DVC Winter 2007 magazine:Layout 1 - Disney Vacation Club

DVC Winter 2007 magazine:Layout 1 12/18/07 9:13 AM Page 1 

Winter 2007 vol. 16 no. 4 

GRAND PLANS! 

PLUS: 

Disney buys 

hawaii land 

members enjoy 

southwest splendors 

parks celebrate 

the holidays 

& MORE! 

Nelida Mora of Placentia, Calif., Member since 2005, joins Mickey Mouse 

at the site of a “Grand” expansion project in the Golden State.


Disney Files Magazine is published 

by the good people at 

Disney Vacation Club 

P.O. Box 10350 

Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 

E-mail the magazine staff at: 

DisneyFiles@Disney.com 

All dates, times, events and prices 

printed herein are subject to 

change without notice. (Our lawyers 

do a happy dance when we say that.) 

MOVING? 

Update your mailing address 

online at www.dvcmember.com 

MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONS? 

Contact Member Services at 

(800) 800-9800 or (407) 566-3800 

Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Eastern 

(Thurs. 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Eastern) 

Sat. 1-5 p.m. Eastern 

Fax Number: (407) 938-4151 

TTY telephone number for 

Members with hearing disabilities: 

(800) 800-9837 or (407) 566-3320 

Membership questions e-mail: 

members@disneyvacationclub.com 

Stay up to date on the latest 

Disney news between magazines 

online at www.dvcmember.com 

Ah, the bumper sticker. That ingenious union of adhesive and wit can breed familiarity 

(“My child is an honor student”), harmony (“Visualize World Peace”) and even pity (“I brake 

for unicorns”) like no other sticker on earth. And, when executed well, these sticky soliloquies 

can pose some pretty provocative questions. Consider the three I saw today on my way 

to the office: (1) “Can vegetarians eat animal crackers?” (2) “What if the Hokey Pokey really is 

what it’s all about?” and (3) the Central Florida classic, “Is there life after Disney World?” 

Born to inform, I’m here with the answers: (1) Absolutely. My herbivore sister will dunk 

a vanilla tiger into soy milk without hesitation, (2) then we’d better hurry up and turn ourselves 

around, and (3) there is, indeed, life after Disney World. (Gasp!) To support that last 

point, I present the first edition of your newly renamed Disney Files Magazine. Sure, it delivers 

plenty of good Walt Disney World ® news, from soarin’ games to singin’ buses (page 7), 

but the Disney dish doesn’t end there. 

Take the expansion of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel ® & Spa for example (pictured 

on our cover). This ambitious project in the Golden State (pages 2 and 15-16) is one of two 

“Grand” plans showcased in this edition, as we also have the scoop about a Disney land 

purchase in the Aloha State (pages 2 and 16). 

Speaking of “Grand,” I had the unique pleasure of joining Members on an exclusive 

Adventures by Disney excursion through the Grand Canyon and other wonders of the American 

Southwest, and you’ll find some of my favorite photos from the journey on pages 17- 

18, with a bonus group shot on page 30. 

Add stories about new Disney thrills plummeting near Paris (page 9), an opening date 

for a new Disney hotel rising in Tokyo (page 10) and holiday happenings at every Disney 

Park on the planet (pages 11-12), and it’s easy to see that life does exist after Disney World. 

Shockingly, it even existed before Disney World, and history expert Jim Korkis is here to take 

you back in time to meet the rabbit who preceded the mouse (pages 19-20). 

So, what’s an Editor to do after spanning the globe to launch the first installment of the 

Files? I’m going to Disney World! (Cue the fireworks shot.) 

Welcome Home, 

Ryan March 

Disney Files Editor 

DVC-MBR-65-A 

Disneyphiles (Diz-nee-fyles) noun, plural: 

really cool people who love, or are attracted to, all things Disney 

Disney Files (Diz-nee-fyles) noun, plural: 

a really cool magazine for Disney Vacation Club 

Members, the ultimate Disneyphiles


From the desk of jim lewis 

g r a n d p l a n s 

top news & perspectives 

By Jim Lewis, President, Disney Vacation Club 

As announced this fall on your Member Web site, Disney 

Vacation Club is making some “Grand” plans for westward 

expansion, starting with the Disneyland ® Resort in California. 

Crews are busy developing 50 two-bedroom-equivalent 

Disney Vacation Club villas* as part of an ambitious expansion of 

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel ® & Spa. This immerisve resort 

captures the spirit of early California with rich details representing 

the romantic Arts and Crafts movement of early 20th century 

California, the exploration of California’s coastlines, and the 

memories of the arroyo craftsmen, mission pioneers and Plein 

Air school of painters. (Can you tell I’ve spent a lot of time lately 

with Imagineers?) Plus, this place offers the unique benefit of 

being located inside Disney’s California Adventure ® Park, adding 

another level of convenience to your vacation. 

Plans call for our Vacation Homes to open along with the 

broader expansion of the hotel (the project also includes the 

addition of more than 200 traditional hotel rooms) in November 

2009. We’ll share more details about the project in the 

months ahead. 

e x t r e m e l y i n s p i r i n g 

Equally exciting is 

our company’s new 

oceanfront land purchase 

in Hawaii! While 

many details of this 

project are still in the 

early stages of development, 

I can tell you 

that Disney Vacation 

Club will, in fact, be 

part of this 21-acre resort 

concept*. We’re targeting an 

opening in 2011, so we’ll 

have plenty of time to give you 

the latest details as they become 

available. 

One thing is clear. There’s 

never been a better time to be 

part of the Member family! 

Disney Vacation Club 

President Jim Lewis discusses 

the "Grand plans" with 

the press. 

*These resorts are not registered or offered for 

sale at this time. 

While announcing new resort projects is exciting on a professional 

level, seeing how vacations can change families’ lives is what truly inspires 

me on a personal level. 

As you may have seen on television earlier this fall, I recently had 

the pleasure of reaching out to a deserving family as part of ABC’s hit 

show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” You’ll read more about 

the Byers family in this edition of your magazine, but no words can 

do justice to the incredible strength and spirit this family has shown 

in the face of adversity. 

All of us at Disney Vacation Club were touched by their 

resilience and determination to fight pediatric cancer, and I was 

truly honored to spend time with them during their longoverdue 

vacation at Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort. Seeing 

a family laugh, play and, for even a few moments, forget about 

illness reminded me why I’m so proud to be part of this 

company and community. 

Not wanting to see their fun end, I presented the family 

with three years of future vacations on us, and I can only hope 

that those vacations prove to be just as powerful as that special 

week in the Low Country. 

We are deeply proud to help the show change families’ lives, and we’re looking forward 

to continuing our work with the show later this season. 

page 2 dvcmember.com


member perks 

magic with Members in mind 

p r i m p l i k e a p r i n c e s s 

You’ll have to excuse young Eva, pictured here, for acting a bit 

regal these days. Part of the Soto family of Compton, Calif., Members 

since 2002, Eva enjoyed a special perk of Membership when 

she was randomly selected at a “Welcome Home Wednesday” 

Member gathering at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort to enjoy a complimentary 

makeover at the new Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique inside 

Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom ® Park in Florida. 

The new salon, which joined its sister location located inside 

the World of Disney ® store at Downtown Disney ® Marketplace, 

turns young Guests into Disney Princesses with everything from 

hair and makeup to nails and wardrobe. Little Eva’s dream visit to 

the salon transformed her into her favorite member of Disney’s 

royal family, Princess Aurora (known to some as Sleeping Beauty.) 

For reservations at either salon location (available as many as 

180 days in advance of your visit), call (407) WDW-STYLE (939- 

7895). (Details also are available at www.disneyworld.com/style. 

Note that the new location requires Magic Kingdom admission. 

p a r t y l i k e a s t i r r i n g m o u s e 

The Magic Kingdom Park at the Walt Disney World ® Resort 

becomes the “merriest place in the world” each holiday season as 

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party takes over the Park from 

7 p.m.-midnight on select nights throughout the season. 

Magical snow flurries, the new Mickey’s Once Upon a 

Christmastime Parade and a holiday fireworks spectacular are 

among the festivities on tap for this “after-hours” salute to all 

things merry (not to mention the cookies and cocoa!). 

Disney Vacation Club Members may purchase advance 

tickets up to the day before the event at a special price of $37.95 

plus tax for Guests ages 10 or older (regularly $40.95 plus tax in 

advance and $47.95 plus tax on the day of the event) and $30.95 

plus tax for children ages 3-9 (regularly $33.95 plus tax in advance 

and $40.95 on the day of the event) for parties taking place 

on Nov. 15 and 27, and Dec. 11 and 18. To purchase your discounted 

tickets, call Member Services at 1-800-800-9800. 

Remember to bring your Disney Vacation Club Member ID 

to the event, as you’ll need to present it when you pick up your 

tickets at the will call window. 

Standard pricing is available on other event dates, listed on 

page 11. 

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d r i v e l i k e a t o u r i s t 

Alamo ® , the official rental car of the Disneyland ® and Walt Disney World ® Resorts, offers Disney Vacation Club Members 

discounts of as much as 10 percent* on rentals in a variety of vehicle categories, from compact through full-size. 

To take advantage of this offer, call Alamo Rent A Car at 1-800-462-5266, or visit www.alamo.com and reference Contract ID 

No. 801988. 

*Discount applies to base rate only. Taxes (including VLF taxes up to US $1.89 a day in California), other governmentally authorized or imposed surcharges, license and concession recoupment fees, airport and airport facility 

fees, fuel, additional driver fee, one-way rental charge and optional items are extra. Renter must meet standard age, driver and credit requirements. Twenty-four hour advance reservation required. May not be combined with 

other discounts. Availability is limited. Subject to change without notice. Blockout dates may apply. Offer valid at participating Alamo locations. 

s h o p l i k e a c h a m p i o n 

Water skiing World Champion Sammy Duvall has opened 

Curl by Sammy Duvall, the ultimate surf, watersports and 

fashion experience at Pleasure Island at the Walt Disney World 

Resort. 

