by Blake Taylor

You just never know when a small sampling of Disney is going to hit you right smack in the face. You might be minding your own business, going about your day, and then—BAM! Smack! Shamwow! It finds you.

We already talked about Disney sounds, and now it’s time to delve into a different sense, one that I think we’ll have fun with: smells.

Walt Disney World is full of smells, whether manufactured by Imagineers (like the aroma of chocolate chip cookies being pumped onto Main Street) or simply natural (something smelling like it smells simply because it does, like the Test Track tires). There are times when scents are noticeable enough to stop and enjoy them, but more often than not, we go about our vacation without thinking much of the smells around us. They play a part in the overall experience for sure, but their efficiency rests on seeming so part of the atmosphere that we don’t notice them. It’s not until we get home and come across something ELSE that has the same smell that we really pause, wrack our brains to figure out where we know it from, and then realize—HEY! That’s a Disney smell!

Sometimes it’s easy. Upon entering a local gold mine tour, the smell of the cave instantly transported me to the watery caverns of Pirates of the Caribbean. Other times, it gets a bit tricky. I walked through a nearby courtyard multiple times before being able to place its smell to the rustic ruggedness of Frontierland (it was finally a live banjo player that got me the connection).

And then there are those other smells. The ones that you discover and then return to repeatedly so as to get a temporary Disney fix. I frequently go out of my way to walk through a hallway that has the distinctive scent of the It’s a Small World queue, and I do the same for my school’s solarium, which smells of the inside of The Land pavilion (…yes, be jealous!). And don’t even get me started on the orange Febreeze that channels Soarin’.

What about you? Do you ever come across a Disney smell?? What memory does it evoke for you?

If you want to revisit Lou’s discussion of Disney smells, check out WDW Radio Show #75, when Lou and Tim Foster discuss the Top 10 Smells of Walt Disney World!

Thank you to everyone who shared your stories to celebrate Animal Kingdom’s 15^th birthday! The randomly selected winner of a WDW Radio Mystery Ticket is Lindsey Davis. Congrats, Lindsey! Everyone else, stay tuned for future opportunities here on the blog to win an ever-elusive Mystery Ticket.

Blake is a college student focusing on Creative Writing and Media Studies. He enjoys making his family of six watch the parade on Main Street and then sprint to Frontierland in time to see it again. You can follow Blake’s random Disney ramblings on Twitter at @blakeonline, or at BlakeOnline.com.

The post Finding Disney: Hidden Disney Smells appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

by Don Myers

Spring is in full swing at the Vacation Kingdom of the World, so let’s dive right into the latest edition of the WDW Radio Newswire…..

Let’s kickoff this edition of the Newswire with some exciting news out of Epcot. For this newsbit, we venture into World Showcase and make our way over to the Morocco pavilion. Last week it was announced that a brand new restaurant will be coming to Morocco. The dining location will be known as “Spice Road Table” and will feature both indoor and outdoor seating. The announcement was made on Monday April 1st, and when guests arrived at the park the next morning (Tues April 2nd), construction walls had already risen up around the site of the future dining spot. There’s no word yet on an official opening date for Spice Road Table, but the restaurant is expected to be open for business by the end of 2013.

For more Epcot news, let’s make our way over to Future World now. Back in the November 21st edition of the Newswire, I reported that Fountain View Ice Cream would be closing for transformation into a Starbucks location this spring. Well, the start date for construction is upon us, as Fountain View has officially closed up shop as of Monday April 8th. This is slated to be about a four month closure, as the Epcot Starbucks is scheduled to open up for business this August.

Time to board the monorail and travel over to Magic Kingdom now for some news on an upcoming refurbishment. For this one, we journey over the bridge to Adventureland, where a brief closure has recently been scheduled for Pirates of the Caribbean. The attraction is slated to shut down on Monday June 17th, and will re-open four days later on Friday June 21st.

Now it’s time to park-hop over to Hollywood Studios now, as another celebrity has been confirmed for Star Wars Weekends. In the March 19th edition of the Newswire, I reported that Ray Park and Warwick Davis would be on-hand for festivities later this year. Well, you can add Billy Dee Williams to the list of confirmed participants, as he will be appearing during Weekend IV  (June 7th-9th). Williams brought the character of Lando Calrissian to life in Episodes V and VI.

For our final bit of news, we make our way over to WDW’s Flagship Resort: Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. The Grand Floridian’s Courtyard Pool opened back up last week after a lengthy refurb of over six months. The pool closed down back in September, and was originally scheduled to re-open in December before plans got pushed back to late March. But the pool is officially open now, and the addition of a zero-entry side has completely transformed the entire appearance of the area.

