No other music group had a bigger influence on Walt Disney, both in the parks and the movies, than Thurl Ravenscroft and his quartet, The Mellomen. His voice can be heard throughout the parks, although many of his recordings were replaced in 2001.

Here is a list of places to find Thurl:

• The Haunted Mansion
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• The Enchanted Tiki Room
• The Disneyland Railroad (until his voice was replaced in 2001)
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Alice in Wonderland
• Country Bear Jamboree
• The Sailing Ship Columbia
• The Mark Twain Steamboat (until replaced in 2001)

Of course, his talents do not stop in the parks. He and his group, The Mellomen, can be heard in Alice in Wonderland when the cards are “painting the roses red.”  Thurl cameos in too many features to count, but if your curious, please visit http://members.aol.com/allthurl/thurl2.htm

His contributions will never be forgotten. There is hardly a song in Disneyland or the animated features that Thurl doesn’t cameo somewhere.  Thurl was certainly a main ingredient to the magic we call Disney.

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Yesterday, I discovered DisFriends.com. It has been a storm of discovery for myself. I have used other social networking sites and have been somewhat impressed, but no one has anything in common with me for the most part.

Then came DisFriends. I didn’t know there were others like me. People who get a bit weird when it comes to anything Disney. But I could never talk about Disney with my friends without that plastered smile and “help me” eyes that told me it was time to talk about the local news again, or football, or work.

But here it is, a place I can unashamedly call a place of my own, where people of my own kind roam and think the same happy thoughts! Now there are people who understand me when I mention some random thought about the style of the animation, how it fits in the Disney historical timeline, why Walt would or would not like it, etc…

I have roamed the internet and have found many wonderful Disney sites, but none that could manage the mass interaction DisFriends has to offer.

There are journal entries anyone can post, discussions of any topic, groups that focus on a special topic, contests, etc…

Check it our for yourself. Maybe you, too, will find where you belong:

Visit DisFriends

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Since the early days of Walt Disney animated features, Walt had re-released features back into theaters, producing more revenue for the studio. This is not what I would call greed or milking to public for all they’re worth. This is simply business savvy. Anyways, Walt hated that he needed money, he only wanted to make better things. He saw money only as something he could use to transform into his projects.

Today, the classics are re-released every seven years or so on a better format. I generally wait until the 2-disc special editions come out before even considering purchasing a classic, but as I wait, the formats are improving. October 7, 2008, Sleeping Beauty will be released on Blu-Ray.

It makes me smile to know that Disney goes to great lengths to restore the classics to their pristine original beauty that time is always trying to wear away. If anything, the re-released cleaned-up versions may be better than the originals. The bonus material is certainly to be treasured. To have a behind-the-scenes look at the features only makes it that much more special to me.

Even though the plot is very basic, and there were few lines, this movie does have a lot to offer. The art is outstanding. The music is rich and deep to match the artwork. This is an awesome pick for Blu-ray. It was the first animated classic to be produced in widescreen to show off the beautiful background art (which had to be redone on both sides to fit the new format)

I personally love the story as simple as it was. If you watch it for the plot alone, you may be disappointed. The story really is mostly about the fairies, as Aurora didn’t even speak until halfway through the film. That makes her more of a side character. The prince has even less showtime. Just enjoy it for the aesthetics. The rich compositions and stylized art make this movie one of the most memorable of the Disney Cannon. It would have to be somewhat memorable. Disney has based Sleeping Beauty’s castle for three of the five theme parks around the world: Disneyland California, Disneyland Paris, and Disneyland Hong Kong.

An updated list of the classics can be found here at www.ultimatedisney.com

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Yesterday in Disneyland, the gates to the Haunted Mansion opened up to this year’s Haunted Mansion Holiday. The combined ghostliness of the existing Haunted Mansion combine every year with Tim Burton’s creepiness to make a memorable Halloween/Christmas for all those who visit between yesterday and after Christmas.

The time is ripe for pumpkins and goblins and all the Halloween decorations to go up, making for an early festive spirit that could haunt you all month long!

There is no better source to learn about this celebratory event, or anything else you want to know about the Haunted Mansion than at www.doombuggies.com. Chef Mayhem, curator of DoomBuggies.com, has taken the time and research to make a masterful crypt of information.

