Disleelandia

Disney-themed Neckties and Tie Pins

Posted on April 11, 2014 by Dis-LEE

This is not a post about Drinking Around the World Showcase. Sorry if I got you too excited! No, it’s a post about that evil device (that I’m sure was created by a woman, but I have no proof of that) called the necktie.

Definition: Necktie. A long strip of cloth tied around a man’s neck using a variety of knots which restricts air flow causing extreme discomfort while serving no tangible purpose. But every woman loves a sharp-dressed man, so…

Now, you would think that if that was my attitude, I wouldn’t own many (if any) neckties. You would be wrong:

And that’s not even all that I have!

Now no good tie should be without a tie pin, or clip, or clasp, or whatever. So when I saw this set of tie pins on eBay some years ago, I knew I had to buy them:

The five faces of Mickey

As you have probably gathered, I actually like wearing ties. I regret that there aren’t more occasions where one of these Disney-themed ties would be appropriate!

Posted in Characters, Clothing | Tagged Characters, Clothing, Fab Five, Lion King, Mickey Mouse, Neckties, Tie Pins, Ties, Winnie the Pooh | Leave a comment

Riding on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority

Posted on April 8, 2014 by Dis-LEE

Often we think only of the ‘E’ Ticket attractions when we visit one of the Disney Parks. And it’s hard to argue with that strategy! Who doesn’t like the fast paced thrills of Space Mountain or the extreme theming of the Jungle Cruise? But in every Park you can find a different kind of excitement tucked away in a corner somewhere.

Viewing angles you can only get while riding the Transit Authority

At Walt Disney World, one such treasure is the Tomorrowland Transit Authority, or The People Mover! In short, you just sit back and enjoy the ride as it takes you around Tomorrowland. So why do I recommend this as a must-do attraction?

First, no one can go full-out 24/7 while at the Parks! I don’t care how young you are, sooner or later you are going to need a break. Your feet will thank you. And while you relax, interesting things will reveal themselves!

What you used to see on The Carousel of Progress

Second, it offers an alternative when the weather turns bad. During our last visit, Florida decided to treat us to an absolute downpour. It lasted for about 30 minutes. Most people ran for cover and stood under overhangs and waited for it to pass. We boarded The People Mover and enjoyed a dry run around Tomorrowland! If you decide to do this, the bonus is in watching others running around looking for cover while you’re snug and dry and – still enjoying yourself! We got off, ran around to the entrance again, and took another ride. By the time turn two was over, the rain was finished and we were able to resume our tour of Tomorrowland.

Rainy days and people watching

Third, you get to see Tomorrowland from above while listening to the imaginative ride Spiel. This is usually updated from time to time, and now features a new voice. My favorite part of the Spiel is when you pass the Laugh Floor and Roz (from Monsters Inc.) says: “Yeah, yeah, very good. Keep it moving, we’re on a tight schedule here!” So if you haven’t ridden this attraction in a while, then something new very likely awaits you.

Fourth, as you pass each major attraction, you get a little introduction to what it offers. The Narrator will give some details usually with a bit of humor thrown in!

Lastly, you may get treated to an extra surprise. The last time we rode The People Mover, we sat up and took notice as we entered the dark area of Space Mountain. Here, you go right inside while the attraction is fully operational. Usually you just see a little movement and hear a lot of screaming. But this time the lights were on and the ride was down for some reason. It was really cool to see the ride lit up. We saw the tracks and all of the building details. A true inside look at the Imagineering that went into making this famous attraction!

Hopefully by now you are ready for a ride on the transportation method of tomorrow: The People Mover of the Tomorrowland Transit Authority.

Don’t miss this great ride during your next visit. You won’t be sorry!

Posted in Attractions, Theme Parks, Walt Disney World | Tagged Attractions, Reviews, Space Mountain, Theme Parks, Tomorrowland, Tomorrowland Transit Authority, Walt Disney World | 7 Comments

Would Walt Disney have Blogged?

Posted on April 7, 2014 by Dis-LEE

The official Disney Blog once asked readers that very question. It was interesting to note that almost every single person who responded said ‘Yes’ without any hesitation.

What would you have said?

I was a little surprised to see that not many people thought the answer would be ‘No’. Now, I didn’t read all of the comments for that post, so maybe more had other ideas. But the first few comments seemed to support the positive view.

I’m going to go against the crowd here and take the other path. I don’t think Walt Disney would have taken the time to Blog, or to Twitter, or to set up and maintain a Facebook page. And I’ll tell you why!

