Magical Adventures & Memories
We start Christmas off at Magic Kingdom with Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and in the process, almost freeze to death, see some Country Bears, and travel to the Christmas Galaxy. Very chaotic indeed!
Disclosure: Disney hosted us for this event, but these opinions are our own!
This week we take a stroll back in time…and space. Space Mountain that is. Pull back on your safety bar and sit back as we explore the history of this beloved attraction, from concept art to present day, and everything in between.
Scott takes us on a journey through the years and the historic milestones of the Space Mountain attraction in Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and beyond. Believe it or not, I only rode Space Mountain at age 31. Crazy, right? Anyway, we hope you enjoy our chat and stories along the way as we share some fun facts and history of this iconic attraction that is the cornerstone of Tomorrowland (or Discoveryland) in every Disney park.
For this episode, we highly recommend you watch the video version as well, Christian has added some great images of the topics we bring up, from the many books Scott brought out for this episode. We will link to those books on amazon below, some of which may be through 3rd party Marketplace Sellers on Amazon, or you may find them on ebay as well:
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There are so many brand new things happening during the holidays over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom! Join us we check out some of our new favorites! Which animal puppet do you like most? (Deer is correct answer)
Disclosure: Disney hosted us for this event, but these opinions are our own!
Part of what makes us love Disney parks and the attractions within are the many details and interactive waiting areas, lines, or queues, within the different parks. As we discuss, some draw you in to the environment you are about to enter with the attraction, while others tell a story all their own. Join us as we list OUR top 10, from all the parks we’ve been to, including Walt Disney World and Disneyland’s parks, as well as the international locations in Asia and Europe.
Will your list align with ours? Did we miss any of your favorites or do you completely disagree with one of our choices? Let us know by commenting below, or at our YouTube channel for the episode, or on any of our social channels listed below – we’d love to hear from you!
If you haven’t already, we would be so grateful if you could subscribe to our YouTube channel and like the video for each episode, or subscribe wherever you download and listen to podcasts, and give us a rating there too. We are a new podcast, and hope to soon be celebrating our 100th episode, and we can’t do that without spreading the word so more people can listen and enjoy and share in the discussion. If you could take a moment to share the podcast, videos, or even just this blog post, we’d be eternally appreciative of your support.
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We are finally wrapping up our EPCOT series with an episode all about the news, predictions, and possibilities of the future of EPCOT, as well as our opinions on these changes. I think it’s a nice way to finish out our 4 part series on the original EPCOT Center and our memories, with a peek into the future of EPCOT.
In this episode we run down the announced changes coming to EPCOT and World Showcase, including the new “neighborhood designations” vs. Future World, the water experience, Play pavilion, Guardian’s of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, the Celebration Point/Dreamer’s Point area, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Mary Poppins attraction, as well as the new movies in the Canada and China pavilions in World Showcase. We also go over the EPCOT Experience itself, currently going on in the Odyssey building.
After we go over all these changes, we each share our personal thoughts on where the future is taking EPCOT, good and bad. Do you agree with our opinions or have completely different views of the park’s future?
We thank you for your support and for sharing the love!
This morning I was invited to cover the Disney Dooney & Bourke 10th Anniversary event, taking place at Ever After Jewelry and Accessories at Disney Springs. This was really a “full circle moment” for me as I mentioned in my previous post announcing this event, I’ve been covering these purses from the start. I couldn’t keep up with allll the new designs and styles and accessories available (if anyone wants to volunteer to be a Dooney correspondent, let me know! haha) but I felt it was important for me to be here for this event. This iconic brand really did kick off the landslide of Disney collaborations with designers, and now there are countless partnerships and collections out there, truly something for everyone and every level of Disney fan.
I covered today’s event on my Zannaland instagram story, so be sure to head over there to experience all the fun as it happened. We were lucky enough to get to see the bags and be inside the store before it opened, so I have some photos here as well. The event was so smooth and very different from the first Dooney events I used to attend, where you’d be waiting in a queue for hours. They now use a virtual queue, where you just check in with a cast member out front when you arrive, and you’ll be given a time to return. You can then roam around Disney Springs as you wait for your turn vs. standing still in a traditional queue.
Here are the different 10th Anniversary styles available as of today, at Ever After, and wherever Dooney & Bourke bags are sold in Disney, as well as Shop Disney, where you can see all the prices and availability. Click on any image to enlarge:
Thank you again to Disney for having me out to cover this 10th anniversary event and to Ian Ray for coming out and speaking to us this morning! Were you there? What’s YOUR favorite Disney Dooney & Bourke design or style? Let me know in the comments below!
