Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1197
August 19, 2014
Reviewing Hollywood Studios One-Day Late Arrival Touring Plan for Adults
By Scott Wurzel
Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Angela Dahlgren, photographer.
I had an extra day off at the end of my summer vacation, so my sister-in-law and I hopped over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios to test out the “One-Day Late Arrival Touring Plan for Adults.”
The plan is designed to start at 11:00 AM but we were through the turnstiles and had the plan pulled up on the phone by 10:00 AM. The extra hour probably helped in the long run since the new Frozen Summer Fun – Live bumped up the crowd level to a solid 9. It looked like it was already a 7 when we arrived.
Looking at the list, I forgot to send it though the optimizer, but the first step was to ride Toy Story Midway Mania!, which would probably have been the suggestion anyway. We headed straight to Pixar Place and into the standby queue. The posted wait time was 75 minutes, but we made it through in 45. When the line splits before the stairs at the end of the main queue room, the Cast Member directed us through the FastPass+ lane, likely accounting for the saved 10-15 minutes.*
The next step was Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage, but just before heading over there, I remembered to run the optimizer. It bumped the show down to the early afternoon and sent us to Studio Backlot Tour. This turned out to be a great move; the attraction is much closer than the show and still takes up a sizable chunk of the remaining morning. We ended up at the very front for the next show, waiting a little longer than usual as a result. After surviving Catastrophe Canyon, the plan suggested a 30-minute lunch. That seemed a little short but we ended up at Backlot Express which was not too crowded and the meal only took about 45 minutes. While we were finishing up I reoptimized, again sending Beauty and the Beast down the list. It was another good move though since it bubbled up Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show, which was starting in 20 minutes.
Next up was Star Tours, which we walked on to. I optimized the touring plan once we left the Wi-Fi dead zone near Tatooine Traders and finally Beauty and the Beast was listed next. At this point, we didn’t feel like crossing the whole park to get there and decided one show was enough for the day. I removed it from the plan (as well as Voyage of the Little Mermaid) and headed onto the next step, Muppet*Vision 3D. After the rousing “Salute to All the Nations of the World, But Mostly America,” I didn’t bother optimizing since the last three attractions were pretty close to each other and it was only 4:00 PM. So, we finished up the day doing Tower of Terror, The Great Movie Ride, and Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster in that order.
This was my first time using the optimizer extensively, and I was surprised at how much it reduced backtracking. The stock touring plan moves your around a lot at the first part of the day, but the only extra walking we did was due to choosing lunch without looking further ahead in the plan. The only downside was how early we finished. Fantasmic!, the last thing we wanted to see on the plan was not until 9:00 PM. Even with the late start, we have a full 4 hours before the show. So much for rope drop.
*I am contractually obligated to mention Jennifer won at Toy Story Midway Mania! So there.
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All Aboard! Amtrak Auto Train
Loading cars into the Auto Train car carriers.
While living in Maryland, we would often fly to Orlando, and I’d say my prayers, grit my teeth, and bear it. Once we had a child and realized that we’d be paying hundreds of dollars to bring all of the stuff that a baby seems to require for a week somewhere other than home, plus have to deal with the “fun” of flying with an infant, we looked into travel on the Amtrak Auto Train. Our first trip with our daughter was when she was six months. Since then, we have taken sixteen trips on the Auto Train. I am still surprised at how many people in the Northeast U.S. have not heard about this service, however.
The Auto Train runs daily non-stop between Sanford, Florida (approximately 1 hour from Walt Disney World) and Lorton, Virginia (approximately 30 minutes from Washington, D.C.). When you purchase fare on the Auto Train, you have the option of Coach (a seat comparable to a first-class or business-class airline seat) or Sleeper accommodations. There are three types of sleeper accommodations.
Roomette: A very cozy accommodation with two seats facing each other and a table between them during the day, which converts to a set of bunk beds at night.
Bedroom: A larger room that has its own private toilet/shower and sink. During the day, it has a couch and a chair. At night, the couch folds down into a slightly larger bed and there is a standard bunk above it.
Family Bedroom: The largest of the rooms, and capable of holding two adults and two children. It does not have a private bathroom, but is directly down the hall from restroom facilities.
(Handicap accessible rooms are also available upon request.)
The Bedroom provides a bathroom toilet/shower and sink plus couch and chair by day and bunk beds by night.
When you book, you also select the size of vehicle that you are bringing on board and the number of passengers.
The Auto Train station opens for arrivals at 11:30 AM (unless the inbound train is delayed), and the last car must check in by 3:00 PM. As cars arrive, they are assigned a number and loaded on to the enclosed train car carriers.
Before you leave your vehicle, you take whatever you need for the evening and the next morning. Space is limited, so most people opt to carry an overnight bag, some snacks, a pillow, and some form of entertainment (such as portable electronics). You are also encouraged to take any valuables out of the car with you.
Inside the terminal, you check in and receive your room or seat assignment and select the time you want to have dinner. The terminal is what you would expect from a small airport. There is a small gift shop with snack foods and an outdoor playground area for the kids. The Lorton station also has two train boards for kids to play with, however since they were first set up, the trains on the boards have disappeared. We always bring some cheap toy cars with us for my daughter to play with and share with other kids in the station.
The Sanford Auto Train station
Once on board, you get settled in your accommodations and meet your attendant. Although the train stops overnight in Florence, South Carolina to switch conductors and refuel, you will have the same attendant all the way through the trip. He or she will explain a bit about the train and dinner seating as well as confirm your desired turndown time and see if you want a wake-up call. The train pulls out of the station promptly at 4:00 PM.
At that point, you can just sit back and relax until your dinner time.* While the train moves along, you can sit back and watch the countryside pass by. In the evening, there are also showings of movies on the TVs in the Lounge car.
Dinner is included with the price of your fare, and includes dishes like braised beef sirloin, chicken marsala, spinach lasagna rolls, or chicken nuggets or pizza for the kids. Also included are non-alcoholic beverages (Pepsi products, iced tea, milk, or juice) and dessert. Beer and wine are available for purchase.**
Dinner, like the chicken marsala shown here, is included with your fare.
In the morning, a light continental breakfast of bagels and cream cheese, corn muffins, cereal, fruit, juice, and coffee and tea are served from 6:00 to 8:00 AM. The train is scheduled to arrive at 9:30 AM, although I have been on a train that arrived as early as 7:30 AM or, in one incredibly bad trip from heck, as late as 12:30 PM.
Once the train arrives, the cars are offloaded. When your number is called, you get in your car and drive away. In total, it can take up to an hour and a half to completely empty a maximum-capacity Auto Train, although most of my trips have had less than an hour wait to get our vehicle. Priority offloading is available for an additional fee by calling Amtrak’s reservation line (877-SKIP-I95).
I’m a big fan of pro and con lists to make decisions, so here are the pros and cons of taking the Auto Train.
