So we’re not typically Saturday Night Live fans, but they do great parodies of Disney and Disney experiences. With the hullabaloo over the forthcoming Fantasyland Forest giving several princess new homes in the Magic Kingdom.. and Disney absolutely bent on social media lately.. we can’t help but feel this The Real Housewives of Disney is rather timely. Really, would Ariel be a good neighbor to Belle?
Fair warning, it’s a little racy, but hilarious:
My friendly part-time employers and fabulous writers of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World are hosting a Midnight Meet at the Magic Kingdom overnight on February 29th, 2012. As part of the One More Disney Day festivities TouringPlans.com is having Babycakes NYC host a little shindig at the Tomorrowland Terrace at midnight while the park is open until 6 a.m. RVSP via Plancast so they know how many cupcakes to bring.
Afterward, from 1 a.m until park close they’ll also be hosting a series of “challenges” in the Great All Nighter to win a resort stay at Walt Disney World. By partnering with the WDW Today podcast they are going to award a three-night stay in a Value Resort to one lucky participant in the overnight event. Let them know here if you will be joining. There are two separate event RSVPs for the Great All Nighter and Midnight Meet.
I’m probably going to be there eating too many cupcakes and being plenty-sleep-deprived. You should be there too! As always, remember a copy of The Epcot Explorer’s Encyclopedia makes a great emergency pillow if you’re planning to spend 24-hours straight in the park. You can easily tear the pages out, wad them up, and stuff them into a Disney shopping bag to create a pillow of unparalleled (and informative) comfort.
Oh, and if you don’t want to starve before the meet (or ever really), be sure to check out the Disney Food Blog’s Guide to Walt Disney World Dining. Though, if you’re sticking to just the Magic Kingdom for the One More Disney Day events you might want to just grab their Guide to Magic Kingdom Snacks. (Yes Epcot lovers, there’s an Epcot Snack Guide too!) It’ll be a fun day from 6 a.m. to 6 a.m. Even if you don’t make it to the meet, say hello if you see us in the parks! If you’re stuck at home, be sure to check out this blog throughout the day as we’ll do our best to keep you updated with all the events and news as it happens.
After some wrenches were thrown into the distribution system around the holiday rush we’re happy to announce that the Epcot Explorer’s Encyclopedia is once again available for sale! Several distribution outlets now have fresh stock and the book is available for immediate shipping. We really do apologize for any inconvenience the hiccup in distribution may have caused. We’ve been working with our printer and distributor to assure it doesn’t happen again.
Availability is as follows:
Full retail price is $19.95 for the paperback and $9.99 for the digital edition. Many stores now offer it at sale prices of $15.95 for paperback and $7.99 for digital editions.
If you’re keeping tabs on the book in general you’re looking for The Epcot Explorer’s Encyclopedia by R. A. Pedersen. ISBN-13: 978-1456589660 / ISBN-10: 1456589660. Being an “indie” book it’s not commonly stocked in most brick and mortar bookstores, but you can always ask them to order a copy to pick-up in-store. It is listed in the major book databases for order.
Oh, and one last thing – thanks again for all your support everyone! It really has been the “little book that could!” It’s now the bestselling book about Epcot on Amazon. Having shopped the idea to a few publisher and being told “It’ll never work!” we’re quite happy to report that people really do care about Epcot and its history.
And to answer many of your email questions: We are actively working on an expanded second edition. We’re taking all the feedback we got from the first “proof of concept” edition and using it to make the second edition the best book about Epcot that it can be. While copyright issues with Disney are going to prevent a much requested feature (photos of attraction scenes) we’re hoping to make up for it with more information and the addition of maps/graphics to help better explain the park’s history.
When the second edition is finalized and gone over with a fine tooth comb, we plan to use it as a template for the first edition of the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Disneyland, and California Adventure books we plan to release in the future.
Once again – thanks for all your support!
This month the company behind the Great Orlando Wheel sent a request to the local water management district to have its permits for construction of the attraction extended until 2016.
