Anatomy of A Disneyholic

Day 4: The All-Important Downtime!

2009-11-10T10:22:00.000-08:00

Keith and I wanted very much to get back to the Kidani Village pool when it was open, while Jane and Tyler (decidedly NOT water people) wanted to sleep in. So in the morning, Keith and I headed out to Kidani’s pool.

We headed to EPCOT for lunch, then rode Spaceship Earth. We played Power City, a cool game in the Siemens Pavilion as you exit Spaceship Earth. You have to supply electrical power to a growing city by pushing around energy sources with clubs that look like hockey sticks. The city and the energy pills are all projected on the floor and the hockey sticks have electronic tips. Very cool game.

Since it was hot (shockingly enough, in Florida) we escaped into Mouse Gears, EPCOT’s biggest merchandise store. I shopped for gifts (one of my favorite Disney World activities) and we headed to Mission:Space. Always a fun ride to do! (We do Green Team only -- I am not a fan of throwing up).

We took the boat from EPCOT to Hollywood Studios to meet Jane and Tyler for dinner at Hollywood and Vine, a buffet dinner. Afterward, we headed to the Tower of Terror, which Tyler rode (he’s the only one of us who likes it), and we did the Great Movie Ride. This is a great ride, going through some of the best classics in movie history, and getting kidnapped on the way...I see a blog entry coming!

Tyler also rode Rockin’ Roller Coaster, which he likes (0 to 60 in 2.8 seconds), though he confesses to dislike the music (Aerosmith).

We went back to the hotel afterward. A mellow, fun day!

Day 3 Continued

2009-10-29T22:19:00.000-07:00

Keith and I planned to go back to the Animal Kingdom after I finished unpacking, but he decided to hit the pool after lunch.

We got back to the room, showered and changed to go to dinner at Sanaa, in Kidani Village.

Kidani Village is a new Disney Vacation Club (DVC) property in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. While the Lodge itself has DVC villas in addition to regular hotel rooms, Kidani is all villas.
We had time before dinner to take more pictures of the animals on the savannah.

Sanaa turned out to be a really great restaurant, with excellent décor as well 

Keith’s dish was undercooked (twice!) but they were really good about fixing it and it tasted great, he said. He discovered a new type of tea…

…and we all agreed that dessert was amazing!

After dinner we walked around Kidani Village and found out that while we didn’t care much for the building design, the pool area was STUNNING!

They also have a brand-new, state-of-the-art workout room in which we tried to cancel out dessert…

Pictorial Interlude: Keith’s View From Our Room

2009-10-26T15:45:00.000-07:00

Day 3: Fun and Diplomacy

2009-10-26T15:13:00.000-07:00

My intent for today was to take advantage of the morning Extra Magic Hours for the Animal Kingdom. That’s when I discovered that Jane and Tyler operate in a different time zone than us, when it comes to mornings. Compromise became the name of the game for this trip :)

We got to the Animal Kingdom somewhat after 9AM, and headed to the Kilimanjaro Safari ride. Though my camera is perfectly capable of taking videos, I keep trying to take still pictures on a VERY bumpy ride with a camera that was NOT made to take action photos. It’[s not so much that I like pain and suffering as much as it is that I like the photographic challenge.

The Safari ride, especially if done in the morning when the weather is cooler, is really impressive in the wealth of wildlife you can see. Despite the limitations of my camera, I did get some not bad and good pics during the ride, and had fun trying.

We had breakfast at the Pizzafari, and got into a heated discussion regarding education (Jane has been a teacher for decades). Yes, the boys had strong, intelligent opinions as well. I’m really proud of them! Eventually we decided that since we can’t solve the Bellevue School District’s problems in one day, we may as well head over to…

I don’t do roller coasters, but Keith and Tyler sure do, and they love Everest. They rode it twice in a row, after which I put my foot down and demanded we go see Flights of Wonder. I absolutely adore this show, and HIGHLY recommend it to anyone visiting the Animal Kingdom.

We left Flights of Wonder and headed over to Kali Rapids. The day was VERY hot so I saw no reason to wear protective clothing (rain ponchos). I made sure and kept my feet up and tucked under the seat, because I despise walking in wet socks and snickers…We had a BLAST (we got drenched).

The Animal Kingdom is Disney’s hottest park, and Jane was getting overheated (she didn’t ride Kali). We headed back to the hotel and I unpacked. Keith took this opportunity to appropriate my camera and head out on the porch, where he took some really great pictures.

Day 2: The Magic Begins

2009-09-06T22:51:00.000-07:00

For our first full day at the World, we had breakfast reservations at the Crystal Palace, home to Pooh and friends and great buffet meals. The Magic Kingdom opened early that day for resort guests, and I wanted to get there early, but we were all tired from traveling the day before. Jane had to take care of the room issue, and get her GAC card so Keith and I went ahead. We browsed in the yet-uncrowded Emporium on Main Street USA (a great everything-you-want parks merchandise store), and made our way up towards Adventureland.

We wanted to ride Pirates of the Caribbean, but realized we had only a short time before our Crystal Palace reservation and turned back. We checked in at the Crystal Palace and got our pager. Than we waited.

Tyler and Jane got to Crystal Palace 15 minutes later and we waited.

30 minutes later we were still waiting.

At some point, I was fuming (this normally doesn't happen to me at The World), so I sent Keith up to the check-in window to find out what was up. Apparently, they never entered our pager number into the waiting cue! There were many apologies, and two 4-people, any-ride-you-want Fast Passes (which Keith pointed out saved us at least the hour we spent waiting). Eventually we sat down to a wonderful breakfast.

We discovered that Jane likes some tea with her ice:

.

Teenagers aren't crazy about pictures with characters:

But I am (no big surprise there):

Keith also got a birthday celebration at breakfast:

We did ride pirates of the Caribbean after breakfast. As we exited into the inevitable store (it's actually a very cool store, with lots of pirate "stuff") we encountered this guy:

He was great. I stood there for 5-10 minutes and watched him getting poked, people kept trying to guess if he was live or audio-animatronic, they posed in front of him, he never moved or blinked. I'd hate to have that job but boy was it fun to watch!

And then of course we had to ride Splash Mountain.

And the boys rode Big Thunder Mountain. I am NOT a rollercoaster person, and neither is Jane, so we just waited for them to come off. Then we did several other must-do rides, including Toy Story. And to our great disappointment (though I knew of it in advance), the People Mover (Tomorrowland Transit Authority) was down for refurbishment. It was supposed to be back up on 8/24, but it stayed down for our entire stay. :(

Remember the tissues I ordered from GardenGrocer? I casually tossed a couple of packs into my fanny pack on our way out the door that morning. About halfway through breakfast I started sneezing. And I kept on sneezing through the rest of the Magic Kingdom. By about 3pm I was exhausted and miserable, and Jane still had room issues to resolve (!), so we decided to go back to the hotel. I always have zinc lozenges with me, so I sucked one, took a decongestant, and went to bed while Keith read. I slept for 2.5 hours, took another zinc, and felt like a brand new person. We headed for EPCOT, and aside from a couple of sniffles at the beginning of dinner I was fine. By the next day, there was no sign of a problem. Weird, but I wasn't complaining!

We ate in Tuttu Italia, in the Italian Pavilion at EPCOT. Personally, I miss the old restaurant that was there (Alfredo). Keith loved the new one, better than Alfredo. At least we all agreed that the desserts were great!

And Keith had yet another Birthday Celebration :)

We watched IllumiNations to end a GREAT day!

Some Day 1 Photos

2009-08-21T21:28:00.000-07:00

The Matching Monorail Shirts Arrive at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge!

A Room with A View...And A Fun Mousekeeping Touch

The Purple Appendage of Happiness and the Purple Appendage of Contentment :)

Day 1 Part 2: Travel and Mushroom Soup

2009-08-19T15:13:00.000-07:00

Keith's dad (who's house-sitting for us and watching the dogs and cat) drove us to the airport. Jane and Tyler were not there yet, and after calling them we decided to meet at the gate, since they were running behind.

Boarding time came and they were still not there. Keith was upset, and I was worried. Just before the doors to the plane closed, they made it. They had trouble with their luggage check-in and it took a while for them to get through...but they made it, to our relief.

