Last week, I didn't have time to blog...and this week I'm blogging a day early, but it's all for a very good reason.
For those who don't know (although, at this point, if you're reading my blog, I'd think you would) I'm a co-host for the Be Our Guest Podcast.
Tomorrow, (Wednesday, June 30th), we are having a 12 Hour Live Show and all I ask is that you come by and support us. Not necessarily by listening, mind you, although that would be nice, since we have some rockin guests lined up, including, but not limited to: Matt Hotchberg (WDW Today & Studios Central), Len Testa (WDW Today, The Unofficial Guide), Yehaa Bob Jackson (amazing musician at Port Orleans Riverside Resort, Andi (a Disney Mom's Panelist), and Stacey Aswad (Top 7 Must Sees) A fabulous compilation, if I do say so myself.
And not because we have a ton of prizes to give away. Which we've got some great amazing prizes that are up for grabs too!
No, I ask that you support us as we help to raise money for a very worthy cause...Give Kids the World. Our goal is $500...which I think can be achieved...maybe even surpassed by all the amazing Disney fans that are out there!
To find out more information about our fundraising, or to donate, please, visit our website at www.beourguestpodcast.com and look for our FirstGiving link.
Second, if you want to join in on the fun and actually listen to our show, you can find us at www.magicalmouseradio.com
The show begins at 12 noon Est and lasts all the way until midnight.
We really do appreciate all the support! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
News & Rumors 6/21/10 - 6/27/10

News and Rumors are gathered from various different websites. All rumors are rumors and are to be taken as such.
News
- Typhoon Lagoon's winter refurbishment dates are out. The Water Park's annual refurb begins Nov. 1st and lasts through Jan. 8th.
- Animal Kingdom isn't going to be left out of Summer offerings. Starting July 9th, after the Mickey's Jammin Jungle Parade, guests can experience the Taste of Africa Street Party until the park closes for the evening. Activities include:
- Music and dance party with Harambe's DJ Khalifa
- Outdoor vendors selling unique food and beverages offerings
- Performances by featured musical group, Wasslou
- Beer and wine tastings at Tamu Tamu Courtyard
- Authentic merchandise options available for purchase
- Animal Education experiences with the Harambe Wildlife Team
- The Golden Oaks development, which is the building of luxury homes on Disney property in between the Ft. Wilderness and Port Orleans resorts, is now moving forward. 450 homes are to be built. For more information, click here.
- As had been mentioned before, Disney has now announced a monthly payment plan for Annual Passes. This is only available to Florida Residents. Guests will be expected to make a downpayment of a 1 day park ticket and then will pay the rest in monthly installments evenly split automatically billed to a credit card you provide. For additional details, click here.
- Speaking of AP holders, Disney is going to hold a Passholder Preview for Captain EO on July 1st. Showtimes will begin starting at 3:00 pm and run until 9 pm, but space is limited, so AP holders must register on the Passholder website.
- Now, speaking of Captain EO, signage is currently going up for the new attraction.
- Disney has released it's July Tables in Wonderland events. For a detailed discussion of the events, check here.
- The Best Friends Pet Resort will open on Aug. 27th. This Resort is specifically designed to take extra, loving care on our furry, 4 legged creatures. Reservations are currently being accepted now. Pricing and other details are available at wdw.bestfriendspetcare.com or by calling 877-4-WDW-PETS.
- If you are wanting to make reservations for the special Food and Wine Festival events that occur, you may do so starting at 7:00 am on July 20th.
Labels:
News and Rumors
Thursday, June 24, 2010
This week is CRAZY!!!
Alright, so I really don't like to take weeks off...but it appears that this week, I'm gonna have to. Things are absolutely crazy for me. So, I am going to have to forgo my topic post and The Bloggie Awards for this week. I should be able to get the News and Rumors out this weekend, but they could be a day late. Sorry for not being able to produce something this week! I have a great topic lined up for next week though! :)
Have a Magical next few days everybody!!!
Have a Magical next few days everybody!!!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
News & Rumors 6/14/10 - 6/20/10

News and Rumors are gathered from various different websites. All rumors are rumors and are to be taken as such.
News
- The Liberty Square Riverboat at the Magic Kingdom will be down for refurbishment from Aug. 16 - 25th.
- The 4th of July fireworks info has come out this week. At the Magic Kingdom, the fireworks show will be Disney's Celebrate America! - A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky, which will be shown on July 3rd and 4th at 9 pm. At Epcot, Illuminations: Reflections of Earth with a patriotic finale will be shown at 10 pm on July 4th. Finally, over at Disney's Hollywood Studios, a fireworks show will take place at 9:50 pm, plus there will be 2 showings of Fantasmic, both at 9 pm and 10 pm.
- Tom Morrow has been added to the TTA spiel. It's not the same as it was before, but they have brought back a line that references this "character."
