They Went to Disneyland with Bob Iger

"The Rest is History" so they say. Well, in this case, the guys from The Rest is History vlog were accompanied by none other than Robert Iger on a tour of The Walt Disney Company headquarters and then on to Disneyland. Of course, Bob was the perfect host as they visited various attractions- everything from Walt Disney- A Magical Life to Pirates of the Caribbean to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and beyond.

So what did Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook think? You'll have to watch for yourself. But love him or loathe him, Mr. Iger is the perfect gentleman and a true lover of the genius of Walt Disney and his accomplishments.

EPCOT Center's World Showcase 1.0 From The Sky

Any serious fan of the work of Walt Disney will instantly acknowledge that EPCOT Center is a theme park and not really E.P.C.O.T. as he envisioned it to be. That doesn't mean that Walt Disney World's second theme park is without its charms or purpose. Going through multiple incarnations of what a World's Fair would look like done Disney style, the first go around resulted in a very standard looking set of circular structures to house pavilions that represent different countries of the world. 

This model viewed from the sky shows the plan. The only positives I could see in this plan were two: Everything was inside and therefore could be "nighttime"; and secondly, ease of getting from one nation to the other. Wisely, cooler more imaginative heads prevailed, and we park goers ended up with a beautiful view on fanciful landmarks around a shimmering World Showcase Lagoon. Can you imagine an Epcot with an Illuminations- Reflections of Earth or the more recent Luminous- The Symphony of Us? Not me! These shows are among the highlights of my day!

Decades later, the bones of EPCOT Center are still intact, but the forward looking, culture focused take on our God given world has been traded out for wine, food, and tons of characters. No matter. Those of us who love this park will always have fond memories of the past along with hopes for the future. 

Why did the park change? It's our fault! Take a look at my article here and tell me what you think.

Epcot's Mexico Pyramid is a Real Place

Ever wonder where the Disney Imagineers got their inspiration for EPCOT Center's Mexico Showcase? It's right here: El Castillo (The Kukulkan Temple) of Chichen Itza, a Mayan pyramid in Yucatan, Mexico. It is almost a full on replica just scaled down to a theme park size. In Florida, the interior includes a beautiful village and a boat ride. Long ago before Donald and the Three Caballeros invaded for their Gran Fiesta Tour, the elegant and mysterious El Rio del Tiempo called to guests willing to explore Mexico's ancient past and vibrant future. I'd look forward to the day the suits decided to return to the park's roots focusing on culture and history in World Showcase. But that will never happen. 

The Rarest of All Disney Attraction Posters

The construction of Splash Mountain at the Magic Kingdom in 1990 was a huge undertaking that required a bit of rerouting for guests riding the Walt Disney World Railroad. In fact, for a season, guests rode in the exact opposite direction! 

Do you remember the relatively short lived Mickey's Starland? It was the cheaper knock off version of Disneyland's incredible Mickey's Toontown (which shockingly opened years later in 1993.). The land started its existence as Mickey's Birthdayland in 1988 before becoming Starland in 1990. Well, guests would board at the Main Street station and off they'd go to Mickey's Starland. This clever attraction poster was designed to take advantage of the construction as well as remind guests the popular railroad was still open for business.

When Splash Mountain finally opened October 2 of 1992, the Walt Disney World Railroad resumed its normal clockwise route. As for Starland, during the 1995 Christmas season, it became Mickey's Toyland then reopened as Mickey’s Toontown Fair. The land lasted until 2011 when it made way for the park's expansion of Fantasyland.

As you might have guessed, this image directly above these words is NOT the fully original poster. It is a little too perfect and also a bit sanitized, removing some of the scrollwork even if it filled in the background to a solid color. But you get the idea. The original right above it had to be AI enhanced to bring it back to life. This image with the blog marker is above and the first AI version below it. The original is from the great now defunct Disney Park Attractions blog. The very top piece of art at the beginning of this article is a combination of AI and some photoshop to fill in bits of reflection from the photograph of the poster. 

But, with just more than a little persistence and the right AI program, you can get what you want IF you are patient enough. The image above is proof.

As always, the art is copyright The Walt Disney Company.

 

A Bit of Paris on a Dreary Day

It's clearly cold outside, so my thoughts drift to vacations long ago... This little shop in Paris caught my eye one day. The golden lettering against the deep green and the black grillwork is stunning! But you could say that about most of what you'll see in the city. Ah, Paris! Ah, vacations! Ah, God's faithfulness to give me a break when I need it most!

