Didja miss me? I missed you! I’m halfway through some medical treatments that have kept me from you for a while. The great news is that I’m feeling better. I hope to share my personal story with you soon. But for now, here’s what’s news:
Roger Rabbit Event TONIGHT at the El Capitan
I’m usually going on about seeing any Disney-related movie on opening night at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, right on Hollywood Blvd., across from Hollywood and Highland (park there for two bucks with theatre validation or get off at the Metro train station underground, btw). It’s Disney’s Home Theatre, an incredible show palace, beautifully restored (call and ask about tours), and if you want to see and experience special Disney movie-related things, you have a better chance of doing so if you keep up with what’s going on with the El Capitan.
Summer ends with Throwback Month, where the El Capitan Theatre Cast Members vote on which classic Disney movies they’d like to see return, and from August 30 to September 23, we all get to enjoy the results – at a throwback price of TEN BUCKS!!! And honey, that’s not ten bucks for a chair behind a pillar (there aren’t any); that gets you a reserved VIP seat, popcorn and a bottled drink.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit will be playing from August 30 to September 3, and opening night at the El Capitan Theatre brings a special treat to animation fans: a panel before the film of four of the animators who worked on the film
- Tom Sito – Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, Pocahontas, Fantasia 2000, Shrek,
- Irene Parkins also Megamind, The Croods, How to Train Your Dragon, Bolt, Cats Don’t Dance, Beowulf, Rise of the Guardians, Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, The Road to El Dorado, The Prince of Egypt
- Andreas Deja – also The Black Cauldron, The Great Mouse Detective, Oliver and Company, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Hercules, Fantasia 2000, Lilo and Stitch, Home on the Range, Enchanted, The Princess and the Frog, Winnie the Pooh (2011)
- Nik Ranieri – also The Little Mermaid, The Rescuers Down Under, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, Hercules, Fantasia 2000, The Emperor’s New Groove, Treasure Planet, Chicken Little, Meet the Robinsons, Bolt, The Princess and the Frog, Tangled, Winnie the Pooh (2011), Wreck-it-Ralph
Here’s the schedule:
- August 30 – September 3 Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) dir. Robert Zemeckis;
- Incredibles 2 (2018) dir. Brad Bird + BAO (short subject, 2018)
- September 6 — September 9 Enchanted (2007) dir. Kevin Lima
- Thursday, September 13 Double Feature at 7:00 pm – The Absent Minded Professor (1961) dir. Robert Stevenson + Flubber (2005) starring Robin Williams; dir. Les Mayfield (*double feature — all seats $15 includes reserved seat, VIP popcorn and 20 oz drink)
- September 14 to September 16 Flubber (2005) starring Robin Williams; dir. Les Mayfield
- September 20 to 23 Disney•Pixar’s Up (2009) dir. Pete Docter, Bob Peterson
When I find out about special opening night stuff, you’ll find out about special opening night stuff!
For information, showtimes and tickets, please visit www.elcapitantickets.com, call 1-800-DISNEY6 or visit the The El Capitan Theatre box office
“Meet” Ward Kimball’s Chloe, of Grizzly Flats and Disneyland Fame
Chloe was originally called Pokaa, and was originally run on the Waimanalo Sugar Plantation on Oahu. She is a steam locomotive built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1907. Kimball changed her name to honor one of his daughters. She was one of two engines at Kimball’s Grizzly Flats Railroad, along with her sister, the Emma Nevada, which is being restored lovingly by animation god (and pretty nifty human being) Ken Mitchroney and his stellar crew.
Ken sez:
“Hey Gang! Who’s coming out to the museum this Sunday to celebrate LGB/ Marklin’s 50 with us? No RSVP needed and the admission is free! Trains big and small will be running and you can get your picture taken with Ward Kimball’s Chloe. The little Locomotive that went to Disneyland.”
Remember the big day before the Disneyland Railroad officially opened to the public, July 28, 2017? Ollie Johnston’s “Marie” led Chloe around the park a few times, then they were joined by a train full of Disney characters.
The entire video is about 45 minutes long, and you get to see quite a few shots of the engines, and a funny moment where someone thinks Ken is Ward Kimball’s son. There are a LOT of long pauses, but if you’re a hardcore train fanatic, you’ll love it. So come and see this beloved and famous beauty from Grizzly Flats, where Walt Himself used to visit to ride Ward’s trains…
Baby Giraffe says “Hello!” to Animal Kingdom Guests
Aella, a Masai giraffe calf, is just 2 months old, but yesterday she joined her mother, Lily, on the savanna at Disney’s Animal Kingdom for the first time, where the six-foot-tall little one can be seen by lucky guests aboard Kilimanjaro Safaris.
