Hidden Mickey Book Series by Nancy Temple Rodrigue & David W. Smith

Hidden Mickey Book Series

By NANCY TEMPLE RODRIGUE & DAVID W. SMITH

         

There are three books in the Hidden Mickey set of books. I have only read the first of the series but I wanted to share these books with other Disney fans. Books four and five are coming out November 15^th, 2011.

          Books one and two were co-written but Nancy Temple Rodrigue & David W. Smith. Books three and four are written by Nancy Temple Rodrigue. Book five is written by David W. Smith.

          At first I felt the books were a little slow, especially when compared with Kingdom Keepers or Peter and the Starcatchers. I found that comparison was not fair. First off these books are for an older Disney fan base. The story centers around a couple of 20 something year old guys who love Disney but are none the less guys. Need I say more? They drink, think and talk about the ladies and just act like well young men.

          I will not give spoilers just some fun teasers. Book one, Hidden Mickey: Sometimes Dead Men DO Tell Tales starts with the death of Walt Disney. It then fast forwards almost 40 years to two young men on a Mouse Adventure Hunt at Disneyland. One of the men discovers Walt's Diary! The Diary is full of clues that lead them on a real adventure of a lifetime learning more about the Man behind the Mouse, Walt Disney. It also leads to treasure that any Disney fan would love to have.

          The friends end up traveling around to various places that were important to Walt the man. At each spot, if they followed the clue correctly they find a bit of treasure and another clue that leads them on.

          I found these books engaging, interesting and informative. These books hold true to the information I know about Walt the man. The dates and locations are accurate as far as I can tell and tell about important locations and events in Walt's life.

          What got me is the big twist in the middle of the book. I will not give any clues as to what it is but I will say WOW!! There is an unexpected twist and things take a wild turn. I was so engrossed with this part of the book I could not put it down. I stayed up all night reading until I finished the book.

          I was slightly disappointed with the end of the book. What was found at the end could not be because it is a proven and know fact Walt did not do what the book says he did at the end. I will not spoil the story by giving away what they say Walt did because it is a fun read none the less.

          Now I will share what the HiddenMickeyBook.com site says about each of the books.

Book 1: Hidden Mickey: Sometimes Dead Men Do Tell Tales.

          While running a spirited Mouse Adventure road rally through Disneyland, best friends Adam & Lance stumble across a long-lost diary of Walt Disney’s. The diary hints of hidden treasure and leads them on a wild cross-country search filled with discoveries – about the famous man, his life, and about themselves.

          Beth, Adam's former girlfriend, was fired from her beloved job at Disneyland thanks to Adam. Now he needs her help in untangling a web of clues that Walt left behind. Can she put their past aside and work with him again? Can the three friends decipher the eccentric clues that Disney himself may have ingeniously devised? Is someone else sniffing the same trail of clues and seeking the Disney cache for themselves?

          As the clues lead them closer to their goal - and deeper in the legacy of Walt Disney himself - will they find some long-lost treasure? Or is this one final illusion by the World's Greatest Storyteller?

          Anyone who loves all-things Disney will be swept up in the intrigue of the sometimes subtle, sometimes obscure, and always amazing facts surrounding one of the most recognized, beloved and ingenious men of all time. Walk in the shoes of our intrepid treasure hunters as they scavenge historical records and discover amazing connections, while they seek out what Walt may have left behind.

          Each page indulges the reader's imagination and immerses them into the world of magic Walt Disney created everywhere he went.

          HIDDEN MICKEY takes readers on a wild ride; consider it Mr. Toad's Wild Ride on steroids.

          Sometimes Dead Men DO Tell Tales!

Book 2: It All Started . . .

          Takes you through hidden parts of Disneyland and exotic locations in Walt Disney’s history. You will finally meet the mysterious Blond-Haired Man, first seen at the bedside of one of the world’s most beloved entertainers in the first book of the Hidden Mickey series, Sometimes Dead Men DO Tell Tales! What was included in the set of instructions he was given by Walt just before he died? Is there more to the Hidden Mickey quest than we were already shown? What is the real power of the red heart-shaped diamond that mysteriously came from the depths of the jungle?

          Lance Brentwood, the spoiled bad-boy of Hidden Mickey, finds himself in an unfamiliar position – alone and at loose ends. Staying with his Security job at Disneyland, he goes back to the scene of his crime. Now, in an ironic twist of fate, Lance is the one at the receiving end of a .44 Magnum.

