Disneyana Obscura: Uncle Scrooge #1

Over the past year or so, I have read several volumes of Fantagraphics' Carl Barks collection (see here ) and I have really fallen in love with the Donald Duck universe he created, especially Donald's Uncle Scooge. As a child, I was a huge fan of the DuckTales cartoon (is anyone else as excited as I am for the remake?) and recently learned that almost every episode of that show was based off of the Uncle Scrooge comics. When I saw a post on Twitter from Disney Comics, advertising the newly rebooted Uncle Scrooge comic from IDW Publishing, it caught my attention. So, with last Saturday being Free Comic Book Day, I ventured out to my local shop, grabbed a handful of free books and bought a copy of Uncle Scrooge number one.

To start off, let me just say how impressed I was with the creators' ability to capture both the classic humor of the early comics, as well ass the timeless feel. It was like reading an old Bark's issue of Uncle Scrooge, but with brighter colors.

The first story, by Rodolfo Cimino and Romano Scarpa, tells the story of a classic battle of wits between Scrooge McDuck and the nefarious Beagle Boys. The Boys build a massive robot in their own likeness to steal Scrooge's gold, forcing the old duck to do some over-the-top things to protect it. In typical fashion, some odd plot point from early on ends up helping Scrooge win the day in a wonderfully amusing fashion.

Then there was a short by Alberto Savini and Andrea Freccero all about Uncle Scrooge's enjoyment of his new, large screen television.

Finally, in a caper by Romano Scarpa and Luca Broschi, Scrooge must stop the man who has plotted ten years to steal his coat. With the help of a couple fashionista friends, Scrooge ends up saving the day and finding hidden treasure! This story also hints at a tie-in with IDW's upcoming Mickey Mouse comic book. 

Overall, this was a fantastic offering from Disney Comics and IDW Publishing. Lots of humor, lots of wonderfully bad puns, and lots of colorful, cartoony artwork grace these pages. If you like fun, comedic adventures in the style of the old DuckTales cartoon, go check out Uncle Scrooge!

If you want to know how I would incorporated the world of Duckburg into the parks , see my previous posts and what I would do as a fifth gate at Walt Disney World, here.

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Man! Talk about starting off with a bang! If there is one thing to be said about Marvel's latest cinematic outing, it's that there is plenty of action. That's not to say, however, that there was a lack of heart. No, all the feels were present in this one, from love to laughs to heartache, Avengers had it all.

Writer/Director Joss Whedon has once again created a story where audiences can sit back and be entertained. Age of Ultron takes a darker tone than the first Avengers, but is still able to hold on to Whedon's witty dialogue. Humor abounds in this one, cutting through some of the heavier elements in the movie. At times, however, this humor almost felt inappropriate, like it took the audience out of the scene. While I didn't find that overly distracting, I did feel it was noticeable.

Once again, the actors really brought their comic book counterparts to full life on screen. The big three of Captain America, Thor, and Iron Man (Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, and Robert Downey, Jr., respectively), while compelling as usual, almost took a back seat in this one to the second tiered characters. Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner/Hulk shone as a conflicted monster with as heart, dealing with the consequences of actions beyond his control. Hawkeye, played by Jeremy Renner, was allowed to be himself this time around and was rewarded with several great, quiet character moments. James Spader really reveled in his role as Ultron, and Paul Bettany brought an understated grace to his messiah-like Vision.

Really, though, this was Black Widow's movie. For some reason--and I have to assume at this point it is legal because the demand is certainly there--Marvel absolutely refuses to give us a true Black Widow movie. As compensation, we get Age of Ultron, where we finally get a glimpse into what makes Scarlett Johansson's character tick. She has the clearest, most satisfying arc of anyone in the film and is, by far, the most interesting person on screen. Unfortunately, it really left one desperate for a stand-alone film which will probably never come to fruition.

Bold was the word of the day when it came to the action. Cars (and motorcycles) were flying all over the place, cities were leveled, trucks were being chased, you name it, it pretty much was there. If you bought tickets to see big explosions and epic battles, you did not leave unsatisfied.

Alright, so now I want to get into what I thought was the weakest part of the film: the story which, for me, felt a bit off. Now, taken out of the context of everything that came before it, I say truly that I enjoyed it; I left satisfied with the story Joss Whedon had just told. But one thing really stuck in my craw: this same thing had just happened! The general plot was, "let's build a machine to protect the world. What could go wrong?" which was the same plot as Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Having said that, I didn't feel like Cap's initial reaction to Ultron made sense and I don't think Tony Stark would have attempted what he did in a world where the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D. was so prominently covered in te news. It felt like The Winter Soldier was basically ignored in an effort to tell this story the way Whedon/Marvel wanted to. 

Age of Ultron is clearly a bridge to get to The Infinity War and it did that job well. It also did a great job setting up Phase Three, and the search for new heroes. Although, what I left most excited for was Captain America: Civil War. There was a great deal of unresolved tension left in the air that just ended up being glossed over in an attempt to cleanly wrap up the movie and I can't wait to see it explode.

Overall, as a movie goer,I left Avengers: Age of Ultron content with what I saw.  It was a great deal of fun with lots of fantastic character moments where great actors could shine. If you like what they are doing with the MCU, go check it out.

I wish, wish, WISH we could see the Avengers in Walt Disney World or Disneyland, but unfortunately, Universal owns the theme park rights to those characters for some huge amount of time. In spite of that, people are clamoring for the two companies to figure out a way for Disney to get those rights back or at least share them with Universal. If it were me and I could wave a magic wand and settle this in a way where everyone gets what they want, I would give Universal the rights to the comic book characters and give Disney the rights to only the film versions. That way everyone gets their cape and can eat it, too.

