2009 Walt Disney World in 3 minutes!!!

2009 Walt Disney World in 3 minutes!!!
Technical details of this video:  http://linuxlife.blogspot.com/2011/04/creating-movie-out-of-hundreds-of.html

Our 2008 Walt Disney World trip video montage

Our 2008 Walt Disney World trip video montage




Technical details:
Created on a Linux workstation
Introductory title: http://linuxlife.blogspot.com/2011/04/how-to-make-video-title-sequence.html
Gimp was used for the song credit following the same tutorial as the title
Mencoder was used to create all the video.

create video using all jpg's sequentially in the current directory at an apparent fps of 5.25301 frames per second but with an actual frame per second of 29.97:
mencoder "mf://*.JPG" -o out.MP4 -ovc lavc -lavcopts vcodec=mjpeg -audiofile ~/Music/danosongs.com-magicghost.mp3 -oac copy -fps 5.25301 -ofps 30000/1001

Change resolution to something more reasonable:
mencoder -ovc lavc -lavcopts vcodec=mpeg4:mbd=2:trell:vbitrate=10000 -vf scale=1280:810 -oac pcm -o intro.MP4 /media/disk-17/home/mine/Pictures/My\ Pictures/2009\ Sep\ 22-Oct\ 1\ DisneyWorld\ Trip/movies/intro.mp4

Combine the intro the music credit and the montage videos into 1:
mencoder -ovc lavc -lavcopts vcodec=mpeg4:mbd=2:trell:vbitrate=10000 -oac pcm -o combinedout.MP4 intro.MP4 credit.MP4 out1.MP4

Happy Hallowishes Fireworks show at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom

Happy Hallowishes Fireworks show at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom


I took this video October 2009 at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom at Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom Haunted Mansion Hatchet Bride Breakdown Spiel

Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom Haunted Mansion Hatchet Bride Breakdown Spiel

The Haunted Mansion, to me the most exciting and remarkable attraction at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom theme park Opened with the theme park October 1st 1971.  Of interesting note the omnimover ride system called Doom Buggies for this ride are on a continuous loop throughout the whole ride and maintain their 3mph speed at all times even during loading and unloading.  Guests step onto a moving speed ramp that goes at the same speed as the Doom Buggies and step into an "awaiting carriage."  Wheelchair guests have to transfer to the ride vehicle and it is too dangerous to do while everything is in motion. So occasionally you get stopped during your ride which is what happened to me.  Due to a 15 degree decent out of the attic into the graveyard scene the haunted mansion can never be configured with a handicap accessible ride vehicle like so many other Walt Disney World attractions have done over the years.

Video shot October 2009 at Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.  Stopped right before leaving the attic at the amazing floating hatchet bride.

Polynesian Resort Gift Shop Tikis at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida

Polynesian Resort Gift Shop Tikis at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida

The Polynesian Resort on the Seven Seas Lagoon at Walt Disney World Orlando, Florida is one of the original resorts that opened when the resort did in 1971. Here, you can get a feel of the islands with an over the top tropical theme.  Being a monorail stop hotel makes this one of the fastest to get to the attractions.

      The Polynesian Resort is also home to one of the most famous Walt Disney World dinner show "The Spirit of Aloha" Luau. But, don't forget this is the where you get to eat breakfast with Stitch at Ohana's.

     Most of the Polynesian Resort is designed to resemble tribal longhouses and is all pretty straight laced until you get to the gift shop!  Whimsical light fixtures that flicker in tune to the audio track playing on the speakers. But the real secret here is the Tikis. There are several really great ones and they are all very whimsical.  There's a really cool one that stares back at you in the mirror when you're checking out the clothes you just bought.  The pair in this video are my favorites, though. Where else can you see Tikis playing hide and seek??!

Sarah & Yoda Meet Lilo & Stitch

Sarah & Yoda Meet Lilo & Stitch

     Lilo and Stitch hold a special place in the hearts of me and Brett.  After dinner on our first date on December 21, 2002, we watched the movie "Lilo and Stitch."  On our visit to Walt Disney World in 2008, we were able to see Stitch, but he was alone and not with Lilo.  This time when we went, I was bound and determined to find Lilo.

     Our visit in 2009 was almost over and I had pretty much given up on finding Lilo.  However, one day we were visiting Animal Kingdom and I was very excited when I saw Lilo and Stitch at a "meet-n-greet" area on the way to Camp Minnie-Mickey.  There was quite a line, but I would have waited forever just to get to meet the pair together.  It was finally my turn to get up close to them and fortunately, we didn't have to wait very long at all.  Brett stayed behind the camera to get the footage that is below.

