Tiana's Showboat Jubilee and the new SPACE MOUNTAIN!

Ok, i'll admit...one thing doesn't have much to do with the other...except that I went and saw both over the weekend!

First, Tiana's Showboat Jubilee was mentioned before in an ealier post, but I wanted to expand on it now that I have actually seen the show. It certainly is a very strange format for a Disney show, the performers come out from what appears to be adventureland? They parade to music from the film down through Liberty Square and onto the Riverboat, where it proceeds down the river to a catchy New Orleans style song. It comes to a stop in front of the dock to leave Tom Sawyer's Island (in between Liberty Square and Frontierland) and they perform several other numbers before continuing down the river. If you wait long enough, eventually they will come around the other side and parade back to where they came from. It was cute and fun and energetic and had the whole crowd dancing and boppin around!


The on over to SPACE MOUNTAIN! Anyone who has been on it before won't notice much of a change on the actual ride itself, the changes come inside the queue more than anything! I secured myself a fast pass early in the day, which I would recommend you do regardless of time of the year, since this attraction has always been among the most popular. The first change I noticed was the sign outside. It's a vibrant lime green. Inside the building it was noticeably cleaner (albeit what they probably spent most of their time doing). There is a BIG change on the stand-by side of the line. Recognizing that the people on that side of the line usually stand there on average of 60 minutes, the imagineers added a gaming system much like the one in Soarin' but you each have your own controls. This game takes up most of the line. While I think its cool, I can already see problems with it. When a new game started up. The line stopped moving. Even though they could have continued onto the ride they stopped going because they wanted to play the game.

On the ride itself it is very much the same. It looks like the cars have been painted, but don't let them fool you, they look new, but they aren't. One look at the nasty old pouch where you can keep your stuff would tell you that. There is one major difference for the ride...SMILE! They now take your picture! And you can buy it in the Arcade afterwards. They've also made updates to the exit on the attraction.

Osborne Family Lights

The Osborne Spectacle of Dancing Lights starts today! I am so excited as this is by far my favorite holiday celebration that Disney does. Everyone can join in on this one since it is free with admission. Located in the back of the park in an area called the Streets of America, they have an opening ceremony where one lucky child from the crowd will get to flip the switch (and its a big one) to turn on the huge collection of lights strung by the thousands on every building. Snow is also in the forcast and flurries float down in the streets. The lights "Dance" to Holiday musical numbers every 10 minutes or so. It is a lot of fun for the family, couple or group of friends.

Give a day, Get a day...

Disney recently unveiled their new "celebration" for the next year. The theme is "Give a day, Get a day" the idea behind it is that you volunteer for a day with one of the charities and non-profit organizations that Disney supports and they will give you a free day at the parks. I think this is an amazing, ground-breaking idea for Disney. I think the birthday celebration was good. With the economy doing so badly it was good to help families bring their kids for a lower price. This celebration however, is a horse of a different color (I never did understand that phrase, but I feel like it applies here). It will give people an opportuity to give back, and they will be rewarded. Another plus is with the birthday celebration, Disney was banking on the fact that the whole family would come with the birthday boy or girl and the whole family would have to pay to get in with them. With this, you could potentially get your whole family in for free, just by sacrificing a day of helping someone less fortunate. I applaud Disney's effort to recognize the economic problems we face as a country, but also the trials that many people are experiencing as a result of that.

To apply for the Give a Day. Get a Disney Day. promotion, go here:http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/disneyparks/en_US/WhatWillYouCelebrate/index?name=Give-A-Day-Get-A-Disney-Day (starting January 2010)

Monorail getting a new train

The inside news is the monorail is adding a new color to it's rainbow of trains. I've heard that they will be unveiling a Teal train in the months to come. This move comes in the wake of the tragedy that occured when the Pink and Purple trains collided, ending the life of one of the pilots. The Pink train has been officially retired and Teal will take its place in the fleet.

Introducing....Princess Tiana

Today was the official arrival of Princess Tiana from he movie The Princess and the Frog, which will be coming out soon. Princess Tiana is Disney's first African-American Princess. To welcome her to DisneyWorld, they had a Lousiana-style parade up main street where she was greeted at the castle by other princesses and princes. She then took part in the new show "Tiana's Showboat Jubilee!" which is a show that takes place onboard the Liberty Bell. The show has dancing and songs from the upcoming film. Seen above, Princess Tiana also took time out of her busy schedule to meet some fellow Princess's.

