There is an “Arrival and Departure” bulletin board on the ground floor of the Main Street Train Station.

The locations depicted are not just random names, but have meaning.

Here they are:

Grizzle Bear Flats:

The Grizzly Flats Railroad was the name of Ward Kimball’s backyard railroad.

Kimball Canyon:

Animator Ward Kimball was one of the “Nine Old Men” and worked on such classics as “Pinocchio,” “Dumbo,” and the “Three Caballeros.”

Hickory:

Hickory is the town depicted in the Disney movie, “Follow Me Boys” released in theaters on December 1, 1966.

Siddons City:

Lemuel Siddons was the character played by Fred MacMurray in the movie “Follow Me Boys.”

Medfield:

Medfield College was the setting for a number of Disney movies including “The Absent Minded Professor,” “Son of Flubber,” and “The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes.”

Rutledge:

Rutledge College was the rival school of Medfield College.

Harrington Hills:

Harrington was the town depicted in the Disney movie “Pollyanna,” released in theaters on May 19, 1960.

Pendergast Plains:

Adolphe Menjou played the villain, Mr. Pendergast in the movie “Pollyanna.”

Bullwhip:

From the Disney movie, “The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin” starring Bryan Russell, Roddy McDowall, Suzanne Pleshette, and Karl Malden. It was released on March 3, 1967.

Griffin Gulch:

See above.

I was able to figure out most of these entries on my own, but Harrington Hills and Pendergast Plains had me stumped. While researching these names, I came across the following web-site:

http://www.2719hyperion.com/2006/11/deciphering-train-bulletin.html

I found that someone had already beaten me to the punch on this blog, but I felt it could be recycled.

Come on. Look closely. You can figure it out.

No? Then take a closer look – specifically, the Tower of Terror. What’s wrong with it?

The Imagineers do an excellent job when detailing a restaurant, shop, or attraction. They never miss a trick. But this one slipped past them.

Take a look at this billboard located on Sunset Blvd. advertising the hotel and see if you can figure out the mistake.

Where’s the “Hollywood Tower Hotel” sign? If you look VERY closely, you can see it perched ABOVE the hotel wings. The same is true in the preshow movie narrated by Rod Serling. But in reality, the sign is much lower on the building.

When you look at the actual building, the sign would have been destroyed along with the wings when the lightning struck. Not only that, the sign is placed almost against the building. If the wings were still intact, the sign would be buried within them.

I don’t know at what point Disney realized their mistake, but they did correct it on the Tower of Terrors in California and Paris (identical buildings). On these structures the “Hollywood Tower Hotel” sign is placed above the wings.

At Tokyo DisneySea the storyline is completely different and there are no wings. In fact, the hotel’s name does not appear on the building as it does on its three cousins.

But let’s not beat up on the Imagineers too much. They took great care when designing Disney World’s Tower of Terror so it would fit into Epcot.

What does he mean, fit into Epcot?

When approaching the bridge that leads to Mexico in World Showcase, look across the lagoon toward Morocco. In the background, the Tower of Terror is plainly seen beside the minaret. It blends in quite nicely, thus not destroying the Moroccan theming (unlike the Swan and Dolphin behind Canada and the UK).

Disney World’s Tower was given a Moorish feel and painted a color that was not completely accurate to 1930’s Hollywood just so it would blend into the background when viewed from Epcot.

While writing my blogs about the Tokyo Disney Resort, I received an email from a gentleman in Japan. He introduced himself as Katsumi and told me that he was enjoying my descriptions of Tokyo DisneySea. He went on to say that he’s a big Disney fan and has an annual pass to the Tokyo parks and tries to visit them as often as time allows. In addition, he makes a trip to Walt Disney World once a year and was planning his next trip in early September.

We corresponded over the next several weeks and a friendship grew between us. Eventually, we agreed to meet at the Japan Pavilion in Epcot on his next visit to the U.S. When the big day arrived, I was there early (I’m always early) waiting to meet my new friend. At the precise meeting time, Katsumi and his traveling companion, Daisuke, arrived. They said “Good afternoon” and I said, “Konnichiwa” which means good afternoon or hello.

I was already impressed by Katsumi’s command of the English language when exchanging emails, but his spoken English was also extremely good. Daisuke was able to understand much of what I had to say, but spoke very little English.

Daisuke once worked at Tokyo Disneyland and his love for Disney parks is as great or greater than Katsumi. He too has an annual pass to the Tokyo parks and visits frequently.

At Katsumi’s suggestion, I made reservations for us to have lunch at the Tokyo Dining Restaurant. When we entered the restaurant, the Japanese cast members immediately spotted Katsumi and Daisuke as fellow countrymen. They chatted briefly in Japanese then we took a seat in the lobby, waiting for the restaurant to open at twelve o’clock.

A few minutes before noon, about twenty Japanese cast members lined up in two rows in front of those of us waiting to be seated. A welcoming speech was made and then all twenty cast members bowed deeply. It’s a wonderful ritual that most guests miss. Only those arriving before twelve for lunch at Tokyo Dining or Teppan Edo get to experience this presentation.

After the ceremony was over, Katsumi leaned over to me and said that several of the cast members were embarrassed performing this ritual in front of other Japanese. It seems that this opening “show” is only performed in some of the nicer department stores, but never in a restaurant. I assured him that it brought smiles to us non-Japanese.

We were seated at a window table and had a lovely view of the World Showcase Lagoon. Our waitress soon arrived and briefly chatted with Katsumi and Daisuke. Then she asked me if I spoke Japanese. I said “sukoshi” which means “a little.” They all smiled.

