The Disney Chick

Of Mouse and Man

2012-01-31T07:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to those of you joining me from The Disney Point and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the fifth stop on our Magical Blogorail.

Those of you familiar with JB Conway's work know that he has an amazing ability to bring the sights, sounds, smells, and satisfaction of WDW to life through a few choice syllables. This haiku is one of my favorites:

brick by brick

he built a kingdom
history

When you visit WDW, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement, the attractions, the FastPasses, the churros, the Dole Whips, the shopping, the characters, the music, the parades, and trying to avoid neon-clad tour groups. And why not? Disney prides itself on providing a seamless experience for guests, transporting them to a world of magic, discovery, fun, and adventure for an afternoon. But behind all the Imagineering, all the carefully thought out design - behind all the show, I always think back to Walt's famous quote, which now adorns so many pieces of merchandise:

"I only hope that we don't lose sight of one thing - that it was all started by a mouse."

It seems incredible that so many things came about because Walt Disney (and Ub Iwerks, represent) put pencil to paper and created a sketch of a mouse. And then Walt's wife Lillian named the mouse Mickey and the rest, as they say, is history. That before the movies, the awards, the resorts, the hotels, the monorail, the castles, the global empire ... there was a blank sheet of paper. Walt Disney was a true original - the world had never seen a creative vision like his before, and it's unlikely that it will again. And the fact that he was a shrewd and savvy businessman made the Walt Disney Company the rare venture that could accomplish major goals without sacrificing the vision along the way.

Walt Disney never lived to see the Magic Kingdom open in 1971, but his spirit is felt throughout much of the parks. It's in the children's eyes that light up when they see the castle for the first time. It's in the Sherman Brothers songs that have you humming about tiki rooms and small worlds for a week. It's in the railroad that celebrates the good ol' days and the monorail that represents the days yet to come. It's in the laughter, the smiles, and the memories created by a day at the parks. It may have all started with a mouse, but it became a reality because of a man.

Thanks Walt.

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is Capturing Magical Memories.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop - Disney Living
2nd Stop - Focused on the Magic
3rd Stop - A Disney Mom’s Thoughts
4th Stop - The Disney Point
5th Stop - The Disney Chick
Final Stop - Capturing Magical Memories

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Related Links:
* Better Know a Disney Fan: Interview with Mouse of Zen
* Finding Zen in WDW
* Wordless Wednesday: Zen

Do Ride Closures Affect Your Trip Planning?

2012-01-22T09:33:00.001-05:00

Visiting WDW when a major attraction is closed is kind of a bummer. Yes, rides need to be refurbished and improved, and I'm glad that those measures are taken (except when they completely ruin a ride *coughImaginationcough*). But shutting down a major attraction means diverting the flow of traffic elsewhere, creating bottlenecks in other areas, plus there's that aww-man-I-was-really-looking-forward-to-that factor.

I visited WDW in 2009 when Space Mountain was being spruced up, and it just wasn't the same. Tomorrowland turned into a ghost town (which, on the plus side, meant you could ride Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin as many times as you wanted without a FastPass), but Frontierland became completely overcrowded because everyone looking for a ride with a height restriction flooded those queues.

My family is currently in planning mode, and WDW is making things difficult. We were hoping to go in May, but now with Big Thunder Mountain Railroad being closed for refurbishment and Test Track being closed to incorporate Chevrolet as the new sponsor, we may need to rethink our plans. Between two of our favorite attractions being down and nothing of interest really being open in New Fantasyland yet, it feels like we're going to be getting a diluted experience. Last year, we skipped a trip to WDW because of all the construction and went to Iceland instead. It was one of the best travel decisions we ever made.

Granted, there will be things that will be new to us since the last time we visited, like Via Napoli, La Hacienda de San Angel, and the new Star Tours. But it still feels like we're being shortchanged somehow, even though I'm sure we'll still have plenty of fun. I'd love your feedback - is the Magic Kingdom still overwhelmed by construction walls? And how much does the open/closed status of an attraction affect your overall enjoyment of the parks?

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Related Links:
* Why I'm Not Going to WDW This Year
* Hell to the No
* The Sob Heard Round the World

WDW Trip Resolutions, 2012 Edition

2012-01-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to those of you joining me from The Disney Point and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the fourth stop on our Magical Blogorail.

Disney resolutions are something that's been on my mind a lot lately, because my family and I are currently in the throes of planning our next trip. This isn't our first time at the rodeo, but we have made several Disney resolutions to help make this trip extra memorable:

Stay somewhere new. We're DVC members, and so for the past four or five years, we've always stayed at our home base of Saratoga Springs or Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. Both resorts are great, for entirely different reasons, but this year we're hoping to try Bay Lake Tower, or if that doesn't work out, the Wilderness Lodge. (I'd love any advice/recommendations you have - comment away!)

Try a different Signature Dining Experience. I've mentioned my love for The California Grill, oh, a zillion times on this blog already, so I won't bore you with any more fawning. And of course, we're going there. But we're also going to make reservations for a different Signature Dining experience (on the last trip we tried Narcoossee's and it was great). This year? My sights are set on the Yachtsman Steakhouse.

Make up for lost time. Our last trip was juuuuust before La Hacienda de San Angel and Via Napoli opened. I'm already hungry.

Drink Around the World Showcase. I haven't told my family that we're doing this yet. And I'm probably too old for it to be socially acceptable. But I really, really want to try it. If anyone has any tips on which side of the Showcase is a better starting point, let me know. I'm thinking the liquor-before-beer rule means Mexico should be the start, right? Or does that mean you just end up quitting/making really bad decisions two pavilions in?

Do a tour. Over the past few trips, I've become a big aficionado of the WDW tours. And while I prefer my tours on a Segway, this time my sights are set on the Wild Africa Trek. Have you tried it? Is it worth the money? Advice, once again, is very welcome.

Get there for a rope drop. As strange as it sounds, especially since we are morning people, I've never actually seen one happen. It's long overdue, I know.

Tweet! Last time around, I imposed a no-cellphones-in-the-parks rule and ended up going crazy trying to remember all the things I wanted to tweet. This time, I'm embracing Twitter and hopefully sharing lots of fun stories (and let's face it, probably some nonsense) with all of you!

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is Manda's Disney Blog.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ Mommy Mouseketeer

2nd Stop ~ The Magical Mouse Pad

3rd Stop ~ The Disney Point

4th Stop ~ The Disney Chick

Final Stop ~ Manda’s Disney Blog

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Related Links:
* WDW Trip Diary: The Lost Tweets
* Finding Zen in WDW
* Two Hotels, Five Rooms

What I Would Do with One More Disney Day

2012-01-04T22:01:00.000-05:00

Oh, hey, remember me? I blog here, or at least I used to, before holidays and festivities and office re-entry happened. Anyway, I’m back in action now – so let’s talk about the Big News That Was So Big It Could Not Be Contained By 2011.

By now, you’ve all heard that the Magic Kingdom will be open for a full 24 hours on Leap Day, starting at 6 AM on February 29^th and ending at 6 AM on March 1^st. It’s “One More Disney Day,” for those lucky enough to live near WDW or who happen to be there already. And of course, per the fine print, only select attractions, entertainment and services will be available and are subject to capacity restrictions. So basically, you can forget the egg roll cart.

