Plus… February Changes to “The Magic, the Memories, and You,” News on a Pair of Refurbs at the Marketplace, and more

by Don Myers

Tink’s pixie dust is bringing some brand-new interactive elements to one of the Magic Kingdom’s most beloved attractions, so it’s time to dive into another edition of the WDW Radio Newswire…..

We saw them added into the queue of The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.Then they sprung up over at The Haunted Mansion. Well, we can now add Peter Pan’s Flight to the list of attractions to have their queues updated into the “Interactive Era.” Construction is already underway, and things are slated to wrap up on Tuesday March 6th. The attraction will remain open throughout the duration of the refurb, and it will be interesting to see how these interactive elements will effect the wait times once they’re put into place. And another question is whether or not there will be separate “interactive” and “non-interactive” lines for Peter Pan’s Flight like there is over at Gracie Manor.

For more news out of the Magic Kingdom, let’s head over to Cinderella Castle, where some changes have recently taken place to “The Magic, the Memories, and You” show. February means Valentine’s Day, so the changes are of the romantic variety. New elements include stained glass projections of several Disney Princes and Princesses, and vines of red roses wrapped around the Castle Towers. The stained glass images are particularly interesting, as one of them depicts Belle with the Beast post-transformation. We rarely see Belle with the Beast after he’s been transformed back into human form, so this is a neat little addition. The special changes are scheduled to run for the next 2 1/2 months, with an end date “projected” for Sunday April 15th.

Now let’s move over to Downtown Disney, where a pair of refurbishments are underway at the Marketplace. The bath and beauty store Basin closed up shop last week and will remain closed until Monday March 19th. This will put the total refurb time for the store at just under two months. The second refurbishment is taking place over at The Rainforest Cafe. This one is going to be lengthy, as construction at the restaurant is scheduled to be ongoing from now until October. This puts the refurb timetable at around 8-9 months! But fans of the Rainforest Cafe fear not; as the restaurant will be staying open throughout the duration of the refurbishment.

For our final bit of news today, let’s venture over to my favorite Resort: Disney’s Polynesian Resort. A few days ago (Mon Jan 30th) work began at the Nanea Volcano Feature Pool, and things aren’t scheduled to be completed until Sunday April 1st (no foolin’). This work will not result in the closure of the pool itself, but the water slide will be out of commission from Monday February 6th through the first week of March.

Well, that’s gonna do it for today, but I’ll be back again soon with another edition of the WDW Radio Newswire……..

Don Myers covers news and recent events in Walt Disney World.  He has been enamored with the World of Disney since his first trip to WDW in 1986. As they say, the rest is history!  Don also has been a contributing writer for Celebrations magazine since 2009.

Topics this week include:

- New Art of Animation Resort Menus
- New Innoventions Exhibit – Habit Heroes
- The Magic, The Memories and You changes
- Rumor about Phineas and Ferb

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Join us every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. EST at http://WDWNewsCast.com for a LIVE interactive news show covering the Walt Disney World. Be a part of the broadcast and discussion and discuss the news real-time in the chat room.

Thanks for watching! Be sure to tune in next week!

by Chandler Witzigreuter

The application process for the Disney College Program is fairly simple! When I was preparing to apply, I went to the College Program website and looked up the requirements for the program to make sure that I was eligible. The two main requirements are: that you are at least 18 years old, and that you must be enrolled in a college or university at the time that you apply. When I got back from Florida with my family, it was July and I was getting ready to start school in August and I officially met all of the requirements for the program! When school started, I joined a Facebook group full of people who were going to apply for the Spring/Spring Advantage 2012 Program. We all talked about the different roles that we were going to apply for, and what apartment complex we wanted to stay at, and yes, we even started finding potential roommates before we had even applied!

Finally in September the applications were posted! The first day to apply was September 5th, so that morning I woke up early and applied as soon as I could! The application was like any other, it asked for your name, your school, if you work anywhere, and some other basic questions. The application also asked you what roles you were interested in. There are tons of options for roles, some of them are Attractions, Merchandise, Quick-Service Food and Beverage, Table-Service Food and Beverage, Costuming, Character Attendant, Custodial, and a plethora of others! You go through the roles and you say if you have “high interest,” “moderate interest,” “low interest,” or “no interest.” Depending on what you say for the roles, you will be asked accordingly in the phone interview, if you move on.

