Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Hey everyone! It’s been over a week since I last gave an update on my stay here in Disney! So let’s recap:

Wednesday – Traditions!

This class was located at Disney University and was really fun. We got to learn about the past, present, and future of all things Disney. We also learned the “Disney Difference,” what makes Disney Cast Members different from all others who work in the same line of business. There were some slow parts during the day but there were also some nice surprises :)

After Traditions, Lyanne, Rachel, and I went off to the most traditional of the Disney parks: Magic Kingdom! I rode Space Mountain for the first time! Gasp, I know, I was too afraid to ride it before and honestly, I was afraid to ride it this time as well. It was SO much fun, though! We also danced with Stitch and Chip and Dale in Tomorrowland. That was a blast. The three of us tried to conquer all three mountains at the Magic Kingdom in one day but, since we got a late start, we only got two (the other was Splash Mountain). We have so much time to do it though, so I’m sure we will! I also tried my first Dole Whip at the Magic Kingdom. It was the most delicious thing I’ve ever eaten in my life. Now I know why everyone is crazy about them. If you don’t know what a Dole Whip is, it’s like soft serve pineapple ice cream and it’s a little slice of heaven. We finished the night of with watching the new Summer Nightastic Fireworks in front of Cinderella’s Castle. It was a good day :D

Thursday – Training Day #1

On Thursday I had my first Training day. I went to Disney University again and took a Food and Beverage Basics course that consisted of smaller e-learning classes. It was honestly a little boring because they stuck us in front of a computer to take online courses for about 4 hours. I constantly had to fight to stay awake. A lot of the information was common sense too, so I already knew it. Just a formality I suppose.

Friday – Day off

I was off on Friday so I took the entire day to catch up on some of my online coursework and just relax.

Saturday – On With the Show!

I had my “On With the Show!” Park Orientation this day! I was a part of a group of about 30 people and we got to take a tour of Hollywood Studios, both onstage and offstage. For those of you that don’t know the lingo, “onstage” is everywhere the guests can see and “offstage” is everywhere they can’t. This goes for anything at Disney, not just Hollywood Studios, which is centered around movies, tv, and other forms of entertainment. I felt really important walking around in business wear throughout the park even though it was really hot. I walked past my working location this day, but that was about it. We also got our costumes this day! I really like mine, especially the hat :D

Sunday – Training on Location

Sunday was my first day training on location! 2 other trainees and myself were taken to the Backlot Express, located between the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular attraction and Star Tours. The Backlot Express is an indoor quick-service location designed to look like a prop warehouse that serves really tasty, hot sandwiches, salad, chicken strips and fries, and more. After some more e-learning classes, blah, we were put straight to work at the counter. It was going fine for a while, but seeing as how Sunday was the last day of Star Wars Weekends and we were conveniently located right next to the Star Tours attraction, we were soon overrun with TONS of people! Not the best place to be on your first day of training! The ticket machine was spewing paper everywhere and it was really difficult to keep up. Some people might have cracked under the pressure but I just laughed and smiled the entire time; I was having the time of my life. People probably thought I was crazy. I got to hand guests their food and chat with them if I wasn’t too busy. It was great. I wouldn’t mind doing counter the entire time I am here, but I know I have to switch around. Too bad. :)

Monday – Training on Location #2

Second day of training on location! This day I learned to work the grill for the sandwiches. It was a little scary at first since the grill is crazy hot and, being the clumsy person I am, I thought I was going to burn myself. Once I got the hang of it though, I was cranking sandwiches out like it was going out of style! I was pretty much on this all day (excluding the little bit of time I was doing e-learning classes again!)

Tuesday – More training

Yesterday I was put on line, which meant that I was working with the burgers and buns right after they were cooked. It was really hot at this station; I didn’t expect it to be so hot! My particular job, as I was training, was to put lettuce, tomato, and seasoning on the burgers before topping them and sending them on their way. It got really busy at one point and the burgers and buns were being cooked faster than we could assemble them. I was working so fast that I swear lettuce was flying everywhere! After lunch, I was moved down the line to anchor, which is the position right after the one I had before lunch. I got the tickets, like I had at the counter, and assembled the sandwich orders on trays before sending them down the line to the rest of the food. It was a little hard to follow at first, but I got the hang of it. The specialty burgers are going be tough for me though because they have to be cooked separately from the rest and you have to yell out exactly what it is you want and hope whoever’s working that station hears you. So I think it will take me a little longer to get the specialty burgers down.

