Archive for December, 2009

From traditional and timeless to the trees of tomorrow, Walt Disney World has a Christmas tree to suit every taste.

For cutting edge, we’ve chosen the monorail tree at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

The Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights offers the lights and only the lights, with trees fashioned entirely of brilliantly-colored bulbs.

At the Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, the tree in the rotunda references one of the vintage black and white photographs that grace the lobby – “Wildflower Excursion.”  The branches are festooned with ornaments, lights, and bunches of wildflowers – a wonderfully woodland tree!

Ears, the symbol of all things Mickey, are found throughout the Disney properties.  Over the years, they’ve been adapted for every conceivable function.  In the Grand Canyon Concourse at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, they become minimalist sculpture.  Sleek and metallic, they form the entrances to the Fantasia gift shop.

The shop is colorful and fun with a red and blue sorcerer theme.  The roofless construction and large mouse ear portals help maintain a light and “eary” feel in keeping with this soaring space. The shelves are filled with lots of Disney vacation essentials like pins, autograph books, and photo frames.  There is a selection of clothing and household items, as well as toys, games, and seasonal merchandise.  Fantasia is open from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and is located on the 4^th floor, at the opposite end of the concourse from Chef Mickey’s.

Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Villas have more than their share of wonderful seating areas scattered around the property.  In addition to the lovely Solarium on the Resort side, guests can relax in the Breezeway, located in the Villas section.  Its proximity to the quiet pool means there is generally a bit of traffic through the area during the day, but the beautiful surroundings more than make up for the additional activity.

The Breezeway features some exquisite architectural details including a gorgeous two-story bookcase alcove, classic paneling, and charming furnishings.

With its soaring height and soft seaside colors, you can almost smell the ocean breezes blowing through.

Photo by Jeff Bergman

VITAL STATISTICS

Name: Mary Poppins

Current Address: Number 17 Cherry Tree Lane, London, England

Previous Address: where the West Wind blows

Interests: tea parties, singing, feeding the birds, an element of fun

Favorite Food: sugar

Prized Possessions: carpetbag, umbrella

Facebook Friends:  Bert; Jane, Michael, John, Barbara, and Annabel Banks; Uncle Albert

CHARACTER COORDINATES

Remember, the appearance of a specific character is never guaranteed.  Some of the locations below have regularly-scheduled appearances while others are occasional.  Always check the Times Guides for the most up-to-date information, and be prepared for possible substitutions at character meals.

Meet and Greet

• EPCOT, World Showcase, United Kingdom
• Magic Kingdom, Toontown Hall of Fame
• Magic Kingdom, Main Street Exposition Hall
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Sorcerer’s Hat

Character Dining

• EPCOT, World Showcase, Norway, Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Princess Storybook Dining
• Magic Kingdom, Cinderella Castle, Cinderella’s Royal Table
• Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, 1900 Park Fare

Attractions

• Disney’s Hollywood Studios, The Great Movie Ride

Parades

• Magic Kingdom, Celebrate a Dream Come True
• Magic Kingdom, Spectromagic

Miscellaneous

• Downtown Disney, featured on the Characters in Flight balloon

There are rows of bins brimming with pastel-colored balls which promise an effervescent bathing experience, not unlike sitting in a glass of champagne.  Shelves hold bottles that glow like jewels – ruby, citrine, peridot.   Salts and scrubs, shampoos and freshly-sliced soaps in dozens of designs and fragrances tempt the passerby to step into Basin White.

While there is a busy and somewhat disorganized Basin store in Downtown Disney, Basin White, a more relaxed and upscale version of the retailer, is found on the second floor of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.  Products are packaged in a sophisticated black and white.  The staff is happy to put together custom gift packages, but even the simplest items look festive in Basin White’s elegant shopping bags and ribbons.

The décor, featuring black cabinetry, white furnishings, classic tilework, even a miniature clawfoot tub, invites customers to linger.  The cast members’ carefully coordinated costumes with crisp white aprons lend a touch of pleasant formality to the shopping experience.  Basin White is located directly on the left upon entering the resort from the second-floor monorail station and is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

You can spot them in every park – multicolored extravaganzas moving through the darkness.  Lights pulse and spin; long and thin, round and steady, small and twirly; mesmerizing; drawing children like magnets.

Periodically, bits of color will break off and move away, flashing and bobbing into the night as parents succumb to the pleas of their offspring for bouncing pink headbands, rainbow necklaces, light sabers, luminous characters, and glimmering gadgets.  The light carts; holding the promise of glow-in-the-dark fun long after the vacation is over.

Fresh from a seven-month refurbishment, Starport Seven-Five is once again welcoming space travelers.  Changes to Space Mountain include the addition of interactive games along the queue, an onboard photo which can purchased at the end of the ride in the Tomorrowland Video Arcade, and a refreshed exit area.  Imagineers have also added a number of their special “touches” along the way.

Sadly, the glowing stripes on the sides of the ride vehicles have been removed, and the view of the “stars” once offered from the queue areas and a ride on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority has been lost; hidden by a new dome.

Passengers will have a greater sense of flying through the dark thanks to efforts to darken the ride, and make it smoother and quieter.  Guests hoping for a screaming new experience with updated sound system and new track configuration will be disappointed.  Those who were worried that the classic and relatively tame Mountain they loved would be irrevocably changed, can relax.

Although it can be a bit jerky, Space Mountain offers a fairly gentle roller coaster ride through the dark.  Vehicles seat passengers in a single file of six for an exciting trip on one of two nearly identical tracks, Alpha (ten feet longer) and Omega.  Riders twist and turn down through the darkness after a steep climb to the top of the Mountain.  A photo taken at the beginning of the ride in a glowing blue tunnel reinforces the sense of darkness with the flash of strobes.

Space Mountain

Magic Kingdom

44″ minimum height requirement

FastPass available

Guests must transfer from ECV to available wheelchair, then from wheelchair to ride vehicle

Park admission required

Art is one of the recurring themes at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Kidana Village.  From the moment guests enter, they are surrounded by the beauty of African handwork.  The lobby, restaurant, and public rooms all serve as showcases for art pieces. There are lighted niches displaying sculpture, statuary, and jewelry; paintings glow from the walls.

African cultures elevated the items of daily living to art forms and the resort’s collections of pottery and currencies reflect the people’s pleasure and pride in everyday objects.   A water vessel was part of a family’s wealth; a well-crafted tool might be bartered for a bride.  These pieces, lovingly made and cherished as valued possessions, become part of the special ambiance of Kidana Village.

With the current holiday season upon us, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about next year’s festivities, and what could be more festive than a Disney Cruise vacation?  Early booking offers the best rates and choice of accommodations, and plenty of opportunity for dreaming and planning. The ships of the Disney Cruise Line are all “decked” out during this special time of year:

Embark on the most magical holiday ever; contact your Travel Concierge to get onboard!