Blake’s Picks – The Best of Walt Disney World, #10-1

Image belongs to Blake's family.

Finishing our countdown the most magical experiences of the most magical place on Earth.

By Blake

Originally posted January 24, 2012.



     Walt Disney World Resort celebrated its 40th anniversary on October 1, 2011, and now it's time to finish off counting down my top 40 personal favorite Disney experiences.  I realize that there’s just so much going on that it’s nearly impossible to have experienced EVERYTHING. However, of the many things I have had the privilege of enjoying, this is what I attest to be (wait for it)…the best of Walt Disney World.

What’s included in this list: attractions, rides, shows, atmospheres, and restaurants

What’s not included in this list: Resort rooms, seasonal events, special programs/tours, and closed attractions

What’s your favorite?



10. Main Street, U.S.A.
Magic Kingdom

     You know you’re “really here” when you make that first walk under the Magic Kingdom’s railroad station and step onto Main Street, with Cinderella Castle beckoning in the distance. It’s an emotional rush that can be described in no other way than Disney magic in its most genuine form.

Video by Undercover Tourist.

     Main Street, U.S.A. is based on Walt Disney’s romanticized memories of his hometown on Marceline, Missouri, so such a place as depicted here probably never really existed verbatim. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be beautifully brought to life here in the Magic Kingdom. Everything about Main Street makes you want to settle down and live here. The turn-of-the-century ragtime melodies softly playing are some of the best instances of background music in any Disney park. The musical entertainment (including the trolley show, marching band, and Dapper Dans, to name a few) are so simplistically brilliant. The citizens who roam the area (such as the mayor and the fire chief) are wonderful for a humorous little chat. And, to top it all off, the pumped smell of chocolate chip cookies coming from the bakery is icing on the cake. It’s the perfect welcome to a magical day ahead.



9. Festival of the Lion King
Disney’s Animal Kingdom

     This show is in a class all its own. There are great Walt Disney World shows…and then there’s Festival of the Lion King. The clever approach of this production is not to retell The Lion King’s film story on stage, but to rather celebrate the spirit of The Lion King through a spectacle of music, parade floats, acrobatics, fire, characters, stilt-walkers, and more, all in a theater-in-the-round production that never fails to be a highlight of a visit to Animal Kingdom.

Image by Blake.

8. Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort

I had heard that this 1970’s-era dinner show was fun. But, upon seeing it recently, I was definitely not expecting just how much I would thoroughly enjoy it. I was swept up by its simplicity of its six-person troupe of cun-tree performers and small accompanying orchestra (of the piano and banjo variety). It was fantastic, and perhaps what makes it so enthralling it how its old-school, countrified humor is still just as entertaining today as it was in the early days of the Walt Disney World Resort. Not to mention that it’s just plain funny to have a tin bucket of ribs delivered to your table in tune to the music.

Image by Blake.

7. Space Mountain
Magic Kingdom

     Here’s the king dog daddy of Disney thrills. Smooth and exhilarating but not too extreme, Space Mountain is the ultimate E-Ticket. “Yzma, put your hands in the air!”

Image by Blake.

6. 3 o’clock Parade
Magic Kingdom

     What time does it start again? I love me a good Disney parade. And, despite the fact that the current iteration of the Magic Kingdom’s afternoon parade is a bit stale, the 3 o’clock parade is such a legendary and infamous figure in Disney lore that it can’t be left out of the top WDW attractions. The Magic Kingdom’s parade is historically the one to include the most classic characters in Disney’s vast library of animated personalities, meaning every float is a who’s-who, blink-and-you-miss-them lineup of childhood heroes and superstars. If you feel so inclined and want a fun memory, watch the parade on Main Street and then sprint through Adventureland in time to catch the parade again as it makes its way through Frontierland.

Enjoy for yourself the splendor and magic of the 3:00 parade.  Video by KnightOwl2006.

5. Splash Mountain
Magic Kingdom

     The Imagineers really outdid themselves with this one. Not since Pirates of the Caribbean had an Audio-Animatronics attraction had such detail, intrigue, personality, and—to our benefit—length! Clocking in at over ten minutes, Splash Mountain is definitely worth its often long wait. It retells a condensed version of Song of the South in a ride that is perhaps best described as a log flum-ized Fantasyland dark ride.

Image by Blake.

