Monsters University-A Review with Spoilers, So Watch Out!

We went to see Monsters University on opening night with friends and our five year old Godson. Our theater was packed with families. That probably made this movie a better experience for me, you see, the animated short that started the movie off "The Blue Umbrella" was, as usual, amazing, and in fact, more touching than the actual movie itself! Our audience clapped after the short, they were really into it!

Monsters University started off strong and seemed to fade off quickly. I was waiting for some of the scenes to show up from the previews that were playing on TV, and none of them were in the movie. What a letdown! Maybe the movie would have been better if they had included the scene where Sully makes Mike into a disco ball? I don't know. Even though there were some laughs, I found myself wondering when the movie was going to end! What's wrong with me?

My expectations are high. That's the problem. Monsters Inc. has such heart, you really can't get the story out of your head. Remember Kitty? Who doesn't! There is nothing like that in this movie.

There is a multitude of characters, many of them laugh-out-loud funny. Some of them memorable. Some scenes are very cute. And at certain scary points of the movie, we could hear a kid saying, "I want to go home now!"

Our audience roared, screamed and growled, hmm, they must have gone to Scare School, like we did! I'm sure most of the audience really enjoyed the movie, and there were some great parts, but it's not a movie that you'd put in your DVD or Blu-ray collection.

Happy 50th Anniversary Disneyland's Enchanted Tiki Room

Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room, the first audio animatronic attraction, officially opened at Disneyland 50 years ago today.

The Tiki Room was one of the attractions, along with the superior Pirates of the Caribbean and Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, that I was MOST excited to see when we first visited Disneyland February of 2008, due to it's history.

Walt with one of our masters of ceremony, Jose.

Jose still squawking today.

We visited it several times over our 3 day visit, and loved taking a Dole Whip or Dole Whip Float along to enhance the experience.

 Yes, it was THAT cold out!

The Walt Disney World version is edited and is missing the Magic Fountain, but I still highly recommend checking it out.

Happy 50th Tiki Room, and thank you Walt!

The Country Bear Jamboree

What are you going to do, hit me over the head with that guitar,
throw me over your saddle and use me as a snack after the show?

Well, anyone who knows me, knows I hate the Country Bear Jamboree. It's something I was born with. I'm not sure why more people don't feel the same way. When we were young, my Dad took us down to Florida to visit family and we got to spend one afternoon in Disney World. The Country Bear Jamboree is one of the few memories I have of the trip, and they aren't good memories. I don't get it to this day!

Oh yeah, dress them up all cute and all of a sudden they aren't so scary,

but they're still looking at YOU like a prime piece of beef!

Blood on the saddle?! REALLY? Whose blood? Did someone die, were they murdered? As a sensitive kid I was extremely aware of the words to that song and couldn't get it out of my mind, in fact I still can't. Were they hurt, maimed, did they get separated from their party? I still don't understand. Can someone explain that one to me?

Well, I swore up and down that no one could get me into that attraction again, but our friend Marilyn and Nick drug me in there a couple years ago to relive the horror all over again. Let me just say now, it's no better now than it was back in the 70's! Stay away! Those bears are out for blood and they'll get it somehow!

 No, I will never go in there again!

This is the only other memory I have of the trip. My dad trying to make it up to me.

Walt Disney Classics Collection Limited Edition Stitch

Summer arrives in the Northern Hemisphere today.
This Walt Disney Classics Collection Stitch was the 2006 Spring Premiere Event limited edition sculpture. But to me, it says "Summer" rather than Spring.

"Greetings From Paradise" measures 4 1/2 inches high.

What do you think Stitch has in his coconut?

That is one awesome shirt he's sporting!

Limited to 4000. 

The production mark for 1996 is the Trowel, in honor of Practical Pig in the Academy Award winning 1933 cartoon, 'The Three Little Pigs'.
For another WDCC Stitch figurine, check out this post by Barbie.

Here's hoping everyone has a wonderful Summer here in the north, and we hope folks in the Southern Hemisphere have a wonderful Winter!

Monsters University Vinylmation

This past weekend while at the Disney Store, becoming Scare School graduates, we decided to pick up a new Monsters University Vinylmation.

Characters from this set include known Monsters Inc. characters like Sulley, Mike Wazowski, and Randall Boggs, and our favorite, George Sanderson as well as new ones such as Archie the Scare Pig Art, Don Carlton, Scott "Squishy" Squibbles, and Johnny Worthington III.

