Progress City, U.S.A. » Fandom http://progresscityusa.com Disney news, history, opinion and more - broadcasting from beautiful downtown Progress City, U.S.A.! Thu, 17 May 2012 00:57:06 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 D23 Exposition (Rave Edition) http://progresscityusa.com/2011/10/29/d23-exposition-rave-edition/ http://progresscityusa.com/2011/10/29/d23-exposition-rave-edition/#comments Sat, 29 Oct 2011 18:54:38 +0000 Michael http://progresscityusa.com/?p=5392 And now, the rest of the story…

As I’ve stated I have no particular insight into the hidden workings of D23, so whatever internal dynamics I imply are mere speculation on my part. That being said, it’s pretty clear that Disneyland has “favored child” status in the organization.

This is no surprise. As has [...]]]> And now, the rest of the story…

As I’ve stated I have no particular insight into the hidden workings of D23, so whatever internal dynamics I imply are mere speculation on my part. That being said, it’s pretty clear that Disneyland has “favored child” status in the organization.

This is no surprise. As has been made clear, Disneyland was or is the “home” park for many of the higher-ups at D23 and the Archives, and it’s perfectly natural to have allegiance to the park you grew up with. I would be the same were I running the show. But this bias has a number of effects, some obvious and some subtle. The obvious come in the form of site selection for events, the lineups of the events themselves, and the selection of stories for the website and twenty-three magazine.

The more nuanced results of a general unfamiliarity with Walt Disney World comes in the content of those presentations – someone who wasn’t there to experience the resort’s history might pick different things to highlight when portraying that history, and if they haven’t obsessed over the details of the historical record like “native” fans they might miss out completely on important or interesting things to discuss. This is especially harmful when it comes to D23 or the Archives, which have access to items and information that fan websites can only dream of; if they don’t know the value of the treasure they have, then they cannot properly utilize it.

Word of mouth in the Disney community this spring was that the more Walt Disney World inclined of the D23 organization had to scrap to secure an event to celebrate the Florida resort’s 40th anniversary this year. No doubt fighting for resources with the much larger and more prominent D23 Expo that would be held only three short months later, Destination D Florida had an aspect of “the little train that could” to it. Perhaps that’s why this particular event had something of a home-brew feel compared to the slick sheen of the California events; thankfully, though, it managed to surpass them in quality of content.

First, I’ll get the caveats out of the way. May’s Destination D Florida was only a two-day event, and that was a shame. It wound up packing a ton of stuff into two short days, and although “sitting in a room” doesn’t sound very taxing, it wound up being a little exhausting. Information overload and lots of sitting – if the event had time to breathe, we would have been able to stretch our legs a bit! (Yes, I’m an old man)

Two days is too short, anyway, to celebrate 40 years of the Florida resort – especially when Walt Disney World had received short shrift in the D23 calendar during the two years prior. WDW fans had waited for a while to feel the love, and while Destination D managed to pack a lot into its short running time, there were many amusing corners of resort history that remained unprobed.

One final issue ties in with something that I mentioned earlier – a lot of the folks at D23 are Disneyland-focused. This led to the occasional incident of misrepresented fact, incorrect fact, or incomplete fact. There were a few things presented as “we don’t know what this is”, when probably quite a few people in the audience could have told them if they asked. Again, I don’t blame anyone for their field of interest – I wouldn’t expect to do a detailed presentation on Disneyland, for instance – but it can be an issue.

Now with that out of the way I can say that most of the content presented at Destination D was great. It had that “by fans for fans” feeling that was pretty much completely absent from the 2011 Expo. The experiential difference is noticeable. As I said I have no problem with recognizing that the Expo is for all branches of the company, but there’s a real difference in being marketed to by PR staff from Disney Interactive or DVC and seeing a presentation put together by a real fan. Disney fans aren’t stupid, and it’s a reasonable assumption that D23 members would be the most informed, aware, and well-read subsection of fandom. It’s more than likely that people so interested in Disney that they’re willing to shell out for the privilege know when they’re being sold a bill of goods and when they’re listening to someone who knows what they’re talking about.

Thankfully, at Destination D there were lots of folks who knew what they were talking about. The highlights have been chronicled (and in a much more timely fashion) elsewhere on the web, but they included a presentation on Walt’s EPCOT, information on abandoned attraction concepts including a spectacular re-creation of the fabled Western River Expedition, and the standup comedy debut of Imagineers Jason Grandt, Jason Surrell and Alex Wright. These were people based in Florida who love Walt Disney World, and the presentations were not only informed by experience but also by personal interest.

Speaking of people who know what they’re talking about, Tim O’Day deserves special mention for his hosting duties as well as some really deft moderation of two panels of Disney “legends” that helped in the creation and operation of the resort. Tim’s really good at this stuff and I was really disappointed not to see him at the Expo this year. He also hosted the presentation of some vintage film, video and television clips from Walt Disney World’s past, which were truly astounding. I can’t even begin to describe this presentation to you; I am absolutely desperate for D23 to make these videos available somehow. I would buy a DVD the second they were offered for sale; at the very least, they could share them on their website.

I think that most attendees would agree that the highlight of the event was the closing session of the last evening, which was one of the most extraordinary things I’ve ever seen. Emceed by O’Day, the presentation centered on a performance by legendary songwriter Richard Sherman. I’d seen Sherman once before, at the 2009 Expo, and his concerts are sheer brilliance. He’s personable and funny, and appears to have a terrifying ability to recall from memory the seemingly billion songs he and his brother have written over the years.

If that was not enough, the event was plussed by several performance ensembles from the resort’s past. Seeing a marching band and the Kids of the Kingdom gallivanting through the Contemporary ballroom was unexpected and amazing. The pinnacle, however, came when Sherman closed by performing One Little Spark – the late, lamented theme from the defunct and beloved classic Journey into Imagination. Ron Schneider, the original in-park Dreamfinder, came out in costume (and in character) with his pal Figment at his side.

Now, I’m not prone to sentimental hyperbole. If you’ve read this blog you know I’m suspicious of the way Disney has evolved to prey on sentiment as a marketing tool. I’m constantly getting nasty tweets about how bitter and cynical I am.

However.

This was awesome. The only way I could think of at the time to describe it was the closest one could come to a religious experience at a theme park convention. When “Dreamfinder” came out on stage to sing along with Richard Sherman, the place went insane. Even if you had never seen the ride or knew the character, the reaction of the crowd would have given you chills. People were weeping openly. Seriously. It sounds dumb now, but the energy in that room was amazing. And I’m not the kind of person who says things like “the energy in that room was amazing.” But it was.

And THAT… that is what it’s all about. The whole reason that otherwise sane (no comments) adults like myself pay loads of money to be in a frickin’ “fan club” for a cartoon studio / theme park empire can be summed up, somewhat existentially, in that single moment. I don’t really know what it means, but that singular moment is why we’re there. It’s why we bothered to show up. And it’s what is missing from the more managed and “messaged” events like the 2011 Expo. It’s a connection with fans, and with memories of lost treasures, and a way to revive things that should never have gone away in the first place. That is exactly what D23 should be about.

Destination D Orlando used the resources of the Archives in the way they should be used, and far more effectively than other events. Using artwork to recreate Western River Expedition was an incredible idea, and allowed us for the first time to truly realize what riding that attraction would actually have been like. That’s a huge achievement, and the sort of thing that devout fans are desperate to see. I’ve studied that ride for years, but never had an idea of its actual flow… and now I do.

The selection of insane vintage video, or the presence of really-for-real Dreamfinder – these are things that only D23 has the ability to do, which makes it all that much more tragic when they don’t. Bloggers like myself can try to unearth treasures to share, but no matter how much we scrounge for old issues of Eyes & Ears on eBay there are simply things we don’t have access too. D23 does. When they use them properly, as they did in Orlando, it can be transcendent. When they don’t use them, or even worse, when they don’t even know the treasure they have in their care, it’s a sad waste.

So I guess the gist of all this is that Destination D Florida managed to do more for fans of Disney history than the 2011 Expo, and with a fraction of the budget and time. And I assume the reason for that has to be that Destination D was put together by people who loved the material just as much as the audience for which it was intended. Such a product is always going to be far more sincere and substantial than something pieced together by marketing folks straight out of their MBA program for whom Disney is “just a job.”

