There and Back Again: A Tale of an Excursion to, around, and beyond Disneyland

[Part Two: Rides, Shows, Food, Fun! Disney California Adventure!]

For those thinking I would handle my Disneyland park experiences before getting to DCA: HA!! Fooled you!

Actually, the logic I’m employing is that, as far as I can tell, EVERYONE knows about Disneyland. What with it being first and all (and 59 years old as of July 17th). So, as I only knew stories of Disney California Adventure and had yet to personally take it all in I figured I would write about that side of the Esplanade first.

But first, let me take a selfie… Oops, I meant to say: But first, a brief evolution of that particular plot of land. It all started with…

There and Back Again: A Tale of an Excursion to, around, and beyond Disneyland

[Part One: The Journey, or the Destination?]

If anyone had been paying attention to my entries here and the cross-posted notifications in Facebook and Twitter, you would have seen that I had been conducting a countdown of sorts. The last time I had been anywhere near as far west as California was a trip to Las Vegas in Spring 2005 with friends from Atlanta, Chicago, and Phoenix.

As an aside and by way of a qualifier: I DO like to travel. There are usually two competing elements that have to align for me to be able to do it. I prefer to be able to take paid-time off (Vacation Days, PTO, however your respective employer codes it) and be able to afford the travel costs (gas/airfare, hotel, tickets if any, etc). The bigger/further the trip, the more these have to coincide. Now that I am a gainfully employed in a permanent position instead of contracting, the surprise gift of a Disneyland trip was very possible to arrange with my managers. If I had still be a contractor, I would have begged and pleaded with Kevin to cancel as any time I took off would not be covered by any accrued payable time-off system. Contracting/Temping sucks in some regards.

As a silly ninny I held off on doing any kind of packing until the day before for when I got home after work. Part of this was due to me not knowing if I would have to pay for checking luggage or not for part of my flights there and back. The tickets that had been acquired for me had stop-overs each way: ATL-HOU-LAX and LAX-MDW-ATL.

Along with the connections the flights had been set-up to take me on different airlines: Airtran and Southwest. My sweet friend Kevin knows that I prefer Airtran and booked via their website. Within the last couple of years Southwest bought Airtran and they have been merging routes, gates, and services since. Evidently, at least for the dates of my flights there and back, there were no direct flights available on Airtran out of ATL.

Having never flown Southwest before I was…leery…to say the least. I’ve read the complaints of passengers regarding people of larger/girthier bodysize in Coach class; including those flying Southwest. I also have trepidation about SW’s “No Assigned Seating” approach. As an Airtran flyer I knew the deal and had learned to work with it quite easily. I would book a ticket in an emergency exit row then when the online check-in window opened I would upgrade to Business Class (for the better leg room and wider seats) if available. More often than not, the upgrades would be there to be selected. Now, I had to take my chance on even getting a window seat (my preference) and hoping the person in front of me would not recline their seatback bashing my knees which would already be perilously close in the non-existent legroom. But…be that as it may. I checked in online and due to their code/system sharing once I was checked in for my Airtran flight I received my boarding position for Southwest.

To add flavor to my travel and park photographs I chose to take along a couple of toys from my desk at work: my WALL-E figure and a pewter/pot-metal gaming miniature TARDIS. I thought one or the other, or both, would be fun to take pictures of while exploring.

JoeZer's pint-sized traveling companions

I tried to get out of the office early the day before my flight out to LAX. But, as things have a way of conspiring together, while I did get approval to leave an hour early I received a client call that took me past the time I had been approved to leave at. So, instead of burning a tittle of PT minutes I opted to decline so someone else in the office could escape early if they needed. Believe me when I say that I was quite happy and relieved when it came time for me to turn off my desk phone and log off my workstation.

WALL-E, TARDIS, and I had an adventure to begin…and I had not even opened a suitcase to shove full of clothes yet.

WALL-E anxious to begin

Along with waiting to pack until the day before, another “last minute” decision I had made was to stay awake the entire night before leaving for the airport. No naps…just me bouncing off the walls of my apartment until it came time to throw things in the car, get myself to the light-rail, and disembark at ATL to shamble through security.

My ATL departure on Airtran was set for 8:40am ET. I arrived by light-rail at ATL at about 6:45am. Printed by boarding passes, checked my bag (surprisingly I was able to get all my needs for 6 days/5 nights in California all in to one suitcase), and then nearly feinted at the huge line with TSA. I got to my departure gate just as my flight was being called to begin boarding. Being an early Thursday morning I would not have thought that trying to get out via ATL would be so…thick…with people. Humanity, you always have to surprise me, don’t you?

Granted, I did learn something this round through TSA screening: do not pack the pewter/pot-metal gaming miniature in your carry-on/computer bag. For surely it will alert the bag scanners and have to undergo scrutiny for explosives and rescanned on the belt by itself. Admittedly, it is a hefty, solid piece of metal…so I can understand their concern. Minus 5 points for Gryffindor for causing a pause in processing people, JoeZer.

My first leg was comfortable and just as before whenever I’ve flown Airtran. It’s easy to say that I will miss them as a choice of airlines when the merger completes and everything of theirs is flagged Southwest. I have not had a single bad experience with them as a customer or passenger. Au revior, mon ami.

Next stop: Houston-Hobby for a two-hour layover.

Main observation about HOU was “Crimony, this is a teeny airport” when compared to the likes of ATL. Had enough time for a nosh and decompressing while anticipating my first ever Southwest boarding. My boarding position was assigned the code “B5” and my departure gate at HOU was “42”. Could my layover be any more influenced by science-fiction??

Directive?

For those who have not yet flown Southwest, here’s how their boarding process is broken down as best I can tell:

--- wheelchair/medical assisteds first
--- Group “A1-60” which normally encompasses those who are loyalty rewards members with SW or who pay for the ability to jump position in line
--- families with small children
--- Group “B1-60”
--- Group “C1-60”

A peccadillo I have with this is, of course, passengers bringing carry-ons and taking time to search out the seat they want to take near to where they stow their bags in the overhead bins. To me, this adds a layer of hassle that assigned seating does not have. But, whatever. I’m just a lowly fatman on a plane consisting only of Coach Class seats. What do I know?

I found an open window seat in a row where a fellow fatman had taken the aisle seat. The middle had not yet been claimed as I took possession of the preference. He and I looked conspiratorially at each other sharing the same thought: “Who would choose to sit between two heavyset passengers?”

At that point the lead flight attendant made the fateful announcement over the PA system. This was a full flight and all seats were booked. As it happened, there was a bendy, slip of a girl that was one of the last passengers to board. Her choice was already made for her as she was left only with the chair between me and my corpulent compatriot. She was slim enough where a part of me wondered if she was anorexic. She was also fidgety during the flight but never bumped either of us.

Me: I put in my earpods, started a Doctor Who audio drama by Big Finish, and let my mind wander above the clouds as I watched the passing scenery.

