The Curiosity Shop

Honestly I'm not sure if there is a Curiosity Shop at either Disneyland or Walt Disney World, but I love the signage and overall look of it.

I love this sign it's clearly new but it captures the essence of Main Street's era

I love that the Curiosity Shop has two hanging signs, one horizontal and one vertical, not to mention the different color schemes and dimensionality of the two signs. 

That's All! Follow me on twitter at @mfeige or @GoldenMickeys 

The Hub at Hong Kong Disneyland

Something very important is missing here. Anyone want to guess what it is. 

IT'S THE GOSH DARN PARTNERS STATUE!

I'm not really sure why the partners statue isn't here at Hong Kong Disneyland, but if anyone knows please tell me. 

I have no idea if High School Musical is at all popular in China or Hong Kong but there is a show in the hub. It's so amazing that doesn't have a big three next to it like it does in Walt Disney World. I just wanted everyone to know the High School Musical craze is taking over the world. 

Here's a poster that was sitting by a closed off path from the hub. It's a cute little sign. I was hoping it would mention the three new lands coming to Hong Kong and that this was the way to get to them. I learned after my trip that this most certainly is not where the three new lands are. 

Hub-irific!  love the curvy lines. 

This is the view down Main Street from the Hub as everyone gears up for the parade, which was lots of fun. Although I sadly neglected to take pictures of the parade.

The Grand Marshals of the parade which I did take pictures of. Maybe this is when my iPhone died. That's really my only excuse. 

Before the parade but after the Grand Marshals came through was one last chance for the balloons and drinks. I love the design on the beverage cart which is helpfully obscured by a balloon-hankering child. Also they're cut off but notice the slightly different design of the Mickey Balloons. I don't think you can find Mickey (or Stitch) Balloons like that at any other park 

Here's where you get on the friendly Main Street Omnibus which will be the star in its own post later on.

Here is a look at the covered terrace of the Main St. Corner Cafe which takes the place of the corn dog cart and general open space at Disneyland. It's interesting. Also it's taken from the hub which is why it is in this post. 

Look it is the back of people's heads!!!!! Actually it should be the Hong Kong Disneyland castle from the hub. 

Looking down the Main Street from the Hub! 

That's all from the Hub at Hong Kong Disneyland! 

Some Thoughts on Waking Sleeping Beauty

Last night, Saturday, I saw Don Hahn's Disney Documentary Waking Sleeping Beauty with a Don Hahn Q&A afterwards. Waking Sleeping Beauty is a Documentary about the reemergence of Disney Animation from 1989 to 1994. Don Hahn (IMDB) was an important part of the animation renaissance as producer of Beauty and the Beast and the Lion King and went through Cal Arts with such talents as Henry Selick (Director of Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline), John Lasseter, and Tim Burton. Anyway Don Hahn decided now was the time to tell this story because enough time had passed that the principles bruised egos had recovered, but the events were still crystal clear.

Like all good Documentaries, and this is a good documentary, Waking Sleeping Beauty has a narrative, which catalogues Animation's low point during the Black Cauldron to the soaring heights of The Lion King, what helped it reach those heights and how the leaders of the company crumbled at the end. Hahn had complete cooperation of Roy Disney, Jeffery Katzenberg and Michael Eisner, but none required approval of the film.  During the Q&A Don mentioned that all three of them saw the documentary and all three said why did you make the other two look so good and me so bad and that is how Don knew he made a good documentary. The film uses footage exclusively from the time period in question because of the explosion of the handheld video camera, but recent interviews are used to narrate much of the film. This gives the film a sense of authenticity. Although I hungered to see all of the footage that Don Hahn combed through to create the documentary. In the Q&A Hahn also mentioned that there would me some great Extra Features on the DVD which they are putting together now including all of Jodi Benson's Little Mermaid recording session.

My favorite thing about the documentary was the way it championed Disney songwriter Howard Ashman the lyricist in his partnership with Alan Menken. Ashman and Menken together wrote all of the songs in The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast and most of the songs in Aladdin. Ashman's tragic early passing due to AIDS, in my mind, caused the end of the Disney Renaissance.

Recently I've been delving deeply into the Ashman and Menken films and the special features on the films. So I had heard a few of the stories in the film, but there are new ones especially pertaining to the day of Ashman's passing. Ultimately after the reading I've done on this period and my recent viewing of special features made this film see a little bit light on facts and depth, but it is a feature length documentary not a novel. Also I felt it was a perfect introduction to this period and quite possibly the most fair and in depth look we've had at the conflict between Roy Disney, Jeffery Katzenberg and Michael Eisner.

