ZANNALAND!

Magical Adventures & Memories

Things to Do

Disney Halloween Movie Must-See List – Up the Waterfall Episode 40

by Leave a Comment

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

This week we are discussing favorite Disney Halloween movies that you MUST SEE! Scott and I each share a list of our personal favorites and we try to cram as much in as we can to cover all of the Disney Halloween themed shows, movies and more!

Disney Must Watch Halloween Movies

There is a huge catalog of Disney titles, from animated shorts to full-length films to Disney Channel Originals to choose from. We have a good mix of all of them I think, but you’ll have to see if we included your picks too! Did we miss a Halloween classic that’s on your Must-Watch list? Let us know in the comments below! Don’t forget to answer the trivia question too!

You can watch the episode below and see some fun images and video of the movies we discuss. 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.

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!

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

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

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

Up the Waterfall logo

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

D23’s Halloween Hullabaloo – Virtual Mousequerade Contest!

by Leave a Comment

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

Leave it to D23 to figure out how to keep the Halloween magic alive this season! If you’ve ever attended a D23 Expo event, you know that the Mousequerade is a huge part of the fun. I may have never participated myself, but I LOVE roaming the Expo halls and seeing all the folks in their amazing costume creations. Some of them are just mind-boggling. I’ve seen a full Matterhorn attraction on a person, and a full sized centaur lady from Fantasia, among other incredible costumes. I have no doubt these contestants will not disappoint.

D23 Halloween Mousequerade

D23 has joined up with the fabulous Ashley Eckstein, who has been a staple of the D23 Expo events since the start. I’ve been lucky enough to interview Ashley a couple of times, and see her speak as well. She is such an inspiration!  (And of course you know her from her role as the voice of Ahsoka Tano, her magical and inclusive Her Universe line of clothing and accessories, and may have seen her in the former Star Wars Weekends as well). Also judging is the wonderful and hilarious Yvette Nicole Brown, who hosted the Disney Legends ceremony at last year’s Expo, as well as playing Aunt Sarah in the live action Lady and the Tramp and my personal favorite, her role as Shirley on Community. The grand prize winner will receive a $500 Disney Gift Card! See all the details as well as some other Halloween Hullabaloo fun from D23 below:

 

It’s the most “wicked-ful” time of the year, and D23: The Official Disney Fan Club is celebrating the season with D23 Halloween Hullabaloo. From its first-ever D23 Halloween Mousequerade Contest and incredible new content to a weekly sweepstakes and exclusive collectibles, Disney fans will be able to enjoy lots of treats this fall—with maybe a trick or two thrown in—including:

D23 Halloween Mousequerade Contest: Grab your needle and thread for D23’s first-ever virtual costume contest during which creative contestants will be competing for fantastic prizes in front of celebrity judges Ashley Eckstein and Yvette Nicole Brown. And the category is… “All Things Disney.” Costumes should be inspired by the fantastic worlds of Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars, from movies and TV to Disney Parks attractions and other Disney properties. The Grand Prize winner will receive a $500 Disney Gift Card—and the ghoulish delight of victory! The festivities will be streamed on October 31 on D23.com, as well as D23’s Facebook and YouTube channels. For more information, visit D23.com/Mousequerade.

D23 Halloween Hullabaloo Sweepstakes: What better way to skele-brate the season than with a ghoulishly good sweepstakes? This October, D23 Members can enter for a chance to win a bubbling bundle of prizes from our cauldron. Don’t lose your head, because each week you get a new chance to enter.

D23 Halloween HULLABALOO

Limited-Edition Pins: On September 28 at shopDisney.com, D23 Gold and Gold Family Members will have the exclusive opportunity to purchase two collectible pins designed by artist Kevin Kidney. These pins, one of the Haunted Mansion’s Hatbox Ghost and the other of Tinker Bell dressed in a wildly witchy costume, are each presented in a limited edition of 1,750.

Holiday Magic at the Disney Parks – D23 Book Launch Party: D23 Gold and Gold Family Members are invited to celebrate the launch of this new book by Disney Editions, as we look at the “spine-tingling half” of the book that pulls back the curtain on that magical combination of Disney and Halloween around the world!

D23 Halloween Hullabaloo Disney+ Picks: For the first four weeks of October, be on the lookout for a new short-form video series featuring our friends from all around Disney who will be sharing some of their favorite films found on Disney+, including behind-the-scenes tidbits to enhance the frighteningly fun experience!

