DisneyDaddy

Tip Tuesday: Delivering the Magic

2012-01-31T18:24:00.000-05:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

This week, I wanted to share yet another way you can help spread the Disney magic to others and maybe help make a little magic for your friends and family.

During my recent Marathon trip, a good friend surprised me with a Mickey Mouse cooler filled with snack and water -- delivered to my room! (Marie -- thank you!!!)

This wonderful gesture reminded me of the fantastic offerings of the Disney Florist group -- and they offer much more than just flowers!

From holidays to birthdays to celebrating special events, the Disney Florist group has many options to help make your trip to Walt Disney World a little more magical right from the start.

Just think, your kids are coming to Walt Disney World for the very first time -- what better way to start their adventure than arriving in your room to find a special gift basket (shown above) complete with mouse ears (already embroidered with their names), autograph books and pens and more!

This is just one of the many services of the Disney Florist group.

Now these items don't come cheap. The gift basket shown above runs a little over $100. Other items can be far more expensive while some items like the snack pack I mentioned earlier run about $40 each.

While this might sound expensive, for those wishing to sprinkle a little extra pixie dust (and perhaps save some time not having to purchase things in the parks), the extra expense might be worth it.

Better yet, you also can have some of that Disney magic delivered to you!

Not all items are available for delivery outside Disney, but quite a few can be shipped to the U.S. and Canada. Just check the description for the item you're interested in to see if shipping is available.

So the next time you want to share a bit of the Disney magic - you now know where to go!

Photo Friday: Reflections of Magic

2012-01-27T21:45:00.002-05:00

Welcome to another Photo Friday!

This week, I was looking through some of the photos from the Marathon 2012 and happened to accidentally rotate this picture the wrong way. I was stunned at what I had accidentally created.

Look carefully. This image of Cinderella Castle actually is it's reflection as seen from the Liberty Square bridge. I rotated the image so that the castle is upright instead of upside down as it would normally be seen.

I see this as a reminder that sometimes you have to look at things differently in order to see them at all.

Enjoy!

Tip Tuesday: The Great Piggy Bank Adventure

2012-01-25T20:35:00.000-05:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

This week I wanted to highlight another great interactive activity for kids -- the Great Piggy Bank Adventure.

Located in Innoventions in Epcot, the Great Piggy Bank Adventure sponsored by T. Rowe Price, helps kids understand the importance of setting savings goals, the importance of saving versus spending, inflation and how (and why) to diversify investments. While these financial lessons are fairly simplistic, they're important lessons for kids to learn.

The Great Piggy Bank Adventure consists of three stages. Each stage includes an interactive game for up to four players. Each game requires players to work in teams to save as much money as possible towards their overall savings goal.

All the while, your "savings" are stored in a piggy bank that players carry from station to station.

What I like about the Great Piggy Bank Adventure is the way Disney has combined a financial lesson with interactive fun. Best of all, the adventure doesn't stop at Innoventions. You can play at home here: http://piggybank.disney.go.com/media/ap/piggybank/index.html.

There are several new exhibits coming soon to Innoventions. As more information is announced, I'll have updates here on DisneyDaddy.

Until next time!

Photo Friday: A different view of Wishes

2012-01-20T19:04:00.002-05:00

Welcome to another Photo Friday!

One great benefit of another trip to Walt Disney World is more great Photo Friday moments!

This week, I'm sharing a shot I took from the deck outside Narcoosee's at the Grand Floridian.

So here's the story behind this photo: I didn't have a tripod, but there was the deck railing. I carefully set my SLR on the rail, set the shot to manual (ISO 1600, Iris at F/14 and shutter at 3.2 seconds), kept the shot very wide and just started taking shots.

Some of this is just luck, some of this is getting down the timing. I was watching for when the shells were fired into the air and took the shot then, knowing that I was exposing the shot for 3 seconds.

And here's the end result! Now just think about what you can do if you can find a nice steady place to set your camera... but that's a story for another time.

Until next time!

Tip Tuesday: Toy Story Midway Mania secrets - Dino Darts

2012-01-17T21:02:00.001-05:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

I'm fresh back from another trip to Walt Disney World and I'd like to start off with sincere thanks to everyone who supported me during the Walt Disney World Marathon on January 8. I'm proud to say that I finished the race (in a little under 7 hours -- not a great time, but who cares!).

Now on to this week's tip!

I managed to get in a few runs on Toy Story Midway Mania and was working on beating my top score when I recalled that I haven't shared any tips for achieving higher scores at the most popular attraction in all of Walt Disney World.

Well it's time to rectify this oversight.

Let's start with one of the easier (but not the easiest) tip: racking up big points during Rex and Trixie's Dino Darts. This is the second scoring segment in the attraction. Obviously the point is to pop balloons with darts you shoot.

When the game begins, you'll see some long squiggly balloons like lava rivers on the front of the volcano worth 1000 points each. There are six total that appear, first a single in the center, then two on the left and right (seen above) and finally all three in a row. Quickly pop each of these balloon sets as they appear. If you can pop all six, here's what you'll see next:

See those balloons erupting from the top of the volcano? Just start shooting at the top of the volcano and hit as many as you can as they erupt. They're worth 500 points each and they're tightly packed together right at the top so you can hit them easily without having to move much.

Next...

Two comets on the left and right sides of the screen will appear with balloons in the center of each. As you pop the balloons, the comet will descend a bit each time. Pop each comet balloon three times to make it fall to the ground. This is much easier and quicker if you have a partner who can shoot one comet while you shoot the other. If you can get both sides to fall, you get the big payoff:

Two huge balloon comes crash to the ground, made up of balloons worth 2000 points each. Just start shooting those yellow balloons and don't stop until time runs out. You'll probably have only a few seconds so be watching for them as they come into the screen.

So there you go --- just one of several ways to score some big points on Toy Story Midway Mania! I'll talk about some other easy ways to rack up big points in a future post.

Until next time, good luck and good hunting!

Tip Tuesday: Remember where you parked!

2012-01-10T21:09:00.001-05:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday -- from Walt Disney World!

While I sit here at the Boardwalk Resort allowing my feet to recuperate from Sunday's full marathon.. (I did finish, so my thanks to all the well-wishers), I did want to bring you a quick tip I happened to think about after overhearing at the Friendship boat dock by Epcot's International Gateway trying to determine who to best get to Animal Kingdom. Here's the hitch - the time was 7:45 p.m. Animal Kingdom had closed about an hour ago. I can only assume this family had parked at Animal Kingdom, park hopped to Epcot for the afternoon and was trying to get back to their car. I also can only assume they decided to park hop using Disney transportation as opposed to driving their own car so as to avoid paying a second parking fee (or so they maybe thought).

So here's the tip for this week, and this comes from the "a little bit of planning makes a huge difference" department. If you're planning to park your car at one theme park and will be hopping to another park, you should go ahead and drive between each park. Once you pay for parking at one theme park, you won't be required to pay additional parking fees at any other parks on the same day.

So just drive and don't worry about trying to get back to a different park.

The only exception to this might be between Epcot and the Magic Kingdom - just keep an eye on when the monorails stop running -- one hour after regular park hours end (NOT after evening Extra Magic Hours end).

Until next week!

2012 WDW Marathon: LIVE

2012-01-07T00:00:00.000-05:00

Keep watching as I broadcast live from periodicaly from the 2012 Walt Disney World Marathon:

Tip Tuesday: Tracking runners and how you can be part of the team

2012-01-03T22:49:00.000-05:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

Well I'm in the final days before the Walt Disney World Marathon. The bags are nearly packed and I've got all my running gear ready to go.

There are a few last-minute things to take care of. One of those is to setup runner tracking - and this is something you can do. If you'd like to get updates on your runner(s) in either the half or full marathon, go to this link (http://www.xacte.com/templates/disney/marathon/) and create an account (or sign in if you already have an account). Once your account is created, enter some search information for your runner and then select which method(s) you would like to receive updates. You can get information by text, email, Twitter or Facebook. I've signed up for email, text and Twitter (which then automatically rolls to my Facebook page).

Runner tracking is a great way to keep up with where your runner(s) will be on the course and when you might expect to see your runner, if you're cheering from the side of the road.

Also, if you want to get more information about the marathon, including general course information, and details on where and when to arrive on race morning, be sure to download the official race program.

As you probably know, I'm part of the WDW Running Team and we're running to raise money for the Dream Team to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. If you want to support the team, even if you can't be at Walt Disney World, you can always make an online donation. I have a personal goal to raise ~~$250~~ $500, so I hope you'll make a donation to help me bring some magic to some kids facing life-threatening illnesses. If you do make a donation, please be sure to include my name in the notes section.

Finally, I will be attempting to do some live streaming during the full marathon on Sunday morning starting sometime around 4:30 a.m. and periodically throughout the race. Look for a special post here on the DisneyDaddy blog this weekend!

Well, that's all for this week folks. Depending on if I survive the marathon on Sunday, I may or may not have a post for you next Tuesday. Until then (to quote Walt Disney), keep moving forward - something I will be saying to myself a lot on Sunday!

Photo Friday: A high-up view of MK fireworks

2011-12-30T20:35:00.000-05:00

Welcome to another Photo Friday!

As we get set to celebrate New Year's Eve (if you'are at the parks right now, I feel your pain for all the lines!), I thought I'd share a fireworks photo from a unique perspective -- near the top of the Contemporary Resort.

I happened to book a Magic Kingdom view room back in January 2011 and was astounded at the jaw-dropping view of the Magic Kingdom. Imagine having this view outside your window day and night. It was well worth the extra cost.

One of the best perks was what you see here -- an incredible view of the fireworks!

Enjoy and Happy New Year!

Tip Tuesday: Prepping for Marathon Weekend

2011-12-27T22:28:00.000-05:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

Well, there's less than two weeks away until the 2012 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. I've been in training (not enough) for my first ever full marathon. About a month ago, I shared my thoughts for some of the best spectator spots to cheer on runners.

This week, I want to delve into some of the ways runners can get prepared for the event.

First, of course is to train (again, something I have not done enough of ). RunDisney has developed a great partnership with famed marathon runner and trainer Jeff Galloway to provide the Galloway Training System -- a reasonable schedule where runners can get prepared for a half or full marathon with a series of short and long runs. I've tried to follow this system as much as I could and I can see how it can really be helpful for those new to the marathon experience.

Beyond training, there are some things runners will need to have "on board" with them as they complete the course.

Food: Non-runners might think that a runner will need to eat a lot during an event to keep energy levels up. In my experience, that's really not the case. Yes, runners should have an energy bar or two on hand during the event, but most runners I've talked to don't want all that much food with them - mostly because that's extra weight to carry. Also, there are four food stations (during the full marathon) located along the 2nd half of the course. At these stations (according to other WDW Radio Running Team Members) are bananas, chocolate chip bars, energy packets (usually Gu - see below) and other items. "Best bananas ever," so they say. I do recommend eating a banana because it's so high in potassium, which will help.

Fluids: Runners need a lot. But the good news is they don't need to carry any at all. This is one of the biggest differences between a running event and training runs. In a training run, runners have to carry water with them - quite a bit, especially on long runs. In a running event, there are plenty of water/Powerade stations for runners to keep hydrated, so there's no need to carry their own water.

Half Marathon: Water/Powerade stations are located at:

Just past Mile 1
Mile 3.5
Mile 4.5
Just past Mile 6
Just past Mile 7
Just past Mile 9
Just past Mile 10
Mile 11
Just past Mile 12
Finish (Mile 13.1)

Full Marathon: Water/Powerade stations are located at:

Just past Mile 1
Just past Mile 2
Just before Mile 4.5
Mile 6.5
Just past Mile 7
Mile 8.5
Just past Mile 9
Just past Mile 11
Just past Mile 12
Mile 13.5
Just past Mile 14
Just past Mile 15
Mile 16
Mile 17.5
Mile 18.5
Mile 19.5
Mile 20.5
Just past Mile 21
Just past Mile 22
Mile 23
Mile 24
Just before Mile 25
Finish (Mile 26.2)

Energy: While runners will need a bit of food and lots of water/Powerade, they will need some additional kicks of energy as they go through the course. That's where energy chews and Gu come into play. What are these? Energy chews are flavored gummies that contain a high amount of caffiene, vitamins and electrolytes to help keep runners' energy levels up. Gu is a similar product that's more, well, gooey. For my upcoming run, I've purchased several packets of energy chews and two packets of Gu. Between these, my energy bars and the Powerade, I should have all the energy I need. Oh, and don't slack off the energy products just because you're close to the finish! I did that in a recent half-marathon and nearly hit the wall inside the last mile - it probably cost me 3-5 minutes.

Communication: It's a good idea to have a cell phone handy to keep touch with friends and family looking to cheer runners on. It's also a good way to share the running experience with others through social media (just be careful texting and running!). I'm planning to stream portions of my run live via Ustream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/disneydaddy so I hope to see you online!

Pictures!!!: There are tons (and I mean tons) of photo opportunities while out on the race course, so it's a very good idea for runners to have some sort of camera with them. I'd suggest bringing a camera that has a flash, be it point-and-shoot or cellphone. Also, if you're running with friends (something else I strongly suggest), you'll want some of those on-the-road pictures. They're some of the best shots you'll have during the event. Just be mindful of your time. You have to maintain at least a 16-minute per mile pace, so don't get swept because you were standing in line for photo after photo (and there will be lines). That being said, one photo I do recommend a decent wait for is with Jack Sparrow (if it's offered this year). It's usually located backstage just after the runners leave Frontierland. It's a great opportunity that's not normally available in the parks.

Next week, I'll wrap up my thoughts about preparing for Marathon weekend, including dealing with the (sometimes) unpredictable winter Florida weather.

If you're in training -- keep it up!!!

Photo Friday: Hark the Herald Angel

2011-12-23T08:51:00.001-05:00

Welcome to another Photo Friday!

Well, it's the final week before Christmas, so it's time to present what may be my best Christmas-related photo (thus far). I took this shot in December 2008. There was a full moon so I managed to position my photography position to get the full moon into the frame.

I hope you enjoy this shot and I hope you and your family have a very happy and safe Christmas!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Tip Tuesday: Holidays Around the World

2011-12-20T15:35:00.001-05:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

With Christmas just days away, I wanted to share a special holiday event at Epcot that my family and I enjoy whenever we're at the parks during the holidays. In most of the World Showcase pavilions, Disney presents a holiday story complete with the traditions of that host country. For example, at the Mexico pavilion, the Los Tres Reyos Magos (pictured above) present the story of the three wise men who go to visit the baby Jesus in the manger.

In China, we meet the Monkey King and hear his tale of how he got into trouble and his redemption with a monk. In Germany, we meet Helga to learn about the different Christmas traditions, including the tradition of the Christmas Tree pickle. In Italy, we meet Le Befana the Christmas Witch and about the Epiphany celebrations in Italy, while in England we meet Father Christmas, and in France we meet Pierre Noel. Papa Noel is in Canada.

Perhaps my most favorite holiday story is that of Julenissen, the Norwegian Holiday Elf and his "assistant" Sigrid. They two tell a wonderful story of the holidays in Norway and Julenissen's love of porridge.

If you're thinking of seeing these different storytellers, you'll want to arrive at each location about 15 minutes early in order to get a good view, perhaps even 30 minutes early during the busy post-Christmas week. Check the daily times guide for presentation times. Be sure to have a camera ready because most of the storytellers will stick around for photos after their presentation.

Next week, we're getting ready for the marathon.

Have a Merry Christmas!

"Once Upon a Time" is the next LOST

2011-12-19T18:58:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you, but my family and I are hooked on ABC's newest drama "Once Upon a Time." (Sunday, 8pm EST) The show is all about how many of the most well-known fairy tale characters are thrust into our world but have no idea who they really are... that is until Emma comes to town.

What I really like about this show is how we discover the past in "Fairy Tale land" at the same time we see what happens in the present in Storybrooke. It's a wonderful mystery. We know who these characters really are, what we don't know is what will make them remember and how. As we learn more, we also see and experience the great chemistry among the cast, especially between Emma and Regina, the mayor (of course Regina also is latin for Queen).

Be careful, this show can be addictive... very addictive. It's from the creators of LOST and it has every bit of the same intrique and mystery that LOST did. I anticipate "Once Upon a Time" becoming the next really big hit for ABC, again, just like LOST. I think "Once" might even have a bigger following because it's more family-friendly than LOST was. Case in point: my children can't wait to see the next episode and already have their favorite characters.

Now that we're into the holiday season, there unfortunately won't be any new episodes until Jan. 8, 2012.

But if you haven't seen the show, now's a great time to get caught up. If you're already a fan, now's a good time to watch each episode again to see what you might have missed the first time. ABC.com has put all 7 complete episodes online at http://abc.tv/OnceUponATimeEpisodeGuide. I've gone back and watched a few already to see if I can pick up on a few more clues to the overall mystery of the curse (watch the first episode, you'll know what I'm talking about).

What do you think about "Once Upon a Time?" Take our poll! Who's your favorite character? Post a comment!

And never forget, "All magic comes with a price."

Photo Friday: A "Magic"al Christmas Tree

2011-12-16T23:46:00.000-05:00

Welcome to another Photo Friday!

With just over a week to go until Christmas, I think it's time to start enjoying some Christmas trees! Here is a nice view of the Magic Kingdom Christmas tree from the 2nd floor balcony of the Main Street Railroad Station. There's nothing so magical and wonderful like a huge Christmas tree full of lights...

Oh, and if you like Christmas trees, just wait until you see the shot I've been saving for the final Friday before Christmas!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

Tip Tuesday: Last minute Disney holiday shopping

2011-12-13T21:14:00.001-05:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

Ok, here's the 'sitch (to borrow a line from Kim Possible): there's only 12 days left until Christmas and you want to get your special someone that perfect Disney gift that you remember seeing at the parks on your last trip. There's one little problem -- it's not sold online at DisneyStore.com. What do you do?

You are not without hope. Disney has an entire staff of "shoppers" ready to find that special item for you. It's called the WDW Mail Order Service.

All you need to do is call them at 407-363-6200 or send an e-mail to wdw.mail.order@disneyworld.com to place an order. Be sure to give as much information about the item as possible so the folks at Disney can try to find it for you.

Now, I hate to be a Grinch, but I do have to tell you that if the item you're looking for is sold out in the parks or resorts, you might be out of luck.

I've used this service a few times and it's been very handy. In fact, I've even called in advance to have some items delivered to my resort so they were at the front desk when I checked in. Best of all, it doesn't cost a thing!

If you are trying to get that last-minute Disney item -- good luck!!!

Photo Friday: MK entrance at the holidays

2011-12-09T20:57:00.001-05:00

Welcome to another Photo Friday!

We're another week closer to Christmas. This week, I thought I'd share a shot from Dec. 2008 showing the entrance to the Magic Kingdom all decked out for the holidays. I especially like the rich blue sky in this shot.

Enjoy!

Tip Tuesday: Seeing the castle lighting

2011-12-06T22:37:00.001-05:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

As we continue to celebrate the holidays, I wanted to share a few tips about another magical event that takes place nightly at the Cinderella Forecourt Stage in the Magic Kingdom, and that's the lighting of Cinderella Castle.

If you're never seen the Cinderella Castle "Dreamlights" (as they're called), then you must try to see this in person. Like the Osborne Lights at Disney Hollywood Studios, photos and/or videos just don't do it justice. It is truly a spectacle to behold.

Now the lights don't just come one once it gets dark. This is Disney, which means we have to have some fanfare and a little bit of magic.

Each night around dusk, Mickey, Minnie and the gang come out to enjoy the evening and notice how everything's decorated for the holidays... everything but the castle that is. After a bit of discussion about how the castle should the decorated, the Fairy Godmother intervenes and asks Cinderella how she would like her castle decorated. Naturally, Cinderella wants her castle to shine with ice and snow (even in Florida).

Remember what I said about magic? Well the Fairy Godmother (with a little help from the audience) magically adds shimmering ice to decorate the castle for the holidays.

Disney's Imagineers really outdid themselves on this effort. When we all heard the Imagineers were thinking of "plussing" up the castle for the holidays, visions of pink birthday cake danced (more like exploded) in our heads. Instead, the Imagineers took one of the most photographed building in the world and made it even better. In all, more than 250,000 LED lights adorn the castle. What's really impressive is that the Imagineers wove the lights into specially dyed fishing nets, so there's no tangling and, with the dyed net, the lights are nearly invisible except when viewed close up. From the hub, you have a hard time even seeing them.

Ok, so now that I've got you dying to see this wondrous sight... just where's the best place to see it?

You can stand anywhere around the hub and if you're really interested in the stage show, you may want to plan to stand close up. I personally like being farther back so I can take in the entire vista. I recommend standing along the railing in front of the Crystal Palace. You won't have anyone in front of you and it's a great vantage point. The railing in front of the Plaza Restaurant also is a good spot.

Be sure to find a spot about 15-30 minutes before the show starts!

See you next week!

Want more Prep and Landing?

2011-12-05T21:41:00.001-05:00

The newest Prep and Landing special just aired about a hour ago on ABC and I have to say it was absolutely "tinsel!!" Avoiding re-hashing the same storyline as the original, this new show still maintains the "James Bond" look and feel in a completely new direction. I also appreciated the emphasis on family and how, even at the holidays (ok, especially at the holidays) we all can get on each other's nerves a bit.

