Up and Running

Have you ever wanted to save money at Walt Disney World, but hated the idea of having to do a lot of leg-work trying to find the best rate, deal, or way to plan your trip to get the most bang for your buck? Then you are definitely one of the 102! Or rather, you would be wise to check out Lou Mongello’s newest project, 102 Ways to Save Money For and At Walt Disney World. The book is available as both a traditional paper copy and an ebook, and Lou was gracious enough to forward a copy over to me to see what I thought of his latest gift to the Disney community.

Let’s start with the basics, shall we? 102 Ways weighs in at almost two hundred pages and rarely does a page get flipped that doesn’t include multiple ways to save, spend, and have frugal fun at Walt Disney World. The book opens with Lou’s guarantee, which also serves to offer up his first piece of advice, “Your goal should not be to use 102 strategies in the same vacation.” The guide offers plenty of strategies, but trying to cram everything into a single trip will create a taxing planning scenario and a trip that will push the boundary of what you could define as family fun. From years of experience, Lou inherently knows this to be true, but rarely do you see a travel writer openly express that moderation in a trip is how you can create lasting family memories and even have fun while planning.

102 Ways offers up a variety of thought processes that you may not have consider. Sure, plenty of guidebooks tell you how to get there or how to get around while you are there, but 102 Ways walks you through the entire process! From planning before you get there, how to save, pack, and plan/make your souvenirs, to when to go, how to get there, and what tickets are perfect for you. Once you’re there Lou touches upon all things edible, from snacks you can pack to those celebratory meals, shopping for souvenirs, and all the stops in between, up to and including what to throw in your back pack.

So, Lou has given you a lot to chew on with how to get there, how to save and spend, and how to make the most of your days in Walt Disney World. All of which begs the question, what’s left? Turns out, plenty! 102 Ways has a secret of its own, turns out it should actually be called 142 Ways, or maybe 1,002 Ways would be more apt for all the uncounted insights Lou has given to readers. The bonus 40 points provided gives you a ton of free things to do, see, and collect while you are vacationing in Walt Disney World. It is here that Lou hands out my favorite piece of advice that I am always passing out myself, and something I make time for on almost every single trip, the sing-a-long and campfire at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground.

All in all, when it comes right down to it, I would recommend 102 Ways to Save Money For and At Walt Disney World to anyone. Whether it is your first trip you are planning or you happen to be looking for that one thing to make your one-hundredth trip just a bit more affordable or magical, Lou Mongello has you covered. Do yourself a favor and picking up 102 Ways just as soon as you have a chance, and then get started planning your next trip to the Vacation Kingdom!

Silent Saturday - Sid Cahuenga's Ford (August 2010)

Still Revolves Around the Same Theme

Often times we talk about the first inklings the public received about the Florida Project in terms of EPCOT and Progress City, U.S.A. Certainly, there was to be a theme park in the mix, but that was not the overarching goal Walt dreamed of when he sought to construct an entire city of tomorrow that would constantly be changing.

There were plans aplenty when Roy Disney and Governor Cluade Kirk unveiled plans to the state’s legislature in Winter Park, Florida on February 2, 1967. Sure, the housing suburbs and sparkling tower would have been a jewel for both Disney and Florida. The transportation models would have been marvels of modern motion. But how often do you look at what would have been the industrial area?

What would this section of the planned 1,000 acre, multimillion dollar project have looked like? The industrial complex would have utilized the same radial pattern first seen in Disneyland, and later in Disney parks around the world. It is the same pattern that appeared over and over again in the plans for Walt’s community. Go ahead, take a gander for yourself.

It may not have come to pass, but it is the stuff dreams are made of.

  

Just Push Play

It seems like there have been a lot of goodbyes in Walt Disney World recently. In particular goodbyes to things that may not seem like the biggest and best parts of Walt Disney World, but certainly parts that have comprised the heart and soul of the resort for a long time. A while back it was Sid Cahuenga’s and, as we learned over the weekend, today it is PUSH.

