begins course this refers to the beloved Walt Disney World in chilly Antarctica, and then quickly whisks you over attraction, “it’s a small world,” which takes you on a to South America before finishing up in North Amer- magical boat ride through the many different re- ica with a stop in Mexico. The adventure continues as gions of the world, all set to the delightful melodies you head into the fifth room, which starts in Hawaii of the singing children of the diverse countries and for a trip through the Pacific Islands. The room then continents. concludes with a visit to Australia. The sixth room is The attraction takes you through seven different the Grand Finale, and it includes singing and dancing rooms. The first room features several of the coun- children from most of the nations that have been rep- tries of Europe. Here you’ll find the children of Sweden, resented in the previous five rooms. The seventh and France, England, Scotland, Ireland, Holland, Germany, final room wraps up the attraction with good-bye Spain, Italy, and Switzerland. You then travel into the greetings, which are written in the many different lan- second room, which starts you off in the Middle East guages of the featured countries.

32 · Celebrations Photos © Tim Foster ike many of the attractions at the Magic Kingdom, the origins of “it’s a small world” Ldate back to long before the opening of Walt Disney World in 1971. It was at the 1964 New York World’s where “it’s a small world” made its debut. But before the attrac- tion could wow the people at the Fair, it had to be designed and built. For a project of this magnitude, Walt Disney assembled a group of trusted and proven individuals to help him. For the design of the ride, Walt recruited , who had been responsible for designing concept art for many Disney films, such as Cinderella, Peter Pan, and Alice in Wonderland. is credited with creating most of the dolls in the attrac- tion. As with Blair, Carlson was also involved with a number of Disney films, including Sleeping Beauty and Lady and the Tramp. was in charge of the characters and scenes for the ride, and his wife, Alice Davis, designed the dolls’ costumes. Marc Davis is also responsible for designing some very famous Disney characters, such as , Br’er Rabbit, Cinderella, and Tinker Bell. He also contributed to other iconic Disney attractions such as Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, the , the Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Haunted Mansion. Once the creative team’s job was complete, work began on the construction of the ride. It took the workers approximately nine months to build the attraction, and much to Walt’s delight, the ride was an immediate favorite among fair-goers. In fact, the at- traction was so popular that when the World’s Fair closed in 1965, the ride was packed up and moved to Disneyland in California. The ride opened at Disneyland in 1966, and when Walt Disney World in Florida was built, a version of “it’s a small world” was included in Fantasyland. The two versions of the ride did (and still do) have some differences, most notably in the final room with the good-byes. But despite these differences, “it’s a small world” proved to be just as popular at Walt Disney World as it was at Disneyland. “it’s a small world” was an opening day attraction at the Magic Kingdom, beginning of- ficial operation on October 1, 1971. The ride began its run at the Magic Kingdom without a sponsor, but in 1991, Mattel began a sponsorship of the attraction that would last until 1998. That brief period is the only time that the Magic Kingdom’s version of the attrac- tion has featured a sponsor. With the exception of a few minor refurbishments, the ride would remain unchanged until the spring of 2004. That year, the attraction closed for a lengthy refurbishment that included major improvements to both the lighting and audio. It was also during this closure that the loading area was revamped to resemble the loading area of the Disneyland version. As it turns out, this would be the longest clo- sure in the history of the Magic Kingdom’s version of the attraction, lasting for approxi- mately 10 months. “it’s a small world” reopened in March 2005, and it continues to delight Guests of all ages to this day. The ride’s immense popularity is credited to the lovable audio-animatronic children and the colorful scenes, and also to the ride’s endearing theme song, written by the legendary . Most Disney enthusiasts are familiar with the work of Robert and Richard Sherman. They’re the creators of count- less timeless classics, such as “Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” and “Now Is the Time” for Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” and “A Spoonful of Sugar” for , “The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room,” and “Winnie the Pooh.”

33 · Celebrations Hidden Mickeys There are numerous Hidden Mickeys scattered throughout “it’s a small world.” For starters, as you make your way toward the end of the third room, look at the hanging flowers and jungle vines. There are several different colored strands of flowers and vines, including green, blue, and purple. If you carefully study the purple flowers, you’ll discover that the entire strand is made up of Hidden Mickeys. This is perhaps the most exciting of all the Hidden Mickeys in the attraction to find, and you should be able to spot it from any seat on the boat. Next, as you go through the fifth room, you’ll see three koala bears hanging from a tree. If you glance behind you as you go by them, you’ll notice that the backs of all three of their heads are shaped just like Hidden Mickeys. The back row of the boat provides the best view. Finally, as you exit the fifth room, look up at the little surfer, and you’ll see a Hidden Mickey on his swim trunks.

Little Known Facts • The theme song is sung in the attraction in five different lan- guages. • The water canal you travel down on your journey is known as the Seven Seaways. • After the dancing French girls sing the chorus of the theme song, they sing “ooh-la-la!” • The only room in which the song is not sung in is the fifth room. • Every audio-animatronic doll in the sixth room is dressed primar- ily in white. • The original name of the attraction was going to be “Children of the World.”

34 · Celebrations Photos © Tim Foster Touring Tips

Here are a few touring tips to maximize your experience on “it’s a small world.” First, if you want to sit in a particular row, just ask one of the Cast Members at the loading area. Some people prefer the very front of the boat, while others prefer the very back. Both the front and back rows are considered to be the best seats in the house, so if you have a preference or if you have never experienced the very front or back, feel free to ask the Cast Members, and they will be happy to accommodate you. Second, if you’re traveling with small children, let them sit in one of the outside seats so they can get an unobstructed view of all the action. Third, ride the attraction more than once. There’s so much going on all around you from start to finish that you couldn’t possibly see it all the first time through. Even if you have rid- den the attraction a hundred times, you might still discover something new that you have never seen before. So if the line for the ride is short, or if you are visiting the Magic Kingdom more than once during your trip, you should definitely try to ride “it’s a small world” more then just one time.

Facts & Figures

289 Number of audio-animatronics 100 Approximate number of nations represented 7 Total number of rooms you travel through 14 Number of times the word “world” is used in the theme song 36 Number of animated props 10:30 Total time of the attraction 30 Number of boats in simultaneous operation on a typical day 20 Capacity of each boat 1,085 Length of the Seven Seaways canal (in feet) 500,000 Gallons of water in the Seven Seaways canal 1964 Year that “it’s a small world” set sail on its very first voyage 1971 Year that “it’s a small world” debuted at the Magic Kingdom 5 Number of versions of “it’s a small world” in the Disney Parks worldwide

35 · Celebrations Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sail the Caribbean, making stops at the many island paradises that can be found along the way? Jamaica, Aruba, Martinique, Barbados, and Trinidad are five different tropical getaways, each one miles apart from the other. But through the magic of Walt Disney World, you can hop between these exotic locations in a matter of minutes. You can find the inviting, white sandy beaches of these islands in one incredible place: Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort!

By Donald Myers Jr.

Photo ©Disney

36 · Celebrations pool; however they are often less crowded, which can ust south of Epcot, you’ll find the islands calling provide a far more relaxing experience. As for food your name at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. J options outside of Old Port Royale, Blue Runner Pizza Opening on October 1, 1988, the resort is laid out over and Meal Delivery is only a phone call away. From 4 200 sprawling acres. In total, there are a whopping p.m. to 11:30 p.m., they’ll bring the Disney pizza right 2,112 rooms at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. The to your room, providing the ultimate in convenience. rooms are grouped together in six different sections You’ll find a number of fun and recreation options known as “villages.” Naturally, the villages are named at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. For anyone in- after Caribbean islands: Aruba, Jamaica, Barbados, terested in jogging or walking, Barefoot Bay is sur- Martinique, Trinidad North, and Trinidad South. The rounded by a 1.4-mile promenade. This area is perfect villages all surround Barefoot Bay, which is the main for either a brisk jog or a leisurely stroll. And it also body of water featured at the resort. To complete the showcases some of the resort’s fantastic scenery as whole setting, each village has its very own beach. well. The promenade is also a great place for a bicycle The central hub of Disney’s Caribbean Beach Re- ride. You can rent single-, two-, and four-seat bicycles sort is Old Port Royale. Also known as Centertown, at the resort. And for Guests who might be itching to Old Port Royale is nestled between the Trinidad get out on the water, the Barefoot Bay Marina offers North and Martinique villages. Old Port Royale is the a wide variety of watercraft rentals to choose from. home of the resort’s two shops, the Calypso Straw You can find everything from pedal boats and ca- Market and the Calypso Trading Post. Both shops noes, all the way up to sailboats and pontoons. Final- specialize in clothing for men, women, and children ly, for anyone looking to truly engulf themselves in as well as souvenirs. Old Port Royale can also fulfill the island experience, there’s Caribbean Cay, a small your dining needs, with the Market Street food court island located in the middle of Barefoot Bay. Guests and the friendly table service restaurant Shutters at can venture out there daily for a meal in the picnic Old Port Royale both housed here as well. In addition area or just to relax and unwind amongst the lush, to the shops and restaurants, you can also find the tropical landscape. Caribbean Cay is connected to Goombay Games arcade inside Old Port Royale. But the promenade on each side by a footbridge. for many, the biggest highlight of this area is the re- In 2009, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort intro- sort’s main feature pool, which is modeled after an duced new Pirate-themed Guest rooms. These rooms old Spanish Fort and features several water cannons are themed after the Pirates of the Caribbean theme and two water slides. There’s even a separate swim- park attraction and movie franchise, and they’re lo- ming area for the little ones to enjoy. cated in sections of the Trinidad South village. The Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort is quite a large beds are designed to look like pirate ships, complete place. It covers a lot of ground, so many rooms can with large masts for the headboards. There are hang- be located a bit of a distance from Old Port Royale. ing lantern lights above each bed as well. Most of the Because of this, the resort features an internal bus, other furnishings in the room are also wonderfully which is separate from the busses that take you to themed, modeled to look like chests and cargo that the parks. It simply runs around the resort, making you’d find on a . Other themed items in the stops at all of the villages, as well as Old Port Royale. room can be found in the vanity area, as well as the If your room is in the outskirts of the resort, the in- shower and bathtub area. The curtain in the vanity ternal bus can prove to be a huge positive. But if you area has a gigantic skull and crossed swords on it, find yourself exhausted from the parks or you sim- and the shower and bathtub area features engrav- ply don’t feel like venturing out to Old Port Royale, ings of actual ships, such as the Flying Dutchman. there are some other swimming and food options Even the carpeting in the room is themed, designed available at the resort. Each of the six villages at Dis- to look like wooden planks. For any fan of the attrac- ney’s Caribbean Beach Resort has its own quiet pool. tion and/or movies, these rooms are a must! These pools are much smaller than the main feature Photo ©Disney

37 · Celebrations Caribbean Beach Little Known Facts and Secrets • When Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort opened in 1988, it became Walt Disney World’s fifth resort, joining the Polynesian Resort, Contemporary Resort, Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, and Fort Wilderness Resort & Camp- ground. • Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort opened exactly 95 days after Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. • Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort was the very first resort to open up in the Epcot area. It remained the only resort in the Epcot area until 1990, when Disney’s Yacht Club Resort, Beach Club Resort, , and Walt Disney World Dolphin all opened for business. • Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort spans 200 acres, while Disney’s Hollywood Studios covers 135 acres. You could fit the entire park inside of Disney’s Ca- ribbean Beach Resort and still have plenty of room left over! • Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort features the largest number of swimming pools of any resort in Walt Disney World. All together, there are a total of seven swimming pools—the main feature pool area and six quiet pools—at the resort. • The 2,112 Guest rooms at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort ranks second for most rooms on Walt Disney World property. It trails Disney’s Pop Century Resort, which has 2,880 Guest rooms. As a side note, some people like to consider Riverside and French Quarter as one unified resort under the Port Orleans banner, so if you combine their guest rooms, then Caribbean Beach would rank third. • There are a total of seven white sandy beaches scattered throughout. • For the kids’ enjoyment, there are four playground areas at the resort. • From certain areas in the Trinidad South village, you can catch a glimpse of Epcot’s Spaceship Earth. • There are countless Hidden Mickeys just waiting to be found at Disney’s Ca- ribbean Beach Resort. If you’re near the main feature pool, look closely at the section around the Pirate Ship’s wheel in the kiddie play area. • As for Hidden Mickeys inside the rooms, check the curtains and bedspreads. • There’s not one, not two, but three different room designs to choose from at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort! There’s the traditional Caribbean décor, the Pirates of the Caribbean décor, and the décor. The tra- ditional Caribbean was the original design for the rooms back when the resort opened and makes up about two-thirds of the room totals. The re- maining one-third are divided up between the Pirate and Nemo Rooms.