          When Lance awakens in an unknown location, he learns that the legacy Walt set in place is more far-reaching than he had ever imagined. He is given one cryptic clue and finds that his entire destiny lies in it’s decipher. Can Lance earn the trust of the Blond-Haired Man’s daughter, Kimberly, or does the feisty beauty have plans of her own? The intrigue heats up when Lance has to team up with Kimberly as the two embark on an even wilder quest to unravel Walt Disney’s final clue and ultimately find the very treasure that helped Walt build the greatest entertainment company in the world.

          As the Blond-Haired Man’s chauffer, Daniel Crain was content to sit on the sidelines and live the easy life. Seeing a chance to up the stakes, Crain will stop at nothing to step into the position of power he feels he has been deprived. The only thing he sees standing in his way is Lance – and what appears to be a growing attachment between Lance and Kimberly.

          Who will win the battle for Walt’s legacy – the one man determined to preserve it or the other man determined to destroy it? In what seems to be a no-way-out situation, Lance discovers there is far more to the Legacy of the great showman, Walt Disney, and is thrust into a life-or-death race to uncover what the Master Storyteller wants someone to find.

          For Lance, It All Started...

Book 3: Wolf!: The Legend of Tom Sawyer's Island

          How far would you be willing to go to save your life—as well as the potential future of your boss, Walt Disney? Would you put your life in the hands of a mysterious security guard named Wolf who seems to have uncanny abilities that reach far beyond the realms of logic? Would you be willing to breech the very fabric of time itself to save Walt's Legacy?

          Wolf has dedicated his life to guarding his boss Walt Disney. Little did anyone know how far-reaching that dedication would need to extend.

          Dr. Claude Houser, a doctor and scientist employed by Walt Disney, finds his life and Walt's future threatened by an unknown blackmailer. Relocating the doctor where he can't be harmed Wolf tirelessly seeks to find and stop this malicious villain. Only then will he consider bringing the doctor back to continue his vital work.

          Wolf sends Disneyland cast member Wals Davis to aid the doctor and a damsel in distress. Wals now finds himself in a bizarre—yet strangely familiar—setting where time moves differently and things that occur in the present seem to have a profound effect on things that happen in the past.

          It will take all of Wolf's cunning to bring three vastly different people back through the swirling vortex of time.

          The Legend of Tom Sawyer's Island

Book 4: Wolf!: Happily Ever After? (To Be Released November 15^th, 2011)

          Book 4 continues where Hidden Mickey 3 Wolf!: The Legend of Tom Sawyer's Island left off...

Wolf, the mysterious Disneyland security guard and Guardian of Walt Disney, along with a 21st century helper and a lovely damsel lost in time, finds himself traveling throughout history as he tries to get the enchanted princess, Briar Rose, back to her own castle and time. As the powerful red diamond heart-shaped pendant gets closer to its rightful owner, Wolf crosses paths with Merlin as he tries to sort out the dangers ahead.

Once loved by the powerful Merlin, his apprentice Nimue shows her true colors by betraying him—and all who come close to her—as she attempts to regain control of the powerful pendant. Her name might change through the eons, but her heart of evil stays the same.

Trying to keep his home base of Disneyland as his touchstone, Wolf struggles against the powers of darkness. When it finally overtakes him, his friend Wals must figure out a way to break through the fabric of time to bring back help. Returning to the Guardian's distant past, Wals must convince Wolf's warrior brother Mato to trust him and leap into the swirling vortex that destroyed his brother's life.

Join the heroes—past and present—as they unite for one last stand against the forces of evil in a showdown that will rock the very foundations on which Disneyland was built.

Happily Ever After?

 

Hidden Mickey 5: Chasing New Frontiers (To Be Released November 15^th, 2011)

          When Nathan Duncan, an unscrupulous landscaper at Disneyland, found a way to steal—and hide—a large sum of money at Disneyland, his sudden death literally buried any chance of finding where he hid the money.

          Forty years later, when international singing sensation, twenty-one year old Swiss pop star Malaysia Hosner decides on an unscheduled incognito trip to the "Happiest Place on Earth" she meets handsome Blain Walters, a charismatic Disneyland Cast Member. Together, the two stumble upon a lost forty year-old clue that is at the heart of a full—fledged mystery of 'Hidden Mickey' proportions!

          As "Missy," Malaysia finds it more and more difficult to keep her true identity a secret while helping Blain follow a mysterious trail of clues...a trail that not only bring Malaysia and Blain closer together, but a trail that reveals a dangerous plot to unearth the long-secret location of forty-year-old stolen treasure.

          Will Blain learn Malaysia's real identity? Who else has a stake in finding Walt Disney's pendant and money? What secrets still exist at Disneyland?