     We had plans to attend the "Spirit of Aloha" luau at the Polynesian hotel later on in the evening and we had both bought shirts with Hawaiian patterns on them for the occasion.  This is why you will see me in my Hawaiian shirt in the video.  I love interacting with the characters even though I'm in my 30's and they seem to have a good time with me as well.  One of the first things when it was my turn was show off my "alien" to Stitch since he was an alien too.  Earlier in the week, Brett had been on the attraction "Star Tours" in Hollywood Studios.  I didn't go on this attraction, but met Brett in the gift shop that is connected to the exit of the ride.  We found a Yoda backpack in the shop and right then, I had to have it to put on the back of my wheelchair because he looked so cool riding along with me.  Stitch didn't seem to be intrigued by Yoda, but Lilo did.  While she "played" around with Yoda, I interacted with Stitch.  His lei was crooked, so I straightened it.  I don't think that he liked that I did this, because if you watch carefully, you will see him make it crooked again. 

The following video was shot during our visit at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom in 2009.

~SuperGirly~

Walt Disney World Animal Kingdom Expedition Everest Complete Ride Through

Walt Disney World Animal Kingdom Expedition Everest Complete Ride Through

Expedition Everest The tallest of the disney mountains rises 199.5 feet off the ground in the Asia section of Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom theme park just 1/2 foot short of the FAA requirement for flashing beacons to warn aircraft.  Due to the flat nature of Florida, at the top of the 2nd chain lift you can really see quite far beyond the Disney property on this roller coaster.

     Unique is the fact that the track is not a continuous loop like a typical roller coaster there are 2 rail switchers that allow the train to start out traveling forward then travel backwards and end up going forward again. In typical coaster scales this doesn't sound very impressive 4,424 feet track length top speed 50 mph 80 foot maximum drop. But what makes this coaster is the mountain! travelling backwards down a pitch black drop is awesome!

     I've ridden this thing several times and with the strobe lights on the yeti I've never yet really been able to see him as the strobe is more off then on.  The Yeti is a huge animatronic beast that sits near the end of the ride.  Apparently it has a bad foundation so they are unable to really allow his animatronic abilities show and so they put a strobe light on him.

     The following video is a ride I took in October 2009

Walt Disney World Animal Kingdom Kilimanjaro Safaris

Walt Disney World Animal Kingdom Kilimanjaro Safaris

Animal Kingdom home to Kilimanjaro Safaris the largest attraction at any Disney Theme Park, encompassing 110 acres, opened April 22, 1998. The Safari Takes riders in Custom Built GMC open sided ride vehicles through a savannah of East Africa. the 18 minute 30 second ride is filled with stories of poachers and seemingly dangerous roads and bridges.

There are good chances to see each of these animals:

• Antelope
• Baboon
• Black rhino
• Cheetah
• Crocodile
• Elephant
• Flamingo
• Gazelle
• Giraffe
• Hippopotamus
• Lion
• Okapis
• Ostrich
• Warthog
• White rhino
• Wildebeest
• Zebra

Walt Disney World Meet and Greet With Chip and Dale -- Very Awesome!

Walt Disney World Meet and Greet With Chip and Dale --  Very Awesome!

     Let's face it, the rides and attractions at the various Walt Disney World parks are pretty cool, but equally cool is getting to meet the different Disney characters as you walk around the parks.

     Meeting characters, for young and old, is a tough thing. Sometimes there are long lines for a 30 second meet and greet, depending on crowd levels and the popularity of the character. The key is to show up right when the character does or just have lots of patience. Sometimes characters are put in obvious places, like in front of the Great Movie Ride, while other times, they're "hidden" in areas toward the rear of the park. Some even have permanent areas where you can meet those characters nearly all day long. 

     Various characters such as Chip & Dale, Sorcerer Mickey, Mr Incredible, Elastigirl from the movie
The Incredibles" can be found at the end of the Magic of Disney Animation tour in a dedicated area for meet-n-greets.  The Magic of Disney Animation tour is located in Hollywood Studios.

     Below is a video of me getting to meet Chip and Dale. I have a soft spot in my heart for Chip and Dale because they're so cute and funny and my "meet-n-greet" time with them was a highlight of my trip to Walt Disney World.

     Allow me to set up the video:

     Chip and Dale were both quite infatuated with my power chair. I found that most of the characters that I met liked to press the buttons on my chair.  Chip was trying to figure out how to make my horn beep.  I finally grabbed his hand and  the horn made its little beep.  

     After having fun with playing with the buttons, Chip got to looking at the bottom area of my chair.  On our last visit, Brett decided that we needed to put stickers on my chair to commemorate my chair making it through all of the parks.  These stickers for the most part were of the different Walt Disney World parks with various characters on them.  As Chip and Dale point out, there are stickers of characters, but NOT any of them.  This made them quite upset and they didn't hide it.  First, Dale falls to the ground grief stricken and I give him a kiss on his nose to make him happy.  I think all is well, but I look over and Chip has fallen on the ground. Once he's gotten his kiss on the nose, I again think all is well, but Dale has once again fallen on the ground...this time he's REALLY fallen and is flailing on the ground.  Don't be alarmed though, his brother, Chip to the rescue!!! Chip proceeds to pound on Dale's chest to revive him and Dale is okay once again! YAY! I give both of these silly critters a kiss and all is well.

  

     This just goes to show that no matter what age you are, you can have fun at Walt Disney World and the characters still treat you like a kid even if you are 3, 30 (like I was when this video was done), or even older.  

