Posts Tagged ‘Disney’s’
Disney World Adds New Character Lunch at the Animal Kingdom theme park
Posted on: September 12, 2011
Beginning Dec. 4th, character lunches available at Tusker House restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. Daisy & Donald Duck will appear. Character lunches are better than character breakfasts because you get to ride the rides while the crowds are at their lowest (morning) and then sit down for a meal and a break when the crowds start to build. Yea, Disney!
Contact us today to plan your Disney vacation:
Build A Better Mouse Trip
www.buildabettermousetrip.com
Toll free: 877-815-6515
Walt Disney World Resort in February – Ride Closures, Special Events, and Crowd Warnings
Posted on: February 20, 2009
Crowd Warnings:
1. American Idol Passholder Preview – February 5 – 8. Disney’s Hollywood Studios is getting a new “American Idol” themed attraction and Disney Annual Passholders will can get a sneak preview, before the attraction opens to the general public. Annual Passholders should sign up online for a specific date and time to either (A.) be a voting audience member during a live show or (B.) audition for a chance to perform at one of the live shows. Expect Disney’s Hollywood Studios to be busier than usual during this sneak preview event. Annual Passholders can sign up online at http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/passholder/newsAndEventsFull?id=PassNewsAmericanIdolPreviewArticlePage
2. Presidents Day Weekend & Valentines Day – Feb. 14 – 20. Disney always sees an increase in crowds over a 3 day / holiday weekend. Make dining reservations right away and contact us about touring plans to help manage the crowds.
3. Mardi Gras weekend – February 21 – 24. Expect a small increase in February crowds this weekend as New Orleans residents seek a more family friendly environment.
4. ESPN The Weekend – February 27 – March 1 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Expect Disney’s Hollywood Studios to be busier than usual this weekend. For official information see: http://espn.go.com/espntheweekend/
5. Fantasmic! (Disney’s Hollywood Studios) – Beginning January 3rd, this great show will no longer be presented every night. It will only be offered on Monday and Thursday nights. This is a very popular show and we highly recommend it. Because of the limited performances, you know Disney’s Hollywood Studios is going to be busier on Mondays and Thursdays. Fantasmic! Dinner Package reservations will be harder to get. Afternoons will be especially busy as those with Park Hopper tickets come over to see the show. A good touring plan will help you manage this. Warning: This show is excellent but it does feature villains for a good 8-10 minutes. The scene is fairly intense and can be frightening to small children.
Special Events:
1. American Idol Passholder Preview – February 5 – 8. Disney’s Hollywood Studios is getting a new “American Idol” themed attraction and Disney Annual Passholders will can get a sneak preview, before the attraction opens to the general public. Annual Passholders should sign up online for a specific date and time to either (A.) be a voting audience member during a live show or (B.) audition for a chance to perform at one of the live shows. Expect Disney’s Hollywood Studios to be busier than usual during this sneak preview event. Annual Passholders can sign up online at http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/passholder/newsAndEventsFull?id=PassNewsAmericanIdolPreviewArticlePage
2. Campfire on de’ Bayou – Port Orleans Riverside Resort. Enjoy a special storytime and campfire Sing-Along near Port Orleans Riverside’s Ol” Man Island Fishin’ Hole . This special event is only offered on Thursday & Sunday nights from 6:30 – 8:00PM from Oct. 31, 2008-March 2009. Cost: free. S’mores kits can be purchased for $7.00. No reservations required.
3. ESPN the Weekend 5K Run – February 28th. For official information see: http://disneyworldsports.disney.go.com/dwws/en_US/events/eventDetail/detail?name=ESPN5KDetailPage
Temporary Attraction Closures and refurbishments:
- Liberty Tree Tavern (Restaurant – Magic Kingdom) the restaurant will be open but – beginning January 5th – Liberty Tree Tavern will no longer offer character dining.
- The Hall of Presidents (Animatronic Show – Magic Kingdom) will be closed through July 1, 2009.
