Star Tours 2011

Finally had a ride on the improved "Star Tours" attraction over at the Studios.


The wait time was shown as 5 minutes (even though the end of the line was right at the entance). Nuh-uh. Although the line moved fairly steadily, it was quite a bit more than 5 minutes.

A high point of the line-wait: we were at the spot just opposite the door where the Storm Troopers emerge for the Jedi Training Academy session ... when they emerged!  They 'played' to the line, who loved it (yes, me too!), while waiting for their entrance cue.

The ride itself was much improved! No more herky-jerky. But if you don't like Mission:Space (even the green, less intense, side), don't bother. It's a lot like that.

Disney Rumors

The expectation is high that these hot rumors may be answered at the D23 Expo this week in California:

* The return of the Adventurers' Club
    Remember when Disney announced changes to the changes at Pleasure Island/Hyperion Wharf?  I bet this is one!

* A new land at the Animal Kingdom
   The popular guess is for a Beastly Kingdom (dragons & unicorns, etc);  I personally would love to see Australia added!

* A new country in the World Showcase at Epcot
   Brazil announced earlier that they would have a pavilion, but nothing official from Disney; Maybe now! Or, if Oz is not added to the AK, how about an Aussie pavilion??

* Monsters Inc. roller coaster at DHS
  Oh, Yeah, and I know just where it would go - Animation Courtyard (Pixar Alley) in that space next to Toy Story Mania, where the sign says "Hot set".
 

* More DVC resorts
  
* A World of Color fountain show

* An updated Imagination pavilion at Epcot
    This would be about time, too.


Read more  HERE

Food & Wine 2011

 
The International marketplace kiosk menus are  posted here.

Ummmmm. What's on my list this year?


Argentina:
  Beef Empanada
  Grilled Beef Skewer with Chimichurri Sauce and Boniato Puré

Australia:
  Lamington Cake

Belgium:
  Belgian Waffle with Berry Compote and Whipped Cream
  Guylian Belgian Chocolate Seashell Truffles
  Godiva Chocolate Iced Coffee
 
Brazil  (NEW):
  Feijoada - Brazil's National Dish 

Canada:
  Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup
  Chicken Chipotle Sausage with Sweet Corn Polenta

Caribbean  (NEW):
  Vieja Ropa
  Frozen Dragon berry Colada
  Frozen Rock Coconut Mojito

China:

  Xinjang BBQ Chicken stick

  Caramel-ginger Ice cream 
  Green tea Plum Wine Cooler

France:
  Coq au Vin
  Créme Brulée au Chocolate au Lait

Germany:
  Goulash Suppe

   Neurnberger sausage in Pretzel roll

  Apple strudel w/ caramel and vanilla sauce

Greece:
  Griddled Greek Cheese with Pistachios and Honey

Hawaii  (NEW):
  Kalua Pork Slider with Sweet & Sour Dole Pineapple Chutney and Spicy Mayonnaise
  Seven Tiki Mai Tai

Hops & Barley:
  Pumpkin Mousse with Ocean Spray Craisins and Orange Sauce

Italy:
  Ravioli Di Formaggio all'Emiliana
  Cannoli al Cioccolato

Ireland:
  Warm Chocolate Lava Cake with Baileys Irish Cream Ganache

Mexico:
  Rib eye Tacos
  Flan
  Lime Strawberry Margarita on the Rocks

Morocco:
  Harissa Chicken Roll
  Baklava

New Zealand
Poland

Portugal  (NEW):
  Linguica Sausage with Onions, Peppers and Olives

Scandinavia:
  Swedish Meatballs with Lingonberries
  Rice Pudding with Driscoll's® Only The Finest Berries™
  Xante ????

Singapore:
  Beef Rendang (coconut braised beef) with Jasmine Rice
  Singapore Sling

South Africa:
  Seared Filet of Beef with smashed Sweet Potatoes and Braai Sauce
  Bunny Chow (Vegetable Curry served in a Bread Loaf)

South Korea:
  Boolgogi BBQ Beef with steamed Rice and KimchiMyung Jak
  Bokbunjajoo (New Raspberry Wine)
  Bohae Bokbunjajoo (Black Raspberry Rice Wine)

USA (Fife & Drum)
 Frozen Red Stag Lemonade by Jim Beam

Yes, I'm already saving up for this.
And yes, it just might take TWO visits.


Eat to the Beat Concerts

Ooooh, the Gin Blossoms.

Richard Marx will be back   YAY !!

Splitsville

Disney has announced some changes to the previous announcement regarding the change of Pleasure Island into Hyperion Wharf.

Amongst them will be the addition of  Splitsville , a bowling alley/dinner lounge in the the location currently occupied by Ridemakerz custom remote control and toy cars (which will be moving to the Marketplace) (and before That, the location of the Virgin Atlantic Record Store). Coming in 2012.


Hopefully, Splitsville is not going to take the place of the previously announced 100-lane bowling alley that was going to be built at Wide World of Sports.

But, This is way cool, as DTD needs more places with things to DO rather than places with things to buy or things to eat ... but a place that serves a good breakfast would be most appreciated!

UPDATE:   Splitsville will open December 19th, 2012

Happy Anniversary, Harry Potter Land

OK, I know it's officially the "Wizarding World Of Harry Potter", but really, you knew egzactly to what I was referring!

Anyhoo, it's been one year since Harry Potter Land opened which Universal did not let pass without a celebration!


(Trivia: The one millionth butterbeer was sold back in January.

