Bob Sehlinger's Blog, page 1276
November 17, 2013
Time Traveling: Stitch’s Great Escape
By Daisy Lauren
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I’m always looking for new perspectives and information to bring you from Disney World, but sometimes an idea falls right into my lap. This happened last week when strolling through Tomorrowland with my hubby. He innocently turned to me perplexed and wondered aloud, “Why do you think everyone hates Stitch’s Great Escape so much? It really isn’t that bad.” Of course, I was horrified by this sacrilege. Any respectable member of the Disney community knows Stitch’s Great Escape is an abomination second only to, perhaps, Captain EO. I immediately asked him how he could say that after experiencing ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter? His response was just a blank stare. It was then I realized that he didn’t grow up on Disney like I did and didn’t remember anything other than what was there today. It made me wonder what it must be like to walk through the parks without remembering Dreamflight, World of Motion, or even Doug Live! So today I thought we’d do a little time traveling at the site of Stitch’s Great Escape for those who weren’t able to experience it through the years for themselves.
If you hopped into the Wayback Machine and set it for little over ten years ago, when you emerged you’d find a very different attraction in this location. ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter opened when I was a teenager, and perhaps that is a big part of the reason I remember it as the coolest attraction ever! The setup as far as the queue, pre-show, and main seating area have always been the same, but, wow, was the experience different! The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter queue had televisions setup with a welcome greeting from an alien company, X-S Tech. During this announcement the aliens informed us that one lucky person from the audience would be teleported to the alien planet to demonstrate their technology! With this exciting information in mind, the crowd proceeded to the pre-show area to see how it worked on a cute, little alien name Skippy. (Spoiler: it didn’t work too hot.) Next we moved on to the main show where at the last minute the aliens choose to send one of them to us instead of the other way around. The change in trajectory in such a hurry meant that they accidentally routed through another planet, sending a carnivorous, winged alien to our chamber instead. The fun began when beast broke out, and everyone spent the next ten minutes in pitch black darkness! The harnesses that fit over your shoulders were used to puff hot breath on your neck, hiss, and play bone crunching sounds. Of course, at the end they were able to get the beast under control, but only after it had eaten a few people! If you never had a chance to experience this in person, it is certainly worth some YouTube time! It was a very unique attraction for Disney!
Yep- I have my very own Skippy!
Going back another ten years you’d find a very different and more educational experience, Mission to Mars. I wasn’t quite a teenager when this one closed,so my memories are vague. I remember it wasn’t a ride we did often, and I had to beg my Mom to take me because she said it was boring! 
From online research it looks like the pre-show area was interesting with an audio animatronic interacting with a live cast member. It seems like I would remember something like that, but I don’t! I do remember the main show area where a large, round screen in the floor and on the ceiling made it feel like you were blasting into space while your seats rumbled. Once you’d made it to “Mars,” real images of the red planet would be displayed and facts read about what NASA had discovered. This attraction was created with assistance from NASA, and I remember thinking what I was seeing was amazing! (Of course, this was long before the days of getting photos of Mars on your smart phone!) The ride ended abruptly with an emergency landing back on Earth and an offer to fly again any time. Mission to Mars has also been documented on YouTube, and as an adult I admit it is a little boring but worth looking up for historical purposes!
While Mission to Mars proudly held this space for twenty years, there is a barely documented attraction that resided here for a few years prior, Flight to the Moon. The major flaw with this attraction was that it opened two years after man had actually landed on the moon! Understandably a fictitious moon landing was not a great draw after seeing the real thing. From everything I’ve read, the script of this attraction sounds similar to Mission to Mars, and the building setup was identical. Sadly, I’ve never found any video footage of this long extinct attraction. Tragically, it was closed before I was even born! If anyone remembers this attraction, I’d love to hear about your experience.
And with that our tour comes to an end. I hope you had fun time traveling with me. Do you have fond (or not so fond) memories of these past attractions? Did you read about something here today that you were never able to see in person? Is there another spot at Disney you’d like to know a little more history about? I’d love it if you’d share your thoughts in the comments below! And, as always, thanks for reading!
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November 16, 2013
Video Double Feature: Walt Disney World Talking Mickey & Jingle Cruise
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Hey boys and girls, it’s movie time! Today on the Touring Plans YouTube Channel we have a very special video double feature direct from Orlando’s Magic Kingdom, featuring the new Walt Disney World talking Mickey Mouse and a Christmas twist to a classic ride.
Now you can do more than just say cheese with the Big Cheese at WDW — you can have a conversation!
First up is a complete ride-through of the Jingle Cruise, which (as Morgan Crutchfield recently reported) is the new holiday overlay of the classic Jungle Cruise attraction:
As you can see, there are minimal scenic additions to the ride itself, though there is some seasonal decor scattered around the queue (which FASTPASS users will mostly miss). Our skipper did as well as can be expected with the temporary script; the jokes are as bad as ever, but at least they’re slightly different.
