Disney World PF Gathering and Tips for Disney Mania!

[ZapperZ]

*sniff sniff* I miss it already!

See? Now you know how I feel. It used to be that I would be already planning on when I will go back the day after I got back from the last trip. Now, with the Disney Vacation Club thingy, I already have the next 2 trips already set. :)

Thanks for the pictures of the Wilderness Lodge. It's going to be tough choosing a hotel for the next visit. I suppose the only solution will be to keep visiting until I've tried them all.

I would certainly recommend the Animal Kingdom Lodge and Wilderness Lodge, especially if you like seclusion. For the moderate resort, definitely Port Orleans' French Quarter and Riverside. So those are something to consider.

Anyway, I'm off to bed. I'm dead tired, and have to get up early to pack tomorrow, before spending our last day here at Epcot. I want to do Soarin' at least a couple of times tomorrow before we're through (we did Tower of Terror twice today).

Zz.

 

[Moonbear]

How were the crowds today? Was there a lot of traffic and people with the marathon going on? I saw yesterday that there were additional buses at the resort taking people to some marathon expo thing (saw them while waiting for my bus to the airport). Don't know what that's all about...I've never heard of an expo to go with a marathon.

 

[GeorginaS]

I'm really glad to know you arrived home safe and sound, MBear. You and Zz convinced me that Disney is worth going to see. It sounds as if you all had a hoot. And I will say this: the company you take along with you on vacation makes all the difference in the world. You could travel to the most desirable, locale on the planet, and if you're with the wrong person/people, the whole thing is going to suck. Go to a swamp with the right folks, life just doesn't get any better.

What I'm trying to say, here, is, while it appears Disneyland is a nifty keen place to see, it also strikes me that the company you all had made it even better.

Edit: stupid spelling mistake

 

[Moonbear]

G, you're very right, the company makes a big difference. I never enjoyed Disney so much when I was dragging parents along with me. Now I can't wait until my nephew is old enough to go to Disney. It'll be fun to visit with a kid along just to see his reaction to everything.

 

[ZapperZ]

I'm finally home. I'm happy to be back, but sad to leave Disney World. :(

So, I'm plotting for the next trip already, which will be the weekend at the end of January. This is to do the special DVC and Passholder preview of Expedition Everest, and they're giving out a commemorative pin and lanyard for it. How can I refuse?

The traffic yesterday and today, especially in the morning, were awful. A lot of roads around Disney World were closed for the marathon. But we managed since we know alternate route to get around. I pity the clueless tourists who can only follow the street signs.

Anyway, a lot of unpacking to do, and then off to bed since I go back to work tomorrow. Will report more and upload more pictures when I get the chance during the upcoming week.

Here's hoping more PF'ers will consider going to WDW with us next time.

Zz.

 

[GeorginaS]

The weekend at the end of January? As in: January, 2006?

 

[Astronuc]

So Zz, have you ever thought about getting a teaching job at a local (to WDW that is) university?

 

[Moonbear]

Yes, he's actually going back this month. He needs a 12-step program.

 

[Astronuc]

Yes, he's actually going back this month. He needs a 12-step program.

One each month?

 

[ZapperZ]

I wish I could go back once a month. But this is just something special, and only for a weekend.

As for looking for a job near there, don't think that I haven't looked. But as much as I love WDW, I also love my profession. I don't think I can just do teaching. That will cause a complete hault to my advacement as a physicist. There are also no outstanding physics research activities (at least in the areas that I am interested in) going on at the local universities around central Florida.

So for now, I will stay put here in good old Chicago and make my yearly trips down to Orlando.

In case anyone might be considering of going to WDW this year, my plans so far are:

Jan 27 to 29
May 26 to Jun 4 (this is a Disneyland/Disney World trip)
Sept. 2 to Sept. 10.

We may not do the holidays this year, i.e. the Holidays of 2006/2007. But things may change. I seriously recommend, for those who can make it, the Sept. trip (over Labor Day week). The crowds are thinner than most times and the rates for hotels and stuff are really good.

Anyway, have to catch up on work stuff. At least I brought a few Disney stuff I bought with me to work to add to the "museum" collection.

Zz.

 

[Astronuc]

As for looking for a job near there, don't think that I haven't looked. But as much as I love WDW, I also love my profession. I don't think I can just do teaching. That will cause a complete hault to my advacement as a physicist. There are also no outstanding physics research activities (at least in the areas that I am interested in) going on at the local universities around central Florida.