PROS:
The trip is part of the vacation. One of my best memories on the Auto Train was riding through in December and seeing all sorts of old Virginia homes decorated with lights. We do some birdwatching in Florida and we’ve even seen the Marines working out in Quantico. It is a great way to see a part of America by traveling through.
You arrive more rested. I’ve flown from Baltimore to Florida and I’ve driven I-95 that whole way. In either case, the only thing keeping me going when I arrive is adrenaline. I’m grumpy, exhausted, and feel more like crawling into bed than heading for the parks. On the Auto Train, I wake up feeling relaxed and ready to have a great day.
Unlike an airline, you can bring as much as you can fit into your car. This was the big selling point for us when we were carrying an infant bathtub, car seat, jogging stroller, regular stroller, portable high chair, changing pad, case of diapers, case of formula, bottles, bottle sterilizer, bottle warmer, toys, and all of our clothes. On later trips, we didn’t have to worry about weighing our suitcases or having to negotiate airport terminals with them in tow.
If you have to work in transit, you can comfortably get work done. Wi-Fi is available in the lounge car, and if you have a mobile hotspot, you can work from the convenience of your room or coach seat. In fact, I wrote this article while on the Southbound Auto Train while my daughter was sprawled out on the bed playing with Frozen figurines!
You have your own car at the other end. I’ve had good experiences and bad experiences with rental cars. There is nothing like driving your own car, however.
Weather cancellations are extremely rare. Twice we have taken the Auto Train when flights from Orlando to Baltimore were cancelled (once for a snowstorm and once for a tropical storm).
CONS:
It is more expensive than flying in most cases. If you book a coach seat and are using your car instead of renting a car for a week, the cost will generally break even on a one-way trip. Adding a room does add additional cost, depending on the size of the room and time of year and direction of travel (as many snowbirds use the Auto Train in the early summer for northbound and late fall for southbound).
It does take longer than flying. To fly from Baltimore to Orlando takes about 2 ½ hours. To take the Auto Train takes around 17 hours. On the other hand, a majority of those 17 hours are during hours when you’d be sleeping.
Some people do not like the feeling of being on the train. If you have severe motion sickness, traveling on the train may not be for you. The motion of the train as a slight sway and a lot of bounce to it – like light turbulence. For most people, once you get used to it, you tend not to notice it, however. It also tends to make some people really sleepy.
Sitting with strangers. The dining car is comprised of tables that seat four people. If you are less than a party of four, you will have one or more people seated with you. I’ve been lucky to meet some really interesting people for dinner. I’ve also had some people who made me glad that dinner is done in about an hour. If you don’t like being seated with other people, this may be the most uncomfortable part of the trip.
If the Auto Train is a convenient option for you in terms of location, times, and budget, I do think it is a wonderful experience for everyone to try at least once. Only then can you decide if it is best for you to be All Aboard!
* Those who have taken the Auto Train in the past may remember the free wine, cheese, vegetable, and snack mix available in the lounge from 3-4 PM. Unfortunately, that has been discontinued as of May 2014.
** Yeah, the free wine with dinner is gone as well.
The Auto Train provides beautiful views of the mid-Atlantic region.
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August 18, 2014
Disney World Crowd Report – August 10 to 16, 2014
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Predictions did remarkably well at Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom last week with all days hitting the mark or missing by only one index level (except for Monday at Animal Kingdom where we missed by two). Predictions were solid most days for The Studios and Epcot as well although crowds did skew higher at those parks. Frozen themed activities may be impacting the crowds at those two parks. Wait times at Spaceship Earth were up all week which pushed Epcot’s crowds higher than expected a few days last week.
Let’s look at how the crowd levels stacked up each day last week on this week’s Disney World Crowd Report:
Walt Disney World Resort Crowd Levels – Daily Breakdown
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
6
6
Sixes across the resort except for Epcot (4). No attraction at Magic Kingdom hit an average wait time higher than 54 minutes (Splash Mountain) and all of our predictions were within one index level.
Epcot
3
4
Hollywood Studios
5
6
Animal Kingdom
6
6
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
7
8
Epcot trailed the pack again on Monday with low wait times at Soarin’ (61 minutes, predicted 73) and Mission: Space Orange (19 minutes, predicted 25). We correctly predicted Buzz Lightyear at Magic Kingdom would average 48 minutes (a level ’10’ out of ’10’ for that attraction). Pirates of the Caribbean (45 minutes) and Space Mountain (73 minutes) hit a level ’10’ as well.
Epcot
6
5
Hollywood Studios
7
8
Animal Kingdom
5
7
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
7
8
Epcot hit the highest point on our scale thanks to higher than expected waits at Mission: Space Orange (55 minutes, predicted 34), Spaceship Earth (26 minutes, predicted 15) and Soarin’ (89 minutes, predicted 81). Crowds were up at The Studios as well (Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster 73 minutes, Toy Story Midway Mania 83 minutes) but within normal ranges at the two Kingdoms.
Epcot
7
10
Hollywood Studios
6
9
Animal Kingdom
6
6
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
8
7
Spaceship Earth averaged 21 minutes on Wednesday (predicted 13) which pushed crowds higher at Epcot. Our predictions for Mission: Space (24 minutes, predicted 22), Soarin’ (64 minutes, predicted 68) and Test Track (70 minutes, predicted 72) were all accurate though.
Epcot
4
7
Hollywood Studios
6
7
Animal Kingdom
7
7
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
7
7
Crowds settled down on Thursday with all parks within one of predicted levels. Magic Kingdom hosted Extra Magic Hour morning but only Space Mountain averaged a posted wait higher than 60 minutes, at 66 (predicted 53).
Epcot
4
4
Hollywood Studios
6
7
Animal Kingdom
5
4
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
7
7
Slightly higher crowds at Epcot and The Studios again on Friday although resort wide the crowd level was a ‘7’ as predicted. The average posted time at Spaceship Earth was 24 minutes, double our prediction of 12 minutes. That is as high an average at Spaceship Earth as we have seen all summer.
Epcot
5
7
Hollywood Studios
6
8
Animal Kingdom
5
4
(Click to view overall details for this day)
WHAT WE
THOUGHT
WHAT WE
SAW
ANALYSIS
Magic Kingdom
6
6
Resort wide crowds were a six again on Saturday despite higher crowds again at Epcot. Spaceship Earth went two minutes higher reaching an average of 26 minutes! All other predictions on Saturday were spot on.
Epcot
4
7
Hollywood Studios
7
7
Animal Kingdom
5
5
What to Expect This Week
August 17 to 23, 2014
How Crowded is Disney World?
Summer crowds will begin to fade as we enter the fall season, the lowest crowds of the year. Wait times will still be high for popular attractions this week but with a proper touring plan crowds will be manageable.
To see Walt Disney World Crowd predictions for the days of your vacation, check the Crowd Calendar.
To get details about our predictions of future crowds or details about crowds in the past check out the Crowd Calendar and select “Jump to Date” on the left margin.
