Photos from the Parks

A Return to Glory: Tropical Serenade and Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room

2011-10-27T21:31:00.001-04:00

It's hard for many Disney fans when an attraction at the parks is updated. Many changes are necessary to adapt to guest preferences, increased attendance, or changes in the Disney catalog but it's especially painful when an attraction changes, is universally panned, but keeps going regardless of guest sentiment. A prime example would be Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room, located in WDW's Magic Kingdom.

One of the strongest direct links to Walt when it debuted as an original Magic Kingdom attraction in 1971, Tropical Serenade was a near perfect replica of Disneyland's attraction. José, Michael, Pierre, and Fritz warbled and joked through the same set of material culminating with a rather cheeky riff on Snow White's Heigh-Ho that sent guests on their way through the exits. As was common in the Eisner years the parks consistently sought to reinvent themselves with low-dollar improvements, especially those that could be adapted to embrace new, and profitable, characters from the resurgent Disney film library. And, so, in that manner Tropical Serenade was 'plussed' to include Iago and Zazu and fit within an easy to manage 10-minute show window with the name The Enchanted Tiki Room: Under New Management. For fourteen years guests were subjected to the dulcet tones of Gilbert Gottfried's voice interrupting the Sherman Brothers' In The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room number until, in January of this year, a fire broke out in the attraction building. News spread quickly, almost like wildfire (sorry), with information centering on the fact the fire irreparably damaged the Iago animatronic figure and many speculated on changes that could occur as a result.

And then on August 15, 2011 a wonderful thing happened. . .

The attraction reopened and in the spirit of celebrating WDW's 40th anniversary a version of the original show returned (albeit without the Offenbach piece and its cruel and unusual jokes). Fans everywhere with an appreciation of everything "old school" about WDW rejoiced and a thousand angels received their wings. (And an extremely long penance for someone ended.) In addition to the restored show attraction the pre-show was returned to its former state where Clyde and Claude prepped guests for what was to come in a four and a half minute garden show. PFTP visited the restored show and we were thrilled with the restored attraction. (Unfortunately, other guests still look at us strangely when we recite the show in its entirety. Is this a odd thing to do?)

In the end, this is a case of Imagineering bringing order back to the universe and reaching back to the past to bring guests a small piece of Walt Disney himself; not the young filmmaker with the world before him but the grandfather and tired visionary who just enjoyed bringing birds to life.

These photographs were taken by the author in November 2007, November 2008, and October 2011.

View Walt Disney World - Photos from the Parks in a larger map

The Contemporary Resort and Mary Blair

2011-10-24T18:19:00.000-04:00

Mary Blair is one of the better known women to have worked for Walt Disney and is known primarily for her work on It's A Small World and, more dear to the hearts of the PFTP staff, the 90 ft. high mural inside Walt Disney World's Contemporary Resort.

Mary was born on October 21, 1911 and began her animation career with the Ub Iwerks studio after graduate studies at the Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles. Mary joined her husband, Lee Blair, at the Walt Disney Studios in 1940. Mary's close relationship with the Disney family was forged on the very interesting Good Neighbor tour of South American countries with Walt and Lillian in 1941. (Please see 'Walt and El Grupo' for more information on this tour and the problems Walt faced during the war at home.)

Throughout her career at the Disney Studios, Mary was a concept artist, color stylist, and an art supervisor for a large number of films. However, she left the studio in 1953 only to return and this second phase of her Disney career cemented her legacy. During her absence from the Walt Disney Studios in the '50s Mary spent time working for commercial advertising clients. It was her success here, and her previous work on films ranging from Fantasia to Cinderella to Peter Pan and many shorts that led Walt to ask her to contribute to the World's Fair effort. Mary soon began work on the Pepsi-Cola sponsored pavilion, which benefited UNICEF, along with Rolly Crump and the iconic attraction never looked back.

In the end, Mary Blair became synonymous for her work on the 1964 World's Fair and the It's A Small World attraction. In addition to this immediately recognizable attraction Mary is also widely known for her mosaic murals in Disneyland's Tomorrowland (many of which are gone and/or covered over) and at Walt Disney World's Contemporary Resort. The mural at WDW is striking just for its size, which encompasses the entirety of the central elevator bay. It depicts a stepped mound with Native American children and animals, all instantly recognizable as her work in 12" x 12" squares.

The mural has four sides; the north and south faces display children and animals while the east and west faces, smaller and less detailed, depict children and larger animals. Each side has numerous items to view and, in the end, it's an amazing feat of sculpture.

Each tile has raised surfaces with incredible detail that's best experienced up close. Perhaps the best place to see just how raised these tiles are is directly across from Fantasia gift shop, in the central area of the main tower. From here, directly to the left of the Grand Canyon Concourse escalator leading to the monorail station on the 5th floor, you can see this wonderful owl. Alternatively, you can view tiles directly above the order kiosks at the Contempo Café.

Perhaps the most unique aspect of the mural is Blair's five-legged goat. According to multiple sources, Mary wanted people to remember nothing is perfect, hence the intentional mistake. PFTP hasn't been able to verify this statement but, nonetheless, it makes for an excellent 'Did you know?' moment for those not as familiar with Disney lore.

