Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Williams and Sonoma

Williams and Sonoma is carrying an exlusive line of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs baking items.  I was fortunate it enough to get a few this holiday a season!
The Snow White spatula is $14
The cookie cutter set includes the heads of Grumpy, Dopey, Snow White, and the Queen and is $19.95 (these are in the story book looking box)
There is a cupcake decorating kit with the Queen and Snow White cupcake wrappers and picks of the dwarfs dancing with Snow White for $12
And way in the back of the photo is a cakelet pan featuring a mold for all seven dwarfs and Snow White - so cute! but also $39.95!
Not pictured is the children's Snow White apron, available for $24.95.
Check it out on Williams-Sonoma Website.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Marceline

I had the opportunity to be out in Missouri for a weekend (yes, it is a very long trip to make for a weekend).  So naturally, I made it a priority to get to Marceline.  I went the weekend after the D23 Expo so I had just talked with the people who had a booth there about my visit. 





The museum is in a train station.  It's a great old building with a beautiful courtyard.  I was very impressed.  I had worn my D23 Disney Geek shirt, so Kaye remembered me from talking at the Expo.  They gave us a tour of the main room with information about each of Walt Disney's trips back to his boyhood hometown.  The most interesting part for me was listening to the stories. 
For example: Marceline is a small town and when they decided to name the new pool after Walt, they weren't really expecting him to accept.  When he did (with his wife and brother and his wife), the town went into a panic as to where to house him.  So, they asked the one family with air conditioning to house the Disneys.  They said yes and preparations went on a planned.  But as the date got closer, the wife grew more nervous.  She began to panic: her house wasn't fit to entertain!  Her furniture wasn't fancy enough for someone as important as the Disneys!  The town had a solution though, they moved all of the families future out and everyone brought their best pieces to use instead.
The best of part of the story was that it was told by the wife - she was our tour guide.  And her daughter was in several of the photographs and is now the head of the museum.  It was nice to hear about the people in the pictures, the small town preparing for a big event.
The museum is made up of largely Ruth (Walt's sister) donations.  It is fun to read the letters Walt and Roy wrote their sister.  The letters contain updates on studio projects and details about Disneyland.  The Walt Disney Hometown Museum really is a fun place to visit!

We also went out the the dreaming tree and to the theatre where two Disney premiers have been held.  The owner of the theatre had a short clip from the Lady and the Tramp DVD to show us.  (the bonus features about Marceline).  We also mailed postcards from the Walt Disney Post Office - sadly, the post office was closed so we didn't get the postmark - it came to us from Kansas City.
Overall, we had a great time.  The people were so kind and I really enjoyed talking to everyone!













