JOYFUL! A Gospel Celebration of the Season featuring D’Vine Voices at Epcot
Posted by: wdw4christians on: December 6, 2009
Here’s a little something extra for your enjoyment at Walt Disney World Resort’s Epcot theme park:
D’Vine Voices uniquely blends the soulful expressiveness of Gospel and Inspirational music with the sounds of Jazz, R&B, and urban music. When this versatile ensemble of vocal and instrumental artists of Central Florida takes the stage, the results are simply…D’Vine! Their joyful voices will touch, uplift, and inspire you to celebrate the Christmas season!
Fountain Stage: Daily at 1:15, 2:15, 3:15 & 4:15pm
Length of show: 25 minutes
Sign language interpreted performances Tuesday & Friday at 3:15pm. Arrive at least 15 minutes before the show. Stand in the LEFT section of the audience. Interpreter located at the base of the stage. NO SEATING
What do you think about the Princess and the Frog?
Posted by: wdw4christians on: November 29, 2009
I’m not sure what to think about the new Disney princess movie. A return to hand-drawn animation excites me and I think it’s great that the movie features an African-American protagonist. But the previews I’ve seen cause a bit of concern about old stereotypes being perpetuated. The voodoo side of things concerns me too.
I haven’t seen the movie yet but just read this review…http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/movies/reviews/2009/princessandfrog.html
Any thoughts?
The Man Behind the Mouse…an article about Walt.
Posted by: wdw4christians on: November 6, 2009
I went to read Christianity Today’s review of Disney’s A Christmas Carol and they offered a link to this article about the faith and beliefs of Walt Disney as presented in his films. You might be interested:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/movies/commentaries/filmmakersoffaith/fofdisney.html
Disney’s A Christmas Carol – the train tour & the 3D Movie
Posted by: wdw4christians on: June 14, 2009
On November 6th, 2009 – Disney is releasing a 3D adaptation of Charles Dickens classic holiday tale ” A Christmas Carol”. They’re promoting the movie in a very different way – they’ve teamed up with Amtrak and have put together a 4 train car exhibit for a 40 city “whistle-stop” promotional tour. The cool thing is that this attraction is completely free. We just went to see the Disney’s Christmas Carol train and you can read all the details and all about our experience here: http://www.squidoo.com/Disneys-Christmas-Carol-Train-Tour
I want to mention this movie and the tour on this blog because I was excited because the clips from the movie had some points that we, as Christians, will appreciate. There has been a move away from the word “Christmas” but this movie is a Christmas tale through and through. The clip I saw included this quote from the exchange between Scrooge and his nephew:
“There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say,” returned the nephew. “Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round — apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that — as a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!”
It sounds like neither God nor Christmas are going to be edited out of the Christmas tale. I’m eager to see the whole movie.
Great interview with Pete Docter, director of Pixar’s new film “Up”
Posted by: wdw4christians on: May 30, 2009
The Pixar films seem to carry on the strength of story and the heart that has been at the center of Disney films through the years. The company has produced great movie after great movie – the kind of stories that children (and adults) fall in love with and want to watch over and over and over again. We have a little cousin in our family who watched Monster’s Inc so many times that I think his Dad was going to go nuts if he had to see it one more time.
The Pixar team has produced a new movie called Up that focuses on the importance of relationships and of staying connected with other people.
Christianity Today interviewed Pete Docter, the directer of Up, and I thought you might be interested in seeing the article: http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/interviews/2009/petedocter.html
Here are links to a few reviews of the film itself:
Easter Church Services at Walt Disney World
Posted by: wdw4christians on: April 6, 2009
Will you be at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida over Easter Sunday and wonder where you can find a church service?
Easter Services are offered in the Fantasia Ballroom at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. The Contemporary Resort is near the Magic Kingdom. These religious services are not offered every week but are available for Easter.
Catholic Mass is offered at 8:00 AM & 10:15 AM.
A Protestant Service will be held at 9:00 AM.
Please avoid Epcot & the Magic Kingdom on Easter Sunday – both of those theme parks will be very crowded.
Walt Disney World – Night of Joy – September 11 & 12, 2009.