The next time you have a few minutes at the monorail station or are looking for something to do outside of the parks, head over to the Contemporary Resort and examine the mural in closer detail. You won't be disappointed.

These photographs were taken by the author in October, 2011.

View Walt Disney World - Photos from the Parks in a larger map

Back to the Briar Patch: Research Trip

2011-10-14T20:05:00.001-04:00

The staff from Photos from the Parks are headed back into the Briar Patch again, eager to drink in Epcot's Food and Wine Festival, Star Tours 2.0, see what's going on in and around Fantasyland, and more. See you soon!

This photograph was taken by the author in October, 2008.

View Walt Disney World - Photos from the Parks in a larger map

The Magic of Disney Animation - Animation Gallery

2011-10-11T11:49:00.001-04:00

With a rich history of animated films at its disposal, Disney's Hollywood Studios offers guests a unique chance to see ephemera associated with many of its classic movies. The Magic of Disney Animation building (which hosts a number of 'attractions') is a great place to see items related to many of our favorite films.

The building hosts an interesting history: many park fans fondly remember the Walter Cronkite and Robin Williams narrated film discussion the magic of Disney animation and the 'behind the scenes' walking tour that followed. Park visitors were treated to the sight of animators working on new films and restorations back when the park served as a functioning animation studio. (Sigh.)

As always, change is inevitable and the activities within the building are no longer as exciting. The Magic of Disney Animation attraction remains and guests can watch cast members draw characters and try their own hand at following along. Maquettes, concept art, background paintings, and storyboards now abound touting new Disney films as do character meet and greet areas. In the end, most of the magic is gone with the exception of one particularly interesting and out of the way area within this building: the Animation Gallery area.

Here, as mentioned above, guests can see a duplicate of one of Walt's Academy Award for Special Award in 1941; a certificate of merit for Fantasia related to the special use of sound in a movie which he shared with two others and RCA.

Additionally, this area showcases prints, sketches, and other items from a rotating set of films. On display here are items related to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

This area of the building is normally very quiet and provides guests a chance to take their time to view items in the exhibit; one of the rare opportunities to catch your breath and actually soak in a piece of history.

These photographs were taken by the author in May, 2010.

View Walt Disney World - Photos from the Parks in a larger map

Famous To:s and From:s

2011-10-09T17:52:00.002-04:00

One of the benefits of a theme park devoted to motion pictures and television is the ability to place tongue in cheek and/or seemingly insignificant trivia items wherever you want. In the case of Walt Disney World's Disney Hollywood Studios, these innocuous references are found in many places, one of them being a set of crates located next to Min and Bill's Dockside Diner in the Echo Lake portion of the park.

Min and Bill's, itself, is a rather oblique reference to an Academy award winning film from the early 1930's and the 'diner' is on-board the S.S. Down the Hatch. This establishment is nothing more than a convenient place to grab a snack (think Disney Dining Plan snack) as you make your way into the southeast portion of the park.

One of the more interesting accoutrements are the cargo crates located dockside. While they may, at first glance, appear as nothing more than obstacles to those running towards the Sounds Dangerous building (does anyone ever run to this attraction?) the crates are a clever nod to great films part of Hollywood's past including 'Citizen Kane', 'It's a Wonderful Life', 'Casablanca', 'The Producers', and more. These are just one of the many 'wink-wink nod-nod' references to items in Disney's Hollywood Studios that makes it enjoyable for kids, parents, and grandparents alike.

These photographs were taken by the author in May, 2010.

View Walt Disney World - Photos from the Parks in a larger map

Happy 40th to WDW

2011-10-01T20:59:00.001-04:00

Hard to believe it, but Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom Park turned forty years old today. Wow.

This photograph was taken by the author in October 2010.

View Walt Disney World - Photos from the Parks in a larger map

The Curious Case of Prince Min - Debunked?

2011-09-28T13:40:00.001-04:00

One of the most feature rich areas within Epcot is the China Pavilion. The blaze of color is overwhelming and on sunny days photos taken at this pavilion pop with rich detail. The pavilion features several replicas of architectural landmarks including the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests (part of the larger Temple of Heaven park located in Beijing) and the Gate of the Golden Sun (modeled after similar gates in the Forbidden City.) These replicas are excellent choices for Epcot as their inspirations are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites and exemplify 15th century Chinese design.

As with each World Showcase pavilion, the government of the 'host country', in this case the People's Republic of China, works with the Imagineers to determine various aspects of each pavilion. More than anything, World Showcase offers each member country a ready made visitor bureau and travel agency and is a great way to introduce guests to their country; as such, it pays to pay attention to detail.

Visitors to the China Pavilion can't help but be amazed at the specific style and subtle touches in this pavilion; one of the more special items are the Imperial roof decorations. Imperial roof decorations, roof charms, or roof figures signified official government buildings up to 1911 (C.E.) in imperial China. While each instance of these figures may vary, there are some constants in their appearance and processional order:

1. At the end, or back, of the procession a dragon/hanging beast is featured;
2. At the beginning, or front, of the procession a man or immortal is perched upon a Chinese phoenix/hen;
3. In between the two a number of mythical beasts connect the two and are usually an odd number of beasts;
4. The number of beasts signifies the importance of the building with the maximum number of nine beasts;
5. The most important buildings in the empire would feature another immortal directly in front of the phoenix at the end of the procession.