But it made me wonder – what would you do with yourself for 24 hours in the Magic Kingdom? Go on every attraction several times, sure. Bankrupt yourself spending more and more money in the shops, definitely. Eat turkey legs until you melt into a puddle of grease and meat, check. But is there really enough to do in the Magic Kingdom to sustain someone’s interest for 24 hours? I’m not so sure.

Now, if this promotion applied to all of WDW, and not just Magic Kingdom, then we’d have a party going. Assuming all four parks are open and operational for 24 hours, this is how I would spend One More Disney Day:

6:00 AM: Arrive at Magic Kingdom. Grab breakfast at Main Street Bakery and proceed to castle.

6:30 AM: Spend the next hour trying to take that perfect photo in front of the castle – the one where everyone is smiling, the picture is in focus, and there are no other people in the frame.

7:30 AM: Give up. Proceed to Tomorrowland. Go on Space Mountain 15 consecutive times. Puke.

9:00 AM: Eat churro (second breakfast, y’all) and ride every ride in Fantasyland twice.

10:00 AM: Proceed to Frontierland. Get soaked on Splash Mountain. Get whiplash on Big Thunder Mountain. Repeat.

11:00 AM: Ride Pirates of the Caribbean. Consume Dole Whip for brunch. Realize there is nothing left of interest in Adventureland.

11:30 AM: Ride bus to Animal Kingdom.

12:00 PM: Proceed to Expedition Everest. Encounter Yeti.

12:30 PM: Visit Dinoland. Ride Dinosaur. Realize there is no one else remotely near the attraction and ride it two more times.

1:00 PM: Lunch at Yak n Yeti. Imbibe cocktails.

3:00 PM: Animals animals animals safari Little Red animals poach-ahs animals Rafiki talking trash can animals

4:00 PM: Ride bus to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

4:30 PM: Inform Cast Member that I’ve got nothing but time and plan to ride Star Tours until I see every possible version.

5:00 PM: Give up. Proceed to Toy Story Mania. Notice that the next available FastPasses are for two days from now. Give up.

5:30 PM: Visit Backlot Tour. Ask Cast Member where the Golden Girls set went. Receive blank stare. Give up.

6:00 PM: Ride Rock n Roller Coaster six times.

7:00 PM: Depart for Epcot. Proceed to World Showcase.

8:00 PM: Enjoy dinner at La Cava de Tequila. Dinner = chips and salsa and three grande margaritas.

11:00 PM: Attempt to join Off Kilter performance. Am rebuked. Wonder how I made it all the way to the Canadian pavilion, and why I am holding so many shopping bags.

12:00 AM: IT’S MARCH!!!!!!! WHY ISN’T ANYONE ELSE AS EXCITED AS I AM?!!!

12:15 AM: Asked by Cast Member to stop trying to start a March Madness parade. Ditch World Showcase for Future World.

12:30 AM: Ride Spaceship Earth. Scream "THANK THE PHOENICIANS, YOU UNGRATEFUL BASTARDS" during the papyrus-making scene. Nap.

1:00 AM: Get kicked off Living with the Land after trying to steal the nine pound lemon (to make sangria with, duh). Apologize without really meaning it.

1:30 AM: Visit Imagination Pavilion. Stand up during ride to shout OHHH DREEEEEAMFIIIINDER ……. WHERE ARRRREEE YOUUUUUU? Spend the next hour conducting music with my mind at the ImageWorks post-show.

2:30 AM: Return to the Mexico pavilion for two additional margaritas.

3:30 AM: Challenge Segway-riding Cast Member to a race. The machine wins.

4:30 AM: Limp into The Seas with Nemo and Friends. Get into an argument with a manatee.

5:00 AM: Lose argument and proceed to Universe of Energy. Pass out in waiting area.

6:00 AM: Awakened by Cast Member and told to leave park. Have breakfast at hotel before 8 AM rope drop.

What would happen in your ideal Disney day?

The Wishes Dessert Party - Worth the Money?

2011-12-21T08:03:00.000-05:00

I'm a big fan of Wishes and dessert, so when I finally talked the rest of my family into trying the Wishes Dessert Party at the Magic Kingdom, my expectations were high.

As far as the WDW "extra adventures" go, the Wishes Dessert Party is the most basic. You show up an hour before the fireworks, indulge in a dessert buffet, then sit back and watch the show. Sounds perfect and relaxing, right? But the truth is, there are some big problems with this event.

For starters, the pricing starts at $15 and goes up to $35.99 per person, depending on how close you want to be to the front of the terrace. We wanted the best view possible, so we shelled out for the choice seats (so the total was over $100, which is expensive, considering everyone else sees the same 15 minute fireworks show for free). Fine. While the dessert party officially starts an hour before Wishes, they ask you to get there in advance of that time to "line up," which is dumb, because you just paid all this money for a reserved seat. So fine, we wait.

Smoking! Ick!

The thing is, I hate waiting. And I don't mean that in the obnoxious, 21st Century way of "I must be doing something at all times." And I don't mind waiting in a ride queue either. But waiting just to wait when you made a reservation and are paying money not to wait? And when you've paid a lot more money for park tickets that you're not really using because you are standing in line waiting outside the Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station for something that, by definition, is supposed to be wait-free? No sir.

So we wait, and then we are allowed in and we find our table, which I suppose was in the "front" because there wasn't another table in front of us. Now, the main draw of the Wishes Dessert Party is that you can relax and watch Wishes, right? But the roof of the Tomorrowland Terrace hangs out past the floor, so actually, you can't see the fireworks if you are sitting down. Even when you've paid $35 a person, you still have an obstructed view. And those who pay $15 might as well be sitting in the bathroom - those seats can't see squat. Also annoying: people began "saving" spots along the rail, which meant that we too had to "save" a spot for our tripod, and then we always had to keep one eye on it, to make sure it didn't disappear. Not particularly relaxing.

Plate 1 of 4

As for the food, I wish it could say it was amazing, but it was just .... meh. The food wasn't ready when we sat down, so we had to wait (again! gah!) while they set everything up, and then we had to take turns going to the dessert bar so someone could always stay and watch the cursed tripod. The desserts are a medley of little treats and delights - brownie bites, mini cream pies, tiramisu, cookies, mousse, fresh fruit, plus lemonade and tea and coffee. I sampled a little of everything, and it was all decent, nothing special. There was nothing wrong with the dessert buffet per se, except that there's no way in Hades it even came close to being worth $35 (or $15, for that matter).

One more thing about the view - everyone who goes to WDW has an opinion as to where the best place to watch the fireworks is. (Personally, I'm a fan of parking it right in front of the Crystal Palace.) The vantage point from the Tomorrowland Terrace is nice, but it's far off center so you lose a lot of the symmetry in the show. I definitely wouldn't recommend this for a Wishes first-timer, but we did get some cool pictures:

Just before the show.

WISHES!

Post-glow

All in all, I'm glad we tried it, but it wasn't worth the money. There are far better vantage points to watch the fireworks for free, and the food wasn't really at the level it needed to be to justify the cost. And there are no extras with this experience - no character greetings or little souvenirs, which was also kind of a bummer. Plus, you're in the Magic Kingdom - who wants to wait around for two hours waiting for the fireworks to start when you could be riding Space Mountain?

Have you participated in the Wishes Dessert Party? What did you think?

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Related Links:
* The World Just Became a Little More Terrifying
* Segway Tours: This is How I Roll
* Overheard in WDW: Sunset Blvd Edition

Right Down the Middle of Main Street USA

2011-12-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to those of you joining me from The Magical Mouse Pad and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the second stop on our Magical Blogorail.

