Showing posts with label DesignerLand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DesignerLand. Show all posts

Friday, November 1, 2013

Dreaming Disney - The Small Worlds of Walt

The Carolwood Foundation has done a fantastic job of preserving Walt Disney artifacts.  In fact visiting Walt's Barn in in my bucket list.

They are now in progress in restoring the "French Village" part of the original Storybook Village.  And in return for donations you can pick up some interesting incentives, like an orginal DesignerLand t-shirt.

You can find information about donating online and more information about the project including restoration updates at The Small World's of Walt.   

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Dreaming Disney - WDWNT: The Magazine Issue 17


Cover Issue 17 of WDWNT: The Magazine
Recently I wrote about WDWNT: The Magazine.  I did so for two reasons.  First, I wanted to get the word out about a free Disney fan publication that I believe readers would find interesting.  Second, I wanted to introduce Between Readers to the magazine because I have recently joined the writing staff of WDWNT: The Magazine!

Issue 17 has released this weekend.  In it you will find my first article for the magazine, a profile of Richard Terpstra the blogger behind the DesignerLand blog.  I am personally a huge fan owning three of his shirts.

The profile goes behind Terpstra’s story including his many experiences with Disney.  Sadly, I can never share the most fun aspect of this article, interviewing Terpstra over the phone and hearing the Disney fandom in his voice.  It was one of those situations where I got real quiet and just listened as Terpstra shared his journey with Disney from the Midwest.

I highly encourage you to go read not just my article but the entire issue online at http://www.wdwntthemagazine.com/ or download for your e-Reader at MagCloud.

Monday, May 28, 2012

Between Books - Disneyland: Sunrise to Sunrise

I hate Tom Bricker!
I hate that my last Facebook cover was created by Tom Bricker, that my current was created by Tom Bricker, and that the next will be created by Tom Bricker!
I hate that my best pins on Pinterest have Tom Bricker’s name behind them!
I hate that unlike creatives like Designerland and Bricker I lack an eye for creating artistic pieces and I am stuck appreciating the work of others instead of truly creating.
Yes Tom Bricker, you are on my list! 
Bricker in Disneyland: Sunrise to Sunrise provides readers with a glimpse into the 2012 “One More Disney Day” held on Leap Day.  He provides over 200 pictures taken in the park during this one single day, be it a long day even for Disneyland.  The pictures are organized not by themes like the hour of the day or land in which the shot was taken, but around which shots are pleasing together.  Some pages consist of single pictures which generally are ones that instantly transport you into the park.  Along with his pictures, Bricker provides commentary on the shots including location, perhaps time of day, or historical tidbits about the subject of his picture. 
As much as I hate Bricker and his creativity, these pictures are fantastic.  He provides shots that will take you back to the park no matter where you read the book in Betweenland.  And they are photos you will want to share with others, after my first read the Between Family all sat down to scroll through the book which lead to conversations about our own Disney Parks memories.  There are photographic subjects which reoccur throughout the book.  For example, one may say that multiple shots of Sleeping Beauty Castle are going to get old fast, instead I found that each shot of the castle though centered on the same subject brought a unique look at the Disneyland “Wienie” and honestly never got old.  And every Disney fan would be happy to have many of these shots as framed prints on their walls, perhaps claiming they personally took them.
Maybe I really don’t hate Tom Bricker after all!  Maybe I am actually a fan!   
If I could make any special requests, I would have loved a shot of the Firehouse at night, with Walt’s lamp glowing and a shot of the plaque from the Main Street U.S.A. entry arch.  Of course, that’s because taking those shots are part of my traditions and would love really well composed shots of each.  Honestly, my pictures of both are pretty touristy.
Sample Page of Disneyland: Sunrise to Sunrise

Disneyland: Sunrise to Sunrise is an eBook which you can buy direct from Touring Plans.  And it did cause me minor issues, I tend to be a physical book guy and not an eBook reader.  So I did struggle to get it into my eReader, struggles that ended the moment I had my “duh” moment and easily pulled the file into iTunes.  Trust me, if I can do it so can you.  I found that I preferred reading the book horizontally and not vertically, which on my reader gave the pictures and text better scale onto the screen.  Additionally, I found I really enjoyed skimming through the book on my home computer, which gave the pictures the maximum space needed to live. 
For me in Betweenland, it was never an option to attend “One More Disney Day.”   Instead I do feel like I had an opportunity to participate, following other Disney enthusiasts like Tom Bricker on Twitter and bugging a friend who is Disney Adjacent and went to the park after work.  Personally I am thrilled for the opportunity to have a photographic souvenir from that one very long operational day in an affordable and mobile package.
Mr. Bricker maybe we can reconcile if you put a nighttime picture of the firehouse on Pintrest.  It would go a long way towards apologizing for reminding me how poorly my photos look. 
This post is part of the Disney Blog Carnival. Head over there to see more great Disney-related posts and articles.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Dreaming Disney: Window Shopping at DesignerLand

Personally I believe, sadly, that a big part of the Disney park experience is shopping.  On my last trip to Disneyland I spent quite a bit of time in The Emporium.  On my last night as the park closed I stalled by strolling through it one last time so I could stay in Walt’s park for a few extra moments.  You simply cannot escape it, shopping at Disney is an important part of any trip. 
Now, shopping at Disney can at times also be disappointing.  Me, I’m looking for unique items especially books and t-shirts.  While I have way too many t-shirts if I can find one that makes a statement other than, “mass-produced souvenir t-shirt” there is a good chance I will grab it.  And those kinds of shirts are not always easy to find.  Luckily I stumbled on a solution to reproduce window shopping at home online.  Fortunately window shopping is cheaper than real shopping.  And this faux shopping has the sort of items I’m looking for. 
My favorite fake shopping website is http://disneydesignerland.blogspot.com/.  DesignerLand is the shirts I wish Disney sold.  They are shirts that playfully play up on Disney themes and attractions.  And they are smarter than any [insert year here] t-shirt you will find in the theme parks.  And the designs are unique and creative.  I have seen Richard, the creative genius behind the site say his designs are “kitsch niche.”  I’m not cool enough to use the word kitsch, but if it’s a niche its one where smart Disney fans hangout.  When I see on twitter that DesignerLand has a new posting, I run to it as quick as I can so I can dream about tees I will never buy and never wear. 
I cannot say that is totally true.  Now many of the featured designs can ever be sold, at least without Disney permission, due to copyright issues.  But Richard did sell one of my favorite designs, the Dole Pineapple Whip shirt.  And I still have my fingers crossed that one or more of the faux real estate/land development companies for the Walt Disney World Resort will become available for purchase.    How awesome would it be to be wearing your Ayefour Corp shirt, have it catch someone’s attention and then get the knowing nod.  Yes my friend, you are a fellow Disney Dork! 
Along with shirt designs studies in Disney typography and colors are regular features.  While these do not get me as excited as shirt designs, mostly due to my lack of creativity, they are well researched and help even a blockhead like me better understand design.     
So, just because you are not in a Disney park doesn’t mean you can’t get your fill of Disney shopping…even if it’s not real.  All you need to Disney window shop is a working browser!