5 posts tagged “disney”
Am checking in from BlogOrlando today. Before we get going I want to thank Josh (hyku.com) for pulling this un-conference today. I know the 'un' is supposed to mean less work, but that's not the case. Also want to thank Rollins.edu for helping provide the space. I've been to Rollins' non-profit workshops before and they are always very accomodating.
So now, on with the show.
It's my first unconference and we're expecting about 88 attendees, which is a great turnout for Orlando, which just a few years ago had only a couple of blogs devoted to the area. I'm looking forward to learning some new tips and tricks for The Disney Blog and will hopefully leave re-energized to provide my readers an event better experience and even more information from the Disney universe.
This is a picture of 'The Living Seas' the underwater pavillion at Walt Disney World's Epcot theme park. Until the Georgia Aquarium opened it had the largest aquarium in the United States. A recent Finding Nemo overlay of the attraction is continuing with the addition of a new attraction featuring dry for wet technology and most of the characters from Pixar's film. The pavillion will also get a name change to reflect the new theme. Opens in November 2006.
Expanded from my comments at Mena's Vox:
This weekend was the movie premier at Disneyland. All those in attendence were able to ride the updated attraction there. The few clips I've seen are wonderful and the changes all made in good taste. The ride opens today to average joes like us.
The one disadvantage of living in Orlando is that I'm so far away from Disneyland. I can't just run over there and participate in these events like I would love to be doing. Living in Orlando, does have it's advantages, for sure. We get four theme parks to Anaheim's 1.5, no traffic to speak of, and tons more wonderful dining. But we lose out to Disneyland on nearly every point when it comes to Pirates.
WDW Pirates won't reopen until July 6th (although we might get a sneak peak before that). We also get fewer changes and fewer new props. The ride is shorter too. I'm so bummed.
It would take me 25 minutes to drive from work or home to Downtown Disney. I would take half the money and buy tons of toys and games for Toys for Tots and other local children's charities at the Disney toy store, and half the money and buy as many collectibles that would go up in value as I possibly could. Alternatively, I'd take the second half and buy a membership in Disney's timeshare so my family could stay there when they come and visit.
Mushy and honest at the same time!
My wife owns a few Disney Collectibles from the Fantasia era, however, the oldest Disney Collectible I own is a Mickey Mouse wrist watch given to my grandfather by Walt Disney for helping build Disneyland in 1955. Part of what makes this item so special to me is the photo that it is mounted next to. The photo shows my grandfather cradling the infant me in his arms while wearing the watch.
I know I own a few older items, I have some fossils and arrow points somewhere, but that watch is by far the most significant to me. Sadly most of my families mementos and cherishables were lost through second marriages, estate sales, and the like. What I could have given for the option to install some of these items in a 'personal museum' that I could visit or borrow from at any time, but was maintained professionally by trained archivists. Ideally the museum would provide a low cost way of rotating family items among the now plentiful split families on a fair basis. Now, there's a business idea.
