Ode to Walt Disney World’s PeopleMover

Posted on February 2, 2015 by greenlisa9989@yahoo.com

Diehard Disney fans! What’s the Tomorrowland attraction we love the most? Is it Space Mountain? Nope, not that one. Buzz Lightyear and his Space Ranger Spin? No, that’s not it. Ask around among long-time Disney lovers and one attraction stands out as a traditional, perennial favorite – The PeopleMover! It’s not very thrilling, it’s not speedy, hilly, or packed with special effects or fancy animatronics. Why, then, is it so popular? Glad you asked!

There’s just something so DISNEY about riding the PeopleMover. Originally, the ride was called the WEDway PeopleMover when it debuted in 1975 (WED = Walter Elias Disney). Now it’s officially named the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover and also affectionately know as the TTA. The cars, powered by eco-friendly linear induction, move silently along a mile-long route around Tomorrowland. During this 10-minute tour, you’ll have a chance to rest your feet or even catch a quick nap if you like. The views are great and include a peek into both Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. Day or night, there’s rarely a wait for this hidden gem of an experience. On our most recent visit to the Magic Kingdom, we rode the PeopleMover late one morning to dry off after getting soaked on Splash Mountain. We may have been the only riders at that time and we loved every minute of it.

A few days ago, I invited my friends over on Twitter to show their love for the PeopleMover by writing a haiku in tribute – the speed at which these awesome works of poetic artistry were tweeted back to me is a testament to how passionately we Disney fans feel about our most beloved Tomorrowland attraction. You know when some of my favorite podcast hosts are writing poetry on Twitter, they are serious about their favorite attraction! (If you aren’t currently listening to the Mighty Men of Mouse, the WDW Northeast Podcast, or the Por Favor Podcast, you should be!)

Ode to Walt Disney World’s PeopleMover (Many thanks to Dutch, Dean, Gary, Deb, and Heather!)

Zero incline track
Breezy Tomorrowland views
There’s never a line – Dutch Lombrowski (@DutchLombrowski) Host, Mighty Men of Mouse

Slow but exciting
See true Disney history
Love to ride at night – Dean (@CT_Mickey_Man) Host, WDW NE Podcast

Every single time
You hope Space Mountain is lit
Darn, perhaps next ride – Por Favor Podcast (@PorFavorPodcast)

Oh, PeopleMover we love thee
You give us a break from walking
Please keep on moving us – DisneyDeb (@DisneyDeb67)

Ever moving round
People watch, photo op spot
Tomorrowland fave – Heather Lebischak (@HLebischak), contributing writer as “Tangled Diva”, Tips from the Disney Divas and Devos.

Faux Flora at Walt Disney World

Posted on January 29, 2015 by greenlisa9989@yahoo.com

Some of the best magic at Walt Disney World is achieved with the careful cultivation and placement of thousands (and thousands!) of trees, shrubs, bushes, flowers, and topiaries. I’ve heard staggering statistics on the army of gardeners and horticulturalists it takes to keep the World looking so beautiful. Sometimes, Disney park designers and Imagineers come up with incredibly imaginative uses for trees and, out of necessity, those trees must be fake! That’s what I want to talk about today. Fake Trees – aka Faux Flora! There are bunches of fake animals at Disney World, too, but I’ll save the faux fauna discussion for another day.

This is not an all-inclusive list of every artificial plant in every Disney park – I just want to talk about a few of my favorites ones. Ready?

Swiss Family Robinson Tree – This Adventureland marvel in Magic Kingdom gets overlooked a lot. Probably because it is low-tech and, well, a bit boring. The TREE though has been standing there since the park opened in 1971 looking pretty awesome! Next time you pass by, at least check out the details of the artificial tree, even if you don’t want to climb the 116 steps to see how the Family Robinson lived.

Tomorrowland Palm Trees – They’re sharp-looking and don’t try to be something they’re not. Perfect for Tomorrowland’s futuristic feel, these were steampunk before that was even a thing.

The Tree of Life – 50 feet wide and 145 feet tall, it’s more a work of art than just a fake tree. This completely artificial plant plays an important role as the icon for Animal Kingdom. Built using an oil rig for stable frame, this Animal Kingdom icon boasts over 300 animal carvings, 7891 end branches and more than 102,000 artificial leaves in 5 shades of green. The tree’s roots shelter the theater for It’s Tough to be a Bug. If I’m on vacation, I can often be found studying the minute details of the different animal carvings.

Boabab Trees – You know these trees – they’re the upside-down-looking ones on Kilimanjaro Safari. Admit it – the safari just wouldn’t be the same without them!

DiVine – She gets a lot of flack. I hear people dis this living but artificial figure in Animal Kingdom all the time. I think she’s cool! If you don’t know what I’m talking about – check out my DiVine-specific article here. I haven’t seen her in a while, but make a point to look for her on every visit along the path between Asia and Africa.

Know about any faux flora I’ve left off my list? What fake trees are your favorite at Disney World?

