Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1158

December 14, 2014

The Disney Dream (Literally!)

It is something that we have all probably done sometime in our Disney lives: have a Disney dream while you’re sleeping.

Sometimes, the dream is you in a strange hybrid Disney movie with real life mixed in. Sometimes it’s a dream derived from something at the Disney Parks. And in other ways it’s just a crazy mixed-up dream with a little Disney thrown in.

I had an incredibly vivid dream a couple of weeks ago that took place in Walt Disney World and featured some interesting new ideas that came out of the subconscious of my mind. But when I woke up and thought them through, I was thinking of ways those features in my dream could actually work in the parks.

I am going to tell you my Disney dream, and explain how some of those thoughts could be implemented in a Disney Park.

The Dream: A street show

I was in Magic Kingdom park with my family. We were touring around the back of Adventureland, when suddenly we found a large crowd forming around a street show. The street show featured cast members in pirate garb and jungle camo doing a show for everyone. People were brought from the crowd to perform in the show, which had magic involved.

Hollywood Studios’ Citizens of Hollywood always know how to draw a crowd!

The Reality: An integrated street show

Often when we go to the parks, the areas are split up, and there isn’t any mixing of genres. This was important to Walt Disney, who was annoyed when he saw a Frontierland cowboy walking through Tomorrowland back in Disneyland. He vowed in his next park – Walt Disney World – he would make this problem disappear. Thus, the use of the utilidors.

I am not talking about integration that extreme. I don’t want to have an astronaut to have a show in Fantasyland. But what I would love to see is some mingling of genres within their land. It would be fun to see a pirate have a sparring match with a skipper in Adventureland, or watch a show in Epcot featuring two cast members of different nationalities conversing with each other about how they celebrate a holiday. We almost get this already with the Cinderella’s castle stage shows and Fantasmic! to a certain degree.

The Dream: A smaller show with dinner!

My family was ushered from the big group into a building where another show was taking place. I do remember being separated at this time: my dad and brothers went to an Adventureland show, while my sister, mom, and I went to a Fantasyland show. Don’t ask me why we were separated by gender; it was just a dream.

Following the show, we were ushered into a private dining area, with a table that only held about 20 people. We were served food that was appropriate for the show that we just watched. The food was probably delicious.

Imagine actually watching Belle and the Beast dance on this floor, too!

The Reality: Dinner and a show in the park

The Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue is a great dinner theater show found in Fort Wilderness. To get there, though, people are required to get to Fort Wilderness, which might seem insurmountable for some people.

Unlike places like the Be Our Guest Restaurant or Cinderella’s Royal Table, where you meet-and-greet with characters and then eat, why not have a stage show before or after the dinner? Logistically this would be a nightmare for table turnover, but a small show would probably bring in big bucks for people who want that personal experience.

It could even be more like what Epcot offers during the Candlelight Processional: dinner at a nearby table service restaurant followed by a small show in another location in the same park. Can you imagine what would happen if that “Villains in the tavern moaning about their failures” idea ever flew? I would be on the phone right away to see that dinner show!

The Dream: No kids in sight

It might be because I don’t have any kids of my own, but after the outdoor show, the dinner and show inside the building was kid-free.

The Reality: Adult-only feature…in the park

There are a few adult-only experiences for guests outside of the four parks in Walt Disney World, but very few things for only adults inside the park. It doesn’t have to be something mature – that doesn’t seem to be Disney’s thing. However, a secluded area with something for people 18 and over would be a pretty relaxing idea. They have it on the Disney Cruise Line – why not have it for a Disney Park?

The Dream: Cast members galore

Not only were there lots cast members in the shows, but there were tons of cast members for the dining portion! For every three or four people there was a cast member waiting on them. Most of them stayed perfectly in character while helping out the guests.

The Reality: Cast members galore

The beauty of this “reality” is that there are often many cast members aiding guests in attractions, dining, and more. Yes, there are times when it seems like there is only one cast member working with a long queue of guests, but most of the time Disney stays on top of the guest-cast member ratio. Hopefully it stays that way.

My dream ideas probably won’t be used in the parks any time soon. But it is still fun to take some time and think outside the Disney box for ways to help innovate and improve the parks!

Have you ever had a Disney dream? Have you ever been inspired by something – dream or reality – that you wish Disney would implement into its parks? Do you think all my ideas are hogwash? Comment below!

