March of 2018

NEWSFLASH: PRE-ORDER MYSTERY BOX #4 NOW

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Theme Parkology News!

Question #4 for Bob Gurr

Here we are at the last question that we asked Disney Legend and Imagineer Bob Gurr. This question was asked again by Don Korta and I think you may very well be surprised by Bob's response. I know I was surprised. Don asked Bob, "For high school students in their Junior or Senior years who are dreaming of becoming a Disney Imagineer someday, what college path would you suggest for them?"

A very special thanks to Bob Gurr for taking the time to chat and answer your questions.

Pre-Order your Mystery Box #4

I am glad to announce that you can now pre-order your Mystery Box #4. This box will be filled with several amazing Theme Parkology/theme park related items and usually has at least one item signed by a Disney Legend, Imagineer, Musician, or Artist.

Mystery Box #3 contained a copy of the book Discovering the Magic Kingdom, signed by the author Joshua Shaffer, a copy of the DVD The Enchanted Secrets of Disneyland, signed by the writer Samantha Alban, a collectible musical CD of Let's Go Fly A Kite by Producer and Musician James Presley, a very rare Theme Parkology Submarine Voyage trading card.

I plan to have another very fun and unique box , filled with excitement, education, and of course Disney.

To pre-order your Mystery Box click on over to the Shop page or click HERE.

Peter Pan Project

I am very honored and excited to be affiliated with James Presley's animated short Peter Pan's Magical World of Neverland. This fantastic project will feature the voice of Margaret Kerry and an original song by Roxy Darr. Here is what James had to say about the project;

"Brian Winkler is the Lead on our animation team for Peter Pan's Magical World of Neverland. The animation process resumes this week and we are now looking at a December 2018 release date. New songs are being added to the movie and possibly a soundtrack will be released. This clip is a 1 short early pencil drawing drawing of the characters by Brian along with actual movie audio. These characters will be altered just a tad more so we have no confusion with the Disney movie version. But the old-school style animation will make this feature appeal to Disneyana collectors as well as kiddos."

My job is to be the Animate Director to make sure that the project is on track, on course, and to report to James of the progress of the animated feature. Here is a rough clip for you all to enjoy.

New Trading Cards Coming

I am so thrilled to announce that Theme Parkology Trading Cards Series #2 will be coming out very soon. And here is your first glimpse at the first five installment; Buzz Ligtyear Astro Blaster, Indiana Jones Adventure, The Enchanted Tiki Room, It's A Small World, and The Monorail.

I hope to release some of the Dark Ride Series and The Forgotten Attraction Series. And of course I will continue to offer special Con trading cards.

Here is a check list of the cards that are already out there;

Theme Park Series:

Disneyland 1955-1959

Disneyland 1960-1969

Disneyland 1970-1979

Disneyland 1980-1989

Disneyland 1990-1999

Attraction Series:

Autopia - Black and White

Autopia - Red

Autopia - Green

Autopia - White

Autopia - Blue

Autopia - Maroon

Autopia - Yellow

Autopia - Bob Gurr-moble (very rare)

The Phantom Manor - Melanie Ravenswood

The Phantom Manor - The Phantom

The Phantom Manor - Jake

The Phantom Manor - The Manor

The Cons

2017 Disneyana Expo - The Hatbox Ghost (very rare)

2017 Mouse-Con - Pirate (very rare)

And there you have it. I hope that you all continue to enjoy collecting them. As Series 2 comes out I will continue to offer them free at the Cons as well as when you purchase any Theme Parkology product. I will also update my Fan page and offer the complete sets on there.

Keep watching and keep collecting.

The PeopleMover Trailing by Soon

One of my favorite Disneyland attraction was the PeopleMover. This was a great way to relax and witness an aerial view of Tomorrowland. I thoroughly enjoyed a sneak peek at Star Tours and speeding through the world of Tron. Those were great memories.

I am pleased to announce that Theme Parkology's The PeopleMover is in production. I have recently just received a very impressive script from writer Vanessa Vass and have sent it off to be narrated by podcast host Dawn Short. If you will recall I was a co-host on Dawn's show Magical Day Radio.

I have also planned an interview with Disney Legend and Imagineer Bob Gurr, who will discuss his contribution to the PeopleMover vehicle, and Disney Imagineer Alan Coats, who will talk about his fathers work on Ford's Magic Skyway at the 1964/65 New York World's Fair. This attraction was basically the starting point for the PeopleMover.

I hope to begin editing this project late February, early March. This is going to be a fantastic telling of the transportation of the future.

A Parade is Coming

I thrilled to say that Theme Parkology's Main Street Electric Parade is now being edited. I had to shelve it for a little bit, which is common. I didn't realize that when dding animation to any project it's going to take some time. When I had the intro animated sequence for The Phantom Manor animated it took almost a whole year to complete it. Aside form the script undergoing several re-writes, characters need to be illustrated, arms, legs, and mouth need to be separately drawn, and then the animated procedure itself can take months to complete.

With the Main Street Electrical Parade I have had five illustrations designed; The Disneyland Train, Pete Pan's Pirate Ship, Alice in Wonderland, a turtle, and Pete's Dragon. After having them illustrated animator, Evan Bodell, is cleaning up each image and getting it ready to animate. The plan is to have each image animate across the screen as a transition piece from one scene to another.

I am also excited to announce that I will have not 1, but 2 interviews for this project. The first is musician and long time friend, James Presley. James will be discussing the music aspect of MSEP. The second person I'm interviewing is Wynton Stayton. Mr. Stayton is considered to be "The" Main Street Electrical Parade historian. He will share the information of the parades

within the early years.

