Between Books - Death in the Tragic Kingdom

This morning I was overloaded as I commuted to work. I had my book bag, my lunch, and a really heavy bag of stuff for a presentation. The big bag was making me a little wobbly. So as I walked up to a train platform and found myself walking into the yellow warning area closest to the tracks, I wanted to yell, “come on people, I don’t want to have an accident here.” You see I am at the moment a little hyper-aware of what a simple little fall can do after reading Death in the Tragic Kingdom.

Death in the Tragic Kingdom: The Unauthorized Walking Tour Through the Haunted and Fatal History of Disney Parks by Keaton Moll walks readers through the unfortunate early deaths of cast members and guests in Disney theme parks and the cruise line. The majority of cases consist of a short paragraph. Where newspaper articles and court documents exist, the descriptions of the events are longer. Moll takes his readers through these incidents like a tour guide, walking us through Disney property as we move from death to death. Along with accounts of death, Moll provides information about the urban legends of Disney hauntings. The book ends with a series of maps where one could follow the events of the book as a walking tour.

Moll’s tone is non-judgmental. He explains how deaths occur but generally does not pass judgment. He makes sure to explain that deaths at Disney are inevitable. The parks are cities! Just due to numbers of cast members and visitors, accidents and natural causes will lead to unexpected deaths. He does note some bad maintenance practices that have attributed to deaths in the past. But generally he assumes good will on Disney’s behalf. There are a few typos, but the do not interfere greatly with the experience. My only real complaint about Moll’s writing is that transitions for me are not always clear, but that could be an issue of spacing.

I do not like scary. When it comes to ghost stories, he passes the story along but makes it clear with some stories that he has trouble believing them. Moll makes it clear many of the ghost stories he shares are of a likely fictional nature, though he does share his own creep out moment. But I will say as I read this book I could feel goose bumps on the back of my neck. Honestly, I love these places he discusses. And the idea of any of these locations being haunted creeps me out a bit. But there are plenty of people who like a good scare!

Here is what I have learned from Moll. And honestly these are probably lessons Disney would like us to take note of. Though this is the type of book they would never endorse. Do not get out of your ride vehicle unless a cast member authorizes it. If Disney puts up a sign that states do not enter, don’t! And slipping and falling creates unsafe situations everywhere. Sadly another lesson is that some people chose the happiest place on Earth for their final resting place.

Death in the Tragic Kingdom outlines a piece of Disney history we rarely discuss, death. Keaton Moll provides us locations and stories on how these often sad events occurred. Additionally, he shares Disney’s ghost stories. For me, the last few days I have been careful of where my feet have been taking me. If a surface looks slick, I am going to step carefully. And as I walk with my headphones blaring a Disney podcasts in my ears I am paying more attention to traffic. Because if an accident can take me in my favorite parks, it could easily happen on my commute!



Review Copy Provided by Theme Park Press

Mousey Movie Review - The Lone Ranger

The Lone Ranger must be horrible!  Seriously, it was a box office bomb so it must be really really bad.  Estimates say that for Disney it was a loss of anywhere between $160-190 Million (capital M). But box office success does not mean good.  And I can thing of plenty of movies that were not good that were huge successes financially.  And others that the box office was a disappointment but a personal hit for me.  As many of you can guess, John Carter for me is a movie that I loved despite receipts.

So I was not out to get The Lone Ranger.  And I was willing and wanted to go see this western starring Armie Hammer as the masked lawman and Disney golden boy Johnny Depp as the Native American warrior Tonto.  But the summer schedule kept me out of the theater and by the time the summer was over we decided financially it made more sense to buy the movie instead of rushing into the theater while the film was on its way out (very quickly). 

• Mrs Banks: Someone at Central Casting must really like English actress Ruth Wilson.  I first saw her in a theatrical release in Saving Mr. Banks as Margaret Goff.  And though I thought her character was very understated, I did feel sympathy for her as we experienced the Goff family troubles through her oldest daughters eyes.  What I did not realize is that Wilson had made her Disney debut earlier in the year as Rebecca Reid, wife of Texas Ranger Dan Reid, in The Lone Ranger and served as the primary romantic interest in the movie.  As both characters, Wilson in effect plays pioneer women who work on the edges of modern society.  And Wilson brings to both roles brings the air of someone who longs for a more civilized life.  

• The Disneyland Railroad:  One of the reasons I did not see The Lone Ranger in the theater was because I was traveling to Disneyland for my summer vacation while Depp's newest film was released. When we arrived at Disneyland we entered the park for the first time on the Sunday after and sitting in front of the park right after the bus loading area was The Constitution the train from the film.  Two cast members dutifully guarded the train.  And it was really impressive to see the size difference between this train and the ones in the park.  Now I really had not listened to box office reports, because I was too busy with my family.  And I took some pictures in front of the train with my kids. But I have no family free pictures to share with you. Because on Wednesday the train was gone.  The way I remember it was we went into the park and the train was there.  And then we came out after lunch for a nap and the entire train was gone.  Seriously, it was a huge engine.  But it was gone.  It was like it never existed!  Then I knew it had not gone well for Mr. Depp and I figured The Lone Ranger was getting the John Carter treatment!   

