My time on the Dream-Day 1

Welcome back to the long awaited return of the Disney World Nation, while we are still on hiatus until my book is published (which will be heading to the edited within the next week) I wanted to give Disney fans a little taste of what I experienced last weekend aboard the Disney Dream. So here we go with tonight's blog.

Day 1

The Day started with a flight from Providence to Orlando, followed by a shuttle transfer to Port Canaveral. Because we did online check in, we got to skip the registration line (highly suggest doing that), and bored the ship. The ship is amazing both in size and how great it looks. We went up to Deck 9 to find our room, and our inside stateroom was wonderful, complete with queen size bed, couch that converted into a bed, TV, desk and of course, the Virtual Porthole. The Virtual Porthole lets guests on the inside part of the ship a chance to see whats going on. Basically its a giant screen above the head of the bed, and it shows images from a webcam located around the outside of the boat. During the day you can see whats going on, on the outside (at night it's like snow from an old tv) and you will recieve a surprise or two if you pay attention to it long enough. We watched the entrance video on the TV, had lunch at Cabana's ( a wonderful buffet place on Deck 11) and waited for the evacuation drill at 4pm.

The evacuation drill was nothing more than when you hear the alarm, get to your designated area, and wait for instructions. The drill was fairly easy and took less than half hour. After that we were free to do what we wanted. So Mike and i wandered around the ship until we came across the Midship Detective Agency Kiosk located on Deck 5. The Midship Detective is a scavenger hunt that takes you throughout the ship looking for clues to solve one of two cases. Detectives are given a badge, a pencil, and a map/suspect list to help solve the case. The map leads you to the enchanted art stations around the ship. Enchanted art is another innovention on the dream that looks like a regular painting until you stand in front of it (a cartoon scene will then play). If you wave your badge in front of the Enchanted Art, you will be either recieve a clue or find one of the missing items. Write down the clues to help you find which of the 7 suspects stole the items. When you have found the items and think you know who did it, Mickey will ask you for your choice. If your right, you can help catch the villan! You have the enitre cruise to solve the puzzle, but it took us like 30-40 minutes. This was a lot more fun than we thought it was going to be.

It was 6:15 time for the second dining people to go to the Walt Disney Theatre for the first of three broadway style stage shows. The first night's show was The Golden Mickey's. First Cruise Director Clayton came out to talk. Clayton is a funny man, who got people laughing with his humor and Carlton dance (complete with Tom Jones music). Captain Gus came out to say a few words, and the show began. The Golden Mickey's is an award's show with many categories for Disney movies. The captain is unable to host and it becomes up to Ensign Benson, a shy stage hand who has no confidence she can do it. With help from everyone from Robert Iger, to Tim Allen, and many Disney characters, the show goes on and is a wonderful show with many great songs and characters sharing the stage. I dont know who could walk out of that show without a smile on their face.

We decided that instead of going to the restaurant assigned to us, we were going to eat at Flo's Cafe, a food court located on Deck 11. Flo's has multiple stations that offers foods such as pizza, burgers, sandwiches, chicken and more. Was a real good choice as we were the only people in line and got food right away. The rest of the night was spent walking around the ship and a special stop at Eye Scream (a self-serve ice cream stand on Deck 11). Eye Scream has the best soft serve ice cream I have tasted in a long time. I think I had 6 cones of ice cream on the cruise..lol

The night was an early one for us, we started at 5:00am, and knew, we had to get started early the next day, so we went back to 9611, and watched some TV and fell asleep.

Will continue with Day 2 on the next blog

Blog #15: Souvenirs

Photo by Sherry White

Welcome one and all to another edition of the Disney World Nation. This is a special edition of the blog as it is our Blog #15.  For this blog all 11 of the bloggers will answer the same question. Here is the question for the week.

Question this week is simple; there are tons of souvenirs in Walt Disney World. Everything from pins, to stuffed animals, to vinyls, and more. So your question is "What is the coolest souvenir you can find at Walt Disney World"

Michelle M: With ALL of the shops to peruse in Walt Disney World, it is often hard to decide on that ONE special souvenir.  You want something to take home that captures the magic that you feel right here right now.  The choices are limitless.  Some people start collecting and add to their collection every trip.  I started my souvenir collection this way.  I started an impressive collection of snow globes in 2004 and am quite proud of the ones I have.  But in 2008, my souvenir collecting took a different turn.  I had a "pixie dust epiphany".  While beautiful, and reminiscent, there was no particular memory tied to each globe, so I shifted gears. Since 2008, all of my souvenirs are a remembrance of a special "Disney moment".  For example, I have a Kali River Rapids sign that holds the memory of when my husband figured out weight dynamics as we waited in line and sat us in our raft in order for me to get drenched and he stayed dry as a bone TWICE.  It is nice to have a show piece that when asked you can say "Oh that is a souvenir from our 2011 trip to Walt Disney World".  But it is even greater when you can say "Oh that is a piece of Disney magic that happened in 2011, let me tell you what happened."  And what Disney fan is not ALL ABOUT sharing that magic?

Sherry: Every trip to Disney means I get to purchase MY favorite souvenir, the Goofy Candy Company Minnie Mouse Peppermints.  It may not sound like much to most people, but I always buy several, hide them, and enjoy them privately, never inviting anyone to share.  Those quiet moments alone, savoring the cool mint, while looking at that little metal box, transports me back to my Happy Place!

Bill W: I don’t know if this technically counts as an official souvenir, since you order it after you leave the World, but our favorite thing to bring home from Walt Disney World is a PhotoPass CD.  There are heated debates out there on whether or not it is a good idea to spend $99 or $149 on a PhotoPass CD, but we find them to be priceless. We make sure we have as many photos taken as possible and usually have over 200 pictures on the CD by the end of our trip. We treasure the pictures taken by the PhotoPass photographers long after we get bored of a pin set or wear out a t-shirt.