We ordered our lunch and then Katsumi and Daisuke presented me with gifts – which is a Japanese custom. Daisuke gave me a paddle with Minnie Mouse dressed in a kimono placed upon it. I was told that this paddle was used in some sort of a children’s game. I didn’t completely understand how the game was played, but graciously accepted it. Katsumi gave me a plate with a picture of the new Tokyo Disneyland Hotel imprinted on it. It was lovely. I informed them that my home is decorated in Disney and their gifts would fit right in.

Knowing that they have only been to the Florida and Tokyo Disney parks, I gave them some Disney guide maps from Paris and Hong Kong and a CD I had made with some difficult to find Disney music.

Our waitress arrived a few moments later and offered me a fork – she knew Katsumi and Daisuke didn’t need them. I thanked her and declined, telling her that I knew how to use hashi (chopsticks).

This was my first visit to the Tokyo Dining Restaurant. I ordered the Shrimp and Chicken Tempura and was very please. The cost was $18.50, which is a lot for a midday meal, but the large portion justified the price. I noticed that Katsumi and Daisuke also ordered the same selection. I wasn’t sure if this was a polite gesture or if this was something they intended to order anyway.

We briefly discussed the Yakitori House Restaurant across the way. They told me that the Shogun Combination (which I always order) has been “Americanized.” For something more authentic, they suggested I try the Japanese Curry, which I will on my next visit.

Throughout our meal, we shared stories about the Japanese and American parks. It was so wonderful to see Disney World through a foreigner’s eyes. And it was fantastic to share trivia with them that would be difficult to garner if you didn’t live here. I think we all learned a lot from each other.

After lunch, we shopped for a while then I asked them if they would be interested in seeing where I lived. They hesitated for a moment, not wanting to be pushy or rude, but I could see in their faces that they were interested. After a little coaxing from me, they agreed.

As I mentioned earlier, my house is decorated in Disney. I like to think tastefully, but there’s no mistaking my love for the theme parks when you enter my home. After giving Katsumi and Daisuke a tour, they told me they were overwhelmed. They said visiting my house was like visiting the “resort.” I smiled and thanked them. Fortunately, I had a number of Japanese souvenirs that I had purchased on previous vacations that I could proudly show them.

With the tour complete, I drove them back to Downtown Disney as they were planning on doing some more shopping and then have dinner at the Rainforest Café. As we said goodbye, I thanked them for giving me a day I would never forget. I have no doubt that I will see them both next year when they return to Florida and I will visit with them on my next trip to Tokyo.

Thank you Katsumi and Daisuke.

The first thing guests will notice is that the atmosphere has been toned down a bit. Gone is most of the traditional “red” color in favor of more muted tones. I feel the designers did a nice job of modernizing the motif without forgoing the time-honored beauty of this restaurant.

Along the back wall of the dining room is a showcase that displays magnificent pieces of glass art. One of the cast members did his best to explain their meaning, but unfortunately, I just wasn’t able to understand what he was telling me. But even without an explanation, these works of art are stunning.

I have eaten at the Nine Dragons Restaurant a number of times over the years. I have always been satisfied with my food and the service has been good. But other than the beauty of the restaurant, there wasn’t anything offered that differed from my neighborhood Chinese restaurant – except that I was paying three times the money. Today I was in for a pleasant surprise.

Everything offered now has a contemporary flair to it. I felt like real chefs had created the food rather than something you’d find at your local shopping mall. For appetizers we ordered the following:

Shrimp and Taro Lollipops - delicious and playful take on a traditional dim sum favortite $9.98

Shrimp and Chicken Egg Rolls - tender shrimp, roast chicken and fresh vegetables served with plum-chili and ginger-soy sauces $7.98

Spicy Beef -sliced thin and tender, then tossed with Cilantro-Chili dressing $8.68

For entrees we ordered the following:

Honey Sesame Chicken with white rice - $16.98

Peppery Shrimp with Spinach Noodles $17.98

Sweet and Sour Pork with Spinach Noodles $13.98

When I ordered the Sweet and Sour Pork, I was told that it came with noodles. This didn’t sound good to me so I requested white sticky rice. I wish I hadn’t. Linda let me try the Spinach Noodles that accompanied her Peppery Shrimp and they were very good. Plus, the green noodles would have contrasted nicely against the red/orange Sweet and Sour for a better presentation.

Before our food arrived, our server appeared at the table with a lacquered box full of chopsticks and offered them to us.

All three of us were pleased with our selections and feel we might visit more often now that the restaurant offers a more upscale menu. Starting tomorrow, September 26, reservations can be made by calling 407-WDW-DINE.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Related Links:

Nine Dragons Photo Gallery

Nine Dragons Lunch Menu

Nine Dragons Dinner Menu

Located around World Showcase are a number of banners, depicting many of the cities featured at this year’s event.

One thing that struck me this year was that the food booths are more accurately themed than in previous years. Very few of the booths have a generic look. I feel that Disney did a much better job at depicting the architecture of the given country.

I also feel that Disney has tried to facilitate good crowd and line control by placing a podium with a cash register a short distance away from the food booth. Guests line up at the podium, make their section, them move on to the food booth to pick up their taste treat.

One negative that I noticed was the lack of large, hanging menus that have been used at past events. Instead, a small menu is positioned on the podium.

I saw a number of people peering over the cordons trying to get a glimpse of the menu. Since today’s event was just a “soft” opening, I’m hoping that this is just a temporary situation because I see problems ahead if this is the way it’s supposed to be.

In front of the American Adventure a display has been created to extol the virtues of the pear and its many varieties and uses. The entire exhibit is presented in a cartoon-style format that makes it appealing to children and adults.

The state of Louisiana is sponsoring a large exhibit this year to promote their bounty. But unfortunately, it wasn’t completed for the soft opening and was hidden behind plywood walls.

