Rides with Friends – A Peek from Dumbo

I thought I would do something a little different today, and take you along on a ride of Dumbo the Flying Elephant to take a peek at the progress on the Fantasyland Expansion.

First off, it was an amazingly beautiful day with John and Betsy!!!!

It really doesn't get any better than this!

Things are REALLY starting to come along!!!

The rock work that is going on around Beast’s Castle is really making the castle look the right size (I was a little worried at first, to be totally honest!).

And now it was time to ride Dumbo!!!! I haven’t ridden in awhile, and it was a blast as usual. I can’t seem to ride Dumbo without a big grin on my face!

I hope enjoy the video and pictures!!!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X26fczpkObc]

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Rides with friends by Betsy (@Floridamingo)

It has been called many things over the years: WEDWay PeopleMover, Tomorrowland Transit Authority, the Blue Line, Highway in the Sky, and now Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover (or TTAP as I affectionately call it). This beloved attraction that traverses the upper levels of Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom is one of my favorites. Sure, it isn’t as exciting as Space Mountain, doesn’t promote the competion of Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, or inspire the singalong that is There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow on Carousel of Progress (well, unless you’re amongst my friends), but it is a classic.

For those not familiar with TTAP, let me give you a little run down. The ride is a relatively slow moving, open air tram ride (think elevated train a la the “L” in Chicago, sort of). Its station is located on the second story of Rockettower Plaza, pretty much smack in the middle of Tomorrowland. You travel up an elevated moving walkway to the loading platform where cars are constantly moving, slowing down just enough to allow people to board. The cars comfortably seat four adults, but Cast Members have been known to occasionally squish in another if you are a party of five (not fun, trust me). Once you have boarded, you zip off to ride around and through several of the ride buildings in the land. The aerial view is incredible, especially at night.

View of Cinderella Castle from TTAP

So why do I love TTAP? Let me count the ways … 1) it is a fun ride that allows you to see most of the attractions of Tomorrowland, typically without any wait 2) even in the heat of the day, it is often a cool ride since the track is covered and you travel inside air conditioned buildings 3) I like hearing the page for Mr. Tom Morrow 4) the view of the Castle is unique and is a pretty cool photo op, but probably my favorite is 5) you can carry on a conversation with your friends/family while riding.

Some of my favorite park memories have been on TTAP. After having only met the illustrious Shelley Caran once before, our friendship was forged after a couple of memorable back to back rides in December. While Space Mountain was being repainted, we caught a glimpse of a worker taking a nap on the side of the building. After forgetting to snap a picture when we re-emerged from SM, we decided we needed to ride again. This was the beginning of many TTAP rides together, and a beautiful friendship.

Painter on Space Mountain - missed the pic of him taking a nap

Another favorite ride was the trip with my best friend, her husband and daughter, Katie. This was Katie’s first trip and we finally got to ride TTAP on the last day of our trip. I have been known to be a bit of a goofball and to act like a big kid, so when I go around bends in the ride, I throw my arms up in the air and yell “wheee!” I taught this tradition to Katie and even got the whole family to embrace it on our trip around the Highway in the Sky. They loved it and it provided me with some of my favorite pictures of the trip.


Now as for the whole conversation thing, I have certainly had some interesting ones on TTAP. Almost everything has been brought up from what has been your favorite thing you’ve done of your trip so far to the existence of God and philosophical and theological discussions that ensued. I tend to favor the more laid back conversations, or even the singing in the round. A few of my friends have a tradition of singing the song “There’s A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” one word at a time sung by each person. This can be quite humorous, based on the varying degrees of singing talent and whether or not you remember your word when it is your turn. We’ve also played the alphabet game when we go around and have to name a Disney ride or character that starts with each letter of the alphabet.

Friends deep in conversation while riding

TTAP is different each time based on who you are riding with at the time. I’ve had some truly epic and unforgettable rides, but there have been some I’d also choose to forget. The thing is, no matter what your motivation for riding, the scenery will never be exactly the same. Sure, the view is pretty much the same, but you may not look at the same thing from the same angle each time. The people watching from above is always entertaining. Then, of course, there is the audio track that accompanies the ride if all else fails. I hope you all will take a look at the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover and see that it doesn’t just move people, but it can bring people together. So, whether you ride it to take a break from the sweltering heat, to get out of the rain, just to sit for a spell without having to wait in line first, or if you want to have a conversation with some friends, show the TTAP some love next time you’re in the Magic Kingdom and I can almost guarantee you won’t regret it.

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Girls Day at Magic Kingdom!!!

I am sorry that I have been MIA from the blog, but I have been lucky enough to have had my Mother in town!!!

My Mom’s favorite park is the Magic Kingdom, so we decided to spend her last full day in town taking on the Kingdom!

