After the Mouse.com

Every role is a Starring Role is a series of videos highlighting the work of different departments at Disneyland and how they each contribute to the magic. I love this stuff.

My parents used to own a sign shop in Portland, OR – so I can respect the work these cast members do. Little known fact, I was once considered for a position at the Disneyland Sign Shop in the mid-90s. That’s about the closest I’ve come to working at Walt’s park.

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Disneyland Sign Shop Video
The Disney Blog - Disney News and Information -- by fans, for fans

Friends of ours were visiting Sarasota, FL this week and the Frost family took off a few days to head down to the beach and help entertain them. The beaches of Longboat Key, Lido Key, and Siesta Key (all adjacent to Sarasota) are some of my favorite places to chill. We looked forward to a summer visit instead of our usual February sojourns.

The other thing we looked forward to was exploring a few of the areas attractions. Sarasota is about a 2 hour drive from the Walt Disney World resort, which meant I could count it as research. Another bonus.

As usual when I travel, I keep my eyes open for ties to the Walt Disney company. There may be dozens in Sarasota, given its proximity to central Florida. But I didn’t stumble across any until 5pm on the last day.

We spent that afternoon at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. The two (soon to be three) buildings of Circus history kept the 7 year old’s attention and he also enjoyed touring the Ca d’Zan (House of John), the Ringling mansion. That left us about an hour to stroll through the 38 galleries of the Art Museum. Not nearly enough time to take it all in, but I made a point to visit the Special Exhibits that may not be around the next time I’m in town.

I’m glad I did because the HEYDAY: Photographs of Frederick W. Glasier exhibit focused on early 1900s Circus performers. A circus fan in my heart and having recently read “Water for Elephants“, a book about that era of Circus life that’s being made into a movie starring Robert Pattinson, I enjoyed the few Glasier photos in the book. There were over 50 in this exhibit.

The very last photo in the exhibit featured a young female circus performer known for her equestrian feats and for her ‘slide of death’ – one Tiny Kline. I snapped a photo of the picture (don’t tell anyone) and later bought a copy of it in the gift shop (see, it’s all good).

Kline was born in Hungary as Helen Deutsch, she changed her name after coming to America at the age of 14 and choosing to join a vaudeville act instead of work as a seamstress. She met her husband who had an equestrian circus act and eventually took over that act after he died performing a trick. The above picture was taken in 1918 when she was 27 or 28.

Later Kline developed an aerial “iron jaw’ act she called the “slide of death.” She performed this many times over her life including this slide across Times Square, when she was 42, that was captured on film.

Now, Disney fans will look at that video and think, “gee that reminds me of something.” If you think it looks like Tinker Bell flying down from The Matterhorn or Castle during the fireworks, you’d be right. Walt’s team somehow found Tiny Kline, who had moved to southern California to find a career in Hollywood (after having already retired to live in Sarasota, FL). They recruited her to slide down the Hollywood Bowl dressed as Tinker Bell and in a harness as part of a concert Walt had organized in 1958 called ‘Disneyland sponsors Disney Night at the Hollywood Bowl’.

Three years later in 1961, when Disneyland added Tinker Bell to its nightly fireworks show, they turned to Tiny Kline, aged 71, to repeat her performance. Kline agreed and continued to perform as Tinker Bell, taking the bus to Disneyland each day, for the next three years, until the cancer that eventually took her life became too difficult to perform with.

Tiny Kline was one of those people who lived the story of America. An immigrant, entertainer, bon vivant, and eventually an icon. Kline wrote a memoir, which was edited and published a few years ago. You can read the editor’s introduction to that book over at Google, or buy it on Amazon. I also highly recommend the book of Circus photographs by Glasier.

For me, finding Tiny Kline there at the end of this trip to Sarasota was a great moment. I left feeling recharged about Disney and how it reaches across time, politics, and gender to impact our lives. It made me aware that my part of the story, no matter how small, is playing a part in the same story that Tiny Kline told. I will be sure to always respect that.