Rachel: The coolest souvenir we can find are pin sets.  We love pin trading.  We scour the parks, hitting every CM with a lanyard looking for sets of pins.  We especially love the hidden mickey ones. You can also purchase pins cheaper on eBay.  We don’t do that.  I have a lot of friends that do.  There’s something about getting them straight from WDW, and getting that special rare pin or the final pin to complete your set that is “magical!” Now my son wants to collect vinyls…oye I think I’m going to need another job!

James: I've been working in Merchandise now since 2008 you would think I have a favorite place to shop/product, while actually I don't. I usually go for a shirt to let people know where I've been. Or a nice book on Walt Disney Imagineering. I'd probably suggest looking in stores such as Island Mercantile at Disney's Animal Kingdom, or The Main Street Confectionery if you are looking for something for your sweet tooth. And if you just want to put on a silly hat and have a shoot-out I'd suggest going to Pirate's Bazaar outside of the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. Always look out for a sales tag or ask a Cast Member if they have any special promotions (they usually always do and will probably have told you before you even get to the registers. There are many things you can get as a souvenir from Walt Disney World, but the best things are those that hold special memories or are personalized to you."

Katherine: Walt Disney World is always an exciting vacation but what makes it even better is the ability to find almost any form of souvenir. You can get anything from the classic Mickey ear hat to a bag of mickey shaped pasta. I have had trouble coming up with a favorite souvenir I love many items that I have picked up over the years. I tend to always buy a beach towel, one from each resort I've stayed at or if I find any that are too good to pass up. Yes, I do have about ten too many. I also find that pictures are the best souvenirs. I might be biased because I am a photographer, but it's true being able to dig up an old photo and remember what you had forgotten is priceless.

Michelle W: Ok so I have 2 favorite types of souvenirs. First would be anything that has to do with the Haunted Mansion! I’m TOTALLY obsessed with it & my living room can prove it! So if there’s any chance that I can find something new, from as small as a pin to as big as a statue, I’m all in! Then my other favorite souvenir to find down there would be the Silhouettes. It’s amazing to just watch the artists create the silhouettes from a plain piece of paper & a small scissor. My very first one was done with My Mom & Dad when I was just 4 years old. To look at all of them & see my own transformation from child to Mom is just priceless!

Beth:  The coolest souvenir I suppose depends on who youre getting it for. My children all like different things, as do most children, young and old. My older ones now prefer candies and snack things from Japan (Epcot). The twins are happy with anything- though now they like pins and vinlymations. My husband and I like to take pictures to remember the trips. We often try to take those pictures that we know we can never duplicate. I think my absolute favorite souvenir is the memory of each trip, and the special times we had. As the children have grown, and family members being added, the trips have changed. they were once so hard to make, and now as all the children have reached the "terrible teens" , it's not so difficult anymore . So, our memories are our best keepsake from each rip, knowing they are all special, and something to hold dear.

Ted: I blame my brother for my addiction, but I am hooked on vinylmations.  I first tried the pin collecting, but something about opening the foil pack and the surprise of which one you get is exciting.  My fiancee and I have been collecting for about 9 months.  Each time we go, we get one each.  We have over 60 now and we just picked up the bride and groom one to add to our collection.  But that is definitely my most favorite souvenir to get at Disney.

Lauren: Now that we’ve started making trips to the Walt Disney World Resort at least once every six months, my days of lugging souvenirs home for everyone have stopped. I love my family, but how many plush toys or overpriced t-shirts can one person have? In order to still make everyone left at home still feel loved and to lessen the pressure on my pocketbook, we try to bring one gift home we know everyone loves. Back when I was a little girl my mother, sister, and I would make frequent stops at the Main Street Bakery in the Magic Kingdom for those delicious monstrous sized rice krispie treats. They now make Mickey Mouse shaped treats, wrapped in cellophane, which will feed an entire family. When my mom and sister aren’t on vacation with us, we bring a bit of the magic home with us for them. One gift, not expensive and it lets everyone still feel loved!

Bill S: Vinylmation are the souvenir of choice for me. Every time I go down I have someone who is with me, pick a random box from the shelf and that is the one I choose. I never choose a box, as I want it to jinx it. What’s great about vinyl’s is when you don’t like the one you have chosen (or get doubles), you can go to either D-Street or your hotel’s gift shop, and make a trade. My favorite is the Cast member’s Exclusive Mickey.

That's all from the Disney World Nation Blog, hope you enjoyed, we will be back in 2 weeks, with more questions and answers about our favorite place. Till next time, See You Real Soon  Bill Sauerbier

Blog #14 Cram Dining at Animal Kingdom

Photo by Ted and Dina Hathaway



Welcome to another edition of the Disney World Nation blog. Tonight Team Monday talks about Dining at Animal Kingdom. Here is today’s question

In my book, The Cram Zone Guide to Walt Disney World 2010 there is a chapter about Cram Dining, Cram Dining is the counter service restaurants (basically if it has a waiter it doesn't count). Cram Dining Restaurants make up over half of the eating that is done at the parks, so your question for this week is, "Where is your favorite place to Cram Dine in Animal Kingdom" Is it the Flame Tree BBQ,Pizzafari, Restaurantasaurus, or even some place that doesn't even have a name?

Beth: Our favorite place to grab a quick meal in A. K. would have to be the Restaurantasaurus. It's kind of out of the way, and its median priced. There are lots of options for the little kids, and it's usually not too too crowded. We like the way the condiments are buffet style, and easily accessible. I appreciate the flooring, and I don’t get all panicky the times I've had all 6 of my kids - worrying that I'll have to get on my hands and knees and clean the floor when we're through. It's also close to the front, and we've usually worked up a hearty appetite by the time we reach there. Being that it's tucked into a beautiful garden area, it's a nice place to take a break, while your meal has a chance to digest.

