Guest Authors

Guest Post: Tom Bricker Shares Spectacular Highlights From Cars Land

16 July 2012 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

I’m so pleased to have Tom Bricker back sharing his amazing photo skills and some highlights from his recent visit to the grand opening of Cars Land at Disney California Adventure. Please welcome Tom again and enjoy his post below:

Cars Land at Disney California Adventure is quite possibly the most beautiful land in any Disney theme park, and is definitely the most immersive. As soon as you set foot in Cars Land, you feel as if you’ve exited Disney California Adventure and stepped foot onto Route 66 in the Pixar film, Cars. Words certainly do not do the beauty of this amazing new land justice, and even photos barely do it justice. That said, I’ll try to do justice to the jaw-dropping beauty of Cars Land by sharing some photos I’ve taken of this all-new land.

If these photos piqued your interest in Cars Land, make sure to check out my Cars Land photos and Radiator Springs Racers photos, where you can view hundreds of additional photos of Cars Land and its flagship attraction, Radiator Springs Racers! Are you thinking about booking a trip to Disneyland Resort to experience Cars Land? Have you already experienced it? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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VIDEO: Disney’s Wild Africa Trek-A Passage to Africa

8 May 2012 by Suzannah Otis 4 Comments

Correspondent Nicole Siscaretti rounds out her coverage for us with a personal tour of the Wild Africa Trek at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. As you may recall, I was able to preview this trek before it opened to the general public, and shared the Wild Africa Trek Facts and Figures. It remains one of my favorite things to do at Walt Disney World, because it is simply so unique. It is worth every penny, and the experience is one you will remember for a lifetime.

I never shared the video I took that day, but it’s good I didn’t because the tour has been improved since I saw it. You now get to hang by a harnessed cable over crocodiles as well as hippos, and the safari truck tour at the end is covered. I feel like the tour narration was much more in-depth on Nicole’s video and you learn so much about the animals on the trek!

Let’s go on safari with Nicole:

To recap from the Facts & Figures post, the Wild Africa Trek is a 3-hour group tour held at various times throughout the morning and afternoon at Animal Kingdom. You are also served an African-inspired breakfast or lunch, depending on the time of your tour, and given a PhotoPass CD of the experience. Pricing varies seasonally but right now you can save $50 on tours at or after 11:45 a.m. from 5/29/12 – 8/25/12. Call Disney for pricing details and to book at (407) WDW-TOUR or (407) 939-8687.

I would like to take a moment and thank Nicole for her amazing coverage here on the site and twitter and facebook, giving Zannaland readers all the latest with great photos and videos. Nicole has a new site she’s creating as we speak so keep an eye out for her magical new venture! Asante sana Nicole!

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Disney’s Art of Animation Video Tour With Imagineer Interviews

2 May 2012 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

The Art of Animation Resort is a whimsical new place to stay on Walt Disney World property beginning Summer of 2012 with the opening of the Finding Nemo themed rooms. The family suites start at $249 and sleep up to six with two bathrooms and a kitchenette. Opening at later dates will be Cars (June 18), The Lion King (August 10) and The Little Mermaid (September 15) themed sections.

The theming of the resort is similar to the progression of the making of an animated film. In the lobby you are first presented with the Ink and Paint Shop, a merchandise store, and the character sketch wall which has renderings of some of your favorite pals from the resort’s featured movies. Then as you continue out to the pool area and guest room buildings you are rewarded with fabulous landscapes and backgrounds. Here in this video you’ll have a tour of the resort with interviews and commentary from Disney Imagineers like Gary Hoffman, who was the Senior Project Manager over design and architecture for the resort and offers a personal greeting for Zannaland readers below!

I can not get over the wondrous colors displayed here. It was a whole lot of fun to photograph, especially the pool area which was rich in tropical and undersea inspired hues. Check out this gallery and tell us what you think of the design!

Disney's Art of Animation Resort — It’s just like walking (driving?) into Radiator Springs.

