Weekend Update: Harry Potter in Chicago, NFFC Convention, Spaceship Earth and more...
Posted 07-31-2009 at 09:58 PM by Weekend Update
Updated 08-01-2009 at 12:37 PM by Dustysage (banner added)
Updated 08-01-2009 at 12:37 PM by Dustysage (banner added)
Thanks for visiting another edition of the Weekend Update. This week we have more of TDLFAN's very popular feature, "The Signs of Tokyo Disneyland". He promises to continue the series in the near future with "The Shops of Tokyo Disneyland". Denise nbodyhome Preskitt came west for the NFFC Convention and treats us to photos from that popular event.
SummerInFL continues to wow us with her Chicago trip, including photos from a Harry Potter exhibit. sir clinksalot has organized and annotated some more photos from his aunt and uncle's recent trip and they're included for your enjoyment. Last but not least, PhotoMatt sent us some very interesting shots from inside Spaceship Earth. I don't know how he does it, but I'm sure glad he does.
Don't forget to check in with us every weekend. We have some great stuff coming up including "The Signs of Disneyland Paris" by Ian Parkinson. We'll also take a trip to the Orange County Fair. Plus, if you ask real nice, I'll treat you to a brief return to Oddlando.
And away we go...
Tokyo Disneyland Resort
Tokyo, Japan
TDLFAN is back with the 4th installment of "Signs of TDL". This week, we continue the tour of TDL's Restaurant signs.
Denise nbodyhome Preskitt was recently in California for the NFFC Disneyana Convention. These shots are from her trip. Additional coverage of the convention can be found at Denise's website: mousesteps.com.
I have tons of photos/video from my trip to CA, but here are a handful:
I had done interviews with Jodi Benson, Paige O'Hara and Don Hahn at the NFFC, which I posted on the front of my site (mousesteps.com). Here are some photos from the NFFC banquet, which also included Sherri Stoner:
Don Hahn, who was the host for the banquet:
Jodi Benson:
Paige O'Hara:
Sherri Stoner:
Paige O'Hara and Jodi Benson with NFFC Legends Awards, which they were surprised with:
And some photos around Disneyland:
And the Bat Cave from Batman, in the Hollywood Hills:
A coyote on top of a hill near the cave:
For the first time, I was able to see Maynard in an attraction!! Disneyland doesn't have any comment cards (or did not when I went to City Hall), so I'll say it here - he's wonderful!
SummerInFL visited the Museum of Science and Industry during her recent trip to Chicago.
Quote:
The Museum of Science and Industry (MSI) is located in Chicago, Illinois, USA in Jackson Park, in the Hyde Park neighborhood adjacent to Lake Michigan. It is housed in the former Palace of Fine Arts from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. Initially endowed by Sears, Roebuck and Company president and philanthropist Julius Rosenwald, it first opened in 1933 during the Century of Progress Exposition.
The Ford Anglia used in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Quote:
Since 1954, the Museum has had the U-505 Submarine, one of just two German submarines captured during World War II and the only one now on display in the Western Hemisphere.
The Bubble Room
Here we have some more photos from sir clinksalot's aunt and uncle. This was quite a trip. We're grateful to sir clinksalot for organizing and sharing these images with the Weekend Update.
This week we end our time in Guatemala with the absolutely gorgeous Lake Atitlan.
Quote:
Originally Posted by wikipedia
Lake Atitlán (Lago de Atitlán) is a large endorheic lake (one that does not flow to the sea) in the Guatemalan Highlands. While Atitlan is recognized to be the deepest lake in Central America, its bottom has not been completely sounded. Estimates of its maximum depth range up to 340 meters. The lake is shaped by deep escarpments which surround it and by three volcanoes on its southern flank. Lake Atitlan is further characterized by towns and villages of the Maya people.
The lake is volcanic in origin, filling an enormous caldera formed in an eruption 84,000 years ago. It is renowned as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, and Aldous Huxley famously wrote of it: "Lake Como, it seems to me, touches on the limit of permissibly picturesque, but Atitlán is Como with additional embellishments of several immense volcanoes. It really is too much of a good thing."
The lake is volcanic in origin, filling an enormous caldera formed in an eruption 84,000 years ago. It is renowned as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, and Aldous Huxley famously wrote of it: "Lake Como, it seems to me, touches on the limit of permissibly picturesque, but Atitlán is Como with additional embellishments of several immense volcanoes. It really is too much of a good thing."
Now we are going to leave Guatemala and head straight to Bonaire.
Quote:
The Island Territory of Bonaire (pronounced /bɒˈnɛər/; Dutch: Eilandgebied Bonaire, Papiamento: Teritorio Insular di Boneiru) is one of five island areas (Eilandgebieden) of the Netherlands Antilles, consisting of the main island of Bonaire and, nestled in its western crescent, the uninhabited islet of Klein Bonaire. Together with Aruba and Curaçao it forms a group referred to as the ABC islands of the Leeward Antilles, the southern island chain of the Lesser Antilles.
