Blog Entry Seven - Animal Kingdom

“Disney's Animal Kingdom, like the world itself, will evolve and grow. It's truly a living thing.”

 -Roy E. Disney 

 

 

Disney's Animal Kingdom opened it's doors on Earth day 1998. It is the last of the four parks to be built. The park has six "lands" that guests can enjoy. Oasis, Dino Land USA, Asia, Africa, Rafiki's Planet Watch, and Discovery Island.

Guest's will first stumble upon Oasis while coming into the park. It is the smallest area of the six and is home to guest services, Rainforest Café and is the main route to the rest of the park! By taking the main pathway through the greenery you will come across Discovery Island, the heart of the park. Discovery Island is where the park's icon, the Tree of Life is located. Disney Imagineers constructed the tree of life around the frame of an oil rig so the structure could stand during Hurricane season with minimal damage. The Tree of Life has over 320 animals carved into the side. The tree is also home to "It's Tough to be a Bug" a show and attraction hosted but Flick from "A Bug's Life".

Africa is one of the original area's of the park. It is also the largest part of the park, due to the attraction Kilimanjaro Safari! The attraction is a tour that simulates an African Safari for the guests, with over 40 African animals residing on the wildlife reserve. Rafiki's Planet Watch is a smaller area of the park. Its only access point is through Africa, not the main park hub Discovery Island. Here you can see endangered species, and watch a conservation show!

My personal favorite part of "Africa" is the Festival of the Lion King. Festival of the Lion King is an interactive show that tells the story of the lion king through dance, song, and of course your favorite characters! The costumes, choreography, and overall charisma will blow your mind (so much that I just have to attach a link)!

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5T6JfBVow0

 

 

 

 

Asia is one of the most popular sections of Disney's Animal Kingdom. It was also the first expansion, opening in 1999. You can find "Flights of Wonder" a bird show that captures your attention from the moment it begins! If while you're travelling through "Asia" and the Florida heat is getting to you, head over to Kali River Rapids. KRR is a ride that simulates travelling through the rapids of rivers in Asia. The fact I enjoy most about the area is that it is home to Florida's tallest mountain! Of course, that was a joke. However Animal Kingdom is home to Expedition Everest, a ride that takes guests up into the Himalayas to encounter a Yeti.  

 

Dino Land USA is a child's (and even adults) dream! There is a play set where you can dig for fossils and family friendly rides! The land is home to Primeval Whirl, a spinning roller coaster and jerks you around for the majority of the ride! You can also venture into the Dinosaur Institute (Dino Institute) where you can ride "Dinosaur". Now I have to admit this ride isn't for the faint of heart, if you don't like being jerked around, or scared of Dinosaurs popping out at you this may not be the right attraction to ride. If show's in air conditioned theaters are more your speed I highly recommend checking out "Finding Nemo the Musical" my favorite production Disney puts on!  During the show singers carry around puppets and give you the show of a lifetime!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1GkqLEm1N0

 

 

Animal Kingdom also used to be home to Camp Minnie and Mickey which was removed in 2014. It was supposed to be home to Beastly Kingdom as well. A land made of up make believe and mythological creatures such as unicorns and dragons. The beastly kingdom was supposed to have two sections, a good and evil part ruled by different creatures. Though the idea was abandoned before construction they have recently taken the area it was supposed to occupy for another project. In 2014 Disney began construction of Pandora - The World of Avatar. So far Disney has announced two attractions for the project. It is set to open in sometime in 2017. Below is a photo of the constructions progress.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blog Entry Six - Hollywood Studios

"Movies can a do have tremendous influence in shaping young lives in the realm of entertainment towards the ideals and objectives of normal adulthood.” 

- Walt Disney 

       On May 1, 1989 the doors to Disney's Hollywood Studios opened in Bay Lake, FL. It was the first park Walt Disney didn't personally have a large part in creating. Nonetheless the park is still of the most visited parks, not just in the U.S. but the world. Disney teamed up with the company Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer and gave it it's first name, Disney's MGM Studios. MGM Studios functioned as a actual production site for movies and had an animation studio. When the park opened there were only two attractions, the Studio Backlot Tour and The Great Movie Ride (my personal all favorite). Since the opening the Backlot Tour has closed to make room for upcoming projects and rumor has it the Great Movie Ride could be next. Eventually Sunset Blvd. was added to the park which brought Rock 'n' Roller Coaster and the Tower of Terror into the park. The name of the park was even changed in 2008 to Hollywood Studios (its current name). 