The story as we know it: the Great Orlando Wheel – a giant Ferris wheel with scenic views – was supposed to originally open in 2010. The project stalled and was re-hyped again later as opening in 2011. That didn’t happen either. To date, no one we’ve talked to knows of any actual work on the site for the planned attraction.
Regardless, the lawyers for the company behind the Wheel are pushing to get approval to keep the project alive until at least 2016. Perhaps it’ll happen by then. In the meantime, here’s a fun promotional video from back when the Wheel was first announced:
This job posting pretty much speaks for itself… we’ll just cut and paste it for your reading enjoyment. Our commentary? “It’s nice to know the person who used to do this.. you know, responsible for things up until now… got fired.”
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Remember Flamingo Crossing? That sort-of-off-property development that Disney was planning to have up and running around the same time they opened the Four Seasons elsewhere on property?
It was supposed to have mid-range chain hotels along with shopping and dining. A sort of “Downtown Disney 2.0″ that Disney themselves didn’t have to staff or attend to. Earlier this year we were all told it essentially abandoned as a concept as disney couldn’t find any tennants.
Today, that changes. Disney found a tennant.
The project includes the development of 1.53 acres site to construct a Walgreens store and the associated parking lot. The existing site is a mass graded site as part of the overall development called Flamingo Crossing within the Reedy Creek Improvment District (Orange County).
You can find the appropriate paperwork filed with the county here.
Oh, and if you really want to see what the siteplan for a Walgreens looks like, here’s the PDF. Oo… aahh… marvel at the adequate parking, the ability to get prescription refills quickly, and the general ability to buy bandaids.
Sometimes we get flack for being too negative for a Disney theme park fan blog.
Particularly on Twitter where it’s apparently perfectly acceptable to say rude things to people you wouldn’t ever say to their face. (Now before anyone says we’re hypocrites: we would say and have said much of what we’ve said online to the faces of the people who work for Disney and Imagineering. In fact, we occasionally get in trouble for doing so at social functions.)
All that being said, we’d honestly prefer not to be negative or focus on negative things. Look at this blog – not all of it is negative, heck – not even a majority of it. But we do post negative things when Disney does things that are stupid, dangerous, ill-concieved, ugly, or otherwise of piss-poor quality. Someone has to. If no one bothered to, things would be far worse than they currently are and have no hope of ever getting better. We’d be stuck with DCA version 1.0 if no one bothered to speak up and saying DCA 1.0 sucked.
And besides, the far worse sin – as aptly pointed out by an Imagineer to the press mind you – the alternative to people complaining is for people to stop caring. Having people collectively not care about the parks would be a far worse fate than a few folks at Disney with egg on their face for their last dumb idea being outed publicly as such.
Rabble rousing online is a very important function in the system of checks and balances for Disney’s theme parks. And again – we don’t only complain. Unlike the dellusional rants the angry emails we receive daily would have you believe we’re spouting – we make an effort to criticize in a manner of using facts and research. That makes it pretty hard to just write off our complaints as mere fanatical ranting.
Which is probably where we get into trouble. There’s a strange bit of psychology that allows people to begin defining themselves in terms of Disney. “Disney” becomes a part of how many people define themselves and their sense of self. Thus, if you point out the flaws in Disney – a corporate entity mind you, not flesh and blood – you’re somehow perceived as making a personal attack on the people who identify as being “Disney.”
In case it wasn’t clear, we’d like to pause and point out that we don’t hate you, your grandma, your memories, your dog you named after a princess, your child’s smile on their first ride, your family vacation, or even Disney itself. Again – we care. An awful lot. It’s our job, it’s what we do.
If Disney is going to be completely full of crap, push crap, and generally cut costs and put out a crappy lesser product and think it can get away with it unchallenged – specifically because of it’s brand-power and social media prowress – by golly it’s our duty to make that abundantly apparent to as many people as possible. To stop it, to prevent it, to hinder the slow creep toward mediocrity, and stave off the eventual ruin of the parks themselves.
Yes, it’s entirely possible to have a Disney park in ruins, see Disney Studios Paris.