Holidays!

For anyone who lives in Florida knows...Disney World decides when the holidays start. If you go to the parks on the last day of Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, and then the very next day, you will think that you walked into the wrong park. It is transformed over night. Halloween to Christmas, with barely a breath. Every business in Central Florida follows suit. It's pretty crazy! I get into the Holiday spirit before the Holidays even begin :)

SALSA!!

So for all the castmembers, it was recently the SALSA sale which stands for Spend A Little Save A Lot! Well I think I got it wrong cause I Spent A Lot AND Saved A lot! Ha ha. This is something that most castmembers look forward to, and I would suggest that if you know someone who works for the company, ask if you can tag along, because there is savings upwards of 75% off to be had! And for the pin lovers, the SALSA sale annualy includes a huge pin event at the end. Expensive pin sets are reduces significantly. It's pretty amazing how great it is to be a cast member sometimes. :o)

Fantasyland OVERHAUL!

Anyone who attended the recent D23 Expo at Disneyland is now aware of what Floridians have been speculating about for months. Beginning now, and not expected to be completed until 2013, Disneyworld's Fantasyland is receiving an official facelift. Above, is just one part of several concept art pieces that were released to show what Disney has in store. This is definitely the biggest overhaul that Disney World has ever seen:

Above are the blueprints for the changes. They will be doubling the size of this "land" by adding several new structures that will house each of the main princesses i.e. Belle, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel are going to have their own house or castle in their area. You will be able to interact with the princesses in a way never before seen at a Disney Park. Go dancing with Cinderella, listen to a story read by Belle, attend Aurora's Birthday Party. They will also be unveiling a new "dark ride" for the Little Mermaid herself, Ariel. There will be new restaurants opening, "Gaston's Tavern" and another Beauty and the Beast themed restaurant. Tinkerbell and her fairy friends will also be able to call a new Pixie Hollow home where they will be able to interact with guests. Dumbo will get into the act where they will create a new "Big Top" home for the beloved attraction as well as doubling its size.

Disney also announced that with these changes will also come smaller changes. "Toontown" will become a part of Fantasyland and everything will be changed, of the exception of Goofy's "Barnstormer" roller coaster.

Star Tours will be receiving a much needed update, though I wish they could preserve the original story line. With the update we will be zipping through a pod race in 3d, instead of the current story that we are going "light speed to Endor".

So what does it all mean?

Disney has always tried to find ways to improve itself. I think Disney executives recognized a need for a Fantasyland overhaul, mostly due to the comparison with Disneyland's sister Fantasyland. It is bigger and better, and everyone knows it.

No one will miss Toontown. I myself have gone years without visiting and am none the worse for it. I do wonder though...where will Mickey go? Meeting Mickey is a pastime that everyone should enjoy when they visit the Magic Kingdom, and with them getting rid of his current home, literally (Mickey currently resides in the Judge's Tent in his "house's" backyard), where will he go? Rumors are that he will be moving to the Exposition Hall in the front of the park. While this may be a good place for it, it could prove disastrous to have such a prominent figure right as you walk into the park. Lines could get long if they don't do it right.

Should be interesting!

See the original pictures in more detail here: http://http://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/orl-disney-world-new-fantasyland-plans-page,0,2321880.htmlpage

Disney/Marvel Deal

So as most of you know by now, Disney has struck a deal to purchase Marvel Comics for billions. I can't help but wonder if the move is made to tie down Universal, seeing as Universal currently has an entire section of their Islands of Adventure park dedicated to Marvel characters. Their contract is supposed to be up in 2 years, so it will be interesting to see what Disney does at that point. Will they allow Universal to continue to use the faces of the characters they now own? Or will they force Universal to abandon the concept? I know that a lot of people I have talked to have posed the questions of what they will do with the characters? No one can really envision Spiderman next to Mickey, but could they possibly find a home at Disney's Hollywood Studios, where Star Wars Weekends thrives year after year? Only time will tell I guess....