     Not only is the ride itself fun, but the detail is extraordinary. From the intricate story unfolding to the visual details of the props to the stellar theming of the surrounding area, particularly the rustic and inviting quality of the entrance courtyard and subsequent queue…it’s impossible not to exit with a smile on your face.



4. Fantasmic!
Disney’s Hollywood Studios

     Question: Just what is this? A show? Parade? Film? Fireworks?

     Answer: Yes.

Video by aquany1.

3. Jim Henson’s Muppet*Vision 3D
Disney's Hollywood Studios

     This is the last major production that Jim Henson worked on before his untimely death in 1990, and it is truly one of his finest hours. It’s downright hysterical; every Muppet character (and therefore every Muppet performer) is in their element and has never put on a better show. Among the highlights are Statler and Waldorf’s comments to the audience from their balcony seats, the we-know-they’re-cheesy-but-we’re-using-them-anyway 3D effects, and, of course, Sam the Eagle’s “Salute to All Nations, But Mostly America.”

Image by Blake.

     The queue for Muppet*Vision is one of the Imagineers’ most detailed environments ever. Guests are meant to feel as if they’re inside the actual Muppet Theater, so while waiting in line they pass zany offices and are surrounded by amusing props with puns (like “a net full of jello,” meant to recall Mouseketeer Annette Funicello). The accompanying gift shop continues the details with more hilarious findings and quirky theming treats.



2. Character Encounters

     There’s just something magical about meeting your favorite Disney character in person. The characters know how much they mean to Guests, and what they represent to many people, and as such treat each personal encounter with Guests as something special. They’re always in character (Goofy is particularly clumsy and Stitch is 100% mischievous) and they never fail to be the best at what they do.

Video by simplyjas.

1. Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Magic Kingdom

     What makes Mickey’s PhilharMagic so wonderful is that it completely and wholeheartedly embodies everything that the Walt Disney Company stands for. It culminates together exactly what it is that gives Disney such a nostalgic connotation. As Donald Duck whizzes through scenes from classic animated films to the tunes of some of the best songs in cinematic history, we’re reminded of each of these films and characters and the special memories we associate with each of those entities, as well as the special memories we associate with anything Disney, whether that relates to the parks or something else. Mickey’s PhilharMagic is always the last attraction my family experiences at the Magic Kingdom, to serve as a reminder of what being a family is all about.

Video by danwisbey85.

 
Did your favorite make the list?
 
 
Catch the rest of the list:

• #40-31
• #30-21
• #20-11

And catch readers sharing their favorite Disney memories to celebrate 40 years of magic.

By Blake; posted January 24, 2012.

Photo Friday 1/20/2012 - Pass and Stow

     Yesterday marked an historic day in the life of the Magic Kingdom, as President Obama visited the Park.  Obama delivered a brief speech regarding an encouragement to boost tourism in the United States, with the intent of both Americans and international visitors enjoying the many top-notch tourist experiences available in our great nation.  Even Guests inside Magic Kingdom were not able to view the exciting occasion, though--Main Street was completely closed all morning until Obama exited the Park, with no Guests permitted to view the speech.  I'm sure it was a very unique experience all-around, for both those who were fortunate enough to be part of the event, and the Guests who encountered an alternate form of the Magic Kingdom's entrance (backstage).

     Therefore, it's appropriate for this week's Photo Friday to spotlight the replica of the liberty bell.  It's a neat detail that often overlooked.  You'll find it in Liberty Square in the Magic Kingdom, in a tucked-away area near Liberty Tree Tavern.


By Blake; posted January 20, 2012.

Silver Screen Review – “Beauty and the Beast” in 3D and “Tangled Ever After”

Image copyright Disney.

Disney rolls out the red carpet and allows audiences to be their Guest for a magical family movie outing. But is this beauty worth its beastly price tag?

By Blake

Originally posted January 16, 2012.


     The first five minutes of Beauty and the Beast immediately relay the fact that this film is something different. The main protagonist is introduced in an elaborate production number. The audience knows everything about said protagonist through the lyrics of this opening song, without one word of dialogue. The village she lives in is inhabited by citizens and businesses that are all presented in organized disorganization that rivals that of any top-notch Broadway musical. This story exists in a romanticized storybook environment that removes itself from reality and cuts off all relation to the present world through exaggerated character motives and unrealistic circumstances. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.

