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_                   /^\
                     | |                            IDEALS,
                     |-|                            DREAMS,
                /^\  | |                            AND
_/^\_    /^\  / [_] \+-+      _/^\_                 HARD
|___|   |---||-------| |      |___|                 FACTS
 | |\\  |/^\_|  [_]  |_/^\_  //| |
 | |  \\|___||_______||___|//  | |                The on-line
 | |    \| |===========| |/    | |                  DISNEY
 |_|\    | |    /^\    | |    /|_|                Newsletter
      \  | |   |   |   | |  /
        \|_|___|   |___|_|/            VOL I, NUMBER 4  (August, 1995)
=========================================================================
"To all who come to this happy place: welcome.  Disneyland is your land.
Here age relives fond memories of the past ... and here youth may savor
the challenge and promise of the future.
"Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts
which have created America ... with the hope that it will be a source of
joy and inspiration to all the world!"
                                                -Walter Elias Disney
                                                 July 17, 1955
=========================================================================
Publisher               Paradise Information Services
Editor                  Chris Harrower
Contributing Editors    Don Bertino             Rich & Carol Koster
                        Richard Pearlstein      Ed Sterrett
Contributors            Scott Schroer           You!
Graphics                Don Bertino
=========================================================================
See last page for copyrights, submissions, and additional information.
=========================================================================
CONTENTS:

1> FROM THE DESK OF...                          {Editorial}
2> A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR                      {Chris Harrower}
3> THIS JUST IN TO THE NEWS DESK                {Chris Harrower}
4> BEHIND THE EARS                              {Rich & Carol Koster}
5> VACATION SMARTS (PART THREE)                 {Ed Sterrett}
6> RICH'S RANDOM RAMBLINGS                      {Rich Pearlstein}
7> WDWCP                                        {Scott Schroer}
8> WDW NEWS AND UPDATES                         {WDW P/P}

=========================================================================
FROM THE DESK OF...
Editorial - Chris Harrower

Yes, we do still exist.  No, we didn't fall off the face of the earth.
Yes, we are still DISNEY fans, and are still publishing an on-line DISNEY
'zine. Thanks to one and all for your kind questions...after only 3
issues of a 'zine, it's nice to know that we were missed that quickly.

For those who didn't hear, my mother passed away very suddenly last
March.  Georgia Harrower was one of the most important people in my life,
and her passing hit me *very* hard (even now it's very painful to
consider that Mom isn't there anymore).  I know it sounds almost Oedipal
(sic) for a 35 year old father of 4 to speak thus of his mother, but my
mother was .. well, different. My mother was, in her own way, the
ultimate DISNEY fan!  No, she didn't have a thousand and one DISNEY
figurines and pictures all around the house, and things like that. But
she had an interest in DISNEY that she communicated to me in ways I can't
begin to express.  The way she held my hand when Pinocchio scared the
life out of me when I was very young, the way she pointed out the little
details to a 10 year old who wouldn't notice things like that in the rush
to get one 20,000 Leagues before the line grew too long.  The way she was
able to laugh after we all stood in line (we thought) for the new Pirates
Of The Caribbean ride on New Years Eve, only to find out that we had
waited 45 minutes in line to receive hats and noise makers! Even the
simple act of purchasing stock in Disney after she went back to work and
wanted to do something with the money.

It was Mom who reminded us to come in to see the Sunday evening TV
show...it was Mom who kept the travel journals that help us all remember
those trips so long ago...it was Mom who constantly mailed me Disney
magazines, newspaper clippings, and everything else under the sun after
they moved to Tampa. For that, and so much more than I could even
enumerate here, I am eternally grateful, and look forward to someday
seeing her again, and saying once again, "Thanks, Mom...I love you!" (in
response to which she'll give me a hug, and say "You're welcome, Pooh.").
That's why this is late...because, until now, I couldn't write any of
this, and explain why an overweight computer programmer in Pennsylvania
can write a newsletter on Disney...the credit goes to Mom, and always
will.  And, as you can probably guess, this issue is dedicated with
eternal love and devotion, to Georgia Gene Harrower.

And I do want to apologize if some of what's said this issue is dated.
Most (ALL!) of these articles came in back in February for an April 1
dated issue, so they may seem dated.  But there is still good stuff here,
so please blame any out-dated references on me.

One last thing...it seems that most magazines, newsletters, and 'zines
have their annual "Year End Awards" issues, and we certainly want to be
correct in all we do, so plans are afoot for our awards bash-issue.  If
you have a suggestion for a category (Best Hidden Mickey, Best Place To
Watch IllumiNations, Favorite Moment While Walking Under The Train
Station), please pass it along to [e-mail] for inclusion.  I'm
sure with the creative (and wacky) people out there, we can come up with
some rather "distinctive" categories! And thanks again!

=========================================================================
A Word From Our Sponsor - Chris Harrower  <[e-mail]>

If I may, I would like to thank the company who makes all this possible
(nope, in this case, that's *not* DISNEY!).  I work for Action Video
Productions, a small travel/tourism video production company in
Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  They pay for the internet access account I use,
and they even paid for my new computer!  To learn more about AVP, and
about the Pennsylvania Dutch Country here in Lancaster, please visit our
new WWW site, "The Pennsylvania Dutch Information Center." at:
        <http://www.welcome.com>

And that also explains the change in my e-mail address...with
coordinating the new website, and all the other work we're doing and
planning on doing, we have our own domain now, and you can reach me here
at welcome.com (the old peach.epix.net address will fade into oblivion
around the time you read this, but you might still get a forward to
me...but stick with the new address, please!).

I know this doesn't have anything to do with DISNEY, but I did want to
thank Action Video for allowing me to do this on "their dime," and to let
you know about the new website and the new address...that is the *other*
thing that has distracted me from this 'zine for the last couple of
months!

=========================================================================
This Just In - Chris Harrower  <[e-mail]>

As I finish this for e-mailing today, the news has crossed about the
purchase/merger of Disney and CapCities/ABC Television.  Magnificent!