Bill W: We have struggled to find counter service restaurants in the Animal Kingdom that we really enjoy (we have had several bad experiences in the past.)  My favorite counter service restaurant used to be the Tusker House, now that it has been turned into a Table Service restaurant I have had to find a new favorite.  On our last trip to Walt Disney World we finally tried the Flame Tree BBQ.  I thought we had been there before, but I had gotten it mixed up with the rotisserie chicken that they used to serve at the Tusker House.  It was quite hot during our visit (when is it not hot in the Animal Kingdom??) so we wanted to go with something quick and light.  I got the BBQ Chicken Salad and my wife and daughter got the Fruit Platter.  Wow were we surprised, they were both delicious and helped us keep our cool.  It was one of the best Counter Service meal we have ever had at Walt Disney World, and we will make a point of dining there from now on.

Lauren: Now that we are Disney Vacation Club members and our villas come with either a kitchenette or full kitchen, we don’t find ourselves looking for a quick bite to eat very often. Usually we pack sandwiches and bring them into the parks with us or go back to our room to make lunch (and take a nap). I find avoiding meals in the parks is a major budget saver for our family. On our trip just last week though, we did discover an excellent little food kiosk located in the Asia section of The Animal Kingdom.  We all know how hot Animal Kingdom is most days. Looking to quench our thirst but wanting something other than water or soda, we came upon Royal Anandapur Tea Company. I am a caffeine addict so this amazing little place was like heaven for me; Teas of all kind abound, coming in both iced and hot varieties. Even the coffee is available hot or iced, real coffee, not the premixed flavored stuff they have at most of the parks. The prices are a little steep but everything tasted so good I chose to overlook that downside. My hubby and I were able to have an iced Chai and the kids got a treat of a double chocolate muffin. I am thrilled we found this little gem and I know it will be a definite stop from now on during our trips to AK.

Michelle W: For me, it’s all about the Turkey Legs! I’m a sucker for one each time we are down in Disney World. So when we are in Animal Kingdom, I make sure to stop at Trilo-Bites to grab one along with a Frozen Lemonade! As for the rest of the family, they are Pizza Fans, so we’ll usually end up at Pizzafari for some Cheese Pizza & an order of Breadsticks!

Ted: I can't say I've eaten at to many of the Animal Kingdom's option for quick service dining.  Usually Animal Kingdom is an early day trip because the animals are more active around when the park opens, and then we hit up one of the other parks, Epcot especially, for dinner.  But when we do stop for a bite, our favorite stop is Pizzafari.  The food hits the spot and energizes you for the next few hours of fun.  The decor in the restaurant is fun and kids will love it.  Pizzafari is one of our top quick dining options throughout all the parks.  And although most do not like them, I actually don't mind the enviro-friendly straws.

Hopefully we gave you a few hints for your next visit to Animal Kingdom. Thank you once again for joining us at the Disney World Nation Blog. Please come back Friday when Team Friday goes souvenir shopping to find the best souvenir in WDW. Till then, see you real soon!   Bill Sauerbier

Blog #13: Hollwood Studios

Photo by Katherine Ehrisman





Welcome to another edition of the Disney World Nation Blog. Today we head over to Disney Hollywood Studios where Team Friday is ready to answer a question about entering the park. Here is today’s question.

A few weeks back we started the first of a series of questions called "Which Direction", asking which direction you would head at the beginning of a certain park. Part 2 we head to Hollywood Studios, and the question of the week is "Which direction do you head to at the beginning of your Hollywood Studios day" Do you take a right onto sunset, go down and head to pixar place, or to another location that is your favorite.

Michelle M: For any newcomer to Disney parks a feeling of your arrival in Wonderland is normal.  It is easy to immediately question which way.  The handy dandy little map that is given to you at the arrival gate is VERY handy in showing you where the attractions are located.  The flaw in this is that many new visitors head straight for the attraction that they most want to visit followed by the second most desired location.  This method is EXTREMELY tiring because the distance between some of the attractions is vast.  In my family Fast Passes are our best friends. By utilizing fast passes, it is easy to keep a patterned tour of the park AND see your favorite attraction with minimal to no wait.  Take for instance Hollywood Studios.  Toy Story Mania is the top pick of everyone in my family, but it is impractical because of the location.  We designate a "fast pass runner", typically the fastest person in our group (teenager) and they maneuver to Toy Story Mania acquiring fast passes for everyone in our group.  In the meantime, the rest of our party head for Tower of Terror and Rock ‘N’ Rollercoaster.  We wait in line for one saving a spot for our fast pass runner then transfer to the other line upon disembarking.  We have fast passes for Toy Story Mania so we have no worries as that line grows and grows throughout the day.  Once finished with Tower of Terror and Rock ‘N’ Rollercoaster, we follow a clockwise path for the rest of the park tour.  It is important to note that the quintessential "Disney show" happens at Hollywood Studios.  Fantasmic! embodies everything Disney and is a must not miss show, so take the time to map your route, conserve your energy and absorb all that Disney magic in the air as Mickey defeats those villains and you realize all the memories you have created.

Sherry: I love Disney's Hollywood Studios.  DHS is the first park my family visits on every trip.  Of course, we head right on Sunset, pick up our fast pass for Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster and get in line for Tower of Terror.   After doing both rides and watching the stage performance of Beauty and the Beast, we walk over to Echo Lake for Indiana Jones and Star Tours, then work our way up the Streets of America, and make a full circle.  As a side note, the kids think its not a trip to DHS unless we have supper at Sci-Fi Dine-In. 

James: As soon as I pass through the turnstiles at Disney’s Hollywood Studios park, I immediately hear the revving sounds of engines and the smell of petrol! Within 15 minutes I’ve found myself outside of “Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show.” This show is an exhilarating look into how they shoot all those car chase sequences you see on the big screen. And if there isn’t a show time anytime soon I head straight on over to the other side of the park for a few... Ok A LOT of rides on Tower of Terror, dropping into the twilight zone at least 30 times! A few other good places to head would be The Great Movie Ride or for iced drinks on Sunset Boulevard! One of my favorite things to do at the park is to sit with an iced drink on Sunset Boulevard at around 8pm and just watch all the people having fun and making memories!

