Day 1: Destination D: 75 Years of Feature Animation

Even though I had reserved seating for the day’s events, I know how even in the reserved seating areas the lines begin to form early.  Beside, for a guy who was not a morning person, and in his youth could sleep away a day without a problem, I find myself an early riser.  These days’ sleeping in for me is 7:30; so, my eye popped open 15 minutes before the alarm was set to go off at 6:00 AM.  Slip the little pod into the pot and add water, and after my shower, there’s coffee awaiting me, passable, but not great.  A little coffee and a little morning news, and I remember… there’s a little coffee shop downstairs right next to Goofy’s Kitchen.   Besides, it about time to head down for the always present Disney queue.

Cherry Danish and a large quad shot latte in hand, and I’m in business.  I head off the few 100 feet to the hotel convention center rooms to grab a spot in line.  Anyone who is familiar with the Disney Parks knows about the queue – that’s the line, with the serpentine stanchions and chains, at the beginning of most rides.  The larger D23 events are no different.  In the main seating queue there were at least tape outlines of the queue on the floor, for the Diamond members, only the sign was present to indicate where the line started, and about a dozen other people.  Half an hour earlier and I might have been 5^th or 6^th in line, but I’ll explain more in a minute why it doesn’t make a lot of difference.  As I’m standing in line, I strike up a conversation with an attractive redhead names Regina, a very sweet young woman from New Jersey… and yes, my wife knows!  :P  As Regina and I talk, another Disney friend of my rolls up in a wheelchair, with an interesting story as to why she is in the chair.  I met Diana at the Museum for the first time, and we’ve seen each other at several other Museum and D23 events.  As we are talking she begins to introduce me to Regina, as they had ridden to the resort on the bus.  I think Diana may somehow be connected to everyone. J  About this time my friend Heather from the Museum shows up with her friend, she’d messaged me on Facebook, to save her a place in line.  Heather and I have a little competition going on to see who can be first in line for Museum events, and I think to this point she still has the edge on me in wins.  Okay, back to my line explanation.   Unless you can manage to be first in line at any of these events, no matter where you might start out in the line, you going to find yourself further back.  Spot saving is the normal, I was even saving a couple of spots, so even though I started out about 12^th, by the time they opened the doors we were probably about 30 spots back.  But, since we had reserved seating up front, I was too worried about where we were in line.  Just before the doors opened, Diana left us to head up front.  They were letting in, or in Disney parlance, loading wheelchairs and ECVs first.  Regardless of our place in line Heather, being short and stealthy, managed to get us four seats, at this point Regina had be adopted into our group, in the second row center aisle.  Only drawback, poor Heather got stuck behind a rather large person in an ECV and couldn’t see anything.  I offered to change places with her, but she ask a D23 person who told her to just move her seat out into the aisle a little.  All was good.

After a Welcome from D23’s leader, Steven Clark, a little dance by some D23 fans and volunteers, and a welcome message from John Lassiter, himself… just a bit of a disappointment as the crowd was hoping for a live appearance, and treated to one on video, the first program of the day – WALT AND THE FIRST GOLDEN AGE OF DISNEY ANIMATION.  Current Walt Disney Archives Director, Becky Cline, hosted Disney Legend, and famed animation layout artist - Burny Mattinson, film producer – Joe Hale, and documentary director – Ted Thomas.  Ted is also the son of one of Walt’s “Nine Old Men” Frank Thomas.  The first golden age of Disney animation started, here’s a surprise, 75 years ago with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.  The studio’s land and many of the building today, are a direct result of the amazing success of Snow White.  We all know that Walt was told that no audience would sit through a ninety minute cartoon.  Thankfully, like so many of his other endeavors, Walt chose to ignore his critics, and the movie went on to earn almost 8 million dollars in its first theatrical run, and has earned a $185 million domestically since.  Over the hour we heard wonderful and funny stories about working with Walt’s “Nine Old Men.”  For those who don’t know, Walt’s “Nine Old Men” were a group of his original animators.  They were Les Clark, Marc Davis, Milt Kahl, Ward Kimball, Eric Larson, John Lounsbery, Wolfgang “Woolie” Reitherman, Frank Thomas, and Ollie Johnson.  From Snow White on, these are the men that helped to bring Walt’s storytelling visions to the screen, and who he looked to, to mentor his next generation of artists, animators, and story men.