All that considered, and without much further ado, we give you the reason we know our role in the show: Duncan Wardle. In his own words of course, so we can’t be accused of putting words into other people’s mouths. Watch it, absorb it, and consider the role you are choosing to play when you respond to things online and in guest surveys exactly the way Disney wants you to.
Like we said, we know our role in all of this. Perhaps it’s time to know yours and reconsider the script you’ve been given too.
Ok, we’ll say it, we’re not impressed with this interactive shenanigans that Disney showed off in Times Square recently.We remember Dreamfinder’s School of Drama at the Imagination pavilion (yeah – on the second floor you closed Disney! We remember!) so high-tech green-screenery 20+ years later really isn’t all that impressive. But, if you want to see it, here it is:
It even comes with a pre-fab blurb, for all your social-media and blogging needs:
Disney Parks bring special “character” to the Big Apple this weekend (through Saturday, November 19). Fun and whimsical moments are created with guests in Times Square, using state-of-the-art augmented reality technology, as they virtually interact with Disney theme park characters.
The event unfolds in front of the huge 60-foot tall digital board towering high above the Disney Store on Broadway at 45th Street. The Disney characters appear larger than life and engage with guests in unique and one-of-a-kind experiences.
That makes it sound far more exciting than it actually was. At least they used “Whimsical” instead of “Magical.” Yay Disney marketing for evolving.. however slowly..
Disney Consumer Products has revealed their 2011 “Most Wanted Holiday Toys” list featuring toys inspired by favorite Disney characters and stories, making it easy for families to find that special plaything that will bring squeals of delight throughout the holiday season and beyond. This ultimate holiday toy assortment includes ten fun, entertaining and innovative new toys that tap into Disney’s rich storytelling heritage and offer lasting play value. Several playthings feature exciting technology that transforms playtime into a truly magical experience.
“Year after year, Disney toys are among the most popular items on holiday wish lists”
Many items on Disney’s “Most Wanted Holiday Toys” list have already been recognized with awards and accolades from key media outlets and toy industry experts including Disney FamilyFun, National Parenting Center Seal of Approval, Parents and Time To Play. And for the first time, renowned animators from Walt Disney Animation Studios have collaborated with Disney Store to design an exclusive Disney Princess doll collection.
“Year after year, Disney toys are among the most popular items on holiday wish lists,” said Mary Beech, vice president of Disney Toys. “Kids love to bring home their favorite characters, and parents know that Disney toys are the ones that kids go back to over and over again, offering both a great play experience and exceptional value.”
Disney’s “Most Wanted Holiday Toys” are available this holiday season at mass retailers including Kmart, Target, Toys “R” Us and Walmart, and Amazon.com. With toys ranging from $19.99 to $149.50, there’s something magical for every budget.
DISNEY’S “MOST WANTED HOLIDAY TOY” LIST
Top Picks for Preschoolers
Rock Star Mickey – Everyone’s favorite mouse is ready to rock! Mickey Mouse really gets things going as he sings, bobs his head, dances across the stage and finishes with his signature move — the mouska-split — where he plays the guitar with his nose. Kids can learn how to rock along with Mickey in the “You’re a Rock Star!” mode. Designated by Toys “R” Us as a hot toy for preschool-age kids, the interactive plush features three rock songs, including the classic “You Really Got Me.” Kids can rock out alongside Mickey with the Role Play Guitar by pulling the whammy bar for cool guitar sound effects, pressing Mickey’s head for fun phrases, sliding his hand up and down to change the pitch of the melodies and pressing the strings to step-through notes. The guitar plays four songs.
Best Toys for Boys
Disney AppmatesTM Mobile Application Toys – The new Disney Appmates feature miniature Disney·Pixar Cars 2 vehicles with sensors on the base of each toy that are recognized as a unique footprint by an app with no cable or Bluetooth connection required. Simply download the free Cars 2 Appmates app from the iTunes App Store, place your favorite Appmates toy character on the screen and play. Disney Appmates has been named a Time to Play People’s Play Award nominee and a “Best Toys” pick by Parents Magazine.