• Family Friendly: I do not want to sound like I am a grumpy guy, but I really do wonder if Walt Disney would have released The Long Ranger under the Walt Disney name.  I did enjoy the action adventure that the movie provided.  And I thought the moral compass was true to a Disney family film with the Lone Ranger being a champion for justice.  But, it has a huge body count!  It has to have more deaths that any of the Pirates films, maybe more than the four combined.  And this is not the A-Team where shooting happens but bullets only hit non-living things.  No, this is a movie that I would question before showing a youngster.  A day before I watched The Lone Ranger I received a text asking if it was kid approved.  I said it was Disney so how bad could it be!  I may have been wrong.  And Disney may have done their core audience a favor be releasing this film under Touchstone instead.  

• The Old Mill:  The William Tell Overture by Gioachino Rossini has been used in a number of media pieces.  These include the Disney classic short The Old Mill which uses the "Ranz des Vaches" or "Call to the Cows" segment to open the morning.  But probably the most famous use is in the classic television show The Lone Ranger, which used the "Finale" as its theme song.  As a kid who grew up with four television stations, I saw a ton of the Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels program despite the fact it entered production nearly 30 years before I was born!  The Hammer and Depp collaboration pays homage to the classic show by using the Overture throughout the final big action segment (maybe it should be BIG ACTION).  And because of the use of this musical tribute it makes the ending sequence even more enjoyable.  Honestly, it really does show how a piece of music can set a mood.  For someone like me, I knew something exciting was happening.  For the Between Kids who have no idea who Clayton Moore is, they knew something fast paced was breaking out in front of them.  

• Infinity: Okay, it is not part of the movie, but the Disney Infinity Lone Ranger Play Set is really really fun.  The Between Kid and I crushed it over our holiday break.  And even for me as a fairly mature adult I enjoyed playing cowboys and robbers, occasionally going out on our own two man posse on missions.  You may have overlooked this Play Set if you play Disney Infinity.  If you have I recommend grabbing it since it may be my favorite Play Set to date.  

• John Carter: Everyone is going to compare The Lone Ranger to John Carter.  I will admit they did get the same post-release treatment.  Disney quickly washed their hands of both.  And I do not expect Disney to try a Western again soon.  But let us remember they did not get the same treatment before their releases.  John Carter was marginalized.  The Lone Ranger was included with the release of Disney Infinity!  John Carter did not have a big name actor.  The Lone Ranger had the Disney golden boy Johnny Depp.  Yes, Disney wanted this film to succeed, so its failure is even more disappointing than the film Disney wanted to forget! 

Like John Carter I enjoyed the escapist adventure in The Lone Ranger.  I still prefer  Andrew Stanton's sci-fi film on a critical level.  Which did not lose quite as much for Disney as Depp did in this adventure.  But like Stanton, Depp has a good Disney track record so he is allowed a Disney stumble, though the relationship with producer Jerry Bruckheimer is effectually at an end for new intellectual property.  I would say if you have not seen The Lone Ranger, grab some pop and popcorn and give it a chance some Friday night.  It might just be fun. 

Between Books - The Deadliest Cast Member: Season One

Jack Duncan is your typical Disney Parks fan. He enjoys spending time with his family at Disneyland. He visits as often as possible, which for him is a lot. He knows to savor the background and setting established by the Imagineers. His mind holds a wealth of Disney history and trivia. And he is a Special Forces trained security expert that is our only hope against a terrorist plot that would wipe Disneyland off the map and kill many in the area. So yeah, typical Disney fan.

The Deadliest Cast Member: Season One by Kelly Ryan Johns collects the previously released Season One installments of this story that had been released as e-books. Johns introduces us to Jack Duncan, a father, widower and the guardian of Disney’s security. Duncan’s father was a close friend and associate to Walt Disney and had created Disneyland’s elaborate security system. Jack spends most of his year living in a suite at Disney’s Grand California Hotel & Spa. Duncan had left his role as a Navy Seal to follow his father’s footsteps in the parks. Jack is also a celebrity, having completed an unexplained heroic act in the parks a few years ago. Additionally, his wife passed away in an undisclosed fashion due to the actions of his and his father’s nemesis, Nikolai Grusov. Grusov, despite Jack believing he had killed the villain earlier, is back and holds the Disneyland resort hostage with a dirty bomb. Duncan takes the lead in a story that incorporates mystery, action, speculative technology, Disney history, and maybe magic (or is that science by another name).