After you are done with the application and choosing your roles, you get an e-mail saying “Thanks for Applying” that has instructions to go on to the Web-Based Interview or the WBI. The WBI was like a simple survey where you answered questions by rating it between 1 and 10. They were questions like how do you rate your confidence, and you had to rate yourself between 1 and 10; easy right? After you completed your WBI, you will either get an e-mail inviting you to move on to the phone interview, or you will get one saying that you would unfortunately not be moving on to the phone interview. When you get the e-mail inviting you to move on, you have 3 days to schedule your phone interview. They tell you to set aside 30 minutes for the interview, and they also plan on having the interview 15 minutes early or late because the recruiters could be running ahead or behind on their interviews.

As soon as I got the e-mail I scheduled my interview! I scheduled it for September 8th at 10:45 in the morning, so I had time to get up and prepare myself. I was super nervous the night before my interview. The day before I looked up a sample of questions and I thought about what I would say, I felt like I was ready for the next day. I woke up on the 8th at like 7 a.m. because I couldn’t sleep, so I practiced my answers for the practice questions I thought of, I baked cookies, and I tried to relax. Finally after hours of busy work the phone rang. I answered the phone, then carried my cup of water that I had and walked in to a quiet room. My recruiter was super nice and I could tell that she loved being a recruiter for Disney. She asked me how I was doing and she told me to stay calm and have fun with the interview. Knowing that, I felt a little more comfortable. The first question she asked me was “Why do you want to work for Disney?” I took a deep breath and told her about how much I love Disney movies, and how many times I have been to Disney World with my family, and I also mentioned how I feel like Disney has helped me stay a kid and believe in magic. She laughed a little when I said that, and I also told her that I can’t picture myself working anywhere else because I was meant to work for Disney. After that, we moved into talking about the roles I selected. I chose Attractions, Merchandise, Lifeguard, Photopass Photographer, and Vacation Planner as “high interest,” almost everything else was “moderate” or “low interest.” We talked about the five I chose as “high interest” and why I thought I would be good at doing those roles. After talking about the roles, we moved on to some situational questions. She asked me about how I would handle working with a customer and a fellow Cast Member asking me for help. I told her that I would take care of my customer first, because I don’t want to take away any of the magic that they are experiencing, my recruiter seemed to like that. The interview lasted about 20 or 30 minutes, and at the end she told me that I could hear back from them in anywhere from around 2-4 weeks.

For the phone interview, all I can tell you is: stay calm, be honest, and smile! If you are nervous during your interview you rush yourself and you might not be understandable. Be honest, Disney wants to get to know the real you and smile they can tell! If you seem excited and enthusiastic you will have a better interview.

Ever since my interview, I checked my e-mail almost ever hour. It was the longest  week and a half of my life! Then on September 20th I got an e-mail that almost made me lose hope. The e-mail said that I was “pending a final decision” and I would hear back by December 19th! I couldn’t believe it, how was I supposed to wait until December? Waiting 10 days was pure torture to me! (If you get this e-mail or even if you don’t, do not freak out! There is always a possibility that someone who was “pended” could find out before a person who wasn’t. Recruiting is just trying to find the perfect spot for you, so don’t worry.) After obsessing about it for about a week, I came to terms that I can’t change the outcome and that I did all that I could and it was now out of my hands. I met a bunch of other people who were “pended” and we formed a Facebook group that we used as a support system, it felt comforting to know that there were others who were in the same boat as me. Time went on, and some of my friends were getting accepted, while I was stuck in something I liked to call “Disney Limbo.” In “Disney Limbo,” all time stands still seems meaningless and your whole life revolves around Disney, you start to feel like the possibility of being accepted is getting further and further away. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, trust me; the tunnel might feel like it goes on forever, but eventually you get your response! And when you finally get that acceptance, you realize that waiting just made it so much more gratifying.

My advice for the waiting period is: just stay calm and stay positive. It can be hard at times to stay positive especially if you see that lots of other people are getting accepted, trust me, I know! If you are religious or spiritual, you can pray and hope and wish that there is good news soon. Everything and anything helps, but whatever you do STAY POSITIVE!!!!

I got my acceptance e-mail on November 28th, so I waited almost 3 months just to hear back! I would have to say that day was one of the best days of my life! All the waiting that I had to do made my acceptance a million times better!! I accepted my offer  and paid my fees that same day, then I chose my check-in and departure dates. I was accepted for Merchandise in the Spring Advantage 2012 Program, I was so happy too because Merchandise was my #2 on my list!!! I check-in on February 6th and I am scheduled to check-out on August 10th.