With so many books written about Walt Disney, it is easy to get a reasonably clear picture of the man and his methods. And by reading up on his early years up to the days before his passing, one thing seems to stand out: Walt Disney didn’t do all of the actual work himself. He didn’t animate his films. He didn’t build the technology used in the Parks. What he did do, and did better than anyone else, was come up with the ideas that no one else had thought of.

He was an Idea Man.

Of course, as an Idea Man, he would have considered the use of all available technology and how it could enhance his connection to the public. Anything that could have promoted his latest project would have been explored. So the various aspects of the Internet would have been explored.

But once explored, would Walt Disney himself have utilized them? Would he have taken the time to build a Facebook page and regularly chat with all who visited? I think it is safe to say that Social Media would not have appealed to Walt. For here was a man with few regular friends. A man who seldom attended parties or public functions if he could avoid it. And something else is of interest.

When asked for autographs at Disneyland, he would often refuse, because it slowed him down and made it impossible to get his work done. Instead, he would give them a pre-signed card (which you can see portrayed in the movie Saving Mr. Banks), or he would recommend that the person(s) write the Studio and request an autograph, and that then one would be sent to them. Did Walt himself sign those autographs? No. Often, he had someone else sign his name for him!

With these things in mind, it’s hard to believe that Walt would have taken the time to set up and maintain any of the Social Media accounts that we make such free use of today. But he may have had someone else do it in his name!

The Point: Walt likely wouldn’t have Blogged himself. But really, would we want him to use his time telling us what he had for lunch? Or would we rather he used his time to Imagineer?

Posted in Education, Viewpoint | Tagged Blogging, Social Media, Viewpoint, Walt Disney | Leave a comment

To Wear Mouse Ears, Or Not to Wear Mouse Ears

Posted on April 5, 2014 by Dis-LEE

Picture yourself getting ready to leave your home in the morning. It’s not a workday, so you decide to dress more casual than usual. Jeans. A sweatshirt. A Mouse Ear hat. You open your door and step out into the world to run your errands and to do your shopping.

What’s wrong with this scenario?

Well, for me, I don’t wear sweatshirts. But for most normal people, it would be the wearing of a Mouse Ear hat in public! Not many have done this, but I’m determined to work up the courage some day, just to see what reactions I would get. Until then, I guess we can all agree that wearing a Mouse Ear hat in public is not a good idea.

But what about during your Walt Disney Vacation?

Minnie Ears Hat and Year of a Million Dreams Ears Hat

We often see little children dressed up as Princesses or Pirates. We see tween patrons of the Bibbidi-Bobbidi Boutique walking around proudly showing off their Glam Looks. And we even see teenagers sporting a loud character hat or two. But what about the over 30 crowd? Over 40? How about over 50 and beyond? Can we get away with the ultimate silliness: Wearing a Mouse Ear hat at the Parks?

YES!

It’s been said that a Disney Park is the only place in the World wear a grown man can walk down the center of the street wearing Mouse Ears and not get a second look. Why is this? Because it’s the Happiest Place on Earth, not Wallstreet! Not only is that man with the Mouse Ear hat on vacation, but so is everyone else. The whole point of being there is to relax and have fun. Those who are uptight usually don’t visit Disney Parks, and thank goodness!

Here’s a true story: I was in The Magic Kingdom (WDW) in 2006. I was standing outside a shop waiting for my wife wearing, not a Mouse Ear hat, but a Goofy hat! I had only seen small boys wearing this hat previously. I noticed a man who was upset because his family was taking so long in the store. You know the type – he didn’t want to go to Disney to begin with! He stomped outside in anger and came face to face with… a guy his age wearing a Goofy hat. He stopped dead in his tracks. I smiled. He looked stunned at first, but then he smiled. Finally he said: “Nice hat!” and walked away smiling.

So is it OK to wear a Mouse Ear hat, or any other silly hat, at a Disney Park? You tell me.

I’ve had nothing but good experiences while wearing silly things at the Disney Parks. Cast Members get a kick out of seeing me in my Goofy hat. Every one of them mentions it! Every little child I pass excitedly points me out to his or her parents, who also get a good laugh out of it.

Another true story: I was leaving The Magic Kingdom one evening and passing by a Security Guard. I was wearing, not only my Goofy hat, but also my Incredibles t-shirt. The SG took one look at me and said: “You’re looking incredibly goofy today!” Get it? We both had a laugh, and I’m sure it made a nice ending to both our days!

So do you go to the Disney Parks to have fun? Want to have even more fun? Then buy a Mouse Ear hat, or any character hat or shirt, and wear it proudly!