When I found out this month’s topic, my immediate first thought was, “MouseGear! Yes!” because as strange as it sounds, I love that store. It’s like a beloved family member – there to comfort you during stormy times, but still always getting in the way (if you know how to get from one end of Future World to the other without going through MouseGear, please let me know).

But as much as I love MouseGear, and many of the shops in the World Showcase, my favorite WDW shopping experience is good ol’ Main Street USA … but only at a very specific time of day.

Let me back up. While my family appreciates many of the things the parks have to offer, parades are generally not one of them. I like the idea of them, and I particularly like the music and general vibe of the SpectroMagic Parade, but I can’t handle the crowding and the corralling and the space-saving. But at night, while everyone is jockeying for position curbside, it’s actually a great time to explore the shops. And because all the shops on Main Street are connected, you can browse and take your time without having to leave the air-conditioning or face the crowds outside.

I'll have one of everything.

Another option is to hang out after all the nighttime spectacular-ness has ended, and while everyone is rushing to the buses, explore Main Street. It’s a cool time to be in the Magic Kingdom, because everything is lit up and pretty, but it’s also a rare treat to see the place semi-deserted. The shops stay open for a bit, and this is a great time to pick up some pastries at Main Street Bakery for the next day’s breakfast.

As for the actual items on sale, there’s not really much to find in these shops that you can’t find elsewhere in the parks – except for the freshly made Rice Krispie balls in the Confectionary, which are far and above any other sweet treat in WDW. But shopping on Main Street USA isn’t really about buying anything, it’s about experiencing the Magic Kingdom in a special way: quiet, bright, and call me corny - magical. And before I leave, I always take one last look around and let my gaze drift up to Walt’s window, and I give a silent salute.

Not Walt's window. But still, I'd live here.

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is Manda's Disney Blog.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ The Magical Mouse Pad
2nd Stop ~ The Disney Chick
3rd Stop ~ Manda’s Disney Blog
4th Stop ~ Mommy Mouseketeer
Final Stop ~ Unknown Magic Within Walt Disney World
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Related Links:
* Wordless Wednesday: Main Street USA
* Finding Zen in WDW
* WDW Things That Never Cease to Amaze Me

Wordless Wednesday: Time for Action

2011-12-07T08:06:00.001-05:00

Give the Gift of Disney

2011-12-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to those of you joining me from Magik Mouse and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the third stop on our Magical Blogorail.

The perfect Disney gift? A trip to WDW, duh. The second most-perfect Disney gift? Something special to take with you when you finally take that trip to WDW.

It sounds strange, but Disney fans are tough people to buy for, mostly because they already know the contents of The Disney Store pretty well. For me, I look for two things when choosing a gift – the gift must be personable and surprising (in a good way). And oftentimes, I get discouraged by mass-produced things and so I look for opportunities to create my own gifts. For example, if you are looking to buy something for the recipient to take to the parks, The Disney Store offers customization on some of their apparel. I used this feature to hilarious effect for my sister’s college graduation, which also happened to coincide with our WDW trip. I created this:

Go Wildcats!

And so, my sister wore this on our trip, much to the delight of Cast Members and fellow guests. It was a neat way to get her something she would never get for herself, and it helped commemorate that trip. You can customize pretty much anything these days - tote bags, shirts, hats, even Mickey ears, and personalized presents are guaranteed to make the recipient smile.

If you’re not sure what you’re looking for, I highly recommend browsing on Etsy, which is not only the world’s biggest time-suck but is also my #1 choice for finding the perfect present, Disney or otherwise. You can find a large assortment of vintage Disney products, or great Disney-inspired handmade items. Prices are usually affordable, and the options are wonderfully unique.

What’s your perfect Disney gift?

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is Delightfully Disney.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ Return to Disney
2nd Stop ~ Magik Mouse
3rd Stop ~ The Disney Chick
4th Stop ~ Delightfully Disney
Final Stop ~ Magical Mouse Schoolhouse

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Related Links:
* Finding Zen in WDW
* The World Just Became a Little More Terrifying
* Disney Dining: Restaurants to Avoid

Disney Holiday Tote Giveaway from Pixie Vacations!

2011-11-27T22:04:00.001-05:00

Just in time for the holidays, I'm giving away one customized holiday tote bag, courtesy of the good people at Pixie Vacations!

Perfect for a day at the parks, no?

Pixie Vacations is run by a family that lived and worked in Florida and has countless years of experience as former Disney cast members and long-time visitors to the Walt Disney World Resort. They pride themselves on obtaining the lowest possible prices for your Disney vacation and offer a concierge level of service and attention to detail. Best of all, they're dedicated to providing you with the best vacation for the lowest possible price. Pixie Vacations will monitor your reservations, and if a Disney promotion comes out that is a better fit and more cost-effective, they'll move your reservations to the better package price. Easy peasy.

And one lucky winner will win a customized Disney holiday tote like the one shown above! This would make a great gift for the Disney fan in your life ... or keep it for yourself (there's no shame, trust me).

There are a couple ways to enter:

BASIC ENTRY: Join the Pixie Vacations mailing list (visit PixieVacations.com, and you'll find the subscribe option on the bottom right) and Like them on Facebook. Then leave a comment on this post letting me know you've done both those things and you're entered!

BONUS ENTRIES (Please leave a separate comment for each):
1. Like The Disney Chick on Facebook
2. Follow The Disney Chick on Twitter

Giveaway is open to U.S. residents and ends December 10, 2011 at 11:59 PM PST. Winner will be contacted via email or direct message, so please include your email or Twitter handle in your comments. Happy holidays!

Update: The winner, chosen by Random.org, is @DisneyWishesMom! Congrats, and thanks to everyone who entered!

Things to Be Thankful For: 2011 Edition

2011-11-22T19:24:00.001-05:00

That Disney continues to push Duffy the Disney Bear shamelessly upon us, because if nothing else, his outfits also double as cat costumes.

That La Cava del Tequila is putting actual food back on its menu, probably after watching one too many drunk guests stumbling out because of empty stomachs and strong margaritas.

That my family went to Iceland this year instead of going to the Magic Kingdom, Now with More Construction Edition.

That the Fantasyland expansion is kinda sorta on its way to being done.

That I’m not the only one who thinks Saratoga Springs leaves something to be desired.

That Disney realized that Avatar-Land is the worst idea since Duffy and told James Cameron to come back when he makes a legitimate film. Oh wait, that didn’t actually happen.

That this exists, because it always makes me smile.

That next year, my family is going back to Walt Disney World. Yay!

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Related Links:
* WDW Things That Never Cease to Amaze Me
* Things to Be Thankful For: Disney Edition
* The War on Duffy

The World Just Became a Little More Terrifying

2011-11-10T19:20:00.001-05:00

Not content with invading the parks and retail outlets, Duffy has expanded his hostile takeover to include your own personal hotel room. Yes friends, that's right - you can catch this charming Duffy read-a-along from your WDW resort room ... every. single. night. In other news, alcohol intake at the resorts is expected to increase sharply.

If you made it through the above video without tearing your eyes out or weeping uncontrollably, congrats - you're a champ. Personally, I'm afraid to go to sleep, for fear that Duffy is waiting for me in my dreams. While the narrative itself is too ridiculous to warrant an actual analysis, three things should be noted:

1. Since when did Mickey become a Will Ferrell character? An infantile man sails the world with teddy bear? Sounds like the next big hit from the team that brought you Talladega Nights.

