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Saturday, May 31, 2014

Part Four in our Series - 31 Facts About Mary Poppins You Might Not Know!

Well, here we are again!  Another month passes by like a blurr.  I do not want the summer to go by too quickly, as we have waited so long for it to finally arrive.  We pick up where we ended last month with more Mary Poppins movie trivia facts.  Enjoy the read!


1.) Ham Luske directed the "Jolly Holiday" animation.  He was a supervising animator on Disney's "Snow    White and the Seven Dwarfs."

2.)  In the original book chapter, Mary Poppins and Bert often had raspberry jam cakes and tea on her day off. That became raspberry ice, cakes and tea Mary orders in the film.

3.)  Matte artist Peter Ellenshaw also voiced the penguin waiter who sings, "and Jane!"

4.)  Richard Sherman not only co-wrote the songs, he voices a penguin, and one of the Pearlies as well.

5.)  The Penguins are voiced by Daws Butler, Dallas McKennon, J. Pat O'Malley and David Tomlinson.

6.)  Originally, Bert's roll call of charming ladies included the name "Pamela."  Mrs. Travers begged Walt Disney to substitute something else and suggested Felicia, which was used instead.

7.)  Animator Frank Thomas discovered there are 26 varieties of penguins.  They drew the look most people  think of as a penguin.

8.)  Choreographer DeeDee Wood, with three assistants, created the dance for the penguins.

9.)  She was filmed performing the dance as a study guide for the animators.

10.)  DeeDee Wood had to devise a fun way for the penguins to dance since they don't have shoulders, a bendable waist or knees.

11.)  Walt had told the Director to shoot the live action any way he wanted.  The animators would put the penguins in later.

12.)  DeeDee Wood used life-sized cut outs of penguins to show Dick Van Dyke where to look during the dance.

13.)  Animator Ollie Johnston found "jolly Holiday" hard to animate.

14.)  Director Stevenson kept the framing very tight, which didn't leave Johnston and his colleagues much room to work.

15.)  The animators had to imagine how many penguins would fit in the scene at any given moment.

16.)  Animator Frank Thomas watched the filming very carefully as Van Dyke danced.

17.)  He would point his fingers at the actor to indicate how many penguins would be in the scene.

18.)  Disney sound-effects wizard James Macdonald heard some of the chimney sweep dancers patting their tummies one day.  He has then record that action to be the sound of the penguins feet tapping.  Later, Irwin Kostel replaced their sound since his tummy was a better size and shape.

19.)  Mary Poppins and Bert rode a Merry-Go-Round in the original Mary Poppins story from 1926.

20.)  The carousel horses were carefully designed by Disney artist Blaine Gibson to represent caricatures of their riders. 

21.)  Favorite Disney character actor and voice artist Dallas McKennon voices the Merry-Go-Round guard.

22.)  Musical Composer Irwin Kostel used two glockenspiels for the Merry-Go-Round sequence. and added nine French horns when the horses peel off and join the fox hunt.

23.)  Film Editor Cotton Warburton noted that the abundant use of "invisible wires" was so smoothly done, it completely fools the eye.

24.)  The carousel horses are moved up and down using a technique called "mechanical manual tube suspension."

25.)  Alan Napier, known as Alfred the Butler on the Batman TY series, voices the Huntsman Mary talks to, a Hound and a Reporter.

26.)  Dallas McKennon also voiced the Fox, the horse  ("Nevah!") a hound, and the Racetrack Guard.

27.)  One of Disney's top layout artists, McLaren Stewart, served as Animation Art Director.  He designed the "Jolly Holiday" set--the painted background on which the action (live and animated!) takes place.

28.)  The "Jolly Holiday" animators are some of Disney's legendary artists: Milt Kahl, Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, Ward Kimball, John Lounsbery, Eric Larson, Hal Ambro, Cliff Nordberg and Jack Boyd.
 (Some of which were in the elite group called Disney's Nine Old Men.)

