Tag Archives: Walt Disney World

5 Best Types of Disney Cast Members

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RM-99-Days-to-GoToday is double-digit-dance-day, friends.  I’m not bragging or anything, but I’m officially less than 100 days from my next visit to Walt Disney World.  Somehow this kicks my excitement up a notch and I start imagining myself actually THERE.  Y’know, walking down Main Street, riding a certain sketchy service elevator, heading to LA in my super-stretch, listening to the dulcet tones of Madam Leota calling spirits, taking in the particular smell of Rome burning, chowing down on a churro…the Disney World works!  All the stops will be pulled, Christmas decorations will abound.  Oh, boy!  I cannot WAIT!RM-BLT-Studio-Main-Room

Picturing all my favorite things at Disney World always makes me think about those awesome Disney Cast Members and what an important role they play in my vacation happiness.  There are a few CM’s in particular that are so critical, my vacation just wouldn’t be the same without them!

And so, for this week’s Friday Five, I give you the…

5 Best Types of Disney Cast MembersRM-Contemporary Resort Greeter

  1. The Cast Members of Welcoming – When I step off the Magical Express and see the smiling face of the first on-property Disney Cast Member, I feel officially on vacation.  They may meet me at the bus, in the lobby of our resort hotel, or at the front desk check-in – doesn’t matter to me!  They’re all smiles and that makes me happy.RM-Sanaa Server
  2. The Cast Members Who Bring Us Food – I could try to play it cool and say we mostly go to Disney World for attractions and amenities.  Thrill rides, shows, ambiance, hidden Mickeys…oh, who am I kidding.  We love the FOOD!  I know many of you live in fancy big cities and can drive a block or two to an amazing dining experience anytime you want to.  We live in the wilds of Louisiana…our options are limited.  Dining at places like Citricos, California Grill, Jiko, Flying Fish Café, Il Mulino, and Yachtsman Steakhouse are such a treat for us!  It’s not just the food – it’s the service!!!  There’s no doubt that those amazing Cast Members in these fine dining establishments make our meals extra special!RM-Photographer-DHS
  3. The Cast Members Who Take Our Picture – I’m not just talking about the PhotoPass/Memory Maker photographers.  I’m talking about all the Cast Members who are ready and willing to take pictures with our camera or cell phone to make sure we do not miss capturing all the special moments of our vacation.  They’re helpful and kind and we appreciate them beyond words.RM-Main-Street-CMs
  4. The Cast Members Who Control Crowds – I love these folks!  The Parade Prep People!  Safety may be their main (and most important) concern, but we have always found them to be funny, entertaining, and especially good at keeping guests from being trampled by a parade float while being charming at the same time.IMG_5124
  5. The Cast Member From Home – This is the rarest one of all!  We read name badges.  It’s become a bit of an obsession and has prompted many an interesting conversation.  Disney Cast Members come from all over the world and we know most of them have to be at least a little homesick.  Taking a minute to ask about a CM’s hometown helps us connect for a few minutes and, we like to think, helps return the kindness that the overwhelming majority of Disney Cast Members have shown to us over the past 25+ years.  It doesn’t happen often, but occasionally we find a CM from Louisiana.  One day, back in 2012, we found a CM from our hometown.  You can read about that story here.

What about YOU?  What types of Cast Members are your favorite contributors to Disney vacation happiness?

Finding Tangled in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom

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RM-Festival-Of-Fantasy-Mime-From-TangledHappy Saturday, Tangled Fans!  Today’s post is for you!!!  It might be tempting to despair over the cold, but true, fact that Tangled is seriously under-represented at Walt Disney World.  Sure, the Snuggly Duckling float in the Festival of Fantasy Parade (most days, Magic Kingdom, 3 o’clock) is perfectly amazing.  Rapunzel, Flynn, and all the expected details are there.  But it’s fleeting…rolling right on by within seconds.  Thrilling!  And then gone.  Tangled has no dedicated rides or attractions on its own…or does it?  Perhaps we need to take a closer look at what IS devoted to this popular Disney movie, and so I give you this week’s installment of Saturdays With Nick…enjoy!

Finding Tangled in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom

By Nick

Today on Disney Musings I thought we would talk about a serious topic. Bathrooms.

They are pretty important. And who wouldn’t enjoy a nicely themed area to visit when necessary?

The Tangled themed rest area in Fantasyland is a lovely stop.

Rapunzel’s tower catches your attention from a distance.

The theme is carried throughout with wanted posters.

The popular weapon, the frying pan outside…

…and in the men’s room.

Lanterns are hung throughout, and look especially lovely as evening approaches.

Portions of this article originally appeared on the Disney Musings Blog.  Follow all the Disney adventures of Nick, his wife, Barbie, and friends in the following locations:

Disney Musings Blog, on Twitter, on Facebook, On Instagram, On Pinterest.