The flights themselves (from Seattle to Atlanta and Atlanta to Orlando) were uneventful. When we got to our resort (Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge), we found out 3 things:

The online check-in system is full of bugs

All the hotels at Disney World are sold out (which is unbelievable for late August)

We didn't get the connecting rooms we had hoped for (and requested)

We did eventually get to our rooms (though Jane was moved to another room, at her request, the following day). By the time we made it to the room we had barely enough time to get our Owner’s Lockers and quickly change for dinner.

We had dinner at Boma, a buffet restaurant at the resort. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is an African-themed resort and the buffet reflected it. Bear in mind that calling Boma a buffet restaurant is like calling the Hope diamond a pretty rock. It is, in my mind, one of the best restaurants on the planet. And they have, in addition to all the other amazing dishes, the Best. Mushroom Soup. Anywhere. (I happen to love a good mushroom soup.)

Because this is Keith’s birthday trip (his birthday is in September, so he gets his Disney birthday trip in August a lot), he asked for and received a Birthday Button from the front desk. He loves wearing it. We always make sure at Disney that restaurant cast members know it’s not his actual birthday, and they never seem to care. They give him a birthday celebration anyhow. So far this trip he’s had 3, and counting. Who wouldn’t want to wear the button, under these circumstances???

So he wore the button at Boma, and at the end of the meal was presented with a special treats platter with the words “BOMA Re A Ipela” written in chocolate powder on it. To my shame, I forget which African language it’s in, but it means “Boma celebrates you,” according to our server.

We finished the meal on a high note and headed back to our room. Keith and Tyler discussed the possible advantages and cataclysmic climate consequences of complete ocean desalinization all the way to the elevators. Because they can be real nerds, in addition to typical boys, sometimes.

Once in the room, I got our GardenGrocer order delivered from Bell Services, including the multipack of pocket tissue packets (cue foreboding music here). Then we went to sleep. Despite Keith’s best efforts to bounce of the walls, he was that excited!

Day 1, Part 1: The Big Reveal

2009-08-18T04:23:00.000-07:00

I woke up at 2AM to finish some last minute packing (and because I was too excited to sleep much, as usual). At 3AM, I went into Keith's room with his monorail T-shirt. I woke him up. (I told him the day before we were going to Portland by train, because I wanted to make sure he packed himself some stuff to keep himself entertained for several hours.) The conversation went something like that:
"Keith, wake up. And wear this shirt. It's appropriate for where we're going."
(Yawn) "OK." Takes shirt, glances at it, puts it on.
(Me, disappointed) "Uh, OK, finish getting dressed."
(Yawn) "OK." Then he catches a glimpse of the clock. "Hey, it's only 3AM!"
"Yup, flight leaves at 6."
(Blank stare) "What flight?"
"Look again at your shirt."
(Looks down)"Yeah, we're going on the train, right?"
"Are you sure?"
(The light dawns) "WE'RE GOING TO DISNEY???"
I wish I had my camera for that, really.

Pre-Trip Report

2009-08-13T20:15:00.000-07:00

Did I mention we're going to Disney World? A pre-trip report ("pre-trippie") is a common occurrence among Disneyholics, who like to share the joy of the upcoming fix with anyone who'd listen (and some who won't, like the receptionist at my physical therapist's office). If you go on any Disney discussion board, you'll find many such reports.

Naturally, a Trip Report follows a pre-trippie. We'll see how good I am at updating while in The World itself. I have a poor track record, but then again I never had a serious blog before.

The motley crew for this upcoming trip consists of myself, my almost-13 year old son who's currently seriously in the dog house, his friend Tyler, and Tyler's grandma / guardian Jane. Jane shares my birthday and my obsession with Disney World.

In 2007 I got Jane to buy into the Disney Vacation Club (of which we are members). She got bonus points for joining when she did (right place at the right time, some people are lucky!) She is generously using these points for our accommodations as well, so I have extra points to use this year, or rent so I can pay for my next Disney fix.

This is me, December 2008 (I'm the one with the glasses):

Here's Keith, same trip:

Tyler, August 2007:

And Jane, August 2007:

My son hasn't actually been told we're going. I was trying to keep it a surprise. I think he might be on to it, though, because the other day I left a piece of paper lying around that I shouldn't have. However, if he saw it, he's playing along. We'll see what happens when I wake him up to go to the airport...

Single-Digit Dance

2009-08-11T09:54:00.000-07:00

The Single-Digit Dance is a unique ritual performed by Disneyholics when they are less than 10 days away from a Disney Fix. The intricacies of the dance are hard to explain and vary among different tribe members. Having absolutely no talent, my Single-Digit Dance is awkward and nerdy but I really don't care -- I'M GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!!!!!!!

The Cultural Revolution :)

2009-08-06T07:38:00.000-07:00

I had always been amazed that an innovative company like Disney stayed rather behind the times when it came to its use of new technology (mainly the web) in its customer service endeavors. This seems to be changing, finally. And, being a nerd in addition to a Disneyholic, I find this change exciting.

For starters, Disney is revamping its web sites (though I still find the Disney World site annoying and awkward to use). I really like the new look of the Disney Cruise Line site, for example. That site has always been one of their better sites.

What I find truly exciting are the new conveniences that are now available to guests, before they ever leave home, through online enhancements. Disney has recently added online dining reservations. This means I can check the availability of a restaurant, starting at the 90-day reservation window, multiple times daily. For my upcoming trip, I was already able to take advantage of this service. Told initially that a restaurant I wanted was not available at all in the time-period I was interested in, I managed to get a reservation online several days later, without having to repeatedly call back and annoy the reservation agents :).

Another new service I get to try shortly is the online check-in. Disney has made it so resort guests can fill out check-in information online, and their room key and welcome folder will be waiting for them in a special area at their hotel when they arrive. I'm looking forward to trying it out. Stay tuned!

The third enhancement I like is the "mobile room-ready notification." Guests who arrive at resort hotels before their room is ready are always able to store their luggage with Bell Services and head to the parks, but traditionally had to call the front desk or check back in person multiple times to find out when their room is ready. They can now opt to leave a cell phone number, and get a text message or an automated call when their room is ready, saving quite a bit of hassle.

I'm pretty sure Disney is finally fully embracing the 21st Century!

GAC -- It's not a chocking sound!

2009-07-30T12:14:00.000-07:00

Here's a subject that's near and dear to my heart, because it effects the friend I'm traveling to Disney World with: the Guest Assistance Card (GAC).

The Disney GAC aims to assist people with invisible disabilities. This can run the gamut from being on medication that makes you too sensitive to sunlight to having children who are incapable of handling long waits in a crowded line (due to certain developmental / psychological disorders; I'm not talking about cranky toddlers). My friend has had a serious infection in her leg that left her blood circulation fairly impaired in that leg. She is not allowed to stand up for lengthy periods of time, but has no mobility issues that require her to use a wheelchair or "scooter." She walks just fine.

Disney makes the GAC easy to obtain -- a great benefit for people who need it, though I suppose it's possible it is also easier to abuse the system that way. Nevertheless, it's nice not to make a person who really needs it jump through hoops to get it. This is a vacation, after all. It's bad enough you have a medical problem on vacation, it shouldn't be complicated by making you fill up reams of paperwork or answer too many personal questions.

To get the GAC, a person has to go to any Guest Services location in any of the parks and describe their issue (or child's issue) in general terms. The actual bearer of the GAC has to be there, even if it's a young child. So I couldn't ask for a GAC for my friend if she were still sleeping at the hotel and I was trying to be nice to her.

Once you describe the problem, a GAC will be issued with appropriate instructions on it (there are several categories for GAC instructions, depending on the person's need). You do not have to present a doctor's note or a prescription label. The Guest Services Cast Member will issue the GAC according to your description of the problem (they may ask you some questions to clarify the issue). Remember that if you get the GAC for someone else, they have to be there with you.

Guest Assistance Cards are good for the entire length of stay for all parks. You only have to request them once at the beginning of your stay. They are good for the entire party traveling together, so families and friends aren't split on rides.