The new shop offers a wide range of men’s, women’s and 

kid’s surfwear and accessories, including trendy eyewear from 

Oakley, Smith, Von zipper, Prada, Gucci, Betsy Johnson and others. 

Add clothing from Quiksilver, Volcom, O’Neill, Billabong 

and Hurley; women’s fashions from Free People, True Religion, 

Butter Fly Dropout, la Rok, Velvet, Danang and Michele Stars; as 

well as the latest designs of wake boards, surf boards and skate 

boards, and you have a retail playground for sun-worshipers of 

all ages. 

Remember to show your Disney Vacation Club Member 

ID card, as Members get a 10 percent discount on qualifying 

purchases in the shop. 

P l a y l i k e a c h a m p i o n 

Once you’re decked out in your spiffy new gear 

(that’s right, we said spiffy), remember that a variety 

of watersports are available at Sammy Duvall’s Watersports 

Centre at Disney’s Contemporary 

Resort. 

Guests may learn from some of the pros 

while enjoying parasailing, water skiing, 

wakeboarding, kneeboarding, inner-tubing 

and personal watercraft excursions. 

Disney Vacation Club Members receive a 

10 percent discount on all activities, or $40 off the second 

hour when booking two consecutive hours of water skiing, wakeboarding 

or inner-tubing excursions. Note that these offers can’t be combined, 

and that the discount is applied when you pay at Sammy Duvall’s Watersports Centre (not 

when you make your reservation). For reservations or more information, call (407) 939-0754. 

page 4 

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member getaways 

discover a whole new world 

Quick...name a few destinations in North Carolina. Chances are, you 

mentioned Charlotte, or perhaps the college communities of Raleigh- 

Durham and Chapel Hill. While these cities have plenty to offer, an 

adventurous vacationer will take a closer look and discover some of the 

state’s more uncommon locales. Your Disney Vacation Club Membership 

offers several North Carolina vacation possibilities through an 

Interval International ® exchange, and Disney Files Magazine is here to 

spark your imagination. 

Famous visitors: Lake Lure became a trendy 

getaway in the mid-20th century, hosting luminaries 

like President Franklin D. Roosevelt and 

Jazz Age power couple Zelda and F. Scott 

Fitzgerald. 

lake lure 

Just 30 miles outside the northern mountain metropolis 

of Asheville, small-town Lake Lure is a pleasant 

escape nestled into Hickory Nut Gorge. Here, the center 

of activity is certainly the lake itself, which presents possibilities 

for water skiing, swimming, boating and more. 

Set aside some time for a leisurely walk along the beach, 

where you can catch some Southern sun while the kids 

make a splash at the onsite water park. For a better look 

at the surrounding area, hike to Chimney Rock Park, a 

leafy expanse that’s just a stone’s throw away from Lake 

Lure. Home to several scenic overlooks and one of the 

state’s highest waterfalls, Chimney Rock is the perfect 

vantage point for viewing this peaceful slice of North 

Carolina. And speaking of slicing, be sure to pack your 

golf clubs–Lake Lure’s championship courses will test 

even the most confident golfers. 

Banner Elk 

If Asheville is the polished stone of the mountain 

region, Banner Elk is its diamond in the rough–an 

unspoiled area of hills, lakes and picturesque forests. For 

ski vacations, this is the place to be. A trio of slopes, 

including Sugar Mountain, Beech Mountain and Hawk’s 

Nest, offer a good variety of runs. In the warmer 

months, the fish are biting in Banner Elk’s rivers and 

streams, so plan on renting a rod and reel for an actionpacked 

day on the water. 

With plenty of other 

opportunities for rafting, 

snowshoeing, and hiking, 

the captivating allure of 

the outdoors isn’t yet gone 

from North Carolina. It’s 

alive and well in the town 

of Banner Elk. 

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Picturesque palace: While New Bern is the 

second-oldest town in North Carolina, its stunning 

Tryon Palace was built in the 1950s. This grand 

structure is a reproduction of the governor’s mansion 

that was destroyed in 1798. 

New Bern 

Unlike many Colonial-era towns, New Bern wasn’t founded 

by the British. This charming village was built mostly by settlers 

from Switzerland, who left a unique mark on the area. Check the 

town’s festival calendar before your visit, and you’re likely 

to be just in time for one of New Bern’s annual events, 

some of which celebrate this local history. New Bern is most 

vibrant during summer, when travelers from up and down 

the East Coast flock to the village for fun in the sun. Take a 

European-inspired town full of shopping and dining possibilities, 

and add plenty of romantic charm (New Bern was 

the setting for the novel The Notebook), and you have a destination 

that’s worth writing home about. 

atlantic beach 

Atlantic Beach is the star of North Carolina’s Crystal 

Coast, a picturesque stretch of the state’s Outer Banks. If 

the Carolinas have a perfect beach destination, this is it. 

The clear blue water welcomes swimmers year after year, 

and the impressive waves see their share of surfers, as 

well. The region also is well suited for scuba diving, with 

colorful marine life and several shipwrecks just off the 

coast. Don’t miss 

nearby Fort Macon 

State Park, where 

you may explore a 

Civil War-era 

fortress designed 

by Robert E. Lee. 

To fight off your 

hunger, pack a 

picnic basket and 

finish your 

afternoon at the 

adjacent public 

beach, perfect for 

swimming and 

sunbathing. 

To learn more about Member 

Getaways to North Carolina 

and beyond, contact 

Member Services or visit 

www.dvcmember.com 

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disney destinations 

news & tips from the places where dreams come true 

M U S I C P U T S M A G I C I N M O T I O N 

WALT DISNEY WORLD ® Resort: For more than 35 

years, Walt Disney World Resort hotels have reduced the experiential 

gap between a day in the Parks and a good night’s 

sleep. Today, specially equipped buses are closing the gap 

completely. 

Imagine that you’ve just stepped out of your Resort and 

boarded a Disney Transportation bus bound for the Magic 

Kingdom ® Park. As you approach your destination, Main 

Street, U.S.A. ® or Fantasyland ® music flows through the vehicle, 

and a recorded voice sets the tone for the day ahead. The 

end result is an experience that makes getting there part of 

the fun. 

These audio elements, themed to support all Walt Disney 

World Parks and resorts, are part of an ongoing Magic in 

Motion initiative that aims to make transportation a seamless 

part of the Disney vacation experience. 

Mood music can be powerful stuff. Did you know that doctors have begun experimenting with music as therapy for patients? One 

recent study focused on cancer patients undergoing invasive stem cell transplantation treatments that often result in psychological 

distress. The patients who received music therapy as part of their treatment scored nearly 30 percent lower on the anxiety/depression 

scale, which was music to researchers’ ears! 

t i m e f l i e s b e f o r e y o u d o 

WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort: The aforementioned musical 

buses aren’t the only enhancements making “getting there” part of 

the fun of a Walt Disney World vacation. 

Guests waiting to take flight on Soarin’TM at Epcot ® are playing 

their way through the attraction’s queue line, thanks to the dreamers 

at Walt Disney Imagineering. 

“We’re always looking for new ways to entertain Guests, and 

we saw an opportunity in the great hall of the Soarin’ queue, which 

originally featured 

lightbox 

landscape photos 

and trivia,” 

Imagineer Joe 

Garlington told 

Disney Files 

Magazine. “It’s a 

natural space to 

entertain Guests 

in a more active 

Guests guide a bird through a snowy landscape before 

boarding Soarin’ at Epcot. 

way, so we came up with a concept that does just that.” 

That concept, a series of interactive games and activities presented 

on giant projection screens, employs a sophisticated motion-detection 

technology. (It’s proprietary stuff, so we’ll just call it 

“magic.”) 

In one activity, on-screen silhouetted characters mimic the 

movements of Guests, matching Guests’ arm movements, and 

swatting at virtual water balloons that burst to wash away the 

screen’s neutral background and reveal a hidden image. In another, 

groups of Guests compete against each other in an on-screen bird 

race, controlling their feathered friends simply by leaning left and 

right. 

So how much Cast Member-led instruction does it take to get 

Guests up to speed? None. 

“Each game and activity begins with a simple on-screen demo, 

and it’s extremely intuitive,” Joe said. “We began play-testing this 

concept this summer, and Guests picked it up right away.” 

Okay, so it’s easy. But does it slow down the line? 

“The games end whenever it’s time to move another group 

into the attraction’s theaters,” Joe explained. “So we aren’t increasing 

the wait time. We’re just making that time fly.” (Or soar.) 

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D I S N E Y - M G M S T U D I O S G O I N G “ H O L L Y W O O D ” 

WALT DISNEY WORLD ® Resort: Few cities conjure up more vivid images than Hollywood. Fancy cars. Red carpets. Yippy 

little dogs whose collars cost more than your magazine Editor’s house. (Not that he’s bitter.) 

In 1989, the Disney-MGM Studios opened as a tribute to Hollywood; “not a place on a map, but a state of mind that exists 

wherever people dream and wonder and imagine.” Through the years, that “Hollywood that never was” became home to a broad 

slate of shows and attractions that blended the golden age with the modern age. As Imagineers prepare to push the envelope further 

with the upcoming debut of Toy Story Mania! (see story below) and other new experiences, the Park is preparing to change 

its name to Disney’s Hollywood Studios TM in January 2008. 

“The new name reflects how the Park has grown from representing the golden age of movies to a celebration of the new entertainment 

that today’s Hollywood has to offer in music, television, movies and theater,” said Walt Disney World President Meg 

Crofton. “ ... Now we can say that Hollywood is literally our middle name.” 

W H A T W E L O V E A B O U T T O Y S T O R Y M A N I A ! 

DISNEYLAND ® and WALT DISNEY WORLD Resorts: If there’s one thing everyone on the Disney Files 

staff has in common, it’s impatience...and good looks. (And humility.) But let’s stick with the impatience. Case 

in point: Toy Story Mania! 