This is going to be a fantastic documentary on Disneyland's most famous parade. No release date as of yet, but it has been dusted off the shelf and is in the work. Stay tuned.

Signature Series - Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster

I am very thrilled to announce a limited amount of Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster DVDs, signed by Audio-Animatronic builder, Garner Holt.

This amazing documentary covers the history of the ride from its construction to its opening and through its many changes. It also features an interview with Garner Holt who talks about his work on the attraction and at various other Disney parks.

This is a good opportunity to not only own another spectacular Theme Parkology DVD, but to have a unique signed cover by Garner Holt. Several of the limited signed cover will be offered as a give-away in the future or may end up within a Mystery Box, which makes this offer in short supply.

So don't delay complete your Signature Series collection and order your copy today.

To order visit the Shop page.

Did You Know...

One of the most popular question that I get asked is, "What are you working on now?" I usually respond with a short list of upcoming DVD projects that are in the works, but DID YOU KNOW that there are a few projects that I have done outside of Theme Parkology? It's true. Here is a short list.

1) Jacket Design - Most people don't know that I have a degree in graphic design and have illustrated lots of posters, flyers, website images, and even jacket sleeves for books. I was blessed to have designed two covers for author, Tara Moore, "The Eye Thief" and "True Tails of the Tooth Fairy", and Mark Arnold's "Frozen in Ice: The Story of Walt Disney Productions 1966-1985".

2) Audio CD - The recent release of Theme Parkology's The Haunted Mansion Audio CD wasn't actually my first audio CD that I produced. My first audio disc was "A Walk Through Epcot's World Showcase: The Mexican Pavilion", which was written and narrated by Krista Joy. This CD was a project that Krista wanted to do and she was kind enough to let me work on it with her.

3) Written Material - I have written several reviews, statements, comments, and summaries for various people, but one project that stands out is being a guest judge within the book "Disney Tale of the Tape" by Dan Sisneros. I was given two attractions to compare, usually it was a ride from Disneyland versus a ride from Walt Disney World, and then decide which one was the better attraction. I worked on California Screamin' vs Rock n Roller Coaster, The Haunted Mansion (DL) VS The Haunted Mansion (WDW), and Carthay Circle vs Hollywood Brown Derby.

4) Proof Reading - There have been several books authors who have sent me their manuscripts to read before it went to print. Most of the time they are looking for feedback and every so often I spot a misspelled word or two. Such books include; Margaret Kerry's "Tinker Bell Talks! Tale of a Pixie Dusted Life", which is amazing, Jeff Barnes' fantastic book "Beyond the Wisdom of Walt", and Joshua Shaffer sent me snippets of his book, "Discovering the Magic Kingdom" (2nd Edition), which was just spectacular.

5) Music Editing - I love editing music. I have been extremely fortunate to have worked on several amazing musical projects such as; Butch Berry's upcoming animated feature "William and the Werewolf", a collaborated music CD entitled "Singing with Friends" which features the vocal talents of Butch Berry, Roxy Darr, Mark Walsh, Peter Alden, Krista Joy, and Kimber Tomlinson, and editing music and audio to various podcasts such as Krista Joy's Living the Dream Podcast, Dawn Short's Magical Day Radio, and of course Theme Parkology's The Magic Behind the Ears Podcast.

Did you know that I love working on all of those projects?

Fantasyland Past to Present Arrives

I am very excited to announce that the NEW Fantasyland Past

to Present is finally here. This whimsical documentary travels through the years of Disneyland's charming land, Fantasyland and explores the history and the changes of all of its rides. It covers the rides of today and some of the previous rides such as The Skyway and Hook's Pirate Ship.

This documentary also features an interview with Disney Imagineer Alan Coats and Disney Legend and Imagineer Bob Gurr and Rolly Crump.

I hope to continue this new "land" series with the production next years Tomorrowland Past to Present and Cars Land.

So, don't forget to purchase your copy of Fantasyland Past

to Present. Visit the shop page today to get your DVD.

New Signature Series Items

Theme Parkology is thrilled to announce that there are 3 new signed items for the Signature Series; The Pirates of the Caribbean, Alice in Wonderland, and The Haunted Mansion Audio CD.

The Pirates of the Caribbean is signed by Actor/Visual Effect Artist C. Andrew Nelson. Mr. Nelson is one of the few actors who has played the role of Darth Vader in the Start Wars franchise and has worked as an effect artist on Galaxy Quest, Jumpers, Return to Witch Mountain, Enchanted, and The Spiderwick Chronicles, to name a few. Andrew is the editor and animator for this film.

Alice in Wonderland is signed by Disney Imagineer Alan Coats, who's father is the legendary Disney Imagineer Claude Coats.

The Haunted Mansion Audio CD is signed by Disney Legend and Imagineer Bob Gurr, who is also interviewed within the disc. There is 2 ways to get this signed CD, as a single or framed.

Don't miss your opportunity to collect a piece of history.

The Pirates Have Arrived

I am extremely excited to announce that the Pirates of the Caribbean have finally hit the Theme Parkology port. It debuted at this years Mouse-Con and nearly sold out, but fear not me 'earties, I still have a few for you.

This adventurous documentary explores the history of the Pirate ride. It was written by Samantha Alban, narrated by Bryan Simmons, edited by actor/visual effect artist C. Andrew Nelson, and features a great interview from Disney Imagineer Alan Coats, Disney Legend/Imagineer X-Atencio, Disney Imagineer Joe Rhodes, and actor/visual effect artist C. Andrew Nelson.

There are several animated transition segments within the DVD, courtesy of the talented C. Andrew Nelson. All animated images were created by "The Bean" author and illustrator Travis Hanson.

This documentary is amazing and a must have for your Theme

Parkology collection. So don't delay, seek out ye copy today, Mate.

