Conference koolit::disney

    On the  Magical  World  of  Disney last night, during the Absent Minded
    Professor did anyone  catch  the  in-joke  while  Harry Anderson and Ed
    Begley were flying in the Car?
    
    Spoiler follows
    
    
    Ed begley mentions something about buckling up, just as they fly over a
    billboard  with  Mickey hands/arms buckling up seats belts  similar  to
    those buckle up decals on the windows of Ford cars.

    Claude    
    

    In the fall issue of Disney News, there an article about the new
    Fall TV program on NBC from Touchstone Television called "Nutt House"
    staring Harvey Korman and Cloris Leachman. It's a comedy about a
    bunch of crazy people who run a once famous but now run down hhotelotel
    in New York, the proud possesion of generations of the Nutt family.
    Looks like it could be a hit.
    
    CLaude

    This is about the speical on Disneylands 35 Birthday.  Having the
    muppets, on for most of the show to me was very upsetting. 
    Is there any else out there that feels like I do?  Would like to hear
    more on this.

    I still haven't fully accepted the idea of Kermit and Co. as part of
    the Disney family. I guess only today's kids can readily accept that.
    
    I enjoyed the Haunted Mansion and Jungle Cruise spots and would have
    liked to have seen attractions like "Pirates..",  "Splash Mountain",
    "It's a Small World", or even "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" instead of that
    Miss Piggy stuff and that rap group.
    
    On a side note, my kids got pumped when they saw the Haunted Mansion
    and were asking how the one in Orlando compares. All I said was, "Just
    make sure you guys leave room in the car for the ghost that rides with
    you" as I left the room.
    
    After the Jungle Cruise thing with Tony Danza my daughter said "I'm not
    going on that ride...we'll go shopping, right Mom?" Meanwhile, my own
    personal Indiana Jones, my 10 year old son, was ready to go.
    
    But the Muppet stuff I could have done without.
    
    Mike

    I enjoyed the Haunted Mansion and Jungle Cruise portion of the show.
    The part with Ernest really irritated me, and my kids got bored.
    I really thought the show could have been better.  Glad I didn't
    waste time taping it.
    

    
     I thought the show was fair at best. The Haunted Mansion and Jungle
    Cruise bits were good, but ate up too much of the hour. But a thumbs
    down for the Cinderella, or should a say Pigerella sketch. They should
    have axed that one. I agree with a previous reply about the Ernest and
    dad deal. This one wore thin quick. All in all, I thought they could
    have done alot better with the hour they had.
    
    George
    
    P.S. I did like the way thet incorporated Cheer's into the show. But
         then, Cheer's is one of my favorite shows. 

    I don't know, I kind of enjoyed the Muppet parts.  But I like the
    Muppets better than Mickey & Co. anyway.  As I said when we discussed
    the Muppets integration into the Disney culture before, it will be
    interesting to see how they manage to merge the more adult
    sarcastic/satiric humor of Henson into the straight ahead sweetness of
    Disney.

    I could have done without Ernest, and the rap stuff a the end.  I would
    have liked to see more of the rides, or the new parade, or reminiscences
    of Disneyland past.  I think there were opportunities missed here to
    highlight the park rather than produce a TV show that would appeal to
    10 year olds.

    Another thing that bugged me is how did Woody from Cheers end up going
    to Disneyland alone with his friends when he was supposed to have grown
    up in Indiana?

    BTW, there will be another Disneyland 35th Anniversary special hosted
    by Harry Anderson on the Disney Channel later this month.  This one is
    titled "The Disneyland Story", and I hope has more park history and
    trivia for us Disneyphiles.

    Won't go on and on.. I agree with Len that I like the muppets but my
    overall feeling was I wanted to see more of the park.  Twice I dragged
    my fiancee into the room thinking they were going to show (first)
    Star Tours and (second) Splash Mountain..  Alas neither one was shown.
    
    I did think that the Haunted Mansion and Jungle Cruise sketches were
    good but could have been a few seconds shorter.  Pigerella could also
    have been shorter (or done without in favor of park history or
    attraction showcasing).
    