- In Star Tours news, it does appear that the scenes you see will be varied. You will rarely see the same sequence twice. Also, Star Tours has a scheduled reopening date of May 17, 2011.
Labels:
News and Rumors
Friday, June 18, 2010
The Bloggie Awards: 6/12/10 - 6/18/10
Yep...still can't remember what title I was originally gonna call this. So, The Bloggie Awards continue until I remember or until I can actually think of what it was that I was originally gonna call this section on the blog.
So, enough of that foolishness (What kind of foolishness would you like to see?), here are my favorite blog articles from this week:
5. If you can't already tell from my previous favorite posts, I'm a Harry Potter fan and yes, I do plan on making the pilgrimage over to Universal (ack!) this October. With that being said, Blue Sky Disney takes an interesting look at why Harry Potter's new world may end up being a good thing for the House of Mouse.
4. This week, I talked briefly about Toy Story's presence in the Block Party Bash over at DHS. (For DHS Awareness week.) Over at the DisneyShawn Blog, Shawn posted a fabulous article discussing in further detail all about the entire parade.
3. I must be hungry for dessert. AJ at The Disney Food Blog talked about all the great places you can get Disney Rice Krispie Treats. (And OMG, I am going to have to do whatever that girl did to that Mickey shaped one in the bottom pictures...that think looked INCREDIBLE!!!)
2. This week, one of my favorite feel good stories was posted. At the Disney Parks Blog is a follow up about a fun story about a couple who ended up finding out they they were both in the same childhood picture. Disney recreates that day, only with them and their kids.
And my favorite article from the week:
1. This has been something I've been struggling with for, well, it seems like forever....those of you who listen to the podcast know how much I struggle with this issue, because of a certain friend I have, but over on The Disney Chick Blog, discussion is had about what it means to be a "Disney fan", especially to the outsiders in our lives.
That's it for this week! Stay tuned for next week's best of the best!
So, enough of that foolishness (What kind of foolishness would you like to see?), here are my favorite blog articles from this week:
5. If you can't already tell from my previous favorite posts, I'm a Harry Potter fan and yes, I do plan on making the pilgrimage over to Universal (ack!) this October. With that being said, Blue Sky Disney takes an interesting look at why Harry Potter's new world may end up being a good thing for the House of Mouse.
4. This week, I talked briefly about Toy Story's presence in the Block Party Bash over at DHS. (For DHS Awareness week.) Over at the DisneyShawn Blog, Shawn posted a fabulous article discussing in further detail all about the entire parade.
3. I must be hungry for dessert. AJ at The Disney Food Blog talked about all the great places you can get Disney Rice Krispie Treats. (And OMG, I am going to have to do whatever that girl did to that Mickey shaped one in the bottom pictures...that think looked INCREDIBLE!!!)
2. This week, one of my favorite feel good stories was posted. At the Disney Parks Blog is a follow up about a fun story about a couple who ended up finding out they they were both in the same childhood picture. Disney recreates that day, only with them and their kids.
And my favorite article from the week:
1. This has been something I've been struggling with for, well, it seems like forever....those of you who listen to the podcast know how much I struggle with this issue, because of a certain friend I have, but over on The Disney Chick Blog, discussion is had about what it means to be a "Disney fan", especially to the outsiders in our lives.
That's it for this week! Stay tuned for next week's best of the best!
Labels:
Blog Roll
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
You've Got A Friend In Me!
Ok...I'll admit it. I'm SUPER excited about Toy Story 3 being released this Friday! Like really, REALLY excited. The Toy Story movies are among my favorites of all time and from what I'm gathering about this third movie, it's just as classic as the other two.
Also, it's DHS Appreciation Week this week, so I thought I'd tie everything in together at once. An appreciation of Toy Story at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
Toy Story has a pretty massive presence over at Disney's Hollywood Studios. All it takes is a walk down Pixar Place to see the classic characters from both films surrounding you. You have Mr. Spell (Who used to actually spell. I think that effect may be broken at the moment. I wish they'd fix it. It was so cool.) You have the monkeys, doing their thing--monkeying around. The Green Army Men are setting up for their mission, as per usual. And of course, it seems like some of the toys decided it would be fun to drag some of the other toys outside to play as well. Also, don't miss some other fascinating Woody's Round Up memorabilia near Hey Howdy Hey Take Away quick service stand. (I think the spoon collection is pretty cool...I remember seeing it in the movie!)

The Pixar Place area is probably one of my favorites in all of Walt Disney World. It's one of the newest but it's so filled with great details and nods to the films. If you have the time, really explore this section. So many sight gags get passed by simply because people are moving too fast or are trying to get their behinds on the ever popular Toy Story Midway Mania.