Destination: LAX

Achievement Unlocked: Traveling further west than before
Bonus Round Failed: Unable to dabble toes in Pacific Ocean due to time/transportation concerns

Qantas liveried Airbus A380 caught in the wild

The iconic part of LAX - always seemed larger in pictures

Bundling in to the car service Kevin arranged for my arrival at LAX I was whisked off to Anaheim and the Happiest Place on Earth while boggled at the haphazard drivers at Terminal 1’s arrival/departure area and then the LA highways, freeways, and such. I thought Atlanta drivers were a crop of crazies and that Orlando could be temper-testing. Little did I realize. We are NOTHING compared to the Greater Los Angeles area…at least from my perspective. This was one time I was glad to have not needed to rent a car.

Upon landing at LAX I caught up on texting with Kevin (as he had arrived earlier that morning) to make sure he knew I arrived safely and was enroute to the hotel. Our friend Paul had already arrived…so the party was slowly beginning. This was at about 1:30pm PT. By this time I had been awake since 7:30am ET the previous day – roughly 33 hours of consciousness so far. My brain was prepped and ready for the surreal as it was already nearing that boundary on its own.

From the approach the driver used, I had hoped to catch sight of Disneyland from the highway and local streets on our way to the Disneyland Hotel. I was a bit surprised when we were entering the grounds for the hotel to drop me off an I had not seen even a hint of the Matterhorn as of yet from outside the park. However, that would be an easy thing to get past in the grand scheme of this excursion.

Neither Paul nor Kevin were down in the lobby awaiting me; but the room number had been texted to me. An elevator ride later and knocking on the door, and I am reunited with friends I only see but rarely. Hugs shared, greetings greeted, I am allowed to freshen up and change for my first steps in to the fabled homeland: the first theme park Walt Disney built.

 JoeZer on DLR Main Street - unable to locate the castle

Getting to Disneyland, or even Disney California Adventure, from the hotel would take us on foot through Downtown Disney then, when arriving at the esplanade, either choosing to go left (Disneyland) or right (DCA). The main entrances to both parks are about a football field (if not less) apart from each other. SO EASY for park hopping, if I must say. This time, the destination was clear: Disneyland.

In brief, as I do plan on more detailed thoughts in following entries, I will say that the original park felt quaint and cozy to me. The buildings, attractions, lands are snuggled closer together and the exterior queues are coiled and designed in a way as to not hamper guest traffic unless there is an undue amount of attention for an attraction (brand new experience, reopening after long refurbish, etc). However, I can easily see how Walt’s comment about the Florida Project is very apt: for the original concept of EPCOT he needed, and got, the “blessings of size” by purchasing large tracts of land at fair prices before it became known who was actually making the purchase, thereby making the price skyrocket.

On the walk over from the hotel to the parks Paul, Kevin, and I stopped for a meal in Downtown Disney. Was good to get some real food in me after traveling all day and only having plane nibbles and airport Wendy’s in Houston. While in Disneyland for the afternoon I got my first runs through on some classics: Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, explored the “Mechanical Kingdom” exhibit at the Disney Gallery, plus other things that are escaping my brain at the moment.

Due to my self-imposed marathon of consciousness I began to flag on my endurance. My brain barely registered that it should feel like I was in the Twilight Zone or a parallel world while in Disneyland: similar experiences, buildings, and such but not all in the same place as I am used to them being in. We ambled back to the hotel to take in one lest new experience before retiring to bed: Trader Sam’s.

Now, one would think that as I am not responsible in any way for driving anywhere on this trip that I would (quite possibly over-) indulge in some libations. One would be correct in this case. But, knowing my current physical state, I opted to stay with only one drink this evening while enjoying the company of friends and the Tiki infused ambiance of the lounge. Our talks ranged topics near and dear to each of us as we partook of drinks and nibbles: Kungaloosh for Kevin, Krakatoa for me, something margarita-ish for Paul, and a Pu Pu platter for all.

Order this, and you will blow a volcano making it very happy.

This is what I swallowed when making the volcano blast.

And, yes. I got the souvenir Tiki mug to commemorate me

blowing the volcano.

 

Let’s just say, that since Trader Sam’s is designed as a Disney lounge, there are chances for things to happen within the bar when certain drinks are ordered by guests. As mentioned above, I ordered a Krakatoa. Doing so, I got to blow volcanoes.

Me. Blowing volcanoes. Amongst friends. Quite a nice way to wind down and wrap up my day’s travels and quickie peek inside the park that Walt built.

Brain was ready for bed. My spirit was happy and light.

So…I look at the old saying: “The journey matters more than the destination.” I wonder, now that I am physically at the destination for this trip, is my journey over? Or still in progress…?

A selection of "Welcome to DLR, ya First-Timer!"

Kevin had these laying out for my arrival at the hotel

(photo courtesy of Kevin Q)

 

~JoeZer

 

PS: Poor WALL-E and TARDIS never saw inside the parks once I arrived and unpacked at the hotel…

There and Back Again: A Tale of an Excursion to, around, and beyond Disneyland

[Part Zero]

With all the items, topics, and things rattling in the bonepiece I call a skull there is something I need to do to get this shebang rolling. That would be expressing my gratitude with getting to meet people I have only kn0wn via online contact over the years, and my deep thanks to a certain few who this trip could not have happened without.

But first; a prologue by way of a backstory…

As twenty-thirteen was drawing to a close and I was calculating my prorated work bonus that I would be receiving this past March I hit upon something. I realized that my bonus for working a full-year that would be posted to my accounts come March 2015 would allow me the chance to make a journey; a pilgrimage to the homeland, if you will.

What “homeland” is this of which I speak? The place born of Walt Disney’s imagination that was, as told, inspired by spending time with his daughters in a local park: Disneyland.

All the years, decades, I have spent wandering around and experiencing the attractions at Walt Disney World in Florida. Not once have I had the chance to explore the original. Next year would be that would change based on my projections.

In to the story now comes my friend, Kevin. Our friendship started as one of those unique, almost fast-friends, kind of things. We had known of each other thanks to an online service called Livejournal. We officially met in person Spring 2005 amongst a bushel of bears eating at a sushi/teppanyaki restaurant with Chuck Norris less than 40 feet away…all in Dallas, Texas. Not quite two years later as our friendship thickened like thieves, Kevin begins talking about wanting to learn and explore the Disney parks in Florida. I share that I’d be happy to act as tour guide for him. So far, as of this writing, he and I have shared fourteen excursions to WDW now over the years.

Kevin eagerly listened as I shared stories from my early trips to WDW, discussing extinct attractions, and changes that have come to the Florida parks over time. He has taken that information, heaped upon tonnes of his own research and discovery, and formed his own memories and personal legacy there. His enthusiasm has helped to rekindle my own reminding me why I have come to call this place my second-home. The Magic Kingdom there and I grew up together with EPCOT Center as our younger sibling. Disney Hollywood Studios (nee Disney-MGM Studios) is our fun cousin. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is that relative I have had hardly any contact with, but am still trying to learn about.