- Mickey’s Philharmagic (3-D Movie- Magic Kingdom) will be closed Jan. 18 – February 6, 2009.
- The Liberty Square Riverboat (Magic Kingdom) will be closed from February 19 – 28.
- Pecos Bills (Counter-service restaurant – Magic Kingdom) will be closed January 11-February 6.
- Ellen’s Energy Adventure (Epcot) will be closed January 5 – March 22.
- Studio Backlot Tour (Disney’s Hollywood Studios) will be closed January 4th – February 28th, 2009.
- The Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show (Polynesian Resort) will be closed January 13-19.
- Typhoon Lagoon Water Park will be closed for its annual refurbishment Oct. 26 – March 21, 2009.
- Beach Club & Yacht Club Resorts – Stormalong Bay – Sections of the feature pool will be refurbished from January 5 to April 15, 2009. There are three “quiet” pools throughout the resort that will still be open and guests may use the feature pool at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort.
- Caribbean Beach Resort – Trinidad South Quiet Pool Closed February 9 – 20.
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort – Feature Pool will be closed January 5 – March 15th.
- Old Key West Village Pools Slide will be closed from January 5-23. The pool itself will remain open.
- Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort – Old Man Island Pool (Main pool) closed February 2 – March 1. Alligator Bayou pools closed from February 23 – March 6. Guest may use the Doubloon Lagoon Pool at Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter Resort.
- Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground – The Meadows Pool with be closed January 12- March 13, 2009.
- Concourse Spirits & Sundries (Contemporary Resort) will be closed January 5th – April 25th, 2009. Sundries will be available at either Fantasia or Bay View Gifts.
Can you save money with the Disney January – June “Free Nights” Promotion?
- Disney recently released a special “Free Nights ” promotion for most dates in January through early June. The availability is limited but the potential savings make it worthwhile to call and see if the promotion can be applied to your reservation. In a nutshell, you must pay for the first four nights of your stay and then you’ll receive free room & tickets for up to three additional nights. Dining plan can be added at the regular rate for the length of stay. This is good for stays up to ten days: This promotion must be booked by March 26th, 2009
- January – April 2: Special discounts on the room portion of your package or reservation available on select nights through April 2nd. This is a good option for people staying 4 nights or less – longer visits are probably going to save more by using the “Free Nights” promotion.
- Are you active duty or retired military? Disney has recently released a new promotion that will save you a lot on your 2009 vacation.
Most Christians have at least a vague idea that a Tiki has some kind of Polynesian religious connections and you may wonder if “Enchanted Tiki Room – Under New Management” in Adventureland at the Magic Kingdom is appropriate for the family.
I checked wikipedia for information on tikis and was surprised to learn that, in Maori mythogy, the tiki is roughly equivilent to our “Adam” (first man). The tiki carvings we know mostly from plastic decorations at Hawaiian luau themed parties were – in Central Eastern Polynesian (Pacific Ocean) cultures – used to mark the boundaries of sacred or significant sites. You might want to read the wikipedia entry; it is an interesting creation account.
The Enchanted Tiki Room show doesn’t seem to bear any resemblence to actual…well, anything. It seems that Disney just borrowed an easily recognizable tribal god-type just as it borrowed a hispanic accent for Jose, the bird that opens the show. The whole thing seems more like something you’d see on “Scooby-doo”, than on “National Geographic”. Here’s a rough outline of the show:
- The classic 1963 “Enchanted Tiki Show” show begins but is quickly interruped by Iago (from Aladdin) who rudely announces that the show must get more up to date. He is quickly warned that, “The Tiki gods will hear you…”
- The lights go out, you hear a few lines from the song “Hot, hot, hot”, there is the flashing of lightning, and “tribal” chanting
- A female Tiki animatronic with yellow eyes appears and, in an accent that seems more Jamaican than Polynesian, demands to know: “Who dares defy the tiki god!?! “
- Iago disappears. Wooden tiki posts sing a snippet from “In the still of the Night” in great 50s doo-wop style.
