The “World” According to Jack

Before Mission: SPACE, there was Horizons. Horizons opened exactly one year after Epcot on October 1, 1983. The attraction used Disney's Omnimover conveyance system and allowed guests to view the future through the eyes of scientist and authors both past and present.

The closing of Horizons (January 9, 1999) was generated by several events. First, changing public tastes. Most guests were no longer content to sit for almost 15 minutes and watch one vignette after another pass by. Lines for this attraction were practically nonexistent in the later years. Next, General Electric, sensing that this attraction had seen its day, let their contract expire after ten years and instead, decided to sponsor Illuminations. This forced Disney to pick up the operating costs for a tired attraction. And finally, it was alleged that along with major roof problems, a sinkhole was discovered under the building in 1998. Something needed to be done.

Some sort of Space Pavilion had been envisioned for Epcot since the parks inception so Disney decided that maybe now was the time to move forward with this idea. But the first step would be to demolish the Horizons building. For a number of months during 2000, cranes and bulldozers chipped away at the building. A large amount of the structure’s materials were recycled.

Construction of Mission: SPACE took a little over two years. Compaq was the original sponsor of the attraction, but the company was acquired by Hewlett-Packard in 2002 and HP took over the contracts. The ride began soft openings in August 2003, and its grand opening was on October 9 of the same year.

The area outside of Mission: SPACE is called Planetary Plaza. If you look at the pavement, you can see orbital pathways and celestial bodies embedded into the concrete. The four large spheres near the building represent Jupiter, Mars, the Earth, and the Moon. The curving lines of the structure symbolize orbits and flight.

The backstory for Mission: SPACE is this. The year is 2036, seventy-five years after Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space. A colony is being built on Mars and the International Space Training Center (ISTC) is preparing astronauts for the journey. They will fly aboard the new X-2 Deep Space Shuttle which is propelled by solid hydrogen and can accelerate from zero to six-thousand in sixty seconds.

Upon entering the Mission: SPACE compound, trainees are asked if they would like to receive “Less Intense Training” (Green Team) or “More Intense Training” (Orange Team). Once you make your decision, you will be given an appropriate colored Launch Ticket. Notice, the green ticket says “CAUTION” while the orange ticket says “WARNING.”

I cannot stress this enough, if you’re in doubt as to which training session to choose, select the milder version. (I’ll go into the ride mechanics later.) When this attraction debuted, only the “More Intense Training” was offered. Numerous guests suffered severe motion sickness during the first several years of operation. Things became so bad that Disney installed barf-bags in each training module within a couple of weeks of opening. However, they soon realized that this wasn’t enough and something more drastic was needed to solve the problem. Eventually, a milder version of the attraction was developed (Less Intense Training) and came online in May, 2006. Note, if some members of your party select Mild and others request Intense, you will be separated and you will not ride together.

After you receive your Launch Ticket, take a look at the large model of the moon located behind the cast members.

Located on its surface are colored markers. These represent the 29 manned and unmanned landing sites achieved by the United States and the Soviet Union between 1959 and 1976. A single red marker designates the landing of Apollo 11 on July 20, 1969. Other manned missions are marked in blue and unmanned missions are marked in clear/white.

Also in this area are ten plaques containing quotations from people who have inspired and promoted space travel throughout history.

Before entering the Mission: SPACE Sim Lab, you can view a mockup of the training capsule. For those of you who suffer from claustrophobia, this will help you make a determination if this ride is suitable for you.

Once inside the Sim Lab, the queue passes beside a reproduction of the living quarters of a space vehicle. The rooms rotate to create artificial gravity for its inhabitants. If you look at the hub of this assembly, you can see the old logo for Horizons. Disney often acknowledges previous attractions by placing some sort of remembrance in the current ride.

On the other side of the room, hanging from the ceiling, is a large model of a spacecraft. If you study the ship closely, you can see where the rotating section (living quarters) would be located on this vehicle.

Also hanging from the ceiling is a Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV). On loan from the Smithsonian, this is the only LRV constructed that is not on the moon. These two-passenger “cars” were battery powered and had a top speed of 8.7 miles per hour. Designed in 1969, the LRVs were used by Apollo 15, 16, and 17 to explore the surface of the moon.

As your journey along the queue continues, you’ll pass beside a portrait gallery. Here you’ll find a number of plaques commemorating milestones in space history. Starting with the first man in space, Yuri Gagarin (1961) and ending with the first X-2 Deep Space Mission with the crew of Bobby O’Brien, Sumi Yamamoto, and Frank Rodriguez (2036).

Across from the portrait gallery is the International Space Training Center Command Area. All activities of your mission will be coordinated from here.

If you watch the small monitors on the console, you might spot a gooney bird come in for a crash landing. Your first thought might be, “This is a strange image to be displayed here.” But there is some Disney trivia behind this silly bird. During the preshow for “Flight to the Moon” and later “Mission to Mars” in the old Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom (and Disneyland), this gooney bird set off alarms and flashing lights and Mission Control went into full alert as this “UFO” came in for a landing. It was a corny joke, but was appropriate for the era and for old-timers like myself, it brings back pleasant memories.

The Command Area marks the end of the queue and your adventure will begin shortly. Those taking the “Less Intense Training” will be directed to Briefing Rooms 1 and 2 while those taking the “More Intense Training” will be directed to Briefing Rooms 3 and 4. You will be grouped into teams of four and asked to stand on corresponding numbers on the floor.

When all of the trainees are in place, the doors behind you close and a short video is presented on overhead monitors. Your mission is explained and some safety procedures covered. For those of you who don’t recognize the CapCom, it’s Gary Sinise.

From the Briefing Room, flight instructors guide each team around a circular room and ask them to wait on their corresponding numbers.

At this station, each member of your team is assigned one of the following positions: Commander, Pilot, Navigator, and Engineer. During your training session, each position will be called upon to complete two tasks. But don’t worry. If you miss your cue, the computer takes over and fulfills your duty. You’ll also be given additional safety tips at this time. During this portion of the video, you will see a young lady pull her restraint over her head. Close observers may recognize her from Test Track as she is also in that attraction’s safety video and is shown fastening her seat belt while being seated in her vehicle.

Soon, the doors in front of you open and your team enters its training module. Stow any loose items in the bin in front of you, then pull down the safety restraint. A steady stream of cool air is blown into your face to help prevent motion sickness.

I have created a short video of the experience. This is an edited version of the actual events.

Now that you’ve watched the video, let me give you a little information about the attraction’s design and mechanics. In association with former NASA advisors, astronauts, and scientists, Walt Disney Imagineering developed Mission: SPACE. Over a five year period, 650 Imagineers spent more than 350,000 hours creating this attraction. The developers said that much of the technology used for Mission: SPACE needed to be invented as nothing already existed that was capable of giving the guests this type of experience.

In each of the four training areas, there is a large, multiple-arm centrifuge. Attached to the arms are ten training modules. In the “More Intense Training” session, the centrifuge spins, giving riders a since of increased gravity and later weightlessness. This force is 2.5 times that of gravity at the earth’s surface. When your craft blasts off, you feel and intense pressure on your body. Also, while your module is spinning, it pitches and yaws to add to the effect of movement through space. In the “Less Intense Training” session, the motion simulator effects are used, but the centrifuge does not spin. It seems to be the spinning that causes some guests physical problems. The ride has a capacity of 1,600 guests per hour.

I like the “More Intense Training” session – a lot. So when Disney introduced the “Less Intense Training” session, I thought it would be lacking. But to my surprise, it still delivers a good experience. Certainly anyone who can “stomach” Star Tours, can join the Green (Less Intense) Team.

If you’re like me and have ridden Mission: SPACE more times than you can count, I offer you something else to watch during the ride (if your stomach can take it). Pay attention to the small video screen located next to your monitor. An animated simulation of your entire journey is chronicled on this screen.

When your training is complete, you enter the Advanced Training Lab. Here, four different stations offer additional adventures. The first is for the little ones. “Space Base” is a sort of space-aged Habitrail for kids. A number of tubes and enclosures allow them to climb through a variety of pathways.

At “Expedition: Mars,” you command a search and rescue mission, looking for lost astronauts. This computer game offers three levels of play.

“Postcards from Space” allows you to create a short video and email it too friends and family back home. If you want to make someone envious that you’re at Walt Disney World and they’re not, you can make it happen here.

The final Advanced Training Lab attraction is “Mission: Space Race.” At this station, two teams compete to create a successful mission. This game is coordinated by cast members and requires a minimum number of players. If you want to experience this event, you might need to return later in the day when crowds have grown.

And like so many other Disney attractions, you exit Mission: SPACE through a themed shop. This one is called Mission Space Cargo Bay – Gear and Supplies.

Right outside the shop is a bench. This is the perfect spot for those of you who choose not to experience any training whatsoever to wait for your friends and family.

Mission: SPACE offers numerous warnings before boarding. There are multiple signs posted in Planetary Plaza. There are videos located next to the vehicle mockup. There are overhead announcements. And both safety videos explain what’s coming. There is no way anyone can claim they didn’t understand what was in store for them unless they paid absolutely no attention as to what was going on around them. Children must be 44” high to ride.

Well, that’s what I have on Mission: SPACE. I’m not a fan of the Tea Cups at the Magic Kingdom as the spinning makes me sick, yet I have no problem with the spinning of this attraction. But don’t let anyone talk you into the Intense Training unless it’s what YOU want to do. It’s just not worth ruining the next several hours of your visit to Epcot while you’re experiencing extreme nausea.

Update: October 3, 2009

Yesterday, I rode the TTA. I was surprised to hear a new audio track had replaced the old narrative. A cast member told me this change took place on Thursday, October 2nd – the day I was riding.

Gone are the old jokes about keeping your forward facing tentacles inside your vehicle. And Mr. Tom Morrow is no longer paged or asked to give his party on Saturn a ring. The narrative is now in a young man’s voice and he points out the various sights along the way. For example, as you pass the Carousel of Progress, a brief description of this attraction is presented. This is in keeping with the original PeopleMover at Disneyland. On that now defunct ride, the many sights of Tomorrowland were pointed out as you passed by.

I have mixed emotions about the new recording. While it’s sad when something we like is discontinued, updates are necessary to keep things fresh. I was told the Imagineers will monitor guest reaction to gauge how this change is received.

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As you may know, Space Mountain is currently closed for an extensive refurbishment and is scheduled to reopen in November of this year. Since the Tomorrowland Transit Authority (TTA) travels through Space Mountain, it was necessary to close this attraction as well. But the mountain’s refurbishment has reached a point that the TTA could reopen and did so today (September 12th). I decided to take this opportunity to give you a little history of this sedate, yet very popular ride. But like so many other Magic Kingdom attractions, we must step back in time and across the continent to Disneyland in order to get a better understanding of the TTA, or WEDway PeopleMover as it was originally named.

When Walt was building Disneyland, money was extremely tight. Tomorrowland was practically an afterthought and during the early years, lacked greatly in attractions and ambiance. In 1959, Tomorrowland saw its first real improvement with the addition of the Submarine Voyage and the Disney/Alwig Monorail. But the biggest change came to this area in July 1967, when Tomorrowland was reborn (at a staggering cost of $23-million). Adventures Thru Inner Space, an all new CircleVision movie presented in an enlarged theater, elevated Rocket Jets, an improved Flight to the Moon, and the Carousel of Progress were all added to the land of the future. And tying them and the existing Tomorrowland attractions together was the PeopleMover sponsored by Goodyear. This elevated highway gave guests an overhead preview of all the wonderful new adventures that were just waiting to be experienced.

In its day, the PeopleMover was innovative and Walt thought of it as more than just a ride. He felt that the PeopleMover, along with the monorail, could help cities solve problems of congestion and overcrowding. In fact, he was so taken with both of these modes of transportation that they were incorporated into the plans for the city of the future he intended to build in Florida – a city to be called EPCOT. In this 1967 concept drawing of EPCOT, you can see both the PeopleMover (left) and the monorail (right).

The queuing process for Disneyland’s PeopleMover was unique. First, guests boarded a speed-ramp (an inclined conveyor belt) for transport to a second level boarding area. At the end of the ramp they were deposited onto a stationary platform, surrounded by a large rotating turntable. Since the inside of a disk moves slower than the outside, it allowed guests an easy transition from the stationary platform to the moving turntable. As they walked to the outer edges of the turntable, their speed gradually increased. This arrangement allowed for better guest safety and improved ride capacity since the cars didn’t need to slow down as much in order to be boarded.

The PeopleMover was powered by small rubber tires (made by Goodyear) embedded along the track. Spaced about every nine feet, hundreds electric motors powered these tiny tires as they pressed against fiberglass epoxy plates positioned on the bottom of the cars. Top speed: six miles per hour. Each train consisted of four cars, holding four passengers each. They were equipped with power doors and an automated roof that tilted out of the way for easier loading and unloading (see above picture). The PeopleMover had an astonishing capacity of 4,600 guests an hour.

Along the nearly one mile route, a cheery narrative was piped into each car, describing the sights along the way while occasionally praising Goodyear. Unlike its future Florida cousin, Disneyland’s PeopleMover changed elevation as it circled Tomorrowland. It traveled over the Autopia, through shops, and above the submarine lagoon. It even paralleled the monorail for a short distance.

When the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World was in the planning stages, the PeopleMover (to be known as the WEDway PeopleMover) was an obvious choice to be included in the new park. However, it was not an opening day attraction. You see, just like at Disneyland sixteen years earlier, Tomorrowland would have to wait until after the park opened before it took on its full potential. The WEDway PeopleMover did not open until July 1, 1975, six months after Space Mountain. Here are two pictures taken in January 1972. As you can see, the WEDway PeopleMover is far from operational status.

There were several changes made to the Florida version of this ride from its California counterpart. First, it would not be powered by moving wheels embedded in the track, but rather by linear induction motors. This made for a much smoother ride than at Disneyland. Second, due to Florida’s weather, it was decided that individual roofs over each car would not be sufficient protection from the elements, so the entire track was covered. Another change would be the addition of a fifth car to each train. And as I mentioned earlier, the Magic Kingdom version traveled at the same elevation throughout its entire journey. This concept drawing provides a good overview of the attraction.

Back at Disneyland, the Carousel of Progress was being dismantled so it could be shipped to Florida. On the second floor of the COP building was a large model of Progress City – the prototype for the city of EPCOT. The Imagineers didn’t want to destroy this beautiful work of art, yet they had no place to store or display it at Disneyland. It was eventually decided to make it one of the sights seen while riding the new WEDway PeopleMover in Florida; however, it was much too large in its current state and would need to be cut down dramatically in order to fit into the space available. Believe me, anyone who saw the original model at Disneyland, knows that this resized version pales by comparison.

