Thursday, September 15, 2016

An In-depth Look at the WEDway PeopleMover

By Keith Mahne




In 1964, the first Disney designed PeopleMover system carried guests through the Ford pavilion at the New York World's Fair. Three years later, Disneyland inaugurated a similar system called the Goodyear PeopleMover which has carried countless numbers of people over millions of passenger miles before its unfortunate closer in 1995. The year 1975 brought the WEDway PeopleMover to Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom by utilizing a linear induction propulsion system to economically transport thousands of guests silently every day. The Community Transportation Services (CTS), a former subsidiary of Walt Disney Productions, was responsible for all the research, development, construction, testing and operation of transportation systems for the Disney Parks, including Walt Disney's planned Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT). In today's new article, thanks to a 1977 booklet created by the CTS, we will take an in-depth look at the WEDway PeopleMover, your quiet and carefree highway in the sky...

Monday, September 12, 2016

How the Imagineers Saved Disney California Adventure

By Jimmy Wienholz



Disney California Adventure has been perhaps the most troubled theme park ever built by the Disney Company. When the park first opened in 2001 it was immediately the subject of controversy among die-hard Disney fans who felt that the park was built on the cheap and quite tacky. Thankfully in 2007, Disney announced a major expansion as well as a major overhaul of a significant portion of the park. Construction lasted for five years and was completed in stages, culminating with the opening of Buena Vista Street and Cars Land in June 2012. The evolution of Disney California Adventure is fascinating and is a real testament to how talented Disney Imagineers truly are. Let's take a look at how Disney saved the park in today's new article...

Sunday, September 11, 2016

Goofy’s Kitchen as Goofy and “Campy” as a Summer Camp Dining Hall

By Ron Baxley




Gawrsh! Who wouldn't enjoy a fun-filled breakfast or dinner with Goofy as your host? Goofy's Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel welcomes you to the eatery where boisterous fun is the order of the day. It's a place where you can come and enjoy all you care to eat while snapping memorable photos with Goofy and the gang. In today's new article, new contributing writer Ron Baxley takes us with him on a recent trip to the restaurant and offers his review of this memorable dining location you won't want to miss...

Friday, September 9, 2016

A Look at Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida

By Rebekah Coley




Ever since Walt Disney began producing feature-length animated films, audiences have fallen in love with the concept of cartoon musicals. To no one’s surprise, the movies’ colorful locations, lovable characters, and catchy melodies have translated well into several stage productions. Starting with Broadway’s extremely successful adaptation of Beauty and the Beast (1994), Walt Disney Theatricals has gone on to produce several smash hits. Many Disney fans are familiar with these shows; however, one had fallen under the radar for Disney Avenue contributing writer, Rebekah Coley. Musical lovers will definitely want to check out today’s article to read her thoughts on Elton John and Tim Rice's fantastic musical Aida...

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Walt Disney World: Innovation In Action

By Keith Mahne




How would you like to take a behind-the-scenes look at Walt Disney World back in the 1990s that focused on the challenges and creative solutions being researched and implemented by the Walt Disney Company with Epcot as the testing grounds? Thanks to a booklet put together by the Disney University specifically for cast members titled "Innovation In Action," we are going to take a closer look and explore the systems and projects that have made, not just Epcot, but the entire Walt Disney World Resort complex the real Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow that it is today...

Sunday, September 4, 2016

Meet Me Down on Main Street (1957)

By Chris Lyndon




In 1957, Disneyland Records produced a fantastic album featuring the Mellomen Quartet singing a dozen barbershop ballads inspired by Disneyland's Main Street USA. This group also provided many vocal performances for both Walt Disney's animated and live-action films, television shows and theme park attractions throughout the 1950s and 1960s. The bass singer with the group was none other than Disney Legend and voice-over icon, Thurl Ravenscroft. Learn the rich history of Walt Disney and the Mellomen Quartet and hear the nostalgic and soothing album "Meet Me Down on Main Street" in today's new article...

Saturday, September 3, 2016

Watch the World Premiere of Mary Poppins (1964)

By Keith Mahne




The world premiere of Walt Disney's Mary Poppins took place on a warm summer night in August of 1964 at the world famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre. The glamorous premiere was broadcast live on local Los Angeles television along with a separate live radio broadcast of all the opening night festivities. The complete recordings for these two broadcasts are not known to exist. However, a variety of film and sound elements from that special night were recently discovered in Disney vaults spanning two continents. The surviving film clips you are about to see are a mix of color and black and white. For the first time, the recordings have been cut together and matched as close as possible to recreate the excitement of that gala premiere. Let's return to the summer of 1964 and join in on the excitement of Walt Disney's most incredible film as we visit the world premiere of Mary Poppins...