WDW Daily News

Although I have visited Walt Disney World more than 20 times, I have never had the opportunity to make it to the parks during the holiday season. Earlier this month, I was blessed to to make my first holiday time trip to Walt Disney World with my mom and my 10 year old daughter. It was definitely worth the wait! I was able to squeeze an amazing amount of holiday fun into our 4 day trip.

I was most looking forward to seeing the extravagant holiday decorations in both the parks and the resorts, and I was definitely not disappointed! Magic Kingdom Park glistened with beautiful lights, including Queen Elsa’s dazzling icy display on Cinderella Castle. Main Street, U.S.A was so gorgeous with the garland and wreaths strung about. Epcot had its own holiday flair. I especially loved checking out the various themed decorations around the World Showcase. Although the parks’ décor was spectacular, the resort decorations were not to be outdone! I was able to check out several of the resort displays. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa’s Christmas tree was breathtaking, and the life-size gingerbread house was right out of a storybook. Disney’s Contemporary Resort did not disappoint with its Frozen inspired gingerbread display (and the treats were awesome, too!). Disney’s Beach Club Resort held a working gingerbread carousel that was awe-inspiring, and the train display at Disney’s Yacht Club had so many tiny details to take in. No corner of Walt Disney World was missed in the holiday splendor. I am so thrilled that I finally had the opportunity to take it all in.

Walt Disney World offers so many special holiday activities that is was nearly impossible to see them all in 4 days. I was able to attend Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, which was as fun as I was expecting. The Once Upon A Christmastime Parade was so festive- I especially loved the toy soldiers! Holiday Wishes was fantastic to see as well. The parades and fireworks were pretty crowded, but the ride lines were lower than an average day. In Epcot, I was able to see The Candlelight Processional for the first time, and was blown away. It was such an awe-inspiring celebration of the story of Christmas- definitely not to be missed. In Hollywood Studios, we were able to take a walk through of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. This is truly a sight to see! It was amazing to watch those millions of lights dance to the music.

All in all, it was too short of a trip to see all of the amazing offerings that Walt Disney World has to offer. I hope to make it back next year to spend more time exploring the storytellers int eh World Showcase and checking out the decorations in the resorts that I missed. I feel so blessed to have finally experienced my beloved Walt Disney World at the holidays! Sharing this visit with my family was the perfect way to start off my holiday season.

Happy holidays to all, and best wishes for a magical 2015!

WDW Daily News’ Morgan Turner was on Castaway Cay and has a video of Captain Jack Sparrow on the island.

Ahoy Matey! If you are looking for a new vacation adventure for your kids, or a treat to mark a special occasion, you may want to consider one of Disney’s Pirate Adventure Cruises. Cruises are available for children ages 4 to 12 years old, and depart from four different locations. Each cruise is manned by skilled Disney Cast Members, and is a 2 hour kids only experience!

Young pirates set sail aboard their trusty vessel wearing pirate bandanas and life vests, but not until they have given their pirate oath! While sailing, kids enjoy pirate stories, visit ports of call, and follow clues to locate the hidden treasure chest. A small snack is included, and at the end of their cruise, if they are lucky enough to find the hidden treasure they are rewarded with a small goody bag of pirate “loot”.

We sent our three boys on “Disney’s Pirate Adventure” which departed from Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. All three had a good time, especially the younger two who were 6 and 8 at the time. Our oldest, who was turning 11 thought perhaps he was a bit too old for the experience. This may or may not be true, however, and could simply be due to the fact that his younger brothers figured out the “clues” faster that he did! We stayed to watch their pirate orientation and departure, but then we enjoyed a few hours of time without the kids. After their cruise the kids couldn’t wait to fill us in on all the stories!

Cruises depart daily at 9:30 and are currently priced at $37. Discounts can sometimes be available, and we were able to receive 10% off for being a Disney Vacation Club Member. You can choose from:

Disney’s Pirate Adventure – Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
Islands of the Caribbean Pirate Cruise – Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
Albatross Treasure Cruise – Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts
Bayou Pirate Adventure – Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

If you are interested in one of the cruises, I highly recommend me hearty, that you make a reservation. Call 1-407-WDW-Play to avoid any last minute disappointment, or you might have to walk the plank!

How many times have you seen this sign? If you are a casual park visitor, then you probably have passed by this sign many times. You can find it as you walk into the Magic Kingdom, past the Mickey floral, and under the train station. I took the picture above as we entered Disneyland in California for the first time. Of course, a similar sign can be found in Disneyland’s Florida counterpart. This sign is your welcome into the Magic Kingdom, the place where dreams can come true. Sure, pixie dust and magic can’t make you fly in real life, but maybe it can brighten your day for just a little while. This plaque is more than just a sign; it is an instruction manual to enjoying Disney Parks.

