Q : Years ago, in the 1990s when I had Disney videos, before the films started there were adverts for Walt Disney World and a clip showing people wearing 3D-type glasses on a ride watching something, with certain Disney characters jumping out of the screen. I have searched high and low for this advert on YouTube. I know cast members, dressed as Winnie the Pooh and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, were in it at Magic Kingdom. But I can’t find it! What was the attraction called?
Louise, Orlando, Florida
A: The only thing I can think of is in 2003, there were television advertisements for Mickey’s PhilharMagic which featured Disney characters, including Aladdin and Jasmine, “jumping off” the screen. The Snow White and Pooh characters were not included.
Q : I have heard there is a tradition at the Disney parks, when one ride is replaced with another, the Imagineers save something from the former ride somewhere in the new ride. This may not always be easily visible to guests. I have seen the Melvin, Buff, and Max from the Country Bears in the Winnie the Pooh ride in Disneyland. How did this get started, and what is the most unusual item saved from one ride to the next? Is there any source, similar to Hidden Mickey books, that shares where these can be found?
Leslie, Newbury Park, California
A: While this may not be an official tradition, some designers have wanted to honor the former attractions somewhere in the new ones. Besides the ones you cited, others at Disneyland have included (1) parts of the town of Rainbow Ridge from the Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland reused at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad; (2) the Mighty Microscope from Adventure Thru Inner Space in the Star Tours pre-show film; (3) ride vehicles from past Tomorrowland attractions in the pre-show for Rocket Rods; (4) Autopia added a car from Midget Autopia along the track; and (5) the Gullywhumper of Mark Fink Keel Boats and a mine train from Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland were added as props along the Rivers of America. Walt Disney World has a number of attraction tributes also.
Q : Every time I go to Walt Disney World, I always enjoy the many numerous ride soundtracks. However, with rides and attractions like Splash Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Country Bear Jamboree, and Pirates of the Caribbean, I have never been able to find copies of the songs on these rides. Has Disney ever released the soundtracks to said rides on a CD or in a digital format?
Ben, Atlanta, Georgia
A: Songs or medleys from all of these attractions are included in the latest Walt Disney World Official Album from 2007: Four Parks, One World—The Official Album of Walt Disney World. On the Musical History of Disneyland six-CD set (2005), complete ride-through soundtracks for Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Country Bear Jamboree, and Disneyland’s version of Splash Mountain are included. A digital format of the original Country Bear Jamboree record album is available for download on iTunes. The complete ride-through for the Haunted Mansion is also included in the 2009 CD release, The Haunted Mansion, from Walt Disney Records (also available on iTunes). Likewise, the parks have recently sold a Pirates of the Caribbean theme park album, which has a soundtrack (2006) (also on iTunes).
Q : I recently came across the shirt in the pictures linked to below. I’m told it is a vintage 1980s cast member costume used in Epcot. Can you tell me any more details about it? I’m particularly interested in what attraction(s) or area(s) of the park it was used in and a more specific time frame of when it was in service.
Anonymous
A: The costume shirt you have from Epcot was one formerly used for cast members who worked in Future World Outdoor Foods (i.e. popcorn carts, etc.). According to Janice Jones, Costuming Manager at Walt Disney World, cast members nicknamed the costume “Barney,” after the purple dinosaur on television, because of its color. (Barney did not appear on television nationally until 1992.)
Q : I’ve been a fan of Figment from Journey into Imagination since I first saw him in 1984 when I was a six-year-old making my first visit to Walt Disney World. Figment is my very favorite Disney character! Are there any contractual prohibitions, perhaps going back to the previous sponsorship agreements, or other limitations that practically prevent Figment from being used in a more public way? Also, could you please discuss the history of Figment’s non-Epcot appearances?
Brock, Dartmouth, Massachusetts
A: Figment is an official Disney character; outside of the attractions at Epcot, he starred as an animated character in several films produced by Disney Educational Productions. There are no limitations to his future use.