Favorite obscure attraction?

[tloolgb]

The caves in Tom Sawyer's Island. Fun for all... in the dark.

Oh yes! That's right! The Fort's escape tunnel used to be pitch black!

[danyoung]

Those who know me will find this as no big surprise, but I love hanging out at the Rose & Crown Pub in the England area of Epcot's World Showcase. It's a very nice, laid back vibe, with entertainment by the lovely Miss Pam Brody (the nicest pearlie you'll ever meet!). Oh, and the martinis are pretty terrific, too!

Of course, if you're visiting with kids, this may not be the best suggestion . . .

[TDLFAN]

Side note... our first Micechat WDW meet took place at the Rose and Crown... and it was wonderful! Thanks again Dustyage et all!!!

[Pizzapants]

The backstreets of Morocco. Holy crap, i always wander back there and get lost and totally forget i'm even in Epcot. And El Rio del Tiempo... wonderful ride! Hate dit the first time, then i seemed oddly drawn to it and now i can't ride it enough!
Also the speeder bike outside of Star Tours. I love it.

[aimster]

The pastry shop and crepe stand in France. I am a MAJOR sucker for French pastries!

El Rio del Tiempo. I finally rode it for the first time a couple years ago and it was so cheezy but great fun at the same time. I wouldn't mind if they did the rumored Three caballeros remake as that's what this ride totally made me think of when I was on it.

And I never miss a performance by Off Kilter if they're playing when I'm at Epcot. They rock 10 ways to Sunday and sometimes get me laughing so hard I'm about in tears.

[Sweetie]

Sonny Eclipse, the animatronic lounge singer in Tomorrowland. I always stop in and watch him when ever I want a snack or just sit for a while.

[Ride Warrior]

Snow White's Grotto and Wishing Well is by far my favorite tucked away hidden treasure. In front of Sleeping Beauty Castle, take the first path and travel to the right of the drawbridge. Once you find the locale, you can hear Snow Whites beautiful voice singing, I'm Wishing from some mysterious place deep within the well. The voice you hear is that of Adriana Caselotti, the person who was the original speaking and singing voice of the princess for the 1930's film. However, she re-recorded the song not too long ago with her sweet, one-of-a-kind voice. There is an enchanting story behind all of this, as told by Al...




The last take...

There's a wonderful story about Adriana Caselotti's re-recording of the soundtrack now used at Snow White's Wishing Well at Disneyland - that was done back during the 50th anniversary theatrical re-release of Snow White. [A magazine writer friend related it to me, and this seems like the perfect part of the site to finally tell it.]

Apparently, Adriana used to take the greatest of pride that until her very last days she could still do the famous "voice" - and usually she sounded just about as fresh then as she did back in the late thirties.

As you may well know, I'm Wishing, the song you hear every few minutes at the well requires a very solid, almost operatic, voice to perform well. Over the years for the more demanding studio work, Adriana had been increasingly replaced by several other actresses who were a little bit more reliable whenever it came time to do Snow's voice.

For this little project, apparently the forces that be at Disney thought it would be a nice touch to give her one last shot to digitally record and replace the patched together film soundtrack they were using at the grotto since it was originally installed. They wanted to capture her performance as Snow for posterity as the years went on.

Anyway, the day for the session came, and sadly, try as she may, Adriana just could not reach the high notes required of her for the song. Take after take came and then went - and she just couldn't make it. People who had pushed so very hard for her to do this little project were heartbroken to say the least.

Finally, apparently just as she sensed they were going to call the session over, she asked if she could go ahead and ask someone for help. Rather puzzled, (since she was alone in the studio) the engineer and producer went ahead and gave her the go-ahead.

She turned away from the mike - looked up skyward - and very quietly asked:

Mr. Disney, if you are up there - please help me find Snow White's voice.

After a moment, she turned back around and asked for a last take. The engineer crossed his fingers, hit the start button, and the tape began to roll. She got each and every note absolutely perfect that one last time.

