Disney Past

History of Pleasure Island from Rosie O’Grady’s to Raglan Road

4 June 2021 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Welcome friends! We once again have a sparkling new Up the Waterfall podcast to share with you! This time it’s all about the interesting history of Pleasure Island. Believe it or not, our story begins with a little spot down the street from Walt Disney World – Rosie O’Grady’s at Church Street Station. In this latest Up the Waterfall, we take you though the history, the backstory, and the demise, of Pleasure Island.

As always, you can hear the full podcast wherever you download your podcasts. We’ve got a handful of places to download and listen to Up the Waterfall here and at the bottom of this post. You can also watch the video highlights version of Up the Waterfall, which will show you fun historical footage and images of what we’re talking about to go along with the show. Please subscribe to the audio or video version so you know when we next upload. We’d love to hear from you too, share with a friend, leave a comment or review/rating. That helps us know you want more fun shows!

I mention in this episode that I would list all of the “histerical” plaques that once adorned the original buildings at Pleasure Island. Here they are below, thanks to MousePlanet for providing this info.

The Pleasure Island Plaques

PLEASURE ISLAND (entrance plaque on the bridge by the ticket booths)
Founded 1911
An unverifiable, anecdotal, purely subjective, theoretical alleged purported history. Also, ersatz. A living monument to “the wise fool, the mad visionary, the scoundrel, the scalawag, and the seeker of enjoyment.” Merriweather Adam Pleasure, who purchased the island in 1911. Pleasure’s profitable canvas manufacturing/sail fabricating empire, founded on this site, provided him with the capital to indulge his lifelong interest in the exotic, the experimental, and the unexplainable. Known as the Grand Funmeister, Pleasure disappeared during his 1941 circumnavigation of the Antarctic. His sons, Henry and Stewart, took over the island and the Pleasure enterprises. Their mismanagement led to bankruptcy in 1955; Hurricane Connie hit that same year, and Pleasure Island was abandoned. In 1987, Archaeologists uncovered the site and its remains, and a large scale reclamation project was begun. In 1989, the new Pleasure Island was re-opened and dedicated to the legacy of Merriweather Adam Pleasure: “Fun for all, and All for fun!”
Placed here by the Pleasure Island Histerical Society.

THE EMPRESS LILLY
The Floating Arts Palace
1886
Originally christened The Floating Arts Palace, this vessel plied the mighty Mississippi River for 25 years. Boat fancier Merriweather Pleasure purchased it in 1911 to use as a home, guest house, and entertainment center while he began construction on Pleasure Island. In 1918, the former showboat was unmoored and transformed into a summer houseboat for steaming down the tree-lined waterways of Central Florida. In 1971 the boat was restored to her original glory and re-commissioned The Empress Lilly in honor of Mrs. Lillian Disney.

LILLY PLAZA
1922
Originally a turnaround for the limousines of guests visiting the Pleasure family houseboat. The plaza was remodeled for the July 4, 1937, debut of the 118-member Pleasure Island Philharmonic Concert Band conducted by Maestro Don G. O’Vanni. The P.I.P.C.B. concerts on this site ended with a piece Mrs. Isabella Pleasure commissioned, the haunting “Fugue for Triangle, Piccolo and Steampowered Riverboat Whistle.”

PORTOBELLO YACHT CLUB
Pleasure Family Home 1918
Island Founder Merriweather Pleasure built this home for his family who lived on their beloved island for 20 years. Here, Mrs. Isabella Pleasure hosted hundreds of tea socials, garden parties and croquet tournaments, featuring fine food and uninhibited conversation. As she often said, “If you don’t have something nice to say, come sit next to me!” Restored in 1989 as a joint effort of the Walt Disney Company and the Levy Restaurants.

PORTOBELLO ROSE GARDEN
Mrs. Isabella Pleasure, wife of Island founder Merriweather Pleasure, spent 20 years and several-hundred-thousand dollars attempting to crossbreed a “true blue” rose. Like others before her, she had to be content with variations on the color lavender. Mrs. Pleasure’s garden, first planted in 1919, was recreated in 1989 from notes in her journals and diaries.

BRIDGE
Originally constructed 1914
This bridge stood until 1943, when young Stewart Pleasure, son of Island founder Merriweather Pleasure, piloted the family showboat directly into the graceful span connecting Pleasure Island with the mainland. Stewart supervised the rebuilding of the bridge in 1944, but destroyed it again on September 2, 1954. The current bridge was built from the 1914 plans by the Walt Disney Company.

MERRIWEATHER’S MARKET
M. A. Pleasure’s Original Sailmaking Factory
1912
Foundation and wellspring of the considerable fortune of Island founder Merriweather Adam Pleasure. Once a month during the full moon, Pleasure could be seen on the roof of this building, chanting to the goddess of the the tides to keep his various enterprises afloat. Pleasure Island’s first sail was completed here December 18, 1912. After the assembly of the last sail on June 4, 1931, perfectionist Merriweather Pleasure insisted that the factory be preserved intact. The building was devastated by Hurricane Connie in 1955. Restored in 1989.

MANNEQUINS
Pleasure Island Canvas Works Fabrication Plant
1912
Second building erected on the island, this actually housed Merriweather Pleasure’s famous canvas fabrication works. In the 1930s, it was converted to a soundstage for Invincible Pictures, then into a design studio and workshop for various Pleasure projects. Most notable of these was a huge locomotive powered by a combination of steam and magnetic power. A colossal turntable was installed to facilitate the work on this revolutionary product, called Maxwell’s Demon, that was intended to revolutionize world transportation. It didn’t. For further unverifiable information on the life and times of Pleasure Island, refer to the theoretical histerical plaques located at the island’s entrances.

THE ISLAND DEPOT
Pleasure Island Administration Building
1913
Originally a wooden shack housing Pleasure Island’s paymaster/accountant/bookkeeper, telegraphy office, mailroom, first aid station, and social center, the first building on this site (constructed in 1913) burned to the ground in 1933 during a party celebrating the repeal of Prohibition. A subsequent building erected on the site was blown apart by a savage 1944 typhoon. Refurbished 1988-1989. The complete and dubious history of Pleasure Island is inscribed at each island entrance.

