Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1272
December 1, 2013
runDisney’s On The Road To Disney Parks – Atlanta Edition
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A few weeks ago, Disney announced via the Disney Parks Blog that they were going to start a new runDisney program called On The Road To Disney Parks and that their first stop would be my hometown of Atlanta, GA! I immediately signed up my husband (he is the runner in our family…me…I tend to only run if someone’s chasing me.)
However, the more I thought about it, the more I thought I should sign up too. I only had to run 2 miles and I knew it would be an experience I would not forget. (I have actually previously done two other runDisney races: the Disney Halloween 5k in 2011 and the Castaway Cay 5k this past July.) So, I signed myself up and a few hours later, saw both mine and my husband’s name listed. Which meant I had to get out there and do a little bit of training.
In the couple of weeks leading up to the event, I went out most days to “practice” running and enhance my skills. By the time the event came around, I was more or less ready.
©Disney
So, on Saturday, November 16, my husband and I woke up bright and early because check in was at Turner Field, home of the Atlanta Braves, and it started at 6:15 a.m. Once we arrived, we saw the video screen was lit up with the runDisney logo. The event was real and I was here! We got all checked in, put on our snazzy runDisney On The Road To Disney Parks Atlanta running shirts, and waited for the official start.
The event started off with an introduction from Michael Cain, representing ESPN Wide World of Sports. After that, Brian from New Balance shared some tips on Good Form Running (posture, midfoot, cadence, and lean…look! I learned something!). All the sudden, here comes Mickey Mouse, who was there to help cheer us on. Ack! It was time to run!
We were split into two groups. Group one was full of the runners (which my husband chose), where as group two would be going out with Mr. Jeff Galloway himself to try out the 20/20 running method. (Running for 20 seconds/walking for 20 seconds.) I obviously chose the second group! Also running with us was 2008/2012 British Olympian Barbara Parker!
We started out on the streets of Atlanta going past the Olympic Rings (with two Olympians! Come on…how cool is that?). We quickly made it to the Capitol building, running around it, then circling back to Turner Field.
Once we made it into Braves country, we started our journey inside the actual stadium, running through the back tunnels. This was incredible! We turned a corner and I saw the light, literally, as our path lead us directly out to the field. When we got on the field, it was picture time! We started taking photos in the dugout and of the field (which I find hysterical because I’m a diehard St. Louis Cardinals fan) and then we got to meet up and pose for pictures with Minnie!
After our photo shoot with Minnie, we ran around the warning track and made our way back to the main entryway for the park. Here, runDisney had a fantastic breakfast for us that featured yogurt, cereal, granola, a spinach and egg quiche, coffee, fruit, and water.
Once settled in, the guest speakers series started. First off, Tammy Jacobson, Marketing Area Manager for runDisney talked about a new hashtag that will be introduced soon called #WhyIRunDisney. Jeff Galloway discussed his run/walk method. Diet Diva Tara, runDisney’s nutritionist, shared why proper nutrition is so important in the fueling up of runners.
©Disney
©Disney
Then came the representatives from New Balance who shared details about the new New Balance shoe that’s coming for 2014. While they didn’t show us what the much anticipated shoe looked like, they did give us a sneak peek at which Disney character would be featured on the heel. (Sorcerer Mickey will be on the men’s version, and pretty in pink Minnie will be on the women’s option.) They also announced was that there would be a kids shoe that would mimic the adult version.
Next, Barbara Parker got up and spoke about what it’s like to train for the Olympics and shared a few tips on how to properly run while expecting. (She announced she was pregnant.) Finally, Warren Greene from Runner’s World shared that they are bringing back their runner’s challenge to the 2015 runDisney events.
The event closed out by getting to take photos with Mickey and Minnie together!
Honestly, it was a truly amazing event that I am so lucky I got to participate in! They did a phenomenal job setting this whole thing up and I can only imagine what they will do in the future!
Something miraculous happened in the process of all of this…and I think it’s exactly what runDisney was created for. I…Rikki Niblett…now consider myself a runner. I am now excited to get out there and go for a run around my neighborhood. Disney has waved their magic wand and it has officially worked on me.
Check out the official recap here. (My hubby and I totally made it into the first 3 seconds of the video!)
If one of these On The Road To Disney Parks meetup/tweetup events happens near you, I strongly suggest you sign up and I hope you get picked! The event was a ton of fun! Thanks runDisney for a fantastic event!
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November 30, 2013
Disneyland Handmade Candy Canes Available Now through Christmas
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Image copyright Disney
A popular Anaheim tradition returns to the resort on the day after Thanksgiving, as fresh handmade candy canes are again available at both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure through Christmas Day. Availability alternates between Disneyland’s Candy Palace (Fridays and Tuesdays) and Disney California Adventure’s Trolley Treats (Mondays and Saturdays) and is strictly limited to about 120 canes per day.
The complete handmade candy cane schedule is as follows:
At Disneyland’s Candy Palace: Nov 29; Dec 3, 6, 10, 13, 17, 20.
At DCA’s, Trolly Treats: Nov 30; Dec 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21.
On Christmas week only, the schedule is Candy Palace on Sunday & Tuesday (Dec 22 & 24) and Trolly Treats on Monday & Wednesday (Dec 23 & 25).