If you're like me and you're looking for even more Prep and Landing fun, the folks over at ABC.com have you covered. Just check out the Prep and Landing page for more fun including all-new webisodes, "behind-the-scenes" videos and more!

You also can watch the special Prep and Landing short, "Operation Secret Santa."

So get your goggles ready. It's Jingle time!

Photo Friday: Standing guard at the Osborne Lights

2011-12-02T21:47:00.001-05:00

Welcome to another Photo Friday!

As we continue our holiday-themed photos, I wanted to share a picture from my favorite holiday event at Walt Disney World - the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. This (and pretty much any other photo you see) really don't do the Osborne Lights justice -- they truly are that spectacular.

I took this photo while waiting in line to take a PhotoPass picture with the light switch and the trees/soldiers seen here. You can see that photo in this week's Tip Tuesday post. Like most night photography, you really need to find a way to hold your camera very still and allow the shutter to be open for a longer time (this shot had a shutter speed of 1/30th of a second). I also like the slightly odd angle to the image - it just looks different.

I hope you enjoy this and more holiday photos from Walt Disney World!

Tip Tuesday: Better night photos at the Osborne Lights

2011-11-29T21:03:00.000-05:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

Now that the holiday season is officially upon us, I wanted to give some tips specifically related to the holiday season.

It's no surprise that my most favorite holiday event at Walt Disney World is the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney Hollywood Studios. There's nothing like it in the world! If you're looking to get some good photos, however, you might find that's much harder that you think. Mostly, it's because the event takes place at night and you're using a standard point-and-shoot camera, you're probably going to have to shoot your pictures using a small flash which tends to wash out the background.

If only you had better equipment to use... but you do!

Disney has several PhotoPass photographers station at various locations throughout the Osborne lights area. Each photographer has a professional-grade Nikon camera with lights and (most importantly) a good steady tripod. This means they can take those longer exposure shots that allow the background lights to be much more vivid in the final photo (see above).

If you take advantage of these and other PhotoPass opportunities, you can later purchase a digital download of the photo or (better yet) a CD of every shot. You'll really appreciate the kind of pictures you'll get -- far better than what you (or anyone else) could take with a standard point-and-shoot camera, or even a decent SLR.

So be sure to take advantage of the top quality provided by PhotoPass - it really will help you best capture all those holiday memories at Walt Disney World!

Photo Friday: Castle Dreamlights at dusk

2011-11-25T14:58:00.001-05:00

Welcome to another Photo Friday!

Now that the holidays are officially here, it's time to start sharing some of my many holiday photos from Walt Disney World. Where better to start that at Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom. I absolutely love the Castle Dreamlights that were added in 2007. This is a shot at dusk when the lights were on before the lighting ceremony. I especially like this shot because there is enough light to still see the moat, trees and the fading sky, yet the lights are prominent.

I hope you enjoy this first of several holiday photos!

Tip Tuesday: Country Quizzes

2011-11-22T21:04:00.001-05:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

This week, we're back in Epcot to highlight yet another overlooked experience.

Most pavilions have some sort of retail store offering goods from the country the pavilion represents. However, these stores also often have one little extra bit of fun -- a quiz about that country.

I often encourage Guests to take a few moments to try their hand at these quizzes, not really to show off what they know, but rather as a way to talk with Cast Members who are from those lands. Invariably, you'll strike up a conversation and learn more about that country, which is what World Showcase is all about.

This particular quiz from the UK pavilion was especially fun for my oldest son, who recently discovered The Beatles and was very interested in the Beatles quiz.

So as you're making your way around the World Showcase, try to take a moment to stop and test your knowledge about the different countries represented in Epcot -- you might know more than you think you did and you certainly will learn something!

Photo Friday: Injun Joe's Cave

2011-11-18T20:52:00.001-05:00

Welcome to another Photo Friday!

I was looking through photos of past trips and ran across this photo I had forgotten about. This is a scene towards the end of your journey through Injun Joe's Cave on Tom Sawyer Island in Frontierland. I like how the lighting creates the creepy skull effect. This was a particularly hard shot to take as I had to hold very still in a tight space in order to take a slow-shutter shot.

Enjoy -- if you dare!

Tip Tuesday: Best marathon cheering spots

2011-11-15T21:21:00.001-05:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

This week, I'm returning to a topic that's high on my priority list: SURVIVING the full marathon!!!

Ok, actually I'm talking about some of the best places for spectators to cheer those runners on (believe me, I'll need all the cheering I can get!!).

So without further adieu, here are some of my suggestions for spectator spots along the course (and a few places to avoid).

The starting line
Forget about it. The race starts at around 5:30 a.m. and you really can't get to the starting line since it's out on Epcot Center Drive. If you want to pep up your runner, your best bet is to be a the pre-race meeting area where runners will be warming up, checking bags, etc. Once the runners are called to assemble at the starting line, that's your cue to move to your next spot.

Epcot - full marathon part 1 (and half marathon finish)
Once the race starts, runners (and half marathoners completing their race) will enter Epcot near the Living Seas Pavilion and run along the West side of Spaceship Earth, down to World Showcase. Half-marathoners will turn around and head back toward the East side of Spaceship Earth and out to the finish line (see below for my comments about the finish line). Full marathoners will continue into World Showcase, turn left and run along the promenade and go backstage just before the Germany pavilion (based on the map provided by Disney). Good viewing places along this leg are anywhere in Future World by the fountain. There's plenty of space for lots of spectators. I'd be careful about venturing down into World Showcase itself -- it can get a little tight along the promenade, especially by the Mexico pavilion.

Following the Monorail...

After leaving Epcot (and once the half marathon starts), runners will again head down Epcot Center Drive, and will turn north onto World Drive, running through the Magic Kingdom parking booth and through the parking lot to the TTC. Unless you have the ability to get to this part of the course, I'd recommend against trying to find a spot along this stretch until the TTC.

There are a few possible spots to cheer on runners at the TTC, especially right at the entrance.

Approaching the Magic Kingdom

After passing the TTC, runners will return to World Drive, pass the Contemporary and will turn left into a backstage entrance to the Magic Kingdom. While it might sound like a good (and convenient) option, the Contemporary is not a good spot for spectators. The main reason is the runners use the southbound (far) lane and spectators can't get close to the course, so you're cheering from a distance at best. Also, forget about trying to walk to the Magic Kingdom -- can't happen. Disney cast members won't allow it. You have to use the monorail.

I'm running right down the middle of Main Street USA...

Probably the best spectator spot of all is along Main Street USA. I recommend staying on the West side of the street (the Emporium side), as you can easily see the runners go down Main St. and then walk to the hub to see runners pass through Cinderella Castle and turn down Liberty Square. Depending on the time of the morning, you might not be able to go down to Liberty Square or Frontierland, so if you want to see your runner(s) go through the Magic Kingdom, you need to arrive about an hour in advance. Oh, and you just might see a bunch from WDW Radio Running Team cheering on runners here. This is the traditional spot for Team WDW Radio.

The Grand Floridian

After heading backstage from Frontierland, runners turn south on Floridian Way and head to the Grand Floridian. Like the Contemporary, this might not be the best of viewing spots as it's hard to get close to the runners. It's a little easier here than the Contemp, but not much.

Here's where we part company...

From here, half marathoners will continue down Floridian Way onto World Drive and back onto Epcot Center Drive for the return to Epcot and the finish line (see Epcot above). Full marathoners, however, are only halfway home. The full marathon course turns right onto Bear Island Drive and heads to Animal Kingdom. Like the leg approaching the TTC, this is probably not the best place for spectators. Head onto Animal Kingdom, if you really want to.

Animal Kingdom

After making it through the relatively uninteresting portion of Bear Island Drive, runners will enter Animal Kingdom from backstage around Asia and run in front of Expedition Everest, the Nemo theatre and into Dinoland USA and then backstage again. That's it for Animal Kingdom (based on the official race map). The runners do make a brief appearance at the main entrance before heading back out onto the road. If you really want to see runners go through Animal Kingdom, I'd suggest watching from Dinoland USA where you can easily leave the park afterward. All-in-all, Animal Kingdom isn't the best place for spectators, based on the limited availability to the runners.

Another dreaded stretch

Here we go again, another uninteresting stretch of plain ol' road called the Oseola Parkway. The runners will come close to the ESPN Wide World of Sports, but not quite. Not the best leg for spectators -- skip it. We'll see you in the Studios.

Hollywood Studios

Ahh, something interesting at last! There are a ton of great spots here. The runners enter from backstage somewhere near the Animation courtyard (it's hard to see on the official map), and run through Pixar Place, down the Streets of America (an awesome place for spectators!) and down Hollywood Boulevard (another awesome spectator spot!).

Almost there!

After leaving the Studios, runners follow the walkway to the Boardwalk, run in front of the Yacht and Beach Clubs and proceed to Epcot's International Gateway. All along here are outstanding spectator cheering locations, so take your pick.

Epcot, the Sequel

Home at last! Runners enter Epcot from backstage in between the Canada and UK pavilions and run all the way around World Showcase, passing in front of every pavilion before running through Future World on the East side, exiting Epcot and ending at the "thank heavens I made it" Finish Line! There are plenty of great spectator locations all along World Showcase, with the exception of the Mexico pavilion -- that area is too narrow to allow for good spectator viewing locations. Likewise, there are plenty of great spots in Future World.

As for the finish line, I really don't recommend it. Most of the finish line spectator areas are reserved for those who purchased Disney's CheerSquad packages. Besides, the finish line is a zoo. You're far better off cheering on the runners from somewhere inside Epcot and then meeting up right after the race ends.

So there you go -- a quick overview of some of the good (and not-so-good) places to watch the 2012 Half and Full Marathons.

To those who are running this year -- good luck and I'll see you in the full marathon!

PhotoFriday: A tribute to Veterans

2011-11-12T10:24:00.001-05:00

Welcome to another Photo Friday!

In honor of Veterans Day, I thought I'd share a photo from June 2010 of the Eagle at the end of the Main Street Electrical Parade. I like this shot because that bright light above the eagle's head is the full moon. This photo doesn't do the vista justice. It was a magical moment!

To all our veterans who have served and to those who serve today, I want to thank you for your sacrifice and for your tireless efforts to protect our freedoms to enjoy places like Walt Disney World.

This photo is dedicated to you.

Tip Tuesday: Voices of Liberty

2011-11-08T21:02:00.001-05:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

This week, I wanted to follow up on last week's post about the preshow area of the American Adventure pavilion at Epcot. And what a preshow it is: The Voices of Liberty.

If you've never experienced the Voices of Liberty, you're missing one of the true gems of World Showcase and one of the few live performance opportunities at Epcot.

The Voices of Liberty is an acapella group that sings patriotic songs and hymns inside one of the most acoustically perfect locations anywhere. The group stands in the exact center of the rotunda that makes up the entrance to the American Adventure attraction. Standing in that center creates incredible acoustic conditions. Just talking about it doesn't do the experience any real justice. In fact, listening to a recorded performance of the Voices of Liberty doesn't truly capture the live experience. You really have to hear it to believe it.

The Voices of Liberty performs several times a day, usually before the start of the next showing of the American Adventure. If you want to hear the Voices of Liberty, it's a good idea to arrive at the American Adventure about 30 minutes before the start of the next show.

The Voices of Liberty also can be heard outside the parks as well. The group is known as the Liberty Voices - and they do have CD's available for purchase. Visit their Web site at: http://www.libertyvoices.com/index.htm.

So the next time you see there's 30 minutes before the next American Adventure attraction, go ahead and go on it -- and experience the wonder and beauty of the Voices of Liberty!

Photo Friday: A face can say a lot... even for a giraffe!

2011-11-04T21:37:00.000-04:00

Welcome to another Photo Friday!

It's been a few weeks since my last photo post... it's just been one of those months.

Anyway, by popular request (from my nieces!!! Hi E. and S.!), here's shot of a giraffe from the Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

I especially like the expression on the giraffe's face. It's almost as if he's saying "how you doin'?"

I'll have to share a few more pics from the Safaris in future posts.

Happy Friday everyone!

Tip Tuesday: American Heritage Gallery

2011-11-01T20:32:00.000-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

This week, we're heading over to the American Adventure pavilion at Epcot to visit a bit of a hidden treasure - the American Heritage Gallery. This small exhibit opened late September 2007 and reopened about a year ago after being closed for several months for an update. The updated exhibit features displays about some of America's most notable citizens including Thomas Edison, Susan B. Anthony, Harriet Beacher Stowe, Daniel Inouye and Frederick Douglass. There also are special displays about your "hosts" inside The American Adventure attraction, Ben Franklin and Mark Twain. The displays include original artifacts on loan to Epcot.

Here you see some items used by astronauts Gus Grissom and John Glenn.

It's important to take a few minutes to walk around the gallery to learn more about the real people, some of who you will meet in the attraction.

The gallery, along with the Voices of Liberty (which I'll discuss in a post very soon), is yet another reason why it's a good idea to head into the American Adventure pavilion even if the next showing of the attraction isn't soon. You'll be glad you did. You just might learn something too.

Tip Tuesday: A great view for parades

2011-10-25T21:29:00.002-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

This week, I wanted to delve a little more into something I talked about during a recent PhotoFriday post.
As you can see from the photo above, standing on the Main Street train station balcony gives you a great view of the parade floats with no one in the way (if you can get on the rail). This location also gives you a good view of Wishes! with Main Street in the foreground.

I really like this location when watching the Main Street Electrical parade. You get a much better idea of the spectacle of the various floats when you can view them from a elevated position as opposed to standing at ground level where you can only see one side and probably nothing on top.

If you're into taking photos, the train station balcony also provides a great location for both head-on shots (as the floats are coming into Town Square) side shots, and wonderful zoom shots of the parade running going down Main Street.

Now that we're in the popular Christmas season, the train station balcony also is an idea location to watch Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Parade and the Once Upon a Christmastime Parade coming down Main Street from the hub. If you do decide to use this spot, be mindful of the flagpole (like you see above) or the Main Street Christmas tree. You don't want it blocking Cinderella Castle too much. In the shot above, it's ok because the flagpole bisects the image and the subject is in front of the flagpole. If I was taking a shot with a zoom lens down Main Street, I'd step to the right or left to position the flagpole to the left or right of Cinderella Castle. The same thing goes with the Christmas tree. Depending on where you're standing, I can completely block the castle and those beautiful lights.

I personally recommend standing to the right side of the balcony, closer to the new Mickey Mouse meet and greet location. That way you can see Cinderella Castle in the background and you'll have a nice head-on shot as the floats begin to make their turn around Town Square.

Oh, if you do plan to watch from this spot, you'll want to be in place early -- at least an hour before the parades start -- and please be understanding for disabled people. You can stand behind them and still have a great view.

Enjoy!

Photo Friday: Playing with fire, literally

2011-10-21T20:29:00.003-04:00

Aloha! Welcome to another Photo Friday!

This week, we're heading to the Spirit of Aloha dinner show a the Polynesian Resort. At the end of the performance, a fire dancer comes on stage and amazes the crowd with his ability to literally play with fire.

I especially like this particular shot because the image refracted a bit, making it look like his hair is on fire as well!

Enjoy!

Tip Tuesday: "Scary" is a relative term

2011-10-18T20:47:00.002-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

I want to begin this week's tip with quick story.

My family and I were at Disney's Hollywood Studios in December 2008 and my younger son (who was about 8 at the time) really wanted to ride the Rock-n-Roller Coaster. He'd never been on the attraction before. I described the experience, giving great emphasis on the launch at the beginning and asked again if he wanted to ride.

He said yes.

So I got a pair of FastPasses and a little while later we were boarding the car and off we went. From the moment we launched, I knew this was a bad idea. I don't think I've ever seen a look of terror like I did on his face when we went from 0 to 60 in a hearbeat. Fortunately the ride only lasts a few minutes and we pulled into the unload area.

"I am NEVER riding that again!!" he said.

Six months later, he swore he had changed his mind, so we waited in a 60 minute line in sweltering heat (we already had FastPasses) only for him to change his mind at the last second when he saw one of the cars in front of us launch away.

The "chicken door" is there for a reason.

Now I tell you this story to tell you this week's tip: just because you think your children can handle a potentially scary attraction, don't assume it.

There are plenty of attractions at Walt Disney World that, for whatever reason, might be scary to some children (or even adults). It could be due to the scary content, like the Haunted Mansion; or due to the intense experience, like Rock-n-Roller Coaster or both, like the Tower of Terror.

Even rides you might not think are scary could be frightning to some. Ever been afraid of the dark? Imagine being in something apparently harmless like the TTA Peoplemover, but have a fear of the dark... that ride around Space Mountain can become something truly terrifying.

So if you or someone else has a few fears (don't we all!), you might want to do a bit of research to find out about attractions before you're put into a potentially frightning situation.

There are several resources out there: Just about every attraction can be found on YouTube, so you can watch a first-person ridethrough. Also, read up on the attractions. There are plenty of descriptions on the official Walt Disney World Web site as well as sites like Allears.net. Also check out a new site dedicated to classifying the terror factor of rides, The Disney Ride Classification Program.

I've checked out this site and it's pretty good. If you have a concern about a particular attraction, you can look it up to see it's rating and a description of the experience.

Before you set out for the parks and plan to ride attractions like Mission: Space (orange) or Dinosaur!, do a bit of research to find out what you're in for. You'll be glad you did.

Tip Tuesday: Keep an eye open for those magical moments

2011-10-11T22:12:00.002-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

This week's tip comes from my wonderful wife, who reminded me of something she's always reminding me about on Disney trips. I'm one who's constantly looking at the Disney details, you know, those little homages to Imagineers, dates, or any other obscure reference Disney geeks thrive on.

My wife, on the other hand, is on the lookout for those magical moments and wants me to capture them -- like this moment you see above. My younger son is less-than-thrilled at how Main Street USA Town Councilman Dewey Cheatum is playing with him. I just love the looks on both faces.

The tip here is simple: take the time and keep your eye open for those little magical moments that are out there. They don't have to be a huge production, it might just be a fun interaction with streetmosphere characters, it might be just laughing at a character's antics during a parade, or it might be just a chance to sit down and enjoy being together in the most magical place on Earth.

Take those moments when they come, because they will never come again. The attractions aren't going anywhere.

Photo Friday: Lights, Camera, Action!

2011-10-07T18:24:00.003-04:00

Welcome to another Photo Friday!

This week, I wanted to share a classic photo from Disney's Hollywood Studios. One of the signature nighttime shots from DHS is of the Sorcerer Mickey hat with the spotlights behind. This is a pretty easy shot to take, if you have the right approach. I took this shot with my Canon XTi and set it on top of a trash can to serve as a tripod. A few test shots in manual mode and here's the final result!

Enjoy!

Tip Tuesday: Enjoying the Food & Wine Festival

2011-10-04T22:49:00.003-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

This week, we're heading over to Epcot for the 16th Food and Wine Festival (yum!).

This year's Festival features more 25 international marketplaces offering tapas-sized portions paired with beer, wine and inventive new cocktails.

Marketplace tasting menus offer variety and adventure for guests on a mission to tantalize their taste buds during a scenic stroll around the 40-acre World Showcase Lagoon. The adventure can take them to the festival’s first Hawaii marketplace, which will cook up Kalua pork sliders and tuna poke with seaweed salad and lotus root chips to team with a refreshing Seven Tiki Mai Tai or a Kona Longboard or Pipeline beer. A new Caribbean Islands marketplace will serve ropa vieja with rice and jerk-spiced chicken with mango salsa. A beverage menu featuring a frozen Dragon Berry Colada and frozen Rock Coconut Mojito is sure to conjure steel-drum fantasies.

With a swing across the Atlantic, guests will be transported to the new Portugal marketplace, where guests can pair a red, white or port wine with calamari salad with olives and smoked paprika or Linguica sausage with onions, peppers and olives. The Scandinavia marketplace will return after a hiatus with a fresh new Xante Sunshine cocktail made from Xante pear and cognac liquer. And the Canada marketplace will introduce a sweet treat: apple ice wine.

With all these opportunities, it can be a bit overwhelming, so I've put together a few tips to help you best experience the Food and Wine Festival (or F&W for short):

Take your time and take more than just one day
F&W is simple huge. Don't believe me? Take a look at the guidemap to see just how many kiosks are available this year. With so many options, it's simply not possible to sample everything in a single day. Also, if you try to rush it, all you'll end up doing is making yourself sick and not enjoying the different cuisines. So if you have the time, I strongly suggest devoting two afternoons/evenings to enjoying the Festival. If you only have one day, then you'd better....

Make a plan
Given that there are so many kiosks and given that F&W is VERY popular, especially on the weekends (more on that in a moment), it's a good idea to download the guidemap and make a note of which marketplaces are high on your priority list. Plan your touring based on these key locations and don't try to cram in as much as possible. Visit your key locations, and enjoy those. You can always come back another year.

Go mid-week and start early
Like I mentioned earlier, F&W is very popular, especially Fridays through Sundays. If your schedule allows, try to visit the F&W during early to mid week (Mondays through Thursdays) to avoid the worst of the crowds, though even on those off-days, there still will be crowds in the evenings. The best way to avoid the crowds (in addition to visiting on a weekday) is to start your F&W touring right at 11am when World Showcase opens. Have an early lunch and stay for an early dinner! Like I said earlier, it's important to take your time. Yes you're there to eat, but you're also doing some walking, and while it's now Fall, Florida still can get pretty warm in the afternoons, so you don't want to overeat and make yourself sick - that's no fun.