Wednesday (Today)– Day off

Today I went to Animal Kingdom with my roomies, Seanna and Rachel. Rachel hadn’t been to Animal Kingdom at all so it was tons of fun to be with a rookie! It was a little annoying at first because we could not catch a break with the rides. They were either broken down or closed down as soon as we got there because of impending storms. Eventually things got better and we went to It's Tough to Be a Bug and rode Kilamanjaro Safaris, Dinosaur, and Expedition Everest. I also saw Ryan from Ryan O's Disney Show working at Everest, which was kinda neat. After riding Dinosaur 2 times, I finally looked up for most of the ride. Haha, it's always frightened me to the point where I cover my eyes and ears throughout the whole thing, but not anymore! We all did the "Disney Point" for the picture in the ride, as well as on Everest! It was tons of fun.

So that’s all I have for now and I should have another update in about a week.

Til next time,


HAVE A MAGICAL DAY!

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

I have arrived!


Yes! I'm officially moved into my apartment at Disney! It's so strange to finally be able to say that I've arrived. I still remember waiting in January, quite impatiently, for applications to begin. I'm so excited to begin my journey with the Disney College Program!

Yesterday was the check-in day for all the 6/7 arrivals and I was so busy all day! I woke up and 6 am and didn't get to sleep until 1 am! It was fun though. Check-in was around 8 am. There, I got my room assignment (2-bedroom apartment in Chatham!), my housing id, and some important papers. I had just enough time to catch a bus to chatham to drop of my stuff before heading over to casting! At casting, I found out that I would be working at Disney's Hollywood Studios, which is so exciting! After that, we went through some formalities, like fingerprints and paperwork, and finished with a first picture of ourselves in front of the Disney College Program poster, welcoming us to the program. I also received my schedule for the next few days.

Today I have a day off to get acclimated to my new environment, get to know my roommates (which are awesome!), and finish moving in, which I've already done since I didn't bring too much with me. I plan on catching up on my homework today. We'll see if that actually happens ;) On Wednesday, I go to my Traditions class, which will introduce me to the culture and heritage of Disney. We'll also be getting our official Disney Cast Member ID during the class. I have the early morning session, which I was really hoping for because, once class is over, I can head out to the parks with my spiffy new ID! On Thursday, I have my first training session which will be about 4 hours long, then I'm free for the rest of the day. Friday I have off so I can again have fun in the parks! On Saturday, I have my park orientation and although it will 6 hours long, I think it will be tons of fun!

So that's my schedule for the rest of the week. I still have to keep up with my online class, blehhh, but I don't have it for much longer so hopefully I'll be able to keep on top of it.

Formspring Question!

What is your fairy tale ending?

Well, my fairy tale ending is pretty traditional in the fact that I want my Prince Charming to sweep me off my feet and we'll live happily ever after. Just like in a Disney movie :)

Well that's all I have for now so, as I will certainly be hearing a lot soon since I'm going to be working at Hollywood Studios, on with the show!

Til next time,


HAVE A MAGICAL DAY!

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Update!


Hey everyone!

I promised that I would do a post during my European trip, and I delivered!

I've visited so many spectacular sights. In Italy, I visited the Pantheon, the Coliseum, The Vatican including the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, Mt. Vesuvius and the city of Pompeii. In Greece, I visited the city of Delphi, so I saw the Oracle, the Temple of Apollo, and other structures. There was a LOT of climbing involved in that, as well as Mt. Vesuvius. Today I visited Athens and the Acropolis. The Parthenon was at the Acropolis, which was neat. I got a picture of myself that looked like I was holding the Parthenon in the palm of my hand. Tomorrow I embark on a 3 day cruise around the Grecian Islands and then I fly home on Monday!