Aella and mom Lily at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Walt Disney World. (David Roark, photographer). Want to go see Aella and Lily but not sure how crowded the parks will be? Check out Touring Plans’ Disney Crowd Calendar so that you know what to expect when you’re expecting…to visit the Disney Parks in Florida!(affiliate).
When Life Takes Away Plastic, Get Stainless Steel!
Many Theme Parks, zoos and eateries are getting rid of plastic straws due to their negative impact upon the environment. While most of us applaud the responsibility, many of us are left in the lurch when it comes to juggling a mug or cup, even spill-proof, rather than just using the straw – especially those who really need to use a straw due to physical problems.
I was asked to try out these straws and sent a free set to review. They did not ask for a positive or negative review, just a review.
I chose the silver set instead of the 4-copper 4-gold. All are stainless steel. My first thought was that I wish that there was some way to tell them apart, other than shape. If there are three or less in your family, you each pick a shape and that’s fine. Three and a little kid, there’s the short one. But if there are more, and you aren’t near Dawn and hot water, you probably won’t want to be mixing up straws; there should be markers of some kind. I asked about it and ZC Plus, the company that makes them, got back to me within a few hours that they would be coming out with colored sheaths for the straws for personalization. Also, don’t drink anything hot, but who would use a straw for something hot? I tried it…for science. I learned that metal STILL gets hot. It also gets pleasantly cold with cold drinks during the heat wave in which I received these, so…yes!
Here are mine:
- Here’s the info from the manufacturer, translated into Fabanese:
- The set comes with 8 Colored Metal Straws: 2 Pcs 10.5″ straight straws and 2 Pcs 9.9″ bent straws for 30 oz tumblers; 2 Pcs 8.5″ straight straws and 2 Pcs 7.9″ bent straws for 20 oz tumblers. Perfect for drinking pretty much any cold or frozen drink you can think of. The drink makes the steel cold and the steel returns the favor.
- They are made of Food Grade 18/8 stainless steel, non-toxic, BPA and lead free, and I couldn’t taste any metal aftertaste, and I’m very sensitive to that. They’re pretty much unbreakable under normal use, they will not rust, crack or get scratched.
- They are easy to clean and come with 2×9.5” special scrub brush that’s like a miniaturized baby bottle brush. Other straws come with pipe cleaners. This is a brush with a stainless steel handle and nylon bristles, the brush is of the perfect size for those straws, also suitable for cleaning cups and bottles. (They’re kind of small for cups imo but great for things with little holes in them).
- They come with a black velvetish drawstring bag, so you can tuck it into your purse. I put the straws and cleaners in a plastic zip bag first, but me and germs have a thing.
- They offer 24 hours online customer service, 60 days no questions asked return or replacement, 1 Year Warranty, and lifetime product support.
But did I LIKE them? Would I use them? Would I buy them if I hadn’t gotten them free? Yeah, I would. They turned out to be a lot handier and less of a pain than I thought they would be. They were most definitely easier to use and clean and other than when I accidentally bit it, hard, (don’t do that), there wasn’t really a difference between it and plastic except that it wasn’t flimsy and it was colder. I was afraid it would be gross and take time to clean out when I got home (I rinsed and brushed it at a water fountain outside the restaurant). It wasn’t. I tried pulpy lemonade with bits of fruit in it. They didn’t get stuck. When the server forgot our straws, because I’d recommended this place as being fantastic and every single thing in the entire universe was wrong there today, I kept my smile, pulled out the bag, got one for my Gypsy Lemonade and another for my client’s Arnold Palmer, and at least that part of the worst lunch ever in Orange County today was saved. It was kind of fun, actually. I’m sure Disneyland will come out with character straws and churro straws and rose gold straws, but if you’re looking for something til then, something you can dress up yourself if you’re crafty, or something simple, attractive and useful, this might be what you’re looking for.
I have yet to try out my theory that they might make a faster/stronger brain freeze, simply because I hate brain freeze. If you buy one from this link here: ZC Plus Sterling Silver Straws at Amazon (I get a few cents) and try it, let me know the results and I’ll publish them here in the Fab News Journal of Science.
Disney Parks Moms’ Panel is Recruiting!
Pull out your Instagram Influencer specs and your hints and tips about taking toddlers on a Cat 10 Disney Cruise! It’s time for the Disney Parks Moms’ Panel tryouts! “Dads, Moms and in-the-know park-goers invited to apply”, so get to www.momspanelsearch.com on September 5th and sign up! Applications will be accepted from Noon Eastern time on September 5th to the same time on September 12. You don’t have to be a mom – or even a parent – to apply!
See Ya Real Soon!
It’s late, but I have more news. I’ll see you very, very soon.
xoxox
Fab (Michelle)
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