Being a CM

What it's all about:

H/T:  Izismile

Real Life Disney: UP

I didn't like "UP" when I first saw it. But then I watched it again. And again. And now it's my third favorite Diz-Pixar movie (behind WALL-E and Cars) and Dug is my favorite character.

 

 

Disney Does Darth

It's official - Disney is buying Lucasfilms Ltd. for a whopping  4.05 billion bucks.

Personally, I can think of lots better things Disney could to do with $4 billion,

Besides making Star Wars VII (2015) Star Wars VIII and Star Wars IX.

Photo: Izismile.com

October 31st

On a stormy Halloween night in 1939, five people stepped aboard a Hollywood Tower Hotel elevator and into a nightmare.

So begins the ride spiel for the best ride at WDW.

... and on October 31, 1995

The first Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

takes place at Magic Kingdom Park.

 

So began the most fun event with the best parade held at the MK.

Confession # 21: Not Impressed

with the new 2013 Disney Park promotional theme: 

Limited Time Magic

Imagine an Independence Day celebration — only it lasts an entire week — or Main Street mainstays the Dapper Dans rocking out with boy band hits in barbershop style. Picture yourself at a Friday the 13th dance party with Disney villains that lasts to the 13th hour or a Valentine's Day that becomes Valentine's Week with Disney castles blushing pink. These and many more special experiences will surprise Disney Parks Guests as they roll out each week in 2013. Here's a sampling of Limited Time Magic in store for Guests — for a limited time only:

• True Love: Celebrate romance and enchantment throughout Valentine's Week with special moments and entertainment geared to lovebirds. Guests can celebrate their Valentine as Magic Kingdom and Disneyland turn up the romance, complete with their iconic castles bathed in hues of red and pink. Disney Princes join their Princesses to meet park Guests in special settings, prix fixe menus turn up at select restaurants and Valentine collectibles will be offered for the week. 
   
  
• Independence Week: It's red, white and blue as Disney Parks salute America with a Fourth of July Fireworks Party for an entire week, with patriotic lighting bathing the Disney castles on both coasts. Mickey Mouse appears in his patriotic finest, and Guests will find special U.S.A. shirts, Ear Hats and other limited-edition souvenirs.
   
  
• During "Long Lost Friends Week," lesser-known Disney characters will move from the shadows to the spotlight with meet-and-greets on both coasts. Photos opps with characters that could include Flik, Clarabelle Cow, Remy, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum will appear throughout the parks. And Disney Guests will even have the chance to vote online for which characters they want to see.
  
  
• Pirate Week: Why talk like a pirate one day when you could celebrate these scalawags all week long? The adventures of Jack Sparrow come to life like never before during a bicoastal buccaneer bash in which Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts become pirate-palooza: pirate bands, pirate meet-and-greets and more.
• 
  
• Dapper Dans Sing Boy Bands: Dapper Dans, the iconic quartet from Main Street, U.S.A., will add a special finale to their show, claiming the title of the "Original Boy Band" and delivering a medley of hits from One Direction, *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys.
  
  
• Unleash the Villains: A Friday the 13th in 2013 is a special day, so Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios are staying open until the "13th hour" (1 a.m.). Maleficent, Capt. Hook, Jafar and other Disney villains host a dance party, complete with limited-edition collectibles and nighttime mischief on Sept. 13.
  
  
• Golden Horseshoe Revue: The fabled Frontierland show returns to Disneyland for one month only, bringing back the corny jokes and enduring songs that were often enjoyed by Walt Disney himself.
  

The experience of the week will be announced in a variety of ways, including in-park, Disneyworld.com, Disneyland.com, Facebook, Twitter and the Disney Parks Blog - adding to the element of surprise. For more information about Limited Time Magic, visit the Disney Parks Blog.

Begins in January.

For 52 weeks.

Big whoop.

I was really hoping for the Free Birthday-Day Celebration to return.

 

Confession # 20: I'm Not a Fan

of the DHS Stunt Shows:

Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular   and   Lights, Motors, Action.

