The magic is where you feel it

The magic is where you feel it
Tony Caggiano

Today’s article was inspired by the last minute trip down to Walt Disney World that I took the weekend before last, but actually started years ago.

While on our way to dinner at ‘Ohana back in the late 1990s, my sister-in-law and I were having a conversation as we walked through the lobby of the Polynesian Resort. We were admiring the foliage in the center of the lobby when she told me that as beautiful as the resort is, she thought that it lacked that special Disney magic. I was appalled, how on earth could this be?!?!? In my eyes there was no resort in all of Walt Disney World that held more of that Disney magic for me. What was she thinking? Clearly she had no idea what she was talking about!!!

Since that day, I have often though about her comments and why she would have felt that way. As a Walt Disney World vacationer, she had been visiting since around 1991. Nearly all of her trips to that point had been taken at, the then named, Dixie Landings Resort. As the resort which essentially brought her into the world of Disney vacations, it had always held a special place in her heart. An occasional dining excursion to a resort such as the Polynesian, while a lot of fun, didn’t bring her home to Walt Disney World the same way it did for me, someone who spent countless summer nights as a child running around the grounds by tiki torch light.

This concept of where people find their own Disney magic was brought back before me just a few weeks ago while I was planning my last minute trip. While considering which resort we should stay at for our weekend jaunt, I posted a question on my Facebook page as to what people thought of Pop Century, where we were planning to spend the weekend. The responses I received varied greatly, and ran from “Do yourself a favor and stay somewhere else” to “There is no place with more magic than Pop!” These responses got me thinking again about the conversation I had with my sister-in-law Kelly those many years ago.

My family and I spent six nights at Pop Century, and while we had an amazing trip and absolutely loved the resort, I couldn’t help but think how different the magic really from person to person. Those of us in this Disney community all have one thing in common: we get it, we all understand what the Disney magic is, and we all feel it. The fact of the matter is, however, that from person to person what makes the magic magical can be a very different thing. For some it mean the fast paced, hustle and bustle excitement of an early morning visit to Pop Century's food court on their way to the Magic Kingdom, while for others it might mean being the only person sitting at a picnic table by the waterfront outside of Good’s Food To Go at Disney’s Old Key West Resort, sipping a cup of coffee in the cool morning air planning a day at Epcot. The simple fact of the matter is, that no matter where you find it, or what it is that gives you that feeling, Disney magic is in the air everywhere you go in The World.

Even if it doesn’t look that way at first blush, you may just understand better what the magic is if you take the time to speak to others and ask where they find their own magic… it will no doubt be a labor of love to explore new ways to experience it for yourself.

15 years of magic

15 years of magic
Ryan P. Wilson

From October 1, 1986 until September 30, 1987 there was a spectacular held in Walt Disney World that would not set the standard for all celebrations to come, but is a celebration which still influences today’s annual events. The 15th Anniversary of Walt Disney World, sometimes referred to as the 15th Birthday Celebration, was shorten and most commonly referred to as simply 15 Years, with a logo the included both Spaceship Earth and Cinderella Castle.

The celebration itself had gigantic displays at the entrances to both parks. In front of the Main Street U.S.A. train station there was a large Mickey Mouse alarm clock with the number 15 filling in every spot where the 1 through 12 should be. Also in front of the station, guest could find a car from General Motors, but more on that in a bit. Meanwhile, over in EPCOT Center, there were massive angular cakes filling the entrance plaza. You can see the cake in the background of the photographs below, one of my sister and I and the other from the reader who inspired me to write this article.
(As a quick aside, I loved this photograph because it not only gave a great view of the 15th birthday cake, but also shows off the original plaza fountain and the vintage Future World trash cans.)

The 15 Years celebration also brought with it a great deal of entertainment. In the Magic Kingdom alone, there was a float added to the Main Street Electrical Parade as well as a stage show in front of Cinderella Castle and a afternoon parade, entitled 15th Birthday Magic Show and 15 Years of Magic, respectively. I can still, from time to time, find myself singing, “Fifteen years of magic, come and join fun…” While not designed specifically for the 15th celebration, Skleidoscope took place on the World Showcase Lagoon beginning in 1985 and ran through 1987. This spectacular used the now infamous dragon boats, as well as sea planes, parasails, sailboats, and other craft of the sea and air, as the battle between good, a la the Dreamfinder, and evil, in the form of the dragon boats, with the fate of the rainbow of color hanging in the balance.

(Quick aside number two, I would love to see the skies and lagoon of World Showcase again take center stage in the afternoon with an event like Skyleidoscope.)

Moving back to the General Motors vehicles in front of the Magic Kingdom, the cars were there as part of a giveaway. During the 15th celebration there were prizes given away to guests every fifteen seconds. From small pins up to the vehicles, the 15 Years event had one of the best guest to prize ratios ever seen in a Disney park celebration. While my family never won a car, even though one was given away every day, the EPCOT Center Future World pin, featuring Spaceship Earth and a diagonal monorail, is still a cherished possession.

Overall, the 15th year of Walt Disney World had quality entertainment, great prizes to be won, and decorations that did not detract from the overall park going experience. It may be because this was my heyday of visiting Walt Disney World as a child, but this celebration will always hold a fond place in my heart.

I want to take a moment to thank Aubrey Griffin Cooper, the reader who not only inspired me to write this article, but who also graciously donated her family photograph. As for the rest of the readers out there, if you have a question you want answered or topic you’d like covered on the Gazette, please feel free to email me: mainstreetgazette@gmail.com

Disney This Week - 21 March 2010

Disney This Week - 21 March 2010
Ryan P. Wilson

George Taylor uses one of my favorite resources, the Walt Disney World cast newsletter Eyes and Ears, to inform Imanginerding readers about the results of the St. Patrick’s Day Run… of 1984.

Vintage advertisements for the parks some of the most remarkable pieces of Disney history, due in part to their timecapsule nature, with attractions, hours, and/or prices all in one small article. A 1962 ad featuring Disneyland Swiss Family Treehouse, was brought to our attention this week at Kevin Kidney. Kevin Kidney is returning to reporting after a long absence, so welcome back to the fray!

As I made my way through the various sites and articles this week, I came across a recurring theme, the heart and soul of all things Disney that is the driving force behind why we keep coming back and why Disney holds such a fondness in our hearts. Here were a few pieces that caught my eye and tugged on my heart strings.

Disneyland’s Main Street U.S.A. is, in some ways, the heart of the Disney park experience. This week, we learned from Princess Fee, of DF’82 fame, that no matter rain or power outages the lights will always be burning.

There are a plethora of ways to propose in a Disney park. Dave DeCaro reminds us that creative and the couple matter when he presented a guest’s Disneyland wedding proposal story over at Daveland.

Cast Members are what make a great and memorable trip to Walt Disney World magical. AJ shows the Disney Food Blog readers that it is the simple discussions that can mean the most to guests and Cast Members as she recounts her interaction with the Rose and Crown’s bartender Carl.

Sierra Bailey is a designer and writer, both of which shine over at her Manic Trout home. This week, she has tumbled down the rabbit hole and is awed and inspired by Alice’s clothes in the recent feature, Alice in Wonderland.

The Gazette is always impressed with the amount of history and detail provided by DisneyShawn articles. This week, however, Shawn Slater throws caution to the wind and reminisces about his handful of memories from his very first trip to Walt Disney World.

I usually reserve Disney This Week for showcasing the talented writers from the various worlds and aspects of the Disney community, however, I would be remiss if I did not take a few moments to pause and put down my own thoughts on the loss of Fess Parker earlier this week. As I look back on my youth, aside from Walt Disney World, Fess Parker was the largest piece of my connection to Disney. I had the coonskin cap, a homemade costume that I wore day and night, a Tavern in my Fort Wilderness stomping grounds, and a song that made my heart swell when I sang it, and I sang it loud, proud, and often…Since those early years I have wandered near and far away from home, partially because of the adventurous spirit instilled in my younger self by the King of the Wild Frontier. He wasn’t Daniel Boone, he wasn’t even Fess Parker to me back then, he was, and always will be, Davy Crockett, and his spirit will be carried forward by pioneers and explorers, boys and girls, from generations before mine and those yet to come, and Fess Parker will always be the face of the legend, forevermore.

I recommend reading D23's fantastic story of the life of Fess Parker for more information.

Potter's Mill

Potter's Mill
Ryan P. Wilson

On Tom Sawyer Island there are lots of caves, bridges, hideaways, and even a fort to explore. For youngsters it is a playground paradise, but for those who know the tales of Tom Sawyer, it is literature come to life. But one piece of the island has a history that is even more storied than the rest of the island, Muff Potter’s Mill.

Muff Potter’s Mill, with its green slats and slowly churning windmill may not look like it from the outside, but inside it pays homage to one of the earliest Disney films. 1937’s The Old Mill, which was the first film to use the multiplane camera, featured the life and times of, you guessed it, an old mill. The dilapidated mill in the film bears little to no resemblance to Potter’s Mill, but the inhabitants are one in the same. Inside the windmill guests’ gaze is beckoned upward by the hoots of the sleepy owl and the luck of the bird who built her nest in one of the gears holds steady, as the gear it crosses just happens to be missing the prong that would surely cause her harm, and both of these elements can also be found in The Old Mill.

Art where you least expect it

Art where you least expect it
Tony Caggiano

Being the rather rare sort of park visitor who likes to slow down and really look around, I am always amazed at the remarkable amount of detail and art that can be found around the busy, busy parks, if guests only take the time to look for it.

The collection I have for you today is from Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Each section or land of the Animal Kingdom has its own crest of sorts. These crests are right under your nose, but I am sure that most people do not take the time to truly appreciate them.