Ah, the mania that surrounds Toy Story Midway Mania. This attraction really is a smash hit. I personally love the queue. I think this is one of the best queues that Disney has ever done. There's a ton to look at to keep you occupied...and trust me...you're gonna be waiting a while...you want to be occupied.

Once again, here the toys are strewn all about, in attempt to get this new game (The Midway Mania Game) ready for play. (That is what toys do best, don't you know! Play!) This queue also has some amazing detailing. Make sure to look up at the ceiling....a fun scrabble game is going on. You also may see a Candyland game in progress as well. Also, take a look at the great nods to other Disney things...with the Viewfinder slides, one for Peter Pan and one for Tomorrowland. You'll be able to Find Nemo on the wall in line as well. He's a drawn version though. Doesn't exactly look the same, but it's for sure Nemo. Oh! And make sure you look at the crayons! Some are more popular than others. And of course, who can forget Mr. Potato Head, the barker of it all, trying to get you to ride.

Personally, I love the Mr. Potato Head AA as a Audio Anamatronic, however, he gets old sometimes really quickly. And as much as Disney wanted it to take off, everytime I've observed guests in line, it appears that people don't really want to talk to him while they're waiting in a 60+ minute wait. They're pretty aggravated once they reach him. The last thing they want to do is have to hear that annoying Hot Potato song every 5 minutes. lol! Mr. Potato Head was good in theory, but unfortunately maybe not so great in execution. (He's still an AMAZING Audio Anamatronic. Watch his mouth. It moves so seamlessly!)

Of course, the whole point of waiting in this long line you've been in is for the ride, which is fabulous. It is so much fun to try to compete with not only each other but also yourself to try to better your score. I also enjoy the 3D aspect and when special things happen to you, which I won't spoil. I really like that they are able to update things easily here. I haven't seen the new scene yet with Rex and Trixie, but I'm anxious to. Of course, the attraction does kill your arm...if you want a good score. And remember to let that string go all the way back in. Otherwise it won't shoot properly.
So, if you've still got your arms in tact after getting off the attraction, where else can you catch the fabulous duo of Woody and Buzz? (Besides their meet and greet that they also do in Pixar Place).
Well, Toy Story also has another large presence at the Studios with the Block Party Bash. They have their own great float, with many of the characters from the movies trying to get you to "celebrate" with them. I've missed the opportunity before to see their version of the parade stop (I've seen the other two) but keep in mine that if you do want to see this specific section, it's the first few floats in the parade, so make sure you've chosen your spot accordingly. (The stop will take place further up along the parade route, since they have to pass by the closer sections to allow for the other 2 sections to move into their spots for their stops.)
Also, don't miss Pizza Planet! They serve your typical Disney Pizza (which to many is not very good) but this is always a must stop for Brian and I when in the Studios. Go upstairs to get a table, it's often quieter up there. Also, the games are nothing to write home about, but there are some to occupy some time if your kid is anxious to play. (There are also some bathrooms upstairs which often aren't frequented.)
Disney's Hollywood Studios isn't the only place you can catch these characters though. Toy Story also has a good presence at the Magic Kingdom. So, if your family loves Toy Story, don't miss Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin in Tomorrowland, which was basically the precursor game to Toy Story Mania. It's a fun game...but try to not compare it to Midway Mania. They aren't even close to the same, besides the shooting aspect. Also, you can usually meet Buzz in Tomorrowland and often you can meet Woody and sometimes Jessie in Frontierland.
Finally, there is a whole Toy Story section over at All Star Movies. There's a giant Buzz and Woody featured, plus a few other prominent characters present as well.
I told you I'm amped to see my buddies in the Toy Story franchise again...and hopefully we'll make some new friends in this third installment as well. So with that being said, what is your favorite Toy Story thing that can be found in the parks? And also, which movie has been your favorite so far and why?
And if you already weren't...make sure to go see Toy Story 3 in theaters this weekend. I know I'm gonna try my hardest to!
Also, it's DHS Appreciation Week this week, so I thought I'd tie everything in together at once. An appreciation of Toy Story at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
Toy Story has a pretty massive presence over at Disney's Hollywood Studios. All it takes is a walk down Pixar Place to see the classic characters from both films surrounding you. You have Mr. Spell (Who used to actually spell. I think that effect may be broken at the moment. I wish they'd fix it. It was so cool.) You have the monkeys, doing their thing--monkeying around. The Green Army Men are setting up for their mission, as per usual. And of course, it seems like some of the toys decided it would be fun to drag some of the other toys outside to play as well. Also, don't miss some other fascinating Woody's Round Up memorabilia near Hey Howdy Hey Take Away quick service stand. (I think the spoon collection is pretty cool...I remember seeing it in the movie!)
The Pixar Place area is probably one of my favorites in all of Walt Disney World. It's one of the newest but it's so filled with great details and nods to the films. If you have the time, really explore this section. So many sight gags get passed by simply because people are moving too fast or are trying to get their behinds on the ever popular Toy Story Midway Mania.