As you enter the Magic Kingdom, you need to leave behind all that bothers you, and then you can enter into a world of fantasy where life doesn’t have to be so difficult, even if only just for a few days, even just a few hours. You can explore the world of the future as well as the past with a visit to the Magic Kingdom’s many lands and attractions. Of course, you can delve into your imagination when you visit the land of fantasy. How you experience a Disney Park is a conscious choice that you make when you step foot onto the grounds.

Many people are constantly critical of the choices that Disney makes for rides and additions to the parks. I am not going to say that I agree with all of the choices that Disney management makes, but I am not going to dwell on each thing that I dislike about the minutia of the park. I try to follow the instructions on this sign; I want to enjoy what is present in the parks and get lost in the escapism that the parks can provide. If you just let yourself go and focus on all that is positive in the parks, perhaps you can truly do what this sign suggests. You need to enter the land of fantasy and step into a carefully constructed version of reality.

When you walk into a Magic Kingdom park, take a look at this sign and try to put yourself into the right mindset for enjoying the parks. Try to silence your phone, disconnect from the real world, and enjoy all that the Disney Parks offer. They are as much fun as you make them; if you truly commit to the show that is being put on, you can really give yourself a mental vacation. Sure, you can complain about the heat or the lines or the one light bulb that is burnt out, but wouldn’t it be more fun to be a part of the magic and just sit back and be a part of the show? Give these tips a try, and I guarantee that your Disney experience will be worthwhile! Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!

Although it is their job to serve you, check you out, greet you, and even more, a large number of cast members take their role at Disney seriously and go above and beyond in order to make your vacation as amazing as possible. On every trip, we encounter hundreds of cast members, but those few that go beyond the call of duty are the ones that we remember the most. Even though I might not recall every detail of our conversations with these cast members or some of their names, but the reminiscence of them always leaves a smile on my face.

Here are just a few of my favorite memories, but there are so many more!

Janitor outside of Mine Train- This custodial worker saw my family and me waiting to take a picture of one of the trains going by and stopped to chat. He shared with us that you could tell that a train was coming because the music got louder, and waited a few minutes until another train came by to make sure that we got a good photo.

Greeter in the Emporium- While my mom and I were walking around the Emporium, we got to talking with one of cast members who stand in the doorway and wave to passersby on Main Street. He gave me advice on what to do to get a job at WDW and gave me a number to call for a job once I am old enough, as well as his reference number. We chatted about how long he had worked for Disney- around 15 years- and how much he loved it there.

Sebastian, in charge of a light-up merchandise cart– While waiting for the Main Street Electrical Parade, we started chatting with Sebastian, a native Floridian that had applied for a part-time job at Disney. His light-up cart was parked right beside our parade spot, so we were able to talk between customers. He was so sweet and kind, and you could really tell that he believed in the Disney magic.

Be Our Guest host– This friendly cast member helped us order our food at Be Our Guest, and we ended up chatting for a long time. We talked about working for Disney, and he asked me why I wanted to work there, what my ideal position would be, etc. He also gave me some advice- when you work at Disney, always be ready to have your picture taken!

Bonjour! Village Gifts greeter– Our conversation started with us asking him about the Phil Holmes portrait hanging in the shop, and he gave us the “Disney explanation”- the painting was actually an ancient portrait of a merchant, and Disney had recreated the painting and added details that pertained to Beauty and the Beast. We then got into his story of how he started working at Disney, and he described how he loved how Disney is so focused on cast member hospitality.

Balloon guy on Main Street, USA– While we were waiting for the Move It! Shake It! Dance and Play It! Street Party parade, my mom and I struck up a conversation with one of the balloon sellers. He also gave me advice on getting a job at Disney and gave me the helpful hint that balloon sellers not only get an hourly wage, but commissions for each balloon sold.

Dawn at Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe- I’m not sure how our discussion was started, but Dawn and my mom and I talked for what seemed like hours about our love for Disney. She told us all about how she converted her husband into a Disney-lover, and how they ended up moving down to Florida and both got jobs at WDW. This is one of my all-time favorite Disney memories because we just really seemed to “get” each other in the way that only Disney fanatics can connect. She shared some neat details about Liberty Square with us and we also discussed our Disney “pet peeves.”

Every time I go back to Disney, I am reminded of just how amazing the company is. There are thousands of cast member there that absolutely love what they do for a job, and while some aren’t exactly in the “Disney spirit,” the people that I remember are the ones that are. These are the kind of people that solidify my belief and hope that I can work there someday, and remind me of the real reasons that I love Disney. Their passion, magic, and adoration for their career are the perfect inspiration for anyone to follow their dreams.