It's here where things start to become a mess due to the content in Alex Wright's 'The Imagineering Field Guide to Epcot' and the internet's propensity to cut and paste ad infinitum. On page 87 in the Quick Takes section of the World Showcase - China portion of the book readers find the following statement:

Decorative figures on rooftops have specific meanings
The man seated on the hen on the roof of Nine Dragons Restaurant is Prince Min, a 3rd-century ruler who was hanged for his cruelty. It is customary to install an effigy of him as a warning to other tyrants. The various animals are placed there to keep him from escaping. Wright, Alex. The Imagineering Field Guide to Epcot at Walt Disney World. New York: Disney Editions, 2006 (first edition).

On the whole we find the Field Guides to be indispensable but this item above leaves us scratching our heads and wondering why it was included in the text and what Wright's source is. (My, how we'd love an edition of the Field Guides with source information.) Why shouldn't we take this statement at face value? First of all, the most often quoted texts are Juliet Bredon's Peking - A Historical and Intimate Description of its Chief Places of Interest (1921) and Charles Alfred Speed William's Outlines of Chinese Symbolism and Art Motives (1941). Each of these texts tells a similar tale. Bredon's states a cruel despot from the Zhou dynasty (1046-256 B.C.), Emperor Min, was overthrown by his subjects, hung from the eaves of a building, and left to die from exposure to the elements. Furthermore, to remind residents of his evil ways an effigy was placed on prominent buildings as a warning to others and animals placed in back to prevent him from escaping his predicament. (Sound familiar? Check out page 87 of the Field Guide.) William's exposition is much the same only this time it is Prince Min of the Chi'i state who is defeated in battle and left to a similar fate. The residents of the state place him in effigy atop a hen with a dragon watching over and it isn't until the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 C.E.) or more than 1,500 years later that the interspersed beasts are added.

Yikes. Are we to assume the most powerful dynasty throughout time was willing to adopt a practice from another family some 1,500 years later in the Forbidden City especially one that featured ruler killed at the hands of his subjects? That doesn't make much sense to the editorial staff here nor to many others. What does make sense is an alternate explanation and one that makes more sense given the figures prominence in the Forbidden City and their inclusion at Epcot's China Pavilion.

The phoenix, or Feng Huang, is the greatest of all birds and symbolizes peace and prosperity. When combined with the dragon it comprises the totality of the universe and is the ying to the dragon's yang. The feng huang is also a messenger to and from the heavens and could be interpreted as the emperor's direct line of contact. If we consider other cues from the Forbidden City, this explanation is much more in line with the overall vibe of the pavilion and should certainly inspire someone to research it more thoroughly. What's most disappointing though, is the Field Guide's quick embrace of the Prince Min story and the fact it didn't connect the dots especially when it states the unique marriage of Phoenix and Dragon directly above its section on poor Prince Min on page 87.

What do you think?

These photographs were taken by the author in May and October 2010.

View Walt Disney World - Photos from the Parks in a larger map

Club Cool

2011-09-27T11:36:00.001-04:00

Often on the list of 'overlooked attractions' in Walt Disney World's Epcot is the subject of today's post, Club Cool. Tucked inside Innoventions West, Club Cool is a haven for folks wanting to sample soft drinks from around the world, courtesy of Coca-Cola.

The interior layout is common to anyone who stays at a Disney resort: self-service soda dispensers are placed back-to-front with pods all across the interior. Sodas representing countries such as Mexico, Germany, Israel, Italy, and others stand at the ready to provide guests a sample of what Coca-Cola sells outside of the average American's experience. Flavors span the range from bitter to sweet, strange to familiar, and beyond. PFTP is fond of Beverly (think tart grapefruit) whereas the younger members of the editorial staff prefer the Fanta flavor from Costa Rica and the watermelon soda from China.

Regardless of your personal preference, it's fun to watch kids and adults alike try something new often with strong, visceral reactions to what they've tried. Originally titled Ice Station Cool, the attraction opened in 1996 (we only found one reference, hard to verify) and sported a highly themed arctic expeditionary look and feel, complete with Snowcat/UTV, a frozen Neanderthal, an inside mural reminiscent of the Norway pavilion's Maelstrom attraction, and more. The attraction shuttered in 2005 and reopened later in the year with its current, low-key look and was rebadged as Club Cool.

For those less adventurous Club Cool features Coca-Cola merchandise and the ever popular build your own Frozen Coke. If you need a shot of AC this is as good as any other place, just watch out for the sticky floors.

These photographs were taken by the author in May, 2010.

View Walt Disney World - Photos from the Parks in a larger map

Florida's Toy Story Midway Mania! Outdoor Eye Candy

2011-09-25T14:59:00.001-04:00

As both of the Toy Story Midway Mania! attractions are still going strong in their fourth year of operation it's worth noting how engaging the attractions' outdoor elements are. These items bring to life an otherwise basic outdoor area with references to the games and toys from their namesake movies that many of us in the 40 year age group can appreciate.

