Tom Takes Tokyo

I'm a huge fan of Tom Bricker's great Disney Tourist blog. His photography is top notch, and his commentary is at once spot on and funny without being snarky. My guess is he'd be more than a bit embarrassed to have another blogger gush. That said, I am thrilled he and his wife are trip reporting on Tokyo Disney Resort in the midst of winter. You've just got to read it for yourself right here.

(Photograph copyright Tom Bricker.)

Largest Shanghai Disneyland Map

Here is is in the largest size I've ever seen: Shanghai Disneyland's park map! Just click on it for the biggest resolution. This comes from the site Gizmodo. I found it while doing some extra research for the 50th Anniversary post of Pirates of the Caribbean. Enjoy.

(Image copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Now A Summer Memory

Playing in the grass never looked like so much fun! So glad we have a huge backyard for all the little grandkids! 

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Chasing a Lion I'm Afraid to Catch

Starting a new month and a new chance to get back on track with all those New Year's resolutions. Over Christmas, my son-in-law gave me this book: Chase The Lion- If Your Dream Doesn't Scare You, It's Too Small by author Mark Batterson. Perhaps I had gotten to the point of being beaten down and forgetting how to dream. Or my dreams have taken me places I never expected. 

No matter- I started reading it again after putting it down for a few weeks. (I get books given to me all the time, so I just taken them in order received.) 

Today, I was once again encouraged. As Followers of Jesus, the truth is that dreams are given to us by God in order to reveal His Glory and majesty. All too often, I think they are for my own benefit. But going for it comes at a price. Scorn from others, letting go of what is comfortable, and fear of failure. Those things stop me more than I'd like to admit. Yet, there are times when I am thrilled that God has chosen me, a sinful, broken but forgiven and restored man, to do His work in His name in my world. However small it may be. It's been five years since I gave up the old life for one that was full of life. Maybe it's time to chase the lion again. What about you?

Running Away to Paris

Today is a day when I could gather up my wife in my arms and take her to Paris, France. Not only is it one of our favorite places, it's a place of many, many memories. This photo isn't mine, but it captures the heart of a place no one can ruin.

Gateway to the Magic Kingdom

On Walt Disney World's opening day, the real gateway to the Magic Kingdom in Florida was a boat ride or a monorail trip across or over the Seven Seas Lagoon. Back then in 1971, there were no over crowded busses - just dreams waiting to be built. Anything was possible.

For this California kid, being so used to the congested area around Disneyland in Anaheim, a visit to the World was eye opening from the moment we crossed onto the property. I just couldn't believe the Walt Disney Company had all this land!  

Hitting the parking lot was a bit of a tease. We could see the huge and beautiful Cinderella's castle above the treetops and across the water. But nothing could compare to walking down Main Street U.S.A. for that very first visit! Seeing it in real life was a treat that took four years from seeing it in magazines and on television to seeing it in person. The reality was actually better than what the hype machine built. And in many ways, it still is.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Sunday in Switzerland

Let this photo of the Swiss countryside give you a taste of the peace  and serenity of heaven. The country's in some turmoil as always, but the eternal life Christians will live is one of joy, rest, and friendship with God the Creator, the lover of our souls. I took this photo a couple of years ago from high above the castle courtyard. Just lovely!

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

A Friday Special Not To Be Missed: Vintage Disneyland Art

Is there anything better than some great Imagineering concept art? Only when it comes from master artist Herb Ryman, probably my favorite of all the folks Walt Disney employed to create renderings for his parks. (His work for EPCOT Center is my favorite.)

Here's a very cool, vintage slice of the entrance to Disneyland's Main Street U.S.A. in super large resolution (just click). Discerning eyes will catch a few interesting details. The Opera House appears on the opposite side of where it was eventually built. Mickey Mouse doesn't quite appear yet in flower form at the front of the Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad station. Lastly, the ticket booths look to be a bit away from the paths that go under those train tracks, creating a bit of a garden between the real world and Walt's. I love that idea!

Due to the fact that I get to Disneyland rarely these days, I mind myself zooming past Main Street to get to whatever is new or has been changed since last visit. When we lived in California and visits were more common, I loved to roam the street, walking in the shops, and just take in the atmosphere. Be it the Fire Station or the Market House and the party-line telephone, the first land guests see may actually be filled with the most amount of detail and even the most charm. 

