What's This?

Over the past week, we've visited with several Disney characters not seen regularly in the parks for various reasons. Some fall out of favor over time, while others are linked to special promotions. In the case of today's characters, they appear seasonally along with other characters or character costume overlays tied to specific holidays.

Right now at Disneyland Park, Haunted Mansion Holiday has brought the story of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas to the popular New Orleans Square attraction. Haunted Mansion Holiday runs from mid-September through early January. During this period, Jack Skellington and Sally can be found nearby, greeting their fans. You'll have to catch them soon, though, before they return to Halloweentown.

Rarest of the Rare

Some Disney characters appear in the Parks so infrequently, most Guests would assume they never leave the silver screen at all. Take Dumbo, for example. Apart from flying in the Magical fireworks spectacular at Disneyland or making a cameo appearance in the Main Street Electrical Parade, he's been a rather shy little elephant. Several years ago, though, when the Dumbo the Flying Elephant attraction in the Magic Kingdom was closed for refurbishment, Dumbo came in for a landing to meet his fans and allay some of their disappointment. With a face that cute, how could anyone be upset about the ride being down?

Chip-Chip-Chip Chip & Dale

Today, we continue our look at characters rarely seen in the Disney Parks these days. Chip and Dale, of course, are fairly ubiquitous, but one might be hard pressed to find them as their alter egos, the Rescue Rangers. These outfits, inspired by the "Chip & Dale Rescue Rangers" TV series of the early '90s, were a staple of the chipmunks' appearances back in the time of Mickey's Starland. This photo, taken in early 2005, captured the duo in a rare appearance trekking through the jungles of Adventureland at the Magic Kingdom Park.

Alternative themed costumes, known as overlays, are commonly made for some of Disney's classic characters. Personalities like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Chip & Dale, Goofy and Pluto can easily appear in a variety of settings throughout the Parks, simply by changing what they wear.

Figment's Place

For a short time, Guests visiting Epcot actually had the chance to meet Figment in larger-than-life fashion. The former Kodak film shop at the Imagination pavilion (on the upper lever between the entrance and exit to the Magic Eye Theater) was transformed into Figment's Place, a rainbow-hued home base for everyone's favorite purple dragon.

A handful of interactive elements kept Guests entertained as they passed through the short queue, and then... voila! Just around a corner, Figment is there waiting for a hug.

In spite of Figment's popularity in the Journey Into Imagination attraction and related merchandise, few Guests ever managed to make their way back to Figment's Place. As a result, he has since moved on to "imagine new things" with Dr. Channing at the adjacent Imagination Institute.

Who's the Leader of the Club?

Sometimes, a promotion in the Disney Parks can serve a dual purpose. For about two weeks at the end of April 2009, characters from Disney's online virtual world Club Penguin appeared at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Guests could meet Blue and the elusive pirate, Captain Rockhopper, in an area on Mickey Avenue near the Studio Backlot Tour.

The appearances served to promote Club Penguin, but they were also a test to gauge Guest reaction. This is frequently done with new characters from non-traditional sources, since their familiarity and popularity may not be as broad as characters from Disney's animated films. The two-week Club Penguin test was relatively well-received, but the characters have yet to pop up anywhere else. Who knows? We may yet see them again some time. Of course, fans of Club Penguin know that sightings of Captain Rockhopper can be rare indeed!

The Day the Sky Fell

With each new Disney animated feature, some sort of promotion is typically done to support the film within the Disney Parks. Over the years, these promotional opportunities have ranged from new parades and shows to the introduction of characters from the film. For the launch of Chicken Little in 2005, the star of the movie and his best friend Abby Mallard began making regular appearances at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Just to make sure no one missed the fact that the movie was coming out, the entire east face of Stage 5 (the Playhouse Disney theater) was repainted for the occasion with an enormous sky backdrop. Adding to the effect were an inflatable Chicken Little on the roof and a hexagonal piece of the "sky," planted on the ground nearby as if it had recently fallen there.

Chicken Little and Abby have since returned to their lives in Oakey Oaks, rarely making appearances in the Parks. The film's title on the side of the building has also long been painted over, but the image of the sky remains as a backdrop for the Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant.

