The Disney Gene

Dear Disney - Please Don't

2012-02-07T16:57:00.000-05:00

Dear Disney Imagineers,

While listening to The Unofficial Guide’s Disney Dish with Jim Hill (http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/unofficial-guides-disney-dish/id452620851), I heard a most disturbing rumor. Over the course of this fascinating and amusing conversation between Disney fan favorites Len Testa and Jim Hill, it was mentioned that you have a really bad idea in mind for The Country Bear Jamboree. Please, please abandon this horrific concept.

Sincerely,

Teri

What is this atrocious idea, you ask? Believe me; it was so bad that I double-checked the date, just to make sure it wasn’t an April Fools' prank. According to Jim Hill, Disney is considering revamping The Country Bear Jamboree into – wait for it – A-Bear-ican Idol.

Now, I know that not everyone holds The Country Bear Jamboree in the same high esteem that I do. Walt Disney World executives obviously don’t, if the lack of upkeep that attraction receives is any indication. But A-Bear-ican Idol? Really?

Here’s the basic concept: the bears perform country hits, and the audience votes on the winner. Let’s set aside my well-established love for this classic attraction. Let’s even leave off mention of the much-derided Country Bear Vacation Hoedown. Instead, let’s discuss the wisdom (or lack thereof) of this particular makeover.

1. American Idol – We already have one WDW attraction based on this non-Disney property. Do we really need another?

2. American Idol – Surely this phenomenon is waning. What’s the point of hitching your wagon to a fading star?

3. I get that Disney is all about the interactive experience right now – interactive queues, voting options, choose your ending (missing Horizons as I type that, by the way) – but the term “overkill” is starting to seem appropriate.

What do you think? Do you actually like this idea? Do you want to see a change – any change – to CBJ? Or do you think Disney should just give this classic attraction a refurbishment and invest time and resources into completely new rides and attractions? Speak your piece over at https://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

Disney 3Ds (Different Dining Discounts)

2011-12-31T11:47:00.000-05:00

Let’s preface this post by saying that I’m not here to engage in the Great Dining Plan Debate. You all have your opinions on that already. Instead, I’m going to show you some different discount options that we utilized on our recent WDW trip, so that you can see if they’d be beneficial tactics for you.

First was www.restaurant.com. I bought a $50.00 gift certificate to Downtown Disney’s House of Blues for $4.00. HoB wasn’t necessarily on my radar for dining, but $46.00 is $46.00. Our meal for seven people (including alcohol and an 18% gratuity) after the discount was $123.38. That’s $17.63 per person, with two in our party consuming alcoholic beverages. Not too shabby. That said, restaurant availability on www.restaurant.com does fluctuate, but it can’t hurt to check.

Next was Tables in Wonderland. This is available only to Florida residents and annual passholders. The cost was $75.00, but boy was it worth it! Here was a breakdown on our dining for the trip:

First Night: Seven people at ‘Ohana. All adult meals plus two alcoholic beverages before the discount was $248.68 (not including tax.) Our TiW discount was $49.74.

Second Night: Four people at Flying Fish Café. Adult meals plus a bottle of wine before tax, tip, and discount was $141.00. Our TiW discount was $28.20.*

Third Night: Eight people at Sanaa. Eight meals (including some appetizers, desserts, and drinks) came to a pre-tax total of $192.55. TiW discount was $38.43.

Fourth Night: Eight people at La Hacienda de San Angel. Again, with plenty of appetizers, drinks, and desserts, the pre-tax and discount total was $179.35. TiW discount was $35.87.

Fifth Night: Three people at Bistro de Paris (with some appetizers, wine and desserts – do you see a pattern yet?) had a subtotal of $142.00. Our TiW discount was $28.40.

*Bonus savings: We got free valet parking at the Boardwalk on Tuesday by showing our TiW card and Flying Fish receipt.

Quick summary: Tables in Wonderland Card was $75.00. Total savings on this trip was $180.64. To break it down further, we saved an average of $6.58 per person, per meal. That means that a family of four with similar eating habits would save about $157.92 over the course of six nights. And best of all, our Tables in Wonderland card will still be good when we go back next November!

I should add that in addition to the dining discounts and the free valet parking, there are some special events that are only available to Tables in Wonderland members. For more information, please call (407) 566-5858.

P.S. For those keeping track, our average sit-down meal cost per person (including alcohol, appetizers, etc.) came to $28.22. This includes eating at higher end/two table credit restaurants like Flying Fish and Bistro de Paris. Add that to an average counter-service lunch of $15.00 and you get $43.22. The cost of the Disney Dining Plan per day is a minimum of $51.54. I’m just saying. ;)

Different Dining Discounts

2011-06-10T17:18:00.000-04:00

As word gets out about the changes coming to the Disney Dining Plan in 2012 (in a nutshell, the Basic Plan will be adding a refillable mug and the Counter Service Plan will be dropping one snack credit per day), I thought I’d take a look at some alternate forms of Disney dining savings – aka “The Teri Way”.

1. Restaurant.com - Having a hard time getting reservations at the Disney restaurants due to the popularity of the Disney Dining Plan? http://www.restaurant.com/ can help. They offer gift certificates to many restaurants in the Walt Disney World area. Their basic tagline is “Get $25 Restaurant Gift Certificates for only $10”, but here’s the kicker: they often have sales. I recently got a $50 gift certificate to use at the Downtown Disney House of Blues for $4! Of course, restrictions apply. For example, I have to have a minimum purchase of $100 to use that. The restrictions vary from restaurant to restaurant, but you may find them worth investigating. Some of the Disney area restaurants available through this program are:

Giraffe Cafe (at the Royal Plaza Hotel)

Todd English's bluezoo

Kimonos

Il Mulino

Shula’s Steak House

Garden Grove

Original Outback (at the Buena Vista Palace)

House of Blues

2. Tables in Wonderland – This one is a little trickier, because it’s only available to Annual Pass holders and Florida residents. Cost is $75 for AP holders or $100 for non-AP Florida residents. This will get you 20% off your check (and that of up to nine guests) at most WDW restaurants, including alcohol! For a list of participating restaurants, click here: http://allears.net/din/dde.htm#list .

3. Have I mentioned sharing lately? I mean, odds are good you won’t want to take leftovers back to your resort room and Disney portions tend to run large, so you may want to consider splitting an appetizer and entrée with someone else in your party. And if you’re still hungry, it’s the perfect excuse for dessert!

4. The Suitcase – Fill a suitcase with convenient breakfast items (cereal bars, Pop-Tarts, fresh fruit) and chow on these in your room or en route to the parks. This saves money, calories (probably), and time. After all, would you rather be waiting in line for pancakes or Space Mountain? Then when you leave, that now-empty suitcase is ready to haul home all of your souvenirs.

Other people have their own preferred savings plans, like eating sit-down meals at lunch instead of dinner, eating off-site, or eating nothing but counter-service meals. Pick your own personal favorite. I just don’t want you to feel like the Disney Dining Plan is the only option available to you. Bon appétit!

Book Review 04/06/11

2011-04-06T17:00:00.000-04:00

Have I mentioned that I am addicted to Walt Disney World guidebooks? Okay, good. I didn’t want to catch anyone by surprise if I suddenly show up on an episode of TLC’s Hoarding: Buried Alive.

In all fairness though, I don’t buy all of them. I can’t imagine purchasing Walt Disney World for Dummies, for example. And it didn’t take me long in my guidebook purchasing obsession to discover that companies that specialize in travel but not Disney (Fodor’s and Frommer’s, for example) aren’t going to be as in-depth or replete with Disney knowledge as, say, The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World or PassPorter: Walt Disney World. Those I buy every year, whether I’m planning a trip to Walt Disney World or not. But even amongst the classics, I have my favorites, and the latest addition of one of those finally arrived in the mail last week.

The Complete Walt Disney World 2011 by Julie and Mike Neal is a great read for Walt Disney World fans and visitors from start to finish. Loaded with beautiful photos, timeless tips and great maps, it is a helpful tool. But my favorite features in this guidebook are the extra jewels of information provided on the parks and attractions. For example, did you know that the “Howdy folks” guy at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is also the voice of Benjamin Franklin at Epcot’s American Adventure? Or the swamp wallaby (found at Disney’s Animal Kingdom) can drink salt water and is known as “the stinker”? (Hey, that’s my daughter’s nickname!) Or that you can find a Hidden Mickey under the tail of a clownfish in the Toy Story Mania! queue? I just adore these kinds of details. Would you like to learn more? Buy the book!

Of course, not all of the 2011 guidebooks that I’m eagerly anticipating have made it off the presses. Case in point: if Bill Burke’s latest addition of Mousejunkies doesn’t get released soon, I may start stalking him on Facebook…

What Walt Disney World guidebooks do you tend to revisit like old friends? Please let me know over at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

Lou Mongello is a Genius

2011-03-28T16:57:00.002-04:00

I know, I know; you knew that already.

But seriously, I was getting caught up on some relatively recent podcasts and listened to Lou Mongello’s News Chat for March 9, 2011. A bit of background: Lou is the author of the Walt Disney World Trivia Books (Volumes I and II), as well as the Audio Guides to Walt Disney World, and is the host and producer of WDW Radio, the award-winning online show about Walt Disney World. In this particular episode, he discusses some possible uses for the old Virgin Megastore building at Downtown Disney.

For those who may not be aware, The 49,000 square foot Virgin Megastore was located at Downtown Disney's West Side and was billed as “a state-of-the-art music, video, interactive media and book showplace featuring the hottest tunes, the best movies and more.” You were invited to “(t)ake a look at great flicks in one of the 20 video/laser preview stations. Groove to your favorite artists or discover new bands in a gallery of over 300 CD listening stations.”

However, on March 2, 2009 Virgin Megastore CEO Simon Wright announced that they would be closing all Virgin Megastores in the U.S., including the one at Downtown Disney West Side. The store was closed on May 12, 2009.

Since Virgin vacated the building, it has served as a temporary home for a couple of rather diverse tenants. Off the top of my head, I can recall the Princess Diana Exhibit and Ridemakerz.

“Diana – The People’s Princess” found a home there from July 7, 2009 – November 30, 2009. It showcased the life and story of Princess Diana, one of the most iconic and inspirational figures in recent history, including a sampling of the royal dresses Diana chose to auction for charity and hundreds of authentic artifacts relating to her life.

Ridemakerz is a supercharged interactive experience that lets kids of all ages dream up, build, and customize their very own radio controlled car or truck. It opened March 25, 2010 and seems quite popular, but is only slated to remain open at this location through April 30, 2011.

So for Disney speculators far and wide, this begs the question: What’s next for this super-sized structure? The best suggestion I’ve heard by far was on Lou’s podcast. I am so ashamed that I didn’t come up with it myself:

How about a Walt Disney World Museum? For Disney geeks like me, this would be beyond fabulous. And it would be so easy for Disney; they have all sorts of stuff in storage from old attractions. They could have separate sections for proposed attractions and resorts that never saw daylight, extinct attractions, the history behind the purchase of the property and construction of each of the parks, and even a blue sky area to showcase upcoming enhancements to Walt Disney World. And I am absolutely salivating at the thought of purchasing merchandise tied to these concepts.

What do you think? Would you take time out of your Walt Disney World vacation to visit a museum? Would you be willing to pay a separate entrance fee for this opportunity? And would you be next to me in line at the check-out counter with armloads of vintage merchandise and a worn-out credit card? Let me know over at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

Training the Newbies

2011-03-09T16:16:00.000-05:00

As we plan for our upcoming Walt Disney World trip with some family members who are not WDW veterans, I’ve decided to start emailing occasional trip tips to them to help them prepare. And since I’m in a sharing frame of mind, well, here you go!

It’s 6:45 A.M. You are sound asleep in your Disney resort room until you are jerked awake by the sound of a phone. You grope for it blindly and bring the receiver to your ear. Before you can mutter a groggy “Hello?” the following blasts into your ear:

http://www.talkdisney.com/forums/attachments/disney-gadgets-gizmos/3296d1197598115-disney-resort-wake-up-phone-call-resort-wake-up-call.wav

Your first thought is probably one of the following:

A. “It should be illegal to be that cheerful this early.”

B. “Does this thing have a snooze button?”

C. “I am going to kill Aunt Teri for making me get up at 6:45 on my vacation.”

Yes, it sucks to get up that early. But trust me; the first several hours of each day are the most important of your Disney vacation. You are going to thank me when you get to walk right on Toy Story Midway Mania or Space Mountain when the schmucks who don’t roll into the parks until 11:00 are stuck in line for two hours for the same attractions.

Since you’ve bothered to haul your bottom out of bed that early, it’s important to make sure you don’t waste precious time dawdling. I’m mean really, what sounds like more fun: getting yelled at by your mom to brush your teeth and comb your hair, or riding Expedition Everest? Remember, you only have to get yourself ready in the morning. Your mom is trying to get all of you organized and out the door, so help her out, okay?

Also, there are ways you can help speed up your Disney mornings before you even leave home. How? Pack smart. If you put each day’s outfit (including underwear and socks) into separate Ziploc bags, you can just pull out a bag and have an entire outfit ready, instead of digging through your suitcase to find a pair of clean socks (and do you really want to risk grabbing a less than clean pair of underwear?). This may sound like I’m going a little overboard in the organization department, but anything that gets you zipping down Splash Mountain sooner is worth the effort!

P.S. My thanks to www.talkdisney.com for posting the link for the Mickey wake-up call!

"Without 'U' There'd Be No 'US'"

2011-02-21T16:49:00.001-05:00

Have I mentioned lately how much I love my sister-in-law?

Okay, I really love all of my in-laws. It’s true that when you marry someone you marry their whole family, and I totally lucked out. (And I’m not just saying that to suck up, because they rarely read my blog.) So I guess I should say that other than not being huge Disney fans, they are really fabulous people.

But right now, I’m feeling a special fondness for my wonderful sister-in-law, Mackenzie. Why? Well, as I’ve mentioned previously, my New Year’s Resolution this year was to try to have a “fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants” Disney vacation. Instead of booking my ADRs six months out, planning my daily park itineraries step-by-step, and researching optimal places to stop along the way down for gas and restroom breaks, I was going to (gulp) wing it. I’m having nightmares already.

But then Mackenzie called. She has decided to take a Walt Disney World vacation, and is coordinating it with our trip in December.

Now, Mackenzie and her family never go to Walt Disney World. I think they’ve been there exactly once, and that was so long ago that her son Ethan was too young to remember it. So the way I see it, if I’m responsible for not only planning the vacation of myself, my husband and my daughter (all of whom have visited Walt Disney World, well let’s just say, more than once) but also for helping to plan what could well be a once-in-a-lifetime trip for several loved ones, then it’s my responsibility to scrap my resolution and plan this trip down to the last detail, right? Right?

And a planning experience it will be. We’re all driving (1061 miles, have I mentioned that before?), we’ll be visiting Walt Disney World and Universal, and we'll be staying in multiple hotels. In addition to that, it’ll be for a group of seven: an 11-year-old, two 16-year-olds, a nineteen-year-old, and three 30-somethings (and the potential of a 28-year-old, but that's still up in the air). Oh, and that’s also two vegans, two very basic, non-adventuresome eaters, and three foodies. We also run the gamut from early risers to night-owls, from type-A personalities (I wonder who that could be?) to laid-back, relaxed, calm individuals. This is going to be a new experience for me, and one I would have never had if I hadn’t received that call from Mackenzie. So, thanks Kenz; I owe you one!

Give Kids The World

2011-01-22T14:21:00.002-05:00

Paige was a little three-year-old girl from Indianapolis with a life-threatening illness. Her biggest wish was to meet Bear from Bear in the Big Blue House, but due to Bear’s traveling schedule, the Make-A-Wish Foundation was unable to grant it. Her next wish was to visit Walt Disney World.

Paige was what’s known as a “Rush Wish”. A “Rush-Wish” is a child that could die within twenty-four hours, and probably will not survive the week at Walt Disney World that is their “wish”. While visiting Walt Disney World, Paige and her family stayed at the Give Kids The World Village, a Central Florida resort specifically designed to cater to Make-A-Wish children and their families. While Paige was there, a show was put on featuring Bear from Bear and the Big Blue House. After the show was over, Pamela Ladwirth, one of the village administrators, noticed that everyone in the family of this little girl was crying, and she went over to make sure everything was okay. Upon learning how special Bear was to Paige, Pamela raced backstage and asked Bear to come meet the little girl. Bear came out and sniffed Paige (for those who have never watched the show, this is a Bear trademark). Then Bear said to her, “You know Paige, if I were to have a wish, it would have been to meet you.”

This was in October. Paige’s family wrote to the Give Kids the World Village that Paige was able to make it through Christmas. This child, who was not supposed to last the week, got to have one more Christmas with her family, and they truly believe that her wonderful experience at the Give Kids the World Village gave her the strength to keep fighting a little while longer.

Paige isn’t alone. Each year over 27,000 children in the United States alone are diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses. Half of those children choose as their wish through the Make-A-Wish Foundation to visit Walt Disney World. Only about 7,000 a year make it, however. There currently aren’t enough funds donated so that each of these dying children can get their wish. But you can help.

Give Kids The World Village is a 70-acre, non-profit resort in Central Florida that creates magical memories for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. It provides accommodations at its whimsical resort and donates attractions tickets, meals, and more for a week-long, cost-free fantasy vacation. It is specifically designed for children with special needs. With the help of many generous individuals, corporations, and partnering wish-granting organizations, Give Kids The World has welcomed more than 100,000 families from all 50 states and over 70 countries. So many of the families who have stayed with them write the village afterwards to say what the trip did for them. Many children then had the strength to go back and continue treatments to fight and even overcome their illnesses. For those who don’t make it, their families get this wonderful memory to cherish for the rest of their lives. Because while the rest of the memories for those families are of hospital rooms and doctors’ offices, of being told “No, you can’t so this” or “No, we can’t afford that”, this is a week of “yeses”. Imagine that you are the 16-year-old girl in a wheelchair who for the first time can shower alone because of the facilities designed just for people like her. Or imagine that for the first time, no one is staring at your wheelchair, or your trach tube, or your bald head, because all of the other kids in the village are going through the same thing.

In addition to providing such a wonderful service, Give Kids The World was named Worth magazine’s “most fiscally responsible charity in the US”. To give you an idea, most charities are considered fiscally responsible if their administration costs run around 35%. That means of every dollar you spend, $.65 goes to the mission. Give Kids the World has administration costs of 6.3%, so over $.93 of each dollar donated is used directly for the children!

Why am I writing about this charity now? Because right now the wonderful folks at the DIS (www.wdwinfo.com, www.disboards.com) have initiated The Power of 10: Give Kids the World $1 Million Challenge. I’ll let them tell you about it in their own words:

“We are a group of Disney fans who want to help share our passion for Disney with those who need it most: children with life threatening illnesses and their families. When these children ask to visit Walt Disney World through organizations like the Make-A-Wish foundation, many times those organizations reach out to Give Kids The World to make that wish a reality.
Our goal is simple. We’re looking for 10,000 people who are willing to commit to asking 10 friends to donate $10 to Give Kids the World. If we can accomplish that seemingly simple task, we will raise $1M to help this worthy organization in their mission to turn no child away.
We are looking to show the power of the internet in raising money for good causes. Virtually every dollar raised through this initiative will go to Give Kids The World. The only exception are donations made through FirstGiving.org – that organization does take a small processing fee for each donation made through their web site. Beyond that – every dollar will go directly to helping these realize their wish of visiting the happiest place on earth.”

