That Time We Went to the Frozen Sing-Along

Posted on January 19, 2016 by greenlisa9989@yahoo.com

Sometimes when I’m booking FastPasses I’m only after two and that third one doesn’t matter very much. When I was booking FastPasses for our last trip to Walt Disney World, I wanted Toy Story Midway Mania and Tower of Terror for our day in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. I got them both at exactly the times I wanted – late morning and early afternoon. We’d try to ride Rock’n Roller Coaster and Star Tours early in the morning on stand-by and have a pretty good plan. My Disney Experience randomly chose a third FastPass for me and instead of trying to change it to something else, I thought, “What the heck – Why NOT?” and kept “For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing Along Celebration” in the 2-spot for the day between Tower of Terror and Toy Story. We’d never been to the sing-along and, to be perfectly honest, I didn’t know if we’d make it or not. By the time that FastPass came due after lunch, I suspected we’d skip it in favor of something else. Fast forward…

We were having a red letter day! Seriously, considering it was two days after Christmas, we could not have enjoyed ourselves more. As planned, we arrived early for the 8:00 am park opening and found Cast Members were letting guests in by 7:45. We walked on to Rock’n’ Roller Coaster with no wait. We stopped for breakfast at Starring Rolls, strolled the Streets of America, rode Star Tours (20 minute stand-by), and saw MuppetVision 3D with no wait. Next we hopped on the Great Movie Ride before deciding we needed to see Chewbacca in the Star Wars Launch Bay (30 minute wait) – we were having a blast and it was still early! Why not relax at Beauty and the Beast-Live On Stage before our first FastPass of the day at Tower of Terror? After we got off our service elevator, we were parched and it was noon.

A beer from Min & Bills hit the spot and then we made our way to 50’s Prime Time Café for our 12:30 reservation. Lunch was excellent and, fortified for the afternoon with a carrot cake cookie from the Writer’s Stop, we decided we would indeed check out the Frozen Sing-Along. We entered the theater and took our seats in the center and toward the back – boy, was it crowded! Behind us an argument between two groups of angry moms broke out and provided some riveting pre-show entertainment. Then…show time!

The show is cute and funny and, having read reviews and watched this YouTube video, I knew what to expect. When the first song started, I was ready! I belted out the first line…Do you want to build a snowman…before I realized that virtually no one was singing along besides me. I closed my mouth and looked around…yup, silence. Weird! We did like the 30-minute show…even if at our performance at least, there was no actual singing along with the sing-along. The special effects were great! Guaranteed to please even the most casual Frozen fan, you should put this on your Studios to-do list. Probably, you don’t even need to use a FastPass like we did. If you do go, I’m dying to know if people sing along or not, so please stop back by and tell me what happens!

Lou & Lil’ Joe – Epcot’s Manatees

Posted on January 14, 2016 by greenlisa9989@yahoo.com

My two favorite things about Epcot’s The Seas With Nemo and Friends are riding in a Clam-mobile and checking up on Epcot’s manatees. If I had to choose between the two, watching those big, beautiful, lettuce-munching manatees would be my first choice. I’m fascinated by them!

Lou & Lil’ Joe – Epcot’s Manatees

Recently we had the opportunity to spend quite a while in The Seas and the timing was right! The manatee-specialist was giving her talk about manatees in general and Lou and Lil’ Joe in particular. While she spoke, she tossed heads of (what looked like) Romaine in the pool. Manatees move rather slowly compared to other mammalian water-dwellers like dolphins and seals and that’s part of what makes them so much fun to watch. They take their time passing by, giving guests great opportunities to check out their unusual features and appreciate their undeniable cuteness.

Lil’ Joe was born in the wild about 26 years ago and orphaned soon after. He’s lived in a few other places before moving to Epcot and once even made a short, failed attempt at living in the wild again (he ate unhealthy things and nearly froze to death). It seems an orphaned manatee baby cannot learn from humans what he would have learned from his mom. It’s best for Lil’ Joe to stay at Epcot where his safety can be ensured. He has a climate controlled environment, plentiful healthy food, and a buddy.

Lou has a completely different story. He was living a happy life in the wild until a boat collision cost him his tail. He looks a little rough, but having no tail does not interfere with his ability to get around well. The Cast Member giving the presentation explained that efforts were being made to rehabilitate Lou for an eventual return to the wild. Good news for Lou, but sad for Lil’ Joe when that happens. The look happy together!

The manatee area in The Seas has two observation areas. Downstairs, guests can watch Lou and Lil’ Joe swim around in their habitat through a very large window. Upstairs is the manatee “lab” around an area of the pool’s surface where guests can learn about these wonderful creatures. I recommend setting aside a few minutes of your next day in Epcot to meet Lou and Lil’ Joe and learn about the life of a manatee.

Are YOU a fan of Epcot’s manatees?

