Deb's Digest

This blog contains 3 videos with Imagineer Chris Beatty - all talk about the Fantasyland Expansion. The first 2 videos are all about the themeing of the first section open, Storybook Circus. The last video is an overall update that Chris gave the Media.

I had the opportunity to get a hard hat, behind the wall peek at the construction that's going on in the new Fantasyland in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom on Thursday, April 26.

Although there were no photos or video allowed behind the construction wall, I was able to record Chris beforehand, as he explained the project in some detail.

In this first video, Chris described the theming and backstory of the Storybook Circus as well as the new Dumbo Attractions

In part 2 of the video, Chris describes the Great Goofini's Barnstormer!

In this final video, Chris addresses the Media with a new update on the Fantasyland Expansion Project

In addition to the soft opening of Phase I of Storybook Circus, new Magic Kingdom guidemaps hit the shelves.

These new maps feature Dumbo on the front:

The New Fantasyland Logo and attraction numbers for Dumbo, The Barnstormer, Walt Disney World Railroad, "coming soon" Casey Jr. Splash "N" Soak Station:

Finally, the description themselves:

No word yet on when the Splash and Soak area will open, but it must be soon.

Here is the entire Fantasyland portion of the guide map:

For more information on the soft opening of Storybook Circus read:
Deb's Blog and Jack's Blog.

The much anticipated first phase of the Fantasyland Expansion began soft openings today in the Magic Kingdom. Phase I consists of the brand new Dumbo, the rethemed Goofy's Barnstormer into the Great Goofini, and the reopening of the Fantasyland Train Station!

Soft openings mean the attractions have not officially opened and may be open or closed depending on imagineers and Disney. This is the period to make sure everything is working correctly and the Cast Member's training is fine tuned. The area may be open during park hours, or only during portions of the day; one attraction may be open and the other closed.

There has been so much interest and hype about the Fantasyland Expansion, not to mention we've been hearing about it for 2 years, that I wondered what my reaction would be.

Despite how crowded the area was, including waits of over 1 hour for both Dumbo and Goofy I was able to walk around and look at the themeing. It is amazing! The attention to detail is everything I expect from Imagineers and it did not disappoint.

.... from the trash cans, to the Cast Member Costumes, to the peanuts and animal prints in the pavement to the nod to Carolwood at the Train Station - it was all great.

Here are just a few of the photos I captured today. Many more to come in the future.

DUMBO

THE GREAT GOOFINI

FANTASYLAND TRAIN STATION

MOUSECELLANEOUS

Go take a look for yourself and let me know what you think. If Phase I is any indication of the rest of the expansion, families will love it!!! Keep in mind this is a small area that is can be very congested.

Coming later in the season will be the interactive queue for Dumbo, the 2 tents, one a merchandise area and one a themed character meet and greet. There is also the Be Our Guest Restaurant, Belle's Village and Gaston's Tavern, Prince Erik's Castle which will house the Little Mermaid ride (identical inside to Disney California Adventure) and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.

Be sure to also check out Jack Spence's blog on the new area!

For more on the Fantasyland Expansion check out the official Disney Press Releases!

The Magic, the Memories and You - Romance edition debuted at the Magic Kingdom on February 1, 2012 and runs through mid-April.

I watched the holiday version in December and it was just awesome. It was with that expectation I viewed the new romance segment. I was a tad disappointed when I saw it live but appreciated it so much more when I re-watched the video. (There is something to say about viewing a show and not juggling cameras.)

The minute and a half romance section begins mid way through the show with a change in music and lighting - Lady and the Tramp's silhouettes show on the castle's dark blue background.

One of the most dramatic sections is from the "I See the Light" segment of the movie Tangled. Rapunzel's parents are on the balcony and send up a lantern for their missing daughter. Soon, the sky is filled with lanterns and light.

Stained glass windows of Cinderella, Snow White and Belle also appear on the castle during the romance segment.

Thanks to Linda Eckwerth for the photos and Jack Spence for the video!

It is time for another Walt Disney World Dining Bits and Bites. Hopefully, now that we live in Florida, I'll be able to do these more often.

Last week Linda and I stayed two nights at the Contemporary Garden Wing (AP Rate which we got just 10 days prior) and spent both days in the Magic Kingdom and MK resort area.

This segment contains a quick service, theme park full service and signature dining.

CONTEMPO CAFE - CONTEMPORARY

Chicken Chop Salad $7.69
Deb: I have not been a fan of the Contempo Cafe, my previous 2 dining experiences were not so great. However I must say the Chicken Chop Salad was very fresh and perfect for lunch. It had the right balance of veggies, protein and carbs! I always ask for dressing on the side and was glad I did. The mayo based dressing really had little flavor and the vegis more than made up for it! I would have this again and would also recommend it to you!