Then a couple of years ago Kevin stretched his wings and left the metaphoric nest. He took the plunge and made the trip to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. While he traveled there and back alone, once there he met friends old and new – some we both share in common – and began forming a connection to the west coast parks that I did not have. As mentor of sorts in his learning things Disney Parks, I was happy to see him expanding his experience. Personally, I admit, being a little jealous that I could not be there to share those same first steps.

So…we rush back now to the present, minus a few months. Giddy about my permanent employment and my projected plans for 2015 I share the information with Kevin. This past February he jets to Georgia to hang with me and take in a Drive By Truckers concert in Athens. After collecting him from the Atlanta Airport and have him bundled in to my car he gets this secret smile and hands me a blue manila folder.

“Surprise!” he exclaims with a twinkle to his eye.

I open the packet…and I am at a loss for words. This person…this friend…had just handed me confirmations for a Disneyland trip that I am to be part of THIS YEAR. Not 2015 as my plans had begun aiming towards. Kevin had taken it upon himself to up my timetable a year.

He can see the emotions playing on my face; the quiver of my lips and watery sheen in my eyes. I try my best to be the enigmatic one – the quiet one that people tell you to watch out for. Even with becoming as close as friends and Kevin and I have he still has problems “reading” me. I, on the other hand, can easily pick up on his body-language and “tells”. This time…this moment…I cannot hide what it is that is in my brain.

The better part of me wants to refuse this gift. It is too much: plane tickets, hotel, park pass. All he wants me to worry about is food, souvenirs, and having a fun time. In my bleary-eyed haze I want to smack him for doing this; and I tell him so in my cracking voice.

He then shares with me about how he’s been planning and plotting this thanks to an over-abundance of work and compensation from said work. He wanted to do this for me…to be the one to be there with me as I took my first steps in Disneyland as I was there for him in his early days of learning about Disney World. I get this...I understand his feeling, his want, to be able to do for friends when he has the means to do so. I have that in me as well. It’s just…difficult…to consider that I would be the recipient of something like this.

We’ve moved full-circle now. The mentor becomes the mentee.

And while I still think he went way too far in handling these arrangements and should not have done this, I am forever flattered and touched by his actions and generosity.

 (l-r: Kevin & Joe)

 

Thank you, KQuig. I wish I knew how I could ever have earned this…

~JoeZer

PS: More to come about me and my thoughts, opinions, dinglehoppers, and whatnots about Disneyland.

 

 

DLR/DCA Excursion Cresting on the Horizon

In roughly fifty-one hours from this entry (yes, calculated to include the time change) I will be within sight and steps of Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure, and Anaheim's Downtown Disney (DLR/DCA/DTD). To admit that I would not have ever imagined being THIS close to the “original” would be an understatement.

Am I excited? Yes.

Am I anxious? Yes.

Am I packed? Not yet. But, isn’t that always the case, my friends?

One thing that has been on my mind since the building blocks of this trip came together is remembering to keep as open a mind as possible while exploring DLR/DCA/DTD. I am hoping that I do not just stuck or mired in the mindset of too criticizing my compare and contrasts between East and West Coast attractions. It would certainly be a disservice to the US Disney Parks as they each have their charms; but, also you, my readers. I realize on some of the things upon which I write can be “preaching to the choir”, but I also hope to leave you with something as objective yet fun as possible enticing you to experience these items for yourself. I hope that seed of curiosity germinates in to something where each of you creates your own memories to cherish.

As a caveat, I do have an admission to share: Yes, I will more than likely be rating, comparing, contrasting attractions between East and West coast. I really do not think that can be prevented. Especially when you have the hallmark/keystone attractions like Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion at one's disposal.

But, there's also another layer to that comparison between the Florida and California parks: use of ride technologies but with different themes. A couple of contenders for this layer of contrasting are attractions like Indiana Jones and the Forbidden Temple vs. Dinosaur, or Test Track vs. Radiator Springs Racers.

One attraction that I will not be able to run a side-by-side comparison with is DLR's Space Mountain as it is currently offline for a refurb. However, in a stricter sense, the Matterhorn at DLR is the same ride design as the Space Mountain in WDW-MK with bobsled style rollercoaster cars on a steel tube track.

So much to do! So much to see!

Hopefully I won't forget anything while packing!

~JoeZer

 

JoeZer Does Disneyland: Prologue & Initiate Final Countdown

With the topic of today's title it felt a good time to scrape off some of the dust and corrosion here in my Mickey Mouse eared sliver of the interwebs...

Thanks to a happy confluence of circumstances - mostly assisted along by my pal Kevin over at Kevidently - I am about to embark on my first ever excursion to Disneyland. Yes, kiddies and pixie-dusted comrades, my first EVAH visit to the Mousey Motherland. (...or, should that be "Furred Fatherland" since Walt was a male and not a female...?)

The anticipation is mounting. I'll be arriving in two weeks on 6/19/2014 to explore and wander the park that Walt built. (Well, he and the team of Imagineers, construction contractors, artists, artisans, etc.) I do not know how I will react once I am within sight of the property in Anaheim.

 

Will it be joyous rapture...?

 

Will it be harsh criticism brought on by comparing DLR/DCA to my years of experience with WDW...?

 

Just how particular and judgmental will your JoeZer be; if even his brain can get past the concept of "HOLY FRAK!! I'M IN DISNEYLAND!!!"

 

As I have mobile access to posting online here, on the Twitters, and Facebook...just keep peeking in on me.

 

 

(I wonder if I should go and make a Facebook page/group for WEDWayJoe...??)

 

Comment and opine away!!

~JoeZer

Twitter: @wedwayjoe

Hello again, my friends...

Seems I keep forgetting that you are here...and that is not kind to you at all. I have been a bad JoeZer with letting this blog languish in the dusty shadows. For that, I apologize.

It seems Fate, in the guide of my pal Kevin of Expeditions Keverest, has conspired against my (extremely) lackadaisical blogging patterns. Over this past weekend he had made a proclamation unto me that has brought forward plans I had been mildly thinking on for 2015: my first ever (yes, really, FIRST TIME EVAH) excursion to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure in Anaheim.

Based on bonuses I theorize myself to be receiving this time next year, I was going to take my first trip to the "place where Walt walked" as a treat to myself. Also, if I had timed it right, it could coincide with DLR's 60th Anniversary.

Well, Kevin's decree has forced my hand. This happenstance - with a liberal application of Kevin's pixie dust - definitely had humbled me.

To my friend, Kevin. Thank you...as deeply as I could ever express.

To California, Anaheim, Disneyland, DCA, and Downtown Disney...I'mma comin' for ya!!


~JoeZer ºOº

Trailer for Saving Mr. Banks

Today we're able to take our first look at the trailer for Saving Mr. Banks, the movie about how Walt Disney approached and P.L. Travers allowed her book to be used for the film, Mary Poppins.

