WDW Daily News

Isn’t it crazy how fast the year has been gone by? I can’t complain about the year that I have been having but I can say I’m excited for the new year to come. The start of 2014 was kicked off in EPCOT surrounded by great friends from my Disney College Program experience (which I will write more about in my next article!) As the year progresses I can’t help think, did I cross anything off my bucket list? Or maybe an even better question, do I even have a bucket list? Well, 2015 will start off with something I KNOW that is on my bucket list (if I had one)! This special something is my first trip back to Disney World since my CP!

My final day in MK, the sky was crying too!

It’s not only just that either though! I will be participating in the 2015 Walt Disney World Half Marathon and this will be my first official run EVER! Needless to say I’m beyond ecstatic to go back to my favorite place doing one of my favorite activities! This will be a new goal that I will start my training for very soon!

RunDisney:
I want to start off by writing about RunDisney for a bit. This is something that I’ve been following for quite some time and fantasized about the day that I would be able to participate. Just by going to their website you are able to learn about all of the races that they offer in both Disney World and Disneyland, training in both running and nutrition, their blog, information on travel and postings of results from previous races. I signed up to get updates about registering for races at Disney World so I would know when each one opened up so I wouldn’t miss out of the opportunity this time. I suggest this to anyone interested in racing because they fill up very fast!

Running for a cause:
This is something I knew I wanted to do the moment I hit confirm on my race registration. I immediately researched different organizations. I stumbled upon Alex’s Lemonade Stand and immediately registered to raise money on my own. I continue to struggle to find ways and put my page out in order to collect donations but I will be organizing some sort of fundraiser very shortly! My page is http://www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/1114299 and you can click on that link and follow to the donation page in order to help fight childhood cancer! Any amount is helpful even if you only donate $1.00! I appreciate it! I’ve been running since I was very young by participating in the track and field program my whole life but I am learning something new every day! As I guide myself to the training section of the RunDisney website I find it especially helpful with participating in the 18-20 week training program that leads you up to race day and into the week after. I find it helpful because it will keep me on a strict running schedule by telling me how many miles or minutes you should run each day. I’m hoping by race day I will feel comfortable enough with the distance without straining too much and feeling exhausted.

Planning our trip:
This is beyond exciting for me! Booking the room, the tickets, the restaurants, the fastpasses, everything is just so exciting to me! This will be my first experience with Fastpass+ so I can’t really get into the specifics of it but I will do a follow up article as I start to get more into the planning! As of right now, the Caribbean Beach Resort will be home for 7 days and 6 nights! I plan to purchase a 4 day base ticket to stay on budget and be able to experience one park at a time per day. Dinner will include places like Ohanas, Cape May Cafe, Boma’s, maybe some Hollywood and Vine, through in a little bit of Biergarten who knows! Anything is possible if you just believe!

So what’s on your bucket list?! And if you don’t have one, what is something that you have always wanted to do? I’m very lucky to be pursuing something I’ve been dreaming of for a while now and would love to hear some of yours! Follow me on twitter @LauraWeyand and tell me what you think!

Thanks guys!
Love and pixie dust
-Laura 🙂

“Ladies and Gentleman, boys and girls, in just a few moments the doors behind me will open and your magical journey into the movies will begin…” these words have invoked excitement in thousands of movie enthusiasts who have visited in one of the most beloved attractions at Walt Disney World. “The Great Movie Ride” is not an ordinary trip to the movies, for inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Chinese Theater, you are whisked beyond the screen and into some of the most memorable movies of all times. This signature attraction more than any other reflects the parks overall objective and what guests should take away from their experience when visiting this once working studio of the Walt Disney Company. But what brought this attraction to Florida, what plans were there for the ride in the beginning, and what changes have been made to the attraction over the years? Come find out as we venture Backstage at the movies.

