Roger Rabbit turns 30!

Whoa! Who Framed Roger Rabbit has turned 30 on June 22nd and I’m feeling pretty old! Hahahaha! 1988 was a big year for me too! That was the year I graduated from high school, married hubby on NYE (So young!!) and took my first vacation without my parents. Hubby & I went back up to my hometown in PA from Orlando for the summer. Good times! 

But, again, whoa! I just can’t believe it was 30 years ago we witnessed one of Disney’s most creative films. This live action-animation combined film was a huge hit! The success of the film was the beginning of what would be known as the “Disney Renaissance”. It was between 1989-1999 when Walt Disney Animation Studios was producing musical animated movies over their standard movies. Honestly, this era plays a huge role in how we’ve come to know Disney movies that are Classics. A few of them included The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Beauty and The Beast.

But Who Framed Roger Rabbit created an action packed film that brought us back to the 1940’s and “gum shoes”.  I think the success lead to the Chip & Dale Rescue Rangers! 

Do you remember the the steam roller on display at Disney’s MGM Studios? To be honest, it always creeped me out lol! That whole scene of rolling over characters was weird and seeing it in person just creeped me out, but we used to enjoy that walking tour! 

And we can’t forget to honor the beautiful Jessica Rabbit! I know she made me embrace my curves! Lol! I think that was the first time we saw a Disney cartoon character portrayed in a sexy manor.

But we have to give props to Roger since he literally was so popular that the hip hop community embraced him by making his name a dance move! Whenever I auditioned for Disney, the choreography always included the “Roger Rabbit”!! Fun!! 

I know there’s some 30th Anniversary merch out there! I hope I can find some! 

Happy Birthday Roger! 😘 

 ~Christine Fox

Celebrating Disney Hollywood Studios' Brown Derby

As Disney’s “HOLLYWOOD” Studios turns closer to their new theming, you can still find one place to transport you back into the Golden Era of Hollywood: The Brown Derby! 

When you walk in the door, you're transported back in time. The sights and sounds bring you back to the golden era of Hollywood found in the wonderful movies of the past! As a matter fact, you'll feel like a star just walking into the Brown Derby down as you enter a long corridor and travel under a brown arch canopy.

As you enter, the first think you'll see is a sketch of the original Brown Derby in Hollywood, California. The location is long gone, closed around 1975, and has been transformed into many things but now exists as a vacated building on the corner of Hollywood and Vine. Back in the day, the biggest movie stars would visit - it was the place to be. In fact, this is the very location where Clark Gable proposed to Carol Lombard.

The only Brown Derby still standing is at Walt Disney World. Here in Florida, we have copies of famous celebrity sketches on the walls (the real ones from Hollywood were left to the Maître d’ in Mr. Cobb’s will). Mr. Cobb sold a few at auction (Disney acquired several, kept in the Disney Vault) and kept the rest. 

It might seem out of place to have this restaurant at Disney's Hollywood Studios considering the transformation the park is going through, but the connection goes back to 1989 when the Studios first opened. Mr. Cobb, who owned the Brown Derby in Hollywood, once served Mr. Grauman of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in the restaurant after midnight and came up with a very famous snack for him to eat - the famous Cobb salad! And in DHS today, Grauman's Chinese Theater is adjacent to the Brown Derby!

As a tribute to Mr. Cobb, I couldn't eat at the Brown Derby without trying the famous Cobb salad (finely chopped Romain lettuce, bacon, blue cheese, tomatoes and famous dressing)! It didn't disappoint! (Note: I had to modify my salad to fit my diet, so no tomatoes, dressing or extra blue cheese for me)

The Brown Derby has a limited menu. As of this week, you'll find steak, airline chicken and pork on the list with a vegetarian dish. They do have a variety of wonderful desserts and coffees available, but in my opinion, it's really the atmosphere that stands out at this location, even though the food is spectacular! The next time you're in Disney's Hollywood Studios take a step back in time and pop into the Brown Derby for a little respite in your day. I guarantee you'll love it!

"We Had FACES"

“We had FACES”

Who doesn’t get chills when you enter the last scene in The Great Movie Ride? If I’m being honest, the original screening is my favorite! But I’m old school. I’m the type of person who likes things just the way the are, within reason. Can you picture Disney Hollywood Studios without the Great Movie Ride? It seems impossible, but we are out of luck. 

Walking into the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre we are first hit with the almost pungent smell of the past, our past, our parent’s past and so forth. It wasn’t a “smell” in the way we think of old, dusty clothes. But it did have some hint of age to it and I think the visuals of timeless treasures behind those glass boxes helped secure that thought. For years we were able to gaze at the magical slippers Dorothy once clicked and ran up that infamous yellow brick road. We were able to set eyes on objects that we had seen only in movies, maybe only in black and white movies even. These treasures kept us occupied in the long line. That winding queue was also one of Disney’s most functioning lines I've seen. Synchronicity at its best. You hardly remembered you were spending an hour in line back in the day! 

While you wind around those velvet ropes, didn’t you almost feel part of the movies? The immersive Hollywood theme in this attraction was unlike non other for me. Even the pre-show was able to bring goosebumps on your arms and maybe shed a tear or two. Silly, I know! But, the collection of talent on the screen in front of you just sometimes takes you there! 

“How many in your party” You hold your breath waiting to see if they had enough room for your party size.… It's almost time CB! Those doors swing open and its time! You made it in! Who wanted to be in the from row?? ME! I didn’t mind which section of vehicles I was in, I just preferred the front row. (Ok at times the back row too when I was moody LOL)

Here’s where I feel sorry for all the younger folks or those that hadn’t been to the Studios in years. You don’t know how cool it was to watch the Busby Berkley’s Footlight Parade gals covered in bubbles and rotating around. Each tier of that wedding cake style display rotated independently making it quite the display all while hearing Hooray for Hollywood”.

That’s it! It’s started and I dare anyone to say that this attraction was not one of the most well themed rides in Walt Disney World history. Every room was saturated with movie history down to the tiniest detail. Detail is the key! It’s the theming that allowed us to never truly get bored of the Great Movie Ride. Sure, we might skip it here and there, but we were never bored of it. You couldn’t be! 

One of the oddest OCD traits I have would be finding something new on attractions every time I ride them, but not all of them. I engage in this sometimes tiring ritual on the Pirates of The Caribbean and The Great Movie Ride. What do both of these attractions have in common? A full guest themed experience! So, there hasn’t been a time that I’ve I hit up these attractions without partaking in this sport! And the Great Movie Ride never disappointed! 

I won’t regale you with every scene and detail, but just for a moment imagine Gloria Swanson and her striking beauty saying “We had FACES”! 

That’s a Wrap… The Great Movie Ride closed August 13, 2017, but will always be remembered!