Sams Disney Diary: The Podcast

“Walt Disney always believed that dreams do come true, and this is his living monument to that belief, Disneyland USA. Walt Disney’s Dream comes true, a land of inspiration where yesterday still lives and Tomorrow is already here.” That’s how Disneyland 1968 Television special opened, just 2 years after the passing of Walt Disney. The narrator goes on talking about the brief history of the Orange Grove that turned into Disneyland, in 1955. Since then the park has continued to grow, and this 1968 special is designed to bring us up to date on the latest at Disneyland, so let’s take a tour starting right in the town square. Complete with Audio of Walt describing Mainstreet USA. A theme that’s repeated through the special, it’s a remarkable time capsule into Disneyland attractions in 1968.

Disneyland Forever, premiered at Disneyland on May 21, 2015, as part of the 60th-anniversary celebration. Disneyland Forever was the first Disney park fireworks show to feature projection mapping. The technology was used on Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, It’s a small world, and Main Street USA. It featured a new theme song “Live the Magic” and an exit song written by Richard Sherman that reflects on Walt’s Original vision of Fireworks, “A Kiss Goodnight” Here is my footage of the show from Mainstreet and It’s a Small World. According to Disney… “Disneyland Forever” shows just how magical the Magic Kingdom can be, in a sky-high celebration featuring sparkling pyrotechnics, immersive projections, and other effects that transform Disneyland park right before your eyes! “Disneyland Forever” envelops you in an enthralling, breathtaking journey like never before, leveraging the largest installation of projection mapping technology in a Disney park and surprising special effects. Main Street, U.S.A., and several other Di

Happy New Year, and what a year it was at Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom. Here is highlights of some of the Animal Babys born in 2020! https://youtu.be/RBDX5UWiIWo  

We asked Epcot cast members what to look for at the Taste of Epcot International Festival of the Arts and this is what they told us. https://youtu.be/BeLlKdSRKgo

Premiering in 2013 and running until the 2020 Covid-19 Disneyland shutdown, Mickey and the Magic Map was a live show hosted multiple times a day at the Fantasyland Theater in Disneyland. The 24-minute performance featured Mickey Mouse in his classic role as Sorcerer’s Apprentice and included songs and characters from ten Disney animated films. As the story goes, the wise sorcerer Yen Sid tells of a wondrous map, a map like no other, with the power to take dreamers to any place imaginable. But when young apprentice Mickey Mouse attempts to paint the map’s one unfinished spot, he stumbles into a fantastic adventure through worlds of music, color, and beloved characters, as he discovers the mystery of the map’s magic!

Enter a world where the ocean floor is full of life and Ariel longs to stroll and dance with humans.  Sing along with colorful puppets, live performers, special effects, and film clips from the animated classic. the Little Mermaid.  Voyage of the little mermaid opened at Disney MGM Studios all the way back in 1992.   A lot has changed in almost 30 years, including the name of the park, now Disney Hollywood Studios.   The Theme begins as you pass through the doors into a room filled with undersea items, including fishing nets, and old diver’s suit, and lots of sea creatures. The Unique Live Actions performance combines special effects, film clips live performance, and puppetry to re-tale the story of the Little mermaid, well, as much as you can tell in 17 minutes.   Sebastian the crab and his hot crustacean band perform Under the Sea while Ariel yearns to be “Part of Your World.”  Ursula is nearby to grand Ariel the perfect wish

Epcot’s American Adventure Pavilion is home to the Voices of Liberty, a staple of World Showcase since Epcot’s opening in 1981. The melodies are echoes through the acoustically perfect dome that helps amplify and purify their sound. Traditionally costumed in their 1800’s best for Epcot’s Festival of the Holidays, the cappella group becomes the Dickens Carolers, embracing the sounds of the holiday festival. With scheduled performances throughout the day, you will find the Voices of Liberty as the Dickens Carolers inside the American Adventure rotunda. They are a must-see during the holiday season.

