Disney World PF Gathering and Tips for Disney Mania!

[ZapperZ]

Disney World in 3D for Google Earth

As neutrino pointed out earlier, http://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/2008/06/disney_world_in_3d_in_google_earth.html" in full force!

It is pretty amazing. If you click on the floating Mickey Ears above some of the attraction, you get the actual ride video! It's almost like being there... almost! :)

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Walt Disney World Top 7 Must-See

When you stay at a Walt Disney World resort, one of the TV channels you get in your hotel room is a channel dedicated to the WDW theme park info. And one of the shows that you get to see often (it loops every half-hour, I think) is something titled "Walt Disney World Top 7 Must-See". Strangely enough, I think the one I remember was way back from 2004 and I don't recall seeing a new one during the last few trips.

In any case, even if it is a bit outdated, it was still a rather fun show to watch, at least once. Luckily, the video has been "preserved" online on Google Video, and you can http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2726151869110888249" .

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Wall-E

June 27 is the opening of Wall-E, the new Disney-Pixar movies. Advanced sneak preview of it by media rep. have leaked out glowing, GLOWING, reviews. It certainly is a huge risk by Pixar because this movie almost has no dialog!

Trailers for this movie have also been amazing. Check them out if you've missed them.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7207316459726117638&q=wall-e&ei=RoBOSJ6AJZyO4wLO6czBDA

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5888830601265626440&q=wall-e&ei=UIFOSNG6MJfA4AL3j_CzDA

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8946121817148405520&q=wall-e&ei=dIFOSLr-F4Wc4gKP7KDHDA

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

I often wish that I'm talented enough, or creative enough, to write a trip report as brilliantly as this one, but I'm not. Still, this has got to be the http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2008/06/disneyland.html" that I've ever come across. It's hysterical! You know you're in for a trip (pun intended) when it starts off with this:

My wife and I went to Disneyland. Since becoming an adult this was the first time I was ever there without kids or a joint.

:)

(Thanks to John Frost at The Disney Blog for finding it)

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Dance Off With the Star Wars Stars 2008

OK folks! Don't miss this video because it is ridiculously funny. This was part of the events they held during the Star Wars Weekend at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World. It's hysterical!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5928092536833840917

Chewbacca did moves I didn't know he could. But no one can top Darth Vader!

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Disney Park's YouTube Channel:

http://www.youtube.com/disneyparks

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

OK, this is all Greg's fault for providing such features on the new-and-improved PF. :)

This is a fascinating video which is the first in the series of Fact or Fiction. This time, they talk about the "Tunnels" around the Magic Kingdom.

1FFoLJjHICU[/youtube] Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Saw Wall-E last night! Holy Cow! That $7.2 billion Disney paid for Pixar is the best thing they've ever done! This movie has more heart than most of the movies out there.

While I think Ratatouille was more "intelligent", Wall-E isn't lacking in its ability to make us care for it, even if it nothing more than a fancy trash compactor. And if you're a Mac user, you'll love it even more!

Go see it!

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Here's an interesting piece of information. The person responsible for some of the most memorable sounds in the movies, ranging from Darth Vader's breathing, R2D2 chirping, the sound of the light saber, Indiana Jones whips, and now, the sound made by Wall-E, had a physics degree! :)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/29/PKA711B9NF.DTL&feed=rss.entertainment" was the person responsible for producing all those sounds, and he graduated with an undergraduate degree in physics before going into the movies.

A native of Syracuse, N.Y., Burtt never planned to be in the film industry. He got a degree in physics from Allegheny College in Pennsylvania and wanted to be in the space program, but a small film he made won an award that led to a scholarship to film school at the University of Southern California.

"I was going to go back and be a scientist, I guess, but then I got an offer to work on this film called 'The Star Wars,' " Burtt says. "George Lucas was looking for a student-type USC grad who was cheap and he could train. I was paid $150 per week, which at the time was huge money."

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

New Baby Elephant

First http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/business_tourism_aviation/2008/07/first-photo-new.html" at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Everyone say "Awwwww..."

They have had a few of these so far there.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Happy 4th of July Independence Day!

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/1950/img1089vl3.jpg

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Another item to commemorate the 4th of July. This is the Muppets version of http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8056872432507540534" . Enjoy!

Zz.

 

[GeorginaS]

First http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/business_tourism_aviation/2008/07/first-photo-new.html" at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Everyone say "Awwwww..."

They have had a few of these so far there.

Zz.

Awwwww.

 

[ZapperZ]

Wall-E for President?

It isn't often that a Disney-Pixar movie gets mixed in with presidential politics (in fact, I don't remember when it has ever happened before), but that is exactly what happened in this http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/06/o...173ef9c83edf1&ex=1215576000&pagewanted=print".