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Published on December 14, 2014 07:00

Disney History: The Jungle Cruise

By Savannah Sanders

The Jungle Cruise is an iconic Disney attraction that promises danger, adventure, and a whole lot of laughs! Located in Adventureland at both Disneyland and Disney World, the Jungle Cruise was an opening day attraction at both parks and is still entertaining guests today with its witty Jungle Cruise Skippers, the backside of water, and the hilarious names for its steamboats, such as Senegal Sal and Congo Connie. But did you know that the original idea for the Jungle Cruise was very different than the attraction we know today? Did you also know that evidence for the original plan for the Jungle Cruise can be found in two other Disney World parks? Get your pencil and paper ready because for today’s lesson, we are going to brush up on some Disney History: The Jungle Cruise!

The Inspiration

When Disneyland was being built in the 1950s, Walt wanted to create an attraction that represented his True-Life Adventures series. It’s also been said that Walt was a fan of The African Queen, a 1951 film starring Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart, a mismatched pair who must sail a steamboat down the rivers of Africa. The two ideas morphed into a vision for an attraction where guests would sail down the exotic rivers of the world in a steamboat while observing live wildlife on either side. Naturally, this plan had to be modified when Disney learned that live animals would be difficult to contain, care for, and keep to script, so the solution was to install audio-animatronic animals instead. However, you can find a vintage poster for The African Queen at Hollywood Studios on Sunset Boulevard as it is a Hollywood classic, but also possibly a nod to Walt’s inspiration for the Jungle Cruise!

African Queen Poster at Hollywood Studios

The Attraction

It’s hard to believe that the Jungle Cruise in its early Disneyland days was somewhat different than the Jungle Cruise of today and the one at Disney World. In fact, many of the trademark, amusing scenes from the attraction weren’t even there on opening day, but were later added by Imagineer Marc Davis. This is also true of the attraction’s original script. Originally, it was much more serious. The loveable, corny jokes we all love to quote were adopted and implemented later.

©Disney

When it was time to build Disney World in Florida, Imagineers were ready to install a more expounded version of the Jungle Cruise in the new Magic Kingdom. This time around, the light-hearted tone was already in place for this sister Jungle Cruise, but there were a few changes on the agenda. For one, Imagineers added the float through the dark temple, and Marc Davis added even more humorous scenes to delight and entertain!

The Next Generation

In 1998, Disney unveiled the new Animal Kingdom park; and the attraction that was getting the most attention was Kilimanjaro Safaris. This attraction was, and is, about as close to a real African safari as you can get and is the biggest Disney has ever created! Guests board a safari vehicle in the fictional village of Harambe at Animal Kingdom park’s Africa. They then travel through a very realistic looking reserve where live African wildlife roam freely! It’s an experience like no other, and way better than the zoo; but if you know about the original plan for the Jungle Cruise, you know that this was not a new idea. The Kilimanjaro Safaris of today was Walt’s vision for his original Adventureland attraction, just slightly altered for Animal Kingdom and minus the water and steamboat. Kilimanjaro Safaris is evidence that Walt truly was ahead of his time and that his ideas still have the power to create magic for today’s guests.

©Disney

The Legacy

The Jungle Cruise is a Magic Kingdom staple, just like Dumbo the Flying Elephant and Pirates of the Caribbean. It’s also an essential part of the culture of Disney and recently, Disney has come up with ways to let you bring a little piece of the attraction home with you. This summer, the Marketplace Co-Op opened at Disney World’s Downtown Disney offering a selection of products themed after the Jungle Cruise. Also, the Jungle Cruise has continued to evolve to delight and surprise even Disney veterans, such as with its new Christmastime overlay known as the Jingle Cruise. Fort the Christmas season, the Jungle Cruise’s famous script has been rewritten to include some holiday puns and it looks as if the skippers have done some decorating too!

Now class, if you’ve been paying attention, you now know about the history of the Jungle Cruise and how the attraction has managed to adapt to the times, but also still connect us to the days of Disney past. Hopefully, this new knowledge will endear you to this Adventureland classic even more!

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Published on December 14, 2014 03:00

December 13, 2014

25 Drinks of Christmas Countdown – Day 13: A Pint of Guinness at Raglan Road

By Derek Burgan

The Christmas season is my absolute favorite time of the year. Growing up, one of the little things I loved most was getting an Advent calendar and counting down the days until Santa would be coming down the chimney. As I grew older, I had to leave Advent calendars in the rear view mirror,* but I still miss that daily countdown building anticipation to the big day. So, we’re going to start a virtual Advent calendar here at TouringPlans. For 2014, we are going to countdown our favorite drinks at Walt Disney World and the Universal Orlando Resort.

Criteria: Drinks can be alcoholic or nonalcoholic. Drinks can come from any venue on property as well as the Disney Cruise Line. Bonus points awarded for atmosphere where drink is served. Any drink with glow cubes is immediately disqualified. Ready? Let’s go!

