Disney World PF Gathering and Tips for Disney Mania!

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A gathering for Disney enthusiasts is planned at Disney World during Memorial Day week (May 28 to June 5), inviting others to join for fun activities like measuring the drop rate at the Tower of Terror and pin trading. For those unable to attend, a return trip is already scheduled for Labor Day week (Sept. 3 to Sept. 11), with tips to find deals on the Disney website. The discussion includes a promise to share a shortlist of must-do attractions at Walt Disney World, encouraging contributions from others. Key tips for visiting include utilizing Disney's transportation, making reservations for dining, and understanding ticket expiration policies. The thread fosters community among Disney fans while providing practical advice for an enjoyable visit.
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  • #1,652
In case you forget (I'm sure you are aware of this), this coming Saturday, Jan 21, is the "National Hug Day"! (I'm not making this up!).

Of course, Disney has a pin for it. I would have ignored this another-Hallmark-type-creation-day weren't it for the unbelievably cute pin they're releasing for that day. Pluto looks "overjoy" to be hugged by Chip and Dale, don't you think?

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/10904415.jpg

Zz.
 
  • #1,653
13th Annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

From the Disney press release:

Romance Blooms at Epcot April 21-June 11, 2006 For 13th Annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

Donald and Daisy topiaries cruise through a floral tunnel of love while topiaries of Cinderella and Prince Charming "waltz" amid blossoms and greenery. Disney "sweetheart" topiaries based on decades of happily-ever-after classic stories add romance and whimsy to the 13th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival April 21-June 11 at Walt Disney World Resort.

Known by gardening aficionados for its celebrity guest speakers, hands-on seminars and planting demonstrations, the seven-week festival will take place in the park's Future World and World Showcase. Thirty million blooms, intricately designed floral beds, artfully crafted bonsai trees, lush rose gardens and more Disney character topiaries will grace the park's 300 acres. Nightly Flower Power concerts will rock the landscape with live entertainment from top acts of the 1960s and '70s.

Minnie's Magnificent Butterfly Garden, which debuted at the 12th annual festival, will return with hundreds of butterflies in a screened, walk-through enclosure and will include a live exhibit showing how caterpillars form a chrysalis and emerge as butterflies.

Themed festival events pump up the fun with the child-friendly I Dig Bugs weekend, Art in the Garden weekend and the time-honored Mother's Day weekend, among others. Other festival features include:

1. The Festival Center, where guests can find program guides and festival merchandise, as well as guest speakers and demonstrations.

2. The popular Great American Gardeners series, opening with Paul James of HGTV's "Gardening by the Yard," April 21-23.

3. A "see and sniff" Fragrance Garden at the France pavilion showcasing flowers in several perfumes.

4. Disney Gardening at Home presentations where Disney horticulturists share tips and secrets for at-home gardening.

5. Kids' activities, including the fun-filled Tinker Bell's Fairy Garden and Disney character meet and greets.

More information about the 13th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is available by calling 407/W-DISNEY (934-7639) or by visiting disneyworld.com/flower. The festival is included in regular Epcot admission.

I have been at this event for the past 5 years, and Epcot has never looked better. Some of the floral arrangements and topiaries are truly amazing. I will be at this event again this year during my Memorial Day week trip and looking forward to seeing it again.

Zz.
 
  • #1,654
As expected, the Disney Valentine's Day pins are slowly being released. This one is coming up later in the week at World of Disney Store in New York City. I wonder who I can send this to? Hum?

Zz.

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/10904603.jpg
 
  • #1,655
While the rumors and predictions are rampant around the Disney-Pixar negotiations, another one just got started and gaining steam. It has been reported that Disney will be building another theme park in China, this time in Beijing, by 2010. Disney is denying it.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10889967/from/RSS/
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/custom/tourism/sns-ap-china-disneyland,0,36197.story

I don't know... it appears that this will take a lot of the business out of Hong Kong Disneyland.

Zz.
 
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  • #1,656
ZapperZ said:
Ladies and Gentlemen, presenting ... the back of Moonbear's head!

img17081va.jpg


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.

Oh well, no one got this one.

This attraction is the Aladdin's Magic Carpet ride in Adventureland at the Magic Kingdom.

My Disney pin is safe!