Monday, September 12, 2011

My D23 Expo 2011

For me the Expo began on Friday morning.  The line to enter the event was crazy - but you'd expect nothing less.  It wound around the area; a giant snake.  In fact, by the next morning there was tape on the ground to have attendees line up in a more traditional Disney queue line, the kind where you can't tell how many more switch backs you have left to go.
Once you made it past the line, the entrance was easy - most people had their badges in hand and it was just a scan, and you were in. 
I tried to get into the Disneyland Hotel discussion, no such luck, it was full (I got in line around 8:30).  Instead, I went shopping at the Archives Treasure Trove (and boy I'm glad I did, lines got very long for that later). 
The shopping at the expo was different this year because there was several stores: the Dream Store, the Archives Treasure Trove, the pop up Disney Store, and Mickey's of Glendale.  The Archives Treasure Trove was my favorite, lots of D23 merchandise, left over event merch, left over gifts that came with the magazine, and some Expo logo.  Mickey's of Glendale was fun to shop in too.  The pop up Disney store always had a long line, but all you could buy was merchandise that wasn't available in the stores yet (some of it is now in the Disney Stores).  And finally, the Dream Store.  I wasn't impressed.  They had some product for the movies celebrating an anniversary (Dumbo, Alice, and 101 Dalmatians) and the Noah art merchadise.  Otherwise it felt like Company D to me (you know, the store where they sell stuff that isn't moving to cast members at a discount - only no discount).
On Friday I made it to the Legends Ceremony (in line by 10:30).  Highlights for me were the princesses singing and Kermit the Frog.  We walked the show floor some but were in line again by 2:00 for the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.  Highlights were - well, none.  There were no huge announcements like last time.  Everything announced was already known - well, except for the part about making a princess meet and greet out of the caration plaza at Disneyland - and really?  That's not exciting to this kind of crowd.  Put a group of seven year old girls in the room, then they'll get a reaction.  The most interesting thing for me was about the 7 dwarfs mine train, but all of that could be seen in the Carousel of Projects.  They also mentioned some experiences like dinner in the Haunted Mansion, or lost things (Tahitian Terrace and America the Beautiful) - but the announcement didn't have any details at all, and frankly, not even sure what it meant.   
By the time that was done I had to decide if I was going to wait in any of the lines that still had room or if I was going to explore more.  Most of the panels I wanted were full, so off to Carousel of Projects and Mickey's of Glendale.  I love what WDI does.  Real people who can talk to you about their work and all shown in a interesting way.  Only complaint: nothing new!  It was about Cars Land and the the new Fantasyland.  With a little cruise and Aulani thrown in.  I felt the display in 2009 showed more about how things work - not just plans.
So, by the end of day 1 I had already decided that there was not as much to do as in 2009 and much more crowded.  There was less free stuff.  I was hoping for another volunteers ears.  There was less food locations, no character meet and greets, the venue was not a decorated, and I loved the Archives Store.
Saturday I was in line by 7:30.  Disney got much more efficient and had the line queue up to fit the HUGE amount of people (the event sold out).  From the entrance line we moved before 9 right into the convention center.  That helped a lot as people then separated to get into separate lines: Dream Store, Show Floor, and the giant line for the Studios.  After going through security we then sat in the queue line for the arena.
The studios presentation was good, especially if you love celebrities.  I enjoyed the previews of Brave, Wreck it Ralph, and Monsters University.  Pixar announced two new unnamed projects: Dinosaurs and inside the mind.  Then we got cupcakes - AWESOME!  Espcieally considreing I was hungry!  This was long!  The animation was followed by the live action talk.  Here is the celebrity list, can't promise I got all the names correct: John Crier (Planes); Jack McBrayer and Sarah Silverman (Wreck it Ralph); Kelly McDonald and Kevin McKidd (Brave); Billy Crystal (Monsters University); Taylor Kitch, Lynn Collins, and Willam Defoe (John Carter); Frankeweenie (Frankenwwenie); Jennifer Garder (Odd Life of Timothy Green); Kermit, Jason Segal, and Piggy (Muppets); Tom Hillson, Scarlet Johnassen, Chris Hemsworth, Cobie Smulders, Jeremy Renner, and Robert Downey Jr. (Avengers).
By Saturday afternoon, lines for any of the events were so long, they were filling up hours before hand.  The Archives line was four hours long when I checked around 2.  I did mange to get in line for the Monsters University session at 4:16 (not my first, second, or even third choice of things I wanted to see - more like something I could actually get into).  It was interesting though - to hear from the team and the detail and attention paid to making characters younger.  That night I didn't get into the imagineering panel (both of them filled up early), so I went to the auction instead - well sort of, it started half an hour late, and by the time the pre-show act ended I was so tired, I left.
By Sunday, crowds were down and Disney had figured out how to move the entrance lines - I was in the line inside the convention center for the Disney Cruise Line by 8:30.  I had to leave to check out of the hotel so I missed the some of the things (Art of Brave) I would have liked to see but I came back and got in line for the Archives (only an hour wait).  By 2:45 I was in line for the Vintage Disneyland and Walt Disney World.  I was getting tired of getting shut out of things, and just tired, so I was lined up outside in the hall to get into the queue line room - to wait.  I enjoyed that session - Tony Baxter is always interesting to listen to.  And he is pretty Frank too.  I appreciated that.
Overall I liked: that I didn't have to wear a wristband, there was more departments represented on show floor from Disney, collectors forum was much busier (I was happy for them), animation studios gave away all kinds of free stuff, enjoyed the panels I did get into (well, most), the Dream Store gave annual passholders a discount, and I got to use the charter member lounge (cookies!).
On the other hand: lines were long and filled up at least and hour ahead, food was awful - line lines and poor quality, on the first day, panel started at nine, but you couldn't get in, so much less to choose from, and the Dream Store wasn't exciting.
One thing I've appreciated about D23 is they listen to fans and make adjustments - can't wait to see what they do in 2013.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Snow White at the D23 Expo

Last weekend I attended the D23 Expo (along with thousands of other fans).  I will share more information about the Expo in the days to come but here are the Snow White related things I found.  Enjoy!

Hallmark displayed this upcoming Christmas ornament - 2012!

