Featured Item

Archive Calendar

March 2024
S M T W T F S
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31  

Past Archives

Buy Now Pay Later

Poll

Walt Disney World
What is your favorite WDW park?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

October Florida Recap: NFFC Convention, Adventurers Club Dinner, New Releases and more

Hi everyone!

I had a great trip to central Florida last week, and accomplished all I set out to do. Below are the highlights of the trip:

2008 NFFC Florida Canvention:

This years NFFC Florida Convention was excellent as expected! Highlights included author David Koenig, who gave a highly informative and entertaining presentation on Epcot’s World Showcase concepts that were never realized. Animation Legend Joe Hale (below right) gave an interesting and candid talk about working at the Disney Studios. His recollections included memories of Walt Disney and dealing with Jeffrey Katzenburg, Michael Eisner and more!

Another highlight was Ike Eisenmann (below left), who spoke about his work on the original Witch Mountain movies. He segued into his involvement with the upcoming “Race to Witch Mountain” film and his own animation company. A very special tribute to Disney Legend Ralph Kent featured emotional memories from Gary Sohmers and a panel of Ralphs friend and co-workers. This was followed by a spirited auction where some of Ralph’s memorabilia was auctioned off by Mr Sohmers to benifit Ralph’s estate.

The convention also included a tour of the Walt Disney World Merchandise Warehouse, the induction of three new NFFC legends: Hank Dains, Jess Rubio, Phil Smith and Gretta Verity. A very detailed talk about the history of the Adventurers Club from Disney historian Jim Korkis rounded out the convention and got everyone ready for the special event that followed!

The Adventurers Club Dinner:

When Pleasure Island opened in 1989, I was 22 years old. It was the perfect age to enjoy all that P.I. offered! That included the Comedy Warehouse, a variety of nightclubs – and the mysterious Adventurers Club. I enjoyed the Island on my frequent Disney trips, but was especially enamored with the interactive characters and atmosphere of the AC. When I found out about Pleasure Island’s closing, I was especially saddened as I would not be able to visit the final night. Fortunately, I was given another chance to say goodbye with the NFFC during a wonderful evening as part of the Florida Convention.

I enjoyed a special evening with other NFFC members, who’d waited excitedly to enjoy the Club one last time. All the characters were in attendance, and even more interactive than usual due to the absence of the library shows.

We were treated to a hilarious New Member Induction Ceremony poking fun at all the “Disney Fanatics” in the room plus two Mask Room shows and two Treasure Room shows!

The actors seemed genuinely happy to host our group, and talked out of character a little more than usual at the end of the evening. Jim Korkis ended the eventful night with a final tribute to the Club and the performers (photo below of the cast posting for us).

It was an unforgettable evening, and I will truly miss this unique Disney experience. I hope it returns in some form in the future. For more photos of this very special event, please visit partner site MouseSteps.

New Releases:

I recently spent 3 days recording footage at Disney’s Polynesian Resort for an upcoming DVD and screensaver release! Please feel free to email suggestions for a future resort title to: suggestions@JeffLangeDVD.com.

Available Now:

Be sure to check out my latest release: Jeff Lange’s Trick or Treat 5 (Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2008).

As a special thank you to those that order Jeff Lange’s Trick or Treat 5 direct from this site, I am including the guide above as a free bonus while supplies last. This was the Boo! What? Where? When? Party Guide Map given out at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. It makes an ideal companion to the new DVD.

For more details on purchasing this title, click HERE.

As always, if you want to request a future DVD idea, Photo Memory topic or comment on anything, just drop me a line at suggestions@JeffLangeDVD.com.

Click here to browse the JeffLangeDVD store.

October Travel Recap, NFFC Florida Convention, Adventurers Club Dinner, New Releases and more

Hi everyone,

I have returned from a crazy but fun week in Florida. The trip was very productive, producing over 15 hours of video footage! I was able to attend the NFFC Florida Convention, The Adventurers Club dinner, another Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and work on some upcoming DVD releases. I also visited with friends and enjoyed meeting some very nice people who stopped by my table the NFFC show and sale on Sunday!

Please check back tomorrow for the beginning of my Florida recap!

As always, if you want to request a future DVD idea, Photo Memory topic or comment on anything, just drop me a line at suggestions@JeffLangeDVD.com.

Click here to browse the JeffLangeDVD store.

A last look at Pleasure Island's Adventurers Club: 1989 – 2008

Hi everyone!