I can't believe that in a little over a week, I make my way to Orlando, Florida and officially become a member of the Disney family. I'm so excited!

Till next time,


HAVE A MAGICAL DAY!

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

The ABC's of Disney movies, as told by me (W,X,Y,Z)


Finally, the last installment of the A-Z Disney movies as told by me! Enjoy!

W –
Wall-E (2008)

This is one of the most adorable movies I’ve ever seen. I seriously fell in love with it as soon as I saw it. Wall-E is such an endearing and likable character that it’s hard not to love him. I just want to pick him up and cuddle him!

Fun Facts:

The name "Wall-E" is a tip of the hat to Walter Elias Disney.

The main character's name is actually an acronym, standing for "Waste Allocation Load Lifter-Earth-class." EVE stands for "Extraterrestrial Vegetation Evaluator" (even though she specifically evaluates earth's vegetation) and M-O stands for "Microbe Obliterator."

The logo on Eve's chest that appears after she obtains the plant is the same logo used by Disney Epcot's The Land pavilion up until 2005.

Fun Quotes:

Ship's Computer: Voice confirmation required.
Captain: Uhhh...
Ship's Computer: [after the "uhh" echoes] Accepted.

EVE: Name?
WALL.E: WALL-E.
EVE: WALL-E?
[giggles]
EVE: EVE.
WALL.E: [attempting to pronounce it] Eeee...
EVE: EVE.
WALL.E: Eeeee... aah.
EVE: "EVE"! "EVE"!
WALL.E: Eeeee... va?
[EVE giggles]

MO's computer: [after scanning Wall-E screen says 100%] Foreign contaminant!
MO: Huh? Whoa-whoa-whoa whoa whoa!

Runner-up
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988)

I really like this movie since it incorporates both live action and animation as well as animation from across the cartoon spectrum like Warner Brothers characters in addition to Disney characters. I really like all the different references for each of the cartoons in the movie, too. It's really fun to watch and has nonstop humor.

Fun Facts:

Since the movie was being made by Disney, Warner Brothers would only allow the use of their biggest toon stars, Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, if they got an equal amount of screen time as Disney's biggest stars, Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. Because of this, both sets of characters are always together in frame when on the screen.

Roger Rabbit is described (design-wise) as having a "Warners face", a "Disney body", a "Tex Avery attitude", Goofy's overalls, Mickey Mouse's gloves, and Porky Pig's bowtie. Animation director Richard Williams says he based his Roger color model on the American flag (red overalls, white body, blue tie) so that "everyone would subliminally like it".

Fun Quotes:

Jessica Rabbit: You don't know how hard it is being a woman looking the way I do.
Eddie Valiant: You don't know how hard it is being a man looking at a woman looking the way you do.
Jessica Rabbit: I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way.

Roger Rabbit: [Crying] No wonder you hate me. If a toon killed my brother, I'd hate me too.
Eddie Valiant: Come on, don't cry. I don't hate you.
Roger Rabbit: Yes, you do.
Eddie Valiant: No, I don't.
Roger Rabbit: You do hate me. Otherwise, you wouldn't have yanked my ears all those times.
Eddie Valiant: Well, I'm... I'm sorry I yanked your ears.
Roger Rabbit: All the times you yanked my ears?
Eddie Valiant: All the times I yanked your ears.

X – None for “X”

Y – Or “Y”

Z –

Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century (1999)

There wasn’t any for “Z” either but then I thought of Zenon. I don’t think I’ve used any Disney Channel Original Movies yet, or maybe I have, I can’t remember. I have always liked Zenon so I thought I’d include it. I like watching movies that take a stab at what the future may be like (like Back to the Future) and I like seeing other people’s interpretation of how the future may look.

Fun Quotes:

Zenon: ONE sin minor and my life is a living black hole!

Matt: Reality pill, Margie! It was never you he liked, it was the car!

Mr. Windom: I refuse to engage in a name-calling contest with a teenager.
Zenon: That's because you know you'll lose!