DAY THIRTEEN: A Pint of Guinness at Raglan Road (Downtown Disney)

A pint of Guinness at Raglan Road. (photo by Brandon Glover)

There are many places on Disney property where you can get a pint of Guinness, but only one place in our hearts, Raglan Road at Downtown Disney. Despite the large venue, Raglan Road does an amazing job at recreating an authentic Irish pub experience. The live entertainment is among the best on property and the menu consistently delivers with interesting and unique takes on traditional Irish standards. Come for the drinks, stay for the food, stay even longer for the off-the-charts atmosphere, Raglan Road is a true gem of Walt Disney World.

There is plenty of seating both indoors and outdoors at Raglan Road, with several bars to whet your whistle as well. Our best bets for food include the Dalkey Duo (beer battered sausages served with style) and the Bangers and Mash. Also be sure to check out Cookes of Dublin, which is connected to Raglan Road and offers the next-level bonkers Doh-Bar (a Snickers bar, deep fried in donut batter, covered with powdered sugar and YES, it’s as good as it sounds.)

Raglan Road. (photo by Brandon Glover)

Bangers and Mash at Raglan Road. (photo by Brandon Glover)

Raglan Road bread. (photo by Brandon Glover)

Inside Raglan Road. (photo by Brandon Glover)

Outside Raglan Road. (photo by Brandon Glover)

The statue outside Raglan Road is of poet Patrick Kavanagh. Raglan Road itself draws its name from Kavanagh’s poem “The Dawning of the Day.” (h/t Dean Finder)

PREVIOUS DRINKS OF CHRISTMAS:

DAY ONE: Shark Attack at Chez Alcatraz

DAY TWO: Grand Marnier Slush at Epcot

DAY THREE: Flaming Moe at Moe’s Tavern

DAY FOUR: Sunken Treasure on the Disney Cruise Line

DAY FIVE: Mai Tai at Emeri’s Tchoup Chop

DAY SIX: Avocado Margarita at La Cava del Tequila

DAY SEVEN: Pumpkin Fizz at the Three Broomsticks

DAY EIGHT: Old Fashioned at Belle Vue Lounge

DAY NINE: PBR in a Paper Bay at Cabana Bay Beach Resort

DAY TEN: Bay Lake Sunset at Top of the World Lounge

DAY ELEVEN: Tongue Tying Lemon Squash at the Leaky Cauldron

DAY TWELVE: Sugar Cane Mojito at Dawa Bar

See you tomorrow for the next entry into the 25 Drinks of Christmas Countdown, where we are going to head into Epcot’s World Showcase. If you had fun, be sure to check out The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! and Saturday Six articles, or, for your listening pleasure, check out the Pardon the Pixie Dust podcast. Your humble author can also be seen producing typos at an inhuman rate on Twitter: @derekburgan

Special thanks to crack staff photographer Brandon Glover and Megan Stump for their invaluable assistance with this article. Be sure to also check out Brandon on The Park Blogger podcast with co-hosts Aengus Mackenzie and Brian Carey.

*That is an absolutely lie. I still buy an advent calendar every year with chocolates in it, and I also buy an annual box of Christmas Crunch, but we’ll keep that between us.

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Published on December 13, 2014 09:00

Hollywood Studios AtMousePhere: The Music of Hollywood Boulevard

By Claire Nat

Welcome to Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

Greetings, music and theme park enthusiasts! It’s time to switch our musical gears from the whimsical fantasy world of Magic Kingdom park to the music of the silver screen in Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

You might think initially that writing about the music of Hollywood Studios would be easy – it’s music from the movies! And in that point you would be correct…but only in certain parts of the park. Areas like Sunset Boulevard consist of music that’s more in tune with the style and architecture of the area, and don’t take soundtrack music based on that style and architecture.

In the area of the park that we’re covering today – namely, the entrance to Hollywood Studios, Hollywood Boulevard, and the area around The Great Movie Ride – we do discover some of the greatest music to come out of the cinema.

Some of the fantastic music that you’ll hear includes:

- Theme from Chariots of Fire (1981)

- Superman Theme (1978)

- “Circus Parade (Parade of the Charioteers)” from Ben-Hur (1959)

- “Overture” from Oklahoma! (1955)

- “Tara” from Gone With the Wind (1939)

- Theme from Dallas (1978)

- “Harry’s Wondrous World” from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)

- Theme from Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

- Theme from Silverado (1985)

- Theme from Amazing Stories (1985)

- “Main Title” from The Big Country (1958)

- “Abbiamo Vinto” from Life is Beautiful (1997)

- “Overture” from Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

- Theme from The Magnificent Seven (1960)

Here are some observations that we can make from this list:

Almost every decade of movies is represented

There might be some bias towards music heard in the 1970s and 1980s, since Hollywood Studios was conceived in that time period. However, Imagineers did not focus soley on the music of those decades in their planning.

