Magical Adventures & Memories
So my question to you, my faithful readers, is what do YOU want to see pictures or video of? (I can’t promise too much with the video as it’s not my strong-suit and I only have the video function on my regular camera ;)) Comment here with your requests and I’ll do my best to capture them tonight and post it tomorrow here on the site. Of course it doesn’t have to be limited to the parade or fireworks; it could be an attraction, a sign, heck even a trash can!
You may remember my review of my last Tables in Wonderland experience at The Wave in Disney’s Contemporary Resort. It was so spectacular, I had to take my husband to the next event. Lucky for us both, it happened to be at Raglan Road Pub at Downtown Disney at $115 per person, which included the entire meal and wine service as well as a signed cookbook from Chef Kevin Dundon, who would also be on hand cooking. Just looking at the menu got both of us excited since we just love Raglan Road in general. Let me recap the evening for you – with pictures of course!
I was curious as to how we’d be seated for the night, since I knew Raglan Road did not have a closed-off area and the event was for 63 people. For those who’ve not yet been, throughout the restaurant you will find antique furnishings, grand fixtures, marble adornments, leaded glass, and ornate detailing. The entire pub was built in Ireland then shipped to Orlando. As we arrived, the Irish band was just taking the stage.
We were taken to the Raglan Room to the left of the stage and bar. This oak-paneled room was built using original woods from an old Georgian mansion in Dublin. It was nicely intimate while still enjoying the ambiance of the rest of the venue.When we were seated, we found some nice items waiting for us.
[Read more…] about Take the Raglan Road to Wonderland – Celebrity Chef Dining Experience
Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot all present special events designed to add summertime energy to the after-dark theme-park experience. At Magic Kingdom, thousands of tiny lights illuminate the return of the beloved “Main Street Electrical Parade,” and the elaborate new “Summer Nightastic! Fireworks Spectacular” paints the night sky more brightly than ever.
“There’s a special energy in the parks at night,” says Chris Oyen, show director for the “Summer Nightastic! Fireworks Spectacular.” “It’s all about the magic and the sense of adventure and mystery that nighttime possesses in the Magic Kingdom.”
At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, The Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terror adds new effects – and a summer-only drop sequence – to the mix for guests daring to step into the attraction’s infamous service elevator for a ride into the “fifth dimension.” And on Hollywood Boulevard, in the shadow of the 122-foot-tall Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat icon, guests are invited to the Rock n’ Glow Dance Party, where a DJ and live rock band keep popular tunes coming five nights a week.
At Epcot, live “Sounds Like Summer” tribute-band concerts rock guests each evening from June 12 to July 31 with familiar tunes ranging from “Hotel California” to “Stayin’ Alive.”
The multi-park festivities promise a veritable Cinderella-coach-full of sensory surprises for all who visit during the 10-week-plus summer celebration.
“Main Street Electrical Parade” – This classic pageant of illuminated floats goes all the way back to 1972, when it first debuted at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif. With 23 floats, more than half a million tiny colorful lights, 80 performers, synthesizer music based on “Baroque Hoedown,” and Disney theme songs woven in, the parade returns to Walt Disney World Resort for the first time since 2001. A nostalgia trip for many, this “crown jewel of summer” kicks off the season with lighting effects, floats and characters new to Walt Disney World Resort.
Beloved floats like the “Honor America” finale display – featuring the American flag and giant American eagle – return, along with costumed characters like Alice in Wonderland, Mickey Mouse and Goofy.
“With this show, we’re making the skies come alive – we’re not just going to immerse you, we’re going to surprise you, too,” says show director Oyen.
“We’re constantly innovating, pushing ourselves to be more creative with the kind of pictures we paint in the sky – we’re trying to make the skies come to life and dance,” Oyen says.
New Frights at Twilight Zone Tower of Terror – If you think you’ve been to the “fifth dimension” and survived The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, think again. Surprise enhancements to this headline attraction are programmed to deliver even greater levels of special-effects frights just for the “Summer Nightastic!” celebration.