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Today is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

Years ago, we were studying through the book of Isaiah on Sundays. It is a stark reminder for us who follow Jesus to rely on God and not the methods or politics of man. It’s also a great encouragement that God is for us, always paying attention, and always willing to work on our behalf when we call out to Him.

Today, Sunday November 2 is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. It’s an important and personal day for our church family because being a follower of Jesus in these places comes with great risks, places like China, North Korea, Iran, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and many more. Hundreds of people who once believed in a different god come to faith in Christ and are discipled. Yet, many times the local people will not even consider hearing a reading from the Bible. This all raises an important question “In these spiritually dry lands, how can they minister effectively without the written Word?” 

Jesus provides the answer to this question in the Gospel of John: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,  

even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14:15-17) 

In Biblical times, the scrolls containing God’s Word were owned by a select few as they were very expensive and not widely available. Most all the people were illiterate. When Jesus sent out The Twelve and the Seventy-Two in His power and authority- the first short-term mission trips- they went out in obedience, and God blessed them. The ministry of the Lord prevailed and the number of believers grew to epic proportions. This is due to the obedience of the believers who went out in their neighborhoods, towns, and all over the world, proclaiming Jesus and doing exactly what God told them to do.  Despite their lack of access to the Word, they did not go out unprepared. They carried God Himself, the Holy Spirit, the very Author of the Scriptures, who lived within them and supernaturally empowered them for the work of the ministry. Today, our family in Asia goes out in the same manner- in obedience to God and in the power of His Holy Spirit. God is not limited by man’s need or shortcomings! In fact, He is glorified through them.

“For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
 and streams on the dry ground;
 I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring,
 and my blessing on your descendants.” (Isaiah 44:3)

The Book of Acts records the Sanhedrin were amazed by the courage of Peter and John because they were unschooled but realized they had been with Jesus. What a testimony where God got the glory! The Apostle Paul states we are not lacking in any spiritual gifts as we await Jesus’ return (1 Corinthians 1:7). The Holy Spirit is a person not a power, so we can ask Him for what we need. When we travel overseas to serve, if we don’t know what to do, we seek God and ask, and He gives us wisdom in the moment (James 1:5). This includes God’s Holy Spirit bringing Scripture to mind exactly when we need it. We’ve seen this time and time again, both His direction and His protection. Our God is incredible!

Other Christians in spiritually parched places of great risk are under great scrutiny. There are times the authorities step in, and even though this is troubling, they move forward with confidence in God. How many times they must have this Scripture come to mind: 

“And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” (Luke 12:11-12)

Today, I ask you to commit to pray for the persecuted church! They need us- and we need them! They help keep our hearts focused on the eternal things of God. In our brave, new world, our thirsty and spiritually dry land, we too minister in difficult times. We need God to give us strength, wisdom, and to work through us as we obey His commands to love our neighbors and share the Gospel message of hope, love, and salvation with them. Just like believers of old and our family on the other side of the world, He will give us what we need as we step out in faith! Yes, His love stretches to the ends of the end- and He loves the people of the U.S.A. and beyond as well!

My Favorite Disney Park Roller Coaster- And Some Rare Concept Art!

Disney is not known for putting the most thrilling roller coasters in their theme parks. But they are known for creating some of the best when it comes to family thrills and outstanding theming. Park fans may clamor for Space Mountain, Guardians of the Galaxy" Cosmic Rewind, Expedition:Everest or even Slinky Dog Dash, the Matterhorn Bobsleds, or Rock n Rollercoaster, but when it comes down to it, if I could only ride one, it would be Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. It's an Imagineering masterpiece! Yep, the best one is in Disneyland Paris, but from California to Florida and beyond, nothing comes close when you want the art of theme park design and good old fashioned fun. They may try to erase his name or alter his iconic work, but Tony Baxter knows how to build great attractions. In fact, I'd pay to go to a park filled with everything from Big Thunder to the original Journey into Imagination!

Back to our story... night or day, Big Thunder has the perfect story, is full of design detail, and provides non-stop laughs and screams. Year after year after year, visit after visit, this mountain (and Pirates of the Caribbean) define a day at the castle parks. It is the Wildest Ride in the Wilderness!

One Season Ends, A New One Begins

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for completing a long and very hard journey on our behalf! We are thankful for a new season!

Bet You've Never Seen These Pieces of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion Concept Art!

