Freaky Fridays: Weird Marvel Covers

"Everybody Dies!"

Theme Park Thursdays: Carthay Circles

The Fox Carthay Circle Theatre was a glamorous place to watch movies during Hollywood's golden age. Its proximity to Hollywood made it a sought after theater for movie premieres, rivaling even Grauman's Chinese Theater.

The main auditorium was unique because it formed a perfect circle; in fact, the official theater name was "Circle Theatre." The neighborhood it was located in was named "Carthay", therefore it was the Circle Theatre in Carthay, owned by Fox- the Fox Carthay Circle Theater. The misconception arose among the public that the area around the theater was named "Carthay Circle". The importance of the theater to Disney centers around its hosting of the world premiere of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. While the real life theater was demolished in 1969, a victim of multiplexes and short-sighted business executives, its spirit lives on at Disney Theme Parks around the world.

The first replica opened at Disney's Hollywood Studios in the early '90s. This version was relatively small and hosts a gift shop.

A larger, more faithful replica opened just down the freeway from the original one at Disney California Adventure. This more lavish version is the park's icon and hosts a table service restaurant that honors the premiere of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The story is that you are Walt Disney's guests at the fancy dinner after Snow White's premiere.

The latest version of the Carthay Circle Theater will open on the other side of the world- at Shanghai Disneyland. Part of Mickey Avenue, it will be on that park's version of Main Street, USA.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Walt Wednesdays: DISNEYLAND's First Wish

DISNEYLAND has granted thousands of wishes to children with life threatening illnesses over the years. The first ever wish was granted before the park opened in 1955 by Mr. Disney himself.

While DISNEYLAND was still under construction, Walt Disney received a letter from a young boy who was dying of cancer. Doctors held out little hope for the boy who they estimated would pass away before DISNEYLAND opened. His dying wish was to ride in Walt Disney's train. Despite the cash flow issues involved, Walt rushed the construction of the train tracks in a race against time. He would see to it that this boy's wish would come true.

The Imagineers rushed to finish the track and get one of the trains operational. They succeeded and the day arrived when the train would be hoisted onto the track to take around its first passenger. Walt Disney proudly ran the train himself, taking the young boy around the park several times, sharing his plans for DISNEYLAND. He told the boy what was being built around them, what would be built in the future and how everything would look. 

At the end of this amazing tour of DISNEYLAND with the greatest tour guide imaginable, the boy was presented with special souvenirs and gifts. Walt declined his publicity department's request to invite the press along for the tour. This would be Walt's special gift to the boy and he didn't want to sully it with any publicity. The story remained under wraps until after Walt Disney passed away. It would be the first of millions of dreams come true at the happiest place on earth.

Toontown Tuesdays: Candy With Character

There are many ways for fans of various Disney characters to express their fandom. They can buy T-Shirts, toys and books. But what about if they have a sweet tooth? DISNEYLAND has that covered with a delicious range of handmade candies.

Have you ever had a Tigger Tail?

What about marshmallow treats themed to a particularly curious cat?

Or a treat that's truly sweeter than Pooh's Hunny?

The Pixar friends also beckon from the candy counter.

This delicious treat is truly a Beauty to behold.

But no visit to Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom is complete without something representing Disney's famous mouse.

Music Mondays: Lyric Street Records

In 1997, Disney's Hollywood Records started up a new record label to take advantage of the revitalized popularity of country music. The company chose a name that had a historic tie to Walt Disney. When the Disney Brothers married their wives, they moved into neighboring houses on Lyric Street, so Disney's newest label was called Lyric Street Records.

The label had an amazing initial lineup including SheDaisy and Rascal Flats. The label's success led to the creation of a spinoff that would concentrate on more traditional country music. They used another name that would mean a lot to the world of Disney- Carolwood Records. Walt Disney's final home was located on Carolwood Drive.

Both labels were shutdown in 2010 and combined back into Hollywood Records.

Disney Quote Weekends

Disney Quote Weekends

Freaky Fridays: Muppets Take DISNEYLAND

In 1989, The Walt Disney Company put together its first deal to acquire the Jim Henson Company. Mr. Henson wanted to retire from the day to day operation of his company and wanted to make sure that his beloved creations would live on. The Walt Disney Company quickly started integrating the Muppets into the parks, quickly producing Muppet-Vision 3D for its Florida studio park which needed to add capacity quickly. The other divisions of the company were encouraged to follow suit and DISNEYLAND came up with an ingenious plan. Mickey and friends would take the summer off, leaving Kermit and the Muppets in charge of the Magic Kingdom.

Kermit's face would welcome DISNEYLAND guests instead of Mickey Mouse and the Muppets would evict Mr. Lincoln, taking over the Main Street Opera House.

While the Muppetization of the park would last just one summer, the Muppet-Vision 3D attraction would be permanent. Outside influences would change this plan, however. Replacing Mr. Lincoln proved to be a political hot potato. Muppet-Vision would be moved to the planned Hollywoodland area, then Mickey's Toontown. Unfortunately, the unthinkable happened.

Jim Henson passed away and his family, faced with estate taxes, wanted more money from Disney. When the company balked, Mr. Henson's family attacked the company in the press and sued to close down the Muppet-Vision attraction that had been Jim Henson's last project, declaring it to be copyright infringing. All Muppet and Disney projects were canceled and Disney worked out a deal to keep Muppet-Vision open in Florida. The West Coast wouldn't get a Muppet-Vision attraction until Disney California Adventure opened in 2001.

Theme Park Thursdays: Star Wars Simulated

Great ideas at Walt Disney Imagineering have a way of finding their way around the world. When WDI was given an opportunity to work flight simulator technology into an attraction, they came up with Star Tours, an attraction that first opened at DISNEYLAND.

A carbon copy was set to go in at Florida's Magic Kingdom, but when Disney's Studio theme park in Orlando opened with a slim lineup of attractions and huge crowds, Disney quickly shoehorned the attraction into that park to beef up its attraction count.

Tokyo Disneyland received a copy of DISNEYLAND's Star Tours in its Tomorrowland.

The same simulator technology was used across the street from Disney-MGM Studios at EPCOT Center for an attraction called Body Wars. The Body Wars attraction was eventually closed, though it remains intact. It is rumored that  it is used by WDI to test new or changed ride films.

Star Tours in Disneyland Paris was placed in its version of Tomorrowland- Discoveryland and given a more elaborate entrance. However, the ride is still (as of this date) only going to Endor. The conversion to the newer version of the attraction is scheduled for this year.

Hong Kong Disneyland opened without a Star Tours, but it will be using the technology for an Iron Man attraction, creating a first of its kind Disney Theme Park attraction based on a Marvel property.