     Belle (voiced by Paige O’Hara and animated by James Baxter) is often made fun of in her small French village for being different from everyone else: she likes to read and would rather spend time with her father than gossip at the bar (the nerve of her!). The only person who takes a fancy to her is local studmuffin Gaston (Richard White, Andreas Deja), and being the conceited jerk that he is, he only likes her for her beauty. When her father takes a wrong turn and winds up in the clutches of a vicious Beast (Robby Benson, Glen Keane), Belle courageously offers herself to take her father’s place as the Beast’s servant forever. Little does she know that the Beast lives in an enchanted castle, where candlesticks, clocks, and tea pots alike are hoping that she is the girl they have been waiting for, the girl who can break the castle’s terrible spell and turn them all human again—if she falls in love with the Beast.

Belle wants adventure in the great, wide somewhere.  Image copyright Disney.

     Though these characters’ situation is fantasy, their emotions are as real as those of any given person in the audience. They deal with relatable, potent issues. Progressing throughout Disney Princess history, Belle is a perfect transition between the “I’m waiting for my prince” mentality of the first set of Disney royalty and the “I’m chasing after my dreams myself” attitude of the more current personalities. Belle longs for fantasy and adventure, but doesn’t want to be controlled by morals she doesn’t agree with. She wants to independently attain the excitement she’s always dreamed of. Add that to the Beast’s heartbreaking internal struggle to gain the ability to love without letting his frightening demeanor upstage him, and the castle’s servants’ understandable dream of finally breaking loose of their material bonds to become human again, and you’ve got yourself an accurate reflection of modern-day social structures, albeit with a dash of fairytale charm. Seeing these characters develop throughout the film as their relationship with Belle grows—as she changes them and as they change her—remind us of the delicate balance of our own friendships, and how we can improve our interactions with those who are important to us.

Image copyright Disney.

     What truly drives Beauty and the Beast out of the park is its music. Both the enchanting score and exquisite songs (written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, who also collaborated on The Little Mermaid and Aladdin) balance together to deliver one of Disney’s best soundtracks. Of particular interest are the showstopping “Be Our Guest” and “Gaston,” whose outrageous lyrics describe the self-absorbed loaf to a tee. “I use antlers in all of my decorating!”

     The new 3D release of Beauty and the Beast comes off the heels of last September’s re-release of The Lion King, which unexpectedly proved to be very advantageous for Disney, raking in $30 million. Beauty and the Beast was actually supposed to be released to theaters in 3D in February 2010, but for whatever reason was postponed. My guess is that upon The Lion King’s success, Disney wanted another classic 3D release as soon as possible, and already had Beauty and the Beast raring to go (though that’s just my personal speculation). Other titles slated for theatrical re-releases in 3D are Finding Nemo (September 2012), Monsters, Inc. (January 2013, just in time for that summer’s Monsters University prequel), and The Little Mermaid (September 2013).

     What The Lion King had, though, that Beauty and the Beast lacks is anticipation. Just a comparison…

The Lion King

• Hadn’t been released on DVD since 2003
• Hadn’t been shown on television for years
• Had its 3D theatrical run several weeks before its Blu-ray debut, thus sparking attention for the Blu-ray

Beauty and the Beast

• Just had a huge marketing push for its Blu-ray debut in October 2010
• Has been shown on television frequently, even as recently as during ABC Family’s 25 Days of Christmas

     Although Beauty and the Beast is still a marvelous film in its own right and is one of Disney’s most endearing classics, it’s been at the forefront of the public’s mind for a while, whereas The Lion King seemed more like an event because it had been gone for so long. As a Disney fan, I was still extremely excited to see Beauty and the Beast on the big screen, but I think the fact that the film has had so much recent exposure could deter some potential moviegoers from buying tickets (which, at 3D pricing, are quite expensive).

     This leads us to the underlying question that must be asked: Is it worth forking over the money to see Beauty and the Beast in theaters again, especially if you’ve watched it recently at home? To be honest, for most it’s probably not worth it.

     I actually never saw Beauty and the Beast in theaters during its original release, so as a fan it was a thrill to see it on the big screen with a full audience as opposed to on a television at home. The sound was particularly (and unexpectedly) superb, especially for the many different traveling voices during the songs. The 3D effects were ok, but nothing to shout about. “Be Our Guest” is the obvious standout as being flat-out spectacular in 3D (as attested by Mickey’s PhilharMagic), but other than that nothing really wow’d me. (The crowded village in the opening sequence and the rain during the climax were neat, but again, nothing to go crazy over.)

