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 ...

August 4th Walt Disney World Update, Including Bay Lake Tower Opening Day – Photos & Video

Hi everyone!

The last few days have been busy at Walt Disney World.  Unfortunately, one of those changes was the closing of Starabilias. A unique shop on the Downtown Disney West End, there have been rumors of it closing for a while (below left and right).

IMG_0993 IMG_1000

Continue reading August 4th Walt Disney World Update, Including Bay Lake Tower Opening Day – Photos & Video

Walt Disney World Update, including Tomorrowland Construction – Photos & Video

Hi everyone!

I am still working on my Disneyland updates, including photos and video from the recently enhanced Main Street Electrical Parade now appearing at Disney’s California Adventure!  In the meantime, here are some photos from Walt Disney World yesterday.

Both Walt Disney World and Disneyland raised prices on Sunday. New prices are listed (below, left). In Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom, the demolition continues on the old Skyway building. A larger area is now fenced off, including around Space Mountain and the Arcade (below, right).

img_0804 img_0836

Continue reading Walt Disney World Update, including Tomorrowland Construction – Photos & Video

California 2009 Recap Part 3: D23 Disneyland USA Event – Bonus Video: "Magical" Fireworks Show

Hi everyone!

It’s been a week since I’ve been back from California, and am finally getting more photos and blog posts up – some photos and the text are courtesy of Mousesteps.com. This article features the D23 Disneyland U.S.A. event on July 17th, which was Disneyland’s 54th birthday. I was very fortunate to be one of 200 guests to be part of this D23 event!

dsc_3032 img_9266

We had gotten our wristbands for the event outside of the Disneyland gates, and were given a time to meet at “it’s a small world”.

We were ushered backstage to see the film and panel discussion, hosted by Tim O’Day, that included former Disneyland President Jack Lindquist, Chief Disney Archivist Dave Smith and Imagineers Tony Baxter and Bob Gurr.  We were told that cameras weren’t allowed to be used at all backstage. It was a longer walk than I expected from Small World to the auditorium (but I could use all the walking I could get before the dessert party!) Before entering, we were treated to some information about the Disneyland fireworks, including the mention that there would be a new Hallowishes show.  Everyone was then given bags of candy, pretzels and a bottled water before being ushered inside.

dsc_3025b img_9273

We watched the beautifully restored version of Walt Disney’s 1956 “People and Places” featurette in CinemaScope, “Disneyland U.S.A.” We were given a few things to watch for ahead of time, I was surprised that there used to be fishing at Disneyland – but that soon ended, due to guests leaving their fish behind in the park (which created an odor problem). We were told that there were 17 Disney songs in the film, and you can hear Old Yeller even though it wasn’t yet out.

After the film, each panel guest talked for a few minutes. Bob Gurr talked about how Walt had seen a monorail in Germany, but wanted Bob to design a better one. Gurr had 8 months to design the monorail, but was still learning engineering – he trained himself at Disneyland.  He said how it took 13 years to get the Autopia car just right, and that those 1968 cars are still running – and the original subs as well. Gurr also does not like roller coasters, he rode one just to be able to tell Walt that he was doing research for the Matterhorn. Gurr said of his job, “I was paid to design, not ride this stuff”.

img_9284 img_9297

Jack Lindquist said that one of his most touching moments in the park was on one Christmas Eve, before the park closed at 6pm. There were only a handful of people left in Disneyland at 5pm, and he fell into step behind a family walking down Main Street.  One of the two children in the family turned to their mother and said, “You know mom, you were right.  This was better than having a visit from Santa Claus“.

One of my favorite stories of the evening was when Lindquist and Marty Sklar were throwing a party on the evening before the World’s Fair.  They ran out of ice, and Lindquist went through an apartment building looking for some – knocking on doors until he finally found a couple who had some to spare.  The couple talked to him, and then asked Lindquist if he knew their nephew – Marty Sklar. He did not tell them that Marty had been in town for months!

img_9295 dsc_3038b

Geri Bumpass was also one of the panel guests, she was a hostess that can be seen in old film footage and photos with Walt Disney. She told a funny story about how she once slapped Walt’s hand away from reaching from her chest, but it turned out that he was just wanting to take a look at a new pin he’d not yet seen. Bumpass eventually left her job at Disneyland, but returned to work there again many years ago because “I still had Pixie Dust in my blood”.

At one point, we were told that it was okay to bring out the cameras for a photo.

img_9296 dsc_3051b1

The dessert party included Celebration cupcakes, along with coffee and tea. The area isn’t the best for the fireworks, but I saw Magical around 10 times during my trip with castle-front views, so I enjoyed more spending time with friends in a non-crowded setting.

Thank you to D23 for another fantastic event! I am glad to be a charter member. For my report on the D23 Flower & Fireworks event at Epcot this summer, please click HERE.

