I was reminded this morning about the origins of Thanksgiving. It was the fall of 1863, just a few months after the Battle of Gettysburg, where the tide of civil war swayed back towards the Union for good. Abraham Lincoln decided the US needed a day of Thanksgiving and so, by proclamation, set aside the 4th Thursday of November for a day of thanks.
Walt loved Abraham Lincoln. I admire him greatly myself. Walt loved, and his staff basically invented, audio-animatronics which you see throughout the parks today. Although the Tiki Room birds were the first AA's that Disney did, his first MAJOR success was the likeness of Abraham Lincoln for the 1964 World's Fair. It was so good that the audience audibly gasped when Lincoln rose from his chair (another post on the exhibit that almost WASN'T). It was one of Walt's greatest achievements.
From Walt, President Lincoln and myself....Happy Thanksgiving.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Odds and Ends
Rental Car - Alamo is the official rental car co. at WDW. They have a pickup/drop-off location on property toward the front of Magic Kingdom. Kind of hard to find, so get directions..or ask someone.
We use a very sweet girl at Magical Journeys to handle all of our booking. You can e-mail her at wendy@magicaljourneys.com and she'll take care of everything..tickets, hotel, dining, character meals, disney express
Disney Express - All airlines flying into Orlando, except Southwest (they're working on it so maybe by the time you go, Southwest will be included) are participating in this service. Basically, you put a tag on your luggage when you check in at your home airport and the bags show up in your room at Disney. And, you get to ride on a bus to the resort and watch old disney cartoons. Great service...highly recommended.
Staying on-site vs off-site. I've done both...if you want particulars, let me know and I'll give them, but we prefer staying on-site by far. Immerse yourself in the experience, get transportation everywhere via bus/monorail/boat. A future post will compare value/moderate/deluxe resorts.
All of you going the next month...enjoy the holiday festivities. I loved our trip at this time last year. We will be doing it again and maybe making it a tradition..if the wallet can handle it!
We use a very sweet girl at Magical Journeys to handle all of our booking. You can e-mail her at wendy@magicaljourneys.com and she'll take care of everything..tickets, hotel, dining, character meals, disney express
Disney Express - All airlines flying into Orlando, except Southwest (they're working on it so maybe by the time you go, Southwest will be included) are participating in this service. Basically, you put a tag on your luggage when you check in at your home airport and the bags show up in your room at Disney. And, you get to ride on a bus to the resort and watch old disney cartoons. Great service...highly recommended.
Staying on-site vs off-site. I've done both...if you want particulars, let me know and I'll give them, but we prefer staying on-site by far. Immerse yourself in the experience, get transportation everywhere via bus/monorail/boat. A future post will compare value/moderate/deluxe resorts.
All of you going the next month...enjoy the holiday festivities. I loved our trip at this time last year. We will be doing it again and maybe making it a tradition..if the wallet can handle it!
Thursday, November 8, 2007
More Must Sees at MK
Continued....
1. Splash Mountain - Zippity doo dah, the ride that an imagineer came up with while stuck in traffic one day. Uncle Remus and Brer Rabbit, one of the best stories that's locked away b/c of political correctness
2. Big Thunder Mountain - a fun, tame roller coaster ride. Let me know if you want the "story" of this ride.
3. Space Mountain - the third of the mountains...was actually conceived by Walt before technology could give it to them. All of these were built after Walt passed, but I'm sure he would have approved. They're all popular. Use the fast pass
4. Matterhorn at Disneyland - tell you what, I'll do Disneyland in a separate post. Good story behind that ride too.
5. Tiki Room - because it's an original, although they changed the show in Disneyworld. Original is still in Disneyland. Did you know originally it was going to be a sit-down dinner show? Try the Dole Whips.
6. Haunted Mansion - another that Walt had his hand in. They've recently updated it and added more special effects. A classic.
7. Mickey's Philharmagic - the best little show at Disneyworld. Kids love it. Adults do too.
8. You've got to ride the train around the park - because Walt loved trains and every version of the vision of his park had a train that went around it.
9. Carousel of Progress - built by Walt for General Electric and the 1964 World's Fair.
Kiddies will like the dark rides and Mickey's Toon Town but I could take or leave that. I'm also not too excited about the rest of Tomorrowland. I guess when I have a little boy, I might have to spend some time at Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. I haven't seen Monster's Inc. laugh thing yet.
Next will be the Must Sees at Epcot. One of the last things Walt was thinking about before he passed in 1966 was the layout of Epcot, which is nothing like what ended up getting built. Another story for another day. Just remember, before Disneyland, there were no amusement parks. Only dirty carnivals and park carousels. Walt paved the way for the fun you have now at any amusement park.