I’ll state again that I know the Expo, by its very nature, needs to serve and attract more than just die-hard fans and history buffs. It’s OK if it serves the kids who (for whatever reason) enjoy Disney Channel, or the people who are in it for the merchandise, or for people who want to see celebrities. That’s fine. And I fully realize that there are things beyond the control or management of D23 itself. But if these are going to be events for all fans, shouldn’t they be programmed to service all fans?

Because I have news for Disney corporate – if you held a fan convention for ABC, or ESPN, or Consumer Products, or Disney Interactive, very few people would show up. No one became a huge Disney fan because of Desperate Housewives. The obsessive fans – the bedrock upon which all this empire has been built, and around whom any large gathering must coalesce – are fans because of Walt’s legacy. The parks, the animation, the films. You can’t ignore that, or you’ll lose your base; you might as well just have Miley Cyrus perform at the Mall of America or something. If you want the fans to show up, look at what the fans respond to. I would hope that reaction to Dreamfinder gives you some ideas.

One last thing.

I’m sure a lot of you missed Destination D because you couldn’t make it, weren’t sure if it was going to be worthwhile, or were saving up your money and vacation time to head to the Expo in August. If so, you probably haven’t seen some of the things that I’ve mentioned in this article. And that, in itself, is a problem that D23 needs to address.

When I see all these fantastic presentations, and note that they seem to be videotaping them, I later think – where is this video? Why is it not posted online? Why isn’t it shared on the D23 website? Why wouldn’t they want to toot their own horn, and show how great these events are, and convince even more people to show up next time? Because if I was sitting at home in my pajamas and saw some video online of people going berserk because of Richard Sherman and Dreamfinder, I’d start booking my flight for the next D23 event ASAP.

All these things just seem to go down the memory hole; the fall issue of twenty-three magazine had some great content about Walt Disney World’s 40th anniversary, but no coverage of Destination D. There hasn’t been any real coverage on their site. And, again, no video. Why? Legal reasons? Much like the 2009 Expo, I don’t understand why when they have a real success under their belt they don’t choose to shout it from the rooftops.

It goes back to utilization of assets. Heck, I’d pay $5 to get that insane Grad Nite video on iTunes; if they’re not going to share it for free on their site or sell a DVD at least do that. Just make this stuff available. Why not share the re-creation of Western River Expedition? Or at least put some new artwork out in book form? Nothing frustrates fans more than having nothing to blow their money on.

The good news of all this is that D23 has something we want to spend money on. We just want more. Thankfully we have a template now for how things can be done right, and how they can be done wrong. It’s perfectly possible that lessons will be learned for the next Expo, and return some of the charm that was present in 2009 but missing in 2011. I also strongly hope that D23 returns to Walt Disney World sometime in the future. EPCOT will be thirty next year – does that give you any ideas, guys? There are vast depths of obscure and hilarious Walt Disney World left to plumb. Just cue up the Dreamfinder video and listen to the fans. Then, you know, put it online…

]]> http://progresscityusa.com/2011/10/29/d23-exposition-rave-edition/feed/ 9 D23 Exposition (Rant Edition) http://progresscityusa.com/2011/10/28/d23-exposition-rant-edition/ http://progresscityusa.com/2011/10/28/d23-exposition-rant-edition/#comments Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:30:57 +0000 Michael http://progresscityusa.com/?p=5388 My recent “brief” blogging absence began, roughly, around the time of this year’s D23 Expo in August. Even before that point, though, I had quite a few things I wanted to discuss about D23 in general and this year’s events in particular. Writing about the “official Disney fan club” is rather complicated for me, as [...]]]> My recent “brief” blogging absence began, roughly, around the time of this year’s D23 Expo in August. Even before that point, though, I had quite a few things I wanted to discuss about D23 in general and this year’s events in particular. Writing about the “official Disney fan club” is rather complicated for me, as I feel I’ve been a big supporter of the concept overall – perhaps more so than most in my particular branch of persnickety fandom. But as eager as I am for the venture to succeed – after all, if it is eliminated, how long will we have to wait before the company takes another stab at celebrating its history? – its events this year reveal many undercurrents and tensions that bear examination and problems that demand remedy.

The two major events on the D23 docket this year were May’s two-day Destination D event in Orlando, and August’s three-day D23 Expo in Anaheim, California. These were fundamentally different events; while Destination D focused exclusively on the history of Walt Disney World (in observance of its 40th anniversary this year), the Expo was a catch-all promotional event for all divisions of the company and was much more “consumer” oriented.

This year marked the second of these biennial expos; the first was held in 2009 and was widely considered a success. I felt Disney did an excellent job lining up a diverse slate of events for its inaugural Expo, and while there were some major logistical issues at the time they could be chalked up to “first timer” mistakes that would certainly be ironed out for future events. Disney even appeared to be learning at the time; many changes were made during the 2009 event itself to allow larger crowds to see the more popular presentations. There were bumps along the road, but the event was very fun and a great success, garnering lots of online praise and free publicity. Given the short amount of time that they’d had to organize the 2009 Expo, one expected that the sky would be the limit for 2011.

One would think.

This is where we encounter one of the fundamental errors that Disney makes time and again and which is a constant source of frustration for me with current management in general. It’s a metastasization of Hollywood’s absurd “opening weekend” fixation – if something isn’t a blockbuster success, immediately, it’s considered not to be worth further examination. There’s no room for word of mouth (which the 2009 Expo had in spades), or growing momentum. That’s fine when you have to quickly recoup a movie’s budget, but it’s frankly absurd when you’re talking about a fairly expensive event that requires people to travel hundreds or thousands of miles and shell out an equivalent amount of cash.

There were many rumors of corporate hand-wringing back in 2009 about the volume of Expo ticket sales, and speculation of what this would bode for D23’s future. I have no idea how accurate these rumors were, but to anyone with those concerns I would have to grasp them firmly by the shoulders, shake them slightly, and ask, “What did you expect?”

The 2009 Expo was the first event of its kind. People really didn’t know what it was going to be, or if it was going to be any good. A lot of the key details weren’t announced until very late, and it’s a lot to ask to expect people to make major travel plans based on minimal information. The Expo isn’t exactly cheap, and for most requires airfare, lodging, food… and this in a “down” economy. Add to that the fact that the Expo itself was announced fairly late into the year, possibly too late for people to make vacation plans, and it’s not hard to see why some folks took a wait-and-see attitude.

But the funny thing is, if you do something great and people hear about it, they’ll want to come too. I reported from the 2009 event, and “tweeted” throughout, and despite the fact that my readership then was much smaller than it is today, I was constantly reading comments about how people were so sad that they hadn’t decided to attend, or that they had no idea how great it would be, or that they were totally jealous and could not wait until the next Expo. The uniform response, even from my small and anecdotal circle, was clear – “We are definitely going next time no matter what.”

I clearly remember thinking, “Wow. Next year is going to be huge.” The Expo concept had been proved, people had seen what it was about, and whether they wanted to be in the same room with Johnny Depp or Bob Gurr (or both), they wanted to be there. I figured, hey, D23 has a hit on their hands. Everyone in the world is going to come to the next of these things.

It never occurred to me that this would go over the head of D23 itself.

I don’t know who makes the calls at D23. I don’t know where these higher-level decisions come from, whether they’re mandated by corporate or at which level. We all know that the D23 staff itself is full of actual fans, into the same things we are, but at some point up the ladder that stops. At some point – the level where some of these decisions are made – the shots are called by people who have absolutely no understanding of Disney or its fans. How else to explain that that the 2011 Expo, after all the build-up and hype that came from two years of 2009 attendees talking up their experience, would offer considerably less to do than the previous event?

My uninformed, backseat-driver prognostications proved correct; a ton of newcomers showed up this year. The twitterverse and blogosphere were full of fans making their first trip to Disneyland, all flocking to this event they’d heard so much about. Those of us who had talked it up for two years felt a little sheepish to discover that this much larger crowd was greeted with much less to do, and far less time to do it in.

This baffles me. We knew that the event had been shortened by a day, but I never expected its offerings to be trimmed so drastically, and limited to such small venues. It was possible to miss out on an exceptionally popular session in 2009, but even if you did there were always one or two other fascinating presentations to attend as a backup. In fact, some of the more interesting things we managed to see in 2009 were presentations we walked into on a whim.