Personally, the filmed version of Mary Poppins holds a special place in my heart. The trailer for the new "how it came to be" between Walt and P.L. has whet my apetite officially to see Saving Mr. Banks. Yes, it is a dramatization (one of the tag lines is "Based on the untold story") of known events. But, to gleen some aspect of what all went in to Disney's process to work with and, ultimately, convince Travers well enough to allow the filming rights, has intrigued me since I learned a while ago that she was not all that keen when first approached by Walt and the studio.

I've got this marked on my calendars now. How about you?

View trailer for Saving Mr. Banks at this link: http://t.co/QO2GsZ9uaK

*Link courtesy of tweet posted by @DisneyD23 at 12:41pm ET 7/11/2013


~JoeZer

- Posted live & onsite via mobile device

Timeless Tuesday: May 17, 2011

[Editor's Note: Apologies for skipping a week. Evidently there was some stability issue kerfuffle with Blogger...but I didn't even notice as I had forgot. Please don't spank me...too hard...]

KUNGALOOSH!

(photo taken by JoeZer - click on image to enlarge)

Never to be forgotten by those who visited within her spirited environs... I'm sure we all know the following by heart...

The Club Creed

We climb the highest mountains,

just to get a better view.

We plumb the deepest oceans,

cause we're daring through and through.

We cross the scorching deserts,

martini in our hands.

We ski the polar ice caps,

in tuxedo looking grand.

We are reckless, brave, and loyal,

and valiant to the end.

If you come in here a stranger,

you will exit as a friend.

~Merriweather Adam Pleasure

Club Founder 1927

* * * * * * * * *

Marching along we're adventurers

Singing the song of adventurers

Up or down

North, south, east, or west,

An Adventurer's life is best.

KUNGALOOSH!!

~JoeZer

Timeless Tuesday: May 3, 2011

photo taken by JoeZer, June 3, 2005 at 7:30pm

Yes...this is the picture that the blog banner for WEDwayJoe was inspired by. Like many of the pictures I have taken, this one is one of those where the timing was just right and the image demanded to be captured for posterity.

A thunderstorm had recently moved through the Disney Hollywood Studios area (then, Disney-MGM Studios) and the day had been nearing sunset. The mix of clouds and setting sun at evening twilight made for this image in the skies as I was waiting for the tram to whisk me back towards where I had parked that day.

Nature has her way to remind you she can still amaze...


~JoeZer

New Post Category for WEDway Joe: Timeless Tuesday

Got the idea, thanks to following @floridamingo on the twitters, to do a weekly scheduled photo post. Her's, and a couple of others, are called "Wordless Wednesdays". With me, there's always a tidbit of a story behind the pictures I take and there may come times I'll opt to share that with you, the readers. Other times I may not as the proverbial saying can be true..."A picture is worth a thousand words."


Enjoy...


~JoeZer

WDW Trips from 2010: Did I Really Go Four Times?

Yeah...I really need to scrape the dust, rust and corrosion off of this blog. I think it has gone beyond just taking a damp cloth to remove the e-dust. Been long enough where I may have to rely on an e-sandblaster or some such.

Two-thousand ten, I think, has been a year where I’ve been to the WDW parks in Orlando more in one year since I moved up to the Atlanta area from my hometown of Bradenton, Florida. At least if you count the raw number of days spent in "the World" as my trips this year lasted anywhere from three to five or six days each for park time.

There is one thing about going to the parks that still proves true for myself: I have a better time there when I have friends/loved ones there with me to share in the experience. If I am there alone I am more apt to "get lost in my own head" while wandering around.

For some, this is not a bad thing...roaming the parks alone. I fully understand the concept of being able to follow your own path/choices on what to do when and using the "single rider" queue whenever possible. However, for me, I’ve been plenty enough times where I’ll just begin people watching, hearing the cheerful cries and laughter of young children, and taking pictures. This feeling of "sharing is caring" really came to play during my first two trips this year: June and August.

June I was in "the World" around the first weekend during an "unofficial" event known as GayDays as well as it being during Star Wars Weekends at Disney's Hollywood Studios. I had friends to hang with from the Atlanta area, Dallas, Texas as well as from right within Central Florida. Things conspired, as they do, where we would often be following our own agendas from time to time which left me in that wandering alone state. Boredom set in (I know? I’m in WDW and I’m bored?? WTF??) and I began feeling a bit let down.

A kind and sweet highlight was being in the Magic Kingdom the same day that park management decided to use as a "sneak preview" of not only the return engagement of the Main Street Electrical Parade but also the "Summer Nightastic" fireworks display. Getting to see the Electrical Parade again after nine years since the previous time was still bittersweet for me...and possibly not for the reason(s) you think...or maybe possibly. (Trust me...I have an entire blog post burbling about that. Just need to work through and make it cohesive.)



The Tower of Terror under gloomy skies


Rose Garden at Magic Kingdom (aka: former queue for the Swan Boats)


August happened as almost a last-minute kind of trip for me. This one was the shortest of all four trips I took. It came about as two of my cousins from New Jersey were headed down to Orlando with their immediate families and I wanted to catch some time with them. Was able to save some travel costs thanks to a friend who let me crash at his place during my stay; however, I think that was a wash on the expenses as it turned out my cousins were there for Universal Studios this time and weren’t planning on doing any of the WDW parks.

I don’t have anything against Universal. Not in the least. I enjoy their parks quite well. Was just the unplanned expense of getting a pass to enter Islands of Adventure on the day we all planned to hang out as their kids were anxious to do the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey attraction (before they began modifying the Kuka arm ride vehicles for those of us with girthier bodies). I can say that I was nicely surprised by how well the theme, detail and immersion is once you are in the Hogsmeade section of the park.



One of the many views within the Harry Potter area of US-IOA


This trip, aside from the jump over to Universal, I was basically all by myself at the WDW parks. So, I just idly wandered and began snapping photos of the architecture in the parks. Ehh...what can I say?

October was the next time I ventured down to WDW. This time, my friend and WDW-padawan Kevbot was going to be along for the excursion. We were there for the first week as it encompassed my birthday. I enjoy sharing experiences with him as he is still rather "new" to the WDW parks. Having him around allows me the chance to play the "old sage" and usually say silly things starting with "I remember when..." while we roam the parks together.

Through him and his enthusiasm I have found myself peeking in on things happening in the "Disney Parks Fan Community" as it were. Kevbot is not so much as an "enabler" as he is the one to jump in with both feet which finds me in the splash zone from time to time. One portion of the DizComm he has been following is the TouringPlans.com group and their mobile app known as "Lines" (an app that helps the user determine how best to make their way around the WDW parks by providing them estimated wait times, crowd levels, etc). During our time in WDW this trip, some of the staffers of TouringPlans.com were also in "the World" and had announced a meet-up they were hosting.

Kevbot attended their meet-up while I opted to take a break and rest a bit. Lo and behold, he made a few new friends right then and there (and he claims he was scared to go to it thinking he’d not know anyone and would feel out of place...sillyKevbotissilly). I got to meet a good few of these people, this Crew, later that evening during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party: Kristen H, Kimber K, Stevie B, Scarlett L, Megan A and a few others whom I’m not really sure from then but believe we’ve all swapped Twitter handles by now.