At the same time, even though the area around Hollywood Boulevard is built to look like classic Los Angeles (1920s-1940s), the music is not limited to that era. This is an interesting move away from the practice that we found in Magic Kingdom park, and not even consistent with other areas of Hollywood Studios!

The music is not limited to movie soundtracks

Back in 1989, Disney-MGM Studios was built with an emphasis on movies and television. TV shows were filmed in the backlot. “Superstar Television” was an opening day attraction. So I suppose I should be less surprised that television soundtracks would make their way onto the background music of Hollywood Boulevard.

Dallas was a 1980s icon – spanning the decade – and everyone would have known that piece of music at the time. Another television theme song in the park is probably less known because the show wasn’t as popular – NBC’s Amazing Stories.

The music might be iconic, but some of the movies…not so much

Ever heard of Silverado? How about The Big Country? I didn’t until I was doing research for this article. But the music of both is really catchy – very reminiscent of western soundtracks like The Magnificent Seven - which I have seen and loved.

Sometimes music from motion pictures and television can withstand the test of time more than the movie or show from which it came. Nowadays that comes from movie trailers or YouTube videos, but before that, vinyl and CD soundtracks carried the music from one generation to another.

It’s not all Disney properties…or MGM, for that matter

I remember a visit to Hollywood Studios after “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” premiered at Universal Studios: Islands of Adventure. To my surprise, the Harry Potter theme came on as I was walking down Hollywood Boulevard! The music is from the first Harry Potter movie, which came out in 2001 (and was produced by Warner Brothers). Hollywood Studios was using it in the parks before Universal acquired the rights, because it is an iconic piece of movie music. (If you want to hear more amazing Harry Potter music, though, make sure to go over to Universal Studios to be fully immersed!)

While Ben-Hur was an MGM property and the music would naturally be found in an MGM park, Chariots of Fire was produced by 20th Century Fox, and Lawrence of Arabia was produced by Horizon Pictures.

The music is meant to get ears to perk up

I visited Walt Disney World with my Papa a few times, and he was always one to hum or sing along to a familiar movie theme – he probably had a field day visiting Hollywood Studios with us when I was a kid. It’s not hard to find a family walking down the boulevard and hear a parent or grandparent exclaim, “I know this music! It’s from…” or watch someone sing or hum along to a theme as familiar as Gone With the Wind.

The point of Hollywood Boulevard is to get people excited about movies and television. Through the wonderful music that is piped in that area, it’s not too hard to do so!

What is your favorite piece of movie or television music you hear as you enter Hollywood Studios? Which piece of music would you like to see added to the repertoire? (My choice is How to Train Your Dragon!) Comment below!

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Published on December 13, 2014 07:00

SATURDAY SIX: Six MORE Surprises of Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort

By Derek Burgan

This week’s SATURDAY SIX takes a look at Six MORE Surprises of Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort. We’re taking a quick break from our end-of-year celebration articles, and returning back to Loews Cabana Bay Beach Resort. You may remember we were at the hotel earlier this year during its grand opening and were blown away as it changed the definition of “value” resort within the theme park universe. Since that time the other half of the resort opened up, including the Americana and Continental wings with a combined 900 standard rooms. So today we are going to revisit Cabana Bay and look at six more surprises the resort offers to guests, starting with…

# 6 -The Fire Pits

There are a total of four fire pits throughout Cabana Bay, all within walking distance of the two pool bars (Atomic Tonic and The Hideaway Bar & Grill.) These pits can make for a great place to relax at night, especially after a late swim. As an added bonus, there are S’mores kits available in the Bayliner Diner (complete with sticks to use for roasting the marshmallows) allowing you to have a very unique experience on property.

One of the fire pits at Cabana Bay Beach Resort. (photo by Mike Sperduto)

S’mores kits and marshmallows at the Bayliner Diner.

Everything you need to make your own S’mores with the fire pits for $7.95 (stick included!)

# 5 – The Arcade has actual Universal Prizes

This may be a very minor detail for the vast majority of people reading this, but as a person who is a fan of the incredible arcades at many of Disney’s resorts (some of the best are at Pop Century, Art of Animation, and The Contemporary), it’s always disappointing to see there is a grand total of ZERO Disney related prizes you can actually win in the arcades. Over at Game-O-Rama, Cabana Bay’s arcade, there are many different Universal related prizes you can redeem your tickets for, including Minion plush and iPhone cases. There are various items related to The Simpsons, as well, including gigantic plush for Bart in his Bart-Man persona and Homer as Radioactive Man. What Game-O-Rama lacks in size compared to Disney’s best arcades, it makes up in having a higher percentage of great arcade games along with much better prizes for the skill games.