A Guide to DisneyWorld's Yearly Events

Today I am going to be going over DisneyWorld's Events. There are too many smaller events to cover, but I will be going over the major events that happen every year in order:

Epcot's International Flowers and Gardens Festival (usually mid-May to the end of May):

The Flowers and Gardens Festival is included in the price of your ticket for Epcot. You can walk around the park and see topiarys that have been crafted into your favorite Disney characters, and they change every year, so there is always something new to see. They usually also have a schedule of concerts that they put on the "Flower Power" series. There are some groups that make return appearences every year. This year's included acts like Davy Jones, The Turtles and the like.

Hollywood Studio's Star Wars Weekends (Late May into June):

Star Wars Weekends is a great way to bring out the Geek in all of us! There is so much to see and do. There are meet and greets with the characters from the movies AND meet and greets with the faces behind the characters! (Note: if you decide you want to meet and greet with the actual actors and actresses behind the famed trilogy, ARRIVE EARLY! They give out fast passes for these and they go quickly!) There is also a special Star Wars parade and a lot of special edition merchandise available, for the collector.

Night of Joy (Mid September):

This is a Christian gathering that usually boasts a long list of popular Christian Bands. Word to the wise, though it is a Christian gathering, it is known to get VERY crazy. This is also an additional ticket event, which means you will have to purchase a ticket ON TOP of the ticket you've already purchased. It is usually held at the Magic Kingdom, but is being held at Hollywood Studio's this year.

Epcot's Internation Food and Wine Festival (Mid Sept to early November):

Epcot usually has 9 countries located around its World Showcase where you can experience food, entertainment and merchandise particular to those countries. During the Food and Wine Festival, there are several more booths added around the World Showcase that reflect even more countries where you can experience all sorts of wines and food. My favorite are the Canadian Chedder Cheese Soup and the Greek booth, respectively. But everyone can find something they will like during this event. Come prepared to fill your stomach and lighten your wallet! The food is NOT included in the price of the ticket, so each sampling comes with a price tag.

TIP: The amount they give you for the wine sampler has gotten much smaller over the years, but if you hike up to the main pavillion for the festival, they often sell bottles of the same wine and its usually pretty cheap. Check that out instead of getting a tiny glass.

Magic Kingdom, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party (Late Sept-Oct 31st):

This party is fun for all ages! It is an extra ticket event and tickets will run you about $60 each, but if you can afford the price, it is well worth it! It's an event I never miss myself. Come dressed up in your favorite costume (please use some disgression, after all, it's still a park where a lot of kids are) and attend the Villians Mix and Mingle, Stitch's Dance Party, or just Trick or Treat around the park! There is also an event specific set of fireworks (Hallowishes) and the Boo to You Halloween Parade. Make sure to bring a camera since the picture opporunities are endless! You can also stand in line to get a free face painting, I suggest checking it out!

Downtown Disney's Festival of the Masters (Mid November):

If you are a fan of art and Disney then go and check this out! It's completely free (that's right, FREE) since it is at Downtown Disney. It is an open-air art festival featuring over 100 award winning artists. There is Chalk Art, music, pin trading, you can also meet and greet with the performers of La Nouba, a cirque de soleil show exclusive to DisneyWorld.

Celebrate Christmas with DisneyWorld!

The final events of the year are also some of the most fun! Disney does everything big, but Christmas is HUGE! Every park is decorated differently, and each park celebrates in a different way:

Epcot's Holidays Around the World:

Epcot celebrates every country's Christmas (or otherwise) heritage with a representation of each country's "Santa Claus". There are also lots of decorations and lights to see. Also don't miss the "Candlelight Processional" which is a very popular choral event that includes a several different celebrity narrators each night and the story of Christ's birth.

Magic Kingdom's Very Merry Christmas Party:

This is another extra ticket event that is hosted throughout December at the Magic Kingdom. Like the Not So Scary party, it boasts a special fireworks show as well as a different Christmas parade. Enjoy free cookies and hot chocolate and see snow in Florida! Along Main Street U.S.A. faux snow falls, creating a magical Christmasy feel. Character Meet and Greets are a given.

Hollywood Studios The Osbourne Family Spectacle of DANCING Lights:

People often confuse this family with another set of Osbournes, but it is based from a Arkansas family whos patriarch Jennings Osbourne was trying to complete the wish of his daughter, who asked to have the whole house covered in lights. It became over the years, so large and fantastic that he purchased the homes on either side of him to put lights on those too. He was eventually unable to display the lights, and Disney stepped in and offered to display them on the Streets of America in Hollywood Studios. Now, it is a mind-blowing display of Christmas lights, covering every inch of the Streets of America. You can grab some hot cocoa and enjoy faux snow and Christmas music to get you in the Holiday mood. In recent years, the the festival has begun boasting DANCING lights. During certain Christmas tunes, the lights will dance along. It is a very fun atmosphere and great for all ages. It is included with the price of admission.