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Disney World Crowd Report – August 10 to 16, 2014 is a post from the TouringPlans.com Blog. Signup for a premium subscription today! Or get news via Email, Twitter, & Facebook.
Everything You Wanted To Know About Villains Unleashed
©Disney
This Saturday, August 23, is the first ever Villains Unleashed, taking place at Disney’s Hollywood Studios from 8 p.m. until 1 a.m. The event, which celebrates the love that people have for the Disney bad guys and gals, is sure to be a fun-filled evening for those who attend. There will be over 50 different characters, dance parties, fireworks, special shows, unique food and shopping, and much more!
So, let’s get into the full details about this event so that those of you who will be attending have a better idea of what to expect.
While the event begins at 8:00 p.m., guests may begin to arrive as early at 5:00 p.m. and still be allowed entry. Those already in the park may obtain party passes at either Soundstage One (where Wandering Oaken’s currently is) or at the Epic Theater.
Guests driving to the park who are attending the Villains Unleashed party will need to use the Main Entrance off World Drive to for event parking. The secondary parking entrance located on Buena Vista Drive will be closed to all incoming traffic beginning at 3:00 p.m. Standard parking fees apply.
The evening will include many activities throughout the night. They are:
Hades Hangout: The main villain of ceremonies will be there to get the party started and keep it rocking all night long. Hades will be joined by Meg, Pain, and Panic. The dance party will also feature house band Bernie Briquette and Brimstone, as well as DJ Igg Nite and the Underworld Dancers. (8:00 p.m. through 1:00 a.m.)
Guardians of the Galaxy Awesome Mix Tape Dance Party: Taking place at Stage 5 in the Animation Courtyard, the dance party will feature awesome tunes, as well as appearances from both Star-Lord and Gamora. (Note: they will likely not be mingling with guests.) The dance party is scheduled from 8:00 p.m. to 12:45 a.m.
Oogie Boogie’s Freaky Funhouse Show: Takes place at the Theater of The Stars (where Beauty and The Beast – Live on Stage is performed.) This one night only show features Mr. Oogie Boogie from Nightmare Before Christmas presenting a production of extreme performances. Showtimes are 8:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m., 10:30 p.m., and 11:30 p.m.
Fantasmic! with special pre-show: as guests head up Sunset Boulevard, a gang of villainous henchmen, called the Night Crawlers, will tempt you to join them for a special pre-show for Fantasmic!, The pre-show begins at 9:35 p.m., and Fantasmic! will begin at 10:00 p.m.
Villainy in the Sky Fireworks: Hades summons Maleficent to show off what she can do in this fantastic fireworks spectacular. The fireworks will take place at 12:45 a.m. Also, the Glow With The Show ear hats will work with this spectacular.
Villains Dominion: This is the opportunity to meet some of your favorite characters. Some characters will have set-up meet and greet opportunities, while others will be roaming freely. For those who are looking for autographs, the characters will be handing out pre-autographed cards. Also, roaming characters aren’t guaranteed to pose for photos. Here is where you will likely find your favorites:
Barbossa (Pirates of the Caribbean – meets until 11:30 p.m.) – Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow
Bowler Hat Guy (Meet the Robinsons) – Streets of America
Captain Gantu (Lilo and Stitch) – Streets of America
Constatine (Muppets Most Wanted) – Near Muppet-Vision 3D
Cruella de Vil (101 Dalmatians) – Streets of America
Dr Facilier (The Princess and the Frog) – Streets of America
Dr Hamsterviel (Lilo and Stitch)- Streets of America
Jafar (Aladdin) – Streets of America
Maleficient (Maleficent movie version – meets until 11:30 p.m.) Animation Courtyard
The Queen (Snow White) – Streets of America
Yu (Mulan) – Streets of America
The Witch (Snow White) – Sunset Blvd
The Dark Side:
Darth Maul – Star Tours area
Boba Fett – Near Backlot Express
Darth Vader – Star Tours event stage area
Stormtroopers – Star Tours area
Emperor Palpatine and Royal Guards – Outside Sci-Fi Drive In
Roaming Characters:
Hades Hangout
Captain Hook (Peter Pan)
Mr. Smee (Peter Pan)
Queen of Hearts (Alice in Wonderland)
Big Bad Wolf
Governor Ratcliffe (Pocahontas)
Streets of America
Gaston (Beauty and the Beast)
Judge Claude Frollo (The Hunchback of Notre Dame)
Lady Tremaine (Cinderella)
Anastasia (Cinderella)
Drizella (Cinderella)
Prince John (Robin Hood)
Sherriff of Nottingham (Robin Hood)
J Worthington Foulfellow (Pinocchio)
Gideon (Pinocchio)
Stromboli (Pinocchio)
Star Tours area
Stormtroopers
Zam Wesell
Aurra Sing
Tusken Raiders
Asajj Ventress
Jawas
Jango Fett
Greedo
Gamorrean Guard
Epic Stunt Theater area
Shenzi (The Lion King)
Banzai (The Lion King)
Ed (The Lion King)
Br’er Fox
Br’er Bear
Attractions
The Great Movie Ride (Until 11:15 p.m.)
Muppet Vision 3D
Rock n Roller Coaster
Star Tours
Tower of Terror
Toy Story Mania (Until 11:30 p.m.)
Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Merchandise
Event logo merchandise will include both women’s and men’s T-shirts, a limited-release pin and a water bottle. Merchandise can be purchased at The Prop Shop found near The Studios Backlot Tour.
Food and Beverage
Various locations will be serving the villain-themed hot dogs and a Maleficent cupcake – dark chocolate cake filled with a decadent blackberry filling topped with smooth blackberry buttercream.
At Club Evil in The Hollywood Brown Derby, the Disney chefs will offer small plate menu items such as “Cruellas Devious Eyes” – fresh mozzarella with ugly ripe tomato spheres, balsamic gelée and basil oil powder; “The Queen of Hearts famous ‘Off with their heads’”!, which is deviled eggs, pig crackling and a garlic chili gelée and lobster custard with Tobiko caviar and citrus oil. For beverage options, there will be the non-alcoholic option called “Pain and Panic Punch,” which is apple juice, Monin pomegranate, Monin vanilla topped with soda water.
Miscellaneous
Guests are allowed to come dressed as their favorite Disney villain or they can take part in an “Ex-Scream” Makeover and get their face painted to look just like one of the Disney Villains! Do keep in mind that all costumes must adhere to any guidelines as determined solely by Disney. Please choose costumes that are not obstructive, offensive or violent. In addition, a guests’ eyes must be visible at all times.
This event looks to be a special evening for all who attend! I’ll make sure to keep you posted on any future developments.
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Menu Monday: Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar
The Shipwreck on the Rocks and the Polynesian Punch in their souvenir mugs at Trader Sam’s. The Navy Grog, being off-menu, doesn’t have a souvenir option.
For such a hot spot for Disney super-fans, Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar sure has an unassuming location.
