Welcome to those of you joining me from DELIGHTFULLY DISNEY and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the Final stop on our Magical Blogorail.
Photo used by permission from wdwnews.com
I was excited to see this month’s Blogorail topic! Storytelling is the essence of Disney entertainment, and I’m not just talking about TV shows and movies. Nothing is done at Disney—no show presented, no attraction designed—without a story behind it. Every attraction queue is designed to draw Guests into the theme and plunge them into the ride and is followed up by an exit that continues the detail. Every aspect of everything at the Disney theme parks is intentional and part of a story, from obvious things, like character costumes, right down to things you likely overlook, like the pavement you walk on.
Photo used by permission from wdwnews.com
One of my favorite examples of Disney storytelling is Pirates of the Caribbean (POTC), where Guests take a “cruise” through the haunting hallows of plunder and piracy. Here, the story began with an attraction and was so masterful it inspired four hugely successful hit movies. Now the movies in turn have come full circle and are returning Guests to the ride with a new familiarity. It’s interesting to see which aspects of the attraction appear in the movies (like the dog with the jail key) and which have transferred from film to ride (like Jack in the barrel).
Photo used by permission from wdwnews.com
POTC was one of the last projects Walt Disney himself had a hand in designing, though sadly he did not live to see it open at Disneyland in 1967. It was originally conceived to be a walk-through wax museum, but Walt expanded it after it was already under construction into a boat ride through a much larger space. We’re told at the beginning of the “cruise” that dead men tell no tales. However, these spirited buccaneers have enchanted generations of travelers with their charm and wit. Although Walt was a bit hesitant at first to include pirates as subject matter, no trip to his parks today would be complete without a visit to the rogue crew at POTC.
Today’s Takeaway:
Make up your own story! Have your kids imagine themselves a cap’n on the high seas, scavenging valuables from booty-laden sailing ships. Assign different roles to each child and have them act out the tale of travesty. Then, Mom or Dad go hide some pirate loot somewhere in the house or in your backyard and draw a clue-filled map to lead your little mateys on a treasure hunt.
SCHOOL SUBJECT: Literature & Composition
SKILL LEVEL: Elementary
Thank you for joining Magical Blogorail Yellow this month. We will be back Friday, March 1st with an all new theme. Keep checking in with our blogs in between loops to keep up to date with our Disney info, photos and stories. If you are looking for more Disney magic, you can make your way over to The Magical Blogorail website to see all our members and their blogs, as well as all our previous loops.
Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:
1st Stop ~ Return to Disney
2nd Stop ~ DIStherapy
3rd Stop ~ Delightfully Disney
Final Stop ~ Magical Mouse Schoolhouse (You are HERE!)
Add MAGICAL MOUSE SCHOOLHOUSE to your home library!