Well, that’s gonna do it for today’s update. But before we call it a wrap, let’s take a look at the results of our previous poll. The question was:

What is your favorite Character Meal at the Resorts?

. Best Friend’s Breakfast at ‘Ohana- Disney’s Polynesian Resort

. Chef Mickey’s- Disney’s Contemporary Resort

. Supercalifragilistic Breakfast- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

. Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

. The Beach Club Breakfast Buffet- Disney’s Beach Club Resort

. Character Dining at the Garden Grove- Walt Disney World Swan Resort

And the winner is……

Chef Mickey’s with 45% of the votes! The Best Friends Breakfast at ‘Ohana finished second with 27%, and Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner rounded out the Top 3 with 11%. Once again, a big thank you to everyone that took the time to vote!

Now onto this week’s question:

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.

The post WDW Radio Newswire: New Restaurant Coming To Epcot’s Morocco Pavilion And World Showcase POLL appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Hello and welcome to The WDW Radio Show – Your Walt Disney World Information Station. I am your host, Lou Mongello, and this is show #318 for the week of March 31, 2013

I’ll open up the Inbox the week and answer your listener questions about everything Walt Disney World, from Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom to what to do after a Disney Cruise, crowd levels, how to save money at Walt Disney World, efficient transportation options, things to do for kids and teens, Pirates in the parks and resorts, Fantasmic! and more.

I’ll have the answer to our last Walt Disney World Trivia Question of the Week, and pose a new challenge for your chance to win a Disney prize package.

Stay tuned for additional information and announcements before I play more of your voicemails at the end of the show. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this week’s episode of the WDW Radio Show.

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

- Lou Mongello

Information and Links from This Week’s Show

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: When is YOUR favorite time of year to visit Walt Disney World? Leave your answer in the comments section below!

• Listen to this week’s episode for the Walt Disney World Trivia Question of the Week for a chance to win a Disney prize package!
• Disney Meets and WDW Radio Meets of the Month in Walt Disney World – Get dates and locations on our Events page
• Watch & chat during our LIVE WDW NewsCast Wednesdays at 7:30pm ET at WDWRadioLIVE.com
• For more videos, subscribe to our WDW Radio channel on YouTube or the show in iTunes
• Get Celebrations Magazine on your iPad/iPhone in iTunes App Store

The post WDW Radio # 318 – Listener Email: Save Money at Walt Disney World, Sorcerers, Pirates & More appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

The first version of Pirates of the Caribbean opened in Disneyland in 1967 and was the final attraction overseen by Walt Disney before his death in December 1966. Disney’s original concept for the attraction was to feature a walk-through wax museum of pirates and their history and folklore; however this concept soon evolved into the water-based attraction that debuted in California to great success. Despite its popularity in Disneyland, Pirates of the Caribbean was almost never built in Disney World. Imagineers believed that guests in central Florida would not be interested in the ride as they were already so close in proximity to the Caribbean. However, when the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, almost immediately guests began asking where the famed pirate themed ride was located. Imagineers quickly realized that the attraction was in demand and the swashbuckling pirates made their second home in central Florida on December 15, 1973, exactly seven years after Walt Disney’s death.

Since the attraction was added after the original opening of the park, Imagineers had to be creative in how to fit the very large show building in an area of Adventureland that was already developed. The main issue concerned the Walt Disney World Railroad tracks which are located all along the perimeter of the park. The final solution was to work around (or under) the tracks- the small drop during the attraction is actually to have guests move underneath the railroad tracks and be able to access the main show building. Once the issue of fitting the attraction was solved, attention to detail became the focus of the attraction. One of the finest examples of this is the fort in which the attraction is located. The fort is modeled after the Castillo del Morro in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the nearby tower which now hosts a skeleton looking to the horizon is aptly named the Torre de Cielo, or Sky Tower. As soon as you catch a glimpse of the impressive fort, you immediately realize that you are about to enter into a serious adventure through the Caribbean with these mischievous pirates!

As you move through the entrance of the fort, you will notice that the queue for the attraction has two options: left or right. As a general rule of thumb, anytime a queue splits I tend to take the left hand side as most people are generally pulled towards the right, making that half slightly more crowded. This rule doesn’t always work, but sometimes you can save yourself a few minutes of waiting by being conscious of your choice. In terms of Pirates of the Caribbean, I find that the left hand side of the queue does tend to be shorter as the right hand queue has to cross over the loading bay, adding distance and thus wait time. The most important part of the queue, as with any attraction, is to be aware of your surroundings while waiting and to take in all of the great detail that has been created by the Imagineers. You will find canons, cannonballs, rifles, barrels of gunpowder, and many other props that truly look as though they were unloaded off of a pirate ship that very morning.

