>Tune into one of my favorites

>Some of my favorite things in Walt Disney World are the sounds. I love hearing the bell on the trolley on Main Street USA, I love hearing the explosions from Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! When I am walking in Disney Hollywood Studios and I love hearing the screams from Test Track. But my all time favorite sound in Walt Disney World is the background music. For people that have not been to Disney

before, there is music played in all of the guest areas throughout the Walt Disney World Resort. This musical background is an Unknown Magic because it is like the color scheme of the Resorts or the landscaping of the parks; the Disney Imagineers use music in Walt Disney World to enhance the feel of where you are without being intrusive. Even though the music fills the air and it is around you, many people miss it. They hear it as white noise, not as part of the Experience. But I see the music as helping with the theme of whatever area you are in. It helps you to become more involved in the experience, more engulfed in the magic.

For example, in Adventureland there are tribal drums that play, making you feel as if you are entering a jungle. While in Frontierland you can hear the Wabash Cannonball as you are walking past the Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café. In Disney Hollywood Studios as you walk up Hollywood Boulevard it isn’t

 uncommon to hear Hooray for Hollywood being played from the speakers. In Epcot the music is what you would find in each of the countries represented in the eleven different pavilions. From the Chinese music,

featuring zither and lute type instruments to the Mariachi Music that fills the air around the Mexico Pavilion, the music adds to the atmosphere and helps you to believe you are really in that country.

There are other places where the music is not only part of the attraction, but also very much a part of the experience, where the music is as memorable as the ride. The most well known of these attractions is It’s a Small World. The song for the ride written by the Sherman Brothers, composers for many of the Disney movies, is a song that stays with you for many hours after riding through the attraction. A place that is more of an Unknown Magic in Walt Disney World where this happens is at Winter Summer Land, the miniature golf course near Blizzard Beach, the music played here is very important to the feel of the two courses. Depending on which course you play, the winter or the summer side, you will either sing along with the Beach Boys or with Classic Christmas carols. This is a fun way in which the music adds to the experience.

I enjoy listening to the music in Walt Disney World so much that even when I am home, I try to enjoy some of the magic that I get from it. I have the Official Disney Theme Park CDs and I have some recordings of the music played on the Resort TV channels that I listen to from time to time, but the one way that I get my

Disney Music fix that I can share with everyone, is by listening to Reedy Creek Radio. They not only play the music from different attractions and from parades and firework shows, but also from the resorts. It is a good way to enjoy the music from Disney World even when you aren’t there.

So, if you are in Disney World or are going to Disney soon, take the time to enjoy one of my Favorite Disney things, the Music that surrounds you when you are there. And if you aren’t there but miss the music as I do, try Reedy Creek Radio for your Disney Fix.

>What I Think…

>You should check out this Weekend.

Seeing the characters in Walt Disney World is one of the highlights for many children and even some adults. The Pixar characters are being found in more and more areas around each of the parks. They can be seen in parades and shows, but the Character meet and greets are the most exciting. Across from Toy Story Mania, In Pixar Place section of Disney Hollywood Studios, Woody’s and Buzz Lightyear have their meet and greet. It is actually themed as if you are on Andy’s Bed. You can see Lightning McQueen and Mater Disney Hollywood Studios also, at Luigi’s Casa Della Tires near the Streets of America. In Epcot, The seas with Nemo and friends, not only has the Seagulls out in front chirping at

you (Mine, Mine) but the entrance into the building takes you through scenes that have Nemo and pals throughout them. Also in the Seas Pavilion, there is an interactive attraction called Turtle Talk with Crush show. This features the Surfer Turtle from Nemo Also. In the Magic Kingdom Pixar characters are found at The Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor. In the Animal Kingdom in the root system of the Tree of Life is another Pixar presentation, It’s Tough to Be a Bug, Hosted by Flik, from A Bug’s Life. This show is a 3-D show that is fun and exciting and explains the world of insects to us humans. Also in Animal Kingdom, they have Nemo-the Musical, a thirty minute theatrical adaptation of the movie. So you see there are plenty of places to see Pixar characters in the park. But if people who are staying at Disney but don’t have the Park Hopper passes or if you are not staying in Disney, these characters may be difficult to see.

