The Velocicoaster Attraction Poster

 

Great attraction posters used to be the sole domain of the Disney theme parks, Disneyland in particular. No longer! All it took was me walking through the queue of Island of Adventure's incredible Velocicoaster. Lining the walls were these beautiful and chill inducing prints based on currently built and never built attractions at Jurassic World. The above print for this article's namesake attraction perfectly captures the thrill of it all. The hunt for the raptors and the escape for the guests that is! If you're brave enough! Kudos to Universal Creative.

Notable and Quotable: Kathy Barnette

"I am the byproduct of a rape, My mother was 11 years old when I was conceived. My father was 21. I was not just a lump of cells. As you can see, I'm still not just a lump of cells. My life has value."

                    Kathy Barnette, Pennsylvania Senate Candidate

This Islands of Adventure Photo Shows An Epic Universe All Its Own

What a glimpse of Universal Orlando Resort's new Epic Universe? You, me, and everyone else who's a fan! But this photograph from the always popular Bioreconstruct shows how epic Islands of Adventure is on its own! The Velocicoaster is captured against the blue waters of the lagoon from way up on high. Just incredible- but there's a bit of magic going on, isn't there...

(Photograph copyright Bioreconstruct.)

The Magic Kingdom Gives the Disneyland Historical Preservation Society a Run for It's Money

We fans may bemoan the lack of attention to the parks under the reign of Robert Iger, but the upside is parks like Disneyland Paris, and to a large degree the Magic Kingdom, have retained a sense of their original vision. Nowadays, the island along with Country Bear Jamboree, Peoplemover, Swiss Family Treehouse, and Carousel of Progress stand as beloved remnants of a simpler, more innocent time in Imagineering. The Disneyland Historical Preservation Society has some competition!

From my huge files of concept art comes this incredible piece of work: Fort Sam Clemens on Tom Sawyer Island at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. As Disneyland's fort and the island as a whole becomes less and less true to the original, the opposite holds true in Florida. You can still "fire" the rifles and engage in some authentic role playing. There's no Pirates of the Caribbean overlay, and no thinking Jack Sparrow is just around the bend. The only noticeable change has been in 1996 when the name of the fort changed to Fort Langhorne. 

Who would have thought the park that is celebrating 50 years would still have such prominent nods to the past? And I'm so glad it does! 

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo at Epcot's San Angel Inn Restaurante

It's Cinco de Mayo, and the best place to celebrate at Walt Disney World has to be the San Angel Inn Restaurante in Mexico's World Showcase pavilion! The chips are hot, the salsa delicious, and the house margaritas are just what the celebration calls for!

This is another instance where the concept art,

thought quite nice, doesn't;t compare to the actual end result!

It's so much for than the food and drink however. Sitting on the waterside of the lagoon, boats sail on El Rio del Tiempo, the River of Time, taking passengers on their way for a fun and music filled Gran Fiesta Tour. 

As you sit there enjoying your excellently prepared tacos, perfectly cooked steak, enchiladas, or Queso Fundido, the perpetual moonlight and smoldering volcano in the distance takes you to a timeless land far away. The stresses of a Disney World vacation melt away. This is why you came to Disney in the first place!

Sure, there are many choices for Mexican food on the property, but for a uniquely Disney experience none beats this way to spend Cinco de Mayo. Is San Angel Inn Restaurante for you? Check out all the details on my Dine or Ditch review.

(Photograph copyright Mark Taft. Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Disney Tearing Down Polynesian's Luau Cove Celebrates Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month?

Does anyone else see Disney's hypocrisy here? The suits approve a slaughter of the Polynesian Village's Luau Cove and the Spirit of Aloha dinner show so they can build a DVC tower. Is this Inclusion? Sensitivity? Promotion of understanding cultures? No. A cash grab, pure and simple. Commerce at work. Disney is about the money and whatever it will take to get it. Don't be fooled.

Since the opening of Walt Disney World, guests have been able to get a taste of real Polynesian culture. Now that's gone, so guests get a chance to make more money for Disney. By staying in the Disney Vacation Club rooms at the Polynesian. Hypocrisy of the first degree.

(Top photo copyright Mark Taft. Concept art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

How Will Avatar 2 The Way of Water Impact Disney's Animal Kingdom?

Will Avatar 2: The Way of Water be any good? Will anyone even care after all this time? Has James Cameron lost his way? How will the new film impact Disney's Animal Kingdom and the lushly themed Pandora area? These are just some of the questions I have about it all. 

The land's Flight of Passage is one of the park's best attractions in a park full of thrilling E Tickets and stage shows. Could scenes be changed once the new movie is out?