For our next session – ROY E. DISNEY AND THE SECOND GOLDEN AGE OF DISNEY ANIMATION – Noted Disney Historian, Tim O’Day hosted a panel composed of Roy E’s son and former Imagineer Roy Patrick Disney Producer, Don Hahn, writers, directors, and producers John Musker and Ron Clements, and Disney creative director Dave Bossert.  Anyone, who’s read the earliest entries of my blog, knows that it was really Roy E. Disney who initially inspired this blog.  During the tumultuous history of Disney in the 80s, animation at the Studio came close to being lost.  After a management change in 1984, Roy volunteered to take on leadership of the animation group at Disney rather than seeing it closed down.  Had that happened, there are, as of this coming November, 26 animated features which Disney would not have brought to us, most notably among them, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King.  As part of this little celebration for Roy’s bringing of the second golden age to Disney’s animation group, Roy Pat was presented with a Mouscar, a posthumous award for his father’s many contributions to the company.  You can expect to hear more about Roy E. and the 80s and 90s as I return to my history pieces in the future.  But, suffice to say, Roy E. Disney is a great figure in Disney History.

In the first afternoon session we got a look INSIDE WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS TODAY, where Disney Animator Darrin Butters gave us a look at some coming attractions.  Any of you who attended the D23 Expo last summer knows about Wreck-It Ralph, coming to a theater near you in November, the story of a video game bad guy, exploring his softer side.  We were treated to a couple of first looks at this movie, and I must say I am looking forward to it.  We were also treated to most initial development of a new Disney Animated Feature coming to the screen in 2013.  Frozen, a story based on Hans Christian Andersen’s tale of The Snow Queen.  First looks are good, and I think the anticipation will built.  Also shown were a couple of new shorts.  First, Tangled Ever After, and cute little short based on… you guessed it… Tangled, and the marriage of Rapunzel and Flynn… err… Eugene.  Next, Paperman and this was the first public showing of this new short.  If I heard correctly this new short will play with Wreck-It Ralph when it premiers in November.  I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.  Next up, was THE GREATEST DISNEY ANIMATION YOU NEVER SAW, hosted by Don Hahn and Dave Bossert.  For the next hour or so, we were shown various animated clips and commercials for the Disney video vault.  They were cute and enjoyable but nothing I would think is that spectacular.  Finally for the last session before the dinner break – ANIMATING THE DISNEY PARKS, with Becky Cline and Tim O’Day hosting famed Imagineer and SVP of Creative Development, Tony Baxter;  Imagineering VP of Creative Development, Tom Morris; and former Imagineer and noted designer Eddie Sotto.  Simply put, I don’t think many people know or appreciate how Walt Disney influenced Imagineers like Herb Ryman, John Hench, Claude Coats, or Marc Davis, who went on to influence Imagineers like Tony, Tom, or Eddie, who have gone on to influence current and future Imagineers.  Or, just what disciplines the term imagineer encompasses; artist, engineer, architect, designer, builder, and on and on, I’m sure I’ve missed many, sorry.  Walt never really wanted the guests to see the backstage, as he felt it would spoil the illusion.  To this fan and guest, it only serves to enhance the experience knowing the efforts and talents that go into creating the magic.

On to the evening dinner break, but, before that…  Those of us with the Diamond level ticket got a special meet and greet session.  I bolded and italicized special because it really wasn’t that special.  Not that I don’t appreciate hanging out with Disney luminaries, but the only people in the room that I hadn’t met before were Dave Bossert, and  Bill Rogers – the Voice of Disneyland – which was cool!  Yup, all those special announcements you hear in the park, that’s Bill.  He was at Destination D making all the announcements for the event too.  And, like most all Disney people, he’s a really nice guy.  But, Don Hahn, Steven Clark, and Dave Smith, I’ve met before at other events.  One plus, I was able to get my copy of Dave’s new book – Disney Trivia from the Vault – signed…  Thanks Dave!
After dinner, it time for big event of the evening.  For anyone who was at the last D23 Expo, you’ll remember probably the hardest event to get into.  As soon as the audience for the preceding session entered the room, the queue began to fill for the next, which was not schedule to happen until about 8:00 PM, it was now about 3:00 PM.  Before the hour was out, the queue was at capacity of the room.   Dick Van Dyke and The Vantastix.  Well, we had them there at Destination D to perform for us, and no 5 hours standing in a line to get in.  So at 8:00 PM we enjoyed a barbershop medley of music from Dick Van Dyke, Mike Mendyke, Bryan Chadima, and Eric Bradley, and being in the front row… well actually second row, right behind Marge Champion and David Frankham… made the event that much more special.  At 86, I don’t think Dick has missed a step, and even if he has, the guys he’s singing with are so good they cover it and no one really notices.  As fun as the day was, this was one of the best hours of the day.