We took so many photos we had to add them to flickr so you could see them all! Check out our flickr Art of Animation photo set to see even more images.

I think this will quickly be the most popular value resort upon opening. Would you like to stay here with your family? Which themed section are you most drawn to?

[Notes from Suzannah: I was also able to preview Art of Animation last weekend during Disney’s Social Media Moms Celebration and was blown away with the level of detail incorporated into this value resort. I think it sets the bar much, much higher for a value resort and with a family of five, I know the family suites here are now an option I will actually look forward to using.

In the Finding Nemo area, the landscaping around the pool and buildings look as though they are undersea plants, specifically chosen to make it look like you are in the Big Blue World. Brilliant. The design and details within the rooms are just breathtaking. They are bright and fun for families with young children, but the design palate is cool and mod; adults will appreciate and enjoy staying there as well. I also love that the family suite rooms are accessed by an interior hallway vs. the usual outdoor access value resorts offer. I asked about this decreasing noise level and was told that yes, sounds are reduced with the interior entry as are the instances of bugs getting into rooms (this is Florida after all, home to prehistoric armies of insects!).

After peeking through the construction fence into the Cars section, I can see the level of detail does not stop with Nemo. You truly feel as if you are walking into Radiator Springs. I’m excited to see the lush jungle-feel of the Lion King area as well, after getting a little taste of it in the food court – Landscape of Flavors. Be sure to check out all the photos and let us know what you think of this amazing new resort! Big thanks to Nicole for her wonderful video and photos! ~Suzannah]

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REVIEW: Marvel’s The Avengers Lives Up to the Hype For Fans and Newbies

1 May 2012 by Suzannah Otis 3 Comments

I must confess, I am sort of a half-hearted comic book geek-girl. I never really got into superhero comics, but I certainly grew up reading others. My summers were filled with Archie and Jughead comics, peppered with Casper the Friendly Ghost and Donald Duck for good measure. I’ve also always enjoyed superhero movies, but never been obsessed with them as others have. The Batman series and the drama that always surrounded the new actors or directors caught my eye, but Iron Man is what really made me a fan. Robert Downey Jr. brought humanity and hilarity to that character and made the film accessible to all level of Marvel fans.

When I attended the D23 Expo last August and learned more about the Marvel history, along with pretty much the entire cast of The Avengers walking out on stage and giving us a preview of the movie (twice), my interest and excitement was piqued. Then, time got in the way and we really hadn’t seen any of the other Marvel films, aside from the first Iron Man. Knowing this screening was coming up, my husband and I went on an Avengers movie-watching spree and got caught up on the franchise. [We still have to see Hulk, but I feel like his story was the easiest to catch up on within The Avengers.]

If you need to catch up on the story behind The Avengers, here’s a featurette which will tell you more, including commentary from Joss Whedon and the actors.

In tweeting about our movie marathon, folks would reply with their favorite Avenger film, and in the case of my Avengers giveaway, everyone seems to have a different favorite character. After seeing almost all of the movies, I still cannot choose a favorite! I love Iron Man and Robert Downey Jr. and think his acerbic wit will always keep him close to my heart, but I also found myself really appreciating the story of Captain America and how his character as a man made him who he was, even before the shot of power he received. And then Thor, who doesn’t appreciate an arrogant heir apparent getting the lesson of humility and humanity (while being quite easy on the eyes at the same time)? So still, even after seeing Marvel’s The Avengers, I cannot choose a favorite character. And perhaps that is why The Avengers is such an amazing film. There truly is something for everyone, and if your favorite is in trouble, another Avenger will be there to help him (or her) out.