    Lastly, the rap could easily have been done without but wasn't as bad
    as my nightmares imagined it might be when I found out they were
    guests.  I will say I'm happy they werent around when the "Mary Poppins"
    score was written though .. :-)
    
    George
    

    I think that The Disney Channel's "The DisneyLand Story" will have what
    a lot of us were looking for last night. First there will be historical
    material on the park, secondly there will be some insights into the
    attractions, and finally there may be a look to the future.
    
    I think it's coming up soon...maybe this week?
    
    Mike

�   I think it's coming up soon...maybe this week?

    According to the Disney Channel Magazine, The Disneyland Story will be
    on February 13, 17, & 21.  (I just called home to check.)

    Rep to <<< Note 161.0 by MCIS2::RIZZO >>>

    Well after getting around to watching the show last night (tape delay),
    I too felt very uncomfortable with the Muppets at Disney.  I just can't
    picture the Muppets as  Disney's  creations,  I keep seeing Jim Henson.
    Also Ernest just doesn't equate a Disney feeling to me as well, since I
    knew he was a product of some comercial's prior to Disney doing a movie
    on him.
    
    I especially liked the Cheers opening/closing segments, the Cheers cast
    just seemed to be able to put the  feelings  across of what's it's like
    to be a kid at Disney (is this a  new trend for NBC specials?).  I also
    liked  Haunted  Mansion,  and  the part with Tony Danza on  the  Jungle
    Cruise  (wonder  how  many  newcomers won't go thinking they'll get wet
    under  the  waterfall  ;^)), but the rest of the show I could  of  done
    without.
    
    Claude

    I feel much better now.

    The Disneyland Story, hosted by Harry Anderson, premiered last night on
    the Disney Channel.  This is exactly what I wanted to see.  It covered
    the history of the park from the conception phase, through financing,
    construction, opening, the introduction of Audioanimatronics and the
    Monorail system, Captain EO, Star Tours, and Splash Mountain, to the
    present day and plans for the future.

    It talked about the many celebrities and heads of state that have
    visited, and the non-visit of Kruschev in the 1960's.  There was plenty
    of footage of Walt talking about his dream and its reality.

    One interesting technique they used was cutting in of scenes from the
    Disney animated classics to emphasize a point.  For example Jiminy
    Cricket almost being trampled among the rubble at Pleasure Island, said
    to represent Walt's idea of a typical amusement park of the 50's.

    While the show was somewhat sanitized, they did mention some of the
    early financial problems and opening day screw-ups, and the near
    downfall of the Disney empire in 1984.

    As with any good show I just wished they had time to show more.  I
    taped it, and plan to watch it several more times.

    I missed it. But it's on again this Saturday. I'd like to see "The Walt
    Disney World Story" someday....probably not until 1996 (25th
    Anniversary).
    
    Mike

    I think this is appropriate, if not, moderators can delete.
    
    FYI - Tomorrow night, July 4th, there is a 2 hour Disney 4th of July
    special on channel 38, for those in the Northeast, it may be on other
    channels in other parts of the country.  I think the blurb I read 
    mentioned that some of the celebration will take part at Pleasure Island.
    
    enjoy - I hope to be home in time to view it.
    
    - peter

    Peter,
    
    What station is your channel 38. And do you remember the time?
    
    John

    John, Channel 38 is a Boston-area UHF television channel.  If it's
    running in other areas, it will be on an independent channel - possibly
    another UHF channel.  BTW, Channel 38 isn't available all over the
    Northeast.  I believe that it's not available in northern NH and western 
    MA, and probably not in ME, VT, or CT (maybe parts of CT).
    
    Susan

    A lot of northern NH cable companies run TV 38 because of the Red
    Sox. Check the cable listings elsewhere in New England.
    
    

    Darn !  I'm reading this file today, the 5th of July.  Did anyone
    happen to tape the show and be willing to let me borrow it for an
    evening ?  I always enjoy any show that lets me get a glimpse of
    Disney. 
    