Minion plush at Game-O-Rama prize center.

Minion iPhone cases.

The Simpsons and Minion plush.

Even the claw game has Minion plush.

This has nothing to do with Universal prizes, but I wanted you to see THE GREATEST VIDEO GAME CABINET OF ALL TIME.

# 4 – The Jack LaLanne Physical Fitness Studio is HUGE

Most hotel gyms are relatively small, and most “value” resorts don’t even have one, but the Jack LaLanne Physical Fitness Studio at Cabana Bay may be one of the most impressive hotel gyms I have ever been in. Tons of new equipment (treadmills, recumbent bikes, elliptical machines) along with various cross-training machines and a free-weight section. There is also a very large area for yoga/stretching/etc. There’s a good chance the Cabana Bay gym is larger than the actual gym many guests have in their home town. At a value resort…amazing.

Jack LaLanne Physical Fitness Studio at Cabana Bay Beach Resort.

Jack LaLanne Physical Fitness Center.

Jack LaLanne Physical Fitness Center.

There’s even a ton of Jack LaLanne merchandise, but more on that below….

# 3 – SonicFill refillable mug program already has seasonal cups

One of the absolute biggest surprises earlier this year was finding out Cabana Bay had its own refillable mug program, similar to Disney’s Rapid Fill. None of Universal’s other three on-site hotels offer refillable mugs, so it was interesting to see that Cabana Bay not only had Sonic Fill, but Coke Freestyle machines as well (the only machines available at any of the Disney/Universal hotels, to boot.)

But Universal wasn’t done there. One of the complaints many of us have with Disney’s refillable mugs is that they are all the same and the artwork never changes. There is no difference between cups bought at All Star Movies and Pop Century than the ones at the Grand Floridian and Fort Wilderness. While many WDW guests long for the days of resort-specific cups, Sonic Fill already has a second design, focusing on the Christmas holidays.

Christmas themed Sonic Fill refillable mugs at Bayliner Diner.

Sonic Fill cups use COKE FREESTYLE machines!

# 2 – The Lazy River

Anyone who has traveled with kids to the theme parks and stayed at hotels know how much kids just want to play in the pool. While adults appreciate the next generation attractions, world class restaurants, and the intricate details throughout immersive lands, the kids are counting down the minutes to get back into those hotel pools. For me, Lazy Rivers are the E-Tickets of the pool world. I love everything about them, and Cabana Bay’s Lazy River is wonderful. While you don’t have to use one, a float is highly recommended. Guests can bring their own, or chose from a variety to purchase at a stand nearby. I loved the “tire” float, and while it doesn’t quite fit the theme of the 1950s/1960s, how great would a Simpsons pink donut float be?

Lazy River at Cabana Bay.

Lazy River.

Floats for the Lazy River.

# 1 – Cabana Bay Beach Resort Merchandise

As a person who loves resort merchandise, Cabana Bay knocks it out of the park when it comes to hotel-specific items. This is a stark contrast to Disney’s value resorts, which offer very little options to guests (I believe Pop Century only had a pressed penny and a pin.) Cabana Bay had numerous offerings in apparel, retro-themed candy (remember wax bottles?!), glasses, pins, keychains, and more. They also have merchandise available for Galaxy Bowl (the resort’s bowling alley) and Jack LaLanne’s Physical Fitness Center. With selections from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Marvel, Transformers, The Simpsons, Dr. Seuss, Despicable Me, and more, the Cabana Bay gift shop is one of the best stores on Universal property.

Retro themed candies.

Cabana Bay Beach Resort pin.

Cabana Bay Beach Resort merchandise.

Galaxy Bowl bowling shirt.

HONORABLE MENTION: Real silverware at Bayliner Diner.

It’s the little things in life.

Feel like a 1%er on less than $100 a night.

So there you have it: Six MORE Surprises of Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort. Somehow this hotel gets better each time we visit. See you next weekend for the latest installment of the SATURDAY SIX where we continue our end-of-year shebang! If you had fun, be sure to check out The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! articles, or, for your listening pleasure, check out the Pardon the Pixie Dust podcast.

Kids are probably wondering what this is next to the outlet for their iPhone charger.

If you enjoyed In Memoriam – Six things We Lost from the Theme Park World in 2014, you may also enjoy:

Six Surprises of Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort

Six “Secrets” of Universal’s Portofino Bay Hotel

Six “Secrets” of Universal’s Royal Pacific Resort

Six “Secrets” of Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.