          Chasing a legendary treasure, finding hidden locations in Disneyland, following long—lost clues, and discovering true romance along the way, readers will literally be chasing 'New Frontiers' in this exciting HIDDEN MICKEY novel!

          Based on a true story, Author David W. Smith, co-author of Hidden Mickey 1 & 2, again brings his Disneyland "Insider's" experience to all those who love action, adventure, mystery and romance, to this Hidden Mickey novel.

          Chasing New Frontiers

My Christmas book, An Angel Remembers 25 Voices of Christmas is out!!

You can find for all formats at

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/94784

And for the Nook at

http://www.barnesandnoble.com

It soon will be up at other sites such as Amazon

I'm Hungry and It's Not Time to Go to the Dining Room!

I'm Hungry and It's Not Time to Go to the Dining Room!

                Your on the Disney Cruise, you're hungry and it not time for you to go to the Dining room or you are not interested in eating at your assigned formal dining room. What do you do? You have many choices on where to eat if you don't want to wait for the main restaurant or you are hungry between meals.

                Your first and easiest choice for food at any time is room service. Most of the food and drinks delivered to your room are free! From fresh fruit to full meals it can come straight to you in your room. Alcohol and soda along with a few other things cost extra when delivered to your room. You still want a soda? Just go up to the drink station next to the Mickey Pool for soda and other drinks at any time during the day.

                There is the buffet at the aft of the ship. You can check the hours for meal service there. We enjoyed the buffet for breakfast and lunch. There are nice tables inside and out to eat at. Don't worry about carrying your food, the crew will gladly help you. In the evenings there is sit down table service if you wish to bypass your assigned dining room.

                If you just want to hang around the pool and not go to diner you can eat at the fast food service locations there.

                Everything I'm mentioned above is included in your cruise fees. You will not have to pay extra for this food. Now for some items you will need to pay for.

                For the adults there are a few other choices. There is a Sports Bar on every ship. This location serves alcohol and food at certain hours throughout the day. There are other lounges on the ship that serve food after 9 pm for adults only. During the day at limited hours those lounges are open for the families. Keep your eye on your Personal Navigator for hours at the various locations. If you don't want to pay extra for food on the cruise ask before you order if it is free! All drinks at the lounges cost. Some foods cost and some don't. An easy way to tell if they are going to charge you ask if they need your Key to the World Card. If they ask for the card you will be charged.

                If you can't find something you want to eat ask a crew member for help! They will be glad to help you find what you want. It does not matter if it is a snack or a meal they will be happy to make sure you have exactly what you want.

My Christmas book, An Angel Remembers 25 Voices of Christmas is out!!

You can find for all formats at

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/94784

And for the Nook at

http://www.barnesandnoble.com

It soon will be up at other sites such as Amazon

It's film Strip Friday! ~ One Hundred and One Dalmatians

It’s Film Strip Friday!

One Hundred and One Dalmatians

Release Date January 25^th, 1961

 

SYNOPSIS:

          Thanks to devilish Dalmatian Pongo, struggling songwriter Roger Radcliff meets and marries Anita, owner to the dog of Pongo's dreams, Perdita. The foursome lives happily in England until Perdita produces a litter of 15 adorable puppies. When wicked fashion diva Cruella de Vil hears the news, she's determined to add a spotted coat to her fur collection and stops at nothing to acquire the puppies for her diabolical plot ? even dognapping! Bungling henchmen Horace and Jasper Badun chase the lightning-fast brood all around London in a wacky pursuit that sends the city's dogs into a tailspin to save the pups in peril.

FUN FACTS:

       One Hundred and One Dalmatians, often abbreviated as 101 Dalmatians, is a 1961 American animated film produced by Walt Disney and based on the novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith. Seventeenth in the Walt Disney Animated Classic series, the film was originally released to theaters on January 25, 1961 by Buena Vista Distribution.

          The film features Rod Taylor as the voice of Pongo, the first of the Dalmatians, and Betty Lou Gerson as the voice of the villainous Cruella De Vil. The plot centers on the fate of the kidnapped puppies of Pongo and Perdita.

Plot:

          Pongo is a dalmatian that lives in a London bachelor flat with his owner Roger Radcliffe, a songwriter. Bored with bachelor life, Pongo decides to find a wife for Roger and a mate for himself. While watching various female dog-human pairs out the window, he spots the perfect couple, a woman named Anita and her female dalmatian, Perdita. He quickly gets Roger out of the house and drags him through the park to arrange a meeting. Pongo accidentally causes both Roger and Anita to fall into a pond, but it works out well as the couple falls in love. Both the human couple and the dog couple marry.