Our second feature documents my first meeting with the talking Mickey Mouse who has taken up residence inside Main Street U.S.A.‘s Town Square meet & greet:
As you can see, the combination of interactive audio and animatronic eyes and mouth make meeting this Mickey a truly magical experience, befitting the “backstage at a magic show” theming of the attraction. Be aware that this chatty mouse seems to spend more time with each guest than his silent counterparts, so you may want to snag a FASTPASS or FastPass+ to bypass the slow-moving line.
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SATURDAY SIX: Top Six Reasons We Loved The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights
By Derek Burgan
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The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights
This week’s SATURDAY SIX looks at the Top Six Reasons We Loved The Osborne Family’s Spectacle of Dancing Lights. The Osborne Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios are always among the highlights of our theme park year. Sure, we have a great time at the Food and Wine Festival, Star Wars Weekends and Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights – just to name a few of Orlando’s best events – but walking through the lights at DHS every year never fails to take our breath away.
Returning favorites and new surprises made this year’s edition shine bright once again, and today we’re going to look at the top six reasons we can’t get enough.
# 6 – The Black Cat
Legend has it that when the Osborne Lights were originally shipped to Walt Disney World from Arkansas (home of the actual Osborne family) there was a black cat Halloween decoration among them. Disney’s Imagineers have used the black cat as sort of an easter egg, putting it in a different place every year for guests to find. If you’d like to know where the black cat is this year, it’s location is described at the very end of this article.
# 5 – Hidden Mickeys
Mickey is taking his talents to Orlando
If you’re a fan of hidden Mickeys, then you are in luck as the Osborne Lights is full of them! With over 50 classic Mickey designs spread throughout the area, it might take several trips to find them all. Some are rather large, like this fun basketball one pictured, but others are cleverly hidden and take an eagle eye to spot.
# 4 – The Canopy Of Lights
Located in the San Francisco area of the Streets of America, walking under this canopy made out of thousands of LED lights is something else to behold and is always one of our favorite things to take in.
# 3 – Jack Skellington
Jack Skellington makes an appearance
Disneyland may have their Nightmare Before Christmas Haunted Mansion overlay, but this year we got a little Jack Skellington in WDW as well. Not only is Skellington a popular meet n’ greet character at this year’s Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, but Jack – or at least his head – has also returned to the streets of America.
# 2 – Baby Sinclair
Baby Sinclair
Now this one was a shocker. Baby Sinclair, from the Dinosaurs television show (which last aired in 1994) makes an appearance peeking through a window. What we love about this cameo is the sheer randomness of it all. Of all the shows to pick from, Dinosaurs? Don’t get us wrong, the show Dinosaurs was way ahead of its time and is a classic, but we’re pleasantly surprised there wasn’t a more contemporary reference to a show like Phineas and Ferb or tie in with a movie like Frozen or Planes. Bravo Disney, bravo.
# 1 – The Overwhelming “Spectacle” Of It All
And you thought your electric bill was high…
Disney’s Imagineers always deliver on the grandeur that is the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights. There’s nothing you can compare it to and is one of the most amazing experiences you can have within a theme park. You are completely immersed in lights.
Everywhere you look, even towards the sky, are millions of lights. The windows and balconies of all the buildings are filled with creative touches and details. There is snow being pumped into the air and that combined with the “dancing lights” (when music begins playing at the lights are synchronized with the music) can almost transport guests out of Florida and into a new realm of fantasy. The Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights is what makes Disney Disney.
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 the Pardon the Pixie Dust podcast.
Special thanks to Universal NOW!’s Brandon Glover for his assistance with this article. SPOILER ALERT! If you would like to know where the black cat is hidden this year, it can be seen in a tree near a food cart by the Lights Motor Action stunt show.
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Universal Dining: Backwater Bar at Islands of Adventure
By Derek Burgan
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Backwater Bar
During my most recent visit to Islands of Adventure a friend and I decided to eat lunch at the Backwater Bar, which is part of Confisco Grille. I’ve eaten there a few times before and wanted to give it another try, as it’s what I consider to be the best bang for your buck restaurant in IOA. The best part about eating in the Backwater Bar is that you don’t have to wait for a table; you can just walk up to the bar and order food along with a wide array of drinks. Guests can eat at the bar or sit at one of the few tables inside the bar space. There is also a large patio outside with covered tables where guests can enjoy their drinks on days with favorable weather. You may notice the large signage out front that includes what appears to be an ad for the Seagram company. Many guests don’t realize that Seagram owned Universal Studios in the late ’90s, when IOA was built.
The actual Backwater Bar
If you’re looking for a fine adult beverage in IOA, look no further. Backwater has a few draft beers as well as a variety of bottled beers and a full selection of top shelf liquors. There are daily specials on margaritas and other mixed drinks. Whenever I see Shock Top on draft, I have to have it. It has a smooth citrusy flavor and comes with a slice of orange; and because it comes with an orange, that means its good for you, right? Pressing on…
This time around we didn’t order any appetizers, but I would highly recommend the Trader Wings with the Peach Chipotle BBQ flavoring. The sweet and smoky flavoring is delicious and makes for a great snack or can even be an entrée. Celery and a chunky bleu cheese dipping sauce are included as well.
Penne Puttanesca
For an entrée, I ordered the Penne Puttanesca and my friend ordered the boldly named An Adventure in Fajitas (this is Islands of Adventure after all). The penne features Italian sausage, kalamata olives, fried pepperocini and roasted garlic tossed in a vodka tomato cream sauce. For those of you that require gluten free or vegan meals, this dish can be prepared for you in that manner (as well as others on the menu.) Overall I enjoyed the penne, as the sausage was mild and the vodka tomato cream sauce added great flavor to the pasta. If I were going to order it again I would leave out the fried pepperocini, as it was a little too spicy and a tad bit greasy. It should be noted I’m not a fan of fried foods to begin with, and this really didn’t do anything to accentuate the dish in my opinion. At $11.99 this is a steal for being inside a theme park. The watery-sauced pasta they serve over in Toon Lagoon is priced around $9 and isn’t very filling or flavorful.
An Adventure in Fajitas
I also tasted the fajitas and they did not disappoint. The chicken was cooked to perfection with the accompanying onions and peppers. The tortillas were served in a separate container, and the dish also included cheese, lettuce, salsa, guacamole and sour cream. We ordered a side of pico de gallo as a garnish instead of guacamole. Having eaten fajitas in other restaurants off property, I find these to be of better quality than the fajitas I’ve eaten at Applebees and Chilis. For the great theme park price of $13.99 for chicken, $14.99 for beef or a combo of the two for $16.99, you can’t go wrong taking the grand adventure that is fajitas.
A great combination of value and quality, Confisco Grille never disappoints in a park with few favorable food options. Outside of Three Broomsticks and Mythos (which I’ve yet to experience), this is a must visit restaurant during a trip to Islands of Adventure. Trust me on this one, you don’t want to end up in Captain America’s Diner or Comic Strip Café! Thanks for reading and remember time travelers, the future is what you make it! – Brandon Glover
HOT TIPS:
Some of the many items throughout Confisco Grille.
- Backwater Bar has the only television in IOA, and on Sundays it’s always tuned into the NFL!
- They have a Happy Hour with two-for-one draft specials, a rarity in the theme park world.
- Several of the items on the menu can be prepared Vegan or Gluten Free.
- Because Backwater Bar is connected to Confisco Grille, take a minute to walk around the restaurant and check out the theming. Confisco includes items from every single island in the park, so you’ll see items related to Marvel heroes to the Cat in the Hat, to even a famous wizard’s wand…
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November 15, 2013
In Case You Missed It: Disney Around The Web – Week of November 15, 2013
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Here’s what you may have missed while working instead of surfing the web – the weekly wrap up of Disney news and rumors, fun stuff, and other cool things that sparked our interest in the last week:
In Case You Missed It – Disney News and Rumors
This Veteran’s Week, a touching story ran in the Los Angeles Daily News about a retired Marine named Ernie Napper who helps conduct the Flag Ceremony that takes place each day at the Disneyland Resort. He discusses how, with his help, the ceremony is now full of pomp and circumstance. I very much would like to shake this man’s hand someday. At the very least I can say thank you via blog.
Did you know that the first Super Soap Weekend was ten years ago at Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Us either. Check out This Day in Disney History for more trivia like this. If you’re too young to remember, a “Soap Opera” was a daily serialized drama that used to dominate the TV airwaves in the afternoons, and ABC/Disney was at one time the ruler of the genre. How times have changed.
Tickets for the Broadway adaptation of Aladdin go on sale to the public December 2. Jim Hill wrote up his impressions of the first day of rehearsals back in September. What do you think? We seen this on film, at Disney California Adventure, ridden the Magic Carpets in Magic Kingdom’s Adventureland, and viewed it on the seas on the Disney Fantasy. We’ve even been subjected to spectacular motion sickness with the VR attraction at DisneyQuest. If you’re too young to remember, VR stands for “Virtual Reality” and involved those crazy glasses like the Grandmother wears in the final scene of Carousel of Progress. “DisneyQuest” was a 5-story hope in Downtown Disney that this type of entertainment would catch on. Oh wait, it’s still open.
Are you as excited about the movie Saving Mr. Banks as I am? The press junkets have already started, and this week over at Starpulse.com, Tom Hanks shares a funny story about how he thought a trip to Disneyland with his granddaughter was going to go well…you’ll just have to read to find out what did happen! Needless to say, the same thing happened to me as a child, but with Snow White’s Adventure (the Scary was not included at the time!).
In more movie news, InsideTheMagic has a short piece on shooting of the Tomorrowland film at the Carousel of Progress this week. Oh, Disney, you had me at “George Clooney.”
Have you visited the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco? If not, this article from Geeks of Doom tells you twelve reasons why you need to plan a trip to the institution that pays tribute to the man who started it all for us!
Perhaps you heard about the new limits on cruise line traffic around the port of Venice last week? Not to worry, the Disney Magic is still with the limits and make its Venice-based Mediterranean itineraries in 2014. Thanks as always to DisneyCruiseLineBlog.com for keeping us up to date on all things DCL.
We’ve all dreamed of working for Disney, right? But like with any job, there are always some stories that stand out (one time at work, I found half of a denture on the floor…how does that happen?!). Of course, at the Disney Parks, there will always be those stories that are maybe not quite so magical, but pretty darn funny. That’s where this article from the Huffington Post, Highlights From The Disney Parks Employees Ask Reddit Thread, comes into play. It’s worth a look at if you need a laugh this Friday.
Finally, is being an Imagineer the best job in the world? Well, according to Buzzfeed, it really is. Take a look at the visual evidence! (Note to Len Testa: it’s only the second best job in the world.)
In Case We Missed It
What did we miss this week? Write your suggestions on a Zoya Winter Holiday 2013 Nail Polish set and mail them to blog@touringplans.com with the words “In Case You Missed It” in the subject line of your email.
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Universal Dining: Character Breakfast at the Loews Royal Pacific Resort
By Derek Burgan
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I have been fascinated by character meals for a long time now, probably because my parents would never take me to one when I was growing up. I’ve read all of Brian McNichols‘ articles on character dining at WDW and love listening to various podcasts talking about the different dining experiences Disney has to offer. One thing no one ever seems to talk about is character dining at Universal. Well, today that is going to change.
Every Sunday, from 8AM – Noon, Jake’s American Bar at the Royal Pacific Resort has a character breakfast. About a month ago, I made a reservation for our party through Open Table for 10AM. Upon checking in, while we were waiting for our table, a couple of Pink Berets from the movie Hop were at the front of the restaurant. The children we were with made a bee line for these characters despite never having seen Hop.
The sheer awe that these kids showed in their faces and reactions made me realize immediately that my parents blew it. Big time.
Selections from the continental breakfast offerings
We then made our way to the table and were told how the character dining works in terms of food. There is a large continental breakfast set-up in which every guest can have as much food from as they want. In addition, each guest can order one plated food dish. The options for the plates were:
Hawaiian Pancakes – Toasted coconut, golden pineapple, roasted macadamia nuts.
Tahitian French Toast – Caramelized bananas brown sugar cinnamon butter.
Wisconsin Cheddar & 3 Egg Scramble – Yukon gold potato hash.
Farm Fresh Three Egg Omelet – Roma tomatoes, spinach, onion, mushrooms, peppers. Choice of cheddar, american, or mozzarella cheese.
Grilled Pork Steak & Two Farm Fresh Eggs – Yukon gold potato hash.
The entrees for children were French toast or scrambled eggs. The server had freshly squeezed orange juice, which was very good. There was also freshly squeezed grapefruit juice as well as apple juice available. If you are a coffee drinker, Starbucks coffee is served.
We went for the Tahitian French Toast and Farm Fresh Three Egg Omelet. After having the corn bread at the House of Blues with the maple butter, I was looking forward to brown sugar cinnamon butter on this French Toast. While we were waiting for our meals, we headed over to continental breakfast area,
A true breakfast of champions. Also pictured, a plate of fruit.
This spread was top notch and reminded me of the breakfast buffet offered by Royal Caribbean on my recent cruise on the Freedom of the Seas in terms of quality of the actual food. Lots of options for fresh fruit (which I consider the Fool’s Gold of a buffet), muffins, bagels, oatmeal, cold cereal, croissants, Danish, scones, yogurt and – my personal favorite – donuts. The variety of donuts being offered changed just during the time I was there. I found that be award-worthy.
While sitting down, a character change took place and the Pink Beret bunnies from Hop left and Gru and a Minion from Despicable Me arrived. Decent attention to detail here as the Pink Berets (who are like the secret service to the Easter Bunny in Hop) mock fought with Gru during the exchange.
It should come as no surprise that Gru and the Minion were the hit of the entire restaurant. Despicable Me 2 is inching towards a billion dollars at the box office and Despicable Me Minion Mayhem attraction at Universal Studios Florida is arguably the most popular ride in the park. Every kid in the room lit up when the Despicable Me characters entered the dining area, almost unable to contain their excitement.
A minion from Despicable Me
While the Pink Beret bunnies seemed to stick together everywhere they went, the Minion and Gru generally were one table apart interacting with guests, although would definitely get together for pictures if people wanted them.
The Minion character was very playful and seemed to spend a lot of time with every kid in the restaurant. The Gru character was actually huge in person. I wasn’t expecting that. I’ve seen the character a lot in USF, but it’s usually from a distance watching the parade or a dance party.
Gru from Despicable Me
One of the children we were with is a huge fan of Gru’s daughters in the movie and brought her three dolls with her to the restaurant. So she was able to introduce Gru to her dolls and have a whole conversation about that. One thing that never ceases to amaze me with almost all of Universal’s meet n’ greet characters (and Disney as well) is the amount of personality these characters can show with limited movement and not being able to talk. I think the Gru character, with a face that couldn’t move, was better at getting across emotions than most live humans you meet in the parks. It’s hard to describe in words, but these characters can connect with guests (especially kids) in a way that should be almost impossible given their limitations, but they succeed.
After spending a lot of time with the characters, our plated meals arrived.
Farm Fresh 3 Egg Omelet
Tahitian French Toast
Kid’s French Toast
A minion peeks in…
This was hands down the best French toast I have ever had in my life and someone needs to bring brown sugar cinnamon butter to the marketplace. The serving size of both the French toast and the 3 Egg Omelet plates were rather large. I was a little terrified when the menu description read “Yukon gold potato hash,” thinking it was going to be one of those inedible scrambled mess of potatoes that restaurants like Denny’s serve, but these were very well seasoned potatoes. We actually ordered an extra side of them they were so good. The hash browns were very similar to the type you will see at places like McDonalds and other restaurants. Perfectly acceptable. Raves across the board when it came to the food
Make-A-Pancake machine, Every home needs one of these miracles of modern invention in their kitchen.
While we were eating there seemed to be a minion dance party at the front the restaurant, with several kids dancing with the Minion. The little girl with us was more than happy to join in. Afterwards we stopped back by the continental breakfast area and had her try out the “Make-A-Pancake” machine.
Maybe I’ve been living under a rock, but this contraption blew my mind. First a child presses a button on the machine, and then a couple of minutes later two pancakes coming rolling off a conveyer belt onto a plate. If one of these machines existed when I was growing up I think I would have made 1,000 pancakes. The kitchen of the future….today!
Now this is definitely for kids, as the pancakes themselves are really small (think of them as silver dollar pancakes after adjusting for inflation), but besides the fascinating way they are made there is a toppings bar for kids to decorate their pancakes. This included a big bowl of maple syrup, and little bowls of sprinkles, white chocolate morsels and regular chocolate morsels. You would have thought the child was auditioning for Sweet Genius with the level of detail she was putting into her pancakes. I was very impressed at her creation, as just looking at the amount of sugar put onto these tiny pancakes could send you into a diabetic coma.
“What, no whipped cream?”
After spending some more time with the Pink Beret characters, it was time to end our first ever character dining experience (but not before grabbing a couple more donuts to go). The biggest surprise for me was the overall quality of food offered. I have heard horror stories of some of the character meals at Disney in terms of quality of food for the price you pay. The price for the character breakfast at the Royal Pacific is $26.99 for adults, $14.99 for children, and kids under 3 are complimentary. I’ve now had a lunch and late night dinner at Jake’s along with an outdoor lunch at the Bula Bar sitting poolside and the food at each meal has ranged from good to great.
Unlike Disney, Universal offers a limited amount of character dining experiences. Inside the parks there is a character breakfast at Cafe La Bamba that lasts from 9AM-11AM each day of the week. That’s it. In December, when Islands of Adventure celebrates Grinchmas, there is a character breakfast in Circus McGurkus Cafe Stoo-pendous where you can meet The Grinch and other Dr. Seuess characters. This will be available from December 7 through December 31.
Outside the parks, at the on-site Loews hotels, there are several opportunities to dine with the characters. On Monday and Wednesday nights (6:30PM-9:30PM) at the Islands Dining Room at the Royal Pacific, Friday nights (6:30PM-9:30PM) at the Tattoria del Porto at Portofino Bay, and Saturday nights (6:00PM-9:00PM) at The Kitchen at the Hard Rock Hotel. The character breakfast I went to takes place every Sunday morning from 8AM-Noon at the Royal Pacific. It is scheduled to run through the end of the year, but its run has already been extended once so there’s a chance this could be available in 2014 as well.
Reservations are always encouraged (by calling 407-503-3463 or going to Open Table for booking online) but unlike Disney you generally don’t need to book these months out and there is always a very good chance at showing up on the day-of to still get a table.
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This Week On TouringPlans YouTube Channel: Small World Holiday, Talking Mickey, Olaf, and More!
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Every Friday on the TouringPlans Blog we bring you the week’s newest videos from our YouTube channel. Let’s get started!
Enjoy a full ride through of the spectacular “it’s a small world” Holiday! Disney goes all out for this attraction, so it’s a must see.
TouringPlans team member Seth Kubersky recently met the new talking Mickey Mouse at Walt Disney World. It’s amazing watching the talking Mickey character interact so seamlessly with guests.
More videos after the jump:
Video of the Olaf animatronic found outside of the Frozen meet and greet in Fantasyland at Disneyland. You may not know this talking snowman yet, but after Disney’s new movie Frozen hits theaters I’m guessing he’ll be a huge star.
The Unofficial Guide Disney Dish Podcast is back! In this episode, Len Testa and Jim Hill discuss the history of the Disney Cruise Line!
In this week’s episode of Ask Jim Hill, Jim gets asked what his favorite live entertainment at Walt Disney World is. Jim also share’s some interesting tidbits about the history of the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue.
That’s all for this week. We add new videos to the channel several times a week. Be sure to head to http://youtube.com/touringplans and subscribe!
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Limited Time Magic Events For November 15 – 24
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©Disney
Walt Disney World and Disneyland are inviting guests to get in touch with the Holiday Season during the newest round of Limited Time Magic offerings.
Starting at Walt Disney World, from now until January 4, guests can enjoy two delightful “presents” that are happening at the Magic Kingdom. First, you are invited to take in a showing of the Holly Jolly Trolley Show where the Citizens of Main Street perform great Holiday classics. That evening, enjoy the Celebrate the Magic Castle Projection show, which includes a special holiday finale and a brand new sequence inspired by the upcoming movie, Frozen.
©Disney
At Disneyland, guests can get into the festive spirit by “Glowing With The Show” during the new World of Color – Winter Dreams show that’s showing at Disney California Adventure. Guests who wear their Glow With The Show ears can experience the dazzling new show from a special viewing area available to Guests with valid World of Color FASTPASS tickets! The viewing area is on a first-come, first-served basis, as space is very limited.
Oh, what fun there is to have at the Disney Parks this Holiday Season!
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Catching a Ride On Magic Kingdom’s Jingle Cruise
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When the news broke in late October that both Disneyland and Disney World’s Magic Kingdom would be gifted a new holiday overlay on one of their most classic attractions, the World Famous Jungle Cruise, I knew that I had to be one of the people who saw it first! As a fan of seasonal theming in general (Haunted Mansion’s Nightmare Before Christmas and “it’s a small world holiday” in Disneyland definitely come to mind) it was especially exciting that both coasts would be receiving the treatment – and so I was ecstatic to find that it would debut on the east coast on Friday, November 8 – the same day I was attending the first Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party of 2013!
I did not really know what to expect, since I tried my best to avoid spoilers, so I was pleasantly surprised by the little updates and additions scattered around the attraction – most notably, the “sprucing up” of the signage around the ride.
Speaking with the Cast Member in the greeter position, I learned that the premise of Jingle Cruise was simple – the skippers were homesick during the holidays, and so decided to decorate to make themselves feel more cozy and spirited. Details – ranging from letters from home, stockings, candy canes, presents, poinsettias, and even a full-size artificial tree, line the queue area – and that’s not all! One of the first things that I noticed when I arrived at the Jingle Cruise was that their costume was a bit modified too – their signature floppy-billed hats were replaced by Jungle-y Santa Hats – that was definitely a fun touch!
Holiday touches to the attraction signage.
Another thing that I observed when visiting the attraction was something I had not experienced at Jungle Cruise in quite a long time either – the queue! We arrived at around 8 PM and waited approximately 40 minutes, though we had nary a complaint about that since we were excited to take it all in – from those aforementioned props, to the plussed-up audio track playing, which featured Christmas music from the 1930′s to 1950′s – transporting you not only into the right time period, but to the correct holiday spirit, too.
Lots of fun details to check out.
Moving through the queue and eventually, making it to the front of the line, you are grouped and seated onto the boats in the same fashion as a regular ride on the Jungle Cruise – but don’t miss the fun additions to the boat names before you board!
We had Icicle Irma, but there were tons of other great new name renditions, including: Eggnog Annie, Brrrrr Bertha, Candy Cane Connie, Garland Gertie, Mistletoe Millie, Sleigh Ride Sadie, Poinsettia Sal, Yule Log, Vixen Val, Wassail Wanda and Fruitcake Zelda.
Once we boarded Irma, we were welcomed by our friendly Skipper – she didn’t have the Santa cap, but she did have on red ornament earrings, which I immediately zeroed in on.
The spiel itself wasn’t a huge departure from the standard one, but did feature a few silly gags, namely:
Christmas Tree in the queue.
“Let’s try to stuff this boat all the way, so it’s like a stuffed stocking; make room for everyone because sharing is caring, especially during the holiday season.”
“I will be your Skipper today, your Christmas tree trimmer, your popcorn stringer, your secret Santa…and if you don’t laugh at my jokes, you will definitely find a piece of coal in your stocking.”
“Keep your hands, arms, feet and legs inside the boat, and please watch your children – or we’ll feed them to the reindeer!”
“Here in the Amazon, things are larger than life, including these insects. Does anyone know what these are called? It starts with a B. No, not butterflies. They’re Bah Humbugs!”
“Now, everyone say Ooooh! Everyone say Aahhhh! Everyone say HO HO HO! Haha! Just wanted to see if you’d do it!”
“Look at those Hungry, hungry hippos! I really should have been more specific on my Christmas list.”
“I think I saw a tiger following us along the beach. Know how I could tell? He had sandy claws.”
“There’s Bertha (the elephant). We thought we could shower her with gifts, but decided instead to give her the gift of a shower.”
“Anything you leave behind will be considered a personal present!”
Holiday Lights make the loading area festive.
Since we rode at night, I think we may have missed out on a few of the finer details of the attraction, and just as the experience varies in its usual form depending on the skipper, I will definitely be returning to take a daytime ride (or three) soon to soak it all in. The Jingle Cruise is a limited engagement, through December 31, 2013, so don’t miss out on the fun!
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What do you think about Holiday overlays and offerings?
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Tips for Meeting Characters During Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2013
By Len Testa
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Meeting Characters During the 2013 Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
We’ve created two new touring plans for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party 2013. This collection of touring tips and advice is designed for you to meet as many characters as possible, and see as many of the Party’s shows as possible.
Below you’ll find two touring plans. One is for families arriving at 4 pm, when guests with Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party tickets can get into the Magic Kingdom. The other plan is for families arriving at 7 pm when the party starts officially. You’ll also find the 2013 MVMCP entertainment schedule and guide to locations serving free holiday treats.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Touring Plan – 4 PM Start
Includes character greetings for Mickey Mouse, Santa Claus, Daisy Duck, Minnie Mouse, Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger, Piglet, characters from Aladdin (either Aladdin and Abu or Jasmine and Genie), a couple of Disney princesses, and the Seven Dwarfs. With a little luck you’ll also see Captain Jack Sparrow and Toy Story’s Woody, Jessie and Bullseye.
