Hello Dear Readers! For this week’s Pressing Matters it’s getting close to
Christmas so I thought a couple of shopping suggestions would be in order. Then,
get ready to tap your toes, strut your stuff, and dance your heart out, because
I’m gonna take you down the bayou when we explore The Princess And The Frog;
should you see it? Read on and I’ll fill you in.
Last September when D23 held its Expo, I mentioned there would be a display
of a new Nautilus soon to be available for collectors. Did you get the chance to
check out the Nautilus at the Expo? A bunch of you wrote me to say you were
interested in adding this new version of Captain Nemo’s ship to your
collections, but at the time I didn’t have a definitive answer as to when you
could place your order. Well, I do now.
Starting today eFX, the company manufacturing the Nautilus, is taking
pre-orders. At $1799.00, it’s pricey (orders placed before December 31st pay a
reduced price of $1699.00), but it’s highly detailed and pretty large (four-feet
long). Here's what you need to know from the press release:
Disney fans will soon be able to add an element of epic adventure to
their collections: On Thursday, December 10, eFX Inc. begins accepting
orders for its four-foot replica of Capt. Nemo’s Nautilus, inspired by
Disney’s 1954 live-action version of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
Shipping is anticipated to take place in spring 2010 for the Nautilus,
the first of three incredible replicas offered in eFX’s new Disney line. The
Nautilus is priced at $1,799, and payments can be made in four installments.
All orders for the Nautilus placed prior to December 31, 2009, will receive
a special early pre-order price of $1,699. Moreover, orders placed before
that date will also receive a special certificate, suitable for framing, on
a reproduction of the Disney Studios stationery used during the film’s
production in 1954. This special certificate can be fully customized for
gift purchases, and can be sent directly to gift recipients for the
holidays. (Holiday certificate delivery will be available based on order
date and cannot be guaranteed for orders placed after December 17.)
This four-foot replica of the Nautilus offers features not incorporated
in any previous model of the iconic submarine. Produced at approximately
1/45th scale, the replica features finely detailed interior views of the
wheelhouse and Capt. Nemo’s salon, as well as LED lights to illuminate those
rooms and the circular salon observation window. In addition to a removable
skiff, the Nautilus incorporates a freely rotating propeller and pivoting
rudder, and includes a custom display stand. Each Nautilus will have a
numbered plaque and certificate of authenticity, and production will be
strictly limited to 500 pieces worldwide.
Full ordering and shipping details are available at
www.efxcollectibles.com. Orders can be placed beginning at 9 a.m.
PST Thursday, December 10.
Next up – anyone take part in the Annual Passholder Appreciation Day shopping
madness at the World Of Disney in Anaheim this past weekend? You wouldn’t catch
me up that early to shop for anything, but I hear loads of folks had a grand, if
somewhat chaotic, time.
If you’re ready to do it all over again, or if you missed out and thought to
yourself, “Dang! I should have dragged myself out of bed at 4 AM for that, it
sounded like fun,” here’s your chance for shopping craziness part 2 when the
World of Disney opens its doors early once again to APs and Disney Vacation Club
members with bargains galore - the next two Saturdays - December 12th & 19th.
From the press release:
Additional Appreciation Days! Annual Passholder and Disney Vacation Club
Get going early on December 12 and 19 — and save!
From 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on these two Saturdays only, take advantage
of unbelievable savings, special door busters and more, at participating
locations, including: Disney Pin Traders, Disney Vault 28, Marceline’s
Confectionery, Studio Disney 365, World of Disney Store … and D Street (new
store opening December 15)
And if you’re one of the first 1,000 Guests on each of these Saturdays at
World of Disney Store, you’ll receive a complimentary gift. (One (1)
per Guest, available while supplies last).
Passholder and Disney Vacation Club Appreciation Days
offers are only available on December 12 and December 19, 2009 (unless
otherwise noted above) at the listed locations. Complimentary gift available
to the first 1000 shoppers at the World of Disney Store at the Disneyland
Resort, while supplies last. A valid Annual Passport and/or Disney Vacation
Club Membership must be presented to enter World of Disney Store for the
early shopping opportunity. Merchandise and offers valid while supplies
last. Offers not valid on any previous purchases nor for phone, e-mail or
mail orders. Valid Annual Passport or Disney Vacation Club Membership must
be presented at time of purchase to receive offer. Cannot be combined with
any other offer. Offer is provided and fulfilled solely by the locations
listed above (unless otherwise noted). The Walt Disney Company is not
responsible for offer. Separate admission required to enter Disneyland
Resort theme parks. Other restrictions may apply. Information subject to
change without notice.
For more information visit:
www.ArtofDisneyParks.com and
www.Disneyland.com/AP.
Okay, shopping done, gifts wrapped, now on to the fun stuff. Let’s talk about
Disney’s newest animated feature, The Princess And The Frog.
I spent last Saturday celebrating the 108th anniversary of Walt Disney’s
birth at his studio in Burbank, and what great place it was to be on his
birthday. And how wonderful is it to once again have a hand-drawn animated
feature? Pretty fabulous, I must say.
Before I tell you about the film let me throw this thought out for you folks
in the Los Angeles area, if you have the time and the means, I’d highly suggest
getting tickets ASAP to see The Princess And The Frog at the Disney Studios.
It’s a great experience and to me, well worth the $32 I spent. Why should you
spend the big bucks for a film you can see at the local multiplex? Simple,
Studio tour (and a bunch of other cool activities).
