Disney World After Dark: Morocco

Leaving Japan, we continue on our evening stroll around the World Showcase. Our next port-of-call is Morocco.

“On the drawing boards along with the rest of the opening-day pavilions, the Morocco pavilion did not actually open until September 7, 1984, nearly two years after the rest of World Showcase. The pavilion is a true celebration of the architecture and ornamentation of Morocco, welcoming visitors with its warm earth tones and green tile roofs, as well as its inviting geometric patterns and sensual textures.”

from Since the World Began by Jeff Kurtti, pg. 113

I also enjoy the passage from Birnbaum’s World Disney World. This from page 148 of the 2007 edition, “Nine tons of tile were handmade, hand cut, and shipped to Epcot to create this World Showcase pavilion. To capture the unique quality of this North African country’s architecture, Moroccan artisans came to Epcot to practice the mosaic art that has been a part of their homeland for thousands of years.”

Morocco is a pavilion that has grown on me through the years. The detail is rich and you can lose yourself as you wander deeper and deeper into the street atmosphere. The intricate designs are a photographers dream.

Enjoy the mystery of Morocco!

Editor's Note...

Our technical difficulties have not been completely handled, I am sad to say. I am also sad to admit that I am not savvy in the ways of Information Technology. So when it comes to such things as “ipconfig”, “ping” and so forth, I am at a complete loss.

Yet, in my ignorance I must ask, is it too much to ask for a router to work once it is properly installed? Why must one stay on the phone to someone in another country for hour and a half, and still not have a working wireless router?

I go to the store, I purchase a router, and I follow the installation instructions to the letter. I expect it to work. Is that wrong?

I know this is a Disney blog. It is supposed to be always happy. At least I believe that is what we endeavor to do in our posts; spread happiness. But forgive me this go ‘round. I am frustrated. I have missed my posts. I missed honoring a Disney Legend a few days ago and celebrating the release of 101 Dalmations.

So, I have temporarily plugged my laptop into the modem and send these thoughts. Old school? Yes, but I had to get a post fix real quick.

Please Standby...

We are experiencing technical difficulties at The Disney Obsession. Blog service will resume as soon as the modem and router are restored to their normal working order. We appreciate your patience (I sure could use some).

The Legends: Claude Coats

When Uncle Walt set out to turn his dream of a place where children and adults could have fun together into a reality, he selected a special group of people from his Studios. These individuals were the genesis of what we now call Imagineering. These were the first Imagineers and among them was Claude Coats.

He was born on January 17, 1913 in San Francisco. In 1934 he graduated from USC with a degree in fine art and architecture. Following some additional studies at Chouinard Art Institute, he joined the company in 1935 as a background painter. His oft heralded work spanned the range of classic Disney films from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937 to Lady and the Tramp in 1955.

It was in ’55 that Coats was tapped by Walt Disney to make Disneyland real. Looking back, it is difficult to imagine Disneyland, the Magic Kingdom, or EPCOT without Claude Coats influence, as he was involved in the design and development of The Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, World of Motion, and Horizons to name a few. He was also involved with bringing the Carousel of Progress and It’s a Small World to the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair.

True, there are many extremely talented individuals who spent their lives helping Walt to create the magic, but as Marty Sklar said, “Claude…was a genuine one-of-a-kind.”

Claude Coats died just a few days shy of his 79th birthday on January 9, 1992. He became a Disney Legend in 1991.

Next time you find yourself on POTC or exiting the Haunted Mansion, whisper a thank you to Mr. Coats.

Photo Credit: Disney Legends Website

The Legends: John Hannah

I must confess, I have never been much of a Donald Duck fan. No, I am a “Mickey Man”. If you cut me I will bleed red mixed with some yellow and black. But, if you follow The Duck, then you know of Jack Hannah.

Jack Hannah was born in Nogales, Arizona on January 15, 1913. Following his 18th birthday he found himself in Los Angeles enrolled at the Art Guild Academy and designing movie posters to make a living. In 1933 he was hired by Disney as an in-between and clean-up artist. He worked on Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and the Silly Symphonies cartoons.

Yet, it is with Donald that he would be best remembered. In all he worked on 65 Donald Duck shorts and in the process collected eight Academy Award nominations. He served as key animator on the Oscar winning short, “The Old Mill” which introduced the multi-plane camera.

In 1939 Jack moved from animation to the story department. He continued to work on Donald and eventually teamed with Carl Barks to create 27 on the Donald Duck shorts. He was also instrumental in bringing his feathered friend to television with titles that include, “A Day in the Life of Donald Duck” and “At Home with Donald Duck”.

He continued as an artist working with oils following his retirement in 1959.

Jack Hannah died at the age of 81 on June 11, 1994. He was made a Disney Legend in 1992.

Photo Credit: Disney Legends Website

Disney World After Dark: Japan

We have just enjoyed watching The American Adventure and are now making our way back out into this clear evening in the World Showcase. Although we were able to rest a little during the show, we still need a quite moment to be at ease and to reflect on our day. We have come to just such a place - Japan.

"The torii gate is found throughout Japan at the entry to ancient shrines. A great vermilion torii on the shores of the World Showcase Lagoon, adapted from the Itsukushima Shrine in Hiroshima Bay, is the entry to Disney's shrine to the architecture and heritage of Japan in World Showcase.

Looming 83 feet above the pavement is a pagoda, adapted from the seventh-century Horyuji Shrine at Nara. (Although similar to the Chinese pagodas that inspired them, Japanese pagodas use less color, less curve, and less ornamentation, emphasizing instead the grace of the designs and simplicity of line.) Its five stories symbolize earth, water, fire, wind, and sky; and the pagoda is topped by a sorin composed of nine rings, each with its own wind chimes."

from Since the World Began by Jeff Kurtti, pg. 110

Here is Japan. Enjoy the peace and listen to the quiet!

Where In The World

Last weeks Where In The World photo was indeed a section of one of the fountains found outside the Imagination pavilion. Congratulations to first time visitor Daniel Ross who is Living the Yellow Jacket Life at Georgia Tech.

Alright then. I feel that the last few weeks entries to the WITW series have been fairly easy. It may be time to elevate the challenge just a bit.

I give you, the Fifty in Disney composite challenge. Huh? Last April I turned 50 and my family thought it would be a great idea for me to celebrate at my Happy Place. So in the months leading up to the blessed event I sent out monthly newsletters with information about the vacation, games, trivia, etc. The composite to the left was in the March 2007 issue.

You'll recognize some items fairly easily and some may be a bit more difficult. In fact, one has already made a WITW appearance a few weeks back.

As for hints, here are a few. I have used photographs from all four parks and Downtown Disney. And just like the hint from the Gates of Africa, some of the photos are a part of the whole. I have added numbers to the bottom right corner of each photo as a reference.

So, there you are. Take the challenge or enlist your families and friends and have some fun. My family and friends did. Oh, and turning fifty in Disney was not to shabby either.