The fine print:

D23 Halloween Mousequerade Costume Contest open to 50 US/DC; D23 Members; 18+. Photo entry begins at 12 AM PT on 9/17/20 and ends at 11:59 PM PT on 10/1/20. If selected as a Semi-Finalist, video entry begins at 9 AM PT on 10/13/20 and ends at 9 AM PT on 10/20/20. Void where prohibited. Rules/odds: https://d23.com/mousequerade-official-rules/.

More details on all of these things and more are available at D23.com.

Have you created a Disney costume at home? Let us know in the comments below!

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

Disney Holidays 2020 – Cancellations and Reactions

by Leave a Comment

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

Cinderella Castle Dream Lights

Yesterday, the internet broke yet again as Disney announced their updated 2020 Holiday lineup for Walt Disney World Resort. Every Disney twitter user, blogger, and Disney news site shared the news. Of course, for the ultimate reaction, leading with NO MORE CASTLE LIGHTS! Or the second hardest-hitting news, NO GINGERBREAD HOUSES! I read the news with everyone else, but took a step back to look at the bigger picture. I wanted to share my thoughts with you, in hopes we can all embrace the holidays in any form.

The Big Picture

Now I’m not here to lecture anyone, but I would like to remind you all of that Christmas classic, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Remember little Cindy Lou Who? She loved Christmas and was the embodiment of childhood innocence in that original tale and accompanying tv special that we all grew up with. I identified greatly with Cindy Lou. I was also blonde with blue eyes, and Christmas was the best time of the year for me. I was graced with being born exactly two weeks before Christmas, which meant pretty much the entire month was celebratory for me.

Growing up in New England, driving into Boston to see the various light and holiday displays around town was a tradition I looked forward to each year. Other traditions included decorating our tree, my mom baking tray after tray of Christmas cookies, watching Christmas specials on tv. I vividly remember being an angel in the Christmas pageant at our church, and when I was older, attending midnight Mass with my grandparents. I know I’m not alone in my memories. I know you all have your traditions too. But think back to Cindy Lou. She, like all the Whos in Whoville, learned that Christmas is something that lives inside us all. We don’t need decorations or presents or all the fluff and folderol that accompanies the holidays. Christmas will come, no matter what the castle looks like.

I know, I know, it’s 2020, and we all deserve the Christmas we know and love, after enduring over half a year of disappointments, unwelcome changes, and cancellations. But what 2020 has taught us all is that we can’t depend on outside forces to bring us happiness, joy, and fulfillment. 2020 has taught us what truly matters, what is important, and the value of our choices. Hopefully 2020 taught us how our choices affect others, and how we can help more than hurt. We will survive the castle not having lights. We will.

The Disney Holidays Changes

Let’s go down the list of the rest of the changes and postponements and see how we can look at things a different way. The holidays at Walt Disney World will begin November 6, 2020 and run through December 30. The text in quotes below comes from the Disney Parks Blog post announcing these changes.

Magic Kingdom: 

Character cavalcades at Magic Kingdom Park will take on a special holiday twist, with Christmas friends on festive floats in their holiday finest. Gingerbread Men? Check! Elves and Reindeer? Check, check! And the Toy Soldiers will join the Main Street Philharmonic as they march through Magic Kingdom Park, bringing musical holiday cheer for all to hear.

When night falls, special projection effects will give a festive look to Cinderella Castle this year, providing a colorful backdrop for our Guests’ photos. The appearance of the iconic castle will be transformed with a rotating series of designs including a whimsical Christmas sweater and a regal overlay of red, green and gold ornamentation. This will be in place of the Castle Dream Lights. Other holiday experiences that draw big crowds will be on hiatus this year as well, such as Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.

What does that mean for you? You get to look at all your past Cinderella Castle Dream Lights and remember the wonderful times you had experiencing them first hand. You can watch videos! You can decorate your house with white LED lights and do your best castle makeover at home. Set up holiday stations around your home with different decorations, and hand out cookies and cocoa to all your family members in the house! Dress up your pets and create your own Christmas parade roaming your halls. You can still visit the Castle, and see the projection show on it, just no lights, and no Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Personally, I am a HUGE fan of the Toy Soldiers, and seeing them march with the Main Street Philharmagic sounds so fun!

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

EPCOT: 

Candlelight Processional at EPCOT will be on hiatus this year but holiday character promenades will take place at EPCOT. Starting a bit later in the season, on Nov. 27, we’ll celebrate highlights from the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays. Holiday kitchens will return around World Showcase promenade with favorites like American Holiday Table featuring Slow-roasted Turkey with Stuffing and Bavaria Holiday Kitchen with dishes like Cheese Fondue in a Bread Bowl.