In the early 1980’s EPCOT Center was alive and well at the Walt Disney World Resort. With 2 gates and more space than they ever could have could have imagined at Disneyland Walt Disney World had become the “Vacation Kingdom” the head of the company had always hoped for. Plans for expansions to EPCOT Center were already well under way and one planned FutureWorld Pavilion was a Show Business Themed location headlined by an attraction to be known as “Great Moment at the Movies”. This attraction would take guests into some of their favorite movie moments and in the end allow them to explore the pavilion area featuring many other facets that make up the entertainment industry. The newly named CEO of the Walt Disney Company Michael Eisner as well and Walt Disney Imagineering President Marty Sklar both talked over the large array of ideas they both had in mind for this pavilion. After many talks, it was decided these ideas were diverse and numerous enough to support a 3rd gate for the Florida resort. After contracting with the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer the “Disney MGM Studios” was born and May 1st 1989 after a star studded gala the evening before, this new theme park and working counterpart to the Burbank Studios in California greeted its first of many guest. The headline attraction opening day and one of the first sights all guests saw, shining at the end of Hollywood Boulevard was the Chinese Theater, home to The Great Movie Ride.

Just as, now, TCL Chinese Theater, formally Mann’s Chinese Theater, has in front of it in Hollywood, the Chinese Theater at Disney’s Hollywood Studios forecourt is adorned with the handprints, footprints, and signatures of some of Hollywoods biggest celebrities. The version at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is home to 102 signature slabs including names such as Michael Jackson, Carol Burnett, George Lucas, Betty White, Bette Midler, Robin Williams, and of course Mickey Mouse. After walking through the doors into the theater’s lobby area, the queue area is home to display cases which through the years have featured some of Tinsletowns most notable props. Some of the most famous include Sam’s Piano from Casablanca, a model of the Nautilus submarine from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, the Dejarik board from the Millennium Falcon used in Episode IV of the Star Wars series, and the pair of ruby slippers from The Wizard of OZ. These props have all changed over time but for the time the different items have been displayed, they have been the delight of numerous guests who had the opportunity to see them.

Once aboard the tram and greeted by your guide your “magically journey into the movies” begins. As you round the corner you are greeted by your first of many movies. Footlight Parade is a 1933 musical produced by Warner Brothers Studios. Most notable in this display is the “cake” of women, all smiling who greet you while they swim in perfect synchronization. Of all the movies featured in this attraction this is the only one to have undergone any major changes. At opening the “cake” of women rotated and were surrounded by spouts of water. Along side them 3 woman atop a high dive waited to plunge into the pool below. A multitude malfunctions with the turntable brought the rotation to a halt a few years after the attraction opened, and issues with the water pumps freezing up and flooding part of the attraction meant the end of the splashing. The addition of a screen and bubbles have kept some of the kinetic energy in the area but many still have fond memories of the original swimming girls smiling as they splash about.

As you travel though the attraction guests come across many of their favorite parts of movies. Located just beyond the Alien section guest enter the Raider of the Lost Ark and witness Indy and Sallah unearthing a great treasure. But of you are not to distracted by the shiny gold ark, or the number of snakes creeping around you, on the opposite wall you may find 2 other notable Lucasfilm characters. R2-D2 and C-3P0 are emblazoned on the wall as hieroglyphics speaking to some of the others. Entering the Casablanca scene, guest witness the “best last line of a movie ever”. As Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman share their final moments a plan warms up in the background. Some have been told this is the actual plane from the movie. Unfortunately this isn’t true. Truth is there is were no real Lockheed Electra 12A’s used in the film. The Warner Brothers soundstage was too small to accommodate a full sized plane thus their workshop created half and quarter sized models used for filming. The plane in the attraction is a real Lockheed Electra 12A with the tail removed. The tail has appeared in both the Studios Backlot Tour and in the Magic Kingdom’s Jungle Cruise.