2. Minnie obviously represents Chinese sweatshop workers in this video. She's just so happy, so willing to drop everything and run a massive production operation out of her home, all to bring stuffed Duffy bears into the world.

3. I wasn't paying attention in fifth grade social studies when we had that class on the definition of propaganda, but I suddenly MUST BUY A DUFFY BEAR RIGHT THIS INSTANT. All the other Disney characters (including the mermaid!) have their little stuffed sidekicks. I NEED A LITTLE STUFFED SIDEKICK TOO. No! No I will not go to bed! MOM? MOM?!!! I WANT MY DUFFY BEAR NOW!

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Related Links:
* 10 Signs You Are a Disney Dork
* The War on Duffy
* Overheard in WDW: Sunset Blvd Edition

Bonjour, Disneyland Paris

2011-11-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome to those of you joining me from The Magical Mouse Pad and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the final stop on our Magical Blogorail.

When I found out that this month's topic was about Disneyland Paris, I started mentally cursing my traveling companions from The Great Study Abroad Adventure, who refused to go to Disneyland Paris when I suggested we make it a day trip during our weekend there. (We went champagne tasting instead. It was awesome. Not that DLP wouldn't have been awesome. But champagne. In France. C'mon!) However, my sister, the fabulous @bonjourmelissa, was able to talk her traveling companion into going during HER Great Study Abroad Adventure. So I thought I'd ask her a few questions about her experience so I could live vicariously through her:

Zut alors! I have never been to Disneyland Paris! What should I do first?
Grab a fast pass, of course! Just like in WDW, traffic splits between Space Mountain and Big Thunder. But head toward Discoveryland (their Tomorrowland) because Disneyland Paris' Space Mountain is different than the WDW version we know and love in America. Space Mountain: Mission 2 goes upside down! And it's totally awesome! Sort of like an inter-galactic Rockin' Roller Coaster. Now, if you do the extra magic hours and head here first, you will get on in no time. In fact, my friend (who didn't like upside down coasters) and I got on so fast, that we missed all the warnings (which include written signs and videos that play in French and English) clearly stating that the ride "includes sharps twists and turns and 360 degree inversions." When we boarded, I saw the shoulder restraints and thought, "That's weird, maybe they're just really into safety here?" Whoops! On the plus side, my friend loved it and now goes on upside down coasters. Score one for Disney magic!

If you have small children who can't ride the coasters, Peter Pan's Flight never has a wait time under 60 minutes (which continues to baffle me since it's a continuously moving ride!), and Buzz Lightyear got up to a wait time of 75 minutes when I was there. So I would grab Fast Passes to one of those right off the bat.

What is the best ride there?

Vive Les Etats-Unis!

I enjoyed Space Mountain: Mission 2, but I have to say their It's a Small World is adorable! The queue features flags with different ways to say hello, and has a big "Happiest Cruise to Ever Sail 'Round The World" in the front. Not to mention, the Europe section inside is much more extensive. And the America section is hilarious! It's the last part of the ride, and includes some pretty awesome stereotypes. For the western section: there's a cowboy, with an Oregon Trail-inspired wagon, roasting marshmallows by a fire with his horse and a smiling cactus. Then, there are some farmers and Native Americans. On the other side, the Golden Gate bridge, with an NYC taxi cab on it and the Hollywood sign behind it. Classic. Lastly, before entering the finale room, you see a football player and a baseball player, with a sign overhead that simply reads" Rah!" It. Is. Awesome.

I am a silly American. Do they speak English in Disneyland Paris?

But of course! The great thing about Disneyland Paris is that they're used to guests from all over Europe, so they're used to interacting with people who aren't French. Most rides are in English, with a few exceptions. They have a Pinocchio ride, Le Voyages de Pinocchio (which is set up like a Peter Pan/Snow White sort of deal). It is en francais, and made me realize I really don't remember anything that happened in that movie except for the whole swallowed-by-whale part. And in Disneyland Paris, it's "Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains," not Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Also, both Disneyland Park and Walt Dinsey Studios Park have big boards near the entrances to tell guests which attractions are in English, which are in French, and which have multiple language options. Some attractions even alternate languages throughout the day.

Also, Disneyland Paris is crazy organized. When you check in, the manager asks you what language you speak, writes your answer on your confirmation sheet, and puts you in a specific line. At the end of that line is a cast member, who speaks at least 3 different languages. Above the cast member is a sign denoting which languages they speak. You hand them the sheet, and they begin speaking to you in the language noted. And they work fast. I've never seen a line move that quickly. You get your tickets, which are Park Hoppers since the parks are right next to each other, and you sign up for the continental breakfast. You must go at a specific time (this would never work in America), so they give you a few options and the choice of eating at the hotel or in the park. It's really efficient, and perfectly organized.

Is there anything I should avoid?

Je n'aime pas du peril.

If you are short, I would not recommend the Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril coaster. It's an upside-down coaster, which I believe only has one loop. It's hard to recall because my head got banged around so much. The seats are literally meant for giants and if you're not Kareem Abdul Jabar, chances are your head will not end up where it is supposed to. Plus it's a jerky ride to begin with. My head did not even come close to reaching the head rest area, and no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't manage to keep it from slamming into the seat. I've never had that problem on a coaster before, but I've heard the version in California has the same issue.

In terms of culture, even though everyone speaks English, it's polite to not assume that. Approach cast members with a "bonjour" before you break out the English because you are still in France. But generally speaking, they can tell you're not French and will address you in English.

Which characters are you most likely to see roaming around?

Six-Deux-Six

Stitch. And I don't know why because he's not French. But he was everywhere - and always in some weird costume. He even partakes in this odd, 80's-inspired hip-hop dance party. Our hotel also had character meet-and-greets in the lobby everyday with either Mickey, Goofy, or Pluto. Over in Walt Disney Studios, you can sometimes catch Remy talking to people on a cheese plate. Also, since Disneyland Paris is home to Sleeping Beauty's Castle, you can also find Maleficent roaming around. And I must say, she continues to scare the begeebees out of me!

Do Europeans love turkey legs as much as Americans do?
Thankfully, no. Let's be honest, Europeans are far too civilized to gnaw on a turkey bone in public. But they do love hot dogs. There are hot dog stands everywhere, and there's a Casey's on Main Street. And I recommend the Kettle Corn. It's delicious. So much so that a cast member in the Pirates of the Caribbean queue tried to pillage and plunder mine from me. Not cool.

How do you say "Dole Whip" in French?
Sadly, you don't. They don't have an Aloha Isle (at least I didn't see one, so I will be tres triste if I missed it). Instead, they have Mickey brioche and croque-monsieurs. And some seriously tasty chocolate du pain (I actually bought a bunch to take with me to our next stop).

You know me pretty well. What will I be most excited by?

C'est awesome.

Disney World Studios is still in love with Armageddon, which just happens to be one of your favorite films [Ed. Note: This is true. Don't judge me.]. There are giant movie posters all over the park, and it even has its own special effects attraction. Michael Clarke Duncan (dubbed in French by some guy with a much higher register - with English, German, and Spanish subtitles on separate screens) introduces you to the world of Michael Bay/Jerry Bruckheimer awesomeness. Then a cast member takes you inside this weird chamber thing and you recreate the special effects used in the scene on the space station where everything breaks. It's awkward and awesome at the same time.