The Ferry Best Way to Go

From the Transportation & Ticket Center, Walt Disney World Guests have a choice of ways to get to the Magic Kingdom. While many forge straight ahead up the ramp to the Monorail station, I often prefer to take the Ferryboat instead (saving the Monorail for the return trip in the evening). Both take about the same amount of time, but for me there's just something about making that trip across Seven Seas Lagoon that makes the experience complete.

Since 1971, the Magic Kingdom has been served by a fleet of watercraft, although the Ferryboats we know today weren't among them. Originally, a pair of side-wheel steamers (Southern Seas and Ports of Call) traversed the lagoon, but they were quickly deemed too small and unreliable to handle all the Guests coming to the park.

In 1972, a pair of Staten Island-style Ferryboats (dubbed Magic Kingdom I and Magic Kingdom II) were introduced to help handle the demand. They were joined in 1976 by a third, Kingdom Queen, which was also outfitted with wet bars, restrooms and an upper-level dance floor so it could be rented out for charter excursions in the evening.

The three Ferryboats were re-christened in 1999 and named for key individuals who contributed to the development of the Walt Disney World Resort. Magic Kingdom I became the Admiral Joe Fowler. Magic Kingdom II became the Richard F. Irvine, and the Kingdom Queen was renamed General Joe Potter (around this time, the facilities on board were also removed, since the boat is now used exclusively for transportation).

The Ferryboats are very similar, but do sport some differences. Most noticeably, Admiral Joe Fowler has green side panels. Richard F. Irvine has red panels, and there are blue panels on the General Joe Potter. That third boat, built later by a different contractor, is also the only one with two smokestacks.

Once aboard, head up top or out front for the best views. Crossing the lagoon, it's as if each scene plays out one at a time: the tropical paradise of Disney's Polynesian Resort, the Victorian luxury of Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, the majesty of Disney's Contemporary Resort and Bay Lake Tower. All along the way, the water, islands, landscape and wildlife you encounter make it hard to believe that the whole thing is man made.

Of course, the best part of all comes as the Ferryboat rounds a bend and the Magic Kingdom comes into view. No matter how many times I've experienced it, the sight of Space Mountain and Cinderella Castle on the horizon puts a smile on my face.

Highway in the Sky

When Walt Disney introduced the Disneyland Alweg Monorail at Disneyland back in 1959, it was the first of its kind to operate in the United States. He intended it to be more than an attraction. His goal was to showcase the technology as a mass transit solution for the future. Over the years, the Disney monorails were upgraded several times from that Mark I original, but the idea never really caught on beyond the Disney Parks.

Upon the opening of Walt Disney World in 1971, the Mark IV Monorail took a leap forward as a mass transit system, carrying thousands of Guests each day between the Magic Kingdom Park, Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Polynesian Resort and the Transportation & Ticket Center.

The Mark IV Monorail introduced the sleek white styling and colored stripes, a style that still looks futuristic today. Those original trains served the Walt Disney World Resort for twenty years, before being upgraded in 1991 for higher-capacity Mark VI Monorails (the Mark V designation went to an upgrade of Disneyland's Monorail in 1985).

The Mark VI trains are still in operation and still sport the traditional Walt Disney World "D" logo with Mouse Ear globe. The key differences introduced with these trains allowed them to operate more efficiently and carry more passengers. Where the Mark IV Monorails had doors that were each closed manually and opened on tightly-arranged bench seating, the Mark VI brought automatic doors and plenty of standing room.

In 1982, the Walt Disney World Monorail was extended with the addition of a separate line serving Epcot. Other changes over the years have included the addition of the Grand Floridian station to the Magic Kingdom Resort line in 1988 and graphic enhancements to the monorail fleet in honor of special events. Images of Stitch were placed on the front of trains for the opening of Stitch's Great Escape! in 2004. Swirls of color graced the front cabs during the "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration in 2007, while 2009 brought bouquets of balloons for "What Will You Celebrate?" To generate excitement for the upcoming film TRON: Legacy, one of the trains on the Epcot line is currently wrapped in a design that gives the impression of Light Cycles racing along the monorail beam.