- Iago returns all singed & bandaged, appearantly as a result of his encounter with the tiki gods. He’s excited about the prospect of a profitable show featuring the singing tiki gods.
- Iago’s revelation of the existance of some type of god seems to leave him completely unchanged and its only significance is its place in reaching his ultimate goal – more profits.
Should your family see this? You’ll have to go with your own concience on that one. As Christian people, we obviously do not worship idols. Just seeing an idol isn’t sinful. In Acts 17, Paul was speaking to a group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers about religion and in Acts 17: 23 Paul tells them, “For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: ~to an unknown god….” It seems highly unlikely that anyone would convert to paganism as a result of this show.
If anything, the show could serve as a catalyst to a conversation with your children or fellow travellers about the type of fear people live under when they must appeal to a wood or stone “god” in hopes of having a good harvest, hunting season, or birth.
You might also talk about what I call “Christian superstition”: thinking that nothing bad will ever happen if you 1.) pray the right prayers, 2.) claim the right Scriptures, 3.) rebuke the devil the right way, etc. Although prayer, Scripture, and the authority of believers is real; we people of faith are not immune to sorrow or hardship. Our comfort is that even when we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death” we need fear no evil for God is with us (Psalm 23:4). Too many people become discouraged when the Christian life does not perform “as advertised”. They were sold “heaven on earth” instead of being taught about the God who sustains us even if we are persecuted to the point to death.
Another good talking point is Iago’s guest for fame and fortune blinding him to eternal realities – that seems to be a highly contagious condition in our world. Luke 16:13 (NIV) says, “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot service both God and Money.” Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) says, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.:”
If you are quite strict about what your children watch – avoiding shows with sorcery, new age philosophies, etc – they might be confused by your letting them see the Enchanted Tiki Room. TIP: Tell them before going in that while this show is just silly, you’d like them to be on the look-out for certain things. You might say that there’s a snack ahead for anyone who can 1.) tell you about a character who was selfish and wanted fame and 2.) whether the birds and characters seemed loyal to the tikis out of love or out of fear. A great snack to reward them with is a Dole Whip (pineapple softserve) over at Aloha Isle (Adventureland)
Do you still need more information to decide whether to let the kids see this Walt Disney World Resort attraction or not? You can see the whole show on this youtube video:
Trivia: The very first Disney Audio-Animatronic was a simple South American toy bird and Disneyland’s Enchanted Tiki Room was one of the earliest displays of Animatronic technology.
Here’s a great blog by Jack Spence giving the full history of the Tiki Birds in both Disneyland & Disney World: http://land.allears.net/blogs/jackspence/2011/08/the_enchanted_tiki_room_a_look_1.html
Gay Days 2009 In Orlando, Florida
Posted on: January 3, 2009
- In: Events | Issues | Uncategorized
- 7 Comments
My travel agency always sees a spike in travel planning when the new year rolls around. Families start thinking about summer vacation and begin watching for good deals on airfare.
Because of this, I want to post the schedule – as it relates to the Walt Disney World Resort theme parks – for Gay Days in Orlando, Florida. This event always takes place in the first week of June.
This is not a Disney sponsored event – actually, Bud Light is the Presenting Sponsor and the Royal Plaza (not a Disney hotel) is the host hotel. Quite a few of the parties and receptions are held at the Royal Plaza, which is in the Downtown Disney resort area.
A day at each of the theme parks is included in the event schedule:
- Thursday, June 4, 2009 – Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
- Friday, June 5, 2009 – Disney’s Hollywood Studios Theme Park
- Saturday, June 6, 2009 – Magic Kingdom Theme Park
- Sunday, June 7, 2009 – Epcot
I personally haven’t been in the Disney World parks during Gay Days. Pete Werner is the Founder/Webmaster of the DIS Boards, which is one of the biggest unofficial Disney World informational websites and forums. Mr. Warner is gay and wrote an article Why I’m Not Going to Gay Days This Year. Because the DISboards provides so much quality information about Walt Disney World, I expect that Mr. Warner’s article probably provides an accurate picture of what to expect from Gay Days.