There are a lot of layers to pull back on this story when breaking it down.

First, as a Disney fan, this story is a dream come true. Jack and his kids basically live at Disneyland. He has a fantastic suite at the Grand Californian. And when he has to move out of his lodgings, for Johnny Depp who Jack is friends with, he moves temporarily into the Dream Suite! That just does not seem fair! Really who among us would not enjoy this lifestyle! The Duncan’s eat at Club 33 and can exclusively use rooms in the club. He can access back exits and hidden tunnels to get around in the park. He is tied to the history of the park through his father, who was Walt Disney’s “greatest friend”. It really is a dream life. And Johns knows the park, so as you are jealous of Duncan and his lifestyle, the park serves as a character within the book.

Second, this is an action story. This is a 24 type anti-terrorism story set in Disneyland. There are guns, bombs, martial arts and fighting. There is a goal of finding and defusing a bomb before an entire community is harmed. And at the center of it all is Jack the experienced and capable military operator. And I feel it worked on this level. In fact, I may never look at the park the same way again. Could a gunman be behind that corner?

Third, this story is a mystery or a puzzle. Much like a book with a very different tone, In the Shadow of the Matterhorn, readers are provided a mystery within the park. And the story is built around real locations and fake clues within the park. For Disney fans, this mystery goes back to Walt Disney himself and his hopes for his Park.

Finally, The Deadliest Cast Member: Season One is a work of speculative fiction. It is filled with Sci-Fi science, or magic, that we do not use in our world. But they do help to show how fictional magic exists within Disneyland. This element is probably the one I expected the least, and probably needed the least. This final element probably most reminded me of Midlife Mouse, yet another very different book. And despite the fact that there is a lot going on in this story, the book still worked for me with this element mixed in.

Cost wise this book sells for $4.99 on Kindle, which seems like a competitive price point. It collects 6 separate segments which sell for 99 cents to $2.99 a piece so you do save in buying the compiled version. At that price I do not believe that you are taking a huge risk in buying the novel. And if you have concerns you can sample for less than a dollar.

Overall, I enjoyed The Deadliest Cast Member: Season One by Kelly Ryan Johns. It is an escapist action adventure with a touch of sci-fi that caters to Disney fans. I will admit this is one of the first books I have ever read that has Johnny Depp as a fiction character. But in the end, I found myself joining Johns in his enjoyable story. And I for one would like to see a season two at a later date.

Review Copy Provided for Purpose of Review

Between Books - Disneylanders

“I wasn’t in the mood for a Dole Whip with a paper umbrella,” could this be the most offensive words in the history of Disney fiction? Okay, I jest, but they help show the tone of Disneylanders by Kate Abbott, the story of a girl who has problems big enough that even Dole Whip cannot solve them.

Disneylanders by Kate Abbott tells the story of Casey, a 13 year-old girl on vacation in Disneyland with her parents. Casey is going through a lot of changes in her life. She is getting ready to transition into high school, which in itself is scary. At the same time her best friend has become popular and has dumped her for more popular kids, and boys! And her body is changing, as evidenced by her constant thoughts about bras. Her parents seem completely oblivious to the fact that she is getting older and provide little to no sympathy to her problems. While vacationing at Disneyland, she meets Bert a 15 year-old boy who becomes her vacation companion, confident and her first boyfriend. The two spend as much time possible together in Disneyland as they attempt to better understand themselves and get to know their first real crushes.

Disneylanders is not the type of book that I would generally pick up for myself. The audience is much more teen and young adult female readers than middle-aged men who read Disney history and comic books. Still I did find myself getting enjoyment from the book and that it kept my attention. Casey’s parents are in many ways unlikeable, yet I found myself thinking about them and relating to them while I read the book. Much of this has to do with the fact that I see myself in their boat, and not just the one on it’s a small world, in a few years since I do not want the Between Tween to grow up. Someday, and someday soon my Disney trivia will no longer be as interesting. At least I do not sport socks and sandals. So despite the fact I felt like it was not intended for me to like them, I felt for them. And they are right; you need to let your parents know if you go swimming! So despite the fact that I did not relate closely to the main character, I did find much to ponder. And no, the Tween is not allowed to hang out with boys on our next Disneyland vacation.

Abbott does an excellent job of using the park as background for her story to take place in. The park is not the star, it is the scenery. But it is used really well and in such a way that it helped me enter the story more clearly than if it had been set somewhere I was not familiar with. Her description of the hard stop on it’s a small world has stuck with me because Abbott nailed it. I can feel that stop in my bones and her use of it helped me stay in the story. As Casey and Bert worked their way through queues, I could picture their locations. Abbott knows her Disneyland!

