Disney World PF Gathering and Tips for Disney Mania!

[ZapperZ]

Umm, wouldn't that clash with the mouse ears? Not that I'm a fashion expert by any stetch of the wildest imagination.

No it wouldn't. Not if the ears are attached to a tiara! I got it on loan from Minnie.



Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

http://www.laughingplace.com/Lotion-View-390.asp" from the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival that started last week. It looks like this year, there's a very heavy emphasis on the pirate theme. I hope the flowers are still in full bloom by the time I get there...

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

The recruiters for the http://www.lancastereaglegazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070410/UPDATES01/70410002" will be at the Ohio State University campus today at 6:00 pm. They are looking for people to do an internship at the Walt Disney Resort.

So there you go, Gokul! It's your chance to be Goofy!



<ZapperZ runs and hides>

But then again, after what University of Florida has done to the Ohio State teams in 2 major championship games, I don't know if anyone from the state of Ohio would ever want to step into the state of Florida anytime soon.



Zz.

 

[Gokul43201]

After all that talk about Physics PhDs in the A&CG thread, I couldn't go and do an internship at WD, even if I wanted to. As for the Florida thing, we were just being charitable.

 

[ZapperZ]

Major changes are coming to Epcot's icon http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/custom/tourism/orl-disney1207apr12,0,3948558.story" (it's that golf ball-looking thingy). This includes a new exit display area that has been empty and depressing for years since AT&T pulled out its sponsorship.

The only bad thing here is that the renovation closure of Spaceship Earth will go through Epcot's 25th Anniversary on Oct. 1st of this year. This will be sad.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Aww, they didn't show any pictures. When I was young (at that age when big, poofy wedding gowns are something that sounds appealing), I wanted a gown like Cinderella's.

A chipmunk gown...that would require a lot of chipmunks, don't you think?

Here's your opportunity to catch the Disney gowns, Moonbie. They're going to premier them during http://home.businesswire.com/portal...=news_view&newsId=20070415005036&newsLang=en"!

If they show a Mickey ears diamond tiara, I'm buying it!

Zz.

 

[Moonbear]

Here's your opportunity to catch the Disney gowns, Moonbie. They're going to premier them during http://home.businesswire.com/portal...=news_view&newsId=20070415005036&newsLang=en"!

Oh, I'm so disappointed. It just looks like any other poofy wedding gown. I guess it's nice enough if you're into poofy gowns.

 

[ZapperZ]

Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean attraction is still going strong at the age of 40. Of course, with the movie franchise going wildly popular, the attraction is having a revival. The new upgrade incorporates elements of the movie that should ensure it will continue to be popular for a very long time.

This is quite a good news article, because it has some stuff that even I didn't know about. For example:

Francis X. Atencio remembers riding with Walt Disney through the dark swamp in Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean ride before it opened — from haunted caverns to a pirate galleon to a ransacked Caribbean seaport.

He turned to Disney and apologized as they drifted past a bustling marketplace scene, where a pirate auctioned off a woman to a crowd of rowdy buccaneers.

“I’m sorry we can’t hear all of their lines,” Atencio said.

Disney responded: “This way, each time people go through it, they’ll hear something new.”

I love anecdotes about Walt like that, especially first-hand anecdotes.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Zagat Survey has polled Walt Disney World guests to find their favorites. This poll http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/orl-zagat2507apr25,0,4973812.story?track=rss" in the first ever Zagat survey of the WDW resort.

Based on this news report, they really got quite a number of "hardcore" Disney fans (fanatics?) to give them what they really like. Of course, I participated in this survey, and am looking forward to getting a copy of it.



Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

More on the newly-published Zagat Survey.

