Experiment-627: A Caribbean Double with a Wilderness Chaser

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Chapter 5: more of: “The Tale” - Day 2 (Mon)

Part 6: Mirror, Mirror…
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“Magic Mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?”


My ear wants to hear that differently. Depending on which book you first read it in or who the storyteller was that first relayed a similar line to you, I suspect that it may sound a bit off to you as well. And yet… that is the actual line.

First uttered in 1937 by noted stage actress Lucille La Verne, it has been replayed countless times in theater rereleases, and then on VCRs, DVDs, BluRay, streaming video and in the future on whatever medium ultimately supplants those devises (and forces me to re-re-acquire my entire Disney film collection again). It’s the most famous and most misquoted line from the first feature length animated film ever to be conceived of much less actually completed and released. Every critic from here to Terre Haute thought Walt had lost it (silly them). But then again… being as you’re here reading this in the first place and are therefore a card-carrying member of The DIS… you already know this (so I’m just preaching to the choir). OK… then why is it that nearly everyone universally starts that line off with the words: “Mirror, mirror”? I, for one, can’t say for certain, but since even the good folks at Disney get it wrong, we’re all in good company.


Disney… get it wrong!!! Sacrilege!!!


I’ve seen it I tell you.
Here… follow along and I’ll show you what I’m talking about.

Once we got back aboard the ship and washed the physical remnants of Castaway Cay out of our hair and off our bodies, we decided to take in a little bit of Disney style family fun. One of the best places to do that on the Dream is a spot called “The D Lounge” (Deck-4 amidships).

Separate from the rest of the bars and discos in “The District”… this fairly large space serves as a family friendly cross between a dance club, hangout and small theater. It has a night-club-ish look about it with a lot of neon and Vegas style lighting. The couches and chairs are a bit strange if you ask me, but they’re comfortable enough (if a little hard for us older folks to get up out of). Nearly all of the family oriented games, contests, and gatherings take place here. Having a little time available, we decided to check one out before heading off to see that evenings main show in the Walt Disney Theater.

First things first… we had one of the CMs add a little bit of decoration to our table (and a couple more bucks to our room tab).

Then we settled in to take part in a game show style event that the DCL folks billed as:

Yep… they got it wrong too.


But… it was a lot of fun. Now ye’ be warned… I’m about to assault y’all with a fairly detailed account of this silly diversion (and I’ll explain why I’m so viciously abusing you in this manner in a little while), but you can just skip on down to the next section if you’d like.

Anyway… back to the “show”. The stage set was fairly simple. “The” mirror flanked on either side by what looked to be depictions of the walls form the Seven Dwarf’s Jewel Mine, and several baskets full of apples.

Our hosts for this early evening’s festivities:

“The Huntsman” (playing the part of the straight man),
“Mrs. Huntsman” (the real brains of the effort), and…
“Dopey” (doing his best Harpo Marx impersonation)



It started out as a trivia contest. The room was divided up into six groups with each being named each for one of the other six dwarves (we were “Team Grumpy”). Then they started asking multiple choice questions about Disney/Pixar films. Each group got a placard listing the group’s name and having interchangeable letters with which to answer the questions. Correct answers were rewarded with an apple being tossed into a basket designated for your group. There was a lot of back and forth between our hosts (some of it quite funny, some of it… ehhh). The Mirror would chime in form time to time with a cryptic clue or to keep things steered in the right direction.

<found that image out on the web, but it gives you a better look at the mirror and the basic setup>

After a bit, the mirror commanded that we move on to the singing portion of the show.

Singing? Yep… Our hosts picked one young’en from each group and brought them up to the stage. Then they would start off with a piece of a tune form somewhere in the Disney catalog, and the first kid to jump up and finish the line (correctly) got another apple tossed into their basket (a kind’a Disney-ish “American Idle” meets “The Sing Off” but far more watchable). Being a natural born “ham” is a certifiable asset in this round of the competition (vocal skills… not so much). After a bit of this the Mirror had us all move on to the racing portion of the evening.

Racing? Yep… they picked three kids from each group (and Max got pulled into this round) and set up a relay race of sorts. The first kid had to run across the room to a chest, pull out “dwarf clothes” and put them on and then start digging large “jewels” out of the chest. Once set, the other two kids in each group had to tag-team it and take turns running out to their “dwarf”, retrieving a jewel, and then running back to the stage and affixing said jewel onto cut-outs in the “cave walls” on either side of the mirror. Once the walls were covered with all the jewels, the first kid had to get back out of the costume and race back to the stage. The winner got 3 more apples in their basket (2 for second, 1 for third). They wrapped it all up by counting the apples and figuring out which group had earned the most (by the way… we didn’t win, but it was still a lot of fun and there was much laughter throughout the room).

This is just one example of the kind of things going on in The D Lounge. The problem is that although these bits of family frivolity are all plainly listed in the Navigator, there isn’t always a very good explanation (apart from the title) to tell you what’s going on, and they are easily overlooked. That’s unfortunate and it’s also why I went to the trouble of explaining the show we encountered (or abusing you with it depending on your point of view). If more people knew what these gatherings were about, there’d be far more participation. Some of the other bits of foolishness that were offered up while we were onboard included…

Family Fusion - This “game show” pulls three or four families out of the audience and onto a “Jeopardy-esk” type of stage set up. The guests will then be tested on their knowledge of their families and see how well they can work together in a variety of mental and physical challenges.

A Pirates Life for Me – a “swashbuckling competition” with various folks being pulled out of the audience (a lot of young’ens get selected for these challenges) featuring pirate props, a lot of music, trivia, stunts and the “Wheel of Destiny”.

Family Dream Quest – This one is a staple of the cruising industry in general and has different names depending on the ship you’re on (IE: “Magic Quest”, “Wonder Quest”…) Basically it’s a scavenger hunt. You divide up into groups, and then the hosts will start calling for things such as "who has a room key" or “who has a sock with a hole in it” and you have to dig one up (or borrow one) and then run (or skip) up to the host to get a point. There’s a prize of sorts for the winning group, but everyone will be laughing.
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Other offerings include such things as a Disney animation class, towel folding & various craft classes, a lot of karaoke and a number of dance parties (some featuring characters that are really good for small kids). If you get a chance, try a couple of these and come back here and tell us all what you thought of them.


Oh and by the way… there are also more adult oriented variations of a lot of these that take place later in the evening at different spots in “The District”. The best ones are “Adult Dream Quest” (just like Family Dream Quest, but a bit racier… and funnier), “Match Your Mate” (kind’a like the “Newlywed Game”, but a good bit racier… and whole lot funnier), and daily trivia contests (on various topics) and fantasy sports leagues in the “687 Lounge”.