If you didn’t get your fill of the ride from his website, then read his book whenever it becomes available again:

Oh, and don’t forget to check out Disneyland’s awesome Halloween website here.

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It’s hard to ignore the gas prices when you fill up your tank these days. And it’s not really a shocker anymore. We are learning to save money to afford to drive anywhere. Until the prices go back down again, which might be when we have another fuel source years down the road, we can certainly stop driving when you don’t have to.

The internet has made it easy to get what you need without ever getting your keys out. Instead of driving to your local Walmart to pick out a DVD, you can now simply surf to a many number of online DVD retails stores, such as Amazon.com . Then, instead of having to pay for the gas to drive there and back, simply click to get Ratatouille. There is no longer the hassle of having to drive, find a parking spot, discover that Cars is sold out. So you leave, find your car, drive to another place that may not have it on sale. You find it, pay a heftier price, waste more gas, get home, but now you are too tired to enjoy it. Why not save all that trouble by going to Amazon instead? Save the gas and hassle.

Renting movies has become easier than ever as well. Netflix has paved the way to easy movie renting. Instead of the same old story as above, you can also click to pick what movies will be delivered to you. Or, better yet, get Netflix’s player by Roku to watch movies instantly, or if you have the X-Box 360 with an XBox Live Gold membership, and soon the LG BD300 Network Blu-ray Disc Player. Then you won’t even have to wait to see what you want to watch.

Alternatively, Amazon has some exciting new developments. Amazon Video on demand allows you to buy movies or tv episodes and then watch them instantly, or download them to your PC or Mac, or even watch it on your TV by downloading it to your Tivo DVR. Now you can get your fix of your favorite Disney movie anytime you want. Blockbuster has been competing with Netflix on having movies mailed to you as well. So if you prefer Blockbuster, click to get you favorite movie.

As you can see, there are many choices to save on money and gas and still have an evening of Disney magic.
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There is much fuss over Winnie the Pooh these days, which by some estimates brings in over a billion dollars a year in Pooh merchandise to the Walt Disney Company. With the amount of money Pooh is worth, it was no wonder that Walt Disney World’s Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride was shut down to be replaced with a Winnie the Pooh ride in the face of so many Toad fans. It could have been an early sign that money, not the guest, ruled the company. At the very least, in that particular decision.

But let us not forget that there is more of a connection between these two famous anthropomorphic stories. Obviously, both had the Disney treatment. The Wind in the Willows was not very successful, but Disney was not doing well financially at the time as the Disney Studio was still recovering from a strike and a war that almost shut the studio down forever.

Winnie the Pooh, originally Edward, gets his name from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Not directly though. A black bear cub that was bought by a hunter for $20 and shortly became a national mascot for W.W.I. and was named Winnipeg after the town. A. A. Milne and his son, Christopher Robin Milne, frequented London Zoo that housed her. Christopher took such a liking to the bear that he named his teddy bear Winnie. Various stories come about from where “the-Pooh” comes from. Some say a swan, but the first chapter of Winnie-the-Pooh says it was due to how stiff Winnie’s arms were, and if a fly should land, he would have to blow it off.

They had A. A. Milne in common. Yes, he only wrote Winnie-the-Pooh and subsequent stories. However, he was a playwright that had taken a liking to The Wind in the Willows, saving the book from obscurity. Milne was certainly inspired by the story and wrote his own imaginative tales. Also, the 1931 edition of The Wind in the Willows was illustrated by E. H. Sheppard, the same talented illustrator for Winnie-the-Pooh.

While you can certainly ride both rides at Disneyland, I recommend reading the original stories. Start with Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows. The story is a delightful tale of Mole and his friends that includes, you guessed it, Mr. Toad. It certainly has a catching first chapter, and by many accounts is the best first chapter of any story ever written. So if you simply read the first line, then you will want to read the first chapter. And if you read the first chapter… Oh, you know what you will have to do.

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I must applaud Disney for bringing back shorts. Last year, Disney showcased “How to Hook Up Your Home Theater,” starring Goofy for the first time since Aquamania (1961) for National Treasure: Book of Secrets. The look and feel was certainly a nod to the Golden Age of Disney. Along with many shorts, this one had a very special purpose. It tested a new style of animation that uses computer tablets instead of hand-drawings to be scanned to a computer (CAPS). Although some of the animation utilized true hand-drawings, much of it ventured into the new process, demonstrating the improvements the tablets can make.