Get the gift card
In the past few years, Disney has offered a special F&W gift card attached to a plastic bracelet. This is a gift card you and preload with a certain amount of money and then use wherever you want. This is a great way to avoid pulling out your wallet (or purse) again and again as you go from kiosk to kiosk. Just pull the bracelet card off your wrist, give a quick swipe, and you're good to go! (My thanks to our friends at the DisneyFoodBlog for the card photo!).

So there you are... a few tips to help you on your next trip to the Epcot Food & Wine Festival. For more information, be sure to check out the Food & Wine Festival page on the Disney Web site.

Until next time Bon Appetit!

It all started 40 years ago today...

2011-10-01T08:58:00.002-04:00

Today marks a very special day for me and for countless Disney fans. Today in 1971 the Magic Kingdom opened at Walt Disney World.

While I was not there in person (I was only 9 months old), I have felt connected to Walt Disney World for as long as I can remember.

Since that moment, central Florida, the nation and the world have never been the same. Within a few years, WDW was THE place for people to visit and it has become a rite of passage for American families and a destination for victorious athletes (remember "I'm going to Disney World!").

On behalf of myself and the millions of Disney fans around the world, I want to wish a very happy birthday to Walt Disney World and to all those cast members who have been with the parks for 40 years and I also wish all the best for the next 40 years!

Photo Friday: Mickey and Main Street

2011-09-30T20:16:00.002-04:00

Welcome to another Photo Friday!
(and it's actually on a Friday! How about that!)

This week's photo comes from the Magic Kingdom (like you couldn't tell) during the afternoon parade. This photo is taken from the Main Street Train Station balcony centered nearly perfectly down Main Street. What I like most about this shot is how the flagpole bisects Cinderella Castle with Mickey Mouse in the foreground.

As we celebrate 40th anniversary of Walt Disney World tomorrow, I thought this would be a most appropriate shot.

Happy birthday Walt Disney World!

Tip Tuesday: It's all in the feet

2011-09-27T19:37:00.002-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

This week's tip is short and sweet and it's something I hope you're already doing -- wear good shoes when touring the parks.

I know this sounds like a no-brainer, but it's not. Every time I'm in the parks, I see people walking around in sandals, flip-flops or crocs and complaining about how their feet hurt.

Keep in mind that over the course of a single day in the parks, you'll walk quite a bit -- several miles at least!

Wearing the wrong kind of shoes can turn a day of magic and memories into a day full of pain and discomfort - and that's not fun.

So what kind of shoes should you wear? I strongly recommend good walking or running shoes. I actually wear my marathon shoes when I'm at the parks. They provide extra support and cushioning and don't wear my feet out by the end of the day.

So go to a quality shoe store (not some bargain shop) and get properly fitted for a pair of running/walking shoes.

Trust me on this one, you and your feet will be glad you did.

Photo Friday: Tori Gate Ablaze

2011-09-23T19:19:00.003-04:00

Welcome to another Photo Friday!

While I was listening to some pre-Illuminations music by Uttara-Kuru, I remembered a series of shots I took from the Mitsukoshi balcony during Illuminations. I really like this spot because it gives a different vantage point of Illuminations.

We go on!

Tip Tuesday: To renew or not

2011-09-20T22:20:00.003-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

This week's Tip Tuesday is a work in progress -- in that I'm undecided whether this is a good tip to follow or not.

So here's the "stich:"

It's time to renew the ol' annual passes (a total of five). The problem is my next WDW trip won't be until January, unless I hit the lottery soon. Now if someone's got some sure-fire numbers they could give me.... but I digress.

So if I renew now (at a total cost of about $2550), I'll lose out on at least 3 months of the AP, though I will save around $47 per pass ($235 total savings). I'll still be able to use the APs for Marathon weekend and a summer 2012 trip, though they will expire at the end of Sept. 2012.

If I decide not to renew and purchase all new passes in January 2012 (about $2765 total), I'll spend $235 more total, but I'll have a full 12 months to use the passes, including for Marathon weekend in Jan. 2012, a summer trip and the possibility for a trip in December 2012 with an expiration date in early Jan. 2013.

So here's the tip in all this: Do the math! Just because it's time to renew doesn't mean you should or need to renew just yet. It may be a better over all "value" to not renew and purchase new annual passes so you can best take advantage of the 12-month window.

Some additional elements to consider: If you let your annual pass expire, you're no longer eligible to book AP discounted rooms until you purchase your new AP. This is a big consideration and something you must take into account before deciding to let the annual pass expire. This is one of the major factors I'm keeping in mind as I decide which route to take.

I'd like to hear your thoughts -- post a comment!!

Avatar official news release

2011-09-20T17:56:00.001-04:00

Here's the official news release from Disney Parks:

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Worldwide is joining forces with visionary filmmaker James Cameron and Fox Filmed Entertainment to bring the world of AVATAR to life at Disney parks. Through an exclusive agreement announced today by Disney, Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment and Fox, Disney will partner with Cameron and producing partner Jon Landau to create themed lands that will give theme park guests the opportunity to explore the mysterious universe of AVATAR first hand. Disney plans to build the first AVATAR themed land at Walt Disney World, within the Animal Kingdom park. With its emphasis on living in harmony with nature, Animal Kingdom is a natural fit for the AVATAR stories, which share the same philosophy. Construction is expected to begin by 2013.

“James Cameron is a groundbreaking filmmaker and gifted storyteller who shares our passion for creativity, technological innovation and delivering the best experience possible,” said Robert A. Iger, President and CEO of The Walt Disney Company. “With this agreement, we have the extraordinary opportunity to combine James’ talent and vision with the imagination and expertise of Disney.”

“AVATAR created a world which audiences can discover again and again and now, through this incredible partnership with Disney, we’ll be able to bring Pandora to life like never before. With two new AVATAR films currently in development, we’ll have even more locations, characters and stories to explore,” said James Cameron. ”I’m chomping at the bit to start work with Disney’s legendary Imagineers to bring our AVATAR universe to life. Our goal is to go beyond current boundaries of technical innovation and experiential storytelling, and give park goers the chance to see, hear, and touch the world of AVATAR with an unprecedented sense of reality.”

The agreement announced today gives The Walt Disney Company exclusive global theme park rights to the AVATAR franchise and provides for additional AVATAR themed lands at other Disney parks. The other locations will be determined by Disney and its international theme park partners. James Cameron, Jon Landau and their Lightstorm Entertainment group will serve as creative consultants on the projects and will partner with Walt Disney Imagineering in the design and development of the AVATAR themed lands.

“This exciting new venture combines the world of AVATAR with the enormous reach of Disney and the incomparable talent of Jim Cameron,” commented Fox Filmed Entertainment chairmen Jim Gianopulos and Tom Rothman. “While Jim is bringing audiences further into Pandora with the next two chapters in the AVATAR motion picture saga, the theme park attraction will likewise bring a new dimension to the amazing universe he created.”

“AVATAR is a uniquely powerful franchise that has global appeal with audiences of all ages. Its spectacular settings, intriguing characters, imaginative creatures, and strong themes of family and loyalty make it a perfect fit for Disney,” said Thomas O. Staggs, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “We can’t wait to give our guests the ability to journey to Pandora and explore the incredible immersive world of AVATAR in person.”

In addition to setting a global box office record, AVATAR has been hailed as one of the most innovative and visually stunning movies ever produced. With its advanced motion capture and 3-D digital projection technologies developed by James Cameron and his team, moviegoers were able to connect with the world of AVATAR in new and engaging ways.

This new venture complements Walt Disney Parks & Resorts’ strategic efforts to continue to invest in its core theme park businesses around the world while simultaneously expanding into other parts of the family vacation business.

The Smurfs are coming! The Smurfs are coming!

2011-09-20T14:18:00.002-04:00

Disney today announced a new partnership with James Cameron and Lightstorm Entertainment to bring the world of Avatar to Disney's Animal Kingdom. An entirely new Avatar land will begin to take form at Animal Kingdom with construction planned for sometime in 2013.

"We believe Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a great fit for this project because it was created to give guests the opportunity to experience the worlds of animals and nature – real and mythical – in new ways. Disney’s Animal Kingdom also celebrates adventure, living in harmony with nature and environmental stewardship – themes that are deeply rooted in the story of AVATAR," said the official Disney Parks blog.

To read more about this announcement, see the official Disney Parks Blog.

Now for My Take:
I'm having a hard time getting excited about a new land based on "Dances with Smurfs." I wasn't (and still am not) a big fan of the movie - and I'm not the only one. Based on Facebook comments and comments on the Disney Parks blog, not everyone is gung-ho for this.

That being said, I realize a LOT of people went nuts for this film (it did smash all-time box office records) and so it's probably a good thing for a park that really NEEDS additional content. I just hope the whole Avatar theme doesn't overtake the entire park.

I guess I need to go put Avatar in my Netflix list and watch it again. Maybe it's better the second time around. I hope so.

Oh and I'll bet THIS was the big announcement that was supposed to happen at D23. I guess the negotiations didn't get finalized in time for the Expo.

Photo Friday: Good Morning, good morning!

2011-09-16T19:06:00.002-04:00

Welcome to another Photo Friday!

This week's photo comes from January 2011. We were staying on the MK side of the Contemporary Tower. I happened to pull out the big zoom lens because I was hoping I could get a shot most people don't see. This is of the Walt Disney World Railroad as it comes into the station for the Welcome show. As you can see, all the stars are on the train. You can see Mickey Mouse, Pluto, Donald and Daisy, Snow White, Aladdin and Jasmine.

I hope you enjoy this shot -- one that only a few people can see!

Tip Tuesday: Pull the rope, it's OK

2011-09-13T22:14:00.002-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

This week, I wanted to share a quick tip about the well outside and to the left of main entrance to the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular attraction at Disney Hollywood Studios.

This is a fun bit many people pass by and never pay attention to.

So here's the scene. There's a well with a rope going down into the well. The rope goes through a pulley and is secured right at the fence guests walk by. Next to the well is a sign that reads:

WARNING: DO ~~NOT~~ PULL ROPE.

Notice that the "not" is crossed out and in black are the words "do pull rope." So what should you do? You guessed it! Give that rope a good yank!

You'll get to hear a series of audio bits from the explorer who's "down in the well."

This little gag is especially fun to do with kids, so be sure to give this a try!

In a future post, I'll talk about a few more Do's that may seem like Don'ts...

Photo Friday: an electric Tinker Bell

2011-09-12T14:34:00.001-04:00

Welcome to another Photo Friday (well... maybe it's not Friday, but anyway).

This week, I wanted to share the first from what will probably be a series of photos from the Main Street Electrical Parade at the Magic Kingdom. As you can see above, this is a new float added to the classic nighttime attraction featuring Tinker Bell.

What blows me away about this and all the floats in the MSEP is just how bright they are! It's always a sight to see and I hope you'll take the time to watch the MSEP on your next trip.

Until next time!

Never Forget

2011-09-11T09:55:00.000-04:00

Ten years ago this morning, our nation experienced the worst single terrorist attack in our history.

No one across the county will likely ever forget where they were or what they were doing when they heard the news.

As time has passed since the tragedy of September 11th, 2001, some have allowed the remembrance of this day to slip and pass quietly.

We should all remember the sacrifices that were made on 9-11 and the sacrifices that have been made since to keep our country and our citizens safe from those who would stop at nothing to cause harm.

And so, today, we honor and we remember.

We honor and remember the 2,823 people who lost their lives when American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the World Trade Center towers.

We honor and remember the 169 people who lost their lives when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon.

We honor and remember the 44 people aboard United Airlines Flight 93 who lost their lives when their plane crashed in rural Pennsylvania while attempting to fight back against terrorists determined to attack the White House.

We honor and remember the American service men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan and Iraq while defending our country.

Finally, we honor the American service men and women who, even now, are standing in harm’s way serving our country to protect freedom and liberty.

Never Forget.

Tip Tuesday: The Dapper Dans

2011-09-06T21:22:00.004-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

This week, we're heading to Main Street USA to take a listen to one of the true gems of the Magic Kingdom -- the Dapper Dans!

If you've never heard the Dapper Dans before, you're really missing out on a great show! The Dapper Dans are a barbershop quartet that sings acapella (perhaps with a few musical props), often with guest interaction.

The Dapper Dans date all the way back to the early days at Disneyland when they debuted in 1959 and have been a staple at Walt Disney World since opening day in 1971.

At Walt Disney World, the Dapper Dans usually can be found in the horse-drawn trolley in the morning, all along Main Street USA in the afternoon and at Town Square at 5 p.m. daily for the flag retreat ceremony.

It's common to find the Dapper Dans hanging out in the Main Street Barber Shop (appropriately) as well as near Casey's Corner.

If you do happen to catch a Dapper Dans performance, I encourage you to stick around and appreciate the sounds of yesteryear as the Dapper Dans truly bring the turn of the (20th) century to life.

Take a listen for yourself!

Photo Friday: Spaceship Earth's light trails

2011-09-02T20:13:00.002-04:00

Welcome to another Photo Friday!

This weeks photo comes from Epcot (obviously). I was playing with the idea of some long-exposure light trail shots and thought I'd give it a shot with Spaceship Earth in the background. I set the camera on a short tripod, zoomed in on Spaceship Earth, set the exposure for about 2 seconds, set the ISO to 100 and set the iris to F/5.6.

Once I began to take the shot, I knew the shutter would stay open for only 2 seconds, so I quickly zoomed all the way out before the shutter closed. I didn't want to go much longer than 2 seconds because I knew I would get even more camera shake than what you see above.

I really haven't messed with this too much since. I think I'll have to play around with some ideas for the next trip -- this technique can create some interesting results.

I hope you enjoy this different take on Spaceship Earth!

Tip Tuesday: Norway's Stave Church

2011-08-30T20:42:00.004-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

This week we're going to seek "peril and adventure" at the Stave Church in Epcot's Norway Pavilion and the "Vikings: Conquerors of the Seas" exhibit -- something all too many people pass right by.

Quick quiz: Did you even KNOW there was anything inside the Stave Church and that you could go inside? If you're like most guests, the answer is no.

The Vikings exhibit presents a historically accurate view of three Viking leaders, Erik the Red, King Olaf, II and Rognvald. Disney and international Viking scholars collaborated to research fabric, clothing styles and artifacts from ancient times, and were even based on examples unearthed by archeologists.

Rognvald, a Viking raider from the late 800s

The exhibit features three life-like presentations of each key leader in Norway's Viking past. As you can see, each presentation is life sized and was recreated with as much authenticity as possible. As I was walking through this exhibit, I halfway expected these guys to come to life, like in the Kingdom Keepers books. Fortunately this didn't happen. In front of each presentation is a small sign explaining who each Viking was and their importance in Norwegian history.

But wait, there's more. There also are several displays of ancient tools and weapons used by the Vikings. It's possible these are elaborate recreations, but they certainly looked like the real thing.

Remember, part of the charm and reason for World Showcase is to learn about different lands and cultures. Exhibits like "Vikings: Conquerors of the Seas" are an integral part of World Showcase and yet another hidden treasure you shouldn't pass by.

Photo Friday: Go With the Flow!

2011-08-26T15:34:00.003-04:00

Welcome to another Photo Friday!

Back in June 2010, I saw Finding Nemo: The Musical for the first time and fell in love with this show. The sheer spectacle combined with great musical numbers makes this show a must see at Disney Animal Kingdom.

In one scene, Marlin and Dory finally make to to the EAC (that's the East Australian Current for you non-fish out there) so they can travel to Sydney and find Nemo. During his time in the EAC, Marlin learns from Crush the turtle about the need to let kids explore and discover on their own, something I have to keep telling myself -- let the kids try things on their own. They might not succeed the first time, but that's how learning happens. Every time I see this shot from that number, I'm reminded of the simple lesson:

So just go with the flow!

Tip Tuesday: Hurricanes and Disney

2011-08-24T18:05:00.005-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!
(Yes, it's Wednesday. The "great" East Coast earthquake kept me busy yesterday.)

While the East Coast is still reeling from the Virginia earthquake (the center was about 150 miles from here), another major natural disaster is taking aim on the Caribbean and the East Coast shoreline.

All this talk of hurricanes led me to today's tip -- how Disney handles hurricanes.

There are two different sections of Disney that I'll discuss when it comes to hurricanes -- Walt Disney World (including Disney's Vero and Hilton Head resorts) and the Disney Cruise Line. Then I'll discuss what you should do to be prepared should tropical weather impact your trip or cruise.

Walt Disney World
The chances of a hurricane-force winds itself hitting Walt Disney World are nowhere near as likely as the coast, though if a major storm where to make landfall in Florida, it is possible that WDW could see winds in excess of 74 mph.

Disney keeps a close eye on tropical systems and has been known to close the parks should weather conditions become too dangerous for guests. The first time the Disney parks closed due to hurricanes was for Hurricane Floyd in 1999. Since that first closings, the parks have closed for hurricanes several times in the last 12 years (it closed twice in 2004 for Hurricanes Charley and Frances).

In the event the parks are closed, guests usually are asked to stay in their resort. Cast members plan different inside events and activities including movie showings, special in-resort character meet-and-greets and more to ensure the Disney magic remains strong. Once the parks and weather conditions are safe for guests again, Disney will let you know so you can resume enjoy the parks.

If you're planning a trip to Walt Disney World and you see that a tropical system may interfere with your travels, you do have several options for cancelling/re-booking, depending on how your booked your trip.

IF you booked directly with Disney:
Disney's temporary hurricane policy is effective in the event a hurricane warning is issued no more than 7 days before your scheduled arrival date by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) for the Orlando area or for your place of residence. It is also effective in the event a hurricane warning is issued for the Vero Beach area or Hilton Head Island area for Guests traveling to those destinations. Once that NHC warning has been issued, you can cancel and/or re-book your WDW vacation without any change fees. This DOES NOT apply to airfare.

IF you booked with a travel agency:
Disney's temporary hurricane policy DOES NOT apply. You will need to contact your travel agent to make arrangements. I talked with Vicki Damanti, my own agent with MEI & Mouse Fan Travel about how they handle hurricane-related cancellations and/or changes. She said that since Mouse Fan Travel is a no-fee agency, any possible change fees would come directly from the suppliers, including airfare (which can be expensive). One of the great benefits of working with a Disney Specialized travel like Mouse Fan Travel is that if you have to make last-minute changes, you don't have to spend hours on the phone. Just contact your agent, and they'll do the work for you.

Disney Cruise Line
The Disney Cruise Line handles hurricanes a little differently than Walt Disney World. First, being a ship, it can move out of the way while a hurricane passes by. Second, should weather make a particular port inaccessible, the ship can simply go to an alternate destination. "The wonderful thing about a cruise vacation is that we can easily modify our itinerary or course to avoid inclement weather and still provide a great vacation experience," Rebecca Peddie from the Disney Cruise Line explained to me. "Should changes in itineraries become necessary, information will be available to guests on our website at www.disneycruise.com or through our reservation center," she said.

Anyone booking a cruise also has to bear in mind that cruises do operate during the traditional hurricane season and changes in the itinerary always are possible, should extreme weather arise.

So if a hurricane is forecast for the Caribbean (or other cruise destinations), what should you do? To be honest... nothing. Really. Ride it out. Disney's not going to put any guest in harm's way and will (literally) go out of their way to make sure your cruise experience is a pleasant one. Well, you may want to do one thing: pack some Dramamine (or other motion sickness medicine) because you might experience some rough seas, even though the cruise ships (especially the Dream and the upcoming Fantasy) are so large you might not feel the sea swells.

If you really feel like you have to cancel/re-book, then you need to carefully read the terms and conditions before you consider taking any action because you WILL incur change fees. Depending on how much in advance you make your changes, the fees can be staggering, and your trip might even be completely non-refundable. Basically, once you book a cruise -- you need to be prepared to go on that cruise be they fair or foul seas.

Additional Considerations
However there is one way you can cover yourself should things go completely awry (not just due to hurricanes, but anytime) and that's by acquiring trip insurance.

MEI and Mouse Fan Travel's Vicki Damanti says trip insurance is strongly recommended for anyone booking a cruise because the chance/cancellation fees are so high. Insurance is suggested for those booking trips to Walt Disney World, especially longer trips with higher total costs. Damanti has one reminder for anyone thinking about purchasing trip insurance to protect against hurricanes: You have to purchase insurance BEFORE a storm is named. Once a storm is named, you can't purchase insurance to cover yourself should that storm interfere with your plans, so you do need to decide if you want travel insurance well in advance of your trip.

All this being said, I need to pass along another important piece of advance from Vicki: "Use some restraint," especially when it comes to hurricanes. There's a very good reason for this advice. Hurricane forecasts have a tendency to change frequently. One day a storm might be forecast to hit central Florida, but 24 hours later, the forecast track has changed and central Florida is in the clear. This is a common occurrence, as has been seen with the constantly changing forecasts for Hurricane Irene (which as of this post, is forecast to brush the North Carolina Outer Banks.) Days earlier, this same storm was forecast to make landfall in central Florida.

