Et tu Disney? The emotions of Star Wars The Force Awakens

Warning: major spoilers! If you haven't seen Star Wars, the Force Awakens, please don't read.

1. Elation
It was the sale heard 'round the world. When news broke that the Walt Disney Company acquired Lucasfilms, fans around the world rejoiced! We had complete confidence that no company on Earth could bring our beloved franchise back to it's former glory like Disney. For those of us who were there from the beginning in 1977, these two companies had been the very foundation of our culture our entire lives. This was a match made in heaven.

2. Anticipation
The cast announcements, the rumors, the teasers, the trailers!! We spent what seemed like an endless wait patrolling the internet devouring every bit of information we could find. The thrill of the return of original castmembers had us euphoric. The theories. The speculation. This countdown was more exciting than a Disney trip countdown!!

3. Excitement
Opening day had arrived. Donned in our Star Wars shirts, some in Jedi robes, some in wookie jackets, light sabers in hand, we headed to theaters in droves. Arriving hours early, we sat in packed theaters taking selfies and doing wookie impressions. It was the party of the year.

4. Relief
As the movie progressed, we breathed a sigh of relief. Just as we expected, they pulled it off. The movie had the feel of the original trilogy. Gone were the stilted performances of the prequel trilogy. No silly characters to distract us. No slow-moving storylines. We cheered with the appearance of every familiar face, chuckled at every reference to the "old" movies, even the Millennium Falcon drew applause! We truly felt, just as Han and Chewie, we were "home".

5. Shock
Then the big plot twist hit us like a brick wall. Kylo Ren, leader of the First Order and head "bad guy" is the son of Han Solo and Princess Leia! Oh no! Who saw this coming? The son of the couple that played a major part in destroying the empire and saving the galaxy, the nephew of the last remaining Jedi knight has turned to the dark side. The villain is once again a Skywalker! 

6. Disappointment
For nearly 40 years, many of us had fond memories of our heroes partying with the Ewoks, waving goodbye to our dead heroes, content with the knowledge that the galaxy was safe. It was disturbing to learn that there was no happily every after for them. And at this point, the disappointment begins to set in as we see that we are not really seeing the reBOOT we expected, but more of a reMAKE. It was the same story retold: a young Skywalker begins the Jedi training, is seduced by the dark side, kills all the other young Jedi trainees, vows to eliminate the Jedi and rule the galaxy. Jedi Master feels responsible and goes into hiding rather than fight. Anakin? Obi-Wan? Is that you? Hmm, not quite what I was hoping for, but still it has been well done and I'm having a good time. We'll assume that's the only big "shocker". And then....

7. Betrayal of the most heinous kind
Kylo Ren, who we now know is Ben Solo, kills Han Solo! Are you kidding me?? We were given the lame excuse that Han's story would otherwise "plateau" or you needed to make us "really" not like this guy. So this was your solution? Do you have any idea what you have done? This was not just a character in a story. He has been a part of our lives for nearly 40 years. He was our hero. He was the man every boy wanted to be and every girl wanted to marry. And you didn't even have the decency to give him the hero's death he deserved! There was no noble sacrifice, no blaze of glory which he earned. Just hideous betrayal at the hands of a weak wannabe. We are not the kids who were introduced to our parent's "old school" movies. We are not the ones who decided to watch all 6 movies in the past month so we would know what was going on. We are the ones that absorbed the Star Wars saga into our lives and made it the mega-force that it is. And we are the ones that sat in those theaters and were made to feel like helpless bystanders as we watched you murder our Dad. You jammed that light saber through the heart of an entire generation. Disney, oh Disney, how could you do this to us????

8. Wrath
Instead of leaving theaters in breathless anticipation of the next episode, we left dismayed and in mourning. I'm sure that JJ Abrams intended to be remembered as the man who revived the Star Wars saga. But for us, he is the man who destroyed it. And we are mad! I hope they really think about where this story will lead. We will not tolerate a continuing repetition. We reject any more retelling of George Lucas' story. Don't expect to hand us another "saved from the dark side" story of redemption and expect us to smile and say "aaawww" like we did for Anakin. Been there, done that. There can be no forgiveness for what was done. We demand justice. We demand retribution. We demand the masked head of Kylo Ren on a pike mounted like a hood ornament on the Millennium Falcon! Han Solo FOREVER!!!!

