spring2012 • Volume21 • Number1 TWENTY YEARS OF DISNEY VACATION CLUB® The House of Mouse has long been home to celebrated characters with insulting monikers. Names like Dopey, Dumbo and Foulfellow. They aren’t bad. They’re just named that way. (Okay, so Foulfellow’s a little shady.) If that friendly fraternity of negatively named characters has a class clown, it’s got to be Goofy. The artist formerly known as Dippy Dawg is animation’s king of comedy, having amassed a resume of screen credits unlike any other in Hollywood. So to help celebrate the debut of Goofy’s re-imagined Magic Kingdom attraction and to embrace the irreverent spirit of April Fool’s Day, Disney Files Magazine is pleased to dedicate this issue to Max’s dimwitted Dad. A one-on-one interview with Disney Legend and Goofy voice actor Bill Farmer (pages 3-4) begins our appropriately distinguished salute, which continues with a subtle nod to Goofy’s famed series of “How To” animated shorts in the form of a lighthearted guide to making an online reservation at a Disney Vacation Club Resort (pages 5-6). Arguably the most highly anticipated addition to the Member experience since the introduction of the trading pin, this recently launched tool gives new meaning to the notion of Disney magic starting with a mouse. Goofy’s aforementioned Magic Kingdom attraction grabs the spotlight on page 18, delivering the inside scoop about a kid-friendly coaster that now casts our foolhardy friend in the high- flying role of The Great Goofini. A rite of passage for young thrill- seekers since 1996, The Barnstormer returns this spring with its daring new storyline as Storybook Circus emerges as part of the ongoing Fantasyland expansion project. Goofy must be feeling confident about his daredevil act, as he’s already pumping money into one of his overseas homes and will soon ask Guests to help him redecorate (page 22). Add a Goofy-resume retrospective from Disney Heritage columnist Jim Korkis (pages 27-28) and a photographic look at one of Goofy’s earlier Walt Disney World stunts on our back cover, and you have a magazine that, like its staff, is as goofy as it is informative. Welcome home, Ryan March Disney Files Editor Illustration of Ryan by Keelan Parham Cover mosaic comprised of Member family photos VOL. 21 NO. 1 Disney Files Magazine Information contained in this Contact Member Services from For Member Services in Japanese, Disney Vacation Club magazine is subject to change 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Eastern daily call 0120-98-4050 Tuesday-Sunday, P.O. Box 10350 without notice Toll Free: (800) 800-9800 noon-8 p.m. (Japan Time) Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 Local: (407) 566-3800 DVC-MBR-65-R DVC-MBR-65-R Update your mailing address online at Fax: (407) 938-4151 Follow us on Facebook at Please recycle this publication www.dvcmember.com Email: [email protected] facebook.com/disneyvacationclub Artist rendering – proposed. This resort is not yet registered or available for sale. Grand Member news! By Claire Bilby, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Disney Vacation Club I must say, my first months on the job at Disney Vacation Anaheim or attended the separate session on O‘ahu for Club have been absolutely incredible! Every meeting I attend Aulani, Disney Vacation Club Villas, Ko Olina, Hawai‘i. Of and every conversation I have in the hallway sheds more course, lots of you couldn’t attend, so I wanted to take this light on how dynamic this vacation-ownership community is, opportunity to share some of the exciting news we covered and how much enjoyment it brings to our Members. at the meetings. In my more than two decades with Disney, I’ve Perhaps most welcomed was word that the never felt so inspired. I’m truly honored to be part long-awaited online booking system has become of this hard-working team, dedicated to creating a reality. You’ll find more details about this new cherished family memories. Disney Vacation Club Resort reservation option in Of course, my most meaningful this edition of Disney Files Magazine, and I hope experiences so far have been my you’ll agree it’s a tremendous enhancement to interactions with Members, whether the convenience of Membership. it’s one-on-one dialogue or part of a In other news, we shared that Disney larger gathering. Two recent events Vacation Club Resorts now feature a afforded me the opportunity to really broader lineup of satellite television immerse myself in this unique Disney networks; we’re expanding inventory community and made me even more at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & excited about our future together. Spa by making traditional hotel rooms at While many of you