Quote:
Originally Posted by wikipedia
We went for a short swim close to our house and had a good swim and snorkel today a little farther away from home. Lots of coral and fish, saw 3 eagle rays and 2 turtles. The reef is very lush and healthy here as the whole island is a protected national park reserve on land and water. This island is 26 miles long from north to south and from 3 to 7 miles wide from east to west, so isn't very big and we'll be able to travel around it and see everything during the time we're here.
Lots of birds in the big trees around our porch, why didn't we bring our bird book?? Green parrots, hummingbirds, monarch butterflies, lots of tweeties and thrush-types that we don't recognize, with pretty bright yellows and oranges and red on them. They say there are 180 species of birds here, some residents and some transitory. Also huge iguanas walking around the streets and wild donkeys roaming around too.
This is also a major pink flamingo breeding ground on this island, so there are hundreds of them everywhere. Quite an amazing bird, especially to see them fly.
Lots of birds in the big trees around our porch, why didn't we bring our bird book?? Green parrots, hummingbirds, monarch butterflies, lots of tweeties and thrush-types that we don't recognize, with pretty bright yellows and oranges and red on them. They say there are 180 species of birds here, some residents and some transitory. Also huge iguanas walking around the streets and wild donkeys roaming around too.
This is also a major pink flamingo breeding ground on this island, so there are hundreds of them everywhere. Quite an amazing bird, especially to see them fly.
Perfect for some kind of drink with an umbrella in it
One of the Flamingo's (or Flaming O's as we like to call them)
Thus ends our time in the South America and the Caribbean.
Next week, we go to some new locales such as Egypt and Jordan.
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
Spaceship Earth
by PhotoMatt
by PhotoMatt
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)
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Total Comments 16
Comments
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Yay!Posted 07-31-2009 at 11:40 PM by orbitalpunk
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second!
Fun update and TRs!Posted 08-01-2009 at 01:46 AM by disney-fan-reborn - Great Update!Posted 08-01-2009 at 09:20 AM by Emmanuel_4
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Great update!
I loved the video of MaynardPosted 08-01-2009 at 09:27 AM by Abominable Snowman -
I want to see that Harry Potter exhibit. Keep my fingers cross that it would come out to SoCal.Posted 08-01-2009 at 11:42 AM by rosyrotten47 -
All the signs in Japan are in English!! Does this mean an American who speaks no English would be able to go there and understand everything?Posted 08-01-2009 at 12:10 PM by LittleImagineer -
Almost. Nearly everything has an English sign somewhere. However, the attractions are another matter and the audio is for the most part in Japanese. But don't let that hold you back. These parks are spectacular!Quote:Originally Posted by LittleImagineer
All the signs in Japan are in English!! Does this mean an American who speaks no English would be able to go there and understand everything?
Fantastic Weekend Update everyone!Posted 08-01-2009 at 12:42 PM by Dustysage -
Haha, who's Maynard? I always here about him but dont understand who exactly he is. That video was funny, though.
Posted 08-01-2009 at 01:06 PM by ♥disney.princess♥ 
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Thanks for another great collection of photos everyone!
Posted 08-01-2009 at 01:32 PM by Mac Daddy -
Everything you may want to know about Maynard can be found here...Maynard Home Page.Posted 08-01-2009 at 02:12 PM by Rixter -
Excellent weekend update
. I recently went on a big 10-state trip. I wouldn't mind sharing the photos, however I have over 3200 of them to sort through!
Posted 08-01-2009 at 04:21 PM by Barbossa -
Great. Maynard ruins another attraction.Posted 08-02-2009 at 12:01 AM by BassBone -
THANK YOU!Posted 08-02-2009 at 12:54 PM by Eagleman -
Thanks, all, for the great pics. I have to make this comment about Maynard, although I'm sure I will be in the minority. I've heard for a while now about his participation in the Tiki show, but this is the first time I ever saw a video of it. Sadly, I have to say that I was horrified by it. A CM should NEVER put himself into a show, for any reason. You could see that the crowd was totally looking at him, and not at the rest of the attraction. Sure, it's kind of a slow part of the show, but for me that's no excuse for a CM to insert himself into the show. I know most people love this from him, but I just can't stand it.
Anyway, thanks again for the pics - denise, LOVED the owl with the castle in the bg. Very nice!Posted 08-03-2009 at 07:57 AM by danyoung -
luv the harry pottter pics. i luv the msi! (museum of science & industry) i luv chicago as i live 2 1/2 hrs from the windy city. i practically grew up therePosted 08-03-2009 at 11:31 AM by wdwnut4life - Maynard is an outstanding cm, and cm's are part of the "show", and are encouraged to interact with guests, however Maynard's performance was a distraction in the Tiki Room.Posted 08-09-2009 at 04:01 PM by vivian