Fastpass

If you don't know how to do Disney right you are going to spend most of your vacation in line for things. Anyone who has ever been to an amusement park or theme park could tell you that there are always long lines. Disneyland and Disney World use a system to help appease the wait times by using something called the Fastpass system.

What is Fastpass?
Basically Fastpass is a free service offered by Disney that helps you get to see as many rides as you can on your vacation. With your park ticket you can get a ticket at your favorite ride (not all of them employ this system, but a large number of attractions do have them, especially the more popular rides). It will provide you with a one-hour time frame (i.e. 12:30-1:30) in which you can come back and go through the fastpass line, which is generally a much shorter wait.

One thing to be aware of when using the fastpass system. You can only get one every two hours or so, so use it wisely. I generally use it for an attraction that has a particularly long wait, or a ride I would like to go on more than once.

When used correctly, you could end up seeing everything you want to see.

Disney World Haunts

I have been looking through some Disney "Myths and Legends" today. As a cast member, you hear all about them. There are a few in particular that you may or may not have heard about...

On Pirates of the Caribbean, there is supposedly a ghost by the name of George. Now the most common story I have heard in connection with this is the George was a man who worked on the creation of the ride. He was supposedly killed while working on the ride. The story is so well believed that I have met several cast members who admit that they will not leave for the evening without saying goodbye to George, and who will not open the ride in the morning without saying Hello. It has been confirmed by a few cast members I spoke to that the ride has had complications on days that someone forgot to greet or say farewell to George.

In my own personal experience, I will say that there have two instances where I believe I may have encountered George. First, when a friend and I were leaving the loading dock on the boat, I said something about George, poking fun at the story a bit...seconds later our boat collided with the side of the track very hard. I had NEVER encountered this on the ride before. A second time I road the ride with different friends, I was telling them about the story and how strange it was...low and behold seconds later it happened a second time. Since then, I say a quick hello to George whenever I am riding the ride.

Another story is on Stitch's Great Escape, formerly Alien Encounter. Several friends of mine have said they have seen strange things on that ride. When it was Alien Encounter there was a position on the rotation for the ride that required the cast member to go to a cat walk above the crowd of people for part of the show. I had more than one person say that they thought they would see a little girl or boy on the cat walk with them, only to have them disappear afterwards. They are said to have been seen in the chambers as well before the shows started. Now I worked at the ride when it was Stitch's Great Escape and never encounted anything, despite being alone in the chamber on a number of occasions, but you never know!

There are several other places on Disney property that are said to be haunted, and maybe they are, maybe they aren't...but it's still fascinating to hear about!

Best time to visit

I have been to the parks during every month of the year. I have compiled the best (and worst) times to visit.

The very BEST months to visit:

September-October: In this little pocket of time between the busy summer months and the busy winter months, you will find that the wait times are minimal and the hotels are cheaper. Not to mention that you will have the benefit of going to Mickey's Not so Scary Halloween Party, which is a GREAT extra ticket event that Disney holds every year. Tickets will run you about $60 extra a person, but if you can afford it, I absolutely recommend it! It has a different Fireworks show (Hallowishes) and a different themed parade. Not to mention all the candy you can eat!

Mid January-Mid March: Avoid the parks in the first and perhaps second week of January but by mid-january you may as well have the parks to yourself. It is the only time of the year that I have been able to complete everything in the Magic Kingdom in one day, and still have time left over in the day! The end of March is sketchy as it is the beginning of the Spring Break crowd.

Times to avoid-Anytime from Mid May to August 30th-It is summer, and it is packed! Expect long lines full of hot grumpy people

November 26th to January 7th-Christmas time is one of the only times you will see the park so full you can't get in. I would avoid it.

So there you have it, my list of the best and worst times to visit DisneyWorld

What am I here for?

This blog is for everything Disney. I have worked for the Disney Company for several years and have picked up a lot of tips for the Disney World parks. I will publish what I know as well as whatever stories are pertinent to the Disney Parks.