Yet Another Art Of Animation Story (Well, "Story" Is a Stretch!)

Author's Note/Warning:  I don't know why, but considering how irritated I get with Disney blogs and podcasts that seem to actually hate everything new Disney does, this post gets a little snarky . . . 

I swear I'm not just trying to be a contrarian (it's a word!)  I think Disney's Art of Animation Resort looks really, really cool.
And for over a year the buzz among WDW fans has been off the charts for this place to open.  Even as I stood on the veranda (okay, that's definitely a stretch) at Pop Century this past fall and surveyed the progress, I too was awed. 
But the more I see, the less I care.  

I just don't have an overwhelming desire to stay there.  Originally I was excited for the Cars section as my son dreams of staying in Radiator Springs.  Until I saw how ugly the rooms are.  I also don't understand why it's so overwhelmingly family suites.  Is it still falling into the budgets of bigger families?  I don't see enough extra to justify a price increase.  Although I'll be the first to say I should reserve judgement til I get down and take a tour. 

At this point, the thing I'm most excited about with regard to AoA opening is how much faster I'll be able to get checked in at Pop! 
I can see myself now, coming out of my preferred room at Pop Century, waiving across the water to all those crowds at AoA while I casually stroll down to get my coffee at Everything Pop!
Waiting in what I hope to be greatly reduced lines to board a bus outside my favorite Value resort while over on the other side of Hourglass Lake, the masses of sun-screened, overly-dressed, lanyard wearing fans desperate to be among the first to say they stayed at the latest & greatest elbow each other to crowd onto the next MK shuttle. 

I take it back, I'm really excited for Art of Animation!  Bring it on, . . . and send everybody over there.  I'll be at Petals bar sipping a Pina CoLava poolside in a bit more peace & quiet.  And I'll have a few more bucks in my pocket. 

All this said, when I do get down next I will take a tour through the grounds.  If Disney wants to open one of the doors and let me nose around and I fall in love with what I see, I'll happily erase this diatribe and write a glowing review.  (Heck, they do a lot more for some nasty bloggers/podcasters I've listened.)

I'm see it is a cool Value resort with amazing theme & design!  I just feel like we already have a really nice Value resort, and I stay there.  It's called Pop Century.  It's like opening a Starbucks, and then opening another Starbucks across the street. 
"Well there's different artwork of coffee beans on the walls and slightly bigger tables to sit at!"
How long do you sit at a Starbucks anyway (asks the guy who spends hours at one every Sunday writing?) 
Just the same, how long do you sit in your hotel room at Walt Disney World?

This is purely personal opinion of course (which people forget is what blogging is anyway.)  I know so many are beyond excited to stay there.  It's possible I'll join them someday.  But from my far-off observation point, it's not making me want to click the "reserve" button just yet.  That's all.  

But to keep it fair & balanced, here's the latest Art of Animation video, courtesy of Walt Disney World . . .

P.S. To borrow from LMFAO . . .Sorry for "Snarky" Bloggin'!

Everything Orange Is New Again!

At Disney, no good idea ever really dies. And sometimes, they're resurrected.
Take for example the Little Orange Bird. Who? What, you don't remember the Little Orange Bird in the Sunshine Tree?


Well you're probably not alone, especially if you're under the age of 35 or so.

Back in the late 60's the Florida Citrus Commission approached Disney about creating some from of attraction & character to promote orange juice. As Florida was to be Disney's latest and greatest home, they agreed to help promote the state's greatest export.
And so hatched the oddly cute and eerily silent character seen above, the Orange Bird. And at the Sunshine Tree Terrace in Adventureland, guests of Walt Disney World could sip fresh Florida orange juice from plastic orange shaped bottles (which also doubled as bath and pool toys. Trust me, I know.) Kids could even meet and pose for pictures with the Orange Bird.


Sadly, since the Orange Bird didn't speak, another voice was hired to tell his story in song. Enter Anita Bryant. Former beauty queen and future hate-monger who sang and recorded The Orange Bird theme song, penned by the great Sherman Brothers.
My first exposure to Ms. Bryant was a Jimmy Buffett song from the 70's called "Manana" and the line "And I hope Anita Bryant never ever does one of my songs!" I didn't get it until I got a little older.
Without giving her too much virtual ink, Bryant became the poster girl for an incendiary campaign against the gay community (a community with a strong presence in Florida . . . whoops) that soon caused serious a backlash & lots of bad publicity.
Not even the Disney Company or that poor defenseless little fruit-headed bird were safe from the shrapnel.

Disney and the Citrus Commission parted ways and little by little, the little Orange Bird went the way of the Dodo.

But now some 40 years later, after enough orange juice . . . err, water has passed under the bridge (to Adventureland) the little guy (or girl . . . how do you tell anyway) is back!!!
The Orange Bird's home in Adventureland, The Sunshine Tree Terrace has been polished up and reopened for business. And the Little Orange Bird is back at his perch!

I only even bring it up to share with you a video posted by my pal, Walt Disney World guru, Lou Mongello. My eyes were immediately drawn past the speakers on stage to the detail of the Sunshine Tree Terrace. As with all thing Disney, you can already see every little detail, all the painstaking care put into what is essentially a snack bar. It's gorgeous. It's what makes them the best. It makes me want to hop a plane just for some fresh OJ (and of course a round plastic Orange Bird sippy-bottle!)

Obviously the Orange Bird's phoenix-like rise from the ashes this isn't purely a nostalgic one. With his return comes a new line of exclusive merchandise and collectibles for sale at Walt Disney World. And I openly admit, I want most of it!

At any rate, please check out Lou Mongello's video. The audio is a tad rough in the opening but it clears up quickly: