The DIS Dad's Club V - Man's Room

[stopher1]

Originally Posted by Goofy + 3

Thanks, Stopher. I knew you'd answer. And another question for you. I just read that Guillermo Del Toro is making a Haunted Mansion movie. It will be a total reboot and have nothing to do with the Eddie Murphy movie. Judging by your posts yesterday, I can see you're a big fan of the attraction. What do you think? From the articles I've read, he's been a HM afficionado since he was a kid. That doesn't look like typical Hollywood spin either, it sounds like he's a collector of anything having to do with HM.

You know I just learned about this Monday evening while at our Scout meeting from another Disney friend of mine. I had not heard about it, and honestly haven't taken the time yet to learn more about it. He told me that it's also going to be an actual scary film. So we'll see. I need to check it out and see what I think. But at first blush, I'd welcome another film about my beloved Mansion. I am not a fan of the Eddie Murphy film, though I do really like some of the sets they created, and some of the iconic Mansion aspects that were included. I wish they hadn't made such a lame comey though. They really could have done some cool things and had a great piece like they ended up with Johnny Depp and co. for Pirates. Oh well.

Yes, the Haunted Mansion is my all-time favorite attraction. It is a must-do every single trip, and believe me, I'm a bit distressed & distraught if it's down for a rehab while I'm in either the Land or the World. I really wanted to work in the Mansion when I was at DL, but alas, it never happened. I have framed Mansion art hanging in my house. I have signed concept art too, and books on my favorite attraction. I have a mini-Mansion sitting on my bookshelf in my office. I have Mansion playing cards. As a kid I had an awesome HM board game (not the Mansion branded Clue or Life games they sell these days). Mansion pins are some of my favorites, though I am very particular about which ones I actually get/have. I have been on tours of the Mansion afterhours when the park is closed, and do have (somewhere) some great old photos of the interiors. I have CD's of the soundtrack, as well as the old record album from when I was a kid. And I have the soundtrack in Japanese and French. Naturally I can recite it, as demonstrated yesterday. I've drawn it myself, as well as made computer renderings of it, as well as a lego version years ago (need to do that again). More often than not the HM is my wallpaper on my monitor, and of course it's my avatar here on the DIS.

I definitely prefer the Disneyland original to the Magic Kingdom's version, though both are quite enjoyable. I was quite pleased with a number of the improvements/enhancements that they gave the WDW version a couple of years ago. I definitely like the endless stairway scene layered in to WDW that DL does not have, and was quite pleased that they added in the Portrait Corridor from DL to the WDW version. Since the Tokyo version is a direct lift of the WDW version, while yeah I want to get to Tokyo someday... I really want to experience the Paris version. And from the concept art I've seen of the planned Hong Kong version, I really want to experience that one as well someday. Paris was a departure from the haunted funny to a bit more haunted scary. Hong Kong looks to be another departure to the haunted scary & bizarre.

Did you know that the Haunted Mansion was the very first attraction fully completed at the Magic Kingdom when WDW was under construction? It was. When the DL version was being completed on the inside in 1968-69 (it opened in August 1969 even though the exterior facade had been completed back in 1963...the 1964-65 World's Fair kind of caused Walt and his imagineers to be a bit distracted, and both Pirates and the Mansion were put on hold), the imagineers made the decision to go ahead and make duplicates of the sets for the pending Florida resort since they knew that they wanted to include the new attraction to the MK's roster for Opening Day in 1971. Because of that, once construction on the facade and show building were completed, they were able to quickly add in the track and sets and voila! - it became the first attraction completed and ready to operate - months before the park was ever ready to open.

And did you know, that the organ in the ballroom scene has a history to it? The organ at the MK is an exact duplicate created specifically for the MK version of the attraction - but the original organ for DL was Captain Nemo's orgran used in the film "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea." The imagineers switched out the standard music stand for a bat shaped music stand, and added the famous pipes up above, and presto-chango, a nice new haunted organ.

[dvczerfs]

Originally Posted by DisneyFed

They say a picture is worth a thousand words:





This is my old boat...from a "few years ago"....Angler's Paradise Fish Camp (sadly no longer operational) on the Saint John's River (yeah, the same one you cross on I 4 from I 95 heading into Orlando) in Welaka, FL.