Guests will be invited to step inside World ShowPlace to enjoy the returning group, JOYFUL!, who present a journey through R&B, Gospel, contemporary and traditional Christmas and holiday music. Also, the Voices of Liberty will bring their incredible 8-part harmonies to the America Gardens Theatre stage for a special concert of favorite carols and songs of the season. There are plenty more details about this festival to come, so stay tuned.

So Candlelight Processional is a beloved classic, and a way for those looking for a more spiritual celebration of the holiday can be uplifted through story and song. However, you can listen to the entire show on Apple Music and other music streaming services, and thank goodness again for YouTube, where you can watch Candlelight Processional (on repeat if you want!).

Candlelight Processional

As you can also see above, Disney is not taking away our holiday food. It sounds like they will still be offering a Festival of the Holidays with foods from around the world. I’m very happy to see JOYFUL! will be performing, they are an amazing group and should not be missed.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

There will be merry character motorcades at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Of course, the holidays wouldn’t be complete without enjoying a meal among friends and family. Minnie Mouse will be hosting a yuletide gathering for all her friends at Hollywood & Vine at Disney’s Hollywood Studios starting Nov. 6. Santa Goofy will be there, along with Minnie and more in their holiday best.

I do wonder if some of the vintage-look holiday decor that has been placed around the Studios will return this season, we’ll have to wait and see. I don’t think too many of the spots caused a bottleneck of guests, but we’ll see. Of course, Hollywood Studios took the hardest hit a few years back when the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights ended. I think at the time, and since they ended, I personally stuffed my emotions down to my feet, because I knew I’d be an emotional wreck if I let myself truly think about the loss.

Spectacle of Dancing Lights
The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights

Now, 5 years later, I deeply, greatly miss those lights and the times my family would spend under them. It was such an amazing experience that hasn’t been duplicated since. I am not alone in my years and years full of memories of my children looking up in wonder at the lights, enveloped by the music, catching the “snow” in their hands. It is part of why I am so thrilled that Give Kids the World is putting on the Night of a Million Lights this year. I will gladly pay to experience some semblance of magical lights, with the proceeds going to such a good cause. The point is, we got through the ending of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, we will make it through this temporary loss of Castle Dream Lights.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom:

All we know about Animal Kingdom is that there will be festive flotillas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Similar to what they have now with characters floating down the river around the backside of the Tree of Life, but…festive! I do hope we get some of the beautiful Animal Kingdom luminary decorations that debuted last year back as well, but as with the other parks, we’ll have to wait and see. Disney has promised:

Festive décor, themed merchandise, seasonal food & beverage offerings and entertainment all across Walt Disney World Resort. Holiday magic will be in full force at the four theme parks and Disney Springs, and Santa Claus will make time for special pop-up appearances at each location, waving and exclaiming holiday wishes to all.

 

Disney Springs:

Guests will discover Christmas around every corner as they come across a collection of elaborately-decorated Disney Christmas trees spread throughout this retail, dining and entertainment destination. In the evening, Guests visiting areas within Town Center, West Side and The Landing will encounter a magical snowfall, adding an extra touch of wonder to their holiday shopping. And to top it off, Jock Lindsey will once again be turning his hangar bar into Jock Lindsey’s Holiday Bar complete with delightful holiday décor and a delicious limited-time menu filled with festive favorites.

I am assuming the Tree Trail in Disney Springs will be spread out around the entirety of the Springs. That was definitely a popular trail, and would not align with social distancing guidelines. I am surprised to see a place so small as Jock Lindsey’s bringing back their holiday festivities. Again, I’m assuming it will be a reduced capacity to allow for a more safe experience. Disney Springs is a very festive place to just stroll around, hear the holiday music, and look at the decorations. I’m sure that will still be the case this year.

Disney Resort hotels: 

Disney Resort hotels will also be decked out for the holidays, with their lobbies featuring iconic trees and other festive flourishes. One thing to keep in mind is that our gingerbread displays will not return to the Resort hotels this year. While we know they are a favorite of people taking in the holiday décor, we’re not able to include those displays due to physical distancing guidelines.

So the trees will be back, but not the gingerbread displays. I know this is also a tough one for folks who took holiday family photos in front of the giant gingerbread house in Disney’s Grand Floridian each year. I’m sure the Disney pastry chefs are just as disappointed as we are.

Grand Floridian gingerbread house

More than Just Disney Holiday Decorations

Another thing to remember is there are still so many cast members who haven’t returned to the magic for various reasons. This could’ve been their favorite time of year too, and now they have gone months without their jobs. The Castle Dream Lights may not be going up because the tech crew that puts the lights up isn’t there. The pastry chefs may not have been all called back either. The performers in the Christmas parade and other shows and live entertainment are still waiting for that call.

