Magic Kingdom

Limited Time Magic: Cinderella Castle Suite Tour

21 October 2013 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Note: This post was originally written by Joe Morisco as a guest blogger for zannaland back in April of 2013. Enjoy!

As part of the ongoing promotion Limited Time Magic, Walt Disney World has been giving extremely limited tours to lucky winners through an email contest. I was lucky enough to win a spot on a tour for arguably the best tour given out at the Magic Kingdom. The winners of the tour met at the Magic Kingdom at 8:30 AM. What was supposed to be a group of 25 ended up being only 15, with 10 no-shows. The group was then split, with half going to tour the suite, the other half heading over to Be Our Guest at Beast’s Castle.

This tour with an Imagineer was a 1 1/2 hour tour. The highlight of the tour was the Cinderella Suite, since this is not normally accessible to any day guests. The Imagineer that worked on the suite walked us through, pointing out all the tiny details. I included a photo gallery below of everything we saw in the suite. After being in the suite for about 45 minutes, we were brought over to Be Our Guest and through each room in the restaurant. The Imagineer explained the theme for each room as well as details that you may overlook. At the end of the tour, they brought out a dish of “grey stuff” for us. Overall, this was a great experience that we could not normally partake in!

Cinderella Castle Suite Elevator Art Work

Floor going into Cinderella Castle Suite

Stained Glass windows tell the Cinderella Story

We hope you enjoyed the photo tour – keep watching the Disney Parks Blog for future Imagineer Tours as part of Limited Time Magic!

Top 5 Must-do’s at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

21 October 2013 by Suzannah Otis 3 Comments

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is one of my favorites each year, an annual tradition to kick off the Halloween season. I’ve written about the event each year that Zannaland.com has been around, and enjoying all the party has to offer never gets old. In fact, it only gets harder to fit it all in. If you have a family with varying age ranges, it may be a “divide and conquer” night to make sure everyone sees and does all they want to do. Because of that, I thought I’d write up a Top 5 this year, of my personal favorites.

1. Get there early. While the ticket for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (or MNSSHP for short) starts at 7pm, you can actually enter the park as early as 4pm, to get the most out of your night. The trick-or-treating and official events don’t begin till 7, but you can grab a bite and get on rides beforehand.

2. Get your Sorcerer’s of the Magic Kingdom card. If you are a sorcerer and enjoy the game, there is a special card just for the event. You can pick it up at the Main Street Fire Station or the Liberty Square sorcerer’s desk. You must have both your wristband for the event AND your event ticket to get the card, so make sure your whole party is together for this. There is a limited amount for each party, so this should be first on your list!

3. Trick-or-Treat. This is what most people are here for. They dress up, yes, they see the parades and fireworks, ride on attractions with almost no wait, but this is FREE CANDY! And with over 40 different kinds this year, you are sure to get your fill. You can find all the treat locations on your MNSSHP map, or by looking for the giant light up treat location signs. Don’t forget the Treat Trails over by Splash Mountain’s queue and the walkway between Storybook Circus and Tomorrowland for the most treats per square inch. My favorite is always the Werther’s Caramel Apple candies over at Pinocchio’s Village Haus!

4. Try the event-specific treats too. This year, the food and beverage team really went out of their way to create some delicious treats for MNSSHP. Caramel Apple Slush, Candy Corn ice cream, Pumpkin Waffle Sundae and MORE! These new Halloween treats are so yummy, I wrote a whole post on them. But after trying the Candy Corn ice cream and the Pumpkin Waffle Sundae (which I’ve heard is now available full time at Sleepy Hollow Treats) I was in love. I shared both of these with my family at midnight sitting on the new castle wall area. Perfect ending to a perfect Halloween party.

5. Watch Mickey’s Boo-to-You Parade and HalloWishes Fireworks Spectacular! The Boo-to-You parade is many people’s favorite parade at Walt Disney World, and I am no exception. It is hard to top the dramatic entrance by the Headless Horseman as he trots down the parade route while Flight of the Valkyries plays around you. The floats are top notch and the Haunted Mansion ballroom dancers and Gravediggers with their sparks are always a crowd favorite. There are two parades each party night, and the second always has less guests. And don’t forget HalloWishes! This is one of the most exciting fireworks displays of the season, with 360-degree perimeter fireworks around the park and your favorite villains and villainous songs.

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party runs on select nights in September through November 1st. A few nights are already sold out, so check with DisneyWorld.com to purchase your tickets in advance. Some nights are available at a discounted rate of $62 per adult.