Rachel: Today we cover my favorite park, DHS!  There is something about the setting in old time Hollywood that makes this my favorite park.  Not to mention, the Tower of Terror and Rock ‘N’ Roller coaster.  Having said that, today’s question asks which way do we head when we enter the park?   My answer, definitely down Sunset Blvd.   We make a mad dash for the tower of terror and then pop over to Rock ‘N’ Roller coaster.  A lot of people head straight for Pixar Place to get their fast pass for TSMM, but not my family, we’re a bunch of thrill ride junkies.  We’ll wait for TSMM.

Katherine:   When talking about Disney's Hollywood Studios our mind immediately goes to Toy Story Mania. The newest addition to the Hollywood Studios is the hottest ticket right now, fast passes are usually gone before noon. So if you want to get on this ride without a fast pass and a long wait I would get there early. This ride starts the day off right with its colorful queue it really amps you up in to the competitive nature you need to beat out your family. It's true that someone will win and someone will lose but the great thing about this game if you do lose is that you know there is always next time.

Bill S: So your running this way to get on that ride, and your running that way to get a fastpass for that ride. Well I’m working my way to the back, Backlot Tour to be exact, start in the far back of the park, and work my way forward, stopping to grab a fastpass at a ride I feel the need to, but I hit the rides/shows that are going to have a 5 minutes wait at the start (Like Muppetvision or Star Tours (before the refurb) before everyone gets to them.

Thank you once again for visiting the Disney World Nation blog. Join us again on Monday where Team Monday talks about Cram Dining at Animal Kingdom. Till then See you real soon  Bill Sauerbier

Blog #12: Characters in Epcot

Photo by Bill Sauerbier



Hello all, Welcome to another episode of the Disney World Nation Blog, today Team Monday (Lauren, Bill W, Beth, Ted, Michelle W, and Bill S) talk about the recent additions of characters in Epcot. Here is the question of the week.

Over the past few year EPCOT has seen characters come into the parks. Nemo went to the living seas, Donald Duck to Mexico, the character spot opened at innoventions plaza, and most recently Duffy the Disney Bear calls Epcot home. Recently a debate has been sparked by Disney purists who say that Epcot should remain without characters, while others believe that's exactly what EPCOT needs. Your question is "Do characters belong at Epcot, why? And if yes, what is the next place they should pop-up"

Lauren: Let me start by saying EPCOT is my personal favorite of all the parks. I can very easily spend an entire day just in The World Showcase. That being said, I can’t comprehend why some purists are bothered by EPCOT having characters involved at the park. The characters being there don’t take away from the quality of the rides or shows. And if we are going to be honest, the minute Walt Disney died, his original plans for EPCOT died with him. There can’t be a right or wrong now when the park doesn’t resemble what Walt dreamt it would be like in the first place. I love Disney, but I am not blind to the fact that Disney is a major corporation looking to make money and keep up with the times. Do adults go to Disney World without children? Of course, but let’s face it, the majority of visitors to the Orlando area are families. Science isn’t always considered an exciting topic by kids, but have Crush talk to them about sea turtles in a fun and educational way and you have a win-win situation. Even in my favorite part of the park, the character usage isn’t intrusive. Snow White is best known because of the Grimm brothers, she’s a part of Germany’s history in that way, and she and the Seven Dwarves being in Germany only enhance the story being told. The characters are an invitation for kids to want to go and learn more. I don’t necessarily think EPCOT needs more characters, but if a ride or a country would benefit from a character facelift, so be it; Anything to keep improving what is already a superb experience.

Michelle W: I think it’s a nice touch that EPCOT has characters in the park. Having a little one makes going to EPCOT a little challenging at times, since there aren’t as many attractions for her to do, as say the Magic Kingdom.  So for us, being able to see some characters while we are exploring though the World Showcase, really helps to keep the little princess happy during our visits. I really like that certain characters are found in their ‘home’ lands, like Belle & Beast are in France, Mary Poppins is in England, & Aladdin & Jasmine are in Morocco.  Another great thing that EPCOT has to offer if you are a Disney Visa Card holder, is a private Character Meet ‘N’ Greet. We love taking advantage of this since we get our own time with a few of the characters at one time & you even get a coupon for a free 5x7!

Bill W: I am a huge fan of vintage EPCOT Center.  I long for the days of Horizons, The original Figment centered ride, and even World of Motion (Test Track is awesome though.)  Something I did miss in the EPCOT of old, were the characters. I welcomed the introduction of Disney Characters to EPCOT, and I hope they stay, as long as they are themed properly.  Alice belongs in the UK, as does Mulan in China. As long as Stitch doesn’t show up in Morocco, everything will be fine.

Beth: I firmly believe Epcot needs the characters there. While all the parks are geared towards kids-Epcot seems to be the one for the Adults. I can speak from experience that my younger children didn’t always find it to be their favorite spot. They now head there first. I think if there hadn’t been the opportunity for them to "sneak peek" a character, we wouldn’t have had any leverage to keep them there. In the early 1990's the Sega pavilion was huge, and they knew it was possible to catch a character in the area. With the addition of Nemo, we have another destination. I would like to see some more characters in the World Showcase. I guess more of a regimented area, similar to the spot in the front. We would like to have them everywhere; we're just that much of a bunch of big kiddies. Look what ya made me do.........Now I need to go to Epcot. But, I'm headed to get some schoolbread first. Till next time.........."I only hope that we don't lose sight of one thing - that it was all started by a mouse. “Walt Disney.

Ted: I recently viewed my old video of my visit to Disney world in '95.  As I watched the video I noticed how Epcot was really a ghost town during that time and how it has really transformed itself to a must destination not only for adults but for kids also.  A part of that is the introduction of some extreme rides (Soarin’, test track, and mission to mars) but also the characters that have been added.  I think they do an excellent job keeping up with the world showcase theme (snow white in Germany, Alice in England). Also having one spot that kids can meet Mickey, Minnie, etc. keeps the excitement in the park for the little ones.  There is still plenty to learn and enjoy at Epcot and the introduction of characters has not dampened the dream of Walt of a city of the future.

Bill S: I’ll be honest, I understand what people say when they don’t think characters should be there, but facts are facts, I would never have gone on many things without those characters. I never went on El Rio Del Tiempo until the Three Caballeros came in and made it so much better. Nemo took a very boring Seas ride and gave a story to it. Let’s not forget the abomination that was the Imagination ride without Figment. Characters bring fun to the parks, and fun is what you need to keep people coming back.

Thank you once again for visiting us here at the Disney World Nation Blog. Please come back on Friday as Team Friday talks about which direction they start out at when heading to Hollywood Studios. Till next time, See You Real Soon Bill Sauerbier

Blog #11: The Haunted Mansion

Photo by Ted and Dina Hathaway

Welcome to another Friday edition of the Disney World Nation blog. Tonight Team Friday (Michelle M, Rachel, Sherry, James, and Katherine) talk about a classic ride in Magic Kingdom w/ some new upgrades. Here is this week’s question

Both teams have taken a lap around the world now, so lets head back to where it all began. The new Fantasyland is not the only refurbishment drawing attention. The Haunted Mansion has seen a few new additions in the past few months, including a new interactive graveyard queue and updated hitchiking ghost scenes. You question of the week is "Do you think the new additions to the Haunted Mansion make the ride better or take away from the classic nature of the ride" Does it make you want to go on it more now than before?

Michelle M: You know, there is a saying that if it ain't broke don't fix it.  Well, that theory is destroyed by pixie dust as soon as you cross the gates onto Disney property. {poof}.  This is definitely evident in the latest endeavors involving The Haunted Mansion.  The most exciting aspect is the new queue line.  In the past the queue line was a meandering stroll through an endless line of ropes.  Now :) "Can you tell I am excited" :).  This was an amazing idea!  Of course people are going to have to wait in line so why not give them something to do.  I cannot wait to play in the water and bubbles around the captain's bathtub.  I am super excited about the poet's corner.  The Haunted Mansion is already an eticket ride.  I predict that the new queue line and improved hitchhiking ghosts are going to be an even bigger draw.  I can't wait to experience the new hitchhikers.  The technology is phenomenal. Where else can you trade heads with a ghost?  Nowhere but Disney.  The Disney magic begins at the very beginning of the queue line and carries all the way through the ride. :) and out past the pet cemetery.  One can only hope that Disney will see the amazing reaction to an interactive queue line and incorporate it into other shows and rides.  Magic while you wait!!! Woohoo!

Sherry: I can't wait to see all the new additions to the Haunted Mansion.  Beginning with the new interactive queue, it has been enhanced so that the experience begins before you even enter Gracey Manor.  Also, at the end of the ride, the hitchhiking ghosts have become more playful.  I believe that with these substantial improvements, the ride will become fresh again, and will require many return trips!

Katherine: The Haunted Mansion is a classic and most people believe a classic shouldn't be changed. Recently however the Imaginears have given the Haunted Mansion queue a face lift, with friendly haunts and enchanted gravestones. I believe the new queue is a welcome addition it helps set the mood for what awaits you inside. Here in the queue you get to interact with the haunts, create music, help a ghost create a poem or two, or even cool off with the help of a sea captain. I am eager to see this queue on my next Disney vacation.    

Rachael: So, the question of the week is whether the new additions to the Haunted Mansion make the ride better or take away for the classic nature of the ride????  Having not been there to experience it personally (that is, until June…55 days), it’s hard for me to make a decision either way.  However, I’m excited to see it.  I don’t think it’s going to take away from the classic nature.  It’s really hard for me and I flip flopped back and forth on this question many times.  I’m a believer that one should preserve the classic nature of all of the attractions, but then if they do then people would get bored with the attraction.  I don’t think Walt would have wanted any of his parks to become stale.  Me being the DF (Disney freak) that I am, I don’t think I could ever see any Disney attraction as stale and I’m ready to experience it NOW. What I would like to see on the Haunted Mansion is a picture with the hitchhiking ghosts.  That would be so cool!  I would like to re-visit this question after I get to see it for myself (in 55 days, did I mention that?).  I still think it’s the change that keeps visitors coming back year after year.  So, until next Friday, see ya real soon!

James: This is a tough one for me. After spending the past 5 months on board the Disney Magic, I haven’t heard much about the updates to the Haunted Mansion. After reviewing the little bits of information that I’ve received, I have to say that I’m most excited about the new hitch hiking ghost scene. This is the only “trick” that I couldn’t figure out when riding as a “youngster” so an updated animated version of the scene would be a great asset to the theming and tone of the ride. I always see any updates to the parks as an exciting thing. As Walt once said, “We keep moving forward.” The Disney parks are meant to keep changing over the years, this way there is always something new for returning guests to see. Let's just say I welcome back the 999 ghosts... And if they still have room... Muhahahaha!!!

Whether these new additions make this ride better remains to be seen, but definitely is reason enough to take a ride next time you are in Magic Kingdom. Thank you once again for reading the Disney World Nation blog, please come back Monday when Team Monday talks about Epcot and characters… Bill Sauerbier



Blog #10: The Marketplace

Photo by Bill Sauerbier



Welcome to another Monday edition of the Disney World Nation. This week Michelle W, Bill W, Beth, Katherine (filling in for Lauren), Ted and Bill S. will answer a question about Downtown Disney. Here is the Monday question for 4/25/10.

Downtown Disney is a great place for Disney guests to go. It is broken up into three parts. The first part is the Marketplace. The marketplace spans from the bus stop by the Christmas shop, all the way to Fulton's Crab House. It has shops, food, and even a few kids rides. So your question for this week is "What is your favorite thing to see/do at the Marketplace".

