Dining and entertainment

There is something to be said for the environment in which a meal is served. An enticing room can salvage, though perhaps not electrify, a mediocre entree. With that in mind, the first palate tempter for a guest at Walt Disney World is the sign which adorns the door and beckons guest in.

In the Magic Kingdom, the placards which entice guests not only have to offer up an omen as to the type of fare and environment the guests are entering, but they also have to stay consistent to the land in which they subsist. Notice, for instance, the uniform angularness of the dining signs’ characters in Tomorrowland, as opposed to the scrolling letters of Main Street, U.S.A. or western flair found in Frontierland’s fonts.

Transitions are also critical when it comes to restaurant signs that hover between two lands. For instance the adventurous spirit and every day charm that is encompassed on the posting for the Crystal Palace, situated between on the corner of Main Street, U.S.A. and Adventureland. Similarly, two shingles have been placed out for patrons of Columbia Harbour House, one colonial in nature for Liberty Square and one which contains a bit more whimsy for Fantasyland.

No matter how you slice it, signage is just as important to the meal experience as the decor of the restaurant itself. You can never tell what miniscule detail is going to call to the tummy rumblings of a passerby guest.

Established 1875

Here’s the situation, you head to Port Orleans – Riverside to check out Ol’ Man Island, do some fishing, or are heading back to your room for a midday break from the heat. Suddenly, you realize you haven’t had lunch and your stomach is growling worse the Expedition Everest’s yeti…

Like most resorts in Walt Disney World, Port Orleans – Riverside comes fully stocked with a quick service dining option. The Riverside Mill has several stations for guest to mix and match meal items (such as a hot entree from the grill and an ice cream sundae from the dessert section) before checking out. Riverside Mill is spacious and has plenty of tables to choose from, which means the likelihood that the seating area would be full is minimal and there are seating options for everyone, including a large number of window tables. The day I picked the Mill for my lunch, I selected a sandwich meal for a taste test.From the Specialty Shop, I picked up the Roast Beef and Blue Cheese on Ciabatta. Ciabatta seems to be the new popular bread to use in sandwich shops everywhere, so I wasn’t surprised when it appeared in Walt Disney World. The intriguing part of the sandwich, for me at least, was the combination of blue cheese with roast beef. Generally, roast beef sandwiches I’ve eaten are paired with cheddar or a similar type of cheese. The unfamiliar combination of meat and cheese works extremely well, as the creamy, salty bite of the blue cheese mingles well with the juicy, savory slices of roast beef. Top it off with some sandwich staples, lettuce and tomato, and you have a sandwich that makes for a satisfying lunch option.

As a side, the sandwich comes with either vegetable pasta salad or fresh chips. The chips are quickly becoming a staple throughout Walt Disney World’s parks and resorts. More of a kettle style spud than your typical crumbly bag of chips, the chips supply a hearty crunch and a bit more salt to the meal.

The Roast Beef and Blue Cheese on Ciabatta shows all the signs of a well thought out sandwich, and not just a series of ingredients thrown together to get a dish out to the public. It is hearty enough for any appetite, and I wouldn’t be surprised, or opposed, to see spread to other quick service dining locations.

World Showcase Transportation

After yesterday’s long discussion about transportation in the Magic Kingdom, my mind wandered to my favorite spot in World Showcase as a child: on the second level of the omnibuses that made up the World Showcase Transportation. It made me go looking for this photograph.That’s the omnibus in the background. For those who remember, these busses were quick ways to cut down on some of the walking in World Showcase. Each stop had a section of sidewalk, generally between the lagoon and a planter that could provide some shade. The route included four stops: between Mexico and China (before Norway arrived on the scene), between Italy and The American Adventure, United Kingdom, and between Canada and the main thoroughfare to Future World. I spent many an afternoon aboard one of the omnibuses waiting to jump into the perfect seat, second floor, directly in the front.

While my love of the World Showcase Transportation is what attracts me to this photograph, it was obviously created to highlight the dancers from Japan. While it may seem like World Showcase has changed, and the cultural acts for each country, there are still a variety of traditional arts available on any given day throughout the pavilions.

Of course, it would be remiss of me to not note the hair and clothing stylings of these 1983 guests. I mean, check out the sweet athletic socks and gym shorts on this young visitor. Or better yet, the hair of the women in the background. Ah, the 80s!

