Disney World PF Gathering and Tips for Disney Mania!

  • Thread starter ZapperZ
  • Start date
In summary: This couscous and tagine restaurant is quite popular and usually has a long wait. Try coming at night when it’s less crowded.9. Yacht Club at the Epcot resort – This club has a beautiful view of the fireworks show at Epcot. However, this is a “resort” so it’s quite pricey. You may be able to get in if you call the club in advance and ask if there are any openings.10. The Living Seas – Usually there are long lines for this aquarium, but it’s worth the wait. You get to see all kinds of neat fish and amphibians.
  • #1,926
Moonbear said:
Yeah, great technology. :rolleyes: It seemed to think I was a different person by the last two days of my trip...that's why I had to keep stopping at guest services to fix my pass so it would work.

That was because you ate too much with your Dining Plan and your fingers grew by the end of the trip!

<ZapperZ runs and hides at Moonbie's deadly stare>

Zz.
 
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  • #1,927
Disney is pretty neat, but I like Universal Studios a little more I think
 
  • #1,928
Jonny_trigonometry said:
Disney is pretty neat, but I like Universal Studios a little more I think

Well, this is going to be a discussion on one's favorite color, but I'll bite anyway.

I've been to both Universal Studios - the one in Universal City near LA, and the two theme parks in Orlando (Universal Studios Orlando and Islands of Adventure) - and I would go back again when I have the time.

However, they are vastly different in look and feel. There is certainly no "magic" in Universal Studios, nor do they try for it. People who go there aim for the rides, and they ARE just rides, not attractions the way they are at Disney theme parks where the ride is simply a part of the story. The Tower of Terror at Disney/MGM Studios and California Adventure, is acknowledged by many amusement park experts as one of THE best storyline and set up of any attraction.

It is why, for example, that Disney won't simply have a rollercoaster like The Incredible Hulk at Islands of Adventure. It is just not in their nature to have something like that. They do, however, have Rock N' Rollercoaster, and by April 7th, the Expedition Everest. I don't see ANY other amusement parks approaching something even remotely close to what has been achieved with Expedition Everest. While most kids and even teenagers would probably not notice them, adults who pay close attention would see the subtle details of many of the Disney attractions that add to the whole "theme" and storyline. Universal just simply do not put such efforts into their attractions.

And then, of course, is their employees. Disney employees used to undergo a lengthy training class called Traditions, in which they are taught of the Disney philosophy and history. This is to let them know why they are being asked to provide the kinds of service required to their guests, why they are being called cast members, why the guests areas are called "on stage", etc. The magic of Disney theme parks is not just from the attraction, but also from the cast members. It is what made every one of my many trips there unique and memorable. Some of the best memories I have are the interactions with other guests and cast members. This is what made the Disney theme parks special to me. I can't say the same about Universal, since I have no recollection any memory at all of dealing with the people there, be it the employees or the guests.

In addition, we also should not forget that, especially in Orlando, Universal Studios always have to play catch up to Disney World. They had to catch up with putting hotel resorts close to their theme parks, and now they are also trying to copy the Disney Magical Express idea. Fast pass and biometric info are also out of Disney's first use. And in all of this, there is still that impression that most people go to Orlando to go to Disney, and only visit Universal (and Sea World) on their "spare" day (which is what I do). So they are only a secondary attraction to the main attraction. This makes for a quick in-and-out, doing both theme parks (Universal and Islands) in a day or less, but not lingering any further than necessary, and certainly not a multiple day visit.

It is why I find Disney World way more superior than Universal Studios. But everyone already knows that by now! :)

Zz.
 
  • #1,930
Being released today is another Dave Smith collection pin marking another historical Disney event. This time, it is the opening of Tokyo Disneyland, the first Disney theme park outside the US.

Zz.

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/10904177.jpg
 
  • #1,931
The making of Splash Mountain

The new edition of the DVC newsletter has a very interesting and informative article on my most favorite attraction at the Magic Kingdom - Splash Mountain!

While the Splash Mountain attraction debuted in 1989 at Disneyland Park, its story actually began years earlier with a man stuck in the heat and traffic of California's Santa Ana Freeway.

