Five Friday Favorites: Disney Movie Moments

In order to create a masterpiece, each Disney movie is defined by certain showstopping scenes. Every single one of us has our favorite scenes from Disney movies, and I am no different. You know how much I love Disney movies by now, and on this week's edition of Five Friday Favorites, I am going to reveal my top five Disney scenes.

It is virtually impossible to narrow down a list like this to just five, so I must start off with some honorable mentions. I would be remiss to make such a list and leave out the Sorcerer's Apprentice segment from Fantasia. Not only does it feature the Mouse himself, but it's just an excellently animated entertaining sequence. The music, obviously, is the best of the best and how could you possibly beat seeing Mickey on the big screen commanding the scene? It's iconic Disney through and through, and one of the best scenes Walt himself ever created.

The second honorable mention, I'm going to go back to 1950 with Disney's classic Cinderella and the ballroom dance with Prince Charming and Cinderella herself accompanied by "So This is Love." This is a quintessential Disney movie moment as audiences swoon every time these two legends dance with each other in their classic attire. Plus, talk about a perfect song for the occasion! Not only does it define Cinderella; it defines an entire generation of Disney film-making.

Next up, the entire animation sequence from Mary Poppins never ceases to give me chills. Highlighted by such classic Disney songs as "Jolly Holiday" and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," this scene is entertainment to the extreme. Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews are their typical classy selves, but when the magic of Disney animation gets involved, the film gives a whole new meaning to the term 'classic.' This scene, in my opinion, is one of Walt Disney's crowning achievements.

 I have on numerous occasions in posts past expressed my love for Aladdin, and one of the reasons I love this movie so dearly is because of the "A Whole New World" scene.Yet again, a scene is bolstered by the presence of one of the best songs Disney has ever recorded, but the animation isn't too shabby whatsoever. Actually, it's some of the best animation from Disney in the 1990s, and that's some high praise, if I do say so myself.

Another honorable mention goes to the first ten minutes of the Pixar classic, Up. This film does in ten minutes what a whole bunch of films fail to do in two hours plus: make us care. The entire opening sequence with the love story of Carl and Ellie being told is simply Pixar doing what they do best, and that is taking excellent animation and making us care for that animation. By the end of just ten minutes, the audience has already experienced a roller coaster of emotion, setting up what would eventually become known as a modern day animated classic.

The final honorable mention belongs to the "I See the Light" sequence from Tangled. One of the finest pieces of animation in Disney history, Rapunzel and Flynn shine while singing this modern Alan Menken classic with thousands of the kingdom lanterns floating around their romantic cruise. It is by far the best scene in the movie, and it is also one of the finest scenes of the modern Disney era.

I could go on and on with these iconic scenes, but without further ado, onward and upward to the top five!

5. The Spaghetti Dinner- Lady and the Tramp


Perhaps the most iconic scene in animation history, the romantic meal served by Tony to Lady and the Tramp will undoubtedly put a smile on just about anybody's face. With the beautiful "Bella Notte" playing in the background, who would have thought that we as humans could care so much about two dogs in love? The scene is iconic because of its simplicity: two dogs on a date enjoying a bowl of spaghetti. However, the buildup to the scene paves the way for this scene to stand as not only a shining moment in animation, but a legendary moment in film history period.

4. The Ballroom Scene- Beauty and the Beast

Never has an animated sequence been so elegantly created than when Belle and the Beast dance under the chandelier of the castle for the first time in their classic attire. With Angela Lansbury's angelic voice singing one of the greatest Disney songs ever, the scene could really not get more perfect. It is by far the highlight of a perfect film through and through, and what makes it so iconic is that it truly defines an entire generation of Disney film-making. From the swooping cinematography to the gorgeous animation, this is Disney at the top of its game, one of the crowning jewels of animation.