Posted in Clothing, Humor, Viewpoint | Tagged 101 Dalmatians, Clothing, Goofy, Hats, Humor, Merchandise, Mickey Ears, Theme Parks, Viewpoint, Year of a Million Dreams | 3 Comments

What To Do FIRST at Walt Disney World

Posted on April 4, 2014 by Dis-LEE

On our first trip to Walt Disney World, we wanted to do everything! So my wife and I booked 15 nights at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort and we commenced visiting every attraction and show the Parks had to offer. We didn’t care what we did first because we were going to do it all!

But now that we are seasoned Guests, we tend to take things a little slower. A lot slower actually. We tend to look for the singular moments, the moments that we love to experience over and over again on each and every trip.

So let me share with you the first thing we do upon arrival and upon entering each and every Park:

ARRIVALS

Drive slowly. Yes, there’s nothing like seeing that big Walt Disney World sign as you approach in your vehicle! And being as you’re not supposed to stop to take pictures, driving slowly allows you to take a mental picture instead. The same thing applies when pulling into your Resort. Don’t rush things, just relax and soak it all in!

THE MAGIC KINGDOM

This is a no-brainer! We always board the Walt Disney World Railroad for a trip around the Magic Kingdom. This helps us to get in the Disney mood and see everything all at once. We always do the complete circuit, boarding and disembarking at the Main Street Station. No matter what you choose to do from there, you’re covered in Pixie Dust and flying high!

EPCOT

Well, it’s right there in front of you, so you can’t really miss it. And you shouldn’t! Spaceship Earth is one of Disney’s most magical icons and should be a part of any day at EPCOT. We ride it first for many reasons. It’s an awesome experience. It’s a long attraction, so gives the most bang for your waiting time. And the interactive elements, during and after the ride, are not to be missed. I think it gives a good all around preview of what you can expect from the rest of the attractions in EPCOT.

But don’t forget to visit World Showcase!

DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

We don’t run to an attraction in this Park. But instead we take a leisurely walk through the streets and shops of vintage Hollywood. Almost always we run into some Streetmosphere characters and have a lot of fun. Some complain that DHS is short on thrill rides and attractions in comparison with the other Parks, but I think that was the point in its design. You are supposed to soak up the atmosphere, and that’s just what we do first!

DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM

Again we head to the icon of the Park. We walk straight to the Tree Of Life and dally in the queue area. It’s not for nothing that this is one of the longest queue lines in the Parks. You walk past and under the roots of this magnificent piece of art and architecture, and if you’re like me, you take hundreds of photographs! Have you spotted each and every creature yet? Probably not, so we go there first and try to find another one. And the It’s Tough To Be A Bug show at the end is a magical bonus!

Now, what do we do next? That varies each and every trip! But what do YOU do first?

Every picture in this post is from the WDW PhotoPass CD

Posted in Theme Parks, Tips, Walt Disney World | Tagged Disney's Animal Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's PhotoPass, Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Theme Parks, Tips, Walt Disney World | 6 Comments

Top 5 Tips for Displaying your Disney Collectibles

Posted on April 3, 2014 by Dis-LEE

OK. You’ve just got back from that visit to The Happiest Place on Earth or perhaps The Vacation Kingdom. And although you promised yourself that you wouldn’t buy everything you saw, you’ve come home with an extra suitcase full of Disney collectibles!

Now what? Well, once you convince your significant other not to leave you, it’s time to find a place for all that new stuff. And it ain’t gonna be easy!

Fortunately for you, I’ve been in this predicament on more than one occasion, so here are my Top 5 tips for displaying your new treasures:

Number 5

Rotation. Let’s be realistic. Do you really have enough room to display every Disney collectible you own? Likely not. So display only a few treasures at a time. Between switches, carefully pack the rest of your collection away. But here’s a tip: Group each type of item or character in a separate box and mark the box clearly. So when it’s time to make the switch, you’ll know exactly where to look!

Come on, I know you’re that anal!

Number 4

Maintenance. Find a dust-free zone! Seriously. Find a dust-free zone! At one time I had over 200 collectibles displayed in a one-bedroom apartment, and the most familiar phrase I heard for two years was ‘When are you going to dust?’

This is where tip number five can help, but more likely you will want to opt for an enclosed display cabinet. This won’t eliminate all dust particles from your treasures, but it may help to extend the periods between dustings. And it allows for some cool lighting options too!

Number 3

Grouping. Eclectic is a nice word, but it doesn’t always make for the best look. It means to select or employ individual elements from a variety of sources, systems, or styles. In other words, you just throw whatever ya got on the shelf without any rhyme or reason! OK. I’ve done this and it doesn’t look that bad. However, if you have a nice room, it might be better to group similar types of items together. Figurines shouldn’t be mixed with Plush, for instance.