Fresh handmade candy canes sell out quickly, so if you want one you’ll need to secure a wristband at park opening, and pick up your candy before 4pm. Candy canes cost $13 each, and no discounts are offered. For more details, check out the full report on the Disney Food Blog.
Are you planning to line up at dawn for one of these delicious holiday treats? Or are you unable to tell the difference between handmade candy canes and the standard store-bought ones? Let us know in the comments below!
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SATURDAY SIX: The Top Six Iconic Snacks at the Magic Kingdom
By Derek Burgan
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This week’s SATURDAY SIX looks at the Top Six Iconic Snacks at the Magic Kingdom. Regular readers of the Saturday Six know that we love eating and drinking at the theme parks. From outrageous snacks like the Chocolate Allspark at Transformers: The Ride 3D, to signature drinks like the Flaming Moe, to a meal at the Three Broomsticks, we’re constantly on the look out for new food an drink options. But sometimes we want our old standbys… our long time favorites… the snacks which evoke memories of trips gone by and remind us of why we became fans of theme parks in the first place. The Mecca for these snacks is, of course, the Magic Kingdom.
Now it seems that pretty much everyone has their absolute favorite snack at the Magic Kingdom, but today we’re going to eschew newer snacks such as the Mickey Pretzel, LeFou’s Brew, and the incredible cup cakes and focus on the six most iconic snacks. Without further ado, let’s start the list!
# 6 – The Mickey Bar
The Mickey Bar
The Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar is like a Mickey shaped Klondike bar on a stick, but nothing tastes better on a hot day at the Magic Kingdom. There are a lot of frozen treats you can get at the theme parks, but none of them can compete with the Mickey Bar.
# 5 – Churro
Churro
Churros may be one of the most ubiquitous items in theme parks, carnivals, and state fairs across the country and they join our list of our iconic snacks at MK. A fried dough stick dipped in cinnamon sugar, they are a perfect grab-and-go snack while touring the park.
Cinnamon Roll
# 4 – The Cinnamon Roll
The Disney Online Community went into a tizzy earlier this year when it was revealed that the large cinnamon roll that was available at the Main Street Bakery would be moved over to Gaston’s Tavern in New Fantasyland. After the fervor died down, everyone went back to doing what they loved most, eating the warm cinnamon rolls with abandon. Brown sugar, cinnamon, and cream cheese frosting help make these roll hands down the best pastry at the Magic Kingdom and their large size fits in perfectly with the over-the-top personality of Gaston himself.
Upon moving from the Main Street Bakery to the back of the park, the cinnamon rolls picked up something along the way – a touch of maple flavoring in the frosting. Now while you do have to do quite a bit of walking to get your hand on these tasty treats, the atmosphere of Gaston’s makes it worth the trek. Being able to sit down and enjoy a cinnamon roll while enjoying the largess of the Tavern is a fun time.
# 3 – The Turkey Leg
Turkey Leg
Pop Quiz: Is this leg from a turkey, emu, or T-Rex?
The Jumbo Disney Turkey Leg. What more can be said? Recently the popularity of this snack has transcended mere food status and moved on to merchandise with t-shirts, hats, wallets, and even air fresheners dedicated to it. That’s right, air fresheners. The turkey leg is the one item on this list which may push the boundary of what is considered a snack and what is considered an entrée. The turkey legs are so massive that many don’t believe they could possibly come from turkeys and the wide-spread rumors of them actually being emu legs have reached the point where even it was referenced in the recent Escape From Tomorrow film. Rest assured, these mammoth pieces of salty meat are indeed from turkeys.
With it’s greasy skin, bones jutting out the top, and near 1,000 calories per leg, this snack is not for the weak of heart. Plan on doing some extra laps around the park to work this one off.
# 2 – Popcorn
Popcorn
The various old fashioned popcorn carts around the Magic Kingdom are always a welcome sight. Their buttery aroma leads guests to them like the Pied Piper. There’s something unexplainable about eating freshly made popcorn in the Magic Kingdom, but it’s undeniably special.
# 1 – Dole Whip Float
Dole Whip Float
Available at Aloha Isle in Adventureland, the Dole Whip soft serve and Dole Whip Pineapple Float is at the top of many WDW guests Must Do lists for every trip to the park. A Dole Whip Float can come in various combinations, but the most popular is the pineapple soft serve mixed with the pineapple juice. The popularity of this item makes for some long lines at Aloha Isle, but we’ve always found it worth the wait.
So there you have it: the top six iconic snacks of the Magic Kingdom. See you next weekend for the latest edition of the Saturday Six. If you had fun, be sure to check out The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! articles or, for your podcasting pleasure, check out Pardon the Pixie Dust.
Special thanks to Universal NOW!‘s Brandon Glover and Morgan Crutchfield for their assistance in this article
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How to Get Your Joke Told at the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
By Erin Foster
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Of the many ways to participate in the shows and attractions at Disney World, one of the easiest is getting a joke included in the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor attraction at the Magic Kingdom. Here’s how to make it happen.
When you enter the Laugh Floor attraction, you’ll first be placed in a holding room pre-show area with several TVs hanging from the ceiling. The screens will give a message which states, “Text Your Joke Now to 12345″ (12345 is a placeholder, the actual number varies from show to show) and gives the following instructions:
Start your text with the word (rotating key word).
