Experiencing Bob Gurr and Fifty Years of the Matterhorn, Monorail and Subs Called upon by Walt Disney to design the Matterhorn Bobsleds, imagineer Bob Gurr wasn't sure if he was the right guy for the job. "I never designed roller coasters," he says. "I hate 'em." For someone who's never been a fan of thrill rides, apparently he did alright as the Matterhorn, along with the Monorail and the Submarine Voyage (with and without Nemo), mark their 50th anniversary at Disneyland today. Gurr was the guest of honor last weekend at a dinner reception in Anaheim hosted by Ape Pen Publishing and the 1313 Club. Joining him were fellow Disney Legend Ron Dominguez, audio-animatronics whiz Garner Holt and former Anaheim city manager Keith Murdoch. It was an evening of nostalgia and fond recollections with the man who often says, "If it moves on wheels at Disneyland, I probably designed it." That's no exaggeration. Gurr's credits include the Autopia, the vehicles on Main Street and the Haunted Mansion's omnimover system, among many others. He also helped design the inner workings of Abraham Lincoln for Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. In fact, Gurr recently donated the upper torso of the original Lincoln animatronic to Walt Disney's daughter Diane Disney Miller for display in the Walt Disney Family Museum, opening in San Francisco this fall. There were a number of challenges to designing and building the Matterhorn. The mountain shell was easy enough, as were the very first tubular steel roller coaster tracks. The problem was making one fit inside the other. During one period, Gurr says, he hand drew a different track a day for two weeks to come up with a design that would work. Once accomplished, the actual construction went much smoother. "We just shut up and did the work," he says. "It was so absolutely simple." Simple maybe, but still tricky to get past building inspectors. Rather than get design sketches approved prior to construction, as was the norm, Gurr and his crew submitted the final certified drawings immediately after each component was built. Somehow it worked. Barely a year after their mutual groundbreakings, the Matterhorn, Monorail and Subs were completed--and Bob Gurr was the design master behind each of them. Not that he always gets the credit. Shown a copy of a U.S. Patent Office filing with Joseph Fowler named as the designer of the sub ride vehicles, Gurr smiles, prints his name next to Admiral Joe's, then signs it. Hey, if it moves on wheels at Disneyland . . . www.disneynewsarchive.com Disney hopes its 2-D 'Princess and the Frog' doesn't fall flat Hoping to build excitement, the studio begins an early rollout for its first hand-drawn animated movie in years. First rule of movie marketing: With a hard sell, sell the faithful first. So it was with Walt Disney Co., which on Thursday used a gathering of thousands of loyal Disney fans to unveil "The Princess and the Frog," perhaps the studio's riskiest movie in years. Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger used the assembly of devoted followers at the Anaheim Convention Center, many of them sporting Mickey T-shirts, to screen a major portion of the film that marks the studio's return to hand-drawn animation. The film and its subject matter -- a contemporary twist on the fairy tale of a frog prince who desperately wants to be human again -- are reminiscent of classic Disney tales of yore. Indeed, the movie adds another tiara-wearing princess -- the first African American one -- to a lineage of cinematic royalty that dates back all the way to 1937's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." D23 Expo Announcements: Muppets, Pirates and Cars — Oh My! • By Matt Blum  September 14, 2009  |  9:00 am  |  Categories: Electronic Geek  Image: The Walt Disney Co. In Anaheim, California, over this past weekend, The Walt Disney Company threw a big event for the press and hardcore Disney fans called the D23 Expo. Lots of news came out of it, but of particular interest to geeks — and particularly geek parents — are the announcements of several upcoming movies Disney is producing. The one I’m most looking forward to: The first new Muppet movie since way back in 1999! Yes, the long-rumored new film, to be titled The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made, is scheduled to come out next year. It’s being written by Jason Segel, who (being, evidently, a hardcore Muppets fan since childhood) has promised to bring the movie back to being about the Muppets instead of the guest stars. The title is very similar (possibly identical — I’m not 100% sure) to a planned Muppet movie Jim Henson developed in the mid-1980s