Ah, the mania that surrounds Toy Story Midway Mania. This attraction really is a smash hit. I personally love the queue. I think this is one of the best queues that Disney has ever done. There's a ton to look at to keep you occupied...and trust me...you're gonna be waiting a while...you want to be occupied.
Once again, here the toys are strewn all about, in attempt to get this new game (The Midway Mania Game) ready for play. (That is what toys do best, don't you know! Play!) This queue also has some amazing detailing. Make sure to look up at the ceiling....a fun scrabble game is going on. You also may see a Candyland game in progress as well. Also, take a look at the great nods to other Disney things...with the Viewfinder slides, one for Peter Pan and one for Tomorrowland. You'll be able to Find Nemo on the wall in line as well. He's a drawn version though. Doesn't exactly look the same, but it's for sure Nemo. Oh! And make sure you look at the crayons! Some are more popular than others. And of course, who can forget Mr. Potato Head, the barker of it all, trying to get you to ride.
Personally, I love the Mr. Potato Head AA as a Audio Anamatronic, however, he gets old sometimes really quickly. And as much as Disney wanted it to take off, everytime I've observed guests in line, it appears that people don't really want to talk to him while they're waiting in a 60+ minute wait. They're pretty aggravated once they reach him. The last thing they want to do is have to hear that annoying Hot Potato song every 5 minutes. lol! Mr. Potato Head was good in theory, but unfortunately maybe not so great in execution. (He's still an AMAZING Audio Anamatronic. Watch his mouth. It moves so seamlessly!)
Of course, the whole point of waiting in this long line you've been in is for the ride, which is fabulous. It is so much fun to try to compete with not only each other but also yourself to try to better your score. I also enjoy the 3D aspect and when special things happen to you, which I won't spoil. I really like that they are able to update things easily here. I haven't seen the new scene yet with Rex and Trixie, but I'm anxious to. Of course, the attraction does kill your arm...if you want a good score. And remember to let that string go all the way back in. Otherwise it won't shoot properly.
So, if you've still got your arms in tact after getting off the attraction, where else can you catch the fabulous duo of Woody and Buzz? (Besides their meet and greet that they also do in Pixar Place).
Well, Toy Story also has another large presence at the Studios with the Block Party Bash. They have their own great float, with many of the characters from the movies trying to get you to "celebrate" with them. I've missed the opportunity before to see their version of the parade stop (I've seen the other two) but keep in mine that if you do want to see this specific section, it's the first few floats in the parade, so make sure you've chosen your spot accordingly. (The stop will take place further up along the parade route, since they have to pass by the closer sections to allow for the other 2 sections to move into their spots for their stops.)
Also, don't miss Pizza Planet! They serve your typical Disney Pizza (which to many is not very good) but this is always a must stop for Brian and I when in the Studios. Go upstairs to get a table, it's often quieter up there. Also, the games are nothing to write home about, but there are some to occupy some time if your kid is anxious to play. (There are also some bathrooms upstairs which often aren't frequented.)
Disney's Hollywood Studios isn't the only place you can catch these characters though. Toy Story also has a good presence at the Magic Kingdom. So, if your family loves Toy Story, don't miss Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin in Tomorrowland, which was basically the precursor game to Toy Story Mania. It's a fun game...but try to not compare it to Midway Mania. They aren't even close to the same, besides the shooting aspect. Also, you can usually meet Buzz in Tomorrowland and often you can meet Woody and sometimes Jessie in Frontierland.
Finally, there is a whole Toy Story section over at All Star Movies. There's a giant Buzz and Woody featured, plus a few other prominent characters present as well.
I told you I'm amped to see my buddies in the Toy Story franchise again...and hopefully we'll make some new friends in this third installment as well. So with that being said, what is your favorite Toy Story thing that can be found in the parks? And also, which movie has been your favorite so far and why?
And if you already weren't...make sure to go see Toy Story 3 in theaters this weekend. I know I'm gonna try my hardest to!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
News & Rumors 6/7/10 - 6/13/10

News and Rumors are gathered from various different websites. All rumors are rumors and are to be taken as such.
News
- I know I've talked about it before, but I wasn't sure if I'd mentioned the dates yet. Toy Story Midway Mania is going down for refurb from Aug. 16 - 28th.
- Some Star Tours info came out this past week. First, the new attraction appears to be called Star Tours: The Adventure Continues. It is expected to take place between the 3rd and 4th movies.
- We have an idea of the scenes that are expected to take place in Ariel's Undersea Adventure attraction when the new Fantasyland opens. Scenes include seeing Scuttle and Sebastian, going into Ariel's Grotto where you'll get to see Ariel herself as a high quality AA singing Part of Your World, an Under the Sea scene, being in Ursula's lair, a Kiss the Girl scene, Love's First Kiss, and of course, as all good fairy tales have, a Happily Ever After.