That is why what Disney is doing this weekend in Downtown Disney is a really neat thing. For those of you do not know about this, this weekend Disney is presenting: ‘Downtown Disney Car Masters Weekend.’ This event will showcase meet and greets with Cars favorites Lightning McQueen, Mater, and the newest “Cars” character, Finn McMissile. Other activities will include games, a video kiosk and photo opportunities. You can also see Richard Petty’s racecar and RIDEMAKERZ, (located in the old Virgin Megastore building, where you can customize your own cars) will unveil the new “Cars 2” models. There will also be classic cars on display. The AMC Downtown Disney will also be showing the Original ‘Cars’ feature all weekend long. All this is preparation for the newest Disney/Pixar movie ‘Cars 2’.

What makes this great is that Disney is not only promoting their new movie (which comes out on June 24th) but they are giving Disney/Pixar fans a chance to interact with some of their favorite characters without paying park admission. I think this is a wonderful thing for Disney to be doing. It will give a thrill to younger fans of the Cars movies and it will also give families a great thing to do together this weekend. For anyone in the Orlando/Disney area this weekend, the activities take place in Downtown Disney’s West Side from 10:30 a.m. – 6:00 PM on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Disney is also celebrating Pixar’s 25th Anniversary this weekend at the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. There will be many character meet and greets, a contest called the Cars 2 Race Around World Showcase and even Pixar Speaker Sessions. All of these activities will take place in Epcot and need park admission to attend.

For more information on Downtown Disney Car Masters Weekend click here: Downtown Cars

For Information on the Pixar 25th anniversary celebration in Epcot go here: Epcot Pixar 25

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>Where in the World? Answer:

>

The Cinderella Fountain in the courtyard behind the Castle is an Unknown Magic,

The Whole Fountian is wonderful,

But the Effect made by the background and the Fountian is Magical!

>Where in The World?

>

This is found near an Unknown Magic in Walt Disney World. Do you know where you can find this?

Please leave your guess in the comment box.

We will let you know where this is tomorrow.

>A Japanese Place where they cook in front of you.

>

I usually interview John (my 15 year old son) after dinner on Mondays that way we have some time to sit and discuss his answers. Last night, John was looking forward to getting back to X-Box after his homework and his friends were calling to get him moving. So getting his mind with me was a chore in the beginning, but like usual, John got his mind wrapped around Disney and gave some good answers. Here is our conversation about his Thoughts on something in Disney World.

John tell me something that you would like everyone to know about in Walt Disney World. Put down the phone please. What is something people should know about?

Um.

Maybe something that you like doing, or going to or eating at?

Get the phone later. Please

A Japanese Place where they cook in front of you.

Ah, the one track fifteen year old mind. I could have predicted this; he was just saying during dinner that the guys on his tennis team are going to go to the Hibachi Grille for dinner later this week.

Teppan Edo?

Yeah, the place in Epcot.

Why should people know about this?

Because it is an exquisite dining experience, I enjoyed it when we went there.

 I love when he uses words like exquisite, it makes me smile. I mean how many teenagers use words like this?
 What made it exquisite?

The food was rather good and them cooking in front of you is pretty cool.

It is pretty neat experiences having the chef cook your food in front of you on the big grill table.

Do you remember what you ate?
Some Sushi, assorted meats and vegetables that were cooked, (I think he means as compared to the sushi which wasn’t) steak Shrimp and rice and veggies.

Would this have been as special if it weren’t in Disney?

Uh, I don’t think so. The chefs have a personality and they are from Japan and they were really good at what they do.

What was the neatest part?

The onion volcano- the guy made. He stacked onions and made them steam and it looked like a volcano.

His Mother said this was her favorite part as we started talking about Teppan Edo and he told her that she wasn’t being interviewed. Funny how this was his favorite part too!

Was there any bad part?

Probably the wait to get in. even with reservations you have to wait a while.

The other problem my wife and I had was that we didn’t get to talk to each other through dinner because the seating around the table makes it difficult to talk to anyone but the person right next to you.

Can you describe the dining room to us?

It was Japanese Décor, (imagine a Japanese steak house with Japanese Décor.) It had a stove, with a counter around it and you sat at stools with another group. We were with a pretty cool family.

There are actually two large grill tables in each dining area and the “counter” surrounds three sides of the table, so that the chef doesn’t have his back to anyone while he is cooking.

Is the chef the only person serving you?

No, they have waitresses filling your drink order and taking other requests.

Like what? Karaoke numbers? (Yes, I was the one being goofy.)

NO, it’s not that type of Japanese club.

What other types of requests did they take?

Special food requests.

Do you remember what they asked?

Something about the food.

(Between the three of us, we remebered them asking if anyone had any food allergies and if anyone was a vegetarian.)

So, where did the food rank in all of the places we have eaten in Disney?

Probably 2 or 3 it was very good food.

And how about ranking the experience?