Shorts have always been a good place to test new technologies. Plane Crazy (1928) showcased Mickey and Minnie for the first time. Steamboat Willie (1928) introduced sound in sync with an animation for the first time. Flowers and Trees (1932) demonstrated that animations could be in color. The Old Mill (1937) tested the multiplane camera. Xerography was tested in the before mentioned Aquamania.

Enough about the history of shorts and on with the significance of this short. With this YouTube generation, shorts are certainly popular again. It only makes sense as our attention spans shorten and ADD is ever on the rise. And what better “appetizer” to a movie than to see a short. Especially a Walt Disney short.

The new logo of Walt Disney Animation Studios introduced with “Meet the Robinsons” certainly pairs well with the short. It is a tribute to Disney’s humble beginnings. It let’s us remember how Micky began and what he has become since, much like Pixar’s logo that stars their first official short featuring Luxo Jr.

Then, of course, the classic short introduction we are all familiar with. The Goofy theme music, the classic image of Goofy’s face centered over a yellow background. The Walt Disney Presents Goofy with the sound company credits. Then the title of the the short, ever building up to the short itself.

Of course, Goofy has been traditionally portrayed as “the everyman” in many of his shorts, especially his sports instructionals. It was a very classic choice that this short would be about setting up a home theater for a football game. I was holding my breath the entire short, which makes me pretty lucky that it was a short! I was waiting to be disappointed. It never happened. Not to be too harsh on Disney, but I have been disappointed more times than naught of late. But for what seems forever, there was a Disney product that wowed me. They had taken something from the golden age of Disney and applied it to a much different modern world. And it worked.

Of course, there were also the subtle nods to Goofy’s past as well. There is a bookshelf that I couldn’t help notice had a picture of Walt Disney, Dippy Dawg(Goofy’s prototype), a caricature of John Lasseter (the creative genius who is bringing life back to Disney), a trophy of Goofy, and a picture of Clarabelle Cow, a hugely less successful character that was born from the Disney Studios.

News is that Disney is continuing the trend with CGI shorts from John Lassester’s lead. Pixar has made outstanding shorts that has trained and tested techniques for the movies, just as Disney had. You can find more about them at http://www.disneyanimation.com

I look forward to reviewing the amazing new shorts as they are released!

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Well, today is the Fall Equinox, which explains my excitement every time I step outside. Fall, or Autumn, is just about my favorite season. Winter takes an equal spot for me as well!

No one can deny the Halloween decorations that have already been popping up since about the 4th of July. But that really doesn’t kick the season off. The first sign for me was a noticeable drop in temperature. But really, for me there is a strange feeling in my gut that let’s me know it’s fall.

Fall is the perfect beginning for stories of magic and wonder. Much like rainstorms in movies are sometimes a metaphor for cleansing, Fall is the curtain rising to a new show. There is a building anticipation for the unknown to suddenly appear, and joyful surprises. The arrival of Fall is the rabbit hole to another world. The forests never seem as mysterious as they do in fall when there is a kaleidoscope of vivid color that captures the senses.

In Disneyland, The Haunted Mansion will begin The Haunted Mansion Holiday from September 25th until sometime after the Christmas rush. The ghoulish theme seems to really exemplify the best Autumn has to offer.

International Talk Like a Pirate Day could be the true gateway to Autumn Only three days before Autumn Equinox, it could be treated as the “kickoff” of the Autumn season, with all the appropriate Pirate gear to give the holiday the proper treatment. You could have an excuse to wear pirate attire long before Halloween actually comes around….after all, I know you just needed another excuse to dress up. (It’ll be our little secret)

I feel most inspired to write a story or read a book when the temperature drops. The smell of dead leaves create a distinct fragrance that only comes with fall. The brisk fall air makes me want to create delicious holiday goodies like hot apple cider, peanut butter cookies, pumpkin shaped frosted sugar cookies, ginger snaps and the list could go on….

Some people do not like Autumn for the same reasons that I like it. Some see the dead leaves as just that, dead. The falling leaves mean winter’s frost is just around the corner. Why is this so bad? Winter brings hot cocoa and family festivities!