Photo:WDW

I've seen Indiana Jones several times and was bored each time.
I'm just not impressed by smokin', squealin' tires. Sorry.
Here's a thought:

Instead of giving  Mr Iger another multi-million dollar bonus,   Disney bulldozes the two stunt shows and replaces them with: 

 Indiana Jones Adventure

 (instead of the Indiana Jones Stunt Show)

 

  Photo:Disney

 

 -- and --

Cars Land

  (instead of the Cars Stunt Show)

Photo:Disney

Walt Is Rolling

The story goes that back when Walt Disney was about to sign the papers to begin work on the new park in St. Louis, one of the Busch family gloated at dinner the night before the signing about how much money they would make selling beer at the park. Walt said nothing but after dinner he loaded up the plane and flew back to California, papers unsigned. The rest is history. Walt did NOT want alcohol, including beer, sold in his park.

Well, beer and wine have been sold in Epcot, The Studios and Animal Kingdom for a while now. But NOT in the Magic Kingdom. Until now.

Magic Kingdom-to-serve-alcohol-for-the-first-time-ever-with-opening-of-Be-Our-Guest-restaurant/

One might argue that this is the only restaurant in the park to offer it (so far), that it will be 'spendy' (people who are willing to spend $6-8 for a beer at Epcot won't have a problem), and there is no 'to go' (well, you can still get 'tanked' sitting at your dinner table).

So what happens when a Cast Member tries to 'cut-off' a guest who is on the way to intoxication?

Or when an inebriated guest hits the park after dinner?  

Some folks are pushy and aggressive enough without any added influence.

I think this is a bad idea and a bad decision by Disney.

Disney Picture of the Day

New Fantasyland - Opening Soon!

The largest expansion in Magic Kingdom Park history will soon be completed - except for Princess Fairytale Hall (2013, in the former Snow White area) and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (2014), both located in the "Enchanted Forest" section.

Most of the "Storybook Circus" area is now open.

Beginning in November (the 19th), Cast Members, AP holders and DVC members will be able to preview the new Fantasyland and then, December 6th will be the Grand Opening for .....

Enchanted Forest:

   Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid, 

       Enchanted Tales with Belle, 

            Be Our Guest Restaurant, 

                  Gaston’s Tavern, 

                         Ariel’s Grotto,

                                 and Bonjour! Village Gifts

Storybook Circus:

Pete's Silly Sideshow- a character-greeting experience located under the red "big top" where Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck and Goofy play their part as one of the stars of the circus! 

 

 The Great Goofini is the circus daredevil. The Astounding Donaldo is a snake charmer. Madame Daisy Fortuna is the fortuneteller, and Minnie Magnifique is the circus's greatest star.

And don't forget Big Top Souvenirs!

Already operating:

 Dumbo the Flying Elephant, The Barnstormer and Casey Jr. Splash ‘n’ Soak Station 

Previews for Cast Members and select Guest audiences including Annual Passholders and Disney Vacation Club members will take place well before the grand opening, with general Guest previews starting Nov. 19.

photos: WDW

Personal Note:  Fantasyland has been my least favorite area of MK, but now it's gonna be lots more interesting! 

It's just too bad that Mickey's and Minnie's houses couldn't have been tucked away somewhere in the Enchanted Forest!

Food and Wine 2012

 The kiosk and Menu list is finally out!

 2012 Epcot F & W Festival Marketplace booths & menus

New kiosks this year are Florida and Terra.

I learned years ago that having a PLAN will save lots of time AND $$.

And yes, I've already made my list:

 

Argentina
Beef Empanada
Grilled Beef Skewer with Chimichurri Sauce and Boniato Purée

Australia
Lamington

Beverage Selections: Rosemount Estate Traminer Riesling

Belgium
Belgian Waffle with Berry Compote and Whipped Cream
Guylian Belgian Chocolate Seashell Truffles

Beverage Selections: Godiva Chocolate Liqueur Iced Coffee

Brewer’s Collection

Canada
Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup
Chicken Chipotle Sausage with Sweet Corn Polenta and “Minus 8″ Onion Jam
“Le Cellier” Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Mignon with Truffle Butter Sauce

Beverage Selections: Neige Première Apple Ice Wine

Caribbean Islands

Ropa Vieja with Cilantro Rice
Jerk Spiced Chicken Drumstick with Mango Chutney

Beverage Selections: Bacardi® Torched Cherry Frozen Cherry Limeade

Cheese

China
Mongolian Beef with Chinese Steamed Bun
Pork Pot Stickers
Chicken Satay with Spicy Peanut Sauce and Pickled Vegetables
Mango Tapioca Pudding

