The Coming Of Cars Land

Modern Family's Fantasy Visit to Disneyland

I just finished "Toontown Abbey," the Modern Family episode where the family takes a trim to The Happiest Place on earth. A place I know so well that was depicted in some realistic and unrealistic ways.

I thought this scene was funny, with the visible roped off crowd taking
pictures in the back ground. 

For starters, the episode starts off at the Dunphy's house, with sun flowing in the windows, seeming to be about 9 o'clock. Now, I'm not a Southern California resident, so I don't know how they do it, but I'd expect if you're going to make a day out of a Disneyland trip, you'd leave a little earlier than that. At least I would.

I did appreciate the fodder that went on between Gloria and Jay Pritchett have when Gloria tries to wear high heels to the park. Any frequent visitor knows the feeling of confinement and slight fury that hits when they see a women wearing those uncomfortable shoes for a day at the enormous parks. Since the show is a ABC production, it's nice to know that the owners of the park know its ridiculous too.

When the family gets there, Phil and Luke hit up Indianna Jones first, and are elated when Luke passes the height test, and they gleefully run 10 feet to the end of a 45 minute line. It was a funny gag, and again I appreciated the realistic view of a day at the park it provided. The show didn't have to make anything real, and often didn't, because the episode was a synergistic commercial for the park, more or less.

The unrealistic parts: when Haley's ex-bofriend shows up and turn out to be part of the Dapper Dan's. This kid is like 17,18. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think I've ever seen a Dapper Dan under the age of thirty, nor on a tandem bicycle. Then he shows up in a Little Bear costume, which I have never seen before, and proceeds to talk while in it: one of the biggest no-no's for a character. The show does end up revealing that the kid gets fired. It was another funny gag, but depicted something that just about never happens, and if it does, it's a big deal. Luke, after going on Indianna Jones, suggests going on the Matterhorn, which his dad Phil is ok with, and they run off and end up on Thunder Mountain. The Matterhorn was closed during the filming of the episode. And after they go on Thunder Mountain, Luke decided to go on Space Mountain, across the park from Thunder Mountain. Not the most economical decision, speaking in terms of distance.

Then the family leaves before the sun even sets. Disney is so spectacular when the sun goes down, I don't think a family would take off during daylight. I did appreciate that the family's last stop was "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln," a Disneyland classic, and something I always try to make my last stop in adherence to my family's tradition.

Overall, the episode had some good laughs, and I always love seeing the Happiest Place on Earth, even if it is in a half hour long subtle commercial. They did a good job for the most part of depicting what a real person's experience at the park would be, so kudos to them. But a talking character...I don't know.

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.