Thursday, August 14, 2008

Name Change, Location Change?


One year ago today the names on the Disneyland Hotel towers all changed...

Gone were the Marina, Sierra and Bonita. In their place were the Magic, Dreams and Wonder.

Gone were the last traces of Jack Wrather, the original owner of the hotel. Of course, the actual hotel is still there... and despite the memories people have of the structure, it is one of the ugliest hotels around. Both that hotel and the Paradise Pier Hotel clearly look like they weren't designed by Disney, but Wrather's hotel is especially bland.

The three concrete blocks that hold the name of the park Walt built were supposed to get a renovation that was to start almost a year ago. But the aged hotel has posed a challenge to the renovation as it might actually cost more than building a brand new hotel.

Will they or won't they? Unfortunately, the last time I talked to my Bothans there was no decision as to what to do about this abomination to architecture. Now Blue Sky would simply like to offer a couple words of advise...

Move it.

The best place to build a Disneyland Hotel is right in front of Disneyland. Or at least as close as possible. Like the Esplanade... where the transportation hub where buses, trams and taxis pull up? Imagine a lovely, themed hotel that can be seen from Harbor boulevard outside the resort. Just imagine what walking beneath this structure and coming out into the Esplanade to see Disneyland on your right and the park formerly known as Disney's California Adventure on your left?

Imagine...

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Dear Deer Season...


Walt Disney Productions "Bambi" premiered on this date in 1942 in London, England. The following week it would open in America, distributed by RKO Pictures. The classic motion picture was Walt's fifth animated feature. It was the last full length feature until Cinderella in 1950(the other features were collections of shorts or combination live-action).

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Trading Images...


On this date, seventy-nine years ago...

Walt Disney is issued his trademark for the image of a little mouse named...

Mickey.

The Prince of Persia Revealed...


We now have our first pics of Jake Gyllenhaal as the Prince from Walt Disney Pictures "Prince of Persia"...

Hmmm.

Hat Tip to Just Jared.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Runaway Released...


Thirteen years ago today, Walt Disney Pictures releases "Runaway Brain", the first Mickey Mouse short in over thirty years. While not the sweet, innocent shorts Mickey is known for, the animation is pure Disney... the antics may be Warner Bros., but the short has a charm that has grown on me over time and will tide us over until a new Mickey short goes up on the silver screen...

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Egyptian Clone Wars...


George Lucas' new Clone Wars film will have its American premiere at The American Cinematheque's Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood this evening with a discussion panel afterwards with CW director Dave Filoni, producer Catherine Winder and several others.

I wonder if one of the questions during the discussion panel will be: "Why does the story revolve around Jabba the Hutt's son?"...

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Mouse Reveals Frog Princess' Treasure...


If you visited the new Walt Disney Animation Studios website yesterday you got to see a real surprise(No, not that it had opened)...



If you clicked on their projects(here is the full size P and F concept art), Disney put out a bunch of "visual development" concept artwork for "The Princess and the Frog" that gives you an idea as to the breadth and scope of the story...











All artwork is copyright Disney for those that don't know, duh.