This isn't your mother's Wonderland

I suppose that should have been a given with Tim Burton directing the latest version of Lewis Carroll's classic "Alice in Wonderland."

Edgy, at least for what should be a kids movie.

I don't know how many little kids I'd let watch this without some reassuring supervision.

But, it's a visual feast that any adult will appreciate.

Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter and Helena Bonham Carter as the Queen of Hearts are particularly eye-grabbing.

This makes up for the rather ho-hum adaptation.

The only truly disappointing part of this film was the ending, which leaves the female protagonist becoming a merchant.

That's right, a merchant. Exciting, no?

Bottom line: Worth watching, especially if you know someone named Alice who you can tease about it later . . .

RIP, Roy Disney

Some sad news out of Newport Beach, California, today: Roy Disney has succombed to stomach cancer, almost 43 years to the day after his more famous uncle Walt.

Roy was the 3rd largest stock holder in the Walt Disney Company, and the last member of the founding family to take an active role in its operation as Director Emeritus. He was worth an estimated $1.2 billion.

Prior to his emeritus status, Roy successfully led the overthrow of two CEO's who he believed were leading the company in the wrong direction.

The first was his own cousin-in-law Ron Miller during a hostile takeover attempt back in 1984.

That ushered-in the era of Michael Eisner, a very successful period for the company that saw it return back to its roots in animation while adapting to industry innovations.

But, after twenty years, Roy left the company's board of directors to lead the charge to have Eisner replaced in 2004.

He nearly succeeded, getting a suprising 43% of stockholders to vote against retaining the company's CEO. But, the damage done to Eisner's authority still forced him to resign the following year, before his contract expired.

Roy then returned to the board as Director Emeritus, and reportedly enjoyed seeing the company once again return to its animation roots.

Condolences go out to the Disney family, both private and corporate.

A mini-reunion at Disney

That's MINI, as in small. Not MINNIE as in mouse . . .

Yours truly braved the I-4 traffic and unseasonably cool weather today to get together with some high school friends for lunch at the Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney.

(Tip: Don't bother trying to find a parking space in any of the lots adjoining DD. You'll just end up as frustrated as an FSU fan. Instead, try doing like I did and park across Buena Vista Drive in the very EMPTY lot of the Casting Center. You do have to wait for the pedestrian signal, but the hike is actually shorter than having to park on the other side of Pleasure Island as some unfortunate socks wound up discovering . . . but, I digress.)

I hadn't seen my classmates Chris Deason and Cristi Davis in twenty years, which is a shame since they're both great people. Geography used to be my excuse. But, since Chris and his wife Kristi (also a classmate!!) and their girls moved to Casselberry last year, that excuse has been supplanted by sheer laziness.

So, when Cristi told me she was coming to Disney for a convention, I decided to remedy the situation. Thus the exotic safari-style lunch this afternoon.

Unfortunately, Kristi was too ill to join us. But, the three Frenship Tigers who were at the table had a great time swapping stories, looking at old photos, and letting the kids take some new ones. Who'da thunk that three survivors of Mrs. Blackburn's infamous San Antonio adventures would cross paths again some twelve hundred miles or more away from where they diverged two decades ago? It's a crazy, yet wonderful world.

I suppose this makes up for missing the "official" reunion out in Wolfforth this summer! Maybe, we could lobby for the 25th to be held in Orlando . . . any takers?!?

Disney is just ahead of the curve

I don't know why ignorance of economic fundamentals never ceases to amaze me.

The latest case is the local brouhaha over the announcement of a ticket price increase down at Walt Disney World.

The local media has included clips and statements from parkgoers who are "outraged."

As of August 1st, a one-day pass to the parks will go up from $75 to $79, an increase of just over 5%.

A kid's pass will go up from $63 to $68, an even bigger increase of 7.9%

And, a 5-day park hopper pass is going up 2.9% to $280. (Still the best deal going at the Disney ticket office.)

Apparently, amnesia has set-in amongst the outraged. Disney raises prices just about every year. They did it last August, too. And, the increases were actually steeper then.

The fact is that WDW execs see what is coming: inflation. And, they have adjusted their pricing now to lessen the blow that will deal to their bottom line. It is this sort of prudent action on the part of corporate executives that keeps them from having to ask for bail-outs . . . what a concept!

And, if the prices seem too steep, no one is forcing anybody to enjoy a day in the parks.

Be forewarned, though, as The ObamaNation's printing presses continue to churn out more of those greenbacks to "stimulate" our economy, ye socks will see higher prices on more than just theme park tickets . . .

RIP Michael Jackson (1958-2009)

For this child of the 80s, Michael Jackson was the Thriller, not the freak show that emerged over the last few decades.