3. The Finale- Toy Story 3

The finale from Toy Story 3 marks the end of childhood for quite a bit of people from my generation, As kids growing up in the late nineties, you simply couldn't beat Buzz and Woody. We grew up with these classic characters from Toy Story and Toy Story. We played with our own Rex and Slinky every day as children and loved every minute of it. Then, when Toy Story 3 was released, Pixar effectively ended our childhood, and in the best way possible. The ending to Toy Story 3 is one the best endings to a movie ever because of the significance of the moment. These characters weren't just drawings on a screen; they were real, and people ranging from five to sixty five cared so deeply for these characters. When Andy has to move on to college by giving up his toys to Bonnie, an entire audience felt the pain of separation and the loss of innocence alongside Andy, but we also celebrated the brightness of the future just as I am sure Andy did. That's iconic to infinity and beyond.

2. Snow White's Funeral- Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Every other scene on this list owes everything to this scene from the first animated classic. With the funeral of Snow White, Walt Disney achieved the impossible. He made actual human beings care for drawings. As the seven dwarfs, the forest animals, and the faithful Prince make their way to pay their respects to the recently poisoned Snow White, we felt and understood their loss while grieving alongside them. As far as animation goes, without this scene, animation would look radically different today. Thanks to this powerful moment, animation becomes just as powerful as live action entertainment, if not more so. The subtle music playing in the background as well as the emotion height of this scene will melt the hardest of hearts, something unimaginable prior to 1937.

1. The Opening- The Lion King

Throughout the history of animation, no other film has accomplished in its first five minutes what The Lion King accomplishes with its opening. Before we are ever even situated comfortably in our seats, the "Circle of Life" introduction propels us to give the film a standing ovation, and the characters haven't even said a word! Think back to the first time you saw that sun coming over the horizon with the entire Pridelands coming to see the coronation of the future king, Simba. Aren't you getting chills just thinking about it? When Rafiki majestically raises up Simba to present him to the kingdom, a new standard for animation is set yet again. No longer do you need a backstory to open a film. You actually don't even need your characters to talk at all. You just need a song brilliantly written by Elton John and some of the most beautiful animation sequences ever produced and you'll instantly have your audience right where you want them. The Lion King is a genuine classic, and the highlight of this classic is without question this opening.

There are an abundance of more great Disney movie moments. One simple list could not contain all of the iconic scenes in the history of Disney, but I hope that this list will allow for us to continue to foster our appreciation for animation. Animation is not just for kids as many people might think; in fact, a majority of the time, an animated film is just as important to the adult as it is the child. That's what a list like this is designed for: to get the word out about the amazing art of animation. So spread the word and let animation live!

-Cody Fleenor

From the Inside Out

In the summer of 2015, Pixar released what was arguably their greatest film to date, Inside Out. A film brimming with emotion while also providing countless laughs for all ages, Inside Out is a genuine animated classic. The characters are so richly developed and the story line is superb. On top of that, the animation itself is gorgeous, rivaling anything Pixar has ever created. As Pixar seems to always do, they once again set the bar extremely high for any subsequent animated films in the coming years.

I say all of that to say this: Inside Out along with Joy, Sadness, and all the emotions from the film need a home at Epcot at Disney World.

Recently, it was announced that the Epcot cult-classic 3D attraction Captain EO would be closing in December of 2015 to make room for a Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival. While I am thoroughly looking forward to seeing what Disney can conjure up next, I must also admit that I believe that this theater and in particular this area coupled alongside the building currently inhabited by Journey Into Imagination with Figment would be a perfect way for Inside Out to make its presence felt in the Disney Parks.

Today, I give you four reasons why I am advocating for Epcot to get an emotional update.

