I had a great time at the Lunar New Year Family Fun Weekend. Not only were there great performances, but the characters were dressed in red, the color for luck. This was also the first time I have ever seen Mulan and Mushu.
What’s great about this Family Fun Weekend was that it actually lasted TWO weekends, giving more people a chance to experience the magic. These next three weekends are Mardi Gras weekends! Be on the lookout for photos of that later.
Here are some photos from Lunar New Year!
Related articles
Happy Lunar New Year Festival at Disneyland Park, Feb. 4-6 and 11-13 (chipandco.com)
‘Family Fun Weekends’: A New Way to Celebrate Fiestas, Mardi Gras and More, Jan. 14 Through March 6 Only (chipandco.com)
In one of my previous blogs, I talked about how we must adjust our Walt Disney World touring plans as our kids get older. I believe that the things they love about WDW change in direct proportion to the increases in their heights. Each year, I try to incorporate new activities into our trips to replace the special things we did when they were younger.
One of the family favorites I began doing a few years ago is the “Monorail Mania Meal.” Being from an Italian family, much of our quality time has been shared around the kitchen table, so I guess it is no stretch of the imagination that I began this tradition in the same way. We have incorporated our Monorail Mania Meals into our “budget” trips but have not done it for the past couple of visits due to the free dining promotion as using all of our credits for the day at one long meal would not be the best use of them. Since we have been very blessed to be able to take advantage of free dining for two years in a row, I will assume that our upcoming trip in December will not include this offer. So, I am looking forward to doing our MMM again this year.
When I developed our Monorail Mania Meal, I decided to start with drinks at the Grand Floridian then monorail over to the Polynesian Resort for dinner and then to the Contemporary Resort for dessert. We liked it just that way the first time, so we continued it that way for future trips. We do this during the evening and into late night, but a family with young children could easily do it at any time of the day. This could even serve as a great rainy day activity.
Here is the way we do it:
We take the bus from whichever park we are enjoying to the Grand Floridian. No, you do not have to be a guest of the resort to take the bus from the park. Once at the GF, we head to the Beach Pool Bar. My husband and I usually get the Orange Creamsicle blended drink and the kids usually have either the Sour Apple Freeze or the Lava Smoothie (non-alcoholic specialties). They also have sodas, beer, wine and bottled water. Then we head over to the lounge chairs on the beach, veg out and enjoy the view. We talk about what has been best about the trip so far and what we are most looking forward to during the rest of the trip. When our drinks are gone, we head back to the monorail to go to the Polynesian Resort. You can also walk along the beach to the Polynesian. We like riding the monorail because it has to travel all the way around to get back to the Poly so we enjoy the ride and the view.
Once we arrive at the Polynesian, we proceed to Captain Cook’s (as I said this is during our budget trip so we try to keep the cost down somewhat). We usually order a combination of Caesar Salads, pizzas and burgers. We get our food and drinks and then head outside to sit at a table overlooking the lagoon and pool area. If you can’t tell yet, we love being outside and since we visit in the Fall it is usually comfortable outside. We enjoy our dinner and then take a stroll around the grounds, as they are so beautiful, before heading back to the monorail station on our way to the Contemporary Resort.
Once we arrive at the Contemporary Resort, we usually have about 45 minutes to spare before the Electrical Water Pageant begins. We head to the Contempo Café and order our choice of dessert, and there are many choices whether you are a chocoholic like me or not; then we grab a coffee, milk, juice, etc. and either eat there before the EWP begins or head on out to the marina to enjoy our dessert outdoors and await the pageantry. The EWP doesn’t usually begin at the Contemporary until around 10:10 pm so this has been a great thing to do with older kids. After the EWP, we usually walk to our resort bus at the Magic Kingdom, or grab a bus to the park open latest and then board the one for our resort.
If you have young children and prefer trying this idea earlier in the day, there are other things to enjoy during that time, such as poolside games in early afternoon and evening outdoor movies at around 7:30 pm. You do not have to be a guest of the resort to enjoy these activities; they are open to all Walt Disney World Resort guests.
There are so many fun activities you can tailor around your family; this is just one idea. There are even numerous versions one could come up with for the Monorail Mania Meal, being that each of these resorts has several location choices for drinks, meals and desserts. Tailor it to fit your needs. Practically any idea can be personalized for your family – it just takes a little planning. Have fun with it!
Always on the look-out for free fun at Walt Disney World, we discovered something very cool at Epcot’s World Showcase, on our recent trip: the Kim Possible Adventure. Did you know that by reading and following directions, looking for….and finding….clues, you can “save the world”? No? Well don’t feel bad, neither did we until we stumbled upon this fun, interactive activity. Don’t tell your kids, but it’s educational too…but they don’t need to know that part. What you do want to tell them…and all the grown-ups in your group too….is that this is a GREAT way to spend some time in World Showcase, and that they WILL have a blast!
So if saving the world (or at least a small part of it) sounds like something you want to put on your “must-do” list for your next Disney vacation, here is what you need to know.