The Phantom Manor Arrives

Just in time for Halloween, the release of the much awaited Theme Parkology documented

DVD, The Phantom Manor. This eerily-good DVD shares the history of Disneyland's famed attraction, The Phantom Manor. We will journey through the concept of the manor, traveling trough the hall of the haunted house to discover the residents there.

The animated intro sets up the over all experience of the ride as it unfolds the story of Melanie Ravenswood and her love for her fiance. Her father strongly deny's her to ever marry, even after his death in an earthquake.

The animated segment was written by Samantha Alban, illustrated by Kristen Watkins and Mina Flores, voiced by Roxy Darr, and animated by Greg Nevius. The haunted lullaby is sung by Roxy Darr and it is Spook-tacular!

I really would like to thank everyone who assisted with this project. It was a long process, but I think you all will enjoy the end result.

Be sure to get your copy today! To order your copy click HERE.

The Haunted Mansion CD Arrives

I know that I am always thrilled to release a new Theme Parkology project, but I am ECSTATIC for the release of The Haunted Mansion Audio CD. This amazing CD captures the history of Disneyland's famed Haunted Mansion as told by Theme Parkology's own Phantom Host.

The Phantom Host takes you on a thrilling journey through the Mansion entire history and features an interview with Doombuggies.com creator, Jeff Baham, and Disney Legend and Imagineer, Bob Gurr and Rolly Crump. What better way to discover the secrets of the Mansion than from those who worked on it.

The audio CD is 42 minutes of heart-beating fun and was written by the talented writer, Carla Minks, narrated by gifted voice over artist, Bobby Baker, music by Kevin MacLeod and Markus Covello with an original graveyard song by James Presley, and was co-produced and co-

created by C. Andrew Nelson. These amazing talented individuals did a great job and I know that you are all going to enjoy the first of many Audio CDs.

Rush over to the SHOP page and orders your copy today or for an even better ghoulish saving, purchase The Haunted Mansion Audio CD and The Phantom Manor DVD (pre-order) for just $27.00, that's an $8.00 saving. And because I'm feeling the spirit of the holidays if you order the Halloween package of both the DVD and the CD by this Sunday I will also include not 1, but 2 Phantom Manor Trading cards within your package.

So don't delay, (say it with me) order your copy TODAY!

(Note: If you do order the Halloween package I will ship both the DVD and the CD together. The Phantom Manor DVD should be ready by (gulp, dare I say) Friday the 13th.)

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster is Finally Here

At long last the much-awaited documentary from Theme Parkology, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster, is ready to order. After a short delay with the printing company that recently merged with another, I received the inked Buzz Lightyear disc. I am very excited to finally release this charming documentary.

This exciting adventurous documentary explores the history of the ride, its sister attraction at the various Disney parks, and has several complete ride thru. The documentary also features a spectacular interview with Garner Holt, designer and builder of several of Disney’s Audio-Animatronics, including those in the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster attraction. Garner was very kind to share his story on the works of the Audio-Animatronics within the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster attraction.

And once again at the end credits I have added several Disney fans review of the attraction. This is a fun way for fans to express how they love the ride. Speaking of credits, I would like to thank the following for their contribution with this project; Martin Ceisel (writer), Mark Young (narrator), Garner Holt (Audio Animatronics engineer), Greg Nevius (vehicle illustrator), and Savannah Cornell (assistant videographer).

So, don't delay, order your copy of Theme Parkology's Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster today! You can order your copy by clicking onto the SHOP page or by clicking HERE.

*All pre-orders have been shipped.

Meet the Director of Social Media

Aside from my many Theme Parkology projects that I do, I write for various book authors, design many book, DVD, and CD covers, edit musical songs for animation, and produce several products for friends and clients. So it probably comes as no surprise that I am terrible at maintaining my social media.

My poor YouTube Channel and Instagram page suffers from my lack of attention. And so enters Dawn Short. I would like to officially announce that Dawn will be Theme Parkology's Director of Social Media.

So, what does that mean for you? I'm glad you asked. You will now be up to date on the world of Theme Parkology with updated information and photos. When I'm off and about at an event I will be able to drop a photo or video into a drive and Dawn will be able to add it to my social media. But she will do much more than that. She will be cleaning my channels, correcting any mistakes, organizing photos and video, as well as maintaining each channel.

"It is both an honor and pleasure to join Theme Parkology as the Social Media Director. With the topic being Disney and already having experienced the magic that the products Theme

Parkology has to offer with Disney Park fans all over the world, I am incredibly excited to be working with this company! I will be helping to build it with the goal to reach even more Theme Parkology and Disney fans and along side of the owner, Mr. Jerry Cornell, watching the joy it brings to Disney loving people like us. I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible at an event sometime, too! Be on the lookout for super special announcements! Meanwhile, lots of love, pixie dust and magical hugs to you all!"

Let's all welcome Mrs. Dawn Short to the Theme Parkology family. I am very confident that she will be a valuable asset to the company. I look forward to watching her improve my social media.

Behind the Scenes: The Phantom Manor

If you're like me you like to watch the Behind the Scenes of your favorite film or music video. It captures the overall experience of the project. I have just created segments of the Behind the Scene: The Phantom Manor.

These scenes will give you an idea of what you can expect from the final animated sequence of Melanie Ravenswood. The first clip (upper right) features the illustrated works of Kristen Dias (Watkins). Kristen explains the story line of the Storyboard and though much of the storyboard wasn't used it will give you an idea of how the final animated intro came about.

The next installment will highlight the animated works of Greg Nevius. He will explain what went into the animated aspect of the project and even show you a small test scene. The last installment will feature the voice of Melanie Ravenswood, Roxy Darr.