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Looking at that “Mirror” made me think of something else that is unique and interesting about the Disney Dream: Enchanted Art.

Art is scattered all about the ship. Heck, the ship itself is a piece of artwork to begin with. But tucked away amongst all the rest of the photos, pictures, paintings, sculptures and relief works are very imaginative bits of flight and fancy that you can very easily miss if you’re not paying attention.

You never know exactly where one will turn up. They might be in the middle of a group of other pictures…

…or even hidden among the paintings and lithographs for sale in the Vista Art Gallery…

…but what they all have in common is that if you stop what your doing for just a minute and look at them… just look at them… they will surprise you. There are a lot of different images in varying styles and evoking a number of time periods in Disney’s history. The image on several of these may even change throughout the day so keep checking on them. Each one reacts in different ways. Here are some videos showing you how a couple of these pieces of artwork… ummmm… work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b60X8QJMAnM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EnMGKaB7GM



These next two are among my favorites (and yet I didn’t get a video of ‘em )

If you can t make those out, they are based on the original Imagineers renditions of the ship and fort from the POTC attraction. If you stand and watch for a moment, they’ll come to life and start bombarding each other (sound track included). You’ll find these near the aft elevators, but I forget exactly which deck (Deck-5 I think, but don’t hold me to it).​

The various pieces of Enchanted Art spread out across the ship also play a major roll in another diversion that is unique to DCL…

“The Midship Detective Agency”

But… I’ll save that story for later on. For those of you that will be going cruising in the next couple of weeks, you can find this attraction on the port side of Deck-5 near the “Port Adventures” desk or on Deck-4 ahead of the Vista Café. It’s pretty easy to figure out, a lot of fun and well worth your time. Really… you know that I wouldn’t lead you astray (well, except for a few times back there in some of my previous chapters, but this time you can trust me).

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[afwdwfan]

First things first… we had one of the CMs add a little bit of decoration to our table (and a couple more bucks to our room tab).

Great decorations. Did we add any addtional colors to the table later on?

The Mirror would chime in form time to time with a cryptic clue or to keep things steered in the right direction.

That's not what Dopey was there for?

Looking at that “Mirror” made me think of something else that is unique and interesting about the Disney Dream: Enchanted Art.

Yes, that's one of the things I've read about that I think would be really cool to see.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

My ear wants to hear that differently. Depending on which book you first read it in or who the storyteller was that first relayed a similar line to you, I suspect that it may sound a bit off to you as well. And yet… that is the actual line.

Sort of like Casablanca. "Play it again, Sam" is nowhere to be found in the movie.

First things first… we had one of the CMs add a little bit of decoration to our table (and a couple more bucks to our room tab).

Funny how that tab keeps adding up so easily, isn't it?

“Dopey”

You saw me? But I wasn't on that cruise.

The Mirror would chime in form time to time with a cryptic clue or to keep things steered in the right direction.

Looks like fun!

Looking at that “Mirror” made me think of something else that is unique and interesting about the Disney Dream: Enchanted Art.

Now this looks really, really cool. The pirate paintings sound awesome. Another one of those Disney touches that make it special.

“The Midship Detective Agency”

This also sounds really cool! Like the Kim Possible spy missions in EPCOT.

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Howdy all!

I haven’t forgotten about you. I just got trampled on by life. The first of the month is rather hectic for me (employment wise) and October is one very busy month in our house. Actually I may need to put up a minor “Bonus Feature” to explain why that is (and to make an announcement about a future TR), but for now I think I’ll just try to answer back to my regular co hosts. They actually do a really good job of keeping me in check. And… while I’m at it… and… all the rest of you should feel free to pile on. The more folks that jump in, the better the entire TR becomes… Lord knows I can’t carry this thing all by myself… I ain’t that entertaining.


Now… if I can… I’ll try to put up the last part of day two sometime today or thins evening.


So any way…

Great decorations. Did we add any addtional colors to the table later on?

Naaaaa… The drinks are a bit pricey (although cheaper then on most other cruise lines and they aren’t anywhere near as pushy about selling them). The drink of the day is usually the best deal and Tamara and I would generally find a spot somewhere along the line to split one. We’re neither one of us what you’d call regular drinkers, and we also had a stash of rum in our cabin, so mostly we’d pick up one of the ship’s drinks just for something different.

That's not what Dopey was there for?

Dopey? Keep things heading in the right direction?
I don’t believe that was ever his particular stock in trade.

Yes, that's one of the things I've read about that I think would be really cool to see.

They are a lot of fun. They are also pretty classy in that they’re unobtrusive. It’s not like there is a constant clatter of animated frivolity firing off every time you walk the halls. Every once and a while one will just roll through its routine and you’ll catch it out of the corner of your eye. Often that the only time that you realize that that particular piece of artwork is part of the show. When you run across them you need to wait for a moment or two to give it a chance to “see” that someone is watching and then they’ll come to life. Each one generally has a series of three or four different reactions that it will do so you may get a different experience each time you encounter the same piece (of course you could also just stay put for a few minutes and convince it to run through all its responses).

Sort of like Casablanca. "Play it again, Sam" is nowhere to be found in the movie.

Rick: “You know what I want to hear.”
Sam: “No, I don't.”
Rick: “You played it for her, you can play it for me!”
Sam: “Well, I don't think I can remember...”
Rick: “If she can stand it, I can! Play it!”

Yah… it’s amazing how pop-culture alters things somewhat to fit it’s own point of view.

Funny how that tab keeps adding up so easily, isn't it?

You got’ta keep an eye on the extras. We actually didn’t do very many port excursions this time around to try and keep the overall cost in check. We figured that we’d spend time enjoying the ship more so then the ports (this time around any). I’ll be going into that decision specifically in the next chapter.

You saw me? But I wasn't on that cruise.

I must have been thinking about reading one of your TR’s and just thought I was seeing Dopey up there.

Looks like fun!

The family shows are pretty entertaining (in a very light hearted manner). You can see the “Disney” in ‘em. The one that will get you laughing the most in the “Dream Quest” show

Now this looks really, really cool. The pirate paintings sound awesome. Another one of those Disney touches that make it special.

You Bet’chem Rider.

This also sounds really cool! Like the Kim Possible spy missions in EPCOT.

