Uncle Walt's Insider Page 209 – Uncle Walt's Insider

Teodor shows off his cast member name badge. Photo adapted from NameTagMuseum.com.

Disneyland cast member certified in non-existent language

"I thought it came with extra pay." ANAHEIM, CA -- It's not uncommon to see cast members at Disney parks in the United States with an addition to their name badge indicating their fluency in a language other than English. But Teodor Kennard, a custodial cast member at Disneyland Park, is the only cast member able to speak Êçeþadüàño, and with good reason -- the language does not exist. "It's this gibberish thing my brother Trevor and I made up when we were ...

Artists rendering of Judge Frollo's Gypsy Cabaret. Photo © 1996 Disney, courtesy DisneyScreenShots.com.

Lost Attractions: Judge Frollo’s Gypsy Cabaret

"Lost Attractions" is a recurring feature on Uncle Walt's Insider, where we shine the spotlight on planned attractions that were never built. The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Disney's 1996 animated feature, was a smash hit in every way. A light-hearted, comedy-filled romp through Victor Hugo's novel about singing gargoyles [Note: check this before publishing. I haven't read it.], the film was filled with wacky scenes of racism, genocide, mental abuse, unbridled lust, moral hypocrisy, mocking of people who are different, and the burning ...

April 25, 2018 by Marty in Spotlight

The mismatched socks of the Dapper Dans. Photo by Daniel Orth [CC BY-ND 2.0] via Flikr.

Dapper Dan’s mismatched socks lead to lawsuit

"My vacation was ruined," says litigious guest. DISNEYLAND RESORT -- The first of what may be many lawsuits arising from a situation first reported here last November has been filed, after one member of the park’s beloved barbershop quartet, the Dapper Dans, appeared on Main Street U.S.A. with unmatched socks. “I normally have the green striped costume,” the anonymous baritone told Uncle Walt's Insider, “and I put on green socks at home. But then Thursday I needed to be the blue Dapper Dan, but ...

April 24, 2018 by Marty in California

Disney Skyliner artist's conception. (c) 2017 Disney.

Disney admits: Skyliner is an April Fools joke

"We didn't think anyone would actually believe it." WALT DISNEY WORLD -- Put your dreams of riding a gondola away, Disney fans. It turns out the new Disney "Skyliner" at the Walt Disney World Resort is just an elaborate prank that got out of hand. "It started with some posts we read on Disney fan sites," spokesperson Jun Disney (no relation) tells Uncle Walt's Insider. "Some of the more obsessive fans noticed that Walt Disney World had filed permit requests for buildings that ...

April 23, 2018 by Marty in California, Florida

Artist's concept of a building that won't happen. Photo © 2017 Disney.

Update: Main Street Theater’s new open-air concept

The announced theater has not been canceled! There just won't be walls. Or a ceiling. WALT DISNEY WORLD -- Good news out of Orlando! The Main Street Theater project, which was announced at the 2017 D23 Expo, has not been canceled. Rumors have been flying that the costs of replacing the aging monorail fleet meant the budget for this new theater was going away. Uncle Walt's Insider has learned that that is not the case. Instead, the budget for the new theater is ...

April 21, 2018 by Marty in Florida