Craft Beers

Desserts & Champagne
Yogurt Panna Cotta with Orange Cake, Raspberries and Pomegranate
Lemon Custard Verrine with Blueberry Compote
Dark Chocolate Mousse with Chili and Salted Caramel

Beverage Selections: Nesquick Frozen Chocolate Foam & Nesquick Frozen Strawberry Foam

Fife and Drum

 

Florida <– New!
White Corn Arepa with Mangalitsa Pork Rilette and Zellwood Sweet Corn Salad
Beverage Selections:
Florida Orange Grove Key Limen / Florida Orange Grove Hurricane Class 5, Florida White Sangria

France

 

Germany
Schinken Nudel (Pasta Gratin with Ham and Cheese)
Roast Bratwurst in a Pretzel Roll
Apple Strudel with Karamel-Vanilla Sauce

Greece
Greek Salad with Pita Bread
Griddled Greek Cheese with Pistachios and Honey
Chicken Souvlaki with Tzatziki
Spanakopita

Hawaii
Kalua Pork Slider with Sweet and Sour Dole Pineapple Chutney and Spicy Mayonnaise

Hops & Barley

Ireland
Kerrygold Cheese: Aged-Irish Cheddar, Dubliner & Cashel Blue with Apple Chutney & Brown Bread
Warm Chocolate Lava Cake with Bailey’s Ganache

Beverage Selections: Bunratty Mead Honey Wine & Bunratty Potcheene Chilled Irish Coffee

Italy
Ravioli di Formaggio All’emiliana (Baked Cheese Ravioli, Creamy Beef Bolognese, Parmesan, Mozzarella)
Salsiccia e “Papacelli” Napoletani (Sweet Sausage, Red Pepper, Ciaibatta Bread)
Cannoli al Cioccolato (Chocolate-Covered Cannoli filled with Ricotta, Chocolate, Candied Fruit)

Beverage Selections: Prosecco Zardetto

Japan
Sukiyaki Beef Pan (Marinated Thin Sliced Rib Eye with Sauteed Onions and Teriyaki Sauce in a Bun)

Mexico
Taco de Filete with Cascabel Pepper Sauce and Scallions Served on a Flour Tortilla
Natilla de Cajeta (Caramel Custard Served with Sauce)

Beverage Selections: Lime Strawberry Margarita On the Rocks

Morocco
Kefta Pocket (Ground Seasoned Beef in a Pita Pocket)
Baklava

New Zealand

Poland
Zapiekanki-Toasted Mushroom, Caramelized Onion and Cheese Bread with House Made Ketchup

Scandinavia
Singapore

South Africa
Seared Filet of Beef with Smashed Sweet Potatoes and Braai Sauce
Spinach and Paneer Cheese Pocket

South Korea
Lettuce Wrap with Roast Pork and Kimchi Slaw

Terra <– New!
Trick’n Chick’n Curry with Basmati Rice featuring Gardein Chick’n Breast
Chili Colorado with House Made Chips & Cashew Cheese, featuring Gardein Beefless Tips
Chocolate Cake with Passion Fruit Sorbet and Coconut Foam

PS: I have an Eat to the Beat list, too!

15 Years of Off Kilter Music

 
 Off Kilter   has been playing its rockin'-out bagpipe Celtic rock at Epcot's Canada Pavilion in the World Showcase for 15 years today.

Congrats and Thanks, Jamie, Mark, Randy, Tony, and Scotty!

If you haven't heard these guys yet, you really are missing out.

More here:  Off Kilter

Note from the Disney parks Blog: "If you’re lucky enough to hear Off Kilter play “Farewell to Nova Scotia,” don’t be surprised if it suddenly sounds a whole lot like “Mickey Mouse Club March.” "

 Kickin' it!

Photo: Allears.net

So, what DO they wear under the kilts, hmmm?

 JAMIE (laughing): We get that question a lot and we have a couple different answers. I like to say we wear white socks and Doc Marten boots under our kilts. But, of course, the real answer is bike shorts.      (H/T: Allears.net)

Cars Land

O.M.G.

I wanna go!!

Cars Land

 

 Photos: Disney

Disney: Heroes Work Here

As my Aussie friend would say, Good Onya, Disney!

From Disney careers.com

Employ Excellence. Hire Veterans.

