Road Trip

Bonjour, mes amis! I'm back (finally) from my trip to Europe and have lots of fun details and stories to share with you. First up, though, is something a bit closer to home. Guests visiting the Backlot of Disney's Hollywood Studios right now are discovering that the Luigi's Casa della Tires set, the former photo location for Lightning McQueen and Mater, is being rebuilt for the launch of Cars 2 in June. In its place is a construction wall with this incredibly detailed image (above ©Disney/Pixar).

The image, printed on a giant billboard, conveys some of the international fun and excitement in store for audiences with Cars 2. A cursory glance reveals some of the locations in the new film, including Tokyo, Japan; London, England; Paris, France; and Porto Corsa, Italy. Look closely, though, and you'll spot lots of really fun details, like this sign in Tokyo that's a tribute to the last Pixar film, Toy Story 3.

Elsewhere in the Japan portion of the image, you'll spot a sumo match in progress:

In the London portion, you'll see cars racing down The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace. Be sure to note the royal viewing stand and palace guards:

The Italy section includes none other than the Pope Mobile, riding in his very own Pope-mobile:

And then there's one of my favorite details of all. In the village part of the Italy section, you'll find this quaint little tire shop, Topolino's. What's great about it, is this is perhaps one of the most subtle forms of Hidden Mickey. After all, Topolino is the name for Mickey Mouse in Italian.

One of my favorite moments from my recent trip was seeing Mickey in an appearance at one of the Disneyland Resort Paris hotels, where an excited Italian father ran up with his children shouting, "Topolino! Ciao!" It really hit home in that moment how universal the love of Disney truly is.

À Bientôt

My wife and I are headed to Disneyland Resort Paris this week as a celebration of our 10th wedding anniversary. Of course, I had intended to prepare blog content for you prior to departure, so the articles would keep flowing while I'm away. Well, what is it they say about "best laid plans?"

Although there won't be anything new on the blog for a week or so, I invite you to explore the topic index down the right side of the page. Each link will bring up every article I've written on the subject. For newer readers, it's a great chance to get caught up. For those who have been visiting for a while, why not go back and rediscover series like Weekend Trivia or Where in Disney's World?

For all of you, I say, "Thanks!" Your regular visits and wonderful comments make this whole endeavor worthwhile. Until next time, as they say in Disneyland Paris, "À bientôt!" (Photo ©Disney)

REMEMBER... OPENING OCT. 1971

We conclude this week's countdown of Walt Disney World anniversary milestones with... a countdown. This time, it's the ticking clock for construction crews and Imagineers putting the finishing touches on the Magic Kingdom park for its grand opening, a date emblazoned on the face of Cinderella Castle for all to see. (All photos ©Disney)

Although an initial groundbreaking ceremony had taken place in 1967, quite a bit of preparation had to be done to the land before actual work could begin. Construction started in earnest on May 27, 1969, with just over two years to go before the big day. The pictures you see here represent the final weeks and months leading up to the opening.

In the photo above, City Hall is nearly complete, and the Victorian woodwork is being added to the front of the Emporium. Below, the towering pylons at the entrance to Tomorrowland await their final paint and tile. Trees have been planted along the waterway, fresh sod is being laid and a wooden mock-up of a Plaza Swan Boat is placed in the canal to test for clearances (although the actual attraction wouldn't be ready to open until May 1973).

In this next shot, we see the famed Liberty Tree. This 100+ year old southern live oak was identified on the south end of Walt Disney World Resort property, and then transplanted to Liberty Square. Steel rods were drilled through the center of the tree, allowing it to be lifted onto the truck by crane, driven slowly to the Magic Kingdom and lowered into place. The holes left by the rods were then sealed, allowing the tree to survive and thrive.

Our last shot today offers a peak into Fantasyland, where Dumbo is almost ready to fly. This is the original 10-arm Dumbo the Flying Elephant attraction, which was replaced by the current 16-arm version in the early-90s. Look closely at the photo, and you can also spot one of the Skyway towers and the palm trees surrounding the lagoon for 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

As we prepare to embark upon the celebration of Walt Disney World's 40th year, Dumbo the Flying Elephant is under construction once again... this time as part of Storybook Circus in New Fantasyland. The circus big top is already going vertical, and Dumbo will soon fly east to his new home, set to debut in 2012.