The book itself is well written and easy to follow. Abbott’s characters are ones that the reader can either easily relate to or feel for quickly. The story is romantic, yet safe and parents should have no concern with tween and teen readers choosing this title. I read the Kindle version of the book and it was excellently edited and I was never distracted by the format.

Disneylanders is a good summer reading choice. It will probably be most attractive to teens and young adults who like relationship centered stories. And for those who like those books and Disneyland, you really are likely to enjoy this. But I will warn you; the book is probably not the light fare some may hope for. Since many readers are going through, have gone through, or will be the parents of those going through the key life transitions described, you may find yourself considering how you want to succeed or how you could fail in those real life situations.



Review Copy Provided by Theme Park Press

 

Walt's Windows - Disneyland Resort: Remember the Moments a Magical Souvenir

When the Between Family first visited the Disneyland Resort we picked up a DVD in Adventureland that I have not seen since. Disneyland Resort: Remember the Moments a Magical Souvenir provides a glimpse of the full resort including Disneyland Park, Disney’s California Adventure (DCA) as it was named at that time, Downtown Disney and the Disney hotels. Our tour guides Karen and Mile provide a land by land, park by park tour of the Disneyland resort with video and narration highlighting the attractions and features of the park. Additionally, facts about the current topic of discuss graphically pop onto the screen as the video plays. Honestly, it is a pretty straight forward promotional tour of the park. And this fact can somewhat be found in the special features which includes “Making the Video Guide”, “The Twilight Tower of Terror Time Lapse”, “Two Great Shows” which provides information about the Snow White and Aladdin stage shows, and “Traveling with Preschoolers”. Many of these would be useful to someone planning a trip.

The presentation is set around 2005. There are references to the Disneyland 50th anniversary, the Parade of the Stars which ran from 1999 to 2005, and Snow White an Enchanting Musical which ran from 2004 to 2006. For me this is a Disneyland that I never saw, despite that fact that it is relatively modern. For me that most interesting portion of the video is Disney’s California Adventure still in its youth. With a Sun Wheel, the Orange Stinger and the Maliboomer all prominently featured, it show me how much DCA has changed and greatly improved. It is amazing how quickly this park has matured.

I do not know if I would advocate purchasing this video. We picked it up in the park for a reasonable price and do not know if it is still available. A search on Amazon uncovered copies for $50. Now I will admit that the Between Kid really likes this title. But he likes it just as much as the most current Disney Parks Planning video, which is free. The value in trip planning is also limited since it almost a decade old. So, as much as I enjoy the early DCA video, financially I would not spend a lot on this window to the past.

Disneyland Resort: Remember the Moments a Magical Souvenir provides a peak at Disneyland in the years before I visited. I am sure for many of you, you remember this Disneyland Resort well. Viewing this again and again and again over the last three years has helped remind me that these parks do change quickly and for some of us a window looking a few years back is the only way we will see an era of the parks.

Between Books - Hidden Mickey 5 Chasing New Frontiers

When I was a kid I read a lot of fiction. In the summer I may read a fiction book a day. But college beat it out of me. I read, read, read and so much of it was history and never ever fiction. I got into the habit of reading about one fiction book a year, if that. I have gotten into reading some fiction again in the last few years, but mostly comic books. And in the case of comic books I can rush through a story in 15 minutes to an hour. So I have just not felt qualified to review much fiction. In fact I have waived off possible review opportunities solely because I did not feel prepared. Then author and publisher David W. Smith pressed the issue, he sent me a copy of Hidden Mickey 5: Chasing New Frontiers, and being me I could not ignore the title.

Hidden Mickey 5: Chasing New Frontiers by David W. Smith is a tale that encompasses the entirety of Disneyland history. In the main storyline Disneyland cast member Blaine Walters meets and falls in love with guest Missy Johansen from Switzerland. Realizing that they are likely experiencing a brief fling the two spend as much time as possible enjoying each other’s company, Disneyland and the surrounding area. As they spend time together they uncover the mystery of stolen money and a pendent owned by Walt Disney, with potential paranormal powers stolen by a former Disneyland landscaper. And if there is not enough drama in this love story, Missy is actually a rising pop star hiding her true identity from Blaine. Will Blaine and Missy find the treasure hidden within Disneyland? Will the two young adults be able to continue their relationship beyond their short week together? Well, you will get no spoilers from me!

The first impression that popped out to me was that Blaine Walters is based on Smith himself. Blaine is a teacher, skilled tennis player, a cast member who works at the Davy Crockett Explorer canoes, and busies himself with a local band. Readers of In the Shadow of the Matterhorn will notice that this profile matches Smith’s own. Additionally, some of the fictional stories found in the book, like a romantic encounter with a security guard in the Haunted Mansion, match real life experiences that Smith had. In effect, Hidden Mickey 5: Chasing New Frontiers is a fictional account of Smith’s life with less canoe races and more pop star. This fact helps the story to ring true, as readers of his non-fiction book understand that Smith is writing from experience making his settings real Disneyland locations and the scenes largely ones that feel real.

