Disney Kingdoms: Seekers of the Weird

By Nick

I was late to the party. Again. I didn't hear that Marvel and Disney had teamed up to bring fans graphic representations of Disney attractions until people all over Facebook started posting pics of the cover of Figment #1, which caused a lot of excitement, not only because it showcased the beloved purple dragon, it also featured the beloved Dreamfinder!

When I investigated and discovered it was actually part of a new comic book imprint called Disney Kingdoms,  I immediately looked into what, if anything, had already been published!

What I discovered was weird. Seekers of the Weird to be more precise.

I bought the graphic novel from Amazon, when it was inevitably released in that preferable format for me, and fully intended on reviewing it for Halloween time, which I thought would be appropriate considering the macabre subject matter.

Obviously, that didn't happen. But I digress.

Seekers of the Weird is based on concept art created by Imagineer and Disney Legend, Rolly Crump, for an attraction that was to be located at the end of The Haunted Mansion, a Museum of the Weird.

This attraction was so far along in the planning stages that it was featured on the Disneyland 10th Anniversary Show, with Walt Disney himself speaking to Rolly about the concept.
The show is on the Walt Disney Treasures-Disneyland USA DVD box set, and it is readily available on YouTube. As an added bonus, Marc Davis discusses concept work for the Haunted Mansion in the same segment.

As for the story in Seekers of the Weird, it is indeed weird. It reminded me very much of the odd horror comics I would read while at the doctor's or dentists office as a kid in the early 70s, or the Vertigo line of comics from DC I bought in the early to mid 90s. This isn't a bad thing, just surprising it's coming from Disney, and it may be off putting to an audience not accustomed to this coming from Disney. Not that the Haunted Mansion isn't on the dark side, come to think of it!

The artwork is good, and fits well with the story. The artists involved did a nice job paying homage to Rolly Crump's concept work.

This is an interesting read, but, to be honest, if not for the historical ties to Walt Disney era Imagineering, it would not have caught my attention. The same cannot be said for Figment, one of my favorite Disney characters, and I've already pre-ordered that graphic novel, which comes out in May.

Soarin' at Epcot

By: Jacqueline aka Jersey Diva 

   Photo courtesy of Canadian Diva

Who would have thought while taking a trip to Orlando, Florida one could also take a trip to California? At Epcot, Soarin' takes you "hang gliding" over the beautiful landscapes of the Golden State. Disney Imagineers went all out bringing California to life. They used an IMAX projection dome and aerially captured footage that reproduces the flight path of a hang-glider.  Feel like you're flying as you are lifted 40 feet in the air plunged in the sensational panoramas, swept from one scenic locale to the next.  Imagineers even went one step further allowing you to smell what you are seeing as you graze rolling waves, powdery ski slopes, majestic redwood forests, fragrant orange groves and familiar landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge.

Soarin' opened, officially, inside "The Land" pavilion on May 5, 2005.  Cast members wear costumes that resemble flight attendant uniforms.  Cast members at the Disney California Adventure Park version wear airfield crew costumes.  They do this to make guests feel like they are traveling to California, as opposed to already being there. This idea is further reinforced in that guests are loaded into "gates" and listen to airport-themed spiels which reference "Flight 5505", which is a tribute to the opening day of the attraction. 

While you are waiting in line to ride Soarin', check out the interactive games you can play. State-of-the-art infrared technology allows you to participate in 5 different games on massive screens using your body. The 5 games allow you to train your bird for a race, collect treasures as you pilot a hot-air balloon, "pop the blobs" to reveal a picture or create a virtual landscape by moving mountains and planting seeds. Makes waiting in line fun!

While traveling to Walt Disney World this past December, being 5 months pregnant, there were some rides I could not ride. Soarin' was not one of them.  However, middle Jersey daughter, age 2, could not ride.  No worries, Soarin' has the rider swap option. Jersey family, minus myself, Jersey sister, Jersey daughter and Jersey niece all rode Soarin' while we waited in the lobby.  When they finished, I was able to ride with oldest Jersey daughter and it was amazing to see her in such awe over getting to experience hang-gliding over California.

Happy flying!
~Jersey Diva

This article was originally posted on the Tips From the Disney Divas and Devos Blog, where Jersey Diva is a contributing writer.