I haven’t done the KP adventure yet (but it’s on the list). From what I’ve read, I suspect that this was the basic inspiration for (and probably the base Imagineering behind) the process in the first place. I’ll be talking about this in considerably more (if not nauseating) detail in the next chapter. Stay tuned…

 

[afwdwfan]

I haven’t forgotten about you.

Wait a minute... who are you? Where am I?

Actually I may need to put up a minor “Bonus Feature” to explain why that is (and to make an announcement about a future TR)

Wouldn't involve a marching band competition in a stadium that is home to a crappy football team would it?

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Wait a minute... who are you? Where am I?

Nobody… you were dreaming… g-o… b-a-c-k… t-o… s-l-e-e-p…

Wouldn't involve a marching band competition in a stadium that is home to a crappy football team would it?

You mean… this little ol’ stadium where a “currently” crappy team plays its home games
(hay they ain’t doing all that much worse that the team that plays in my local stadium)?

My, my Andy… but you are observant. The answer to your question is no, but… there is actually a good bit of “yes” in there as well.


Say what????

Yah… an explanation will be required here. First of all, that picture is of our local HS band performing at the 2009 “Bands of America Grand Nationals” competition in Indianapolis. The public school Max attends has one of the better music departments in the state (surprising as it has only been open since 2007). Given the skill level and drive of the students and the amazing staff that runs the program, they have had the opportunity to do some pretty memorable things (such as traveling up to “Indi” back in 09). Actually we intended to take this year’s show back up to the BOA competition, but had to pull out due to funding issues (which is why the answer to the question was “yes” and “no”).

Now, you don’t need to be feeling bad for the kids in this case though. They are still going to be doing something amazing, but we just could not raise enough bucks to support two major trips in the same year, so we had to pick one.

Which leads me to the announcement that I threatened y’all with a little while back
(hint… it has something to do with that ticker and the new stuff down there in my signature)
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[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Bonus Feature 12:

Turkey Surprise
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I said that I’d be explaining just what was keeping me from making regular updates to this TR and also be making an announcement about a future TR. Well I guess it’s time to actually implement that threat. First the announcement…

***turn on “Lew Gehrig” stadium echo effect here***


Ladies and Gentleman… man… man…

Coming to these here DisBoards starting in Early December… ber… ber…

A non-Disney TR (Oh my… isn’t that blasphemy?)… my… my…

GoofyIsAsgoofyDoes Productions will be presenting… ing… ing…



”The Thanksgiving Odyssey – Bands, Busses, and Big Bad Balloons”… oons… oons..



This TR will be based on my son’s excursion to perform in the 2011… 11… 11…

***and the crowd goes wild ***
(well in my dreams anyway)



Being a non-Disney TR, I’ll probably have to hide it over in the DisDads forum. I will, however, be working on that one and this one simultaneously, so I’ll keep you apprised of the progress and provide links to get you over there (assuming you’re interested).

Since this is a once in a life time opportunity for my family, we’re all making the trip. Max will obviously be traveling with the rest of the kids in the band, but there will also be a parent bus (or two) tagging along. We’ll be up in the NY/NJ area for about a week and there are a number of activities beyond the parade that are scheduled. I look forward to this being one grand adventure and anticipate that it will make for a fairly interesting TR (assuming that you can stand to read the schlock that I tend to write in the first place).


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Now, as to why I haven’t been posting updates as often as I’d like…

As most of the fell’as that have been members of the DisDad’s Club for a while can attest… (and as the last two posts should confirm), I am a band geek. I just love being involved with such things. I did the band thing in school (marching, concert, jazz, pit orchestra… you get the picture), and am still a practicing musician (although I’ve switched from horns to strings). My son has also acquired this particular form of dementia and is currently working toward making it his collage major (performance, composition and probably teaching). He’s chosen a tough profession, but I’ll support him as best as I can in the decision.

If you have kids in the music programs in the US, you probable know that October is competition month for the marching season, and since, Max is in the band and both Tamara and I are volunteers within the organization, this is one mightily busy month in our house (which has made it somewhat difficult to keep up with this TR at the pace I’d like to). We’ve already been to two competitions and the next three successive weeks will be consumed by the performances at Western Carolina, SC Upper-State and (hopefully) SC State Finales.

This year’s show is even better then those we’ve done previously, and the kids are even stronger musicians and performers. We are hopping to place very strongly in the class AAA finals, but there is also a good bit of very strong competition that must be overcome. Can they do it? How will it all turn out? What effect will all of this have on the Macy’s trip? Answers to these and other (stunningly irrelevant) question will be provided in the pages of my next TR.




I hope to see you there!

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[afwdwfan]

Actually we intended to take this year’s show back up to the BOA competition, but had to pull out due to funding issues (which is why the answer to the question was “yes” and “no”).

I thought I'd remembered you saying something about coming to Indy sometime this year...

(hint… it has something to do with that the ticker and the new stuff down there in my signature)

But I forgot about that other trip... and that's not one to be forgotten!

That should be an excellent non-Disney TR and I look forward to it. I'm sure you'll come up with all kinds of off-topic topics to go along with that one.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Sounds very cool! I'm in!

So would you happen to be traveling through the Delaware/Philly area in your travels?

 

[FreezinRafiki]

Congrats to Max, his band-mates, and all of their proud parents! I for one will be reading along with your TR! (And if you make a stop at the Disney Store, it still sort of counts as a Disney Trip Report!)

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

But I forgot about that other trip... and that's not one to be forgotten!

That should be an excellent non-Disney TR and I look forward to it. I'm sure you'll come up with all kinds of off-topic topics to go along with that one.

Sounds very cool! I'm in!

So would you happen to be traveling through the Delaware/Philly area in your travels?

Congrats to Max, his band-mates, and all of their proud parents! I for one will be reading along with your TR! (And if you make a stop at the Disney Store, it still sort of counts as a Disney Trip Report!)

Thanks guys… We are very proud of the work that these kids do. I’ve been to Manhattan a couple of times (a very l-o-n-g time ago), but no one else in my house has been up that way, so this should be quite the adventure. We’ll be making the journey via bus, so that should also be “interesting”. There are several side trips built into the current agenda, but the focus is the parade so it will all be in the area and we won’t be making any stops that I’m aware of along the way (except for food). As such, we’ll be missing opportunities to stop in Washington, Baltimore and Philly. Being as that is the case, I’ll need to remake that trip sometime.