Fortunately, the man was Imagineer Tony Baxter, who spent that time pondering some of the challenges facing Disneyland Park. Theme Park leaders wanted an attraction to cool off Guests in the summer heat, and they also were looking for ways to attract more Guests to the Park's Bear Country area, which only featured one attraction (the Country Bear Jamboree, which has since closed to make way for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh). Furthermore, the Tomorrowland® attraction America Sings was destined to close, effectively retiring a diverse cast of Audio-Animatronics® characters.

In a burst of inspiration, Tony came up with solution to all of the challenges. Put a log-flume ride in Bear Country and incorporate the characters from America Sings to help the new attraction tell the story of Disney's film Song of the South. This was an ideal solution since Imagineer Marc Davis, who was an animator for Song of the South, had based many of the characters in America Sings on characters he had created, but never used, in that film.

Inspired by the possibilities of bringing Marc's characters full circle, Imagineers pinned character sketches on a wall next to a list of scenes they envisioned for the attraction. Artists divided Marc's America Sings characters into various categories–happy, lazy, silly–and then matched those categories to the appropriate attraction scenes. To complete the story, Imagineers simply had to add Brer Rabbit, Brer Bear and Brer Fox to the mix. (It's interesting to note that one of the unused America Sings geese lost all of his feathers and became a repair droid in the pre-show queue of the Star Tours attraction.)

While this team of Imagineers moved forward with building a Splash Mountain scale model, others continued work on different concepts to utilize the America Sings characters, including an Epcot pavilion celebrating the magic of the movies. (That concept later evolved into an entire Walt Disney World Theme Park–the Disney-MGM Studios.)

One Saturday afternoon in 1984, just weeks after Michael Eisner and Frank Wells had joined The Walt Disney Company (as Chief Executive Officer and President, respectively), the two men visited the Imagineering warehouse to review the various proposals. Michael brought along his 15-year-old son, Breck (who grew up to direct the 2005 film Sahara). Breck reportedly was fascinated by the Splash Mountain model, and his enthusiasm encouraged his father to approve that project.

The attraction went on to have various working names, including The Zip A Dee Doo Dah River Run and The Song of the South Log Flume Ride. It was Michael Eisner who pointed out that Disneyland Park already had a Space Mountain® attraction and a Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and that this new attraction was another mountain, "with a big splash at the end. It's Splash Mountain."

Beyond the name, Michael also influenced a key experience within the attraction. As the story goes, someone snapped a photo of Michael enjoying that final drop during a test ride, and he was so excited about that photo that he wanted every Guest to have that opportunity. "Splash Down" photos continue to be a popular part of the attraction.

The new Disneyland attraction opened on July 17, 1989 (coincidentally, the anniversary of the Theme Park's opening day). Three years later to the day, a second Splash Mountain opened at Florida's Magic Kingdom Park. A third version opened at Tokyo Disneyland Park in October 1992.

One unique fact about each of these attractions is that most of the sets and props are made of concrete instead of wood to withstand the moisture of the log flume. (The Zip-A-Dee Lady showboat and a small mule cart are the only two major props not sculpted out of concrete.) The attraction's concrete is a mixture Imagineers nicknamed "mud." Constructing the flume entirely of this "mud" allowed for easier maintenance and let designers build the rockwork into the flume to create the naturalistic look of a river.

Here are a few more secrets:

In the Disneyland version of the attraction, Brer Bear's cave duplicates the cave of Rufus Bear, who once lived at the entrance of the Theme Park's Bear Country area. The snoring you hear coming from the cave is the same snoring Rufus used to do before the area got its new name, Critter Country.

Before the final drop in the Walt Disney World version, many Guests notice that a little weasel pops up to shout, "FSU," a little tribute to Florida State University, the alma mater of one of the Imagineers who worked on the attraction.

The voice of Brer Bear in both attractions is that of Nick Stewart, who voiced the character in the original Song of the South film.

Zz.
 
  • #1,932
Awwwwww... I have no will power to resist this pin.

Zz.

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/10904255.jpg
 
  • #1,933
Oh dear... They are going to start selling this pin bag at WDW. I'm getting to the stage where I may need something like this since I'm filling up 3 pin albums already. But looking at the back of the back, it doesn't look as if it will be comfortable to use it as a backpack with that rod running through the center.

Definitely have to test this out first before buying...

Zz

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/10032957.jpg
 
  • #1,934
You may not have heard of it, but there is a serious, under-the-cover Cartoon Wars going on right now.

http://money.cnn.com/2006/03/03/news/companies/cartoons/index.htm?source=yahoo_quote

The battle is heating up even more with the Disney-Pixar merger. If Pixar continues to do the digital animation, while Disney's animation unit goes back to hand-drawn animation, this could be a very formidable 2-prong attack on the industry.