    Diane
    

    Rep to <<< Note 27.7 by TARKIN::BOUTOTTE >>>

    Diane,
    
    I didn't tape it,  since  nothing  spectaculary  new opened since their
    last  special (Easter), I figured  it  would  be  mostly  outside  acts
    (songs, parades etc.) and I was  right.    The  only  new  thing  was a
    condense version of the Calling Dick Tracy stage show at MGM and a flim
    clip on Mickey's Starland, nothing spectacular.
    
    My only real gripe was NEW  KIDS  ON  THE  BLOCK,  geessh they sang the
    exact same songs in the exact same location as last year special, don't
    they have any new songs?  Gee I  wonder  if  they were wearing the same
    cloths or not? could of just been a tape from last year?
    
    I  did  like  watching  Sam  Wright  (spelling?) who did the  voice  of
    Sabastian  in  the  Little  Mermaid,  who sang both 'Kiss the Girl' and
    'Under the Sea' to bad they didn't have him sing at the accademy awards
    instead of what's his name.
    
    Claude

    I'm going to double check the tape from last year, but I'm willing to
    bet that the NKOTB segment was a tape from last year.  Yeah, they did
    the same songs, but the clothing looked awfully familiar.
    
    Joel
    

    I caught the last hour of the show and wasn't very impressed. I do
    enjoy catching glimpses of the characters and the parks, but I HATE
    Regis (fullofhimself) Philben.
    
    John

    Evening Magazine (ch.4) will broadcast "An Evening at Disney World"
    tonight (26-NOV-1990 @ 7:30).
    
    Mike

    I'm at my in-laws for Easter and just before we sat down to eat I
    flipped on the TV to watch the parade. Best part about it was seeing
    the kids and my wife get excited about the show.
    
    I expected to see a little bit on the "Honey I Shrunk the Kids"
    playground but apparently the push this year was for "...Muppetvision
    in 3D". Doesn't Eisner usually get in on introducing a new attraction?
    His absence was also a bit conspicuous.
    
    And as always, the parade route was a reversal of the normal route due
    to the cameras set up near the train station.
    
    Watching the parade also made me recall my thoughts from last Summer
    while down there waiting for "Fantasy in the Sky". Will the WDW people
    allow the trees along Main Street and in front of Cinderella's castle
    continue to grow or will/have they trimmed them? Just a thought, I
    think the clump of trees in front of the castle should be trimmed and 
    kept to a certain height so as not to take away from the view of the
    castle as you walk down Main Street USA.
    
    It would have been nice to have received an update on Splash Mountain
    but I guess there wasn't enough time....would have had to bump one of
    the zillion commercials they had.
    
    When I saw the flag waving at the end and the thousands of people along
    Main Street USA I for once in my life was glad I wasn't there. I'll bet 
    the crowds are large on Easter Sunday or any day in which they are
    doing a TV show.
    
    One last thought............does anybody ever notice that Regis Philbin
    always finds NH people in the crowd?
    
    Mike

	Greetings all,

Last night on British TV, there was an excellent programme about Disney 
animation.  It was one of a series called `Omnibus' and it featured
"Unreleased footage from the Disney vaults".  Now I'm not knowledgeable
enough to know whether this was true or not, but they certainly showed stuff
I had never seen before.  This is from memory and a few scribbled notes, so
please excuse any errors ... as I said, I'm not an expert like most of
you guys. 

Basically they did a brief history of W. Disney's career from his first 
days as an animator ... where they showed some of his first `Laugh-a-Grams'
such as Puss In Boots (1922), The 4 Musicians of Bremmen (1922) and Alice's 
Wonderland (1923?).

They went on to discuss the `Silly Symphonies' series which were apparently 
his first colour films ... they showed footage of the ladies in the `Colour
Room' mixing all the colours in large pots.

Next was more footage of these colour cartoons including Country Cousins
from 1936, with two mice in it that looked more like Chip & Dale to my
uneducated eyes.

They then talked about Walt's first really big project, the feature-length
animation of Snow White.  What was interesting here was that they showed
the live action footage using human actors, that was used to give the 
animators a reference when they were creating the cartoon characters.  They
also mentioned that, during the 4 years Snow White took to make, they tried
out various `types' of female characters in other short animations such as
Goddess of Spring (1934) and The Cookie Carnival (1935).  One was rejected for
being `too bendy'?  I can't remember the name of the other short, it was 
`Broken something-or-other'.