The only time this can work is if you’re doing a character theme, such as all Tinkerbell. This approach is usually best in bedrooms or offices, but can be done tastefully elsewhere. But beware: Tacky lurks just around the corner!

Number 2

Moderation. This is closely related to Rotation, but with a twist. Not only do you not want to try to display every collectible you own, but also don’t try to fill every space in every room. This is especially important if not everyone in your household is a Disney Addict! For them, it’s nice to create a Disney-free Zone where they can hide from your well-meaning fanaticism.

And don’t forget the visitors. Now, I know you’re not crazy, but they may be looking for evidence to the contrary. So don’t make it too easy for them to prove their theories about your sanity! Having them open the stove only to find a Disney figurine you didn’t have room for in the fridge won’t help your cause.

Remember: Moderation will make you appear reasonable even when you’re not!

Number 1

Location. Want to break your heart? Here’s what you do: Place your most prized and fragile figurine at precisely the eye-level of a two year old. Then sit back, and in approximately 7.4 seconds, you will own a broken figurine! Want to avoid this? Then follow this simple placement chart:

Figurines and other breakables up high
Collectibles with small pieces and display dolls at medium height
Plush, PVC, and heavy durable items at the bottom

Of course, it goes without saying that any treasure that holds a special place in your heart should either be up high or in a closed display cabinet.

I hope these five tips will help you to enjoy your treasures for years to come!

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some dusting to catch up on.

Posted in Collectibles, Lists | Tagged Collectibles, Lists, Merchandise, Tips, Top 5 | 2 Comments

Disney Trademarks Throughout the Years

Posted on April 2, 2014 by Dis-LEE

We’ve all done this: We’re browsing in an antique shop or at a flea market and come across a Disney treasure. We know we’ve found something special, but how old is it? We pick it up and turn it over, hoping to find a date. But all we find is a Disney trademark.

The man… …who started it all

But wait! It’s different from the one we know. We pick up another piece of Disneyana, and it has yet another trademark stamped on it! And now we’re all confused. Well, I’m here to clear up that confusion by sharing with you the Disney trademarks that I’ve found over the years, and what I know about their dates:

Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio October 16, 1923 until 1929

There was some rare merchandise produced before this time, but it wasn’t technically ‘Disney’. Oswald the Lucky Rabbit did a tidy little bit of business in a few lines of toys and books before Walt lost him. But for original Disney merchandise, if you can find a Disney Brothers item, you’ve got a gem! But I don’t think a lot of those earliest items had trademark stamps.

Walt Disney Productions 1929 until 1986

This trademark crosses the most amounts of years. So one piece trademarked ‘WDP’ could be old and valuable while another could be newer and relatively worthless. This trademark can be spelled out in full or shortened to the ‘WDP’ letters, or even to ‘Walt Disney Prod’ with all versions being fairly common. It usually depended on how much room was available on the piece in question as to which one was used.

This is the trademark you’re most likely to come across in the average shop or online.

Walt Disney Company February 6, 1986 to the present.

This trademark is usually spelled out in full and is the second most common trademark found today due to the sheer amount of merchandise produced since 1986. Only items produced with this trademark that had limited production runs or that featured sought-after characters will be of any real monetary value.

Disney Enterprises Inc. (No information)

This trademark is rare but it does crop up from time to time.

Disney (Various time periods)

I started to notice this shortened trademark sometime in the early 1990’s and it is in wide use today. But the short ‘Disney’ trademark may also be found on earlier merchandise.

And it’s interesting to note that Disney is now shortening the movie division trademark from ‘Walt Disney Pictures’ and ‘Walt Disney’ to just ‘Disney’.

Keep in mind that any or all of these trademarks can be accompanied by dates.

Although by no means comprehensive, I hope this brief look at Disney trademarks will help you when you’re trying to determine dates during your next visit to a yard sale!

Posted in Advertising, History, Merchandise | Tagged Advertising, Disney, History, Merchandise, Trademarks | 4 Comments

Disney’s PhotoPass Program May Cost Too Much

Posted on April 1, 2014 by Dis-LEE

So you’ve been at The Happiest Place on Earth for 5 full days and 4 fun-filled nights. You’ve visited every Park and eaten at all of your favorite restaurants. As you pack to leave, you’re finding it hard to fit all of those souvenirs into your suitcase.

Yes, it’s another successful Disney vacation!

But wait! Did you save enough cash for your Disney’s PhotoPass PhotoCD? Nope!

