Give that button a squeeze

There are those in the Disney community that no longer need guide maps to make their way through the parks. In fact, there are tons of us that no longer need the guides. Some put the amusement in amusement park by watching first time guests attempt to maneuver through the parks with these guides, while others attempt to help in whatever small way they can, while still others go on about their business taking little notice. Yet, we still pick up the guide maps on visits, out of compulsion, habit, or for collection purposes.

But have you ever stopped to take a look at the back of the guides? You can pause here and go grab yours if you like, but I’ll provide copies here for those of you who don’t have them at arms reach. Yes, they are only advertisements for Kodak film and camera products, but look at the how each is perfectly themed to the park it is attached to. I bet you don’t even need me to tell you which ad corresponds to which guide, but, for those of you that do, they are ordered as such: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios, and Animal Kingdom.
Kodak’s history with Disney goes back a long ways. How many of us have taken pictures at a Kodak PictureSpot? I know Van over at Netcot loves them, but the association dates back well before Walt Disney World. Since the release of the Disney Treasure’s Your Host, Walt Disney, most people have become familiar with the fact that Kodak sponsored Disneyland ’59, but the connection goes back even further than that. Even before the original Disneyland guide maps Kodak was a part of all things Disney. Kodak film could be found in the filming and production of the Saludos Amigos, True Life Adventures, and even so far back as Flowers and Trees, where the invention of three-strip Technicolor film stock made it possible for Flowers and Trees to see its true potential, rather than just black and white, as it went on to be the first cartoon to win an Academy Award.

Next time you are blazing a trail or meandering through a park, make sure to take a moment and realize just how good a job Kodak does setting up us amateurs for success. Whether it is getting us from one place to another, finding spots where we can take almost professional photographs, or just relish in the fact that Kodak has been with Disney almost as long as Mickey Mouse has.

Paths to Adventure - Frontierland

Adventureland was just the beginning. As you stepped through the arch, leaving the pirates and jungles behind you, you entered the dusty realm of bandits, cowboys, and wilderness. Saddle up partners, we’ve entered Frontierland. Where the dirt roads are lined with opportunity and the sounds of the fiddle, guitar, and harmonica keep your feet tappin’ all the live long day.

As you make your way into the west, your first encounter will undoubtedly be with the Frontierland Fries. Travelers, passersby, and settlers alike have been known to frequent the covered wagon, seeking Cookie McDonald’s fine fried potatoes. Should you tummy be grumbling, there are more tasty places to rustle up some grub, but this should tied you over if you need it.

Venturing around the bend, you will find yourself face to face with the two tallest peaks of Frontierland. Chickapin Hill and Big Thunder Mountain tower over the land, and can be seen from all over. Passing between the two mountains is the world famous Walt Disney World Railroad. Once you’ve heard its whistle, and been carried upon its rails, you’ll never forget it. Should you find yourself on board, your stops will include Mickey’s Toontown Fair and Main Street U.S.A. with, of course, return passage to Frontierland. Along the way you will pass straight through an Algonquin camp.

The peak of Big Thunder Mountain has its own railroad that beacons adventurous cowpokes. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad runs along the tracks set down by the miners of Tumbleweed, the nearby town. The miners vanished years ago, after refusing to listen to warnings about digging for gold on ancient Indian burial grounds. The curse of Big Thunder caused an earthquake, which destroyed everything in its path. The train roars through the abandoned mines and the now flooded town of tumbleweed before taking sharp turns through dinosaur fossils and geysers. Heed the advice of the Indians, and leave their sacred burial grounds untouched. With engine names like I.B. Hearty, I.M. Brave, I.M. Fearless., U.B. Bold, U.R. Courageous, and U.R. Daring, one should always have their wits about them on this journey.

One peak over, Chickapin Hill is overrun with logs racing down its falls. Should you be so inclined to board one of these logs, you may find yourself in an awful mess. It seems that Chickapin Hill, sometimes called Splash Mountain, is home to the rowdy bunch of Br’er Rabbit, Br’er Fox, and Br’er Bear. Br’er Rabbit makes his way through the hills and woods surrounding his home in search of his Laughin’ Place, while Br’er Fox and Br’er Bear are in search of a way to catch and cook Br’er Rabbit. Watch the path your log flows through, if you find yourself climbing to the top of Chickapin Hill, watch out and hold on! That hill has been known throw plenty of logs straight into the briar patch below, drenching all the occupants of the log. I wouldn’t worry too much about Br’er Rabbit though, he’s a crafty rabbit to be sure.

Across the way, along the banks of the Rivers of America, sit rafts destined for Tom Sawyer’s Island. On the island you’ll find treats at Aunt Polly’s, caves and tunnels surrounding the Magnetic Mystery Mine and Injun Joe’s Cave, along with Fort Langhorn across the barrel bridge, complete with escape tunnel, should the need arise for a full retreat. In the old Harper’s Mill, be sure to watch for blue birds. They like to make their nest in the gears and cogs while singing their famous tune. As well, be on the look out for paint brushes. Tom and Huck hid their brushes to escape their chores and set out on their own boyhood adventures. Folks say finding these brushes will help you beat the other adventurers to the logs of Splash Mountain or the trains of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, or so the story goes.