~SuperGirly~

Walt Disney World Hollywood Studios Star Tour Ride Through

Walt Disney World Hollywood Studios Star Tour Ride Through

      This fun ride will be surely missed as it closed in 2010 at Walt Disney World's Hollywood studio.  Voiced by Pee Wee Herman (Paul Reubens) Rex takes you to the Forest Moon of Endor. Upon exiting this ride I discovered a Yoda backpack which we just couldn't live without in the Star Tours Giftshop.

Walt Disney World Epcot GM's Test Track Complete Ride through

Walt Disney World Epcot GM's Test Track Complete Ride through

Sponsored by General Motors, The GM Test Track is The fastest Disney ride anywhere, reaching a top speed of 65 mph.  It is also one of the longest thrill rides ever, with the total ride time right at 5 minutes! During the heat of summertime you'll enjoy going through the cold environment test which is routinely 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros at Walt Disney World Epcot

Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros is a boat ride at the Mexico Pavillion at Walt Disney World's EPCOT World Showcase.  It features The Three Caballeros from Walt Disney's 1944 move of the same name.  Starring Donald Duck, José Carioca and Panchito Pistoles.

Walt Disney World Electrical Water Pageant

Walt Disney World Electrical Water Pageant

     One of the few shows at Walt Disney World that has remained unchanged since the park opened October 25th, 1971.  Also and more importantly this is a free show you just need to be near the waters edge. It shows nitely weather permitting on the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake. It has 5 showings at the following locations, with an occasional 6th at the Magic Kingdom:

•   9:00 PM - Polynesian Resort
•   9:15 PM - Grand Floridian
•   9:35 PM - Wilderness Lodge
•   9:45 PM - Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground
• 10:05 PM - Contemporary Resort

      We filmed this in 2009 at the Fort Wilderness Campground Pier after going to see the Hoopty Doo Revue, another must see for sure.

Mickey's Boo To You Halloween Parade

2009 Mickey's Boo To You Halloween Parade

I shot this video in October 2009 at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom Orlando, FL's Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.

Prince Charming Regal Carrousel

Prince Charming Regal Carrousel (formerly Cinderella's Golden Carrousel was renamed in 2010) was built in 1917 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Co.  Originally called the Liberty Carousel it was built for Electric Park in Detroit Michigan.

     Electric Park, originally built as a trolley park, was in operation from 1906 until it's demolition in 1928.  In 1917 the Philadelphia Toboggan Co. installed the Liberty Carousel at the park.  Liberty Carousel is the 46th of 87 Carousels they built. The Liberty like most had a war theme where your riding the horses into battle with Patriotic colors and banners festooned all over her.  She originally had 72 horses and 2 or 4 charriots depending on who you talk to.

     In 1928 the Liberty was sold to Olympic Park in Maplewood New Jersey. Olympic Park was in operation from 1887-1965.

     The Liberty was bought by the Walt Disney Company in 1967, saved from certain destruction.  Carousel horses had become quite valuable by that time, and today they are astronomical.  It is suggested that each of the horses today is valued at up to $100,000. Walt Disney dismantled and shipped her to Orlando Florida for the upcoming Walt Disney World.  She was painstakingly restored to it's originally glory albeit in a more festive color scheme and renamed Cinderella's Golden Carrousel.  Walt Disney decided she needed to be bigger and added another row of horses on the outside giving her the present day 90 horses.


     There's a few facts I can't find.  I thought she was originally a "catch the ring" carousel, where the object was to reach up and grab a brass ring and if you caught it you got to ride again for free. The other mystery to me is what band instrument was originally housed in it to provide the music.

update:
     The original Band organ is thought to be a Gavioli. But Gavioli shut down in 1912 and was bought out by Limonaire Frères which had their factory confiscated by Germany in 1917 during WWI. So I'm guessing if it was a Gavioli it was an instrument that Electric Park allready had.  It is also believed that When Walt Disney aquired the carousel from Olympic Park that the organ was no longer with it.

I shot this video of the carrousel in October 2009

Walt Disney World Big Thunder Mountain Railroad complete ride through video

Walt Disney World likes mountains, it's got 4, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was #2 it opened November 15, 1980.  As far as back story goes The town of Tumbleweed, once a booming gold rush mine town, has been flooded and is now abandoned.  It was later discovered that the old mine trains were possessed and were racing around on their own. So Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was formed to give tourists a thrill ride through the old mine town.

     An interesting fact that helps Disney pass through so many people as quick as they do on This ride is the fact that there are 2 loading stations and 6 trains running all the time. There are track switches to divert the trains to the 2 loading stations to unload and a set of switches to reconnect the 2 loading stations back to the single track after loading. Each train holds 30 riders. The ride last 3 minutes 25 seconds. I believe there is at most 3 trains at any one time out on the track and 3 in the station either loading or unloading.  So theoretically 1,800 people an hour can ride which will move a line pretty fast. So next time you go and it says you got a 45 minute wait you'll know there are probably 1,350 people in line in front of you!  The names of the 6 trains: U.B. Bold, U.R. Daring, U.R. Courageous, I.M. Brave, I.B. Hearty, I.M. Fearless.