The California and Florida rides are similar in nature, each with a complement of 4D midway 'mini games' featuring characters from the movies and suitable for kids of all ages. And while the attractions themselves are similar, the outdoor queues are quite different with Disney's Hollywood Studios' attraction embracing Pixar's Emeryville studios' look while DCA's attraction emphasizes a California pier / midway environment.

The pale red brick edifice spans the entirety of the Pixar Place area and splits The Great Movie Ride and Toy Story Midway Mania attraction buildings. The fastpass queue is a busy visual reference toys and games including Tinkertoys, a Barrel of Monkeys, and more from the Hasbro family of properties.

Randy Newman's lyrics are featured alongside the Green Army Men on America's favorite board game, Scrabble, opposite the main entrance into the attraction.

As typical of Imagineering, there are lots of things to catch your eye as you either queue outdoors; our favorite is a small building below the Pixar sign as you enter the area from the east. This CM area has a wonderful sign on the door that continues to tell the story of why the toys and games are dispersed throughout the area and lends continuity from the story to the attraction. (Zoom in close to see what's going on.)

These photographs were taken by the author in May, 2011.

View Walt Disney World - Photos from the Parks in a larger map

1st Annual Floriculture Performance Trials

2011-06-18T19:12:00.000-04:00

PFTP was in the parks for the last day of Epcot's 2011's Flower and Garden Festival and one of the more practical and useful exhibits we found was the Floriculture Performance Trial area nestled between Epcot's International Gateway and the walkway to the Epcot area resorts.

This exhibit, presented by HGTV, is a partnership between Walt Disney World and the Florida Nursery, Growers, and Landscape Association, or the FNGLA. The exhibit features cultivars grown specifically for the central Florida area (think water saving varieties) and for sale elsewhere in the US.

All told, more than 200 new plant varieties were on display, cultivated by more than 21 breeders and all propagated/grown by Riverview Flower Farms and Knox Nursery. 39 beds were created for the performance trials, and each bed became home to 4" plants. The plants were added to the ground 6 weeks before the trials, which took place May 12th and 13th and the landscape Imagineers were responsible for the care and feeding leading up to the trials.

Each plant was scored based on percentage of bloom, color uniformity, height uniformity, and disease resistance and assigned a score of Superior, Excellent, Good, or Poor. Of the 200+ plants, most scored in the Excellent or Good range with twenty receiving a Superior rating while only two received a poor rating. (Full results are available here.)

Needless to say, the combination of so many plants in one spot was amazing to the eye and pointed out that while Epcot's original emphasis on education has been watered down over the last 29 years it still provides guests an opportunity to learn. Let's hope this first annual performance trial continues as part of next year's Flower and Garden Festival and that some of these award winning plants find their way into our yards.

The good folks at FNGLA posted this video showing the transformation of the trial area into a finished product :

Behind the Scenes of the 2011 Floriculture Field Days and Performance Trials from FNGLA on Vimeo.

These photographs were taken by the author in May 2011.

View Walt Disney World - Photos from the Parks in a larger map

Bamboo Graffiti

2011-06-07T15:29:00.000-04:00

Walt Disney World features an abundant use of nature's fastest growing grass: bamboo. This prodigious plant is a common feature within the Florida parks with extensive use in Disney's Animal Kingdom, Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, and anywhere else fast growing cover is required.

This particular clumping of bamboo (above) is located at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, in the main pool area close to a savanna overlook station, and has been uniquely marked by guests to the area. If you get a chance, take a look and see for yourself just how long this unique graffiti lasts.

There are many genus and specie of bamboo and 'bambusa oldhamii' (Oldham's Bamboo) is one of the most common with its segmented green stalks, short branches, and long leaves. This plant is native to Taiwan and also referred to as Giant Timber bamboo. Regardless of its details, bamboo grows very quickly and is especially well adapted to the WDW parks.

These photographs were taken by the author in May 2011 and October 2010.

View Walt Disney World - Photos from the Parks in a larger map

Animal Kingdom Lodge Lights

2011-06-03T10:59:00.001-04:00

As guests step inside Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge from the Arusha Rock area they are greeted by an intricate stairway that leads to the main lobby floor punctuated by two finely sculpted lights. These fixtures depict at least four species of birds which, one would expect, can also be seen in real life outside in the savanna area.

These lights are easily overlooked but represent an extraordinary touch. The detail is simply amazing and brings to mind yet another parallel to this hotel and Disney's Animal Kingdom park; namely the Tree of Life.

In addition to these items there are lights above the main lobby floor that invoke a feeling of being set down upon by giant moths; these lights appear to resemble the translucent wings of the nighttime insects and are especially beautiful at night.

These photographs were taken by the author in May, 2011.

View Walt Disney World - Photos from the Parks in a larger map

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge - Arusha Rock

2011-05-27T13:07:00.000-04:00

Central to the overall concept of Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge is the ability to simulate the experience guests encounter at Disney's Animal Kingdom. From hotel theming to savanna expeditions, the Animal Kingdom Lodge faithfully tells the same story.