Disclaimer: I was provided with complimentary tickets for MNSSHP for my family and me, but my opinions are my own.

NEW Ghoulish Delights at Be Our Guest Restaurant and Magic Kingdom for Halloween

10 September 2013 by Suzannah Otis 5 Comments

An instagram friend (@wibblywaffle-Rueben Gutierrez), who just happens to be a pastry cook at Be Our Guest restaurant, shared a photo this afternoon that I thought was good enough to get a whole post devoted to it. The enchanted chefs at Be Our Guest have come up with some sweet spells for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party – a “Poisoned Apple Cupcake” and a “Blood Orange Cream Puff” and they sound delicious!

The Poisoned Apple Cupcake is yellow cake with green apple mousse filling, topped with buttercream, apple pie filling, crispy pearls and a chocolate witches hat. Spooky!

The Cream Puff is chocolate with blood orange mousse, which sounds right up my alley. We’ll have a photo of that up soon! Guests visiting the Magic Kingdom for the Halloween Party should note that Be Our Guest restaurant IS open, so check for walk-in availability just in case. According to our chef above, they are not seating past 7:45 but would love to show off their new offerings!

In addition to these special event-only desserts for their dinner service, Be Our Guest is adding a new dessert to the regular menu…The Grey Stuff! A brand new lunch-only cupcake form of the Grey Stuff is available starting today. The cupcake is the same chocolate cupcake offered in the Triple Chocolate Cupcake, with Grey Stuff filling, Grey Stuff on top and silver crispy pearls.

A different dinner form of the dessert is also available now, which uses Grey Stuff on the tarts the restaurant previously made. Thanks to @wibblywaffle for the photo below:

Be Our Guest Grey Stuff cupcake – photo by Reuben Gutierrez

Are you heading to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party? These new desserts have me excited to dine at Be Our Guest again during one of the party nights.

There are also some other Halloween treats available around the Magic Kingdom during the parties – thanks to DisneyLifestylers.com for the use of the photos below:

Pumpkin ice cream waffle sundae at Sleepy Hollow. Photo ©DisneyLifestylers.com

Candy Corn soft serve ice cream at Storybook Treats. Photo ©DisneyLifestylers.com

Hatbox Ghost Mickey popcorn bucket. Photo ©DisneyLifestylers.com

Welcome to Disney24! Live Updates all 24 hours!

24 May 2013 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

Goooood Morning Walt DisneyWorld!

Today Disney Parks are embarking on their second ever 24-hour park day for Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World
and Disneyland AND California Adventure in California. I’ll be attending all 24(+) hours here at the Magic Kingdom, and bringing you fun photos and info along the way. I thought I’d post some helpful links here if you’d like to follow along:

Follow my photo adventures on Instagram – @zannaland ( instagram.com/zannaland if you don’t use the app)

I post all my Instagram photos to twitter – @zannaland and facebook – facebook.com/zannaland as well.

Since I’ll be here all day and allll night (that’s 5am – 6am for those playing at home), I may pop onto Ustream to broadcast a parade, some characters, a ride or two, or Wishes as well. Word on the street is there will be some special visits by Mike and Sully from Monsters University so I’ll see what (or who) I can find.

You can find me on Ustream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/zanna-cam
If you have any requests for photo challenges, rides to go on, snacks to try, drop me a line on and of the above places and I’ll do my best to oblige! And if you are in the parks yourself, be sure to say hi if you spot me (and if I’m passed out asleep, wake me
up!).

Happy Disney24!

Here are some photos and updates from throughout the day:

Here is a Vine video of the train arriving for the Disney 24 opening ceremony.

Next, we took a trip to Frontierland – Sail down the Rivers of America on the Liberty Belle! (Vine video)

The WDW Railroad from the Rivers of America (Vine video)

All in all, it was another wonderful 24 hour experience at the Magic Kingdom. I know it may seem a little silly to be falling asleep on rides, but just being in the park itself is always fun to me, and the sense of community and camaraderie was out in force last night. The crowds were definitely much much greater this time than in the Leap Year all-nighter in 2011, and I know there were some unhappy guests trying to get up and down and in and out of Main Street. Hopefully Disney can beef up its crowd control a bit to have a better plan for another event like this. It always pains me to see unhappy guests. That was just one tiny portion of the overall successful experience and did not put a damper on my enjoyment at all.