The final event of the day was the screening of WALT & EL GRUPO – THE DIRECTORS CUT, with a prologue by director Ted Thomas (you might remember him from earlier – Frank Thomas’ son) and producer Kuniko Okubo.  Even though I have seen this documentary at the Museum, and have the DVD in my collection, I stay with a new friend who hadn’t seen it yet.  Beside, the director’s cut has an additional 20 minutes in it, and I want to see if I could identify them…  I couldn’t.

By now, it’s 11:30 PM and I tired, so it’s off to bed, to get a good night’s sleep to prepared for another busy day tomorrow.

Next, Destination D – Day 2. 

Your comments or questions are always welcome.  If you have a correction or something you think I should look at in my research, please feel free to contact me at mr.grumpyguy@gmail.com

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Prologue: Destination D: 75 Years of Feature Animation

On August 11 and 12, The Walt Disney Company and D23 celebrated 75 years of Feature Animation with their 2^nd Destination D at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim.

On Friday August 10^th, after dropping my lovely wife off at work and quick stop to top off the gas tank, (No, you don’t have to worry; Pam got picked up from work Friday evening by our youngest.  J)  With a full tank and the trays loaded with a Book on CD in place, I hit the freeway and started motoring south.  About 8 hours later, after hitting a couple of choke points along the route, and the requisite traffic jams inherent to the L.A. driving experience, I was pulling up in front of the Disneyland Hotel.  A half hour later, after checking into the hotel and a very nice room overlooking Downtown Disney, I was in the check-in line for Destination D.  One of these days I will learn to read all the signs behind the check-in desk.  After giving with the gal in line for A-to whatever my name and not finding it on the list, she ask if I was a Diamond level guest?  With my yes, she point me the nice young lady (Karen) sitting in front of a sign with a great big diamond on it.  Doh!!!  Checked in for the next day’s event, and sufficiently merchandised, it was off to the room to drop off my booty and on to DCA.

For those of you who may not know, Disney California Adventure has been undergoing a major retrofit for the last couple of years.  I won’t go into my deeper thoughts on the subject, but, suffice to say that, to me, DCA has never really felt that much like a Disney Park.  Yeah, there were a few things in there that I liked, but we never spent a lot of time in that park.  Well, this is the first trip ever, mostly because of the short time I was there and my commitments elsewhere, which I actually did not make it into Disneyland.  A real bummer, but, I will survive; I wanted to see the new additions to DCA, and my beloved Corn Dog Castle was back in operations.  Don’t get me wrong, I love the Red Wagon at Disneyland too, but, a stop at the Corn Dog Castle has been a tradition since DCA opened.  It was one of the things that drew us to DCA in the early day.  So, after renewing my annual pass at the ticket booth, it was off to the DCA turnstile.