After taking a raft back across to the mainland, take a stroll down Frontierland’s main thoroughfare. If you find your stomach growling after your rip-roarin’ travels through the peaks of Frontierland this trail offers an assortment of chow. Westward Ho offers up some tasty snacks. It once used to be a main staple shop along Frontierland, but has since been reduced to a single wagon selling bites to eat. Throughout the rest of Frontierland you may find vendors with turkey legs, fresh popped corn, and ice cream, but eat quickly, that blazing western sun is sure to melt your frozen treat in a hurry. Should need a more manly meal, stop in at Pecos Bill’s Tall Tale Inn & Café. Here, not only will you find a meal for any appetite, but you can also inspect the cabinets full of memorabilia loaned to Pecos Bill by some of his heroic friends.

Down the way you can stop in and take a load off at Grizzly Hall. Here Henry leads a paw thumpin’ how down with some of the most talented bears this side of the Mississippi. They ask for no hibernatin’, but with the likes of Big Al, the Sun Bonnet Trio, Gomer, Liver Lips McGrowl, Trixie, and the Five Bear Rugs (Zeke, Zeb, Ted, Fred, Tennessee, and their little friend Baby Oscar) you know you couldn’t catch even a single wink.

Supply depots can be found all along the route. Big Al’s, Frontierland Trading Post, and Prairie Outpost and Supply should be able to assist you in stocking up on whatever it is your pack is lacking. And if you think your aim is getting a bit rusty, be sure to stop in at the Shootin’ Arcade. This “ghost town” is the ideal place to perfect your dead-eye aim.

As you come to the mighty Mississippi draining into the Rivers of America you realize that you are leaving the frontier for the more civilized realm of Liberty Square. Be sure to take note of the west’s last outpost. The militia here never abandons one of its own and, as a full fledged citizen of Frontierland now, the west will always have your back.

Green summer hills, and rainbows play a part

In the original Journey Into Imagination, as you enter the Dream Port, passing by the Dream Vehicle being unloaded, you happen upon the Imaginometer. The Imaginometer measured things like Dreams (Daydreams or Night), Sounds, and Colors. Looking through the window into the Imaginometer you could see all sorts of colorful images flashing by.

These days the Imaginometer has gone the way of the Dream Port, and the Dream Vehicle, and, come to think of it, the Dreamfinder himself. However, careful inspection of a storage unit in the current Imagination queue, and you will find apiece of the Color gauge from the Imaginometer. If I am given free rein to decipher what this means (aside from the fact that Imagineers wanted to hide a piece of the original as homage), I have to believe that the Imaginometer was purchased by the Imagination Institute to try and uncover more about dreams than they could ever really understand. It was decided that dismantling the machine would, perhaps, give them more insight. After dismantling the contraption, they found they were no closer to discovering the true potential of Imagination, attempted to reconstruct the machine, and failed. They failed miserably because they forgot the key element in the Imaginometer’s, and the Journey Into Imagination's, original construction. That element? Why, Imagination, of course.

The dream, the dream has always been here

In case you have been living on the dark side of the moon today, and yes, currently the Main Street Gazette resides on the dark side of the Disney moon, Disney’s California Adventure is getting a 1.1 billion dollar facelift. The most expensive facelift ever, and that includes any facelift any celebrity has ever purchased. You can read the article here, at the Wall Street Journal.

I for one think this is a fabulous idea, California Adventure is the red-headed stepchild of the Disney Parks, and it is in need of an upgrade. I find two pieces of this remodeling project truly inspiring. One, it is going to be a park based upon the footsteps of Walt Disney himself. And two, it is not setting out to dismantle everything, scrap it clean, and build a totally new park. No, the key pieces of the park, like Soarin’ Over California and the Tower of Terror, are staying put, aside from a icon replacement.

The new icon, Carthay Circle, isn’t actually new to the theme park scene, it isn’t even new to Disney theme parks. For the curious of you, and those of you seeking more of Sunset Blvd., as seen in articles earlier this week, a replica of Carthay Circle Theatre is located inside of Disney-MGM Studios, on Sunset Blvd. What place in Disney history does Carthay Circle hold? It was the location of the premier of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, almost 70 years ago now.

On a personal note, this probably means the only time I will see the “original” California Adventure will be in two weeks when I am there for my honeymoon. I can’t wait to see, and experience, my first new Disney theme park since Animal Kingdom, but I am equally excited to see what the future holds for the new Adventure.

Chit chat, yak yakin’, flim flam

Being different is okay. In fact, any person worth their salt would tell you that you should always be true to yourself, and not mindless follow a group. But it certainly is nice to find out that you are not alone sometimes. Say, when you’re getting looks for taking pictures of weird signs, lighting fixtures, ice cream, and the occasional sidewalk or two. For the longest time I thought I was the only one out there who did such things, but now I know that there is an actual community of people just as neurotic about details as I am.

On the topic of sidewalks, I don’t know that I have ever seen so inconspicuous a queue floor as that of Grizzly Hall, the home of the Country Bear Jamboree. It is a shame that those gorgeous hardwood floors have been scratched up by our furry friends, but I guess Henry isn’t that upset. From the photograph you can see that the Bears have always been a favorite of the hibernating set, both bear and human hibernators. But honestly, who could listen to Big Al and not get a little drowsy?

Mama don’t whip little Buford...