The key point is stay informed and be prepared. Here are a few links to monitor when tropical weather potentially causes problems:

National Hurricane Center

Disney Cruise Line Travel Advisory Page

WDW Hurricane FAQ page

Hopefully, you'll never have any reason to worry about a hurricane causing problems on your trip, but should a storm arise, you'll know what to do and what to expect.

PhotoFriday: Aladdin's Magic Carpet

2011-08-21T21:37:00.003-04:00

Welcome to a belated Photo Friday!

With everything going on at the D23 Expo, I sort of forgot to post a photo for Friday -- so here you go!

I happened to catch this photo one cold morning during the 2010 marathon. I had just run the half marathon the previous day and we were in the Magic Kingdom just as the majority of the runners had passed through.

The kids wanted to ride Aladdin's Magic Carpets and lo and behold there was Aladdin and Jasmine riding the carpets themselves! Of course, I quickly snapped a photo!

Until next Friday...

D23 Expo Parks and Resorts: A giant case of Anticipointment

2011-08-19T18:11:00.002-04:00

The Parks and Resorts presentation for the 2011 D23 Expo just wrapped up. Thanks to Lou Mongello, I was able to watch it in the "box," though there wasn't really anything worth watching. There were a few new updates about existing projects, and a few new announcements about some experiences at Disneyland.

All in all, I came away from this presentation with a gigantic sense of anticipointment (which means coming in with great anticipation and leaving with great disappointment).

Sorry, Disney, but this entire presentation was a huge letdown. Disney HAD to know that fans were expecting some major news and got NOTHING. Much of this year's presentation was a re-has of 2009 with a few nuggets of new information, which Disney immediately shared on the official blog seconds later:

New videos about Fantasyland Expansion

New details about Shanghai Disneyland

New experiences at Disneyland

All in all, Disney really needs to re-think their approach when it comes to these big presentations at future D23 Expos. If they're not giving attendees a big WOW, they will end up with a big FAIL.

New contest for Pixie Hollow announced

2011-08-18T21:06:00.002-04:00

Coming to Disney Channel this fall, “Pixie Hollow Games” is a world premiere television event where fairy talents from all over the Hollow gather to compete in a thrilling athletic competition. To prepare for this exciting television special, the Never Council wants to know how YOU will train for the Pixie Hollow Games!

The fairies and sparrow men in Pixie Hollow are busy training for the Pixie Hollow games and for three weeks the virtual world of Pixie Hollow, will celebrate the Games by hosting the “How Will You Train?” art contest. The contest, which runs from August 16 - September 6, invites Disney Fairies Fans to draw and share how they will train for the Pixie Hollow Games, with the grand prize winner receiving the ultimate viewing party kit.

The ultimate grand prize winning party viewing kit includes everything needed to enjoy the “Pixie Hollow Games” premiere on Disney Channel, including:

Flat-screen TV

Blu-ray/DVD player

Disney Fairies Blu-ray/DVD collection

Party supplies featuring the Disney Fairies

5 one-month Pixie Hollow Membership Cards for you and your friends

Ten first prize winners will receive 1 One-Month Pixie Hollow Membership Card and the Disney Fairies Blu-ray/DVD collection. To enter the “How Will You Train?” art contest, fans can submit their art either by U.S. Mail or by Internet via http://pixiehollow.go.com/contests_home.html.

Tip Tuesday: Following the D23 Expo

2011-08-16T21:37:00.002-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

Well the D23 Expo starts in just a few days, and if you're like me you're NOT GOING TO BE THERE!

So what's a stranded Disney nut to do in order to stay in touch with everything about the Expo?

There are a few resources to monitor to stay current with all the happenings at this year's Expo.

The first is the official D23 Expo Web site, where you can get news, schedules and shop for some exclusive D23 items. Disney has an extension of the official site for smartphones at D23Mobile.com. You'll also want to follow the following D23 Social media feeds:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/disneyd23 (D23 hastag is #d23expo)
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DisneyD23
RSS feed: http://eventmobi.com/d23/rss
Blog: http: http://adisneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/

It's a good idea to closely monitor these feeds as Disney could possibly surprise online fans by providing coverage of certain presentations. You never know what magic Disney might make.

Lou Mongello from WDWRadio.com and Celebrations Magazine will be broadcasting live from the Expo for the entire event. You can watch the live stream (from the Collector's forum, sorry not from the actual presentations) and can chat with hundreds (maybe thousands) of fans at http://www.d23expolive.com. I've been in "the box" many times before and was in "the box" for nearly the entire D23 Expo in 2009 and I'll be in "the box" this year as well!

Ricky Brigante from InsidetheMagic is planning to provide a lot of playback coverage from the D23 Expo as well, so keep an eye on his site for coverage of major events.

Finally, keep an eye on this blog as I'll be posting major updates as well.

Let's hope we have some big news to celebrate this weekend!!! Enjoy the Expo!

My wish list for the D23 Expo

2011-08-14T11:20:00.004-04:00

As we all wait with baited breath for the 2nd D23 Expo to start in Anaheim, CA, I can't help but wonder what amazing announcements may come from this ultimate Disney fan event.

If you recall at the last D23 Expo in 2009, Disney shocked everyone when they announced the rumored massive expansion of Fantasyland at Walt Disney World was, indeed, TRUE!

But wait, there was more... Disney also confirmed that Star Tours 2 was finally coming.

So what's in store for this year's Expo? Fantasyland's construction is well underway and should be completed in another 12-18 months or so. The huge expansion to Disney California Adventure is nearly completed as well, so I don't think we'll see anything new about those projects.

While no one (outside of Disney) knows for sure, here's my best guess and a few wish list items:

Original Hyperion Wharf concept changes into some sort of "World of Color" evening attraction: Disney announced about a month ago that the Hyperion Wharf project was put on hold while they evaluated some "new opportunities." My thought is that Disney realized that just a new shopping/dining area wasn't enough. It need to be "plussed up," and with the recent success of World of Color, something of the sort would be perfect for the former Pleasure Island area.

Soarin' over... somewhere else: Soarin' is my favorite attraction at Walt Disney World, but, I have to admit, it's time to stop flying over California. With the recent refurb at Star Tours where guests have multiple possible destinations, I think the same concept can and should be applied to Soarin. Sure Disney can keep the original California tour, but add in some additional scenes. Soarin' over the Blue Ridge Mountains, Soarin' over New York City, Soarin' over D.C. (if Homeland Security would permit it), Soarin' over Florida... the possible tours are endless. Having multiple random destinations with a digital projection (no more lint-riddled film) would greatly increase the re-rideablilty of this attraction.

Grand Floridian DVC resort: This one's all but a done deal. It's been widely reported that Disney is planning to build a DVC resort at the Grand Floridian Resort, so just go ahead and make it official.

Pirates 5: Another in the "done deal" category. Disney's still raking in the gold from Pirates 4, so a Pirates 5 is a no-brainer and there's word the script already is in development. Don't expect to see Johnny Depp reprise his appearance as Jack Sparrow (sorry, that's Captain Jack Sparrow) like he did in 2009.

Major addition to Animal Kingdom: This is definitely one from the "wish list," though DAK really needs it, especially where Camp Minnie Mickey is. The lack of genuine attractions is what's really hurting Animal Kingdom. Don't get me wrong, I like this park, but it just doesn't stand up to the other three in terms of attractions.

A new hand-drawn animated feature: I really hope we hear some sort of announcement in this area. While Princess and the Frog wasn't the most successful of films in terms of box office gross (really a victim of bad timing more than anything else - it was released against Avatar), it was one of the most beautifully drawn and written stories Disney has created in a long time. I would love to see the commitment to hand-drawn animation continue.

Incredibles 2: It's time for the Incredibles to have another Incredible adventure. While I doubt this will be announced, I do think we'll hear a lot more about...

Monsters Inc., 2 (prequel): Disney has talked about this already, though there's not much out there right now. Don't be surprised if there's a new trailer or some sort of teaser shown.

TRON Legacy 2: Speaking of sequels, TRON Legacy was pretty successful and Disney has dropped several hints at continuing the story of Sam Flynn. I suspect we may just hear about a new story involving the son of Kevin Flynn (Sam) vs. the son of his arch rival Ed Dillinger (Ed. Jr.). I think we just may see the return of the dreaded Master Control Program as well.

D23 Expo 2013 coming to Orlando: When the first D23 Expo was announced, Disney said the Expo would be in Anaheim for the first four years. Well, that was in 2009. In 2013 it will be four year later, so I think will be time for Disney to bring the Expo East.

So there you go, my top ten predictions, however wild and/or unrealistic, for possible announcements at the D23 Expo. What do you think? What other announcements do you expect? Post a comment!

Photo Friday: The sad truth about showbiz

2011-08-12T17:36:00.002-04:00

Welcome to another Photo Friday!

This week, it's my sad duty to give you the hard facts about the REAL world of showbiz, as is so eloquently shown in this photo that can be found the the Muppets store across from Muppets 3D at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Trust me... I have to be right! Right?

Tip Tuesday: Running at WDW

2011-08-09T20:39:00.002-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

Well, the clock's ticking away, which means there's only five months left until the 2012 Walt Disney World marathon. Yours truly is running in the main event this (well, next) year, and I'm training hard (more like hardly training) for the massive 26.2 mile race.

During today's run, I was thinking about when I had done some training runs this summer while at Walt Disney World, and I thought this would be a good tip to share for those of you who might want to get in a few K's during your stay.

There are so many places to run at Walt Disney World that there's no way I can possibly cover them all, so I'm going to share some of my favorites. I've not personally done all of these, but these are the ones I hear the most about.

Let's start off with the Magic Kingdom area.

Contemporary/Polynesian/Grand Floridian

There are two good courses to run along the Seven Seas Lagoon. The first course (shown above) runs from the entrance to the Contemporary Resort past the entrance to the Magic Kingdom and to the end of the Walkway Around the World (and back). Total distance is about 1.7 miles.

The second course begins at the rear of the main building at the Grand Floridian, along the Walkway Around the World, past the Wedding Pavilion, through the Polynesian Resort and to the entrance of the Transportation and Ticket Center (and back). Total distance is about 2 miles.

Wilderness Lodge/Fort Wilderness
There are a ton of paths all through the Wilderness Lodge and Fort Wilderness areas. I personally haven't run here, but I understand they're popular among many runners.

Epcot area resorts

The whole Epcot resort area practically was made for running. There's a great loop course which can start pretty much anywhere. For the purpose of description, let's start at the entrance to the Beach Club. Follow the main walkway toward the Swan and Dolphin, go over the bridge and over to the fountain at the Dolphin. Go around the fountain and back over the bridge to the road running behind the Boardwalk. Follow this road to the pool area. Go around the half-circle of the pool area and back to the main walkway toward Hollywood Studios. Follow to the main entrance (or as close as you can get) and turn around, going all the way back to the Boardwalk. Go along the main boardwalk and across the bridge, turning right toward the Epcot International Gateway entrance, then turn around and go to the main entrance for the Beach Club. Total distance is about 3.1 miles (or a nice 5K).

Most of the other resorts have some nice running areas, so no matter where you are you can find some pavement to pound. Just as the concierge desk where some good running areas are if you're unsure.

And if you're running in the marathon next January, keep and eye out for me! I'll be the one in the WDW Radio Running Team Shirt trying not to pass out on the side of the road.

Happy running everyone!

Photo Friday: Are you joinin' the crew?

2011-08-05T17:00:00.004-04:00

Welcome to another Photo Friday!

This week's photo comes from the Tortuga Tavern in Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom, where there's a new little Disney detail I'd like to share.

Located on a chest in front of a window across from and to the right of the main ordering stations is this book showing the crew of the Black Pearl and Queen Anne's Revenge. Did you happen to notice that a certain well-known pirate has scratched out Barbossa's name and replaced it with his own?

Yo-ho, yo-ho, a pirate's life for me...

Tip Tuesday: Take the Ferry

2011-08-02T21:09:00.002-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

This week, I wanted to remind you about a charming piece of Walt Disney World history that still is in operation to this day.

Of course, I'm talking about the Magic Kingdom ferryboats.

For those guests traveling from the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC) to the Magic Kingdom (and back), there are two options to do so: take the monorail or the ferry. All too often most guests will decide to head to the monorail and make their way around the Seven Seas Lagoon. While I'm a huge fan of the monorail, there are other options to get to the Magic Kingdom (and back), going across the Seven Seas Lagoon on the ferry.

Why, you might ask? Well take a look at this view:

Where else would you get such beautiful and magnificent view of the Main Street Train Station with Cinderella Castle in the background? The way the ferry comes around one particular island and slowly reveals the entrance to the Magic Kingdom is like the curtain slowly opening on the show.

There are three ferry boats currently in operation at the Magic Kingdom. Originally known as the "Magic Kingdom I", "Magic Kingdom II" and the "Kingdom Queen," the boats were renamed to the "Admiral Joe Fowler," "Richard F. Irvine" and the "General Joe Potter" respectively. Each boat can carry about 600 passengers fully loaded. Each boat has two covered decks. I personally recommend the top deck as it affords beautiful views of the Magic Kingdom and the resorts surrounding the Seven Seas Lagoon.

On average, it takes about five minutes to cross the one mile from the TTC to the Magic Kingdom. Depending on the line to board the express monorail, the ferry might be a quicker option. It also can be a more relaxing option, especially when you think about riding in a packed monorail.

Also, with word that Disney is planning to stop monorail service just one hour after regular park closing (not after evening Extra Magic Hours), the ferry might become a more popular option.

The next time you're heading into the Magic Kingdom from the TTC (or heading back), take the ferry and enjoy your journey!

Stories from a Theme Park Insider

2011-07-31T15:58:00.004-04:00

A new book released by Robert Niles compiles stories told by various cast members at Walt Disney World. If you think about it, these are the stories that are the funniest of all - recounting some of the silly things we, the park guests, do during our trips to Walt Disney World.

This is a great read for a bit of humor and some "insider" knowledge of Walt Disney World.

The following is a sample chapter from "Stories from a Theme Park Insider," by Robert Niles, available for $3.99 on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com:

Chapter title: The Old Man and the Caribbean Sea

"Sorry for the hold-up, folks. Seems to be a slow-moving train up ahead. You just remain seated, and we'll be right with ya."

The "Old Man" was up, which meant we were down at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. I'd been trained at Thunder only a couple weeks earlier, but had already learned about the Old Man - the pre-recorded spiel of a supposed prospector that played automatically whenever the roller coaster's computer system shut down the ride.

A little kid on the main side station had been crying, so the crew held the train. Disney rules prohibit dispatching a ride vehicle with a crying child: The child has to either stop crying, or get off the ride. We would allow families to wait on the unload platform as long as necessary until their child stopped bawling, then reseat them on the next train. But no train was going anywhere with a crying kid on it.

Unfortunately for everyone in line, if the family of the crying kid didn't accept the, uh, invitation to wait to the side, that train could not leave. And if one train didn't leave on time, that meant there was no room in the station for the train behind it on the track, outside the station. (Thunder has two stations, with up to five trains on the track.) The Old Man was getting up, and the ride was going down.

Coming back up from a "cascade stop" such as this was relatively simple. You just get everyone off the train in the station, then send it back into the storage area. Then you bring in the next train off the track, unload its guests, and then send it back into storage. You keep doing that until all the trains are either in storage or in a station. Then you bring the trains back onto the circuit, one at a time, until you're running the three, four or five trains you need - depending upon the size of the crowd in the park.

The cast member who was working Thunder's control tower when the Old Man woke up was the one to oversee the restart. On that day, the guy in the tower just happened to be a guy who, like me, had been working months at Pirates of the Caribbean and just recently cross-trained on Thunder. This was his first-ever downtime on Thunder.

The ride's lead hurried up to the tower to assist. Had a more experienced cast member been working in the tower, the lead would have just stood by and chatted with cast members and guests. Today, the lead stood closer, watching as the rookie slowly worked his way through the procedures.

When the trains stop on the lifts throughout the ride, we turned on the ride's work lights and sent operators to each lift, first to calm the riders, then to restart the lifts. We always worked our way backwards, starting one lift at a time, so that no one would have a train rushing by him or her while out on the track. Because there were operators on the track, the tower operator had to announce over the loudspeakers as each section of track restarted.

And he did. Oh boy, did he!

"Attention on Pirates of the Caribbean. Block zone four is restarting."

Knowing the rookie was fresh over from Pirates, several of the Thunder vets started to giggle, then caught themselves. I, a Thunder newbie like the rookie, simply thought, "There but for the grace of the Old Man, go I" and kept my mouth shut.

"Attention on Pirates of the Caribbean. 'C' lift is restarting."

At that point, no one on the load platform could contain themselves. The dispatcher on my side of the station actually doubled over in laughter. Even guests in the crowd turned to one another, asking, "Did he just say what I thought he did?"

"Attention on Pirates of the Caribbean. 'B' lift is restarting."

The crowd on the load platform started to laugh. The dispatcher on my side composed himself enough to start singing "Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life for Me." Many in the crowd joined in.

Already overwhelmed by his first solo restart of the ride, and now utterly perplexed by the reaction on the platform, the rookie leaned over the mic to announce the next lift restart.

"Attention on Pi-"

Recognition dawned scarlet on his face. He eyes grew with terror, then squeezed shut. The lead was about to draw blood, she was biting her hand so hard to keep from laughing.

"Uh, attention on Big Thunder Mountain, 'A' lift is restarting," the rookie croaked.

The Thunder cast members erupted in applause. The dispatcher who'd been conducting the crowd stood tall and pointed toward tower: "That's right! Y'all's on THUNDER MOUNTAIN now!"

The rookie drank free that night.

A reader asks:

I thought the more interesting part of the story was how a ride breaks down and powers back up. I also never knew that Disney will not let a crying child on a ride. Is it because it would ruin the magic for the other guests or is there some other reason?

Another reader responds:

It's actually more a safety concern than aesthetics. At least it was on Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. If a child is crying in the station, they aren't wanting to ride. They're scared. They might panic mid-ride and try to squirm out of safety restraints, or hurt themselves in their panic. The rule about not letting crying children ride is left to the discretion of the cast members. If the child is just sniffling, but seems ready to ride, we dispatch away. If the child is crying and obviously doesn't want to go, we make the parents remove him. Unlike Thunder though, we didn't have a problem if someone took awhile deciding. We could back up a bit and not go down.

Convincing parents that we had the safety of their kids in mind wasn't always easy, though. We heard, "I paid all this money for you to ride rides, and damn it, you're going to ride them!" more than once.

I had one really terrific father one time though. He got on the ride with the kid, who then panicked. We asked him to step aside, and he did, choosing to stand in the area just on the platform side of the exit hallway. My position was on the platform, and my location to stand between trains was right on the other side of the safety gate from where the father and his son were standing. Father talked to the kid, finding out exactly what he was afraid of. I answered some questions, and confirmed a lot of what the father was saying. He didn't lie to the kid (we heard that a lot: "It's not scary," or "You don't go upside down," (you do) or "It's not really a roller coaster" - terrific parenting, telling lies to your kid to get them to go on a coaster). He didn't negate or berate the kid's fears. He talked to him and encouraged him. Doggone it if that kid didn't tug on my sleeve about five minutes later asking if it was too late to ride. I told him of course it wasn't, and put him on the next train. He looked petrified, but determined. I was bumped onto the next position while he was in the launch area and was sent to the ride's exit platform. I was there when he arrived in the station. He had a HUGE grin on his face. "Can I ride again?" he immediately asked his Dad. His father couldn't have looked prouder if he'd tried! I put them both back through the re-ride hallway to do it again. Anyone who's that brave deserves another run!

Another reader replies:

Working at Kali River Rapids, the same rule applies: if a kid is crying, they cannot leave the loading area. Like at Thunder, we can bring them to the center of the loading turntable to regain their composure, or they could choose not to ride, but we couldn't let them off until the kid stops crying. Well ,we had a family who wouldn't leave, like in Robert's story. The parents were stubborn and wouldn't leave until they rode the ride. The kid, however, wasn't having any of it. He was bawling so hard, he sounded like he was being tortured. He was trying to get his seat belt off, he wouldn't sit down, and he had that "Get me out of here!" look on his face. While another cast member, a coordinator, a manager and I were trying to calm the kid down and get him off the ride, the parent was yelling at us to turn the ride back on.

At this point, everybody in the other rafts and in queue started to pick up on what was going on. I had to explain to everybody what was going on, and what we had to do. Everybody understood, but they were growing impatient with the parents. About half way up the ramp that comes down to the turntable, there were a group of 5 or 6 frat boys. I could see they were scheming something. I turned around to head back to the turntable, and I heard a chant starting behind me:

"HEY! HEY! WHAT DO YOU SAY? GET YOUR KID OFF SO WE CAN RIDE TODAY!"

What do you know, it was the frat boys. Everybody started to giggle, and even some started to join in. The coordinator went over to shush them, while at the same time, the family was getting out of the raft. The entire queue starts to applaud. At this point, I caught a look at the father in the group...and this is when my heart jumped into my throat. To explain what he looked like, some would say Lou Ferrigno, some would say Hulk Hogan without the mustache, I would say all of the above...and he wasn't a happy camper. The mom held the child, yelling at him while they were walking off the turntable, with the father behind. As he was leaving, the dad and one of the frat boys met eyes...oh boy...