Not so this year. Not only were there less events scheduled overall, but very few of them ran parallel. That meant that not only were there loads more people attending, but instead of three or four options of things to see, they might just have one. This resulted in lines. Very, very, very long lines. I think my most onerous wait in 2009 topped out at under an hour, but queues were regularly out past capacity three to four hours in advance this time. I did not get into a single non-arena presentation this year, partially due to a lack of interesting offerings and partially due to an unwillingness to wait three hours to maybe get into some session.

The result was striking. In 2009 I found myself occupied, running from one thing to the next, from first thing in the morning until nine or ten (or later) at night. There were screenings or performances every night; it was a constant stream of stimulus. This time I spent a lot of time standing around on the floor, standing around in the lobby, standing around talking to readers (yay readers!), and generally hanging out waiting for something to happen. At the previous Expo I was filing stories on a daily basis, but I didn’t submit a single one this year. Sure, seeing Scarlett Johannson was cool, but that’s not really news, is it? Certainly not Disney news.

One byproduct of all this waiting around was that I got to be a fly on the wall and observe other guests. I usually assume that if I’m out of sorts, everyone else is probably just enjoying themselves and aren’t noticing the problems. Or that all the new folks didn’t know how 2011 differed from 2009, and wouldn’t mind. I was wrong. During my little breaks I saw many, many unhappy people. And many incredibly angry people. We’re talking, straight-up-yelling, about-to-break-into-fisticuffs people. No joke, no exaggeration. I thought a few times people would literally have to be torn apart due to arguments arising from people waiting in line and the folks trying to do crowd control. One cast member would tell guests to queue in one spot; another would tell others to queue somewhere else. After an hour (or more) of waiting, one of the lines would file into the theater and leave others holding the bag. It did not end well.

It was remarkable. I spoke to people who had been in 2009 who were embarrassed about having talked their friends into coming, and other newcomers who just gave up and went to Disneyland.

The one part of the show that grew this year was, perhaps unsurprisingly, the show floor, where various divisions of the company put up their trade-show displays to advertise upcoming products. With more advance warning this time, the divisions had a chance to come up with their pitches for home goods or baby books or videogames. There might not have been anything for Disney history buffs – not a single sighting of a Jeff Kurtti, or a Tim O’Day, or a Jason Surrell, or a Don Hahn – but there was a stage blaring loud Radio Disney nonsense. And there were lots of opportunities to buy merchandise.

I realize that D23 is a pitch machine for the entire Disney corporation. It’s not just theme parks, and it’s not just animation or film – it’s everything. It’s a way for Disney to market junk directly to their core customers. That’s fine with me. And yes, Destination D was created as an event that focuses directly on historical aspects of the theme parks. But does that mean that Disney history – or heck, the theme parks in general – should be left out of the major official Disney event?

Because I have news for Disney and D23 – not everyone has the time, money, or desire to go to every single event. Not everyone who wants to discuss things that happened before 2010 can make it to Destination D when they assume these are things that would be mentioned at the tentpole D23 event. They were in 2009 – there were several great presentations at the inaugural event that delved into obscure corners of theme park history and the fabled animation vault and managed to turn up no end of surprises. Not so this year.

There is an entire, large segment of fandom that’s going unserved, and I don’t know exactly why. Obviously one would suspect it’s because that the folks running the show aren’t fans, and don’t know or care that certain things even exist to be celebrated. Last year Pollyanna and Toby Tyler both tuned 50, so where’s Hayley Mills? Where’s Moochie? There’s a whole sprawling history to discover, and D23 has the connections to make a lot of things happen and they’re not doing so. This is a shame because if there’s anywhere that obscure Disney celebrities and history would be welcome it’s at the Expo. Sure, if you had some festival at a mall somewhere in middle-of-nowhere America Miley Cyrus would outdraw Bob Gurr by an order of magnitude, but at the Expo he’s a rock star. This is the place to do these things.

Certain notable “in the bag” Disney corporate apologists have tried to excuse away the mistakes of Expo ’11, but that’s ridiculous. Disney is supposed to be the master of moving and managing people and in any case there’s no excuse for 2011 to be so remarkably inferior to 2009. Disney didn’t forget how to run an event in two years time. Any fool could see that more people + less to do = problems. Even with the limited slate of panels and presentations, why not have huge projection screens on the show floor to act as overflow space? Why not stream online, or at least record presentations for later replay?

Apart from the celebrity-heavy Studios keynote and the truly excellent presentation at the Imagineering pavilion, most if not all of the notable elements of the 2009 Expo were cut down or eliminated entirely this time around. It’s a trend that I truly didn’t expect, and while 2009 left me with a great anticipation of what would be next, this time I’m left wondering if the Expo will take a major hit in interest next time around. If empty spectacle cannot be shored up by actual diverse content, and this year’s issues aren’t publicly addressed, I’m concerned.

 

But that ain’t all folks! There are good things that have happened as well! Involving D23, a little resort in Florida, and a truly religious experience involving Richard Sherman and Dreamfinder. I’ll save that philosophizing for tomorrow.

]]> http://progresscityusa.com/2011/10/28/d23-exposition-rant-edition/feed/ 8 Destination D: Walt Disney World 40th http://progresscityusa.com/2011/02/09/destination-d-walt-disney-world-40th/ http://progresscityusa.com/2011/02/09/destination-d-walt-disney-world-40th/#comments Wed, 09 Feb 2011 22:51:49 +0000 Michael http://progresscityusa.com/?p=4880 A good sign...

D23 has announced schedule and ticketing information for its upcoming Destination D: Walt Disney World event in May. Tickets will go on sale online at 1 PM EST on February 24th; the somewhat startling price for the two-day event is $175, or $215 for a ticket and registration of one Great [...]]]>

A good sign...

D23 has announced schedule and ticketing information for its upcoming Destination D: Walt Disney World event in May. Tickets will go on sale online at 1 PM EST on February 24th; the somewhat startling price for the two-day event is $175, or $215 for a ticket and registration of one Great Disney Scavenger Hunt team. The Scavenger Hunt will be held May 12-13, with Destination D following from May 14-15. The convention will be held at the Contemporary Resort’s Fantasia Ballroom. Last year’s Destination D at Disneyland sold out fairly quickly, so one expects that the pent-up demand that Walt Disney World fans have for attention will lead to another packed event this year.

The details for the event mirror closely the lineup of last year’s gathering at Disneyland. Remember that Destination D is on a much smaller scale than the D23 Expo, and the events are limited to a single room and a single slate of speakers and presentations. There’s no exhibit floor or anything like that, and the discussion is more narrowly focused.

Disney’s blurb:

Walt Disney World Resort is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and D23: The Official Disney Fan Club is marking this milestone May 14 and May 15 with their highly anticipated member event Destination D: Walt Disney World 40th, another unforgettable experience available exclusively to D23 Members. The event will take D23 Members on a journey from the moment when the first parcels of land in Central Florida were purchased in 1964 through the opening of EPCOT Center in 1982 and beyond.

Guests may also now register for D23’s Great Disney Scavenger Hunt: Walt Disney World, which takes place May 12 & 13, and will send hundreds of teams across the Resort’s four theme parks in what will be the largest scavenger hunt to ever hit Walt Disney World! Registration for the Hunt is open to both D23 Member and the general public. (Registration for the Hunt is separate from Destination D.)

The weekend’s activities will illuminate the rich history of Walt Disney’s “Project Florida.” Destination D: Walt Disney World 40th will feature a remarkable gathering of Walt Disney World pioneers, retrospectives, screenings of rare and newly discovered film and TV footage and lively presentations that will give D23 members an unprecedented look at this truly spectacular World.

All Destination D guests will also receive a complimentary, limited-edition reproduction of the 1970 “Preview Edition” of the Walt Disney World souvenir guidebook from the Walt Disney Archives Collection. The 22-page, colorful book is just one of the gifts Members will receive. The complete Destination D: Walt Disney World 40th line-up (as well as information about D23’s Great Disney Scavenger Hunt) is available at the D23 Web site.

