9 Things You May Not Know About Toy Story
1. The star of the Pixar short film Tin Toy, Tinny, a wind-up musician, was originally going to be Andy’s new toy. He was, of course, replaced by good-old Buzz. Good thing, too, because “Tinny the Tin Toy’s Space Ranger Spin” doesn’t have quite the same ring to it. 2....
8 Unusual Uses of Color at Walt Disney World
1. Pink Sidewalks for Parading As you walk down Main Street, U.S.A., World Showcase in Epcot, or throughout Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you may notice that the sidewalks are tinted pink. Why? Well, the pink hue of the sidewalks actually makes the surrounding...
The Super Secret World of Character Palooza
Psst! Hey, you? I can tell just by looking at you, that you’re the kind of person who can be trusted. That’s good, because if anyone ever found out that I told you what I’m about to tell you, I’d be clapped in irons and fed to Maleficent in her dragon form. I’m going...
7 Things You May Not Know About the Hall of Presidents
1. Ambitious Origins The Hall of Presidents was originally conceived as part of the Main Street expansion in Disneyland that was announced in 1958, which was to feature two new areas including Edison Square and Liberty Street. The original concept of The Hall of...
Bon Appétit!: The Food of Epcot’s International Festival of the Arts
The Festival of the Arts is almost over, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t spend at least a little time talking about the culinary arts. After all, Julia Child was every bit as much an artist as Vincent Van Gogh. A perfectly executed frangipane can be just as stunning...
8 Things You May Not Know About the Haunted Mansion
1. Ghoulish Beginnings The Haunted Mansion was originally intended to reside on Disneyland’s Main Street U.S.A., at the end of a small, winding path that would lead Guests to a mysterious old house on a hill. The location was soon changed to the New Orleans Square...
One Little Spark: Exploring the International Festival of the Arts (Part 2)
Whether or not your favorite artist is Leonardo Da Vinci, Frida Kahlo, Johannes Vermeer, or Andy Warhol, the Epcot International Festival of the Arts has something for everyone. Last week, we explored some of the more whimsical things to do at the festival. This week...
8 Things You May Not Know About Aladdin
1. Aladdin’s Origins Creating an animated version of Aladdin was originally suggested by Howard Ashman, lyricist and co-producer of The Little Mermaid (1989), while that film was still in production. He and Mermaid composer Alan Menken began working on songs to...
One Little Spark: Exploring the International Festival of the Arts (Part 1)
Who doesn’t love Figment? Since 1983, the little purple dragon has been teaching the world how, “One little spark of inspiration is at the heart of all creation!” So, it makes sense that he would be the unofficial mascot of a festival dedicated to creativity. The...
Nine Things You May Not Know About Robin Hood
1. The film uses two well-known college fight songs during the chaos following the Tournament of the Golden Arrow: the University of Southern California’s “Fight On” is played during the chase, and “On Wisconsin” from the University of Wisconsin-Madison is used during...