Interview With Disney Historian Jim Korkis - Part One

In January, while at Walt Disney World, my wife and I took a brand new tour being offered at the Boardwalk Resort. I saw a man taking notes, and thought he looked familiar. A quick Internet check confirmed that this was indeed Disney Historian Jim Korkis. In fact, Jim created the term "Disney Historian"!

I struck up a conversation with Jim, and he was very gracious when I told him I too was a writer for a blog, and asked if I might interview him. We wound up talking for over 2 hours, with about 30 minutes recorded on video.

Part One of the interview is about his newest books, "Who's Afraid of the Song of the South? And Other Forbidden Disney Stories" and the "The Revised Vault of Walt."

I can't tell you how great it was to spend time speaking with Jim, we discussed many different topics, which I will be sharing in the future.

Cars Land's Radiator Springs Racers Desktops

Monday I posted a video of Disney California Adventure's Radiator Springs Racers attraction in Cars Land.

 It's a tremendous ride whenever you experience it, but at night it is even more fantastic!

My Favorite Hidden Mickey

In Epcot, in Maelstrom, at the Norway Pavilion is a hidden Mickey of sorts. It's more funny than most of them out there, have you seen it?  I love to visit this mural just to make sure this Viking hasn't taken his ears off yet! Can you spot him in the photo below? Do you have any favorites out there you can recommend?

Walt Disney Classics Collection Bambi

I bought this Walt Disney Classics Collection Bambi on eBay for $18.95 + $12.35 shipping.

 Titled "The Young Prince", he was the 2004 Walt Disney Collectors Society Membership Sculpture.

It also came with a color lithograph of Bambi and Thumper.

One of my earliest memories is of seeing "Bambi" in 1975, so it has a special place in my heart. 

And this sculpture is all heart!

Chalk Art, Festival of the Masters, Downtown Disney

Guest Writer Wednesday

Chalk Art, Festival of the Masters, Downtown Disney
By: Gaylin

One weekend in November, every year, Disney holds the Festival of Masters art weekend at Downtown Disney. I specifically planned my last vacation to take this in. I was overwhelmed by the sheer size of the event. For those of you who have been to Downtown Disney in Orlando, think about the walking around area that there is and add over 240 booths! There was art available to buy from artisans from all over the US. Wood, glass, ceramic, jewelry, an amazing array of beauty.

And then there were the chalk artists. There were two areas set up for the chalk artists to draw. One area was all high school students, the other area was for adult chalk artists.

Here is some of the work in progress Saturday morning. All of the in progress photos are in the high school student area.

 

And here are some finished drawings from Sunday morning.

 

These next three are from the adult artists area.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Festival of the Masters. I don't know if I would specifically make plans to be there again but I am very glad I did plan for it on this trip. If you do go to this Festival, get to Downtown Disney as it opens and the booths are just opening up (around 10 a.m.). By 12:30 p.m. Downtown Disney is extremely packed and a bit suffocating. I was very glad I had gotten there in the morning both days. And if you start in the Marketplace be sure to walk all the way down to the Cirque Du Soleil theater as the entire concrete apron in that area is filled with art kiosks as well.

Mickey's Brave Little Tailor Disneyana Mug

Brave Little Tailor Tuesday!

Back in the early 90's, Disney started to hold Official Disneyana Conventions. I didn't make it to one of them. I'm not sure this was a bad thing, since I heard mixed reviews on the organization of these events, and I really couldn't afford a majority of the merchandise being offered anyway.

The one year I was very disappointed I didn't go was 1996. Each year of the convention had a theme, and 1996's was The Brave Little Tailor, my favorite Mickey Mouse cartoon. The convention was September 3-7th, and I had already scheduled a trip for later that month, so I could be at the park for Walt Disney World's 25th anniversary on October 1st, so I was out of luck. 

Or was I? To my astonishment, there were several convention items for sale in the Magic Kingdom! I bought a few of the more affordable items, and they have been favorites for years.

Today, let's take a look at the mug I bought way back in 1996.

The graphics and color are just beautiful, just like Princess Minnie.

The giant can't believe there were still mugs left after the convention...

...because they were limited to 2,000 pieces!

Made exclusively for the Walt Disney Theme Parks and Resorts. Please stop back next Tuesday to see a hat from this convention.

Radiator Springs Racers Video Ride Through

What can be said about one of the best rides ever to come out of Disney Imagineering, the new Radiator Springs Racers in Cars Land, Disney California Adventure?

Spoiler Alert! This is a ride through of the whole attraction, so if you want to be surprised, don't watch! 