"Tonight you'll prop your feet up, but for now let's eat up..." Image copyright Disney.

     Preceding all screenings of Beauty and the Beast is Tangled Ever After, an all-new short film that serves as a mini-sequel to Disney’s 2010 hit Tangled. It tells the story of Rapunzel and Flynn Rider’s wedding, and the comical behind-the-scenes antics of Pascal and Maximus as they prepare for the big ceremony. The short, directed by Nathan Greno and Byron Howard (the same duo that helmed the original Tangled), is fast-paced, quirky, in-your-face, and extremely funny. The pantomime humor of mute characters Pascal and Maximus are what truly shine here, bringing us a highly entertaining preshow whose gags would feel right at home amongst the visually-oriented jokes of the early Mickey Mouse shorts.

Tangled Ever After is a pre-movie treat before all screenings of Beauty and the Beast. Image copyright Disney.

     Beauty and the Beast is truly a remarkable film. I mean, for crying out loud, it was the first animated film to ever be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. However, I find it very difficult to justify its meaty 3D admission price unless you really, really, REALLY want to see it on the big screen. The exceptional Tangled Ever After makes the expense a little more reasonable. The appeal for me was viewing Beauty and the Beast with an enthusiastic evening crowd and the enormity of actually seeing Lumiere, Mrs. Potts, and the gang plastered upon an actual movie screen. It doesn’t get much better than a near-full theater bursting into applause after “Be Our Guest.” For most people, though, a fun movie night with a rental copy of the film and a couple of friends will suffice just as well, and will prove to be more economically friendly.


BlakeOnline rating for Beauty and the Beast (as a film): 10/10
BlakeOnline rating for Beauty and the Beast (as a 3D re-release): 7/10
One word to describe Beauty and the Beast: Captivating
Beauty and the Beast is similar to: Cinderella, The Lion King


Related BlakeOnline posts:

• Silver Screen Review - Tangled (posted November 24, 2010)
• Silver Screen Review - The Lion King in 3D (posted September 19, 2011)

By Blake; posted January 16, 2012. All images copyright Disney.

Photo Friday 1/13/2012 - I See the Light

     Today Beauty and the Beast arrives in theaters for a very special 3D engagement.  It's one of Disney's best films, bringing forth a spectacle of excellent music, endearing characters, and world-class animation.

     Preceding all screenings of Beauty and the Beast is the all-new short Tangled Ever After, which tells the story of Rapunel and Flynn Rider's wedding.  Tangled was an instant hit when it was initially released in November 2010, becoming the highest-grossing film from Disney Animation since 1999's Tarzan.

     Rapunzel's meet and greet at the Magic Kingdom, shown here, is immensely popular.  She greets her fans daily in Fairytale Garden, an out-of-the-way nook in Fantasyland that was previously the home of Storytime with  Belle.  Fairytale Garden is adorned with fun details that hint give subtle nods to Tangled, including the sun emblem and, of course, the floating lights.



By Blake; posted January 13, 2012. Image by Blake.

Channel Flippin’ – “Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice” and “Pixie Hollow Games”

Two new animated TV specials successfully expand on existing Disney franchises, but struggle to find purpose.

By Blake

Originally posted January 9, 2012.


     Perhaps to make up for the lack of a new full-length animated feature during this Christmas season, two of Disney’s animation departments recently debuted half-hour television specials. They both win in charm and appeal, but leave one wondering if they were really needed.

     The first, Pixie Hollow Games, premiered on Disney Channel in November. It’s the latest adventure to come from the ever-popular Disney Fairies series from DisneyToon Studios. Surprisingly, though, Tinker Bell is not the main star this time around. The spotlight instead turns to Rosetta, a southern belle who is chosen to represent her fellow garden fairies in the annual Pixie Hollow Games, an Olympic-style tournament that pits different types of fairies (water fairies, animal fairies, etc.) against each other in a series of athletic events and tasks. Despite the fact that she’s a garden fairy, Rosetta distinctly dislikes getting down and dirty. To lead her team to victory, she’s going to need a healthy helping of humility as she learns to work well with others.

Rosetta and new character Chloe.  Image copyright Disney.

