Tuesday, August 12, 2008

A small segway

I found this quiz online and thought it was really fun!


My results:

You Are Aurora! (A.K.A. Sleeping Beauty.)
Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Thoughtful and loving. Authority figures probably have been sheltering you all of your life. Thankfully you're a very tranquil person who is content with what life has given you, but secretly you want to know how the outside world works.


Which Disney Princess Are You?

you should take the quiz too!

Food and Store galore!

There are many eating and shopping opportunities in Adventureland alone!

As far as the eating goes... I have never actually had more than snacks from Adventureland, ergo, I have never eaten at El Pirata y el Perico Restaurante. That said, I have heard great reviews about the restaurant and many complaints about it only being open seasonally! I have had some yummy smoothie like drinks from the Sunshine Tree Terrace and absolutely loved them! As for Aloha Isle? I have not yet tried a dole whip, although people constantly rave about them! I'm game for one though, in fact, the fruity soft-serve-like treat sounds pretty good right about now! Here is a picture of a dole whip (pineapple flavored)

In addition to eating, there are fun, themed shops in Adventureland as well!

One of my personal favorites is the Pirates Bazaar gift store. Located after the exit ramp to the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction, this gift shop offers a plethora of Pirate themed gifts. I am quite obsessed with the POTC trilogy (hence my blogspot username) and absolutely love the Disney World ride so I find this store one of my must-go-to-stores on the Walt Disney World property. Here is a picture of the store:

Another Adventureland store is the Agrabah Bazaar - this store is located near the Magic Carpets of Aladdin (hence the store's name) and is your typical tropical-themed gift store. More interesting than the store (I find) are the trinkets in the ground all over Adventureland - another tribute to Disney's attention to detail. Here is an example of one of the trinkets (and this one happens to have a Hidden Mickey on it!):

One more adventureland store that is quite fun is the Island Supply Company. This store has "un-Disney" merchandise like bathing suits by "surf" companies and other beachy/tropical items. What is really fun about this store is that there are many pressed penny machines around it. What are pressed penny machines? They are machines in which you insert money (it costs two quarters, plus the penny you want to press) and they heat/press images onto the penny! Here is a picture of one of the machines (this particular machine is not located in Adventureland, but it is similar to those that can be found in Adventureland):

Those stores aren't all, however, there are a few other small carts like Bwana Bob's and various jewelry and crystal vending carts (pictured below).



Well, that's it for Adventureland! Next stop, Frontierland!

boating anyone?

Shrunken Ned's Junior Adventure Boats are a unique alternative to other Adventureland attractions. This interactive attraction allows park guests to control their own boat using controls on the other side of the railing (shown on the right side of the above image) of the attraction.

I personally have never tried this attraction, but it seems like an amusing way to spend time! This is clearly a family friendly attraction, although some smaller children may not be able to reach the controls without help! Like The Swiss Family Robinson Tree House, this is also a great pastime while waiting for thrill-seeking members of your party while they ride the thrill rides they enjoy!

Here is another image of the boats:

Welcome to Agrabah!

The Magic Carpets of Aladdin is a semi-exotic version of the Dumbo ride in Fantasyland. In this ride, guests sit in magic carpets and fly high above Adventureland. This ride offers fun views of Adventureland and the attractions within it.

Each ride vehicle has two rows. One row controls the tilt (upwards or downwards) and the other row controls the upward/downward motion of the carpet. Below is a picture of (the back row of) one of the carpets.

This is a completely family friendly ride, although some people (both young and old) may not like the height, even though it isn't too high! This is a perfect alternative for the long lines on Dumbo!

Look out for the camels positioned around the ride - they spit! A bit of trivia, these camels were first seen in the parade "Aladdin's Royal Caravan Parade" at Disney's MGM studios. After that parade ended, the camels were relocated to the Soundstage restaurant also at Disney's MGM studios. Here is a picture of one of the camels.

A Disney version of Gilligan's Island... in a tree


The Swiss Family Robinson Tree House is a large attraction-filled-tree that is situated near the entrance to Adventureland from Main Street USA. This large "Disneyodendron" is a replication of the fabricated Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse (from books and movies). This elaborate walk-thru attraction shows many bed rooms, living areas and other essentials to living that were "made by hand" by the Swiss Family Robinson. Below is a picture of the dining room area (foreground of picture) and kitchen (near the back of the shot) from the attraction:

This attraction is great for the whole family - an interesting learning/discussion opportunity. In addition, it provides fantastic one-of-a-kind views of the whole park! For even better views, be sure to check it out at night! This attraction rarely has a line, and since it is a walk-thru, it can be viewed at your own pace (unless you want to go fast and have someone taking a leisurely pace right in front of you). A perfect way to relax and enjoy yourself and a great option for a party member waiting for thrill-seeking-companions riding nearby Splash Mountain or Big Thunder Mountain Railroad!

Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life For Me


Possibly one of the better known Adventureland attractions is Pirates of The Caribbean. This ride is another Disney classic, but it has undergone a major renovation in the last few years.

The photo above is of the entrance to the ride prior to it's extensive renovation. This ride, a tour through a town being ravaged by Pirates, led to an extremely (and unexpectedly) popular movie series. So many people loved the movies (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End) Disney was inspired to add characters from the movies (Captain Jack Sparrow and Captain Barbossa) into the ride. Below is an artist's rendition of one of the "proposed renovated scenes" (clearly, drawn before the renovation).

Here is the actual scene from the ride!

These renovations were taken well by most, but some people thought that what Disney did was overkill and were already sick of all the Pirates movies and franchise. Generally speaking, the renovations were very good for the ride because it brings a whole new generation into the ride and it will preserve it for years to come.

This ride is mostly a family-friendly ride. Some topics may go over the heads of younger guests, but will not be lost on adults. There is a dark moment and a small slope (to compare, tell children it's less than a third the size of Splash Mountain's drop ...which is far more visible, and is easy to compare to) which could be frightening to some. Over all, this is a definitely a must-see attraction and although the lines are usually quite lengthy, it is a ride worth waiting for!

Where else could you see the backside of water?

The Jungle Cruise; Disney's first attempt at a safari attraction. This ride was also a classic Magic Kingdom ride. This ride takes you on a cruise down the Nile, Amazon, Congo, and Mekong rivers while your skipper tells corny, but always funny, jokes ("Here in the rain forest it sometimes rains 365 days per year...some years it even rains every day." / "Over there is Schweitzer Falls, named after the famous Dr. Albert [pause] Falls" then... on the other side of the falls "Look! The backside of water!" to name a few).

This ride is a perfect ride for the whole family; the slow moving boat offers scenic views of animatronic animals and tropical foliage. Some of the jokes may go over the heads of younger guests, but none of the jokes are innapropriate for young ears (it is Disney after all).

"Elephant bathing pool"

In the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room


The Enchanted Tiki Room has been a classic since The Magic Kingdom first opened. Though most of the animatronic figures have remained the same, some new birds have joined the cast!


The new "and improved" show now features the likes of Iago (Aladdin) and Zazu (The Lion King) as the show's new managers.

Some people liked the change... others (like me) don't. The plot of this attraction now seems pointless and silly whereas the original's plot was created by Walt; even if it was cheesy it was a piece of history. This new plot may have originally drawn in more people, it has settled out, and not many people go to see it (there is rarely a line, even in peak season). This ride still only pulls in Disney fanatics and admirers of the attraction in particular.

This attraction is a definite must-see if you have younger children, or are simply enthralled by Classic Disney because much of the original attraction is preserved. This ride does have it's "scary moments" (darkness, and "thunder") which could be too much for younger children, but generally speaking, this is a family-friendly ride!

A taste for the exotic


Adventureland; the first land on our Magic Kingdom tour has an earthy, exotic feel. As you cross the bridge from Main Street into Adventureland, you hear tiki-esque music begin to play.

Attractions in this land are:
1) Enchanted Tiki Room
2) Jungle Cruise
3) Pirates of the Caribbean
4) The Swiss Family Robinson Tree House
5) The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
6) Shrunken Ned's Junior Jungle Boats

Dining Opportunities in this land are:
1) El Pirate y el Perico Restaurante
2) Sunshine Tree Terrace
3) Aloha Isle

Shopping Opportunities
1) Pirates Bazaar
2) Agrabah Bazaar
3) Island Supply Company

Monday, August 11, 2008

Castle of ...fiberglass?


How many stones does it take to make a castle as beautiful as Cinderella's Castle?

None.

The Castle is made out of fiberglass and other materials - but not stone. The Imagineers created this gorgeous illusion, and it has been an icon of the Disney Parks ever since.

Inside the castle there are a few interesting things:
1) King's Gallery gift shop - a pricey shop full of "one-of-a-kind" Disney art and sculpture
2) Cinderella's Royal Table - a character dining experience right inside Cinderella Castle
3) Castle Dream Suite - a "dream suite" given to one lucky family/group per day by Cast Members at The Magic Kingdom
4) Mosaic Murals - There are murals inside the Castle that illustrate the story of Cinderella and her step-sisters. The mosaics are made with thousands of pieces of glass and gold inlay - fancy!
Here is an example of one of them:

Meet the Magic Kingdom and Main Street USA

Main Street USA - classic, old American town. This is the first stop on the grand tour of the Magic Kingdom.