The WEDway PeopleMover has changed little over the years. However, some of the sights along the way have evolved. For example, in the beginning, guests looked into the “If You Had Wings” attraction, then came “Dreamflight,” and finally “Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.”

As part of the Tomorrowland makeover, the attraction closed for five months in 1994. During this time it received cosmetic changes, giving the front section of the attraction a retro-futuristic look, leaving the back half virtually unchanged. The ride was also given a new name, the “Tomorrowland Transit Authority” or TTA. The backstory being that this is a future mode of transportation in the metropolis of Tomorrowland and the “Blue Line” services this area.

I have ridden the TTA more than any other attraction at Disney World. Why? First, it rarely has a line, and if it does, it’s never more than a five minute wait. Next, the TTA offers a ten minute relaxing ride – allowing me to sit down in relative comfort. This is the perfect way to unwind for a few moments after being on my feet for hours. And finally, I like this attraction. It’s enjoyable to people-watch from high above the crowd. In addition, I get to take in some great Disney architecture and detailing along the way. Also, if the ride doesn’t have a line, you can ask the cast member if you can stay on for a second go-round.

Is this ride as thrilling or as engaging as other attractions at Disney World? Nope. Far from it. But it is a favorite of many people. I mourn the passing of the PeopleMover at Disneyland especially since the Rocket Rods attraction failed to run satisfactorily. I only hope that Disney does something with this eyesore of empty track sometime soon. I also hope that the Magic Kingdom version keeps running for many years to come.

To my knowledge, only one change of any note has been made to the TTA. A new LED lighting system has been installed and the track route changes colors every several seconds during the evening. Sorry, I do not have any pictures of this.

Here is a video I created of the TTA to help you relive the simple pleasures this ride has to offer. Note, it was a rainy day so occasionally you’ll see a drop of water on my lens. Sorry.

On November 10, 1999, a favorite ride for many of us closed. The Skyway that once carried guests over Tomorrowland and Fantasyland stopped running. It was a sad day. The towers and cables were removed soon after, but both stations have remained – until now. Today, backhoes and bulldozers are busy in Tomorrowland, eating away at this opening day attraction. I have no idea what, if anything, will be replacing this structure.

Update:

While riding the TTA yesterday I could see that the demolition portion of the project is complete. It appears that Disney is keeping (and remodeling) the restrooms that were located under the station.

Realizing the importance of our youth and sports, ESPN has a long history of covering and promoting high school athletic events. ESPN RISE was created to encourage and recognize teenage athletes by providing them with recognition, resources, information and the inspiration they need. This encouragement will in turn motivate them to improve their skills and achieve their goals to be the best athletes they can be.

In addition to promoting actual events, ESPN publishes several magazines aimed at the youth market. ESPN RISE is a comprehensive sports magazine that is published in 30 U.S. markets. Keeping the magazine regional allows the stories and topics to be focused on local achievements and events. The magazine has a monthly circulation of over one million.

ESPN Girl, is aimed at the teenage female athlete. This magazine is distributed free to high-schools across the U.S. Besides encompassing a large array of sports, other topics such as nutrition, fashion, and socializing are brought into the mix. Each issue has a circulation of roughly 300,000.

In a similar vein, Gridiron and Hardwood magazines emphasize high school football and basketball. Each of these publications has a monthly circulation of 100,000.

In an effort to expand on their commitment to promote and encourage youth-oriented sports, the ESPN RISE Games were developed. This week long event (July 19-25) will take place at Disney’s Wild World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World.

The games will feature elite and competitive channel sports events. Baseball, softball, football, basketball, field hockey, and track & field competitions will all be represented. It’s hoped that at future events, additional competitions will be added as the popularity of the games grow.

To get this year’s games off to a proper start, an Olympic-style opening ceremony took place last night (July 19). Disney and ESPN pulled out all the stops to make sure these young competitors felt like champions. NFL reporter and senior writer Michael Smith hosted the show.

After welcoming us to the kick-off event, the parade of athletes took place. Each of the participating teams walked, and sometimes ran, onto the field as their team’s name was called out. The enthusiasm, excitement, and pride could easily be seen on these kid’s faces.

After everyone was assembled in the infield, a local National Guard unit marched onto the green and took its position among the youth.

Seven-year-old Gina Marie Incandela sang the National Anthem. Incredible is all I have to say. How a child this young can hit those high notes is amazing. The crowd gave her a stirring ovation at the anthem’s completion. Among her other performances, Gina Marie has performed at the 2009 NBA Finals and the Today Show on NBC.

Next, Disney Ambassador Clay Shoemaker and Mickey Mouse made an appearance.

Jay Corbin and Brandon Hancock, ESPN RISE editors, were also on hand to welcome the crowd and help kick off the ceremony.

In a stirring moment, the first “True Champion Award” was given to Kyle Bogden. In a national contest, Kyle’s essay was selected as it exemplifies what a true winner is all about. Here is a quote from his essay:

"I guess you could say I'm a mentally strong kid due to the adversity I have overcome. I am hearing-impaired in both ears, and must wear two hearing aids every day. Some people consider me handicapped, or think I need special treatment, and I always tell them the same thing. 'It's a gift, and I'm grateful for what I was given because I know that I can get through it every day.' "

No Olympic-style observance would be complete without a torch-lighting ceremony. Trace Arena from Tampa, Florida, who plays for the Tampa Makos, was randomly selected as part of a Magical Moment during baseball registration.

In closing, Disney put on a spectacular fireworks display.

Is this event for everyone? Certainly if your daughter or son were one of the athletes on the field you’d want to be here to cheer them on. For the average Disney World guest, probably not. But the evening packed a lot of excitement into an hour. And if you follow high school sports, this event will make you feel good about all that is being done to promote this often overlooked segment of the athletic world.

ESPNU will provide extensive coverage of the ESPN RISE Games starting on Saturday, July 25th through Wednesday, July 29th.

If you’ve never seen Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex, I would highly recommend doing so. Even if athletic events aren’t your thing, this venue is typical of Disney – it’s done well and is worth seeing. And while you’re there, you can always grab a bite to eat at the Wide World of Sports Cafe (counter service). Admission to an event is not required to dine here. Just tell the gatekeeper that you only want to eat at the restaurant.

For more information about ESPN RISE, click here.

Star Wars Guide Map - Very large file

Star Wars Weekend Tips

Additional Star Wars Weekend Information

I went to Disney's Hollywood Studios today to check out the opening of Star Wars Weekends. I arrived at 8:30am and the lines to get into the park were already long. This picture was taken five minutes later. I was standing at the ticket booths and as you can see, the lines extend all the way to the security check point.

To keep the crowd entertained, Storm Troopers were on hand taunting and threatening us.

While waiting for the park to open, I struck up a conversation with some folks in line. I learned that if you want an autograph and/or photo opportunity with the “celebrity of the day,” you need a FastPass. These are handed out on a first come, first issued basis at the far right side of the ticket booths (outside the park) starting at around 8:15am. The people I was speaking with told me they were in the FastPass line at 5:30am and they were definitely not the first to arrive.

A limited number of these “celebrity” FastPasses are available, but if you’re lucky enough to secure one, you’re guaranteed the opportunity to see your favorite Star Wars hero. Just show up at the designated location during your 15 minute window. After all of the initial FastPasses have been distributed, a limited number of Stand-by FastPasses will be handed out. However, these “secondary” tickets do not guarantee you an autograph or photo session – but it’s worth a try.

The celebrity of the day will autograph their photograph and any merchandise you bring with you. A number of people brought in posters to be signed.

Also handed out early in the morning outside the park are color coded wrist bands. These allow shoppers priority entrance into Wicket’s Warehouse where you can buy limited edition and collectable Star Wars merchandise.

Located through out the park are various Star Wars character meet-and-greet locations. Unlike the celebrity sessions, you do not need a FastPass for these photo ops. But be warned, within minutes of the park opening, every one of these venues had a long line.

Star Wars T-shirts are seen everywhere and some folks pull out all the stops and dressed to the nines.

Here is yours truly as a Storm Trooper. Not to menacing, am I?

Always a favorite, but especially during Star Wars Weekend, is the Jedi Training Academy. Here kids can find out if they have what it takes to become a Jedi Warrior. Children are selected at random and it’s best to arrive early (at least 30 minutes during Star Wars Weekend) if you want your little one selected.

Some of the other activities include the “Padawan Mind Challenge.” Here, Younglings use their “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” knowledge to pass the trivia trials and become an official Padawan learner. This event is for children 11 and under and registration begins at the Star Wars Information Desk beginning at 9am.

At the Premiere Theater you can see host Ashley Eckstein in “Clone Wars: Behind the Force” – a show that explores the excitement of “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” with a fascinating look behind the scenes led by the voice behind “Ahsoka” and other guest celebrities.

Since this blog is all about Star Wars, I thought I’d share some Star Tours trivia with you.

When you enter the building, the queue makes a switchback or backwards “S.” You know why?

Because this section of the queue was loosely based on the Star Tours attraction at Disneyland in California.

But do you know why the queue follows this configuration at Disneyland?

It’s because the Disneyland building originally housed Adventures Thru Inner Space. When the attraction was retired to make room for Star Tours, there was no reason to rip out this perfectly good walkway so the Imagineers just did some retooling with the props that surrounded it.

And while were on the subject of Adventures Thru Inner Space, did you know you can see a section of the Mighty Microscope from that attraction on Star Tours?

When Disney replaces an older ride with a new attraction, they try to leave some sort of legacy behind. In other words, gone, but not forgotten. For example, in the Winnie the Pooh attraction at Walt Disney World, there is a picture of Mr. Toad handing over the deed to the property to Owl. And at Mission: Space in Epcot, the old Horizon logo can be seen on the rotating space station in the queue area. The same is true for Star Tours. This attraction pays homage to Adventures Thru Inner Space. Here’s what to look for:

As you begin your Star Tours adventure, you unexpectedly take a wrong turn. Then your vehicle drops off the edge of a platform and plunges downward. As Captain Rex regains control of the craft, he pulls you out of your freefall. At that moment, if you look to the right-hand side of the screen, you can see the Mighty Microscope. You must look quickly, but once you know what you’re looking for, there is no mistaking it.

And here’s a bit of personal trivia for you. I went to school with Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) in Yokohama, Japan. We were even in a school play together. It’s not a very good picture, but I’m on the left and Mark is on the right.

Star Wars Weekend is very popular. If you’re visiting Disney World over the next several weeks and you’re a Star Wars fan, then you should definitely visit Disney's Hollywood Studios during one of these days. But if you’re not a Star Wars fan, visit other parks on the weekend and save the Studio for a Monday through Thursday.

May the force be with you.

The first topiaries you’ll encounter when leaving Future World for World Showcase are Mrs. Pots, Chip, Cogsworth, and Lumiere from “Beauty and the Beast.” I have to admit, Anita Answer and I were both somewhat perplexed by Chips lips. It looks like he borrowed a pair of Mrs. Potato Head’s. Hmmmm.

In keeping with the “Celebrate Springtime” theme, we find characters from the Lion King rejoicing in Simba’s birth at the entrance to World Showcase.

This year, the traditional arch that guests are accustomed to seeing in this area, is missing. According to Eric Darden, Horticulture Manager of Epcot's International Flower and Garden Festival, Disney tries to rotate and change certain features of the event each year to keep things fresh and new. He told me that a particular design or topiary is used for 2-4 years before it is retired or reworked.

A number of shopping venues are available around World Showcase and feature both Disney and non-Disney merchandise with a gardening theme. Two favorites are the Mickey gnomes and the do-it-yourself Mickey topiary.

I’m going to start in Canada and circle the World Showcase Lagoon. The first characters we find are Bambi, Thumper, and Flower.

Even though they’re always beautiful and difficult to improve upon, don’t forget to take a stroll through Victoria Gardens.

In the United Kingdom Twinings Tea has a number of teacups filled with various kinds of foliage.

Guided tours through the tea garden are presented on Monday thru Thursdays at 3:30 and 6:30 and Friday and Saturdays at 2:30, 3:30, 5:00, and 6:30. You can sign up at the Tea Caddy to learn the history and art of tea blending.

The France Pavilion features a number of topiary in the shape of perfume bottles.

Also in this area is the Fragrance Garden. The Guerlain Company sponsors this exhibit which allows guest to learn about the connection between plants and fragrances. A Guerlain representative conducts 20-minute informative tours of this area daily at 2, 4, and 6pm.

Ten different Guerlain fragrances can be sampled at the Lift & Sniff kiosks in this garden. An informative sign helps you understand the odor’s complex blending.

Located between the France and Morocco Pavilions is the Nature Conservancy display. While your kids enjoy themselves in the nearby playground, you can learn how to create an environmentally friendly garden in your own backyard.

In Morocco you can see topiary Aladdin flying on his carpet.

A perennial favorite are the bonsai trees found in the Japan Pavilion. But don’t forget, besides the obvious collection near the tori gate, there are additional treasures behind the pagoda.

I’m going to skip the American Pavilion for the time being.

In the Italy Pavilion you can find a large array of container plants. According to Epcot Horticulturalist, Eric Darden, all of the container plants throughout the park must be watered by hand – a task that takes endless hours. Also, his staff plans for a 70% - 100% replacement of all bedding and container plants during the festival.

The other highlight at the Italy Pavilion is the Lady and the Tramp topiary. Who could resist getting their picture taken in front of this romantic spot?

The Germany Pavilion did not have any special landscaping this year, so I’ll share a bit of trivia with you. The large LBG train layout next to Germany was once a part of the Flower & Garden Festival. Each year this elaborate layout was assembled just for the event. But due to its popularity, and the expense involved with its construction and deconstruction, it was decided to make it a permanent part of the Germany Pavilion.

Between Germany and Refreshment Outpost is the Pirate Adventure Zone.

This is another beautifully landscaped area designed especially for the kids. Captain Hook, treasure chests, and a rickety boat are on hand for them to explore.

A ferocious dragon and a decorative cow are on exhibit at the China Pavilion.

Over twenty trolls have escaped from the Puffin’s Roost and are hiding in the Norway Garden waiting for you to find them.

The Mexico Pavilion did not offer any additional landscaping for this year’s event.

As part of the press event, I was invited to attend a reception on the third floor of the American Adventure.

This area was once a corporate lounge for American Express when it sponsored this attraction. It is now used for special events and parties.