One of my favorite details in all of Pirates of the Caribbean resides in the queue and was thought up by Imagineer Marc Davis. Davis came up with the idea to have two pirate skeletons forever locked in an endless game of chess. He researched former champion chess matches and found a game that was ultimately called a tie as there were no further possible moves. Once the board was set up to match the results of that game, the pirates have been residing over the board endlessly looking for their next move. During a refurbishment the chess board was moved, resulting in a near crisis. At first Imagineers could not figure out how to put the board back so that the pieces were properly placed preventing any further moves. Eventually, someone found an original sketch of what the board was supposed to look like on the back of one of Davis’ other sketches. Be sure to look through all the barred windows along the queue to find this endless chess game!

As you approach the loading dock, you will begin to hear the first notes of “Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate’s Life for Me” written by F.X. Atencio who also created the classic Haunted Mansion song “Grim Grinning Ghosts.” It is Atencio’s voice that can be heard warning “dead men tell no tales” ominously in the cave sequence of the attraction. In the same cave scene, mermaids from the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie were added in the fall of 2012. They can be heard singing a ghostly tune, seen swimming in the waters on either side of the boat, and also found in skeleton form on the beach. While I was at first skeptical about this addition, the mermaids do look and sound great and blend in really well with the original scene.

As you come out of the drop sequence and enter into the main show building, you will catch your first glimpses of Captain Jack Sparrow and Captain Barbossa from the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise which were added in 2006. It’s great to see how a classic attraction influenced a successful film franchise which in turn influenced minor changes and additions to the original attraction. As you move through the attraction, look for the auction scene where crafty pirates are auctioning women for gold. Unfortunately most of the pirates seem preoccupied with the beautiful redhead located a few women down the line, prompting the classic line “we wants the redhead!” One of the greatest details of the entire attraction comes when one of the pirates on the auctioning side fires his gun leading to a sign on the opposite side of the scene to make a pinging noise and swing back and forth. Also, does the auctioneer’s voice sound familiar to you? He is voiced by Paul Frees, who also loaned his vocal talents as the Ghost Host in the Haunted Mansion. His auctioneer character is so important to the attraction that if that one animatronic is not functioning properly, the entire attraction “goes 101” and closes until the auctioneer is back up and running.

Moving further into the attraction be sure to look for a pirate sitting on an overpass with his leg hanging down over your ride vehicle. The parrot perched with him is none other than Peg Legged Pete who used to sit at the main entrance of the attraction and beckon guests inside. Although he is silent now, it is a great homage to all the years he spent attracting guests that he is located inside of the attraction. In the same room, check out the fires burning behind the buildings. Although this effect is created by clever lighting and special effects, it looks so real that the fire marshal who rode for an inspection before the attraction’s opening thought the flames were real!

As your boat moves past the infamous jail scene where pirates are trying to lure the key holding dog to release them, you enter into the treasure room where there are a few great details to take in. First be sure to take note of how amazing the animatronic of Jack Sparrow is. As any fan of the Pirates movies will know, Johnny Depp created quite the unique character in Jack Sparrow featuring many nuances of speech and movement. This animatronic beautifully captures the spirit of Jack Sparrow. Surrounding the treasure room, look for several locks which seem to resemble a certain famous mouse. Finally look for a crest featuring the name “Marco Daviso,” a clever stamp of workmanship left by Marc Davis to commemorate his contributions to the attraction.

Even as you are exiting your ride vehicle and heading up the moving ramp to the gift shop, there are still small details all around you. Note the flickering lights mounted on the walls, and if you look carefully at the moving ramp there appears to be footprints with a peg leg. As you exit back into Adventureland, you are sure to be humming “Yo Ho Yo Ho” and wanting to return to the attraction to sail with these pirates again and again.

What is your favorite part of Pirates of the Caribbean? Do you love the small attention to detail located throughout the ride? Let me know in the comments below, I would love to hear from you!

Caitlin Corsello was born and raised in New York. She graduated from Adelphi University with a Masters in Mental Health Counseling in 2012. Her love for Disney started as an infant and has continued to grow with family vacations to Disney parks almost every year since. She holds a particular interest in WDW’s parks and attractions, never passing up an opportunity to visit. She looks forward to continuing to explore and learn about all things Disney and to share that passion with readers.

The post Disney From The Twenty-Something: Pirates of the Caribbean appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

This week’s topic is the plunge during the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.  After the scene with the pirates on the beach and a skeleton at the helm of a ship, there is a slight 14 foot high drop that takes you to the world of Captain Jack Sparrow and other pirates.  What is the actual reason that the drop is located in this specific spot?

