Tag Archives: WDW

Being Optimistic on Disney World Changes

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RM-Fantasyland-WallI’ve been pretty honest with you here at Living a Disney Life headquarters.  When I don’t like something, I say so.  Well, mostly.  I did refrain from saying how I really felt about Inside Out, didn’t I.  Don’t ask, I don’t want to talk about it (I can hear you gasping, btw).  Anyway, back to my point here.  In spite of how looooooong it’s taking (and going to take), I’m pretty stoked about the changes going on at Walt Disney World.  Between the actual officially-announced ones and the rumors and speculations on others, there’s a lot to look forward to!  I know you probably have your own favorite list of future attractions you’re looking forward to and I’d be delighted if you shared your thoughts in the comments here or over on Facebook.  I know I’ve mentioned why changes are necessary, but today…

Here’s a quick look at why I’m Being Optimistic on Disney World Changes:

1.  Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland expansion was pretty awesome and bodes well for other Treasures in the Queue for Under the Seachanges.  Those Disney Imagineers are geniuses and in spite of what I’m sure is a very tight and restrictive budget, I believe they can be counted on to bring their A-Game for the near future in Animal Kingdom and the distant future in The Studios ( or whatever the park’s name may become).

2. It’s recently come to light in this article (and in the Wall Street Journal) exactly what we can expect from the new Frozen Ever After attraction in Epcot’s World Showcase/Norway Pavilion.  In light of how much I enjoy the details (especially the queue) for Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid in Magic Kingdom, I’m remaining cautiously optimistic – I also completely understand that, at this point, resistance is futile.  Maelstrom is gone forever.  In spite of my feelings about the Frozen Sisters’ invasion of Princess Fairytale Hall, I’m willing to give this new ride a chance.  Maybe, if it’s clever, funny, and well-detailed, we will all find something to like about it.

RM-Construction-Walls-Tree-of-Life23. While Avatar was not my most favorite movie ever, I did like it.  Lots of folks complain about the movie’s theme being a common one (Pocahontas, Dances With Wolves, etc.), but I’m pretty sure I’ll love Pandora in Animal Kingdom when it opens.  The potential is there for unbelievably amazing effects…and that’s exactly what I’m expecting!  This has “win/win” all over it – I adore Animal Kingdom – the addition of Pandora and the new nighttime attractions will make the park that much more special.

4. I don’t care if I may never be able to afford a night in a Bora Bora Bungalow or a dinner at The Boathouse – Updates to the Polynesian Village Resort and Downtown Disney are much more extensive than a room category or single restaurant.  Big picture!  I love the Poly’s new look and expect I’ll be thrilled with Disney Springs as well.  Future resort, shopping, and restaurant changes can only enhance our food and accommodation choices and out-of-park activity options.

Most Importantly:  When Walt Disney World offers the perfect combination of traditional favorites and new experiences, I can more easily justify multiple visits per year!

Your turn!  What are your thoughts on the recent and future changes at Walt Disney World?

 

When Dinosaur used to be Countdown to Extinction

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Welcome to Saturdays With Nick!  This week we’re taking a look back in time at an attraction that looks back in time!  Whether you love it or hate it, Dinosaur in Disney’s Animal Kingdom is full of interesting details and has a history all its own.

When Dinosaur used to be Countdown to Extinction

By Nick

One of my favorite rides at Walt Disney World is Dinosaur, located at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Dinosaur is a dark ride that takes us back to the Cretaceous Period, aboard a Time Rover, to bring back a live dinosaur, dangerously close to when a large asteroid is going to hit the earth. Along the way we encounter many species of dinos, and come very close to getting hit by meteorites.

Did you know, however, that the ride was initially called Countdown to Extinction? It was changed to Dinosaur to promote the film of the same name, released in 2000. At that time, there were several changes made to the ride, including toning down some of the more frightening effect elements, and making the ride itself less intense.

I was not fortunate enough to ride the original, but do have a few items from that period, including this button.
The button is lenticular, starting with the Carnotaurus in the distance…

…and, suddenly, he is upon Mickey!

I also have a book, “Countdown to Extinction, A Hologram Adventure to the Age of the Dinosaurs”,
from Disney Press, by A. J. Wood, illustrated by Chris Forsey.

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From the back cover:

Catch the mistakes in the Dino Institutes Files on a holographic adventure through the prehistoric past. The Dino Institutes Files have been corrupted by a computer error and there’s only one way to find the mistakes. Climb aboard the Time Rover and explore the age of the dinosaurs, but be careful: the past is filled with a hungry Carnotaurus, meteor showers, and erupting volcanoes. With vivid illustrations and holograms on every page, this exciting book ties into the knew Countdown to Extinction attraction at DinoLand U.S.A., part of Disney’s Animal Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort, and brings the dinosaurs back to life.

Throughout the book, we are asked to find the mistakes in the Time Rover Files.

