Archive for the ‘Mousellaneous’ Category

October 1, 1971 marked the Grand Opening of the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and Fort Wilderness Campground at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.  Fearing the enormous crowds of Disneyland’s opening day, the company chose a time that was historically slower, and the attendance of 10,000 was exactly as planned.  However, local media had been projecting much higher numbers and the negative publicity caused a drop in Disney stock prices.  Just a few weeks later, on the day after Thanksgiving, the Magic Kingdom welcomed more than 50,000 guests and  traffic heading for the park was backed up more than 200 miles.

The park opened with six themed lands: Main Street U.S.A., Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland.  Mickey’s Toontown Fair, currently the seventh land, began as Mickey’s Birthdayland in 1988 to commemorate Mickey’s 60^th birthday.  Renamed Mickey’s Starland at the end of the birthday celebration 1990, it became Mickey’s Toontown Fair in 1996.  It will be interesting to see if current plans for an expansion of Fantasyland return the park to six lands.

While many of the original opening-day elements can still be found today,some no longer exist.  Shops like the Penny Arcade, House of Magic, and the New Century Clock Shop have given way to new stores or incorporated into larger shopping venues.  Familiar favorites such as the Haunted Mansion, It’s a Small World, the Jungle Cruise, Dumbo, the Mad Tea Party, and Cinderella’s Golden Carousel continue to delight visitors.  Others, including the Skyway to Tomorrowland and Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, have been retired.

Guests can still dine at the Crystal Palace, the Liberty Tree Tavern, and the Columbia Harbor House, but will no longer find the Mile Long Bar, and will search in vain for King Stefan’s Banquet Hall which has been renamed Cinderella’s Royal Table.  Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort lost its “village” as well as the Coral Isle Café and Papeete Bay Verandah restaurant.  Over at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, the Gulf Coast Room restaurant is no more, and the Top of the World is now the California Grill.

Today, Walt Disney World Resort is the world’s largest recreational destination, attracting more than 40 million visitors annually.

It’s what makes Walt Disney World such a perfect destination – there’s truly something for everyone.  Whether you’re a great grandmother riding Cinderella’s Golden Carousel, or a two-year old riding Dad’s shoulders to see the parade, you will find something to enchant you.

As travel agents, we’re often asked why Walt Disney World does not offer a discount for senior citizens.  I always use the explanation I heard years ago from a cast member:  there are no discounts for seniors because at Walt Disney World, everyone’s a kid!

Although it’s been said many times, many ways, we think this beautiful image by Jacob Nadolski, which captures all the warmth and fun of a Disney holiday,  says it as well as any song.

Merry Christmas to you!

Reindeer are another recurring theme at Walt Disney World, and are found in some unexpected places.  At Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, there’s a twinkling deer family grazing on a ledge over the main entrance.  They add to the beauty of the lobby in the evening, when it glows with light and good cheer.

For the holiday parade at the Magic Kingdom, Santa’s reindeer have left their post to join the dancing on Main Street U.S.A.  Wearing their “hollyday” bows and sleigh bells, they’re a favorite year after year.

Nestled in fields of flowers, the beautiful twig deer at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa draw visitors outside to enjoy the perfectly manicured grounds of this splendid resort.

Look for a reindeer motif featured on everything from antenna toppers to chocolate.   Take the time to visit Disney’s Fort Wilderness and enjoy the fantastic holiday displays at the campsites.  You’ll see lots of reindeer prancing through the woods.

But, do they really know how to fly?  Oh, yes!

Santa is a familiar sight at Walt Disney World, showing up in many locations.  In EPCOT, the different countries participate in “Holidays Around the World” and storytellers present their nations’ own special traditions which often include some type of Santa or Father Christmas figure.  Find the familiar jolly “American” Santa Claus at the American Adventure.

He also makes appearances during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and, of course, is always part of the Walt Disney World Christmas Parade.  There’s generally a Santa Claus meet and greet in the Magic Kingdom during the day, beginning in early December.  In addition, he somehow manages to make his way to Downtown Disney for Christmastime in the City.

Those looking for something a little different in a Santa will find Santa Goofy at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.  Look for him at Santa Goofy’s Wild Wonderland reading to pose for pictures. He also makes his appearances in the Jingle Jungle Parade.

On Christmas Eve, he visits the Walt Disney World Resort Hotels to discuss gift lists and provide photo opportunities.