The question that I had asked myself was could I read Hidden Mickey 5: Chasing New Frontiers without reading any other book in the series. The answer is absolutely yes. These earlier books, written by a combination of Smith and Nancy Temple Rodrigue, seem to be more supernatural in nature than this volume. Additionally they do not appear to have Blaine and Missy as main characters, from my searching on Amazon. The character that seems to overlap is Mani Wolford, the Wolf, a security officer that works in both our modern day and the early years of the park. The fact that Wolf has an air of mystery around him, and a clear understanding of magical things makes we want to know more about him.

I would describe the book as a romance first, with a mystery mixed in all set around Disneyland. Romance books are not my typical fare; I tend to read history or action (comics), so it was a little outside my wheelhouse. Yet, I was still able to find entertainment in the book. Of course the hook was the Disneyland setting, and the mixing in of Disney history. But the romance in the book still came off to me as interesting. If anything, though I would not trade my romance with the Between Wife away, I found a hankering to be alone with the Between Wife in Disneyland, silly kids! The romance itself is sweet and not overly sexualized, which was a breath of fresh air.

The book itself is big, like over 500 pages long. For some reason I found my reading pace to be slower than I typically do with non-fiction books. It took me over ten days to read it, mostly on a train. But I never set it aside for other books, and was ready to pick it back up whenever the opportunity arose. I am a man in my 30s, and it kept my attention.

The tale of Blaine and Missy is a sweet romance in a setting that I love. The mystery element and the setting will attract readers that typically would not flock to a romance novel. Despite the fact I question if a first timer would not be told to order the Monte Cristo at Club 33, I will admit it does seem a little heavy for Missy’s tastes. I could easily recommend Hidden Mickey 5: Chasing New Frontiers as a vacation book for those visiting a Disney park, looking for entertainment with some light tension with hooks that could pull in a variety of readers.



Review Copy Provided by Synergy Books Publishing

Dreaming Disney - Escape from Casey Jr.

My latest article for WDWNT: The Magazine has gone live.  The tale, "Escape from Casey Jr." recounts the "excitement" of my family being evacuated from the Casey Jr. Circus Train last summer.  I hope you enjoy my attempt to get some humor out of a hot afternoon! 

I should not that WDWNT: The Magazine is changing its format and instead of being a PDF magazine, articles will not be published directly at the WDW News Today website as featured content. 

Between Books - Poster Art of the Disney Parks

-->

I think it’s pretty safe to say that Bjorn Aronson is my favorite artist.  I had heard the name, but not truly ever connected my fandom of Aronson with the actual artist.  Well, not until I read Danny Handke and Vanessa Hunt’s Poster Art of the Disney Parks.  Handke and Hunt provide readers a brief history of Disney attraction posters including their production.  This is followed by a tour of each land within the Magic Kingdom style parks, showing off the striking posters that Disney artists have created.  Pages include comparisons of posters from the same attraction in parks in the United States, Asia and Europe.   After displaying the art of the Magic Kingdom’s, the authors add chapters on Disney California Adventure and Tokyo DisneySea. 

There has been a lot said about this book.  These words have included artistic, beautiful, delightful, wonderful, fantastic, and probably awesome.  This is all true.  This book is a must have for Disney fans who will be delighted by the images included on Poster Art of the Disney Parks’ pages.  The discussion of the creation of posters may be insightful for some, but the images and posters are the star of the book. 

My criticism is I want more.  I would have other parks including in the book, such as Epcot.  The authors hint of this by showing us posters from Disney California Adventure and Tokyo DisneySea.  Basically, we are given a peak at great from other Disney parks but we do not get the final full payoff.

Well, some of you have probably already purchased this book.  Congratulations, and enjoy this book.  If you do not have it yet, put Poster Art of the Disney Parks on your radar, Christmas and birthday lists.  It is a wonderful book that will become a cherished volume of your Between Books library. 

Dreaming Disney - Homemade Mint Juleps

A Treat from the Mint Julep Bar

I did not know.  I did not realize.  I did not even consider that there would be a Disney snack that I would enjoy almost as much as Dole Whip.  It just seemed improbable.

Then I ate at Blue Bayou and had my first mint julep.  And I was thrilled that the Blue Bayou’s serving included refills because it was awesome in a cup! 