The GAC may allow the person a quiet waiting area, a wait area in the shade, or the ability to move ahead in the line if a Fastpass is not available. The GAC is NOT a "go to the head of the line" pass, and the carrier (and their party) would still likely have some wait, though a probably shorter one. Disney Cast Members may direct guests to obtain a Fastpass if one is available.

Children on Make-A-Wish trips have a special version of the GAC, obtained through Make-A-Wish, and they will go to the head of the line due to their special situation.

The GAC tends to irk people who are overly judgemental. It's easy to see why a wheelchair-bound person requires special accommodations, but people using the GAC tend to get dirty looks from some people, because their problem is not obvious. Maybe there's a lesson in humanity and compassion in this. Ask yourselves honestly what your reaction would be if someone who looks healthy got what seems like "special treatment" from cast members while you have to stand in line. Next time, give these people the benefit of the doubt, or count your blessings. Waiting in line is a small price to pay for being in good health.

Saturday Picture: The Disney Magic in St. Thomas

2009-07-18T12:58:00.001-07:00

Photo Credit: Me!

Silent Cell Phone and Other Musings (LONG!)

2009-07-08T22:21:00.000-07:00

Disneyholics have strange triggers. One thing that's always guaranteed to take us back, mentally if not physically, to the Happiest Place on Earth is the monorail "doors opening" announcement:

"Please stand clear of the doors. Por favor mantengase alejado de las puertas."

It's a classic. Anyone who's ridden the monorails in Disney World knows the announcement, and it's a favorite among Disneyholics.

So I found the recording online and made it the ring tone for my cell phone a while ago. Did I mention I love the Disney monorails? I even have the T-shirt.

I've kept my cell phone on silent since Sunday. It started out because I read the news as soon as I woke up, and couldn't stand the thought of having the phone ring with that particular ring tone right then.

Then I started finding out more information about Austin Wuennenberg, the 21-year-old driver of Monorail Purple, who died in the crash. I found out he was an only child whose dad died of cancer when Austin was 2. I found out his mom used to leave the TV on so that when Austin came home after a late shift at Disney he'd turn it off, and she'd wake up in the morning and know he's home safe. Except she woke up on Sunday morning and the TV was still on.

I found out he had a loving girlfriend who's struggling to understand what happened and why. And that he LOVED his Disney job and was the quintessential perfect Disney Cast Member. Helpful, cheerful, conscientious. There is a video shot by a guest who rode with him up front in the monorail several days before the crash. Practically every person who watched it has cried. This guy was what Disney is all about. And he was smart, to boot. Friends describe him as brainy. His aunt said people always had high expectations of him and he'd meet or exceed them.

I am still keeping my cell phone on silent, in memory of this remarkable young man. His funeral was today, I thought I should keep it silent at least this long.

**********

Here's something that really got me today: The NTSB report of the crash events states that Austin tried to reverse the train when he saw Monorail Pink barreling down at him.

Somehow, all this time I had the irrational hope he never knew what hit him. But the thought that he saw it coming is really upsetting. Some online discussions commented on the fact that he might have been able to jump out if he hadn't tried to reverse, but, knowing he had passengers right in back of him (there was a family in the first car of the monorail) he tried to get them to safety. If that theory is correct, he should be hailed as a hero even more than he already is.

************************

There were no mechanical failures involved in the accident, per the NTSB, and as speculated (see my previous post) the accident happened during an attempted track switch. Given that no mechanical failures were found, but the switch never happened, I'm guessing someone (or several someones) will have to live the rest of their lives knowing that whatever it is they did or didn't do that night resulted in someone's death. There must have been, however, quite a cascade of problems to pass through all the safeties and redundancies in a system with such an amazing safety record. I mean, the monorail can be shut down manually from the platform, according to several past pilots (Disney monorail drivers are called pilots). And there's always someone on the platform, to the best of my recollection. What HAPPENED??

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This might be the most jarring aspect of the accident to me -- that it happened at all, in a system that carried over a billion people in 38 years of operation without a single fatality, until Sunday. It doesn't change my trust in the safety of the monorail system one bit, but it is astounding that something like this could happen. And seeing the picture of Monorail Pink's rear cab embedded in the driver's cab of Monorail Purple looked, to me, obscene, for lack of a better term. I mean, imagine seeing a favorite book or toy mutilated. It's obscene. It shouldn't happen. I think, in part, that's why I can't wait to ride the monorail again in August. I need my life to be right again, though it feels selfish right now to say it. The lives of Austin's family and friends, especially his mom, will never "be right" again, though I hope they attain peace and comfort, in time. For me to complain about the affect the accident had on me seems...wrong. Really wrong.

*************************

I'm thinking tonight, also, about the driver of Monorail Pink, who had to be checked at the hospital after the accident, mostly (according to some reports) because he was so distraught. I saw an interview with a former pilot and read online comments from former Disney monorail pilots who describe a very close community which takes safety ultra-seriously. I can't imagine what it feels like to be the direct cause of a fellow pilot's death.(Though he may not be at fault? I'm not clear on whether he could have known he wasn't switched in time to prevent the crash).

Monorail -- Yes, Again

2009-07-06T14:57:00.000-07:00

I'd like to reiterate some statistics, because I've been hearing far too many "I'm not riding the Disney monorails again" comments around me.

In 38 years of operation (since 1971), the Disney World Monorail System carried an estimated billion+ people. In all that time there was 1 fatality -- this past Sunday night. You have a better chance of dying in a car crash driving in your home town than dying in a Disney monorail crash. Disney has had 3 monorail crashes in its history. One was during a commercial filming event when a tractor drove too close in front of the monorail. One at the Magic Kingdom station where the driver and 2 guests were hurt (in 1974), and the tragic crash on Sunday, when Austin Wuennenberg, the driver of Monorail Purple, was killed. I challenge you to find a SAFER transportation mode in the world today.

Disney reopened the monorail system today with additional safety sensors on the track switches, one of the few places where there were none and a manual override of the anti-collision system was required before.
NOTE: Unconfirmed speculation ahead: The current theory (there is no confirmation from Disney), based on Disney's actions and information from ummm...monorail "sources"...is that Monorail Pink was being switched off track but somehow that switch either didn't happen or the track it was switched into was the one Monorail Purple sat on. Because during track switches the collision system had to be overridden, Pink (going in reverse) never realized Purple was stationary behind him. Why nobody figured out this track was occupied before it was too late is still a matter of investigation, but the anti-collision system is now in place on switch-track areas as well. This system automatically stops the monorail if it gets within a certain distance of another monorail. End Speculation.

I'm 5 weeks away from my Disney trip and I can't WAIT to ride the monorails again, with my son and our friends. Currently there are no rides up front, though. I don't know if these will resume in the future...I hope so. I would love to ride with the drivers again.

Oh and if you Twitt -- #Austin!!!!

Hats and mouseears off in memory of Austin Wuennenberg

2009-07-05T23:27:00.001-07:00

Austin was the 21 year-old driver of Monorail Purple. He died in the monorail crash this morning. He is the only Disney World monorail fatality in 38 years of operation, in which the monorails carried over 1 billion people to date. That's an astounding safety record, though unfortunately it probably won't comfort his loved ones. Please keep Austin and his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.

Austin's picture and a short tribute are in the following link.
Hats and mouseears off in memory of CM Austin Wuennenberg

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An Incredibly Sad Day at Disney World

2009-07-05T09:02:00.000-07:00

Riding the Disney Monorail is one of our favorite things to do at Disney, and we've ridden up front with the driver many times (you just have to ask).

This morning at 2am one of the Disney monorails crashed into another that was standing at the station, killing the 21 year-old driver of the stationary monorail. Thankfully, very few passengers were on the monorail at this time, and while they were shaken, none were injured. There are no other details currently available, and of course speculations are running rampant.

Let me start by saying that my heart goes out to the driver's family. Losing someone in an accident, no matter what age, is always a cruel, incredibly painful incident (I know, because we just went through that in May). The young age of the driver also makes my heart ache for the parents who lost a child who must have just been starting to build a life of his own. As a mom with a son of my own, thinking about the driver's mom literally hurts. I am so sorry!