Alright, so in that fantasy world I just created, I think Age of Ultron, and the MCU for that matter, offers a huge amount of possibilities. Ideally, Disney would build a "Marvel-land" in one of its parks where you could have several different attractions. The first idea from Age of Ultron that really sticks in my head is a simulator ride where the guests are in a quinjet-type vehicle chasing and fighting Ultron as he attempts to destroy the world. Lots of action and lots of fun!

Disneyana Obscura: The Por Favor Podcast

For many a fan of the Disney Company, the films, the shows, and the parks aren't quite enough to satiate the need for Disney. They want to talk about it but often find that their friends, family, and co-workers just don't share their passion for all things Disney. So, as any lonely, misunderstood person does, they turn to the Internet where vast communities of Disney fans create websites, discussion groups, Twitter hashtags, and, most importantly, podcasts as ways to share and interact with fellow Disney enthusiasts around the world.

One such podcast that I particularly enjoy is call the Por Favor Mantengase Alejado De Las Podcast (a title they got from the Spanish version of the monorail warning speech. The podcast is in English, though), or the Por Favor Podcast for short. Hosted by cousins Mike and Gary, their title alone sets the stage for the oddball sense of humor these two bring to their love of Disney. Affectionately, the hosts throw around nicknames at a rapid pace, often referring to themselves or others as Jürgen, Eric, Myq, Steve Melnyq, and several others. For first time listeners, this can be a bit jarring, but after an episode or two, you will be able to follow right along.

Each episode starts off with just a regular conversation where the two hosts just get caught up with each other. Gary, being in Rhode Island, and Mike, having recently moved to Florida from Minnesota, obviously aren't seeing each other much so we as an audience get a glimpse into their lives as they chat sports and family (most of whom have "PorFavor" tacked onto the beginning of their names). Their banter really sets the tone of each episode and is refreshing  after listening to other podcasts which stick soley to the "Disney All-Day, Every-Day" formula.

What is also nice is that the two hosts don't come to their love of Disney from the same angle. Gary is your usual park enthusiasts while Mike, if given his druthers, would just stay at the resorts all day. This really steers their conversations in different ways and, again, really helps them stand out from the crowd. Sometimes, their passions get a little heated, too, especially when the big "F" word gets brought up. This, too can lead to some really interesting episodes.

These guys like to keep things fresh, also. To do this, they have events every once in a while. For example, they recently  did a multi-part event where they simulated a "March Madness"-style tournament featuring attractions and, resorts, restaurants, and various other Disney staples pitted against each other. Each episode featured a lively discussion where the hosts, and sometimes guest hosts, hashed out who within the match-up was better.

Each month, they also do what they call "Por Favor Date Night" where they select a Disney movie and live tweet the viewing using the hashtag #porfavorDN (see my previous post). The tweets are usually quite amusing and the movies they pick are always classics. Sometimes, hosts from other podcasts get in on the action, unless they are too busy doing other, more important things, like eating with Emeril.

So, if you are a podcast listener, I HIGHLY recommend you give the gentlemen over at the Por Favor Podcast a listen. You can find them online at PorFavorPodcast.com or on Twitter at @PorFavorPodcast. Worth the follow!

Robin Hood

Ever since I was a child, I have had a soft spot for that Errol Flynn-style swashbuckling action. I mean, honestly, what is cooler than two swords clashing together as the hero and the villain duel through the middle of a battle? Whether it be on a pirate ship, in a galaxy far, far away, or the woods of Sherwood, didn't matter; I loved it!

Therefore, it's pretty understandable that when I saw Disney's Robin Hood for the first time, I fell in love.  On top of all the cool sword play and archery, there was a lot of great humor, fun characters, and Robin Hood was a frickin' fox! What wasn't there to love.

Well, I'm older now, and I like to think my tastes have refined a bit. Sword fights aren't as exciting to me anymore unless the combatants are rolling in a giant wheel or fighting on a planet made entirely of lava. So when Robin Hood came out on Blu-Ray a while ago, I was excited to get it, but a bit nervous as to whether it would still hold up for me. 

Luckily, it did! At the time the Blu-Ray came out, my wife was watching a few kids and they absolutely ate Robin Hood up. We ended up watching it several times and got a bit burnt out on it and it has sat on my shelf ever since.

Recently, a podcast that I listen to, the Por Favor Podcast, chose Robin Hood as its monthly "Por Favor Date Night" movie. While I was unable to participate in the "Date Night" live tweeting event, I was inspired to re-watch the film for this review.

Once again, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it, even while watching it critically. First off, let me say, I love this animation style. The scratchy, late-60's-early-70's Disney look (the Frank-and-Ollie Look, as I like to call it, though I don't know how accurate that is) is what "Disney" looks like to me and is by far my favorite of their styles. You can see the pencil marks where these master animators had drawn which gives a very textured feel to each scene. However, that texture takes nothing away from the fluidity of each scene. Characters move so naturally, so believably, which is more impressive since the main character is a fox who walks on his back legs.

The voice work in Robin Hood is excellent. Each actor's ability to convey so much of their character's personality is just so impressive to me. They incorporate so much, from what animal the character is, to what kind of upbringing they had, to what their individual goals are. All in a voice!

And the music! Oh, the music of Robin Hood is so much fun! It isn't exactly the Sherman brothers or even more pop-style stuff like we hear today, but rather a catchy, folky style that burrows into your ear. It will sit with you all day, giving you find memories of Robin Hood, Little John, and all the other great characters.

Now, this movie is by no means perfect.  I think it's weakness shows in the story. Robin Hood doesn't have one particular legend. Instead, he lives on in a series of smaller tales. For years, authors--most notably Howard Pyle--have tried to make a definitive, linear story for Robin, with varying success. This film feels very disjointed with Robin and his Merry Men moving quickly from one adventure to the next with little to no transition and little in the way of a story arc. In the end they rely on the return of King Richard to quickly wrap the story up as quickly and cleanly as possible.

