Weekend Update: Hall of Presidents, Hong Kong DL, Taste of Chicago, Pre-Walt FL
I'm back in front of my trusty iMac after spending a week at sea. I splurged and bought the "240 minutes of internet for $100.00" package from Carnival Cruise Lines. Yikes! On Sunday, 240 minutes sounded like a lot of minutes. By Tuesday, I was carefully surfing the internet with one eye on the laptop's screen and one eye on my watch! I carefully divided out my meager allowance of internet minutes by the day – 34 minutes per day. Barely enough time to check my email, check my PMs, read Andy Castro's column, check Google Reader, take a peek at the local newspapers, check to see if Al had a column on Tuesday, etc., etc. Thank God MickeyMaxx went cold turkey and didn't use the laptop once. We had fun on the cruise but we're sure glad to be back to civilization (and unlimited internet access)!
This week at the Weekend Update, PhotoMatt returns with a record of his recent visit to Walt Disney World. I'll be sharing his photos with you over the next few weeks. TDLFAN has some new photos of Hong Kong Disneyland. I'll bet you have been waiting on pins and needles to see "Stitch's Summer Dance Bash". I fail to understand the Disney parks' preoccupation with this miserable cartoon creature.
SummerInFL took a trip to Chicago recently. Wait 'til you see the scrumptious pictures of the Taste of Chicago. Almost makes a person motivated enough to brave the heat and humidity! Finally, MickeyMaxx put together a little something he calls Florida Before Uncle Walt with some more vintage post card images.
Hope everyone is having a picture post card summer!
Walt Disney World
Orlando, Florida
We haven't heard from PhotoMatt in quite awhile, so I was tickled when he contacted me with a link to his photo album filled with photos from his recent trip to Walt Disney World. As is always the case with Matt, the photography is both stunning and abundant. We'll share these photos with you over the next few weeks and we'll start out with a trip to the Hall of Presidents.
Quote:
The Hall of Presidents is an attraction located in Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom in the Walt Disney World Resort. The attraction is a multi-media presentation and stage show featuring Audio-Animatronic figures of all 43 different U.S. Presidents. It opened on October 1, 1971 with the rest of the Magic Kingdom and Walt Disney World's Opening Day Celebrations.
Wikipedia
Quote:
• The film used in the show was shot in 70mm format using a special process created by Disney Legend Ub Iwerks. It was made to take up the audience's natural field of vision.
• The finale of the show is unique in that it must be re-recorded every time a new U.S. President takes office. A new roll-call recording must be made and the current U.S. President (since 1993) records a speech. The figures of the U.S. Presidents also must be shifted in order to accommodate the new position of the new U.S. President.
• All the Presidents through George W. Bush were sculpted by Disney Legend Blaine Gibson. However, as Gibson is now over 90 years old, the sculpting of President Obama will be done by his apprentice Valerie Edwards. Gibson will still remain involved in the project to a lesser extent.
• All of the faces are based on paintings and/or photographs of each President.
• Royal Dano was the original voice of Mr. Lincoln, as he also was in the World's Fair and early Disneyland versions. When the show was redone in 1993, Dano had become ill, and Lincoln was voiced by Pete Renoudet.
• President Bush's speech was recorded in the White House Library in May 2001. The Imagineers said that President Bush only took six minutes to record the speech.
• Each one of the Presidents has his own wardrobe. The Imagineers went for total accuracy, picking out clothes that were close to what the men actually wore, and keeping with the style of their respective eras.
• President George W. Bush's suit is based on his preferences, complete with his red tie and flag lapel pin. It had to be specially made to accommodate the mechanics of the figure.
• The figure of George W. Bush has a replica of the wristwatch that the real President Bush wears. It is a Timex Indiglo, inscribed with "George W. Bush - President - January 20, 2001".
• Both Presidents Lincoln and Bush are A-100 model Audio-Animatronic figures, a line of the most advanced, lifelike, and expressive human figures WDI has ever built.
• J.D. Hall, who took over the narration in 2001, can also be heard as Frederick Douglass in the "Journey to Gettysburg" version of Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln at Disneyland.
• In America's Funniest Home Videos, a video showing this attraction features Lincoln, while doing his speech, falling over. It is not revealed, however, if the attraction was stopped. The Lincoln animatronic was soon fixed.
