Confession # 5: I Read "Team Rodent: How Disney Devours the World"

... and loved it.

It's just a bit dated now, having been published in 1998.

Mr. Hiassen, a fellow Floridian, has written an eighty-three page zinger about the Walt Disney Company and Walt Disney World.

Chapter titles include:

Insane Clown Michael (Eisner)
Republic of Walt
Fantasy Fantasy Island
Whistle While We Work

The back cover of the book states that Mr Hiassen's "dream is to be banned forever from Disney World" ...

I'm surprised that he wasn't.
The Disney High Muckey-mucks (Mickey-micks?) don't often have a sense of humor when someone takes potshots at the Mouse House, or in this case tosses grenades.

Several years ago the book was being discussed in an on-line Disney World newsgroup and some of the readers were positively aghast that some writer would write unflattering things about anything Disney.

The Walt Disney Company is a business after all, and what is the main concern of most businesses?

Right, the Bottom Line. $$$.

"Team Rodent: How Disney Devours the World" can be found for sale at Amazon.com but not at the World of Disney store.

Wishful Thinking # 2 : Animal Kingdom

Wishful Thinking:

* Add a new area.

The logical addition to Africa and Asia would be ... AUSTRALIA!

Think of the possibilities:

_an Outback area featuring kangaroos, emus, koalas, platypuses (platypi?), kookaburras, Tasmanian Devils, etc;

_a Shrimp-on-the-Barbie snack stop;

_a Soarin'-type ride over the Outback, the Great Barrier Reef, the Snowy Mountains;

_Characters: Bernard and Miss Bianca

(remember The Rescuers Down Under ?);

Maybe even Crocodile Dundee and Mad Max (well, maybe they would be more suitable at say, Universal)

Disney Dining: Restaurant Akershus

The Norwegian restaurant in Epcot's NORWAY pavilion used to be a quiet place to have an interesting, different meal.
Now it's the Akershus Royal Banquet Hall with
Princess Dining - Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Even if you decide to brave the onslaught of adorable, but noisy, princesses (and their entourages), just try to get an ADR.
WDW site:

Akershus Royal Banquet Hall

Allears:

Princess Storybook Breakfast
Princess Storybook Lunch
Princess Storybook Dinner

Survivor: Walt Disney World

OUTEAT ~ OUTSPEND ~ OUTRIDE

TRIBES:

Theme Park Commandos

Stroller Storm Troopers

Brazilian Brigade

CHALLENGES:

_Decipher this sentence: The CM in a blue costume came onstage at DAK and pointed out a HM to the Guests.

_Eat Dinner at 'Ohana's and be able to stand up afterwards.

_Ride Toy Story Mania the same day as you get in line.

_Traverse the entire World of Disney store and have money left.

_Go to Club Cool (Epcot). Drink all the samples except the nasty, bitter one.

_Drive from DTD to the Magic Kingdom using only the WDW signs as a guide.
(penalty point for each wrong turn, double penalty points for every car you 'cut off')

_Find your hotel room at any resort without making any wrong turns.

_Walk through Animal Kingdom without getting whacked in the ankles by at least one stroller.

_Figure out the serving line at Boma's. (Left? Right? Center?)

_Walk through Minnie's Country House in ToonTown Fair without touching anything.

_Go to the beach at Fort Wilderness, pull a snack out of your pocket, open it and count the number of birds that suddenly surround you.

_Figure out the fastest way to get from any park to DTD.
(Hint: there are NO direct bus routes from WDW parks to DTD)

_Meet and Greet every character in all 4 parks.

_Have a smile on your face by 4 pm in any park.

NOTE: In case of ties, the survivors will ride It's A Small World until one leaps off screaming.

Keys to the Kingdom

This Magic Kingdom tour is a must do for any Walt Disney World fanatic.

Tour Basics:

* Tours are offered daily: 8:30, 9:00 & 9:30am.
They start at City Hall just inside the Magic Kingdom Main Entrance.

* It is a 4 1/2 - 5 hour walking tour of the Magic Kingdom.
There are scheduled sit-down and bathroom breaks.

* There is an age limit: 16 and older.
You'll appreciate that.

* The cost is $60 + Magic Kingdom admission.
Yet another reason to have an annual pass.
Ask about AP, DVC, Disney Visa discounts.

* The group takes a couple of rides during which the guide offers up new trivia.
I won't mention which ones, let it be a surprise.

* Yes, you go backstage (Disneyspeak for behind the scenes), including a venture into the Utilidors. This is obviously the highlight of the tour!

* Lunch at the Columbia Harbour House is included.
You choose your meal from the menu at check-in.
It was ready, waiting and yummy ... and we didn't have to stand in line!