- On July 24th, Passholders and DVC members will get an early shopping experience. From 6:30 am - 9:30 am, guests can receive discounts as much as 50% off at the World of Disney store.
- The candy store that is expected to open in Germany has a name. It will be known as Karamelle-Kuche (caramel kitchen) and it will have delectable treats such as caramel popcorn, apples, and caramel covered strawberries. Also, other gourmet bakery items such as caramels, cookies brownies, cupcakes and fudge and I'm sure Werther's candies. (Since they are the ones bringing the store in.) The store is set to open Sept. 2010.
- Via Napoli has released some of it's menu items. These include pizza bianca (several different types of white pizza will be offered), quattro stagioni (featuring artichokes, ham, eggplant, mushrooms, tomatoes), piccante (with chicken sausage, tomatoes, hot pepper, provolone, mozzarella), and traditional margherita pizza
- Also menu items for La Hacienda de San Angel were released. This will be the sit down restaurant that is currently being built in the Mexico pavilion. This restaurant will only be open for dinner - 4 pm. Menu items include: queso fundido (warm cheese with poblano pepper and chorizo), taco trio with rib eye, roasted chicken and pork, traditional black bean soup, mixed grill for two with flank steak, chicken, chorizo and vegetables (a seafood version features grouper, shrimp and scallops), roasted shrimp in pepper garlic broth flank steak with spring onions, refried beans and cactus leaves, and grilled red snapper with roasted corn and cactus leaves. And for dessert they'll have chocolate churros, sweet tamales, and fruit empanadas.
- La Cantina de San Angel will return and will be open from 11 am and on. Their menu will include: chicken and beef tacos on fresh handmade corn tortillas, nachos, cheese empanada, guacamole and chips, and churros.
- Disney has extended the Fantasmic dinner packages to include some lunch offerings. Lunches will be available at Hollywood Brown Derby and Mama Melrose. The same rules apply for these offerings as they do for the dinner offerings.
- The Dip Site at Disney's Hollywood Studios by Indiana Jones is closed for refurbishment through June 25th.
Rumors
- The next expansion that is expected to take place at Disney's Animal Kingdom will be on the Camp Minnie-Mickey side and while a decision hasn't been made quite yet, it may be coming soonish.
- I've heard a rumor that a new Animal Kingdom parade is coming.
- In character rumors, Mowgli may appear at the MNSSHP this year. Tarzan will not be back.
Labels:
News and Rumors
Friday, June 11, 2010
The Bloggie Awards: 6/5/10 - 6/11/10
Ok...so, it's kind of a stupid name. I swear I had something really creative for this new selection of posts, but I lost it as quick as it came in. Lol! So if you have any ideas...be sure to let me know in the comments what you think I should title my blog roll every week.
Here's my list of my favorite blog posts from this week!
5. Over at touringplans.com, a great article was posted about tips for those who dine in the park with special dietary requests. As someone who has no dietary needs, it's interesting to learn how Disney actually goes about handling this kind of situation.
4. Scott over at DisneyBiz wondered where the sponsors of attractions have gone. I too had wondered about this in the past, so I enjoyed someone's take on this issue.
3. The Disney Parks Blog had a fun little piece about some of the Streetmosphere characters that can be found on Main Street USA. These folks often don't get a lot of mentions, so I thought I'd make sure and highlight them here too. (I've had the chance to meet the Fire Chief, myself. He's a fun man!)
2. With talk about the Main Street Electrical Parade returning to the resort, there's one constant "parade" that has remained over the years. Over at Studios Central, a look is taken into one of my favorites, the Electrical Water Pageant.
and my favorite blog entry this week was...
1. Over at The DVC Life, Katie had a guest blogger Steph discuss why she decided to purchase DVC. It's a must read for anyone who's ever remotely considered purchasing.
Finally, I wanted to post one last entry. This one isn't among my top 5, but I thought it should be mentioned. A week or so ago, I posted the article about how people shouldn't be afraid to complain to Disney, based of an experience Katie had staying at Old Key West. This was a long saga that has finally come to an end. Check out the (satisfying) conclusion.
That's my favorites from this week! And as always, I hope I bring a little pixie dust to your day!
Finally, I wanted to post one last entry. This one isn't among my top 5, but I thought it should be mentioned. A week or so ago, I posted the article about how people shouldn't be afraid to complain to Disney, based of an experience Katie had staying at Old Key West. This was a long saga that has finally come to an end. Check out the (satisfying) conclusion.
That's my favorites from this week! And as always, I hope I bring a little pixie dust to your day!