Zz.
 
  • #1,935
ZapperZ said:
Oh dear... They are going to start selling this pin bag at WDW. I'm getting to the stage where I may need something like this since I'm filling up 3 pin albums already. But looking at the back of the back, it doesn't look as if it will be comfortable to use it as a backpack with that rod running through the center.

Definitely have to test this out first before buying...

Zz

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/10032957.jpg
That doesn't look comfortable at all! It looks like the handle protrudes from the center of the back. I've seen better designed backpacks for kids to use for books (complete with the handle to turn it into a rolling case...now how will the geeks lugging around 30 lbs of books build any muscles if they don't have to lift them?)
 
  • #1,936
Yesterday, I was just thinking, "gee, I wonder what Zz does with all those pins". I figured you had display cases. I used to collect buttons with funny slogans when I was in high school, and I had a denim jacket completely covered with them.
 
  • #1,937
Math Is Hard said:
Yesterday, I was just thinking, "gee, I wonder what Zz does with all those pins". I figured you had display cases. I used to collect buttons with funny slogans when I was in high school, and I had a denim jacket completely covered with them.
His home sounds like a Disney museum, complete with rotating exhibits...too much to put it all out at once. :biggrin:
 
  • #1,938
I have three types of pins: the "regular" individual ones, the jumbo pins, and the pins that already come in display frames.

The framed pins (I have two of them that I've shown on here) are on "permanent display". You see them as soon as you walk in through the front door. The jumbo pins are on a rotating pattern - I would bring out a few to replace the ones on display every 2 weeks or so. The individual ones are in my pin album bags. They don't get displayed, but will be shown when guests want to take a look at them. The exception to this for the individual pins are the few I take out and display on the Mickey pin display board that can take at most 6 individual pins.

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/10025289.jpg

I have two of this. One is on the coffee table (for now) and currently is displaying 6 pins. The other is in my office at work and currently displays 5 pins. Now those will also be rotated, although I haven't done it yet since I have them on display.

But these are just the pins. I don't think you want to know about the rest of the disney memorabilia... :)

Zz.
 
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  • #1,939
Definitely a museum. I have visions of a sofa with giant mouse ears and "Chip n' Dale" furniture. :biggrin:
 
  • #1,940
Math Is Hard said:
Definitely a museum. I have visions of a sofa with giant mouse ears and "Chip n' Dale" furniture. :biggrin:

Chip n' Dale furniture?!

Hum... what a terrific idea! Maybe THAT will get Moobie to come up and visit me in Chicago!

Zz.
 
  • #1,941
Do you have $400,000 to spend? If you do, someone on e-bay has a 12,000-piece collection of Disney items complete with lighted cabinets, a part of a 282-page inventory that is being sold.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-cfbclarke0606mar06,0,3274530.column

Not only do I not have the money to buy such a thing, I would run out of room in my place to keep all of them, much less display anything even on a rotating basis.

Zz.
 
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  • #1,942
ZapperZ said:
Not only do I not have the money to buy such a thing, I would run out of room in my place to keep all of them, much less display anything even on a rotating basis.
That's probably the same reason the person selling them has to get rid of it all. :smile:
 
  • #1,943
A whole set of Winnie the Pooh pins are being released today. Unfortunately, for some odd reasons and what appears to be rather common, Disney seems to forget that the Winnie the Pooh storyline also has its own "Fab 5". So far, they seem to think there's only 4 major characters in the storyline. Rabbit always seems to get left out.

Disney: WE WANT THE WINNIE THE POOH FAB 5 TOGETHER!

Zz.

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/10932695.jpg

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/10932693.jpg

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/10932694.jpg

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/10932692.jpg

P.S. just the Eeyore pin alone is worth getting, since he seldom smiles!
 
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  • #1,944
In what would be the last quarterly report of the company's financial health, Pixar beat Wall Street estimate for the forth quarter of 2005.

http://www.thestreet.com/_mktwrm/stocks/media/10272306.html?cm_ven=CBSM&cm_cat=FREE&cm_ite=NA

Zz.
 
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  • #1,945
They released this pin yesterday, and I thought it might be fun to ask this question: In which movie did these characters appear?

Zz.