Mr. McCain should be required to see “Wall-E” to learn just how far adrift he is from an America whose economic fears cannot be remedied by his flip-flop embrace of the Bush tax cuts (for the wealthy) and his sham gas-tax holiday (for everyone else). Mr. Obama should see it to be reminded of just how bold his vision of change had been before he settled into a front-runner’s complacency. Americans should see it to appreciate just how much things are out of joint on an Independence Day when a cartoon robot evokes America’s patriotic ideals with more conviction than either of the men who would be president.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Do you, your pets, or any of your farm animals, have a birthmark that looks like a Mickey Mouse head? If you do, I'd like to sell you to Disney. :)

This couple has http://www.wiscnews.com/bnr/news/296059" . The pig happens to have a birthmark that resembles Mickey's head. See the second picture in the news article for a better view.

I think Disney should buy the pig and let it live with the rest of the turkeys that the President has pardoned over the years.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

There is still a weak possibility of an unofficial PF Gathering at Walt Disney World this coming December. :)

In the remote chance that someone might want to come along, the range of dates that we currently have is between Dec. 10 to Dec. 17. Note that Dec. 15 onwards is the start of their "high" season for Disney where resort prices tend to be higher and the parks tend to be busier.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Disney has released the http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/princessandthefrog/". This is the first Disney hand-drawn animation in a gazillion years!

OK, so it isn't that long, but it feels like it has been forever that we have seen hand-drawn animation from Disney. I like digital animation like anyone else, but looking at the trailer, there's just something charming and "warm" about the picture.

Now, if only they can overcome the initial controversy surrounding the storyline, this could be a good revival to hand-drawn animation at Disney.

bQ25UWjn7Rs[/youtube] Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

While Wall-E is still going strong at the Box Office, we now have http://www.film.com/movies/story/pixar-looks-lift-us-up/11597472/22495030" for "Up", which will be Pixar's next release.

Up tells the story of Carl, an elderly widower who attaches balloons to his house and floats away to have the grand adventure he never got to share with his wife, and to escape being sent to a nursing home. I'm sure Carl will have plenty of important life lessons to share with Russell, his young stowaway, but I'm looking forward to the humor of watching this old grouch outsmart the nursing home goons.

No one is betting against this not continuing Pixar's string of hits.

Zz.

 

[Moonbear]

There is still a weak possibility of an unofficial PF Gathering at Walt Disney World this coming December. :)

In the remote chance that someone might want to come along, the range of dates that we currently have is between Dec. 10 to Dec. 17. Note that Dec. 15 onwards is the start of their "high" season for Disney where resort prices tend to be higher and the parks tend to be busier.

Zz.

It figures, since now it's unlikely I can get there before Dec. 13 or 14. I wanted to get there while it was still the "off season" and rooms were more affordable...and available. Drat, now that I'm teaching, I have the same breaks as the students do, which means everything will be more expensive.

 

[ZapperZ]

It figures, since now it's unlikely I can get there before Dec. 13 or 14. I wanted to get there while it was still the "off season" and rooms were more affordable...and available. Drat, now that I'm teaching, I have the same breaks as the students do, which means everything will be more expensive.

If you can get in on the 13th, we can still have a lot of fun.

I just checked the dates for http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wd...ckeysVeryMerryChristmasPartySpecialEventPage". It looks like they'll have one on the 14th and the 16th. We do need to buy the tickets early, though, because they do sell out fast.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

OK, first we had a https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=1801170&postcount=3101"!

I'm just waiting for someone to report that his/her poop came out shaped like a Mickey Mouse head! :)

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

A very creative teacher in Florida is using Mickey Mouse to teach evolution to his students.

http://brokehoedown.wordpress.com/2008/08/25/mickey-mouse-teaching-tool-for-evolution/

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Oh, http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2008/08/27/2008-08-27_no_disney_ending_at_garage_sale-2.html"!

Michigan mom Tracy Holmes was elated when she sold three DVDs for $10 at her garage sale.

A week later, when her husband asked what happened to his copy of the movie "Sin City," she told him what she thought was good news. What her husband, Fred, revealed next left her breathless: He had secretly hidden $1,200 in cash in the DVD case for a family trip to Disney World.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Michael Phelps in a special parade at the Magic Kingdom yesterday.

BC6w-jDB9Wg[/youtube] Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

If you love the Muppets like I do, then this podcast might be of interest to you. Lou Mongello of the http://www.disneyworldtrivia.com/Disney-News/WDW-Radio-Show-Disney-Podcast-82-Aug.-31-2008.html" who were instrumental in the creation of the hilarious Muppets 3D show at Walt Disney World. They also went into the history on the merging of the Henson muppets with Disney.

There are rumors of a new Muppets movie in the planning stage. If the movie is successful, there are talks that they might be brought back on TV.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

I'm all packed and truly excited to leave tomorrow for my "http://eventservices.disney.go.com/pintrading/event?id=29193"" trip at Walt Disney World. However, with Hanna looming and Ike following closely behind her, this could turn out to be a very wet trip. I'm just hoping that the Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom that we will be attending on the evening of Sept. 5 isn't going to be a total washout.