FIREWORKS FACTORY
Fireworks Laboratory and Storage Bunker
1922
Island founder Merriweather Pleasure had a passion for pyrotechnics. In 1922, he persuaded China’s premier fireworks inventor, The Bang Master, to immigrate to Orlando. The Master’s lab and storage bunker were built on this spot, and for the next four years Orlando’s citizens enjoyed stupendous Independence Day aerial displays. On July 3, 1927, a stray spark from Pleasure’s pipe set off an explosion that was heard in Tampa, 82 miles away. Mrs. Pleasure insisted that the wreckage of the factory be preserved as a reminder of “Pleasure’s Folly.” Renovated as a joint venture by the Walt Disney Company and the Levy World Company.

CHANGING ATTITUDES
Pleasure Perfect Upholstery
1923
Six full-time seamstresses worked here to refurbish the interiors of the custom yachts in the Pleasure Island Dry Dock. In 1934, the shop was responsible for stuffing the head of a rare Mongolian Yakoose for the Adventurers Club. This profitable sideline ended in 1943 when a war time shortage of kapok put taxidermy on the endangered species list. Further information on the incredible doings at Pleasure Island from 1911 to the Present Day is inscribed on the ersatz histerical plaques at all island entrances.

DOODLES
The Machine Shop
1937
Built as a custom tool-and-die shop for fearless flyer and Island founder Merriweather Pleasure’s “X-Thing” project. His granddaughter, Katie, converted it into Katie’s Kustom Kars, the first female owned and operated auto customizing shop in the Southeastern United States. Katie, a.k.a. Doodles, closed the shop in 1954 to join the Air Force as a test pilot for the only customized X-1 ever built.

ROCK AND ROLL BEACH CLUB
(XZFR Rockin’ Rollerdome-a roller skating dance club)
Building X
1937
Island founder and UFO enthusiast Merriweather Pleasure built his experimental “X-thing” here. Pleasure himself designed this super amphibious aircraft that could harness the power of the wind. The “X-Thing” flew only once—Sept. 1, 1940—with Pleasure himself at the controls. The test flight is shrouded in mystery, but upon landing Pleasure began broadcasts to outer space. Beamed from the roof of this building, the international Morse Code messages repeated “W-E-L-C-O-M-E.” Further information on the incredible doings at Pleasure Island from 1911 to present day may be found inscribed on the quasi-historical plaques at all Island entrances.

REEL FINDS
(Hammer and Fire – shop that featured titanium jewelry, stoneware, and wall hangings)
Fittings Foundry
1923
The bronze foundry for Pleasure Island Yacht Refurbishing Inc. was built in 1923. Unique custom fittings, individually cast at great expense, were required to achieve the “pleasure principle” of lavish but functional ornamentation of sailing vessels.
Further information on the illustrious and illusionary past of Pleasure Island may be found upon the plaques at each island entrance.

YESTEREARS
Remains of Pleasure Island Ltd. Chandlery and Tool Crib
1924
One of the many support facilities for the cornerstone of Island founder Merriweather Pleasure’s commercial empire, Pleasure Canvas and Sailmakers, Ltd. A 1944 hurricane sheared off the front of the building, sending a million (more of less) bolts, screws, linchpins, lugnuts, and spanner wrenches into the depths of Lake Buena Vista. The silly saga of Pleasure Island is told in its imprecise entirety at each island entrance.

SUSPENDED ANIMATION
Navigational Pleasure Graphics Ltd.
1924
Island founder and graphics connoisseur Merriweather Adam Pleasure rocked the art world when he lured R. North Camilpoter, America’s premier gold leaf stylist, to Orlando. Camilpoter spent his days peacefully hand-painting the bows of the yachts Pleasure refurbished. When Hurricane Charlotte damaged the building in 1944, only three years after his patron’s demise, the graphic artist was too dispirited to rebuild. History buffs: The incredible and unverifiable story of Pleasure Island is summarized for your entertainment at each island entrance.

AVIGATORS SUPPLY
Pleasure Shipping and Receiving
1924
Island founder Merriweather Pleasure had this building constructed to facilitate his business refurbishing ships and yachts. It later became a clearing house and depot for the booty from his global adventures. In 1939, Pleasure befriended a group of native Floridian stunt pilots, the “Avigators” who operated a short-lived import/export business here from 1949-1951. The entire history of Pleasure Island is misrepresented on the plaques located at each entrance to our island.

SUPERSTAR STUDIOS
Mrs. Pleasure’s Music Parlor
Composed 1929
Built to store island matriarch Isabella Pleasure’s gargantuan collection of 78 rpm Italian opera records. Immediately upon her passing in 1949, her two sons sold her collection (valued at $475,000) to an Orlando junk dealer for $150. Refurbished by the Walt Disney Company and Star Trax Enterprises in 1989. Find the fabulous fable of Pleasure Island and its founding family on the plaques at each entrance to the island.

VIDEOPOLIS EAST/CAGE
Artificial Intelligence Lab
1929
Built for Island founder Merriweather Pleasure’s son Henry, the “mad genius of Lake Buena Vista” and Henry’s life work, the Pleasure Cellular Automaton. Henry died thinking his experiments in artificial intelligence had failed. But when the building was reopened in 1987, the automaton was alive and thriving. In fact, it directed the refurbishing of its home and designed the sophisticated computer hardware that shows itself to best advantage. The complete and purely subjective saga of Pleasure Island is synthesized on the ersatz histerical plaques at the Island’s entrance.

LOMBARD PROMENADE
1929
Designed by Island founder and incurable romantic Merriweather Adam Pleasure after a trip he and wife Isabella took to San Francisco. They both fell in love with the city’s back-and-forth boulevard, Lombard Street. Isabella wanted a photograph as a souvenir, but Merriweather insisted on recreating the street itself. It later became a favorite site for the legendary, day-long hide-and-seek tournaments organized by the Pleasure grandchildren.
The fabled follies of Pleasure Island and its founding family are recorded on the histerical plaques at each island entrance.