Probably one of the best.

Is there anything else you want people to know about Teppan Edo?

Get reservations, because you will not get a seat if you just walk up. And there is a restaurant part if you don’t want the whole in your face experience.

Even Advanced Dining Reservations for Teppan Edo are hard to come by. I recommend trying to get this as one of your reservations at the 180th Day before your arrival. (This is the window at which Disney allows you to start making reservations).

Thank You John, you can answer your phone now.

You’re welcome… Yeah? (into the phone).

>They Bring the Magic

>

Andy

 We have had some Magical Experiences because of Disney Cast Members. I shared a story about the waitress in Le Cellier that told my son about knowing some of the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team and he still talks about it, six years later. I mentioned Andy at the Boardwalk who made switching rooms a few days into our vacation as easy as walking to the lobby and because of it, we made sure we stopped by and talked to him throughout the rest of our visit (now we exchange Christmas cards). I’m sure everyone who has stayed in Disney World has a special memory of something that a Cast Member did for them. But for people that have not stayed in Disney World, they may not know about this Unknown Magic.

A few weeks ago, I found a book on EBay. It is called The Magic begins with ME: A Happiest Celebration on Earth Keepsake. It was a Cast Member exclusive hardback book that was given out in 2005 for the 50th anniversary of the opening of Disneyland. I can’t read it, not because I am not a Cast Member, but because every single time I start to read it, I have to put it down, because I start to cry. I will admit, I get a little emotional sometimes, but this book makes me blubber like a baby. I can’t read more than a page or two before I start to tear up. I know it’s silly, but I can’ help it. The Magic that the Cast Members give to so many people is amazing to me. The happiness that they give people, the joy they bring children when they are “just doing their job,” makes me well up.

There are stories in the book about A Make a Wish child, and Special needs children, but you expect the Cast Members to give a little more attention to these children. But there are also stories about Cast members going above and beyond to make a child smile. There is one story about a Fast Pass host named Greg that helped make a little girl happy after her two Masks that she made in Epcot were taken. There is another story of Karen a Cast Member who was a handler for Peter Pan when a young girl who had lost her autograph book came through the line for Peter a second time. Recognizing her, they asked her what she was doing coming back so soon. After hearing the story Peter and Karen told her they would get all the other character’s autographs for her. Then later that night Karen delivered it to her in her Resort room. These are the things that Disney Cast Members do that make Disney World and all the Disney Parks Magical.

One of my Favorite Magical things that the Cast Members do In Walt Disney World happens every morning in the Magic Kingdom. As the Park opens and people are making their way up Main Street USA, the Cast Members from all the shops along the street, come out and wave hello, with big Mickey Hand gloves on. It is the neatest thing. It makes me smile every time I see it and I have seen some little kids get all excited and wave and run to them to Hi-Five the Mickey hand. Another thing I love that the cast members do is they play with the kids when they are waiting for the parades or the fireworks. I think it is so neat to see the cast members turning the jump ropes as kids, who were two minutes before that whining to their parents they were bored, are laughing and singing.

The Cast Members are Magical People. Once when we were in the Magic Kingdom, we were heading into the Haunted Mansion. At the same time, there was a large group of people heading in at the same time. Most of them were in their early twenties and there were a few older people, but they were all carrying a binder with them. There were two group leaders who were making comments about different items as we waiting in the queue and I noticed the notebook of one of the young people. It was a new hire orientation. Looking

around the group, my wife and I picked out the new cast Members who were going to do great with the company. They were the ones that you could tell were just as excited as we were about riding the Doom Buggy.

In the Book I mentioned above, there is a quote from Walt that reads:

The First Year I leased the parking concession, brought in the usual security guards- things like that-but I soon realized my mistake. I couldn’t have outside help and still put over my idea of hospitality. So now we recruit and train every one of our employees.

With this in mind, I’m sure the training is very important when it comes to Cast Members, but I think the recruitment process is even more significant. You can tell that Disney only hires the people that will be able to help bring the Magic to the guests. You see it every day in Walt Disney World; from the cast members working the front desks to the Cast Members that work the attractions, they bring the Magic.

After reading The Magic begins with Me, I realize there is one thing I have never done in Disney World That I think I need to do, send a letter and say Thank You to a Cast Member.

You can still find this book on EBay; search The Magic Begins with Me and there are a few up for auction.