There were a few advantages with the old "A" through "E" Ticket system. When you ran out of coupons (as they were called on the ticket themselves), you either purchased more tickets or your spent your time exploring. I'd go back to that in a heartbeat- and lose Fast Pass as well. Doing so would certainly redistribute the crowds and make for a better day in the long run!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Vintage Tomorrowland- Late 1950's Edition

Sometimes an image captivates me- and such is this one, a vintage view of Disneyland right after the big expansion at the end of the 1950's. The majestic Matterhorn and its bobsled run was a out of the box hit, the first tubular steel coaster ever built. The monorail and skyway buckets sail over the world of Tomorrowland on the way to Fantasyland, while guests take a voyage through liquid space on the classic Submarine Voyage. Nearby, the Autopia lets drivers young and old test  their motoring skills on a freeway of the future. Want more retro Disneyland? Come back tomorrow for some vintage concept art.

The great folks on the WDWMagic boards have posted photos of the day on the Disneyland forums. If you want to see some great pics old and new, it's the place to go. And of course, the always excellent Daveland is full of retro goodness!

(Photograph copyright phruby on WDWMagic.)

Heaven Is Calling...

I posted this eulogy exactly two weeks ago on my Facebook page. I wasn't sure about publishing it here on Insights and Sounds (especially after sharing the passing of our puppy Alyeska), but Lohelani was such an important part of my life that I feel the need to honor her in whatever way I can...

Lohelani, which in Hawaiian means "to hear heaven's calling" was actually born in Honoka'a. Her owners were selling Lohe and her siblings out of a truck in the parking lot of the Parker Ranch shopping center. Having visited the Big Island regularly since 1987, it was inevitable that I would find my sweetheart in a place that is so special to me. I needed to purchase a small crate and an airline ticket to bring her back to Oahu, but her price tag of $25.00 made me feel like I got the deal of the century.

Lohe was super shy and she hid under the seat of the car rental all the way to Hilo. I stopped a couple of times on the road just to make sure she was okay. Back in Honolulu, the bargain puppy proved to be otherwise. I used my tax return to install an expensive wire fence to keep Lohe from uprooting my dad’s favorite plants. In the same week, she got stung by a bee giving her the look of a comical platypus (nothing a $300.00 vet visit couldn’t cure). Being a bachelor, Lohe and I spent much time and adventures together. On our first trip to the North Shore, the pup left a big pile of excrement on the back seat of my truck. It must have smelled bad to her too, because she came up front and stayed there for the entire drive. 

My girl took the arrival of a new woman to the house, my wife Sue, very well and somehow managed to transition into an inside house dog. She even took the arrival of puppy Juneau well, although the early adjustment period was tough for both of us. Being an only dog for the first seven years to having a little creature suddenly jumping on you every other minute was daunting. I slept on the kitchen floor the first night we brought home Juneau just so I could keep them apart. I remember going up to Lohe that night, kissing her on the head, and apologizing for bringing home another dog. She answered me with her soulful, quizzical eyes and the sound of silence. But I knew she would be a good sister to Juneau, and she was.

In the intervening years, Lohe was sometimes the neglected child due to Juneau being the princess of the family. She would defer to Juneau in all things, whether it be drinking from the water dish, or entering/exiting the house. One area Lohe still ruled was receiving hugs and treats from outsiders. Unlike Juneau, Lohe loved people and the attention.

In the past couple of years, Lohe began exhibiting lumps on her underside…fatty tissue that caused enormous swells. Although an exceptionally strong dog, the most recent surgery really took its toll on her health.

In late December (as most of my friends on FB know), Sue and I welcomed Sitka into our home. A rambunctious and rascally pup, Sitka immediately grew fond of Lohe and followed her around like the much revered older sister. I often wondered if Lohe thought to herself, "You're putting me up with another one of these things???" But as she was with Juneau, Lohe was extremely patient and enduring. Even in her declining health, she put up with lots of playful bites, jumping, and general annoyance that one expects from a puppy.



Lohelani went to sleep at 9:37 am on a Wednesday morning...having at last answered heaven’s call. She’s now young and healthy again, meeting her new sister Alyeska for the first time and getting a ton of treats and hugs!

There’s a debate I often hear among Christians about whether dogs (or any pet for that matter) go to heaven. The bible remains quiet on this subject, so anyone's guess is as good as mine. But I think it's incredibly clear to me that God, in His infinite wisdom, created dogs to bring a piece of heaven here to earth.

Until I next see you again my girl, always know how much happiness and love you brought into our lives...