Unique to this property is the Arusha Rock feature. This elevated rock feature is centrally located outside of the north end of the lobby and provides guests with a truly wonderful view of animals within the property's wildlife preserve. Arusha Rock utilizes the same concept of CM guides, signs, and wildlife identification sheets as found in Disney's Animal Kingdom and is seamless transition between the two.

Two main wings of the hotel, the Zebra and Kudo Trail sections, open in a semicircle from this point which allows for many guest rooms to have a view of the preserve. The savanna extends outside of this main area and permits additional viewing points all throughout the resort including the pool/recreation areas and the connected Kidani Villas.

A wide range of flora and fauna are on display; guests can speak with Cast Members throughout the Arusha Rock area or refer the placards and signs throughout. Both are exceptionally helpful and entertain guests of any age. A fire pit is located at the intersection of the hotel lobby and Arusha Rock; as part of the hotel's robust activity list guests can participate in nightly storytelling events.

Guests of the hotel can also embark on an Arusha Rock safari. This is limited to guests of the hotel and is combined with dinner and is known as the Wanyama Safari. Each afternoon safari is limited to 12 guests ages 8 and older and finishes with dinner at Jiko - The Cooking Place.

During our brief visit to Arusha Rock we counted more than a dozen different animals. Disney lists the following as the wildlife you may encounter:

Ankole Cattle, Bontebok, Eland, Zebra, Greater Kudu, Impala, Okapi, Red River Hog, Nyala, Reticulated Giraffe, Roan Antelope, Sable Antelope, Thompson's Gazelle, Waterbuck, White-Bearded Wildebeest, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Blue Crane, East African Crowned Crane, Greater Flamingo, Marabou Stork, Ostrich, Pink-Backed Pelican, Spur Winged Geese, Guinea Fowl and Ruppel's Griffon Vulture

Regardless of which you encounter, this is a wonderful spot to either call your home base during a WDW trip or a great excursion within the resort areas.

These photographs were taken by the author in May, 2011.

View Walt Disney World - Photos from the Parks in a larger map

Disney's Boardwalk Conference Center

2011-05-25T10:16:00.000-04:00

Situated alongside Disney's Boardwalk Inn and Villas is one of many Walt Disney World convention areas, the Disney Boardwalk Conference Center. In addition to the tens of thousands of guests entertained daily, Walt Disney World hosts thousands others through conventions, corporate meetings, expositions, and tradeshows.

In keeping with a Disney tradition to match theme and budget with venue, Disney offers robust conference and business meeting space within five of its resorts: Boardwalk; Contemporary; Grand Floridian; Yacht & Beach Club; and, Coronado Springs. (Technically, it's six but the Yacht & Beach Club share facilities. You may also ask about the Swan and Dolphin but they're not Disney properties.)

The Boardwalk Conference Center is one of the smaller venues with 20,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and one, 10,000 sq. ft. ballroom. There are 14 smaller meeting rooms and an elegant pre-function meeting area that continues the theme of Atlantic City and New Jersey seaside resorts. Additionally, the conference center has two outdoor meeting areas flanked by the eastern edge of the Boardwalk itself, in back of the ESPN Club, Boardwalk Bakery, Kouzzina by Cat Cora, and the Flying Fish.

The entrance to the conference center is located close to the Walt Disney World bus transportation stop and has a dedicated guest drop-of area. If you depart from the Boardwalk bus, head down the covered porch and then make a right at the T you'll find the conference center. Walk inside and you'll find the what Disney terms the 'pre-function' area and one of the main salons. Disney's attention to detail abounds; although you may encounter signs for events you still know you're in a Disney resort as evidenced by the paintings, drawings, and storytelling.

The Boardwalk is one of the hidden gems of the Disney Resorts as it offers guests a wealth of eating, shopping, and entertainment options all within a 5-minute walk. It's also just a 10-minute walk to Epcot and a 15-minute walk to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Combined with its conference space, this is a great location for guests and meeting attendees, alike.

These photographs were taken by the author in May, 2011.

View Walt Disney World - Photos from the Parks in a larger map

Kim Possible Villians

2011-05-23T15:11:00.000-04:00

The very popular Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure interactive quest has check-in locations located in Innoventions West and East and another on the bridge between Future World and and Showcase Plaza.

This outdoor location features several quick overviews of the villains guests will need to overcome in their adventure including their name, description, crime, and location within World Showcase. For most of us, who are not familiar with Kim Possible's enemies, this is an easy way to ease into the story and learn more about the ne'er do wells who threaten the ultimate safety of the south side of Epcot.

PFTP's favorite is the lethal combination of Señor Senior, Sr. and his heir, Señor Senior, Jr. and their 'Procrastinator Ray'; while we didn't track down the Seniors one of our junior members did and had a ball. (Actually, that's Duff Killigan's storyline .)

These photographs were taken by the author in October, 2010.