For those who don't know much about Capital Cities (the parent
organization of ABC), they are much more than a TV network...this merger
gives Disney 8-10 additional TV stations (mostly in major markets), an
affiliate base of over 200 stations, newspapers, magazines, and much
more.  In addition, CapCities owns most of ESPN, part of Lifetime and
A&E, and a number of radio stations.

In short, for those of us who call ourselves Disney fans, followers, and
supporters, our favorite company is now just about the biggest thing
going in the entertainment (read TV/Radio/Movies/Theme Parks) biz, and
certainly figures to become a very big player in publishing after this.

Congratulations to Michael Eisner on a truly stunning masterstroke, and
this should certainly put the kibosh on all those rumours of the "pending
demise of Disney...after all, Jeffrey Katzenberg left, and they have
nothing left now."  Add to this the California Angels (another sweet deal
in the offing), and you're got yourself simply the number one company in
America today...not Microsoft, not IBM, not them other folk...to use the
current phrase, Disney Rules!  (Can you tell this move thrills me no end?
I've already ordered more Disney stock, and plan to get more soon as I
can!)

=========================================================================
Behind The Ears - Rich Koster  <[e-mail]>

Carol and I had a fun-filled trip to Anaheim for the Special Edition
Disneyana Convention.  We arrived on Tues., Feb 14 at the Los Angeles
airport before lunch and left after lunchtime on Monday, Feb. 20th. Every
hour spent there was a pleasure!  The surprises started right as we
arrived when one of our friends met us at the airport and offered to take
us to the hotel himself.  Thanks, Jim!

It seems that each time Disney holds an Official Disneyana Convention
they get better and better at it.  Whenever something goes wrong one
year, efforts are made to change things for the better next time.  And
this year we noticed a marked improvement in trying to correct problems
immediately, even if it meant not following the standard procedure.

At the first convention, professional dealers snatched up all the
convention logo plates in just a short time after the Disneyana Store was
opened to the ConventionEars.  This brought about the change of allowing
each ConventionEar to purchase only one of each item before the public
day on Sunday.  Well, that policy caused long lines for the Disneyana
Store at the Sept. '93 convention held at the Disneyland Hotel, because
there was some logo merchandise which was not made in large enough
quantities to allow one per ConventionEar.  So that policy was changed to
provide a "shopping list" card to each ConventionEar which they would
turn in without waiting on line, after they had seen the logo merchandise
in display cases.  At this latest Special Edition Disneyana Convention,
this policy was improved further by allowing registered ConventionEars to
purchase more than one of the items immediately, and to purchase more
items on Saturday before the rest of the public was given an opportunity
on Sunday. This worked out quite well for us, and we were able to get all
of our shopping done for ourselves and our friends without having to
brave the crowds on the Sunday public day.

In the same way, the Limited Edition merchandise was made easier to buy.
The procedure was improved beyond the previous method of having a
computerized lottery assign who gets the limited items according to
request lists turned in.  This time if you weren't lucky enough to get
picked by the computer the first time, there was a second chance lottery
on Saturday before trying your luck buying it on the public day on
Sunday.  Not every ConventionEar wanted every single Limited Edition
piece, and sometimes ConventionEars would team up to put in more than one
request when they actually only wanted one -- in order to have a better
chance of getting one and/or to try and get a certain edition number,
which is important to some collectors.  And even if you were picked by
the computer to have the opportunity to buy an item, you could turn it
down -- no questions asked.  For those reasons, there were leftover
Limited Edition items for the Saturday lottery as well as the Sunday
public day.  The Limited Edition pieces were available for viewing
earlier than previous years' Conventions, and this was yet another
pleasant change for the better because we were able to walk right in and
take our time viewing each item, without there being a conflict with
other events we wished to take part in.

There were reportedly only about 800 to 900 registered ConventionEars,
not counting the people who opted to only sign up for the Sunday public
day.  That resulted in lines that were almost nonexistent for this
Convention, which was a pleasant change from previous Conventions,
especially the one that was last held at the Disneyland Hotel in '93.
Everything was a breeze to do at this Convention, and it was quite a fun
and relaxing week.

Can you imagine having a special showing of the spectacular FANTASMIC!
Disneyland show to only 800 or so people?  We were able to saunter over
just a few minutes before the show and sit ourselves right behind the
front railing at the dead center of the arc formed by the Rivers of
America.  This was the perfect spot for viewing the nighttime show. Other
ConventionEars weren't even stopped from dragging chairs over from the
nearby River Belle Terrace restaurant to have front row seats for the
event!  This *never* happens normally.  Throughout the entire week I was
lucky enough to be able to see FANTASMIC! three times, including one
night from the balcony of the Disney Gallery along with Disney Archivist
Dave Smith.  (Thanks for inviting Carol and me up there, Jim!)  There
were plenty of Cast Members pampering our every whim at the special
ConventionEars party in Disneyland. They were right nearby when I was
through with our drink glasses, and they gladly took them from me.  The
service was excellent at that party's buffet line which included salad
items, meats, vegetables, bread and rolls, tacos, and desserts, including
some which resembled the Eye of Mora logo from the new Disneyland
attraction "Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye."

The highlight of that special Enchanted Evening party was having
unlimited access to Adventureland, including the Indy Jones attraction
which hadn't had its official opening yet at that time.  Even though we
were handed commemorative "passports" which got stamped upon completing
our first ride and which stated that there would be only one ride per
person, Cast Members were quick to point out that we all could go on it
as many times as we wanted.  Carol and I rode it 5 times that night! The
line was so short it's not even worth mentioning, and after our first
ride we were even able to not walk all the way outside to the beginning
of the queue area before switching back to enter the entrance line again.
This attraction is worth the price of admission to the park alone, just
like FANTASMIC! is.  You simply have to find some way to get out to
California to ride the Indy Jones attraction at Disneyland.