may have that location available again on vacation experienced one of these gatherings in points beginning later this spring; and an the past, the two over which I presided unprecedented pair of S.S. Member Cruise in Florida and Hawai‘i in December were sailings will allow more Members than ever my first, and they were arguably the most to enjoy this signature event. We’ll share more variety-filled gatherings I’ve ever attended. We shared information about these and other new offerings as the news, reviewed and approved budgets, answered Member stories develop. questions, celebrated milestones, ate cookies – always a sign Looking even further down the road, we also confirmed of a good meeting – and even enjoyed live entertainment. that Disney Vacation Club is moving forward with plans to I’m talking about the annual meetings of Disney Vacation develop villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa! Club Condominium Associations. They were part business I look forward to seeing you at the 2012 meeting, update, part town hall and part Member reunion. scheduled to take place on Dec. 13 at the Walt Disney Hundreds of you joined us in person for the Florida World Resort. In the meantime, best wishes for the most meeting, while others of you tuned in by phone from magical and memorable of Disney vacations! ABOVE: Crews are developing an estimated 147 Disney Vacation Club villas near Disney’s Wedding Pavilion at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. The resort is estimated to open in late 2013. 2 with bill farmer Some kids take offense at being called goofy. Bill Farmer took it as professional advice. Born with the gift of comedic gab, Bill turned his ability to channel stars both real and imagined into an illustrious show-business career as a comedian and voice actor. While the Kansas native has voiced a colorful array of animated characters since moving to Hollywood in 1986, none are nearer or dearer to his heart than Goofy. More than providing Goofy’s voice, Bill has long been the character’s soul. From exploring the dim-witted Dad’s emotional depth in the standout filmA Goofy Movie to engaging a new generation of Goofy fans through his Emmy-nominated performances in the hit television series “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,” Bill’s immeasurable contributions to one of Disney’s most iconic stars have been recognized with everything from the immortalizing Disney Legend award to the prestigious Friz Freleng Award for Excellence in Animation. As Goofy prepares to star as the Great Goofini in his re-imagined attraction (see page 18),Disney Files Magazine Editor Ryan March sits down for a visit with the legendary funnyman, fresh off the 25th anniversary of his Goofy career. Ryan: While you’ve been doing funny voices since you were eventual move to Hollywood quickly led to an audition that a kid, your career didn’t begin in the world of comedy. would change your life. Bill: That’s true. I graduated with a journalism degree from Bill: Absolutely. The Disney studio was looking for actors to the University of Kansas. While working at a radio station voice some of its core characters, so my agent sent me on as an engineer, I was looking at a manual for a piece of the audition. My Donald Duck impression was pretty much equipment and saw a warning that read, “Caution: Death limited to a single sound and my Mickey was a bit off, but On Contact.” I thought to myself, “Hmmm, I’d better go learn Goofy was right in my wheelhouse, and I got the gig. My life more about this stuff,” and decided to study electronics at the has never been the same since. Elkins Institute in Dallas. Later, while still in Dallas, I started to pursue commercial acting and stand-up comedy, all while Ryan: And how long after that did Jennifer’s Dad warm up to working overnights repairing and testing computers. I’d your career choices? sometimes be up for 24 hours straight. My lovely fiancée, Jennifer, said she didn’t want to marry a zombie, so it was Bill: Well, fast forward a few years, as I’m getting him time to focus on one career path. It was actually the day backstage access to Walt Disney World attractions and before we got married that Jen and I both quit our jobs to inviting him to private parties with celebrities, and the tide focus full time on my career in comedy. definitely turned. I’ll never forget going with him to an event at his church in Melbourne, Fla., and having him introduce Ryan: That must’ve thrilled the in-laws. me to his friends. Here’s exactly what he said: “I’d like you to meet my son-in-law, Bill…and his wife, Jennifer.” I had Bill: Oh yes, it’s what every father-in-law wants to hear arrived! before the wedding.