So that’s why I’m writing. I want to encourage all of you to please help in this wonderful cause. Donations can be made by texting the word DISGKTW to 50555 - you will send a $10 donation directly to Give Kids the World via mGive.org, or by visiting the FirstGiving web site at http://www.firstgiving.com/disgktw. Money collected via FirstGiving is sent directly to Give Kids the World (less a 7.5% processing fee charged by FirstGiving.com).

You may help save a life. You will help provide wonderful memories for families suffering from non-stop fear and sadness. Please don’t turn your back on them.

If/when you donate, please let me (and everyone else) know at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene. You’ll have done something good, and I think you deserve a little recognition for it!

P.S. I don’t have direct permission from the folks at The DIS to write this post, but they are pretty nice, so I think it will be okay. ;)

How to Serve Fried Tiki Bird

2011-01-17T16:51:00.000-05:00

Okay, that title may have been in poor taste. What can I say? I’m in a bit of a bad mood. People on Facebook are trying to tick me off, I swear.

But back to the Tiki Birds. I’m sure by now you’ve heard that The Enchanted Tiki Room "Under New Management" at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom recently suffered some fire damage and is currently closed. Disney claims it was a small fire confined to the attic, but strong rumors are floating around that several of the Audio-Animatronic figures, particularly Iago, suffered severe damage. Naturally, this has us all speculating on the future of the attraction. Since I love a good gossip session as much as the next person, I thought I’d chime in.

Option A: Worst case scenario would be for the attraction to just stay closed. It wouldn’t be unheard of (Wonders of Life Pavilion, anyone?), but: 1. that would tick me off and 2. that would make for really boring speculation, so let’s continue.

Option B would be for them to just reopen the “Under New Management” version exactly as it was. I’m sure this would be the easiest idea for Disney, but I’m really hoping they don’t do that. To this day, it still breaks my heart to hear Phil Hartman’s voice in the preshow. I want to start ranting about the evils of drug abuse right there in the middle of the Magic Kingdom, and people tend to look askance at me when I do that. And seriously, Miami Sound Machine’s Conga and Buster Poindexter’s Hot, Hot, Hot were outdated before the show even opened, and I highly doubt anyone is going to make a case for calling either of those numbers timeless classics.

Option C would be for them to put an entirely new attraction here. The idea has merit, I suppose, but I personally like seeing homage made to the first ever Audio-Animatronics in a Disney park.

Option D would be for them to just put the original show back in. I kind of like this idea, but with a twist. What if we had some new preshow characters (a flock of gossiping crows, maybe?), discussing how the Tiki Gods were angered by Iago’s disrespect, and that prompted the return of the original show. Heck, maybe we can even throw in a sight gag of Iago and Zazu in the “birdie boiler”! Your thoughts?

My New Year’s Resolution

2011-01-14T17:15:00.000-05:00

A Type A individual is defined as one who is “ambitious, aggressive, business-like, controlling, highly competitive, impatient, preoccupied with his or her status, time-conscious, and tightly-wound. People with Type A personalities are often high-achieving workaholics who multi-task, push themselves with deadlines, and hate both delays and ambivalence.” Let’s face it; that’s not the most flattering of portrayals. I’d like to claim that I don’t resemble that description at all, but who would I be kidding? You might as well just put a picture of me next to it and be done with it. I mean seriously, my daughter came across David Farragut’s famous quote "Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!" and was surprised, as she had always attributed that quote to me.

You can take a vacation from work, but you can’t take a vacation from your own personality (believe me; I’ve tried). So even when I’m at the Happiest Place on Earth I’m still, well, me. I hit the ground running and tour the parks commando-style (but don’t worry, I am wearing underwear. And yes Mom; it’s clean.) I not only have plans, I have printed lists. I have folders to keep track of my dining reservations. I study the menus of the restaurants before leaving, and generally walk into the restaurants already knowing what I’m going to order. I have a strict touring plan for visiting the attractions. If a member of my party wants to sleep in or slow down, I will leave them behind rather than abandon The Plan.

The saddest part is that this isn’t even a recent development. I remember at the age of five, pouring over the map for the Magic Kingdom and presenting to my mother a step-by-step itinerary for the entire family. It’s probably a good thing there was only one park back then, or I’d have really driven her nuts.

But for the very first time, I will be visiting Walt Disney World as a Disney Vacation Club member. I (theoretically) don’t have to worry that this may be my last visit to the World for a long time. I’m supposed to visit annually now. Therefore, I should be able to relax, and not feel the need to cram every possible experience into every available moment, right? Right?

That’s my resolution. I have promised my family that this will be a “stop and smell the roses” trip. My husband, who claims that one of his arms is longer than the other because of the way I’m constantly pulling him around by it, simply laughs at my vow and says my naïve belief that I can change is very cute. My daughter (Teri Junior) is baffled at the very concept of willingly slowing down. It’s my fault, really. Let’s face it; she didn’t start referring to The Swiss Family Treehouse and the film in Norway as “crowd control measures” on her own.

I’m already facing my first test to my resolution. Our trip is booked for early December, and now that our hotel reservations are made, my thoughts would normally be turning to dining plans. As in, I would typically be making lists of what theme parks we would be visiting each day, and which restaurants (at what times) would best fit our schedule. After researching which parks are historically least crowded on which days, I would come up with a corresponding list of restaurants (a top choice and two back-ups), along with preferred eating times. I would have these printed out (and in my folder) so that I could simultaneously call and check online at the 180 day mark for availability. But not this time. I want to try taking a trip without making a single Advance Dining Reservation. This is truly my intent, but the mere thought has me breaking out in hives.

Do you think I can do it? Do any of you “smell-the-roses” folks have any advice for me? Please let me know over at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

Dear Disney, 01/11/11

2011-01-11T17:22:00.000-05:00

Dear Disney,

Today is my birthday, and only you can make my birthday wish come true.

My birthday wish is for Who Framed Roger Rabbit 2 to be confirmed for 2012, and for a Roger Rabbit attraction to come to Disney’s Hollywood Studios along with it.

First, let’s talk about the movie. I had heard reports that it was a definite “go” and that it’s in production. Then I heard that its status would depend on how well Tron: Legacy performed. Then I heard that if we did get WFRR2, it would be filmed in motion capture.

Let’s review. I’m a Disney dork and a sci-fi geek, and even I wondered about the wisdom of releasing a new Tron movie. So to pin the future of a sequel to the wildly popular Who Framed Roger Rabbit on the success (or lack thereof) of a sequel to a relatively obscure film like Tron makes no sense to me at all. But I must give you the benefit of the doubt here. Hopefully there is no truth to that rumor.

Giving credit where it’s due, however, at least Tron: Legacy was pretty to watch. I’d go so far as to say visually stunning (generally lacking in a compelling story line, but visually stunning). But movies made in motion capture, like Robert Zemeckis’ The Polar Express or A Christmas Carol just plain creep me out. I’m not at all fond of this method of animation, and I laughed out loud when in the ending credits of Pixar's Ratatouille, a stamp appeared labeling the film as "100% Pure Animation -- No Motion Capture!"

Now, on to DHS. It broke my heart when I learned that a Roger Rabbit attraction and/or area had originally been planned for the Studios and then scrapped. This was especially true when I finally made it out to Disneyland and saw how cool their Toontown was compared to Florida’s. I know parents of toddlers everywhere are going to hate me for this one, but I found the Magic Kingdom’s Toontown about as appealing as Animal Kingdom’s Dinoland, USA. Toontown had Barnstormer, Dinoland has Dinosaur, and neither has much of anything else worth seeing, in my humble opinion. I know a few people might disagree, but Disney can do better, and they should.

But back to my point. A release of a Roger Rabbit sequel (a real one, not that direct-to-video crap you’ve been cranking out repeatedly over the last sixteen years) would be the perfect opportunity for a Roger Rabbit attraction, or even a whole Toontown-themed area to come to the Studios. A good Toontown though, not a Mickey’s Birthdayland, Mickey’s Starland, Duckburg, Towntown Fair area that looks like it was designed as a backyard playhouse for a three-year-old girl.

Yes, I know I’m being demanding, but it’s my birthday. And after all Disney, you’re the ones who taught me that:

“No matter how your heart is grieving,

If you keep on believing,

The dream that you wish will come true”.

Sincerely,

Teri

Cheaters' Onion Pull-Apart Rolls

2010-12-29T17:04:00.001-05:00

As I’ve mentioned previously, one of my favorite Christmas presents this year was the new Disney cookbook, Chef Mickey – Treasures from the Vault & Delicious New Favorites, by Pam Brandon and the Disney Chefs. I’ve been dying to jump in and give some of these recipes a try.

I’m making spaghetti and meatballs for dinner tonight, so I thought the Onion Pull-Apart Rolls from the Yachtsman Steakhouse would be a delicious accompaniment. I looked over the ingredients and directions; not too complicated, but very time consuming. Seriously, these things would take over five hours to make. I’m sure I’ll try them someday, but not today.

So instead, I decided to try to invent a “cheaters” version. As I’m not any more likely to be stingy with recipes than I am with food, I thought I’d share.

Cheaters' Onion Pull-Apart Rolls

Ingredients:

2 Tbs. water

1/2 cup dried minced onion

1/3 cup butter, softened

1 package refrigerated biscuits, 10 count

Directions:

Place the onion in a small bowl and sprinkle with water. Allow to sit for about 20 minutes to soften.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray a standard muffin tin with non-stick spray.

Remove the biscuits from the package and flatten them with the heel of your hand. Spread half of the biscuit with butter and sprinkle with a bit of the onion.

Fold the biscuit in half and repeat. (Your hands are going to smell really onion-y by the end of this; sorry.)

Fold in half again and stretch into a rectangular shape. Spread on some more butter and sprinkle with some more onion. (Hey, I said it was easy. I didn’t say it was low-calorie.)

Curl the strips of the dough into the muffin cups with the layered edges facing up. Spread with remaining butter and sprinkle with the rest of the onions.

Bake for 15-20 minutes. Allow to cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes, then remove and serve.

Who says cheaters never win?

I'm on Top of the World

2010-12-27T16:58:00.000-05:00

My Disney dorkdom has reached new levels. Just when I thought I couldn’t get any geekier, I have found a way; a few, actually.

First, I was going through a typical day at work when I got a call from my husband. “Teri,” he asks, “Did you contribute to a Disney guide?”

My reply (demonstrating my typical on-the-ball response time and quick wit) was something along the lines of, “Huh?”

Ray continues, “I was doing a search for your blog and Googled ‘Teri Sizemore’ and ‘Disney’, and I got a link to Amazon. It says you’re listed in the 2011 Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World.” I immediately flew out of my office and into my bathroom (I had been reading my copy of The Guide in the tub the night before. Don’t laugh; you know you do it, too.) Sure enough, on page 11 I am given credit as a fact-checker. I felt so cool! I immediately posted about it to Facebook, and took my copy to Pippin rehearsal that night to show off to all of my friends. I called my aunt, my mother, my hairdresser, my neighbors, my daughter’s principal; what do you mean I got carried away?

The second one I can’t claim a lot of responsibility for, but I love it all the same. For Christmas, my husband made me a couple of t-shirts to wear to Walt Disney World promoting my blog:

Am I a big enough Disney dork to wear my own merchandise to the parks? Don’t be silly; of course I am!

And naturally, my house was decked out in its typical Disney decorations for the holidays; my Mickey topiary in the front yard was sporting a Santa hat, I had a Mickey Christmas wreath on my front door, Disney stockings hanging from Disney stocking holders on the mantle, and lots of beautiful Disney ornaments on my tree. And to top it all off, my husband even gave me the new Disney cookbook as a present as well. Now I only have to decide which of the recipes I’m making for dinner tonight…

Have you found new ways to flaunt your love of Disney lately? Please share them with me at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

Disney Magic in the Real World

2010-12-15T06:53:00.000-05:00

We’ve all come to expect some level of the Disney magic when we visit the parks. But every once in a while, we get a surprise: Disney magic in the real world.

A few months ago, I was in a local production of Neil Simon’s “Rumors”. One of my lines was: “Don’t make it sound like we’re going to Washington. We’re going to Albany. Twenty-three degrees below zero in the middle of winter Albany.” Right after the show wrapped, where do you think work sent me? That’s right: Albany.

Needless to say, I wasn’t expecting to encounter any Disney magic on this trip. I’ve been to scores of bankers’ conferences and let me tell you, there’s nothing magical about them. But this one was different. You see, the keynote address was The Disney Institute: Disney’s Approach to Leadership Excellence. And believe me, the speakers truly showed what excellence was all about.

It started out with me sitting in the back of the room. As I was an exhibitor, I didn’t rate a seat at one of the tables – those were saved for attendees. But if the conference coordinators thought that my second class status would limit my participation, they were in for a big surprise.

You see, to get the audience involved Hugh and Mary (the presenters) kept asking Disney trivia questions. Um hi; I’m Teri. If there’s one thing I love almost as much as Disney, it is trivia. They even threw in a few sports questions. It was like the entire presentation had been tailored just for me! Now granted, these were really easy questions for any Disney fan. I identified a photo of Roy O. Disney, I knew who Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was, and I knew the historical significance of Plane Crazy. But Hugh and Mary were really wowed. They are used to talking to normal people, not Disney dorks like me!

Of course, they were wise to me after just a few questions. They would ask a question, my hand would shoot up, and Hugh would say, “Okay, can someone besides Teri answer this?” It was scarily reminiscent of high school, let me tell you. But how awesome was it that that they already knew my name? And during the course of the presentation, they started announcing some trivia facts about me to the group: that I had traveled nine hours to get there, that I was there exhibiting as a flood zone determination expert, and even little tidbits of information about my love for Disney. And I had told them none of this. They had taken the time to secretly ask others about me while they were doing their presentation, just to make me feel special and to thank me for being a Disney fan.

When the presentation was over, they took the time to seek me out. Mary gave me a big hug, and Hugh tried to stump me with some “harder” Disney trivia questions. I think he was just trying to make me feel good, because they weren’t all that hard (like I’m not going to know who Yensid is; now come on.) They even gave me a few souvenirs: two small plastic figurines and a copy of Lee Cockerell’s Creating Magic. I was so grateful, I nearly cried!

Non-Disney people ask us all the time why we love Disney so much. While we all love the parks, the resorts, and the movies, I think most Disney fans will tell you that the real magic is in the wonderful people that comprise the Disney family – starting with Walt and continuing with wonderful cast members like Hugh and Mary. I for one will never forget the magical time I had – in Albany.

'Tis the Season

2010-12-08T15:55:00.003-05:00

Looking for gift ideas for your favorite Disneyphile? Here are some suggestions, “Twelve Days of Christmas” style:

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me:

Booty from Club 33.

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me:

Two lithographs

And booty from Club 33.

On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me:

Three cool pins,

Two lithographs,

And booty from Club 33.

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me:

Four Mickey glasses,

Three cool pins,

Two lithographs,

And booty from Club 33!

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me:

Five days at Disney!

Four Mickey glasses,

Three cool pins,

Two lithographs,

And booty from Club 33!

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me:

Six Disney dollars,

Five days at Disney!

Four Mickey glasses,

Three cool pins,

Two lithographs,

And booty from Club 33!

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me:

Mickey/Buckeye sweatshirts,

Six Disney dollars,

Five days at Disney!

Four Mickey glasses,

Three cool pins,

Two lithographs,

And booty from Club 33!

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me:

Disney documentaries,

Mickey/Buckeye sweatshirts,

Six Disney dollars,

Five days at Disney!

Four Mickey glasses,

Three cool pins,

Two lithographs,

And booty from Club 33!

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me:

New Disney Jewelry,

Disney documentaries,

Mickey/Buckeye sweatshirts,

Six Disney dollars,

Five days at Disney!

Four Mickey glasses,

Three cool pins,

Two lithographs,

And booty from Club 33!

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me:

Keys to the Kingdom,

New Disney jewelry,

Disney documentaries,

Mickey/Buckeye sweatshirts

Six Disney dollars,

Five days at Disney!

Four Mickey glasses,

Three cool pins,

Two lithographs,

And booty from Club 33!

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me:

Extra DVC points,

Keys to the Kingdom,

New Disney jewelry,

Disney documentaries,

Mickey/Buckeye sweatshirts

Six Disney dollars,

Five days at Disney!

Four Mickey glasses,

Three cool pins,

Two lithographs,

And booty from Club 33!

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me:

Vintage Disney swag!

Extra DVC Points,

Keys to the Kingdom,

New Disney jewelry,

Disney documentaries,

Mickey/Buckeye sweatshirts

Six Disney dollars,

Five days at Disney!

Four Mickey glasses,

Three cool pins,

Two lithographs,

And booty from Club 33!

Well, what are you waiting for? Get shopping!

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Just Hanging Out

2010-09-21T06:11:00.000-04:00

Compromise is sometimes defined as an agreement whereby both parties get what neither of them wanted. So often on trips to Walt Disney World, we spend so much time worrying about whether or not everyone is having fun, that we forget to enjoy ourselves. I don’t think I fully realized this until my first solo trip to the World. For the first time, I could be completely selfish. So when left to my own devices, where I did I spend the bulk of my evenings? You guessed it; the ESPN Club.

Okay, okay; bear with me here. I realize that with no one else along, I could have a quiet, leisurely meal at a fine restaurant. I could hit the parks and experience minimal waits by utilizing the single rider line. I could even get in some quality shopping time (and believe me, I did). But when I just want to hang out and relax, nothing beats the ESPN Club.

I’m not going to claim to be a sports expert. Heck, the only sports I really care about are football and baseball. But if you like sports even a little bit, this place can’t be topped.

First, there are the bartenders. They are awesome. They work hard, serve efficiently, and keep the crowd entertained and energized.

There is a good selection of beers on tap (Bud Light, Blue Moon, Yuengling Lager, Samuel Adams Seasonal), as well as bottled beer. Of course, you can always go for a sissy old fruity drink, but you’re in a sports bar, dude!

The food is typical bar fare, but that’s exactly what I want with my beer and football. There is a time and place for everything, and this is the time and place for nachos and wings!

Best of all though, is the atmosphere. During baseball season, you will generally find two camps: Yankees fans, and everyone else. I may not be able to agree with a Red Sox or White Sox fan on much, but at least we can unite in our hatred for the Evil Empire. (I’m just kidding, of course. I don’t hate Yankees fans; I just enjoy sparring with them. A lot.) Now, football season is another story. I DO hate the Baltimore Ravens, passionately. And after a few beers, I’m pretty vocal about that. It’s amazing that I always manage to leave the club unscathed, now that I think about it…

Do you have a favorite hang-out spot in the World? Fill me in over at www.facebook.com/disneygene!

Common Mythconceptions

2010-09-16T19:37:00.000-04:00

There are a lot of interesting stories that float around about Walt Disney World. I’m sure that you, being the dedicated fan that you are, already know that these are just urban legends. However I know that I, in my quest for Disney trivia, have been suckered into believing a few of these at one time or another, so I thought I post a little refresher, just in case.

10. A guest was decapitated on Space Mountain – Okay, eeww, and no. Can you imagine being on the train below his if this were true? I’ve also heard rumors that it was actually a test dummy that Imagineering had stand up on the ride that was decapitated. This I can neither confirm nor deny.