Story 1

The Walt Disney World Railroad is a fun way to get around Magic Kingdom.  Whether it’s for scenic purposes or to get from one area to another, everybody should ride the railroad at least once.  Since the Walt Disney World Railroad was an opening day attraction, its tracks were already in place when the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction was added to the park.  At one point during the train ride, the tracks go over the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction.  This point is where the Pirates of the Caribbean drop is located.  Imagineers had to add the drop to move the guests and boats below the train tracks.  In fact, the main part of the ride takes place in a large building beyond the train tracks.

Story 2

The drop was placed as a way to transport you to the land of pirates.  You start off in a dark creepy place before you “drop” into reality.  The beginning of the ride was supposed to take place in your imagination, and this is Disney’s way of crashing you down into the scary reality of the Caribbean and immersing you into the action (literally).

Story 3

Photos set memories in stone for years to come and allow us to relive the memories of happy moments all over again.  Many thrill attractions have cameras at the moments that catch you off guard and capture your facial expression.  Some of these are placed during drops, sudden launches, or anywhere with a surprise.  Pirates of the Caribbean was intended to be Disney’s first non-thrill attraction with a camera which would allow people who don’t like thrill rides to get that on-ride photo.  The 14 foot high drop was placed inside Pirates to catch the surprised look on people’s faces.  When they finished building the attraction, it was decided at the last minute to not install the camera because the flash would interrupt the flow of the attraction.

Story 4

Originally there was no plan to include Pirates of the Caribbean at Walt Disney World due to its proximity to the Caribbean.  That soon changed when the attraction in Disneyland was advertised heavily and opened to rave reviews. Guests came to Walt Disney World looking for the Pirate adventure.  It was decided that Disney would add the ride in Florida to closely replicate its sister in California.  The Pirates of the Caribbean ride in Disneyland contains two plunges; however, due to a very high water table, the attraction in Walt Disney World was only able to accommodate one 14 foot drop.

________________________________________________________________________

Okay, Disney fans, which one of these stories is the real reason that there is a sudden drop in Pirates of the Caribbean?  Let me know which you think is correct (or if you prefer, which ones are not) below.  Remember, I’m keeping score if you’re the competitive type!

See ya REAL soon!
~Makena

Quote of the week:  “Hmm!  Teenagers.  They think they know everything.  You give them an inch and they swim all over you!”  – Sebastian the Crab, The Little Mermaid

Makena is a 14 year old high school student who spends much of her free time researching Disney. She enjoys sharing Disney facts and even plans Walt Disney World vacations (including searches for secrets and Hidden Mickeys) for friends and family. Makena began blogging for WDW Radio in December 2011.

The post To Tell the Truth … The Pirates of the Caribbean and its Plunge: An Interactive Game appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

by Don Myers

The witching hour has finally passed, as Halloween is now in the rear view mirror. That means it’s full steam ahead into the Holiday Season…time to start thinking about turkeys and trees! And if it’s the Holiday Season, you know the parks and resorts are overflowing with a plethora of newsbits to report. So let’s waste no further time and dive right in to the latest edition of the WDW Radio Newswire…….

We begin this edition of the Newswire inside Magic Kingdom, or more specifically, Adventureland. It’s here where one of the park’s most beloved attractions, Pirates of the Caribbean, recently saw a few minor additions introduced into the show sequence. Playing off elements from the franchise’s fourth film: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, the attraction now features several mermaid references. There is now a skeleton of a mermaid washed up on the beach, and the water ripples and splashes in various places, insinuating there are playful mermaids swimming about. But your sight isn’t the only sense stimulated, as you can also hear the ominous sounds of a singing mermaid. But don’t get confused…this is definitely not Ariel! One final element was also introduced, and this one plays off a similar feature that was previously brought to the attraction back in 2006. Projectors are now in place to give off the effect that there are actually mermaids swimming around the boats! This use of projectors first debuted in the summer of 2006 when the image of Davy Jones first appeared in the mist. It was revised again in 2011 when Captain Blackbeard’s image was brought in as a replacement. When you combine all the new features together, you really get some pretty clever visual effects at the attraction. In addition, no major elements of the classic show were compromised with these introductions. So really, you get a “win-win” situation here as far as I’m concerned. What do you think about it? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section!

Time to park hop over to Animal Kingdom now, where there’s some news to report on Kilimanjaro Safaris. Back in the February 21st edition of the Newswire, I reported that the area containing the attraction’s finale scene was being completely revamped, and would thus result in the removal of Little Red. Well, the baby Audio-Animatronic elephant was indeed removed from the area in the spring, and the section of savanna has undergone quite a transformation. The modifications to the savanna were recently completed, and the new occupants have finally moved in, as the area is now home to a group of plains zebras.