COMEDY WAREHOUSE
Power Station
1912
This building became a storage facility when Pleasure Island was electrified in 1928. Six years later, the power station became home to the Pleasure Island Thespian Players, founded by and featuring Isabella Pleasure, wife of island founder and drama enthusiast Merriweather Pleasure. The players specialized in elaborate Central Florida Historical Pageants, including the seminal “Song of the Seminole.” After Mrs. Pleasure’s death in 1949, the building was closed and the players disbanded. Since its restoration by the Walt Disney Company, this site is again a warehouse, storing strange notions, again attractions and ideas slightly ahead of their time.

NEON ARMADILLO
The Greenhouse
1927
Constructed to house the vast array of exotic desert plants collected by island founder, a globe-trotter and amateur cactogogist Merriweather Pleasure. Pleasure regarded the Greenhouse as his personal Eden. He nurtured his “prickly pals,” as he called them, with fanatical devotion. After Pleasure’s disappearance in 1941, his Greenhouse was sealed off. When it was reopened in 1989, scientists discovered a huge and happy family or armadillos. The inhabitants were immortalized in neon by the Island renovators.

ADVENTURERS CLUB
Founded 1932
This imposing building was designed to house the huge personal library and archeological trophy collection of island founder and compulsive explorer Merriweather Adam Pleasure. Pleasure won the plans in a game of dominoes and attributed them throughout his life to noted architects Sir Edwin Luytens, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, and Eliel Saarinen. The building became the headquarters for the Adventurers Club, Pleasure’s zany band of globe-trotting friends. Exotic souvenirs of the members’ outlandish expeditions and riotous adventures were displayed on the walls. After Pleasure vanished at sea in 1941, the Club was sealed until it was opened to the public for the first time in 1989.

WEST END PLAZA
1941
Island founder and stargazer Merriweather Adam Pleasure was convinced during the sole flight of his “X-Thing” aircraft that he could make contact with alien beings. Working feverishly, Pleasure completed the world’s first and only Alien Landing Platform on July 4, 1941. His wife Isabella immediately laid claim to it for her beloved Pleasure Island Philharmonic Concert Band. Much to Merriweather’s disgust (“How can ‘they’ land when that blasted band is playing?’”) this became home base for the P.I.P.C.B.

THE PLEASURE ISLAND AMC 10 THEATERS
Pleasure Canvas Works
Fabrication Plant No. 12
1922
Originally constructed to house Island founder Merriweather Pleasure’s burgeoning canvas fabrication business. Hoping to discover and patent a cheap, clean, abundant, renewable source of power, Pleasure had the building refitted in 1938 as a laboratory for testing “thermomagnetics”—a process designed to harness the earth’s magnetic force. The success of the experiment was proven in 1940 when the facility blew sky high with no visible, provable use of combustibles. Pleasure commanded that the ruined super structure and outbuildings remain as testimony to “the awesome power of the planet”. Rebuilt jointly by American Multi-Cinemas, Inc. and the Walt Disney Company. Opened in 1988.

LOOKOUT POINT, PLEASURE ISLAND
Defense League
1941-44
Son of Island founder Merriweather Pleasure, “Paranoid Henry” Pleasure camped up here every single night from December 8, 1941, to V-J Day. He was convinced that the Axis powers were plotting an assault on America by coming ashore at Pleasure Island, which was then—and remains—80 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. In his nearly four years of vigilance, Henry fired his musket only once. He mistook a family of herons for the leading edge of an invasion force. The herons escaped unharmed.

Here’s the video version of our History of Pleasure Island Up the Waterfall podcast:

We hope you enjoy our History of Pleasure Island episode of Up the Waterfall! Do you have memories from Pleasure Island’s history that you want to share with us? Let us know in the comments below, or join us on our weekly LIVE show each Thursday at 8pm right on our Zannaland YouTube channel. See you there!

As always, we thank you for watching and listening! If you enjoyed, please share with a friend so more folks can learn about our growing podcast. Also please leave a review on Apple or Google podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you listen. Thank you!

Listen to Up the Waterfall:

You can listen anywhere you download and listen to podcasts, including:

(If there’s a podcast service where you can’t find our show, let us know and we’ll get it added there!)

Watch Up the Waterfall:

Head to our Up the Waterfall YouTube Playlist – where you can see our opening sequence and see some unique images during some episodes.

Feel free to comment below with your opinions on ANY of these hot button topics, any questions or info you’d like to add, or if it’s easier, head to the Zannaland Facebook page and join the discussion there with fellow Disney Parks fans!

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The History of Celebration Florida – Up the Waterfall Episode 45

10 December 2020 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

We rejoin our Up the Waterfall show podcast in full swing, with an episode near and dear to my heart, the history of Celebration, Florida. As you’ll see and hear in this week’s show, I followed the origins of Celebration from the start, and remember driving through the town as it was being built, and always wishing to one day call it home. I actually did, from 2011 – 2013, and enjoyed having a first-hand view of “The Town that Disney Built.”

This week we go over exactly how the town of Celebration came to be, what went into the planning, and what’s been going on since ground breaking in 1994. Celebration was born during a time of great progress in the Eisner-Wells era of the Walt Disney Company. The early 90’s saw the inception of the Disney Vacation Club, EuroDisney (now Disneyland Paris), hit movies and more. It seemed only natural that it would also see the first Disney designed and built town in America.

Here’s some of the Celebration Sales Center preview homes, from 1995 that I mentioned this on the show, see how it’s just a front facade?