Posted by: wdw4christians on: February 27, 2009
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 On September 11 and 12, 2009, be there as some of the most popular names and most powerful voices in rock, pop and gospel Contemporary Christian music take the stage and rock the mic during Night of Joy, now at Disney’s Hollywood Studios™! *American Idol® is a registered trademark of 19 TV Ltd. and FremantleMedia North America, Inc.(Entertainment is subject to change without notice) EVENT DATES: Sept.11 and 12, 2009 2009 TICKETS: $49.95 USD plus tax (one-night, advance)
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Walt Disney World Resort in February – Ride Closures, Special Events, and Crowd Warnings
Posted by: wdw4christians on: February 20, 2009
Crowd Warnings:
1. American Idol Passholder Preview - February 5 – 8. Disney’s Hollywood Studios is getting a new “American Idol” themed attraction and Disney Annual Passholders will can get a sneak preview, before the attraction opens to the general public. Annual Passholders should sign up online for a specific date and time to either (A.) be a voting audience member during a live show or (B.) audition for a chance to perform at one of the live shows. Expect Disney’s Hollywood Studios to be busier than usual during this sneak preview event. Annual Passholders can sign up online at http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/passholder/newsAndEventsFull?id=PassNewsAmericanIdolPreviewArticlePage
2. Presidents Day Weekend & Valentines Day – Feb. 14 – 20. Disney always sees an increase in crowds over a 3 day / holiday weekend. Make dining reservations right away and contact us about touring plans to help manage the crowds.
3. Mardi Gras weekend – February 21 – 24. Expect a small increase in February crowds this weekend as New Orleans residents seek a more family friendly environment.
4. ESPN The Weekend – February 27 – March 1 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Expect Disney’s Hollywood Studios to be busier than usual this weekend. For official information see: http://espn.go.com/espntheweekend/
5. Fantasmic! (Disney’s Hollywood Studios) – Beginning January 3rd, this great show will no longer be presented every night. It will only be offered on Monday and Thursday nights. This is a very popular show and we highly recommend it. Because of the limited performances, you know Disney’s Hollywood Studios is going to be busier on Mondays and Thursdays. Fantasmic! Dinner Package reservations will be harder to get. Afternoons will be especially busy as those with Park Hopper tickets come over to see the show. A good touring plan will help you manage this. Warning: This show is excellent but it does feature villains for a good 8-10 minutes. The scene is fairly intense and can be frightening to small children.
Special Events:
1. American Idol Passholder Preview - February 5 – 8. Disney’s Hollywood Studios is getting a new “American Idol” themed attraction and Disney Annual Passholders will can get a sneak preview, before the attraction opens to the general public. Annual Passholders should sign up online for a specific date and time to either (A.) be a voting audience member during a live show or (B.) audition for a chance to perform at one of the live shows. Expect Disney’s Hollywood Studios to be busier than usual during this sneak preview event. Annual Passholders can sign up online at http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/passholder/newsAndEventsFull?id=PassNewsAmericanIdolPreviewArticlePage
2. Campfire on de’ Bayou - Port Orleans Riverside Resort. Enjoy a special storytime and campfire Sing-Along near Port Orleans Riverside’s Ol” Man Island Fishin’ Hole . This special event is only offered on Thursday & Sunday nights from 6:30 – 8:00PM from Oct. 31, 2008-March 2009. Cost: free. S’mores kits can be purchased for $7.00. No reservations required.
3. ESPN the Weekend 5K Run - February 28th. For official information see: http://disneyworldsports.disney.go.com/dwws/en_US/events/eventDetail/detail?name=ESPN5KDetailPage
Temporary Attraction Closures and refurbishments:
- Liberty Tree Tavern (Restaurant – Magic Kingdom) the restaurant will be open but – beginning January 5th – Liberty Tree Tavern will no longer offer character dining.
- The Hall of Presidents (Animatronic Show – Magic Kingdom) will be closed through July 1, 2009.
- Mickey’s Philharmagic (3-D Movie- Magic Kingdom) will be closed Jan. 18 – February 6, 2009.
- The Liberty Square Riverboat (Magic Kingdom) will be closed from February 19 – 28.
- Pecos Bills (Counter-service restaurant – Magic Kingdom) will be closed January 11-February 6.
- Ellen’s Energy Adventure (Epcot) will be closed January 5 – March 22.
- Studio Backlot Tour (Disney’s Hollywood Studios) will be closed January 4th – February 28th, 2009.
- The Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show (Polynesian Resort) will be closed January 13-19.
- Typhoon Lagoon Water Park will be closed for its annual refurbishment Oct. 26 – March 21, 2009.
- Beach Club & Yacht Club Resorts – Stormalong Bay – Sections of the feature pool will be refurbished from January 5 to April 15, 2009. There are three “quiet” pools throughout the resort that will still be open and guests may use the feature pool at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort.
- Caribbean Beach Resort – Trinidad South Quiet Pool Closed February 9 – 20.
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort – Feature Pool will be closed January 5 – March 15th.
- Old Key West Village Pools Slide will be closed from January 5-23. The pool itself will remain open.
- Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort - Old Man Island Pool (Main pool) closed February 2 - March 1. Alligator Bayou pools closed from February 23 – March 6. Guest may use the Doubloon Lagoon Pool at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort.
- Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground – The Meadows Pool with be closed January 12- March 13, 2009.
- Concourse Spirits & Sundries (Contemporary Resort) will be closed January 5th – April 25th, 2009. Sundries will be available at either Fantasia or Bay View Gifts.
Can you save money with the Disney January – June “Free Nights” Promotion?
- Disney recently released a special “Free Nights ” promotion for most dates in January through early June. The availability is limited but the potential savings make it worthwhile to call and see if the promotion can be applied to your reservation. In a nutshell, you must pay for the first four nights of your stay and then you’ll receive free room & tickets for up to three additional nights. Dining plan can be added at the regular rate for the length of stay. This is good for stays up to ten days: This promotion must be booked by March 26th, 2009
- January – April 2: Special discounts on the room portion of your package or reservation available on select nights through April 2nd. This is a good option for people staying 4 nights or less – longer visits are probably going to save more by using the “Free Nights” promotion.
- Are you active duty or retired military? Disney has recently released a new promotion that will save you a lot on your 2009 vacation.
Deed Rather Than Words by Walt Disney
Posted by: wdw4christians on: February 18, 2009
I ran across something interesting online today. It’s an essay written by Walt Disney about the impact of his church upbringing on his life. The essay was written for a book called Faith is a Star and contains essays by famous people. There is one used copy available on amazon.com for $16; I may buy it, if ithe book isn’t available through my local libray.
Please feel free to comment on the essay – I’d love to know what people think about it.
Deeds Rather Than Words
By Walt Disney
In these days of world tensions, when the faith of men is being tested as never before, I am personally thankful that my parents taught me at a very early age to have a strong personal belief and reliance in the power of prayer for Divine inspiration. My people were members of the Congregational Church in our home town of Marceline, Missouri. It was there where I was first taught the efficacy of religion … how it helps us immeasurably to meet the trial and stress of life and keeps us attuned to the Divine inspiration. Later in DeMolay, I learned to believe in the basic principle of the right of man to exercise his faith and thoughts as he chooses. In DeMolay, we believe in a supreme being, in the fellowship of man, and the sanctity of the home. DeMolay stands for all that is good for the family and for our country.
Every person has his own ideas of the act of praying for God’s guidance, tolerance, and mercy to fulfill his duties and responsibilities. My own concept of prayer is not as a plea for special favors nor as a quick palliation for wrongs knowingly committed. A prayer, it seems to me, implies a promise as well as a request; at the highest level, prayer not only is a supplication for strength and guidance, but also becomes an affirmation of life and thus a reverent praise of God.
Deeds rather than words express my concept of the part religion should play in everyday life. I have watched constantly that in our movie work the highest moral and spiritual standards are upheld, whether it deals with fable or with stories of living action. This religious concern for the form and content of our films goes back 40 years to the rugged financial period in Kansas City when I was struggling to establish a film company and produce animated fairy tales. Many times during those difficult years, even as we turned out Alice in Cartoonland and later in Hollywood the first Mickey Mouse, we were under pressure to sell out or debase the subject matter or go “commercial” in one way or another. But we stuck it out — my brother Roy and other loyal associates — until the success of Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphonies finally put us in the black. Similarly, when war came to the United States in 1941, we turned from profitable popular movie-making to military production for Uncle Sam. Ninety-four per cent of the Disney facilities in Hollywood became engaged in special government work, while the remainder was devoted to the creation of morale building comedy, short subjects.
Both my study of Scripture and my career in entertaining children have taught me to cherish them. But I don’t believe in playing down to children, either in life or in motion pictures. I didn’t treat my own youngsters like fragile flowers, and I think no parent should.
Children are people, and they should have to reach to learn about things, to understand things, just as adults have to reach if they want to grow in mental stature. Life is composed of lights and shadows, and we would be untruthful, insincere, and saccharine if we tried to pretend there were no shadows. Most things are good, and they are the strongest things; but there are evil things too, and you are not doing a child a favor by trying to shield him from reality. The important thing is to teach a child that good can always triumph over evil, and that is what our pictures attempt to do.
The American child is a highly intelligent human being — characteristically sensitive, humorous, open-minded, eager to learn, and has a strong sense of excitement, energy, and healthy curiosity about the world in which he lives. Lucky indeed is the grown-up who manages to carry these same characteristics into adult life. It usually makes for a happy and successful individual. In our full-length cartoon features, as well as in our live action productions, we have tried to convey in story and song those virtues that make both children and adults attractive. I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is no answer to delinquency. Preaching won’t keep youngsters out of trouble, but keeping their minds occupied will.