But really, I don't think people are watching the film for a beautiful story arc. I think they watch it for the excitement, the action, maybe even the romance of it all, so if the overall story is weak, that's ultimately ok.

As I have gushed from the beginning, I think Robin Hood is a ton of fun from beginning to end and if you love swashbuckling adventure, you should check it out.

When it comes to presence in the theme parks, Robin Hood is lacking. Occasionally you will see some of the characters walking around for meet-and-greets, but that's about it. What I think would be cool would be if once a year, for a special event, Disney did a Renaissance fair of some kind in Fantasy Land. You could have outdoor performance pieces reenacting scenes from their medieval movies; set up kiosks selling pork shanks, turkey legs, and other hearty grub with that type of feel; or demonstrations of horseback riding or archery. All of the medieval characters, whether they be from Robin Hood, Sword in the Stone, or Snow White, could be available to meet. They could even stage a jousting tournament. It could be fun, different, and draw people into the parks. 

If you are interested in listening to my friends Gary and Mike on the Por Favor Podcast, you can find their website below:

http://www.porfavorpodcast.com

Disneyana Obscura: The Story of Menstruation

One thing that has always interested me about the Disney Company is it's rich history. Throughout that history, Disney has come out with an eclectic variety of material which often times steps out of the normal context we expect to see from them. In my Disneyana Obscura columns, I want to explore some of the forgotten, controversial, and bizarre pieces Disney has produced.

I figure if I'm going to write about some obscure Disney stuff, The Story of Menstruation should be at the top of my list. Produced in 1946 along with Kimberly-Clark (the makers of Kotex products), The Story of Menstruation is just that: an explanation of a woman's menstrual cycle. During the 40's, the Disney Company produced a wide variety of educational short films as a way to increase revenue during and after World War Two. 

The film, in as mild a way as possible, explained what happens to a woman's body, right from birth up until she begins to get her period. Through animated segments, the viewer is taught about the various glands and organs that go into the maturation and menstruation of a woman, from the pituitary gland down to the vagina (and yes, they said "vagina"). After we learn about the major players and what they do, the film explains what to do if there are irregularities in one's cycle, some exercises to do to make things go more smoothly, proper foods to eat, and other tips to make a period easier. Finally, the film directs the viewer to a booklet which came with the short,  and explains the same information in more detail.

The Story of Menstruation is clearly a product of its time. For starters, the flow is depicted as white (unlike our much more accurate modern blue depictions). Some might argue that that is because the red would be difficult to see on the dark purple background, but c'mon. If you are going for informative, tell it like it is. In another part, while warning women about being over-strenuous, the narrator says that normal activities are perfectly safe--while showing a woman dusting and vacuuming her house. Because, you know, that's what she does all day. And then, near the end, they get into how a woman might feel emotionally. The advice is basically, buck up but if you can't, put on some make-up. Great advice.

There was no discussion about how to use a tampon or pad. I assume that information came in the booklet, but who knows. But that's not really important, is it?

Anyway, in some parts, the animation was a lot of fun, using characature-like depictions of women. Other parts tried to be more realistic and those areas felt flat and, ironically, lifeless. There was a running narration which was very clinical in its manner and almost put me to sleep.

Overall, The Story of Menstruation is an interesting little slice of Disney history. It shows the company's willingness to step out of their comfort-zone in order to make ends meet while at the same time, gives the viewer a window into how we taught our kids the basic things they need to know to survive. I would call this an interesting, slightly awkward, kinda scary, glimpse into our recent past.

Now, how would this fit into the parks? Uh...um...well, that's a tough one. I think a ride is out of the question. Perhaps if the Wonders of Life pavilion were still in Epcot, it could be shown there as a museum piece, but I would doubt even that. Unfortunately, I think The Story of Menstruation might just be a bit too far out of the Disney mold for today's company.

Here is a link to the video in YouTube:

http://youtu.be/eLhld_PI2zg

The Future!

Hi, everyone. As you can tell, it has been awhile since I last posted on here.  I have been thinking about Notes to Walt a great deal, contemplating how I want to move forward with the blog or if I even WANT to move forward with it. One thing that was important to me was that if I chose to move forward with it, I wanted it to be more focused. But how?

As I said, I gave it a lot of thought and think I have figured it out! Notes to Walt will continue as a review blog. I'll watch a movie or short or read a Disney comic and then give my thoughts on it. After the review proper, I will give some ideas on how the characters and/or events from that piece of Disney media might be incorporated into the parks.

My plan is to publish twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Tuesday will be a straight up review of something classic like a movie or well-known short, or something like that. Thursdays will be what I'm calling "Disneyana Obscura." For those entries I will find something a bit more obscure or older or even something that isn't necessarily from Disney, but which is about Disney. 

I hope this sounds interesting to you all because I'm pretty excited about it! Hope to hear from you all soon!

Sam

Escape from Tomorrow: a review

Last night, on Netflix, I watched the film "Escape from Tomorrow" (EFT), which takes place in the Walt Disney World resort. However, this is NOT a Disney movie, not even by a long shot. The director/writer, Randy Moore, shot this thing guerrilla-style at the parks sans the House of Mouse's permission which gives the whole film a very naughty feeling.

The naughtiness carries through to the story as well. As the film begins we see the main character, Jim, receives a phone call while enjoying the sunrise views of the Magic Kingdom from his balcony at the Contemporary Hotel. Unfortunately, the picturesque scene is shattered when it turns out the phone call is Jim's boss telling him he has been let go from his job. As Jim's day progresses, things spiral into the weird and surreal.