          Later, Perdita gives birth to 15 puppies. One almost dies, but Roger is able to revive it by rubbing it in a towel (because of which, they would name the pup, "Lucky"). That same night, they are visited by Curella De Vil, a wealthy and materialistic former schoolmate of Anita's. She offers to buy the entire litter of puppies for a large sum, but Roger says they are not selling any of the puppies. Weeks later, she hires Jasper and Horace Badun to steal all of the puppies. When Scotland Yard is unable to determine the thieves or find the puppies, Pongo and Perdita use the "Twilight Bark", normally a canine gossip line, to ask for help from the other dogs in England.

          Colonel, an old sheepdog, along with his compatriots Captain, a gray horse, and Sergeant Tibbs, a tabby cat, find the puppies in a place called Hell Hall (Cruella's abandoned and dilapidated family estate), along with many other Dalmatian puppies that Cruella had purchased from various dog stores. Tibbs learns the puppies are going to be made into dog-skin fur coats and the Colonel quickly sends word back to London. Upon receiving the message, Pongo and Perdita immediately leave London to retrieve their puppies. Meanwhile, Tibbs overhears Cruella ordering the Baduns to kill and render the puppies that night out of fear the police will soon find them. In response, Tibbs attempts to rescue the puppies himself while the Baduns are watching the television, but they finish their show and come for them before Tibbs can get the puppies out of the house. Pongo and Perdita burst through a window just as the Baduns have cornered them and are about to kill them. While the adult dogs attack the two men, Colonel and Tibbs guide the puppies from the house.

          After a happy reunion with their own puppies, the Pongos realize there are dozens of other puppies with them. Shocked at Cruella's plans, they decide to adopt all of the puppies, certain that Roger and Anita would never reject them. The dogs begin making their way back to London, aided by other animals along the way, with Cruella and the Baduns giving chase. In one town, they cover themselves with soot so they appear to be Labrador retrievers, then pile inside a moving van going back to London. As the van is leaving, melting snow clears off the soot and Cruella sees them. In a maniacal rage, she follows the van in her car and rams it, but the Baduns, trying to cut off the van from above, end up colliding with her. Both vehicles crash into a deep ravine. Cruella yells in frustration as the van drives away.

          Back in London, Roger and Anita are attempting to celebrate Christmas and Roger's first big hit, a song about Cruella, but they miss their canine friends. Suddenly barking is heard outside and after their nanny opens the door, the house is filled with dogs. After wiping away more of the soot, the couple is delighted to realize their companions have returned home. After counting 86 extra puppies, they decide to use the money from the song to buy a large house in the country so they can keep all 101 Dalmatians.

Production:

Development

          In 1956 During the production of Sleeping Beauty Dodie Smith wrote her book The Hundred and One Dalmatians. When Walt Disney read the book it immediately grabbed his attention and he acquired the rights in 1957. Smith had always secretly hoped that Disney would make her book into a film.. Disney assigned Bill Peet to write the story. This would mark the first time that the story for a Disney film was created by a single story man. Walt had not been as involved in the production of the animated films as he had been in the past, but he was always present at story meetings. However, Walt felt that Peet's original was so perfect that very little was changed. Peet sent Dodie Smith some drawings of the characters, she wrote back saying that Peet had improved her story.

Animation

          After the very expensive Sleeping Beauty failed at the box-office the company was in debt, and there was some talk of closing down the animation department at the Disney studio. Although Walt Disney had been expanding the studio into other mediums such as live-action films, television and theme parks, he still had deep feelings for animation since he had built the company upon it. He wanted to continue producing animation at the studio, but he needed to cut the cost.

          Up Iwerks, in charge of special processes at the studio, had been experimenting with Xerox photography to aid in animation. By 1959 he had modified a Xerox camera to transfer drawings by animators directly to animation cels, eliminating the inking process and preserving the spontaneity of the penciled elements. The introduction of xerography eased graphic reproduction requirements, but at the price of being unable to deviate from a scratchy outline style because of the new (and time and money saving) technology's limitations. One problem with the Xerox however, was that the animators were used to producing sketchy drawings, and the clean-up stage in animation prior to One Hundred and One Dalmatians was done in the process of transferring the drawings to the cels. With the hand inkers gone, the animation remained as the animators drew it. It later became common to do clean-up on paper before the animation was copied, and with time and experience, the process improved in 1977 with the release of The Rescuers. From then on animated features the Xeroxed lines could be printed in different colors.