What should you do if you want to avoid this event but have already purchased non-refundable airline tickets?
- Avoid Downtown Disney; especially at night. The host hotel is near Downtown Disney so you should probably expect a fairly wild “Spring Break” party type atmosphere in the Downtown Disney restaurants, especially those that offer live music.
- Avoid the Atlantic Dance Hall in the Boardwalk Entertainment area.
- Check the park schedule posted above and avoid those parks on the days listed.
- Be aware of what is happening around you in the resort swimming pools and hot tubs – especially after the life guards are off duty. I’m told that some of what occurs is not “Family Friendly”.
- The participants are encouraged to “Wear Red and Be Seen” – if you aren’t participating, you might not want to wear red.
- Pray for the event and its participants. If I may paraphrase Esther 4:14b “And who knows but that you have to to (Walt Disney World) for such a time as this?” If you’ve experienced the love of God and are carrying His Spirit within you, you may be uniquely qualified to pray for those who don’t know Him.
Here are a few suggestions for things to do on New Years Eve at Walt Disney World Resort, if you aren’t in one of the parks.
One of Disney’s “hidden gems” is Bob Jackson who performs at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside resort. This is a little off the beaten track so the crowds might actually be somewhat manageable. This is a fun and a little bit rowdy sing-along in the River Roost Lounge.
Families might want to take in the Free Campfire Sing-Along with Chip & Dale and the Outdoor movie at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground. “High School Musical” is the movie that night.
Another fun & free idea for families is to go over to the Animal Kingdom Lodge and enjoy the campfire storyteller (usually around 6:30PM) and then watch the animals through night-vision goggles (usually available around 8:30PM). Getting a dining reservation will probably be impossible but you can still use some of your Disney Dining Plan counter-service credits at Mara (the Lodge’s food court).
Speaking of foodcourts – if you do find yourself completely stranded in the dining department, head over to the Coronado Springs Resort foodcourt . They have the best food court of any of the resort.
Places like Raglan Road, House of Blues, Atlantic Dance Hall, JellyRolls, Cirque Du Soliel etc. will be hard to get into at this late date but you can still try. You might want to see a movie at the AMC Pleasure Island 24 but buy the tickets online now and arrive early to get a decent seat.
You can also take the bus to Disney’s Polynesian Resort and go out to the beach area to watch the Wishes Fireworks (8:30PM) or Fantasy in the Sky Fireworks (11:50PM). I highly recommend that you get a Dole Whip at Captain Cooks.
How about a game of putt-putt golf? Disney’s Fantasia Fairways and Winter Summerland miniature golf courses are open until about 11PM but you need to arrive by 10:30 to play. Don’t forget that voucher for a free round of miniature golf that is included in your Disney vacation package travel documents.
Going into the parks? Disney’s Epcot & Magic Kingdom Theme Parks will be crazy-busy that night, as will the Universal Orlando theme parks. SeaWorld and Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be less jam-packed.
May God bless you and in 2009 and Always!
YeHaa Bob delivers fun & music at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort
Posted on: December 10, 2008
- In: People | Uncategorized
- 5 Comments
Bob Jackson at the River Roost in Disney's Port Orleans Riverside Resort
We just returned from a quick family trip to Walt Disney World Resort. Our main objective was to enjoy the beautiful Christmas sights and sounds but we also wanted to do some of things we’ve known about but never quite got to on past trips. The undisputed “New Favorite” is YeeHaa Bob (Bob Jackson) – who leads a great boogie-woogie sing-along at the River Roost Lounge in Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort (POR).
- Expect a tall man in brightly colored pants (yellow, the night we were there) playing a ragtime piano and leading songs that everybody knows. He’s an energetic performer with a gift for encouraging audience participation. I was there from 9:00PM to Midnight and there were only 2 songs to which I did not know all the words: Ring of Fire and The Addams Family theme song. We sang songs like Hey, Jude; Piano Man; I Got You, Babe; Sweet Caroline, etc.