Thanks everyone for reading all of these! Hopefully, you’ve been reminded of some of your favorite childhood Disney movies and want to rewatch a few of them, I know I do!

In a week, I shall be on my way to Italy and then on to Greece. I’ll be gone for a couple of weeks, but I will try to update at least once while I’m there. I’m going to be busy absorbing as much ancient Greek and Italian culture as well as doing work for the honors class that’s hosting the trip so hopefully I will be able to make a post while I’m there!

We lost a couple of our roomies, Allison and Mindy, so if you're arriving on June 7th and are looking to live in a wellness 3-bedroom in Chatham, please leave a comment!

In other news, I got the luggage tags in the mail for Disney’s Magical Express sometime last week! They only gave me one for myself and one for Lyanne which would never be enough, especially for a couple of girls, so I called and requested a couple more. Hopefully they’ll get here soon so I can send Lyanne hers before we have to leave! Only about 3 weeks now, I can’t wait!

Until next time,


HAVE A MAGICAL DAY!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

The ABC's of Disney movies, as told by me (T,U,V)


We’re coming down the home stretch with these letters now! 3 more today!

T –

Toy Story (1995)

This is a really cute story and it’s one of my favorite Pixar movies as well. Tom Hanks who plays Woody and Tim Allen who plays Buzz work very well with each other to make this movie a funny, unforgettable one. The second Toy Story is also good, though many Disney sequels are generally a letdown. I can’t wait for Toy Story 3 to come out, it looks good!

Fun Facts:

Many of the books on the shelf in Andy's room are names of Pixar's short films (Adventures of Andre and Wally B., Knick Knack, etc.) and some of the book author's are named after Pixar staff.

All of the cars in Toy Story have license plate stickers that are dated November 95 - the same date the movie was released.

When the soldiers are watching the pile of presents disappear during the birthday party, two silhouette pictures can be seen on the wall. These pictures are available at Walt Disney parks worldwide, and are cut freehand, with no prior sketchwork, using nothing but paper and scissors by the park's employees.

Fun Quotes:

Mr. Potato Head: How come *you* don't have a laser, Woody?
Woody: It's not a laser. It's...
[sighs in frustration]
Woody: It's a little light bulb that blinks.
Hamm: What's wrong with him?
Mr. Potato Head: Laser envy.

Sergeant: Molly's first present is... Mrs. Potato Head! Repeat, a Mrs. Potato Head!
Hamm: Way to go, Idaho!
Mr. Potato Head: Gee, I'd better shave.
[pulls off his moustache]

Andy: You're going to jail, Bart. Say good-bye to the wife and Tater Tots.

Runner-up
Tarzan (1999)


I used to not like this movie because of how violent the beginning is to me, but it really is essential to the storyline so I’ve slowly grown to tolerate it. I really like this movie, however, for the music. Phil Collins does an amazing job and composes many memorable songs that make Tarzan a touching movie.

Fun Facts:

When the gorillas pick up Professor Porter and turn him upside-down, a beanbag toy of Little Brother from Disney's Mulan (1998) falls out of his clothes.

One of the main reasons why animation was chosen as the perfect way to execute a Tarzan story was because the character is so lithe and animal-like, it would have been nearly impossible to achieve those effects with live action.

Fun Quotes:

Terk: Can you believe that guy? Drops us like a newborn giraffe - kerplop! - then waltzes in and expects us to...
Tarzan: Terk, I'm asking you as a friend.
[Looks at Terk with big, soulful eyes]
Terk: Oh, with the face and the eyes... All right! All right! But you'd better not make me do anything stupid.
[Cut to Terk in Jane's dress]
Terk: I'm going to kill him!

Jane Porter: [Tarzan has saved her from the baboons] Put me down! Put me down!
[the baboons approach]
Jane Porter: No, pick me up, pick me up, pick me up!