On the other hand, Navi River Journey is a mixed bag with beautiful sets, amazing sounds, and one but only one incredible and very temperamental Audio-Animatronic. Additions would certainly help, but let's be honest, they'll never happen. These are not the days of Walt.

Could a brand new attraction be announced? Well, it is Animal Kingdom's 25th anniversary next year, so I suppose that's possible. Something could be announced at the next D23 coming in August. (My bet something is announced, but not for that side of the park.) 

Here's my biggest question: Where's Imagineering's Joe Rodhe when you need him? 

An Incredible Karen Carpenter Photo

This beautiful Karen Carpenter photo from the Anthology songbook is my favorite image of the beloved singer. Captured by A&M Records "in house" photographer Ed Caraeff, it was actually never used, an outtake from the session for 1976's quiet but lovely A Kind of Hush album. The original version was sent to me from a friend at the A&M Corner forums, as was this newer, larger version from another friend years later. 

I was going to save this photo to be included in my Revisited / Fresh Look review of the Hush album, but when I realized that article is still several months away from completion, I thought it would be nice to send it out into the world ahead of time. For me, this photo of Karen captures the very depth of her soul: reflective, wistful, perhaps even a bit melancholy. 

As Carpenters, Karen and her brother Richard Carpenter made some of the most incredible and beloved recordings the world has known. His gifts of arranging, producing, and song writing paired with her God-given one of a kind voice created a magic never duplicated. 

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride 2.0

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride is a Disneyland classic and a much beloved and missed attraction at Walt Disney World. But did you know there was once plans for a Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at Tokyo Disneysea? Yes, it was once on the drawing boards- but in a fresh way, different than what riders would expect. As I looked at Miceage's Yesterland article written by the always terrific Werner Weiss, I remembered that I had in my files a great piece of concept art for this attraction.

Before you get too excited about another unbuilt ride and get very disappointed, TDS' proposed Manhattan Motor Mania was actually more a tribute to sorts to the beloved Disneyland attraction in Fantasyland. (May the Magic Kingdom's double tracked, two separate adventure version Rest In Peace.) The artwork for Tokyo Disneysea's proposed tribute ride is the black and white piece of concept art at the top.

Toad in a new way... for a totally different park- The Magic Kingdom.

The plan was to have it sit in the American Waterfront in a subsection that looked like a bit of Little Italy. The basic plot line was the same but swapping out London and its countryside for New York City at the turn of the century. 

Like some good things, ideas are passed on. But Eric Scales did a great job working up a brand new version of Toad's adventure just in case Disney opens their eyes and hearts for a new journey. Take a look at his plans for an attraction at the Magic Kingdom or look here.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Tokyo Disneyland Gives Guests More Than They Deserve- Again!

Tokyo Disneysea is just the tip of the iceberg! Long considered the best Disney theme park ever, the Tokyo Disney Resort notches it up again with a brand new, rebuilt, and fully reimagined Space Mountain for the original Japanese Disney park, Tokyo Disneyland. Is it not enough they already have the Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast, the original trackless vehicle E Ticket in Pooh's Hunny Hunt, and soon the only park to feature a full blown Tangled attraction? Apparently not. 

In contrast to Walt Disney World where they are continually nickel and diming customers, the Oriental Land Company continues to give guests groundbreaking attractions, top notch service, and great value for what is spent. This is the kind of experience Walt Disney wanted all his guests to have. And the Japanese resort continues to have great financial reports year after year after year. Does anyone see the correlation? 

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Top 10: The Best of George Benson

It's hard to believe that one of the greatest jazz guitarists of all time, 

the incredible George Benson, recorded for years before the powers that be- and the public- realized he also had some great vocal chops! 

George's hot guitar playing and smooth, creamy vocals, make him a perfect staple for night time jazz radio. The man can do it all! I've been a fan for decades, and I've heard him master The Great American Songbook, the Beatles, take on a classic Carpenters ballad and make it his own, and straddle that fine line between dance and pop under the direction of Quincy Jones. Take about versatility!

Here's this fan's Top Ten list in no particular order:

1976-  Breezin'- This snappy and light hearted instrumental is still heard on radio today. Driving along the road with the top down? The perfect song for a Summer day!

1983- From George's often overlooked In Your Eyes album, here's a cut that surprises!  Feel Like Makin' Love- an upbeat, high energy turn around reinvention of the Roberta Flack classic. His guitar is in top form, and his singing is upbeat, joyful, and funky.

1986- Next up is one sensual sounding song. George croons this one, caressing each word from the lyric sheet: Kisses in the Moonlight, from the excellently urban disc While the City Sleeps.