It is very easy to look at the parks and resorts and think we are owed the traditions we have come to expect and enjoy each year. Family vacations have been planned around these seasons: hotels, party tickets, dining reservations, booked far in advance. We have turned to Disney for our holiday traditions and Disney has provided. We love all of these events for a reason, Disney does the holidays better than anyone. Now, Disney needs us to understand that circumstances have changed, and as such, traditions must as well. We’d all like nothing more than to stroll down Main Street, U.S.A., see all our favorite Residents of Main Street, and the Dream Lights waiting at the end of the street. But we must be patient, we must understand, that Christmas doesn’t reside in a holiday party, or a gingerbread house.

Whoville Christmas ending
Forgive the non-Disney analogy, but I think it fits. ♥

Christmas will come, no matter what. The memories in our hearts and our minds will light Cinderella Castle. They will fill the Grand Floridian with the scent of gingerbread. The songs in our heart will perform the Candlelight Processional. The Christmas at Disney we knew and love will return when it can. Until then, it’s up to us to keep it alive. 

What About You?

How will you celebrate Christmas this season? Do you have any other ideas for bringing the magic home this season? Will you be visiting the Disney parks and resorts for the holidays?

 

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

REVIEW: MULAN 2020 is The Highest Budget Hallmark Movie

by 2 Comments

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

Mulan 2020 movie poster On Thursday, March 19th, 2020, I was scheduled to attend a press screening of Disney’s Mulan. I thought this would be a totally normal event – and the last screening I attended was not too long prior: The Hunt (a movie so egregiously bad I couldn’t even bring myself to review it). But on March 12th, I was informed that the screening had been cancelled as the release of the film had been postponed. Needless to say, a few other significant events have taken place since then.

Because of this, Mulan 2020 kept piquing my interest. I was already invested into the concept of the film: the original 1998 film is a classic, and while this one was certainly different, I thought the trailer looked really good. In any event, when the time finally came for its release, I couldn’t wait to take a look.

HONORING THE PAST

2020’s Mulan is a testament to Disney’s in-house production teams’ ability to make only one kind of film anymore: the high-budget, low-effort blockbuster. This is really all you can find looking back at their previous releases. From shot-for-shot live action remakes of their animated successes, to 22 superhero stories that they know will draw an audience just because of the Marvel name. They know that if the poster says ‘Disney’ on it, people will buy it, and because of that, they really don’t have to try.

So can you tell I wasn’t the biggest fan of Mulan 2020?

Mulan 2020 The movie also draws upon its recent predecessors stylistically. That is to say, even though the tone of the plot is very different, if this movie came on during a Marvel movie marathon, it wouldn’t be all too jarring. It’s shot in the same way: big establishing shots of the lush CGI world they built, faster-than-you-can-blink cuts during action sequences, and shots that are staged almost exclusively with trailers or promotional videos in mind.

I will give them this: in our home theater, we have a very good screen, and this movie was a great way to showcase that. Most of the recent releases on Disney+ are presented in 4K UHD with Dolby Vision, so even a shot of a bug crawling on the ground looks fantastic. 

BE TRUE

Mulan 2020 One of the biggest headlines about this movie before it even came out was that it was a more ‘realistic’ telling of the Mulan legend. They nixed the songs, the dragon sidekick, and all the other cartoon-y choices that the 1998 version added themselves. 

I was very interested in this as soon as this was announced. Yes, the soundtrack to the 1998 version is good, but it only has four songs anyway, so I wouldn’t miss them (sidenote, if you like the soundtrack of the original, do yourself a favor and research how much of a mess it apparently was to make). And while Mushu is a fun character, I’m always in favor of changing that type of thing for realism – I’m a big fan of how it was done in Aladdin on Broadway to change the monkey sidekick into three human friends of Aladdin.

However, maybe the biggest reason I was looking forward to a new take on the plot, was following the recent Lion King movie – a full blown shot-for-shot remake of the original with almost nothing added and almost nothing removed. A new telling of the story means that it’s more likely to justify its purpose as a live action remake, something that none of them have been able to do thus far.

Ultimately, this was not the result. The movie relies very heavily on its audience’s pre-existing knowledge of the original film, despite being so starkly and, honestly, harshly different from it. It’s loaded with visual references to the original. Something will happen, and the film will pause for a beat, and wait for the audience to say “Hey, that’s the thing from the original movie, I remember that!” Or the soundtrack, which, while not including the lyricized songs from the original, plays the instrumentals of them in emotional moments, so you again say “Aww, I remember that.”