As we stepped off of the elevator and into the lounge, we were offered white sangria cocktails adorned with flowers. Appetizers of cheese, fruit, eggrolls and crab-cakes were beautifully displayed on a table in the lounge. In the two corners of the dining area, chefs were waiting to dish up various pastas or carve slices of prime rib and turkey.

For dessert we dined on chocolate flower pots with Oreo dirt and gummy-worms. How appropriate for the Flower & Garden Festival.

Dan Cockerell, Epcot VP spoke briefly then turned the microphone over to Eric Darden who explain what goes into creating the Flower & Garden Festival each year.

Here is a photo I was excited to be given the opportunity to take – a picture of Spaceship Earth taken from the third floor of the American Pavilion.

At 4:45 we were escorted to the American Gardens Theatre for reserved seating to see the Davy Jones concert as part of the Flower Power concert series that takes place during the event.

Davy put on a great show. Although only 35 minutes in length, he packed a lot of memorable tunes into this concert. Most of the audience was made up of my generation – those old enough to remember seeing the Monkees’ TV show when it first aired. A number of fans brought old record albums for Davy to sign. And even though he picked up several of them and showed them to the audience, he did not sign any as there simply wasn’t time during this abridged concert.

For a 63 year old, Davy still can shake it and move it. Although he made numerous jokes about his age, there was no sign of him slowing down. And since the audience had memorized all of his songs when they were teenagers, much of the gang sang along with Davy, which he didn’t seem to mind and even encouraged at one point.

When ending the concert, Davy let everyone know that he’s putting on three shows a day with different numbers in each. He encouraged everyone to come back for a later performance – which I’m sure many did.

After the concert, I was tired and decided to call it quits for the day. When I got home I downloaded the 470 pictures I had taken and started to whittle them down to the few I will share with you.

Unlike the Food & Wine Festival, which cost extra if you wish to enjoy its benefits, the Flower & Garden Festival costs nothing more than your price of admission. It’s a wonderfully beautiful event that everyone can enjoy and marvel at. I would highly recommend planning your next trip to Disney World around this occasion. I realize that Spring Break coincides with much of this event, but if you’re into gardening, you won’t be disappointed.

This next Disney detail is aimed more at the little ones – or at least the parents of little ones.

Check out Tinker Bell’s Fairy Treasures shop in Fantasyland of the Magic Kingdom.

On the sales counter near the entrance is a bell. Children are encouraged to ring this bell and loudly call out Tinkerbell’s name.

When they do, a tinkling sound can be heard and tiny lights dance in the overhead plants and flowers. (My camera didn’t capture the lights.)

A moment later, Tinkerbell flies into view within a storage cabinet located behind the counter. Her appearance is brief, but it brings excitement to children.

This isn’t one of Disney’s most elaborate effects or shows, but it’s cute. And I’m sure the younger set will believe in fairies after seeing Tink appear.

Remember - you can see Tinker Bell and other fairies in Pixie Hallow in the Magic Kingdom.

Last week in one of my blogs about Disneyland Paris, I discussed PanoraMagique. This is the helium filled balloon that takes guests aloft over the resort. I mentioned that this attraction was supposed to come to Downtown Disney here in Orlando, but I didn’t know the status. My friend Mike wrote to tell me that construction had already begun and Anita Answer’s last column also mentions this new ride. So I decided I better check things out for myself.

Located behind the Guest Relations booth between the Westside and Pleasure Island you’ll find “Characters in Flight.” This balloon ride is scheduled to open in spring of this year and if it’s anything like its Paris cousin, will prove to be quite popular with the guests. Here are a few pictures.

For lunch today I decided to enjoy a meal at the Animal Kingdom. While I was making my circle of the park looking for interesting things to share with you, I found the “Petrifries,” the fries stand sponsored by McDonald’s, has changed names and offerings. The new shop is called Trilo-bites and serves Smoked Turkey Legs for $6.59 along with the usual Coke products.

It appears that the construction on the fourth floor of the Contemporary Resort is just about complete. The Outer Rim cocktail lounge has reopened and is once again a delightful place to enjoy a drink and relax after a long day in one of the parks. It’s located in just about the same place it was before all of the rearrangement of venues started.

For those of you who haven’t already seen this, Chef Mickey’s added a new check-in desk a number of months ago. Before being seated, families can get their picture taken in front of the large dinner plate.

Now that the construction is complete, Chef Mickey’s offers a seating area for guests while their table is being readied.

A new shop, Disney Design-A-Tee, officially opened at Downtown Disney Marketplace today. Located behind Disney’s Days of Christmas, this store allows guests to create personalized T-shirts. This is a joint venture between the Hanes Company and Disney.

Inside the store are a number of T-shirt shaped kiosks. At touch-sensitive screens, you select from a number of options to create a one-of-a-kind Disney souvenir.

First choice, would you like a long or short sleeve shirt or a woman’s fit. Next you select Adult, Kids, Toddler, or Infant. Short sleeve shirts are available up to size 5XL.

Color choices come next and then it’s time to select a design.

There are seven categories here: Celebrations, Characters, Princesses, Tinker Bell, Pirates, Pixar, Disney Films, and Holidays. Within each category there are more selections to choose from. In all there are more than 100 designs.

Four lines of text are available – one line above the graphic and three lines below. There is an on-screen typewriter that allows you to put your imagination to work or you can select from a number of ready-made messages.

As you continue to add designs and text, an image of your work-in-progress is displayed on the monitor.

Once you finalize your design, a receipt is printed out which you take to the cashier. Prices range between $18 and $31.

The cashier will display your work-of-art on a computer monitor and allow you to verify everything is correct before completing the transaction. After you pay, you’re informed that the backstage storage space is very small so all of the T-shirts arrive at the store miniaturized. You are then handed a small Tee approximately six inches square.

Next you are instructed to take this tiny Tee to a marvelous machine located nearby, insert your mini-shirt, and push the start button.

A moment later, your shirt is whisked upwards in a pneumatic tube and it travels all around the ceiling in a maze of plastic cylinders before disappearing backstage. It is here that Disney and Hanes work their magic. The shirt is mystically enlarged, dyed, and printed to your specifications.

Here’s my creation.

Although standard Disney plastic bags are available for your treasure, each shirt comes with its own cloth bag. A number of colors are available to choose from.

If the store isn’t busy, I’m told it takes approximately 20 minutes for your shirt to be prepared. As the day progresses, this time can increase. Package delivery is available to Disney hotel guests and shipping is also an option if you don’t want to wait around. One suggestion, if you think you will want one of these T-shirts, make this your first stop when visiting Downtown Disney. Then continue shopping or have lunch or dinner before returning.

The official announcement of the store is on our Disney News Blog!

Located next door to Disney Design-A-Tee is “Create Your Own Ear Hat.” Here you get to select from a number of base caps, then add the ears of your choice. There is a second “Create Your Own Ear Hat” on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom.

I just got back from vacation. A portion of my trip was spent visiting the Disneyland Resort in California. For those of you who have read my bio, you know that I grew up in Anaheim and visited Disneyland often during my childhood. When I turned eighteen I got a job at the Blue Bayou Restaurant and worked there and at the Club 33 for nine years. I love this park.

When I returned from vacation I decided to write a 100% biased comparison of Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom. Please note, I’m only comparing the parks, not the resorts. I know everyone has a belief as to which park is better, so I decided to settle the argument once and for all with my prejudiced, yet scientific method. I will start by comparing duplicate attractions, giving one point to what I believe to be the better ride or show.

MAIN STREET

Disneyland Railroad / Walt Disney World Railroad: First, Disneyland has four stations to Disney World’s three. But more importantly, the Grand Canyon Diorama and Primeval World easily makes Disneyland’s train the better attraction.

Main Street Vehicles: Even though Disneyland runs their vehicles more frequently than Disney World, I would have to rate these attractions as equals.

ADVENTURELAND

Jungle Cruise: Walt Disney World easily beats Disneyland since it has the indoor temple section.

Enchanted Tiki Room / Under New Management: Disneyland still features the original show (albeit shortened slightly). I find “Under New Management” at Disney World obnoxious. Disneyland wins this one.

Swiss Family / Tarzan Treehouse: I really like the fact that Disneyland’s treehouse has been updated with a Tarzan theme. Most kids today aren’t familiar with the Swiss Family Robinson. However, the tree at Disney World is larger and negotiating the stairs is much easier. I’d have to rate these attractions as different but equal.

Pirates of the Caribbean (Located in New Orleans Square at Disneyland): Anyone who has ridden this attraction at both parks knows that California’s version is vastly superior to Florida’s. The ride is almost twice as long, has two waterfalls, and has a number of scenes that are missing from the Magic Kingdom’s version. I’d like to give Disneyland two points from this attraction, but will stick to my rules and only give it one.

FRONTIERLAND

Mark Twain / Liberty Belle Riverboat (located in Liberty Square): The boats are similar as are the sights along the way. I’ll call it a draw.

Big Thunder Mountain: The rides are mirror images of each other, but overall, I think the experience is about the same. The Magic Kingdom has the washed-out town that you ride through, but Disneyland has the town of Rainbow Ridge in its queue area. Another draw.

Tom Sawyer Island / Pirates Lair: I have always thought that Disneyland’s Island had more to offer than Disney Worlds (more caves and more rocks to climb on). And with the new pirate theming being added in California, I’d definitely have to give Disneyland the nod.

Splash Mountain (Located in Critter Country at Disneyland): The Disney World attraction is slightly larger and has side-by-side seats whereas Disneyland has a bench you straddle. Thumbs up for Disney World.

Shootin’ Gallery: Equal

LIBERTY SQUARE / NEW ORLEANS SQUARE

Haunted Mansion: The exterior of both mansions are beautiful in their own way, but I feel the recent updates to the Florida attraction and the additional scenes of the piano player and library give this haunted house the edge. However, because Disneyland offers the magnificent Nightmare Before Christmas overlay for three months out of the year, I’ll call this a tie.

FANTASYLAND

“it’s a small world”: The basic experience is about the same at both parks, but the exterior of Disneyland’s attraction and the Christmas overlay make the California version the winner over Disney World.

The following attractions may have subtle differences, but overall, I’d have to rate them as equal:

Snow White’s Scary Adventures - Disneyland / Disney World

Mad Tea Party - Disneyland / Disney World

Dumbo the Flying Elephant: Even though the basic ride is the same, the attraction is visually more appealing at Disneyland due to the fountains and calliope. I’d have to vote for California over Florida.

Sleeping Beauty / Cinderella Castle: Even though this is not an attraction, the castle at Disney World is awe inspiring. It deserves a point.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (located in Critter Country at Disneyland): Although the Disneyland and Disney World versions are slightly different, I can’t say that one is really any better than the other. Tie.

TOMORROWLAND

Space Mountain: Disneyland’s version has synchronized music (similar to Rock N Roller Coaster). I understand that Disney World’s version will be adding this feature in the future, but until then, California wins the space race.

Autopia / Tomorrowland Indy Speedway: I think the Disney World’s version is boring. You drive around a figure-eight with little to see along the way. On the other hand, at Disneyland you drive on an elaborate roadway with different tracks taking different routes. Also, there are a number of sights to see along the way. Another thumbs up for California.

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin / Astro Blasters: The simple fact that the lasers are attached via flexible cables at Disneyland, allowing guests to pick up the guns for better aiming, gives Disneyland a definite edge.

Astro Orbitor / Astro Orbiter (Note, “Orbitor/er” is spelled differently at the two parks): I was very disappointed when the “powers that be” moved Disneyland’s rocket jets from their high perch to the ground-level entrance of Tomorrowland. Disney World’s jets still sit well above Tomorrowland and this makes their attraction much more exciting. Score another point for Florida.

Starcade/Tomorrowland Arcade: Both venues offer a large assortment of video games. Another tie.

Star Tours: Here things get a little more difficult. Since this attraction is located at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida, it’s difficult to know whether it should be included in the comparison. But since the attractions are identical, I’m just going to call it a draw. Disneyland's version.

Monorail: Once again, this attraction is more difficult to compare because at Disneyland it is part of Tomorrowland while at Disney World, it never enters the park. Still, I think the monorail in Florida is superior due to its larger size so I’ll award a point to Disney World.

Innoventions: Although not present at the Magic Kingdom, it does exist at Epcot with more displays than Disneyland’s Tomorrowland version. I’ll give a point to Florida for this one.

Honey I Shrunk the Audience: Like Innoventions, this attraction is in Disneyland’s Tomorrowland and Epcot in Florida. But in this case, the movies are identical so we have another tie.

MICKEY'S TOONTOWN / FAIR

Disneyland deserves a point simply because their Toontown is twice the size of Florida’s. For basic “strolling through the area” there is no comparison. California wins due to the multitude of “gags” that can be discovered in the Downtown area of this land.

I think Minnie’s House, Mickey’s House, and Donald’s boat are all so similar it would be unfair to pick one over another.

Gadget’s Go Coaster / The Barnstormer at Goofy’s Wiseacre Farm: Although the theming is completely different, both are kiddy coasters and offer the same excitement for the little ones. A tie.

That’s it for shared attractions. In my next blog, I’m going to list all of the attractions that exist only at Disneyland and only at WDW.

Epcot is experimenting with a new recycle bin. Distributed throughout various areas of Future World, guests will find receptacles especially designed for bottles and cans. It’s hoped that this new “bottle” shape will attract guest’s attention and encourage recycling.

Disney does have other trashcans especially designated for bottles and cans, but they look similar to the regular trash receptacles and weren’t living up to expectations.

Personally, I don’t think Disney had enough of the old-style bins to encourage use. If a guest wanted to throw away an empty water bottle, they had to search for a recycle bin if they wanted to be “green.” I hope this new receptacle will be distributed around the park more liberally. Hopefully, an abundance of recycling bins, combined with the new design will encourage us all to recycle while at Disney World.

Addendum: Within one day of this blog being posted, a number of my readers have written and told me that Disney sorts their garbage backstage, looking for recyclables. I don’t know if this is true, but given that it is, most guests (like me) are unaware of this. Having obvious recycle bins would accomplish two objectives. First, it would pre-sort the trash and minimize this sorting process backstage. But more importantly, it shows the guests that Disney cares about the environment and it sets a good example.

I used to live in San Francisco. My apartment was within easy walking distance of Ghirardelli Square. Occasionally I would take the cable car home from work and stop by Ghirardelli for an ice cream cone before heading home. Or walk over on a foggy Sunday morning for a steaming cup of hot chocolate. I have very pleasant memories of this place and this is definitely a “must see” location for tourists visiting The City.