Secondly, I still believe the Disney monorail system is safe. I don't know and won't speculate about what caused the accident. Whenever we were on the monorail, it always stopped far outside the station when another monorail was standing at the station. Whatever happened last night, in my opinion, was a a freak accident and I have every confidence Disney will get to the bottom of it and fix anything that needs fixing, if anything does. What gets me is the people who IMMEDIATELY start blaming "Big Bad Corporation Mentality" whenever anything bad happens at Disney, without having all the facts, and without stopping to think that even with every safety mechanism in place, you can't protect 100% against mechanical and / or human flukes. (NOTE that I'm not ascribing blame here. But in a monorail crash, the cause is going to be either mechanical or human, and possibly both. Weather wasn't an issue, as far as I glimpsed from the news.)

Will I be riding the Disney monorail in August? You bet, if it's back up and running (the entire monorail system is shut down today, for obvious reasons). Will we try to ride up front, with the driver? Yes (if Disney still allows it), because it's a great experience. Will this incident be at the back of my mind when I do? Absolutely, and I'll be saying a prayer for the driver who died. But unless some colossal negligence on the company's part shows up in this accident investigation (and I don't believe for a moment that it will), I will keep doing what I've always done, because I think the monorail's safety record to date speaks for itself. I don't think people stopped riding the DC Metro after last month's tragic crash, and in that case it turned out that Metro was TOLD to phase out the cars in question.

Come to think of it, light rail systems aren't having a good year so far.

For today, we should just pause and say a prayer for the driver of Monorail Purple and his family...and leave the blame game out of the conversation until we have facts on our side.

Very Cool Video -- Just in Time for the 4th of July

2009-07-04T08:15:00.000-07:00

From Disney World News comes this great video...

Dessert Party!!!

2009-06-29T20:19:00.000-07:00

I love Disney food. I am not blind to the fact that in some parts of Disney World (and only in some parts), the food quality has gone down (from outstanding to average, I can live with that). For the most part, though, I adore the food at Disney World and on the Disney ships. One symptom of my Disneyholism is excessive drooling when planning my vacations. I can't figure out why...

At any rate, the Magic Kingdom is offering, for a VERY limited time, a chance to combine 2 of my favorite things in the World (Disney World, that is): dessert and the Wishes fireworks show. The buffet runs through August 28 (we'll be there until August 29!). When I heard that, I reacted calmly, as a good Disneyholic does. I screamed, hyperventilated, and rushed to the phone, knocking over pets and small children. Yup, I got my reservation! Woo-hoo!!!

There is a great writeup (and even better pictures!!!) about the buffet at the DisUnplugged blog. Head over yonder but be forewarned -- you may end up shorting your keyboard while drooling over the dessert pictures...

Goodbye, Captain Eo. May Your Spirit Color Our Universe

2009-06-25T22:20:00.000-07:00

People seem to take pleasure in watching hugely successful individuals disintegrate in public (Susan Boyle, anyone?). I'm not sure where we get this meanness from, but I really wish, just this once, that we could treat a person with the basic respect every human being deserves. Michael Jackson is dead -- maybe we don't have to bring up the "wacko Jacko" stuff right now? Just this once? Hmm?

Michael Jackson died today -- I still have a hard time believing the words as I write them. And maybe I'm naive, but in all his trials and tribulations I never once believed he committed the offenses he was accused of (of which he was acquitted, by the way). Did he become an eccentric recluse with bizarre habits? Probably. But this isn't the essence of the man, not for me.

I remember Captain Eo. I remember a song and dance sequence that brought color and freedom to a black and white world ruled by an unhappy supreme leader who needed to be freed from her own bindings. I remember a captain who told his crew -- a bunch of misfits and presumed losers -- that if they just believed in themselves, they can achieve anything. For a while, Michael Jackson really did have it all. And that's how I choose to remember him.

I remember the man who wrote and performed Heal the World, to raise money for the starving people in Africa. Who participated in We are the World (USA for Africa). I remember an angel's voice singing Ben, a song that makes me cry to this day, every time I hear it.

I remember the thrill (really, no pun intended) of listening to the Thriller album as a teenager, and how so many of the tracks just hit the right spot inside of me. And I loved the Jackson 5. I loved the innocence they represented in so many ways, before "wacko Jacko" and wardrobe malfunctions. (Yes, I know Janet wasn't part of the Jackson 5, but she's part of the circus surrounding the family, a circus that shouldn't be there in the first place.)

So for me, what I choose to remember is Captain Eo. And Thriller, and this incredibly vast talent that we just lost today. He left a void that can't be filled, as far as I'm concerned. It's like watching the best part of my childhood die, and I miss him. I know some people would ridicule this sentiment, and the "wacko Jacko" jokes will be on the uprise for a while. As for me, I came home today after my Tae Kwon Do class and sat in my car and listened to Michael on the iPod. And I cried.

Good Night, Captain Eo.

Captain EO Frees the World...

2009-06-25T22:14:00.000-07:00

Not the best quality, but the song and dance and color come through suffeciently well to give you a taste of Captain EO.

Resort Trivia -- Water Bridge

2009-06-16T13:36:00.000-07:00

John D. Van Meter, one of the mad scientists who created the Purple Appendage gives us some resort trivia!

The Contemporary, by the way, was Disney World's first on-site hotel (well, that and the Polynesian -- they opened at the same time). It is situated next to the Magic Kingdom, and the monorail goes right through it!

The "Not Set in Stone" Itinerary, Part II

2009-06-12T09:25:00.000-07:00

Back after too long...Spent time trying to get over a writer's block of the worst kind at work...Here's the rest of the itinerary:

8/20 EPCOT is open late again. The only definite part of the agenda is lunch at San Angel Inn at the Mexico Pavilion in EPCOT, 1PM. Otherwise the day is wide open and will presumably include EPCOT (shocking, I know!) and swimming or relaxing by the pool. I really enjoy the evening Extra Magic Hours at EPCOT, mostly because it's my favorite park and it's fun to enjoy it with less crowds and more time :)

8/21 1PM lunch at the 50s Prime Time Diner at Disney Hollywood Studios. I LOVE the 50s Prime Time Diner. Where else would you get sent to a corner for putting your elbows on the table??? It's a great place and actually has TV sets playing 50s sitcom clips all the time. It's hilarious! Obviously this is a Disney Hollywood Studios day. I'm looking forward at minimum to Lights, Motors, Action!, Star Tours, and The Great Movie Ride.

8/22 Kona Cafe at Disney's Polynesian Resort (BANANA STUFFED FRENCH TOAST!!!) at 8:30AM. If I can't get the others up I'm going alone. I have to have that French toast and the Kona coffee, which is to die for! Since we'll be at the Poly, which is right across the water from the Magic Kingdom, I'm guessing this will be a Magic Kingdom morning. The Spectromagic Parade -- an amazing light show -- is on that night at 9PM so I plan on getting back there for the parade and Wishes, a superb fireworks show at 10PM.

8/23 Chefs de France 1 PM at EPCOT's France Pavilion. T-Rex at Downtown Disney at 6:15 PM. So we'll be spending the day at EPCOT, evening at Downtown Disney (SHOPPING! and probably DisneyQuest) and possibly at the resort pool, again :)

8/24 Water Park(s) or just a do-what-we want down time day. Gotta have those!

8/25 Evening at Disney Hollywood Studio to watch Fantasmic at 8:30. We'll have dinner there at Hollywood & Vine 6 PM. It's a yummy, fun buffet meal.

8/26 Another Do-what-we-want day. Or water park(s).

8/27 Magic Kingdom opens early to resort guests. Maybe we'll make it at 8AM. At any rate, we have Afternoon Tea (one of my favorite Disney dining experiences) at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa at 3:20 PM. So this will be a Magic Kingdom day, at least in part (the Grand Floridian, which looks like copy of the Hotel Del Coronado, is right next to the Magic Kingdom).

8/28 Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba at 6 PM. One of Cirque's permanently-stationed shows, you can only catch it at Downtown Disney. It's a GREAT show! Not much else planned. Possibly spending part of the day packing my Purple Lockers. Sigh. This is our last fool day at Disney World.

