002 - Jacksonland

As a lover of all things "themed" it's a shame there's nothing as exciting as Disneyland or Universal Studios here in New Zealand. Well, there's Rainbow's End ... but I must confess I have never even been there myself.

There's plenty of Hobbit related theming in the area of Matamata and there's the awesome looking Mellonsfolly Ranch (an Old West Town) that we need to visit one day and some pretty cool museums and such that have pretty good themed settings - but ... when I read the article in the Herald about  Peter Jackson putting millions of his own dollars into a plan to build a movie museum and convention centre that has been likened to Disneyland in Wellington - I was truely excited about the idea!. 

I can see us travelling to Wellington more often once this has been established. I do hope the council votes YES on the project ...

Mellonsfolly Ranch is home to the Old West Town

Mellonsfolly Ranch is home to the Old West Town

Mellonsfolly Ranch is home to the Old West Town

Mellonsfolly Ranch is home to the Old West Town

001 - All things Disney - -

From a young age onwards I have been a big lover of all things themed. Disney has been the major influence. I remember walking through the streets of old Zoetermeer, with my grandparents and seeing this cool Disney book in the bookshop window way back in 1975.  Walt Disney - Van Mickey Mouse tot Disneyland, by Christopher Finch. I so wanted THAT book ...

Back then, when I finally did get it - my FIRST real Disney book - it opened my nine year old eyes to a whole new world. DISNEYLAND.


"First published in 1973, The Art of Walt Disney is one of the most successful and influential illustrated art books on American popular culture ever published. This book was the first to reveal the wealth of concept art, animation drawings, and archival material created in the course of animating films. In this newly revised edition, author Christopher Finch has thoroughly reworked every chapter to incorporate the vast achievements of The Walt Disney Company in filmmaking, theater, and theme parks"  

- It's still in print, the cover has changed, and you can order it here.

I still have the book in my collection, it has survived 40 years of growing up, moving houses, even shifting from the Netherlands to New Zealand.