Dis-tionary

In honor of Dictionary Day, a holiday I am sure George over at Imaginerding is fond of, I feel it’s time we get back to visiting the Dis-tionary.

Character Breakfast – Character Breakfasts are exactly what they sound like, they are breakfasts where Disney characters make their way around the restaurant stopping to mingle with guests, take pictures, and give autographs. Depending on the location, and type, of the breakfast characters can range from the classics, like Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, to princess, Winnie-the-Pooh, and even Lilo and Stitch. Aside from breakfast, there are also character meals for both lunch and dinner.

Blue Sky – An Imagineering term used to describe the early stage of development where anything is possible. Technology, time, space, and other constraints are not used to limit ideas during this stage. There is a quote from Walt Disney himself that I feel epitomizes the Blue Sky process, “You know better than to kill an idea without giving it a chance to live.”

Visual Intrusion – A visual intrusion is anything in a given line of sight that disrupts the presentation of the environment. Basically, if you are in Tomorrowland, you don’t want to be to see Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. There are a few examples, the views from Splash Mountain, Expedition Everest, and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, where Visual Intrusion are necessary evils.

Out among the stars I sail, way beyond the moon

Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon,
The little dog laughed to see such sport,
And the dish ran away with the spoon.

This has to be one of my favorite nursery rhymes. I remember having this great nursery rhyme book as a child and the pictures from this one just stand out. When it came time to start teaching my preschool students poetry, by way of nursery rhymes, this was the first one I went to.

So, imagine my delight when I looked up outside of Al’s Toy Barn, where I was checking out Woody, Buzz, and the Green Army Man, only to see the cow making his famous jump. It brings home the point that Walt Disney World really is for the child in all of us.

Outside it's sunny

Sunset Blvd., at Disney-MGM Studios/Disney’s Hollywood Studios, is full of fascinating little nooks and crannies. There are so many in fact, that if I were to try and cover them all in one article, you’d probably still be reading when I returned from my honeymoon. So, today we’re going to look at only two of my favorites, the address of 77 Sunset and my all-time favorite restroom in all of the Studios.

If you are walking down Sunset, towards The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, there is a cream colored building on your right, just before you reach the Carthay Circle Theatre. This is 77 Sunset. To uncover the significance of 77 Sunset, you have to dig a few years back in television history. 77 Sunset, and more specifically 77 Sunset Strip, was the address, as well as the title, of a quirky crime drama. The show, which ran from October 1958, until February 1964, centered on two private detectives and their cases. Ironically enough the show’s real life residence, which was shot at Dino’s Lodge, owned by Dean Martin, actually did live on Sunset Strip, but at the address of 8524 Sunset Strip.

This destination is special to me for the simple reason of I knew it meant something and couldn’t tell what. When my Uncle Gene asked me what I was taking a picture of it for, this, by the way, has become a very popular question over the past few trips, I said that it was because I was sure it meant something, and I planned on finding out what. He started to chuckle and asked if I really didn’t know about 77 Sunset Strip, before proceeding to tell me about the show. This was one of my first hooks. Prior to this everything I had taken a picture of I knew why, this was the first mystery photo I took and found out some interesting information on. Suffice it to say, 77 Sunset holds a special place in my heart.

The other, the tucked away restroom on Sunset Blvd., is my favorite restroom for two simple reasons. One, it is themed to the hilt. Two, it is a loading dock for Quilted Northern Tissue. Of course it is, why wouldn’t a toilet paper company's dock be analogous to a Walt Disney World restroom, it makes perfect sense.

So whether you are looking for a few good souvenirs or a good place for a pit stop, may I recommend taking a stroll down Sunset. I just don’t recommend the lodging. Between you and me, I heard it was falling into decline.

Ideals, dreams, and hard facts

I attempt to keep the Main Street Gazette cheerful, full of optimism, with enough dissension to allow you the opportunity to take of those rose colored glasses from time to time. But today marks an anniversary of sorts for my family, and I felt it needed to be recognized here. So, this is my soapbox, and I am getting on it.

When you are driving to Walt Disney World, whether it is from your house hundreds of miles away, or from Orlando International Airport, or even just from your hotel to one of the theme parks, please make sure that each and every person in your car is wearing their seatbelt. In fact, they should be wearing them no matter where you are or where you are going.

My Aunt Keeni died one year ago today in a car crash on her way to work at Walt Disney World. She had traveled this same stretch of road to work everyday for the last 20 years. On this morning, another car clipped the front end of her car and sent her off the road, end over end, while he spun out and came to a halt without a scratch on him. He then lied to the officers on the scene, concocting a fantastic story and blaming the accident on a phantom car. He had a record of illegal lane changes that caused similar accidents, and had even left the scene of a hit and run before. However, my aunt was not wearing her seatbelt and was ejected from the car as it flipped. From the severity of the crash no one has been able to say if she would have survived even if she had been wearing the belt, but it might have helped. The other driver was ticketed for the accident, but no other charges were filed.

My Aunt Keeni was my family’s link to all that happened in Walt Disney World. She worked in security there, and always had a story to tell or a secret to share. I know she made many many many families’ vacation more magical because of some small thing she did for them. She would occasional get our family members into the parks, and we would always meet her at the front gates of Epcot, no matter what park we wanted to attend that day. When I was down at Walt Disney World for Epcot’s 25th, I remembered her standing there in her security uniform, and it was almost unbearable to walk through those gates with out her. This is one of the pictures I cling to, from left to right, that is my Aunt Keeni, myself, my cousin Tam, my Aunt Suzie, my cousins Maia and Billy, and my dad. I miss her everyday.