Sharing a building and patio with the Disneyland Hotel’s counter-service dining location, Tangaroa Terrace, Trader Sam’s could easily be overlooked amidst all the drooping palms and towel-clad children running to the monorail water-slides. But word is out: Trader Sam’s, a tiny little bar named for the head salesman of the Jungle Cruise, is a can’t-miss highlight of any Disneyland vacation.
Inside, louvered “windows” look out on tropical islands, a la the Enchanted Tiki Room, and tiki gods gaze down from the rafters and walls. Notes and aged photos pay tribute to Disney films, Imagineers, and Cast from over the decades. Just in terms of exploring the archives and deciphering the inside jokes, Trader Sam’s is Disney-nerd heaven.
And so Trader Sam’s has become part of the Disneyland trip for in-the-know fans. One morning that I was there, in fact, every single person in the room was a Walt Disney World Cast Member or Cast Member-alumni–including myself, and the bartender.
The drinks at Trader Sam’s are just as famous as the memorabilia on the walls, especially the ones that come with a show. If you don’t want a fruity drink, hang around and you’ll see them courtesy of other patrons. The Krakatoa in particular seems to happen every five minutes. Order up one of these and the lights turn blood-red, the tranquil island scene in the window becomes a lava flow, and the bartender winds up a siren and sprays a water bottle in the air, getting everyone wet. Get the right bartender, who treats it with the same kitschy non-reverence as a great Jungle Cruise skipper, and it’s a great time. “The lava! It’s so… cold!”
Krakatoa is calm now, but wait five minutes — someone will wake the lava flows when they order this volcano’s signature drink.
The signature drinks don’t just come with a show–they come with a souvenir (if you’re willing to pay extra for it). Get the souvenir tiki mug with drinks like the Shipwreck on the Rocks or the Shrunken Zombie Head (bar drinks are $10.50), and the server will bring you the drink in its heavy glass, and then bring you a new wrapped one for the trip home. But don’t forget to ask about the price, which the server might not mention. My Shipwreck on the Rocks mug was an extra $10.
Kids (or really anyone not drinking alcohol) can get in on the souvenir mug action too, with the plastic tiki “sipper” that is featured at Walt Disney World’s Sunshine Tree Terrace. “Sam’s No-Booze Brews” menu features tropically-themed drinks with more Jungle Cruise-inspired names like the Schweitzer Falls. They seem to make up for the lack of rum with extra sugar, though. Calvin ordered the Polynesian Punch ($9.49 with souvenir mug, $4.79 without). The ingredients were billed as “Sam’s Gorilla Grog and Hibiscus Grenadine” and he found it was so sweet he couldn’t drink it, even after he had the server cut it with soda-water. And that’s coming from a ten-year-old with a serious appreciation for candy. (But the cup has entered heavy rotation with his other Disney mugs at home!)
The colorful bar menu at Trader Sam’s.
Every drink we sampled at Trader Sam’s was expertly crafted and served. Most are a twist on more standard bar drinks, with a botanical or spice added to change things up. The Shrunken Zombie Head really showed off the taste of the aged rum in its blend of juices and falernum, a sweet lime-and-spice blended syrup, with spicy cinnamon to finish. The Hippopoto-mai-tai (which I am fairly certain I mispronounced when ordering) made great use of orgeat syrup and spiced rum to cut the sweetness of the juice and more of that Sam’s Gorilla Grog for one of the most smooth and refreshing (and quickly disappearing) pool drinks I’ve ever enjoyed.
The exception on the rum-based menu was the Shipwreck on the Rocks, essentially a mint julep with organic agave nectar instead of simple syrup, served with crushed ice and a gorgeously decorative sprig of fresh mint which I promptly muddled right back into the bourbon. Although not a standout, it was really wonderful and a nice respite from the spicy-sweet rum (as if you would need one).
The Pu Pu Platter features panko-crusted Chinese long beans, Asian sweet and spicy wings, a teriyaki-glazed pork, and tropical slaw. The sriracha aioli is good on everything!
The real winner of the Trader Sam’s bar line-up, though, isn’t whimsically named, doesn’t have a show, and isn’t even on the menu. It’s the Navy Grog. Spicy, smooth, and sweet, with citrus juices accenting a blend of excellent rums, Trader Sam’s Navy Grog reminded me of the British Virgin Islands’ famous rum drink, the Painkiller.
As for food, the Polynesian-themed menu, heavy on the teriyaki, shares a few items with next-door’s Tangaroa Terrace. The panko-crusted Chinese long beans ($7.99) are the unquestionable winner in the bar-food category. Crispy and compulsively dippable in that Sriracha aioli, I could have eaten a whole plate myself and called it a night. But I was nice and shared.
The patio at Trader Sam’s features padded chairs, heaters (it gets chilly at night!) and live Hawaiian music in the evening, offering a nice respite from the noise and crowds inside.
We split a Pu-Pu platter ($15.99), which included very sticky (and surprisingly spicy!) Sweet and Spicy Asian Wings, Tamarind-glazed Island Pork (very smokey flavored sausage chunks), the amazing long beans, and tropical slaw. The tropical slaw, by the way, was nice the first three times we had it, but if you are relying on Tangaroa Terrace for your meals at all, you’ll grow very tired of it. Good for two, the Pu-Pu platter really just whet our appetites for the stand-outs: long beans and the Asian wings. A few decent flatbreads, Kahlua Pork with sweet barbecue sauce, and Hawaiian with pineapple and ham ($9.29, also on the Tangaroa Terrace menu), made a meal out of the appetizers.
Really can’t take a crowd? Take a Trader Sam’s drink to-go or order from poolside service. The Hippopota-Mai-Tai is an ideal poolside sipper.
Is Trader Sam’s worth putting on your Disneyland trip must-dos? Absolutely, just mind when you do it. With crowds overwhelming the tiny bar anytime after mid-afternoon, you’ll have to do a little day-drinking if you don’t want to fight a crowd at the bar.
And if it’s a respite from the noise and crowds of the theme parks you’ve been looking for, stick to the lovely patio and order from one of the servers outside. The strumming of live Hawaiian music and the cascading sounds of the waterfall from the nearby monorail water slides will be more soothing to your nerves than the wailing sirens and shouting bartenders (and patrons) inside.
Or even better–if you’re staying at the Disneyland Hotel, grab a drink to-go and sink into a padded lounge chair by the pool. You can order Trader Sam’s bar drinks from the pool-side bar service, although they’re not on the menu, but that can take a while. Slip inside the cool dark tiki bar, watch your show, and head back out to the pool-side for a drink by the water.
Find the full menu for Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar here.
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Menu Monday: The Best Recurring Items at Epcot Food and Wine Festival
By Dora
Copyright – Disney
Walt Disney World’s Epcot Food and Wine Festival is a wonderful thing. Do you remember that episode of The Simpsons where Homer frolicked through a land made entirely of chocolate? That’s essentially the Food and Wine Festival in a nutshell, only with less cruelty-to-confectionaries and more damage to your wallet. All around the World Showcase you’ll find new kiosks set up celebrating food and drink from across the globe, with dozens of shareable sized dishes of everything you could ever hope to try available for purchase. While each year they offer a wide variety of new menu items, there are always some that are so popular they keep coming back. Here are some of the best items that will be back this year you should be reserving valuable tummy space for… and make sure to check out the official Food and Wine Festival 2014 menus for all the rest! (Food item prices range from $3.00 to $8.00 USD per.)