Flashback: Magic Kingdom Dedication Day

Before the Magic Kingdom celebrated any anniversaries, the park hosted a big blowout for its grand opening and dedication. The first guests had entered the gates on October 1, 1971, but the official opening ceremonies didn't happen until October 25. The pomp and circumstance that day included a 1500-voice choir singing "When You Wish Upon a Star," an immense balloon release (a tradition which Disney stopped in the late-80s out of concern for the environment), and The Music Man composer Meredith Wilson leading a parade of characters, performers and 1076 trombones up Main Street, U.S.A. (All photos ©Disney)

Walt Disney's brother and business partner, Roy O. Disney led the ceremony with the reading of the dedication:

Walt Disney World is a tribute to the philosophy and life of Walter Elias Disney... and to the talents, the dedication and the loyalty of the entire Disney organization that made Walt Disney's dream come true. May Walt Disney World bring joy and inspiration and new knowledge to all who come to this happy place... a Magic Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages can laugh and play and learn... together.

When Walt Disney passed away in December 1966, Roy was preparing to retire. Land had been purchased and preliminary plans made for what was then known as The Florida Project, but in Walt's absence, no one knew what might become of it all. To his immense credit, Roy stepped up, postponing retirement to lead Walt Disney Productions through this trying time, with the goal of seeing The Florida Project through to completion.

His first move was to change the name of the project from the proposed Disneyworld to Walt Disney World, to help ensure the public would never forget this was Walt's greatest dream. Roy dedicated the park to his brother in October 1971 and died just two months later. He never got that retirement, but he did earn our eternal gratitude.

The Blaine Gibson-sculpted statue, "Sharing the Magic," on Town Square in the Magic Kingdom is a tribute to Roy O. Disney and his unfailing support in making dreams come true.

Flashback: 15 Years of Magic & Tencennial

"It's been 15 years, and we're having a party.

Here at Disney World, there's a party all year long!"

Kicking off in 1986, the Walt Disney World 15th Anniversary Celebration was marked with a brand new parade and fabulous prizes. The premiere weekend, held for thousands of press and invited guests October 2-5, also coincided with a celebration of the bicentennial of the United States Constitution. Guests visiting the Hall of Presidents signed copies of the Constitution, renewing their commitment to that enduring document, and it was during this time that the authentic replica of the Liberty Bell was added to the park's Liberty Square.

Inspired by the Gift Giver Extraordinaire, which had been such a success during the Disneyland 30th anniversary in 1985, Walt Disney World celebrated by giving gifts to guests who entered the Magic Kingdom. Every 15 seconds, all year long, guests were surprised with vouchers for presents ranging from buttons to T-shirts, and once a day, someone walked away with a new car!

Among other features, the 15 Years of Magic Parade introduced the Crystal Castle float, a unit which continues to play a part in Magic Kingdom parades 25 years later. There was even a limited-run 15th Anniversary float added to the Main Street Electrical Parade that year.

Five years earlier, October 1981 saw the start of different parade in honor of the Walt Disney World Tencennial. Celebrating the resort's 10th birthday, Tencennial was the first anniversary celebration held in Florida. As they liked to say at the time, it was a party "a year long and a smile wide!"

The Tencennial Parade featured theme music adapted from the "Disneyland Is Your Land" song created for that park's 25th anniversary a year earlier. The parade included homages to each of the lands of the Magic Kingdom. It's song, "Walt Disney World Is Your World," also became the title and theme of a new stage show introduced that year.

Tencennial was a huge success, concluding with the October 1982 opening of EPCOT Center, and it paved the way for future anniversary celebrations in the Vacation Kingdom of the World. (All photos ©Disney)

Flashback: Surprise Celebration

We continue our look back at Walt Disney World anniversary celebrations today with a trip to 1991 and the 20th anniversary of the resort. The theme that year was Surprise Celebration, with surprise elements each day and new surprise features added as the year went on. (All photos ©Disney)

Ahead of the celebration kickoff, a group of cast members gathered in front of the railroad station at the Magic Kingdom for an official anniversary photo. I was there that day and lucky enough to be chosen to take part in the photo. That's me, standing at the railing by the engine cab in the Haunted Mansion butler costume. Look around in the photo, and you'll also discover several costumes from the park's past which are no longer in use today: the yellow vest of the Diamond Horseshoe server, the original It's a Small World sailor outfit, the old mustard yellow Fantasyland lederhosen, the red and white with mouse ears from Mickey's Starland and the blue-clad crew of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (there are several of those guys at the upper right).