Marvel's The Avengers — Iron Man and Captain America are reluctant but eventual partners

All of my thoughts aside, I felt the best person to write this review was my husband, a true comic book geek and fan with very pronounced opinions on the subject. I will just add my own thoughts that I think Joss Whedon‘s writing is the true star. The banter and one-liners within the film are reminiscent of every show Whedon has written, and that is what has created such fanboys and girls who think he can do no wrong. I’m there with them now. I think he got it and the audience in our screening appreciated it, as did we. We learned so much more about S.H.I.E.L.D. and The Avengers themselves and watching their alliance unfold before us was a treat. Loki is a great opponent and several times throughout the plot, just when I thought I knew what he was going to do, he surprised me. The ending battle when the Avengers had realized how powerful they were as a team, was full of non-stop action, laughs, and cheers. I left the film excited to see it again and anticipating the next Avengers installment. I cannot think of another superhero film that left me feeling that way. And now that I’ve said my piece, here are my husband, J.F. DiMarzio‘s more in-depth thoughts:

[Warning: some spoilers ahead!]

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If you are a fan of Marvel’s Avengers you are going to have many reasons to love this movie. If you are not a fan of Marvel’s Avengers, there are still reasons why you are going to love this movie.

Avengers is the culmination of 5 movies worth of set up. The Hulk, Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America were all the set up for this comic book nerd’s dream. Joss Whedon was the perfect pick to helm the single most important comic book movie to date. His use of humor fit in perfectly with the story. Fans of Firefly or Buffy will feel right at home with the wit of Joss Whedon (there is even a subtle nod to Firefly as Black Widow swears in Chinese under her breath).

So, what makes this movie so great? This is going to be hard to answer with giving away some spoilers. Be forewarned.

Diehard comic book fans can relax, knowing that their beloved Avengers franchise was handled by someone who loves the characters and the story just as much as they do with the very opening scene. The first moments reveal a Skrull. Joss Whedon makes it clear he knows what he is doing, by using the Skrull as the major force of evil in the movie. The best part of using the Skrull is that he doesn’t even stop to introduce them. For the fans this means no boring backstories to sit through. Whedon unapologetically jumps right into the Avengers’ storyline letting the 5 previous movies provide all of the setup. The best part of this approach is that even if you do not know who the Skrull are, you do not feel left out; you quickly accept that this is “a bad guy” and you move on.

Where Whedon’s talents really shine are in how he incorporated each member of the Avengers’ abilities and was able to resolve the plot by giving each hero a specific goal to accomplish. If each goal is not achieved, the team fails. In this way, I cannot point to one Avenger and say “If it wasn’t for X they would have lost.” By doing this, much of the intra-team bickering and frailty that was present in the comics is intact in the film.

Going into the film, I was worried about three things; how would Captain America be handled in the present day, how would the 4th Hulk in as many films come across, and would we have to suffer through more painful Thor love story? Two and a half out of three isn’t bad at all.

Captain America feels totally out of place, as he should. You see that he is uncomfortable, and very much trying to find his way in a world that he is not familiar with. Some of the funniest gaffes of the movie come from this “fish out of water” scenario.

As for the Hulk, Mark Ruffalo does the best job he can playing a character that had already be messed up by three other actors. While this is by far the BEST adaptation of Hulk, it is Whedon’s treatment of Bruce Banner that is lacking. He is portrayed as almost savant-like and at one point even walks around wringing his hands à la Rainman. This is, in the grand scheme of the things, a very small complaint – and the only flaw I could find with the movie.

Finally there is no Thor love story. Rather, there is a very quick mention of Jane Foster as having been “moved to safety”.

So, how do you top a movie like this? The closing credits. Fans of the series know that little Easter eggs lay after the credits in the previous films, and the Avengers, by far, has the best one. If you do not want to have the secret spoiled, stop reading now.

THOR (Chris Hemsworth) (L) and CAPTAIN AMERICA (Chris Evans) (R) — Thor and Captain America prepare for battle

******

As a set up for, presumably, the next Avengers film, the credits end with the camera back on the Skrull. This time they are talking to a new character. Comic book fans will immediately recognize the figure and squeal with delight just as Thanos comes into frame. Does this mean that next Avengers movie will include the Infinity Gauntlet? Will we see Doctor Strange? Silver Surfer? Spiderman? What do you think?