Yeah, I know how that is. I would love to go back to uni and teach the material that one only learns by doing. However, like you, I couldn't just teach - I'd have to be able to do R&D. And your right about the limited opportunities in that area, and the ones that are there, for me at least, come and ago according to the Federal budget.

Maybe one could do a sabbatical!?

 

[hypatia]

Ok you two, what is your most favorit thing you bought this trip?

 

[ZapperZ]

Ok you two, what is your most favorit thing you bought this trip?

Bought? What makes you think I bought anything on this trip? <whistles and innocent look>

Considering that I've been there that many times, I don't have too many most "favorite" things left. But since I was on a mission to buy a few pins, I suppose my most favorite thing I bought was the jumbo pin that was released on my final day there. It was again one of those very intricate jumbo pins that had a lot of going-ons.

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/10932940.jpg

Other than that, I love equally all the stuff that I got - if only I can remember what half of them were since I still haven't seen them since I bought them. They're being shipped home.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

So this is the reason why I'm going back to WDW in late January - the DVC/Passholder preview of Expedition Everest. On various fan websites, this is THE most highly anticipated attraction at WDW in years. Even Mission Space didn't have this much hype.

This is a picture of the evening performance of Cinderellabration at the Castle at Magic Kingdom.

This is one last look at Main Street at the Magic Kingdom before we left. It was still chilly that morning.

Zz.

 

[Moonbear]

Those must be the native Floridians in the foreground of that last photo. Hats! There's definitely a psychological component to temperature perception...the temperature here today was about the same as it was my last day at Disney, except here I thought it was unseasonably warm and even a light jacket felt a bit too warm, while at Disney, it was unseasonably cold and I was bundled up in all my winter layers and still felt cold.

So, I think I got about a half day's worth of work done today and spent the other half of the day telling everyone about my Disney trip. One grad student and one post-doc both sounded like they very much would like to try to go sometime if they can budget it...as long as they don't snore, I'm sure we can share a room and make it more affordable for all of us if I can convince them to join me for another trip.

 

[ZapperZ]

While people here at work do want to listen to my latest WDW trip, you can understand that it doesn't usually take that long since they hear about this every few months or so. :) They usually want to know if I did something different or special, or if I found any good pins. Most just simply walk into my office and start snooping around to see if there's anything new that I brought into add to the Disney decorations.

Zz.

 

[Moonbear]

While people here at work do want to listen to my latest WDW trip, you can understand that it doesn't usually take that long since they hear about this every few months or so. :) They usually want to know if I did something different or special, or if I found any good pins. Most just simply walk into my office and start snooping around to see if there's anything new that I brought into add to the Disney decorations.

Zz.

Well, if any of them are cute and single and available and straight men (yeah, I'm so picky), make sure you show them all the pictures with me in them.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I for one have really enjoyed my virtual Disney trip. Thanks for all of the great photos and updates. It was fun.

...gotta do Disney Florida, there is no doubt about it.

 

[ZapperZ]

The Chronicles of Narnia continues with it strong box office success throughout the world over the New Year.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/film/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001807711

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

I think Moonbie (and maybe even Evo) may cry over this one.

They released a pin on 1/8, but at Disneyland, that you may want to have. It's another Chip and Dale pin. Drat! I would like to have this one too!

Did they use peanuts as the snowman's eyes?

Zz.

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/10247288.jpg

Edit: Ooh... it's an open edition pins. You might be able to get it via mail. Here's the info:

"Contact Disneyland® DelivEARS Merchandise Guest Services at 1-800-362-4533 or send an e-mail: DLR.DelivEARS@disney.com to place an order."

SKU: 10247288
Retail Price: $8.95

 

[GeorginaS]

Yep, looks like peanuts for eyes to me.

 

[ZapperZ]

An blurb from this month's DVC members newsletter:

'Golden Ears' trends
As reported in the winter edition of Vacation Magic magazine, The Walt Disney Company recently contracted independent research firm Directive Analytics to conduct the first-ever national "Golden Ears Survey" to gauge Americans' perspectives about Disney Theme Parks.

The detailed survey analyzed responses in a variety of demographic categories, measuring trends based on everything from hometowns to political affiliations.

When asked to name the Disney Theme Park character with whom they most identify, for example, American executives made Mickey Mouse their No. 1 answer. Teachers, meanwhile, chose Minnie Mouse, Doctors called out Dopey, Nurses went with Cinderella and U.S. Military personnel admitted to being a bit Grumpy. Political lines divided respondents when asked to identify their dream Disney Theme Park job, with Democrats coveting posts as Walt Disney Imagineers and Republicans eyeing those Disney Tour Guide roles.