Imagineers are hard at work on the virtual-target-shootin’, high-score-bustin’, every-age-pleasin’ attraction, 

which is slated to open in summer 2008 at the Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts as The Year of a Million 

Dreams continues. The interactive ride will immerse Guests in the ultimate midway competition, where they’ll shoot for 

high scores, bragging rights and that proud feeling that comes from outscoring your nine-year-old. (Or the quiet shame that 

comes from the kid embarrassing you beyond belief.) 

Fueled by our inability to wait until next summer, we took a sneak peek behind the scenes at Walt Disney Imagineering. 

Here’s what we loved most about what we saw: 

The characters: From Woody and Buzz to Rex and Hamm, there’s nothing like an anthropomorphic toy to bring out the kid in 

everyone. (Except maybe a spring-action shooter. More on that in a moment.) 

The effects: The cutting-edge visual effects will put you in the middle of the action, and there are a few surprises that you’ll not 

only see, but feel. (We’d tell you more, but we’d lose our backstage access, and that would be sad.) 

The spring-action shooter: It’s the nifty device you’ll use to shoot darts at balloons, rings at aliens, eggs at 

barnyard targets and more. Not only does this thing look cool, but we’re pretty sure it’ll qualify as 

your cardio exercise for the day. (Either that or we really need to hit the gym.) 

The Mr. Potato Head Boardwalk Barker: This five-foot-tall Audio-Animatronics ® character 

will spice up the “pre-show” by interacting with Guests in real-time, inviting gamers of all ages 

to “step right up” to the challenges ahead. (Not since microwave fries have we been this excited 

about a potato.) 

The unexpected: Anyone who has unlocked an “Easter egg” on a DVD knows how much fun it is to 

discover a digital surprise. The Toy Story Mania! games are loaded with these hidden twists, making 

every ride a new experience. (Let the obsessive Web postings begin!) 

Watch Disney Files Magazine for more details as the opening date approaches. 

Keeping the attraction’s surprises under wraps isn’t easy. 

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disney destinations 

e y e - f u l l t o w e r 

DISNEYLAND ® Resort Paris: Picture if you will...You’ve 

just discovered an abandoned hotel, a towering reminder of a 

once glamorous palace that saw lightning send its last guests into 

another dimension. A dimension of sound. A dimension of sight. 

A dimension of mind. You’re moving into a land of both shadow 

and substance. Of things and ideas. You’ve just crossed over 

into... Well, you get the idea. 

So what do you do? Move to the other side of street? Caution 

your kids to avoid the place like Cinderella avoids her stepsisters? 

Of course not. You go inside, hop aboard a maintenance-service 

elevator and hope for the best. What could go wrong? 

An ominous 13 years ago, Walt Disney World ® Guests made 

this seemingly poor decision with the debut of The Twilight Zone 

Tower of Terror TM at the Disney-MGM Studios. Apparently undaunted 

by the resulting plunging and screaming, Guests in 

other parts of the world started making similar choices, entering 

foreboding towers at the Disneyland ® Resort in California and 

the Tokyo Disney Resort ® in Japan. 

This December, Disneyland Resort Paris joins the madness 

as the Walt Disney Studios ® Park adds its own cursed tower to the 

mix. New continent. Same dizzying effect of a faster-than-gravity, 

13-story plunge into the abyss. Drop in if you dare. And have 

a pleasant stay. 

Inspired by The Twilight Zone®, a registered trademark of CBS, Inc. All rights reserved. 

s t a r g a z i n g 

Descending with the Stars 

DISNEYLAND ® Resort: The discerning Member can spot a must-see attraction faster than the average Guest can ask, 

“What time is the 3 o’clock parade?” Sure, a novice can look for the obvious signs...detailed theming, groundbreaking effects, 

music you’ll hear in your sleep...but the true expert looks for famous people! 

Spot celebrities in line (or skipping said line with their VIP Guides), and you’ll know you’ve found a hot attraction. With 

that in mind, it looks like the new Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage at Disneyland Park is scorching! 

The World (on land) Is Not 

Enough: Former Bond girl Denise 

Richards is just “Mom” to these 

young explorers. 

Kid got your tongue? The youngest 

child of actress Brooke Shields appears 

to have heard enough from 

Minnie Mouse. 

Aye Commander! Commanding 

an ocean vessel is a breeze for 

former “Commander in Chief” star 

Geena Davis.


i t ’ s a d a t e 

TOKYO DISNEY RESORT ® : Leaders have announced 

July 8, 2008, as the targeted opening date for the new Tokyo 

Disneyland Hotel, now under construction at the main entrance 

to Tokyo Disneyland ® Park. 

The hotel will feature 706 Guest rooms, making it the 

largest of the three on-site resorts (other hotels include the 

Disney Ambassador ® Hotel and the Tokyo DisneySea Hotel 

Miracosta ® ), and will feature the Victorian architectural style 

seen in such Disney destinations as Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort 

& Spa at the Walt Disney World ® Resort in Florida. (Walt Disney was born 

near the end of the Victorian era, and championed the values and ideals of that 

time throughout his life.) 

Four banquet rooms, two restaurants, a lounge, a children’s pool and four merchandise 

shops are among the features that will round out the new hotel, which is 

slated to begin taking reservations approximately six months prior to opening. 

The hotel’s grand opening will be part of the “Unlock Your Dreams” celebration, 

honoring the milestone 25th anniversary of the Tokyo Disney Resort. Keep an 

eye on the Disney Files for more information about the celebration as new details 

become available. 

fab 5 

five favorites. 

one quirky category. 

With winter upon us, your magazine staff opens the Disney Files to reveal our favorite places to enjoy snow in the Disney 

Parks. Bundle up kids! 

5 

4 

3 

2 

1 

Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park. (It’s the only place you can enjoy Disney snow in an itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny, yellowpolka-dot 

bikini. But remember, just because you can, doesn’t necessarily mean you should.) 

Snow White-inspired attractions in California, Florida, Japan and France. (Okay, so we gave these rides a nod in our 

previous “Fab 5” list. But come on, the girl’s name is Snow!) 

The Expedition Everest TM attraction at Disney’s Animal Kingdom ® Theme Park. (Another repeat from our previous list, 

but we’re indebted to the yeti. Long story.) 

The Matterhorn Bobsleds at Disneyland ® Park. (Every tubular-steel coaster on earth owes a debt of gratitude to this 

progressive peak.) 

The faux snowfall during The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at the Disney-MGM Studios. (There’s snow 

business like show business, like snow business I know! ... What? That’s not how it goes?) 

5 4 3 2 1 

Honorable mention: Actual snow at the Tokyo Disney Resort and occasionally at 

Disneyland Resort Paris. (It’s pretty, but we can’t really take credit for it.) 

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’Tis the season for dancing lights, marching soldiers and those antlered mouse ears that seem to complement every outfit with 

tasteful elegance. A winter wonderland of magic and merriment is unfolding in Disney Parks around the world, and your Disney Files 

staff is here to deliver the key holi-dates. (It was either that or a fruitcake. No need to thank us.) 

CALIFORNIA 

• Disneyland ® Park: “Believe...in Holiday Magic” during a festive fireworks spectacular; marvel at the glistening, snow-covered 

Sleeping Beauty Castle; take in A Christmas Fantasy Parade; find Frontierland ® fun at Santa’s Reindeer Round-up; celebrate with Jack 

Skellington during a Haunted Mansion Holiday and embark on the merriest cruise that ever sailed during the “it’s a small world” 

holiday. (Through Jan. 6, 2008) 

• Disney’s California Adventure ® Park: Party California-style during Santa’s Beach Blast, an all-day beach party hosted by Santa and 

you (his Yuletide Crew). (Through Jan. 6, 2008) Also catch the return of Disney’s Electrical Parade, a California classic. (Dec. 21, 

2007-Jan. 6, 2008) 

FLORIDA 

• Magic Kingdom ® Park: Every creature is stirring (including a mouse) during the after-hours Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. 

Highlights include the all-new “Castle Dream Lights,” the “Holiday Wishes –Celebrate the Spirit of the Season” fireworks spectacular 

and the new Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade. Special ticket required. (See page 3 for details about a Disney Vacation 

Club Member discount available on select dates.) Guests may order tickets online at www.disneyworld.com/holidays. (Remaining 

dates include Nov. 25, 27, 29 and 30, and Dec. 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21) 

• Epcot ® : A splendor of international holiday traditions and storytelling unfolds throughout the day as part of Holidays Around the 

World. And when celestial stars fill the sky, human stars take the stage at the America Gardens Theatre for the famed Candlelight Processional, 

a grand retelling of the Christmas story by a mass choir, full orchestra and celebrity narrator. (Nov. 23-Dec. 30) 

• Disney-MGM Studios: Millions of twinkling lights perform to music in synchronized motion along the Streets of America during 

the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights presented by Sylvania. (Through Jan. 6, 2008) Another street treat unfolds each afternoon 

with the Hollywood Holly-Day Parade. (Through Jan. 1, 2008) Finally, don’t miss special holiday performances from the 

Harlem Gospel Choir at the Theater of the Stars. (Nov. 30-Dec. 5) 

• Disney’s Animal Kingdom ® Theme Park: Mickey and his pals rejoice in traditional holiday music with a world beat during 

Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade, and characters will greet Guests in their holiday best at Camp Minnie-Mickey. (Through Jan. 6, 2008) 

JAPAN 

• Tokyo Disneyland Park: “Christmas Dreams on Parade,” character greetings at “Lilo & Stitch’s Aloha Christmas,” a festive castle 

makeover and a holiday version of the “Dreamlights” electrical parade combine to create a “Christmas Fantasy.” (Through Dec. 25) 

• Tokyo DisneySea ® Park: The Candlelight Reflections and the “Big Band Beat Christmas Special” shows are among the offerings 

unfolding during a romantic “Harborside Christmas.” (Through Dec. 25) 

page 11 

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FRANCE 

• Disneyland ® Park (Paris): More than a million lights help set the tone for 

a celebration that includes holiday-attired Disney characters, a “Dream of 

Christmas” addition to Disney’s Once Upon a Dream 

Parade, “Mickey’s Winter Wonderland” ice-skating spectacular, 

character greetings in Belle’s Christmas Village, a Christmas-themed 

“Winnie the Pooh and Friends, Too!” stage show, a nightly 

“Enchanted Candleabration” song-and-dance finale at Sleeping 

Beauty Castle and more. (Through Jan. 6, 2008) Also catch the 

state-of-the-art Disney’s ® Fantillusion© nighttime parade. (Fridays- 

Sundays through Nov. 30 and daily Dec. 1, 2007-Jan. 6, 2008) 

• Walt Disney Studios ® Park: Meet Santa Goofy in his Christmas 

Cadillac in the Park’s Entrance Courtyard, and get in on 

the holiday fun at Studio 1, home to Ciné Christmas Folies. 