Disneyland's Haunted Mansion- a stellar attraction in New Orleans Square that has been bringing guests into the world of spirits since 1969. There's nothing like it! Imagineer Marc Davis created an enormous amount of concept art, and I bet you've never seen these two pieces. 

With their honor at stake, the two men above agree to a duel, and they're condemned to take action over and over again for all eternity. The Ballroom scene in the attraction may be the highlight of the whole experience, and it takes dozens of rides past it to see many of the details both large and small. 

 

Is this haunted room actually stretching? I thought I'd throw in this bonus piece of the original four posters just for fun.

Due to the investment of a very, very gifted team of first generation Imagineers- everyone from Claude Coats to Ken Anderson, X. Atencio, Harper Goff, Leota Toombs, Holly Crump, and perhaps many more unsung heroes, the long empty manor at the end of New Orleans Square continues to draw guests even after almost six decades. Incredible!

(Concept art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Even Cosmic Rewind Won't Stop This Woman

My wife, God bless her, is the adventurous type! No, not at all, actually! But just like this photo of us at Epcot shows, trusting her husband by riding Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, proves she is willing to live life to the fullest. All over the world. Even if she regrets it later. :) 

Happy Happy Birthday to the Woman I Love! YOU, my wife, are a treasure beyond treasures- and I'm thankful God brought us together. 

Perhaps the Cutest Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse Ever

Let me get one thing straight: "Cute" is not a term I use often. That said, this exact word was the very first thing I thought when I saw this image of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in front of a depiction of Cinderella Castle. I'm not even a big character guy, but there you have it. Where did I see this? Leave it to none other than Tokyo Disneyland to come up with the cutest Mickey and Minnie ever. Not only do they arguably have the two best theme parks in the world - and in top working order- they know how to make guest satisfaction priority number one. 

Where was this image? Inside the main queue area for It's A Small World. And that is just the beginning...

Disneyland Australia Again?

Here we go again! Plans for Disneyland Australia resurfaced a few years ago in a documentary that made a strong argument for Disney really looking to build Disneyland Australia or instead something like Disney Springs called Disney Wharf. Where? In Sydney's beautiful harbor. Which would it have been? A full castle park or a shopping and entertainment district or both? 

The top rendering shows just the wharf project. But directly above is piece of concept art shows a Magic Kingdom smack dab on the crystal blue bay next to a Pleasure Island type entertainment district. We've seen it before here.   

Although the video showing Disney is no long gone, I once found something on the WDWMagic discussion boards.  I think I posted it here somewhere, sometime awhile ago.

This is not the first time the Company planned a project focusing on Australia. Read this article revealing the plans for EPCOT Center's World Showcase version of the country right here. 

(Concept Art and model copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

I Am SO Busted!

Last night, my lovely wife started asking me questions about a great television show I was watching. I've been totally absorbed in this show as it deals with a group of people trying to make it big in the music industry. Of course it includes great music, sung and produced with excellence! 

As I continued to watch episode after episode, I began to realize it was also very focused on the main characters jumping from bed to bed. It was not a show I would have let my kids watch, that's for sure! Then I started thinking, "Why am I watching this?" But I let it slide, turned off the TV and headed off to bed.

Today, for my time of reading the Bible, praying, and reading a devotional designed to make me think about how I live my life, I uncovered the section shown above. Was I busted! Big time! I'm sad to have to skip the rest of the show, but I know enough to know that my wife was right and God wants more out of me. He is good- and boy, do I need Him!

A Day at Universal Studios Hollywood

Early 1990's at Universal Studios Hollywood. To say that my father is not a theme park guy would be an understatement. Yet to his credit, he took us to Disneyland often when we were kids and even to Walt Disney World once when it consisted of just the Magic Kingdom. He and my mom even sent us two kids, our spouses, and our kids to Florida for a week. He's a generous man.

I'd say all this made the visit to Universal with the grandkids even more special. My folks were in their 50s by this point- very young grandparents- and they were busy traveling on their own. Europe, Mexico, and Hawaii were favorite lifelong destinations. So, a day at a theme park? Not his cup of tea, but nothing was too good for the grandkids. 

The Gun Show

I got a good laugh the other day when a friend told me I had "big guns". It just goes to show we really don't see each other as we really are! These days, all I see is an ever increasing waist size, a higher hair line, and wrinkles on my face. This photo is not me! There's only one person who sees us as we really are, and about him it is said, "But the Lord said to Samuel (about soon to be King David), “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” Oh Lord, find me worthy in your eyes- regardless of what I look like on the outside!