When I moved to Orlando I was happy that I wouldn’t have to go without these wonderful taste sensations, for located at Downtown Disney Marketplace is a branch store. Although not as extensive as their San Francisco site, you can still delight in their marvelous chocolate.

But before we discuss this shop, we need to talk about pronunciation. It’s “Gear-ar-delly” NOT “Jeer-a-delly.” It’s a hard “G” NOT a soft “G.” Don’t believe me? Check out the sign on the side of their building. Many people have trouble with this name.

The Ghirardelli building is divided into two sections, each with its own entrance. The smaller section is a shop that’s devoted to selling chocolate in all forms.

A host or hostess is usually on hand to pass out samples. I always stop by, even when making a mad dash through the area, for a freebee.

Ghirardelli is one of the few American manufacturers to oversee their chocolate making process from cocoa bean through to the finished product. They reject up to 40% of the beans they’re offered in order to assure that only the best are used in their product. They roast their beans in-house and remove the shells first to insure better temperature control. And finally, they grind their chocolate to 19 microns (a human hair is 100 microns in diameter) to ensure there is no grainy feel in their product.

Yum!

The larger half of the store is devoted to ice cream. Luscious ice cream. In my opinion, some of the best ice cream you’ll find anywhere.

This section was recently remodeled and I feel that the new arrangement facilitates better crowd control. Yes, there are still lines on a hot afternoon, but they seem move more quickly.

Once you’ve ordered your Hot Fudge Sundae, Banana Split, or other tempting decadence, you are given a number to be placed on your table so your server can find you later.

When the weather is hot, the indoor seating area fills up quickly.

Outdoors, you’ll find a covered seating area along the side of the building. When the weather is nice, this is an especially pleasant spot to sit and enjoy your dessert.

The tables have also been redesigned to look like Ghirardelli chocolate wrappers.

Additional seating is available across the promenade under Ghirardelli umbrellas.

Please remember to tip the host or hostess who brings you your ice cream. The way this entire operation is arranged, it’s easy to forget that these folks are serving you to some degree.

For more information about Ghirardelli, check out their web-site. You can order many of their products online.

http://www.ghirardelli.com/

What’s wrong with this picture?

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.

Usually, I try to keep my blogs informational rather than personal, but today I’m going to share a pleasant day I had with one of my readers.

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 Nine Dragons Restaurant in the China Pavilion reopened yesterday after an extensive rehab. Since I was at Epcot today, I decided to stop by for lunch and check things out. My friend Donald and Allears photographer Linda Mac joined me.

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

On several occasions, while driving along World Drive with out-of-town friends or family, we pass by the Dolphin resort. Invariably someone says, “That doesn’t look like Flipper.” Well, it’s not supposed to look like a “real” dolphin. It’s a representation of a mythological dolphin. Architect Michael Graves selected both the dolphin and swan because they represent both a contemporary and mythological symbol for water. And just for the record, these dolphins stand 56 feet high and weigh approximately 60,000 pounds.

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.

In mid-September of last year, the Haunted Mansion reopened at Disney World after a lengthy rehab.

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!

For many years, Universal Studios featured Halloween Horror Nights. This was a separate, ticketed event and the park was transformed at night from its regular theming into a frightening ghost town. It was marketed toward teenagers and young adults and the idea was to truly scare their guests with monsters, vampires, werewolves, and other terrifying surprises.

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.

A strange looking structure is being constructed on the top of the rumored Bay Lake Tower, Disney Vacation Club located north of the Contemporary Resort.

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.

I was at the Marketplace at Downtown Disney recently and visited the Disney’s Days of Christmas Shop.

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.

It’s amazing the things you can learn on the AllEars.net website. I was reading the Fact Sheet for the Polynesian Resort when I came across the “Torch Lighting Ceremony.” I had never heard of it, so I decided to investigate this event for myself.

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.

While I was out and about, I took a few pictures of the Bay Lake Tower under construction.

This is a rumored DVC that sits prominently next to the Contemporary Resort. It appears that the structure has reached its ultimate height as finishing touches are being added to the top of the building.

At the Contemporary, I took a few pictures of the construction going on where the Concourse Steakhouse once stood. The Tempo Grab & Go will be permanently located in a portion of this space and Chef Mickey’s will expand into the remainder of this area.

And finally, I drove over to Downtown Disney and snapped a few pictures of the T-Rex restaurant that looks ever closer to completion.

Just yesterday, I finally finished writing my last Tokyo Disneyland blog. It won’t be posted for at least another week or so, but now I’m free to return to Disney World and look for local things to report on.

SIDE NOTE: The Tokyo Disneyland blog will resume in several days. If you need to catch up, here's the start of the Disneyland blog.

Today I decided to check out the new lunch menu at the Trails End Restaurant at the Fort Wilderness Campground. It seems that a decision was recently made to stop serving a full “hot” buffet at lunch in favor of a simpler “cold” buffet which includes soups, salads, and sandwiches. I wanted to see exactly what was going on here and find out why this change was made.

Lunch service now begins at 11:30 and I was there 11:31. Upon being seated, my server Lynda explained that breakfast is served until noon so there is an overlap of 30 minutes where both menus are available. Breakfast and lunch both are priced at $11.99. (Lunch with the hot buffet has been $12.99). I decided to take advantage of this overlap and helped myself to a small serving of scrambled eggs, bacon, and sausage. I also ordered a glass of orange juice that is included in the price, along with refills.

At 11:30, all of the breakfast items are consolidated into one area to make room for the lunch items.

Be aware, this “overlap” is an experiment on Disney’s part to see if this might entice additional guests to eat here. At the moment, the jury is out so don’t be surprised if this feature is extended or discontinued.

As I was taking pictures of the new lunch buffet, Chef Bob approached me and quizzically asked me if I had any questions. So I was blunt and asked why they had changed from a full “hot” buffet to a simple “cold” buffet. His answer, “To assure better food quality for our guests.”

It seems that lunches at the Trails End Restaurant can be patronized by as few as 40 guests to as many as 200 – and they have no way of knowing from day to day what their head-count might be. Because of this, a lot of food was being thrown away at the end of lunch or they might not have enough of a given item because larger than expected crowds materialized out of nowhere. A simpler buffet allows for less waste and easier replenishment when things get busy.

Personally, I have no problem with the scaled down lunch menu. I usually didn’t want that much food for my mid-day meal anyway. And rest assured, the breakfast and dinner menus have not changed.

First let’s start with the soups. Three different soups are offered daily along with their delicious chili. Today’s offerings included Chicken Noodle, Vegetable, and Beef Barley. I tried the vegetable and enjoyed it.

As you would expect, the salad bar is more extensive than on the old lunch menu. First, three premade salads are available, Caesar, Blue Cheese & Strawberry, and Chinese. The Caesar was excellent and the Blue Cheese & Strawberry was also quite good. I did not try the Chinese Salad.

If you want to create your own salad you can choose from iceberg lettuce or mixed greens. Toppings included beats, cheese, mushrooms, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, olives, garbanzo beans, radishes, bacon, and croutons. Five different dressings were on hand along with cottage cheese. I’ve seen more elaborate salad bars, but there were certainly enough choices here to satisfy the vast majority of people.

The sandwich bar offers the following breads, white, wheat, multigrain, hamburger bun, and French roll. Also included in the bread section were several breakfast style sweet rolls.

The sandwich toppings included beef, ham, turkey, tuna salad, and three selections of sliced cheese. Mayonnaise and mustard are available along with several side dishes like pasta salad, potato salad, and coleslaw.

The fried chicken at Trails End has always been a perennial favorite so “picnic” chicken is being served at lunch. Picnic chicken translates to cold fried chicken. This is the same chicken that is served at the Hoop Dee Doo next door.

Chef Bob told me that all of their fried chicken and BBQed ribs are prepared right there. Approximately 1,200 pounds of each meat are served every day. He went on to tell me that one cast member arrives daily and starts breading the chicken and will do nothing else for an entire eight hour shift. Shortly thereafter another cast member arrives to start frying the chicken for his entire eight hour shift. Wow! This preparation is for both the Trails End and the Hoop Dee Doo.

The dessert bar at Trails End has been expanded for both lunch and dinner. Now available is a soft-serve ice cream machine with a decent topping bar featuring Gummi Bears, M&Ms, nuts, cookie crumbs, chocolate chips, and several sauces. Also available for dessert are several varieties of cookies, Rice Crispy Bars, and brownies.

I have heard a few parents are unhappy that the new lunch menu isn’t “kid friendly” since pizza and mac & cheese are no longer available. I don’t have kids so I can’t say, but I would think that there is enough variety available here to please even the pickiest eater.

Personally, I like the new lunch menu. Because of its reduced price and lighter fare, I’ll be tempted to eat here more often. However, I can certainly understand that if you weren’t aware of this change and showed up expecting a full-scale buffet, you might be disappointed. But I left today completely satisfied!

The California Grill is the Contemporary Resort’s signature restaurant, offering upscale dinners, sophisticated atmosphere, and spectacular views of the Magic Kingdom.

For many years, the Concourse Steakhouse, on the fourth floor of the Contemporary, was their casual dining spot, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Although I liked this restaurant, I always felt it lacked a true identity. Since it was open to the cavernous Grand Canyon Concourse, you could never achieve any intimacy here, no matter how hard you tried. So I was happy to learn that this eatery would be replaced by The Wave on the first floor of the hotel, occupying what used to be the Food and Fun Center.

Last night (June 7), The Wave opened its doors for dinner and today it opened for breakfast and lunch. My friend Donald and I were on hand today to sample lunch.

To begin with, I like the entrance. The Disney Imagineers have taken what was once dead space and created a modernistic tunnel that leads to a stylish check-in desk.

To the side and behind the check-in desk are two lounges where you can wait for your table or sample a refreshing drink. These lounges are decorated in deep blues with fabric-covered walls, plush bench seating, and black cocktail tables. The lighting is very low and the atmosphere cozy.

Also behind the check-in desk is a stylish bar with seating for approximately 36. Overhead “stars” twinkle. Even the cocktail glasses have “The Wave” etched into them.

One might think that with a name like “The Wave,” everything would be decorated in shades of blue (like the lounge), but in trying to avoid the obvious, the designers chose a pallet of browns for the main dining room. Instead, the “wave” theme is carried out in the chair’s seat backs and the ceiling’s lighting.

I spoke to one of the managers and she told me that the restaurant’s “punch list” is still being worked. There are a couple of areas that still need to be tweaked, such as they are adding sheer curtains over the windows that separate the bar from the dining room.

At the back of the restaurant is an area that can be closed off to create one large or two smaller, private dining rooms. Also, hidden from the main eating area is a sizeable buffet that can be used when booking a banquet style conference.

At night, the overhead lights are turned down to create a more intimate dining atmosphere. Also, the salt, pepper, and sugar containers are removed from the table and presented on a “request only” basis. In addition, votive-style candles are placed on each table.

I was never enthused about eating dinner at the Concourse Steakhouse. Even though they served very good food, I wasn’t willing to pay the prices they were asking to be seated in a restaurant with so many distractions and so much noise. I don’t feel that way about The Wave. With the lights turned down low and candles on the table, I think this would be a nice spot to enjoy a casual meal.

Overall, I very much liked the décor of The Wave. It has an intimate and relaxing feel about it. However, I do have one negative comment. The pillars and the overhead soffits appear to be covered in a wood-grain laminate instead of real wood. I thought this was a little tacky. I don’t suppose it will be obvious at night, but during lunch, it can easily been seen.

Being our first visit, Donald and I wanted to try several items, so for appetizers, Donald ordered the Lettuce Wraps and I ordered the Avocado & Citrus Salad. We were told that the Lettuce Wrap is big enough to share, and I suppose it is, but it would be rather messy. The wraps come with sautéed lamb, bay scallops, and red bell pepper in a soy-rice wine vinegar sauce. The menu did not mention the bell peppers, which Donald hates, so he traded with me.

I’m not a big fan of lamb, but I have to admit, I really didn’t notice the gamey flavor that I dislike. In fact, I would have no problem ordering this item for myself sometime. It was a little spicy and my lips were tingling when I finished.

The Avocado and Citrus Salad comes with a nice variety of greens, grapefruit sections, and plenty of avocado in an orange vinaigrette. I had one bite before I traded with Donald and I was very pleased with the flavor.

For entrees Donald order the Spice-crusted Chicken Salad and I ordered the Italian Chef Salad. The Spice-crusted Chicken Salad is an assortment of greens, chicken, apples, and polenta croutons. I stole a bite from Donald and both of us agree, this salad is excellent! I’ve always touted the Colony Salad at the Liberty Tree Tavern as being the best salad at Disney World. I think it has competition.

I think the name “Italian Chef Salad” is a misnomer. I feel it really should be called “Italian Chef Deli Plate.” There were far too few greens to call this a salad. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy my meal. There was an abundance of prosciutto, cappicola, provolone, salami, and shaved parmesan, sprinkled with red wine vinaigrette – all of it very good. But if you were expecting a green salad, you’d be disappointed.

I love the way desserts are served here. There are four selections, each costing $7.99. Within each selection are three offerings.

For example, the “Creamy Indulgence” includes a small serving each of Cheesecake, Coconut Panna Cotta, and Chocolate-Passion Fruit Mouse. The “Crisp & Crunchy” offers Vanilla-braised Pineapple Spears, Baklava, and Zucchini-Carrot Cake. But if you don’t like one of the specific offerings, you can pick and choose from among all twelve taste treats.

I had the Creamy Indulgence and was very happy with my selection. Donald had the selection of sorbets and he said it was a refreshing way to end his meal. He especially liked the Lemon-Basil Sorbet.

Two other new items on the menu are Coke-Zero and Sprite-Zero. As I like Coke-Zero better than Diet Coke (which is still available), I’m hoping that other restaurants will also start to offer these beverages.

Our server was Agueda. She has waited on us several times in the past at the Concourse Steakhouse. When we walked into the lobby today, she immediately recognized us and arranged for us to be seated at her table. As always, she gave us exceptional service. In addition, it is obvious that the management of The Wave has gone to great lengths to make sure their staff is current on the new offering as Agueda was very knowledgeable and was able to answer an array of questions I had for her.

I also inquired about vegetarian meals and sugar-free desserts. I was told that the Seasonal Vegetable Stew is normally finished with a pat of butter, but this could easily be omitted if requested. Likewise, the Vegetarian Sandwich can be tweaked to suit the needs of the diner.