Are you interested in sharing your Disney experiences, tips, and advice with others?

WDW Daily News is looking to add several writers who are interested in writing personal articles about Disney for our bi-weekly WDW Daily News newsletter.  These are non-paid positions, but it does provide you with an outlet to share some magic with other Disney fans around the world.  We are looking for articles that share your thoughts, experiences, and love for all things Disney.

If you are interested, please email our WDW Daily News newsletter editor, Aaron McElwee at aaron.mcelwee@icloud.com and let him know about your interest and any questions you have.

Thanks and we look forward to hearing from you!!

For those of us who are complete Disney addicts, the time between our Disney vacations can be very traumatic. Person¬ally, I plunge into a pretty deep post-Walt Disney World slump before the wheels are even up at MCO. Over the years, I have developed some strategies to help me deal with my Walt Disney World depression between visits. If you also suffer from Disney withdrawal between your visits to a Disney destination, I suggest adding a few of the fol¬lowing ideas to your daily life.

Podcasts/Blogs My most preferred way to keep the Disney magic alive between trips is to listen to my favorite Disney-related podcasts. This is also a fantastic way to keep up with any changes happening in the parks. I currently have 3 go-to podcasts for Walt Disney World: WDW Radio, WDW Today, and Be Our Guest Podcast. There are so many terrific Walt Disney World podcasts to check out; it is impossible to keep up with them all, and can actually begin feeling overwhelming! I suggest giving several a try and then choosing a few to follow regularly. The same can be said for the multitude of awesome Disney-related blogs available for Disney fans.

Twitter/Facebook/Instagram Following my favorite Disney news sources on Twitter, Face-book, and Instagram is another one of my Disney pastimes to keep the magic alive between visits (don’t forget to follow @ WDWDailyNews and me, @ diane_m_butler on Twitter). I love keeping up on the breaking news and following along on others’ journeys (I felt like I was experiencing that Seven Dwarfs Mine Train fire live from New Fantasyland a few weeks ago).

There are also many fantastic Walt Disney World fan Facebook groups to join. This is a nice way to make some new Disney friends (especially if your family and friends are sick of hearing you blabber about WDW all day like mine are) and is also an effective means of wasting a lot of time. Instagram has been my most recent Walt Disney World obsession. I can spend hours pouring over the amazing Walt Disney World photos posted by those individuals with dedicated Disney accounts and love searching through my thousands of photos to post just the right one (check me out at disneyluv4life).

Books I am an avid reader, so I enjoy adding in some Disney-related literature to my book list. There are so many great titles to give a dose of Disney magic any day. I have read several Walt Disney biographies, as well as autobiographies from well-known Disney Imagineers (such as Marty Sklar’s Dream It! Do It!). My current favorite non-fiction Disney title is How to Be Like Walt: Capturing the Disney Magic Every Day of Your Life by Pat Williams. There are many great Disney-related trivia books available as well. For a Disney-related fiction fix, Ridley Pearson’s Kingdom Keep¬ers series must not be missed.

Trip Planning Like any true Disney addict, I am always planning a trip to my favorite Disney destination, either for my family or for others. I am not ashamed to admit that I can even spend a whole afternoon daydreaming and planning an imaginary trip (come on… I know I’m not the ONLY one who does that,right??). I always have figures for future possible Walt Disney World visits scribbled on scrap pieces of paper on my desk. If finances don’t allow for a trip right now, spend some time imagining what you would do on a perfect Disney vacation. It can be fun to put aside the reality of expenses and shoot for the stars! Pestering family and friends until they agree to take a trip just so you can plan it for them is another great way of getting your Disney fix between visits.

Total Disney Takeover My last strategy for keeping that Disney magic alive is what I like to call “TDT”- Total Disney Takeover. This is where everything I see and do in my daily life is some¬how related to Disney. Wake up, take a shower in the Mickey Mouse themed bathroom while listening to Mouse World Radio, put on a large quantity of Mickey clothing and accessories, make some Mickey waffles for breakfast using the Mickey measuring cups, cue up a Disney movie with the kids… you get the idea. From the ridiculous amount of Mickey Mouse apparel I own to the abundant Disney-themed home décor (not to mention my Mickey tattoo on my foot), it is impossible for me to go 5 minutes without thinking of my beloved Walt Disney World! Sure, my family and friends all think that I am a complete nut, but I don’t care one bit. I have no problem waving my Disney Side flag high for everyone to see!