Lohelani
Nov 2002 -Jan 2017

  (Photos Copyright 2017 Len Yokoyama)

Goodbye Mary!

Goodbye sweet Mary Tyler Moore! Back in the day when I couldn't get a date, you were the one I tuned into on the television. You will always be Mary Richards and Laura Petrie to me, but I know you were much more than that. Oh, all those great episodes with Dick Van Dyke and Ed Asner. You'll so be missed!

SHAG does Star Wars

The always great Josh Agle, otherwise known as SHAG, is a well known artist and lover of Disneyland. For the first time I can recall, he has produced a piece of Star Wars related art.

This could be a teaser for a whole line to celebrate the opening of Star Wars Land at Disneyland or Disney's Hollywood Studios or just a stand alone piece. Either way, it's a pretty nifty look at some major characters in the iconic film series.

Want more? Take a look at the latest (January 16) photo update from MouseInfo. You won't be disappointed.

Want more SHAG? He's on the Insights blog in other posts as well. Just do a quick search.

(Art copyright SHAG; photograph copyright MouseInfo.)

A Moment in Disney Time

Overpriced, mediocre food, and really hard to obtain a reservation for a table! Yes, that's the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater, one of my very favorite places to eat at Disney's Hollywood Studios if not all of Walt Disney World.

Back in 1999, which was our last all family trip to Florida, I was able to secure for a last minute reservation. What a great time we had! When it was still Disney-MGM Studios, the park seemed to still have a cohesive focus even if it was still lacking, very small and rather underdeveloped. What were the big hits? With three teens, the clear winner was, expectedly, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Rock N Rollercoaster.

A bit of a gripe: It didn't matter my kids were not familiar with the Tower's source material. All they knew it to be was a great original attraction with a terrifically creepy story. An instant classic alongside the Magic Kingdom's Pirates of the Caribbean and Epcot's Journey into Imagination. That ought to be enough for the suits to leave Florida's Tower alone. They've already screwed it up in California!

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft.)

Cast Members of Disney Parks: Collect the Entire Series!

One of my favorite aspects of amateur photography is portraitures. Even more so than landscapes, taking people's pictures is always a highly rewarding and personal experience. There's almost an unspoken connection between the subject and the photographer, even if it's a total stranger. With the camera, I am preserving a person's moment in time in a digital image...a mythical, timeless realm where things always remain unchanged.

The Disney parks are my favorite place to snap portraitures, especially of the cast members (not talking about those who portray Disney characters). Although these people are playing a "role", it's not like they're pretending to be something or someone else. Yes, Bob or Phil of the Barbershop Quartet doesn't really live on Main Street USA, but I'm pretty sure they're still Bob or Phil when they go home after work.

And because customer service is strongly ingrained into the Disney culture, it would be hard for a cast member to turn me down when I ask to take their photos (there have been one or two who were unsure, but otherwise, everyone has been more than happy to pose for a pest like me).

I've decided to start a series of posts dedicated to featuring these fantastic workers from the various Disney parks. I 'll do maybe two or three a month and see how this series fares.

For the first spotlighted cast members, I turn to the Photo Supply Co located at the tail end of Main Street USA in Disneyland. There, I ran into a very friendly and charismatic group of cast members while redeeming my free 5 X 7 print. From left to right are Bella, Brenda, Marcus, & Ryan.

I initially asked Bella and Marcus pose, but she asked if I could get the whole group into the shot which I was more than happy to oblige. Thank you Photo Supply crew for really spreading the Disney magic and for giving this poor photog a chance to snap some pics!

         (Photos Copyright 2017 Len Yokoyama)

No Man's Land for Locals

Waikiki is one of the first destinations for most visitors and tourists. And understandably so. Its mythical allure was reinforced by Hollywood in movies and tv shows. Postcards and advertising also added to its status as a destination spot.

The reality is a bit different for local residents. While the city and county has done much to improve the area in the last 20 years, parking is still tight and costs a small fortune. Stores and restaurants are resort level prices, making it a poor value for a night out with the family. Even in my earlier years, the only time I would head into this tourist zone was to watch a movie (this was before multiplexes popped up on every corner).

But there is a lot to love about Waikiki, it's where Duke Kahanamoku rode the waves on his surfboard and the pink majesty of the Royal Hawaiian still sits elegantly on the edge of the shoreline. It's with this in mind that I decided to break my own rule and get out there to take some photos.

Hope everyone is having a blessed weekend!

              (Photographs Copyright 2017 Len Yokoyama)