Originally aired on March 22, 1970, Disneyland Showtime is an episode of “The Wonderful World of Disney”.  Interestingly, this was the first television special from Disneyland without a real host.  The Osmond Brothers, accompanied by Kurt Russell and Actress E.J. Peaker, come to Disneyland to perform at a show being held there, but Donny and Jay Osmond go off to explore the park. Most of the episode deals with the Osmonds looking for Jay and Donny, while at the same time, having to keep up a tight schedule as a deadline for a performance from the Osmond Brothers was coming up fast, but they had gotten separated, but they eventually find each other and have that performance. Later, Kurt Russell gives the viewers an inside look at the Haunted Mansion, the last Disneyland attraction that Walt Disney planned that opened at Disneyland. Walt had previewed that attraction, along with Pirates of the Caribbean, on the Disneyland 10th Anniversary show back in 1965, but the Haunted Mansion did not open until 1969, two y

EPCOT Center, Walt Disney World’s second gate opened to the public on October 1, 1982.  By all accounts, however, October 1st was really soft opening, with only Spaceship Earth being dedicated on that day. A grand opening week was held from October 15-27 for celebrates, Press, VIPs and top executives from corporate sponsors. The television special Epcot Center: The Opening Celebration aired on CBS October 23, 1982, the night before the official park dedication. You can still find the dedication plaque from then CEO E. Cardon Walker dated October 24th, 1982 at the entrance of the park.   To all who come to this place of Joy, Hope and Friendship – Welcome. EPCOT is inspired by Walt Disney’s creative vision. Here, human achievements are celebrated through imagination, wonders of enterprise and concepts of a future that promises new and exciting benefits for all. May EPCOT Center entertain, inform and inspire and above all, may it instill a new sense of belief and pride in man’s ability to shape a world that off

Walt Disney World first opened to guests on October 1st, 1971, with some news outlets predicting over 300,000 visitors on day one.  In an attempt to limit crowds, and not repeat the opening day chaos of Disneyland in California, official dedications and other media events were held off until later in the month. The actual crowd on opening day was closer to 10,000, providing an opportunity to address any potential issues that would undoubtedly come up during the first day, and they did. get all the details and video here

n the Japanese language “Taiko” means “great Drum”, and the Japanese Taiko drums have been enthralling audiences for centuries in religious ceremonies and festivals. Epcot’s Japan Pavilion hosted the Matsuriza Drums from 1998 until 2020, the thundering sound of the great drum could be heard all around World Showcase. A stroll around World Showcase will be a little different without the drums in the background.  We learned via Social Media that the final performance after almost 25 years was March 15th, 2020.   Here is a performance from an ordinary summer day at Epcot in 2015, before the transformation.   Take a look at the “skyline” of World Showcase at the beginning, that view will change dramatically as the transformation continues. Watch the video here

The historic multiyear transformation of Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios recently marked a significant milestone, the Opening of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. Catch all the details and video here  

Originally Aired on January 21, 1968, Disneyland From The Pirates of the Caribbean to the World of Tomorrow featured Disneyland ambassador Marcia Miner takes viewers on a tour of the latest attractions at Disneyland, including Pirates of the Caribbean in New Orleans Square and a new Tomorrowland, featuring, among other attractions, the People Mover, Adventure Thru Inner Space and the Carousel of Progress.

Back on May 3rd, 2011, a new era of British music began at the UK Pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase.   The British rock cover band is known as “The English Channel” and/or “British Airwaves” took the stage for the first of over 11,000 performances, from 2011 until March 15th, 2020.  Known inside Epcot as “British Revolution”, the band replaced “The British Invasion”, a Beatles tribute group that performed on the same stage from January 1997 until April 2011. Get the video and more details here  The four-piece band performed multiple sets a day each designed to bring a chronological sampling of the best of British artists from the 70s, 80s and 90s. If it’s UK rock, these guys can not only cover it, they rock it!  Getting the crowd on their feet and dancing! British Revolution posted the news of their last performance on social media at 11:30pm March 14th, with their final performance scheduled for 8:00pm March 15th.  (The day before Walt Disney World’s extended closure for COVID-19 precautions) According to t