Now I have never seen a fist fight while working at Disney World, but this was the closest I have ever seen one. The frat boy said something, and the dad grabbed the frat boy by the collar and said something like, "Stay out of my sight," and something about ripping genitals, I'm not really sure, I wasn't that close. At this point, the frat boys were trying to save their buddy and the manager was grabbing Lou Hogan away from everybody else. Everybody on the turntable, guests and cast alike, were trying to see what was going to happen.

Ahhh... there's nothing like working at “the happiest place on Earth.”

Links:
"Stories from a Theme Park Insider" on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005CK59EU
"Stories from a Theme Park Insider" on barnesandnoble.com: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Stories-from-a-Theme-Park-Insider/Robert-Niles/e/2940012864321

Photo Friday: A real "Highway in the Sky"

2011-07-29T23:51:00.000-04:00

Welcome to another Photo Friday!

I took this photo in January 2011 from the 11th floor of the Contemporary Resort. I happened to wake up early one morning and looked out over the Seven Seas Lagoon to see the water partially covered with low level fog. Then I saw the monorail running just above the clouds.

You can just make out the small boat with a fishing party in the bottom right corner.

Tip Tuesday: Rice Cream in Norway

2011-07-26T21:34:00.003-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

In light of the tragedies in Norway this week, I wanted to highlight some of the great things about Norway, one of the nations represented in Epcot's World Showcase.

As I thought about all the things about the Norway pavilion my family and I enjoy, one particular item came to mind: Rice Cream!

This is a classic Norwegian dessert and can be found both at the Akershus Royal Banquet Hall and at the Kringla Bakery.

Rice cream is a must-do for my family. Every trip to Walt Disney World includes at least one dish of rice cream. We enjoy this Norwegian delight so much, I've even tried my hand a few times at making our own rice cream using the actual recipe used at Epcot's Norway pavilion.

I highly recommend giving rice cream a try - it's just one more example of the charm of Epcot and how Epcot truly brings the world to you.

If you can't make it to Epcot to try rice cream -- try it for yourself. Here's the recipe (courtesy Allears.net)!

Rice Cream

YIELD: 10 servings

Ingredients:

1 pound short-grain white rice (not instant)
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups water
4 cups milk

2 cups heavy cream
4 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Strawberry sauce:

2 cups strawberry preserves
1 cup water
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Method:

1. Cook rice with water and salt for 15 minutes, covered. Add milk and cook for 30 minutes or until rice is tender and the mixture is thick. Chill rice in the refrigerator.

2. Whip cream and sugar and vanilla. Gently fold whipped cream into chilled rice. Set aside in refrigerator.

3. Place sauce ingredients in the work bowl of a blender. Mix until combined.

4. Spoon rice mixture into serving cups. Garnish with strawberry sauce.

Photo Friday: Beware the Forbidden Mountain

2011-07-22T08:26:00.004-04:00

Welcome to another photo Friday!

This week's shot comes from Animal Kingdom. I took this shot in 2008 on my very first visit to AK. I was heading into the standby line for Expedition Everest because I (like so many others) wanted to see the new Yeti (little did I know that he already was in B-mode by now).

Anyway, I saw this sign and remembered it from the Everest special that was on the Travel Channel about the making of the attraction. I happened to see a fantastic angle and set up the shot. What I like most about this image is the sense of foreboding it creates with Everest in the soft background.

Too bad the warning to beware the Yeti is a bit unnecessary these days. Maybe one day the feared creature will rear is ugly head again.

Tip Tuesday: 100,000 target on Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin

2011-07-19T21:19:00.002-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

This week's tip is short and sweet -- especially if you're interested in scoring that elusive 999,999 on Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin.

There are a few 100,000 point targets you can hit in this attraction. I talked about another 100,000 point target more than two years ago.

This target can be found in the opening scene of the attraction. See that big claw attached to the robot on the right side of your car? There is a Z-target underneath.

If you can hit the target, each shot is worth 100,000 points. The trick is to hit the target as you approach and leave the claw. Once you're right underneath it, your blaster can't tilt up far enough to hit it.

So the next time you're trying to defeat Zurg and save the universe, keep an eye out for this high point target and you could be the next Galactic Hero!!!

Photo Friday: A "Dramatic" Chinese Theatre

2011-07-15T20:44:00.002-04:00

Welcome to another Photo Friday!

This week's photo is from Disney Hollywood Studios. I took this photo of Mann's Chinese Theatre (home of the Great Movie Ride) in March 2010. I have been playing with shooting tilted-angle photos of different subjects and I liked how this came out. I did a little Photoshop action to acccentuate the shadows a bit.

Hope you enjoy it -- and did you bring the popcorn?

Tip Tuesday: Star Tours 2 - Skip the FastPass

2011-07-12T21:46:00.004-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

A few weeks ago, I had the distinct pleasure to travel to a galaxy far, far away thanks to Star Tours! Star Tours: The Adventures Continue has been open at Disney Hollywood Studios for more than a month now and the crowds are still lining up for this incredible experience.

Now, with the old Star Tours, I often told people not to worry with FastPass. The reason was fairly obvious - except for the busiest of times during the year, Star Tours usually was a walk on, so there was no need to waste a FastPass on it.

Now, however, it's common to see 30, 40 even 50 minute wait times, making FastPass an option worth considering. Even with these greatly increased wait times, making FastPass much more attractive, I still say skip the FastPass. There's a very good reason for this tip.

Part of the charm of Star Tours is not the attraction itself. It's the queue. The major problem with using FastPass is that you go through the queue so fast, you don't have time to take in all the great details and pure entertainment the queue has to offer.

Some of the best parts of the Star Tours 2 experience can be found in three different scenes in the queue area. The first is the repair bay as you initially walk into the attraction building. Here you will find two very familiar characters, C-3PO and R2-D2. The banter that happens between these two droids is something not to be missed. In addition, a very large monitor over your head presents promos for various Star Tours destinations and different announcements.

As you pass by C-3PO, you enter the baggage claim area. As you enter this area, look to your left to see if you recognize an old friend from the original version of Star Tours. Take a moment and listen to catch a few familiar phrases. On your right, you will meet a very unusual and interesting G2-4T droid who is scanning pieces of luggage - think of him as the droid version of TSA.

Anyway, you'll want to take several minutes to watch what happens as this droid scans different items and reacts what he finds. There are several tributes to other attractions and characters and at least one hidden Mickey.

Turning the corner, on your left you will meet another G2-4T droid. This less-than-cheerful droid is scanning you! If you watch the panel directly in front of the droid, you will notice a thermal image of the guests waiting in the queue. Like the baggage droid, pay attention to the droid's spiel, which reminds me, for some reason, of Patrick Warburton (the flight attendant in the Soarin' safety video for you Disney geeks out there).

Once you line up to board your Starspeeder 1000, pay close attention to the safety video. There are a bunch of hidden details and gags that are very funny.

So there you go -- that's why I say for Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, skip the FastPass and enjoy the wait.

Until next time, May the Force be With You!

Photo Friday: A different perspective on the Tori Gate

2011-07-08T14:41:00.003-04:00

Welcome to another Photo Friday!

This week, I wanted to take you to Epcot (my favorite park) for a shot I took in June 2009. This photo was taken just before Illuminations began from the balcony over Mitsukoshi. This is one of my favorite places to watch Illuminations because you get a different perspective on the show and you get a wider view of World Showcase as a whole.

I especially like the lighting here with the lighting on the Tori Gate helping it to stand out from the darkened background and the lagoon. I also like Spaceship Earth in the distance, though it would have been nice if that tree was just a bit shorter.

I hope you enjoy this photo and look for another photo next week!

Disney (ABC Family) and Seventeen magazine try to stop cyberbullying - you can help!

2011-07-07T20:45:00.003-04:00

Seventeen magazine and ABC Family want you to help Delete Digital Drama! Show your support to end cyberbullying by adding this Delete Digital Drama badge to your Facebook and Twitter profile pic today – please feel free to share with your readers!

When you show your support via Facebook, your profile picture will be overlaid with the Twibbon Image, and a post will appear on your wall saying: “I just joined ABCFamily and Seventeen magazine to end cyberbullying. Add the Delete Digital Drama badge to your Facebook profile to show your support http://twb.ly/muhDm4. ”

When you show your support via Twitter, your avatar will be overlaid with the Twibbon image, you will follow @abcfamily, and a tweet will be sent on your behalf saying: “I just joined @ABCFamily & @SeventeenMag to end cyberbullying. Add the #DeleteDigitalDrama badge to show your support http://twb.ly/jzAY3G.”

To learn more about the Delete Digital Drama Twibbon Pledge, visit: http://abcfamily.go.com/movies/cyberbully/delete-digital-drama.

To add the Delete Digital Drama Twibbon to you Twitter or Facebook: http://twibbon.com/deletedigitaldrama.

Other ways to Delete Digital Drama: http://abcfamily.go.com/movies/cyberbully/resources/pl_PL5547513/vd_VD55133208.

Cyberbully, starring Emily Osment, premieres on Sunday, July 17 at 8/7c!

Tip Tuesday: Stitch's Great Escape

2011-07-05T19:56:00.003-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

Wait!!!!

I know you've read the headline and seen the photo, but don't click the back button just yet!!!

Ok, Ok... so Stitch's Great Escape isn't the most popular of attractions at Walt Disney World (actually, it just might take the prize for the most hated attraction), but hear me out.

Despite a few completely gross moments, Stitch has some elements that make this attraction worth visiting every once in a while, especially if you know how to avoid the things that make you want to (glurp!).... well, you get the point.

So why is Stitch worth checking out occasionally? It's all about the audio-animatronics. If you're a fan of these fantastic creations that were invented by Disney, then you'll want to check out Stitch.

The Pre-Show
The pre-show presents a humorous skit featuring "Sarge" who helps you (the new recruits) to understand how the detention area works. Sarge is another very well-articulated audio-animatronic. While the story is a bit lacking, it is fun to see just how life-like the Imagineers were able to make Sarge.

Anyway, an emergency arises and the next thing you know you're heading for the main teleport area. TIP: try to stand on the right side of the pre-show area. This way you'll be among the first to enter the main attraction and, thus, have your pick of seats. Keep reading to see why this is helpful.

The attraction
You'll want to try to sit on the lowest row possible. There's a reason for this which I'll discuss in a bit. Above your head is a large U-shaped bar which looks a lot like a roller-coaster harness. It has nothing to do with keeping you safe, it's just there to get your body into position so all the other sensory effects will work.

One of the problems guests often have with this attraction is the bar pressing too hard on your shoulders. So here's how you avoid this. When the cast member begins to lower the bars, hunch up your shoulders and sit up VERY straight. This will raise your shoulder line a few inches. Stay this way until the bar touches your shoulders and stops. Now relax. Ahh... you have room to breathe.

As the show continues, of course, Stitch makes his appearance. As with Sarge, Stitch is a great audio-animatronic as are the two "guns" in the room. You don't need to pay too much attention to what Stitch is saying just yet -- enjoy the advanced movement of Stitch and the guns.

Oh, why do I suggest sitting along the lowest row? During the first part, Stitch will spit water at an unsuspecting guest. By sitting in the lowest row, you're pretty much guaranteed you won't get a stream of water in your face (and this isn't just a slight sprinkle, it's a full jet of water).

At one point, Stitch will make the power go out and the room will become pitch dark. Now it's time to pay attention to what the little blue guy is saying. At one point Stitch will "jump" on your shoulders. Here's where you'll be glad if you did the shoulder trick I mentioned earlier. While you might feel slight pressure on your shoulders, it won't be uncomfortable at all.

As I said, pay attention to what Stitch is saying. When he mentions finding a chili dog, take a deep breath and hold it. Stitch will burp and then the smell of chili dog will briefly fill the room. This is why you're holding your breath for a few seconds. Fortunately it doesn't last long. Stitch's lack of manners is the other major part that many guests find completely nauseating. After a few moments, you can breathe cleanly again, the power will be restored, the lights will come back on, Stitch will make his escape (to Walt Disney World, naturally) and the attraction is over.

The darkness portion also is the point that freaks most children out -- mine included. I strongly DO NOT recommend any kids under the age of 8 experience this attraction, especially if they have issues with darkness.

While I still agree with many that Stitch's Great Escape needs to permanently teleport off planet, I don't think people should just avoid it completely. There are some great audio-animatronics that I think are worth the effort, chili dog burps and all.

Photo Friday: Cinderella Castle in the "fog"

2011-07-01T19:26:00.004-04:00

Photo details: F/32, 1/80th, ISO 100

Welcome to a new series here on DisneyDaddy. I'm calling it Photo Friday and the purpose is pretty basic. I take a LOT of photos at Walt Disney World (at least 1200 on each trip) and up until now, they've just been sitting in a folder on one of my hard drives. Well it's time I started sharing some of the unique images I've managed to capture over the years and a bit of the story behind the image.

So for the inaugural image, I decided to post the shot that gave me the idea for Photo Friday.

This is a picture of Cinderella Castle I took during a trip in June 2011. While it looks like it was a foggy morning, actually the skies were clear, but it was very muggy. My camera had been in my backpack in the resort room overnight (a well air-conditioned resort room), and when I finally pulled it out intending to take a shot of the sun behind the castle, my lens fogged up. I thought about just putting the camera away and forgetting the shot, but changed my mind and decided to just see what happened.

You can see the result.

I hope you'll enjoy this new series and I enjoy sharing some of the fun photos I've taken.

Tip Tuesday: Movies on the beach

2011-06-28T21:29:00.002-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

I just returned from another trip to Walt Disney World and have some new tips to share.

This week, we'll talk about another of those often overlooked free experiences at the various Disney resorts -- movie night.

At most resorts, cast members will put up some sort of screen and projector and play Disney movies beginning around dusk. These are completely free to attend and it's a lot of fun - just check your resort information sheet you received in your check-in packet to see what movies are playing and when. At most resorts, movies are playing nearly every night.

Most of the time, movies are shown at a beach or pool area. For instance, the Yacht & Beach Clubs and the Boardwalk share a movie location -- the beach area at Crescent Lake. The Grand Floridian and Polynesian share a location as well -- the beach area in between both resorts near the Grand Floridian pool. The Fort Wilderness campground has the location with probably the biggest screen -- it's shaped, appropriately, like a campfire circle complete with wooden benches.

Just remember that these movies play at night, and depending on when you're visiting Walt Disney World, it can get cool once the sun goes down, especially during the winter months -- so you may want a blanket or jacket. Also keep in mind that it can get a bit buggy in the evening, depending on which resort you're staying at.

If you do plan to catch an outdoor movie showing, you'll want to be in place at least 15-20 minutes ahead of time to get a good seat. Sometimes cast members will start playing trailers a bit early so that the feature presentation begins at the scheduled start time.

The night we watched a movie -- Cars was playing. It was fun to watch some of the "coming soon" trailers for movies that already have come and gone to the theaters.

I've said before that there's so much more to Walt Disney World than just the parks, and the outdoor movie series is just another example, so give it a try!

Tip Tuesday: Electrical Water Pageant

2011-06-21T15:00:00.005-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

It's the oldest nighttime experience at Walt Disney World and it doesn't even require a park ticket to enjoy - in fact it's not even in the parks!

Of course, I'm talking about the Electrical Water Pageant, which first premiered October 26, 1971 (thought it was not available on opening day, Oct. 1, 1971).

The Water Pageant, originally created to celebrate the dedication of the Polynesian Luau, can be seen nightly (weather permitting) along the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake. It usually begins it's performances around 9 p.m., unless there are fireworks set for the same time at the Magic Kingdom. In that case, the Water Pageant will begin about 20 minutes later.

The Water Pageant consists of 14 small barges, each containing two sets of lights arranged to form different shapes and set to music from Disney songs from The Little Mermaid and Peter Pan (among others). Most include some simple form of animation.

The first four displays create a sea serpent breathing fire, followed by a whale spouting water, a turtle taking a drink from the water, an octopus waving his arms, three jumping dolphins, a dinosaur chomping on some greenery, a crocodile and finally King Triton being in his chariot being led by four seahorses.

After these 14 barges complete scene one, all the barges change to display either the United States flag or a set of stars, while playing patriotic music.

In total, the Electrical Water Pageant runs less than 10 minutes. The first performance usually begins in front of the Grand Floridan Resort around 9 p.m. The best place to watch is by the dock near Narcoosee's (if you have an ADR at Narcoosee's for that time - it's a great vantage point). Following the Grand Floridian, the pageant moves to the Polynesian at around 9:15, the Wilderness Lodge around 9:40, Fort Wilderness around 9:50 and the Contemporary (Bay Lake side) a little after 10 p.m. If there Magic Kingdom is still open around 10:20, the Water Pageant will have a final performance in front of the main gate.

These are general times. Check with the concierge desk or guest services at any of the Magic Kingdom area resorts for specific times the day you plan to see the pageant.

While it's a simple show, especially considering all the advances lately in audio-animatronics, the Electrical Water Pageant is a nostalgic reminder of the origins of Walt Disney World and one evening activity not to be missed.

Tip Tuesday: Looking to get wet?

2011-06-14T20:20:00.005-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

Well the temperatures in Florida again are topping 90+ degrees each day, so I thought I'd take a moment to help you find ways to get wet order to cool off a bit (of course, being summer, mother nature might just help out with a few showers, but I'm going to focus on Disney-made splash-action.

Of course, the most obvious "get wet" places are the two water parks, Blizzard Beach and typhoon Lagoon. Being water parks, getting wet is the whole point, so I'm going to skip over these.

So let's start at the parks... I'll rank each opportunity into one of three categories: soaked, a bit wet and sprinkles.

Magic Kingdom:
At the Magic Kingdom, the #1 get-wet spot has to be Splash Mountain (wet to soaked). Depending on how your log takes the 40-foot drop and where you're sitting, you could get a good dousing of water. Actually, there are several mini-drops along the way which can get you fairly wet as well. Splash Mountain is a very popular attraction, especially in the warmer months, so you'll want to think about using FastPass.

In Adventureland, there are two opportunities to get wet. The first is the Magic Carpets of Aladdin (wet to sprinkles). As you fly around Agrabah, there is a gold camel facing into the attraction. At certain times, the camel will spit water at passing carpets. If you happen to be at the right height at the right time, you could get a good splash. There's another camel that spits at passers by near the sign to the attraction.

The other location is the tiki statues (wet to sprinkles) in between the Magic Carpets of Aladdin and the Jungle Cruise. Like the spitting camels, the tiki statues occasionally spit water onto those standing nearby. This is a popular attraction with young children.

Speaking of the Jungle Cruise (sprinkles), there is a small opportunity to get a bit wet as you pass by the backside of water. If you don't know what I'm talking about, take a cruise and you'll find out quickly.

Staying in Adventureland, Pirates of the Caribbean (sprinkles) features a short drop in pitch blackness where some guests sitting on the sides might get a bit splashed.

(Note: with the demise of Mickey's Toontown Fair, the Magic Kingdom lost a kids water play zone at Donald's Boat (wet to soaked), where kids could play in water fountains.)

Epcot
There aren't many get-wet opportunities in Epcot, and only one is associated with an attraction. The attraction with the greatest possibility is Malestrom (wet to sprinkles) in the Norway pavilion. This attraction features a decent flume-style drop with a splash at the end. Some guests, mostly on the sides, might get somewhat splashed.

The other get-wet spot is across from the Kim Possible sign up location along the walkway between Future World and World Showcase (wet to soaked). This is a typical water spot where kids can jump and run through spraying water, similar to what was at Donald's Boat at the Magic Kingdom. Depending on how much you play in the water, you can get a good soaking here.

A third get-wet spot is at the upper level outside of the Imagination pavilion (wet to sprinkles). The location features a series of dancing waters. Depending on where you stand, you can get fairly wet, if you want to.

Hollywood Studios
Disney's Hollywood Studios probably is the park that's hardest to get wet in as there are very few opportunities to do so. About the only option is the Backlot Tour (wet to sprinkles), and it really depends on where you end up standing or sitting.

In the opening portion of the Backlot Tour, Disney recreates a scene from the movie Pearl Harbor, in which a few selected guests don waterproof outfits and are subsequently drenched in a torrent of water. While the selected guests stay dry, you might not. During the scene, there are a few water explosions. Depending on where you're standing, you might just get a pretty decent splash.

Later on, you'll enter Catastrophe Canyon to witness a disaster scene. As part of the action, another torrent of water comes raging in front of your tram. While you won't really get all that wet, those sitting on the left side might get a few good splashes.

That's about it for Hollywood Studios when it comes to getting wet. But I've saved the biggest for last...

Animal Kingdom
When it comes to getting wet at the theme parks, there's one attraction that soaks them all: Kali River Rapids (soaked to flat-out drenched). If there's one place where you're pretty much guaranteed to get wet, it's here. It's also the only get-wet location in Animal Kingdom.

At Kali River Rapids, guests are launched on 12-person rafts into the turbulent Chakarandi River for a wild, wet ride through a jungle habitat jeopardized by illegal logging. Along the way, the waters get wilder and wilder, culminating in a brief, but drenching drop. Depending on where you are when you go down that drop, you could literally get soaked through to your underwear. If you're facing backwards when you go down, get ready because you're in trouble. Don't worry, everyone else will still get pretty wet.

