Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room Collectables

Whether you're a Disney fan or are just looking for some cool new stuff to add to your tiki-themed bar, you can't go wrong with these Limited Edition Enchanted Tiki Room 45th Anniversary Collectibles ($20-$150). Made in limited runs for the classic Disneyland attraction's 45th birthday, they will be available exclusively at the park on Sunday, June 22. The collection includes a set of Tiki God replicas, mini-tiki replicas, the super-awesome Enchanted Tiki Fountain with colored LEDs and 4 miniature jets, and my favorite, Rongo, the Tiki God of Agriculture, which comes as the bottom to a green-glazed ceramic vessel that can serve as a glass or a bowl.

Via Uncrate

It's A Small World After All

Take the legendary boat ride around the globe on this musical tour of nations!

Hundreds of international dolls sing and dance to the famous "it's a small world" medley!

But after it's over, just try to get that tune out of your head...

The ride features a multitude of audio-animatronic figures in the style of children of the world singing the ride's title track which has a theme of global peace. The little boats travel through a tunnel into the show building, which is much larger than the facade, on a 15 minutes world tour. About 400 of the cutest dolls ever will charm you with their wooden-stiff movements, very 1960's, through a very psychedelic-looking Willi Wonka world.

In 1956, Walt Disney attended a conference, along with many other notable celebrities of the time, at the invitation of President Eisenhower. The conference was about founding a national organization to help promote world peace through international civilian travel. Inspired by the ideas from the meeting, Disney returned to California and set to work, creating the It's A Small World ride at Disneyland.
Like several other Disneyland attractions, "It's a Small World" originated with the 1964/1965 New York World's Fair. After the fair closed, the ride was transferred to Disneyland along three other attractions from the fair that year. The attraction's design was by Mary Blair, who was also an art director on several Disney animated features (including Cinderella and Peter Pan). Like many Disneyland and Walt Disney World attractions, scenes and characters were designed by Marc Davis, while his wife, Alice Davis, designed the outfits of the dolls. Many of the dolls were created by Joyce Carlson who is honored with a shop window along the Magic Kingdom's Main Street U.S.A. The name of the ride was originally "children of the world". When Walt Disney demonstrated it to songwriters, the Sherman Brothers, the ride's soundtrack featured numerous national anthems all playing at once. Disney said, "I need one song." In response, the brothers wrote what would arguably be one of the catchiest songs ever: It's a Small World.

Disneyland (California) plans to temporarily close the ride in January 2008 for 10 months to refurbish the ride as well as deepen the boat channel due to multiple layers of fiberglass repair patches that have caused boats to bottom out and get stuck during portions of the ride. It will also feature the original boats, a fresh coat of paint, and the original spires. Despite rumors to the contrary, Disneyland does not blame the issue on overweight tourists (yeah, right).

It's a Small World is also a feature ride in all Disney's parks around the world, with small changes from place to place. Very Kawaii!!

The Orlando Chronicles

The first time I went to the theme parks in Orlando was in the 80's and so not to date myself I will keep mum about how old I was at the time, but let's say "early" teens. I had all these great memories of Disney World, Sea World and several other parks I had been taken to in this excursion trip. My sister and I were abroad for the first time and without parental supervision, though the tour guide was supposed to keep an eye on us and on other 30 kids or so in the same group. We had a blast and as good Brazilian tourists we shopped like crazy, buying all these silly souvenirs, tee shirts and related dust magnets.

Now, many years later I return to this magical land of illusion to relive those wonderful memories of a time gone by. Disney's Magic Kingdom remains exactly the same as I remember, not a topiary out of place. With the exception of a few new rides and Mickey's Toon Town the layout remains the same as in Walt Disney's 1970 opening day. The place seemed smaller than in my teen year's memory as we were able to cruise most of the park's rides in a few short hours. Maybe it was because I skipped several of the ones that were a bit too infantile for me now (20 some odd years later) or because I was more focused on what I wanted to experience. They also have this great "Fast Pass" system that allows you to "book" a ride a couple of hours in advance, skipping 40 minute waiting time standing in line for Space Mountain, a in-the-dark roller coaster, and other popular rides. I remember the long lines that Disney was known for and that was not my idea of a fun time.

I won't bore you with all little details but will force-feed you some lovely pictures I took there this past weekend.

I love the little girl in the shot above. She is covering her ears during one of the many musical numbers that take place throughout the day in front of Cinderella's castle . The music is loud as it's all happening outdoors and she looks so cute dressed as a little pink princess sitting on her dad's shoulders. At Disney they have this kid's beauty salon called Bibbity Bobbity Boutique that transforms little girls in head-to-toe Disney princess make-overs. It's so cute to see all these made-up Jon Bennets, covered in face glitter and sporting adorable Snow White dresses or Jasmine's harem pants! And they are all over the park! I am sure that this make-over costs a pretty penny because the outfits, hair and make-up were quite elaborate. Love it!