* Reservations are required. Call: 1-407-WDW-TOUR (1-407-939-8687) between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends and holidays. You will need to reserve your tour with a credit card. There is a 48-hour cancellation policy for a full refund.

I must add, that our tour guide, Matthew (the Matthew from Indiana), was exceptional!
He was experienced, knowledgeable and had a wonderfully wicked sense of humor.
When we do the tour again (and we will!), I will absolutely request Matthew's tour group.

If you still need convincing, Read other Reviews HERE.

Mouse Hunting

In case you're new to the World of all Things Mickey Mouse, a Hidden Mickey (aka HM) is a silhouette of Mickey's head and ears:

They are placed just about everywhere: rides, resorts, restaurants.

Just to keep things interesting, HMs may also take the form of a side profile of Mickey’s face and head, or sometimes just his ears, gloves or shoes.

Here's a classic HM at the Wilderness Lodge -->

HMs are not to be confused with decorative Mickeys, which are not hidden.

HMs sprang into existence during the building of Epcot when the Imagineers wanted to have some fun.

Cast Members and Guests began spotting them and voila, the sport of spotting Hidden Mickeys began.

Every time a new ride, attraction, resort, etc opens, there is much anticipation of new HMs to find.

BTW, other characters are hidden as well: Hidden Minnies, Donalds, Goofys, Plutos, Baloos and Winnie the Poohs, have been reported.

I have personally seen a Hidden Donald.
Well, okay, our Keys to the Kingdom tour guide gave us a great big hint of where to look.
Well, okay, he told us exactly where to look otherwise we never would have seen it.



Some HMs are easy to spot.

<-- Here's an easy one in Epcot's World Showcase. Others are much more subtle.





Like this one -->

A Cast Member-Server at the Garden Grill told us about a HM on the wall and even went and got a pointer when we couldn't spot it.

See it?

Steven Barrett not only has a website devoted to Hidden Mickeys, he has written a Field Guide to finding the darn things.

Note to the WDW Powers-That-Be:

How about a Hidden Mickey Tour?

Shortchanged

'Four for a Dollar', the great a cappella group who perform the Beauty and the Beast preshow at Disney's Hollywood Studios, will join Kristos, Imaginum, and Andy Mation in the realm of former Disney performers after their last performance on September 20th.

Photo: Steve Soares

Confession # 4: I Am a Reformed Obssessed Pin Trader

Yes, I admit it. I am a pin trader. But. I am no longer obsessed with it.

It all began with a Disney pin that my brother gave me way back in 2001.

What fun it was to trade pins with Cast Members.
Then I discovered on-line trading.
Our trips to WDW became pin quests.
Forget the rides, there's a Cast Member with a Lanyard!

About a year and a half later, I realized in a moment of clarity that I was not having fun anymore.
I was becoming a pin shark.

A fun hobby had become an obsession.

We dismantled the collection, keeping only our very favorite pins and those with special meaning.

I still trade now and then. Just for fun.

Pin Photos from PinPics.com

Basic No-Frill Dreams: $75

Walt Disney World just raised ticket prices, again.


A one-day, no extras, adult ticket will now cost $75.
A one-day, no extras, kid's (age 3-9) ticket will now cost $63.

The "Magic Your Way" multiday-ticket packages price went up also.
According to the local news, Disney said the price increases were due to the cost of printing the park time schedules.

Well, here's a thought: Instead of printing the weekly park time schedules, put up electronic bulletin boards -like the ones at Epcot- in each park.

Think of the savings - cost of paper, cost of printing the paper, cost of emptying the paper out of the trash, not to mention the environmental issues.

MNSSHP

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party

This annual event occurs on select nights September through October at WDW's Magic Kingdom and is one of the funnest things ever!

The biggest question is NOT whether to Go or Not Go - But whether or not to dress up.

This will be the 4th year in a row that my sis and I have been.

We love seeing all of the innovative costumes ...
my last year's favorite was Larry the Cable Guy & Son (who was about 2) with matching shirts, hats, and sideburns.

We love watching the dance parties ...
Oogie Boogie on down!

We love the trick or treating ...
which usually turns out to be a competition to see who can get the most chocolate goodies. (some sisterly things never change)

We love the 'Happy Hallowishes' fireworks and the Villains!

We love the 'Boo to You' parade ...
this is absolutely the best parade at WDW
and my personal favorite thing about MNSSHP.

The parade is preceded by the Headless Horseman galloping through the park - a must see!

2008 Dates:

September 5, 9, 12, 16, 19, 23, 26, 28, 30
October 2, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 16, 19, 21, 23, 24, 26, 28, 30, & 31

Official MNSSHP Info Here

Photo: AllEars.net