Start off by registering with a Kim Possible agent at one of the designated locations in World Showcase. There, they will scan your park ticket and give you a special Fast Pass to report to a specific location at a specific time. When you are there, you will receive your mission….and your “Kimmunicator” which is a GPS cell phone you use to receive your instructions throughout the mission.
The area we had to report to was Germany, so we followed the instructions given on the Kimmunicator to start at a certain spot and listen for what to do next. Throughout the mission then, we were given more clues and instructions, about looking for different objects, going to specific locations, and figuring out information that was needed to move forward to the next stop…and ultimately to thwart those nasty evil-doers from achieving their dastardly plans.
And this is, in my opinion, the true beauty of this experience. You are LEARNING things as you go along! You have to actually read some of the signs, and look for the details that are all over World Showcase that nobody ever stops to see because everyone is so busy trying to get on Soarin’. Here we stopped, we read, we did what Kim Possible told us to do, and we were rewarded with some cool special effects (not giving them away though, you’ll have to find out yourself!), and a lot of fun. And yup, we learned a few things along the way.
Oh, and did I mention that it’s FREE?? 🙂
Now the thing is, many probably think this is an activity for little kids, but honestly, we were 3 adults and we had a blast. In fact, it is probably most suited to older kids who have the patience to go through all the clues and get to the end. And it would be fun for groups or individuals to do.
Once you finish (it takes about 30-40 minutes), if you liked saving the world once, you can do it again….in fact, 7 different countries in World Showcase offer this activity, and each one is different. How did we do? Well on the day that we tried it, we actually saved the world 4 times!
There should be some kid of award for that, don’t you think?
Want more information? Check out the Kim Possible Adventure page on Disneyworld.com.
Nancy, her husband and college-age daughter live in the Baltimore MD area, but consider Walt Disney World their second “home”. She started her site The Affordable Mouse, as a way to share ideas about how to plan affordable Disney vacations. Her favorite things at Disney World (in no particular order) are Soarin’, most of the food in World Showcase, Illuminations…and that special brand of Disney magic that you can’t find anywhere else.
The choice to stay on or off site is an important one and can be particularly important for us, the Oldies. There are tons of reasons for staying on site that become apparent when you compare the experience to staying off. I guess you can compare them if you stay off site first like we did – ONCE, either that or you can take my word for it. Let’s address what I feel are the six most important reasons for Seniors to vacation on Disney property.
Safety – As we get older, particularly when people get into their mid seventies and beyond, we become less inclined to venture out on an evening stroll or other night time activity because of fear for our personal safety. Walt Disney World is perhaps one of the most violent crime free places in the United States. People of any age can be secure in going from place to place knowing that they will not be robbed, assaulted, or harassed.
Transportation – You can get from anywhere to anywhere using Disney transportation. It’s free, easy, and convenient; it transports you virtually door to door. You may have to do a bit of pre planning but if you are having issues figuring out the best way to go from here to there just ask a Disney Cast Member, they can and will help you.
Variety of Restaurants – You can dine in the theme parks but many of Walt Disney World’s finest restaurants are in the resort hotels. Using the transportation mentioned in #2 you have a choice of 200+ places to eat no matter what your taste. If you are staying off site you have to look for a restaurant in the phone book, figure out where it is, and drive through traffic to get there and back. Disney restaurants are particularly important to you if you have special dietary needs as many Seniors do. They can and will take care of virtually any dietary need you have, all you have to do is follow the instructions located on this website.
Shopping (with benefits) – You can find virtually any type of Disney merchandise in existence by shopping on site at the parks, resorts, or Downtown Disney. When you make your purchase, just let the cashier know you want the item delivered to your resort before they ring it up and it’s done! (For free by the way) It will be delivered to your resort gift shop, normally within 24 hours but always allow 48 hours just in case.
End of Day Convenience – This is a huge one for us. After you spend a long day walking, shopping, and riding attractions do you want to go to the parking lot, find your car, fight the exiting traffic, and drive to your off site hotel or would you rather let Disney do the driving and drop you off- enough said!!!
The Magic – This one is hard to quantify but suffice it to say, you will know it when you feel it. You are surrounded by The Magic 24 hours a day and it does not become intrusive. The Magic is one of the reasons we all love Disney and having it in every moment of your experience is a real positive.
These are the top six reasons that I feel make it important for Seniors to stay on site at Walt Disney World. What are some of yours? Feel free to share them in the comments section. As always, enjoy your visit to Walt Disney World!!
While Woody and Buzz battle the latest toy villain, HGTV’sdesign gurus just might give their toy box a stylish makeover. As the lead toys of the Disney(Pixar film “Toy Story 3″ take the art of Disney topiary “to infinity and beyond” for the 18th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival March 2-May 15, HGTV adds star power to the festival lineup.