Michelle W: For us, we usually hit Downtown on our first day in WDW or in the middle of our trip to break up the week. First stop for my daughter is a ride on the carousel & the little train. She just loves taking a ride on both of these knowing that at some point during our vacation she’ll get to go on the Big versions! Then I’m usually allowed to take some time to look at the new selection of pins at “Disney's Pin Traders” while the rest of my family ventures off to “Once Upon a Toy” to see what new Star Wars items are in-stock. Then one of our favorite places to grab a quick bite to eat is at Wolfgang Puck Express (we love the meatloaf). After that, if we’ve left room, then it’s ice cream time at Ghirardelli’s! Now if we want something not so quick to eat, then we’ll head over to T-REX Café. It’s like Rainforest Café but with Dinosaurs & a meteor shower!  Then no shopping trip is complete without a stop at “World of Disney”. They have everything & anything there. I usually like to try and get all my “big” shopping done first, so that I don’t forget anyone, but usually we’ll make one more trip here before we head home.  I also want to give an honorable mention to one of my favorite places to visit that is no longer at Downtown Disney, which would be the Adventures Club, which was located in the Pleasure Island area. Back in the day, that would be the place where I would spend most of my evening while at Pleasure Island. There was just nothing else like it, that’s for sure! How I miss it! Kungaloosh!

Bill W: The Marketplace at Downtown has so many things to do, and stuff to buy. There is one place we visit every time, without fail, Goofy’s Candy Company. There is something magical about making your very own customized Disney sweet treat. I love putting special touches on a Mickey Rice Krispie bar, while my wife and daughter can’t resist making a yummy caramel apple. We always leave there with smile on our face and a sugar high.

Beth P: Our first stop at the marketplace has almost always been the Lego Imagination Center. I'm convinced we have a budding “Imagineer” on our hands. My twins were born in 1998, and I think the Village was their first 'Disney Adventure" even before they were born. We like to see what new things have been added to the store, and count the many wonderful colors and shapes of the many models. It's also so much fun to take pictures everytime we go, and on our return home, we like to take out the pictures and compare how we have changed, and how the Lego Store has changed.

Katherine E: Downtown Disney is a great way to get a dose of Disney without being in the parks. It offers shopping, dining, and entertainment which one of these three is bound to draw anyone in.  For me and my Husband shopping tends to be our biggest draw in the Marketplace section of Downtown Disney. Our goal on every trip is to look in the gift shops as you go and at the end of the trip head to Downtown Disney. We always head straight to the World of Disney and buy up our must haves. We also love this store because of all the extras it has. Even if you were not there to buy something just walking through and enjoying the decor is fun, true you might need to maneuver around a lot of people to see them but you can still have fun. 

Ted H: I always enjoy going to downtown Disney.  And although Dina and I always hit up world of Disney to go shopping, our favorite time at the marketplace was when we went to T-Rex for dinner.  The planets were aligned that day, cause it was a cold January day during the off peak season and we strolled up and asked how long the wait was expecting for a ridiculous wait time.  To our surprise they sat us at that moment no wait.  The food was great, the staff was very nice and how many people can you say ate at a restaurant where you are surrounded by dinosaurs and a meteor strikes every 20 minutes. Not to many.  Now when we walk by T-Rex and see the long lines to be seat, we laugh and remember our great dinner there and can't wait for our next.

Bill S: So I have two answers for this (I know that’s cheating, but it’s my blog J). It’s a dinner/dessert combination like no other. First head over to Wolfgang Puck’s Express. The Pizza here is the best I have ever tasted, and the four-cheese macaroni is amazing. Once you have eaten there, head across the way to Ghirardelli’s for ice cream. This place is great, not only does it taste good, but it is fun to watch them make the tasty treats. The Gold Rush (peanut butter hot fudge sundae) is my favorite. Each ice cream also comes with a Ghirardelli’s chocolate square, how can you go wrong with that??  After hitting these two stops you will be so full, you will feel like you need to be rolled back to the WDW Motorcoach, but it will be so worth it.

I hope this gives you some idea for your next trip to Downtown Disney, thank you once again for visiting the Disney World Nation Blog, come back Friday when the Nation debate does adding new features help or hurt a classic Magic Kingdom ride. Till next time, See You Real Soon Bill Sauerbier  

Blog #9: Best place to see Animals at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Photo by Katherine Ehrisman

Hello all, here we are again on another Friday edition of the Disney World Nation Blog. Today Team Friday (Michelle M, James, Katherine, and Bill S.) answer a question about Animal Kingdom. Here is the Question for 4/22/11

Michelle M: Magic Kingdom creates memories of Fantastical lands.  Epcot pushes our imaginations to explore the future and our World around us.  Hollywood Studios brings us to the edge of Tinseltown both past and present. But if you are looking for tangible memories of the basic interaction within our Earth then it is Animal Kingdom that you are searching for.  Animal Kingdom resonates with the primal sounds of Earth. There are many choices for exploring the animal world within the AK starting with the Oasis as you enter and leading to Kilimanjaro Safaris.  One favorite choice of my family is Maharajah Jungle Trek.  There is a giant enclosure that you can enter to view Fruit Bats (I should issue a warning here--the smell is not pleasant in this room) the only separation between you and the bats is a mesh across the viewing area.  But, it is the Tiger enclosure that always draws a crowd.  The tigers are allowed to roam in an expansive area and the separator between human and tiger is a glass wall.  It is in the Tiger enclosure that we have one of the best pictures of all our vacations.  The tigers were laying against the glass, one of which was on his back like a house cat waiting for his belly to be rubbed.  In our photo it looks as if the tigers are lying at our feet.  You cannot see the glass wall in the photo.  Disney has definitely provided a great service to hard working families such as mine who could never dream of seeing many of the provided animals in their natural habitat.  Disney's Animal Kingdom is a budget conscious families' answer to long held dreams of Safaris and Jungle Treks.

Bill S: For me the best place to see the animals of Animal Kingdom is none other than the Oasis. The Oasis is a bunch of different paths at the beginning of the park that leads from the entrance to the Tree of Life. There are paths, caves, and many different types of animals. Cast members are in the area usually carrying a creepy looking animal, a real life Pumbaa lives there, and the best part about the Oasis is that it is covered in shade, and I definitely want that in Animal Kingdom :)

Katherine E: When thinking of Disney's Animal Kingdom the first thing that comes to my mind is my father saying "nahtazu” or not a zoo. Even though you do get to experience a variety of animals the focus here is to entertain while you learn about the animals and their natural environment. While there are a variety of places to see animals in this park my favorite place to see them is the Maharajah jungle trek in Asia. Through this trek you get to see a variety of animals from fruit bats to tigers, but to me what makes this the most interesting trek is the atmosphere. Here you find yourself in the middle of the Maharajah jungle, with the ancient ruins you can really get caught up and almost forget that you are in the middle of Orlando.