Here’s the rundown on what there is to do in addition to seeing the film:
When you arrive at the Studio you’re directed to park in the Zorro parking
structure (Yeah, Zorro. Somehow it tickled me to park in Zorro’s parking
structure). Then you follow the froggy footprints to a big soundstage that
serves as The Princess And The Frog Welcome Center. There you pick up your
tickets (and souvenir necklace if you bought the expensive tickets – which I did
not), purchase whatever concessions you please (souvenir Princess And The Frog
popcorn bucket, anyone? $5), and browse amongst assorted props while you wait to
head to the theatre to see the film.
There’s plenty to look at, while you wait - props from The Pirates of the
Caribbean, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, a replica of the Up house, and on, and on.
When your scheduled film time gets near, you once again follow the froggy
footprints to the movie theatre (where they ask you to check all cameras, except
the cell phone variety which they let you keep but request you turn off). Head
on in to the theatre and take a seat where the wait for the film to start isn’t
too long, plus you get a bonus. The terrific Rob Richards (house organist at the
El Capitan Theatre) plays a medley of Disney songs to entertain you before the
film begins.
Once the film is over you follow those froggy footprints again, around the
corner to Soundstage 3 where the Disney folks have set up a bunch of stuff just
to amuse you. There are games for the kiddies (hopping around a bayou-themed
obstacle course, flinging froggy-shaped bean bags onto lily pads, a huge craft
area in which to color & make crowns, and a Dr. Facilier game).
A bevy of Princesses await the chance to have their photo taken with you
(when I was there, I was mighty impressed with the Princesses. They were so
great with each person, talking to them, personalizing the experience. It wasn’t
at all “Hurry up and take the picture. Next!” Jasmine even took special pains to
give posing lessons so each guest (big and small) would have a super terrific
photo. All the little kiddies were eating this up like you wouldn’t believe.
So … crafts, Princesses, what else? A nifty display from the archives,
vintage Mickey Mouse items, Donald Duck stuff, a check signed by Walt Disney,
costumes, props (The Dead Man’s Chest), and other assorted cool stuff. If
you were bored with all that, then you could sit down and have an animator teach
you to draw characters from The Princess And The Frog (Louis the alligator was
the character when I was there).
There was also a shopping opportunity (naturally) but it was rather limited
in selection, mostly Princess Tiana dresses, a few Tiana and Naveen plush frogs,
a couple of books, the film’s soundtrack and a necklace for the folks (like me)
who bought the cheap seats that didn’t include the souvenir necklace. Nothing I
wanted - where were the plush versions of Louis and Ray (the lovable Cajun
firefly)? At the Disney Store, that’s where (and they are currently on sale
too)! If they’d had Louis and Ray, I probably would have shelled out a few
bucks.
There was also a photo-opportunity thingie, but since I hate having my
picture taken, I headed in the opposite direction so I have let you down, dear
readers, I can’t tell you what that was all about. But plenty of folks were
queuing up for it, so it must have been fun.
Now, I don’t care about posing with Princesses, I’m too old to be hopping
around a play bayou, I have an art background so I can probably draw Louis
without instruction … truly, all that was fun but really, what sealed the deal
for me and made it all worth every penny of that $32 I spent, was the
aforementioned Studio Tour.
To the right as you entered Soundstage 3, if you could ignore all the
Princesses and look elsewhere, was an unassuming little booth offering tours of
the Disney Studio. The groups were kept small, which was nice, and all you had
to do to go on the tour was to sign up and meet back at the tour booth at the
appointed time.
The tour, led by a plaid-clad Disneyland Tour Guide lasted about 25 minutes
and took you back over by the movie theatre (all the while educating us in tons
of great details about the history of all the buildings we were passing),
through the halls of a building where the walls were filled with tons and tons
of fabulous animation art, out into the Legends Plaza (where all the handprints
of every Disney Legend resides).
From there we also got a good look at the iconic Team Disney building with
the Seven Dwarfs serving as columns (and Dopey was sporting a Santa hat), and
then we headed over to the Frank G. Wells Building, home of the Disney archives
where we got a glimpse of some terrific Disney memorabilia - A display case
filled with hats including Mary Poppins’ hat, one of the 3 existing multiplane
cameras (of the other 2, one is at the Walt Disney Family Museum and the 3rd, in
Florida), more of the Archives’ Mickey Mouse collection, and assorted costumes
used in various films.
We then headed back to Soundstage 3 with our lovely guide pointing out loads
more historical facts along the way (we also stopped to look up at the windows
that Walt Disney once looked out of from his office), and we stopped to say hi
to Mickey Mouse who was waiting outside the movie theatre to pose with all his
fans.
All in all, it was a really fun experience. If it sounds like something you’d
like to do, hurry. As of this writing, there are a few tickets left for Friday
and Sunday (Saturday is completely sold out), so you better be fast before they
are all snapped up. For more information about seeing The Princess And The Frog
at the Disney Studios call 1-800-DISNEY6
A few more words about The Princess And The Frog and then I’ll let you go …
It officially opens Friday, December 11th, and chances are, you’ve already read
a review or two (so I’m not going to write a formal review). Or maybe … maybe,
you saw the panel discussion at the D23 Expo. That was my first exposure to the
film. I came away from the panel discussion thinking it was exciting to be
getting a hand-drawn animated feature again. And so it is.
The Princess And The Frog is such a wonderful film, a film filled with
marvelous spirit, a terrific heroine who isn’t sitting around waiting to be
saved, but who goes out and works hard to make her dream come true. And the
music … oh, the music … so wonderful, you cannot help but get up and dance. I
walked out of that theatre wanting the soundtrack, bought it, and have been
wearing it out ever since.
Yep, The Princess And The Frog is filled with a terrific joie de vivre making
it pretty much irresistible to anyone of any age.
I loved it and pretty much think it’s the best Disney Animation film to come
along in ages. Go see it.
And that should do it for this week's... |