Our local news reader said that attendance at Universal Orlando is up 30+% for the last year.  And that attendance at WDW declined.

So why didn't you-know-who (and I do NOT mean Voldemort) create HPL?

Rumoredly, the reason:

J.K. Rowling was very specific about how she wanted the park built; the Powers-that-be at Disney did not think her ideas would work; the Imagineers were rumoredly 'relieved' to not have to work with her.  (Universal pretty much said: whatever you want!)


The more-or-less 'official' reason: the Powers-that-be at Disney thought that the Harry Potter craze would dwindle quickly after the last movie was released.

Had I been a Disney Imagineer, I could imagine a whole park, not just a section of one, dedicated to Wizards and wizardly stuff. How about a resort hotel done up like Hogwarts with 4 sections (Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, Slytherin) decorated accordingly?  Every kid in the world would want to stay there. And more than a few adults, too.  There could have been a Diagon Alley as well as a Hogsmeade. More rides. More wizardstuff to buy.  More everything. 

I am in no way denigrating the incredible job Universal has done.
But it is too bad that apparently it's okay for Walt to protect his 'dreams' and creations, but not J.K. Rowling. How ironic.

Darth Vader Does Disneyland

Hilarious Disney ad for the new and vastly improved Star Tours:

Darth Vader does Disneyland

I love the heavy sigh (listen for it).

Special Anniversary

The Hubby and I recently celebrated our anniversary of over 4 decades of wedded bliss (and whatever). Thank you. :)

He said I could choose anywhere for dinner, including Victoria and Albert's, if I so desired. Before you go awwwww, he felt pretty certain that I wouldn't choose V & A's. He was right.  Not because I can't get fancy-schmancy dressed up, I just don't care for the menu.

So, I chose the California Grill.
Yes, the one on top of the Contemporary Resort.
We made a reservation for the earliest time available hoping to avoid the 'fireworks crowd'.

It was much smaller than I expected.
The view was incredible.
The service was friendly; the serving technique was so-so.

The food was very, very good, except for dessert, which was disappointing.  We had the triple cheese flatbread for starters, then the oak-fired filet mignon (cooked perfectly), and the Lemon Trio for dessert.

And since it was our anniversary 'celebration', we were surprised with Mickey confetti, a half-glass of champagne, and a large piece of  yummylicious chocolate cake.

The only real downer to the experience was:

Disney's rather liberal dress code.

The California Grill is a Signature dining experience, and even tho there is a dress code ...

Dress Code Guidelines:
Men: Khakis, slacks, jeans, dress shorts, collared shirts.  Sport coats are optional.
Ladies:  Capris, skirts, dresses, jeans, dress shorts.

Not permitted in dining room: Tank tops, swimwear, hats for gentleman, cut offs, or torn clothing. While T-shirts are now allowed, the policy remains that T-shirts with offensive language or graphics are not acceptable.

... most of the other diners looked as though they had just come from the parks. I guess WDW considers cargo shorts as dress shorts.

My rating: B
Hubby's Rating: B-

Ultimate Pin Sharks

Pin Sharks are one of the reasons I got over my obsession with pin trading.

These guys are the Ultimate Pin Sharks

150 pounds of pins? That's more than I weigh!

Good Night Grad Night

Last night was the last Grad Night at WDW's Magic Kingdom, a tradition since 1972* that will be missed by future high school seniors.
 
Why would Disney cancel such a popular event?

"Because of concerns about scheduling and handling extra spring attendance at the Florida theme park....increased spring attendance has made it difficult to schedule the separate-ticket, after-hours events."


Grad Nights necessitate closing the Magic Kingdom at 7p.m., not a popular move with the folks paying to stay in the resorts (and who would spend more bucks at the parks than than the kids).

So now Disney World will offer Florida school groups a one-day, one-park ticket for $55 as a future alternative.

Aha. Disney has figured out that instead of having busloads of kids come in for 5 hours on four nights of the year and closing the MK to thousands of resort guests, it might be better (=more profitable) for these kids to come on personal graduation trips, most likely with their families.

Hey, I'm not complaining and neither are most of the Cast Members who worked these usually raucous events.

* In 2009 Disney tried it out at the Studios, but apparently there were mucho complaints about that because of fewer rides and attractions.

WDW Resort 'Specialty' Rooms

WDW will offer something special to resort guests in the very near future.

At Port Orleans-Riverside,  over 500 Royal Guest Rooms will be available for guests starting in the spring of 2012.

These rooms will feature:

• Ornately decorated beds that include headboards with fiber optic special effects and gold and crystal accents
• Custom bed coverings and drapes that create a more luxurious “royal” experience
• Unique, in-room artwork featuring Tiana ("Princess and the Frog") and her royal visitors

Meanwhile at the Contemporary Resort, over 20 Health and Wellness Rooms on the 14th floor of Disney’s Contemporary Resort will be available starting in the fall of 2011 and will feature:

• environmentally-friendly design elements; Relaxing scents; A custom food and beverage menu for the concierge lounge and private dining; Cardio fitness equipment so guests may exercise in the comfort of their own suite and at their own pace; Customized spa, fitness and nutrition treatments either provided in-room or in the wellness studio, an exclusive offering on the 14th floor; Unique concierge lounge experiences; Traditional club level services, like advanced itinerary planning; Sweeping top-floor views of Magic Kingdom Park and Bay Lake

Guests may begin booking these offerings mid-summer.

And don't bother looking on mousesavers for discounts on these rooms.

Royal Room

There was no mention of the 'Haunted Mansion' -themed rooms.