38 · Celebrations Photos ©Disney 39 · Celebrations By The Animation Club, Greens Farms Academy, Connecticut

he Lion King, Disney’s 32nd animated feature film, was speare’s for inspiration for this story of loss and re- T(and still remains) a landmark milestone in animation demption. history. Preceded by The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, One challenge of was bringing the exotic and , The Lion King was the culmination of a renais- wilderness of Africa to life. More than 600 artists, anima- sance in Disney animation in the early 1990s. The film was an tors, and technicians contributed to The Lion King over its instant classic. It won the hearts of audiences everywhere, lengthy production. In the end, they produced more than becoming the highest grossing movie of 1994 worldwide. one million drawings, including 1,197 hand-painted back- Wrapping itself around the theme of finding one’s place in grounds and 119,058 individually colored frames of film. In the , the movie combined a compelling story, 1991, codirector , story head Brenda Chapman, beautiful animation, and memorable music to create a daz- and production designer Chris Sanders traveled to Kenya zling film. Add in some of Hollywood’s most talented actors, to experience Africa firsthand, knowing that a key to the (Jeremy Irons, , ), a dash film’s success would be in convincingly recreating that ex- of comic appeal (, Cheech Marin, Ernie otic landscape. The Lion King’s creators realized early on Sabella, Nathan Lane), and even a touch of Shakespeare, that the scenery would play a vital role in the film. Unlike and the result was one of the greatest animated films of all the architectural elements created in films like Aladdin and time. Beauty and the Beast, the animators would have to contend The Lion King was the first Disney feature to be based on with rocks, dirt, and grass to bring this film to life. Interest- an original story, which had its origins four years earlier as ingly, inspiration for the art direction of the film was also a project originally titled King of the Jungle. Unlike previous taken from classic painters such as Frederic Remington Disney films which dealt with traditional love stories, the and Charles Marion Russell, who specialized in paintings of writers sought to tell a story of the relationship between the 19th century American West, as well as the epic West- father and son. In particular, take note of the scene where ern films of John Ford. Color and lighting were also vital places his paw into the enormous paw print of Mufa- to the look of the film: Think of the contrast between the sa, symbolic of the enormous responsibility that lies ahead lush environment in the early part of the film and the dark, for the young lion cub. As the film unfolds, Simba’s journey foreboding lair of the hyenas. Similarly, note the difference through life is just as emotional as it is adventurous. When in the whimsical stylings of Timon and Pumba’s happy-go- Mufasa is tragically killed, Simba’s carefree life and visions lucky world and the desolate landscape of ’s barren of future greatness are replaced by feelings of inadequacy kingdom. Once again, classic artists were looked to for in- and unworthiness. One of the most poignant moments spiration, including N.C. Wyeth, who illustrated the classic in the film is when the ghost figure of Mufasa tells a tor- book Treasure Island, and Maxfield Parrish, known for his mented Simba that his spirit lives on in his son. Like many dazzling colors and incredible sense of depth. other Disney films (particularly those from that era), this The biggest stars of The Lion King are the animals. In a emphasis on story and character development was vital to nod to the production techniques first used in 1942’sBambi , the success of the film. The writers even looked to Shake- Disney’s animators studied real animals in great detail. Jim

40 · Celebrations Fowler, a renowned wildlife expert, visited the studio with his eyes that fascinated me and gave him an eerie look in real and other jungle wildlife. He helped the animators his films,” Deja said. “I wanted to keep that quality, so I gave understand animal behavior, particularly how lions greet Scar dark circles around his eyes and combed his mane as each other in the wild and how they express fear, aggres- if it were slicked back.” siveness, and affection. CGI technology (which was previ- • At one point, it was felt that The Lion King was a lesser proj- ously used to great effect in the ballroom scene in Beauty ect than . Both movies were in production at and the Beast) also played an important role in the creation the same time, and many felt that Pocahontas would be of the film. Animators used it to great effect in the memora- the more successful of the two. Pocahontas did perform ble wildebeest stampede se- quite well, earning more than quence. The new technology $340 million, but The Lion King allowed the animators to cre- more than doubled that, be- ate the breathtaking scene coming the highest grossing by multiplying one drawing traditionally animated film into hundreds, and then pro- in history, when dollars are gramming the individual ani- adjusted for inflation. mals to move distinctly and • The song lyrics that Rafiki independently—and just as chants, “Asante Sana! Squash importantly, not to run into banana! We we nuga! Mi mi each other! apana!” came from a school- Another challenge the ani- yard chant made up as a mators faced was conveying child by the guide who ac- the complex emotions experi- companied members of the enced by the characters. This production staff on their Af- was made especially difficult rican research trip. because they have no hands! • “Bug football,” a scene that The artists instead relied on was cut from the movie, facial expressions, manner- showed the carefree “Haku- isms, and even the way the na Matata” lifestyle of Timon, characters walked. Take note Pumbaa, and Simba. of how Scar slinks along in a • In the early scripts, Scar was menacing, low-to-the-ground a rogue lion who wasn’t re- manner, in direct contrast to lated to Mufasa. Mufasa and the other lions, • The Lion King is the best sell- who walk about with their ing home video of all time, heads held high and with a sense of purpose. with more than 55 million copies sold to date. The Lion King stands as one of the true highlights in ani- • Coincidentally, James Earl Jones (the voice of Mufasa) and mation history. Disney is well known for finding the perfect Madge Sinclair (the voice of Sarabi) had played the king creative combination of animation, character, music, and and queen in the 1988 Eddie Murphy film Coming to America. technology, but it truly is the endearing story that makes • Sean Connery was originally considered to be the voice of The Lion King such a sweeping success and a timeless Disney Mufasa. classic. • “Simba” means lion in Swahili. The name “Mufasa” means king in the Manazoto language, and it was also the name Lion King Fun Facts of the last king of the Bagada people of precolonial Kenya. • One of the bugs that Timon pulls out of a knothole during • , who performed the voice of the “” is wearing Mickey Mouse ears. young Simba, achieved the sound of sliding down the ele- • Jeremy Iron’s physical traits had a great influence on An- phant’s backbone in the graveyard scene by having several dreas Deja’s design for Scar. “There was darkness around studio aids pound on his back as he did his voice-over.

Artwork ©Disney 41 · Celebrations Yesterday,TodayFantasyland and TomorrowBy Lou Mongello Photos by Tim Devine

42 · Celebrations “…in this land, hopes and dreams

are all that matter.”

—Walt Disney

on Fantasyland

43 · Celebrations antasyland is rooted in history, both real and imagined. FIt evolved from Walt Disney’s personal desire to create a place where families could have fun together. While Walt was sitting on a bench eating peanuts on his “Daddy’s Day” with his daughters, he first dreamed of a place where par- ents could have fun with their children, and from that the idea for Disneyland was born. Much of that desire and philosophy can be seen in Fan- tasyland, both in Disneyland and in its successor in Walt Disney World. While many Fantasyland attractions appeal to younger children, they were designed specifically to be enjoyed together as a family. In fact, none of the attractions in Fantasyland have minimum height requirements. And many children, who range in age from 8 to 80, will likely tell you that these attractions, and itself, are their fa- vorites in the Disney theme parks. Walt said that while planning the original Fantasyland for Disneyland, Imagineers recalled the lyrics of “When You Wish Upon A Star” from Pinocchio. The Imagineers were in- spired to create a land where dreams come true. So in Fan- tasyland, Disney’s classic stories of everyone’s youth became actual realities for youngsters of all ages to participate in. Walt called his original Fantasyland a “timeless land of .” Fantasyland is meant to catch the eyes and interest of children with its design and architecture, which land dominated every other land in the Magic Kingdom is bright, colorful, and filled with classic Disney animated based on the number of “Adventures and Attractions.” With characters. As one of the busiest lands in the Magic King- 10 shows and attractions ranging in excitement and popu- dom, Fantasyland clearly appeals to both kids and adults larity as measured by their A through status, there alike. was something for every child—and for every child at heart. Fantasyland is the true “heart” of the Magic Kingdom, From the beginning, Fantasyland was anchored by the nestled right behind . When most people oldest attraction in Walt Disney World, Cinderella’s Golden think of Walt Disney World, I’ll bet it’s an image of Fanta- Carrousel. The carrousel isn’t a Disney Imagineered replica. syland that comes to mind, perhaps Dumbo the Flying El- It was built in 1917 by the Toboggan Company ephant, the , or even Cinderella Castle itself. for the Detroit Palace Garden Park. In 1928, the carrousel Many families begin their Magic Kingdom days in Fantasyl- was brought back to the company for rehab. After rehab, its and, enjoying the beauty, whimsy, and wonder there before home for the next 39 years was Olympic Park in Maplewood, venturing out into the rest of the World. New Jersey. That’s where Disney Imagineers discovered the One might say that a theme of Fantasyland is that of a neglected ride. Disney painstakingly renovated the Liberty- medieval fair. What a fitting theme that is for a Walt Disney model carousel, the 60-foot wide platter, and the original World land—a gathering place for festivity and fun! And like hand-carved wooden horses, and even added regal detailing most , this one has a storied history. Let’s talk about the such as 24-karat gold leaf and real silver and bronze accents. Fantasyland we enjoyed yesterday, the one we love today, Although only 72 of the horses from the original carrousel and the one we can look forward to in the future. were salvageable, there are currently 87 galloping wooden steeds arranged in five rows. In fact, this is one of only four The Fantasyland of Yesterday five-row carrousels built by the Philadelphia Toboggan When Walt Disney World opened in 1971, Fantasyland was Company. its cornerstone. As an early 1970s map described, Fantasy- Looking back to the Fantasyland of yesterday, our focus

44 · Celebrations of Mickey and other characters’ roles in the Magic Kingdom. The main show featured an audio-animatronic Mickey Mouse and orchestra of 60 classic Disney characters rising up from the stage. The show closed September 14, 1980, and later it moved to , where it played until late May 2009, before going dark to make way for Mickey’s PhilharMagic. (Mickey’s PhilharMagic is the current inhabit- ant of the theater in Walt Disney World as well, although in Walt Disney World another attraction—the Legend of the Lion King—played in between the and Mickey’s PhilharMagic.) And who can forget the ? One of Walt Disney World’s original attractions, the Skyway was a five-minute long, D-Ticket, cable-car style ride that ran between Fanta- syland and . Guests on the Skyway passed over much of Fantasyland, including Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel tent, the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea , and the Grand Prix Raceway (today called the Tomorrow- land Speedway) in Tomorrowland. Guests boarded the Sky- way in Fantasyland from a loading area themed like a Swiss chalet. In Tomorrowland, Guests could get on the Skyway from an area west of Space Mountain in Tomorrowland. On November 9, 1999, the slow-loading and slow-moving Sky- way closed for good, lasting exactly five years longer than turns to four attractions that remain only in our memories. its Disneyland counterpart had. The towering pylons were No attraction in Fantasyland, in fact in all of Walt Disney removed, as were the planters and fountains that made World when it opened, was as distinctive as the one that up their base. If you look carefully at various locations on took Guests aboard the Nautilus on a journey filled with the ground in Fantasyland, you’ll notice the small circles of adventure, danger, and beautiful underwater scenes: 20,000 stones that mark where the towers once stood. Leagues Under the Sea. Based on the 1954 Disney live-action Another greatly missed, dearly departed Fantasyland movie of the same name, this E-Ticket attraction was an attraction was Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. An opening day Magic undersea voyage narrated by Captain Nemo (voiced by Kingdom attraction, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride took Guests on Renoudet). Along the way, he detailed your tour to Vulcania, a “jog along a hilarious, reckless ride through Old London.” past various sea creatures and sunken shipwrecks and nav- Born in 1908 in a popular fable called the Wind in the Wil- igating around ice caps near the North Pole. Your adventure lows by Kenneth Grahame, Toad was adapted by Disney even took you through the ruins of the lost city of , in 1949 into one of their many post-war compilation films complete with sea serpents, ancient ruins, friendly mer- called The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad. This feature maids, and buried treasure. The trek concluded with the re- combined the stories of our little friend Toad (and his odd- creation of one of the film’s most memorable scenes—the ly-named companions Moley, Mac Badger, Ratty, and Winky) encounter with, and escape from, the giant squid. 20,000 with one of Ichabod Crane from The Legend of Sleepy Hol- Leagues Under the Sea closed in 1994, exactly 23 years to the low. Initial concepts had a more roller-coaster-like attrac- day after it opened. tion for the original 1955 Disneyland version of Mr. Toad be- An opening day, E-Ticket (and later D-ticket) attraction, fore Walt decided that he wanted it to be something that the Mickey Mouse Revue began with a pre-show featuring both children and their families could ride. The Walt Disney an eight-minute film in which an animated soundtrack World incarnation, which opened with the Magic Kingdom explained the use of sound and color in Mickey’s cartoons on October 1, 1971, held a very unique distinction—not just through the years, and then concluded with a description compared to the Disneyland original, but to any other expe-

45 · Celebrations rience in the entire park. taurant is a yellow flag with red eagle on it. The symbol is Beyond the attractions themselves, the Fantasyland of the Prussian Eagle, paying homage to the German influence yesterday was home to a wide variety of unique shops and prevalent in this section of Fantasyland. It also honors the dining experiences. The Collectibles shop once , who hailed from an area near Frankfurt, sold unique Disney collectibles and artwork before being Germany, and whose published collections of European replaced by the Mad Hatter Shop. fairy tales such as Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinder- Prior to 1996, Sir Mickey’s near Cinderella Castle was home ella (all of whom can be found in Fantasyland, by the way) to a pair of shops: most recently The Mickey’s Christmas inspired the animated Disney films. Carol store which sold holiday accessories and wax cre- In fact, the architecture and design of Pinocchio’s Village ations after replacing Merlin’s Magic Shop. Like the House Haus is similar to what you might find in Germany along of Magic on Main Street, U.S.A., Merlin’s sold magic tricks, the 372-mile Road between the towns of Hanau masks, puzzles, games, and books. It was open from March and Bremen. That road traverses the real-world locations 1972 until May 1986. Next to Merlin’s was shop, of many of the Brothers’ fairy tales. which operated from 1971 until 1996. This stone-walled store Fantasyland’s sense of story begins with the land’s gate- sold Disney character souvenirs such as shirts, keychains, way and central icon: Cinderella Castle. The castle acts as the figurines, household items, and tote bags. It also sold unique doorway to Fantasyland. While there are several entrances offerings such as a needlepoint kit, china figu- to Fantasyland, none are as grand as the one through the rines, and tennis balls with the Mickey logo on them. castle. Cinderella Castle also helps to set the theme and tone of The Fantasyland of Today Fantasyland, and elements of the design of the castle, in- Today, Fantasyland remains a true “timeless land of en- cluding the colors and spires, can be found throughout the chantment.” It’s as popular today as ever—if not more so. land. As you wander around Fantasyland, you can find castle Fantasyland has never lost sight of being “dedicated to the walls and turrets in many areas, including the area between young at heart and to those who believe that when you the Enchanted Grove snack stand and the Many Adventures wish upon a star, your dreams come true.” The landscape of Fantasyland has changed dramatically from 1971 and the early years that followed. Two of Fanta- syland’s most recognizable and important visual elements, (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and the Skyway) are now completely gone, leaving behind an empty chalet and chil- dren’s play area. Fantasyland has evolved over the years, but it’s still based on classic fairy tales and folklore, and it uses dimensional architecture and theming to carry forward those stories, and more important, the “story-book” appearance and expe- rience. In Fantasyland, Disney characters have left the silver screen and become a part of this fantastic world. Here you’ll meet Snow White, Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan, and more. But beyond being inspired by classic Disney films, Fanta- syland embodies various locations and themes from old- world Europe. For example, within the walls of a fairy-tale castle, a medieval tournament is taking place. Notice the fair-tent theming near Mickey’s PhilharMagic and Peter Pan’s Flight, the German architecture in the Alpine village near the Pinocchio Village Haus, and the English Tudor fa- cades near the Mine shop. Flying overhead outside the Pinocchio Village Haus res-