To each their own, but I will always enjoy Autumn.

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Disney and Alice go way back, even before Disney was Disney.  As shocking as it may sound, Alice and Disney go back before Micky was even born.  Disney made a series of shorts which he called The Alice Comedies. They were brilliant in its time.  The concept wasn’t entirely new, but the way Disney went about it was.  It starred a live-action girl in a cartoon world.  It was produced in 1923, five years before Micky.

Of course, Alice never slipped from Disney’s mind.  In 1951, the ever-popular full-length feature cartoon hit theaters.  A brilliant film that continues to prod the imagination.  Some critical reception came from die-hard Lewis Carroll fans for steering too far from the original books, but for the most part it was a great success and continues to be successful in the subsequent DVD releases.

Soon, another Disney Alice in Wonderland will hit theaters.  This time, from the imaginative genius of Tim Burton.  I have high expectations as Tim Burton has rarely ever disappointed me.  Tim Burton is no stranger to Disney.  He began at Disney as conceptual artist for Disney’s, The Black Cauldron, although his work was never used.  Tim Burton’s, The Nightmare Before Christmas had a little help from Disney and has become a Halloween/Christmas themed layout for Disney’s The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland in  Anaheim, California.

In 2010, I will be in theaters to witness this new chapter in Disney’s fascination with Alice in Wonderland, a facination that is expected.  The story is perfect for interpretation through cinema.  As a cartoon, the imaginations of the artists could go wild with the creations of Lewis Carroll.  As a Tim Burton live-action and CGI film, the possibilities are endless, and I expect a great treatment of the original books just as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory had.  Kudos for Tim steering away from the original classic movie’s psychedelic theme and sticking to the book more closely.

March 5, 2010, I will be anxiously waiting in line for my tickets, eager to see this Tim Burton adaptation.  Then you can hear my take on the movie.

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I have looked forward to this day every year since I discovered it’s inception. But for the last two years I have somehow missed it. Last year I was away on errands during that time and was reminded by one of my friends after it was too late. My wife bought me “The Pirate Primer: Mastering the Language of Swashbucklers & Rogues, by George Choundas” so that I could master piratese.

I am ever so grateful to come across this wonderful book, “Pirattitude!: So you Wanna Be a Pirate?: Here’s How! by John “Chumbucket” Baur, Mark “Cap’n Slappy” Summers, and Dave Barry.” It is no Treasure Island, but it is a nice little gem of a book as it opened the door to a great new day of celebration. “Chumbucket” and “Cap’n Slappy” are the inventors of this wonderful holiday meant to be celebrated September 19th each and every year since it’s wonderful creation in 1995.

Of course, the holiday focuses on the fictionalized romantic image of pirates that we almost learn by instinct as children. How could pirates be anything other than fun-loving, adventure-seeking, gentle but loud party crashers? Perhaps the image of pirates in fiction is the embodiment of the complete lack of inhibitions. One could make a connection between pirates in fiction and college fraternity organization member parties if you only dress them in pirate costumes instead of togas.

Avoiding parties of that sort, I still like the complete lack of inhibitions. Maybe it stems “acting civilized,” holding back a primal nature that seldom gets loose save for an occasional Superbowl party or a promotion party.

The Pirates of the Caribbean ride was certainly one of the best live-action films that Disney had put out in quite a long time. It certainly held true to the ride that it was based on. Although the last of the series was received with a bit more criticism for a somewhat convoluted plot, the series is a huge success. Considering the history of pirate themed movies, the series will hold a standard that may never be surpassed. So what better way to celebrate the day than to watch the trilogy, perhaps while hosting a costume party? Be sure to serve your best “grog.”

For one day of the year, I will have an excuse to walk down the street with a skull-and-crossbones eyepatch and a parrot on my shoulder, shouting things like, “Avast, ye scoundrals! The day is a-dyin’ and the gold is waitin’ to be dug up, matey’s! Yo ho, and a treasureload it will be! ARR! I, for one, will be planning for next year, and this time I will not miss it. If I have to make a special calender to remind me, so be it. I will have reminders set up on my site for my readers.

Oh, and don’t forget to visit the website about International Talk Like a Pirate Day.

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