Genevieve Gorder, Vern Yip and a constellation of HGTV stars bring their flair for design to the festival with weekend appearances covering a variety of design and landscaping topics. Meanwhile, the floral facsimiles of Buzz Lightyear, Woody and their nemesis Lotso the strawberry-scented teddy bear will welcome guests at the Epcot World Showcase front entrance garden.
As part of the HGTV sponsorship, the Festival Center will open daily with entertaining presentations and Disney gardening workshops. And Bambi’s Butterfly Gardenexpands to accommodate more butterflies, plants and guests in celebration of the upcoming release of “Bambi” Diamond Edition on Blu-ray Hi-Def.
Also new at the festival:
At Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden, favorite Disney Fairies will pose for photos and sign autographs throughout the day. Young fans who enter this whimsical garden also discover play structures for children ages 2-5.
Sleek floral topiaries of “Cars 2” stars Mater and Lightning McQueen will shine at the World Showcase Plaza in anticipation of the June 24 release of the original film’s sequel.
A Hundred Acre Woodwildflower display sets the scene for topiaries of Winnie the Pooh, Tigger and pals, set to appear in the “Winnie the Pooh Movie” this summer.
More information about the 18th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is available by calling 407/W-DISNEY (934-7639) or by visiting disneyworld.com/flower. The festival, including all gardening programs and exhibits, is included in regular Epcot admission.
The Festival Center at the 18th annual Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival presented by HGTV will be alive with expert-led seminars, demonstrations, discussions and Q&A sessions daily throughout the 75-day event that begins March 2 at Walt Disney World Resort.
Located next to Mission: Space in Future World at Epcot, the Festival Center showcases HGTV and HGTV.com celebrities on weekends and other experts — including “Master Gardeners” from University of Florida, Walt Disney World Horticulturists and a mix of national and regional TV/radio personalities, authors and educators — seven days a week. Here’s what’s happening during March and April:
HGTV Designers’ Stage
Presentations daily at noon and 3 p.m.
(HGTV/HGTV.com celebrity distinctions are noted in parentheses)
March 2-3: “Butterflies & Beyond” — Jaret C. Daniels March 4-6: “The Art of Sculpting Space” — Genevieve Gorder (HGTV Design Starand Dear Genevieve) March 7-10: “Passalong Plants” — Felder Rushing March 11-13: “Design It Yourself: Easy-to-follow Tips for Designing Your Favorite Rooms” — Lisa LaPorta (Designed to Sell) March 14-17: “Grow Great Grub” — Gayla Trail March 18-20: “The 5 DIY Secrets That Can Transform Any Space” — Kim Myles (Myles of Style) March 21-24: “10 Heirloom Plants You Should Be Growing” / “New & Exciting Plants for Every Garden” — Danielle Sherry March 25-27: “Mobile Gardens” — Brian Patrick Flynn(Design Happens, HGTV.com) March 28-31: “Secrets of the Garden Revealed & More Plants For Free” — Ken Druse April 1-3: “Adding Value to Your Home without Breaking the Bank” — Taniya Nayak (Designed to Sell and Destination Design) April 4-7: “Four Season Garden & Proven Combinations” — Erica Glasener April 8-10: “Life, Love and Landscaping” — Ahmed Hassan (Yard Crashers) April 11-14: “Container Gardening: From Dirt to Design & The Secret to Combining Plants” — Steve Aitken April 15-17: “Gardening with Kids: Fun Seed Starting Projects” — Patti Moreno(Garden Girl, HGTV.com) April 18-21: “Year-round Garden-tainment” — Melinda Myers April 22-24: “Creative, Back-to-Basics Style for All Things Natural and Decorative” — Michele Beschen (B. Original) April 25-28: “Herbal Blends from Around the World” — Susan Belsinger & Tina Marie Wilcox April 29-May 1: “The Design Process: Curb Appeal Projects from Concept to Construction” — John Gidding (Curb Appeal: The Block)
Greenhouse Stage
Presentations daily at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
March 4-6: “Groceries from the Garden” — Robert Bowden March 10-13: “Gardening for all Generations” — Brenda Sandberg & Scott Hulett March 17-20: “Gardening in Miniature” — Joseph Rainey March 24-27: “Helpful Mower & Small Equipment Tips” — Scott Franklin March 31-April 3: “Tropical Edibles” — Jarrod Stewart April 7-10: “Fun Holiday Projects” — Doug Benedict April 15-17: “Gardening Challenges” — Tom MacCubbin April 21-24: “Seed, Sow & Grow” — Ed Buhler April 28-May 1: “Inspiring Patio Designs” — Allison Brooks
The Greenhouse Stage sessions include interactive hands-on activities during which guests make something to take home. Guests can visit the Festival Center to learn about the topics on dates not noted above.
In addition, experts from University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) present Planting Pointers — gardening ideas for everyone — daily at 1 and 4 p.m. at the Festival Center. Guests also can Ask an Expert — a UF/IFAS “Master Gardener” — their gardening questions from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
The presentations are included with Epcot admission, but seating is limited and on a first-come basis. Speakers, presentations and guests are subject to change without notice. For more Epcot International Flower & Garden information, visit disneyworld.com/flower.