My first photo was taken in the Oasis area, and is the logo of the Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

I love the fact that until I stopped to take this photo, even I barely noticed the subtle details of this wonderful piece of art, and the way that, even the spaces between the branches form the outlines of animals.






As we moved toward our first ride of the day, Kilimanjaro Safaris, I noticed the crest that coincided with our gracious host village of Harambe. With its proud and powerful shield and spears, it speaks of the pride of the local residents of this small African village.







As we wandered our way through the street of Harambe, we found ourselves at the Harambe Train Station. After a short ride, we were at the heart of Disney's Animal Kingdom, Rafiki's Planet Watch.

While admiring the veterinarians hard at work and exploring fun and exciting ways to make a difference in our world, I took a moment to admire some of the smaller, lesser known art offerings here. Brightly colored animal silhouettes against contrasting colors, form striking yet beautiful displays all around the area.







Later in the morning, our travels brought us to another far off land. Nestled high in the Himalayas, I found a crest bearing the likeness of the beautiful and majestic tiger, the symbol of Royal Forest of Anandapur.







As the day wore on we found ourselves en route to watch Festival of the Lion King. I was lucky enough to find the crest of Camp Minnie Mickey, emblazoned with the ubiquitous profile of the Big Cheese himself.







We wrapped up our visit to the Animal Kingdom with a stop by Dinoland U.S.A.

While queuing up for a spin on Dinosaur, I happened to catch a glimpse of the icon of The Dino Institute. Rather stately and scientific looking, their crest states their intentions plainly, with little frill. Yet it is still a work of art.







With my young sons getting restless, we decided it was time for the boys to “get their ride on” and stopped by Chester and Hester’s to hop on TriceraTop Spin and that is where we found the last of the Animal Kingdom’s noble crests…

While perhaps not as noble as some, it certainly does a great job of showing you that in a world such as Walt Disney World, you never know where you will find beauty and art. Take the time to slow down and you too may find untold wonders and hidden beauty everywhere you turn!

Hospitality and cuisine

Hospitality and cuisine
Ryan P. Wilson

On my most recent trip to Walt Disney World, the trip for the 2010 Half Marathon, I had the great pleasure of dining at a restaurant that not only has one of the most adventurous menus on property, but I also had the great joy of dining there with my very good friend Andy Jackson of Eating (and Drinking) around the World. The restaurant was Artist Point and, while the menu excited my taste buds and the décor inspired my other senses, I thought this review would go a little differently. This time, I am going to let to food speak for itself, with a few notes here and there from myself.

Spinach Salad with Crisp Bacon, Radishes, Hard-cooked Eggs, Pickled Onions, and Mustard Vinaigrette – Tasty, but not the most unique item that can be found here.

Venison Pot Stickers with Tamarind Ponzu – Tender and crispy, and the tamarind seals the deal.

Smokey Portobello Soup with Roasted Shitakes and Chive Oil – The interplay between the Portobello and Shitake paired with the creamy base made this to die for.

Truffle Fries – Frying makes everything better…

Grilled Beef Tenderloin with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes, Sautéed Baby Spinach, Blue Cheese Fritter, and Port Wine Reduction – Perfectly seasoned and cooked, but the rich blue cheese fritter is what sells this dish.

Butter-poached Wild Boar Tenderloin with Wild Mushroom Goat Cheese Bread Pudding, Fava Beans, and Huckleberry Au Jus – I will bypass the Hannibal reference I am dying to make here, and simply say that the boar was masterfully prepared, but the mushroom and goat cheese bread pudding was so flavorful that the portion size could be ramped up just slightly and this side could be a dish unto itself.

The atmosphere here compliments the fare perfectly, it is not pretentious but it calls for a more daring palate. Artist Point delivers on service, taste, quality, ambiance, and style. I would say that Artist Point is family-friendly, but it is most certainly better suited for a quiet meeting, a great meal with friends, or a romantic rendezvous. In fact, I would love to go back again, not just for the full experience, but even simply to sample its whole leaf tea and dessert offerings. Artist Point is another culinary masterpiece in the Walt Disney World dining repertoire.

Marine scientists at Vulcania

Marine scientists at Vulcania
Ryan P. Wilson

Often times, when thinking about an extinct attraction, enthusiasts tend to get whipped into a fever pitch about how incredible the experience was and bemoan the loss of the amazing attraction. That isn’t to say this isn’t a valid approach, and I have had more than one fit over a lost attraction myself, but today, I thought we would take a different approach and go back to the beginning. The beginning of what, you might ask? To the very beginning of life on Earth, or more appropriately the beginning of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

Guest approaching their underwater voyage could hear Captain Nemo discussing the merits of the seas with a mystical, almost romantic, recollection. As he expanded upon the abundance of creatures, resources, and adventures to be had in the great deep, he also offered up a potential new name for our planet, Oceanus. This journey through the Polar Ice Caps and through Atlantis, as well as through menacing tentacles, meant that an entire fleet of submarines had to be constructed for Walt Disney World.