1. Splash Mountain - Zippity doo dah, the ride that an imagineer came up with while stuck in traffic one day. Uncle Remus and Brer Rabbit, one of the best stories that's locked away b/c of political correctness
2. Big Thunder Mountain - a fun, tame roller coaster ride. Let me know if you want the "story" of this ride.
3. Space Mountain - the third of the mountains...was actually conceived by Walt before technology could give it to them. All of these were built after Walt passed, but I'm sure he would have approved. They're all popular. Use the fast pass
4. Matterhorn at Disneyland - tell you what, I'll do Disneyland in a separate post. Good story behind that ride too.
5. Tiki Room - because it's an original, although they changed the show in Disneyworld. Original is still in Disneyland. Did you know originally it was going to be a sit-down dinner show? Try the Dole Whips.
6. Haunted Mansion - another that Walt had his hand in. They've recently updated it and added more special effects. A classic.
7. Mickey's Philharmagic - the best little show at Disneyworld. Kids love it. Adults do too.
8. You've got to ride the train around the park - because Walt loved trains and every version of the vision of his park had a train that went around it.
9. Carousel of Progress - built by Walt for General Electric and the 1964 World's Fair.
Kiddies will like the dark rides and Mickey's Toon Town but I could take or leave that. I'm also not too excited about the rest of Tomorrowland. I guess when I have a little boy, I might have to spend some time at Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. I haven't seen Monster's Inc. laugh thing yet.
Next will be the Must Sees at Epcot. One of the last things Walt was thinking about before he passed in 1966 was the layout of Epcot, which is nothing like what ended up getting built. Another story for another day. Just remember, before Disneyland, there were no amusement parks. Only dirty carnivals and park carousels. Walt paved the way for the fun you have now at any amusement park.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Dos and Donts
We take this break from "Must Sees" to give you some "Do's and Dont's" - blogger's prerogative....ok, actually I got to thinking what are folks who might read this more interested in. So, here goes:
Do - make reservations for meals. With the dining package, you won't be able to walk in many places and get a table. Soon, we'll give you some of our favorite restaurants.
Don't - plan on keeping 2 year olds at the park all day.
Do - if you have kids, reserve a character breakfast at the Crystal Palace
Don't - go for a week in the middle of the summer
Do - take water bottles with you to fill at the water fountains..and snacks
Don't - sweat the small stuff...you'll sweat enough as is. Have fun, even when the plan runs off-line.
Do - plan on spending some time at the resort and Downtown Disney. Take a break from the parks.
Don't - try and ride every ride in a day. Not possible. Do the shows (Golden Horseshoe Revue), the character greets if you have kids, catch the Dapper Dans barbershop quartet.
Do - catch the fireworks show at Epcot and Magic Kingdom. Epcot is spectacular.
Don't - focus too much on what you're spending. No one has figured out how to get out of Disney on the cheap.
Finally, do leave the kids for a night with your folks and go as a couple to a restaurant at one of the countries in Epcot. If you can snag dinner at Le Cellier in Canada, DO it!
ok...restaurants another time. And more Must Sees coming! Actually, let me know what you all would like to know...I'm flexible. And new at this.
Do - make reservations for meals. With the dining package, you won't be able to walk in many places and get a table. Soon, we'll give you some of our favorite restaurants.
Don't - plan on keeping 2 year olds at the park all day.
Do - if you have kids, reserve a character breakfast at the Crystal Palace
Don't - go for a week in the middle of the summer
Do - take water bottles with you to fill at the water fountains..and snacks
Don't - sweat the small stuff...you'll sweat enough as is. Have fun, even when the plan runs off-line.
Do - plan on spending some time at the resort and Downtown Disney. Take a break from the parks.
Don't - try and ride every ride in a day. Not possible. Do the shows (Golden Horseshoe Revue), the character greets if you have kids, catch the Dapper Dans barbershop quartet.
Do - catch the fireworks show at Epcot and Magic Kingdom. Epcot is spectacular.
Don't - focus too much on what you're spending. No one has figured out how to get out of Disney on the cheap.
Finally, do leave the kids for a night with your folks and go as a couple to a restaurant at one of the countries in Epcot. If you can snag dinner at Le Cellier in Canada, DO it!
ok...restaurants another time. And more Must Sees coming! Actually, let me know what you all would like to know...I'm flexible. And new at this.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Must Sees
Love Magic Kingdom, where you're to escape reality and enter fantasy. It's always the first place we go. The favorite of the kiddos, close followed by Animal Kingdom. Here are the first 5 of a list of Must Sees in the Kingdom.