The chef came out to talk to me about sugar-free desserts. After some consultation with others in the kitchen, he told me that the Braised Pineapple and Baklava have no sugar added to them.

I had a very good experience today and I hope to be back soon and try their dinner menu.

Reservation can be made by calling 407-WDW-DINE. The Wave is open for breakfast from 7:30am-11:00am, lunch from 12:00pm-2:00pm and dinner from 5:30pm-10:00pm. The lounge is open from 12:00 noon to 12:00 midnight.

The Menus:

Breakfast Menu
Lunch Menu
Dinner Menu
Child's Menu

While I was at the Contemporary, I snapped a few pictures of the Kingdom Tower aka Bay Lake Tower , the new, rumored DVC to the north of the hotel.

This is my last set of January, 1972 pictures. I do have others, but they are of things that have changed very little over the years, such as Main Street and portions of Fantasyland, and really aren’t of any historical interest. Enjoy!

This first picture is of the Haunted Mansion. The first interesting detail is the lack of trees. Although you can’t see it in this picture, in the early years, the building that actually houses the attraction was visible from inside the park. Also notice that the queue doesn’t have an awning over it. Remember, Walt Disney World was designed by people who lived in California. They hadn’t yet learned that the sun is brutal in Florida, as are the rainstorms.

This next picture was taken from the Skyway of the Mad Tea Party. Notice that the teacups do not yet have a roof overhead. Same California designers.

The third picture is of the “Pearly Band.” These entertainers were a regular fixture at Disneyland and then the Magic Kingdom after Mary Poppins debuted. If you remember, a “pearly band” played in the animated portion of the movie. I can’t remember the last time I saw this group. They are playing in front of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride in Fantasyland, the current home of the Adventures of Winnie the Pooh attraction.

This fourth picture, also taken from the Skyway, is of Tomorrowland under construction. The Carousel of Progress would eventually be built here. Like Disneyland in 1955, when the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, Tomorrowland was just a shell of what it would finally become.

I took this final picture of a popcorn vendor because of the costume he was wearing. I had never seen this outfit as the Disneyland vendors wore different apparel. Eventually, this look would find its way to California. Like the pearly band, this costume is now just a memory.

Also notice the spires that marked the entrance to Tomorrowland. The design called for columns of water to cascade from these towers. However, even a slight breeze would send droplets all over the walkway and they were often turned off to save giving the guests a shower.

Q: Do you know why Adventureland is located on the west side of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World?

A: It’s because Adventureland is located on the west side of Disneyland in Anaheim. When planning the Magic Kingdom, Imagineers used Disneyland’s layout as a starting point when designing their new park.

Q: Do you know why Adventureland is located on the west side of Disneyland?

A: Original plans called for the “True Life Adventures” (later to become the Adventureland) to be located on the east side of the park between Main Street and “World of Tomorrow” (later to become Tomorrowland). This can be seen in an early concept drawing by Herb Ryman.

But while surveying the orange groves that would eventually become Disneyland, planners found a windbreak of giant eucalyptus trees that had been planted around the turn of the century. Ironically, these trees helped determine the location of Main Street as it was decided that they would make a nice backdrop behind City Hall and help delineate between “civilization” and the “jungles of the world.” Thus, Adventureland was moved to its current location on the west side of the park.

These trees, now over a hundred years old, are clearly visible in an early Disneyland postcard and are still visible today.

A reader asked me for a list of my ten favorite Disney World restaurants. He also asked me for a list of my LEAST favorite Disney World restaurants. I’ve decided to answer half of his question, sort of, by telling you my favorite counter service and full service restaurant for each park, Downtown Disney, and the resorts as a whole. Now there are some Disney World eateries that I don’t like, but for the moment I’m going to keep that list to myself.

Of course, this list is purely subjective and could change tomorrow, depending on my mood. Also, since I’m listing restaurants by location, some selections might make this list, but wouldn’t necessarily make a true, “top ten” list. But here are my choices as of this moment.

Magic Kingdom:

Counter Service: Columbia Harbour House
Table Service: The Plaza Restaurant

Epcot:

Counter Service: Yakitori House
Table Service: Bistro de Paris

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Counter Service: None of them
Table Service: Brown Derby

Disney's Animal Kingdom:

Counter Service: A tie between Flame Tree Barbeque and Pizzafari
Table Service: Yak & Yeti

Downtown Disney:

Counter Service: Earl of Sandwich
Table Service: Portobello Yacht Club or Raglan Road

Disney Resorts:

Counter Service: Everything Pop Food Court
Table Service: Flying Fish, followed closely by Citricos

Best Buffet Property Wide: Boma, followed closely by Cape May Café

Best Character Meal Property Wide: I don’t do Character Meals!

You may have wondered why I didn’t select Victoria & Albert’s as my favorite resort table service restaurant. There’s a reason I didn’t. You see, I put Vickie & Al’s (as I like to call it) in a class all by itself. You can’t begin to compare this restaurant to anything else at Disney World it is so outstanding. I try to restrict my visits to once every three years or so. The reason, I want to keep this experience extra special and if I ate here too often it would lose some of its charm.

Now remember, my list of restaurants is just that, MY list. If you don’t agree with some (or all) of my choices, that’s great. Your selections are every bit as valid as mine.

I recently wrote a blog about the bird’s nest hidden in Harper’s Mill on Tom Sawyer Island in the Magic Kingdom. One of my readers, Chris, wrote to tell me that if you listen carefully, the creaking gears inside the mill play “Down By The Old Mill Stream.” I checked it out today and sure enough, if you know what you’re listening for, there’s no mistaking this tune. Thanks Chris.

In another blog I wrote that when Arribas Brothers took over the Market House on Main Street, the old-time telephone was removed. Another reader, Shorty, wrote to tell me that the old telephone now has a new home in the Chapeau Shop on Town Square. Yea! Thanks Shorty.

As I keep saying, it’s these little details that make Disney special. Now, if I could just convince Disney to bring back Jennifer, the ticket seller that used to sit in the entrance area of the Main Street Cinema…

While riding the monorail to the Magic Kingdom today, I snapped a couple of pictures of the “Kingdom Tower” (the yet to be announced DVC) under construction. As you can see by the pictures, the structure is coming right along and it appears they’re currently working on the twelfth floor. Also, new construction has commenced on the walkway that will connect the new resort with the fourth floor of the Contemporary.

I’m currently remodeling my kitchen (among other projects). Anyone who has ever undertaken a home improvement project knows there are good days and bad days. Today was a bad day. First, the tile man called and cancelled. He had a legitimate excuse, but I was disappointed, none the less. Since I now had the day free, I decided I’d buy paint and embrace a brush and roller. To make a very long story short, I ended up with the wrong color. It was now approaching 5pm and I was frustrated and hungry. My instinct was to sit in front of the TV for the rest of the night and fume, but I decided this wasn’t my best course of action so I forced myself into the car and I headed for Epcot.

When I reached one of the outer parking lots, I was directed to the far end of a row – naturally. I just missed the tram so I walked to the main gate. After entering the park, I practically sprinted through Future World. Fortunately, I timed my arrival at the Canada Friendship Boat Landing just as they were loading. I climbed aboard and we set sail. I exited at Morocco and once again took up power walking as I headed for the Yakitori House in the Japan pavilion – which is the point of my blog.

The Yakitori House is my favorite counter service restaurant in Epcot. I like the food, but more than that, I like the atmosphere. It’s quiet and serene – the perfect place to go when you need to clear your head and relax.

If the weather is too hot or too cold, I sit in the indoor dining room. Rough-hewn logs hold up the thatched roof while faux shoji screens make up three walls of the restaurant. The ordering counter makes up the fourth. Most tables are long, seat six, and are meant to be shared with strangers, but rarely are. The views from here are peaceful as you look out over much of the Japan Pavilion.

If the weather is nice, as it was this evening, I sit outdoors. Here you’ll find approximately ten tables that seat two or four, generously spaced, under Japanese lanterns. Manicured gardens and a lovely rock waterfall and pond surround you. Sitting out here, you feel miles away from everything. Even when all of the tables are in use, it’s relatively quite as the waterfall seems to absorb the voices. The only break in this tranquility is when the drummers are performing under the pagoda.

To be honest, I can’t tell you too much about the menu since I always order the same thing: Shogun Combination - teriyaki chicken thigh, sukiyaki beef, and steamed rice (hold the ginger). But I’ve always been happy with this selection so I like to think I’d enjoy some of their other offerings. I guess I’m in a rut.

Now I realize that most of you cannot dash off to Epcot for dinner when you’ve had a bad day. But I would like to suggest the Yakitori House when you’re here on vacation. Epcot is big and it can be stressful. You need to take a break now and then and this spot is the perfect place to do that. Even if it’s not meal time, stop by and have a soda (or something stronger) and sit for a spell.

I stretched out my simple meal tonight to around 35 minutes. I ate slowly, enjoyed the atmosphere, and made silly faces with the cutest baby in a stroller seated at a table next to me. By the time I left, I had (almost) forgotten my hectic day and was fairly relaxed. I strolled through the rest of World Showcase instead of my previous frenzied walk.

There are other peaceful places to be found in Epcot, but for me, the Yakitori House is hands-down the most delightful.

Reader Yakatori House Reviews

Yakatori House Menu

A couple of months ago, I published some old pictures I had taken at Walt Disney World. I received several letters asking that I publish more, so here goes. All of these were taken in January, 1972, just a little over three months after Disney World opened.

The first picture is of the Toll Plaza. Notice it says “Parking Entrance.” It doesn’t even say “Walt Disney World” yet.

This next photo is of the Contemporary Resort taken from the Skyway in Tomorrowland. Notice the lack of vegetation. Also, notice the crane. By this date, all of the modular rooms had been hoisted into place, but the suites, which were NOT modular, were still under construction.

This third picture is of a room in the Contemporary. So this is what the Imagineers thought the future would look like during their planning sessions in the late 60’s.

This next shot was taken from inside the Contemporary, looking south from the middle of the building. Notice how this area hasn’t yet been expanded out beyond the windows which would eventually become Chef Mickey’s. Also notice the orange and yellow plastic trees.

And finally, this last picture was taken from one of the balcony rooms of the Contemporary looking west. Once again, notice the lack of vegetation and a missing Grand Floridian Resort.

By the way, a Tower Room in the Contemporary cost $35 per night back then!

Recently, I wrote an article for the Allears.net newsletter about the Flying Fish Café. In it, I mentioned that I wasn’t exactly sure how the restaurant got its name. Two of my readers (Debbie and Mehran), did a much better job of research than I did and were able to find the answer. My thanks to them both.

This is an excerpt from “Nation's Restaurant News" dated July 19, 1999 and authored by David Mack.

The inspiration for the Flying Fish Cafe came from a classic Coney Island roller coaster called the Flying Turns; one of the cars on that coaster was called the Flying Fish. The coaster was part of Coney Island's heyday during the 1920's, the so-called "Golden Age of roller coasters." Coasters built during that time reflected a daredevil attitude on the part of their designers, and were integral to the spirit of Coney Island, which architect Martin Dorf described as "its heightened sense of reality, its sense of joy, its mystique, with grotesque shapes and rides like fish that swallowed you whole."

To read the entire article, check out this website:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_29_33/ai_55221635

When Wolfgang Puck’s first opened at the Marketplace in Downtown Disney, they had no indoor seating. This simply wouldn’t do in hot, humid, and rainy Florida. Eventually, they rearranged what little indoor space they had and added a few tables. This helped, but it wasn’t the solution they needed. So a couple of months ago they closed up shop for a major rehab and reopened today, Saturday, March 15.

I visited their remodeled venue for lunch today and was happy with what I saw. The first thing I noticed was a new, large, indoor dining room had been added. Approximately fifteen tables are spaciously arranged in an airy room surrounded on three sides by floor to ceiling windows. The atmosphere has a clean modern feel but the wooden tables and chairs add some warmth.

Outside you’ll find another twenty or so tables, most under a large roof. The tables here are made of brushed metal and the seats are wicker.

The area where you order your food has also been completely redesigned and continues this modern theme. To the right of the ordering area is another, smaller seating area with two large tables for eight, a beverage station, and an open kitchen.

After ordering, you’re given a plastic table-tent with a number printed on it. You are also given flatware that is wrapped in a high-quality paper napkin. If you’ve ordered beverages you’re given plastic (not paper) glasses and told to get your drinks, find a table, and display your number.

As it was opening day, every cast member was working and it would be impossible to complain about service. Shortly after Donald and I were seated, we were greeted by a young man who told us he would be our server. A few minutes later, he brought our food to the table and asked if we needed refills for our drinks.

I ordered the Roast Beef & Cheddar Sandwich on Focaccia for $9.95. It was quite good. The serving of beef was more than adequate and it was topped with cheese, tomato, and greens that have been tossed with a light vinaigrette dressing. A side of home-made Yukon Gold Parmesan potato chips rounded out the meal. I was please with my choice.

Donald ordered the Rosemary Rotisserie Chicken for $11.95. He couldn’t have been happier. He has always enjoyed Wolfgang Puck’s rotisserie chicken and he wasn’t disappointed today. First, the serving is large – a half chicken. Next, the finished product was attractive to look at. And finally, it was juicy and delicious. It was served with a side of garlic mashed potatoes smothered in butter.

Another thing I liked was that the entrees were served on plastic (not paper) plates. This helps give a slightly more upscale feel to the place.

Since your order is brought to your table and drink refills are also fetched by a cast member, I would say that Wolfgang Puck Express at the Marketplace is a cross between a counter-service and table-service restaurant. When we finished our meal, we left our server a tip as it was certainly warranted.

I didn’t frequent the old restaurant because of their lack of indoor seating and I didn’t feel their food and atmosphere warranted the prices. But I would certainly rethink this opinion as I was most pleased today.

I asked a manager if the Disney Dining “Card” was accepted and was told yes. I forgot to ask about the Disney Dining “Plan” – sorry.

Wolfgang Puck Express is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Takeout is also available.

Some Disney Imagineer’s quirky sense of humor can be seen in the recently rehabbed Spaceship Earth.

As you approach the modern era, take a look behind the couch of the family seated watching TV in the 1960’s living room. Look closely and you’ll see the board game “Mouse Trap” which was introduced to the public by the Ideal Company in 1963. Is it meant for Mickey?

When I was in the Magic Kingdom over the weekend, I did a double-take when I looked at City Hall which is currently undergoing rehab. It’s missing its steeple. And not only is the steeple missing, but so is the printed upper canvas designed to lessen the impact of the rehab is gone.