View Walt Disney World - Photos from the Parks in a larger map

United Kingdom Pavilion at Night

2011-05-14T20:41:00.000-04:00

Epcot's World Showcase offers guests ample opportunities to take night time photographs; one of PFTP's favorite locations to do so is the United Kingdom pavilion. The pavilion has abundant light during the evening hours and that makes it easy to use a Gorillapod in lieu of a heavier, tripod.

The street that connects the park with the central World Showcase thoroughfare is a prime spot to attach your pod to a lamppost and shoot away. Many of the shops keep their doors open during the evening hours and that light assists with taking shots.

That said, the light isn't constant and it may take a few errant shots and exposure adjustments to figure out what works best. Many of the must have shots are tricky due to others walking in and out of your composition; patience is a virtue when taking night time photographs.

Many people are drawn to picture window shots here but it's the buildings that really stand out at night. Give yourself the luxury of a half-hour aimlessly walking through the pavilion and take note of the angles and shadows that come out at night; you might just find Mary Poppins behind you.

These photographs were taken by the author in October, 2010.

View Walt Disney World - Photos from the Parks in a larger map

Crystal Arts

2011-05-09T12:58:00.000-04:00

Featured in many of the Disney properties, the Arribas Brothers' Crystal Arts store, located on Main Street USA at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom park, occupies a beautiful corner location next to the Main Street Bakery.

This store occupied what's now the seating area for the Main Street Bakery and moved to its current location, formerly the Market House, in 2007. (For comparison purposes, look here.) Inside, guests will find a range of glass gifts and collectibles with prices to fit a wide range of budgets, including those who are eager to part with thousands of dollars for hand-blown castles. The Arribas Brothers have enjoyed a long partnership with the Disney Company, first working with Walt himself whom the brothers, Tomas and Alfonso, met at the 1964 World's Fair.

The first Arribas Brothers location opened in Disneyland in 1967 as part of the New Orleans Square expansion; known as Cristal d'Orleans in this location, there is also a Crystal Arts shop located on Main Street USA in Disneyland Park. Each of the locations is a unique mixture of glass, lead crystal, and Swarovski crystal items and are even more unusual in that each is a leased space; the Arribas Brothers operate much in the same manner as their original Disneyland location where this was commonplace in New Orleans Square.

While not the best match for guests with small children (strollers and glass rarely mix) it is a wonderful place to spend a half-hour looking for that perfect gift for grandma. The Arribas Brothers are in the midst of their fourth-generation of glass blowers who practice their craft at the Disney locations and let's hope there are many, many more.

These photographs were taken by the author in November 2007 and October 2010.

View Walt Disney World - Photos from the Parks in a larger map

PFTP Welcomes a New Team Member

2011-05-07T13:19:00.000-04:00

Photos from the Parks welcomed a new staff member to the team in February and while it's still too early to ask a 3-month old editor to contribute to the blog, he did mention a preference for The Carousel of Progress (a fine choice) and to celebrate his addition to the staff we have a picture just for him.

We're also proud to say we've got time again to dedicate to the site. Please look for new content starting tomorrow and continuing on a regular schedule. Join us in welcoming Jack to the staff and let's see if he develops the 'Disney Eye'.

This photograph was taken by the author in 2011.

View Walt Disney World - Photos from the Parks in a larger map

Maelstrom II: Trolls, Cruise Boats, and Sailing Ships

2011-01-07T22:01:00.001-05:00

The mural which captures the most attention the the Maelstrom queue in Epcot's Norway Pavilion is the one located above the attraction's boarding area. This mural depicts a history of Norway's relationship with the North, Norwegian, and Barents Seas.

Norway is full of port cities as the Kingdom enjoys approximately 51,750 miles of coastline. This number may not seem like much but when you compare it to the mere 1,000 miles it shares with its largest neighbor, Sweden, it's easy to see how much the sea means to Norway.

Chief among the port cities are Oslo and Bergen; Ålesund is the largest fishing harbor, Arendal is one the largest shipping centers, and Stavanger is closest to the oil fields in the North Sea. These themes: culture, shipping, oil, fishing, and more are depicted on the mural as are the cruise ships synonymous with the country thanks to Royal Caribbean International and Norwegian Cruise Lines.

The mural moves through the history of Norway's relationship with the sea from left to right: first the Norse gods and the beginnings of seafaring exploration; next the age of modern exploration, fishing, and Nordic sport; then a move to sailing and cruising for pleasure; finally the exploration of natural resources.

There are a few gems within the mural; most are familiar with the 'hidden Mickey' on the Viking ship towards the left-hand side of the mural and many mention the 'hidden Mickey' (or Donald) located at the intersection of the clipboard and uniform of the cruise director towards the center-right. Of more interest, perhaps, is how the mural mimics the ride itself, with the obvious exception of Julie from the 'Loveboat'.

These photographs were taken by the author in May and October, 2010.

View Walt Disney World - Photos from the Parks in a larger map

Maelstrom I: Milestones in Norwegian Exploration

2010-12-30T19:44:00.000-05:00

Even the most traveled and experienced guest of Epcot's World Showcase finds themselves in attractions that leave little to the imagination whether it be from familiarity or fecklessness. Regardless of whether you've experienced the attraction over a hundred times or if the Imagineers have been saddled with limited funds and every changing priorities certain attractions just leave you asking for more and that's how PFTP feels about Norway's Maelstrom attraction.