Chicken Spinach and Artichoke Flatbread $8.79
Linda: This was disappointing as the description of the flatbread did not jive with what I received. The spinach and artichoke appeared to be a creamy dip spread on the flatbread - not a chicken, spinach and artichoke flatbread that was advertised. There were VERY little actual spinach or artichokes. Plus the sauce was VERY thick and not at all appetizing. I was expecting fresh spinach and chopped artichoke therefore would not order again nor recommend it.

CALIFORNIA GRILL - CONTEMPORARY

Heirloom Apple Salad - winter greens, aged Gouda, dried cranberries, pumpkin-apple dressing $14
Deb: I love when greens means something other than Romaine or Iceburg lettuce and I would expect nothing less from a signature restaurant. The selection of greens were crunchy and did remind me of "winter". I loved the aged Gouda sprinkled on the top. If there was a slight disappointment with the salad it was the dressing. I felt the pumpkin-apple dressing was on the bland side and did not have the flavors I expected. That said, it was still a great salad and I would order it again!

Creamy Parsnip and Sunchoke Soup - apple gastrique, truffled goat cheese gougere $11
Linda:
Yum Yum! Sunchoke was described as a cross of the edible parts of a sunflower and an artichoke. Seasoned perfectly, not over salted, and had a savory and sweet flavor (sweet coming from the small bits of apple). The goat cheese was in a puff pastry you can see on the side of the soup in the photo. I highly recommend and I'd order again!

Triple Cheese Flatbread - pecorino, asiago, and provolone, sun-dried tomato and arugula pesto $12
Deb: I didn't want a full, heavy dinner and so opted for the salad above and this flatbread. I'm not much of an adventurous eater so this fit the bill for me perfectly. I'm a big fan of flatbreads from the signature restaurants with Jiko and California Grill making some of my most favorites!

Dragon Roll - spicy and tataki tuna, shrimp tempura, bell pepper, avocado, chili soy glaze $28
Linda: Another Yoshi (Sushi Chef Extraordinare) Winner! A superb and very filling entree. If shared would make a great appetizer for 2. The only thing I didn't care from was the red bell pepper. Highly recommend and I'd order again.

LIBERTY TREE TAVERN - LUNCH - MAGIC KINGDOM

Colony Salad - Washington apples, sweet pecans and applewood smoked cheddar, dried cranberries Craisins, and grilled chicken tossed with field greens in honey shallot vinaigrette $14.49
Deb: I love lunch at the Liberty Tree Tavern. The Colony salad is a wonderful blend of flavors accented with the apples. I forgot to order the dressing on the side so it was a bit "soupy" for me, but that was my error. I've had this salad before and I'll have it again - try it next time!

Pilgrims' Feast - traditional roast turkey with herb bread dressing, mashed potatoes and a garden vegetable $14.99
Linda: This hit the spot. I debated between this and the Tri-Corner sandwich and the server recommended the turkey - Spot on! Some of the most moist and tender turkey breast I've had in a long time. Green beans cooked just right, dressing was yummy - I joined the Clean Plate club for this one! Highly recommend!

Post Your Reviews and Read what Others Say about:
Contempo Cafe
California Grill
Liberty Tree Tavern Lunch

That's it for this edition of WDW Dining Bits and Bites!

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad became the second mountain and the 46th attraction of the Magic Kingdom, September 1980! It opened on September 23, 1980 and celebrated its Grand Opening on November 15, 1980.

It took 10 years to plan, tons of steel and concrete to build the attraction:

1,300,000 pounds of steel beams, rods and mesh
9,350,000 pounds of cement and sand
560,000 pints of water
64,000 cups of dessert paint in assorted colors
2,780 feet of railroad tracks
6 gold rush trains
2 acres of land!

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad opened in Disneyland in September 1979.

It can also be found at Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris.

For more information on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad visit:
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Blog

Following up on my last blog.. today we'll look at the 1976 Magic Kingdom guide which is compliments of GAF. My copy is worn, but you'll be able to see the pages.

32 pages plus the front and back cover make up this treasure trove of information. Remember back then, no internet, cell phones or much of anything other than print and broadcast media, so the guide had to sell it all.

There is a table of contents (so you can locate the information you want) as well as a page of helpful information. Here are a couple of interesting tidbits from the information page:

** Locker Service - is available for checking purchases and garments -- GARMENTS?? Can you image today someone asking to check a garment?

** Travel Service -- car-map routing service and information provided, Gulf Hospitality House, Town Square

Now we get to see not only what types of tickets were available in 1976 but the cost as well! Attractions were still utilizing lettered tickets A-E.

One bargain was the $9 adult ticket for a guided tour of the Magic Kingdom. You not only got admission ($6) but a 3.5 hour guided walking tour that included 5 attractions plus 2 more of your choice!

