We're taking a two month break! You'll see occasional updates, but we won't return to regular posting until December 1, 2017!
Saturday, September 23, 2017
Friday, September 22, 2017
Thursday, September 21, 2017
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Monday, September 18, 2017
Sunday, September 17, 2017
Saturday, September 16, 2017
Friday, September 15, 2017
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Monday, September 11, 2017
Rest In Peace, Xavier "X" Atencio
Xavier 'X' Atencio, who worked on some of DISNEYLAND's greatest attractions, has passed away at age 98.
Mr. Atencio began his Disney career as an animator, but Walt Disney saw bigger and better things for him to do. He transferred to Disney Imagineering, where he was put in charge of development for Pirates of the Caribbean. Despite having no prior experience in songwriting, he was tasked with writing a song for the Pirates to sing on the attraction. His song- Yo Ho (A Pirates Life for Me) became an instant classic. It was so successful that he was asked to write a song for the Haunted Mansion- Grim, Grinning Ghosts.
Mr. Atencio also provided the voice of the skeleton who warns guests to stay close together before the first water fall on Pirates of the Caribbean. Current guests who have never heard his name have certainly heard his voice- and enjoyed his work.
His hard work enjoyed by millions the world over, Xavier Atencio lived a long and legendary life. Thank you for sharing your talents, Mr. Atencio, and please say hello to Mr. Disney for us.
Sunday, September 10, 2017
Saturday, September 9, 2017
Friday, September 8, 2017
Thursday, September 7, 2017
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
Walt Wednesdays: London's Disney Street
In the 1960's, Walt Disney discovered that London had a "Disney Street", which had not actually been named after him. He still decided to hunt the road down while in London.
He located the street and took a picture with his wife in front of the street sign. Mrs. Disney, however, was unimpressed. After all, the street's previous name was "Dunghill Road".
Walt would eventually get a street named after him in Anaheim. The street used to lead right to DISNEYLAND's main parking lot entrance. In the future, it will lead to DISNEYLAND's new east side parkade.
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
Oswald is 90!
On this day in 1927, Walt Disney introduced Oswald the Lucky Rabbit to the world. Oswald would get Rabbit-napped by Carl Laemmle and spend the next 80 years with Universal Pictures, returning home in 2007! Happy Birthday, Oswald!
Toontown Tuesdays: DISNEYLAND Un-Tooned
Imagine DISNEYLAND without Disney characters. Does it seem impossible? It almost happened. In 1953, Roy Disney was completely against the idea of a theme park. In order to convince his brother to stop planning the park, Roy reminded Walt that Mickey and friends were owned by Walt Disney Productions, not Walt Disney. Therefore these characters would not be available to him.
After Roy realized that the company had never written up an official agreement to use his brother's name, he finally came on board with the idea for DISNEYLAND. An agreement was reached and the familiar Disney characters were forever linked with the Magic Kingdom of DISNEYLAND.
Monday, September 4, 2017
Sunday, September 3, 2017
Saturday, September 2, 2017
Friday, September 1, 2017
Freaky Fridays: The Demolished Park
When Walt Disney World opened Disney-MGM Studios in 1989, it was going to bring Hollywood to Orlando, FL. The park itself was built to get the jump on Universal Studios, which planned to open up down the street. The park was a gigantic success from the beginning, thought it was massively underbuilt. Guests flooded into the park, which would close its gates practically every day. With a success like that, it would stand to reason that its opening day attractions must have been so successful and popular that they are still enjoyed today, right?
Since this is "Freaky Friday," you can probably guess that isn't exactly true. Unlike any other Disney theme park in the world, not one attraction from opening day is still operating in the park. The last of the opening day attractions- The Great Movie Ride- closed just last month. Perhaps the park should have called itself "Disney's Bulldozer Experience".
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