1989- The man's getting older and wiser, but he's still got it. Take a listen to the whole album Tenderly. One of the offerings is the incredibly sentimental This Is All I Ask. Reflecting on the simple things takes us back to our roots of thankfulness.

2024 Update: The guitar great is interviewed by Rick Beato.

Go here.

1980- A double play. The Quincy Jones produced Give Me the Night and Turn Out the Lamplight. The former one brings shades of Michael Jackson for a more mature crowd who can still party with the best of them. The latter shimmers with elegance and a laid back groove.

1981- Duetting on Love All the Hurt Away with the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, George can hold his own vocally. Still on many of my playlists. George Michael may have given Aretha an updated and beloved smash, but with Mr. Benson, she may have found her musical soul mate. A modern version of Motown's Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell.

1987- Beyond the Sea (La Mer). There's a reason it's been covered by so many artists. But George gives it something special. You just have to hear it. From the album 20/20.

1978- On Broadway. What is left to be said about his version of this classic? George scats in the same style as he plays his guitar. From the epic live disc, Weekend in LA.

1976- The one that started it all. This Masquerade. It took guts to record this Leon Russell song when Karen Carpenter had done the definitive version on the Carpenters Now & Then album.  But George did- and it brought him to mainstream radio as well as making me a fan!

Magic Kingdom Attraction Posters: The Main Street U.S.A. Collection

Disney Parks attractions posters are one of the most sought after Disney related searches on the internet. There's a good reason for this! Those gifted Imagineers created beautiful pieces of art that have stood the test of time. 

 

My blog's collection of Disneyland attraction posters is one of the deepest you'll find. So today, I offer up post one of a similar collection for Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

You'd expect to find at least one attraction poster for the Walt Disney World Railroad, but perhaps you wouldn't think you'd see one for the Victorian era Crystal Palace Restaurant. Yet, here it is (and a version of one also exists for Tokyo Disneyland as well). The art is very nice, but certainly nothing can capture the sheer elegance of one of my favorite pieces of Magic Kingdom architecture.

There are very few pieces for Main Street U.S.A., but in a rather new twist, Imagineering started creating attraction posters for evening shows. Here above is an attraction poster for Happily Ever After. Although it is not in the more traditional style, it still is charming and captures the beauty of the nighttime presentation.

 

 Yes, another poster for the railroad...

 

...and the infamous short-lived poster

for when the train rode the rails in a the reverse route.

Now, I am not aware of other attraction posters for this part of the park. I would have thought that Main Street Cinema or at least The Walt Disney Story would have one, but so far, no luck. If anyone knows otherwise, please contact me.

There's still more lands and more posters. Certainly not the number found for Disneyland, (Check out just my Fantasyland collection for example) but nonetheless, they are fun to see. Stay tuned!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Connections Cafe and Eatery Looks to Be Another Win for New Epcot

Perhaps Imagineer Zach Riddley is on a roll. Take a look at this beautiful view form the brand new Connections Cafe at Epcot. As many other photos will show, the inside is sleek and fresh, but the views looking out are just beautiful! The old Electric Umbrella was tired and dirty. (We stopped in a few years ago, and honestly, it was pretty bad.) As this photo from Bioreconstruct shows, the place seems to be a winner.  

Early reports show the food to be very good as well. A variety of international themed burgers hits the spot. The Bahn Mi sandwhich is calling my name. With Starbucks right next door, well, this is going to be one busy place.

The wide open seating will be a hit as well. Guests choosing to bypass the family friendly coaster, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will have a nearby place to chill. Is this EPCOT Center of old? No. But maybe there are good things ahead for some portions of the park. Connections Cafe sounds like another win for everyone involved.

(Photograph copyright Bioreconstruct.)

My Mother's Humble Gift

A family photo at our son's wedding. I'd normally highlight the bride and groom, but today is my mother's birthday. She has been a gift to our family! Kind, humble, and with an ear to listen, she has been the glue that kept my family of origin together. You are loved by all who know you. Thanks, Mom, for being who you are!

The Lost City Mines Ancient Gold

Can a fully dressed Sandra Bullock, and in one scene, a butt naked Channing Tatum make movie magic? They are banking on it, but we've seen this movie before. Many, many times actually. It's one part Indiana Jones / Raiders of the Lost Ark and one part Romancing the Stone. There's even shades of The Proposal. It's just not as clever even if Daniel Radcliffe from Harry Potter fame takes a very effective turn as the movie's bad guy. No worries, though. Sandra Bullock is still charming! Her physical comedy is in full Miss Congeniality form. And the movie has its moments of fun. The Lost City is a second rate film, but it's nice to see her back on the big screen. Is it worth your money? Only if you don't mind  the rehash of much better films that came before it.