The Walt Disney Company is proud to present our Veterans' Initiative, "Heroes Work Here." At Disney we recognize the hard work, dedication and loyalty it takes to serve your country honorably, no matter what point and time in your life it may be. Our veterans and their families have given so much to us, and we want to continue to give back.

Through this initiative, we are committed to continuing the outreach efforts we began in 2004, and building upon them. Our goal is to add more volunteer opportunities, and financial sponsorship to support veterans' education. We are also committed to more recruitment outreach, through "Casting Our Veterans," which we hope will provide you a way to explore a new chapter in your personal career story. 

We look forward to joining forces with our veterans in the continuation of our American Story!

 

 And from the Disney Blog:  Heroes work here

 

 

Did you hear? We’re looking for military heroes to join the team. Disney President and CEO Bob Iger just announced a new company-wide initiative to hire, train and support returning veterans called Heroes Work Here. It’s exciting news and we’ve got the details. Disney will:

• Provide at least 1,000 jobs, career opportunities for returning U.S. veterans over the next three years.
• Support military families, veterans transitioning into civilian life.
• Launch a national public awareness campaign to encourage job opportunities for veterans.

So, what job opportunities are we talking about? They’ll run the gamut from internships to leadership roles and span all segments of The Walt Disney Company. To support this effort, the company will host career fairs and participate in events showcasing job opportunities for returning military personnel.

Disney will also invest in select non-profit organizations that provide training and other support services for veterans, while Disney VoluntEARS will lend their time and talents to the effort through service projects with veterans’ organizations across the country. 

Also, be sure and keep an eye out for some of the talented veterans already employed at Disney in TV spots to encourage other companies to create opportunities for returning military personnel. To learn more about Heroes Work Here, visit the Disney Careers website.

I do believe that Walt would have approved.

 Photo:Disney

 

How Cool is THIS:

Mandy Monorail

 

 Photo: Disney Blog

Mona Monorail

 

Photo: Disney Blog

 

 Disney Blog:Three New Faces Come to the Disneyland Resort

  Each Monorail has its own personality, which Disneyland Resort guests will certainly hear when riding. Manny, Mandy and Mona Monorails are taking charge of the overhead announcements themselves – providing a new experience along the “Highway in the Sky.”

The third face will be the red monorail, Manny.

The new faces are to welcome the new   

Cars Land

at Disney's California Adventure which opens June 15th.  (OMG! I wanna go!)

 Photo: Paul Hiffmeyer, Disney Blog

Photo: Disney Blog

Eat to the Beatles

Epcot's Food and Wine Festival is one of my most favorite things at WDW and the Eat to the Beat concerts are part of that.

There are some that I enjoy more than others (Richard Marx!),

some that I miss (The Ventures),

and some that have never been, but would absolutely love to see (The Everly Brothers, Huey Lewis and the News).

Have you heard the rumor that the  sons of the Fab Four  might form a band? Can you imagine the crowds that THEY would draw? Of course, they would more than likely play the Amway Center before America Gardens Theater, but wouldn't it be great if they would come over and sing some of their dads' songs?

 James McCartney, Dhani Harrison, Zak Starkey, Sean Lennon

Update: Storybook Circus

  The Disney Parks Blog  has announced that part of the new Storybook Circus of the new Fantasyland, will open in late March.

 

 Photo: Disney Parks Blog

So, what will we get? 

One of the new Dumbo the Flying Elephants. The other Dumbo will open at a later date.

The Barnstormer featuring the Great Goofini  with new theming elements.

And the Fantasyland train station of the Walt Disney Railroad.

In other news: Snow White’s Scary Adventures will be permanently closing June 1, 2012.  Princess Fairytale Hall will eventually take its place. 

The next phase of openings will take place in Fall 2012 and all of the Fantasyland expansion is set to be completed in 2014.

I am especially looking forward to  ...

 The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train 

 The coaster will feature a first-of-its kind ride system with a train of ride vehicles that swing back and forth as they move along the track.

Bye, Bye Kim Possible

 The 'Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure' at Epcot will be closing this summer to make way for Agent P (aka Perry the Platypus) and Dr.Doofenshmirtz, characters from the Disney Channel series "Phineas and Ferb".

 

 

The new interactive experience will be 'Phineas & Ferb: Agent P's World Showcase Adventure'.

Epcot guests will become secret agents using clues provided by a 'high tech device' and travel throughout the World Showcase (Mexico, France, Germany, Norway, Japan, China and The UK) to help Agent P thwart the evil Doctor.