And don't forget to head down to Anaheim on October 1 to attend the Disneyana Expo to grab your copy of The Phantom Manor. For those of you who are unable to attend you can order your copy on September 29, 2017. For now, take a look at the Behind the Scene: The Phantom Manor part 1 and send me your feedback.

Special Trading Card at Disneyana

With only a week away to the Disneyana Expo I am thrilled to share with you the Limited Edition Disneyana Trading Card. This unique card collaborates with the release of Theme Parkology's first audio CD, The Haunted Mansion. And what better image to have on it than The Hatbox Ghost.

The design was done by our very own graphic artist and illustrator, Kristen Diaz (Watkins), and it really shares that haunted/terrorized feel of the October season. What I like about this image is that the colors are very dark, even the glow eludes darkness. The eyes, however, are bright and menacing. Kristen did a fantastic job.

I will have a very limited amount of these rare cards and they will be given out for FREE at the Disneyana Expo on October 1, 2017. The event will be at the Wyndham Anaheim Garden Grove. Here is the address; 12021 Harbor Blvd, Garden Grove, CA. 92840.

Aside from this rare Theme Parkology Trading Card I will also be unveiling two NEW Theme Parkology projects. The first is the much awaited audio CD, The Haunted Mansion. This CD journeys through the hallways of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion, narrated by our own

Phantom Host, Bobby Baker. We will explore the manor and its dark secrets. The audio CD also feature an interview with Jeff Baham, Bob Gurr, and Rolly Crump.

The second project to be release is the Phantom Manor documentary. This hauntedly-good DVD travels through the history of The Phantom Manor and features an animated intro of Melanie Ravenswood, written by Samantha Alban, illustrated by Kristen Watkins and Mina Flores, Melanie Ravenswood voice is voiced by singer/actress/voice over artist, Roxy Darr, and the animation executed by Greg Nevius.

These are all amazing projects from Theme Parkology. I hope to see you all at the Disneyana.

Collectible Phantom Cards

Theme Parkology Trading Card fans rejoice for a set of The Phantom Manor cards will be available this October. There will be three in the set with 1 rare card.

The three cards include; Melanie Ravenswood, the bride destine to be heartbroken and alone, The Phantom, who lurks about protecting his only daughter, and Jake, the engineer who gave his heart to Melanie. The bonus card will be that of the manor. The Manor card will be so rare that I'm only printing out one sheet of it.

The Manor itself, in my opinion, is a character all of its own. The Manor seems to have a certain mood of gloom an despair, yet in its hey day the Manor was beautiful and seemed to radiate peace. When the sad Earthquake took the lives of Melanie's mom and dad the has began to sulk and slowly became old and decrypted. I think that makes for a good old fashion rare trading card.

These cards will be unveiled at this years Disneyana Expo along with the Phantom Manor DVD. I know that they will go fast, but I will be sure to save a few for you fans who are looking to complete your Theme Parkology Trading Card set.

I may have to make a trading card check list.

Mystery Box is on its Way

I am thrilled to announce that Theme Parkology's first Mystery Box is on its way. For those of you who ordered a box keep an eye out for the postman as he will be delivery a Priority package any day now.

For those of you who have yet to purchase a box there are still a few left. The Silver Mystery Box will have a signed Theme Parkology DVD, a complete set of Autopia Trading Cards and I slipped in a little something extra.

The Gold Mystery Box will also have a signed Theme Parkology DVD, a complete set Autopia Trading Cards, and several other Theme Parkology related items. I was also in a generous mood so I placed an extra item just to ensure a smile when opening it.

The Silver Box is only $20.00 (per box, per month or bi-monthly) and each box will have item(s) that are, or, equal to $20.00 or more and the Gold Box is at an impressive price of only $50.00 (per box, per month or bi-monthly) and each box will have item(s) that are, or, equal to $50.00 or more. This is a fun way to collect rare Theme Parkology items and makes for a fantastic gift.

This is a fun way to receive rare items as well as signed Theme Parkology items. So don't delay, click on over to the shop page and order your MYSTERY BOX today!

Autopia DVD Now Released

I am very pleased to finally announce the release of the much awaited Theme Parkology Attraction Series DVD, Autopia.

This documentary has been a challenge, but has turned out to be one of my best documentaries Theme Parkology has produced. This charming project was written by Christopher Garcia, Narrated by Mark Young, the animated menu was done by Mark Walsh, the transition animation was by Greg Nevius, and it features an amazing interview with Disney Legend and Imagineer, Bob Gurr.

We travel the tracks of the history of Autopia, careening through the many changes over the years, and visiting the attraction's differences at Disneyland's sister park.

I might point out that of all of the interviews that I have done with Bob Gurr this one, in my opinion, is the best one by far. He really enjoyed sharing his story and got very detailed.

You won't want to miss this amazing documentary. To order visit the shop page and please don't forget to drop me a line to let me know how you enjoyed the documentary.

Autopia Trading Cards

To coincide with the release of Theme Parkology's Attraction Series DVD, Autopia, are the complete set of Autopia Trading Cards. There are 7 colored Autopia vehicles and one rare card. The colors are; Black and White, Blue, Green, Maroon, Red, White, Yellow, and the rare card will be the Bob Gurr-moble, which is a card with Disney Legend and Imagineer, Bob Gurr sitting within a Maroon Autopia vehicle.

There are only 3 ways to obtain your collectible trading cards; 1, a random FREE card will be selected for you with each Theme Parkology DVD you purchased, 2, order the complete set at the fan page or the shop page, or 3, every Theme Parkology Mystery Box will have a guaranteed complete set.

