Streetmosphere at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

When visiting WDW, it is hard not to run for fast passes or rush to that favorite attraction when you enter one of the parks.  However, there are so many other forms of entertainment that are available in all of the parks.  For example, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a special park for many reasons, but Streetmosphere is something that is definitely a unique experience. 

What is Streetmosphere?  If you are not familiar with this term, it can easily be explained.  Streetmosphere performers are actors who assume a certain persona that is appropriate to the area of the park in which they reside.  The characters in Hollywood Studios are all related to different aspects of movie making or people who might have inhabited the Hollywood that never was from the 1940s.  You might see a director, a washed up starlet, a policeman, a team of workers from the Hollywood department of public works, etc.  All of these characters never lose their personas while they are on stage.  They will interact with individual guests, and sometimes they are part of a small show that may spontaneously occur on Hollywood Blvd or Sunset Blvd.   

These shows are not listed in the times guide, but castmembers can usually tell you when they are going to be performed.  The best part about these shows is the level of guest involvement that is encouraged and required for the show to go on.  We have stumbled across many of these shows, and my absolute favorite involved an “episode” of the Hollywood Match Game.  For this game, one park guest was selected to be the recipient of a date with the contestant who one the game.  The park guest was blind folded, and she sat in a chair on Sunset Blvd facing the Sweet Spells store. After she had been seated and blindfolded, the contestants who could potentially win a date with her came out onto the scene.  First, there was a Chef, Ben Appétit, who had a fake French accent and a tiny black mustache, then Leroy Small, who was dressed in a very mismatched getup of garish plaid, and then the policeman, Officer Peabody, who didn’t seem like he could hurt a fly. The host of the show was Shelby Mayer, who is a British film director. All of these gentlemen were hilarious, and each potential date for the guest had to come up with various ways to woo her.  They came up with ideas for different types of outings and events, and they each had to answer questions that were posed by their director.  In the end, Officer Peabody won, and we laughed so much throughout the show that I was sad to see it end. 

            In addition to the Match Game, we have seen contests for the funniest Citizen of Hollywood, and we have also seen the department of public works attempt to pick up a piece of glitter from the street.  This trio is also hilarious.  The group consists of the Boss, Frederick, and Sparky.  Both Frederick and Sparky are not too intelligent, and much silliness ensues from them not being able to follow the Boss’s orders for them.  Finally, we have seen some magic card trick shows from Jack Diamond, who is a talent agent, but he is also skilled with a deck of cards. 

Whenever we go to the Studios, we seek out the Streetmosphere performances because they are so entertaining.  Once we even participated in one of the shows.  Last 4^th of July, we were in Hollywood Studios, and some of the Citizens of Hollywood were pulling people over and asking them trivia about America.  We were chosen, and we were asked how many stars were on the American flag.  Of course, we responded 50, but we forgot that we were in the early 1940s, and not 2011.  Even though we were “wrong,” we still won!  What did we win?  Well, we left with a whole lot of money, completely fake of course, but we had a blast. 

Next time you make a trip to Hollywood Studios, take the time to seek out these Streetmosphere performances.  You will laugh, and you will be reminded of what true Disney magic is.  Thanks to www.studioscentral.com for the background information on the Citizens of Hollywood. Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!

A Charming Disney Souvenir

Whenever we venture out to the World, I always purchase souvenirs.  I cannot avoid the compulsion to buy some awesome Disney item that calls to me with that sweet seductive voice.  “Wouldn’t I look cute in your house?  Don’t you want another Dooney and Bourke purse?  You really need this new, limited edition pin, don’t you?  How about a new jacket or a scarf?”  I cannot leave WDW without giving into at least one of the temptations that Disney has created to populate the many gift shops that you will encounter on your vacation.  Now that you know my inability to avoid buying something, it will not come as a shock to you that I tend to purchase similar items on each trip.  You see; I don’t just buy items to buy them.  I really think about each item and how it will serve as a reminder of my vacation.  No matter where I am, my souvenirs are a way for me to re-live the magic in my every day life.

            One particular souvenir that holds special sentimental value for me is my Disney charm bracelet.  For the past two years, I have attempted to purchase a charm for my bracelet that will remind me of something exciting or different that we did on a particular trip.  Sometimes I purchase the sterling silver charms, and sometimes I just purchase the more inexpensive charms that can be located in the large plastic stands that often grace the center of various gift shops. Either way, a small charm is a wonderful way to remind yourself of your trip.  I wear this bracelet all of the time, and I simply have to look down and study my charms in order to take myself back to Disney World or Disneyland.