46 · Celebrations of Winnie the Pooh. Here, you will see a great example of filled with a blustery day in the Wood, Owl’s home, a room how the castle architecture carries over throughout the where your Hunny pot bounces like Tigger, and Pooh’s house. land. You’ll see the stone castle walls, representing the bor- Today’s Fantasyland is alive with an energy that is both ders of the fortress itself, which encloses and unifies the visually kinetic as well as fueled by a palpable sense of child- entire theme of Fantasyland. Looking beyond the tops of hood innocence and wonder. It’s strengthened by the min- these buildings, you see how the blue castle turrets peeking ute details that produce an immersive experience based on over the roofline allow these two disparate building types Disney’s timeless storytelling ability. to seamlessly blend, and how this entire area sits within the castle fortress. Evidence of this can also be found on the The Fantasyland of Tomorrow west side of Fantasyland near “it’s a small world” as well. Normally when we think about the future of Walt Disney Fantasyland today is home to some of Walt Disney World, it’s speculation filled with dreams, imagination, and World’s most beloved attractions. Let’s talk about some of wishes. But with Fantasyland, many of those dreams are al- them here. ready coming true because Disney has announced what the Classic attractions such as Snow White’s Scary Adven- future will hold for Fantasyland. A peek into the “Magic Mir- tures have been updated over the years, but only slightly. ror” reveals that the landscape of Fantasyland will change The integrity of the stories and characters has never fal- radically over the next few years, but the charm and fantasy tered. In 1983, Imagineer and his team updated will remain constant. much of Fantasyland—from the landscape to the attrac- The Fantasyland expansion marks the largest expansion tions, highlighting the idea of the European village, and re- in the history of the Magic Kingdom. Because progress ne- freshing classic attractions. cessitates change, Mickey’s Toontown Fair will be removed Across from where 20,000 Leagues once stood is the one to make way for a variety of new experiences that will im- of the newer attractions in Walt Disney World, the Many Ad- merse Guests into a world of classic Disney films and char- ventures of Winnie the Pooh. In this whimsical retelling of acters unlike anything that has been seen before. the A. A. Milne tale, each show scene acts as a new chapter, The Fantasyland expansion is scheduled to open in two phases beginning in 2012. Fantasyland will nearly double in size when complete. The first phase, Princess Realms, will be completed in 2012. The second phase, , will open in 2013. The hallmark of the expansion will be the introduction of five all-new, themed areas, including locations for Cin- derella, Sleeping Beauty, the Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Dumbo. Each character will have a castle, cottage, or chateau that will serve as meet–and-greet locations. Cinderella’s Country Chateau will give Guests the oppor- tunity to see her go from living with her stepmother and stepsisters to being transformed into a princess. You might even share a dance with her! Guests will be able to celebrate ’s Sweet 16 Birthday with her, Flora, Fauna, and Merriweather. And you might even get to make birthday cards for Sleeping Beauty and present them to her at the party. Although the current Ariel’s Grotto meet-and-greet and water play area will be removed as part of the expansion, fans of the Little Mermaid will be able to travel “Under the Sea” with their favorite flippered friend. A multi-million dol- lar E-Ticket ride will be built using the same - type ride system that is found in the Haunted Mansion and

47 · Celebrations the Seas with Nemo & Friends. Guests will enter through Prince Eric’s castle, pass tide pools, and go through an elaborate story on their way into the attraction. Of course, no addition of princesses to Fantasyland would be complete without the addition of the Beauty and the Beast. A magic mirror will transport Guests to the Beast’s Castle, which will serves as a meet-and-greet location for the princess. There, children will be able to retell the fable by performing it for Belle herself. But the most exciting news is that beyond the character inter- action and walk-through exhibit, a full-service, 552-seat, nighttime restaurant and Gaston’s Tavern (no alcohol in the Magic Kingdom, of course) will be con- structed as well. This majestic new castle will have three main areas: the Beast’s Ballroom, the West Wing, and the Castle Gallery, each filled with incredible new effects and different experiences for Guests. Children will be delighted to hear that Dumbo - ing Elephant isn’t going away, but instead doubling in size. The current attraction is being removed to make way for not one, but two Dumbo rides in the new Fan- tasyland. Taking over much of the space currently oc- cupied by Mickey’s Toontown Fair, it will include two identical Dumbo as well as a circus-themed interactive waiting and play area, as opposed to a linear queue. Another, somewhat unheralded, addition will come to Fantasyland as well—a new train station. Taking over the location of the original Toontown stop, the new sta- tion will mark the first time in the Magic Kingdom’s his- tory that Fantasyland will have its own station stop. The final phase of construction will unveil Tinker Bell’s Pixie Hollow, where Guests will be magically “shrunk” to the size of pixies so that they can meet Tinker Bell and her fairy friends. The west side of Fantasyland will remain much as it is today. Classic attractions such as “it’s a small world” and Peter Pan’s Flight will continue to entertain Guests as they have for decades.

As Walt Disney once said, “Fantasy, if it’s really con- vincing, can’t become dated, for the simple reason that it represents a flight into a dimension that lies beyond the reach of time. In this new dimension, whatever it is, nothing corrodes or gets run down at the heel, or gets to look ridiculous like, say, the celluloid collar or the bustle. And nobody gets any older.”

48 · Celebrations 49 · Celebrations 50 · Celebrations nside the needlelike spires and gleaming white concrete terhorn Bobsleds to boost the cars along the tracks. This Icone of the iconic building, space voyagers of all ages added to the design difficulty. Despite ’s scream in delight. A dark, adrenaline-pumping, classic roller obstacles, they built an impressive mock-up of their four- coaster, Space Mountain is a trip into the depths of outer track roller coaster. By 1968, Hench and WED sculptor Mitsu space. Thrilling visitors in Walt Disney World since 1975, it’s Natsume created the first scale three-dimensional model of the oldest operating roller coaster in the state of Florida. Space Mountain. Later, the model of the show building was With the latest refurbishments, the beloved attraction has wrapped around Arrow’s four-track roller coaster mock-up, gotten a shot in the arm that will take it into the next mil- uniting the show building design and roller coaster engi- lennium and make Tomorrowland one of the more popular neering for the first time. Despite all of this progress, by the and exciting destinations in the Magic Kingdom. late 1960s, all work on the Space Mountain project ceased. After the Magic Kingdom opened in October 1971, teens Space Mountain’s History and young adults flocked to the park, making a huge impact The history of Space Mountain begins in Disneyland. on the park’s success. They sought exciting thrill rides. WED Walt Disney himself conceived the notion of a thrill ride designers refocused their attention on building a new Mat- for Disneyland. Walt wanted to capitalize on the success of terhorn Bobsleds attraction. However, there wasn’t enough the Bobsleds, which had captivated fans as the space in Walt Disney World’s Fantasyland. Eventually they first Disney mountain and revolutionized roller coasters by revisited the Space Mountain concept. Tomorrowland had introducing tubular steel pipe rails instead of traditional adequate space to host such an attraction. Plus, with the ad- flat rails. Plus, Walt wasn’t satisfied with Tomorrowland on vent of computers, Space Mountain’s technical challenges Disneyland’s opening day in 1955. After the 1964-1965 New were less of an issue. However, financing the project posed York World’s Fair’s success, Walt refocused the Imagineers’ a challenge. attentions to re-creating Tomorrowland by 1967. Space Mountain needed a sponsor. Because RCA had Walt’s futuristic outlook and fascination with space made an agreement with Walt Disney World to do all the travel sparked the concept of a high-speed roller coaster infrastructure communications in 1970, Hench offered the in the dark. He wanted to be able to precisely control light- company the sponsorship of an attraction called Alice in ing within the structure and to project moving images on Computerland that was to take people inside a computer. the interior walls. In 1964, Walt challenged , the Although that project didn’t come to fruition, , of design of WED Enterprises (today called Disney’s then-CEO, wouldn’t give up on this potentially fruit- Walt Disney Imagineering) and other Imagineers to create ful partnership. The evolving Space Mountain project was a concept of rocket flight into the cosmos. The attraction’s a likely fit. Soon thereafter, RCA sold its computer business working title was Space Port. In 1965, Hench drew the first to Univac and so and Hench revised the Space illustration of the building. Within a year, Space Port began Mountain story to revolve around RCA’s main business of to look like an intergalactic Matterhorn. To continue the communications. They devised show elements including mountain theme, it was renamed Space Mountain. RCA satellites orbiting in space that Guests would see on After the shocking death of Walt Disney in December their way to the load area. In addition, the post-show where 1966, the development of Space Mountain by WED lagged Guest moved down a moving belt would feature a Home over the next several years. Sentimentally, there was a new of Future Living to showcase the latest RCA home enter- emphasis on the Florida project that Walt had announced tainment products and some very futuristic RCA concepts. in 1965. Guests would lastly see themselves on trendy color moni- In the early days of Space Mountain, Imagineers worked tors. A team including Card Walker, Marty Sklar, Claude with Arrow Development on the roller coaster. Arrow Devel- Coats, and George McGinnis finally sold RCA on the $10 mil- opment had designed the Matterhorn’s roller coaster sys- lion sponsorship of Space Mountain. tem, and WED hired them again for Space Mountain. They Roger Broggie Sr. headed up WED engineering’s devel- initially developed a complicated and intricate roller coast- opment of Space Mountain from that point. He made the er with four separate tracks. But space requirements creat- gutsy move to bring the design and manufacturing of ed a lot of logistical problems for Arrow’s design. They also Space Mountain in-house instead of continuing the effort had planned on using the “energy wheels” used in the Mat- with Arrow Development. Imagineers used new computer

Photo ©Barrie Brewer 51 · Celebrations technology to design the ride itself. manufactured just adjacent to the building site. A huge The next decision that had to be made was where to crane aligned the 72 roof beams in place. Each beam is 117 locate Space Mountain. Initially, it was to be positioned in feet long and weighs 74 tons. After three years of construc- the southern portion of Tomorrowland, which is where tion of Walt’s “Matterhorn in outer space” opened in Walt you’ll find it in Disneyland. Eventually, Imagineers decided Disney World on January 15, 1975. The looming structure to place the mountain roughly due east of Cinderella Castle, is 183 feet above the ground, 15 feet below the ground, and outside of the park’s perimeter berm. A tunnel called the Star Corridor takes Guests under the Walt Disney World Railroad tracks and to the show building. Ironically, after Space Mountain had been developed for many years as a Disneyland attraction, Walt Disney World’s Space Mountain was on track to launch first. With RCA’s sponsorship, the project team was able to Imagineer a mar- velous attraction that would allow Guests their first oppor- tunity to “travel in space.” Space Mountain was dedicated on January 15, 1975, with a huge fanfare. Robert Sarnoff, chairman of RCA, and , Disney’s chairman of the board and chief ex- ecutive officer, led the ceremonies. Launch day included a 2,000-piece band, fireworks, and the send-off of 50,000 bal- loons. Colonel James Irwin, the of Lunar Module on the Apollo XV mission to the moon, took the first official trip on the roller coaster. Another special rider on one of the first days was Edna Disney, Roy O. Disney’s widow. She was 84 years old at the time, and she loved the ride. RCA sponsored Space Mountain until 1993. During those years, the theme and interior of the mountain remained consistent, except for cosmetic alterations to the entrance door area, a few revisions to the warning film, and changes to the ride vehicles. In 1994, sponsorship changed to FedEx. Some of the show elements that changed with the sponsor- ship were adding two astronauts with a package floating in space, a robot figure and robot dog with a package, and a more than 300 feet in diameter. The structure’s interior is “SMTV” queue video with comedy bits and futuristic FedEx almost two acres. ads. When FedEx’s sponsorship ended in 2004, the FedEx On the most basic level, Space Mountain is a roller coaster theming was removed. in the dark. Matter of fact, Walt Disney World’s Space Moun- tain was the world’s first completely dark indoor roller The Walt Disney World Building and Ride coaster. Moreover, the Imagineers created an experience The marvelous show building of Space Mountain is dis- that takes Guests deep into space by combining the physi- putably as much an icon of Walt Disney World as Cinderella cal components of a traditional roller coaster ride with in- Castle. The distinctive exterior is a wonder of pre-stressed credible special effects. Once Guests travel down the Star concrete and steel. The construction and design of the Corridor, they board the trains in the space port, which is structure was not an easy task for Imagineers. Exactly six enclosed within the dome itself. The hollow dome had pro- years to the day after Walt Disney died, construction of jections of the Earth, stars, comets, meteors, and asteroids Space Mountain began in Walt Disney World. Hench and tumbling across the surface of the dark mountain. Alpha his team designed a mountain with broad open spaces. The (to the left) and Omega (to the right) are the two separate, sides were made up of precast concrete beams that were practically mirror-image track systems of the coasters. Mi-