A new element has been added to the post-show of the Spaceship Earth redesign.

As you might know from reading other blogs, your picture is taken soon after you board the attraction. In addition, you are also asked to designate where you live by pointing to a map on the touch-sensitive screen in your ride vehicle. First you pick a continent, then point to a major city, and eventually it is narrowed down to the vicinity in which you live.

For several weeks now, as you descend the ride, you are asked a series of questions as to how you would like the future to unfold. Once the onboard computer compiles your choices, your face is superimposed over a cartoon character so you can actually see “yourself” in the future you created. It’s a very cute effect. But a new element has been added.

Once you exit the attraction, you enter the Siemens post-show area. Here you will encounter a giant globe of the earth. Within a couple of moments, your face will appear on the globe. It will stay there for 15-30 seconds, then it will swoosh down to the hometown you selected at the beginning of the attraction. As it does this, a little white dot appears on the map to represent you.

I rode Spaceship Earth in the early afternoon and by that time, the east coast of the U.S. was covered in white dots. Other areas were more sparsely populated. The entire planet is represented so no matter where you’re from, you will get placed on the map. This is a pretty cool ending to the ride.

Picture taking hint: You are given warning before your picture is taken and be sure to look at the camera. Face detection software is used and it is necessary to get a full-face photograph for the effect to work properly. Also, if you wear glasses, you might want to take them off for the picture as reflections can create problems for the software, thus negating your portrait.

A very old tradition has died at the Liberty Tree Tavern at the Magic Kingdom. In the past, when guests checked in at the podium, they were asked what state they were from. Then, when it was time to be seated, the host or hostess would call out in town-crier fashion, “Hear ye! Hear ye! Now seating the Spence party (family) from the great state of Florida. But those days are gone.

Now when guests check in at the podium, they are given a pager with no question about their home state. On the plus side, the pagers do allow guests more freedom of movement as they are now allowed to wonder outside while waiting for their table. But on the downside, the restaurant has lost some of its charm with this new system.

And if my experience today is any indication, their system needs some work. After my pager was activated and I handed it back to a hostess, I was all but forgotten. Other parties were being seated while I was left standing there. After I brought this to their attention, I still waited several minutes while they tried to figure out what had happened to my reservation. When they finally found it, a new hostess asked me for my pager – which I had to explain had already been given to someone else several minutes earlier.

Bottom line… Pagers are now the norm in restaurants – which is probably a good thing. But isn’t there someway to do this without giving up the charm of old traditions?

Last week, I had lunch at the Yak & Yeti table-service restaurant for the second time. I’m happy to report that every thing is still top notch. The food was tasty and beautifully presented and the service was attentive and friendly. My only comment is that the prices are a little high for lunch. It’s difficult for me to spent between $16 - $23 for lunch, especially when no starters or bread is included.

I also had a key learning. I was seated in the very first dining room that you come to after leaving the lobby. In the future, I will request a table somewhere else in the restaurant. This “first” dining room shares its space with the bar and an elevator. Also, all of the people seated in the rest of the restaurant must pass thru this area to get to and from their tables. All of this is much too distracting and detracts from an otherwise quaint atmosphere. The rest of the dining rooms are fine, but skip this first one.

Next door to the Yak & Yeti table-service restaurant is the Yak & Yeti counter-service restaurant (Anandupur Local Food Cafes). I ate here today for the first time and wanted to share my thoughts. The first thing you will notice is the prices. Once again, they are high, especially for a counter-service restaurant. Entrées run from $8-$11.

I ordered the Sweet & Sour Pork for $9.99. After paying, I approached the pick-up window and my order was already waiting. Obviously it had been prepared in advance and was just waiting to be picked up from under the heat-lamp and placed on a tray. I stopped by the condiment station, picked up napkins and a fork, and then found a table.

The entrees are served in cute “Chinese-styled” cartons that are themed appropriately to the venue.

However, upon opening up my container, I found that the rice was on the bottom and the pork was on the top. This made it somewhat difficult to eat. I had to do a lot of “stirring” to find everything.

Anyone who reads my restaurant reviews knows that I’m not particularly harsh when critiquing the food served at Disney. Well today will change all that. The Sweet & Sour Pork was bad. First, it was only warm, not hot. Since this is a “counter-service” restaurant I can be somewhat forgiving in this area, but I suspect that it lost a lot of its original warmth sitting under a heat-lamp.

The breading on the pork was mushy. Blah. And the taste was practically non-existent. I don’t normally salt my food but I had to make another trip to the condiment station to pick up a packet to try to eek out some flavor.

Since I was alone, I was only able to try one item. I will make subsequent trips in the months to come and try some of their other offerings. I truly hope that what I sampled today was the exception, not the rule.

I also have a comment about the seating area. Although authentically correct to the area, I see a real problem as the summer months approach. Only a handful of tables have umbrellas. The vast majority of the seating area is not protected from the elements. I don’t know who will want to sit out here when the hot August sun is beating down on them. And it should be lots of fun to watch several hundred people scurrying for cover when the summer thunderstorms open up. Disney really needs to rethink this area.

In the meantime, if you’re looking for good counter-service food at the Animal Kingdom, try the Hot Italian Style Sandwich at Pizzafari or the ribs or chicken at Flame Tree BBQ. Pizzafari offers indoor (air conditioned) seating and Flame Tree offers a number of cozy, covered dining areas. Both are superior to Yak & Yeti and the prices are more reasonable.

Yak & Yeti is not operated by Disney, but by the same folks that run Rainforest Café.

The Diamond Horseshoe in the Magic Kingdom is currently serving lunch from 11am to 4pm during the busy President’s week. Premade sandwiches, a Caesar Salad, and drinks are available. I asked a cast member if this was a permanent arrangement and I was told that this venue would be used occasionally throughout the year during busy times. The Disney Dining Plan is accepted here.

Did you know that you can have a custom-made baseball bat made at Disney World? Well you can. Tucked in a corner inside the Team Mickey Store at the Marketplace section of Downtown Disney, you’ll find a Rawlings shop. Here, a craftsman will create your one-of-a-kind bat while you watch.

Opened last September, this shop is divided into two sections, a sales area and an enclosed room where the bats are actually turned on a lathe. Two large windows look into this enclosed space affording a great view of the bat-making process. The craftsman wears a microphone and he describes each step of the process as he turns a piece of dowel into a bat.

After your bat has been created, you can have your name, signature, and/or your amateur team’s logo laser-engraved or embroidered into the wood. Other items are also for sale like a bat display case, a baseball and display case, and various helmets. Some of these items can also be engraved.

Anyone who visits a Disney theme park knows that it’s the details that set them apart from all other amusement venues. Well, this attention to detail doesn’t stop at the parks. It extends to their hotels as well. Case in point, the Boardwalk Resort.

In the lobby, above the check-in desk are three ornate gold frames.

Within each frame is a pastoral setting with a castle nestled in the background. Close observers will notice that these castles are actually the castles at Disneyland California, Disneyland Paris, and Tokyo Disneyland.

If you’re wondering what happened to Hong Kong’s castle, well, it didn’t exist when the Boardwalk was built. However, since it’s a copy of Disneyland California’s castle we can just make believe it represents both.

In order to keep Walt Disney World looking as good as it looks, attractions and buildings must be occasionally closed for refurbishment.

In years past, plywood panels would be erected around the building so workmen could clean, repair, and paint the building out of sight of the guests.

But a couple of years ago, Disney came up with a great idea. They decided to print a picture of the building being rehabbed on a large canvas and position it in front of the structure. This was far and away more attractive than plywood panels and the intrusion on the guest was minimal.

Currently, City Hall in the Magic Kingdom is undergoing rehab. These pictures show how well this new technique works.

I ate at the Pizzafari restaurant in the Animal Kingdom January 10th.

When I got to my table I noticed a small plastic card on the tray along with my order. The card featured Timon and Pumba with the inscription, “Do not feed the animals. Your yummies are not good for our tummies.”

I thought this was a very cute way to remind us not to be tempted to share our meals with the creatures around us. The other side of the card said, “Disney’s Wild About Safety. Safety Tip 14. In cooperation with Underwriters Laboratories.” I’m guessing that Disney has a new corporate sponsor and additional safety tips will be passed out in other areas.

Speaking of Pizzafari… Did you know that this restaurant has four dining rooms, each with its own theme? (Not to mention Hidden Mickeys)

One room features animals that use camouflage to hide from one another.

A different room has animals that carry their home with them in some way.

The third dining area displays creatures that prowl the night.

And the fourth room exhibits animals that live much of their life upside down.

Also, listen to the music that is played here. All of the songs are about animals. Here is the song list.

Baby Elephant Walk
Black Bird
Feed the Birds (from Mary Poppins)
High Hopes
Mr. Ed
Octopus Garden
Ol’ McDonald
Puff the Magic Dragon
Rockin’ Robin
Skylark
The Lion Sleep Tonight
Tie Me Kangaroo Down
Tiki Room (from Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room)
Whale of a Tale (from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea)
Yellow Bird

Pizzafari Menu

Over the last several years, Disney has tried several concepts at Epcot to best implement baggage check as you enter the park. It appears that they have finally hit upon a design that works. Temporary stanchions have been replaced with stainless steel fences. Even the flowerbeds now have security fences running through them. This looks much better (and I’m sure is much more secure) than the temporary stanchions that have been used during this testing period.

Two new, permanent quick-service structures have been built along the promenade around World Showcase. The first, Promenade Refreshments, is located just to the right as you enter World Showcase (across from the Port of Entry shop).

The second eatery is located to the left of the American Pavilion. Both serve turkey legs, hot dogs, popcorn, pretzels, ice cream, and smoothies.

Where do you go at the Magic Kingdom when you’re hot and tired and want to escape the unmanageable crowds and cool down? Try Exposition Hall located on the Plaza at the beginning of Main Street.

The front half of this building houses a shop and Photo Pickup.

But if you wander to the rear of the building, you’ll find a delightful spot that very few people ever go. This area was once the home of the “Walt Disney Story,” a 23 minute film that ran from 1973 to 1992. Now, only a small portion of the original theater remains, but what’s left is a delight. Approximately thirty seats face a small screen that continually plays vintage Mickey Mouse cartoons. This is a wonderful place to relax, chat, and forget the throngs of people outside.

Also in this back area are several picture opportunities. Four two-dimensional vignettes featuring Steamboat Willie, 101 Dalmatians, Snow White, and Buzz Lightyear are available to pose one or several of your party in. Note, these are not the “real” characters you see out in the parks, but simply cut-outs that allow guests to place their face or body into a scene. Since this area is never crowded, you’ll have plenty of time to compose your picture and the finished product can be quite cute.

The Art of Disney, or as I like to call it, the “good” store, has opened in the Main Street Cinema building in the Magic Kingdom.

This store sells upscale merchandise. Lenox, Armani, the Disney Classic Collection, and original and limited edition paintings by featured artist can be found here.

Compared to its sister stores in Epcot, Downtown Disney, and the Disney/MGM Studios, this store is small. So small in fact that some of its merchandise spills over into the adjoining store, the Uptown Jewelers.

The redesign is nice and I’m glad Disney has found a new home for this store as it seems to have bounced around from one location to the next over the past several years.

One sad note… For many years, a ticket booth sat just inside the entrance of the Main Street Cinema – back when old Mickey Mouse cartoons were actually shown here. Inside the ticket booth was a mannequin of a young lady, the ticket seller. She wore a Disney name tag and if memory serves, her name was Jennifer from Marceline (Walt’s home town). A couple of years ago the ticket booth disappeared. I asked a cast member what had happened to it and I was told that it was being refurbished and would return soon. Alas, it never did.

I realize that in the scheme of things, the disappearance of Jennifer is insignificant. But her demise scares me. Every time the powers-that-be removes one of the little details that make Disney parks so special, I have to ask myself “Where will it end?” For that matter, I miss the “old” Main Street Cinema (when it showed movies), the Magic Shop, and the Penny Arcade. These were special locations. Now these spots sell the same merchandise you can find everywhere else on property. Sigh.

All Star Café Redesign

When I heard that Disney was changing the All Star Café from a table service restaurant to a counter service restaurant, I was disappointed. I always enjoyed this spot. In fact, the first review I ever wrote for AllEars.net was for this eatery. However, I realize that it was a business decision to make the change. Often, this place was deserted, especially if there were no events scheduled at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex. Disney needed to do something to increase business here.

I visited the new restaurant on Sunday November 25th. According to one cast member, this eatery does not have a new name yet so it’s still being called the All Star Café until one is selected. This is evident by the missing sign over the entrance and on the posted menus.

Speaking of the entrance, it has been moved inside the gated area. The old entrance was outside the gated area so anyone could eat here, whether they were attending an event or not. When I visited today, several ticketed events were in progress and cast members were guarding the gates to the sports complex. I approached one of them and explained that I just wanted to eat lunch at the new restaurant. She told me to come on in and pointed the way.

Later, I spoke to a manager about this and she told me that the entrance policy is in flux. At the moment, anyone can eat at the All Star Café. All you have to do is inform a cast member at one of the gates and you will be granted admission. Supposedly, Disney is keeping track of how many “non-event” guests are eating here, but I didn’t see anyone counting me as I entered. It is possible that in the future, this restaurant will only be open to guests attending a ticketed event. The manager compared this policy to eating at the Brown Derby in the Disney/MGM Studios. You must have admission to the park in order to eat at its restaurants.

The new entrance to the All Star Café is a cavernous room with a decided lack of decor. There is a large counter with menus overhead along the back side of this room. It is here that you place your order.

After you pay, you are given a plastic number and told to find a seat in the restaurant. Off to the side of the counter is a queue if a line should form (which it did by the time I was leaving).

When I arrived at my table I found an interesting electronic box. Instructions on the side told me to place the plastic number I was given into a slot on the top, then remove it and set the number to the side. This action electronically notifies the kitchen where you are seated so they can easily find you when it comes time to deliver your food. This was a nice gimmick.

Guests are given a paper cup when they order a drink. Beverages are dispensed on an all-you-can-drink basis while dining in the restaurant. Soda fountains, tea, and coffee can be found along one side of the dining room along with condiments, napkins and straws.

The décor of the dining room is the same as it used to be, yet different. All of the personal sports memorabilia has been removed which gives the room a cleaner look.

Also, a wall separating a private dining room has been knocked out, opening up more seating and exposing several large windows that lightens the room considerably.

The bar is in its same location and basically unchanged.