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In summary, as if you needed a reminder – go see Marvel’s The Avengers. You will not be disappointed. It is as close to a perfect action film as I’ve ever seen and supporting the franchise will equal more great sequels in the future. Avengers, assemble!

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Imagineer Trevor Bryant on the New Test Track – Video and Photos

30 April 2012 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

At the Summer to Remember Media Event I had the opportunity to ask Imagineering Show Producer Trevor Bryant to give us the scoop on what the re-imagined Test Track will offer. Take a peek at this video and see what he shared!

Here are some images of the concept art that was displayed as well. I am loving the “Tron”esque, futuristic glow!

How do you like the new feel of the attraction, now sponsored by Chevrolet, compared to when it was sponsored by GM?

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Guest Post: Guide For Bringing First-timers to Walt Disney World

8 November 2011 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Today brings another great guest post, this time from Scott Gustin, a Senior Web Producer at MyFox8.com in North Carolina, and major Disney fan. You can find Scott on twitter @scgustinwdw and writing for his tech-savvy site, TheSocialMouse.com, where he discusses Disney’s social media forays and use of technology. I love his blog and tweets and am so happy to share his post here today. Below he shares his tips – from personal experience – about visiting Walt Disney World with guests who’ve never experienced the wonder before.

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10 Tips for Taking Newbies to Disney World

At some point in your Disney-filled life, you will accept an incredibly scary challenge: taking someone to Disney World for the first time.

Now, let me begin by stating I will primarily focusing on adult touring. While taking a child to Disney World for thefirst time is likely one of the greatest things you will ever do, taking another adult that doesn’t quite appreciate Disney the same way you do can be a real challenge.

A few years ago, my wife and I took two of our best friends to Walt Disney World. We have been dozens of times and go several times each year. After hearing us rave about Disney, they decided they wanted to tag along for a trip to the Happiest Place on Earth. Our friends, also married, flew down to Orlando and met us for the second half of our vacation. They were both making their first-ever visit to Walt Disney World. During this trip, I learned some valuable lessons for making the trip enjoyable for you and the first-timers.

1. Lower your expectations of your friends.
The bottom-line: your friends will never love Disney as much as you do, no matter how much you want them to. Despite gathering dozens of fastpasses, buy them free Dole Whips and locating the perfect spot for fireworks, it’s likely not going to happen. Instead of expecting your friends to reach your high level of Disney fandom, just do your best to show the first-timers the “best of the best.”

2. Take it slow!
One mistake I have made is feeling obligated to show the first-timers EVERYTHING. While it is well known being at the gates at 8 a.m. is the best way to get the most out of your day, your friends don’t know this. You can recommend getting up early by mentioning shorter wait times, but ultimately, I would leave it up to the first-timers to decide if you will be at the park for rope drop.

3. Do the parades!

We have seen most of the parades several times. However, with first-timers, you must hit the parades. While I’m not a huge fan, I know that parades are a big part of the Disney experience and what people expect when they visit the parks.

4. Make a list of the “best of the best”

I always write down the must-do attractions for each park. Then, before the trip, I go over the list with the first-timers and find out what they are most interested in. If your friends don’t ride roller coasters, there’s no need to have them speed walk to Everest at 9 a.m. An itinerary is also a good idea when planning the trip. While your friends will likely make fun of you, I find it necessary when taking first-timers.

5. Know the first-timers

Before the trip, talk to them about their expectations. You should have a clear understanding of what they expect, their knowledge of Disney, dietary expectations, cost limitations, etc. Talking before the trip will help you avoid unnecessary stress while at Disney World.

6. Be knowledgeable

I find that first-timers really appreciate those little “secrets” about the parks. Share your knowledge!

7. Be cliché

Buy the Mickey hats, get your first-timers the “first visit” pins, ride ‘It’s a Small World.’ Do all the cliché things to help fulfill the first-timers’ expectations of the Disney experience.