If you are one who enjoys surreal, drug-induced-hallucination-and-paranoia-type movies, this is right up your alley. Alas, I am not really one of those people. Some of elements could have been much worse, but still, a lot of what is in the film went beyond my taste.

The story really reminded me of Cory Doctrow's novel "Down and Out In the Magic Kingdom," which also featured a great deal of paranoia and several trippy elements. The setting probably influenced my familiarity, also. But Doctrow's story seemed to work better than EFT's which at times felt really forced.

The acting was not all that great, either. The only characters I could really get behind were the kids, although being kids in the Magic Kingdom playing kids in the Magic Kingdom probably wasn't all that tough. Especially because long days of secretly shooting a movie and not being able to enjoy your surroundings would make anyone grumpy enough to beliebably portray those children.

Overall, I would say I, personally, didn't enjoy EFT, but it isn't my type of movie, either. I would say if you enjoy campy, surreal, B-type movies, you would probably enjoy this. I'm just not one of those people.

King of the World: Hollywood Studios Addendum

With all of the rumors going around about the American Idol Experience and Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular at Disney Hollywood Studios, I have been thinking a lot about my two previous blog entries on what I would do to fix things.

First part: http://notestowalt.blogspot.com/2014/03/king-of-world-disney-hollywood-studios.html?m=1

Second Part: http://notestowalt.blogspot.com/2014/03/king-of-world-disney-hollywood-studios_10.html?m=1

Well, after some thought, I now feel this type of reorganization and re theming is a must at the studios. Why? Because it fits the current business plan for the parks, namely, synergy. If they were to theme each land in the Studios after on of their studios, then they instantly have an interactive area to promote new films.

New Star Wars film coming out? Head on over to Lucasfilm where you can meet the star of the day from that film. New Pixar film? Head over to Pixar Place where you can get your photo taken with the main character. Get the point?

The possibilities are endless! Any film from any Disney studio could be marketed and promoted right there naturally without the hassle of awkward theming. Plus, with the idea of a character or actor of the day tied directly to whatever film is being promoted, Disney can provide something guests want (fresh interactions) with a classic concept harkening back to the early days of the Studios. 

Overall, I feel confident that the core concept--re theming the Studios with lands based around each of Disney's film studios--would be just the shot in the arm DHS needs, all while maintaining the business model Disney seems to be after.

My Maleficent Review (SPOILERS)

SPOILERS! You've been warned!

Oh, "Maleficent". You raised all of our hopes: FINALLY Disney was going to give us a dark film, delving into the heart and soul of one of it's most malevolent villains. Why, oh, why did this twisted fairy wish such ill will upon the Princess Aurora and her parents? Here, we were to get those answers.

And answers we got, yes indeed. However, in order to truly enjoy "Maleficent," one had to be sure to remove his or her "Sleeping Beauty" lenses. To compare the two films--with their generation and stylistic differences--would be unfair. I can hear you now: "Why would it be unfair? One uses the other as source material and the characters are the same." To that I say, "read on!"

As I've said, "Maleficent" is based upon Disney's 1959 classic "Sleeping Beauty" about a young princess who is cursed at her official announcement ceremony by a wicked fairy (http://m.imdb.com/title/tt0053285/). "Maleficent" is billed as said wicked fairy's side of the story. Right off the bat, the audience is told this isn't the story we have heard before and, MAN, they weren't lying!

Through the story, we see Malevolent as a curious, loving young fairy, fall in love, grow to be a fierce warrior, be betrayed, and have her heart turn cold and vengeful--and that's just the first twenty minutes. Personally, I think more time could have been spent here, on the title character's backstory. Several aspects felt as if they came very quickly, like the emotions involved didn't have time to fully evolve and therefore lost their weight. With a running time of ninety-eight minutes, I think another five or ten could have been used here without hurting the film's pacing.

The whole backstory culminated with "the scene": the announcement ceremony at which Maleficent, twisted with anger and jealousy, curses the young princess Aurora. Large chunks or this scene seemed to be lifted word for word from the animated predecessor, all to the benefit of the film. This was clearly the most important scene for the filmmakers as it brought tied the audience in and told them "here is where the real story begins." What is interesting, is that one slight change was made to the wording of the curse which foreshadowed the softer version of Maleficent this movie portrayed.

The story goes on and we see Aurora growing up through the spying, ever-watchful eyes of Maleficent. That's right, huge change there, as in the source film, Maleficent spends sixteen years searching for the princess to no avail. And, not only does Maleficent keep watch over Aurora, she makes efforts to protect her. The two eventually even become friends. This was tough for me to swallow. In "Sleeping Beauty," Maleficent's goal in life was to destroy King Stephan and his family, and here she is in "Maleficent" being a guardian angel for Aurora. Something about it sat sourly in my stomach.

Frankly, most everything after this point sat sourly in my stomach. Here is where I thought the poor choices the filmmakers made really caught up with them. Certain things I was very excited to see didn't come to fruition because if said choices (the dragon). Other things which were necessary to the story seemed frivolous because of those choices (Prince Phillip). However, one decision they made (the kiss) was perfect FOR THE STORY THAT WAS TOLD. Clearly, someone high up on the Disney ladder has made a great decision about the future of Disney Princesses and it should be applauded--the message is getting out!

In the end, the hero saves the day, evil is vanquished and everyone lives happily ever after in a way completely and utterly different from the original "Sleeping Beauty." 

Overall, "Maleficent" was a good movie. The acting wasn't anything spectacular with the exception of Angelina Jolie as Maleficent. This was her movie and she reveled in it. Clearly, Maleficent represented that strong womanly character Jolie has been searching for in films like "Tomb Raider" and "Wanted," both of which failed to hit the mark. Maleficent hit the nail on the head, showing a strong woman who is loving and caring while at the same time powerful, vulnerable, and flawed. Fantastic work.