          The xerox was a great help towards animating the spotted dogs. According to Chuck Jones, Disney was able to bring the movie in for about half of what it would have cost if they'd had to animate all the dogs and spots. To achieve the spotted Dalmatians, the animators used to think of the spot pattern as a constellation. Once they had one "anchor spot", the next was placed in relation to that one spot, and so on and so on until the full pattern was achieved. All total, 101 Dalmatians featured 6,469,952 spots, with Pongo sporting 72 spots, Perdita 68, and each puppy having 32.

          With the studio no longer able to afford the expensive, but lavish labour-intensive inking, the studio fired all of its inkers resulting in a reduction of animation staff from over 500 to less than 100. However painters were still needed to put color on the cels.

          The production of the film also signaled a change in the graphic style of Disney's animation. Sleeping Beauty had a more graphic, angular style than previous Disney films, and this look was chosen for One Hundred and One Dalmatians and in most subsequent films. For One Hundred and One Dalmatians the background artists would paint loose molds to represent an object and xerox the details onto the mold. Walt Disney disliked the artistic look of One Hundred and One Dalmatians and felt he was losing the fantasy element of his animated films. The art director Ken Anderson felt very depressed by this. Walt eventually forgave him on his final trip to the studio in late 1966. As Anderson recalled in an interview

He looked very sick, I said "Gee it's great to see you Walt", and he said "You know that thing you did on Dalmatians". He didn't say anything else, but he just gave me this look and I knew that all was forgiven and in his opinion maybe what I did on Dalmatians wasn't so bad. That was the last time I ever saw him. Then a few weeks later I learned he was gone.

Live-Action Reference

    As done with other Disney films, Walt Disney hired an actress to perform live-action scenes as a reference for the animation process. Actress Helene Stanley performed the live-action reference for the character of Anita. She did the same kind of work for the characters of Cinderella and Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty.

    According to Christopher Finch, author of The Art of Walt Disney:

“

Disney insisted that all scenes involving human characters should be shot first in live-action to determine that they would work before the expensive business of animation was permitted to start. The animators did not like this way of working, feeling it detracted from their ability to create character. [...] [The animators] understood the necessity for this approach and in retrospect acknowledged that Disney had handled things with considerable subtlety.

”

    Unlike rotoscoping, the animators did not trace the live-action film, because this would make the animation look stiff and unnatural. Instead they studied the movement of the human characters and drew free-hand.

Songs

    Unlike many Walt Disney animated features, One Hundred and One Dalmatians features only three songs, with just one, "Cruella De Vil", playing a big part in the film. The other two songs are "Kanine Krunchies Jingle" (sung by Lucille Bliss, who voiced Anastasia in Disney's 1950 film Cinderella), and "Dalmatian Plantation" in which only two lines are sung by Roger at the film's closure. Songwriter Mel Leven had, in fact, written several additional songs for the film including "Don't Buy a Parrot from a Sailor", a cockney chant, meant to be sung by the Badduns at the De Vil Mansion, and "March of the One Hundred and One", which the dogs were meant to sing after escaping Cruella by van.

Cameos of Characters From Lady and the Tramp

During the scene where all the dogs of London are sending out a message that the puppies have been puppy napped, Peg from Lady and the Tramp is seen in a pet store as one of the animals for sale. Lady and the Tramp also appear, and get the message, and send it on.

Voice Cast

·        Rod Taylor - Pongo

·        Cate Bauer - Perdita

·        Betty Lou Gerson – Cruella De Vil / Miss Birdwell

·        Ben Wright - Roger Radcliffe

·        Lisa Davis - Anita Radcliffe

·        Martha Wentworth - Nanny / Queenie / Lucy

·        Frederick Worlock - Horace Badun; Inspector Craven

·        J. Pat O'Malley - Jasper Badun; Colonel

·        Thurl Ravenscort - Captain

·        David Frankham - Sgt. Tibbs

·        Barbara Baird - Rolly

·        Mickey Maga - Patch

·        Sandra Abbott - Penny

·        Mimi Gibson - Lucky

·        Tom Conway - Collie / Quizmaster

·        Bill Lee - Roger (singing)

Release

    One Hundred and One Dalmatians was first released to theaters on January 25, 1961. After its initial theatrical run, it was re-released to theaters four more times: January 1969, June 1979, December 1985, and July 1991.

    One Hundred and One Dalmatians was released on VHS on April 10, 1992 as part of the Walt Disney Classics video series. It was re-released on March 9, 1999 as part of the Walt Disney Masterpiece Collection video series. On December 19, 1999, it received its first DVD release as part of Disney's Limited Issue series. A 2-disc Platinum Edition DVD was released on March 4, 2008.

