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.

The Princess and the Frog

There is a teaser trailer up for Disney's newest fairy tale, "The Princess and the Frog." It looks like it has a lot of potential! And it's great to see a return to traditional animation. Check it out!

The Princess and the Frog

WALL-E

I finally got to see WALL-E and I have to say that WALL-E is the sweetest movie I have ever seen... by far! Pixar seems to have this incredible ability to take animals or inanimate objects and give them qualities that make them more human than you would expect. Ironically, in this movie about robots, where there is very little dialogue, the story is the most human out of all the Pixar films. I don't want to go into too much detail about WALL-E because I don't want to spoil it. If you haven't seen it yet, go see it. It is the best movie I've seen in the last year. Yes... even better than Enchanted. *gasp* I know! But it is. It's everything you expect from Pixar. It's a smart and heart-warming tale that just touches you.

Independence Day at Disney

The last two nights, I was lucky enough to be able to see both fireworks celebrations at the Magic Kingdom and Epcot. I wasn't too impressed by the Magic Kingdom ones. I thought the New Year's ones were much better. It had a nice ending though, with the castle draped in star and flags. I think the Epcot celebration was better. The best part involved turning off the fireworks on the World Showcase lagoon and diverting everyone's attention to the U.S.A. pavilion and having the fireworks appear there. It acted pretty much like Epcot's castle for the night. And of course, with any special Epcot celebration, about two weeks worth of fireworks are launched in its finale. If you can only see one of these, I says go with Epcot.

Hossa's Betrayal

Marian Hossa said winning was the most important thing to him. He said he would take less money to play for a contender. He said that money wasn't everything. Well, we can definitely say that Marian Hossa is no liar. Yesterday, the Penguins' top winger signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings for just $7.4 million. He rejected a long-term deal offering pretty much the same amount of money a year from the Penguins. He also reportedly turned down a 9-year, $9 million per deal from the Edmonton Oilers. So he didn't do it for the money. He went to the team he thought he had the best chance to win with. Unfortunately, he didn't think that team was the Penguins. It's hard not to feel that this was the slap to the face of the Penguins. He rejected a chance to become Sidney Crosby's permanent wingman for one shot at the Stanley Cup with the team that took it from us. Even though he was only here for a short time, this feels like a betrayal. Decisions like this are not guaranteed to bring you championships though. Just ask Paul Kariya. Penguins fans today feel both stunned and disappointed. And this gives us all the more reason to despise Detroit. First, they took our Cup, now they've taken our players. But boy, do they ever look unstoppable now.

Hossa, we could have had something special. You could have been a Penguins legend. But now you've become one of our villains.

A Special Day

Today was a very special day for me. It was the anniversary of my first ever day at Disney. It was seven years ago to be exact. I'll never forget that day. It was a day that changed me and launched my life in a whole new direction. I look back and think of all the experiences and lessons I've gone through over the last seven years and I'm just amazed. It's crazy to think how one day could affect so much. The very first moment I saw Cinderella Castle is a memory that will live in my heart forever. That moment gave birth to the dreamer that I am today. I am here right now, fulfilling a dream, because of that very first moment. Tonight, I celebrated this special occasion by dining with a good friend inside that very castle that started it all for me. We were hosted by our friends, Cinderella, Fairy Godmother, Suzy, and Perla. It was a magical and fitting evening filled enchantment and pixie dust. Going to dinner, I came upon a funny realization. Seven years ago, a ferry boat took me towards Cinderella Castle. And today, I arrived at the castle from the Magic Kingdom itself. This is my world now.

Lightning Sign Ryan Malone

Ryan Malone has accepted a 7-year, $31.5 million contract from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Each of the first two years will pay him between $7 and $8 million. Ok, Ryan is a good player... but $7 million?! What are you smoking, Tampa?!

Good-bye Gary

This weekend, the Penguins traded away the rights to soon-to-be free agent Gary Roberts, along with Ryan Malone, to the Tampa Bay Lightning. It wasn't too much of a surprise. The Penguins were not expected to keep either so it was a good idea to get at least a draft pick or something for them. Gary Roberts only spent a year and a half with the Penguins but in that small timeframe, he became a legend here. He was the epitome of a warrior. At 42 years of age, he played his heart out on every shift, not caring what happens to him or the guy he was charging full force into. He was a great leader for the young Penguins. His mythical status among Penguins fans was epic. But he could not be kept. He was simply too old and too costly to keep, especially for a fourth-liner. Gary, your time here was very much appreciated and you will always be remembered.

Gary Robert's Greatest Moment as a Penguin

The Final Adventure

It is being reported that on September 27, all the clubs in Pleasure Island will close. Disney will turn the area into more of a retail experience. I can't say that I'm surprised. I've been there many a night where those clubs were so empty, it was sad. In fact, if not for cast members, I'm pretty sure the place would be a ghost town. There is one exception, however. And it breaks my heart to have it included in the clubs that will shut down, The Adventurers Club. This to me was the only club worth visiting in Pleasure Island. It is the most beloved club among guests and cast. Each visit was always different and such a blast. I can't believe it's going away. I am so going to miss the tales of Hathaway Browne, Otis T. Wren, Pamelia Perkins, Samantha Sterling, Fletcher Hodges, and the rest. This club was popular and always lively. But I guess, you can't just keep one club in the place. You have to get rid of them all. I'm gonna try to visit a few more times before it closes. I'll miss you guys. Kungaloosh!