Saturday, April 30, 2016

24 MUST SEE Vintage Disney Commercials (VIDEO)

By Keith Mahne




There is nothing quite as nostalgic as a vintage Disney commercial from the good old days. Are you in the mood for a blast from the past? If so, today's article is for you! You are about to watch 24 of the best retro Disney commercials from the 1950s to the 1990s. This includes advertisements for Disneyland in 1957, the opening of Disneyland's Space Mountain in 1977, the opening of Walt Disney World in 1971, Peter Pan peanut butter from the 1950s, Pepsi in the 60s and 70s, and so much more. Basically, if you would like to be wrapped up in a warm blanket of Disney nostalgia, these commercials are exactly what you need. See for yourself...

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Interview with Disney Legend Charlie Ridgway - Show #20 - Disney Avenue Podcast





Welcome back to another exciting episode of the Disney Avenue Podcast. On today's show, host Keith Mahne is joined by MiceChat CEO Dusty Sage for an amazing interview with Disney Legend Charlie Ridgway. Before Charlie was hired as a cast member under Walt, he promoted Disneyland as a news reporter. During 1954-55, while the Park was still under construction, he authored some of the very first articles about Disneyland to appear in any of the major metropolitan newspapers. He also covered Disneyland’s grand opening celebration on July 17, 1955. Eight years later, he joined the Park’s publicity staff in 1963. Charlie helped launch the opening of Walt Disney World in 1971, Epcot Center in 1982, Disneyland Paris in 1992, as well as other special projects for celebrations such as Donald Duck’s 50th birthday and so much more. Charlie shared some truly amazing stories with us on the show so be sure not to miss this one...

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

The Making of Disneyland's Indiana Jones Adventure (Video)

By Keith Mahne




There is only one place in the United States where guests can join Indiana Jones for an adventure of a lifetime. That place is Disneyland. Wouldn't you love to to see how this beloved attraction was made? Well here is your chance! Back in 1995, the Disney Company released a special television program all about the creation of the ride. Hosted by Michael Eisner and starring familiar faces like John Rhys-Davies and Karen Allen, this special allowed us to hear directly from Imagineers like Tony Baxter about how the attraction came to life. They sure don't make TV specials like this anymore. So friends, if you'd like to see how the magic was made, join us for this special presentation of The Making of Disneyland's Indiana Jones Adventure...

Sunday, April 24, 2016

22 Photos of the Old Disneyland Heliport

By Keith Mahne




Prior to Disneyland's opening day, Walt Disney made a decision to grant his guests the option of arriving to his Park by helicopter. Naturally, Walt took the initial test flight back in July of 1954. As he departed from the studio lawn in Burbank out to the Disneyland construction site in Anaheim, Walt realized the air commute was significantly shorter than the land commute, "a mere 20 minutes by helicopter" as Walt told viewers during one of his Disneyland TV specials. Walt immediately signed off on plans to open a heliport on undeveloped land just outside the park and a helicopter shuttle service to Disneyland was born. Join us today as we take a look back at the old Disneyland Heliport with these 22 MUST SEE photos...

Friday, April 22, 2016

27 MUST SEE Scans of the Disneyland Summer of '67 Guide Book

By Keith Mahne




The Disneyland Summer of 67' guide book is a wonderful way to travel back in time and visit the Park all those years ago. Jammed packed with beautiful color photos, this souvenir guide will show us the many exhibits, adventures and attractions that originally made Disneyland "the Happiest place on Earth." We'll see a brand new Pirates of the Caribbean in its original state, see the unveiling of a brand new Tomorrowland, learn about that summer's entertainment extravaganzas, see the many things planned for the Park that year, and so much more! Join us in today's new article and travel back to Disneyland of 1967 with this amazing, must see Disneyland Summer of '67 guide book you won't want to miss...

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

The Stories Behind Walt Disney's Last Photos at Disneyland

By Keith Mahne




In the fall of 1966, a couple months before the world mourned the loss of one of its greatest visionaries and most beloved figures, Walt Disney had publicity photos taken of himself at Disneyland. Joined by Mickey Mouse and a large group of other popular Disney characters, Walt posed in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle for the last time. Although we now know that these are the final publicity photos ever taken of Walt, which can be a bit somber, the stories behind them offer some comfort for the loss of the man who was never afraid to dream. Join us in today's new article as we hear the stories behind Walt Disney's last photos taken at Disneyland...

Monday, April 18, 2016

Hear the Rare Recording of Walt Disney Opening New Orleans Square

By Keith Mahne




Before New Orleans Square, Disneyland's Frontierland certainly had its fair share of southern charm. From the sparkling Rivers of America, to the Mark Twain River Boat and Aunt Jemima’s Pancake House, it made sense to build a new attraction at the bend of the river. Walt soon came to realize that New Orleans would make the perfect backdrop for a few new attractions his WED Imagineers were planning for the Park. And so, New Orleans Square was born and on it’s opening day, July 24, 1966, Walt Disney and the mayor of the real New Orleans were on-hand to present the first additional “land” to Disneyland. Hear the rare recording of Walt Disney from that very day as he opens New Orleans Square...