Another page offered Tips on Your Visit. It was suggested you visit the following before noon or after 4pm at these popular attractions:

Skyway in Fantasyland/Tomorrowland (D Ticket)

Haunted Mansion in Liberty Square (E Ticket)

Country Bear Jamboree in Frontierland (E Ticket)

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea - Fantasyland (E Ticket)

Grand Prix Raceway in Tomorrowland (C Ticket)

One page is a special guide for guests in wheelchairs. You could rent a wheelchair for $1 per day.

Each land then had it's own page or 2 with a listing of the attractions(short description and ticket value), restaurants and shops. Later versions of the guide would also include a small map of the land as well.

Can you name the "free" attractions from 1976?

According to this pamphlet:

Main Street USA - Walt Disney Story
Frontierland's Diamond Horseshoe Revue
Tomorrowland the Carousel of Progress, If You Had Wings and the Circle-Vision 360.

And what guide wouldn't be complete without lots of photo tips for you to take pictures and buy more film! Look at the way the folks are dressed to visit a theme park! I'll say one thing though, the photo tips really are timeless!

And all this is just the first half of the guidebook!

The center section is a two-page map of the Magic Kingdom. You can see there was plenty of room for expansion. Look at the huge area on the left side where you can now find Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain!

And those blue dots on the map? That's the GAF photo trail - the best locations for taking your still or movie pictures!

You can even find 2 pages called "How Do I Go From Here?" It was a lot simpler back then LOL. The map even showed the Magic Kingdom parking lot sections by "name". Lake Buena Vista was described as " a world of boutiques, country club dining...."

And there there are the Special Attractions!

Yes, the Electric Water Pageant has been around a VERY long time. Folks have been enjoying this simple light and sound show for decades.

Each resort had its own section too!

You can even see a photo of the short-lived Fort Wilderness Railroad! "Travel around Fort Wilderness aboard the Wilderness Live steam train attraction."

I couldn't resist including the ad for the Shaggy DA movie!

That about concludes our look at the Magic Kingdom Guide for 1976.

Hope you enjoyed the journey back in time.

On October 26th, I went to the Magic Kingdom in the morning to see the new Tangled Play and Greet in what used to be Belle's Fairytale Garden.

I hadn't been in the Magic Kingdom in a few months so decided to do a walk around the park. Here are some photos from the walk about.

The Magic Kingdom looked great with all the Halloween decorations.

Exposition Hall is getting a face lift.

The Main Street Trolley Show was underway.

Around the hub were some neat statues for the holidays too.

Buzz was enjoying meeting young and old in his Tomorrowland Meet and Greet area.

Thought it was odd that this screen was running commercials for the food areas of Tomorrowland - like Auntie Gravity.

Over in Fantasyland, work continues on new and old attractions. The Mad Tea Party is getting a refresh.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh will open later in November

Work on the expansion of Fantasyland is underway.

I really like the Dream Builder signs on the construction walls.

Its a Small World has reopened and rearranged the entrance.

I typically see Woody and Jesse in this part of Frontierland.

Don't forget the Golden Oak Outpost has a small but nice seating area to its left.

El Pirata y el Perico, which is open seasonally, is getting a facelift too!

As I left Adventureland and approached the walkway to the Crystal Palace, I could see the Celebrate Parade making its way around the hub.

Back on Main Street I, I saw a character out in front of Casey's.

Buzz Lightyear glove hands are selling for $24.95 - push a button and a light flashes!

I turned around for one last look at the Castle before leaving.

As you walk down Main Street U.S.A. you may be drawn to smells of popcorn and hot dogs coming from Casey's Corner. Many find Casey's a great place for a tasty "snack". But as you round the corner a delightful surprise is waiting for you - Jim the Ragtime Pianist!

Jim has been tickling the ivories since the 1970s. He'll entertain you with a wide variety of Disney tunes, as well as some corny jokes and banter if you engage him.

Jim is one of the "hidden treasures" of the Magic Kingdom.

!

Grab a coke, hot dog or popcorn, take a seat and enjoy!

What are you doing on Friday, September 26th?

Any chance you will be in the Magic Kingdom?

Join Deb Wills, LindaMac, Jack Spence, Barrie Brewer and Lisa Berton of All Ears at a Haunted Mansion Attic meet!

We will all be in the Magic Kingdom on Friday as part of the WDWCelebrations.com -- A World Wide Weekend (Free Registration for A World Wide Weekend ends September 19th).

There is free time in the schedule so we decided to do a meet and greet.

At 11:45am we'll gather near the old FastPass machines to the left of the Haunted Mansion entrance and will get in line promptly at noon!

We will be trying to locate some of the more difficult items in the Haunted Mansion's attic! Jack will be there to give us some hints to help us spot a couple of the items.

