Robin Williams: Gone Too Soon

The world lost one of the greats today.  Actor, Robin Williams, has passed away at the young age of 63.  He     has brought large audiences so much laughter and happiness throughout his career in Hollywood.

Disney fans of many generations know him as the beloved character, Genie, from Aladdin (1992) and Aladdin and the King of Theives (1996).  Williams’ talent brought Genie to life and gave the movie a comical side, making Genie a fan favorite to all ages.

Williams can be found in other Disney movies, such as Old Dogs (2009), Bicentennial Man (1999), Flubber (1997),and Jack (1996).

Robin Williams will be greatly missed by his friends, family, and fans.  His wide variety of acting credits make him known all over the country, as well as the world.  He brought so much talent into show business and will never be replaced.  We will continue to laugh along with his characters for many years to come.

We would like to send our condolences to Williams’ family during this very difficult time.

Rest in peace, Robin Williams.

#Planesing

We’ve had planking. We’ve had twerking. We’ve had a selfie craze. Are we going to have “Planesing” now too? It definitely wouldn’t surprise me. 

Now, what is “Planesing” you ask? Good question. I think I’ll leave it to the professionals from Disney’s newest film, “Planes: Fire and Rescue,” to explain. 

 

 

Get the gist of it? From what I understand, you put both arms out like an airplane, take a picture or video of you doing something awesome in that position, and upload it to social media with #Planesing. You don’t have to go all Pocahontas with it and fly off a cliff but by all means, if you know what you’re doing, then go for it. It would make a pretty awesome video to watch. (I recommend cliff diving be left to the professionals or super daring, adventurous type.) 

It seems that some pretty popular Disney characters have already mastered this concept. Will you be joining in on the fun and getting creative with your “planesing?” 

 

Buzz

 

We would love to know what your thoughts are about this new concept that could be taking over social media sites very soon. Leave us a comment and have a chat with us! 

9 Strange Things Disney Cast Members Learn to Do

(This is an article I found, written by Amy Ziese.  It was posted on ThemeParkTourist.com.  We did not write this and do not take credit for it.) 

 

Working as a Cast Member helps you hone some unusual skills you might not get anywhere else.  

Every Disney Cast Member learns the basics of doing the Disney point, navigating the parks, and interacting with guests during their training. However, there are many other skills that Cast Members tend to pick up on the job. Things you might not consider to be terribly useful in everyday life often turn out to be very handy when you’re dealing with thousands of theme park guests on a daily basis. Here are some of the stranger things that Cast Members often learn to do.

 

9. Sense Nausea from Great Distances

Cast Members who work on rides with a motion sickness warning tend to hone this skill particularly well, but the ever-present heat and humidity in Florida can make guests green at the gills just about anywhere. After a few months on the job, Cast Members learn to spot that glassy-eyed look even from a distance. You always hope you can get to the guest before he has a hand over his mouth, so there’s at least a chance of getting him to a bathroom in time.

8. Judge Children’s Heights at a Glance

Any Cast Member who has worked at an attraction with a height restriction is sure to have a special talent for identifying children who fall under that height. Cast Members typically figure out where the height restriction falls on their own body. That way you know any child who comes past your waist is good to go, while those who are mid-thigh definitely need to be measured. This skill is handy on the job, but awkward when you unconsciously eye up the kids in line with you when you’re riding attractions in your off time.

7. Determine Nationality in Under a Minute

Cast Members get to meet guests from all over the world. After you’ve had some experience chatting up international visitors, you’ll notice some commonalities in dress and mannerisms. This skill has nothing to do with determining someone’s heritage, so skin color and facial features don’t really apply. However, you can usually tell from someone’s choice of clothing or footwear where they’re from. If you can’t guess before talking to them, you’re sure to figure it out after you’ve heard their accent. Non-English speakers also seem to know certain English words that change depending on where they’re from.

6. Figure the Time Based on the Sound of Fireworks in the Distance

Walt Disney World has at least three fireworks shows every night of the year. In certain spots on property, you can even hear more than one. Cast Members can often ditch the watch in the evenings and determine the time by figuring that the wind is carrying the sound of Illuminations over from Epcot, so it must be nine. Unfortunately there aren’t many practical applications for this, so you just look a little strange cocking your head to one side and mumbling “ah, nine o’clock.”

5. Understand the Unique Language of Kids

If you’ve spent much time around small children, you’ve probably recognized that there are many things only parents seem to understand. What’s gibberish to an outsider often makes perfect sense to Mom or Dad…or to a seasoned Cast Member. The more popular words like characters’ names and certain attractions are easiest to pick out. The best Cast Members also know how to communicate with tots right on their level as well.

4. Count the Number of People in a Group in Seconds

Sure, you always ask “how many,” but you also go into the grouper position knowing that a lot of people will get the answer wrong. Guests also like to answer with math problems, like “two here, and three behind me, and then a kid.” Needless to say, it’s handy to have a good eye for figuring out which groups are together and determining how many are really with the guest in question.