Include your first name and hometown so we can thank you!
If chosen, your joke will be performed in the show and you’ll be famous.* (*Famous in monster world only. Human world fame may vary.)
While these instructions seem pretty simple, lots of folks fumble them. A common mistake is forgetting to include the show-specific key word. Without the key word, they don’t know that you’re actually at the theater and they won’t include your joke. Follow instructions and you’re ahead of the game already.
While sending a text is simple enough, the other critical part of getting your joke included in the show is sending in a good joke. In my unscientific study of a dozen shows, I’ve noticed a pattern in the jokes that were selected for inclusion. Jokes used during the show are typically short (they have to fit in a text, duh), use G-rated language, have a teeeeeny gross-out factor, or include a pun or Disney character reference. Bonus points if there’s a teeny gross-out, a pun, and a Disney reference!
If you hit all those points, my observation is that you have a better than even chance of having your joke included and your name mentioned in the show. How do I know this? Well, following the formula, my joke was included in the show 8 of the 12 times I tried. If you go to the Laugh Floor often, you’ll also see that there are some jokes that fit this formula and tend to be repeated often. Here are some that have worked for me and that I’ve seen frequently used in the attraction. (I make NO claim of authorship on these, they’ve been in the ether for ages.)
Q: How do you make a tissue dance? A: You put a little boogie in it!
Q: Why did Tigger go into the bathroom? A: He was looking for Pooh.
Q: How do you get a baby astronaut to sleep? A: You rock it. (Get it – rocket.)
Q: Why was six afraid of seven? A: Because seven ate nine. (6, 7, 8, 9)
Q: Why did the cookie go to the doctor? A: Because it was feeling crummy.
Q: What do you call cheese that’s not yours? A: Nacho cheese. (Not your cheese – say it fast.)
Q: Why does Peter Pan fly? A: Because he can never, never land.
Q: What did Mickey say when he was falling? A: Donald, duck.
1: Knock, knock. 2: Who’s there? 1: Doris. 2: Doris, who? 1: Doris locked, let me in.
1: Knock, knock. 2: Who’s there? 1. Arch. 2: Arch, who? 1. Bless you.
Q: Why was the tomato blushing? A: Because it saw the salad dressing.
Q: Which side of a chicken has more feathers? A: The outside.
Q: What did one math book say to the other math book? A: I’ve got problems.
Q: Why do birds fly South in the winter? A: Because it’s too far to walk.
Q: Why did Mickey fly into space? A: To find Pluto.
Q: What’s the difference between a fish and a piano? A: You can tune a piano, but you can’t tuna fish.
Q: What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire? A: Frostbite.
You get the idea – basically, if a third grader would think your joke is a hoot, then it’s likely that you’re in.
Have you ever had a joke included in the Laugh Floor show? What’s your favorite family-friendly joke. Let us know in the comments below.o9
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November 29, 2013
In Case You Missed It: Disney News and Rumors – Week of November 29, 2013
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Happy Black Friday! Here it is, the weekly wrap up of Disney news and rumors, fun stuff, and other cool things that sparked our interest while you were cooking your Tofurkey, scrounging for place-settings, and planning your boycott of retailers open on Thursday this week (maybe that last one was just me):
In Case You Missed It – Disney News and Rumors
Have you ever wondered what would happen if one day the cast members at Disneyland just locked the front gates and never came back? HowStuffWorks.com (my source for every interesting thing I know) ran a slide show of abandoned places this week, and one of them was Nara Dreamland in Japan. This led to a Google search and MichaelJohnGrist.com’s article on the park and his undercover visit to document it. If you love the Urban Exploration of Discovery Island video and photos of River Country, this is for you.
Prefer Disney coffee now that it’s gone away from the Nescafe (or Nescrape…which is really more fitting)? Well, now that Joffrey’s has entered the mix, I’ve been enjoying my cup of joe just a little bit more. Recently, I found out I can have my cup of Disney coffee at home! Via Joffrey’s website, you can now purchase bags of coffee that are served up in various places throughout the Walt Disney World and Disneyland resorts, such as Artist Point, Carthay Circle, Jiko, as well as the coffee that can be found in the resort rooms. Fire up the Chemex! I’m ready to get my caffeine buzz on!
We know many of you fly to Walt Disney World or Disneyland, so when I stumbled across this article, called 10 Ways To Be An Awesome Airline Passenger, I knew I had to share it. This (mostly) tongue in cheek article is certainly applicable for all flights and something that I think we all need to remember at one point or another when traveling. (I totally give the flight attendants my magazines when I’m done with them. I know that in many instances, they may have read them, but they also may not. It’s a small effort, but I try.)
Ready for your Black Friday shopping? I came across this article from Screen Invasion that shared 6 Gifts to Get the Disney Fangirl Who Has Everything. (Well…I’m waiting….my stocking is hanging and ready!)