Here is my problem: this film didn't have to be called "Maleficent". It didn't have to be about Maleficent. They could have made a film about a fallen fairy out to fix the wrongs she has inflicted upon the world without using pre-existing characters. Instead, by choosing to use the "Sleeping Beauty" characters, the filmmakers open themselves up to criticism and fan scorn. Yes, we think we know the story and are therefore surprised when things don't turn out as expected, but doing that makes the ending feel hollow. I think I would have been more satisfied with all new characters and a similar story (dropping all the "Sleeping Beauty" references) than I was with what I received from "Maleficent." I will concede, though, that the name helped get me into the theater, so ultimately, I get why it was done.

I'd say, go see "Maleficent". You'll be entertained for a couple hours and hopefully your sons and daughters will come out believing true love does exist.

WDW Radio: Podcast Features #1

I've said it before (though not here) and I'll say it again (probably here) that my headphones are the only thing keeping me from losing my mind at work. Typically I'm not listening to music, but instead, I enjoy audiobooks and podcasts. Outside of Mugglenet Academia and Star Talk Radio, my podcast playlist consists of shows centered around love for Walt Disney World.

These podcasts helped inspire me to write this blog so, I thought I would do a series of features on various podcasts that I listen to and tell you how each stands out.

So, where should I start? I was thinking I should start with a feature in the podcast that got me started in my podcast craze: WDW Radio. 

WDW Radio is hosted by Lou Mongello, a former lawyer and IT director from New Jersey who decided to pursue his passion and love for Walt Disney and share it with the world. He started by writing two volumes of Walt Disney trivia before getting into podcasting. Since then, WDW Radio has become one of the most popular podcasts on the web and has been awarded the best travel podcast award every year since 2006.

What sets WDW Radio apart from the rest of the pack, is Lou's honest passion and desire to get as much helpful information into his podcast, as possible. Through his own personal knowledge, as well as a wide variety of special guests, Lou has helped teach people about ways to save money at WDW, what to do if you have special needs, various aspects of the park and greater Disney history, and any other question one may have.

However, WDW Radio is not just a stream if facts, oh no. Lou keeps things light and entertaining through fun segments like "Top 10 with Tim Foster", e-mail segments with travel expert Beci Mahnken, and walk arounds with Disney historian Jim Korkiss. All of this is enhanced by Lou's affable personality which shines whenever he is talking to a guest, whether they be reoccurring or a one-timer.

But that isn't enough for Lou. He takes things to a new level with his Dream Team Project, a charitable organization he runs to raise funds to bring children with terminal conditions and their families to Disney through the Male-a-Wish Foundation. Lou frequently run auctions or other projects to achieve these goals and uses WDW Radio to both promote and explain these wonderful endeavors.

All-in-all, WDW Radio is everything if sets out to be: entertaining, engaging, and informative. If you love Walt Disney World or are planning a trip there, I can't recommend WDW Radio enough.

www.wdwradio.com

King of the World: A Frozen Resort

I read a tweet the other day (follow me @notestowalt) asking the twitter-verse what they would do if they were an Imagineer and were tasked with making a "Frozen"-themed attraction. My mind raced to the rejected dark, boat ride themed after the Snow Queen called " The Enchanted Snow Palace" thought up by Marc Davis (http://mobile.dudamobile.com/site/jimhillmedia?url=http%3A%2F%2Fjimhillmedia.com%2Feditor_in_chief1%2Fb%2Fjim_hill%2Farchive%2F2013%2F01%2F03%2Ftitle.aspx#3122).

But then my mind started drifting and I started thinking about Disney's proposed Mineral King Resort, a development based in the Mineral King Valley of California. The resort was centered around skiing, nature activities, and shopping areas. Ultimately, the park was scrapped due to conservationalists' protests over the resorts potential impact on Sequoia National Park (http://www.yesterland.com/mineralking.html). My thinking is, why not try again, some place else?

I'm picturing a large ski resort in Colorado themed around the kingdom of Arendelle, with Elsa's castle as the centerpiece (the non-ice-crystal one). Various attractions themed around winter concepts would be found around the castle. Attractions like the "Enchanted Snow Palace" ride (imagined using Frozen characters), a bob-sled roller-coaster aka the Matterhorn, figure skating demonstrations, and a tea-cup-like ride featuring ice cubes spinning around on a sheet of ice, and the "Snowmen Serenade," among other attractions. Families could play together here as they would in the Magic Kingdom. However, I should say that I do not picture this "Frozen Kingdom" to be the same size as any of the other parks as this would be intended for people staying at the resort, not day visitors.

To one side of this play district, the town could feature shopping districts with a wide variety of shops and outlets. Imagine a place similar to Downtown Disney, but with a greater focus on stores. While all of the wonderful stores that can be found at DD would be here, I can also see more common outlet-style shops here.

To the other side of the play district, the greater town area would feature a water park in a manner similar to Blizzard Beach with lazy rivers, water slides, and wave pools. This would help attract families during the off-season when skiing is unavailable.

Behind the town would be one large, grand hotel which could feature a variety of amenities.  Various room sizes and capabilities would allow Disney to make this large hotel cover price ranges from value all the way up to deluxe in one facility.

Around the town could be nature walk spaces for hiking, horseback riding, and campgrounds. People would be able to appreciate the nature of the landscape away from the park areas.

When winter sets in, the resort could become a full-fledge ski resort catering to families looking for an all-encompassing resort with several ski-runs, spas, hot tubs, shopping, and several of the in-door attractions from the summer season.

