Chuck Schmidt

Chuck Schmidt, bitten by the Disney bug at an early age, remembers watching The Mickey Mouse Club after school in the mid-1950s. During his 48-year career in the newspaper business, he channeled that love of Disney as the Sunday News and Travel editor for The Staten Island Advance. Chuck has written or co-authored seven books for Theme Park Press, including Disney's Dream Weavers, On the Disney Beat, An American in Disneyland Paris, Disney's Animal Kingdom: An Unofficial History and The Beat Goes On. Chuck has shared his passion for all things Disney in his Still Goofy About Disney blog on AllEars.Net since 2015. He resides in Beachwood, N.J., with his wife Janet. They have three adult children and seven grandchildren.

Omnimover and PeopleMover: A look at two Disney-designed ride conveyances

Posted on by Chuck Schmidt
Bob Gurr sits behind the wheel of a car as he tests the ride system that would be used on the Ford Magic Skyway attraction during the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair. Note the individual drive wheels embedded in the track. [The Walt Disney Company] From the time when Disneyland was in the planning stages … Continue reading "Omnimover and PeopleMover: A look at two Disney-designed ride conveyances"
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‘Ink & Paint’ is a celebration of the women who toiled behind the scenes at Walt Disney Animation

Posted on by Chuck Schmidt
A painter carefully places color onto a celluloid sheet as she works on a scene from “Pinocchio.” [The Walt Disney Company] The next time you have the opportunity to watch a classic Disney movie, such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs or Bambi or Pinocchio, make sure to read the opening credits. Some of … Continue reading "‘Ink & Paint’ is a celebration of the women who toiled behind the scenes at Walt Disney Animation"
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After leaving WED, Tania Norris took on several eclectic challenges

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Edna and Roy Disney pose with Mickey Mouse in Town Square. [The Walt Disney Company] Tania Norris made some remarkable contributions during her nine years with WED Enterprises, supplying the interior designs for New Orleans Square, the Haunted Mansion and the Plaza Inn Restaurant in Disneyland, as well as doing interior design work for some … Continue reading "After leaving WED, Tania Norris took on several eclectic challenges"
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Former WED designer Tania Norris saw Disney from the inside

Posted on by Chuck Schmidt
Inside the Disney Company plane. Walt and Lillian are seated, left. Also in view are Bill Martin, seated center, and Herb Ryman. The woman in the back, right, is unidentified. [The Walt Disney Company] In 1964, Walt Disney’s world was expanding. There was the California-based company’s participation in the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair, which … Continue reading "Former WED designer Tania Norris saw Disney from the inside"
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The short, bumpy ride of the Rocket Rods attraction at Disneyland

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For three decades, the WEDway PeopleMover was a cornerstone attraction in Tomorrowland at Disneyland. [The Walt Disney Company] The late 1990s were a dark time at Disneyland. It was not unusual to see signs of aging and decay throughout the park: Peeling paint, cracks in the pavement, crumbling woodwork, rusted iron railings. Marty Sklar, the … Continue reading "The short, bumpy ride of the Rocket Rods attraction at Disneyland"
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With a tinge of sadness, Ryman Arts carries on with a ‘Celebrating Marty Sklar’ fund-raiser

Posted on by Chuck Schmidt
Juliana Hansen, accompanied by Nelson Kole, sings “A Kiss Goodnight” for the guests at the Celebrating Marty Sklar fund-raiser for Ryman Arts. [Courtesy of Ryman Arts] During dinner at the Ryman Arts fund-raiser in the Hollywood Hills home of Marty and Leah Sklar on Sept. 16, guests were asked to write down words of inspiration … Continue reading "With a tinge of sadness, Ryman Arts carries on with a ‘Celebrating Marty Sklar’ fund-raiser"
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So much has changed at Walt Disney World since Animal Kingdom opened in 1998

Posted on by Chuck Schmidt
A neon version of Jessica Rabbit invites guests to join in the fun at Pleasure Island in the former Downtown Disney area. At this point in time, THE place to be on Walt Disney World property is Animal Kingdom park. Specifically, the focus of all the attention [not to mention overflow crowds and hours-long wait … Continue reading "So much has changed at Walt Disney World since Animal Kingdom opened in 1998"
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