As with every year, merchandise especially designed for the Food & Wine Festival is available. Most of these wares can be found in booths situated between the Canada Pavilion and the Tower Shops.

For thousands of years, tales of dolphins, whales, and porpoises have found their way into worldwide mythology. Collectively these creatures are known as cetacea and their popularity may stem from their large size and playful qualities. In addition, numerous legends tell of these animals coming to the aid of fishermen and sailors.

But the Dolphin Resort isn’t the only place you can find these mythological creatures at Walt Disney World. I found several others. Probably the next best example is the Neptune Fountain in the Italy Pavilion at Epcot.

The Greeks called their “God of the Sea” Poseidon and he was usually accompanied by his trident and one or more dolphins, who were his messengers. When Rome adopted the Greek gods as their own, they often changed little more than their name. This statue is a good example.

But this imposing fountain isn’t the only place that you can find dolphins in the Italy Pavilion. Take a look at the door handles on the Il Bel Cristallo shop.

In the United Kingdom Pavilion, there is a small fountain located in front of the restrooms. On top of this fountain is another dolphin.

And it wasn’t just the western cultures that embraced the dolphin. In Hindu mythology, Ganga, the deity of the Ganges River is associated with the dolphin, who heralds her descent from the heavens.

Nagoya Castle in Japan is adorned with golden dolphins or Kinshachi. These creatures were a symbol of the feudal lord’s authority. In the Japan Pavilion in Epcot, you can see copies of these dolphins atop the blue tiled roof of its castle.

When entering the Yacht Club Resort, guests come face to face with an ancient globe of the world.

Look closely and you’ll see the earth is supported by a pair of dolphins.

Also, if you carefully examine this globe you’ll find a hidden Mickey next to another dolphin.

If you travel to Disney's Hollywood Studios, you can find another collection of mythical dolphins, this time on the Mermaid Fountain.

This fountain is from the Disney movie “Splash” starring Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah. Look beneath the fountain and you’ll find four dolphins.

These are the dolphins I’ve found around Walt Disney World. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are more. If you find some, let me know where and I’ll check it out. I’m sure there are more within the Dolphin Resort, but I’m not going to include those in my search since this would be too obvious a place to look for them.

A number of effects were either enhanced or added. The Attic Room is one such example. Gone are the carnival-like pop-up heads to be replaced with state-of-the-art effects.

This blog is going to discuss some of the nuances of this room that are easily missed when traveling through. Since flash photography is not allowed in the Haunted Mansion, I do not have any pictures of the attic to share with you.

Note: Spoilers ahead!

One of the first things you’ll notice as you enter the attic is a portrait of a bride and groom. This “happy” couple is Ambrose Harper and Constance Hatchaway.

Near this portrait are a number of modest wedding gifts such as a music box, china, crystal, and various household goods. A nearby wedding album reads:

OUR WEDDING DAY
Ambrose and Constance 1869

Ambrose is the son of successful farmers. For this particular occasion he wears a sensible woolen suit and bowler hat. Constance’s past is murky and suspect. For her special day she wears a stylish wedding gown and a single strand of pearls. As you pass their portrait, Ambrose’s face fades into nothingness and then reappears – signifying that Constance has outlived him for some reason.

You soon come to a second portrait, this time featuring Constance and her new partner, Frank Banks. Frank is an Eastern banker and well placed in his community. He proudly dons a stovepipe hat. Constance, being practical, chose to wear the same wedding dress as before, but this time proudly displays two strands of pearls around her neck.

Look closely at the cabinet in the foreground. On it you’ll see a porcelain figurine of a well-to-do French woman looking down at a second, toppled figurine of a gentleman, who apparently lost his head in the fall. On the shelf below you can see a broken ceramic heart-shaped box.

There are more wedding gifts in this area and they seem to be of better quality than those given to Constance on her first marriage. A nearby banner reads:

Constance and Frank
TRUE LOVE FOREVER

Constance chose for her next spouse a foreign diplomat known as the Marquis De Doom. In their wedding portrait, The Marquis wears a military uniform, complete with sash, assorted medals and a formal hat with plume. The ever sensible Constance once again chose to wear the same dress; however three strands of pearls are now evident. There wedding album reads:

The Marquis Constance
1874

Continuing her social climb, Constance’s next husband is Reginald Caine. He was a railroad baron and dressed the part. For his wedding he sports a brocade vest, fancy shirt, and costly jacket. And like her previous husbands, he too dons a fine hat. Being ostentatious, Reginald also wears a large ring on his little finger and a sizable stone in his lapel.

Constance, as usual, chose the same wedding dress. It has served her well so far and she sees no reason to tamper with things. The only change, a fourth strand of pearls has been added to her ensemble.

A nearby frame says:

Reginald & Constance
1875

Constance’s last husband was George Hightower. He should look familiar to you as you have seen his countenance for many years on the gravestone in the stretching room. Before his demise, George owned the stately mansion you are now visiting.

The gifts for this final wedding are by far the most expensive. In keeping with her growing wealth, their wedding portrait is displayed in an ornate frame. An inset reads:

George & Constance
1877

As you might have guessed, Constance now wears five strands of pearls.

As with Ambrose, Constance’s first husband, each successive spouse fades from view as you pass their portraits. All the while, a melancholy rendition of “Hear Comes the Bride” can be heard in the background.

In this same area is a hat rack. Hanging on it are all five of the hats worn by Constance’s dead husbands.

Just before you exit the attic, we finally get to meet the ghost of Constance.

She stands in peaceful serenity as her hands move from her side toward her chest and an axe materializes in her grasp. All the while, she utters a number of well known, albeit telling, wedding phrases, each with a slightly different expression. With a twinkle in her eye she calmly says:

"'Till Death…. Do Us Part…"

"Here comes the bride!"

