Mousey Movie - The Legacy of Arrow Development

The Legacy of Arrow Development is offered by American Coaster Enthusiasts for free on YouTube!

This 70 minute documentary provides an in-depth history to the creation, popularity, decline and legacy of Arrow Development and its impact on the theme park industry.  Arrow is often the unspoken of partner for Disney parks, developing Imagineering concepts into physical rides.  These legendary rides include The Matterhorn Bobsleds, it's a small world, The Flying Saucers and so many more.  It would not be an overstatement to say that the Disney parks that we know today would not look the same without the contributions of this ride engineering company.

The documentary starts with the formation of the company with veterans of the American industrial machine from World War II.  The founders lacked capital and in some cases experience, but had practical engineering knowledge and a strong work ethic.  The company built a number of offerings, but began to specialize in small amusement park attractions.  Eventually, the Karl Bacon and Ed Morgan led company caught the eye of Walt Disney, who often relied on Arrow Development to make his Imagineering visions into realities.  Arrow Development would continue to grow and would provide attractions to non-Disney parks.  And with the passing of Walt Disney, the company's use of Arrow was largely discontinued.  Arrow then serviced numerous parks, often building large and fast roller coasters.  But with the changing of leadership, numerous sales, and declining market share the Arrow name largely disappeared as the company was sold to another amusements engineering firm.

I do not really watch YouTube, and never for 70 minutes.  But The Legacy of Arrow Development is a true documentary that needs to take notice and kept my attention for the entire time.  The presentation, really highlighted why Arrow was important and how its legacy continues to this day.  Additionally, for the Disney fan that wider impact outside of the Disney parks is sufficiently felt.  And it cannot be forgotten, this is a free quality professional look into the theme park business focusing on one of the engineering pioneers of the industry.  I was worried that it would feel like a fan film.  Instead it is well-researched with interviews from those who worked for and with Arrow.  The film also looks straight on to the eventual fall of the company, with an explanation of why. 

The Legacy of Arrow Development is a Mousey Movie that Disney parks fans will want to watch.  It provides a great historical look at a Walt Disney partner and ally.  As without Arrow Development, the theme park that we have today would not exist. 

Between Books - Seven Summits

As I have read through books about the Eisner Era one impression that I felt solid about was that Frank Wells was a world class mountain climber.  The late Disney President had passion and skill in this high risk sport.  Well, this is wrong.  Because in Wells “own” words one can find an excellent account of his mountain climbing adventures that shows that Wells was an amateur and inept mountain climber.  But what he did have was determination.

Seven Summits by Dick Bass, Frank Wells, and Rick Ridgeway outlines the 1983 attempt by Bass and Wells to climb the highest peak on every continent within a year.  The logistical and physical feat is impressive itself, but would also set records like the oldest man to climb Mount Everest.  The book discusses how the two men both came to the idea to climb all seven peaks, how they met and the unlikely partnership that formed between Bass the commercial property developer and Wells the Hollywood executive.  The book follows the attempts they made on each mountain, including failed attempts on Everest.  In the end, only one of the two climbers would complete the challenge, but both men would be changed forever.

I do not typically read books about mountain climbing or even adventures set in nature.  But regardless, Seven Summits was highly entertaining and gripping to read.  The book itself was written by Ridgeway, who joined Bass and Wells on some of the climbs.  Ridgeway does an excellent job of putting together a detailed story about the efforts of these two men.  And with Ridgeway being a mountain climber who understands that pastime, the book is highly accurate and informative.  A comment I made to the Between Wife throughout the read was mountain climbing is not for me, it is too much work.  One thinks of climbs as being quick, not realizing the work needed to get to the peak.  In 1983, Wells and Bass spent most of their year in tents and huts, not comfy beds, as they moved their gear from camp to camp.  A climb on Everest or Mount Vinson in Antarctica takes weeks as one must establish bases before the assent to the peak can begin.

This story is an adventure.  Not everyone survives these climbs.  And some climbers come away with amputations.   It only makes it more remarkable that Wells survived 1983 when you realize his low skill level compared to the world class climbers he worked with.  Knowing that Wells had not yet taken his position at Disney did not lower my stress level as I worried his actions would cost the lives of other climbers.

It is because of Frank Wells that I wanted to read this book, in fact the only reason I picked it up.  And this is a very different version of Wells than I have read in Disney business histories.  This Wells is the main who gave up leadership of Warner Brothers to climb mountains.  And he is a climber who is highly inexperienced, not really in shape, cannot care for himself, and at times reckless.  He is also a man who proved to be relentless in completing a task he was not qualified for.  And a man who found satisfaction in the attempt alone.  He would not make it to the top of Everest, but one gets the feeling that the knowledge that he had his shot was satisfying in its own way.  You have to give respect to a man whose determination was what kept him pushing to the top if each mountain.  We also get to see the Wells who is between jobs.  He is a man who needs work, hopefully in 1984.  That job would be Disney.  And as we watch Wells work the phone to complete the impossible logistics of setting up climbs in places like Antarctica, well his operational skills rise to the top.