They’ll probably be making snowballs some places in March, but at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida the only white spheres being thrown will be accompanied by the siren song of spring: “Play Ball!”
Spring training 2011 also marks the debut of Fredi Gonzalez as Braves Manager following the retirement of Bobby Cox. The Florida Marlins, Gonzalez’s former team, comes to Disney on March 23. Here’s the complete schedule:
Feb. 27 — New York Mets (1:05 p.m.) Feb. 28 — Houston Astros(1:05 p.m.) March 3 — Detroit Tigers (1:05 p.m.) March 4 — Toronto Blue Jays (1:05 p.m.) March 5 — New York Mets (1:05 p.m.) March 8 — New York Yankees (1:05 p.m.) March 9 — St. Louis Cardinals (1:05 p.m.) March 10 — St. Louis Cardinals (1:05 p.m.) March 12 — New York Mets (1:05 p.m.) March 13 — Houston Astros (1:05 p.m.) March 16 — Boston Red Sox (1:05 p.m.) March 17 — Washington Nationals (6:05 p.m.) March 19 — New York Mets (1:05 p.m.) March 20 — Houston Astros (1:05 p.m.) March 23 — Florida Marlins (1:05 p.m.) March 25 — Detroit Tigers (6:05 p.m.) March 27 — Philadelphia Phillies (1:05 p.m.) March 28 — Washington Nationals (6:05 p.m.)
Individual game tickets for the Braves’ home spring training season are available through Ticketmaster (800/745-3000 and ticketmaster.com) and at the sports complex box office. Information on the Braves’ spring training season, group tickets and mini-packs is available by calling 407/939-GAME (4263) and online at espnwwos.com/atlantabraves.
Disney Junior, the new multiplatform destination for kids age 2-7, will present “Imagination Movers in Concert,” a 45-minute primetime special featuring more than a dozen songs from the Emmy Award-winning “Imagination Movers” television series. Premiering during Mardi Gras week, SUNDAY, MARCH 6 (6:00 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney Channel, the concert was filmed before a sold-out crowd at the Lakefront Arena in the Movers’ hometown of New Orleans. The special includes appearances by series guest stars Joey Fatone (*NSYNC) and Duff Goldman (Food Network’s “Ace of Cakes”), along with Nina and Warehouse Mouse.
On Monday, February 21, DisneyJunior.com will launch an “Imagination Movers in Concert” supersite (www.DisneyJunior.com/Movers) featuring the new “Join the Band” interactive game, where parents can help their child upload a photo to create their own Mini Mover and play along as kids help the Movers learn their big dance moves in time for the concert. The site will also feature printable personalized Imagination Mover name tags and a dedicated section for parents and caregivers with Mover-inspired recipes, crafts and party planning tips and ideas.
The popular Imagination Movers are currently on a Disney Junior 50-city national concert tour with stops including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston and Washington, DC. For details on the tour dates and venues visit www.imaginationmovers.com.
The Imagination Movers are Rich Collins, a former journalist and father of five young children; Scott Durbin, an award-winning teacher and father of two young children; Dave Poche, an architect and father of two young children; and Scott “Smitty” Smith, a New Orleans firefighter who was a member of the Katrina search and rescue effort. Since signing to Walt Disney Records, the Imagination Movers have sold more than 100,000 albums.
Grossing over 400 million dollars in global theatrical sales to date, TANGLED,The Walt Disney Studios blockbuster animated feature that takes amodern twist on the famous hair-raising fable Rapunzel, debuts as the ultimate 4-Disc Disney Blu-ray Combo Pack (3D Blu-ray + Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy in a single package) on March 29, 2011. As the 50th full-length animated feature in The Walt Disney Studios’ celebrated library and the first animated feature film to ever debut day-and-date on Disney Blu-ray 3D, TANGLED’s uniquely packaged home entertainment release ensures that viewers of all ages can enjoy this film on a variety of superior, hi-def media platforms while diving further into the history and quirky details behind the making of this film via amusing and informative bonus features.
“Disney’s spirited re-telling of Rapunzel in 3D animation turns out to be a dazzler.”
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Featuring unexpected heroes, magic, laughter and adventure, this animated feature is supported by an amazing cast of voice talents including Mandy Moore (“A Walk To Remember,” “The Princess Diaries”) as Rapunzel, Zachary Levi (TV’s “Chuck,” “Less Than Perfect”) as Flynn Rider, Brad Garrett (TV’s “Everybody Loves Raymond,” “’Til Death”) as Hook Hand Thug, Donna Murphy (“Spider-Man 2,” “The Fountain”)as Mother Gothel, and Ron Perlman (“Hellboy,” “Hellboy II: The Golden Army,” “The City of Lost Children”) as the Stabbington Brothers. From directors Byron Howard (“BOLT”) and Nathan Grenoand the award-winning songwriter of “The Little Mermaid” and “Beauty and the Beast,” Alan Menken,TANGLED’s hair-raising adventure keeps viewers entertained throughout with its exciting storyline and memorable melodies.