Select Disney Dooney & Bourke handbags are available at Shop Disney
Merchandise Hotline number for Walt Disney World Resort: 407-363-6200 or 407-828-1451.
Disclosure: Disney invited me out and I was gifted with a bag today, but I purchased the MagicBand on my own, and as always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.
*ShopDisney.com links are affiliate links, which means it costs you nothing extra to click or buy, but if you do, I get a small commission. Thanks for reading!
It’s hard to believe that the Disney + Dooney & Bourke collaboration has been going on for TEN YEARS now. I guess it’s not too hard for me, because I started Zannaland.com right before the first purse came out – the original Disney Sketch Design Bag. What a time. I remember driving up from where I lived outside of Tampa at the time, just to see this new bag and yes, buy one myself. I then began breaking news here on Zannaland whenever a new purse would be spotted, and for the various events and trunk sales that would happen at Disney Springs.
It soon became too much for me to keep up with the endless designs and new releases (as well as the Disney Parks Blog starting up, so all of the “scoops” and news was posted there first. In any event, I kept my Disney Dooney page up, in hopes that some day I would be able to properly update it with all the latest releases. However since about 6 years worth of designs have come out, I’m not sure that’ll ever be possible on my schedule. Additionally, there are so many places and personal shopping services to get these bags (along with facebook groups and eBay) that it became kind of silly for me to compete with that. The bags do hold a special place in my heart though, as they represent a “golden age of Disney blogging” haha. Simpler times. I still have a few in my own collection.
In any event, read on for details on a very special 10th anniversary event of the Disney Dooney & Bourke partnership – maybe I’ll be there myself for old times sake:
Commemorate the 10th anniversary of the partnership between Disney and Dooney & Bourke with new merchandise and more!
In celebration of this momentous occasion, the “Disney Sketch” and “Mickey Balloons” original prints will be re-released and will now be available in great new color combinations. Plus, you’ll find that some of your favorite silhouettes have been released from the vault.
Bring home a dash of extra magic by receiving a select complimentary Dooney & Bourke small zip pouch with the purchase of any Dooney & Bourke merchandise, while supplies last*.
You’ll also have the opportunity to meet Ian Ray, Creative Director for Dooney & Bourke! He will be available for photos and to sign your newest Dooney & Bourke bag throughout the event.
When
October 11, 2019
9:00 AM to 11:00 AMWhere
Ever After Jewelry Co. & Accessories – Disney SpringsAbout Ian Ray
Ian lived and worked in 5 countries on 3 continents, where he specialized in material management and product development, before eventually settling in the United States in the late 1990’s. Ian’s current responsibilities include design and management of co-branded partnerships for Dooney & Bourke. He lives and works in Norwalk, Connecticut and loves sailing, triathlons and travel.Event Details
Event dates, appearances and information are subject to change without notice and not guaranteed. Merchandise available while supplies last.
We got to experience the BRAND NEW Skyliner at WDW! Was it hot? Was it shaky? Was it too much for Mr. Incredible? Let’s find out!
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If you follow me on instagram and facebook, you know that we got to experience a preview of the newest Walt Disney World Resort transportation system: the Disney Skyliner. I was super excited and yes, a little nervous to try this newest way to travel in Walt Disney World, and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
Being of the “Magic Kingdom Skyway generation” (aka over 30), I remember a time when riding the Skyway from Tomorrowland to Fantasyland (and back) was my favorite thing to do in the Magic Kingdom, and something I did every single visit. I was pretty heartbroken when the Skyway closed back in 1999, and even more so when I finally learned just how cool the Disneyland Skyway was, knowing I’d never experience sailing through the middle of the majestic Matterhorn. But this new Skyliner is not an attraction, at least that’s not why it was built, it is a convenient and easy way to transport guests from certain WDW Resort hotels to either Epcot or Disney’s Hollywood Studios. (But you can still ride it for fun if you want, which is exactly what we did last night.)
Before I get into the facts and figures, I will say it was a wonderfully enjoyable ride on the Disney Skyliner. Right after we took off from the Disney’s Hollywood Studios station, we paused, right after passing the parking lot. Of course stopping like that mid-air was a little scary at first, but at no time was I worried we’d fall or the cable would snap or anything.