Today, on the anniversary of her untimely death, I ask two things of you. One, on your next trip tell a cast member that does something nice, something that is unexpected, for you just how much you appreciate what they do. And two, please wear your seatbelt. It shouldn’t even be a second thought, but I know there are those of you who don’t, and you should. If not for yourself, do it for your family.

I’m getting off of my soapbox now.

Colorful ports of call

From the barnacles on the torii gate in Japan, to the crests in the windows above the United Kingdom shoppes, the subtle details of World Showcase are what give you that feeling that you have indeed stepped away from Walt Disney World and are on the cultural journey of a lifetime. And I needed to take a moment to step out this evening, something outside of programs, directions for guests, and wedding party gifts, and wandering through little seen pleasures in World Showcase seemed like a pleasant way to free my mind from thoughts of ball and chain ceremonies.

Since I have talked about various pieces of the pavilion before, it should come as no surprise that my favorite country in World Showcase is France. With it’s tasty pastry, beautiful fountains, wine, lavender, and street side art, it isn’t a wonder that I can spend hours just watching the world go by in France, as if I were a true Parisian.

To be fair, my grandmother was born and raised in France, so I am somewhat biased in my opinion. But with little niches like these, can you really blame me for wanting to stop my worldly wanderings back in this little corner of World Showcase?

Drive away your worries and cares

A few weeks ago I talked about the sense of humor needed to dine inside 50’s Prime Time Café and Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater. Little did I know then that I was about to become my own guinea pig.

On our last trip my dad, Aunt Suzie, Uncle Gene, and myself decided to grab a late lunch at Sci-Fi. We sat at a table, or car if you are so inclined, near the back with a full view of the entire “audience.” I wasn’t feeling so great, I usually feel a little under the weather my second or third day into a trip as my body adjusts to the sudden hot and air conditioned environmental changes it is constantly going through, but was carrying on like a trooper. I order a Cherry Coke, because I cannot resist real Cherry Coke. Sure, I can drink it out of a bottle, or can, or even if it is Coke’s Cherry Coke from a fountain, but there is something about Coke with real fake cherry syrup added to it that gives it the perfect taste. It is a simple pleasure, but a pleasure to be sure.

The drinks arrived and I reached over for my drink, my hand slipped on the outside and, being under the weather with reflexes that were slower than dirt, I knocked the entire glass straight into my Aunt’s lap. Her reflexes were much better thank mine and it only caught her pants as she jumped up, pants which were, by the way, white. The heavy napkins we had, that the family next to us offered, and the stack that the waitress brought helped soak up all of the soda off of the table and floor while I felt utterly miserable, and not because of my cold-like symptoms. Comments were made by our waitress about how I, the driver, had had too much to drink, but that she would bring me another drink anyway. And so she did, a child’s cup, with a straw. Oh, and it had a lid too.
My aunt’s fast thinking got a majority of the soda out of her pants, and left her freezing cold and wet, I was able to enjoy my Cherry Coke in little sips, and I definitely had to laugh at myself all through lunch. Of course that was mostly because even had I wanted to let it go, the waitress wouldn’t have let me forget, and that is just the way it should be. I couldn’t have asked for a better example to prove how much fun you can have at these restaurants if you are just willing to let go and not take yourself so seriously!

Happy Holidays to you, and you, and you!

I’m getting my holiday greetings out early this year, after all Christmas Cards are already filling store shelves, and nothing says Christmas like three weeks before Halloween! Also my wedding is a little over two weeks away, and apparently I am supposed to be spending more time on seating arrangements, play lists, and putting together gift baskets than I am digging deep into Disney details.

These hip holiday snowmen, or rather snow-mouse, -dogs, and -duck, look like something straight out of Blizzard Beach. Surprisingly, they are actually residents of Downtown Disney Marketplace. Behind Wolfgang Puck Express and Disney’s Days of Christmas, heading towards the resort bus stop, these guys hang out year round giving guests the opportunity to prepare their Christmas cards months in advance.

Save Our Swirl - Now Departing

A few weeks ago a reader named Michael wrote a comment in response to my outrage about the changes to the Citrus Swirl. In his response he gave us the mantra Save Our Swirl. This got me thinking about all the little things that have changed inside of Walt Disney World, things that created Magic for us that are now gone, or are in some other form. I’m not talking 20,000 Leagues, Mr. Toad’s, or even Horizons. No, I am talking about things like the change in the Citrus Swirl’s recipe, or the fact that photos are no longer free at the hard ticket parties, or today’s topic, the inside joke that is now gone from the Frontierland Railroad Station. These all fall under the jurisdiction of S.O.S., Save Our Swirl.

The small piece of humor that I am referring to is the wooden leg named Smith. For those of you who are unaware, in the film Mary Poppins there is a scene where Bert and Uncle Albert are stuck on the ceiling because they cannot stop laughing. In this scene they amuse themselves with a joke in which Bert states, “I know a man with a wooden leg named Smith,” with Uncle Albert replying, “What’s the name of his other leg.”