Many of the large TVs are still mounted high above the seating area. However, I was disappointed that they hadn’t been upgraded. These are old, rear-projection televisions and they look bad by today’s standards. The pictures are not sharp and the color is dubious at best. In this day and age, it’s a shame Disney didn’t upgrade these sets with LCD or plasma.

Also gone are the little black boxes that could be found on every table. These boxes could be used to tune in the audio on any given station being broadcast. When I asked a cast member what had happened to them, I was told that they were no longer available. Audio was a thing of the past. In fact, even if there is a “big game” on, you will not be able to watch it with sound. I can only guess that Disney is trying to encourage a fast turn-over rather than promote a “sports” restaurant atmosphere. The only non-human sound was the piped-in music.

In one corner of the room was a television tuned to one of the Disney resort stations promoting DVC membership. This was pretty meaningless with no audio.

Another possible change from the old policy is the days of operation. The new restaurant may be closed when no sporting event is scheduled at the complex.

One of my complaints about Disney restaurants over the past several years is the homogenizing of their menus around property. They offer the same food everywhere you go. One glaring example is the Reuben Sandwich. Well, it just so happens I don’t like corned beef. I keep asking anyone who will listen, “Why can’t they serve pastrami & rye at just one restaurant?” Well at last, they do. And that’s what I ordered. And it was good. Sandwiches come with your choice of baked potato chips, melon-cucumber salad, or coleslaw.

My friend Donald ordered the clam chowder and a chicken Caesar salad. He said the chowder was better than he expected for a counter-service restaurant. He said the Caesar salad was fine – nothing to complain about, but nothing to write home about either. Note, the food is served in plastic boxes.

Also available on the menu was ice cream. I asked what would happen if I ordered ice cream at the same time I ordered my lunch. Would it all arrive at my table at the same time and sit there melting as I ate my sandwich? I was told, no. If you order ice cream, you retrieve it at a later time at a counter inside the dining room. Just show them your receipt and you will be given your dessert. One cast member told me that next week guests will be given a plastic coin when they order ice cream that can be redeemed later.

When we had finished eating, I wasn’t sure if I was expected to bus my own table so I asked a cast member. He told me that Disney expects guest to leave the tables dirty and their staff will take care of cleaning up the mess.

This restaurant is definitely a cross between table-service and counter-service. The fact that your food is brought to you and then Disney cleans up after you is a nice touch.

Because of the blurry distinction, Disney is still trying to decide if this restaurant should qualify for the Disney Dining Experience 20% discount. At the moment, it does, but things could change.

This restaurant does honor the Disney Dining Plan. And if you’re confused between these two plans, read Anita Answer’s column dated November 19th.

Would I go back? Yes. I live locally and as long as I can get in without buying a sporting event ticket, sure, why not. I eat at Disney World five times a week and even with the vast number of dining choices available, I still need all the variety I can get. The meal I ordered was fine and I liked the fact that my food was brought to the table and I didn’t have to clean up after myself.

Should you eat here? If you’re already attending a sporting event at Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex, yes. The food is basic, but good. And if you’re hungry, there is no reason to jump in your car and travel someplace else. But should you make a special trip if you don’t already have a reason to be here? Not really. Unless you’re a true Disneyphile like myself and want to experience everything at Walt Disney World, I wouldn’t bother.

Once just a part of the Star Wars Weekends at the Disney/MGM Studios, the Jedi Training Academy was a small stage show where children could learn to use the lightsaber and battle Darth Vader. The show proved so popular that Disney built a permanent training academy next to the entrance of the Star Tours attraction.

The show begins with a Jedi Master performing a short routine of lightsaber moves.

He then selects around twelve children from the audience (ages 4 – 12). I would suggest arriving early if your children hope to be picked. Those chosen are presented with training lightsabers and brown Jedi robes. After donning their outfits and becoming familiar with their weapon, the Jedi Master demonstrates a combination of lightsaber tactics.

The children are then walked through these moves, one by one. After they have mastered their new skills, they are combined into a choreographed routine.

When their training is complete, two Stormtroopers arrive on the scene, preparing us for the arrival of Darth Vader.

Vader appears moments later through a thick mist. He struts menacingly around the stage then approaches the children, offering to teach them the Dark Side of the Force. The Jedi Master refuses.

Vader then accepts a challenge to fight each Jedi Trainee, one by one.

With the help of the Jedi Master, each child approaches Vader and uses their new fighting skills against evil. The audience is very supportive and cheers on every trainee.

After all of the children have battled Vader, he once again tries to seduce them to come over to the Dark Side.

But during his attempt, Yoda’s voice magically echoes from the surrounding trees, telling Vader that he is outnumbered and doesn’t stand a chance. Vader leaves, but vows to try again.

Even if you don’t have children, this show is entertaining and will bring a smile to your face. It’s very well done and a lot of fun.

Several shows are presented daily. Times can be found on the “Times Guide” handout available throughout the park. There is also a sign posted near the Star Wars attraction listing today’s shows. Each training session lasts approximately twenty minutes.

The following is taken directly from a sign posted on the Streets of America in the Disney-MGM Studios.

In 1986 Jennings and Mitzi Osborne of Little Rock, Arkansas granted their daughter’s Christmas dream by covering their home with sparkling red lights.
By 1993 the Osbornes had bought and decorated their neighbors’ homes, too. The Christmas display had grown to three million lights and drew crowds from all of the state of Arkansas.

Some of the Osborne’s neighbors were more frazzled than dazzled by the display as they endured nightly traffic jams. Citing the display as a public nuisance, the Arkansas Supreme Court pulled the plug.

The night the lights went out in Little Rock wasn’t the end of the Osborne’s Dream. It was only the beginning. In 1995 Mickey and Goofy came calling and invited Jennings, Mitzi and Breezy to bring their lights to the Disney-MGM Studios.

The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights opened on November 24, 1995 on the Residential Street Backlot at the Disney-MGM Studios. It became an instant Holiday tradition for countless families. Over the years, more than 1.5 million guests have experienced the display.

In November of 2004, the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights moved to the Streets of America Backlot where it is bigger and better than ever.

The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights looks right at home here. As for the Osborne’s, this is the fairytale ending to their Christmas dream. And since the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights first lit up the Studios, the Osborne’s have sponsored over 32 Christmas lights displays throughout Arkansas. What began as a Christmas wish from a little girl has grown into holiday magic that has touched the lives of millions of people.

End Signage

The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights begins each evening at 6pm and remains lit until one hour after the park closes. A giant light switch can be found about halfway down the Streets of America. Each night, a child is selected to “throw the switch” and turn on the lights.

Last year a new tradition was started with the beginning of Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. Selected Christmas songs have been synchronized with the lights and the entire street “dances” as lights turn off and on in time with the music. If you haven’t seen this new addition, you need to do so. It’s an all new show!

As always, falling snow, hot chocolate and spiced nuts add to the wonderful Christmas atmosphere.

More Osborne Light Photos from this year's display.

The first change you’ll notice about the new Tusker House Restaurant is that Disney has positioned the check-in over near the Dawa Bar and the entrance is now located behind the restaurant.

This has its pluses and minuses. The plus, it can get crowded over near the Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery (the old entrance). If Disney had added a check-in booth in this area, it would be a nightmare logistically.

The negative thing about where they did position the check-in is that it’s located adjacent to the stage area where drummers and acrobats perform several times a day. In fact, when I checked-in, I had to yell to be heard. After checking-in, I was asked to stand over near the Dawa Bar. The crowd of people milling about is sure to detract from the bar’s atmosphere. When the host called my name, he too had to yell to be heard over the beating drums.

A hostess took me to my table and as she did, she did her best to describe the hotel upstairs (wink, wink), and the African artifacts found throughout.

The restaurant’s seating area has not changed at all.

The only difference you will find is that the tables are now set with silverware and wine glasses. I noticed that the tables for four only had two wine glasses – assuming that most parties of this size would have children in tow. There are no soft objects in the seating area so there is nothing to absorb the sound. It can get noisy in here.

My server Dorothy greeted me promptly and explained that many “venders” had created tempting dishes for sale in the marketplace. This storyline was a nice touch.

The old counter-service area has been beautifully redesigned into a lovely buffet. You’d never know that it had been converted. Happily, Disney did keep the wonderful rotisserie and it can still be seen roasting chickens.

Also, the quaint shops that line the second floor of the buffet/marketplace are still there. Take the time to look up sometime, the detailing is wonderful.

Everything I tasted was good. If I had to sum up what I thought of the buffet, I’d say it was a mini-version of the Boma buffet at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. The only complaint I had was the plates available at the carving station were cold – thus, when I got back to my table, so was my meat. On subsequent trips to the buffet, I found the plates to be warm.

A quick rundown of the food available: A bread station with non-typical offerings. A cold-cuts table with sliced ham, turkey, and cheese. These offerings were very pedestrian – there to please picky eaters. A number of salads – both leafy and not. A carving station with pork and sirloin. Curried chicken, a seafood casserole, salmon, rotisserie chicken, and an assortment of potatoes and vegetables round out the meal. A children’s table is also available.

Lunch costs $19.99 and I thought it was worth the price. Dinner costs $26.99 – the only difference being that prime rib is added to the menu. I’m not so sure prime rib is worth a $7 increase.

Breakfast Menu

Lunch Menu

Bottom line – I would definitely return for lunch. I enjoyed myself and the food.

I had heard that the Yak & Yeti restaurant in the Animal Kingdom was opening today. Since I had just been there a couple of days earlier and the construction walls were still up, I was a little dubious, but decided to check it out.

My friend Donald and I arrived a little before 11am. There were already about thirty people in line ahead of us. We confirmed with a cast member outside that the restaurant would be opening in about 5 minutes for “walk-ups” only.

During the first several minutes after opening, seating went slowly. Management was definitely giving the hosts and hostesses, servers, bartenders, and chefs plenty of time to get acclimated to their new surroundings before bombarding them. Eventually, they started taking names and told us approximately when we could expect to be seated. We were taken to our table around 11:20.

The restaurant is beautiful – just like you’d expect a Disney restaurant to be. Actually, I’m not sure beautiful is the right word. The restaurant is themed beautifully, but it’s not beautiful. I’m not exactly sure what region of Asia this eatery is supposed to reflect, but I’d have to say the areas in and around Nepal.

The building looks like it’s been here for many, many years and has seen the ravages of time. Floor tiles are broken, chandeliers are missing crystals, and the window pains are made of imperfect glass. Also strewn around the various rooms was Asian bric-a-brac – an assortment of stuff from all over. In other words, it looks authentic.

As our hostess took us to our table, she pointed out some of the details of the restaurant, telling us that the “proprietor” had selected this piece and that while on his travels.

The restaurant has a number of small dining rooms located on two floors. I doubt that any one room has more than ten tables in it. This gives guests a very cozy feel. Also, there are a few tables on each floor situated next to windows that look outside. I’m sure these window tables on the second floor will be in high demand.

The restaurant was promoting the Yak Attack, a concoction of Mango Daiquiri, Bacardi Light Rum, and Wildberry Flavors. Donald and I each ordered one and were happy we did. It certainly had a tropical taste about it, but was like nothing we’d ever tried before.

For appetizers we split the Dim Sum Basket. It arrived at our table in a bamboo steamer basket. Our waiter, Jay, set it down between us, then lifted the lid and positioned it just off to the side of the main bowl – a very attractive touch.

Later in our meal a manager stopped by. He asked us if Jay had presented the Dim Sum Basket correctly. When we said that he had, the manager was pleased and said that they are striving hard to serve several dishes with a flair. The Dim Sum Basket contained Pork Pot Stickers, Shrimp Siu Mai, Cho Su Bao and Pork Siu Mai. All was good and plenty for two to share.

For entrees I had the Baby Back Ribs .

Donald had the Maple Tararind Chicken. We were both pleased with our selections.

For dessert I had the Sorbet which consisted of three different flavors, raspberry, lemon, and mango. It was beautifully served and tasted even better.

Donald had the Chocolate Brownie Sundae. There wasn’t anything particularly Asian about it, but it was big and delicious.

Overall the menu is fairly tame. There is nothing so exotic as to send guests running for a hamburger. Even the pickiest eater would have an easy time finding something to their liking.

While dining, I saw Joe Rhode wandering through the restaurant with some other big-wigs. For those of you who don’t know, Joe Rhode pretty much designed the Animal Kingdom and was the primary guy when it came time to design and build Expedition: Everest.

I called his name across the room and he was kind enough to come over to our table. I introduced myself and complimented him on this wonderful restaurant. He then introduced me to another gentleman who was the lead architect on this project – unfortunately, I can’t remember his name. Joe was then kind enough to pose for pictures. I was jazzed!

At the moment, it hasn’t been decided if the Disney Dining Experience card will be accepted here. This restaurant is operated by Landry’s, the same company that operates the Rainforest Café, which does not accept this card.

Ever since the Animal Kingdom opened, I have said that it needs a waiter service restaurant inside the park. The Rainforest Café is too far away being all the way at the park’s entrance. The Yak & Yeti Restaurant is a welcome addition to the Animal Kingdom. The theming is wonderful and the food is good.

At the moment, reservations are not being accepted. They are only taking “walk-ups.” Beginning December 3rd guests can make reservations for January 4th and beyond by calling 407-WDW-DINE

I visited the new Yak and Yeti Restaurant today in Animal Kingdom. Here are the photos.

Descriptions, menus and a narrative to come later.

My good friend Anita Answer suggested I check out the changes made to the Monsters Inc., Laugh Floor attraction in the Magic Kingdom.

First, the lobby, or initial waiting room, has been redone. When the Laugh Floor first opened, a number of canvas banners were hung from the walls and ceiling. These banners provided comedy relief and gave guests instructions on how to text message jokes for the upcoming show. To me, these banners always looked cheap and reminded me that this use to be the Timekeeper attraction rather than an all new show. I’m happy to report that these banners have been replaced with permanent signs. The room now has a much more professional look about it.

The second change has to do with the preshow in the second waiting room. In addition to continued instructions on how to text message jokes, Roz and Mike Wazowski do a little routine. Roz shows the audience various “out takes” that Mike has been involved with while performing past shows. This is also a nice addition. Besides filling “dead” time, the skit is cute and brings more than a few chuckles to the room. In other words, Roz and Mike are warming up the audience for the show to come.

For those of you old enough to remember the VCR’s introduction, you may also remember the battle between VHS and Beta. These were two, non-compatible formats vying for dominance in the VCR world. Today, a similar battle is raging for high-def DVD supremacy – this time between HD DVD and Blu-ray. Paramount, DreamWorks, and Universal have opted for HD DVD while Sony, 20th Century Fox, and Disney have chosen Blu-ray.