Which is better - the croissants in Europe France or the croissants in Epcot France?
You will not starve in Disneyland Paris, particularly if you stay on property where there is continental breakfast. And not American continental breakfast, with English muffins and Fruit Loops. I mean the works. They have cereal, breads, meats, pastries, coffee, tea, and juices galore. And the pain du chocolates (chocolate croissants) are AMAZING. Better than the ones I ate in Paris. And while I do enjoy the Epcot patisserie, it pains me to say their croissants are simply not as buttery. I should also note, this amazing, free breakfast can be consumed either at your hotel or in the park. That's right, in the park. What a magical way to start your day!

Any words of wisdom for readers who are thinking about visiting Disneyland Paris?
You definitely do not need to spend days on end here. There are only the two parks, and a Downtown Disney type place. The parks are literally next door to each other, so you can walk from one to the next in a matter of 5 minutes. They're also much smaller than the WDW parks, so there is less to do. And like I said, it's worth it to stay on property and enjoy a free breakfast that is both hearty and delicious. So if you're thinking about it, you should definitely go! Plus, it's only a 45 minute train ride from Paris, so why not add a little pixie dust to your trip?

Thank you for joining Magical Blogorail Black this month. We will be back December 13th with an all new theme. Keep checking in with our blogs in between loops to keep up to date with our Disney news, photos and stories. If you are looking for more Disney magic, you can make your way over to The Magical Blogorail website to see all our members and their blogs, as well as all our previous loops.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ Manda’s Disney Blog
2nd Stop ~ Mommy Mouseketeer
3rd Stop ~ Delightfully Disney
4th Stop ~ The Magical Mouse Pad
Final Stop ~ The Disney Chick

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Gimme More!
* Better Know a Disney Fan: Interview with Mouse of Zen
* Segway Tours in WDW: This is How I Roll
* The Most Memorable Meal I Ever Had in WDW

Wordless Wednesday: A Taste of Mexico

2011-11-02T08:00:00.000-04:00

The Coolest Queue

2011-10-23T22:15:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite spots at WDW is something of a hidden gem, tucked away in an attraction that receives little visitors, in a park that's currently suffering from a massive identity crisis.

The Magic of Disney Animation is one of those attractions that was once a cornerstone of Disney-MGM Studios, but has since faded away into almost obscurity, with guests spending their time at the flashier, scarier, Fast Passier attractions. But once upon a time, it was a place where Disney proudly took guests behind the scenes of their upcoming animated features - including the ones in progress (Mulan, Lilo & Stitch and Brother Bear were animated at the Florida studios). It was a celebration of Disney animation, past and present, and there used to be a long line of guests clamoring to be a part of it.

Not so much anymore, now that the Robin Williams/Walter Cronkite pre-show has been phased out, the Florida animators relieved of duty, and the latter half of the attraction replaced by a character greeting spot. These days, there's rarely a line to get in, which is unfortunate, because the queue at The Magic of Disney Animation is one of my favorite things in WDW. Showcasing concept art from various Disney animated features, it's a lovely reminder that the WDW parks, the restaurants, the Fast Passes, the fireworks - none of these things would even exist if not for the steady stream of quality animated features that are the heart and soul of the Walt Disney Company.

Plus, it's really, really cool:

The Lion King

The Rescuers Down Under

Hercules

Pocahontas

Sleeping Beauty

Although the queue area is roped off (due to lack of guests), if the area is empty-ish when you arrive and you ask nicely, the Cast Member on duty will usually let you go back there. It's well worth the time, and a fun trip back through Disney history.

What are your favorite off-the-beaten path spots in WDW?

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Gimme More!:
* I'm Starting to Hate Lightning McQueen
* Quiet on the Set
* Finding Zen in WDW

Wordless Wednesday: Take Cover!

2011-10-19T08:00:00.000-04:00

Quiet on the Set

2011-10-11T07:00:00.003-04:00

Welcome to the first stop aboard Magical Blogorail Black. Enjoy the ride as we share with you the one former Disney attraction we would bring back if we could.

It's no secret that the WDI graveyard contains some of its finest works: Horizons, the Wonders of Life Pavilion, the original Journey Into Imagination, Mickey's Starland, the Discovery River Boats (okay, maybe not that last one). And when I sat down to write this post I was going to write about one of those classics, but there's another WDW attraction that's currently a shell of its former self, and its original version had a profound impact on my life.

The Backlot Tour at Disney-MGM (now Hollywood) Studios.

It's hard to imagine, considering how lame the attraction is now, that it was ever one of the crown jewels of Disney-MGM. But it was. Originally, the attraction began with the water tank demonstration (then showcasing Crimson Tide), then brought guests on the tram ride that still exists today ... but guests also got an up-close look at the Home Improvement sets, a peek at the animatronics and set pieces for 101 Dalmatians, a backstage look at the Disney-MGM TV studios, and a final visit to the AFI exhibit space. It was an informative, interesting, 2-hour experience and a wonderful introduction to the world of filmmaking.

The length of the tour would prove to be its downfall - guests were spending too much time in the tour and not enough time spending money on snacks and souvenirs. So the attraction was shortened dramatically to the version that exists today, by cutting out all the interesting bits. When you're an impressionable teenager, getting to see the same Home Improvement sets that you watched on TV every Tuesday night was a BIG DEAL (I may or may not have had a major crush on Jonathan Taylor Thomas at the time). And getting to see the creations of Jim Henson's Creature Shop up-close-and-personal was mind-blowingly cool. I was already an above-average-intensity moviegoer, but the Backlot Tour took my interest in film to the next level.

And while it would be hyperbolic to say that this attraction made me want to work in "the biz," I do think that those early trips on the Backlot Tour certainly made me think about movies in a different way, and opened my mind up to the possibility of a film-related career path. I did end up majoring in cinema studies (with a concentration in animation, naturally), and went on to work for two major film studios (neither of them Disney) before deciding that the industry is far too hectic and demanding to support any kind of healthy lifestyle.

Today, the Backlot Tour is all-but-forgotten, that thing you have to walk by to get to Toy Story Mania and that has the Coca-Cola misters outside. Currently, the Backlot Tour takes guests inside the making of Pearl Harbor, a movie that came out more than 10 years ago and that no one really liked then or now. Then it's the same ol' Catastrophe Canyon shtick, the same half-hearted tram tour, and then the obligatory gift shop. It's almost depressing, and there's really no reason to just let the attraction wither away into oblivion, because there's so much potential to revamp the tour and use it as a marketing vehicle for new Disney features. Turn the water tank into a Pirates of the Caribbean battle sequence. Add a walk-through stop to show off sets or props from recent releases. With all the roller coasters, terrifying towers, and ridiculous Lightning McQueen appearances, there's less and less Hollywood in Disney's Hollywood Studios these days. At this rate, Disney might as well rename the park Disney's Miscellaneous Collection of Attractions. I'd love to see Disney make the (small) investment to inject some life into the Backlot Tour and help bring Hollywood Studios back to its roots of taking guests inside the movies. And along the way, maybe they'll inspire a few more kids to become filmmakers.

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is My Dreams of Disney.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ The Disney Chick
2nd Stop ~ My Dreams of Disney
3rd Stop ~ Ramblings, Reviews & Reflections
4th Stop ~ Unknown Magic Within Walt Disney World
Final Stop ~ The Magical Mouse Pad

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More Magic:
* The War on Duffy
* Overheard in WDW: Sunset Blvd Edition
* Segway Tours in WDW: This is How I Roll

Happy Birthday

2011-10-01T08:23:00.000-04:00

To the place where I rode a roller coaster for the first time.