• This attraction is mentioned in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure when Bill and Ted are attempting to write part of their speech on history.
• The attraction is mentioned on the Saturday Night Live skit, Debbie Downer when she says that it is her favorite ride.
• The 2009 version of the attraction replaces the Saturn V launch with footage of the first shuttle launch (Columbia) recycled from EPCOT's original Universe of Energy show.
• The finale of the show is unique in that it must be re-recorded every time a new U.S. President takes office. A new roll-call recording must be made and the current U.S. President (since 1993) records a speech. The figures of the U.S. Presidents also must be shifted in order to accommodate the new position of the new U.S. President.
• All the Presidents through George W. Bush were sculpted by Disney Legend Blaine Gibson. However, as Gibson is now over 90 years old, the sculpting of President Obama will be done by his apprentice Valerie Edwards. Gibson will still remain involved in the project to a lesser extent.
• All of the faces are based on paintings and/or photographs of each President.
• Royal Dano was the original voice of Mr. Lincoln, as he also was in the World's Fair and early Disneyland versions. When the show was redone in 1993, Dano had become ill, and Lincoln was voiced by Pete Renoudet.
• President Bush's speech was recorded in the White House Library in May 2001. The Imagineers said that President Bush only took six minutes to record the speech.
• Each one of the Presidents has his own wardrobe. The Imagineers went for total accuracy, picking out clothes that were close to what the men actually wore, and keeping with the style of their respective eras.
• President George W. Bush's suit is based on his preferences, complete with his red tie and flag lapel pin. It had to be specially made to accommodate the mechanics of the figure.
• The figure of George W. Bush has a replica of the wristwatch that the real President Bush wears. It is a Timex Indiglo, inscribed with "George W. Bush - President - January 20, 2001".
• Both Presidents Lincoln and Bush are A-100 model Audio-Animatronic figures, a line of the most advanced, lifelike, and expressive human figures WDI has ever built.
• J.D. Hall, who took over the narration in 2001, can also be heard as Frederick Douglass in the "Journey to Gettysburg" version of Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln at Disneyland.
• In America's Funniest Home Videos, a video showing this attraction features Lincoln, while doing his speech, falling over. It is not revealed, however, if the attraction was stopped. The Lincoln animatronic was soon fixed.
• This attraction is mentioned in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure when Bill and Ted are attempting to write part of their speech on history.
• The attraction is mentioned on the Saturday Night Live skit, Debbie Downer when she says that it is her favorite ride.
• The 2009 version of the attraction replaces the Saturn V launch with footage of the first shuttle launch (Columbia) recycled from EPCOT's original Universe of Energy show.
Hong Kong Disneyland
TDLFAN goes to HONG KONG DISNEYLAND as the park celebrates the summer season with a new special event and lots of wet fun, California style!! The event is called "Stitch's Summer Dance Bash".
Arriving at Hong Kong Disneyland is always fun. Summertime's humidity in the air can cause your camera lense to fog up...just a bit.
Lovely sign outside the gates before entering the park.
This is an effort to prevent flu conditions in the park. Also, automatic disinfectant liquid machines have been installed throughout the park, so guests can keep those ever busy hands clean and sanitized.
Floral Mickey Face looked bright and summer like.. Are those sunshine rays coming out from Mickey's face?
Main Street USA is decorated for the summer season with event logo banners and as an added touch of summer fun... beach balls hang as ornaments on the trees...
Stitch's Summer Dance Bash photo centerpiece at the Hub.
"Stitch's Summer Dance Bash" gets underway on Main Street USA. This fun streetacular features Goofy, Mr. Incredible, Ariel, Genie and Stitch (as Elvis), a cast of performing dancers, and even guests... turning Main Sreet USA into a fun summer day in California. Guests are encouraged to participate by dancing with the parade cast, playing beach (volley)ball, complete with nets, and even a wipeout finale, complete with sparkling gold confetti blast!!
Performers dance on the street during "Stitch's Summer Dance Bash". Note the cooler boxes and beachballs.. it's like going to the beach without getting sand in your shoes!
Fun in the CA sun.. (well, Hong Kong's sun actually)
Mr. Incredible.
The star of the show.. Elvis Stitch!!!