but never produced. That movie was supposed to be about Gonzo directing a movie and rapidly, though not surprisingly, going way over-budget. Nobody has said whether the upcoming film will be based on that project, but I would be surprised to learn it wasn’t at least related. More Muppet news was also announced, including several iPhone apps to be coming out next year. Disney taking a page from Comic-Con Next month's D23 Expo in Anaheim is modeling itself on the successful pop-culture festival in hopes of boosting Disney's film and TV projects and its amusement parks. Marvel vs. Disney: Two very different Americas By TED ANTHONY (AP) – 1 day ago "Wish upon a star," Jiminy Cricket, Disney's arthropod muse, likes to say. "Leave Hulk ALONE!" the Marvel superhuman most in need of anger management likes to say. It's difficult to come up with two more competing takes on American life than those built by Walt Disney on one hand and Marvel Comics on the other. Here are distinctly opposite versions of the American experience, each an indelible part of the country's popular culture. In this corner: Disney's America, a pastoral vision built upon one man's idealized memory of his small-town childhood, filled with trains and friendly people and dreams that really do come true if you believe hard enough. A world of black and white, rendered in brilliant Kodachrome. Current Disney News The New Disney Family Club Here at these club venues one can get close to Disney Legends, and be part of the Disney highlights. The 1313 Disney Club is now going on their 5th year of being part of the New Disney Club’s, open to the public to join. Going on 100 members and going strong, this new way of being personally involved and getting a chance to work with Disney Legends is making Disney history. This Disney Club is making their mark by opening the doors to each member in helping and having the opportunity to be part of each event if they so desire. Their past, Disney event include; “The Tiki Event”, “Disneyland’s Railroad Event”, “The Golden Horseshoe Event”,and the most current event “Disneyland 1959” . It’s remarkable in who’s, who has shown up to these events and others like it. This small but Enormous in heart Club has had a few remarkable speakers: Disney Legend Bob Gurr, Michael Broggie, Disney Legend Wally Boag, Disney Legend Ron Dominguez, Disney Legend Jack Lindquist and so many others! So if your looking for a friendly and personal Disney Club to join , then the 1313 Disney Club is the place you want to be. C.Sissel With Attendance Off, Disney Is Dealing Published: February 22, 2009 IF you’ve long put off your kids’ entreaties to take them on a Disney vacation because of an aversion to long lines, high prices and throngs of mouse-eared fans, you may soon be running out of excuses. Disney CEO received $51.1M in compensation in 2008 The Walt Disney Co.'s Chief Executive Robert Iger received compensation worth $51.1 million in fiscal 2008, up 85 percent from a year earlier, but most of it came in stock options that are currently worthless, according to a regulatory filing made Friday. Disneyland Transportation to Run on Food Oil and CNG Disneyland Resort recently announced new environmental initiatives to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its facilities. In addition to using compressed natural gas (CNG) to fuel its guest trams, the Anaheim, Calif. park will also use recycled cooking oil to power its Disneyland Railroad steam trains and Mark Twain riverboat. Disneyland Resort Makes Annual Passes More Accessible and Affordable for Southern California Residents The Walt Disney Company Reports Earnings for Fiscal Year 2008 EPS for the year was $2.28, compared to $2.25 in the prior year. EPS for the prior and current year included net benefits of $0.33 and $0.01, respectively, from certain items which are detailed below Celebrate Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort With Family Fun, Haunted Mansion Holiday and Disney's Happiest Haunt Tours.. ANAHEIM, Calif. (September 25, 2008) - Highlights include Disney’s Happiest Haunt Tour, Haunted Mansion Holiday, Candy Corn Acres and Mickey’s Trick or Treat Party.