(Dates to be determined) 

CHINA 

• Hong Kong Disneyland Park: While several details of the Hong 

Kong holiday happenings are materializing as this magazine hits the 

press, the Park’s leaders have confirmed that the Main Street, U.S.A. ® and 

Fantasyland ® areas will get festive makeovers, Santa Claus will make special 

appearances and magical “snow” will be in the forecast. (Through 

Jan. 1, 2008) 

Want to know more? 

Access each destination’s Web site 

through www.disneyparks.com


m o v i e s 

disney diversions 

enjoying Disney between trips 

National Treasure: Book of Secrets: When a missing 

page from the diary of John Wilkes Booth surfaces, 

treasure hunter Ben Gates’ great-great grandfather is 

suddenly implicated as a key conspirator in Abraham 

Lincoln’s death. Thus begins another mind-bending, 

history-exposing adventure for Ben (played again by 

Nicolas Cage) in Walt Disney Pictures’ National Treasure: 

Book of Secrets, opening in U.S. theaters on Dec. 21. 

This highly anticipated follow-up to the 2004 box 

office hit National Treasure reunites the original movie’s 

all-star cast, including Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, 

Academy Award ® winner Jon Voight and Academy 

Award nominee Harvey Keitel, as well as producer Jerry 

Bruckheimer and director Jon Turtletaub. Joining the 

cast for this second installment are four-time Academy 

Award nominee Ed Harris and 2006 Academy Award 

winner Helen Mirren. 

Alright, enough name dropping. Back to the story... 

Determined to prove his ancestor’s innocence, Ben 

follows an 

international 

chain of clues 

that takes him 

on a chase 

from Paris to 

London and 

ultimately 

back to 

America. The 

journey leads 

Ben and his 

crew not 

only to surprising 

revelations, but to the trail of the world’s most treasured 

secrets. For example, did you know that New York’s Lincoln Tunnel isn’t 

named in honor of Abraham Lincoln, but rather a guy named Thomas 

Tunnel? Okay, we made that up. For the real secrets, you’ll just have to 

wait until December. 

h o m e e n t e r t a i n m e n t 

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End: The 

world’s top box office hit of 2007 sails into U.S. stores on 

Disney DVD and Blu-ray Disc ® Dec. 4 with an 

armada of bonus materials designed to showcase the 

epic movie like never before. 

Bonus features on the 2-disc Disney DVD set include 

Keith & The Captain; Anatomy of a Scene: The 

Maelstrom; The Tale of the Multiple Jacks; Hoist the 

Colors; Masters of Design; Inside the Brethren Court; 

The Pirate Code: Revealed; The World of Chow Yun Fat; 

The Pirate Maestro: The Music of Hans Zimmer; Bloopers 

of the Caribbean; 

and more. 

The Blu-ray Disc 

version takes the 

experience deeper 

(not “Davy Jones’ 

locker” deep; just a pleasant “backstage pass” kind of deep), remastering 

all of the Disney DVD set content in high-definition from 

the original digital sources, kicking up the sound quality (that’s 7.1 

channels surround, 48 kHz, 24-bit uncompressed audio for those of 

you who know what that means) and adding exclusive BD-Java 

enhanced features, including a Jolly Roger host who guides you 

through your Blu-ray experience, responding to your actions (or inactions) 

with humorous commentary. 

The crown jewel of the Blu-ray release is Enter the Maelstrom, an 

hour-long, stem-to-stern look at what insiders have called “one of the 

most epic action set pieces in cinematic history.” Hosted by producer 

Jerry Bruckheimer, Enter the Maelstrom reveals everything you ever 

wanted to know (and maybe more) about the colossal battle between 

the Black Pearl and Flying Dutchman. 

(Editor’s note: You’re going to need a Blu-ray Disc player to enjoy 

the Blu-ray Disc experience, so now’s the time to start being really nice 

to the holiday gift-givers in your life.) 

Producer Jerry Bruckheimer, pictured here to the right of Johnny Depp on the set of 

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, hosts an exclusive behind-the-scenes feature 

on the movie’s upcoming Blu-ray Disc release. 

page 13 

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b o o k s 

Paige turner: “Ain’t no man can avoid being born average, but there ain’t no man got to be 

common.” 

This is among numerous quotes writers have attributed through the years to baseball Hall-of- 

Famer Leroy “Satchel” Paige, whose distinguished career spanned five decades. Fact doesn’t easily 

separate from fiction when it comes to Paige, who famously wrote, and rewrote, his own history at 

every opportunity. What is certain is Paige’s place in history as one of the Negro League’s hardest 

throwers, most entertaining storytellers and greatest gate attractions. 

This December, Disney will explore the legend further with a new graphic novel from Hyperion 

Books for Children and The Center for Cartoon Studies titled Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow. 

Told from the point of view of a sharecropper, the narrative follows Paige from game to game 

through America’s segregated South. Using stark prose and powerful graphics, the novel presents 

the story of a sports hero, role model, consummate showman and era-defining American. 

t e l e v i s i o n 

“Walt Disney World ® Christmas Day Parade”: Ryan Seacrest, 

pictured below, just may be the busiest man on the planet. The “E! 

News” anchor hosted the 2007 Primetime Emmy Awards ® , will emcee 

festivities for this year’s Super Bowl broadcast, hosts his morning L.A. 

radio show and the nationally syndicated “American Top 40” radio 

countdown, fills in for Larry King on his cable-news chat fest and, of 

course, hosts that little singing competition on “another network.” 

(Rhymes with sox.) So what’s the sleepless icon doing next? He’s going 

to Disneyland ® ! 

Seacrest is returning to the place where dreams come true to serve 

as the West Coast host for ABC’s “Walt Disney World Christmas Day 

Parade” broadcast. Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa, now celebrating the 

20th anniversary of their hit morning show “LIVE with Regis and 

Kelly,” will return to their hosting duties in Florida. 

Disney Channel’s “Hannah Montana” star Miley Cirus, Hollywood 

Records’ chart-topping sibling trio The Jonas Brothers and the 

teen sensations from the Disney Channel Original Movie High School 

Musical 2 also are among the stars scheduled to appear. 

While entertainment is subject to change (there’s no business 

harder to pin down than show business), Disney Files Magazine has 

learned that producers are planning to salute The Year of a Million 

Dreams celebration, stage a show-stopping number from ABC’s 

“Dancing with the Stars,” showcase some familiar faces from Playhouse 

Disney and welcome a new princess to Disney’s royal family, 

courtesy of the new Walt Disney Pictures’ film Enchanted. But the 

show’s true highlight, of course, will be that famous guy in a beard. 

(And no, we aren’t talking about Seacrest’s five-o-clock shadow.) 

As for the parade itself, fans will find familiar favorites along with 

brand new elements as producers begin a multi-year effort to refresh 

the annual spectacle. 

“This year marks the debut of Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime 

Parade at the Magic Kingdom ® Park, and the ABC broadcast will 

showcase some of those new elements,” said David Duffy, Associate 

Artistic Director for Walt Disney Entertainment. “We’ve created new 

music, costumes and more to help Mickey and friends 

present a series of Christmastime vignettes celebrating 

the many moods of the holiday season.” 

ABC is scheduled to air the “Walt Disney World 

Christmas Day Parade” Dec. 25 at 10 a.m. eastern and 

9 a.m. elsewhere in the U.S. (Oh, and for you fancy TV 

owners out there, this year’s broadcast will be available 

for the first time in high definition!) 

page 14 

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Work is underway at the Disneyland ® Resort in Anaheim, 

Calif., on a development project that will expand Disney’s Grand 

Californian Hotel ® & Spa accommodations by more than 30 percent 

and establish the first Disney Vacation Club villas* in the 

Golden State. 

The 2.5-acre expansion on the hotel’s south side calls for the 

planned construction of more than 200 traditional hotel rooms 

and 50 two-bedroom-equivalent Disney Vacation 

Club villas. Other planned elements of the project 

include a rooftop observation deck, a new swimming 

pool, game arcade, and about 300 underground 

parking spaces. 

Peter Dominick of 4240 Architecture, Inc. 

(formerly of Urban Design Group), architect for 

Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, as well as 

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Disney’s Animal 

Kingdom Lodge at the Walt Disney World ® Resort, 

is designing the ambitious expansion, 

with a targeted completion in late 2009. 

Mike Montague, Director of Development 

for Walt Disney Imagineering, 

told Disney Files Magazine that the expansion 

will build on the hotel’s architectural 

and artistic celebration of California’s renowned 

Arts and Crafts style of the late 19th and early 20th 

centuries. 

“We’re building on the look and feel that has been such a 

thematic home run at this hotel,” Mike said. “The new wing will 

actually be the first building you see when you drive up to the 

hotel, so it’s critical that we maintain the visual style that has 

helped make the existing hotel so popular. The Arts and Crafts 

era was all about high-quality craftsmanship, attention to detail 

and intimate spaces, and that spirit will be evident throughout 

the expansion.” 

An enclosed, multi-level “connection bridge” will link each 

floor of the new wing to the existing hotel, giving Members and 

Guests easy access to the hotel’s acclaimed amenities, 

from the renowned Napa Rose restaurant and 

Mandara Spa to the character-filled Storytellers 

Café and welcoming Hearthstone Lounge. 