Even with all the changes that have occurred, the Walt Disney World Monorail system still generates excitement. Seeing a train pass by is one of the quintessential signs that you have arrived at the Walt Disney World Resort, and if you're driving up to Seven Seas Way or Disney's Contemporary Resort, consider it good luck if you happen to pass under the beam just as a monorail is passing overhead.

As for the narration on board, it has been rerecorded time and time again, but one piece of the original remains intact. For many, Disney wouldn't be Disney without hearing the voice of Jack Wagner intone, "Please stand clear of the doors. Por favor manténganse alejado de las puertas."

The Vacation Hub

Before the Walt Disney World Resort expanded to what it is today, the Transportation & Ticket Center (TTC) was the central hub of the entire property. It was here that visitors left their cars - and the real world - behind and turned themselves over to the magic of Disney. For day Guests heading to the Magic Kingdom, the TTC still creates the same effect.

The Magic Kingdom Guest Parking Lot, still the largest on property, has space for more than 12,000 cars. To help you find your car at the end of a long day in the park, each section of the lot is coded by character (Chip & Dale, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, Donald, Daisy, Sleepy, Dopey, Happy, Grumpy, Sneezy and Bashful), row number and colored poles along the tram route. Even if you can't recall any of those details, the Parking Cast can track down your car based simply on an estimate of when you arrived that morning, since they keep track of what section is parked at what time.

Once you're parked, it's time for a short tram ride to the TTC itself. All the way along, you'll notice that everything is coordinated to create a seamless experience. This even extends to the colors and graphic design of the Main Entrance arch, road signs, parking lot, trams, buses and the TTC. It all works in unison to let Guests know they've arrived and will be well taken care of.

Stepping off the tram, you're drawn forward to the colorful signs and banners of the TTC. Directional graphics guide you to your next destination, and Vacation Planning booths are available for those who may still need some help putting together all the options.

Once you've created your "Magic Your Way" vacation, it's time to get started. Mickey and Minnie appear in graphic form with open arms on the gates ahead, welcoming you to the transportation concourse where the fun really begins.

It's here that ferries, monorails and buses (once referred to as "motor coaches" in an attempt to make them seem apart from the ordinary) await to whisk you to your destination of choice. In theory, one could still utilize the TTC as a Walt Disney World hub, since the transportation services here provide access to all four theme parks and several resorts. Today, though, many opt instead for the convenience of parking closer to wherever they're going for the day.

Just as the TTC provides that conduit for Guests arriving to the Magic Kingdom in the morning, it's also the place where they return once their adventures are through. All the transportation options, which some may perceive as overkill by day, become welcome relief for tired feet at night.

It's at the end of the day when the TTC offers one last convenience in the form of Mickey's Gift Station, providing that one last chance to grab a souvenir or a present for someone back home.

Sounds & Sights Along the Way

In the early years of Walt Disney World, that trip up World Drive to the Magic Kingdom offered little to see but trees and the occasional sign. Even the Auto Plaza was fairly nondescript. The fancy pink and purple Welcome statement that's there today only dates back to the 20th anniversary in 1991 (Interesting side fact: the arch across the top that holds the words "Magic Kingdom" was once part of the marquee for the Wonders of Life pavilion at Epcot).

Keeping Guests entertained and informed during the drive was a limited-range radio station (broadcast from a space inside Cinderella Castle that's now part of the Castle Suite). One of the first signs encountered on Disney property invited you to tune your AM dial to the station, where you could hear information on park hours, show times and special events, along with a selection of popular Disney tunes. Until it was discontinued in the mid-90s, the Walt Disney World radio station was a key element in creating that sense of "arrival."

While the '90s silenced the radio station, other forms of Disney promotion found their voice. With rare exception, Walt Disney World never used to directly advertise itself, opting instead to rely on word of mouth and the "free advertising" that resulted from regular press events. Today, those are still key to Disney's marketing strategy, but the company has also entered into television and outdoor advertising in a big way.

