Snow White's Scarier Adventures
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Was looking for a Snow White Adventures topic, and this was the best one I could find
I wanted to share this story about what I think is probably one of the sweetest things that Disney has ever done on the night of WDW's Snow White's Adventures' closing. It was the favorite ride of a young autistic man named Ben, who has gone on the ride almost 3500 times, and was one of the things that really helped to bring him out of his shell. Reading this report by his father just made me well up with tears as Disney went the extra mile to not only give him the last ride of the night, but also the chance for a personal meeting with Snow White. You can read the whole report here:
http://www.shmoolok.com/Blog/tabid/62/E ... e-End.aspx
http://www.shmoolok.com/Blog/tabid/62/E ... f-All.aspx
http://www.shmoolok.com/Blog/tabid/62/E ... -Down.aspx
http://www.shmoolok.com/Blog/tabid/62/E ... nding.aspx
I wanted to share this story about what I think is probably one of the sweetest things that Disney has ever done on the night of WDW's Snow White's Adventures' closing. It was the favorite ride of a young autistic man named Ben, who has gone on the ride almost 3500 times, and was one of the things that really helped to bring him out of his shell. Reading this report by his father just made me well up with tears as Disney went the extra mile to not only give him the last ride of the night, but also the chance for a personal meeting with Snow White. You can read the whole report here:
http://www.shmoolok.com/Blog/tabid/62/E ... e-End.aspx
http://www.shmoolok.com/Blog/tabid/62/E ... f-All.aspx
http://www.shmoolok.com/Blog/tabid/62/E ... -Down.aspx
http://www.shmoolok.com/Blog/tabid/62/E ... nding.aspx
-Tim
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Wow. Well that was real Diney magic if I ever heard it. Those are some really GOOD parents Ben has. They're the ones who go the most above and beyond. Except...do they really think Ben will/should ever become independent? Doesn't sound like he'd ever safely be able to live on his own, so I guess they mean independence in small ways for the rest of his life.
Wouldn't it be great to have the ability to enjoy something over and over again with the same ecstatic joy all the time? It seems both Ben, his family, the people and even you will feel a joy I can't or rarely will. I read the whole thing and my eyes stayed dry. WTF. I suppose Ben is like a beacon of hope of the joy that could live inside every human forever.
Wouldn't it be great to have the ability to enjoy something over and over again with the same ecstatic joy all the time? It seems both Ben, his family, the people and even you will feel a joy I can't or rarely will. I read the whole thing and my eyes stayed dry. WTF. I suppose Ben is like a beacon of hope of the joy that could live inside every human forever.
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Thanks so much for sharing this story PrincePhillipFan!
Haven't ever cared that much for SWSA. The main reason I'd even ride the Disneyland version was because of the short lines. I remember my sister and I once went twice in a row with no line, in the early morning. I've been to Disney World all of 1 time and I don't remember anything of SWSA.
All that just shows my heart wasn't left in that ride, but Ben's heart was.
Haven't ever cared that much for SWSA. The main reason I'd even ride the Disneyland version was because of the short lines. I remember my sister and I once went twice in a row with no line, in the early morning. I've been to Disney World all of 1 time and I don't remember anything of SWSA.
All that just shows my heart wasn't left in that ride, but Ben's heart was.
theCat'sOut/Flowers&Trees/theFlyingMouse/theSkeletonDance/theThreeLittlePigs
Thanks for sharing that, Tim. I just got home from Florida and have been catching up with all the internet coverage of the closure. Being a HUGE fan of the ride, that last night was very intense and sad for me.PrincePhillipFan wrote:Was looking for a Snow White Adventures topic, and this was the best one I could find
I wanted to share this story about what I think is probably one of the sweetest things that Disney has ever done on the night of WDW's Snow White's Adventures' closing. It was the favorite ride of a young autistic man named Ben, who has gone on the ride almost 3500 times, and was one of the things that really helped to bring him out of his shell. Reading this report by his father just made me well up with tears as Disney went the extra mile to not only give him the last ride of the night, but also the chance for a personal meeting with Snow White. You can read the whole report here:
http://www.shmoolok.com/Blog/tabid/62/E ... e-End.aspx
http://www.shmoolok.com/Blog/tabid/62/E ... f-All.aspx
http://www.shmoolok.com/Blog/tabid/62/E ... -Down.aspx
http://www.shmoolok.com/Blog/tabid/62/E ... nding.aspx
One bright spot was I had the privilege of meeting Ben and his family, and the honor of riding with them on my third or fourth-to-last ride that night.