In and of itself, this is a clever joke that you carry with you long after the film is over, and that’s exactly what the Imagineers in the Magic Kingdom did. On the luggage rack, in the ticket office of the Frontierland Railroad Station, there has long been a wooden leg perched on some luggage with the name printed on the side. I loved this little detail, and made a point of checking on it every trip. In all the times I had seen the leg I only ever snapped one, very blurry, image of the leg. Last week while wandering through Frontierland with my new camera I thought it would be the perfect time to take a new picture, and what do I find, the leg had up and walked away.

If I stop there, this is simply a personal travesty, something I am a few others may miss, but there is a deeper story here. The Imagineering Field Guide to the Magic Kingdom talks about the wooden leg named Smith in the section on the Frontierland Station. The Magic Kingdom Field Guide was only published in 2005, so I have to believe that there are guests out there, who love Walt Disney World, picked up the book, found this interesting nugget, and planned to try to spot it on their next trip. However, they will find nothing, no matter how intense their search may be. Will this make or break their trip? Most assuredly not. Yet, I can’t help but add it to the list of small pieces of Magic that are disappearing, and not being replaced.

So, I am sounding the alarm, this is the S.O.S. for Frontierland Railroad Station’s wooden leg named Smith.

Settler’s cabin aflame, deck one stand alert

Should there ever be a fire in Liberty Square, it is good to know the Philadelphia Contributionship for the Insurance of Houses from Loss by Fire (let’s just refer to it as the Contributionship from here on out) will be there to help pick up the pieces.

The Contributionship was created by Benjamin Franklin in 1752. The Contributionship’s firemark, the hand-in-hand symbol seen above, was placed on buildings, usually between two second story windows, as a sign that they were protected by a certain company should a fire wreak havoc on their household. Dues are generally based upon risk estimates for the year, but the Contributionship was unique in that they were the first company to insure against fire, and had no real way to estimate fire damages for the upcoming year. Therefore, Franklin greatly overestimated what damages could be for the year. Consequently, to not scare away clients, he also marked the agreements that if there were any residuals left over from that year could be applied to the next year. As time went on this process created excesses that were used to pay out dividends, in addition to being able to return whole investments if you moved. This became known as perpetual fire insurance. Not a bad way to protect your house, huh?

It’s good to know that Walt Disney World took the time to insure these buildings. After all, fires aren’t new to the area, just ask the Settler’s cabin that burned for all those years along the starboard bow of the Liberty Square Riverboat.

Hand and hand we'll be walking down Main Street

Notice how happy we both look here, especially my fiancée? This was one of those rare days I didn’t spend obsessing of obscure Walt Disney World trivia, or what the best touring plan is for afternoons in Animal Kingdom. The WDW Today podcast has a few episodes where they interview the wives of Disney gurus in which they coin the term Disney Widow. My fiancée, Aileen, is only about 18 days away from widowhood, well 18 days and 1 minute after our wedding ceremony.

To be honest, I wouldn’t be doing this without her. It was her support that really brought me to this point, that and the fact that I was under the impression she would have killed me had I not found another outlet for my thirst and knowledge of all things Disney, aside from her ear that is. My most minor of breakthroughs, like the first time I had over ten visitors in a day, or the first time a series of articles actually finds its rhythm, she celebrates as if I had received some great promotion. She supports my endless hours of research, sometimes far later into the night than is wise, going to bed on her own, and she hates going to bed by herself.

That isn’t to say that she doesn’t like Walt Disney World, she does, in fact, enjoy her time there. She enjoys not having to worry about anything, the fact that everything you could really want to do on a vacation is there waiting for you is right up her alley. She has her favorite attractions at each park, her favorite resorts, and her favorite meals (Splash Mountain, Soarin’, Tower of Terror, Dinosaur, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and Le Cellier for those of you keeping score at home). But she could do with skipping a trip every now and then and making my annual vacations bi-annual trips, as opposed to my continual prodding for several research trips and my requests for semi-annual vacations. Taking pictures of the sidewalks or a cool address marker is beyond her, but it gives me something to do, so she lets it go.

As much as I love Walt Disney World, I would give all of it up in a second for her, but, being the woman she is, she would never ask such a thing of me. Balancing our new family and my Disney mania is work, just like any relationship, but with Aileen by my side I can climb any mountain Disney can lay before me. I couldn’t do any of it without her, and I couldn’t dream of a world without her.

By the way, the WDW Today’s Disney Widows episodes are Episode 129 and Episode 282, and I highly recommend them both.

Yeti Is Real!

I found this little notice posted on the walls surrounding the Yak and Yeti restaurant construction. Apparently refurb walls aren’t just for “pardoning our pixie dust anymore,” just ask those ornate gates that were added to The Haunted Mansion during its recent closure.

It’s a shame that, generally, Animal Kingdom isn’t open late enough, for those of us who might be interested, to venture back into Serka Zong for this lecture. Ah well, maybe the video will appear on You Tube.

Paths to Adventure - Adventureland

As promised, it is time to begin our new series, the Paths to Adventure. These are mostly designed for children going to Walt Disney World, giving them a heads-up about all the different stories, and adventures, and little treasures that await them. But, since these guides are set up to walk you through a particular land, pavilion, or street, I think that they will work well for adults, especially those of us going through withdrawals between trips home.