This is a great set, but there are only a limited amount of cards as I am only printing out 18 of each colored vehicle and 10 Bob-Mobile. That's a total of 136 cards. That may sound like a lot of cards, but it

really isn't and they will go quickly so be sure to get your Autopia Trading Cards today.

Any suggestion on what the next card should be? Perhaps a set of Theme Parkology's Forgotten Attractions, a character from the Character Series, or maybe even another attraction? Let me know. Drop me a line at jerry@themeparkology.com and tell me which card set you think should be next.

I will be having Greg Nevius, host of the Chat Box Podcast and the one who designed these amazing Autopia cards, create a special design for a very special trading card for this Novembers Mouse-Con in San Francisco. So, if you love these trading cards plan on visiting us at the Mouse-Con and get your FREE (rare) trading card.

More to come...

Theme Parkology TV

I am about to embark on a new venture that I must say I am very excited about, Theme Parkology TV. And what is TP TV? I'm glad you asked. Theme Parkology TV will feature several clips of upcoming documentaries, Behind the Scenes footage of what goes into each project, interviews, guest speakers, music videos, and of course we can't forget the sponsors like Destination with Characters Travel Service.

I will also be producing several shows that I hope will entertain you, starting with Dining at the Mouse House, which is a food critique from various Disney restaurants. If you're like me you must be curious as to what kind of food is served at Walt Disney World or Disneyland Paris. This will be a great show that will not only share what's on the menu, but will explore the history of the venue.

TP Q&A will focus on questions asked by you the fans for various celebrity people. Perhaps there's a question that you always wanted to ask Bob Gurr, Rolly Crump, or Margaret Kerry? Well now you can ask the question and receive the answers.

TP TV Specials. Remember the vintage Mickey Mouse Club television show? I use to love Spin

and Marty. So, in tribute to those classic shows I would like to create several short film series, starting with Hand Puppet. This show will focus on a lovable puppet who really believes he's human and in believing so it gets him into several, uh, funny situations. You'll have to watch to see what kind of mayhem he gets into.

There are more projects for the show in the works, but you get the idea. Creating a television show may take time so I'm not sure how often a new episode will air, but I'm sure once I get a format going than the shows will be easier to film, edit, and release.

Stay tuned...

The Temple of the Forbidden Eye Available

The time has finally come! You can now order your copy of Theme Parkology's Attraction Series, Indiana Jones Adventure: The Temple of the Forbidden Eye.

This 43 minute documentary covers the history of the attraction, exploring it's concept, its construction, and the subtle changes that have occurred over the years. It also features a clip of Disney Legend and Imagineer, Tony Baxter, sharing secrets of the Indiana Jones ride and a character reading by voice over artist, Bob Joles, who voiced the role of Sallah withing the queues boarding.

This venturous DVD was written by Martin Ceisel and narrated by Mark Young. At the end credits I wanted to do something special, so I added some fantastic quotes about the ride from you, the fans of the Indiana Jones Adventure attraction. This is a great addition and I may start adding it to all of my DVDs moving forward.

So don't delay! Get your copy today!

Meeting an Amazing Darr-ling

I recently journeyed to the Anaheim area to conduct some Theme Parkology business. I had a great time visiting friends, doing interviews, and walking the Downtown Disney streets, but it was the end of the day festivities that was the highlight of the entire trip, I was lucky enough to have had dinner with director/animator, Mark Walsh and actress/singer/song writer/voice over artist, Roxy Darr. It was a meet and greet like no other. We all just had a great time sharing stories, laughing, and of course we conducted some Theme Parkology business.

Roxy is just a very talented sweetheart. Her singing is breath taking, her acting award winning, and her voice over skills is just stunning. For those of you who have been following the progress of my upcoming DVDs will remember that Roxy Darr will be voicing Melanie Ravenswood in this October's release, The Phantom Manor.

Well I am very excited to announce that in the near future we will be collaborating on several new projects, one of which will have Roxy narrating an upcoming documentary. This news is in its infancy stage, so new in fact, that I haven't even assigned her a project, but rest assure which ever documentary I assign her will be spectacular.

To better get to know Roxy Darr and her many talents please visit her YouTube;

channel, https://www.youtube.com/user/RoxyDarr

The History of the Rivers of America

NEW PROJECT ALERT! I am thrilled to announce that I will be producing a documentary on the Rivers of America. This will be a fascinating story that will not only cover the history of the river, but of the Mark Twain Riverboat, Sailing Ship Columbia, Mike Fink Keel Boats, Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes, and I may even mention Tom Sawyer Island.

This documentary is in its infancy stage and hasn't even been written yet, but I would like to thank Joshua Shaffer, author of Discovering the Magic Kingdom, for connecting me to Disney Imagineer, Ben Colcol. Ben was one of the Imagineers who work on The Country Bear Jamboree and The Rivers of America. So it'll be great to hear the story of the River from someone who assisted in constructing it.

By the way, I will be interviewing Ben Colcol for a future episode of The Magic Behind the Ears Podcast.

More information to come as I map out the writer and narrator, but this documentary will soon be in the works.

Alice in Wonderland Now Available

The time has come! Theme Parkology is very excited to announce that The Dark Ride Series: Alice in Wonderland is now available.

This documentary journeys through the history of this charming attraction exploring its concept, its construction, its opening and the many changes that have occurred through the years. It also features a great interview with Imagineer, Alan Coats, whose father worked on this attraction.

The Alice in Wonderland documentary was written by Natalie Gorna, narrated by Bryan Simmons, music scored by Kevin MacLeod, the DVD cover created by Kristen Watkins, and it was co-edited by Sean Buckley.