A lot of pencil footage was shown, complete with music etc.  These were the 1st
drawings, before they added the colour.  If they liked the sequence, then they
went ahead and coloured it.  One of the original animators (Ollie Johnson or
Ward Kimball, can't remember which), came on to say that he'd worked on `The
Soup Scene' (which they showed in pencil format) for 8 months, but Walt cut
it from the film as it `didn't look right'.


This is getting far too long so I'll summarise the rest:

o Talked about Disney losing it's appeal after the war
o Roy E. Disney said he didn't like Sleeping Beauty because it was `too real
  and too stark'
o Showed footage of Eyvind Earl working on original `look' of SB
o The 60's came and Disney `went out of fashion' 
o Walt lost interest in animation and concentrated on Disneyland, tv etc.
o Listed and showed footage from unreleased films from the `Disney Morgue'
  Reynard the Fox, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, Hansel & Gretel, The Little
  Fir Tree, The Emperor's Nightingale, Goldilocks, Jack Spratt, the first
  attempt at The Little Mermaid and the Emperor's New Clothes
o Onto the modern post-Walt era and the re-entry into animation with the
  new Little Mermaid.
o Mike Eisner said it was ok to change the endings of ancient fairy tales,
  but wouldn't do it to a `classic novel' !
o Showed more pencil footage from LM & BATB ... kept switching between pencil
  and `real' colour footage, a very clever and effective part of the programme
o Talked to the BATB directors and showed different `Beasts' and said that
  the film was based on the Cocteau version (1939), `La Belle et la Bet' 
  (apologies for my french accent, and most probable mis-spelling).
o Showed footage of the new Aladdin feature, which looked like Aladdin
  rescuing a monkey (?) from a volcano (well, it was late by then!)

Anyway, I normally don't get to hung-up on the technical side of Disney, but
I found the programme fascinating and enjoyable.  It's taped if any of our
UK readers didn't get a chance to see it.  Let me know if you want to borrow
it before I wipe it clean.

	Andy. 

    I watched it over my shoulder while trying to install some 
    packages on my new PC, with the result that divided attention 
    meant failure on both counts! I did tape it as well, so I will 
    watch it at my leisure later on, but my recollection matches 
    Andy's. It was interesting to watch the footage change from line 
    drawing to colour and back again - first time I've seen that 
    effect broadcast as a sequence.
    
    Couple of nits - 
    It was Roy O. Disney, Walt was the E (for Elias).
    (Anyone know what the O stands for?)
    
    La Belle et La B�te?
    
    The Aladdin sequence near the end was fascinating, showing him on 
    the Magic Carpet rescuing Abu (the monkey) from stepping stones 
    disappearing into molten lava. Isn't this the sequence which is 
    hand drawn but with computers handling the detail of the carpet 
    pattern? Excellent detail anyway!
    
    Mike B. (My tape is available for Northern Noters!)

    Is it Roy Oswald Disney? That's a guess.
    
    Another sequence taken out of Snow White was the one in which the
    dwarfs build this huge ornate bed for Snow...but it just didn't add to
    the story so that was nuked.
    
    Mike

Reprinted without permission from 

               The Disney Store Onstage  Holiday 1992  Volume 3

                Disney Holiday TV Viewing is Something Special


The magic of Disney lights up the television screen this holiday season! 
Thanksgiving week will sing with The Best of Disney Music on CBS.  The viewing
festivities continue throughout December with Mickey's Christmas Carol, Have
Yourself a Goofy Little Christmas and Disney's Christmas on Ice II.  (Check
local TV listings for date and time.)

    Get those VCRs ready 'cause it's time for ABC's Annual WDW Easter
    Sunday Broadcast.
    
    Unless they've been keeping a secret from the noters in here I don't
    expect Eisner to hype any new attraction and this will be the first
    time in a long time that an Easter show won't be showcasing a new
    lure for the general public.
    