8. Pick the perfect time of year

If possible, be sure to pick a time of year that is best for the first-timers. If possible, pick a time of year that has low crowds and cooler temperatures. If the first-timers are less about rides and more about the experience, consider going after Thanksgiving so they can see the Christmas decorations at Disney World.

9. Bring snacks into the parks

While this seems like an obvious tip for everyone, I find that first-timers always have a hard time with the cost of food inside the parks. By packing snacks, it can help offset that frustration when the first-timers realize food inside the parks can be expensive.

10. Don’t stress out!

Planning a trip for other people is always stressful. However, if you clearly understand the first-timers’ expectations, you can better plan a trip that is fun for all. If you get stressed out, so will everyone else. As always, never forget – you’re at Disney World!

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What are your top tips for traveling with newbies? Share them below! Big thanks to Scott for sharing his thoughts with us today. Be sure to follow Scott on twitter ( @scgustinwdw & @thesocialmouse ) and check out TheSocialMouse.com.

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Guest Post-Spooky Top 5: Disney Halloween Movies

28 October 2011 by Ryan P. Wilson Leave a Comment

Here’s another great post from Ryan Wilson of the Main St. Gazette – enjoy! ~Zanna

The leaves have been rustling here, and it is getting darker earlier in the evenings, which can mean only one thing, in just a few days princesses, pirates, monsters, cowgirls, and bugs will be descending upon our streets in search of sweet treats! This, of course, makes it the perfect time to watch a spooky movie with the ones you love the most. Here are my top five Disney flickswhich are sure to give you just as many tricks as they do treats!I need to start off with two dishonorable mentions. Arguably, the two most frightening attractions in Walt Disney World and Disneyland are The Haunted Mansion and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Films based upon both of these attractions have been created, with all-star casts attached, but both features fall well short of their potential. Still, for images that remind you of your favorite attraction, or just a bit of family fun, they will do the trick in a pinch.

Number 5 – The Black Cauldron (1985)
The Black Cauldron, it is said, has the power to bring the dead back to life as a warrior horde. The Horned King, a villain who is sure to send shivers down your spine, seeks the cauldron in order to raise just such an army. However, this is a classic fantasy journey, and the scores of undead are met with plenty to smile and laugh about. This animated feature was seven years in the making, and it feels as if it could have used a couple more years cooking in the cauldron, but still manages to deliver the good vs. evil action!

Number 4 – Hocus Pocus (1993)
Set in Salem, MA in the 17th Century and the early 1990s, this film features a trio of inadvertently humorous witches brought back from beyond the grave. The Sanderson sisters, portrayed by Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker, use their witchy ways to suck the life out of children in order to maintain the young(ish) beauty (if they say so…). After being summoned to the present day, it is up to the children who accidentally brought them back to stop them, along with their talking cat. This film shows that comedy really can be scary!

Number 3 – Animated Shorts
There are tons of animated shorts that would make for the perfect Halloween viewing. These are just a few of my favorites spooky shorts. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (1949) features Ichabod Crane who has run afoul of the Headless Horseman. Bing Crosby’s narration is sure to give you chills! Night on Bald Mountain (Fantasia– 1940) is the darkest segment of Fantasia and features the heavy Chernabog, the second most memorable character from Fantasia who remains a time-tested, fan-favorite Disney Villain to this day. Chernabog’s beckoning to the dead is sure to frighten even the bravest of souls. Lastly, The Skeleton Dance (1929). This short is the first of the Silly Symphonies and is sure to spark ghoulish grins for the whole family.

Number 2 – Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
This Halloween-Christmas hybrid, which fans watch all the year round, features jack Skellington, the King of the Pumpkin Patch who wishes for something more that scares and finds it in Christmas. While the citizens of Halloween Town may seem terrifying to adults at first glance, the non-menacing way in which they are utilized, along with the terrific songs, call kids back to this film again and again. Though the dastardly Oogie Boogie, may draw out a scream or two, especially from insect-phobic children and moms!