Leaving the Casablanca scene guests approach the end of the attraction. The original plans for the attraction included an extended The Wizard of Oz scene. The first part would have included the scene where The Sorcerer’s Apprentice currently resides would have been the opening for this section. Ever notice the great amount of wind in this area? This is because the area was designed to be the twister scene from The Wizard of Oz and on the screen guests would have witnessed Dorothy’s house fly by before seeing the house in as they enter Munchkinland. After further thought and just before opening of the park, CEO Michael Eisner was upset by the lack of Disney movies and characters in the attraction. Thus Mickey Mouse in one of his most notable roles was added. After the Munchkinland scene guest see Dorothy and her friends staring at the Emerald City in the distance before entering a theater to witness just a few more of the greatest moments in movie history. Most don’t know this was going to be additional area of The Wizard of Oz as well. As you entered this final section the Wizard would appear surrounded by flames proclaiming “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain”.With this the film would start rolling and as guests were entranced with movie magic on the screen they wouldn’t notice a dark curtain rising. Behind the curtain would be animatronics of all the characters guests encountered on this journey as well as their gangster or cowboy. At the end of the film the lights would come up on this group, guests would cheer, and the entire cast would take a bow. In the end the decision to change the ending was made due to time constraints and limited funds.

“As we come to a complete stop, please rise dramatically to your feet, and exit to the rear of the tram. Oh and when I say action, don’t forget the thunderous applause for yours truly. And ACTION!” We’ve reached the end of another great journey through the movies. Hope this journey has inspired you to experience this attraction in a new light. Enjoy your next visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studio and see you at the movies.

Hey Disney nerds! I’m here this week with another board game review. This one is Monsters University themed. I haven’t seen this game anywhere in stores other than Toys “R” Us, where I got it. However, it is available on Amazon for $9.99. When I looked online to look up the price,I noticed it is on Walmart.com, but I haven’t seen it at any Walmart store anywhere around me. Anyway, the name of the game is “Who’s Behind the Door.” This game, is it a bit of a remake of Guess Who. You know, that nineties game that had names of people that you could relate to your relatives and friends. Only me? Oh ok. Any way, the rules are around the same, only you’re guessing characters from Monsters University. It incorporates main characters from the movie and characters whose names I’m 100% sure were not mentioned in the movie. The names of the characters to guess are:

Sulley (OK)
Mike (OK)
Squishy (OK)
Don (OK)
Carrie (PNK)
Nadya (HSS)
Randy (ROR)
Rhonda (HSS)
Percy (JOX)
Terri &Terri (OK)
Brynn (EEK)
Johnny(ROR)
Carla (EEK)
Rosie (HSS)
Violet (EEK)
Sonia (HSS)

As you can tell, more than half of them are monsters that are shown in the movie, but never have their names mentioned. Anyway that doesn’t matter for the rules of the game. Onto the actual rules, for those who haven’t not played Guess Who. The object of the game is to correctly guess your opponents character. First of all you draw a card and place it on the door. The other player across from you does the same. Then you take turns asking a series of questions to describe the other players character.

For example: “Does your character have glasses?”, “Is your character in Oozma Kappa. (or Roar Omega Roar or any other Sorority/Fraternity) You then do that until one person guesses a character. It seems very simple. This game is a game definitely directed toward smaller children. Right before I started writing this, I played this with my mother, to refresh my memory on the game, and we didn’t have too much fun. For me I have more fun watching my sister play. If you have young kids, say ages 4-7 they’d love it. Anything older, the game isn’t as entertaining. Hope this helps!!!!

There’s no doubt about it- a Disney vacation can be tiring. Sore feet, a heavy backpack, the hot Florida sun beating down… these are just a few of the factors that trouble the average Disney parkgoer. Sometimes, you might even feel like you need a vacation from your vacation! Like Pooh Bear, I have a few favorite “thotful spots” in the parks that are perfect if you need to rest your legs, people watch, and just relax.

1. Rapunzel’s Village- Magic Kingdom: This restroom/seating area combination in Fantasyland is a wonderful place to take a break. The spot also features a charging station, so if your phone or camera is running low on battery power you can charge it. Make sure you bring your own charger, though! If you have little ones that get restless easily, you can send them on a special mission to find 10 of Pascal’s sneaky friends hidden in the scenery.

2. Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover- Magic Kingdom: Although I thought this attraction was boring when I was little, during the last few years it has become one of my Magic Kingdom must-dos! There’s nothing better than sitting back on the TTA, feeling a cool breeze on your face, and enjoying the view above Tomorrowland. The 10-minute tour also runs inside Space Mountain, above Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, and past a model of Walt’s original E.P.C.O.T. design.