For five years, I prowled around the Parks looking for those crowded Meet-and-Greets with the Disney Characters, and then posed away a small part of my vacation time. Sometimes I would manage only 10 or 20 good shots. Other times over 75. Some of my friends have managed to rack up an impressive 200 or 300 shots!

Now, we all know the drill: When you get home, you log on to the official Disney’s PhotoPass site and enter your card number. Then you can modify your pictures by cropping or by adding borders. Once done, you simply click on the PhotoCD option, and you will soon be… about $100 poorer! And let’s face it, most of us may have about 20 good shots, or maybe 50 at most, so the math doesn’t add up.

Would it surprise you to know that one of the most popular searches on the Internet these days is ‘how to steal Disney PhotoPass pictures’? I kid you not. Now from this, a reasonable person would conclude that maybe, just maybe, the price is a little high. Which, although no excuse for theft, is definitely a head’s up for Disney. The message being: Lower your price!

Again I say: THE PRICE IS TOO HIGH!

Think Disney doesn’t know this? Then why have they offered a lower price if you order the PhotoCD before you even arrive at the Parks? And they’ve added what they call Bonus Content, which is a series of ‘free’ shots of Disney Characters included with your purchase. This new promotion is aimed at getting your vacation cash earlier, and before you spend it elsewhere. But this still leaves the price at upwards of $100.00.

Here is my solution: Offer a reduced package for a set number of shots. I would suggest $49.99 for 50 shots. A buck a shot. Still higher than the 19 cents a shot charged by WalMart to process your own shots, but for that extra magical element, I’d pay the increase.

I can’t help but believe that Disney would thusly sell many more PhotoCD’s to appreciative Guests who would return year after year to buy yet more PhotoCD’s.

This equals a win-win situation for all involved: Disney gets money. Disney’s PhotoPass Photographer’s get some job security. And we get great shots at a reasonable price.

World Showcase WDW PhotoPass Disc

All of this being said, I did spring for the PhotoPass CD after my first visit to Disneyland, as I didn’t know when or if I’d ever visit again. But would I pay out for a second crop of pics if I did visit again. I seriously doubt it. So what is your opinion of Disney’s PhotoPass? Do you buy the CD, or individual prints, or just say ‘pass’ and rely on your own shots?

Posted in Disney's PhotoPass, Photography, Reviews, Viewpoint | Tagged Disney's PhotoPass, Photography, Reviews, Theme Parks, Viewpoint | 4 Comments

Disney Jokes Created to Tickle Your Funny Bone

Posted on March 30, 2014 by Dis-LEE

My wife and I love joking around, and often come up with awful puns and plays on words to make each other groan! Over the years, we’ve created many Disney-themed jokes.

Would you like to hear them?

W A R N I N G

These jokes may cause snorts, chortles, guffaws, and sudden bursts of laughter. And… groans. Read at your own risk

Who is Bambi’s religious friend?

BIBLE THUMPER

What would you call Nemo’s Baseball Tournament?

20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA

What did Penny use to get rescued?

COMMON CENTS

What color of blush do Oriental Princesses wear?

MULAN ROUGE

In what room of the house would Peter Pan be most at home?

THE KITCHEN

What did Winnie the Pooh create when he dropped the Beehive?

100 ACHERS

What is Mushu’s favorite flower?

SNAP DRAGON

What would Donald Duck’s nephews be called if they were Demolition Experts?

HUEY, DEWEY, AND KA-BLOUIE

What hair-care product does Wheezy from Toy Story endorse?

NICE ‘N WHEEZY

What does Rapunzel use to keep her doors closed?

GOLDEN LOCKS

What would Mr. Potato Head be if he drank too much?

A SMASHED POTATO

What kind of a doctor would Donald Duck be if he went into medicine?

A QUACK

What would Pluto create if he dug at night?

A BLACK HOLE

What would Peter Pans friends be if they fell into the sea?

LOST BUOYS

Which Disney Princess had the best wedding?

ARIEL. SHE HAD THE BEST RECEPTION

How did Ray feel when he couldn’t get his butt to shine?

DE-LIGHTED

This concludes our test of your sense of humor. If you laughed… you haven’t got one!

Posted in Characters, Humor | Tagged Characters, groaners, Humor, Jokes, Pinocchio | 1 Comment

Small World Gifts and Sundries

Posted on March 28, 2014 by Dis-LEE

Disneyland Hotel

When we visited Disneyland in 2013 we couldn’t miss the opportunity to visit this iconic hotel. And of course we also couldn’t miss the opportunity to check out one of its gift shops found in the Fantasy Tower: