If we can dream it

We’ve all had dreams of developing a new attraction, land, or entire park. Whether it is a basic outline, or a fully fleshed out plan, it is fun to dream of the impossible. In the Future World section of Epcot, the threads of daily life have been woven together for almost thirty years, and while the details may have changed, the overarching ideas have remained relatively the same. This week, the Gazette Roundtable was tasked with shaking up that formula in some way!

Roundtable Topic: If you could add a pavilion to Future World, what would the pavilion's theme be? What would it look like? What would be in the pavilion?
Roundtable Contributors: Matthew Sedler (the geekTicket), George Taylor (Imaginerding), Melissa Loflin (Makin’ Memories), AJ Wolfe (The Disney Food Blog), Chris Fore (Adventure Veranda), Scott Otis, Eric Hoffman (Netmongrel), and yours truly.

Matthew – It was a real struggle to answer this question because the existing pavilions already cover so much. But then an old Disneyland attraction, Adventure Thru Inner Space, gave me an idea: The Hall of Science.

The pavilion could be broken down into four sections (since some of the other areas of science are already covered elsewhere): physics, biology, chemistry and geology. Physics could contain hands-on exhibits that demonstrate basic concepts, and chemistry could involve a game show with a large, interactive periodic table of elements. The remaining two exhibits could contain attractions, specifically an updated version of Body Wars for biology and a variation of Journey to the Center of the Earth for geology. Body Wars could have a different story with the new Star Tours branching-storyline technology, while Journey could use the "trackless" technology found in Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea to take riders through the different layers of Earth. It wouldn't have the same Jules Verne theme of the DisneySea attraction, because that would be an odd fit, but riders could experience earthquakes and a race to escape lava.

As for the look of the pavilion, I'd leave that up to the Imagineers. It was hard enough just trying to think of the theme!George – Adding a pavilion to Future World is an interesting topic, but one that will engender as many arguments as positive ideas.

What's that old saying? You can catch more Fan Boys with Horizons than Mission Space?

It is difficult to think of an area of science or humanities that has not been done, to some extent, in Future World.

There are three major expansion areas that we could start with: the Wonders of Life, Innoventions and the Odyssey Restaurant.

Looking at the east side of Future World, we have two pavilions based on Transportation. Why not add a third? Hmmm...but the Seas are over with Nemo. And the Land has Soarin' with Patrick Warburton. Plus, EPCOT demolished the World of Motion which highlighted a lot of different transportation throughout the years. Well, this is pretty frustrating. Let's move on to Innoventions.

Besides being used as an air-conditioned shortcut to other pavilions, Innoventions never gets much love. At any given time in its recent history, it seems as if there are large segments of the pavilions that are empty. What about creating a virtual EPCOT Center, circa 1986. You can use the simulators from Body Wars, the KUKA Arms and Aladdin's Magic Carpet VR to recreate all of the oft-missed attractions of EPCOT. Imagine riding Horizon or World of Motion. Or even Body Wars! We could take another ride with Figment. I would love for my kids to experience some good, old-fashioned Epcot goodness. Sea Cabs, anyone?

So, for the idea that I think will actually work is to turn the amazing Odyssey Restaurant into the Disney Dining Plan Pavilion (DDPP)! Were you aware that one of the original intentions of the Odyssey restaurant was to provide a multi-EPCOT-cultural dining experience? You would be able to order the specialties from each of the countries around World Showcase and enjoy them without the hullabaloo of having to walk around EPCOT Center. With the DDPP, envision the ability of being able to order Cheddar Cheese Soup without needing to book 180,000 days in advance? Of course, it would cost nine or ten dining credits. Twice that many if you want a FastPass for the DDPP.

I wonder why Imagineering hasn't called me, yet.

Melissa – The elements of Future World all seem to be covered these days with the exception of anatomy and physiology. The Wonders of Life pavilion and its attractions have been closed for a while now. So how about a pavilion dedicated to science and medicine in our past, present, and future? The attraction ride would utilize motion sensing technology and take guests on an interactive experience about physician care. You and a guest would board a simulator similar to Mission Space but standing up and with a fully immersive screen in front of you. You are in the future and your personal physician is giving you a physical. He asks you to complete some basic tasks; raise you left arm, raise your left leg, etc. The motion sensors will track your progress and track your results on the screen. During the exam your physician begins to educate you on physical care and how it has changed over the years. As he explains past physical care, you are transported in the simulator as it moves along with an immersive digital screen, and creates the illusion that you are traveling back in time while the doctor continues his stories. The experience could take you back to the time of the Civil War, to the great American President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who suffered from polio which was a very unknown disease at the time, and even to popular sports figures of today and how the advance in technology has helped them heal and perform. Once the history lesson is over your physician asks if you are ready for your exam. You and your guest select the test you would both like to complete while the physician calculates and reports your results. After exiting the ride, guests would enter an area full of kiosks and games that educate on the past, present, and future of medicine with information on how to best maintain your health and well-being in the future. And to round it out, since this is a pavilion based on your health, there would be a new counter service restaurant, filled with the freshest, organic, heart-health friendly, smart choices to eat. Guests will leave the pavilion a little more educated in their own personal health and a little more knowledgeable about their doctors and their future.AJ – I'm pretty sure we're all aware of what's missing from Future World. Laser tag. OK -- hear me out. Laser tag is fun. It's never the same experience twice. It exercises your mind and, clearly, uses futuristic technology. But I don't think we stop there. Let's couple this with the pavilion's major theme of social media -- the idea that people are being instantly influenced by others half a world away.

I love the idea of a laser tag-esque attraction where guests are actually in ride vehicles. The ride itself has multiple different courses, making this a choose-your-own-adventure type of experience; however, those choosing YOUR adventure are playing from home via a social technology platform (if there aren't enough people playing from home, the ride's computer chooses your course from a number of random sequences). Your goal as a rider is to score points against other ride vehicles via laser attack. Kind of a "bumper cars of the future" feel!

The look of the pavilion would be influenced by the ride track or ride system. I have no idea if ride vehicles would be on a track or if they would be suspended from arms that could be moved up, down, left, or right. The story behind the ride (TRON?) would influence the internal look and feel. Likely, based on the ride, it would be dark, with blockades, mirrors, and other obstacles to make the game that much more fun.

Can you tell I'm not a ride designer? ;-) I have no idea if this is possible, but it would be kind of cool. And I think the main message of a global communication platform affecting how companies and individuals act, build, and succeed could be very important to Epcot's overall theme.

Chris – Rather than add a pavilion as such, I would put a PeopleMover in Future World.

Although this idea is not original to me, my Future World PeopleMover would include:
- An elevated track that passes through the both the Communicore buildings
- A station in/over the Spaceship Earth post-show building
- A second station at the Odyssey Restaurant
- A third station near the "Refreshment Port" on the World Showcase promenade (near the Imagination Pavilion).
- Guests could board/leave at any station

This new PeopleMover could become the centerpiece for a renewed focus on the future of transportation. Since it passes through the upper stories of the Communicore buildings, I would also return those buildings to an open, airy design motif. And while we are at it, I would re-dedicate some of that Communicore real estate to the theme of transportation. This would include an A- or B-ticket attraction, and also one or more expansive, detailed, "working" scale models showing cities/destinations Of The Future (which we could look down onto as we pass overhead on the PeopleMover track!).

In "phase two" - the second and/or third stations on the Future World line would become common stops for a second PeopleMover in World Showcase (again, not originally my idea).

For "phase three", this would dovetail nicely with adding those new monorail lines to the other two theme parks (and perhaps Downtown Disney).

Such a Monorail/PeopleMover system could conceivably connect all of these properties:
- Seven Seas Lagoon Resorts
- Epcot Area resorts (via the International Gateway)
- All four theme parks
- Downtown Disney

Yes, such a system would likely be cost-prohibitive. But it would also be awesome. A guy can dream, can't he?Scott – I would choose an Earth theme, focusing on the glory & majesty of America's Greatest Idea, her National Parks.

From the abundant wildlife and stunning geothermal features of Yellowstone to the majestic waterfalls and sheer granite cliffs of Yosemite. From the grandeur and depth of the vistas of Grand Canyon to rocky coasts and seaside villages of Acadia.

America's National Parks would make an amazing Epcot Future World pavilion.

There would be a long turn-of-the-century steam train journey through the great National Parks of the American West, reminiscent of the locomotives that introduced the East Coasters to the idea of preserving America's most beautiful treasures for the enjoyment of the people, for all eternity.

This train would go through Glacier, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Zion, Bryce Canyon and would culminate with the breathtaking rim-side views of the Grand Canyon.

This would actually tie in with Walt's interest in nature and the outdoors, old Disney cartoons, True-Life Adventures and particular scenes from current and extinct attractions, such as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Mine Train Thru Nature's Wonderland and the Disneyland Railroad.

