Exclusive Video: Making of 'The Lost Chords'

Through an exclusive video, Disney Insider is giving Disney fans a behind-the-scenes look (and listen) at the making of “The Lost Chords,” the series that debuted never-before-heard songs that were created for classic Disney movies, but never used.  

The video features legendary Walt Disney Records producer and Grammy®-Award winner Randy Thornton, as well as clips of lost songs from The Aristocats, Cinderella, Peter Pan and The Rescuers!

Tinker Bell's Butterfly House

Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival

Tinker Bell's Butterfly House

Bambi’s Butterfly House becomes Tinkerbell’s Butterfly House this year, as fairy topiaries that were previously over by the walkway behind MouseGear are added to the Butterfly house where there are hundreds of butterflies and some pretty flowers.

The switch from Bambi to Tinkerbell is meaningless here, as the big draw is the butterflies. Butterflies fly all over the place and even land on guests. Besides the slight theme-change, it is pretty similar to the 2012 Butterfly House.

 

   

Cinderella's Dress & Fountain

A replica of Cinderella's Dress as the Birds and Mice are putting it together for the Royal Ball is on display at  Castle Couture Shop in Fantasyland.  The display is complete with a replica of the Sewing Book.

Cinderella's Fountain

If you stand in the right spot (crouched down a bit) you can get a photo like the one on the left where it appears Cinderella is wearing her crown. Mary captured this one perfectly!

The sculpture includes one of the Birds on Cinderella's hands and Cinderella's Mice Friends at her feet.

Cool Discovery in Fantasyland!

It's always cool to find something in the parks that you never saw before. 

While in the Magic Kingdom this past week, saw these two stained glass windows in the Castle Couture Shop in Fantasyland. The stained glass on the left features Tick Tock Crocodile and on the right, Mr. Smee from Disney's Peter Pan (1953).

I'm guessing these go back to when the shop was originally built and called Tinker Bell's Treasures.

Being a fan of this film, this was a very cool find. .

Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid in the New Fantasyland!

Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid in the New Fantasyland at Walt Disney World is very much like the ride at Disney California Adventure.  

However, in Florida, it gets a unique twist with Prince Eric's Castle and an interactive queue.

The detail of Eric's Castle is Amazing! This was the standout for me when we visited this past November. There is so much detail.

I'm looking forward to when this area is 100% complete to truly appreciate the detail of not only the Castle. When here in November, you could walk past the ride into Storybook Circus.  This trip, that entrance is blocked due to construction on Snow White's Mine Ride.

The cascading waterfalls are in homage to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea which used to be in this area.

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Enesco Announces Additional Sell-Throughs!

The Walt Disney Classics Collection yesterday announced the Sell-Through Status on the following releases:

Randall - Sully & Mike's direct rival nemesis from Disney/Pixar Monster's Inc. (2001) was an Open Edition released in November, 2005.

'Slithery Scarer' plussed with pewter feet and crest was retired in December, 2012.

Gus & Jaq - That charming duo from Cinderella (1950) was an Open Edition released in February, 2006.

'Tiny Tailors' sculpted by Jacqueline Perreault Gonzales is a bronze miniature of Gus & Jaq with Ribbon that completed the scene release of Cinderella, the Dress Mannequin, Mice in Baskets and Lucifer that were released in February, 2005 in honor of the films 55th Anniversary.


The miniature was retired in December, 2012.

Genie - Aladdin's memorable sidekick from Aladdin (1992) was a Numbered Limited Edition (NLE) of 1,500 was released in August, 2006.

'Magic at his Fingertips' sculpted by Ruben Procopio was plussed with a pewter beard tip.

Baloo & Mowgli - That inseparable pair from The Jungle Book (1967) was a Limited to Production release in 2011.

'Good ol' Papa Bear!' sculpted by Bruce Lau was plussed with a pewter cowlick on Mowgli.

Contact your Authorized Walt Disney Classics Collection dealer for availability.

Olszewski PokitPals

Many Disney collectors might be familiar with Olszewski PokitPals.

I discovered these about 3 years ago.  Last night while ducking the rain, stopped in the Main Street Cinema in the Magic Kingdom and was browsing around. The PokitPals caught my eye as I own 2 already (Dumbo & Mr. Toad). I immediately spotted Mater (pictured at right) and those who know me, knew my heart had to skip a beat :) 

In addition to Mater, they had Lightning McQueen and Ramone. Of course they were stocked on the other two but only had the display Mater. I think the Castmember realized I wasn't leaving the store unless Mater was leaving with me. He looked, found the empty box and well, I think you know the rest :)

What is a PokitPal? A PokitPal is an artistically designed container that is small enough to fit into a pocket or purse. A genuine PokitPal has two parts: (1) an outside shell; and (2), an inside container that slides to open and close and keeping secure with a magent.  They are made of high quality resin material.

I removed the outside shell for the above picture to see both the top and bottom. The photo doesn't show the detail around the sides of the box.  Etched in the sides are images of the Butte and Mater towing Lightning McQueen.

The rain may have made for a somewhat wet evening but turned into a cool find for me!

Grand Floridian DVC Progress Photos

Disney latest Vacation Club at Disney's Grand Floridian is really coming along since we were down in late November.

The new property is slated to open in late 2013, and will be the 12th DVC property. 

In addition to the 8 existing Walt Disney World DVC resorts, Disney Vacation Club recently opened Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii, and operates the The Villas at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa at the Disneyland Resort, Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort in South Carolina, and Disney's Vero Beach Resort in Florida.

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'Snow White Mine Road' Progress Photos

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train will be a steel roller coaster by Vekoma. The ride will travel both indoors and outdoors. 

Unlike some other Disney roller coasters, such as California Screamin' and Rock 'n Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith, this attraction will be less intense and more family-friendly. It will feature a new ride system which simulates the swaying and tipping one would expect to experience in a mine cart.

It is part of a major expansion of Fantasyland and is based upon the classic story of Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Disney's first animated feature film.

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