The “Californian Craftsman” spirit will be 

equally evident in the accommodations, with designs 

and color palettes saluting the Arts and Crafts 

movement. 

“Earth tones are synonymous with this style,” 

Mike continued. “So in addition to using traditional 

Arts and Crafts designs in everything 

from window treatments to bed linens, 

we’ve selected a bright palette of earth 

tones that will bring the feeling of the 

outdoors into the rooms.” 

Speaking of the outdoors, Mike points to 

an exterior courtyard as one of his favorite elements 

of the project. 

“The courtyard between the expansion and the existing 

hotel is going to be just a beautiful, lushly landscaped area,” Mike 

said. “It will be a nice, tranquil space with a lot of architectural 

interest. [Not to mention the expanded pool and terrace.] That 

peaceful feel is such a big part of this hotel, and it’s an interesting 

contrast to the excitement and energy that comes from having a 

Theme Park right outside your door.” 

Watch Disney Files Magazine for more details about the 

expansion project as development work continues. 

*This resort is not registered or offered for sale at this time. 

Artist Rendering–Proposed


Disney’s Paradise Pier® Hotel 

Disneyland® Hotel 

Expansion project site 

Disney’s Grand Californian 

Hotel® & Spa 

Disney’s California Adventure® Park 

In other development news... 

Walt Disney Parks & Resorts has finalized plans to 

purchase 21 acres of oceanfront property on Hawaii’s island 

of Oahu. 

The property, located on the island’s west side at the 

picturesque Ko Olina Resort & Marina, will be home to an 

expansive mixed-use Disney resort. Scheduled to open in 

2011, the resort is planned to feature more than 800 units, 

including hotel rooms and Disney Vacation Club villas*. 

While the announcement marks Disney’s first resort 

development in Hawaii, the company’s love affair with the 

islands began decades ago with Walt Disney himself. From 

the 1937 Mickey Mouse animated short “Hawaiian 

Holiday” to the tropical hideaway setting of 

the Enchanted Tiki Room attraction at Disneyland 

® Park to the inclusion of Disney’s Polynesian 

Resort in his planned “Florida Project,” Walt 

often pulled inspiration from the iconic islands. 

Walt Disney Pictures continued the spirit of 

aloha in 2002 with the hit animated film Lilo & 

Stitch, an original story about a Hawaiian girl 

who tames a seemingly untamable alien by 

teaching him the meaning of Ohana, the 

Hawaiian spirit of family. The Walt Disney 

Company also does extensive film work in 

Hawaii, including on-location work for the hit 

ABC series “LOST.” 

“Clearly, Hawaii already has a special 

place in our hearts and in Disney’s history,” 

said Jay Rasulo, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. 

“Building a resort in Hawaii is the next chapter in our effort 

to create immersive Disney experiences that allow families 

to reconnect and recharge in areas of the world they most 

long to visit.” 

Designs for the new resort are being finalized by Walt 

Disney Imagineers, who have been traveling extensively 

throughout Hawaii for the past several months as they garner 

ideas to develop a resort celebrating Hawaii’s vibrant 

culture and rich heritage. 

Look for more details about the Hawaii project in 

early 2008. 

Artist Rendering–Proposed 

*This resort is not registered or offered for sale at this time. 

page 16 

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Disney Files Editor Ryan March shares a few of his favorite 

photos from the first Disney Vacation Club Member-exclusive 

Adventures by Disney vacation, a guided journey through the 

Grand Canyon and other wonders of the American Southwest. 

Our group discovers a “hidden Mickey” among the desert cacti. 

Pictured from left are Angela and Scott Greenwald of Carneys 

Point, N.J., Members since 2002, along with Scot, Jake, Suzanne 

and Kayla Ellis of New Gretna, N.J., Members since 2001. 

Siblings Kayla and Jake Ellis pose for the classic “look like you 

love each other” shot after a Jeep ® tour of scenic Sedona, Ariz. 

A first look at the 

Grand Canyon 

induced tears from 

Scott Greenwald, 

who said, “I’ve 

wanted to see this all 

my life, and there’s 

no way I would have 

done it this soon if it 

wasn’t for DVC.” (And, no, I didn’t pay him to say that.) 

page 17 

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Virginia “Ginny” Greene, left, of Newark, 

Del., Member since 2004, goes “Annie 

Oakley” on a horse with no name. (I’m 

sure it did have a name. I just can’t 

remember it.) By the time husband 

Richard, above, got his turn in the saddle, 

the tongue-hanging horse was looking as 

tired as a Monument Valley dust mop. 

This tender moment between Scot 

and Jake Ellis would have made me 

cry if my tear ducts weren’t so dusty. 

Our trusty Adventure Guides, Mike 

Cooke and Joanne Schmiechel, look 

as cool as the other side of the rock at 

the Grand Canyon watch tower. 

A mile-and-a-half hike to Moab, Utah’s Delicate Arch inspired stunned silence in 

everyone except 10-year-old Jake, who asked aloud, “We walked all the way here for 

that? It’s not even that great!” I miss that little man. 

My good buddy Rob Hanner saves me from a harrowing plunge into the Grand 

Canyon. It was actually quite safe. (That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.) 

Adventures by Disney Senior Vice 

President Ed Baklor, right, offers 

Members a warm “Welcome Home” 

to Moab, Utah. 

page 18 

dvcmember.com


vault disney 

by Disney-history expert Jim Korkis 

s e v e n l u c k y s e c r e t s o f o s w a l d t h e l u c k y r a b b i t 

Despite what Walt said, it didn’t all begin with a mouse. 

The Disney Brothers Studio started in 1923 with a live-action 

character named Alice (portrayed by Virginia Davis) interacting 

with animated animals in a popular series of 56 cartoons. Looking 

for new challenges that would showcase the growing skills of 

his animation staff, Walt agreed, in 1927, to produce a new series 

of cartoons featuring a rabbit character for Charles Mintz at 

Universal Studios. 

Later, after a year of producing the successful Oswald the 

Lucky Rabbit cartoons, Walt traveled to New York to negotiate 

additional installments of the 

series, only to discover that the 

character and the cartoons 

were copyrighted by Mintz, 

who hired away Walt’s entire 

animation staff (except for Ub 

Iwerks) to produce another 

year of Oswald cartoons. 

Legend has it that, during 

that distraught train ride back 

to Hollywood, Walt came up 

with the idea of Mickey Mouse. 

The rest, as they say, is animation 

history. 

In 2006, The Walt Disney 

Company regained the rights 

to Walt’s Oswald cartoons as 

part of a negotiation involving 

sportscaster Al Michael’s move 

from ABC/ESPN’s “Monday 

Night Football” to Universalowned 

NBC’s “Sunday Night Football.” Unfortunately, of the 26 

Oswald cartoons Walt produced, only about a dozen still exist 

today. 

Some of those cartoons will become available in a Walt 

Disney Treasures DVD on Dec. 11, so as a special treat for Disney 

Vacation Club Members, I’ve dug up seven lucky Oswald secrets 

that you might not find among the DVDs’ bonus materials. 

1. Just as a magician pulls a rabbit from a hat, Oswald’s 

name was pulled from a hat. 

The name reportedly was selected by P.D. Cochrane, the 

head of Universal Studios’ Publicity Department. He gathered 

suggestions from office staffers, and drew a name out of a hat 

filled with submissions. Diane Disney Miller (Walt’s daughter) 

confirmed years later that the name was, indeed, pulled from a 

hat, which explains why Oswald the Lucky Rabbit didn’t follow 

Walt Disney followed up the studio-criticized “Poor Papa” 

with the warmly received “Trolley Troubles.” 

the animation and comic strip convention of using alliteration in 

a name (like Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck). 

2. Universal rejected the first Oswald cartoon Walt Disney 

created. 

Executives criticized the first installment, “Poor Papa,” 

believing that the Oswald character wasn’t cute or likeable 

enough. The memo from Universal included the phrase: “With 

the exception of Chaplin, important movie comedians are neat 

and dapper chaps.” 

Undaunted, Walt and Ub 

Iwerks redesigned the character 

and made another called 

“Trolley Troubles,” inspired by 

Fontaine Fox’s “Toonerville 

Trolley,” a popular comic strip 

at the time. The cartoon includes 

a scene in which Oswald 

removes and rubs his foot for 

good luck. After all, he’s blessed 

with four lucky rabbit’s feet. 

The cartoon proved to be 

good luck for Walt, as Universal 

execs were impressed and 

gave the series the green light. 

(Mintz, incidentally, later released 

the once-criticized 

“Poor Papa” to theaters after 

Walt left the series.) 

3. The fiery temper and short 

stature of an animator on the early Oswald cartoons inspired 

the Warner Brothers animated character Yosemite Sam. 

Animation Legend Friz Freleng, who directed many Looney 

Tunes cartoons and was the inspiration for Yosemite Sam, animated 

the “Trolley Troubles” scene in which Oswald takes off his 

foot. In an interview I conducted with Freleng later in his career, he 

recalled thinking, “‘What do I show when his foot’s taken off? Do I 

show a bone in there or what?’ And Walt joked about it, and of 

course, he had never thought about it either. Nobody had thought 

of it.” (In the cartoon, the foot pops off and pops back on.) 

4. Oswald was the first Disney character to have 

merchandising. 

Universal marketed several Oswald items, including a five 

cent marshmallow-and-chocolate candy bar made by the Vogan 

Candy Corporation of Portland, Ore. The company produced 

page 19 

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This note to Carl Laemmle 

(then head of Universal 

Studios) — written, but 

not drawn by, Walt Disney 

— is dated Oct. 1, 1935. 

the candy before the first 

cartoon was completed, so 

Oswald appears on the 

wrapper as a slender, white 

rabbit. 

The Philadelphia 

Badge Company issued a 

button featuring Oswald 

(buttons were the precursor 

to today’s trading pin), 

and the Universal Tag and 

Novelty Company offered 

an Oswald stencil set to 

help young children draw the character. 