Want more details? Here’s the official schedule, remembering of course that the details are subject to change:

SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2011

Opening Program
9:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
D23 Head Steven Clark welcomes D23 Members with some special guests and a few surprises you won’t want to miss!

Weird Walt Disney World
10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Following their laugh-out-loud antics at Destination D: Disneyland ’55, Walt Disney Archives director Becky Cline and Disney historian Paul F. Anderson are at it again — this time taking guests on a fun-filled trip through the strangest and most bizarre parts of Walt Disney World history. A peculiar “lawnmower tree?” A crazy cast of singing fruits and vegetables? Who knows what the duo will unearth as they explore the wonderfully weird and wacky side of the Vacation Kingdom.

Walt Disney World: The Way We Were
11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Remember the charm of the Orange Bird and the musical delights of the Mickey Mouse Revue? The elegant Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village and backwoods adventures along the Fort Wilderness Railway? Join Walt Disney Archives founder Dave Smith as we explore vintage pictures of Walt Disney World theme parks and resorts, including rare photos of construction and a fond look at some favorite attractions, shops and restaurants of the past.

Lunch Break
12:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

EPCOT: Walt Disney’s Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow
2:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Walt’s vision for an Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow far transcended the realm of family entertainment and for many years remained shrouded in secrecy. Re-enter the 1960s hallways of WED Enterprises with Archivist Steven Vagnini and Disney expert Paul F. Anderson in this unprecedented look at the inspirations and plans for Walt’s EPCOT, and find out the little-known ways that Imagineers brought their late founder’s dream to reality throughout the entire Walt Disney World Resort.

Past Forward: A History of Walt Disney World on Television
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Like its predecessor, Disneyland, the early success of Walt Disney World Resort can be attributed to the extensive television exposure it received through both Disney broadcast efforts and news media coverage. Be sure to tune in to this nostalgic journey through Walt Disney World Resort history as reflected in the many national network TV specials and nascent offerings from the early years of The Disney Channel. Join Disney Archivist Rob Klein as he takes TV remote in hand to stroll through some of the many highlights of Walt Disney World Resort on television.

The Walt Disney World That Never Was
4:30 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.
What do the Western River Expedition, Asian Resort Hotel and Sleeping Beauty dark ride have in common? While these amazing experiences were crafted in the minds of skilled artists at Walt Disney Imagineering, they comprise a different kind of dimension of Walt Disney World history: the grand experiences that never made it off the drawing board or out of the model shop. With an array of rare artwork and photographs, longtime Imagineer Tony Baxter lifts the curtain and takes us on a behind-the-scenes tour through the incredible world of the Walt Disney World that never was.

Dinner Break
5:45 p.m. – 8 p.m.

From the Vault: Walt Disney World Resort on Film
8 p.m.
Walt Disney World is not often associated with motion pictures and film, but from before groundbreaking up through the creation of EPCOT Center, Walt Disney World Resort was heavily promoted through such theatrical and internal films as “Project Florida,” “The Magic of Walt Disney World,” “A Dream Called EPCOT” and “EPCOT 77.” Join your hosts Disney Imagineer Tony Baxter and Disney author and historian Tim O’Day as they screen these rare treasures from the Disney film vaults, plus newly discovered and restored documentation footage of the construction and early years of Walt Disney World Resort.

SUNDAY, MAY 15, 2011

Sunday Morning Surprise with the Walt Disney World Resort Ambassador Team
9:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
You won’t want to miss this very special — and did we mention surprising? — presentation at the start of your day!

Walt Disney World in Detail
10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Think you know everything there is to know about the Walt Disney World Resort? Find out as we join Disney author and Imagineer Jason Surrell as he uncovers the little-known details and design references that have made ride vehicles, cast member costumes and even unassuming trash cans such treasured parts of the magic.

Imagineering Walt Disney World: From Yesteryear to Tomorrowland
11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Join longtime Imagineer Eric Jacobson, who oversees the portfolio for Disney’s largest resort in the world. Eric will share insider stories and images of yesteryear, as well as new and exciting surprises of things on the horizon at Walt Disney World.

Lunch Break
12:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

Creating “A Whole New Disney World”
2:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
What began as 27,400 acres of quiet Central Florida swampland blossomed into an incredible, one-of-a-kind vacation destination “Where Dreams Come True.” From the top-secret acquisition of the land to the Imagineering and entertainment behind the magic, hear the stories of how it all happened in this impressive panel discussion featuring: Debra Browne, Orlando Ferrante, Bob Foster, Bob Gurr, and Ron Logan. Hosted by Disney Legend Marty Sklar.

Making the Magic Happen
3:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
Opening and maintaining a resort the size of the city of San Francisco was no easy task and our panel of Disney Legends — Jack Lindquist, Bob Matheison, Tom Nabbe, Charlie Ridgway and Bill Sullivan — will recount what life was like making the magic happen, from opening the Magic Kingdom through the debut of EPCOT Center. It’s a story of challenges, misadventures, creativity, and unbridled excitement for the leaders who inherited “A Whole New Disney World” from Uncle Walt and his Imagineers. Hosted by Tim O’Day.

Quick Break
4:45 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Autograph Session with Disney Legends and Authors
5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Please note, there is limit of one item per person to be signed for each guest. Thank you.

Dinner Break
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Magic Journeys: A Flight of Fancy through 40 Years of Walt Disney World Musical Memories
8:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
As a spectacular conclusion to Destination D: Walt Disney World 40th, Disney Legend and Oscar® winner Richard M. Sherman, who along with his brother Robert has contributed a multitude of tunes to the Disney parks songbook, headlines this unforgettable tribute to the melodies that helped shape the World.

Micks N’ Mingle
9:30 p.m. – 10:45 p.m.
One last opportunity to meet your fellow D23 Members, the D23 Team behind Destination D: Walt Disney World 40th and some of our special guest participants before we officially bring our extraordinary event to a close.

That’s a pretty crackerjack lineup. Everyone who has seen one of Richard Sherman’s presentations knows that that alone is worth the trip, but it’s good to see such an impressive list of guests and interesting topics. I had been concerned about having a diverse enough group of presenters and hosts (where’s Jeff Kurtti?), as that’s more crucial than you might think. One of my concerns all along has been about California-based Disneylanders, who view Walt Disney World as some sort of provincial outpost, showing up and just skimming the surface of the resort’s rich and intricate history. This isn’t some huge slam on them; after all, I’d hardly nominate myself to put together a Disneyland event.

This list hints at my concerns; I hate to see “A crazy cast of singing fruits and vegetables?” on there under “Weird Walt Disney World.” The Kitchen Kabaret is a fairly beloved attraction that ran for more than a decade, not some wacky obscurity that no one remembers. The Kabaret should obviously get some stage time during the event, but hopefully they’ll dig deeper for the “strangest and most bizarre parts of Walt Disney World history” than something that was a fairly prominent attraction until 17 years ago. It’s hardly the Kaiser Aluminum Pig of Walt Disney World. Just a nitpick, but this event is for nitpickers…

Thankfully, I’ve been assured that people on the ground are working to make sure that this event is everything that it should be and is truly a tribute to Walt Disney World. Hopefully that means we’ll get into the real obscure goodies. This list would certainly seem to indicate that. It really is a quality lineup. I’ll be amused to see Tony Baxter talk about Western River Expedition. And I’m absolutely thrilled to see that Steven Vagnini will be discussing EPCOT; I can’t wait to see what he has turned up.

Speaking of obscure goodies, it is pretty neat that they’ll be providing reprints of the 1970 “Preview Edition” Walt Disney World book. It’s a great source of information and pictures, and having reproductions should at least push down the price of originals on eBay! If this obscure ephemera is the direction they’re going with this project, it’s a good sign.

A key issue that has been raised online is the ticket price. At $175, the tickets are a bit steep, and $50 more than the Disneyland event last year. While I’m glad that D23 acknowledges that there’s a deep demand for this kind of event in Florida, and I’m sure the event will sell out easily, it is somewhat bothersome for tickets for a two-day event to be this pricey when people have already chipped in a not-inconsequential amount to join D23 in the first place. This is, of course, a symptom of a problem in the modern Disney corporation – every business unit must justify itself by making a profit. No one is calling for the company to be run like a charity; nevertheless, in “olden times” it was a given that certain units of the organization could be run to break-even or even – gasp! – at a loss in order to generate goodwill and extra commerce down the road. Surely any loss Disney would take on cheaper tickets would be made up in increased merchandise, food, and lodging income.