8/29 Pool in the morning after checkout. Bell Services will store our luggage until we leave, probably around 2 PM, taking the Mickey Bus back to the airport. I'm already planning the next Disney Vacation as I write this.

The "Not Set in Stone" Itinerary, Part I

2009-06-03T12:01:00.000-07:00

This past week was rough, with an unexpected and shocking death in the family. I'm trying to get back to normal here by looking at the itinerary and getting as excited as is possible under the circumstances. Here are the final plans, subject to change based on our mood and weather... and the fact that we know we'll be back again, so we can slow down if we want to! :)

Leave WA 8/17 bright and early 6AM flight (Keith and I LOVE 6 AM flights. It always feels more adventurous to wake up at 3AM and get ready to go!). Arrive Orlando 4:25PM, enough time to get to our resort at leisure and, knowing Keith, go swimming, LOL! We plan on using Disney's Magical Express, because it's a free ride with the coolest video. We're staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge Villas, with a view of the savanna. Yay!

8/18 is Extra Magic Hours in the morning for the Magic Kingdom. I plan to drag Keith out of bed nice and early, get there early, watch the opening act at 9AM after at least 1 round on Splash Mountain and 1 round on Small World. Meet Jane and Tyler for breakfast at 9:15 in the Crystal Palace. I LOVE their breakfast buffet.

EPCOT is open late that night (evening Extra Magic Hours), I figured we'd go back to the resort sometime mid-day after the Magic Kingdom, swim (Keith's favorite Disney World activity) and go back to EPCOT late afternoon. We have a 7PM dinner at Tuto Italia, the new Italian restaurant. I've heard really good things about it, I can't wait to try it!

8/19 Animal Kingdom is open early and so, shockingly enough, we plan to be there early. The best times to go on Kilimanjaro Safari are in the cooler hours of the early morning or late late afternoon (if the park is open late) -- more animals are out and about instead of seeking shelter from the heat. Breakfast at the Rain Forest Cafe (alas, Donald's Safari Breakfast was fully booked! Henceforth, I believe I should be the only Disney Vacation Club member allowed to use the 90 + 10 days rule for dining requests.)

Some things I look forward to at the Animal Kingdom:

Flights of Wonder -- a wonderful, amazing live show about birds, involving a confused tour guide and some really smart birds.
Kali River Rapids -- the wettest non-water-parks ride in all of Disney World (bring a change of underwear!) that is just pure fun. Especially in the scorching August heat of Central Florida.
Kilimanjaro Safari -- a great adventure with (potentially) lots of great animal sightings.
3-D Sound Adventure at the Conservation Station.
The Affection Connection (petting area) at Conservation Station.
Interacting with the ultra-knowledgeable Cast Members in the park.
Maharaja Trail and Panjani Forest -- walking paths with lots of animal exhibits, including the gorgeous tigers and the Bat Room.

At some point I'm sure we'll end up at the resort pool that day, if Keith has anything to say about it!

Public Service Announcement. No, Really!

2009-05-27T11:10:00.000-07:00

(click on the picture to go to the web site. Opens in a new window.)

Give Kids the World (GKTW) is a very cute-looking village resort in central Florida catering to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. It partners with organizations such as Make-A-Wish to provide children and their families with free room, board and parks admission to all the Orlando area parks (including such unmentionables as Universal Studios, says the evil Disneyholic). Families come for a weeks' free stay, and hopefully catch a much-needed break from sickness and worries.

There are several ways in which you can help:

Obviously -- donations. Running the village is not cheap, especially since it caters to families with special medical needs. According to their web site, in 2007 93 cents of each dollar spent by GKTW went directly to help the families staying in the village. That's pretty darn impressive for any charity!
Volunteer!! The village has 1,200+ volunteer shifts a week, about 3 hours each. If you are going on vacation to Central Florida, consider putting some time in at GKTW. You can do it as a group if you're all 12 and over. Information and application forms are on the web site. Background checks are required for those over 18.
Make GKTW your fundraising charity of choice. If you're looking for a good cause for a fundraising event, please consider GKTW.

Thanks to DISUnplugged for reminding me of this great place!

Resort Trivia -- Official Name

2009-05-26T09:44:00.001-07:00

When Walt Disney planned the East coast resort, it was to be named Disney World. Sadly, he never lived to see it open (he died of lung cancer in 1966). In his honor, his brother Roy changed the property's name to Walt Disney World when it opened in 1971.

Gone but Not Forgotten: Captain EO

2009-05-21T10:30:00.000-07:00

One of the downsides of being a Disneyholic is that I have been very intimately familiar with so many great attractions that are now gone from Disney World. Indeed, I question the wisdom of removing many of these attractions, especially considering what took their place. In the case of Captain Eo, unfortunately, the removal probably made political sense for Disney, since it starred Michael Jackson. The movie closed in Disney parks world-wide while Jackson was being investigated for child molestation. Coincidence? Probably not.

But Captain Eo is a gem, as far as I'm concerned. At the time it was filmed, directed by Francis Coppola and executive produced by George Lucas, Eo was the most expensive film ever made, in terms of money spent per minute. It was also a 3-D movie, rich in special effects (remember, we're talking George Lucas and the Disney Imagineers), and had amazing music. Think what you will of Jackson, the man could sing, and he could move! The cast also featured Angelica Houston as the menacing Supreme Leader, who is transformed into a beautiful queen through Eo's music and magic.

The movie is an awesome bland of music, 3-D special effects, and a simple, predictable story that leaves you grinning in spite of yourself. It concerns a band of galactic losers led by "the infamous Captain Eo" (Jackson) who get one last chance to get it done right -- they have to deliver a gift to the Supreme Leader of a desolate planet. While Eo's sidekicks (really lovable puppets) doubt their ability to complete the mission, Eo refuses to give up and in the end, proves that believing in yourself is the key to achieving the impossible. Pretty cool message.

You can catch any Disney attraction on youTube, of course, and Eo is no exception (except it's not in 3-D, and the quality is not great). While Disney has shown, so far, no intention of releasing the movie once it was gone, it lives in video clips on the net. But I really miss seeing it at EPCOT. I miss it every time I go there. I'm sorry, but Honey, I Shrunk the Audience (Eo's "replacement") just doesn't do it for me.

Mickey's Voice...

2009-05-20T22:37:00.001-07:00

I just found out that Wayne Allwine, who was Mickey's voice since 1977 (and was married to Minnie's voice) died 5/18/2009...Here are the AP obit and his Disney profile

:(

ADR Time!!!

2009-05-18T21:37:00.000-07:00

A Disneyholic's brain works in mysterious ways. I mean, who in their right mind would get excited about making dining reservations at 4am (PST)???

The Disney World reservation system allows people to make what's known as Advanced Dining Reservations 90 days before their desired dining date. Members of the Disney Vacation Club, of which I am one, are allowed to make dining reservations 90 days +10, meaning we can make reservations for the first 10 days of our trip at the 90 day mark of our arrival date, instead of calling daily.

So the plan is for me to try and call when the phone lines open (7am EST, 4am PST) and try to get reservations to:

Crystal Palace
San Angel Inn
Tutto Italia
50s Prime Time Diner
Kona Cafe
Donald's Safari Breakfast at Tusker House
Chefs de France
Garden Grill
Tea @ the Gardenview Lounge (Grand Floridian)

I also need to call the T-Rex restaurant in Downtown Disney. This is not a Disney-owned restaurant, so reservations are separate.

(My son, being silly at T-Rex, 2008)

We'll be there from 8/17-29, and I'm actually being light on the sit-down restaurants this time. But like all other true Disney World Disneyholics, just the act of making these reservations is enough to get me VERY excited!

I love it when a plan comes together...

2009-05-14T13:58:00.001-07:00

(So yeah, I used to watch the A Team as a kid...if the above quote sounds familiar to any of you, you know my age, roughly!)

On Monday, I checked for flights to Orlando for our August trip. with gas prices going up, I figured it's only a matter of time before airfares start going up, like they did last year. I waited a few days for various reasons (being sick, for one), and checked the flights again today. The fare WENT DOWN by $100!!!!!! Yeah, we now have booked flights!!!