So we left the Disneyland Resort and I thought I would have to wait until we returned to Disneyland before I could enjoy this beverage again, I had never had it before so how could I expect to stumble on it in Betweenland?  I was wrong!   At my next birthday I came home to find a pitcher in the fridge.  It has become a birthday tradition over the last few years as the Between Wife mixes up this recipe from www.food.com:

Ingredients

• 1 lb granulated sugar
• 6 cups water
• 1 1/4 ounces lime juice concentrate
• 8 1/2 ounces lemonade concentrate
• 3/4 cup creme de menthe ( syrup available at liquor stores. Do not confuse it with creme de menthe liqueur)

Garnishes

• mint leaves
• lime slices
• maraschino cherries

Directions

1. Combine the sugar and water in a 3 quart saucepan. Stir the contents until the sugar is dissolved.
2. Stir in lime and lemonade concentrate next. Continue stirring and bring to boil just below the boiling point (210 degrees.) DO NOT BOIL!
3. Remove pan from heat and chill. Once chilled, add a ratio of 1 part syrup to 5 parts chilled water.
4. Transfer beverage to pitcher and enjoy!
5. Garnish each serving with mint leaves, lime slice and a maraschino cherry.
6. Sorry, the yield is estimated.

This recipe and others you will find online help you enjoy a little piece of Disneyland in Betweenland.  It is truly fantastic to come home from a long day of work, throw on a Disney travel video and let the stress of the day roll away.  The Between Family will warn you to follow the directions carefully.  The first time we accidentally doubled the lime juice in our first attempt, which lead to experimentation as we dialed in the correct flavor.  And be advised the crème de menthe is likely in your grocery store’s ice cream toppings area. 

Fear not true believers, Disneyland in a cup can be yours to be enjoyed!  What is your favorite park treat that you reproduce at home?

Between Books - Mouse Trap

What is it like to be a Disneyland Resort cast member?  Kevin Yee describes his own experience as a cast member working primarily in New Orleans Square restaurants, especially Café Orleans, in Mouse Trap: Memoir of a Disneyland Cast Member.  Yee spent parts of a 15 year period as a cast member rising to the position of Lead at Café Orleans and later serving in the Entertainment Art department, which provided signs and decorations for special events within the park.

Yee’s text is very straight forward.  He describes how he was hired, onboarded, evaluated, worked and eventually left the Disneyland Resort.  He provides detail to the backstage areas of the Disneyland Park that guests never see, including wardrobe, break areas, business areas and other hidden support departments.  Yee also describes life as a cast member from special events, shopping, and the details of the scheduling and wardrobe processes during his days as a cast member.  He also gives a detailed examination of how some of these logistics have changed, to the best of his knowledge, after his 2002 departure from Disney employment.  He does additionally give some details about the social life of cast members such as dating and social activities.

Mouse Trap is heavy on logistics.  Yee is highly detailed about cast member functions such as wardrobe.  Actually, it is kind of fascinating to read his account of how wardrobe changes occurred in his tenure and why guests now see so many dressed cast members standing at the bus stops or walking off stage as they go home.  Yee provides a ton of information about how one worked as a cast member, and for me I found it very interesting.  He does address briefly and not in great detail the social aspects of being a cast member, including pranks.  However, he may not go into the depth that some readers may want.  If one is looking for a tell all memoir that names names and only reports the less ethical activities of cast members, this is not that book.  Instead Yee respects the privacy and names of those he worked with.  For a memoir in that vein readers may wish to pick up a book like Cast Member Confidential.  No Mouse Trap does not rip the cover off the seedy life of working for Disneyland, instead it provides a clear picture of how being an employee of the park functioned during Yee’s years.

Before I recently went on vacation, I really wanted to read a Disneyland Resort cast memoir.  When searching for a title I kept coming back again and again to Mouse Trap: Memoir of a Disneyland Cast Member.  Kevin Yee paints a picture of the reality of being a Disneyland cast member.  The book is highly detailed and clear.  Those who wish to understand the daily reality of working at the Disney parks will likely be pleased with Mouse Trap.       

Oswald Opines - In Defense of Disneyland

My first Disney parks experience was the Walt Disney World Resort.  And from my window Walt Disney World was all I ever needed.  Seriously, everything I needed was just a bus ride away so why would I ever go anywhere else for vacation again?

The Matterhorn and the Lagoon

 Then I rethought things.  Well, Disney rethought things for me.  With the Fantasyland expansion kicking up a few years ago the Between Family made a decision.  We did not want a Magic Kingdom Park that was filled with construction walls.  So, we decided to look elsewhere for a vacation, one somewhere in Betweenland.  We considered Kansas City since we have a lot of friends in the area.  But we wanted a vacation where we could relax and not impose on others.  So we limited our search to Duluth, Minnesota and The Wisconsin Dells. 

Faced with the brochures of two Big D vacation destinations, we chose Disneyland!

It’s a choice we never regretted!