    We may see some stuff on Splash and Aladdin's Grand Caravan but other
    than that what else can be hyped?
    
    I think a definite lure is SpectroMagic and if I were Eisner I would 
    show some portions of the parade and have commentary by someone like
    Joan Lunden who would say that the video doesn't do it justice and that
    you have to see it in person to appreciate it.
    
    I would then offer testimonials by some visitors.
    
    I would also present a feature on the different types of restaurants in
    The World.
    
    Anyway, just a reminder to catch this show on Sunday.
    
    Mike

    What is Aladdin's Grand Caravan?
    
    Judy
    

    Aladdin's Grand Caravan is a parade that is held over at MGM.  It looks
    like the procession in the movie where he entered the city once the
    genie made him a prince.  I didn't get to see it when I was there, but
    it looked like it was really neat.  I guess the camels that they have
    in the parade spit water on the crowd - they aren't real camels, but
    ones that they made there.
    
    Hope this helps!

    Judy,
    
    If you get a chance, watch the Disney Easter Special this Sunday. You
    may catch a glimpse of the Caravan.
    
    I think the parade is every day at 3 P.M. at MGM.
    
    Mike

    re: parade schedule...
    
    	It's on at 11:30 and 3:00 daily.  In Febraury when we where there 
    caught it twice, once at 11:30 by the gas station(where the parade
    starts) and once at 3:00 by star wars(where the parade ends).
    
    	It was great each time!!!!
    
    Tony

    Thanks for all the answers...does anyone know if EPCOT is still doing
    their afternoon "Surprise in the Skys" show and what time that is held?
    
    Thanks,
    Judy

    Judy I think that ended in October....dunno for sure.

    I think Mike is right about Surprise in the Skies. The calendar I have 
    here at work covering November, December, and January hours and show
    schedules only lists a performance schedule for Illuminations at Epcot
    -- nothing for the afternoon show. 
    
    Linda

    EPCOT needs a lift...I thing the Scandanavian Pavillion, Russian
    Pavillion, and Mount Fuji plans should be speeded up 'cause otherwise
    EPCOT will not attract as many crowds as the other two parks. That
    would be unfortunate since EC is the largest of the theme parks.
    
    If you noticed the Easter Parade show yesterday EC was hardly shown.
    
    BTW I was very disappointed in the show. If I was Mr. Eisner I would
    be thinking "Hmmm, for the first time in about 3 or 4 years we have 
    nothing new to show everyone....except for the Grand Caravan."
    
    Mike

    I couldn't agree more. As I noted in my trip report, EC really
    bored us this time around because there was nothing new. I'm glad
    to hear that some new pavilions are planned (any idea what the
    schedule is, Major?). Some revamping of the other part of EC is
    badly needed too, IMHO.
    
    -- Bill

    Bill,
    
    Well the cast members down there love to talk about new things coming 
    about. In 1990 one of the castmembers who hails from Dover, NH told
    me about this restaurant that was supposed to be like a drive-in 
    theater and BANG! the Sci-Fi Restaurant soon appeared. That same 
    year one castmember mentioned a new parade being designed for TMK
    (Spectromagic). usually the castmembers catch wind of these projects
    around 20-24 months before they are realized.
    
    Not much was said during the Summer of '92 except for Sunset Blvd. in
    MGM (at one point they weren't sure where it was going) and only the
    Scandanavian Pavillion was discussed in EPCOT....nothing on Russian
    PAvillions or Fuji. Also, mum was the word on the Boardwalk.
    
    My guess is that this year will be a "quiet year" and that 1994 will 
    see new things in Tomorrowland and in MGM but EPCOT remains a mystery.
    
    Keep yer eyes on "Captain EO" as it's possible that film may be either
    updated or replaced by another attraction. The Muppetvision attraction
    makes EO look too plain.
    
    Mike

    re: past few
    
    It's disappointing that in the year of EPCOT's 10th anniversary, there
    aren't more factors to draw guests into the park.  However, there are
    improvemnts planned for the park.  Upgrades to Horizons, the American
    Adventure, Spaceship Earth and Communicore are rumored and/or planned. 
    Also, Nestle is now the corporate sponsor of the Land so they're likely
    to make some changes.
    