Flea Market Find: A Mickey Mouse Life

I got this Life magazine from November of 1978 at the Flea Market for $3. The cover blurb next to Mickey reads "Why is this middle-aged mouse laughing?"

The article, titled Mickey's Children starts off with a discussion on the state of animation at that time, with a look at Ralph Bakshi's "Lord of the Rings." It even mentions one of my favorite non-Disney animated movies, "Watership Down."

We then get into a look at upcoming Disney animated features, "The Fox and the Hound" and  "The Black Cauldron" the retirement of the last of the "9 Old Men" and the young talent coming up. The article states that "Fox" would be released in 1980. It was actually released in 1981. "Black Cauldron" was released in 1985. It paints a rosy picture for a studio in serious trouble. The period after Walt Disney's death in 1966 through the Eisner, Katzenberg, Wells era, starting in 1984, were it's most dire.

I had never heard of the animated short "The Small One" previous to this, but it was the first animated short that the young crew of animators produced.

And that's it! I was expecting a lot more considering the cover. But wait, there's more! When I first bought this, I didn't even open it up. After I got home and looked through it, I was pleasantly surprised to find I had bonus material!

I'll feature these 2 items in a future "Flea Market Finds"

Banana Split at Beaches and Cream

by Barbie

I've never been one to like bananas. Ever since I was little. Every one around me loved them and I just never understood the attraction. Then Nick asked me to share a banana split at Beaches and Cream at the Yacht and Beach Club Resort in Walt Disney World.

Against my better judgement, I said "yes."

So I dug in!

And I kept at it too! And all of a sudden I was appreciating the banana split and wanting more! Now I'm sitting here craving one, but I still don't want a bare banana. It must be the ice cream and all the awesome toppings that make a banana edible!

An InLinkz Link-up

Napa Rose at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel

Last Friday I shared an excellent dining experience at the Carthay Circle Restaurant in Disney California Adventure. Today I'd like to share what was arguably an even better meal at Napa Rose at the Disneyland Resort.

I say arguably because our dining party, consisting of Barbie, her cousin Jill, Jill's husband Zach and me, literally couldn't agree on which meal was superior.

Let's look at this lovely establishment located at the equally beautiful Disney Grand Californian Hotel. As you enter, there is a lounge to the right.

 The dining room is warm and inviting, featuring an open kitchen.

 

 Barbie

There is a great wine selection, and Jill and Zach picked an excellent bottle for the table, Foxen Pinot Noir 2010.

For an appetizer, I had the Crepe Filled with Duck Confit and Swiss Chard, Carrot Puree and Pinot Noir Essence, $17.

Barbie had the Bellwether Farms Ricotta "Malfatti" Dumplings, Black Trumpet Mushrooms, Tuscan Kale and Blood Orange Vinaigrette.

Zach had the Slowly Braised Kobe Beef Cheeks, with Parsnip Ravioli and Cabernet Broth.

All of us loved our appetizers. As I was in a ducky mood, I continued with that theme with my even more wonderful entree, the Cedar Roasted Maple Leaf Duck Breast, Truffle Pumpkin Puree, Tree Mushrooms and Brown Butter Vinaigrette.

Barbie and Zach had the  Sauteed Sustainable Fish of the Day - Roasted Golden Cauliflower Couscous and Cranberry-Walnut Pesto, the fish that evening was Swordfish. This was Barbie's favorite dish of the entire trip, and that is saying something!

Zach also ordered the Truffled "Mac & Cheese" Orecchiette Pasta, with Parmigiano-Reggiano, which was delicious, which he was kind enough to share, and it was delicious.

Jill had the Herb Roasted Colorado Rack of Lamb, Jalapeno Cheddar Pop-over, Roasted Root Vegetables and Sangiovese Jus.

This was all outstanding. And I thought, "How could it get better?" Then, came the desserts!

Our Signature "Best Ever Hot Chocolate", Rich Scharffen Berger and Valrhona Manjari Chocolates with Fresh Doughnuts. They even wrote Happy Anniversary on it, as Barbie and I were celebrating our wedding anniversary early. 3 months early, but still, celebrating none the less!

And yes, this may have been the best hot chocolate ever!

Warm Butterscotch Bread Pudding, Caramel Praline Ice Cream, Butterscotch Creme Anglaise.

They also brought this dessert out for our anniversary, a lovely surprise.

And speaking of lovely surprises, Jill and Zach surprised us by picking up the tab! Thank you again Jill and Zach!

Barbie, me, Jill, and Zach

Okay, I think looking back, and recalling the absolutely wonderful experience this was, I am going to give this the edge over Carthay Circle as best meal of the trip.

An InLinkz Link-up