This fleet, which would end up numbering twelve submarines before it was finished (fourteen if you count the two prop subs that are attacked during the voyage), and their design was the brainchild of George McGinnis. Meanwhile, over in Tampa, Bob Gurr had the task of merging all of the unruly drawings and electrical diagrams, not to mention the hull assembly of the submarines themselves. Between the shipyards of Morgan Yacht and Tampa Ship, the pieces came together.

Some of you may have already guessed the problem, the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea subs were extremely large, and they had to be transported from Tampa to Walt Disney World. The route to transport these underwater marvels had to dodge power lines, stay clear of the low clearance underpasses, and worry about the size, weight, and awkward shape of the submarines. As with all Disney projects, the team found a way to make the difficult look easy. And while most of us can remember viewing the subs plying their watery course in the attraction, how many of us can say that we saw the subs motoring down the highway, as in this 1971 photograph from Walt Disney Productions?

Environmentality’s Newest Addition

Environmentality’s Newest Addition
Tony Caggiano

While leaving Disney’s Animal Kingdom last week I stumbled across something I found very interesting, it was a trash receptacle. Now, I know many, if not all of you, have met the very popular talking trash can, PUSH, in Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland or his less known cousin, PIPA, who is a walking, talking recycling can over in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. However, this can neither walked nor talked, but it did cause me to stop in my tracks to take a closer look. The can I am speaking of is nothing more than a recycling can, specifically designed to collect used park maps.

I know what you are thinking, “We knew this guys was nuts, but this might take the cake!” At least, that is what I was thinking to myself. I’m not going to lie to you, I was getting some funny looks as I stood there photographing a garbage pail. The best look of the bunch was the one I got from a passerby as I turned to my wife and exclaimed, “How awesome is this,”…quite loudly!

In this day of recycling and the green movement, I thought it was great to see Disney taking steps to reclaim and recycle these maps that I love so much. Even after all of these years, I still grab a map as soon as I enter a park, a habit that has rubbed off on both of my sons, who MUST have a map as soon as they arrive also. Admittedly, I usually wind up taking my maps with me, as well as an additional copy or two to save, (I have maps from every visit I have ever taken), but I know this isn’t the case with everyone.

With tens of thousands of visitors, and nearly that many maps consumed, in each of the four parks everyday, it was nice to see that these beautiful, complimentary, and often unappreciated, works of art which I enjoy so much, were not all headed to a landfill somewhere.

Disney This Week - 14 March 2010

Disney This Week - 14 March 2010
Ryan P. Wilson

With everything happening in the world of Disney this week, from TRON monorail overlays, the moving of the D23 Expo, and all the rest of the news coming out of the Shareholders Meeting, you think I’d be pulling out something big from Disney news sources this week. Instead, I wanted toalert readers to a bit of Disney history and a story that makes me feel good all over. First up, over at D23, Jim Fanning has a wonderful chronicle of Disney, the man and the organization, and the ventures into Wonderland. Meanwhile, the Disney Parks Blog issued an encouraging report on The Seas’ manatees by Jackie Ogden.

George Taylor is never one to look a gift book in the mouth, and his eye for detail allows readers of Imaginerding to explore Minnie’s library and the tail tales found within.

The Carrousels of the kingdoms have always intrigued me, and made me feel like a kid again as they begin to lurch forward. King Arthur’s Carrousel in Disneyland has a storied history, and is told to us this week by DF’82 scribe Princess Fee.

As always, AJ takes the readers of the Disney Food Blog to new heights of foodie bliss. Among this weeks hunger-inducing editorials was a great look at a the truly interactive dessert, donuts! I hope this is a trend that plans to stick around!

Again, harkening back to some of my favorite childhood memories, Shawn Slater took readers of DisneyShawn on an exploration through the history of the Electrical Light Parade, which is still my favorite parade in the history of Walt Disney World.

Changes to Studios, Matt Hochberg, of Studios Central (as well as the WDW Today podcast), took a look back at the entirety of the history of Disney’s Hollywood Studios and earmarked three critical junctures in the park’s history that has made it the park that it is today.

There are times where I feel that Sam Gennawey and I must share the same pair of eyes, because he always seems to catch the exact details I would want to capture if I were in California. The models of the Spirits of America, the twelve statues that line the hall of the American Adventure, can now be seen in Disneyland as well as on SamLand’s Disney Adventures.

Staying in Disneyland, two of the more intriguing piece of the parks history, the Time Clock of the World and Aunt Jemima, are captured in still life over at Stuff From the Park. What I wouldn’t give to have had one day in Disneyland in 1956…

Last, but certainly not least, Greg Grimsley asked the readers of The Disney Obsession about what they would be doing if they lived in Central Florida right now. It seems pretty straight forward, but the question, and more precisely Doc’s response, again gets to the true heart of why there is such a fondness for Walt Disney World.