Belgium
Belgium Waffle With Berry Compote – There are few things finer in life than a perfectly cooked, crisp waffle, topped with just the right amount of berry compote and a dollop of whipped cream. This is one of those dishes that could have been really heavy but manages to hit the proportions of each component just right to make it feel like a snack instead of a meal. It’s one of the simpler items you’ll find during the event, but hey… simple can be beautiful, and that also makes it a perfect choice for picky eaters.
Honorable Mention: Chilled Coffee With Godiva Chocolate Liqueur – Nine out of ten doctors agree you’re not getting enough chocolate-flavoured, mildly acoholic beverages. Don’t… look that up or anything, just trust me on this. This is one of the lightest, sweetest, and most refreshing drinks you can find at the Festival. The flavour is actually closer to a creamier chocolate milk than it is, say, an iced mocha, and you don’t have to worry about being walloped in the taste buds with the alcohol itself.
Canada
“Le Cellier” Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Mignon With Truffle Butter Sauce – Le Cellier is one of those places that everyone seems to be trying to get reservations at when they plan on visiting Epcot, and once you taste this you’ll find out why it’s so popular. Can you beat tender beef with savory mushrooms and just enough butter sauce that it adds to the flavour without becoming greasy? No. You cannot. This filet is proof that you don’t need to get crazy with steak to make it delicious, but also might convince salt-and-pepper purists that a little fanciness isn’t necessarily a bad thing either. It’s one of the more expensive items at the event, however, and on the small side for its price.
Honorable Mention: Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup - Rich, warm, thick, and just peppery enough, this tasty soup would be something you’d want to consume by the bucketload… if this weren’t Florida we were talking about. If the idea of eating a hot and hearty soup while the sun beats down on your head doesn’t bother you, this is a great choice. For the rest of us, it might be best left for those rare days during Epcot Food and Wine Festival when the weather is just chilly enough that the wind coming off the water in the World Showcase will make you appreciate something heavy and warm in your belly. Yes, cold days happen in Florida. Stop laughing at us!
China
Mongolian Beef in a Steamed Bun With Chili Mayo – Picture it. You hold, within your hands, a perfectly formed, smooth steamed bun. Within? Strips of tender, savory-sweet beef, crispy noodles, and spicy-sweet pink mayonnaise. You admire its perfect, walk-and-eat style configuration. Its tidy construction. You take a bite. Perfection. Then you try to fit the entire thing in your mouth and turn around to get another. It’s the sort of thing that looks like it’s going to be really filling, but is a lot lighter than it seems. Which means it’s perfectly okay to eat three of them by yourself.
Honorable Mention: Black Pepper Shrimp With Sichuan Noodles – This is one of the simpler items you’ll find at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival, and don’t let the name scare you off if you’re not a fan of spicy food. The pepper flavouring is very subtle, and the seasoning on the chewy noodles is very simple too, though no less tasty. The downside is that the shrimp-to-noodles ratio is skewed heavily in favour of the latter, so you’ll wind up with a few shrimp and then a pile of noodles that can get gluey if left for too long. Try to get this one as fresh as you can, and share it with a friend.
Greece
Spanakopita - If you’re not familiar with it, Spanakopita is a warm, flaky phyllo pastry folded around a filling of spinach and feta cheese, and the Epcot Food and Wine Festival typically offers it in two small triangle-shaped portions. The balance of filling to pastry is just right, so you’re left with neither a mouthful of phyllo, or a soggy mess, and the flavours are simple but also simply good. I’d call it perfect to share with a friend, but real friends don’t ask you to choose between them and Spanakopita. It’s best eaten warm in my humble opinion, so try to time your visit for when a new batch is coming out.
Honorable Mention: Chicken Gyro With Tzatziki Sauce - This is a small changed from the Chicken Souvlaki offered in years past, served on a slice of soft pita bread with the creamy tzatziki sauce. It’s still good and offered in a two-or-three bite sized portion, but once you go Souvlaki, you never go back… i. Uh. Forget I made that joke.
Hawai’i
Kālua Pork Slider With Sweet and Sour Dole® Pineapple Chutney and Spicy Mayonnaise – Tender pulled pork topped with the spicy-sweet combination of pineapples and mayonnaise? Yes please. This is one of those dishes that feels like exactly what you’d want to be eating outside, in the sun, on vacation… which, hey, you probably are! The slider is of a decent size, making this one of the more filling items offered at the event, so plan accordingly if you want to sample lots of different things… or split it with a friend!
Honorable Mention: Tuna Poke With Seaweed Salad and Lotus Root Chips -If you don’t mind raw fish, the tuna part of this dish, served cubed small and marinated lightly, is… fine. It’s there. But what you should really be interested in is the seaweed salad portion of it, which is really surprisingly excellent. It’s not slimy at all, with a subtle, earthy flavour, great texture, and light oil dressing. Don’t be surprised if you wind up wanting to eat an entire plate of it.
Ireland
Lobster and Seafood Fisherman’s Pie – Like the Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup, this instinctively may not sound like something you’d want on a hot Florida day. It’s rich mashed potatoes whipped atop a lobster bisque filled with scallops and bits of lobster, and it’s also traditionally one of the more expensive items at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. It is also, however, insanely good with a lot of complex flavours. Understandable given that the bisque alone contains a whopping seventeen ingredients… trust me, I make this at home once a year. Try it at least once, and then join me off to the side where I’ll be holding a funeral service for this, the first year Ireland has not also offered the Molten Chocolate Lava Cake with Bailey’s Ganache.
Italy
Cannoli al Cioccolato - The cannoli itself is already a pretty awesome creation, right? So now close your eyes, gentle reader, and imagine a cannoli whose shell is covered in just enough chocolate to give it a snap when you bite into it, and filling studded with small bits of candied fruit. Although it looks innocent, this is one of the heavier “dessert” items on offer, so try t0 resist the temptation to walk around with a bunch of them stuck between your fingers pretending to be Wolverine. Or don’t. I can’t judge you on things I’ve wanted to do myself.
Honorable Mention: Frozen Primavera With Limoncello and Tequila – How, exactly, do you manage to make a frozen alcoholic drink taste creamy? I don’t know, but Italy does it, making this an unexpectedly fruity and refreshing drink you’ll want to nurse for a good long while. If you don’t like Limoncello, the others flavours work together to take the aggressive syrupy bite out of it, so give it a try.