U –

Up (2009)

I don’t recall ever crying the first time I saw a Disney film like I did when I first saw the beginning of Up. It seemed unusually sad for a Disney movie and I wasn’t sure I was going to like it after that. However, the rest of the movie is rather enjoyable and light-hearted, though there are still gloomy undertones at times. It’s a slight tearjerker in my opinion but it really is worth a watch :)

Fun Facts:

Dug's 'point' pose, where his entire tail, back, and head is in a perfectly straight line, is an homage to the identical pose that Mickey's dog, Pluto, often makes. Dug also shares a similar color scheme to Pluto.

All characters are based upon circles and rectangles, except for the villains who are triangles.

The villain Charles Muntz is named after Charles Mintz, the Universal Pictures executive who in 1928 stole Walt Disney's production rights to his highly-successful "Oswald the Lucky Rabbit" cartoon series. This led Walt Disney to create Mickey Mouse, who soon eclipsed Oswald in popularity.

Fun Quotes:

Russell: [from trailer] Good afternoon. Are you in need of any assistance today, sir?
Carl Fredricksen: No.
Russell: I could help you cross the street.
Carl Fredricksen: No.
Russell: I could help you cross your yard.
Carl Fredricksen: No.
Russell: I could help you cross your porch.
Carl Fredricksen: No!
[closes the door on Russell's foot]
Russell: Ow.

Alpha: Now, you must wear the cone of shame.
Dug: [hangs head] I do not like the cone of shame.

Alpha: [In squeaky voice] Master, dinner is ready.
Charles Muntz: Oh, yes, broken collar? It's that loose wire again.
[Charles fixes the collar]
Charles Muntz: There you go, big fella.
Alpha: [In deep, intimidating voice] Thank you, master.
Russell: [Nervously] I liked his other voice better.

V –

There really isn’t anything for “V” so I’ll be skipping over that one. Hope nobody is too disappointed!

UPDATE:

I’m officially home from college and done with the semester! I’m going to be leaving for Greece and Italy on May 19th and will be returning May 31st. I will be going with a group of students from class and the trip itself will actually be for credit as well which is so awesome! Then I will be leaving for Disney June 6th! I can’t believe it’s less than a month away now!

Until next time,



HAVE A MAGICAL DAY!

Friday, April 30, 2010

The ABC's of Disney movies, as told by me (R/S)


Two more letters today!

R –


Ratatouille (2007)


This movie is so adorable! I was drawn to it because 1) it takes place in Paris, one of the most beautiful cities in the world and 2) it is about cooking which I really like learning about and watching (Food channel anyone? :)) I don’t know how, but they make the food look so delicious and I always want to try it…or maybe I’m just always hungry when I watch it, I don’t know! It’s a funny and heartwarming movie that is sure to please anyone. Definitely one of my top 10 Disney movies :D

Fun Facts:

At the last scene in the film as Ego asks Remy to surprise him for dessert, three pans behind Remy in the kitchen form a hidden Mickey.

John Ratzenberger once again provides a voice in a Pixar film (the only actor do so in every Pixar film). It's also noted that this is the first time Ratzenberger has voiced a human. Before, he has voiced a piggy bank in Toy Story (1995) and Toy Story 2 (1999); a flea in A Bug's Life (1998); The Abominable Snowman in Monsters, Inc. (2001); a school of fish in Finding Nemo (2003); a robotic miner in The Incredibles (2004); and a Mack truck in Cars (2006).

When Remy is climbing out of the sewers for the first time, he is barked at by a dog in one of the homes. You only see the dog's silhouette, but it is actually the dog, Dug, from Pixar's then still-in-production film, Up (2009).

Fun Quotes:

Colette: Horst has done time.
Linguini: What for?
Colette: No one know for sure. He changes the story every time you ask him.
Horst: I defrauded a major corporation.
Horst: I robbed the second-largest bank in France using only a ball-point pen.
Horst: I created a hole in the ozone layer over Avignon.
Horst: I killed a man... with this thumb.

Remy: Hey, I brought you something to...
[sees Emile eating garbage]
Remy: AH! NO, NO, NO, NO! SPIT THAT OUT RIGHT NOW!
[Emile obeys]
Remy: I have got to teach you about food. Close your eyes.
[Emile obeys; Remy hands out piece of cheese]
Remy: Now take a bite of this...
[Emile snarfs the cheese]
Remy: No, no, no! Don't just hork it down!
Emile: Too late.