But wait, there's more... the parks aren't the only place to get wet.

Each Disney resort has an outstanding pool (some have more than one) which offer lots of opportunities to take a dip and cool off. My personal favorite is Stormalong Bay at the Beach/Yacht Club (see photo at the top of this post). Another great pool is at the Polynesian Resort.

There's even an opportunity to get a little wet at Downtown Disney. Keep an eye on the huge Stitch statue at the East end of the World of Disney Store. At times, he will spit water on passers by.

So there you go. If you're in the mood to get a little wet, here are some great options to do so!

Stay cool out there and don't forget the sunscreen and water!!

Tip Tuesday: Off Kilter

2011-06-07T16:46:00.005-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

In my continuing series on hidden treasures at Walt Disney World, I want to head over to the Canada pavilion at Epcot to highlight another wonderful hidden treasure that all-too-many people walk right past and don't take the time to enjoy.

I'm talking about Off Kilter. No, not me (though some say I've been a little off-kilter for a while...), rather the excellent band called Off Kilter.

Off Kilter was created in 1997 by Jamie Holton and Mark Weldon. Holton is a singer and bagpipe player from Ormond Beach, FL. When he was 11, he took an interest in the bagpipe and by the time he was 16, Holton was playing at major Highland games and bagpipe competitions around the world.

Mark Weldon hails from Cork County, Ireland where he toured with many bands before coming to the U.S. Weldon plays the drums and bass guitar.

When he was 20, Holton began to work at Downtown Disney when he and Weldon got the idea to form Off Kilter as a Celtic rock band. Disney approved the idea and the band has been playing at Epcot ever since.

Also in the band are drummer Scott Zymowski, keyboard player Tony Escapa and lead guitarist Randy Holbrook.

Off Kilter's music is a fun toe-tapping mashup of traditional Celtic bagpipe music and good old-fashioned rock-and-roll. The end result are songs you can't help but bob your head, tap your toes, smile and laugh to. There is quite a bit of audience interaction and it's all live. These guys really do know how to have fun and their songs are just another example of what World Showcase really is all about - live performances.

Off Kilter usually plays in the afternoons and early evenings most days at a stage just south of the main Canada pavilion, near the entrance to the old Millennium Village. Be sure to check the daily times guide for performance times. Most shows run around 30 minutes.

If you want to get a sneak peek at Off Kilter, be sure to check out their website at http://www1.offkilter.net/ and click on the "music" links. You can hear a few samples of different songs from different albums. Speaking of albums, this is another opportunity to take home some of the great music you hear at Walt Disney World. Off Kilter has produced (as of this writing) five albums you can purchase. My personal favorite is the live album - it's the most fun and is the best example of what Off Kilter really is like.

Here's a bit of video from the folks at Orlando Attractions Magazine.

The next time you're in Epcot's World Showcase, be sure to take the time to enjoy the Celtic rock of Off Kilter.

Tip Tuesday: Duffy the Bear

2011-05-31T19:43:00.010-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

This week, we're going to meet a character who recently "returned" to Walt Disney World from Tokyo Disney Sea, where he was just as big as Mickey Mouse, maybe bigger!

Meet Duffy the Bear!

Long-time Walt Disney World veterans may recognize a similar stuffed bear that was available for years called the Disney Bear. A while ago, the Disney Bear left the American parks and was "adopted" by Tokyo Disney Sea and given an entirely new persona and backstory.

Now, according to story, Duffy was made by Minnie Mouse and given to Mickey Mouse as a companion as Mickey was preparing to sail around the globe. Mickey and Duffy went on many voyages and everytime they returned home Mickey and Duffy would tell Minnie all about their adventures. Mickey and Duffy traveled to Japan (Tokyo Disney Sea) and were meeting guests there for quite a while. In fact, while Duffy was at Tokyo Disney Sea, he developed such a huge following that when new bear designs or new outfits for Duffy were introduced, guests would line up for hours to purchase the new items. Don't believe me? See this post from AllEars.net contributor Jack Spence. In October 2010, Mickey decided to bring Duffy home.

Of course, in Disney fashion, Duffy himself had to have a special location to meet and greet all his new friends when he returned to the United States. Duffy, of course, is a world traveler, so he had to be located in Epcot's World Showcase. Now Duffy has a special gazebo located near the Mexico pavilion where he meets new friends every day. Be sure to check a times guide for specific appearance times.

But Duffy is more than just a meet-and-greet character. Duffy can come home with you (parents, be warned that this little stuffed guy is very cute and cuddly and is sure to be a hit with younger guests). In addition, Duffy can be dressed in several different outfits, representing several countries located in World Showcase (he's wearing his Mexican and Chinese outfits above), various holidays and, naturally, his sailor's outfit. More outfits and costumes are planned for Duffy in the future.

Furthermore, Duffy's presence at Epcot is even wider than meet-and-greets and a plush toy. Duffy has replaced the masks at each Kidcot station in World Showcase.

The next time you're at Epcot, be sure to stop by and say hi to Mickey's best bear -- Duffy! It's one more reason Epcot is perfect for kids of all ages -- young and old.

DisneyDaddy featured on WDBJ mornin' show

2011-05-31T09:04:00.002-04:00

I had the pleasure of joining Bob Grebe and the folks from WDBJ's morning show to talk about the Southern Living article and to share a few tips about Walt Disney World.

Watch some highlights for yourself!

Disney Interactive announces new Disney Universe game in development

2011-05-27T17:53:00.005-04:00

Disney Interactive Studios announced today that Disney Universe, a fast-paced multiplayer action adventure game, is currently in development for PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Wii™ and Windows PC/MAC. In Disney Universe, players will experience non-stop action through a mix-up of worlds inspired by both animated and live action films from Disney, including titles from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney Pictures. Players will suit-up as iconic Disney and Disney•Pixar characters and embark on adventures to power up their hero, battle powerful adversaries and master challenging puzzles to save the universe. Disney Universe is slated for release in fall 2011.

“Disney Universe is a vast treasure chest of Disney properties with memorable characters, places and experiences that gamers, as well as Disney fans will enjoy,” said Adam Sussman, senior vice president of publishing, Disney Interactive Media Group. “The fast-paced, frenetic gameplay combined with wacky humor and hilarious situations make Disney Universe the perfect game to play with family and friends.”

In Disney Universe, players can select from more than 40 classic and contemporary Disney character costumes, including Alice (“Alice in Wonderland”), Mike (“Monsters, Inc.”), TRON (“TRON: Legacy”) and Stitch (“Lilo & Stitch”) to explore six different worlds inspired by legendary Disney and Disney•Pixar films. Each world will allow players to experience objectives and missions that follow Disney and Disney•Pixar movie storylines. Players will select a character-based costume, with each costume offering a specific tool that changes and grows in power as players adventure through the game. Disney Universe offers frenetic gameplay, multiplayer with up to three friends and slapstick humor that will appeal to players of all ages.

The fun will continue on with plans for Disney Universe to be an expanding universe post-launch with items for download and new content available. Additional worlds, costumes, and more will be available for purchase, giving Xbox 360 and PlayStation®3 system owners an ever-evolving gameplay experience.

Please visit http://www.disneyuniverse.com/ for more information.

Release dates, product names, and/or visuals shown are of product currently in development and may be subject to change. Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox LIVE are either registered trademarks or trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.

Tip Tuesday: Driving to Walt Disney World

2011-05-24T18:33:00.007-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

With airfares continuing to skyrocket, I thought I'd share a few tips this week about driving to Walt Disney World. My family and I usually drive to WDW (about 12 hours one-way), mostly because it's far less expensive (even with the recent jump in gas prices) than flying. Five airline tickets can be quite a pill to swallow.

Driving to Walt Disney World presents it's own special opportunities and challenges. In previous posts, I talked about driving around Walt Disney World and about how to take advantage of the Central Florida Greenway to avoid driving on I-4 through Orlando.

This week, I want to talk more about the though process when considering driving versus flying and what kind of time frame you should think about when planning your drive.

To Drive or not to Drive, that is the question
When considering how to get to Walt Disney World, there are several factors to consider when thinking about driving versus flying.

Some of the things to keep in mind when considering flying are:

Airline fares - how much is each ticket and how many tickets do you need?

All those fun fees - you're going to want to take some clothes to wear, so just how much will those bags cost you?

Airport destination - can you fly into Orlando International Airport (MCO) and, thus take advantage of Disney's Magical Express? If not...

Airport transfers - if you're not flying into MCO (because of a cheaper rate into another airport) then you'll have to find some way to get from the airport (Tampa, Sanford, Daytona Beach, Melbourne, etc.) to Walt Disney World, which leads to...

Car Rental rates - most people decide to rent a car if they're flying into an airport other than MCO. You'll need to factor in the costs for car rentals

Departure and Arrival times: Depending on when you can arrive (and, later, depart), you might be able to get an extra half-day in your trip. Also keep in mind the time required to get to the airport, go through security and collect bags at your destination.

Some of the things to keep in mind when considering driving are:

Mileage - You're hitting the road and you're going to be covering a lot of miles -- most likely hundreds of miles, if not more than a thousand, and that means you'll need a lot of...

Gas - Gas prices are about a predictable as Charlie Sheen's career right now. Prices continue to fluctuate greatly. You need to know how large your car's gas tank is, what your car's average mileage per gallon is, and then calculate how much gas you'll need to get to WDW and back.

Time - it's no surprise that driving takes longer than flying. Do you have enough time to drive or will driving eat too much into your available time?

What's along the way - I strongly encourage stopping along the way. You want to get to WDW safely, and that means taking a few opportunities to rest and stretch. A drive to WDW can turn into a family road trip adventure. Are there some fun places to stop along the way? No, this isn't National Lampoon's Vacation, but it might be a chance to see a few sights.

When you boil it all down it comes to one key decision: Time vs. Money. It's probably going to be cheaper to drive, but it's going to be faster to fly. Which is more valuable to you? Time or Money? Which can you afford to spend more of?

For me, and my family of five, we usually drive from Virginia. Here's the calculation that led me to decide to drive: Flying to WDW (MCO) costs as low as $225 (round-trip) per person out of our regional airport. Right now rates are much higher ($300+), but I'll go with the lowest amount here. Flying into MCO means we can use Disney's Magical Express and not incur any transportation costs. Total cost: About $1400.

We do have a low-cost airline that flys into Sanford. Those rates are about $49 a person one-way (about $99 one-way once you add in all the fees), but then there's transportation costs to consider (like renting a car). Total cost: $1200+

It's about 750 miles, or 12-hours drive time to Walt Disney World from the house (according to online mapping pages). Given that the car's gas tank can hold 20 gallons of gas and gets about 20 miles to the gallon, one tankful of gas is equal to about 400 miles of driving, which means I need two complete tankfuls of gas to drive one-way. Adding in an extra tank of gas for safety, the round-trip total is five tankfuls or 100 gallons of gas. As of this writing, gas is running around $3.55 a gallon for a total of $355 in gas.

When we drive to WDW, we like to break up the trip into two days. We usually leave on day one and drive at least half way (depending on when we can leave - sometimes it's not until late afternoon). Then we get up early the next morning and complete the drive. I like doing this so that when we get to WDW, it's no later than 1 p.m., and often much earlier. Also, I'm not dead tired from driving for 12 hours and can enjoy the first day in the parks. We do the same thing on the return trip. We leave WDW in the late afternoon and drive about half way. This gives us a good half-day at the parks before we have to head home. So, adding in the cost of two overnight hotel stays of about $100 each -- that's an additional $200 to the drive costs.

Adding in the cost of wear and tear is a bit of a guess. I found a AAA source that indicated the maintenance costs for a minivan was around 6-cents a mile (not including gas). So I'll use that number for argument's sake. 750 miles x $.06 = $45 each way ($90 round-trip)

Grand totals:
--- Flying: $1200-$1400
--- Driving: $645

Of course, I haven't factored in time yet. To put it simply, flying to WDW takes around 7-9 hours from the time I leave the house to the time I arrive at my resort, depending on layovers and Magical Express.

Driving can take as little as 12 hours if I go non-stop. More often it takes about 18-20 hours depending on how far we go before we stop for the night on travel day 1.

So the real question is -- how much is 10-12 extra hours at WDW worth? For me, it's not worth upwards of $700 or more. For others, it might be, especially if the drive time is much longer.

So there you go -- some of the factors you need to consider when determining how you're going to get to Walt Disney World. There is no right or wrong approach. It just depends on your priorities at the time.

No matter which way you go -- by air or by road, please do so safely!

DisneyDaddy featured in Southern Living Magazine

2011-05-20T19:37:00.005-04:00

In the June 2011 edition of Southern Living Magazine, yours truly and good friend Lou Mongello from the WDW Radio Show and Celebrations Magazine are among five Disney experts providing tips for those visiting Walt Disney World in an article celebrating the 40th anniversary of WDW.

While I knew this issue was coming out today, it's still a big thrill to see the article finally in print. I'm especially thankful to Southern Living Magazine reporter Elizabeth Passarella and the staff at Southern Living.

To read the article, just pick up the June 2011 edition of the magazine, or go to the Disney section of Southern Living Magazine.

UPDATE (5/23/11): Several folks have commented about the "never pay for parking" tip. I did not provide this tip, nor do I support this tip. Parking at Downtown Disney and then trying to get to the parks is a bad idea and is incredibly time-consuming, mostly because you have to transfer at a resort. Second, you're trying to cheat the system. It's not worth the hassle. Just pay for parking.

Tip Tuesday: The Animation Academy

2011-05-17T20:18:00.004-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

This week, I want to showcase a hidden treasure at Disney's Hollywood Studios -- the Animation Academy. This is located in the animation building on the upper level towards the exit to the Art of Disney store.

There are two ways to get to the Animation Academy. The first is the go through the main entrance and watch the Magic of Disney Animation presentation. Afterward, you will go into the huge postshow area where you can meet-and-greet several characters. The other way is to go into the Art of Disney Animation store (to the left of the entrance to the Magic of Disney Animation), go through the store and just walk into the museum beyond.

It's very likely the doors will be closed when you arrive at the entrance to the Academy. If you can, go ahead and sit (or stand) as close to the doors as possible. I'll explain why in a minute. In the meantime, watch the monitors and try to guess which characters are being drawn. It's a good way to pass the time.

There are several presentations each day, so be sure to check a times guide for specific show times. The experience runs around 30 minutes and only around 35 guests can participate in each show, so you'll want to make sure you're as close to the entrance as possible when the doors open.

Once you make it inside, take a seat at a drawing table. You will see a sheet of drawing paper and a pencil (with no eraser) waiting for you. After a few brief introductions, the castmember will ask the audience which character they would like to draw. Usually the artist doesn't draw the same character twice in a row (expect, perhaps, Mickey Mouse in different looks).

My daughter and I went to two back-to-back sessions. In the first session, we (tried) to draw Flynn Ryder. I have to say this was very difficult. I have a completely new appreciation for just how difficult and overwhelming it must be to put together a hand-drawn cartoon short, to say nothing about an animated feature film!

For the second session, my daughter requested to draw Mickey Mouse. The castmember (Corbie), was very patient and took her time explaining each drawing motion and how to make each line. What makes this experience so great is that you get to personally try your hand (literally) at being an animator. At the end, you have a great keepsake - your drawing! Best of all, it's free.

Here's my attempt at drawing Mickey Mouse, but, alas, it's nothing like...

... a trained artist! Corbie was very nice and gave my daughter her drawing!

I highly recommend giving the Animation Academy -- it's a lot of fun, it's something way too many guests walk right by.

Tip Tuesday: "Special" pins

2011-05-11T20:06:00.000-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!
(Sadly, yet another on a Wednesday)

I've talked before about pin trading at Walt Disney World both for serious pin collectors and family-fun pin trading.

This week, I went to my #1 source when it comes to pins -- my wonderful wife, the DisneyMommy, who is a massive pin collector.

It's her style of pin collecting I find so wonderful and it is this concept I want to share with you. She collects pins that have special value. I'm not talking about limited release pins or pins for special events. I'm talking about pins that have special value to her.

For instance, the photo above is a page from her pin book with different resort pins. She collects pins from those resorts we have stayed at. No resort stay -- no pin. That's what make these pins special.

Another page has nothing but cutie pins. This is a thing between my wife and my daughter. They collect different pins featuring Disney characters in the cutie style. These pins aren't particularly valuable to traditional collectors, but to her, each pin has a special meaning because they are completing the collection together.

Another tip when it comes to special pins deals with special events. Like the resort pins, we try to collect pins from different special events (Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, Epcot Flower & Garden festival, Osborne Spectacle of Lights, etc.). Again, the pins are a memento of the event itself. Where is the memory in collecting pins from special events you haven't actually attended?

So when you're thinking about collecting Disney pins, think about which pins are special to you.

It's all about remembering the magic.

Special thanks to the Box people and the DisneyMommy for this idea.

Tip Tuesday: PhotoBooks

2011-05-04T20:19:00.003-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!
(yes, it's a Wednesday. Oh well.)

This week, Disney announced a new promotion where guests booking certain trips can receive free dining and a free PhotoBook.

I've talked at length about PhotoPass and the PhotoCD. This week, I want to talk about another great PhotoPass option -- the PhotoBook.

Building a PhotoBook is very easy -- it's all done online via the PhotoPass Web site. Books can come with several cover option, both hard and soft covers (like the one seen above). Books start at $79.95 for 20 pages. Additional pages can be added for $3.50 for two pages (must add two pages at a time).

To start, simply create an account on the PhotoPass site (if you don't have one already) add some photos from PhotoPass (and/or upload your own), and select PhotoBook. You'll begin by selecting your cover and then you'll need to choose a base theme (you have several themes to choose from).

Once you have a theme, you can start adding pictures from your account. Remember that you can use photos taken by PhotoPass photographers and your own photos that you can upload. Each page can hold anywhere from one to four photos, depending on how you want the page to look like. Each theme has a ton of different backgrounds to choose from, which means you can create several different themed sections. In addition, you can add text to your pages to add a little extra touch.

What makes the PhotoBook so great is that you don't have to be a scrapbooking whiz to create a wonderful keepsake. Yes, you could use a third-party book-building site like Shutterfly or Snapfish, but only at the official PhotoPass site can you use all these awesome Disney backgrounds.

The photobook is another great way to take advantage of all those PhotoPass pictures I keep reminding you to get... so start getting those photos together and keep making memories!

Tip Tuesday: Becoming "Royality" at Walt Disney World

2011-04-26T20:33:00.006-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

In honor of the upcoming wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton, I thought I'd take a moment to share the story of how my daughter became a "Princess of Virginia," at least for an afternoon -- and it's an experience your little girl (or boy) can share as well!

I'm talking about the "My Disney Girl Perfectly Princess Tea Party" held most mornings (except Tuesday and Saturday) at the Grand Floridian Resort. This event, which starts at around 10:30 a.m., is a fairly exclusive opportunity for little girls to let their inner princess out a bit.

Bookings for this event are suggested 180 days in advance, and it can be a difficult booking because of the small guest list for each tea party. The event runs $250 for one adult and one child. Additional children can attend for an additional fee ($100-$150 a person depending on age). Yes, it's a bit expensive, but as you'll see, it's well worth it. Bookings must be made by phone by calling (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463). A credit card is required at the time of booking.

What makes this tea party such a royal event is, well, the royal treatment. My wife (the DisneyMommy) and my daughter attended this event in June 2007.

The tea party begins in the lobby of the Grand Floridian where guests check in and are invited to be seated in the lobby. At this point, I'm going to only be talking about what the little princesses do. Moms (and dads) become ladies/gentlemen in waiting and serve at the pleasure of the princess (and take lots of pictures!).

Princesses are not permitted to enter the tea party until they are first properly announced to those in attendance. "Welcome to the princess of Virginia!" After being properly announced, each princess is escorted to their table with their entourage (parents) following along. Waiting at the table is a very special friend -- a My Disney Girl Doll, dressed like Aurora. The doll is about the same size as an American Girl doll, as I believe some of the AG outfits may fit the My Disney Girl dolls. Disney does sell additional outfits for the My Disney Girl dolls at stores all across the property. I personally recommend the gift shop at the Grand Floridian (upstairs). They seem to have some of the best selection of doll clothes and accessories around.

The doll is yours to keep (which accounts for the cost), and the tea party is a wonderful way for your child to be introduced to her new doll. In addition to the doll, little princesses are presented with their own tiara, bracelet, special scrapbook page and "Best Friends" certificate.

I should note that little princes are welcome as well. Should a prince attend the tea party, they will be presented with a Disney Bear (similar to Duffy) and a princely crown instead.

Once all the royal guests are seated, the first special guest makes her appearance -- Rose Petal (see top photo). Rose Petal has a special story which she will tell. I won't spoil the story other than to say she has a special connection to the other special guest -- Aurora herself!

Both characters spend a lot of time with the little princesses (and princes) and there are plenty of opportunities for photos. Rose Petal leads the royal guests in some songs and a princess parade around the tea room.

As you can see, the Princess Tea Party pulls out all the stops. All guests (including children) enjoy tea or "special tea" (apple juice) on fine china. The food is pretty good as well with cucumber sandwiches (an English tradition), peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (for kids), biscuits, scones and other pastries.