Rock ‘n Glow Dance Party – Disney’s Hollywood Studios guests are invited to trip the light fantastic at a rockin’ dance party every Tuesday and Thursday through Sunday. A DJ and a special engagement rock band play sizzling summer sounds beginning three hours before park closing on Hollywood Boulevard. Watch for popular Disney characters to step into the dance party spotlight.
“Sounds Like Summer” — Blasts from the past are in store at Epcot, where the curtain rises on popular rock-band tributes June 12 at the park’s America Gardens Theatre in World Showcase. Each evening through July 31 at 5:45, 7 and 8:15 p.m., “Sounds Like Summer” tribute-band concerts drum up lots of nostalgia with hot tunes and cool riffs, from “Satisfaction” to “Saturday in the Park.” The lineup (subject to change):
June 12-19: Stayin’ Alive – A Tribute to The Bee Gees
June 20-26: Hotel California – A Salute to the Eagles
June 27-July 3: Karin Lawson – A Tribute to Janet Jackson
July 4-10: Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones Tribute Band
July 11-17: Slippery When Wet – The Ultimate Bon Jovi Tribute
July 18-24: 2U – A Tribute to U2 July 25-31: Beginnings – A Tribute to Chicago
Guests can Learn more about “Summer Nightastic!” and check out deals for summer travel by visiting www.disneyworld.com/night or by calling 407/W-DISNEY (934-7639) or a local travel agent. All special summer events are included in regular theme-park admission.
I think it’s high time I embraced the future by editing and posting my first video here, don’t you? Technically, I posted one last summer which was my low-quality video of the Headless Horseman‘s ride during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party‘s Boo To You Parade…and also technically, this is a slideshow not a video, but it was way more complicated than my first attempt!
In any event, this video contains pictures and information regarding Walt Disney World’s Summer Nightastic! coming to the parks June 6 – August 14, 2010. As many of you may have seen on twitter, I was invited to a media preview of the parade and events last week. Then I got wonderfully sick and I’m just now getting to share my pictures with you all. There will be more to come about the other events, but for now, I hope you enjoy this sneak peek at the return of the Main Street Electrical Parade!
Let me know if you liked this first attempt – if so, hopefully it will be the first of many – and maybe I’ll even record actual video next time! 😉
A little while back, I was gifted with the good fortune of getting a guided tour of one of the few places I’d never stepped foot in at Walt Disney World – Tom Sawyer Island. Ryan P. Wilson, of the Main Street Gazette had planned a research trip and I made it a priority to meet this blogging idol of mine. I’d been reading the Main St. Gazette off and on for years before I even thought of writing about Disney myself. Ryan’s shared love and admiration of the parks from history to present day was something I instantly related to. I wanted to meet him just to say hello and talk about our favorite topic – the tour of Tom Sawyer’s Island was just a bonus.
Unlike me, Ryan grew up as a child of Fort Wilderness, so of course Tom Sawyer Island across the river from Frontierland was like another backyard to him during those years. When I mentioned on twitter that I’d never been, he was astounded at such a fact and wanted to remedy it. As I admitted there, I can thank Steve Birnbaum for instilling a fear of actually running into Injun Joe on the island. That was enough to keep 7-12 year old me away…okay, maybe 20 year-old me too. What can I say, I don’t like horror movies and I grew up hearing about places like Spooky World (formerly) in Berlin, Mass, where people jumped out at you so I wasn’t taking any chances even in the Magic Kingdom. I guess with three kids under my belt, I suddenly became fearless even if Injun Joe was waiting for me. (Which Ryan assured me was not the case.)