Labels:
Blog Roll
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
The Mouse-standing List: My Favorite Disney Hotels
So much of planning a Walt Disney World Vacation goes into the choice of the hotel. For many people, many different aspects can sway them. It can be price, it can be theme, it can be how many people the room will fit comfortably. Some people only spend a few hours to sleep in their rooms and some people want to spend a whole day at their resort, just taking in the sights. All of these are legitimate reasons for choosing the resort you stay at.
For Brian and I, price is always the main concern. We mostly stay in Values because we can't see spending a ton on a hotel room, especially when, technically, we could be staying off site for free, since he works for a major hotel chain. We also don't spend a whole lot of time in our room, therefore, once again, Value resorts are typically the way we go because of that. Also, it's just the two of us. We don't need a lot of space for the two of us. (We like each other...so we don't mind the close quarters.)
Of course, there are the hotels that even though we're not staying there, we have to visit on a regular basis. And of course, every time we go down, we fall in love with another resort that we haven't spent good quality time in.
So, as of right now, here are our Top 5 favorite resorts, in no particular order and why.
5. Port Orleans Riverside - technically I could have said both, but I figured it was only fair to pick one. This place is so peaceful. My favorite is the Alligator Bayou section as it's close-ish to the main stretch, but far enough away so that it is extremely quiet. The food court here is fabulous and of course, who can forget the ever popular, Yee Haa Bob! If you haven't seen him, you must the next time you visit! He's a hoot!
4. The Contemporary - This has always been one of my favorite resorts, from my first trip with Brian. I love the decor here. (I'm a modern kinda gal.) I like the design of the building. (A frame baby!) I love how the monorail glides seamlessly inside. I love the view you can get of the Magic Kingdom. And of course, it has a restaurant near and dear to my heart, Chef Mickey's. Whenever I finally get to stay in Deluxes, this will be one of the first I stay in.
3. Pop Century - This one is our staple. It is the Value Resort that we call Home. It's got an aura that just fills the place that says, this is a fun resort! The food court and the shop are great and as I've mentioned before, this place has a smell that just makes you feel good.
2. The Polynesian - This resort has quickly become one of my favorites, just over the past few months. I love sitting out on the hammocks by the beach, getting to cuddle up. I love the atmosphere inside. I love Captain Cooks and Kona Cafe. And the rooms here are fabulous! The feel of this entire resort just speaks to me. Why I've never fallen in love with it before now is a mystery.
1. The Wilderness Lodge - This has to be our favorite resort. We've not stayed here yet, but we've been trying (come on room discount...give us a 40% off discount!). I'm not the "woodsy" type of person, but something about this resort just speaks to me. It could be the huge lobby, which is so expansive. It could be Whispering Canyon Cafe, which has some great food. It could be the fireplaces. Even in the middle of the summer I could sit near those bad boys. There's just something so wonderful about them, no matter what time of year. Or, it could be the geyser and "river" that flows through the entire resort. But probably most of all, it's the location of one of my Disney snacks, Roaring Forks' Magic Cookie Bar. Yum!
So, those are my favorite resorts. What are yours? Be sure to let me know in the comments section!
For Brian and I, price is always the main concern. We mostly stay in Values because we can't see spending a ton on a hotel room, especially when, technically, we could be staying off site for free, since he works for a major hotel chain. We also don't spend a whole lot of time in our room, therefore, once again, Value resorts are typically the way we go because of that. Also, it's just the two of us. We don't need a lot of space for the two of us. (We like each other...so we don't mind the close quarters.)
Of course, there are the hotels that even though we're not staying there, we have to visit on a regular basis. And of course, every time we go down, we fall in love with another resort that we haven't spent good quality time in.
So, as of right now, here are our Top 5 favorite resorts, in no particular order and why.
5. Port Orleans Riverside - technically I could have said both, but I figured it was only fair to pick one. This place is so peaceful. My favorite is the Alligator Bayou section as it's close-ish to the main stretch, but far enough away so that it is extremely quiet. The food court here is fabulous and of course, who can forget the ever popular, Yee Haa Bob! If you haven't seen him, you must the next time you visit! He's a hoot!
4. The Contemporary - This has always been one of my favorite resorts, from my first trip with Brian. I love the decor here. (I'm a modern kinda gal.) I like the design of the building. (A frame baby!) I love how the monorail glides seamlessly inside. I love the view you can get of the Magic Kingdom. And of course, it has a restaurant near and dear to my heart, Chef Mickey's. Whenever I finally get to stay in Deluxes, this will be one of the first I stay in.
3. Pop Century - This one is our staple. It is the Value Resort that we call Home. It's got an aura that just fills the place that says, this is a fun resort! The food court and the shop are great and as I've mentioned before, this place has a smell that just makes you feel good.
2. The Polynesian - This resort has quickly become one of my favorites, just over the past few months. I love sitting out on the hammocks by the beach, getting to cuddle up. I love the atmosphere inside. I love Captain Cooks and Kona Cafe. And the rooms here are fabulous! The feel of this entire resort just speaks to me. Why I've never fallen in love with it before now is a mystery.