Now, where should we start? Norway, in Epcot, with Vikings and trolls? No. Asia, in Animal Kingdom, filled with dangerous rapids and deadly animals, like the Yeti? No, not today. Of course, there is only one place to start down our Paths to Adventure, Adventureland!


As you cross the old wooden bridge into Adventureland, you see the shields, and hear to tribal drums, of the local natives. To any other visitor these might sound alarming, as if they were being warned not to enter, but an experienced adventurer like yourself knows better, these drums are welcoming you to their land.

Once over the bridge you find a run down shack on your right. This has been known to hide the best pirate you have seen, Captain Jack Sparrow, and his treasure. He cannot be found here often, but, when he has filled the hull of his ship, this is where he makes port to stash his booty. Jack is a very sociable host; he loves to entertain, though he can become easily distracted. Weather the storm with Jack, err, sorry, Captain Sparrow and he will get you back to the streets of Adventureland in no time.

Continuing on down the right side of the street, you shall find Aloha Isle, a pleasant little outpost that serves all manner of pineapple cuisine. You can find pineapple spears, juice, and even a concoction of pineapple and soft ice cream here. Now, it may be a while before you are able to find more provisions in the darkest corners of Adventureland, so it is best to take a moment here to stock up before going in further.

Across the way from Aloha Isle is the Treehouse of the old Swiss Family Robinson’s. They were once abandoned here and, without food, water, or shelter, they survived and built this glorious Treehouse. The Robinsons have since left these lands, but their Treehouse remains, abandoned as they once were. Take a moment and explore, you may find clues to life here in Adventureland, as well as some gadgets you could make use of in your own home.

Here comes a crossroad in our journey. Down the path to our left is the Jungle Cruise, across the trail lies the Agrabah Bazaar and the Flying Carpets of Aladdin. Since we just stuffed ourselves on pineapple treats, perhaps it is best to take on flight carpets later.

As you travel toward the Jungle Cruise Expeditions, it calms your nerves to read that they have never lost a party yet. And as you find your way to your boat, you realize that they are even giving away free kittens, this is definitely a top notch group. However, if you look towards the left of the building, you will find a sign filled with missing persons and boats. The river guides are quick to explain that they have not lost these people or boats, they are simply missing, soon to be found for sure. Once on your boat, your skipper attempts to ease your fears with a few corny jokes. If you aren’t laughing immediately, you soon will be, as these corny jokes will be crammed into every part of your journey. Wandering down rivers from all corners of the world you will see fantastic creatures, mysterious natives, and extraordinary sights. If you are lucky, you will have the very rare opportunity to see the back side of water. Oh, and while on the cruise, give that old crocodile Smiley a wave for me, from inside the boat of course. Once back on dry land, it is your turn to pilot one of Shrunken Ned’s boats around a tiny lagoon, right next to the launches of the Jungle Cruise.

As we make our way back across the path, make sure to notice the tribal tikis. But be warned, while they may seem impressive in stature, the tiki spirits here are mischievous and like to spit at explorers who venture too close.

Upon entering the marketplace of Agrabah’s Bazaar, be sure to mind your surroundings. You can see remnants of goods that were once sold here, as well as tiles from buildings that once stood on these very grounds. This may also be the place to find Aladdin or Jasmine wandering through and shopping. Should you see them, I am quite certain that they will be happy to stop and chat with you. While you are looking down and around, however, make sure to keep an eye on the golden camels, they have taken a hint from the tikis across the road, and they like to spit at travelers as well. Nevertheless, this is the place to find the Magic Carpets of Aladdin. Once onboard your carpet will fly you high over the Bazaar, you will feel the wind in your face and a joyful freedom in your heart.

Also in the Bazaar, you will find the Sunshine Tree Terrace where, once again, fruity delights can be found, this time in citrus, or orange, flavors. While next door, in the Enchanted Tiki Room, the birds that sing words, and the flowers that croon, have made some new friends. Zazu and Iago have flown in to help the show get back in the air. By the end you will be singing and dancing your way through the streets of Adventureland, but beware, up ahead there be pirates.

Enter the old fortress Castillo del Morro, now taken over by the Pirates of the Caribbean, by where the old pirate carcass still keeps watch from the crow’s nest. As you make your way through the fortress, the keen-eyed explorer in you notices the shackles once used to hold pirates after they had been caught and the cannons, now silent, that used to boom like thunder as they attempted to keep the scurvy pirates at bay. In the bowels of one of the deeper cells you may even find two old seadogs, who spent their final days locked in a never-ending battle of chess.

When you reach the dock you board a longboat and set sail through the uncharted waters of deserted pirate caves, coves, and caverns. Davy Jones is said to issue warnings to those who prowl these cursed waters, warnings of dead men and waterfalls. Should you be swept over the falls, you may find buccaneers sacking the town, torturing the mayor, or any other slack-jawed townsfolk fool enough to be caught, for information, and setting everything in their path on fire, all in an attempt to quench the lust for treasure, rum, and women! Now, heed these words, beware that scurvy dog, Captain Barbosa, as he scours the town for Captain Jack Sparrow and the key to the treasury.

Should you return to Adventureland, through the cases of loot in the Castillo del Morro, you shall find yourself in a Spanish square, with barrel tiled roofs, and a compassed laid in the walkway. Through the archway to your left, your adventure through Adventureland is done. But there is no time to be sad, for there are plenty more adventures to be had as you enter Frontierland.