We, Kevbot and I, even garnered an invite the next day to spend time later in the evening for drinks at Bay Lake Tower. Evidently, they took to me well enough where I was made part of the Crew family that evening while we all christened the Canoodle Hole at the Top of the World lounge atop Bay Lake Tower.

Color me flattered...here I am, just someone who would normally just amble about along his way at the parks not worried about being "part of" any particular set of fans or groups of like mind and I am thought of as "one of us". The evening at the Canoodle Hole was something I needed. A chance to make some new friends...collapse in fits of laughter...and just being in the moment.



A birthday cupcake after breakfast at Kona Kafe


Kevbot being silly in the BouTiki at the Polynesian Resort


One thing I got to do for the first time this October trip was the evening Extra Magic Hours for Animal Kingdom. My, the park is beautiful during onset of twilight and evening. Also, riding Expedition Everest after dark makes it easier to see the Yeti animatronic; believe it or not.

I also got to find out that the enhancement that was put in place for the Haunted Mansions’ stretching rooms actually lasted longer than I thought. I enjoy the plussing that has been done to the audio used in that sequence and always hang back to hear it. What I didn’t know is that instead of just the audio playing and going "indistinct" then fading out before being reset for the next batch of guests there is a definitive end to it where one of the ghostly voices grows a bit out of the indistinct "noise" and can be heard whispering "Get out" to anyone still lingering in the stretching room. For that, I thank the castmember who saw me linger and nod my head happily listening to the audio and then asking me if I had ever heard the entire thing. I replied to her that I didn’t know there was more and she motioned for me to stay and hear the rest of it.

This trip was also Kevbot’s first chance to see the Main Street Electrical Parade. Watching him and his ever increasing levels of exuberance and giddiness during it kept the bittersweets at bay for me. Instead of my mind rolling back to when I’d be viewing the parade with my late-mother next to me I got to share a parade that is special to me and my childhood with a friend who became instantly enamored with it.

The truly tender moment of this trip, though, was when during dinner at the 50’s Prime Time Café Kevbot pulled a simple, wrapped gift out of his backpack for me. I unwrapped it to see it was a photobook he had made for me using pictures taken of our previous shared trips to WDW together. On the frontispiece he titled the book he created for me "Joe & Kev Love Disney World". If that little stinker didn’t know I was a sentimental sap before, he found out pretty well at that moment.

Sometimes it isn’t just about "being in the parks" with those you enjoy in your Life. It’s the small, quiet moments where those people and you come together that can be the most special.

December...ah, December. Kevbot and I again, this time we had booked and made plans to partake in an event called Reunion. It is a small gathering of Disney Park community fans where there were some meet-ups and special gatherings. After Kevbot and I mentioned our October trip to friends far and wide, an old acquaintance of mine now in San Diego had his curiosity piqued.

Paul had met Kevbot earlier in 2010 during Kevbot’s first ever trip to Disneyland. Paul, as I’ve come to find out, has been as big a fan of WDW as I am and became intrigued as to possibly returning to WDW one day. Kevbot and I both replied to Paul that he should consider December with us.

Getting Paul added to our booking was easy enough. (Bless the staff with MousefanTravel.com for their assistance with that.) Intermingled with Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, the events/meet-ups for Reunion and just roaming about the parks I got to enjoy getting to know Paul and the Crew better; plus feeling even more a part of the "inside jokes" and camaraderie. And, can I say, sharing hugs with the likes of Kristen H and Scarlett L can make one feel like family.



Cinderella Castle all lit up for the Christmas holiday


The Osbourne Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney Hollywood Studios


Made a few more Crew friends during December/Reunion: KChristine, Caroline B, Susan C, ErinSpice, Deanna S, Elizabeth & Colin O and probably many others whose names and Twitter handles escape me at the moment. To say that my circle of friends has been broadened in 2010 might be an understatement...and through these people there are others who I am coming to know via Twitter only so far. And it continues...

Four trips, one year, four parks...

What other experiences are waiting for me there? Time only knows what each excursion-yet-to-be will contain.


~JoeZer

(photos taken by JoeZer)

Playing with Pictures...

So...as my friend Kev can attest, I've been in need of a new hobby since I've been dabbling with a couple of image processing apps that I've acquired and uploaded to my iPhone, Ianto.

From the files of "Gone, but not forgotten": this picture is of one of the ride vehicles (subs) from the extinct 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea attraction that was part of Fantasyland in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom in Florida. I'm not sure if it was photographed by Disney staffers though it looks like a "planned" shot possibly for promotional materials. I snerched the picture from a twitter user I follow (@wdwfacts) recently...





Growing up I quite enjoyed this attraction. Yeah...there was a touch of cheesiness to it...but still I liked it. When I came across the image in the twitter feed mentioned above, it was part of that day's "Wayback Machine" photos that they've started putting up and out on the interwebzzes. A clankity-clank jumbled in my brainpan and I got the notion to filter it to more of a steampunkier feel...or, at least, a sense of something more Verne-ian in vintage...



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I'm also noodling with the idea to do an arty crop of thie sepia'd version and adding text to it as the thought upon seeing the "after" I knobbled together could very well work as a banner for the WEDwayJoe entries where I look at experiences about the WDW parks from the far-flung past...


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I'd enjoy seeing the reactions to the "before" and "after"...if you have a mind to spare a moment...


~JoeZer

Blowing the Dust

Greetings, All. JoeZer of WEDwayJoe here...

I know it seems an interminable time has passed since I last cast light on my WDW/Disney blog here. For that, I am sorry.

I can assure you that it hasn't been from a lack of things to write about. In fact, I have about a dozen or so items back-logged to write and get posted up in here. A few of them may now seem "dated" due to the amount of time that has passed...however, I owe it to not only myself but to YOU to publish the items.

Thank you for your patience and for bearing with me...


~JoeZer



- Posted via Ianto, my handy iPhone.

Test of interface

I know things here have been quiet...lots of entries backing up here at the desks of WEDwayJoe.

Know that we are still here...and now testing a mobile app that should make for live posts where ever I am.

~JoeZer


- Posted via Ianto, my handy iPhone.

Pin Chasing – Ellie’s Grape Soda bottlecap from UP

Every once in a while I’ll go poking around on Disney’s Official Pin-Trading website as they will list new and upcoming pins. I do that to see if there is anything coming out that catches my eye and/or bellows in loud, authoritative tones “YOU. MUST. BUY. ME.” Having those reactions can happen either for ones that I like or pins I think somebody else might enjoy…or both.

A quick side-step here about me. Yes, I do collect items. As a general rule, though, I do not “chase” after every single piece in any particular “line” that one can build collections out of. More often than not, my eye is caught by unique or interesting pieces in the range of choices or items that have some level of deeper meaning for me. To look around my home, you might come away saying that my tastes are “eclectic”.

But...back to pins...

This particular time in early June of this year I was poking around the pin-trading website and noticed one of the pins being released in conjunction with Pixar’s movie, UP.