After the conclusion of "Stitch's Summer Dance Bash", a batallion of CMs come out to clean up the confetti left behind by the show.. These vacuum cleaner machines are very very quiet!!! Anyways, their hard work means ... the preparation of the parade route for "Mickey's WaterWorks Parade", to come dowm Main Street shortly.
In the meantime.. a lovely summer view of Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Backside view of Castle.
"Mickey's WaterWorks Parade" gets underway. In TDLFAN's humble opinion, this is one of the best and most fun parades ever presented at any Disney park. The floats are colorful, big and spray water in many inventive ways.. YES, guests do get wet. The array of characters in the parade are nice, and the performers' costumes and props are top notch! Fun soundtrack too.
The perfume float features Minnie (at the highest point of the parade), Daisy and Marie.. surrounded by perfume bottles that spray... WATER!!! Notice the heart-shaped arch around Minnie? It sprays water too!!!
Mickey's float is very cool and allows Mickey to maneuver his chair mere feet away above guests' heads, who are thrilled by Mickey's proximity to them... but beware.. you will get wet here as well!!!
A view of Town Square after the parade has ended, reveals why HKDL is such a lovely park to visit in summer season.. The greenery inside and around the park gives it a very unique vibe and beauty not found at any of the other DL parks
Also in Town Square.. Summer Stitch does meet and greet with fans.
Just like all Disneyland parks in the World.. a summer day at HKDL would not be complete without fireworks.. and as usual, "Disney in the Stars" show lights up the summer nights at Hong Kong Disneyland.
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago seems to be a popular destination for our MiceChat photographers. This week we have some photos from SummerInFL who recently visited the windy city.
Sears Tower
The new glass ledges on the 103rd floor
Union Station
Around Town
The Bean
Taste of Chicago
Buckingham Fountain
Next week we'll have some more Chicago photos from Summer including some accidental spy photos of the Harry Potter exhibit at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry.
Florida Before Uncle Walt
What ever did folks do in Florida before Walt Disney World came to be? Well, Florida has long been known as the Sunshine State, and people have flocked there forever for the beaches and summers that never end. Our tour today is from Rixter's Box o' Post Cards, and they are perhaps less well known to us modern day folk. Nonetheless, they would make for quite a vacation!
File this under something one would hope to never run into. In Florida, we suppose it could happen though.
From the back of the card:
Quote:
"Big Joe"
"Man Eater"
Largest Live Alligator in Captivity.
Weighs 900 pounds, 250 years old,
Length 14 feet.
Captured in St. Johns River
Can be seen FREE
AT
OSKY'S ALLIGATOR STORE
121 Bay Street - JACKSONVILLE, FLA.
"Man Eater"
Largest Live Alligator in Captivity.
Weighs 900 pounds, 250 years old,
Length 14 feet.
Captured in St. Johns River
Can be seen FREE
AT
OSKY'S ALLIGATOR STORE
121 Bay Street - JACKSONVILLE, FLA.
What would a trip to Florida be (back in the day) without having some oranges shipped home to remind you of your vacation. Tree T' You Midway Groves is our first orange merchant and the instructions on the back are enlightening.
Quote:
It is of supreme importance to us that this fruit reach you in the prime condition in which it left our groves. To protect the natural goodness of the fruit, the liner of this package has been impregnated wth DIPHENYL, the volatilization of which surrounds the fruit and inhibits the development of decay. The slight odor will disappear from the fruit a very shot time after removal from the container.
Midway Groves looks more like Beverly Hills than a fruit packing concern.
Midway Groves is no more, but you can find a history with several vintage photos on the site of the grandson of the founder. He's still carries on in the citrus business, but not in the same way.
The next card is from the Floyd L. Wray company, where it would appear the fruit was picked by attractive young women in abbreviated Easter dresses, or koulots, or skorts. And are those heels I see? Yes, low, sensible, orange-pickin' heels! They place the fruit in their Easter baskets before transferring them to the large crates for the men to tote. You know, looking at those ladders, I'm not sure women in heels are ever going to get the tippy top oranges from those trees. Must be more to the story.
The back of the above card is a little hard to read, but the signature reads, "Love Mom - Dad" Not a word about DIPHENYL or lingering odors.
Floyd Wray's Flamingo Gardens lives on, but it, too has changed. It is now south Florida's botanical gardens and wildlife sanctuary.