Zz.
 
  • #1,657
This internet podcast site has TWO ride videos of Expedition Everest, which is still under a soft-opening preview. I'm pointing this out in case someone might be interested in seeing what it looks like riding this. However, I'm not going to watch it because I'll be riding this thing a week from this Saturday, so I want to be surprised by it.

http://www.distantcreations.com/insidethemagic/

Can't wait... 9 more days!

Zz.
 
  • #1,658
Chinese New Year falls on Jan 29th this year. So of course, Disney will have pins to celebrate the occasion. The first one is being released at Disneyland with Stitch on it, so I don't care that much for it.

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/10192236.jpg

But the second one, being released at WDW, it an absolute winner! The new chinese new year will be the year of the dog, and so Pluto is shown strutting very proudly! This is a gorgeous and appropriate pin! And for a change, I won't whine about not being able to get it, because I can!

:)

Zz.

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/10904365.jpg
 
  • #1,659
ZapperZ said:
From the Disney press release:

I have been at this event for the past 5 years, and Epcot has never looked better. Some of the floral arrangements and topiaries are truly amazing. I will be at this event again this year during my Memorial Day week trip and looking forward to seeing it again.
Zz.

Here are a few pictures from last year's Epcot Flower and Garden Festival:

Zz.

img03644fx.jpg


img03700ps.jpg


img03820gu.jpg


img05718za.jpg
 
  • #1,661
ZapperZ said:
Now if you want to sue Disney, you should at last have a half-way believable story. These people were caught with their pants down.

http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1137492310821&rss=newswire

Zz.

Now that's justice! :biggrin: They had to pay the attorney fees for Disney, which I'm sure were rather substantial. :biggrin:
 
  • #1,663
John Frost at the Disney Blog is reporting this:

John Forst @ Disney Blog said:
Florida has a new minimum wage - $6.40 an hour. That's no where near a living wage in this region, but it probably means a bump in salary for those whose wage is based on the minimum. I'm sure it will be appreciated.

Something I just learned is that Tip Based Jobs actually have a separate minimum - $3.88 an hour. Remember that next time you stiff someone on your tip at a hotel or restaurant.

As someone who has a few cast members friends in Florida, I can certainly echo his sentiments. Most of the cast members that you encounter while at the theme parks barely make anything beyond minimum wage. While Disney certainly has a benefits package more generous than most companies of that size, it certainly doesn't help in someone making a living being an entry-level cast member at Disney. It is why many do this only as a hobby because of their love for Disney. I know of many cast members that I've chatted with over the years that do it as a part-time job, keeping their other job as a primary income source. There are also many retirees who don't have to depend too much on the money they make from the job.

But this is really sad if Disney wants to keep the most dedicated and talented cast members who, literally, represent them and their image to the customers. These ARE the frontline people between the Disney organization and the customers who are paying money. They deserve to be paid for their dedication, especially now that the Disney company is making a handsome profit and the parks in North America are breaking attendence records.

I know this for sure. My interactions with various cast members, be it at the resorts, or at the theme parks (especially when we're doing pin trading) have always been one of the highlights of all of my trips to Disney World. Many of them are doing a magnificient job, and some even beyond what they are bound to do. Disney should make an effort to keep these people and allow them to make a decent living.

Zz.
 
  • #1,664
Another Disney trivia (sorry, this one has no Disney pins).

This is the loading area for which Walt Disney World attraction?

Zz.

img19953ek.jpg
 
  • #1,665
Reuters is now speculating what would happen with the Disney-Pixar merger.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060119/tc_nm/media_pixar_disney_dc_1

I am still apprehensive on what could happen with Steve Jobs having some control of Disney. But in all of this, we seem to be hearning no word out of the Roy Disney camp. If Disney does acquire Pixar by mainly buying out Steve Jobs with Disney stocks, then Roy will no longer be the largest individual shareholder.

Zz.
 
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  • #1,666
I'd answer your question but I think I would be cheating since I live here and all. Actually I can probably hide my answer.





Splash Mountain[/color]
 
  • #1,667
Yes, it is SPLASH MOUNTAIN! Of course, the picture was taken at the one in the Magic Kingdom and not from Disneyland, but they both look the same.

Too bad I didn't offer any pins!