Be warned…I took a lot of pics…

Still lots of tarps over Main Street...
Make way for Mickey!!!
Still working on the Confectionery...
It was a pretty busy day...
There was a lot of banging and saw dust coming from the bridge construction.
Just in case you didn't know...
As you walk through, the sounds of the natives are drowned out by the sounds of construction.
The new Princess Meet & Greet entrance with a posted wait time.
And this is the exit...
Ariel and Eric have been been meeting in this gazebo area, too

Our first ride is ALWAYS the Jungle Cruise!!!

The Girls!
Our Skipper
The Backside of Water!!!

The Tiki Room is still boarded up from the fire…

Then we decided to take in a new/old favorite.

Then it was time for my Mom to take Zoe on her first ride again, and for me to snap a few pics of the Fantasyland Expansion from my trusty Dumbo…

The gals in their pink Dumbo...

It looks like the Tigger area of the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh queue is still touch and go…

It was a nice touch having these guys around this area, because it seemed so vacant and dead.

Don’t look behind this big, green wall…seriously it will make you sad…

It looks like they are really making progress on the new track on the speedway.

We decided to finish the day with two of our favorite rides…The Peoplemover and Carousel of Progress!

Zoe is making a super silly face with Mom!

I hope that you have enjoyed joining us on our Girl’s Day Out!!!

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The Magic Kingdom…Now with More Walls!!!

I have been spending a ton of time at EPCOT lately, so I decided to head over to the Magic Kingdom to see what I could find…

Main Street USA is buzzing with activity, as there are still several buildings behind themed skrims…

As you turn the corner to enter Adventureland, you get the immediate sense that there is a lot going on around here!

While the bridge at the entrance to Adventureland is undergoing a complete makeover, a smaller walkway is being used.

Over near the exit to the Swiss Family Treehouse, the stroller parking area is getting a facelift!

The last bit of skrim is still up between the Tortuga Tavern and Pecos Bill’s…

Walking over near Splash Mountain, I caught a picture of the new logs in action! I had the opportunity to ride Splash a few days ago, and I can only hope that they are able to work out the timing issues that the new lap bars have caused at loading.

The Liberty Square Riverboat is being refurbished…

There wasn’t much to see, but I headed over to Hanunted Mansion to see if anything was buzzing. The ongoing work is still going on behind these walls…I can’t wait to see it when it reopens…

Tomorrow I will be taking a look at Fantasyland, Toon Towns last days, and Tomorrowland.

I hope that you’ve enjoyed this look around the Magic Kingdom!!!

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It IS a Small World After All…

On my first visit to the Walt Disney World, my father rushed us hurriedly down Main Street to his favorite ride….It’s a Small World.

Over the years this ride has held a super special place in my heart, because of the love that he has for this attraction. I remember being a little gal singing, pointing, and laughing with my Dad as we floated through the many countries.

Right now my favorite thing is not MY memories with my father, but watching him create those special memories with my daughter. Watching him with her always brings tears to my eyes and joy to my heart!

So make sure you keep your arms and legs in the boat as we take a look at some of my favorite parts of “It’s a Small World”

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Main Street USA

As you enter Main Street USA at the Magic Kingdom, you are immediately immersed into a larger than life Holiday celebration.

It is amazing to walk underneath the huge garlands, look at all the special and specific details in the many shops and restaurants, and find unique experiences to Main Street USA!

Here is a peek at what you will find as you’re “Walking Right Down the Middle of Main Street USA”…

 

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Holiday Hats at Walt Disney World!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!

While you are getting ready to go out shopping on Black Friday, you might want to take a look at these beauties to help get you in the Christmas spirit as you prepare to sprint for your Holiday gifts!!! 🙂

[slideshow]

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It’s all about the Details…

While taking in all of the details is often overwhelming, I was taken back by the simple decorations of Liberty Square in the Magic Kingdom!

I love how these decorations stay authentic to the period of Liberty Square through the use of materials, and how even the smallest details add so much to the overall look and feel of the area!!!

These garlands hang from the light posts throughout Liberty Square.
If you look closely at the garland, you'll find these little guys!
I love how they use fruit in the decorations around the Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Liberty Square!
Don't forget to take your picture at the sleigh just outside of the the Christmas Shoppe!!!
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Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Primer

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, MVMCP, is an absolute blast!!! I love these hard ticket events at the Magic Kingdom, but I always feel like there is almost too much to do and take in for just a few hours!

What I am going to try to do is give you a rundown of the things that I consider MUSTS and tips to make sure that you get it all done without going wacky nu-nu! 🙂

PARTY TIME!

The party officially kicks off at 7:00 pm, but you can get your party wristbands at 4:30 from the special event labeled turnstiles at the main entrance or if you are in the parks you can get them in Tomorrowland at Stitch’s Great Escape.