(more..click on gold title) In 2009, Come To A Disney Park On Your Birthday And Get In Free! A Disney ‘First’ Launches ‘Celebration Vacation’ Travel Trend.. ANAHEIM, Calif. (September 18, 2008) - Everyone who visits a Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort theme park on their birthday in 2009 can get in free, as Disney Parks embraces a newly identified family travel trend called “celebration vacations.” And to kick it all off – a first-ever opportunity for guests to receive a free ticket to one of the Walt Disney World or Disneyland theme parks on their birthday in 2009. (more..click on gold title) Golden Horseshoe Celebration Honors Wally Boag and over 50 Years of Frontierland Performers The Golden Horseshoe Revue Dinner Show and Celebration was held Saturday, March 29 at the Anaheim Sheraton on Ball Road, right across the street from Disneyland, the place where it all began back in 1955. The evening honored Wally Boag and Betty Taylor, the Revue’s original Pecos Bill and Slue Foot Sue. Joining in the celebration were several performers who have graced, and continue to grace, the stage of the Golden Horseshoe in Frontierland. more... Wally Boag feted at Golden Horseshoe event Ron Schneider's back with a blow-by-blow account of last month's celebration. When over 300 fans & luminaries turned out to honor the life & times of this Disney Legend. more..... 40th. Anniversary Castle Time Capsule By Bob Penfield In the spring of 1995, I was asked by the Project Management Department of the Disneyland Facilities Division to participate in the location and construction of the vault to house the 40th Anniversary time capsule, which would be later known as the Castle Time Capsule, to be opened 40 years later on July 17th, 2035.. more... Disneyland's Club 55 By Bob Penfield As the last Club 55'er to retire from the park and the unofficial historian, I have been asked to write about the club, what it is, how it was formed, it's members, interesting facts, etc... more.... DISNEYLAND ALUMNI CLUB
By Oswald Jackson
If you worked at Disneyland-- no matter how long or short the tenure--you MUST join the amazing Disneyland Resort Alumni Club (DRAC). Begun informally and founded by Disney University founder Van France, along with Dick Nunis in 1983, the Club offers a chance for former Cast Members to keep in touch, share memories, re-connect with old friends and make new memories and new friends as well.... more.... E.P. Ripley Steam Engine
8th Annual Railroad Days
The E.P. Ripley original Steam Engine from the Disneyland Railroad was at the Fullerton Railroad Days on May 6th and 7th 2006. This is the pride of the Disneyland Railroad built over 50 years ago and pulling passengers around the park ever since. Walt Disney was the first engineer of the E.P. Ripley and showed it off on opening day July 17, 1955. This is the one and only time in Disneyland's history that this engine has been outside the park.. more.... . Epcot: Popularity Wins Over Education
Ricky Brigante - Epcot, the second Walt Disney World theme park, has had its ups and downs since its opening in 1982. Walt Disney's original idea for what is now known as "Epcot" can best be described in what the letters E-P-C-O-T used to stand for: Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Disney wanted EPCOT to be a place for people to live, work, and play, in harmony with one another as well as with the environment. He wanted to leave the world of traffic jams and create a world of efficiency, much in the same way that the original Disneyland theme park created a world of fantasy away from the real world... more.... Cars - it Rocks! by Greg Clapp Here ya go, APP readers...an early review of Cars. This is pretty much the same review you'll find in yesterday's episode of the Window to the Magic Podcast, but if you listen to that one, there's all kinds of music from the yet-to-be-released soundtrack and a couple sound-bites from the movie.... more.... Sam McKim Window on Main Street Ceremony by Carlene Thie - Sam McKim had many jobs; actor, artist, Imagineer, husband, father. Today, with the unveiling of his window on Main Street, Sam was awarded one more job - “Cartography Masterworks: Map Maker to the Kingdom”. more.... Something in the Childhood Magic of Winnie the Pooh has Kept Cindy Russell Alive
By Andrea Lampros
Something in the childhood magic of Winnie the Pooh has kept Cindy Russell alive.
During the weeks she spent in bed recovering from surgery to remove cancerous tumors, Cindy spent hours watching Winnie the Pooh videos. She identified strongly with Piglet fear, Tiger’s invincibility, Rabbit anxiety, Eeyores depression and Poohs intuitive ability to care for everyone... more.... Fast Food Dilemma at Disney's Theme Parks Orlando, FL – by Ricky Brigante It was recently reported by the Los Angeles Times that The Walt Disney Co. and McDonald's would be parting ways after their exclusive long-term promotional contract expires this year, ending a 10-year run filled with greasy food and Happy Meal toys... more.... Postcards: Preservation of the Past by Jack Richardson - Sitting in the outdoor dining area of what used to be The Red Wagon