Testing a New Track

Walt as a Character

Ever since French Artist Pascal Witaszek posted his faux-film poster of a Walt Disney biopic, the inter web has been ablaze with praise over how real the poster looked, and how people really wanted it to be real. For real.

I am one of those people, with Ryan Gosling being one of my favorite contemporary actors, and Walt Disney being just about my favorite person of all time and with film being one of my favorite things to watch, it would combine a lot of my scattered favorites into one lovely thing. One of my other favorite things: run on sentences.

But 'twas a fake, and the Disney studios have not announced any plans to release a feature about their founder. Yet. It will happen. No icon makes it this long without a biopic.

But much like Marilyn Monroe in "My Week With Marilyn," Walt may show up in a movie that's focuses on a part of his life instead of the whole thing.

The film, which will be titled "Saving Mr. Banks," is proposed to follow Walt through his 14-year long struggle to turn the pages of Mary Poppins into a motion picture. It's a little-known story that should make for a well-reviewed film. The Australian author of the Mary Poppins series, PL Travers, will be likely be played by Emma Thompson. Travers was unhappy with the outcome of the Academy Award winning film adaption of her book. She was about the only one.

So, it's not Ryan Gosling. Walt was too old during this time of his life to be played by Gosling (who, later in life from the aged make-up job he had in "All Good Things," doesn't quite look like Walt). The actor rumored to be playing Mr. Disney: Tom Hanks: my favorite actor. So I guess it will work out for my preferences.

Hanks, the voice of Woody in the three Toy Story films and yet-to-be-determined-number of shorts, will do Walt quite a justice. He's a two-time best picture winner, and seems to be just a great all around, funny guy.

But this doesn't satiate my desire for the Gosling-as-Walt biopic to be made. Get on that, Disney.

What People are Saying About: The Disney Fantasy

Avoiding "Disneyline:" Animation Academy

As someone who (used to) go to the parks of Walt Disney World regularly, at a certain point, the rides lose their appeal.

Speaking from the perspective of someone who hasn't been to a Disney park in a couple of months, I would love to go on Space Mountain or Tower of Terror or really any Disney ride right this moment.

But if you visit frequently, it becomes less about the thrill and more about just being there. I'm someone who likes to stay busy, so I need to do just a tad bit more than soak up the wonderful atmosphere that exists within the parks.

One of my favorite things to do was go over to Hollywood Studios (or if you're on the west coast, Disney California Adventure) and participate in the Animation Academy.

It doesn't matter if you can't draw (OK, it kind of does. If you do this, and your sketch ends up not even resembling the teacher's perfect, seemingly effortless masterpiece, it's only human to be frustrated.), the instructions are easy to follow, and you get a free, hand made (by your own hand) souvenir to take home and display on the fridge (or line your birdcage).

When I first started going to the Animation Academy at Hollywood Studios, I drew Woody. He looked like half his face had been exposed to some intense heat. But I got better.

Now, when I'm bored, I like pull up a "how to draw" tutorial and sketch one of my favorite Disney characters. It's relaxing, and there's nothing more rewarding than turning a blank page into one of your favorite characters.

(I just got the Paper app for my iPad, dropped the $8 on the extra drawing utensils, and had a great time sketching the Sorcerer Mickey seen above.)

 

What People Are Saying About: Disneyland Paris' 20th and "Disney Dreams"

Avoiding "DisneyLine": Pop Up Shows

"Any dream is possible, wishes do come true!"

One of the valuable lessons you can learn during one of the many-but probably the most annoying-pop up shows that add that little something to a Disney parks visit.

Come early in the morning, and you can meet the mayor and other residents of Main Street USA, or hear about the many great things living in the early 20th century have to offer, lip-synced by a bunch of people who can't decide if the want to ride the horse drawn trolley down the street of jump off it an sing. Or you can learn about the life of a pirate in Adventureland, as told by Captain Jack Sparrow.

Concept art for The Red Car Boys

If you're at Hollywood studios, you can see the Citizens of Hollywood put on their pop-up show, or walk into the middle of a bunch of high school kids randomly breaking out in song. Don't be afraid to be a part of the show, after all, we're all in this together. Maybe you're in the Hollywood back lot, and you happen to find yourself listening to a band covering the classics of rock'n'roll while the truck for their gardening business is being repaired. One of the better guises for a pop-up if you ask me.

The many pop-up-shows of Disney are what separate it from other theme parks, and also something that you can do that doesn't involve waiting in a line. Some of them are entertaining, while others offer the only free food to be found in a Disney park: cheese. You know, kind of like that joke.

As far as I can recall, having actors take on the role of inhabitants has been exclusive to Walt Disney World, Besides Billy Hill and the Hillbillies and The Laughing Stock Co. in Frontierland. Now, in the Disney Parks Blog most recent post, the new Buena Vista Street in California Adventure will feature The Red Car News Boys, singing on the new Red Car Trolleys (one my my favorite new additions) along with Five and Dime in the Carthay Circle Theater. I probably won't ever stop for an extended amount of time to watch either of these acts, but just walking by is enough to appreciate how much it will add to the aura of Buena Vista Street. Though, if those Newsies prevent me form boarding a Trolley, my attitude may change.