This was a fun documentary to work on. I especially enjoyed watching the attraction change from 2D cut outs, to 3D figures, to the usage of animation.

This is a great DVD that I know that you will enjoy!

Another Mountain is Coming

I have been extremely busy developing projects here at Theme Parkology. As you already know, The Pirates of the Caribbean, written by Samantha Alban, edited by C. Andrew Nelson, is coming. So are the following; Autopia, written by Christopher Garcia, The Phantom Manor, written by Yvonne Harden, and the recently announced, The Main Street Electrical Parade, written by Molly Blaeser. I am now thrilled to announced yet another project is in the work, Splash Mountain.

Yep, this water flume attraction is well on its way in production. It was written by Micha Palmer, narrated by Stephen Jackson, and is currently being edited by Aimee Garcia, who edited Theme Parkology's Character Series, Betty Boop: What A Gal!

This film will journey through the history of the water mountain, discovering how the idea came about, the construction, its opening, as well as the differences of the attraction from the sister parks. It will feature a fantastic interview with Disney Imagineer and puppeteer, Terri Hardin.

More details on this charming documentary to come.

An Electric Parade is Coming

Yes, the rumors are true, The Main Street Electrical Parade is coming to Theme Parkology. We all love and appreciate the beauty and magic of this parade. The colorful lights, dazzling floats, lovable characters, and let's not forget the charming music, is what makes this parade so whimsical.

I am currently having this script written by the talented, Molly Blaeser. Molly will be detailing the history of the parade as well as the chronicle order of the floats and its travels around the many Disney parks.

I am also pleased to announce that I will be interviewing musician, James Presley, on the mechanics of the famed musical score, and with Disneyland/Main Street Electrical Parade expert, Wynton Stayton. These two amazing guest will gives us fans a more in-depth look at the Main Street Electrical Parade. I hope to also head to the park in March to film the parades return home.

But wait, there's more. Just confirmed is the valued assistance of artist, Chaunine Joy Landau who will be drafting five images of the Main Street Electrical Parade floats so that they can be

animated. Chaunine and I are in talks to decide which five floats will be drawn. Have a suggestion of which one? Send me an email.

This is going to be a fun and amazing documentary. Stay tuned.

Travis Hanson Shares His Talent

I am ecstatic to announce that writer/illustrator, Travis Hanson will be sharing his talent on the upcoming documentary, Pirates of the Caribbean. As mentioned in an earlier post actor/visual effect artist, C. Andrew Nelson, will be editing the documentary as well as animating several transition sequences. The images that Andrew will be using will be illustrated by Travis Hanson.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Mr. Hanson's work please allow me to share his talents. He has written and illustrated some marvelous books including; A Daisy for a Kiss, So you want to buy a Robot Dino?, Tanner Jones and the Quest for the Monkey Stone, and of course The Bean. He has also produced several games such as; No Mercy Card Game and Santa's Bag, which I have and LOVE to play with my girls.

His style is beyond amazing. He creates jaw-dropping worlds with charming characters and every story has the reader captive. His books are the kind of stories that films are made from. I strongly encourage you to check out his website at, www.thebean.com/

Travis will be picking up his pencil to draw several Pirate theme images for the animated sequences, adding more wonder- ment to the Pirates documentary. By the way, the skull, canon ball, and liquor bottle was one by Travis.

I hope that this is the beginning of many future projects together.

Thar Be Pirates Coming, arrrghhh!

Theme Parkology's documentary on Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean has been years in the making, but I am glad to announce that it is finally in production. Here's what I can tell you about this spectacular documentary;

It was written by talented author, Samantha Alban, who has written A Life Without Living and the recently released Theme Parkology documentary, The Enchanted Secrets of Disneyland. Partial music is being done by the talented James Presley and actor/visual effect artist, C. Andrew Nelson, will not only be doing the animated transition, but he is editing the whole project. (Round of applause)

Within the history of the swashbuckling documentary will be interviews with Disney Legend and Imagineer, X-Atencio and Imagineer, Alan Coats. I will attempt to explore the whole story of the attractions, complete with a ride-thru, and short introductions to the Pirate rides around the world. I am also considering bringing back the bonus track with a possible introduction to the characters within the attraction, as told by Joshua Shaffer, author of

Discovering the Magic Kingdom. This segment would be a lot like Meet the Family bonus track on Theme Parkology's Haunted Mansion DVD.

As mentioned Andrew will be adding animated transitions within the documentary. These transition pieces will connect one scene into the next scene smoothly. I would also like to point out the the person who is drawing up the images for the animated sequence is the talented Naya Ramsey-Clarke.

Thar be Pirates invading your television soon. Arrrrgghhh!

Attraction Backstory Coming

I am very thrilled to announce that I will be producing a documentary on the Backstories of various Disney attractions.

Many attractions have a fictitious background story that assist in the attraction's experience Some of the stories I'm sure that you're familiar with, but there may be some that you don't yet know. For example do you know the story of Lord Henry Mystic and his pet monkey, Albert, at Mystic Manor in Disneyland Hong Kong? Or perhaps the tale of Mr. Hightower and his ancient artifact, the idol of Shiriki Utundu, at Tokyo DisneySea?

I will explore these fable stories and share them all with you. I am currently writing the tale of The Haunted Mansion (Anaheim) and I am thrilled to say that I am getting some assistance from Jason Surrell, author of Pirates of the Caribbean: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies and The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies. (If you don't have these books than you really need to add them to your collection.)

I plan to cover 3 stories; The Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and The

The Tower of Terror. Or... I am considering writing up The Haunted Mansion and its backstory to the mansion in California, Florida, and Paris, giving viewers the complete backstory of the manor. Any thoughts?

I am really looking forward to completing this fun and exciting documentary.