Roll, bounce and float

There is a hustle and bustle in the Magic Kingdom. It is the huddled masses crushing in upon one another, trying to get from one place to another as quickly as possible, and before someone else in the same crowd can. This massive throng of humanity, also known as park attendance, increases each year, but once upon a time there was a different feel to the park due, in part, to the continual inclusion of transit. Let’s step back to the late 1970s and early 1980s to gain a bit of perspective.

For starters, we are not talking about the illusion of movement, such as Mission to Mars, or rides that occur in darkened buildings, including If You Had We Wings. No, we want full on motion, going somewhere, being a part of something on the move! Main Street, U.S.A. alone featured seven types of transportation: Plaza Swan Boats, Jitney, Fire Engine, Horse Carriage, Horse Cars, Ominbus and the Walt Disney World Railroad. Adventureland had the Jungle Cruise and Frontierland Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, but those were more about what you were seeing or being a rollercoaster than about being a form of transportation. The Rivers of America was really active, and included Rafts to Tom Sawyer Island, Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes, Mike Fink Keelboats and the Liberty Square Riverboat. In Fantasyland, we had one half of the Skyway and methodically moving Nautiluses of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, while Tomorrowland’s transit included the WEDway PeopleMover and the other half of the Skyway.

Depending on how you account for the Skyway (with each station allowing only a one way trip, I’ll go ahead and count it as two attractions), that is fifteen attractions devoted to transportation. These days, many of these attractions have been retired: Plaza Swan Boats, Davey Crockett Explorer Canoes, Mike Fink Keelboats, both stations of the Skyway, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and one of the Liberty Square Riverboats. The Main Street vehicle brigade is all but a distant memory. They each make their occasional appearance motoring up and down Main Street, with the most frequent being the Horse Car, but these appearances are so rare that I made sure to get myself photographed with the omnibus (my personal favorite of the Main Street vehicles) when I saw it out around Easter this year, as I didn’t know when I would receive another chance. So, where are we on the vehicle count? We still have a PeopleMover, Rafts to Tom Sawyer Island, the infrequent Main Street vehicle, Liberty Square Riverboat, and the Walt Disney World Railroad, barely a third of what traveled through the park at the pinnacle of moving attractions.

Now, I am aware of the liability of putting a driver in charge of safely navigating down Main Street, U.S.A., through thousands of oblivious guests, ferrying about other antsy guests, and possibly dealing with an unruly horse (we all have our days, and this is a worst-case scenario) or springing a leak and ordering guests to bail out into the Rivers of America, not knowing who can and cannot swim. Yet, it seems to me, the Magic Kingdom could do with a little more movement around its waterways and avenues.

It is well past the time to put the Main Street vehicles back into regular service. Think of how idyllic the Plaza could look with graceful watercraft, perhaps not swan boats but possibly a modified gondola equipped to hold more guests. The Rivers of America is meant to resemble a water highway, constantly ferrying goods and people along, not a sleepy river with the sporadic boat churning through. Boats piloted by guests, while the epitome of interactive, could cause some problems. However, adding a second riverboat that adds some diversity to the river, an ironside comes to mind, while not putting the control in guests’ hands would get the river flowing again.

I understand I have a rose-colored view of Walt Disney World from my youth, but I also like to think of what might be down the road, and then come to a happy medium in the middle. As a people, we are supposed to learn from our mistakes, but our successes are just as critical to our continued achievement. Yet, the Magic Kingdom has regularly syphoned away the vehicles that gave it life and personality. While the park may not have heeded how well the water and land craft brought a sense of vitality with them, there is still time to come about face and put a few more wheels in motion.

Frightfully sensitive to bright lights

I wanted to pause for a moment put out a brief reminder this afternoon.

I have been finding photos from the Main Street Gazette, some taken by me personally and some from vintage Walt Disney World press photos, which are being used elsewhere without credit. If you wish to use one of my photographs, or versions of press photos that I have edited, I have never had a problem with that! I only ask that you email me and ask first, as well as provide credit for where the photograph came from.

I have very deliberately not included watermarks on my photographs to maintain the integrity of the subject matter and to allow everyone to enjoy them unblemished. I would appreciate it if the respect I show to each reader and colleague were returned in kind. Thanks so much for your help in this matter!

Disney This Week - 10 July 2011

Imagineering Disney has come up with a really great concept competition. Time for me to start refining a few ideas!

Melissa Loflin discusses when the yeti met television at Makin’ Memories.

Over at Studios Central, Matt Hochberg explores the grounds of the Hollywood Tower Hotel.

Sarah Holodick has given me a reason to revisit Yak & Yeti with Eating WDW review of Dim Sum for 2.