            Some of my charms represent various events that we have attended at WDW.   Last year, we completed Mouseplanet’s MouseAdventure in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  To represent this trip, I purchased a Sorcerer Mickey Hat Charm to represent the Studios.  On another trip, we were in EPCOT when Duffy the Disney Bear was introduced, so I purchased a Duffy charm.  In addition, my husband and I go to Disney World every summer for our wedding anniversary, and one year my husband surprised me with a Mickey head charm that is engraved with our names as well as the year.  Not only do I like to represent events that we celebrate, but I also like to collect various castle charms.  I have several representations of Cinderella Castle as well as Sleeping Beauty Castle from Disneyland.  When I am not in the parks, I also like to collect vintage Disney charms.  I have several charms that sport the old Mickey head logo with the globe inside of the logo.  Several of these charms include a locket in which I have placed small pictures of my husband and I enjoying our trips.

            All of the charms that I have mentioned remind me of some very happy times, and I can wear this bracelet and have a little slice of our vacations with me at all times.  This bracelet is also an excellent conversation piece.  I have chatted with many people about our trips as a result of someone spotting all of my many charms.  So, when you go on a trip to Disney World or any Disney Park, you should definitely invest in souvenirs that will help you to remember and re-live your vacation on a daily basis.  Every year, you can add to your collection and eventually have a bracelet not just of charms but of happy memories.  Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!

           

A Book to Add to Your Disney Reading List

A few years ago, I purchased the book, The Disney Mountains: Imagineering at Its Peak, by Jason Surrell.  I have read and re-read this book many times.  It tells the story of the ways in which all of the Disney Mountains were constructed and first imagined.  It is an informative mix of history and anecdotes as well as a collection of beautiful artwork that dates back to the days when the Matterhorn was just a pile of dirt called Holiday Hill.

                                      

The Matterhorn was Disneyland’s first roller coaster, and it was inspired by the movie, the Third Man on the Mountain, as well as Walt’s visit to Switzerland as part of filming this movie.  Not only was the Matterhorn a first for Disney with regard to thrill rides, it was also a technical marvel with its steel tubular track.  Jason Surrell’s book goes on to describe many other stories and interesting facts regarding the Matterhorn as well as many other Disney Mountains.

For example, there are chapters describing the creation of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Grizzly Peak, Mount Prometheus in Tokyo, and Expedition Everest.  Surrell also delves into the brief history of one Disney Mountain that was never built, Candy Mountain.  In addition to descriptions of all of these rides and experiences, there are many examples of Disney model building and artwork to showcase the different mountains at various stages of the creative process.  Even if you just examine the artwork, you will definitely enjoy this book.

My favorite aspect of this book is the detail with which Jason Surrell addresses each of these attractions.  He does not just scratch the surface and tell you about what anyone could already see.  He delves deeper and spends time researching the details of each of these attractions.  Reading a book like this one would make anyone envious of the jobs that Imagineers possess.  The ability to let one’s creativity run wild and be surrounded by other equally creative people is something that most of us will never experience. 

If you want just a taste of Disney history as well as insight into the world of Imagineering, give Jason Surrell’s book a read.  You will not be disappointed, and this journey into Disney history publications will cause you to start looking for other books that you will need to fill your insatiable desire for Disney historical knowledge.  Then, you will become like me; you will have an entire bookshelf devoted to books that chronicle the growth and change of Disney over the last several decades.  This type of reading will enhance your visits to the parks and also help you to amuse and impress your friends with your boundless depth of knowledge.  Maybe more amuse than impress, depending on your circle of friends!  Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!

 

Lions, Tigers, and Tiki Birds?

The title of this article might sound like an odd combination, but the train conductor on the Walt Disney World Railroad used to utter these words many times a day if you embarked on the grand circle tour. When you enter into the wilds of Adventureland at any Magic Kingdom Park, you must make a visit to the Tropical Serenade, better known as the Enchanted Tiki Room.  This attraction is relaxing and fun, and it allows the viewer to be immersed in the world of Polynesia.  This attraction dates back to 1963, when it debuted in Disneyland.  Originally, this attraction was supposed to be a restaurant.  If you look at the center fountain, you can even see where the cabinets would have been for storage. 

