13 things you didn't know about Haunted Mansion Holiday

1... Every night, more than 100 jack-o-lanterns shine their ghoulish light.

2... The character pyramid seen while borading was originally designed as an Advent calendar that revealed a new magical box for each of the 13 weeks.

3...The model for Madame Leota in the original Haunted Mansion was Imagineer Leota Toombs, and in Haunted Mansion Holiday, the model is Imagineer Kim Irvine, her daughter.

4...Each year, "Sandy Claws" covers the graveyard with 7,500 square feet of ghostly white snow.

5...It takes "boo"-kets of ultraviolet paint (over 20 gallons) to enhance the snow's eerie glow.

6...In the graveyard, the trees are decked with 1,000 frightfully festive tiny orange lights.

7...There are more than 70 pumpkins covering the snow mountain in the graveyard.

8...Each season, thousands of feet of "black gnarly" garland is draped and hung...here and there.

9...Jack's faithful dog Zero gathered more than 200 bones to use as decor, garland and presents.

10... More the 2 dozen additional animated figures " marterialize" during Haunted Mansion Holiday.

11...The list of names that drops out of the gaint snake's mouth in the attic (second from left) represents the names of Cast Members involved with Haunted Mansion Holiday.

12...Creepy cobwebs are artistically kept (not swept) year-round to make the Jack Skellington and 999 happy haunts feel right at home.

13...Every year, Madame Leota celebrates the 13 days of Christmas with 13 fortune cards.


very cool...Dr Lee

History and Heritage:

 Tim Burton's  "The Nightmare Before Christmas," which was released 20 years ago on Oct. 29,1993, began with a poem Burton wrote a decade earlier. The story was initially considered for short film or 30-minute television speacial, but Disney released the film, directed by Henry Selick and produced by Tim Burton , as a full-length, stop-motion animated feature (originally under the Touchstone Pictures label)>

 It tells story of Pumpkin King Jack Skellington (voiced by Chris Sarandon) and his obsession with bringing Christmas to Halloween Town. More than 227 puppets were used to represent the characters in the movie, which included Sally (voiced by Catherine O'Hara), and Ken Page voicing the villainous Oogie Boogie. Even two decades later, the film's strong visuals, dark comedy and original music (composed by Danny Elfman) continue to capture the hearts and imaginations of audiences worldwide.

 The 20th anniversary edition of the movie is now available in Blu-Ray and DVD. In addition, the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood will host a 20th anniversary "scare-edration" with showing of the movie in Disney Digital 3-D (with 4-D sensory effects) now through Nov. 3,2013.



FUN FACT: Composer Danny Elfman also voiced Jack's singing voice as well as Barrel and the "Clown with the Tear-Away Face."

Great movie....Dr Lee

Saving Mr Banks, Xmas time:

 Last night,October 6th, saw the movie "Gravity", good one, however, also saw the trailer to the up coming movie "Saving Mr. Banks".
 Starring Tom Hanks as Walt Disney, with Emma Thompson, the making of Mary Poppins, this looks to be great. Sometime around Xmas this will be in the theatres,a feel good movie for the Xmas Holidays.
Mary Poppins receive 13 Academy Award nominations, and brought home 5 Oscars.


Line starts here....Dr Lee

Disneyland Hotel opens:

In 1954, Walt Disney approached Texas oilman and television pioneer Jack Wrather with the idea of building an upsacle]hotel for Guests to Walt's planned theme park. An agreement was reached to place the hotel on 60 acres of leased land near the exit of what would be the Disneyland parking lot. The Disneyland Hotel welcomed its first Guests on Oct. 5,1955, nearly three months after Disneyland opened. Just seven of the hotel's 104 rooms were ready for occupancy the first day.

 Expansion began almost immediately and would continue for decades. In the early 60's, a helicopter landing pad and 40-acre golf center were added. In 1961, the extended monorail opened, connecting the hotel directly to Disneyland. By 1978, the hotel had grown to a complex of three towers with more than 1,400 rooms, a marina and convention center.

 In 1988, The Walt Disney Company purchased the Disneyland hotel, and in 1999, the last remaining original buildings were removed in preparation for the expansion of the Disneyland Resort. In 2011, the hotel's latest renovation was completed, including the transformation of the three towers and 975 Guests rooms, lobby,convention center, pools and the addition of Tangaroa Terrace restaurant and Traders Sam's-Enchanted Tiki Bar.



To cool...Dr Lee

You're invited to:

 Mickey's Halloween Party:

 When:

 Sept. 27, Oct. 1,4,8,11,15,18,21,23,25,28,30 &31

Where:

Disneyland Park...

What:

 Mickey Mouse is pulling out all the stops for a frightfully fantastic private Halloween bash in the ultimate Disney neighborhood, Disneyland Park. With the purchase of a Mickey's Halloween Party passport, Guests may dress in their Halloween best to enjoy 15 frightfully fun treat trails, exclusive entertainment, photo locations and special appearances by the Disney villains.

