Disneyland Skyway in Your Backyard?

I found these photos on Flickr.  I have yet to find the story behind it other than this a fully-functioning model of a Skyway-type ride in this person's backyard in San Diego.  Watch this thing in action here.  This video clip takes you on the miniature ride.  I imagine they strapped a digital camera to one of the gondolas.

Lesson learned:  If Disney rips out your favorite ride and gives you really lame excuses as to why they did it, build your own version behind your house.     

One time a buddy of mine and I saw Marty Sklar at Epcot.  We went up to him and said, "we are backyard Imagineers".  He looked at us like we were nuts and said, "never heard of that. What does that mean?"...  "Uhhh well, you see, Marty, it's when kids like us make things at home that resemble what real Imagineers do in the parks."  He had a look on his face like, "oh brother".

Audio Animatronics 101

What is an Audio Animatroic you say?  (or "Animaltronic" as some erringly say).  

Let Eric Boardman (who?), Marty Sklar, Wally Boag, and others take you on a 1980's tour of Disney's lovable robotic story-telling figures.  Enjoy cool behind the scenes looks at The American Adventure "walking" Ben Franklin animatronic, some Country Bears, Pirates, small world kids, and of course Tiki Birds.

How can you not love Audio Animatronics??

Calling All Writers!

Have a topic you want to discuss?  Submit articles to Imagineering.Disney@gmail.com or click here.

You do not have to be an experienced or polished writer.  You just have to have entertaining Disney or Disney theme park-related opinions.  Once submitted, we’ll review your article and if selected, you get great exposure.

Here are some sample article titles to get the old creative juices flowing [feel free to rip off any or all of these for your articles]: 

“Why Do I Cry When I Watch 8mm Disneyland Films? “ 

“My Favorite People Are All Animatronics”  

“It Took One Year For Seven People to Create ‘it’s a small world’ From Scratch and 3 Years for 40 People to Ruin It”

“So Long, Mickey’s Toon Town Fair… You Will Not Be Missed” 

"Horizons... You Will Never Be Forgotten" 

“California Adventure: The Little Brother Disneyland Never Wanted” 

“According to Today’s Tomorrowland, the Future is Covered in Tacky” 

“Remember When Tour Guides Were All Cute Girls?” 

“Matterhorn, Don’t Ever Change” 

“Mutoscope Movies: The Best Penny You’ll Ever Spend”

“Jack Skellington, Knott’s Scary Farm is Right Down the Road. Go There” 

“Hidden Mickeys are Stupid so Let’s Stop Looking for Them”

“Ever Notice There are Things Other Than Three Little Circles You Can Look For?”

“Happy 27^th Anniversary, Epcot”

“Let’s Go to What’s Left of River Country!”

“Does Anyone Else’s Wife Not Want Animatronic Tiki Room Birds in Their Living Room?”