Special thanks to crack staff photographer Brandon Glover, photo-wunderkind Mike Sperduto, and Megan Stump for their invaluable assistance with this article. Be sure to also check out Brandon on The Park Blogger podcast with co-hosts Aengus Mackenzie and Brian Carey. Also, we’d like to send a thank you to Attractions Magazine, our all time favorite theme park magazine. Did you know that Attractions were the first people CRAZY enough to let me write a theme park based article? It’s true, and here’s the proof!

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Published on December 13, 2014 04:00

December 12, 2014

In Case You Missed It: Disney News and Rumors – Week of December 12, 2014

By Rikki Niblett

Newsworthy Notes – Disney’s Animal Kingdom Edition

By Rikki Niblett

We all know that there is a massive amount of refurbishment work taking place at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, preparing the theme park to become a full day park and to support the upcoming Avatarland, as well as Rivers of Light. A few updates have come to my attention, so I wanted to make sure to share them with you.

The first is that for those who like experiencing character dining at Tusker House, you’ll now have the option to do so at dinner. You see, beginning on March 8, the restaurant located in the Africa section of the park will introduce the Donald’s Safari Dinner. (For those who don’t know, breakfast and lunch were already character meals.) The dinner option will begin at 4:00 p.m. daily.

©Disney

At the meal, guests will have the opportunity to meet Donald, Daisy, Mickey, and Goofy. (Though be aware that characters are subject to change.) Menu items for the all-you-care-to-enjoy buffet include spit-roasted carved meats, unique salads, creative vegetarian offerings, hearty stews, and great desserts. Reservations can be made by calling (407) WDW-DINE.

Speaking of dining at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, currently, Disney is quietly building what is known as the Africa Marketplace in the Africa section of the park. (And yes, I know I’m a bit belated with this news, but I still wanted to share it with those of you who may not know about it.)

©Disney

This new section will feature great new shopping and dining experiences for guests to enjoy. The dining will be in the form of a quick-service eatery called Harambe Marketplace, which will feature walk up windows and seating under canopies. (Similar to the way Sunset Ranch Market is set up in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.) What’s awesome about this new dining establishment is that menu items will include street-inspired dishes. Also, a brand new walkway will be introduced, connecting to the Asia section of the park.

This expansion is expected to open sometime in spring 2015.

For those of you who like to meet characters, especially rare ones, you should make sure to visit the Discovery Island Trail, because you will have the opportunity to meet Tarzan! Also, Pocahontas will now be greeting guests at the Discovery Island Character Landing. These experiences will take place during the busy holiday season, until January 3.

Finally, a reminder for anyone who may have missed it in my last Newsworthy Notes article, but Flame Tree Barbecue will be closed for a refurbishment from January 5 until sometime in April 2015.

Ok, that’s it for this special edition of Newsworthy Notes – Animal Kingdom style! What are your thoughts?

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Published on December 12, 2014 11:23

25 Drinks of Christmas Countdown – Day 12: Sugar Cane Mojito at Dawa Bar

By Derek Burgan

DAY THIRTEEN: Sugar Cane Mojito at Dawa Bar (Animal Kingdom)

Sugar Cane Mojito at Dawa Bar.

We absolutely love Animal Kingdom, and one of our favorite parts of the park is the recently expanded Harambe section. The Dawa Bar is our go-to area in Animal Kingdom for drinks, and is conveniently located near two other things we adore in Harambe, Festival of the Lion King, and the live Burudika band. The best bet at Dawa? An old classic: a Sugar Cane Mojito.

There is plenty of available seating at the newly refurbished Dawa, and you have to love the unique stools bar the bar. A wide assortment of African beers and a new selection of Bloody Marys means there is going to be something unique for every adult in your party. Grab a drink at Dawa, find a seat for Burudika music, and enjoy one of the best experiences you can have on Disney property.

African beers available at Dawa Bar.

Discovery Island and African Bloody Marys at Dawa Bar.

Dawa Bar.

Unique seating at Dawa Bar. (photo by Brandon Glover)

Burudika at Haramabe in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Live music at its best.

Theme parks don’t get better than this.