Over the years, the Tiki Room has taken on different forms in different Magic Kingdom parks.  In Disneyland, most of the original show is preserved.  Some of the songs have been shortened, but the spirit of the show still exists.  In Florida, the Tiki Room was Under New Management for several years after the 1998 refurbishment.  Many people disliked this new show because the old songs were removed and new characters were introduced in the form of Iago and Zazu as well as an impressive audio animatronics version of the goddess Aooa.  The show definitely took on a more sarcastic tone as well as some more modernized music.  The birds were all still present, but the show definitely lost some of its former charm.

This attraction has taken on a different form this year, or I should say it’s taken on its former self.  In the recent past, a fire ravaged the Iago audio animatronics figure, so the attraction had to close.  Many people wondered what would happen when the show re-opened.  Luckily, Disney saw fit to remove the Under New Management show in favor of re-opening a version of the original show. This new-old version opened for the recent 40^th anniversary celebration that took place in Florida’s Magic Kingdom this past October 1^st. 

After viewing both Tiki Rooms in California and the newly refurbished show in Florida, I must say that I thoroughly enjoy both shows.  The Florida show has a better lighting package due to the recent updates, but the California show has a wonderful pre-show.  I enjoy all of the Tiki gods and goddesses introducing themselves to the audience outside of the show.  In addition, you can also purchase a Dole Whip before you enter the show in California, and you can bring your treat with you into the show.  This is not the case in the Florida version of the show.  You can purchase Dole Whips at Aloha Isle in Florida, but there are no food or drinks allowed in the show room. 

On a recent trip to California, we experience one of the best castmembers that I have ever seen.  His name was Maynard, and he did all sorts of voices to open the show.   He called himself Tiki Maynard, and he told us that Drinkie Drinkie was okay, but no Flashy Flashy with the camera.  He used all sorts of different accents, and he was just as entertaining as Jose and his feathered friends.  All in all, the Tiki Room is a welcome diversion from the hustle and bustle of the Magic Kingdom Park.  It is a must-see for us when we visit the parks, and I highly recommend seeing the show if you have never seen it.  If you have seen it, go and re-visit it on future trips and appreciate all of the little details that it has to offer.  My favorite part is when it rains!  Enjoy the pictures that I have attached.  I am sending you a virtual dole whip as well!  Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!

A Mix of Old and New Photos

Lovely shot of the wishing well.

Everest: Under Construction!

I miss you burning settler's cabin!

Entering into the World of Fantasy

How many times have you seen this sign?  If you are a casual park visitor, then you probably have passed by this sign many times.  You can find it as you walk into the Magic Kingdom, past the Mickey floral, and under the train station.  I took the picture above as we entered Disneyland in California for the first time.  Of course, a similar sign can be found in Disneyland’s Florida counterpart.  This sign is your welcome into the Magic Kingdom, the place where dreams can come true.  Sure, pixie dust and magic can’t make you fly in real life, but maybe it can brighten your day for just a little while.  This plaque is more than just a sign; it is an instruction manual to enjoying Disney Parks. 

As you enter the Magic Kingdom, you need to leave behind all that bothers you, and then you can enter into a world of fantasy where life doesn’t have to be so difficult, even if only just for a few days, even just a few hours.  You can explore the world of the future as well as the past with a visit to the Magic Kingdom’s many lands and attractions.  Of course, you can delve into your imagination when you visit the land of fantasy. How you experience a Disney Park is a conscious choice that you make when you step foot onto the grounds.

Many people are constantly critical of the choices that Disney makes for rides and additions to the parks.  I am not going to say that I agree with all of the choices that Disney management makes, but I am not going to dwell on each thing that I dislike about the minutia of the park.  I try to follow the instructions on this sign; I want to enjoy what is present in the parks and get lost in the escapism that the parks can provide.  If you just let yourself go and focus on all that is positive in the parks, perhaps you can truly do what this sign suggests.  You need to enter the land of fantasy and step into a carefully constructed version of reality. 

When you walk into a Magic Kingdom park, take a look at this sign and try to put yourself into the right mindset for enjoying the parks.  Try to silence your phone, disconnect from the real world, and enjoy all that the Disney Parks offer.  They are as much fun as you make them; if you truly commit to the show that is being put on, you can really give yourself a mental vacation.   Sure, you can complain about the heat or the lines or the one light bulb that is burnt out, but wouldn’t it be more fun to be a part of the magic and just sit back and be a part of the show?  Give these tips a try, and I guarantee that your Disney experience will be worthwhile!  Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!