I would suggest getting to the Magic Kingdom on the earlier side, as you will be able to go to rides that are not open during the party. Our favorite ride to catch before the party is the Jungle Cruise, because the experience of cruising along is definitely different and wonderful after dark! Also you will get a chance to take pictures of the holiday decorations, because as the party gets underway there will be special decorations added just for the party!

But the most important thing to do once you arrive is to look at the party map and get a lay of the land. You’ll definitely want to go in with your priorities (Entertainment, Characters, Merchandise, or Attractions), and this is the perfect time to take a moment to make a game plan everyone can agree on and follow.

ENTERTAINMENT, PARADES, AND FIREWORKS…OH MY!!!

I’ve got to be honest; this is my favorite part and major reason to attend MVMCP!!!

Zoe loves the special dance parties that are held in Liberty Square and Fantasyland!  They are full of fun music and characters in their holiday finest shaking it on the dance floor with the kids (and adults)! At Woody’s Hootin’ holiday Open House at The Diamond Horseshoe, kids can dance with Woody, Jessie, and their Toy Story friends. Then at Cosmic Ray’s Jingle, Dance, and Play in Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe you might get to meet some Citizens of Tomorrowland! You definitely should drop in for a few minutes to experience this fun!!!

Also on the Rockettower Plaza Stage in Tomorrowland is “A Totally Tomorrowland Christmas” Show (7:45, 8:45, 9:55, 10:50, & 11:45) featuring song and dance numbers from Buzz Lightyear, Mike Wazowski, and Stitch. It is definitely a cute show to catch a peek at as you are walking through.

On the Castle Forecourt Stage “Celebrate the Seasons” show (7:45, 10:05, & 11:20) features the Princesses and your favorite Disney characters.

The two biggies, at least for me, are the parade and fireworks!!!

“Mickey’s Once Upon A Christmastime Parade” that steps off in Frontierland at 8:15 & 10:30 is full of festive fun! I absolutely love this parade, because the characters are decked out in their holiday finest and the music is super memorable and fun. If you aren’t bouncing around and smiling by the end of it, you might want to see if Scrooge McDuck has any positions available! 🙂 The second parade at 10:30 is a lot less crowded, but I would still suggest getting a spot for the parade at the same time as you do for the fireworks.

Speaking of which…”Holiday Wishes – Celebrate the Spirit of the Season” is a fireworks SPECTACULAR that starts at 9:30. My biggest piece of advice for watching this show is to look up to make sure that you aren’t obstructed by trees and buildings!!! I love “Wishes”…but I bring 2 hankies for “Holiday Wishes”!!!

SPECIAL CHARACTERS TO VISIT

During the MVMCP there are four areas to meet special characters that are out JUST for the party.

The first area is located in front of The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in Fantasyland. At this location you’ll find Tigger, Piglet, and Winnie the Pooh in their holiday finest in front of some greenery.

The others two areas are located in Toontown. Mickey and Minnie are in the Judges Tent, and Mickey is in a green holiday suit and Minnie is in a festive red dress. You will find the Princes have joined their Princesses in their usual Toontown Meet and Greet home.

The last Meet and Greet is located in the stroller parking area in Fantasyland (just to the left of its A Small World), and here you will find the Seven Dwarves decked out for the holidays!!!!

I would STRONGLY suggest visiting these guys during the first parade, before you scope out a spot for the fireworks and second parade.

EXCLUSIVE MERCHANDISE & PARTY PERKS

Spread around the Magic Kingdom, you will find five stores/kiosks selling MVMCP exclusive merchandise. The merchandise is what you would expect; pins, t-shirts, sweatshirts, etc.

At Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, there are seven areas where you can pick up free hot chocolate and cookies. The hot chocolate is actually really good, and the sugar cookies were moist and delicious!!! Our favorite spot to stop was in Adventureland, in the Adventureland Veranda, where you could meet Lilo with a Hawaiian Christmas backdrop (complete with a sandman).

WHAT CAN I RIDE?

Below you’ll find a list of the rides that are operating by land!

Adventureland:

Pirates of the Caribbean

The Magic Carpets of Aladdin

Swiss Family Treehouse

Frontierland:

Splash Mountain

Country Bear Jamboree

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Liberty Square:

The Haunted Mansion

Hall of Presidents

Fantasyland:

Peter Pan’s Flight

Prince Charming Regal Carousel

It’s a Small World

Dumbo the Flying Elephant

Mickey’s PhilharMagic

Mad Tea Party

Snow White’s Scary Adventure

Mickey’s Toontown Fair:

The Barnstormer at Goofy’s Wiseacre Farm

Tomorrowland:

Tomorrowland Speedway

Space Mountain

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin

Monsters Inc. Laughing Floor – Last Showing is at 10 pm

Astro Orbiter

Stitch’s Great Escape

Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover

While most of the rides are open, the ones that aren’t operating are: Jungle Cruise and Enchanted Tiki Room in Adventureland; Walt Disneyworld Railroad, Country Bear Jamboree, and Tom Sawyer Island in Frontierland; Liberty Square Riverboat in Liberty Square; Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress.