Saying Farewell to the Osborne Lights

Posted on January 6, 2016 by greenlisa9989@yahoo.com

We set aside the entire day on December 27th (2015) to spend at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Sure, we were there to enjoy our favorite Studios’ attractions and we wanted to check out the new Star Wars Launch Bay, but mostly we wanted to pay our respects to the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights. After a successful 20 year run as one of the most beloved Christmas traditions at Walt Disney World, the lights will be turned off for good on January 6, 2016.

Saying Farewell to the Osborne Lights

We wanted to spend time strolling the Streets of America where the Osborne Lights are displayed – both during the daytime and at night. The lights are spectacular when they’re on, but during the daylight hours, there’s also a certain charm – a special atmosphere – when the lights are off, the sun is shining, and the streets are mainly deserted.

We arrived at 7:30 for the 8:00 am scheduled park opening. We managed to knock a couple of attractions off our to-do list and grab a bite at Starring Rolls before we made our way to the quiet Streets of America. The day was gloriously sunny and warm – not Christmas-ish at all, which made the setting seem almost surreal in both its quiet abandonment and seasonal spirit.

We knew that a million tiny details that were so obvious during the day would all but disappear at night as the lights would shine and blink with the music and as “snow” fell on guests packed tightly in the streets to see the spectacle for the last time. What fun it was to be all alone on the Streets of America during one of the busiest weeks of the year at Walt Disney World! We took our time and soaked up the wonderful surprises hidden all around. After we’d seen what we could and used all our FastPasses (plus a few extra attractions), we headed to Epcot for a pre-dinner stroll around World Showcase. We ate at the Dolphin’s Blue Zoo that evening – after which we caught a bus back to the Studios for the big show.

Now we had lots of company on those same previously-empty streets! The place was packed and the displays and details we had admired by day took on a completely different look at night.

The music was wonderful! The lights were as special and spectacular as could possibly be imagined. As an added bit of fun, we moved as quickly as we could through the hustle and bustle to spy as many Mickeys (and Minnies) as we could before we called it a night. Will the Osborne Lights be missed? You betcha! At the same time, we are anticipating the many new and exciting experiences to come after all the changes are complete at Disney’s Hollywood Studios (or whatever the park may be named in the future).

Were you a fan of the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights? What did you love most about this incredible and unique experience?

Tower of Terror – 10 Best Things

Posted on October 14, 2015 by greenlisa9989@yahoo.com

It’s October and I’m feeling Halloween-ish. Last week, I listed my favorite things about Magic Kingdom’s Haunted Mansion. This week, I feel it’s only fair to do the same for the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. As it is most certainly one of my top three favorite attractions, I have plenty of love for every dark, spooky, incredible detail. Where to begin? That’s easy! The Tower of Terror’s draw begins long before guests step into the queue. Stroll down Sunset Boulevard and you’ll see (and hear) what I mean. The Tower’s exterior, complete with screaming faces in the upstairs window, is sure to capture your attention.

Tower of Terror – 10 Best Things

The Grounds – This is one of the best, most detailed attraction exteriors ever created. Disney Imagineering at its very best. There’s mist, age, decay, overgrown landscaping – the story begins long before that first step inside the Hollywood Tower Hotel.
The Lobby – If you could escape from a Doom-Buggy in Haunted Mansion, it might be a lot like exploring the Tower of Terror. Clearly, this was once a finely appointed, upscale establishment. It’s almost sad to see it in such a rundown state. Creepy yet lovely with a sense of foreboding. Exactly the right atmosphere for what happens next.
The Bellhops – Seriously some of the best and most fun Cast Members in the World! They’re solemn (but still fun) and have awesome costumes.
The Library – So much to see! Incredible details are everywhere even before the TV comes alive and Rod Serling (voiced by Mark Silverman) sets exactly the right mood! This attraction layers the buildup like none other – carefully crafting the story while maximizing anticipation and a bit of fear (in a good way). Watch carefully – the hidden details are part of the charm!
The Sounds – The classic Twilight Zone theme song, the televised back story, the use of sound (and silence) from the library to the end of the ride…genius! “It’s raining it’s pouring…”
The Basement – Amazingly detailed (like the grounds outside), the winding path between the library and the elevator takes guests into the dark, dingy hotel basement. Giant boilers, pipes, equipment, and Hidden Mickeys are all there to be explored.
The Service Elevator – Could a ride vehicle look more daunting? I don’t think so. The elevator on the outside looks ramshackle and uninviting – once the doors open? It takes some serious bravery to step inside knowing that once those doors close, there’s no turning back.
The Anticipation – First-timers worry about what’s going to happen next. Repeat guests DO know what’s in store and still…well, I know how hard my heart is pounding at this point and I’ve ridden dozens of times. That’s part of what keeps me coming back!
The Thrill – As you can tell from outside this attraction, the Tower of Terror tends to make people scream. Me? Not so much – this ride makes me laugh hysterically. I can’t explain it, but the surprises on this ride seriously crack me up.
The Pictures – Even before our Memory Maker package included video for the Tower of Terror and even with many strangers in every picture, I still count the ride photos among my most favorite. I guess it’s all the different expressions captured and the different way each person reacts to the ride’s random movements…makes me smile every time I see our pictures.