For those who haven't heard of what it is like yet, I'll briefly fill you
on the new Indy attraction.  Take the motion simulator cabin from Star
Tours and Body Wars, remove the walls and ceiling and mount it on a
moving Jeep-like vehicle which seats 12, install a multi-track speaker
system in the front and back including a gigantic sub-woofer, and have it
buck and roll along a hidden track through themed areas better than
Pirates of the Caribbean, Car Toon Spin, and Mr. Toad's Wild Ride put
together.  Then throw in events and the atmosphere you remember from the
Indiana Jones movies and you'll be convinced that you're actually a part
of the action!  Take if from me, you'll be thankful all through this
attraction that you fastened your seatbelt, especially when it seems you
are quickly skidding round a corner on only two wheels, one of which has
a flat tire!  The vehicles use a state-of-the-art enhanced motion system
which Disney's Imagineers developed and patented.  There is a
computerized control system on board which communicates with the main
computer system.  This enables each adventure to never be exactly the
same, thanks to multiple programmed events throughout the ride.  In fact,
there are nearly 160,000 possible combinations of programming!

Our mouse-eared hats are off to the Disney Imagineers and management who
made this all possible, including Disney's partnership with Lucas Films
Limited.  This latest attraction is the fifth time Disney and Lucas have
teamed up to bring about a theme park attraction. Disneyland's Indiana
Jones Adventure joins "Indiana Jones et le Temple du Peril" at Disneyland
Paris, "The Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular" and "Star Tours" at the
Disney-MGM Studios in Florida, and both "Star Tours" and "Captain EO" at
Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris.

The previous evening there was a convention party dubbed "Adventures
After Dark at The Disneyland Hotel" because everything was adventure
themed that week.  This year has the Indiana Jones Adventure attraction
as well as Disneyland celebrating its 40 years of adventures, so the park
and Disneyland Hotel were filled with decorations themed to this
celebration.  The party was held at the Embassy Ballroom at the
Disneyland Hotel, with many Disney Characters playing with us all night,
along with a steel drum band, Karoake contests, many "Name That Disney
Tune" contests, special Adventurer entertainers interacting with us,
fortune tellers, a food buffet, and cash bars which accepted our
convention-provided cocktail coupon. Many Disney Characters mingled with
the ConventionEars at the morning breakfasts as well, and many a photo
was taken.

The special tours, now called "Disneyana Discoveries," were also improved
by offering more to choose from, including three at no additional cost.
Once of these was a wonderful presentation highlighting The Walt Disney
Gallery, a new retail establishment run by the same division that is in
charge of The Disney Stores (and that means the Gallery *will* honor the
Magic Kingdom Club discount, just like The Disney Store does!).  There
were also free shuttles offered at many times throughout the convention
week to take you to the nearby mall where this one-and-only store is
located.

The Disneyana Antiques and Collectibles Show was bigger than ever and was
*not* held in the hotel parking garage this time.  Next door, *all* of
Disney's business groups were represented (unlike the last convention) in
a room which was a Disney Enthusiasts dream come true.

For the first time, there were some items which were not bid on at all
during the one-of-a-kind Auction Event.  This convention was held less
than six months since the last one in September 1994, and too many people
didn't have the required budget in place to take part in this one at the
level that they did at previous conventions.  Some of the items even
wound up selling for less than the first requested opening bid, while
others were withdrawn by the auctioneer after no one cared to meet his
opening bid request.  Look for these withdrawn items to show up at the
next Disneyana Convention at Walt Disney World on September 6-10, 1995,
I'll bet!

The Disneyana Fair was held in the parking garage this year and even some
of the leftover items from previous Disneyana Conventions were available
for purchase here.  Many of the Disney artists were there with the
merchandise they created on display behind them, and all were very
friendly and informative.  The artwork they were working on there, as
well as many other items, were once again raffled off to lucky
ConventionEars who left their names and addresses in contest boxes at
each artist's work area.

There was a very good mix of featured speakers on the Friday and Saturday
seminars, with some people being given more time than others.  It all
flowed smoothly and the interest was kept high during the multi-hour
events.  For the first time we all got to hear a presentation from the
first "Alice" from Walt's early silent films, Virginia Davis.  Her
delightful stories were accompanied by vintage photos and even a rare
print of the very first Alice comedy, made long before Mickey Mouse was a
glimmer in Walt's eye.  This comedy is without its last few remaining
scenes, which were lost over time, but what remains features Walt Disney
with Alice in the real animation studios, and Walt is shown drawing at an
animation easel.

Saturday night's convention banquet had the most delicious food of any of
the Official Disneyana Conventions!  The chefs really outdid themselves
that night.  The dinner show itself did not surpass the spectacular
entertainment productions given at previous convention banquets, however
there were plenty of characters and action happening onstage as well all
as all throughout the audience, including climbing ropes, and some indoor
pyrotechnics.  Even so, many of us had the impression that the banquet
show this time was just a retooled version of what will be a stage show
presented at Disneyland this year in celebration of the new Indiana Jones
attraction and the 40 Years of Adventure anniversary of the park itself.
This show was billed as the premiere of "Lands of Adventure," and I'll
bet that Disneyland will have a version of it sometime this year.

(From Carol: It wasn't a bad show.  But the banquet show for the 3rd
Official Disneyana Convention at WDW Sept. 1994 was a true show- stopper
by comparison and is now our yardstick by which we measure other Official
Disneyana banquet shows.  The banquet show at WDW featured scenes and
characters from almost every major Walt Disney animated film.  Snow
White's Prince, for instance, came to rescue her in the banquet hall on a
real white stallion.  The closing finale was of gospel choirs marching
and singing in the audience to "Circle of Life" from Lion King.  No one
wanted to leave.  Each segment of entertainment built upon and surpassed
what went on previously.  By comparison, the Disneyland show seemed to be
a standard piece of entertainment meant for the theme parks and not
specifically designed for our convention, even though we were told it
was.)

A 40 Years of Adventure pewter logo which includes Mickey Mouse was the
special gift presented at the end of the banquet, and a beautiful Indiana
Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye sweatshirt was the gift the
ConventionEars received at check-in. This sweatshirt is dark green and
features Mickey, Goofy, and Donald exploring the attraction.  No watch
was given as a gift to the ConventionEars this time, sadly, so Carol and
I each bought a convention logo watch instead.  It has Mickey's face on
it along with this year's starburst convention logo, numbers for every
hour (a convention watch first!) and a handsome silvery metal watch body
which any adventurer would be proud to wear.