New Theme Parkology Family Member

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We all know how difficult it can be to plan a trip to any Disney parks. Well Theme Parkology is excited to welcome a new Theme Parkology family member, Don Korta of Destination with Character Travel Service.

"We specialize in premier planning services for all aspects of Disney travel including the Walt Disney World Resort, the Disneyland Resort, the Disney Cruise Line, and Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa. In addition, we also Specialize in Universal Parks, SeaWorld Parks, and have extensive training & experience with over dozen cruise lines, something to fit everyone’s needs.

Whether you’re looking for a fun filled trip to Las Vegas, an All-Inclusive Resort, or a guided or independent tour to one of over 300 destinations worldwide, we promise you the individual, 24/7 support you need to take the hassles out of vacationing!

Our planning & bookings services are FREE, and for Disney, we will even book your Dining & Fast Pass+ reservations for you!

Don’t you deserve the best? We think so!

So contact Destinations With Character Travel and become one of our family of satisfied clients who go on to become repeat clients and friends!"

Contact Info:

Web Site: www.destinationswithcharacter.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/destinationswithcharacter/
Twitter: @DestWithChar

Email: destwithchar@comcast.net

Disney Tale of the Tape: Theme Park Boxing

DISNEY FANS from around the world rejoice as a new book has arrived just in time for the holidays, Disney Tale of the Tape: Theme Park Boxing. This charming book, written by Dan Sisneros, contains "boxing bouts" of Disneyland attractions and restaurants versus the rides and venues at Walt Disney World, Californis versus Florida, if you will.

The boxing match stars such as The Jungle Cruise vs Kilimanjaro Safaris, Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue vs Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, and The Haunted Mansion vs The Haunted Mansion, to name a few. Each bout compares an attraction or restaurant from both parks, sharing the judges viewpoint of what he likes or dislikes about a specific ride, and the bout is decided by the author.

And I am pleased to announce that I am one of the 10 judges. Yep, yours truly was asked to write up my weigh ins regarding specific fights. I have to say it was an honor to be asked to write in Dan Sisneros book, but more importantly it was a lot of fun. There were a few bouts where I wasn't sure which one would win. In fact, I still don't know until I receive my copy.

So be sure to get your copy today. Head on over to Amazon or click the Buy the Book button.

Buy the Book

The Secrets is Out!

I have been receiving positive feedback regarding The Enchanted Secrets of Disneyland documentary. So much so that I have been writing up more secrets for its sequel. I also thought it might be fun to share with you the secrets that dwell within the Secrets DVD.

So, here are 5 secrets within the Secrets;

1. Two of my daughters make an appearance. There is a quick scene where two cute little girls dressed as Snow White and Aurora are sitting with the real Snow White and Aurora. These are two of my little princess'.

2. My granddaughter makes a quick intro. In the beginning of the intro there is a scene where my granddaughter is hugging Tigger. Fun fact, she was scare of the fluffy tiger.

3. I couldn't help but make a cameo. It's true. The segment where narrator, Krista Joy, is talking about the Disneyland Castle, if you look at the people entering the gates you will notice a dashing young man in a purple short sleeve shirt walking through... that's me!

4. An attempted jump was cut. I actually did several takes of me entering and exiting the castle gates. One particular scene that made it on the editing floor is one in which I walk out onto the gate, stop to admire the pond with swans, and then pretend to jump to my shallow death. I was having too much fun.

5. Thar be Pirate cuts. When I sat with author, Joshua Shaffer, to discuss the secrets of The Pirates of the Caribbean attraction there was over an hour of secrets. Over an hour! Joshua went into details about the many secrets and shared some back story about actual Pirates.

Want more secrets? Order your copy of the charming documentary, The Enchanted Secrets of Disneyland.

Good Times at Mouse-Con 2

Mouse-Con 2 was amazing! From the moment the doors opened at 10 am til the very end, the Con was filled with fun entertainment. The celebrity guest included Karen Dotrice, actress who played Jane Banks in Mary Poppins, Johnny Whitaker, actor who has been in several Disney films including; The Biscuit Eater, Napoleon and Samantha, and The Snowball Express, C. Andrew Nelson, actor and visual effect artist.

There was plenty of vendors that sold Disney pins, posters, paintings, clothing, and of course DVDs (wink wink). There were several book authors on hand to sign their book such as; Joshua Shaffer (Discovering the Magic Kingdom), Russell D. Flores (More

Seen, Unseen Disneyland) and Don Ballard (Disneyland Hotel).

There were many Disney fans enjoying the con such as; Doobie Moseley of Laughing Place, Jeff Baham of Doombuggies, Butch Berry owner of Berrylandia, and Michael Bowling of The Dis (who was very charming and fun to talk to). However, it was the guests who wore Disney related costumes who, in my opinion, stole the show. There were so many impressive costumes. One young lady wore a Matterhorn Mountain ride that she made, a chimney sweeper from Mary Poppins roamed the hallways, Mr. Incredible flexed his muscles, the Mad Hatter and friends taunted fans, and a little Cinderella stole our hearts.

It was definitely the place to be for all Disney fans and if you missed it don't worry as Steve Wyatt announced that there will be a Mouse-Con 3 next you in San Francisco. Mark your calendar.

*A video montage of Mouse-Con 2 will be here soon.

Two NEW Signature Release

Theme Parkology is pleased to release two new signatures for the Signature Series DVDs. Disney Legend and Imagineer, Rolly Crump, has signed The Enchanted Tiki Room covers and Imagineer, Alan Coats, has signed the My Toad's Wild Ride covers.