Of course, the pavilion would be sponsored by the National Parks Service and would be staffed by Park Rangers.

Eric – This month’s topic really threw me yet again - thanks Ryan! In thinking about all that Future World represents and in thinking back on some of the pavilions that have gone by the wayside it is surprising how much technological achievement is showcased.


So, in the truest spirit of Epcot, EPCOT Center, no, wait EPCOT I would love to see a pavilion dedicated to Walt’s original vision of EPCOT. As originally envisioned, EPCOT was to be a very real model community, planned, built, and governed using the newest and most cutting edge ideas possible. In Walt’s own words; "EPCOT will take its cue from the new ideas and new technologies that are emerging from the forefront of American industry. It will be a community of tomorrow that will never be completed. It will always be showcasing and testing and demonstrating new materials and new systems."


While it is entirely beyond the scope of a single pavilion to fully portray, (indeed the Epcot we have today doesn’t even really begin to fully describe the concepts required to make Walt’s vision a reality) it would be a great tribute to Walt to have a pavilion that simulated what living in this type of community would be like.


During the ride-thru I am picturing mini-vignettes much like in Spaceship Earth that would show how life, work, and leisure are realized in EPCOT. The ride vehicles could be updated versions of the monorail and people mover transportation concepts intended for EPCOT. This would tie in those existing vehicles from elsewhere in the park and help connect in people’s minds why they are there and the concept behind them.


Granted, it would take the creativity and vision of Imagineers to make this an exciting and fantastic pavilion, but the larger than life vision of EPCOT deserves this exposure. What a story this is to tell!

Ryan – My first inclination is to jump back into the well-trodden territory of a health and wellness pavilion. I have strong conviction about a pavilion of this sort, and if you don’t believe me, simply check out last week’s episode of the WDW Radio Show. However, something new that I would love to see is a pavilion constructed around the history of, well, construction and architecture.

From the first glimpse, let’s make this structure appealing to the eye and awe-inspiring, say modeled after a famous work by Frank Lloyd Wright or a seemingly impossible M.C. Escher-like design.

Inside, a dark ride would take guests through the history of architecture, stopping to marvel at some of the greatest structures in history: the pyramids, Roman aqueducts, the advent of the skyscraper. The tour would also include tours through housing structures, such as pueblos, peat houses, and igloos, explaining what they are made out of and why the climate and environment required such building techniques.

In a post-show area, guests could venture into building zone competitions, where two teams must build the sturdiest, tallest, and most eye catching structure with a given set of buildable supplies (such as giant foam LEGO blocks or some other building material) and a time limit. Also included in the post-show would be a building code show. This theater drama would depict why building codes are a stringent as they are by demonstrating a house built with proper materials and a house built without and then sending the structures through a hurricane or earthquake. Scattered about could also be a multitude of station where you could build your own treehouse, say alongside Phineas and Ferb, and email a copy of the plans to yourself.

Alright, I’m excited, let’s get building!

While it may seem that Epcot’s Future World has the market cornered on pavilion themes, I think the Roundtable has, in our own special ways, shown that this is not the case. So, go on, put on that thinking cap and dare to dream about the tomorrow of Future World. What would you build there?

Disney This Week - 26 June 2011

My favorite nighttime activity, the Electrical Water Pageant, is covered by Chuck Lionberger and Disney Daddy.

Deb Wills takes a gander at a 1976 GAF Magic Kingdom guide in Deb’s Digest.

Similarly, George Taylor compares and contrasts several early Magic Kingdom park maps at Imaginerding.

Melissa Loflin lights up the night when she discusses Epcot's fiber optic walkways in Makin' Memories.

This article on Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar by Kevin Kidney really makes me want a Shipwreck Cocktail.

The title of the Michael Crawford article on Progress City, U.S.A. tells you everything you need to know: EPCOT: Origins – A Model Future, 1978.

Disney Every Day scribe, Amanda Tinney, breaks down some of the great freebies available in Walt Disney World.

Matt Hochberg finds the prequel story of RX-24 over at Studios Central.

The Disney Food Blog and AJ Wolfe finally dispatch on the icon food item that has become synonymous with the site, the Mickey Waffle.

In a fascinating piece, Suzannah DiMarzio looks at what a period authentic Disney princesses would look like on Zannaland.


I also have several bits of well-belated business to share with all of you.