It's January....and yes, it's very very very very cold.

Water temp: 41

Air tem: 34, with wind chills in the 20s.

Let's just say that, because of where I "dove in" (), there were lots and lots and lots of witnesses....and only one camera...

wow, when you said fall in, i thought up to your knees, hips, nope, looks like you went under. shoes and all!! thats a big johnson you got there!! how many hp is that? (wait, that dont sound to good.) you know what i mean.

[prattpak]

Originally Posted by stopher1

You know I just learned about this Monday evening while at our Scout meeting from another Disney friend of mine. I had not heard about it, and honestly haven't taken the time yet to learn more about it. He told me that it's also going to be an actual scary film. So we'll see. I need to check it out and see what I think. But at first blush, I'd welcome another film about my beloved Mansion. I am not a fan of the Eddie Murphy film, though I do really like some of the sets they created, and some of the iconic Mansion aspects that were included. I wish they hadn't made such a lame comey though. They really could have done some cool things and had a great piece like they ended up with Johnny Depp and co. for Pirates. Oh well.

Yes, the Haunted Mansion is my all-time favorite attraction. It is a must-do every single trip, and believe me, I'm a bit distressed & distraught if it's down for a rehab while I'm in either the Land or the World. I really wanted to work in the Mansion when I was at DL, but alas, it never happened. I have framed Mansion art hanging in my house. I have signed concept art too, and books on my favorite attraction. I have a mini-Mansion sitting on my bookshelf in my office. I have Mansion playing cards. As a kid I had an awesome HM board game (not the Mansion branded Clue or Life games they sell these days). Mansion pins are some of my favorites, though I am very particular about which ones I actually get/have. I have been on tours of the Mansion afterhours when the park is closed, and do have (somewhere) some great old photos of the interiors. I have CD's of the soundtrack, as well as the old record album from when I was a kid. And I have the soundtrack in Japanese and French. Naturally I can recite it, as demonstrated yesterday. I've drawn it myself, as well as made computer renderings of it, as well as a lego version years ago (need to do that again). More often than not the HM is my wallpaper on my monitor, and of course it's my avatar here on the DIS.

I definitely prefer the Disneyland original to the Magic Kingdom's version, though both are quite enjoyable. I was quite pleased with a number of the improvements/enhancements that they gave the WDW version a couple of years ago. I definitely like the endless stairway scene layered in to WDW that DL does not have, and was quite pleased that they added in the Portrait Corridor from DL to the WDW version. Since the Tokyo version is a direct lift of the WDW version, while yeah I want to get to Tokyo someday... I really want to experience the Paris version. And from the concept art I've seen of the planned Hong Kong version, I really want to experience that one as well someday. Paris was a departure from the haunted funny to a bit more haunted scary. Hong Kong looks to be another departure to the haunted scary & bizarre.

Did you know that the Haunted Mansion was the very first attraction fully completed at the Magic Kingdom when WDW was under construction? It was. When the DL version was being completed on the inside in 1968-69 (it opened in August 1969 even though the exterior facade had been completed back in 1963...the 1964-65 World's Fair kind of caused Walt and his imagineers to be a bit distracted, and both Pirates and the Mansion were put on hold), the imagineers made the decision to go ahead and make duplicates of the sets for the pending Florida resort since they knew that they wanted to include the new attraction to the MK's roster for Opening Day in 1971. Because of that, once construction on the facade and show building were completed, they were able to quickly add in the track and sets and voila! - it became the first attraction completed and ready to operate - months before the park was ever ready to open.

And did you know, that the organ in the ballroom scene has a history to it? The organ at the MK is an exact duplicate created specifically for the MK version of the attraction - but the original organ for DL was Captain Nemo's orgran used in the film "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea." The imagineers switched out the standard music stand for a bat shaped music stand, and added the famous pipes up above, and presto-chango, a nice new haunted organ.

Stopher very impressive! Love the collection and the tutorial!!