After you accept your offer, pay your fees, and choose your dates, you can choose classes to take while you are there! The classes are not mandatory, but many participate because some are eligible for college credit! There are also classes that are part of the Disney Exploration Series, which is more of a learning laboratory that spans across the whole Walt Disney World Resort. You cannot go wrong with any of the classes given by the Disney College Program, all of the classes are taught by actual Cast Members who have experience in that field. Some of the classes cost, but the price is very minimal compared to college classes; and some classes also require a book that you will need to buy before going to class. I signed up for the Marketing YOU! class and the Exploring Marketing class. Unfortunately, the class I really wanted was unavailable when I was able to sign up for classes, but the classes that were open were all so good, it as hard to decide. While you are participating, you can only take 2 classes because you still have to have the time to work.

If you decide to apply, or if you are thinking of applying, I would start looking at the website for information about the program and you can also watch videos about the program on YouTube. There is no such thing as looking too early. I hope this was helpful and informational.

Have a Magical Day,

Chandler

You can see more information on the Disney College Program website at: DisneyCollegeProgram.com

You can follow my journeys through the Disney College Program here, or on my Tumblr: chandlerswdwcpadventures.tumblr.com

Chandler Witzigreuter is a 19 year old from Fort Wayne, IN, who has been obsessed with all things Disney ever since she was very young. She is now going to participate in the Disney College Program Spring Advantage Session starting in February.

Welcome back, friends, as we once again tackle a food-related question (won’t Lou be proud of us?)  This time, we are considering a great question: how can one use those snack credits to bring The Magic home?  Our esteemed and amazing panel members have weighed in… let us know whose advice you agree with–or if you have another idea!

Here is our new question:  “Hi, Lou!  Boy do I have the question for you & Beci!  I prefer to get the quick service dining plan when I go to Disney world, but it’s not always easy for me to use all the snack credits on, well, snacks! Instead of wasting them sometimes I’d get a bottle of water but I’m really looking to get the most bang for my buck. I was wondering what you guys thought was the best ’snack’ you could get that you could also take home and enjoy later (lollipop?). Also please no liquids, the TSA frowns upon that… Maybe even something that could be given as a gift after my return (Minnie’s bakeshop?)  Can’t wait to hear your thoughts.  Keep up the great work! See ya!
Sara from Michigan”

Jim, The Chairman:  “This is a short and easy one…[you need to visit] two places: The Main Street Bakery and Main Street Confectionery. You should be able to find enough there that you can use up all of your remaining snack credits and fill all of the empty space in your suitcases to take home.”

MB, The Money Minder: “For take-home snacks and/or gifts, I would suggest anything from one of the beautiful bakeries or candy shops around the world.  My favorites of these are on Main Street in the MK and on Hollywood Blvd. in DHS.  Perhaps a beautiful candy apple or a decorated chocolate dipped pretzel stick.  Nothing compares to those Mickey-shaped rice crispy treats!  With a smile and a polite request to the cast member, you can get these wrapped to travel and they all make great gifts or treats for later!”

JJ, The Teen: “With the Dining Plan, the snacks available typically are not the easiest to take home with you. Some snacks that you may travel well include brownies or cookies found throughout the Parks.

Though not on the Dining Plan, if I wanted to bring home a Disney treat and/or give as a gift, I’d head straight to the Confectionary on Main Street, where different kinds of candies and sweets can be found; from candy apples to assorted chocolates to many different kinds of cookies.”

Darby, the Disneyland Expert: “That’s relatively easy:  any treat you find at Pooh’s Corner. It’s a relatively quiet section of Disneyland and not visited yet they have some of the BEST dessert treats in the whole park. Of course you can find them at any sweets or bakery in the Disneyland Resort, but I personally like Pooh’s Corner because it’s hardly ever crowded, you have more time to mingle (or stand confused and drooling trying to decide what you want like I do) and interact with the cast members and they still have a most delectable variety of sweets and confections to choose from. Best of all, they also have a viewing area so you can watch cast members actually make the treats you are about to buy! How awesome is that??? =)”

Leslie, the Super Mom:  “Sara, what a fun question!  I always seem to have snack credits left, too, and one of my favorite things to take home are Mickey-shaped rice krispy treats.  They’re always available, often have some seasonal flair to them, and they travel well.  They’re super light-weight, and if you restrain yourself and avoid the ones that have been dipped in chocolate, you don’t have to worry about melting.”