Disney World – Construction Walls Everywhere

Posted on January 26, 2015 by greenlisa9989@yahoo.com

If you’re planning a trip to Walt Disney World in the near future and you’ve been reading blogs, Disney fan sites, or message boards, you’ll have noticed something you may have found alarming – there are construction walls everywhere! And cranes. And closures.

It’s true. I wish I could tell you the place looks picture perfect and is as bright, beautiful, and photogenic as seen on TV, but I’d be lying. The Magic Kingdom’s hub is undergoing a major expansion which involves the use of construction walls seemingly everywhere. Same goes for Animal Kingdom – major changes in progress. Downtown Disney’s transformation into Disney Springs will be wonderful – when it’s finished…right now? Not so much. As welcome and exciting as these changes are, they also result in vast seas of construction walls. Things are going to really get shaken up at Disney’s Hollywood Studios when the addition of Star Wars Land gets underway. If rumors are to be believed, Echo Lake, Dino Gertie, and Min and Bill’s Dockside Diner are all doomed. Cue the walls!

Should this worry you? Should you quickly cancel your plans and wait it out? My advice would be absolutely not! If you plan to vacation at Walt Disney World anytime during the next two to three years (or longer), you may not be seeing the parks at their picture-perfect best, but you’ll be visiting during an important time of major transformation! And, there will still be an enormous number of attractions, shows, shops, restaurants, and resorts for you to enjoy. You will also find plenty of places, construction-wall-free, to capture great vacation photographs.

In case you insist on being worried and you find you’ll be at Disney World in the near future, I’ve compiled a list of tips to help you cope with the current state of upheaval.

1. Be Prepared! What’s that saying, “forewarned is forearmed”? That’s the purpose of this post! If you know you’ll find things a bit unsettled, it’ll make it easier to accept. Resign yourself to the fact that things don’t look like they do in the Disney vacation planning DVD or the commercials or travel shows you may have seen on TV. It’s okay – looks aren’t everything. It’s what’s on the inside that counts, right? Rest assured – the heart of Disney is still beating strong!

2. Focus on What you CAN see and do! I know I’m making it sound like the situation is dire, but I want you to have realistic expectations. You’ll still find plenty of places virtually construction and closure-free! For example: Except for the attraction-formerly-known-as-Maelstrom in the Norway pavilion, Epcot’s World Showcase is not currently undergoing any major construction and is still one of the most gorgeous places at Walt Disney World.

3. Embrace the Walls! If any company can make construction walls look interesting, it’s Disney. Signs, sayings, pictures – cute, clever, and funny surprises can be found along the length of those barriers. Consider turning the walls into one more Disney “thing” to be explored.

4. Get Creative With Your Camera! Don’t fret over Cinderella Castle if there’s a construction crane in use that will appear in every picture. This should not ruin your vacation! There are plenty of other, albeit less famous, beautiful buildings and even other castles you can photograph to your heart’s content. The Tree of Life in Animal Kingdom may be surrounded by walls, but you can still capture some very memorable and scenic park shots.

5. Secure Those Bragging Rights! You will be able to say – I visited way back when. I secured my bragging rights during the Fantasyland expansion when Seven Dwarfs Mine Train was under construction – I remember what the park was like before, during, and now after the awesome addition to Magic Kingdom was made! In 2014, I visited Animal Kingdom amid the vast expanse of construction walls – it’s okay! I was THERE when they were adding the elements for the upcoming nighttime attractions and Pandora addition – and I’ll be excited to visit again both during the construction and when the transformation is complete!

Will you be at Walt Disney World soon? What do you think about the changes?

Fantasyland’s Big Top Souvenirs

Posted on January 17, 2015 by greenlisa9989@yahoo.com

If you’ve yet to visit the new Fantasyland expansion, make a plan to stop by Storybook Circus and visit one of the best-themes, coolest shops in the Magic Kingdom. Today’s installment of Saturday’s With Nick gives us a terrific idea about what can be found under the Big Top!

Fantasyland’s Big Top Souvenirs

By: Nick

Ladies and Gentlemen, please direct your attention to the Storybook Circus portion of the New Fantasyland expansion, to discover the most stupendous, the most terrific, the most fantastic new shopping experience in all of Walt Disney World: Big Top Souvenirs!

That may have sounded like hyperbole, up there, but this really is a fantastic place, with a circus tent atmosphere located in the new Fantasyland section of the Magic Kingdom next to Pete’s Silly Sideshow.

The fun starts before you even get inside the store. On one of the days we visited, 2 Cast Members were out front, and they were pin trading in a new and novel way.

The pins were presented on popcorn themed cushions! Love it!

The circus atmosphere continues throughout your shopping or dinning experience.

I did say dining, as there is a snack section and a beverage section. I didn’t have any of the goodies this trip, but will be sure to the next time I go to the circus.

It’s great to see one of my all time favorite characters, Humphrey the Bear, represented. Not familiar with Humphry? Please check out some posts about him here.