To the place where I was almost trampled by tourists.

To the place where the fireworks dazzle you, every single time.

To the place where I once came completely unglued in public.

To the place where I discovered that some international beverages are best left unsampled.

To the place where I came face to face with a Yeti.

To the place where I learned to ride a Segway.

To the place where it's okay to be a kid, no matter how old you are.

To the happiest place on Earth.

Happy Birthday, Walt Disney World. Thanks for the memories, and looking forward to 40 years of new ones.

---
Related Links:
* 10 Signs You Are a Disney Dork
* What Does It Mean to Be a Disney Fan?
* The Five People You Meet in Line at WDW

AVATAR-Land: Worthy of Extinction

2011-09-20T22:21:00.000-04:00

She'll look terrible in Mickey ears.

When I first saw the news about Disney partnering with James Cameron to bring an AVATAR-land to Animal Kingdom, my original thought was, wait, is it April Fools Day? And then, when I realized this was shockingly real, I got very, very angry.

First, as someone who cares deeply about wildlife conservation, I am incredibly disappointed that Disney would distract guests from the ANIMAL Kingdom with this complete waste of space, money, and WDI's opportunity to create their own things. Of course, who needs integrity and conservation when you could have James Cameron on board? The mighty James Cameron, whose movies are so saccharine and cliched that even Britney Spears mocks them. The James Cameron who routinely sacrifices story and plot for cheesy special effects, and not in the fun Michael Bay way. The James Cameron who made AVATAR, the most expensive movie of our time. THAT James Cameron.

Second, and I know that Animal Kingdom contains non-wildlife things (yetis and dinosaurs, mostly), but wouldn't AVATAR-Land be better off as a moviemaking thing in Disney's Hollywood Studios? You know, that park that's still stuck in the late 90s? And I'm just going to say it: AVATAR is a terrible movie. Let's be real: it's a self-indulgent embarrassment to science fiction. (Case in point: early in the film Sigourney Weaver's character lights a cigarette. In a closed oxygenated environment. In space. And doesn't blow up.)

I'm sad, because I want Animal Kingdom to be a place where kids can discover and fall in love with animals, so that one day they will fight to protect them. I want them to have positive experiences and learn things and come away with an understanding that protecting our environment is important. What I don't want is for Animal Kingdom to become a place where the animals are an afterthought, while fancy attractions and 3D nonsense are the real stars of the show. Because then, it's no better than SeaWorld.

This may seem like an extreme position, because obviously there are no details as to what this means for Animal Kingdom or what AVATAR-Land will include, but for me - this is an unacceptable, incongruous excuse for a "partnership." I'm disappointed - disappointed that Disney would sell out so openly, disappointed that Disney would try to pass off a crappy movie about colonization as somehow appropriate for Animal Kingdom, disappointed that Disney will one day weave AVATAR characters into their merchandise while simultaneously asking guests to donate to their conservation fund. This is corporate hypocrisy at its finest, and unfortunately the animals are the victims. James Cameron might be King of the World, but now he's King of the Jungle too. And it's time to start poaching.

---
Related Links:
* Golden Oak: If You're Not Rich, Then Why Are You Reading This?
* An Open Letter to 3D
* I'm Starting to Hate Lightning McQueen

F is for Family. And Food.

2011-09-13T07:00:00.001-04:00

Welcome to those of you joining me from The Magical Mouse Pad and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the 4th stop on our Magical Blogorail.

In my family, our Disney traditions revolve around the F word.

Food.

Maybe this is one of those things that naturally happens as people get older, but over time, my sister, mother and I have evolved from being people who would eat whatever the hotel cafeteria was serving, to total Disney food snobs. Or to put this another way: five years ago we considered Le Cellier to be a fancy meal; these days we're barely interested in eating there for lunch.

And this food snobbery all started with what's become our family tradition: pick one new restaurant to try on each trip. We started expanding our horizons past the confines of the parks, and discovered a whole new world of culinary delights just waiting to be explored at the resorts. Our first adventure was at Jiko, where we were blown away by the infamous steak with mac and cheese. Then we went after The California Grill, and after that, there was no turning bac k. And since it's impossible to keep up that standard of dining for the entire length of a vacation without going broke (at least, it is for us), we've made it a tradition to have one nice meal each trip, at a place we've never been to. And we always have our last meal of the trip at The California Grill. Just because.

Of course, this means sacrificing some other things during the trip. We stay in DVC resorts (which have kitchens) so we have breakfast in our room, rather than in the parks. And we'll snack our way through the day instead of having an overpriced meal at one of the in-park restaurants (the World Showcase is perfect for this). For us, dining is an experience, and by having one or two nice meals on the books, it gives us something to look forward to when we're eating our third pretzel of the day. So far, it's worked out pretty well - on our last trip, we soaked in the view at Narcoossee's, and on our next trip, we're hoping to test out Artist Point (if you have other suggestions, please add them in the comments - I'd love to hear them).

There is plenty of Disney magic to be found all around the parks, but some of my favorite moments at WDW have taken place at a quieter pace, over a nice glass of wine in an elegant restaurant, surrounded by good conversation and even better company. Often times, in a place like WDW, you spend so much time running from place to place and trying to make this parade and that FastPass time that you don't really get to connect with the people you're with. Now that we've made it a point to have these nice meals together, I've found that it actually brings us together as a family even more than usual. And on top of that, we get to eat some really, really good food.

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is Manda's Disney Blog.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ Mommy Mouseketeer
2nd Stop ~ Unknown Magic Within Walt Disney World
3rd Stop ~ The Magical Mouse Pad
4th Stop ~ The Disney Chick
Final Stop ~ Manda’s Disney Blog

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Gimme More!
* The Most Memorable Meal I Ever Had in WDW
* Wordless Wednesday: Sunset Dinner at the California Grill
* The Disney Dining Plan, or "How I Learned to Stop Worrying About My Figure and Love My Sweatpants."

And Now I Am Three

2011-09-06T07:00:00.001-04:00

Today is the third anniversary of the day I started The Disney Chick. Does this mean I'm old? I'm pretty sure this makes me old.

Year Three didn't include any Disney trips (except the Vero Beach one I just came back from), but I rarely had a hard time finding things to write about. Tinkerbell went on tour. I made my favorite Disney dessert ever (one I plan on replicating this Thanksgiving). A giant Disney Store opened in Times Square. I wrote about my favorite WDW activity. I confessed to abusing the mug system. I became part of a blogorail.

It wasn't all pixie dust and sparkles. Disney's new marketing campaign made me stabby. Revisionist history made me sad. I rallied the Disneysphere against Duffy the Disney Bear. I wrinkled my nose at the new Disney At Home scents. I verbally ran over Lightening McQueen. La Cava de Tequila broke my heart.

And you can always count on those Princesses to do something silly.

It's amazing to me that three years have already gone by, and yet, I can't remember what I where I vented all my Disney geekery before this blog and Twitter came along. Maybe I just drove my family and friends more crazy than usual. But none of it would be possible without the support, encouragement, and friendship of you readers, tweeters, and Disney fans. Thanks for a fun year!

xo,
The Disney Chick

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Gimme More!
* The Five People You Meet in Line at WDW
* WDW Trip Diary: The Lost Tweets
* The Disney Dining Plan, or "How I Learned to Stop Worrying About My Figure and Love My Sweatpants."