The main concern was that being stopped meant almost no air-flow through the vents of the cab, and yes, it did get a little toasty. This was at 6:30 at night, and the sun was directly shining on us, but it wasn’t as hot as a 3pm in-the-middle-of-summer day. That said, the time we stopped was only a few minutes, and it wasn’t unbearable. Most guests concerned with the extreme heat at Walt Disney World have some sort of personal fan or cooling device, so I think those that are worried will probably be prepared, and those that can handle direct sun for a few minutes will be okay. The good news is even if the wind isn’t flowing through because you’re not moving, the vents ARE still open, so you are still getting air, it just may not feel like it. The most common question whenever anyone asks about the Skyliner – “Is it air conditioned?” Well, once we were moving, the breeze was constant, and it was even windy in the cab. I’ve definitely been on the monorail when the “AC” wasn’t really helping matters at all, at least in this case, you will have that breezy cross-ventilation as long as you aren’t stopped.
My other concern was loading and unloading the cab from the platform. I’d heard it was a little wobbly and it was, but, nothing so shaky that it caused panic. Yes, the cab moves a bit as you step on, but it is very sturdy and stable, and you feel that as soon as you step on. I do feel like some guests with less mobility or balance may benefit from a handle of some sort, but I’m sure that was looked into and may have caused more issues if people held onto it too long while getting out. So my suggestion if you have balance issues or walk slowly, is to have someone go out first and then give you a hand to help you out. It is slow enough that it should not be an issue, but of course, if you need additional assistance, or are in a wheelchair, they can stop the cabs to allow you more time to get in or out. The good news is the platform aligns perfectly with the floor of the cab, so there is no need for ramps or additional maneuvering to assist guests needing more time.
As I noted on instagram, we were lucky enough to time our visit to the sunset, and boy was that serendipitous! The views were amazing last night, and watching the sky dissolve from a bright blue, to hints of pink creeping in, to full on golden orange, followed by a dark purple and deep orange, was amazing. Christian has a video at the end of this post, so you can see how scenic it was, but I was really blown away by how beautiful it was and it’s been a while since I experienced a sunset like that from such a unique vantage point. If you are planning to ride the Skyliner just for fun, I definitely recommend doing so around sunset!
Skyliner Stations: 5 – Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort/Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Riviera Resort, Epcot (see map above for line routes)
Skyliner Capacity: 10 guests, or 6 with a wheelchair. The seats are two wooden benches and you slide over to make room, similar to a Monorail-sized bench, but everyone gets a seat, there is no standing.
Skyliner Stroller Policy: If you have a single or tandem double stroller (not side by side), you can board normally and don’t have to fold it up. The stroller or mobility aid must fit within a 30″ by 48″ area, so you may need to fold it up if you can’t fit your stroller in that space. We asked a cast member and they hadn’t gotten a double-wide stroller yet, so they were kind of unclear on how they’d handle that, but keep in mind, this is still in the technical rehearsal stage so they may have more info as they open to all guests.
Skyliner Food/Drink Policy: We asked about bringing food and drinks into the Disney Skyliner cab, and were told that everything was allowed except alcohol. I hadn’t really thought of bringing anything on, until we passed the Joffrey’s Coffee kiosk at the Caribbean Beach Station, and thought “ooh, coffee…” (and whoever thought to put that there, brilliant!) it’s the perfect spot for it because the Caribbean Beach Station is where you would switch to go to Pop Century or Art of Animation, or on to Epcot or the Riviera Resort, so everyone has to get out here, and go to a different spot to re-load – why not stop and get a drink and a snack?
Skyliner Routes: As mentioned above, you do have to disembark and re-embark at some stations to get to your final destination. The only place you don’t have to get off and get back on (right now) is Disney’s Riviera Resort, because it’s not open. I’m not sure if when that resort opens they will make you get off and back on, but I can’t imagine they would because most people at that point would be heading to Epcot. So to get to Epcot or Disney’s Hollywood Studios from either park, you will have to get off and get back on, because those lines do not connect.
Going to Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a straight line from the Caribbean Beach Resort Station, that line does not connect anywhere else. Then from the Caribbean Beach Station, which really is the main “hub,” you can choose to take a line that goes ONLY to Pop Century/Art of Animation, or another line that goes to Riviera and Epcot. Similarly, if you are coming from Epcot, you’ll need to transfer at Caribbean Beach if you are trying to get to Pop/AoA, or Hollywood Studios. It sounds confusing at first, but once you ride it once, it all makes sense.