Earlier this month, I made my final trip to the Adventurers Club in it’s current form. Disney announced in June that Pleasure Island would close all of it’s clubs at the end of the evening on September 27th, 2008. That said, I am very excited that I am part of the NFFC group that will be enjoying an evening at this wonderful club in early October!

I am grateful to have enjoyed one last night at the Club before it closes to the public. Both Pleasure Island and the Adventurers Club have changed so much over the years I’ve visited! The best thing about my last AC visit was that it included some of the original actors, which gave it a wonderful feel of previous years!

I’ve been reminiscing lately about the 19 years I’ve enjoyed at the Adventurers Club. There is so much history! What I did miss – but my friend Jim Hill didn’t – was on occasion, Graves (the Adventurers Club butler) would welcome guests back to the club before informing them that in their absence, he was collecting their mail. Graves would then lower a platter for a guest to take an envelope, which the guest would open and read.

I always thought that this was a wonderful, interactive touch! And while remembering this past history of the Club, it reminded me that Jim had once given me an assortment of these sealed envelopes to keep in my personal archives. Today I discovered these letters and finally opened them! I am very happy to be sharing these letters – until now unread by me – with you.

Below is an example of one of these these letters. To view all the letters and more of my vintage Adventurers Club artifacts, please visit partner site Mousesteps.

To listen to Mr. Hill tell the full story of these letters and more about Pleasure Island’s history, please click HERE: (The Magical Definition Podcast – Pleasure Island Episode). Also please visit Jim Hill Media for more backstory on these vintage Adventurers Club artifacts!

NFFC Florida Convention:

This year’s 3rd Annual NFFC Florida Convention may possibly the very last chance Disneyana fans will get to experience the Adventurers Club. The NFFC bids a fond farewell to this one-of-a kind Disney venue with a special event that promises to be a full evening featuring a buffet dinner, one of a kind in-depth tour of the Adventurer’s Club, and some very special entertainment! The NFFC convention takes place at the Regal Sun Resort (formerly the Grosvenor Resort Walt Disney World) in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The dates are October 3rd through October 5th, 2008. See you there!

As always, if you want to request a future DVD idea, Photo Memory topic or comment on anything, just drop me a line at suggestions@JeffLangeDVD.com.

Click here to browse the JeffLangeDVD store.

Pleasure Island Construction Update: Club Demolition, D-Street Star Wars Vinylmation, AMC Renovation – Photos and Video (Now in HD)

Hi everyone!

We went to Downtown Disney today to take a look at the demolition of the clubs, as well as see the AMC construction during the day. Our first stop was Pleasure Island (below, left). Many of the buildings have remained unchanged, including the BET Club (below, right).

Continue reading Pleasure Island Construction Update: Club Demolition, D-Street Star Wars Vinylmation, AMC Renovation – Photos and Video (Now in HD)

Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar at the Disneyland Hotel, Tour of Decorations and Effects – Photos and Video

Hi everyone!

We have another installment from our Disneyland trip last month! On Denise’s birthday, we paid a visit to one of the Disneyland Resort’s newest additions, Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar (below, left). The bar is a fun mix of The Jungle Cruise, Adventurer’s Club, Enchanted Tiki Room, and more. A tiki stands guard above the bar (below, left) and you can see two tiki drummers like the ones you’ll find in the Enchanted Tiki Room (below, right).

 

Continue reading Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar at the Disneyland Hotel, Tour of Decorations and Effects – Photos and Video

Walt Disney World Update: Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland, Fort Wilderness Campground, Best Friends Pet Resort, Pleasure Island Entertainment – Photos and Video

Hi everyone!

It’s been interesting to see the changes each time we’ve gone to the Magic Kingdom! We enjoyed a little of the Main Street Philharmonic (below, left) before heading to Fantasyland (below, right). Dumbo the Flying Elephant wasn’t too busy of a wait, so now we have photos and video from it!

Continue reading Walt Disney World Update: Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland, Fort Wilderness Campground, Best Friends Pet Resort, Pleasure Island Entertainment – Photos and Video

Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Star Wars Weekends Preview, D-Street and Epcot Changes – Photos and Video

Hi everyone!

So much is happening around property now (but isn’t that the way it always is?), Star Wars Weekends (below, left and right) is about to kick off it’s first weekend!

Continue reading Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Star Wars Weekends Preview, D-Street and Epcot Changes – Photos and Video