Having the Disney Parks Blog meet-up at the start of the day was a wonderful plus, the donuts were great, seeing old and new friends was great, and seeing Monsters University early was wonderful! Major thanks to the Disney Parks Blog for putting events like that on and adding so many fun surprises and souvenirs to the experience. They certainly don’t have to give back as much as they do, but they seem to always be trying to do more and do better for their readers, fans and park-goers. As a local blogger who is a fan first, it’s an honor and a privilege to be able to be a part of the community like that.

All throughout the day, I wanted to post photos of just some of what Disney means to me, amazing scenery, landscapes and breathtaking architecture that tells a story and creates magic and memories at every turn. I certainly didn’t chronicle my whole day, nor did I make it a mission to ride every ride or experience every show. I did, however, spend some relaxing time experiencing some of the classics that really say Walt Disney World to me. Riding down the Rivers of America on the Liberty Belle was so peaceful and just transported me to another time in history. The animatronics and effects on the river banks have really been tended to lately and it looks great, really making the experience worthwhile. Then over on Tom Sawyer Island, I love to see kids and families (and me!) making their own fun; exploring, running, climbing, laughing and creating their own “interactive experience”.

Being in the park for over 24 hours really lets you focus on the aspects that made you fall in love with Disney to begin with. I am grateful to Disney for letting that happen, and to my friends and all of the Disney community that I shared that with last night. Thanks for following along!

Reflections On Limited Time Magic

8 May 2013 by Suzannah Otis 4 Comments

When “Limited Time Magic” was first announced back in October of 2012, it was met with great enthusiasm and high hopes. I know I was not alone in thinking of our distant sister parks, Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea with their various seasonal themes, special merchandise, food, and shows. It also reminded me a bit of what makes Disneyland in California so magical, there are special things that happen throughout the year and then disappear, making them all the more special while they are around. I was truly excited that, as a local to Walt Disney World, we would get a taste of these kind of moments and make our 43 square miles feel a little bit smaller, a little more like the memories I had grown up with.

It’s not quite six months into 2013, and we, as Disney Park fans on the east and west coast of the United States, have been treated to quite a few doses of “Limited Time Magic.” Some, have been incredible successes, as judged by Disney social media fans and critics. Others, have gone by with little fanfare or appreciation. What sparked my desire to write this post was the most recent installment of Limited Time Magic: Disney’s Hollywood Studios “May the 4th Be With You” event, celebrating Star Wars Day as it has come to be known. This was, without a doubt, the greatest Limited Time Magic event to date, in my opinion. But why was this day such a success?

Well, let me first note that some of the past Limited Time Magic days have also been well-received; Long Lost Friends Week both at Magic Kingdom and Disneyland was lots of fun, True Love Week was also a unique experience, the Easter Week egg hunts were a great success as well. Other offerings of limited time merchandise, ear hats, t-shirts etc. may have been a fun addition, but certainly not to the extent that these other events have been. What’s the magic formula? And more importantly, what can Disney DO with these experiences to improve future park experiences for guests?

I think the most important key to these Limited Time Magic successes is this: community. Sure, you can bond with other folks in line for a t-shirt or a pin that you have to collect, but what better way to feel a part of the Disney community than dancing down a walkway with your favorite character, or standing in a group of fellow fans as you ooh and ahh to fireworks created especially for you? I arrived at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in the late afternoon on May 4th, but I still felt instantly a part of the special community. We all had on our Star Wars t-shirts, with smiles on our faces as a legion of Stormtroopers marched down Hollywood Blvd, or Chewbacca stood in line for Star Tours with the rest of us. A dance party is fun, but a dance party with a DJ playing real hits, where Chewie and Greedo dance in the crowds? Amazing. We all felt a part of this wonderful Disney-Star Wars family, and as a local that may or may not experience burn-out visiting the parks so frequently, it was wonderful to have something new going on that brought us all together.

In my personal opinion, I think something like May the 4th is 10 times more successful than Long Lost Friends Week, where guests may have been excited to see old characters, but really it created long lines and offered little more than a photo op and a souvenir autograph card. Fun, but not amazing. The special Limited Time Magic songs that have been created for Long Lost Friends Week and True Love Week were nice, but seemed a bit forced vs. just letting the experiences speak for themselves. Would these weeks that involve character meet and greets work if the characters were just roaming the parks as they did on May the 4th? I’m not sure, certainly I’m no expert in park logistics, but why not give it a try? I think guests would be surprised and delighted by the experience. Part of what made the Easter Week egg hunts so fun is the community aspect of interactivity. Groups of folks were all searching for the same things, finding fellow guests along the way to share experiences with. Who doesn’t love a good scavenger hunt?