     Of interesting note this attraction was one of the first Walt Disney World rides to utilize computer aided design. FAA requires any structure 200 feet tall or taller to have a red beacon on top.  Big Thunder Mountain Railroad tallest structure is 197 feet tall,  in order to not ruin the theming with a bright red flashing beacon. Disney uses a lot of forced prospective in almost everything to give illusions to height and distance.

     I shot this video in October 2009:

Complete Ride through of EPCOT's Germany Pavillion G Scale Garden Railway

This is just so cool I have to post it! You ever wanted to ride on a model railroad and experience its scale environments?

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/04/riding-the-rails-like-never-before-aboard-the-garden-railway-at-epcot/

Walt Disney World Splash Mountain ride through video

Splash Mountain Walt Disney parks answer to how to really do a log flume in style. The storyline is based on Walt Disney's 1946 movie "Song of the South".  The ride opened on October 2nd 1992 and has an outstanding 11 minute ride time and features over 100 Audio-animatronic figures.

"Song of the South", a mixed live action animated film where the 2 interact with each other, has been unfortunately permanently locked away in the Disney vaults.  Due to the nature of the story Walt Disney is afraid to re-release it because some deem it a racist movie. But they built 3 log flumes based on the animated parts of it's story at Disneyland in California, Tokyo Disneyland in Japan and the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida.

I shot this video in October 2009:

Walt Disney World Railroad ride along

Walt Disney World Railroad ride along
Walter E. Disney locomotive
Old Number 1
1925 Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (4-6-0) 10 wheeler

Video of Space Mountain with the lights on!

This is a video I shot from the Tomorrowland Transit Authority aka the WEDway People Mover of space mountain during it's remodel in 2009.  If you've never seen Space Mountain with the lights on here's your chance:

The Walt Disney World Railroad

The following is taken from the plaquards at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom's Railroad Station:

Lilly Belle

     The Lilly Belle is a Mogul 2-6-0, which means it has two wheels at the
front of the engine, six in the middle and none at the rear.  It was built by
the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1928 and operated
on the United Railways of Yucatan, Mexico as engine number 260.  Imagineer Roger
Broggie found the Baldwin bunker C oil burner in a railway equipment boneyard in
Merida, Mexico in 1969.  He shipped the narrow gauge steam engine to Florida
where it was converted to the exacting standards required for a Disney theme
park attraction.  When the work was finished the engine had a new look, a new
name and a new number:  Lilly Belle Number 2.

     Lillian Bounds Disney was married to Walter E. Disney for 41 years.  They
met in 1923 when she applied for a $15 a week job, inking and painting animation
cels for the Disney brothers cartoon studio.  Two years later they became
husband and wife on a July day in 1925.  In the late 40's, with the studio doing
well enough to afford a new home for his growing family, Walt decided to go into
the railroad business.  Unfortunately, the tracks for this miniature rail line
would need to run through Lillian's newly planted flower beds.  Luckily for
Walt, and train enthusiasts everywhere she granted him right-of-way and the
Carolwood Pacific Railroad, the inspiration for the Disneyland Railroad and the
Walt Disney World Railroad, was born.

     Steam locomotives need a constant supply of water to turn into steam, thus
a water pumping system is needed.  Back in the early days of railroading, an
ingenious system was developed to deliver water to the boiler.  By connecting a
pump to the crosshead, and taking advantage of the movement already taking
place, water was pumped from the tender tank into the boiler.  Over the years
this system fell out of favor and newer, more modern systems were employed.
Some ancient narrow gauge steam locomotives still employed this pump into modern
times as they tend to be more basic in design and function.  The Magic Kingdom
steam locomotives retain this wonderful mechanical contraption as a tribute to
the classical iron horse and the ingenuity of it's designers.

Walter E. Disney

     Old Number 1, The Walter E. Disney, is known as a ten-wheeler.  It has four
wheels at the front of the engine, six in the middle and none at the rear
(4-6-0).  Built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
in 1925, the locomotive that later became the Walter E. Disney worked as number
274 on the United Railways of Yucatan, Mexico.  Years later, Imagineer Roger
Broggie went searching for existing narrow gauge steam engines that could be
converted to the exacting standards required for a Disney theme park attraction.
 In 1969 he found what he was looking for in a railway equipment boneyard in
Merida, Mexico.  He shipped the engine to Florida where it was reworked,
refurbished, and rechristened with a new name and number:  Walter E. Disney
Number 1.

     Walt Disney was a dreamer.  As a boy, he traveled the rails of the Missouri
Pacific Railroad selling newspapers and candy to the passengers.  His older
brother Roy and his Uncle Mike Martin obtained employment with the Santa Fe
Railroad and Walt dreamed of becoming an engineer.  His future took a different
path, but his love of railroading never diminished.  In the late 40's, with
Walt Disney Productions a very successful venture, he focused on building his
own railroad, the Carolwood Pacific, a 1/8 scale, live steam railway that
traveled over 2,600 feet of track around his backyard.  This miniature railroad
served as the model for the Disneyland Railroad and the inspiration for the Walt
Disney World Railroad.

