The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning

I bought the new DVD "The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning" this week and I must say, I loved it! It is a MUCH better story than "Return to the Sea". "Ariel's Beginning" is actually a prequel, taking place about a year before the events of the original. It tells the tale of a time when music was forbidden from the kingdom of Atlantica. It does a good job of telling how certain characters got to be where they were in "The Little Mermaid", including Ariel's introduction to Flounder. I thought the story had a lot of heart. There were moments that really touched you. The characters were well-done. Ariel is back to being the independent, head strong troublemaker we're so used to. There is just something about a responsible Ariel that made "Return to the Sea" so wrong. What's great about this movie is how more attention is given to Ariel's sisters. You're able to see who they are, how different each one is, and how they interact with each other. Ariel's interaction with her sisters are some of the best parts of the movie. I do have two complaints though. One is with the characterization of Flounder. He is way too brave in this film. That is not the Flounder we know at all. He's supposed to be a guppy! And second, for a movie whose story revolves around music, the music in the film isn't all that memorable. No song really stands out for me. "Ariel's Beginning" isn't a perfect movie. It doesn't hold a candle to the original and belongs nowhere near any theatrical release. But for a DVD prequel, it's pretty darn good. It also reminded me that I really need to get out to New York to see the Broadway show. That thought has slipped my mind since I joined the Disney cast. We'll see how that goes.

A Sad August

In terms of being a cast member, this month is a very sad one. Many of the wonderful people I've gotten the pleasure to work with and know are leaving. August looks to be a busy month. I suppose it mainly has to do with people going back to school. A lot of the seasonal cast are finishing their time here and going back to their normal lives. They're going back home, to places all over the world. I've learned a lot about the "magic" in my five months of working for Disney so far. I've learned that the magic of Disney resides not in the concrete and steel of the parks, but in the hearts of the cast that bring it to life. These are very special people. These are people who have to go through much adversity each and every day to bring smiles to the faces of the guests that walk through those gates. They are my friends. They are my colleagues. And I've grown very much attached to them. I am so grateful for the time I've gotten to spend with them. I will always remember them and hold those memories close to my heart. And I will miss them very much.

Thank you, my friends. I hope I will see you again someday. And until then, I hope pixie dust will follow you wherever your journeys take you.