Let’s stop by the water parks now for some news on Typhoon Lagoon. Last week the lagoon closed up shop for a lengthy refurbishment. However this is nothing new for Typhoon Lagoon, as the park always sees a period of downtime at this time of year. The park is slated for a January 6th re-opening, which will put its total closure time at just over two months. And for those of you who may be wondering, when Typhoon Lagoon opens back up on Sunday January 6th, WDW’s other water park, Blizzard Beach, will be closing down for its annual refurb.

Our final stop on today’s adventure takes us to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. It’s that time of year again. Time for NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball to invade the HP Field House for the Old Spice Classic. The 2012 edition of the 8-team tournament will take place over Thanksgiving weekend, beginning Thursday November 22nd and concluding on Sunday November 25th. This will be the 7th edition of the Old Spice Classic, an event that has called WDW Resort its home from the beginning. High profile conferences have been featured in years past, and 2012 will be no exception. This years field boasts its share of heavy hitters from some of the nation’s top conferences, including the SEC, ACC, and Big XII. The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) will hold the distinction of being the tournament’s sponsoring conference, an honor it’s held since the Old Spice Classic’s inception back in 2006. The MAAC’s representative for this years tourney will be the Marist Red Foxes. They’ll be joined by two preseason Top 25 teams, the #19 Gonzaga Bulldogs (WCC) and #22 Vanderbilt Commodores (SEC). The other five teams rounding out the tourney this year will be the Clemson Tigers (ACC), Oklahoma Sooners (Big XII), West Virginia Mountaineers (Big XII), U-TEP Miners (Conference USA), and Davidson Wildcats (Southern Conference). Twelve games will be played over the course of the weekend, with the action set to tipoff Thanksgiving Day at noon with Marist vs. West Virginia. Vanderbilt and Davidson will hit the hardwood next, as their matchup is set to begin at 230pm. An intermission for dinner will follow, then Oklahoma and U-TEP will get the evening session going at 7pm. The final first round matchup will tip at 930pm, as Clemson will battle it out with Gonzaga for a coveted spot in the semifinals. All four of the first round games can be seen on espn2, and the rest of the tourney can be found on either espn, espn2, espn3, espnU, or WatchESPN. For more info on the 2012 Old Spice Classic, visit here.

Well, that’s gonna do it for today’s update. But before we call it a wrap, let’s take a look back at the results of our previous poll. The question was:

Who is your favorite Disney Villain?

. Maleficent

. Captain Hook

. Wicked Queen (Snow White)

. Cruela de Vil

. Ursula

. Jafar

. Gaston

. The Big Bad Wolf

. The Headless Horseman

. Hades

. Lady Tremaine

. Dr. Facilier

. Shere Khan

. Prince John

. Pete

And the winner is…..

Ladies and Gentleman…we have our first-ever TIE, as Captain James T. Hook and Maleficent both finished in a dead heat atop the poll with 25% of the total vote! 2nd place was also a tie between Gaston, Jafar, and the Wicked Queen from Snow White, as they each garnered 7% of the votes. 3rd place saw yet another tie between Ursula and Dr. Facilier, as they both captured 5% of the total vote. This was a very fun and exciting poll question, and the results reflect that, as we saw the biggest voter turnout to date with this one! We even had write-ins for Scar and Zurg! Naturally, I wanted to include each and every Villain in the poll. But unfortunately, it had to be limited to fifteen choices. I hope everyone was satisfied with the Villains I chose, and I want to thank all of you for taking the time to vote! Okay, on to this week’s question:

The post WDW Radio Newswire: New Feature Introduced At Pirates Of The Caribbean And Magic Kingdom Restaurants Poll Question appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

One of the first things that most people picture when thinking of Disney World is the Magic Kingdom attractions. Classic Disney down to every last detail, the park is a place where most kids (and kids at heart) dream of being every day. Opened in October 1971, the park was based on Disney’s original Disneyland in Anaheim California. While the Magic Kingdom greatly reflects Disneyland, it definitely holds its own in charm, detail, and fun. Over the years, the Magic Kingdom has evolved greatly into the spectacular place it is today. Whether you are looking for fantasy, futuristic gadgets, or adventure on the high seas, look no further than the Magic Kingdom!

While there are over thirty attractions in the Magic Kingdom, I have broken them down into several categories which may interest you depending on your preferred style of attraction: thrill, classic, and must see.