Anyway. I do not have the history or memories of this place that Ryan has and shares on his site, but it was still a marvelous place to explore and I definitely enjoyed the company along the way. As I’ve mentioned many times, one of my favorite parts about Walt Disney World is the immersion into the story. From the very basic understanding that there is only one Mickey all the way up to Mom and the cousins in the 50’s Prime Time Cafe thinking you’re using a walkie-talkie when you take out your cell phone, the whole point is to make you a part of the show. Tom Sawyer Island is a perfect example of that. The real world is already long gone, but now you leave even the fantasy land of rides and shows behind and enter another time, where you are exploring right along with Tom and Huck. While I have no doubt that the island has lost some of its original splendor and attention to detail, there are still many committed to the spirit which embodies this magical place.
As always, click the photos to enlarge.
[Read more…] about Tom Sawyer Island – A Pictorial Review-Part 1
In April of 1998, I had long since moved on from my time as a cast member on Main Street, USA and so had my mother and husband, who had been cast members too. I was working as a travel agent and had actually taken on the role of leisure and cruise manager while the company I worked for was expanding that department. My mother had left All-Star Sports and Mickey’s Star Traders to become a cruise agent at that same company. My husband had moved on from working hourly jobs too and had just started in the IT field. We’d been married for less than two years and were enjoying our newly built home in Ocoee, Florida. Of course we were still passholders as our love of Disney parks had not gone anywhere, even if we had hung up our name tags.
It had been exciting following along the development of Disney’s Animal Kingdom while we were cast members. I still have the little cast member booklet with facts about the park, which labeled it “Disney’s WILD Animal Kingdom” before the name change cause by copyright issues removed the ‘wild’ from the equation. My mom in particular had been fascinated with the process and had taken an interest in Imagineer Joe Rohde and his dedication to every detail within the park. So of course we planned to be there for Opening Day, auspiciously taking place on Earth Day in 1998.
It was exciting to see and hear the then-CEO of Disney, Michael Eisner speaking as he dedicated the park —
Welcome to a kingdom of animals… real, ancient and imagined: a kingdom ruled by lions, dinosaurs and dragons; a kingdom of balance, harmony and survival; a kingdom we enter to share in the wonder, gaze at the beauty, thrill at the drama, and learn.—Michael Eisner April 22, 1998
If I recall correctly (forgive what 12 years and 3 kids have done to my memory cells), Circle of Life played after he spoke. What I do remember vividly was instead of the usual Disney celebratory confetti canons to mark the park being opened – we were showered with beautiful fresh rose petals. The combination of the beauty, excitement and magic brought a tear to our eyes for sure.
When we entered the park, we had no expectations for certain rides or attractions to fill our time. Having grown up being a child of the EPCOT Center 80’s, I had crafted a great respect for the details beyond the rides. I didn’t need or want to be entertained and thrilled at every turn, I wanted to explore and enjoy. Animal Kingdom is a park of discovery, where each visit is slightly different and each turn might bring a new treasure to light. I think it’s a perfect metaphor for the need to stop and smell the roses in life. You can look at the Tree of Life from afar and walk right by it thinking it’s just another tree – but upon closer inspection it is teeming with details and amazement covering every inch. You could visit the park dozens of times and never discover the rooms within Pizzafari (I once used an entire roll of film there-before digital cameras of course), which are by themselves a work of art.
As reactions to the park got around, I found myself defending the park to all I met. “There’s nothing to DO there!” I’d hear. I’d share my opinions of the details and discoveries that awaited them, but it is sometimes hard to convince people who only keep their head down and race to the safari. Disney has attempted to assuage naysayers who demand more thrills and excitement with the addition of Expedition Everest but the fact remains that more than any other park, Animal Kingdom seems to have the reputation as the boring little brother of the family. I urge everyone to look beyond what Animal Kingdom has to offer in terms of a traditional theme park, and see it for what it is, an ever-changing adventure for the senses.
Happy Birthday, Animal Kingdom! My heart will always hold that same excitement it found on Opening Day. Thank you for 12 years of wonderful memories, with many more in store I’m sure.