Approaching the entrance to DCA, you’ll immediately notice the absence of the C*A*L*I*F*O*R*N*I*A letters.  Next, one see the new turnstiles which have a similar design to those of Disney Hollywood Studio in Florida, and a more 30’s feel to them.  Also now missing is the Golden Gate Bridge which I’d always felt looked a little out of place.  As I walked into the park, I was fortunate to have one the new Red Car Trolleys stopped at the end of its run near the gates adding to the ambience of walking onto a 1930’s styled Los Angeles street, with its stucco storefronts.  As I came around the corner, gone was Sunshine Plaza with its brass disaster of a sun, replaced by a beautiful recreation of the Carthay Circle Theater – home to Walt Disney’s 1937 world premier of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.  This rendition of the Theater houses a new Disney Dining experience called Club 1901 on the second floor with a Lounge on the first.  On what is now know as Buena Vista Street, in front of the entrance to the Hollywood Backlot, sits the newest sculptural addition to the Parks, the Storytellers statue.  This is another statue of the Walt and Mickey, with Walt appearing to the dress in an attire of his 1920’s arrival to Los Angeles and Hollywood.  But, unlike the Partners Statue, raised and fenced in, in the hub over at Disneyland, the Storytellers Statue is at ground level and accessible for guests to have their pictures taken with it.  All in all, my impressions of Buena Vista Street are wonderful, with the shops along the street well themed to that of the 1930’s.  A future trip will be need to give review to the new restaurant in the Carthay Circle Theater, but, the reviews I have read are very good and give my experiences with Disney’s other fine dining offering, I would expect nothing less than excellence in 1901.  Since it was still well before dusk, and I was hungry, I bypassed Cars Land and headed off to the Corn Dog Castle to satisfy that craving that had be building for the entire drive down.  I’ve had corndogs at many places around the country and we have a Dog On A Stix here locally, but, nothing is quite the same as a Disneyland corndog – dark, crunchy, and about 10 inches in length.  Fresh and hot, dipped in mustard, it is pure nirvana.

Corn dog fix satisfied and dusk rapidly approaching, it was off to Cars Land.  Standing at the entrance, I was immediately reminded of the many trips we took from San Jose to Camarillo when I was a kid.  How many of you remember that the 101 we know today was but a future notion.  The highway ran through every little town between here and Los Angeles – Morgan Hill, Gilroy, Salinas, King City… billboards advertising all the great little roadside attractions and cafes along the route.  But, looking down this Main Street, I was immediately transport into the Radiator Springs of Cars.  There’s Fillmore’s and Sarge’s, Flo’s and Luigi’s, and at the end of the street, the Cadillac Range looms in the distance… the tailfins of several years of 50’s caddies jutting out.  And then as the darkness of night began to envelop us, what I was really there the experience this evening.  The speakers came alive with “Live Would Be A Dream”, and slowly as the music played the lights and neon of Radiator Springs sprung to life from one attraction to the next.  Again, I remembered with great fondness, those many trips south, most often in the evening hours, and all the neon signs as we transited one small town to the next.  Remembering the movie and being a child how came of age in the 60’s, I had been anxiously awaiting this moment since I first learned of the building of Cars Land – I was not disappointed.  After the 400+ miles on the road, and the fatigue that often accompanies elation, it was time to turn in and prepare for the early morning events of Destination D.  Arriving back at my room, I was in time for the nightly fireworks display at Disneyland.  With the music piped into the room through the TV and a room on the 8^th floor of the Disneyland Hotel Adventure Tower – Downtown Disney side, the only place better to watch the fireworks would be in front of Sleepy Beauty’s Castle.  It was an interesting perspective to watch the show from a side angle.  If you’ve experienced the fireworks in front of the Castle, or even from the Esplanade between the parks, you would probably think that the colorful bursts in the sky were coming from directly behind the castle.  Not So… the smaller bursts do launch from the castle, but the large starbursts come from a backstage building behind ToonTown. Just an interesting side note.

So, Cars Land, done… corn dog, done… fireworks, done… time to head off to Neverland and a nights rest for a busy day to come.  One last surprise for the evening, the lights on the nightstands have two switches, one for the light and the other...  well, flip the switch and you hear “When You Wish Upon a Star,” I could be wrong on the music but, as you listen to the music, especially if the other lights are out, you notice the headboard begin to light up with fiber optic firework bursts.  There’s that special Disney touch, and a really wonderful way to slip off to Neverland for the evening.  Nighty Night Tink.

Next, Day 1 of Destination D…

Your comments or questions are always welcome.  If you have a correction or something you think I should look at in my research, please feel free to contact me at mr.grumpyguy@gmail.com

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Yes – Yet Another Walt Disney Studio Tour

Weekend before last was a busy one.  First, nothing would have it, but we had to see Brave on Friday night’s opening.  Excellent movie, but have we come to expect anything less from PIXAR?  You can see my review posted just before this one, but, it’s a great movie and I’m looking forward to seeing it again… and again… and again…  J

Saturday was a bit less busy than originally planned, as my buddy Libby let me off the hook for a ride to SJO early in the morning, but, the wife and I spent the afternoon at the Walt Disney Family Museum, listening to Author and former manager of the Walt Disney Archives Robert Tieman talk about “Selling Walt: The Business (and Fun) of Movie Promotion.”  We spent the hour and a half talking about what the Studio did to help theater owners promote Disney movies coming to their establishments.  I’ll try to having another piece on this after I get a chance to go over my notes.