“ ‘Tangled’ has all of the qualities we look for in an animated Disney feature… Bravo!”
Leonard Maltin
TANGLED hits store shelves this spring and is available as a 4-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) for the suggested price of $49.99 US/$56.99 Canada, a 2-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD) for $39.99 US/$44.99 Canada and/or a 1-Disc DVD for $29.99 US/$35.99 Canada.
BONUS FEATURES
Blu-ray
Untangled: The Making of a Fairy Tale – Exactly how long is Rapunzel’s hair? How many lanterns were used? Where did Pascal’s name come from? Which Disney animated feature first utilized CG animation? These and more will be answered when Mandy Moore and Zach Levi take viewers on a kooky behind-the-scenes tour to learn how the filmmakers styled this film’s “Golden Tresses.”
Deleted Scenes – Co-directors Byron Howard and Nathan Greno introduce three scenes and illuminate why they were ultimately cut.
The Jaunty Moose
Chemistry Develops
“Vigor The Visionary”
Extended Songs – The complete versions of two great songs are shared in a unique feature that explains the co-directors decision to scale them down.
“When Will My Life Begin”
“Mother Knows Best”
Two Original Storybook Openings – Two alternate versions of the film’s opening sequence described by co-directors Nathan Greno and Byron Howard.
50th Animated Feature Countdown – A video montage celebrating Tangled as the 50th film to join The Walt Disney Studios’ prestigious lineup of classic animated features.
9 Tangled Teasers – A collection of the most unique and quirky commercials made for the theatrical release of “Tangled.” Some are spoofs based off of infomercials and/or breaking news, some are teasers and others are simply just funny filmstrips.
DVD & Movie Download
Two Original Storybook Openings – Versions 1 & 2
50th Animated Feature Countdown
DISC SPECIFICATIONS
BLU-RAY 3D & BLU-RAY
DVD
Street Date
March 29, 2011
March 29, 2011
Direct Prebook
February 1, 2011
February 1, 2011
Distributors Prebook
February 15, 2011
February 15, 2011
Suggested Retail Price
4-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy) — $49.99 US/$56.99 Canada
When the kingdom’s most wanted—and most charming—bandit Flynn Rider (voice of ZACHARY LEVI) hides out in a mysterious tower, he’s taken hostage by Rapunzel (voice of MANDY MOORE), a beautiful and feisty tower-bound teen with 70 feet of magical, golden hair. Flynn’s curious captor, who’s looking for her ticket out of the tower she’s been locked away in for years, strikes a deal with the handsome thief, and the unlikely duo sets off on an action-packed escapade, complete with asuper-cop horse, an overprotective chameleon and a gruff gang of pub thugs. Tangled is a story of adventure, heart, humor and hair—lots of hair.
Donnie Dunagan, voice of young Bambi, photo provided by Disney.
Recently I was honored to take part in a chat with Donnie Dunagan, the voice of Young Bambi, to promote “Walt Disney: Bambi” available on Diamond Edition Blu-ray on March 1, 2011. Donald “Donnie” Roan Dunagan was born August 16, 1934 in San Antonio Texas. He made his film debut in “Mother Carey’s Chickens” (1938), playing the son of the “Son of Frankenstein” (1939) and provided the voice of young Bambi for the 1942. Dunagan later became a career Marine (1952-77), serving in Vietnam and working in counter intelligence. He was very generous in his time discussing keeping the fact that he voiced Bambi when he was in the Marines, remembering the production of the film, interacting with fans and more. Here’s a look at our chat.
How old were you when you got the role of Bambi?
Donnie Dunagan: I want to share good specifics with everyone, on my wonderful life story. But on your question I must guess some. My agent got some feeler contact months before Disney reached my mother. I was just six years old in the fall of 1940 when production started on the film and my trips to the Disney studio to work on it extended into early 1941. I was born in August of 1934.
What started your career in the film industry?
Donnie Dunagan: In Memphis, TN, late 1938. My parents and thousands of other in Tennessee were poor as dirt. My Mother entered me into a talent show contest. The theater was loaded with people. There was no TV yet and talent contests and even spelling bees drew large gatherings. I had learned to do some fun tap dances and songs. At not quite age 4, I won the contest. A real talent-scout was in the Memphis theater. He visited with my parents and a couple of days later we were put on a train to Hollywood. Within a month I was acting in Mother Carey’s Chickens for a wonderful director named Mr. Lee, who then took me into two other movies with co-star billing within half a year.
How did you go about obtaining the role of Young Bambi? Did you have an agent as a child actor?
Donnie Dunagan: Yes. I had an agent when I met Walt Disney. But in the end, I know my Mother got a call from the Studio and was excited, as was I. Interestingly, I fired my first agent. He then said that I was too young to fire him. He had been rude to my Mother thinking she was not a college graduate, and she was. So at age 5 and ½ I fired him.