Other parts to the Limited Time Magic offerings have been special food items, which, on their own, may not be too exciting, but when combined with enough other activities to make it part of the fun, can be a great addition. I dined at Kona Cafe a few weeks ago and saw the little cupcake with the smiling strawberry. I had been out of the Limited Time Magic Loop and had no idea this was a “Limited Time Cupcake“, but I thought it was adorable and unique and it made me smile. THAT’s the kind of little, un-looked-for magic that takes me back to the Walt Disney World I grew up loving – proving that it doesn’t have to be a huge character line-up or special show to make a difference.

Which brings me to my next point, what can Disney DO with all of these experiences? Will they end after this year is up? Will we never see a “Long Lost Friend” again now that that week is over? Will Disney stop creating unique new dessert or dining options because this campaign has ended? I certainly don’t think so on the food side of things. Disney fans are so on top of any new cupcakes or other desserts that come out and I think that will always be a way to excite guests and create buzz. But what about the rest of the park experiences?

Seeing fireworks over Disney’s Hollywood Studios was in a word, spectacular. The Star Wars music and amazing fireworks were the perfect mix. They put a smile on my face and made me proud to be a part of this Disney community, experiencing this special event first-hand. Would they be less special if those fireworks happened every Star Wars Weekend? I don’t think so. I’d definitely stay in the park later, and more than likely spend more money on food, drinks, or merchandise because the park was open later. And after seeing those fireworks, I would most assuredly make a special trip back to see them again. I’ve missed Sorcery in the Sky and I think a fireworks display is just what that park needs. Every other weekend? Once a month? I’ll take it!

These are the moments that make great vacations. These are the moments that create memories and cause little kids and grown-ups alike to go back home and spread the gospel of Disney out amongst their friends and family. I can just picture it now, a little boy or girl saying to their friends, “And then, a Stormtrooper walked right by me and stopped and we battled with his blaster and my light saber!” (or a grown up telling his or her friends the same thing 😉 ) Is that memory not so much more powerful than “and then we stood in line and got a photo with the three little pigs.”? Sure, that photo may be a treasured memory, but the former experience was an active memory rather than a passive one, which put the guest in the middle of the story. It wasn’t planned, it wasn’t staged. It was a spontaneous moment and exactly what makes Disney so magical.

My hope is that Disney takes these Limited Time successes and translates them into changes across the parks. Spontaneous character interactions should be the norm, not a one-time experience. Getting the community to rally around a show or fireworks IS possible if it’s done right.

Seeing the Dapper Dans sing boy band songs, while amusing, isn’t something that will create memories that last a lifetime. In fact, if such a big deal hadn’t been made of the Dapper Dans singing boy band hits prior to that week, it probably would’ve had a much bigger impact. I could see a much bigger buzz having formed around a spontaneous rendition of “Bye, Bye, Bye,” with viral video happening and social media channels reposting all over the place. But knowing it was coming, it was just like, “Oh, ok. Cute.” At least that’s how I saw it.

Having a new set of ear hats, while cool and fun, isn’t what will form the moments that make lifelong Disney fans and guests. Keep ’em coming, the designs are great. But don’t call them “Limited Time Magic” when we all know they are just new merchandise for us to buy. (And don’t get me wrong, I LOVE merchandise. It’s where I got my start with Disney, selling merchandise on Main Street, U.S.A. – and some of the new t-shirt and other designs have been absolutely fantastic lately. But keep it separate from something that’s meant to create excitement about the parks themselves.) Keep the “magic” alive by not watering it down with experiences that happen every day anyway. Characters roaming through a park without a line to stand in? Magic. Fireworks in a park that never sees them? Magic.

Disney has had some incredible successes lately from the food booths at the Flower & Garden Festival, to New Fantasyland, to the promise of a new parade at Magic Kingdom. The most successful Limited Time Magic events have been those that truly create magical moments, instigate buzz, and make lifetime memories with guests. The kind of thing where you can say “I was there for…” such as the next major Limited Time Magic event – Disney Parks on both coasts being open 24 hours. I was there for the One More Disney Day event, and it was a unique experience like no other. May 24th is right around the corner and I know I’ll be at the Magic Kingdom all 24 hours.