Roger Rabbit played a big role in the celebration of the 20th. Still riding high on the success of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Disney's newest star led the Surprise Celebration Parade. He also popped up "unexpectedly" in shows across the park to surprise guests with prizes, ranging from 20th anniversary T-shirts to caps with plush Rogers affixed to the bill.

The Surprise Celebration Parade was a spectacular, Mardi Gras-inspired procession of colorful costumes, giant character balloons and (for the first time at WDW) stilt walkers. The parade made its grand debut the morning of October 1, 1991, immediately following a park rededication ceremony presided over by Michael Eisner and Roy E. Disney.

I was at the park on that day, as well, but this time as a guest. For the ceremony, I was standing under a large yellow balloon just to the left of the photo above. I had a great view... of the back of the dedication float. Even though I couldn't see well, it was impossible not to be excited by all the Disney Legends in attendance or to get choked up when Roy picked up the dedication plaque and reread the words his father had spoken on that very site 20 years earlier.

Another major element of the 20th anniversary celebration was the premiere of SpectroMagic, a new nighttime spectacular to replace the original Main Street Electrical Parade. My memories of SpectroMagic are of the crunch to get the parade ready on time. I recall working on the Jungle Cruise dock when our manager came down looking for people willing to pull some overtime helping out on the parade. The available shifts were either 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., or 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Brutal. I was willing to do it, though, for the chance to see something new up close and personal.

I was scheduled off the next day, so I chose the day shift. I spent those twelve hours backstage at the Magic Kingdom Production Center meticulously placing black tie-wraps on either side of every light bulb on the Silly Symphony float. The show's director wanted the lights in SpectroMagic to be precise, unlike the shaky lighting strands on the old parade. Whenever SpectroMagic makes its return to the park, look for those tie wraps, and think about all those Jungle Skippers (and other cast members) it took to get everything just right.

For me, the 20th Anniversary Surprise Celebration was my first big event as a Disney cast member. I've had the opportunity to participate in many more, even grander events since then, but the 20th will always hold a special place in my memory.

Flashback: WDW 25th Anniversary

As we count down the days this week to the next Destination D event, this time honoring the 40th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort, I thought it would be fun to look back on anniversary celebrations over the past 40 years.

Aside from Disneyland's 10th anniversary in 1965, the large-scale celebration of Disney Parks anniversaries was most in vogue during the 1980s and 90s. Today, Disney acknowledges each anniversary with smaller events and collectible merchandise, saving the big blowouts for significant milestones (such as Disneyland's 50th in 2005). The last major celebration at Walt Disney World kicked off in October 1996 for the 25th anniversary. (All photos ©Disney)

The 25 Years of Magic celebration was marked by the debut of the Cinderella Castle Cake, a remarkable transformation of the Magic Kingdom park icon into an enormous, candy-colored confection. The castle cake continues to be as controversial today as it was then. I, for one, actually liked it. To see it in person was an unbelievable experience. While it made me smile every time, I also understood why others didn't care for it. It was perhaps too dramatic a departure from the classic castle image, and for those visiting Walt Disney World on a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, it just wasn't what they expected to see.

What guests that year did enjoy, however, was the new Remember the Magic parade. Featuring a gospel-inspired theme, the parade introduced a new concept to the park, show stops. For the first time in Magic Kingdom history, the parade came to a stop at points on the route, and guests were invited into the street to take part in the celebration.

The 25th anniversary was also treated as a reunion of sorts. Every guest who had ever visited the Magic Kingdom was invited to return for the celebration. At the 25th Anniversary Welcome Center on Main Street (in the current home of Town Square Theater), guests could check in and receive a special badge identifying the year of their first visit. Mine proudly proclaimed: 1978! New to Walt Disney World? You got a First Visit badge, the precursor to the celebration buttons common today.

The Welcome Center included a sneak preview of Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, set to open at the conclusion of the 18-month-long anniversary celebration. At the time, 25 Years of Magic was the longest and most successful campaign the Walt Disney World Resort had ever seen.

For those of you who will be celebrating Walt Disney World's 40th at Destination D this weekend, be sure to look for me. I'll be at several of the presentations during the day and at times volunteering in the merchandise area of the Contemporary Resort Convention Center, so come say, "Hello!" I look forward to meeting you!

If you would like to attend Destination D: Walt Disney World 40th, tickets are still available at this link.

Weekend Bonus: More Everest Details

Before concluding this week's look at Expedition Everest: Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, there are a few more details I wanted to share with you. The area around Expedition Everest is an incredibly rich storytelling environment, offering something new to see every time you look.