[Skinner has gotten Linguini drunk in the hopes of getting him to admit that he has a rat under his hat]
Linguini: Hey... Why do they call it that?
Skinner: What?
Linguini: Ratatouille. It's like a stew, right? Why do they call it that? If you're gonna name a food, you should give it a name that sounds delicious. Ratatouille doesn't sound delicious. It sounds like "rat" and "patootie." Rat-patootie, which does not sound delicious.

Runner-up
The Rescuers: Down Under (1990)


I don’t know if anyone remembers this movie, but I liked it. I thought it was actually a pretty good sequel to the original Rescuers (which I almost put in “R” as well!). It takes place in Australia (note the “down under”) and the plot is similar to the original but with all new characters and adventures. I haven’t seen this in quite a while actually…another movie I’m going to add to my “watch” list. :)

Fun Facts:

This was Disney’s first animated sequel.

This was the first 100% digital feature film ever made. The animation and backgrounds were done traditionally but all of the coloring, many effects and the final film printing was all done digitally. This was the first film produced with Disney's Academy Award Winning "CAPS" production system.

Fun Quotes:

Miss Bianca , RAS Mouse: Oh, Captain. Is this a non-stop flight to Australia?
Wilbur: Well, no, no. I can definitely say no. We're gonna have to make connections with a bigger bird. Non-stop? Who do I look like, Charles Lindbergh?

Jake: the Outback Kangaroo-Mouse: So, um, which way are taking', uh, Suicide Trail through Nightmare Canyon, or the shortcut at Satan's Ridge?
Bernard: Su-Suicide Trail?
Jake: the Outback Kangaroo-Mouse: Good choice. More snakes, but less quicksand. Then once you cross Bloodworm Creek, you're scot free, this is until, um... Dead Dingo Pass
Bernard: [sees that the map has nothing but landscapings] Wa-wa-wait a minute, I don't-I don't see any-any of that-that stuff on the map.

S –

The Sword in the Stone (1963)

This is another one of those Disney classics. I think it was a part of Disney’s Masterpiece collection as well, but I’m not entirely sure. Anyway, this movie tells the story of how Arthur came to be King of England with the help of Merlin the wizard. It has fun songs and a lot of fantasy tied in with it (extreme magic duel between Merlin and Madam Mim anyone?). I was going to watch this last weekend but didn’t get enough time :( perhaps sometime in the upcoming week I’ll fit it in somewhere!

Fun Facts:


Character designer Bill Peet gave Merlin Walt Disney's nose.


Arthur was voiced by three different boys - Rickie Sorensen, Richard Reitherman and Robert Reitherman. The changes in voice are very noticeable in the film because of the way Arthur's voice keeps going from broken to unbroken, sometimes in the same scene. One of the easiest noticed is in the last scene in the throne room when Arthur asks in his "changed voice", "Oh, Archimedes, I wish Merlin was here!" Then, the camera cuts farther back and Arthur shouts in his "unchanged voice," "Merlin! Merlin!"

The climactic battle between Merlin and Mad Madam Mim is often cited by animation experts as some of the best character animation to that date. The characters go through numerous physical transformations during battle, yet retain their identifying features; Merlin's guises are blue and include his glasses and facial hair, while Mim's are pink and purple and have her messy hair.

Fun Quotes:

Arthur: I'm in an awful pickle. I'm king!
Archimedes the Owl: He pulled the sword from the stone.
Merlin: Ha ha! Of course, of course. King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.
Arthur: Round table?
Merlin: Oh, would you rather have a square one?
Arthur: Oh, no. Round will be fine.

Arthur: Oh, Merlin! You're back from Ber... Ber...
Merlin: Bermuda? Yes, back from Bermuda and the 20th century. And believe me, you can have it. One big modern mess!

Merlin: Why, they might even make a motion picture about you.
Arthur: Motion picture?
Merlin: Oh. Well, that's something like television... without commercials.