PREVIOUS DRINKS OF CHRISTMAS:

DAY ONE: Shark Attack at Chez Alcatraz

DAY TWO: Grand Marnier Slush at Epcot

DAY THREE: Flaming Moe at Moe’s Tavern

DAY FOUR: Sunken Treasure on the Disney Cruise Line

DAY FIVE: Mai Tai at Emeri’s Tchoup Chop

DAY SIX: Avocado Margarita at La Cava del Tequila

DAY SEVEN: Pumpkin Fizz at the Three Broomsticks

DAY EIGHT: Old Fashioned at Belle Vue Lounge

DAY NINE: PBR in a Paper Bay at Cabana Bay Beach Resort

DAY TEN: Bay Lake Sunset at Top of the World Lounge

DAY ELEVEN: Tongue Tying Lemon Squash at the Leaky Cauldron

*That is an absolutely lie. I still buy an advent calendar every year with chocolates in it, and I also buy an annual box of Christmas Crunch, but we’ll keep that between us.

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25 Drinks of Christmas Countdown – Day 12: Sugar Cane Mojito at Dawa Bar is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.

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Published on December 12, 2014 09:00

Disney World Single Location Merchandise

By Erin Foster

When you’re shopping at Walt Disney World, there are many (many, many, many) merchandise items you’ll see repeatedly. Basic Mickey tees and princess dresses are sold in in dozens of locations throughout the theme parks, resort gift shops, at Downtown Disney, and sometimes even on DisneyStore.com. But you should be aware that there is a subset of Disney merchandise that you can only find in a single location. If you want to buy it, there’s only one place in the World to do so.

I’ve heard many tales of guests who saw the perfect souvenir, assumed they’d encounter it again to purchase later, only to find that it slipped through their fingers because they never returned to the one sales location during their visit.

Here’s a guide to the types of merchandise items that are typically found in only one location. If you want it, buy it when you see it, because you may not find it again.

RESORT LOGO MERCHANDISE

Some, but not all, of the Disney resort hotels sell merchandise with a unique resort logo. If you want a Beach Club tee shirt, you will only find this at the Beach Club, not anywhere else on property.

On a related note: Disney Vacation Club gear is only sold in the resorts housing DVC villas. These are Animal Kingdom Lodge, Bay Lake Tower (Contemporary), Beach Club, Boardwalk, Grand Floridian, Old Key West, Saratoga Springs, and Wilderness Lodge. You can also get DVC swag if you go on a sales pitch tour at WDW or if you go to a sales pitch seminar while on a Disney cruise, but if you want buy DVC gear, you should grab it at the resorts just mentioned.

PARK SPECIFIC MERCHANDISE

Most of the merchandise sold at Walt Disney World is either generically Disney or emblematic of Disney World as a whole. However, there are some items which depict just one of the theme parks. You’ll typically only find Epcot logo gear at Epcot and Animal Kingdom gear at the Animal Kingdom, or possibly at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Strangely, there is a relative dearth of park specific merchandise for the Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios. In any case, if you want that super cool retro Epcot Center tee, your best bet is to buy it when you see it at Epcot.

ATTRACTION SPECIFIC MERCHANDISE

A few attractions have unique themed merchandise. These are typically thrill rides, but you may get lucky and find that Disney has decided to honor a lesser favorite with dedicated items. On a trip to WDW this summer, I saw the expected logoed merchandise for the Tower of Terror and Splash Mountain, as well as glassware devoted to the boat ride in Epcot’s Mexico pavilion. Olé.

The exception to this rule is the Haunted Mansion. Most, but not all, of the super cool new Haunted Mansion merch can now be found throughout the parks and even on DisneyStore.com.

DINING VENUE SPECIFIC MERCHANDISE

Merchandise extolling the virtues of Disney food has become trendy. You can often find tees sporting the image of turkey legs, Dole Whips, and Mickey bars. But dedicated restaurant merchandise is not common. Get it while you can.

DINOSAUR RELATED MERCHANDISE

The Animal Kingdom sells dozens of dinosaur-related items, including plush and plastic toys, clothing, and educational items. Very little of this is sold outside the Animal Kingdom park.

COUNTRY SPECIFIC ITEMS

The Epcot World Showcase countries all stores fully stocked with non-Disney gear. You’ll only find these items in the related countries. For example, Downton Abbey swag only lives in the UK pavilion and trolls only live in the Norway pavilion.

NON-DISNEY BOOKS

Books about Walt Disney, Disney films, and Disney characters are found throughout the parks and resorts. There are, however, a surprising number of books for sale at Walt Disney World which are not about overtly Disney-related topics. For example, you’ll find books about space at the Mission Space gift shop, books about alpine exploration at the Expedition Everest gift shop, and general fiction and biography at the Writers’ Stop shop at Hollywood Studios. You’re unlikely to find these titles at other Disney locations, so if you want them during your trip, buy them when you see them.