The fact that the Disney Studio didn’t receive royalties from 

this merchandise didn’t seem to bother co-founder Roy O. 

Disney, who said, “We are a movie studio, not a toy store.” The 

Disney brothers were simply happy that the merchandise 

brought attention to the character so that audiences would ask 

theaters when they would be showing an Oswald cartoon. 

5. Mickey Mouse’s nemesis, Peg Leg Pete, also provided 

trouble for Oswald. 

Peg Leg Pete is Disney’s longest continuously running animated 

character. He first appeared in the Alice Comedies as early 

as 1925, and he appeared in seven Oswald cartoons, including 

“Rival Romeos” and “Ozzie of the Mounties.” 

6. Walt Disney used some of the gags from the Oswald 

cartoons in the early Mickey Mouse cartoons. 

In the days before video recording and reruns, it wasn’t 

unusual for artists to recycle sight gags since it was unlikely that 

theater audiences would have seen or remembered the gag from 

an earlier cartoon release. Mickey Mouse’s “Steamboat Willie,” 

for example, included several gags that appeared previously in 

Oswald cartoons. 

One of the gags in Oswald’s “Rival Romeos” involves a goat 

eating Oswald’s sheet music, and Oswald opening the goat’s 

mouth and cranking its tail to make music. Mickey repeated the 

gag in “Steamboat Willie.” The script for that “Steamboat Willie” 

scene, in which Pete pulls and stretches Mickey’s stomach, features 

handwritten notes from Walt Disney reading, “same as 

Oswald and the Bear in ‘Tall Timber’” [an Oswald cartoon 

released on July 9, 1928]. 

This Oswald stencil set was one of the first merchandise 

items to feature a Disney-created character. 

7. Woody Woodpecker and Oswald share a “father.” 

After Walt left, Mintz gave the series to his brother-in-law, 

George Winkler, who set up his own studio, Snappy Productions. 

During the next year, Universal decided that, instead of outsourcing 

to Mintz, they would produce the cartoons themselves, 

hiring a young animator named Walter Lantz to direct. 

Lantz contacted Walt to see if this would cause Walt any 

concern. Walt, now successful with Mickey Mouse, gave Lantz his 

blessing and told him there would be no hard feelings. Lantz, 

working with animation legend Bill Nolan (who was known to 

be as fast and talented as Iwerks) turned Oswald into a cuter and 

more appealing character, and the series continued in production 

until around 1938. Lantz also added sound to the cartoons, 

hiring actor Mickey Rooney to be the character’s first voice. So, 

the character that inspired a mouse named Mickey got his voice 

from a guy named Mickey. Was it destiny, or just plain “Lucky?” 

page 20 

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around the neighborhood 

news & notes from your magical community 

g l o b e t r o t t i n g t u r n s d r e a m e r s i n t o d o e r s 

The world has two kinds of 

dreamers: those who wait for the 

dream to come to them, and those 

who take matters into their own 

hands. Or fins. 

In Disney animation circles, 

Snow White reigns over that first 

camp. Twirling through the forest 

with her woodland-creature entourage, 

the fair-skinned beauty 

hits every high note in singing, 

“Some day my prince will come.” 

A bit passive, perhaps, but lovely 

nonetheless. 

Then there’s Ariel. Not 

long on patience, the 

determined little 

mermaid 

approaches her 

dream with a certain 

“get out of my way” edge, singing, “Watch and 

you’ll see, some day I’ll be, part of your world.” 

You go, girl! 

A similar division has emerged in Disney 

Parks, where Guests are continuing to enjoy The 

Year of a Million Dreams 

through Dec. 31, 2008. 

For some, the dream has 

come to them. Commemorative 

Mickey ears, 

Dream FASTPASS ® tickets, 

overnight castle stays 

and even trips around the 

world have practically 

fallen out of the sky. Snow 

White would hum a 

merry tune with this 

crowd. 

But for other families, 

this unprecedented 

celebration has presented 

something of a personal 

challenge, an opportunity 

to leave nothing to 

chance. The Weise family 

of Berlin, Germany, 

Members since 2000, is 

The Weise family enjoys a rare visit to Walt Disney’s private Disneyland 

apartment during their worldwide tour of the Disney Parks. 

one of those families. 

On Dec. 31, 2006, Stephan and Claudia Weise, along with 

young daughters Laura and Mara, rang in the New Year in 

Florida, toasting 2007 in the familiar surroundings of the Germany 

pavilion at Epcot and vowing to visit every Disney Park on 

earth during the year ahead. 

First up was Disneyland ® Resort Paris, followed by visits to 

the Tokyo Disney Resort ® , Hong Kong Disneyland ® Resort and the 

place that started it all, the Disneyland Resort in California. 

Impressed by the Weise family’s magic journey, Disneyland 

Resort Cast Members surprised the well-traveled group with a 

rare tour of Walt Disney’s Main Street, U.S.A. ® apartment and a 

ride aboard the Disneyland Railroad’s 

Lily Belle VIP parlor car. 

“I guess it will take the girls 

some time to realize what 

they got to experience 

today, but for my wife 

and me, it was even 

more magical,” 

Stephan said 

after receiving 

the white-glove 

treatment. “We 

never could have 

imagined the 

magical surprises 

[Cast Members] had 

in store for us today. 

[It] was so amazing that 

it is hard for me to put it 

into words.” 

As this edition of 

Disney Files Magazine 

hits the press, the Weise 

family is preparing for 

their return to Florida, 

where they’ll once again 

ring in the New Year in 

Germany at Epcot before 

capping their journey at 

Disney’s Vero Beach Resort. 

After 12 months of 

globetrotting, there’s just 

no place like the beach to 

sit back, relax and kick 

up your feet. Or fins. 

page 21 

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a l e g e n d a r y v o y a g e 

Every S.S. Member Cruise has been magical, but the 2007 

voyage was downright legendary. 

Sailing under the theme of “Disney Legends,” the October 

voyage celebrated some of the uniquely talented individuals 

whose creative contributions to The Walt Disney Company have 

been, well, legendary. A diverse lineup of official Disney Legends 

joined Members for the memorable sailing, sharing their stories 

through a live talk show created exclusively for the 

Member cruise. 

Marty Sklar, former Vice Chairman of 

Walt Disney Imagineering and current Imagineering 

Ambassador, headlined the all-star 

lineup. Marty had decades of experience from 

which to draw stories, having joined the Disney Cast 

family full time in 1956, the year after Disneyland ® Park opened 

its gates. (Marty also worked at the Park for a month during its 

opening year while he was a student at UCLA.) 

During the talk show, Marty recalled fond memories of developing 

the Park’s official newspaper and his transition to WED 

Enterprises (known today as Walt Disney Imagineering), where 

he helped develop shows for the 1964 New York World’s Fair and 

every Disney Theme Park thereafter. Marty holds the unique 

distinction of having been part of every Disney Park on the 

planet, from Anaheim to Hong Kong. 

“Having this Legend on board was absolutely incredible,” 

said Scott Spongberg, one of the Disney Vacation Club Cast 

Members who helped bring the cruise to life. “Nobody on earth 

can match Marty’s inside perspectives on the development of 

Disney Parks, so this was an amazing opportunity for Members 

to get the inside scoop.” 

Other Disney Legends on board included 

“Alice Comedies” star Virginia Davis, designer 

Alice Davis, Imagineer X Atencio, songwriter 

Richard Sherman and Archivist Dave Smith. 

“It was the broadest lineup of talent we’ve ever 

assembled for a Member cruise,” said Cast Member 

Carol Chukwu. “And I think it’s safe to say that the legends enjoyed 

the voyage as much as our Members did. Many of these 

artists and entertainers haven’t been together in years, so this was 

quite the reunion!” 

Watch for details soon about booking the next S.S. Member 

Cruise, which will take place Sept. 21-25, 2008, and will once 

again feature two scheduled stops at Disney’s private island, 

Castaway Cay. 

What is a Disney Legend? 

The Disney Legends program was established in 1987 to acknowledge 

and honor the many individuals whose imaginations, talents 

and dreams have created the Disney magic. Since its inception, 

the annual awards program has honored gifted animators, Imagineers, 

songwriters, actors and business leaders, who are immortalized 

with plaques and sculptures in Disney Legends Plaza at 

The Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, Calif., corporate headquarters 

for The Walt Disney Company. 

This portrait of Mickey Mouse and Walt Disney served as the 

signature artwork for the S.S. Member Cruise 2007. 

MEMBER POLL 

A great cruise is all about the food! Following are results from a DVCMember.com poll asking Members to rank 

their favorite places to eat on a Disney Cruise Line ® ship (choosing only from options available on both ships). 

40% 35% 16% 9% 

Animator’s Palate Palo Parrot Cay anywhere I can find a buffet



W E l c o m e h o m e , b y e r s f a m i l y 

“My tumor’s name is loser.” 

What sounds like a throw-away line from a Schwarzenegger 

movie is a daily affirmation from an eight-year-old girl. Though 

when it comes to her battle with cancer, Jenessa “Boey” Byers is, 

indeed, something of a Terminator. 

Diagnosed with pediatric cancer in January 2006, a determined 

Boey started an online blog (check it out online at 

www.JenessaByers.com) and dedicated herself, not only to beating 

her disease, but to raising awareness and funding for cancer patients 

everywhere. 

Joining the fight against their daughter’s cancer, the suddenly 

financially strapped Byers family (which also includes father Rob, 

mother Rachel, and brothers Chris and Joe) also found 

themselves battling their unsafe house. 

ABC cameras roll as the Byers family enjoys a “Star Spangled 

Tuesday” barbeque at Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort. 

The Oregon 

home’s 

deteriorating 

condition 

even 

forced Joe, who suffers from asthma, to move in with his 

grandparents. 

Inspired by the family’s story, Disney Vacation Club lent a 

helping hand by collaborating for the first time with ABC’s “Extreme 

Makeover: Home Edition.” In an episode that aired earlier 

this season, Ty Pennington and his crew reunited the Byers in a 

gleaming new home, giving the family a fighting chance against 

Boey’s cancer. And during the renovation, the Byers enjoyed a 

well-deserved retreat to Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort. 

