All Ears® Guest Blog - Page 9 of 107

RETURN TO DISNEYLAND, PART 3: From The Matterhorn Bobsleds to a Runaway Railway: Doing The Impossible, Six Decades Apart

March 13, 2023 by Chuck Schmidt

Over the years, members of Disney’s creative team have, on occasion, been asked to do the impossible. And most often than not, they have accomplished the task ... with spectacular results. "One heck of an assignment," is how Disney Legend Bob Gurr described his work on the Matterhorn Bobsleds attraction at Disneyland. "Like fitting a ship in a bottle," was Kevin Rafferty's way of describing his work on Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway in the Chinese Theater at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

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RETURN TO DISNEYLAND: California Adventure has finally hit its stride

February 27, 2023 by Chuck Schmidt

Funny thing about Disney theme parks: Historically, it takes a bit of time before they catch on with the public. Disney’s California Adventure, which opened in February of 2001 across a newly constructed esplanade from Disneyland Park, was no stranger to this phenomenon. After a massive overhaul, DCA has finally hit its stride.

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RETURN TO DISNEYLAND: After a six-year hiatus, new thrills, old-fashioned charm

February 13, 2023 by Chuck Schmidt

While much has changed at the Happiest Place on Earth since our last visit in 2017, so much – thankfully – remains the same, rooted in the ideals and philosophies espoused by its creator, Walt Disney: A place where parents and their children can have fun … together.

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Yes, The Great Movie Ride Is Missed…But Let’s Celebrate The Whacky World of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway

January 16, 2023 by Chuck Schmidt

If The Great Movie Ride isn’t the most-missed attraction in all of Walt Disney World, it’s certainly among the Top 5. But let's celebrate its replacement, Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway.

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Traditions Program Remains Part Of Extensive Training For New Disney Hires

December 19, 2022 by Chuck Schmidt

During its prime, the Disney Store made it a point of hiring people who were hard-working, motivated, team players … the cream of the crop, if you will. Once you got through a rigorous hiring process, new cast members were required to go through the extensive Traditions training program, very similar to the one introduced by Disney Legend Van France prior to the opening of Disneyland in 1955.

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VINTAGE DISNEY PHOTOS, VOL. 6: Christmas At Walt Disney World Really Is The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

December 5, 2022 by Chuck Schmidt

It goes without saying that Walt Disney World has cornered the market on Christmas. Each year, right after Halloween, the entire resort undergoes a massive Christmas transformation. And over the next two months, it truly is the most wonderful time of the year at Walt Disney World.

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Getting to WDW: Goodbye Magical Express, Hello Amtrak’s Auto Train

November 21, 2022 by Chuck Schmidt

Earlier this year, when Disney discontinued its Magical Express service and the price of renting a car remained exorbitant, we decided to revisit Amtrak's Auto Train as a viable option to get to and from Florida. We gave our experience mixed reviews.

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We Observed A Lot By Watching Bruce Kimbrell’s Disney Magic Presentations

November 7, 2022 by Chuck Schmidt

Former Disney cast member Bruce Kimbrell, who worked for the company for 40 years, gave seven thoroughly enjoyable presentations in the Disney Magic’s Buena Vista Theatre during a recent trans-Atlantic voyage. Kimbrell began the series by talking about his 40-year career, which he described “as a real E-ticket ride.”

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VINTAGE DISNEY PHOTOS, VOL. 5: Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party Is Oh-So-Popular

October 24, 2022 by Chuck Schmidt

In 2002, the big news out of the Walt Disney World Press & Publicity Department was: “Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom will be even ‘not-so-scarier’ in 2002 as it is extended by two family-friendly nights – to a total of seven evenings.” Over the years, the special ticketed event has only grown more popular.

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A MAGIC-al Journey Aboard Disney Cruise Line’s Grand Dame

October 17, 2022 by Chuck Schmidt

The Disney Magic has been plying the world’s waterways since 1998. By today’s standards, the Disney Cruise Line’s first-ever ocean liner is getting up in years. That being said, there’s no other ship we’d rather sail on during a trans-Atlantic voyage than DCL’s Grand Dame.

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