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/10931165.jpg
 
  • #1,946
ZapperZ said:
They released this pin yesterday, and I thought it might be fun to ask this question: In which movie did these characters appear?

Zz.

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/10931165.jpg
Toy Story II. Behold, the claw! Ooooooh! He's been chosen! :biggrin:
 
  • #1,947
Really? I saw Toy Story II and don't remember these characters. They are seriously cute,though. :biggrin:
 
  • #1,948
I know they were in Toy Story I. I have to double check if they're in Toy Story II also.

Zz.
 
  • #1,949
I love these Jessica Rabbit pins
http://www.nursingadvocacy.org/images/jessica_rabbit_2004.gif

http://www.nursingadvocacy.org/images/jessica_rabbit_2003.gif
but nurses found them very offensive!

http://www.nursingadvocacy.org/news/2004may/12_disney.html
 
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  • #1,950
Math Is Hard said:
but nurses found them very offensive!

http://www.nursingadvocacy.org/news/2004may/12_disney.html

Even the male nurses?

:)

Zz.
 
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  • #1,951
ZapperZ said:
Even the male nurses?

:)

Zz.
I know. Go figure! :smile:
 
  • #1,952
ZapperZ said:
I know they were in Toy Story I. I have to double check if they're in Toy Story II also.

Zz.
Oh, I was thinking they didn't show up until Toy Story II. Guess I got the two movies mixed up.
 
  • #1,953
Moonbear said:
Oh, I was thinking they didn't show up until Toy Story II. Guess I got the two movies mixed up.


I'm a newbie in this forum, but thought I'd chime in here.

These guys are in both Toy Story I & II.

I love most all things Disney and have been to WDW numerous times. I'll be sure to check in here more often!
 
  • #1,954
Ceramist-by-day said:
I'm a newbie in this forum, but thought I'd chime in here.

These guys are in both Toy Story I & II.

I love most all things Disney and have been to WDW numerous times. I'll be sure to check in here more often!

Thanks for the confirmation. I just found out about that too. So everyone's right!

:)

Zz.
 
  • #1,956
Epcot's International Flower and Garden Festival is coming up!

Disney's DVC Newsletter said:
The Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival returns April 21-June 11, featuring colorful and fragrant gardens, elaborate topiary displays, interactive presentations from gardening experts, special themed weekends and more.

Also returning is the popular Flower Power Concert Series at the America Gardens Theatre. This nightly concert series, included with Epcot admission, is expanding this year to include iconic bands from both the 1960s and 1970s. While entertainment is subject to change, this year's concert lineup is scheduled to include The Nelsons (April 21-24), The Buckinghams (April 25-27), Gary Puckett (April 28-May 1), The Grass Roots Featuring Rob Grill (May 2-4), Paul Revere and the Raiders (May 5-8), The Association (May 9-11), Davy Jones (May 12-15), The Tokens (May 16-18), BJ Thomas (May 19-22), Felix Cavaliere's Rascals (May 23-25), The Guess Who (May 26-29), Tony Orlando (May 30-June 1), Arlo Guthrie (June 2-5), The Turtles Featuring Flo and Eddie (June 6-7) and Herman's Hermits Starring Peter Noone (June 8-11).

Performances take place on most evenings at 5:45, 7:00 and 8:15 p.m.

"Davy Jones" as in The Monkeys? Tony Orlando (how appropriate) but no Dawn?

Zz.
 
  • #1,957
Traffic alert for March 9th for the Disney/Pixar's world premier of the trailer for Cars.

http://www.laughingplace.com/Latest.asp?I1=ID&I2=1043

... er... world premier of the trailer??! Oh good grief!

Zz.
 
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  • #1,958
  • #1,959
Hahahahhaha!

This is rather amusing and, I am almost embarassed to admit, almost FUN!

Some disney fans collects pins, some collects plush toys, etc. But this person collects locations of SURVEY MARKERS at various Disney theme parks!

I LOVE IT! :)

http://www.wintertime.com/OH/GC/Disney/disneymarks.html

I suppose this is no different than going around and hunting for the hidden Mickeys all over the parks. I now have the itch to look for a few of these next time I'm there.

Zz.
 
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  • #1,960
Climbing a volcano? Hiking through Yellowstone? Learning pasta making in Tuscany?

This is not your Mom and Dad's Disney vacation!

http://disney.go.com/inside/issues/stories/v060307.html

Zz.
 
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