It should be a fun event, though. The subject matter appears to be well-chosen, there’s a great slate of special guests from Walt Disney World’s early days that rarely appear at these events, and it’ll be wonderful to see all that Walt Disney World vintage video. We’re so used to seeing Disneyland footage released and re-released, but the Florida resort gets short shrift and much of this footage has been unseen for ages. It’s a pretty exciting list of events, and hopefully we’ll know even more by the time tickets go on sale February 24th.

]]> http://progresscityusa.com/2011/02/09/destination-d-walt-disney-world-40th/feed/ 2 D23 In 2011 http://progresscityusa.com/2011/01/26/d23-in-2011/ http://progresscityusa.com/2011/01/26/d23-in-2011/#comments Thu, 27 Jan 2011 03:51:02 +0000 Michael http://progresscityusa.com/?p=4771 Now that the new year has arrived, we can start looking forward to a new slate of events and activities from D23. We already knew that 2011 would mark the return of the D23 Expo after last year’s absence, and that a Destination D event would be held in Orlando this spring for those of [...]]]> Now that the new year has arrived, we can start looking forward to a new slate of events and activities from D23. We already knew that 2011 would mark the return of the D23 Expo after last year’s absence, and that a Destination D event would be held in Orlando this spring for those of us who desperately hope for some corporate recognition of Walt Disney World’s 40th anniversary.

Thankfully the “word on the street” is that some of the folks who share our love of the eastern Disney resort are toiling to ensure that the event actually brings the love for the oft-overlooked history of Walt Disney World. We can only hope that the events and perspectives presented are more diverse than last fall’s Destination D in Anaheim. Walt Disney World has its own unique history and it would nice to see it get the attention it deserves.

The D23 slate for 2011, as it stands now:

January 29

Preview screening of Jake and the Never Land Pirates featuring David Arquette

D23 is partnering with Disney Junior – Disney Channel’s new broadcast initiative designed for kids ages 2 through 7 – inviting D23 Members to bring their young swashbucklers for an advance screening of two episodes of Jake and the Never Land Pirates, a new animated series coming to television this February.

David Arquette is the voice of Skully, the parrot who keeps an eye out for Jake and his crew of kid pirates as they navigate the familiar waters of Never Land while dodging the devious Captain Hook and Mr. Smee.

Following the screening of the two 11-minute episodes, Arquette will sit down for a Q&A with D23’s Disney Geek, Jeffrey Epstein, and will also take questions from the audience. Afterwards, the villainous Captain Hook will be available for photos and autographs in front of the Studio Theatre.

May 12-13

D23’s Great Disney Scavenger Hunt: Walt Disney World

In spring 2011, for the first time in the 40-year history of Walt Disney World, guests will have the chance to scour all four Florida theme parks to win incredible prizes in this official Disney scavenger hunt. Each team will consist of 2-4 participants, and additional rules and registration information will be available soon at the D23 Web site.

May 14-15

Destination D: Walt Disney World 40th

Following the rave reviews of Destination D: Disneyland ’55, this event will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Orlando resort, commemorating its history and heritage. Panels will include all-new presentations that build upon the successful panels at the Anaheim event, including:

  • Walt Disney World: The Way We Were,” hosted by Disney Legend Dave Smith
  • “Weird Disney World” with Walt Disney Archives Director Becky Cline
  • “Walt Disney World Through the Eye of Television”
  • A special evening event featuring musical memories from throughout the history of Walt Disney World

Other panels, featured speakers and details will be announced soon on the D23 Web site.

August 19-21

D23 Expo 2011 in Anaheim, California

Affectionately dubbed “The Ultimate Fan Event” by Disney enthusiasts [Actually, by Disney marketing - Ed.], the D23 Expo brings the entire world of Disney under one roof, providing attendees with unprecedented access to Disney films, television and theme parks as never before. An event that only occurs every other year, this is the first D23 Expo since the premiere event in 2009.

Highlights of D23 Expo 2011’s weekend activities will include:

  • 2011 Disney Legends. Paying tribute to the talented men and women who have made indelible contributions to Disney entertainment
  • Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives. Featuring dozen of props, artifacts and costumes, accessible to the public for the first time in Disney’s history
  • Collector’s Forum. Where attendees can buy, sell and trade precious memorabilia and merchandise
  • Fan Art Contest. Themed to 101 Dalmatians in honor of the 50th anniversary of the animated classic
  • The Ultimate Disney Trivia Tournament will allow participants to demonstrate their Disney knowledge as they compete for outstanding prizes
  • Many more one-of-a-kind D23 Expo panels, presentations and experiences which will be announced in the coming months.

October 14-15

Sip & Stroll at Epcot in Orlando

As part of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, D23 is once again hosting their annual Sip & Stroll event exclusive to D23 Members. More details will be announced in 2011.

December 17-18

Magic and Merriment at Walt Disney World in Orlando

D23 brings back its annual holiday tradition celebrating the spirit of the season, exclusive for D23 Members. More details will be announced in 2011.

In addition to the weekend events, D23 is continuing its tradition of 50 and Fabulous screenings at the company’s Burbank lot. Taking place in the Disney Studio’s recently refurbished 400-seat Studio Theatre, the screenings celebrate various beloved Disney films that are observing their golden anniversaries this year. The screenings are “free” – except for the $5 “processing” fee – and are good for D23 members and one guest.

January 22

101 Dalmatians

March 12

The Absent-Minded Professor

June 18

The Parent Trap

November 19

Babes in Toyland

D23 is continuing to offer tours of the Walt Disney Studios and the Walt Disney Archives; the two-and-a-half hour tours are available on a limited basis and will be held on the following dates:

February 5

April 30

July 23

November 5

D23 has also announced an expanded slate of member discounts for 2011; they’ve added a page to their website that will allow them to regularly update the list of benefits.

So that’s the schedule so far. Combine it with the incredible TCM event in April, which is D23 affiliated, and any number of unofficial events, and it’s going to be a busy year. Now let’s see if I can afford to go to any of them…

]]> http://progresscityusa.com/2011/01/26/d23-in-2011/feed/ 0 The Perfect Storm Of My Obsessions http://progresscityusa.com/2010/12/15/the-perfect-storm-of-my-obsessions/ http://progresscityusa.com/2010/12/15/the-perfect-storm-of-my-obsessions/#comments Wed, 15 Dec 2010 16:29:15 +0000 Michael http://progresscityusa.com/?p=4579 There are some things in this world that I love more than others, and many of those involve Disney, classic film, and Turner Classic Movies. So you might imagine my reaction to this bit of news:

TCM Classic Film Festival to Spotlight Disney’s Musical Legacy Multi-Faceted Celebration Presented in Collaboration with D23, The Official Disney [...]]]> There are some things in this world that I love more than others, and many of those involve Disney, classic film, and Turner Classic Movies. So you might imagine my reaction to this bit of news:

TCM Classic Film Festival to Spotlight Disney’s Musical Legacy

Multi-Faceted Celebration Presented in Collaboration with D23, The Official Disney Fan Club

The musical legacy of The Walt Disney Studios will be celebrated at the 2011 edition of the TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood. Turner Classic Movies (TCM), in collaboration with D23, The Official Disney Fan Club, will host a multi-faceted celebration of the studio’s history of bringing music and film together. Presentations at TCM’s four-day festival in April 2011 will include a screening of the recently restored groundbreaking classic Fantasia (1940), which integrated great works of classical music with some of the most innovative animation ever put on film; a collection of Silly Symphonies animated shorts, curated and introduced by film historian Leonard Maltin; and a special tribute to Disney live-action musicals.

Are you kidding me? I mean, seriously? With all the other stuff that’s going on this year, and my paltry pocketbook, you drop this on me? Something that, if I do not attend, will gnaw at my innards for months? The press release goes on:

TCM will also be presenting a collection of animated Laugh-O-Grams. These shorts were created by Walt Disney made at the Laugh-O-Gram studios, which he founded in the 1920s and where he was inspired to ultimately create the Mickey Mouse character. These historically important films were recently discovered and restored by Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and are being presented in partnership with The Walt Disney Family Museum, located in San Francisco.

