Sunday, February 28, 2016

Disney Avenue Podcast - Show #19 - Interview with Two WDW Cast Members from the Early Years





Welcome to another exciting episode of the Disney Avenue Podcast. For our very first show of 2016, we are joined by R.J. and Suzanne Ogren who are two former Walt Disney World cast members and they are about to blow you away with some amazing stories from their incredible careers working at the vacation kingdom. R.J. painted Animatronic figures and "plussed" attractions. Suzanne drove monorails, marched in parades, and entertained as Sleepy the dwarf, among other things. Together, the Ogrens brought their unique skills to Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom during its formative years. R.J. and Suzanne are about to share their wonderful memories with us so make sure not to miss this fantastic show...

Saturday, February 27, 2016

25 STUNNING Photos Atop Cinderella Castle You Have To See To Believe

By Keith Mahne




We all know that special feeling of walking down Main Street and seeing the amazingly beautiful Cinderella Castle as she pulls us in like a bug to light. Gazing at her beauty and seeing the castle at ground level is one thing, but how about the other way around? By that I mean seeing the rest of the Magic Kingdom from the vantage point of Tinker Bell. Have you ever wanted to know what it's like to climb to the top of the castle and fly across the sky? How about knowing what it looks like peering down that cable right before take off? Wouldn't you love to know the answers to these questions? I know I sure did, and now you will too. Join us in today's new article as we experience the nightly journey Tinker Bell makes prior to flying across the night sky in these 25 absolutely stunning photos from the top of Cinderella Castle. It's a view like none other and this one you'll have to see to believe...

Monday, February 15, 2016

The Day Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop Performed at the Contemporary Resort in 1975

By Keith Mahne




If you were planning a trip to Walt Disney World back in 1975, odds are you probably would have booked an evening at the Contemporary Resort's Top of the World Super Club. Wonderful stars from every entertainment discipline wanted to play this very special, very intimate space. Stars like Shari Lewis and the world's most famous puppet Lamb Chop would occasionally perform at the club. In today's new article, let's travel back to the Top of the World Super Club in 1975 and watch as Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop perform at the top of Walt Disney World's flagship resort...

Sunday, February 14, 2016

What If Disney Had Built Beastly Kingdom

By Brittany Bell




Upon it’s opening in 1998, Disney's Animal Kingdom called for the park to be a “kingdom of animals... real, ancient and imagined: a kingdom ruled by lions, dinosaurs and dragons.” Before there was Avatarland, and even before there was Camp Minnie-Mickey, there were plans for an extraordinary and heavily themed area within the park that would fulfill this dream. This land, to be centered around the mythical creatures of folk lore and legend was to be grand, extravagant, and a completely immersive experience into an entirely new world…say hello to the Beastly Kingdom. Unfortunately, plans for this wonderful realm never materialized in Animal Kingdom, and are now found (more or less) in Universal Studios in Harry Potter Land. In today's new article, let's find out what this mysterious, yet magical, land would have looked like if Disney had built Beastly Kingdom...

Friday, February 12, 2016

Mickey’s Toontown: The Message of Your “Home’s” Décor

By Randy Crane




Thousands of guests every day visit Mickey Mouse at his house, kids play in Donald Duck’s boat, and also stop at Goofy’s house to play around. It happens all day long inside Toontown at Disneyland. But have you ever taken the time to look at how they’ve each decorated their homes? In today's new article by Disney Avenue contributing writer Randy Crane, we'll take a walk through of each one and consider how they can encourage and challenge us in our own lives...

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Take a Tour of Walt's Office

By Daisy Sparks




One of the benefits of being a D23 Gold Member is being able to attend some of their premium events. And when the chance comes to be one of the first to get a peak into Walt Disney’s old office suite, you take that opportunity as quickly as possible. After saving the date on the calendar and diligently waiting for the tickets to become available, the day finally came. On January 29th, it was time to head to Burbank for a visit to the Walt Disney Studio. Today, I'd like to take you along with me for a personal tour of Walt's office, and what a tour it was...

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Remembering ‘On the Record’- The Forgotten Disney Revue

By Rebekah Coley




Over the years, many Disney stories and songs have been brought to life (outside of the parks) in glittering productions. Sadly, not every show created by Disney Theatricals has earned a place among the stars. Disney's music revue "On the Record" falls into this category. Despite the fact that this show didn't reach stardom status, Disney Avenue contributing writer Rebekah Coley feels that this soundtrack still deserves a spot on your Disney playlist. Check out her full review in today's new article...

Saturday, February 6, 2016

91 Vintage Disney Postcards You Have To See

By Keith Mahne




Looking at vintage Disney postcards is a favorite pastime for thousands of Disney fans the world over. Whether you enjoy collecting them or just simply looking, Disney postcards capture the spirit of the Parks and are small time capsules of what once was. In today's article, a close friend of Disney Avenue shares 91 vintage Disney postcards you have to see...

Thursday, February 4, 2016

See the Original Pitch Walt and Roy Disney Used to Build Disneyland

By Keith Mahne




Place yourself in Walt Disney's shoes back in 1953 for a moment. You have a dream in your mind and the only way for that dream to become a reality is if you can get a few bankers in New York to see it as you do. That was the dilemma Walt Disney was facing on a Friday afternoon in 1953 when his brother Roy was just hours away from leaving for New York that following Monday. Roy requested that Walt give him something visual for the bankers to see in order for him to secure the funds to build Disneyland. The images you are about to see are the exact same files that Walt and Herb Ryman created that special weekend for Roy Disney to show the bankers. In today's new article we will travel back to 1953 and become a fly on the wall at the Walt Disney Studios as we look back at the documents that made Disneyland, Walt's greatest dream to date, into a reality...