The story is here: Flamingo Gardens
The link to the gardens is here: Flamingo Gardens and Wildlife Sanctuary
The link to the gardens is here: Flamingo Gardens and Wildlife Sanctuary
The following group of cards are from Silver Springs, and from the looks of things, one could might never want to leave!
Nothing like hand-feeding the bass on a sultry Florida evening.
Silver Springs is still a major attraction, still pumps out 550 million gallons of spring water a day, and glass bottom boats which debuted in 1890 will give you a scuba-like experience without ever getting wet. There's a lot more to do here now, though. Silver Springs park is a full-fledged theme park.
What could be a more perfect dinner option to cap off one's Florida stay?
The good news is that the Jungle Queen still plies the New River. Not the same Jungle Queen, but a Mark Twain cousin if ever I saw one.
Quote:
For over 65 years, Fort Lauderdale's legendary Jungle Queen Riverboat Bar-B-Que and Shrimp Dinner Cruise is known throughout the world, and it's more than 14 million guests over the years have enjoyed the fun-filled, relaxing evening aboard the Jungle Queen. The cruise up the New River , the "ALL YOU WISH TO EAT" dinner and the variety show have made it a "Must" in Fort Lauderdale.
Looking for up-to-date reports from Disneyland
including photos, gossip, park schedules and more?
including photos, gossip, park schedules and more?
Visit these MiceChat columns each week:
Andy Castro's Dateline Disneyland
David DarkBeer Michael's In the Parks
And that brings us to the end of another week. Our photographers have just enough time to reload their cameras before we see you all again next weekend. Thank you to all of our wonderful readers, and as always, a huge thank you to our amazing team of global photographers, spies, and gossips:
TDLFAN
Denise nbodyhome Preskitt (mousesteps.com)
SummerInFl (wdwfanpics.com)
sir clinksalot
MickeyMaxx
CaptPhoebus
Ian Parkinson
BigPigletFan
Abominable Snowman
Fishbulb
PhotoMatt
Jack Hollywood 1939 Wixom
Your Editor - Rixter
Where have YOU been recently? We invite you to share your photos of theme parks or any other destination that may be of interest to our readers. Please feel free to contact me via MiceChat Private Message (screen name Rixter)
or send me an email: oceansiderick@gmail.com.
or send me an email: oceansiderick@gmail.com.
It is readers like you who make MiceChat such a special place.
Don't miss a single one of MiceChat's Featured Blogs (including the Weekend Update). Add our feed to your favorite feed software or site:
MiceChat: Featured Disney Blogs
Follow us on Twitter
MiceChat: Featured Disney Blogs
Follow us on Twitter
Total Comments 25
Comments
-
I would LOVE a taste of Chicago!
Great Update!Posted 07-25-2009 at 06:16 AM by Kritter
-
I had some friends go to Chicago a few weeks ago and I was amazed at how lovely a place it is.
Great update. I've sent you an email.Posted 07-25-2009 at 08:41 AM by Wendygirl - Great Update!Posted 07-25-2009 at 09:31 AM by Emmanuel_4
-
Wonderful update everyone and a special thanks to Rixter for taking the time to keep these updates coming even during and after his Carnival Cruise!!!
Also, I'm fascinated by Silver Springs, and very curious to see it myself. Alas, it is a 60 mile drive from Orlando, but I just might make it there one day.
Quote:Glass Bottom Boats offer passengers an unparalleled view of underwater life in the 99.8% pure waters of the Silver River. Our boats, with U.S. Coast Guard licensed captains, will take you on an enchanting tour of the seven major spring formations at the headwaters.
One spring, Fish Reception Hall, is home to dozens of species of fish as well as alligators, clams, crawfish, shrimp, snails and six different kinds of turtles, all amidst the backdrop of tiny fossilized shells from 70 million years ago.
Peer through the glass and crystal clear water for views that only a scuba diver could have. You’ll be comfortably seated, and covered from the sun and weather.Posted 07-25-2009 at 09:38 AM by Dustysage -
Great update, everyone! Thank you Rixter for forking over the $100 for the internet fees while you are on your cruise. I love the shots of Hong Kong Disneyland and will hopefully visit it in person some day. Rixter - We are eagerly awaiting a trip report from your cruise when you get back! Posted 07-25-2009 at 12:00 PM by Mac Daddy -
Great weekend report!