The celebration of the musical world of Disney is part of the 2011 festival’s overall theme, Music and the Movies. Throughout the four days, the TCM Classic Film Festival will shine a spotlight on outstanding composers, great songwriters and the unique role music plays in the art of filmmaking.

“When it comes to the merging of music and motion pictures, no single studio has made as consistent and important contributions as Disney,” said TCM host Robert Osborne. “We are proud to join with Disney’s D23 fan club to celebrate that legacy as an important part of the festival. It is also a rare opportunity for everyone to experience the magic of Disney through beautifully restored feature films and rare shorts from the early days, shown on giant movie screens for the first time in years.”

Fine Bob, kick me while I’m down. Why not hold me down and let Maltin throw sand in my eyes?

The following is a rundown of the Disney celebration planned for the TCM Classic Film Festival:

Fantasia (1940) – Recently restored edition

This groundbreaking animated anthology, one of Walt Disney’s most astonishing achievements, combines classical music with animated imagery, from the abstract (“Toccata and Fugue in D Minor”) to the hilarious (“Dance of the Hours”) to the awe-inspiring (“Night on Bald Mountain” / “Ave Maria”). A commercial failure when it was first released, the film has since become a cultural treasure, thanks not only to the innovative recording and animation techniques, but also to Mickey Mouse’s memorable appearance as “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.”

Silly Symphonies – Curated by Leonard Maltin

Film historian Leonard Maltin will curate and introduce this collection of memorable Silly Symphonies shorts. Walt Disney Productions created 75 of these music-filled animated shorts from 1929 to 1939. Many of the featured shorts (rarely theatrically screened) broke new ground in animation techniques, garnering seven Academy Awards® along the way.

A Special Tribute to Disney Live-Action Musicals

After establishing its artistic reputation through animated films, the Disney studio moved into the realm of live-action musicals. The TCM Classic Film Festival’s Disney celebration will include a special tribute to the Disney Live-Action Musicals.

Laugh-O-Grams – Newly discovered and restored shorts, presented in collaboration with The Walt Disney Family Museum and Museum of Modern Art

This collection of recently discovered and restored Laugh-O-Grams heralds the earliest days of Walt Disney’s career. Before he started the studio that would bear his name, Disney started the Laugh-O-Grams studio. Located on the second floor of a brick building in Kansas City, Mo., the Laugh-O-Gram studio became home to many of the pioneers of animation. The building, which still stands, is also said to have provided Disney with the inspiration for his most enduring character, Mickey Mouse

Flames. On the side of my face. How fantastic does that sound? These are a few of my favorite things.

Tickets are available now.

More information about the festival:

2011 TCM Classic Film Festival

Thursday, April 28 – Sunday, May 1, 2011, in Hollywood

The following are the events and screenings announced so far for the 2011 TCM Classic Film Festival:

Opening Night Event

An American in Paris (1951) – World premiere of new 60th Anniversary restoration – Thursday, April 28, at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre

This colorful musical stars Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron in the story of a painter finding art and romance in the City of Lights. The musical score is packed with Gershwin classics, and the dance sequences are among cinema’s most memorable. Directed by Vincente Minnelli, the film won six Oscars, including Best Picture.

Music and the Movies

Throughout the festival, TCM will celebrate cinema’s legacy of music, from great songwriters to outstanding composers.

Nice Work if You Can Get It: The Film Music of George and Ira Gershwin

TCM will celebrate the work of George and Ira Gershwin with a collection of films featuring their most memorable songs. Heading up the collection is the opening-night gala screening of An American in Paris (1951), which has been beautifully restored and remastered in time for its 60th anniversary.

Girl Crazy (1943) – Presented by Mickey Rooney

As part of the festival’s multi-film celebration of songwriters George & Ira Gerswhin, Hollywood legend Mickey Rooney will make a rare public appearance for a presentation of the Gershwin musical Girl Crazy, in which he starred with Judy Garland.

A Celebration of Bernard Herrmann

From Alfred Hitchcock to Orson Welles, composer Bernard Herrmann collaborated with some of Hollywood’s greatest film artists. His innovative and evocative scores continue to influence composers today. The festival will commemorate the 100th anniversary of Herrmann’s birth with several screenings, including the world premiere of a new restoration of Orson Welles’ groundbreaking Citizen Kane (1941), which celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2011.

Happy Trails: Roy Rogers

The festival will salute Roy Rogers, the “King of the Singing Cowboys.” The celebration will include several of the enormously popular performer’s hits, all restored in time for the 100th anniversary of Rogers’ birth.

The Silent Legacy

Silent films were never truly silent, and the festival will highlight the unique role that live music played during the pre-talking pictures era.

The Cameraman (1928) – featuring live musical accompaniment by Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks

Buster Keaton’s hilarious comedy features “The Great Stoneface” as a wannabe newsreel cameraman who is lovesick for a young woman. Marceline Day and Harold Goodwin co-star. This presentation will feature musical accompaniment by the popular jazz-music ensemble Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks. The group, which was formed in 1976, is renowned for performing music of the 1920s and 1930s. Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks have appeared in venues around the country and contributed to soundtracks for The Aviator, Revolutionary Road, Public Enemies and HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, among others.

Discoveries

The festival will be packed with a number of outstanding films that are primed to be rediscovered by film fans. Each film has been painstakingly restored and features work by well-known film personalities.

Went the Day Well? (1942) – North American premiere of new 35mm restoration

Presented in partnership with Rialto Pictures
This newly rediscovered masterwork by director Alberto Cavalcanti stars Leslie Banks and Elizabeth Allan in the story of a British village dealing with an invasion of German paratroopers during World War II. Although told in flashback as if the war is already over, the film was made several years before the outcome of the war would be known. The outstanding script is based on a story by Graham Greene.

Hoop-La (1933) – World premiere of new restoration

Presented in partnership with the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
This pre-Code romantic drama marks the final feature film of the “It” girl, Clara Bow, as she plays a carnival hula dancer out to seduce the carnival owner’s son. Although Bow was originally unenthusiastic about making the film and was only doing it so she could finish her studio contract and retire, her excellent performance lifts the material above the ordinary. Preston Foster and Richard Cromwell co-star under the direction of Frank Lloyd.

Night Flight (1942) – Re-emergence of long unseen film

Unseen since it was pulled from circulation in 1942, this all-star aerial drama re-emerges at the TCM Classic Film Festival. John Barrymore stars as the head of a South American airline who drives his pilots, including Clark Gable, to the brink of death as they deliver necessary supplies to remote regions. The outstanding cast includes Helen Hayes, Robert Montgomery, Myrna Loy and Lionel Barrymore, appearing onscreen with his brother for the fifth and last time.

Dodsworth (1936) – 75th anniversary premiere of new print

Walter Huston and Ruth Chatterton star in William Wyler’s underappreciated adaptation of Sinclair Lewis’ novel about a retired industrialist who takes his wife to Europe, only to find a surprising new life. This remarkably mature film features an intelligent script by Sydney Howard and Oscar-winning interior decoration by Richard Day.

To whomever cooked this up: Well done. Kudos to D23 for getting involved with this. Even though I hate you all, because this is going to drive me absolutely nuts.

]]> http://progresscityusa.com/2010/12/15/the-perfect-storm-of-my-obsessions/feed/ 0 Armchair Archivists http://progresscityusa.com/2010/11/11/armchair-archivists/ http://progresscityusa.com/2010/11/11/armchair-archivists/#comments Thu, 11 Nov 2010 22:49:51 +0000 Michael http://progresscityusa.com/?p=4409 As promised, D23 has debuted their new online video feature “Armchair Archivists.” This new series will give us a regular look at the rarely-seen treasures of the Disney Archives, and hopefully some audio and video goodies as well.

Judging from this premiere episode, the new series will be of far greater value than the current [...]]]> As promised, D23 has debuted their new online video feature “Armchair Archivists.” This new series will give us a regular look at the rarely-seen treasures of the Disney Archives, and hopefully some audio and video goodies as well.