I know Disney has it in them to translate these limited moments into future guest experiences that create lifelong Disney fans and supporters. I hope the decision-makers take a look at what the response has been and work on ways to make Limited Time Magic a little less limited and a little more magical. I had such a wonderful time at the May the 4th event, it made me super excited for Star Wars Weekends, but I hope some of that intimate, community feel of May the 4th can translate into not only Star Wars Weekends, but the rest of the parks as well.

What are your thoughts? What have your favorite Limited Time Magic moments been and what would you most like to see in the future?

PHOTO TOUR: Tangled Area With Charging Stations Opens in Magic Kingdom

14 March 2013 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

The much-rumored “Rapunzel Restrooms” finally opened to guests last Friday, and boy was it worth the wait. The area is so much more than “just bathrooms,” offering beautiful new vistas, seating areas, a fun scavenger hunt, and perhaps best of all – charging stations for cell phones! There are no signs at this time noting the charging stations hidden within tree trunks, but while I was there, several cast members came over to ensure we knew there were charging spots there.

On opening day, I decided to embark on my first-ever Ustream broadcast, and gave a little live tour of the the area in the daytime, returning for another live stream at night, which included Wishes nighttime fireworks show, as seen from that area of the park. I was really impressed with the amount of theming and detail provided to this area. It is officially my new favorite place to hang out in the park, which sounds weird because it is basically restrooms, but it’s more than that. It actually reminded me a bit of Disneyland, in that you could just sit and unwind while the world rushes by. There area lovely full-grown trees, a waterfall and a babbling brook, relaxing music, and lots of pretty things to look at. At dusk, the area takes on an enchanting glow as the lanterns are switched on and just gets more magical as the night goes on.

Here are the two broadcasts, if you’d like to take a tour of the area: Tangled area daytime tour and Tangled area nighttime tour. Please forgive the random chatter in the beginning as I was figuring out Ustream – I promise future broadcasts will not be quite so embarrassing (at least I’ll try to ensure that!).

In addition, here is a photo gallery highlighting all the details of the new Tangled area:

Tangled Rapunzel bathroom area — Maximus the horse’s horseshoes

Rapunzel rest area — View of the Tangled area from under Columbia Harbor House

And here are the interior shots of the actual restrooms:

One of my favorite parts to this new section of New-ish Fantasyland, is a fun scavenger hunt where you find little Pascal the chameleon’s friends as they are hiding in the area. There are 10 in total and some of them are really good at camouflaging themselves! If you would like to be surprised and find them all on your own without seeing the photos first, scroll by this section!!

I was not able to find any hidden Mickeys, so if you’ve found any, I’d love to hear about them, or your thoughts on this new area, in the comments below!

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Delivers Holiday Magic

29 November 2012 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

One of the most common questions I was asked while on the Walt Disney World Moms Panel, and still get asked today, has always been, “Is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party worth the ticket price?” My answer has always been a resounding, “YES!” This season, my response is the same, it’s so worth it.

There are quite a few beacons which light the way to the holiday season: Starbucks serving their holiday flavors (pro tip: peppermint is actually available year round – shhh!), the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, showcasing the Radio City Rockettes and the famous Santa finale, and of course, the Magic Kingdom’s annual Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, where it snows on Main Street, U.S.A., hot cocoa and cookies are free throughout the park, and holiday magic swirls around you at every turn. Disney does magic better than anyone around, and during the holidays, the pixie dust is increased and the spirit of the season is everywhere.

This year, all the things that make the Christmas Party so great are back again:

Complimentary cookies and hot cocoa
Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade
Holiday Wishes Fireworks Spectacular and
Shows and dance parties at the Castle forecourt, Tomorrowland, and Frontierland
Special character meet and greets

My favorites the marching wooden soldiers in the parade, and the beautiful Holiday Wishes fireworks, which always bring a tear to my eye.

This visit, as locals who attend the party yearly, I decided to do something a little different and just roam around and check out the holiday extras around the park. As a result, we stumbled upon the group Rusty Cutlass performing outside of Pirates of the Caribbean. This jaunty band of pirate lads (and lass) were fantastic to experience. My four year-old absolutely loved watching and getting to participate by taking the pirate’s oath and dancing around to the music. They played a mix of holiday classics melded with a Caribbean twist and were just great fun. Be sure to keep an eye out for them on your next visit, and if you love acts like this, which really make Walt Disney World special, be sure to stop by City Hall or Guest Relations and let them know how much you appreciated the performances!