His sudden death yesterday brought to mind a personal encounter with the King of Pop.

Ye socks will have to flash back to the summer of 1991, when yours truly was interning with the Walt Disney World College Program and working at the Kodak camera shop on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom.

This was in the pre-digital era, so park goers would drop off their rolls of film to be developed, and I would hand them a little claim ticket with their name written on it.

Anyway, the encounter occurred one rainy afternoon about 3 o'clock. The daily parade was making its way down Main Street, which meant our store was completely empty of guests. That's when a figure clad in a yellow hooded rain slicker approached my counter to claim his photos, and the name on his claim ticket said "Michael Jackson."

I made some sort of remark at that, "Oh, like the Thriller?"

"JUST like that," he replied as he pulled the hood away from his face.

Yep, that's right. It was Jacko!

I didn't know what to do or say as he perused his snapshots. For once in my life, I was completely speechless.

Anyway, one of his "handlers" paid me for the photos, and he turned to go back to the parade with a wave of his (ungloved) hand and the admonition, "Have a magical day!"

When I looked down at the counter, Michael had left one of the photos. It was a shot of him with McCauley Culkin and Mickey Mouse, almost a foreshadowing of all the crap that would come in the not so distant future.

When I flipped over the picture, I saw MJ had autographed it for me as a memento of our brief encounter.

I ran across that photo last year while I was packing up to move from Apopka to College Park. So, I know it's around my house somewhere. I'm gonna have to do some searching for it over the weekend . . .

The Magic Kingdom will never be the same

Not after these two mousketeers get a hold of it!

According to my spies, their parents are having a pretty good time, too.

Mom has ridden Space Mountain 7 times since the gates opened, and is back in line for another go-round.

And, Dad is riding the bumper cars at Test Track to hone his driving skills for the trip back up I-4.

Fun times in this little corner of heaven today . . .

A day at the Disney Studios

I thought ye socks might get a kick out of this picture my brother-in-law took of the niblings today, using his handy-dandy new Blackberry.

They were visiting the Disney Studios, in case the background befuddled you and the title of this post escaped your attention.

I believe that's the fountain in that mock-up version of New York City they have on property.

A pretty photogenic pair, no?

Start making your 2009 birthday plans now!

For the benefit of ye out-of-town socks whose local media won't make this the lead story in the evening news like they will in this little corner of heaven:

The Walt Disney Company has announced that in 2009 they will give free admission to any one of their parks to every person who shows up with proper identification on their birthday.

That's a $75 value, give or take a few bucks.

Of course, they know what they're doing. Nobody goes to the big WDW by themselves, do they? And it's highly unlikely that the birthday boy/girl's companion(s) is/are going to have the same DOB.

Nevertheless, it is something. So, if you've got the inclination to take Mickey up on his offer, start booking your reservations now!

(I only wish my own birthday fell during the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival . . . oh, well . . .)

What to do on a Friday night?

You know you've entered a new phase of life when Friday nights no longer hold the allure of night clubs, and instead center more around popcorn and a DVD.

But, there was a time, ye socks, when things were very different around this little corner heaven.

So, it is with a little sadness--just a little--that I heard of the demise of Disney's Pleasure Island.

That's right. The once hip and happening hot spot that dominated much of my 20's is slated to close on September 27th.

What will we do without all those themed dance clubs and bars like the Soundstage, Mannequins, and 8-Trax?

I guess, we'll just have to make more popcorn and rent more DVD's . . .

Or, maybe Bob Snow can come riding in on his white horse and revive Church Street Station again?!

The Princess

Oops! I'm afraid I was a little remiss in my post from yesterday, in that I only featured a photo of my nephew.

Lest my niece get jealous, here's one of her, too!

I think at the time the picture was snapped, she was engaged in a hands-free fly-catching competition . . . something she undoubtedly learned from her dad's side of the family.

WD stands for . . .

Well, it doesn't stand for my favorite grocery store. ("Winn Dixie")

Nor, unfortunately, does it stand for "Walt Disney." That's where I wish I had been today. But, some of us have to work around here, I guess.

And, oh, what a day it was, ye socks.

So, that's why WD stands for "Work Day" or "Whatta Day" or "Well, damn" in this little corner of heaven today.

It's hot. It's humid. Everybody's cranky. And, it seems like there's a severe lack of pacifiers around here . . .

Maybe, that's why my nephew was making that face. (Or, maybe, it's because he just takes after his uncle way too much . . . I mean, check out that ball cap shielding a furrowed brow full of fop sweat!)

But, at least his WD did stand for "Walt Disney" today!

Cleaning-up the wreckage

No, that headline does NOT refer to the mayhem that ensued up in New Hampshire yesterday.