1. Walt grew up in Marceline, MO in the early 1900's and modeled Main Street USA after Marceline. Some day I'll post just on details of Main Street that you probably never noticed. Make sure you look around and up when you walk down Main Street. Notice the smells too. They pipe out the candy smell from the candy shop. Did you know that in Disneyland, they actually had a shop that sold bras? No lie.
2. It's a Small World - had to include this. It's Heather's favorite. Was conceived and built in one year for the 1964 World's Fair in New York. The song was thrown together by the Sherman Brothers. Mary Blair did the colors. She also did the coloring and background art for the Cinderella movie. Note the similarities.
3. Jungle Cruise - An original attraction, the skippers on this ride are considered to have the best job in the park. It's coveted. Did you know Walt wanted to use live animals, until they convinced him that animals would sleep during the day.
4. Pirates of the Caribbean - The movie was inspired by the ride, which was then re-inspired by the movie. Look for Jack Sparrow. The similarity is eerie. And, they now have the ladies chasing the men in one scene after our politically correct world found offense that pirates would actually chase women. Walt's shaking his head at that one.
5. The Fire Station in Town Square - At Disneyland, there is a candle that always burns in the window, signifying Walt's presence at the park. This is where his apartment was. Walt had an affinity for the fire department and had a fire pole installed so he could slide down in the morning...until a patron climbed up it one morning and surprised Walt in his pajamas. It's in the same place geographically at Walt Disney World.
Next....5 more from the Kingdom
1. Walt grew up in Marceline, MO in the early 1900's and modeled Main Street USA after Marceline. Some day I'll post just on details of Main Street that you probably never noticed. Make sure you look around and up when you walk down Main Street. Notice the smells too. They pipe out the candy smell from the candy shop. Did you know that in Disneyland, they actually had a shop that sold bras? No lie.
2. It's a Small World - had to include this. It's Heather's favorite. Was conceived and built in one year for the 1964 World's Fair in New York. The song was thrown together by the Sherman Brothers. Mary Blair did the colors. She also did the coloring and background art for the Cinderella movie. Note the similarities.
3. Jungle Cruise - An original attraction, the skippers on this ride are considered to have the best job in the park. It's coveted. Did you know Walt wanted to use live animals, until they convinced him that animals would sleep during the day.
4. Pirates of the Caribbean - The movie was inspired by the ride, which was then re-inspired by the movie. Look for Jack Sparrow. The similarity is eerie. And, they now have the ladies chasing the men in one scene after our politically correct world found offense that pirates would actually chase women. Walt's shaking his head at that one.
5. The Fire Station in Town Square - At Disneyland, there is a candle that always burns in the window, signifying Walt's presence at the park. This is where his apartment was. Walt had an affinity for the fire department and had a fire pole installed so he could slide down in the morning...until a patron climbed up it one morning and surprised Walt in his pajamas. It's in the same place geographically at Walt Disney World.
Next....5 more from the Kingdom
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Some Helpful Websites
I've been asked by several people that are going to the World soon when my next post is coming....well, finally, here you go. I had thought that my lovely wife would actually do the posting, but no..time for ole Scott to learn how to do this thing himself. Before I write anything more, if you're there in season and get a chance to go to "Mickey's Christmas Party", please do it. Also, the "Candlelight Processional" at Epcot (might want to to do this while others are taking care of little ones).
To start, and perhaps most important, following are websites you should check out:
For pictures of accommodations, menus of restaurants and other general info: www.allears.net
Every Monday you can find out what's going on at WDW and DL at the following site. It also posts a neat article every Wednesday called "Wade's Wayback Machine" where the writer talks about Walt Disney himself: www.mouseplanet.com
Both of these have discussion boards that allow you to ask questions and get answers, or look for a similar question and read responses. A good way to learn about what things you should take a child on, where to eat, when to go, etc. Enjoy! I'll be better about ongoing posts. Next..."must sees"
To start, and perhaps most important, following are websites you should check out:
For pictures of accommodations, menus of restaurants and other general info: www.allears.net
Every Monday you can find out what's going on at WDW and DL at the following site. It also posts a neat article every Wednesday called "Wade's Wayback Machine" where the writer talks about Walt Disney himself: www.mouseplanet.com
Both of these have discussion boards that allow you to ask questions and get answers, or look for a similar question and read responses. A good way to learn about what things you should take a child on, where to eat, when to go, etc. Enjoy! I'll be better about ongoing posts. Next..."must sees"
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