“Overwhelming is the only word I can think of to describe 

how this feels,” Rob told Disney Files Magazine during a visit in 

the family’s complimentary Grand Villa. “To be honest, I didn’t 

even know Disney had a place in South Carolina, so I didn’t know 

what to expect. But this has been the perfect place for us to 

recharge.” 

Rachel gave an equally enthusiastic “thumbs up,” adding, “To 

say we’re having a great time would be the understatement of our 

lives. This is just incredible. For all of us to be together in one 

place gives us a taste of what life will be like in our new house. 

And the people here have been absolutely amazing. We feel like 

we have a new Disney family.” 

While the Byers’ vacation itinerary was packed with everything 

from a dolphin cruise to the resort’s Gyotaku fish-painting 

activity, it was the simplest of pleasures that brought Rachel 

to tears. 

“One of the things Boey has had to give up during 

chemotherapy has been bike riding,” Rachel explained. “She’s just 

been too weak. But during this trip, she’s gotten back on a bike 

for the first time. When she said to me, ‘See, I told you this cancer’s 

not going to beat me,’ and rode away, I just lost it.” 

Not wanting to see the family’s memory-building end with 

this trip, Disney Vacation Club President Jim Lewis traveled to 

Hilton Head to surprise the Byers with three years of future vacations. 

(Disney Vacation Club learned later that the family once 

traveled regularly through a vacation-ownership program but 

had to sell their membership to help pay for Boey’s medical care.) 

“Seeing their emotional reaction when I told them the fun 

wouldn’t end there was among the highlights of my career,” Jim 

said. “It reinforced just how powerful vacations can be for a family, 

which is why we’re so proud at Disney Vacation Club to do 

what we do.” 

“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” airs in the U.S. on 

Sunday nights at 8 p.m. EST on ABC. 

The Byers show off the masterpieces they created during their 

Gyotaku fish-painting experience. 

“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. It’s executive-produced by Denise Cramsey. David Goldberg is the president of Endemol USA. 

page 23 

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behind the 

Mike Cooke & Joanne Schmeichel, Adventures by Disney 

When you can count the Grand Canyon among your 

“offices,” life is pretty good. 

Such is the case for the dedicated Adventure Guides who 

lead Guests on Adventures by Disney vacations around the 

world. From the rainforests of Costa Rica and hills of Tuscany 

to the ranches of Wyoming and deserts of the American 

Southwest, the diverse landscapes against which these Cast 

Members report to work are dramatic departures from the 

wonderful world of cubicles that define the average “day job.” 

So what’s the best part of the gig? “I get to cry every 

week,” said Adventure Guide Joanne Schmeichel. “Seriously, 

the Guests who travel with us become family. I keep thinking 

that the goodbyes at the end of each trip will become less 

emotional, but I still tear up every time.” 

Mike Cooke, Joanne’s co-Guide during the recent Disney 

Vacation Club Member-exclusive Southwest Splendors trip, 

echoed the sentiment, though he stopped short of admitting 

tears. (At least on the record.) 

“It’s absolutely about the people,” Mike said. “Sure, we 

get to visit incredible places and enjoy some amazing experiences, 

but the families we guide on these vacations really keep 

us going.” 

It’s with that motivation that Adventure Guides work 

meticulously both “on stage” and behind the scenes to plan 

and execute these dream vacations. 

“We look carefully at every detail to help Guests experience 

the adventures of a lifetime,” said Joanne, a Seattle native 

who abandoned a planned career in broadcast journalism 

when a trip to Australia gave her the proverbial travel bug. 

“It’s a lot of work, but when your day includes high-fiving 

Guests while completely drenched after shooting some great 

rapids, it’s tough to get the smile off your face.” 

Mike, a Hawaii native with a long history as a vacation 

guide, cited Disney’s famed attention to detail among the reasons 

he decided to interview for an Adventures by Disney role. 

“There’s a level of excellence that comes with everything 

Disney does, and I wanted to be part of that,” Mike said. 

“And Disney has a mass appeal that you just don’t see 

anywhere else. As a result, we have every generation and walk 

of life represented on these trips, which adds so much to the 

experience.” 

Joanne expressed a similar affinity for the “Disney difference,” 

saying, “I’m continually amazed by the special touches 

Disney adds to these vacations. But it’s more than that. 

It’s the fact that my co-workers are spread out around the 

world but stay in touch like a big family. It’s the fact that 

Disney Guests are just plain happy people who have such 

affection for this company. It’s the teenage girl who looks at 

you at the end of a trip and says, ‘Someday, I want to do what 

you do.’ It’s all of that and more, and I can’t imagine doing 

anything else.” 

She went on to say something else profound, but it was 

tough to decipher through the sentimental tears. (And that 

was just Mike.) 

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RECIPE: Egg nog cheesecake 

Egg nog? Good! Cheesecake? Good! Egg nog cheesecake? Really good! Try your 

hand at this three-part holiday recipe from the Disney chefs. 

Crust ingredients: 

9 whole graham crackers 

2 tablespoons sugar 

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted, melted butter 

Crust steps: 

1. Grind dry ingredients in a food processor and transfer the crumb mixture to a medium bowl. 

2. Add butter and toss until evenly moistened. 

3. Press moistened mixture over the bottom of a 9-inch-diameter spring form pan with 2 3/4 

inch-high sides. The mixture should cover the bottom of the pan and the bottom 1 3/4 inches 

of the sides. 

4. Freeze the crust until cold (about 10 minutes), and then bake in a 375-degree oven (center 

rack) about 8 minutes, until brown. Set aside on a rack to cool. 

Filling ingredients: 

1 1/2 pounds cream cheese at room temperature 

3/4 cup sugar 

2 tablespoons dark rum 

1 tablespoon brandy 

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 

3 large eggs at room temperature 

Filling steps: 

1. Beat cream cheese and sugar together in a mixer until very smooth. 

2. Add the rum, brandy, vanilla extract and nutmeg, and blend evenly. 

3. Reduce your speed to low and add eggs one at a time, beating each 

egg into the mixture until evenly blended. 

4. Spoon the filling into your cooled crust and bake about 45 minutes in 

the same 375-degree oven you used for your crust. (Filling should be 

“puffed,” very light brown and softly set in the center.) Cool your cake 

on a rack for at least 30 minutes. (The center may fall slightly. No 

need to panic.) 

5. While cooling your cake, increase oven temperature to 400 degrees in 

preparation for your next step. 

Topping ingredients: 

1 1/2 cups sour cream 

1 1/2 tablespoons sugar 

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 

1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 

A few short cinnamon sticks for decoration 

Topping steps: 

1. In a medium bowl, whisk the sour cream, sugar and vanilla extract. 

2. Pour mixture gently over the cooled cheesecake, filling the center depression 

and spreading evenly to the edges. 

3. Return your cheesecake to the 400-degree oven and bake for 8 minutes, 

until set. 

4. Cool the cheesecake on a rack before covering and refrigerating 

overnight. 

5. To serve, cut around the sides of the pan to loosen the 

cake, and then release the pan sides. 

6. Sift ground cinnamon and nutmeg lightly over the 

cake and arrange a cluster of short cinnamon sticks 

in the center to add a bit of dramatic flair! 

Special dietary needs? 

Disney Park and Resort restaurants offer a wide range of menu options, and Disney chefs and managers 

are happy to help Guests address their unique dietary requests by suggesting menu alternatives. While 

nutritional information isn’t available for menu items, ingredient labels are available upon request. 

Meet the Neighbors 

Meet the wildebeest, one of your wild neighbors at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas. With the front 

end of an ox, the back end of an antelope, and the mane and tail of a horse, this curious creature is a duckbill 

shy of a platypus. This nomadic neighbor is born on the move, with mothers birthing calves during a 

1,000-mile migration on the Serengeti. And you thought your travels were taxing! 

Look for more neighborly introductions in future editions of Disney Files magazine. 

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A refrigerator is more than just a place to keep the butter. It’s a place of 

family honor, a gleaming surface on which to display glowing report 

cards, treasured award certificates and kids’ well-intentioned drawings of 

Mom and Dad. (Who knew Dad looked so much like Carol Burnett?) 

Like a proud parent, Disney Files Magazine celebrates the achievements 

of Members and their families here on the “Fridge-o-Fame.” 

A family that kicks together... 

In the animated film Mulan, a frustrated Shang berates his under-performing warriors 

by singing, “Did they send me daughters, when I asked for sons?!” If you ask Rob 

Hazlehurst of Hampshire, England, Member since 2004, daughters will do just fine. 

In 2006, Rob and his daughter Hannah (now 13) acted on a whim and joined a local 

karate club. 

“We thoroughly enjoyed the first meeting, and before we knew it, we were earning 

our yellow belts,” Rob told Disney Files Magazine. (Belt colors represent increasing levels 

of martial arts mastery, beginning with yellow and climbing to orange, green, blue, red, 

brown and black.) 

Before long, yellow turned to orange, and the father-daughter duo found themselves 

competing in their homeland’s Southeastern District Championship, where Hannah 

earned a bronze medal and Rob won gold. The medals qualified the pair to represent 

their country in an elite international competition, and a later event saw the two medal 

yet again. (Only this time, Hannah snagged gold and Dad landed the bronze.) So what’s 

next for the medaled Members? 

“We think we’re ready to earn our green belts,” Rob said. “But most of all, it’s just a 

great way for us to spend time together, a nice bonding experience.” 

A third Hazlehurst is kicking in the wings, as younger daughter Chelsea has added a 

kids karate club to her resume. The bottom line? Don’t taunt the Hazlehursts. (Not that 

you would.) 