Democrats went on to say that they'd rather visit a Disney Theme Park with Oprah Winfrey than with any other star (Oprah was the top star among all respondents), while Republicans leaned toward Clint Eastwood. (And, in case you were wondering, more Democrats than Republicans admitted to having worn Mickey Mouse ears at some point in their lives.)

While those Imagineering and Tour Guide jobs emerged as the clear favorites (with each garnering 21 percent of the vote), Jungle Cruise skipper lurked close behind (14 percent). Any guess as to which surveyed American city has the largest skipper-wannabe population? Well, it must be a jungle in Sacramento, Calif., as 24 percent of surveyed Sacramento residents said they'd love nothing more than a faux pistol, a campy script and an opportunity to guide a boatful of Guests past "the backside of water."

I've always been under the impression that Republicans would like to take us for a ride. Now I have statistical evidence.

:)

Zz.

 

[Moonbear]

Why would people want to visit with Oprah? She would steal all my ice cream!

I don't see Chip and Dale on that list of characters people relate too.

 

[ZapperZ]

Fortune magazine's profile of Disney's CEO Bob Iger.

http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/10/magazines/fortune/disney_fortune/

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

More pictures from the last Disney trip. These are the inhabitants that we saw during the Harumbe Safari ride at Animal Kingdom.

Zz.

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/4223/img16649dd.jpg

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/5124/img16592jr.jpg

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/9125/img16508wz.jpg

 

[ZapperZ]

New pictures from Hollywood at Disney's California Adventure.

http://www.laughingplace.com/Lotion-View-182.asp

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

OK, I HATE THIS, HATE THIS, HATE THIS! I simply hate this because they are TEASING me with something that they have up their sleeves. This is either a pin event, or a pin pursuit that they're planning this summer, but this teaser is just too much! I can't stand it!

Please, tell it to me now so that I can make plans to be there! Why are they torturing me like this? <sobbing>

:(

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/pintrading/event?id=14022

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

The Walt Disney World Resort had record attendance over the holidays.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-disney1106jan11,0,2911102.story?coll=orl-home-headlines

Just think, Moonbie, that we had a part in this. :)

Zz.

 

[Moonbear]

The Walt Disney World Resort had record attendance over the holidays.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-disney1106jan11,0,2911102.story?coll=orl-home-headlines

Just think, Moonbie, that we had a part in this. :)

Zz.

I think I noticed a few crowds. No wonder it seemed so packed!

 

[ZapperZ]

More pictures from the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights (yes, I took TONS of pictures).

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

More rumors are swirling around the Disney-Pixar negotiations. I really hope Disney doesn't buy Pixar, and I definitely hope they don't make Steve Jobs a board member. That would definitely be a big Oy Vey!

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/060110/disney_pixar.html?.v=2

Zz.

 

[Integral]

Could you explain this Osboure family thing?... I keep wondering what Ozzy and Sharon have to do with Disneyland?

 

[ZapperZ]

Could you explain this Osboure family thing?... I keep wondering what Ozzy and Sharon have to do with Disneyland?

Oy! :)

Well, first of all, this is at Disney/MGM Studios in Disney WORLD resort, so it has nothing to do with Disneyland.

Secondly, it's obviously not THAT Osborne family. It's the one from Arkansas.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/parks/specialEventsDetail?id=OsborneLightsSpecialEventPage

Zz.

 

[Moonbear]

Could you explain this Osboure family thing?... I keep wondering what Ozzy and Sharon have to do with Disneyland?

I had wondered the same thing until I got there and saw the information explaining that it was some other Osborne family (even spelled differently). When I was thinking Sharon and Ozzy, a whole different sort of spectacle was coming to mind.

 

[GeorginaS]

Hah! I was going to ask that question but thought better of it and Googled first.

 

[ZapperZ]

The World of Disney store in New York city is going to have its first Pin Trading night on Jan. 20. So who's going? :)

A lovely jumbo pin will also be released for this evening.

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/pintrading/pin?id=14018

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

During the last trip to WDW, I didn't buy that many dated pins of the new year (i.e. something with 2006 or 06 on it). But they're releasing this jumbo pin on the 17th of 06 on it, and it's adorable! I may just break down and get this pin when I go there at the end of this month, Yes, that trip is now all confirmed.

Moonbie, are you coming along? :)

Zz

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/10904520.jpg

 

[ZapperZ]

Alright Moonbie, hold on to yourself...

