>The Truth is out there

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Last week, I saw an episode of Penn and Tellers, B***S*** on Showtime. The episode dealt with Area 51. There was a group that went out into the Nevada Desert to spy on the “Secret” Air Force base that is supposed to house aliens and alien technology. Some people don’t believe in aliens and if they do, most don’t believe in them they way these people do. I think that some of the things that are in the world could be easier explained by there being other life forms out there, but I’m not sure if I believe or not. Sometimes, I just think it is improbable, other times I know they do exist, because they can be seen in Walt Disney World. By way of explanation, I bring to you the Unknown Magic of Aliens in Disney World.

The stories of alien abductions go back many many years and UFO sightings go back just as long. Probably the biggest decade for the UFO hysteria was in the 1950’s. Hollywood capitalized on this fear and made many UFO/Space invader movies.

Everything from Flying Saucer, and The Man from Planet X to Invaders from Mars were shown in movie houses and on drive in movie screens all across the United States. In Disney Hollywood Studios, you can relive this experience in the Sci-Fi Dine in Theater. This wonderfully themed restaurant is one of the Must Do’s on my list for new Disney visitors. It is a place where the seating area of the restaurant is set up as a drive-in movie theater and the tables are “cars”. You actually feel like you are back in the 1950’s, watching old movies at the Drive-in. Movies about Giant Mutant insects and Aliens. Most of the Clips they show on the Big Screen at the Sci-Fi Dine in Theater are from space/alien movies. It is a great way to get your Alien on. Also in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you can see Sigourney Weaver at her alien butt kickin’ best by taking a ride through the Great Movie ride. One of the scenes portrayed in the attraction is from the movie Alien, which is probably one of the scariest movies I saw as a teenager.

In the Magic Kingdom, you can also encounter an Alien of a different sort. The Alien is known as Experiment 626. He was originally created by Dr. Jumba Jookiba, to basically destroy everything around him. But don’t worry he won’t hurt you. You can find him in the Magic Kingdom at Stitch’s Great Escape, a “dark Ride” that has 626, also known as Stitch, “escaping” and wrecking havoc, when he is sent to a United Galactic Federation holding facility. As you are in this attraction you will be annoyed, tussled, teased and even grossed out by Stitch, before they recapture him and send him to another facility.

Stitch can also be seen in the Animal Kingdom, roaming around with his earthling “owner” Lilo. They will pose for pictures with you and sign your autograph book. When we were there a few years back, my son was wearing a stitch shirt (Stitch is his favorite character) and when he showed Stitch, Stitch made a big deal out of posing with John and really did create a Magical Experience for him.

Lilo and Stitch are also the hosts of the Character meal at the Polynesian Resort’s ‘Ohana’s Best Friends Breakfast with Lilo & Stitch. We have eaten here a few times also. The food during breakfast at ‘Ohana isn’t as unbelievable or as plentiful as dinner, but it is a great meal, that is very enjoyable with the characters making their way around the restaurant.

There are other Aliens to be found in Walt Disney World

also. These are the true Aliens of the science fiction world. They are little green men. Don’t be scared though, these Aliens are from the Toy Story Trilogy. They can be seen in both the Magic Kingdom and Disney Hollywood Studios. In the Studios, they are of course found in Toy Story Midway Mania. Here during the attraction, you play ring toss with them. Actually you toss the rings on them. You can also see them in Pizza Planet, the Pizza place located near the Muppet Theater. In the Magic Kingdom they can be found on Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin (where there are also many other

Alien Life Forms). They are also outside the attraction in what looks like a crane machine.

So, now you know, you can enjoy the best Disney aliens in fun and Magical ways. And some of these ways have to do with food, which is always a plus. So, when you go to Disney World, don’t be afraid of the Unknown, remember, “The truth is out there,” well down there, in Walt Disney World.

Picture of Penn And Teller DVD from Amazon.com

>The Magic is in the Details, part II

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When I wrote “The Magic in the Details” a little less than a month ago, it probably shouldn’t have had that title. It should have been called the Magical Details in Epcot or something to that effect, because the whole article was about Epcot. So, today’s post will be sub-titled, the Magical Details in Disney Hollywood Studios.
Disney Hollywood Studios has some neat details, like the license Plates on the cars in Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, spelling out messages like H8TRFFC, BUHBYE and 2FAST4U. Other great details can be found in Toy Story Mania’s queue. The idea that you are in Andy’s room is wonderfully brought back to you time

and time again with the props all around you as you are waiting for the ride. Things like the nightlight, you would find in any kids room, just inside the entrance to the attraction. But these are details that everyone sees and notices. The Unknown Magics in Disney’s Hollywood Studios are the Magical Details that you need to slow down and look for, that many people miss.

Little Magical Details like when Mulch Sweat and Shears, the landscapers that rock out during their break, start to play on the back of the truck, inside the cab of the truck, there is a Gene Simmons Kiss Mask. Or the Detail that The Poster that says “Come Together @your Library” on the door of the Public Library that they are playing in front of is an actual American Library Association Poster from a National Library Week. The Disney Imagineers are wonderful at adding details that would make things seem more real and these two help you to think you are on a real street, not a backstage, in Hollywood Studios.

Another detail that can lead to Magical Experiences is the handprints outside of the Great Movie Ride. There are some of the Greatest Actors and Actresses of all time and if you take the time to look, you may find your favorite ones. If you are really into the Televison and its Stars, you can also check out The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame Plaza. This Plaza has bronze busts of Television Legends. It is a pretty neat place to take a picture.

A really great detail that most people miss is the traffic sign, at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Prospect Ave. The traffic sign is a working 1930’s traffic

sign. Instead of changing red to green, it changes from stop to go. It adds to the authenticity of the setting on Hollywood Boulevard.

My favorite Magical Details in Disney Hollywood Studios come in the Sci-Fi Dine-in Theatre Restaurant. For anyone that has never been, this is one of those Disney Advance Dining Reservations that you want to make soon after you figure out your itinerary for your trip. It is always crowded, but it isn’t because the food is wonderful, it’s because it is such a neat place to eat. What makes it so neat is, that it’s a restaurant set up as if you are eating in a car at a drive-in movie back in the 1950’s. The tables are actually cars and the entire restaurant is set up so you think you are outside under the stars watching movies. They actually don’t show the entire movies, what they do is show shorts and trailers from different movies. It is a very cool place. Some of the great details that make it an even more Magical Experience are the stars that twinkle above you as you are eating or the “refreshment stand” at the back of the “yard”. Another neat detail is the fact that all the “cars” have their parking lights on.

Some other great details that make for a Magical Experience are found at the Character meet area for Lightning McQueen and Mater. They actually are found at Luigi’s Casa Della Tire, behind the back stage door of the Muppet Theater and off of the streets of America. The details added to this character meet are very cool. They actually have the cars making sounds and the Casa Della Tire building is a pretty good replica of Luigi’s from the Movie, Cars.

So, now you know, just like Epcot, there is an Unknown Magic in the Details at Disney Hollywood Studios. You just have to slow down and take the time to enjoy them.