Whether you’ve visited, lived in, or just driven through Celebration, Florida, we think you’ll enjoy this show and the facts and tid bits we learn along the way. As mentioned on the show, we wanted to share the books we referenced on the show, in case you’d like to add them to your collection or brush up on your Celebration history. All links below are affiliate links, which means if you purchase, a small commission comes back to Zannaland to support our costs. Just click on the book cover below to see the book:

Celebration The Story of a Town by Michael Lassell — Celebration – The Story of a Town by Michael Lassell

Building a Dream: The Art of Disney Architecture by Beth Dunlop

CELEBRATION JOURNAL - Inaugural Issue by Carole Engle — CELEBRATION JOURNAL – Inaugural Issue by Carole Engle

The Celebration Chronicles: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Property Value in Disney's Brave New Town by Andrew Ross — The Celebration Chronicles: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Property Value in Disney’s New Town by Andrew Ross

Celebration, U.S.A.: Living in Disney's Brave New Town by Douglas Frantz and Catherine Collins — Celebration, U.S.A.: Living in Disney’s Brave New Town by Douglas Frantz and Catherine Collins

WALT DISNEY WORLD Architecture By Disney — WALT DISNEY WORLD Architecture by Disney

Work in Progress by Michael Eisner with Tony Schwartz

Walt Disney: An American Original by Bob Thomas

Be sure to check out my other posts on Celebration Florida, including the famous Pirate House and some of the holiday events mentioned on the show! Have you visited or even lived in Celebration, Florida? What did you like (or not like) about the town? Let us know!

Listen to Up the Waterfall:

You can listen anywhere you download and listen to podcasts, including:

(If there’s a podcast service where you can’t find our show, let us know and we’ll get it added there!)

Watch Up the Waterfall:

Head to our Up the Waterfall YouTube Playlist – where you can see our opening sequence and see some unique images during some episodes.

Zannaland and Up the Waterfall Community – Let’s Connect!

FOLLOW THE ZANNALAND FAMILY ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WATCH OUR VIDEOS, VLOGS AND PODCAST TOO:

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Disneyland’s Tomorrowland ’67 – Up the Waterfall Episode 44

18 November 2020 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

This week we are focusing on a favorite time period of many, the 1967 refurbishment of Disneyland’s Tomorrowland. As you may know, Tomorrowland was perhaps the smallest land to open in 1955 as far as attractions go, and living up to its name. Walt knew this, and after devoting so much time, effort and creative endeavor to the 1964 World’s Fair in New York, he was ready to bring some of that same creativity and industry to Disneyland.

Of the major updates, most notably, Carousel of Progress was brought to Tomorrowland, the Peoplemover was opened, and a little attraction called Adventure Thru Inner Space brought to life a brand new ride system; the Omnimover as well as a new type of attraction experience altogether. We discuss this as well as the other changes in great detail on this week’s Up the Waterfall.

We hope you enjoy this week’s topic and maybe learn a thing or two along the way. We invite you to take this journey back in time with us…to a time where the future was hopeful and bright, when science was trusted and brimming with new discoveries and ways to make our lives better and easier. Today we take much of those advances for granted, so it is fun to take a look back at a simpler time in America, when Tomorrow itself invoked so much promise and positivity.

Do you have any personal memories of Tomorrowland ’67? I may not have learned of it until the past 10 years or so, but my fascination and interest has made up for that lost time! I’d love a time machine, how about you?

As mentioned on our Thursday night LIVE shows (every Thursday at 8pm eastern on YouTube), Scott and I both do work full-time. We don’t mean to use that as an excuse, but it’s also that time of year when so much is happening, 6 months seem to be crammed into 2! We thought that rather than put up a sub-standard episode, we would take the time needed to devote to the topic at hand. This episode is the result of that extra time.

As always, we thank you for watching and listening! If you enjoyed, please share with a friend so more folks can learn about our growing podcast! Thank you!

Listen to Up the Waterfall:

You can listen anywhere you download and listen to podcasts, including:

(If there’s a podcast service where you can’t find our show, let us know and we’ll get it added there!)

Watch Up the Waterfall:

Head to our Up the Waterfall YouTube Playlist – where you can see our opening sequence and see some unique images during some episodes.

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FOLLOW THE ZANNALAND FAMILY ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WATCH OUR VIDEOS, VLOGS AND PODCAST TOO:

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Ranking Extinct Disney Attractions – Up the Waterfall Episode 44

21 October 2020 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Another fun stroll down memory lane, this week we discuss Extinct Disney Attractions. More than just discuss, we rank them! This is one of those episodes where you’re going to want to watch it rather than (or in addition to) listening, as we rank them with cool graphics created by Christian.

Speaking of Christian, he chose the 30 extinct attractions that we ranked, so if you have any rides you think we should’ve included, please direct your comments to him! 😉 All joking aside, I think we could do quite a few more of these and still not get to all the former favorites that once existed at Disney parks. I know personally I would’ve added the Disneyland Peoplemover, which I never got to experience, as well as Magic Journeys among others. What rides do you miss the most? Or shows, or restaurants? We want to hear it all!

Scott’s Trivia Corner

This week we also brought back Scott’s Trivia Corner, with an answer to our last trivia question, which was all the way back on our Scariest Disney Attractions episode. Be sure to listen for that result. Because this week’s question was a little confusing, we wanted to include it here too so you can make a better guess – come on Disney trivia buffs we know you’re out there! Here it is:

There is one Disney park that featured TWO extinct attractions in TWO separate lands. During their time in the parks, they featured the SAME song, voiced by the SAME person (actor or actress, not character). One of which was an attraction with an Audio-Animatronics character voiced by an entertainer who sang the same song LIVE, in the second extinct attraction – a stage show. What are these two attractions, and as an added bonus, what was the featured song? Confused?! Yeah I was too haha! Two attractions…two characters…two lands…one person…one song. Try to figure it out and let us know in the comments below, or by commenting on the video, on social media, wherever you’d like to answer!

We thank you as always for listening and watching our Extinct Disney Attractions episode – if you can, please leave us a review on Apple podcasts or wherever you listen, and like and subscribe on YouTube. It really helps get the word out and spread the Disney love! See more ways to connect below:

Ways to Help Laid Off Cast Members:

As we mentioned on the end of the show, it is such a devastating time for so many. As locals, and a Cast Member family, we want to spread the word as much as possible about ways to help if you can.

