>The Bigger the Better

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Most of the nine of us

 Our first trip to Walt Disney World as a Family was in 2005. I wrote about it in an article I wrote for Growing Up Disney called The Best Thing I’ve Ever Seen at a Disney Park. Since then we have been down many times. One of our trips in 2007 was with my family, a group of nine; three kids and six adults. This past summer we went with friends and it was a group of seven; two teenagers, four adults and a baby. It is different travelling with others, but it is also different when you travel with larger groups. When you travel anywhere with a larger group there is always a worry about where to go, what to do and how to get there. When you are in Walt Disney World, it seems that these worries are lessened. Disney makes it easy to travel with a larger group. So, I offer for you today, The Unknown Magic of taking a large group to Disney.

Usually the first thing you have to worry about if you are travelling with a group of 4 or more is accommodations. Disney makes it easier on families of more than four. They have the Deluxe Villas, which are the Disney Vacation Club Villas, which come in different sizes, but with a two bedroom suite, you can comfortably have 5 adults staying in a room, without a roll-away bed, which you may get in some places. They also offer at the ALL-Star Music Resort a “family suite” that six can stay in. This is a wonderful thing, because the ALL-Star resort is one of their ‘value” resorts and the price is a little lower.

Next thing you may worry about when you are travelling with a larger group is where to eat. Going out with a family of three or four is nice, when you are on vacation, because this is the normal group size that most restaurants are expecting. Even a party of six isn’t usually a problem. When you get towards eight, it starts getting into pushing table together territory. This is always awkward. Where is everyone going to sit, who gets to sit next to the baby, why do we have to sit so far away from each other, it’s a pain. In Walt Disney World, it doesn’t seem to be a problem. And they never seem to have just pushed a table together for you. They always seem ready for a larger group and are happy to accommodate. Some of the best places for a large party are their

dinner shows. The Hoop-De Doo Revue and the Spirit of Aloha Luau are really set up for parties larger than four. They serve the food Family Style and the tables are larger tables (mainly to hold all the food!) The dinner shows are actually more fun and can be more of a Magical Experience when you have more people with you.

With a larger travelling party, getting around wherever you are is sometimes a challenge. I still recommend driving in Disney, but when we were down this past summer we made the busses and boats work. Even with seven of us, a stroller and the baby, we really didn’t have any problems on the Buses or the monorail. We kept the group together and were able to talk to one another. Once again it is because Disney makes group travel easy. With a larger group, if you do have a van or even two cars, getting around in Walt Disney World is even easier. Not having to wait for busses with a kid is always a plus, but if there are three of them, as we had a few years ago, then it is even better when you don’t have to wait. Disney also makes it easy for you to travel by car if you want to keep your group moving and together, by allowing you to park for free at the parks and resorts if you are staying on Disney Property.

The only problem you may have when travelling with a larger group is who gets to sit next to whom on the attractions. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and Toy Story Midway Mania are two of the attractions where this could be a problem. The reason is that these are competitive, interactive rides. When we were down this past year, we actually had a great time on the Space Ranger Spin, because we used the extra Magic Hour and we were able to go through the ride six times, changing partners each time, so that everyone got a chance to play against each other. It was a very fun time. And once again, it was because of something that Disney does to make this able to happen. The extra Magic Hour helps groups to enjoy the parks, as you can move through the parks easier when there are less people in the Parks. Another way they make it easy to re-do an attraction is with FASTPASS (which I have talked about in “No Need to go Commando”) When you are able to re-do an attraction, this makes it easy to ride with someone else in your party also.

So, now you know, travelling with a large party in Disney is easy. The accommodations they offer for bigger families are great and eating with a group isn’t a problem either. Other worries you might have about taking a large group to Walt Disney World should be pushed aside also, as Disney takes care of everything from getting you where you want to go to making it easy for you to enjoy yourself with your family. So get the whole family together and go enjoy a Magical Experience in the Happiest Place on Earth, Walt Disney World.

>A Huge Centipede with wheels.

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Here in New Jersey, if you go to the beach, we have boardwalks. On some of the boardwalks, we have Tram cars. For those of you that don’t know what a Tram is, it looks like a Huge Centipede with wheels. They stay to the one side of the boardwalk, and when there are people in front of the tram, they play a really obnoxious recording that says, “Watch the Tram car please!” over and over again, until you move. This got me thinking about the article I wrote a while back, about why I think you should drive to Walt Disney world or rent a car when you fly to Orlando. There were some reasons I offered for needing or having a car, and I explained why I like “Drivin’ ‘round Disney”.  In that article, I didn’t mention an Unknown Magic that is fun and actually essential, when you drive to one of the Disney Theme Parks. It is the Unknown Magic of The Tram.



John and I waiting for the Disney Hollywood Stuidios Tram

 At all of the parks, parking lot sections are themed to go along with the park that they represent. At the Magic Kingdom, the sections have names like Minnie and Goofy, and Sleepy. At Epcot, the parking areas are called things like Discover, Create, Journey, Amaze, Explore, and Imagine. Parking at the Animal Kingdom, you will leave your car in Peacock, Butterfly, Dinosaur, Giraffe or Unicorn. My favorite names are over in the Disney Hollywood Studios parking lots, they are Film, Stage, Television and Music. It’s not the names that make me smile, it’s the pictures that go along with the names. On the Film sign is a Picture of Goofy with a film camera, Stage has Mickey, and Television and Music have Minnie and Donald on them. I find them kind of neat.