    I think right now Disney is busy with a lot of other projects like
    adding more attractions to EuroDisney and Disney/MGM Studios so they've
    neglected poor ol' EC.
    
    Though I'm still wondering what ever happened to the planned Little
    Mermaid ride for Fantasyland...
    
    - Skip

    This is stretching this topic a bit but those in need of a Disney fix 
    should watch Full House tonight at 8. The show takes place in WDW.
    
    Mike

    Thanks Mike.... no ball game or scouts tonight.... it's mis eighties
    outside(in NH) a perfect way to get a quick fix.  This weather really
    makes me miss WDW a lot......
    
    Tony

    Late yesterday afternoon I happen to glance at the TV Guide and noticed
    that the Boston's FOX channel was showing "Journey Into Magic" a 1-hour 
    show on WDW.
    
    The program centered on four perspectives of WDW:
    
      - First there was a family of four who appeared to be going on their
        initial trip to Orlando. The father was having a tough time
        unwinding on the plane while the kids were dreaming about
        everything.
    
      - Secondly there was this honeymoon couple who buried themselves in
        all the brochures and WDW marketing material while the plane was
        in the air.
    
      - Next there was this golfer who planned to hit every golf course and
        hole (99?) in WDW in several days.
    
      - Finally there was this travel reporter who accepted a challenge to
        experience 12 themed resorts in one week.
    
    Here's some of the highlights of the show:
    
      - In MGM they talked about the animation tour, HISTK playground, 
        Indiana Jones, B&TB, and Aladdin's caravan.
    
        They talked with show producers regarding these attractions.
    
      - In EPCOT they spent a lot of time in Living Seas and talked about
        the birth of the manatee (sp). They also spent some time in Mexico,
        Norway, Germany, and Morocco.
    
      - In TMK they did a little bit on Mickey's Starland and then popped
        over and did a decent job on SPlash Mountain. They showed a lot
        (but not enough for me) of the Splash Mountain audioanimatrons.
    
      - They also talked with Major Mike who is the bandleader in TMK,
        "Bub" who is the creator of the "Dapper Dans" and is one himself,
        and they talked with castmembers throughout "The World".
    
      - They also did some stuff on Pleasure Island, notably The
        Adventurer's Club, Orbitron, and several clubs, and they showed
        the New Year's celebration.
    
      - From time to time they went back to the golfer but I thought they
        blew it here because the courses didn't look inviting.
    
      - The little angle on the travel writer kinda lost it's clout too 
        because every visit to  a resort was superficial EXCEPT maybe the
        GF and Y&BC visits. They did show some interior of The Vacation
        CLub also.
    
    The program ended with all these people on the plane discussing their
    fond memories.
    
    After watching this program it was clear that the producers wanted to 
    show:
            - Splash Mountain
            - A taste of MGM
            - World Showcase (to intrigue the adult audience)
            - The golf courses to draw some golfers
            - Pleasure Island to attract the young adults
            - The most recently opened resorts
    
    I wasn't particularly impressed with the program, especially because 
    conspicuous by their absence were:
    
            - SpectroMagic
            - Illuminations (a small glimpse did appear)
            - Fantasy and Sorcery in the Skies
            - Big Thunder and Space Mountain
            - Wonders of Life and The Maelstrom
            - TGMR and Catastrophe Canyon
            - Also, maybe before every commercial break they could
              spend 1-2 minutes talking about 2-3 resorts just to give
              viewers an idear of what each offers. I figure a 30-45
              second piece on each resort (with the PO/DL/CBR trip as
              a combined piece) would have been worthwhile. They could
              have also had each vacationer stay in a different resort
              to cover some of this information.
    
    You just can't fit everything into one hour and it was a one-hour
    commercial although it seemed funny not seeing Disney commercials 
    once they went to commercial. Delta was prominent throughout,
    especially at the beginning of the program when the stewardess said to
    the travelers "Are you ready for your (Delta) Dream Vacation?"
    