Other Rides I Love: It's A Small World (I'm anticipating all your comments already!)

2009-05-09T23:41:00.000-07:00

The world as I know it seems to be equally divided among people who love this ride or can't stand it. Certainly, even Cast Members are aware of the ride's supposed potential to drive people bonkers, because I've heard several of them (including a memorable bus driver) threaten to lock people up in this ride and make them listen to the song for 10 hours straight...

[On the other hand, I think if you make anyone listen to any song for 10 hours straight you'd get pretty ugly results including, possibly, some sort of a psychotic breakdown.]

Right. I'm back now.

I happen to be firmly in the camp of those who love this ride, and the song, corny as they both might be. Perhaps it is the innocence I feel is so sadly lacking in the world today. I definitely love the vibrant colors (especially following the mega-refurbishment in 2005) and imaginative design of the dolls. I also love playing the "Name the Represented Country" with my son as we wind through the different parts of the ride.

Small World, "the happiest cruise that ever sailed," was originally built for the NY World's Fair in 1964. It was meant to promote familiarity with different world cultures, and I believe the proceeds from the World's Fair ride went to the UN's Children's Fund. It is a sweet ride, populated with dolls of children in their respective national costumes, and is one of only a few rides left in Disney World that is purely a Walt Disney ride (his vision, untouched). The Disney World ride is a duplicate of the World's Fair ride. The original ride went from the World's Fair to Disneyland, where it was recently destroyed by the shameless addition of Disney characters among the dolls. I can only hope (though I'm not optimistic) that the Disney World ride won't be similarly desecrated. To me, branding It's A Small World is another indication that Disney is a little too mercenary these days.

But I'll keep enjoying the unadulterated version in Disney World for as long as it's there.

August Hours are Up!!!

2009-05-06T22:45:00.001-07:00

Seemingly little things can mean so much when you live from one Disney World vacation to the next...Since we're going in August, I've been anxiously awaiting the release of the August park hours so that I can plan our days in the general sense. It's important for me to know which parks are open late on which days, so I can have an idea of where to make dining reservations. And to keep me busy while waiting for August 17th...

So the August hours are finally released in all their glory, and I have 10 days before I can make dining reservations, which means I have 10 days to plot...The problem, of course (since I'm a Disneyholic), is that I run the risk of concentrating more on the plotting than on my work...After all, what's more fun -- planning a Disney World vacation or working? I know what my answer is, so I have to keep reminding myself that in order to go on this Disney World vacation I have to make money...

We're going with my son's friend T. and his grandma, who shares not only my Disney passion but also my birthday. We have so much in common, in fact, it almost makes me believe in astrology. Almost. And she's such an amazing woman, I want to do something special for her on this trip. I'm thinking tickets to the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue are in order, and / or La Nouba tickets!

Is it August yet????

From the Management...

2009-05-02T02:26:00.000-07:00

Yay! I finally found a template that allows me to use a full screen! I hope you like it. Let me know if the change is too jarring...

Also -- thanks to those who are following this blog!! It's a nice feeling :) Feel free to spread the word! I REALLY appreciate your being here.

The Clothes Make this Disneyholic!

2009-05-01T11:07:00.000-07:00

A Disneyholic can find all sorts of great things to spend money on within the scope of their addiction. The Disney Corporation has merchandising down to a science. Annoyingly enough, a lot of their merchandise is also very compelling.

There is a gift shop at the end of almost every ride in the parks, in addition to free-standing gift shops throughout the parks. And there's Downtown Disney, a shopoholic's paradise, especially a Disneyholic shopoholic.

My biggest weakness is actually the wearable merchandise. I have an obscene number of T-shirts and sweatshirts from the parks, resort hotels, and the Disney Cruise Line. I have the advantage of being short enough I can wear Youth size T-shirts, so I can have my pick also from Disney's "kids only" tops. I've taken advantage of that often.

Is there such a thing as too many Disney clothes? You're asking the wrong person. I weep when my oldest Tees have to be "terminated" because 20 years of washes have rendered them unwearable. I've considered funeral ceremonies but haven't sunk that low yet...I suppose some people actually collect the Tees to display, not to wear. To me, being able to wear them is like having a mini Disney fix every day...

I can't wait to see what new tops I'll find in August!

Pictorial Interlude -- Splash Mountain

2009-04-27T10:16:00.000-07:00

These pictures are clipped from my videos of Splash Mountain, so quality may not be the greatest...

	Leadig up to the big drop...

Characters in Flight -- New Disney World Attraction

2009-04-26T20:45:00.000-07:00

Here's something I can't wait to try in August -- a tethered balloon ride over Downtown Disney, with amazing views of Disney World from 400 ft in the air. The balloon is filled with helium, which is lighter than air. There's no need to heat up gases to make it go up, so the ride is more environmentally-friendly as a result. Orlando Attractions has this great video about the ride, including interviews with the top brass :)

Favorite Attractions: SPLASH MOUNTAIN

2009-04-25T09:32:00.000-07:00

Song of the South was Disney's first (mostly) live-action film, and it is the only one not available on video in the US. The movie is controversial due to its depiction of African-Americans, though taken in the context of its time period, some people claim the controversy is unjustified. I've never actually seen the movie, and I don't go for bootleg copies of movies, so I can't comment on that aspect of things.

What I CAN comment about is the contribution of the movie to the Disney culture. EVERYONE, be it a Disneyholic or just someone who is familiar with Disney in general, knows the Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah song (which won a Best Song Oscar in 1948). Yes, it comes from this movie. The animated parts of Song of the South made it into many Disney compilation footage. And the movie inspired my all-time, far-above-all-others (slight pun intended) Disney World ride -- Splash Mountain.

WARNING: YOU WILL PROBABLY GET SOAKED!!! (But maybe less so if you sit in the back)

Splash Mountain is technically a flume ride, in the same way that Disney World is an amusement park. NOT. It is a celebration of the senses (hey, you'll even taste the water, trust me!) that happens while you sit in a "log" flume. Oh yeah, you will drop 52 ft at 40 mph at one point...But right before you do, you'll get an amazing view of the Magic Kingdom. Especially if you ride at night, when all the lights are on.

And while you're dropping, your picture will be taken. SMILE! (Really, not everyone screams in terror. I only did the first time.)

The ride tells the story of Brer Rabbit, an animated character from the movie. Brer Rabbit is a carefree rabbit with not a lot of sense, and we follow him as he goes about his carefree days and manages to annoy Brer Bear and Brer Fox, who then decide to hunt him. Right before you begin the climb for the big drop, we see poor Brer Rabbit was finally caught, and music of doom plays as you climb the big track...

The drop itself is actually long enough to be exhilarating but not terrifying, unless you suffer from motion sickness, in which case the whole ride is not recommended, since you're on water. After the drop we celebrate Brer Rabbit's miraculous escape from the silly creatures who hunted him. Watch for Brer Fox's tail being pulled by a determined crocodile...the whole ride is filled with colorful props and audio-animatronic critters, and you end up feeling like your face is going to split from grinning so much. It helps that the music is so excellent (all the songs are from the movie; the score was Oscar-nominated in 1948).

At the end of the ride, there is an area displaying the pictures of the plunging riders. Look for your picture, have the Cast Member in attendance write down its number for you if you like it, and you can purchase it in the inevitable gift shop on the way to the exit.

The ride is over 10 minutes long and tends to have obscenely long lines. Use a FastPass instead. Children have to be 40" tall to ride.

If you stand on the bridge to watch the flumes plunge, you may get wet. I actually like standing on the other side of the bridge, down a couple of stairs, where you can see the people floating after they plunge, and hear their comments. :)

Owner's Locker -- A New Appendage for Disney World Disneyholics

2009-04-23T10:12:00.000-07:00

The evolution of a Disneyholic is an accelerated business. Whereas new body parts may take thousands of years to develop normally in an animal who needs it, many Disney World Disneyholics have developed an indispensable body part known as the Owner's Locker in the last several years. Keep in mind, Disney World only opened in 1971. We have it from reliable sources that several Disneyholics have 7 of these new appendages, and I know of at least one with 10 of them. I have 1, but I feel a second one coming on soon.

