Jungle Cruise Skipper Canteen to open at WDW

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Here's some of our first news coming out of the D23 Expo 2015 in Anaheim!

Disney has announced that the Jungle Cruise Navigation Company Ltd. Skipper Canteen will open in Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom.  According to the official Disney Parks Blog, this new restaurant will open in late 2015.  Based on the artist rendering above, it looks like this will go into the space around what was the Aloha Isle.

The restaurant will be staffed by Jungle Cruise skippers, so you can bet there will be plenty more bad jokes coming!

Photo Friday - an Adventureland hidden Mickey?

 

Time for another Photo Friday.

Once again, we return to shots from my January 2015 trip to Walt Disney World.  As regular readers of this blog know, I like to look for new hidden Mickeys.  I was walking through Adventureland near Pirates of the Caribbean, and glanced at the stage where the Jack Sparrow Pirate Tutorial takes place.  I happened to notice the coconuts on the left side of the stage were arranged in a way that could form a classic hidden Mickey.  It is best seen when on the stage.  So a snapped a few photos and I'll put it up for your thoughts.  Is this a hidden Mickey?  Post a comment and share your thoughts.

Tip Tuesday: Some of the Hidden Mickeys of Adventureland

 

Time again for another Tip Tuesday!

This week let's head over to Adventureland to share a few of my favorite Hidden Mickeys.  The first is one of my most favorite Hidden Mickeys in all of Walt Disney World - at the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse.  If you look carefully at the image above, you'll see a side profile Hidden Mickey on the large tree branch amidst the lichen.  It's just to the left of the wall.  This Mickey can be sometimes hard to find, especially if you're kind of being rushed along by other guests.  You have to look around to see it.  Once you know where it is, you can find it easily.  There are a couple of other Hidden Mickeys often seen here -- look for some interestingly arranged plates, or fruit placed to create the classic Mickey logo.

Another great Hidden Mickey can be found in the Jungle Cruise.  As you begin your journey, you'll come across three canoes on a beach.  Look carefully at the heads -- you'll recognize three well-known Disney characters.

Sometimes you really have to look carefully to find Hidden Mickeys.  Just as you come off Pirates of the Caribbean, as soon as you enter the gift shop (what a surprise - an attraction that empties out into a gift shop!), you'll see a set of scales with gold coins of different sizes on one side.  Look closely to see a few coins carefully placed to form a classic Hidden Mickey.

Speaking of Pirates, pay careful attention to the locks found in the queue -- they resemble a certain mouse.  Also as you round the corner to the final treasure scene, look carefully at the bottom of the lanterns to see Mickey dangling there.

There are plenty of other Hidden Mickeys to be found in Adventureland, so I don't want to point them all out for you.  Just keep your eyes open, you never know where you might see another one, and who knows?  Maybe you'll find a new one!  Mickey is popping up all the time.

Enjoy and happy Hidden Mickey hunting!

Tip Tuesday: Jack Sparrow's Pirate Tutorial

Ahoy Mateys!  It be time for another Tip Tuesday!

This week, we be sailin' over to Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom to talk about a true scallywag by the name o' Jack Sparrow (that's Captain Jack Sparrow).

Ok, enough with the pirate-speak...

If you're little pirates are itching to meet Captain Jack Sparrow, I've got some possible bad news for you.  The good captain doesn't do meet-and-greets.  Yet there is a way to spend some time with Captain Jack and have a little fun a the same time.

Several times during the late morning and into mid afternoon, Jack and his mate, Mack, hold a special presentation called "Jack Sparrow's Pirate Tutorial."  This takes place on a small stage directly across from Pirates of the Caribbean in Adventureland.  Several kids usually between the ages of about 6 and 12 are selected to become "Apprentice Pirates," provided they pass muster with Captain Jack himself.

The experience begins as Mack (seen above at the far right) comes out and begins setting different props on the stage.  He'll also set down a large, thick rope (or "line" to all you seamen out there) in a semi-circle on the ground about 8 feet away from the stage behind which guests are to stand or sit.

Here's my first tip -- as soon as you see Mack starting to set up, go ahead and get in place.  Most people won't pay much attention to what's going on until a few minutes later when Mack starts calling out for people to "gather round."  If you're little pirate wants a good chance to be picked to join Jack Sparrow's crew, it's best to be up front.

Once Mack has things ready and in place, he will loudly (he has a hidden microphone) call people in this part of Adventureland to come and see what's going on.  Mack will explain that he's recruting for Jack Sparrow, and then starts to rib Jack while he's (apparently) not there.  Jack, of course, is listening and suprises Mack.