The grape soda pop bottle cap that Ellie and Carl use to show they belong to the same adventurer’s club. The pin also takes on a more symbolic meaning over the course of the story. It gains a sentiment and the weight of emotional value that follows it as it is passed from one character to another...from Ellie to Carl, and then from Carl to Russell. The bottlecap badge came to represent a shared dream that had gone long unfulfilled. For a while, the dream looked to have been lost when it actually had just lain dormant waiting to be dusted off and the embers re-lit.

As I looked over the release date, details and location for this pin I should have known to jump on it the day it was being released. The batch size was set at 300 copies and the release point was the Disney Soda Shop and Studio Store next to the El Capitan Theater in Los Angeles. One thing that held me back was that I was not sure if the staff at the shop would be able to accept purchases over the telephone or not. By the time I took the chance to find out the pin had sold out.

While talking with the Castmember she relayed a couple of anecdotes about the Grape Soda Pop Bottle Cap pin:

A couple of people who purchased the pin when it first came out wore them when they went to Disneyland and they were fending off people asking where they found the pin; which caused an in-flux of buyers stopping by the store.

Castmembers manning the counters at the soda shop reported that a few Girl Scouts had come in and purchased the pin as well...to wear on their uniform with their merit badges (...I completely and totally <3 those girls for this idea)

Yet, with the small disappointment with not being able to buy one for myself, I did make note to keep the telephone numbers for the Disney Soda Shop and Studio Store handy as they will gladly accept telephone orders and arrange shipping of purchases. See...a silver lining to this can be found.

Since that time I have, for the sake of this entry, looked online in eBay just to see if the grape soda bottle cap pin has hit the resell market yet. From what I can see, it is beginning to trickle in to the reselling aftermarket segment. I’ve also found it priced there as quite a collector’s item anywhere from $50 to $300 depending on the source offering it.

Along with the aftermarket resellers, I have also noted a few sources offering “non-Disney” knock-off versions of the bottle cap in not only the grape flavor, but also cherry, orange and lemon-lime. Now, these have been constructed by loving fans with a safety pin, making it look more authentic to the film though still not officially licensed by Disney/Pixar. How the quality comes across in the final product, I do not know at this time.

Still...it would have been neat to have been able to get my hands on one...or two...or three (the extras to gift to special friends, of course...).

--

~JoeZer

Top Ten (and then some) Pieces of Music from WDW

Howdy all...your pal Joe here with Kev (of Expeditions KEVerest) right at hand...

A while back, one of our favorite podcasts, WDW Radio, did a whole show about their top ten favorite Disney attraction theme songs. Now, being a fan of Disney attractions, lists, and podcasts, Kevbot was enthralled. So enthralled, in fact, that he emailed me, his pal in all things Disney and asked if I’d be interested in doing a cross-post entry about just that topic.

When Kev next heard from me, I had compiled my list – with commentary! – and was only waiting for him to compile his. Which he, um, kind of dragged his feet on (with justifiable reasons). Until now!

What follows is the closest Kev and I can textually render a podcast dialogue experience for all you good readers. Strap in, hold on to your hats and glasses, and enjoy: Our Top Ten Disney Attraction Theme Songs!

Where I opted to just go for more of an overall approach going for pieces that stick out in my mind or have stayed with me over the years/decades, Kev went all numbered-listy on us creating an actual ranking for himself. Now, though I have the breadth of park history behind me going back to late-71/early-72 I’ve been a bad Joezer in not really paying attention to the songs/music used in DHS and AK (go ahead and spank me).

Since Kev went through the extra effort to creating his rankings, we'll start off with his and go from there...

It certainly looks like we have a few overlapping choices though, Kev. Pardon my interjections as we look through our selections… *wink*

This one's a doozy...so make sure to visit the restroom first, then grab a cool drink and find a spot to get comfy...

KEV’S SELECTIONS:

10. “Hapa Duniani” – Kilimanjaro Safaris, Animal Kingdom

When compiling my list, I tried to cast my net wide and include all the parks. I was only mostly successful, as we’ll see. A fair bit of this song plays during the Kilimanjaro Safaris, and it’s always this nice bit of calm in between the driver’s patter and the theming of the ride (which I like, but “Come in, Simba-1!” can get a little much.) I’d like to try to hear this on the safari at sunset someday; it seems like it would fit in well.

9. “it’s a small world” – “it’s a small world,” Magic Kingdom

I worry that most of my picks come from the Magic Kingdom, which has a few advantages over the other parks. For one, it’s the one that closest resembles Disneyland, which had a lot of these rides and their attendant theme songs in place as classics decades before Disney World even opened. For another, because of the nature of the park itself – more like being in a movie than any of the other parks, even Hollywood Studios – it lends itself more toward theme music.

A part of me thought I was picking “it’s a small world” simply because it’s a classic. But the truth is, despite its bad rap, I actually really like it. People rag on it because it’s sappy, but I’m not sure “it’s a world of laughter, a world of tears / it’s a world of hope, it’s a world of fear”? The Sherman Brothers – a big-time successful music duo Walt favored – concocted this one, and what a lasting concoction it was.

Joe: I had thought of this one…even contemplating listing it as an “Honorable Mention” for my selections. It would have been for the historical aspect of it as “it’s a small world” was developed for a World’s Fair before it appeared in Disneyland and later, Walt Disney World. However, I elected to pass on it. I’m happy to see that it is being recognized, though.

8. “Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” – Carousel of Progress/Horizons, Magic Kingdom, Epcot

More Sherman Brothers. I actually love this song on the Carousel of Progress, and the different iterations it goes through as the carousel goes through different twentieth-century American eras. (For awhile, it was replaced with “Now Is the Time,” my friend Mark’s least favorite bit of music ever, excepting Genesis’s “I Can’t Dance.”)

But my favorite version of this was actually in the defunct Epcot attraction Horizons – the Carousel’s sequel attraction – which I sadly never visited. I’ve seen ride-throughs, though, and there’s a moment where you see a TV screen featuring a gentleman singing this one in an old-timey big-band style. It’s similar to the first iteration on the Carousel, but sung solo. It’s terrific.

Joe: The Carousel of Progress is definitely a classic; another attraction that Walt developed for a World’s Fair that was saved and given a home at WDW in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom. With this one, my inclusion of it was based on how the music has stayed with me over the years (going back to when ticket booklets were in use at the Magic Kingdom). Now, I know that, technically, there are two pieces of music or songs that have been used for Carousel of Progress: “Now is the Time” and “Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow”. Me? I guess you could say that I’m a “Now is the Time” fan as it’s been the only one of the two I’ve heard in use. It’s a simple yet catchy melody and lyrics with the music style easily melding from one time period to the next as you traveled around from one scene to another. The upbeat, optimism extolled with Now is the time, now is the best time, now is the best time of your life… as the electrical age began, grew and evolved enticed you to bounce your foot in time and sing along.

Kev: I suppose I don’t know “Now Is the Time” well enough. I’ve only heard “Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” at the Carousel, so I don’t have the personal connection that you do. That said, I want to hear it more now!