Bonus Videos – “Magical” Fireworks Show from Disneyland

“Magical” Fireworks Show – Part 1 from Disneyland

“Magical” Fireworks Show – Part 2 from Disneyland

Available Now – Latest Release:

disneyland-parade-classics-copyJeff Lange’s Disneyland Parade Classics Vol 1

Jeff Lange takes you back in time to experience this first in a series of DVDs featuring vintage parades from the “Happiest Place on Earth”, Disneyland!.

Features the following classic Disneyland parades: Very Merry Christmas Parade (1985), Totally Minnie Parade (1986), Party Gras Parade – Disneyland’s 35th Anniversary (1990) and The World According to Goofy Parade (1992)!

Running Time: 60 Min

For more information

or to purchase this item, please click HERE.

Also available: Jeff Lange’s Magic Kingdom Parade Classics Vol 1 and Jeff Lange’s Magic Kingdom Parade Classics Vol 2.

More New Releases:

wdw-1986-coverJeff Lange DVD Presents: Bob Welbaum’s Walt Disney World 1986 DVD

Jeff Lange turns back the clock to 1986, where you will experience Walt Disney World through the eyes of Disneyana documentarian Bob Welbaum. This incredible vintage footage includes select narration from Mr. Welbaum, who shot this video before recording was commonplace.

Walt Disney World 1986 contains clips from the following: Walt Disney World Resorts, Original Disney Shopping Village, Epcot Center, Discovery Island, Magic Kingdom, Seven Seas Lagoon and much more!

Running Time: 65 Min

For more information

or to purchase this item, please click HERE.

Also available: Jeff Lange Remembers: Fantasyland Classics and Jeff Lange Remembers: Tomorrowland Classics

Also available:

disneyland-classics-vol-5-smallJeff Lange Remembers Disneyland Classics Vol 5

Jeff Lange takes you on a trip back in time to experience classic Disneyland attractions. This fifth volume in the series features the following:

Aladdin’s Royal Caravan (1993), Disneyland Railroad (1992) including the burning settlers cabin, Big Thunder Ranch and more, Beauty and the Beast Show (1993), Pinocchio’s Daring Journey (1993), Alice in Wonderland (1993) and Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks (1993)!

Running Time: 66 Min

For more information or to purchase this item, please click HERE.

Also available: Jeff Lange Remembers: Disneyland Classics Volume 1 – 4.

Also available:

magic-kingdom-wishes-cover1Jeff Lange’s Magic Kingdom Wishes DVD

Jeff Lange takes you to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom to experience the best of all the “Wishes” nighttime fireworks spectaculars!

Features: Wishes – A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams, Happy HalloWishes Fireworks, Holiday Wishes – Celebrate The Spirit of the Season plus Bonus: Magic, Music & Mayhem Fireworks!

Running Time: 61 Min

For more information or to purchase this item,

please click HERE.

Click here to browse the JeffLangeDVD store.

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.

California 2009 Recap Part 2 – NFFC Disneyana Convention: Evening with Paige O’Hara, Jodi Benson, Sherri Stoner and Don Hahn

The National Fantasy Fan Club celebrated it’s 25th year of bringing together Disneyana fans by surprising Jodi Benson (Ariel from The Little Mermaid) and Paige O’Hara (Belle from Beauty and the Beast) with NFFC Legends Awards at the NFFC Banquet on July 16th, 2009. Legends Awards are traditionally handed out during the Lunch with a Legend later in the week (and others were, including posthumously to Imagineers David Mumford and Bruce Gordon).

img_8856 dsc_2708crop

My thanks to Benson, O’Hara and the talented producer Don Hahn for taking the time to speak to us. They were very generous after a long evening, which included 2 hours of signing autographs and taking photos for all in attendance at the banquet – the autograph session didn’t end until just after 11pm. Hahn served as the host for the event, guiding the 3 guests – Benson, O’Hara and actress Sherri Stoner, the body model for Ariel (and the voice of Slappy Squirrel in Animaniacs) – in a memorable evening of interviews, video clips and songs.

img_8930 img_8978

One of the highlights of the banquet was seeing unreleased footage of behind-the-scenes recording sessions. There was a series of clips showing a frustrated Paige O’Hara as she started the Beauty and the Beast title song over and over, sometimes before any of the lyrics had been sung. O’Hara told me she’d never seen the footage before: “I’d seen a photograph of it, but never (video of) that full day.”  She continued about seeing these clips for the first time from onstage at the banquet, “I got very melancholy, choked up…there were several takes of that one first phrase.  I know many of them were the directors (orders to stop the take), but half of them were me, because I was really stuck on that one phrase.” O’Hara wanted it perfect, as “this was for history.