There are serious suspicions, however, that Owner's Locker may have been a genetic engineering experiment gone astray, rather than an actual evolutionary process. The prime suspects are a pair of mad scientists named John D. Van Meter and Brian L. Whitt. They are frequently spotted driving a purple van around Disney World resorts, taking pictures and delivering these detachable appendages to their ~~victims~~ customers.

Regardless of its origin, Owner's Locker is a stroke of luck (or genius) for all of us Disneyholics. These purple trunks hold a considerable amount of necessary stuff we Disneyholics can't live without. Before the advent of this miraculous appendage, we paid staggering extra luggage fees whenever we flew to Orlando. For example, we kept trying to figure out whether packing the kitchen sink was cheaper than buying one at WDW (Walt Disney World).

I keep a decent amount of clothes in my locker, as well as toiletries, batteries, first aid supplies, water wallet, bottle straps, sun screen, insect repellent, laundry detergent, and other things I can't live without while I'm in the Mouse House. I wish I could keep my son's clothes in there -- that would REALLY cut down on the packing -- but he's 12, and growing like a weed, so that's not practical.

I also have a pack of Earl Grey tea bags in my locker. I can't live without my Earl Grey, FL or not. It's great to relax with a hot cup of tea on the balcony at night, after a long day in the parks!

The problem with the purple trunks is that I keep thinking of more stuff to add, hence my suspicion that a new one is coming my way soon. For now, it's a real pleasure knowing my stuff will be waiting for me in my favorite place on Earth when I get there next. The Mad Scientists and the Bell Service people work together flawlessly, ensuring that my appendage is delivered to my room when I check in. When I check out, I repack the trunk and Bell Services pick it up from my room, taking it to their storage area where it is later picked up by the Purple Van.

Pictorial Interlude -- Christmas around "The World"

2009-04-20T21:17:00.000-07:00

There is nothing like visiting Walt Disney World during the Holiday Season. It is an experience that always brings tears to my eyes, just thinking about it. If you go the week after Thanksgiving until about mid-December, you'll see and enjoy all the decorations and special events, and suffer none of the crowds.

All photos: Me! Click on individual pictures to open a full size photo in a new window.

This is a life-size
gingerbread house, with a
candy store iside!

More on the FastPasses

2009-04-18T22:19:00.000-07:00

(Note: The FastPass entry is right below this one, but you have to scroll to see it.)

To be fair to park guests, Disney limits you to one FastPass until your window starts, or 2 hours from the time the FastPass was issued, whichever comes first. You can then get a FastPass for another ride, but you cannot hoard FastPasses all at once for every ride you want. Therefore, as you enter the park in the morning, head for the ride you want most, and get that as you first FastPass. Or ride it right away, if the line is not too long yet.

FastPasses are available for select (but not all) attractions in the parks.

The FastPass machines will only accept park tickets that have been scanned at the park entrance. Therefore, you cannot take your entire family's batch of tickets with you to the park and get them FastPasses while they sleep in at the hotel. This is another way Disney ensures a fair distribution of these precious commodities.

The FastPass System -- Basics

2009-04-18T22:17:00.000-07:00

Let's face it, you're going to Disney World to enjoy some rides, right? At least, that's one purpose of your trip. And rides mean lines. Sometimes REALLY long lines, if the ride is very popular. Disney does an amazing job of making the lines to most rides really entertaining and fun (a notable exception is the Speedway Race Cars, where you just stand in a drab line and breathe fumes). But even the most whimsical, creative, and interesting line in the world gets really old if you've been standing in the same spot for the past 15 or 20 minutes.

Enter the FastPass system.

(Image: http://www.oinc.net/disney/images/fastpass1.jpg)

The FastPass system stands in line for you. Basically, it is a slip of paper that gives you a designated window of 1 hour to come back to the ride. When you come back within that window, you go through the FastPass line, which is generally short and sweet (the longest I ever waited was 15 minutes, on the weekend before Christmas). You walk past all the people waiting in the regular 60+ minutes line, and if you're like me, try really hard not to snicker.

Here's an example: The Standby wait time for Splash Mountain on a particular day at 11 AM reads 75 minutes. You walk to the FastPass machine situated next to the ride's entrance, insert your park admission ticket, and the machine gives you back a small slip of paper that says your return time is between 2:20 - 3:20 that afternoon. You spend the next 3 hours doing other fun stuff at the park and having a great lunch, come back at 2:20 and walk straight through.

Or you can spend 75 minutes standing in line in the sweltering FL heat. Some people, for some reason, do this.

The sign above the FastPass area will let you know what window of time the machines are currently dispensing, so if you have a meal reservation, for instance, you won't find out when you get your pass that your window conflicts with your reservation. You can decide if the window works for you, or come back later to see if a later window is available.

Be aware, though -- FastPasses do run out. Depending on the ride and / or time of year, they can run out as soon as 10 AM (1 hour after official park opening). I've seen this happen with Soarin' a lot.

"What's so Special About Disney, Anyway?"

2009-04-16T13:31:00.000-07:00

Well, that's a really good question. What I love about Disney World, the Disney Cruise Line, and Disney movies and music is more the feelings I get from them, rather then one single factor. There are many many details that combine to make a Disney World visit, for instance, very special.

The most important thing about Disney, if you truly want to enjoy it, is to have a sense of wonder about you. What tickles that sense of wonder is pretty personal. For me, it could be anything from seeing some really great topiaries to hearing the music coming out of the bushes as I walk along the paths in the park. It's the feeling I get at night, sitting on the white sand at the Polynesian Resort, watching fireworks explode over Cinderella's Castle across the Seven Seas Lagoon, reflecting in the water, with soft Island music playing in the background.

Or this (the tiger is real -- Disney's Animal Kingdom Park, Photos by Yours Truly):

More than sites and sounds, though, the Disney magic in the parks and ships is about the people who work there, known as Cast Members. The Cast Members, and the Disney policies that allow them to do the magical things they do, really make the parks and resorts extremely special.

It isn't necessarily anything big. But even small unexpected surprises can make your whole day special.

For example, this past December my son (who is 12) wanted to ride Big Thunder Mountain, a fairly tame rollercoaster, as those things go. (I am NOT a rollercoaster person. They sideways motion does nasty things to my body and psyche.) We wanted to get a FastPass (explained in my next post) to come back later, since the line was 60 minutes long. I asked a Cast Member named Edgar if I needed a FastPass just to walk Keith through the line (I don't let him wait in line by himself. I trust Disney employees, but not the visitors -- I've seen all types in the parks). Instead of answering my question, Edgar said, "Oh, just come with me." He took us to the back exit of the rollercoaster, where the cars unload. He asked my son whether he wanted to ride in the front, middle, or back, and while we waited (all of 5 minutes) entertained us with jokes and stories. Keith got to ride in the front, like he wanted to, and all we had was a 5 minute wait. We didn't ask for it. It was just given. And these exceptional human touches keep me coming back.

You'd be hard pressed to find a place as well maintained, as beautiful, whimsy, and artfully made as the Disney resorts where you are also treated as if you are royalty. With very few exceptions, I have had nothing but the most amazing customer service from Cast Members, and what's more, they always make you laugh.

More on the magic of Disney in future posts...

Resort Trivia: The Walt Disney World "Navy"

2009-04-11T19:15:00.000-07:00

The WDW resort uses a large number of water vessels to get people around the resort, including in the parks, between resorts, and between resorts and parks. In fact, in terms of number of vessels, WDW has the 7th largest navy in the world.

"So are you, like, totally biased?"

2009-04-11T19:09:00.000-07:00

No.

(What, you want more details??)

OK, OK...

I love Disney World and Disney Cruise Line (DCL) to the point of obsession / addiction. I have to get back to WDW at regular intervals or I develop twitches and other bizarre symptoms. (I'd like to get back to DCL more often as well, but I have to win the lottery first).