Finally the weekend’s main event was on Sunday.  A third trip to the Walt Disney Studio in Burbank for a tour of the Studio, this time with my youngest daughter.  Someone asked me, “don’t you get bored, see the same stuff?”  Simple answer, NO!!!  It kind of the same with the Walt Disney Family Museum; no matter how many times I visit, I always manage to learn something new each time.  This is helped on the Studio tour by the fact that in three visits, We’ve had three different tour guides.  While there is a defined tour guideline for what we get to see, there is no set script.  So, each guide can add their own special stories that they relate to the Studio and Walt. 

More on the tour in a moment, but first, back to beginning…  Since this was a one day trip, departure time set for 5:00 AM.  Tee must have been anxious because we were on the road at 4:58, and the trip progressed nicely until we were about an hour and a half into it.  For some reason I tapped the right front pocket of my jean, and gasped…  DAMN!!!  Actually, I think my word choice might have been and little different, but…  Tee’s eyes slammed open with a WHAT???  I had remembered everything for the trip except one critical component… one of my wallets, the one that has all my credit cards and my D23 membership card in it.  No credit cards, no gas…  No D23 card, no entrance to the Studio tour.  As we turn back north, thinking the trip and event may well be over, Tee calls her Mom to see if she can meet us about have way back with said wallet?  Fortunately, was up to the task, and hopped into the other vehicle with our oldest as navigator, and headed south, as we were headed back north.  We met up in Gilroy, I got my wallet and a quick Mickey D’s breakfast, we exchanged goodbyes and thanks, and were headed back south again…  hoping that I could make up enough time not to miss the tour.  Again, fortunate with Pam bringing me my wallet, we didn’t lose the full hour and a half’s driving time.  I pedaled it a little harder than I normally would have, and the quick breakfast stop in Gilroy, so, just a single gas stop in Buellton (of Anderson’s Split Pea fame), and we made Burbank with a half and hour to spare…  cutting it close, by my travel standards.  A quick stop to let Tee change clothes, a quick tour around the studio lot, and we were driving into the Buena Vista Gate at the Walt Disney Studios at the prescribed no more than 30 minutes before our scheduled tours.  WHEW!!!  J

As we are checking in for the tour - D23 card required – in front of the Hyperion Bungalow, who should come around the corner but Jeffrey Epstein.  I have had the pleasure of meeting Jeff on several occasions, including most recently at the Walt Disney Family Museum’s presentation of the D23 Fanniversary.  Jeff is one of those many truly friendly Disney Cast-members who is just a joy to be around.  Well, guess who turned out to be the guide for our 1:30 tour, none other than Jeffrey.  J  While waiting for our tour to start, Tee and I got a chance to look through the D23 Merchandise Store in one of the rooms of the Hyperion Bungalow, where I pick up a few items, and then a quick troll through the Employee’s store across the walkway.  Jeffrey gathered his tourists together at the prescribed time, and ushered us to shady spot – it was, of course, and normal warm and sunny afternoon in Burbank.   From our nicely shaded location in front of the Employee Store, Jeffrey began to explain some of the sites around us:

·         The Hyperion Bungalow behind us, one of several buildings that were moved from them original Hyperion Avenue studio in the Silver Lake district.  The bungalow now has two rooms, fittingly called the Hyperion and Silver Lake rooms, and is used for meetings, and as the check-in point for the tours.

·         Next to us was the Employee Store, which had been redone since my last visit, and the Employee credit union behind it.