Brazil
Copyright – Disney
Crispy Pork Belly With Black Beans, Tomato and Cilantro – My husband and I visit the Epcot Food and Wine Festival multiple times each year, and this was one of the items we tried on impulse as we were leaving on our last day. Considering I have yet to stop whining about the fact that we should have tried it sooner so I could have eaten, oh, say, six of them, I’d say it was a hit. Perfectly cooked pork belly so that the meat stays crispy without turning dry or fatty is hard to do, but Brazil pulls it off like it ain’t no thang. Surprisingly, the black beans, which are often treated in other dishes as little more than filler, are also here very flavourful and tasty. Without a doubt one of the most delicious items on offer for om-nom-nomnivores, but if you can’t stand cilantro like yours truly, make sure you flick it off to the side first.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, and just because an item isn’t on it, doesn’t mean it isn’t worth your money and belly space. The Epcot Food and Wine Festival is one of those rare food events that really does have something for everyone, and the ability to try authentic dishes from all around the world you might not otherwise experience is a great opportunity for everyone. Whether you’re a festival veteran back looking for an old favourite or a first-timer aiming for everything, you’re going to wind up, full, happy, and… yeah, probably a bit poorer in the process. But trust me… it’s worth it.
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Menu Monday: Inside the Disneyland Corn Dog
By Ray
Why is this so delicious? Photo - Disney Parks Blog
Food. It is the most important experience you will have on a vacation. Whether you are traveling to Walt Disney World or Paris, the food you eat will shape your entire traveling experience. So, why is it that foodies always insist on people trying the Disneyland corn dog? It is just a corn dog after all, right? Well, this is not no ordinary corn dog, my friends. This is a piece of crunchy, delicious heaven. Even TouringPlans’ Researcher and blogger Guy expresses that…
Disneyland corn dogs are legendary among Disneyland locals for a good reason. They are giant, cheap, and most importantly delicious! They are hand dipped right before serving so you will hardly ever get a stale corn dog. Believe the hype.
Guy is not the only one that raves about the corn dog at Disneyland, L.A. Weekly’s Pulitzer Prize-winning restaurant critic Jonathan Gold has stated that the corn dog at Disneyland is the best he has ever eaten.
So, what makes these corn dog so dang special? Well, it is actually pretty simple, and Gary Maggetti, Director of Food and Beverage for Disneyland Resort and Disney World, explains the originals of the Disneyland corn dog and why it is so magical in the video below.
As you can see, the key is the thick and warm hand-dipped batter. The corn dog at Disneyland is the perfect blend of sweet, salty, soft, and crunchy. It is a must have when visiting Disneyland.
Now that I made you all hungry, I bet you are wondering where you can experience this spectacular corn dog, right? Well, there are only two places to go to grab a corn dog at Disneyland: Little Red Wagon Corn Dogs and Stage Door Cafe. The Little Red Wagon Corn Dogs is located at the end of Main Street U.S.A. next to the Plaza Inn (which has amazing fried chicken) and Stage Door Cafe is in Frontierland, right next door to The Golden Horseshoe. Do not worry Disney California Adventure visitors, you can also get your hand-dipped corn dog perfection here as well. All you need to do is head on over to Corn Dog Castle in Paradise Pier.
Purists may insist on only hitting up the Little Red Wagon; however, there is an advantage going to California Adventure’s Corn Dog Castle. Corn Dog Castle has 3 different corns dogs to choose from: original (same sold at Disneyland), hot-link corn dog, and cheddar cheese stick. TouringPlans’ Researcher Guy highly recommends either the original or the hot-link corn dog but he does advice you to stay away from the cheddar cheese stick because if you do not eat the cheese stick quickly, it will “become a lukewarm brick of solid cheese.” Oh yeah, either place you go to purchase your corn dog, you get to choose between a side of sliced apples or a small bag of chips (I recommend getting the sliced apples).
Corn Dog Castle in Disney California Adventure ©Disney
So, when you are walking around Disneyland or California Adventure, and your stomach starts to rumble, try your best to remember the corn dog. If you forget where to get this magical dog, just ask a Cast Member. They will always point you in the right direction.
What are some of your favorite quick service foods to eat at Disneyland or Disney California Adventure? Should Disney bring over the hot-link and cheddar cheese stick to Disneyland? Do you think Disneyland’s corn dog are better than the Magic Kingdom’s or do they taste the same?
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August 17, 2014
Disney World: Getting the Most of Cast Members
By Thomas Cook
What do the following three questions have in common?
Tinkerbell in a thoughtful moment. Photo by Thomas Cook
Is the rain real?
Is Mickey Mouse a cat or a dog?
What time is the Three O’clock Parade?
Answer: They are all questions I was asked as a Walt Disney World cast member.
I hope it’s clear that these questions are not exactly the best questions to ask a cast member. I don’t mean to imply anything about the guests who asked these questions, especially since the parade question is one I got asked once a week or so over a number of years.
This article is not about questionable questions. It’s about how you should ask cast members about park information. It seems like a simple issue, but any longtime cast member will tell you their many stories of frustrating guests and their questions.
Obviously if you’re a fan and user of TouringPlans.com and the Unofficial Guides, most of the questions you would have asked cast members while on vacation will have been answered long before you left home or at least could be answered during your vacation using Touring Plans books, apps or websites. That brings us to the first of my list of tips:
Tip #1: Try to make sure the source of information knows enough to answer you correctly.
This isn’t something which is guaranteed to happen when talking to random cast members. Walt Disney World both trains their staff and expects them to be able to answer many general questions accurately, but with thousands of on-stage employees there’s no way you can assume the one you pick will give you a correct answer. Any random cast member could have just started their employment, could have transferred from another park or could be one of those rare creatures – someone who doesn’t love Disney and is only there for the work.
I encourage you to minimize the number of questions you ask on vacation. Plan ahead, carry a map and use the same set of navigating tools you employ at home. One of the most common observations cast members make of guests is that they “Leave their brains at home.”
Tip #2: Location, Location, Location.
Think of this as the bathroom tip. You’re not going to ask where the bathrooms in Frontierland are while you’re on Main Street, are you? Cast members know the closest bathrooms. They’re also much more likely to be able to answer questions about the area surrounding their work location. Cast members who work in the Norway Pavilion should be able to answer questions about the Norway Pavilion, but it’s best to wait until you get to Morocco to ask questions about that pavilion.
Another aspect of this is that you should ask cast members questions based on their occupation. For example, a cast member who is working at Space Mountain is typically trained to work at other Tomorrowland rides and would be a good source of information for Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor.
Tip #3: Utilize Guest Relations Wherever Possible.
Obviously, guest relations is the place to go for answers. The staff is there to answer questions and they generally excel at this task. Of course, this means everyone might go there to ask. During times near park opening and closing, guest relations can be very busy with long-lines. If you need to ask questions while there’s a long wait, search around for a cast member nearby that is “looking helpful” (i.e. doesn’t seem to have some other job). When the parks are busy it’s not uncommon for them to have extra staff on the outside. Asking that cast member can provide the information needed, or at least will tell you that you do have to wait in the guest relations line.