9. No guests are ever declared dead on Disney property – Legend has it that Disney hurries up and gets them off property before they are officially declared dead. Anyone who has followed Disney in the news the past couple of years can tell you that this isn’t true. Car accidents, bus accidents, monorail accidents – hey people; let’s be careful out there, okay?

8. While we’re discussing death, there’s always the lovely story about the cast member dressed as Mickey who fell/was thrown into Seven Seas Lagoon and was electrocuted because of the air-conditioning unit in his suit. While I can’t guarantee that Mickey has never fallen into the lake, any CM can tell you that those lovely little costumes that they sport are definitely not air-conditioned. Heat exhaustion might be a concern, but not electrocution.

7, 6, and 5. Had enough talk of death? Great; let’s move on to ghosts. Specifically, those 999 Happy Haunts residing in the Haunted Mansion. First, let’s get one thing straight; Walt Disney is not one of the singing busts. The face people usually mistake for Uncle Walt is actually that of Thurl Ravenscroft. That’s okay though, because people often give Mr. Ravenscroft credit for being the voice of the Ghost Host. That’s actually Paul Frees, folks. And one more HM myth: the alleged “wedding ring” of the Mansion’s serial bride that people claim to find outside the Mansion. Have you seen that thing? It’s huge! Her bracelet? Maybe. Her ring? No effing way. I believe that’s just a remnant of an old post in the ground, nothing more.

4. The spires on Cinderella Castle were not designed to be detached during severe weather. That castle was built to withstand hurricanes, not get disassembled like a big Lego set in fear of one.

3. Speaking of the castle; Walt never had an office there. He passed away before construction on the castle even began. Simple math.

2. If you think you can burn enough calories walking around Walt Disney World to compensate for eating whatever you want, you either walk way more than me or want to eat way less than I want to eat. I walk everywhere I can at WDW (I never boat between Epcot and DHS, or between those parks and the Epcot Resorts, I take stairs instead of elevators if it’s three floor or less, etc.), but even I seldom walk over 20,000 steps in a day. That is a lot, I’ll grant you. Depending on the size of your steps, that’s anywhere from 8 to 10 miles. Depending upon your weight, the average person burns about 100 calories per mile. Now as an example, one of those big old greasy Turkey Legs you see people munching on in the parks is conservatively estimated to be 1,100 calories. That means if you walked all day, you wouldn’t even burn off one of those. Heaven only knows how far you’d have to go to burn off a scrumptious Butterfinger Cupcake or Carrot Cake Cookie from DHS. The good news, however, is it takes 3,500 extra calories to gain a pound. So unless you go completely crazy, your jeans should still fit when you get home. (Assuming that they fit when you left, that is.)

1. One of the horses on the carrousel is officially “Cinderella’s Horse”. I’ll admit, I held on to this misconception for a looong time. I’d always keep a special eye out for that pretty steed in the second row with a gold ribbon on its tail. But according to Disney Historian Jim Korkis, this was never actually meant to be Cinderella’s horse. I believe it was a story invented to make a “Make a Wish” guest feel better about being stuck on one of the interior horses that doesn’t go up and down, but I can’t positively confirm that for you. I guess it really doesn’t matter because the whole carrousel belongs to Prince Charming now, anyway.

I’m sorry if I sounded like Debbie Downer in this post, but I know that you want to make sure that the trivia that you ~~bore~~ – er, I mean regale your friends and family with is as accurate as possible!

I Think Disney Needs our Help

2010-08-31T07:00:00.000-04:00

If I were going to rate my interests, Disneyana and shopping would have to be near or at the very top of the list. I receive updates on a nearly daily basis regarding new items available for sale at www.disneystore.com. So considering both of these statements, don’t you find it rather odd that I can’t even remember the last time I made a purchase there?

I’ve got to be honest; not a lot of what is there really grabs my interest. I take that back. Not a lot of what I can afford grabs my interest. Unfortunately, those beautiful Limited-Edition Giclees are out of my price range. And the stuff I can afford doesn’t generally catch my attention. But I’m telling you now, there are some things that if Disney offered them, I would snatch them up in a Peloponnesian minute. Here’s a quick list of a few things that I would love to see Disney put on the market:

1. Mickey Pumpkin Mold – If you’ve ridden Living with the Land at Epcot, you know what I’m talking about. I want one (or several) of the molds that they use to grow the Mickey-shaped pumpkins. I’m sure that Epcot cast members get asked where those can be purchased every day. Hello, Disney; you have a built-in market that’s been waiting for this product for decades. Since when does Disney pass up an opportunity like that?

2. Haunted Mansion Tapestries – Ouch, ouch! Oh sorry; I was busy kicking myself for not snatching these up when Disney did offer them. Do you remember them? They were wall-hangings depicting the portraits in the Stretching Room of the Haunted Mansion. I am furious at myself for not purchasing them when they were available. I found the one I really wanted on Ebay, but it’s listed at $525. Yikes! If Disney wanted to re-create these or something similar, I’d be most grateful.

3. Speaking of things I regret not buying, I recall at one time there was a Mary Poppins umbrella for sale. It had a parrot-head handle and the umbrella was screened with a beautiful picture of London. I’m regretting missing out on that one, too.

4. Back to the Haunted Mansion, my dining room and parlor would both look great if accented with some appropriate Haunted Mansion merchandise. I don’t mean a snow globe or a poster. I want to decorate those rooms as though they belong in the Haunted Mansion. Imagine the changing portraits staring at you as you eat a dinner similar to the one laid out in the Grand Ballroom. That would be way cooler than serving dinner on red and black Mickey plates, wouldn’t it? (Two more quick words to Disney on the matter of dinnerware: dishwasher safe.) Of course, I’d probably then be tempted to greet my guests in this little number:

It’s sad, but we all know I would.

5. Most of all though, I wish Disney offered a wider range of clothes with a Disney theme. I once bought a black negligee at Mickey’s of Hollywood in what was then Disney-MGM Studios. Good luck coming across anything like that in the parks these days. Now one is hard-pressed to find anything but t-shirts and sweatshirts with a Disney theme. But I for one almost never wear t-shirts, and I can’t believe I’m alone in wanting Disney to design dressier clothes. (By the way Disney, charging $59.95 for a t-shirt and calling it “couture” doesn’t change the fact that it’s still a t-shirt.) Here’s what I have in mind:

1. Imagine the Ann Taylor dress below with a Hidden Mickey design:

Or this sweater in a deep apple red with small apples and mirrors embroidered on the hem:

My rule is, if I wouldn’t wear it anyway, I’m not going to wear it just because it has a mouse on it. But I will pay a premium for things I’d want anyhow that have the added bonus of a Disney theme.

6. Speaking of themes: Can someone please let Disney know the term “Disney Villain” is not synonymous with Nightmare Before Christmas? I like Jack and Sally as much as the next person, but it seems to me like they are squeezing out all of the Disney Villains. I need more Maleficent and Wicked Queen!

7. That reminds me: Halloween Costumes. I am 38 years old. There is no way I’m dressing up as Minnie Mouse for Halloween. Queen Narissa from Enchanted on the other hand:

Heck yeah, I’d wear that!

How about you? What items would you love to see Disney make available for purchase? Please, please, please, let me know over at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene. I’d really like to hear your ideas!

Just Who Is Living In Fantasyland?

2010-08-23T17:15:00.000-04:00

As I’m sure you’ve heard by now, Disney has revamped their plans for the Fantasyland expansion. Originally, the plans called for a new Little Mermaid ride, as well as increasing the size of Dumbo the Flying Elephant and creating a circus tent to house it in. Pixie Hollow, a character meet-and-greet area, was to be added for guests to interact with Tinker Bell and her fairy friends. Additionally, guests were to be able to visit their favorite princesses in their own themed attractions: celebrate Aurora's birthday (that’s Sleeping Beauty, if you weren’t sure), dance with Cinderella, and frolic with Belle in Beast's castle, which would also include a new themed restaurant.

Disney immediately started receiving a lot of flak. Many who reviewed these plans found them to be too focused on girls, without enough appeal for boys. It appears the new Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman, Tom Staggs, agrees. According to an article in the Orlando Sentinel, Staggs claims designers are attempting to rebalance the plans, which initially tilted heavily towards young girls by emphasizing attractions and experiences built around Disney’s stable of animated-movie princesses.

Do the critics have a point? Absolutely. Even with the renaming of Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel to the Prince Charming Regal Carrousel (I still haven’t figured out how much of a difference that’s supposed to make), Fantasyland is a little girl’s idea of heaven. Heck, it’s my idea of heaven. So I’m not surprised to find out it’s not necessarily appealing to little boys. But part of me has to ask, “so what?”

Now, before you get your panties all in a bunch, let me explain. Yes, there is a severe princess bias in Fantasyland. But there should be. The princesses are the backbone of the Disney fantasy/fairy tale franchise. They are Fantasyland. Are they more appealing to girls than boys? You bet. Fortunately however, Tomorrowland is right around the corner. I mean hello, you’ve been to Tomorrowland, right? If that area isn’t designed specifically for 10-year-old boys, nothing is. First, there’s Stitch burping chili dogs in your face. If you are not a prepubescent male and you find that appealing, please keep that information to yourself. I just don’t want to know.

Next, there’s the Tomorrowland Indy Speedway. I’m sincerely hoping Disney isn’t trying to convince us that in the future all cars will only go 7 m.p.h. If so, is it any wonder I want to escape to Fantasyland? Everything else in Tomorrowland I’m willing to concede at least has the possibility of being as appealing to girls as boys, even if Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor (teenage boys will love the acronym) and Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin could be argued to be more boy-centric.

If we’re really going to look at the big picture, I think society as a whole should be blamed for this sexual segregation, not Disney. After all, we see nothing wrong with a girl liking Space Mountain, but get up in arms about a boy visiting Pixie Hollow. I say that if the boy has the guts to admit he wants to visit fairies and princesses, more power to him!

Do I think Disney is making the right move with the change in plans? For me, it has nothing to do with male versus female. I’m far more interested in attractions versus character meet-and-greets. My problem with the Fantasyland expansion has nothing to do with the theme; it’s that tons of money is being spent, but only one new bona fide attraction is being added. If they want to ditch the princess parties and add some more E-ticket rides, I unequivocally vote yes, no matter if they are princess or pirate themed! Here’s a thought: many in the Disney community have been begging for more villain-themed attractions. What better place for them than Fantasyland?

I Might Just be Gettining Cynical

2010-08-20T16:05:00.000-04:00

A couple of years ago, I bought my husband a sweatshirt at JCPenney. It was on sale, and curious to know how much of a discount I got, I removed all of the sale stickers when I got home to reveal the original price. You can imagine how irked I was when I saw that the original price was lower than the price that was showing the tag. They had marked the price up, in order to put it on sale and make me feel like I was getting a deal. Needless to say, I was angry.

I mention this because I feel almost as though Disney is currently doing something similar. They recently announced that adult ticket prices were going up $3 (from $79 to $82 per day), and a child’s ticket would increase $6 (from $68 to $74). That’s a 3.8% increase on adult tickets and an 8.8% increase on a child’s ticket!

Of course, to remove this unpalatable taste from our mouths, Disney almost immediately announced some discounts for next year. There’s a Free Dining offer for select dates 10/01/10 – 09/29/11, a $500 gift card option for qualifying bookings during selected times between October 2010 and February 2011, and even some room-only offers. This leads me to wonder: did Disney raise their prices specifically so that they could try to lure people with new discounts? Or did they offer the discounts to distract us from the price increases?

On the other hand, it’s very possible that this is just a “cost of doing business” sort of thing, and I’m reading too much into it. That said, I didn’t get an 8.8% raise this year, or even a 3.8% raise; did you? Do you think Disney is pulling a “JCPenney”, or do you think these are totally unrelated stories? Let me know at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

Room for 1,000? I’ll Volunteer!

2010-08-10T06:58:00.002-04:00

Geez Louise; I’m out of the loop for one weekend, and I miss one of the best Disney rumors in a while. I spent the entire weekend working on charity fundraisers, community theatre, and family obligations, so I didn’t read about this until Monday morning. I’m sure you’ve already heard about it, but it was just too interesting to resist discussing.

According to www.wdwmagic.com, WDW Today, and Inside the Magic (I’m sure there are others discussing this, but those are the ones I’ve encountered thus far) a survey is floating around amongst Disney guests to see what they think of proposed Haunted Mansion and Royal themed rooms at Disney’s Moderate Resorts, along the lines of the Pirate-themed rooms at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort.

When I first I heard of the Royal rooms, I was picturing something in the pink and purple Disney Princess color scheme that always seems to feature so prevalently in the Princess merchandise at the Disney Store. I was, shall we say, less than thrilled. Once I saw a proposed rendition of the room, however, I changed my tune. Here’s a picture from WDW Magic’s forums:

To me, this looks like a scaled-down re-creation of the suite inside Cinderella Castle, and I would very much enjoy staying in one of these rooms. Because let’s face it; a night in the Cinderella Castle Suite seems about as likely for me as a lottery win.

But we’re not kidding anyone; the idea that really got my heart racing was the Haunted Mansion room proposal. WDW Magic quotes the survey as saying, “Come spend the night with a few of the happy haunts who play in an enchanted bedroom inspired by the Haunted Mansion. Rest atop the floating Doom Buggy beds with a couple of friendly spooks and watch glow-in-the-dark, cartoon-like footsteps mysteriously appear as the evening sets in. A sliding bookcase creates a hidden passage to the bathroom and is the perfect hiding place for a hitch-hiking ghost. Oversized furnishings with curvy lines and bright colors add to the whimsy in the room. Guests will delight in finding the hidden special effects that play up the merry, rather than scary, room ambiance.”

On the minus side, this mock-up reminds me more of Dr. Seuss than Master Gracey. I guess I understand, though. I mean, it probably isn’t a good idea to have your five-year-old wake up in the middle of the night and have Phineas, Gus, and Ezra staring at him from the edge of his bed. And I love the hidden passage to the bathroom behind the bookcase. What a marvelous touch!

Of course, there are many unanswered questions, like: What would the cost be? How many of these rooms would be available? And where would these rooms go? This is entirely speculation on my part, of course, but I would think the pricing would be similar to that of the Pirate rooms at Caribbean Beach. In other words, about $30 more per night than a regular moderate room. I have no idea how many of these rooms Disney would create, but if I were Disney, I’d make as many of the Haunted Mansion rooms as the Royal, Pirate, and Nemo rooms combined. I have a feeling they will be very popular.

The most interesting question to me, however, is where Disney would put them. As I listened to the WDW Today team discuss this, I was screaming at my MP3 player where I thought they should go. Fortunately Matt, Mike, and Len agreed with me. The mansions in the Magnolia Bend section of Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort would be the perfect setting for the Haunted Mansion rooms (very reminiscent of the theming of Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion), and Port Orleans French Quarter would be a nice fit for the Royal rooms. After all, Princess Tiana deserves some nice digs, don’t you think? (Although my daughter Kira says that the rooms look more like Charlotte’s style than Tiana’s.)

Again, let me emphasize that this is all speculation. Disney has released nothing on this themselves. And we’ve certainly never heard anything from Disney on the last rumor I discussed that was based on a survey; that of a new World Showcase pavilion, in http://disneygene.blogspot.com/2010/05/look-at-all-these-rumors-surroundin-me.html. (A quick note to Disney: I stand by my assertion in that post that World Showcase needs an E-Ticket attraction, and a Russia pavilion would be the perfect home for it. I’m just saying…)

Do you think Disney should move forward with these rooms? Would you pay extra to stay there? Where do you think they should go? Speak your piece over at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

It's a Rich Man's World

2010-08-04T07:58:00.000-04:00

I wish I had as much money as Disney seems to think I do.

I’m sure it’s nothing personal, but the Disney Corporation seems bent on making me feel poor. I don’t generally think I am. We’re a typical family; two incomes, a mortgage payment, two car payments, one daughter who’ll be going to college in a few years, and two dogs. Granted, I’d probably have more disposable income to send to Disney if I didn’t have Ann Taylor and Williams Sonoma locations permanently programmed into my GPS, but we won’t go there.

But whenever Disney comes out with a new and exciting travel option, I always find myself wondering who in heaven’s name (outside of lottery winners and Hollywood moguls) can afford these things.

Take for example, the 12 Night Northern European Capital Cities Cruise that Disney Cruise line offered earlier this year. It sounded incredible. Departing out of Dover,

England

, the Disney Magic sailed to Scandinavian ports such as Oslo, Copenhagen and Stockholm, then on to Warnemunde, Germany, and St. Petersburg,

Russia

. The Disney Magic spent the night in St. Petersburg, allowing Disney Cruise Line guests time to experience the “Cultural Capital of Russia” or use the second day to book a shore excursion to Moscow. I think this sounds incredible. Unfortunately, so does the price. Prices started, started, at $3,649 per person for a category 11 stateroom, double occupancy. And this doesn’t include airfare. So not counting incidentals, for a couple to just fly from Cleveland to London (find your own way from there to Dover; I didn’t see any flights), take the cruise and fly home, we are taking a starting price of $9,176, plus tax. That’s, um, not in my budget. Neither are the consolation gifts I’d have to buy Kira for leaving her at home.

Equally tempting and yet totally out of my reach are some of the Adventures by Disney options. These sound fabulous. There’s the 6-night England and France Family Vacation (Cities of Knights and Lights) that includes a stage show, visits to Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Notre Dame Cathedral, Versailles, the Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower. I would love this. But for Ray, Kira, and I (including airfare from Cleveland to London and then from Paris back home) we are talking a starting price of $14,793. (You didn’t really want to go to college did you, Kira?)

What actually prompted me to think of this, however, was the latest ABD trip announced by Disney. The 7-night Egypt Family Vacation includes a camel ride past the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx in Giza, 3 nights in Cairo, a 3-night Nile cruise, and a tour the temples of Philae, Kom Ombo, Edfu, Karnak and Luxor, plus the tombs of Ramses VI and King Tut in the Valley of the Kings. For nothing but the ABD trip and airfare for the three of us, the starting price is a mere $14,777. (I better not mention this one to Kira. She might actually choose this over a year in college.) Also included in of this one, however, is the service of an armed guard. Disney requires that your group have an armed guard accompanying you at all times. Doesn’t that just make you feel warm and cozy inside?

I’m not saying that Disney’s prices are out of line. I’m sure that if I could ever afford them, I’d feel that they were worth every penny. I’m just saying that Disney is tempting me beyond what I can bear, here!

Am I just out of touch with the cost of vacations these days? Can you afford these? And if so, would you like to pay for me to come along as a babysitter for your kids? Let me know over at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

Mea Culpa

2010-08-03T07:58:00.000-04:00

Stitch Kingdom recently posted to Facebook that the intro to my article “Let the Memories Begin” looked suspiciously like a news blurb they had written earlier. Upon reviewing them side by side, I admit that they are correct, and that I worded my intro much more similarly to their press release than I ought to have. My sincerest apologies to them, and to all of my readers.

What Do You Miss?