     In 1804, mechanic Richard Trevithick first introduced steam power to
railways of England.  By 1830 the United States had also embraced the concept of
travel by rail.  Within forty years, on May 10, 1869 the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts were linked together by a standard gauge transcontinental railroad.  The
narrow gauge railway came into its own with the desire to run trains north and
south, as well as east and west.  Because narrow gauge track is only 3 feet
wide, compared to a standard gauge of 4 feet 8 - 1/2 inches, narrow gauge
locomotives and cars are smaller, making them lighter and less expensive to
build.  Of even greater importance are the narrower roadbeds which are easier to
lay along sheer rocky chasms and treacherous, turning mountain slopes.
Surprisingly, Florida is not as flat as it sometimes appears and the WDW Railroad
has to deal with grades of up to two percent.

Roger E. Broggie

     Like it's counterpart, the Walter E. Disney, the Roger E. Broggie is a
ten-wheeler.  It has four wheels at the front of the engine, six in the middle
and none at the rear (4-6-0).  It came out of the Baldwin Locomotive Works of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in May of 1925, destined for the jungles of Mexico as
engine number 275.  In 1969, its namesake, Imagineer Roger Broggie, found it
discarded and abandoned in the boneyard of the Yucatan railroad equipment
storage area.  Shortly before his death in 1966, Walt Disney personally
authorized the construction of the Walt Disney World Railroad for the new theme
park he was building in Florida.  Roger Broggie suggested using existing narrow
gauge steam engines that could be converted to Walt's exacting standards, rather
than building new trains, as they had for the opening of Disneyland.  When Roger
found what he was looking for in Mexico, he shipped engine number 275 to Tampa,
Florida where it was transformed under his direct supervision into the, Roger E.
Broggie Number 3.

     Roger Broggie's career as a railroad man began with Walt Disney and the
planning and construction of the Carolwood Pacific Railroad.  Along with the
Disney studio craftsman Ed Sargent and animators Ward Kimball and Ollie
Johnston, Roger helped Walt create a 1/8 scale, steam train that would travel
along 2,600 feet of track around Walt's backyard.  This miniature railroad
served as the model for the Disneyland Railroad and the inspiration of the Walt
Disney World Railroad.  In 1952 Roger Broggie became Walt's first Imagineer and
helped develop the technology used for Audio-Animatronics and all Disney theme
park conveyance systems.  Roger retired in 1975 as vice president of research
and development for Walt Disney Imagineering, and was recognized by the company
in 1990 as a true Disney Legend.

     The Roger E. Broggie has what is known as a diamond stack, so named for the
shape fashioned at the top of the exhaust stack.  Very early in the evolution of
steam locomotion, it was discovered that smoke was not the only thing exiting
the exhaust stack.  Red hot cinders, particularly adept at setting the
countryside ablaze, would also blow out.  In order to appease angry farmers and
town fathers affected by these rolling fire storms, these large stacks where
designed with an internal array of baffles and screens that would allow the
smoke to pour from the stack, but keep the cinders trapped within.

Roy O. Disney

     The Roy O. Disney is considered an American Standard, which means it has
four wheels at the front of the engine, four in the middle and none at the rear
(4-4-0).  It is both the oldest and newest steam train in the park.  Built in
1916, almost a decade earlier than the Walter E. Disney and Roger E. Broggie, it
was the only steam engine that did not debut at the Magic Kingdom's opening on
October 1, 1971.  It was not until December of that year that it joined its
three fellow passenger trains on the tracks of the Walt Disney World Railroad.
Originally, it was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania.  It worked on the United Railways of Yucatan as engine number 251.
 Imagineer Roger Broggie found it in their boneyard in Merida, Mexico in 1969.
He shipped the battered steam train to Florida where it was reworked to his
exacting standards.  The new train missed the Magic Kingdom's opening date by
two months, and instead made the perfect Christmas gift for the new park:  Roy
O. Disney, Number 4.

     Roy Disney was Walt's older brother, mentor and lifelong business partner.
Roy's association with railroading began in 1915 when he worked as a candy
butcher on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway.  In 1923, he and Walt
co-founded the Disney brother's cartooning enterprise.  Roy chose to stay in the
background, astutely managing the growing entertainment company, while Walt lead
it creatively.  In 1966, Roy assumed leadership of the company upon Walt's
Death.  He vowed he would open Walt Disney World in Florida and on October 1,
1971 he kept his promise to all.

     The pilot, as it is properly known, or the cow catcher, to which it is more
commonly referred.  Began appearing on locomotives as a defensive measure.  The
scoop-shaped contraption was designed to clear from the tracks objects that
might derail the locomotive and its cars.  This was especially important to
small, narrow gauge engines that sometimes came up against large, wide gauge
bulls.  Railroad myths had it that the larger the cow the more stubborn its
nature.  Sometimes a blast from the locomotive's whistle or the clanging of the
train's bell was not enough to persuade them to move from the tracks and so the
cow catcher was born.