"As long as we both shall live…"

"For better or for….WORSE."

"I do. I did!"

"In sickness and in ….wealth!"

"You may now kiss the bride."

"We'll live happily ever…after!"

Many of the sights I’ve described are difficult to see. EXTREMELY difficult to see. I rode the Mansion five times in a row last week, looking for them and it took a quick eye. Good luck!

Interested in learning more about Disney's Haunted Mansions? Check out Imagineer Jason Surrell's book The Haunted Mansion: From Magic Kingdom to the Movies!

When I got there, Fastpasses were already longer than I cared to wait and the Standby Line was 50 minutes, so I started to look for the Single Rider Line.

Then I remembered the Single Rider line was removed about 2 weeks ago. Sigh…

While I was at the Studios I also took a walk down the Streets of America. It seems that the nighttime crews are already hard at work installing the Christmas lights for the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights.

In response, Disney started their own Halloween party. But since they cater to a more diverse age group, Disney realized that their gathering would need to be more tame than Universal’s. Thus was born, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP).

On given nights during the months of September and October, extra theming is added to the Magic Kingdom and it is transformed into a playful Halloween experience, suitable for ALL ages. This is a separate, ticketed event and admission can be purchased at any of the “Guest Relations” desks at Walt Disney World.

I attended this year’s first event on September 5th. The party officially runs from 7pm – 12 midnight, however, guests can enter the Magic Kingdom at 4pm with their MNSSHP ticket. Upon entering, you will be given a wrist band and a trick-or-treat bag. At precisely 7pm, cast members make a sweep of the entire park and politely, but firmly make anyone not wearing a wrist band leave the park.

Although some decorations and exhibits are not displayed until the party begins, others are on display for all of September and October.

Pay special attention to many of the carved pumpkins above the shops on Main Street. Pictured below are a few found above Casey’s Corner and the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor.

Here are a few more pictures of the special theming that is added for the event.

Normally, guests over the age of nine are not allowed to wear costumes in the Magic Kingdom, but this rule is waved for this event. Many children and a fair number of adults dress for the occasion.

Free face painting is also available so those of you who forgot your costumes can also get into the spirit.

Opportunities to trick-or-treat are everywhere and are clearly marked by signs.

Candy is generously distributed at each location. Cast members dressed in special Halloween garb give out 2-4 pieces to each guest as they pass through the line.

Besides some inexpensive lollypops a chocolates, name-brand treats are also dispensed like, Oh Henry, Snickers, Tootsie Roll, Skittles, and SweetTarts. Note, these are the miniature versions, like the ones you’d buy to give out from your own home.

Beginning at the back of Mickey’s Toontown Fair, you can stroll through Alice and Mad Hatter’s Treat Party.

As guests walk the trail to Tomorrowland, they encounter a number of props and characters, and photo opportunities abound. And as you might guess, more candy is available.

The cast members working the Haunted Mansion also get a makeover. Besides their regular, somber costume, their faces are made up to look ghoulish. Also, a “spirit from beyond” takes center stage on the lawn of the mansion and entertains guests with wonderful stories of her life, both living and dead. Many let others pass them in line so they can stand longer and listen to her tales. To add to the creepiness, the gravestones are given a spooky look with the addition of low lying fog.

There are a couple of Dance Parties held during MNSSHP. One at Ariel’s Grotto in Fantasyland and another at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café in Tomorrowland. I snapped this picture of Stitch impersonating Elvis at Cosmic Rays.

Presented on the Castle stage is the Villain’s Mix and Mingle show. Here, some of Disney’s greatest bad-guys and gals dance and rant and try to impress you with their evilness.

Character Meet-and-Greets are numerous so it’s easy to get pictures with some of your favorite Disney friends as you’ve never seen them before. In Fantasyland, you can have your picture taken in front of Cinderella’s glass coach.

I think most people would agree that Mickey’s “Boo-to-You” Halloween Parade is the highlight of the evening. Shown twice each night (8:15 & 10:30), this spectacle is a hoot. Be sure to find your viewing spot by the announced beginning time as the Headless Horseman makes a mad dash along the parade route to the cheers of the crowd. If you’re not there in time, you miss him.

The beginning of the parade starts off tame enough with some of the not-so-scary characters, but then the villains take over for a haunting good time.

Toward the end of the parade, several Goofy’s Candy Company carts. stroll by and a number of his minions pass out treats to the crowd.

At 9:30, a special fireworks show called Happy HalloWishes is presented. A Ghost Host introduces villain after villain and the castle is illuminated appropriately while color coordinated fireworks burst over head.

Not all of the rides and restaurants are open for this event. But since Disney caps the attendance at a reasonable number, it is never crowded and lines are usually short to non-existent.

Here is a list of the OPEN rides and attractions for MNSSHP:
Swiss Family Treehouse
Pirates of the Caribbean
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Splash Mountain
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
The Haunted Mansion
Peter Pan’s Flight
Cinderella’s Colden Carrousel
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Snow White’s Scary Adventures
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Mad Tea Party
“it’s a small world”
Tomorrowland Indy Speedway
Space Mountain
Astro Orbiter
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Tomorrowland Transit Authority
Stitch’s Great Escape
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
The Barnstormer at Goofy’s Wiseacre Farm

Stitch's Cosmic Dance Party at Cosmic Rays Starlight Cafe:
7:00pm, 8:00pm, 9:00pm, 10:00pm, and 11:00pm

Ariel's Grotto Dance Party:
7:00pm, 8:00pm, 9:00pm, 10:00pm, and 11:00pm

Villain’s Mix and Mingle shows at the Castle Stage:
7:45, 9:00, 10:05, and 11:15

Character Greetings take place from 7 – 11:30.