29.) Actor Sean McClory also voices a hound and Reporter #4.  David Tomlinson voices the Jockey and the Racetrack Stewards.

30.)  Disney favorite J. Pat O'Malley plays the Master of Hounds, a Hound, a Horse, a Photographer, a Reporter and the Pearlie Drummer.

31.) Julie Andrews and her husband Tony Walton came up with the idea of saying "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" backwards.  Tony Walton figured out how to do it, by inverting the syllables rather than the letters (except for the end,) "Docious-ali-expi-istic-fragil-cali-rupus."

Well, there you have the new batch of fun Mary Poppins facts for this month.  Join us again at the end of June to find out some more fun information!



Thursday, May 29, 2014

Throwback Thursday!

March 1997 trip to Walt Disney World............my boys with my favorite Disney character, Eeyore.
This was at the Pooh and Friends Breakfast that used to take place at Olivia's at the Old Key West Resort. 


Monday, May 26, 2014

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Sentimental Sunday

Today we feature a few pictures and story that brings back really fond memories of a past Disney trip for Sentimental Sunday!

My first (and only....so far) trip to Disneyland in 1978. It was August of that year, the year of Mickey's 50th Birthday!

Here I am at 20, and my friend Elaine was 19, and a beautiful model in and around LA.


I went out to California to visit and old friend from my block in Munster where I grew up (and still lived at the time.) Her Dad worked for Bethlehem Steel and for transferred from Indiana to California when my friend was still in Kindergarten.  We kept in touch for years and years, and she and her parents finally invited me to come and visit them.  They lived in Redlands, which is a lovely place.

Her Mom knew I loved it there, and asked me if I wanted to stay and I could live with them.........tempted as I was, I knew it would break my parents heart, so I came back. 

I got this giant plush Mickey Mouse and he came home on the flight with me, in the seat next to me strapped in, as they flight was not totally booked up.  The flight attendant hated to see him up in the over-head bin, or smashed under the seat.

This picture is us back at home!  ( Yes, I was very tan from spending 2 weeks in Southern California!)

Friday, May 23, 2014

Foodie Friday!

Even though the picture here is NOT technically food, for Foodie Friday, I did drink it while waiting for food, so in my book it qualifies!  This is the Moonshine Margarita from Whispering Canyon Cafe at the Wilderness Lodge (far and away my favorite resort!)
This drink was WAY better than I expected.  Our server told me about it, and she said "if you don't love it, or even like it, I will get you another drink for free!" So, I thought.... what the heck!  I didn't ask for another drink, as this was totally delish!

Walt Disney World Picture of the Day!

Today's Disney‬ Picture from the Park from Moments of the Magic by Joe Diebold
one of my favorite views at EPCOT - I love looking for the turtles in this area and it is a great place to get out of the crowds.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Throwback Thursday!

If any of you were at Walt Disney World during the 25th Anniversary, you will know what this is.  For those of you who were not, I will explain.


Each guest who wanted one, was given a stick-on badge like the one pictured below.  You were asked to tell the Cast Member at Guest Services the first year you came to Walt Disney World.  They then put a sticker on your badge for that year. 

As I had my first visit to Walt Disney World in March of 1976 for my senior class trip, I go way back. This is my reason for the Throwback Thursday memory for today, and it's a fond one!!

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Walt Disney World Picture of the Day!

Today's ‪‎Disney‬ Picture from the Park from Moments of the Magic by Joe Diebold

 Cinderella Castle right down Main Street - This as our "See you Real Soon" look down Main Street on our last day we were there in Oct. - we timed it just right as the Move it Shake It Celebrate It parade was coming down so we could get a clear view.

Friday, May 16, 2014

In "The Middle" of the Heck Family Vacation at Walt Disney World | Disne...

Foodie Friday!




My dinner and lunch from Be Our Guest Restaurant on my trip last May! 