Brian, the Timekeeper: “The dining plan does include a LOT of food!   I completely understand where you’d want to bring some home.  I have a few suggestions:  Cinnamon Roll from Main Street Confectionery, Beignets from Port Orleans French Quarter, Caramel Apples (all over), and School Bread from Norway pavilion at EPCOT.  I am now hungry after typing these… so if you are looking for a place to send the gift of great Disney snacks…… j/k.  Enjoy your next trip to the World!”

Emma, the International Traveler:  “I can’t get enough of snacks whilst I’m in Walt Disney World! I strictly follow the theory that calories don’t exist whilst on vacation My favourite ‘take home’ snack from the World has to be Minnie’s Bake Shop cookies. We have cookies in the UK but NOTHING the size of these! I can’t even manage to finish one in one sitting, there’s so much chocolate and doughy goodness! Whether they are a treat for yourself or brought home for a friend these cookies will be adored by anyone with a sweet tooth, and because they’re individually wrapped, they travel well…just make sure they don’t take you over your luggage weight limit!

So, what do YOU think?  Do YOU have a snack you sneak away into the suitcase home as a way of savoring The Magic a bit longer?  Tell us about it in the comments section below!

by Joe Kolinsky

After I finished the 2012 Walt Disney World Marathon I waddled very slowly back through Epcot, around the Boardwalk to my room at the Beach Club.  I was one gigantic ache.  Nothing – and I mean nothing – about me felt good physically.  There was one thing that offset the pain, and that was the mental victory I earned.  It wasn’t pretty, but I finished 26.2 miles with hardly any sleep, very little fuel in my tank and a complete lack of preparation.  I knew that my lack of careful planning was evidence of the clear fact that I have a ton to learn.

So here are some quick takeaways for those of you that are planning to run the Walt Disney World Marathon in the future:

1) Time your sleep properly.  I know that sounds simple….but with this marathon, it’s not.  And here’s why: buses begin to run from the Disney resorts at 3am to bring runners to the starting line.  This means that alarm clocks are ringing all over on-property resorts beginning at around 2am.  Nope- that’s not a typo.  2…a….m.  That means, in order to get a decent account of sleep, you need to hit the hay by 7pm.  At the latest.  AT WALT DISNEY WORLD.  How hard it THAT???  I mean COME ON!!  Extra magic hours, Illuminations, fireworks, Fantasmic – tons of reasons to stay up late and stay on your feet.  Somehow, you have to resist the temptation to ride Space Mountain at 10pm.

2)Time your meals properly. I know – another easy thing to do…or so it seems.  Trying to get to bed by 7pm on a Saturday evening at Walt Disney World is difficult enough. But try eating dinner at 4-5pm the evening (or late afternoon?) before race day.  Oy.  But 4-5pm for dinner is about the right timing to follow in order to be able to get a good night’s sleep and ready to go at 3am.  Oy.  I called Dominos at 8pm…and the rest is history.

3)Have an actual game plan for race day.  Let me clarify: have an actual game plan that is more than just “make sure my iPhone is fully charged so that I can take pictures all morning”.  Tried that game plan, and it – for a lack of a better term – stunk.  Review the course map before race day and picture yourself running it.  Establish goals or targets in your head that you will run to.  Prepare yourself mentally for the 26.2 mile stress test.

Have a game plan.  Get to sleep on time.  Time your meals properly.  Three tiny recommendations to help you succeed during your attempt at the most magical 26.2 you’ll ever run.   Until next time!  Make sure you double-knot your shoe laces, get out there and get moving!

A self-proclaimed Disney nerd, Joe Kolinsky also is a running enthusiast.  He has completed over 10 marathons and run 5 Disney races (including the 2009 Goofy Challenge).  When he is not running or dreaming of his next Disney vacation, Joe spends his spare time being a Dad and writing.  (You can follow his writings in his blog, entitled “Built for Comfort, Not Speed” at http://backofthepacker.wordpress.com/)

by Josh Taylor

During Walt Disney World’s early days, the Disney Company wanted to keep people on the World’s property instead of staying in a cheap motel just outside Orlando. They had struggled with cheap motels and trashy streets at Disneyland and they didn’t want that again, so when Walt Disney went to purchase land in Florida, he bought tons of land knowing he would build several hotels that would suit a Disney theme park. By the time Walt Disney World was being built, the plan was to have several major themed hotels just a Monorail jump away from the Magic Kingdom. The Contemporary was branded as the “flagship” hotel and the Polynesian Village was the next in line on the Monorail line; however, that was just phase one and there were several other hotels to follow that would sit along the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake. The next in line to be built was The Asian Resort.

The Asian Resort was to sit in between the Polynesian Village and the Magic Kingdom in the same spot that is now occupied by the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. In fact, that land was purposefully held for several years to be occupied by the Asian Resort and it would become the third major Disney resort on property, and what a beautiful hotel it could have been. Imagine a hotel sitting out on the lake from the shore line with the center tower rising 160 feet high while the hotel room wings lay out over the lake giving at least half of the rooms lake views and some rooms Magic Kingdom views. All of this connected to the Monorail for easy access to the Magic Kingdom as well as other hotels on the Seven Seas Lagoon loop.

Much like the Contemporary Hotel’s Top of the World lounge/restaurant/supper club/whatever you want to call it, the Asian Resort was to have a fine dining restaurant and entertainment club at the top of the center tower. The club would have a Royal Thai theme, much like the rest of the resort, and the entertainment and food would rely heavily on Asian culture.

To accompany the new Asian Resort, there would also be a convention center. The convention center would be located underneath the main lobby, suggesting the same use of space that was used at the Magic Kingdom, making the second level the main level and the lower level much more private and for conventioners and staff only.

Mentioning the main level, this floor, most likely featuring the lobby, was to also have a recreation center and swimming pool (no surprise there) as well as other dining and entertainment options. Disney even went as far as to advertise the resort in brochures and guide maps, even showing a road, Asian Way, that led down to the Polynesian and up to the Magic Kingdom.

So what happened to this planned resort? Obviously Disney Imagineers had made it quite far into the planning process. The answer simply comes down to supply and demand. During the 1970s, when the U.S. had energy crises, hotel stays saw a decline in the Orlando area and across the States. That included not just the Disney resorts but even some of the cheaper off property hotels and motels. If Disney isn’t going to make money on a property they had put tons of money into, then why bother building another resort at all. The plans were put on hold for several years, and Asian Way was still left without a resort at its end.

By the mid 1980s, the economic stage across the U.S. had changed and the Disney resorts saw a boom in occupancy. This brought the company to plan for more hotels and resorts on their property. When the plot of land reserved for the Asian Resort was brought up, it was decided that another hotel in the works would fit well in that spot. The Grand Floridian Resort Hotel and Spa opened in 1988 in that plot of land sitting out on the Seven Seas Lagoon which meant that the Asian Resort had no place to call home.

Will the Asian Resort ever be built? Anything is possible, but as it sits on the shelf and other new ideas emerge at Disney Imagineering, one has to wonder if the Asian Resort designs will ever be dusted off and added to list over Deluxe Resorts at Walt Disney World. In my personal opinion, with the opening of Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary, I see no reason why Bay Lake couldn’t be used as yet another Monorail loop with several resorts attached to it. Make the connection at Magic Kingdom for both loops and make the Asian Resort one of the hot properties on that lake. Disney Vacation Club condos? Maybe, but even if it was a smaller resort geared to a cheaper price tag audience, I think the Asian theme is popular enough in this day and age to sell out its rooms.

Give your thoughts on this weeks topic. Would you like to see the Asian Resort come to life? Would you prefer it over the Grand Floridian or would you rather see it somewhere else on Disney property? Let me know your thoughts this week!

Josh Taylor is a 26-year-old fan of Disney Parks. He has become a travel agent for friend and family lookig to go to a Disney Resort. As a historian of the company, he also has his own blog at www.disneyparkhistory.wordpress.com

WDW Radio is celebrating it’s 5-Year Anniversary on Saturday, February 11, 2012, and we want YOU to be there!

Following our 5-Hour Adventure in the Magic Kingdom (You can watch it LIVE “In The Box”), we’re going to celebrate at BabyCakes NYC in Downtown Disney during our Meet of the Month!

Learn more about our 5 Year Anniversary event, limited edition pins, and how you can WIN a 6-Day Walt Disney World Vacation for 4 with Dining! Click here for more information

Join us from 4:30-6:00pm to meet old friends and new! And of course, it wouldn’t be a party without desserts, so courtesy of BabyCakes NYC, everyone who attends will get a complimentary dessert. Tickets are required to receive your free dessert, but they’re FREE! (limit one per person)

All you need to do is fill out the simple registration form below, and print out your ticket! Please remember that you MUST have a ticket to receive your complimentary dessert, but the Meet is open to anyone and everyone! Bring the whole family! Never been to a meet before? That’s OK – you’re going to be among friends!

THANK YOU for what has been an incredible five years of WDW Radio, and here’s to the future… and YOU!!