Goes dead wrong

Goes dead wrong
Ryan P. Wilson

The Twilight Zone is filled with wonderfully terrifying stories, all of which provide terrific fodder for The Hollywood Tower Hotel as a marquee destination for the Twilight Zone. While the stories from the Twilight Zone prove that there is a vast array of manners in which an individual or group could enter into the Twilight Zone, with all of the remnants from these tales scattered about the Hollywood Tower Hotel, it would seem that the Tower of Terror is actually the epicenter of passage between our world and the Twilight Zone. One such story that has found its way into our world is that of The Dummy.

Throughout the chronicle of The Dummy, originally airing in May of 1962, viewers are continually asked the question as to who the master is and who is, in fact, the Dummy. Ventriloquist Jerry Etherson is continually tormented by his wooden counterpart Willie. While the episode has been in the public consciousness for almost fifty years now, that is as much of the story as I dare divulge, for fear of a visit from Willie himself.

Why would I tremble at the idea of a wooden man from another realm visiting me? Well, as it turns out he isn’t as far away as you think. After taking a trip through the Hollywood Tower Hotel, and its slingshot into the Twilight Zone known as the Tower of Terror, those guests who have made it back through the barrier are deposited in the hotel’s basement. There, in one of the darker corners, sits a ventriloquist’s chest and, as guests’ luck would have it, Willie. He doesn’t speak as much as he did in 1962, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t just as malicious.

Please remain seated

Please remain seated
Ryan P. Wilson

It is tough to sit down and rest when there are so many thrilling, heart-warming, and fantastical experiences beckoning to guests, but every once in a while, you just have to take a break. The benches found throughout Walt Disney World are meticulously detailed to relate to the area or land in which they reside. Often times, however, the benches in a particular showcase little or no change between one another.

The woodsy story of Camp Minnie-Mickey is another tale all together. While the overall theme of benches cobbled together from found branches and wood, knots and all, is held across the board with all of the area’s benches, each bench is entirely unique. From different back forms, wood types, even the space between seating slats, the benches of Camp Minnie-Mickey offer a variety of choices upon which to rest your weary legs. Enough talking, it’s time to take a look at a small sampling of the benches.

Gatebuster Dining: California Grill

Gatebuster Dining: California Grill
Tony Caggiano

While contemplating our next stop on our continued exploration of the best of the best in Disney dining I could only come up with a single restaurant this week. In my humble opinion, this establishment could very well tie or surpass the restaurants we previously visited, Cinderella’s Royal Table and Le Cellier, for the top spot in the Disney Dining hierarchy. The venue I am speaking of is none other than the Contemporary Resort's California Grill.

With a delicious menu, an unsurpassed wine list and arguably the most incredible and picturesque location in all of Walt Disney World, the California Grill truly has it all! Having grown up as a fan, and regular diner, at the now extinct Top of the World, I anticipated this renovation with much excitement and, from my very first meal here, the Cali Grill has never let me down.

Over the years I have tried many items off of their eclectic, California inspired menu. I can safely say that to my recollection I have enjoyed each and every entree. These days though, I find my dining choices there to be less exploratory as I am hard pressed to pass up the opportunity to enjoy two of my favorite menu offerings. For appetizers I find myself ordering, time and time again, the Sonoma Goat Cheese Ravioli. As for my entrée, my favorite is far and away the grilled pork tenderloin over polenta. My wife and I have gone so far as to have these items offered at our Disney Fairytale Wedding at the Grand Floridian. Dessert has always been another story, since the offerings change from time to time and I have not yet been able to find one that is better than any other... they have all been fantastic.

While my menu choices might not be for everyone, I am certain that anyone can find something to please his or her palate here. With this incredible menu, a long, long list of fine wines and the ultimate viewing location for the Magic Kingdom's nightly display of Wishes, reservations here are always in high demand. As with our other Gatebuster Dining Attractions, you will need to book well in advance in order to secure you spot at The Grill, especially if you would like a seating that coincides with the fireworks.

Prized Vintage Possession

Prized Vintage Possession
Tony Caggiano

Last week I wrote about my “25th Birthday Time Capsule,” which included an old annual pass, room key and a wristband from Pleasure Island. While looking through these items, as well as many others that I had discovered in the bottom of a box in the attic, I discovered one of my very favorite, most prized pieces of Disney World memorabilia, a complete, fully intact, 10 ride ticket book from Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.Over the years, I have seen tickets available of eBay from time to time. I have several partial books and even more individual tickets, ranging from A thru E, but what makes this ticket book special is two fold. Firstly, this ticket book is from 1975-1976 during the America on Parade celebration for the Bicentennial. Admittedly, I was only 5 years old at the time, but I still have some memories, however faded, of the parades that accompanied this celebration. Perhaps it will always remain a treasured time at Walt Disney World for me because these are the first memories I have of The World. While I have been visiting since 1972, I was only 6 months old on that trip, so naturally any memories I have about that trip, as well as those for the next few years, are from stories. But the memories from 75-76 are mine alone, and while sketchy at best, they are now and will always be the first things I can remember from Walt Disney World.The second thing that makes this ticket book such a prized possession is that it was an actual ticket book, which was purchased by my Dad back in 1975 during one of our annual family visits. While the condition of items like this is usually paramount in their worth, I have always found that vintage items from the parks and resorts always seem that much more special to me when they are from an actual vacation of mine.

