Posts Tagged ‘Frontierland’
Character Reference – Goofy
VITAL STATISTICS
Name: Goofy
AKA: Goofus D. Dawg; Dippy Dawg
Favorite Sayings: “Gawrsh!” “A-hyuck!” “Well, whaddya know …”
Prized Possession: green hat
Qualifications: optimistic, good-natured, kind
Facebook Friends: Max, Mickey, Donald, Minnie, Pluto, Clarabelle
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, American Adventure
- EPCOT, International Gateway
- EPCOT, Future World, Character Spot
- Magic Kingdom, Town Square
- Magic Kingdom, Toontown Hall of Fame (subject to change)
- Magic Kingdom, Toontown Barnstormer (subject to change)
- Magic Kingdom, Frontierland
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Camp Minnie-Mickey
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Dinoland U.S.A., Chester and Hester’s Dinorama
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Sorcerer’s Hat
Character Dining
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Tusker House, Donald’s Safari Breakfast
- Contemporary Resort, Chef Mickey’s
- Beach Club Resort, Cape May, Goofy’s Beach Club Breakfast
- Fort Wilderness, Mickey’s Backyard Barbeque Dinner Show
Attractions
- Magic Kingdom, Toontown, Goofy’s Barnstormer (subject to change)
Shows
- Magic Kingdom, Castle Forecourt Stage, Dream-Along with Mickey
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Fantasmic!
Parades
- Magic Kingdom, Celebrate a Dream Come True
- Magic Kingdom, Spectromagic
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade
Miscellaneous
- Magic Kingdom, Town Square, photo op with statue sitting on a bench
Into the Briar-rimmed Pond
As you approach Frontierland you begin to hear it; every few moments, a sudden burst of delighted screaming. We suggest you continue your walk toward “a little more adventure” on the wonderful Splash Mountain.
You’ll enjoy watching the story of Br’er Rabbit, illustrated by 68 audioanimatronic figures, as he sets out in search of the life that suits him best. After an atmospheric “river” cruise, your log enters the “caves” to float along through the darkness, bouncing over small waterfalls, following the characters of this beloved tale. While the origins of the story are very old, it was brought to life for millions by the 1940’s Disney film Song of the South. Splash Mountain features some of the memorable music from this movie along with the extensive theming that places Disney attractions in a class by themselves.
Watching the final drop from the perspective of a spectator in front of the ride makes the plunge look much more steep and frightening than it actually is. Your reactions are caught on camera and the pictures are displayed and available for purchase at Splashdown Photos as you exit. Take advantage of Disney Package Delivery if you would prefer not to carry your photos for the remainder of the day.
Oh, one more thing – you can get REALLY wet! If you’re hoping to stay relatively dry, avoid the front seat and the right side of the vehicle. Keep in mind, though, that if you ride in an empty car, you’ll be drenched even if you’re sitting at the very back! Wait times can be long and FastPasses go quickly, so make your way to the laughing place early.
Splash Mountain
Magic Kingdom, Frontierland
Approximately 11 minutes
Guests must transfer from wheelchair and ECV to ride vehicle
40″ minimum height requirement
FastPass available
Park admission required
Good Old Country Rhythm
Where can you listen to such favorites as Tears Will Be the Chaser for My Wine, Blood on the Saddle, and Mama, Don’t Whip Little Buford; not to mention Teddi Barra’s moving rendition of Heart, We Did All That We Could?
Just mosey on over to Grizzly Hall in Frontierland at the Magic Kingdom for a musical revue featuring singing bears, talking taxidermy, and a little good old country rhythm. Spend some time with Big Al, The Five Bear Rugs, and a dozen more musically-inclined characters for a quarter-hour of ursine humor and melody. It’s a good time for all ages, but kids in particular get a kick out of the corny jokes.
Although the official Walt Disney World website is still insisting that the Bears perform a special holiday-themed show, sadly, The Country Bear Christmas has not been seen here for several years. Nonetheless, The Country Bear Jamboree remains a year-round favorite for some old-fashioned fun.
The Country Bear Jamboree
Magic Kingdom, Frontierland, Grizzly Hall
Approximately 17 minutes
Wheelchair and ECV accessible
Assistive listening and reflective captioning devices available
Park admission required
Cruise to the Blues
Board the riverboat at Liberty Square and cruise along the Rivers of America with characters from Disney’s new movie, The Princess and the Frog. Featuring the music of New Orleans and appearances by Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen, Louis, and Dr. Facilier, Princess Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee makes its debut today with a fun-filled promenade down Main Street U.S.A.
Scheduled to run until January 3, 2010, the show includes songs from the movie during its three daily performances. A live six-piece band and 22 dancers will join the passengers who will also become part of the musical production.
Those on shore can enjoy the festivities from both Liberty Square and Frontierland.
Guests can also take advantage of meet-and-greet opportunities with Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen in Liberty Square for autographs and photos. Don’t miss the special movie admission offer available for a limited time.
A Happy Day in History
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 60th 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.
The Thrill of the Hunt
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