Next, a look across the street was the Mickey Mouse topiary.  The Mickey topiary was a anniversary gift to the Studio from Walt Disney World, and Michael Eisner declared that the Walt Disney Studio should become the West Coast capital for topiaries.  Until…  The plant started to die and the studio landscaping staff had to spend a bundle of cash to develop an internal watering system so this Mickey could flourish.  Today, the Mickey topiary is the singular nod on the Studio lot to what seems so natural in Florida.  A few yards to the right of the topiary stands one of two flagpoles from the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley, where Walt Disney was the Chairman of Pageantry and responsible of Opening and Closing ceremonies.  This first flagpole was acquired by Walt after the games, its sister flagpole, a few more yard down, was donated by another company so that the Studio could have the pair.  Behind the topiary and the flagpoles sit the Studio Commissary.  In 1940, when the studio first opened, there weren’t a lot of eatery options in the area, so Walt made sure that his people were taken care of for meals with the commissary.  To this day, the commissary still serves Walt’s favorite meal… Chili.  I couple of years ago, I was fortunate to attend an event at the Studio which included dinner at the commissary.  I had the chili, and it was – while not my Texas Red – a very good bowl of chili.  Actually, if you want the recipe, it’s on the D23 website – Walt’s Own Chili recipe.

Now we move on down the street to the corner of Mickey Avenue and Dopey Drive, or have we?  If you have seen “The Reluctant Dragon,” then you know the street sign right next to the old Animation Building.  If not and you are a Disney fan, you’ve probably seen a picture or two of the street sign for Mickey Avenue and Dopey Drive.  This sign was installed as a prop for the 1941 short film “The Reluctant Dragon,” where Robert Benchley (yes, that is Peter Benchley’s… of JAWS fame… father) dashes around the studio in search of Walt Disney to pitch him a story.  As travels the Disney lot, we learn different aspects of the animation process.  An interesting note about the street sign… if you follow the sign to the several department, you’ll find yourself even more lost… as they point the wrong direction.  Right next to the street sign is a fire hydrant with a sign painted on the curb “Pluto’s Corner.”  In the cement next to the hydrant are three distinct paw prints… wonder where that fourth paw is???  J

Standing on the steps of the Animation Building, we look across the walkway to the studio theater.  This theater has been used over the years as a screening theater and a sound mixing studio for putting the finishing touches on films.  A few years ago, the company finished a complete retrofit and remodel to the theater.  Today, it is used to screen new film for employees and to hold special screening for the public.  I had the good fortune to event a couple of those special screenings, and the inside is as beautiful as the outside.  The walkway outside was where they once place the cement encased handprints of recent inducted Disney Legends, much like they do outside of Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood.  Years ago it was discovered that these cement tributes were slowly degrading with all the foot traffic, so the Archive team preserved them, move them to the Archive and install replicas in the new Legends’ Plaza.  The Plaza was close for this a special “Brave” reception, so we didn’t get to go in.  Moving on, we entered the Animation Building, and tour the first floor main hallway, looking at many examples of the animation and storytelling process.  The Animation Building was specifically built for Walt’s Animators.  It is a three story building running north and south, with eight wings, four on either side east and west.  When Walt was build this new studio after the success of ‘Snow White’, he ask is artists what the needed most… the clear answer was LIGHT!!!  With the eight wings, the Animation Building has lots of light.  On the third floor in the north east corner is where Walt’s offices were located.  In that wing Walt had his formal and working offices, and a reception area.  On second floor, one wing south was where Roy had his offices.  The running joke for Walt was that, “this was so that he could look down on Roy and keep and eye on him, but Roy couldn’t look up and see what he was doing.”  Unfortunately, the D23 Studio tours don’t make a trip to the 2^nd or 3^rd floors, but, if you keep your eyes open, there are a few events that do.  J

Moving on to Disney’s first utilidor… Utilidor, you say…  What the heck is a Utilidor?  Well, it is a utility corridor, and how many of you know that there is a whole subterranean world under Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom?  Well, actually it isn’t subterranean, because of Florida’s high water table; Walt Disney World is really built one story above sea level, with much of the Parks unseen operations conducted in the first floor utilidors.  I’ve been told that there are a couple of small utilidors at Disneyland, but nothing like the complex at Walt Disney World.  Maybe I’ll do an essay on the Magic Kingdom Utilidors and why they came to be, but, the Walt Disney Studios had the first Utilidor.  The Animation Building has a basement that was used primarily for storage, with a utilidor that accesses the Ink and Paint building next door.  While this passage has been used as a prop in several Disney productions (think Alias for one), it had a real function meant for its design.  This was the path that animators’ cells took in route to be painted and finished, before moving on to the Camera department, keep the cells protected from potential weather or dust from being outdoors.