But on our journey to prepare to go somewhere new, I was kind of shocked about the amount of disrespect Disneyland has received from Walt Disney World fans.  It makes me sad, because in many ways Disneyland is better than Walt Disney World.  In fact at this moment I claim Disneyland as my home park (which will probably change the next time I go to Walt Disney World).  Here is why the Disneyland Resort is a superior vacation experience.

·         Walt’s Park: Disneyland may have changed a lot since 1955, but it’s still Walt’s Park.  Even when one watches “Dateline: Disneyland” from opening day you get the general sense that it is the same park we have today.  And you know that Walt helped design a number of the attractions that we see today like Autopia or the original non-punny version of The Jungle Cruise.  For me a big moment when I leave the park is to look up at the lamp in Walt’s old apartment over the Firehouse and remarking to the kids that as long as that light burns the spirit of Walt Disney is still here.  Sometimes I imagine that Walt still walked the streets before the guests arrive, something he never got the chance to do in Orlando.  I have never gotten the sense that Walt Disney was with me in Walt Disney World, but I have always gotten a feeling that a visit to Disneyland was a visit to Walt’s Park. 

·         Walking Distance: At Walt Disney World we assume that it going to take us at least 30 minutes to get from room to park and back again.  Being planners we actually give ourselves an hour in our planning for when to leave for the park.  At Disneyland this is a non-issue.  If staying off property, feel free to stay across the street.  Yes, across the street!  From off-site hotel rooms we have watched fireworks over The Matterhorn, Monorails zooming to their next stop, and guests walking onto Disney property.  When we have stayed on-property I have literary gone from pool, to FASTPASS machine, back to pool.  And there was nothing like the nights we spent with the curtains open looking into Disney California Adventure wondering when Mickey’s Fun Wheel would no longer be illuminated.  One of the Between Kids and I once got soaked on Splash Mountain at the back of the park.  We left the attraction, walked to our room, changed, and were back in the park within 30 minutes from our off-property accommodations.  That is a trick we could have never pulled at Walt Disney World.   

Matterhorn from the Hotel

·         Walking Distance II:  It really is location, location, location!  One night a few years ago a Between Kid and I finished a night alone in the parks.  We went from Disneyland Park to Downtown Disney to Disney California Adventure and hopped back to Disneyland.  We did this in a few hours time and rode rides that we could find in The Magic Kingdom Park, Disney Hollywood Studios and Epcot if we were in Orlando.  But we had ridden the same rides in Orlando we would have spent at least an hour and half traveling between locations instead of just completing quick walks.

·         Disney California Adventure Park:  Even filled with construction parks DCA is likely my third favorite Disney park!  There I said it.  I have lost all credibility.  But for me DCA has some of my favorite things from Epcot (Soarin’) and Disney Hollywood Studios Park (Toy Story Midway Mania) and enough original attractions (World of Color, California Screamin, Monsters Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue) to make me very happy.  Basically with the addition of Cars Land this summer there is so much awesome I think we seriously have to consider this question with future trips, “Which park first?”

Paradise Pier Before World of Color

·         Kid Friendly: The Disneyland Resort is so much easier to get around with kids.  There is no loading and unloading of strollers on buses.  It is easier to get a crabby kid to nap time within10 minutes, and back again when we are happily rested.  Attractions are closer together making it easier for one parent to be riding a E-Ticket while the other parent is taking their shift on a kiddy focused dark ride, I can’t tell you how many times I have waited for Splash Mountain while riding The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh over and over and over again.  Basically when things are closer together it is easier to navigate the needs of a small child.

Yes, Disneyland Resort is my home today.  I really wish someone had told me these things before my first visit to Anaheim.  I love this park and considering a visit to Walt Disney World almost makes me feel dirty.  Seriously, should I be scolded for considering Orlando over Anaheim?  Disney fan, you really have to give Walt’s original theme park a chance. 

Between Books - The Imagineering Field Guide to Disneyland

The Imagineering Field Guide to Disneyland provides a visual overview of the Disneyland park at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim California.  Alex Wright the author of The Imagineering Field Guide to the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World also writes this guide.  Wright reviews the concepts and tools of Imagineering.  Wright takes readers through Walt Disney’s beloved theme park from Main Street U.S.A to Tommorrowland.  He provides details to his readers about why and how the Imagineers crafted the stories of the original Disney theme park.  The highlight of the text as with the entire series is pictures with visuals ranging from attraction photos to concept art, including art from legendary Imagineers.  Like others in the series, the book is setup like a guide book, being small and compact and something one can throw into a backpack or small bag on a pilgrimage to follow Walt Disney’s footsteps. 