Obviously, I have a bit of a Disney obsession. I have been able to employ the above strategies in order to keep from going insane with withdrawal between trips to Walt Disney World. I find that keeping the Disney magic alive between my trips to WDW helps me deal with being so far away from my favorite place. I hope that my list can help fellow Disney addicts manage their Disney withdrawal symptoms! What do you like to do to keep the Disney magic alive between visits to your favorite Disney destination?

On my recent trip to Walt Disney World I had the opportunity to see the new Lumberjack show in the Canadian Pavilion. First let me say that Off Kilter was one of my favorite shows to see. I might even see multiple sets on each visit. So I knew I needed to go with an open mind. I knew that this was not a music act although I had no other ideas about it. When the announcements were made about the changes at EPCOT, I was skeptical. So I looked up the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show web page to see what I could find out.

Their web site describes the show as being in its 33rd year in the Family Entertainment industry. It also says that it is an “action-packed Lumberjack Show features log rolling, log rolling dogs, chopping, sawing, axe throwing, dragster chainsaw, tree climbing”. The web page followed up by stating that the show is historical, educational, and funny, filled with audience participation. All of this sounded quite intriguing but I wasn’t sure how they would fit all that action onto the stage in the Canadian Pavilion. All of this said it was time to see the show.

When we arrived there was already a crowd so we took our place along the fence across from the stage. The emcee came out and for me it was downhill from there! His comic timing was bad. I can appreciate corny jokes for what they are but they need to be told with some sense of timing and confidence. This person had neither. The premise is that there is to be a lumberjack competition of axe throwing and wood chopping. Red flannel shirts battles blue flannel shirts. The crowd is divided to cheer for either color and the competition begins. Axes are thrown at tar¬gets, logs are split for speed and scores are tallied. It was noisy and wood chips were flying all over. There wasn’t any log rolling by humans or dogs and no tree climbing. While the skill of the cast members was entertaining the show did not hold my attention and I was not impressed. I often see shows more than once on a visit and generally have my favorites to see each visit; I have to say this will not be one of them. I believe it could be described as a one and done.

Maybe I would stop by for a look if it was going on as I passed by or if they added more components to the show say the log rolling dogs. But more than likely I will not see this show again unless there are major upgrades.

At Walt Disney World, the parks are already decorated for the holiday season. As soon as Halloween is over, it’s time for Christmas and all of the special holiday events that take place during this time of year. At Magic Kingdom, you can enjoy Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party on select nights in November and December. At this party, you can enjoy complimentary hot chocolate and cookies as well as the Once Upon a Christmastime Parade. There is also a special version of Wishes fireworks that is themed for the holiday season.

The park is completely decorated for Christmas already! Only through Disney magic could the park be Halloween one day and Christmas the next! This year, there are some new additions to the Christmas décor at Magic Kingdom. Namely, the garlands that used to stretch across Main Street had to be re-worked in order to accommodate the Festival of Fantasy parade.

Now, instead of garland, there are arches that extend from the buildings on Main Street. These arches are a great compromise that still give the feel of the garland but also allow for the fantastic parade to make its way through the park. In addition, Cinderella’s Castle is still covered in the Dreamlights; however, Queen Elsa uses here snowy powers to make them come to life every night! Olaf, Princess Anna, and Kristoff are along for the ride as well! This show is very cute, and it will definitely thrill all of the Frozen fans who visit Walt Disney World.

Speaking of the royalty from Frozen, they are also a part of the Once Upon a Christmastime parade this year! The Christmas magic does not only extend to the Magic Kingdom. You can experience the holiday season by enjoying the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

This holiday treat involves millions of dancing lights throughout the Streets of America section of Hollywood Studios. This beautiful display is hard to describe; it must be seen! Basically, every surface of the Streets of America is covered with millions of lights that dance to various holiday tunes. There are at least 43 hidden Mickey’s throughout the area, and the guests are covered with magical snow every few minutes. This show is one of my favorite parts of the Christmas season.

Every Disney resort is also decked out for the season. If you visit the Grand Floridian, you can see a huge gingerbread house that is actually used to sell gingerbread to guests. Every resort has a beautiful Christmas tree as well as many other beautiful decorations. The Contemporary Resort has a gingerbread display that is in the same style as the Mary Blair artwork in the Grand Can¬yon Concourse. Epcot also gets into the spirit of the season with all of the Christmas storytellers that visit the World Showcase. You can learn about how the holiday season is celebrated in different countries around the world by visiting Epcot.

Overall, Walt Disney World is gorgeous at any time of year, but the holi¬day season introduces a little extra magic that is definitely worth seeing! Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!