3. Guess What a Guest Will Ask Before he Gets the Question Out

In certain positions, a Cast Member’s whole job is to answer questions. Cast Members in guest relations, the greeter position of an attraction, front desk areas in the hotels, or stocking shelves in a gift shop tend to get lots and lots of questions. After a while you pick up on what the guest is asking long before the question makes its way out. This is especially useful in cases where the guest himself doesn’t actually know what he’s asking. The literal answer to “Where’s Disney World?” is “Right here…all around you…you’re IN IT.” But most guests are actually referring to the Magic Kingdom when they ask this, which changes things drastically.

2. Speak in Acronyms

Cast Members love acronyms, particularly those with three letters. Many popular acronyms assume the word “ride” is tacked on to the end of an attraction to get the right number of letters. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is “DAK” (pronounced like it rhymes with “pack”). Kilimanjaro Safaris is KSR, Dinosaur is DTR (adding “The” as well as “Ride”), and The Great Movie Ride is GMR. Since these don’t make pronounceable words, you just say the letters. If you work in the rotation that includes Aladdin, the Enchanted Tiki Room, and the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, you’re at ATT. String enough of these together and it’s almost incomprehensible to someone who’s not in the know.

1. Scoop Trash up Without Missing a Step

Picking up stray pieces of trash on the ground is an essential Cast Member skill that goes all the way back to Walt. The man behind the mouse was known to pick up litter in the streets of Disneyland to keep up the flawless appearance of his park. Naturally, Cast Members are expected to follow suit. This skill is really handy anywhere, but it does get you some strange looks from your friends when you keep falling behind at the mall because you’re reflexively picking up every crumpled napkin you see.

Useful or not, the skills and habits you pick up as a Cast Member are many. If you’ve been looking for an immersive way to pick up a few new talents it may be as simple as working for a mouse.


http://www.themeparktourist.com/features/20130917/14414/9-strange-things-cast-members-learn-do?page=0,1



Frozen: Dads Now Entering Bandwagon

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Disney’s Frozen came out in November 2013. Yes, that’s right, 7 months ago Disney probably had no idea that their latest hit movie would still be blowing up record charts and social media. People are still as obsessed with the story, the characters, the music, all of it!

There have been plenty of videos circling the internet of others reenacting and singing the beloved songs. Covers of the songs are everywhere and people changing them, completely, as well.

The most recent one that I have come across made me smile the whole time. Two dads created their own rendition of the popular song, “For the First Time in Forever.”

Check out the awesome video by clicking here.

Where in the World… Are the Disney Princesses?

Princess Fairytale Hall

So, you know where all the Princesses are meeting, right?  Well guess again.

Disney is about to move them around to accommodate the HUGE popularity of the new comers, Princess Anna and Elsa.  Currently, you can find them meeting together in the Fairytale Hall, completed this year just for our Royalty.  You can also find Cinderella, Rapunzel, and Aurora (Sleeping Beauty for those who might not know) ((Yes, these people do exist!)) at Fairytale Hall.

However, starting on June 15, 2014, Aurora is going to be moving to the Town Square Courtyard.  She will be taking the place of Snow White.  Snow White will then move to Center Street, Main Street U.S.A.  (To be completely honest, I was not aware of a “Center Street” until now.)  Cinderella and Rapunzel will remain in their current locations.

As for Anna and Elsa, they will also remain at Fairytale Hall.  The change though, comes when you arrive to meet them.  They will no longer be meeting together.  They will be separate just like Cinderella and Rapunzel.

Disney is hoping that this will cut down on the outrageously long wait times to meet the Frozen Royalty, visiting all the way from Arendelle.  Wait times have been exceeding at least 200 minutes each day and by separating them into two meet and greets, hopefully this will be cut down.  Also, Disney being Disney, they are hoping that this will provide the opportunity for more people to actually come meet Anna and Elsa during their visit to Magic Kingdom.

You can meet the Princesses of Fairytale Hall from the time the park opens until 30 minutes before the park closes.

As for some of our other Princess favorites, you can swim under the sea to Ariel’s Grotto in Magic Kingdom to meet the mermaid herself.

Tiana is over in Liberty Square with her Prince Naveen.

Merida can be found in the Fairytale Garden giving friends some tips on her archery skills.

Jasmine meets with Aladdin at the Agrabah Bazaar, but sometimes they’ll fly over to Morocco on a magic carpet.

If Snow White doesn’t seem to be out and about in Magic Kingdom, she’s probably visiting friends in the Germany Pavilion in EPCOT.

As for Aurora, she sometimes likes to wander back into the woods to visit Fauna, Flora, and Merriweather but seems to end up in France.

Belle always has her nose stuck in a book, enjoying the fresh air in France as well.

Mulan is helping the Emperor in China, but she loves meeting new warriors who want to defeat the Huns.

And you can find Pocahontas over in Animal Kingdom with all of her animal friends.

 

So, what are your thoughts on the new changes?  Do you think Disney will save guests time by having Anna and Elsa meet individually?  °o°