Disney Changes…Even Mickey Mouse

Posted on July 21, 2017 by greenlisa9989@yahoo.com

Of all of the 2017 D23 Expo announcements, there were a couple that stood out as causing the most mixed feelings among my fellow Disney fans. One is the upcoming addition of an E-ticket Guardians of the Galaxy attraction to Epcot (replacing Ellen’s Energy Adventure) and the other is the Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway attraction replacing The Great Movie Ride. Today let’s talk about Mickey and Minnie and the demise of the last original attraction from Disney’s MGM Studios.

Disney Changes…Even Mickey Mouse

The uproar, it seems, is less about losing The Great Movie Ride and more about its replacement. In the majority of social media posts and comments I’ve seen, everyone seems very excited that Mickey and Minnie will finally be getting their very own, much-deserved attraction. The problem with many folks lies with which version of the iconic Disney couple will be featured in the ride. Have you seen the newest Mickey (and the gang) cartoons on the Disney Channel? In 2013, these shorts first appeared (excellent article here) and we think they’re hilarious! (My favorite episode is the Potatoland one.) Why the use of this version of Mickey is troublesome, I can’t explain. Mickey Mouse (and his friends) have a long history that definitely involves changing with the times.

Consider for a minute Mickey’s age…he’ll be 100 in 2028. It’s an amazing achievement for a cartoon character to remain so beloved for so long. Sure, Felix the Cat is older than Mickey, but his popularity has waned. Mickey has maintained his appeal, generation after generation, by changing and staying relevant. His personality has been rock steady: Happy, easy-going, loyal mischief-maker with a heart of gold. He’s been devoted to Minnie since day one and his friends can count on him through thick and thin. His appearance has changed many times – doesn’t everyone’s?

If the new Mickey/Minnie attraction won’t be taking us through the characters’ history, but rather allow us to be a part of a cartoon adventure as featured in the Disney Channel shorts, I can’t see a downside. Yes, it’s a modern take on our favorite original Disney characters, but they’re still 100% lovable.

Kimberly Nordike in The Hollywood Reporter described these latest Mickey cartoons this way:

“The shorts, which are geared toward kids age 6 to 14 and families, feature an aesthetic that goes back to Mickey’s roots and borrows from the style of his 1930s design while adding a few modern touches. Designs for other characters have a similar approach, favoring a “rubber-hose” cartoon style for more exaggerated animation. Background designs closely reflect the graphic design sense of 1950s and ’60s Disney cartoons. The production team has also included homages to other icons from Disney’s history.”

If you haven’t seen any of these cartoons, I encourage you to check them out. We enjoyed them while on our last family Disney Cruise and thought they were highly entertaining – packed with fun for the entire family. And that’s exactly the way we feel about Walt Disney World. I’m especially excited about Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway and can’t wait to see what it’ll be like.

The Rumors Swirling around Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Posted on September 11, 2014 by greenlisa9989@yahoo.com

I love a good Disney rumor, don’t you? Some juicy tidbit of really-true, might-happen, or totally-fabricated gossip is FUN to think about – imagine if it actually happened! I love to mentally weigh in on the possibilities – Am I okay with it? Horrified by the very idea! Or jumping up and down with anticipation. One of my favorite places to hear about all the possible happenings at Walt Disney World is on a podcast called “The Unofficial Guide’s Disney Dish with Jim Hill“. Unlike all the other Disney podcasts I’m addicted to, the Disney Dish with Jim Hill doesn’t come out on a regular schedule. An episode might come out once or twice a month…then skip a month….then magically reappear.

While I’ve been hearing a LOT of bits and pieces of what may or may not happen at Disney’s Hollywood Studios with Star Wars, ride closures, attraction removals, updates, refurbs, and so on. One of the last Disney Dish episodes really made me sit up and take notice – it was “Episode 62: Disney World’s Next Five Years”. Keeping in mind that it’s all “unofficial” – there was a lot to chew on in that 73 minutes of commentary. Basically, the discussion is based on what may potentially happen at Disney World now that Universal has really upped their game. Much of the discussion focused on Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

So – based on the information I gleaned from Mr. Hill’s revelations, there are some major changes headed to the studios while some long discussed rumors appear to be just that – rumors – and will not become reality.