Skyliner Special Needs: As mentioned above, if you need special assistance to get into the Skyliner cab, they can definitely stop the movement for you and assist. They are slower than I thought they’d be, so that is good and should eliminate most potential issues with boarding. There is also an extended loop at all the stations except the Riviera Resort where cabs can be sent to completely stop, to help those that need additional assistance. Separate from that, if you have serious motion sickness or vertigo, dizziness, or equilibrium problems, or are just generally really scared of heights, you may want to avoid this method of transport.
I note on the video that at first I did feel a little dizzy, but I do have some equilibrium issues with some movement (I can’t ride Expedition Everest, for example, without my brain rattling around my head for a few days after). I quickly got used to the movement though. I have no problems with normal (non-upside-down/backwards) roller coasters, and don’t usually ever get sea sick or anything. So, your mileage may vary, but I think the majority of guests will be just fine. Just know your limits because there is a chance you will pause mid-air, and if that will set off a panic attack, you should be aware that it’s a possibility. There is a call box on each cab in case of emergency.
Skyliner Weather: So let’s talk about Florida weather. It is as predictable as it is ever-changing. You know it’s going to be in the mid to high 90’s in the summer, you know it’s going to rain every day at around 3pm-ish during the summer, and you know there will be very few days with low humidity. How will the Disney Skyliner handle that weather?
Here’s what I know: I know that Disney has thought of and tested and accounted for alllll of the crazy central Florida weather we all “enjoy,” so I’m not at all worried that they would put a transportation system out there that wasn’t made to withstand it. I also am not worried that in extreme cases, they will cease operation for the safety of guests. Yes, lightning strikes and storms can seem to appear out of nowhere sometimes, but I am confident Disney will have planned for that and has an appropriate course of action. (Also, having grown up going to the Boston Museum of Science and the Lightning Theatre there, I know that being in a metal box can actually be the safest place to be in a lightning storm. That’s why I’m never afraid to be in my car when that happens. The metal will conduct the lightning if it hits, and the tires will send the current back out. I think the same would apply here, and you’d be sitting on a wooden seat, which would not conduct electricity. Anyway, I’m clearly no scientist, but I feel safe).
Similarly, with rain, I assume Disney has tested this. The openings for the vents do have covers to close, so if it was raining, the rain would probably hit those first, and not be directly getting anyone inside wet. We’ll just have to wait and see on that one though.
Skyliner Attraction?: We’ve talked about the facts and figures and rules and regulations, but bottom line, would you or should you ride the Disney Skyliner…just for fun? My answer is yes. I think, if you are the type of guest that isn’t running from Fastpass to Fastpass and wants to do something a little different, get some amazing views, and get from point A to point B (with some stops along the way), why not take a trip on the Skyliner just for fun. I think it would be a great way to see resorts that some guests may not otherwise go to if they were just visiting without a car and staying at one resort. I also have no doubt that in no time at all, we’ll be seeing “Disney Skyliner Crawls” to try foods and drinks along the route – just remember no alcohol on board and maybe being drunk while way way up in the air isn’t the best plan so let’s not ruin this for everyone guys. 😛
Skyliner Merchandise: In the gallery above, you can see a preview of the coming merchandise for the Disney Skyliner. There will be a Funko Pop coming out in November, some DVC Member only and Passholder exclusive merchandise, as well as open edition merchandise, so something for everyone! Some of the shirts are really cute, I may have to pick one up myself!
Skyliner Operating Hours: Ending on a positive note, as mentioned a few times now, riding the Disney Skyliner at sunset is not to be missed. It really is worth it for some perspectives we’ve never seen before at sunset. The operating hours will vary depending on park hours, but it appears to be opening at 9 or 10 am some days and staying open till 11pm most nights, with some 1am opening hours to account for Extra Magic Hours. So it doesn’t appear like Disney wants the Skyliner early morning capacity to be tested, but this is a great option for those staying at Caribbean Beach or Pop and Art of Animation that may not be rope dropping, but want a fun way to get to the parks.
Click to enlarge the photos below of the amazing Skyliner sunset!
I hope that this has given you all the facts and figures and help you need to plan your Disney Skyliner transportation! If you have any questions, feel free to comment and ask here or on any of my social media accounts. I’ve added our video below so you can see some of this info in action. We hope you enjoy it!
If you’d like to see what we all thought as we rode and see the Disney Skyliner in action, watch this!
We thank you for your support and for sharing the love!
We used our phones a lot, and built a droid! All with special guest Gio on his first visit to Batuu. I’m going to be finding porgs in my computer for months now after editing this.