I say it comes off as harsh because while the movie devotes so much time to profiting off of the audiences memory of the first, it’s also completely different plot-wise. While we hear the powerful instrumental of ‘Reflection’ from the first film, we watch our new Mulan use the force to kick arrows into the chest of a nameless enemy.

Yeah, I guess we should talk about the force.

MULAN’S MIDI-CHLORIANS ARE OFF THE CHARTS

Mulan 2020 villains 1998’s Mulan is a movie that empowers young girls to take a stand, and shows them that even if the world says they’re of less value, they can be just as strong and powerful as those that hold them down. You would think that, in (current year), 2020’s Mulan would try to do the same. And to an extent, it does, but it does so oh-so strangely.

From literally the very first scene, Mulan is described as using Chi. Now, I’m aware that chi is a real thing in Chinese culture. It’s described as an underlying principle in traditional Chinese medicine or martial arts. And, while it is a ‘force’ that is in tune with your energy flow, the movie treats it as a midi-chlorian-style ‘force that binds us’ that can be used to grant someone jedi-like abilities in dexterity.

It’s underlying message may be one of female-empowerment, but the movie pushes very heavily that Mulan can only succeed because she has some innate supernatural ability. She is a weak fighter – everyone in the Imperial Army seems to be. But by harnessing her ‘inner Chi’ she can be ‘just as good as the men.’ It’s very bizarre, and honestly belittles her character. She’s never able to take down opponents one-on-one: every single fight she takes part in ends with her “controlling her Chi” to do a flip-kick and toss a spear or an arrow back into them.

The film even does a Revenge of the Sith-level side plot where a villain who has mastered their Chi tries to influence Mulan into joining the ‘dark side,’ so that she can realize the full potential of her power.

THE HIGHEST BUDGET HALLMARK MOVIE

Obviously I felt strongly enough about this to make it the title of the review, but it’s true. The movie is all around just pretty mediocre. We followed up our viewing of Mulan by watching 2019’s The Lion King, which, let’s just say, I’m notably not a fan of. At least with The Lion King (while upsetting that it exists), it is still just ‘The Lion King’ so it’s a fun story with fun songs and is just fun in general. Mulan 2020 is really very different from the original film in about every aspect. This upsets me, because like I said before, that normally would be a reason that I would enjoy it. But it’s different in a few too many ways.

This is a humourless, bland, movie. There is action, the music is good. It’s very pretty to look at. Most of the costumes are nice. But I don’t think I would ever bother watching it again because most unfortunately of all, it’s just boring.

This Mulan is the equivalent of, instead of watching the original film, someone just describes to you the original Ballad of Mulan upon which it is based. The pacing is very strange, so it feels like someone just telling the story in a very haphazard way. And, despite starring seasoned vets like Donnie Yen and Jet Li, the acting is notably bad. Aside from Jason Scott Lee, every actor here gives the most lackluster boring performances of their career. For some, like Jet Li, it feels like the only filmed one take before he just walked off set and they had to use it.

Mulan 2020 Emperor Because of all of this, it truly feels like a Hallmark movie in both it’s plot and it’s production. The acting is subpar, the plot and writing is very low-quality, the special effects feel rushed, the list honestly goes on.

There’s more I could say about the plot alone, like how the villains (specifically the witch Xian Lang) are legitimately the only redeemable characters. Every member of the Imperial Army and of her own family dislikes and belittles Mulan, and she relentlessly follows them to the ends of the earth regardless. Meanwhile, the villains of the movie, donned in all black, with mysterious intent and magical witch in tow, provide a Palpatine-esque alternative that actually sounds way more appealing than what any of the other characters are offering Mulan.

IN CONCLUSION

I don’t want it to sound like this is a terrible terrible movie that is not worth anyone’s time. It’s not. It’s, at worst, “okay.” But it’s also the -nth “okay” movie that Disney has released in a row, and it’s tiresome at this point. This is objectively a better film than The Lion King, for example, but it’s so boring and bizarre that that’s like saying an ant bite is better than a bee sting – I’d still rather not have either.

What makes it worse, is that it’s thirty freaking dollars – or at least $29.99. Not including the Disney+ subscription that everyone who will watch this movie undoubtedly already has. Very, very few movies are worth that much, and there is absolutely no universe at all in which this one is.

