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!

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!

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!