Here are the one’s I was most interested in (listen to the show for all the rest of the details):

The Sorcerer’s Hat – Source of much debate between the hat lovers and haters, the big blue centerpiece of the Studios has long been rumored to be on the way out. Seems like it’s actually staying. I understand its purpose – a place to draw crowds away from other areas of the park, a centrally located performance venue, etc. And if you believe the other rumors about the hat’s original purpose – it was put there to actually HIDE the Chinese Theater due to legal issues with Disney’s use of a replica of the California original. I’m not necessarily offended by the hat – I would LOVE to see an updated version though. It’s so 2001 – cartoonish and hardly designed to fit in with any of the existing park theme. I imagine that its removal would be a bit of a headache considering it reportedly weighs 156 tons.

Star Wars Land is a GO – And I am ecstatic! I’m not much of a Star Wars geek, but I appreciate the broad spectrum of potential, the plethora of possibilities, if you will. Now, this exciting news means big changes to the landscape of Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Echo Lake will be no more allowing the new land to begin much closer to the park entrance than the Star Wars area is now. Think about it though! All those lands, worlds, creatures, vehicles, and characters that are wonderfully amazing and unique! This is what Disney Imagineers do best and I can’t wait to see how they transform elements from the Force (and the Dark side) into rides, attractions, restaurants, and shops. The epic battle between good and evil…in the Studios! Wookies and Ewoks and Sand People, oh my!

Indiana Jones may STAY – Can you believe it? I braced myself to tell Indy so long and I may not have to! (See that blog post here) Personally, I’m confident that Indy’s presence in the Studios will be updated. Disney’s ownership of the Indiana Jones franchise opens the door to a lot of possibility…it would be a shame to waste it.

The Great Movie Ride is on its way OUT – Take a deep breath and think about it for a minute. It’ll be okay! Original to the park, this 25 year old tour through classic movie genres was fun and edgy in the beginning. Over the years though, no updates were made, no new movies were added, no new scripting for those poor Cast Members was written, things that stopped working correctly weren’t repaired (just adjusted to try to hide the problems). Have you been on this ride lately? Tarzan makes me feel embarrassed – he’s just awful. The good news, though, is that according to Mr. Hill, the ride won’t be leaving anytime soon, so you can go and say a proper farewell. My favorite part has always been the final scene from Casablanca. What’s yours?

Still hungry for more scoop? Check out The Unofficial Guide’s Disney Dish with Jim Hill! Download from iTunes or Stitcher. Every episode is interesting. Most recently (#63), the discussion was based on the history and future of DVC with information about plans that never happened and what DVC options may be available in the years ahead.

How do you feel about the possible changes at Disney’s Hollywood Studios? What would you be most excited about? Would you be disappointed by any of the proposed changes?

Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream

Posted on July 22, 2014 by greenlisa9989@yahoo.com

If you haven’t done it before, next time you’re visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios and have about 30 minutes to spare – go see the Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream exhibit. If you’re a fan of all things Disney like I am – it’s an amazing experience and a prime opportunity to see and hear details about Walt Disney’s life and work. It’s a great way to show children that Walt Disney is not just a brand or a company or a theme park – he was a real person – one who faced many hardships during his life and overcame them by refusing to give up on his dreams.

The exhibit, located in a sound stage on Mickey Avenue, begins with a treasure trove of more than 400 artifacts from Walt Disney’s life. Photos, vintage toys, props, costumes, sketches, and more are cleverly placed throughout the exhibit’s rooms. There’s a lot to take in and the displays are each very interesting and unique. You can see the special camera Walt used to film the very first cartoon with synchronized sound – Steamboat Willie. You can see the special Oscars Walt Disney won for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. One of my favorite displays is of Walt Disney’s office as it was at Disney Studios in California. I also love all the Mickey Mouse Club memorabilia. As you meander through the rooms, you move forward in time, beginning with Walt Disney’s birth in Chicago and ending with models and dioramas of modern Disney theme park rides and attractions from around the world.

The experience ends with a 15 minute film and this, to me, is the best part! In the movie, narrated by Julie Andrews, we get to see and hear Walt Disney as he describes his life in his own words. Never-before-seen home movies allow us to get to know the passionate, happy man who made it his life’s mission to bring his own special brand of happiness to so many people around the world. It’s no wonder Walt Disney’s name and legacy are still so important, playing an enormous role in our lives today.

Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream is a cool and quiet escape from the busy (and HOT) hustle and bustle of the Studios. Tour the exhibits at your own pace and don’t miss the movie at the end which begins every 15 minutes throughout the day. Oh, and if you’re a sappy sentimental cry baby like me, bring plenty of tissues.

Have you toured One Man’s Dream? What was your favorite part of the exhibit?