James H: Disney’s Animal Kingdom offers many great places to see the wildlife, the most popular being Kilimanjaro Safaris. However if you forgot your fast pass and don’t fancy waiting 50+ minutes in the heat for the truly adventurous attraction, The Pangani Forest Exploration Trail offers some great spots to see the animals by foot. My favorite place on the trail is the Gorilla enclosure. Just watching these magnificent animals walking through the trees and bushes instantly makes you think of times in the past when beasts roamed the globe without a human being in sight. The Gorillas have so much character and emotion hidden deep within their focused eyes and you can learn a lot from the Cast Members there too. So next time you are tired of running around the park and need a bit of a break, just head on over to The Pangani Forest Exploration Trail and watch one of the Gorillas for 10 minutes... It may turn into 30 minutes, but will definitely leave you feeling like the next Dr. Doolittle.

Animals are lurking everywhere in the Kingdom so keep your eyes peeled, because you never know where you will see them. Thank you once again for visiting the Disney World Nation blog, come back on Monday when the team talks about their favorite places to go in the Marketplace at Downtown Disney. Till next time, See You Real Soon, Bill Sauerbier

Photo by Ted and Dina Hathaway

Blog #8: The Best Shows at Hollywood Studios

Photo by Bill Sauerbier

Welcome to another edition of the Disney World Nation Blog. This time Team Monday (with Michelle M. subbing for me) will answer a DHS question. Here is this week’s question

We all know, Disney Hollywood Studios has the Big Three (Tower of Terror, Rock and Rollercoaster, Toy Story Mania) but what it also has is amazing shows as well. Some of these are stage shows, some movies, and some are just happening on the street. Some have actors, some have cars, and others have puppets. Your question of the week is "What is your favorite show in Hollywood Studios"?



Beth P: My favorite shows at Hollywood studios? The audience participation ones of course are my faves. There's nothing as funny as watching the Casting Director catch an unsuspecting family leisurely strolling down Hollywood Ave, even better if it's your own family. The Director has a way of making you feel like a star. Even if there’s not a talented bone in your body. He seems to draw you into his imaginary production and you want nothing more than to be the most amazing newcomer he’s ever seen.  Last year as we left the park, and by all appearances, we looked like lambs off to slaughter, the Director approached our family. He saw we were in need of a last bit of Disney magic, and he made my son , who was having a birthday, a star, for a moment. Their steps were a little quicker, their smiles a little brighter, and we were not so sad to leave, "there's always another Disney trip

Bill W: One of the best things about Disney’s Hollywood Studios is all of the great shows they offer. They have high speed car chases, epic stunts, mermaids, and even American Idol wannabes.  But by far my favorite show is Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage. The show really makes the movie come to life with real people. It was the first Broadway style show that Disney produced, and it even premiered in the park the same day the movie came out. How often does a Theme Park Attraction inspire actual Broadway shows?

Michelle M: Walking into Disney Hollywood Studios is like taking a stroll through Hollywood (without the bad parts of town).  Part of the magic is that the Hollywood you get to experience is both past and present.  Disney style is evident in the awesome rides but to truly see the Disney magic one need only look as far as the shows.  Hollywood Studios is graced with a couple Broadway type shows in Beauty and the Beast and The Voyage of the Little Mermaid.  It also has shows for the adventure lover in your group in Lights Motors Action and Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular.  Then there is the nightly spectacular Fantasmic that follows the ranks of Wishes and Illuminations.  But in order to experience the "pearl" of Hollywood Studios, one will have to look a little deeper in the oyster.  The street shows are the gem of Hollywood Studios. The comedy contained in the improv shows on the streets of HS is very contagious and indicative of Disney magic.  There have been two important occasions that my family had a hilarious experience in street shows.  One experience involved Francis Farmooth recent transplant off the bus to Hollywood, who singled my daughter out to take a message while he called his mother on his MASSIVE cell phone.  The other experience involved my husband and the cost of repairs to a car that amounted to more than the car's worth.  Although we enjoy the produced shows on Disney stages it is definitely the improv shows that produce magical memories that my family speaks of for years and years.

Ted H: My favorite show at Hollywood Studio has to be Indiana Jones.  I know it has been running for a while now. I remember seeing it on a vacay 15 years ago and I just saw it again a month ago and it still gets the adrenaline pumping. Maybe it's the classic character or the special effects or the way they involve the crowd into, Indiana jones is a fun adventure to witness.  Go early and grab a good seat in the center for the best view.  A show I hope to see in the future is the events they have for Star Wars the weekend but we shall see if I get to visit then.

Michelle W: This was a tough one, as I have two favorites! My first favorite “show” at Hollywood Studios has to be “The Great Movie Ride.” I’ve always been a huge movie buff & taking a ride on TGMR brings all those great scenes to life! From the early movies of Busby Berkeley, to the finale of The Wizard of Oz, this ‘show’ has a little bit of everything for everyone. The end of the ride, where they recap the history of movies, is always a fun little way to quiz everyone to see who can name the most movies, as well as see if any new movies have been added. Then my second favorite show would be “Voyage of The Little Mermaid.” This is one of my favorite movies & seeing it brought to life just adds to the magic of the movie. I love the way they create this show using live action, actual movie clips & puppets, along with some of the great songs of the movie, to bring the show to life. Just sitting in the theater helps to bring out the magic that you are truly under the sea with Ariel & all her friends! 