Carol and I met many of the fun-filled people we communicate with on the
Disney computer conferences at two get-togethers that had been
prearranged among all of us, as well as separate meetings throughout the
week.  We always enjoy putting faces together with the names of friends
we've met through the chat sessions and message writing that we do.  Many
people recognized us just by our convention badges and remarked how they
had read our Disney reports on the computer networks and were glad to
meet us.

We had to leave for home on Monday the 20th, but not before one last
get-together in Disneyland and a few more hours of riding the attractions
there.  Then we were whisked away by friends (Yoo Hoo, Lisa and David!)
to the Los Angeles airport, but not before taking in the magnificent
sight of the new Animation Building at The Walt Disney Studios and paying
our respects at the grave of Walt Disney in Forest Lawn Cemetery.

We arrived back in New Orleans late that night, and arrived home after
midnight tired, but very happy.  It was a wonderful week!

If you need information about the next Official Disneyana Convention to
be held at Walt Disney World on September 6-10, 1995, call Walt Disney
Attractions Special Events at [phone] in Lake Buena Vista,
Florida.

[EDITORS NOTE:  Congratulations from everyone here at ID&HF to R&C on the
pending birth of a new baby early next year!  Hmmm...if you would tape
two smaller cigars on top of a big one, it might be a hidden Mickey for
the proud poppa to pass out!]

=========================================================================
Vacation Smarts, Part 3 - Ed Sterrett <[e-mail]>
        OK.. you've just checked into your hotel.  Now what? Take a quick
nap perhaps?  Why not watch a little TV while perusing all those neat
brochures you picked up in the lobby?  Go ahead, it never hurts to plan
ahead.  But consider this-  while you read all about the Wonders of
China, mechanical sharks and jumping alligators, somebody pulls a fire
alarm.  Could be real, could be a false alarm.  Why take chances?  Don't
you wish you had pulled your nose out of that fascinating treatise on
outlet malls long enough to notice where the nearest fire escape route
was?  Hmmm?  You may have ridden an elevator to your room, but your _not_
going to be able to use it now, since they are required to automatically
descend to the ground level when the alarm system is activated and wait
for the fire department to arrive. Studies have shown that our good
friend Mr. Electricity will be one of the first casualties in any
structural fire.  This means in case of a real fire, you'd have to learn
your way around your hotel amid panic, smoke and emergency lighting.
Should you ever find yourself in this situation, remember that those
emergency lights are aimed at the exits. At newer hotels, you may also
find a lighting system (activated by alarms) that uses a stroboscope
effect to direct you to the nearest exit.  In operation, these type
lights are similar to the approach lights used to guide aircraft onto a
runway.  I'll avoid use of an obvious pun that would fit in nicely at
this point.  ;)

        Now that the fire drill is completed, let's look at another
important aspect of hotel safety.  Remember- you are not at home.
Unannounced visitors are not to be expected.  Always know who is knocking
at your door before you open it.  Most hotels have a standard operating
procedure of notifying the guest before sending their personnel to a
guest's room.  Routine (daily) maid service would be an exception, but
you can usually hear them coming from a mile away.  ;)  If someone knocks
at your door unexpectedly and says they are hotel staff, verify with the
front desk before opening the door. If a stranger knocks and asks you to
open the door, contact the front desk and report it.  _Do not_ open the
door, no matter how 'innocent' the person looks through the peephole.

        That brings up another point.  When transferring your luggage
from your car to the room, do not prop your door open nor leave your
trunk or car door standing open unattended.  Chances are that there will
be someone around willing to carry luggage for you, but probably not to
your room.

        If you take a look at your room key, you will notice that your
room number is not on it.  This is in case you lose your key, or in case
the brainless leave it on the table at Denny's.  Many hotels have begun
using a keyless system for guest rooms, substituting credit-card-sized
plastic 'wafers' with holes punched in them.  The use of these type locks
indicate a hotel or motel serious about security.  If a 'key' is lost, or
the guest checks out, a new 'combination' can be easily and quickly be
generated _from the front desk_.  No locksmith is required, so even if
you walk up to the desk at 3am, the door can be 'rekeyed' on the spot,
allowing a safe night's sleep.

        Do not leave valuables in your room.  We've all seen the signs at
every single hotel and motel on the planet.  This does not mean that all
maids are thieves, just that almost anyone can be tempted.  If an in-room
safe is not provided, store any valuable jewelry and extra cash or
traveler's checks in a safe at the front desk.  Carry only the amount of
cash or traveler's checks that you intend to spend that day. The rest
goes into the safe.

        Additional note concerning room safes.  Many of the motels or
hotels use a coin-operated metal box sitting on a metal stand as a room
safe.  These are sufficient, but do one simple check before using it- try
to pick it up.  Now that you've had your little laugh, turn around and do
as I ask.  ;)  You see, the brainless people would have simply thrown
their hard earned money and valuables in there, fed the quarters in and
left, believing that all was well.  Too bad the sucker wasn't even bolted
to the floor, huh?  Awful considerate of them to put the goodies in a
fancy container for the bad guys.  Think, think, think! If it isn't
bolted to the floor securely (the bolts should also be topped off with a
weld), it does not fulfill its intended purpose- an unsafe safe, so to
speak.  Go to the front desk, place your stuff in the hotel safe, and
file a complaint.

        You're on vacation, so obviously you intend to do something other
than sit around the hotel room moving the safe around. Next issue, tips
on getting around in the 'real world.'

Rich's Random Rambles
Reflections on the Real World - Richard Pearlstein <[e-mail]>

What is a 51-year-old guy doing writing a column on Walt Disney World?
It's simple: Disney's theme parks have been an obsession with me since a
couple of years before Disneyland opened in 1955.  This column is one way
I can share the fruits of my obsession.

When I was four, I often imagined escaping from the vicissitudes of the
real world into my magic, underground empire, where everything was
perfect and I was in control.  Then, when I was ten or eleven, I began to
read news releases of Walt Disney's planned magic kingdom in Anaheim.  To
me, it sounded like my imagination coming to life.