7. “Soarin’” – Soarin’, Epcot

Composer Jerry Goldsmith created this rousing theme, changing mood and tone with each shift in the scenery, while keeping it a cohesive whole. It’s actually no surprise that I like this as much as I do – Goldsmith did both the Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Voyager theme songs. Soarin’ is one attraction where the theme song is completely integral to the experience; if it hadn’t been as good as it is, it would have sunk the attraction.

Joe: I can easily agree with this…though I’d also be happy in Soarin’ with just hearing the sounds of nature as we drifted through each scene.

6. “Grim Grinning Ghosts” – The Haunted Mansion, Magic Kingdom

I love this classic – yes! – Sherman Brothers song in part because you don’t entirely realize that it’s playing throughout the whole attraction unless you really listen. Another part of why I love it so much is that Thurl Ravenscroft, my favorite Disney voice artist (and voice of Tony the Tiger), has a very pronounced part in the song. But most of the reason why I love this is that I liked the song years before I knew any other Disney theme songs. Barenaked Ladies did a cover of it a long time ago, and I listened to it over and over, nearly a decade before I ever went to the parks.

Joe: Ahhh, yes…The Haunted Mansion. Its soundtrack begins setting the tone outside with sounds of gusting winds, wolves howling and thunder strikes. Inside, it changes over to soft music played in a minor key that continues through the attraction. When you get to that attic scene and the music shifts to a sinister twist on “Here Comes the Bride”…a piece of music we’re all used to hearing, but played in a minor chord influencing the mood. After the exit from the attic we’re now partying away with the ghostly and ghoulish denizens of the cemetery singing “Grim Grinning Ghosts”. Unlike you, Kev…I didn’t know BNL did a cover of “Grim Grinning Ghosts”. But, I do have an audio “walk-through” of sorts of the attraction to listen too on dark stormy nights alone.

5. “Bear Band Serenade” – The Country Bears Jamboree, Magic Kingdom

There are so many songs to choose from in Country Bears. “Tears Will Be the Chaser for Your Wine” is probably the best song, and there’s no doubt that “Blood on the Saddle” is the absolute funniest. (Liver-Lips McGrowl scares me.) But I love this one because it introduces the Bear Band, and it’s fun and funny without going over the top. Plus, Henry’s singing along!

Joe: Ok, Kev…it’s getting creepy how we’re aligning with our attraction choices here. Country Bear Jamboree – another classic that gets people clapping, stomping their feet and singing along.. The sounds are down-home folksy country and bluegrass. The lyrics encourage both singing along and laughing. The show closes with a crescendo to a heck of a hoedown for all the family to enjoy. “Blood on the Saddle” and the lament of the three girl cubby bears are upper stand outs for me in a show full of catchy ditties.

Kev: My favorite part about them is the film-strip that plays out behind them. It’s SO 70s and hilarious. Doodle-doodle-doodle-do, bom bom!

4. “Star Tunnel” – Space Mountain, Magic Kingdom

Hands-down the most relaxing music in all of Walt Disney World. You don’t think of a theme park – and especially a turbulent roller coaster – as being a place you can go to relax, but this queue music subtly captures the essence of the calm silence of space. At the same time, the electronic beats make it seem futuristic, putting it squarely in the theming of Tomorrowland. Also, it almost – almost – seems meandering, unless you listen closely. There’s definitely a song structure going on here, and it’s wonderful to pick up on.

Joe: Ok…the creepy, shared-brain thing is ramping up, y’know. This one is a great atmospheric piece: the queue line music for Space Mountain. Here, you’re in the dark for the most part…light coming from blue shaded lamps or different astronomic photographs of starscapes. What should be a nerve-wracking wait – underground – in dim lighting – wondering what was at the other end is tempered by the soft tones and wandering melodies of the electronic music (WDW doing “new age” before it the term was even considered as a musical genre…at least in a mainstream sense).

3. “Golden Dreams” – The American Adventure, Epcot

Call me jingoistic if you want, but this song at the end of the American Adventure show in the United States pavilion brings me to tears every single time. Part of it, obviously, is the images of American history playing out across the screen, but a lot of it has to do with the song itself – patriotic without being campy or sounding square.

Joe: Agreeing again I am.

Kev: Are you Yoda?

Joe: Please...do I look green and two feet tall? I'm actually his younger, hairier, more handsome cousin twenty-three times removed from his great-grandmother's college roommate side.

Kev: I see your Schwartz is as big as mine!

Joe: “Golden Dreams”, the closing piece to the presentation in the American Adventure and its sweeping orchestrations, pictures and videos of historic elements, rousing lyrics…gives me chills sometimes.

2. “If We Can Dream It, We Can Do It,” Horizons, Epcot

Extinct attraction Horizons once again steps up to the plate. And how can it not? A completely sincere, straightforward message about how dreams can come true if we believe in them enough … and work hard at making them realities. “Today holds the challenge to make the world a better place to be!” it goes, “New Horizons for you and me!” And then the chorus of children singing the title riff, followed by “Yes we can! Yes we can!” An absolutely brilliant song about reaching your own potential, for yourself and for the world. God, I wish I’d been able to ride Horizons.

Joe: Another piece that had a hook in its message. Here, the song played to our sense of wonder and hope at what the future might bring and solidified that feeling with using a children’s choir – the voices of our future, in a way – all coming together in the chorus refrain of “Yes we can, yes we can.” And, I’m really not surprised, nor creeped with the shared-brain-ness, about both of us listing this one since I was the mad scientist that gave birth to the Horizons-love-monster in you.

1. “How Do You Do?” – Splash Mountain, Magic Kingdom

With all the songs on Splash Mountain – especially “Zip-a-Dee-Dooh-Dah” and “Everybody’s Got a Laughing Place” – this one has stiff competition. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that this is the first one you hear on the ride, or maybe it’s just the folksy sweetness of it. How do you do? Pretty good, sure as you’re born! Plus, it sets up the whole story of the ride, where Br’er Rabbit announces his adventure, declaring, “I’m looking for a little bit of fun now!” Although there are ominous signs, with the critters singing “he’s heading for trouble one of these days.” Absolutely the perfect way to launch into one of the best attractions in all of Disney World.

Runners-Up:

Some quick thoughts about songs I didn’t pick.

“A Pirate’s Life For Me” – From Pirates of the Caribbean. Love it, but not quite enough to make the top ten.

Joe: Pirates of the Caribbean made it to the main part of my selections. Like the Magic Kingdom, Pirates has been a dear old friend for me – classic in feel – and has music that makes pirating feel fun. The bouncing beat, the flow of the words in the lyrics, the simple and catchy melody line…it all adds up to fun skipping music while you swing your sword around.