One of my favorite movies as a kid was The Little Mermaid. I wanted to be Ariel. I sang “Part of Your World” in a talent show, I pretended to have fins whenever I swam in the pool, and I watched the movie about twenty gabillion times. So, it’s hard to believe that the movie is 25 years old. (Wait…WHAT?! Oh God I feel old…) Jim Hill shares an interview he did with Jodie Benson, voice of Ariel, as well as the voice of Barbie in the Toy Story movies, commemorating her experience. Learn how she got the part and in turn, became a part of all of our worlds.
Speaking of mermaids, Slate ran a photo article of some serious old-time Florida, Weeki Wachee. If you remember this attraction from your childhood, read the history of the City of Live Mermaids that is now a state park. It may not be a big as Walt Disney World or Universal Studios, but Weeki Wachee has a fascinating story and is one of the original tourist attractions in Florida.
Speaking of Disney movies, Rikki Niblett saw Frozen early this week and she shared both a non-spoiler, as well as completely spoiler filled review of the movie. And if you loved the movie, make sure to check out the Orlando Sentinel’s interview with Kristen Bell, who voices Anna in the movie.
While hitting the Interwebs for holiday meal ideas this week, I stumbled on the following dessert – is it bad that I laughed out loud?
In Case We Missed It
What cool item not mentioned here did you see this week? Write your idea on a LeSportsac Polynesian Paradise shoulder bag and send it to blog@touringplans.com with the words “In Case You Missed It” in the subject line.
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Limited Time Magic Events For December 2 – 8
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©Disney
It’s officially the season for giving and this week’s Limited Time Magic proves just that.
At Walt Disney World, they are helping to spread cheer to families in need, and they ask for your help too!
This year, Disney is asking guests to help give a special toy to a child who needs one. When guests visit either Once Upon a Toy or World of Disney in Downtown Disney, if they choose to donate $5.00, Disney will donate a Duffy the Disney Bear to the Toys for Tots.
In addition, Disney is joining in the spirit of giving and will also donate $200,000 to Toys for Tots this holiday season.
The Disney company has had a relationship with Toys For Tots for years, when in 1948, Walt Disney designed the famous train logo for the charity, a logo that is still currently used.
What a wonderful way to help children in need.
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The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! November 2013 Photo Report of the Disney Outlet Store
By Derek Burgan
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Today is not just any day. Today is Black Friday. The official beginning to the Christmas shopping season. A day of bargains, lines, and absolute terror excitement. There couldn’t be a better day to lather ourselves up in pixie dust, strap on our Jessie cowgirl hat, and put on our Mickey Mouse “Hang Loose” shirt as we head out for our monthly photo report of the Disney Outlet Store.
You may remember last month that the outlet stores started selling 2013 merchandise at a deep discount, and this month a whole bunch of 2013 branded items joined the clearance rack including pins, graduation hats, basketballs, and laptop covers.
I couldn’t figure out what that small 2013 thing was in the middle. I concluded it was a stress toy that you squeeze to release tension. Or at least that’s what I was using for after trying to get this items to stand up after five minutes.
I’ve written about Cars Land and other Disneyland/Disney California Adventure merchandise at the outlets, but this trip was the first time I have ever seen Aulani stuff. I actually did a double take when I realized what it was.
Aulani hat. $7.99
Aulani bag ($13.99, originally $40)
This hat blew my mind. The logo was the country of Africa with a peace sign and the hat was in camouflage. Possibly the perfect hat for your Duck Dynasty Kwanza party. However, the mind blowing part was that there is a hidden pocket on the inside of the hat!
On the inside of the hat you pull this tab…
And this hidden pocket opens up!
Who is the market for this?! All I could think of when I saw this hat was the classic Saturday Night Live skit where they go to an African-themed store and every single piece of merchandise was used “to put your weed in it!” This hat was originally $24.95 but is now $7.99 (and I bought one!)
But that wasn’t even the weirdest hat in the store.
Originally $19.95, this hat is now $6.99 and is the perfect hat to wear to the Saving Mr. Banks premiere.
Anyway, a couple Animal Kingdom items showed up this month. Can you figure out what the shirt is supposed to be? It looks like it is supposed to be the Tree of Life, but all the leaves are gone. Is it supposed to be just a random tree from the Kilimanjaro Safaris? The shirt was $14.95, the hoodie $35.95 and the water bottle holder $8.95.
Animal Kingdom shirt, hoodie and water bottle holder (top)
This is actually kind of neat. The Tree of Life with cartoon animals in it.
Let’s check out some of the shirts available this month. These men and women WDW shirts for $12.99 weren’t too bad.
There were several World Showcase themed shirts available…
$16.99
Came real close to picking this up for $19.99. The “Canada” stitching sticks out and is pretty sharp.
$14.95
USA! USA! USA!
$16.99
More Germany Pavilion related pieces of merchandise. I Googled what “Gute Reise” meant and it said “bon voyage” or “good travels” so I have no idea what that means in terms of a coffee mug being sold at Epcot. Maybe the cup should have had “Die Linie für Soarin’ ist zu lange” instead.
A dole whip shirt, the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for a woman you’re trying to break up with.
Halloween shirt, but not MNSSHP. $17.95
Jack Skellington done in an Andy Warhol-like style. $14.99
I actually bought this shirt when it was full price at World of Disney. It’s now $14.99
Another piece of Donald merch I like a lot. $26.99.
Now this one I don’t understand at all, but probably explains why Donald is so mad in the other two.