3. American Adventure Pavilion- Epcot: The America pavilion in World Showcase has a large, air-conditioned building with padded benches inside. Sounds great, right? The cool air and comfy seating isn’t the only great thing about this pavilion, though- at select times throughout the day, an a capella group called Voices of Liberty performs a 15-minute show featuring some of America’s best loved music. These are easily the most talented singers I’ve ever heard, and it is an honor to be able to listen to their beautiful performance.

4. The Land Pavilion- Epcot: The first floor of The Land has a quick-service restaurant called Sunshine Seasons, so there’s always plenty of tables and space there to enjoy a snack or just veg out. If you have an upcoming Fastpass for Soarin’ or Living with the Land you can also use the area to wait until the specified FP time.

5. Park benches- Everywhere!: If you’re in need of a break and you simply can’t take another step, there’s most likely going to be a park bench around somewhere. Benches are the best place to people watch. You would be amazed at the things people do or say when they think nobody is watching them! My mom and I have definitely made use of the park benches on our last couple trips- a few times, we accidently zoned out and ended up sitting for 45 minutes!

I’ve been a fan of Disney since I was really little. I took my first trip to Walt Disney World when I was 3 years old and I haven’t looked back since; but my love of Disney was limited really to visit Disney World and seeing the movies in the theaters. As I’ve gotten older (and the company has grown) I’ve learned that Disney has so much more to offer than just theme parks and movies! Next year I’m preparing to experience the magic in a brand new way- MARATHONS! That’s right guys this girl has gotten bitten by the runDisney bug! Disney parks offers 9 marathon events (so far) at Disneyland and Walt Disney World, and even this year Disneyland Paris announced its first event next year!

You might be thinking if you’re not a runner these events aren’t for you, but I’m newbie to running and I’m going for it! I’ve heard so many amazing stories from fellow marathon runners that have participated in the events that I just HAD to give it a go! But let me tell you these events take some planning and some research just like trips to a normal trip the parks- and I learned this lesson the hard way. When I decided I wanted to run the Disney Princess Marathon, I started saving up right away. I wasn’t actually sure how much registration was going to be, but boy howdy am I glad I started saving early! The race was about $200 but that wasn’t even the crazy part! I was lucky that I happened to be off of work the day of registration because the registration process was INSANE! I had no idea that registering for a race would be the equivalent to the hunger games. I was one of the lucky ones that got through! The race sold out completely about 40 minutes after I registered!

With that experience I decided to actually prepare for Tinkerbell Half marathon registration. I was off of work, I had the site pulled up my hands on the mouse, my card in hand, I was in beast mode! I was done with registration about 5 minutes after it opened, but thankfully it wasn’t hunger games style warfare and there even still spots open! So with two marathons set to go I know have the mighty task of….training for them. I’m terrified but I’m so excited to be one of those people walking around with those super snazzy marathon medals in the parks after…I can walk again haha. And even better I’ll be planning my very first trip to Disneyland!

So to my friends that are interested in runDisney I have just a couple tips for you:
1- Do your research
2- On registration day make sure you’re at your computer ready to go right when it opens
3- And most importantly…GET READY TO HAVE AS MUCH FUN AS POSSIBLE!

Happy running lovelies I’ll see you across the finish line 

Check out the photo of the week by Stacy Degaro featuring Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom.

In my last article I told provided an overview of the Disney Vacation Club, a commercial if you will. But just how does this program work? What are some of the ins and outs? I thought it might be good if I expanded on a few topics. First of all remember that this is like a real estate interest/transaction. You own a piece of the Magic so to say! But while you are buying a deeded and transferable interest, it is not a real estate investment, but a prepaid vacation plan with points that are not good forever. There are legal concerns to consider. For example you can deduct the real estate taxes that are included in the annual dues each year, and I recently found out that there is a fee to re title to add or remove names to the deed.

DVC is a timeshare. Timeshares come in many varieties, from fixed week ownership, floating week ownership, flex week ownership to point based systems. The basic difference revolves around when an owner may plan or take a vacation. With week based systems, an owner has a defined timeframe for their vacation each year. Vacation times may rotate or be flexible but there defined times a owner can vacation. With point based systems, like DVC, an owner can use the points as they want based on the amount required per night and availability. I mange my vacation point allotment like I do my checking account!

