Tokyo Disney Resort; Walt Disney World Christmas; Retro Jungle Cruise; Copenhagen
We have a couple of Disney photo updates for you this week. First up, TDLFAN is back with some more photos of Halloween at the Tokyo Disney Resort. It's always amazing the see how the Japanese have embraced Halloween. Christmas is coming to Walt Disney World, and Denise nbodyhome Preskitt shares a photo report that includes some of the Christmas decorations plus a first look at Monorail Teal.
Our Disney updates are followed by a nostalgic look back at Disneyland's Jungle Cruise attraction, courtesy of DisneylandPostcards.net. Can you spot the changes that the jungle has seen over the years?
Finally, we are coming to the end of our Beautiful Baltic adventure with Ian Parkinson and Richard Williams. This week we have gorgeous photos of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Thanks for visiting the Weekend Update!
Tokyo Disney Resort
Tokyo, Japan
The Halloween events ended on November 3rd at Tokyo Disney Resort.. and their new Christmas programs do not start until November 10th. In the meantime.. let's look back and reminisce at the fabulous Disney's Halloween events at both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea parks..
Another lovely day at TDL
Minnie Mouse leads the "Re Villains!" Halloween parade.
Mickey encounters Ursula in this underwater themed float.
"Ay! Dios Mio!" The Villains crash the parade!
Minnie the ultracute good witch.
Parade show mode.
Goofy and Pluto.
Daisy DeVille.
Haunted Mansion is once again transformed into the Nightmare Holiday for the season.
TDLFAN's lovely dinner at the Queen of Heart's Banquet Hall. Note the heart shaped beef patty and the souvenir cup.
Over at Tokyo DisneySea... Lido Meet and Smile greeting gets underway in the morning.
In the Afternoon.. The Legend of Mythica spectacular rules the lagoon.
Another lovely sunset at TDS
"MOUSEquerade Dance" gets underway at Mediterranean Harbor.
Waiting for "Talk with Crush" was estimated at 75 minutes.
Many "turn of the century" sketches and photos tell the story of how this 'underwater observatory' abord the SS Columbia became to be.. and this picture shows where in the Columbia such observatory is at. Can you see the hidden Mickey here?
This is the waiting area before you see Crush in the main theater. There is a short pre-show movie with Cast Member as well... but unfortunately, this is where all cameras and video recorders had to be turned off.
At night.. the lagoon belongs to BraviSEAmo!'s very impressive bird.. Spirit of FIRE!
The Cast of American Waterfront "Mysterious Masquerade" show.
Pyrotechnics end tonight's performance of "Mysterious Masquerade".
Lastly, TDLFAN leaves TDR after 3 full days of fun and adventure and still did NOT get to see everything there is to be done.. Note: the Sleeping Beauty fairies in the background.
Walt Disney World Update
Orlando, Florida
Here's a photo update from Denise nbodyhome Preskitt:
Here are some photos from this week, all on my site plus hundreds more (mousesteps.com). I can't believe it's already the Christmas season at WDW!
Monorail Teal went into service on November 4th. It is a combination of purple and pink, the trains that crashed a few months back.
Disney's Hollywood Studios is decked out for Christmas:
In Pixar Place (I framed the monkey, it is not in the star
:
You can put your head in this Scrooge display:
One of the trees at the Muppets area:
A wreath in that same area:
At the Osborne Lights:
At the Magic Kingdom:
And the new Space Mountain sign:
Jungle Cruise
Disneyland
Ken Eslick of DisneylandPostcards.net shares some great vintage postcard images of the Jungle Cruise. These postcards are dated 1956 to 1966. Join us for a trip back in time to the Jungle Cruise's first decade:
Quote:
The queue and station are themed as the headquarters and boathouse of a River Expedition Company, located in a (presumably British) Colony of the 1930s. The queuing area is cluttered with appropriate props, such as pinned insects under glass, an old radio on top of the bookshelf, and a chessboard with miniature animals and decorated shotgun shells replacing the pieces. The extended queue winds upstairs, underneath an animatronic hornbill, and then downstairs again. Big band music from the 1930s plays overhead, punctuated by jungle-related news bulletins by the legendary fictional character Albert Awol , helping to reinforce the setting and threading together the show scenes and boat.
Quote:
Sources of inspiration for the attraction include a 1955 True-Life Adventure about a pride of lions, and the movie “The African Queen”. Imagineer Harper Goff referenced the African Queen frequently in his ideas; even his designs of the ride vehicles were modeled after the steamer used in the film. The project was placed on the schedule to open with the July 17, 1955 debut of Disneyland.