I also enjoyed meeting other fans as well. I met Kenneth Sundberg from the Snow White database http://www.kennetti.fi/swscary_1.html (a site I discovered initially thanks to your links here) who had flown in all the way from Finland to be there for the last rides! And I met Robert from Snow White Sanctum who is doing a documentary film about Ben, and Brent Dodge from From Screen To Theme.
For those seeking further reading about Ben and the last night of Snow White's Adventures, here is a great multi-part story written about Ben by Robert before the closure:
http://filmic-light.blogspot.com/2011/0 ... tures.html
http://filmic-light.blogspot.com/2011/0 ... es_02.html
http://filmic-light.blogspot.com/2011/0 ... es_03.html
http://filmic-light.blogspot.com/2011/0 ... es_04.html
Robert also documents the closing of the ride in multiple posts on his blog:
http://filmic-light.blogspot.com/2012/0 ... o-end.html
http://filmic-light.blogspot.com/2012/0 ... -days.html
http://filmic-light.blogspot.com/2012/0 ... -near.html
http://filmic-light.blogspot.com/2012/0 ... -here.html
And here is Brent Dodge's Tribute (titled "Farewell to an old Friend")
http://www.fromscreentotheme.com/blog.aspx
I have been writing my own lengthy, three-part blog-style essay about my love for the ride, sadness about the closure, and experiences of that surreal final night, and I am really happy with what I've written so far. Since I don't have a blog, I'll probably end up posting it in the Theme Parks Forum here when it is done, probably in a week or so.
Last edited by David S. on Mon Jun 18, 2012 6:58 pm, edited 3 times in total.
"Feed the birds, tuppence a bag"- Mary Poppins
"How high does the sycamore grow? If you cut it down, then you'll never know"- Pocahontas
"I do not make films primarily for children. I make them for the child in all of us, whether he be six or sixty. Call the child innocence." - Walt Disney
"How high does the sycamore grow? If you cut it down, then you'll never know"- Pocahontas
"I do not make films primarily for children. I make them for the child in all of us, whether he be six or sixty. Call the child innocence." - Walt Disney
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Aw gee, thanks Disney Duster, I've missed you, too!Disney Duster wrote:Wow, David S. is back! One of the greatest most lovable members here! I missed him!
I haven't been completely gone, as I've still kept up with the home page and lurked on the board from time to time. I haven't been posting, though, since I don't have a laptop and it cost 25 cents a minute to use the Internet at the FedEx Office when I'm in Florida!
"Feed the birds, tuppence a bag"- Mary Poppins
"How high does the sycamore grow? If you cut it down, then you'll never know"- Pocahontas
"I do not make films primarily for children. I make them for the child in all of us, whether he be six or sixty. Call the child innocence." - Walt Disney
"How high does the sycamore grow? If you cut it down, then you'll never know"- Pocahontas
"I do not make films primarily for children. I make them for the child in all of us, whether he be six or sixty. Call the child innocence." - Walt Disney
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I've been living in Florida part-time since Hurricane Katrina (I lived there full-time the first two years) and don't bring my computer with me. That's why I post on the board for awhile and then disappear for a while. Most of my Internet use/posting is in the summer months (I'm back home now).
"Feed the birds, tuppence a bag"- Mary Poppins
"How high does the sycamore grow? If you cut it down, then you'll never know"- Pocahontas
"I do not make films primarily for children. I make them for the child in all of us, whether he be six or sixty. Call the child innocence." - Walt Disney
"How high does the sycamore grow? If you cut it down, then you'll never know"- Pocahontas
"I do not make films primarily for children. I make them for the child in all of us, whether he be six or sixty. Call the child innocence." - Walt Disney
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Disney Duster,
Actually, I don't have to - it was a choice I made because when things got better back home, I didn't want to give up the "Orlando theme park lifestyle" - but I was also homesick for family and friends and my roots back home. The only way to not give up either dream was to work out the logistical arrangement I have now - "the best of both worlds".