You can watch videos of the parade and party highlights from past years’ posts too. Here are some photos from this year’s party – click any photo to view as a slideshow:

Castle Dream Lights — Merry Christmas from the Place Where Dreams Come True!

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party — Cinderella Castle Dream Lights

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party tickets may be purchased online for select nights through December 21, 2012.

Disclosure: I was provided complimentary tickets to the party for the purposes of this post. My thoughts and opinions and love of Christmas are my own.

Confessions of a Former Barista: Thoughts on Starbucks in Disney Parks

14 November 2012 by Suzannah Otis 15 Comments

Those who know me online and off are aware of my established reputation as a coffee addict. If you checked my instagram and twitpic accounts, photos of me drinking coffee probably rank second only to castle photos, much to the dismay of those who follow my adventures and are tired of seeing my coffee shots, I’m sure.

I had my first cappuccino in Boston’s North End, the area known for its Italian residents and authentic restaurants and pastry shops. Growing up in New England, of course I was also brought up with a Dunkin Donuts on every corner. I had avoided Starbucks out of a panicked fear of what to order. That finally changed in 2004 when a friend wanted to meet me at a Starbucks. I looked at the menu board and almost passed out in confusion. I just told her to order me something, and she got me an iced peppermint white mocha. If any drink was the right one to start off my first Starbucks experience, that was it. It was SO good, a perfect mix of sweet and peppermint and coffee all in one. I was in heaven, and Starbucks had officially gained a new disciple.

Starbucks became my new friend, and whenever I was near one, I went in and tried something new. It wasn’t only the coffee itself, but the act of getting the coffee, the cup, the whole ritual. I am actually an enigma to the baristas wherever I go, because I do not have a regular drink. I like to switch it up and though I will go through phases, I don’t have any one favorite drink. Baristas like to know your drink order if you are a regular. Ideally, once they see you walk in, they grab a cup, write up your drink, and have your total before you can even reach the counter. And that is fostered and encouraged by management. So I’m messing with that system a little, but it’s okay. Despite the reputation Starbucks and its baristas sometimes have for being snobby, they really are just concerned with making great coffee and giving exceptional service. Sound like any other company we know?

Starbucks barista — Me in barista form, circa 2007

Back in 2006, I found myself with some free time on my hands, as both of my oldest children were now in school. I had befriended a barista and she encouraged me to work with her part-time. So I did, and it was perhaps the best thing I’d done in a long, long time. Making coffee was actually fun and the customers who ordered it were seemingly just as excited about it as I was. I took pride in my position and in everything I made, and soon was tapped to be a trainer for the store.

There is a reason why Starbucks as a company has such a wonderful reputation, and why their service is always so amazing when you go there. They do not automatically hire someone just because they know how to pour a cup of coffee. They look for people, or partners, who are passionate about coffee and giving great service. Once on board, partners receive extensive training – before they even get near the coffee they learn where it comes from, why they roast it the way they do, and how it gets to the stores. Employees are also instantly stockholders in the company, making their success and the company’s success one in the same.

It was an honor to wear the green apron every day and go the extra mile whenever possible to make people’s days that much brighter. Until I’d worked at both Disney and Starbucks, I didn’t realize how similar they were, in the act of making people happy and ensuring needs and expectations are met and exceeded. Even now, I find myself still picking up trash I may see on the ground in the Parks, or helping out a guest with a question even though I haven’t worked there in 16 years. Similarly, I find myself defending Starbucks to strangers and friends, and educating them on what each drink contains and what they might like. What can I say? When you find your passions, they never really leave you.

Because of that love of coffee and knowledge of how Starbucks works, I was thrilled and excited to hear about their partnership with Disney Parks. I’d walk through the parks and think, “all that’s missing is a Starbucks” (okay and maybe Horizons and the original Journey into Imagination and World of Motion, while you’re at it). And now it’s finally happening. Would it be the same if another national coffee chain were brought into the parks? I don’t believe so. I truly feel that the training and allegiance Starbucks has to its product and its people is unparallelled. Dare I say, even greater than that of the Walt Disney Company. Starbucks took something as simple as coffee beans and water and elevated it just enough to make it an experience and a luxury rather than a necessity. It made coffee something the average person felt they had to have, pay more for, and come back again and again.