>This is my family…It’s little, and broken, but still good. Yeah, still good. *

>

Happy Mothers’ Day to all the Mothers out there, especially to my mother and my wife. I originally wrote this article last Father’s Day, because of a tweet made by Garth Vaughan. His tweet was called, “Disney Time is Family Time” It came from the Disney Parks Blog and showed a great picture of two kids with their dad at Disney World. I enjoyed writing this article after seeing Garth’s post, because I still believe that this is one of the Biggest Unknown Magics of a Disney World Vacation, Family Time. The chance to spend

time with your family, maybe to reconnect with those pre-teen and teens or to give a little extra attention to a little one that needs it, because you’ve been working so much, or just to hang out as a family, without running to this practice or that game, is a Magical Experience in itself. But to do it in Walt Disney World is even more special.
Everything in Disney is aimed at Family Fun, Family entertainment, Family togetherness. This is one of the reasons why Disney offers so many perks to stay on site. Everything from the Magical Express from the airport, to the on-site transportation, and the Disney Dining Plan are aimed at making the vacation of your dreams easier on you, so that you don’t have to worry or stress over the little things and you can spend more time with your Family.

Take the Disney Dining Plan for example, everyone in the traveling party must have the Dining Plan if you purchase it. Some people don’t like this, but I see it as a way to make sure we eat as a family, which I personally think is a great thing (many families don’t get a chance to do this anymore). Disney Restaurants are also all child friendly and not only that, but the cast members that work in them know how to talk to kids and relate to them very well. A family meal in Disney World can become a Magical Experience at any moment, sometimes because of your family, sometimes because of a Disney cast member. When I was a teenager, I slept in one morning on a trip to Disney World with my family. When they got back, I was told all about my Dad wrestling around on the floor at the restaurant in the Contemporary Resort with Goofy, because my dad happened to be wearing socks with Goofy on them. I still remember my disappointment in missing what was a Magical Experience on my family’s trip.

Another thing that Disney does to promote Family Fun is make it so most of the attractions can be ridden by everyone. There are very few height requirement rides in Walt Disney World. The Thrill rides Rock-n-Roller Coaster, Space Mountain and Mission Space come to mind, but you may be able to ride with the children. Check with the Cast member at the queue for the ride. Even the attractions that seem to be more for the children have ride vehicles that will fit a grown adult. This makes it easy for you and the youngest members of your family to enjoy time together also. This makes every attraction a possible Magical Experience.

If you look back over the posts I’ve written over the last six months, you’ll see maybe one or two that are aimed at adult entertainment, or satisfying one certain member of the Family (a teenager for instance). That is because everything in Disney is for everyone in the family. I have a friend that begrudgingly went to Disney a few years back. He is a workaholic to the Nth degree, but his wife and daughters wanted to go. He figured he’d play some golf, send them to the parks, and they’d have dinner together every night. Well, the first day, he played his round of golf, met up with the family for lunch and was expecting a nap and to sit by the pool and do some work for the afternoon. Well, his youngest asked him to go on Tower of Terror with her, she was afraid, and he said yes. He didn’t make another tee time the rest of the trip, because he had so much fun with them that afternoon that he didn’t want to miss anything else that week, because of the Unknown Magic; Disney time is Family time.

As Disney Vacation Members, we get to vacation in Disney often. A few years back, we skipped our yearly trip and waited until the following year. On that trip, my son, wife, and I took my parents and my sister and her family. There were a total of nine of us. My sister is a Disney Commando, which is against my beliefs, so we did our own thing most of the time, and went to the parks together maybe twice, but ate many meals and hung by the pools together often. Throughout the trip my son who is an only child, kept saying “it’s great to have Family”. He was having Magical Experience after Magical Experience with his cousins and family.

One night we went to Chef Mickey for dinner. We met my sister’s family there, so there were five of us traveling from the Beach Club Resort to the Contemporary Resort. I hadn’t thought about the travel time, so instead of trying to coordinate buses and all that, we drove over. The only problem was that I had rented a convertible that sat four comfortably. My Mom who at that time was just over 60 years old, ended up sitting in between the two back seats and we laughed all the way home that evening, after laughing all through dinner that evening. A Magical Experience that I will never forget.
So, now that you know, even if you can’t afford to go to the parks every day, or you can only go to Disney World for five days instead of seven, it doesn’t really matter. As long as you are in Disney, you will have Magical Experiences because of the Unknown Magic; Disney Time is Family Time.

*Post title comes from this quote from Lilo and Stitch: “This is my family. I found it, all on my own. It’s little, and broken, but still good. Yeah, still good.”

>Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

>

I know I’m a few days late, but today’s Saturday Matinee is one of the Unknown Magics that is offered in Epcot, that stays with the theme of a Mexican Celebration!