So, when Disneyland opened, I wrote there, requesting information.
Imagine my delight when Disneyland responded with an envelope chock full
of brochures and fliers.  There was even a typed letter addressed to me,
and signed, I think, by Jack Sawyer.  I began a scrap book then and
there, collecting every article I could find about Disneyland.

I didn't get to go to Disneyland until I was 22.  By that time, I had
built up quite a charge.  This may help explain why I can't ever seem to
get quite enough of Disney parks.  I was taken to Disneyland for the
first time by cousins from Canoga Park.  Or, rather, as they put it, they
were taken by me. I toured them around Disneyland, which they claimed I
knew better than they, despite their repeated visits.

But, this is a column about the real World, Walt Disney World, not
Disneyland.  Again, the reason is simple.  Though I prefer Disneyland to
the World's Magic Kingdom, largely for its greater number of attractions
and richness of detail, I live closer to the World, visit it more often,
know it better, and find that it better fits my childhood image of a
large, perfect empire.

Anyway, enough about me, on with my ramblings round the World.  This
month, I share my reactions to some of the new features of the World,
which I experienced during a visit from January 14, 1995 through January
22.  Being a lover of the real World, most of my reactions are positive,
but, as you will soon see, I also have my gripes.

My wife, three-year-old daughter and I arrived at the Disney Vacation
Club before 10:30 a.m., having left Dulles International Airport at 7:45
that Saturday morning.  As we pulled up under DVC's attractive portico, I
was anxious to use express check-in and get to the parks.  I confidently
left my wife and daughter in the rental car, marched up to the express
check-in desk in the corner of the lobby, lifted the dial-less express
check-in phone, and waited for an answer.

This is the way express check-in is supposed to work: A CM answers the
special phone, confirms your express check-in status, then comes out to
the desk, hands you your packet, and you're on your way.  But, nobody
answered the phone.  It rang ten or twelve times, then went dead.  I
looked around the lobby, beginning to panic.  Four long lines stretched
back from the main check in counter.  I'd never seen it so crowded!  I
redialed the phone, again ten rings, then silence.  I repeated the
process.  Same result.

I should tell you that I must have been royalty in a past lifetime, since
I certainly have a bad case of Pasha Consciousness.  I began to become
outraged that I was not receiving the first class treatment that I had
expected.  I reached behind the desk and lifted the handset on the large,
multi-line phone, which was obviously there for CM use.  I dialed "O,"
and soon somebody answered.  "Hey," I shouted, nearly oblivious to the
two dozen guests snaking in lines through the lobby, "I've dialed the
express check-in phone three times, and nobody answers.  Can you help
me?"

Charles listened, took my name, and came out in under a minute, carrying
my check-in packet.  Everything was in order, including our park tickets.
Charles even brought an American Express check-in gift (belly pack and
certificate for photos with Mickey session), without my asking.  Wonder
of wonders, our room was available for check in, even though it was still
over five hours until the official check-in time.  And, we had been
assigned a unit in the building we had requested, close by the Turtle
Krawl, Conch Flats's boardwalk village.  Now I was beginning to feel like
the Emir of the East.

So, ten minutes after arriving, we were climbing the steps to our
one-bedroom flat in Conch Flats.  As always, the accommodations were
lovely, and we had a wonderful view of a tree-shaded canal, not to
mention a mini-flock of ducks in the yard below.  Rebecca, our
three-year-old, loves ducks, and we immediately went out to our back
porch to greet them.

Soon after, we changed clothes, grabbed a quick bite, and left for
Disney-MGM.  Last time we visited the real World was June 1994 and,
though I took the special preview tour of Sunset Boulevard, the Tower of
Terror was not yet open.  It wasn't much before one on that Saturday
afternoon and, as my wife and daughter waited for Aladdin's Caravan under
a canopy in front of the Celebrity 5 & 10 on Hollywood Boulevard, I
strode down Sunset Boulevard in the cold rain.

There was virtually no line for the Tower of Terror.  I got to look
around the lobby of the Hollywood Tower Hotel for about one minute,
before being ushered into the library.  None of the scores of
descriptions of the ToT I'd read on line prepared me for the wonderful
engineering of the ride.  Since so much has been written, I won't go into
details, but I do have two observations.

First, I think it is a nice shock to find yourself so high when the doors
open at the top.  The elevator is so smooth that you would not know you
had risen thirteen stories. When you enter the elevator, the ride to the
first stop, the corridor that disappears, seems to be only one floor.
The ride to the next level appears to be only one more floor.  And, when
you ascend after that, it seems like maybe only one or two more floors.
So, it is a thrilling surprise, when the doors next open, to look out and
find the park so far below.

Second, the drop itself is a gas!  You get the concept of being hurled
down the shaft well enough to think "I can't believe Disney is really
doing this to us!"  I hadn't intended to grab the lap bar, but I did, as
did the large, young fellows on either side of me.   But, the elevator
slows so smoothly that, just as soon as you've experienced the concept,
you're back on the ground.  In other words, you get the thrills, but not
the chills.  Since I last rode in mid-January, Disney has re-engineered
the ride to include more ascents and drops, so this is probably no longer
the case.  My guess is that now you get both thrills and chills.

Incidentally, I'd finished lunch less than a half-hour before riding the
ToT. The ride didn't make me a bit queasy.  In contrast, Star Tours gives
me a slight quease, while Body Wars queases me thoroughly.

A few days later, my wife and daughter decided to take an afternoon rest
back at the Vacation Club, so I headed to Disney-MGM by myself.  This
time, I had no wait at all at the ToT, and walked right into the library.
I felt more confident, now that I had a ride under my belt.  But, as we
proceeded to load, I saw that I was going to get the middle back seat.
For those that don't know, all seats in the elevator have pull-down lap
bars, save for the center seat in the top row.  If that seat had a lap
bar, people wouldn't be able to move to either the side of the top row.
So, it only has a seatbelt.

I began to sweat.  As the doors closed, I started to look around,
wondering if I could reach anything to hold onto when the elevator
plunged.  But, anything I could reach would cause me to lean way over.
Man, you should have seen me squirm!  Again, the drop ends so smoothly
that my fright was over almost before it began.  Anyway, I knew I had to
conquer my fear by riding again.  So, I did.  No wait.  This time, when I
got off, I really didn't quite feel like another ride.  So, of course, on
again I went.

The third ride in a row wasn't too scary, and I began to take in more of
the rich detailing in the ToT.  Still, when I walked off, I noticed a
slight tremor in my hands.  Thinking that a stop at the Tune-in Lounge,
the bar next to the 50's Prime Time Cafe, was in order, I headed on over.

As I sat sipping a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, I watched an interesting
melodrama unfold next to me.  A sophisticated blond, dressed in high
society fashion, sat flirting at the bar with two old gentlemen sitting
next to me.  As the conversation unfolded, it turned out that the men had
been standing in the street outside the bar looking for a hotdog stand.
The woman, one of Disney MGM's steetmosphere crew, had invited them in
for a drink.  They did not realize that she was a Disney CM.  I entered
the conversation when she recommended the Catwalk Bar to the old guys.  I
seconded her opinion, and she said "You've been around, haven't you,
honey?"

She kept trying to talk them into buying her another drink, although, of
course, she never actually let them pay.  Nonetheless, the gentleman
sitting next to me, who was a retired plumber from New Jersey, drank four
beers in the time that I downed two.  After the streetmosphere lady left,
in a swirl of taffeta and a flash of eyes, the gentlemen and I chatted
for awhile.  They were clearly having the time of their lives, so the CM
had done well.  They didn't feel the slightest bit taken advantage of,
although their original goal had been to find a hotdog.  As I was
leaving, they were quizzing the bartender about food available at the
bar.

Not feeling quite ready to leave the park, I stumbled down to Star Tours
and rode.  I do not recommend riding after a couple of beers, although I
suffered no protein spills.  The queue area is so interesting in Star
Tours, that I regret when there is no line.  I know I could linger and
listen to the droids, but I find the "pull" of the star speeders too
magnetic to resist.

The second morning in the real World, we went to Epcot '95.  I really
appreciate the efforts to update Epcot, but I think that, more than
anything, new pavilions are needed.  I know that Disney's focus is on
providing more entertainment, and I'm not against that, but I remember
the excitement of when Horizons opened during Epcot's second year, and
the thrill of my visit to the Living Seas the week it opened.  And, I
remember when Morocco and Norway opened, not to mention the Wonders of
Life.  How exciting!  I don't think that minor updates to Spaceship
Earth, new movies at the Land and Imagination, and the addition of
Innoventions are in the same league.

On arriving at Epcot '95, I dragged the family through Innoventions--a
booming, buzzing confusion--at near warp speed, and made a beeline to
"Honey I Shrunk the Audience." Again, virtually no wait.  I was
disappointed with the pre-show, which didn't show nearly the degree of
humor and imagination that the Muppetvision pre-show displays.  But the
show itself was wonderful, although it scared my daughter enough that she
was reluctant to enter other theaters during our visit.

(Spoiler warning: If you haven't been HISTA, skip this paragraph.)  My
favorite part of HISTA was the disappearing mouse scene.   The special
effect of mice running between our legs was excellent.  I thought it was
very funny, but what really cracked me up was the good ol' boy sitting
next to me. Weighing at least 250 pounds and sporting a Caterpillar cap,
he tried to climb up onto his seat during the effect.  Did he think
Disney had released thousands of mice?  Hoo-hah!

I had one unpleasant experience with a CM at Epcot.  My camera, an
Olympus 3000, had jammed, because I'd stupidly crammed it in my
bellypack, which I had last used at the beach.  Sand got into the lens
mechanism.  I went into the main camera store near Spaceship Earth to see
if they had a can of compressed air I could use to get the sand out.  The
CM behind the counter told me that the camera was hopeless, and probably
couldn't be fixed, short of replacing the lens mechanism.  He went on to
suggest that a camera with the wealth of features and extended-range zoom
lens of the Olympus 3000 would never hold up, and should be scrapped.  He
said "Now, one of these Kodak Cameos will do you much better, and you can
buy two for less than what a new lens would cost you on your camera." He
rented me one, which I accepted only because I was desperate to capture
some snapshots while at Epcot that day.  A fixed lens camera with a
simple flash, the Cameo failed before the day was out, and, although, I
got 20 pictures, there was apparently no way to save the remaining 16
exposures.  The next evening, I took the time to clean my Olympus, which
has worked flawlessly since then.  I don't know why the CM found it
necessary to knock my Olympus, but it sure wasn't a Disney-like move.

The new Land pavilion, now run by Nestle's, is an improvement, for the
most part.  The storm at the beginning of the boat ride is a good
addition, and they've left the rest of the ride intact.  The refurbished
food court is better than ever.  And the new "Circle of Life" movie is
splendid, even if the ecology theme is done with as slightly unbelievable
touch.  I mean, Simba opposing a themed living habitat because it would
spoil the environment? Yikes, biting the hand that feeds him!

(Spoiler warning: If you haven't seen the "Circle of Life", skip this
paragraph.)  I especially enjoyed the opening sequence, which begins with
the opening sequence from "The Lion King," where the sun rises over the
African veldt, and the animals begin running and flying toward Pride
Rock.  But, then the movie shifts from cartoon to live action, and shows
images of real animals running and flying.  The parallel was amazing, and
the cinematography superb.  As outstanding as the animation is, the real
animals are even more mind-blowing.

One disappointment with the Nestle renovations: The walking tour of the
greenhouses now advertises a "nominal" fee, which turns out to be $5 for
adults.  When I expressed my disappointment to the CM at the walking tour
reservation podium, he told me that the reason is they used to have too
many cancellations, and the fee reduces that problem.  I told him that it
still displeased me, and suggested that they use a refundable deposit to
get around the problem.

One pleasant surprise: When we purchased an inexpensive lunch at the
Land's food court, we were given a coupon good for 20% off on dinner at a
variety of Disney park and resort restaurants for that same evening.  I
think that this is an experimental program, and probably only good during
off seasons, at that.  Still, it represented quite a savings, and we used
the program three times.  Incidentally, most Epcot restaurants appeared
to offer the coupon at lunch.