1. The Wilderness Lodge - This has to be our favorite resort. We've not stayed here yet, but we've been trying (come on room discount...give us a 40% off discount!). I'm not the "woodsy" type of person, but something about this resort just speaks to me. It could be the huge lobby, which is so expansive. It could be Whispering Canyon Cafe, which has some great food. It could be the fireplaces. Even in the middle of the summer I could sit near those bad boys. There's just something so wonderful about them, no matter what time of year. Or, it could be the geyser and "river" that flows through the entire resort. But probably most of all, it's the location of one of my Disney snacks, Roaring Forks' Magic Cookie Bar. Yum!
So, those are my favorite resorts. What are yours? Be sure to let me know in the comments section!
Labels:
resorts
Monday, June 7, 2010
News & Rumors 5/31/10 - 6/6/10

News
- First and foremost, Summer Nightastic has finally premiered! As a reminder, there is a new Fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom, the Main Street Electrical Parade has returned to Main Street USA, and the Tower of Terror has seen some enhancements. Plus a few other things here and there.
- The Good Times Gathering Spot will return once again at Camp Minnie-Mickey at Disney's Animal Kingdom. This location is where the former Pocahontas show took place. It will be open from June 13 - Aug. 7th from 10 am - 3 pm. Guests can meet characters and a DJ will be present.
- If you run in the 2011 Marathon, you'll receive admission into a Disney theme park free on the following Monday. Guests must have their medals present. This appears to only be valid for full marathon runners, not half marathon runners.
- For those guests wanting to see High School Musical 3: Senior Year at Disney's Hollywood Studios, there is now a dedicated stage in front of the Sorcerer's Hat where performances will be held. Also this stage is being used for Summer Nightastic
- Guests can choose which medal is handed out at the 2011 Marathon. Click here to vote.
- It appears from reports that a screen is up covering the Yeti. It looks like some repair work may finally be getting done.
Rumors
- Vidia from the Tinkerbell movies will be doing meet and greets starting in Aug.
- Duffy, The Disney Bear, is expected to make appearances at Epcot in Sept.
- Flynn Rider and Mother Gothel may join Rapunzel for the Tangled meet and greets at the Magic Kingdom in October.
- Heard some rumors about a new DVC resort. One is that a brand new resort could be opening across from Coronado Springs with a possible California theme. The second rumor is that they could be finalizing DVC for the Grand Floridian.
Labels:
News and Rumors
Friday, June 4, 2010
Two Years!
It's official...
Today is my two year anniversary here!
And because of that, I've decided to add a new weekly blog post into the rotation. (Hopefully you all will enjoy it.)
I have seen this on other blogs and I really like it. I think it's a great way to help out the blogger community and support those Disney-philes like myself. So, I'm introducing my new "Top 5" (future good name for this is pending...must put on the thinking cap!) where I'll post my favorite blog entries from other great writers for the week.
So, without further adieu:
5. AJ at The Disney Food Blog talked about changes to Disney's Online ADR system
4. Ryan at the Main Street Gazette found a great piece of Disney history in a publication about the construction of Epcot.
3. At The Daily Disney, a look is taken at if The Wizarding World of Harry Potter can compare to anything Disney has. (Yes, I know, it's an article about Universal...however, to me, Universal's success with this part of the park has big impacts on what we see from Disney in the upcoming months and years.)
2. Also, The Daily Disney has some great info about the Main Street Electrical Parade's arrival. And of course some other Summer Nightastic! info as well.
And to me, the best article of the week was:
1. The Disney Parks Blog had a great video about placing the finishing building block on The Disney Dream! (Can't wait for next June, baby!)
So, that's gonna do it for this week! And hopefully with this new weekly entry, I'll continue to bring a little pixie dust to your day!
Today is my two year anniversary here!
And because of that, I've decided to add a new weekly blog post into the rotation. (Hopefully you all will enjoy it.)
I have seen this on other blogs and I really like it. I think it's a great way to help out the blogger community and support those Disney-philes like myself. So, I'm introducing my new "Top 5" (future good name for this is pending...must put on the thinking cap!) where I'll post my favorite blog entries from other great writers for the week.
So, without further adieu:
5. AJ at The Disney Food Blog talked about changes to Disney's Online ADR system
4. Ryan at the Main Street Gazette found a great piece of Disney history in a publication about the construction of Epcot.
3. At The Daily Disney, a look is taken at if The Wizarding World of Harry Potter can compare to anything Disney has. (Yes, I know, it's an article about Universal...however, to me, Universal's success with this part of the park has big impacts on what we see from Disney in the upcoming months and years.)
2. Also, The Daily Disney has some great info about the Main Street Electrical Parade's arrival. And of course some other Summer Nightastic! info as well.