After exiting the ride, we will meet in the Columbia Harbor House upstairs to get some lunch and chat about our discoveries.

The whole event will end no later than 1:45pm as we will be off to the next WDWCelebrations meet at 2:00pm.

Come join us for a spooky time at the Haunted Mansion!

RSVP if you'd like. Just click on Deb's Blog on the Blog comment page.

See you soon!

Deb

Friday continued.....

Tod and Sue accompanied me around the Magic Kingdom as I took photos and got menus. I ran into David, the Cast Member I had met earlier at Peter Pan. He was very nice and made me smile in Neverland, so I made a point to stop and chat with him as his duties changed to trash pickup.

When we reached Tomorrowland we decide to ride the TTA. As we exited I saw PUSH the talking trash can for the first time ever. I know the photo isn't the greatest, but when was the last time you tried to photograph a moving trash can LOL.

We then went into the Laugh Floor Comedy Club. Tod and Sue had not seen it before and my only time was during the soft opening. It certainly has gotten better since my first visit back in January. Tod and Sue both enjoyed it; Sue said it was a strong "C" ticket attraction and Tod felt it was between a "C" and "D" ticket.

All too soon it was time for me to head off and say goodbye to Tod and Sue. As I arrived at the Polynesian, I hit the "trifecta" by seeing all 4 hosts of WDW Today podcast, Mike, Matt, Len and Mike. We, along with Beci from MEI and MouseFanTravel enjoyed lunch at the Kona Cafe.

After lunch I went over to Pleasure Island to get my ticket for Saturday night's Tower of Terror Race Party. It was like a homecoming seeing so many familiar faces and friends! One of the first people I saw was Masayo, my friend from Japan. She introduced me to her friend Nozomi.

The inside of Motions was quite crowded with folks not only getting the TOT party tickets, but also their race packets! It was here I met up with All Ears team member, Linda Mac.

Outside, I found some of my friends from Tagrel.com. Many of them are participating in the race Saturday evening!

Linda Mac and I wandering into the Marketplace area with Masayo and Nozomi and did a little shopping. We walked right past the new construction site of TRex, the themed restaurant opening next year at Downtown Disney.

I headed back to Port Orleans to get some rest before heading out to Epcot for the evening. Unfortunately, I was much more tired that I thought and had to cancel my plans to nosh around the world with AllEars team member Laura Gilbreath and her husband, Lee. :(

I grabbed some dinner at the food court and called it a night.

Coming on Saturday - Ft. Wilderness Segway Tour and Tower of Terror Race Party.

I awoke bright and early this morning, ready to head over to the Magic Kingdom! I was very excited about seeing the newly rehabbed Haunted Mansion.

The early morning is always pretty, even if it is very cloudy! This is the pool in the Arcadian Section of Port Orleans Riverside.

And as I made my way to the food court, I had to stop and take this photo....

After a ham and cheese omelet at the Riverside Mill I made my way to the Magic Kingdom via the Dolphin.

You'll find the entrance to the Dolphin (street side) under construction and walled off. You must head left past the regular entrance to get to the temporary entrance in the convention center. The actual doors are being totally removed and new sliding doors installed in their place. One Cast member told me it would be finished in December, the other said it would be 3-4 months.

As I walked into the Magic Kingdom, I saw Chicken Little and Pinocchio in front of City Hall posing for photographs. Walking down Main Street, several Cast Members were welcoming guests with Mickey Gloves.

I barely walked a few steps and there was the Mayor of Main Street greeting guests as they began their day. He was kind enough to stop and catch a photo with me.

The Magic Kingdom really was decked out in fall / Halloween decorations.

The lands weren't yet opened and instead of standing at the rope drop, I hung back on Main Street to enjoy the atmosphere. I was quite surprised when I found an empty Frontierland about 9:15 this morning

First stop was Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which reopened yesterday after a month long rehab. While there are no "new" effects or scenes (according to the Cast Members) there were some general enhancements to the scenery as well as upgraded audio! It was as Wild a Ride as always!

Soon it was time to meet my friends Tod and Sue from Michigan. I've known them over 9 years and have spent many a great vacation with them. We rode the Haunted Mansion together, not once but twice. We were all excited about the changes to the Mansion. Kudos to the Imagineers and all who were involved in this upgrade! The changes are numerous, so you may want to ride a couple times, as we did. Definitely back on the must see each trip list!

To be continued...Friday Part 2

I was going through some old photos recently and thought I would share some with you.

25th Birthday Magic Kingdom Castle

Test Track Pre-Opening Sign

The "Original" Wand on Spaceship Earth

Tower of Terror Construction Photo #1

Tower of Terror Construction Photo #2

Tower of Terror Construction Photo #3