- The atmosphere is fun and energetic. It might not appeal to the very dignified but is probably perfect for people who enjoy a good time and who don’t take themselves too seriously. You’ll get to beat your chest and yell, “Charge!” at the end of a bugle call, you might get to do the hand-jive, or swing your arms in your best Elvis style.
- Bob signed autographs, posed for photos, and seemed genuinely interested in every person who came to say hello during the intermissions.
- The show is family-friendly. The night I was there, there were several kids present until about the second intermission. The River Roost has a bar but I didn’t observe anyone in an intoxicated state. The wait staff are available for drink orders but there was no pressure. I purchased two sodas over the course of the evening and that didn’t seem to be unusual. It is probably a good idea to tip very generously if, like me, you are there for several hours. There is a no smoking policy at the River Roost.
- Cost: no admission charge, no cover charge. My husband & I spent about $10 on beverages over a 3 hour period – it was a fun date for not much money.
- You can purchase Bob CD’s for $10 each. I believe he had four five different CDs available.
- Schedule: Bob is usually at POR Tuesday through Saturday nights and plays from 8:30PM – Midnight. He posts his schedule on his website at the beginning of the month. Bob is a real person and sometimes has schedule changes or vacation time so please check his schedule before your trip. I’d hate for you to miss seeing his show.
- If the schedule lines up, you can team this up with the Campfire on de’ Bayou story time & campfire sing-along that is being offered on Thursday and Sunday nights at Port Orleans Riverside’s Ol’ Man Island Fishin’ Hole from 6:30 – 8:00PM through March 2009.
- You do not have to stay at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside resort to enjoy these activities. If you drive, just tell the gatekeeper that you’re going to be visiting the resort for a few hours and they’ll direct you to the visitors parking area.
- Bob also performs at Auggies Jammin’ Pianos in the Gaylord Palms Hotel.
- Bob is also involved with the worship portion of Ocoee Christian Church’s Sunday morning worship service. We hope to get to visit the church on a future visit.
Who enclosed the sea behind doors when it burst from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its blanket, when I determined its boundaries and put its bars and doors in place, when I declared: “You may come this far, but no farther; your proud waves stop here”? Job 38:8-11
Today we are going to a water park called “Blizzard Beach”. Because you are made in the image of God, you and your parents will be able to think and make some decisions about what you want to do and where you want to go in this park. You will be able to control whether you go in the water or whether you stay out of it. Even though you will have some control over what you do, you will not have much control over what the water does or where it goes. You can decide, “I am going on a waterslide but I am not going to get wet and the water will not get inside my swimming suit.” But deciding that will not change the facts – you will get wet and it will get in your swimming suit. You can try to hold the water in your hands but it will leak out between your fingers. You can try to block the water in the wave pool but it will get around you. And even if you decide to stay out of the water, it might rain and you will get wet whether you want to or not. Try it for yourself and you will see that this is true – human beings just do not have very much control over water.
You see, we are made to be like God in some ways but we are no where near as powerful as He. When God decides that the waves can only go half way up the beach, the waves cannot go any further. When God decides that rain clouds are going to water a city or a field, then that is exactly what happens. God parted the Red Sea so that Moses and the Israelites could pass through on dry land. No person could ever do that. When the disciples were in a boat during a storm, they were very frightened but Jesus just had to speak to the storm and the waters had to calm down. He could do this because Jesus is God. Think of the most amazing person you know. Can they tell the water what to do? Can they decide to walk through a swimming pool full of water and not get wet? Are you getting an idea of how powerful God is?
Prayer: “Thank you, God, that You are so strong and that You love us. When ever I see water, please remind me of how powerful you are so that I will always be able to put my trust in You. Amen.”
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:11
Walt Disney often took his daughters, Diane and Sharon, to carnivals and amusement parks when they were children. He was concerned that most were dirty and not particularly safe so he set out to create a clean safe place where parents and children could enjoy themselves. His love for his daughters prompted him to make something better and more wonderful than any of the carnivals in existence at that time.