52 · Celebrations nor variations in the tracks allow the tracks to cross one lighter, slower vehicle is given extra room between it and a another as needed. The ride train consists of two single- heavier, faster vehicle. filed rockets joined together. After boarding, Guests start a journey into space that’s initialized by the “energizing” tun- Space Mountain’s Recent Refurbishment nel with flashing blue lights. Once the strategically placed After delighting more than 210 million Guests since its thrills ensue on the smooth tubular tracks, the darkness of opening in 1975, Space Mountain needed refreshing. On November 22, 2009, Walt Disney World’s Space Mountain officially reopened with much anticipation after a sev- en-month renovation, led by Senior Show Designer Alex Wright. Imagineers maintained a lot of the classic ele- ments from before. The former layout of the ride was left unchanged, but the track itself was tweaked and adjusted. Hence, a classic Space Mountain ride experience remains, but with smoother edges. The refurbishment also updated the attraction with new technology and 21st century gad- getry. Time travelers are treated to new interactive queue games, on-ride pictures, and post-show enhancements. It’s estimated that the renovation cost $12.3 million. Continuing with the theme of the Golden Age of Rocket Travel, Guests are reminded of the endless possibilities of space travel. References to other Disney attractions and Imagineers have been added discreetly throughout the show building. The entire queue and station have been transformed as Starport Seven-Five, which is a nod to the year that Space Mountain opened in Walt Disney World. Starport Seven-Five serves as “your gateway to the galax- ies.” According to the story, there are other Starport space stations on Earth and the moon: Tomorrowland MK-1 (Walt Disney World’s), TL Space Station 77 (Disneyland’s), Discovery Landing Station (Disneyland Resort Paris), Ashita Base (To- kyo Disney Resort) and HK Spaceport ( Disney- land). Another sign bears the logo “H-NCH 1975” as a tribute the show building enhances the space travel. to the late Imagineer and Disney Legend John Hench who Space Mountain’s ride system was a futuristic advance- was so instrumental in the design of the original Space ment for coasters. With the aid of computers, a zone system mountain concept. A subtle reference to an extinct Disney controls the flow of multiple trains on the same track. Each attraction is on a futuristic bag in the post-show that reads zone has braking capabilities that can turned on by the “Mesa Verde.” The beloved Horizons attraction in Epcot gave computer if the space interval between trains is compro- Guests the opportunity to travel via the Mag-LEV express mised. This system allows for up to seven trains to operate service in Futureport to “the most advanced desert recla- simultaneously. Positioned at elevated sections of the track, mation complex in the hemisphere.” The Imagi- the braking zones initialize simple gravity to coast the train neers have definitely succeeded in connecting the story- back to the station if there is a situation that would neces- lines of these two attractions. sitate the stopping of the train. Unlike the Matterhorn Bob- After passing through the first third of the queue, Guests sleds that had used boosters and retarders, “energy wheels,” notice the same calm atmosphere as before with the “Star to speed it up and down, Space Mountain’s computerized Tunnel” music and warped star field “windows” on the right zone system is capable of determining the interval needed side with noticeable improved lighting going down the cor- between ride vehicles based on the heaviness of the train. A ridor. On the left side of the queue, the newly added video

Photo ©Disney 53 · Celebrations games are fun, quick, and interactive. There are enough stations to accommodate up to 86 players. The four different games last about 90 seconds, and they’re easy to learn. In one game, after shooting at the asteroids for the allotted time, Guests are rewarded with a “Well Done!” This prompts everyone in line to move forward. These interactive video games immerse Guests into the space station adventure story. For ex- ample, in the asteroid game, by deflecting the asteroids, Guests keep the runways clear for blast off. These duties are actual tasks on-board a long-traveling space craft. To create more darkness on the ride, the new loading area has been enclosed and lit with blue neon lighting. The ceiling now has large win- dows that allow Guests to see high-definition images from space such as a space station. Oth- er enhancements in this area include new paint, carpet, seat fabric, and other décor elements. A new on-ride photo system captures Guests during their space flight. The cameras have been positioned on both tracks at the end of the blue strobe tunnels at the beginning of the ride, in the 180-degree turns leading to the lift hill. The ride photo system allows Guests to ac- cess, share, and purchase photos to enjoy after their visit. Additionally, the story continues in the post- show, which has undergone many aesthetic changes as well. As the weary space travelers leave the show building on the moving side- walk, they’re taken past the Starport Seven- Five’s Baggage Claim and Lost and Found. With more dramatic and colorful lighting, the futur- istic scenes of terrains have been updated with flat screen displays that describe the scene. “Explore Mercury Peak,” “Crater Caverns,” and “20,000 Light Years Under the Sea” serve as visual postcards from the many destinations that the Starport can take space travelers. Lastly, using Chroma Key, which is commonly called green screen technology, Guests can see themselves on their own trips to exotic, futuristic locations.

Space Mountain in Other Disney Parks Space Mountain was such an enormous suc-

54 · Celebrations cess at Walt Disney World that it seemed logical to re-create The guest speaker for the event was Neil Armstrong, the the attraction in other Disney Parks as well. first man to walk on the moon. A few of the many highlights Disneyland’s Space Mountain had been put on the back of the overhaul are a completely rebuilt ride track, new spe- burner when the decision to place the attraction in Walt cial effects and show elements, new ride vehicles, and an Disney World first had been made. After the blockbuster upgraded onboard audio system known as Synchronized reception of Walt Disney World’s Space Mountain, the addi- On-Board Audio Theme (SOBAT). created tion of Space Mountain to Disneyland was inevitable. The new music as well. After two years waiting for their beloved ride opened on May 27, 1977, after two years of construction. Space Mountain to reopen, fans of the attraction agreed The $20 million complex included the Space Mountain roll- the refurbishment had made it better than ever. er coaster, 1,100-seat Tomorrowland Space Stage, 670-seat Disneyland Resort Paris, which opened on June 1, 1995, has Space Place Restaurant, and Starcade video arcade. Six of an extravagant version of Space Mountain that is located the original seven Mercury astronauts attended the open- in Discoveryland, which is the alternative to Tomorrow- ing. After their first ride, they claimed it to be “Just like the land. Originally based on the novel From the Earth to the real thing.” Moon, space travel from a -era perspective set Due to space limitations, Disneyland’s Space Mountain the stage for a grand attraction. The ride was originally designers Imagineers Bill Watkins and George McGinnis named Space Mountain: De la Terre à la Lune. Of the five had to work with a footprint that was smaller than what Space Mountain versions, Disneyland Resort Paris’s Space had been available at Walt Disney World. Thus, the diameter Mountain is the fastest, reaching 47 miles per hour, and of the Disneyland show building is 200 feet—whereas the it’s the only one with inversions. The three inversions are Walt Disney World version is 300 feet. Imagineers also faced a sidewinder, corkscrew, and cutback. The other unique proportion challenges. Because Space Mountain was to be feature is that part of the track is outside of the mountain placed in Tomorrowland adjacent to Main Street, Imagi- itself. Travelers board outside of the mountain in the train neers feared that the mountain would dwarf the quaint station and then are launched by a cannon at 42 mph into street. To avoid that, Imagineers sunk the base of the struc- the mountain. It was also the first Space Mountain to have ture 17 feet underground. This left the building standing 117 on-board audio (SOBAT). feet tall from ground to the top spire. In a 2005 refurbishment, the Victorian theme was toned With a smaller show building, there was less room for the down when it was renamed Space Mountain: Mission 2. ride inside. Imagineers designed wider ride vehicles to al- An audible countdown from trois (“three” in French) was low to Guests to ride side by side, giving each train a 12-per- added when Guests were loaded in the cannon to mini- son capacity—as opposed to 8 passengers per train at Walt mize the guessing of when the cannon would fire. A new Disney World. The single track incorporated was 10 per- soundtrack was written by Michael Giacchino, who had cent longer than Walt Disney World’s version. This enabled written soundtracks for Disneyland and Hong Kong’s Space the attraction to run twelve trains at a time—versus Walt Mountains. Disney World’s eight-train limitation. With these modifica- Tokyo Disney Resort’s Space Mountain (opened April 15, tions, the attraction’s hourly capacity was the same as Walt 1983) and Hong Kong Space Mountain (opened September Disney World’s dual track: 2,000 people per hour. 12, 2005) are the only two versions that opened alongside With the popularity of and Star Trek, the back their respective park’s opening. They are also both clones of story for Disneyland’s Space Mountain got a makeover that the Disneyland Space Mountain in California. revolved around the concept of “superspace” and time travel to galaxies beyond our own. Some of the narrative included With Walt’s initial dream of having a roller coaster in references to hyperspace and light speed. the dark realized, Space Mountain has always been a crowd With the exception of the on-board music added to the pleaser. Riding it for the first time has been a rite of passage ride trains in 1996, Disneyland’s Space Mountain operated for many Guests. Space Mountain is a timeless attraction without much change until 2003. Then a two-year refur- that has transcended generations and continents. With its bishment was announced to completely replace the track. innovations, Imagineers have broken barriers for future Two days before Disneyland’s official 50th Anniversary, thrill rides and have re-mastered it to be as appealing now Space Mountain reopened at Disneyland with huge fanfare. as it was in 1975.

Photos ©Chuck Lionberger 55 · Celebrations Artwork ©Disney 56 · Celebrations he Walt Disney Studios has long established itself as Pixar’s success stems from the continuity of its strong Tthe master of creating heartwarming stories, engaging technical and artistic leadership. Ed Catmull, PhD, was a and empathetic characters, and magical animated pictures. founder of the Graphics Group and has been Pixar’s presi- It has enjoyed great success using traditional, hand-drawn dent since its inception. He brings to the company a wealth animation and stayed that way until the early 1990s when a of knowledge and experience in computer graphics. John small, fledgling company forever changed the world of ani- Lasseter is the other critical ingredient to Pixar’s success. mation: Pixar Animation Studios. What made Pixar catch He has deep ties to the Disney Company, dating back to the attention of this giant? It was the first to use cutting when he enrolled in the first Disney-style character anima- edge computer technology sophisticated enough to allow tion course at the Walt Disney-created California Institute artists to animate in an entirely new manner compared to for the Arts, also known as CalArts. Several of Disney ani- the traditional hand-drawn approach. For example, the use mation’s legendary Nine Old Men instructed Lasseter and of three-dimensional digital modeling allows animators to helped him refine his story-telling skills. Upon graduation better realize the capabilities of the subject, rather than the from CalArts, Lasseter landed his dream job as an anima- use of maquette models in traditional animation. tor with the Walt Disney Studios. He was an early believer in the melding of new technologies for animation, partic- Pixar on Screen ularly after seeing the lightcycle sequence from Disney’s Disney recognized the groundbreaking potential of com- . Management at the Walt Disney Studios didn’t share puter animation and wanted to tap into it. As a result, in his enthusiasm for computer-generated animation, and his 1991 it entered into a three-picture deal with Pixar Anima- employment was terminated. Disney’s loss would become tion Studios to produce computer-animated motion pic- ILM’s gain. After a chance encounter with Dr. Catmull at a tures. The first picture was 1995’s Toy Story, the wholly origi- computer graphics conference, Lasseter joined ILM’s Graph- nal and wildly successful, first ever, all computer-animated ics Group in 1984. feature film that became the highest grossing film of the Pixar now set out on something it had never done before. year, making more than $350 million worldwide. Since then, It wasn’t a traditional Hollywood studio that had years of Pixar and Disney have gone on to combine for a streak of experience to draw upon. Instead, it had moxie, determina- nine consecutive additional critical and financial hits: A Bug’s tion, and an abundance of unbridled enthusiasm. As Lasse- Life, , Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, , Cars, ter put it, “We didn’t know what we didn’t know.” The first Ratatouille, WALL-E, and the latest, Up. Pixar’s presence now order of business was to germinate an idea into a story and goes beyond the theater, extending to every corner of Walt a script. Pixar knew that the fairytale genre belonged to Disney World, and beyond. But getting to the silver screen, Disney, so it set course in a new direction and instead ex- and to its partnership with the Walt Disney Company, is a plored the relationship between kids and their toys, and the fascinating story worthy of a Pixar film itself. toys to each other. Early on, Lasseter knew he wanted Tom The Pixar we know today is vastly different from its ori- Hanks to provide the voice for the film’s central protagonist, gin. Before Pixar Animation Studios, before Pixar, it was the . Pixar animators used a dialog track from a Graphics Group of the Computer Division of ’ previous Hanks film and set it to Sheriff Woody in a short Industrial Light and Magic (ILM). demonstration reel. At that moment Hanks knew some- ILM was created to generate the many special effects for thing special and new was percolating at Pixar and agreed the original Star Wars (A New Hope). After its success with the to the film. Everybody knows the end result: Toy Story, the initial Star Wars trilogy, ILM supported special effects for smash hit of 1995. other Hollywood movies, and in 1979 the Graphics Group With this success, realized his dream to take was created for this effort. Its computer animation work Pixar public. One week after Toy Story’s release, Pixar held its was highlighted in 1982’s Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan for the initial public offering and raised $132 million in new capital. Genesis sequence, and 1985’s Young Sherlock Holmes stained The original contract with Disney was revised up to five fea- glass knight. In 1986, George Lucas sold the Graphics Group tures, excluding sequels, and it called for a 50/50 split on all away from ILM to Apple Computer’s Steve Jobs for $10 mil- profits. lion. The net result was a new private company christened Disney and Pixar continued their production and distri- Pixar. bution partnership through A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2, ’s,

57 · Celebrations Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Cars. While they all enough to be included in on the fun. (Who wants a churro?) were commercially and critically successful, there wasn’t Mike and his fellow monsters, under the watchful eye of Roz, complete harmony between the two companies. Pixar of- take turns entertaining you with jokes and skits. ficials were highly frustrated that they didn’t own the story Epcot: In Epcot’s Future World, the grand pavilion dedi- or sequel rights to their films. In 2004, with the five-picture cated to our planet’s vast aquatic resources was aptly contract near its end, Pixar and Disney renewed negotia- named the Living Seas. Pixar’s Finding Nemo became the tions for a continued partnership, with Pixar’s objective be- inspiration for an extensive makeover that began in 2005, ing to protect its properties. However, the talks completely transforming it into the Seas with Nemo & Friends. The sea broke down in 2005, and Pixar publicly opened the doors for cabs have now been updated into clamobiles. The queue another partner other than Disney. It wasn’t until area cleverly takes you gradually “underwater” as you first was aboard as Disney’s new CEO that the contract negotia- enter a beach, then head into the surf, and ultimately go un- tions were able to resume. The end result was the block- der water, all while staying completely dry. Imagineers have buster Walt Disney Company’s purchase of Pixar Animation produced this sensation with queue railings that appear to Studios through an all-stock transaction worth $7.4 billion. be rusted as if underwater. Further, columns appear as pier Since the union, Pixar and Disney have continued the string supports, and the ceiling resembles water complete with of success with Ratatouille, WALL-E, and Up. a motorboat, with an underside perspective. Once aboard your clamobile, you begin your quest to find Nemo with Pixar in the Parks Marlin, Mr. Ray, Dory, Bruce, Crush, and Squirt joining you in With its success, extending the Pixar movie themes and your ultimately victorious search. characters into the parks was natural, and today you’ll find Beyond the aquarium itself, the Seas with Nemo & Friends Pixar represented in all four corners of the World. offers several attractions related to Finding Nemo. Turtle The Magic Kingdom: Buzz Lightyear of Toy Story fame Talk with Crush is an immensely entertaining show that has the honor of being the first Pixar character to have features our favorite 150-year-old turtle. Crush appears on an attraction at Walt Disney World. Disney Imagineers re- a large screen in an intimate theater, similar to the technol- tooled the Tomorrowland previously occupied by ogy used in the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor. the airline- and travel-themed attractions If You Had Wings While you’re waiting for the show to start, you can visit and its successors. In 1998, they unveiled the energetic Buzz Mr. Ray’s Lagoon. Here you can see numerous stingrays up Lightyear’s Space Spin. This video game–like ride close as they swim in their pools. Bruce’s Sub House is a play takes junior space rangers on an intergalactic journey to de- area suitable for younger Guests. The hands-on area also of- feat Emperor Zurg. Imagineers retrofitted the Omnimover ride vehicles into XP-38 Space Cruisers. They’re armed with two laser cannons, so you can take aim at Emperor Zurg’s targets scattered throughout the attraction. Added to the Magic Kingdom in 2007 is the richly enter- taining Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor. Recall that at the end of Monsters, Inc., we learned that human laughter is ten times more powerful than screams. With that, Mike Wazowski opened up the Laugh Floor as a way to entertain humans and capture energy from their laughs. Be sure to explore the many sight gags in the waiting area, such as a vending ma- chine only a monster could love! If you are so inclined, you can text in jokes that might be included in the show. Imagineers have perfected the technology to allow Cast Members, be- hind the scenes, to interact real-time via the video persona of Monstropolis citizens. Cameras throughout the laugh floor focus on selected audience members, and you might be lucky