Mulan 2020

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

Most ICONIC Disney Foods – Up the Waterfall Podcast Episode 37

by Leave a Comment

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

Other than the attractions and music, the other main component of a Disney Parks experience has to be the food. Over the years, some items have become instant classics, while others have stood the test of time and become truly, iconic. This week on our Up the Waterfall show, we discuss as many of these classics as we can, without becoming a 3 hour discussion. I initially made a list of iconic Disney foods and thought I’d gotten them all, but I soon learned I’d forgotten some, and even after we finished, I realized even more that I’d missed.

Disneyland Corn Dog
Enjoying a Disneyland Corn Dog (when I wasn’t a vegan!)

This show was a fun one to record, and I think it will spark lots of discussion about what YOU think should be on the “Iconic Disney Foods” list. What I realized while naming our favorites was that some items become classics because of how they are themed to their surroundings, like Tonga Toast in the Polynesian Resort, or Dole Whip in Adventureland. Still others are classics due to their simplicity, like popcorn, Mickey Premium Bars, and Mickey pretzels.

Epcot Germany pretzel
Gio enjoying a pretzel bigger than his head!

As time has marched on, the days of instagram and live video have taken over. Some menu items have been created solely for their photogenic nature. We discuss that too, and whether or not that helps or hinders their acceptance into “icon status.” A cupcake may make an adorable insta-photo, but will you want to buy it more than once like a classic corn dog or Dole whip? These are the questions we must ask ourselves! You’ll have to listen in or watch to see what made our list, and if we forgot any of your favorites. Watch the show below:

 

We definitely will continue this discussion into our Up the Waterfall LIVE! show, this Thursday, August 27. We are planning to broadcast that and all future shows on our Zannaland facebook page and our Zannaland YouTube channel. That way you’ll have options to tune in to whatever’s easier for you, and of course, rewatch later. We hope to see you at either spot as we share the latest Disney news, discuss more of our favorite foods, and play some fun games. We’ll also choose a winner from our Maleficent ears giveaway on our instagram. 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! 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!

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

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

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

Up the Waterfall logo

 

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

Howard – A Documentary

by Leave a Comment

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

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.

Howard Ashman and Paige O'hara

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 Ashman 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.

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

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

by Leave a Comment

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

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.

waking sleeping beauty

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.

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!

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

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

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

Up the Waterfall logo

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

Up the Waterfall Set Tour and Disney History Book List – Episode 30

by Leave a Comment

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

We are now 30 whole episodes in to our passion project, Up the Waterfall podcast. We initially had a different topic planned for today, to mark this momentous occasion, with our first GUEST and everything! However, the tiki gods were angered by all our celebrating, so some pesky technical issues have put a delay on that. Instead we are bringing you a fun little episode where we give you a tour of all the little knick-knacks and collectibles we have around our podcast set.

In addition, Scott gives us a quick overview of the stack of Disney history books he has on display on the shelves behind us on our set. Who doesn’t need more Disney history books, right? As a bonus, there is a LOT of our resident kitty, Stella in this episode. What can we say, she loves Disney books as much as we do.

As promised on the episode, we are sharing links for every book he discusses so you can investigate picking up a copy for your Disney library if you don’t already have one. Some of them may be out of print and being sold by third party marketplace sellers, or you can find them on eBay or your local independent bookseller as well, but now you’ll have the list right here below:

Of course, due to the sheer number of books in this episode, Scott just gives a general overview of their contents. We will do other episodes focusing on one or two books in-depth. Do you have a favorite book you’d like us to discuss? What about our silly collectibles? What are some of your favorite Disney collectibles to display? We’d love to hear from you!

Up the Waterfall Podcast set

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.

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

Top 10 Underrated Disney Animated Films – Up the Waterfall Episode 28

by Leave a Comment

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

This week on Up the Waterfall, we take a lighthearted look at our favorite Underrated Disney Animated Films. Will our picks match yours? Did we forget a favorite animated feature that you think deserves some more love? Let us know!

If you missed last week’s episode on Jules Verne’s influence in Disney Parks and Films, in it I brought up one of my favorite animated films, Atlantis, and how that definitely had a Jules Verne feel to it. That sparked the idea for this week’s show: Underrated Disney Animated Films! Scott and I each share our top 5 picks, and of course, some runners-up along the way.

Atlantis: The Lost Empire
image via Disney

 

Our criteria for “underrated” may differ from yours, so we welcome discussion once you hear and see our picks. It definitely made us both want to head to Disney+ and watch all of these beloved films once again.

We also mentioned some books from Scott’s library at the end of the show, so I’ve listed them below in case you want to give them a look.