Honor your family 

Share your family’s achievements! Maybe you aren’t sporting an orange belt, but perhaps one of your kids won the school 

talent competition or snagged a blue ribbon at the county fair. Maybe someone in your family just signed a book deal or 

bowled a perfect game. Or maybe Aunt Hazel finally taught her cat to hiss like a cobra. No accomplishment is too small (or 

odd) for consideration. Send your family’s news to Disney File Magazine’s Fridge-o-Fame, Disney Vacation Club, 200 Celebration 

Place, Celebration, FL 34747. (Submissions become property of Disney Vacation Club and will not be returned.) 

page 26 

dvcmember.com


friendly chatter 

the happiest interviews on earth 

Disney Files Magazine sat down with Roy E. Disney, Director Emeritus of The Walt Disney Company, 

who is bringing his passion for yacht racing to the screen with Morning Light, a Walt Disney 

Pictures documentary chronicling the journey of 15 young sailors as they come together to compete 

in an epic race from Los Angeles to Honolulu. Plans call for the film to hit theaters in spring 2008. 

Roy E. Disney 

Disney Files: What surprised you most in making this film? 

Roy: All 15 kids. This whole concept of bringing 15 strangers 

together to compete in the ultimate team sport was just theory. 

To see them come together so beautifully, form lifelong friendships 

and really become strong competitors has just been 

remarkable. As soon as we wrapped shooting, they began asking 

about a reunion. They are the heart of this film, which is less 

about sailing and more about young people finding their identities. 

They’re just fantastic. I’d love to adopt all 15. 

DF: Hey, that’s a great idea for a sequel! But assuming that 

doesn’t happen, where do these kids go from here? 

Roy: Many of these kids have real opportunities to advance in 

this sport, and I can promise you that all of them have been 

changed by this experience. I think of kids like Steve Manson, 

who came to us from inner-city Baltimore. We just fell in love 

with him. He‘ll eat you out of house and home, but we love 

him. He’s at a maritime college now, and I’m like a proud father. 

DF: What do you think will surprise movie audiences? 

Roy: I suspect people will be shocked by the amount of work 

that goes into a race. It’s a sport of tremendous skill and sacrifice, 

and I hope that comes through in the film. 

DF: While the kids exceeded all expectations, they didn’t win 

the race. That honor went to your son, who captained your 

personal craft while you worked on the film. Does that give 

him family bragging rights? 

Roy: I suppose it does...again. He first got serious bragging rights 

back in 1997, when he broke a 20-year-old record. Two years 

later, I competed in that same race and broke his record. But his 

latest victory was one of the most exciting I’ve ever seen. 

DF: Is there another sport you wish you could master? 

Roy: Golf. Nobody masters that game. Except Tiger Woods. 

My greatest golf highlight was being paired with Jack Nicklaus 

in a Walt Disney World ® pro-am tournament the year the place 

opened. We actually could’ve won if I would’ve just two-putted 

the last green. Anyway, earlier that day, I somehow out-drove 

him on a hole–he probably laid up a bit–and just after I made 

contact, he walked past me and said, “Nice swing.” I just melted. 

I should’ve walked away from the game then. 

page 27 

dvcmember.com


noteworthy 

good to know before you go 

Merry Member Mixer: Celebrate the holidays with Disney 

Vacation Club Members and their Guests in the courtyard just 

outside of the International Gateway entrance to Epcot ® Dec. 6, 

13, 20 and 27, from 3-5 p.m. The complimentary event will feature 

festive music, entertainment and refreshments. 

Wildly ahead of schedule: Construction is ahead of schedule at 

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas, moving the targeted completion 

date for the Jambo House Vacation Homes (those in the 

existing lodge building) from May 1, 2008, to Jan. 29, 2008. 

Members and Guests staying in Jambo House also may catch a 

glimpse of Kidani Village, where vertical construction is underway 

on this new village of Vacation Homes. 

Keep dreaming: The Disneyland ® and Walt Disney World ® 

Resorts will continue The Year of a Million Dreams celebration 

through Dec. 31, 2008. The dreamy event will continue to surprise 

Guests with random giveaways and spontaneous magical 

moments, and will usher in a variety of new parades, entertainment 

experiences and attractions. 

School’s out: The “High School Musical Pep Rally!” show at 

the Disney-MGM Studios in Florida and Disney’s California 

Adventure ® Park in California has given way to a new show called 

“High School Musical 2: School’s Out!” Learn more online at 

www.disneyparks.com/hsm 

Play pals: Playhouse Disney–Live on Stage! at the Disney-MGM 

Studios in Florida and Disney’s California Adventure Park in 

California is scheduled to welcome stars from “Mickey Mouse 

Clubhouse,” “Little Einsteins” and “Handy Manny.” The Florida 

show is slated to close in early January 2008 and reopen in February 

2008, while its California counterpart is scheduled to close 

in February 2008 and reopen in spring 2008. 

“Short” film: Canadian actor Martin Short stars in the newly 

enhanced “O Canada!” film inside the Canada pavilion at Epcot. 

The updated Circle-Vision 360 movie highlights modern 

Canada’s natural beauty, cosmopolitan cities and diverse people. 

Brave new spring: Tickets for 2008 Spring Training home games 

of Major League Baseball’s Atlanta Braves at the Walt Disney 

World Resort are scheduled to go on sale on Jan. 5, 2008, at the 

Disney’s Wide World of Sports ® Complex box office and online at 

www.ticketmaster.com 

“Plan” ahead: The Disney Dining Plan is available to Members 

staying at Disney Vacation Club Resorts at the Walt Disney World 

Resort, but Members must add the plan to their reservation at 

least 48 hours prior arriving at the resort. Call Member Services 

for more details. 

Pool hopping: Please note that pool hopping isn’t available at 

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge or Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club 

Resorts. Due to expected high occupancy, pool hopping won’t be 

available at any Walt Disney World Resort hotel Nov. 19-25, 2007, 

or Dec. 16, 2007-Jan. 2, 2008. Details are available in Portable 

Perks and online at www.dvcmember.com 

W E B - F O O T N O T E S 

It’s easy to get lost in the wonderful world of Disney news, information and other cool stuff on the Web, so here are some 

recommended pit stops on the information super highway. Like a certain entertainment empire, it all begins with a mouse! 

dvcmember.com — Stay up to speed with the latest Disney and Disney Vacation Club news. Just click on the “view all news” 

button at the bottom of the “Latest News” section to access a list of headlines. 

espnradio.com — Listen live to streaming broadcasts of ESPN Radio shows at home or at the office. (Not that we condone 

using office computers for personal entertainment. That would be irresponsible.) 

abc.com — The holidays are no excuse for losing track of what’s happening on Wysteria Lane or at Seattle Grace. Log on to 

watch full episodes of your favorite ABC shows for free! (Again, we can’t endorse doing this at work. At least not officially.) 

page 28 

dvcmember.com


photo files 

memories worth a thousand words 

Seriously Dad, this is 

embarrassing. 

Love is in the air 

Your Disney Files Editor reads minds in these huggy, kissy and 

altogether schmoopy Member photos (which, by the way, made 

him hum Barry White tunes for a week). 

I can see my future in 

those eyes, and it’s 

freaking me out! 

Forever young 

Jeff Taylor of Landenberg, Penn., Member since 2006, gives 

Stitch a little love while son Matthew waits his turn. “Only Disney 

can bring out the kid in everyone,” wife Jenneane said in a letter. 

(Well, Disney and puppets. And cotton candy. And bubble wrap. 

But we get her point.) 

baby blues 

I hope he doesn’t think 

this is too forward. We’ve only 

been married for 60 years. 

Ryan Nichols, part of the Nichols family of Pittsgrove, N.J., Members since 

1999, gets a little too close for comfort to Minnie Mouse during his first 

meeting with Disney’s “First Lady” at the Walt Disney World ® Resort. 

Share your memories 

Send your vacation photos to Disney Files Magazine, 

Disney Vacation Club, 200 Celebration Place, Celebration, 

FL 34747. Note that submissions become property 

of Disney Vacation Club and won’t be returned. 

you may kiss the groom 

Manny and Ruth Fleit, part of the Fleit family of Edison, N.J., Members 

since 2004, celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary at the Walt Disney 

World Resort. Not sure why Ruth didn’t take the tag off of her mouse 

ears. Maybe she’s afraid of commitment. 

Tip: Photos that help tell a story have the best chance of 

getting into the magazine. So look for your best candid 

shots that focus more on people than places, and be sure 

to explain the stories behind your photos. If you can 

make the staff laugh or cry, you’re one step closer to 

fame. (Also remember to include your name, hometown 

and “Member Since” year so the staff can credit you 

with the submission.) 

page 29 

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Minnie would be 

jealous if she wasn’t so 

busy freaking out that kid 

on page 29. 

Hope my breath 

doesn’t still smell like 

smoked turkey leg. 

Mmm...turkey. 

mouth to mouse 

Juliana Vacca, part of the Vacca family of Milford, Conn., Members 

since 2007, gives a little sugar to the big guy at Disney’s 

Animal Kingdom® Theme Park. 

just married 

Christopher and Lisa Triolo of Upper Black Eddy, Penn., Members since 2006, lock lips 

during their honeymoon at the Walt Disney World Resort. 

Oh boy, another 

group shot! 

grand gathering 

Participants in the first Disney Vacation Club Member-exclusive Adventures by Disney experience are flanked by their trusted Adventure Guides 

for one of many group shots along the rim of the Grand Canyon. 

page 30 

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back files 

Disney through the rear-view mirror 

While Disney Vacation Club Members will be able to call the Disneyland ® Resort “home” 

with the expansion of Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel ® & Spa, they won’t be the first to 

do so. Walt Disney maintained a small Main Street, U.S.A. ® apartment (pictured on page 

21 of this magazine) inside Disneyland Park, and he had grand plans to move into a larger 

home, pictured in this rendering, above the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. Those 

apartment plans, abandoned after Walt’s passing in 1966, are back as part of The Year of a 

Million Dreams. Beginning Jan. 31, 2008, and continuing nearly every night throughout 

the year, one lucky Guest family will be chosen randomly for an overnight stay in the New 

Orleans Square ® apartment, now under construction. Learn more about the extended 

celebration online at www.disneyparks.com. 

©Disney 

VCDFM1107A

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