Fiddler Fifer and Practical Cafe — Look at the gorgeous Fiddler, Fifer and Practical Cafe at Disney’s California Adventure. Photo ©TheDisneyResort

Starbucks, at least every store I’ve encountered, has well-trained, knowledgeable staff who are committed to making you exactly what you want. Granted, that level of training and service is concentrated into one niche and defined set of tasks versus the 60,000+ Cast Members who work in varied roles across Walt Disney World alone. That said, I do hope the devotion to training and service established by Starbucks is kept up by Disney. If anything, walking into a Starbucks at at Disney Park should be the ultimate guest service experience, given the reputation of both companies. The key here will be consistency and dedication to the products being served. I know it’s hard in some Food and Beverage roles to be passionate about slinging scrambled eggs or french fries for their entire shift. Making several hundred Frappuccinos a day is no different, but the reputation for hand-crafted drinks made to your specifications precedes the ‘hourly Cast Member working Food & Beverage’ stereotype that may exist.

I have now experienced the first Starbucks within a Disney Park (the Fiddler, Fifer and Practical Café at Disney California Adventure) several times, during two separate trips. Apart from the drink choices and the competitive prices, it definitely did not feel like a regular Starbucks experience, due to the nature of the set-up. I had to actually seek out the “Starbucks” sign, it isn’t the focal point of the space, inside or out. The café features Disney theming first, and Starbucks products second. Because of the popularity when it first opened, cast members were stationed with digital ordering devices to expedite the vast line. My first visit was the longest time I’d ever waited for a drink, but I expected it, and because of my personal addiction to Starbucks, it was totally worth it to me. I’d have waited in the Radiator Springs Fastpass line to get an iced Caramel Macchiatto with no complaint. However, knowing what it takes time-wise to make each drink served on the menu, I couldn’t help but play armchair barista and wonder if there was a better way to get drinks out in a timely manner. Iced lattes are one of the easiest drinks to make and should not take more than a few minutes if you have a person dedicated to that type of drink vs. trying to create Frappuccinos, hot drinks, and iced drinks all at the same time.

By the very nature of a theme park location, the interactions and service will be different. With the exception of a few locals perhaps, there won’t be recognized regulars and because of the fast-paced busy location, the interaction between guest and barista will probably be minimal as a rule. However, that does not mean that the traditional Starbucks experience must be lost in the shuffle. My hope is that the Cast Members set in those roles and the Starbucks trainers that guide them, will share their passion with each cup that passes across the counter in a Disney Park, making it one of the best partnerships to date.

Starbucks California Adventure — Just Got Happier!

There may be grumblings about Starbucks going into the Main Street Bakery, but as was pointed out in the Disney Parks Blog update, the items folks were concerned about being missing are available in other areas of the Magic Kingdom, and the Bakery will keep its name. Walt Disney’s first park, Disneyland, was founded with partnerships like Coca Cola, Pepsi, and Carnation, as were all the additional theme parks. Starbucks is a logical choice for a stable, established partner with a bevy of loyal and addicted fans. And have you seen their baked goods and treats?? I am ridiculously excited to be able to walk around multiple Disney Parks holding a delicious, fresh espresso drink. I’m also curious to see how the Starbucks concept fits into the Future World of Epcot in Fountain View Ice Cream, since the other two locations are set in a vintage time period. And if by chance you are not a coffee fan, Starbucks has some fabulous non-coffee drinks as well like iced teas, green tea options, and non-coffee Frappuccinos and hot chocolates too. My passions are aligning, and I like it. I’m pretty sure I’m not alone.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the Starbucks partnership, let me know what you think in the comments below.

Photo Tour of Be Our Guest Restaurant With Quick Serve Areas!

15 October 2012 by Suzannah Otis 3 Comments

Over the weekend, you may have seen the buzz about the Magic Kingdom’s New Fantasyland opening up with a “Dress Rehearsal” of its completed areas. I’ll have many more photos to come if you missed some of my Instagrams on Twitter or Facebook, but I thought I’d start with some of the Be Our Guest Restaurant, since it is such a highly anticipated new dining location and boy, does it live up to its hype as far as appearances go.

The Walt Disney Imagineers have done an amazing job of bringing the classic Beauty and the Beast animated movie we all know and love, to life. We see familiar creatures and architectural details as well as some new interpretation of how Beast’s home would look. The details and tiny surprises are just perfect and will provide hours of enjoyment as something new is discovered each visit.

Be Our Guest Restaurant opens to the public on November 19. You can find menu info and more over at The Disney Food Blog.

See the wonder for yourself:

New Fantasyland — The mountains and cascading waterfall are just breathtaking.