Admittedly, I have a rather serious “issue” I am a chronic hoarder of anything Walt Disney World related. And yet, in an attic full of nearly thirty 15 gallon tubs of memorabilia, this single little item stands head and shoulders above the rest, as my most prized vintage Walt Disney World possession.

What chilling words

What chilling words
Ryan P. Wilson

A couple of balls set in motion the few poems presented below, and you’ll have to stay with me as I ramble through all of this. So, you have my apologies up front.

First of all, I have been an avid consumer of poetry since my earliest school days. It wasn’t until junior high that I dared to take up a pen and start writing poetry myself. It was, for the record, not the first time that I had written anything, but it was the first time I felt that I was good at writing. I continued with poetry, filling more notebooks than should be legally allowed, until just a few years ago, when my writing for the Gazette and other projects forced me to shelve my poetic side.

Through brief conversations and following the work of J.B. Conway, I was once again inspired to reach for my pen and paper in the quiet hours of my day. If you are not checking out Conway’s work with the Mouse of Zen project, I recommend you start straight away. Haiku, or as Conway puts it, “daily Disney inspired, mouse-sized poetry,” have never been my style though.

I do, however, feel that the shorter the verse the more emotional punch and resonance it will have. This is precisely why, since my first year of college, I have written all of my poetry in the tanka form. Most remembered by the body of work by Saigyō Hōshi, tanka is similar in form to a haiku. Where a haiku follows a pattern of 5 – 7 – 5 syllabic units, the tanka uses a bit more space with a 5 – 7 – 5 – 7 – 7 pattern.

So, these are my first real steps back into poetry, which, coincidentally, is mostly not about Disney. However, Walt Disney World makes just as good fodder for the written verse as any other location, and I have an emotional connection to the place, which makes the writing that much more heartfelt. Let me know what you think, and let me know if you would like to see more verse here on the Gazette.

splintered fence post seat
rests along the dusty trail
under stone towers
yesterday’s rusted whistles
tumble tumble roll on by

sleek slumbering stripes
in crumbling halls of hunters
honoring your fall
in the shade of the banyan
quiet restitution reigns

Dean Finder still dreams
while horizons slowly spin
and odyssey floats
as the moon waxes and wanes
tomorrow’s memories change

Disney This Week - 7 March 2010

Disney This Week - 7 March 2010
Ryan P. Wilson

The Disney Parks Blog has been turning out quite a bit of amazing content since it arrived on the scene late last year. This week, Thomas Smith announced the arrival of a new baby Gorilla, and followed up with the naming of Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s newest inhabitant, Lily. Also, Michelle Baumann showcases a terrific piece of Walt Disney’s personal history, the Carolwood Pacific.

Always a fount of information, this week Shawn Slater took DisneyShawn readers on a quest through the construction of a Forbidden Mountain.

We all have our rhymes and reasons as to which park is our favorite, even when it is clear to us that our favorite park is in need of some severe revitalization. Mark Taft and Insights and Sounds shed a little light on why we love what we love, no matter what, when he turns his eye towards Epcot.

Whether we know it or not, Disney park enthusiasts are fans of urban planning and architecture. Conversely, Sam Gennawey shows us that the opposite can also be true, when with SamLand’s Disney Adventures he explores James W. Rouse take on Disneyland.

Sitting around the campfire at Fort Wilderness has always been one of my favorite pastimes, especially when it involves molten marshmallows! Over at The Disney Food Blog, AJ takes the science of s’mores in Walt Disney World to a whole new level.

Debra Martin Koma, for the AllEars Team Blog, gives me a hundred more reasons to visit this years International Flower and Garden Festival with her behind the scenes look at the blossoms. As if I even needed one more reason...

Sharing the savannah

Sharing the savannah
Ryan P. Wilson

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is home to many attractions and many animals, but the home for a majority of these creatures and the marquee attraction for the park is, without question, Kilimanjaro Safaris. Here photo hungry guests can grab as many pictures as they can of hippos, crocodiles, and lions, but the real treat is the savannah. The Kilimanjaro Safari attraction is large enough to fit the entirety of the Magic Kingdom within its borders, and the savannah was one of the first projects completed for Disney’s Animal Kingdom in order to provide the plants there time to adjust to their new home and grow roots.The savannah of Harambe Reserve is a true slice of Africa, and features a variety of species intermingling, just as guests would find in true wild spaces. With all of these animals in one place, it could be conceived that larger animals would run off the smaller creatures in order to have a monopoly on the food sources, but examining information boards throughout Harambe, we are given a different view of the savannah. Giraffes and elephants stick to the higher food sources provided by the trees, elephants actually break down the dense vegetation and trees to extend the spread of the grasslands. As for the grasses themselves, buffalo munch on the tallest shoots of grass, zebras graze the tougher pieces of the grass, and the wildebeests dine on the remaining smaller shoots of grass.