These are both spectacular DVDs with the history of the attraction, complete ride-thru, interview, and spectacular footage. The Enchanted Tiki Room features a rare interview with Rolly Crump who was only too happy to share his cute stories about his work on the pre-show tiki gods and the bird canopy within the show. The Mr. Toad's Wild Ride documentary features Alan Coats who gave us an in-depth look into his fathers work on the ride.

These Signature Series covers are very limited and make the perfect gift for the holiday or a nice addition to your collection.

To order your signature DVD visit the Shop page.

The Skyay Soars Through Its Release

THE WAIT IS OVER!

I am very excited to announce that the new Forgotten Attraction installment is finally here. Theme Parkology proudly presents The Skyway.

The Skyway was an amazing ride that soared across the Disneyland sky from Fantasyland to Tomorrowland, giving riders an aerial view of the many attractions and shows. Sadly, The Skyway closed its buckets in November 1994, but now you can relive the magic of this attraction from this documented DVD.

We explore the history of this ride starting with its concept through its opening and through the many changes. We will look at the various Skyways at the other Disney parks and

reveal why the attraction finally shut down after 38 years of operation and this documented wonderment features a great interview from Ken Pellman, co-author of Sweeping the Kingdom. Ken was one of the few who got to ride on this attraction on its last day of operation.

So don't delay order your copy today! Just click onto the Shop page, order it, view it and send me your feedback.

The Magic Behind the Ears Podcast Now Playing

I am beyond thrilled to announce that Theme Parkology's first podcast, The Magic Behind the Ears Podcast, is now playing. This spectacular podcast features myself along with co-host, Joshua Shaffer, author of Discovering the Magic Kingdom, and will focus on all things Disney.

I hope to bring many special guest to share their story. And what better way to start a show than with voice over actress, Susan Egan. Susan's film credits include; 13 Going on 30 and Galaxy Quest, her television appearances can be found on such shows as; Almost Perfect, Party of Five, The Drew Carey Show, Niki, and Modern Family, and she has voiced many characters such as; Lin (Spirited Away), Gina (Porco Rosso), Angel (Lady and the Tramp 2), Rose (Steven Universe),

but she is perhaps best known for her role as Meg from Disney's animated classic film, Hercules.

Click on over to the Podcast tab to hear Susan Egan's story on The Magic Behind the Ears Podcast.

Trading Cards are Coming

The Theme Parkology Trading Cards are coming! I have been working on the first set of cards to release for this year and so far I have 5 cards completed with another 5 card designs in the works.

The first wave will be of the Theme Park Series covering the complete Disneyland eras. The front will have an image related to one of the series DVD and will features some rich colors. The back will have some Fun Facts about the highlighted DVD.

The next set will feature 5 images and Fun Fact about the Attraction Series. And I may have a special card for the Christmas holiday.

Just a reminder that these cards will be FREE and place within every order at random. My apologies now in advance for those of you that get 2 or 3 of the same cards, but the good news is that you can trade them with fellow Theme Parkology followers. I also hope to have events where I have special trading cards such as at this years Mouse-Con, the Disneyana Expo, the D23 Expo or at a Theme

Parkology meet and greet.

At some of these event I hope to have special cards that you can actually have a Disney Legend or artist sign it. Would that be cool to have a It's A Small World trading card and have Disney Legend and Imagineer, Rolly Crump, sign it? Or what if you have a Haunted Mansion card and you can have Disney Legend and Imagineer, Bob Gurr, and book author and creator of doombuggies.com, Jeff Baham, sign it?

So when will the first set of cards be ready for collecting? It will be ready with the release of The Skyway which is near completing...

So get ready to collect your Theme Parkology cards!

Mr. Toad's is Finally Here!

IT'S FINALLY HERE! Theme Parkology is very excited to announce the release of the Mr. Toad's Wild Ride documentary. The spectacular DVD covers the history of the attraction, sharing its concept, construction, and the many changes that has occurred throughout the years. It also features a charming interview from Imagineer, Alan Coats, who is the son of Disney Legend and Imagineer, Claude Coats. Alan was only too happy to chat about his father's work on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

Be sure to grab your copy and journey with us as we discover the difference between the Disneyland version of the ride and the version at Walt Disney World. Once again we are blessed to have Bryan Simmons return as narrator and the music is composed by Kevin MacLeod.

To order your copy click onto the Shop tab above. This is a fantastic DVD that you don't want to be without!

Here is a short teaser for the Mr. Toad's Wild Ride documentary. This was a lot of fun to do and I really enjoyed chatting with Imagineer, Alan Coats.

In my youth this attraction was a favorite of mine, but truth be told I was a bit scared when I saw the lights of an oncoming train and of course the Hades scene always made me feel a bit uneasy.

Written by: Morgan Olson

Narrated by: Bryan Simmons

Music by: Kevin MacLeod

Special Guest: Alan Coats

DVD Cover: Kristen Watkins & Mindy Lucio

Produced & Edited by: Jerry Cornell

Sweep Spot Podcast

I have some exciting news for those you have yet to hear, Theme Parkology was on its first podcast this past Saturday. The Sweep Spot podcast is owned and hosted by Ken Pellman and Lynn Barron, author of the spectacular book, Cleaning the Kingdom. I will admit I was a bit nervous upon their call, but they made me feel relax and I was pleased to discover that we were able to chat for awhile, which calmed my nerves.

The interview was fantastic as Ken and Lynn asked simple questions about the company, how it got started, what are the steps to creating a DVD, and they even asked what my personal favorite Disneyland attraction is.

Want to hear the interview? All you have to do is click below. And please take a moment to enjoy The Sweep Spot podcast at http://lynnbarron.libsyn.com/webpage/category/Podcasts

The Sweep Spot - Ken Pellman & Lynn Barron

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