The Disney Food Blog and AJ Wolfe look at one of my favorite spots to grab a cup in the mornings, the Royal Anandapur Tea Company.

George Taylor takes us back to America the Musical on Imaginerding.

Adventure Veranda scribe, Chris Fore, finds a curios EPCOT Center map.

J. Jeff Kober utilizes Disney at Work to showcase a magical moment for pets.

Vintage memorabilia buffs have three great items to check out this week. Michael Crawford posts a Future World button and World Showcase coaster at Progress City, U.S.A., while George Taylor put up a Walt Disney World merchandise bag at Imaginerding.

Silent Saturday - Harambe Lamppost (April 2010)

Wheelwright

I don’t often speak about the windows on Main Street, U.S.A., there are plenty of wonderful articles, texts, and books on the topic that cover these panes very well. These windows represent giants among men and women. There is the occasional window that doesn’t tower above Main Street, but that doesn’t mean these individuals are any less deserving. In fact, as is the case, sometimes they are even more worthy of the honor.

Broggies Buggies
Hand Made
Wagons
Surreys
Sleighs

Roger Broggie
Wheelwright

Roger Broggie came to the world of Disney in 1939 as a precision machinist, but is more commonly known for his dedication to railroads. From the Carolwood Pacific in Walt Disney’s backyard in Holmby Hills to the Walt Disney World Railroad, Broggie was instrumental in bringing the tracks to Disney. Among his many other notable contributions to Disney, he was instrumental to the film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Mr. Lincoln, and early work on EPCOT Center.

Roger Broggie is regularly referred to as the first Imagineer, and is no doubt deserving of the title. His involvement with the film and attractions of Disney was critical to the view each of us has of the Disney name. Broggie has been held in such high regard that he not only has a window on Main Street, U.S.A., but is also the namesake of the Walt Disney Railroad’s Engine #3.

The list of individuals tied to Disney that I wish I could have spoken with in their lifetimes is filled with remarkable people, and Roger Broggie is near the very top of that list. It makes me think that I should work a little harder to meet and/or speak with my heroes that still roam about as mere mortals.

Tael

As promised, we’re continuing our tour of the Animation Gallery in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Up today, the portion of the exhibit featuring the return of that tubby, little cubby all stuffed with fluff, Winnie the Pooh.

What more do you need to hear from me?

Signature sesame

World Showcase is a smorgasbord of wonderful things to eat and drink. So much so, that it is very easy to fill-up in a single stop, and regret it the rest of the way around the promenade. Today’s entrée from China, however, will give you enough energy to keep moving on, but still leave room for a dessert, or two or three, later on down the way.

There are a variety of options at the Lotus Blossom Cafe, and many of these are very satisfying, sometimes too much so. Then there is the Sesame Chicken Salad. A large bowl filled with mixed greens and topped with five or six pieces of the restaurant’s sesame chicken. The dressing, a sesame vinaigrette, is served on the side instead of tossed in with the salad to allow each guest to use a little or as much as they wish.The greens are very fresh and crisp, and I appreciate the diversity of the greens, rather than the nondescript sensations associated with a single type of lettuce, say iceberg. The chicken pieces are white meat, battered, fried, and drizzled with a sweet sauce and sesame seeds. The chicken is a generous portion size for the salad, and tastes very good, though you have probably had chicken that is just as good at a restaurant not in Walt Disney World. The sesame vinaigrette adds some unique tang to the salad, while lubricating the leaves, making them easier to swallow.

My one word of caution to those picking up this salad, which I highly recommend, the Sesame Chicken Salad does contain a substantial serving of edamame. I, myself, am not a fan of this particular vegetable and was a little surprised that such a prominent ingredient was not included in the menu’s description of the dish. If you love edamame, this is even more of a reason to pick up this salad. If you are like me and could do without the green soybeans, fear not, the mostly collect at the bottom of the bowl and are easy to pick out. Their inclusion is not a reason to miss out on this light, but satisfying salad.

Overall, the Sesame Chicken Salad is a dish well worth utilizing as a lunch option. Moving clockwise around World Showcase, China is only the third stop in, the perfect spot for a lunch break. This salad will give you enough in the way of protein to keep moving along, but not enough to stop you from enjoying treat stops like Germany or France.

Water ski spectacular

Now, I could just see this going awry very, very quickly and ending with one of those classic Goofy surprised howls. However cliché that might have been, the truth is far more interesting.