First of all, this area we are discussing is currently labeled the Imagination Pavilion. Can you see the obviousness of this scenario? Primarily, Captain EO is a film for the senses and Journey Into Imagination is literally all about how we think and sense things. The area is already designed for attractions and/or shows centered around our brains and imaginations. If you've ever seen Inside Out, or for that matter, if you've ever seen a preview for the film, you know that the entire movie is set inside the mind of Riley. Throughout the movie, we catch a glimpse at how Riley's mind works as we see her dreams, memories, and, of course, how she imagines different things. Joy and her group of emotions could take over the Imagination Pavilion at Epcot and they would not only fit seamlessly, I think that area would be an instant must-see at Disney World. Why not have a popular movie based in the brain take over a pavilion designed to celebrate the brain? I can see character greeting spots being added here, drawing even more families to Epcot and maybe even alleviating some pressure off the new Frozen area coming in 2016. Plus, Captain EO and Figment can be easily replaced by, for instance, an attraction powered by Joy and a show hosted by Anger. Be honest, who wouldn't want to watch a show hosted by Anger? To me, this makes almost too much sense.

Secondly, as I mentioned above, Epcot is in need of some family friendly attractions. Take away The Seas with Nemo and Friends, I would argue that Epcot doesn't have another attraction area (excluding the new Frozen area as mentioned before, which will also help with this problem in the future) that is specifically designated for families to enjoy together. Adding an entire area focused on one of the most beloved films of recent memory would greatly attract families to Epcot like never before. Currently, in my opinion, the perception of Epcot is that it's a park for adults traveling alone or for families with older children. Coupling the new Frozen area with an Inside Out area would be a formidable duo too great for families to ignore as they would then see Epcot as a park that requires a full day of attendance during their vacation, and that's something Epcot and Disney World at large could desperately use.

Furthermore, other Pixar movies already have a strong presence throughout the Disney Parks. Over at Disney's California Adventure, Cars and A Bug's Life already have a specially designed area and both are extremely popular, drawing thousands of guests to Anaheim everyday. Back in Central Florida, it was just recently announced that the Toy Story franchise would be getting its own unique area at Disney's Hollywood Studios in the coming years in addition to the Toy Story presence already found at the Magic Kingdom and in Pixar Place at Studios itself with Toy Story Midway Mania and the popular Buzz and Woody meet and greet. Finding Nemo will probably only continue to expand its presence in the years to come with the release of its sequel, Finding Dory. We can already find the Tank Gang at Epcot at the Living Seas and Disney's Animal Kingdom at Finding Nemo- The Musical. I bring all of this up to prove that bringing a significant Pixar addition to a Disney Park is by no means unprecedented. In fact, I would suggest that it is actually a theme and a focus for Disney to get more Pixar into the parks. I hope that assumption is correct.

Finally, Inside Out fits picture-perfectly into the theme of Epcot. One of the main themes you will find at Epcot, and one of my personal favorites, is the challenge of advancing fearlessly into the future. This is evidenced by such attractions as Spaceship Earth, Mission: Space, and the interactive Innovations. Epcot puts a tremendous focus of taking life by the horns and creating a brighter future one day at a time. I say that by allowing people to understand their minds and imaginations more and more, albeit in the form of an animated movie, would be beneficial to Epcot in further supporting the claim that the future is indeed bright. Imagination is crucial for innovation, and the Inside Out gang can help guests learn that in a very Disney way.

All in all, to me, adding Inside Out to Epcot's Imagination Pavilion makes perfect sense. Here's hoping that Disney decides to give these great emotions a place in the parks sooner rather than later. We could use a theme park focus that isn't Frozen after all.

-Cody Fleenor

Five Friday Favorites: Pixar Films

At the time of this writing, Pixar has just released the first teaser trailer for their highly anticipated sequel, Finding Dory. As expected, it was an absolute delight, making June 2016 seem like a lifetime away. Also, at this very moment, we are just under two weeks away from the release of Pixar's next film, The Good Dinosaur. Watching the trailers leading up to the release, this one looks to be classic Pixar. The animation looks stunning and the emotion seems to have made it to the final product as well. Needless to say, I will be there opening day!

This week, I thought it would only be appropriate to jump-start the excitement for The Good Dinosaur and Finding Dory by revealing my top five Pixar films. Picking just five Pixar films is like picking which child is your favorite; it's virtually impossible! In fact, if I were to give honorable mentions for this list, I would basically cover the entire Pixar filmography.