Rather, it refers to the terrible accident this morning on I-4, the interstate we all love to hate here in Central Florida.

In the wee hours this morning, smoke from a nearby brush fire combined with rolling fog between the Disney property and Lakeland.

The consequences were deadly.

As I type this, there are three confirmed deaths in the fifty-car pile-up that ensued, and many more are injured.

Prayers are needed from ye socks of that inclination.

EPCOT goes thru rehab

And, no, I'm not talking about the type of rehab immortalized in that catchy tune by Amy Winehouse.

Rather, I refer to Spaceship Earth . . . you know, the big "golf ball" at your favorite Disney theme park.

Ye socks who have visited lately have no doubt noticed the "communication thru the ages" theme was more than a bit outdated.

Well, fear not!

The ImaginEars have come up with a new theme: Inspiration and Innovation.

Ye traditionalist socks need have no fear, either. They've kept all the old vignettes leading up to the moon landing . . . if, indeed, you conspiracy buffs are willing to accept that as historical fact.

But, from the 1960s, the ride changes with a portrayal of the invention of the first computer mainframe in some dude's garage.

Then, as you reach the crescendo and the ride starts to wind you back down the sphere a new voice (Dame Judi Dench replaced Jeremy Irons) peppers you with a bunch of questions like "Do you prefer the journey, or the destination?" Hmmmmm . . .

Well, at least it's a step in the right direction. And, more modifications are expected in the near future--including allowing each passenger to listen to the narrative in the language of their choice.

There is also talk of allowing folks to pinpoint where they live as they disembark, so everyone can get an idea just how powerful the Disney magnet is.

But, we don't need an amped-up globe to see that, do we?!

Huckabee comes to Orlando!!

I was proud to see Mike Huckabee came to town last night to address the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers at Disney's Yacht and Beach Club.

Might I add, he was the ONLY Republican candidate to accept the union's invitation?!

Again, he is showing himself to be unique in the GOP field for his willingness to reach out to a broad spectrum of Americans.

Unfortunately, the local press paid him less attention than he is due, because our favorite former first lady was also in town. Star-struck as they were, they just gushed about her canned speeches about how bad George Bush is and how much better we will be when she is our fearless leader, etc. And, of course, she ended up whining about her plight, being the "best known but least understood" candidate.

Boo hoo, Hillary. To quote your illustrious husband, "I feel your pain."

On the other hand, Mike Huckabee may be one of the lesser-known candidates, but he is the easiest to understand. He speaks about real issues that affect real people, and he speaks in a way that connects with them.

Case in point, look at the respect he gained from the union members last night when he spoke about our China trade policy. He accused the communists of manipulating the value of their currency to flood U.S. markets with their cheap, unregulated goods. He talked specifics. And, he made sense.

Too bad the other speaker was too busy whining about her celebrity and the evil Bush to make any real points of her own. And, too bad the media continues to allow her to get away with it.

I think I'm going to write a letter to the editor in protest . . .

In the mean time, major kudos to Mike Huckabee (again!) and thanks for coming down to see us in Central Florida! Come back soon!

Bridge to Terabithia

Just got done watching this Disney movie.

About halfway thru it, I started remembering the story line and realized it is not an original work.

Terabithia first came onto my radar back when I was about the age of the main characters.

Back then, we read books more than we watched movies. And, this was a fairly popular book in the late 1970s.

I, on the other hand, preferred C.S. Lewis and his Chronicles of Narnia series. And, that's how I first became aware of the story in question.

You see, there was a bit of controversy back in the Stone Age, because a lot of Narnia fans were convinced the author of this book had "stolen" the name Terabithia from Lewis.

If you were a big Narnia Nerd like I was/am, you may remember the Isle of Terebinthia in Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

But, it turned out that Lewis himself (a reformed atheist) lifted the name of the island from the Biblican terebintha tree, a source of turpentine in the Mediterranean region that has been mentioned in written works since at least the time of Virgil's Aenid.

Anyway, I guess the point of all my ramblings here is that this is not an original story. It doesn't have an original name in its title. But, it is still quite entertaining.

Warning, though, it takes a sad twist toward the end that may be upsetting to younger viewers. (One of the main characters dies.)

Happy Alice Day!

On this date back in 1852, the inspiration for "Alice in Wonderland" was born.

Her full name was Alice Liddell.

As you can see from this old photo, however, she was obviously NOT the inspiration for Disney's popular blonde-haired, blue-eyed cartoon version.

Anyway, I marked the occasion by calling my favorite Alice, and we had an amusing conversation about what you call people from Tampa.

The Mad Hatter and the White Rabbit would have appreciated that, don't you think?!