[DisneyFed]

Originally Posted by dvczerfs

wow, when you said fall in, i thought up to your knees, hips, nope, looks like you went under. shoes and all!! thats a big johnson you got there!! how many hp is that? (wait, that dont sound to good.) you know what i mean.

Well, what happened was...

That 200 hp Johnson was blown....after just having 1200 dollars of work done on it (and out of warranty---never again)...so I had no "big power". I was trying to load the boat onto the trailer using just the trolling motor. Well, the wind was blowing 30 mph one way, the current was running with the outgoing tide going the other way (see where I'm going with this?)

As I was loading the boat, I had to keep pulling the trolling motor up or it would get caught on the ribs of the trailer...which caused me to lose any control of the boat at all....

Well, finally I got ticked off and figured I'd get out and guide it onto the bunks by standing on the trailer and pushing....weeeellll, I stepped on the painted part of the trailer...and SPLASH!!! Of course, the ramp was narrow and I fell into about 5 feet of water...

Worst part was, one of my buddies said.."Mike, I don't think I'd do that if I were you...."

He later said about that time all he saw was my hat floating on the surface

[DisneyFed]

Stopher has forgotten more about Haunted Masion than I'll ever know...

[afwdwfan]

Well, the wife told me this past weekend that we need to plan a trip for 2011. She said I could have 2 days at WDW and we can go to the beach for the rest of the week. I started to get excited because I knew I could fight for more than 2 days at the world, but now money might become an issue.

Due to "moisture control" issues, we're now going to have to do an unscheduled gutting and remodel of our bathroom. Good thing I have some money saved up and crossing my fingers for a big bonus this year! I have an opening for a chance to get to WDW and I don't want to miss it!

[Capt. Barbosa]

Originally Posted by DisneyFed

Well, what happened was...

That 200 hp Johnson was blown....after just having 1200 dollars of work done

1200 Dollars and a blown Johnson, sounds like a hell of weekend.

[stopher1]

It's been a while since I last posted any vintage photos. Since we're into a new thread, I'll sprinkle a few here now as well. These are all from Disneyland in the '80's.

Here's Skull Rock (a glorified seating patio - not the multi-colored table off to the side), with the Chicken of the Sea restaurant in the foreground in Fantasyland, prior to its' destruction to make way for New Fantasyland in '83... so probably around '80 or '81.



Here's the Main Entrance, and the Gift Giver Extraordinaire in 1985 celebrating DL's 30th. Every 30th guest through the gates won a prize, ranging from free food to a new car (one per day). Whenever someone did win the car, the bells would sound, confetti would shoot up, and then the winner would be escorted up Main Street to the Hub where a hydraulic lift would rise out of the center (where the Partners statue stands today), and the car would rise up from underground. No one ever got to drive that individual car home though, they had to pick their's up at a local dealership. Throughout that year I won numerous food items, as well as a couple of books, and a sweatshirt. No car for me. Bummer. But that's okay, because I believe it was then all-new "Geo"... thanks, but no thanks.




Here's a sight you just don't see too often anymore - characters roaming the park! Here Snow and her 7 little friends are heading into Tomorrowland from the central hub (most likely heading back stage for a break). By the just re-planted planter, it appears to be in early spring, and could actually be at the end of the '70's, I'm not sure.




Here's one, probably from '88 or '89 looking into TL from the Peoplemover, down at the entrance queue for Star Tours (just closed on Monday for the extended rehab and Star Tours 2.0. I wish I'd been there for the closing weekend, like I was there for the opening weekend...but at least I'll be at WDW for their closing in September. So it kind of works out to be the same thing... On the left side of TL, is a large mural designed by Mary Blair, the same imagineer who designed the facade and dolls clothes for IASW, and the lovely mural inside the Grand Canyon Concourse at the Contemporary - as well as many other great things. It was a Small World themed mural - VERY, VERY out of place in Tomorrowland. With the '98 New Tomorrowland, it was removed, and replaced by space themed stuff. It was further updated in '05 and looks much better today - complementing the rest of Tomorrowland.



As I find more - I'll share some more later.