Billboards touting Disney Parks and attractions have become part of the landscape along Interstate 4, International Drive and other Central Florida roadways, but the most special examples are found within the borders of the actual resort. The entire entrance to Disney's Hollywood Studios is a giant Streamline Moderne and film strip statement, promoting some of the newest and most popular elements of the park.

Nearby, a billboard for The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror looms over World Drive, bringing the excitement of the attraction to life with animation and lighting effects. This particular billboard, one of the first to land on Disney property, has been in place for nearly fifteen years. It debuted shortly after the Tower of Terror's 1994 opening and has even been altered slightly over the years with the introduction of each variation to the attraction.

Elsewhere, dimensional billboards promote Disney Vacation Club, Mission: Space at Epcot (with glowing rocket flare) and "It's Tough to be a Bug" at Disney's Animal Kingdom (complete with a smoke effect emanating from the rear of stinkbug Claire de Room).

On-property advertising has certainly come a long way from that quaint little AM station, and it just goes to show that even when it comes to something as everyday as highway billboards, nobody does it quite like Disney.

Getting There Is Half the Fun

After the success of Disneyland in the 1950s, dozens of other business enterprises sprung up around the Anaheim park. When Walt Disney set out to acquire land in Central Florida, he was determined to avoid that clutter. Thousands of acres were purchased, and the Magic Kingdom was placed at the far end of the property, so Disney could have complete control over the experience.

Today, there's nothing like the feeling of arriving at The Walt Disney World Resort. The first indications of Disney on the standard green Department of Transportation road signs are exciting enough, but once you pass through the gateway, you're in another world. This is a place of magic and fun... a place Where Dreams Come True.

Suddenly, the cacophony of traffic, signs, lights, billboards and competing tourism destinations subsides. You're surrounded by green space. Everything here is orderly. Even the signs have a colorful touch (an enhancement introduced in the '90s as the resort expanded and outgrew the brown, ground-level signs which had been around since opening).

Heading up World Drive to your destination, nothing is there by accident. Stands of palm trees, not truly native to this part of Florida, dot the median to create a relaxing tropical atmosphere. You may even notice the mounds of white sand (trucked in, of course), helping to complete the illusion of escape.

Finally, like a beacon on the horizon, there it is. The Magic Kingdom!

Or is it? Per Walt's master plan, you're still nearly two miles from the park. For a total escape, you'll need to leave that car behind and completely surrender yourself to the magic of Disney's world.

Flashback: S.S. Rustworthy

Down at the end of Paradise Bay, the Paradise Pier Fire Department's fire boat S.S. Trustworthy has run aground and broken apart, creating a wet and whimsical play area. Conveniently enough, most of the "T"s in signs and placards that once read "Trustworthy" have fallen off, become obscured or simply rusted away. The end result being that the wreckage of the old fire boat has been rechristened the S.S. Rustworthy.

S.S. Rustworthy was an early Paradise Pier attraction at the Disney California Adventure park, where young Guests were encouraged to climb, explore and get a little wet. There were water cannons which could be fired at smaller boats in adjacent tide pools, activating sound effects and animation from the props. Explorers also came across misters, leaky pipes, pop jets, clam fountains and a water spouting whale.

Kids could even play fireman, standing behind one of two realistic looking fireman uniform flats and spraying each other with water.

On the upper deck of the ship, the wheel house featured hands-on controls that activated lights, sounds, gauges and a radar scope. There were also binocular stations, providing views across the bay at the distant Pier.

At times, the S.S. Rustworthy could feel like a quiet seaside remnant, a man made roost for visiting pelicans. Every so often, though (actually like clockwork on the quarter hour), rumbling could be heard from the ship's engine room as excess boiler pressure forced a huge release of air through the ship's whistle. The smokestack ejected a blast of water in the air, and all the boat's sound effects would blare in unison.

At one time, the S.S. Rustworthy play area was sponsored by McDonald's, also a participant at the nearby Burger Invasion stand. Some of the wreckage from the grounded fire boat was scattered about the Burger Invasion dining area. By 2008, McDonald's had moved on and much of the area around the S.S. Rustworthy had been closed to Guest traffic. Soon, the entire area will become part of a Victorian garden with all new restaurants fitting the period of the re-imagined Paradise Pier.