Most guest relation locations inside the parks are near the entrances. All parks also have guest relations locations outside the park, separate from the ticket sales. The inside the park locations are as follows:
Magic Kingdom – Guest Relations is located in City Hall and is to the left of Town Square when guests come through the entrance tunnels.
Patrick says “Hi!” (but not much else) At Universal Studios Orlando. Photo by Thomas Cook
Epcot – Guest Relations is located inside the park past Spaceship Earth in Innoventions East.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Guest Relations is located past the entrance and to the left.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios – Guest Relations is located past the entrance and to the left.
SeaWorld – Information and Reservations Counter, approximately 200 feet across from the turnstiles. Guest Services is located nearby for more detailed information.
Universal Studios – Guest Services is located directly to the right of the turnstiles.
Islands of Adventure – Guest Services is located just to the right of the turnstiles.
Legoland – Guest Services is located directly to the right of the turnstiles.
Busch Gardens – Tours, Information and Reservation Center is located directly across from the turnstiles. They also have Guest Services nearby for more detailed information.
Tip #4: Second Opinions.
Not just for doctors and lawyers, a second opinion is particularly useful if your question is important.
For example, a few weeks ago, my friend and I wanted to set-up in a great location to photograph the Main Street Electrical Parade, so we asked two cast members about it, but got conflicting answers. We set up in a nice Frontierland location with the expectation of the parade following the same direction as the Festival of Fantasy Parade earlier in the day. Honestly, I’m not a big parade fan, or I probably would have known. We should have asked yet another cast member, but we didn’t. Because of that, we were on a bend in the route which would have left us with great approaching images. Unfortunately we discovered too late that the parade was approaching us from the opposite direction and the bend partly hid the parade until the floats were right in front of us. Lesson learned.
Tip #5: Gray Is the New Black.
Most of Walt Disney World’s younger cast members are wonderful, friendly and helpful (some are even friends of mine!), but nothing can beat years of experience. So look for older cast members. Yes, gray hair is a bit of a giveaway, but you don’t need to only look for seniors. Anyone that doesn’t appear to be a junior in high school could do. Look in the shops, which is a common location for older cast members. Photographers and custodial staff can be good sources for people who are not only older than the typical college-aged cast member, but have probably worked for Walt Disney World for many years.
These senior cast members are also more likely to learn about the parks and the rest of the World and be able to provide helpful information. Walt Disney World employs many people who have retired from their first profession, which means a lot of them are educated and still adventurous. They work there to earn supplementary income or to take advantage of the many cast discounts. They’re also the ones who probably have great stories too.
Tip #6: Go Deep.
Dale would love to answer questions, but he’s in the 3 O’clock Parade! Photo by Thomas Cook
Obviously, people visit Walt Disney World for a magical vacation. Attractions, shows, character interactions, water play and dining are all obvious ways to absorb the magic, but one of the best and most underrated magic sources is the cast member! Every day of your trip look for cast member interactions. You have to be particular who you speak to, but you’ll be surprised how many of them will be able to tell you stories if they can spare a few moments.
You’ll find cast members in every park and throughout Walt Disney World, such as shop keepers, custodians, hotel staff and attraction attendants (the ones with short waits – this isn’t something you should be asking the person who is loading you into your Doombuggy) who would love to speak with interesting guests. They’re so used to getting the same questions about bathrooms or show times that anyone who asks them a more in-depth question will be a relief.
Suggestions of what should you ask?
What do they like best about being a cast member?
How long have they worked there?
Have they had any funny experiences?
What is their favorite attraction?
What’s the best tip they would give a guest?
Who is their favorite character and why?
One small bit of caution: Walt Disney World’s famous (some of us would argue infamous) bus drivers and boat captains aren’t always the best sources of information. Sure, they can tell you basic stuff as well as any cast member, but at least in the past when they often provided their own commentary to passengers, their stories were often legendary yarns as interesting (and as factual) as those told in the Walt Disney classic animated short Pecos Bill. If you are a recipient of one of these stories, treasure it, tweet it, share it with friends but don’t just accept it without verification.
One final note: While I wrote this article based primarily on Walt Disney World experiences, every theme park in central Florida has many wonderful employees who can provide much of the information the guest needs. When visiting any of the parks, I encourage you to engage the staff. Every park encourages their staff to give exemplary service.
If you’ve had a great interaction from someone (or a bad experience, for that matter) note their name and work location and drop by guest relations. There you can quickly tell your story. Guest interactions are so important that your comments will usually be forwarded to the cast member’s supervisor. Cast members can get rewarded for exemplary service and I promise you that anyone who honestly doesn’t treat a guest properly will be reprimanded. The good cast members like to see both of those things happen.
By the way, if you can pull it off with a straight face, go ahead and ask someone the time of the 3 O’clock Parade. True, it currently has a name, but you’ll be carrying on a Disney tradition well over thirty years old.
I hope this primer helps people. Feel free to share any comments, especially if you’d like to share some great cast member interactions. Thanks!
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Favorite Park Series: Disney’s Magic Kingdom
We made it!
We did it. We made it to the end of my Favorite Park Series. To read my highlights on Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, here ya go!
Now, let’s see what puts the ‘Magic’ in Magic Kingdom.
Memorable Moments
“Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy” – Walt Disney.
Indeed, these memorable words are embodied in the ambiance and attractions of Magic Kingdom. Main Street U.S.A. is reminiscent of small town America, with Ma and Pa general stores full of delicious goodies and fun souvenirs. Adventureland creates exotic experiences such as boarding the Jungle Cruise and joining the crew on the fan favorite, Pirates of the Caribbean. Make your way over to Frontierland and enter the Wild West. Hold on to your cowboy hats because Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain are two thrill rides that will make your stomach feel like a bucking bronco. Liberty Square is home to the relaxing Liberty Square Riverboat as well the Haunted Mansion. You will have a boo-tifully frightening experience when you mournfully climb into your doom buggy. Just pray you don’t become its 1000th ghost! Tomorrowland takes you on intergalactic adventures such as Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear’s Ranger Spin. While you’re there, keep a lookout for one of my favorites, the Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress. As Walt Disney’s contribution to the 1964 World’s Fair, this attraction visits American life during the 20th century. Finally, step into the newly renovated Fantasyland. Take part in Ariel’s story through Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid and sneak a peek at the dwarfs cottage in the brand new Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. My favorite addition to the new Fantasyland are the castles featured in The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. I wish I could go inside, don’t you?
Isn’t it beautiful?!
Awesome Atmosphere
Welcome to the “The Most Magical Place on Earth.” Every Disney junkie knows that feeling upon entering the park. You wait impatiently as security checks your bag. Have a mini panic attack when the fingerprint scanner doesn’t immediately light up. Within steps of walking through the tunnel into Magic Kingdom, your senses are assaulted (in the best way) with the smell of popcorn and sounds of Ragtime music. You walk in further and that’s when you see it. The icon that makes your trip to Disney World complete upon first glance: Cinderella’s Castle. As the butterflies flutter in your stomach and a wave of nostalgia and happiness hits, you find yourself at the hub, the epicenter of the park. Select one of the six pathways and embark on an exciting and different adventure. Just don’t forget to hop on the steam train for a scenic journey around the park!