As you enter the gates, perhaps you pick up a map...which looks something like this:
After you get a good look at the map, you figure you might want to take a full ride on the Walt Disney World Railroad. As you board the train, you notice the train station seems to be a full replication of a turn-of-the-century train station. (See picture below)



Once you board the train, you look to your left and see a nice view of the lagoon - Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Polynesian Resort, Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and the entrance to the Magic Kingdom itself. In addition, as the train pulls out of the station, you see the monorails whisking people to and from the most magical place on earth.

The first pass-thru is Adventureland. As the train chuffs by, you notice many still tableaus of natural scenes - animals, Native Americans, and even "train eating lions". The first actual stop on the train is in Frontierland, people get off and others get on and soon the train resumes motion. As you exit Frontierland, you see Big Thunder Mountain, and the many runaway mine cars fly by you. Before officially leaving Frontierland, you see even more tableaus out of the side of the train, except these all have to do with the Wild West, including a glimpse at Tom Sawyer's Island.

Next stop: Mickey's Toontown Fair. Once Mickey's Birthdayland, this land is perfect for young children. As all of the families with young kids exit the train, it is once again in motion. Leaving the colorful, cartoon-like buildings behind, the train chugs along towards Tomorrowland. The transition between the two lands is distinct - the bright colors suddenly give way to futuristic, shining chrome and various other metals. As you pass by, many brightly colored cars zoom along a track and a futuristic tram seems to hover high above the ground. To your left is a large white super structure: Space Mountain. The outside does not serve this classic coaster its justice - the plain white exterior seems like a futuristic tent, not like a building that houses a mission to the stars.

Soon, the train has returned to Main Street USA, and you exit the train. As you descend the steps onto the main street (see picture below), you hear a beep of a horn and you see a trolley car running along the congested street. The street is lined with many stores with The Emporium being one of them.


The Emporium is probably my favorite store on all of the Walt Disney World property. It spans at least "3 blocks" and has a huge selection of Disney merchandise. I have gone into the store many a time quite desperate ("The zipper on my backpack broke and I need a new one ...help!") and have always been greeted by a smiling Cast Member who was willing to help. Clothing, shoes, backpacks, stuffed toys, Mickey Ears, Candy and Princess Dresses to name a few fun favorite items that this store carries.

After browsing a bit in this store, you exit and smell the wonderful smells of the bakery, ice cream store and of Casey's. As you walk down the street, you happen upon the Barbershop, where you see a young child receiving their first haircut; this quite frequently happens and one often sees a plethora of young children wearing "First Haircut" buttons or mouse ears.

Here is a complete list of all Main Street USA has to offer!

Stores:
1) The Chapeau (don't forget your mouse ears to be monogrammed!)
2) Crystal Arts (fine crystals)
3) Disney Clothiers
4) Disney & Co. (assorted Disney merchandise)
5) Emporium
6) Engine Co. 71 - Firehouse Gift Station (All Fire fighter esque gifts)
7) Harmony Barber Shop (you can actually get hair cuts here - see stories above)
8) Main Street Athletic Club (Sports apparel and equipment)
9) The Main Street Cinema
10) Main Street Gallery
11) Uptown Jewelers

Eateries:
1) Casey's Corner (famous for its hot dogs!)
2) Confectionary (yummy candy and other sweets)
3) The Crystal Palace (a character meal with Pooh and the gang!)
4) Main Street Bakery
5) Plaza Ice Cream Parlor
6) Plaza Restaurant (sandwiches and other light fare)
7) Tony's Town Square Restaurant (a delicious Italian Style Restaurant)

Attractions and Entertainment:
1) Flag Retreat
2) Main Street Vehicles
3) Town Square Exposition Hall
4) Walt Disney World Railroad

As you walk down the street towards Cinderella's Castle (the central hub of the park), you decide your next "land" will be Adventureland

...although, you want to check out the Castle first.

Magic

Possibly the most magical thing about Walt Disney World is the Magic Kingdom. Well, duh - it even has Magic in the name. But seriously, there really is something magical about the first theme park in the Walt Disney World Resort.

This park is by far my favorite, and soon, I will break each land down with the rides and other stores and fun facts. One of my favorite parts about this park is entering for the first time on each trip.


As you walk through the gates, underneath the railroad the sounds and smells of the park seem to wrap around you in a hug and no where is there a frowning face. At the end of the night, standing in front of the train station, looking up at the castle is the best place of all to see the fireworks, which seem to be more gorgeous every time you see the display.


Though possibly the most crowded, the Magic Kingdom has it's moments when it seems like it is vast and empty. Especially on "E Nights" - an event open only to guests staying at Walt Disney World hotels. It tends to be a lot quieter than during the day, and the later you stay at night the quieter it becomes.

Now, to give a guided tour of the park...

Humble Beginnings

This blog is primarily about Disney (with a spattering of various other things).

Especially about Walt Disney World itself with reviews, tips, tricks, favorites, pictures, trivia - you name it.

Basically, this is a testimony to my favorite place in the world