In all of the theme park parking lots, they have a tram that will take you to the front of the lot. After you park, you walk to the main aisle of the parking lot and the tram picks you up at the end of your row, or very close to the end of your row. And then delivers you to the front of the lot. Each of the areas near the front of the parks where the trams leave you off is different, but the trams themselves are basically the same.

The trams don’t leave you off at the very front of any of the parks, but they leave you close enough that you can walk right into the entrance and into the park for your Magical Experiences. Sometimes, you can have Magical Experiences because of the Tram itself. One very late night leaving the Disney Hollywood Studios we experienced one of my favorite Magical Experiences. As the Tram takes you out to your car, from the park entrance, you go up one side of the road and then down the other. As we turned and started down the second side of the road, my son stuck his arms in the air and yelled “Wee.” We lost it. Every now and then he does it when we’re all tired and he knows we need a laugh.

Another thing that can cause Magical Experiences, when you use the Tram, is the walk into the parks.  Or in the cases of the Magic Kingdom, the walk to the Ticket or Transportation Center. As you walk to the ticket and Transportation center, you pass under the road, and walk past flags and other assorted things that you wouldn’t get a chance to see, things like signs, archways and Topiaries. These are neat Magical Experiences that can only be had if you take the time to look around and see what Disney is presenting to you. At the Ticket and Transportation center you can also get a great picture of the Magic Kingdom that you won’t get from anywhere eels.

The Tram car drivers and Cast members are great also, and try to create Magical Experiences for you too. Late at night when you are coming back from the parks, or even first thing in the morning, they are fun to listen to because they make little jokes that are funny, but you might miss them. They also can give you some great information. A few summers back we were on a Tram going to the Animal Kingdom and the tram operator asked us why it was a special day in Disney. I’ll give you a hint: it was July 17th, 2005. So, it was actually the 50th anniversary of Disneyland opening. Many people on the Tram didn’t know this, and I had forgotten what the date was until she said, “On July 17th, 1955…” then I realized where she was going with her question.

So, now you now, there is Unknown Magic to be had, by riding the Tram to the entrance of the Walt Disney World Theme Parks. Not just because you get to see things you may miss otherwise, but also because you can learn things and also be entertained.

>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.

>You can be, Part of the Show!

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Last month I wrote about my experience in Epcot at the Innoventions’ game show “What’s your Problem?” (http://tinyurl.com/253khml) I really enjoyed being part of the show, as a teacher, this is something I do all day long, entertain. There are others out there like me, that like to be part of things. In Walt Disney World, there are Unknown Magics for people like us. These Unknown Magics will create Magical Experiences for you and your family members. They are the Unknown Magic of Being Part of the Show.

As I showed in the article I was Loopy, You can be part of the show at Innoventions. But there are other places in Walt Disney World that you can be Part of the Showalso. Most of the time, they ask for volunteers, so if you want to be one, just let them know you would like to be Part of the Show. Sometimes though, you are chosen to be Part of the Show and you don’t have any choice. But don’t worry, the cast members never try to embarrass you they just have fun with you.

One of the places where you they ask for audience participation is in Disney Hollywood Studios at the Indiana Jones’ Epic Stunt Spectacular. Before they start the show they will ask for a few people to be part of a crowd scene during the show. Over in the Animal Kingdom, they have audience members help them at Flights of Wonder. You can also be Part of the Show at the Spirit of Aloha Luau Dinner Show, because they ask you to come up on stage and learn how to do a Polynesian Dance.

Throughout Epcot, they also have guests help to put on the street shows that happen around the World Showcase. There are many different characters that turn up and create Magical Experiences with their skits and performances. The last time we were there, the Mariachi Cobre, had two women from Mexico singing with them. They had stopped them as they were walking by and had them help out with the performance. And of course Turtle Talk with Crush in Epcot is a great place for the kids to have a Magical Experience, be part of the show and interact with Crush from Finding Nemo.

 

A place where you can be part of the show, but you have to approach them is in Disney Hollywood Studios’ American Idol Experience. This gives you the opportunity to perform in front of a live audience, who will vote on your performance and if you are the winner of the day’s finale show, you will get the chance to perform in front of a real American Idol representative at a regional audition for the TV show.

The silliest show that you can be a part of though is in the Magic Kingdom. It is at the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor. Here you don’t really get a choice if you are going to be in the show, they choose you. The show is an interactive comedy show, kind of like Crush’s Turtle Talk, but this one is more about having fun, than learning. The show is hosted by Mike Wazowski and other Monsters. Throughout the show though, they spot light people in the audience to either prove a point or ask questions. During our last visit, we went here with the friends we were traveling with and my friend Mark was sitting with their baby daughter on his lap and they highlighted him to ask a question. They said they wanted to talk to “The Two headed Human.” But that they would “talk to the big head the little one was plugged up,” because she had a pacifier in her mouth. It was very funny and we all enjoyed the Magical Experience it created for us.

So, now you know, Magical Experiences can be created not just by going to the show, but maybe by being in them. So, next time you go to show, by volunteering, auditioning or just being lucky, maybe you can be, Part of the Show.