- Lou Mongello

HGTV Designer John Gidding Appears March 9-11

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -The largest-ever Disney front-entrance topiary and a stellar cast of HGTV design celebrities boost the flower power at the 19^th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival presented by HGTV March 7-May 20 at Walt Disney World Resort.  Here’s a sneak peek of this year’s festival news:

• Disney’s gardening magic goes a long way when an eight-foot-tall floral Sorcerer Mickey topiary holds court in front of the park’s iconic Spaceship Earth.  Standing atop a 12-foot-tall floral mountain cliff, Sorcerer Mickey directs a riot of color in the manicured shapes of dancing broomsticks, buckets, mushrooms, hippos, alligators and elephants straight from the classic Disney film, “Fantasia.” The scene pops with pink geraniums, white poppies, violet petunias, blue delphiniums and pansies.
• Twice daily each Friday through Sunday of the festival, HGTV designers and hosts share their insights on landscapes and design with Festival Center audiences.  John Gidding of “Curb Appeal: The Block” kicks off the series March 9-11 with curb-appeal design tips for homeowners.
• Music fills each festival weekend when pop music hitmakers of the 1960s and ’70s rule the America Gardens Theatre stage with performances of their greatest songs.  Jose Feliciano ignites the Flower Power concert series March 9-11 with his treasure trove of tunes.  Two new festival acts are in store:  Chuck Negron formerly of Three Dog Night (April 27-29) and The Orchestra featuring former members of ELO and ELO Part II (May 4-6).

The front-entrance floral spectacle will welcome guests to a festival packed with new gardens and displays, featured speakers and hands-on fun for all ages, including daily gardening workshops with take-home projects for all who participate.

Thirty million blooms, 240 floating mini-gardens on two ponds, 700 container gardens of flowers, herbs, plants and vegetables, dozens of Disney character topiaries, 30 “flower towers” of impatiens and sweeping beds of original floral designs create a new tapestry of brilliant color across the 260-acre Epcot landscape.  It takes more than one year and 400 Walt Disney World horticulturists to plan and prepare for the 75-day festival.

Halfway through the festival, Disney gardeners remove the cold-hardy blossoms that thrive in March and early April to plant a new crop of flowers that flourish in spring’s warmer temperatures.  And throughout the event, dozens of gardening experts meet guests daily with fresh landscape ideas for 2012.  Daily workshops at the Festival Center let guests dig into projects they can take home at the end of the day.

Don’t Miss!

• The Festival Center- Guests can shop for festival merchandise, attend demonstrations and get ideas and tips from master gardeners.  In Future World between Universe of Energy and Mission:SPACE.
• Disney Gardening at Home presentations - Disney horticulturists and local experts like Robert Bowden of Harry P. Leu Gardens will share gardening tips and lead guests in a hands-on, take-home activity. At the Festival Center.
• Special Festival Weekend Celebrations - An Art in the Garden celebration of plein air artists is scheduled March 23-25; a Disney’s Animal Kingdom Specialists weekend presents indigenous insects that are part of our world; a Florida Federation of Garden Clubs gathering will be April 27-29; and a Fresh from Florida Farmer’s Market salute is slated for May 4-6.
• Bambi’s Butterfly House, three times the size of the festival’s original, is a-flutter with multiple species of brilliant butterflies.  At Imagination Walkway by Innoventions West.
• Pixie Hollow Fairy Garden - Fabulous Disney fairy topiaries alight to greet young fans who enter this whimsical garden designed with play structures for children ages 2-5.  At the Test Track Walkway.
• The HGTV Designers Stage presents HGTV celebrities each Friday through Sunday and nationally recognized garden personalities Monday through Thursday.  At the Festival Center.
• Flower Power concert series welcomes back 20^th century pop favorites this year when Chubby Checker and The Wildcats, Paul Revere & The Raiders, Davy Jones and eight other bands rock the America Gardens Theatre with their timeless tunes.  Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Performers and appearance dates subject to change.

More information about the 19th annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is available by calling 407/W-DISNEY (934-7639) or by visiting disneyworld.com/flower.  The festival, including all gardening programs and exhibits, is included in regular Epcot admission.

Efficient Parenting Counsel on Teens

by Blake Taylor

“Disneyland will never be completed.  It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.”

This quote was once said by Walt Disney and has become somewhat of a mantra for all Disney theme parks worldwide.  Unlike his films, what Walt loved so much about Disneyland was that it could continually be tweaked and changed, bringing new magic to Guests as trends changed, as technology increased, and as his brilliant Imagineers became more experienced storytellers.