Laughing Place has http://www.laughingplace.com/News-ID10026360.asp" on it. One of the more fascinating fact that they have gathered is this:

Disney Lovers Love Disney: The facts and figures about the surveyors for the Walt Disney World Insider's Guide make one thing very clear - Disney World is widely loved and can be visited again and again and again. In a previously published Zagat Survey, Walt Disney World was ranked the Most Popular Attraction in all of the United States. While 48% of surveyors say the Magic Kingdom is their favorite park, Epcot runs a strong second with 36% of the vote. Lest one thinks Disney World is only for families or kids, 86% of surveyors say they've visited as an adult without children.

That should dispel all myths that WDW is meant only for kids.

A lot of my personal favorites made the list. My most favorite attractions (Soarin', Tower of Terror, Expedition Everest, and Splash Mountain) all made the list of top favorites. Even Boma, my most favorite restaurant in ALL of WDW, made it in the top 5 of favorite restaurants. However, I am quite surprised to see Saratoga Springs (our "home") became the #1 most favorite resort to stay at. I would think Animal Kingdom Lodge, Wilderness Lodge, or even the Polynesian might be at the top. But no. It is a large, still-expanding Disney Vacation Club resort that made it to the top. That's certainly a big surprise.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

With all the talk about Disney wedding gowns, here's something that people might want to watch. On Monday, Apr. 30, the Food Network will air a special titled "Fantasy Weddings"

A look at three unique, over-the-top weddings. Included: a fairy-tale wedding at Disney World; a Texas wedding with seven cakes; a winter-wonderland wedding for two skiers.

It will air at Monday April 30, 2007 from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM Eastern time.

The on May 4th, the Food Network will also air Disney's Fairy Tale Weddings.

You're invited to join host Sandra Pinckney for a special hour of Disney Fairytale Weddings. From choosing the reception menu to constructing the cake, tag along as a celebration filled with Disney delicacies comes together.

It will air on Friday May 4, 2007 from 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM Eastern. This special first aired on June 20, 2004.

I guess Spring is here with all these wedding shows.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Almost 9 minutes of clips from the upcoming Disney-Pixar movie Ratatouille is being made available today, May 1st, on http://home.disney.go.com/index". As expected, the movie looks amazing! However, the storyline so far looks rather compelling (a mouse with an ambition to be a chef in a French restaurant is compelling, no?) :)

The movie opens June 29.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Things You Must Do At Walt Disney World

I've updated this list to include some new stuff available since this year. This new list can be found http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=df5w5j9q_2ch3cbn" .

Obviously, this will be updated after my next visit, which will be in 27 days. There are several new attractions that are just waiting for me to "evaluate".

Zz.

 

[Astronuc]

I've updated this list to include some new stuff available since this year. This new list can be found http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=df5w5j9q_2ch3cbn" .

How much time to do everything on the list? It would seem to require several weeks, unless one is sprinting all day long.

 

[Moonbear]

I've updated this list to include some new stuff available since this year. This new list can be found http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=df5w5j9q_2ch3cbn" .

Obviously, this will be updated after my next visit, which will be in 27 days. There are several new attractions that are just waiting for me to "evaluate".

Zz.

Might be worth noting in the part on Wishes not to sit TOO close to Cinderella's Castle if you want to see all of the fireworks.

 

[ZapperZ]

How much time to do everything on the list? It would seem to require several weeks, unless one is sprinting all day long.

I always suggest a week. In fact, I've had a friend experimented with the list, and he said he and his family could do ALL of it leisurely in 5 days.

Might be worth noting in the part on Wishes not to sit TOO close to Cinderella's Castle if you want to see all of the fireworks.

Yowzah! How could I forget that part! Thanks for the reminder. I'll include that in the next update.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Disney has quietly pushed for the opening of Pirates of the Caribbean - At World's End to be moved ahead a few hours. Instead of officially opening it on Friday May 25, it has convinced a few theater exhibitors to http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117964457.html?categoryId=13&cs=1" to the evening Thursday May 24th.

I still won't be able to see it then. I would be trying very hard to fall asleep that Thursday evening before leaving on my vacation the next day.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

I originally didn't care to publicize this, but it is just way too silly and ridiculous to not mention. That stupid TV program shown to Palestinian kids, now ridicule everywhere as "Martyr Mouse", http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/05/10/mideast.mouse/index.html" .