New Disney Buses

This month and through mid-April, new buses will be tested at WDW.

These "articulated buses" are longer and will be able to carry more Guests on the 'higher volume' routes. 

I personally think Disney should expand the monorail system from resorts-to-parks and resorts-to-Downtown-Disney. Do away with most, if not all, of the buses and their stinky, pollutive, exhausts (as well as clear out a lot of traffic!).

Read this:

 Disney Planning

In July 2000, Weiss even went so far as saying, “in two years, we are committed to drastically reducing the number of buses required to fulfill our internal transportation needs.”  He put the two year date on a “transport system which will whisk guests from the airport to a new hub on property in five minutes.”

In most every office room in the Magic Kingdom, there is a property map – and not all are current.  Most had “Future Monorail Expansion” leaving the EPCOT pad and going through the gap between Journey Into Imagination and The Land, down by the Yacht, Beach, and Dolphin, and ending at the Studios.  Some had a line leaving from there to Animal Kingdom as well.

Speculation ran rampant, and Cockerell and Weiss admitted that plans were not finalized – but they were looking at several transportation systems and knew they would not use the monorail to connect everything, just perhaps the theme parks.  A lead contender was a light rail line – and though there were several rumors, I believe the most credible was a spur going from the TTC down to Fort Wilderness, Dixie Landings, and Port Orleans, and another going down Buena Vista Drive basically from Downtown Disney, Typhoon Lagoon, Carribean Beach, Studios, Coronado Springs, Blizzard Beach, and perhaps the All Stars.

C'mon, Disney-Powers-That-Be, instead of building luxury houses, build a property-wide monorail system it !!

Hyperion Wharf ??

After closing Pleasure Island's clubs, demolishing Motion and the Rock & Roll Beach Club, everything stopped.

It was announced that changes were being made to the changes - and now there is Nothing, zero, zip, nada going on. 

Hopefully some of the new changes will include NOT demolishing the Adventurers' Club and/or Comedy Warehouse!!  Maybe Mannequins, too!

Because not only kids come to WDW and sometimes adults need entertainment/something to do, too. 
   

Save the Adventurers Club

Confession # 19: I Love Dug

Pluto has long held the position of my favorite Disney character. He never spoke - except for two brief words *Trivia alert*, so he had to rely on a multitude of facial expressions and body language. 

But now I must confess: Dug the dog (from "UP") has equalled Pluto's place in my affections.

Who could resist those eyes! That nose. The voice. ("I have just met you and I Laaahve you!"

 The making of Dug the Dog

Meet Dug

*Trivia: the two words spoken by Pluto: "Kiss me"

Confession # 18: J.R. Martinez

 J.R. Martinez , Army veteran, soap star, and Dancing champ, recently visited Universal Studios' Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

Photo:  Orlando Sentinel

I'm not generally impressed by celebrity, but I do think J.R. is a special guy.
I do wish I had been there that day to shake J.R.'s hand and thank him for his service to our country.

'Bye Little Red

WDW has announced a change coming to the Kilimanjaro Safari at DAK.

The 'poacher' storyline will be changed with no more Little Red (baby elephant animatronic).

More live animals - the zebras return (yay!) - on a new savannah space (with watering hole) will take its place.

The refurbishment will begin this spring.

The attraction will remain operating.

Good! I never much liked the whole "catch the poacher" storyline.

Real Life Disney: Royalty

This is just uncanny!!

Disney World 2012

2012 Major Disney World Events

March 7-May 20

9th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival

Flower Power concerts!!

May

a partial (phased) opening of the new value resort, Art of Animation

May 18-20  &  May 25-27

June 1-3  &  June 8-10         

Star Wars Weekends 

 May the Force be with us!

Sept 28-Nov 11

17th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

International food kiosks!        

             Eat to the Beat concerts!!

September - November

Mickey's Not-so-Scary Halloween Party

Boo to You  ...  and you !!

October 1st

Epcot's 30th anniversary 

November-December

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

aaaaaaand ...

the (phased) opening of the new expanded (almost doubled)

Fantasyland

Be Our Guest!

a new Test Track experience

Splitsville

(a 50,000 sq ft upscale bowling alley/entertainment center)

Sounds Great!

....  But  .....

whatever happened to Hyperion Wharf  ??