img_8960 img_8944

Benson was also visibly moved as she watched the clips of herself from 20 years ago. “A lot of times it feels like yesterday, and sometimes it feels like a lifetime ago. I guess I’m now starting to realize the impact this film has on peoples lives.” That same theme came up when I asked Benson about tearfully receiving the NFFC Legend Award (past recipients have included Imagineers Marc Davis and Tony Baxter, as well as the recently passed Wayne Allwine, the voice of Mickey Mouse). Benson said, “I just don’t think of the film as being around that long. It just doesn’t feel that like it’s that long to me…so when people say ‘I grew up with you’, and now there are these grown children…it just came to a realization that to get an award like that, with the name ‘Legend’ on it, this is something that is going to be around a lot longer, long past me.”

img_8941 img_8966

O’Hara was also similarly moved about the award, “I was so touched…I had no idea…no clue, neither did Jodi. It’s a great honor, a really great honor.”

dsc_2822 img_9046

Don Hahn is himself a past NFFC Legend award recipient, with a long and storied career that has included a Best Picture nomination for Beauty and the Beast. He currently has several projects in the works, including the documentary Waking Sleeping Beauty,  and the Disneynature follow-up to Earth, simply titled Oceans. About directing Waking Sleeping Beauty, a film that chronicles animation in the 80’s and 90’s, he says, “This is something that has been a labor of love for the last two years.” Hahn spoke with John Lasseter and said,  “We should document this era in animation.” Hahn then continued,  “Wouldn’t you have loved to have a documentary about Freddie Moore, Bill Tytla, and Frank and Ollie when they were in their prime?  It doesn’t exist.”  Waking Sleeping Beauty will feature lyricist Howard Ashman, writer Kirk Wise, animator Glen Keane and “directors and great artists who make these movies happen.”

dsc_2839 img_9078

I did ask Hahn what it was like to be part of what many consider the second (or third) Golden Age of Disney animation. “I promise you we didn’t know it was a new Golden Age”, Hahn laughed, then said seriously, “It really was a perfect storm of people, circumstances and the audience. Everybody was ready for it. It was a long time since Disney had done a fairy tale.  The Little Mermaid was the first fairy tale in 30 years when it came out. I think it surprised us all.”  He continued that the perfect storm also included great executives, including Michael Eisner, Jeffrey Katzenberg and the late Frank Wells. “We were really lucky to be there in the right place at the right time.” To see these incredible films now, you’d never think that there were problems getting them made. But that wasn’t the case, said Hahn. “Any one of them (the films) could have gone south at any moment. Most of them did at some moments…Beauty and the Beast went through terrible story changes, and there were times I couldn’t get anyone to work on The Lion King. I would say, ‘There are songs by Elton John, and it’s set in Africa’…and people would just walk way from it and say ‘good luck’.”

img_9069 dsc_2846

Hahn’s project, “Oceans” comes out Earth Day, 2010. Hahn said “It’s been filming for 4 or 5 years…it has the most amazing footage you’ve ever seen”. Expect more films coming from Disneynature as well, “we’ve got 6 of them going right now.” Hahn mentioned the upcoming film Hidden Beauty for 2011 (which currently comes up as Naked Beauty: A Love Story that Feeds the Earth on the IMDB), as well as films on African cats and chimpanzees.

Both Paige O’Hara and Jodi Benson have current projects as well. O’Hara stars in Menopause The Musical® in Las Vegas, and has a Judy Garland musical in the works that has been written for her. Jodi Benson reprises her role as Barbie in Toy Story 3, as well as narrating a series of Baby Faith DVD’s.

Thank you again to Paige O’Hara, Jodi Benson and Don Hahn. For those interested in the NFFC and being part of incredible events like this one, please visit NFFC.org.

California 2009 Recap Part 1 – Disney Studios, NFFC Disneyana Convention, Disneyland’s 54th Birthday & D23 Disneyland USA Event

Hi everyone!

I have had a productive trip to California, which included the yearly day trip to the Walt Disney Burbank Studios. For the first time we had a chance to tour Feature Animation. What a treat that was! Photos below include the Michael Eisner building (below, left) and The Walt Disney Archives (below, right). You can see that the Archives is really gearing up for D23.

dsc_1970 dsc_1971

Continue reading California 2009 Recap Part 1 – Disney Studios, NFFC Disneyana Convention, Disneyland’s 54th Birthday & D23 Disneyland USA Event

JeffLangeDVD hits the road, 25th Anniversary NFFC National Convention, Disneyland Resort, D23 Disneyland USA Event and More

Hi everyone!

It’s hard to believe a year has passed since the last California NFFC Convention, but I’m packing my bags to attend next week! In addition to this special Disneyana event, I have a packed schedule which will include the special D23 Disneyland USA event!

con_logo_med

NFFC National Convention:

“The 25th Anniversary Convention is shaping up to be the biggest and best NFFC Disneyana bash in the club’s history, with such Disney favorites as Don Hahn (Disney producer extraordinaire), Paige O’Hara (the voice of Belle in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast), and Jodi Benson (the voice of Princess Ariel in Disney’s The Little Mermaid) scheduled to be part of Celebration Banquet, A Royal Gathering.