Hallowishes Fireworks at 9:30pm.

Here's the special map provided for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party!

There is only one table-service restaurant open during MNSSHP, Tony’s Town Square Restaurant. Personally, I think it might be a mistake to eat here during this event. MNSSHP is only five hours in length. Do you really want to spend almost an hour of your time eating a meal? I would suggest eating before you arrive or take advantage of one of the many counter service restaurants available.

Note, the official handout that Disney gives to guests states that Tony's is the only full-service restaurant open for these events. However, one of my readers has informed me that the Liberty Tree Tavern is open on selected nights as she has a reservation and confirmed this with Disney.

I enjoyed MNSSHP. However, I am an annual pass-holder and visit the Magic Kingdom often. Before I purchased my ticket, I had to ask myself if I really wanted to spend $50+ to see a special parade and fireworks show, because that’s what it really boils down to. Yes, Disney has added some special theming, candy, and limited entertainment, but is that really enough to justify the money. Obviously, many people think so as this event is very popular. But you need to consider this before you attend so you won’t be disappointed.

Remaining 2008 dates are:

September 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 28, 30
October 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 16, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31 (31st SOLDOUT)

Disney's Official Press Release: New Character Costumes at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party!

For prices and more information, click here.

This is strictly a RUMOR, but I have it on good authority that this will be a private, Magic Kingdom firework viewing area for DVC members staying at this resort. If true, this feature will make this “home away from home” all the more enticing.

While browsing, I noticed a cute sign with one of the “12 Days of Christmas” printed on it. It piqued my curiosity so I started to search for all twelve. To my dismay, I couldn’t find them. So I asked a cast member and was told that there are only eight. Strange, but I took pictures of them to share with you.

If you’re collecting the Disney Christmas Village pieces, two new buildings have been added. First there is the DV LDG Castle for $44.95. Also available is the Ivory Castle for $65.00. This piece features the same Mickey and Minnie that can be found on a Christmas stocking, Big Fig, tree skirt, and several other pieces.

While visiting the Art of Disney Shop, I noticed that they have a new Big Fig for those of you who like to decorate for Halloween. This Mickey and Minnie pumpkin set sell for $175. It’s approximately 8 inches high and 15 inches wide.

For those of you who like to take your lunch to work or school, I found a new Lunch Tote for $19.95 at Mickey’s Pantry. It was reasonably thick (insulated) and had a shiny, metallic-like finish on the inside to help keep items hot or cold.

And finally, I snapped a few pictures of the construction taking place in front of the World of Disney. The stage that occupies this area is being completely redesigned and improved. From what I understand, it will be covered when complete.

Each evening at 6pm (Tuesday - Saturday), one of the fire-dancers from the “Spirit of Aloha Polynesian Luau” show positions himself just inside the Great Ceremonial House.

Another member of the cast is also on hand and announces the commencement of the “Torch Lighting Ceremony.” The fire-dancer then creates a trumpet-like sound as he blows on a conch shell. His fanfare complete, the announcer then asks everyone in attendance to step outside.

Two supervisors cordon off an area near the entrance and the announcer takes his place behind two large drums. He then begins a Polynesian chant while beating the drums in rhythm. Moments later, the fire-dancer returns with a large baton, fire blazing at each end. A few ceremonial theatrics are performed with his fiery wand and then he proceeds to light several of the torches. The show continues as he “eats” fire and does an impressive baton twirling. The event lasts maybe five to seven minutes.

Is it worth making a special trip to the Polynesian Resort to see this mini-show? No. But if you happen to be in the area, perhaps waiting for your ‘Ohana reservation, then go for it. You'll be glad you did. I looked around at the others in attendance and everyone was smiling. This is one of the little details that helps make Disney special.

Let’s start with Hong Kong.

It’s a 13-14 hour flight from Chicago to Hong Kong. That’s a long time to spend in an airplane. Fortunately, I had enough frequent flyer miles to upgrade to Business Class and I would recommend this to anyone who can swing it.

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, Hong Kong Disneyland is a nice, LITTLE park, but it still has a long way to go before it could be considered a great park. There just aren’t enough rides and attractions to keep the average guest busy for more than a day – two if you’re a true Disney fanatic. I chose to spend three full days here because I’m a Disney extremist and I wanted to experience everything multiple times, but I would only recommend this length of stay to a handful of my readers. Because of the lack of rides and attractions, it becomes difficult for me to recommend a trip all the way to Hong Kong, JUST to see Disneyland.

But keep in mind, the City of Hong Kong is only a 20 minute train ride away from Disneyland. And believe me, there is no other city on earth like Hong Kong. This is a magnificent metropolis. A combination of ultra modern and traditional Chinese make this an exciting place to visit. You can easily spend three days here. And a day trip via hydrofoil to Macau is also a great excursion.

So, if you add the City of Hong Kong and Macau to your trip to HKDL, then it becomes a no-brainer. I say, “Go for it.”

If you do decide to go to Hong Kong, I would break the trip up into two sections. Stay at the Disneyland or Hollywood Hotel for two or three nights and the remainder of your stay on Hong Kong Island or across the harbor in Kowloon.

I’ve stayed at the Kowloon Shangri-La twice and was most pleased. In fact, it’s one of the nicest hotels I’ve ever been in. It has beautiful views of Hong Kong Island and it’s an easy walk to many of the sights. However, I’m sure there are MANY equally good hotels to choose from. Talk to your travel agent.

Now let’s discuss Japan. Should you fly 9-10 hours from Chicago to visit the Tokyo Disney Resort? Absolutely!