As we now enter the month of April and Earth Day is approaching, I wanted to share some information about Walt Disney World’s environmental practices. I actually approached a Disney cast member with my quest for answers in part because I had stumbled across a twitter user who seemed to think that WDW didn’t even recycle. I knew this was not the case and was aware that even tho there are limited recycling trash cans throughout the park, the sanitation cast members still hand-sort ALL the trash and take out recyclables. I wanted to share more about the company’s practices in an attempt to quell some of these rumors.
Even back before it was trendy to be “green” and concerned with the environment, I knew Disney was leading the way behind the scenes at the parks and resorts. I remember taking an Environmentality class back in 1995 when I worked at Magic Kingdom, and that was obviously 15 years ago. Since then, even greater strides have been made with Disney’s concern for the environment and all who inhabit it. We learned about Disney’s Friends for Change program while at the Disney Social Media Mom’s Celebration as well as the the upcoming release of Disney’s Oceans on Earth Day, both of which highlight the need for everyone to be an environmental steward. Beyond even celebrity volunteering and thought-provoking movies, efforts are made each and every day at the Walt Disney Company to ensure the right choices are being made for our planet’s future. Here are some statistics and facts:
Championing Environmental Stewardship
Since Walt Disney expressed his commitment to the environment more than 60 years ago, The Walt Disney Company has upheld a strong commitment and responsibility to conserve natural resources by seeking to establish and sustain a positive environmental legacy for Disney and for future generations. In doing so, the company is committed to minimizing its overall impact on the environment as it encourages and activates environmentally responsible behavior on the part of Cast Members, business partners, guests and consumers.
At Walt Disney World Resort, this legacy is evident everyday as nearly 62,000 Cast Members effectively manage resources through initiatives such as energy conservation and waste minimization, while focusing on conserving the natural environment through science, education and leadership efforts.
The resort also has a responsibility and obligation to ensure a safe, clean, hygienic environment for guests. With an unwavering commitment to the health and safety of Disney Cast Members and guests, the goal is to ensure that the millions of visitors enjoying Walt Disney World’s facilities are provided with a clean and safe environment. New and existing cleaning products are regularly evaluated to ensure that high standards are maintained while seeking the most environmentally sensitive products available. As a result, all cleaning supplies must meet rigorous sanitizing and safety standards.
At Walt Disney World Resort, conservation and environmental sustainability are not only part of a long-term commitment to responsible stewardship, but also are key business components evident in day-to-day operations.
- In Resort guest rooms, Cast Members are in the process of replacing incandescent lamps with compact fluorescent lamps that use roughly one-quarter of the energy. When complete, 176,325 light bulbs will have been changed out.
- LED (light emitting diode) lights are far more efficient than neon lights and are used in many signs, decorations and holiday trees at Walt Disney World Resort.
- Even Cinderella’s Castle glows “green” during the holidays with more than 170,000 LED white lights to glisten the Castle, using the equivalent energy of only 12 microwave ovens.
In addition to ensuring wildlife habitat remains, the company is committed to animals in Florida and around the world.
- Purchasing 4,000 acres of land in Guatemala to create a community-managed buffer zone and establish a wildlife reserve for research, ecotourism and organic farming. (ARCAS)
- Studying the serious problems that discarded fishing gear poses to bottlenose dolphins in Sarasota Bay to help save the dolphins from fatal entanglement. (Mote Marine Laboratory)
- Studying the interaction between elephants and bees in Kenya and whether bees can be used as an effective elephant deterrent for crops and trees. (Save the Elephants)
Connecting With Our Community
Support for environmental projects and animal-related organizations are also a part of Walt Disney World Resort’s efforts – as members of the community and as volunteer citizens.
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That’s pretty amazing isn’t it? For a company that would have visitors and customers no matter what their environmental practices, Walt Disney World has really gone above and beyond expectations. For fans of the parks, this should come as no surprise since that tends to be how Disney approaches everything! To keep up to date on Disney’s conservation efforts on land and in sea, follow @DisneyConserve and @DisneyNature on twitter!