Wish us luck, and see you at the Most Magical Place on Earth!

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Greetings from the Most Magical Place on Earth.

Today was our early registration day for the Pin event. Lots of pin traders are already here, and everyone is gearing for our first full day of the event tomorrow.

Still, we managed to get in a few minutes to get away to Beaches and Cream at the Disney's Beach Club Resort and ordered not one, but TWO of their "Kitchen Sink", which is a humongous ice cream creation that's literally served in a kitchen sink.

Even the waitress didn't believe what she heard when we placed the order for two of them. Luckily, we had 10 people at the table who were ready to devour both of them. This is what you can see a few minutes later

It was delicious! However, I don't think I would like to know my cholesterol level right now.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Well, since Evo wanted a report on how the trip went, here goes...

Of course, most of the trip was centered around the Pin Celebration event, which this year was themed "Pin Trading University". So all of it was based on college/university setting. Even the pins released during the event had that theme. So with that in mind, you can understand a bit all the decor they were using at the event. Here is a look at some of them.

Meeting us at the entrance to World Showplace was our mascot, the pinback.

Roz from Monsters Inc. was the cafeteria lady.

We had quite a large turnout for the event. There were pin trading with other pin traders, and many pin games that one can play.

Disney always has fun characters at this event. She was one of 'em, and she was not only a hoot, but she was wearing quite a few pins that quickly got traded away.

Scoop Sanderson, the Main Street reporter, was also there. Here he is busy trading pins with guests.

[cont...]

 

[ZapperZ]

[...cont]

The other part of the trip was the Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party (MNSSHP) at the Magic Kingdom on Sept. 5. We lucked out because Hanna was at her closest proximity to Orlando on that day, but luckily we only got rain during the day. By the late afternoon, the rain was gone and the event went on without any weather problems.

Here we are on Main Street waiting for HalloWishes

The fireworks show was spectacular as usual, except for the fact that they cut out certain sections. So it was shorter than the one we saw last year, so that was the disappointing part.

[cont...]

 

[ZapperZ]

[...cont]

We then watched Boo To You parade. Again, I think this was cut a bit short, with some elements taken off. I'll compare it with the one I videotaped from last year to confirm this. Still, it was a fun parade. Both the headless horseman and the Haunted Mansion grave diggers didn't disappoint.

In between the fireworks and the parade, we did a lot of the attractions all over the Magic Kingdom. It is a lot of fun going on these attractions with ZERO wait!

At the end of the evening, we watched the Disney Villains Mix and Mingle show. Next year, I think I'll skip it. It wasn't anything worth watching.

It was a fun trip, and I brought back a lot of pins. Traded away many pins as well. It was a good haul. Can't wait for the next trip in December for all the Christmas festivities.

Zz.

 

[Evo]

OMG! Those are all awesome Zz!

I especially love the pin trading!

I wish I was able to go. Maybe someday. <sigh>

 

[ZapperZ]

Oh no! I've been a disciple of one of Satan's soldiers!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,423304,00.html

What a moron!

Zz.

 

[Evo]

Oh no! I've been a disciple of one of Satan's soldiers!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,423304,00.html

What a moron!

Zz.

Mickey Mouse has become an awesome character, even though according to Islamic law, Mickey Mouse should be killed in all cases.

 

[ZapperZ]

Do you have a milestone birthday, anniversary, reunions, special occasions, etc. coming up in 2009? If you do, then you might want to pay attention to this.

The current Disney promotion at the US theme parks - The Year of a Million Dreams - ends at the end of 2008. They have just announced the new promotional campaign for next year, and it is called "http://www.disneyparkscelebrations.com/"" You can find more info that the webpage, but one of the things they will do is, after you register, you will get free admission to either WDW or Disneyland on your birthday!

There are other stuff they'll do to help make the various special days even more magical. So, the obvious question here will be, who's celebrating some special days next year and will want to go do Disney? Anyone turning 100 here? :)

In my opinion, a PF Gathering at WDW is a special-enough occasion and we can see what they'll do for us. :)

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Hum... some of you may recall a while back that I posted a set of pictures of my "https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=1271951&postcount=2827" based simply on that person's office decor and living quarters.

Liberals' offices were judged as significantly more distinctive, comfortable, stylish, modern, and colorful and as less conventional and ordinary, in comparison with conservatives' offices, Jost said.

With that, I hate to think what someone conducting that study would think if they walk into my office. Am I a liberal, a conservative, or just plain Goofy?

:)

BTW, I have several people here who clearly defy the pattern that they mentioned in the article. I suppose that's where the "average" argument is applied to the study.

Zz.