I click the shuffle option, and listen to orchestral music, music from Phantom of the Opera, and a variety of Disney songs. Some are themes from the movies, and others are from the parks.

There are a few of songs that take me right into the aura of imagination. My mind slips from the present to memories of our past visits. They create a longing to return. When the songs end, I snap back to reality and am usually sitting at my desk, at work. This could be a bad thing if it’s noticeable. I don’t think it is, and so far I have been safe. The work is still getting done, despite having returned to a place I thoroughly enjoy.

I’m curious what songs draw you from your reality, and place you smack dab in the WDW spirit. What songs cause a longing to return to WDW, and make you feel that you cannot wait that long? We have about 10 months to go until our next trip. That’s a long time to wait, and until then, the songs that get me every time are:

• Winnie-The-Pooh: It’s a catchy little song, that transports me to the ride, at Magic Kingdom. I picture myself on the little cart, traveling through the story. It has a simplicity that lures me away from my desk, and into the heat of the park.

• The theme song to Soarin’: This ride is my favorite. It too is a simple ride, and I have heard the music so much, I can picture where, on the ride, the screen is just by where, in the song, it is playing.

• There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow, from The Carousel of Progress: Who can resist singing along when this song starts playing? I just think of the different scenes and some of the history involved, and again, am transported to the times I had been there to experience the ride. I think of the people I shared it with.

Ok, time to snap out of the trance and get back to reality. What songs shake your imagination? Are there any memories that are sparked by a little Disney melody? I get to visit the World each time I hear these songs, as well as others in my library, through memory and imagination. This, I think, will have to suffice until my inevitable return. We are in the beginning stages of WDW or Bust, 2012.

A little background as to why there was a “moment of silence.” Just prior to our trip, in August 2011, I became unemployed for the first time in 11 years. It was a kick in the teeth to learn that my position had been eliminated, and I would be seeking a new job. Did that stop us from going to WDW? No way!! We went, we had fun, and then we came home at the beginning of September. I blogged all through the trip, but lurking in the back of my mind was the opportunities I was going to get: meeting new people and experience writers’ cramp while filling out applications when I got home.

It took me all of three weeks, after getting home from Florida, to land three job interviews and two job offers. I took the first one that offered, but quickly learned that that job just wasn’t for me. Luckily, I had another offer on the table, and snatched that one up after six (6) days on the job. A week or so after I started there, I received an urgent phone call from my wife. She explained that I needed to come home quickly. Someone had broken into our home, taken some things, and tossed some rooms.

All-in-all, every working computer we owned had been taken, the back-up external hard drives, money, and some heirloom (sentimental) jewelry were all taken, the front door jam was destroyed and so was our sense of security. The thieves even stole one of my duffle bags to put our equipment in to make their getaway effortless.

The police were called, a file was written, and to date, there hasn’t been any news as to whether they caught them or if our stuff exists. We had serial numbers on the computers, but not the peripherals. We learned some lessons quickly about vulnerability, security, and documentation.

The past few months have been eventful, and have resulted in a lull of blogging. We are still rebuilding, but we are getting back in order now. The focus will be turning toward our trip in 2012, and the events of the latter part of 2011 have not affected that. We will be going back to WDW in late November. It’s a long time off, and the planning is just kicking off. Our personal sense of security is gaining strength with security cameras, external lighting, security door installations, outside backups, and a means of monitoring the house while we’re away. Some online social aspects of our life have been eliminated, and others have been guarded a bit more. And despite the nightmares they (the jerks that invaded our domain) remain, getting on with our lives cannot be interrupted.

So, hopefully I can get back into a rhythm of posting opinion and stories, as our final goal remains to be WDW or Bust. There are plans being developed, reservations to be called in, tickets to buy, and decisions to be made. Please, join me on the trip that begins now.

Garland

She was a fascinating artist that shaped much of what we know as the Disney company. If you would like to see what helped shape her artistic style and for that matter many of the artists at the Walt Disney Studios you really need to check out “Walt and el Grupo” It is available to stream instantly on Netflix and I am sure other streaming services!

• 5. Raglan Road- This is a wonderful place to get a pint at the bar inside or you can go over the “Hole in the Wall” and people watch while you enjoy your beverage of choice. I am a beer guy but if I am here to get a drink outside, and it is a cool day, I am going for the Irish Coffee, one of my Mother-in-law’s favorites!
  

  hole in the wallRaglan Road's Irish Coffee

• 4. Territory Lounge- I am all for slowing down at the end of the day and the best place I have found to do this is at the Territory Lounge in Disney’s Wilderness Lodge. The food is good and the staff is friendly but the cozy atmosphere makes me want to stay and relax after a long day touring the parks. The lounge is a comfortable place with dark wood and if you look behind the bar there are two bears on either end holding it up for you.
  

  Territory Lounge

another look at Territory Lounge

• 3. Margarita Stand- Mandy cannot go to Epcot without making a pitstop here. Now for Margarita aficionados this probably doesn’t rank very high on your drinkability meter but when you can get rainbow margaritas who really cares. It is a fun place to start your drink around the world!
  

  Margarita Stand

  

  Fiesta Margarita

•  2. Germany- I love German beer, I have yet to meet one that I didnt like. The hoppy aroma the rich head perfect on a hot day in the parks. With that being said I can’t walk by here without getting a beer. It is just impossible. There are also other libations to be had here as well (Goldshlager, Jagermeister, and an assortment of German Wines) I would recommend the Goldshlager on a cold night right before Illuminations but that’s just me.
  

  Beer Maid

• 1. Rose and Crown Pub- Early in the Day, right before the Lunch rush, I enjoy going and grabbing a seat in the pub, getting a beer and planning out the rest of the day. You see the Rose and Crown opens at 11 am and is a perfect place to rest your feet and grab a cold Bass or Guinness or if you are feeling adventuresome mix them for a wonderful black and tan. This is a nice starting off point for the World Showcase (I usually forget that Canada is even represented). You can get some beer in you so you don’t really pay attention to how much your significant other is spending as you walk around the World.
  

  Rose and Crown

  As you can see most of the list was in Epcot. It is very easy to find something you like here. There were a few honorable mentions I would like to name. You can get a really nice Sake in Mitsukoshi in Japan and a wonderful Grey Goose frozen drink in France (Mandy’s Second Favorite).

Do you have a favorite place to get a Drink in WDW please share it with us. You can do this on facebook.com/wdworbust or email me garland@wdworbust.net or leave a comment below!!