>Around the World with a 15 Year Old.

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Today’s question to my 15 year old son, John, is,

“Tell me something you like about Disney World that everyone needs to know about.”

“Hmmm… I think I need a Girl Scout cookie to think. Hmmm….. I think I need a few more…ummmm…. Epcot.”

“What exactly about Epcot should they know about?”

“They should know about the countries.”

“The Countries” are the Pavilions in the World Showcase, that represent 11 different countries form around the world.

“Ok, why should they know about the countries?”

“You can experience many different cultures and their food!”

“What do you mean?”

“Each country has something new to try or learn about.”

“Can you give me an example?”

“You can go from sushi in Japan to a log ride in Sweden (Norway) to hearing a Mariachi Band in Mexico.”

At Teppan Edo in Japan, we had sushi one night and John really liked it. In the Norway Pavilion, as the Disney website says, the “Maelstrom is a family-friendly adventure on a troll-tormented Viking ship from modern-day to historic Norway”. Out Front of the Mexico Pavilion the Mariachi Cobre is a 12 piece Mariachi band that performs throughout the day.

“Which one is your favorite pavilion?”

“I think, China”

John, His Mom and a friend, outside Yong Feng Shangdian Department Store

“So, tell me about the China Pavilion.”

“Well, it’s like China”

As I was laughing he added,

“I’m kidding. They have a shop where you can buy a lot of neat things and teas.”

“Like what kind of things?”

“Hand painted china,”

Once again as I laughed he changed his answer,

“That’s not what I ment, hand painted glassware.”

“Anything else?”

“Little statuettes and fountains and Buddhas. And who doesn’t like Buddha? I was tempted to get a little Buddha?”

The shop he is talking about is called Yong Feng Shangdian Department Store. It sells authentic Chinese goods, such as Silk Robes, Furniture, Parasols and Statues and Fountains.

“What else should people know about the World Showcase?”

“The Nine Dragons is the Best Chinese food outside of China, itself.” (Not that he has ever been to China.)

The Nine Dragons is the Restaurant located in the China Pavilion. I wrote about it in an article last month called “It’s Not the Chop Suey Palace.”

“Is there any place else in the World Showcase that people should know about?”

“The place where the guy sells the African carvings.”

Out past China as you are walking toward Germany there is a nice place to sit and relax and get a drink from the Coke Stand. Alongside this place, there is a small stand that sells African Masks and handmade items. This is where we John got a South African t-shirt for the World Cup. He enjoyed looking at the merchandise in this shop.

“When you first enter the World Showcase, Which way should you go?”

“Go left, unless you want to go right.”

He was cracking me up,
“Why go left?”

“Two lefts make a right. No, there are more things to see if you go left.”

After talking about this, we decided that there was one extra pavilion before you have to cross a bridge to get toward another pavilion. Going to the right takes you to Canada, England and then a bridge where going left takes you through Mexico, Norway and China, before a bridge.

“What else should people know about or view in The World Showcase?”

“The different little shows, that pop up, the Mime in Italy, the Drummers in Japan and there was a great one outside the French Restaurant. And the Firework Show is kind of cool.”

Throughout the World Showcase, there are “street Performers” that appear at different times during the day and put on small shows for the guests that are roaming around the different Pavilions.

The Fireworks show in Epcot is called Illuminations.

“Where would you recommend seeing Illuminations?”

“The Boardwalk Bridge.”

“Where?”

“The Bridge over at the Boardwalk as you are walking toward the back entrance of Epcot.”

“Not even in Epcot?”

“No, it is too crowded.”

“Thanks John. Is there anything else you want to say about the World Showcase?”

“It is a really fun and relaxed way to spend the day.”

My Tips from a Teenager Tuesday, co-author is my son John. For those of you that have a 15 year old, you will understand some of the answers, those of you that don’t; I will say these were his real answers. He showed his sense of humor today, and we had some good laughs as we were writing this article. I hope you enjoyed it.

>What’s in a Name?

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In Mount Joy Pennsylvania, there is a bar called Bube’s Brewery. Part of the Bar is called the Catacombs Restaurant. From their website they state, “A costumed guide will greet you and lead you on a tour of the brewery on your way to dinner. You will descend 43 feet into the stone-lines vaults of the Catacombs. There you will find a unique fine dining experience, with a menu that includes a variety of traditional and gourmet dishes.” I couldn’t eat there when I went. It was too dungeon-like for me. But what a great name for a restaurant that is underground. There are some awesome names that are used throughout Walt Disney World. Today I present the Unknown Magic of Great Disney World Names.

In sticking with the underground theme the first place name we have to bring up is Le Cellier, which is French for The Cellar. If you have never eaten in Le Cellier, you do seem to walk down a slope as you are entering the dining room. And with the beams above your head, you do kind of get the feeling of being in a cellar, but not that far underground.