   
      When Guests first walk into the park they are transported from the outside world to Hollywood Boulevard. It is lined with multiple shops, food carts, and ends with the a replica of Grauman's Chinese Theater home of the Great Movie Ride.  There is also the  Muppet Courtyard with a fun show for all ages featuring your favorite muppets! You can also travel down Sunset Boulevard and drop thirteen stories on the Tower of Terror, or go from 0-58 mph on Rock 'n' Roller Coaster! You can also see a musical version of Beauty and the Beast or Fantastic a show where Mickey Mouse steals the show (it's best to watch at night!!).

      The park is also home to Star Tours, a ride that takes you to a galaxy far far away. It is one of the parks most popular attractions. Due to the rise in Star Wars popularity (and Disney now owning the rights) an upcoming addition called Star Wars land will be built, it is set to open sometime in the next few years. As well as a Star Wars expansion to the park there will also be a Toy Story Themed area as well. This was decided due to the popularity of the ride Toy Story Mania, where the ride wait can be up to three hours!

    

  Though this park is undergoing some major renovations it is one of the most interesting places on property and will be one of the best surprises Disney lovers will recieve! Tune in next week to take a look at Disney's Animal Kingdom!

Blog Entry Five - EPCOT

“The most exciting and by far the most important part of our Florida Project - in fact the heart of everything we’ll be doing in Disney World - will be out Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow! We call it EPCOT” 

- Walt Disney 

       EPCOT was opened on October 1st 1982. It was the second park to open on the Walt Disney Property (after Magic Kingdom),  in Bay Lake FL. The park spans over 300 acres and has only two “lands”, Future World and the World Showcase. However, the World Showcase is split up into 11 sub lands known as the countries. EPCOT is widely recognized for it’s 18 story geodesic sphere, also known as the giant golf ball in the middle of the park. It is the first thing guests see as they enter the park, it is also a ride called Spaceship Earth that takes the guests back through time and into the future. 

Future world is split into two different spaces, Future World East and West. The eastern area is home to Ellen’s Energy Adventure, Mission Space, and Test Track (some of the parks most popular attractions).  Mission Space is a simulated adventure to Mars. Guest’s are put into a chamber that holds 4 people (a navigator, pilot, engineer, and commander). In the chamber space explores feel around 2.5G forces (two times the force of gravity you feel just walking around). There is a Green Team and an Orange Team, it is with the orange team that you can feel the G forces aka the full experience. Future World East is also home to the fastest ride on property, Test Track (sponsored by GM (General Motors)). Not many people know this, but if you are an employee of General Motors you can check in at the desk and an attendant will take you up to a lounge that overlooks the park. 

Future World West holds a large building named “The Land”. The Land is home to a food court, The Circle of Life, and Soarin’. One of the Walt Disney Company’s most famous ride since opening is Soarin, which simulates the guest in a hang glider soaring over California (now changed to the world). Outside of “The Land” there is The Seas with Nemo and Friends, Turtle talk with Crush and one of my person favorites Journey into imagination with Figment. 

Coming around to talk about World Showcase, which is one of the most interesting places in Walt Disney World. There are eleven “pavilions” in the World Showcase: Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, America, Japan, Morocco, France, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Each country has its own attraction or shops and restaurants. Mexico has the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros along with 2 restaurants. Norway recently opened a Frozen attraction, a boat ride that takes you through the kingdom of Arendelle, along with Princess Fairytale dining. China has two restaurants, an exhibit about its history and a show called “Reflections of China”. Italy has two eateries (pizza and pasta…of course!). America has a thirty minute show called “The American Adventure” it is also where you can see the Voices of Liberty perform (I would tell you all about them, but I don't want to spoil the magic!!).