This remains true for all the Disney parks; they are always constantly in a state of change, full of promising potential on the horizon.  This has never been truer than today, when we have Radiator Springs and a 1920’s-era Hollywood awaiting us at California Adventure this summer, and the ambitious New Fantasyland opening at the Magic Kingdom in phases starting in just a few months.  And then there’s that whole Avatar thing (I digress…).  Especially these days, the name of the game is not just creating attractions themselves, but creating entire environments to surround such new attractions, making Guests feel as if they have actually stepped into the worlds of their favorite characters and stories.

It’s that strong connection that many families have for these characters that allows them to come alive in the parks each and every day, and what truly keeps the second half of that Walt Disney quote relevant: there’s still plenty imagination left.  It’s in the hearts of Disney’s Guests.

Around Christmastime I’m always reminded of just how nostalgic many teens get about some of their family’s Christmas traditions.  This year (in addition to finding out that Santa in Frosty the Snowman is voiced by Paul Frees, the Haunted Mansion’s Ghost Host…that was a jaw-dropper!), I was especially reminded of the similarly strong sentiment that many teens associate with their Disney memories.

I’m always pleasantly surprised when peers return from Disney trips and can’t stop talking about how much they loved their vacation.  Other than Phineas and Ferb, not much Disney discussion is conversed throughout my high school’s hallways, so I never get tired of hearing someone go on and on about their firsthand Disney experience.  I’m not saying that Walt Disney World has a bad rep amongst teens—it most certainly does not.  From what I’ve observed, though, students do look forward to going to Disney, but they don’t anticipate just how special of a place it is until they get there.  They’re excited to go, but they come back loving it so much more than they thought they would.  It’s a place that evokes a sense of childlike wonder, innocence, and joy.  It allows anyone, no matter their age, to return to the person they once were as a child, and to be enthralled in the stories and characters they were once so fond of.

That’s why, when taking teenagers to Walt Disney World, it’s important to not only cater to activities that are probably more teen-centric than others (like Tower of Terror or Expedition Everest), but to also make room for the experiences you might not think of right off the bat.  Wishes.  Fantasmic.  Mickey’s PhilharMagic.  The 3 o’clock parade.  All those experiences that herald that same sense of enthrallment into this ethereal place where fantasy can, and does, become real.  It’s these types of opportunities that prompt the most tangible windows into past memories, and the ones that allow you to create most vivid new memories.  We enjoy it more than we let on.

Blake is a high-school student who has been surrounded by Disney literally since birth, having had a Mickey mobile in his crib.  Blake enjoys helping peers plan WDW vacations and writing for his Disney blog, BlakeOnline.com.

Please welcome to the blog Nathaniel R. Ehlers (Nathan).   Nathan is the father to a daughter, Natalie (she shares the Magic Kingdom & Epcot’s Birthdays!)  He holds a degree in Network Design and Administration.  A huge Disney fan, his favorite Disney movies include Beauty & the Beast, Pirates of the Caribbean, Toy Story Series, and Hercules.  He is motivated by songs like,  “I Can Go The Distance” (Hercules) and “Almost There” (Princess & the Frog).

Welcome, Nathan!

“I only hope that we don’t lose sight of one thing – that it was all started by a mouse”

-Walter Elias Disney

When you think about it, those legendary words have such irony…such character…such soul. Something as small as a teeny tiny mouse popped out of the head of a man who forever we follow now, push to be just like…  We crave just to live the Disney lifestyle and bring just an ounce of the same Magic that Walt has brought to millions if not billions of people worldwide.

Walter Elias Disney is a legend for the ages, a man who has and continues to leave an impact on any fan of Disney and the magic it entails. While there can never be enough things said about Walt, I must move on to the purpose of this article.

Hidden Mickeys…one of the most amazing well-known (yet easily over looked) adventures at Walt Disney World. There is nothing like running across one on your own or even using a guide to find and discover your favorites. While I unfortunately have not been able to find that many yet in the parks, I have thoroughly enjoyed the ones that I have found…but then it hit me, what about when you are not at Walt Disney World?

My goal with this topic is that I would like to create a series of Hidden Mickey discussions and topics related to finding the Hidden Mickey in your everyday life! I have seen and heard many people, shows and articles speaking of implementing “Hidden Mickeys” into many things. This can include such items as Weddings, your home, anything really! Additionally, I have discovered that the thrill and chase of finding Hidden Mickeys anywhere or anytime is a big past time of mine. A person could be walking down the street and see pebbles on the sidewalk that form the iconic mouse’s resemblance to seeing it in a chip in your windshield. The possibilities are endless and seem to prove that the magic of Walt Disney literally is everywhere!