A quick note and apology…

Each week we record the audio separately from the video of our show and our producer, Christian uploads the audio and matches it to our 3 camera angles of video for the video version of the show. Unfortunately this week the audio file was corrupted and short of re-recording, we could not fix that track. So, we had to use the camera audio, which isn’t too terrible on its own, but when we switch cameras, there is a quick moment where the audio is noticeably different.

We do apologize for that, I really didn’t want to re-record the show because I kind of loved this one and how it unfolded. I didn’t want to ‘fake’ that magic by re-recording, so I hope everyone understands and bears with us for this week. We’ll have it fixed next week!

Thank you as always for listening or watching!

Books we discussed on the show:

Click to view them on Amazon – as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

 

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 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!

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

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

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

Up the Waterfall logo

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

Pym Test Kitchen Menu Must-Haves at Avengers Campus

by Leave a Comment

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share

In addition to our earlier announcement about the Avengers Campus Opening Date, we also have some SUPER news to share about the menu items at Pym Test Kitchen. Some of these dishes are really unique and we hope they turn out as good as they look in these preview photos! Here’s all the scoop, originally posted on Marvel.com

Avengers Campus brings together Earth’s Mightiest Heroes for the common good, and they’re calling all recruits to join the action: Team up with the Avengers and their allies; sling webs with Spider-Man and become part of a bigger universe. Kids and guests of all ages will find their powers as they unite with family and friends to take an active role alongside some of their favorite heroes, with a chance to live out their own heroic story. So at some point, you’re going to want to refuel. Thankfully, you won’t have to go far after your latest mission because Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park at the Disneyland Resort includes multiple spots to stop and grab some delicious food, drinks, and even something sweet before it’s time to assemble again.
Pym Test Kitchen

The brand new land, opening on July 18, 2020, features one new quick-service restaurant for you and your family of heroes to taste-test inventive food and drinks, a tasting lab with alcoholic beverages, a shawarma cart

(yes, you read that right), and a new treats stand located by Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission — BREAKOUT!

We recently got to try some of the brand new food and beverage offerings coming to Avengers Campus, and it all looks good enough to eat — and share on social media. So after helping Spider-Man catch those pesky Spider-Bots and in between heroic encounters with the Avengers and their allies, here’s where you need to go to fuel up:

PYM TEST KITCHEN

“Super Heroes don’t normally open restaurants,” Jillian Pagan, Staff Writer, Walt Disney Imagineering explained during an early media day for Avengers Campus. But, that’s exactly what the Pyms have done.

“They would use their technology to help the world, right?” Pagan continued. “So that’s the story of our Pym Test Kitchen. In our story they are using their shrinking and growing technology to create new innovations in food science because, of course, you can feed many more people if you can run, say a normal-sized pretzel through this quantum tunnel machine, hit it with some Pym Particles, and make it grow to a giant size.”

“We’re here at Pym Test Kitchen, where we are shrinking problems and growing solutions,” John State, Culinary Director at the Disneyland Resort, explains. “Just imagine the guests walking through, pulling the handle of that door, walking into a laboratory, becoming part of the experience of Pym Technology.”

It’s one thing to talk about the Quantum tunnel, and it’s another thing to actually see it in action — The Pym Test Kitchen features one that will shrink and grow food right in front of your eyes!

There will be plenty of options for everyone, including plant-based options along with kid-sized items and taste for kids. Here’s a sampling of what you’ll be able to find inside, and mobile order will be available via the Disneyland app.

Experiment No. IP42: Quantum Pretzel

Feast your eyes on a giant pretzel that has been enlarged by the quantum tunnel and comes with a mustard sauce and a beer cheese dipping sauce (featuring California IPA, sharp cheddar, mozzarella, a hint of mustard).

Quantum Pretzel

Experiment No. EE10: PYM-ini

Looking to indulge in a giant panini? You can with the appropriately titled PYM-ini. The full sandwich is two feet long, and 9 inches wide after it comes out of the Quantum tunnel — and while it can be ordered family style, it can also be done in individual slices, too.

PYM-ini

The PYM-ini features toasted focaccia with salami, rosemary ham, provolone, sun-dried tomato mayonnaise and arugula with marinara dipping sauce. There’s also a version for little Avengers, the Teeny Pym-ini, which is ham, provolone cheese, a touch of mayonnaise, and focaccia.

Experiment No. EE746: PB³ Superb Sandwich

The PB³ Superb Sandwich features peanut butter, banana, smoked bacon and strawberry jelly with a banana smoothie shot and vegetable dusted potato bites.

PB³ Superb Sandwich

For kids, there’s a deconstructed version, which includes peanut butter (served in a Petri dish), strawberry jelly, a little paddle to spread it, and two slices of the Pym  bread, fruit and a Dasani water or a Lowfat Milk.