"I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened" RIP Han Solo


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Doing Laundry at WDW? Leave your quarters at home!

Nobody likes doing chores on vacation! But, if you plan on an extended stay at Walt Disney World, sometimes doing a load of laundry is essential, especially if you want to save some room (and fees) in your checked luggage.

You can find self-service laundry facilities at your WDW resort. However, if you haven't been there in a while, you may not know about a recent change. You can now leave your rolls of quarters at home and just bring along your debit or credit card to do your wash. In addition, all laundry rooms now have the ability to request a text message when your cycle is complete!

While some locations still offer a very limited amount of coin-operated machines, most facilities have now switched to debit or credit card ONLY. So, if you are not used to carrying it with you, know that you will now need to bring it to the laundry room.

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Club Villain event coming to WDW - FINALLY!!!

Villain lovers rejoice!! Disney Hollywood Studios will soon be offering the event we've all been begging for! Of course, as luck would have it, it won't begin until after my trip! UGH!

On January 16th a new villains themed dining event will be coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios called “Club Villain”. Hosted in the new Sunset Showcase theater this event will be offering up some ghoulish food and drinks while you mix and mingle with the Disney Villains.

Here is the information according to the WDW website:

Sunset Showcase loudly presents Club Villain, a frightfully fun dance-and-dine event—debuting January 16, 2016!
This spellbinding evening features decadent New Orleans delicacies like tender beef striploin rubbed with herbes de Provence, Voodoo sticky “pig wings” with citrus gremolata and spicy shrimp sautéed with Andouille sausage, tomato, okra and onions over creamy polenta.

Trick or treat yourself to fiendish cocktail concoctions—specialty alcoholic drinks plus beer and wine—hilarious stage-show numbers and up-close encounters with Disney’s most dastardly doomsday divas. Mix and mingle with mysterious Maleficent, hilarious Queen of Hearts, the delirious Evil Queen and the always fur-fetched Cruella De Vil—and wicked jams from our house DJ!

Tickets to Club Villain can be purchased for $99 per person, tax and gratuity included. Reservations are recommended and can be made up to 90 days in advance, either by booking online here or by calling (407) 939-3463.

The reservation window is open now! BE ADVISED - payment in FULL is required at time of booking!

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Magic Kingdom's Fantasyland - Exploring the "World", One "Land" at a Time

We have saved the best for last! Walt Disney World evokes thoughts of fairy tales, princesses, villains, and adventure. All these are captured in Disney's most classic stories. Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom takes us into this world where we can become part of the story.

Cinderella Castle serves as the icon for Magic Kingdom park and the gateway to Fantasyland. It stands more than 100 feet taller than Sleeping Beauty castle in Disneyland at 189 feet high. Imagineers used forced perspective to make the castle appear much higher while keeping the actual height under 200 feet, which would have required it to have an airplane beacon on top. You can walk through the castle to see a beautiful retelling of Cinderella's story in mosaic tiles. 

Love it or hate it? Either way, once you hear the song "It's a Small World", written by the Sherman Brothers, you just can't get it out of your head! This classic Disney ride takes you on a boat ride through beautifully colored scenes depicting audio-animatronic children from around the world. The design and color styling is attributed to Mary Blair, an art director on several Disney animated film. No trip to a Disney park is complete without it.

Mickey's Philharmagic is a 4D film spectacular. It features 3D effects, scents and water. You can enjoy a cast full of Disney characters on a 150-foot wide screen and see what mayhem occurs when Donald tries on the sorcerer's hat!

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh has an interactive queue filled with activities with your Hundred Acre Wood friends followed by a ride that will have you gliding, bouncing and swirling through the pages of some of Pooh's most-loved stories. 

Just to the right of the castle, you can meet Merida from Brave in Fairytale Garden! While you wait, you can also get archery lessons and color your own "tapestry"!

On Peter Pan's Flight, you can "fly" through the storybook world of Peter Pan just like the Darling children. This suspended, dark ride takes you on a journey to Neverland!

