Lion King Kitteh

Mickey Mouse - The Haunted House - 1929

"The Haunted House" was produced and released around the same time as "Skeleton Dance" in 1929, and does not receive the recognition it deserves. An excellent example of Ub Iwerks' talents as Walt's animator and partner, I would like to share it with you here, as part of our Countdown to Halloween.

Mickey seeks shelter from a storm unknowingly in a haunted house. 

Pooh Corner, the Later Years

Eeyore and Tigger Kittehs

Eeyore Days

Sometimes you just can't help but have an "Eeyore Day" every now and then...

"I might have known," said Eeyore. "After all, one can't complain. I have my friends. Somebody spoke to me only yesterday. And was it last week or the week before that Rabbit bumped into me and said 'Bother!'. The Social Round. Always something going on."

"It's snowing still," said Eeyore gloomily.

"So it is."

"And freezing."

"Is it?"

"Yes," said Eeyore. "However," he said, brightening up a little, "we haven't had an earthquake lately."

"That's right, Eeyore. Drop in on any of us at any time, when you feel like it."

"Thank you, Rabbit. And if anybody says in a Loud Voice 'Bother, it's Eeyore,' I can drop out again."

End of the road... nothing to do... and no hope of things getting better. Sounds like Saturday night at my house.

Eeyore: It's my birthday, the happiest day of the year.

Pooh: Your birthday?

Eeyore: Of course. Can't you see all the presents?

Pooh: N-n-no.

Eeyore: Can't you see the cake, the candles, the pink sugar?

Pooh: No.

Eeyore: Neither can I.

Pooh: Oh. Well, many happy returns of the day, Eeyore.

Eeyore: Thank you, Pooh. But we can't all, and some of us don't.

Pooh: Can't all what?

Eeyore: No gaiety, no song and dance, no "Here We Go 'Round the Mulberry Bush". But don't worry about me, Pooh. Go and enjoy yourself. I'll stay here and be miserable, with no presents, no cake, no candles.

Pooh: Eeyore, wait right here.

After all, what are birthdays? Here today and gone tomorrow.

Nobody tells me. Nobody keeps me informed. I make it 17 days come Friday since anybody spoke to me.

Roo: Don't you ever get sick of your house falling down all the time, Eeyore?

Eeyore: Nope. Suppose it's just what houses do.

Lumpy: But houses are supposed to stay standing up.

Eeyore: Guess mine forgot.

A little Consideration, a little Thought for Others, makes all the difference. - Eeyore

Top 5 Disney World Attractions that Were Never Built

There were numerous rides and shows of Disney parks that never left the drawing board. Some of them were fully designed with funding but not built, while others never made it past the concept-art stages of development.  


Here are 5 I wish Disney had seen through to completion for WDW: 

Original AK logo featured a dragon!

Beastly Kingdom - The original design for AK included a section called the Beastly Kingdom. It was a land devoted to creatures of legend and mythology, with an Evil side (featuring a dragon roller coaster) and a Good side (with unicorns etc). Due to budget constraints, Beastly Kingdom never came to fruition and the Camp Minnie-Mickey was built instead (so LAME!).  Give the Mt. Everest Yeti some mythological buddies to hang out with! 

Postcard for the never-built Venetian Resort

Disney's Venetian Resort (Deluxe) - The original resort opening was scheduled for Oct 1971. The Venetian would have been located between the Transportation and Ticket Center and Disney's Contemporary Resort near the water bridge. It was scrapped early on, replaced by plans for a Mediterranean Resort, which was also never built.  
Too bad! I love Venice and The Venetian hotel in Las Vegas is one of my favorites. You can never have enough wine, pasta and shopping. I like the idea of Goofy navigating a gondola around the Seven Seas Lagoon, too. 

Concept art for the Epcot Arab Pavilion

Arab Pavilion: Originally planned to be the largest Epcot Pavilion, the Arab Pavilion would feature a huge bazaar shopping area, animated boat ride and recreation of Persepolis. It reached the final stages of funding and approval until the Shah of Iran was overthrown and all financial support for the project was lost. 

Concept art for the Switzerland Pavilion - so cool!

Switzerland Pavilion: A Pavilion planned for Epcot's World Showcase. It would have brought a Matterhorn-bobsled type ride to Epcot. That would have been so awesome and such a difference to the Epcot landscape with the addition of a mountain! 

Concept art for the Mt. Fuji Roller Coaster for Japan

Japan Pavilion Roller Coaster: There were plans thrown around for a Mt. Fuji Coaster, Simulated Bullet Train Ride, and even a Godzilla themed attraction for the Japan Pavilion.  I love the Japan Pavilion, but also I really love roller coasters and thrill rides! The story is that Fuji Film was actually prepared to fully fund a mountain-coaster for Japan's Pavilion, but this sponsorship would have directly conflicted with Disney's contract with Kodak, so bureaucracy beat out artistic integrity and the plan was indefinitely shelved.


*~*~*~*~*
"You can design and create and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality." - Walt Disney

Pinnochio Paradox

My brain hurts!

Rub Here for Your Wishes

Spaghetti is Tricky

Disney & Iwerks - Skeleton Dance - 1929

No better way to start our Halloween Countdown than with the classic Disney Skeleton Dance.

The Skeleton Dance (1929) was the very first Silly Symphonies animated short cartoon produced and directed by Walt Disney and animated by Ub Iwerks. In 1994, it was voted #18 of the 50 Greatest Cartoons of all time.

Original poster for The Skeleton Dance (1929)

Cruella stopped by

Celebs on Splash Mountain

This is not a celeb gossip blog, but these photos are hilarious.  Here are some celebrity-types enjoying wholesome family entertainment and thrills on our favorite attraction Splash Mountain.

Don't cry Kevin McHale! Brer Rabbit always knows how to
escape the clutches of Brer Bear and Brer Fox. Chris Colfer on the
other hand looks only mildly amused.

Holly Madison (yeah I didn't know who she was either)
enjoying some Disney fun, sans Hef.

The Hoff, enjoying his trip down Slippin' Falls

Nicole Richie and Brody Jenner are famous. Meh.
Guy in the yellow shirt?  Rockstar

The caption really says it all.

Dog Minnie Ears

Just having "one of those days"