If you are looking for thrills, there is only one word you should think about in the Magic Kingdom: mountains! The “mountain range” of thrills consists of Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, and Space Mountain, and they offer the biggest adrenaline rushes in the park.

Splash Mountain in Frontierland takes riders on a trip through the world of Br’er Rabbit, a guy just looking for more adventure in life- and he definitely finds it with you along for the ride! A log flume based ride, you are definitely going to get wet. Be careful of those pesky water cannons when the ride first begins! With multiple drops, the last measuring five stories into the Briar Patch, Splash Mountain is sure to get your blood pumping! Not feeling brave enough to ride, but still wanting to get a little splash? Be sure to stand on the bridge in front of the attraction where splashes occur occasionally as logs plummet down to the Briar Patch.

Planning on stopping by Big Thunder Mountain? Well hold onto your hats and glasses, ‘cause this here is the wildest ride in the wilderness! Located right next to Splash Mountain in Frontierland, it’s easy to end up spending a lot of time in this corner of the park riding these two attractions over and over! A runaway train that zips you through an old fashioned mining town, Big Thunder offers thrills around every bend and curve.  With gorgeous scenery based on Monument Valley, you’ll want to (try to) keep your eyes open to observe every prop and view.

The final mountain in the range is Space Mountain, a high speed attraction through outer space. Located in Tomorrowland, Space Mountain is situated on the opposite side of the park as the other two mountains. Taking place almost entirely in the dark, riders truly feel as though they have been launched into space on a super fast tour of the galaxy! There are also two separate tracks (Alpha and Omega) which each offer unique ride experiences, so make sure to experience both.

Now that you’ve conquered the mountains of the Magic Kingdom, there is one more thrill attraction that offers wall to wall creeps and hot and cold running chills…welcome, foolish mortals to the Haunted Mansion. Located in Liberty Square, the Haunted Mansion has been scaring riders ever since opening. Within the mansion, you will experience the 999 happy haunts which call the place home, and will even be offered a position to be the 1000^th resident. Any volunteers? With both scary and comical elements, the attraction offers a thrilling and unique experience that is a must see while in the Magic Kingdom. And don’t worry, once you get on there’s no turning back now…

Once you have survived the Haunted Mansion, there are several other attractions throughout the Magic Kingdom which I consider to be classics for various reasons. I recommend experiencing these attractions as they offer unique and fun experiences that the Magic Kingdom is so well known for.

On top of the classic attractions list is Pirates of the Caribbean. One of the most well-known and beloved attractions in the Magic Kingdom, you can experience sailing the high seas and looting towns for treasure right alongside the pirates. For those who are fans of the recent Pirates of the Caribbean film series, audio-animatronic figures of Captain Jack Sparrow have been added throughout the ride. (I’ll admit I love this attraction just a little more based on its red head love…We wants the red head!!) No visit to the Magic Kingdom is complete without a ride on Pirates of the Caribbean.

Another classic Magic Kingdom attraction is the Jungle Cruise. Located in Adventureland right next door to Pirates of the Caribbean, the Jungle Cruise is where you can experience almost every major river in the world, terribly corny jokes, and the backside of water- all in one day! Experience head hunters and animals galore on this wonderful classic attraction. While the Jungle Cruise is a more slow paced experience, it is definitely a must see and a Magic Kingdom classic.

Finally moving to Fantasyland, there are two beloved classic attractions that most people always associate with the Magic Kingdom: Peter Pan’s Flight and “it’s a small world.” Peter Pan’s Flight has been capturing the hearts of many Disney fans since opening through its flight over the nighttime streets of London and eventually through Neverland. Alongside Peter himself, you will face Captain Hook and experience your own dousing of pixie dust as you fly.

“it’s a small world” was one of the results of Disney’s attractions built specifically for the 1964 New York World’s Fair. Becoming a Disney icon ever since, the attraction takes you on a boat ride around the world allowing you to experience many different cultures and countries while reminding us that “it’s a small world, after all.” This attraction is one of the most loved in all of Disney World, and while riding be sure to note the unique styling done by Imagineer Mary Blair.

In addition to the thrills and classic attractions in the Magic Kingdom, there are several other attractions that I think fall into the “must see” category. The first is Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor in Tomorrowland. A live animated and interactive show, corny jokes are abundant and audience members are even offered the opportunity to text in their own jokes before the show starts (just keep it PG). This attraction is a must do as it always generates a laugh and is a different experience each time. Just try not to be that guy.

Also in Tomorrowland, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is an attraction where you are provided with your own laser to help shoot targets and defeat the Evil Emperor Zurg. As this experience is based upon points, it’s where the competitive side of most people comes out. Boys become men…that kind of thing. Don’t be surprised to hear the trash talking start before riding, and to have to ride again and again to see who can get the highest score and claim bragging rights as the ultimate space ranger!