That is not to say, however, that I think Walt Disney World or Disney Cruise Line are perfect, Utopian entities with nothing wrong in them, There are things that irk me or disappoint me about WDW (I've had a much longer history with WDW than DCL), or the company's policies as they affect the parks and resorts. I will offer "Disneyholic laments" throughout the blog. I still think, however, that Walt Disney World is a phenomenal vacation place. It is better than most other vacation destinations, in my opinion (why that is is a topic of an upcoming post), but it is, like any human endeavour, imperfect and sometimes driven more by the bottom line than by common sense. However, it is still, on the whole, fairly true to Walt's original vision. I pray that will never change, though sometimes I do worry.

And yes, if I could, I would live in the Castle! (Photo Credit: Me!)

Walt Disney World, Pt. 1

2009-04-08T23:49:00.000-07:00

The most important thing about Walt Disney World (aside from the fact that it exists) is this: You can't see it all in one visit. So don't even try. Trust me, you'll be happier on your vacation if you acknowledge this one fact from the beginning.

Walt Disney World has 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, over 30 resort hotels , most of which are individually themed and worth visiting on their own, a downtown area filled with great shopping and dining, championship golf courses, watercrafts you can rent, mini golf, a car racing experience...you get the idea. Don't try to see it all at once. It isn't humanly possible and besides, not seeing it all adds to the fun. As in: "Well, we didn't get to Blizzard Beach or DisneyQuest this time, but we'll catch those on our next trip." See how easy it is to get addicted?

Actually that's a great marketing game plan on Disney's part. By making it impossible for you to catch it all at once, they make it more attractive for you to come back. Clever, these folks! Sort of like putting nicotine in cigarettes, but Disney is actually very good for your health, unlike cigarettes.

When Walt Disney searched for a place for his East Coast theme park, he wanted to get enough land so the park won't be choked off by business and the surrounding city, the way Disneyland in Anaheim turned out to be. Consequently, the Disney Corporation, under the guise of various sham companies, bought a total of 47 sq miles (about twice the size of Manhattan) in Central FL, of which only about 1/3 is developed. When you're in WDW, you are immersed in the Disney environment, and it is very easy to forget there's a different world outside. Adding to the blessed isolation is the fact that WDW has their own very developed transportation system (boats, ferries, monorails, and buses), so you never have to drive while there. Unless you really want to.

Personally, I think the ability to NOT need a car is part of what makes a vacation restful. But I digress.

Below: A unique view of Monorail Purple (Picture credit: Me!)

The All-Important Ticker

2009-04-06T21:59:00.000-07:00

One of the first thing you want to know about Disneyholics like me is that we can't live without our countdown ticker. This all important graphic, which any Disneyholic can customize, tells us how long before we get our next ~~fix~~ Disney vacation. Some tickers (one of which usually runs on my computer) count down to the seconds left until the trip. Not that I'm obsessed or anything.

I've been known to stare at the countdown clock for several minutes at a stretch, savoring the dwindling seconds. My son, who is growing up a Disneyholic like Mom (that's my boy!) would often bounce up to my laptop to check just how long we have, on previous trips. I'm hiding the ticker on this trip because I'm trying to surprise him the day of...we'll see if I can keep my mouth shut long enough...

But I still check the ticker often while he's at school, you know. And after he goes to bed. And when he does his homework.

131 days, 2 hours, 10 minutes, 45 seconds...44...43...42...41...40...

Park Trivia -- Magic Kingdom

2009-04-04T21:27:00.000-07:00

The Disneyland (CA) Magic Kingdom could fit in the parking lot of Disney World's Magic Kingdom, and still leave room for 500 cars.

Clinical Manifistations :)

2009-04-04T19:25:00.000-07:00

Disneyholism, like any other addiction, progresses through several stages. Here is a typical example:

A healthy person visits a Disney theme park (children not required)

Upon returning home, the person is heard to rave about the visit, and mention how it would be fun to go again.

As the time approaches to plan the next vacation, said person reasons that since he or she had so much fun last year, a repeat performance is in order.

Person comes back from vacation and says they can’t wait to go again. There’s this business trip to Orlando coming up, and why not extend it by a few days to visit “The World” (note the beginning of language abnormalities)

While on the extended business trip, our patient purchases an Annual Pass to the parks, and takes a tour of the Disney Vacation Club (“I’m just curious”)

It’s all downhill from there…

Symptoms of my type of Disneyholism include frequent visits to a Disney theme park and/or frequent cruises on DCL (Disney Cruise Line). When not visiting the parks or cruising DCL, Disneyholics like me develop twitches and engage in obsessive planning of their next Disney vacation.

Language abnormalities are common among Disneyholics. A typical conversation may include the following exchange:

“When do you go next?”

“Week after my birthday. We’re staying at POR with the free DDP, and doing the PPP the night of the 3rd.”

“You’re going on M:S first thing again?”

“Always! Except this time I don’t think I’ll need an FP. I’m pretty upset, though, because BTMRR is down for refurbishment.”

Amazingly enough, this dialog makes perfect sense to a Disneyholics, since their brain structures have been modified to understand and accept this new language.

For the uninitiated, a quick glossary:

POR = Port Orleans, one of the moderate Disney Resorts

DDP = Disney Dining Plan. More on the DDP in an upcoming post.

PPP = Pirates and Princesses Party. An AWESOME event!

M:S = Mission:Space, an EPCOT ride. Originally one of Disney's more spectacular miscalculations, it now features a version suitable for almost everyone. M:S was built in collaboration with NASA, by the way.

BTMRR = Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, a pretty tame roller coaster, except for people like me, who can't take any flavor of roller coasters because of the sideways motion. I don't do roller coasters. But I digress...

Closed for refurbishment = Closed for maintenance. When attractions at Disney parks close for maintenance, they usually close from several days to several months.

OK, So What is A Disneyholic?

2009-04-01T14:55:00.000-07:00

In short, it's someone who's totally obsessed with Disney. There is a long answer of course.

Disneyholics come in various flavors. There are those whose entire houses are Disney-themed. Those who collect Disneyana and can tell you the complete history of each artifact at the drop of a hat. There are those who know everything that's going on in the company and can fairly reliably tell you what's coming up.

Then there are people, like me, who know a respectable amount of Disney minuteae (e.g. what was Mickey Mouse's original name? What's Donald Duck's Middle name?), but what makes us Disneyholics is our complete inability to stay away from the parks (in my case, Disney World in FL), and the fact we won't shut up about it. We also know a disgusting amount of park trivia. In fact, one of my best days was when, spending time in EPCOT with a friend and filling her head with completely useless information about the park, she said it was cool -- she felt like she had a private tour guide with her. Score!

Speaking of trivia, in case you're wondering:
1) Mickey's original name was to be Mortimer Mouse, until Lilian Disney nixed that idea and got Walt to call him Mickey. Smart woman!!
2) Donald's middle name is Fauntleroy.
3) My favorite characters are Donald and Eeyore. I mean, OK, Eeyore isn't originally a Disney character, but I really like his Disney-created personality.

There are other characteristics of my Disneyholism. For example, me and my fellow park Disneyholics tend to ~~waste~~ spend an enormous amount of time on places like the Disboards, a community that merits its own upcoming blog post. I promise. And we have our own language. Really! Wait for the next installment and I'll prove it :)

The Begining of the Story Or: How I Fell in Love with Figment

2009-03-31T10:14:00.000-07:00

Two tiny wings

Eyes big and yellow

Horns of a steer

What a lovable fellow!

(from the Journey Into the Imagination ride [R.I.P.] -- EPCOT)

I have always been fascinated with the idea of Disney World. As a child, I knew several lucky kids who went there on their birthday. I always wanted to go too, but my love affair with Disney really started when I saw Figment for the first time.

I was a volunteer EMT in a small town in Connecticut, and a fellow EMT named Jeff found out about my Disney fascination. He invited me over one evening and he and his wife, both Disney fans, showed me their Disney photo albums. They had made several trips to Disney World, and had great photos.

“Hey, what’s that?” I asked. It was a very cool-looking critter, purple, little wings, very cute. (It’s hard to believe now there was a time I knew next to nothing about Disney aside from the movies and cartoons.)

“That’s a figment of your imagination,” Jeff smirked.

I looked at him, trying to decide if he was pulling my leg, and he took pity on me and told me about the Journey into the Imagination ride, starring Figment.

I was in love with a purple dragon-like creature. I had to go see Figment in person. And a Disneyholic was born.