GETTING A BITE TO EAT!

Main Street USA:

Casey’s Corner – Hot Dogs, Cracker Jacks

Main Street Sweets – Candy

Frontierland:

Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn – Burgers, Salads, Wraps, etc. (closes at 10:00 pm)

Turkey Leg Cart – Turkey Legs

Westward Ho – Quick Bites

Frontierland Churros & Pretzels

Liberty Square:

Sleepy Hollow – Mickey Waffles, Funnel Cakes, Treats, Drinks

Fantasyland:

Storybook Treats – Ice Cream, Milkshakes, Drinks

Tomorrowland:

Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café – Cheeseburgers & Chicken

The Lunching Pad – Hot Dogs, Pretzels, Chips, Drinks (Frozen Coke here is AWESOME)

BEFORE I FORGET…

First off, this is a party for EVERYONE!!! If you are traveling solo, don’t have kids, have as many kids as the Duggars, or if you don’t celebrate Christmas you should totally feel comfortable at the party! While it is super Christmassy, it is more of a “familiar” Christmas that kind of wraps around you like a warm blanket.

Since the party starts on the earlier side and there aren’t too many places that will be open to eat (and you really don’t want to take too much time away from the party happenings), I strongly suggest eating an early lunch and then when you get there you should grab a quick bite to eat and calm any munchies with the hot chocolate & cookies. This has proven to be the most time effective way for us to move along.

TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES!!!!! Don’t forget that a lot of what you will see at the party you won’t see tomorrow at the Magic Kingdom so don’t rely on coming back for a picture of that later!!! I have done this too many times and it breaks my heart just thinking about everything that I have missed!!!!

NOW THAT YOU’VE GOT ME INTERESTED, WHEN CAN I GO TO MVMCP & HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

Dates*

November 2010 December 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010 Thursday, December 2, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010 Friday, December 3, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010 Sunday, December 5, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010 Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010 Thursday, December 9, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 201
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010

*Advance Purchase Price not available on 12/7, 12/10, 12/12, 12/17, 12/19. All other select nights, when purchased prior to the day of the event: $53.95 + tax (Ages 10+) $47.95 + tax (Ages 3 – 9); Day-Of Event Prices: $59.95 + tax (Ages 10+) $53.95 + tax (Ages 3 – 9);

I hope that this super crazy post helps you plan your time at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party!!! I’ll be posting my pictures later on this weekend, and I hope that when you go that you share your pictures with me, too!!!

 

 

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Air Force Week Kicks Off at the Magic Kingdom

 

The Thunderbirds flying over Main Street USA

 

This week is Air Force week, and to kick off the celebration The Thunderbirds flew over the Magic Kingdom as the “Celebrate a Dream Come True” Parade rolled right down the middle of Main Street USA. It was the culminating point of months of collaboration between the US Air Force, Thunderbird, and Disney teams.

I would be lying to you if I told you that I still didn’t have goosebumps from being able to see this in person!!!

After the parade, we were escorted to the Rose Garden where we *gasp* were able to speak with Thunderbird officers and pilots as well as representatives from the Air Force.

They all spoke about how flying over the Magic Kingdom was truly a dream come true, and was definitely a highlight of their career.

Colonel Rosen and Chief Sargent Major Hall also hope that Air Force week lets people know how much they appreciate all of the support that they are shown and encourage children to consider a career in the Air Force.

Although for me the highlight was speaking with Derek Routt, a Thunderbird Pilot. He was super intense and passionate about wanting kids to take away the “pure joy” that it is to fly and for their parents to enjoy and foster that emotion in their children. He also wants kids to “dream big and hope to be a part of it all, because anything is possible if you work hard”.

The Thunderbirds will be headlining the Cocoa Beach Air Show this weekend as part of Air Force Week. For more information, you can visit http://www.cocoabeachairshow.com.

And for more information on Air Force week, you can visit http://newpreview.afnews.af.mil/afweek/

I can tell you that this is definitely something that I will remember for the rest of my life!

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It’s a Walled World After All…

I decided to take a walk around the Magic Kingdom to take a look at all the construction going on in the Magic Kingdom.

I even rode Dumbo! 😀

The last few pictures are of the Haunted Mansion construction are from the bottom deck of the Liberty Belle.

Also, I got a few cool shots of Big Thunder…which NEVER happens.

Enjoy!

 

10-7-10 MK Update
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