58 · Celebrations Photo ©Tim Foster fers the opportunity for all to learn about sharks, their be- architecture resembling Pixar’s corporate campus at Em- havior, and their habitat. Climb inside Bruce’s toothy mouth eryville, California. The most notable design element is the for a great photo! brick-and-steel namesake archway. Opened in 2008, Pixar Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Underneath the Tree of Life Place features the latest, dazzling 3D attraction from Imag- is another entertaining Pixar show. A Bug’s Life serves as the ineering—Toy Story Mania!, drawing its inspiration from inspiration for the 3D film spectacular It’s Tough to be a Bug. carnival-style midway games. As you enter the queue area, Join Flik the ant as he offers you an insect’s point of view of note the oversized Tinkertoys and Lincoln Logs around you. life. Interesting fact: It’s Tough to be a Bug was an opening- Actually, they’re not oversized, but rather you’ve become day attraction when the park opened in 1998, seven months smaller, putting you on par with all the toys. You are now a before the film premiered in theaters! toy in Andy’s bedroom. Mr. Potato Head is there to entertain Disney parks have a long tradition of music and theater, you in line as the carnival barker. He is one of Imagineer- and the Animal Kingdom is no exception. In Dinoland U.S.A., ing’s most sophisticated audio-animatronic creations, with the Theater in the Wild hosted the acrobatic musical Tar- fluid motions and an interactive style with Guests. Once zan Rocks for more than five years. In 2007, the Broadway- you board your ride vehicle, you glide effortlessly into the style show Finding Nemo—The Musical premiered in the practice area where Woody, Buzz, and are waiting on updated theater. Disney created a moving and beautiful screen to teach you how to use your shooter, and then it’s 30-minute musical based on Marlin and Dory’s adventure as off for some wild and whacky 3D carnival fun. See if your they search for Nemo. This is the first time Disney has used score is one of the best of the day! a non-musical movie as the basis for a musical show in its Also in Pixar Place is an immersive character-greeting parks. The performers on stage are intertwined with larg- area where you can meet the gang from Toy Story. While in er-than-life articulating puppets. The costumes, sets, and line, you can stage your own photo op with cutout props puppets are a dazzling array of festive colors and design. that put you into the action, such as “” that retrieves The songs are fresh and original, and you’re guaranteed to the three-eyed aliens, or Buzz’s cardboard spacecraft. leave the show humming. Crush is a scene-stealer with the Imagineering’s Living Character Initiative creates audio- Beach Boys-esque “Go With the Flow.” Other musical high- animatronic characters, with the goal of extending them lights are “In the Big Blue World” and “Just Keep Swimming.” beyond the fixed stage of a show ride. Its latest creation is Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Pixar’s biggest presence in Luxo Jr., the iconic desk lamp, Pixar’s corporate symbol, and the World is at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Pixar has its own the star of its first animated short, Luxo Jr. Check the daily dedicated section of the park, Pixar Place, with the external show schedules for details of its appearances in Pixar Place. Luxo Jr. isn’t the first Pixar character created by the Living Character Initiative. Master chef Remy from Ratatouille was at Epcot’s France Pavilion, entertaining diners through ear- ly September 2009. Pixar also enjoys a Hollywood close-up, featured daily dur- ing the Block Party Bash parade. It features characters from Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Monsters, Inc., and The Incredibles. This high-energy pageant uses colorful costumes, upbeat songs, trampolines, and interactive Cast Members, drawing guests into the fun!

What does the future hold for Walt Disney World and Pixar fans? John Lasseter, who has the unique double titles of chief creative officer for Pixar and principal creative ad- visor for Walt Disney Imagineering, holds the key to that question. Whatever Pixar’s future holds, we can be sure it has nowhere to go but up.

59 · Celebrations alt Disney was a man filled with grand dreams. You could say this about many peo- Wple, but the difference with Walt was that his dreams usually worked their way to Making reality. One dream in particular is still finding new ways to come true. Walt wanted to be able to create animation that functioned in the real world and offered Guests at his parks a truly unique experience. We can look at things today, such as the Living Initiative that the Imagineers are working on, and see how far this dream has come. But when Walt passed in 1966, and even when Walt Disney World opened in 1971, this dream from was still in its early stages. The result of Walt’s dream was Audio-Animatronics (AA). Today’s technology has led to some amazing advancements in AA characters. The Living Character Initiative, for ex- Machines: ample, has produced a squeaking Remy from Ratatouille and an interactive Mr. Potato Head that talks to people waiting in line for Toy Story Mania! We’re frightened by the 22-foot-tall Yeti while aboard Expedition Everest, and we laugh at Statler and Waldorf as they heckle their fellow Muppets at MuppetVision 3D. But it was a long and arduous pro- cess to get to this point. To really appreciate how far AA technology has come, we have to start before the Florida Project was even announced.

The Early Days of Audio-Animatronics Development of early animated figures began as early as the late 1940s, when Walt be- came enamored with a small mechanical bird. He set a team of Imagineers from WED Enterprises (now Walt Disney Imagineering) to figure out how to improve on this model. What they came up with was called the Dancing Man, a figure modeled after a vaudeville dance routine by —who’s perhaps best known as Jed Clampett from The Beverly Hillbillies. If you want to see this great piece of Disney history, visit Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. While this figure wasn’t really audio- animatronic, it was a good first attempt at robotics. It was operated by a system of cams and levers. This system worked for the small dancing figure (Dancing Man was only nine inches tall), but it wouldn’t work for larger figures because the cams would have to be much larger. Also, cams took a lot of time to cut. So the next attempt had to be able to move large figures. What Imagineers turned to was a hydraulic and pneumatic system. The most notable attraction to use this system was the Jungle Cruise, which opened with Disneyland in 1955. This new approach worked A History well with larger figures, but it still had problems. When you think about how the animals in that attraction move, you can already see the biggest problem: The animals don’t have very diverse movements. For example, a mouth can open and close and that’s about all— of Audio- hardly the real-world animation Walt was dreaming of. Animatronics Singing Birds and Solenoid Coils Our next history lesson includes the introduction of true AA figures. Prior to this, the audio part of this term hasn’t had much use. With the opening of the Enchanted Tiki By Adam Goswick Room at Disneyland in 1963, audio began to play a major role in how AA characters work. The tropical birds, flowers, and tikis used a new system made of something called a so- lenoid coil. Developed by Imagineering legends Roger Broggie and Wathel Rogers, the solenoid coil was essentially wire wrapped around a cylinder. When electrical impulses from tape re- cordings pass through this coil, it creates a magnetic field that produces an action in the character. This is where audio comes into Audio-Animatronics. The technology, although

60 · Celebrations Photo ©Tim Foster simple by today’s standards, was good enough to create a Mr. Lincoln helped to make some of the other shows pos- room full of real-world animation. sible because it was for this show that the Imagineers were able to produce their first lifelike human AA. People Problems: Perfecting the Human AA Walt and his Imagineers still had the problem of creat- If I Only Had a Brain—or a DACS ing realistic human AAs. While these techniques started The last major development in AA history we need to working well for animal characters, humans proved far visit before moving on to the Walt Disney World–era is the more difficult. First of all, the movement of the characters Digital Animation Control System (DACS). Introduced in themselves had to be just right. If a character moved too 1969, this was the first computer system Imagineers used suddenly, the whole unit tended to shake unnaturally. On to control their AAs. Aside from being much easier to use the other hand, the character than the harness or transducer couldn’t move too slowly or else approach, DACS also allowed it also didn’t look natural. Imagi- Imagineers much more versatil- neers had to find the right speed ity in what they could do with an AA figure could move. recordings. Imagineers recorded Programming human AAs was a variety of movements to a data even more complicated. In fact, disk. From this disk, Imagineers if you wanted to program a hu- could arrange movements with man figure, your choices were ei- a board of buttons and knobs. ther tedious or tedious with tor- This allowed them to change a turous sprinkled in. If you went character’s actions without the with the first choice, you had to previous headaches they had to program each move individually endure. Plus, there was no more with a transducer, which is a de- strapping on the harness, which vice that looks like a joystick. If probably made more than a few you went with the second option, Imagineers happy! you had to strap yourself into a DACS was a huge advancement harness that recorded your ev- in Disney technology—so huge ery move. This might sound eas- that it’s still a large part of the ier than working with a joystick Magic Kingdom today. Located all day, but if you were unlucky in the Utilidors underneath the enough to be in the harness, you park, DACS is essentially the brain were only able to make moves of AA figures in the park and al- necessary to recording, and you most every other aspect of the could be there for hours. Magic Kingdom as well. It opens Despite all of that, these pro- doors for attractions, controls gramming methods worked well lighting and effects, and stores enough that Walt and his team audio and effects used in Spectro- of Imagineers were able to create Magic. It even controls the cash their first human AA. Great Mo- registers, so remember to tip ments with Mr. Lincoln, featuring your hat to DACS the next time the AA version of Abraham Lincoln, debuted at the 1964- you spend a staggering amount of money at the Emporium. 1965 New York World’s Fair. This show appeared alongside three other attractions featuring AA characters: “it’s a small The Magic Kingdom and Beyond: Audio-Animatronics world” at the Pepsi pavilion, Walt Disney’s Carousel of Prog- in Walt Disney World ress at the General Electric pavilion, and the Magic Skyway Okay. Take a breath. We’re officially finished with the AA at the Ford Motor Company pavilion. Great Moments with crash course, but we haven’t even started Walt Disney World

Main Photo ©Tim Devine, Inset Photo ©Disney 61 · Celebrations yet. Some huge strides toward modern AAs took place at Even though some pirates were able to “run” in circles, it Walt Disney World since it opened in October 1971. wasn’t the most believable movement. For the American The Magic Kingdom opened with some major AA attrac- Adventure in World Showcase, Imagineers showed off their tions on its roster. “It’s a small world” (which had already en- most advanced AA yet: a Benjamin Franklin that walked joyed success at Disneyland and the World’s Fair), the brand across the stage! While Franklin doesn’t walk “freely,” this new , and was still a major step for AA technology. (Pardon the pun.) were all day-one attractions. Even the Enchanted Tiki Room Also, Franklin moved more realistically than any AA before (under the moniker Tropical Serenade) was there for open- him. His subtle movements made him a very realistic AA. ing day. All of the human AAs we’ve talked about so far fit into a The Country Bear Jamboree was so popular at Walt Dis- series called A-1. In 1989, after more than 20 years of creat- ney World that Imagineers planned an expanded version ing human AAs, Imagineers ventured into new, even more for Disneyland that opened realistic AA technology. So the following spring. The far we’ve seen some land- Jamboree, with its 24 AA fig- mark AAs open with the ures (18 of which are bears), Magic Kingdom and later is an almost 16-minute hoe- with Epcot, so naturally we down featuring 15 songs. Its need something to go along popularity has also earned with the Disney-MGM Stu- the attraction its place in dios, right? Well, apparently pop culture with its own the Imagineers thought so movie and a spin-off scene as well. in Disney’s . Building upon the A-1 ani- By this time, human AAs matronics, the Imagineers seemed to have gained introduced the new A-100 se- their own popularity as ries when the Wicked Witch well, so much so that Disney wowed Guests in the Great received complaints when Movie Ride. The A-100 series the Magic Kingdom opened boasted a number of techno- sans Pirates of the Carib- logical advances. For exam- bean. It was never intend- ple, while the A-1 AAs had a ed to come to the Magic single actuator in their hand Kingdom (Imagineers had that controlled the fingers, planned a similar ride for an A-100 has an actuator for Florida), but demand was so each finger that allows them great that Imagineers put to move independently. The together a smaller version A-100 series also features that opened in 1973. When the ride had opened in Disney- compliance technology. Remember how Imagineers had land in 1967, it was Disney’s largest AA attraction thus far. to be very careful with how fast an AA moved to avoid un- The Magic Kingdom’s version of the ride has a whopping 125 wanted shaking? Compliance technology fixed that prob- AA figures, more than half of which are human. This alone lem. It allows Imagineers to produce faster and smoother should be a testament to how successful human AA charac- movements in their characters. ters became after Abraham Lincoln took the stage almost a Since the Wicked Witch, a number of other A-100 fig- decade earlier. ures have come to the parks. is an impressive AA at If human AAs were doing so well, why not add a few more Stitch’s Great Escape! In 2006, Pirates of the Caribbean was tricks to their repertoire? That’s just what the Imagineers refurbished and reopened with an amazingly realistic Jack did in 1982 when EPCOT Center opened. Prior to this, an AA Sparrow featuring the unmistakable qualities of Johnny figure was mostly confined to one position on the stage. Depp. Also, this past July, President Barack Obama became