They have just announced the release of a surprise pin TODAY, avaiable only at Disney's All Star Resort - Movies and Sports. Yup, you guessed it, it's Chip and Dale!

Now even *I* would like to have this pin, and I don't collect Chip and Dale pins.

Let's see, I leave for WDW on the 27th. That's 2 weeks from today. There's a very small chance that they would still have this by then, but if we have time, we'll go check. Besides, the All Star Resort isn't that far from Animal Kingdom, which is where we're going for the Expedition Everest preview.

Zz.

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/10904572.jpg

 

[ZapperZ]

OK, so not only did Disney World and Disneyland saw record-breaking attendance over the holidays, Disney Online also saw a 30% increase in sales!

http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/09/news/companies/disney.reut/index.htm?section=money_latest

I swear, this has NOTHING to do with me!

:)

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

More up-close pictures of the Disney floats at the past 2006 Tournament of Roses parade in Pasadena. All of them look rather impressive!

http://www.laughingplace.com/Lotion-View-183.asp

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

More pictures from the last Disney World trip. The first is a group picture of the three of us with a couple of friends we just happened to bump into. You get no prize for guessing which ones are us, and which ones are the Disney friends. (and yes, we have no faces.)

But after we were done with this, Moobie still can't keep her hands off the dog. It appears that she's doing the tango with Goofy.

Zz.

 

[Moonbear]

OMG! My face! It's melting! Protecting the guilty I see.

 

[ZapperZ]

Secrets of World Showcase

From the Disney Vacation Club newsletter:

Situated around a 40-acre lagoon with an almost 1.2-mile promenade is the World Showcase area at Epcot, filled with re-creations of landmark architecture familiar to world travelers. That architecture hides some secret stories that I'm pleased to share with you as part of the Disney Vacation Club family.

World Showcase upholds the philosophy and vision of Walt Disney, who had a great deal of respect, affection and curiosity about other cultures and enjoyed traveling to other countries.

As early as 1953, designers considered an internationally themed area for Disneyland Park. By 1956, that concept was developed as "International Street," which would run parallel to the Main Street, U.S.A.® area. Soon, this concept evolved into an entire "International Land" to be located at a site near the current location of the Theme Park's Matterhorn Bobsleds attraction. The area would have featured architecturally authentic buildings separated by landscaping.

While those Disneyland concepts never materialized, Walt's dream of a global community came to life in the form of World Showcase at Epcot, a place to experience not only the differences, but the similarities between people around the world.

Here are a few details and back stories to enhance your next World Showcase visit.

MEXICO: The Cantina de San Angel is a recreation of an old Carmelite Monastery that became a restaurant in 1915. In 1847, General Santa Anna planned the "Chapultepec Battle" at this location. Within its walls, the famous pact between Pancho Villa and General Zapata was formalized, giving Pancho Villa control of the North of Mexico and General Zapata the South. The main patio fountain served as a drinking trough for their horses.

NORWAY: The statue of Grete Waitz near the Stave Church honors a Norwegian athlete who was a nine-time winner of the New York City Marathon (1978-1988). Waitz also won the silver medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Marathon, adding that to the gold she won a year earlier at the Helsiniki World Championship Marathon.

CHINA: The circular Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, pictured above, is a one-half-scale reproduction of its counterpart inside the Temple of Heaven complex near Beijing. As you enter, there are four red columns decorated in gold representing the four seasons. If you stand in the exact center of the columns and speak, the acoustics are like the actual Hall of Prayer, so you'll hear your voice echo, but your friends won't. (They'll hear their own echo, but not yours.)

GERMANY: Every hour, underneath the clock on the tower in the back of the pavilion, huge Hummel figures appear and chime the hour. Also look above the clock, where a wooden rooster pops out and flutters its wings at the same time.

ITALY: When you enter the pavilion, the building on the left is a reproduction of the Doge's Palace. That building inspired architect Robert Stern when he designed the Walt Disney World Casting Center on Buena Vista Drive.

THE AMERICAN ADVENTURE: This pavilion originally was meant to be at the front of World Showcase and be made of glass and steel. The eventual design featured 110,000 handmade Georgia clay bricks decorating the outside of the building. The bricks were colored and aged to look authentic to the Colonial period.

JAPAN: The Yakitori House is a small version of the Shoken-tei (teahouse) in the Kyoto Imperial Villa gardens at the Katsura Summer Palace. "Tori" means "chicken," and "yakitori" refers to broiled skewers of chicken.

