The first set of letters in this week’s mailbag were sent in response to several recent DVD reviews penned by MousePlanet staff writer Lisa Perkis (link). Glenn Vines writes:
Just read your DVD review on Eight Below. We saw the DVD this past weekend, we did not see it in the theaters, and enjoyed it very much. Our daughter is 7 1/2 and had no problems with the deaths or seal scene, which made us all jump I think. In fact she watched it again the next day with a friend. I would imagine the more “intense” scenes did not faze her because she is very used to the realities of nature programs from a lot of Animal Planet viewing.
Thanks for the review; I believe you are right on target.
Thanks for the feedback. My older daughter watches a lot of Animal Planet as well, and is pretty used to the “circle of life.” I always tend to err on the sensitive side just to give parents as much information as possible—then they can decide for themselves, knowing their own child. I’m glad your daughter enjoyed the movie.
Alan Cranford writes:
Nice review. I just picked up my DVD copy and haven’t had a chance to view it yet. I did see the theatrical release and enjoyed it even though I wasn’t my usual cheery self at the time. Eight Below had the older Disney themes such as don’t abandon your friends, don’t give up… looks as if these older themes still sell well.
I wonder if Eight Below affected the sale of husky-type dogs?
When you open your DVD box you’ll find an insert from the American Kennel Club about Siberian Huskies. It’s kind of a “yeah, they are beautiful, but please don’t run out and buy one unless you know what you’re in for” kind of fact sheet. But since you got me curious, I went on Google and typed in Siberian husky and Eight Below. The ironic thing is that many of the breeder web pages have references to the movie as encouragement for people to get a dog “just like the movie.”
On a personal note, we had an Alaskan malamute when I was a kid like the dog Shadow in the film. She was very athletic, and when she was about to have puppies, she dug a huge hole, like a little cave, into a dirt area of the backyard and had her babies there. It was pretty amazing.
Ned writes:
Enjoyed your review. I’m a grandfather of a ‘tweener’ and I am a working musician who likes musicals. I thought [High School Musical] was fun to watch… it’s just fun… not big theatrical… just fun. And I bought the DVD for $12 online. Good job!
Thanks for the feedback. You’re right—it’s just a fun little movie with good songs and great dance sequences. Much better than some of the stuff I sit through with my kids, so I’m grateful. And if you can find it for a good price, like you did, it’s nice to have in your collection.
Piper writes:
I’m sure you might have gotten a few e-mails on this, and not that it really matters, but there were actually three “sequels”. First there was Lilo and Stitch, then Stitch the Movie, then Lilo and Stitch 2: Stitch Has A Glitch and finally Leroy and Stitch. I personally think I can do with out another Stitch movie but my 7-year-old seems to think there are not enough. Sigh.
Actually, you were the only one to catch my omission, or at least the only one to write me about it. Thanks for the reminder about Stitch: the Movie. I don’t think they replay that sequel as much as other Lilo and Stitch sequels and TV episodes; maybe that’s why it slipped my mind.
David writes:
I have to agree with your review of this movie. However, I haven’t seen it – nor do I wish to see it. I think the thing that fries me so much is when they make remakes of some of the classics. I saw The Shaggy Dog with Tommy Kirk, Tim Considine, Annette Funicello, Kevin Corcoran… etc. Why remake that? Why not just rerelease that one on DVD? I mean, how much money did the new one make in the theatre anyway? Probably not a lot, I would assume.
Also, I do not like the remake of The Parent Trap with Lindsay Lohan. The only cool aspect of it is that they had Joanna Barnes play “Aunt Vickie”—other than that, the file was a flop and I loathe it even more as Lindsay Lohan continues to live as recklessly as she does… and more. She does not have the “Disney respect” of yesteryear, and that’s sad. Walt Disney, in my opinion, is probably turning in his grave at her antics and her affiliation with Disney. And to think that Walt Disney asked Annette Funicello to ‘not expose her navel’ when he sublet her to the movie company to make the Beach Party movies… and his reasoning was because “Disney was a family organization and it would be more proper for her to have her naval covered.” And Miss Funicello happily did as he asked… no ifs ands or buts.
Anyway, your article/review got me to thinking. So I apologize for venting, but as I stated, it just fries me when they make a cheap/lousy remake of something that was perfection.
MousePlanet staffer Shoshana Lewin’s update to her article on going solo to Disneyland, “Party of One Redux” (link), inspired the following readers to write in and share their own experiences. Chris Ramirez writes:
I want to thank you for your recent article about flying solo at Disneyland. Like you I am a former Cast Member, and I enjoy trips to the park whenever I can make it. I commute between Costa Mesa and Whittier everyday for college and as it just so happens my trip home on I-5 takes me straight past the park. So, in 2005 after being two years removed from my days sailing Tropic Rivers of Adventure, I picked up a Southern California pass and enjoyed the park as place to relax, study and wait out traffic heading north after class.