2010-08-02T08:26:00.000-04:00

I’m missing Walt Disney World right now. Big surprise, right? Of course, non-Disneyphiles don’t get it, but you do. Odds are, you are missing WDW right now, too. Here’s what I’m pining for the most:

Disney Service – I spend my whole life seeing to other people’s needs: my boss, my customers, my husband, my daughter, my extended family and friends. At Walt Disney World, there is an entire staff of people dedicated to taking care of me. What’s not to love about that? And while other places pay lip service to customer care, Disney takes it seriously.
Lack of Responsibility – I admit it: I take my work laptop and cell phone with me to WDW, but I don’t handle work issues unless they are extremely urgent. And no cooking, no dishes, no laundry, no housework = absolute heaven!
Disney Dining – Whether I’m in the mood for ice cream for dinner or a seven course meal with wine pairings, Disney has me covered!
Shopping – I could spend an entire WDW vacation doing nothing but shopping. Once again, I’m sure you find the surprise overwhelming.
Family Time – One of Walt’s original reasons for building Disneyland was to provide an atmosphere where the entire family could have fun together. Walt Disney World delivers. I love having all of that time with Ray and Kira!
Entertainment – Rides, shows, street performers, parades, fireworks: if you are bored at WDW, you have no one to blame but yourself.
Florida – I love the state of Florida. I’m too scared of reptiles and annoyed by insects to ever move there, but it is my favorite place to visit. Sunshine, sand, and palm trees all add up to sheer bliss in my book. And drinks with little umbrellas in them, of course.
Immersive Experience – You’ve heard the expression about the whole being greater than the sum of its parts? That describes Walt Disney World to a T. The landscaping is great, the ambient sights and smells are wonderful, the attention to detail is impeccable, but no one individual aspect of these defines the Disney experience. It’s the way they all come together you to envelop you in a wonderful world separate from the rest of the planet that makes all of the expense, planning, and logistical concerns worthwhile.

So why are you wishing you were in Walt Disney World right now? Let me know over at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

Who Has Time to Wait for a Prince to Come?

2010-07-30T10:44:00.001-04:00

My original plan was to make today’s post about the evolution of the Disney Princes throughout the years. I was going to call it Prince and the Evolution. (Get it? It’s a play on Prince and the Rev – forget it. It sounded much more clever in my head.) But then I decided: why limit myself to just princes? After all, royalty is rather hard to come by these days. So instead I’m going to review some of Disney’s animated leading men throughout the years to see if we think they’ve grown over time. I won’t cover all of them (because Pinocchio and Dumbo just aren’t romantic leads in my book, and Donald’s pursuit of Aurora Miranda doesn’t quite qualify, either).

The Prince (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, 1937) – Dude, you didn’t even get a name. You don’t fight the villain, you get hardly any lines, and the dwarfs get billing over you. But I guess when Snow White has an evil stepmother plotting to kill her, she doesn’t have much time to screen potential princes.

Prince Charming (Cinderella, 1950) – Well, at least you get a name, sort of. And you and Cinderella get a little time to know each other before the wedding. But once again, it’s a good thing that stepmothers are so hard to live with.

Peter Pan (Peter Pan, 1953) – He’s trying to simultaneously juggle Wendy, Tinker Bell, Tiger Lily and the mermaids, and can’t understand why any of them would get upset. We’ve all dated this guy and it’s true; he’s never going to grow up.

Tramp (Lady and the Tramp, 1955) – One of the first signs that we get from Disney that a guy doesn’t have to have a fancy pedigree to be a keeper. Too bad he’s not human.

Prince Phillip (Sleeping Beauty, 1959) – Finally, we get a guy who likes the girl for who she is, is willing to stand up to his father (with whom he actually has a good relationship), defeats the villain, and has a sense of humor. He even has a great horse. We are heading in the right direction!

Thomas O’Malley (The Aristocats, 1960) – Sure, he’s good with the kids, but Duchess: he’s an ally cat. Do you really think he’s going to be a faithful, responsible mate? I’m just glad you are financially stable in your own right, honey.

Robin Hood (Robin Hood, 1973) – He really is a fox. This may have been my first crush, that’s all I’m saying.

Roger Rabbit (Who Framed Roger Rabbit, 1988) – I’m not really sure who the romantic lead is here – is it Roger or Eddie Valiant? Either way, a woman appreciates a man who can make her laugh.

Prince Eric (The Little Mermaid, 1989) – Yes, he gets bamboozled by the scheming witch, but what guy hasn’t? He makes the right choice in the end. Another prince worthy of the title.

Beast (Beauty and the Beast, 1991) – Well, at least we know she wasn’t into him for his looks. Or his witty repartee. Or his ability to make a good first impression. And does he have a name? And why, in all of the Disney marketing, has he reverted back to beast form? But I guess considering Belle’s options, I can see why he was her choice.

Aladdin (Aladdin, 1992) – At last, it’s the guy who marries to get the title. He worked hard for it, though, and showed his worth as “a diamond in the rough”.

Simba (The Lion King, 1994) – I know he had it rough for awhile, but with Nala by his side I think he’s got a good chance. Nala is the one in this story who is really worth her weight in gold, in my opinion.

John Smith (Pocahontas, 1995) – He’s adventuresome and brave (and apparently a lot less prejudiced than the actor who voiced him) but other than that, I just don’t see a whole lot to recommend him. It is possible that my feelings about the actor have influenced my opinion of the character, however.

Phoebus (The Hunchback of Notre Dame, 1996) Quasimodo is the title character, but I guess “leading man” status goes to Phoebus. He was brave and loyal, but I always felt a little guilty about rooting for him to get Esmeralda.

Hercules (Hercules, 1997) – In the end, it’s good to be the son of a god.

Li Shang (Mulan, 1998) – Brave, strong, intelligent, handsome, fair, and good under pressure: “Sign me up for the next war” indeed!

Tarzan (Tarzan, 1999) – I hate to sound like a snob, but unless you are legitimately stranded in the jungle, I fail to see how this guy can hold any appeal for you, outside of a sociology experiment.

I think it’s best if we skip ahead 10 years (because if anyone in say The Emperor’s New Groove is your idea of a leading man, we need to have a little chat) to:

Prince Naveen (The Princess and the Frog, 2009) – This was a beautiful film, I loved Tiana, Facilier was a good villain, but Naveen was the weak link in the chain for me. Yes he was handsome, but if he’s going to be that useless, he’d better be a whole lot more charming.

That brings us to Flynn Rider in the upcoming Tangled. What kind of leading man will he be? There’s no denying that he’s a hotty hotsome. But he also seems pretty darn full of himself. Can he pull it off, a la Puck in Glee , or are we going to end up with a version of Gaston that manages to somehow redeem himself in the end? Let me know what you think over at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

Let the Memories Begin

2010-07-26T07:12:00.001-04:00

A recent application with the US Patent and Trademark Office for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts offers up a service mark with the name Let the Memories Begin. There is no additional information (that I know of) beyond the service mark itself, but it certainly does lend itself to a marketing slogan. Of course, only time will tell. That said, it brought to mind some of my favorite Disney marketing campaigns of the past. I’m feeling a bit nostalgic, so I thought I’d share. I was going to rank them according to my favorites, but I found it impossible to choose. I hope you enjoy them!

Too Excited to Sleep:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b95oyhSd5ls

When you Wish Upon a Star:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNGeUwJlskA

Remember the Magic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMtBvk3imIs&feature=related

Magic Happens:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahGsElNsaQM

Talk to Me in That Special Way:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxyXk4UsyHM&feature=related

Voice of Experience:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM-8SrBbOTE&feature=related

Be Our Guest:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UZlt-Ctx0o

Be Our Guest # 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brvybZkFn-E&feature=PlayList&p=147EDB980A6DF341&playnext=1&index=52

Waiting My Whole Life:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2e0dBYRk6w&feature=related

Happiest Homecoming:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Cvz79dq-c4&feature=related

Rumors

2010-07-22T06:55:00.002-04:00

Dear Disney Fans,

www.dictionary.com defines the word rumor as: “a story or statement in general circulation without confirmation or certainty as to facts”. I mention this because some Disney fans appear to be confusing “rumor” with “fact”. Fact is: “a truth known by actual experience or observation; something known to be true”.

A few Disney fans seem to be taking umbrage when rumors reported on unofficial Disney sites don't pan out. I'm not going to mention any other names, but I for one certainly mentioned some rumors that have been floating around. And let’s be honest; the only “inside scoop” I have is the internet and a few friends that used to work at Walt Disney World. I'm sure people more established in the Disney community have far better resources at their disposal than I do. To put it bluntly, I'm a complete nonentity; just another Disney nut. But no matter how good a Disney blogger’s contacts may be, I can't see how anyone can get upset with them if their stories don't pan out. Nor can I imagine calling into question their honesty, integrity, or intelligence for sharing with us what they've heard.

Just because I heard rumors that Disney may be considering a new pavilion in World Showcase doesn't make it so. And it doesn't make me a liar if there only eleven countries represented there from now until eternity. Or just because someone else may have mentioned that Disney was planning to add a fifth gate to Walt Disney World doesn't mean that he's an unreliable or untrustworthy. If he could have predicted that the economy was going to tank, maybe we should consider him as a candidate to become the next Chairman of the United States Federal Reserve. Even if said fifth gate was reported as a “go”, anyone with half a brain can see why the worldwide economy over the last two years might have made Disney reconsider this idea.

Long story short; Disney plans have a tendency to be “written in Jell-O”. Attractions come and go, plans change, and finances get redirected. If you want the official story, only read the Disney press releases. If you choose to consider some unofficial sources, please remember that it is not their fault if Disney changes its plans.

That was Then, This is Now

2010-07-20T05:56:00.000-04:00

Do you remember the rumors floating around a couple of years ago about Disney’s Night Kingdom? This was allegedly a proposed 5^th park at Walt Disney World that would be open in the evenings. Plans called for this niche park to officially throw open its doors in October of 2011, just in time for the start of Walt Disney World's 40th anniversary celebration.

"Why did you call 'Disney's Night Kingdom' a niche park?" you ask. Well, because -- just like Sea World’s Discovery Cove (which only allows in a thousand visitors each day) -- DNK was to restrict the number of guests that can enter this park every afternoon. Only 2000 people would be allowed into WDW's 5th theme park at any one time. And yes, I said "afternoon." Disney's Night Kingdom's operating hours were to be 4 P.M. to midnight. Guests would arrive through a relocated version of the Adventurers’ Club (oh, how I wanted that to return!) and experience everything from riding a zip line over a pool of crocodiles to strapping on a pair of night vision goggles and wandering out into a pitch-black African savanna, where they’d be able to observe up-close lions and hyenas as they go through their nocturnal hunting routines.

So what happened? Well, the economy tanked. These rumors were floating around in February 2008. Then they disappeared completely. You see, Disney was planning to charge $250 - $300 per person for an evening in the park. Yikes!

So why do I bring this up now? Because at Disney, a good idea never dies; it just gets recycled. Just this week, Disney announced a new program they are starting soon at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Per Disney, this “new adventure at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park will have guests trekking into the savannah. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park will be offering a new, immersive experience that’ll take a small group of Guests on personalized, guided treks along some unexplored areas of the Harambe Reserve. During the excursions, you’ll be able to spend more time observing the wildlife on the savannah and have a chance to learn about the animals and their behaviors from one of our Disney guides. Adventurers will also trek through an undeveloped forest area of the Harambe Reserve and then board a unique vehicle specially designed for the rest of the quest.”

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

No pricing has been announced yet for these excursions, but Disney is definitely intimating that the cost will not be included with regular park admission. And it should be significantly less than the $250 - $300 Disney’s Night Kingdom was supposed to cost.

Now if only we could find a way for them to bring back the Adventurers’ Club, as well…

Completely Off-Topic

2010-07-16T08:33:00.000-04:00

Today’s post is completely off-topic and totally self-centered. I usually write about Walt Disney World, as that is where my brain always is (whether my body is or not) but today I’m focused on my upcoming performance in Gypsy. We open tonight at the Bellevue Society for the Arts in Bellevue, OH.

If you’ve never seen Gypsy, it is a Broadway musical based on the life of the Burlesque Queen, Gypsy Rose Lee with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents. Gypsy focuses on her mother, Rose, whose name has become synonymous with "the ultimate show business mother." It follows the dreams and efforts of Rose to raise two daughters to perform onstage and casts an affectionate eye on the hardships of show business life. The character of Louise is based on Lee, and the character of June is based on Lee's sister, the actress June Havoc.

The musical contains many songs that became popular standards, including "Rose’s Turn," "Everything's Coming up Roses", "You'll Never Get Away from Me," and "Let Me Entertain You." It is frequently considered one of the crowning achievements of the mid-20th century's conventional musical theatre art form, often called the "book musical".

I’m playing Mazeppa, one of the three strippers who introduce Gypsy to the world of burlesque. I don’t sing extremely well, I really don’t dance, and I absolutely do not play the trumpet, but I’m doing all three in my big number “You Gotta Get a Gimmick”. Here’s a little YouTube clip that was recorded at rehearsal a couple of weeks ago. I really hope you get a good chuckle out of it, at least.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhDSCxohyQg

Anything to get me one step closer to my dream of being a Streetmosphere character at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

Just Making Sure You Knew

2010-07-14T11:01:00.000-04:00

Everyone knows that you can view scores of exotic animals as you tour the 100 acre savannah on Disney's Kilimanjaro Safari at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. But did you know you can watch these animals get cared for, as well?

By boarding the Wildlife Express and taking it to Rafiki’s Planet Watch, you get the opportunity for an up-close encounter with some of the animals. Best of all though, if any medical procedures are being performed during your visit, you may actually get to watch!

Recently, two male scimitar-horned Oryx calves were born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. One arrived via natural birth; the other, due to difficulties during birth that put the mother and calf at risk, was delivered by Caesarean section in view of guests at the Disney’s Animal Kingdom veterinary hospital at Rafiki’s Planet Watch.

Scimitar-horned Oryx are extinct in the wild due to poaching and other challenges, and efforts are under way to reintroduce this species to protected areas of Senegal, Africa. The births are a result of a recommendation of the scimitar-horned Oryx Species Survival Plan program coordinated by the AZA. With the new calves there are now four males and five females in the scimitar-horned Oryx herd at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The Oryx moms and their calves are bonding in their backstage home, and a date has not yet been determined for them to go out on the Kilimanjaro Safaris savannah.

Medical procedures of all sorts get performed here – saving snakes that have swallowed golf balls, giving x-rays to Gorillas, even giving a tiger a root canal. The most common surgery performed? Castrating ducks. I am not making this up. I guess that goes a long way to explaining Donald Duck’s voice.

Have you visited Rafiki’s Planet Watch? What did you think? Please let me know at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

Taking Pictures Is Making Memories

2010-07-12T06:50:00.001-04:00

Great vacations and celebrations,
Can fade away in a year.
But when we're making memories,
Happy days are always here!

Disney’s PhotoPass – I feel a little guilty writing about it, as I’ve never actually purchased it myself. But I finally decided that I could at least give you a quick rundown of it, as well as why I haven’t purchased it yet, and what changes Disney could make that would encourage me to do so.

What is Disney's PhotoPass?

It used to be Disney's photographers would take pictures of you in a park and give you a slip of paper to claim the photos at the end of the day. If you forgot or if you couldn't get the picture that day, you were out of luck. But now, that's all changed. With the advantages of digital photography, Disney created a new system: the photographers still take pictures of your vacation, but now you can claim them any time, including online for 30 days after your trip is over. From there you can view your photos, order prints, and create photo keepsakes. Many guests say since PhotoPass has done away with the long lines to pick up their pictures, they had more photos taken.

How does PhotoPass Work?

As Disney likes to put it: Smile! View. Shop.

Smile!: PhotoPass Cast Members (no matter what park they are in) have a standard costume: blue shorts or pants, white shirt, khaki photographer's vest. Disney claims they are located throughout the parks, but I find they generally congregate near the park entrances, by a few signature attractions, and some character meet and greets. The photographers may ask you to do some fun poses. For example, the photographer will have you cup your hands or have you put them in the air like you're lifting something. When you view your photos, you'll see Tinkerbell, Figment, or Simba now added to your "magical photos”.

The first photographer will give you a plastic Disney's PhotoPass card with an ID number on the back. Hang onto that card and use it for the duration of your trip. Each time you see one of the roving photographers and want a photo taken, just go up and hand them your card - they'll get you situated, snap the pose, scan your card and off you go - and you can do this as often as you like. Don't worry if you end up with more than one card; your online PhotoPass account allows you to enter multiple cards.

View: You can view your pictures in two different ways:

1. In the parks: go to a Photo Center to view the pictures taken thus far.

2. At home: go to http://www.disneyphotopass.com/, register for free, and enter the I.D. number on your card.

Disney will break down your photos in different views: All of your photos, and then one category for each park. The number of photos that you have for each category is listed right next to its name. You can also upload your own trip photos to take advantage of the PhotoPass system.

Shop: you can create prints, customized photobooks, T-shirts, mugs greeting cards, and more. For the best value on prints, get your PhotoPass photos on Disney's PhotoCD.

Be forewarned though; it’s not cheap. The PhotoPass CD is $124.95 (occasional discounts available) and photo prints start at $12.95 for a 5”x7”. Now you know why I haven’t purchased one yet.

I was really tempted to purchase it on our last trip. My husband appeared in one of the American Idol Experience shows, and those photos can be added to your account as well. But it’s just so stinking expensive.

So what would induce me to take the plunge? (Other than Disney drastically reducing the price, because we all know that’s not going to happen.) If I were going on a once in a lifetime trip (i.e. those people who only go to Walt Disney World once in their lives, or perhaps going for the only time with extended family) I might be willing to splurge. But there’s one thing Disney could easily do that would induce me to purchase the CD far more often: add the ride photos to your CD. According to http://www.disneyphotopass.com/, Test Track at Epcot is the only ride on which you can add your photo to your Disney's PhotoPass card as you exit the attraction. Word has it that Space Mountain has recently been added as well, but that’s it. I’m telling you right here, right now, that if Disney added the other rides where they take your photo onto this service, I’d buy the PhotoPass CD quite often, maybe even every trip. But unless they do that, probably not.

How about you? Are you a fan of the service? If you’ve purchased it, what did you think? I’d really love for you to let me know at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

Are You Kidding Me?

2010-07-07T10:35:00.001-04:00

It may be a stretch to write about this in a Disney blog, but Disney owns ESPN, so I’m going with it.

In case you didn’t already know, I’m a Cleveland sports fan. While my true loves are baseball and football, I’ve been known to watch a Cavs game or two in my day. And let’s be honest, it’s been a lot more fun to watch them over the past few years.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that Cleveland’s basketball success over the past few years has been due to the presence of superstar LeBron James. Unless you’ve found that rock super cozy, you also know that LeBron became a free agent July 1^st.

Cleveland fans, along with most of the sports world, have been awaiting King James’ decision. Last night while watching ESPN, I learned when and how LeBron would announce his choice to the world.

The “when” is Thursday, July 8^th at 9:00 PM. That was a touch disappointing, as rumor had it that the decision would come on Wednesday. It was the “how” that really knocked me for a loop, however. Mr. James is holding a one-hour special on ESPN to make his plans for the future known.

My first response was somewhere along the lines of “Are you kidding me?” I don’t know what I found more shocking: that the LeBron camp would have the audacity to make this request, or that ESPN would actually acquiesce to it.

