This Just In From Kim Jorkis

"Hey Diz Blog - reporting live from Argentina where news is a buzz about a Disney theme park coming to town. Don't know how the rumor began but I'll say anything after one beer in a local pub. Could it be traced to me? I know not. I started a joke ... which made the whole world laughing."

How To Sound Important About A Theme Park Attraction

Let us consider, for example, however briefly, the much maligned supernatural void concept that is at hand. The thing that individuals who oppose this concept often miss which some do not - is the design and layout perspective and the environmental design we think of - is understood, which is that darkness – utter, stark blackness – is not the absence of material, but the presence of all possible material. A badly exposed piece of film doesn’t turn transparent, it turns pure black- pure I tell you - because it has been exposed to the visible light spectrum! Why the ideas on an attraction design are spectacular in that we understand that darkness which is not only the natural state for an attractions to exist in, but that darkness held not nothing, but the potential for all things to be infinitely and positively oblique and nocturnal!

Hey Hey Hey

I will be in Ascutney tomorrow and the blog will only be updated again on Thursday.

By the Wee Willie Winkie way, and to avoid taking you by a complete surpise: I will be departing on Saturday for a 2-week vacation to Schenectady (in the region of NY during 1 week and then Union College for about another week) and will be back on November 1st or 2nd. I am extremely unlikely (and maybe unwilling) to update the blog at any point during those 2 weeks (because I'm lazy). Wah-ah!!

Friday's Post

Here it is Friday and I am posting from the great outdoors. Autumn is in the air and so is my ego. The blog has been updated today with this post. Do not get fooled by the fact that for some reason I have posted today. My thoughts are extreme, eccentric, and foolish. If this makes no sense to you - then I have done my job. It is a tribute to my favorite blogger (whose name must be kept a secret but who is definitely pompous). Man, isn't blogging the best?

now HEAR this

I will be in Naples until Thursday and the blog will only be updated again on Friday - if the weather is cooperative. I've come to post outdoors. Easier with all the trouble and mess y'know. Worth giving it a try, really. (To be honest though, this subject does not excite me much.)

This Just in From Bunny Bubkus

Our old colleague Bunny from Georgia has sent in the following words:

Disney Wold's Polynesian may have new sod within the next 12 months. I spoke with the guy who mows and it's fairly official.

I can sleep easier tonight. Thank you Bunny.

A Day To Remember

Set aside all the opinions, ideas, and myths ... today Epcot turns 25 and the Magic Kingdom 36 years young. Thanks for the memories and here's to many more great years of entertainment.

Podcast transcription

Heard a podcast the other day and it went something like this: (the names have been changed to protect the innocent)
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Hugh: "Now going back to the days of Horizons at Epcot, I understand you have some interesting insight about the retired and sorely missed classic attraction."
Heff: "Why yes I do. Many guests don't realize that the entrance to Horizons went through a multitude of changes over its existence. Namely the colors on the wall. Although described as light green by cast members, it was actually called coral green. Yet it looked blue to visitors who entered the attraction after sundown - due to the artificial lighting system. Years later it was painted more of an alligator green and if you were lucky enough to enter Horizons as the sun was setting, the walls actually looked pink. By golly pink I tell you!"
Hugh: "I have to agree with you Heff, for those of you not familiar with the entrance, it really looked pink."
Heff: "Now Imagineers didn't want pink - so they painted the walls a forest green and believe it or not it always looked green no matter what time of the day it was. This color though insulted true Epcot aficionados and there was a bit of a backlash. It didn't last long as Horizons was eventually knocked down."
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These guys should be on TV!!

What's In a Name

Epcot ... such a simple & small name. Just 5 letters long. Only requires 2 vowels. Just a mere 2 syllables long. Tocpe spelled backward. Yet it means more than this post. It's more complex than the computer you are using right now. It's more powerful than your back-up drive (you do have a back-up drive, don't ya?). It even has a nice ring to it, whether in its original form EPCOT or the more accepted Epcot. Yes, it's quite a name.

this just in from Tim Bubkis:
I once knew a guy who knew the guy whose son swept Main Street on alternate days when the sun was out. you want my autograph?
No Tim ... but maybe you can host a podcast about it.

Rupert Pupkin's FastPass Rumors

This just in from the messy desk of R. Pupkin:
Among the ideas that the Imagineers are allegedly looking into is one where a guest could book an attraction up to a year in advance. This would appeal to the visitor who needs to plan every minute of their Disney trip (such as meals, shows, and bathroom breaks).
Another idea is one that involves a second version of an attraction which would be designated FastPass. All of the popular attractions would have a double that would be for FastPass holders only. For example there would be your standard Haunted Mansion and then a FastPass Haunted Mansion right next to it.
A third idea is one in which the visitor never actually gets on an attraction, they just write books about it.

Spaceship Earth Rumor

My ear is to the street and I have caught wind of the fact that Starbucks is opening inside Spaceship Earth! A cup of Epcot java will only cost you $10.50!

Food Of Walt

With all these posts floating about having to do with Walt's private food recipes ... it got me thinking. I would really like to have his recipe for ice - if anyone has that handy.

Hey Mr Kinkade!

I'm not talking about the Partridge Family's manager Reuben either (although I wish I was). I'm speaking of the "painter of light" (that title cracks me up) who is now working a deal with Disney. (Ugh!) Seems he "created" a Cinderella painting which is getting a big hub-bub of a presentation down at WDW in the near future. Please people don't fall for his combo of religion and con-man-itis! There is nothing heartfelt here - all business. Something else that lately has turned my stomach ... Disney execs open your eyes. He is America's most-collected living artist because he has a good PR man! His company Media Arts Group Inc., has been accused of unfair dealings with owners of Thomas Kinkade Signature Gallery franchises. Right there ... "franchises" should tip you off. In my opinion he takes advantage of people. End of blog.

Word of Warning

stay away from this retailer:

POOLS ETC INC
25 Commercial Dr
Wrentham MA 02093

unscrupulous, dishonest, irresponsible ... those words pretty much sum up there business ethics.

An Opinion

And now Barry Michael's opinion on Davis Clyde's view of Epcot's Spaceship Earth:

Mr Clyde's denial of the sphere's crucial role in Epcot's history is immature, weak, and deliberately cruel! I know for a fact that no one shares his view! Everyone is on my side.

Wow that is something ... especially since I don't know Davis Clyde or his view. But if Barry Michael's feels better about what he wrote ... then this blog served a purpose (which doesn't happen too often). Can't we just go to the parks and all enjoy ourselves?

No Theme Park in Vermont

Disney is not - I repeat not - building a theme park in Acutney, Vermont. I don't know how these rumors start, but it must be put to bed. A Mickey Snow Village is not on the horizons for Imagineers anytime soon.

Today's News

Bears eat man at beer festival

A 23-year old Serb was found dead and half-eaten in the bear cage of Belgrade Zoo at the weekend during the annual beer festival.

The man was found naked, with his clothes lying intact inside the cage. Two adult bears, Masha and Misha, had dragged the body to their feeding corner and reacted angrily when keepers tried to recover it.

"There's a good chance he was drunk or drugged. Only an idiot would jump into the bear cage," zoo director Vuk Bojovic told Reuters.

Local media reported that police found several mobile phones inside the cage, as well as bricks, stones and beer cans!

Ugh!

Someone named Diane emailed me that she doesn't like theme parks & that they "clutter up our natural land."
She can be reached at: dianne3606@in.kpmg.com

News of the Day

This just in from Hilda Loyce -
I have feet!
Thanks for the heads up Hilda. She can be reached at bdf1bqza@interstaterelocation.net