Thanks Rixter for giving us updates on H K D L
good picture's!(and forking out bucks to do so)
Hong Kong Disneyland looks very cool with green mountain in the back ground.......
I also one ,can not understand "Stitch's" and other's see in him.?.I think he so un-disney !
I feel sorry for the guest at H K D L!
I still like see Disney put "The Hall of Presidents" at Disneyland!
Love Old Post Cards!
Thank every one,good job, for the weekend report!
Posted 07-25-2009 at 01:46 PM by Eagleman 
-
Great Update and it would be great to see Chicago get the bid for the summer olympics in 2016Posted 07-25-2009 at 05:50 PM by ThemeParkGuy -
That perfume float looks adorable.
Just one question - does HKDL usually have a partners statue? And if so, did they REALLY replace it with that stitch "sand sculpture" thing?
Good heavens I hope not!!
EDIT: just a friendly reminder, it's "Hong" not "Honk"
(u might want to check the main page details for this update hint hint)Posted 07-25-2009 at 06:05 PM by Goover -
Great update!Posted 07-25-2009 at 06:13 PM by Barbossa - I feel sorry for Disneyland HK ! they getting rip off,
it's so small ............Posted 07-25-2009 at 07:30 PM by Eagleman
Updated 07-25-2009 at 07:46 PM by Eagleman (re word) - That OK Goover,
Hong Kong does have lots of "Honks"!
HKDL never had a partners statue......
But I still want to get rid of "Stitch's"!Posted 07-25-2009 at 07:39 PM by Eagleman - I hate "Stitch's"Posted 07-25-2009 at 07:41 PM by Eagleman
- I'm so glad to see HKDL following Tokyo's footsteps in terms of offering various live entertainment, unlike WDW which manages to drag their old tired floats along the parade route for many years...
And for those complaining about Stitch...
How many new parades/stage shows did Disneyland or WDW offer in the past couple of years?Posted 07-25-2009 at 09:21 PM by COOOOLkid -
foodPosted 07-25-2009 at 11:36 PM by hurricanefreak -
I think many of you (who have never set foot in HKDL) are a bit too quick with your criticism of this small, but very much "disney" park. Yes, its a small park but please, GET OVER IT. They did not build this park for the overpriviledge masses out there, but for an audience that is not familiar with the Disney brand. HKDL may not big but it sure offers decent quality that not even DCA offered its patrons on opening day. The park is poised for grow and it will become a great park to visit. Give it the time it needs and you will all see. And remember.. The name is Hong Kong Disneyland, and not the other way around like some else already named it above. Let's get the name right before offering quick negative criticism.
To answer another person, HKDL does not have a "Partners" statue, so nothing has been removed from the hub to give way to the current summer decor.
As for Stitch, the character does not bother me but I do believe he is over used in the park. Yet, its refreshing to see him highlighted in a nice summer street show where those overused Mice are nowhere to be found. I also believe Stitich gets a bad rap due to the bad attractions he is highlighted on, like the MKs SGE show or the ill concieved Tiki show at TDL.Posted 07-26-2009 at 12:34 AM by TDLFAN -
In thinking about this whole "Stitch" thing, I am inclined to agree with TDLFAN. My distaste for the character has more to do with the awful implementation of the attractions he is associated with in the U.S., rather than the character himself.
And COOOOLkid's observation is spot on. At least HKDL is constantly refreshing their entertainment offerings. I have a feeling that Stitch's Summer Dance Bash would be a welcome addition to any of the US parks.
We're lucky to have these great photo reports about the overseas parks from TDLFAN.Posted 07-26-2009 at 11:24 AM by Rixter -
SummerInFL: Did you have Alligator on a Stick? That was always my favorite part of the Taste.Posted 07-26-2009 at 01:53 PM by Freddie Freelance -
That slice of Pizza looks delicious!Posted 07-26-2009 at 04:49 PM by Victoria -
LOL No I did not. I've had it before however, it's not that difficult to find in FL.Quote:Originally Posted by Freddie Freelance
SummerInFL: Did you have Alligator on a Stick? That was always my favorite part of the Taste.Posted 07-26-2009 at 10:03 PM by SummerInFL -
great chicago & disneyland pics!!! i luv chicago & live 2 1/2 hrs from the windy city. the sears tower was renamed but to me the tallest bldg & has that namePosted 07-27-2009 at 09:46 AM by wdwnut4life