We asked George Sanderson to pick one out for us. Preferably George Sanderson!

We got Randall Boggs. And here he is.

Hmm, he seems to be blending in with that background, let's move him to where we can see him more clearly.

I love the glasses!

Yes, Randall is a bad guy in Monsters Inc., but perhaps he is misunderstood. We'll have to see, when Monsters University comes out this weekend!

A Different Kind of Sidewalk Art!

Guest Writer Wednesday

A different kind of sidewalk art!
By: Gaylin

On different trips to Walt Disney World, I have had the pleasure of coming across these artists at both the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Their art is simple, fun and not timeless. Really, not timeless, their art starts to evaporate as soon as it is finished! What always surprises me is the amount of people who walk by or walk over this art without ever stopping to notice it.

What art am I talking about! Mop art by cast members who work janitorial services at the parks. And yes, I did talk to more than one of these cast members and they are really janitors and not artists!

Came across this fellow at the Magic Kingdom one afternoon. Carl was a college student and this was his first day of doing sidewalk drawings, I think he did a wonderful job.

Wait, pay attention, don't walk on Mickey!

The beginning of Minnie.

Minnie all finished.

Loved this Stitch!

And Pluto.

And if you ask nicely, the artist will let you pretend you are the one who did the drawing! Minnie and me . . .

Ears a Fantasia Flamingo

We picked this very amusing, and amused looking, flamingo up at the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival in 2011.

He is from "Fantasia 2000," appearing in the "Carnival of the Animals" sequence.

Authentic Original Disney Parks merchandise. From China.

Interview with Disney Historian Jim Korkis - Part 3

In this part of my interview with Disney Historian Jim Korkis, Jim talks about his time as a Disney Employee, and after he was let go from the Company.

     

   

 

The first 2 parts of this interview can be found here and here.

We are Graduates of Monsters University!

As anyone knows, when you attend school, the first thing you need is an ID and your class schedule, which is exactly what we received when the both of us attended Monsters University this weekend. We were allowed to pick our own "class photo" and we were required to choose a new and scary last name for ourselves. (Monster Classes are also held at random times during the week, especially when it looks like there are a lot of scary little monsters around, looking for schooling!)

 

Once everyone has been issued their ID cards, the fun begins. Our teacher was extremely well versed in monster training, working us through our paces, teaching us the tippy toe maneuver; screaming, roaring and growling, and a few other cool moves to scare friends, neighbors and class mates alike!

 

Here we all are trying to fill a canister with our roaring and screaming. It took us a while to fill it up, but as we're newbies, our instructor gave us a few goes at it. I wonder what the rest of the people in the mall walking by must have been thinking. I bet we scared them away! As you can see, we were a tough group.

At the end, since we all passed with flying colors, we were each given a school pennant and sent out into the world to do a little scaring. Boo!

Disney's Pin Traders in Downtown Disney

Disney's Pin Traders shop is located in Downtown Disney. In my opinion, it is the flagship pin store at Walt Disney World.

Obviously, you're going to find pins. Most of the pins you can find through all of Walt Disney World can be found here in one convenient stop.

 

A couple displays I really like. Pin-occhio. Very punny.

This display explains how to trade pins. We love the pins on the clock where the numbers would be, and are going to be actively searching for cool old clocks at the flea market to do this. I will be sure to share when we do.

There is also a very large assortment of Vinylmation.

Last, but not least, there are a couple of nice statuettes for photo ops here with Mickey and Minnie,...

...and here is me with Donald and Daisy.

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

Flag Day and the Flag Retreat Ceremony at Disney Parks

On August 3rd, 1949, President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States in 1777.

At Disney, every evening around 5:00pm, they hold a ceremony called the Flag Retreat Ceremony. It starts off with the Main Street Philharmonic Band and the Dapper Dans performing patriotic songs along Main Street around the flag, and military veterans are invited to participate. The flag is lowered while the band plays the Star Spangled Banner and everyone sings along.

The veteran that was specially picked that day and their family is presented with the flag, while the history of their military service is recited aloud to the attentive audience. There's never a dry eye in the crowd.

So if you'd like to participate in the event, please go to the City Hall as soon as you can! It is amazing, and you should be acknowledged for your service; and Disney and the visitors there know how to do it right.