To help promote their product, Disney has set up a high-def TV in the “Once Upon A Toy” store in Downtown Disney. Here, movie clips are shown, giving guests the opportunity to see crystal clear pictures and the advantages of Blu-ray. In addition, Disney Blu-ray DVD’s are sold.

Realityland: True-Life Adventures at Walt Disney World by David Koenig

It’s easy to find information about Disneyland’s inception and design. We’ve all seen the film clip of Walt telling the story about sitting on a park bench as his two daughters rode the merry-go-round and he thought to himself that there should be a place where parents and their children could enjoy an afternoon together. I’ve read a number of books about Disneyland, its construction and early years. But when it comes to the history of Walt Disney World, they’re really isn’t all that much information out there.

Realityland: True-Life Adventures at Walt Disney World helps fill that gap. For the most part, the book starts after Disneyland has already been built. It describes the search for the perfect location to build “Disneyland East.” It goes into detail about how the company was able to secretly buy forty-three square miles of land in Central Florida. The nightmares of constructing such are vast complex are explored. And the frustrations Disney experienced during the first few years of operation are presented.

Ever wonder why Walt’s vision of EPCOT was never brought to fruition? Ever wonder why Disney only built three hotels until Michael Eisner came along? Ever wonder why the Swan and Dolphin hotels are located where they are? Ever wonder why all the shops now carry the same merchandise? This book answers these and many other questions.

But to tell a “complete” story of Walt Disney World, tales of its darker side must also be told. This book explores some unpleasantries that I’m sure the Disney marketing team would prefer not be brought to light. Many of the injuries and deaths that have occurred here are chronicled. The imperfect personalities of a number of the company’s executives are put under a magnifying glass. Decisions to sacrifice “show” for money are presented.

Did I like this book? Yes. I enjoyed it very much – especially the sections that followed the history of Walt Disney World – good and bad. However, I felt the author sometimes went to great lengths to put Disney in a bad light. Take for instance, Chapter 8: Crash Mountain. This chapter describes many of the accidents and deaths that have occurred at Walt Disney World. After reading several pages I thought to myself, “All right. I get it. People can and do get hurt at Disney World. Enough already.”

I suspect that Mr. Koenig feels he presented a fair balance between those accidents that were Disney’s fault with those that were brought on by the guest’s own carelessness. I’m not so sure it was all that balanced. Overall, Disney was made to look bad. A similar chapter, later in the book, goes into detail of why security is needed in the parks. Although not as heavy handed as Chapter 8, once again I felt the scales were purposely tipped away from Disney.

I would be the last person to think Disney perfect. Often in the book I thought to myself, “That can’t be true.” But then I remembered back to the nine years I worked at Disneyland and thought, “Well, maybe it can be.” But I don’t think Disney is as bad as the book makes them out to be.

Should you read this book? If you’re like me, and want to know everything you can about Walt Disney World, then by all means pick up a copy. I know a lot about the “World”, but I found this book packed with fresh information. I kept saying to myself, “I didn’t know that.”

However, if you’re a person that believes all of the stories that the Disney marketing people spin, (and you want to continue believing them) then you might want to steer clear of this book. Often, when I’m waiting in line for an attraction, I can’t help eavesdrop on other people’s conversations. When I hear them wax poetic about how everything here is perfect, I roll my eyes and think, “If you only knew.” It’s these people who shouldn’t pick up a copy.

Disney’s single greatest asset is their fantastic reputation. And it’s well deserved. But the Disney organization is made up of flawed people, just like the rest of the world. This book explores the good and the bad, albeit tipped to the dark side – thus the title Realityland. If you can accept that Disney has some blemishes and can get over a slightly biased take, then you’ll enjoy this book. I did.

Realityland: True-Life Adventures at Walt Disney World by David Koenig is published by Bonaventure Press and sells on Amazon for $18.45.

Disney has constructed three billboards in the planters/dividers that separate the roadway that the parking lot tram uses to shuttle people to and from the main entrance. These billboards are two sided and advertise various Disney movies and television shows.

Construction walls have gone up around the A.B.C. Theater located alongside Echo Lake. A clapboard-sign says that the theater is gearing up for an all new production.

A temporary tent-theater has been erected out beyond the Rock-N-Roller Coaster. A banner across the theater sports the name Playhouse Disney In Concert. On the day I was there, a group called Dan Zanes was performing four shows during the day.

Construction continues on the Yak & Yeti Restaurant in the Animal Kingdom. Instead of bricks, mortar, and plywood, Asian themeing is starting to become apparent. Windows on the second floor are clearly visible and I’m hoping this will be seating for either the full service or the counter service restaurants. The building site is starting to have a completed feel about it and looks good!

Yesterday (10/19/07), I ate lunch at Olivia’s at Old Key West. After I ate, I needed to run a quick errand at Epcot. Since I live in Orlando, I usually drive to all my Disney World locations, but today I decided to take the bus. The weather was pleasant and I thought it would be a nice change of pace.

After the bus arrived and I took my seat, I noticed that the music being played was “Legacy,” an Epcot background piece that everyone’s heard but doesn’t know its name. After a few moments, the song ended and “One Little Spark” from the Imagination Pavilion began to play. I started to wonder if all of the music was now themed to the bus’s destination.

A moment later, a recorded voice (Matt Hanson ) could be heard. It welcomed everyone aboard and provided us with some tips about our upcoming visit to Epcot. At the same time, the speech was displayed on an electronic message board for all to read. The recording was loud enough to be heard but not overpowering.

When his remarks were finished, the music switched back on and continued to play another selection from Epcot. Shortly before arriving, Matt Hanson could again be heard, informing us that we were about to reach our destination and to please gather up our belongings.

Unfortunately, my return bus had not been fitted out with this new system and I had to listen to a bus driver’s inaudible comments as he didn’t have a clue of how to properly use a microphone.

Since I don’t ride the buses often, this new system may be old news to many of you. But for me it was a pleasant surprise and I’m looking forward to the rest of the fleet being retrofitted.

Now onto the downside of bus transportation… When you catch a bus at the Hospitality House (check-in) of Old Key West, you are at the last bus stop in the resort. From here, you go directly to you destination. On the return trip, Hospitality House the last stop.

Unlike other Disney resorts that have multiple bus stops, Old Key West has a very convoluted layout. The bus must make numerous twists and turns as it snakes its way through the resort. So much so that by the time I returned to Hospitality House I was actually starting to get motion sickness.

The other large resorts, like Port Orleans and the Caribbean Beach are laid out in a more circular pattern. The bus just makes one large circle to reach all of the bus stops.

Because of this, I would seriously think twice before staying at Old Key West if I didn’t have my own car.

I rode the Haunted Mansion today and I’m happy to report that the Attic Room is now working properly.

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When the HM reopened, the Attic Room had been completely redesigned. Instead of the carnival-like “pop-up” heads, various portraits of a bride and her numerous, headless husbands were scattered around the attic. However, the pictures were stagnant and contained no special effects. Now, as you pass by each portrait, the husbands’ faces fade in and out as guests pass by while the bride’s face remains constant.

Now that the effect is working properly it is consistent with its Disneyland, California counterpart.

All Ears® Team Member Jack Spence (accompanied by Anita Answer and friends) files this report:

The good news: it’s still the Haunted Mansion. It has been improved. Some changes are obvious, others would hardly be noticed. They come together to update a wonderful attraction. Somebody who had never been on the attraction wouldn’t have a clue of which effects are new, and which are the originals from 1969 / 1971. Even people familiar with the attraction might have trouble.

First, what hasn’t changed:

It’s still the Haunted Mansion.

The feeling of the attraction is the same.

The entire graveyard scene is the same.

The busts that turn to watch you pass are the same.

The hitchhiking ghosts still join you on the way out.

The ballroom dancers are still backwards.

Rumors that weren’t true:

There are no live bats

There is no new shop at the exit.

What is different outside:

Outside, the queue begins near the old fastpass structure. The line has a couple of switchbacks in this area before proceeding under the “13 minute” sign. (The line was long this morning, so all the queue was in use.) The awning over the queue area next to the Rivers of America is wider than it used to be. This provides enough space that they can divide it into thirds – so one line goes in front of the mansion toward the attraction entrance, then it switches back toward the 13-minute sign, then switches back toward the attraction entrance again. The line is narrower than it used to be, so people more naturally fill the available space without worrying about passing (or being passed by) somebody else.

The color of the building is subtly different.

WARNING: SPOILER ALERT AHEAD. DO NOT LOOK/READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU WANT TO BE SURPRISED AT THE HAUNTED MANSION CHANGES. DETAILS OF THE CHANGES INSIDE OF THE ATTRACTION ARE BELOW THIS WARNING.

WARNING: SPOILER ALERT AHEAD. DO NOT LOOK/READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU WANT TO BE SURPRISED AT THE HAUNTED MANSION CHANGES. DETAILS OF THE CHANGES INSIDE OF THE ATTRACTION ARE BELOW THIS WARNING.

WARNING: SPOILER ALERT AHEAD. DO NOT LOOK/READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU WANT TO BE SURPRISED AT THE HAUNTED MANSION CHANGES. DETAILS OF THE CHANGES INSIDE OF THE ATTRACTION ARE BELOW THIS WARNING.

WARNING: SPOILER ALERT AHEAD. DO NOT LOOK/READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU WANT TO BE SURPRISED AT THE HAUNTED MANSION CHANGES. DETAILS OF THE CHANGES INSIDE OF THE ATTRACTION ARE BELOW THIS WARNING.

WARNING: SPOILER ALERT AHEAD. DO NOT LOOK/READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU WANT TO BE SURPRISED AT THE HAUNTED MANSION CHANGES. DETAILS OF THE CHANGES INSIDE OF THE ATTRACTION ARE BELOW THIS WARNING.

WARNING: SPOILER ALERT AHEAD. DO NOT LOOK/READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU WANT TO BE SURPRISED AT THE HAUNTED MANSION CHANGES. DETAILS OF THE CHANGES INSIDE OF THE ATTRACTION ARE BELOW THIS WARNING.

What is different inside

The first improvement I noticed was the sound. In the stretch room, the ghost host doesn’t bounce from one location to another. Rather the voice moves smoothly around the room. Also, some new sounds have been added to improve effects – when the room stretches, it creaks.

The interior of the attraction has been spruced up. For example, the wallpaper in the stretch room is new. The old was looking rather shabby. The frames on the stretch pictures look better.

The lighting throughout has been improved. While the ambient lighting isn’t brighter, most anything of interest is better lit. The hanging body above the ceiling is more visible; the ballroom characters are brighter.

Some of the pictures with the eyes that follow you have been moved to the loading area. The hallway where these pictures used to be now has windows on the left side, with lightning outside and the appropriate thunder. On the other side, there are still pictures, some with the eyes that follow you, and some not. But all of the pictures change appearance with the flashes of lightning.

One of the most obvious changes is the area where giant spiders used to be on giant webs. Those are completely gone, replaced by stairways going up, down, and around at odd angles. Some room décor around the area (such as candelabra and small rugs) are also at odd angles, even upside down. You can even see the foot falls as a ghost is walking on the steps. I always thought the spider webs were put in because there just wasn’t enough space in this area for anything more. The Imagineers certainly overcame that limitation.

The séance room has more items floating around the outer edges (or are they just better lit?) Madame Leota’s crystal ball floats and moves above the table.

The other most obvious changes are in the attic room. The pop-up heads are gone. Similar to the Disneyland HM, there are several pictures, each with the same bride, but each with a different groom. At Disneyland, the faces of the grooms fade out. I believe the effect is supposed to be the same here, but it wasn’t working. Finally, you see the bride, holding an ax which appears and disappears.

One of the best effects is that there are eyes (bats’ eyes, I think) which watch you from the darkness. Some of the eyes even move. As you move along, the eyes transform into the wallpaper – the same wallpaper with eyes that has been on the walls since opening day.

If you're looking for more information on the Haunted Mansion, Jason Surrell has written a great book on this attraction. The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies fleshes out how the Mansion's 999 grim grinning ghosts were brought to life. Rare early sketches and story concepts, and stunning architectural drawings illustrate the Mansion's evolution as it was constructed at each Magic Kingdom Park around the globe.
The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies

Jack Spence Reports....

The Food & Fun Center on the first floor of the Contemporary Resort has been completely closed.

A new, temporary, counter service restaurant is now open on the fourth floor of the resort. This new eatery is called the Tempo Grab And Go. Much to my delight, this short-term establishment looks more permanent than temporary so resort guests won’t feel like they’re being short-changed when paying deluxe prices.

A new shop on the fourth floor is also taking shape as actual structures are now visible. In addition, the new floor tile in this area is coming along and looks quite nice.

On the first floor, artist renderings now display what the redesigned check-in area will look like.

Construction continues on the rumored DVC just to the north of the Contemporary. The building is definitely taking on a horse-shoe shape that matches artist renderings that circulated on the internet for a short time.

I visited the Magic Kingdom today and took a couple of pictures of the Haunted Mansion. As you can see, it is encased in scaffolding.

AllEars® Team member Jack Spence visited the Contemporary Resort recently.

According to reports, the Food and Fun Center was supposed to close this past weekend. I ate lunch at Concourse Steakhouse Tuesday, 7/31, so I could take pictures of the Tempo Grab and Go (temporary replacement) next to the Outer Rim. It isn't there yet. In fact, the Fun and Food Center is still open. We asked our server when it would open and all she knew was "very soon."

I noticed a couple other "construction" projects going on at the resort.

Actual construction has begun where the North Wing once stood at the Contemporary Resort. This is the possible site of the rumored new Disney Vacation Club resort.

All of the public doors into the Contemporary Resort are being remodeled. The revolving doors are being replaced with sliding doors with an "airlock" room inbetween.

For there Spanish speaking guests, Disney is offering a baseball cap that says:

Where suenos come true.

Recently, I called to make reservations at the Le Cellier Steakhouse in the Canada Pavilion. I wanted to eat sometime between 5pm and 7pm. I didn’t care what day.

The operator checked every day starting on June 25. It wasn’t until October 31st that he was able to secure a table for me at 5:45pm. Along the way, he was able to offer a couple of 8:30pm and 4:00pm reservations, but the prime dining times were completely booked up.

The operator told me that the Le Cellier is the most difficult restaurant to book at Walt Disney World and guests need to be willing to make reservations 120-180 days in advance to eat here.