All of this is right from the top of my head and heavily inspired by other ideas like Mineral King and the "Enchanted Snow Palace" but I still believe a Disney-themed winter resort could work and what better way to theme it than with the Mega-hit Frozen? 

Carl Barks' "Lost in the Andes": A Review

Just in case my idea for a fifth Walt Disney World park didn't tip you off, I would like to make something clear: I love Duck Tales! Since I saw it as a child, Duck Tales has struck a chord with me; nowhere else could a kid find that blend of humor, adventure, and good ol' Disney reliability.

As I got older, I became interested in comic books and was pleased to learn that Duck Tales is based upon the cartoon work of some guy named Carl Barks. It turns out this Carl Barks guy is pretty important. His techniques and styles are a major influence on today's cartoon styling, and his stories and gags have played a role in some major adventure stories we love today. Barks is generally recognized as one of the best cartoonists of all time.

Barks started with Disney as an animator on Donald Duck shorts before moving on to comic book cartoons during World War II. During his time as a cartoonist, he became known as "The Duck Man" and contributed a great deal to the Donald Duck mythos, most notably "Duckburg" and "Scrooge McDuck."

Armed with all of this knowledge, I sought out some of Carl Barks' work and was pleased to discover that Fantagraphics was in the process of publishing "The Complete Carl Barks Disney Library." I snatched up the first published volume--which was actually volume 11, I believe--"Lost in the Andes" and read it right away.

"Lost in the Andes," as I said, is actually volume 11 in the series. Fantagraphics decided to published the works starting at the peak of Barks' career and and working out toward the beginning and end of his work. This volume is part of the Donald Duck series and separate from the Scrooge McDuck series. Barks himself considered the story "Lost in the Andes" to be his best work, and I could see why.

That story in particular featured all of the things that Barks is famous for: great humor, lots of action, and fantastic art. It tells the story of Donald and his nephew's (Huey, Dewey, and Luey) trip to the Andes to find the birds that lay mysterious cube-shaped, rock-like eggs. What they find is a tribe of natives who speak with a southern accent and like in a cloud-covered tract of land unaware of the world around them. 

While this particular tale would probably be considered politically incorrect today, when taken in the context in which it was created, it was obvious why "Lost in the Andes" was so popular.

There were also several more stories in this volume as the book featured all of Barks' work from one calendar year (I believe). While most of the stories are not as good as the featured tale, each one contains all of those elements Barks' is known for.

Overall, I would highly recommend "Lost in the Andes" to anyone who likes Donald Duck or Duck Tales. I also recommend it to anyone who likes comic books, cartoon strips, or their history. Lastly, I recommend them to any fan of Disney history, as this really is a slice of that rich pie.

Fun Fact About Hubs and Spokes

Ever notice how, when you fly, your flight usually goes through Charlotte or Chicago or Dallas even though they are way out of the way?  Well, you can kinda blame Walt Disney for that.  Let me explain.

When WED (the predecessor to Walt Disney Imagineering) were designing Disneyland, they decided to lay it out using a "hub-and-spoke" system.  In the "hub-and-spoke" system, Guests are guided to a centralized part of the park, called the hub.  From there, they can choose one of several paths (or spokes) which will lead them to various areas of the park. Essentially, they chose to the design of a wheel to map out their park.  It is a very efficient system, making getting around easy for Guests.

The hub-and-spoke was not invented by Disney, but the application of the system in a theme park was revolutionary and showed on a nice scale how effective the system could be.

Soon after Disneyland opened, several executives from Pan Am (I believe, though it might be Delta) were touring the park and were amazed at how effectively the hub-and-spoke system worked and thought they could apply it to air travel.  

A few months later they had rearranged their flight patterns to have all of their flights go into a centralized hub airport where passengers could connect to other flights going to other parts of the country or even other parts of the world.  

So, when you are flying from Boston to Italy via Chicago, you can be cursing the man, the myth, the legend himself, Walt Disney and the "efficient" hub-and-spoke system.

Frozen: Origins and Review

There will be SPOILERS so... yeah.  You've been warned.

Like a lightning bolt from a clear sky, Disney's Frozen came out of no where to strike gold and leave its mark on the Anerican film landscape.  On the surface, Frozen appears to be a typical Disney animated feature (princesses! working song! love will conquer all!), until you dig down and see that in reality, Frozen is a two hour revolution put to music.

Frozen had to be good.  It just had to be.  Disney had been working on the film for so long , you would hope they had a blockbuster on their hands.  Frozen is "based" upon Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen, a story about a boy cursed by an enchanted mirror and held captive by the titular Snow Queen, who is rescued by his friend.  Sound like Frozen to you?  Yeah, me either, that's why "based" was in quotations.

Let's start at the beginning: in the 1940's Walt Disney Productions were in a tough spot.  Several of their animators had gone to war and the only work the studio was able to get was from the government making instructional and propoganda films.  In an attempt to kick start things, Walt wanted to team up with his friend Samuel Goldwyn to make a biography of Andersen in which Goldwyn and his production company would film the live parts and Disney Studios would animate several fairy tales some of which being The Emperor's New Clothes, The Little Mermaid, and The Snow Queen.  Eventually, Disney dropped out of the project.  Goldwyn would go on to make the Andersen biopic and receive six Oscar nominations for it.

During the warly 1990's, after the success of The Little Mermaid, Disney entered what is called the Disney Renaissance and were putting out animated features as quickly as possible. In order to do this, the heads of the studio dug into the archives to find any idea they could, including early work on The Snow Queen.  Over the next decade, Disney tried unsuccessfully to get a story together.  The hang up was the Snow Queen character; no one was able to figure out how to make her relatable.  Finally, the project was scrapped in 2002.