If you’ve been reading my blogs, you know that I rank Tokyo DisneySea as my absolute favorite park and I rank Tokyo Disneyland as my fifth favorite out of a total of eleven. Each of these parks has much more to offer than HKDL and each requires every bit of two days to see. Also, keep in mind that you probably won’t be returning anytime soon, so I would suggest spending three full days in each park to make sure you’ve imprinted all the sights and sounds into your brain.

Just like Disney World, I always recommend staying “on property.” If there is anyway you can afford it, stay at the MiraCosta. With the hotel located literally inside Tokyo DisneySea, it’s the most magical of any Disney hotel anywhere in the world. You’ll be glad you did. Also consider the new Disneyland Hotel which is right on the doorstep of Tokyo Disneyland. And lastly, the Ambassador Hotel which is just a short walk from the monorail, is worthy of your consideration.

Japan is an expensive country. If budget starts to play a part in your decision, consider staying at the Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel. It’s a little less costly than the Disney hotels and it’s extremely convenient to the Disney monorail so the parks are still just a short ride away.

On one trip, I stayed at an inexpensive (relatively speaking) Holiday Inn in downtown Tokyo and took the train to Disneyland everyday. It was less expensive than staying on property, but it lacked “magic” and I was more or less stuck at the park all day long as it would not be convenient to return to my hotel mid-day for a nap.

But here comes my dilemma when suggesting a trip to Tokyo. How can you possibly fly all this way and ONLY see Disney? Japan is a beautiful country. It would take weeks just to see the highlights. Do you really want to miss out on experiencing this wonderful culture?

Japan is roughly the size of California and has a magnificent railway system that can take you almost anywhere quickly and safely. But navigating in Japan can be daunting for someone who doesn’t speak the language. To make things easier, I would suggest meeting with a travel agent and arrange for a multi-day tour of the country that begins or ends in Tokyo, then spend an additional 6-7 days at Disney.

Here are just a FEW of the “must see” attractions in Japan.

Daibutsu (Buddha) in Kamakura

Daibutsu (Buddha) in Nara

Kyoto’s Golden Pavilion

The Kyoto Bridge

Osaka Castle

Nagasaki

If you’ve already visited the City of Hong Kong and the country of Japan as I have, or, if you really only want to visit Disney, you might want to do what I did and combine both resorts into one trip. I figured if I was flying all the way across the Pacific anyway, why not lengthen my stay and see both resorts. It’s about a 4½ hour flight between Hong Kong and Tokyo.

Getting from the airports to the resorts is easy. In Hong Kong, just hail a cab and tell him where you want to go. It shouldn’t cost much more than $20US to get to the Disneyland Resort. (Honk Kong also uses the “dollar” so don’t get confused.) The trip takes about 20 minutes. You can also take a train, which would be cheaper, but that would involve a transfer. And do you really want to schlep your luggage through crowded stations after just having completed a 13+ hour flight?

In Tokyo, there are a number of motor-coach counters located immediately after you clear customs. It’s here that you can arrange transportation to Disney. After purchasing your ticket (about $25 per person one-way) you will be told where to wait for the bus which will be just a short walk from the counter. The trip takes approximately one hour. You arrange for your return trip at your hotel.

Even though Visa and Master Card are accepted everywhere, I always try to have some local currency in hand when I arrive. It’s just one less thing I have to worry about after my flight.

One of the major enjoyments I get out of Disney theme parks is comparing them to one another. It fascinates me to see how similar, yet different, any given attraction can be.

I realize that international travel isn’t in everyone’s budget, but if you’re one of those families that visits Walt Disney World three or four times a year, might I suggest that you only visit once or twice some year and use the money you’ll save for an overseas Disney trip. You’ll be happy you did.

Although I have not talked about the Disneyland Paris Resort in my recent blogs, I rank Disneyland Paris as my second favorite park. And even though I rank the Walt Disney Studios Paris as my least favorite park, I still feel the resort has a lot to offer – a lot more than Hong Kong. Not to mention, the City of Lights is just a short train ride away.

So, this ends my Asian Disney blogs. I hope you’ve enjoyed them. I’ve had a good time reliving my adventures by sharing them with you.

In other words, there are areas here that could definitely use a face lift like they did to the Tomorrowlands in California and Florida. But even though some of the areas are a little dated, there is still a lot of fun to be had here.

Let’s start with the main entrance into Tomorrowland.

Do the spires look familiar? Remember them from the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World?

In an effort to update the spires, they have received several stylish paint jobs over the years. And by the way, water no longer cascades from these guys.

If you look closely at the above picture you’ll notice that there is no PeopleMover running down the middle of the concourse or along the side of the buildings. By the time Tokyo Disneyland was being planned, people-movers were already becoming commonplace at airports and were no longer considered a product of the future.

Let’s start with the first attraction you come to on the right, Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters.

The Tokyo version of this ride is the exact same attraction as can be found at Disneyland, CA, Disneyland Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland.

All four of these attractions came after the Disney World version and have a different track layout than their Florida cousin. Also different from Florida is a very nice upgrade. The laser guns are not attached to the vehicle. Instead, they’re connected via a retractable cord which gives you a greater range of movement when shooting.

The queue is also a little different from Disney World. Instead of seeing a giant View-Master, here you see a large Etch-A-Sketch which continually draws new pictures.

The sights within the attraction have also been changed slightly from the Florida version, but the concept is the same. You aim and shoot at targets as you travel through Buzz’s universe and high score wins. Because of the upgraded laser guns, I have to say that all of the other Buzz Lightyear attractions are better than the Magic Kingdom’s version at Disney World.

Across the way from Buzz we find MicroAdventure.

MicroAdventure is what we call, Honey, I Shrunk the Audience. This is the exact same movie as plays in California and Florida, except that it has been dubbed into Japanese. There are several phone handsets in the back of the theater that play the English soundtrack.