“Everybody’s Got a Laughing Place” – An extremely close runner-up for “How Do You Do?” as my favorite song from Splash Mountain

“We’ll Meet Again” – The spooky Vera Lynn version that plays outside the Tower of Terror sometimes. I made a rule not to include pre-existing songs, but this one would have been a great representation of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Joe: Like you, this was the only attraction in DHS that stood out for me. For me, it’s all in how the music in the queue line sets up the atmosphere for the attraction. Outside as you wind your way along the paths through overgrown foliage and misty air there’s haunting jazz era pieces lightly playing. To help set the mood of a dilapidated, potentially haunted, building the music is in a minor key mixing the feel that this used to be a grand place while adding a darker element to the glamour that has long since faded (boy howdy that’s a run-on sentence). How and why that is? Well…that’s for the Guests to find out, right?

“Celebrate You” – This brand-new song plays during the Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Parade at the Magic Kingdom. There’s a version of it by Corbin Bleu from High School Musical, but I like the one that plays at the park. I didn’t include it because a parade isn’t really an attraction, per se.

“Shenendoah” – Which also brings me to tears. This is done a capella, sometimes, by the Voices of Liberty, the group that sings preceding the American Adventure. This is one of my favorite folk songs of all time, and these folks perform it so well.

Joe: All right, shared brain time again. I am definitely with you about The Voices of Liberty. A very hearty thumbs-up recommendation whether as a precursor to the main American Adventure presentation or on their own. The vocal harmonies are splendid and moving – Kev and I can attest. The one song that got my emotional button punched but good was their rendition of “When You Wish Upon a Star”.

“Blood on the Saddle” – Because it’s the hands-down funniest thing in all of Walt Disney World.

JOE’S SELECTIONS:

Muahahahahahaha…now, comes the rest of my selections. These are in no particular order as far as I’m concerned. And, since all things must have a place to start, let’s begin with the Grand Dame of the Orlando Resort, the Magic Kingdom.

Within the MK there are literally scads of music to choose from (as you’ve seen Kev and me touch on) covering parades that have come and gone, shows from the Castle Forecourt stage and other spots within the Kingdom, night-time fireworks, and attractions old and new – existing and extinct. And, when it comes to the Magic Kingdom, I got to give props to a couple of classics: The Haunted Mansion and The Pirates of the Caribbean (as you read above). Both are like siblings to me still living in a place I think of as a second home.

Even though I’ve mentioned a good few attractions there are a couple more I want to shed some pixie dust on from the “Extinct Attractions” category: If You Had Wings and The Main Street Electrical Parade.

Way back when; when Tomorrowland was still all smooth lines and curves, light grays, white and blues there was an attraction that Guests did not require nor need a ticket to experience: “If You Had Wings” (initially sponsored by Eastern Air Lines). Essentially, IYHW was one big travel advertisement. The omnimover vehicles took you past film segments showing off exotic locales and destinations in the Caribbean – lush foliage, brightly colored marketplaces, smiling people – all to the catchy signature tune “If You Had Wings”. It’s been well over 25 years since I’ve last been on this attraction (and the show building has had many refurbs and is now home to Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin), but the music still pops in to my head from time to time.

Kev: What I find interesting is that Disney can do blatant marketing without it seeming blatant. Well, okay, it seems blatant in Test Track, but that’s another story. I need to see a ride-through of If You Had Wings…

The Main Street Electrical Parade – while dearly loved, proved to be a bit of an emotional Achilles’ Heel for me later in life. The main portion of the musical track is something known as “Baroque Hoedown” with smaller, specific bits, scattered throughout the parade depending on the float. Like with today’s night-time parades, there’d be voice announcements acting as a countdown to when the spectacle would start. Once at that magic hour…that magic minute…all the lights would go out and the synthesized voice welcoming the viewers and kicking off the parade would be heard. Then…then the goosebumps came for me as the combination of music and light began wending its way along Main Street where my family always made sure to set up spots to sit. The last time I got to see this parade it was wrapping up a final encore appearance at the Magic Kingdom in WDW during Spring 2001. (The emotional reaction I had? Well…there’s another post in the works about the scant few moments I’ve had like that while visiting WDW.)

Now, let’s hop a monorail to the TTC where we can hop another monorail over to EPCOT shall we? Yes, lets.

Now, before I get to pieces from extinct attractions, I get to that quasi level of an attraction still in operation to some degree but being heavily redesigned. For those who know EPCOT, you can pretty much guess I mean Journey Into Imagination. I admit, I am a big fan of the initial version of this attraction – the two following iterations leave me somewhat unsatisfied though Figment has been added to the overall story again with the return of “One Little Spark” towards the end of the current attraction. But, “One Little Spark” is the heart and soul of the story of this attraction. A song putting to words and sprite-ly music the idea that everything we have…anything we have accomplished…anything we can do…all starts with one little glint of imagination.

Kev: Not having the history to fall back on, I don’t really grok the overwhelming emotion that comes with memories of this attraction. The new iteration I like, but don’t know as if I’ll ever love. I’ve seen some videos of the original, and that seems like a little like Horizons – a big omnimover experience that helped you believe anything was possible.

Other catchy and sometimes inspirational pieces can be found by diving in to the past of EPCOT...

Aside from my fondness for Horizons there was another attraction that is no longer with us: World of Motion. In this attraction, the theme song reminded us “It’s Fun to be Free” thanks to the wonders of transportation with the warm vocals and, again, a bouncing, rollicking piece. Near the end of the attraction there was a model of a future city done up with UV reactive paints, fiber optics and such and the music changed to a sweeping, epic orchestration intimating the grandeur of a city where traveling between destinations was hassle-free.

Kev: SIGH. I saw the ride-through for this like three days ago and I already desperately wish I could have ridden this. THIS is why time travel needs to be invented.

Joe: …and here I am with a bum TARDIS…

Surprisingly, this kind of wraps it up for me and EPCOT on our musical highlights tour. How about we hop that bus over to Disney Hollywood Studios, eh? Or, at least I would…but the only one to stand out for me here is The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and the overall music theme for it. (*points above*)

Under other circumstances I would normally take on Animal Kingdom now…but as my experiences with this park are quite minimal it’d be hard for me to offer any opinions about the music used within it and its attractions. On this one, I defer to my friend and WDW excursion cohort, Kev.

Now…before I wrap up, I have to give props to one piece that has gained quite the cult following. A piece with such a following that no matter when you hear it, there is always at least one person chanting it back in synch with the recording:

”Please stand clear of the doors.
Por favor manténganse alejado de las puertas”

Kev: I have that shirt!

Yes, folks…our beloved monorail spiel that greets thousands of Guests a day. Though technically not a musical piece, this six to eight second audio segment feels like it is as tied to the atmosphere of the Disney parks as the song for “it’s a small world”.

Music; whether instrumental arrangements or with full-blown lyrics, can add an extra, almost imperceptible sometimes, layer to any experience. This is quite the case within the Disney parks – the melodies that bounce and weave around our ears – the words that sometimes scroll by in our minds – stay with us long after our visits.

Kev: Wonderful co-writing this with you, Joe!

Joe: Just as much fun as last time. I look forward to next time!

Kev: Now, time to be movin’ along…


~ JoeZer and Kev