A quote from Walt, that has been used a lot lately, is that you can teach them, but don’t tell them that you are teaching them. I tried to be true to that idea here. If you are a parent reading this article, I am almost certain that you noticed that some of my word choices may be difficult for children, the target audience of the Paths to Adventure series. I included words like hull, provisions, expeditions, citrus, fortress, and buccaneers to inspire children to ask questions. I am hoping that this will give inquisitive children tastes of history, language, and may even spark their interest in other subjects that they never thought of. I will continue to do this in future articles as I think the greatest gift, or souvenir if you will, we can take from Walt Disney World is what we make of the adventures, stories, and dreams we find there once we have left.

I also welcome any comments, questions, or ideas you have, either through comments here or through my email. If you want more detail of the educational element of these articles (i.e. a vocabulary list, or a list of topic ideas to expand upon with your child(ren), or even some comprehension questions), just let me know. I am just starting this series, and I would love to know what you think, or want to see. After all, I only have my one perspective here, and there is a great big World out there filled with all of you, and you are the ones I am here for.

Orange Sheriff's Office buys 14 elephant guns

This article from the Orlando Sentinel really sparked my interest. In the first half of the article, where they talk about the elephant guns, not the section on the ‘matching firepower’ of pistols, does not specifically point out Animal Kingdom, but the animals listed there are, for the most part, obviously Animal Kingdom residents.

After reading through the article, I had mixed feelings. Obviously I am glad that they are taking precautions to ensure public safety, and that the weapons would only be used as a last resort. After all, the animals that live and play in the Animal Kingdom are wild animals, no matter how tame and cuddly we think some of them are. Still though, I got a pang in my heart when I thought about one of those creatures being gunned down, especially by one of the people who reviewed the weapon from gunblast.com and was grinning like an idiot, mumbling about getting one of these guns.

Then I remembered just how much precaution Disney has implemented, as well as state of the art technologies, to ensure that the animals and their guests stay separated, not to mention the creature comforts like air-conditioned rocks. Just think about the Animal Kingdom Lodge for a moment, they have cameras aimed towards the guest balconies, and they are there for more than just your safety.



So it looks like those shiny new guns won’t be used around Walt Disney World for a long long time, and that the animals will be remembered from photo-safaris, not as a headline blurb after they take an illegal field trip.

You are on the clock

I am not afraid to admit that I have a fear of something. However, I am deathly afraid of Space Mountain. I love Rock ‘n’ rollercoaster Starring Aerosmith, and Tower of Terror, and especially Expedition Everest. My favorite ride in all of the Magic Kingdom is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. All of these are roller coasters. And yet the minute I see the spires of Space Mountain from the monorail, I get shivers up and down my spine and my stomach sinks. It is irrational and silly, but then again, most fears are.

Most people don’t know why they are terrified of certain things, they just know that they always have been. I wish that were the case here, but, unfortunately for me, I can trace my fear of Space Mountain all the way back to a moment when I was four or five. I finally met the height requirement set by Walt Disney World, I had always wanted to go on this ride because my dad had always come out with a huge grin. Looking back, I never understood why my mother didn’t want to ride in a rocket roller coaster. My dad kept asking if I wanted to ride on Space Mountain, and telling me how much fun it would be. My mother was more cautious, and spoke about how maybe I should wait. Wait, schmait, I wanted on that bad boy, especially because it was something my dad did.

You wouldn’t think you could pull up a memory so vividly that happened over two decades ago, but I can. I can remember the tunnel, and I can remember being strapped in beneath my dad, back in the old cars before you had to ride in a seat all by yourself, and I can remember the exact thoughts in my head. “Why did I say yes,” “is it over,” and of course the classic “I want mommy.”

After the shear terror of the ride, I bravely walked out to my mom and sister and told them how much fun it was. My dad, the proud papa he was at having such a cool son, asked if I wanted to go again. It was at the moment I clutched my mother’s hand and said that I didn’t want to. The moment passed, and we moved on to other attractions like the WEDway Peoplemover and Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. I didn’t step foot on Space Mountain again for over twenty years.

There were times I tried, but I couldn’t do it. I would walk down the tunnel, stare into the windows with the magnified stars, walk out onto the loading platform, and immediately start to cry and walk out. It took my fiancée promising me that I’d be fine before I would even attempt it. She sat right behind me last year, and laughed the entire time I screamed. Not a thrilled, I love this ride scream, no, these were the primal screams of a child who knows he is going to die. I guess the old saying is true, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

I tried riding Space Mountain again last weekend, it was only the third occasion in my life, this time with my father, the same man who had introduced me my nightmare all those years ago, and guess what? I still hate it.

Me, I started here

Here’s a piece of news I would be remiss if I didn’t report. Netcot’s Head Dude, a.k.a. Van, and his wife celebrated the birth of their first child on September 25. Even before he was born he was a star on the Netcot forums, spawning such nicknames as NetTot and MiniVan and Baby Watch posts. His parents’ world will be a little brighter now that he is here, and the Main Street Gazette wishes all of them nothing but the best, and sleep, we wish them plenty of time to sleep.

A new Disney baby is in the world, and the World, and the next generation of Magic spreaders gets a new member.