    The part of the program I enjoyed the best was listening to the
    castmembers talk. Several of them said, "All day long I see people
    smiling and happy because they are on vacation. My job is to make them
    smile and be even more happy. That's easy."
    
    Of course if you are an entertainer down there it's a lot easier to 
    get through the day than if you are the person who empties the trash
    barrels or cleans the toilets at night.
    
    By the way, over 33,000 (dunno if that's pre downsizing) castmembers
    make WDW run smoothly. Of course less than 100% wear badges. Can you
    guess which ones don't?
    
    Anyway, if you missed this show......you didn't miss much. The WDW
    Planner is about 20 times better.
    
    Mike
    
            

    "Zoo Talk"
    
    A short feature from Discovery Island
     
    
    
    "Talk Net - Tennis Tips with Claudette" (Claudette Laliberte)
    
    60-second tips on tennis
    
    
    
     "Weather 'Round-the-World"
    
     Local weather personalities will be doing weather from a double-decker
     bus at EPCOT Center.
    
    
     I don't know when and where these will be aired.

    
    Not sure if this is the right place for this note, mod please move
    to right place.
    
    On PBS here in Colorado, I watched a NOVA show entitled 'Roller
    Coasters!'.......my wife and I love roller coasters so we were watching
    for that, and lo and behold, half the show became about Disneyland.
    Included was footage of 'Uncle Walt' himself tooling around Disneyland
    on the Matterhorn, and short clips of him talking about what Disneyland
    is all about.  
    
    Disneyland got involved in this show cause the show traced the start of
    roller coasters thru modern steel behemoths, and moved into 'theme' vs. 
    amusment parks, and on to simulator rides like Back-to-the-Future, and
    Earthquake at US, and futuristic virtual reality parks.
    
    Definitely a show worth seeing for amusement park fanatics.....
    
    --Bert

    Disney Easter Parade Show this Sunday.....big push for "Tower"
    
    Mike

    I caught this Saturday's Thunder in Paridise.  The prime location seems
    to be the Grand Floridian, although its named something else.  There
    is no attempt to hide the Polineasine hotel.  Its supposed to be
    on an ocean.  If you watch carefully, you can see monorail pilions.  
    and you can see the monorail go by a couple times.  The contemorary
    can be seen quickly in a couple fight scenes.  There are scenes from
    River country and the campground.  Next weeks show prveious looks
    like shot at the living seas.
    Of course the little girl's stuffed toys are Mickey and tiger.
    
    
    low budget show, uninteresting except for where shot.  doesn't stand a
    chance.

    I caught scenes shot from the GF balcony.
    
    * * * *
    
    The WDW Easter Show was somewhat less than what we are used to in the 
    past. First off I think the footage from the B&TB Stage Show was the 
    same as last year. 
    
    Every show usually spends time talking about new things going on at
    WDW in an effort to bring people back.
    
    Other than the bits on the All-Star resorts, Fort Wilderness Lodge,
    Innoventions, and Sunset Blvd. (real brief) we didn't see much. 
    
    I'm convinced that they purposely focus on MGM and Epcot to take 
    emphasis off TMK.
    
    The Nancy Kerrigan thing turned me off....but that's another thing.
    
    Too bad Sunset Blvd. and Innoventions weren't further along. Hope
    they are ready by Summer.
    
    Mike

    ABC will be showing a Disney special on Saturday Night. It will
    focus on Disney's 40 years in television.
    
    Mike

We watched the show. The celeb's interviewed talked about how great the old
Sunday night Disney show was and how it was a positive influence on their
lives. There were a few clips thrown in also. I thought that it was kind 
of strange that Cheech Marin and Hugh Hefner were featured guests, anyway....

My question is (and I think I'll write to Mr. Eisner about this) why
doesn't Disney repeat the old Sunday Disney TV shows? I think that
most of those stories would be of interest to today's families
and it wouldn't cost Disney a cent for new production. 

Doug

    Actually Doug they do repeat the shows but in a very subtle way on The
    Disney Channel. I think TDC is probably our best bet to catch those
    shows.
    