For instance, we are asked to look at the picture and find 2 mistakes. The files state that these tiny chicken sized dinosaurs, Compsognathus, were 98 feet big. That would be a big chicken! So, error number 1. The file states that the Compsognathus has five fingered hands. Clearly the picture shows they have three, so we have mistake number 2! I feel so smart!

Can you tell which is the T-Rex and which is the Triceratops?  YOU are smart too!  We are getting the Time Rover files all straightened out!

Speaking of Time Rover, I’ll be featuring MY very own Time Rover in a future post, so please stop back.

For more Disney adventures with Nick and his wife, Barbie, follow Disney Musings on your favorite social media:  Disney Musings Blog, on Twitter, on Facebook, On Instagram, On Pinterest.

Disney Princess or Pirate? – Pirates League Review

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Princess-to-PirateI have this friend named Melissa who’s a huge Disney fan.  We travel together sometimes for work and never run out of things to talk about. Melissa and her family take a Walt Disney World vacation every year in the fall for Food & Wine and Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Melissa’s little girl, a second-grader, is really into things like cheerleading, fashion accessories, and watching Disney ride videos on YouTube.  Little Annelise is already a seasoned Disney traveler and she knows what she likes!

You’d think, wouldn’t you, that Annelise would be the perfect candidate for a makeover at the Bibbity-Bobbity-Boutique? That’s what my friend Melissa thought too when she offered to make an appointment for their most recent vacation. Turns out, we’d be wrong! See, Annelise has a bunch of girly interests, but is also really into things like zombies, age-appropriate classic horror films, and conventions like Walker Stalker Con. She did not want to visit the Boutique and be made over into a princess. She wanted to join the Pirates League!

The Pirates League experience at Walt Disney World is available to boys and girls, but is definitely more geared towards boys. On the day Melissa took her daughter there for her appointment, Annelise was the only girl in attendance. Having purchased a pirate outfit in advance (Melissa highly recommends this), Melissa and Annelise were welcomed into the League’s Adventureland headquarters near Pirates of the Caribbean.Pirate-Name-Machine

The Disney attention to detail is in abundance in the Pirates League.  Guests start out by spinning the helmsman’s wheel to discover their pirate name before pledging the Pirate Oath.  This was the first step for Annelise on her way to becoming Betty Goodhawk.  Once Betty (the pirate formerly known as Annelise) had her new name, the real transformation began.Pirates-League-TransformationPirates-Transformation-Begins Pirates-League-Transformation Taking-the-Pirate-Oath

Pirate Oath? Check.  Pirate name? Check.  Pirate appearance? Double-Check.  One last thing was necessary to make the change complete – entrance into the Secret Room just for pirates – this part’s details are super-extremely-top-secret and cannot be shared with anyone who has not taken the Pirate Oath, sorry.Pirate-Parade

Finally, Betty Goodhawk received her official Pirate Certificate signed by none other than Captain Jack Sparrow himself.  Betty and her fellow new pirates were all invited to return in the afternoon to participate in the Pirate Parade through Adventureland.Pirates

From the pictures, it’s obvious Betty/Annelise enjoyed the experience of becomeing a pirate, but what did her mom think?  Melissa said, “The crew at the Pirates League was amazing. Always in character. We loved it, and are already planning our next experience.”

If you have a daughter, is she more a Princess or a Pirate?

Exploring Discovery Island-Disney’s Animal Kingdom

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If you’ve visited here before, you may have noticed what a HUGE Animal Kingdom fan I am – Kilimanjaro Safari, Expedition Everest, Maharajah Jungle Trek and Pangani Forest Exploration Trail are some of my most favorite attractions at Walt Disney World.  It’s the incredible theming and the perfection of those Disney details everywhere you look that make me love this park so much.  That’s why I chose this particular post from Disney Musings to share with you today for Saturdays With Nick.  The artistic details and interesting animal exhibits of Discovery Island are even more reason to love Animal Kingdom.  If you have never taken the time before or are planning your first visit to Walt Disney World, I whole-heartedly recommend taking some extra time to check out this amazing area.

Exploring Discovery Island-Disney’s Animal Kingdom

The Tree of Life is Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s majestic centerpiece.

There are 300 animals carved in this iconic symbol.

There is a wonderful and often overlooked area that gets you closer to this amazing display of artistry called the Discovery Island Trails.

I say often overlooked because every time we’ve visited this serene area, it is relatively uncrowded.
There are wooden foot bridges and tunnels.

Animals you may spot along these paths include White Storks, Asian Small-Clawed Otters, Red Kangaroos…

…West African Crowned Cranes, African Crested Porcupines, Galapagos Tortoise, Lesser Flamingos, Macaws, Saddle-Billed Storks,  Lappet Face Vultures, and Ring-Tailed Lemurs.

If you want to get off the beaten path at the Animal Kingdom, take a stroll along the Discovery Island Trails.

For more Disney adventures with Nick and Barbie, follow Disney Musings on your favorite social media:  Disney Musings Blog, on Twitter, on Facebook, On Instagram, On Pinterest.