Seven Summits is a great adventure story.  The adventure will keep you glued to the pages, especially if like me you were riding the Matterhorn Bobsleds with its Wells’ tribute on the same days you read this text.  And for a fan of Disney history this is a very different take on Frank Wells than we expect of the man who excelled in the Board room.  
 

Between Books - The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland's Haunted Kingdom

I have wanted to read a book about Disney parks and ghosts since I was exposed to the tale of George the ghost at Pirates of the Caribbean in the Magic Kingdom Park. I do not like scary things or being scared. And when it comes to ghosts and the supernatural I am largely skeptical. But for some reason the ghost investigator reality shows have become a guilty pleasure for me. So of course I would want to hear more about these phenomenons in one of my favorite places on earth.

Paranormal investigator, and Disney fan, Aubrey Graves in The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland’s Haunted Kingdom introduces readers to the stories of ghosts and spirits that have been reported by guests and cast members within the park. Graves tours the park visiting each land within the Disneyland Park, providing a brief description of highlighted attractions and then recounting stories that have been told of spiritual forces. Each attraction and its ghost stories are recounted in a few pages. Additionally, the book is illustrated with clear, crisp, color photographs, with only one modified to show a specter.

The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland’s Haunted Kingdom for me falls within the genre of guidebooks. The attraction descriptions that Graves provides could easily be found in the typical Disneyland guide. The descriptions are clear and short. I was surprised to find the Columbia referred to as The Gem of the Kingdom. I thought this was an error, but a Google search matched this title with the Columbia and I had learned something new! The difference between this book and other guides are the ghost stories that accompany the descriptions. The stories are typically not overly detailed, and honestly in some cases I would like Graves to give me more information. Since I have read several guides, I would personally have wanted more ghosts and less attraction details. But with every attraction covered in just 130 pages, space may have been limited for some of the stories that lack background. I did find some of the in text reference clunky with one story being cited to “blogspot.com” without the address to the actual posting. But the references at the back are very detailed and provide full citations.

One could easily use The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland’s Haunted Kingdom and additional information about Disneyland deaths in books like David Koeing’s Mouse Tales to setup a self guided Disneyland ghost tour. I submit to you based on this guide the Between Disney Unofficial Self-Guided Disneyland Ghost Tour:

• Main Street USA: Stand outside the Firehouse and spend a few minutes discussing Walt’s apartment and the history of the window lamp.

• Adventureland: The Jungle Cruise and the Ghost Gardener must be punned upon.

• New Orleans Square: We have two stops in New Orleans’ Square with the perfect atmosphere for something spooky. First, we must visit Pirates of the Caribbean to see if we can share a trip with any supernatural guests. Second, The Haunted Mansion is a must stop on our tour. The setting is a no brainer for our tour, and it seems that maybe room has been found for an extra spirit or two.

• Critter Country: Since I added an extra stop at New Orleans’ Square, I’ll skip a stop at Splash Mountain and stand at a spot in my next spot where I can see Chickapin Hill.

• Frontierland: With the sad history of drowning in the Rivers of America this is a must visit spot on our tour. I may reach into my backpack and read the account of discovering a body in the river from In the Shadow of the Matterhorn. We might also add a trip on the Mark Twain to feel the spirit of Walt Disney.

• Fantasyland: The Matterhorn Bobsleds is another attraction with a history of guest tragedies, and we must visit Dolly’s Dip which has been reported several times to be haunted by the guest who was killed here.

• Toontown: We will visit this ghost town, in Graves’ words, to see if Roger Rabbit’s Cartoon Spin is being visited by its biggest deceased fan.

• Tomorrowland: Our tour stops with one of the most reportedly haunted locations in the park, Innoventions, the site of tragic cast member death. As the book notes, if you want to be spooked, Innoventions is the place to go.

I am still skeptical. But, conversations I had with coworkers as I read this Between Book made it clear that many have stories to tell of their own supernatural encounters, just not in such interesting locations. Graves argues that not all the ghosts at Disneyland passed away within the park. Some she argues are those who enjoyed the park and may have even seen it as a home. One of these reported spirits, seen throughout the park, is Walt Disney himself. Part of me, even the skeptical part of me, likes the idea that if I am inclined once I am on the other side I could visit my beloved Disneyland and maybe even share a trip on the Grand Circle Tour with the man who first dreamt of this park….even if it was just in spirit!

You can purchase The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland’s Haunted Kingdom at Amazon. 


Review Copy Provided by Author

Goofy Gadgets - Disneyland Explorer for iPad



Screenshot from Disneyland Explorer

 The Between Family is constantly looking for ways to have Disney fun in Betweenland.  The youngest Between Kid has become a big fan of the free application Disneyland Explorer for iPad. 

“Disneyland Explorer for iPad” allows one to slide through a virtual tour of The Disneyland Resort including Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park, the Downtown Disney District, and the Hotels of the Disneyland Resort.  The screen is filled with images from these locations and one truly just slides the image to navigate to another land, attraction or region within the resort.  Then by clicking on the images one can dig deeper into the attractions of the resort.  For example clicking on Monstro the Whale will allow you to pull up a more detailed picture of the Storybook Land Canal Boats.  But it’s the games that are a real hit.  Favorites include:

·         The Matterhorn: Play hide and seek with the Yeti.