I hope you enjoyed the photo tour, I’ll have many more photos of New Fantasyland to come in the next few days. The photos above are free to share, but if you do, please provide a link back to zannaland.com. Thank you!

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Delivers Treats For All!

18 September 2012 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

Once the holiday decorations appear on the train station and light posts at the Magic Kingdom, the best time of the year begins in the place where dreams come true. The crowds are drastically reduced after Labor Day, and some really unique events start up for lucky visitors. One of my favorites to attend each year is Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. The “Not-So-Scary” is important because so many area theme parks do offer super-scary events for those looking for a more haunted Halloween experience. However, in the Magic Kingdom, the tradition has always been to offer family fun with a sprinkling of Haunted Mansion-style spookiness.

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a hard-ticketed special event, which means on certain dates, the Magic Kingdom will close early and a special ticket will be required to attend the party. Is it worth it? I always answer a resounding “YES!” when asked. Here’s a quick run-down of why:

No Crowds – The party is limited to a certain number of guests, which means you can ride Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain and yes, even Peter Pan’s Flight with almost no wait. Pro Tip: If you go during the parades or fireworks, it’s virtually walk-on.
Free Candy – That’s right, you can trick-or-treat during the event, and not just little ones. Adults and grumpy teenagers with no costumes alike can all fill their bags with candy at various locations throughout the park.

“Boo-to-You” Parade – Veteran Disney guests may think, “eh, a parade, how exciting could it be?” but let me tell you, this is the best parade of the season and worth the party ticket! First, you get a visit from the Headless Horseman who trots down the parade route prior to its start. It’s always an exciting sight to witness and gets everyone fired up for the parade to follow. The parade itself is full of unique and amazing floats. The Haunted Mansion attraction is brought to life, with dancing gravediggers who make quite the “spark” followed by hitchhiking and ballroom dancing ghosts. Next up, the villains we know and love pass by, and just for fun, some cowboy and cowgirl action followed by Clara Cluck, a crowd favorite. Goofy rounds out the parade with his Candy Company contraption, as more candy is handed out among the crowd. Pro Tip: visit attractions during the first parade and stick around for the second one at 10:30.

Here is the Headless Horseman’s ride:

Boo to You Parade — The Gravediggers are my favorite part of the parade!

Happy HalloWishes Fireworks Spectacular – You may have seen fireworks, you may have even seen Wishes, but HalloWishes will blow them all away. Favorite spooky music and villains’ voices fill the air as fireworks fill the sky, and I do mean FILL the sky. HalloWishes is known for its perimeter fireworks, meaning you are surrounded by them at various points in the show, especially the finale. It’s a truly amazing experience.

Costumes – one of my favorite parts of attending the Halloween party is just people watching. You see some real creativity on display as folks appear as their favorite Disney or other characters, sometimes as a group theme. It’s just so fun, especially when you see really obscure things that you have to try and guess. There are always some great Hitchhiking Ghosts on hand, and over the last few years I’ve seen quite a few characters from Disney-Pixar’s UP, including young Carl and Ellie, Russell and Carl, and more. It’s a unique experience at every party of the season! Also – you’ll find some of your favorite Disney characters in their own costumes for photo opportunities too, so keep an eye out.

In addition to the above, there is a fun Villains Mix & Mingle show at the Castle stage, and a few Character Dance Parties throughout the park, if your little ghosts have some sugar to burn off. Speaking of, there are healthy non-candy choices available for trick-or-treating as well, just ask the costumed cast members where those options are as you get your treats.

Some of my other favorite parts of attending Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party are the unique decorations and lighting designs throughout the park. Keep an eye out for spooky shadows projected on the ground – new this year is a skull shining on Big Thunder Mountain, and the Halloween-colored lighting down Main Street, U.S.A. is a fun sight to see.

Bottom line, get thee to the Halloween party! It is so worth it and I think it’s virtually impossible not to have a good time. I haven’t even touched on all of the things you can only see during these special events, some of them, you’ll just have to head over and experience for yourself. I did mention the free candy, right?

Party dates in 2012 are:

Sept. 11, 14, 18 21, 25, 28, 30;
Oct. 4, 5, 8, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 21, 22, 23, 25, 28, 30 and 31;
Nov. 2.

Advance savings of $6 per ticket are available for select dates. Special after-hours tickets are required. For additional information, guests may visit www.disneyworld.com/halloween. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling 407/W-DISNEY.

Disclosure: Disney provided me with four tickets to this event, but did not ask me to write about it. All opinions are my own.