Taking a Second Look

The last few weeks have been a rather difficult one for the Insights blog. Due to absolutely no fault at all of the Disney News Central site- and certainly all the fault of my own, my blog posts would not show up on the list. My friend Alain Littaye and I worked very hard to fix the problem. Thankfully, he figured it out, so I am back up to date! (Update: Problem is happening again!)

Here's a direct link to each post you may have missed, and there's some gems: concept art for unbuilt Epcot pavilions, the lost mountain of the Magic Kingdom, art for Disneyland's unbuilt Haunted Mansion on Main Street(!) and the most extensive history of Disney's Hollywood Studios I have ever seen- concept art, trip report (over the 25 years) and more.

Enjoy! And thanks for your patience!

Walt Disney World's Unbuilt Fire Mountain

Children in the Grass

The Problem with the Magic Kingdom

Seven Dwarf's Mine Train Game

Kodak Map of Disneyland

Shag-a-delic Fantasyland

Thank You Veterans!

Disneyland's Rocket Rods

Missing Whitney Houston

Somebody That I Used to Know

Disappointment Again

C'est Magnifique

Main Street's Haunted Mansion

Sizing Up The Voice

Odds and Ends: Disney and More

Tim Delaney and Shanghai Disneyland

America Sings Once Again

Brazil Showcase at Epcot

The United Kingdom Showcase That Never Was

The Story of the Teal Shoes

Rivers of Light to Flow at Animal Kingdom

25 Years of Disney's Hollywood Studios

Walt Disney World's Lost Mountain: The Infamous Fire Mountain

Never give up. 

I've been looking for a piece of Imagineering concept art for years. The piece above is for the infamous never-built Fire Mountain for Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. I found it on the Neverland Files site and did a few quick fixes to highlight the details.

Set to be an extension of the castle park's Adventureland, this incredible idea would have also sat across the Seven Seas Lagoon from the Polynesian Village Resort. Not a bad thing to be looking at while you're on the beach waiting for fireworks! It would certainly bring a new look and feel to an old and tired part of the park as well as opening up the options for new stories.

If you look closely at the art (and as always, click on it for the largest size), you'll see the project also went by the name Volcania.   

What is that front and center? Well, your eyes are not deceiving you. That is, in fact, the Nautilus submarine. Would that be a nod to 20K Leagues Under the Sea or a full-blown attraction? If you're thinking as I am that the suits at Disney would try to pass this onto the Oriental Land Company for Tokyo DisneySea, my guess is we are right.

Rumors of old attraction being reborn come and go (think Western River Expedition), but sometimes it really does happen. It's rare- and in this case, I'd say we chalk up a great idea to the history books.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Children in the Grass

It was one of those perfect evenings in the summer. The breeze almost seemed to wiggle itself through the trees in our backyard as the sun played with the colors of the leaves. A stunning blue sky highlighted clouds of cotton candy, due to the slow beginnings of dusk.

Sitting there in the middle of the lawn with two of my youngest grandchildren, life just seemed right.

The hammock, the hula hoops, the balls thrown in the yard, and the sense of delight on my grandson's face as he played in the sprinklers made it seem as perfect as the day could be. My darling granddaughter, just a tiny baby, sat up with all her strength, and a peaceful little smile of accomplishment and satisfaction seemed to cross her face. 

In the 25 years we've lived here, the house has been full of life. In some ways, it's like Under the Tuscan Sun- there's been a wedding (with 120 people), babies, and patio parties aplenty. It's also been the scene of drinks for two on quiet evenings while the soundtrack from Sabrina plays in the background. A time when my beautiful wife and I think back, look forward, and just enjoy each other's company.

Our  home has been a solace when the world seemed harsh, in the days when I knew God was always good but I didn't understand why He allowed what He did. In some darkest hours, the patio has been a place where my quiet times of reading and prayer and study have brought me peace beyond measure as I have shared my heart before my God and King, the Lover of My Soul.

Moving into the house, the backyard was nothing but grass and a picket fence where every other space was filled in, leaving large gaps, making a view of the sunset easy. After years of planting, planning and building, we now had a mature yard filled with trees, flowers, shrubs, and sometimes weeds mixed in with the tulips, iris, and assorted other blooms. (So much like life, huh?) A stone patio, a fountain, and the necessary garden trinkets make the outdoor space as livable as any inside. 