Every young girl dreams of being a princess. And what better place to become one than the Magic Kingdom? At the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique inside Cinderella Castle, girls between 3 and 12 years old can have a magical makeover and become any princess they wish. The boutique is very popular and requires reservations. You can call (407) WDW-STYLE for info and reservations. 

You can also feel like royalty as you dine inside Cinderella Castle! Cinderella's Royal Table serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Upon entering, you will be greeted by Cinderella and also meet some of her friends throughout your meal. Possibly the most popular restaurant in WDW, reservations are a must! 

A true classic, Prince Charming's Regal Carousel is a classic carousel featuring 90 horses and hand-painted scenes from Cinderella. It also plays organ music based on Disney classics.

A new atmosphere group called the Royal Majesty Makers engage boys and girls in random acts of "royaldom" endowing them with the skills to become princes and princesses. You can receive lessons in swordsmanship, dance to medieval tunes and more! You may even receive an invitation to the royal ball! Check your Times Guide for show times!

Take a ride on a classic spinning teacup ride at the Mad Tea Party! You can also find meet and greets with some of your favorite Alice in Wonderland characters and may even be lucky enough to ride with one of them!

My favorite memory from our first trip in 2003 was Storytime with Belle in Fairytale Garden when both of my children were picked to be part of the story. That's why I'm so glad to see this experience returned but on a much grander and more permanent scale with Enchanted Tales with Belle. You begin your journey by entering Maurice's cottage. From there, the magic mirror transports you to Beast's castle where you meet Madame Wardrobe. At this time, members of the audience are chosen to play parts in the telling of the story. You are next called into the library by Lumiere and once inside, Belle makes an appearance and the story is then acted out with all the helpers including a lively song and dance number to "Beauty and the Beast."

Another new Fantasyland attraction is Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid. Ride a clamshell omnimover through your favorite scenes and songs from the Little Mermaid movie. After the ride, you can stop by Ariel's Grotto and see all her treasures and meet Ariel herself!

You can enjoy French-inspired fare for a Quick Service breakfast and lunch or a Table Service dinner at Be Our Guest. Inspired by Beauty and the Beast, you can dine in the West Wing, Ballroom or the Library of Beast's castle. Although, they have added QS breakfast and lunch, this restaurant is still very much in demand. Reservations are highly recommended for all meals.

For a lighter snack, stop by Gaston's Tavern. Modeled after Gaston's taste, it is decorated with plenty of antlers! Although they serve mostly snack food, there is indoor seating so it's a nice spot to take a break. Along with old favorites, you can also try the new pork shank and LeFou's Brew!

With the expansion of New Fantastland, the Dumbo ride has been moved to the new Storybook Circus section and a second Dumbo ride was built! Now twice the fun and twice the opportunity to get that iconic Dumbo ride photo we all love! 

Need a place to beat the heat or just relax while letting the kids blow off steam? Casey Jr Splash N Soak Station is a great play area in Storybook Circus where the kids can get wet and play!

You can meet your favorite classic Disney characters dressed as circus performers at Pete's Silly Sideshow.

The Barnstormer featuring the Great Goofini is a junior roller coaster in Storybook Circus. It was retitled and relocated from the Mickey's Toontown Fair area during the Fantasyland expansion. It is the only attraction remaining from that extinct land. 

If you haven't tried one of the great places already mentioned, you can still find something great to eat at these places in Fantasyland. Pinocchio's Village Haus serves up pizza, nuggets and salads. The Friar's Nook features chicken baskets, hot dogs and frozen beverages. Storybook Treats for ice cream and Cheshire Cafe for iced coffee, frozen lemonade and snacks.

Princess Fairytale Hall is the meet and greet location for some of the most famous Disney princesses. Here you can be sure to find Cinderella, Rapunzel and the mega-popular Anna and Elsa!

The newest attraction in Fantasyland is the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train where you can race through the mine from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on this family roller coaster.

