Donald Duck should work as originally intended

Here is a bunch of classic paper doll cutout forms. While a couple of much more recent ones (from "Brave" and "Wicked," obviously those are not vintage) are mixed in, most of these are old school Disney versions of the classic characters. For instance, the "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" characters are straight out of the 1937 film, with the cards originally being printed under license by the Palmolive Soap company in 1938-1939.

Anyway, they are very pretty and evocative, and you should have no difficulty downloading them, printing them out, and cutting them up so that they stand as originally intended.

Their use is limited only by your imagination. They would look awesome as part of a birthday party set-up, for instance, or maybe a tea party.

Sven from "Frozen"

Just a few suggestions of things to do at Walt Disney World if you are taking a trip there. This list does not include the new "Frozen" ride that Disney is constructing at the Norwegian Pavilion at Epcot Center, replacing the Maelstrom. That won't be ready until next year - but if it's open when you get there, don't miss it!

Trust me, if you are going to Walt Disney World with your little princess, she will have a much better time if you are so thoughtful as to include all these stops on your visit. Also, you can get a free dvd from Disney to plan your vacation by clicking the picture below.


If you want Disney's free vacation planning DVD, either click the picture or click here. It's one of the best freebies you can get if you are planning a trip to Disney.

The main "Frozen" characters

In a move that should surprise absolutely nobody, Hasbro, Inc. has announced that they will be joining with Disney Consumer Products in developing dolls for "Frozen" and the entire Princess line. Both Elsa and Anna, of course, are joining the other Princesses such as Cinderella and Snow White with official induction ceremonies at Walt Disney World. The last inductee was Merida from "Brave" last year.

The princesses bring in more than $4 billion a year for Disney mainly through shows and licensing. That includes the most venerable princesses, Cinderella and Princess Aurora, and Snow White, along with the more recent princesses such as Jasmine, Rapunzel and Merida. The "Frozen" princesses should just add to that, though there also undoubtedly will be some fraction of such sales that replace other princess dolls.

Jasmine dolls will now call Hasbro home

Hasbro traditionally has been associated with traditional boys' toys like G.I. Joe, Transformers and Nerf guns. Its recent goal, however, has been to expand its presence in the girls' market. Toys such as the Nerf Rebelle, a Nerf gun for girls, have been coming along that are an attempt to broaden its market. The company brought in nearly a quarter of its revenue last year from girls' toys, up from just 3% a decade ago.

Barbie doll maker Mattel always has focused more on girl toys. It has had exclusive rights to make Disney Princess dolls since 1996.

Hasbro already sells over $1 billion a year in their Girls category, so this was not a huge leap for Disney. Hasbro has the size and scale to get this product out there in style on store shelves around the world.

Hasbro will be developing dolls for all the princesses beginning in 2016 worldwide, except for Japan.

Since the Maelstrom ride at Epcot center is about to pass into history and be replaced by another "Frozen" attraction, we will take this opportunity to take one last, good look at this long-time popular ride.

No doubt all the little princesses out there will be excited about the new "Frozen" ride. However, Maelstrom had a lot to recommend it, and rides that last that long develop their very own following.

Maelstrom is one of the few in Epcot’s World Pavilion, which features façades themed for countries across the world including Norway, China, Italy, and Mexico, many of which serve alcohol and exotic meals. Putting in a ride that appeals to children is a fabulous idea, though it won't quite fit in with the surroundings.

The Norway Pavilion is probably lonely after the "Frozen" princesses left for Princess Fairtytale Hall, so this will return some of the excitement.

Maelstrom under construction 35 years ago.

Maelstrom under construction in 1988

There are certain rides at Walt Disney World that last forever. Heck, there are still 14 attractions at Disneyland that are still with us, and that opened in 1955! They include: Main Street U.S.A.'s Disneyland Railroad, The Fire Engine, Main Street Cinema, Adventureland's Jungle Cruise, Frontierland's Mark Twain Riverboat, The Golden Horseshoe Stage, Fantasyland's Casey Jr. Circus train, King Arthur Carousel, Mad Tea Party, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Peter Pan's Flight, Snow White's Scary Adventures, Storybrook Land Canal Boats, and Tomorrowland's Autopia.

Whew.

But some may last a long time, but they're not eternal. Maelstrom has been a fixture at the Norwegian Pavilion in Epcot Center since 1988. Hey, 26 years ain't beanbag! But, guess what else was at the Norwegian Pavilion recently.

I know you know. It may just take a moment.

Anna and Elsa

Bingo! That is where the princesses from "Frozen" did their meet and greets until last spring. However, they are no longer there, having relocated to the fabulous Princess Fairytale Hall in New Fantasyland.

But the Norwegian Pavilion now misses all those people who were standing in line for four hours in the brutal mid-day sun just to get in and have a few moments with the princesses. So, Maelstrom? You're OUT. Frozen is back in.

Construction has begun on a new ride on the new "Frozen" attraction. There is no word what it will be like. Best of all for the Norwegian Pavilion, it won't be just the ride, either - characters from the film will be doing meet and greets there once again. Presumably Anna and Elsa will remain in their new royal digs, but Sven and Olaf and Prince Hal and the rest cold be there, pressing the flesh and making kids' dreams come true.


The way things are going, before this is all over, they may wind up changing the name of New Fantasyland to Frozenland.