The Yeti Mandir (which we discussed in Wednesday's article) is a Newari-style structure, similar to those seen in Nepal. It was produced with the help of artisans from Kathmandu and contains one thousand carvings, statues and other depictions of the Yeti.

Facing the Forbidden Mountain near the exit of the attraction is a Tibetan mani wall. In Tibetan Buddhism, mani are stone tablets inscribed with prayers. They are often placed together as a form of offering to the spirits.

These tin signs advertise the Serka Zong Bazaar, which we visited on Monday. The architectural style of the buildings was inspired by structures seen in the Kali Gandaki region of the Himalayas. It's a combination of stone buildings, like the tea warehouse, and "rammed earth" construction, where moist dirt is placed in a box frame and pounded with mallets until it's hard as concrete.

Using earth-based pigments, the color of the buildings is packed with symbolism. Red on corners or around windows is thought to provide protection, while stripes on the roof represent the three spirit worlds. In the image below, the red building at the right is a gompa, a Buddhist prayer hall used for meditation. The building with the long stripes all the way down (created in the traditional way, by pouring paint down the wall from the rooftop) represents a wealthy family with ties to the monastery.

Many of the detailed environments which make up Serka Zong can only be seen along the standby queue for Expedition Everest. Here, though, even guests who choose Disney's Fastpass service get a bit of storytelling. Instead of passing through Tashi's Trek and Tongba Shop, they instead pay a visit to this smaller vendor, offering many of the things one might need for a journey into the mountains. Nearby, Fastpass guests also find a satellite display set up by the Yeti Museum, teasing the collection and inviting travelers to come and visit the real place.

For those who do wait in the standby queue, Tashi's Trek and Tongba Shop has more detail within its walls than anyone could take in on a single visit. If you're not completely distracted by the Serka Zong souvenir T-shirts or the plush Yetis (one of which is wearing Mickey Mouse ears!), take a look to your left. Here, you'll find not only the register and additional items offered for sale, but also signs that Tashi actually lives in his shop. There's a cot and stove, some folded magazines he's been reading, and a trunk of personal items under the bed.

If Tashi is in on the occasion of your visit, be sure to say "Hello," and order something from the menu. A cup of delicious tongba is only 100 rupees. Be sure to ask for a bamboo straw, so you can have the true local experience!

The Journey to Everest

All this talk of the Yeti has certainly provided some local color to our visit to Serka Zong, but now it's time for the reason we came here in the first place... to conquer the tallest mountain in the world. "Expedition Everest," the tour we booked with Himalayan Escapes, is about to depart for Base Camp, and we're packed and ready to go!

At the rail station, an old boiler provides the hot water necessary to power the steam engines that will push our train through the mountains. All aboard! With a shrill whistle and a puff of white, we're bound for Mt. Everest.

A gathering of totems and prayer flags at the edge of the forest provide us one last reminder of the wonderful people and culture we experienced in Serka Zong... or is that one final warning to beware the wrath of the protector of the "realm of the snows?"

No matter. We wouldn't turn around now, even if we could. The scenery along the rail line is spectacular, from dense forests to thundering waterfalls, and ahead in the distance we can see our goal. To get there, we just have to cross Forbidden Mountain.

The air at this altitude is thin, but we slowly become accustomed to it, as we prepare ourselves for the ultimate ascent. A cool mist hangs in the valley, and our train makes a turn toward...

Wait! What's this?! The track is out ahead, but it's not just broken. The rails have been bent and twisted! A Lammergeier vulture hovers on a gust of wind above us. The animal's high-pitched cry is soon drowned out by a chilling howl, coming from the icy caverns behind us.

Just as we glance to our side and identify what look to be claw marks in the snow, the brakes on our train give way, and we start hurtling backwards into the dark abyss. The train comes to rest in a large cavern. We think we're safe, but a shadow cast from above reveals otherwise. As another train rolls by, a large creature swings into view, roaring after them and ripping up more of the track. Suddenly, it hears us. The Yeti is coming our way!

Our Sherpa throws a track switch and we start out the tunnel, full steam ahead, in an attempt to escape the clutches of the Yeti. Our train thunders to the base of the mountain, spiraling through forests and caverns.

Will we make it back from the Forbidden Mountain, or will we suffer the same fate of the legendary lost expedition? Hold on tight. It's going to be a wild ride!

(Photo ©Disney)