Cast Member Pantry Facebook group for Orlando area Cast Members

Ear for Each Other Facebook group featuring Cast Members from both coasts offering their services or talents for sale

Google Sheet with Cast Member run Small Shops and businesses

Also check out our friends Sarah and Tom Bricker’s post on ways to help, including donating to the Second Harvest Food Bank in both Orlando and Orange County, California. Thank you for reading, and thank you for helping the magic makers.

As always, we thank you for watching and listening! If you enjoyed, please share with a friend so more folks can learn about our growing podcast! Thank you!

Listen to Up the Waterfall:

You can listen anywhere you download and listen to podcasts, including:

(If there’s a podcast service where you can’t find our show, let us know and we’ll get it added there!)

Watch Up the Waterfall:

Head to our Up the Waterfall YouTube Playlist – where you can see our opening sequence and see some unique images during some episodes.

Feel free to comment below with your opinions on ANY of these movie choices, any questions or info you’d like to add, or if it’s easier, head to the Zannaland Facebook page and join the discussion there with fellow Disney Parks fans!

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FOLLOW THE ZANNALAND FAMILY ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WATCH OUR VIDEOS, VLOGS AND PODCAST TOO:

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The History of Fort Wilderness – Up the Waterfall Episode 39

9 September 2020 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

With one whole year of podcasting behind us, we wanted to dig our heels into the history of one of our most beloved parts of the Walt Disney World Resort – Fort Wilderness! I recently reposted an article which I wrote back in 2014, and still stands today. My Ode to the Vacation Kingdom of the World is a great companion piece to this week’s episode. The article gives you a good idea of why Fort Wilderness is so well-loved, and perhaps underappreciated. I don’t often like to toot my own horn, but I highly recommend giving it a read either before or after listening to this week’s episode.

We start out our History of Fort Wilderness episode with a journey back, back, back to the early 1970’s. Covering the origin story of building a campground at Walt Disney World, and how (and who) went about doing that. If you’re wondering what it was like when Fort Wilderness opened, we discuss that too.

Next up, we list the various amenities and activities that made Fort Wilderness what it was. Marshmallow Marsh, the Wilderness Night Wildlife Expedition, what were they?! What activities still exist today? We’ll tell you. We also reminisce about that ol’ swimmin’ hole – River Country and our personal experiences with the first ever themed water park.

We don’t forget the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Review and the dining options either. You’ll hear how Hoop Dee Doo came to be and just how much it’s changed since then. Trail’s End, Mickey’s Backyard BBQ, we cover all your vittles at Fort Wilderness.

If you’ve ever wondered what “could have been” or heard rumors about things like “Cypress Point” and “Buffalo Junction,” we shed some light on projects that never got the green light. You may be surprised to hear how they turned into what we know today in that area.

Of course, we couldn’t do a history of Fort Wilderness without a major discussion on the Fort Wilderness Railroad. The much loved (but seldom experienced) railroad was removed for good back in 1980, but it lives on in our hearts forever! Did you ever ride the Fort Wilderness Railroad?? We’d LOVE to hear from you!

We also discuss the amazing campsite decorations that guests create each year. One of our favorite traditions is renting a golf cart and riding through all the decorated sites. That is now part of the history and charm as well.

We loved walking down memory lane, and giving some love to this completely unique and impactful Disney resort. We hope you learned a little history of Fort Wilderness – if we forgot something that you know and love, let us know!

Actually, I know we DID forget something! In looking for photos to give Christian for editing into the video version of our show, I found this fun tidbit! Apparently, there was a “Melvin the Moose Breakfast Show!” at Pioneer Hall in Fort Wilderness! Read what Walt Dated World has to say about it:

Walt Dated World reader Alex sent in a memory about a character breakfast he remembers from Fort Wilderness: “The Melvin the Moose breakfast show featured the moose-head from the Country Bear Jamboree in sort of a Mickey Mouse Club parody. They gave out kazoos with the breakfast. I read somewhere that the version I saw ran only a year, from 1986-1987 after which they added Chip and Dale.”

Photo from WaltDatedWorld.com

Another Walt Dated World reader shared about the Chip and Dale Breakfast:

Brad sent in the following memory: “Before the show began it was like a standard character breakfast with Chip and Dale and a couple of the Country Bears greeting the tables. I remember Liver Lips being quite intimidating. He was a very tall bear. I can’t remember the whole menu, but chocolate Chip (and Dale!) muffins were part of it. Between all the singing and dancing, while folks were eating, they showed a couple of the old animated shorts projected on stage. Also, the kazoos they gave out were used in the big finale where the audience got to make a whole lot of noise as part of a song. It was a lot like the end of the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue where people in the audience are given washboards to play along.”

Sounds so fun! I definitely wish I had attended. I only ever did the Empress Lilly character breakfast back in the day.

We also forgot the once infamous Lawn Mower Tree!! I love this story and definitely had planned to mention it. Darn it all! Well be sure to watch our Live Show on Thursday at 8pm (on facebook.com/zannaland and youtube.com/zannaland!) and we’ll discuss it then for a bit!

We hope you enjoyed our deep dive into the History of Fort Wilderness. Don’t forget to answer this week’s trivia question! Scott asked what designation or “record” the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue has achieved. Do you know the answer?

You can watch the episode below and see some fun images of the Fort way back then. You can of course listen too. We’ll include all the places to listen and connect with us below the video:

As always, we thank you for watching and listening! If you enjoyed, please share with a friend so more folks can learn about our growing podcast! Thank you!

Listen to Up the Waterfall:

You can listen anywhere you download and listen to podcasts, including:

(If there’s a podcast service where you can’t find our show, let us know and we’ll get it added there!)

Watch Up the Waterfall:

Head to our Up the Waterfall YouTube Playlist – where you can see our opening sequence and see some unique images during some episodes.

Zannaland and Up the Waterfall Community – Let’s Connect!