>A Grand Disney World Favorite

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For most people, their “I’m in Disney” Moment happens when they see Cinderella Castle. For me this happens when I see the Grand Canyon Concourse. I have to go to the Contemporary Resort at some point, usually in the beginning, of my visit to Walt Disney World. I don’t know why, it may be because this was the first Disney World Resort I stayed in as a child, or maybe it’s just the view of the Grand Canyon Concourse from the Monorail above, but to me, the Grand Canyon Concourse is as exciting to see as the first view of Cinderella Castle is for many others. This is why it is one of My Favorite things in Disney World.

The Grand Canyon Concourse is located in the Contemporary Resort. It is actually the name given to the fourth floor of the Resort. The fourth floor is actually two floors in one. The upper part of the floor is the Monorail Station. To get there you have to go up an escalator or elevator near the bathrooms and elevator banks that are located in the middle of the floor. This is the only Monorail Station that is located in a building in Walt Disney World. From the Station and actually from the Monorail as you are pulling into the station or just passing through, you can see the lower part of the Fourth Floor, which is the Grand Canyon Concourse. This is always a Magical Experience for me.

The Grand Canyon Concourse is known to many as the home to Chef Mickey’s. Chef Mickey’s is a character meal buffet. They serve breakfast and dinner and Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy come around to your table as you eat. The Food is great; at dinner make sure you try the parmesan mashed potatoes. The Character visits are Fun and at different times throughout the meal they have a sing-along that can lead to Magical Experiences for the kids. I heavily recommend an Advance Dining Reservation, if you are planning on eating there, because the food is good and this character meal is one of the biggest and best!

Another place to eat on the Grand Canyon Concourse is the Contempo Café. The Contempo Café is a quick serve/counter restaurant that is open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. It is one of the new automated ordering food centers in Walt Disney World. You order your food at a kiosk, without going to the counter. You only go to the counter to pick up your food. The food here is like most of the Quick Serve/Counter meals in Disney World’s Resorts; it is good food that is reasonably priced, but it is nothing really flashy.

These two restaurants are next to a lounge, the Outer Rim, which has windows overlooking the resort’s pool and the Seven Seas Lagoon. The Outer Rim is a full service bar with specialty drinks and light snacks. This is a great place to watch the Electric Water Pageant which is very cool to watch and is another Magical Experience that many people miss.

The Electrical Water Pageant is an electrical parade out on the water. There are 14 floats that travel around Bay Lake and the Seven Seas Lagoon. The floats all have lights on them, which are made into shapes like sea creatures and other aquatic animals. The “parade” is accompanied by music from Disney movies, such as the Little Mermaid and Peter Pan (although sitting inside the Contemporary you cannot hear the music). As the Pageant comes to an end, the lighted shapes change to a Patriotic theme and so does the music.

All three of these food and drink places are to the left of the Grand Canyon Concourse as you are looking at the 90 foot Mosaic that goes from the Floor to the Ceiling. This Mosaic has been in the Contemporary since the Resort opened in 1971 and

features a 5 legged goat among other wonderful things. The Mosaic was made by Mary Blair who is also responsible for the designing of it’s a Small World and has 1,800 1-square-foot tiles and took 18 months to construct.

To the right of the Mosaic, There are four different kinds of shopping experiences, from Disney clothing and gifts to health and beauty items. My favorite store on Grand Canyon Concourse is Definitely Bayview Gifts, which according to Disney’s site “ offers unique Disney-branded souvenirs, chocolates, gifts for the home, collectibles, watches, jewelry, framed art and both men’s and women’s fashions.” In other words it has some cool Disney Stuff, which can make for a Magical Experience.

Another neat thing in the shopping area of the Grand Canyon Concourse is the Mickey Mouse Ear Sculpture that used to be behind the Resort, in an area near the pool. This Sculpture is large enough for two adults to each sit in an ear to have their picture taken. They also have a huge Disney Snow globe in this area. A new addition to the Grand Canyon Concourse is the Sky Bridge that connects the Bay lake Tower (the New Disney Vacation Club Resort) to the Grand Canyon Concourse. To use this bridge you need to have a key card form your room in Bay Lake Tower.

So, now you know about one of my favorite things in Walt Disney World. The Unknown Magics that many people miss the Grand Canyon Concourse. It is a place that brings Magical Experiences in many different ways, from great Character Meals to incredible lagoon views where you can see things only presented in Disney World. So, next time you’re in the Magic Kingdom, take a monorail ride to the Contemporary Resort and see one of my favorite things in Walt Disney World.