Something I'd never heard about was the role Roy Disney played in this "break-up" and his various inappropriate actions as he is often heralded as Walt's Golden Nephew in Disney fan circles. The interview Roy Disney gave was his last before his passing late last year.

The finale of the film once again stresses the importance of Howard Ashman which makes me happy to no end because the more I examine these films the more important he becomes. One of my goals in my life is to right a Biography of Howard Ashman that is fitting for his wondrous accomplishments.

The bottom line is if you have any interest in Disney Animation, particularly the Disney Renaissance, you must see this film. It's hilarious, touching and most importantly entertaining. GO SEE WAKING SLEEPING BEAUTY

The Website is Here: http://www.wakingsleepingbeautymovie.com/ See if its playing near you or at a nearby film festival, if not request it at your local independent theater!

Hong Kong Disneyland's Main Street Part 2 - Empty Main Street

I arrived in Hong Kong around 8am went to directly to the Hollywood Hotel (check out blog post two for more information), checked in unpacked and raced to the park. When I arrived at 9:30 I was shocked to find that the park hadn't yet oppened. I noticed that one section of turnstiles was open letting certain guests through. After realizing that this were guests going to Character breakfast at the Plaza Inn Restaurant as soon as I returned to the Hollywood Hotel I made reservations for the next day.

While I still love Character breakfasts as much as I have the true treat was being allowed in the park before opening and getting to slowly walk down Hong Kong's Main Street while it was entirely empty.

Here are further Pictures of Hong Kong's Main Street entirely empty:

Here is Hong Kong Disneyland's Main Street Station which was not operational either day. I was very upset by this

Here's everyone's favorite sign in English and Chinese: Here you leave today and enter the worlds of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy. Notice that the plaque is the same shape as Disneyland's. 

Town Square! 

More of Town Square!!!! 

Here's the first building in town square as you enter on the left. Honestly I'm not sure what it is.

The right side of Town Square which should look extremely familiar if you frequent Disneyland. It's also important to notice the youth of the most of the trees in this shot which help the parks less-than-fleeting resemblance to it's anaheim counter part about 55 years ago. 

Here is the left side of Town Square. It's important to notice that the Black early automobile is used in the Main Street USA logo is sponsored by UPS much like Hong Kong Disneyland's Rail Road. 

Now we can begin our trip down Main Street in earnest!

Here's the Photo shop! Sponsored by Kodak! Sadly you can not actually buy a digital camera here! I tried after my iPhone's battery died. 

Here's a terribly taken close-up of the Emporium! 

Here's a similarly badly taken photo of the bottom of the Emporium. Note the window above the main entrance. We'll be revisiting it in another post. I also want to mention that this picture is a better representative of the true color of the Emporium. 

Look how empty Main Street is! Yee-Haw! Many similar photos of Main Street empty follow! Allso note the similarity to Disneyland's Main Street and Castle. 

One of my favorite things about Hong Kong Disneyland is the way the mountains add a completely different feel from any other park.

I feel like The Circle Life or something similar momentous should be playing now

I love this small sitting area. Much like the other porches and unused doorways at Disneyland they are my favorite flourishes on Main Street, which I learned about when Disneyland became my home park two years ago. 

A Great Crystal Arts sign!

Here is a close up on the second level of the Main Street Mercantile. I love the small design touches on this building. Also in the center of the photo is a window that showcases the name of the Imagineers who worked on Hong Kong Disney. 

A closer view of Main Street and the castle!

I love Main Street. More faux-doors and real seats. How cute are those buildings, don't you just want to live on the second floor those buildings. 

Here are a few of my absolute favorite buildings on Main Street. The blue building with the porch is one of my, if not my absolute favorite "building" on Main Street. I put the word building in quotes because of course each side of Main Street is one building with multiple facades. 

Here we have Centennial Hall which I thought it was important to take a picture of because it is the Penny Arcade in Disneyland. I also love the paint job. 

Main Street Corner Cafe! 

"The Latest and Best for Sale Here" I love the Architectural differences between the first and second floor of this building. 

Main Street Sweets! I love the pink and blue of this building and the accents above the second floor windows. 

"Taste Tempting Treats" Interestingly enough in all these sweet shops in HOng Kong you will not find what you do in Disneyland or Walt Disney World. You cannot buy fresh sweets or sweets to eat now at all. What you're going to find here is a typically Asian souvenirs which consist of sweets individually wrapped in Disney themed tins. Often Mickey or some other characters graces the cookies. 