Now granted, I’m a sports enthusiast but definitely not an expert. But to my knowledge this is unprecedented, to say the least. Maybe I’m old-fashioned, but I think the classiest way to announce the decision would be a nice, dignified press release. Or if you’re in the mood to be flashy, go ahead and do it on camera. But having ESPN clear their schedule for a one-hour special? Dude, you’re not the president. I think ESPN should’ve told him where to stick it. And seriously, how long does it take to say “I’m screwing my hometown and loyal fan base to go play in a bigger market. Therefore, I’ve decided to sign with ----.” There; I just did it in about 5 seconds. How do you drag that out into an hour? Of course, I’m forgetting about commercials. ESPN has to say “I’m sorry” to their regular advertisers and “Sayonara” to any advertising money they’d have made during that time, because James' representatives requested they be allowed to sell sponsorship for the one-hour special, with the proceeds going to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

Will he announce his new home right away? Will he wait until 9:59? Will it become a telethon, with the team that has the fans that raise the most amount of money for charity getting LeBron? (Hey, that’s not a bad idea. I think he should do that.) Will you be watching? I won’t. I’ll be trying to dance on my injured foot at Gypsy rehearsal. But I’d love to know your thoughts at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene.

Call Me Pinocchio

2010-07-02T07:16:00.002-04:00

I lied.

After years of complaining about recent Disney animated features and requesting that Disney return to the “princess formula” as a way for Disney to recapture their success of the early 1990s, I realize that I was wrong. I was also incorrect in whining about computer animation as opposed to hand-drawn. After comparing Enchanted (which I loved) to Princess and the Frog (which I really liked) and the teasers for the upcoming Tangled (which at least interest me), I’ve decided that what I really miss isn’t the subject matter or the medium, it’s the style. I miss the big Broadway productions that I loved so much.

We’re not kidding anybody; I love musicals. I’m performing in a local one now (what I lack in talent, I make up for in enthusiasm -- as evidenced by a recent recording of our rehearsal that just hit YouTube). I realize that not everyone shares my love. My husband used to poke fun at musicals, claiming that people didn’t go through life spontaneously bursting into song. Then he started hanging out with more theatre folk. Now even choreographed dance routines in the middle of Wal-Mart don’t surprise him.

But something tells me that I’m not the only person that misses the Broadway format. Look at the success of the TV show Glee. Or check out the Flash Mob routines that are all over the internet. Even I’m not self-absorbed enough to believe these were all created for my benefit; other people must love them, too. So doesn’t it stand to reason that others miss the animated musicals, as well?

Of course, Disney lost a true musical genius when the talented lyricist Howard Ashman (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin) tragically died from complications from AIDS in 1991. And while Elton John of course did a fantastic job with the music in The Lion King, none of the other musicals have quite measured up, in my humble opinion. But this is Disney we’re talking about. I’ve got to believe they have the ability to attract some high caliber talent. I just think they need to remember that the Ashman/Menken team created for more memorable and lasting pieces that say, Phil Collins. (I like Phil Collins. Don’t send me nasty “hate” messages. But if you think the music in Tarzan or Brother Bear is as good as that in The Little Mermaid or Beauty and the Beast, you’re nuts.)

What do you think? Do you believe Disney could achieve success by returning to the big Broadway-style productions? Or do you think they are better off taking what I’ll call the Dreamworks route? Because that’s what the brief bits I’ve seen of Tangled remind me of. (But to be honest, I haven’t seen enough to make a truly informed opinion.) Let me know at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

If I Had Eight Million Dollars

2010-06-30T07:16:00.001-04:00

Champagne taste on a beer budget? Heck, there have been times I couldn’t even afford the beer. But there are moments when I regret my lack of fiscal flexibility more deeply than others – like now.

You see, Disney has unveiled their latest way to make me feel like trailer park trash – um, I mean has unveiled their latest, exclusive luxury option: Golden Oak, a luxury community right on Walt Disney World property.

According to Disney, The story of Golden Oak begins in true once-upon-a time fashion. A scenic ranch in California's Placerita Canyon proved to be an inspiring location for filming segments of The Mickey Mouse Club TV show. Walt Disney Productions purchased portions of the property in 1959 and, over the years, acquired more than 900 acres to reserve its quiet vistas for TV and movie productions and protect its harmony with nature. In fact, Walt and his family spent time relaxing and playing on the ranch. The name of this ranch? Golden Oak, in honor of a storied tree there, under which some say gold nuggets had been found in 1842. From these illustrious origins, the legacy continues with Golden Oak at Walt Disney World Resort.

Located southeast of the Magic Kingdom and north of Epcot, Disney has created Golden Oak so that the wealthy may enjoy “elite concierge services and privileges at Walt Disney World Resort and to step into a realm reserved for just a fortunate few.” It’s a hard-knock life, huh?

How much does it cost to join this world of privilege and access? Golden Oak Realty will offer a limited collection of single family custom homes priced from approximately $1.5 - 8 million, with fewer than 30 home sites available for sale this year (2010). Priority Reservation deposits are now being accepted, with the first completed homes projected for 2011. In all, the community will eventually consist of around 450 homes. Just plunk down a $25,000 deposit, and you could be on your way.

What does 1.5 – 8 million get you these days? Here’s the Disney description of these homes:

“At one with nature, Golden Oak is an exquisite community that reveals a careful balance of artistry with stewardship of the land. Master-planned by Walt Disney Imagineering and acclaimed design firms, homes are discerningly placed amid lush landscapes. Expansive conservation areas comprise almost half of the entire 980-acre footprint and provide sanctuary to migrating songbirds, ospreys and wood storks.

Four gracefully arranged neighborhoods await your consideration. Each is designed as an exquisite complement to the whole of Golden Oak and a well-lived life. Homes will be crafted by a select group of expert builders chosen for their experience in constructing fine custom residences.

Carolwood
The natural preserves surrounding this lovely neighborhood offer a scenic and private setting for the finest of family getaways. At up to three-quarters acre in size, each of Carolwood's seventeen custom-home sites can amply accommodate your family estate. Should you choose an address in the secluded, northernmost enclave of Carolwood Reserve, you'll be well rewarded with serene natural, golf course or water views. The Reserve is a limited offering of eight premium custom-home sites, all generously sized at approximately three-quarters acre.

Silverbrook
Enjoy the best of both worlds at Silverbrook, where the natural and the social come together beautifully on nineteen homesites of approximately one-half acre. Here, your family can savor a life of quiet repose alongside conservation areas or water features — yet stroll to community amenities and activities at Summerhouse, the proposed private clubhouse for Golden Oak.

Kimball Trace
A charming Tuscan-inspired village with courtyard homes, Kimball Trace caters to those with an enthusiasm for resort living. This intimate collection of creatively designed homes is sited to emphasize privacy, while centrally placing you within neighborly reach of the proposed Summerhouse, new friends and engaging diversions.”

And of course, the property is “plussed” with some special Disney benefits:

“An abundance of pleasures and pastimes will be yours at Golden Oak. Nothing can compare to a day in the theme parks at Walt Disney World® Resort. Adding an even more magical dimension to your Disney experience will be the privileges created expressly for families at Golden Oak:

Private VIP transportation
A suite of in-park benefits
Access to select special-event tickets
Community-hosted activities throughout the year

Your Golden Oak Concierge

There's something rather delightful about being able to hand over your "Want To's" and "Must Do's" to someone who can orchestrate them into "Well Done's." And here, that special someone is your Golden Oak Concierge, just a call or click away. It will be their pleasure to take care of such arrangements as:

Move-in services
Travel and private transportation
Disney parks and special-event tickets
Golf tee-times
Dinner reservations
Private VIP tours
At-home dinners and parties
Holiday home decorating
Grocery shopping and errands
Pre-arrival and post-departure home maintenance services

Summerhouse, a Private Proposed Clubhouse
A destination experience close to home, the Summerhouse is envisioned to be a casually elegant gathering place for families and friends. Imagine the possibilities for finding your ideal blend of social, leisure and quality time enjoying:

Fine dining
A spacious veranda, the perfect spot for sipping refreshments
State-of-the-art fitness facility
Yoga studio or workout area
Culinary adventures, such as guest chef appearances and wine tastings

Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort
Prepare to be dazzled by the proposed Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort, a grand 445-room hotel planned to be located at Golden Oak. Residents will have access to select amenities at the proposed Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® Resort including:

An 18-hole golf course designed by Tom Fazio
Superlative restaurants
Facilities for private events
A tranquil spa, offering a complete array of services, for body, mind and soul”

Oh, and these will all be private residences. Disney will not allow any of them to be used as timeshares, or to be rented out for periods of time shorter than six months. Of course, if you’d like a first-hand report of what living here is like, I’d be more than happy to accept donations! No? Then I guess I’ll have to stick to my champagne wishes and Mickey Mouse dreams.

It's Supercalifragilisticexpialidocous!

2010-06-28T07:26:00.002-04:00

I am doing a Happy Dance. Well technically, it’s more of a Pooh Wiggle, since my injured foot still prohibits anything more ambitious. But celebrating I am, because a DVD release date has finally been announced for some Disney documentaries I have been eagerly anticipating.

November 30, 2010 will see the release of all three critically acclaimed documentaries which offer insights into historical periods of The Walt Disney Company. The Boys: The Sherman Brothers ’ Story, Waking Sleeping Beauty, and Walt and El Groupo will all be available for purchase. Here’s the skinny on those:

The Boys: The Sherman Brothers’ Story is an intimate journey through the lives of Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman, the astoundingly prolific, Academy Award®-winning songwriting team that defined family musical entertainment for five decades with unforgettable songs like “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocous” from Mary Poppins, “I Wanna Be Like You” from The Jungle Book and the theme songs to many Disney theme park attractions. The feature-length documentary, conceived, produced and directed by two of the songwriters’ sons, takes audiences behind the scenes of the Disney Studios, and also explores a deep and longstanding rift that has kept the brothers personally estranged throughout much of their unparalleled professional partnership.
Bonus features include:

Why They’re “The Boys”
Disney Studios in the ’60s
Casting Mary Poppins
Theme Parks – A look at their theme park music songbook and how they went about composing a song for a ride
Roy Williams – A Disney Animator and also famous for being on the original Mickey Mouse Club, we learn through his artwork some of the stories of what it was like to work in the Animation Building in the 1960’s
Bob’s Art: A look at Bob Sherman’s other passion, his artwork
Celebration: Testimonials from celebrities and Hollywood legends
Sherman Brother’s Jukebox: A collection of Sherman Brothers songs and the stories behind them including: “Tall Paul”, “Chim Chim Cher-ee”, “Feed the Birds”, “There’s A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow”, “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”, and more

Waking Sleeping Beauty: This is no fairy tale. It’s the true story of how Disney regained its magic with a staggering output of hits – “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” “The Lion King,” and more – over a 10-year period.

By the mid-1980s, the fabled animation studios of Walt Disney had fallen on hard times. The artists were polarized between newcomers hungry to innovate and old timers not yet ready to relinquish control. These conditions produced a series of box-office flops and pessimistic forecasts – maybe the best days of animation were over. Maybe the public didn’t care. Only a miracle or a magic spell could produce a happy ending.

Bonus features include:

Why Wake Sleeping Beauty? – Overview featurette
Untold Bedtime Stories – Deleted scenes from the feature
The Sailor, the Mountain Climber, the Artist and the Poet – Celebrating Roy Disney, Frank Wells, Joe Ranft, and Howard Ashman
Studio Tours – Randy’s tours, Roger Rabbit studio, Oliver studio, and the tour we shot at ARL
A Reunion – Rob Minkoff and Kirk Wise
Walt – What would Walt do AND compare Walt’s era and this era
3 webisode shorts
Gallery – Photos, caricatures, and art from the era

Walt & El Grupo: For ten weeks in 1941, Walt Disney, his wife Lilly, and sixteen colleagues from his studio visited nations in Latin America to gather story material for a series of films with South American themes. The feature documentary film Walt & El Grupo uses this framing device to explore inter-American relations, provide a rare glimpse into the artists who were part of the magic of Disney’s “Golden Age” and give an unprecedented look at the 39 year-old Walt Disney during one of the most challenging times of his entire life.

Bonus features include:

Audio Commentary – Director Theodore Thomas and Historian J.B. Kaufman
Photos In Motion – How the photos literally came to life
From The Director’s Cut – 3 different segments taking you deeper into the story
Saludos Amigos – Original theatrical version
Original Theatrical Trailers: Saludos Amigos (1942); The Three Caballeros (1944)

These are currently available for pre-order through Amazon.com. List price per DVD (each of the three are of course, separate) is $29.99, and the Amazon price is $20.99. You can bet your bottom dollar I’ll be getting them. Are you excited, too? Let me know at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

Time for a Cool Change

2010-06-23T07:31:00.002-04:00

I started writing today’s post with the intent to pick an attraction in each of the four Walt Disney World parks that I thought was due for an overhaul, and perhaps describe an appropriate replacement. I got a little hung up though when I came to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It was a little like facing a dessert buffet; with so many tempting options, how do you choose just one?

There’s a lot about the Studios that I just adore. Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Rock’n’Roller Coaster, and Toy Story Midway Mania! are three of my favorite attractions. Fantasmic! Is always a good time (when it’s, you know, actually showing), and watching my husband perform in the American Idol Experience will always be a wonderful memory for me. But there’s plenty in the Studios that could use a reboot.

The obvious choice is Sounds Dangerous. It’s currently operating in seasonal status anyway, and we all know that that generally means its days are numbered as a WDW attraction. And outside of Drew Carey himself, I doubt a whole lot of people will be sorry to see it go. I don’t anticipate any Toad-style sit-ins for this one.

But then I got to thinking: What about Voyage of the Little Mermaid or Beauty and the Beast? While both of these are charming and enjoyable shows, they aren’t ones that I have to catch on absolutely every trip. And will the new Fantasyland expansion make these attractions superfluous, as both characters will at that time be well-represented in the Magic Kingdom? It’s something to think about. And from what I understand, these were never meant to be permanent fixtures in the park, anyway. They were supposed to run for a few years and then be replaced with something new, much as shows were rotated in the Backlot Theater. If Belle and Ariel will have nice new homes in Fantasyland, why not let some of the newer characters like Tiana or Rapunzel have a show at DHS for awhile? It’s just a thought. And while I like the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, I'm still hoping that we can copy Disneyland's Indian Jones Adventure. What an awesome ride!

And the Backlot Tour; oy vey, the Backlot Tour. What can I say? I mean, it still has Catastrophe Canyon, but not much else. A several-hour tour has been reduced to 25 minutes, and that ain’t because people needed bathroom breaks, folks. It’s because now that the Studios is no longer a working studio, there’s just not much to see.

What do you think? Are you absolutely aghast that I could be the least bit critical of anything Disney related, or do you agree that DHS could use a little TLC? What attractions would you like to see updated or added? Let me know at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

Fabulous!

2010-06-21T08:48:00.000-04:00

If you haven’t seen Toys Story 3 yet, my advice to you is:

1. Go! It was wonderful!

And:

2. Wear waterproof mascara.

Now quit reading this post right now. I mean it; go away. You do NOT want to read any spoilers for this film. You want to experience it for yourself, trust me. I’m serious; the less you know about this film when you see it, the more you will enjoy it.

Are they gone now? Okay, good. We can discuss the film. Obviously, I loved it. I loved how they started with the familiar lines and characters (we all recognized “One-eyed Bart” right off the bat, and knew that dinosaurs can take down force-field dogs any day of the week). We experienced strong emotions as we watched Andy grow up; proud of the young man was becoming, but a sense of loss, as well. We saw how this affected his family and his toys. Then we got a whirlwind adventure as they toys struggled to determine where they belonged, and how to get there. There was a great villain, and I was so thankful that Pixar didn’t take the cheesy redemption route, but had him stay evil when he had a chance at atonement. And if you weren’t crying in the fire scene, your emotion chip has malfunctioned and it’s time for a reboot. My daughter even cried in that scene, and she didn’t cry when Old Yeller died!

This film ran the gamut of emotions. I loved the humor (Buzz in Spanish mode, Tortilla Potatohead), the edge-of-your-seat thrills, the simultaneous sense of loss and completion during the final good-bye. I know I’m not even scratching the surface of the real highlights of this film, but to be honest, my emotions are still so raw, so close to the surface, that I think I’m going to need to see the film again before I can provide any sort of an objective analysis of it. And see it again, I shall. My daughter clamored to do so immediately, and my husband, Mr. Frugal (or as I shall now refer to him, Mr. Pricklepants) who hates seeing movies in the theater, didn’t argue. It’s another home run for Pixar, and has me even more excited for some of their upcoming projects. What’s on the horizon? There’s Newt, the story of the last remaining male and female blue-footed newts on the planet forced together by science to save the species, and they can’t stand each other (Summer 2011). Summer of 2012 is supposed to herald in Cars 2, featuring the international escapades of Lightning McQueen and Mater, and even though I wasn’t all that impressed with Cars (by far my least favorite of the Pixar films), I trust Pixar enough to give them another chance on that franchise.

Have you seen Toy Story 3? What did you think? Let me know at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

I’m Sooooo Excited!

2010-06-18T05:57:00.000-04:00

If you are a Disney fan, I’m sure that you are aware that today marks the release of Toy Story 3 to theaters, and I for one am so excited!

When Toy Story 2 came out in 1999, my excitement was tempered. My experience to Disney sequels up until that point had been less than stellar. The only animated sequel that had been released to theaters that I could recall was The Rescuers Down Under. I thought it was okay, but I liked the original much more. And all of the direct-to-video sequels like The Return of Jafar, Aladdin and the King of Thieves, Pocahontas II: Journey to a new World, and The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride had not exactly instilled me with a lot of confidence in Disney’s ability to make a good animated sequel. I should have known to give Pixar the benefit of the doubt.

Our experience with that movie didn’t start out well. When we got to the movie theater (in pouring-down rain, I might add) the show was sold out. The last show of the night still had some seats available. Did I want to take my four-year-old to a 9:50 show or tell her we had to come back another night? I’m a cool mom, and a smart one. And it’s not like I was all that worried that she be bright-eyed and chipper for pre-school the next morning. Of course we watched it that night. And the crowds, the rain, and the loud children in the theater (seriously, does no one make their kids behave in a movie?) all ceased to matter as we watched the film. My husband and I were actually debating in the car on the way home which was better; Toy Story or Toy Story 2. When’s the last time that was an issue with a Disney sequel?

There are a lot of Pixar films rumored to be sequeled (Is that a word? I don’t think so. But you know what I mean.): Cars, Monsters Inc, and The Incredibles come to mind. I’m sure I’ll be lining up for any that they release, even the Cars sequel. But to me, there’s something really special about the Toy Story characters. Even though they are a child’s toys, they are actually adults, with emotions I can relate to. They react to situations in a way I can understand, but not necessarily predict. And I feel a real emotional connection with these characters. That’s why I’ll be sure to bring a pack of Kleenex with me to this picture. I mean, who am I kidding? I cry at the very beginning of a Disney movie when the show the castle! Considering the subject matter and my knowledge that in three years it will be my baby going off to college, there is no way I am going to make it through this picture with my mascara intact.

Where do I stand on the 2D vs. 3D debate? I’ll be paying the extra couple of bucks to see it in 3D. Yes, the glasses are dark, heavy, too big for my head, and give me a headache. But I’ll be watching this in 2D at home when I buy the DVD (you’ll notice I said when, not if), so I figure that I may as well see it in 3D while I have the chance

You all know what I’ll be doing this weekend. (Well, that and trying to learn how to play the trumpet for my role in Gypsy. That is not going well, in case you are wondering. I sound like a dying cow, and it scares the living daylights out of my dogs.) Will you be joining me in theaters this weekend? Let me know at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

Did I Get Ripped Off?

