by Beth Keating
Review
DisneyBizJournal.com
April 11, 2020
Part of what makes Disney theme parks so unique are all the special little touches that you don’t expect to see around the park; things that very often don’t even appear on the times guide or on the park map. Disney is far more than just Fastpass rides.
For example, we were strolling along through Future World one day, when a “maintenance guy” stopped short in front of us. Disney is a super clean park, so seeing a grounds crew sprucing up the joint isn’t an unusual scenario. What was different about this cast member in coveralls was his “clean-up” method. He pulled out a “broom” and used it as a paintbrush to water paint Mickey’s face on the sidewalk. We paused to watch him for probably ten minutes or so, in an area that we typically would have blown right by on our way to Soarin’ or Test Track. That’s just one of the little gifts that make Disney so special.
During the stay-at-home quarantines, many of Disney’s unique performers have sought out ways to connect with their audiences. From Katelyn, the Kilimanjaro Safaris cast member who designed her own informative “safari tour” at home (see below), to singers and performers throughout the parks, these generous souls haven’t let the fact that they are confined to their houses stifle their creativity.
They’ve gone virtual to entertain us along the way as well. Here are a few more of my personal favorites.
I never fail to stop in the Magic Kingdom for the Dapper Dans. Their barbershop harmonies are endlessly entertaining, and I could watch for hours if they actually gave me a chair to sit on (standing in the direct Florida sun, though, I have my limits!). The “Cadaver Dans” are just as much fun, with a lot less sun, at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. A recent post to Disney Magic Moments featured the Disneyland Dans from their homes spread out across the country. “When You Wish Upon a Star” was perfect, and I may be responsible for a high percentage of the number of “views” on that particular stream. See it for yourself here:
April 11th also is National Barbershop Quartet Day, and in celebration, the Walt Disney World Dans on the East Coast released one of my absolute Disney favorites, "There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow":
The “Dans” aren’t the only form of Disney music that entertains me in the parks. I also will follow the sounds of banging garbage pails, despite the fact that if my neighbor is doing the same thing at 6 in the morning, I am less inclined to think it charming. The JAMMitors use “found items,” such as trash cans and brooms, to create their particular rhythmic sounds. Instead of hammering out a tune in Epcot for you now, though, they are banging away on the pots and pans in their kitchens. Here’s another fun Disney Magical Moment featuring the JAMMitor crew:
If you’re looking for a rollicking good time when you leave the parks at night, stop in to Port Orleans Riverside to the River Roost Lounge and catch a set with “Yehaa Bob” Jackson. Bob’s been performing at Port Orleans for more than two decades. Part sing-along, part light comedy act, part Disney’s greatest hits, this always family-friendly live entertainment show features some of the fastest piano playing west of the Atlantic Ocean. You will leave this extreme high energy show both thoroughly entertained, and probably a bit exhausted – can’t figure out how Bob keeps that pace all night! Be prepared for some crazy audience participation along the way. River Roost Lounge offers a full bar area, and a limited selection of appetizers and desserts are available. Bob’s nightly shows are typically around 8:30 on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Bob also composes his own music, which you don’t usually get to hear at River Roost. Visit him at www.bobjacksonmusic.com, or watch him on his YouTube channel.
In addition to his high-speed piano playing with Ragtime, Stride and Boogie Woogie influences, Bob has a number of original, very soothing, calming piano compositions, appropriate for listening to during this time of high-stress lockdowns. He has done a couple of Facebook live shows from home in the past few weeks, and is planning one more for April 19th. Bob is a hoot, and will give you a good laugh as you try to decompress. If you’re looking for some more sets from Yehaa Bob, a Google search will turn up quite a few postings from various Disney vloggers, including Resort TV 1 and Cory Meets World. Cory also did a recent live stream interview with Bob. You can check it out below and learn some more about Bob’s background.
This zany performer is well worth your evening at Disney, but be sure to check him out online as well during this downtime. He’ll keep you entertained. By the way, hair looks great, Bob!
Finally, if you have little ones hanging around the house these days (or, for yourself, we won’t judge), there are a number of story times from such celebs as Daisy Ridley (Rey in Star Wars), Ginnifer Goodwin (Snow White in Once Upon A Time), Paige O’Hara (Belle in Beauty and the Beast), and Ming-Na Wen (Mulan in Mulan) on the Disney blogs as well. Tune in right here.
The #DisneyMagicMoments will bring you a treasure trove of short, daily connections to the Disney World family as you wait out the quarantines and try to keep yourself, and your kids, entertained along the way. They call it “a daily dose of pixie dust,” and we could all use a little of that right now.
Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.
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