Inn, this writer was very conscious of Disneyland's glorious past while interviewing Mike McKiernan, a thirty-four year old aficionado of all things Disney, particularly Disneyland postcards and postcard collecting. more.... What's Up :: Big Figs By Cindy Russell – Hello everyone. Being a Big Disney collector, it is no surprise that one of my favorite collectibles are Big Figs! Big Figs first came out in 1999 with Classic Mickey and Fab Five series. Since then, Big Figs (some well over 2 feet tall!) have become wonderful friends in the home of many a Disneyana collector. Currently, I have over 150 of these ‘house guests’. Mickey, Minnie, Princesses’, Villains, Disneyland Attractions; Big Figs cover all areas of Disney... more.... Pirate Booty and Princess Beauty By Ricky Brigante - The week of April 2nd, 2006 marked the official grand opening of Walt Disney Imagineering's newest colossal E-Ticket attraction, Expedition Everest: The Legend of the Forbidden Mountain. Herds of media professionals swarmed to the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida to attend the opening ceremonies on April 6th and 7th. With fireworks, flames, lighting effects, and one huge abominable beast known as the Yeti, Expedition Everest received the national coverage it deserved. However, just a couple of days prior, on April 4th, two new gems opened at Walt Disney World's Downtown Disney that deserved coverage that they didn't get.... more.... http://www.disneynewsarchive.com/http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-disney11-2009sep11,0,1299360,full.storyhttp://www.wired.com/geekdad/2009/09/d23-muppets-pirates-and-cars/http://www.wired.com/geekdad/author/cerebus19/mailto:matt@geekdad.commailto:matt@geekdad.comhttp://www.wired.com/geekdad/category/electronic-geek/http://themuppetmindset.blogspot.com/2009/09/breaking-news-from-disney23-expo.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Segelhttp://themuppetmindset.blogspot.com/2009/09/disney23-update-special-muppets.htmlhttp://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-disney24-2009aug24,0,6044431.storyhttp://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hTkbk7H0duv8Q9aICMDaFoqXDwNQD9ANLFEO1attendence_off.htmlattendence_off.htmlattendence_off.htmlattendence_off.htmlattendence_off.htmlhttp://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/disney_walt_company/index.html?inline=nyt-orgDisney_CEO.htmlDisneyland_Transportaion.htmlAnnual_Passports.htmlAnnual_Passports.htmlhttp://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/The-Walt-Disney-Company-Reports/story.aspx?guid=%7B500B93FF-3FC1-437D-B91A-7A0C18E05E5F%7Dhttp://www.disneylandnews.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=345http://www.disneylandnews.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=345http://www.disneylandnews.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=331http://www.disneylandnews.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=331http://www.laughingplace.com/Lotion-View-622.asphttp://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/ron_schneider/archive/2008/04/09/wally-boag-feted-at-golden-horseshoe-event.aspx40th_castel_time_caspsual.htmlDisneyland_Club_55ers.htmlhttp://www.disneylandalumni.org/DISNEYLAND_ALUMNI_CLUB_.htmlE.P._Ripley_Steam_Engine.htmlEpcot%3A_Popularity_Wins_Over_Education_.htmlCars_-_it_Rocks%21%EF%BF%BC_.htmlhttp://www.apepenpublishing.com/ApePen%20Site/ApePen/news/mckim.htmlSam_McKim_Window_on_Main_Street_Ceremony%EF%BF%BC.htmlSomething_in_the_Childhood_Magic.htmlhttp://www.apepenpublishing.com/ApePen%20Site/ApePen/news/happy_meal.htmlhttp://www.apepenpublishing.com/ApePen%20Site/ApePen/news/happy_meal.htmlFast_Food_Dilemma_at_Disneys_Theme_Parks_.htmlpost_Mike.htmlBIG_FIG.htmlPirate_Booty_and_Princess_Beauty.htmlshapeimage_7_link_0shapeimage_7_link_1shapeimage_7_link_2shapeimage_7_link_3shapeimage_7_link_4shapeimage_7_link_5shapeimage_7_link_6shapeimage_7_link_7shapeimage_7_link_8shapeimage_7_link_9shapeimage_7_link_10shapeimage_7_link_11shapeimage_7_link_12shapeimage_7_link_13shapeimage_7_link_14shapeimage_7_link_15shapeimage_7_link_16shapeimage_7_link_17shapeimage_7_link_18shapeimage_7_link_19shapeimage_7_link_20shapeimage_7_link_21shapeimage_7_link_22shapeimage_7_link_23shapeimage_7_link_24shapeimage_7_link_25shapeimage_7_link_26shapeimage_7_link_27shapeimage_7_link_28shapeimage_7_link_29shapeimage_7_link_30shapeimage_7_link_31shapeimage_7_link_32shapeimage_7_link_33shapeimage_7_link_34shapeimage_7_link_35shapeimage_7_link_36shapeimage_7_link_37shapeimage_7_link_38shapeimage_7_link_39shapeimage_7_link_40shapeimage_7_link_41shapeimage_7_link_42shapeimage_7_link_43shapeimage_7_link_44