MOROCCO: Inside the lobby of the restaurant is a replica of a signed letter from President George Washington to the people of Morocco. Morocco was the first country to officially recognize the United States of America as a sovereign nation.

FRANCE: The Eiffel Tower is a one-tenth reproduction of the one in Paris and was constructed using Gustav Eiffel's original blueprints. The Epcot version is more tan and pink than the one that exists today in Paris. The reason is that the France pavilion represents "La Belle Epoque" of the late 1800s, so the Eiffel Tower is the same color it would have been at that time, when it was new.

UNITED KINGDOM: The term "pub" comes from the expression "public house." The Rose and Crown Dining Room combines elements from three basic pub designs: the street pub, the waterfront pub and the country pub. The exterior design was modeled after the Elizabethan period of the late 16th century. The interior decor was patterned after Victorian architectural forms of the 1890s.

CANADA: That 30-foot totem pole near the Trading Post, pictured here, was carved by renowned Tsimshian Indian carver David Boxley from seven hundred pounds of red cedar and placed there in April 1998. The top of the pole depicts the story of Raven tricking the Chief of the Skies to release the sun, moon and stars from a carved cedar chest.

Jim Karkis.

 

[Moonbear]

So, I went out and got some frames to display my new pin collection today. The wall where I mounted them needs better lighting, so I had a hard time getting pictures, but I know Zz wants to see, and some of the rest of you might be curious as to just how badly he's infected me with the pin-collecting bug. I took one of the frame closed, then opened it up so I could get some shots without the glass over the pins. These are mounted in my living room, so no Disney print background like the ones at the office (I try to achieve a bit better decorating at home than in my office). I didn't take a picture of both together, because then you'd see that one of them ended up crooked. I'm going to have to re-mount it on the wall...I slipped when putting one of the nails in the wall. It also solves my problem of having a big blank wall that really needed something on it.

One set is my Chip and Dale pins, and the other is the Mickey and Minnie pins. I need to swap out my Grumpy pin with the Chip and Dale pin that's in the frame at my office so I can have all the Chip and Dale pins together and then my office will have all the miscellaneous other characters.

http://img434.imageshack.us/img434/3873/img01735jo.jpg

http://img434.imageshack.us/img434/647/img01903uw.jpg

http://img434.imageshack.us/img434/5337/img01917xe.jpg

 

[ZapperZ]

Wow! Those look very nice! I forgot that you got two cast-member pins. You and Chuck have this pin-trading bug! No cast member with a lanyard is safe around the two of you!

:)

Zz.

 

[Moonbear]

Wow! Those look very nice! I forgot that you got two cast-member pins. You and Chuck have this pin-trading bug! No cast member with a lanyard is safe around the two of you!

:)

Zz.

There's actually three cast member pins in there. I bet Chuck can spot the third. I just thought it was cute and realized it was a cast member pin after I got it.

 

[ZapperZ]

OK, brace yourself...

Recall last Sept. when I went to my very first pin event. Of course, I had to pick THE biggest pin event of the year, the annual pin celebration. Last year, it was titled the Happiest Pin Celebration on Earth to coincide with the Happiest Celebration on Earth for Disneyland's 50th birthday. This event was my "indoctronation" into the world of serious pin collecting and trading (and it has been downhill since then).

Well now, they have announced the Pin Celebration for 2006, at least as far as dates and themes for this year's event. And it promises to be a good one, because the theme is... WALT!

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/pintrading/event?id=13544

They usually limit the attendence to only 1200. Unless there are unforseeable obstacles, I plan to attend this one. Too bad I can't drag Moonbie along. Anyone else want to come?

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Ladies and Gentlemen, presenting ... the back of Moonbear's head!

The first person who can name the ride that we were on in this picture, and which Disney World theme park it is located, wins a Disney pin! [Moobie is, of course, disqualified]

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Glory Road, another Disney movie, scored as the top movie at the box office this weekend.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/10869410/

So far so good for the movie division of Disney that had a very rough few years till now.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Discover Everest Online

From the DVC Newsletter:

Discover Everest online
With the official grand opening of the new Expedition Everest–Legend of the Forbidden Mountain™ attraction at Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park on the horizon, Guests soon will get an at-home preview through the magic of the Internet.

Visit www.disneyeverest.com beginning Jan. 16 to discover everything from attraction details to findings from Imagineers' recent Himalayas mission to the interactive "Yetivision" experience. The Web site also will share broadcast schedules for Discovery Networks' upcoming Expedition Everest-related TV programs.

Zz.