I didn't mean to go into all that, but I was initially just explaining why I haven't posted for awhile - I guess I just wanted to clarify that I wasn't "boycotting" the board or anything like that.
Anyway, it's good to see you again, and thanks again for the warm welcome back!
David
Actually, I don't have to - it was a choice I made because when things got better back home, I didn't want to give up the "Orlando theme park lifestyle" - but I was also homesick for family and friends and my roots back home. The only way to not give up either dream was to work out the logistical arrangement I have now - "the best of both worlds".
I didn't mean to go into all that, but I was initially just explaining why I haven't posted for awhile - I guess I just wanted to clarify that I wasn't "boycotting" the board or anything like that.
Anyway, it's good to see you again, and thanks again for the warm welcome back!
David
"Feed the birds, tuppence a bag"- Mary Poppins
"How high does the sycamore grow? If you cut it down, then you'll never know"- Pocahontas
"I do not make films primarily for children. I make them for the child in all of us, whether he be six or sixty. Call the child innocence." - Walt Disney
"How high does the sycamore grow? If you cut it down, then you'll never know"- Pocahontas
"I do not make films primarily for children. I make them for the child in all of us, whether he be six or sixty. Call the child innocence." - Walt Disney
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For anyone who might possibly want to see what the "Scarier Adventures" of Snow White was like, here's a great ride thru of the original pre 1994 Disney World version with a spotlight. I think this version is dubbed "Witch on a Rampage" for a good reason... XD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqBH5ILiDbw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqBH5ILiDbw
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There's an article on it at Passport 2 Dreams: http://passport2dreams.blogspot.com/.
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For a comparison, here is the Tokyo version which borrows alot from the '71 version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRuhXbVycm4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRuhXbVycm4
Interesting post thank you so much ! It is fascinating to know so much about this ride, something that I have been really craving for. It came as a great suprise at all the changes it has been through over the years.
Thinking about it now though, I do find it a strange concept innitailly anyway; that YOU are Snow White making your escape from the witch. It seems so much more obvious to have Snow in the ride with you. But I guess that isnt what Disney is about is it, doing the obvious ?!
What I would be interested to know though, is who provided the voices in all the different versions for the Queen and Snow ?
Is that information contained anywhere ?
Thinking about it now though, I do find it a strange concept innitailly anyway; that YOU are Snow White making your escape from the witch. It seems so much more obvious to have Snow in the ride with you. But I guess that isnt what Disney is about is it, doing the obvious ?!
What I would be interested to know though, is who provided the voices in all the different versions for the Queen and Snow ?
Is that information contained anywhere ?
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Well, here's some information on it from Kenntti.fi, a good site on the ride as a whole:atlanticaunderthesea wrote:Interesting post thank you so much ! It is fascinating to know so much about this ride, something that I have been really craving for. It came as a great suprise at all the changes it has been through over the years.
Thinking about it now though, I do find it a strange concept innitailly anyway; that YOU are Snow White making your escape from the witch. It seems so much more obvious to have Snow in the ride with you. But I guess that isnt what Disney is about is it, doing the obvious ?!
What I would be interested to know though, is who provided the voices in all the different versions for the Queen and Snow ?
Is that information contained anywhere ?
Original Disneyland version (1955-1982):
WITCH: Ginny Tyler
Original WDW version (1971-1993):
WITCH: Ginny Tyler
Newer Disneyland version (1983-date):
WITCH: Eda Reiss Merin
Newer WDW version (1994-2012):
SNOW WHITE: Mary Kay Bergman
DOC: Jim Cummings
GRUMPY: Corey Burton
OTHER DWARFS: Jeff Bennett, Kevin Schon, Bill Farmer and Bob Joles
QUEEN/WITCH: either Louise Chamiss (spelling?) or Susanne Blakeslee
MAGIC MIRROR: Tony Jay
Bear in mind, however, that the list is not officially confirmed.