WDW Daily News

I have a confession to make… I am completely Disney- obsessed. I own entirely too many rodent themed clothing items for any self-respecting 40 year old mother of two and my house is beginning to feel a bit like a shrine to the Mouse. I cry every time I hear Wishes, even if I am sitting on my couch listening to Mouse World Radio. To most of my family and friends, it is hard to understand why I have such a strong connection to “a little kids’ park”. “Why do you want to go there AGAIN?? Aren’t you sick of it?” My answer, like that of so many of my fellow Disney kin, is a resounding “NO”.

My affection for Disney began when I was a teen, with an ever-growing appreciation of both classic Disney animated features (Lady and the Tramp was my first Disney love) and later the “new” classics like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and The Lion King. I became fascinated with Walt Disney, the man, and the history behind the company. Although I had been to Walt Disney World once as a 6-year-old child, I was not even close to prepared for what I would feel when I visited for the first time as a young adult.

The year was 1998 when my husband and I took our first trip, and on the risk of sounding dramatic, it was truly a vacation that changed my life (yep, that’s dramatic, all right!). I distinctly remember stepping off of that Disney bus in front of the Magic Kingdom. Standing there in front of the floral Mickey and looking up at the train station, my heart pounding and the butterflies dancing in my stomach, I knew instantly that something had just begun. That moment was the true birth of a love affair that has only deepened over the years.

Walt Disney World became our young family’s go-to spot for fun and the making of lasting family memories. Both of my daughters’ first airplane rides were to MCO, with one being only 4 months old on her first trip. WDW was our “thing” as my then- 5 year old described to her kindergarten teacher. I watched my babies grow to toddlers, then preschoolers, then to confident young girls with Cinderella Castle as their backdrop. Although we could never go to WDW as often as I wished, the once-yearly trip was enough to stave off my Disney blues.
As much as it pains me to report, the Disney pull started to wane for my husband a few years ago. He began to feel as if he had “seen it all” and became more interested in seeing other new, exciting places for our family vacations (I know! The travesty!). This has been a devastating turn of events for me, as my Disney love has only grown. Although my husband may not love WDW as much as he used to, he does love me- he gave me the most amazing gift of an annual pass for my last birthday! My WDW trips look a little different now, with a few solo jaunts stuck in between trips with my family, but I am adjusting.

Why do I love Walt Disney World so deeply? WDW is a place like no other that I have experienced. From the moment I drive under those iconic gates, I am immersed in a world that is both fantasy and a sort of reality perfected. My worries melt away. For just a while, I can be free of the craziness of “normal” life, with its endless driving, forgotten lunches, annoying co-workers, lost shoes, and sick dogs. For me, the draw is not really the attractions. Don’t get me wrong, I love a soggy plunge down Splash Mountain or a flight over California as much as the next girl. I enjoy each attraction for its inherent merit. I find the magic, however, in the moments between the attractions; in the small, more hidden, intricate details that can easily go unseen in the mad dash down Main Street or the hunt for that perfect spot to wait for Illuminations. In the immaculately themed street lights and marquees. In the smell of freshly popped popcorn, or the musty water of the Pirates of the Caribbean. In the look of amazement in the eyes of a young girl with a fresh lipstick mark on her check from her meeting with Ariel. In the taste of a Nutella and fruit waffle sandwich while watching the late Main Street Electrical Parade. In the cast members, who work hard every single day to make each guest’s experience magical. They truly are the stars of the show- without them, there would be no “most magical place on Earth”.

Is Walt Disney World perfect? No. It only takes a quick look around on a hot, July afternoon to quickly see the weariness on parents’ faces; sunburn, blistered feet, whining children, ridiculously long lines, and high prices can quickly take the sails out of the best laid plans. It might even be true that WDW isn’t for everyone. In my opinion, however, the good far outweighs the bad. Even on the worst Disney day, it is still a Disney day. The magic is still there- it might just take a harder look to find it right under the surface.

So I will continue to make my pilgrimage as often as I can, like so many others. My time at Walt Disney World is my time to recharge. The magic innate to this special place feels like a sustaining life force. When I drive through those gates, my soul is at peace and my heart is bursting. That’s why for me, and for fellow Disney lovers everywhere, a trip to my beloved Walt Disney World is not just a vacation- it’s a way of life.

And in case you are wondering, yes, I have been drinking the kool-aid. And loving every sip.