FOLLOW THE ZANNALAND FAMILY ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WATCH OUR VIDEOS, VLOGS AND PODCAST TOO:

Twitter: @zannaland, @otisney
Instagram: @zannaland, @UpTheWaterfall, @otisney
Zannaland’s facebook page, Up the Waterfall on Facebook
Zannaland on YouTube
Listen to Up the Waterfall podcast, subscribe on iTunes, or watch Up the Waterfall on YouTube

We thank you for your support and for sharing the love!

The History of Little Orange Bird at Walt Disney World – Up the Waterfall Episode 36

19 August 2020 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

This week we delve into one of my favorite topics: the unique and fascinating story of the Little Orange Bird and his residence at Walt Disney World. Much like Figment showing up in all the EPCOT festival merchandise, Orange Bird is now found all over the parks and resorts, when just 8 years ago, he couldn’t be found anywhere.

Back in the late 1960’s, Walt Disney World was still in its planning stages. Disney was working to obtain sponsorships from various corporations who wanted to be involved in the new park. With those sponsors came the opportunity to be affiliated with a particular attraction, show, or restaurant. The Florida Citrus Commission closed a deal with Disney on October 22, 1969, underwriting a “tropical bird show” for $3 million.

Original Sunshine Pavilion — Image courtesy of MrThemeParkAudio

That “tropical bird show” of course became the Sunshine Pavilion, which included the Tropical Serenade (or Tiki Room) and with it the Sunshine Tree Terrace, serving the soon-to-be-famous Orange Swirl, among other citrus delicacies.

Disney company marketing maven Vince Jefferds came up with the Orange Bird idea and developed the backstory, which would be released in book form, with an accompanying record with six songs penned by the renowned Sherman brothers. Bob Moore, the designer who handled many special projects for the Disney Company including the Walt Disney postage stamp and the eagle mascot for the 1984 Olympic games, came up with the character design for the Little Orange Bird.

On this week’s episode of Up the Waterfall, we discuss all things Orange Bird, from his inception to appearances in the park, and reappearance 8 years ago. We hope you’ll join us for this citrus-filled discussion and memory sharing of the adorable little bird with an orange for a head. You can also read my article on the Return of Orange Bird from when he first reappeared at the Sunshine Tree Terrace back in 2012.

Do you have memories of the Little Orange Bird? Are you a Citrus Swirl fan? Or is it Dole Whip all the way? Let us know! Join in the discussion at Facebook.com/UpTheWaterfall or any of the places listed below. Thank you as always for listening or watching! If you enjoyed – please share with a friend you think may enjoy too!

As always, we thank you for watching and listening! If you enjoyed, please share with a friend so more folks can learn about our growing podcast! Thank you!

Listen to Up the Waterfall:

You can listen anywhere you download and listen to podcasts, including:

(If there’s a podcast service where you can’t find our show, let us know and we’ll get it added there!)

Watch Up the Waterfall:

Head to our Up the Waterfall YouTube Playlist – where you can see our opening sequence and see some unique images during some episodes.

Zannaland and Up the Waterfall Community – Let’s Connect!

FOLLOW THE ZANNALAND FAMILY ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WATCH OUR VIDEOS, VLOGS AND PODCAST TOO:

Twitter: @zannaland, @otisney
Instagram: @zannaland, @UpTheWaterfall, @otisney
Zannaland’s facebook page
Zannaland on YouTube
Listen to Up the Waterfall podcast, subscribe on iTunes, or watch Up the Waterfall on YouTube

We thank you for your support and for sharing the love!

Howard – A Documentary

6 August 2020 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

The 1980’s were a transformative time not only personally, but as a Disney fan as well. My interests of course changed as I grew. I went from being obsessed with Strawberry Shortcake and Barbie dolls, to being obsessed with movies like Annie and E.T. In the animation realm, I was more into The Last Unicorn and The Secret of NIMH. I guess I felt Disney animation wasn’t for me anymore, and as a result, I still haven’t seen The Great Mouse Detective.

In non-movie terms, I was newly discovering EPCOT Center in 1983 and falling in love with Figment and Walt Disney World in general. I left my interest in animated Disney movies behind, and it seems like I was not alone in that feeling, based on the numbers those early 80’s films pulled in.

By my sophomore year in high school, I had been in 5 different schools in 3 different states in 5 years (my parents liked to move around). I was firmly ensconced in the “theatre kid” life as a coping mechanism. I watched and listened to musicals, I was in drama club and several school productions and competitions. At my 5th and last school, I arrived in the middle of sophomore year, wondering if I could yet again make a new set of friends and start over. It was their production of Little Shop of Horrors that pushed me to audition for the next show. I was (and still am) absolutely in love with Little Shop, “Somewhere That’s Green” and “Suddenly, Seymour” are two of the best written and most pure musical numbers of all time.

Before the days of wikipedia (or me paying attention perhaps), I had no idea that the brilliant minds behind one of my favorite shows were working on something that would put Disney animation back on the map and change it forever. The Little Mermaid appeared on the horizon and looked and sounded unlike anything I’d seen before. It was the perfect time for this brand new relatable princess, with a soundtrack that told the story of the entire movie, with memorable, sing-along-to songs, to completely win me over.

I was also particularly obsessed with Phantom of the Opera and the Beauty and the Beast television series, as well as Labyrinth. I was fully embracing the villain-turned-good-guy storyline. (Okay, maybe Jareth in Labyrinth wasn’t ever a good guy, but come on, it was David Bowie…what’s a teenage girl supposed to think?) I distinctly remember Beauty and the Beast coming out at just the right time in my 17-year-old life and being so captivating that it was an instant classic. Again, I wasn’t alone.

What these new films managed to do was combine my love of Disney, musicals, and animation, as well as really cement my Disney fandom, even if I mostly kept it to myself at that point. Sure, Disney parks were full of animated movie references and attractions, but they were all at least 20 years old by then. These compelling tales gave life to various shows, parades, and attractions, while this new generation of fans felt at home with their new-found favorites represented in the parks. We didn’t realize it at the time, but this was the second golden age of Disney animation – the renaissance, if you will. And really, we have Howard Ashman to thank for that.