2010-06-16T07:04:00.001-04:00

Dear Disney,

I’m a pretty big fan. I’m a DVC member. The only credit card I use consistently is my Disney Visa. I own every Disney movie I can get my hands on, including most of the crappy direct-to-video sequels and a bootlegged copy of Song of the South. I study Disney history, pore over Disney guides, help others plan their Disney trips, and talk, dream, and think about Disney nearly non-stop. I even write a blog dedicated to all things Disney three times a week. So if D23 isn’t for me, who in the heck is it for?

Kisses,

Teri

When Disney announced D23 back in early 2009, I was thrilled. I signed up the very first day, and was extremely excited to be a “Charter Member”. When the time came up for my renewal, I hemmed and hawed a little while, and then finally decided to renew it. But last week as I filled out a D23 survey, I paused to reflect over my purchase, and I found myself wondering: Did I get ripped off?

For those who may be unaware, D23 is the official Disney fan club. For $34.99 you can get a Silver Membership, which includes, in Disney’s words:

Membership Card and Certificate: Your membership card and personalized, suitable-for-framing member certificate feature many of Disney's most beloved characters drawn by Disney Master Artist David Pacheco.
Our 2010 member gift, Disney Undiscovered: A 23-Month Calendar of Disney’s Unrealized Masterpieces from the Walt Disney Archives Collection. This vibrant piece offers rare and never-before-seen images from Disney parks, animation, and live-action films.
Special Member Events: The opportunity to attend numerous D23 Member events throughout the year
Exclusive Merchandise: D23 offers its members access to exclusive, limited-edition merchandise and collectibles.
Subscription to bi-weekly D23 FanFare e-newsletter with breaking news and special offers. (You may opt out of receiving FanFare after your first e-newsletter arrives.)
Special promotional offers and discounts throughout the year.

While a $74.99 Gold Membership will provide all of that, plus:

Disney twenty-three Quarterly Publication: A one-year subscription (four issues) to D23's exquisite collectible magazine, filled with stunning photography, dazzling illustrations and the ultimate Disney insider perspective. It's your all-access pass to discovering the magic of Disney's past, present and future!

Maybe I just have “sucker” tattooed to my forehead, but I thought this was going to be really cool. I was picturing a D23 lounge in the Disney theme parks similar to Club 33 in Disneyland, maybe some sort of rewards program that would include a sizeable discount on merchandise or theme park tickets, and some real behind-the-scenes information that I couldn’t get anywhere else. Um, I was wrong. I didn’t get any of that. Instead, I get the four magazines, which actually do often come with a pretty cool gift, the yearly gift (which was also pretty neat), and then lots of opportunities to spend more money. My husband considers these drawbacks, not benefits. He still has nightmares about the shopping spree I went on when I discovered MouseSurplus.com.

The magazines are beautiful. I just don’t find them particularly informative. A lot of times I feel like I’m looking at a high-priced promo for an upcoming Disney film, instead of getting a cool peek into Disney’s history.

My biggest gripe though, is that the entire focus seems very West-Coast oriented to me. The bulk of the events are in California, with only a few token ones in Walt Disney World. I get that California is where a lot of the history occurred, but how about a little love for the fans of Walt Disney World? When last I checked, the average annual attendance of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World is 116% that of Disneyland Park, and the four parks at WDW combine for an average annual attendance of 47.146 million people, compared to only 20.287 million for the two parks at Disneyland Resort. Now, call me kooky, but doesn’t it make sense to hold the events where the people actually are?

So I guess what I’m saying is that while I don’t actually regret my previous purchases, I don’t know that I’ll be renewing my membership next year. Unless the yearly gift is really cool, of course.

Are you a D23 Member? Are you glad or remorseful? Let me know at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

"A Step in the Right Direction"

2010-06-14T10:31:00.000-04:00

Should I just go ahead and start buying my clothes in a larger size? I have a feeling I may need to after my next trip to Epcot.

There are some new food options coming to Epcot, and I for one am pretty excited. Let’s take a look at what we’re getting:

1. Via Napoli, the new Italian Pizzeria in the Italy Pavilion will offer several authentic Neapolitan pizzas. As most Disney fans know, you have a better shot of finding a Michael Eisner tribute in Walt Disney World than you do a good pizza. But Disney claims that’s all about to change. Famed Pizzaiolo Charlie Restivo will serve as executive chef, and ingredients will include Marzano tomatoes, Caputo flour, handmade fresh mozzarella, Parma Cotto, crumbled sausage, and water calibrated specifically to the pH found in Naples (the Florida water is usually the attributed culprit for the poor Disney pizza quality. I swear they are serving Tombstones straight from the frozen foods section at Publix, but that’s just me). Anyway, the three wood-burning ovens of Via Napoli will be named after the three active volcanoes in Italy –- Mount Etna, Mount Vesuvius and Stromboli. Each oven will be sculpted with the “face of the volcano”, reflecting the gods associated with each volcano’s history and mythology.

2. Over in the Mexico Pavilion, La Cantina de San Angel will get a new look with 150 outdoor seats and 250 indoor seats. The restaurant (newly christened La Hacienda de San Angel) will open at 11 am every day with chicken and beef tacos, nachos, and churros. It will change to dinner at 4:00 and will switch from counter service to table service. The menu will include appetizers such as queso fundido; black bean soup; and a taco trio of rib eye, roasted chicken, and pork. For the main course, enjoy a mixed grill for two with flank steak, chicken, chorizo and veggies; roasted shrimp in pepper garlic broth; flank steak with spring onions; refried beans and cactus leaves; and grilled red snapper with roasted corn and cactus leaves. Dessert choices will feature chocolate churros, sweet tamales, and fruit empanadas.

Mostly though, I’m excited about:

3. Karamelle-Kuche (Caramel Kitchen) is a new shop that will be opening in the Epcot’s Germany Pavilion. Taking the home of the current Glas und Porzellan this fall, the new shop will resemble an Old World German caramel shop. Among the offerings will be fresh caramel popcorn, caramel apples, and caramel-covered marshmallows, all handmade by cast members in the shop's show kitchen. This new store will be the world's only free-standing retail location for Storck, who are the makers of Werther's Original Candies. Because of this, some products will be available here that are not available anywhere else. Let me just tell you, I’m crazy for caramel. I’ll choose caramel over chocolate any day of the week. (Fortunately, we live in a society where I can generally choose caramel and chocolate, instead of caramel or chocolate!) Forget Le Cellier; I’ll be more than happy to have a caramel apple with a side of Caramel corn for dinner. Apples and popcorn count as real food, don’t they?

Of course, Disney management still hasn’t addressed the embarrassment of a restaurant that is The Liberty Inn over in the America Pavilion, but I think Eglantine Price from Bedknobs and Broomsticks would agree that this is a “step in the right direction, after all”!

Are you as excited as I am to see these new food options added? Or are you wishing they’d have kept the Hummel and Goebel shop it will be replacing? Let me know over at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

Disney War

2010-06-11T09:39:00.002-04:00

I tend to read everything about the world of Disney that I can get my grubby little paws on. I read travel books, biographies, Imagineering guides, and trivia books. It’s gotten to the point where my husband laughs at me for my eternal optimism that I might actually find out anything new. That’s why I was so happy to stumble across Disney War by James B. Stewart.

I was actually at Amazon.com to order my daughter’s summer reading assignments for Honors English, and I needed a couple more books to meet the minimum for free shipping. One of the books I ordered I wasn’t too impressed with, so I’ll refrain from mentioning it. Another I ordered was Queens in the Kingdom, by Jeffrey Epstein and Eddie Shapiro. While it didn’t provide much new data and could certainly do with an update, the book itself was hilarious, and a very enjoyable read. The real stand-out though, was Disney War.

Most Disney history books tend to focus on Walt’s life or the history of the parks. I find all of that fascinating, but it can be hard to find anything new. And not to sound like a petulant teenager, but it all happened before my time. Disney War, on the other hand, covers the history of the Walt Disney Company throughout the Michael Eisner years. This is a part of Disney history that I remember vividly. It’s so wonderful to compare the insider look provided by the book to my personal memories of the events described.

The book tries (to my mind at least) to give a fair representation of the side of each of the major players during the events that unfolded during the Eisner era. Why did Roy E. Disney decide to oust his Cousin Diane’s husband from the company in favor of Eisner? How much really changed upon the death of Frank Wells? What was the cause of the acrimonious split (and ensuing lawsuit) with Jeffrey Katzenberg, and what lasting repercussions did his departure bring to the entire animation industry? How did we almost lose Pixar? What finally prompted Roy E. Disney and Stanley Gold to start the Save Disney campaign (which I joined)? How did the acquisition of ABC and the Family Channel impact the company, and why is the company still following this trend towards mammoth acquisitions today? All of this and more is covered in this amazing book. My husband is reading it now, and I can’t wait for him to finish so I can read it again.

Have you read Disney War? If so, what did you think? Do you have any good Disney books you’d like to suggest? Let me know over at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

Sing With Me: "Veggie Fruit Fruit. Veggie Veggie Fruit Fruit."

2010-06-09T10:06:00.002-04:00

As many of you may know, I’m a girl from the Midwest. We consider beef, chicken and pork as separate (and extremely important) food groups. I regard myself as an equal opportunity eater, and I practically view dieting as a form of food discrimination.

That said, I do have to pay attention to the dietary restrictions of others. You see, if I love you I feed you, so I cook rather a lot. I have a couple of friends with nut and/or seafood allergies, for example, so I have to take those into account when entertaining. Even more frequently, however, I’m cooking for my mother-in-law and my niece, both of whom are vegetarians.

Because food (and by extension the above dietary requirements) is such a central part of my existence, I do pay attention when at Walt Disney World to what food options are available, so that I can advise my friends and loved ones what to seek out (or avoid) when making their own pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Below I will describe some of the most appealing vegetarian options I’ve discovered. I’ve decided to go with the no meat (not even fish) approach, but not vegan, which would eliminate all eggs and dairy. As far as I’m concerned, once you give up cheese and all of the desserts that require eggs you’ve pretty much resigned yourself to a joyless existence, and I’m not going to be able to help you.

Before I get started, I should note that vegi burgers are available just about everywhere at WDW, so I didn’t bother mentioning them. Also, the Disney chefs are very accommodating, and will give you pretty much whatever you ask for. I’m focusing on unique, straight-off-the-menu options that won’t require any special ordering requests on your part.

Best Counter Service Options:

Columbia Harbour House (Liberty Square, Magic Kingdom) – Offers a Lighthouse Sandwich with hummus, tomato, and broccoli slaw. This can be paired with a bowl of vegetarian chili for a tasty meal!

Sunshine Seasons (The Land, Epcot) – This has a wonderful Asian entrée that includes Garlic Udon Noodles, stir fry veggies, white rice and broccoli

Tangierine Café (

Morocco

, Epcot) – Try a Vegetable Platter with falafel, couscous salad, hummus, tabouleh, lentil salad and marinated olives

Backlot Express (Disney’s Hollywood Studios) – I’d go for the Grilled Vegetable Sandwich - black olive ciabatta roll, mushrooms, red peppers, zucchini, tomato, watercress and cheese with sundried tomato pesto and black bean salad

Best Table Service Options:

Chefs de France (France, Epcot) – This one has a couple of intriguing options, like Lasagnes de legumes du soleil a l'huile d'olive au thym - zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, onions and bell peppers baked into thin layers of pasta, or Salade de Chevre Chaud - Baked goat cheese with walnuts, fresh grapes, tomatoes, endives and arugula salad.

Hollywood Brown Derby (Disney's Hollywood Studios) – How about starting your meal off with Cremini Mushroom Chevre Tortelloni with tomato-fennel sauce and shaved parmigiano-reggiano or Baby Greens Salad with grape tomatoes, candied pecans, Midnight Moon goat cheese and cabernet vinaigrette, followed by the Noodle Bowl - with wok fried coconut tofu, soy beans, sugar snap peas, bok choy and shiitake mushrooms in a red curry broth? Yum!

Mama Melrose's (Disney's Hollywood Studios) offers everything from vegetable Minestrone to vegetarian flatbreads and Eggplant Napoleon - eggplant, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes over a warm cannelloni bean ragu.

Jiko (Animal Kingdom Lodge) – This restaurant has a number of meatless starters, soups, and salads: Crispy Savanna Rolls - with sweet corn, bitter greens, goat cheese and curry vinaigrette, Taste of Africa - Trio of Dips with Assorted Breads and House-made Naan, Spiced Tomato Soup - with goat cheese-cilantro butter and olive bread croutons, Jiko Seasonal Salad - with baby romaine, watermelon relish, pine nuts and blood orange vinaigrette and Cucumber, Tomato, and Red Onion Salad - with Rocket, Cottage Cheese, and Watermelon Vinaigrette. Follow this up with Seared Maize Pudding - with chakalaka and basil beurre blanc and you’ve got yourself quite a meal!

To my mind, however, some of the best vegetarian options can be found at some of the Disney Buffets. For example:

Crystal Palace (Magic Kingdom)

Sliced Tomatoes and Egg Toasted Cumin Dressing
Sweet Plantain, Cucumber and Corn Salad
Edamame Salad
Couscous Tofu and roasted Vegetable Salad
Mediterranean Pasta Salad
Beet Salad with Sag Dhal Dressing
Romaine and Bleu Cheese Salad
Papaya Frisee and Arugula Salad
Mixed Field Greens
Ranch and Zinfandel Dressings
Mandarin Orange Sesame Vinaigrette
Tropical Slaw
Smoked Corn Chowder
Garlic Redskin Smashed Potatoes
Broccoli tossed in Puri Puri and topped with Key Lime Ponzu
Medley of Vegetables with Balsamic Glaze
Mac and Cheese
Fruit and Vegetable Tofu Curry
Fire Roasted Corn Spoon bread
Braised Kale
Cheese Pizza
Vegetable Pasta

Tusker House (Animal Kingdom)

Mango Ajar, Blatjang Chuntney, and Mixed Dried Fruit Sambal
Endive, Apple and Walnut Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing
Caesar Salad
Mixed Greens with Ranch, Balsamic Vinaigrette or Light Italian Dressing
Tomato and Cucumber Salad with fresh mint and Yogurt Dressing
Tunisian Couscous Salad
Green Bean and Onion Salad
Curried Basmati Rice
Fresh Fruit Salad
Hummus and Tabbouleh
Spiced Tandoori Tofu
Saffron-infused vegetables and cabbage
Green bean, mushroom and carrot medley
Marrakesh Couscous with roasted vegetables
Vegetable Samosa
Oven-roasted Yukon Gold potato wedges
Mashed potatoes
Orzo pasta
Jollaf rice
Pearl Couscous laced with Sweet Basil Essence
Basmati rice with toasted almond slivers

And my personal favorite:

Boma (Animal Kingdom Lodge)

African Breads
Mixed Field Greens:
Mango Vinaigrette, Paw Paw Vinaigrette,
Chili Cilantro Vinaigrette, Balsamic Vinaigrette
Potato Salad
Fresh Fruit
Avocado, Grapefruit and Papaya Salad
Pasta Salad
Watermelon Rind Salad
Kool Slaai
Avocado, Grapefruit, Papaya, Curry Cucumber Salad, Spinach and Beet Salad
Macaroni and Cheese
Saffron Rice
Smoked Tomato Soup
Creamy Carrot and Ginger Soup
Sweet Potato Pancakes
Vegetable Lentil Kofta
Pap
Braised Greens
FuFu - sweet and white potatoes mashed with coriander and cinnamon
Potatoes with Afritude
Vegetable Skewers
Couscous Marrakesh

These are my favorite vegetarian options, but what would you choose if you had to “go meatless” at Walt Disney World? Let me know over at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

My Sticky Little Fingers

2010-06-07T16:14:00.001-04:00

Back in 2005 as part of "The Happiest Celebration on Earth", several new attractions were unveiled at Walt Disney World Resort in conjunction with a global salute to the 50th anniversary of California's Disneyland. I thought this sounded like a great idea, and I, like many Disney fans, immediately started speculating on what attractions would arrive. Here’s what we ended up getting, as described by Disney at the time:

"Soarin' -- Direct from Disneyland, Florida guests can now experience the wonderful Soarin' Over California that has been wowing audiences at Disney's California Adventure park. Located in The Land pavilion, the attraction simulates hang gliding by lifting riders forty feet into the air on a motion base, with their feet dangling, and gently moving them in synch with projected images of famous California landmarks.

Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show -- Imported from Disneyland Paris, this ambitious new stadium show focuses on car and motorcycle stunts and includes copious explosions and death-defying moments.

Cinderellabration – Brought to us from Tokyo Disneyland, The show picks up the story of Cinderella after the royal wedding depicted in the classic Disney animated feature, Cinderella, bringing to life the coronation of Cinderella and the festive celebration that follows."

I love Soarin’. Even if I think they should’ve changed to be Soarin’ over Florida, or the United States, or the world, it’s still a great ride, and I’m glad we have it. Cinderellabration and Light, Motors, Action!? Not so much. Is that really the best they could do? They didn’t think they had anything better to offer? Let me tell you, these attractions are not what I would have chosen. If I could get my sticky little fingers on any Disney attractions worldwide and bring them to Walt Disney World, here’s what I’d steal:

10. Pinocchio's Daring Journey (Disneyland) – I’m a sucker for dark rides, and this one is really cute. You join Pinocchio on his adventures as he leaves the quiet streets of Geppetto's village to experience the excitement of Pleasure Island and the terrors of the belly of Monstro the whale.

9. Matterhorn Bobsleds (Disneyland) – I seriously debated whether or not to include this ride. I really like it a lot, but there is something special about the connection of this ride to the original park. To be honest, I’m actually okay with this ride only being available at Disneyland.

8. Enchanted Tiki Room (Disneyland) -- or the The Enchanted Tiki Room: Stitch Presents Aloha e Komo Mai!, featuring Stitch from Lilo and Stitch from Tokyo Disneyland; I don’t care. Just get the one out that we have now. I don’t want to hear Gloria Estefan songs in the Magic Kingdom; it just doesn’t seem to fit.

7. Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride (Disneyland) – I really miss this ride. Barmaids and hellfire on a Disney ride? Awesome!

6. Monster’s Inc Ride and Go Seek (Tokyo Disneyland) -- Based on the 2001 Walt Disney Pictures/Pixar Animation Studios film Monsters, Inc., this dark ride (I love dark rides, can you tell?) takes place after the film, and involves your family in a game of “Flashlight Tag” over the course of the ride.

5. Pirates of the Caribbean (Disneyland) – Yeah, I know we have one, but theirs is better. For starters, ours is 8:30 minutes, the Disneyland version is 15:30. And they have the Blue Bayou Restaurant in the ride. How cool is that! And the Blue Bayou serves Monte Cristo sandwiches. Mmmm, Monte Cristos….

4. Crush’s Coaster (Walt Disney Studios, Disneyland Paris) -- Guests enter the Toon Backlot of Toon Studio and stumble upon the beached sound stage and film set of Disney-Pixar's Finding Nemo, where Crush and his other sea turtle friends invite guests to climb aboard their shells for a ride through memorable scenes from the movie, a sunken submarine, and the spiraling, churning East Australian Current itself.

3. Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin (Disneyland) -- Guests board a yellow cartoon cab named Lenny, who is the twin of Benny the Cab. Once guests reach a scene of Roger Rabbit and his taxi cab friend, Benny, spinning out in a puddle of "DIP" spilled by Judge Doom's weasel gang, the Toon Patrol, the steering wheel of the cab becomes active, and the car can then spin around, much like Fantasyland's Mad Tea Party. The rest of the attraction features many scenes and characters from the film, such as Roger's wife and co-star, Jessica Rabbit and Baby Herman.

2. Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye (Disneyland) -- This is a dark ride motion simulator attraction based on the Indiana Jones films. Guests accompany intrepid archeologist Indy on a quest for the Jewel of Power through a dangerous lost temple, then board military troop transport vehicles for a turbulent high speed adventure.

1. Journey to the Center of the Earth (Tokyo DisneySea) -- Riders travel through mysterious caverns to the Earth's core as scientists aboard vehicles designed by Captain Nemo. After traveling through Nemo's labs inside Mt. Prometheus, guests board "Terravators" to the facility's base station one half mile below. The riders then board steam-powered mine vehicles that travel through pre-drilled tunnels into the heart of the Earth. The ride begins through a cavern of colorful glowing crystals before entering the giant Mushroom Forest, which is inhabited by strange insect and amphibian-like life-forms. Before the car can proceed further, an earthquake causes a cave-in of the tunnel ahead, forcing the car off its planned route and down a side branch filled with giant egg-like sacks. The car emerges on the shore of the Subterranean Sea, and is nearly struck by lightning from the electrified gas clouds. The finale comes when the riders are forced into the fiery heart of an active volcano, where the riders come face-to-face with the giant lava monster that calls the Center of the Earth its home, before escaping back to the surface on the wave of an eruption.

I know that a lot of argument has been made against the homogenization of the Disney parks, and many people want there to be rides unique to the individual parks. I understand that, but how many of us are seriously ever going to be able to visit Tokyo Disneyland, or even Disneyland Paris? These are fabulous attractions that Disney has already gone to the trouble and expense to build, so why not duplicate them for Florida guests?

But enough about me. Are there any Disney attractions around the globe that you would like to see pop up in Florida? Or are you against the premise entirely? Let me know over at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

“Why Didn’t Anybody Warn Me?”

2010-06-04T06:41:00.000-04:00

It can get quite crowded at Walt Disney World. Shocking, I know. I mention this only because this fact apparently catches some people off guard. In all fairness, however, there can be crowds at times that used to be considered the “off” season. Therefore, I thought I’d mention a few events throughout the year that might catch you unawares.

Star Wars Weekends (Disney’s Hollywood Studios) – Unlike most of the festivities I will discuss today, this one is actually a Disney-sanctioned event. Over the course of four weekends each year in May and June, fans of all ages will converge to celebrate the heroes, villains, creatures, and droids of the saga. In addition to Star Wars costumed characters, activities, and the Star Tours ride, celebrity guests will be in attendance for meet-and-greet sessions, star conversations, and a classic Hollywood-style motorcade.

Now, I am a huge Star Wars fan. I even dressed up as Princess Leia for Halloween a couple of years ago.

That said, I have no particularly keen desire to attend Star Wars Weekends anytime soon. The crowds are crazy huge, with fans camping out in the DHS parking lot overnight to get spots in the celebrities’ autograph queues. And we’re not talking George Lucas or Carrie Fisher here. The celebrities are more along the lines of the guy who played the rancor’s keeper in Return of the Jedi. I’ll pass, thanks.

Gay Days -- This is an annual event since 1991, taking place the first weekend in June. It started as a single designated day when the Les-Bi-Gay community and friends were encouraged to "Wear Red and Be Seen" while visiting the Magic Kingdom. From its beginnings with 3,000 attendees, this one-day park visit has evolved into a week long, citywide celebration. Gay Days attracts over 135,000 celebrants from across the nation and around the globe. This can impact theme park crowds considerably, particularly those in the Magic Kingdom on the first Saturday in June. While I generally avoid the crowds, one day I’m going to have to make it down for this event. Mostly, I just want to grab a bag of popcorn and a seat on Main Street, U.S.A., so that I can watch as any homophobes present freak out when they realize that for that day at least, they are no longer in the smug majority. I think that would be vastly entertaining. Until I could no longer keep my mouth shut, that is. Then it would probably get ugly. I may need to rethink this plan…

Pop Warner -- Each year, Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. hosts the Pop Warner Super Bowl and National Cheer and Dance Championships. For the past ten years, the event has taken place at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex during the second week of December. This even will have some impact on the parks, but more of an impact on the resorts, particularly the value resorts. They will be swarmed with screaming children and their families. Even more so that usual, I mean.

Foreign Tour Groups, Cheerleading Competitions, and Fan Groups – If I could do a better job of predicting when these groups are attending Walt Disney World, believe me I would. All that I can say is that your odds of being stuck in line behind a huge group of Brazilian teenagers increase dramatically if you’re with me; it never fails. And there’s um, nothing quite like being awakened at 4:00 A.M. by 3,000 squealing cheerleaders. Good times, good times.

These are by no means the only large groups that can descend like locusts upon Walt Disney World, but they are some of the most consistent and most noticeable. By doing a little research when planning your trip, you may be able to join them or avoid them, depending on your preference. Just don’t whine to me that nobody warned you!

Recreating Disney -- The Earl’s Brownie Crème

2010-06-02T06:36:00.001-04:00

My Disney sweet tooth was clamoring for attention once again, so I decided to try my hand at recreating The Earl’s Brownie Crème from The Earl of Sandwich at Downtown Disney. Of course, this is not even remotely close to the real recipe, but it may help curb your appetite between trips. Enjoy!

Cheater’s Brownie Sandwich

(Makes 12 brownie sandwiches)

Brownie:

1 box Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Brownie Mix

1/3 cup water

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 egg

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Spray 1 12-muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray.

Blend oil, egg, and water in a medium bowl. Add brownie mix and stir until moistened (about 40 strokes). Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups.

Bake 28 – 32 minutes. Remove from oven. Allow cupcakes to cool about 15 minutes, and then remove from pan to a wire rack. Cool completely. In the meantime, prepare frosting.

White Chocolate Buttercream:

3 Tbs. milk

2 ounces white chocolate, chopped

¼ cup coffee-flavored liqueur, or 2 tsp. vanilla

1 cup powdered sugar

¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter (not margarine)

Place milk in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat until tiny bubble form around the edge of the pan; remove from heat. Whisk in chocolate until completely melted. Add liqueur or vanilla. Refrigerate until cool, about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

In a large bowl with mixer at low speed, beat sugar and butter until just combined. Increase speed to high and beat 10 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Reduce speed to medium and slowly add cooled white chocolate mixture.

Slice cooled brownies in half horizontally and fill with frosting. Replace brownie top to form a sandwich. Repeat for remaining brownies. Enjoy!

Dear Disney

2010-05-31T08:46:00.000-04:00

Dear Disney Channel,

Um, you know that there are demographics other than 8- 12 year-old girls, right?

Thanks,

Teri

Flipping through the channels the other night, I had a “those were the days” moment. Feeling a little nostalgic for some Disney programming, I decided to see what was coming up on the Disney Channel. Here’s what I found:

From 4:30 A.M. – 11:30 A.M. is the preschool programming, Handy Manny’s, Little Einsteins, Imagination Movers, etc.

From 12:00 P.M. – 4:00 A.M. is a pre-teen girl’s heaven: Sonny With a Chance, Wizards of Waverly Place, Hannah Montana, and the like.

First of all, who is letting their kids watch Suite Life on Deck at 2:30 in the morning?

More importantly however, I think it would be lovely if Disney would consider returning the Disney Channel to family programming, instead of using it as a marketing machine for whatever young “talent” they are hoping to promote. I realize that I probably sound like a crotchety “get off my lawn” old man, but I remember when the Disney Channel appealed to adults as well as children.

Do you recall when they used to do a featured artist of the month? I personally lived for Hayley Mills month! Or how about the series “Walt Disney World Inside Out”? While I never really understood why George Foreman was a host, I still loved getting a regular peek at the parks. And let’s not forget “Vault Disney”, an entire block of time dedicated each day to Disney classics.

What really kills me about the Disney Channel programming is that it just seems like a waste. Disney has all of these fabulous properties sitting around unused, but instead of airing them, they’d rather show five episodes of Good Luck Charlie in a 24-hour period (I am not exaggerating). I’m not saying Disney has to get rid of their current programs. Just don’t show the same episodes of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody three times a day. Use some of those blocks of time to insert the following:

The original Mickey Mouse Club – Baby Boomers are about the biggest demographic ever. Re-airing the original MMC could bring you a huge viewing audience!

Classic Disney Films – It is a sin and a shame that I have a way better chance of catching these on the Hallmark Channel than the Disney Channel. And Disney has an enormous cache of them, many all but forgotten. Why not use your own channel as a vehicle to reintroduce these to the market?

Behind the scenes looks at the Disney Parks – Come on, Disney. You know you have a huge base of theme park fans clamoring for this. We order the vacation planning DVDs just for viewing entertainment. We watch the specials on the Travel Channel dedicated to the Disney parks and hotels so often that we can quote them verbatim, all the while wishing that they would actually tell us something we don’t already know. Do you have any idea how insanely popular a show that gave us honest-to-goodness backstage information could be?

But enough about what I want. What would you like to see aired on the Disney Channel? Let me know over at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

Backstory: The Wildest Ride in the Wilderness

2010-05-28T06:19:00.002-04:00

No one emphasizes story as well as Disney does. If you think otherwise, you’re reading the wrong blog. But there are times that story is going on all around you, and you may not realize it. A great example of this is Walt Disney World’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a thrilling ride on a runaway mine train. This is "the wildest ride in the wilderness," as the passenger-laden train dashes in and out of mysterious desert caverns, and then shoots through what must be a haunted gold mine. Among the fleeting sights along the way is Tumbleweed, an 1880s boomtown smack in the middle of the Wild, Wild West. The surrounding landscape has a Southwestern flavor, reminiscent of the rugged and wind swept spires, gorges and natural arches that dominate Arizona's strikingly beautiful Monument Valley. But there’s so much more to it than that.

You see, Disney legend has it that the story of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the BTM Mining Company date from the early days of America's first major Gold Rush. In 1848, gold was discovered near John A. Sutter's Mill in California. News quickly spread back to the east coast, and by 1849, many thousands of first time miners, boomers, gamblers, tinhorns and scofflaws rushed westward to strike it rich in the gold and silver fields. A handful of these rough and tumble prospectors became millionaires almost overnight, but most just ended up going bust. When glitter was discovered in the Big Thunder region during the 1850s, it was thought to be one of the richest strikes west of the Mississippi. A mining company was quickly established, taking its name from that given to the local outcropping of red and orange-colored rock formations. However, dreams of gold rarely come without cost. Big Thunder Mountain had stood sentinel for centuries over a desolate land that the nearby residents believed to be sacred. Local lore spoke of a protective supernatural force that dwelt deep within the mountain. Those who ventured too close were doomed to feel its wraith. Mining work near Big Thunder went without incident at first. But, as the easy pickings began to pan out, the miners were forced to dig deeper and deeper into the mountainside. In their quest for ever more gold, they began using highly volatile explosives to blast ragged holes into the hard rock. Huffing and puffing mine trains began to add to the rumble and vibration exploding across the landscape. Then the inexplicable began to happen. Strange, eerie noises echoed through newly opened shafts.

Greenhorn miners began to hear Tommy knockers, the spirits of long dead miners, tapping from inside the boarded walls of abandoned tunnels. Cave-ins became frequent. Equipment failed. And then the narrow-gauge engines began rolling out of the makeshift station with no human hand at the control. Entire trains, most times packed with unsuspecting passengers, would race driverless, at break-neck speed, along the spiraling steel and wooden track. Ghost trains! The miners began whispering that maybe the locals were right. Maybe the mountain was inhabited by a spirit of its own. Maybe the mine was haunted. They left in droves, returning to their former occupations as soldiers, sailors, sodbusters and cowhands. The operation went bust and Big Thunder became just another ghost town. Thirty years drifted by and the local myths and legends about Big Thunder were swept from the memory of all but a few who could still recall why the area had been abandoned. A new gold rush took hold in the 1880s, and the boomtown of Tumbleweed was established in Dry Gulch at the foot of Big Thunder Mountain. Although the little settlement suffered from bouts of arid weather, the arrival of Professor Cumulus Isobar, "Rainmaker Extraordinaire and Purveyor of Magical Elixirs," always guaranteed that his customers would not go dry for long. Sometimes it even chanced to rain while he was in town, enhancing his reputation, and usually resulting in a flash flood, if the ground refused to absorb the rainfall because it had baked too long and hard in the sun. A new batch of boomers, drillers and prospectors re-outfitted the BTM Mining Company office. They started grubstake operations up again, blasting and drilling once more into the untapped veins of Big Thunder Mountain. But, as visitors to the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad soon experienced for themselves, sometimes folklore turns out to be more than myth, and those who ignore the past are doomed to repeat it.

There are some fun sight gags to keep an eye on as you ride that can help clue you in to the story. Even as a train pulls in to the station, it becomes apparent that there is no engineer at the throttle. The passengers board, no doubt with some trepidation, and are warned by the western twang of an unseen old miner (voiced by the late Dallas McKennon) to hold onto their hats when the train departs the station. Unexpectedly, the little locomotive, with its five passenger cars trailing behind, lunges forward into a mine tunnel of impenetrable darkness. This is the start of the wildest ride in the wilderness! Professor Cumulus Isobar, a perplexed rainmaker who seems to have done his job a little too well, bails out his water-filled wagon. Either skill on the Professor's part or pure dumb luck has created a downpour that the parched, hard-baked desert land is unable to soak up, and now the boomtown is in danger of being swept away in the sudden, resulting flash flood. Despite the imminent danger, the sounds of revelry continue unabated, issuing from the second floor of the local saloon. All about the town a menagerie of Western critters add their voices to the ensuing cacophony of chaos. Across the track, a miner in long johns floats by in a bathtub that serves as a makeshift boat. The track itself undulates as though being carried away by the raging waters as the Big Thunder train attempts to cross it. And you thought you were just on a 3:25 minute roller coaster!

Special thanks to former cast member Matt Dempsey for providing much of this information. Did you enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at BTMR? Please let me know over at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

Promises, Promises

2010-05-26T09:32:00.001-04:00

I once heard a Disney expert say that all plans at Disney are made in Jell-O, meaning of course that they aren’t stable and could shift at any moment. I thought it might be fun to take a look at some Walt Disney World plans that never materialized, including promised attractions that never surfaced. Here’s a list of my top “I would have loved this” ideas that never quite made it to life:

10. Several resorts were planned for the Magic Kingdom area that were never built, including:

A) Disney's Asian Resort -- inspired by the culture of Thailand, the hotel would have featured Thai furnishings and cuisine. Architectural plans featured a large center building more than 160 feet tall with a restaurant on top comparable to the design of Disney's Contemporary Resort. Guest rooms would have been arranged in a square around the perimeter on three sides leaving the side opposite the Seven Seas Lagoon open. This would have been located where Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is today.

B) Disney's Venetian Resort – located between the Contemporary Resort and the Transportation and Ticket Center, this resort was to be themed after Venice, Italy and located on the shores of Seven Seas Lagoon.

C) Disney's Persian Resort -- The resort would have been laid out in a circle with a central building. It would have had a 24 foot dome on the main building which would have housed the entrance area and meeting facilities. The main colors would have been white and blue. The Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi offered to fund the project's construction and operation but after The Iranian Revolution the project was permanently shelved. The resort was to be located on the shores of Bay Lake, not the Seven Seas Lagoon like the rest of the resorts. The early drawings would have had a monorail spur going to it and through Tomorrowland.

D) Disney's Mediterranean Resort -- was going to be themed after a small Greek island and be located on Seven Seas Lagoon, exactly where the Venetian Resort had originally been proposed. Land was cleared for the building, but due to very swampy and poor ground samples, the resort was never able to be built.

9. The Japan pavilion at Epcot has had several rides, almost. Mt Fuji Roller Coaster, a roller coaster modeled after the Matterhorn Bobsleds at Disneyland, was rejected after protests by Eastman Kodak, sponsor of Journey Into Imagination, over a ride sharing the name of their biggest competitor, Fujifilm. Simulated Bullet Train Ride was intended to be a unique variation on Disney's CircleVision 360 show. Guests would have found themselves standing aboard a vibrating recreation of the passenger compartment of a Japanese bullet train. Looking out through the oversized faux windows in this passenger car, they would have been treated to a high-speed travelogue as some of Japan's most beautiful scenery whizzed by the windows. The Godzilla Bullet Train Ride, on the other hand, would have had the bullet train run afoul of Godzilla in Tokyo Bay, followed by a race to safety.

8. Germany was slated to have a ride, as well. The Rhine River Cruise was designed as a cruise down Germany's most famous rivers – the Rhine, the Tauber, the Ruhr and the Isar. Detailed miniatures of famous landmarks would also be seen, including one of the Cologne Cathedral. The ride entrance and the building that would have housed the ride are still visible at the Germany pavilion.

7. Of course, the big let-down at Epcot was all of the countries that have been proposed, and even advertised, that never came to life. Equatorial Africa would have mixed tribal dances and shows with African artwork in a recreation of an African village. A film hosted by Alex Haley was to be featured. Souvenir maps and a TV special on EPCOT Center's opening announced that the pavilion would open in 1983. It was never built due to budget and lack of sponsorship from suitable African nations; offers from South Africa were refused because of the country's apartheid system.

An Israel Pavilion was also advertised on billboards when EPCOT opened, this would have recreated ancient Jerusalem with a courtyard stage and open-air restaurant. It remained unbuilt because of budget problems and security issues regarding the state of Israel.

Soviet Union Pavilion -- planned in the early 1990s, this would have been placed between China and Germany and dominated by a recreation of Red Square. The center building would have housed a sled-like ride showing the Russian landscape based on Russian folk tales. There also would have been a unique show blending film, Audio-Animatronics and a live actor that would showcase Russian history. It reached the final stages of approval but was later cancelled due to the breakup of the Soviet Union and the info released by the Russian government revealing the horrors committed by the Communist regime.

Spain

Pavilion -- also advertised on billboards circa 1986, this pavilion would have featured a boat ride similar to Mexico, with a design blending elements of Barcelona and Madrid. Also planned were a film on Spain's history and a restaurant.

Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, Iran, and Costa Rica all had planned pavilions at one time or another, as well.

6. Over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, there’s a long list of “if only” attractions. The Mel Brooks “Castle Young Frankenstein” I discussed in http://disneygene.blogspot.com/2010/03/backstory-tower-of-terror.html, for starters.

5. Or how about a Chinese Theater's Villain Ride? In this 3D adventure visitors would have been menaced by three-dimensional recreations of Disney's most famous fiends before the forces of good finally came to their rescue. The ride would have replaced The Great Movie Ride.