     It’s curious that Rosetta was chosen to be the prominent character here, though perhaps it’s a statement of just how accepted the Disney Fairies franchise has become. If Disney can intentionally choose to not thrust Tinker Bell into the center of attention and still create a quality project with this series, then I’d say that’s a positive testament that this franchise has done its job well thus far. My question, though, is: why? Why is Tinker Bell not the main character in a Tinker Bell special? I understand wanting to develop another strong character personality from this series, but the decision seems sort of random. To complicate matters, Tinker Bell could have been put in the exact same position as Rosetta and the plot still would have made perfect sense.

     Suspiciously, it’s the characters voiced by Disney Channel celebrities who get the most screentime in this special. Brenda Song from The Suite Life on Deck, Jason Dolley from Good Luck Charlie, and Tiffany Thornton from So Random! all lend their voices to new characters, and are—shocker!—the ones who we hear from the most in this made-for-Disney-Channel program. On the bizarre other side of the spectrum, though, are cameos of other Disney Channel personalities like Zendaya from Shake It Up and Daniel Curtis Lee from Zeke and Luther who voice very small parts and who I didn’t even realize were in the special until the end credits. And then there are Jesse McCartney and Raven, who reprise their roles as Terence and Iridessa, respectively, having been part of the Disney Fairies series since its inception in 2008.

From left: Fawn, Iridessa, Silvermist, and Vidia take a backseat in this round.  Image copyright Disney.

     Pixie Hollow Games is clever and inventive. DisneyToon continues to delight with its creative fairy-sized environment. The special is fun. It’s original. It’s artistically appealing. But, in the grand scheme of things, it feels like an awkward side trip. In a film series about Tinker Bell exploring each of the four seasons of the year, a half-hour program about Rosetta finding her inner-athlete appears to come out of nowhere. Pixie Hollow Games is undoubtedly beyond satisfying for its target audience, but in reality it seems like a Disney Channel celebrity palooza being used as a space-filler until it’s time for the next Fairies film to be released (which, by the way, will be Secret of the Wings in fall 2012). Little girls will eat it up and for everyone else it will just be ho-hum, and honestly that’s ok.


BlakeOnline Pixie Hollow Games rating: 5/10
Pixie Hollow Games is similar to: Cars 2
One word to describe Pixie Hollow Games: Off-tangent

Image copyright Disney.

     The other new Disney animated TV special having its premiere this season is Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice from Walt Disney Animation Studios. It aired in early December as the sequel to the 2009 Emmy-winning program Prep & Landing. This time around, a computer hacker has tampered with Santa’s naughty and nice lists, and it’s up to elf special agents Wayne and Lanny to bust the hacker and save Christmas. They’ll need some help, though, which is where Noel, Wayne’s “little” brother from the North Pole Coal Elf Brigade, comes into the picture. Primarily, we get treated to a lot of the same uber-creative Christmas-fied stealth scenes like in the original, but this time there’s the added layer of the sibling rivalry between Wayne and Noel.

Wayne (left) and Lanny use their stealth skills to track down the Christmas hacker.  Image copyright Disney.

     Overall this technique works out just ok; it’s nice to be back in this world with ultra-cool Christmas spy gadgets and gizmos aplenty, but the characters and story surrounding the cool setting don’t really hit it home. Their personalities are there, but their emotions fluctuate too easily and sharply. This doesn’t work well in the program’s short 22-minute time frame; it’s not enough time to be personally invested in the characters. Wayne’s arrogance and self-entitlement over his brother make him come across as more of a jerk than I think he was meant to be, so when his emotions reach a boiling point toward Noel, we don’t really feel sorry for him.

     The Prep & Landing series is one of the most creative projects to be cranked out of Walt Disney Animation Studios in recent years. (One might even call it tinsel.) However, I’m left wondering if a sequel was really needed. Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice has that same coolness factor as its predecessor (and the obligatorily amusing dialogue infused with famous Christmas song lyrics), but in this particular series, it’s the setting and environment that hits the story out of the park, not necessarily the plot or characters, and we got plenty of that charming setting and environment in the original. This new sequel is appreciated, but it gels together with its predecessor rather than distinguishing itself.


BlakeOnline Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice rating: 6/10
Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice is similar to: Brother Bear, Bolt
One word to describe Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice: Inventive


Related BlakeOnline posts:

• DVD Review - Tinker Bell (posted November 29, 2008)
• DVD Review - Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure (posted November 7, 2009)
• Channel Flippin' - Prep & Landing (posted December 23, 2009)

By Blake; posted January 9, 2012.  All images copyright Disney.