With that being said, onward and upward to the top five!

5. Finding Nemo

What makes Pixar so unbeatable is their ability to perfectly blend hilarity with raw emotion, and a perfect example of that being the case is with Finding Nemo. The opening scene is heart-wrenching and will certainly get the hardest of hearts to break, but then that scene is immediately followed by a delightful adventure though Nemo's community on his way to school, a scene full of jokes and beautiful animation. Thus, the Pixar formula is excellently demonstrated. Nemo is one of the few movies that I have watched over twenty or thirty times and I still laugh out loud during scenes with Marlin and Dory or with the Tank Gang. Plus, the emotions have never been higher than in the aforementioned opener and the gut-wrenching finale. Finding Nemo is pure Pixar magic.

4. Up

In a matter of just ten minutes, Up has you in the palm of its hand. By the end of the heartbreaking scene to open the film telling us the story of how Carl and Ellie met, fell in love, and eventually lost one another, Pixar is able to reduce just about anyone watching to a puddle of tears. But then, right on cue, Pixar comes right back with a fantastic scene showing Carl getting down his stairs with the help of mobile chair. Once again, it's a perfect blend of drama and comedy, and that would be a theme throughout this masterpiece. The animation is, predictably, gorgeous, and the characters are so well developed with the story flowing so smoothly from scene to scene. Adventure is indeed out there, and with Up, Pixar reached a brand new height.

3. The Incredibles

If this film was a live action movie, I am fairly positive that it would be widely considered the greatest superhero movie of all-time. Nonetheless, Brad Bird's animated classic is phenomenal film-making. Endlessly quotable ("You sly dog! You've got me monologuing!") with so many fleshed out characters, The Incredibles is delightful whether you're six or sixty. The story is also second to none, and of course, the emotion is there as well. Are you beginning to sense a theme with Pixar here by the wat? The ending left people around the world (myself included) longing for a sequel, and in just a few years, we will finally get one, and for that, I cannot contain my excitement!

2. Inside Out

I know that Inside Out is the newest and freshest Pixar film on our minds, and some of you are probably hesitant to include it on your own personal list. I struggled with that idea too, but the more and more I thought about it, the more and more I started to convince myself that it definitely deserves a spot on my list. Perhaps the greatest concept for a movie Pixar has ever conjured up, Inside Out is hilarious and touching, sometimes at the exact same time. The animation is some of the most stunning artwork Pixar has ever created as well, and the five key Emotions are so well written and developed. Plus, the voice work is some of the best in Pixar history, led by Amy Poehler and Phyllis Smith who turn in career-best work. Of course, the ending provides the patented Pixar punch to the gut, the perfect emotional payoff for the film about emotions.

1. Toy Story 3

Toy Story 3 will always hold an extra special place in my heart because when I was a young boy, I received Buzz Lightyear and Woody dolls for my birthday and to this day, I still proudly own them. When Toy Story 3 came out in 2010, I was getting ready to transition into college life, and after spending a lifetime seeing myself as Andy in a way, watching the events of that film unfold was emotional beyond what I've ever experienced. On top of that, the humor in this film is so Pixar, subdued and sarcastic while also being laugh out loud funny. I will gladly see Toy Story 4 when it is released in the upcoming years, but to me personally, Toy Story 3 will always be the pinnacle of not only Pixar, but to animation as a genre.

Keep an eye out for episode three of The Mouse Knows Best podcast as I had the great pleasure of hosting and talking about Pixar with our great panel of Disney fanatics. Follow me on Twitter (@InsideDisney407) for updates regarding our podcast and Disney in general!