    Mike

   "Alien Encounters from New Tomorrowland" proves there IS life
   out there; actor Robert Urich slated to host one-hour special 

  BURBANK, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Feb. 13, 1995--The age-old
question "Is there life out there?" will soon be answered in a new
syndicated television special, "Alien Encounters from New Tomorrowland,"
hosted by actor Robert Urich.
  Taped on location at Walt Disney World Resort's newly refurbished
Tomorrowland area, "Alien Encounters from New Tomorrowland" will take
viewers on a fascinating trip through the extraterrestrial world, offering
proof-positive that alien life forms really do exist.
  Expert testimony, photographic evidence, scientific analyses, of close
encounters and interviews with ordinary people who have had extraordinary
experiences with alien beings will build the case for the existence of
extraterrestrials in our universe.  In addition, through the Freedom of
Information Act, the program's producers have uncovered page after page of
documentation proving conclusively that we are not alone -- and that our
government knows it.
  The finale of the show will reveal a close encounter of the Disney kind: 
a look at Walt Disney World's ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter," a
sensory thriller from Disney and George Lucas that allows visitors to
experience firsthand a chilling meeting with an alien creature.
  Host Robert Urich is best known as the star of such popular series as
"Vega$" and "Spenser:  For Hire," the latter of which has spun off into a
successful series of TV movies.  Urich currently hosts TBS' National
Geographic "Explorer" and "On Assignment" series, for which he has
received Cable Ace and Emmy awards.
  Writing, producing and directing "Alien Encounters from New Tomorrowland"
is Andy Thomas.  Thomas' credits include a wide range of investigative
reports on topics ranging from terrorism to the Kennedy assassination.  He
received an Emmy nomination as the original producer of Fox Television's
groundbreaking reality series "Cops."
  Most recently, Thomas wrote and produced the Cable Ace-nominated "Modern
Marvels" series for the Arts & Entertainment Network.
  "Alien Encounters from New Tomorrowland" will air between Monday, Feb.
27, and Sunday, March 26 (check local listings), and is produced by Thomas
& Friends Productions in association with Walt Disney World.

        'BUDDIES' AND POCAHONTAS MAKE TV SPECIAL DEBUT
                         IN
       'WALT DISNEY WORLD  HAPPY EASTER PARADE' APRIL 16 


  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., April 11 /PRNewswire/ -- The stars of a
brand-new, soon-to-air ABC-TV series and the heroine of Walt Disney
Pictures' long-anticipated film release, "Pocahontas," debut in the 11th
annual "Walt Disney World Happy Easter Parade" from the Magic Kingdom
April 16.  The one-hour show airs at 12:30 p.m. E.T. on ABC-TV (check
local listings).
  The Disney character Pocahontas greets viewers for the first time with
co-star Captain John Smith.  Actors Dave Chappelle and Jim Breuer of
"Buddies," which will premiere at 9:30 p.m., April 18 on ABC-TV, set up
shop for the Easter extravaganza on Main Street, U.S.A., in the popular
role of "Men on the Street," where they'll greet Disney guests along the
parade route.  The two appeared March 14 in an episode of "Home
Improvement."
  Hosted by Joan Lunden of "Good Morning America" and Regis Philbin of
"Live With Regis & Kathie Lee," the Easter pageant also will feature a
behind-the-scenes look at the making of Disney's long-awaited
"Pocahontas," to be released in theaters nationwide this June.
  The Pocahontas and John Smith characters will star in "The Spirit of
Pocahontas," a musical stage show premiering June 23 at Disney-MGM
Studios.
  Special segments of "Mickey Mania," the madcap parade of everything
Mickey Mouse will spread some hip Easter cheer as part of the holiday
broadcast.  And a spring "snow" in Florida will take viewers by surprise
when a cast of favorite Disney characters visit Disney's newest water
park, Blizzard Beach.
  Other parade appearances will include characters from "Beauty and the
Beast," "The Lion King," "Aladdin" and "The Little Mermaid."
  Easter favorites such as Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny will appear in all
their finery, Goofy, Pluto, Winnie the Pooh and even the lovably lunatic
Roger Rabbit will join Joan and Regis for the Easter hour of pageantry.
 

    ABC tonight.