While The Walt Disney Company is understandably not amused by this, the strongest response came from the seldom-heard surviving daughter of Walt Disney.

Walt Disney's sole surviving daughter, Diane Disney Miller, on Tuesday told the New York Daily News the show "is just going against the grain of humanity."

"What we're dealing with here is pure evil and you can't ignore that," she was quoted as saying on the Daily News Web site.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

The inaccuracy of Wikipedia is not only restricted to the science and politics. It has also hit Disney. With great fanfare, Disney recently announced a new movie, The Princess and the Frog, that will be significant in 2 aspects: it will be a return to hand-drawn 2D animation, and will feature the first Disney black princess.

However, a story line about this still-in-development movie has http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_movies_blog/2007/05/frog_princess_d.html" and caused a controversy. Some has even called it "Song of the South II", referring to the movie that Disney has refused to re-release so far due to the nature of its racial references.

It is amazing that people put that much faith in what they read on Wikipedia so much so that they have no qualms in using it to make such definitive statement about something that hasn't even been completed! Disney has flat-out stated that the information is wrong. Now how many of these people will pay attention to THAT rather than some stupid entry on Wikipedia?

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Well, so much for planning on going to WDW just twice this year. After going there 4 times last year, we were planning on "cutting back" to just twice this year. Our upcoming trip late May/early June will be one, and the other will be lately Sept/early Oct will be the other. We are skipping the Labor Day week trip that we normally do each year just so that can do the Halloween party this year, and also be there when Epcot turns 25 on Oct. 1st.

Well, that has changed due to the persuasion of our pin buddies. We have added a Sept. 6-9 trip to our plan just so we can attend this years http://eventservices.disney.go.com/pintrading/event?id=20121" event (we are so weak!). After being persuaded by a lot of people, and seeing the pins that will be released at this event, we decided to fly in just to attend that. So essentially, we will be going to WDW twice in Sept. this year.

We have officially registered for the Pin event, but haven't made our pin selection yet - that usually requires careful coordination and planning to make sure we increase our chances of getting what we want. One good thing about this year's pin theme is that there's a lot of pins with Figment, a character that we do not collect. So at least, we're not being tempted by many pins that we want. But the few that we do want are amazing, especially the sets and the jumbo pins.

So now, there are 3 very different trips to look forward to.

Zz.

 

[Astronuc]

I originally didn't care to publicize this, but it is just way too silly and ridiculous to not mention.

I think that it is abhorrent - using a children's show to promote violence. That is just sick!

I concur with Diane Disney Miller, and I appreciate that she would step forward with her statement.

 

[Astronuc]

We have officially registered for the Pin event, but haven't made our pin selection yet - that usually requires careful coordination and planning to make sure we increase our chances of getting what we want. One good thing about this year's pin theme is that there's a lot of pins with Figment, a character that we do not collect. So at least, we're not being tempted by many pins that we want. But the few that we do want are amazing, especially the sets and the jumbo pins.

I didn't realize that pin collecting was such a strategic matter. What or who is Figment? And what is the motivation behind collecting certain characters and not others?

So now, there are 3 very different trips to look forward to.

I now think of Zz as Dr. Dizzney.

 

[ZapperZ]

I didn't realize that pin collecting was such a strategic matter. What or who is Figment? And what is the motivation behind collecting certain characters and not others?

Figment is a character in the Imagination pavilion at Epcot. He's a dragon (I think). People collect the characters that they love. The most popular ones are of course Mickey, Tinker Bell, and even Stitch has a huge following. We here tend to collect Donald and all the other ducks (Scrooge, the nephews).