The Mexican Pavilion at EPCOT

The German Pavilion at EPCOT

Moving into Japan you can go to 4 different dining areas and enjoy the Japanese culture through an interactive shop. Morocco is one of the most under appreciated pavilions in the World Showcase, you can get henna, explore the twists and turns of the country and even meet Jasmine and Aladdin! Once you get to Germany I have one piece of advice, have a pretzel or try the caramel. You will not regret it!!! The United Kingdom is where you can meet Mary Poppins and Alice, all the way from Wonderland. In France you can dine at the Monsieur Paul (expensive but some of the best food I have ever had) I will include a picture at the bottom!! In Canada you can enjoy the show perfectly named, O Canada! along with a nice steak and seafood meal at Le Cellier Steakhouse. One thing many people don’t know about working in the countries pavilion you have to be from the country. For example I couldn’t work in the Canadian pavilion only someone from Canada is permitted to work there!

Tune in next week for a look into Hollywood Studios!

Blog Entry Four - Magic Kingdom

"It is you who will make Disney truly a Magic Kingdom...." - Walt Disney 

Walt Disney World – Florida 

Walt Disney World in Florida was opened October 1, 1971 the day Magic Kingdom opened its gates. When the park first opened it consisted of: Main Street USA, Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, and Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. For those of you who have never been to the happiest place on earth, this entry will take you through the Magic Kingdom.

                                                                       Main Street USA

Walking through the main entrance the first thing you stumble upon is Main Street. The street is lined with shops, restaurants and an ice cream parlor. During parade time hundreds of people line the streets to get a glimpse of their favorite characters on larger than life floats.

                                                    Adventureland

 Adventureland is home to swashbuckling pirates, magic carpets and believe it or its very own jungle. Adventureland’s main attractions are Pirates of the Caribbean, the Jungle Cruise, and Magic Carpets with Aladdin. My personal favorite ride in Adventureland is the Jungle Cruise because of its many, many corny jokes. (A joke from the skipper: Those of you sitting in the back are going to get a charge out of this trip. Yeah- you're sitting on thebattery. Some people find that revolting, but I think that there is a positive and negative side to everything. Shocking, isn't it.)

                                                                               Frontierland 

Frontierland is home to 2 of the 3 "mountains" in the park. Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain are the main attractions. You can also meet your favorite rootin' tooting cowboy and girl, Woody and Jesse. Along with meeting your favorite characters you can sit and watch the Country Bear Jamboree, a singalong and storytelling attraction. Liberty Square is one of the original six lands in Magic Kingdom to receive minimal additions since the park opened in 1971. 

Liberty Square
Liberty Square is home to the Haunted Mansion, Liberty Square Riverboat, the Hall of Presidents, and its newest addition The Muppets Present - Great Moments in Americas History. Though not many people know the next two facts about liberty square I think they are amongst some of the most interesting Disney trivia facts! The brown sidewalk that goes throughout liberty square (as seen in the picture) represents the river of sewage present during the time period of the revolutionary war! The second trivia fact is that in the lobby of the Hall of Presidents attraction there is the Presidential Seal, it required an act of congress to allow Disney to put a seal in the park! 

Blog Entry Three - The Disney Renaissance

“Around here, however, we don't look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening new doors and doing new things….” 

- Walt Disney 

  After the deaths of Walt and Roy Disney (1966 & 1971) the company was left to three other Disney executives. Donn Tatum, Ron Miller and Card Walker had control of the studio at the most vital time in its history, the Disney Renaissance. Before the renaissance took place there was a key exodus within the company. Long time animator Don Bluth started his own animation company (Don Bluth Productions) taking 11 other Disney employees with him. With 17% of creators gone the Fox and the Hound, the main movie in production took a big hit. The Black Cauldron (one of my favorite underrated Disney movies) was the twenty fifth animated feature film that premiered in 1985 after the exodus of some of its best designers and animators. The film brought in around twenty one million dollars at the box office but cost nearly forty four million dollars to create, it is still seen today as a complete box office fail. However this let down was one that put Disney’s future in jeopardy. With one trick left up Disney's sleeve the company teamed up with director Stephen Spielberg to create Who Framed Roger Rabbit?. The collaboration turned things around for Disney, winning 3 Academy Awards. In the success of this film the company made enough money to set the Disney Renaissance into motion.