First up, for the fans of Walt Disney himself, a recent auction by Swann Galleries included a menu from the studio restaurant autographed by Walt Disney. The lot sold for $3,600 dollars on April 21.Next, Charles Ott released his pen and ink illustration of the Walt Disney World icon, Cinderella Castle.Last, but not least, Stefan Lawrence has designed a set of park posters for Walt Disney World’s 40th Anniversary.

Silent Saturday - Surfboard Tree and Miss Tilly (April 2011)

Bear crossing

There is a bear lurking around the Wilderness Lodge. From the front entrance, co-starring with the big cheese on a wildlife crossing sign, to the totem pole in front of the Wilderness Lodge Mercantile, once again starring alongside Mickey, this time with the additions of Donald and Goofy, this daft looking bear is found throughout the resort. Known as Humphrey the Bear he has quite the prolific, if forgotten, history in Disney animation.

Humphrey’s origins have been somewhat disputed. Arguably this jovial grizzly snatched his first screen time was alongside Goofy in 1950’s Hold That Pose. The bear in this short warms up at the end, but spends the better part of the short being very cross with Goofy. From there, Humphrey went into hibernation for a couple of years.

When he returned, Humphrey racked up six appearances across the twenty-two short released by Disney between 1953 and 1956. That’s a whopping twenty-seven percent of cartoons! The shorts included: Rugged Bear (1953), Grin and Bear It (1954), Bearly Asleep (1955), Beezy Bear (1955), Hooked Bear (1956) and In the Bag (1956). It is in this set of cartoons that Humphrey the Bear’s presence in Disney’s Wilderness Lodge becomes clear.

Throughout these six animated shorts Humphrey shares scenes with a collection of other bears and plays antagonist opposite Donald Duck and The Ranger, J. Audubon Woodlore, the supervisor of Brownstone National Park. This transition was recounted by renowned animator and director, Jack Hannah, “For the sake of something new, we tried the Duck with a bear in Rugged Bear and it seemed like an immediate success for them to play against each other. At that time we had not named the bear. Later, when we started thinking of another picture for the bear, it seemed natural to be in a National Forest.”

Any number of changes in advancements in animation or story development at Disney could have led to Humphrey’s fall from cartoon stardom, but that doesn’t mean he has been forgotten. A bear who was so comfortable in the National Parks should feel right at home in the Wilderness Lodge, a resort established around the lodges of those same National Parks.

Environmental stewardship

We’ve discussed the history of Disney’s Palm and Magnolia golf courses previously, a topic we will be revisiting here on the Main Street Gazette shortly, but we have never taken a real look at either of these courses. When I was down in Walt Disney World in April I had the pleasure, the torturous pleasure as it were, it play at Disney’s Magnolia Course.

Designed by Joe Lee and opened in 1971, Magnolia is the longest of the Walt Disney World golf courses. It has been designated an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary for the course’s practices in environmental planning, wildlife and habitat management, chemical use reduction and safety, water conservation, water quality management, and outreach and education. This environmental stewardship means that Magnolia is not only a challenge to play on, but also presents a stunning landscape.

Enough of my statistics and trivia, it’s time to take a tour through the course itself!

(A note: The shot from hole 13 is actually from 12, as I completely neglected to photograph 13 for some unexplainable reason. Sorry!)

Respect the land

Gourmet burger doesn’t exactly sound tough and strong, does it? Yet, when Walt Disney World sprinkled these third pound gems throughout property over the past year, they made sure to drop one smack dab in the middle of Frontierland. So, how does a gourmet burger save face in the wilds of the West? Simple, by abandoning its namesake!

To be clear the gourmet burger found at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe is no whimpy burger. The third pound Angus cheeseburger is so much more than your typical burger. This cheeseburger is stacked as high as the buttes and packs a punch, as you would expect from any hombre of the frontier.The combination of bacon, cheese, barbeque sauce and thick-cut onion rings make this a third pound powerhouse. When I bit into my sandwich, it definitely stretched the limits of my jaw. There is a great smoky flavor that plays back and forth between the bacon and barbeque sauce, while the onion provided some crunch and an acidic bite. This burger was good, really good, but topping it off with a few pickles and sautéed mushrooms from the fixins bar really made it shine like a lawman’s star!

The variety of entree options has been improving throughout the Magic Kingdom over the past several years, and while the Angus cheeseburger found at Pecos Bill isn’t the healthy option we’ve written so often about here at the Main Street Gazette, it is a burger to write home about. If you are looking for something to fill you up for the rest of the day, this is the burger, although you may have to figure out how in the world you’re going to cram that Dole Whip in later.

