Dean Jones is weird in this. Let's remember him in "Herbie," where he was awesomely cool.
As we prepare for Walt Disney World’s 40th birthday, I thought it might be worth a look back at past anniversaries.
I was not prepared for how strange and off-putting those retrospectives could be. Kraft Salutes Walt Disney World’s 10th Anniversary , in particular, is mind-blowingly corny, odd and uncomfortable. I don’t know whether to laugh or jump in front of a bus.
Which is why I urge you to watch it, too. That way I won’t be alone in my nightmare.
The following descriptions come from the Youtube site: This bizarre little special celebrated Walt Disney World’s “Tencennial” anniversary in 1981. The special aired on January 21st, 1982. Watch the adventures of Dean Jones and Michele Lee, with their children Ricky Schroder and Dana Plato, as they visit Walt Disney World with their bizarre friend (cowboy Eileen Brennan) and an odd mute Asian child that she seems to have kidnapped. Also, there’s Michael Keaton. And the Gatlin Brothers, and John Schneider. Don’t worry, it’s even weirder than it sounds.
In part one, the family departs for Walt Disney World in a musical montage, meets up at the resort, and the Gatlin Brothers perform at Fort Wilderness’s Pioneer Hall.
In part two of this special, we get two truly bizarre musical numbers – Dean Jones and Ricky Schroder have a painful duet about familial estrangement, and Dana Plato and Michele Lee go shopping at the Contemporary Resort Hotel. Because, you know. Disney World.
As our magical celebration of Walt Disney World’s Tencennial continues, John Schneider sings an odd little number on the lawn of Cinderella Castle. We then get some very rare footage of the Contemporary Resort’s “Top of the World” restaurant, and have a completely unnecessary flashback.
As the Walt Disney World Tencennial Special wraps up, we’re treated to what might be the single strangest medley in the history of television. After all, it’s Walt Disney World – the place so magical it’ll make your child give up his calculator forever!
What, your Walt Disney World trip isn’t exactly like this?
I can’t decide which part I love the most: The horrible writing, the overly-long, terrible songs, cowboy Eilleen Brennan or the mute Asian kid. I do love seeing the park from years ago, however. And I have to admit, I greatly prefer the Magic Kingdom with more trees.
Watching this also brought back memories of the opening of Epcot special – which is also really strange. There are a lot of these things out there, and this seems like the perfect day for obsessing on them.
Hey Ferb, I know what I’m going to do today!
Discussion
Okay, you’re right, Bill. This is just plain weird XD And I’m thoroughly convinced that Asian kid’s kidnapped. Eileen Brennan clearly says “He misses his family and friends”. Kidnapping much XD Still makes me wish there was gonna be a TV special for the 40th anniversary
Hmmm…fathers getting speeding tickets, daughters singing of hooking up, cowgirls turned fully around to sing to a passenger for minutes at a time while hurtling down the highway in an RV, and the bellboy checking out the booty passing by…the whole opening number feels like an After School Special that’s going to end in tragedy or pregnancy (although the backward seat in the station wagon brought back memories…we always thought that was so cool when we were kids!)
So much singing! The weirdest part (other than the kidnapped boy traveling in an RV with a stranger who orders him alcohol with a beer chaser) was a seasoned Michael Keaton telling an underage Dana Plato he had a crush on her.
It seems odd that a special to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Walt Disney World spends so little time talking about the resort or showing the attractions. Very weird…
Can someone please tell me why Sailor Moon is sitting with John Schneider????
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