Two Hotels, Five Rooms

2011-09-03T08:57:00.000-04:00

My family and I recently returned from a long weekend at Disney's Vero Beach Resort, which was a lovely (if too short) break from our daily, hectic lives. More importantly, it proved that nothing - not even Hurricane Irene - could keep me from my Disney magic.

The hotel staff, on the other hand, was a different story.

Things started off typically enough - we strolled up to the desk and were handed our room keys. When we actually got to our assigned room, it was located next to The Green Cabin Room. As in, the lounge. With the live music. And the drunk people.

So, for the first time ever, we complained. We walked back down to the desk, explained that we weren't happy with the room, particularly since we booked the reservation months in advance and had requested a quiet room with an ocean view. The Cast Member looked at us as if we were crazy - who wouldn't want to try to fall asleep to the sounds of Jimmy Buffett karaoke? - but then handed us a new set of keys and sent us off to Room #2.

Now, I've never worked in the hospitality industry, but it would seem to me that if a guest complained about something, you would want to try to fix it. And if you work for a company that prides itself on making sure its guests have a magical time, maybe you would even go above and beyond to make sure things got straightened out. So imagine my surprise when we arrived at our second room only to discover that the ocean view we requested was 70% obstructed by the roof of the below room and a giant palm tree. And that our balcony was located directly over the designated smoking area. Charming.

So we call the front desk, this time with more agitation in our voices as we explain that this room is also unacceptable and ask that we please be moved to the quiet, ocean view room we came all the way to Florida to have. After about 15 minutes of waiting for the front desk to call back (which I'm sure was time the hotel staff spent referring to my family in non-magical terms), they said someone would be up with our room keys. After another 10 minutes, a timid, "Earning Her Ears" Cast Member appeared to escort us to our new room. Sure, send the rookie. The poor girl was visibly nervous and got lost three times trying to find our new room. Apparently my family is a scary bunch, although we didn't raise our voices, yell, or threaten anything ("Give us what we paid for or I will write bad things about you on the Internet!") during this entire ordeal.

As it turns out, third time's the charm and Room #3 was perfect, and we had a great time. But that's not the end of the story.

Because we had early flights out of Orlando, we opted to spend our last night in our DVC home base of Saratoga Springs, which meant we also spent an afternoon at Downtown Disney and had (another) amazing meal at The California Grill. We check in, are assigned a room in the Paddock section, and begin driving toward our home away from home.

Then we see the construction crews surrounding the building.

They wouldn't.

Outside our door.

They would.

Outside our window.

Are. You. Kidding. Me. I get that we're only staying one night, but out of the hundreds of available hotel rooms at Saratoga Springs (because y'all know they're never at capacity), this is the one they put us in? Heck, this is the room they would put any paying guest in?

Our room kindly had a note to explain the situation:

Please pardon our appearance as we are currently refurbishing the exterior of your building for your future enjoyment. During your visit, you may see some of the enhancement work in progress [...] we suggest that you bring all personal articles in from the balcony during these hours, as there may be workers painting on or near the balcony at different times during the day. For additional privacy, we recommend that you draw your curtains.

In other words: don't bother enjoying the room because there will be constant noise and strange men lurking around your windows.

So, once again we call the front desk, and more or less say "Seriously? Seriously?" and then waited for 20 minutes while the Cast Members hemmed and hawed and said "oh hmm, let's see what we can do." Finally, the Room Assignment Manager asked, "Well, what do you want?" Oh, I don't know, maybe to stay somewhere that's not in the middle of a construction zone? Thankfully, we were reassigned to another room with a lovely view of Downtown Disney and quieter surroundings. And there we stayed, happily.

In all honesty, we are not the type of people who complain about imperfections. And in all the years we've been vacationing at WDW, we've never had this problem before. But two different Disney hotels in two different cities with the same nonchalance for the guests who are paying good money to stay there? Not magical, guys. Not magical at all.

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Gimme More!
* Disney Vacation Club Gets a New Logo
* Golden Oak: If You're Not Rich, Then Why Are You Reading This?
* Wordless Wednesday: Morning at Saratoga Springs

Disney Time

2011-08-23T08:40:00.000-04:00

I’m leaving for Vero Beach on Saturday, and that means that my brain has entered Disney Time. You know, that threshold you cross when your trip is juuuust close enough that you realize that omg it’s actually happening and thank the heavens it’s finally time for vacation. Disney Time is that period before a vacation where you start thinking of everything in relation to your upcoming trip.

For example:

In four days I will be flying to Orlando.

In four days and two hours I will be riding the Orlando monorail (no, not that one) to the terminal to collect my bags.

In four days and four hours we will have checked into Disney’s Vero Beach Resort.

In four days and four and a half hours I will be sunburned.

In five days I will be having brunch at Sonya’s.

In six days I will be sitting on the beach, enjoying my 13th pina colada (of the trip, not that day).

In one week I will be strolling through Downtown Disney.

In one week I will have spent all my grocery money.

In one week I will be eating dinner at The California Grill.

In one week I will be packing my suitcase.

In one week and one day I will be flying back home.

Disney Time creeps into your brain slowly, and then all of a sudden, it takes over. In meetings, my brain fast-forwards several days and imagines what I’ll be doing at that second while I’m in Vero. Literally, all I can think about these days is Florida sunshine and Disney magic, even if we’re in Vero Beach most of the time.

Have you experienced Disney Time? And is there a cure?
---
Related Links:
* Things to Be Thankful For: Disney Edition
* The Darkest Day
* The Five People You Meet in Line at WDW

The Disney Princesses Get a New Look

2011-08-14T01:13:00.000-04:00

The Disney Store just announced their new line of designer Princess dolls, and for the low price of $595, all 10 can be yours:

Is that Cher in the middle?

Yeeeahhh. I have a somewhat tragic history with dolls, and longtime readers of this blog know how I feel about the Disney Princesses. But on the surface, I do not hate this. I mean, I hate that all the ladies have ridiculously stupidly small waistlines and that Snow White (my favorite 14 year old princess) appears to have had a few, erm, enhancements to her bosom. But Disney does a new take on the princesses (baby versions, that new Kikada line) every so often, so fine. And according to the Disney Store's description:

The idea behind the Disney Princess Designer Collection was to re-imagine the princesses in a way we’ve never done before, by giving them a high fashion edge while still capturing each princess’s classically unique look.

Sounds like a Project Runway challenge. I'm in. But this is the best they could come up with? And so, I'm putting on my best Nina Garcia Squint of Disapproval and going down the line (big version here):

Rapunzel: Love the hair, but the napkin-meets-corset bodice? No. And is it just me, or does her face bear a striking resemblance to Scarlett Johanssen?

Aurora: She's wearing the same dress as before, no? And that HAIR.

Ariel: Now THIS is how you reimagine a princess. Fah-bulous.

Snow White: Oh dear, where to start. Well, apparently puberty hit Ms. White hard, because her chest is so enormous that she is the only princess who requires straps on her gown. Then there's the gloves, the floor-length cape, the Sunset Strip makeup. Do. Not. Want.

Pocahontas: This is supposed to be Pocahontas, right? I came to this conclusion only after identifying the others and figuring out who was missing. Her dress looks like something Brooke Burke would wear on Dancing with the Stars.

Jasmine: I like this, but I wish her skirt wasn't two skirts. Make up your minds, designers.

Belle: It's a little "prom," but of the group, she looks the most like a princess. The bottom is gorgeous, and I could see this image selling some serious merchandise.