And what's a tea party without cake! Naturally the royal guests (and their escorts) are treated to a special princess cake to top off the event.

The entire event runs about 90 minutes and is packed with activities. This isn't your typical "for kids" event with a few events and time to eat. There is a lot to do in that 90 minutes.

When you think about everything that you get, the doll, the tiara, bracelet, certificate, tea, cake and more - the $250 price tag for two people really isn't all that bad.

I highly recommend the My Disney Girl Perfectly Princess Tea Party for any little girl looking to have a little royal treatment time. It's a wonderful event and the doll has become one of my daughter's favorites.

De-valuing the Annual Pass

2011-04-22T13:16:00.003-04:00

Disney has announced their new lineup of Annual Passholder discounts for Walt Disney World for the spring/summer:
35% off select Disney Deluxe Resort Villas
30% off select Disney Deluxe Resorts*
20% off select Disney Moderate Resorts
20% off select Disney Value Resorts

* - excludes the Polynesian and Wilderness Lodge resorts for travel dates June 3-Aug.13 and excludes the Animal Kingdom Lodge for travel dates June 3-June 14.

Here endeth the news portion of this post. Bring out the soapbox please.

Thank you.

I try to refrain from ranting and raving on this blog. I prefer to provide facts and useful information, not just opinion. Today, I beg your forgiveness as I share my own thoughts on this latest announcement.

While this might sound like a great deal, keep in mind that Disney recently announced their new spring/summer discounts for the general public, which also features 30% off select deluxe resorts and villas. What's even worse, the public discount for the Polynesian, Animal Kingdom and Wilderness lodges is 25%, yet there is no mention (on the official passholder Web site) of any reduced discounts for AP holders. It's just that the AP discount doesn't apply at all during the dates mentioned above.

So where's the added value of an annual pass? There really isn't one. Oh sure, there's a minor discount for moderate and value resorts, and a bit more off for villas, but to set the AP discount the same as the general public discount has drastically devalued the benefits of the annual pass.

I understand Disney wants to "wean" guests off discounts, but AP discounts aren't the place to do that. If anything, Disney has discouraged guests getting annual passes. Why get an AP if you can get the same room discount without one?

I hope this was just some poor planning and short-sighted thinking. If Disney thinks they can eventually return to the old normal of high rates and ticket prices, then they have made a critical misjudgement. Giving guests more for less is part of the "new normal" for this economy. Get used to it an move on.

OK, I'm done. I'll put the soapbox away for now.

Tip Tuesday: The windows on Main Street USA

2011-04-19T21:51:00.004-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

It's generally accepted that Walt Disney considered Disneyland (and, later, Walt Disney World), to be living stories -- stories that guests could actually walk into and interact with. That was the genesis for Disneyland.

The opening credits to this living movie are the numerous windows that line Main Street USA in each Magic Kingdom/Disneyland park around the world. Each window pays tribute to the contributions of those who worked so hard to make the park a reality. There are different windows in each park, though windows dedicated to some key individuals can be found in all parks.

I can't begin to count the number of guests who hastily rush down Main Street USA, trying to get to the next attraction and don't take a moment to appreciate the special tributes to the Imagineers who turned a dream into reality.

At Walt Disney World, the beginning to the opening credits has to begin with the man who started it all: Walt Disney. High up atop the Main Street Train Station is a window dedicated to Walt Disney. The window reads, "Railroad Office, Keeping Dreams on Track. Walter E. Disney, Chief Engineer." This window pays tribute not only to Walt Disney, but also to Walt's love of trains. That's why there is a railroad at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

As you pass underneath the train station, you will see windows all over the place along Main Street USA.

Each window gives a bit of a hint about what contribution that person made to the creation of the park. For instance, the window seen above is a tribute to Walt Disney's long time friend Ub Iwerks. Iwerks was instrumental in developing new technologies for many different facts of the Disney company.

Perhaps my most favorite "window" isn't really a window at all, but a door. It's the Casting Agency door, which was dedicated to the cast members at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. I seek this door out every time I'm on Main Street. It's one way to give a brief nod to Walt himself and pay tribute to the man who started it all.

Of course, there are a LOT of windows at Disneyland (more than 60) and Walt Disney World (more than 85) to try to see. Discovering the backstory for each window can be an even greater task. Fortunately, Disney has a resource for you.

Disney and D23 recently published a small book with brief stories about a few windows on Main Street USA in both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. This book, "Windows on Main Street" can be found in many stories all over Disneyland and Walt Disney World and but scratches the surface on all the windows and tributes on Main Street.

The next time you start "walkin' right down the middle of Main Street USA," take a moment to look around and appreciate the tributes to the various Imagineers who used their own brand of pixie dust to make incredible magic a reality.

Tip Tuesday: Rope drop at the Magic Kingdom

2011-04-12T20:31:00.006-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday! This week, I'll round out my series on what to do at rope drop at the parks. This week, we're heading to the Magic Kingdom!! First and foremost, you'll need to arrive at the Magic Kingdom turnstiles no later than 30 minutes before park opening. Every morning, Disney puts on a brief welcome show (see photo above) where a family of the day is chosen to help open the park. In order to get a good view of the welcome show, you'll want to be toward the middle of the main entrance plaza. However, if you're more interested in getting into the park, then make your way to either the left or right entrances and be ready to move (please don't run) when the ropes drop. Once you help Mickey count down from ten, the park will officially open and it's time for the big crush through the two tunnel entrances and down Main Street. So where do you go now? Well this depends on what you're interested in and who you're with. I'll try to boil your options down to three basic scenarios. Scenario 1: Time to Fly!!

The quintecential attraction for young children, riding Dumbo is a rite-of-passage. This also means that Dumbo is widly popular. The short flying elephant attraction can quickly generate queues of well over and hour by late morning. If you have young children who are dying to take their turn soaring into the skies on an elephant, you'll want to make your way straight to Dumbo once the park opens.

After your little one has soared through the sky on Dumbo, you'll want to head straight to another popular flying attraction -- Peter Pan's Flight. This is another attraction that is wildly popular and also quickly can generate a huge queue. Unless there is a short standby line, you should grab a FastPass and move on to other attractions, such as the carousel or it's a small world. When your FastPass window opens, you can return and enjoy a nighttime flight over London (I still love that scene!).

Scenario 2: The Thrill Seeker

There's something about racing along a roller coaster track feeling the wind race past. The Magic Kingdom has plenty of options for thrill seekers, most notably the Mountains of the Magic Kingdom (Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain). For the thrill seeker, the first destination after rope drop is Space Mountain. If you can do so quickly, grab a FastPass and then head straight into the standby line for your first launch from StarPort 77. After you return to Earth, make your way to Big Thunder Mountain in Frontierland.

While you're walking, take note of when you can get another FastPass. It will say so at the bottom of the FastPass ticket (see this previous post for more).

As you approach Big Thunder, glance to the left and see what the FastPass and standby lines are for Splash Mountain. Then glance ahead at the FastPass and standby lines for Big Thunder. Odds are, the standby lines will likely be fairly short (3o minutes or less). Here's where you have to do some thinking. Depending on when you can get another FastPass, enter the standby line that will take up the remaining amount of time until you can get another FastPass. For instance, if the current time is 8:30 a.m. and you can get another FastPass ticket at 9 a.m., you need to burn 30 minutes. See which line best matches how much time you have left to kill and go. Once you come off Splash Mountain or Big Thunder, grab a FastPass for the attraction that has the soonest FastPass time, even if it's for the attraction you just came off of.

Now head into the standby line for the other attraction (Splash or Big Thunder). Again, you shouldn't see a standby line longer than about 30 minutes or so. While you're waiting in the second standby line, again take a look at when you can pick up your third FastPass. When that window opens, grab a pass for whichever mountain you don't have one for yet. Now you'll have three FastPasses to use later in the day when the crowds are much higher.

Scenario 3: the no-FastPass Route

While many attractions at the Magic Kingdom have a FastPass option, just as many, if not more, do not. So while you may have the opportunity to bypass a long standby line with FastPasses for some attractions, there is no such option at many beloved attractions at the Magic Kingdom.

So the best way to get an early jump on those non-FastPass attractions is to head to them first. Chief among them, in my opinion, is the Haunted Mansion, especially since the new queue area opened a few weeks ago, making the Mansion particularly popular.

After rope drop, head straight down Main Street and veer to the left to enter Liberty Square. Make your way straight into the interactive queue for the Haunted Mansion, taking time to enjoy the different activities. After your return to the world of the living, head straight through Frontierland to the far entrance to Adventureland. It's time to greet some salty 'ol pirates at Pirates of the Caribbean, taking the right queue line (I think it's better).

Assuming you survive your journey and don't meet a pirate's end, you may want to cross over into Tomorrowland to pick up a FastPass for Space Mountain and then check out the queue for Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, the Tomorrowland Speedway or the Mad Hatter's Tea Party and enjoy the rest of your day!

Hopefully these tips will help you make the most of those precious few hours at park opening when the crowd levels are at their lowest.

Tip Tuesday: Rope drop at Animal Kingdom

2011-04-05T22:05:00.004-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

This week, I'll continue my series on what to do at rope drop in each of the four parks at Walt Disney World. This week we'll brave the wilds at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

Now some may think there's no real need for a rope drop plan at Animal Kingdom because not as many people go to Animal Kingdom as opposed to the other three parks.

Ahh, but you just might be wrong.

One key factor is that Animal Kingdom doesn't have as many major attractions (compared to the other three parks). This means the initial demand for those attractions will be high, despite lower overall crowds.

OK, enough pre-game analysis. Time for rope drop!

As you first make your way through the Oasis to Discovery Island, you have a big choice to make: left or right. This may sound like I'm being facetious, but I'm quite serious. You're pretty much deciding between the Kilimanjaro Safaris or Expedition Everest.

So which way do you go? To be honest, it's a decision that can go either way, and I'd say some of that depends on the weather. If it's raining, I would probably head left toward Africa and the Safaris. Why? The Safari vehicles are covered, while the Expedition Everest cars aren't. Depending on how hard it's raining, Everest might not even be running.

The weather also plays another key deciding factor: if the forecast calls for very hot temperatures later in the day then you definitely want to go to the Safaris. Why? The animals are much more active in the morning as opposed to during the heat of the afternoon.

If, however, you're not all that interested in seeing the animals (why are you at Animal Kingdom then?), then you should hang a right and head for Expedition Everest. Either way, you'll want to take a quick glance at the FastPass areas to see what the line looks like. If you can, grab a quick FastPass and then either go into the attraction or head to the opposite attraction and go into the standby line. If, however, the FastPass line is pretty long, you'll probably have a shorter wait going straight into the standby line and trying to get a FastPass afterward.

Don't forget about some of the other great attractions at Animal Kingdom, such as Finding Nemo the Musical and Dinosaur! These can be great attractions to take in while you're waiting for a FastPass window to open. The various walkways and paths also are great places for discovery.

Don't forget that you may be able to hold more than one FastPass at at time. I'll talk more about an alternate approach to rope drop in a future post. In the meantime, enjoy your adventure!

Tip Tuesday: Epcot at rope drop

2011-03-29T21:35:00.004-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

A little over a month ago, I had a tip about skipping the FastPass line for Toy Story Mania! just after rope drop. I received quite a bit of feedback from that post, so I thought I'd share another non-conventional approach when it comes to rope drop at Epcot.

At rope drop there are two major attractions people gravitate toward: Soarin' and Test Track. I'll address how to approach each attraction in turn.

Soarin'
Probably the second most popular attraction in all of Walt Disney World (based on standby line times), Soarin' is located in the lower level of the Land pavilion in Future World West. At rope drop you can count on a hoard of people making their way to the Land pavilion. Cast members will direct guests to enter on the right side and walk along the right walkway to descend to the lower level and toward Soarin'. The vast majority of guests will line up at the FastPass machines and within minutes, there is a huge crowd of people all jockeying to get passes. The end result can often be a 15 minute wait just to get FastPasses.

The solution? Unless you happen to be toward the front of the line, skip the FastPass line. Go straight into the standby line. Odds are you will experience about the same wait or less by going standby. Still want a FastPass for Soarin'? No problem, just duck into the FastPass area as you come out the Soarin' exit (which takes you right past the FastPass machines anyway). By the time you come off the attraction, the huge crush to get FastPasses has dissipated and you can get a pass for later in the day.

Test Track
The second of Epcot's two main feature attractions, Test Track presents a bit of a different scenario when it comes to rope drop. First, it's not as popular as Soarin', so the initial FastPass crush isn't quite as huge and, similarly, the initial standby line isn't usually as long. So what do you do at rope drop? Head for the FastPass machines (at first). If you can find a fairly short line, then go ahead and catch a FastPass. If, on the other hand, there's a long line to get passes, then skip the FastPass and go right into the standby line. Just like Soarin', you can always get FastPasses after your first round on Test Track. As you come out the exit, just hang a right and you'll be right at the FastPass area.

I hope this brief tip will convince you just how important it is to get the parks early each day. You can do so much more when you are part of rope drop.

Have fun!

Tip Tuesday: Flower and Garden from the Monorail

2011-03-23T21:11:00.002-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!
(ugh! I have got to find a way to make Tuesday nights less busy!!)

We're in the middle of the annual Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot -- which means Epcot will be at it's most beautiful time of the whole year!

Some of the floral displays are so large that it's hard to really take in all the massive displays, especially along the small lake between Future World and World Showcase.

What you need is a new vantage point -- and you can get that on the monorail!

So this week's tip is pretty simple -- take the monorail from the TTC to Epcot. Doing so allows you to make a nice slow loop around Future World, which gives you plenty of opportunities to see those beautiful floral displays.

As you can see from these photos, Imagineering and the Disney horticultural staff spend a ton of time putting up these incredible displays -- you simply have to take a moment to ride the monorail and take in the sights.

There's so much more to the Flower and Garden Festival -- and I'll talk more about some of the other features next week (and with any luck it will actually be on Tuesday!).

Until next time!

Kingdom Keepers 4: Power Play hits shelves in April

2011-03-18T20:49:00.002-04:00

The fourth installment of the popular Kingdom Keepers series will hit bookshelves April 5.

In this latest edition, the Kingdom Keepers learn that the Overtakers may be trying to rescue Maleficent and Chermabog from their current prisons. But what has the Kingdom Keepers even more worried is that the Overtakers may have found out a way for their DHI selves to escape from Disney's control (inside VMK) and connect to the internet, where they are searching for followers.

At the same time, there is contention within the Keepers themselves. Can the Kingdom Keepers stay together as a team to stop whatever the Overtakers are up to? You'll just have to read/listen to the book to find out! Above is a video preview created by Disney.

I've been a big fan of the Kingdom Keepers series since book 1 (Kingdom Keepers: Disney after Dark) was released years ago. Ridley Pearson has a great deal of imagination and includes intricate details about the parks. In writing these books, he had a lot of backstage and after-hours access to all kinds of places in Walt Disney World. It's that level of detail that makes the Kingdom Keepers series so engaging.

Pre-order from Amazon.com.

Tip Tuesday: Pre-Parade Fun

2011-03-16T18:05:00.003-04:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!
(Sadly, yet another on a Wednesday... why does everything else happen on Tuesday nights?)

One of the main attractions for which hundreds (sometimes thousands) of guests each day line Main Street, Liberty Square and Frontierland to watch is the afternoon parade. I've mentioned before that guests wanting to watch the parade should pick out a spot at least 30 minutes in advance (45 minutes during peak times of year).

So you've got your family's spot all picked out and now it's time to... wait.

And wait. And wait.

I think we all know that kids and waiting are a tough combination - that's one of the reasons Disney gives so much attention to making attraction queues as interesting as possible so that guests, especially younger ones, don't get bored why waiting in line.

Waiting for a parade to start is no different, and Disney's approach to combating that wait is no different either.

As the time for the parade nears, cast members will start putting down tape or rope to identify where guests can and can't sit or stand to watch the parade. This is to make sure there's plenty of clear space for the parade to go through. Once that clear space is ready, there's plenty of room for a bit of fun!

That's when cast members will bring out chalk, hula hoops, etc. and will let kids literally play in the street by drawing on the pavement, doing hula hoops, singing, dancing, etc. The time for kids to cut loose while waiting for the parade to start is another fantastic way kids can also have a chance to meet and interact with cast members, who make the wait so much more fun.

Above you will see my daughter having a blast with a hula hoop (and burning off a little energy) while we waited for the afternoon parade to begin. The cast member was very nice and seemed to have fun playing along.

A few minutes before the parade is due to come through, cast members kindly get kids back to their proper places, and clear the street. The next thing you know, here comes the parade!

So next time you're thinking about waiting for the afternoon parade, try to have a little fun in the street with your kids -- remember they won't be kids forever.

TRON prequel trailer hits the net

2011-03-13T15:43:00.002-04:00

Coming with the Blu-Ray/DVD release of Tron Legacy is a preview trailer for TRON Uprising, which is a 10-part miniseries that will air on Disney XD summer 2012. After seeing this trailer, I just might have to find a way to get Disney XD!

Check it out!

Tip Tuesday: Enhancing Photopass pictures -- a how to guide

2011-03-08T21:36:00.003-05:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

I've finally managed to get all my Photopass pictures enhanced from my last trip to Walt Disney World. As I was enhancing photos, I was posting my progress on my Facebook page. Several people commented that they weren't aware you could enhance photos or how to do so.

Well now you're going to find out because this week's tip is a DIY for enhancing your Photopass pictures -- and best of all, no photo editing software is required -- and it doesn't cost anything extra!

So let's get started!

First, of course, you need to have some Photopass pictures to work with. In my very first Tip Tuesday post, I talked about how Photopass works, so be sure to go back and read that post for more if you're not familiar with how to get Photopass pictures in the parks. Can you believe that was two-and-a-half years ago?? Anyway, I digress...

Once you have some pictures loaded onto your Photopass card, you'll need to go to the Photopass Web site at http://www.disneyphotopass.com/. If you don't have an account set up yet, take a moment to do so.

Once you're logged in, enter the code from the back of your Photopass card. Your photos will be loaded into your online account and will show up grouped by location. You also might have some bonus content as well! I'll save that bit for a future tip.

Now it's time to start enhancing! Just select a photo you want to enhance. For the purposes of our demonstration, I am using one of the bonus photos from my most recent trip. As you can see in the image above, you have several options in the window to the right of your image. There are two main enhancing sections -- adjustments to the photo itself and borders you can add. For the most part, you will probably be adding borders. If you want to get a bit fancier, you can manipulate the image itself and have some interesting results. The best news is that no matter what you do, you're not changing the original image.

So to add a border, simply select a border in the window and click on it. The main image will now be shown with your border applied. If you want to change the border, just click on a different one and the main image will be adjusted again. Once you have the border you want, just click "Save as Copy." In a second or so, your image will be saved. You can easily tell that your image has been added when you see something like this:

Notice how the "Save as Copy" button now says "Save" and you're got a new thumbnail in the list of images at the bottom of the screen?

Now what if you want to add another border? No problem. Just select the original image again. It's the first image in that series of shots -- loot at all the Mickey and Minnie images in the screenshot above. The first one in the series is the original. You'll know when you're editing the original when the "Save" button again says "Save as Copy." Just select a different border, and again click "Save as Copy." A new thumbnail will appear. Before you know it, you will have many different enhancements to the same image. Just look at the image at the top of this post. They're all different enhancements of the same photo.

Want to add another enhancement? Just go through the same steps again and again and again. You can add as many enhancements as you want. One caveat, though. You can't add multiple enhancements to the same image. For instance, you can add each of the fab five characters to some shots. Unfortunately, you can't add ALL five at the same time -- only one at a time.

Want to get really creative? Click on the "Edit Photo" tab and you can manipulate your original photos in a number of ways. With "rotate image," you are rotating the actual image 90-degrees counter-clockwise. I've never used this particular option, but it's there.

"Position" allows you to move the position of the crop box. This used in conjunction with the "zoom" tool will help you tighten a shot that you think is too wide. Just be careful you don't zoom in too far that you don't leave enough room for border enhancements.

"Rotate crop box" is very useful for taking a portrait photo and adjusting the crop box so it's in landscape orientation. I've used this frequently when a photographer forgets to take a landscape photo. Sometimes parts of the background may get cut off, but since this is a copy of the original image, there's no harm in making that change. Best of all, you can still add enhancements by clicking on the "Add Borders" tab, but now you're enhancing a landscape photo, not portrait.

My most favorite effect is to convert the image to black and white and then apply a color border. It creates a pretty interesting photo. See for yourself -- look at the montage at the top and check out the bottom left photo.

Another caveat -- not all enhancements are available for all shots. It just depends on where the shot was taken and what enhancements Disney wants to make available for that shot. For instance, a photo with Mickey Mouse will include the option to put Mickey's signature in the shot, but you can't put in Donald's.

On the plus side, Disney is adding new enhancement options all the time. This is especially true during special events. You just might see special enhancements for the Flower and Garden Festival for those shots taken in Epcot, or see special holiday enhancements for images taken during the holidays.

One downside of this capability is that you have to make enhancements one at a time. Most unfortunately, you can't select all the enhancements you want to apply to a photo and click once to apply them and get multiple additional images. That's why it can take a while to enhance Photopass images. The effort is well worth it, especially if you plan to get the Photo CD - which is by far the only way to go.