June 20th 1976 Susan Ford, the daughter of President Gerald Ford, took the first plunge down Whoop N’ Holler Hollow at Disney’s Newest Attraction. Some say it was the first water park anywhere, others say it was the first totally themed water park, either way it was Disney’s first water park, and it was a hit. River County USA brought all the thrills of old fashioned lake front summer to Bay Lake and the guests of the new vacation kingdom. Built to appear as part of Bay Lake, using the same water in fact, and attached to the popular Fort Wilderness Campground, the park was a place for the young and young at heart to enjoy splashing in the warm lake waters and soak up the Florida sun on their vacation. Boasting 14 attractions including boat rentals, nature trails, and pony rides, the park was a must do for guest for many years. So why did Disney close the park you may ask.

Some suggest it was due to the story of an 11 year old boy from New York dying from an ameba contracted while swimming there in the early 1980s. Although this is a true story, it was not the reason for the closing of the attractions. River County remained open for another 20 years after the incident. It was ruled that Disney had done nothing to cause the growth of the ameba as it could grow in any warm fresh water environment. After the incident however, Disney took precautions to prevent it from happening again. Already in place was a wall that separated the Bay Lake from the cove where River Country resided. Disney increased the water level in the cove to be higher than the water in the lake so water could go out from the cove but not back in. Also the large pumps that pulled water from Bay Lake to the feed the slides and other attractions were fitted with filters so what flowed into the lake was controlled. This made it easier for Disney to monitor the water for things that shouldn’t be there.

Although the ruling was that Disney did not cause the incident, it was clear they had done everything in their power to prevent it from happening again. Others question the closing of the attractions stating changes in Florida law that mandated any water park use water from a municipal system. Florida laws reads, “Department: Department of Health Division: Division of Environmental Health Chapter: Public Swimming Pools And Bathing Places 64E-9.004 Operational Requirements. (1) Water Quality – The water sup¬ply for all pools shall be an approved potable water system or shall meet the requirements for potable water systems by the submission from the operator of bacteriological and chemical laboratory reports to the county health department. Salt water sources are exempt from the potable water chemical standards except for iron and color requirements.” Basically water must be safe to drink when being used in water parks. There is no requirement the water start from a municipal source verse a fresh water source. These rules also did not go into effect until 2004 so had River County still been open, Disney could have made the needed changes to comply. So if the laws were not the rea¬son and it was not because of a tragic incident, then why would Disney close such a popular area of their Florida destination.

Over the years as Disney World grew, 2 new water parks, more central located to the rest of the resort came into existence. In 1989 Typhoon Lagoon delighted visitors with its tropical theme and over sized wave pool where guest could even get surfing lessons. In 1995 the weather got a little cool and the unthinkable happened. A “blizzard” hit Florida and covered a special area in Walt Disney World with “snow”. But this new ski resort began to loose its attractions as the snow melted in the warm Florida sun, as this happened the snow and slopes became some of the tall¬est, fastest, and most fun water attractions in the world. Blizzard Beach became an instant hit with families and thrill seekers alike. With 2 new water parks both boasting newer attractions, better locations, and more con¬vent bus service, River Country began to lose attendance.

After closing for the season on August 31st, 2001 most every¬one expected the gates to open once again when the weather warmed back up. What no one did expect was the tragedy of September 11th and lasting effects it would have on the county. Disney executives took immediate actions to reduce operating costs across the board. All salary Cast Members were asked to volunteer 20% of their work for a 20% cut in pay, full time cast member’s hours were reduced, the Disney Institute closed all 528 of its rooms and canceled all classes until further notice, the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot was scaled back, even entire resorts were closed to increase occupancy rates at others, and of course, when the weather warmed back up, River County’s gates stayed closed. No maintenance was completed, the pumps were never re¬started, and the pools were never cleaned. Some thought once tourism picked back up, the annual maintenance would oc¬cur and the gates would reopen, but this was not the case.

For 13 years now the gates have remained closed and to even more of a surprise, Disney has taken down little to nothing of the remnants of the park. Take a stroll through Fort Wilderness and you can find areas to peek through the green fence separating the remnants of River Country from the pavilion that is used for Mickey’s Backyard BBQ. Some of the unkempt attractions can be seen as well as dilapidated structures, rusted lamp poles, over grown picnic tables, and any other amount of neglected refuse of what was once part of a beloved Disney destination. Though no one will ever again brave the White Water Rapids, dare to cross the barrel bridge, or face Up Steam Plunge, many will have fond memories of summer fun splashing about at the Ol’ Watering Hole, River County USA.