The Fabulous Disney Babe
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Hi Fab,
Pardon the intrusion. I've been away from ADD for quite awhile and I'm amazed how much has changed and how much is still the same. I think you know what I mean. I see Rocket Rods is gone. I'm interested in what the problem was that proved fatal to its existence. I've heard so many stories but I don't believe most. Perhaps you have better info. Any info?
Take care,
S
The Rocket Rods circa 98 were riddled with mechanical problems, which the Imagineers working on the Replacement Rods (yeah, I thought it up, sorry) hope to have ironed out with whatever THEY’RE going to be calling Mark II. Front-runner? "Rocket Rods". Honest.
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Dearest Michelle Smith (the one and only FAB) and Jim Hill,
I’m writing this letter to both of you being a long time reader and Disney fan and having followed both you two and the Walt Disney company for a long time wince my dream after graduating in business studies is becoming CEO of the WDC (long shot hee)! I’m 23 years old, Italian (I've written to both of you already) and I'm probably the greatest Disney fan in Europe having been to all 4 Disney parks more than 40 times, counting the opening day of Euro Disney. Disneyland Paris is therefore my soft spot in Disney history; it goes to show the great things that can be achieved by Disney and the mediocrity of later projects.
Looking at the European Disney studios being built without a berm (which seems to be the new way of doing things) with so little to do and without even animation makes me think about he future of al those quality Imagineers (I hope Tony Baxter hasn’t anything to do with this since it would ruin his reputation as the top 2nd generation Imagineer).
Now for the questions. I’ve been last week to DLP for a 2-day trip just to relax and had the luck of seeing the new Toon circus parade! I wanted to tell you the great similarities which seem to come out of this new streetacular and the proposed Dumbo's Circus 1976 show. The parade features 3 rings, one circus train with Minnie and Roger Rabbit performing as clowns, one boxing ring for the Goofy Mr. Muscle show (gargantuan act) and one trapezium for Hyacinth the Hypos flying performance. This looks very much like (except the train) the proposed Dumbo’s Circus!!!
All of us Disney fans know the hard work which went into DLP and the number of past shelved projects revived for it like the Discoveryland landmark of the flying Hyperion from Discovery Bay, the naming of the Frontierland town "Thunder mesa" from the Western river expedition (a Tony Baxter tribute to Marc Davis!!!) project and the captain hook restaurant ship in Adventureland modeled after the original DL fantasyland tuna boat (the Imagineers who designed DLP are the same which redesigned the DL 1983 Fantasyland)! This has and will always be a source for both the Imagineers and Disney fans to feel even more attached to the park, even beyond the window on main street tribute!
I therefore would love to read one, or more, of your articles about the development and stories of DLP, the tributes, known and unknown which went into the creation of what could be considered the Disneyland which Walt would have built if he had the money in 1955 (maybe without the money sinking 5200 room hotels!!!).
I thank you very much for all the work which you put into all the articles you write for the multiple sites and hope to receive an answer or read your fantastic tales as soon as possible!
Thanks in advance
A -dreamer and Doer of being a future Disney CEO
With that love and enthusiasm, I hope your dream comes true. We need more tiramisu at Disneyland. They should have carts, like churros.
In answer to your first question: I’ve actually heard that these concepts for the Disney characters hearken back to Bill Justice’s concepts for Discovery Bay’s sister land, Dumbo’s Circus. In the main attraction, guests would dark-ride through circus rings featuring Disney characters doing all sorts of funny and daring circus acts.
I do plan on doing a big fat article on Discovery Bay and it’s "children" all over the present-day Disney Parks. Paris, hmm? I’d love to do a story. Think I could get my editor to get me a ticket over there? It’s for research, Doobie!
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Fab,
I hate to bring up sore wounds, but I have to...In all the time I've read your work both on LP and on MP prior, I've heard you mention Discovery Bay (it is your email address after all), but I've never seen a description of it. Knowing your background I can't even be sure of whether it's a Disneyland or Disney WORLD project. Can you let me in on the secret, or write something up about it sometime, or have Jim Hill write something up or something...
Thanks
J
Okay! All right! I’ll get to work on the Discovery Bay story I’ve been promising for a couple of years! In fact, I’m working on it now! It’s going to take a few weeks, so cut me some slack, Jack…or whatever that J stands for. Before my birthday in August. I promise. No, really this time. Really.