When plans began to develop, Bill Evans, the Imagineer responsible for landscaping Disneyland, faced the daunting task of foresting an entire jungle on a limited budget. Aside from importing many actual tropical plants, he made wide use of “character plants” which while not necessarily exotic could give the appearance of exoticism in context. In a particularly well-known trick, he uprooted local orange trees and "replanted" them upside-down, growing vines on the exposed roots. The clean water was dyed brown to prevent visitors from seeing the bottom of the “river”, which varies between three and eight feet deep.
Although Goff and Evans can be credited with the creation and initial design of the ride, Marc Davis (recognized for his work on venerable attractions such as the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean) added his own style to the ride in later versions and DL-version updates. The "Indian Elephant Bathing Pool" and "Rhinoceros Chasing Explorers up a Pole" were among his contributions.
When plans began to develop, Bill Evans, the Imagineer responsible for landscaping Disneyland, faced the daunting task of foresting an entire jungle on a limited budget. Aside from importing many actual tropical plants, he made wide use of “character plants” which while not necessarily exotic could give the appearance of exoticism in context. In a particularly well-known trick, he uprooted local orange trees and "replanted" them upside-down, growing vines on the exposed roots. The clean water was dyed brown to prevent visitors from seeing the bottom of the “river”, which varies between three and eight feet deep.
Although Goff and Evans can be credited with the creation and initial design of the ride, Marc Davis (recognized for his work on venerable attractions such as the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean) added his own style to the ride in later versions and DL-version updates. The "Indian Elephant Bathing Pool" and "Rhinoceros Chasing Explorers up a Pole" were among his contributions.
Quote:
Once aboard the boats, the guests are introduced to their skipper and they head into the jungle (allegedly never to return). The first river simulated is the Irrawaddy_River of Burma, reflecting South-east Asia and parts of the Mekong Delta. The boats sail through a dense rainforest, and an ancient Cambodian shrine where they see a Bengal Tiger, giant spiders, king cobras and crocodiles.
Passing Hindu statues, the boats enter the Sacred Indian Elephant Bathing Pool where dozens of Indian elephants frolic in the water and squirt water at the passing vessels. The theme transitions to the rivers of Africa, and riders see a family of baboons, and safari camp that has been overrun by gorillas. The boats careen past the dramatic waterfall Schweitzer Falls, between two African Elephants, and large termite mounds.
A tableau of the African Veldt follows, showing zebras, wildebeest, and giraffes watch a pride of lions feasting on a zebra beneath a rocky outcropping. Beyond the lion's den, an angry rhinoceros has chased a safari party up a tree. Antelope and hyenas watch from nearby. The skipper then pilots the boat into a large pool, disturbing a pod of hippos that signal their intent to attack the boat. Armed with a gun (filled with blanks), the skipper fires into the air to frighten them away. Drums and chanting are heard as the boats come to headhunter country.
The vehicles pass a native village before sailing into an ambush by natives wielding spears, (the sound effects for which are usually provided by the skipper). The boats pass behind Schweitzer Falls (known as "the Backside of Water") to enter the Amazon River. Skeletal animal remains and warning signs featuring pictures of dagger-toothed fish forewarn the next show scene, where the boats encounter a swarm of leaping piranha. The guests then pass a pool of water buffalo, and meet shrunken head dealer Trader Sam before returning to the dock.
Passing Hindu statues, the boats enter the Sacred Indian Elephant Bathing Pool where dozens of Indian elephants frolic in the water and squirt water at the passing vessels. The theme transitions to the rivers of Africa, and riders see a family of baboons, and safari camp that has been overrun by gorillas. The boats careen past the dramatic waterfall Schweitzer Falls, between two African Elephants, and large termite mounds.
A tableau of the African Veldt follows, showing zebras, wildebeest, and giraffes watch a pride of lions feasting on a zebra beneath a rocky outcropping. Beyond the lion's den, an angry rhinoceros has chased a safari party up a tree. Antelope and hyenas watch from nearby. The skipper then pilots the boat into a large pool, disturbing a pod of hippos that signal their intent to attack the boat. Armed with a gun (filled with blanks), the skipper fires into the air to frighten them away. Drums and chanting are heard as the boats come to headhunter country.
The vehicles pass a native village before sailing into an ambush by natives wielding spears, (the sound effects for which are usually provided by the skipper). The boats pass behind Schweitzer Falls (known as "the Backside of Water") to enter the Amazon River. Skeletal animal remains and warning signs featuring pictures of dagger-toothed fish forewarn the next show scene, where the boats encounter a swarm of leaping piranha. The guests then pass a pool of water buffalo, and meet shrunken head dealer Trader Sam before returning to the dock.
The Daveland website has an incredible inventory of Jungle Cruise photos through the years. You can see them here: Daveland Disneyland Jungle Cruise Photo Page:
ThemedAttraction.com has compiled a comprehensive list of Jungle Cruise spiels.