Families with small children who have decided to spend Christmas at Walt Disney World will often arrange for packages to be shipped to their resort hotel to ensure that there are lots of toys and goodies on Christmas morning!

There are some traditions worth keeping wherever you may find yourself during the holidays.  At Walt Disney World, the familiar Christmas dinner is served as an option at many restaurants throughout the parks and resorts on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Of course, the Liberty Tree Tavern in the Magic Kingdom celebrates this favorite meal year round with turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing as part of the everyday menu.  Turkey is also regular fare at the Garden Grill in EPCOT.

A number of venues, including many of the Signature restaurants such as the California Grill, Artist Point, and Citricos, have a special prix fixe holiday menu.  Some offer holiday items as well as a la carte, while others serve only the holiday meal on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Most buffets feature holiday items in addition to the usual array of choices.  Those looking for “tradition” with a twist can find the enormous turkey legs at carts located in the parks.  If you’re planning a visit over Christmas in 2009, contact your travel agent, or call 407-939-3463 (407-WDW-DINE) for more information.  The 90-day window will still be in effect for the holiday this year, and it will open up in just a few days.  These reservations go very quickly, so be sure to make your plans early.

While you may come across some mistletoe growing in the water oaks of Florida, we suggest you bring along your own.  Holding a sprig over the head of a character makes for some great holiday photos, and decorations brought from home add a bit of Christmas cheer to your hotel room.  You can also order a Christmas tree from the Disney florist which arrives complete with lights and decorations.  Disney will pack it up and ship it to your house at the end of your vacation.

If you’re lucky enough to be staying in a suite at a Walt Disney World Resort over the holidays, most will already be decorated in keeping with the themes of the hotel.

For many years, I’ve attended the Candlelight Processional at Walt Disney World.  It is always a pleasant, and sometimes quite memorable, evening; one I look forward to each holiday season.  Unwilling to stand in line for two or three hours for anything, I take advantage of the Candlelight Processional Dinner Package.

The package has certainly changed through the years.  At one time, guests could choose to dine after the performance rather than before, making it a far more relaxed evening.  Then, for a time, reservations could be made much closer to show time, rather than what amounts to the middle of the afternoon.  Pricing was pretty much in line with the regular menu prices; participants confirmed their reservations earlier in the day at the hotel and were given a badge to wear.

As the years went by, the prices increased, of course, and the badge turned into a wrist band that needed to be obtained while waiting in line for the show.  With the advent of the dining plan, guests were allowed to exchange one table service point for the package.  In 2008, I noticed a considerable increase in cost, but in 2009, the changes are really breathtaking.  It will now cost more than $55.00 for an adult to have dinner at the Garden Grill, while the price for dinner at Teppan Edo and the other Tier 3 restaurants will be a staggering $75.00.  Now, I enjoy both the Garden Grill and Teppan Edo, but that seems excessive for the basic food served there.  Yes, they’ve thrown in an appetizer, but guests are paying dearly for it, and a couple of the venues are buffet- or family-style meals.

A decision has clearly been made that the mere one-hour wait in line for package participants is now worth $15.00, plus the cost of the most expensive menu items, whether you order them or not.  If you’re on the dining plan, you’ll now need to use two table service points.

I do understand that the company is in business to make money.  I realize that the popularity of this event, much like a reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table, makes it a candidate for a price increase.   I know that good practices dictate charging whatever the traffic will bear.  But, at some point, the consumer does speak, and this year, I’m speaking loudly:  I won’t be attending the Candlelight Processional.  Will I miss it?  Certainly! I have many wonderful memories of this event.  But, I’ve planned a new “tradition” for 2009.  For that same $75.00, or probably a good deal less, I can have an exceptional meal at Hollywood Brown Derby, or save considerably by dining at one of the other restaurants in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, then join the fun at the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights.  I’ll enjoy the choral performances found elsewhere in the parks and resorts, make a point this year to attend the tree-lighting ceremony at EPCOT, and take advantage of the many holiday events that help to make the season bright.

One thing we can rely upon is Disney’s sensitivity to guest trends.  If there is a sufficient drop in participation, they will reevaluate the program.  If the majority of guests embrace the changes, we can be certain we’ll see those prices continue to rise.

One way to make a day at the Magic Kingdom extra special is to score a FastPass for your entire party.  How?  You simply have to find the paintbrush.

Each day, from one to five brushes are hidden on Tom Sawyer Island.  The finder’s fee for success is a FastPass, valid for everyone in your group.   Plan to be at the park when it opens and in line to hop on the first raft that’s heading from Frontierland over to the island.