[And yes... those tears welling up in your eyes now are just what happened to everyone who was in the studio too upon the completion of the track.]

So, the next time you stop by Snow White's Wishing Well at Disneyland do take a careful listen won't you? It's quite a heavenly performance they have playing there if you ask me.

- Al Lutz

Cinderella's Wishing Well at Walt Disney World rests in a small side area high on the path that leads from the castle toward Tomorrowland. Like its Disneyland cousin, it is a wonderful place to take a short break in the afternoon or to enjoy a romantic moment late in the evening.

Snow White's Grotto, Disneyland USA

[danyoung]

She turned away from the mike - looked up skyward - and very quietly asked:

Mr. Disney, if you are up there - please help me find Snow White's voice.

After a moment, she turned back around and asked for a last take. The engineer crossed his fingers, hit the start button, and the tape began to roll. She got each and every note absolutely perfect that one last time.

And little tweetie birds appeared around her head, and a light came down from the sky, and all of the deceased Disney employees from all time sang in a heavenly choir. And even though everyone in the room heard and saw them, they mysteriously didn't record on the tape.



A cute story, but I doubt it ever happend. Sorry, just my curmudgeonly side coming out.

[Ride Warrior]

And little tweetie birds appeared around her head, and a light came down from the sky, and all of the deceased Disney employees from all time sang in a heavenly choir. And even though everyone in the room heard and saw them, they mysteriously didn't record on the tape.

A cute story, but I doubt it ever happend. Sorry, just my curmudgeonly side coming out.

Anytime that someone relates a beautiful faith based story like this, danyoung, it automatically becomes subject to doubt and cynicism. Nevertheless, I love your sarcastic sense of humor

Adriana was born on May 16, 1916 and died on January 19, 1997. This made her 80 years of age when she recorded "I'm Wishing" again. One only needs to go to the well to experience her spectacular new rendition. I call this astounding...pure magic. If one cannot suspend emperical logic in the magic kingdom, where can one escape from the real world and it's cold absoluteism?

I share Al Lutz's belief that magic is real, and that "open-minded hearts" are inspired by it each and every day.

16 May 1916
Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA Date of death (details)
19 January 1997

[danyoung]

Anytime that someone relates a beautiful faith based story like this, danyoung, it automatically becomes subject to doubt and cynicism. Nevertheless, I love your sarcastic sense of humor

And thank you for taking me in good spirit. I almost didn't post that, as I didn't want to be seen as harshing on someone else's splendiferous story. But it was just a bit too sweet for me to take lying down.

Believe what wou want to believe, but I totally agree that the Grotto is one of the most magical places on the planet!

[DisneyDelli]

This is my First post and this thread brought out something I had seen at Epcot while I was visiting as a member of my High School band at Magic Music Days. We were under the walkway at Innovations and we were treated to a performance by the future band. They played the theme to the Jetsons and the acoustics under the pavillian made the sound resonate like you wouldn't believe. That show was amazing and I think that it will always be a highlight no matter how many times I go back to WDW.

[Indiana]

I too love Timekeeper and the Snow White Grotto. I also enjoyed the Hollywood memorabilia (sp?) during and at the exit of the Backlot Tour. I've been to some of the "hollywood museums" in Hollywood and the stuff they had at MGM Studios was much more impressive: The Bill Beard marionettes from The Sound of Music, the motorcycle from Indiana Jones, the ship from Flight of the Navigator (I can't imagine too many people being impressed with that one, but I loved that movie as a kid)....I can't remember anything else at the moment.
I also loved standing in the center of the Chinese temple in World Showcase where you can speak in a weird kind of "surround sound" that I heard about during my Discovery Day.

[lilofigment1]

This is my first post!! My favorite has to be Off Kilter. They are so enjoyable to watch and their music can put anyone in a great mood.

[Speedway]

Sorry, I forgot, I also like the Mandarin lessons in China, at Epcot.

[Doopey1]

the ragtime piano player just off Main Street, as you head towards the Crystal Palace, is a real treat.