Runner-up
The Santa Clause (1994)


This movie has definitely become a tradition to watch every time the holidays come around. We’ve been watching it every year as long as I can remember. Tim Allen is so funny in his role, which adds to the captivating nature of the film. This is a classic all on its own to me, and I’m sure many people agree.

Fun Facts:

When Scott and Charlie are leaving the North Pole in the sleigh and pass by the moon; the moon has a distinct Mickey Mouse logo on it.

Elves are scattered throughout the movie in Scott and Charlie's world. The little blonde girl walking away from the window at the opening of the movie; the little boy putting his jacket on and wearing a red scarf as Scott and Charlie are led to their seat in Denny's; the girl walking behind the bench when Scott has kids lined up at Charlie's soccer game; the girl in the purple coat who walks by Scott and Charlie in the park when Scott wants Charlie to stop talking about the Santa Claus; and the attentive little boy in the blue turtleneck behind Charlie's desk during show and tell are all elves. They show up as a group at the end of the movie when Scott flies away from the Miller house, they are the kids who run and skip off.

When Charlie and the new Santa return to the North Pole for the new Christmas, Bernard introduces the techno-savvy elf Quentin, who proceeds to tell Santa about the gadgets the sleigh now has. This is a nod to the James Bond series character "Q", who is the technology master for James Bond’s vehicles.

Fun Quotes:

Dr. Neil Miller: [in a light-hearted phychiatry tone] Scott, what was the last thing you and Charlie did, before you went to bed Christmas Eve?
Scott Calvin: [sarcastically] We shared a bowl of sugar, did some shots of brown liqour, played with my shot guns, field-dressed a cat, looked for women...
[honestly]
Scott Calvin: I read him a book!
Dr. Neil Miller: What book?
Scott Calvin: [sarcastically] Uh, "Hollywood Wives."
[Laura puts her hand into her face, giving off a resentful gesture]
Scott Calvin: [honestly] "The Night Before Christmas", folks, come on!


Scott Calvin: Where is he?
Laura: Well, he could be listening to records jumping up and down on his bed wearing a red hat and galloshes.
Scott Calvin: I don't care what Neil's doing. Where's Charlie?

Scott Calvin: Hey, Barabbas!
Bernard: Ber-nard!
Scott Calvin: Bernard, can we take a direct flight back to reality, or do we have to stop and change planes in Denver?

Until next time,


HAVE A MAGICAL DAY!

Sunday, April 25, 2010

The ABC's of Disney movies, as told by me (O,P,Q)


Three more letters for you! Don’t you feel special??? :D

O –

Ok, there aren’t that many “O” Disney movies…and from the list I found, I haven’t actually seen ANY of them. Don’t hate me! I will, however, choose one to showcase just so everyone can have an “O” Disney movie to see. I won’t have a little paragraph on it though, since I haven’t seen it. I will keep the facts and quotes, however. :)

Oliver and Company (1988)

Fun Facts:

The only characters who are derived directly from their Dickensian counterparts are Oliver, Dodger, Fagin and Sykes.

When Oliver wakes up after sleeping on the truck tire, he sees people crossing past the alley where he's slept. One of those people is Roger from One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) (look for the guy with the brown hair, blue shirt, and blue pants).

Fagin wears a Mickey Mouse watch. It's visible on his arm in a close-up as he waits for Oliver's rich owner to deliver the ransom money.

Fun Quotes:

[Georgette sees Oliver in the kitchen]
Georgette: I, um, hope you won't think me rude, but do you happen to know out of whose *bowl* you're eating?
Oliver: Yours?
Georgette: [sarcastically] Ooh! Aren't you a clever kitty?
Georgette: And do you have any idea whose *home* this is?
Oliver: I... thought it was Jenny's.
Georgette: Well, it may be Jenny's *house*, but everything from the doorknobs down is *mine*!

Francis: [to Roscoe] Isn't it rather dangerous to use ones entire vocabulary in a single sentence?