I think that every twenty-something should also experience Mad Tea Party, an Alice in Wonderland themed spinning tea cups attraction. While the tea cups spin on their own floor tracks around the attraction, riders can control the speed their tea cups spins, creating either a laid back or seriously dizzying experience! For those looking for an extra bit of thrill and speed, definitely see how fast you can spin on this exciting attraction.

Finally, I would suggest going to watch Mickey’s PhilharMagic. The attraction is a 3D experience of songs from numerous classic Disney films, all on one of the largest screens ever created for 3D. For every twenty-something that grew up on The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, and Beauty and the Beast, this show is a must see to revisit memories from your past in stunning 3D. Be sure to keep a nose out for the unique smells of pastries in the Beauty and the Beast scene!

While I have mentioned a lot of attractions here, there are still plenty more to be explored and experienced in the Magic Kingdom. If you have the time, I think that you should definitely use it to try and experience every other attraction and really get the full experience that the park has to offer.

What is your favorite attraction in the Magic Kingdom and why? Think I left something off of my list? Leave it in the comments below, I would love to hear from you!

Caitlin Corsello was born and raised in New York. She graduated from Adelphi University with a Masters in Mental Health Counseling in 2012. Her love for Disney started as an infant and has continued to grow with family vacations to Disney parks almost every year since. She holds a particular interest in WDW’s parks and attractions, never passing up an opportunity to visit. She looks forward to continuing to explore and learn about all things Disney and to share that passion with readers.

The post Disney from the Twenty Something: Magic Kingdom Attractions appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

by Don Myers

The Newswire is ablaze, as the confirmed opening date for the next Phase of the Fantasyland Expansion has been announced! So let’s dive right into the latest edition of the WDW Radio Newswire…..

We start this edition with some major news out of Magic Kingdom. Last week, Disney officially announced the opening date for the next Phase of the Fantasyland Expansion. Up to this point, “Holiday Season 2012″ had been the only official word given. But it has now been confirmed that both Under the Sea- Journey of the Little Mermaid and Enchanted Tales with Belle will be making their “Grand Opening” on Thursday December 6th! Belle’s Village, which includes both Gaston’s Tavern and Bonjour! Village Gifts will also be debuting on Thursday December 6th as well. In addition, the gates of Beast’s Castle will finally be open to the public, as the Be Our Guest Restaurant is also set for a December 6th Grand Opening. And if you’re going to be visiting the “World” over the Thanksgiving Holiday, you may be able to catch a preview, as it was also confirmed that there will indeed be “Soft Openings” which are slated to begin on Monday November 19th. The press release also talks about Princess Fairytale Hall opening in 2013 and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Coaster in 2014. These opening dates were previously announced, so there’s nothing new there. However, in the paragraph about Princess Fairytale Hall, the press release does mention several Princesses by name, including Cinderella, Aurora, Tiana, and Rapunzel. Speculation has been ongoing as to exactly which Princesses will be appearing inside the meet and greet for quite some time, at least now there’s a few names officially out there.

Now let’s head from Fantasyland over to Frontierland for a reminder about the Country Bear Jamboree. Back in the June 12th edition of the Newswire, I talked about an August 22nd closure to the attraction for a two month refurb. Well, we’re now just one week away from that date, so if you want to see the likes of Big Al and Liver Lips McGrowl before the October 16th re-opening, you’ve got until Tuesday August 21st to do so.

Before Park Hopping out of Magic Kingdom, let’s make a quick stop in Adventureland, where there’s a tiny bit of news to report on Pirates of the Caribbean. The attraction is scheduled to be closed on Tuesday October 9th. As of now, this is only scheduled to be a one day closure, as the attraction is slated to be re-open on Wednesday October 10th. If plans happen to change, I’ll be sure to report it.

Okay, time to venture over to EPCOT now for a follow-up on Bistro de Paris. Back in the May 7th edition of the Newswire, I talked about a three month refurb at the restaurant which was to begin in July and conclude in October. Construction is indeed well under way now, but unfortunately it looks as if the downtime is going to be extended by a couple months. Instead of an October opening for Bistro de Paris, it now appears as if we’re looking at a re-opening date of Saturday December 1st.

Our final bit of news today comes out of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where it’s never too early to start talking about the upcoming Holiday Season. And if you’re talking about Christmastime at the Studios, it can only mean one thing…the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights! I know it’s only August, but the dates for the 2012 incarnation of the Dancing Lights have just been officially announced, so let’s take a look. This year, the festivities kick off on Friday November 9th and are scheduled to run all the way through the Holiday Season and into the new year, with the final performance slated for Friday January 4th 2013. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit the Studios the last two Decembers, and I can personally say that the Osborne Lights are something you will never forget. Stepping onto the Streets of America and seeing those lights dance in unison to the Holiday music, it’s absolutely breathtaking. Words honestly can do it no justice…it’s a “Must See!”

