Wordless Wednesday

The Magic, The Memories, and You! Summer Show Starts May 25 At The Magic Kingdom

 It's time for the summer show of The Magic, The Memories, and You, and from the concept art released the other day looks like the castle will be one big sandcastle. The new show will begin May 25th at both Disneyland and Disney World.    

Happy 25th Anniversary Disney Store

   Today marked the 25th Anniversary of the Disney Store.  The first Disney Store opened in Glendale, California on March 28th 1987.   The store has gone through a lot in 25 years including format changes and being sold to the Children's Place in 2004 just to be purchased back in 2008.   I can remember our first Disney store that featured moving characters and great merchandise.   


As the store celebrated this over the past month there were many activities including Trivia Games, Dance Parties, and Stickermania all leading up to today and the 25th Celebration.   At each of the stores today 250 Silver Mickey Ears (pictured) were given away.   


  Many other 25th Anniversary items were also available to purchase and can be found on the Disney Store site.  The 25th Vinylmation is also included in my picture.   Thanks goes to my wife who stood in line today and surprised me with these items.   Her experience is captured in the picture and video below.   

Soft Opening for Storybook Circus

Photo Courtesy of @capndanny

Great news Disney World fans, Storybook Circus today has started soft openings.   Currently looks like one of the Dumbo rides is open along with the Great Goofini.   As with any soft opening they can close it down at anytime, so if you are there when it is open enjoy it while you can.   The official opening date for this portion of Storybook Circus is March 31, 2012. 

Photo Courtesy of @capndanny

Storybook Circus is part of the new Fantasyland expansion which in the end will include two Dumbo's, The Great Goofini (re-themed Barnstormer), a new Fantasyland train station, Casey Jr. Circus water play area, the Snow White Mine Coaster, and the Be Our Guest Restaurant.

   Leave us a comment, what will your first Storybook Circus Ride be?   Ours Dumbo.   

Rate a Movie: Secret World of Arrietty

Rated: G

Opened:  February 2012

Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi, Gary Rydstrom
Writer: Mary Norton (book), Hayao Miyazaki (screenplay)
Starring: Bridgit Mendler (voice), Will Arnett (voice), Amy Poehler (voice), David Henrie (voice)

    I have to say in the world of polished Pixar and Dreamworks style movies it was nice to see something with a different look. This was our first view of a Studio Ghibli production and it was a delight to watch. Stunning landscapes and use of color, the movie left everyone with a smile as they exited the theater.

    Secret of Arrietty is adapted by screenwriter Hayao Miyazaki from Mary Norton’s 1952 children’s novel The Borrowers. The story centers on Arrietty, a teenage tiny person who lives with her family below the floorboards of a home in modern-day Tokyo. The home is inhabited by a woman and a housekeeper along with a guest named Shawn, all “beans” or humans. When Shawn discovers the borrowers he threatens their very existence.

    As Arrietty and Shawn begin to develop a friendship her family disapproves and insists that she stay away from him. Shawn isn’t the only danger. Their friendship is tested by the insane housekeeper who attempts to rid the borrowers from the home.  Arrietty and her family must now prepare to move as once a “bean” has seen them they have to move on.

   Overall we really enjoyed the film and would recommend it to our friends. Our 7 year old son said he really liked it, but the ending wasn’t what he expected. To not spoil the ending, I will let you see it and tell us know if you feel the same way.

Rating 4 / 5

Good Bye Little Red....Hello Zebras???

The official Disney Parks Blog has announced that this fall there will be a new Kilimanjaro Safaris savannah featuring zebras.    To accommodate the zebras the final scene of the Safari including the saving of Little Red will be removed and thus more of the ride dialog will have to be updated.    


Work is expected to begin on the zebra area soon, but no closures of the ride have been reported at this time.   

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Rate Dining: Tusker House Character Breakfast

Location: Animal Kingdom (Africa)

Type:  Table Service

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Cuisine:  American with a touch of African (likely more African at Lunch and Dinner)

Reservations:   Yes (recommended)

Characters:  Currently only for Breakfast, Lunch added later this year

 The Tusker House, previously a counter service location, currently offers a buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.   One of the more popular meals is the character breakfast, “Donald’s Safari Breakfast”.   The breakfast includes characters meets with Donald, Goofy, Mickey, and Daisy (subject to change of course) along with a buffet of Mickey waffles, scrambled eggs, ham and flavorful dishes with an African influence.

Mark your calendars; Tusker House will soon be adding Donald’s Safari Lunch (December 4, 2011) which will be a new character dining experience for Animal Kingdom. No changes will be made in the buffet at this time.     

Our review will concentrate on the Safari Breakfast, the only meal we have experienced at the Tusker House.

  

Welcome to Tusker House!   Smile for your picture.   Now shove that food down your throat and get out.

  

Atmosphere

  Once your name is called you will be ushered into a line where you’ll wait to get your family’s picture with Donald.   After you get your picture you’ll be seated.   TIP:  Be sure to ask to have a cast member take a picture with your camera as the pictures offered while you eat will cost over $30.

   
   Similar to other character style buffets,  this buffet is a bit loud and feels incredibly rushed.   The building is not as unique as other buildings on property but does have some cultural flair to help you feel as though you are in an African Village.    Be sure to look up at the ceiling as you grab your food from the buffet.