While the exterior of the attraction is beautiful the flume, or the key part of the attraction, leaves just about everyone wanting. And while a thrill ride about a Nokia manufacturing plant wouldn't be any better it's hard to explain how a lame polar bear audio-animatronic figure (one of less than 3,000 in Norway), an offshore oil platform, and a goofy leftover from the Black Cauldron's troll shop all add up to tell a cohesive story.

All griping aside, the artwork and story that adorns the entry queue is top notch. The queue itself is quite basic. In queue parlance, it's a general switchback queue but it's the murals that make it amazing. There are two large scale murals that meet your eyes once you enter the indoor portion of Maelstrom; today's post discusses the mural on your right as you enter,or the south side of the building. This mural is known as Milestones in Norwegian Exploration.

Surely greater than 60 feet in height, this mural stretches for likely double in length and depicts a map of Norwegian exploration. (The physical aspects of the mural make it difficult to capture the higher portions [not to mention, how does one see the top with their own eyes?] so most of the images are from the lower half and, as such, focus on explorations within the southern hemisphere.) Now, those of you not part of the Gen X crowd (aka the 13th generation) or before might not realize it but Norway is quite famous for its explorers. Yes; a history lesson beckons.

The mural depicts major achievements in Norwegian expeditions dating back from prior to 1000 AD to the present and one of the first to be called out are Bjarmi Herjulsson (Herjulfssonn, etc.) and his bandmate, Lief Eriksson. Mr. Herjulsson (all names are written as depicted on the mural) was a sea merchant who first saw North America when he attempted to visit his father in Greenland. Mr. Eriksson, upon learning of Mr. Herjulsson's discovery, purchased Herjulsson's boat and crew, revisited North America, spent the winter in Newfoundland, and is widely credited as the first Viking to discover the new world.

Moving on, we see the exploits of Roald Amundsen, perhaps the most famous of all Norwegian explorers. In 1903, Mr. Amundsen and a crew of six became the first to ever traverse the Northwest Passage aboard the Gjøa. (The northwest passage connects the Atlantic and Pacific above Canada.) The Gjøa, a repurposed 47-ton herring boat, took 3 years to complete the journey and served as a laboratory of sorts for Mr. Amundsen's 1910-12 first successful expedition to the South Pole. (The seafaring portion of that trip was aboard the Fram.)

Have you ever heard of the Kon-Tiki? In 1947, seeking to show that Polynesia may have been populated by persons from South America, Thor Heyerdahl and five others set out in a raft made only from material and technology contemporary to pre-Columbian civilizations. That's right: balsa wood. Mr. Heyerdahl's successful, 101-day journey spawned a book and a film that won an Oscar for best documentary in 1950 which, coincidentally, is the only Norwegian film to win an Oscar. 'Kon-Tiki' is worth a watch. (Think of a Disney True-Life Adventures mashed up with Swiss Family Robinson.) Did you know Mr. Heyerdahl was considered to be the man of the 20th century in Norway?

Not to be satisfied, Mr. Heyerdahl matched his earlier feat others: he sailed to Rapa-Nui (Easter Island) in the 1950's and then in the 1970's from Morocco to Barbados aboard a ship, Ra II, made from papyrus (reeds). Mr. Heyerdahl's work is part of the Kon-Tiki museum in Oslo and should the Imagineers even want to add a new attraction to the pavilion they should consider this as a starting point.

Well, there you have it. Humanities majors need to use their knowledge from time to time and if you ever doubt how a simple, switchback queue can be great, this is how. We hope you enjoyed it. Next up - Julie and the Love Boat or, Mural number two.

These photographs were taken by the author in October, 2010.

View Walt Disney World - Photos from the Parks in a larger map

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-25T12:55:00.000-05:00

From our family to you and yours, Happy Holidays from Photos from the Parks.

This photograph was taken by the author in 2009.

View Walt Disney World - Photos from the Parks in a larger map

Friendship Boats

2010-12-23T19:46:00.000-05:00

Sometimes overlooked by guests making their way from Future World to World Showcase (and vice versa) in Epcot are the Friendship boats. These launches are a viable option for those either daunted by the mile long walk around World Showcase or those who prefer to see things from a the perspective of the World Showcase Lagoon.

There are two main routes, and four landings altogether. Two landings are located almost side by side at the juncture of Future World and World Showcase. The landing to the east (on your left as you approach with Future World behind you) runs roughly from Mexico to Germany and its counterpart runs, again roughly, from Canada to Morocco.

If these boats look familiar to you, it's quite possible you've taken similar ones from the International Gateway landing to and from Crescent Lake and Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts and the Boardwalk Resort or from DHS to the same resort hotels on Crescent Lake. and the Swan & Dolphin.

There are a total of 8 Friendships: they're creatively named Friendship I through Friendship VIII. (At least they're not named after seven dwarves and a princess, if you catch my drift.) Each vessel has its name visible both fore and aft and each has its own color scheme.