Additional information:

     The Roy O. Disney is the oldest attraction at Walt Disney World being built in 1916. The Carrousel was built in 1917 making it the 2nd oldest. The next 3 are also trains. The fifth oldest is the carrousel of progress which was built in 1964 for the New York Worlds fair and was in operation at Disneyland in California before being moved to Disney World in Orlando.

Dealing with the Walt Disney World buses from a wheelchair perspective.

      Like most people, we like to take vacations every once in a while. This can prove to be quite difficult since I'm in a wheelchair/power wheelchair. You see, I have rheumatoid arthritis, and it's difficult to get around some places.

     Up until a couple of years ago, we limited our vacations to places like Chicago, but we decided that we wanted to go somewhere else. Since both of us hadn't been to Walt Disney World in years, we decided that we would go there. We went in 2008 and 2009, and both time we stayed in the All Star Music Hotel. This hotel is between the All Star Movies Resort and All Star Sports Resort.

      After we made our reservations, we immediately started reading up on how to get around the different parks while being disabled. While I found many helpful pages of information on this subject, it was still different getting to experience it firsthand. Something that I didn't read about in the information that I found ahead of time was what to expect when getting to the parks from our hotel

     We aren't usually morning people, but we had planned to have Character Breakfasts at different places so that we would be sure to get up at a decent hour and be able to make the most of our day in whatever park that we were visiting that day. Some days, we got to sleep in later than others.

      After getting dressed and covering ourselves really well in sunblock, we were on our way to the front of our hotel to await a bus to take us to a park for the day. Waiting times for a bus varied depending on what time of day it was, if the park had “ Disney World Extra Magic Hours”. This is where on designated days, a Walt Disney World theme park will be open an hour early and/or three hours later for Disney Resort guests only. If the park had Extra Magic Hours during the morning, the line for that particular park was really busy first thing in the morning. We usually chose to go to the parks that had Extra Magic Hours in the evenings unless we had dining plans at another park. Anyway, back to waiting in line for a bus.

      Each park has a different line where park goers wait for a bus. That line then has two different “lines”; one for wheelchairs and another for non-disabled people. For the most part, we were usually the only ones waiting at the wheelchair line. However, once or twice there were other disabled visitors waiting as well. For the most part, these visitors were friendly, but there were a couple of occasions where the visitors were not so friendly. One time I recall, this lady, her husband (who was in a wheelchair), and the rest of their group were down at the non-disabled area. However, once we showed up and took our place at the front of the “wheelchair line”, she immediately came over and told us in a not so friendly way that her husband was ahead of us in line. We shrugged it off and continued to wait. Once the bus showed up, her and her husband hurried in front of us and made sure they got on the bus first. There was only one spot for a wheelchair to be tied down (there are two in each bus) on this particular bus since there was already a disabled person tied down. She looked at us and again in her not so friendly voice told us that we were going to have to wait for the next bus, because they were taking the vacant wheelchair “seat”. Again, we just shrugged it off and waited for the next bus.

      Let me tell you about the Walt Disney World buses. They're pretty neat. We noticed that there are two different kinds of buses that pick up park goers and take them to the parks. There are older ones that have steps in the back of the bus and the driver (or Walt Disney Cast Member) has to push buttons (or something like that) to make them straighten out into a ramp for a wheelchair to board the bus. There are also newer ones that have a “kneel” down and have a ramp that folds down (once again by the doings of the bus driver) for the wheelchair to get aboard the bus. Both buses are pretty cool, but I think I liked the newer buses better. But that didn't matter, just as long as we got to the park to begin our day of fun and memories.

      As I mentioned previously, the bus has two tie-down spots for wheelchairs, power chairs, scooters, or whatever vehicle the disabled person travels in. They are “hidden” under normal seats. These seats fold up for the disabled person's vehicle to be tied down for the ride. If a park goer is sitting in these seats, they have to give their seat up for a disabled person to get on board. I thought this was pretty neat. I have to admit that I kinda felt bad about “taking” someone's seat.

      Once the bus arrives at our hotel and in the correct park line, it's time to get aboard. Well, first, if there are people on the bus that are getting off the bus to go into the hotel, they are let off first. Once they are off, then if there are disabled people waiting to board, the driver has to shut the front doors of the bus so that nobody gets on while the disabled person(s) are being loaded and tied-down. Once the handicapped people and their vehicle(s) are tied down securely, the driver goes back to the front of the bus and opens the front doors to let everybody else on board the bus. Within mere minutes, the bus fills up and everyone is ready to go to the park for some family fun.

      The bus ride to the park is a loud one. There are a lot of little kids that are talking about meeting Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and all of the other Disney characters and also adults planning out their day at the park. The ride can also be a bumpy one. One time, I was apparently not tied down well and the driver did a really wide turn and I almost landed on my side. To say that I was freaked out would be an understatement. From that point on, my fiance 1) made sure that I was tied down pretty well, and 2) stood at my right side and positioned himself to where if I tilted at all, he could push against me and keep me upright.