   

The buffet is free flowing, meaning there is supposedly no line.   This seems to cause confusion even though cast members mention it over and over.   So if you go, remember, don’t line up, just get the food you want and smile at the people giving you dirty looks.   

Food

 Food is average buffet food, nothing spectacular and, not as good as some of the other breakfast buffets on property including the Supercalifragilistics Breakfast at 1900 Park Fare.   But if you like Mickey Waffles, scrambled eggs, and sausage you’ll do fine.   Be sure to try the Jungle Juice as it’s one of the best parts of the meal. As you sit, you’ll be visited by Mickey, Goofy and Daisy who will quickly sign your book, take a picture and be on their way. There’s also a parade in which children can line up behind their favorite characters and dance along to African music.   

 Tip:  If the park opens at 9 be sure to make an early reservation to the Tusker House.   This will allow you to get into the park a little early and snap some great photo’s with few people on your way to the restaurant.   You are not allowed to roam the park, but you do have a view of the tree of life and other nice spots on your way.  

Our Rating is 2.5/5

Rating Reason:  There is a certain aura of anxiety when dining with characters at Disney restaurants. Even when the servers are as kind as can be, you know they want you out as soon as possible so they can get the next gazillion people in to eat. It’s usually not a problem, but at no other restaurant have we felt more rushed than Tusker House. Maybe it’s because we schedule an early breakfast, so they are just trying to get all guests in and the process flowing, but it often leads to an aggravating meal.    Donald no longer comes to the tables, so getting his autograph can be a problem. And of course there’s always the pressure of buying that expensive photo.    

Overall, the food is decent and it provides a good fill up at the park before your day begins.    Also, if you get in before park opens you are right at the entrance to the Safari to begin your tour of Animal Kingdom and eating with characters is always easier than standing in character lines in the hot Florida sun.  But because of the frantic pace, you might end up feeling overly rushed.   

     

Wordless Wednesday

A Bit of History

  Disney World turns 40 this year.  On October 1, 1971 it opened its doors to about 10,000 visitors.   Today, the Magic Kingdom tops 16 million visitors a year. 

   Walt Disney began purchasing property in Florida in the mid 1960’s.   He created many company names while purchasing the property to keep from creating a stir which would raise property prices.   Many of these company names can be found on windows as you walk down Main Street.   Walt passed away in ’66 and his brother Roy O. Disney took over the task of completing the Florida project.   In the end, over 30,000 acres were purchased, and about 20,000 acres remain undeveloped today.  Yep, there is room for more parks and hotels.

 

  It took more than 9,000 construction workers about 18 months to build The Magic Kingdom at a cost of about $400 million at that time.  On opening day $4.95 would get you into the one and only park (The Magic Kingdom), but each ride would cost a ticket (or coupon) A, B, or C with D and E tickets being added later.   A-Tickets could be used for smaller/unpopular rides with the E-Ticket being for the newest and most popular rides. This is where the term E-Ticket comes from today. Guests had two hotels to choose from, the Polynesian Village Resort and the Contemporary Resort (previously called the Tempo Bay Hotel). The Fort Wilderness Campground added 250 campsites in 1972.    

While in the park you could enjoy:

·           Walt Disney World Railroad

·           Town Square: Town Square Café

·           Main Street Transportation: Fire truck, Horse-drawn street cars, and Horseless carriages.

·           Main Street: Market House store, Camera Center, Coca-Cola Refreshment Corner, House of Magic shop, Penny Arcade, Main Street Confectionery Shop, Emporium store, Main Street Bake Shop, New Century Clock Shop, Main Street Cinema attraction, & Crystal Palace Restaurant

·           Adventureland:  Adventureland Veranda restaurant, Jungle Cruise attraction, Swiss Family Tree House attraction, & Sunshine Pavilion

·           Bear Country: Country Bear Jamboree

·           Fantasyland: Dumbo Flying Elephants, Mad Tea Party, Snow White's Adventures, Pinocchio Village Haus restaurant, Cinderella's Golden Carrousel, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Mickey Mouse Revue Audio-Animatronics musical, It's a Small World, & Skyway to Tomorrowland

·           Frontierland: Frontier Shooting Gallery, Frontier Trading Post shop, Pecos Bill Cafe restaurant, Mike Fink Keel Boats, Mile Long Bar, Diamond Horseshoe Revue

·           Liberty Square: Hall of Presidents, Columbia Harbor House restaurant, Heritage House shop, Liberty Tree Tavern restaurant, & Haunted Mansion

·           Tomorowland: Skyway to Fantasyland, Grand Prix Raceway, Mickey's Mart store, & Tomorrowland Terrace restaurant

·           Cinderella Castle: King Stefan's Banquet Hall

 Some of these rides and restaurants still stand today while some of them have fallen to new and better things.   What is your favorite spot at the Magic Kingdom?

Fun Fact:   Never Give Up

    When Walt Disney was young he worked for The Kansas City Star newspaper, because of his lack of creativity he was fired.   Years later he started “The Disney Company,” which bought ABC. Ironically, ABC owned The Kansas City Star newspaper.   So he was fired because of lack of creativity, only to turn around and buy the place from the money earned from his creativity.  This shows Walt didn’t give up in his dream, and neither should you.