What is one of the worst things about visiting any amusement or theme park? Line queues – waiting and waiting and waiting for an attraction that lasts only minutes or in some cases, 17 seconds (Top Thrill Dragster). To Disney’s credit, they do the best job out of all parks in creating queues that ease the frustration and in many cases, help tell the story of the attraction itself.
Eddie Carroll, the voice of the beloved Jiminy Cricket, passed away yesterday, April 6, 2010 with his family at his side. He was 76 years old. Eddie had been the voice of Jiminy Cricket since 1973, a role he assumed after Cliff Edwards, the original voice of Jiminy, died in 1971.
For the first time in Disney Imagineering history, Imagineers are going to take advantage of the ability to swap out computer programs and change one of the midway games at Toy Story Midway Mania. The transition will occur in conjunction with the upcoming Toy Story 3 which is scheduled in theaters on June 18.
I always love anything “behind-the-scenes” at Disneyland. I’ve even been tempted several times to sneak into backstage areas at the park but have not succumbed to temptation just yet. Maybe it’s the fear of being tossed out of the park or simply not really wanting to spoil all the magic. That is why I love this “sneak-peek” Disney Parks Blog released today of the Circle D Corral.
Tokyo Disney Sea’s 10th anniversary is coming up and along with it a new attractions for the park – Jasmine’s Flying Carpets. This will be the third installment of the ride with the first appearing at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World and the second at Walt Disney Studios Park in Disneyland Paris. The ‘carpets” are scheduled to open during the summer of 2011.
Fess Parker, a 1950s idol who launched a craze for coonskin caps as television’s Davy Crockett, died Thursday of natural causes. He was 85. Family spokeswoman Sao Anash said Parker, who was also TV’s Daniel Boone and later a major California winemaker and developer, died at his Santa Ynez Valley home. Sadly, His death comes on the 84th birthday of his wife of 50 years, Marcella.
Main Street, U.S.A. was buzzing this past week with the tune of several familiar songs as Richard and Robert Sherman were honored with their own window. The window dedicated to the Sherman Brothers reads “Two Brothers Tunemakers,” with their names inscribed underneath. A window dedication is the highest honor a cast member can receive at Disneyland Park.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom recently welcomed the birth of a critically endangered western lowland gorilla. The newborn is doing well and has already become an integral part of the gorilla family group that includes first-time mother, Kashata, father Gino and two other females.
Every since Disney Parks first announced the return of “Captain EO,” the 3-D film starring Michael Jackson and directed by Francis Ford Coppola that was shown at Disney theme parks in the 1980s and 1990s, there has been an incredible response from fans with many wondering exactly when the classic attraction would reopen. Well wait no longer as “Captain EO” is scheduled to re-open tomorrow, February 23.
Disney has finally decided upon a name for the resort they are currently building in O’ahu, Hawaii. The resort, which is slated to be open by Fall 2011, is called “Aulani” which is Hawaiian for “the place that speaks for the great ones” or “the place that speaks with deep messages.”