At this point, Jack and Mack have some banter to warm up the crowd and then they begin selecting children to join Jack's crew. 

So here's my second tip -- if your little pirate wants to be selected, he/she needs to be excited!  Don't go way overboard and start jumping down and going crazy, but be energetic -- the cast members are looking for kids who know how to have fun.

If your little pirate is selected, they will line up and will have an opportunity to cross swords with Mack and, maybe, Jack himself!  I won't give away any more details, becacuse this is a fun show to watch, even if your children aren't joining Jack's crew. However, I will say that the kids who are selected to get a fun certificate at the end of the pirate tutorial - and this is the only way you'll get Jack's autograph!

Of course, you also will want to take photos, though a PhotoPass photographer are often on-hand to take photos and will have pre-scanned photopass cards to hand out to all the kids who participated.

You will especially enjoy the cast member playing Jack Sparrow, as he adds all those little details Johnny Depp added to the character.  I was very impressed with how accurately the cast member (seen above) portrayed Jack Sparrow as compared to Johnny Depp.

So are you ready to join Jack's crew?  If so, ye be needin' some training -- ye be needin' to see Jack Sparrow's Pirate Tutorial!

Photo Friday: Jack Sparrow (for your captioning pleasure)

Welcome mates to another Photo Friday!

This week, I be sharin' a photo of Jack Sparrow for ye (sorry, that should be Captain Jack Sparrow).

I happened to snap this shot during Jack's Pirate Tutorial.  I had a great front row viewpoint and Jack mugged for my lens several times.  I especially liked this shot as Jack has a rather peculiar look on his face.

I also wanted to share this photo to show a few more of those Disney details and how much attention Disney pays to accuracy in costuming.

Now, what do you think our dear captain is thinking?  Post your caption! 

PhotoFriday: Aladdin's Magic Carpet

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...

Photo Friday: Are you joinin' the crew?

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: Guest Jungle Cruise skippers

Welcome to another Tip Tuesday!

I've talked about "the magic" so many times on this blog that it sometimes surprises me when I notice another bit of Disney magic I haven't talked about before -- and that's just what's happened for this post.

I can't believe I haven't mentioned this little bit of personal magic before. What I am talking about? Well, did you know some of your little Disney fans also can be guest Jungle Cruise skippers?

That's right! Depending on the big skipper running the boat, they can bring up a younger guest and have them pilot your boat through that dark and scary temple toward the end of your voyage aboard the world famous Jungle Cruise. Best of all, your little one probably won't be telling some of the same bad jokes (although we all know one of the most charming aspects of the Jungle Cruise are those bad jokes - how many lines can you quote?).

So how do your kids get to be a guest Jungle Cruise Skipper? Well, it all comes down to two things: the individual skipper and, well, luck.

First, not all skippers decide to offer the wheel to a child. The last couple of times I've been on the Jungle Cruise, the skippers decided to stay with the spiel and go through the temple. Other times previously, I've seen skippers let kids take the wheel (as you can see above). So it's up to the skipper.

The second factor is luck. Your child needs to be sitting at the front right next to the skipper (or pretty close). How do you get to sit up front? That's all a matter of where you are in the queue and where you end up sitting. There's no "waiting for the front" at most of Disney's attractions, so you'll just have to give it a try and see how you end up. Either way, you want to be the first to board the boat, either at the bow entrance (that's the front for you landlubbers) or the stern entrance (the back). Those boarding using the bow entrance will sit on the starboard side (landlubbers, this means right), while those boarding at the stern entrance will sit on the port side (left).

As I said, either way, you want to be the first to board in either line.

Should your mini Disney fan be selected to join the ranks of the guest skippers, they usually receive a special collectible card (see above). These are hard to come by - so don't loose it. You can't buy these, you can only get them from a jungle cruise skipper.

Well it's now time for the most dangerous part of our journey, your return to civilization and my attempt at ending this post. If' you've enjoyed reading this Tip Tuesday, then I'm Chuck Lionberger and this is the DisneyDaddy blog. If you didn't enjoy reading this, then my name's Len Testa and this is the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World (ding!).

Have fun out there along those dangerous waters!

Attention young pirates: Pirates League coming soon!

The folks at Orlando Attractions Magazine and WDWMagic are both reporting that a new "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boutique-like" store is opening soon near Pirates of the Caribbean in Adventure land in the Magic Kingdom. Called the Pirates League, the store will help young boys transform into pirates and gain access to a secret treasure lair.

According to these reports, the new Lair should be open sometime in either June or July.