During the following decade, no fewer than four attempts were made to get The Snow Queen on film, before John Lasseter made it a priority.  A break through came when someone pepped making the protagonist (now named Anna) and the Snow Queen sisters, giving the audience a reason to be compassionate for the Queen.

After the success of Tangled, audiences were primed for a new CGI fairy tale and Disney was prepared with Frozen.

When I saw Frizen in theaters, I found it underwhelming.  I was much more impressed with the accompanying short, Get A Horse, than I was in the main feature.  I thought Frozen was good and had a great message, but I felt it lacked a true villain and I really wasn't a big fan if the music.

Don't get me wrong, I thought Frizen was cute.  The humor made me giggle several times, especially Olaf, who was, quite simply, a laugh machine.  But I couldn't get over the fact there was no real villain introduced into the story until the third act.  Yes, I know he was there and there was the bald dude, but still, the antagonists nefariousness didn't occur at all until the film was almost finished.  In addition, the music seemed too poppy to me, like it was not meant to tell the story, persay, but rather, that it was written to sell an album.  It left a sort of bitter taste in my mouth, souring my generally good feelings about the main story itself.

However!  My wife and I re-watched Frozen last night and my feelings have changed quite a bit.  If you asked me now, I would tell you Frozen is a future classic and a watershed moment in Disney animated history.

Since I saw Frozen in the theater, I have watched The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast.  Both of those are absolute Disney classics, each holding important places not only in Disney's storied legacy, but in film history as well.  The structures of those two films, the way their stories are told, and how their songs are integrated into their stories gave me a new perspective on Frozen.

First of all, about the music: being more familiar with the songs this time around, I found them much more enjoyable, especially the love song between Anna and Hans (which is absolutely hilarious).  The music erupted from the story without feeling forced or shoehorned into the plot, as I felt it was the first time.  Even the bizarre song Olaf sings seemed to fit into what was going on this time around.

Obviously the "show stopper" was Let It Go, which, in my opinion, is a very good song, and catchy as hell.  However, I'm not a big fan of Idina Menzel's performance.  As my exposure to Broadway, classical, and operatic music increases, I become less and less impressed with Ms. Menzel's singing style.  Some parts felt like she lost control of her voice (or came very close), and I found it distracting.

The villain issue still sticks in my craw a bit.  I wish there were more clues earlier in the film to foreshadow Hans' true intentions.  While I don't feel the twist came out of left field, or anything like that, I still think it could have helped.  Even if he were more friendly with the Weaseltownians or just had a grin with a bit more cockiness in it, it could have made a difference.  But, hey, that's not to say Frozen needed a villain from start to finish.  I guess I'm just a bit of a traditionalist in that way.

For me, what is most significant about Frozen, and what makes it an important film in Disney's history, is the story, specifically, the ending. Anna sacrificing herself holds so much meaning!  First, she is able to save her sister by stopping evil Hans' malevolent sword slash.  If I'm not mistaken, this is the first time a Disney Princess (Elsa) is saved by a sibling's act of true love.  In this way, Anna physically saves Elsa's body.

Beyond that, by sacrificing herself to protect Elsa, Anna is also able to save herself.  Her act of live for her sister is what saves her from her frozen heart.  In doing this, Disney is telling young people, "you can be your own hero," which is a shift from previous films. (Princess and the Frog has a similar message, but goes about it in a more literal manner)

What really sets the ending apart, for me, is immediately before Anna's sacrifice.  As Kristoph and Anna race toward each other for true love's first kiss, Anna hears Hans' sword being unsheathed.  In that instant, she decides protecting her sister is more important than saving herself and turns away from Kristoph.  In that same moment, Disney is turning away from its time-honored tradition of romantic love being what saves all and instead saying any love works.  Anna is metaphorically turning from the past and looking toward a bright new future for Disney film-making.

Frozen's story tells us to be ourselves and not to be ashamed of who we are inside.  It's topical, appropriate, and a great message overall.  It is about love and acceptance.  It is beautiful.

I would recommend Frozen to anyone who enjoys a good time and a great story.

My Top Five Disney Movies

Over dinner my wife asked me, "what are your top five Disney movies?"

Instantly my head started spinning! What a loaded question! How can I pick five? My personal favorites or what I think are the five best they made (very different lists)? Does Pixar count? Live action or just animated? Wow!

So, here are the rules: five personal favorites, all animated, Pixar counts.

My lists and why:

5. and 4. Sword and the Stone/Robin Hood

I can't really choose between these two. They are both fun adventures that caught me when I was young. I believe Sword in the Stone appealed to me--and still does--because I see a bit of myself in Wart: scrawny kid dreaming of a great destiny. Plus, Merlin is wicked cool. Robin Hood is just a swashbuckling good time so what isn't there to love?

3. Toy Story 3

I sobbed like a child fighting nap time when I saw this. Man oh man! The story wrenched at my heart as someone fighting hard to hold on to my childhood. It really got to me and still does. Just a beautiful movie.

2. Aladdin

One critic called it "Disney's version of Indiana Jones" and that spoke to my youthful self! As a fan of Indiana Jones, I can totally agree! Adventure at every turn! Humor and romance are woven in between to create a compelling story that appeals to every audience.

1. The Little Mermaid

This is by far my favorite Disney film. It is one of my all-time favorite movies in general. The animation is completely spot on, letting the artists show their creativity while also being technically sound. I mean, look at Ariel's hair! The award-winning music is breathtaking, upbeat, and inspiring. The story is compelling as are all of the characters. Throw in one of Disney's best villains and you have a masterpiece!