 This year, Mickey has a few new tricks up his sleeve. Before Mickey's Halloween Party begins, Guests may trick-or-treat with their favorite Toontown characters in the "tooniest neighborhood of all" during the all-new Mickey's Toontown Pre-Party. Plus, everyone's invited to get spooky with it at the Monsters U Dance Party at Tomorrowland Terrace with everyone's favorite monsters, Mike and Sclley.

 Returning for an encore performance, Guest's won't want to miss the dearly departed boy band, the Cadaver Dans, on the murky, fog-filled Rivers of America.

only at the Disneyland Resort,spooky Halloween,enjoy...Dr Lee

This is Halloween Time:

 The Happiest Place on Earth is about to get spookier with oodles of ghoulish delights when Halloween Time begins on Friday, Sept. 13, through Oct.31 this year:

 Guests will enjoy an array of tricks and treats at Disneyland Park, including frightfully fun Disney villains, Mickey Mouse and friends in Halloween costumes, a Dia de los Muertos celebration and seasonal tranformations of Space mountain: Ghost Galaxy and Haunted Mansion Holiday. Plus, starting Sept. 27, Guests may dress in their Halloween best when Mickey's Halloween Party returns for 13 spooktacular nights.

 At Disney California Adventure Park, Mad T Party stirs in the right amount of Halloween spice for a devilishly delicious "All Hallows Eve T." Guests will go mad as a hatter at this party with new music, new dances and a few ghoulish surprises. Guests can also "drop" in at The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

Halloween at the Resort....ghoulish isn't it....Dr Lee

Unleashing the Villains:

Friday the 13th is regarded as a strange date on the calendar, a date when extra mischief lurks in the air. Who better to celebrate mischief than our Disney Villains? On Friday, Sept.13, after dusk, the Disneyland Resort will fall under the power of some villainous friends who will party until the 13th hour during Limited Time Magic's "Unleash the Villains" event.

 The event was first announced in October 2012 in New York City. Since the announcement, our Disney Enterainment team has been cooking up all sorts of amusing trouble for our Guests and their infamous hosts. "Sometimes the most wicked Disney Characters are the most fun when the time comes to party," and, this event is built completely around the villains, giving everyone a great opportunity to have a different kind of fun, according to Disneyland Resort.

 Whether our visiting villains are traveling from the underworld, Wonderland or Never Land, they will be bringing their dancing shoes. Guests will be greeted at a transformed train station, covered in cobwebs and spooky lighting. DJs hosting the event will announce our guests of honor at 13 minutes past each hour, leaving them to dance and cavort throughout the party. Town Square, New Orleans Square, Hollywood Land...all will be swallowed pu in spooky fun with a great collection of devious friends set to entertain right up to the 13th hour(1a.m.)

This event is designed to bring a little chill up the spine...one night of malevolent mischief, all part of Limited Time Magic.




FUN FACTS.....

1...The fear of Friday the 13th is known as "paraskavedekatriaphobia"

2...Several Hotels and Hospitals skip the 13th floor out of superstition

3...It's not clear when or why Friday the 13th became associated with bad luck. One theory is that 13 suffers from coming after the more pleasing number 12, which gets to number of months, the days of Christmas and even the eggs in a dozen

4...The longest period that can occur without a Friday the 13th is 14 months

5...In some Spanish-speaking countries, instead of Friday, Tuesday the 13th is considered a day of bad luck

6...Author Mark Twain was once the 13th guest at a dinner party. Friends warned him not to go, saying it was bad luck. He went anyway and later reported they only had enough food for 12





creepy...Dr Lee

Arrr, Matey!

Pirates League comes ashore, again:

 For those of you who made the Pirates League part of  your Halloween Time experience last year, good news- it's back!!!! For a limited time begining Sept. 13,2013, the Pirates League will come ashore, taking over part of Big Thunder Jamboree in Frontierland at Disneyland Park.

 Landlubbers will be transformed into the most swashbuckling of pirates, receive a sea-worthy name, train with some of the league's most veteran Pirate Masters, take the official Pirates League Oath and learn the ways of the scurvy sea dogs as they apply yer buccaneer beard, scars, earrings and eye patches.

Available packages include Jake and the Never Land Pirates, the First Mate, and Empree (for all the pirate princesses). Packages range from $29.95-$34.95.

Special tip: Landlubbers beware!!!!! Reservations on Mickey's Halloween Party nights will book fast, so call 714-781-STYLE, or you may have to walk the plank.


Love this time of year at the Disneyland Resort....Dr Lee

History & Heritage:

 Welcome to "Mickey Mouse Park":

 Just seven years before Disneyland opened, Walt Disney was already imagining the possibilities a theme park of his own might hold. After traveling to the Chicago Railroad Fair and Henry Ford's Greenfield Village in Dearborn,Mich., with animator Ward Kimball, an important document was sent to production designer Dick Kelsey on August 31, 1948, detailing Walt Disney's vision for a "Mickey Mouse Park" to be located across the street from the studio lot in Burbank.

 This document foreshadowed many of the attractions and areas Disneyland would later contain when it opened on July 17,1955, including a main street, frontier town, Indian village, horse-drawn street cars, and of course, a train. "The Main Village," an area that echoes what we know today as Town Square in Disneyland.