[DisneyFed]

Waaay Cool man

[trennr]

Well I'm approaching the 1 month mark!!!

According to the First page the following Dad's will be there when I am.

My dates are Sept 4-12.

Buffman => 2-7 - OKW
stopher1 => 5-8 - AKV
doggydoc => 9-17 - CSR

doggydoc... I'm staying at the CSR too ...Sept 11 I have as a Resort day with only plans for Boma for Dinner that night over at the AKL. Maybe we could meet at the Digsite pool at the CSR?

Christopher and I have a potental Meet on the 7th.

Any other interested in meeting the world famous Cornfuzz send me a PM.

[Captain_Oblivious]

Originally Posted by trennr

Princess Bride not on y'alls list??? That's just plain INCONCEIVABLE!!!

I think ClearScreen had already mentioned Princess Bride in one of his posts. Or somebody else did. Otherwise, no way we'd leave that one off the list.

Originally Posted by FreezinRafiki

I got to thinking this morning. Then I stopped and jumped on the DIS.

For those of us that fly to WDW, what is your favorite method of getting tickets? Do you use sites like Expeida or Orbitz?
We have 3 carriers (AirTran, SouthWest and Midwest/soon to be merged with Frontier) that fly direct from Milwaukee to Orlando. I'm on the email lists for AirTran and Midwest, so every once in a while I'll get notified of sales. SouthWest just started flying into Milwaukee, so I haven't had a chance to fly with them yet.

I check all three websites directly and book directly through their site. The prices always seem to be just a bit lower there than the online travel sites. Plus I'm eliminating the middle man, so there can't be any finger-pointing if something goes wrong.

So how about guys - what's your preferred method?

Be careful with that "thinking" thing. It's very dangerous.

I've always found the best prices by going directly to the airline websites themselves, and some travel magazine articles I've read seem to confirm that this is usually the best practice. We've flown on Southwest exclusively for the last 10 years or so. I just can't beat their rates, especially since they're the only ones not charging bag fees, fees for switching flights, fees for using the bathroom, and fees for speaking to a flight attendant. For the most part, service has been very good, except for the time we flew to the wrong airport. Did I ever tell you guys that story?

It's definitely no-frills, but it suits us just fine.

Originally Posted by afwdwfan

Well, the wife told me this past weekend that we need to plan a trip for 2011. She said I could have 2 days at WDW and we can go to the beach for the rest of the week. I started to get excited because I knew I could fight for more than 2 days at the world, but now money might become an issue.

Due to "moisture control" issues, we're now going to have to do an unscheduled gutting and remodel of our bathroom. Good thing I have some money saved up and crossing my fingers for a big bonus this year! I have an opening for a chance to get to WDW and I don't want to miss it!

Good luck with the bathroom...this must not derail trips to Disney!

[Captain_Oblivious]

I never get tired of those pictures Christopher!

[dvczerfs]

Originally Posted by DisneyFed

Well, what happened was...

That 200 hp Johnson was blown....after just having 1200 dollars of work done on it (and out of warranty---never again)...so I had no "big power". I was trying to load the boat onto the trailer using just the trolling motor. Well, the wind was blowing 30 mph one way, the current was running with the outgoing tide going the other way (see where I'm going with this?)

As I was loading the boat, I had to keep pulling the trolling motor up or it would get caught on the ribs of the trailer...which caused me to lose any control of the boat at all....

Well, finally I got ticked off and figured I'd get out and guide it onto the bunks by standing on the trailer and pushing....weeeellll, I stepped on the painted part of the trailer...and SPLASH!!! Of course, the ramp was narrow and I fell into about 5 feet of water...

Worst part was, one of my buddies said.."Mike, I don't think I'd do that if I were you...."

He later said about that time all he saw was my hat floating on the surface

i dont think i would do that if i were you. oh those famous last words. is always followed by a plash,bang,rip,and other words i cant type.

[dvczerfs]

nice pics stopher! (its been awhile, i miss them.)

[dvczerfs]

stopher, is it true in dl hm that the one spider web on the glass was made because someone shot a .22 cal. through the glass? that it would be nearly impossable to change the glass so they just made a spider web out of it?