What’s better than the Disneyland Band or the Dapper Dans? How about the Disneyland Band and the Dapper Dans at the same time!!!! YES, it’s true, and it happens every day at Disneyland! Be sure to check your Times Guide and look for the Disneyland Band and the Dapper Dans performance that starts at the same time (12:30 for this video). The Disneyland Band starts right in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, and the band marching through the castle to form a performance line is a wonderful sight. They kick right off with a medley of Disney Classics, including A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes, performed only as the Disneyland Band can. The band is joined by Donald, Goofy, Pluto, Chip, Dale, Mickey and Minnie for the Most Magic March on Earth from the castle right down Main Street USA, led by Mickey of course. Who could that be halfway down Main Street USA? That’s the Dapper Dans in the middle of their 12:30 performance, but who can resist a parade? The Dapper Dans join right in marching the rest of the way to T

From the Epcot International Festival of the Arts Showcase Plaza stage, it’s Victor Espinola An internationally renowned concert artist and Paraguaya Harpist. Victor’s style and energy are the perfect addition to the Festival of the Arts!      

The Epcot International Festival of the Arts has plenty of reasons to join the artistic celebration.   So, for 2020, what are the top 20 things to do?   Let’s count them down. Start by arriving via the Disney Skyliner.  With Future World and the main entrance under considerable construction, the incredible views from the Skyliner, along with the newly refurbished International Gateway, make it a remarkably refreshing entrance to Epcot.  As you “skyline” into the gateway, be sure to check out the construction of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.  The Gusteau’s sign was recently installed, and the attraction is set to open this summer.   From International Gateway, you’ll find yourself right in the middle of the festival. As soon as you enter, be sure to get your Festival Passport, Map and most important, Times Guide.   Check the Festival Entertainment Schedule right away – wait, is that Mickey and Minnie right at the entrance?  It sure is.  Check that Times Guide, the construction has closed Character Spot, but t

The Epcot International Festival of the Arts 2020 has plenty of reasons to join the celebration.  With over 40 artists working around World Showcase, you’re sure to find an artist with just that flair you’re looking for.  One of my festival favorites, Visual Art in Performance!  Located on the Showcase Plaza Stage for 2020, be sure to check the Festival Entertainment Guide for showtimes.  Maybe the coolest part…  you can purchase the piece of artwork created during the performance.  Check this out…  Epcot International Festival of the Arts 2020 #ArtfulEpcot More limited edition prints from Trevor Carlton in the Disney Fine Art Collection

The Epcot International Festival of the Arts 2020 has plenty of reasons to join the celebration, with visual art displays across the park, Disney on Broadway, food studios, artful photo ops, family fun, living statues, and 3 new Epcot films at the Land, France, and Canada…  What more could you be after? How about a German band, no… a real German rock band “Lebendig”, imported from their German tour for a 6-week limited engagement.  The band has been around four and a half years, playing over 40 concerts a year in Germany, winning the Hessian Rock and Pop Prize in 2017.    Featured during the Epcot International Festival of the Arts, Lebendig performs five days a week, 7 times a day.  Check your Times Guide for details.  With original songs and German lyrics that catch the ear, this not only marks their first appearance at Walt Disney World, but it’s also their first trip to the United States!!!  And this is their first performance on the opening day of the Festival of the Arts 2020. It was big news for the “

Disney California Adventure played host to the “Tale of the Lion King” during a limited summertime run in 2019.  The Tale of the Lion King brought to life by the Storytellers of the Pride Lands, a troupe of traveling performers who present Simba’s beloved and timeless journey in a unique story-theater style with live music and dance that celebrates the spirit of Africa.  The lead narrator, Mwongozo (Swahili for “guide”) leads the 18 performers in this live adaptation. The performance was presented in a contemporary story-theater style that retold the tale through language, song, and dance. “The approach that we’ve taken with ‘Tale of the Lion King’ is that this is a story that was passed on from generation to generation, and now it’s come here to Disney California Adventure Park,” said Susana Tubert, Creative Director, Disney Parks Live Entertainment. “The Storytellers of the Pride Lands have come to share this ancestral story of how a cub became a king.” With new musical arrangements of classic songs includi