Cars 2 Remote Control Vehicles – Take the Piston Cup champion for a spin with Disney Store’s exclusive edition Lightning McQueen remote control vehicle. Sporting his new Cars 2 look, Lightning has lots of great features including 15 phrases, lights and turbo speed function for greater high-speed thrills. Additional characters include Tow Mater and Finn McMissile.
Cars 2 Bomb Blastin’ Mater – Stealth, sleek and totally tricked out—it’s Mater like you’ve never seen him before. Reenact some of the most exciting scenes straight from Cars 2 with the ultimate Mater spy vehicle. He’s got lights and sounds, dynamic eye and mouth movement, booster rockets, and even a bomb tied to his hood. Bomb Blastin’ Mater moves around by himself and talks, including phrases voiced by actor Larry the Cable Guy.
Pirates of the Caribbean LEGO Black Pearl – Davy Jones has come to take Jack Sparrow back to the Flying Dutchman, and his brackish crew is in no mood to surrender just yet! Recreate a battle against Davy Jones and his crew by building the Black Pearl with more than 800 pieces in this LEGO® set, available beginning in November. Includes six minifigures – Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, Joshamee Gibbs, Davy Jones, Maccus and Bootstrap Bill.
Hot Toys for Girls
Disney Animators’ Collection Princess Toddler Dolls – These young renditions of your favorite Disney Princess characters were re-imagined by and created under the guidance of two of the Walt Disney Animation Studio’s most renowned animators, Glen Keane and Mark Henn. The collection has been named one of “The Year’s Best Toys” by Disney FamilyFun.
My First Disney Princess Singing & Story Telling Belle – This soft-bodied, 20-inch Singing & Storytelling Belle reads aloud her favorite Beauty and the Beast short story and can use her microphone to sing her favorite songs. Belle recognizes and interacts with friends Chip, Mrs. Potts and Lumière, a microphone and her storybook. Named a Time to Play People’s Play Award nominee, the Belle doll also includes a deluxe brush and can say more than 100 phrases.
Disney Tangled Rapunzel Deluxe Story Bag – This enchanting playset allows girls to play out all their favorite movie moments with the Rapunzel deluxe story bag shaped just like Rapunzel’s tower. Includes Rapunzel doll, Flynn Ryder doll, Maximus the horse, and chameleon Pascal. Plus fun new fashions and additional accessories for girls to take fairytale adventures anywhere, anytime on the go.
Best Choice for Tweens & Fun for the Whole Family
Disney Spotlight – Disney Spotlight bridges the gap between gaming and performing, providing a fun way for kids to connect with their favorite Disney music. By downloading the free Disney Spotlight app and connecting the mic to an iPad, kids can unlock Disney Channel hits or sing along to music from their own iTunes library. Kids can also purchase additional songs and create music videos to share with friends.
Trivial Pursuit: Ultimate Disney Edition – Awarded with The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval and created for the whole family, the game features three innovative question types: “Take 2 Trivia” – giving two chances to earn the wedge; “My Disney” – personal trivia sparked by favorite Disney moments or characters; and “Disney List” – work together to create lists or choose which don’t belong. With these questions players don’t have to be a Disney genius to play, and with the help of a “secret reveal” device players can see just how much their family loves Disney!
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The Kindle edition of our book The Epcot Explorer’s Encyclopedia is on sale for just $2.99 (reg: $9.95).
The book contains the most complete history of Epcot you’ll find in print. If you like our blog, you’ll love our book. This limited-time price is only going to be available for the next week.
If you want some more tangible pulp, Amazon also has the paperback edition on sale for $13.57 (reg: $19.95). If you’ve got a gift-card to burn the book is also available from retailers like Barnes and Nobles and Books a Million, including a digital edition for Barnes and Noble’s nook reader (also $2.99).
Every purchase helps keep this blog running and funds further research on the legacy of Epcot. We really appreciate everyone’s support so far (If we can dream it, we can do it!) and look forward to soon sharing some exciting details on a possible second book for 2012.