Photo ©Tim Devine 62 · Celebrations the latest addition to the Hall of Presidents. This attraction a real dolphin, they still behaved as though he was. (an AA marvel in itself) has become known for adding newly In a sort of backward timeline, we move from dolphins to elected presidents to its roster since Bill Clinton was added dinosaurs. Today we have the first free-roaming AA. (Take in 1993. The new President Obama figure is an extremely that, Ben Franklin!) Lucky the Dinosaur debuted in 2003, and impressive AA. Imagineers, particularly sculptor Valerie Ed- six years later it’s still an extremely impressive piece of tech- wards, paid very close attention to photos and videos of the nology. Lucky pulls a flower cart behind him that conceals new president so they could capture the most minute ex- his computing and power sources, making him infinitely pressions. The result is undeniably (even eerily) Obama. This smarter than his walnut-size-brained ancestors. Because of AA purses its lips to pronounce certain words and gestures this intelligence, Lucky can respond to human input that he with its hands—palms upturned—just like the real thing. receives from both Guests and his counterpart, Chandler It’s hard to believe that the president isn’t actually onstage, the Dinosaur Handler. but isn’t this what Walt envisioned more 40 years ago? Since Lucky, Imagineers have been busy bringing other We have one more theme park in Walt Disney World to famous characters to life. The Muppet Mobile Lab, a show cover, which means one more huge piece of AA history starring Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker, is another free- to explore. And I do mean huge. In fact, this figure stands roaming attraction. This one, however, is impressive be- about four times the size of the President Obama AA. At 25 cause it is controlled externally. If you’ve encountered other feet tall and weighing 20,000 pounds, the Yeti at Expedition characters like Push the Talking Trash Can and Wes Palm, Everest in Disney’s Animal Kingdom is an imposing figure to you’re already familiar with how LCI figures like these Mup- say the least. The Yeti is really an engineering marvel. Too pets work. But where Push and Wes are controlled by a sus- heavy to be supported by its feet, the Yeti has a structural piciously touristy looking Cast Member lurking nearby, the boom attached to its back that keeps it in the air. The figure Muppet Mobile Lab can be controlled completely offsite. has a total of 19 actuators. If all of them fired at once, they When it opened in Disney’s California Adventure, it was con- would presumably out-thrust a 747 jetliner! trolled in an Imagineering office 35 miles away. The Muppet Mobile Lab is an interactive show as well, so Bunsen and Visions of the Future Beaker can respond to Guests around them. The Lab has It’s fun to talk about these AA figures that are so recogniz- also appeared at Plaza in Epcot. able in the parks. You can easily see how far the Imagineers Not content with leaving any part of the company out of have brought Walt’s dream, from the simple beginnings of a the fun, Imagineers also created exciting LCI versions of Dis- nine-inch-tall vaudeville actor to the elaborate workings of ney/Pixar characters. In Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Mr. Po- the most advanced A-100 series character. As usual, though, tato Head acts as an interactive barker for Toy Story Mania! Imagineers haven’t rested on their laurels. We’re starting to While his conversations with Guests are often funny and see what might be the next generation of real-time in-park impressive, perhaps the most interesting thing about this animation—and even interactivity. character is that he can remove his ear and put it back! Also We covered briefly the Living Character Initiative (LCI) in in the Studios, the most recent LCI figure, Luxo Jr. is the new- the beginning of this article, so let’s do the full circle thing est addition to Pixar Place. Luxo Jr. is the star of Pixar’s 1986 and come back to that. While Lucky the Dinosaur is the first short film, the company’s corporate logo, and now a six-foot of the LCI figures, another character set the stage for new dancing LCI AA. Other Disney Pixar characters have received characters like Lucky. Over a five-day period in October 1999 the LCI treatment, including WALL-E and Remy. at the Living Seas Pavilion in Epcot, the Dolphin Robotic The Living Character Initiative might be the future of AA Unit 1 (or DRU-1) was part of a show in which scientists used characters in the parks. Imagineers have achieved a level of him to study how dolphins move through water in hopes of realism and interactivity that just isn’t possible with even creating better boat propulsion systems. Although this was A-100 AAs. More than 40 years after Walt imagined living purely show, it was based on real science and fit perfectly animation in his parks, we’re starting to see new visions of at Epcot, according to Shawn Slater, a writer for the show. that dream. The Living Character Initiative is the most ex- DRU-1 also appeared later as Del at . In this in- citing thing to happen to AAs in recent history. It also repre- stance, Guests were selected to participate in an experience sents a dream come true that even Walt might have had a with Del. Even though the Guests were told that Del was not hard time imagining.

63 · Celebrations 64 · Celebrations By Adam Goswick

Photo ©Disney 65 · Celebrations D movies have been around for more than 50 years. In days of filming (one in Florida and two in California), was 3theaters, 3D seems to come and go, with the technol- titled Dreamfinder’s Run. It featured the new character ogy fading away then reviving itself for a number of years. Dreamfinder hurrying through Imagineering to deliver Most recently, we’ve been seeing a revival thanks to RealD . At the end, the audience would be treated 3D technology. to some completed clips of Magic Journeys. But there’s one place that 3D has been pretty constant Fortunately, Magic Journeys was ready in time, and the over the years: Disney parks. We’re going to walk through backup film was never used. Magic Journeys looked at the the history of 3D in the parks, talk about the 3D attractions world through a child’s imagination, taking the audience you can see right now, and touch on what you can expect from a run through a dandelion-covered field to a swim to pop out at you in the future. Have your glasses ready, be- through an ocean filled with marine life and beyond. cause this is going to be an immersive experience! Magic Journeys was successful for the theme parks, and it eventually found itself appearing in other parks around the The Mousketeers (and Donald) globe. In 1984, the film opened in Tomorrowland at Disney- Many analysts say 3D’s golden age was the early 1950s. Cer- land. A year later, it came to Tomorrowland at the two-year- tainly there was an explosion of 3D films in 1952 and 1953, so old Tokyo Disney Resort. In February 1986, the film closed this presented Walt Disney with the perfect opportunity to at Epcot to make way for the next 3D show, but it stayed at get involved. Disney’s first effort at 3D was a cartoon called Walt Disney World when it opened at the Magic Kingdom in Adventures in Music: Melody. This was also the first piece of December 1987. Interestingly enough, while the film played animation created for 3D. Melody was released in theaters at the Magic Kingdom, the pre-show was Working for Pea- in 1953, the same year as Working for Peanuts. This 3D animat- nuts—the same short used in 3D Jamboree. ed short featured Donald Duck in an epic battle for peanuts Now we can move from one M.J. in Magic Journeys to with Chip and Dale. the next: . In 1986, Jackson’s popularity was So what’s this have to do with Disney Parks? To answer still at its height, although rumors were starting to spread that, we have to bring in and Jimmy about some alleged eccentricities. Fans were anticipating Dodd. Melody and Working for Peanuts were combined into another album release, since it had been four years since his a 3D feature shown at Disneyland starting in 1956. The last smash-hit Thriller was released. But 1986 was a big year show was dubbed 3D Jamboree, and it was hosted by the for fans of both Disney and Jackson, as the next 3D show Mouseketeers. It played at the Mickey Mouse Club Theater starred the one and only “King of Pop.” (later named the Fantasyland Theater) in Fantasyland. Captain EO was a major production for Disney. It starred These shorts can be found on DVD if you’re curious about Michael Jackson, and it was directed by Francis Ford Cop- them. Melody is a special feature on the DVD, pola, produced by George Lucas, and also featured Anjelica and it can also be found on the Walt Disney Treasures: Dis- Huston as the Supreme Leader. All of this added up to the ney Rarities DVD collection. Working for Peanuts is available most expensive film produced on a per-minute basis. Disney on the Walt Disney Treasures: The Chronological Donald, paid more than $1 million per minute of film, and the 17-min- Volume Four collection. Sadly, these offerings are not in 3D. ute movie cost an estimated $30 million overall! After 3D Jamboree closed, 3D shows at the parks went on The show was about a ragtag crew led by Captain EO a temporary hiatus. In fact, we can skip ahead 20 years and (Jackson) who were on a mission to deliver a gift to the Su- travel more than 2,000 miles east. The next 3D show at Dis- preme Leader of another planet—a key to unlock her inner ney Parks opened along with Epcot Center at Walt Disney beauty. This key is actually the gift of song, and Captain EO World. sings “We Are Here to Change the World.” After an exciting battle, Captain EO’s gift works, and the Supreme Leader is 3D Journeys and the King of Pop transformed into a beautiful queen and her planet into a Prior to Epcot’s opening day on October 1, 1982, Imagineers paradise. Captain EO exits singing a new song: “Another Part were somewhat busy—so busy that some were concerned of Me.” that one particular attraction, Magic Journeys, wouldn’t be Captain EO also showed at other Disney Parks, including ready. Just in case, Imagineers threw together a backup to Disneyland, Tokyo Disney Resort, and Disneyland Resort play until the show was ready. This backup, with only three Paris. The film has gained some recent popularity after Mi-

66 · Celebrations chael Jackson’s death in June 2009, with some fans clamor- from the Star Wars series. In 2001, MuppetVision 3D opened ing for a re-release of the film in the parks. Recent rumors at Disney’s California Adventure, and the show is still play- seemed to suggest that Disney was planning to do just that, ing at both parks. but CEO Bob Iger said on Sep- Three years after Mup- tember 10 that “There aren’t petVision 3D began playing plans to bring back Captain at the studios, Caption EO EO at this time.” He didn’t came to the end of its run completely shut the door on at Epcot. It was replaced by the subject, as he also said Honey, I Shrunk the Audi- they are “looking at it” and ence. This show was based want to “make sure we do it on the movie Honey, I Shrunk right” if it works out. the Kids and its sequel Honey, I Blew Up the Kid. For this show, The Current Era of Disney the audience sits on a plat- Parks 3D form that can rise up to four Meanwhile, Disney was inches high. The movement preparing to open its third helps create the illusion that gate at Walt Disney World. the theater is moving dur- At this time, Magic Jour- ing some crucial parts of the neys was still showing at show. If you’ve seen the mov- the Magic Kingdom, and ies and you know the title of Captain EO was in Epcot. So the show, you should be able that would mean that the to guess what antics happen Disney-MGM Studios needed next. a 3D show too, right? Appar- Just like the shows that ently agreed, preceded it, Honey, I Shrunk and he directed Disney’s the Audience wasn’t de- next 3D show, starring his veloped as a second-rate famous Muppets. theme park attraction. Rick When the Disney-MGM Moranis reprised his role as Studios opened in 1989, Hen- Wayne Szalinski, and Eric son had started talks with Idle (famous for his comedy Disney for them to buy franchise. With this work with Monty Python) appeared as Dr. Nigel Channing. deal in the works, Henson actually produced two Muppet The 23-minute movie opened at Disneyland Tokyo in 1997, films dealing with Walt Disney World, and these were the Disneyland in 1998, and Disneyland Park in Paris in 1999. It last films Henson worked on before his death. The first one still plays at all four theme parks. was released in 1990 on NBC and was called The Muppets at Just as the Studios needed a 3D show after it opened, what Walt Disney World. The second was released in 1991, and it’s would Walt Disney World’s fourth theme park be without our next 3D show. its own 3D movie? When Disney’s Animal Kingdom opened Jim Henson’s MuppetVision 3D opened at the studios in in April 1998, It’s Tough to be a Bug opened as well—seven May 1991. The show features tons of your favorite Muppet months before Disney/Pixar’s A Bug’s Life opened in theaters. characters—and absolutely no “cheap 3D tricks.” Well, this is In the spirit of Honey, I Shrunk the Audience, It’s Tough to the Muppets so maybe just a few 3D tricks. (Wocka wocka be a Bug is a 3D show that involves the audience in unique wocka!) MuppetVision 3D is a 17-minute show, starring the ways. (Watch out for some of those bugs!) talents of legends like Jim Henson and Frank Oz, who is Once again, this 3D show features most of the same voice famous for voicing characters like Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, talents that appear in the movie. Dave Foley returns as Flik, Grover and Cookie Monster from Sesame Street, and Yoda Cheech Marin voices Chili, and Frank Oz is Weevil-Kneevil.

Artwork ©Disney 67 · Celebrations The score for the film was co-composed by , sive, much like the cast for previous 3D shows. Wayne All- who was also responsible for Toy Story and The Princess and wine and his wife voiced Mickey and Minnie the Frog, and Bruno Coon. It’s Tough to be a Bug plays at Dis- Mouse. Donald Duck’s voice actually came from archival re- covery Island in Disney’s Animal Kingdom and A Bug’s Land cordings of the great , with Donald’s current in Disney’s California Adventure, where it opened in 2001. voice filling in with five new lines, such as Over at the Magic Kingdom, Magic Journeys closed in 1993. Donald humming “Be Our Guest.” is Goofy, Jerry When the show closed, Legend of the Lion King opened in Orbach plays Lumiere, and returned as Ariel. the same theater. When that show ended in 2002, the the- Even composer and lyricist returned ater was prepped to hold its second 3D show: Mickey’s Phil- to make necessary adjustments to their songs because ed- harMagic—a 13-minute show that features 3D effects, wa- its had to be made to fit the show into its allotted length. ter, and scents. The show takes you on a journey (along with The last current 3D attraction we’ll visit is not so much Donald Duck, who is trying to recover Mickey’s sorcerer hat) a show as it is a game. Toy Story Mania! opened in 2008 at into some of Disney’s most memorable movie songs. Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s California Adven- Mickey’s PhilharMagic is notable for a couple of reasons. ture. While it might be arguable that this is currently Walt First, this is one of the few times Imagineering worked with Disney World’s most popular attraction, you can’t deny that another branch of the company to develop a theme park at- it’s their most technically advanced. The game is powered traction. Their work with the animation department led to by more than 150 PCs, one for each game and others to con- the return of animators (who animated Ariel) trol special effects. and Nik Ranieri (animator for Lumiere). Furthermore, the game is controlled by a complex net- Also, the voice cast for Mickey’s PhilharMagic is impres- work made of wired and wireless components, somewhat

68 · Celebrations Photos ©Disney like the network you might be using in your house for Inter- This new technology is called RealD, and it features a num- net access. This network, though, is ultra-secure to protect ber of technical advancements over previous uses of 3D. against interference and intrusions. At the D23 Expo this past September, fans were greeted Like with Captain EO, all of this comes at a price. Where with some exciting announcements about future projects Captain EO cost around $30 million, Disney actually paid at Walt Disney World. Among these announcements was around $80 million for Toy Story Mania! This seems to be the highly anticipated and oft-rumored 2.0. This money well spent because the result is a truly fun and im- new attraction, coming to the Hollywood Studios in 2011, mersive attraction. On your next vacation, be sure to set will feature Disney Digital 3D technology. aside time for Toy Story Mania!—and make good use of Also coming to the studios is an update to Jim Henson’s those FASTPASSes! MuppetVision 3D. While the show itself won’t be chang- ing, you can expect the new film to use Disney Digital 3D as New Technology Leads to New Imagineering and a 3D well. Also look out for some new elements in the queue line, Future which is already one of the most imaginative queue lines in If you’ve been to a movie lately, or happened across a com- Walt Disney World. mercial for a movie, you’ve seen a new surge in 3D movies. Don’t expect Disney to stop with these two attractions. This new wave of 3D has actually been around since about Disney Digital 3D is most likely the future of 3D shows in Dis- 2005 with the release of Chicken Little. New releases of 3D ney Parks. So, as new shows open and old shows get updates, movies have been marketed with the Disney Digital 3D look for Disney Digital 3D to become more prevalent. brand, with most of their current films being shown in 3D Oh, and don’t forget to pick up your Opera Glasses, Carni- at select theaters. The resurrection of 3D films is thanks to val Games Goggles, Safety Goggles, Bug Eyes, or whatever a new technology that improves on the user’s experience. you might need!