There's also been the addition of Minnie's Fly Girls over in Condor Flats, filled with songs from the 40's to the 60's, reliving the glory days of being a flight attendant, and there's the Phineas and Ferb's Rockin' Rollin' Dance Party. California Adventure seems to be following more closely in Disney World's footsteps when it comes to the pop-ups.

These shows are great additions if you're traveling with little ones, or a way to keep a couple extra people out of the line of your favorite ride, shaving a couple minutes off for you.

What do you think? Do you stop and watch, or just appreciate the ambiance they add to the parks?

What People Are Saying About: AVENGErail

This will be the first in a new series where I mine the twitterverse and bring to you what people are saying about current items of Disney news.

Marvel Meets the Mouse

Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Cinderella. The Green Goblin. Funny as it may sound, these characters now inhabit the same world of fantasy.

It's been a lingering question, since Disney acquired Marvel in 2009, if these famous fantastical personalities would live harmoniously in Disney's own worlds of fantasy: their theme parks.

"The Avengerail"

Bob Iger, the CEO and supreme chancellor of Disney (now that he's chairman of the board, too), recently mentioned that the future will see Marvel characters walking around, posing for pictures in Disney's theme parks.

The superhero's first foray near the theme parks (not including merchandise) will pop up this spring as the TRONorail will be replaced with the Avengerail. It's a good move by Disney, as it will slowly introduce a presence of the new slew of characters to the Disney parks. It's also a great advertising gimmick, and keeps the older models of Walt Disney World's monorails looking fresh. 

It's the first small step towards integrating the two companies (that are now, technically one). When Iger announced that the characters would eventually be making their way into Disney parks, my reaction was one of "No Duh!" 

People will love seeing their favorite super heroes roaming around the parks, but Disney will have to work hard to separate itself from the much less classy Universal Studios that the Marvel Universe is still associated with. 

James Cameron tours Animal Kingdom 

They can't just put them anywhere. Hollywood Studios at the World and the Hollywood Pictures Backlot at California adventure seem like the only logical places to meet and greet with The Hulk and Iron Man. Though, once the idea seems a little more natural, who knows how we'll feel. 

The "Disney" brand has always branched a little from the actual Disney company in itstheme parks, and it's usually for the better. Who doesn't love Star Tours, Indiana Jones or the Terror of Terror? Soon, Avatar, which was distributed by 20th Century Fox, will have a significant presence in Animal Kingdom, and the American Idol experience is a prominent part of Hollywood Studios.

Disney knows how to seamlessly introduce things that weren't produced in-house to its theme parks. Introducing Marvel characters is a challenge Disney has yet to face, as their presence has previously been in a rival theme park, but it's one Disney is almost guaranteed to pass.      

Cars Land and the Realization of a Park

My distaste for Disney California Adventure Park is not something I shy from, but it may be something I abandon come June 15.

That's when the results of park's gigantic, $1.1 billion  renovation will open to the public. This means the new Buena Vista Street, with its classic, 1920's Hollywood theme, and Cars Land, Radiator Springs and all, will open to the public.

It marks the final stage of a re-imaging of California Adventure that brought us The World of Color, The Little Mermaid, and the re-theming of Paradise Pier, all welcome additions what was a less-than-thrilling park on opening day a little more than 11 years ago.

It says a lot about the park's (lack of) original vision that Disney was willing to cough up over a billion dollars to do something for the underwhelming park.

Personally, the only thing that's been there from day one that remains fresh is California Screamin' (the video was shot before the Paradise Pier makeover), which itself has had a design overhaul. I still stand by my statement that there is no place for a story-less river raft ride in a Disney park (That means you too, Kali!).

But alas, with the addition of Cars Land, the new Buena Vista Street, and everything else that has been added since the park's lackluster launch, The Disneyland Resort may actually become a two-day park, instead of a one-and-a-half day outing, where you visit California Adventure on your way to the airport.

I know I'm ready to be impressed with the new additions. How do you feel about them?

My Favorite Sherman Brothers Song

Today, the Disney community has learned of the sad news that Robert B. Sherman passed away. The man lived a long, productive life, and provided a great amount of joy to many people (and agony to some when they got a song of his stuck in their head, which in a way is a compliment to his talent).
There's a great documentary, which I have reviewd on Robert and his brother Richard, and I highly reccomend it. There's a great story behind their great music.


I wanted to focus on Robert's legacy, which of course, is music. Though I find most of the Sherman brother's music throughly entertaining, there is one song I favor particularily.


I'll give you a hint: it's about bird who sings words and crooning flowers.



It's the best Sherman brothers song that you can find in a Disney park. Considering its comptition is "it's a small world," that may not be saying much (Though, "it's a small world (after all)" is a genius song, both in concept and the catchiness factor that so many detest).

Unlike "it's a small world," with it's elaborate sets and scenes, the "Tiki Room" theme is the attraction, especially viewed by today's standards. The singing audioanimatronics were extremely innovative when the attraction debuted, but as with all technology, it has become dated. The music, though, is timeless, and is a pleasure to have stuck in your head.

What's your favorite Sherman brothers song? Winnie the Pooh? Chiti Chiti Bang Bang? Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious? Comment with your pick!