"Those of you adventurers entering the world-famous Jungle Cruise, please notice there are two lines, one on the right and the other on the left. If you'd like to keep your family together, please stay in the same line. However, if there is someone in your family you'd like to get rid of, just put them in the opposite line and you'll never see them again."
Reading through this list will bring back memories and probably evoke a chuckle or two. You can read the list here: The Disney Jungle Cruise jokes and spiel.
This Youtube video features early footage of a Jungle Cruise ride:
If you are the type that can't get enough of Disneyland memorabilia, you should check out www.worldfamousjunglecruise.com. You'll find a very impressive collection of photos and information about the Jungle Cruise brought to you by Skipper Brodie.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Quote:
The waterside city of Copenhagen has been the capital of Denmark for 600 years yet it is as modern and lively as its history is long and fascinating. The largest city in Denmark is located on the island of Zealand and is located on the East coast of Denmark. The proverbial "all roads lead to" certainly seems to apply more to Copenhagen than to Rome, as Danish roads, trains and even bicycle paths all seem to end up in the middle of the city. And with good reason. Copenhagen is a great travel destination contains a charm that make it one of Europe's most enjoyable and livable cities.
TravellersPoint
Quote:
One of the most recognisable landmarks of Copenhagen is the statue of the little mermaid. It is situated in the harbour of the city, which means it's a pretty long walk (30-45 minutes) from the center of Copenhagen to the statue. If you don't feel walking that far, note that most of the channel tours have a route that takes you along the statue. The statue was placed in Copenhagen in 1913, as a gift from Carl Jacobsen, who was impressed by the performance of the little mermaid that he had seen earlier. The statue was made by Edvard Eriksen. The face of mermaid is that of Ellen Price, who had the lead role in the ballet that Carl Jacobsen had seen. The statue in the harbour is a copy, of an original that is stored in a secret location. For good reasons as the one in the harbour has been vandalised several times.
TravellersPoint
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
sir clinksalot
MickeyMaxx
CaptPhoebus
Ian Parkinson and Richard Williams
BigPigletFan
Abominable Snowman
Fishbulb
PhotoMatt
Jack Hollywood 1939 Wixom
Special thanks to Ken Eslick at DisneylandPostcards.net.
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 12
Comments
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TDLFAN, my jealousy over your frequent trips to Tokyo Disneyland is epic
Posted 11-07-2009 at 06:46 AM by disneymademoiselle
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Looking tan and trim TDLFAN! Thanks for the great photos.
Loved visit to Copenhagen and Tivoli.Posted 11-07-2009 at 08:53 AM by waltopia - I love looking at these old photos of attractions. The jungle has really come in now.Quote:Bill Evans, the Imagineer responsible for landscaping Disneyland, faced the daunting task of foresting an entire jungle on a limited budget.Posted 11-07-2009 at 10:27 AM by toemblem
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This is one of the best Weekend Updates ever! Good job guys!Posted 11-07-2009 at 11:19 AM by dogtherock - Amazing update!
I really thought the new monorail was going to be more of a greeny teal but the colour they have is nice too... I really want to see the Osborne Lights. Do any of you guys have pictures?
I am SO amazed by TDLFAN's constant trips to Tokyo Disneyland. Would you reccomend it to others?Posted 11-07-2009 at 01:52 PM by DisneyDude12 - I most definitely recommend a trip to Tokyo Disney Resort. The Disney theme park experience does not get any better than this. TDR is a c-l-a-s-s act unlike any other, with DLR in CA being 2nd as close to that perfection expected from Disney.Posted 11-07-2009 at 10:22 PM by TDLFAN
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As what other people have said(even what TDLFAN said ) that TDR is nice.
But Copenhagen, Denmark was one of the inspirations for Walt Disney's Disneyland!
TimekeeperPosted 11-07-2009 at 10:50 PM by Timekeeper -
Thanks for the update!Posted 11-07-2009 at 11:34 PM by Barbossa -
I think I saw TDLFAN at TDR while playing "spot the gaijin"...Posted 11-08-2009 at 10:36 AM by malice - Love the Denmark photos, as that is where my ancestors are from! PROUD TO BE A DANE!
I need to go back to WDW again! That place is fantastic! Thanks for the photos!Posted 11-08-2009 at 10:44 AM by disney-fan-reborn -
Really glad you like them!Quote:Originally Posted by disney-fan-reborn
Love the Denmark photos, as that is where my ancestors are from! PROUD TO BE A DANE!
I need to go back to WDW again! That place is fantastic! Thanks for the photos!
IanPosted 11-09-2009 at 09:58 AM by Ian P -
Fantastic update everyone! I'm definitely going to add Tivoli Gardens to my list of theme parks to see before I die.Posted 11-09-2009 at 04:15 PM by Dustysage