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Chapter 5: more of: “The Tale” - Day 2 (Mon)

Part 7: Sea Turtles?... Aye, Sea Turtles…
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Will: “How did Jack get off the island?”
Gibbs: “Well, I’ll tell ye. He waded out into the shallows and there he waited three days and three nights till all manner of sea creature came and acclimated to his presence. And on the fourth morning, he roped himself a couple of sea turtles, lashed ‘em together and made a raft.”
Will: “He roped a couple of sea turtles?”
Gibbs: “Aye, sea turtles.”
Will: “What did he use for rope?”
Jack: [walks up from behind] “Human hair… from my back.” ​

OK… now why did I feel the need to yank that particular piece of dialogue out of the original (and IMHO still the best of the) Pirates of the Caribbean films? Well… first, it provides context to the image I decided to use as the welcome for this final part of the chapter on Day-2 (at least it’s part of the same conversation anyway). Secondly, being as I’ve been using images from those films (and I’m sure you’ve already caught on to this) to kick off each part of that day’s journey to a mysterious and mythical lost island… it allows me to wrap up this last part with a bit of continuity. I’ll pick some other theme for subsequent chapters I’m sure, but I haven’t really decided yet… (so far as you know). And thirdly, it was a blatant and gratuitous excuse to use the words “Sea” and “Turtle” in the title of this post. Why? I’ll get to that in a bit, but for now, we’ll just pick up the action where it got left off in the last section…



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After our encounter with the Magic Mirror and his staff, we were strolling toward the Grand Lobby. The dinner hour had arrived aboard the Disney Dream for those folks with the early seating. From the overlooks we could see most of the younger families (who tend to make up the bulk of the first seating), joyfully heading off toward their rendezvous on Decks 2 & 3. For the rest of us… it was show time. Being on Deck-4 already, we just continued our stroll forward toward the Walt Disney Theater and grabbed a few good seats at the front edge of the balcony. Tonight festivities included the newest show developed for DCL…

Now I don’t know about y’all, but I think some of Disney’s Villains are amongst the most entertaining and best-developed characters in animation land.

“Warning… Warning… Danger Will Robinson…”

Opinions are about to be expressed…

…and you’re probably going to disagree. ​

Some villains are rotten enough but rather flat as characters (say… like: Frollo or Governor Ratcliffe). Some of them would be better classified as diabolical court jesters (such as… Edger the butler, Yzma & Krunk or even Captain Hook to some extent). Of course there are those that are just unadulterated “Pure – T” evil with no redemption of any kind even possible or thinkable (consider… Maleficent, Ursula or the Evil Queen); but for my money, the grand champion has to be Hades.

He’s the one that’s the whole package…


Understated: (people are going to get hurt aren’t they?) “Nah. I mean, it's, you know, it's a possibility. It happens 'cause, you know, it's war, but what can I tell ya.”

Scheming: “Which is exactly why I got a feelin' you're gonna leap at my new offer. You give me the key to bringing down Wonder Breath, and I give you the thing that you crave most in the entire cosmos: your freedom.”

Conniving: “Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay. You get her out. She goes, you stay. Oh, there's just one thing. You'll be dead before you can get to her. That's not a problem, is it?”

and yet Introspective: (so… how are things in the underworld?) “Well, they're just fine. You know, a little dark, a little gloomy. And, as always, hey, full of dead people. What are you gonna do?”

Smooth Talking: “We dance, we kiss, we schmooze, we carry on, we go home happy. What do you say?”

Volatile: “Meg, Meg, Meg, my sweet deluded little minion. Aren't we forgetting one teensy-weensy, but ever so crucial little, tiny detail? I OWN YOU!!!”

Demanding: “Guys, get your titanic rears in gear and kick some Olympian butt.”

but also Quick Witted: “Hay, what’d ya’ know. It's a small underworld, after all, huh?”

Possessing of a fine dry humor: “He's gotta have a weakness, because everybody's got a weakness. I mean, for what? Pandora, it was the box thing. For the Trojans, hey, they bet on the wrong horse, okay?”

Master of the Borsht Belt one liner: “So is this an audience or a mosaic?”

And unquestionably villainous through and through: “Memo to me... Memo to me: Maim you after my meeting.”

Given this excellent blending of villainy & humor, it should come as no surprise that Hades was the driving character in tonight’s musical spectacular. Like all of the other song-n-dance reviews that are performed aboard DCL’s ships, this was mainly a reason to present a number of the better songs form Disney’s films. But obviously it presents the villains grand anthems and it was very entertaining (to me any way).

The premise goes like this: since being defeated by Hercules, our evil “Hero” has been pretty much hold-up in the underworld and not really causing too much mayhem. The Fates arrive and warn him that his lack of productivity (so to speak) has placed him in jeopardy of losing his position as master of the Underworld. He is given an “Evil-o-meter” that displays his current level of wickedness and a deadline to get the scale up to the top… or else.

Hades snaps into action and decides that what this situation calls for is… “a conference”? Well… actually more like a gathering of all the greatest villains known. To facilitate this plan he sends his minions Pain & Panic out with into the cold cruel world bearing invitations. As you might expect… from here music and comedy ensue. We encounter a near duel between Maleficent and the Evil Queen…

…production numbers by Ursula and Scar and even new Broadway type numbers for Cruella DeVville, Yzma and Captain Hook.

In one scene toward the end of act two, a “Jerry Springer” inspired talk show dubed: “Hot Talk”, goes soooooo badly awry (and ends in an extremely sappy and non-Disney song)…

…that it costs Hades all of the evil points he’d collected up to that time and virtually dooms him to being thrown out of the under world.

“Now you now how it feels to be like everyone else.
Isn't it just peachy?”


Is this the end of our “HERO”?


Don’t count on it…

…and unless you’ve got reservations at Pallo or have been guaranteed that there’s no way in “Hades” that you won’t win the big jackpot at bingo… Don’t miss it either.

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Now that the world of villains was safely back in order (for now), it was our turn to partake of a spot o dinner. So what’s our dining destination for this evening?

And here we’ve reached a fine opportunity to do a little contrast and comparison. AP is the only signature dinning room that is common to all of DCL’s ships. But the version aboard the Dream is very different from the originals aboard the Magic and Wonder. On board the elder ladies, the room itself is the show while in the new version there is a show that happens to be in the room. Let me explain… AP 1.0 starts off with a room that is somewhat stark. The entire space is awash in black and white.

There is no other color to speak of when you first arrive. Then as the meal progresses, the room gradually shifts from the look of pencil and paper…

…to that of a fully painted color cell.