Mulan: After she saved China, Mulan fell on some hard times and was forced to work as a geisha girl in order to make ends meet.

Cinderella: GIANT BUTT BOW.

Tiana: This is the exact same dress she wears in the movie, but now she has a different hairstyle. Lazy.

The complete set will be available for pre-purchase at the D23 Expo, and a new Limited Edition doll will be released in Disney Stores (and online) every Monday, starting August 22.

What do you think? Which one is your favorite? Which one deserves to be "out"?

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You Might Also Like:
* Princess Cake - Akershus, Epcot
* In Defense of the Living Seas
* Finally! A Princess I Can Get Behind

Magical Blogorail: The Baby and the Pirate

2011-08-09T07:00:00.003-04:00

Welcome to those of you joining me from The Magical Mouse Pad and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the third stop on our Magical Blogorail.

I’ll be honest: meeting characters in the parks isn’t my thing. It used to be my thing, but these days I see them more as an impediment than anything else. (I’d love to dine at the Garden Grill or Crystal Palace, but I don’t want to deal with big furry things interrupting me while I eat. Unless it’s my cat. He’s cool.) Cynical? Maybe. Bad form for a Disney fan? Probably. But there you have it.

This wasn’t always the case. As a kid, I loved meeting all the different characters and collecting their autographs. I used to flip through the autograph book over and over once we got home, savoring each scribble. My favorite was always the one from Alice, who wrote: “You’re as pretty as the flowers in Wonderland.” She’s a classy girl, that Alice. There was also the time when I held out my book and marker to Eeyore, who shook his head, held out his paws, and slumped away. I wasn’t sure whether to be offended or irritated, but then it was explained to me that Eeyore couldn’t sign autographs because he didn’t have thumbs to hold the pen. Fair enough, sad donkey.

But my favorite character moment didn’t happen to me at all. It happened to my sister during her first trip to WDW. She was a baby, and obviously couldn’t do all the things her big sister could do, like go on rides. I really wanted to go on the Jungle Cruise, so my father took me on the ride while my mother stayed with my sister, who was sleeping in her stroller.

As you may know, in Adventureland, there be pirates strolling about. Mr. Smee happened to be wandering the grounds that day, and he did what most of the Disney characters do – find the cutest kid in the plaza and go make their day. So he sauntered over to the stroller, where Baby Sister was sleeping, and bent over to say hello. Baby Sister must have sensed someone hovering over her, because she blinked open her eyes, saw Smee standing there, and let out the most bloodcurdling scream the Caribbean had ever heard.

Smee, horrified and now suddenly the center of attention, tried to stay in character and did his bumbling sidekick routine – stumbling back, acting surprised, covering his face with his hands. Then he peeked over the stroller again to give it another go.

He should have quit while he was ahead.

More baby screams, more staring, more embarrassment for everyone involved. Realizing defeat, Smee gave my mother a gesture indicating apology, then yo ho ho’ed the heck outta there. And thus ends the story of the time that a baby publicly shamed a pirate.

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is Manda's Disney Blog.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ Unknown Magic Within Walt Disney World
2nd Stop ~ The Magical Mouse Pad
3rd Stop ~ The Disney Chick
4th Stop ~ Manda’s Disney Blog
Final Stop ~ Mommy Mouseketeer
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Related Links:
* Segway Tours in WDW: This is How I Roll
* We're Going to Vero Beach!
* What Do Your Disney Maps Say About You?

A History of Disney Music, with Nerdy Commentary

2011-07-31T21:38:00.000-04:00

I stumbled upon this video and it sparked so many Disney memories that I had to share. The good people over at Song Medleys put together this retrospective of Disney tunes, and it's brilliant. Moreover, it made me remember where I was the first time I saw some of these movies/shows, and man, I really grew up with Disney.

Check it out:

Here are some of my favorite moments - add yours in the comments!

:08 - Steamboat Willie, a classic. I had seen bits and pieces of it over the years, but the first time I saw the whole thing was in film school, and I remember being shocked by all the non-Mickey things Mickey does in this movie - kicking animals and such. Yikes!

:28 - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - I didn't really appreciate this movie until I saw it as an adult. Also, Snow White is 14. Whaaat.

:35 - The first time I saw Fantasia was when it was re-released in theaters to celebrate its 50th anniversary. I was a kid, I didn't understand the concept, and I kept asking my mother when the real movie was going to start.

:43 - I think I was traumatized by Dumbo, because I'm pretty sure I've only seen it once.

1:18 - I really wish Disney would get over itself and let Song of the South out of the Vault of Shame. Not only is it an important piece of film history, but they didn't have a problem creating a popular ride based on the characters!

1:46 - I loved Cinderella as a kid, and one Christmas Santa brought me a Cinderella doll. She was beautiful, and expensive. That night, I decided to re-enact the movie, which meant returning Cinderella to her humble beginnings. My mother opened my bedroom door to discover that I had taken scissors and cut up Cinderella's beautiful dress to "make her look poor." I learned a hard lesson that night about the boundaries of Fairy Godmothers.

3:50 - NOOO FOX AND THE HOUND *collapses into sobs*

4:18 - Man, I love that little toaster. Obviously.

4:23 - My cat is named after Oliver & Company. I was inspired by the theme song "Once Upon a Time in New York City," which is about an orphaned cat in NYC, which fit my own shelter rescue kitty rather perfectly, and so he's named Huey.

4:34 - The Little Mermaid consumed my life as a kid. It wasn't a phase, it was a full-on obsession.

4:38 - Has there ever been a cartoon as awesome as Ducktales? Woo-ooo!

4:41 - Correction. Has there ever been a cartoon as awesome as Chip n' Dale Rescue Rangers?

4:48 - Can someone just bring back the Disney Afternoon? Please?

5:04 - Beauty and the Beast was a BIG DEAL in our house.

5:08 - DUCKS FLY TOGETHER! Seriously, The Mighty Ducks is my favorite movie of all time.

5:43 - The Lion King consumed my life right about the same time when I was getting "too old" for cartoons. I was obsessed with it anyway.

5:47 - I totally forgot the live-action The Jungle Book existed until this moment. And that we own it on VHS.

5:52 - I saw Angels in the Outfield at a drive-in, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt and I have been in love ever since.

5:58 - I still think The Santa Clause is one of the best Christmas movies ever made.

6:01 - The Goofy Movie is one of the most underrated Disney movies. I still know all the words to "After Today."

6:33 - There is no bigger earworm in the world than the "Cabin Fever" number from Muppet Treasure Island.

6:57 - Ah, Mike Seaver, my biggest fictional character crush.

7:34 - I really wish ABC Family would play repeats of Brotherly Love.

8:03 - I remember, so perfectly, the night I discovered N*SYNC. The Disney Channel had a summer concert series on Saturday nights that featured up-and-coming acts (like Britney Spears). The Backstreet Boys were once slated to perform but canceled, leaving Disney without an act. So they turned to the next best thing they could find at the last minute ... an Orlando-based boy band called N*SYNC. After this show, their album sales went crazy, and the rest is history.

8:17 - My Date with the President's Daughter is perhaps the most adorable made-for-TV movie ever.

9:08 - I hated Bug Juice. Still do.

9:17 - The Disney Channel has yet to produce anything as good as Even Stevens and Lizzie McGuire.

And that's me! Did this video bring back any memories for you?
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Related Links:
* Finding Zen in WDW
* Disney Dining: Restaurants to Avoi
* Getting Mugged in WDW