This is a very popular attraction and I would suggest using FASTPASS.

Let’s take a little detour and enter Tomorrowland via Center Street from World Bazaar. Here are two pictures, one looking out from World Bazaar toward Tomorrowland and the other looking from Tomorrowland back toward World Bazaar.

Once entering Tomorrowland from World Bazaar, you will be greeted by an all new attraction in 2009, Monsters, Inc. Ride and go Seek.

Because of the construction wall, I wasn’t able to get any good pictures of the building. The photo below was taken from outside the park from the monorail station platform.

As you can see, the structure is reminiscent of the buildings seen in the movie, Monsters, Inc.

The details for this attraction are still sketchy, but from what I’ve read you play hide-and-go-seek with Boo, Mike, and Sulley in Monstropolis. The ride will be similar to the attraction “Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!” at Disney’s California Adventure and it will incorporate 3D screen technology similar to that used in the “Toy Story Midway Mania” attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios. It’s scheduled to open in 2009 at a cost of $88M.

This new ride replaces “Meet the World” which was a “Carousel of Progress” type attraction that portrayed the history of Japan.

Next to Monsters, Inc. Ride and go Seek you’ll find Star Tours. I like the exterior of this building as it looks like a futuristic space craft hanger.

The interior of the attraction is very similar to all of the other Star Tours around the world.

The dialogue for Captain Rex and the pilot seen on the TV monitor have been dubbed into Japanese, but the vocals coming from Star Command are still in English. Otherwise, the attraction is exactly the same as the American versions.

The exit for Star Tours is far more elaborate than the “hallways” you walk through in the American parks. At Tokyo, the space age architecture is continued in the exit corridors and you even come across a strange alien working feverishly in a control booth. Look closely and you might recognize him as he bears a striking resemblance to Sonny Eclipse from Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café at WDW.

When you exit the Star Tours building, you cross an elevated walkway to an observation platform and the upper level of the Pan Galactic Pizza Port. You can also reach this platform via a large staircase.

The Pan Galactic Pizza Port is a sizeable, counter service restaurant that serves, you guessed it, pizza. Sausage & Mushroom and Chicken & Vegetable pizza is offered by the slice along with salads and a few other odds and ends.

Food is ordered and purchased on the ground floor, but there is additional seating upstairs, overlooking the greatest pizza making machine you’ve ever seen. Here, Tony Solaroni runs an outrageous contraption designed to delight children and adults. Even if you don’t eat here, I would strongly suggest taking a gander at this fun spot.

Located between Star Tours and Space Mountain is Showbase.

Showbase is a covered amphitheater where lavish Disney-character shows are presented. As with all live performances at Tokyo Disneyland, you need to arrive early to get a seat.

Next we come to Space Mountain. You enter this attraction via a long speed-ramp that takes you to the second floor of the building. Here, the line continues around the perimeter of Space Mountain for a short distance before it enters the structure.

Up until recently, the inside queue and ride were identical to the Space Mountain attraction at Disneyland, CA. Unfortunately, I was unaware of the recent refurbishment and chose not to ride Space Mountain on my latest trip. It wasn’t until I returned home that I found out that Disney has tinkered with this perennial favorite quite a bit. Even the logo has changed.

The large spaceship that once hung from the main queue area has been replaced by a much sleeker craft.

I want to thank my friend TDLFAN for the above picture and the following description.

“It's too bad you didn't ride Space Mountain, because Disney did a very nice job giving this ride a new look all over. Still the same track, but now it features a new show that makes it look like you are in an electrical power plant/station in outer space, complete with lightning-like special effects and other show elements unique to Tokyo. There is no ride soundtrack, but it doesn't matter because now the TDL version has a very unique look to it. Best of all is how Disney made the main portion of the ride very dark, with some sound effects and new visual elements, like flying thru a nebula during one of the drops, plus the new star field at "re-entry" similar to the one now in use at DL and HKDL.”

Let this be a lesson to myself and all of you, ‘GO ON EVERYTHING WHEN VISITING A FOREIGN DISNEY PARK!”

Now we come to what I describe as the “boring” concourse. This is a vast expanse that runs from Space Mountain to the Star-Jets. It’s flanked by the Grand Circuit Raceway on one side and the Tomorrowland Terrace on the other. At one time, the Skyway traveled above this area, but with it gone, there really aren’t any architectural elements to excite the eye.

The Grand Circuit Raceway is Tokyo Disneyland’s version of the Autopia at Disneyland or Tomorrowland Indy Speedway at Disney World. In fact, the track layout is almost identical to the Tomorrowland Indy Speedway.

It’s interesting to note that the steering wheels are on the right side of these little cars as the Japanese drive on the left side of the road. Also, the Japanese do not consider these “bumper cars” as so many of us Americans do and it’s rare to get smacked from behind.

I have always felt that this attraction and the one in Florida are strictly for youngsters who don’t yet have a driver’s license. There really isn’t very much to see along the journey. However, the Autopia in California has been updated with some nice scenery and props that make this simple car-ride more enjoyable to adults.

Like Walt Disney World, the Grand Circuit Raceway does have a “stadium” where parents can wait and take pictures.

Across the way from the Grand Circuit Raceway is the Tomorrowland Terrace.

If you notice a resemblance between the Tomorrowland Terrace and Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe at Walt Disney World, that’s because the two restaurants are almost identical in everyway.

This is one of the few true burger joints at Tokyo Disneyland and you can order hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken burgers, sandwiches, chicken strips and fries. I didn’t eat here on my latest trip, but five years ago I got the cutest burger.

Sonny Eclipse does not perform at the Tomorrowland Terrace, but there is a stage in the same location as Cosmic Rays and live entertainment can sometimes be heard here.