Dinner on my first night of my trip was:

 Sautéed Shrimp and Scallops - with Seasonal Vegetables and Mushrooms served in Puff Pastry with a Creamy Lobster Sauce - $25.99

 Dessert was:
Tropical Fruit Cream Puff - Tropical Fruit Cream Puff filled with Passion Fruit Mousse topped with Whipped Cream. Available without garnish - $4.19



And I tried the Grey Stuff.......it was delicious, and I didn't even need to ask the dishes!




Lunch on my last full day there was:
Carved Prime Chuck Roast Beef Sandwich - Served warm on a Baguette with Horseradish Sour Cream and Pommes Frites. Also available on Millet Bread - $12.49 

Dessert was:
Chocolate Cream Puff - Chocolate Cream Puff filled with Chocolate Mousse topped with Whipped Cream. Available without garnish - $4.19

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Happy 5th Anniversary to the man who brought light back into my life!





You have made my life so much better since we met.  I can't believe 5 years has already passed.  We have been through more in 5 years than most people go through in a life time of years together.  HAPPY ANNIVERSARY PAUL!  I love you more than words can say. 

Disney's Cinderella Official Teaser Trailer

Throwback Thursday!

Here are several pictures from my very first trip to WDW as an 18 year old, in 1976! 

 These 2 photos were taken from the Monorail..........  see all the empty space?
 This next picture was from the Bicentennial parade on Main Street....
 Trolley car going "Right Down the Middle of Main Street, USA"......

Walt Disney World Picture of the Day!

Today's Disney Picture from the Park - Tough to be a Bug - Hopper!! - its pretty amazing that they have this show inside the tree of life - yes it is loud and it may be scary to small children, but it is tough to be a bug after all. Do you take the time to see this ride?
ISO : 6400
ShutterSpeed : 1/80
lens used : 18-55mm
f/stop : f/5.6

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Walt Disney World Picture of the Day!

Today's ‪‎Disney‬ Picture from the Park from Moments of the Magic by Joe Diebold-

Cinderella Castle and Disney Balloons - what a great sight any day of the week!!

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Disney Parks Podcast Show #119, and I am the special guest!





 I had a great time doing the Disney Parks Podcast this week!  Thanks so much to Tony Caselnova and Krista Joy for inviting me to be on the show!  It was a blast.

Disney Parks Podcast Show #119 –  This Weeks Disney News and The Best Ways to Enjoy WDW on the Water.

 We have a GREAT show for you this week as Tony and Krista and Guest Kris Banas discuss this weeks news and the best ways to enjoy WDW on the water

 The link to the show is below.  Please give it a listen, and tune in each week for a new episode. 

http://disneyparkspodcast.com/category/podcasts/

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Sweet Memories.............. Cinco De Mayo 2013.....

It does not seem it can be possible that I was at EPCOT celebrating Cinco de Mayo just one year ago.  How can time really go this fast?  What great memories I have from a very special day.....especially in the Mexico pavilion!  Fun times!

A hug from my favorite duck in the world!








and a hug from Panchito!

Happy Cinco de Mayo 2014 !!

Friday, May 2, 2014

Big Bang Theory and the Disney references

 Normally, a link like this would not be posted on a page dedicated to all things Disney.  However, this time I must say, it does.  The Big Bang Theory television show is totally my favorite show on TV. 

As of the last couple years, there have been many references on the show to different Disney things.  Mostly Disneyland, since the show takes place in California. 

This weeks episode focuses on STAR WARS, and since Disney has purchased the STAR WARS franchise from George Lucas, I think it's a very relevant thing to post on this page. 

I am a huge fan of all things STAR WARS, so I totally loved the episode on May 1, 2014. 


The Big Bang Theory: "The Proton Transmogrification" Review


http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/05/02/the-big-bang-theory-the-proton-transmogrification-review?utm_campaign=fbposts&utm_source=facebook


Thursday, May 1, 2014

Walt Disney World Picture of the Day!

Todays Disney‬ Picture from the parks from Moments of the Magic by Joe Diebold

Animal Kingdom Oasis - these Bright colored Scarlet Macaws are usually out and waiting to see you in the Oasis!