From 1972 through 1973 water skiing shows featuring daring feats and character-clad skiers took place regularly on the Seven Seas Lagoon. Depending on the year, the event was known as either the Walt Disney World Water Ski Spectacular or The Wonderful World of Water Ski Show and would feature up to five shows a day, including nighttime acts. The show could be seen from near the Magic Kingdom monorail station and did have an admission cost of between 50 to 75 cents. During the latter period of the show’s short history, a “D” ticket could also be used to gain admission.

While the show only last a little more than a year, characters on water skis did not entirely vanish from the Vacation Kingdom’s waters. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s characters would glide alongside ferries and other watercraft, waving to guests. On other occasions, they would even glide up to shore for impromptu meet and greet sessions.

While Goofy in the photograph above was meant to inspire guests to take their own water skiing adventure around Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon, the picture harkens back to a time where anything was possible at Walt Disney World. While we haven’t seen water-skiing characters around property in a while, I for one would gladly see their return.

Keeping dreams aloft

I am not going to spend a lot of time talking today, as, like you I’m sure, there are plenty of other festivities demand my attention. However, I do want to take a moment to remind the patriotic portion that resides within each of us about some special exhibits that are not to be missed.

Both The American Adventure and the Hall of Presidents feature exquisite gallery offerings. The paintings surrounding the cupola of The American Adventure offer a variety of views as to what it means to be an American. The National Treasures showcase holds historical, and meaningful, artifacts which are on loan from the National Archives. Inside the rotunda of The Hall of Presidents, portraits and other presidential objects are available to inspect.

Each of these galleries should be given the respect and reverence due to the parts they have played in our American legacy. If you happen up one of these galleries just as a showing of The American Adventure or The Hall of Presidents is about to begin, it is my advice to you to skip that showing and wait for the next presentation. As they happen throughout the day, you aren’t going to miss the production, and it will give you more time, with less crowd issues, to soak in as much history as you are able.

I hope each of you has a wonderful, and safe, 4th of July!

Disney This Week - 3 July 2011

AJ Wolfe tackles the internal struggle in the battle of corn dog nuggets at The Disney Food Blog.

DisneyShawn finds Shawn Slater walking down the memory lane that is Pop Century’s Classic Hall.

John Frost and The Disney Blog give us a tour of the new West Side Harley Davidson store.

SamLand’s Disney Adventures digs into the archives when Sam Gennawey shows off a Sleeping Beauty Castle booklet.

George Taylor examines some great pieces of Magic Kingdom concept art at Imaginerding.

Melissa Loflin goes on a breakfast safari with Donald at Tusker House for Makin’ Memories.

DesignerLand has some terrific concept posters of Walt Disney World construction versus final product Richard has been working on.

Jamie Collins compares Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama to Route 66 in Only WDW.

It may not appear as if much has changed on the outside, but this 1982 photograph of The Land from Sarah Holodick and Eating WDW is priceless!

Over at the Touring Plans Blog, Todd Perlmutter gives readers the breakdown on why they should view the Magic Kingdom’s opening ceremonies.

Amanda Tinney has found some cupcakes only a Hatter could love for Disney Every Day.

Progress City, U.S.A. scribe and historian, Michael Crawford, displays an interesting piece of World of Motion concept art.

Lastly, did you catch my guest article at ZannaLand? We had some fun venturing back to visit the Yellowstone Cubs.

Silent Saturday - Herbert Ryman's The Promise of America (April 2010)

Spirits of America

You remember the one rule of touring through Walt Disney World, right? You know, the look up, look down, look all around rule. The footnote to this rule is that you should also check all the spaces in between. Everything is fair game, doors, rugs, artwork and even windows, as would be the case for today’s find.Most guests are aware of the stirring historical account known as The American Adventure, which takes place in a structure inspired by Independence Hall, as well as Boston’s Old State House, Monticello and Colonial Williamsburg. Prior to the show guests generally stroll through the National Treasures exhibit or the Voices of Liberty. What the majority of guests do not do, however, is cozy up to the pair of windows that flank the pavilion’s entrance.Each window features four pieces of bronze sculpting, a bust and three statuettes. The busts, from Blaine Gibson, are of The American Adventure hosts, Benjamin Franklin and Mark Twain. The six bronze figurines feature half of the Spirits of America, the full-sized statues that line either side of the main theater. Featured with Franklin are: Spirit of Compassion, Spirit of Independence and Spirit of Knowledge. Highlighted with Twain are: Spirit of Individualism, Spirit of Tomorrow and Spirit of Discovery.

These great pieces of art are often passed by, but are definitely worth the time it takes to examine each of them a little closer!