As for the story of Harambe Reserve, the former game-hunting reserve was transformed into a more hospitable home for the animals as part of the conservation movement that spread across the globe like a wildfire in the 1970s. It was a cognitive choice by the people of Harambe to move away from the destructive effects of hunting wild creatures and repurpose the land for the animals and for future generations. Obviously, this has not sat well with everyone, and poachers are an ever-present threat on the reserve. That is why visitors and wardens must be ever vigilant in their protection and education efforts on, around, and about the savannah.

He's royal purple pigment

He's royal purple pigment
Ryan P. Wilson

There are some Disney characters that stay with you for your entire life. This can be a fair damsel from a feature film or a wily chipmunk from a cartoon short, or any of their ilk from the realm of animation. Going to Walt Disney World has always meant a place to finally meet these heroes and friends face to face, even if they are larger than life.

For my part, however, there is a character that has always been immensely important to the way I understand the world, and he never even appeared on my television. The character, the only character created solely for the parks (and we can discuss out-of-the-park-characters like Colonel Critchlow Suchbench at a later date), is Figment. While he has undergone a variety of changes since popping into the Disney consciousness in 1983, the two tiny wings and eye big and yellow still remain the ever present face of the Imagination Pavilion in Epcot.

Figment has been immortalized in both pin and Vinylmation forms, but to see the little dragon in an art form that truly encompasses his antics, just follow his footsteps to the Kodak What If? Labs of the ImageWorks and view the posters commemorating his frolicking.

Simple Pleasures

Simple Pleasures
Tony Caggiano

With so many amazing fine dining experiences in Walt Disney World it is very easy to overlook some of the more common, less known offerings. While the elegant meals the likes of California Grill, Jiko, Yachtsman Steakhouse, and comparable restaurants may get most of the attention, well deserved as it may be, there are also some incredibly delicious meal items to be found elsewhere, served in less well known restaurants.

One such restaurant is Olivia’s Café at Disney’s Old Key West Resort. As a long time DVC member, I have spent many vacations at this resort. Heck, back when I joined in 1994, it was the ONLY Disney Vacation Club resort that was actually known as Disney’s Vacation Club Resort. Since day one at Old Key West, Olivia’s has been serving delicious food with a Key West flair, but the one item which brings me back time and time again is a southern staple, an item few people would think worthy of note.Olivia’s grits are one of my very favorite food items in all of Walt Disney World. For years my brother and I would sit in the restaurant, eating these delectable grits and wondering just what it was that they did to make them the most delicious grots we have ever tasted. All of this wondering came to an abrupt halt a few years back when we asked the waiter if there was anything special in these grits and he said, “would you like the recipe?”…Would I like the recipe??? Why had I NEVER thought to ask for it??? As it turns out, most restaurants in The World will give you recipes for many of their most popular menu items…you only need to ask.

They took our email address and within a week we had received an email from Brian Rogers, Sous Chef at Olivia’s. He wrote a lovely note, thanking us for frequenting Olivia’s and included on the bottom was the recipe for our beloved grits….and plenty of them.

As a little bonus today, I figured I would throw in the very recipe that led me to this discovery… Olivia’s Delicious Creamy Grits. The recipe is for a typical restaurant sized batch, but so worth doing the math to break it down to a size that suits you. Enjoy!!!

OLIVIA’S CREAMY GRITS

Ingredients:
5 ½ cups Grits
3 qts Water
3 qts Heavy Cream
2 sticks Butter
Salt and Pepper (To Taste)

Directions:
Add all ingredients to a heavy bottomed sauce pot.
Bring to a boil and turn down to a low simmer.
Cook very slowly for 45 minutes and stir very often.

A 25th Birthday Time Capsule

A 25th Birthday Time Capsule
Tony Caggiano

Sometimes I wonder just how my wife does it. I mean, we have a beautiful home and, even with two little boys doing their best to see otherwise, it is always neat and tidy. I can assure you that my Disney Addiction is more of a hindrance than a help to her in this respect.

This “issue” of mine makes it nearly impossible for me to throw away anything Disney, but most specifically, anything from Walt Disney World. I have saved every theme park ticket, annual pass, guest ID card and room key I have ever gotten there, as well as many, many items I have not listed here. While Charlene does her best to persuade me to dispose of this rubbish (as she may see it) I choose to store away these wonderful treasures for years, just so that I can someday open up a dusty old Tupperware container to explore a bit of my past.

The Time Capsule I have decided to open up today is a small one, but it is from one of my very favorite times at The World. From October of 1996 through 1997 both Walt Disney World and myself were celebrating 25 Years of Magic. You may remember a few weeks back I wrote about the rather controversial Castle Cake, well today I have a few items that I hope you will enjoy seeing from one of the trips I took that year.