The last attraction in Tomorrowland is the Star-Jets.

There’s not a lot I can say about this ride. You take an elevator to the loading platform, board a two-passenger “jet” and spin for something less than a minute.

Like all Disney parks, live entertainment is everywhere, and Tomorrowland is no exception.

One final curiosity I’d like to point out is the interesting trash can I saw in Tomorrowland.

If you look closely at the smaller receptacle, you’ll notice that it’s intended to be used for liquids before throwing away your paper cup.

Well, that’s it for Tokyo Disneyland. I will be writing one final blog about my trip to the Hong Kong and Tokyo Disney Resorts in an effort to sum everything up.

Toontown is the community where carTOON characters live, shop, and play when not at a studio making movies. Inspired by the movie “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” Toontown is a whacky place where very little makes sense and you never know what crazy thing might happen next.

The entrance to Toontown is located at the boundary of Fantasyland and Tomorrowland and it’s tucked neatly behind the two.

Here are several aerial shots of Toontown taken from the old Skyway attraction.

In the above picture you can see the Grand Circuit Raceway skirting the edge of Toontown and Gadget’s Go Coaster.

Anyone familiar with Toontown at Disneyland California will immediately become disoriented when entering Tokyo’s version as the entire land is a mirror image of its American counterpart. But other than that, these two lands are remarkably similar. Even the interiors of the buildings are furnished almost identically.

For those of you who are only familiar with Disney World’s “Mickey’s Toontown Fair” you’re in for a treat. Toontown in Tokyo (and California) are vastly superior to the scaled down version in Florida.

Let’s start with the residential section of Toontown which has many of the same elements as Mickey’s Toontown Fair. Specifically, let’s start with Mickey’s House.

At Mickey’s house you can personally meet The Mouse in one of several movie sets. This is a great way to get some uninterrupted time and pictures with the number one cheese. However, the line to meet Mickey and tour his home can be as long as many of the top attractions. As you can see in the above picture, this is a popular destination and many guests make this their first stop of the day.

Here’s a picture of me taken 13 years ago at Mickey’s House.

Touring Mickey’s house is a lot of fun. Straight lines are almost nonexistent, everything is overstuffed and curved, and craziness abounds. I always secretly wonder if I could somehow convert one of the rooms in my own home to look like this.

Minnie is Mickey’s neighbor to the left and her house is also open to her adoring fans. However, Minnie rarely makes a personal appearance like her boyfriend. Here are a couple of pictures of her charming cottage.

To the right of Mickey’s house we find Chip ‘n Dales Treehouse. Once again, these rascals’ home is open to all.

Continuing on we find Gadget’s Go Coaster.

This is definitely a kiddy coaster. At Disney World it would be comparable to The Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacre Farm. The ride is just a little over a minute in duration and the thrills are tame.

You would never think of going on this attraction unless you had little ones in tow OR you were an absolute Disney fanatic that wanted to experience EVERYTHING. By the way, I have no children and I’ve been on this ride.

Docked next to the Go Coaster we find Donald’s Boat, the Miss Daisy.

Unlike Mickey and Minnie’s houses which are primarily for viewing, Donald is a little less uptight than his neighbors and let’s you play with various goodies in his residence. You can steer the ship, ring a bell, talk over the “intercom” and a bunch of other cool stuff.

The final residence in Toontown is Goofy’s Bounce House. Here, the walls and floors are cushioned and/or inflated, making this the perfect spot for kids to bounce and jump to their heart’s content. There is a height restriction though. You must be UNDER 132 cm (52 inches) to enter. No adults, please.

You never know where you’ll find a toon.

For the long commute into the city, residents and visitors of Toontown can catch the Jolly Trolley located next to Mickey’s fountain.

The Jolly Trolley is visually appealing as it bobs and pitches, this way and that, on its one-way trip downtown. The trolley holds eight guests and the ride lasts a whopping two and a half minutes. This is one of those attractions that provides more ambiance to onlookers than it does enjoyment to the few who actually ride it. I love the Jolly Trolley. It’s cute!

The Jolly Trolley is another good example of how the Tokyo parks have substantially more cast members manning their attractions than the American parks. When the trolley is in motion, one cast member drives the trolley. Another walks in front of the trolley in a zig-zag pattern clearing pedestrians from the tracks. And a third cast member follows behind the trolley ensuring that no hitchhikers jump aboard.

Downtown Toontown has all the essential elements of any big city. City Hall anchors one section of town and is flanked by a school, a bank, and various other municipal buildings.

You’ll even find Restaurant Row here, where you can purchase such taste treats as ice cream, caramel-flavored popcorn, pizzas, sandwiches, and Mickey pretzels.

As we venture further into downtown we find winding streets with gags galore.

There is a fireworks factory with occasional explosions on the second floor.

Beware of falling safes.

Beware of falling barbells.

Sparks fly at the Power House.

The Five & Dime is where the toons do most of their shopping. Here they can find a large array of Disney souvenirs for themselves or their human friends.

The final attraction in Toontown is Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin.

On this ride you join Benny the Cab for a wild ride through the seedier side of Toontown. The weasels are in hot pursuit with “Dip” and a desire to dissolve you. Your cab has a steering wheel that when turned, spins your car in circles. Think of the “Tea Cups” on wheels. The attraction has been carefully designed so that no matter which direction your cab is facing during the ride, there is something fun to see.

Just when you think all is lost, Roger Rabbit comes to the rescue with a portable hole and saves the day. This effect is simple, but beautifully executed.

This is a very popular ride, but fortunately, the queue is almost as entertaining as the attraction so the wait is somewhat enjoyable.

That finishes up Toontown. Next stop, infinity and beyond. Or in other words, Tomorrowland.