These leather jackets were interesting. They had one of the highest, if not THE highest price tag in the store (at $189.99 each, reduced from $370).
And they were all “tied” together to help prevent retail theft.
I did like this tag on the inside of them.
Here’s a Halloween Mickey Ears hat with a top that you can pull up…
Chip and Dale underneath. ($7.99)
Dumbo hat ($9.99)
Grand Flo hat for $9.99
This Turkey Leg wallet is a steal at $5.99 (although I’m not sure who is doing the stealing)
Storybook Circus shot glasses for $13.99
I bought a pack of these paper drink coasters, a great value at $5.99 and included all six designs.
Presented without comment
Star Wars fans, all the exclusive sets released when Star Tours: The Adventures Continue opened are now at the outlets. They are $24.99 each or two for $39.99.
Wine and Dine half marathon decals were here. These are perfect for people like me who want all the exclusive merch from the various Run Disney events but have zero inclination to actually, you know, run. Here’s a great article by Todd Perlmutter detailing his experience with the Wine and Dine half marathon in 2011.
Originally $7.95, this decal is now $1.99 and all your friends will think you ran to get it! Win Win!
I really like this style of Disney dolls. Sort of “manga” style.
We’re running pretty long this month so let’s look at some Vinylamation before we go..
Disney Afternoon. I consider myself a pretty big Ducktales fan and I don’t remember the character on the right – Fenton Crackshell – at all. $20.99
I’m sorry, but i just don’t get it. $4.99
Interesting steampunk inspired “Mechanical Kingdom” series. If this were done as a Park Starz style of Vinylmation I would buy all of them. $4.99 each
I still think I hallucinated this. $14.99
I’m gonna have to tap out, but before I go let me show you one of the greatest store signs I have ever seen.
The Disney Outlet Store, where even the “Non Limit” merchandise have a limit
There are actually two Disney outlet stores in Orlando. Both are in Orlando Premium Outlet shopping complexes, and they are called Disney’s Character Warehouse, presumably because The Land Of Misfit Toys was already trademarked. There is one Character Warehouse located on International Drive close to Universal Studios (4951 International Dr, Orlando, FL 3281), and the other is on Vineland Avenue, right across I-4 near the exits to Disney World (8200 Vineland Ave, Orlando, FL 3282). For this edition of MMM, we went to the location near Universal.
Previous editions of Magic, Memories & Merch: July 2013, Auguest 2013, September 2013, October 2013.
If you liked what you read here, you may enjoy THE SATURDAY SIX articles every week on the TouringPlans.com blog, as well as the Pardon the Pixie Dust podcast.
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Comparing and Contrasting WDW Moderate Resorts
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Coronado Springs
In many ways I consider myself a lucky man. One of those ways, albeit a minor one, is that I have had the opportunity to stay in all four of Walt Disney World’s Moderate level resorts within the past 18 months or so. The first thing you may notice is that I said four, even though Disney technically lists five: Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs, Port Orleans – French Quarter, Port Orleans – Riverside, and the Cabins at Fort Wilderness. I am omitting the Cabins from this comparison for a few reasons: Firstly, the Cabins are quite a bit different than the other moderates as they are larger, capable of housing more people, and more expensive. Secondly, and more importantly, I have never stayed in one, so a writing of my personal experiences would be very, very short.
Port Orleans-French Quarter
So, why moderates? Sure, I would love to be writing this about all of the Deluxe Resorts or, better yet, a comparison of the Grand Villas at all DVC properties. Unfortunately, even though I keep shooting holes in my yard like Jed Clampett, none of them have resulted in oil…black gold…Texas tea. So for my family of four Deluxe Resorts are usually too pricey for more than a couple of nights. We have tried Value Resorts, but find that the slightly smaller rooms (and beds) to be a noticeable difference. For a relatively marginal price increase, we have always felt most at home at Disney’s Moderate Resorts.
The purpose of this writing, much like the Unofficial Guide, is to help you be as well informed as possible. Of course, I cannot help but throw a ton of personal preference in with the facts because that’s just who I am and it’s my article. Feel free to add your own cent or two down in the comments section below. If you are like me and are looking at staying in one of the lovely Moderates at Disney World, hopefully this will help…so let’s get it on!
Port Orleans-Riverside
The Theme
The most basic of differences in the Moderate Resorts is also the one that should probably least influence your choice. Yes, the themes are all very different, but they are also all very nice. The Caribbean Beach Resort is meant to look like a seaside village in the Caribbean. Coronado Springs evokes the architecture of the American Southwest and Northern Mexico. Port Orleans – French Quarter resembles the lively French Quarter of New Orleans, and Port Orleans – Riverside hearkens back to a bayou-based settlement in the deep south.
Caribbean Beach
All four of these themes are thorough and fairly obvious to the casual vacationer, but you’re not here to read pleasant generalities and I’m here to start arguments (note: not my real purpose), so let’s rank ‘em! I think the best theme among these is Port Orleans – Riverside, mostly due to its intricacies. Sure, most people will never know the ridiculously detailed back story that went into its design, but that doesn’t make it any less impressive. Just the way the Magnolia Bend mansions become less opulent the closer they get to the center of “town” and the rustic “working man” vibe of the central area tell a tale of classes and history that you can feel.