The pop up Disney Store was featuring their new designer Snow White dolls - it will be released on a Monday this fall
Merchandise featuring the designer Snow White
The Disney Store also sold Wish a Littles
In the Collectors Forum, a Snow White ride car was available for purchase (I didn't ask how much, if you have to ask, you can't afford it anyway)
There were a variety of artists working throughout the Expo - this was my favorite
In the healthy eating pavilion, I saw Snow White on the apple chips - hope the queen hasn't touched them!
Silent Auction Item
Close up on Disneyland Ticket for the 50th Anniversary Silent Auction Item

The complete set
The concept board for the fine dinning location on the Disney Dream
Part of the Show in the Animator's Palette on the Disney Fantasy
Walt Disney Imagineering's Model of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train


The mock up of the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train car - it swings!
The Carthay Circle Restaurant is going to be the landmark of Disney California Adventure's Buena Vista Street
This pin was sold in the Dream Store - a blind box pin

This pin was available in the Treasure Trove Store

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Disney, Railroads, and My Dad


Over the years my dad has attended various Disney events with me.  He is always a great sport and says he enjoys learning about things even though he isn't the Disney fanatic I am.  In fact, he took me to a Disneyana Connvention back in the day, that was just amazing!  Well this past week he was in Sacramento for the National Conventions of the National Model Railroad Association and sent me a very excited text because he was in a clinic that was all about Disney!
I think I would have enjoyed this particular talk given by imagineers John and Katie Olson.  The Olsons talked about their work in Paris working on Big Thunder and how the union rules are different so John was able to hire sculptors along with the contractors.  (John works with the contractors to bring the imagineers vision to life).   They also talked about their work on Radiator Springs and current work in Shanghai.  Below is the clinic description:

Disney Railroading Thursday July 7 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
John & Katie Olson Convention Center 310
John Olson was recruited by Walt Disney Imagineering in 1974 when Mike O'Connell (owner of Chooch Enterprises) was working there as a show writer, and producing a film on model railroading for Kalmbach Publishing, which featured a few of John's dioramas. John began with Disney as a model builder, and soon branched into production design and field art direction for the Disney Theme Parks. Katie, a Disney Scholarship winner, joined Disney shortly after John as a model painter and color designer. Together they have worked on too many Disney Theme Parks to name! Before joining Disney, John worked closely with folks like Tom Daniel, Leo Campbell, and Fred Hill, among other manufacturers and retailers. Also at time, John began publishing with Kalmbach, Carstens, Narrow Gauge Gazette, and of course the NMRA Bulletin. John will be sharing memories of those days. Given the fact that Walt Disney himself was a huge rail fan, trains are ever-present in the Disney vocabulary. Over the years there they have worked with several famous Disney characters, such as Ward Kimball (Grizzly Flats RR), Harper Goff (Great Locomotive Chase art director), Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston (private railroads in two locations), Carl Fallberg (Fiddletown and Copperopolis), and many more. The clinic takes us to the homes of the above folks and a pictorial visit to their railroads. John and Katie will also discuss the ever present thread of trains in the Disney theme parks. Katie has color designed many of the railroad stations and locomotives in several of the parks. It was during the early years at Walt Disney Imagineering that John built the Mescal Lines, Cielo Lumber Company, Jerome and Southwestern RR. Later he built (and Katie painted) the Ferrocarril de Tascosa and Calico. John will be sharing some images of his work, and discussing how building Disney theme parks is really similar to building a model railroad!

Sunday, May 29, 2011

The Vault of Walt

Jim Korkis has written a fabulous book entitled The Vault of Walt.  The book is a collections of stories and information regarding a variety of topics Disney related.  I was pleasantly surprised at how much information about Snow White I gathered from this book.  In fact, there is an entire chapter dedicated to Snow White's Christmas Premiere.  I have gathered many interesting facts to share This is one book that all Disney fans should read.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Snow White Banned In England (in 1937, that is)


A little trip back in time today.  This Montreal Gazette newspaper from February 7, 1938 confirms that British censors maintain that Snow White is for adults only.  My how times have changed.

Sunday, May 15, 2011





Yesterday team Whistle While We Play competed in our first Mice Chat Gumall Rally.  This event is fabulous and a true labor of love by the Mice Chat crew.  We had a blast going from attraction to attraction trying to complete the whole book before time ran out.  It's tough - especially because it covered both parks.  We thought we did great, covering 34 of the 55 listed attractions and not stopping even to eat!  While we didn't even make the top ten, we look forward to improving our strategies for next year.  (We'll need a year just to recover!)