rob’s place

Darth Maul, originally uploaded by orangejack.

My favorite shot from our Star Wars Weekend adventure at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

You can see the full set of photos here.

More photos to come from our visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios for Star Wars Weekend…

Star Wars Weekends Podcast and Dance Off | The Disney Blog

Animals and the nature world are as important to the legacy of The Walt Disney Company as Snow White and Mickey Mouse.

~ Roy Disney

We were able to go on vacation to Alaska a couple weeks ago visiting friends.  While we were there, we went down to a port town called Seward and we stopped into a small restaurant for breakfast.  The diner was a converted train car so only about 30 people could eat in there at a time.

While we were waiting for our biscuits and gravy, we overheard a guy talking to his table-mate about a trip to Disney World!  He was telling him all about how cool the All-Star Resort was, the deals he got, the fun, everything.

It’s a cold spring May morning.  We’re in a small diner of about a dozen people in a small port town in Alaska, and of all conversations to overhear, we hear the one about a guy raving about his Disney vacation.

Everybody now: “It’s a small world after all…”

Click photo for better resolution. From PhotoshopDisasters.com:

Disney is the place where dreams come true.  Everyone knows this.  Even kids.

So one day I was on stage by some water and people throw coins into the water to make a wish.  Usually it’s kids trowing their parents coins into the water.  One kid wouldn’t pose for a photo so dad told him if he’s in the picture he could throw a coin in.  He posed then went to throw a coin in but said, “Dad, I want a BIG one, this is a small coin”.

Sigh.

But at that very spot came one of the most random things I’ve seen at Disney.  Something so cute and so out of context that it just strikes me as hilarious:

One little girl came up to the fence at the water and was just staring into the coin bottomed water.  She got a coin from mom and came back.  Arching her hand way back behind her shoulder blade and her elbow pointing to the sky, she released the coin up and over the railing into the water.  With that part done it was time for the next step - the wish.

So she closed her eyes, clasped her hands in a prayer-like stance, leaned into the fence, and said aloud,

I wish every day was Halloween.

Mind you we were about 6 months removed from Halloween, no ghosts or goulies around, it was hot, no candy around, and it was bright outside.  Nothing pointed to Halloween at all.

But not to this little 4-year old girl.

Sometimes I just wonder what’s going on in the heads of people.  It’s got to be a lot of fun in there.

With the Disney Photo Pass, we stick to a few standard shots.  However we will balance that with other shots guests want (they are requested, not suggested by us).  After all, there is a Disney standard quality of shot we want to make sure is there.  It’s called Quality Control.

However, like I said, people will request other shots.  The best one I’ve had so far is a girl just finished and received her Phd and had “Phd” on the back of a Mickey Mouse Ears hat.  She was going to all 4 parks getting the same shot taken on her camera: the back of her hat on her head, her arms raised in victory, and the park icon in the background.

It was cool.  I took a few with her camera then tried a few with mine.  Afterwards I asked her if she wanted and shots with her actual face in it.

“Nope.  I won’t buy that one.  But I might by the other one I asked for”.

Very well!  But I had to ask.  I hope she got all 4 done.  It would be a fun collection for her.

One of the funny and interesting things about Disney’s Animal Kingdom is that local animals show up and stay. I can’t blame them!

For example there are a dozen or more Ibis that hang out with the Spoonbills and Flamingos. The Ibis are native and found a nice place to live.

Many days I see the local red-shouldered hawks flying around. I spotted one when I was shooting near the Tree of Life. First I heard the hawk scream. Then I heard the African Crown Cranes going crazy! They apparently don’t like the hawks being around. I looked up and saw one of the hawks land way up at the top of the Tree of Life, perched so he could get a good view of the park.

Another time I was on the bridge at DAK and out of the corner of my eye I saw something large fly into a tree by the bridge. When I got a chance I realized it was a huge owl just hanging out. I couldn’t make out what kind he was then he flew off.

Oh, and a word of warning: the local ducks that hang out like to fly over paths where people walk, and they fly low. So seriously, duck!

Just another animal day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom!

I think one of the toughest things about being on stage with families is when they start to argue right in front of you.  It’s awkward, especially when I’m about to take their photograph!

One day a mom and kid went flying past me.  No big deal.  Then a dad and kid slowed down and said, “It’s my birthday so I want a family photo.”  Then he yelled to his wife now about 20 yards away “Hey, come back for a photo!”

She wasn’t happy and they “talked” about how she wanted to keep moving and he was playing the “my birthday” card.

Awkward.

Another time I was taking a family shot and as fairly typical, one of the kids was pouty, shy, and tired so she wasn’t posing or smiling.  We tried a few things and then the father, holding the little girl started talking stern and deep to her.

Then I heard him say, “If you don’t smile for this picture…” then he leaned into her ear and told her something only her daughter could hear.  The response was not a smile.  She started balling!  She saw whatever he said as a threat.

Awkward.

One last story about this: A family with young kids wanted their photo done.  Mom picks up one child and the child’s foot accidentally kicks the other child in the face while standing there.  Mom doesn’t realize what’s going on (or maybe she did, I don’t know), but the kid who was kicked starts to cry.  Mom doesn’t care about the cries but gets the kid to straighten up and pose.

Awkward.

One of the things I like to do when interacting with guests is comment about their shirts. I figure they are wearing particular shirts for particular reasons. So I talk to them about it! Here’s a few of the exchanges:

• The easiest are the people wearing shirts with the dwarf Grumpy on them. They are easy targets. While focusing a shot I may ask “Is Grumpy smiling?” Another is watching a tired “Grumpy” leave the park. I might say “So long, Grumpy!” That one I use with great discretion! Another time a family of four were all wearing the same orange Grumpy shirt. I said to them, “Now that’s the brightest group of Grumpies I’ve ever seen!” They laughed.
• A teen-aged girl had on a white shirt with large black lettering on it. The words were names and they were in a huge typeface so it took up the entire shirt. I saw her coming and I said, “Nice shirt! I have no idea what it means.” She smiled and said, “It’s a band!” Then she giggled probably thinking I’m some old guy or something.
• A guy was wearing a black shirt with this on it: “4 8 15 16 23 42″. I said, “Excuse me sir, are you LOST?” He had a quizzical look and I moved my hand across my shirt indicating the numbers on his. He realized what I was referring to and smiled then said, “Oh yeah! Naw, I’m good.”

Disney 2007 Vacation - Star Wars Weekend Parade, originally uploaded by jedi-tim.

Unbelievably, I’ve never been to Star Wars Weekends at Hollywood Studios.

I plan to change that in June (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from June 6 - June 29, 2008).

Lots of Star Wars characters will be there and each weekend a few special guests will be on hand. Here’s the schedule:

All 4 weekends:

• Celebrity Host, Warwick Davis (”Wicket the Ewok”)

Weekend 1: June 6-8

• Jeremy Bulloch (”Boba Fett”)
• Daniel Logan (”young Boba Fett”)

Weekend 2 : June 13-15

• Peter Mayhew (”Chewbacca”)
• David Prowse (”Darth Vader”)

Weekend 3 : June 2-22

• Amy Allen (”Aayla Secura”)
• Matthew Wood (”General Grievous”)

Weekend 4 : June 27-29

• Dave Filoni (Director of the upcoming Star Wars: The Clone Wars)
• rumored Jeremy Bulloch (”Boba Fett”)

Since I am normally on stage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom on Friday and Saturdays, I’m going to have to get out there on a Sunday next month.  It is, after all, the biggest event in the galaxy!