Lauren R: When asked what my favorite show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is, my answer was instant and emphatic. There is no doubt in my mind that the absolute best show at DHS and dare I say, in all of Walt Disney World, is Fantasmic! I adore Fantasmic! I would willingly wait in line 90 minutes just to get a good seat, and waiting at Disney isn’t my strong suit. The water, the music, the fireworks and the characters I love all rolled into 26 minutes of pure Disney beauty. And villains. Of course good and Mickey win at the end, but the use of Disney’s most wicked villains is for me the best aspect of the show. Sure, you can find Captain Hook in the parks sometimes, but how often do you get to see Maleficent in full regalia or even better as a full-blown dragon? Even Chernabog makes an appearance. Usually we try to make Fantasmic! a special occasion for the family. We like to take advantage of the Fantasmic! Dinner package. For a reasonable fee we catch dinner at one of three great restaurants (Mama Melrose’s, Hollywood & Vine, or The Brown Derby) and get a pass that allows us to use a special entrance for Fantasmic! We have reserved seating waiting for us in the amphitheater and can show up 30 minutes early instead of an hour and a half. Fantasmic! for me is a can’t miss show. It doesn’t play nightly but I recommend to anyone visiting Walt Disney World to make sure they fit it into their schedule.

For me my favorite show is Mulch Sweat and Shears (the gardening rock band on the Streets of America, aka Los Lawn Boys).Well thank you again for joining us here at the Disney World Nation blog. Please join us again on Friday when we talk about great spots to see your favorite animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Till next time, See You Real Soon. Bill Sauerbier

Blog #7: Cram-Dining at Epcot

Photo by Katherine Ehrisman

Welcome friends to another chapter of the Disney World Nation Blog. Here is the question for Team Friday to answer.

So in my book The Cram Zone Guide to Walt Disney World 2010, I had a chapter called Cram-Dining. Cram-Dining is another term for a counter service restaurant. I put it in there to let readers know where they could get a quick delicious meal. Cram-Dining is more than just a hot dog or chicken fingers, and nowhere proves that better than at Epcot. So your question of the Week is “where do you go in Epcot for a great Cram-Dining meal”????

Michelle M: Consider this-You are in Epcot with no ADR's and you are very hungry.  Where do you go to grab a quick bite before heading back to Soarin' with that fastpass?  The first question I would have for you is- When are you visiting?  Is it during the Food and Wine Festival?  Because if it is then you have hit the munchie jackpot.  During the food and wine festival there are kiosks set up with authentic food from Countries around the World.  It is at those kiosks that you can walk up and order such fare as steamed mussels with roasted cream garlic sauce, Lobster rolls and Maple Sugar Candy Snacks.  Meander from booth to booth.  There is a wealth of foods available AND you are trying something new.  Suppose you are not traveling during the Food and Wine Festival, then Epcot has the answer to your varied tastes.  The Sunshine Seasons Fair offers several different options for parties with picky eaters.  It is like a food court in a mall.  The baked potatoes are great and it is a wonderful choice if you are looking for a salad.  It is often true that repetitive Counter Service meals do not offer a lot in the forms of vegetables but at Sunshine Seasons you can get veggies and/or salads.  The best part is you are in the same building as Soarin so you can zoom right over and use those fast passes.

Katherine E: I know when most people think of Epcot they normally think of the variety of food awaiting them. From Chinese to Moroccan you can find food with every turn you take. When I am in Epcot and I am looking for some good quick food I usually head to Sunshine Seasons food court in the Land Pavilion. This food court has a variety of foods all in one location, so if you are like my family and everyone wants something different, they will find it here. We also like Sunshine Seasons because even though it is a food court the quality of food is a step above what you would find at other food courts.  Then after eating your meal you can head to one of our favorite rides Soarin.

Sherry W: When I received this week’s assignment, I was determined to choose a “cram-dining” restaurant in the World Showcase.  And, I was definitely NOT going to choose Sunshine Seasons at The Land in Future World, because I thought that would be too easy.  However, after revisiting all of the restaurants (in my head), I had to go back to Sunshine Seasons.  The menu is so diverse that everyone in your traveling party will find something to love.  The choices range from American to Asian, and even include bakery items!  Whether you are looking for a meal, or a snack, everything is wonderful.  The only issues I have with Sunshine Seasons is that it is always crowded and not the easiest place to maneuver.   

Rachael J: This week’s question is a tough one.  There are so many great counter service options in Epcot.  I mean, when you think of Epcot, you think of food; right?  Or, is that just me?  Let’s see, there is Yakitori House, Boulangerie Patisserie,  Kringla Bakeri og Café, La Cantina de San Angel, Sommerfest and much more.  But my family’s favorite has to be Sunshine Seasons.  Whether you’re in the mood for Asian, soup & salad, sandwiches or something from the grill, there is something to satisfy everyone.  Don’t have time to eat?  There is also a grab n go!  My husband and I also like Taqueria Del Lago in Mexico.  We love to sit and people-watch with a plate of Flautas and a nice frozen passion fruit margarita.  Talking about all of the wonderful options in Epcot has made me hungry, so until next week…

James H: When working at the UK pavilion, most days I got my break I put on some “under cover” guest clothing and went to eat lunch at one of the other pavilions. Mexico offers great Nachos! You can get some tasty deserts at Germany. But I think the French Bakery takes the win for my taste buds! I often got the turkey and cheese baguette for around $5, a gorgeous strawberry tart for around $3, and a nice smile from a French girl for free. The setting is perfect to eat outside of the bakery in the main street. You get some nice spots in the shade, as all the buildings are quite built up around that area too. It truly offers a unique and authentic Cram-Dining experience and I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Well for the first time since this blog has been written we have a majority, while it is obvious Sunshine Seasons Food Fair is the favorite of this panel, I like that other smaller places were mentioned here. My brother (who writes for the Team Monday blog) would be upset with me if I didn’t at least mention the Yorkshire County Fish Shop, it serves one item (Fish & Chips) and it always has a line cause people love it so much. Well it’s about that time, Thank you once again for joining us at the Disney World Nation blog. Come back on Monday when Team Monday talks about the shows of Disney Hollywood Studios. Till next time, See You Real Soon! Bill Sauerbier