Congratulations!

I told you chickens to stay on the other side of the road

We all know that MuppetVision 3D, as well as the Muppet Stuff store, have some of the best gags on property anywhere. We’ll go through a lot of them together over time, and that will take a while because listing gags when Muppets are involved is almost as tiresome and time consuming as singing it’s a small world. Today though, let us start with one of my favorites. It can be found right across the walkway from the exit to MuppetVision, along the side wall of Muppet Stuff.



I should take a moment here to tell you that if you have never taken a moment to pause and absorb every nuance you can of the outside of Muppet Stuff, I recommend you do, it is full of fantastic little witticisms. Here’s a nice clean shot I took to give you an idea, and even it does not do the real thing justice.

Back to my favorite touch to Muppet Stuff, it is good to know the painter planned on coming back all those years ago when he went to lunch. As well, it appears as if he is truly dedicated to his task, or else why would he go through all that work? I mean, you don’t suppose that they painted that up there to give us all a good chuckle now and then, do you?

Put our service to the test

What has happened to the Citrus Swirl? I want to use stronger language here, but we’re House of Mouse squeaky clean here. I stopped by on Saturday morning expecting my favorite frosty treat. I noticed the price had gone down a bit, finally some respect, I thought. Then they serve me my Citrus Swirl in a little cup and my heart sank, I was devastated.

No longer was there a shockingly orange glow on the one side of my cup. No longer could you smell the orange concentrate from across the table. No longer was it a citrus Swirl, I don’t care what they actually call it. What sat before me was a combination of vanilla soft serve and what I can only describe as orange sorbet. It was no longer orange in color either, now there was only a blush of peach mingling with the ivory of the soft serve. When asked what had happened to the old recipe the cast members, likely new to the Sunshine Tree Terrace, acted like nothing had been changed, so far as they knew. And, in their minds, they were probably right; the recipe hadn’t changed since they had been there.

As I walked away I took a second to glance back, I hadn’t stopped to really read the menu before I hurriedly placed my order in frantic anticipation, and thought that it would probably shed some light on my quagmire. Instead, what I found left me with the greatest of the bitter pills I had been forced to swallow in the past few minutes. The description of the Citrus Swirl had not been altered. It still said orange concentrate and soft serve. Now, I grew up in Florida, next to an orange grove for that matter, I know orange everything, and what I had just been forced to ingest was not orange concentrate. I was left speechless, but only momentarily, before I started griping and grumbling to any one who cared to listen. It would have been a travesty, but at least a bearable one, had they actually made the appropriate changes. Yet they were still trying to pass off this farce as the delicacy I had enjoyed for years. It almost ruined my morning.

The experiences that morning led me down a dangerous path later in my trip. That’s right, I have to swallow some pride here. GULP. I had to eat a Dole Whip. This recipe, by the way, had not been changed. And, I must admit, it tasted fine. I do, in fact, try one every few trips or so jut to make sure my bias is legit. So here is the current pecking order for Adventureland Frozen Delights:

1.) Citrus Swirl (Original)
2.) Dole Whip
3.) Citrus Swirl (Charade Version)

If you ask my honest opinion, it is just a conspiracy from the Anti-Citrus Swirl Pro-Dole Whip assembly, remember, they are well sponsored after all.

We've only just begun

Epcot is 25. Where does the time go?

I was lucky enough to have been born before Epcot opened, I hold that one over my sister’s head, though if pressed I would be forced to admit I don’t have any memory of Walt Disney World before Epcot Center. I was also lucky enough to spend this past weekend at Walt Disney World, I was able to spend some quality time with my father before I get married at the end of this month and I was able to show my admiration for Epcot on its Silver Anniversary.

There are videos already popping up all over of the Rededication Ceremony, and for those of you who were unable to attend, yes, it was indeed something special to behold. Seeing Marty Sklar speak, the finale to Reflections of Earth (even in the rain), and watching the Communicore Fountain be restarted with waters from all over the world were all heart stopping. I am certain I am not the only one who caught a tear or two in their eyes during the day. I was able to record the audio of the ceremony, and I hope to have it here for you soon. So keep your eyes pealed.

Now, let us discuss the dreams and goals I set for myself before I left. I did not actually get to meet Marty Sklar (that was a pipe dream to be sure), Lou Mongello, or Jeff Pepper. I saw the latter two across the crowds a couple of times, but never quite made it in time to say hello. So gentlemen, if you’re out there, “Hello! Thanks for everything you have done for the Disney community! It was great to see you at the 25th, and I hope to see you and talk to you both another day.”

To offset the disappointment I had for not catching up to the Disney gurus, I was actually quite lucky in the fact that I got to meet this guy:

For those of you who don’t recognize him, that is Vice President Jim McPhee, the Big Cheese of Epcot. His team was responsible for putting together the sensational celebration of Epcot’s 25th. It was an honor to meet him, and I plan on sending him a copy of this photo along with a letter telling him that I think he has made a good portion of the million dreams come true just by removing the wand and giving Epcot its long-due Celebration.

For those of you who noticed, that’s right, I have pictures, lots of pictures that I plan on using for this site. I also took a lot more notes to go with my memories for all of my future articles, including the Paths to Adventure series I am going to start this weekend.

Oh, and yes, it does look absolutely gorgeous without the wand.