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

The post WDW Radio Newswire: Confirmed Opening Date For Next Phase of Fantasyland Expansion appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Hello and welcome to The WDW Radio Show – Your Walt Disney World Information Station. I am your host, Lou Mongello, and this is show #193 for the week of October 24, 2010.

In the next of my Legends of Disney Imagineering series of interviews, I had the honor of spending the day with a fascinating woman and true Legend, Alice Davis. We’ll discuss her fairy tale story of how she came to work for and with Walt Disney through her marriage to Marc Davis, one of his Nine Old Men. In addition to discussing her relationships with both, we also closely examine her work on classic films such as Sleeping Beauty, and attractions such as it’s a small world and Pirates of the Caribbean. Alice shares her very personal stories and humorous anecdotes about her work and life, from her early beginnings to the World’s Fair, to her ongoing connection to Disney enthusiasts today.

I’ll have a few announcements and then play more of your voicemails at the end of the show. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this week’s episode of the WDW Radio Show.

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

Information and Links from This Week’s Show

Alice Davis – Official Disney Legends web site

Click on the images below to see larger size

Check out What’s New over at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin – Children staying at the resort are encouraged to wear their costumes and join us outside for our Poolside Pirate Party! Click here for your treasure map to the fun and excitement!

WDW Radio Cruise on the Disney Dream Logo Gear at Cafepress

DisneyMeets.com - Join us for Disney fan gatherings and WDW Radio Meets of the Month in Walt Disney World and other events around the country! Get dates and locations here!

Liberty Square AND Mickey’s Toontown Fair Available NOW as an instant download or on CD!

Click Here to learn more or order!

The post Show # 193 – October 24, 2010 appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Welcome to the WDW Radio Show, your Walt Disney World Information Station. Thank you for tuning in once again. This is Show #43 for the week of December 2, 2007.

News from Walt Disney World this week includes stories on two new quick service dining locations in World Showcase, new developments about the Western Way shopping and hotel district and more. In the Walt Disney World Rumor Mill, I have some listener-submitted rumors about the DVC, changes to one of Main Street, USA’s original stores, Space Mountain, and are there big changes coming to a pavilion in World Showcase?

In the next of my Legends of Disney Imagineering interview series, I have a chance to sit down and talk with a man who has not only worked on the recent updates to Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion, but wrote the definite books on those subjects. He is Jason Surrell, and his latest book is all about Imagineering at its Peak, as he covers all of the Disney Mountains. We talk about the book, Imagineering and the Imagineers, and Jason gives us the exclusive sneak peek on what major project he’s working on next. Hang on to them hats and glasses, ‘cause this here’s an interview that I’m sure you’re going to enjoy.

Walt Disney World is full of Hidden Treasures, and I love being able to introduce you to them on the show. While some may be small and relatively unknown, there are others that are hidden in plain sight. Disney’s Boardwalk is just one of those, as it is filled with countless hidden treasures including shops, restaurants, entertainment and unique experiences. Listener Jamie Curci joins me to explore the promenade in detail and familiarize you with all that it has to offer.

I talk about why we do what we do, and the efforts of my Disney WorldTrivia.com Dream Team Project to give back to the community and help those who are less fortunate and in need of some true Disney Magic. This week, I’ll announce another of our efforts, the 25 Days of Disney Giving, again thanks to a listener, where you can help the Make A Wish Foundation of America, and wind up with some great Disney memorabilia for yourself.

And speaking of the Dream Team, we’ll announce the winner of our Walt Disney World Half Marathon Challenge Contest, and Matt Hochberg joins Eric Hollister and myself to present the clues to our next challenge.

There’s a lot of fun and interesting things to cover this week, so as always, sit back, relax and enjoy this week’s episode of the WDW Radio Show.

Links and Information from this week’s show:

 

Jason Surrell

Disney Imagineer and author of

The Disney Mountains: Imagineering At Its Peak

Jason is also the author of:

	The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies
	Pirates of the Caribbean: From the Magic Kindgom to the Movies

Did you like this week’s show? If so, please review the show in iTunes!

Disney’s Toy Story Mania web site

http://www.bestfriendspetcare.com

WDW Radio Show # 5, March 11, 2007, where we talk about Western Way with concept art -

The post Show #43 – Dec. 2, 2007 appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.