You’ll see more characters by knowing which ones are available all day, and which are only available during the party. For the plan that starts at 4 pm, you’ll spend the first couple of hours visiting characters such as Mickey Mouse, who are available throughout the day. That will leave the rest of the evening to see characters that are only available during the Party.
One of the longest lines at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is one to meet the Seven Dwarfs in Fantasyland. The line to meet the Seven Dwarfs can start forming as early as 5:30 or 6 pm, when most families start thinking about dinner. You’ve got a couple of options:
Eat a late lunch and bring packaged snacks and drinks to nosh on while you’re meeting characters
Have one member of your group stand in line for the Seven Dwarfs while another person takes kids for food
Step 1 Start the plan by entering the Magic Kingdom at 4 pm. Once you pass through the tunnels of the Walt Disney World Railroad’s Main Street station, you’ll see Santa Claus meeting guests near the flagpole in the middle of Main Street. The wait to see Santa should be less than 20 minutes, so see him now.
Step 2 Next, see Mickey Mouse at the Town Square Theater on Main Street. Waits should be under 15 minutes. It should be around 4:30 pm when you get in line.
Step 3 We’re headed to Storybook Circus in Fantasyland to see Minnie and Daisy. To get there we’ll walk past the Merida meet-and-greet at Fairytale Garden, between Cinderella Castle and Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe. You should be there sometime around 5 pm, with plenty of time to see Merida – the wait should be under 20 minutes.
Step 4 After Merida, meet Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck at Pete’s Silly Sideshow in Storybook Circus. Scrooge McDuck will be near here once the party starts, too, in case you want to come back. You should arrive at Pete’s Silly Sideshow around 5:30 pm and be done around 6 pm.
Check Lines to see the wait to meet the Princesses at Fairytale Hall in Fantasyland. Unless the wait is under 30 minutes (it rarely is), wait until after Holiday Wishes to see the princesses.
Step 5 Head to Adventureland to meet the characters from Aladdin. You can take the train from Storybook Circus to Frontierland for less walking. If you walk, though, take the walkway to the right of Cinderella Castle leading to Liberty Square, which cuts in front of the Sleepy Hollow snack stand. Just past Sleepy Hollow and behind the Christmas shop is Tiana’s meeting spot. If Tiana is out and the line is short, stop by for a photo.
Step 6 Meet the Aladdin characters at the Agrabah Bazar, between the Magic Carpets of Aladdin and Frontierland’s Country Bear Jamboree. You’ll either see Aladdin and Abu or Jasmine and Genie. You should be in line for the Aladdin characters around 6:20 pm, and done by 6:40.
Step 7 If you’ve not already done so, grab a snack from one of the snack carts (or -better yet – send someone from your group) on the way to get in line for the Seven Dwarfs, near the new castle walls separating old and new Fantasyland. The nearest counter-service restaurants are the Pinocchio Village Haus in Fantasyland and the Columbia Harbour House in Liberty Square. The line to see the Seven Dwarfs can reach an hour or more once the party starts, so try to be in line by 6:45 pm.
Step 8 You should be done seeing the Seven Dwarfs by 7:40 pm. You’ve got a couple of options at that point:
If you plan to stay in the park past the 9:30 Holiday Wishes fireworks, then grab a snack and a drink and find a spot on Main Street for the 8:15 pm Once Upon a Christmastime Parade.
If you’re not staying past Holiday Wishes, go see the Totally Tomorrowland Christmas Show in Tomorrowland, and then get a last-minute spot for the 8:15 pm parade on Main Street. The parade starts in Frontierland at 8:15 pm, so you’ve got a few minutes to hit the restrooms before the parade floats start to appear on Main Street.
Step 9 Immediately after the parade is a good time to meet the Disney princesses over at Princess Fairytale Hall. If you’re there by 8:50 pm the lines should be under 30 minutes, giving you enough time to see Holiday Wishes at 9:30. If the wait is more than 30 minutes, you can always stay on Main Street USA and catch the Celebrate the Magic castle show at 9:15 pm.
Step 10 See the 9:30 pm Holiday Wishes from Main Street USA.
Step 11 If you’ve not already done so, see the Disney princesses at Princess Fairytale Hall in Fantasyland. The waits should be under 30 minutes and you should be done just before 10:30 pm.
Step 12 See Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger, and Piglet across from The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in Fantasyland.
Step 13 Check to see if Minnie Mouse is out wearing her Christmas outfit along the wall between Pooh and Pinocchio Village Haus. You’re headed through Frontierland and Adventureland on your way back toward the front of the park, and along the way we’ll stop for a couple more character meets.
Step 14 Meet the Country Bears out in front of Country Bear Jamboree in Frontierland. You should arrive around 11:20 pm and there should be little or no wait. You may also see Woody, Jessie or Bullseye at Woody’s Hootin’ Holiday Open House at the Diamond Horseshoe Saloon in Liberty Square.