      The All-Star hotels are pretty far away from the parks, so the bus ride can last anywhere from fifteen to thirty minutes. Sometimes it's more, sometimes it's less, depending on the driver and the traffic too.

      Once at the park, the bus goes to the waiting area to unload us passengers. Once the bus comes to a stop, both the front and back doors are open to let the non-disabled passengers off. Once they are off, the driver comes to the back where us tied down passengers are eagerly waiting to get off of the bus. It takes less time to unhook the straps from the vehicles than it did to strap them, which is fine by me, because by this time, we are more than ready to start our day of fun at the park.

Arbitrary but astounding facts:
Walt Disney World has right at 300 buses.
The Walt Disney World bus fleet travels 15 million miles every year!!

Sarah

Walt Disney World Music Box Collection!

Walt Disney World Music Box Collection

My last few trips to Walt Disney World I have been trying to seek out these hidden antiques which are strewn all over the property in unique places.  This one is my favorite it's the J.P. Seeburg - Seeburg KT Orchestrion or nickelodeon. This nickelodeon, according to it's plaques, was built in 1927.  Its instruments include: Piano, Mandolin, Triangle, Xylophone and Castanets.

     Amazingly this 84 year old nickelodeon is located on an empty wall just as you walk into the Magic Kingdom's Main Street Rail Road Station.  After looking it over for a good long while I was pleasantly surprised Once I discovered how to operate it that it worked and sounded so beautiful.  I don't know the name of the song that is on it's roll though, if someone knows it please let me know in the comments section.

     Walt Disney World bought a very large collection of nickelodeons and Orchestrians from Paul Eakin in the 1970's and moved them all from Sikeston, MO and St. Louis, MO to various places. The largest being "Big Bertha" which is housed in a wall of the Grand Floridian's 1900 Park Fare and painted in Mary Poppins colors, and is only played during breakfast.  I'm 90% sure this Seeburg nickelodeon came from that collection.  This nickelodeon was originally located in the Penny Arcade on Main Street of Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom park.

This is the video of the Seeburg KT I shot October 2009

I've been trying to locate the other pieces in the Disney antique music box collection.

1. "Big Nelly", a 61-key Artizan from the former Paul Eakins collection was shipped to Disneyland Paris when it opened and sits unused as a prop in the carrousel. 
2. Big Bertha – Limonaire Fair Organ with 3 hand carved figures Currently can be heard everyday at Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare Restaurant at the Grand Floridian Hotel.
3. Seeburg E with flute pipes is in Crocket's Tavern in Fort Wilderness (this instrument has supposedly been sold)
4. Coinola Midget with flute pipes and a Wurlitzer style C Orchestra Piano are in storage
5. LOUDMOUTH SADIE MAE a Gavioli Military Trumpet Organ was used to record American on Parade and was sold.
6. Welte model 4 concert orchestrion, Penny Arcade on Main Street Disneyland.
7. Nelson-Wiggen model 6 orchestrion (with xylophone removed), Main Street train station Disneyland.
8. Coinola C2 orchestrion, ex-Paul Eakins, Golden Horseshoe Revue (second floor), Frontier Town Disneyland.
9. Symphonion upright disc music box. 20th Century Music Company on Main Street (right next door to the movie theatre) Disneyland.
10. Gavioli fairground organ, original chassis and drums contained in Disney Dumbo case with speakers providing the music (organ itself no longer plays). Located Disneyland in building adjacent to the flying Dumbo ride.
11. Engelhardt model F cabinet piano with flute pipes. This was formerly on display in the "Country Bear" arcade at Disneyland.
12. Wurlitzer model C orchestrion. is in Disney storage.
13. Wurlitzer model L orchestrion which was once on display on the Mark Twain dock at Disneyland.
14. Coinola Midget model F cabinet piano with flute pipes is in Disney storage.
15. Seeburg KT with xylophone is in Disney storage.
16. Mills Violano-Virtuoso is in Disney storage.
17. Seeburg "Grayhound" cabinet piano with dog race mechanism is in Disney storage
18. Universal "Nickelodeon" orchestrion with xylophone (modern machine). This instrument was once on display near the entrance of the Penny Arcade at Disneyland now in storage.
19. Ragtime Automated Music model ST orchestrion (modern machine). Was once in the lobby of the Country Bear Jamboree attraction at Disneyland and was put in storage upon the shows closure Sep 9, 2001.
20. One of the Wurlitzer C's Named "Mr Sam" part of the Paul Eakin collection has been restored by Robert's Music Restorations and now is on working display at the Diamond Horseshoe Restaurant at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom in Frontierland. 
21. Most of the collection was sold in 1997

From Chris Carlisle (Paul Eakin's grandson) The following list is the complete list of the Paul Eakin collection that the Walt Disney company purchased. The collection was fabulous and included so much more then music boxes.