These tiny joys throughout the day, the week or even the month can compound and turn the worst day ever into something hopeful, motivational even! Running across these miraculous and meticulously placed grins of belief can push you to the next day in a positive way. Like Lou Mongello constantly reminds us about pursuing our passions NOW, not later, these Hidden Mickeys are also a spark and a treasure in that adventure to find your inner passion. I have many hobbies and dreams that I want to pursue and already do, but not until recently did I discover my true inner passion that has been there all along…Disney. Any form of it, books, music, movies, television, games, you name it!

A recent trip to Walt Disney World in for my daughter’s 5^th birthday on October 1^st (which is also a shared birthday of Magic Kingdom and Epcot!) was a great way to bring her into the true magic of Disney for her first visit and also celebrate 40 years of the Magic Kingdom. This also ended up being the final piece of the puzzle that clicked together to make me fully locate my passion. We arrived on October 1^st after driving over 20 hours (stops included) from Saint Louis to Lake Buena Vista and I instantly saw the magic appear in Natalie’s eyes, ready to be taken away by the magic and fantasy that is Disney.

I have many happy memories from the three times I have been able to visit Walt Disney World, but my favorite Hidden Mickey has to be from this trip, when on the bus ride to Magic Kingdom on October 1^st from our Resort, Natalie looks at my girlfriend Alisha and I and very magically states in her Belle ensemble, “I cannot believe it guys….all my dreams are finally about to come true!!”. Fighting back tears at one of the sweetest, happiest things I have ever heard…that moment and the many more that night cascaded to the realization that this is what I was meant to be and do.

I have listened to Lou Mongello on WDW Radio for years now, never really interacting with it…just tuning in and “kicking back” to escape to “A Whole New World” through the eyes of a man much like Walt himself. It is Walt and Lou’s passion and ideals combined with many other things that made me realize that I want to be an integral part of Disney.  Not just Disney, but Walt Disney World and all that it stands for. I want my ideas, passion and notions to take flight and ensure the continuity of that same magic that came from a precious five-year-old child’s lips and dreams. I want to be a part of what makes boys and girls freeze up with overwhelming bewilderment that their favorite Princess such as Belle or their Hero such as Captain Jack Sparrow is standing right in front of them interacting and giving them memories to last a lifetime. I dream to become an Imagineer, continuing the traditions that Walt Disney has created as an immovable foundation to the dreams of an entire world.

Enough about me though… If I may, I would like to turn this topic to you, the reader, and hear your views and thoughts about what daily items in your life are your Hidden Mickeys. What memories from your Disney adventures stand out in this manner? What motivates you to push on everyday and pursue your dreams? What are your motivators, the things that make you tick and push through the day with a grin?

I hope to at least once a month turn in a new article towards this expanding series and include some thoughts and Hidden Mickeys I run across of my own, but also give the readers a chance to have their motivations read and Hidden Mickeys seen as well! I believe that this is a fun way to get your ideas and thoughts out there to other Disney fanatics who might be going through similar situations like you and could use a Hidden Mickey or two in their life. I am very excited about this idea which I have had in my head for a long time now, and am hoping for it to be a big success, or at the very least a main central point for everyone to gather their Hidden Mickeys at for all to enjoy!

Remember…it doesn’t matter what you are doing in order to find a Hidden Mickey, it could be right under your very nose without even realizing it….

Whether you are browsing around in online stores….

Or drawing on a wintery vehicle…

Or decorating and preparing for the holidays …

Reaching into your pocket and creating your own…

Getting a family picture…

As you can see, finding Hidden Mickeys can be such a fun thing to do! They can be anywhere or anytime, legit or having holiday fun with gift paper, these simple yet effective signs can be a blessing to obtain. Now though, I am very interested to hear from you!

For this task to happen, I have set up an email account dedicated to this article and other series’ that I work on. You can reach this at Nathaniel.Ehlers.WDWRadio@gmail.com. Please feel free to email me your thoughts, your Hidden Mickeys that you snap a photo of, your inspirations, or anything else to contribute to this. Also, please include your name and location with it if you would like to claim credit for it on the posted article. If you are not comfortable with that information, a screen name from the WDW Forums or other Alias (as long as it is proper) can be used too so you stand out!

I hope that you have enjoyed reading my first step into the WDW Radio community, and I really hope to hear from all of you soon! Have a Magical Week!