After and quick tour through the Short building, the third and final building (well in reality, its two buildings that were combined into one on the new lot) moved over from the from the Hyperion lot, we made our way through the sound stages.  Not really much to say are or seeing but, the outside of these huge buildings where much of the Disney magic is produced.  During the development of Disneyland, several of these stages were used to build mock-ups.  One interesting note for fans of Mary Poppins, all of the live actions scenes for the movie were done on a sound stage, nothing was done outdoors or on location.  Out of the sound stages as walk by the iconic water tower (built with 6 legs, instead 4 or 5, because it was more esthetically appealing to Walt’s Brother Roy), we emerged onto what was once the studio’s backlot… the Zorro parking structure, over by the Riverside Gate, stands where the sets for the Zorro T.V. show once stood, along with other western sets.  As we walk along the street, we see the only remaining backlot structures at the Studio today, a row of store fronts. Within a short walk we come upon the backside of water (sorry for the Disneyland reference) err… of the Ink & Paint, and Camera Departments.  The most important building here was the machine shop where Roger Broggie took on an interesting apprentice… his boss, Walt Disney.  It was in this machine shop that many of Walt’s innovation were brought to life, and where Walt with Roger’s help created the Carolwood Pacific Railroad, a miniature train which he operated around his Holmby Hills home in the earlier 50s.

Now for one of the special treats of these tours, a trip to the Main Office of the Walt Disney Archive, and some face time with the one and only Dave Smith.  As we were told on a couple of occasions during the tour, Roy O. asked Dave to create the Archive in 1970.  One of Dave’s first tasks was to catalog and document Walt’s offices in the Animation building which had been shuddered since his death in 1966.  An exhibit of Walt’s Office has been on display at One Man's Dream - Walt's Office in Disney Hollywood Studio at Walt Disney World.  Also as I understand it, Walt’s formal office has been recreated for the Treasures of the Walt Disney Archive exhibit which opens July 6 at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley.  Well, we got to spend about a half an hour with Dave, as he showed us some of the artifacts he has discovered over the last forty years.  Items such as, the ticket and parking pass for the Disneyland opening day media event, the first year ticket book for the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, and one of Walt Disney many Oscars.  I’ve seen some of the exhibits from the Archive at events like the D23 Expo, but, there is nothing like being in the same room listening to the man who started the Archive.

From the Archive, we moved past the Legends Plaza (no visit there today) to the Rotunda of the Team Disney building that sits on the corner of the lot at Buena Vista Street and Alameda Avenue, and houses Disney’s executive management team.  In the rotunda lobby are two large tiled pictures of the company founders… Walt and Roy.  As we leave the rotunda, we pass by the Roy Oliver Disney Building.  Built the 80s, on our last visit to the Studio, this building was an ivy covered box which looked a little out of place between the new Team Disney and the old Animation Buildings.  On this trip, the building has been completely remodeled and refurbished.  Gone is the ivy, and the old ugly cross beam support structure has been pleasantly disguised by clean concrete, smoked glass windows, and a lattice of natural woods covering the lower half of each floor.  This building now looks like it belong on the lot, and is a much more fitting tribute to the man it is named after.  And a few minutes later, we are back at the Hyperion Bungalow, and with some sadness, an end to our tour.  A hearty thank you to Jeffrey, and a quick trip into the Employees’ Store, and we were on our way home with our trinkets and memories.

As it turns out, the trip home turned out to be as eventful as our travels down.  First, yours truly flubbed again and took the wrong freeway exit and to turn around.  Wound up heading back to the Studio.  After getting my direction squared away, and heading north, we made our way to Camarillo and a stop for fuel, for both auto and human. Finished with dinner, we were again headed north, only to be slowed to a crawl a few miles north of Santa Barbara.  It took us 2 hours to make it three miles, because (as I discovered later) a drunk took out another vehicle and completely blocked both lanes northbound.  After getting passed the accident, Tee and I decided the meal stop was a good decision, had we decided to just drive through, we’d have been at that spot at right about the time the accident happened and could have been involved, instead of gripping about the slow crawl, and arriving home after 12:30 AM

All and all, another great trip with one of my girls, but, stay tuned... I have a run south planned for August and event at Disneyland.  J

Your comments or questions are always welcome.  If you have a correction or something you think I should look at in my research, please feel free to contact me at mr.grumpyguy@gmail.com

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