As I mentioned, I wasn't overly impressed with Innoventions, although I
suppose I would have been more impressed had I been chosen to try the VR
set up in the Imagineering Lab.  It was fine to watch people try out the
VR, and watch what they saw on video, but no substitute for the actual
experience. I was most entertained at Innoventions by Alec Tronic.  The
latest generation of audioanamatronics, Alec has a clear plastic skin, so
you can watch his inner workings.

Looking at the layout, which included control panels in a semi-circle
around his stage, it appears that Alec is designed to do some interactive
gigs with the audience.  The panels were not working the three times I
went by, but I wasn't disappointed.  Alec did two sets.  In one, he did
stand up comedy, including excellent impressions of Presidents Nixon,
Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, and Clinton.  In the other, he did a
hilarious rap routine.  Anyway, I found the sets funny, though, judging
by audience reaction, Alec doesn't amuse everyone.

Probably the most pleasant changes in Epcot were those that were visible
at night.  The archway between Future World and the World Showcase, first
introduced as a part of last year's Christmas festivities, is a wonderful
addition.  With tens of thousands of lights in shifting patterns, it is
beautiful and uplifting to walk under.  It also helps demarcate the
transition between Epcot's two main areas.

The most fun night changes at Epcot are on the plaza outside
Innoventions. Although it's hard to tell during the day, at night
thousands of little lights, some pinpoint- and some penlight-size,
sparkle in some areas of the sidewalks.  Randomly, areas light up, then
go dark.  I had real fun watching my daughter and other small children
race around, trying to jump on all the lights before they went out.

And, some of the water fountains outside Innoventions have special
effects. At night, the water comes out in multi-colored streams.  I held
my daughter up to one fountain, and she stared in amazement at the blue,
green, and red water.  As she began to sip, the fountain yelled "Hey,
what are you doing?! What do you think I am, a water fountain?"

The central fountains between Innoventions and the World Showcase Plaza
remain spectacular.  In fact, they may be even more so with the demise of
Splashtacular.  While I was impressed by Splashtacular's choreography,
especially the acrobatic skill displayed in the dance numbers performed
by dozens of mouseoid space people on tall stilts, the show was
"unDisney" and detracted from the real star, the fountain.  Now, the
fountain puts on shows frequently throughout the day and evening hours,
and it is impressive indeed. Wonderful music, ever-changing fountains,
giant geysers, and lighting combine for a fascinating show.

In the Magic Kingdom, Tomorrowland at night is also spectacular.  The new
lighting, done primarily in neon shades of green and purple, produces a
stunning science fiction milieu.  And details from science fiction of the
50's, such as art deco space phone booths and space mail service, not to
mention the metal palm trees with articulated fronds, give just the right
other worldly touch.

I enjoyed the Transportarium quite a bit.  Robin Williams (Timekeeper),
as always, cracked me up, and I thought the Circlevision effects were
better than ever.  Although it's hard to describe, the combination of the
two audioanamatronic narrators--Timekeeper and Nine-eye--with
Circlevision was effective.  And the story line of Jules Verne coming to
appreciate H.G. Wells perspective on the "improbable" was a good dramatic
theme.  My wife didn't think so, though.  Her comment was "I'm amazed at
all the talent and energy put into that.  But, why?  What good is it?"

She did enjoy the "Legend of the Lion King," though.  The new puppet show
in Fantasyland does have its appeal, particularly the elaborate stage
sets, complete with jets of flaming gas.  But, I think the "Voyage of the
Little Mermaid" at Disney-MGM is a much more seamless show, and more
stunning visually.

Well, I could go on and on, and probably have.  So, that's all for now.
In my next columns, I plan to discuss the ins and outs of taking small
children to the real World, dining around the World, the merits of never
leaving the real World when down there, and other topics.  Please let me
know if there are any topics in particular you'd like me to address.

=========================================================================
WDWCP - Scott Schroer <[e-mail]>

If you are a loyal reader to rec.arts.disney, you are probably accustomed
to seeing a post or two regarding the Walt Disney World College Program
(WDWCP).  But how many of you knew exactly what this was all about?  As
an alumnus from the Summer of '94, I had the privilege to be part of the
program and would like to share with you what the WDWCP is, and what I
have gotten from it.

The WDWCP was started over ten years ago in order to allow college
students to have the opportunity to learn from the greatest company in
the entertainment industry; at the same time, Disney's growing need for
temporary labor would be met.  Students are involved in a three part
program while on their 3 to 5 month stays at Walt Disney World.  The
first portion is the working experience.  Students are placed at various
entry level positions throughout the theme parks and resorts (I was a
food and beverage host in the Hollywood Brown Derby complex at the
Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park).  Allowing students to have hands-on
experience with the public in work locations such as these helps to
develop valuable personal relation skills in an environment where they
are necessary for success.  Only at Walt Disney World can one be exposed
to thousands of people from all over the world in the course of a single
day.  I personally grew tremendously just from trying to learn to
communicate with people from cultures completely different from my own.
And all of that aside, who would not want to work for Mickey Mouse for a
few months?

The second part of the program is the learning experience.  For 10 weeks
of the program, students meet once a week for three hours for
professional business seminars, centered around a specific area of
interest to the student, conducted by members of the Disney organization.
Each student is given their own "textbook" with information about each
weeks seminar topic, and an interactive environment is encouraged.  While
many students do not think that seminar classes will be the best part of
their summer, the information given out by the Disney instructors in
invaluable.  I have used many of the things that I learned in my seminars
back in school, and have referred to my Disney University text more than
once.

The final (and for most of us the best) part of the program is the living
experience.  At the present time, about 1200 American and 800
International students are involved in the program, and of course they
need a place to stay.  Up until the early '90's, participants in the
program lived in a mobile home complex near Fort Wilderness called Snow
White Campground. For those of us who were lucky enough to be on the
program recently, however, accommodations have been upgraded--current
WDWCPer's live at the Vista Way Apartment complex near the edge of Disney
property.  Referred to as "Club Med" by those who live there, Vista Way
has fully furnished apartments for 4 or 6 people, 2 pools with hot tubs,
a weight room, tennis court, basket- ball court, sand volleyball court,
computers, the list could go on and on. Here most College Program
participants congregate in their off hours--and some of the best
friendships in the world are formed here.  I have met people, who I only
knew for 3 months, who I now consider my best friends. The bonds formed
on the WDWCP are tight, and a "hidden" bond exists among all who have
ever been on the program.  I have met people at my school who were there
before me, and although we don't know each other at all, our common
experience has brought us closer together.