Please listen to Nick, our friend Dave, and I on The Disney Exchange Podcast where we discuss our love of all things Disney and offer travel tips, restaurant and resort reviews, planning advice, and other Disney-related nonsense…while we argue and laugh a LOT.  Follow the Disney Exchange on Facebook and weigh in on our many opinion-solicitations.

Y’all have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by!

Still Loving Expedition Everest

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RM-Expedition-EverestStill Loving Expedition Everest

In the early days of this blog, I waxed poetic about my favorite Disney World attraction, Expedition Everest.  Now, a couple of years later, I’m reevaluating my attraction rankings.  I’ve changed my mind about the Country Bears over time (I love them now!), I’m still anti-Stitch’s Great Escape, and my favorite Walt Disney World attraction is….still Expedition Everest.

So many to choose from, so many fantastic, amazing experiences…EE (as I like to call it) edges out all competition in my mind for a few simple reasons:

  1.  The Location!  Biggest and bad-est thrill ride in Animal Kingdom.  EE’s got a great lead-up going for it.  Like walking down Sunset Boulevard towards the Tower of Terror in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the approach to Everest is full of interesting and amazing, well-themed atmosphere.  There’s a tendency to rush to this attraction.  You’ll see folks bookin’ it and you’ll want to get swept up in the excitement.  Resist it, friend, take your time on the approach.  It’s worth it.  Especially if you’ll be heading for the stand-by line.RM-Expedition-Everest-Sign
  2. The Queue!  There are some absolutely amazing waits in the World, but nothing beats the queue for Expedition Everest.  It’s interesting, mood-setting, and so heavily detailed you would swear you’re in both a yeti museum and a Yeti-hunting outfitters.  If you see me in this line, please don’t rush me.  I like to take my time.RM-Expedition-Everest-Queue-Statue
  3. The Anticipation!  You’ll weave your way in and out of all the amazing displays while you wait in line.  During this time, you’ll see and hear the tea-trains heading up (and down) the Forbidden Mountain.  Excitement builds.  By the time you board the train yourself, you are SO excited, you can hardly believe it!  (Or maybe it’s just me.  Holler at me in the comments if you are completely unmoved by the build up to this ride!)RM-Expedition-Everest-Yeti-Museum
  4. The Broken Yeti!  Oh, sure, the whiners and haters are gonna hate.  The Yeti used to be both more visible and more active.  His/her dreadlocks were spectacularly displayed as a gigantic simian arm took a swipe at you as you passed by.  Now we have Disco Yeti and I don’t care.  I may fondly recall the early days when the original Yeti was visible, but now?  Disco Yeti has grown a cult following of epic proportions.  Fix it now and I predict much protesting will ensue.RM-Expedition-Everest-Tea-Train
  5. The (I can’t believe I’m going to say this) Gift Shop!  It’s one of the best.  The unique merchandise and fun atmosphere make this one hard to pass through without browsing at least a little bit.  I especially like the tee-shirts here and find a great selection for tweens and teens looking for the perfect souvenir.

EE fans!!!  Who’s with me?  What do you love most about the best Walt Disney World attraction?!?!?!?!

Sonny Eclipse – Tomorrowland Superstar

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RM-Starlight-CafeWelcome to another edition of Saturdays With Nick!  The weekend is finally here and it’s time to clean the house, bathe the dog, mow the lawn, relax a bit and enjoy Labor Day Weekend!  Nick’s talking about Sonny Eclipse today!  Have you caught Sonny’s show in Tomorrowland?  If not, this will give you the scoop and make you want to check out this out-of-this-world lounge singer’s act.

Sonny Eclipse – Tomorrowland Superstar

By Nick

On almost every trip to Walt Disney World we have at least one meal at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe in Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom.

To be honest, there are several quick service eateries in the Magic Kingdom with better food, in our opinion.

So what brings us back time and again?
The “live” entertainment in the form of Sonny Eclipse.

Sonny, “The Biggest Little Star in the Galaxy” can be found daily in the Starlight Lounge at Cosmic Ray’s.

He can be found there nightly too! In fact, it seems like the guy never leaves!

That is probably because Sonny is an audio-animatronic alien who has come all the way from his hometown of Yew Nork City on the planet Zork to entertain us on his Astro Organ, which sometimes plays all on it’s own. He is accompanied by a group of invisible background singers, The Space Angels.

Sonny tells jokes in between his eclectic mix of song selections, which include such intergalactic classics as “Planetary Boogie” and “Gravity”, which are entertaining and educational. The entire show is on a loop which lasts about 25 minutes.

RM-Sonny-Eclipse

If you are in Tomorrowland, stop in to Cosmic Ray’s and check out Sonny’s show. You may just wind up singing “Yew Nork, Yew Nork” the rest of the day instead of “Small World.”

This article’s original version (and many more of Nick’s Disney adventures) can be found here:  Disney Musings Blog, on Twitter, on Facebook, On Instagram, On Pinterest.  Follow along as Nick, Barbie, and a host of friends share all their Disney fun.