Where do you think you are? Disney World?

This week, I once again had the esteem pleasure of spending some time chatting with Lou Mongello for the WDW Radio Show. As we always do when we jump aboard the Wayback Machine, we had a tremendous amount of fun discussing the development, history, and potential future of Epcot’s Wonders of Life pavilion. Be sure to check out Episode 227 to hear all of our informative antics!

In preparation for the show, I spent a lot of time pouring through documents, videos and publications, but this singular image caught my eye and I thought I would share it with you.What we have here is the construction (notice the FUTURE SITE OF WONDERS OF LIFE sign in front of the pavilion) of the Tower of Life, modeled after the DNA double helix. This work of art, paired with the gleaming gold dome of the Wonders of Life, were beacons to pull guests towards the pavilion, baiting them to venture up the hill to see what the futuristic circus tent had in store. Built to withstand 95 mph winds that occur in Florida, the construction of the 76 foot tall structure so compelled the Imagineers that this same image was used as the cover on the inaugural issue of their publication, WDEye.

Whatever you wish for, you keep

We all have bucket lists, the unfinished business and adventures we wish we could accomplish before we reach the last of our days. Sometimes these contain emotional journeys and sometimes we have something on our list that is there for the pure fun of it. We jot these lists in a notebook, make promises to ourselves while staring at a travel brochure, and tuck ideas away safely inside our own minds. The truth is sometimes life gets in the way, sometimes we get busy making new plans, and sometimes we get to see our dreams come true.

In the case of the Disney identity, anyone who has ever watched a Disney film or planned a trip to a Disney locale has made some sort of bucket list of what they want to do given the chance. From animating a villain to staying in a ridiculous villa overlooking the Seven Seas Lagoon, everyone tucks a wish away somewhere, myself included. This lists get longer and longer the more you are exposed to the Disney culture. As for me, well, here’s my bucket list, or at least a sampling of the parts of it that are semi-based in reality (unlike the one-man project to rebuild Horizons).

Spend an entire night, whether awake and wandering with permission or asleep in something like the Cinderella Castle Suite, in a Walt Disney World theme park.

Be in attendance at the Magic Kingdom on Christmas Day and Fourth of July.

Own a piece, however small, from the Adventurers Club.

Ride in the front of the Walt Disney World Railroad.

Spend some time in the sponsor lounges in Spaceship Earth, Test Track, The Land, and The Seas.

Complete Goofy’s Challenge and the Coast-to-Coast Challenge in the same year.

Ride aboard Ear Force One.

Visit Walt’s Apartment above the Fire Station in Disneyland, Walt’s Barn and Marceline, MO.

Have dinner at Club 33.

Spend some time talking with or, more to the point, listening to George McGinnis, Joe Rohde, Marty Sklar and Dave Smith.

Stand with my child, if I ever get around to having one, my wife, and my parents on Main Street U.S.A. on October 1, 2021.

Voice a character for a Disney animated feature.
There are, of course, the preposterous dreams which include, but are not limited to, such favorites as playing the role of Indiana Jones for a single performance of the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, standing atop Spaceship Earth, and have a cameo as a reporter in the long rumored Dick Tracy remake/sequel.

Then there are, of course, the professional aspirations everyone clings to. Mine are simple on paper, to write for Disney and someday earn the title of Imagineer, but are oh, so much larger in the real world. However, if that day never comes, then I am proud and humble, and always overwhelmed by your never-ending support, to continue writing for each and every one of you out there for as long as you’ll have me.

Thinking of each of you out there makes me wonder, what dreams constitute your Disney bucket lists?

Disney This Week - 19 June 2011

Matt Hochberg pulls out the Best of International Hollywood Studios Awareness Week at Studios Central.

Imaginerding features an amazing booklet from Disney-MGM Studios in 1991 that was dug up by George Taylor.

Michael Crawford stomps his feet and keeps the rhythm at Progress City, U.S.A. as he celebrates the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue which celebrated its 37th birthday this week.

Our good friend Chris Fore has moseyed along to a new site, Adventure Veranda, where this week the real world inspirations for the UK Pavilion’s signs is discussed.

AJ Wolfe has set up The Disney Food Blog at the corner of Walt Disney World and Carrot Cake.