Judging from this premiere episode, the new series will be of far greater value than the current D23 “Disney Geek” segments. Hosts Josh Turchetta and Steve Czarnecki manage to be appropriately geeky but also suitably restrained, and do a good job without veering into fanboy caricature. Most importantly, the content is worthwhile.

This big draw for this first episode is recently-found footage of Walt Disney that premiered at the recent Destination D event in California. Discovered by Ed Hobelman, archivist at the Walt Disney Studios, the footage shows one of Walt’s last filmed appearances. In the film, Walt promotes the upcoming The Happiest Millionaire while welcoming viewers to an early screening of Follow Me, Boys! The story of the footage’s discovery is interesting, and the film itself tugs at the clocksprings for Walt fans like myself.

There’s also a visit with Becky Cline, the new director of the Archives, and a look at some of Walt’s personal effects taken from his office. Check it out:

How cool is that Laugh-O-Gram megaphone?

]]> http://progresscityusa.com/2010/11/11/armchair-archivists/feed/ 3 Sneak Peak: The Winter Of twenty-three http://progresscityusa.com/2010/10/26/sneak-peak-the-winter-of-twenty-three/ http://progresscityusa.com/2010/10/26/sneak-peak-the-winter-of-twenty-three/#comments Tue, 26 Oct 2010 11:26:13 +0000 Michael http://progresscityusa.com/?p=4307

Disney has released a sneak peek at the winter issue of Disney twenty-three, which streets on November 1st. The cover story is a nine-page look at TRON: Legacy, which arrives in theaters in December, featuring interviews with Director Joseph Kosinski, Producer Sean Bailey, and actors Bruce Boxleitner and Garrett Hedlund. Steven Lisberger, creator of [...]]]>

Disney has released a sneak peek at the winter issue of Disney twenty-three, which streets on November 1st. The cover story is a nine-page look at TRON: Legacy, which arrives in theaters in December, featuring interviews with Director Joseph Kosinski, Producer Sean Bailey, and actors Bruce Boxleitner and Garrett Hedlund. Steven Lisberger, creator of the original film, speaks of the sequel in this quote which I include due to its rather hilarious truth: “The reason it took the 25 to 28 years is because we needed the ten-year-olds to grow up and be powerful enough to make this movie so that they could take their ten-year-old sons to see it.”

The issue also includes a look at Disney’s new Aulani resort in Hawaii and a retrospective of Disney Chief Archivist Dave Smith’s career as he prepares to retire. For those of us interested in capital-D Disney, there’s a look at the Holiday Season in the Disney house through the eyes of Walt and his family, as well as a story concerning some newly-discovered footage of Walt’s last filmed appearance on the studio soundstages.

Other features listed include:

  • THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION: Highlights of D23 Members spending an amazing couple of days at Destination D: Disneyland ’55, a fun-filled celebration of The Happiest Place on Earth.
  • PERFECT TIMING: The time is just right for Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Dean Wellins as he makes his directorial debut and prepares to release his charming animated short, Tick Tock Tale.
  • LIONS AND TIGERS AND…SANTA? OH MY! The Mickey Mouse Club Circus, one of the wildest shows in Disneyland history, dazzled crowds for six memorable weeks during the 1955 holiday season.
  • SMALL-SCREEN ADVENTURES: Walt Disney Television Animation celebrates 25 years of groundbreaking creativity.
  • 23 QUESTIONS WITH… Imagineer, celebrated costume designer, and Disney Legend Alice Davis.
  • A WALK WITH WALT 1938: DREAMING THE FUTURE: The success of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs went far beyond the silver screen.
  • D SOCIETY: George Lucas strikes back, Destination D: Disneyland ’55 has arrived, and D23 Members are smack dab in the middle of D23′s Great Disney Scavenger Hunt at the Disneyland Resort.

The latest issue of Disney twenty-three arrives on November 1st in certain retail locations, including Barnes & Noble booksellers. D23 members will receive their issue with a member-exclusive cover, as well as a TRON: Legacy gift. I’m hoping for my own personal Recognizer.

]]> http://progresscityusa.com/2010/10/26/sneak-peak-the-winter-of-twenty-three/feed/ 0 A Brief Comment On The D23 Expo http://progresscityusa.com/2010/03/03/a-brief-comment-on-the-d23-expo/ http://progresscityusa.com/2010/03/03/a-brief-comment-on-the-d23-expo/#comments Wed, 03 Mar 2010 04:57:46 +0000 Michael http://progresscityusa.com/?p=3270 Good evening.

I apologize that things have been ever so hush-hush here for several days. Rest assured, there are lots of new stories waiting in the wings. And a new podcast should be just a dream away…

But I did want to drop by tonight to make a comment about the news that was reported [...]]]> Good evening.

I apologize that things have been ever so hush-hush here for several days. Rest assured, there are lots of new stories waiting in the wings. And a new podcast should be just a dream away…

But I did want to drop by tonight to make a comment about the news that was reported today in an L.A. Times blog that Disney will not be holding the D23 Expo this year, opting instead to hold the shows on a biennial basis. Other Disney gossip sites are jumping in to say that they’ve heard this too, but Disney is yet to make any statement on the issue.

I was taken off-guard by this, personally. A month ago, I was told by someone who most definitely would know that the Expo would in fact be held this year, and it was strongly implied in the most obvious of ways that the dates for the event would be announced on March 10th – the first anniversary of D23′s original announcement. This would, of course, coincide with not only this year’s Disney shareholder meeting but also the D23 anniversary event at Disneyland.

So, what to believe? I certainly believe that the L.A. Times blogger has his sources. But how firm is this decision? Could this be – and this is the height of wishful thinking on my part – a trial balloon to see what fans would say if they skipped a year?

Well if so, and if they’re looking for input, allow me to say this: don’t cancel the event.

As everyone and their grandma knows by now, we went to the Expo last year, and we had a blast. I’m not much of a joiner or a convention-goer, so I was highly dubious at first; in fact, I was basically using it to justify a trip to Disneyland, and also wanted to be there in the off chance that something interesting happened at the Expo. Well, to say that it far exceeded my expectations would still remain an understatement. I learned so much, and saw so many fascinating people and heard so many fascinating stories, that this grizzled and hardened Disney fan actually got really excited about where the company was going. Mr. Cynic himself bought the company line for the first time in years, because I saw the company honoring its own past and could see the excitement for the future in the faces of all the Imagineers and back-of-house staff that were there.

To use the most worn out and trite of catchphrases, I bought the Kool-Aid.

And this is Disney’s biggest mistake in not holding this event. The D23 Expo was, by far and away, their greatest success in generating fan goodwill in years. Let’s face it, Disney will always have a pixie dust brigade ready and willing to do their bidding no matter what, but after a decade of Pressler and Rasulo and everything else, fandom was starting to get a little shaggy around the edges. To engage the fans in such a positive way felt like at least an overture to some sort of rapprochement, and at the very least it provided a very public forum in which Disney executives were forced to face the music for their choices (I’m thinking here of the extremely tepid reception to Toy Story Playland at Rasulo’s presentation, which still amuses me).

Now, I’m not insane, and I realize that this was just an enormous PR event. But so what? If people had fun – and from the reaction to the cancellation rumors, it sounds like they did – I have no problem with such a symbiotic relationship. Speaking for myself, it was the most fun I had all year – no one is more surprised about that than I! – and I was really, really looking forward to going back.

And not just because of Monte Cristos.

So, dear Disney – snap out of it. Just for once, can we stick to the plan and commit to something? You’re like the worst girlfriend I never had. You start something, then you run fleeing from it. If they don’t do it this year, what are the odds that we’ll ever hear of it again? Or will it become one of those things that people ask Iger about occasionally until he becomes more and more irritated at the question? Will the Expo be buried with Hoffa and Song of the South?

Again, this is still unconfirmed. And we know that they were planning on doing it at some point. So let’s all politely say… Hey there, Disney. How’s about doing this so we can all come spend ridiculously irresponsible amounts of money on you? Why do you hate our money, Disney? Because I was going to come give all my money to you in September, but if you cancel the Expo I won’t! Don’t you want my money? It’s perfectly good, I assure you! My money not good enough for you, buddy? Huh? You got a problem??

Anyway.

Hold the Expo, or I will be sad. Can your conscience bear my sadness, Mr. Robert Iger??