Step 15 Round Frontierland and walk into Adventureland near Pirates of the Caribbean. Keep a weather eye open for Captain Jack Sparrow, who meets guests in front of Pirates. You should have enough time to get in line to meet Captain Jack before the party ends at midnight.
Step 16 If it’s not yet midnight, take the new holiday-themed Jingle Cruise in Adventureland after you meet Jack Sparrow. Video of the new Christmas-themed Jingle Cruise overlay is here.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Touring Plan – 7 PM Start
Includes character experiences for Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale, Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger, Piglet, characters from Aladdin (either Aladdin and Abu or Jasmine and Genie), a couple of Disney princesses, and the Seven Dwarfs. With a little luck you’ll also see some Disney princesses, the Seven Dwarfs, and Santa Claus.
This plan focuses on popular characters and exclusive Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party events, including the Once Upon a Christmastime parade, Holiday Wishes fireworks, the Club Tinsel Dance Party.
Step 1 Start the plan by entering the Magic Kingdom at 7 pm. Once you pass through the tunnels of the Walt Disney World Railroad’s Main Street station, visit Mickey Mouse at the Town Square Theater on Main Street. Waits should be under 20 minutes.
Step 2 Make your way to Tomorrowland and see the first performance of the Totally Tomorrowland Christmas Show at 7:45. The first performance is usually the least crowded.
Step 3 See Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale at the Club Tinsel Dance Party at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe in Tomorrowland. It should be around 8:10 pm and you should be able to see all of the characters in about 25 minutes or so.
Step 4 Around 8:35 pm, head for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in Fantasyland by walking through Tomorrowland, keeping the Tomorrowland Speedway on your right. Make a left turn just past the Mad Tea Party, and look for Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger and Piglet across from Pooh’s ride. The waits for these characters should be 15 minutes or less. If these characters are more important to your family, though, you can leave the Club Tinsel party a little earlier just to be safe.
Step 6 Around 9 pm, it’s time to find a spot on Main Street in front of Cinderella Castle, for the Celebrate the Magic Christmas Show. You’ll be on Main Street until just before 10 pm, because the Holiday Wishes fireworks will kick off just after Celebrate the Magic. If you need to, grab a snack or hit the restrooms on the way to Celebrate the Magic.
Step 7 You’ve got enough time before the second parade to hop over to Adventureland and see the characters from Aladdin, between the Magic Carpets of Aladdin and Frontierland’s Country Bear Jamboree. You’ll either see Aladdin and Abu or Jasmine and Genie. You should be in line for the Aladdin characters around 10 pm, and done by 10:25.
Step 8 It’s time to find a spot for Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade. If you’re running early, you might be able to find a good spot along the storefront side of Frontierland (the parade starts in Frontierland). If you need a little more time, head for Main Street – it takes the parade floats 7 to 10 minutes to get to the beginning of Main Street from Frontierland.
Step 9 Once the parade is over, make a quick trip over to Fantasyland to see the Disney princesses at Princess Fairytale Hall. Waits should be around 30 minutes, and you should be done around 11:30 pm.
Step 10 The most difficult-to-see character greeting may be the Seven Dwarfs, and the line to see them isn’t going to be any shorter than it is now, about 25 minutes before the Party ends. Get in line to see the Seven Dwarfs. It may be past midnight when you’re done.
Step 11 On the way out, check to see if Santa Claus is still available for photos, at the flagpole on Main Street. If he is, tell him how good you’ve been all year and get a picture with the big guy.
Entertainment Schedule For Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Event
Location
Time
Celebrate the Magic Christmas Show
Main Street Castle Forecourt; display on Cinderella Castle
9:15 pm
Celebrate the Season (stage show)
Main Street Castle Forecourt
7:45, 10:05, and 11:20 pm
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade
Starts in Frontierland, ends on Main Street
8:15, 10:30 pm
Totally Tomorrowland Christmas Show
Rockettower Plaza Stage in Tomorrowland
7:45, 8:45, 9:55, 10:50 and 11:45 pm
Holiday Wishes fireworks
Main Street, USA
9:30 pm
Woody’s Hootin’ Holiday Open House (a dance party)
Diamond Horseshoe Saloon in Liberty Square
Runs continuously, characters are Woody, Jessie and Bullseye
Club Tinsel Dance Party
Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe in Tomorrowland
Runs continuously; characters include Goofy, Pluto, Chip, and Dale
Need a snack during the party? Here’s where to find free holiday treats!
Where to Find Holiday Treats for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Healthy options are available by request
Restaurant
Location
Party Hours
Crystal Palace (buffet)
Main Street USA
9 pm – 11 pm
Sunshine Tree Terrace (counter service)
Adventureland
7 pm – 11 pm
Tortuga Tavern (counter service)
Adventureland
7 pm – 11 pm
Columbia Harbour House (counter service)
Liberty Square
7 pm – 12 midnight
Pinocchio Village Haus (counter service)
Fantasyland
7 pm – 10:30 pm
Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe (counter service)
Tomorrowland
8 pm – 12 midnight
Tomorrowland Terrace (counter service)
Tomorrowland
7 pm – 12 midnight
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