Zannaland features a memoir relating how Suzannah DiMarzio fell in love with Disney-MGM Studios.

Sarah Holodick has a terrific interior photograph of the Contemporary from 1985 over at Eating WDW.

Disney Every Day and Amanda Tinney give us our first look at the aerial map for Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.

Melissa Loflin takes some time on Makin' Memories to focus in on the Citizens of Hollywood.

Silent Saturday - Stage 1 Company Store (October 2010)

Welcome to Sitka

To the average guest, it may appear that the acquisition of props seems to have stalled somewhere in the last decade. Yet, a sharp eye will show new additions sneak in all the time. Take, for instance, this sign that is clearly from somewhere in the Pacific Northwest.

From the Trimaxian Drone Ship set down in the background, we can tell this welcome sign is somewhere in the boneyard of the Studio Backlot Tour. (Yes, I did know the name of the ship from Flight of the Navigator without looking. And you’re right, I didn’t get out much in my teenage years…) But the real trick is where it came from. From all indications it definitely came from Washington state, Canada, or Alaska, right? Would you believe me if I told you it was actually shipped to Disney’s Hollywood Studios from Rockport, Massachusetts?

The sign was used in the 2009 summer romcom (romantic comedy), The Proposal, which starred Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock. In the film Andrew, played by Reynolds, is from the town of Sitka, which actually resides in Alaska. The town of Rockport was used in place of Sitka, with quite a bit of set dressing. Everything from new shop names to computer generated mountains were used to create a sense of Alaskan life for the East Coast town. Yet, no town would be completed without a welcome sign, and this specific marker resided alongside a pair of totem poles in Rockport’s Dock Square.

Inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios, be sure to keep your wits about you, because you never know what new prop could have arrived since your last visit to the park!

Action takes centre stage

You hear the words, “lights, camera, action,” a lot around Disney’s Hollywood Studios. But how much action can you actually find throughout the park? Tons! There is constant motion, from actors and vehicles, to water and sound effects, in every corner of this homage to Hollywood. One of the most action-packed forms of movement, as well as oft used, comes in the form of fire. There are a significant number of attractions in the park where you can feel the heat, literally. Don’t believe me? Just take a look below. Heck, you may even want to bring a stick and some marshmallows!

It came from the snack bar

It is a rare thing for me to find a treat in France’s Boulangerie Patisserie that doesn’t measure up to a counterpart elsewhere around Walt Disney World. Generally, if a pastry shares a name with a rival at the Patisserie, it just doesn’t stack up. I have, however, found one exception: the Napoleon stashed away at Starring Rolls in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

At the Boulangerie Patisserie the Napoleon is filled with gobs and mounds of crème patisserie, also known as custard. The problem with this level of custard, not generally a complaint mind you, is that it weighs down the thin, delicate layers of pastry. The Patisserie’s version of the Napoleon also veers away from the traditional frosting topping, and opts for powdered sugar, which is a blessing in disguise.

Meanwhile, across property at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Starring Rolls has stuck to the time tested recipe for a Napoleon. From the top down, it is a tasty textbook formula. The icing at the top, alternating ribbons of white and chocolate frosting that is then combed to present an almost feathery pattern. The two layers of custard are thin and sweet, and is so light that you can actually see between the individual layers of flaky pastry. As for the pastry dough? It is crisp and airy, and so thin it will melt on your tongue.

My infatuation with all things Starring Rolls is no surprise, any bakery on property often gets a thumbs up from me, what does surprise me is when the Boulangerie Patisserie can be outdone. In the case of Napoleons, or cupcakes, you are better off to stick to Starring Rolls. The dense Patisserie’s Napoleon is too heavy to carry with you the rest of the day in World Showcase, while the Rolls’ Napoleon is the perfect way to start your day, or as a brief interlude between Hollywood adventures!

Ears looking at you

It has had several facelifts over the past twenty-two years and has been used in countless advertising campaigns (my favorite utilizes it at a landing platform for an X-Wing in a Star Wars Weekends promotion). It was, for a time, the park icon for the park when it was known as Disney-MGM Studios. It stands 130 feet tall, with a pair of mouse ears that weigh 5,000 pounds apiece and a hat size of 342 and 3/8. And still, there is nothing quite like the original incarnation of the Earffel Tower.