All of this personal backstory leads me to Howard, Don Hahn’s latest documentary chronicling the life and times of Howard Ashman. Even casual fans have heard of the Ashman and Menken duo, and seen the dedication on Beauty and the Beast: “To our friend, Howard, who gave a mermaid her voice and a beast his soul, we will be forever grateful. Howard Ashman 1950–1991.” But who is the man behind that dedication? What is his story? Die-hard fans have heard some bits and pieces from those who were there, but what Howard does is tell us where that man came from, and how his life was tragically cut short.

We recently discussed Don Hahn’s previous look at this time period, Waking Sleeping Beauty, on our Up the Waterfall podcast. I wanted to revisit it as a precursor to this new film, as it really sets the stage for when and how Howard came into the Disney realm. More than just that, we are treated to first-hand accounts of his childhood from the mouths of his sister and mother. Stories of his work ethic and dreams from his close friends. Tales from Disney and former Disney colleagues of the process of coming to Disney, and creating the stories that would soon live on forever. Heartbreaking memories from his partner, Bill. Howard is truly a love letter to all fans of Disney certainly, but also to those who are filled with creative spirit; a love letter to those with a dream.

More than just a dry documentary with talking heads and old still photos, Howard is crafted to draw you in and make you feel as if you are a part of the story. As Howard’s sister shares a moment in time when Howard created a whole other world for her from cowboy and Indian figures and whatever else lay about the room, the memory is recreated before you on screen. You hear his sister’s wistful remembrance and know how important this point on a timeline is, in explaining who Howard Ashman became.

Particularly poignant is the scene when Howard and Alan Menken were invited to speak at the 92nd Street Y in New York. We hear the event’s audio, we see the crowd in the audience, but we look at empty chairs on the stage. Knowing that right before this is when Howard learned of his HIV diagnosis makes the scene that much more powerful. You hear the difference in Howard’s voice, the weary uncertainty of what his future holds.

Beyond his time at Disney, Howard truly takes you on the journey of Howard Ashman’s life. From his childhood antics to children’s theatre performances in Baltimore, through his varied education and bold moves to open a theatre in derelict New York City of the 70’s – and make a success of it. He built a black box theatre from nothing, and put on some amazing shows, including, of course, Little Shop of Horrors. That success led to a failure, when he worked with Marvin Hamlisch to create Smile, which made it to Broadway, but was a flop. It was on the coattails of that failed dream, that his story led him to Disney.

We also aren’t shielded from his personal life, which does play an important role. Don Hahn created this film back in 2018, without “Disneyfying” and it is now being shared on Disney+ as it was envisioned by the director. Howard Ashman’s past comes into play, his diagnosis is shared, and of course, the tragic end of his life is covered. We share in Howard’s fears of sharing his HIV news with colleagues, we hear his worry about sending in his demo tape of “Belle” for Beauty and the Beast. Rumors of Howard representing himself as “The Beast” due to his diagnosis are quelled. All in all, it is a fully fleshed out story and one that you won’t want to miss.

Howard premieres August 7 on Disney+, which if you haven’t yet subscribed to, this is certainly reason enough to go for it. There are a handful of true gems within this Disney+ platform, Howard and Waking Sleeping Beauty among them. On a recent press call with Don, I asked if we could look forward to any “extras” or “bonus features” from the cutting room floor with the Howard release. Don said that in revisiting the film, he did find so much more content and he hopes to someday release them, perhaps as a webseries. So fingers crossed that all gets the green light.

On a personal note, I am truly grateful that we have people like Don who not only were there when this history played out, but have the incredible talent to share these gifts of knowledge and understanding with us all. People often ask “why Disney?” “why are you so into it, it’s just for kids” but stories like this one prove that behind every fairy tale is a lot of hard work, a lot of heartbreak, and almost always, the answer to the “reason why” we love what we love. Thank you, Don, and thank you, Howard.

Waking Sleeping Beauty – Disney Animation Renaissance – Up The Waterfall Episode 34

5 August 2020 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Eleven years may have passed since the 2009 Don Hahn directed documentary release, Waking Sleeping Beauty. Don Hahn has another documentary coming out in just a couple of days on Disney+. Howard, which premiers on Disney+ August 7 and tells the story of Howard Ashman. Howard is of course half of the Ashman/Menken duo that really played an integral part in the Walt Disney Animation renaissance of the late 80’s and early 90’s. I recently got the chance to be on a press call for Howard with Don Hahn, and view the film in advance. I’ll have an article reviewing Howard coming up so keep an eye out. For now, we thought discussing Waking Sleeping Beauty on our Up the Waterfall podcast would be a great way to set the stage for the upcoming Howard Ashman film.

On this week’s episode, we discuss just that; the importance of this time period in Disney and Disney animation history and the impact these major changes and shake-ups within the company had on the animation side things. Hear our thoughts and some insights as we recall this time and its representation in this fly-on-the-wall documentary.

As mentioned on the podcast, there is an upcoming Evening with Alan Menken concert with Lin-Manuel Miranda put on as a fundraiser for the Walt Disney Family Museum. It is taking place this Thursday August 6 at 5pm pacific time. If you are able to donate, it is such a wonderful foundation, but if not, there is a free registration option as well.

We hope you enjoy this week’s show – give us a comment below if you’ve seen Waking Sleeping Beauty and tell us your favorite part of the film. Are you looking forward to Howard on August 7? Don’t forget to listen and answer our trivia question too! You can email zanna with your trivia answers before next week!

Don’t forget to keep an eye out for our LIVE show, starting Monday, August 3, 2020. We’ll be broadcasting live from the Zannaland facebook page, so be sure you are following along there and like the page to be notified when we go live!

As always, we thank you for watching and listening! If you enjoyed, please share with a friend so more folks can learn about our growing podcast! Thank you!

Listen to Up the Waterfall:

You can listen anywhere you download and listen to podcasts, including:

(If there’s a podcast service where you can’t find our show, let us know and we’ll get it added there!)

Watch Up the Waterfall:

Head to our Up the Waterfall YouTube Playlist – where you can see our opening sequence and see some unique images during some episodes.