Number 1 – Something Wicked This Way Comes (1983)
This movie, featuring Jonathan Pryce as the enigmatic Mr. Dark, is the real deal folks. Based upon Ray Bradbury’s novel of the same name, Mr. Dark and his carnival blow into Greentown one fateful autumn evening. They’ve come to town seeking to grant the residents’ wildest wishes… for a price. What secrets are held within the Pandemonium Carnival and can Mr. Dark be stopped by a librarian and two young boys? You’ll have to watch the film to find out, but be warned, it is not for the faint of heart!

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VIDEO: Fun Overview of LEGOLAND Florida on Opening Day

26 October 2011 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

I had some friends along with my family at the Grand Opening of LEGOLAND Florida back on October 15, and my good friend Nicole recorded some of our experiences that day. This is just one short example of the many sights to enjoy at LEGOLAND. I’ll still be spotlighting a few of my favorites in the coming days here on Zannaland but until then, enjoy this video from Nicole!

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Guest Post: Snow on Big Thunder Mountain

13 October 2011 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

One of my favorite things about connecting with blog readers and Disney fans online is hearing their stories from Disney parks I’ve never been to. It’s always fun to see things from a different perspective. Today I’m pleased to share a post from Nick Sim of ThemeParkTourist.com. Here Nick shares a very magical moment he and his wife experienced at Disneyland Paris – As always, click to enlarge photos.

Visiting a Disney park at Christmas is always a magical experience. So when my wife and I boarded a Eurostar train to the Disneyland Resort Paris last December, our expectations were sky high. Only one thing played on our minds – a weather forecast that pointed to heavy blizzards. Were we about to hit the Disney jackpot, and see arguably the company’s most beautiful park covered in glistening snow? Or were we racing along the tracks towards a disaster, in which the resort’s major attractions would be closed throughout our stay?

Our first impressions weren’t good. The roads leading to our hotel were covered in several inches of snow, with desperate drivers wheel-spinning their cars along at bizarre angles (and frequently into each other). Disneyland Paris requires thousands of employees to operate. Without a seriously rapid change in conditions, how were they all going to get to work the next day? It seemed impossible.

Sleeping Beauty Castle Paris — Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Paris

Of course, being English, we hadn’t imagined that a public transport system could cope with heavy snowfall. Fortunately, the one in Paris can, and Disneyland Paris threw open its gates exactly as scheduled. An impressive image awaited those who spilled through, with Sleeping Beauty Castle receiving the type of holiday makeover that Disney’s Imagineers could only have dreamed of. Surrounding it, all four of the park’s themed lands – even the futuristic Discoveryland – had undergone a similar transformation. Walking up Main Street USA as the snow continued to fall, we felt like we were characters inside a magical snowglobe.

We had an incredible day, despite spending much of it traipsing around with soaking wet feet thanks to our hideously inappropriate footwear. Eventually, the snow melted and the park returned to normal. Only one ride had remained closed throughout: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. I couldn’t possibly feel disappointed in the circumstances, but I did miss it ever so slightly. It’s an attraction that I’ve obsessed over ever since I was a little kid, staring at it in the brochures for Walt Disney World that I collected every year.

To our amazement, we opened our curtains the next morning to discover that Paris was once again blanketed with fresh snow. Even better, every single ride at Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney Studios was fully up-and-running. A quick FASTPASS-grab later, and the scene was set for my ultimate Disney experience: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in the snow. At sunset.

Disneyland Paris’ version of the coaster, with its setting in the Rivers of the Far West and backstory based around a mine in Thunder Mesa, is visually stunning at the worst of times. Add in layers of snow and a beautiful Paris sunset, and the scene as we crested the first lift hill was virtually perfect.

Racing around the ride’s circuit, I had fun spotting my favorite landmarks. The washed-out bridge. With snow on it. Phantom Manor, across the water. With snow on it. A couple of friendly donkeys and a goat pulling on a clothesline. With snow on them. Seriously, is there anything that doesn’t look better when it’s covered in snow? OK, so it probably didn’t snow that much in the Wild West. Who cares?