·         Pirates of the Caribbean: Shoot at and sink pirate ships.

·         The Haunted Mansion: Play the organ.

·         Splash Mountain: Use a water cannon to fight off bees.

·         Star Tours – The Adventure Continues:  Visit alien worlds.

·         Fireworks at Disneyland Park: Create your own fireworks show.

·         Soarin’ Over California: Tour California landmarks.

All of the games are pretty simple with easy navigation and objectives.  For an adult they may be too simple.  But for a young child the navigation and goals are easily within their reach.  In many ways the younger you are, the more fun this free, yes free, application is.  It will help the entire family recapture their Disney memories or prepare for a Disneyland vacation.  If you love Disney and have an iPad in the house it is very worth your time to download Disneyland Explorer for iPad. 

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 - Design: Just For Fun

Memories change, fade and play tricks on us.

And sadly sometimes those who spent times with legends pass away without recording their memories.

Over the last several years there has been talk of the passing of the World War Two generation and the loss of their memories and tales.  Some authors and archives made efforts to collect these stories before they could no longer be claimed.  Sadly we are losing another generation of legends.  Only a few of Walt’s Nine Old Men are still with us and there are increasing fewer and fewer Disney Legends who helped Walt Disney build Disneyland.  Who would not have loved a memoir written by Ward Kimball or Marc Davis?  Let’s be honest every Disney fan would enjoy it!  We still have a number of these men and women that we can only call legends available to us and hopefully we will have them for years to come.  And over the next decades I hope we as a Disney community can capture as much of their memory as possible so the Between Kids and their kids can read and hear about what it was like working with Walt Disney, remembering that he was a person and not a company.

Bob Gurr in Design: Just for Fun recounts his life including how he became an Imagineer, the projects he worked on, and his life after Disney which can hardly be called a retirement.  Gurr outlines his childhood and his difficulties with the traditional educational system, urging parents of problem children that they may be parenting a creative.  He recounts how he joined Imagineering as a young adult, with no college degree, tasked to design Autopia.  Gurr would go on to contribute to a list of classic and beloved Disney attractions including the Main Street Vehicles, the Matterhorn, the Monorail, the Ford Magic Skyway, the Abraham Lincoln figure for Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, and the Omnimover used in numerous Disney dark rides to just name a few.  Gurr goes in depth into the design of these attractions, including the choices he made, manufacturing, and performance.  After a long career with Disney, Gurr was laid off or quit depending on the story, and started his own design firm with its own impressive list of accomplishments including the Michael Jackson 1984 victory tour, UFO for the 1984 Olympics closing ceremony, the King Kong figure for Universal Studios, and the Treasure Island Pirate Battle show.  The book finishes with Gurr’s comments on design, how to become an Imagineer and what it was like working with Walt Disney.

Gurr provides tons of insight into how Disney designers and himself created.  A reoccurring theme is his use of stock parts.  In building the Monorail for example he did not attempt to create new components if avoidable, but searched through automotive parts catalogs.  By using this method he could ensure parts with service records and could avoid the need for specialized manufacturing.  One does not think stock parts when considering Disney’s attractions, but was an eye opener to realize how much under the hood was off the rack.  Another realization is the discussion of the use of contractors like Arrow Dynamics to build attractions instead of building in house. 

This book is rich with Gurr having a lot to say based on a long and impressive career.  The book consists of short chapters, rarely longer than four to five pages.  Gurr is a designer and clearly not a writer.  The opening chapters on his early life are somewhat choppy.  And there are occasions where Gurr repeats himself.  Once he enters the chapters covering his design projects the text begins to flow more fluidly.  The writing is at times very technical and somewhat above my head.  Math is hard!  You can really tell he enjoyed his projects and loves building things.  The book is very richly illustrated with fantastic photographs of Gurr’s creations and blueprints.  Three are a few instances where the illustrations are distracting, with pictures dividing blocks of text  and the reader seeking to find the continuation of the thought on the other side of the picture. 

This book is quite expensive.  Personally I had to think through very painfully if I would purchase the title.  In the end, I felt like it was something I could only read if I purchased it for myself.  You will not find this title in a public library.  It is extremely limited to 2,000 copies (1,000 red versions autographed and numbered).  Gurr explained in an interview with Moustalgia that he intended for the book to keep its value for collectors.  He argues he is not only selling a memoir but also a collector’s item.  At the time of this posting, there are only blue editions remaining.  

Design: Just for Fun shows the depth of Bob Gurr’s work in themed attractions and provides his memories of working for Disney and others.  Where else can one read of a Disney legend laying underneath the Mad Tea Party to observe its wear patterns?  Gurr is a legend with fantastic stories to share.  Now fans can keep those stories within your Disney library with Design: Just for Fun.

     

This post is part of the Disney Blog Carnival. Head over there to see more great Disney-related posts and articles.