69 · Celebrations Pretty Wayback When Walt Disney World opened in 1971, Tomorrowland had very few attractions. In fact, it was a relatively barren landscape. The Grand Prix Raceway and the Skyway to Fan- tasyland were the only attractions in operation when the park opened on October 1. Sure, you could grab a burger at Flight to the Moon the , or you could buy a souvenir at ike many Walt Disney World concepts and attractions, the Skyway Station Shop, but that was about it. For now. LFlight to the Moon in Tomorrowland had its origins in Circle-Vision 360 opened in November, and the D-Ticket at- Disneyland in the mid-1950s. traction Flight to the Moon opened in the building directly opposite that theater on December 24, in the location cur- Way, Wayback rently occupied by Stitch’s Great Escape. (We’ll get to that in In 1955, Disneyland’s Tomorrowland was anchored by a minute.) the Rocket to the Moon attraction. Capitalizing on the Inside the glass entry doors, the queue area had numer- fifties and space craze, the giant, white, ous images of the Moon on the wall and a clock counting Moonliner rocket, pointed toward space, acted as a visual down to the next launch of Flight 92 (yes, it was always weenie to draw Guests into Flight 92) from Pad 21. The Tomorrowland and into Cast Member stationed at the immersive experience the door would advise you that could be found in the that you were about to take nearby building. Sponsored a trip “sometime in the fu- by TWA (Trans World Air- ture,” when traveling to the lines) until 1961 (then Doug- Moon would be common- las Aircraft), the attraction place for everyday people was more of a show than a like you and me. “Ladies and ride, as Guests sat in one of gentleman, may I have your two theaters in the round. attention please? In a mo- Round projections screens ment, when we leave this acting like windows to the area, please be sure to take outside were found on the along all of your personal ceiling and the floor, and Guests sat in one of three rows belongings, including your imagination. Our Flight to the of tiered seats. The attraction gave you the sense that you Moon takes place sometime in the future, when travel to lifted as you headed toward the back side of outer space will be an everyday adventure. Now, if you will the Moon. all follow me, our first stop in the World of Tomorrow will The attraction was renamed and re-themed in 1967, as be inside our Mission Control Center.” part of the New Tomorrowland facelift. Additionally, a new Through the automatic doors, and much like it’s West- audio-animatronic pre-show was created, and air-filled coast counterpart, Walt Disney World’s attraction had an seats that could expand and contract to simulate lift- audio-animatronic pre-show simulating a very accurate off were installed. But just two years later, the first of six mission control room, directed by Mr. Tom Morrow (I know manned missions of NASA’s Apollo program that landed on you’ve heard that name before, haven’t you?), and seven oth- the Moon took place, making trips to the Moon seem not er audio-animatronic men. In addition to his description of so futuristic after all. In 1975, the attraction was changed the equipment and other projects, one of the most notable, slightly once again, and it was rechristened “Mission to and memorable, aspects of the pre-show was the tripped Mars.” This wouldn’t be the last time this happened... alarm because of the emergency on Runway 12. Oh yes, it’s

70 · Celebrations just that crazy albatross that made an unexpected “crash nied by an adult), the queue and pre-show remained nearly landing.” An image of the Flight 92 spacecraft being prepped identical, save for the destination, as did the two theaters for takeoff at the launch pad, waiting just for its 162 passen- in which the show took place. Of course, Mr. Morrow “re- gers, was shown before Guests were exited out into one of tired.” He was replaced by the incredibly creatively named two identical theaters. (I mean, “rockets.”) “Mr. Johnson,” and a woman finally made her way into the After the requisite countdown, your seat would shake as mission control room. Now hosted by McDonnell-Douglas you “launched” into space at 1,000 feet per second, hurtling (as Flight to the Moon had no sponsor), Flight 92 (yes, even toward the Moon. Your captain announced, “Attention, the flight number stayed the same), continued its trips to please. We have just passed maximum flight dynamic pres- the red planet until 1993. sure. We’re climbing at about 1,000 feet per second on our assigned escape trajectory. We’re still under traffic control Not-So Wayback because as you know there are hundreds of objects in Earth As part of a planned update to Tomorrowland, the Extra- orbit today. With our telescopic cameras, we can see some TERRORestrial Alien Encounter replaced Mission to Mars in of the traffic in our vicinity.” 1995, although Walt Disney World Guests would once again The screen would soon broadcast an image of a fellow as- have the opportunity to visit the red planet a decade later— tronaut already on the Moon’s surface, who described his from Epcot in Mission: SPACE. protective suit as well as other features and advantages of And of course, no classic, extinct Walt Disney World at- lunar life. (“Toss the astronaut” was my favorite game—and traction would be complete without it being paid homage theirs, too.) “We’re up near the rim of a good-sized crater on to somewhere in Walt Disney World, and Flight to the Moon a geological survey. I’ve been taking pictures of the area, and and its successor were no exceptions. And in fact, they might these men are collecting rock samples and recording a de- have more tributes than any other extinct attraction. From scription of each one. As you can see, it isn’t easy to work in 1994 until 2009, an overhead announcement on the WED- these spacesuits, but we couldn’t survive without them out Way PeopleMov... I mean the Tomorrowland Transit Author- here. For example, this faceplate is all there is between me ity said, “Paging Mr. Morrow. Mr. Tom Morrow. Your party and an absolute vacuum. If it suddenly popped out, my blood from Saturn has arrived. Please give them a ring.” Even “Mr. would literally boil. We carry our air in these backpacks, and Johnson” gave his traffic report from Skyview Hovercraft our suits are temperature controlled. In fact, they’re the lat- One. And on an overhead screen during the pre-show to the est thing in Moon fashions. But enough of that. Now, let’s ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter, an upcoming event at look at the Moon.” the Tomorrowland Interplanetary Convention Center was Later, on the lower screen, you could see the surface of the going to be “Mission to Mars: History or Hoax?” and given by Moon as your narrator explained how craters were formed. none other than Mr. Tom Morrow. Over at Disney’s Holly- Your ship soon passed to the far side of the Moon, before wood Studios, an announcer in the queue of Star Tours says, circling back to the other side. There you encountered sun “Mister Morrow, Mister Tom Morrow, please check with the spots, which once again shook the ship’s cabin. This signaled Star Tours agent at gate number four.” Finally, if you wanted that it was clearly time to return to Earth, which was good, to see Tom Morrow in the flesh (or lack thereof), you could because you didn’t want to miss the Water Ski Show that head on over to Innoventions at Epcot, where a miniature was about to start over on the Seven Seas Lagoon. No, really. audio-animatronic character named Tom Morrow 2.0 (the Alas, much like at Disneyland, seeing men on the Moon former host of ’s “Imagineer That!” shorts), was, oddly enough, old hat. By 1975, it had been six years acted as your “Miniatronic TechnoGuide to Innoventions since man first stepped foot on the lunar surface we had at Disney Epcot” and even had his own “Tom Morrow’s Play- just passed over. So, again, much like Disneyland, Walt Dis- ground” exhibit there as well. Today, you can see (and hear ney World’s version underwent the transformation to Mis- Nathan Lane as the voice of) a full-size Tom Morrow audio- sion to Mars on June 7, 1975. Still a D-Ticket attraction (into animatronic figure as the host of Disneyland’s Innoventions which children younger than age seven had to be accompa- in (of course), Tomorrowland. ne might wonder if my lovely companion and I The best parts are the whimsical touches I see that Ocould top the previous day that capped off with an they’ve scattered all throughout the house. These, in my exciting race to see if we could see both Wishes and Illu- opinion, are some of the best touches by Imagineers that miNations in one evening (which we did). The only way keep me coming back because they are little winks to us to find out is to tag along and see. that hopefully cause us to chuckle. My companion reminded me that Mickey’s Toontown In the foyer, I noticed a package from Peter Pan with a Fair is scheduled for demolition at some point in the near stamp on it stating “Use No Hooks.” I spotted blueprints future to make way for the recently announced expan- that reference the Chinny, Chin, Chin Construction Co. sion of Fantasyland. Because we hadn’t visited that par- with one of the 3 Little Pigs on it. In the kitchen, I saw a ticular area of the park yesterday and because we have grocery list containing seven different kinds of cheeses, no idea when the infamous “walls of progress” will make and apparently Mickey’s oven goes to a very toasty tem- their appearance, my companion felt that Mickey’s Toon- perature of “volcano heat.” town Fair needed to be top of the list today. The fun continues into Mickey’s garden where I spot- Fortunately, Toontown drops ted Mickey-shaped tomatoes and rope at 10 a.m., so we didn’t have pumpkins and some interestingly to bust a gut getting there like we shaped topiaries. But the best part is would have if we were planning the signs indicating the items grow- to visit the rest of the Magic King- ing in Mickey’s garden. dom. But we were determined not As my companion and I followed to get distracted along the way the path around, we were led out by the shiny glory of such lands through Mickey’s garage. Don’t let it as Tomorrowland, which we still fool you; there are many sight gags haven’t visited this trip. and nods to the past. For example, As we were standing around inside the garage is the original waiting for the rope drop, it was mailbox for Mickey’s Country House. fun watching all of the kids with ants in their pants, I’ve only scratched the surface of all I found and en- ready to attack Toontown. Once the rope dropped, we joyed inside Mickey’s Country House. I could literally let a few of the more eager people run in front of us, and spend hours walking through his house and looking at then we headed to Mickey’s Country House. all that there is to offer. I love Mickey’s Country House because there are If Imagineers have taught us anything, it’s to not judge tons of big and little details that kids likely walk by and a book by its cover. Mickey’s Toontown Fair is chock-full never even notice. As I wander around the house, I can of proof of that. tell that the Imagineers had fun decorating Mickey’s Until next time, remember just because something is house. There’s even a backstory: Donald and Goofy marketed to kids doesn’t mean there isn’t hidden trea- teamed up to participate in the Toontown Fair’s Kitchen sure for the adults. I’m off to go fly on the Barnstormer Remodeling Contest. They seemed to have made the a few hundred more times while I get inspired on where kitchen look worse for wear, and they’ve also chosen to to wander to next. use Mickey’s kitchen to work their “magic.” I’m Ray, and you’ve been wandering the World. 72 · Celebrations Photo ©Tim Foster World Showcase

Number of pavilions that were present when Epcot opened on 9 October 1, 1982 (the Morocco Pavilion opened a short time later in 1984, while the Pavilion didn’t open until 1988.)

Number of pavilions sponsored by the host country (The Morocco 1 Pavilion holds that sole distinction, and the mosaics found throughout the pavilion were actually created by Moroccan artisans specifically sent over by King Hassan II himself.)

Length of lights (in feet) that outline the eleven pavilions, enough 26,000 to stretch across the Golden Gate Bridge more than six times!

Number of pavilions originally planned for World Showcase. The 30 original design called for two connected semicircles dubbed the “Courtyard of Nations,” and it was to include an observation tower that would overlook the 30 international pavilions.

Distance in miles around World Showcase Lagoon. 1.3 Number of Ping-Pong balls it would take to fill the prominent Earth 20 million Globe featured in IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.

Additional pavilions that made it to the planning phase but were 7 never built. Proposed pavilions included Australia, Russia, Spain, Venezuela, United Arab Emirates, and Israel. Additionally, an Equatorial Africa pavilion was planned and partly built (it’s the area now known as the Outpost). After Disney’s Animal Kingdom opened (which essentially created an incredibly large African pavilion a short ride away!), plans for a full-fledged African Pavilion were set aside.

Photo ©Tim Foster 73 · Celebrations How Well Do You Know Fantasyland? by Jennifer Bright Reich

1. Which of these real castles inspired Cinderella 6. How many gondolas circle Timothy Q. Mouse in Castle? Dumbo the Flying Elephant? a. Fontainebleau a. 16 b.Versailles b. 12 c. Chateau of Chambord c. 22 d. Sleeping Beauty Castle d. 20

2. There’s also a Cinderella Castle at Tokyo Disney- 7. How can you recognize Cinderella’s horse on land, but instead of a restaurant, what’s inside? Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel? a. Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour a. It stands taller than the rest. b. Tinker Bell’s Treasures gift shop b. It has a golden bow on its tail. c. Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique c. It has a snow white coat. d. ’s Suite d. It’s wearing glass horseshoes.