Hooray for Hollywood! Now that I have ridden the Great Movie Ride many times due to the nature of my employment, I feel like I can really analyze the part that this attraction plays in making a thesis statement for Disney’s Hollywood Studios. When Disney’s MGM Studios first opened in 1989, the Great Movie Ride was one of the two rides (the other being the Backlot Tour) that existed in the park. That’s right; there were only two rides in the entire park at that time because the goal was that Orlando was going to be an extension of Hollywood. Disney had big plans for the Florida Studios park to be a working studio where guests could actually see movies as well as television shows being made. Sadly, this plan didn’t exactly work out, so the Studios became more of a traditional theme park.

The Great Movie Ride, however, still serves a reminder of what Disney’s Hollywood Studios was going to be, a park that educated guests about movies and the movie making process. This ride shows guests a little bit of movie magic while allowing the guests to become a part of the movies. We get to see a snapshot of some classic movies as well as enter the beautiful Chinese Theater.

The Great Movie Ride sets the scene by welcoming guests into the theater and showing them some previews for the upcoming movies that they are about to experience. Then, to further the idea that you are on a set, you are welcomed into a Hollywood Soundstage. The idea is that we are all a part of this movie. Your tour guide is taking you through various scenes, but all of us get to be a part of the movie making process. If you notice, the characters that are portrayed in the ride are referred to by their real names, not their character names. The whole point is that you are getting to learn about how movies are made, so these characters are actors, real people who are playing roles. This goes with the idea that everything is a set; on some parts of the attraction, you can actually see the back of some of the sets on purpose because, again, you are looking behind the curtain. When you encounter the gangster or the bandit, they are part of the movie; we have just stumbled into one of the scenes of that movie. This is why the tour guide informs the gangster that he or she (the tour guide) has seen this movie before. It’s almost as if the tour guide is giving the guests a “wink, wink” everything will be okay cue; this is just pretend. This whole notion that you are part of the show continues as your tour guide makes a grand reappearance in the Anubis scene. Guests are told that this is just a movie; “anything can happen in the movies!” Again, this is another reassurance and a reminder that this is all pretend, just more movie magic.

The entire ride has a very clear introduction into movies with the welcome spiel on the Soundstage to the rising action throughout Musical Street as well as the Gangster and Western scenes. Finally, the climax occurs when the tour guide is revealed again in Anubis. There is a sense that everything will be okay once the ride continues on through Tarzan and moves on to the Wizard of Oz. The Wicked Witch does cause some concern, but the ride ends on positive note with a journey to Oz as well as a movie clip montage that is supposed to get viewers excited about “all that Hollywood has to offer.” Then, the ride concludes where you began, right back on the Soundstage. You are then free to explore the park and go and learn about other movie making techniques. You can still learn a little about movie making, but there is some disconnect these days throughout the Studios because the entire park is not really devoted to the ways in which movies are made. There are definitely some fantastic attractions and shows present, but The Great Movie Ride really prepares you for the DHS of 1989, not necessarily the DHS of 2014. Regardless, this attraction is the centerpiece of Hollywood Studios and represents what the thesis statement of this park should be, which includes learning about movie making and also journeying to the Hollywood that never was, but always will be. Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!

One of my favorite details in Walt Disney World is the windows on Mail Street in the Magic Kingdom. I enjoy walking down Main reading the windows, paying attention to the names and the details. Each one is a tribute to an Imaginear and the imaginations of those who work so hard to ensure each Guest has a magical experience. Some of the names are familiar and others are not. Many times a name will stick with me after I am home, prompting me to look it up to see what the individuals contribution was, a visible history lesson! Each ‘window’ is a tribute to the past so to say, paying homage to a person from different parts of the organization, from corporate officers to operators. All have one thing in common, they all made a significant impact on the legacy of Disney Parks.

Each trip I notice different windows with the names of individuals that helped to create the magic I love so much. On a recent trip I found a window with Roy Disney’s name. I may have seen it before but this time it really caught my eye. Would there be a Walt Disney World or any Disney Park without Roy E Disney? Maybe……maybe not!!!! He was Walt’s support, Walt’s voice of reason….Walt’s support!!!
Walt and Roy were brothers as well as business partners. Walt was the creative genius while Roy was the financial wizard. They founded Disney Studios together and when Walt passed away before his dream was realized in Florida, Roy saw it through. He was there when Walt Disney World opened in 1971. It was his labor of brotherly love, seeing his brother’s dream come alive!

His statue with Minnie Mouse is one of my favorites as is his window. I located it on my last trip and was able to get this picture. Roy Disney gentleman, specializing in sea racing! Gentleman, yes, visionary, yes!! Great brother YES!!!!

His support allowed Walt’s dream of a family friendly park as well as many other visions to come to life. Thank you, Roy!!!!!

So the next time you stroll down Main Street, look and see the stories that unfold before your eyes. The story of those who helped make the magic. Walt’s window is there as are many other visionaries that helped create the magic we share!