Thank you to the Walt Disney Company and Benjamin Thomas for providing me this information to share here with you. All images ©The Walt Disney Co.
Disclosure: I am a former member of the Walt Disney World Moms Panel, but not an employee of the Walt Disney Co. I have not been asked to post this information, I sought it out through a cast member I met because of my position on the Moms Panel. I am posting this because I am passionate about the Walt Disney Company and enjoy sharing it’s triumphs and dispelling rumors whenever possible. My opinions are just that, and not necessarily representative of the Walt Disney Company.
Many of you found me on this site through twitter and shared in my journey to the Walt Disney World Moms Panel last year. During that process, I shared quite a bit about my Disney background and experiences. I am and always have been confident in my knowledge of Disney history and even a bit of trivia, and my desire to share that history is really what gave me the push to write about Disney here. That said – I am the FIRST to admit that I do not know it all. More than that, there are some areas of Disney fandom that I am just completely clueless about! Luckily, one of the side-effects of Disney obsession is an incessant desire to LEARN MORE about the parks, resorts, attractions, history, behind-the-scenes info – any and everything!
Being a Florida resident for the better part of the last 15 years and a cast member a few times, my knowledge was gained just by going to the parks and experiencing all the changes and history – as it happened. I realized during the Moms Panel application process that there is a whole other world of Disney fans out there who have completely different skill sets regarding our favorite place.
[Read more…] about Disney Podcasts 101 – All You Need to Know About Great Disney Podcasts!
I can’t remember when I was given The Magic of Disneyland and Walt Disney World by Valerie Childs, but it must’ve been a year or so after it was published in 1979. I know we’d already taken our trip to Walt Disney World when I was around 6, but it was before we’d stayed at the Lake Buena Vista Vacation Villas. A friend of the family gave me this book, and it was pretty much my bible for the next few years. {I’d later graduate to reading the Birnbaum guides and my WDW Pictorial Souvenir books which I’d get every trip – I’ll scan some of those in soon.}
When I held the book in my hands, my first thought was how lucky Valerie Childs must be, and how much I wanted to be her when I grew up. This hardcover book was over-sized like a coffee table book and the full-color pictures were just beautiful. Our friend had also somehow gotten a few Mickey Mouse balloons {not inflated} and stuck them in the middle of the book, where there was a double-paged picture of the very same balloons. It was like a magical surprise every time I turned to that page.
I loved this book because it focused on Disneyland as well as Walt Disney World. I would take note of the differences between the two places; from the font of Land vs. World {not that I knew what a font was back then} to the rides locations of the rides. I’d never been to Disneyland {still haven’t, must remedy this!} so seeing pictures of the pirate ship or Storybook Land or the Matterhorn were like seeing snapshots of a foreign country I wanted to explore. Seeing the attractions and places I’d been to in Walt Disney World was like seeing pictures of “home”.
Now, looking at the book for the first time in quite a while and 31 years after it was published, it’s like a magical time capsule full of history. I would love to get all of the pages scanned in, but I’d have to find some industrial sized-scanner to get them all in. In the meantime, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite pages with you and we could stroll down memory lane together. For those that did not visit the parks during this time, it’ll be fun to see how things started out.
I hope you enjoyed the pictures. I looked for the book online and it does appear to be on ebay. It really is one of my treasured collectibles both for the pictures it contains and the memories it brought me as a child. Do you have a favorite book in your Disney collection?
Last night was spent in food and wine wonderland as my mom and I enjoyed the Discovery Dinner featuring local Floridian specialties at The Wave restaurant. I’m working on editing pictures and writing up a full report, but until then I thought I’d leave you with a couple of pictures to whet your appetite. 🙂
As promised, I entered all the comments for the Stonyfield Farms YoBaby 3-in-1 Meals giveaway into random.org. The winning comment was #10 – Lorna Marion. Congratulations! I’ll be contacting you for your info to receive your prize pack!