The other great name from this same area of Epcot is “O Canada!” This is a 360 degree film that is about Canada, hosted by Canadian actor Martin Short. I think the name itself is awesome, even if it makes me dizzy every time I go in it.

One of the best new names in Walt Disney World is the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. What a great name for a “spa” for little princesses. Where else would you take a little girl to get her hair, make-up, and clothes made over so that she could become a princess? I mean when you put them together- what do you got? Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo! So the name is just Magical!

In the Magic Kingdom, one of the great pun names is The Lunching Pad, in Tomorrowland. I love a good play on words and this is fun.

One of my Favorite names in all of the Walt Disney World Resort comes from the Polynesian Resort. It is ‘Ohana, the restaurant on the second floor of the Great Ceremonial House. For those who don’t know, ‘Ohana means family. As one of the “cousins” is seating you in this wonderful restaurant, they explain to you that the meal will be served “family style” and that you can also have as much of anything you want. Whenever we go to Disney, we make at least one trip to ‘Ohana and we

make sure to toast our wonderful family (and our Magical Experiences) – the way you need to when you are there- by raising our glasses and saying, “To a great Vacation and ‘Ohana!”

One of the toughest names to say three times fast is Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade. And if that isn’t bad enough, they change the name of it around the Christmas Holiday to Mickey’s Jingle Jungle Parade! I dare you to try and say those 5 times fast. You end up sounding like you have spent a great night at Raglan Road. Another great parade name is Move It, Shake It, Celebrate It! Just the name of this one makes you want to dance or something. It gets you all pumped up and makes you ready for a Magical Experience.

This takes us to the great names given to the night time entertainment in the parks. Wishes, IllumiNations, SpectroMagic, Fantasmic! What great words to make you want to stay after dark and see what they are going to present. You know if the show is half as interesting or as powerful as the words are, it’s going to be a great presentation.

Two great names in one area are based on a great backstory. The story is that there was a freak snow storm in Florida, the owners quickly built a ski resort, but the snow melted just as fast as it had come, and they kept it open as a water park. The water park became known as Blizzard Beach. Which is a great name and a lot of the parks attractions and rides have names that stay with the winter theme; Mt. Gushmore, Toboggan Racers, Slush Gusher, and Ski Patrol Training Camp are just a few. The other great name form right next to Blizzard Beach is Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course. Winter Summerland, has two eighteen hole courses, one that is summer themed, with sand and surfing songs, and the other is winter themed with snowmen and hockey rinks and both of them feature Santa and his elves.

I think the most interesting name on the entire Disney property though is DisneyQuest. This name is great, but it doesn’t give a hint about what is inside the big greenish building that the name is written on. For those that have never been inside of it, it is a Multi-Floor Interactive Indoor Theme Park. Even that description is a little vague. What is inside this building are five floors of interactive games, video games, and virtual reality experiences. It is really something you have to experience once if you visit Walt Disney World.

So, now you know, there are some straight forward Disney names (even if they are in another language), some Magical Disney names, some names that come from a good backstory, and names that will get you all pumped for what is going to happen. But my favorites are the ones that not only create Magical Experiences, but also are family favorites.

If you are in Mount Joy area, go Check out Bube’s Brewery or online at: http://www.bubesbrewery.com/index.htm

>Fresh Beer with a Great View

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My son thinking about my advice

I stated in my post, “Go to the Pub”, that I had given my son the following words of advice, “If you want a really good burger, go to a brew pub.” I don’t know why, but brew pubs seem to have the best burgers. I have had many over the years and from all of “research” I have done on this matter, I have found that 99.9% of the time, this has been true. In Walt Disney World, there are a few places to get a burger, but if you have the opportunity, make sure you get one at the Brew Pub. There’s a Brew Pub in Disney World? Yes, there is. It is located on the Boardwalk and is an Unknown Magic that is very appetizing.

The Big River Brew Pub is located on the Boardwalk, between Thimbles and Threads and the Disney Vacation Club Preview Center. It is open Daily from 11:30am until midnight. This Big River Grille & Brewing Works is the only one of the four Big River Grilles, to be found outside of Tennessee. It is owned by the Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant Group, Inc which owns and operates brew pubs in 29 states and two in Taiwan. It is not a really big place to eat or have an adult beverage, but it is never really crowded and there is outdoor seating when it is.

The food menu is very good, the menu starters include dips and nachos, while the main courses offered range from chicken, fish and meat to pastas and sandwiches. There are salads, everything from a Greenhouse Salad to a Grilled Salmon Caesar. There is also a kids menu available. Big River is also on the Disney Dining Plan as a table service meal. We have had many of the different menu items at Big River, the Caesar Salads are good as are the Nachos, and the Blackened Mahi Mahi Sandwich, but I am partial to the burger. One note here though, they do not fry anything at Big River, which means all meals are served without French Fries. All Sandwiches come with homemade potato chips.