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Finding Tiny Kline
The Disney Blog - Disney News and Information -- by fans, for fans

All the usual suspects made their way to the Magic Kingdom on Monday evening once word leaked that Disney Imagineers had turned on the newly added background music soundtrack to Space Mountain. Instead of adding speakers to the cars, they’ve worked after hours, when the attraction was closed, to add speakers at certain spots along the track to give riders more of a surround sound experience.

I haven’t had a chance to ride it myself, but the general feeling is that this is a good improvement. It definitely adds an element to the ride and makes the track somewhat less predictable. I’ll report back once I’ve had a chance to ride.

For more details check out this interview the Orlando Sentinel had with an Imagineer who worked on updating the attraction. The really curious can find an on-ride video at LaughingPlace.com, but of course, that contains spoilers.

If you’ve been on the ride do you think this is a good addition?

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Music added to Magic Kingdom’s Space Mountain
The Disney Blog - Disney News and Information -- by fans, for fans

Jeff Galloway, one of America’s foremost marathon trainers, has been named the official training consultant to Disney’s series of endurance events, which has been rebranded runDisney. Galloway, a 1972 Olympian and founder of the popular Galloway Marathon Training Program, will offer his running and training expertise to beginners as well as experienced runners, helping runners of all ages lead more active lifestyles. Galloway’s unique training methods and tips will be available to runners through online runDisney videos and programs, as well as through special Galloway appearances at all runDisney events.

The Orlando Sentinel has a list of injuries reported by Central Florida’s theme parks for the second quarter. It’s remarkable for two things. First, all the injuries are somewhat unremarkable and second, apparently SeaWorld and Busch Gardens had no injuries.

I don’t think this agreement between the parks and the state is actually accomplishing much. We need to know the situation behind the injuries, as well as reports from hospitals and urgent care centers from patients who claim to have been injured at the parks. Just judging on the number of times I see paramedics in the park, I definitely think things are a big under reported.

That said, I believe parks are quite safe. But more knowledge gives guests more power in deciding which rides are appropriate for them.

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Florida parks report injuries for last Quarter
The Disney Blog - Disney News and Information -- by fans, for fans

Lake Buena Vista, FL – September 1, 2010 – Tails were wagging at Walt Disney World Resort when Best Friends Pet Care opened the doors to its new, luxury pet resort on Sept. 1. Mickey Mouse’s favorite dog Pluto was there to welcome the first guests.

The one-of-a-kind, 27,000-square-foot luxury facility is complete with cat “condos,” doggy suites, and special accommodations for smaller “pocket pets.” Park and resort guests, as well as visitors staying off property, can reserve the pet hospitality services to include overnight boarding for pampered pups, cats and pot-bellied pigs.

Directly off the resort’s lobby, a grooming salon offers “go-home-fresh” baths and haircuts for pets. A la carte activities for dogs range from one-on-one playtimes and social playgroups to “cuddle time” and bedtime stories with resort staff. Dog owners also can choose from pet amenities that include ice cream treats, bottled water and premium orthopedic bedding. Cat owners can treat their feline favorites to private playtimes or gourmet snacks like “Tuna on a Ritz” or Cookies and Milk.”

Services and amenities offered at the resort are designed to create a fun and comfortable environment for all pets. Dogs staying overnight and accustomed to curling up with a child for bedtime stories will be all ears when they settle down for staff-read “tuck-in” tales. Discriminating cats with a taste for tuna can get their own custom treats. TVs will be tuned to favorite pet films like “Milo and Otis” or “Homeward Bound.”

Best Friends Pet Care’s luxury pet resort includes:
• A full-service grooming salon with lobby view.
• Two 1,100-square-foot doggy-day-camp rooms opening onto a play-yard.
• A 25,000-square-foot private, nature-scaped dog park with water-play area and protected trail.
• Accommodations for 270 dogs in standard and luxury indoor-outdoor suites. Oversized luxury suites include raised bedding (hop up Fido!) and TVs.
• A separate “Kitty City” pavilion accommodating up to 30 cats in “purr-fect” two- and four-story cat condos.
• A special room for boarding of pocket pets that include birds and hamsters