Zz.
 
  • #1,668
We took many pictures of the three of us (me, Moonbie, and Chuck) while we were at Disney World. But I think out of all those pictures of us, THIS is my most favorite! I know for me, it certainly echoes the sentiment we all wish for. But the lights and decorations just pushed it waaaay over the top. So here we are, the faceless ones once again.

My tiny little tripod did its job very well.

Zz (just one more week left for Expedition Everest!)

img19192mb.jpg
 
  • #1,670
All the signs are there to point to Disney acquiring parts or all of Pixar.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-pixar18jan20,0,6660472.story

So now many are already contemplating how Steve Jobs will affect the Disney Corporations. Would he honor the legacy of Walt, or will he only do what's necessary to make a profit?

http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/jan2006/nf20060120_2325_db016.htm

Zz.
 
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  • #1,671
This is what I look like after I read a crackpot post.

img18011cm.jpg


Some people say I've never looked better.

This was from the Stars on Parade at Disney/MGM Studios.

Zz.
 
  • #1,672
The FBI has a suspect. They want to search his house, but they need him and his family to be away while they do that. So what do they do? They send him and his family to Disney World, paid for by the taxpayers! While they're away, the FBI searches his house.

Honest! You can't make up these things!

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060120/NEWS01/601200466/1006/NEWS01

Zz.
 
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  • #1,673
  • #1,674
A new pin is being released on the 24th of my second most favorite attraction at The Magic Kingdom (second only to Splash Mountain) - Thunder Mountain Railroad.

And it is a gorgeous pin with lots of things going on. I expect to see plenty of this when I fly in on Friday...

Zz.

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/10931617.jpg
 
  • #1,675
  • #1,676
With the opening of the $100 million Expedition Everest looming this spring at Disney's Animal Kingdom, the Orlando Sentinel revives the frequent question about The Animal Kingdom and its "identity". It is safe to say that for many non-Disney fans, Animal Kingdom still has the tag of being "a zoo", which it isn't. It also doesn't help that it isn't open in the evening and does not have lights or fireworks show.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/custom/tourism/orl-everest2206jan22,0,2234290.story?coll=orl-home-promo

Zz.
 
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  • #1,677
Nice!

Burke Design has been hired to redesign the Disneyland monorail that is in dire need of an upgrade.

http://www.burkecompositeengineering.com/projects.html

Zz.
 
  • #1,678
With 4 more days left till I go on my "Expedition Everest" trek, Disney has released pictures of the pins that will be sold at the attraction. These pins will be released on the 26th, the first day of DVC members and Annual Passholders preview of Expedition Everest.

The only question is that since DVC members and AP holders were promised commemorative lanyards AND pins for attending the preview, whether these are the same pins that are being given out.

Zz.

Pin 1 - for DVC members:

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/10904442.jpg

Pin 2 - for Annual Passholders:

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/10904441.jpg
 
  • #1,679
Cinderella's Royal Table

The Cinderella's Castle at Magic Kingdom is mostly hollow, except for Cinderella's Royal Table, a restaurant that has got to be THE most difficult place to get a reservation. You typically have to book months in advance for dinner here.

I've been fortunate enough to dine there twice - one planned, the other unplanned. Here are some pictures from the inside of the restaurant.

The first one is the main dining area (there are smaller enclaves on either side of this main area). We were there early in the afternoon just as it opened for lunch, so the dining area was still empty.

http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/4458/vacation20022414pr.jpg

The second is the view of the vaulted ceiling above the main dining area.

http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/9092/img12221fq.jpg

And finally, just to show how much thought and details they put into the whole thing, in the waiting hall, if one looks up at one of the walls, one can see two small castle mice... just like in the fairy tale!

http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/8274/img12167vn.jpg

Zz.
 
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  • #1,680
ZapperZ said:
Nice!

Burke Design has been hired to redesign the Disneyland monorail that is in dire need of an upgrade.

http://www.burkecompositeengineering.com/projects.html

Zz.

Did you read this link when it was posted? Did you?

If you did, you were one of the few lucky ones. Apparently, this news wasn't supposed to be announced to the public. The website now has removed all reference to the Disney Monorail refurbishment project.

I wonder what's with the secrecy...

Zz.
 

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