Friday, April 15, 2016

Disney Avenue's Take the Mickey Quiz





Want to test your Disney knowledge, win fun prizes and prove you’ve earned your ears? Then join us on our brand new show called Take the Mickey Quiz. Disney Avenue is thrilled to announce a new addition to our website and podcast offerings, the Take the Mickey Quiz, a Disney trivia game show podcast. Learn all about the show, find out how you can be a contestant, and listen to the very first episode in today's new article...

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

32 RARE Scans of the 1977 Walt Disney World 'World Magazine'

By Keith Mahne




In 1977, Walt Disney World resort guests would find a wonderful, complimentary magazine left inside their resort rooms that featured all sorts of information from every corner of the vacation kingdom of the world. This wasn't some flimsy little black and white pamphlet that they leave out now-a-days. This was a gorgeous, high quality booklet called World Magazine that featured an amazing overview of the resort, including the Magic Kingdom, other resort hotels on property, dining options, recreation activities, the Lake Buena Vista Shopping Village, and so much more. Seeing this magazine today allows us to have a nostalgic look back at the Walt Disney World Resort of yesteryear...

Monday, April 11, 2016

23 MUST SEE Photos Showing the Preparation of the Walt Disney World Site

By Keith Mahne




When you are given the opportunity to take a step back and see what the Walt Disney World site looked like prior to becoming what it is today, it's easy to see just how much work and imagination went into creating the vacation kingdom of the world. You will have that opportunity today as we present you with 23 breathtaking photos showcasing the preparation of Walt's final dream...

Saturday, April 9, 2016

The Sweatbox Documentary - Watch It Now Before It's Too Late

By Keith Mahne




The year was 1997, musical performer and composer Sting was asked by the Walt Disney Company to write the music for a new animated feature to be called Kingdom of the Sun. Sting agreed on the condition that his wife, filmmaker Trudie Styler, could document the process of the production with their own production company, Xingu Films. The result, an intimate look at the process that goes into making a Disney animated film, was a 86-minute documentary called The Sweatbox. Originally set for release in early 2001, the film was heavily edited down by Disney into just a short extra feature on The Emperor's New Groove DVD and titled it "Making the Music Video". Here is your chance to see the complete, 95-minute unedited version of the film that Disney never released...

Thursday, April 7, 2016

12 New Songs Just Added to the Disney Avenue Music Player

By Keith Mahne




What would Disney be without music? How about the Parks and Resorts without those magical music loops? I don't even want to think about it. Another thing I don't want to think about is Disney Avenue without the Disney Avenue Music Player. I'm always looking for ways to fill our playlist with more magical tunes that will not only transport you to your favorite Disney spot, but also soothe your soul and relax your mind. And so friends, I have 12 new additions to the music player that I think you are going to love. Join me in today's article and I'll tell you all about them...

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Zootopia: Breaking Box Office Records for a Reason

By Rebekah Coley




It probably doesn't come as a surprise to anyone when Disney pumps out another instant classic film. Yet, it is not every day that just any animation studio can create a film that truly pushes the boundaries of the expected fare. Such is the case with Disney’s release of Zootopia, which has been running strong in theaters for almost a month since its opening. Find out why Zootopia is not just a must see movie, but one that will leave you with a sense of renewed hope for the future in today's new article...

Monday, April 4, 2016

The Letter That Started It All

By Keith Mahne




People often wonder which piece of Disney history is the most significant. The answer almost always has to be Walt's October 16, 1923 handwritten letter that announces the start of the Walt Disney Company. Each year the Company celebrates October 16th as it's birthday; the day Walt Disney founded the company when he was just 21 years old. Today you'll get to see and read that very same handwritten letter that Walt sent to Virginia Davis' parents officially starting the Walt Disney Company...

Saturday, April 2, 2016

The 6 Fathers of Walt Disney World

By Keith Mahne




The creation of Walt Disney World took a variety of personalities and skills in order to make it into something worthy of the Disney name. Building the vacation kingdom of the world was all about overcoming amazing obstacles. Sure, there was leery bankers and alligator infested swamp land to deal with, but for the ones whose fate it was to transform 40 square miles selected in the middle of nowhere into something magical, the bankers and alligators were nothing compared to the task of making the park succeed without the guidance of the companies founder and "chief executive dreamer", the great Walt Disney. Walt, their leader and friend, had passed away almost five years before opening day and the six men charged to see his "latest and greatest dream" were creating not just a park, they were creating a legacy. In today's new article, we'll learn how the 6 fathers of Walt Disney World got the resort into working order...