I sensed deep joy last night. As my grandson explored every space he could find, I felt God's pleasure. On him, on me, on looking at our life. It dawned on me today that He looks at me as I see my grandchildren- kids in the grass, deeply loved and always looked after.

The Problem with the Magic Kingdom

Just posted from Orlando Theme Park News is the 2014 Magic Kingdom Map- the map that will be handed out to guests starting today. Something is off- and I bet if you think long and hard about it, you can guess exactly what just isn't right. Look closely, then proceed.

Ok, have you figured it out? That's ok, neither have the suits at the Walt Disney Company, although I can bet the very talented folks at Imagineering know exactly what's wrong.

Fantasyland is lop-sided. That's right. There's a whole bunch of room just to the left and north of It's a Small World. They could, if they really wanted, built an elaborate and appropriate home for the new Frozen attraction in this space. Sure, New Fantasyland looks terrific, and the Seven Dwarf's Mine Train coaster looks to be a bit of fun for the elementary school aged set and their grandparents. But there should be more. Especially for Frozen, a worldwide smash.

Disney's got the bucks. Yet it seems as if they think small and cheap with a Maelstrom revamp at Epcot's Norway showcase, while their neighbors next door are building blockbuster attractions like Harry Potter's Forbidden Journey and the new Diagon Alley. Would it necessitate moving backstage spaces and getting creative? Yes. Can it be done? Absolutely. Will it be done? Probably only in Tokyo Disneyland, where Frozen is already a smash.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train On Line Game!

Are you a Magic Kingdom fan? Are you someone who is thrilled with this beautiful New Fantasyland attraction? Unfortunately, are you also someone who cannot get to Walt Disney World for a while? Well, the Disney Imagineers have thought of us, too!

When completion of the Seven Dwarf's Mine Train is officially over tomorrow, the on-line game has just begun! That's right, you can do to the official Walt Disney World website, look up the Magic Kingdom, cruise through attractions, and find the game. Or you can go right to it here.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Kodak Map of Disneyland

Here's one of those pieces I have had in my files for so long that I don't remember if I scanned it myself or found it on line... Kodak's Picture Spot was an easy guide to taking great looking photos inside Walt's original Kingdom. And Disneyland looked all the better for it!

All the novice cameraman had to do was follow around the park using this great little map as a guide- and surprise! The photos taken turned out looking like they were professionally staged- and they were- without anyone knowing the difference.

This has to be an early map of the park as I see no Splash Mountain, Space Mountain or Big Thunder Mountain Railroad . In fact, there's no Haunted Mansion or Pirates of the Caribbean either! Still, there was nothing on earth like Disneyland, and the crowds came, taking millions of photos!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Shag-a-delic Fantasyland

It's so terrific! That's my first response to this new piece by artist  Josh Agle aka Shag. His Haunted Mansion and Tiki Room pieces are terrific, and there's something just as charming about this Fantasyland piece. Love the inclusion of the Skyway and the Chicken of the Sea Pirates Ship! Retro Disneyland was so cool!

(Art copyright Josh Agle.)

Thank you Veterans!

Thank you to all the men and women past and present who serve in our military! Your service honors our country and the stand we take for freedom for all people. It may be in vogue to complain about the military, but even those who disagree have the freedom to do so because of your sacrifice. God bless you!

Disneyland's Rocket Rods

Rocket Rods. The name conjures up so many reactions. Failure. Short-lived. Poorly engineered. Perhaps all these descriptions are true. But there is another adjective I apply to this now defunct attraction from Tomorrowland '98: fun.

I happened to be at Disneyland within the first few weeks of the opening. Without hesitation, I gladly endured the lengthy queue for a chance to cruise the Land of the Future aboard the sleds of Tomorrow. The saving grace of it all was a beautifully re purposed America the Beautiful building showcasing blueprint type art and vintage Tomorrowland graphics and memorabilia in a cool, dimly lit environment. Getting to the old Peoplemover platform involved a bit of Disney engineering magic!

The ride itself was a stop and go affair. At full speed, it was a blast cruising above the land with the wind in my hair and a smile on my face. When it had to slow down for those pesky unbanked curves, it was a bit jerky, to say the least. Yet, the views were terrific even if the duration much too short.