The first item pictured is a vintage 1996-1997 Annual Pass, emblazoned with Sorcerer Mickey and the 25th Birthday insignia. It was at one time, like so many other passes of mine, my very best friend...if only for a year.

The second item is my Key to the World Card from a vacation I took in early 1997. That year was a particularly good Walt Disney World year for me as I was recently out of college and on my own. With this newfound freedom (accompanied by my first decent job) I went a little crazy and made six trips down to The World that year. Less a product of financial independence and more one of financial irresponsibility, these vacations assured that I certainly did enjoy myself in honor of my 25th birthday.

The last item in this time capsule is the rarest of the bunch, a wristband from the now largely defunct Pleasure Island. While I will admit that my trips to P.I. over the past few years have grown fewer and farther between, back in the early to mid 1990’s, my brothers and I LIVED on Pleasure Island. We would arrive there after park closing every night and close the place down. Looking at this wristband brings back many fond and fun memories of time spent at 8 Trax, Rock and Roll Beach Club and my personal favorite, The Adventurers Club.

While I could have very easily thrown these items out with the receipts and rubbish left from a vacation now ended, I instead chose to hoard them away, let them ripen a bit and now I have legitimate and wonderful heirlooms from good times of long ago… Like the old saying goes, “One man’s trash...”

Big blue world

Big blue world
Ryan P. Wilson

Sometimes there are attractions or shows within Walt Disney World that are popular and I sit around, scratch my head, and try to figure out what it is that makes this experience so well-liked. I will repeatedly view the show or take a ride through the experience, and still cannot understand the draw. Then, rather than bemoan the loss of space that could be used for another concept, I sit down and try to figure out what is quintessential to the experience, and how it could be made better. Today’s topic, and a show I just cannot figure out, happens to fall into this category.

The Little Mermaid has always had a special place in my heart. She was, after all, the first princess of my generation, could sing her heart out, and was a redhead to boot! It would be safe to assume then that I am a fan of the Voyage of the Little Mermaid, which, as fate would have it, I am not. The show is a shortened retelling of the Disney feature film, and it seems to have trimmed the soul right out of the story. Line by line, the show features what were, once upon a time, stunning laser effects, puppets, and in theater effects. It also, however, only features two live characters, one of which never actually speaks for themselves. For a story with so much heart, I just cannot seem to find the pulse in this choppy, yet popular, show.

There is another watery show on property, however, that I think the Voyage of the Little Mermaid could learn from, and that is Finding Nemo – The Musical. I have a certain fondness for the film Finding Nemo, but it does not even rank in my top five of Pixar flicks. The Musical, on the other hand, has me hook, line, and sinker. Having always had this feeling that my father and I don’t see eye-to-eye, or that I don’t measure up to his standards, I can relate to the message presented here and the music tugs at my heartstrings. So, what could the Voyage of the Little Mermaid borrow from Finding Nemo – The Musical? As it turns out, quite a bit.

For starters, lets talk about hitting the high notes. The music of the Little Mermaid, which is featured in its Walt Disney World retelling, is some of the best in the Disney catalogue, including the Nemo songs. Nevertheless, I am carried away more often by the Nemo melodies when in the parks because guests are given a fuller picture of the story by the supporting narrative the links the songs together. Over at the Voyage of the Little Mermaid, the songs are highlighted, but the connecting story elements are simply not there.

Let’s talk puppets for a second. If we have learned anything from productions like Finding Nemo – The Musical it is that audiences are okay with seeing puppeteers, especially when they are expressive and high-caliber actors and actresses themselves. There is no longer a need to drape these artists in black fabric and place them against a black backdrop. Instead, give guests the colorful sea stage that Under the Sea deserves, and let the acting and singing do its job of immersing the audience in the moment.

On the subject of actors, the Voyage of the Little Mermaid must remember that just because a particular actor or actress doesn’t have the exact same voice as their on-screen counterpart, doesn’t mean you should have them face away from the audience and lip-sync to a prerecorded track. If the story maintains the quality and integrity of the original, the audience is going to be there no matter who is doing the actual speaking.

Finally, the special effect laden Little Mermaid show may have been all the rage in 1992, with its laser sea ceiling, laser etched Ursula, and water screens, but in today’s theater simple is more. A few wire twirling scenes and larger than life sea creature puppets go a long way to telling audiences that they are under the sea, a la Finding Nemo – The Musical, as opposed to beating the guests over the head with unneeded technology that can easily date an experience.

The long and short of the story is that The Little Mermaid is a tale that is worth imparting again and again. While the Voyage of the Little Mermaid stage show is popular, it does, however, leave a lot of its heart off stage. By making use of the storytelling tools and Broadway theatrics of Finding Nemo – The Musical, the Voyage of the Little Mermaid could once again be royalty under the sea.