A Tale of Two Fantasmics

Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disneyland both possess versions of Fantasmic, but which can claim the title of superior show?  This is a difficult question because both Fantasmic shows have their merits.  

On a recent trip to Disneyland, we viewed Fantasmic on the Rivers of America, and the show was indeed spectacular.  The use of the actual Mark Twain Riverboat as well as the Sailing Ship Columbia add a certain level of realism and grand scale to Disneyland’s Fantasmic that is just not matched in DHS.  The sheer size of the Rivers of America and the set for Fantasmic in California really just give this show more staying power than the one in Florida.  In addition, the fact that we could walk up to the railing of a bridge and simply watch Fantasmic without having to make the death march down into the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater amongst hundreds of screaming adults and children really made the entire experience far more palatable to me. The crowd flow control in Disneyland was also far more organized than it is in Florida.  I do not blame Disney for this issue in Florida; I blame the guests.  The Disney castmembers clearly state where you should go and where you should not go, but people do not listen.  They feign ignorance and just keep walking wherever they please.  In Disneyland, the visitors seem to be more locals who know how to walk around the parks without causing painful gridlock in congested walkways.  Also, Disneyland is simply a smaller park with less capacity, so there are fewer people present in the park than in WDW.

Now, I did enjoy Disneyland’s Fantasmic, but I did not really enjoy having to stand for the duration of the entire show.  The DHS version wins with regard to seating; I like being able to sit down and enjoy the show.  I can even take better photos because I am sitting and not balancing by leaning up against a rail.  As I stated earlier, the logistics of getting to Fantasmic in Florida are absolutely miserable.  When the castmembers open up the theater, visitors do not follow their directions.  People start pushing and shoving, and they are just generally rude.  At one viewing, I actually had a man push his way through the crowd and then fall on top of me.  He was angry that I was standing where he wanted to stand.  That is just ridiculous.  If everyone just followed directions and let the castmembers do their jobs, the walk into the amphitheater would be far easier.

With regard to both shows, I just can’t get enough of Fantasmic.  I love both shows, and I cannot say that I like one show more than the other.  However, there are certain elements of each show that are superior to the other.  In Disneyland, the whole Peter Pan/Captain Hook sequence is excellent.  There are pirates swinging from the Sailing Ship Columbia; the crocodile chases after Captain Hook; and there are explosions.  This scene is very well done.  On the other hand, the Pocahontas scene at DHS leaves something to be desired.  I would rather see the Peter Pan sequence in Florida.  In California, the jungle scene with the “monkey boats” is less exciting than it is in Florida.  The music is better in Florida, and the entire scene is more enjoyable.  I also prefer the end of the show in Florida where Sorcerer Mickey is stationed high atop a mountain conducting the fireworks.  In Disneyland, he is standing on top of a building on Tom Sawyer’s Island.  The Disney World version is just more exciting and brings a more spectacular end to the entire show.

Finally, if you are going to see Fantasmic at DHS, please invest in the dining package.  You can eat your meal at one of the Table Service establishments in DHS, and then you can proceed to a special viewing area for Fantasmic.  It is a much less stressful way to view the show, especially if you hate waiting in the mob of people that forms at the entrance to the amphitheater before the show.  We enjoyed dinner at Mama Melrose’s Italian Restaurant, but there are other dining locations that participate in this program as well.  Disneyland did not have a similar plan; this park only gave the option of a dessert party of sorts.  You could pay $60 a person for a variety of snacks and desserts.  This was very overpriced, and it did not even include a meal.  We went to see the second showing of Fantasmic on a fairly crowded day at Disneyland, and we did not have a problem viewing the show.  I would not pay $60 a person just for dessert.  You can easily view the show without this special plan.

Overall, Fantasmic is a must see in Disneyland or in Disney World.  It combines all of the excitement of fireworks with the storytelling prowess for which Disney is well known.   The effects are excellent, and the performers do a spectacular job every night they perform the show.  Make sure to catch this journey into Mickey’s imagination at Disneyland or Disney’s Hollywood Studios the next time you make the trip out to one of these parks.  Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!