The ride from landing to landing is at a leisurely pace so don't bet your friends you'll beat them to the American Adventure if that's your plan. Operating speed is 6 knots (~7mph) and each boat holds about 100 guests so while it's not going to be confused with any of the attractions within Epcot, it does provide for some great picture taking of the various World Showcase countries.

These photographs were taken by the author in November, 2007.

View Walt Disney World - Photos from the Parks in a larger map

Silent Sentinels of The Polynesian Resort's Great Ceremonial House

2010-12-21T10:55:00.000-05:00

At first glance the Polynesian's Great Ceremonial House is a place in constant motion; people, sounds, and sights are everywhere. While it's a bit quieter these days now that the birds have moved a bit south to Disney's Animal Kingdom, the restaurants on the second floor still make a bit of noise as do the shops located on both floors.

Every once in a while you'll find a spot of quietness; we've been fond of visiting the Great Ceremonial House during the early hours of the morning or very late at night once the monorail stops running. The dynamic changes during these times and during these moments we found some very quiet residents within.

It's hard to see most of what happens right outside of 'Ohana as this spot is usually packed with guests checking into the restaurant and milling about. During the quieter times the woodwork is more visible and comes to life in terms of the storytelling it supports.

Also critical to the theme downstairs are the whales outside of the Wyland Gallery, one of two on property. These beauties are right overhead and lend a wonderful touch to the gallery space alongside.

These photographs were taken by the author in October, 2010.

View Walt Disney World - Photos from the Parks in a larger map

Skylight, Starbright (Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station)

2010-12-19T13:20:00.000-05:00

Tucked away in the southeastern corner that connects Main Street USA with Tomorrowland is a place known as the Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station. A seasonal restaurant (meaning it's usually open only for large capacity days in the Magic Kingdom), that we've discussed in the past here at PFTP, the Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station is better known in its Wishes! Dessert Party context. This spot offers a great view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks and, even cooler, its roof serves as Tink's landing pad.

While the casual observer will rarely have reason to pass through its rather large, mod design space, it is a great place to cut through to the turnstiles at the end of the day or during a parade. In fact, we've been known to cut through this area just after rope drop to get into Tomorrowland a bit more quickly than most.

More intriguing than most anything is the space itself. There's a bit of an attic feel here; sometimes you expect that plastic sheets were removed just that day and that the space has been largely forgotten. In addition to a rather retro-mod style are out of the way bathrooms that have a great soundtrack. Be sure to check them out the next time you're there.

Chances are you'll pass through when the restaurant is closed but if you take the time to poke around a bit you'll be surprised by what you find.

These photographs were taken by the author in May and October, 2010.

View Walt Disney World - Photos from the Parks in a larger map

Location, Location, Location

2010-12-16T21:28:00.000-05:00

For those of you completely enamored with all things 'old-school' at Walt Disney World, nothing's finer than a long visit to either Disney's Contemporary Resort or Disney's Polynesian Resort. Short of the Magic Kingdom itself, these two property icons likely account for more blogs, and personal webpages than any other attraction at WDW.

What else can you say that's not been said already you ask? In a word, nothing. However, there's still a lot to appreciate and keep track of at the resort and it never hurts to spend some time highlighting its various features.

First off, let's consider the old real estate mantra: location, location, location. The Poly has that in spades thanks to its location on the Magic Kingdom monorail loop and its splendid views of the Seven Seas Lagoon. There's little finer in this world than hopping on the monorail knowing that you and yours will be deposited at the feet of either the Magic Kingdom or Epcot. What's even more special about the Poly is that when you stay there you're also on the edge of the Transportation and Ticket Center. What's so special about that? Well, if you've ever faced a situation where you need to switch loops it's really quite convenient to exit at the TTC and just walk to your longhouse on property.

Secondly, style. Yes; the Contemporary is sleek and cuts quite a figure over there as it straddles Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon and the Grand Floridian shines like a beacon over there to the west but the lush landscaping, fountains, and tropical setting is something quite unique.

Whether it's the marina, pools, shops, or restaurants there's a consistently relaxed style that lends itself nicely to a resort setting. Part of the vacation is the place itself and if you're going to want to relax then this is the place for you. Trust us, there's nowhere else on property where the Mai Tais taste as good as they do at the Barefoot Pool Bar. (And there's no other place where you're more willing to fork over $10 for one.)

Thirdly, kitsch; the place is full of it. Everything from the signs to the storefronts and rooms brings to mind a visit to Trader Vic's. And, for that, we are extremely appreciative.

Perhaps the best way to experience the Polynesian Resort isn't through any of the above but through a long walk across its grounds. One of many joys of staying here is the opportunity to explore each longhouse and it surrounding walkways and flowers. The walk from the Great Ceremonial House to the TTC is an experience in itself and we're always left wondering how widespread the approximately 850 rooms are.

While each of the longhouses are greatly the same, each building's exterior is unique and this, too, lends an interesting touch to the grounds. Plus, the leftover '70s vibe is so strong on the outside you can't help but have a good time.

These photographs were taken by the author in October, 2010.

View Walt Disney World - Photos from the Parks in a larger map