Please visit Chris' website: http://www.bandorganmusic.com/ 

1. Belgian Band Organ
2. 34 Whistle Steam Calliope - experimental model made by the Tos. J. Nichols
3. Seeburg Style “H” - The largest Orchestrion made by Seeburg
4. Encore Automatic Banjo - made in the 1890s
5. Beale Street Special
6. Mr Sam – Large Wurlitzer Orchestrion from Memphis
7. Big Bertha – Limonaire Fair Organ with 3 hand carved figures
8. Big Nelly – 61 key Artizan Band Organ
9. Sara Jane - #148 Wurlitzer Military Band Organ
10. Clancy O'Toole – 43 whistle Tangley Calliope
11. Wurlitzer Caliola – with drums and a rear mounted keyboard
12. Style “O” Wurlitzer Theatre Player
13. Seeburg Style “K.T.” or “Eagle” - with flutes, castanets, triangle, mandolin and piano
14. Wurlitzer Barroom Piano
15. Sextrola – One of a kind machine made in 1908 for the Red Light Districts
16. Mills Single Violin – plays first and second violin and piano
17. Style C-2 Coinola – plays flute, bass drum, snare drum, snare drum roll, cymbal, mandolin and piano
18. Memory Lane Special – Coinola plays bass drum, snare drum, snare drum roll, flute pipe, triangle, wood block, tambourine, tympani, castanets, cymbal, orchestra bells, mandolin and piano
19. Wurlitzer Organette – has about 100 pipes, pipes mounted on rear of machine.
20. Seeburg “E” - plays flute pipe, mandolin and piano
21. Seeburg “Celeste” - plays over 100 pipes and 3 hand played chimes
22. Seeburg “K.T.” - with xylophone, tambourine, triangle, castanets, mandolin and piano
23. Coinola Style “A” “The Madam's Piano” - plays piano and mandolin
24. Seeburg Dog Race – Greyhound Race Machine that plays mandolin and piano
25. Fratti Monkey Organ – 20 key street organ or Hurdy Gurdy plays “Ta Ra Boom Der Aye” and “Yankee Doodle”
26. Cretors Horse Drawn Popcorn Wagon
27. Grandma (Esmerelda) Fortune Teller – Gypsy Wax
28. Lord's Prayer Stamping Machine
29. Drop Picture Arcade Piece – Ornate
30. Mystic Ray Fortune Telling Machine
31. Smiling Sam
32. Mystic Pen
33. Selectroscope – 5 reel Mutoscope
34. True Love Letter Post Office
35. License Bureau
36. Permits
37. Cupid's Post Office
38. Seeress - in the same cabinet as Crystal Gazer
39. How to Attract the Opposite Sex – attached to How Do You Look In Bed
40. How Do You Look In Bed – attached to How to Attract the Opposite Sex
41. Solar Horoscope
42. Mutoscope – (Heavy Iron) “Rate x 1920”
43. Mutoscope – (Heavy Iron) “Cheating the Chimney Worker”
44. Mutoscope – (Heavy Iron) “The Elopement”
45. Mutoscope – (Heavy Iron) “Old Time Flickers”
46. Mutoscope – (Heavy Iron) “The Bar Maid's Helper”
47. Mutoscope – (Heavy Iron) “Battle of Chateau”
48. Mutoscope – (Heavy Iron) “The Great Stagecoach Robbery”
49. Mutoscope – (Heavy Iron) “Dempsey-Tunney Fight”
50. Mutoscope – (Heavy Iron) “Only For Fun”
51. Mutoscope – (Heavy Iron) “Old Time Flickers”
52. Mutoscope – (Heavy Iron) “Oo-La La Girl”
53. Small Mutoscope - “The Veil Dance”
54. Whom You Should Marry – 12 Slots
55. Magic Pen
56. Gypsy Palmist
57. Roover's Nameplate Machine – (I think this is a typo and should be “Rover's”)
58. Lord's Prayer Stamping Machine
59. Cail-O-Scope - “Tom Mix”
60. Selectroscope – 5 reel Mutoscope
61. Crystal Gazer – in the same cabinet as Seeress
62. Palmistry
63. Railroad Post Office
64. World Horoscope – 12 slots
65. License Bureau
66. Your Future Family
67. Magic Tricks
68. Your Ideal Love Mate
69. Play Football
70. Kentucky Derby
71. Small Mutoscope - “The Jealous Wife”
72. Small Mutoscope - “Ziegfield Follies”
73. Mill's Illusion Arcade Piece – skull
74. Be Healthy, Electric Nerve & Massage
75. Grandmother's Predictions – oak case wood figure
76. Miniature Steam Shovel
77. Matilda – Donkey Fortune Machine (this machine was not sold to Disney)
78. Puss In Boots - (this machine was not sold to Disney)
79. Sister Patricia - (this machine was not sold to Disney)
80. Snow White And The 7 Dwarfs - “Washing Scene” (mutoscope?)
81. Paddy And The Pig
82. Fratti Street Organ – made for push cart
83. Sadie Mae Band Organ
84. Molinari Monkey Organ