Legends of Hollywood

Welcome to the 2011 installment of Disney’s Hollywood Studios Awareness Week, as put forth by Studios Central. Last year we ran an article each day focusing on the park, and who am I to argue with tradition. So sit back this week as we investigate all that there is to enjoy about the Studios from now through Saturday.Today we’re going to start with the primary misconception of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, that it is not a park that warrants a full day worth of touring. To be frank, this is absolute nonsense. On average the park is open for between eleven and thirteen hours, and there are a multitude of manners in which that time would fly by, leaving guests wishing they had a few more hours. Don’t believe me? Let’s start walking, shall we?

When the gates open, typically at 9:00am, what attraction do all of the guests run, I’m sorry, walk at a hurried pace, towards? Toy Story Midway Mania. For a typical guest who is not the first person in the line, a walk through the queue and ride through the games will absorb twenty to thirty minutes. Thinking of obtaining a Fastpass first thing? That will take about five minutes to grab and lead to about a ten minute queue line later in the day, add in attraction time, and you’ve still burned about the same twenty to thirty minutes.

The next section of the day is filled with Rock ‘N’ RollerCoaster, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Star Tours. Each of these attractions offer enough thrills and immersive imagination that repeated riding is not only sought after, but highly encouraged! With time allotments of anywhere from thirteen minutes to an hour-plus, these three attractions can easily occupy two, if not three, hours of a typical day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

What about the attractions and shows that require a more substantial amount of touring time? Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, Lights, Motors, Action!, Studios Backlot Tour, American Idol Experience and Beauty and the Beast. Each of these attractions, from the time in the queue to the time guests are back in the flow of traffic, requires well over an hour. That means another five hours off of the books, bringing our daylong tour of the Studios up to around eight hours.

Three to five hours a waste you say? Are you forgetting the marquee attraction of Hollywood Boulevard? The Great Movie Ride adds another half hour to an hour, of well spent time in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. MuppetVision 3D, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, One Man’s Dream and The Magic of Disney Animation can easily occupy a couple of hours as you move about at your own pace.

Considering most people can’t go all day without a substantive meal, or a couple of snacks as well, we had better slice off a little bit of time for dining. Between the variety of quick service locations, ridiculous amount of unbelievable treats, and the unique table service restaurants that offer truly delectable dishes, dining is easily an attraction unto itself in the Studios. Or, as my dear friend AJ Wolfe likes to say, Food IS a theme park.

Well, that just about seems to have swallowed up a whole day, hasn’t it? What’s that? Nighttime spectacular? Oh, you want music, pyrotechnics, and entertainment as only Disney can do after the sun goes down? In that case, make sure to free up some waiting time to grab a seat for Fantasmic! to round out a perfectly balanced day in the park.

We may not have ventured towards character meet and greet locations, ran out of time for Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure, streetmosphere performances, and the Jedi Training Academy, and forgot (intentionally) about the current weak afternoon parade, Prince Caspian and Disney Channel Rocks!, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a way to include these experiences in your own personalized itinerary. The real point is so much to see and do within Disney’s Hollywood Studios that scoffing at the notion that it couldn’t fit a whole day is laughable. Would it be fantastic to see new life and new experiences pumped into the park? You bet, but that doesn’t mean we should take was is available for granted.

Disney This Week - 12 June 2011

I’m apologizing preemptively for the short update this week. I had to head out of town for a family situation and did not get a chance to sift through all the amazing stories that were written throughout the Disney community this week. I promise to be back up to speed for next week’s update.

Also, don’t forget that Disney’s Hollywood Studios Awareness Week starts today, and the Main Street Gazette’s own contributions will begin first thing tomorrow!

Melissa Loflin takes Makin’ Memories to Downtown Disney to enjoy some quality time at BabyCakes.

Over at Eating WDW, Sarah Holodick found an Epcot double decker in an unexpected environment.

Mitch at Imagineering Disney puts together an inspired look at the angles and shapes of EPCOT Center.

A special occasion requires a special meal, but what if you have special dietary needs? AJ Wolfe answers the question over at The Disney Food Blog.

Michael Crawford talks about all things maligned in the Sunshine Pavilion for Progress City, U.S.A.

Silent Saturday - Mr. Sanders Tree (January 2009)

Two of Harambe's famous wild animals

When working with animals you must remember one thing, they will never follow a script. Sure, Disney’s Animal Kingdom features some ingenious ways to keep wildlife involved in the stories, from log feeders to cool spots, but the story of the Kilimanjaro Safari creatures is never told the same way twice. While there is a script for the attraction, even it is prone to changes. Take, for example, this poster from the Kilimanjaro Safari queue.Found in the booking office, this poster invites guests to visit with two of the reserve’s most famous residents. If you’re first visit to Kilimanjaro Safaris came after the spring of 2007, then it is likely that you’ve never enjoyed the conversational skills of Ms. Jobson or the story of Big Red and Little Red.