AP 2.0 is designed completely differently. The inspiration is still the idea of animation, but rather then the focus being on the drawings themselves; it draws the inspiration from the profession. The room is warmer and has the feel and general look that you’d expect of an animator’s (or architects’) workspace (think of the display of Walt’s actual office as it appears in “One Man’s Dream” over at HS but with giant paint brushes).

It is also built in such a manner that you feel like you are in a more intimate environment. There are sections, partitions and visual obstructions that give the illusion of there only being about five or six tables at most around you. Our table (#66) was over there in the far left corner of this picture…

You will still see maquettes, allusions to pens, paper and paint brushes, and the walls are sill awash in drawings in various stages of completion. The room feels very comfortable and the themeing is excellent, but the room is not the show. The “show” is directly related to something else that is on the walls: vast monitors that put the average man-cave wide screen to shame. On “show night” (I’ll explain that phrase more thoroughly later on) the images on said screens are of the animated undersea world of Nemo and company. At first, the young’ens (and the young at heart) can try to spot the little clownfish as he swims around the “room” moving from screen to screen and popping up here and there. Then as your orders are being taken and while you are waiting on the first course, the “artistic” school of fish form the film will show up and start up a game of “Guess the Image”.

A few of the fish will start “drawing” a picture, and then after a moment or two, more of the individual fish will swim into place adding more detail to the image. You try to figure out what they are drawing until all of the fish in the school have moved into place and the entire image is revealed. All in all this part of the show was entertaining and it quickly passed the time between the first courses and the main entrée.

Speaking of entrées, I suppose I should let you know what the kitchen staff was offering up this evening. Well tonight’s menu looked like this

What…You can’t read that? Well for the visually challenged (such as my self), here’s the transcript…



Appetizers

Smoked Salmon Tartare
Capers, Onions and Micro Greens topped with
American Black Caviar, seasoned with Celtic Salt

Black Truffle Pasta Purseittes
Pasta Purse filled with Truffle scented Cheese
and coated with a delicate Champagne Sauce

Sesame - flavored Rock Shrimp and Caramelized Onion Cheesecake
With Asian Barbecue Sauce and topped with Micro Greens

Wild Mushroom Risotto and Porcini Twist
Served with Parmigiano-Reggiano



Soups and Salads

Baked Potato and Cheddar Cheese Soup
With Bacon Bits and Chives

Creamy Butternut Squash Soup
Garnished with Chives and
drizzled with Sour Cream

Vine Ripe Tomato Salad
Bell Peppers and Onion Brunoise topped
with Micro Greens and Herb Dressing

Curly Endive, Arugula and Watercress Salad
Sliced Peaches, Toasted Almonds and
tossed with a Sherry Vinaigrette



Feature Selection

Grilled Pacific Black Cod
With Sautéed Morel Mushrooms on
a Yellow Split Pea Purée

Animator's Trio of Veal
Grilled Tenderloin, Pulled Shank and
Tortellacci Pasta with a Sun-dried Tomato and
Sage reduction and garnished with a Potato Crisp

White Shrimp Pennette Pasta
Tossed with a Basil and Reggiano Parmesan Cheese Sauce
and topped with a Parmesan Cheese Wafer

Stir-fry Vegetables
On fried Noodles, Hearts of Palm and Oyster Glaze

Lemon-thyme Marinated Organic Chicken Breast
With Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes, roasted
Root Vegetables and Grain Mustard Jus

Black Bean Chipotle Cakes
Over Corn Kernels and Brown Rice
topped with Tomato-Cilantro Salsa

Marinated Angus Beef Tenderloin
Carved to order on Wasabi Mashed Potatoes
with Bok Choy and a Tamarind Barbecue Reduction

Arugula Leaves and Grilled Vegetable Salad
Topped with sliced Beef Tenderloin, Marjoram,
Bacon, and Ranch Dressing


Baked Salmon and Oven-roasted Chicken Breast available upon request.



Bread Selection

Herb Foccacia and Ciabatta Bread
With a Roasted Garlic Dip



So what did I choose? Black Truffle Pasta Purseittes, Baked Potato and Cheddar Cheese Soup and Marinated Angus Beef Tenderloin (hay… I’m a carnivore… I admit it freely). I have also had the squash soup on previous sailings and will recommend it v-e-r-y highly. The “Purseittes” were excellent (similar in concept to dim sum, but far superior to your average Chinese takeout and obviously without the soy). The tenderloin was absolutely fabulous and the sauce complimented rather then obscured the beef. In short… that was one fine hunk of cow. I’ll talk about desert in a minute, but first… it’s back to the “show”.

The piece de resistance for the interactive show in Animators Palate is the appearance of the sea turtles… well… one sea turtle. Specifically (and you know what’s coming) it’s: Crush (you also now know where this section got its title as well).

The technology is basically the same as that used for “Turtle Talk” at EPCOT, and as such there is a faction who choose to fault DCL for not being original with this addition to the AP experience. I’m not so harsh. He is certainly animated and the interaction is entertaining (although I’ve heard some rumors about how the experience could be very, very different aboard the Fantasy when she starts cruising in 2012). Anyway… this is also where the design aspect of the room that divides it up into smaller spaces comes into effect. Being as the space you’re seated in is smallish and you don’t really have a direct view into all the other “rooms” within Animator’s… Crush is able to interact with more individual guests in the time allotted (apparently there is more then one actor “behind the curtain” playing the role). In our little world, Crush started conversing with a fell’a from Nebraska. Our surfer dude of course asked about the surf conditions and quizzed the guy about his home location’s proximity to the world’s oceans. The answers lead him to determine that “Nebraska’s” complete lack of a coastline must explain why he’d never herd of the place. When he got around to our table, there was no question as to whom he wanted to talk to (and it wasn’t me to be sure).

“Whoooo… Man, I have got to talk to these two dudettes with the polka dot shells and four ears!”

Now just what has that turtle been smoking! Actually, his eyes weren’t deceiving him at all. Our tablemate’s two youngest daughters showed up for dinner that night sporting their proudest souvenir acquisitions of the day. Both of them were wearing a red and white “Minnie Mouse” dresses and a set of “Minnie Ears”… hair bow and all (I should have gotten a picture of the two of them, but noooooo…). At first the two girls just looked at each other trying to figure out what this loopy turtle was on about, but everyone else at the table and in the area busted out laughing. Being as English was still these girls’s second language, the rest of the conversation was a bit one-sided, but our aquatic sesquicentinarian did a good job of keeping the banter going.