Coronado Springs
This may be a bit controversial, but my second favorite theme is Port Orleans – French Quarter. Sure, it only vaguely resembles the real French Quarter, but Disney was sure as sugar not going to put a drive through daiquiri establishment in the resort. What is does do, however, is create a lovely, European garden environment with decorative iron, well manicured landscaping, and beautiful fountains.
My third place theme is Caribbean Beach, which does exactly as intended by transporting you to the Caribbean. My only complaint is the slightly too wide open space and the lack of a real “village” feel. Coronado Springs is bringing up the rear. While there are absolutely gorgeous areas and views, the theme gets lost in large sections that aren’t the pool or lobby area.
Desk at Coronado Springs
The Grounds
This category is closely related to the theme, but I felt it was different enough to warrant its own section. The way I rank the grounds is on sheer beauty, with no regard to how well said beauty meshes with the existing theme. You may only care if a particular resort is pretty and not if it is a true representation of a Caribbean village (actually, this sounds like a much more sane point of view), which is why I’m discussing this separately. Please note that this does not take into account the inside of the rooms, that’s the next section.
Let me first say that all four of these resorts are incredibly pleasant and beautiful and my ranking is basically picking nits. I would happily stare at any of these resorts for hours (and I plead the 5th on whether I have). Let’s start at the top, which is the Caribbean Beach. As I said, this was close, but the lush landscaping, abundance of water, the beaches, the lighthouse, that awesome island in the middle of the lagoon, and the bright colors that look awesome in the reflected light of a sunrise are just too perfect.
Port Orleans-French Quarter
Next I’m picking Port Orleans – Riverside because of those gorgeous mansions, the picturesque town center, the water tower, and the waterwheel. In third place (and boy was this close) is Coronado Springs, which features a huge lagoon and that super-cool Mayan temple near the pool. Again, the buildings hurt Coronado Springs as many of them, especially the Cabanas, are sort of ugly. The back of the pack this time is Port Orleans – French Quarter. Even though I love the grounds and the fountains, there is not much more than that to bump it ahead of the others.
The Rooms
Sure, you might have seen this header and thought “they’re all Moderates, the rooms are the same.” Well you, good sir or madam, are mistaken. In fact, the differences in the rooms make a very large difference to me and heavily influence my overall ranking of the four Moderate Resorts. So what are these differences? Let’s rank some resorts!
Caribbean Beach
Coronado Springs tops this particular list. Not only do I find the style of the rooms very appealing, they have a few advantages. The beds are Queen size and there are two sinks, just to name a few (and no, these are not givens…keep reading). In addition, Coronado Springs, being a conference hotel, foregoes the basically useless small table and chairs setup in favor of a very useful desk with a power strip. Even if you aren’t working on vacation, this takes up less floor space while still allowing an area to throw your junk and some extra outlets for charging those cell phones and camera batteries. Yet another advantage to Coronado are the heavy duty doors that separate the sleeping area from the sink area. The other Moderates use a curtain, which is nice, but does not block the light from your sleeping children like those doors. The only downside for Coronado is that it only has a single sink basin.
Port Orleans-Riverside
In second place is Port Orleans – French Quarter. The layout and amenities of the rooms between the two Port Orleans resorts is basically identical with Queen beds and double sinks, but I find the look of the standard rooms nicer at French Quarter. That said, Riverside comes in a close third and if you upgrade to a Royal Room, they are much nicer than the standard room.
Oh Caribbean Beach, why do you forsake me? Why oh why do you still have full size (or double) beds? Yes, that’s right, Caribbean Beach’s beds are smaller than the other Moderate Resorts. This may not be of consequence to your family, but I am tall and on vacation my wife and I are forced to share beds with the children. Therefore, more room is better.
Coronado Springs
The Amenities
For amenities I am considering everything that I have not previously mentioned such as pool and food court. This was a really hard ranking for me because I find all four of these resorts to have similar strengths and weaknesses. The pool complexes at all four are very good with good, fun themes and nice water slides. If forced to choose I like the Coronado Springs and Caribbean Beach pool areas better than the other two, but just barely.
Food courts I find equally similar, but that is not as much of a compliment. The quick service dining options at all four are generally mediocre. Although there is a faint attempt at offering options that are in line with the themes of the resorts, they generally come off as toned-down, American fast food versions. I rarely hesitate to eat at any of the food courts, and they are not bad, but I don’t get particularly excited about any of them either. One food related note I would like to add is that Coronado Springs, being a more business oriented resort, starts serving a limited breakfast earlier than the others (6am) which is definitely a bonus for an early riser/explorer like myself.
Caribbean Beach
Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs, and Port Orleans-Riverside all have table service restaurants as well, but I have never eaten at any of them and have little desire to. If in-resort sit-down dining is something that is important to you that may be a knock against Port Orleans-French Quarter.
There are two things that do separate the Moderate Resorts a bit: Watercraft and bars (please do not mix). Both Caribbean Beach and Port Orleans-Riverside offer watercraft rentals while the other two do not. I prefer Riversides just because of the option to cruise down the Sassagoula River, which gives you a little more view variation.