Seminar presenters include Steven Clark, head of D23. Steven’s presentation will include history of the creation of D23 and a preview of the first D23 Disney Expo, which will take place at the Anaheim Convention Center this coming September.

Also scheduled to appear is Rebecca Cline, manager of the Disney Archives. Rebecca will be giving a presentation of rarely-seen film footage and items from the Mickey Mouse Club Circus.

Many of your favorite Imagineers and Disney artists are planning on attending the 25th Anniversary NFFC Disneyana Convention and NFFC All Disneyana Show and Sale.

The convention schedule is updated as speakers are confirmed and you can see the latest HERE.

I will be attending the entire convention and will have a table at the giant NFFC Disneyana Show and Sale. The sale date is Sunday, July 19th at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Resort (12021 Harbor Blvd. Garden Grove, CA). If you are attending, please stop by and say hello (click HERE for a flyer with a $1.00 off coupon). I look forward to meeting everyone! I will also be opening my room at the convention hotel for room hopping on Saturday, July 18th. For more information about the NFFC please click HERE.

Disneyland’s 54th Anniversary:

One of the highlights of my yearly trip is celebrating Disneylands Birthday! As a diehard Disneyland enthusiast (and Disney in general!), I’m known to never leave the park before closing – and July 17th is no exception. My Disneyland birthday tradition is to join friends for a full day in the park, riding all of the opening day attractions from 1955.

D23 Disneyland USA Event – July 17th 2009

I am also lucky enough to be attending the D23 Disneyland USA event the evening of July 17th – what a hard ticket that was to get! The D23 events page gives this description:

062909_ee_dlusa_soldout

“Join D23 as we wish Disneyland a happy anniversary with a very special screening backstage at Disneyland of Walt Disney’s recently restored 1956 “People and Places” featurette Disneyland, U.S.A., along with a panel discussion including Imagineer Tony Baxter, Disney Legend and Chief Archivist Dave Smith and Disney Studios Film Archivist Ed Hobelman. Then enjoy a dessert reception with your fellow D23 members, along with some very special surprises throughout the night!”

Check back here after the event for a full report!

Disneyland Anniversary DVDs – Available Now:

Just in time for Disneyland’s 54rd Anniversary we have these title available now! Jeff Lange Remembers: Disneyland’s 35th Anniversary, Jeff Lange Remembers: Disneyland’s 40th Anniversary, Jeff Lange Remembers: Disneyland’s 40th Birthday and Jeff Lange Remembers: Disneyland’s 45th Anniversary!

Disneyland fans may also be interested in my best selling series Disneyland Classics Vol 1 – 5 available HERE.

As always, while I am traveling you will still receive the same level of quality service you have come to expect from JeffLangeDVD. 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.

Click here to browse all Disneyland titles.

D23 TO MAKE FIRST-EVER APPEARANCE AT SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON

The Official Community for Disney Fans to Bring Special Exhibits, Sneak Peeks and a D23 Member-Exclusive Lithograph to Comic-Con

BURBANK, Calif. – July 8, 2009 – The fantastic intersection of Disney creativity and science-fiction imagination will be the focus of D23’s first-ever appearance at San Diego Comic-Con from July 23 to July 26, and D23: The Official Community for Disney Fans has been developing unique plans for its debut at the popular annual convention.

At Booth 3917 on the Comic-Con floor, D23 will present a display of costumes and props from Disney’s classic sci-fi and fantasy films, including The Rocketeer, The Black Hole, Condorman, Sky High and 1982’s landmark Tron.  This “Heroic and Robotic” exhibition has been created exclusively for Comic-Con International 2009.

Comic-Con attendees who also are members of Disney’s rapidly growing D23 – or who sign up during the four days of Comic-Con – can receive a free, exclusive lithograph by Disney master artist Dave Pacheco, which celebrates famous Disney robots.  (To receive the lithograph, D23 Members must provide their membership card and photo identification at the D23 booth.)  The limited-edition lithograph comes with a certificate of authenticity and will be available only during Comic-Con while supplies last.

D23 also will  provide a sneak peek of its upcoming D23 Expo, the ultimate Disney fan event, to be held this Sept. 10-13 at the Anaheim Convention Center.  The upcoming fall issue of Disney twenty-three magazine, which celebrates the 40th anniversary of Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion, will be previewed, as well.

For more details about D23’s Comic-Con plans and for information on the D23 Expo,, fans can visit www.disney.com/D23, or follow “Disney D23” at Twitter and on Facebook.