And to me, the best article of the week was:
1. The Disney Parks Blog had a great video about placing the finishing building block on The Disney Dream! (Can't wait for next June, baby!)
So, that's gonna do it for this week! And hopefully with this new weekly entry, I'll continue to bring a little pixie dust to your day!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
I Have A Complaint
Updated: 6/9/13
Ok, I swear I'm not a Disney downer....I promise this! I have lots of complimentary things to say about the parks and the resort as a whole. Matter of fact, I had a whole other positive topic in mind to talk about for this week's post, that I will post next week, barring anything else that strikes my fancy to talk about instead, much like happened with this topic.
So, why do I lead off with that disclaimer...because I read something this week that upset me greatly. And I felt this was something that needed to be discussed. First of all, this issue was something that should have never happened on some body's trip and second of all, something that should have never happened TWICE on the same vacation! (Plus some other problems mixed in as well.)
What am I talking about? I'm talking about an experience a friend of mine had with her recent Disney stay. Not only did she have to deal with bugs in beds TWICE but she also had to deal with construction noise and a smoky room. It was a vacationer's worst nightmare.
Now, I find this whole thing reprehensible, but that's not exactly the topic I am here to discuss. Instead the topic I'm here to discuss is that people shouldn't feel ashamed when they have a complaint about something related to Disney.
I get it. It can be hard and scary for Disney fans to be critical of a place we love. While I can understand the fact that it can be disheartening to have a bad experience and be forced to write about it, no one should ever be afraid to write a critical letter to any company, let alone one we all care about deeply...Disney...to address issues that are less than magical.
I have to say, personally, if you have a problem with any aspect of your vacation, make sure you let Disney know about it! If you don't, they may never know it is something that needs to be fixed.
Also, I suggest if it's something that needs to be addressed immediately, do so then and there but also make sure to send a letter addressing the same problem. For example, there was someone I know who found chicken feathers still attached to his fried chicken at 50s Prime Time after he'd eaten it. This person didn't complain until he got home AND he paid for the meal originally! Disney, luckily, gave him his money back for that instance. If it were me though, I would have made sure to let them know at that time that I was dissatisfied and written a letter as well. No one should have to eat something with FEATHERS STILL ATTACHED!!!
Personally, I have only ever written a complaint letter to Disney once and that was when they decided to remove my beloved Adventurer's Club. Now, in that situation, I knew they had already made their mind up, but it was something that I felt was necessary to let them know I was unhappy with. I did receive a phone call addressing the matter (if you want a phone call, it's best to include your phone number) however, I didn't get to the phone in time to answer it. They did leave a nice little message though, but it would have been nice to address the issue with a real live Cast Member. (They did not leave a call back number.)
Keep in mind, a letter doesn't always have to be a complaint letter. If something happens where Disney goes above and beyond, please make sure to send a letter addressing that as well. Sometimes that's the only way Disney learns about which Cast Members really are doing extraordinary things. Those letters are big deals to Cast Members, so please make sure to send them.
So, what are my tips for sending letters to Disney. First of all, if you can, don't send an email. Disney takes emails a lot less seriously than a letter that is either typed out or hand-written and mailed. They know that those types of letters take more time, where as an email can be fired off quickly in the heat of the moment, which isn't always a rational time for people. So, snail mail is the best way to go.
Second address the issue to people in charge if you can, not just guest relations. My letter about the Adventurer's Club was sent to Bob Iger himself. (Now he didn't call...someone else did...but I still wanted to make sure my letter was sent to a higher channel).
Finally, make sure you are sending a well thought out letter. Make sure to check your grammar and spelling. These things sound so simple, but it's something that many neglect and can make your letter seem less important and taken less seriously.
So, what address should you send letters to? Here are some addresses and other information that you might need:
Walt Disney World Guest Relations
P.O. Box 10000
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
P.O. Box 10000
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Disney Guest Relations - 407-824-4321
Walt Disney World Guest Communications
PO Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830-0040
wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com
Mr. Robert Iger
Chief Executive Officer
The Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521-4873
Thomas O. Staggs
Chairman
Walt Disney Parks & Resorts
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521-4873
Meg Crofton
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Operations, US & France
The Walt Disney World Resort
PO Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
George Kalogridis
President
The Walt Disney World Resort
PO Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
As I've said, I hope no one feels scared to send a less than flattering letter to the Disney Company. They have every right to know when we aren't satisfied with the service they are delivering us. My biggest tip though, is don't expect them to give you something just because you had a bad experience. That should never be the motivation behind sending a letter. Instead you should send a complaint letter because you want the issue resolved, so others are able to have a magical experience, even though your experience may have been a little less than magical.
Have you ever had an experience where you sent a letter, either good or bad? What was the issue about? And did Disney respond? I'm curious to know about other people's experiences.
Labels:
complaint letters,
Walt Disney World
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