What was the hardest part about playing Bambi?
Donnie Dunagan: If I had spoken of this while working on the film, I might have been fired! The hardest part was being serious. I loved the studio. The people were very different. I had a great time. Animators and all of the different people at Disney offered to show me how certain things worked, and the ice cream in the dining room was great.
Did you have to record many takes before finding the right tone?
Donnie Dunagan: I do not think so. I remember that I was encouraged to just be myself, a real, natural kid. I suspect Thumper had the same instructions, be honest, natural kids. Listen to Thumper. He sounds just like some kid playing second base on a dirt field in New Jersey…wonderful. Walt Disney was way ahead of his time in respecting the use of age appropriate voices for his characters.
At what age did you enjoy Bambi best?
Donnie Dunagan: Boy, what a wise question. In the mid 1970s when it was first re-released. I was a mature man then, age 40, and with a ton of uncommon life experiences, I related to Bambi much better, taking some of the real life cycles that story shares and feeling them with my own life. Mr. Disney was way ahead of his time in visual story telling. I know Ph.D., heavy-hitters that have told me of their experiences realizing more life and humanities from each viewing of Bambi.
After all these years: Do people still ask you to do recitations from “Bambi”?
Walt Disney: Bambi (Diamond Edition) Available 3/1/11
Donnie Dunagan: Yes. Boy, did that get me by surprise. Kids always ask. At first I had to modify my long developed adult voice and get all the Marine tones out of it, in order to say “bird,” “flower” and so on. With some practice I have been able to do it!
How was a recording session like, for you? Please share with us the details you can remember, what kind of facility, how did it seem to you as a young child?
Donnie Dunagan: It was a relaxed atmosphere in the sound booth with one or two Disney crew people there, plus my Mother. It was easy does it. I thought it would be harder, since there wasn’t any on-camera work. I recall there was very little pre-recording rehearsal time. The microphones were rather basic back then, one was in a small bird-cage on a stand. It was easier than one might suspect.
Did you did any other dubbing / voice over work after Bambi?
Donnie Dunagan: No. Like a lot of companies affected by WWII, Disney changed immediately after Bambi came out and was used by our War Dept. to help our country. My family had some problems and I never was approached to work in films again, and I did not search that out either.
What kind of interaction with Walt Disney did you have during the voice recording and live action staging. Also, did you keep in touch with Mr. Disney during the next decades after making the movie?
Donnie Dunagan: There was no follow-up with Mr. Disney. The start of WWII for America changed the country and life-styles more radically than younger generations can think possible.
Can you tell me about the direction you get for the recording of Bambi desperately calling for his dead mother?
Donnie Dunagan: I remember this well. When I was told to say, with some stress, “Mother….Mother,” I must have not had the tone of fear that the story needed. A coach, I think it was a nice lady at the studio, asked me how I would cry out loud if my own real Mother was lost and in great danger. That made it easy…..thus, the fear-tone of “”Mother…Mother…”
Were you excited about being in a Disney film? Had you seen any of their films before entering the studio?
Donnie Dunagan: I was so excited to learn we were going to Disney studio than I constantly pestered my poor Mom. I had not seen a Disney film when chosen to do Bambi. We seldom went to the movies. Time was always pressed with practicing dancing, singing, language, and on and on. But I knew of the Disney studio and was thrilled to do it.
One of your first roles was ‘Peter von Frankenstein’ in the film ‘Son of Frankenstein’ – what do you remember about the experience on that set?
Donnie Dunagan: Son of Frankenstein was a child’s dream of fun. “Frankenstein” off-camera, was a good humor guy, liked by all. Mr. Lee, the director, should get an award for courage, casting me with all those polished voices. I was just a few months out of the deep south. It was great fun.
What would you say you’ve gained from your childhood career in film?
Donnie Dunagan: How to quickly identify reality from fantasy, and how to enjoy both but realize the difference.
Do you have a favourite scene from Bambi?
Donnie Dunagan: The young dear kiss, while Bambi was feeling sorry for himself, sitting in a thicket. I had to pretend to have taken a double-dose of cod liver oil, grim stuff for a kid, in order to make such an unhappy face with angry eyes. Boys at that age do not want to be kissed by a cute girl. I am glad that I grew-out of that phase!
Were you afraid at any time whilst first watching Bambi as a child?
Donnie Dunagan: Yes. While I had some sense of the story-line, nothing could prepare my Mother and I for the scope and power of Bambi the first few times we saw it. I had very wet eyes when Bambi’s mother was killed by hunters off-camera. Someone at the studio told us that the original drawings had her killed on-camera and that Mr. Disney had the very good taste to direct that to be changed.
Bambi is ageless, what do you think is the secret of this magical feeling? Is it the rhythm of the movie, is it the voices, is it the color and the photography?
Donnie Dunagan: Your question is darn bright and like some of the best questions in life, self answering. Bambi is truly unmatched in visual animation. It is like the lead song….”Love is a story that will never end”… Bambi has so much story, so many real-life emotions, and beautiful animation. It is a love song to all of us, and it will never end.
