B.O.R.E.D
Box Office Reported Eloquently by Daniel

Lions and Tigers and Bears
As the old saying goes, "it all started with a mouse." Disney began its successful run with audiences worldwide with Mickey Mouse. But since then a new breed of animals has come. Hungry, powerful and with a powerful need for control. Beware Disney mice, the Disney bears are slowly taking your turf. It started with Bongo back in Fun and Fancy Free. Bongo unfortunately had to share screen time with Mickey and the Beanstalk, and that began a rivalry that has not been quenched since. It continued with Humphrey the Bear the cute and funny sidekick to Ranger Woodlore. Then a bear name Winnie-the-Pooh landed into theaters and within two shorts was given an Academy Award.

But that still wasn't enough, the bears would soon control all. The Jungle Book came along and Baloo was a household name. Finally, the theme parks were hit when Country Bear Jamboree took that nation by storm. Before Mickey had his own land the bears were given one at Disneyland. The Disney mice would suffer years of pain and anguish before Mickey's Toontown would finally open almost 20 years later. If that isn't enough, Winnie-the-Pooh threw his weight around and landed himself in Fantasyland replacing the classic Mr. Toad's Wild Ride attraction.

Bears look out for their own too, like when the Country Bear Vacation Howedown closed at Disneyland. What replaced the Country Bears? Why another bear of course, Winnie-the-Pooh. Now, when Disneyland opened back in 1955, Sleeping Beauty Castle had no bears to speak of. Likewise Cinderella's Castle at the Magic Kingdom. EPCOT opened with Spaceship Earth which did feature paintings of bears inside, but Disney-MGM Studios was a backtrack for the bear cause with no references at all. Animal Kingdom's Tree of Life may feature a bear, but there're so many other animals the bears found it wasn't impactful enough. So after all these parks the bears would finally have their say. With Disney's California Adventure, the main icon of the park was a bear. While Mickey is allowed only a hand (EPCOT) or hat (Disney Studios) ), the bear is a full upper body carved into a mountain.

The Disney bear also began it's merchandising campaign with Winnie-the-Pooh outselling Mickey items and then beginning to outnumber them. Again, it still wasn't enough. The new Disney Bear teddy-bear plushes are popping like wildflower around the Disney resorts, and just when you think they've run out of colors another one appears. I guess next we'll see orange with pink polka dots. And what's the biggest star on Playhouse Disney these days? Why a Bear in a Blue House of course? At least he is willing to share his time with a mouse. With the coming of Brother Bear, the first full length Disney animated film about bears, another major triumph has been accomplished by the bear constituency But don't fret, it's not the complete end for Disney mice. As long as we don't give in to this barrage of beardom, the Disney mice can survive. They will survive. Remember it was"started with a mouse", and it will not "end with bears."

Classic Quote of the Week: "Wait a minute, I just lit a rocket... rockets EXPLODE!!!" Woody from Toy Story

Tragic Quote of the Week: "Go away Daddy. . .(ladder collapsing). . .Daddy... Daddy help!" Jimmy from Million Dollar Duck