Zannaland and Up the Waterfall Community – Let’s Connect!

FOLLOW THE ZANNALAND FAMILY ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WATCH OUR VIDEOS, VLOGS AND PODCAST TOO:

Twitter: @zannaland, @otisney
Instagram: @zannaland, @UpTheWaterfall, @otisney
Zannaland’s facebook page
Zannaland on YouTube
Listen to Up the Waterfall podcast, subscribe on iTunes, or watch Up the Waterfall on YouTube

We thank you for your support and for sharing the love!

Disney California Adventure and it’s Crazy Past – Up the Waterfall Podcast

10 February 2020 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

Disney California Adventure has had quite the history in its short 19 years of existence. February 8th saw DCA’s 19th birthday, so to celebrate we thought we’d venture Up the Waterfall and discuss all the crazy changes this young park has experienced over the years. It’s definitely had some…growing pains. Special thanks to Yesterland.com for all the incredible photos from California Adventure‘s opening days.

Personally, I did not get to enjoy Disney’s California Adventure in its original or even secondary “glory.” This was due to the fact that around the time it was built I was not only dealing with two kids under two, but I was still in California-is-a-foreign-country-I-may-never-get-to mode regarding Disneyland. (But once I did get to experience the Disneyland Difference, I fell head-over-heels in love!)

As a result of not visiting California Adventure for years, I missed a lot of the things we discuss in the beginning of the episode. Sure, I knew about Super Star Limo and the pun-filled Paradise Pier area, but that was sort of it. So this episode was really fun for me to discover some of these things for the first time too.

In this episode, we start out with the history of a second park on the west coast; where and what could have been. Next we chronicle how Disney’s California Adventure first came to be. We cover all of the strange design and attraction choices that existed at park opening in 2001. Followed by the little changes and the major changes that followed.

Flik's Flyers — ARE Egg Rolls the fastest?

When I finally got to visit DCA in 2011, it was full of construction walls and not much else. Really, just Paradise Pier and World of Color were the highlights for me. Certainly, when I returned in 2012, it was a whole new world. Cars Land, Buena Vista Street brought with it a new design standard. All the additions that came with those areas really improved the whole park, making it a must-see destination.

Rounding out the discussion, we share where we think the park will go in the future with the upcoming Avengers Campus. Above all, we ponder what will become of Disney California Adventure in the years to come. What do you think will happen?

We hope you enjoy this week’s episode of Up the Waterfall!

How to Listen to Up the Waterfall

You can listen anywhere you download and listen to podcasts, including:

(If there’s a podcast service where you can’t find our show, let us know and we’ll get it added there!)

How to Watch Up the Waterfall

Head to our Up the Waterfall YouTube Playlist – where you can see our opening sequence and some unique images of the Disney California Adventure over the years. Here’s the latest episode:

Feel free to comment below with your memories of Disney California Adventure, any questions or info you’d like to add, or if it’s easier, head to the Zannaland Facebook page and join the discussion there with fellow DCA fans!

How Can I Learn More About This Episode?

Here are some of the books we referenced for this episode (the links will go to the item on amazon.com and are affiliate links – meaning no extra cost for you but a small portion goes back to zannaland if you make a purchase – thank you for supporting our site!):

Zannaland and Up the Waterfall Community – Let’s Connect!

FOLLOW THE ZANNALAND FAMILY ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WATCH OUR VIDEOS, VLOGS AND PODCAST TOO:

Twitter: @zannaland, @otisney, @badgesickle
Instagram: @zannaland, @UpTheWaterfall, @otisney, @badgesickle
Zannaland’s facebook page
Zannaland on YouTube
Listen to Up the Waterfall podcast, subscribe on iTunes, or watch Up the Waterfall on YouTube

We thank you for your support and for sharing the love!

The History of the Carousel of Progress – Up the Waterfall Episode 19

3 February 2020 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Now most carousels just go round and round without getting anywhere. But on this one, at every turn, we’ll be making progress. And progress is not just moving ahead. It’s dreaming and working and building a better way of life. Progress is the sound of a motor, the hum of a turbine, the heartbeat of a factory, the sound of a symphony, the roar of a rocket. Progress is people getting release from drudgery, gaining more time to enjoy themselves and live richer lives. And as long as man dreams and works and builds, this progress will go on…in your life and mine.

And with those words, Rex Allen began the original “Progressland” attraction hosted by General Electric at the 1964-65 World’s Fair in New York. Progressland is more familiar to us as the theatre portion of the experience – the Carousel of Progress. In truth, there was quite a lot more to the World’s Fair exhibit and we go over all of its retro-fabulous history. While we may all be able to recite the current iteration of the classic Carousel of Progress attraction, it does have a very interesting and storied past, including Walt Disney’s personal involvement in its creation.

Progressland pavilion at the 1964 World's Fair - a Walt Disney Production - the original Carousel of Progress — General Electric’s Progressland pavilion – a Walt Disney Production – from the 1964-65 World’s Fair in New York

In this episode of Up the Waterfall podcast, we journey back to the very beginnings of this beloved attraction, the changes it has experienced over the decades, and what we hope will happen for its future. We hope you enjoy this info-packed episode, I know we loved recording it!

Progressland at night 1964 World's Fair — General Electric’s Progressland pavilion at night

You can listen anywhere you download and listen to podcasts, including:

(If there’s a podcast service where you can’t find our show, let us know and we’ll get it added there!)

You can also watch on our Up the Waterfall YouTube Playlist – where you can see our fun opening sequence and some fun images of the Carousel of Progress over the years. Here’s the latest episode:

Feel free to comment below with your memories of Carousel of Progress, any questions or info you’d like to add, or if it’s easier, head to the Zannaland Facebook page and join the discussion there with fellow Carousel of Progress fans!

Progressland concept art — Early concept art for the Progressland energy-filled future

Here are some of the books and recordings mentioned in this episode (the links will go to the item on amazon.com and are affiliate links – meaning no extra cost for you but a small portion goes back to zannaland if you make a purchase – thank you for supporting our site!):