What are your current and future endeavors?
Donnie Dunagan: I am about as retired as a professor who has a night job as a police officer. I tutor truly caring students, high school and college undergrads in science and physics, mostly pro bono. The hardest working kids anywhere. Sometimes they deliver food from our food bank to elementary schools. I’m also active in Lions Club, who are great service people to area communities. And I also work for peanuts for my wife. Captain Honnnny-Dooo. Ha!
Did anyone nickname you Bambi through out your life?
Donnie Dunagan: Ha! Only in the last few years, all in good fun and mostly at my expense. And I have come to love that teasing.
Did you ever go hunting yourself?
Donnie Dunagan: Yes, but with a camera only.
Donnie Dunagan, photo provided by Disney.
Do you recall any aspects of Bambi that your mother recognized as being similar to you?
Donnie Dunagan: Nothing I can recall now. But I will share with you something… the drive between our home in West Los Angeles and Disney Studios was a drag! Boring! We learned to play spelling bee in the car, each one challenging the other. I had been reading newspapers since age 5 and could spell reasonably. One time I challenged my Mom that I could spell Disney “better” than she could. I remember her response,” how can you spell anything better than the correct spelling?” Mom, bet I can….bet you a quarter. ‘OK’ she said, thinking me a bit silly. She then spelled it d.i.s.n.e.y ., and then she said, OK, smarty, how can you spell that better for a quarter. My spelling of Disney was ‘F. U. N.’ She smiled, laughed and gave me a quarter.
Why did you never talk about being the voice of Bambi even when you were still a child? Haven’t you been excited to show off with your Hollywood-adventures in front of your friends?
Donnie Dunagan: During WWII, and into early teens, my thoughts were focused on just getting by. I totally supported myself from age 13 and ½ on. While I did many school plays, and later was awarded many times for being a leading instructor at the Marine officer’s colleges, I had such a dislike for ‘show-offs,’ and those that boasted about themselves, that I became a very poor self-promoter. Now, in my 70s, I am having a ball with young and old people loving Mr. Disney’s Bambi and it is an honor to be a part of it.
Have you had an interest in going back into voice acting at all?
Donnie Dunagan: Yes. I would do it in a flash. Moreover, I would love to get a shot at a real challenging on-camera character role. Send me that leading role and I will do 20 push-ups in the snow for you.
What is your favorite encounter with a fan who knew you as the voice of Bambi, either then or now?
Donnie Dunagan: It was nearly 6 years ago, in central west Texas. I was asked to help at a local fund-raising dinner with lots of people attending. I was the third speaker. The first two, gentle, gracious caring civic folks, had asked the large crowd to please pay attention to this local funding problem and please help. They were gentle and passive. That was not moving the group to do much. Then it was my turn. Right after hello…”Now, no nonsense with this. Get you check book out, guys and ladies. Now waive them in the air…Hold them up. Good. Now pens out. Start writing….I am watching.” It got lots of laughs and guess what? Lots of checks. At one of the tables was a wonderful WWII widow and the only person in Texas that knew I was part of Disney’s Bambi. She turned to a friend at that table and said, too loud, “would you believe that that fighter up there was Bambi in 1940-something.” Right behind her was the manager of the local TV station. Well, the next morning, with no notice, up pulls a TV van and a reporter. Then the Disney Studio heard of it from someone else and called me immediately.
What would Bambi’s fans find in this new Diamond edition Blu-ray?
Donnie Dunagan: Fans should put their senses on “Happy Alert.” Bambi on Blu-ray will knock your socks off. The Blu-ray technology is a visual atmosphere all its own, thanks to Mr. Disney’s insistence that even the background of the forest and the rain drops be painted in real oil paints. Stand-by for Joy.
Do you still feel connected to the character of Bambi?
Donnie Dunagan: Yes, in many ways. Bambi had to fend largely for himself, rather young, and so did I. He had to learn some hard realities at a young age and stand-up to threats and real danger. So did I. He made it, despite much and tried to stand as an example. I hope I have too.
Are you involved in any new projects right now?
Donnie Dunagan: I have many uses of my time, all for good humanist purposes. I am usually up at 4:30am, and busy in helping others including veterans, tutoring children in math and sciences, and my own home life.
How do you feel now in 2011 about being the original voice of Bambi?
Donnie Dunagan: Wonderful. Not many would understand this, if they had a clue of even half of my teen and long adult life. The reality is, at age 77, it is pure joy that both children and 80 year-olds can enjoy the film together. I could be working in the White House and children could care less. But let someone say, “that dude over there was the face, or voice of Bambi,” and I am an immediate adopted grandfather to them. That is just an unmatchable joy, and a real responsibility.
Can you share with us any final thoughts on Bambi?