Tito: Hey, man, you're ugly! And you're uglier than him! And you're Ugly, Part Three! Hey, you're Revenge of the Ugly!

P –

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
When I first saw this movie, I loved it. It’s full of action and adventure as well as its fair share of romance. Not to mention there are many big names in the movie: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, and Keira Knightly to name a few. I really like the fact however, that this movie was actually inspired by the attraction at Disney Parks. Some of the scenes used in the beloved attraction are shown throughout the movie which I think is really cool. I’ve never heard of an attraction inspiring a movie so that was pretty neat to me. And then, once the movie came out, it in turn, re-inspired the attraction!


Fun Facts:

The final cannon shot during the Black Pearl's siege of the town, billows into a Mickey Mouse head shape against the night sky.

The names of the three main characters are all linked to birds. Jack Sparrow, Elizabeth Swann and William Turner, who was a famous ornithologist.

Johnny Depp wore contact lenses which served as sunglasses so he wouldn't be squinting in the sun all the time.

Fun Quotes:

Will Turner: Where's Elizabeth?
Jack Sparrow: She's safe, just like I promised. She's all set to marry Norrington, just like she promised. And you get to die for her, just like you promised. So we're all men of our word really... except for, of course, Elizabeth, who is in fact, a woman.

Jack Sparrow: [looking at all the swords] Who makes all these?
Will Turner: I do. And I practice with them three hours a day.
Jack Sparrow: You need to find yourself a girl mate. Or perhaps the reason you practice three hours a day is that you already found one, and are otherwise incapable of wooing said strumpet. You're not a eunuch are you?
Will Turner: I practice three hours a day, so when I meet a pirate, I can kill it.

Mullroy: What's your purpose in Port Royal, Mr. Smith?
Murtogg: Yeah, and no lies.
Jack Sparrow: Well, then, I confess, it is my intention to commandeer one of these ships, pick up a crew in Tortuga, raid, pillage, plunder and otherwise pilfer my weasely black guts out.
Murtogg: I said no lies.
Mullroy: I think he's telling the truth.
Murtogg: If he were telling the truth, he wouldn't have told us.
Jack Sparrow: Unless, of course, he knew you wouldn't believe the truth even if he told it to you.

Runner-up
Pinocchio (1940)


I love the classic Disney movies and this movie is no exception. It sometimes takes a backseat to some of the other movies though, which is unfortunate. This is a good-natured, wholesome movie that teaches the valuable lesson to always tell the truth. The songs are brilliant and memorable and the characters are lovable so there isn’t much to not like.

Fun Facts:

During the musical number "When You Wish upon a Star," when a spotlight is seen on Jiminy Cricket, one is able to see two books to the left of the screen, which are "Peter Pan" and "Alice in Wonderland." Walt Disney would create these stories for the big screen in 1953 and 1950, respectively.

This was the first animated film to win an Academy Award in a competitive category. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) won an honorary Oscar two years earlier.

Fun Quotes:

The Blue Fairy: You must learn to choose between right and wrong.
Pinocchio: Right and wrong? But how will I know?
Jiminy Cricket: [watching] How'll he know!
The Blue Fairy: [to Pinocchio] Your conscience will tell you.
Pinocchio: What are conscience?
Jiminy Cricket: What are conscience! I'll tell ya! A conscience is that still small voice that people won't listen to. That's just the trouble with the world today...
Pinocchio: Are you my conscience?
Jiminy Cricket: Who, me?

Jiminy Cricket: Well... guess he won't need me anymore. What does an actor want with a conscience, anyway?

Q –

Well…there actually aren’t any “Q” Disney movies….so I’ll just talk briefly about something I remember watching on the Disney channel when I was really young. I don’t know if anyone else remembers it, but there was a segment called “Quack Attack” and it featured old Mickey Mouse cartoons in half hour pieces. Those were the good ole days….:)

I don’t think I’ve mentioned it before, but I get most of my information from www.imdb.com. It has TONS of fun stuff on any movie you could ever think of! So if you haven’t had a chance, go check it out!

Until next time,


HAVE A MAGICAL DAY!