I planned to get back into line for another ride, but after the lengthy wait, there was still the rest of Imagineer Tony Baxter's Tomorrowland '98 to explore. (Count me in as one who loved the copper version of Space Mountain!) Unfortunately, time got the better of me. My next trip out would be in 2001 for California Adventure, and the dazzling Rocket Rods were history.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Ten Years Ago

Happiest of birthdays to you!

Missing Miss Whitney

Wrapping up this season's reality vocal competitions makes me think of what a tremendous loss it is to no longer have Whitney Houston with us. Sure, her life ended poorly, but I find when I watch shows like The Voice and American Idol, I find myself looking for the next version of her. And that will never be.

Mariah Carey sings wonderfully, and Christina Aguilera is a powerhouse, but something is missing when I compare both of them to a young and talented Whitney. There's a charm and wit that she had that cannot be duplicated. And when you put Whitney in front of the camera, she sparkled without having to be blatantly sexual. It had a mesmerizing effect on me... and it still does.

Whether it was I Will Always Love You, I Believe in You and Me or I have Nothing, (three of my favorites), Whitney was believable. If she was just a very good actress, well, she convinced me. Her latter years were filled with mostly mediocre material and relatively poor vocal abilities, yet nonetheless, Whitney will always be firmly implanted in my mind as she was at her peak. Rest in peace, Miss Whitney.

Levine & Grimmie: Somebody That I Used to Know

Let's be honest here: Adam Levine's star power is shining brightly- and his lower range vocals on this Goyte remake are fantastic. That said, Christina Grimmie holds her own next to him. Her upper range is delightfully wicked. When they harmonize, it's a duet made for television and for the sales charts. This could actually be the very first major hit for The Voice. Hit as in actually launching a long term career. In our house, it's a tie between this young lady and Josh Kaufman. So, we'll see what happens...

Disappointment Again

Disappointment sets in again! One blow after another, and I just wonder what in the world is going on. When I don't let people off the hook by confronting them about their lies about me, somehow they become the victim. When I encourage people to hang in there, somehow I'm the one being idealistic, naive, or not acknowledging their feelings. When I "run away from it all" for an hour at the gym, I'm disappointed in myself. What in the world is going on? Thank you, Jesus, for reminding me that although people may fail me and I may fail myself, that you never give up on me and are always there. I know I can trust you in spite of what I see my circumstances to be. It's the living out of my life that shows my faith in you is not in vain. I've not always understood what you've allowed, but if I've given it all time, you have never been a disappointment to me. 

C'est Magnifique!

De temps en temps, un site de langue française a la photo la plus merveilleuse des mises à jour-bons assez pour faire les photos valent le détour même si vous ne pouvez pas comprendre ce qui est dit. Tel est le cas avec le plus récent poste de DLP Welcome. Voulez-vous voir comment merveilleux "Ratatouille" l'attraction ressemble? Allez à droite maintenant.
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Occasionally, a French language site has the most wonderful updates, good enough pictures to make it worth a visit even if you can not understand what is being said. Such is the case with the most recent position of DLP Welcome. Want to see how wonderful the "Ratatouille" attraction looks like as it is almost complete? Go right now to the link.
(Photograph copyright DLP Welcome)

Main Street's Haunted Mansion

At the very end of the 60's, in 1969 actually, Disneyland debuted the original, and some say best, version of the Haunted Mansion. In some ways, it was the capstone of the elegant New Orleans Square. Along with Pirates of the Caribbean, the Mansion attraction now showcased the absolute best work of Walt Disney Imagineering. It still does!

The beautiful manor house sits at the end of the area, but originally, the Imagineers had a much different plan in mind.

Can you picture a Haunted Mansion at the end of Main Street U.S.A.? They could and did. The concept art above is one of the earliest pieces drawn for the iconic adventure with "999 Happy Haunts".

When designing plans for the Magic Kingdom park in Florida, New Orleans Square would not be built as it was deemed too close to the original one in Louisiana. Instead, the attraction had a different facade as it was placed in Liberty Square. And so started an unintentional tradition.  

Tokyo Disneyland's version found its home in Fantasyland; France's Disneyland Paris created its Phantom Manor as part of the story in Frontierland; and Mystic Manor, a Haunted Mansion derivative, ended up in Hong Kong Disneyland's mixed themed Adventureland. 

I think it's about time the original concept "comes home" and the next Haunted Mansion makes it way to Main Street. Do you agree?

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)