As I said before, there's no additional cost at all to enhance photos. Again, if you're getting the Photo CD, it doesn't matter if you started with 150 images and ended up with more than 750 (which is just about what I did for this last trip) the price is the same.

So if you know you're going to get the PhotoCD, be sure to get lots and lots of Photopass images that you can later enhance. They are perfect for making those scrapbooks that much more magical!!!

What's your favorite enhancement? Have some other neat effects to suggest? Post a comment!

ESPN the weekend gets underway

2011-03-04T15:42:00.000-05:00

Marquee stars from the NFL, MLB, NBA and NCAA, plus well-known ESPN on-air personalities, are headed back to Walt Disney World Resort for the eighth annual Dick's Sporting Goods presents ESPN The Weekend -- a sports-themed weekend March 4-6 where fans have a one-of-a-kind opportunity see and hear many of their favorite athletes and ESPN personalities.

This year's lineup at Disney's Hollywood Studios features more than 35 athletes and ESPN stars, including former University of Florida football coach and current ESPN college football analyst Urban Meyer, Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco, N.Y. Jets running back LaDainian Tomlinson, Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald, NBA Hall of Famer Julius "Dr. J" Erving and MLB Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr., plus former NFL star Derrick Brooks, ex-NBA great Alonzo Mourning and current Orlando Magic players.

Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg, hosts of the popular "Mike & Mike in the Morning" show, return as co-hosts of the event, and will broadcast live March 3-4 from ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney. They will be joined by several fellow ESPN personalities such as "The Herd" host Colin Cowherd, "Monday Night Football's" Ron Jaworski and MLB analyst Nomar Garciaparra.

Additional ESPN personalities include, Tedy Bruschi, Linda Cohn, Herm Edwards, John Kruk, Karl Ravech, Bobby Valentine and Trey Wingo.

Other athletes expected to participate are Donald Driver and Greg Jennings (Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers), Anquan Boldin (Baltimore Ravens), Brandon Jacobs (NY Giants), Rashard Mendenhall (Pittsburgh Steelers), Darrelle Revis (NY Jets), Bart Scott (NY Jets), Roddy White (Atlanta Falcons), DeAngelo Williams (Carolina Panthers) and Jason Witten (Dallas Cowboys); Mariano Rivera and Joba Chamberlain (NY Yankees); Frank Thomas and Bernie Williams (MLB legends); Mia Hamm (U.S. Women's soccer legend); Karl Malone and Gary Payton (NBA legends); and Tony Dorsett and Mike Singletary (NFL Hall of Famers).

The complete list of ESPN personalities and sports celebrities expected to attend is detailed at www.espntheweekend.com (Click on Who's Coming).

For the first time in the event's history, several popular sports team mascots will participate in the event, including the Phillie Phanatic (Philadelphia Phillies), Albert E. Gator (University of Florida), the Penn State Nittany Lion, the Oregon Duck, Homer The Brave (Atlanta Braves), Captain Fear the Buccaneer (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Sebastian the Ibis (University of Miami).

In addition to athlete appearances, ESPN The Weekend will feature on-site telecasts of popular ESPN programs (beginning Thursday, March 3) at Disney's Hollywood Studios and ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney, including "Baseball Tonight," "First Take," "Mike & Mike in the Morning," "NFL Live" and "Friday Night Fights;" motorcades and Q&A sessions with athletes and ESPN personalities; Inside ESPN sports shows with commentators and athletes; and the ESPN Sports Zone interactive area where fans can interact with their favorite sports stars. There will also be Atlanta Braves spring training games taking place at ESPN Wide World of Sports, including a March 3 game against the Tigers that airs on ESPN with new "Sunday Night Baseball'' crew Dan Shulman, Orel Hershiser and Valentine.

To find the latest updates on Twitter for ESPN The Weekend, go to @DisneySports and search #ESPNWKND.

Wide World of Sports unveils new field house

2011-03-03T15:58:00.002-05:00

Walt Disney World and HP today unveiled the HP Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex during a ceremony that featured NFL star Jason Witten and soccer legend Mia Hamm, along with ESPN Radio’s Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg and executives from HP and Disney. The project will deliver an even more immersive sports experience for the nearly two million athletes, coaches and spectators who visit Disney’s sports facilities each year.

The 165,000-square-foot HP Field House, a multi-purpose facility that can accommodate virtually any indoor sport and has been the cornerstone of ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex since it opened in 1997, has been outfitted with a variety of innovative HP enhancements, such as touch-screen kiosks and a one-of-a-kind retail imaging area. Additionally, HP technology is being infused throughout the 230-acre complex, enabling athletes, coaches and fans to have an unparalleled “hands-on” sports experience while providing ways to customize their visit with amenities previously unseen in youth sports.

The most prominent feature of the HP Field House is the HP Photo Creation Center, where players and fans can download, design and enhance commemorative photos and images from their events, then immediately produce and print them at an onsite retail location. Guests will also be able to purchase life-size posters of action photos from the complex, wallpaper coverings, multi-page calendars, photo CDs and many other unique photo keepsakes, giving athletes, coaches and fans even more ways to cherish their sports memories long after their competitions have concluded.

“Today’s youth athletes are extremely tech savvy and HP is the perfect partner to help them better capture and savor the lasting memories of their unique sports experience in ways that no other sports venue can,” said Ken Potrock, senior vice president, Disney Sports Enterprises.

Tip Tuesday: Tip "boards"

2011-03-02T21:00:00.004-05:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday! (yeah, it's a Wednesday... oh well).

By request, I'm talking about ways to cut down on the amount of time you may spend waiting in lines... and one of the ways to beat the lines is with, well, Lines!

Lines in an application provided by TouringPlans.com that you can download for just about any smartphone (iPhone, Droid, Blackberry, Palm Pre) and/or as a mobile website at http://m.touringplans.com/wdw.

At first, Lines was a free service. Now that the kinks are worked out (and even on the 2nd version), it does require a modest subscription to the entire TouringPlans.com website. Subscriptions run around $10-$12 for an entire year, which is pretty reasonable given that you get 365 day access no matter where you are (as opposed to Disney's official service -- Mobile Magic, which is much more expensive for only 6 months, and it only works when you're actually in the parks).

Lines offers two tools to help you keep track of wait times at various attractions: 1. line estimates and 2. reported wait times.

Let's talk about these for a second. The estimates are generated based on a highly complicated formulas and statistical models using more than ten years worth of data. While these are only forecasts, they are generally pretty accurate. The folks at TouringPlans.com include a bunch of factors when creating their crowd forecasts, and the end result is very helpful for planning, especially if you're one of those who likes to "wing it" sometimes.

Even more helpful (in my opinion) are the actual wait times posted by other Lines users. That's right -- not only are you getting information, but you can be part of the team by uploading your own wait times (more on that in a minute). When you open up the Lines app, you'll want to first select your park, then scroll down past the wait estimates and click on "Reported Wait Times." This will give you a listing of reported wait times and posted FastPass times is reverse chronological order (most recent on top). These are actual posted times and can really help you decide which attractions to head to.

Lines also helps you keep connected to the magic. Even if you're not at the World, you can hop onto Lines and just check wait times to see what's going on. In fact, as I write this, Lines is up and I see that all the parks are, well, closed. But just before closing, Soarin' had a 20 minute wait... not too bad!

If you want to add your own time, you can do that as well. Just go to the park you want to post and click on the button at the top right to add your own time. It's pretty easy and you'll get credit for the posting!

Lines is a fantastic way to stay on top of wait times. Now if you don't want to pay for the subscription, there is a free way to get some idea of wait times through Disney's mobile site: http://m.disneyworld.com/.

Disney's mobile site will give wait times in three categories: see now, moderate or high demand. Though I've not heard of an official explanation, it appears that "see now" wait times generally are 20 minutes or less. "Moderate" wait times usually are about 20-40 minutes, while "high demand" wait times are around 40 minutes or more. This is just my observation, so take this with a grain of salt.

Since I've subscribed to Lines, I rarely check the Disney mobile site. Personally, I think Lines is well worth the money. Think about it, if spending $10 saves you a few hours of waiting over the course of a trip, that's well worth it.

So there you go -- one more way to save a bit of time and keep in touch with what's happening at Walt Disney World even when you're not in the parks.

Tip Tuesday: Streamlining meet-and-greets

2011-02-22T21:44:00.004-05:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

With today's announcement from Disney about a new meet-and-greet location for Mickey Mouse and friend at Town Square and the announcement about adding FastPass to the meet-and-greet location for the first time, I thought I'd share some quick tips about ways to streamline the meet-and-greet process so you (and those behind you) aren't waiting in line quite as long.

Autograph books: Have them out and ready, turned to the page you want the character to sign. Characters often have pretty large fingers and that makes page turning difficult.

Pens: Have them also out and ready. Sharpies are best because they produce a nice thick crisp line (as opposed to a ball point pen).

Cameras: Ditto. Have your flash already on and charged and start shooting the moment it's your turn. Sometime the best photos happen right at the beginning rather than the posed shots.

PhotoPass cards: Have that ready as well and be ready when the photographer gets you into position. If you don't have a PhotoPass card yet, that's fine, the photographer will have one for you.

Small children: Don't push them. The characters are very good at meeting a young guest at their level of comfort. Remember that to a 3-year old, Mickey Mouse might just look like a giant rat (no offense Mickey!).

Entrance and exits: Know where the entrance and exit is to the meet-and-greet location. I know this sounds obvious, but you'll be surprised at how many guests will walk right up to the exit and think they're next in line.

Things to do while in line: Try to find some hidden Mickeys. They're all over the place. Also take a moment to pin trade with the cast members nearby.

Most importantly have fun and interact with the characters. You'll find they are a blast to be around.

This one was short and sweet. Until next time!

Tip Tuesday: Skip the Fastpass line for Toy Story Mania? Sometimes

2011-02-15T16:07:00.003-05:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

What's the most popular attraction at Walt Disney World?

If you make that decision based on the longest average wait time, then the choice is very clear: Toy Story Midway Mania at Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Most times of the year, wait times at Toy Story Midway Mania (TSMM) will top out at 100+ minutes, and sometimes much, much longer.

The best way to avoid the long lines is to get to the park at rope drop. I've talked about this several times before. However with TSMMl, there's an additional bit that I think will help make your experience with TSMM much more enjoyable.

You see once the rope drops and the crowds begin to move, there is a massive cattle rush toward TSMM. Everyone's headed for the FastPass machines. Within minutes, the line to get FastPasses can be backed up all the way to One Man's Dream. This means a wait of at least 30 minutes just to get a FastPass.

I've been in this situation several times. Instead of standing in that tremendous line, I skip it and go straight for the standby line. Most times, I will end up with a wait of less than that of the FastPass line -- and with much less hassle.

Best of all, by the time I get out from my first ride on TSMM, the FastPass line has gone way down (to less than 5 minutes) and I hop in and get another FastPass for that afternoon.

So there you go -- the best of both worlds!! Try this next time you're at rope drop at Hollywood Studios, you'll be glad you did!

Until next time: To Infinity and Beyond!!!

Tip Tuesday: Vinylmations™

2011-02-09T18:26:00.004-05:00

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

My apologies for the late posting. Ever had one of those days when you had more to do than you have time to do it all?

Anyway, on to today's tip!

The latest collecting craze to come to the Disney community revolves around little figures made of painted vinyl. Naturally, it's called Vinylmation™ and practically overnight it's become a huge success.

Above you'll see just a portion of my family's Vinylmation™ collection. Yes, we're all into Vinylmation™. My kids enjoy collecting and trading (see my previous post about trading) Vinylmation™ figures.

According to the official Vinylmation™ Web site, Vinylmation™ is "a fun and affordable collectible designer toy created by Disney Theme Park Merchandise. At its core, Vinylmation™ is about creative expression and the mysterious thrill of the chase."

Vinylmation™ first appeared in mid-2008 as a pin set, and the highly-popular three-inch and nine-inch figures that are shaped generally like Mickey Mouse (though Disney says they specifically are not Mickey) were first available in late-2008.

From the beginning, Vinylmation™ was very different but similar to pin collecting. The major difference is that Vinylmation™ is a 3-D figure that can literally stand on it's own without the need for a lanyard, book or some other means to display like pins do.

Unlike pins, Vinylmations™ are far less diverse. There is a pin for practically everything you can think of, while Vinylmations™ come in different themed sets with around a dozen or so in each set. Most sets also include a mystery chaser figure that Disney keeps secret, at least at first.

An ode to Mr. Toad - this is an exclusive figure for Annual Passholders

When purchasing Vinylmations™, there are two types to look for. There's the more common three-inch figure and the less common (and more expensive) nine-inch figure. Most of the nine-inch figures are limited to some degree (some more limited than others) and they can and do sell out quickly.

Most of the three-inch figures come in sets (as I mentioned earlier). Each figure comes packaged as a mystery figure, so you really don't know what you're getting until you buy it to open and look inside.

To me, that's part of the major fun for Vinylmation™ - the hunt for those elusive figures that may be hard to find. If you don't have luck in buying them, there's always the option to trade.

So where can you find Vinylmation™ figures? Well, for most sets, they're everywhere you turn. The open edition sets are available in just about every store in every park. Most of the Art of Disney stores in the parks carry more limited figures.

But if you're looking for those really limited figures or new releases, then there's only one place to go and that's D-Street at Downtown Disney's West Side. D-Street is the official home for Vinylmation™ (at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland), so it really is the place to go for newly launched figures and really limited edition figures (like those nine-inch figures).

Disney does sometime release Vinylmations™ exclusively online as well, so the best place to stay in touch with everything happening in the world of Vinylmation™ is to keep and eye on the official Vinylmation™ Blog. As new releases are announced, it will be included on the blog.

Vinylmation™ is another fun Disney collection. For the most part, the three-inch figures are anywhere from $10-$15 each while the nine-inch figures can run anywhere from around $40 to $75 (some nine-inch figures also come with a three-inch figure).

What are your thoughts about Vinylmation™? Post a comment!

My Take: Wizarding World of Harry Potter

2011-02-04T20:33:00.007-05:00

Well it's time I ventured off Disney property (shocking, I know!) and gave my thoughts about the other major new attraction to come to Orlando -- the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Located at Universal's Islands of Adventure, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened about six months ago with tremendous fanfare and acclaim.

I figured I'd give the new land a little time to shake the bugs out before I ventured into the land of wizardry. Now, I'm a huge Harry Potter fan. I love the books and enjoy the movies as well. Next to Disney, Harry Potter and Star Wars are my other two subjects I tend to geek-out about.

So you could say I had very high expectations as I first crossed into the Wizarding World, especially after hearing everyone rave about how wonderful this new addition was.

With all the backstory done, let's get to my thoughts about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Theming
The exterior theming is, in a word, outstanding. Universal nailed this aspect. I really felt like I had walked into the village of Hogsmeade and Hogwarts castle. For the most part, everything I had expected to see was there and many windows had little animated elements or other tidbits to further enhance the overall theme. As you walk down the main avenue of Hogsmeade, you will likely have difficulty bringing it all in. I'd recommend just standing and looking at everything.

The huge Hogwarts Express greets you as you enter the main entrance to the Wizarding World. I understand this is a great photo opportunity, though Universal was shooting a show or commercial and had the area roped off for film crews when I was there in late January, so we didn't get the opportunity to experience the train set.

Just past the Hogwarts Express on the right is the entrance to Dragon Challenge, one of two existing attractions that was re-themed for the Wizarding World. The queue is fantastic, as you walk through the story of the first task of the Triwizard Tournament (if you don't know what I'm talking about, read or see Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire). The queue was very long and it took quite a while to walk to the loading area. The day I was there, it was a walk-on, but it still took at least five minutes to walk to the loading area. The queue also is a bit tight and much of it is in "underground" tunnels with not a lot of moving air. I imagine this queue can get very stuffy in the summer, especially after a rain shower, when the air is muggy.

I'll talk about the attraction itself a little later. Time to go to in some shops.

The theming inside is equally as excellent as outside. Again, the designers did a fantastic job of capturing the essence of each store. Unfortunately they didn't capture the essence of how a crowd moves through stores. In every shop we went to (Honeydukes, Zonko's, Olivander's and Dervish and Banges), aisles were way too narrow. To be honest, I have no idea how a handicapped person would be able to move around in these stores. No kidding -- the aisles have to be only about three feet wide (if that). We were at WWOHP during a non-peak time of year and it was very difficult to move around -- I can't imagine what it would be like when the crowds are heavier.

Beyond the size of the aisles -- the stores themselves are simply too small. They should have been twice their size. There was plenty of interesting merchandise for sale, you just couldn't get to it because there wasn't enough room.

Speaking of too small, one of the key stores, Olivander's, offers a special wand-selection presentation. Unofrtunately only about 20 people can be in the store at a time and then there's a huge crush to move into the next (too small) room to select wands. Frankly, I wasn't impressed with the wands - they're plastic. I've found better wands elsewhere.

OK, enough ranting about the stores, let's head back outside and walk up to Hogwarts.

Uhh, we would, if we could ever get there. I'm standing in the line to enter Hogwarts and you can see how long the line is behind me. Yikes.

Turns out, I was standing in the line to get to the lockers to put all my stuff in because you can't take backpacks, purses, etc. inside Hogwarts (well, not on the ride) because it will get lost and there's no way to secure it.

TIP: If you can, leave all that stuff with a non-rider and head straight to the entrance and go into the non-locker line. This will save you and hour or more.

Attractions:
Time to start talking about the attractions, of which there are only three. The big kahuna is Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. This takes place inside Hogwars Castle. The tour through Hogwarts becomes the preshow as Muggles (that's you) have been invited on a special tour of the castle.

I have to admit the preshow queue here is one of the best I've seen ever - Disney could learn a thing or two here. The tour through Hogwarts was an oustanding mix of animatronics, carefully placed video screen and set pieces. Yeah - it's THAT good. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me (remember that bit about leaving backpacks with family members) to take pictures. It's kind of dark inside the castle, so photography can be tricky.

Unfortunately I wish the ride itself was as good. Put simply, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a body jerking attraction. You will be slug left and right, up, down and around. It's pretty rough and I wouldn't recommend it for anyone under the age of 10. My 13-year old went with me and thought it was pretty rough. Also, there's absolutely no air in the attraction, so I found myself wanting some fresh air afterward.

This is a common problem with many simulators (Sum of All Thrills has this same problem) where there's no moving air. Mission Space, on the other hand, has a fan that blows air right into your face. I have no problem with Mission Space at all and really like that attraction -- it's all about the air.

The other problem with Forbidden Journey is that it's too fast. I'm not saying the attraction isn't long enough, rather the story moves too quickly. I found it difficult to keep up with what was happening.

Forbidden Journey mixes animatronic scenes and film-based simulations very well. It really is the next level in attractions - they just need to smooth it out and slow it down some. Oh, and be prepared to have water sprayed in your face a few times.

There are two other attractions at WWOHP, the Flight of the Hippogriff and Dragon Challenge. I briefly touched on Dragon Challenge a little while ago, so I won't discuss the queue. The ride itself is a standard roller coaster, well coasterS. There are two tracks - blue and red. You get to choose which you ride. There are plenty of loops, rolls and other maneuvers as you make your way around the track.

The Flight of the Hippogriff is a coaster designed for kids and features a queue going by Hagrid's hut. The ride looked like it was a lot of fun, though the line was far too long for us to try it out.

Food (this part is brought to you by Lou Mongello)
I would be remiss if I didn't talk about the food. The main dining establishment is the Three Broomsticks, which comes right out of the books and movies. Again, the theming is outstanding. The Three Broomsticks offers rotisserie chicken, ribs, turkey legs, fish and chips, and various side items. For kids, there's chicken fingers, mac and cheese, turkey leg and fish and chips. The food at the Three Broomsticks is pretty good, though you'll probably go through a lot of napkins - dishes can get messy. The interior theming is outstanding, though the restaurant is small with not a lot of seating. If you do plan to dine at the Three Broomsticks, you'll want to eat early or late in the day -- avoid lunchtime. Oh, and don't expect to find soft drinks. You can get apple juice, pumpkin juice or butterbeer.

Speaking of Butterbeer...

There are lots of places to get the signature drink that was created exclusively for the Wizarding World. There are two version of Butterbeer -- frozen and non-frozen. Personally, I'd recommend the frozen. We got the non-frozen type and it's very sweet. I mean really sweet. The "foam" that's on top (which really is more like a cream that added on top) adds even more sweet flavor to the drink. This being said, Butterbeer is very good. I wouldn't try to drink it too fast, though. I think it's meant to be sipped.

My Take
Overall, my main comment about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is this: Awesome theme, but it's too small.

If this new land is to succeed, it has got to be bigger. As stated earlier, the stores are very small and way too tight. There aren't enough attractions, especially for younger guests. The special shows, like Olivanders, can't accomodate enough guests at once. It's almost as if all the attention was spent on the theme and not enough on the functionality.

Moreover, it's all concrete and stone. I'll bet this area is roasting the hot summer months, so you'll want to take that into consideration if you plan a visit to The Wizarding World.

Will I go back? Oh sure, but it won't be during the summer. Now I know what to expect (and not to expect), so I think I'll be better prepared.

So that's my take. What's yours? Think I'm crazy? Think I've hit the nail on on the head? Post a comment!