"The Main Village, which included the Railroad Station is built around a villaga green or informal park. In the park will be benches, a bandstand, drinking fountain, trees and shrubs. It will be a place for people to sit and rest,mothers and grandmothers can watch over small childern at play. I want it to be very relaxing, cool and inviting."

Walt Disney

amazing...Dr Lee

First Masai giraffe born at Disney's Animal Kingdom:

The first Masai baby giraffe born at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park in Florida was recently named in an online poll on the Disney Parks Blog. The male calf was named Mosi, which means "first." The giraffe, born last spring, explored the Kilimanjaro Safris savanna for the first time July 30,2013.

There are two types of giraffes at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park_Masai giraffes, which have dark brown, jagged patches on a cream-colored coat, and reticulated giraffes, which have orange-brown, strictly defined patches separated by bright white lines.

so cute...Dr Lee

AT&T named official wireless provider at U.S. Disney Parks:

 AT&T is now the official wireless provider for the Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resort. ATT&T is expanding its network across the resorts and will work with Disney to enhance the experience for the growing number of Guests using smart phones and tablets during their visits. Through the agreement, announced July 24,2013, Disney will also join AT&T to educate Cast Members and Guests about "It Can Wait," AT&T's groundbreaking initiative to educate consumers about the dangers of ""TEXTING"" while ""DRIVING"".


I have a personnal License Plate that reads....Txt L8TR           Dr Lee

10 Laws of Bartending:

1...No one orders a Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri when your slow.

2...The person who wins the fight over the check is the worst tipper.

3...Last call is always given twice.

4...No one has ever been drunk before.

5...All guests at the bar can get you a better job.

6...No one's at a bar when their spouse calls.

7...All Guests at the bar knows the owner better than you.

8...Anyone who wants to buy you a drink never offers you the money.

9... Everyone leaves their proof of age at home.

10...The owner always has relatives that can bartend.


Joke:

A thoroughly-married man managed to elude his wife and slip off to a neighborhood emporium, where he promptly asked for a pitcher of martinis. "You mean a glass ,don't you??" the bartender asked! The guest looked enraged: "Now you're beginning to sound like my wife!!"


"Wine is bottled poetry."  Robert Louis Stevenson


"Alcohol is the anesthesia by which we endure the operation of life."   George Bernard Shaw

'We don't stop laughing because we grow old: we grow old because we stop laughing."   Anonymous


Just something fun,enjoy...Dr Lee

Try this,amazing:

Garlic Shrimp with Tomatoes,Lemon and Broccoli Rabe:

2013 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Walt Disney World Resort, Sept.27-Nov.11,2013:

 Serves 8:

 INGREDIENTS:

24 medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

1 tablespoon coarse salt

1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper

1/4 tablespoon chili powder

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

3 tablespoons oil from sun-deried tomatoes

2 tablespoons chopped garlic

1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped

3/4 pound broccoli rabe, cut into thirds

Juice and zest of 1 lemon

PROCEDURE:

1...Season shrimp with salt, pepper, and chili power.

2...Heat olive oil and sun-dried tomatoe oil in a large saute pan over medium heat.

3...Add shrimp and cook for about two minutes, tossing once or twice. Add garlic,tomatoes,and broccoli rabe; cook another two or three minutes, tossing once or twice.

Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice and zest. Season to taste with salt and pepper.


yummy...Dr Lee

Starbucks:

 Coming to Downtown Disney:

 This winter, Starbucks lovers will be happy to find their favorite coffee offered in two locations in the Disneyland Resort's Downtown Disney District- the first, in front of the west entrance to World of Disney and the second, at a kiosk location.

 These new locations join  two Disneyland Resort cafes offering Starbucks products: the popular Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Cafe in Disney California Adventure Park, and Market House, which will reopen in September in Disneyland Park.

 The Downtown Disney locations will be operated by Staebucks,while the in-park locations will continue to be operated by Disney.


Like the tea drinks...Dr Lee     p.s.  Have not drank coffee since I was honorable discharged from the Army,1972/1977, Chaplin Asst.

History and Heritage:

 Ring the bell!!! Main St. Fire Engine turns 55:

 The Disneyland Resort has a very real fire department keeping it safe, but there's a smaller fire department protecting Main Street, U.S.A., at Disneyland Park. When the park first opened, Guests could take a ride down Main Street aboard a horse-drawn fire wagon, which exited service in 1960 and remains parked inside the Main Street Fire Station, next to City Hall.

 But in 1958, the last of the Main Street Vehicles debuted, and the department's firefighting equipment got a turn-of-the-20th-century makeover. The Main Street Fire Engine is based on a 1916 American LaFrance fire engine, rolling at the blazing speed of 5 miles per hour. It was designed by Imagineer and Disney Legend Bob Gurr, as were the other Main Street Vehicles, and it was built at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. When the fire engine was ready for delivery, Bob took the wheel and drove it down to Disneyland himself.

The fire engine was a favorite vehicle of Walt Disney, who frequently drove it around the park in the mornings prior to opening: his last official picture at the park was taken aborad it in 1966. In the early 1990s,the fire engine was converted to run on clean-burning natural gas.

Sweet...Dr Lee