Good Grub
Amongst all the yummy eateries at Magic Kingdom, there are two in particular most would give their Mickey ears to eat at. First, if you manage to get a reservation, you can live the dream at Cinderella’s Royal Table by eating INSIDE the castle. (Pause for moments of awe and tears of joy) I won’t ruin all the surprises, but prepare to be treated like royalty from the moment you walk in and enjoy a feast fit for a King or Queen. Be Our Guest Restaurant is another one most fawn over…I’m STILL waiting to eat there! Enter the Beast’s castle and enjoy a delightful supper complete with the grey stuff (it’s delicious!) Who here wondered what it really tasted like while watching the film? I sure did. Another restaurant definitely worth a visit is the Liberty Tree Tavern. This place puts you right into the colonial era while you are served a family style Sunday spread that will leave you stuffed.
Innovative Illuminations
I’m sorry to say (no I’m not) that the fireworks and parades at Magic Kingdom are far superior to those of any other parks. Narrated by familiar Disney characters, Wishes Nighttime Spectacular is a fireworks show where good triumphs over evil. Watch out for Tinkerbell as she flies over the park (Think of a wonderful thought and look out for the Pixie Dust!), signaling the start of the biggest fireworks display in Magic Kingdom history! If you haven’t had enough lights and sparkle, stay tuned for the Main Street Electrical Parade. 500,000 lights sparkle and dance while loveable characters wave and smile. If you’re not a night owl, catch the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade. This new parade has all the bells and whistles: princesses, a hot air balloon, even a fire-breathing dragon! Watch any of these remarkable displays and you will find your taste for magic thoroughly satisfied.
Completely Captivating
When thinking of Magic Kingdom, most can agree that the word ‘nostalgia’ comes to mind. Full of memorable attractions, families can revisit their childhood together on Peter Pan’s Flight and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. I remember holding my mom’s hand waiting to experience It’s a Small World, my first ride ever at Disney World. With some hesitation, I stepped into the boat and was carried away to a land of color and delight. I soon learned that every attraction at Disney World has something wonderful to offer. Exclusive events such as Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (I’m finally going in September!) and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (on my bucket list) come with distinct and exceptional entertainment including a special parade and fireworks show. Though Magic Kingdom features characters left and right, you may have the opportunity to meet someone very special. That’s right - I’m talking about the Boss himself, Mickey Mouse. Make sure you ask him questions: you’re in for a real treat! Mickey and Disney World itself is Walt’s true dream come to life. After all…it all started with a Mouse.
Share your memories of Magic Kingdom in the comments. I’d love to read them!
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August 16, 2014
Magic Kingdom AtMousePhere: The Music of Liberty Square
By Claire Nat
Music has the ability to take us back through time. So much music has been preserved
from the past 500+ years that whole concerts can be 
centered around one time period. I just got back from a music conference which had an entire Vespers service that could
have taken place in 1724!
Music can also remind us of a feeling. For example, when I hear “The Victors,” I am automatically transported to my Dad’s seats in Michigan Stadium, cheering the team on the field.
Liberty Square has two kinds of music surrounding it. On one side, the music reflects the time. Various pieces played in the area are taken straight from the late-1700s and played on period instruments. (One of many hidden details in the Liberty Square!)
Other pieces in Liberty Square reflect the spirit. The colonial and Revolutionary time periods were full of patriotic and independent thought. There was an energy needed to create a United States out of thirteen small colonies, all of whom had very unique beginnings. Thusly, there is music that was composed later in America’s history, but still reflect that spirit of America.
Let’s break both of them down:
Note: Although the Haunted Mansion is an attraction in Liberty Square, the area music near it fades into nothingness as you approach. The music of the Haunted Mansion is another post entirely!
Music to reflect the time:
This classical-style music can be found near (and in) the Liberty Tree Tavern and other surrounding buildings. Most of the music can be dated back to colonial times or thereafter. A few that can be found here are “How Great is the Pleasure” (composed in 1789) and “Now We Are Met.”
You’ll find that much of this music doesn’t have piano. During this time period pianos were just beginning to become popular, and not everyone had one or could be exposed to one in the colonies. Instruments that were prevalent at this time include the violin, fife, flute, and harpsichord. “Gentle Maiden” and “Devil’s Dream” are actually pieces composed for hammered dulcimer, another common instrument for the time.
One of my favorite pieces is “Come Dance and Sing / Quick Dance” which were taken from old Shaker tunes of the time period. Shakers are known for being seized with such spiritual joy that they would dance, leap, and shake during their gatherings! It is easy to listen to this duo of tunes and hear that joy spilling out.
Much of the music that would have been popular in the colonies was actually composed in Europe and brought over by merchants and new colonists. “In These Delightful, Pleasant Groves” was written in England by Henry Purcell. Another popular English tune you can hear is “Greensleeves.”
In a Liberty Tree Tavern loop that I found on YouTube, there are many pieces that were taken from The Civil War soundtrack – the documentary filmed by Ken Burns. I own this soundtrack, and love all the pieces!
Music to reflect the spirit
On the opposite side of Liberty Square, near The Hall of Presidents, there is a different sort of music being played. This isn’t necessarily music from the time period, but marches and spirited tunes that were composed in the last 200 years. While the music is still played using period instruments, the instruments used are not soft, light, and airy. Instead, we hear more brass and percussion.
Many popular marches heard here were composed during the Civil War, like “Battle Cry of Freedom” and “The Recruiting Sergeant.” You can find them on The Civil War: Its Music and Its Sounds. Other popular tunes found here, like “Glory Hallelujah Grand March” and “Sumpter Light Guard March” can be found on Music of the Civil War.
I have heard comments by people saying that they “hear a lot of Sousa” when passing the Hall of Presidents. It may sound like the great 
marches of John Philip Sousa, but most of them were composed before the height of his popularity. Sousa would likely have heard many of these great Civil War marches when he was a member of the Marine Band in the 1880s.
It might surprise you to see so many pieces at The Hall of Presidents that are from decades after the Revolutionary War. But doesn’t your step fall in line with the rhythm of the drums as you pass the building? Do your hands reflexively go next to your mouth as you imitate the fife solo piped out of the speakers? This is the intention of the Imagineers: to put you in the mood of the area.
In Liberty Square, the music is varied. There are the calming tones of the Liberty Tree area and the bombastic calls of The Hall of Presidents area. The area takes its musical beauty from all sorts of eras and weaves it into a fantastic score that truly is a reminder of our liberty.
What is your opinion of the Liberty Square area music? Do you prefer quiet dulcimers or loud trombones? Do you wish the whole area stuck with one soundtrack? Are you excited that you can actually purchase some genuine Walt Disney World background music? Comment below!
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