DVC is also affiliated with RCI, a major timeshare exchange company, via their Worldwide Collection offering DVC Members the option to trade vacation weeks with an RCI owner opening up even more vacation opportunities. There is also the option to use the points at other Disney Resorts with the Disney Collection and with the Concierge Collection members can choose from a plethora of vacation opportunities like sea side escapes or ski adventures. It seems the experiences are endless.

One of the biggest questions asked over and over is “is the membership worth it’. There is as much written saying it is as there is saying it is a risk. I believe the math calculation is a little hard to do, figuring in everything to correctly come up with an answer. I did find the following which I found insightful and could agree with. Based on a calculation referenced on DVCNews.com, if 160 vacation points were bought in 2011, it would take 8 years to break even; at 11 years you would be saving money. The calculation was based on a purchase of 160 points and 9 vacation nights each year in a deluxe studio room. Purchase prices and dues were also included. The cash room rate used included a discount as well. Of course there are other things to consider which are different for each Guest. But based on this calculation, it appears that a DVC interest can save money. There are many variables and personal factors to consider. Mousesavers.com gives another breakdown and scenario to study. Be sure to check all the facts and information before you decide to purchase.

Next time I will tell you about some of the terms used when owning a DVC membership. Until then keep sharing the magic!!!

This week, I am taking a field trip to Tom Sawyer’s Island at the Magic Kingdom. It has been quite a while since I ventured over to this attraction, so I figure it’s time for a visit. Tom Sawyer’s Island is an anomaly among Disney attractions because it is so secluded. You can’t even visit the island without a raft ride across the Rivers of America. This is unusual because there are not really any other rides or shows that require this type of journey at WDW. This journey itself is part of the fun; how often do you get to throw away all of your cares and hop on a raft?

After the short trip, there is quite a lot to do on Tom’s island. You can explore caves, look for treasure, run across barrel bridges. You can even visit the fort and scout out oncoming danger. If you are looking for a relaxing spot, there are lots of rocking chairs available for just sitting and taking in the sights. I love this part of Frontierland because it feels like original Disney World to me. You can easily forget where you are and escape from reality for a little while!

Even though the island is a classic, it has seen lots of changes over the years. For example, the burning settler’s cabin doesn’t burn anymore. Also, the paint brushes that used to be hidden on the island are a thing of the past. Every morning the cast used to hide some of Tom’s paintbrushes on the island so that they could be found by guests and turned in for fast passes or some sort of reward. We came very close to finding one of the brushes, but someone else beat us to it. The hunt for the brush was still fun! In addition, Aunt Polly’s used to be open on the island as a quick lunch service, but alas, it has been many years since Aunt Polly has served any lunch. Amazingly, not too much else has actually changed, so it is pretty fantastic to see a WDW attraction that still brings in a crowd without relying on technology or some sort of gadget.

Another draw for Tom Sawyer’s Island is the educational value that can be found there. You can learn about how a mill works as well as Tom and Huck’s story as it was told by the great American author, Mark Twain. This story is also a part of the Liberty Belle’s journey around the Rivers of America. Overall, I love spending time on the island, and you should definitely try to take your family for a visit the next time you are exploring the World! Until next time, have a magical day, and keep moving forward!

As a well known Disney addict in my circle of family and friends, I often get strange looks when I tell people that I don’t love Walt Disney World for its attractions. Sure, I race with the rest of the crazies at rope drop to get that amazing early morning ride on Seven Dwarves Mine Train or Soarin’. And yes, I obsess 60 days out to pick just the right fastpass+ options to optimize my time in the parks and to give me the ability to enjoy as much Disney magic as I can squeeze into a 16 hour park day. I, like other WDW park frequent fliers, can get caught up in commando touring- trying to pack in every ounce of magic that I possibly can before my body betrays me and I have to sleep. However, upon reflection at the end of each Walt Disney World visit, I find that the memories that I treasure the most are not from the attractions, but from the moments in between. These include fun or touching cast member interactions, peeks “behind the curtain”, unplanned periods of relaxation, and glimpses into the way that Disney magic brings joy into the hearts of others both young and old. As any good Disney theme park fan does, I keep an extensive Disney Bucket list. I noticed recently that the items on my list are not attractions, but instead are special experiences (both free and fee) that bring me such Disney joy. Recently, I had the chance to check one of these magical experiences off of my bucket list: the Untamed Lunch with an Animal Specialist at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