Here's the part of Main Street that faces the Hub. You'll notice unlike Disneyland and Walt Disney World there is not Hot Dog restaurant or seating area here, but it is still fun.

Here is the Hub as empty as can be! Also starring the fog! 

Bonus Picture: 

The Mural in Centennial Hall! (Less Blurry this time!) 

That's all for now folks! Follow me on Twitter: @mfeige or @GoldenMickeys

Hong Kong Disneyland's Main Street (Part 1.)

So I took a lot of pictures of Main Street. Main Street is probably my favorite part of any Disney park. I mean I love Adventureland in Disneyland and the 1970s Adventureland in Walt Disney World, but generally as a rule I could spend hours on Main Street. So here are some prelimnary photos of Main Street U.S.A. Some of the photos of the store interiors are super blurry. I'm sorry.

As you may notice Hong Kong Disneyland's Main Street USA is almost the same as Disneyland U.S.A. In fact the color scheme used for the buildings on Town Square is almost exactly the same. But the post on Town Square is forthcoming! 

I'm kind of in love with this Main Street USA logo. In fact I have a pin of it, but let's not go there. I generally took a lot of photos of Trash Cans because I think they're fun.

Here's the cute, quaint little Emporium just like Disneyland! 

Hey everybody it's the friendly Main Street Indian! ahem, excuse me I meant Native American. What I find so amusing about this is that unlike Disneyland there is and never was a Tobacco Shop here hence rending it an echo of something that never exist. Yet, our friendly Native American is still very popular! I managed to squeeze this picture in between two groups posing with him. In fact that little girl in the lower right hand corner was running up to pose with him! 

Look Everybody it's our favorite Crystal Arts! This picture actually showcases two of the major differences between This Main Street USA and the one on in Anaheim. First of all there are no tracks down the middle of main street for certain types of Main Street transportation. But no one fear the Omnibus still travels and sometimes just hangs out, but that's yet another later post. You'd thing the absence of these rails would be inconsequential, but it makes the road seem wider and much more like the Red Carpet Walt wanted it to represent. When I first visited Hong Kong Disneyland I really thought it was much redder than Disneyland, but it is not. Also on "Center Street" there is a large permanent food retailer, they sell fresh fruit and things of the link, much like the small cart on Center Street in Disneyland, but this is huge and has a tent. 

Hey Everybody it's the bakery! While Main Street is like it's Disneyland counterpart the location of the bakery is much closer to the location of the Bakery in Walt Disney World. This was my first stop on my first day I was hoping for a huge cinnamon bun with icing, but the only thing that struck me as appealing was a Mickey Mouse shaped rice crispy treat. Not even that was what I expected. Certainly the offerings there are quite different. 

 

Here is the Main Street Mercantile. I liked the subtle asian additions to the marquee. 

Here's just a fun little picture. I'd gladly take up residence on 219-A or 219-B Main Street USA. There is one Main Street Realtor but it wasn't open either of the two days I was in Hong Kong (Photo forthcoming).

 

The Carriage House! I love this building especially at night! Sadly I missed Hong Kong Disneyland after dark a huge misstep on my part, but jetl-ag sometimes wins. Also excuse my doofus finger! 

I love the way they decided to use noodles in the Main Street Corner Cafe Logo. Certainly it isn't something Walt would've seen on Santa Fe or Kansas Ave in Marceline Missouri. At one point there was a plan for a Chinese restaurant on Center Street (the street that intersects Main Street) that would've starred a Confucius Animatronic. Also notice the tag line beneath the logo: "Outdoor Dining On Our Terrace" Rather than the empty space occupied by the Corn Dog stand in Disneyland there is a large covered Terrace that is inclosed and has a rod-iron construction which is quite nice. 

This is the opposite side of center street, there is a whole area for Pin Trading,although there was no one there, I thought it was interesting. 

Now I thought the entirety of Main Street was themed beautifully... except this sign. It looks like some kind of horrible Toy Story Midway Mania reject poorly printed and poorly applied. It was on center street across from the Pin Trading area. I'm hoping this is temporary while they replace it or something. 

From Here on I'll be posting shops interiors starting with the not blurry ones moving to the blurry ones. None of the pictures of the doll house really came out, but each room as a Disney Character hidden in it or an allusion to one. 

THE DOLL HOUSE! (No not the canceled Joss Wheadon show that's Dollhouse)

OH look some not so blurry interior shots! 

Thanks for reading! there will be a new post on Wednesday! If you have any thing you want to add or that you noticed throw it in the comments I'll probably throw it up in the post! 

Follow me on Twitter here: @mfeige or here: @GoldenMickeys