Disney Legends and Dreams

The last few weeks have been pretty busy and exciting for me here out in Anaheim! This program truly has had a TON of opportunities for me, some of which have recently included:

Meeting Disney Legend, Marty Sklar // If you don't already know who Marty is, take a look at his Wikipedia page. He was one of the greatest Imagineers Disney has ever had, and even got his own window on Main Street in Disneyland recently (which is a pretty big deal - his up there with people like Walt and Roy). He's now retired. The college program students had a chance to attend a "conversation" with Marty, and I jumped at the chance to sign up.

Marty is a fascinating and humble man. He got his start as editor of the Disneyland Times, a tabloid newspaper that sold for ten cents on Main Street when Disneyland opened. He worked closely with Walt throughout his career, and wrote personal scripts and pieces for Walt's use. He brought quite a few clips and short films he helped with as part of the Public Relations team for Disneyland Resort. One of the more interesting things was a clip that was used to encourage General Electric to sponsor the original Carousel of Progress when Walt took it to the World's Fair. There was also a clip for a really
catchy song that was meant to secure Ford as a sponsor for an attraction as well - which they ultimately declined. Marty also shared with us how he was a part of ensuring that Space Mountain actually became a reality, and the back story to the attraction's creation. He then took questions from the group on anything we wanted to ask to him. He told us how he was always amazed that Walt had time to go over things that seemed insignificant, such as meeting with him to discuss the Disneyland Times when they were getting ready to publish it. Walt always had time for the details, which are what make Disneyland what it is. He also told us what John Hench, another famous Imagineer said once about Disneyland's purpose, that I think is now one of my favorite quotes: "Disneyland is not about escapism or escaping reality. It's about reminding people that reality can be okay, life can be nice. You can talk to a stranger in a public place. A public place can be clean. That's what Disneyland is - a reminder that life is still wonderful."

Touring the Dream Suite // The Disneyland Dream Suite is a luxury suite that was built above Pirates of the Caribbean a few years ago in the former location of the Disney Gallery. It was built as part of the Year of a Million Dreams promotion (Disney World has one too, inside Cinderella's Castle). It was given away to a lucky family each night. Now days, those who can afford it and like the appeal of staying in a suite inside Disneyland stay there, as well as contest winners from various places. Jon Storbeck, VP of Disneyland Park, told us during his presentation for the Leadership Speakers' Series that he recently arranged for a young girl who is losing her sight to stay there with her family. He wanted her to have a memory that that could stay with her long after her sight is gone, and the Dream Suite was the most beautiful place he could think of. He even arranged for Cinderella to meet the family; she presented the little princess with a dress and accessories of her own.

The suite was a dream of Walt's, and he had actually started work on it in that space before he died. He wanted to have a place to entertain high profile guests as well as stay with his family inside his park (his firehouse apartment is not very large). Once he died, however, his family didn't wish to continue on the venture without him, so it eventually transformed into the Disney Gallery for many years. It's finally completed as Walt's Dream Suite, and it really is an amazing place. The entrance is behind Tarzan's Treehouse, via a hidden elevator. It includes a concierge office, a concealed outdoor patio, a master bed and bath, a walk in closet, a living room, a second bedroom, and a second patio for Fantasmic! viewing. Here's various pictures inside the suite, that I, of course, stole from my room mate Ellen!

The Adventureland master bedroom - you can hear Tarzan's Treehouse through the window.

The suite during the "Goodnight Kiss" - a fun little thing guests can choose to play up to 3 times during their stay. The room goes dark, and the painting at the head board comes to life with the mermaids from Neverland. The bed becomes a waterfall, and you can hear the mermaids giggling and music.

The end of the "Kiss" features the lamp becoming a moon and Captain Hook's pixie-dust enhanced pirate ship actually flying by.

The bathroom in the master suite is Fantasyland themed. The bath tub features this stained glass window, and faucets in the shape of swans.

There is an "enchantment" with the bathtub where soft music plays, and the walls fade into stars, including an appearance from a certain mouse!

The vanity inside the bathroom.

The smaller vanity inside the Main Street themed walk in closet

The concealed patio, featuring Pirates of the Caribbean music

The fireplace in the living room. Every so often, the sparks from the "fire" become fireworks.

Portraits in the living room of the two castles that Walt used for inspiration for Sleeping Beauty's castle

The living room has three "enchantments" using the grandfather clock. When each one happens, something else in the room comes to life as well, and music plays. The morning one features the birds from the Tiki Room. A small cage on the mantle with tiny mechanical birds comes to life for this one. Our guide told us the cage is one of two that Walt personally bought in New Orleans and used to come up with ideas for the Tiki Room birds, his very first animatronics. Those little birds are the fathers of everything you see in Disneyland today.

The afternoon enchantment features the Pinocchio characters.

During this one, the mirror over the mantle lights up with an image of the castle and a twinkling star in the top corner while "When You Wish Upon a Star" plays

The night time enchantment has Cinderella and her prince, and plays "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes"

There is a glass case with various knick knacks in the living room. During the last enchantment, a glass slipper sparkles and a figure of Cinderella and her Prince dances.

A second bedroom is attached to the living room and has two beds in it. It is Frontierland themed, and a shelf lines the upper wall filled with little toys.