On Sunday Walt Disney World released information to Cast Members that the contract for PUSH had expired and that there were not currently any plans to bring a similar form of entertainment to Tomorrowland. Could this be contract strategy, similar to the almost constant battles between cable providers and various channels? Absolutely, and we may see PUSH return soon. Of course, it could also be a done deal and PUSH has taken his last photograph and had his last conversation with guests.

PUSH has been such an intricate piece of the Magic Kingdom fabric for a long time. He has been involved in video podcasts, countless family photographs, and special events, up to and including proposals and weddings. Once guests have had a single interaction with PUSH, they will dedicate prime park-going time, valuable vacation currency, to searching out the serenading and occasionally, well, pushy conversational trash receptacle. That’s what you call an impression, folks.

We may forget, between the character interactions and masterful architecture as storytelling device, that Walt Disney World is a business. At some point there is a bottom line, and PUSH and his operator may have finally found theirs. That doesn’t mean that we have to happy about it.

The parks were always meant to be a continually evolving environment. Musical acts and stage shows have come and gone with regularity over the years, just as attractions have adapted and/or been replaced. PUSH has played an important role in the entertaining of guests in Tomorrowland for several years, but perhaps he has taken his final bow, err… roll in the parks.

I’m not going to gripe about PUSH leaving, and I’m not going to gnash my teeth about the continuing changes seen throughout Walt Disney World in recent years. What I will do is find a corner of my heart and mind to tuck away my many interactions with PUSH. You were a smile inducing bucket of trash, and I wouldn’t trade a single encounter with you for the world. Thank you, PUSH! You will be missed.

 

A Slow Moving Train

No excuses or promises today, but no goodbyes either.

You’ve seen the Main Street Gazette all but disappear in the past month or so, haven’t you? If it weren’t for the fact that I set up Silent Saturday articles almost six months in advance there wouldn’t be anything showing up in the past month. Yes, my day job keeps me extremely busy, but that doesn’t give me a free pass on not meeting the commitment I’ve made to all of the dedicated readers and friends.

In the past, an article such as this one would have told you I’m going to get back on track and articles are going to be posted regularly again starting right now. Those types of promises have led me down a road where I would get so frustrated with not being able to keep up with the schedule I had set out, that I would throw my hands up in disgust at myself and rather than do something, I’ve done nothing. I’ve heard from many of you, through comments, tweets, and emails that you were saying goodbye to the Main Street Gazette and how much you had enjoyed it through the years.

I’m here to tell you, the Main Street Gazette isn’t done, not by a long shot! That said, I’m not going to be making any promises that I know I cannot keep.

There will most certainly be new articles. In fact, I’ve already completed a pair that will run later this week. I’m not going to guarantee the old schedule, or even that there will be an article every single week. When I find a piece of news or discover an opinion that I have, there will be a Perspective piece. When a recipe or a restaurant strikes my fancy, we’ll post an Epicurean Displays. As a piece of history moves me and presents me with knowledge I want to impart, there will be a World of Yesterday. There will also be entries into The WDW Record as the little details are what make Walt Disney World so very special.

I feel at this time that I owe an apology to all of those members who made the WDW World News Roundtable such a success for so long. More times than I care to admit, they submitted wonderful articles for me to publish, but time and again I ran out of time and did not get them posted. Andrew, Alan, Estelle and Blake, thank you, one and all, for your time and contributions. I cannot apologize enough for letting you down, and I hope you’ll forgive me. If there is ever anything I can do for any of you, please do not hesitate to ask.

For all of the readers, those who have stuck around waiting and those who may have wandered off, I hope I can make the Main Street Gazette something that you will be proud of reading once again. I hope you will return and engage us with comments and questions and emails once again. And I hope to once again be that voice that speaks the truth about the Walt Disney World of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy.

Silent Saturday - Little Ituri Forest (September 2008)

Silent Saturday - Ghirardelli Mural (March 2012)

Silent Satuday - Fort Langhorn (January 2011)

Silent Saturday - Space Agriculture (November 2009)

Silent Saturday - Sunset Point (January 2013)