Friends and family continue to wonder how much fun could possibly be had walking around Disneyland by yourself, I simply tell them that it’s the best thing ever because I get to go where I want, when I want and not have to worry about entertaining anyone else but myself. Wanna see Golden Dreams? No problem, find a last minute spot for Fantasmic? Easy as pie. Thanks for showing me I’m not the only one who can enjoy the park solo.
Rae Mills writes:
I really enjoyed your article about going to Disney as a single. I am a married woman (with grown children) and go 2-3 times a year by myself to Disney and love it. There is something to be said about setting your own pace, picking and choosing what you want to ride and of course shopping, without anybody trying to hurry you along.
I highly recommend it and I am waiting impatiently for my next trip. I will be going to the first ever Disneyland half marathon and then back down to Walt Disney World for the 10K in October. Last year I took my son for the first time to Walt Disney World, which brings up further advice. If you want to take your children to Walt Disney World wait until they are 35. There is no whining involved and you don’t have to push anyone in a stroller.
Susan Edgington writes:
I enjoyed your article on being a party of one at Disneyland. I live near Walt Disney World in Orlando, and I go there often by myself. People ask me how I can go alone all the time, and I always reply, I don’t mind. I like going alone sometimes better than being with others since I can do the attractions I want and stay as long or as little as I wish. No compromising over who wants to do what. If I feel like riding the back row on Big Thunder eight times in a row, I can. If I want to sit in Cosmic Ray’s and listen to Sonny Eclipse sing for half an hour, no prob.
It doesn’t bother me to say “one” when they ask how many. I also don’t mind doing character meals alone. It’s still fun. Anyway, thanks for letting people know that going solo is nothing to be worried about. Why miss out on having fun just because you’re alone?
Chris writes:
Thanks for the fun article about visiting Disneyland on your own. I no longer live in Los Angeles so it’s tough to make it out often, but while I was in college I was a huge Disneyland geek who made trips almost monthly with friends. On one occasion during a summer on a lazy weekday, I got up the nerve to take the Metro Disneyland bus to the park for a day, and it ended up being one of my favorite trips to the old park. I picked up a parkhopper pass and was there for the park opening—and proceeded to run around like a sugar-buzzed kid (even making a full-on sprint from the entrance to Space Mountain).
For possible adventurous visitors: the employees don’t care that you’re there by yourself. Not once did the cast members give me a strange look, and not once did I get any kind of strange comment from any of the other visitors. It’s all in your head. As soon as I realized that nobody cared, I had an absolute blast. Remember: everyone around you is here to have fun too.
I exhausted myself by the late afternoon and returned home—but by that time, I had already been able to use single rider passes for every big ride in California Adventure (visitors beware: not sure if this is true, but I was told by a cast member that single rider passes, just like FastPasses, disappear early in the day on Soarin’). I also managed to ride most of the attractions in Disneyland (just missing a couple of Fantasyland dark rides), and I even got in several trips on Space Mountain. The note about Buzz Lightyear is especially true—when you’re on your own, there’s no fighting over the joystick. That day I hit my all-time high score of nearly 500,000. If you’re looking for a chance to go crazy on the rides and to do whatever you feel like (whenever you feel like it), I highly recommend giving this a fair shot. While I don’t plan on going to Disneyland alone anytime soon, I’m glad I tried it and I had a very enjoyable time. Thank you for another great article.
Cindy writes:
I loved your article. I went solo my first time about 4 years ago and have been several times since as my husband is not always available and my teenage sons aren’t all that into going on a regular basis. We also have Premium passes and live about an hour away so going often is easy. I remember feeling a little intimidated the first couple of times like everyone knew I was by myself. But now I have a great time and think nothing of it.
I went to the park solo the day after the Pirates Premiere hoping to get on the ride the day before it officially opened and I had a blast standing in line calling my sister and my mom telling them I was in line for the new ride. I also didn’t know that California Screamin’ had a Single Rider option. I will definitely try that out next time as my husband won’t ride that with me and I usually go on it when I go alone. Thanks again for the great article. I visit MousePlanet almost daily just to pickup on all the little tidbits you guys have.
Lara Thompson writes:
Wow, wish you had written this last year. I went solo to Disneyland last June (2005). There should be a trip report up on this site. So many people can’t believe I did that. I did go as part of a tour, but once in the park, I was all by myself. Well, my friends back at the hotel did text me on my phone a lot.
I would have to say I had the best time. I was able to do so much more as a solo traveler than I think I would have if I went with a group of people. I didn’t discuss where I went. I didn’t have to stop for one person to eat or use the restroom. I went on what rides I wanted and ate where I wanted and sat down and people watched when I wanted.
I have also done the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World on my own, as my friend was very sick that day. I did the Keys to the Kingdom Tour and had the best time. Watching Wishes by myself made me tear up a bit, but it was all good, as I knew I was coming back with my family.
I love all your articles, and I can’t wait to read more. Thank you for your contributions to MousePlanet; they make it a great place to visit every day. A little magic to start my day at work.
Thank you to all the solo readers who wrote in. I’m so glad that all of you had such great times exploring the parks on your own. My hope is that the more people who visit DL and WDW alone the less of a stigma it will become until one day it is totally natural to say “party of one.”