That's my list, what's yours? I'd love to hear what your top five Disney films are. You don't have to go by my rules, either. Like Mary Poppins? Throw it on your list! Like Air Bud? I'll be judging you, but you are free to put it on your list. Any way you mix it, I want to see it! You can post in the comments section or on my Facebook status or Google+ post. Thanks in advance!

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train POV

Sweet new roller coaster at Disney?  And it's based on the original Disneey classic?  Awesome!

Wanna check it out? Here's two trips through, front seat and back seat:

http://youtu.be/9A4vjeYLcXw

Personally, I cannot wait.  I want to go now!

King of The World: 5th Gate: Duckburg University

The Duckburg University Neighborhood was originally going to be a part of Duckburg proper, a downtown university, if you will. But as I've reconsidered some of my ideas, I've moved it's location within the park, thus necessitating making it its own Neighborhood.

The first Duckburg University attraction will be Gyro's Flying Saucers based on the Gyro Gearloose character from Duck Tales and the Scrooge McDuck comic books. Gyro is known for his screwball inventions and Guests would get the chance to test ride his latest: the flying saucer! Disney has perfected the hovering vehicle over at California Adventure with the Tow Mater ride so it would be very easy to translate it into a new theme. For those who aren't aware of the Tow Mater ride, picture a GIANT game of air hockey combined with bumper cars. Guests float on the air in round vehicles bouncing off of each other much to everyone's delight.

Time-traveling adventures await Guests on the next attraction themed around Ludwig Von Drake, Disney's resident professor of everything. This simulator ride would take Guests through history as told through cartoons. In the process, though, Guests will also be brought through the history of cartoons starting with Gertie the Dinosaur right up to modern day Mickey Mouse. Guests will soar through 3d representations of some cartoon classics as an animatronic Ludwig guides them through the adventure.

For food, we are going back to the basics. The Campus Dining Hall would be a straight up cafeteria offering a HUGE variety of foods to please any palette. Quick service in all its simple elegance.

Finally, Guests could stop in at the Campus Bookstore where they could buy any if a variety of Disney-themed books or movies as well as Duckburg U apparel.

I picture Duckburg University as a quaint, quirky college-themed area where guests can experiment and learn all while having a great time!

King of the World: 5th Gate: The Other Side of The Tracks

The Other Side of the Tracks will be the Neighborhood that highlights some of Disney's villainous toons. Disney's baddies are very popular, so much so that some people want to give them their own park. I don't really buy into that idea, but I do think an area dedicated to some of the...gentler villains could work really well.

The first attraction is the Weasels' Wicked Wild Whip-Around! Guests will go on a wild car ride with the weasels as they escape from their latest caper. This would be very similar to Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, but themed with a city-scape as they travel between buildings.

Next up is Magica's Magical Seance where Scrooge McDuck's villainous rival Magica DeSpell attempts to speak to a passed spirit but only ends up conjuring every other spirit out there. Comedy and mayhem ensues until she is able to get everything back in order. I imagine this as a more advanced Tiki-Bird-type show.

Two of my favorite eatery ideas are in this Neighborhood. First is Ma Beagle's Bakery. If anyone has seen the TV show Duck Tales, or are familiar with the villainous Beagle Boys, they are probably aware of Ma Beagle. She is the loving matriarch of the gang known to send home-made baked goods to any of her boys who end up in the slammer. She likes to slip a surprise into her snacks, usually something to help her boys escape. The unique thing about Ma Beagle's bakery is that each item will come with a surprise souvenir inside for guests to bring home with them.

Finally, you have Peg-Leg Pete's Smokehouse. Pete the cat is known as the cigar chomping thorn in the Fab Five's side. Nothing says "smoking" like barbecue, so logically, Pete has a barbecue joint. Guests would be able to get classics like turkey legs and pork shanks from this classic hole-in-the-wall.

The Other Side of The Tracks would be a small corner of the park, dark and out of the way, but with the type of attractions people love.

Star Wars EU No More!

Disney and Lucasfilm announced this week a clarification of the future of Star Wars storytelling.  There were a lot of words in the press release, but basically, what it all boils down to is that from here on out, the old Star Wars Expanded Universe (the print stuff and video games) are no longer considered to be part of Star Wars continuity.  All that currently is in continuity are the films and the Clone Wars TV show.  In addition, they also announced that a new expanded universe will begin soon with four new novels coming out.  

Here is a link to an article explaining all of this:

http://www.blastr.com/2014-4-25/disney-announces-first-four-novels-new-star-wars-canon

So, here's the thing: people are pretty pissed about this and frankly, I don't get the frustration.  People are saying, "I've invested 30 years of my life into this and they are just going to abandon it?"  I'm saying, "of course they are!" 

The Expanded Universe created a very tight box for the filmmakers to work with. Were there some good stories in the EU?  Yes.  Some.  But none that could viably be adapted to the screen which means the Disney would need to write a new story that fit into 30 years of continuity.  That's a tough job.  On top of that, if they did write a film within the EU parameters, they would have been forced to either try to explain all of that to non-EU experts or leave those millions of people in the dark.  That wasn't about to happen.

People are saying Lucas have his stamp of approval to everything in the EU and considered it canon.  Yeah, ok.  He ignored all of the cloning tech and back story created in the Thrawn Trilogy when he made the prequels.  Lucas went out and created his own ideas without any regard for what was happening in the EU.

Frankly, Disney is doing the right thing.  They are going to keep all of the original EU in print under a separate brand as its own story.  Now they are going to tell their own story with a committee whose job it is to keep the continuity consistent.  

End rant.

Which Classic Disney Character Are You?

I love Buzzfeed quizzes.  Like, a lot.  I took this one this morning and got Chip! I was surprised by this answer so I am curious which character you got.  Let me know in the comments below!

http://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/which-classic-disney-cartoon-character-are-you?bffb&s=mobile