Returning to the station with an enormous grin on my face, I realised that it would be difficult for any ride experience to ever top that spin around Big Thunder Mountain. I’d achieved theme park perfection. I’d won the Disney lottery. I’m sure I can’t be alone in having one theme park memory that stands out above the rest. Is there one particular experience that stands out for you above any other?

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Nick Sim is the editor of Theme Park Tourist, which features news and reviews from parks all over the world. When he’s not staring longingly at Walt Disney World brochures, he can be found on Twitter @ThemeParkNews and Facebook.

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Guest Post: Kingdom of Courage

12 October 2011 by Ryan P. Wilson Leave a Comment

On Earth Day in 2010, after seeing the trailer for Disneynature: African Cats

for the first time, I tweeted out something to the effect that followers should be marking their calendars as the return of True-Life Adventures would begin on 22 April 2011. Today, having viewed the movie in theaters and now in my home, I stand by that unsubstantiated assertion that I felt down in my gut.It isn’t that the creatures featured have been given names to make them more relatable, you find the true depth to the film in its natural narrative of life. The joys of children, the heartache of loss, the thrills of success, and the agony of defeat at the hands of a rival are all present within African Cats, and they are captured without the meddling hands of man. This can cause many stomach churning dilemmas, such as when a cub is lost and the immediate thought is to swoop in and keep a toddling cheetah cub to its safe when hyenas are on the prowl or when one of our heroines is continually injured and seeks a quiet place in the field to move on peacefully when all you want is for someone to give the graceful creature the medical attention she so desperately needs. In a reserve, the rules is no interference, if simply for the fact that once you begin intruding how do you decide where to stop, what is the line you won’t cross.

The entire feature was shot in Kenya’s Masai Mara National Reserve, which borders the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. One of the best preserved savanna systems in the world, Masai Mara provided stunning backdrops and gorgeous vistas which are dropped in throughout the movie. Even with an abundance of animal life and fantastic scenery, it took the filmmakers two years and hundreds of hours of filming to craft the story of African Cats.

A little humor here, there were two scenes in the movie that, whether intentional or not, reminded me of counterparts in Walt Disney World. First, the ever-present Thomson’s Gazelles immediately made me shout out, “Tommies!” Secondly, a scene where the lions have hunted a zebra and are standing around the carcass was eerily reminiscent of the Jungle Cruise scene where the pack of lions take care to watch over the sleeping zebra.The bonus features of African Cats are, in a word, lackluster and, if given a second and third word, too brief. One focuses on the Save the Savanna initiative tied to the film’s theatrical and home theater releases. A second gives an introduction to the ties between Disney and the wild corners of the world. Lastly, there is the requisite music video, Jordan Sparks’ “The World I Knew” in this instance.

The true hidden gem of the film’s extras, however, comes in the form of the commentary viewing option. This presentation included pop-up informational tidbits, picture-in-picture interviews with the filmmakers, and breakaway featurettes which could be viewed or passed on by the viewer. These breakout videos include a wealth of information on the Masai Mara, slow motion filmmaking, aerial filming, cinematographers, elephants, flimmakers’ camp, vehicles, rain, filming with Cineflex camera, field assistants and tracking the animals, life in the field, and the musical score.

African Cats originally came with the subtitle, Kingdom of Courage, a title befitting the experience of the filmmakers capturing these tales on film and the cats struggling to raise their precious families. The ability to see and explore these wild arenas, where animal families interact in ways that are similar and strikingly different to our own family groups, is remarkable. African Cats will stun you with its beauty and stories that hit remarkably close to home. The filmmakers have done their job well, you will feel for the cheetahs and lions and, if we’re very lucky, this new True-Life Adventure is only just the tip of the iceberg that will renew our, and our children’s, interest in preserve the wild places left in the world.

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