Experiment No. EE90: Not So Little Chicken Sandwich

What happens when you shrink a bun but grow a chicken breast? That’s the Not So Little Chicken Sandwich, with a fried chicken breast topped with teriyaki and red chili sauces, pickled cabbage slaw and crispy vegetable dusted potato bites.

Not So Little Chicken Sandwich
I may be vegan, but this gigantic chicken sandwich with a tiny bun is hysterical…

There’s also a shrunken chicken sandwich, the Subatomic Sandwich for kids. It doesn’t have any sauce on it, leaving kids to customize it their own way at the condiment station.

Experiment No. EE45: Impossible™ Spoonful

For those looking for a plant-based option, the Impossible Spoonful features large and micro plant-based Impossible™ meat-balls, served in a super-sized spoon with a tiny fork, and two different sizes of pasta. They’ll be an option for kids, too, where the sauce will be on the milder side.

Impossible™ Spoonful

PYM TASTING LAB

Adjacent to the Pym Test Kitchen, an oversized beer can overhead signals that grown-up beverages are available at Pym Tasting Lab. Guests may order a craft beer, ranging from a blood orange hefeweizen to an amber lager. These are poured from a reverse draft system where, thanks to the food scientists, the glass fills from the bottom up. Those thirsting for a beer cocktail will have four to choose from, along with bite-sized snacks.

Pym Tasting Lab Beverages

If you’re looking to try everything on the menu, there will also be beer flights available, along with souvenir Pym beaker cups.

X-Periment, Molecular Meltdown, Honey Buzz and Particle Fizz

X-Periment: Patron Silver Tequila, Lime Juice, Habanero, and Mango Syrup, garnished with Mango flavored Popping Pearls.
Molecular Meltdown: Garage Brewing Marshmallow Milk Stout with Vanilla Ice Cream and topped with Mini Marshmallows.
Honey Buzz: Plymouth Gin, Lemon Juice, Honey Premium Syrup, Elysian Space Dust, IPA and a Honey edible Straw.

PARTICLE FIZZ: Endless Summer, Hard Seltzer with Cherry flavored Pearls.

The Regulator

The Regulator Patron Silver Tequila, Lime Juice, Habanero, and Mango Syrup, Golden Road Mango Cart Wheat Ale, garnished with Mango flavored Popping Pearls.

Snack Molecules

To complement any beverage selection, guests can also nosh on these Snack Molecules featuring popped sorghum with mini pretzels and honey roasted peanuts.

Snack Molecules

Proton PB&J Punch and Pingo Doce

Pym Test Kitchen Beverages

The kid-friendly Proton PB&J features Odwalla® lemonade with flavors of strawberry and peanut butter, while Pingo Doce, the distinctly green beverage from Avengers lore, is a park-exclusive beverage featuring the flavors of lime, vanilla, and maybe some Gamma radiation.

SHAWARMA PALACE

After the Battle of New York, the Avengers fell in love with shawarma. So, it only makes sense for there to be a shawarma cart at Avengers Campus.

The cart will feature two items. New York’s Tastiest, which is a classic shawarma spiced chicken, with garlic sauce, a warm wrap and a dipping sauce featuring tahini, lemon, garlic, and a pickled vegetable.

There’s also the Impossible™ Victory Falafel. Falafel, Kalamata olives, mint, garlic sauce, hummus, crispy cauliflower, and a tofu dipping sauce. [We’re very excited for this along with the impossible meatball!]

TERRAN TREATS

Taneleer Tivan — also known as The Collector — is always looking for ways to lure more guests towards his towering building of collections. So what are guests constantly searching out? Sweet treats. Located over by Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission — BREAKOUT! here’s what you’ll find Taneleer serving, but everything might not be what it seems.

Sweet Spiral Ration

Why just have a churro when you can have a churro from The Collector? The Sweet Spiral Ration Churros will include unique, rotating flavors (and colors).

Sweet Spiral Ration

Cosmic Cream Orb

For a hand-held snack on the go, try the Cosmic Cream Orb. A crispy cream puff with whipped raspberry cheesecake mousse — and while you see it in a purple hue here, it might not always be that color.

Cosmic Cream Orb

 

We’re beyond excited to see these in person soon and test them out ourselves! The new Avengers Campus sounds like it’ll be quite the immersive area with all of these new additions including the new Web-Slingers: A Spiderman Adventure attraction. What are you most exited to experience at Avengers Campus? Stay tuned here for more news to come!

Share
Tweet
Pin
Share