Reception

    One Hundred and One Dalmatians was the tenth highest grossing film of 1961, accruing $6,400,000 in distributors' domestic (U.S. and Canada) rentals during its first year of release, and one of the studio's most popular films of the decade. The film was re-issued to theaters in 1969, 1979, 1985, and 1991. The 1991 reissue was the twentieth highest earning film of the year for domestic earnings. It has earned $215,880,014 in domestic box office earnings during its lengthy history. It currently holds a 97% "fresh" rating from critics and users on Rotten Tomatoes. The film did receive some negative criticism. Phillip Martin of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette only gave the film 2/5 stars. In 2011 Craig Berman of MSNBC ranked the film and its 1996 remake as two of the worst kid films of all-time saying, "The plot itself is a bit nutty. Making a coat out of dogs? Who does that? But worse than Cruella de Vil’s fashion sense is the fact that your children will definitely start asking for a Dalmatian of their own for their next birthday."

American Film Institue Lists

·        AFI's 100 Years…100 Movies - Nominated

·        AFI's 100 Years…100 Heroes and villains:

o    Cruella De Vil - #39 Villain

·        AFI's 10 Top 10 - Nominated Animated Film

Sequels and Spin-Offs

    In the years since the original release of the movie, Disney has taken the property in various directions. The earliest of these endeavors was the live-action remake, 101 Dalmations. Starring Glenn Close as Cruella De Vil, none of the animals talked in this 1996 edition. This version's success in theaters led to 102 Dalmatians, released on November 22, 2000.

    After the first live-action version of the movie, a cartoon called 101 Dalmatians: The Series was launched. The designs of the characters were stylized further, to allow for economic animation, and appeal to the contemporary trends.

    Most recently, 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure, the official sequel to the original animated film, was released straight-to-VHS/DVD on January 21, 2003.

http://disney.go.com/disneyinsider/history

http://en.wikipedia.org

My Christmas book, An Angel Remembers 25 Voices of Christmas is out!!

You can find for all formats at

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/94784

And for the Nook at

http://www.barnesandnoble.com

It soon will be up at other sites such as Amazon

The Pools of the Disney Cruise Line Ships

          Did you know that each Disney Cruise Ship has four pools?? Yes you read that right FOUR!! So why four pools and what is the difference?

          First off the pools are found on Deck 9 on the Magic and Wonder and on Deck 11 on the Dream and Fantasy (Fantasy will be in service early 2012). This is the outdoor play area of the ships. All the pools are fresh water and heated.

          The first and most popular pool on all the ships for families with little ones is the Mickey Pool. It is located toward the aft of the ship near the buffet restaurant. This pool is shallow enough for the little squirts to splash and play. Parents can sit and relax in deck chairs and watch or join the little one in play. The main pool of Mickey Pool is a 2 ft deep pool shaped like everybody's favorite mouse, Mickey! Nearby is a one deck high water slide for the kids (sorry no adults allowed.) There is also a water play area for the little ones in this area. Near the Mickey pool you will also find the Soda/Drink station that is open for free soda, juice, milk, coffee and tea 24 hours a day.

          Between the Mickey kids Pool and the Family Pool (called the Goofy Pool on the Magic and Wonder and the Donald Pool on the Dream and Fantasy) there are several fast food places. Here you can grab a quick snack while you play in the pools. Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Pizza and Ice Cream are the treats you can find here. These food service locations have limited hours so make sure you check your Personal Navigator for hours they will be open.

          Now to the Family Pool. The Family Pool is called the Goofy or Donald Pool depending on what ship you are on. This pool is designed for families to hang out together. Above the pool is the Funnel Vision Screen (a 24 x 14 ft video screen) where movies and virtual tours of the bridge play most hours of the day. Several times during the cruise this pool is covered and the area used for Deck Parties. It is here you will start your cruise with the Sail Away Deck Party and later in the cruise you will dance the night away with the Pirates In the Caribbean at the PITC Deck Party.

          The Goofy Pool is 4 ft deep on the Magic and Wonder while the Donald Pool is 5 ft deep on the Dream and Fantasy. The Goofy Pool also has two whirlpool spas for the adults sit in as the kids play in the pool. There are no whirlpool spas at the Donald Pool. Both pools have crew hosted games at various times. Check your Personal Navigator for times. This pool is located mid ship on Deck 9 (Magic & Wonder) and on Deck 11 (Dream & Fantasy).