Port Orleans-French Quarter
The on-resort bars is another negative check against Caribbean Beach (wait, can I have negative checks? Is that this ^…oh well). You see, Caribbean Beach is the only one of the four without a real, sit down bar. They do have a pool bar and a weird setup with their restaurant Shutters where you can usually order a drink to go, but that’s it. The other three all have much more interesting bar options, and the evening entertainment at the two Port Orleans resorts is a definite bonus if that’s something you’re looking for.
The Buses (and other transportation)
I made this a special category because I’m thinking about myself (as usual). When in Walt Disney World, my family and I are bus people, which means we use the Disney bus system and not that we turn into Transformers-esque bus robots. Anyway, it has been discussed many, many times that the Disney bus system is not as time efficient as driving yourself. This is an especially important subject when discussing Moderate Resorts because of the variance in number of bus stops and routes.
Port Orleans-Riverside (Bayou area)
As a quick primer, here is what my family looks for with regards to this category: We like the fewest amount of stops possible. The actual driving time on the bus is close enough between these four resorts that it is negligible. Therefore, what adds time to your trip is the amount of time the bus spends on the resort grounds. As an aside for your information: If multiple stops are necessary (as they usually are in this resort category), we prefer to be the first on and first off. First on the bus means that it is less crowded and you are mostly guaranteed that you will not have to wait for another bus because you are staring at one that is packed to the windows. First off is exceptionally nice when you are dragging almost-asleep children back to the room after the parks close and you can’t wait to get off.
Coronado Springs
In this category Port Orleans-French Quarter is the clear winner for it is the only one with only one bus stop. Being a small resort only one stop is needed and it is fairly easy to be within close walking distance to the stop. The two edge buildings, 1 and 7, are the only ones that seem far. There is one catch with French Quarter though, and that is because the buses often stop at the Port Orleans-Riverside stops after the French Quarter stop. (While ever changing, last time I was at French Quarter the Epcot and Hollywood Studios buses stopped at both resorts while the other two parks did not). In my opinion, even when the buses stop at Riverside it is still an advantage to be at French Quarter as you are first on and first off the bus.
Caribbean Beach
My second favorite in this category is Coronado Springs, with Port Orleans-Riverside coming in a close third. Both of these two resorts have four stops each, although Riverside buses occasionally stop at Port Orleans-French Quarter before arriving at Riverside, which is why it gets 3rd place. Both of these resorts are also similar in that they are huge and, even with multiple bus stops, very possible that the walk from your room to the stop will be significant. In last place is Caribbean Beach which has a whopping 6 bus stops which can feel like 1,000 late at night. Caribbean Beach is also designed a little different in that the bus stops tend to be across a parking lot from their respective building groups making the walk to them that much further (the far-away-from-the-food-court Trinidad South is the only exception to this).
Port Orleans-French Quarter
If, like us, you are bus people, I recommend scouring a resort map to find the closest possible building to a bus stop and requesting that. If you are trying to be close to both the bus and the food court, that is almost impossible unless you are willing to pay the premium “preferred room” rate. I always pick bus over food because I usually go to the food court for breakfast by myself and, without the kids, I don’t care how far I walk. If you’re curious, here are my building choices: French Quarter is building 4 (right next to food court and the bus stop…perfect), Riverside is Magnolia Terrace (although none of the buildings are particularly close to a bus stop), Caribbean Beach is either building 23 in Martinique (if you want to be a little closer to the food court) or 56 in Aruba. Finally, at Coronado Springs I like building 8B in the Cabanas section which is only a few minutes from the food court, a short walk to the pool, and very close to the bus stop.
Port Orleans-Riverside
Overall
My totally unofficial and in no way representing anyone but me rankings are: 1) Port Orleans-French Quarter, 2) Coronado Springs, 3) Port Orleans-Riverside, and 4) Caribbean Beach. Hopefully the reasons why were evident in the many words above, but the big winner for French Quarter is its small size. Coronado has a lot of little things that add up to a nice experience, while Riverside has beautiful theming and grounds. Caribbean just can’t overcome it’s 6 bus stops and Double beds in my opinion.
I fully expect many of you to disagree with my rankings and opinions and I welcome all reasoned counter-arguments. I am also sure I missed some positives and negatives, so feel free to add them below. Thanks for reading!
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November 28, 2013
Observations From Disneyland: November 27, 2013
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It was a perfect day on Wednesday in terms of weather, the skies were clear and the temperature got up to around 75 degrees. But Thanksgiving week does bring in some large crowds to Disneyland Resort.
These were the posted wait times as of 12:30 PM. They aren’t too bad considering this was a 9 out of 10 day on our crowd calendar. But times did quickly climb as the day went on.
More pictures and observations after the jump.
You can tell it’s a busy day when Space Mountain’s FASTPASS has a return time for 7 hours later.
Even attractions that normally don’t have a long wait can reach high wait times, like Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride seen here. The exception of this is The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh which still posted less than 10 minute wait times throughout the day. Poor Pooh.
King Arthur Carrousel is back from refurbishment and looks great. All the colors are bright and crisp and you can tell it got a lot of love during its down time.