Thus, whatever success I have had in bringing clean, informative entertainment to people of all ages, I attribute in great part to my Congregational upbringing and my lifelong habit of prayer. To me, today, at age sixty-one, all prayer, by the humble or highly placed, has one thing in common: supplication for strength and inspiration to carry on the best human impulses which should bind us together for a better world. Without such inspiration, we would rapidly deteriorate and finally perish. But in our troubled time, the right of men to think and worship as their conscience dictates is being sorely pressed. We can retain these privileges only by being constantly on guard and fighting off any encroachment on these precepts. To retreat from any of the principles handed down by our forefathers, who shed their blood for the ideals we still embrace, would be a complete victory for those who would destroy liberty and justice for the individual.
Enchanted Tiki Room – Under New Management at Disney’s Magic Kingdom
Posted by: wdw4christians on: February 4, 2009
Most Christians have at least a vague idea that a Tiki has some kind of Polynesian religious connections and you may wonder if “Enchanted Tiki Room – Under New Management” in Adventureland at the Magic Kingdom is appropriate for the family.
I checked wikipedia for information on tikis and was surprised to learn that, in Maori mythogy, the tiki is roughly equivilent to our “Adam” (first man). The tiki carvings we know mostly from plastic decorations at Hawaiian luau themed parties were – in Central Eastern Polynesian (Pacific Ocean) cultures – used to mark the boundaries of sacred or significant sites. You might want to read the wikipedia entry; it is an interesting creation account.
The Enchanted Tiki Room show doesn’t seem to bear any resemblence to actual…well, anything. It seems that Disney just borrowed an easily recognizable tribal god-type just as it borrowed a hispanic accent for Jose, the bird that opens the show. The whole thing seems more like something you’d see on “Scooby-doo”, than on “National Geographic”. Here’s a rough outline of the show:
- The classic 1963 “Enchanted Tiki Show” show begins but is quickly interruped by Iago (from Aladdin) who rudely announces that the show must get more up to date. He is quickly warned that, “The Tiki gods will hear you…”
- The lights go out, you hear a few lines from the song “Hot, hot, hot”, there is the flashing of lightning, and ”tribal” chanting
- A female Tiki animatronic with yellow eyes appears and, in an accent that seems more Jamaican than Polynesian, demands to know: “Who dares defy the tiki god!?! ”
- Iago disappears. Wooden tiki posts sing a snippet from “In the still of the Night” in great 50s doo-wop style.
- Iago returns all singed & bandaged, appearantly as a result of his encounter with the tiki gods. He’s excited about the prospect of a profitable show featuring the singing tiki gods.
- Iago’s revelation of the existance of some type of god seems to leave him completely unchanged and its only significance is its place in reaching his ultimate goal – more profits.
Should your family see this? You’ll have to go with your own concience on that one. As Christian people, we obviously do not worship idols. Just seeing an idol isn’t sinful. In Acts 17, Paul was speaking to a group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers about religion and in Acts 17: 23 Paul tells them, “For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: ~to an unknown god….” It seems highly unlikely that anyone would convert to paganism as a result of this show.
If anything, the show could serve as a catalyst to a conversation with your children or fellow travellers about the type of fear people live under when they must appeal to a wood or stone “god” in hopes of having a good harvest, hunting season, or birth.
You might also talk about what I call “Christian superstition”: thinking that nothing bad will ever happen if you 1.) pray the right prayers, 2.) claim the right Scriptures, 3.) rebuke the devil the right way, etc. Although prayer, Scripture, and the authority of believers is real; we people of faith are not immune to sorrow or hardship. Our comfort is that even when we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death” we need fear no evil for God is with us (Psalm 23:4). Too many people become discouraged when the Christian life does not perform “as advertised”. They were sold “heaven on earth” instead of being taught about the God who sustains us even if we are persecuted to the point to death.
Another good talking point is Iago’s guest for fame and fortune blinding him to eternal realities – that seems to be a highly contagious condition in our world. Luke 16:13 (NIV) says, “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot service both God and Money.” Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) says, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.:”
If you are quite strict about what your children watch – avoiding shows with sorcery, new age philosophies, etc – they might be confused by your letting them see the Enchanted Tiki Room. TIP: Tell them before going in that while this show is just silly, you’d like them to be on the look-out for certain things. You might say that there’s a snack ahead for anyone who can 1.) tell you about a character who was selfish and wanted fame and 2.) whether the birds and characters seemed loyal to the tikis out of love or out of fear. A great snack to reward them with is a Dole Whip (pineapple softserve) over at Aloha Isle (Adventureland)
Do you still need more information to decide whether to let the kids see this Walt Disney World Resort attraction or not? You can see the whole show on this youtube video:
Trivia: The very first Disney Audio-Animatronic was a simple South American toy bird and Disneyland’s Enchanted Tiki Room was one of the earliest displays of Animatronic technology.
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