The good thing about collecting a particular character, or just a few characters, is that it will stop you from buying everything in sight, or everything that you like. Working on a few characters or themes (I also collect park icons pins) will limit what you will buy and keep. However, we also buy things we don't collect, especially if they're limited edition, so that we can use those for pin trading with people who do collect those things.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Well, it wasn't easy, but I found a couple of picture of Figment from the Journey in Imagination ride at Epcot (hint: if you're easily bored, don't bother with this attraction). One is blurry because the vehicle was moving when I snapped the picture, but I think you get the idea of what he looks like, and why I don't collect anything of him. Still, I know of several people who do.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

New http://www.o-meon.com/pages/news_briefs/2007/05-14_Disney_Stamps.htm" stamps have just been announced, just in time for the new 41-cent rate. No news on when exactly they will start appearing.

They look terrific, especially the Sorcerer Mickey and the Dumbo-Timothy stamps. I hope they make those into large size posters.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Disney hopes to capture a large audience in China with http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2007-05-16-disney-china_N.htm?csp=34". Its new movie, in partnership with the state-run China Film Group, is called The Magic Gourd. It will be Disney's first Chinese language movie.

I wonder if we'll get to see it. I'm already thinking of the reverse scenario where the movie will be dubbed into English, and all the lips of those people talking won't match what they're saying. I'd see the movie JUST for that!

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Wow. I just realized that this thread passed its 2-year anniversary last week!

How time flies!

:)

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Since we are doing the Disney Dining Plan on this trip, and since I want to get to eat at some of my most favorite places, I have made advanced dining reservations to use up our Table Service points. Moonbie may remember some of them, like Boma and Crystal Palace. However, we will be trying two new places on this trip (always good to try new things that we haven't done before). They are the Garden Grill at Epcot, and Donald Breakfastosaurus at Animal Kingdom.

Here are the complete list of where we will be having our table dining service:

May 28, 4:30 PM - http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/dining/diningDetail?id=GardenGrillDiningPage", Epcot
May 30, 8:50 AM - http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/dining/diningDetail?id=RestaurantosaurusCharacterDiningPage", Animal Kingdom
May 31, 5:00 PM - http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/dining/diningDetail?id=RestaurantMarrakeshDiningPage", Epcot
June 1, 5:40 PM - http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/dining/diningDetail?id=BomaFlavorsofAfricaDiningPage", Animal Kingdom Lodge
June 2, 11:50 AM - http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/dining/diningDetail?id=TheCrystalPalaceDiningPage", Magic Kingdom.

We will have one left-over table service to use, which gives us a bit of a flexibility to make last-minute decisions. We might end up using it on our very last day before we fly out at Coral Reef Restaurant at Epcot. But that is yet to be determined by the rest of the group.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Pirates of the Caribbean - At World's End had its world premier last night at Disneyland. Laughing Place has http://www.laughingplace.com/Live.asp" .

The movie will premier this Friday in the US (and probably Canada). However, a few theaters will show the movie Thursday evening, so as they say, check your local listing.

Zz.

 

[ZapperZ]

Disney finally has an "official" reaction to that stupid and despicable use of a https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=1327406&postcount=2873" by Hamas. If you recall, they were using such lookalike in a children TV show that was later pulled off the air. Diane Disney Miller, the only surviving daughter of Disney, was the only one who made a strong condemnation of that TV show.

Now Bob Iger, the CEO of Disney, http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/4822751.html" on it, and the Walt Disney Company's decision to not make any comment or reaction when the news about the TV show spreading.

"We didn't mobilize our forces and seek to either have the clip taken down or to make any broad public statement about it," Iger told a gathering of the Society of Business Editors and Writers at the Disneyland Hotel.

"We were appalled by the use of our character to disseminate that kind of message," he said "I think anytime any group seeks to exploit children in that manner, it's despicable."

Still, Iger said it didn't seem to make any sense for Disney to make any loud public statement at the time.

"I just didn't think it would have any effect," he said. 'I think it should have been obvious how the company felt about the subject."

Bob Iger, ever since he took over the company, has done almost everything right. I would include this to be one of it.

Zz.