Periodically, there are rumors that the brushes are no longer being hidden, so you might ask if there are any to be found that day.

We suggest befriending the cast member piloting the raft.  He may be willing to reveal a helpful clue.  It’s best to split up to explore the wilderness as you’ll want to cover as much ground as possible before the crowds arrive.

Tom Sawyer Island is a fascinating area that many guests never take the time to discover.  With a fort and forests, tunnels and caves, a bouncy bridge, and winding trails, it’s a relaxing respite from the crowds across the river.  The porch of Aunt Polly’s is the perfect place to enjoy a cool lemonade or an Apple Pie Sundae.   Even if you never find a hidden paintbrush, your island adventure will be worthwhile.

Tom Sawyer Island

Magic Kingdom

Not wheelchair accessible

Park admission required

There are children who visit Walt Disney World and depart utterly convinced that the monorail is one of the major attractions.  Disney’s amazing monorail system is only one of many modes of transportation around the property, but it’s surely the most interesting.

Twelve Mark VI six-car trains transport up to 364 guests each, over more than 14 miles of track on three lines, at speeds of 15 to 40 mph.  The Resort Line travels in a circuit around the Seven Seas Lagoon with stops at the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, the Ticket and Transportation Center, Disney’s Polynesian Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.  The Express Line ferries passengers between the Magic Kingdom and the Ticket and Transportation Center, while the EPCOT Line provides service between the Ticket and Transportation Center and EPCOT.  Guests staying at the “monorail” resorts near the Magic Kingdom can hop on the monorail directly from their hotels, and travel around the Resort Line or change trains at the Ticket and Transportation Center to get to EPCOT.

Each train is named according to the color of its stripe:  Monorail Red, Monorail Silver, Monorail Purple, etc.  The stripes on Lime and Coral have “deltas” along their length to distinguish them from Green and Pink.

Elaborate safety systems ensure that trains remain a specified distance from each other, and a train will be brought to a stop until the one ahead has moved away.  There are emergency evacuation plans for every eventuality, and the Reedy Creek Fire Department even has a fire truck which is specially designed for monorail rescue.  There are also custom tow-tractors to move trains from the beam.

Although pre-recorded commentary about upcoming stops, passing landmarks, and special events is narrated by a different cast member, the famous phrase, “Please stand clear of the doors…..” still features the original voice of Jack Wagner.

Carrying more than 50 million passengers each year, the Walt Disney World monorail is one its most recognizable symbols.

Walt Disney World has one of the most stringent fire codes in the U.S., which has served as a model for many states.  But, there are no fire stations in the country quite as playful as those of the Reedy Creek Fire Department.

With its giant fire hose fountain and massive fire hat canopy, RCFD’s Station #4 is a visual masterpiece, while Station #1 sports Dalmatian spots.  Look for the wonderful fire hydrant “sculpture garden.”

The Disney organization’s control of the Walt Disney World property has allowed them to enforce strict building codes and onsite protection system requirements.  This permits the nearly 200 staff members to focus on a comprehensive inspection schedule, code reviews, and a range of life and safety issues rather than the fire suppression activities of the typical fire department.  Walt Disney World has not sustained major fire loss of a building;  most fire calls are to vehicles in the parking lots.

They also have a particular expertise in the area of pyrotechnics; an important skill in a district where more than a half a million fireworks shells are fired each year.

The RCFD provides emergency medical services to both employees and guests of Walt Disney World.  Innovative Medical Assistance Response Carts, which are special golf carts fitted with medical equipment, are located at all theme parks and Downtown Disney, allowing personnel to respond quickly in emergency situations.

The Reedy Creed Fire Department stations – another delightful Disney Detail!

Walt Disney World is a popular choice for destination weddings.  Many little girls grow up dreaming of a wedding fit for a Princess.  To accommodate the bridal couples, Disney offers a number of different venues for the ceremony, none lovelier than the Wedding Pavilion at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.

Located on its own small island in the Seven Seas Lagoon adjacent to the resort, the building welcomes up to 300 guests, who cross a bridge under leaf-entwined arches to enter the non-denominational chapel.

Its simple beauty is enhanced by a fairy tale touch:  Cinderella Castle perfectly framed in the central window behind the altar.

For the title of this post, we’ve shamelessly stolen photographer Jeff Bergman’s  original caption for his beautiful image featured at the top.