I took the time to stop by Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree to see Billy Hill and the Hillbillies. Disney recently announced that it is retiring the group after over 20 years. This has caused the group’s fans to come out in droves to see the Billys perform while they can. The 1:30 PM showing I attended was packed; every seat in the Jamboree was filled as well as several rows of people standing in the back.
Billy Hill and the Hillbillies change their show for the Halloween and Christmas holidays. The Christmas show features a fun singalong where a cast member holds up cue cards for the audience.
In another part of the show Billy tells the crowd how him and the rest of the Hillbillies were big fans of the Country Bear Jamboree. He said they loved the show and went to see it over 300 times, but that the Country Bears never came to a Billy Hill show. The Country Bears then appear on stage to finally sing and dance with the group!
What did I eat today? On Wednesday I was being very indecisive on what I wanted for lunch. But as the time approached noon I realized I had to eat soon or all the quick service restaurants would be packed for several hours. I ended up going with the Plaza Inn, and I will tell you why in the next picture. Anyway, once I got in the Plaza Inn I had a tough choice deciding, mostly because whenever I go there it’s automatic that I’m going to buy the fried chicken. But sometimes I do manage to make adult decisions and I convinced myself that eating fried chicken alone and on a Wednesday probably wouldn’t be the healthiest option. I settled for the Cobb Salad. It was okay. I mean, really, what is there to say about a salad? I didn’t even record a video review for it like I do with everything else.
This is why I chose Plaza Inn. The amazing Pumpkin Yule Log dessert. What is the Yule Log? The best way I can describe it is if you took pumpkin pie and cake, then layered them together and drizzled hard chocolate on the outside. It’s delicious! The wait for the Yule Log this year was painful; it didn’t show up until this week. In previous years it appeared around Halloween time. I’m happy to say it was worth the wait.
Later in the day I took a break from the crowds and took a ride on the greatest Disney attraction in the world, the Main Street Omnibus! Here’s a view of the castle from the second level of the Omnibus.
As the Omnibus came around the hub I got a good look at the thick Thanksgiving week crowds.
I’ll leave you with this picture of a lemon tree located to the left of the Tomorrowland entrance. Disney added a bunch of fruit trees during when it created new Tomorrowland in 1998. I always thought that was strange. Is fruit futuristic?
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Time Traveling: Mickey’s PhilharMagic
By Daisy Lauren
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For the second in the series we’ll be looking at the site of Mickey’s PhilharMagic and time traveling all the way to 1971 to see what has lived in this space over the ages. If you haven’t already read the history of Stitch’s Great Escape in part one of the series you can find it here. One housekeeping note: a lot of this is written from my memories. If you remember it differently please let me know in the comments below – I’d love to hear from everyone.
If you hopped into the Wayback Machine and set it between 1994 and 2002 you’d emerge to find The Legend of the Lion King. This was one of my favorite shows and I was really sad to see it close. This was one of the last few attractions to actually open WITH the movie. Can you imagine a big Rapunzel show opening at the Magic Kingdom just weeks after the movie hit theaters? This used to be common for Disney but it seems like nowadays they sit back and make sure they have a hit first. (and sometimes after a mega hit… we get bathrooms) I was a little old to buy into it completely but for my younger sisters The Legend of the Lion King seemed “real” and was a way to visit the most recent Disney story. The fun started when you entered the pre-show area where a live actor dressed as Rafiki introduced the story before you were ushered into the theater. Inside the theater was a show like nothing before or since at Disney. The story of The Lion King was told with projection screens, puppets, and effects. I could go on about how great it was but there are several videos on Youtube that do it more justice. Not that I don’t think Mickey’s PhilharMagic is a great show but I’ll always think The Lion King was better!
If you went back to 1987 you’d find a 3D film called Magic Journeys. This was a recycled film from Epcot where it was removed to make room for Captain EO. I remember this film as boring and strange. I love writing these articles because if forces me to go back and look at things as an adult. Sometimes, something I thought was awful actually was just me being a kid. That isn’t the case on this one. I looked back at YouTube videos and I’ll add to that list that it’s “trippy”. However, considering that it opened in 1982 maybe it is just the generation gap? I’ll be really curious to hear from folks that have memories of this attraction! The one silver lining was that the pre-show area was used to show an older Chip & Dale cartoon, Working for Peanuts. Now that is something that appeals to all ages! 
Going back further you’d find some empty space.. from everything I can find this building was vacant from late 1980 to 1987. Does anyone remember any differently? I was a just a little kid but my parents also don’t remember anything here. If you skipped this blank period and went all the way back to the park opening date you’d find, the Mickey Mouse Revue. This is a show that closed when I was still a baby and I’m sorry that I missed it! When you look for documentation on older attractions in the park it’s tough to find – but not for this much loved show! It is well documented on YouTube which is a blessing and a curse because you know what you’re missing! Fair warning – if you click that YouTube link you’ll lose a minimun of 30 minutes and wish you could have seen it yourself! In 1983 this show found new life in Tokyo Disneyland where it stayed open until 2009. The show looks like it was adorable with many animatronics of beloved Disney characters performing in the style of Kitchen Kabaret.
But Kitchen Kabaret is a story itself, now isn’t it? So I will leave you there and hope that you will join me for the next installment. Do you remember any of these older attractions? I’d love to hear what your family thought of them and as always thanks for reading!
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