  The Disney Renaissance was from 1989-1999. During this time Walt Disney Feature Animation was re-named Walt Disney Animation Studios, they would then come out with ten films that put the company on the map. To kick off Disney's creative spark The Little Mermaid was produced as one of Disney's first broadway style musicals, making $84 million dollars in its initial release. Along with being a huge box office success the new princess film won 2 Academy Awards, one for Best Score and another Best Original Song. Disney brought in composer Alan Menkin, the mastermind behind the two awards, stepped in and wrote the tunes that get stuck in our heads today, songs like “Under the Sea” (winner of best original song). The Little Mermaid broke the record of Highest Grossing Animated Film previously held by The Land Before Time. Created by none other than Don Bluth of Don Bluth Productions. **On a side note I personally I love the fact that The Little Mermaid knocked The Land Before Time into next week (although I loved Littlefoot and the movie itself) it showed Don Bluth Productions that Disney is the best and ultimately more awesome!! (Shows him that leaving Disney was probably the worst mistake of his entire life) But I love Disney so I’m completely biased.** 

  The Little Mermaid was followed by the other nine movies that contributed to making the Disney Renaissance a turning point in the companies history. The Rescuers: Down Under, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Mulan, and Tarzan were a part of the magical ten (as I like to call them). All together the Disney Renaissance raked in $3,823,472,974 worldwide (to date). Together they have received 24 Academy Award nominations (six of them for Beauty and the Beast alone) and eleven Oscars to take home. Six out of the ten films won and helped shape the future of Disney Animation, the kind we still love today. Though Disney faced many trying times before finding their groove (and no one could throw them off), they kept moving forward.

“I never look back darling! It distracts from the now.” - Edna Mode, The Incredibles

P.S. I really hope you got the groove pun in the last sentence, if not do yourself a favor and watch the Emperors New Groove, you won't regret it! 

Blog Entry Two - The Beginning

“When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionably.”

 -Walter E. Disney 

In 1955 the doors to Disneyland in Anaheim, California opened. Walt Disney envisioned making a park that families could come to and enjoy after having a dull afternoon out with his daughters. Walt realized that day that there wasn't a safe entertaining place for families to go and spend time together. The solution Walt came up with was to build a place of his own, somewhere magical. He came up with many ideas all circling back around to a park that resembled a circus, which Disney desperately wanted to avoid. Together Walt and his brother Roy created The Walt Disney Company, from cartoons to theme parks this dynamic duo did it all.

 Before becoming the empire it is today, the Walt Disney Company nearly disappeared. In 1920 the corporation filed for bankruptcy and almost went out of business. The brother’s and their employees weren’t making as much money as they needed to be to make the animated films they promised the community. It was around this time that Walt Disney lost the rights to his very first cartoon creation, Oswald the Rabbit. After this loss Walt thought there was no hope left for his dream. 

 Fortunately Walt and Roy Disney found another investor later that same year who believed in the Disney name and what it could become. In 1928 Walt Disney created his most famous character, Mickey Mouse. Though Mickey brought in more revenue than the family had seen in years, times were still hard and the company almost went bankrupt again due to not producing movies, a byproduct of Walt’s creative block. 

 In 1937, one of Disney’s most famous films was in the final sages of production. With the company nearly out of funding, not nearly enough to finish, Walt threw out a life line. Walt approached a bank and asked for one final loan to help finish one of Disney’s first Princess movies, one that launched the company into fame and fortune. Snow White and the Seven Dwarves was finished with the money Walt received and in turn the Walt Disney Company would flourish. In the end the film brought 3.5 million dollars to the company, making Walt Disney a household name in the process. 

The Walt Disney Company has come so far, from working in a studio in Burbank, California to having 11 parks to over 100 resorts all over the world. You could say that the brothers never gave up and created one of the most magical places on earth. After being told that Disneyland was an idea too far out of reach and that they would fail, the Disney brothers proved to everyone that dreams really do come true. 

"We did it Disneyland, in the knowledge that most of the people I talked to thought it would be a financial disaster - closed and forgotten within a year" 

- Walt Disney