          Now for the pool the adults will love and the kids will only dream about getting in. The Quiet Cove Pool is the adult only pool on all the Disney Cruise Line Ships and is 4 ft deep. Even though it is just a few feet down the Deck from the family pool you don't hear the noise. It is truly a Quiet Cove to relax in. Here you will find a quiet haven to relax. All four ships have two large hot tubs in this area. There is a swim up bar and other adult only lounges in this area. There is scheduled live entertainment at the pool.

          On the Fantasy the adults will also have one more special place to relax and cool of in the water. Deck 13's Satellite Falls is a place to sit and relax. Here you can sit and relax on benches around a shallow splash pool surrounded by a cascading rain curtain.

          Ok I'll mention another bit of water fun on the Dream and Fantasy. The Aqua Duck! The Aqua Duck is located on Deck 12. It is a clear plastic tube water coaster. It is a fun ride that starts on Deck 12 and goes off the side of the ship, through one of the funnels and ends in a lazy river area 4 decks below. This is for all the kids and adults that are up to the adventure and fit the age/height requirements.

          Now I did mention a fourth pool. This pool is not for kids, families or adults. This pool is only for the crew and is located at the bow of the ship. Access to this pool is strictly limited to crew but you can see it for upper decks.

          So when you are packing for the Disney Cruise don't forget to pack your swim suit and suntan lotion! Don't worry about a towel because there are plenty at the pools. See ya at the pools!!!

Meet Disney's Sixth Princess Linda Larkin ~ Jasmine

Meet the voice of Disney's Sixth Princess Jasmine

Linda Larkin (Mach 20^th, 1970)

 

       Linda Larkin (born March 20, 1970) is an American cinema and television actress. She is best known for providing the speaking voice of Princess Jasmine in the movie Aladdin and various Aladdin sequels and spin-offs, as well as in the Kingdom Hearts video game series. In order for her to voice Princess Jasmine she had to lower her voice due to Disney saying her voice was too high for Jasmine's voice. For her work at Disney, Larkin was honored as a Disney Legend on August 19, 2011

       Linda Larkin grew up with Disney princesses -- Cinderella and Princess Aurora were childhood favorites?and she had a sense of fate when she went to audition for the animated feature Aladdin (1992). "I read a line of dialogue that said, 'It's all so magical,'" the actress once recalled. "I was very taken with that line, and I knew it was meant to be."

          Linda was born in Alaska and moved to Duluth, Minnesota, at the tender age of 18 months. In the fifth grade, she relocated with her family to Maplewood, a suburb of St. Paul, where she became active in the performing arts world, studying dance -- ballet was her specialty -- and auditioning at age 12 for the role of Cinderella at the Minneapolis Children's Theatre. She toured the country with a group from the renowned Larkin Dance Studio, from which she took her professional last name.

          At age 18, Linda moved to New York City to attend Hofstra University and to pursue a career in the arts. Her first professional job was dancing in a Disney-produced extravaganza at Yankee Stadium. As her education progressed, her focus shifted from dancing to acting, and after graduation she continued those studies, this time with renowned acting coach and instructor Anthony Abeson.

          While visiting a friend in Los Angeles in 1989, Linda was cast in her first film and followed that role with appearances on popular television programs such as Doogie Howser, M.D. and Murder, She Wrote. She continued refining her craft in both Los Angeles and New York, as well as in regional stage roles around the country, before being cast as the speaking voice of the fiery Princess Jasmine in Aladdin.

          She continued acting in TV series such as Wings and Law & Order: Criminal Intent and feature films such as Our Son, the Matchmaker, Basquiat (both in 1996), Childhood's End (1997), Runaway Bride (1999), The Next Best Thing (2000), and Joshua and You Belong to Me (both in 2007).

          Over the years, she has often returned to the role of Jasmine in the sequels The Return of Jafar (1994) and Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1996); the 1994-1996 Aladdin TV series; and in games, including Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II.

          "Aladdin was my first big job, and it definitely opened a lot of doors for me," Linda once said. "I think being the voice of Princess Jasmine has given me an extra advantage in getting some of the jobs I've had -- although sometimes they find out about me being Princess Jasmine after they've hired me, and that's always fun!" Linda cherishes the role Disney has played in her life. "I've always believed that if you have a wish, then you also have the power to make it come true."

http://disney.go.com/disneyinsider/history/legends

http://en.wikipedia.org

Rainy Days at Disneyland

Rainy Days at Disneyland

          Yes it does happen! The old saying, It never rains in sunny California is not true! Walt did a smart thing building Disneyland in Southern California. The weather in this area is sunny and warm. While it is true there are more sunny days than not it does rain. So what do you do if it rains during your trip at Disneyland?