The next time you hear mention of the Walt Disney World College Program,
maybe you will be able to realize what the program is and what it means
to all of those involved in it.  Due to time and space constraints I have
only given a (very) brief glossing over of the program--much more could
be said.  But if any of you ever get to Walt Disney World, and see an
overly friendly Cast Member who is about college age, ask them if they
are on the WDWCP--you might be surprised at the nice person you will get
to meet!

=========================================================================
WDW News And Updates - Courtesy of the WDW Press/Publicity Department

Children between the ages of 7 and 11 can enjoy an overnight adventure at
EPCOT and sleep among the sea creatures in The Living Seas pavilion as
participants in the new "Night Under The Sea" excursion.  Since July 7,
children have been able to sleep on the observation deck of The Living
Seas, view IllumiNations, visit Image Works, participate in interactive
games and enjoy a character breakfast the next morning at the Garden
Grill.

Participants begin their journey at 8:00pm Friday evenings at the EPCOT
Group Sales Window and depart from the same spot on Saturday mornings at
9:30am.  The children are supervised by chaperones.  One parent or
guardian of each child will be given a pager so they can be reached
easily in case of an emergency.
The overnight excursion, which costs $120.00 per child, includes a
souvenir t-shirt, a snack, sleeping bag, toothbrush, toothpaste, and
character breakfast.  Participants should bring a pillow and wear
comfortable clothes to sleep in.  Call (407) WDW-TOUR for reservations.

                                  @@@@@

Disney's newest animated feature, "Pocahontas," is everywhere at the
Disney-MGM Studios, home of Walt Disney Animation Florida -- where part
of the film was created:

-- The new stage version of Pocahontas' story, "The Spirit Of
Pocahontas," is performed five times daily at the studio's Backlot
Theater.  Show producers combine spectacular live performances with
special natural effects to heighten the show's dramatic action and
enhance the intricate set.

-- At the Walt Disney Theater, continuous shows of "The Making Of
Pocahontas" take guests behind the scenes for an amazing look at the
artistry, research and technology that combine to create Disney's 33rd
animated feature.

-- The studios' Magic Of Disney Animation attraction now features a
display of concept art, study models and other artwork from the film,
"Pocahontas."

-- Disney guests can meet characters from "Pocahontas" and "Aladdin" at
the studios' Soundstage Restaurant character breakfast.  The buffet
breakfast is served daily from 8:30 to 10:30am.  Reservations are
required and can be made by calling 407-WDW-DINE.

                                  @@@@@

America's top variety performers join the Disney Grammy All-American
College Jazz Band for EPCOT's "Swingin' Summer Nights" through August 13.
The summer-long series features celebrity performers in two shows nightly
at 8 and 9:15pm five days a week in the America Gardens Theatre.  A
special 6:45pm performance will feature singer Davonda Simmons with the
band.
August's star performers include:  Marilyn McCoo (August 5-6), Maureen
McGovern (August 9-10) and Rosemary Clooney (August 11-13).
Look for more jazz on Pleasure Island, as Michael Shudin, who has
recorded and toured with performers including David Sanborn, John Lee
Hooker, David Bowie and Jimmy Buffett, will perform at the Pleasure
Island Jazz Company August 1 and 2.  Performances will be at 8:30, 9:45
and 11pm, and at 12:30am.
The jazz act Dostero will perform August 23 at 8:30, 9:45 and 11pm and
12:30am.  Dostero blends rock. fusion and soulful melodies to create a
distinctive jazz sound.

                                  @@@@@

Crayola Dream-Maker Days at EPCOT will feature special hands-on activity
workshops with Disney artists and animators through September 3.  The
workshops, which follow the theme "Earth, Sea & Sky," will be held in
conjunction with a special Crayola Dream-Makers exhibition at EPCOT
featuring 400 pieces of art created by school children throughout the
country.  The workshops include activities using Crayola products from
the Dream-Makers teachers' guide.  This year marks the 10th anniversary
of the Dream-Makers program.  Workshop dates:  August 3, 6, 12, 16, 19,
20, 23, 27, 30, and September 3.  To reserve a spot in the class for
children 12 and under, call 407-WDW-ABCD.

                                  @@@@@

The largest kite festival in North America will be September 9-24 at
EPCOT.  From spectacular, high-flying performances to kite-making
workshops, the festival will highlight the history and technology of
kites.  Champion American kite designers, Japanese kite painters and
indoor flying experts will present their artistry around World Showcase
Lagoon.  For additional information, call 407-WDW-NEWS.

                                  @@@@@

Special news for collectors...in addition to the upcoming Disneyana
Convention, mentioned above (September 6-10), Helmut Engel, of the Engel
Doll Company, will be appearing in the Germany pavilion at EPCOT July 24
- August 17. He will be in Der Teddybar shop, customizing and signing
dolls from his company.  Engel dolls are sold in sets that the buyer puts
together and can be customized to meet individual specifications.
Thomas Gunther, an artist from the Goebel Company, will be in the Germany
pavilion August 3 - September 17.  Gunther will paint figurines and will
be available to sign purchased Hummel figures.  Hummel figurines are
crafted by Goebel artisans who use a centuries-old technique of
porcelain-making.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ideals, Dreams And Hard Facts" is published bi-monthly by and for a
loose conglomeration of Disney enthusiasts spread across the length and
breadth of CyberSpace, and is distributed electronically throughout the
same.  It is a compilation of individual articles and columns contributed
by their authors. The contribution of articles and columns to this
publication does not diminish the rights of the authors.  Opinions
expressed are those of the individual authors, and do not necessarily
reflect those of the Walt Disney Company or its subsidiaries.