-Cody Fleenor

Five Friday Favorites- Disney's Hollywood Studios Attractions

I like to think about Disney's Hollywood Studios as the cult favorite among Disney fans: you either love it and would argue with anyone who disagreed or you are on the outside looking in and you just cannot understand the hype. For myself and my entire family, a vacation to the Walt Disney World Resort is simply not complete without a trip to Hollywood Studios. In fact, my sister once worked on Sunset Boulevard at Studios and ever since then, the park has taken on an even extra special meaning to my family. This week, let's countdown the top five attractions at Hollywood Studios.

First of all, the two honorable mentions that just missed the cut are two unique entertainment options. The first one is Beauty and the Beast Live On Stage. As you can tell by some of my previous Friday Favorites, I truly love Beauty and the Beast, so anytime I can watch the show live on stage (albeit in a condensed format), I instantly become a child again. I sing right along with Belle and Lumiere while also scolding when Gaston struts his stuff. This show is a Studios' treasure.

Secondly, the street show The Citizens of Hollywood is easily one of the highlights of any trip to Hollywood Studios. Periodically throughout the day on Sunset Boulevard, some of the most spirited entertainers straight out of 1930s Hollywood align the street to make every guest laugh hysterically and enjoy themselves thoroughly. This show fits perfectly into the Sunset Boulevard theme and into Studios as a whole as guests are seemingly swept back in time to the golden age of cinema, which really is the heart and soul of the entire park.

Onward and upward to the top five!

5. Star Tours

As an avid and obsessive Star Wars, Star Tours is a piece of paradise right here at Hollywood Studios. Being able to be transported to that galaxy far, far away is literally a dream come true. Plus, this ride is downright exhilarating as the motion effects are top-notch and some of the best you'll find at Disney.The latest upgrade to the attraction where a Rebel spy is chosen at random is a brilliant addition to an already fantastic experience. I'm sure as The Force Awakens is released worldwide, Star Tours will only continue to get all the more impressive.

4. Rock n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith

Being the only roller coaster at Disney World that contains any loops, Rock n' Roller Coaster is a thrill seeker's biggest must-do at Studios and the resort as a whole. Jamming to the infectious tunes of the legendary band Aerosmith aboard our super-stretch limousine, guests can experience what it is like to go from 0 to 60 MPH in a mere three seconds. Then, awaiting at the climax of that launch is the first of four inversions. If you enjoy thrill rides, Rock n' Roller Coaster cannot be missed.

3. Fantasmic!

The quintessential show at Disney World, Fantasmic is the perfect way to cap off a visit to Hollywood Studios. Mickey Mouse himself stars in this classic nighttime spectacular as he is dreaming up a dream to end all dreams when suddenly, the Disney Villains begin to have other plans and plot to ruin Mickey and his wild imagination. The water effects along with the set pieces and lighting is some of the most impressive innovations Disney has ever concocted. With a special appearance by a handful of some of the most popular characters in the Disney canon, Fantasmic should be seen by all.

2. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Even as quickly as upon entering the Hollywood Studios' parking lot, guests turn their gaze upon the Hollywood Tower Hotel and wonder what lies beyond the fifth dimension. Its presence is demanding no matter where you may be inside the park, pleading and begging guests to take the plunge into the Twilight Zone. You will quite literally never experience anything like the sensation of weightlessness as this insane elevator randomly takes you up and down rapidly without any mercy. The story and buildup to the main attraction is worth the price of admission itself, and from beginning to end, Tower of Terror is a genuine Disney classic.

1. Toy Story Midway Mania

This may very well be my favorite attraction at the Walt Disney World Resort. I love the Toy Story characters like no other Disney characters, so being able to play some addictive games lead by Buzz, Woody, and the whole gang is something that dreams are made of. Plus, being able to put bragging rights on the line with everyone in your party by keeping track of your points while playing these games is undoubtedly going to be something that you'll remember for years upon years. If you go to Disney World and only have time for one attraction, make it Toy Story Midway Mania.

Disney's Hollywood Studios is certainly a park in transition with the additions of Toy Story Land and Star Wars Land coming in the next few years, but even today, a trip to Studios will satisfy everyone of all ages. In fact, I want to go there right now!

-Cody Fleenor