Donnie Dunagan: This animated film has been with us for almost 70 years now. It has additional dimensions that one may not see or feel in the first viewing. Bambi touches us, in many good humanist ways. Disney and Bambi are truly spelled F.U.N. I was a super lucky-duck kid to have been any part of it. And to this day, I feel indebted to Mr. Disney.
Aljon Go is our in-house Jedi and Star Wars aficionado. Between battling the Sith and visits to Disney World, he is also the co-host of the ‘WDW Tiki Room‘ radio show and station manager for Sorcerer Radio, the official Disney station of Chip & Company! E-mail: aljon@chipandco (dot) com. Follow Aljon on Twitter@JediMouseketeer!
I can hardly remember touring the Walt Disney World theme parks without a backpack that contains all the essentials. With small children in tow these days, it is usually chock full of diapers, snacks, water, clothing, sunscreen, medications, and ponchos. Even before kids, it was rare that my husband and I didn’t bring a theme park bag, lighter of course, but still filled with everything we would need while away from our resort room for the day. But, is it necessary?
Traveling Light
Traveling light certainly has its benefits, not the least of which is bypassing the sometimes lengthy bag check lines at the entrance to each Disney theme park. There have been more times than I would care to remember when we were running late for an Advance Dining Reservation (ADR) or the beginnings of IllumiNations and the bag checks were a bottleneck in our quest to make it on time.
The most obvious reason to ditch the bag is avoiding the feeling of being a pack mule. At the end of a long day, that bag can feel as if its weight has doubled. Not to mention that sticky, unpleasant feeling of your shirt plastered to your back on warm days because the air does not circulate between you and the theme park bag.
I cannot think of an attraction at Walt Disney World where you are not permitted to bring your theme park bag. In fact, I appreciate that many rides have a built-in mechanism or place to secure your bag. A theme park bag becomes more inconvenient when dining. One of my complaints about many Walt Disney World restaurants is that the tables are too close together, a necessity I suppose when so many guests pass through their doors every day. These tight areas can mean it’s somewhat nerve-wracking carrying a large bag past diners and servers carrying plates of food in a narrow space.
Can it be done?
Disney is very aware of the guest experience and makes everything you would normally carry in a theme park bag easily available…for a price.
Lockers. There are lockers to store any gear you don’t want to lug around the parks near each theme park entrance. A consideration is the extra time it will take to trek across the park to your locker should you need something mid-day.
Snacks and Beverages. You won’t want for food and drink at Disney – there are an astounding number of dining locations. One complaint I frequently hear about the Disney Dining Plans is that there is so much food that guests have lots of unused snack credits on the last day of their visit. Snack credits can be used for bottled water at the parks (though this probably isn’t the best use of snack credits) which means one less thing you have to carry. You can also ask for a free cup of ice water at any of the quick service locations and Cast Members will be happy to oblige.
Medications. Each theme park has a First Aid station and it has been my experience that many shops carry over-the-counter medications behind the counter; you just have to ask.
Rain Gear. If you’re caught in a rainstorm, you’ll be able to easily find and purchase ponchos to keep you dry – no need to leave the park. However, they are not cheap.
PhotoPass. With PhotoPass photographers conveniently located throughout the park and at Character Meet ‘N Greets, you don’t even need to bring a camera anymore if you don’t want.
Lanyards. Lanyards are a great way to keep some cash, your Key to the World, and FastPasses readily available.
As you can see, the trade-off between bringing or buying is really cost versus convenience.
When Should You Consider a Bag?
Small Kids. There’s really no way around carrying a “diaper bag” when you’re out and about with little children all day.
Medical Conditions. If someone in your travel party has special needs that require prescription medications or other medical supplies be close at hand, a theme park bag is a necessity.
Variable Weather. During some times of the year, temperatures in Florida can fluctuate widely throughout the day. If you’ll be out all day, layers are essential and having a theme park bag to store excess clothing comes in handy.
Do you travel light and skip the theme park bag or is it a must-bring for any day at a Disney park?
Fifteen new panelists hailing from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom are members of the 2011 Walt Disney World Moms Panel, www.disneyworldmoms.com. The popularity of the Moms Panel site has grown so much that Disney Parks invited back 30 alumni panelists. These passionate guests will give their unique and personal park-savvy smarts to fellow guests planning Disney vacations.
Also helping to spread the magic, Oscar-winning actress and mom to three, Geena Davis, serves as an honorary “Disney Mom” sharing her own personal tips and treasured Disney memories in an exclusive Moms Panel video, available in the celebrity video library at www.disneyworldmoms.com.
Always on the look-out for free fun at Walt Disney World, we discovered something very cool at Epcot’s World Showcase, on our recent trip: the Kim Possible Adventure. Did you know that by reading and following directions, looking for….and finding….clues, you can “save the world”? No? Well don’t feel bad, neither did we until we stumbled upon this fun, interactive activity. Don’t tell your kids, but it’s educational too…but they don’t need to know that part. What you do want to tell them…and all the grown-ups in your group too….is that this is a GREAT way to spend some time in World Showcase, and that they WILL have a blast!