          First thing is don't worry, most of the time it does not rain for hours or days on end, so if you are on a several day vacation you should still have some days without rain. If it does rain there is still plenty to do. Most of the time So Cal rain is such that a light plastic poncho will more than protect you and keep you comfortable. Both umbrellas and ponchos can be purchased in many of the parks gift shops for a reasonable price. Just be aware than many of the shops don't have them on display, you will have to ask a cashier for them. Most of the time if it rains it may be cool but not bitterly cold. (Us Southern Californians think that anything below 60 is freezing. Such pampered, spoild things we are. LOL)

          If it is just sprinkling none of the rides or attractions will be affected. In fact if it is not very cold or you have a hotel room near the park where you can go to change you can hit the wet rides such as Splash Mountain and Grizzly Rapids. The lines for the wet rides will be very short. We often will grab ponchos during spring and fall rains and hit those rides and enjoy the feeling of having them to ourselves.

          If there is lightning near the park some of the coasters, such as Big Thunder and Screamn' will be closed for safety. Other than a few of those rides being closed everything should be running as usual. This is done for the safety of the guests. Also the fireworks and Fantasmic could be canceled if there are high winds or lightning.

          So what can you do if it is raining and you want to get out of the rain? Explore Innoventions. Check out the story time in the little boy's room in the House of the Future. How about watching a few shows? Billy Hill and the Hillbillies, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, Aladdin the Musical, Muppets 3D and It's Tough to be a Bug are just a few places to get out of the wet. There are also other inside rides such as Space Mountain, Star Tours and Astro Blasters. If you want several hours away from the weather, try going to Downtown Disney and watching a movie at the AMC Theater. That will give you two or more hours inside without worries.

          You can also find a nice place to eat inside. I suggest you call ahead and make a reservation so you know for sure you have a place inside to eat, others will be thinking the same way. If you are not hungry wonder the shops during the heaviest rains. You can walk almost the entire length of Main Street and not step outside by walking from one shop to another. If that is not enough you can wonder the Downtown Disney and check the shops there.

Do you DIY Disney for Christmas??

Do you DIY Disney for Christmas??

          Halloween is over and Thanksgiving is coming. Christmas is right around the corner!! So are you excitedly getting ready? If so are you making your own Christmas gifts and decorations? I know I always make a few. I'll share some of mine and hope they spark some creative thoughts in you.

          I always go wondering around the Disney Store, Disney Shopping Online, Disneyland and anywhere else I can find Disney themed items. I also look at non Disney items and think about how I can make them Disneyfied.

Not a Christmas themed apron but still one of my Disney aprons.

          You know the cute hand towels and washcloths that are made for Christmas with cute Snowmen on them? Why not make them Mickey Snowmen by adding a Mickey Ear Hat on the head of the Snowmen. You can even do it totally yourself by getting a package of inexpensive hand towels, washcloths, dish towels and even plain red or green cotton aprons. Cut out Snowmen shapes in plain white material. Cut out a Mickey Ear Hat sized to fit on the head of the snowmen you cut out. Sew the hat onto the snowmen. Then sew the snowmen onto the desired item. Now you can add button or cut material eyes or even just cross stitch some eyes and a mouth. The nose can be an orange piece of material shaped like a carrot or once again you can cross stitch it on. The arms can be brown pieces of material cut to look like twigs or cross stitch arms with brown thread. These may be this year's Christmas gifts from our home.

          I crochet and I've designed a Mickey/Minnie Christmas Tree Skirt. Here is a picture.

          As gifts I've made scarves. Here are two different patterns I've come up with.

          I love salt dough!! Here are some Mickey/Minnie Christmas ornaments I made a few years back. On one side It is Mickey with a jaunty little Santa hat. The other side is Minnie with her bow on the Santa hat. These are fun things the kids can join in making!

          I will be posting these and other crafts (A few of mine. Many from DisneyFamily.com and other places. Some Disney, some not.) in Walt's Basement in Tinker Bell's Hobby Lobby. Here is the link so you can find some ideas.

http://waltsbasement.yuku.com/forums/79

Mickey Icon blanket I designed and made for my daughter.

          If you join Walt's Basement you can share your crafty ideas in Tink's Hobby Lobby as well. It is open for all to share! You can also share your ideas on either of my Facebook pages.

Pixie Pranks & Disney Fun

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pixie-Pranks-and-Disney-Fun/229171923785416?ref=pb

Disney Arts & Crafts

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Disney-Arts-Crafts/116751651677936