We came to Disney World because we love you very much and wanted to do something very special together. I know that we will treasure our memories here together and this trip is meant to be a very special gift to you.
But God loves us even more than we could ever love each other and His gifts to us are even more amazing than anything you will see today. Before we were even born, Jesus was sent to give us the gift of salvation. The Holy Spirit was sent as the gift of God’s presence in our lives every day, and we know that Heaven will be more beautiful and wonderful than anything we could hope for or imagine. Those are big gifts. God fills our lives with gifts of all sizes – from pets, to the food we eat, to friends, and family; we know that:
Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning. James 1:17
I hope our day in the Magic Kingdom reminds you of all the wonderful gifts God has given you and will give you as you live the rest of your life serving Him.
Prayer: Thank you, Heavenly Father, for all of the good gifts you give us – especially for the gift of salvation through Jesus. Please be with us today and teach us to recognize your blessings in our lives. Amen.
From one man He has made every nation of men to live all over the earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live, so that they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. Acts 17:26 & 27
Today we will be seeing eleven countries on four different continents represented in the World Showcase in Epcot. Even though the buildings, traditions, and even the appearance of the people from these countries are different; the Bible tells us that He has placed each country where it is and each person where they are for the very same reason…so that they can try to find God. Sometimes rich, powerful, or famous people have body guards and live in homes behind walls so that people cannot find them or touch them but God isn’t like that. Isn’t it wonderful that God wants us to find Him and know Him?
Young people from each of the countries represented in the World Showcase pavilions have come to Florida for a year to work here and to teach us about their country. They’ve also come to learn about America. Do you think God brought them here so that they might also learn about Him? Do you think God wants us to help them learn about Him?
And what about you? Did God put you in your family, in your town, and in your country for a reason? Does He want you to find Him and know Him better every day? Is He close by, waiting for you? Does He love you?
As you walk around Epcot today, try to think about how amazing it is that God made each nation and about how much He loves each and every one of us. And then, you can tell Him how happy you are that He helped you find Him. It sounds like He is just waiting to hear from you.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that You are helping us to know You. Please teach us to see other people and nations through Your eyes. Amen.
Lively, colorful parade at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
Today we will see some amazing examples of God’s creation as we visit the Animal Kingdom. Think about it – no human being has ever been able to create a single animal. Artists have to study hard to learn how to even accurately draw or paint a copy of the animals God made. Scientists studied for a long time to learn to make copies of animals using a method called cloning. Some scientists in England were able to clone a sheep and they named it Dolly. But they did not create a new kind of animal…all they could do is make a copy. God, however, started with nothing and – in just a week – made everything. What is even more amazing – He did not stop with one kind of tree, one kind of flower, one kind of animal, or one kind of person. His creation is full of different shapes, colors, and sizes. Is it any wonder that the Bible begins by telling us the amazing account of God creating everything. This part tells of God making all the different kinds of animals:
Then God said, “Let the earth produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that crawl, and the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. So God made the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and creatures that crawl on the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:24 & 25
In the middle of the Bible, God is still being praised because of the great things He created.
How countless are Your works, Lord!
In wisdom You have made them all;
the earth is full of Your creatures. Psalm 104:24
You alone are the Lord.
You created the heavens,
the highest heavens with all their host,
the earth and all that is on it,
the seas and all that is in them.
You give life to all of them,
and the heavenly host worships You. Nehemiah 9:6
Then, in the very last chapter of the Bible, we see that God is still being praised for having the power to create life.
“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” Revelation 4:11
We should also remember to praise God for all of the wonderful things He has made and done in the beginning, middle, and end of our day and in the beginning, middle, and end of our lives.
Prayer: “Thank you, God, for all of the wonderful things that we are going to see today. When I see a beautiful flower or a special animal, please let it remind me of how amazing You are. Amen.”
WDW for Christians 