After we’d devoured the main course, the desert menus arrived and Daniel (that’s our head server if you recall) ran down the options and made his recommendations. So here’s the line up …




Dessert

Sweet Temptations
A Trio of Crunchy Walnut Cake,
Pineapple Financier, and Lemon Mousse

Crunchy Walnut Cake
Dark Chocolate Mousse and Raspberry Coulis

Pineapple Financier
Almond Cake served with Whipped Cream

Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake
With Whipped Cream and Raspberry Coulis

Cookies & Cream Sundae
Vanilla Ice Cream, Chocolate Wafer Cookies and Whipped Cream


No Sugar Added Dessert

Lemon Mousse
With Mango Coulis and Dark Chocolate

Dense Chocolate Cake
Brownie, Caramel Sauce and Whipped Cream


OK now given that set of choices, what do you suppose our server was recommending?
Well… let me start the answer to that question with the following “off topic” observation:

Men generally can’t read minds.

Women can, but we can’t and the sooner y’all get that straight the better off we’ll all be. Now like I said… men generally can’t read minds, and I certainly fit the category. But… even with that handicap, I believe that I can deduce that what ever it was you just picked off of that menu… it probably was not the “Cookies & Cream Sundae”. Now was it? And yet this… is what Daniel was recommending.

”Insanity!!!!”

Yah… I hear you, but if you were to think back to the last dinner we had aboard ship (way on back there in Chapter 4 / Part 8 – “I ate What?”), you may remember that I said Daniel likes to root for the underdog. In that meal he recommended the “Strawberry Short Cake Sundae” over “Crème Brûlée”, “Dark Chocolate/Peanut Butter Mousse” and “Grand Marnier Soufflé”. “Shear madness”, you say, but he backed this choice up by bring an extra one of these beauties out for every two folks that didn’t order it. The idea being that we could split them and compare the deserts head to head. We all thought he was nuts but who’s going to turn down extra desert? So Max and I ended up splitting one of these concoctions and… well… you could’a tied me to a pig and rolled me in the mud ‘cause the boy was right. Considering that experience, I decided that I might just have to take the recommendation this time around.

Verdict… dang if that limey wasn’t right again. I think that part of the trick was (believe it or not) the vanilla ice-cream component of the two dishes. This ain’t the soft serve available up on Deck-11 and DCL didn’t buy the stuff either. It was prepped and churned in the kitchen and you could tell. Trust me on this. When I say that there is nothing at all “vanilla” about real (and properly made) vanilla ice-cream (with nearly any kind of topping on it), I ain’t tugging on your lariat.

​

 

[afwdwfan]

Now I don’t know about y’all, but I think some of Disney’s Villains are amongst the most entertaining and best-developed characters in animation land.

Absolutely! I'd love to have a chance to go to the World during MNSSHP season for that very reason. Unfortunately, Sep/Oct are pretty much some no way in Beverly months for my schedule.

the grand champion has to be Hades.

I wouldn't know about this... that is a movie I have yet to see.

Let me explain… AP 1.0 starts off with a room that is somewhat stark. The entire space is awash in black and white.

AP 2.0 is designed completely differently.

Ok, I'm going to set you up for an educational session. What exactly do you mean by 1.0 and 2.0? Is it broken up into 2 separate restaurants on the Dream or do you mean that the AP on the Dream is 2.0 and different from the originals on the Magic and Wonder? Or is it just that 2.0 is what it really looks like after all the color fills in on 1.0?

Either way, they both look pretty awesome.

Black Truffle Pasta Purseittes, Baked Potato and Cheddar Cheese Soup and Marinated Angus Beef Tenderloin (hay… I’m a carnivore… I admit it freely).

You have good taste. That's exactly what I would have ordered too. I probably would have asked them to throw in the Black Bean Chipotle Cakes as well... Gotta try everything that looks good!

The piece de resistance for the interactive show in Animators Palate is the appearance of the sea turtles… well… one sea turtle. Specifically (and you know what’s coming) it’s: Crush (you also now know where this section got its title as well).

That would be some fun dinner time conversation.

OK now given that set of choices, what do you suppose our server was recommending?

I don't know, but I'm ordering the Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake with a Cookies & Cream Sundae chaser.

it probably was not the “Cookies & Cream Sundae”. Now was it? And yet this… is what Daniel was recommending.

Looks like I chose well!

Let's be honest though, have you EVER had a bad sundae?

but he backed this choice up by bring an extra one of these beauties out for every two folks that didn’t order it.

I like him more and more all the time. He brings good food, makes good recommendations and hooks you up with extra dessert! He's definitely earning his tip.

Considering that experience, I decided that I might just have to take the recommendation this time around.

Or just order what you want and then ask for his recommendation to split.

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Absolutely! I'd love to have a chance to go to the World during MNSSHP season for that very reason. Unfortunately, Sep/Oct are pretty much some no way in Beverly months for my schedule.

Me either (but for different reasons).
In a few more years… maybe (assuming that I’m still gainfully employed at that time).

I wouldn't know about this... that is a movie I have yet to see.

I rather like that one. The music is excellent and mostly follows a Gospel/R&B style that is a lot of fun (the Muses rock). There is a great deal of humor in the dialogue. The heroine is less princess and more streetwise and adversarial (“I’m a damsel… I’m in distress… I can handle it… Have a nice day.”). Bob Goldthwait and Danny DeVito voiced two of the comic characters, and the villain was played by James Woods. Nice casting.

Ok, I'm going to set you up for an educational session. What exactly do you mean by 1.0 and 2.0? Is it broken up into 2 separate restaurants on the Dream or do you mean that the AP on the Dream is 2.0 and different from the originals on the Magic and Wonder? Or is it just that 2.0 is what it really looks like after all the color fills in on 1.0?

Either way, they both look pretty awesome.

Actually… it wasn’t that complicated. I was just steeling the standard software release number format and applying it to this situation. Following that model (which exists only in my twisted and broken brain):

AP 1.0 (the original release) would be on the Magic.

Then technically the version aboard the Wonder would be: AP 1.1

AP 2.0 then is the completely revamped release of the idea aboard the Dream.

We’ll have to wait and see if it is the same set up on the Fantasy (making it: AP 2.1 in that case) or if it’s completely different as some rumors have suggested (making it AP 3.0)

There… that should muddy up the waters a bit more.

You have good taste. That's exactly what I would have ordered too. I probably would have asked them to throw in the Black Bean Chipotle Cakes as well... Gotta try everything that looks good!

And ordering double appetizers is allowed. They’d do it in a heart beat.

That would be some fun dinner time conversation.

I don't know, but I'm ordering the Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake with a Cookies & Cream Sundae chaser.

I like how you think.