]]> http://progresscityusa.com/2010/03/03/a-brief-comment-on-the-d23-expo/feed/ 22 D23 Springs Forth http://progresscityusa.com/2010/01/15/d23-springs-forth/ http://progresscityusa.com/2010/01/15/d23-springs-forth/#comments Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:47:33 +0000 Michael http://progresscityusa.com/?p=2879

It’s been suspiciously quiet on the D23 front lately, as members waited to see what plans the company’s “official” fan club held for 2010. With all the shakeup at Disney lately, it seems like several divisions are still catching up – try, for instance, to determine what Disney’s DVD release schedule is this year!

[...]]]> D23 Mickey Banner

It’s been suspiciously quiet on the D23 front lately, as members waited to see what plans the company’s “official” fan club held for 2010. With all the shakeup at Disney lately, it seems like several divisions are still catching up – try, for instance, to determine what Disney’s DVD release schedule is this year!

In any case, we’ve just received the list of D23′s events through this spring. We’ll still have to wait a bit for the official D23 Expo announcement, but that is in fact forthcoming. For now, though, here’s what’s been announced for 2010 so far. D23’s special-event lineup includes:

January 22, 2010 – A Practically Perfect Night of Surprises with D23 and Mary Poppins

D23 Members will attend a performance of the critically acclaimed Mary Poppins at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles – plus an exclusive post-show experience with the Mary Poppins cast… and a top-secret surprise guest. (Hint: It’s an actor from the classic 1964 film.) D23 Members will receive 20 percent off select tickets for the January 22 performance (in various seating locations and price ranges). Visit the D23 website at www.disney.com/D23 for ticket information and availability.

February 13, April 10, August 14 and November 13, 2010 – D23 Day at The Walt Disney Studios and Archives

D23 Members will get a behind-the-scenes look at the legendary Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank and at the Walt Disney Archives on a two-hour tour hosted by D23 and Archives staff members. Three tours will be held on each date, and each tour can accommodate 50 people. In D23’s Charter Year, these special tours sold out almost immediately. Tickets for the February 13 and April 10 tours will be available at 10 a.m. Pacific time Thursday, January 26, and are $50 per person.

March 5, 2010 – D23’s First-Anniversary Party at the Walt Disney World Resort

Hundreds of D23 Members are expected to gather from around the country – and around the world – for a once-in-a-lifetime night of magic and memories. The evening’s festivities include a private dinner inside the Magic Kingdom’s Diamond Horseshoe Saloon, followed by an exclusive D23 viewing of Mickey’s PhilharMagic. Afterward, guests will hear insider details about the upcoming Fantasyland expansion from Walt Disney Imagineering. The celebration will also feature a sumptuous dessert party, a special commemorative pin for everyone attending, and a host of surprises. More details, including reservation availability and pricing, will be announced shortly on D23’s website at www.disney.com/D23.

March 10, 2010 – D23’s First-Anniversary Party at the Disneyland Resort

D23 will hold its one and only West Coast anniversary celebration in the most magical land at the Happiest Place on Earth: Fantasyland. D23 Members will take over all of Fantasyland for one amazing night filled with classic attractions, familiar characters (as well as a few you may not have seen in a while!), and a chance to see rare pieces of Disneyland history up close. Plus, D23 Members and their guests will enjoy an array of delicious Disney-inspired desserts, a special commemorative pin for everyone attending, and other surprises. Additional information, including reservation availability and pricing, will be announced shortly at www.disney.com/D23.

March 27, 2010 – “50 and Fabulous” Screening of Toby Tyler

At last year’s D23 Expo, Disney fans had a chance to see Disney masterpieces that were celebrating their Golden Anniversaries… a new D23 tradition that continues in 2010, this time in the recently renovated, state-of-the-art, 400-seat Studio Theater on the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank. Tickets to the “50 and Fabulous” screenings are free for D23 Members and their guests, and the series kicks off with a movie that hasn’t been seen on the big screen since its first release in 1960: Toby Tyler, or 10 Weeks with a Circus. D23’s screening of this lighthearted, live-action comedy will combine with special D23 surprises and the opportunity to enjoy a movie in this exclusive cinematic venue. Reservations may be made beginning at 10 a.m. Pacific time on Thursday, January 26. (A $5 processing fee for each ticket will apply.)

As with all live events, dates and times are subject to change.

Additional D23 special events are planned throughout 2010, including:

• May 8: “50 and Fabulous” screening of Pollyanna at the Walt Disney Studio Theatre;

• May 29-30: “Flowers and Fireworks” event at the Walt Disney World Resort, adding all-new elements as D23 expands the festivities to two days;

• June 26: A special celebration at the Walt Disney Studios marking the 40th anniversary of the Walt Disney Archives;

• July 10: “50 and Fabulous” screening of Swiss Family Robinson at the Walt Disney Studio Theatre;

• October 15-16: “Sip & Stroll” at the immensely popular Epcot International Food and Wine Festival;

• October 23: “50 and Fabulous” screening of The Sign of Zorro at the Walt Disney Studio Theatre

• December 11-12: “Magic and Merriment” weekend at the Walt Disney World Resort;

D23 is also in the planning stages for even more exciting 2010 events, details of which will be revealed in the coming months.

Now, that’s a pretty decent slate – if you’re in Florida or California. The rest of us, as expected, tend to benefit a little less from these events. Long-time readers will know that I’ve been fairly supportive of D23 so far, despite their occasional missteps. They’ve mercifully veered away from the more Magical ™ pixie dust, hugs and candy canes aspect of modern Disney, and have given pretty worthy service to the company’s real history and creative talents. Most importantly, they’ve always seemed to learn from their mistakes and actually listen to feedback.

This has manifested itself in a number of areas, most recently when they announced that 2010 would see the introduction of tiered memberships. The demand for a lower-priced membership option led to the new “Silver” membership, which at the price of $34.99 earns you the opportunity to attend special D23 Member events throughout the year as well as access to D23 merchandise and memorabilia. The current membership plan, priced at $74.99, became the “Gold” membership; this retains the benefits of the Silver level and adds a subscription to the quarterly periodical Disney twenty-three.

In addition, 2010 introduces some new benefits for both membership tiers. All members will receive a Disney Undiscovered: A 23-Month Calendar of Disney’s Unrealized Masterpieces; this wall calendar will contain lots of rarely-seen concept art for unrealized theme park, film and animation projects. It’s a neat idea and something I think fans would enjoy. New artwork is always welcome, after all.

The other new perk for members is the introduction of discounts at some locations in California’s Downtown Disney and in ESPNZones nationwide. Again, nothing Earth-shaking, but it’s a nice touch.

Now, of course, if billions of Disney fans had signed up for D23 I doubt we’d be seeing so many of these friendly gestures. But as cynical as the modern Disney corporation can make you, one does have to give them credit when they do the right thing. Lowering the price point for membership is a great thing, especially for residents of California and Florida that can immediately benefit from all these events.

All that being said, I have some qualms. You’ll note that most of these events have fees for admission – that’s not a good sign. So far, most of these D23 events have been free for members. Now the studio tours are $50 per person? Obviously this is merely a way of hiding fees – after all, I’d rather pay $75 and get into events free than think I’m getting a deal at $35 and then having to shell out fifty bucks every time I want to attend an event. And the $5 “processing fee” for their free screening is just shady, shady, shady.

I can understand if this is a deal that D23 had to strike to justify their continued existence to corporate. But this is a slippery slope, and something that needs to be monitored carefully.

But enough of that – the big story out of this is MOOCHIE. A headlining event for Toby Tyler?! My dad is going to be so stoked! This kind of thing is why D23 has amused me so far – who knew anyone at Disney today would have even heard of Toby Tyler? They’re having a special screening, and that has to mean just one thing – MOOCHIE at last!

Look at all those other “50 and Fabulous” screenings this year – besides Toby Tyler there’s Pollyanna, The Swiss Family Robinson, Mask of Zorro… that’s a power line-up! AND THREE OF THE FOUR FEATURE MOOCHIE.

Given that they screened last year’s “50 and Fabulous” films at the D23 Expo, I expect to see these this year. And thus my list of demands, Disney: Hayley Mills. James MacArthur. More Tommy Kirk. And MOOCHIE. Give the people what they want!

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