The Untamed Lunch with an Animal Specialist at the Animal Kingdom Lodge is held at Kidani Village in its beautiful restaurant, Sanaa, on Wednesdays and Saturdays at noon (lasting 90 minutes). This special dining experience has a fee of $50 for lunch with a small group of attendees and an Animal Specialist from the Animal Kingdom Lodge. The attendees also get the opportunity to get an up close and personal introduction to one of the tortoises living there at Kidani Village after the amazing lunch.

When arriving at Sanaa, I was led to our table after a short wait, which was in an unpopulated area of the restaurant with a great view of the savannah. I was introduced to my fellow lunch companions (a family of 3), the wait staff, and the 2 Animal Specialists- yes, 2! Chris was the veteran Animal Specialist, and he was training Jessie, who had only been a cast member at the Animal Kingdom Lodge for a few weeks. As a solo traveler, this lunch was a wonderful way to experience a delicious and unique dining situation without feeling the awkwardness of sitting alone. The dishes that we would be enjoying were described in detail, including the cooking methods, and the fun began! Immediately, the Animal Specialists put us all at ease, by giving extensive personal introductions and asking us to give brief introductions of ourselves.

As the introductions progressed, our first course arrived.. and yes, it was the notorious Sanaa bread service! If you have never had the opportunity to experience this, it is a delight- and as good as everyone says. There are 3 types of bread offered with 9 different sauces, ranging from sweet and cool to very spicy (I tried the first 6 of the 9…). After the bread service, we were served 3 different cold salads: a watermelon cucumber salad, a chickpea salad, and a tomato salad. Let me say this here- don’t be scared off by the style of cuisine at Sanaa. I am a reasonably picky eater and loved all of the food offered! The entrees were a butter chicken and a shrimp in green curry sauce with basmati rice. I do not eat shrimp, and the chef was very accommodating, offering me a serving of short ribs instead of the shrimp. The dessert trio topped off the very filling, delicious meal perfectly!

During the entirety of the meal, Chris and Jessie described what their daily responsibilities with the animals entailed. They took turns sharing interesting information about what it takes to care for the animals at the Animal Kingdom Lodge around the clock (there is no “closing time” for them!). They detailed how the animals were monitored, fed, kept safe, moved from the savannah to the barn (for only a few hours each day), and received veterinary care. The importance of the breeding program was another very interesting topic. I especially loved their stories about individual animals’ personalities, and funny happenings around the savannah (like stolen candy from the golf cart!). Chris and Jessie also encouraged us to ask questions throughout, which led to us learning some fun facts that they might not have thought to share otherwise. Both Animal Specialists were great speakers and delightful lunch companions!

After lunch, we headed outside to meet one of the resident radiated tortoises (I can’t believe I have forgotten his name..but I do know that he is named after one of the chefs at Sanaa!). Chris and Jessie gave us great information about the radiated tortoise and we were given ample opportunities for photos of our new friend.

All in all, this was a remarkable educational dining experience. When participating in these types of “additional fee” experiences, I always ask myself, “is it worth the time/money spent away from the parks?” The answer in the case of the Untamed Lunch is a resounding “YES”! Between the delicious (and large) lunch, the totally unique setting, the educational opportunity, and the intimate exposure to the animal keepers of the Animal Kingdom Lodge, I would highly recommend this experience in a heartbeat. It was well worth its cost and time commitment (and as a bonus, a portion of the cost goes to the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund) . The Untamed Lunch with an Animal Specialist is right at the top of my all-time favorite Walt Disney World experiences. Looks like I cross off one more item from my ever-growing Disney bucket list!