Let's be honest though, have you EVER had a bad sundae?

Good point… Again, I like how you think.

I like him more and more all the time. He brings good food, makes good recommendations and hooks you up with extra dessert! He's definitely earning his tip.

Daniel was one very fine fellow. If I could request a server on a future trip, he’d get the nod.

Or just order what you want and then ask for his recommendation to split.

We never had to ask really. If you didn’t take his desert recommendation, he brought you one anyway. He kept that up the whole cruise.


If I had actually ordered everything I wanted on the menus aboard the ship, I’d have exploded. I was never hungry (to be certain), but I also moderated my intake a bit. I showed far more restrain on the Dream then I did when we got over to WDW afterward (believe it or not).

 

[FreezinRafiki]

OK… now why did I feel the need to yank that particular piece of dialogue out of the original (and IMHO still the best of the) Pirates of the Caribbean films?

I'll agree that it was the best....so far. I'm woefully behind on my Summer Blockbusters - POTC4, Thor, Captain America, Tansformers3....

Secondly, being as I’ve been using images from those films (and I’m sure you’ve already caught on to this)

I did catch on to this. Where are you getting the images? Are you ripping them yourself with some sort of screen grabber software or just Googling for them?

Given this excellent blending of villainy & humor, it should come as no surprise that Hades was the driving character in tonight’s musical spectacular.

I'm a big fan of Disney's Hercules movie. He's a marketable character for the little boys, but with it now being 14 years old, he just hasn't had the longstanding devotion that all of the princesses get.
(It was interesting how Disney side-stepped the actual mythology of Zeus having an affair with a human, but instead made Herc the baby of the happily wedded Zeus and Hera)

Like all of the other song-n-dance reviews that are performed aboard DCL’s ships, this was mainly a reason to present a number of the better songs form Disney’s films.

I don't see a problem with that...

…and unless you’ve got reservations at Pallo or have been guaranteed that there’s no way in “Hades” that you won’t win the big jackpot at bingo… Don’t miss it either.

Loved your pictures of the show! I can't wait to see all of the shows!

Then as your orders are being taken and while you are waiting on the first course, the “artistic” school of fish form the film will show up and start up a game of “Guess the Image”.

It's a boat! What do I win?

Baked Salmon and Oven-roasted Chicken Breast available upon request.

This is good to know. Personally, I think I'd eat just about anything presented to me on that menu. Bambi, however, has never been that adventures with her food. And now that she is sharing all of her meals with her own little "carry on", her dining options have been severely curtailed. I hope our dining companions are OK with a few dry heaves during dinner.

The technology is basically the same as that used for “Turtle Talk” at EPCOT,

I don't know if they do a "behind the scenes" tour of this attraction, but I really, really want to see how they do it.

After we’d devoured the main course, the desert menus arrived and Daniel (that’s our head server if you recall) ran down the options and made his recommendations. So here’s the line up …

Is it rude to quickly browse the dessert menu, hand it back to the server and simply say "Yes"?


The best part of this update was that I read it while eating lunch. Therefore, the food descriptions did not make me hungry.
The worst part of this update was that I read it while eating lunch. My leftover, reheated spaghetti hitting my tongue did not jive with the descriptions of the food my eyes were sending to my brain.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

OK… now why did I feel the need to yank that particular piece of dialogue out of the original (and IMHO still the best of the) Pirates of the Caribbean films?

Also agree that the first one was the best one. 2 and 3 have their moments, but I'm also hard-pressed to explain the plot of either one. And I haven't seen 4 yet, but judging from the reviews, I'm guessing the original is safe in its standing.

Now I don’t know about y’all, but I think some of Disney’s Villains are amongst the most entertaining and best-developed characters in animation land.

Villains are always more fun. That's why actors always want those roles.

Given this excellent blending of villainy & humor, it should come as no surprise that Hades was the driving character in tonight’s musical spectacular.

Interesting. I only saw Hercules once, and honestly don't feel like it was all that memorable as a movie. Maybe I'll have to re-visit it someday.

He is given an “Evil-o-meter” that displays his current level of wickedness and a deadline to get the scale up to the top… or else.

This idea strikes me as pretty funny, though.

In one scene toward the end of act two, a “Jerry Springer” inspired talk show dubed: “Hot Talk”, goes soooooo badly awry (and ends in an extremely sappy and non-Disney song)…

As does this!

AP is the only signature dinning room that is common to all of DCL’s ships. But the version aboard the Dream is very different from the originals aboard the Magic and Wonder.

We all really enjoyed the "show" at this restaurant on the Wonder. That being said, I'm pretty sure I'd trade it in for a chance at Turtle Talk!

A few of the fish will start “drawing” a picture, and then after a moment or two, more of the individual fish will swim into place adding more detail to the image. You try to figure out what they are drawing until all of the fish in the school have moved into place and the entire image is revealed. All in all this part of the show was entertaining and it quickly passed the time between the first courses and the main entrée.

Cool! That's a great idea.

So what did I choose? Black Truffle Pasta Purseittes, Baked Potato and Cheddar Cheese Soup and Marinated Angus Beef Tenderloin (hay… I’m a carnivore… I admit it freely).

Either you, Andy and I are all highly un-original, or we all have excellent taste. I'd go for these as well.

Of course, we differ on the squash soup. Squash is one of those foods I just can't get down...or if I do, it's coming back up.

But… even with that handicap, I believe that I can deduce that what ever it was you just picked off of that menu… it probably was not the “Cookies & Cream Sundae”. Now was it?

I have to admit, I've always been a sucker for cookies & cream ice cream. My kids make fun of me every time I order it at the ice cream shop. Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake sounds pretty awesome, too.

Verdict… dang if that limey wasn’t right again.

This guy earned every single dollar of that tip.

I'll agree that it was the best....so far. I'm woefully behind on my Summer Blockbusters - POTC4, Thor, Captain America, Tansformers3....

Me too...these kids really cramp your style, huh? I can tell you that Thor is ok and Captain America is a lot of fun.

This is good to know. Personally, I think I'd eat just about anything presented to me on that menu. Bambi, however, has never been that adventures with her food. And now that she is sharing all of her meals with her own little "carry on", her dining options have been severely curtailed. I hope our dining companions are OK with a few dry heaves during dinner.

If the seas are rough, they may have a few of their own.

I don't know if they do a "behind the scenes" tour of this attraction, but I really, really want to see how they do it.

Is it rude to quickly browse the dessert menu, hand it back to the server and simply say "Yes"?

This behavior should be encouraged!

