Disney History Tidbit for February 27

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROLLY CRUMP! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPh7nqnMedQ

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                                            Photo Credits: D23

From D23.com..........

Words may not fully describe designer and Imagineer Rolly Crump. So to get a handle on this spirited, multi-talented Disney designer, think: Leonardo DiVinci’s Universal Man.

A true “original,” even among Imagineers, Rolly drew forth genius in others. Disney Concept Designer John Horny observed, “Rolly has a knack for bringing out the best in others. Trusting their talent, he encourages artists to push their creativity to the limits. It’s a rare creative person who can let others run with the ball.” Show writer Jim Steinmeyer added, “The idea is king with Rolly. It doesn’t have to be his vision, as long as it works.”

Born Roland Fargo Crump on February 27, 1930, in Alhambra, California, Rolly took a pay cut as a “dipper” in a ceramic factory to join The Walt Disney Studios in 1952.

To help pay bills, he built sewer manholes on weekends. He served as an in-between artist and, later, assistant animator, contributing to Peter Pan, Lady and the Tramp, Sleeping Beauty, and others.

In 1959, he joined show design at WED Enterprises, now known as Walt Disney Imagineering. There, he became one of Walt’s key designers for some of Disneyland’s groundbreaking new attractions and shops, including the Haunted Mansion, Enchanted Tiki Room, and Adventureland Bazaar.

Rolly served as a key designer on the Disney attractions featured at the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair, including it’s a small world, for which he designed the Tower of the Four Winds marquee. When the attraction moved to Disneyland in 1966, Rolly designed the larger-than-life animated clock at its entrance, which sends puppet children on parade with each quarter-hour gong.

After contributing to the initial design of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida, and developing story and set designs for NBC’s Disney on Parade in 1970, Rolly left the Company to consult on projects including Busch Gardens in Florida and California, the ABC Wildlife Preserve in Maryland, and Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus World in Florida, among others.

He returned in 1976 to contribute to EPCOT Center, serving as project designer for The Land and the Wonders of Life pavilions. He also participated in master planning for an expansion of Disneyland until 1981, when he again departed to lead design on a proposed Cousteau Ocean Center in Norfolk, Virginia, and to launch his own firm, the Mariposa Design Group, developing an array of themed projects around the world, including an international celebration for the country of Oman.

In 1992, Rolly returned to Imagineering as executive designer, redesigning and refurbishing The Land and Innoventions at Epcot Center. Rolly “retired” from The Walt Disney Company in 1996, but continued to work on a number of creative projects. He released his autobiography, It’s Kind of a Cute Story, in 2012.

A Visit to Coronado Springs Resort

 Back in October, we took a quick trip to Walt Disney World after a cruise.  We stayed at two resorts on this visit.  The first one was Coronado Springs, in the Grand Destino Tower.  This location has quickly become one of my new favorite places to stay.  It is like a deluxe resort with a "moderate" price point.  

This is the third time staying here for me.  As a couple. we have stayed at Coronado Springs before, but that was before the Tower was built.  As a matter of fact, it was deep into the construction stage when we stayed there.  I have stayed there traveling solo twice.  

I just love everything about this resort, but mostly the Tower!

Our WELCOME to the resort

The view from our room on the 7th floor

Photos from our Room are above

One of the most awesome pool themes

Cocktail at the Barcelona Lounge on the lover lobby level

The backdrop of the Barcelona Lounge!  So colorful!

Sitting at the bar

I took the class to make the mosaic

My design

getting it ready

A cocktail while I wait to go back to "class"

Lower lobby artwork

I just love the vibe in the lower lobby

A view of the Tower from Three Bridges Bar & Grill

Sangria Tower at Three Bridges

On the morning we moved to our next resort, we had breakfast at Rix Sports Bar.  I was so very impressed with this place.  We had never dined here before, and we are really happy we made the decision to do this.  The food was great, the coffee was excellent, and the service was wonderful!

Join me next Saturday as we talk about our one-night stay at the resort we moved to after this!

In Honor of Walt.

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!

 

Our Walt Disney World Visit, October 2022.

 After a seven-day cruise on Royal Caribbean which sailed out of Port Canaveral, we just could not be that close to Walt Disney World and not make a stop there as well.

We stayed at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in the Grand Destino Tower for 3 nights, and then as we added a night to our trip, we could not get a room extension at Coronado, so we moved to our very favorite Moderate class resort, Port Orleans French Quarter.

We only did one park day (EPCOT) on this visit as I wanted to relax more than run around like the crazy person I usually am when I am there.  I was glad we did this, as I had a weekend-long art festival right away when we returned home. 

At EPCOT, we got to experience the new Guardians of the Galaxy attraction, Cosmic Rewind.  It was really fun, although intense.  Let's say I am really happy that I did not eat breakfast before we rode.  Paul said it made him light-headed.  Anyway, I thought it was super fun, but not sure how many times I would do it.  The one other attraction that I really wanted to ride was Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, and I was unable to get a Lightning Lane for it, and then when we made the decision to just go stand in line, the attraction was down.  This was really my big disappointment from the trip.

One really fun thing I did at Coronado Springs Resort was the Mosaic Tile Project that is held up in the Dahlia Lounge.  It's a $25.00 cost and my piece turned out so cute.  If you are creative at all, you will really enjoy this. 

 

I hope you enjoyed reading about our latest adventure.  

Next up?  Our breakfast at Cape May at the Beach Club with the characters returned!

One favor, please.  If you would be so kind as to click on an ad or two while you are here, it would help me out a great deal.  Thanks! 

Until next time,

Kris.

 

DISNEY HISTORY TIDBIT - MARY POPPINS

 Today in Disney History.

August 29, 1964

Disney's Mary Poppins, Starring Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins (It's never just Mary), Dick Van Dyke as Bert, David Tomlinson as Mr. Banks, and Glynnis Johns as Mrs. Banks is generally released.  

Based on the children's books by P. L. Travers (which Walt Disney had been trying to get the rights to for 20 years) about a magical nanny who comes to work for a banker's unhappy family.  The film features the music of the Sherman Brothers.  The film would receive 13 Academy Award nominations, and win 5 Oscars.  

To me, this film was always larger than life and made a huge impact on my love of Walt Disney and his films for the rest of my life.

I do not own this photo

THE SKELETON DANCE!

 Just in time for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party which began last week, today we look back at this spooky animated film, The Skeleton Dance from 1929.

This was a cartoon under the Silly Symphony brand and was directed by Ub Iwerks, and was the very first in the Silly Symphony series.  This short film is animated by Walt Disney, his brother Roy, Ub Iwerks, Wilfred Jackson, and Les Clark (who would go on to become one of Walt's "Nine Old Men").

Enjoy!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h03QBNVwX8Q