The beer selection here may be a little different than other bars you have been at if you have never been to a brew pub before. They do offer a full bar for mixed drinks and wines, but they don’t really offer other beers besides their own. But every one of their beers is good. Some are comparable to mass produced beers. Their Gadzooks Pilsner is a good choice if you like Budweiser, while their Southern Flyer Light Lager is a very nice light beer. My favorite is the Rocket Red, which is a very refreshing ale. The Steamboat Pale Ale, which is the last of the four that is regularly on tap, is a good compliment to the Blackened Mahi Mahi Sandwich or the Shrimp & Scallop Penne Pasta. They also offer a Beer Sampler that comes with the four beers mentioned above and a season brew that changes every few months.

If you have read the blog before, you know by now that I do not consider a restaurant an Unknown Magic just because of the food or location (Although this one is helped by its location). Now, you know for it to be an Unknown Magic, the ambiance has to be as good as the food. Big Rivers food is good, but the Magical Experiences here are created by the fact that you can sit on the Boardwalk and enjoy you meal. Either during lunch or dinner sitting outside and watching the Friendship launches and people walking the Boardwalk is a very relaxing thing. And at night you can sit outside and see the tops of the fireworks from Illuminations in Epcot, helping you to have a Magical Experience. Another thing about this wonderful place is that if you are sitting outside enjoying your adult beverage, the kids can go over to the store or the Boardwalk games and enjoy themselves and you can keep an eye on them.

So, now you know, for a great burger, good beer and a relaxing place to eat, you need to go to an Unknown Magic at the Boardwalk. Big River Grille & Brewing Works will create Magical Experiences for the whole family, because you can enjoy each other’s company and the sights and sounds of the Boardwalk.

>Boardwalk at Night

>As I have written before, the Boardwalk is one of my favorite places in Walt Disney World. It is a very relaxing and laid back place during the day, but as I stated in my post “What is the Unknown Magic Within Walt Disney World?” back in June, “At night the Boardwalk takes on a whole new persona. As the sun goes down, the lights come on and the area becomes electric.” The Boardwalk at Night has an Unknown Magical quality all its own. The Colors of the Boardwalk shout out to you and make you want to see what is going on and the hum of the lights make the atmosphere exciting. The Boardwalk at Night isn’t just different because of the lights, though, it is also different because of what goes on at night. There are opportunities for Magical Experiences on the Boardwalk at Night that are not offered during the day. So, I offer to you today, the Unknown Magic of Disney’s Boardwalk at Night.

Even before the sun sets on Walt Disney World and the lights start to make the night shine, Disney’s Boardwalk starts to come alive. They begin by opening the Midway Games. These are games of chance and skill like those you would find on the Boardwalks in New Jersey. Things like; Basketball shooting, Water Gun races and Lob a Lobster, all fun games for kids and adults. They cost between three and five dollars to play, but do create Magical Experiences for you and your kids.

After the games open, and evening sets in and the Boardwalk gets more crowded, the performers come out to play. Disney’s Boardwalk is the home to some fabulous street performers. There is the Bicycle piano man, Musicale Mark, who is not only good at avoiding running people over, but a funny and talented pianist, that puts on a good show. Besides Musicale Mark, there are Magician Comedians, that do tricks and performers that will play card games with you.

Some of the other fun performers on the Boardwalk at night are the Jugglers. They

juggle everything from Bowling Balls to hats and everything in between. There are also other street performers that tell stories and draw in crowd members to help them tell jokes and entertain the rest of crowd. And then there are the Sword Swallowers. This both amazes me and creeps me out. But they are fun to watch on the Boardwalk. The Performers on the Boardwalk are there nightly from around seven o’clock until about nine o’clock, rain or shine, but if it is raining, you may have to search for them (Hint: they may be in the Boardwalk Resort Lobby or in a restaurant).

After the performers are done, you can still enjoy the Boardwalk, because from a bench in front of Big River, you can see the fireworks from Illuminations in Epcot. And after these are done and the Boardwalk crowd starts to thin out, there is a wonderful calmness to the night. And just enjoying this quiet, calm can be a Magical Experience after a long Disney Day.

So, now you know, at night the Boardwalk is a fun exciting place to make some Magical Experiences, with all the Performers and Games, but even after they’re gone, you can still enjoy the Unknown Magic of the Boardwalk at Night.

The bottom picture and poem are from my friend JB Conway. The Poem is one of the many wonderful Haikus in his new book Mouse of Zen. If you are a Disney Fan you need to have this book, it brings memories of Disney Parks and the Magic of Disney to mind. You can get his book here:
http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/mouse-of-zen/12190364