For the better part of a decade, the story of the two named pachyderms was critical to the Kilimanjaro Safaris experience. In this incarnation Little Red had been separated from its mother, Big Red, and was being held by poachers. Big Red had been found by the reserve’s wardens and the frantic search for the poachers and Little Red involved the wardens and guests’ safari truck, Simba 1. All’s well that ends well, and Little Red was safely recovered and then returned to Big Red.

The 2007 shift away from naming the wild creatures was not the first time the narrative of Little Red and Big Red had shifted. The original tale of Big Red and Little Red involved a gruesome finale, complete with a mangled corpse of Big Red. During Cast Member previews, the overwhelming number of inconsolable children disembarking the trucks caused the first major change in plot, the survival of Big Red, to the experience, even before the park had opened!

Today Big Red and Little Red are no longer acknowledged by name in the onboard narration, but their presence is still felt in the attraction’s queue and through the poaching storyline that continues to play out on the savanna daily.

Riverside's neighbors

It seems like Donald and Goofy have been getting into trouble or have been on the receiving end of mischief for as long as memory allows. In appropriate thematic and period specific clothing, Goofy and Donald once again find themselves in a pickle in Fulton’s General Store at Port Orleans Riverside. The cause of the duo’s troubles? Well, in the case of Goofy, who is cleaning the old wood-burning stove, he is the victim of Mickey Mouse’s nephews, Mortie and Ferdie Fieldmouse. As for Donald, who appears to be stacking crates in the middle of the shop, he must contend with his constant foils on two fronts. Donald’s own nephews, Huey, Dewey and Louie, are causing him as much pain as those proverbial pipsqueaks Chip and Dale. See for youself!

Cena

A quick scan of the World Showcase skyline proves one thing, on a culinary scale they certainly got things right. When you think about the great gastronomic societies of the world, you cannot help but allow your mind to wander to France, China, Japan and Italy, among others. While pasta may not have originated in Italy, this global staple certainly has made a name for itself there. Traditional Italian fare is on the menu today as we grab a table at Tutto Italia.

Two things to note before I head towards the topic of the food itself. Firstly, I have avoided Tutto Italia since it opened in 2007, partially out of some misguided sense of the Italy restaurant of my youth, L’Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante, but felt it was time to give the establishment its due. Secondly, the entire staff was incredible during our meal, but special thanks are due to our waiter, Maurizio.

We opened the meal with beverages, a sweet tea with mint and orange for my father and a Limonata for myself. Additionally, the Pane de Casa came with various forms of bread, olive oil, herb butter and marinated olives, mushrooms and peppers. As is always my downfall with good forms of bread and accouterments, it is likely that I sampled too much of a good thing! But I enjoyed myself nevertheless.My dad also ordered the Cesar Salad, of which I borrowed a third of for the photograph below and for a taste test. The romaine was crisp and the pomodorini, also known as cherry tomatoes, were chewy and added another component that is often lacking in a traditional Cesar salad. The shaved parmesan and creamy dressing, not to mention the ground black pepper, completed the dish in stellar fashion.Moving on to the main course, my father selected the Casareci, a dish comprised of cavatelli pasta, sweet sausage ragu, tomatoes and Pecorino Romano cheese. He enjoyed the meal so much, particularly the interplay between the sweetness of the sausage and the bite of the Pecorino Romano, that he cleaned his bowl almost to the point of it being white again.As for my entrée, I went with the very traditional Farfalle. This pasta of the bowtie persuasion is paired with prosciutto ham, peas and parmesan cream. This is a filling dish, so much so that I did not have room for dessert, which can be chalked up to the generous portion size and the inherent denseness of pasta and a cream sauce. The heartiness of this pasta is complimented by the saltiness of its additional elements, a selling point in my book, though I could see where others may shy away from the Farfalle for the same reason.As we left the restaurant, both my father and I were full and happy. No part of the dining experience had been overlooked at Tutto Italia, and the good service meets good ambiance at the corner of good food recipe is followed to the letter here. I know when to admit my mistakes, and not dining at Tutto Italia sooner was a mistake. Let the record show that the Italy Pavilion is now host to a pair of dynamic dining opportunities.