Most of us when we go to the movies are there to actually watch the movie. I mean, I like cup holders and adolescent groping as much as the next guy. But if I’m going to spend the yearly wage of a Nike factory worker to sit in a darkened room for two hours, I want […]
Disney Theme Park Hidden Secrets
The Secret Origins of Trader Sam’s: Has Disney Raised the Tiki Bar?
Click HERE to read part one of this series to learn all about the history of the Tiki movement and how it fits in with Disney. What is the sound of paradise? Softly crashing waves? Gentle trade winds carrying the sweet smells of hibiscus and coconut? Far off ukulele playing an exotically relaxing tune? Or […]
The Man Who Invented Paradise: The Secret History of Disney’s Tiki Room & Trader Sam’s
Don’t get ahead of yourself but part two of this series can be found HERE. Upon hitting the scene in 2011 The Disneyland Hotel’s Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar became an instant hit. How could it not be? After all, it combines several things Disney does extremely well: heavily themed environments, clever special effects and […]
Disney Animated Movies Canon – Finding Disney’s Top 10 Animated Feature Films in the Parks
Back in the days of War and Depression (pre-television), the children of the world had only two doorways to Fantasyland. The first was through the magic of the movies on the silver screen. The second was by being named Diane or Sharon Disney. It was not until Disneyland that kids could actually step through Alice’s […]
Disney Animated Movies Canon – The New Regime
Well now. That was an adventure, wasn’t it? Things couldn’t be better than they are, here in the fabulous 2010s. Parkeology hit the global media market in a big way. Our faces were on seemingly every TV channel in the country. A guy named John Cameron Swayze gave us all the news. A lot of singing […]
Disney Animated Movies Canon – Rise of Computer Animation
There is perhaps nothing more synergistic than Disney animated features and theme parks. The parks are loaded with rides based on movies, restaurants based on movies, shops that sell merchandise from the movies, an entire attraction called “The Magic of Disney Animation” which is about the making of the movies. Without animation, there would be […]
Five Windows Into Rides
They say the eyes are the windows to the soul. I’m sure this must be true. I like to imagine my soul looking out on the world through the twin portholes above my nose in the corner penthouse of my head. I draw the drapes when it’s bedtime. Install hurricane shutters whenever I’m working with power tools. […]
Delightful Low Tech Effects in “it’s a small world”
Disney World’s “it’s a small world” is known for charming simplicity. Here are 3 low tech effects on the Happiest Cruise that Ever Sailed.
This Sad and Lonely Crocodile Will Eat You
I think I read somewhere that journeys into the jungle are supposed to be dark and intense. Nobody ever says “I’ve returned fresh from the jungle.” They always come back half-starved, half-mad, half-naked, and half-bumpy from parasitic insects. But I’m starting to get suspicious about the Jungle Cruise. Maybe it’s just me, but it seems […]