3. Approximately how many different color tiles 8. In what year was Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel are there in the 100 million pieces of glass mak- built? ing up the mural inside Cinderella Castle? a. 1902 a. 250 b. 1908 b. 500 c. 1917 c. 1,000 d. 1925 d. 1,500 9. What can you find inside the base of a large 4. How many costumed dolls and animals inhabit tree at Pooh’s Playful spot? “it’s a small world”? a. A honey pot a. 336 b. A water fountain b. 425 c. A bell c. 289 d. A tot-sized table with two chairs d. 146 10. What can you see from the windows of Pinoc- 5. What was “it’s a small world” designed for? chio’s Village Haus? a. International Exhibition of 1967 a. People boarding boats on “it’s a small world” b. Seattle’s World Fair of 1962 b. Murals depicting scenes from Pinocchio c. 1939 New York World’s Fair c. A forest d. 1964 New York World’s Fair d. The end of the

74 · Celebrations 11. What’s covering Ariel’s throne in Ariel’s Grotto? 14. Who pops out from the teapot in the center a. Seashells of the ride on the Mad Tea Party? b. Seaweed a. The Dormouse c. Starfish b. The Mad Hatter d. Gold leaf c. The White Rabbit d. Alice 12. Below you on Peter Pan’s Flight, you’ll spot such details as tiny cars as well as some build- 15.  has the Many Adven- ing blocks in the nursery. What do the build- tures of Winnie the Pooh also. But instead of ing blocks spell out? hunny pots, there the ride vehicles are… a. Mickey a. Boats b. Walt b. Beehives c. Disney c. Cinnamon buns d. Wendy d. Flowerpots

13. Which of these can you smell in Mickey’s ANSWERS PhilharMagic? 1. Trick 5. D 11. B a. Oranges question! 6. A 12. C b. Pine trees A, B, C, and D 7. B 13. D c. Ocean breeze 2. A 8. C 14. A d. Apple pie 3. B 9. D 15. B 4. C 10. A

ANSWERS 17. Beauty and the Beast 5. The shadow has changed. 5. The blustery day chapter page in the KIDS KORNER ( 78–81) 18. The Incredibles 6. The paint blot is bigger. Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh 19. Oliver and Company 7. The thumb hole is missing. WHERE AM I? 20. Up 8. There is an extra tube of paint. SCAVENGER HUNT 1. The Haunted Mansion 21. The Little Mermaid 9. The crack in the wall is gone. 1. Cinderella Castle 2. The Seas With Nemo & Friends 22. Down Under 10. The paint tube is shorter. 2. Peter Pan’s Flight 3. The Many Adventures of Winnie the 23. 3. Mickey’s PhilharMagic Pooh 24. The Princess and the Frog FIND THE DIFFERENCE BONUS ANSWER 4. The Many Adventures of Winnie the 4. The Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster The France Pavilion Pooh 5. Splash Mountain CASTLE MATCH 5. Ariel’s Grotto 6. Castle number 9 is the unique one. WORD SCRAMBLE 6. Peter Pan’s Flight FINISH THE PHRASE 1. Fountain 7. Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel BRAIN BUSTERS 2. Sword 8. “it’s a small world” 1. “it’s a small world” A black feather 2. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad 3. PhilharMagic 9. Mickey’s PhilharMagic 4. Tinker Bell 10. “it’s a small world” 3. It’s Tough to Be a Bug FIND THE DIFFERENCE 4. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin 5. Teapot 5. The Seas With Nemo & Friends 6. Dwarfs WHERE AM I? 6. 7. Mermaid 1. The gift shop outside Mickey’s 7. Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel 8. Carrousel Philharmagic 8. Pirates of the Caribbean 2. “it’s a small world” 9. Carousel of Progress 3. Dumbo the Flying Elephant 10. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror MYSTERY QUEST (pages 82–83) 4. Tinker Bell’s Treasures 11. 5. Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel 12. Stitch’s Great Escape! SECRET SYMBOLS 6. Peter Pan’s Flight 1. Sign for “it’s a small world” 7. Ariel’s Grotto 13. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 1. The paint blot is a different color. 14. The Emperor’s New Groove 2. On top of the tent at Ariel’s Grotto 8. Pooh’s Playful Spot 2. The clasp is missing. 3. On the at the Mad Tea Party 15. 3. There is an extra compartment. 16. Alice in Wonderland 4. Inside the theater at Mickey’s 4. The brush is gone. PhilharMagic

75 · Celebrations Having discovered Chip at the Hollywood Studios in my last adventure, I decided to relax by reliving some of my favorite films of yore at the Great Movie Ride. After some harrowing encounters with fearsome gangsters and slithery aliens, I was relieved to see the famous scene from one of my favorite movies, Casablanca. I couldn’t help but notice the authentic Lockheed L-12 Electra Junior to the right, though contrary to popular claim it was not the plane used in the film (which would be impossible since they didn’t use an actual plane in the movie). I also couldn’t help but notice that half of the plane was missing. I overheard someone say that the other half was located nearby, so I decided I would seek it out.

I ventured over to the Backlot Tour, as I recalled the presence of several abandoned aircraft in the vicinity. I did come across a couple of planes that were used in another film, Pearl Harbor. While I made my way over to the both films were set during World War II, it was Epic Stunt Spectacular, as I had heard that rather obvious that neither was the plane I was this reenactment also took place around seeking. A dead end for certain, but I heard World War II and better yet featured a rumor of another plane located nearby. vintage aircraft. However, it turned out that the “plane” was more of a flying wing, and while Germany did have a flying-wing style aircraft, the plane I saw here was purely fictitious.

I wasn’t having much luck at the Hollywood Studios, so I decided to journey over to the Magic Kingdom. I heard a rumor of a plane that was spotted somewhere behind Cinderella Castle, so I decided to investigate. I soon entered a whimsical land filled with odd-shaped houses and circus tents, and I eventually discovered an old barn. I saw an odd-shaped hole in the shape of an old-fashioned biplane, and I quickly found the plane itself crashed into an old water tower. It wasn’t the plane I was searching for, but it was rather goofy looking.

76 · Celebrations Someone mentioned that I should seek out a chap named Buzz Lightyear in a nearby land, as he apparently had a great deal of knowledge about flying (or “falling with style” as I heard it described). I found him in dark building filled with intergalactic spaceships, which wasn’t quite what I was looking for. I did learn, however, that this building once housed an attraction known as “If You Had Wings.” The show was sponsored by Eastern Airlines, which I recalled included the Lockheed L-10 Electra as part of its fleet. As the predecessor of the L-12 aircraft that I was seeking, I thought I might be on the right track. Alas, I failed to locate the plane, though I did rack up an impressive 10,000 points during my journey, earning me the rank of Space Cadet.

I next ventured to Epcot and Soarin’, where I discovered this friendly chap in a pilot’s suit. I was disappointed to learn that I was about to board Flight 5505 to California, not Lisbon as was depicted in Casablanca. I was also puzzled about the strange flight number, until I realized that the number was a sly reference to the date May 5, 2005, the date on which the attraction opened.

Thinking back to the film, I suddenly remembered that Humphrey Bogart starred in another memorable movie, The African Queen. I thought that perhaps the answer could be found there, so I ventured over to the Animal Kingdom and Africa to see what I could find. Alas, I found no plane, only this old poster advertising a different sort of air travel. But then I had a revelation.

I recalled that The African Queen was one of the inspirations behind the Jungle Cruise attraction in the Magic Kingdom, so I hurried over to investigate. My heart skipped a beat when I saw that the boats were styled by Imagineer after the steamer used in the classic film, and I embarked on my journey full of anticipation. Sure enough, I came across the wreckage of a plane near the hippo pool, and that was it: the other half of the plane seen in the Great Movie Ride. Satisfied at my discovery, I settled back and enjoyed the rest of my journey, and I was even more thrilled at the two-for-one offer made by an enterprising native salesman. I’ll let you know how it turns out!

77 · Celebrations Where will you find these different ride vehicles at Walt Disney World? 1. Doom Buggies 2. Clam Mobiles 3. Hunny Pots 4. Stretch Limos 5. Logs 6. Viking Ships

Can you decipher these Walt Disney World attractions and movies based only upon their initials?

ATTRACTIONS MOVIES 1. i. a s. w. 13. S. W. and the S. D.

2. B. T. M. R. 14. The E. N. G.

3. I. T. to B. a B. 15. The F. and the H.

4. B. L. S. R. S. 16. A. in W.

5. The S. with N. & F. 17. B. and the B.

6. The G. M. R. 18. The I.

7. C. G. C. 19. O. and C.

8. P. of the C. 20. U.

9. C. of P. 21. The L. M

10. The T. Z. T. of T. 22. The R. D. U.

11. I. de F. 23. M. the R.

12. S. G. E.! 24. The P. and the F.

78 · Celebrations Every one of the Beast’s Castle windows below has a perfect match except for one. Can you spot the unique stained glass window?

1 2 3 4

5 6 7

8 9 10 11

Answers on page 75 79 · Celebrations What was the special object that Dumbo the elephant believed allowed him to fly?

It looks like someone got into this artist’s paint box and changed some things around. Can you spot the 10 differences in the photos below?

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BONUS QUESTION At what World Showcase pavilion can you find this artist’s box?

80 · Celebrations Unscramble these things you’d find in Fantasyland.

1. ANTUINOF 5. PATOTE

2. ROSWD 6. FARDWS

3. CHILMARGHAIP 7. READMIM

4. KINRET LEBL 8. ROSELURAC

Answers on page 75

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].

Five favorites in Fantasyland beautiful, and the last room, where everyone Q. What is your favorite Hidden Mickey? is together, is the best. A. I’m not sure if it counts as a Hidden Mickey, but I love to visit the fountain behind the Q. What is your favorite scene in Mickey’s castle. Cinderella is there and if you look real PhilharMagic? close and at the right angle, you’ll see that she A. My favorite part is when Tinker Bell comes on is always a princess! screen and everyone calls her name. It’s also really funny when Donald lands on the clock Q. Where is your favorite place to relax? hand and almost knocks Peter and Tinker Bell A. I love to visit the Fairy Tale Garden to get off! But Tinker Bell still helps him fly with a away from the crowds. Throughout the day, little extra pixie dust!! Belle will come out to tell a story and the audience gets to help. Even when she’s not Q. What is your favorite shop? there, it’s such a nice place to stop to rest. A. You probably think I’m going to answer Tinker Bell’s Treasures since she is my Q. What is your favorite attraction? FAVORITE character, but I always seem A. That’s a tough question! I have so much to have more fun in Fantasy Faire right by fun in Fantasyland that I could spend all day Mickey’s PhilharMagic. Maybe its because there. Where else could you twirl in a teacup we’re coming out of the movie and already or fly over London in a pirate ship? But I can’t laughing at poor Donald, but the sight of him leave without visiting “it’s a small world” at hanging from the ceiling up in all least twice. The dolls and costumes are just so those instruments cracks me up every time.

81 · Celebrations Journey through this magical world to find hidden treasures and magical surprises!

Where can you find these cryptic inscriptions?

1 2 3 4 5

Fantasyland Secrets Scavenger Hunt Here are a variety of items you might • The versions of Dumbo the Flying Elephant in Disneyland and find around Fantasyland. Can you feature water elements in the center. The figure out where they are? reason there are none in the Magic Kingdom version is due to the utilidors that run directly underneath the attraction, preventing 1. The Disney family coat of arms the installation of any water piping. 2. A pirate ship weathervane 3. Three Cabelleros poster • The mine cars that take you through Snow White’s Scary 4. Radishes Adventures are named after each of the Seven Dwarfs. 5. Sebastian the crab • Mickey’s PhilharMagic represents the first time that Mickey 6. Big Ben Mouse has been rendered in CGI (Computer Generated Imagery). 7. An anvil 8. A surfboard • If you look carefully, you’ll see that all of the attraction buildings are decorated for a festival. What festival? Why, the very 9. A bucket of water celebration that you, the guest of honor, are attending! 10. An apple

82 · Celebrations Can you determine where these photographs were taken? 2

3 Where can you find these cryptic inscriptions? 1 5 4

6

7 Only the best explorers will be able to figure this one out... 8 Answers on page 75

83 · Celebrations Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Epcot

1. Epcot’s origins go all the way back to Walt el actually covered an area of 1,428 square Disney’s dream of building a city of the fu- feet, about the size of an average home! ture. He wanted to create an environment where people could work, live and play, uti- 6. That may seem big, but the park itself end- lizing the newest technological advances ed up being over 300 acres in size, nearly of the day. When the Florida Project was three times as large as the Magic Kingdom. being developed, this new city was always Even allowing for the 41 acres taken up by a vital component of the conceptual plans. World Showcase Lagoon, that still makes The city project was named the Experi- the touring section of Epcot more than mental Prototype Community Of Tomor- double that of the Magic Kingdom. Hope row, or EPCOT for short. you brought your walking shoes!

2. The city may have given way to the theme park we all 7. The name of the park has gone through several subtle know and love today, but you can still find remnants of changes. When it opened, the park was known as EPCOT Walt’s original vision. At the Tomorrowland Transit Au- Center (EPCOT was always printed in capital letters signi- thority in the Magic Kingdom, keep an eye out for the fying its use as an acronym for the Experimental Proto- model of the original city concept. Constructed in 1967, the type Community Of Tomorrow). By 1994, it was thought model was first installed as part of a fifth scene for Dis- that the name EPCOT was sufficiently recognized as a neyland’s Carousel of Progress, located on the second floor word unto itself (rather than just an acronym), so the of the attraction building. name of the park was changed to simply Epcot.

3. Walt even had a short film produced in 1966 in which he 8. Additionally, in keeping with the World’s Fair concept, it unveiled his plans for the new city. The film was rarely was decided that the park would be reexamined and up- seen until recently; you can view part of it in the One dated every year to keep it current and vital. Thus, EPCOT Man’s Dream exhibit at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. After Center became Epcot ‘94, with Epcot ‘95 and Epcot ‘96 fol- Walt passed away, Epcot was eventually reconceptualized lowing in subsequent years. After 1996 that idea was aban- as an ongoing showcase of the latest technology and the doned, and the park has been known simply as Epcot ever various cultures of the world’s nations—basically a per- since. manent World’s Fair. 9. Walt Disney originally envisioned a dome over the entire 4. The original design of Epcot (the park) was vastly differ- Epcot city in order to have complete control over the ent from the final version. For one thing, Future World weather. That would sure come in handy during your typi- and World Showcase were reversed, with World Show- cal Florida thunderstorm! case serving as the entrance to the park. Additionally, Ep- cot was at one time intended to be built across from the 10. You may notice that the walkways throughout Epcot Magic Kingdom on Seven Seas Lagoon. have a pinkish hue. This was purposely done to create vi- sual contrast between the pavement and the grass, mak- 5. When the park was still in its design phase, a 1/8th inch ing the grass appear much more vibrant (Red/pink and scale model of EPCOT was built. How big is that? The mod- green are complimentary colors).

Keepsake Image: “O, Canada” • Photography by Tim Foster 84 · Celebrations Photo ©Disney Back Cover Photography by Tim Foster

“You can design and create and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality.” —Walt Disney

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