marty sklar – Page 2

MY FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT DISNEY: Any Attraction Designed by Kevin Rafferty

January 8, 2024 by Chuck Schmidt

Members of Walt Disney Imagineering, the creative wing of the company that dreams up the park rides and adventures synonymous with the overall Disney park experience, almost always toil in anonymity.

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MY FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT DISNEY: My Main Street Friends

December 18, 2023 by Chuck Schmidt

During my 45-plus years of covering the wonderful world of Disney, I’ve had the distinct honor of striking up relationships with a good number of Disney’s more prominent cast members, whose careers are memorialized on windows along Main Street USA in California, Florida or France. Whenever I return to a Disney park, I make sure to renew acquaintances with my Main Street buddies.

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MY FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT DISNEY: “it’s a small world”

October 23, 2023 by Chuck Schmidt

"it’s a small world" and I go back a long way … all the way to 1964, when I first rode the quintessential Disney attraction at the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair.

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Imagineers’ Recent Trip To New Orleans Is Another Example Of Their Boots-On-The-Ground Quest For Authenticity

July 10, 2023 by Chuck Schmidt

One of the most important tools used by the members of Walt Disney Imagineering in creating cutting-edge attractions and adventures is – believe it or not – hitting the road. A recent trip by a group of Disney Imagineers to New Orleans is just another example of the Imagineers' commitment to authenticity.

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Strong Relationships With Major Corporations Have Allowed Disney To Flourish

June 19, 2023 by Chuck Schmidt

The Walt Disney Company has been a money-making juggernaut for decades, what with its theme parks, movies, television shows, a cruise line and Broadway shows. Partnering with Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars more than a decade ago has only solidified the company’s status as a Wall Street darling. But it wasn’t always that way. Thanks to corporate sponsorship during its lean years, Disney has been able to ride out tough financial times.

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RETURN TO DISNEYLAND: California Adventure has finally hit its stride

February 27, 2023 by Chuck Schmidt

Funny thing about Disney theme parks: Historically, it takes a bit of time before they catch on with the public. Disney’s California Adventure, which opened in February of 2001 across a newly constructed esplanade from Disneyland Park, was no stranger to this phenomenon. After a massive overhaul, DCA has finally hit its stride.

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Yes, The Great Movie Ride Is Missed…But Let’s Celebrate The Whacky World of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway

January 16, 2023 by Chuck Schmidt

If The Great Movie Ride isn’t the most-missed attraction in all of Walt Disney World, it’s certainly among the Top 5. But let's celebrate its replacement, Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway.

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We Observed A Lot By Watching Bruce Kimbrell’s Disney Magic Presentations

November 7, 2022 by Chuck Schmidt

Former Disney cast member Bruce Kimbrell, who worked for the company for 40 years, gave seven thoroughly enjoyable presentations in the Disney Magic’s Buena Vista Theatre during a recent trans-Atlantic voyage. Kimbrell began the series by talking about his 40-year career, which he described “as a real E-ticket ride.”

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SAILING WITH DISNEY: PART 5: From FriendShips to Floating Cars — Waterborne Options Throughout The Rest of Walt Disney World

June 13, 2022 by Chuck Schmidt

Compared to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, the watercraft options available at Disney’s other three theme parks are limited at best. Disney Springs, however, is blessed with a boatload of aquatic options.

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SAILING WITH DISNEY, PART 3: The Disneyland Fleet Expands

May 16, 2022 by Chuck Schmidt

As if The Rivers of America waterway wasn’t crowded enough in the late 1950s, Walt Disney decided that another large sailing vessel – preferably one of historical significance – should join the fleet. Walt tapped Joe Fowler, Disneyland’s construction supervisor and a retired Navy admiral, to pilot the project.

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