By the time I read this volume I was very familiar with this series of books.  I purchased it to prepare for my first ever trip to the Disneyland Resort.  I felt comfortable with the Magic Kingdom Park, but with kids in tow I wanted to have a feel for the lay of the land instead of jumping in with no general park layout in mind.  I also needed to know what rides and attractions were different and the same so I could prepare myself and my kids.  The Imagineering Field Guide to Disneyland more than fulfilled these goals.  I felt informed when I crossed onto Main Street U.S.A. for the first time and able to tour comfortably.  Like the other volumes in this series, the pictures are stunning.  And living Between Disney it is easy to thumb throw when you need a visual Disney fix.  The Imagineering Field Guide to Disneyland is another successful offering in this series of field guides.   

For more from the Imagineering Guide series see “Between Books – The Imagineering Field Guide to the Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World” and “Between Books – The Imagineering Field Guide to the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.”

Dreaming Disney - Google Maps

I was alone in my office.

It was late and the lights were dimmed.

I sat in front of my computer.

The door was closed but suddenly it swung open. I was caught by Mrs. Between Disney surfing images on the Internet.

And what she saw made her grab a seat next to me!

I was on Google Maps looking at images of the Disneyland Resort and our hotel for our future first trip to California.  And what we saw was too engrossing for us to look away.

Disneyland Park from Google Maps

Seriously, Google Maps is a great resource for both planning a visit to a Disney park and dreaming out here Between Disney.

It is really easy to find your favorite Disney park.  All you have to do is type in phrases such as Disneyland, Walt Disney World, The Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Epcot, California Adventure, Harry Potter (for select readers only) into the search box and Google Maps takes you to your desired location.  If only it was that easy to travel from Between Disney to the parks! 

A nice use of these maps is to use the satellite images to get a pre-trip lay of the land.  On that famed night, I used the site to determine the distance and route between our hotel and the main gate.  That meant when we arrived we knew in general how we would get to the park.  And though the images are not live I have had fun scrolling though images from the Walt Disney World Resort, asking myself what some of the buildings and areas were backstage?  It's kinda fun to trace out where a dirt road from The Magic Kingdom Park ends. 

A Magic Kingdom Park Backstage Area

How do you use Google Maps out here in Betweenland?

Between Books - Jason's Disneyland Almanac

The day I was born the Disneyland Park was open until 1 a.m.  Sadly as an adult visiting for the first time it was only open until midnight.

We have all dreamed about walk-on conditions when visiting a Disney park.  But I don’t think any of us can imagine December 14, 1961.  It was a bit nippy and rained some. But on that Thursday there were only 523 guests in Disneyland.  Let me say that again, 523!

On December 15, 1966, Walt Disney passed away.  On that day only 3,284 guests were present to enjoy his creation.

I know these facts thanks to Jason’s Disneyland Almanac by Jason Schultz and Kevin Yee.  Jason’s Disneyland Almanac collects the opening and closing times, temperature highs and lows, precipitation, and major openings, closings, events, and potential important guests to the Disneyland Resort from it’s opening in 1955 until 2010.  In fact the authors have gathered operating hours for the resort for all but 773 of 20,257 dates.  The real delight of this almanac is the attendance data for dates between July 18, 1955 to December 31, 1966, taken from Roy O. Disney’s Disneyland Attendance Summary.   This historical record provides us with data that Disney executives do not generally make available about the park today.

This book is about the numbers.  There is some narrative and background but not in great amounts. Really it is the numbers that tell readers the story of Disneyland. Especially interesting is the attendance data from the early years of Disneyland Park.  One will be shocked to see days with especially low attendance, closures due to weather and trends that don’t match current Touring Plans Crowd Calendars.  For example, look closely at the attendances for Christmas in early Disneyland and consider equivalents today. Also readers will be surprised to find regular park closures, could we even imagine the parks closing on a regular basis even during today’s “off season?”

I am a big baseball fan.   Amongst baseball fans there are sabermetricians, the fans who use statistics and numbers to dig deeper into the story of the game.  This book is for the Disney sabermetrician, a source that provides the raw data for the examination of park trends.   And even the non-numbers minded enthusiasts, like me, can see trends that help us to better understand the park today.

The data itself and the authors’ methodology in collecting it appears as solid as possible for someone without access to Disney archives and records.  They do admit that there could be errors and mistakes as much data such as closures and park times were gathered from primarily public or second sources. So they warn that errors could be present.  I chuckled as I found one related to my first trip to Disneyland; as the text states that Glow Fest closed on the day I arrived at the Disneyland Resort for the first time, when I know that in the week following the stated closure that I participated in the event twice.  I believe this is due to an extension of Glow Fest; an extension that I believe was not listed in documents that provided the original dates for this party.  Who would have guessed that it was going to be as popular as it was?

On February 19, 2001, Disney’s California Adventure (with the ‘s at the time) was open for two hours later than Disneyland Park.   Shocking? Not really, because an examination of page 262 of Jason’s Disneyland Almanac will help the story unfold.  Numbers sometimes provide their own narratives!



Review Copy Provided for Purposes of Review