 

[afwdwfan]

Is it rude to quickly browse the dessert menu, hand it back to the server and simply say "Yes"?

Very rude! The proper response after handing him the dessert menu is "Yes, please."

Also agree that the first one was the best one. 2 and 3 have their moments, but I'm also hard-pressed to explain the plot of either one. And I haven't seen 4 yet, but judging from the reviews, I'm guessing the original is safe in its standing.

Either you, Andy and I are all highly un-original, or we all have excellent taste. I'd go for these as well.

It is obvious that we just have excellent taste.

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

I'll agree that it was the best....so far. I'm woefully behind on my Summer Blockbusters - POTC4, Thor, Captain America, Tansformers3....

We got to see POTC 3 & 4 aboard DCL ships. “Three” was released and premièred while we were on the Wonder (which was very cool). The new one came out in late May and we waited to see in on the Dream. POTC-4 is considerably better then Thing-2 and Thing-3, and a dang fine adventure, but… for me anyway, the original still holds up best (of course I’ll still be going to see the fifth one if it gets made).

I did catch on to this. Where are you getting the images? Are you ripping them yourself with some sort of screen grabber software or just Googling for them?

I had to do some serious hunting to find images form the particular scenes that I wanted to portray as intros. Some type of “ripper” would have made it easier, but alas… I have no such software (but may need to look into it). After a couple of chapters I did finally find a “Fan Site” where other folks had “ripped” scenes form the films and that made things a bit easier. Here’s a link to those folks little obsession:

http://potc.arwen-undomiel.com/gallery.html

I don't see a problem with that...

Me either

It's a boat! What do I win?

Yep! Your prize is a guarantee that when you family is enjoying dinner in AP in a couple of weeks… The school of fish will make a return appearance just so you will get to try and guess all of the pictures!

This is good to know. Personally, I think I'd eat just about anything presented to me on that menu. Bambi, however, has never been that adventures with her food. And now that she is sharing all of her meals with her own little "carry on", her dining options have been severely curtailed. I hope our dining companions are OK with a few dry heaves during dinner.

They will do their best to accommodate folk’s needs. I even herd of people calling ahead and requesting that kosher meals be provided. I you don’t see anything on the menu that will work, talk to your server and see if the kitchen can come up with something different (or something from one of the other dinning rooms).

I don't know if they do a "behind the scenes" tour of this attraction, but I really, really want to see how they do it.

That would be cool.

Is it rude to quickly browse the dessert menu, hand it back to the server and simply say "Yes"?

I suspect it’s been done before. If not… someone needs to do it.

The best part of this update was that I read it while eating lunch. Therefore, the food descriptions did not make me hungry.
The worst part of this update was that I read it while eating lunch. My leftover, reheated spaghetti hitting my tongue did not jive with the descriptions of the food my eyes were sending to my brain.

Yah… the sandwich I was eating while I typed that up, also seemed somewhat… lacking.

Also agree that the first one was the best one. 2 and 3 have their moments, but I'm also hard-pressed to explain the plot of either one. And I haven't seen 4 yet, but judging from the reviews, I'm guessing the original is safe in its standing.

That’s about the size of it form my point of view as well.

Villains are always more fun. That's why actors always want those roles.

We can’t act that way in the real world (unless you happen to be a sociopath or a CEO… or both), so I can see why an actor would relish the opportunity.

We all really enjoyed the "show" at this restaurant on the Wonder. That being said, I'm pretty sure I'd trade it in for a chance at Turtle Talk!

We also like the original AP. It kept you looking around the room just to see what would change next.

Either you, Andy and I are all highly un-original, or we all have excellent taste. I'd go for these as well.

I’m voting for excellent taste as well.
That way I don’t have to worry about being original.

Of course, we differ on the squash soup. Squash is one of those foods I just can't get down...or if I do, it's coming back up.

Then by all means, have seconds on the tater soup. I will say that squash soup is very different from squash itself, but you’ve got to trust your own judgment (or try a bit of someone else’s). Actually, I had both squash & potato soup because Tamara ordered the first and after having all she wanted, turned it over to me (I got to try a number of other things via that method through out the week).

I have to admit, I've always been a sucker for cookies & cream ice cream. My kids make fun of me every time I order it at the ice cream shop. Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake sounds pretty awesome, too.

Well, like I said, guys don’t read minds very well. There’s always someone out there that will mess up the calculations. Oh… and the cheesecake was good (a got a bit of that from Tam as well).

This guy earned every single dollar of that tip.

Yes… Yes he did. (and a good bit more then the minimum recommendation too)

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

I'm a big fan of Disney's Hercules movie. He's a marketable character for the little boys, but with it now being 14 years old, he just hasn't had the longstanding devotion that all of the princesses get.
(It was interesting how Disney side-stepped the actual mythology of Zeus having an affair with a human, but instead made Herc the baby of the happily wedded Zeus and Hera)

Interesting. I only saw Hercules once, and honestly don't feel like it was all that memorable as a movie. Maybe I'll have to re-visit it someday.

I thought since I was sticking up for this film, the topic deserved it own post (simply because I like that film… and it’s my TR so I don’t have to follow any rules).

Disney did have to side step the whole parentage thing, but they’ve sidestepped a number of touchy issues in previous and subsequent films (sticklers for the “truth” just need to make their own flicks). Hercules went into the theaters when my son turned three and was just discovering film and video. We took him to see it and all had a good laugh (and as I’ve already said, I really like the voice performance James Woods put into the villain). So… once it came out in VHS (ancient technology I know), we acquired a copy. Being as young children have what I like to call “Preschooler-OCD”, he liked to watch the same things over and over and over… Needless to say, I got to see that film a lot. But interestingly… I didn’t tire of it (where as I actually did tire of Peter Pan I’m sad to admit and don’t get me started on “Barney” )

I like “Herc” a good deal. It’s interesting how things worked out on that film. The protagonist is a guy (rare for Disney) and yet they haven’t really tried to work that angle much (sometimes I think Disney has given up on boys). More importantly, the heroine isn’t royalty (and therefore not a princess). Megara is also not flawless (she’s been around the block, and she’s been hurt before), but she is good hearted and that makes her more like a real person then a personification. She is also one of the few female leads who is not elevated (or returned) to royal status in the end. Rather instead, the royal (Hercules), chooses to give up privilege (and immortality) to be with her. When you care about someone else more then yourself, you are no longer a child. You have also surpassed being a mere hero; you have learned how to love.

If you ask me… that… is a great message.

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

Time for your unsolicited random Disney Photo of the day…