On the other hand, most of this type of merchandise can be found elsewhere out in the real world. I’ve been known to see a book at the Animal Kingdom and then buy it on Amazon while I’m still there in the park. This is often at a discount, and I don’t have to carry it home.

NON-DISNEY CLOTHING

Disney branded clothing is usually found in many locations. There are also many non-Disney clothes sold in locations throughout Walt Disney World. For example, there are pirate themed tees near the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction, kimonos in Epcot’s Japan pavilion, and Oakley sunglasses at Downtown Disney. You may be able to find similar items online, but if you see non-logo clothing at Disney World, chances are that you’ll only see it one or two spots. (Ed. – in almost every case, I’ve been able to apply my annual pass merchandise discount to non-Disney items. The only exceptions have been Mitsukoshi at the Japan pavilion and House of Good Fortune at China. This is a bummer, because who wouldn’t want a discount on some Mikimoto pearl jewelry or Hello Kitty pencil boxes?)

HAND-CRAFTED ITEMS

There are similar hand crafted items sold in several locations. For example, wood carvings can be found in the Africa section of the Animal Kingdom and in the World Outpost area in the World Showcase at Epcot. But given that these items are handmade, no two will ever be exactly alike. If you find something handmade that you particularly like, buy it when you see it.

The same holds true for the charity-related handmade items often sold at the Animal Kingdom. No two are ever the same.

SPECIAL EVENT ITEMS

Disney holds a number of special events, including the evening parties at the Magic Kingdom and festivals at Epcot. The dedicated merchandise for these events is typically only sold at the events themselves.

You may find exceptions to these rules. That cuddly Food & Wine Festival Duffy might end up on deep discount at a merchandise warehouse in a few months, but in general, if these unique types of items are on your “must buy” list, you should pounce on the opportunity when you have it.

So now that you know what types of merchandise are typically found in just one or two locations. Here are some questions you might have.

I see the perfect item, and I know I have to buy it now, but I don’t want to carry it around all day. What can I do?

No problem. Disney can send most merchandise to a package pick-up location at the front of the park, or to a package pick-up location at your Disney resort hotel. For more information on this, see our merchandise delivery post.

The timing isn’t quite right for delivery. Are there alternatives?

You can also rent a locker at the parks. Use this to hold your merchandise until you’re ready to leave.

I know that this is the only location that sells a particular item, but it’s early in my trip and I’m just not sure I absolutely want to buy it. Oh, and this will be my only visit to the sales location.

If you think you want to buy something at Disney World but you’re not 100% sure, then ALWAYS take a photo of the item AND the item’s bar coded price tag. Disney has a park merchandise service that can ship most items to your home. To arrange this, contact Disney at 407-363-6200 or wdw.mail.order@disneyworld.com. You may have to pay crazy shipping rates (see the delivery post above), but with a photo and the bar code info you’ll be 99% of the way there to having them find the item.

I bought a single-location merchandise item early in my trip and now am having regrets. What can I do?

The Walt Disney World merchandise sales locations will accept returns of most items regardless of where they were purchased on property. This means that if you’ve had second thoughts about that snazzy Kilimanjaro Safari tee, you don’t have to schlep all the back to the Animal Kingdom to return it; they’ll likely accept it as a return right at your hotel gift shop. Just be sure to hold on to your receipts to facilitate transactions such as this.

What have your experiences been with single-location merchandise? Do you have a “one that got away” story? Let us know in the comments below.

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Published on December 12, 2014 03:00

December 11, 2014

Updated Details on the Disney Vacation Club Expansion for Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

By Rikki Niblett

Today, Disney released some great new details, as well as renderings, of what both the Disney Vacation Club villas and bungalows will feature at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.

First, we’ll take a look at the bungalows. There will be twenty bungalows available to Guests, and they will be able to sleep up to 8. They will feature a plunge pool and will have a spectacular Magic Kingdom view that is perfect for catching the evening fireworks.

©Disney

Moving over to the Villas, there will be 360 Deluxe Studios in the longhouses. These rooms will sleep up to 5 and can be connected to another Deluxe Studio room. Rooms will also feature bathrooms that are separated into two sections: one with a shower and a sink, and the other with a sink and a tub/shower. Of course, rooms will also have a kitchenette and lots of storage space. Overall, they look simply gorgeous.

©Disney

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is undergoing a very large renovation to accommodate guests staying in Disney Vacation Club rooms, with an expanded pool area, a refurbished lobby, and new dining options (such as the recently refurbished Captain Cook’s, the newly introduced Pineapple Lanai, and the upcoming Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto.)

The first phase of the renovations, which will include some Disney Vacation Club rooms, is expected to be complete sometime in 2015.

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Updated Details on the Disney Vacation Club Expansion for Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.