4. I’m a huge “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” fan, so it’s no surprise that I regret that we never got the proposed Baby Herman's Runaway Baby Buggy -- a Fantasyland-style dark ride based on Baby Herman, Toontown Trolley -- a madcap adventure that would have flight simulators surrounded by animated screens to take guests on a "hare-raising" trolley ride through a zany cartoon world with Roger Rabbit at the helm, or Bennie the Cab Ride, where guests would go on an adventure with Bennie the Cab.

3. I nearly cried when I heard that not only was The Great Muppet Movie Ride (a "misguided" tour through movie history – Muppet-style) originally planned for the studios, but also a restaurant, Gonzo's Pandemonium Pizza Parlor. On the site of what is now Mama Melrose’s, this Muppet-themed restaurant was to be the Great Gonzo and Rizzo the Rat's version of a pizza parlor, complete with Muppet interaction and typical Muppet zaniness. I would be making my Advance Dining Reservations the full 180 days in advance for that one, for sure!

2. Journey to the Center of the Earth, Tokyo DisneySea’s signature attraction, was at one point slated to be recreated at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. On this ride, guests travel through mysterious caverns to the Earth's core as scientists aboard vehicles designed by Captain Nemo. The ride begins through a cavern of colorful glowing crystals before entering the giant Mushroom Forest, which is inhabited by strange insect and amphibian-like life-forms. Before the car can proceed further, an earthquake causes a cave-in of the tunnel ahead, forcing the car off its planned route and down a side branch filled with giant egg-like sacks. The car emerges on the shore of the Subterranean Sea, and is nearly struck by lightning from the electrified gas clouds. The finale comes when the riders are forced into the fiery heart of an active volcano, where the riders come face-to-face with the giant lava monster that calls the Center of the Earth its home, before escaping back to the surface on the wave of an eruption. Dude.

1. Beastly Kingdom -- We all know we were supposed to get it. Mythical beasts like dragons and unicorns are alluded to in the parking lot of the Animal Kingdom and on the park entrance, but not really in the park itself. I’ve even seen the area referenced on Rand-McNally maps of the Disney area. Oops. What are we missing out on? How about Dragon Tower, a dragon-themed roller coaster? Laid-off Imagineers took the idea to Universal, where it became Dueling Dragons. Or maybe Quest for the Unicorn, a hedge maze, or Fantasia Gardens, a boat ride featuring the mythical animals in “Fantasia”?

I guess it’s not fair to say I feel cheated that these ideas never became reality, but in truth I do, a little bit. Of course, these aren’t the only Disney plans that never saw the light of day. What do you wish Disney had followed through on? Let me know over at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

"Look at all These Rumors Surroundin' Me Every Day"

2010-05-24T07:07:00.001-04:00

There are a lot of rumors floating around right now about possible changes coming to Walt Disney World. I thought it might be fun to discuss a few of them.

1. Possible new pavilion coming to Epcot's World Showcase -- The previous front-runners here were Russia and Greece. But a dark horse is emerging from the pack and gaining momentum: Turkey. Personally, I'd still rather see Russia or Greece, but then I'm certainly no expert on what a Turkey pavilion may have to offer. Refurbs for Japan, Norway, and Germany have been rumored, as well.

2. Staying with Epcot, there's also a rumor that Le Cellier may experience some changes and upgrade from Table Service to Signature Dining status. The downside is that there will be an increase in cost (and will require two dining credits instead of one), but on the other hand, this should make it easier to get an ADR there.

3. Improvements are allegedly in the works for Expedition Everest's Yeti at Disney's Animal Kingdom. I won't believe this one until I see that guy working with my own two eyes. Anything that they do short of shutting the ride down for an extensive refurb would just be a temporary patch, not an actual solution.

4. There's talk of the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular at Disney's Hollywood Studios being shut down to make way for a Star Wars themed show and restaurant, possibly to debut simultaneously with Star Tours 2.0. I like Indy, but I'm always up for more Star Wars!

5. We've already discussed the new Interactive Mickey that could one day come to the Magic Kingdom (http://disneygene.blogspot.com/2010/05/talking-mickey-at-disneyland.html), but I've also heard on this that if Mickey is successful, he may be followed by Minnie, Goofy, Pooh, and Tigger. You'd also be far more likely to see them at a character meal then in a traditional theme park meet and greet.That way, Disney can try to make a little money without technically charging you to meet them.

Again, let me emphasize that these are unsubstantiated rumors, and my sources are just the same Internet rumor mills that everyone else reads. I do think it's fun to speculate, however. What do you think of these rumors? Do any of them appeal to you? Are there any additional ones you've heard? Let me know over at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

'Cause it's Root, Root, Root for the Home Team

2010-05-21T06:57:00.001-04:00

I am a girl; I swear. I mention this because I fear my femininity may be called into question at some point during this post.

You see, I love sports; particularly football and baseball. Watching them, that is. Playing them? Not so much. I mean, I can establish my dominance on the offensive line with the best of them, but am absolutely useless at any position involving hand-eye coordination. There was a reason I was always picked last in gym class.

Because of this arm-chair quarterbacking addiction of mine, one of my absolute favorite places to hang out is at the ESPN Club at Disney’s Boardwalk. I love it there. I’ve visited numerous times: alone, as part of a couple, and with my family, and have always had a blast.

The menu is nothing special; sandwiches, burgers, chili, etc., but it’s exactly the food you want when sitting down with a large draft beer to watch the game. Speaking of sitting: good luck with that. This restaurant/bar is always packed whenever I go (which tends to be during Monday Night Football or baseball playoffs; go figure). Waits for tables in the restaurant usually exceed wait times for Peter Pan’s Flight, and there are generally patrons standing three deep at the bar, hoping for a bar stool.

This brings me to the bartenders. They are probably my favorite on property. Despite the fact that they are extremely busy, they take wonderful care of me when I’m there alone. The last time I went, one of the bartenders knew that a customer had asked for his bill and would be leaving soon. The bartender tipped me off to this, so that I could be positioned to snag this man’s seat as soon as he left. How sweet is that? Another time, I arrived at the club ravenously hungry. It was after 8:00 PM and I had been in conferences all day with no chance to eat. My eyes tend to be larger than my stomach at times like that, and I ordered the wings and the nachos. The bartender took one look at me and said “No. You’re never going to eat all of that. I’ll bring you the nachos, and if you still want the wings, I’ll bring them then.” He was right. The nachos were huge; I didn’t even finish those. I thought that it was incredibly nice that he was looking out for me, instead of trying to get a larger bill, and thus a larger tip.

The service is also great in the restaurant half of the club. My husband and I went there on our honeymoon, and our waiter was great. He even arranged for Ray and I to receive Mickey groom and Minnie bride ears the following day. Oh, and they were doing a sports show during halftime that night, and the MC interviewed me. Of course, he probably wishes he hadn’t. (Let me give you all a little tip: if you ever meet me and you have a microphone and I don’t, do not under any circumstances relinquish control of the mic to me. You’ll never see it again.)

Even my daughter has fun there, and she hates sports. Fortunately, there’s an arcade attached to the club, so we just keep feeding her money, and she stays happily entertained while my husband and I watch the game. Talk about your win/win!

Joy of all joys, there’s even some shopping to be done there. Mostly small ESPN stuff, but I still regret not buying the jersey that said “You Can’t Spell “Princess” Without ESPN”. How “me” is that?

Have you ever visited the ESPN Club? What did you think? Let me know at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

"When it's Time to Change, You've Got to Rearrange"

2010-05-19T05:26:00.001-04:00

Everyone likes progress; no one likes change. No one exemplifies this axiom better than hardcore Disney fans. When Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride got replaced with The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, fans held sit-ins and started petitions. Many of us still miss old favorites like Horizons, If You Had Wings, Alien Encounter, and Cranium Command. And does anyone think that the original Journey into Imagination was improved upon by either of its successors? (The answer here is no.)

Why is this? After all, we knew from the beginning that the parks were never meant to be museums. Walt himself said, "It's something that will never be finished. Something that I can keep developing...and adding to." So why do we harbor such resentment? Is it because we have such strong feelings of nostalgia for the Walt Disney World of our youth? Perhaps. But I think our real issue isn’t change; it’s change for the worse. Not too many people got upset when Take Flight took flight to make room for Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, or when Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable replaced Symbiosis (I mean seriously, does anyone even remember Symbiosis?). Why? Because these were changes for the better. And of course, I think replacing the old ticket system with a one-cost option was one of the best changes Disney ever made. I hated the tickets! My parents would never buy me a new ticket book until I had used up all of my tickets. “But Mom, I’ve ridden Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel three times already. I’m trying to use my ‘A’ tickets!” Or, “Nooo; I don’t want to see The Hall of Presidents. That’s a waste of an ‘E’ ticket!” I’m so glad that is behind me!

Does Disney get this? Do they realize that we can tell the difference between a legitimate improvement and a crappy overlay? (I’m talking to you, The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management) and Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros.) I’m hoping so. After all, they didn’t screw up Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion, or Space Mountain when those got updated. Woe betide them if they had. And naturally, there are some attractions that I would love to see changed. Would anyone really miss Sounds Dangerous or Primeval Whirl if either of those got the ax?

Of course, the worst case scenario may be when an attraction closes with no replacement. I get downright angry when I think of the entire Wonders of Life pavilion. What a waste of space! Or when an attraction goes into “seasonal” status; I think “seasonal” is code for “whenever Teri isn’t here”. And can someone please inform Disney that when I’m shelling out $75 a day to visit their parks, I really don’t give a flying fig if an attraction has a sponsor or not? Open up the freaking attraction!

And since I’m on the topic, will Disney please note that this same concept applies to shops and restaurants, as well? Many of the changes in those departments have not been for the better. The items available for purchase in Tomorrowland should not be the same as those available in Liberty Square. Or in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, for that matter. The same goes for menu options. Stop the homogenization!

Okay, I’m done ranting for now. What do you think? When Disney announces a change, are you excited or worried? Please let me know at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

Chatting With Mickey

2010-05-17T06:25:00.001-04:00

Raise your hand if you’ve had this conversation with your child after a Mickey meet and greet:

Child: Why wouldn’t Mickey talk to me, Mommy?

Mommy: Well honey, Mickey meets a lot of kids each day, and if he spoke with all of them, his throat would get sore. He needs to save his voice for the shows and parades.

Child: But Cinderella and Snow White talked to me!

Mommy (hesitating slightly): Yes, but they aren’t in as many shows as Mickey. Mickey is a very popular guy.

Daddy (whispering to Mommy): Nice save!

Child: But Tigger wouldn’t talk to me either, and he’s not in very many shows.

Mommy (in a panic): Oh look; balloons! Would you like Mommy to buy you a balloon?

And just think: you wanted to have intelligent and inquisitive children.

But seriously, this has been an issue since Disneyland opened in 1955. You just can’t expect all of the “friends of Mickey” to be able to emulate his unique voice. As always, Disney is sensitive to the needs of their guests. Have you seen this video that’s been circulating the web?

How awesome is that? Of course, it is just in a testing phase now. And even if it does get implemented, you never know how long it will be around. I have never gotten to personally meet Lucky the Dinosaur or the Muppet Mobile Lab, for example. That said, I am so hoping that this does work, and becomes the future standard for Disney meet and greets.

Now, some people find this Mickey a little creepy. My husband tells me that this is because of the “uncanny valley” effect. This hypothesis states that as a robot is made more humanlike in its appearance and motion, the emotional response from a human being to the robot will become increasingly positive and empathic, until a point is reached beyond which the response quickly becomes that of strong revulsion. However, as the appearance and motion continue to become less distinguishable from a human being, the emotional response becomes positive once more and approaches human-to-human empathy levels. This area of repulsive response aroused by a robot with appearance and motion between a "barely human" and "fully human" entity is called the uncanny valley. The name captures the idea that a robot which is "almost human" will seem overly "strange" to a human being and thus will fail to evoke the empathic response required for productive human-robot interaction.

Personally, I think he looks fabulous, and the princesses in the video didn’t seem to have any issues with him. It’s taking the Turtle Talk with Crush and Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor Comedy Club technology to a new and better level. But what do you think? Let me know over at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

“I'm Not Spongin' for Rum. It be Gold I'm After!”

2010-05-14T06:45:00.002-04:00

You know that I love to cook. You know that I love to eat. But my real talent lies in shopping. And naturally, my favorite place to shop is Walt Disney World.

I don’t know if I realized how much I love WDW shopping until I sat down and started to compile this list. Holy cow, was it hard to limit myself to a list of ten favorite shops. I could’ve done a “Top Ten Shops Where I love to Browse but Never Buy Anything” list, a “Top Ten Stores that Used to be great but Now Aren’t” list, or even a “Top Ten Stores That are Tied to an Attraction” list. Maybe I will someday. For now I am going to do my very best to stick to my favorite stores in Walt Disney World to make purchases.

10. BouTiki (Disney’s Polynesian Resort) -- Some of my earliest shopping memories are from the Polynesian Resort. We used to eat dinner one night each trip at the Papeete Bay Verandah (how I miss this restaurant!), and we’d always browse through the wonderful shops scattered throughout the Great Ceremonial House. I desperately wanted one of the little grass skirt outfits that they sold there, but my parents weren’t buying it (literally). So you’d better believe that the first time I took my daughter to WDW, we went straight to the Polynesian to buy her one, which I immediately let her change into to wear to the luau!

9. Disney’s Days of Christmas (Downtown Disney Marketplace) – I’m sure it’s no surprise that there is a significant Disney presence in the holiday decorations at my house. But I don’t like just any Disney decorations. The Victorian ones here fit the theme of my holiday décor and the parlor where I display them perfectly.

8. Art of Disney – There are in fact a few of these stores scattered across Disney property, and I love them all. I just wish I could afford most of what was in them.

7. Mombasa Marketplace/Ziwani Traders (Disney’s Animal Kingdom) I actually themed my family room to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and most of the décor is from this shop. People come into my home and think I have a weird elephant obsession…

6. Yong Feng Shangdian Department Store (

China

Pavilion, Epcot) – This is such a fun place to shop! They have a bit of everything – clothes, home décor, souvenirs, jewelry, and these darling little jade elephants – okay; maybe I do have a problem…

5. Villains in Vogue (Disney’s Hollywood Studios) – This used to vie for a top spot on my list, but lately there seems to be way too much of a focus on Nightmare Before Christmas and Alice in Wonderland merchandise. Give me more classic Disney villains! I still love it, though. ;)

4. Uptown Jewelers (Magic Kingdom) Disney + Jewelry = “Hi, I’m Teri. Have we met?”

3. TrenD (Downtown Disney Marketplace) – This wins my “Best New Shop” award hands-down. You see, I have a personal rule that I enforce to keep myself from buying absolutely everything I see at WDW: If it’s not something I would normally buy, I’m not going to buy it just because it has a Disney character on it. I’m not a big t-shirt wearer, so this severely limits my Disney clothing options. Enter TrenD -- a stylish boutique with designer flair and eclectic offerings, perfect for fashion-conscious shoppers seeking trendy apparel and novel accessories. Now if only they’d start a Disney/Ann Taylor line…

2. Mousegear (Epcot) – This was a hard pick. I didn’t want to put both the Emporium at Magic Kingdom and Mousegear on my list, as they are quite similar. But which to pick? Mousegear has a better jewelry selection, but Emporium has that great vintage attraction merchandise. Maybe I should… no, I said Mousegear, and I’m sticking by it.

And my number one favorite shop?

1. Mickey’s Pantry (Downtown Disney Marketplace) – Yes, I realize that I may be the only person on the planet that would put this shop at number one. Yes, I know that I left a lot of great Disney shops off this list. But the truth of the matter is, I do love to cook, and I often buy more merchandise here than anywhere else on property!

But enough about me; what about you? Where do you love to shop at WDW? Let me know at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene!

Maybe It's Just Me, But...

2010-05-12T07:02:00.002-04:00

I guess I’ve always been a little finicky about Italian food. I love it, but I want it to be well prepared. One of my family’s favorite “Teri” stories occurred when I was about two years old. We were at a restaurant, and the waitress came to ask how our food was. Never a shy child, I replied “Mith,” (I was trying to say “Miss”, but I had a lisp). “Mith, your thpaghetti’s terrible.”

“Honey,” she replied, “I don’t make it, I just serve it.” She then went to have a nice chuckle with the rest of the wait staff, as apparently they were less than impressed with the chef’s spaghetti (or the chef himself), as well.

That said, on our first trip as a family to Walt Disney World in 1998, my husband, daughter and I had a “magical moment” at Tony’s Town Square Restaurant. I had made ADRs, and had timed them so that we should be done eating in plenty of time for the nighttime parade. I had underestimated the snail-like pace of Disney transportation, however, and we got there extremely late. I was in a complete panic, but the Disney cast members came to the rescue. Not only did they seat us right away, but they got us a table on their patio, so that we could watch the parade while we ate. The food was wonderful, and the entire experience was stellar.

We enjoyed it to much that we went back on our next trip three years later. This time it was okay, but nowhere near as fabulous as the last time. We decided that maybe we had romanticized the experience, and that nothing was going to live up to the first trip, so we tried again in 2007. That was not a magical experience. We didn’t get seated until a good half hour after our scheduled ADR time, and the menu options were significantly fewer than on previous visits. I was less than impressed.

Operating under the assumption that anyone can have a bad night, we went again on our most recent visit, fall of 2009. Again, we waited as the time for our ADR came and went. And then we waited some more. I can only guess that they were hoping that by the time we did eat, we’d be too hungry to care what our food tasted like. They must not know me very well.

I had something that was akin to Pasta Pomodoro (it’s no longer on the menu, so I don’t recall the exact name). It’s supposed to be Roma tomatoes, garlic, fresh basil and extra-virgin olive oil tossed with angel-hair pasta. If there was actually any garlic or basil within ten yards of that dish, I’d be amazed. It was the blandest meal I’ve ever tasted. I tried everything to give it some flavor – salt, pepper, Parmesan cheese - but nothing worked. My family didn’t fare much better. The spaghetti noodles . I tried everything to give it some flavor – salt, pepper, parmesan cheese - but nothing worked. My family didn’t fare much better. The spaghetti noodles with my daughter’s Chicken Parmesan were cooked to the point that they were just a big wet mess on her plate, and my husband wasn’t even able to tell me a few hours later what he had eaten.

Why has Tony’s gone downhill? Some people claim that the Disney Dining Plan is to blame. They think that because of the DDP, Disney has limited the number of menu options, and has let the food quality slip as well. Others say that Disney is counting on first-time or novice guests, who won’t be back again anytime soon anyway, so it doesn’t matter if the food isn’t that great. After all, there will just be another rookie guest to fill their slot. I myself don’t know. What I do know is that table service dining in the Magic Kingdom is seriously lacking, in my opinion. With Tony’s slipping so badly, I’d say your best bet is Crystal Palace, and that’s a buffet, not a true sit-down experience. The Plaza Restaurant is okay, but if I were on the dining plan, I’d never use a table-service credit for sandwiches. The Liberty Tree Tavern is serviceable, but falls under the “not really worth the money or calories” category for me, and I have zero interest in ever eating at Cinderella’s Royal Table again.

I’d love to see Tony’s regain its former glory. It is in such a prime location, and could be a jewel in Disney’s crown if managed properly. But maybe the problem’s with me. Maybe I’m just too finicky. “Maybe I’m just too demanding. Maybe I’m just like my father” -- okay; I’ll quit singing now. But let me know what you think. Chime in over at http://www.facebook.com/disneygene. I’d love to hear your opinion!