Finally, we leave you with these Fantasyland Fun Facts:
*There are approximately 3.37 million gallons of water in the moat surrounding Cinderella Castle
*Prince Charming Regal Carousel was built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in 1917
*The mosaics in the castle walkway show the evil Stepsisters with red and green faces. That is to show one is red with rage and one is green with jealousy.
*On Prince Charming's Regal Carousel, the horse with the gold ribbon on its tail is said to be Cinderella's horse.
*In Sir Mickey's Shop, you can see Willy the Giant peeking inside where the walls meet the roof.
*The ground slopes upward as you walk up to the castle because it is built on the "second floor". Underneath are the famous Utilidors.
*The Disney family coat of arms is displayed above the front and back entrances of Cinderella Castle.
*Notice the crown above Cinderella on the fountain behind the castle. As you bend down to take a drink, you are symbolically bowing to the princess and you can glance up to see the crown now appears to be on her head.
*Mary Blair, the artist responsible for It's a Small World, is also responsible for the 90 foot mural inside Disney's Contemporary Resort.
*Many Fantasyland attractions were not quite finished when Disneyland opened in 1955. The banners and decorative tents were used to mask the unfinished work. That theme, the medieval fair, stuck as the theming for Magic Kingdom's Fantasyland.

We hope you have enjoyed exploring Walt Disney World with us! If you missed any of the lands, you can look back through our blog posts to find them all. To discuss ANYTHING Disney, please join 1,000,000 Disney SUPER Fans on Facebook!

Magic Kingdom's Tomorrowland - Exploring the "World", One "Land" at a Time!

Now that we've finished our adventures in the past, we make our way across the hub and into the future!! Walt Disney had a well-known interest in space travel. This land in Magic Kingdom pays tribute to Walt's dreams of what the future could bring.

Feel the thrill of racing when you get behind the wheel at Tomorrowland Speedway. Drive these gas-powered cars around a 4/10 mile track and feel like a winner when the checkered flag is waved! These cars are on a guided track, so kids that meet the height requirement can take the wheel.

Here's a little before and after for you. I found the images on the left in an old family album from 1975. The ones on the right are from current trips. In 1974, this ride opened in MK as Star Jets based on the Disneyland version. The attraction was redesigned and reopened on April 30, 1994 as Astro Orbiter, part of the complete renovation of the park's Tomorrowland section. Set atop the Peoplemover platform, this ride gives an incredible view of the park. However, it may not be good for guests who have a problem with heights. Once was enough for me!

On my last visit to Tomorrowland, guests put on their dancing shoes for the Club 626 Dance Party. The party still continues, but it is now called the Incredibles Super Dance Party! Guests can now show off their dance moves with Mr. & Mrs. Incredible and Frozone! It's an out-of-this-world good time!

In 2004, the ExtraTerrorestrial Alien Encounter was replaced with Stitch's Great Escape. This seems to be a love it or hate it ride in Tomorrowland. It's been voted least favorite ride on many forums. However, as a Stitch fan, I enjoy it. Guests watch a humorous pre-show before being led into a circular theater. As you are strapped into your seat, my advice is to sit up tall. The only part of the attraction I dislike, the automatic shoulder harness is a bit too tight for my taste, so if you sit up tall until it locks into place, you have a little breathing room. Then, it becomes a wild time as Stitch escapes from captivity and causes havoc.

Across the "galaxy" from Stitch, you can head in to Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. This ride-on video game will have you shooting targets and competing for high scores. Will you be number one??

First, it was the WEDway Peoplemover. Then it was the Tomorrowland Transit Authority. Now, it is officially the Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover. This mass transit system of the future takes you on a 10-minute ride through Tomorrowland with some unique looks at the most popular rides. It is powered completely by magnets so it is environmentally friendly as well. If you ride the Peoplemover when Space Mountain is down, you will get a special peek inside while the dome lights are on for a rare look at the track layouts.

I have to say this is my favorite quick service restaurant in MK. Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe offers more than just the standard chicken nuggets and burgers (but, they have those too!). You can also get soups, sandwiches and even a rotisserie chicken dinner! Plus they have a toppings bar with all the toppings you can imagine. While you eat, you can enjoy an out-of-this-world lounge act by the one and only Sonny Eclipse.

The monsters are no longer collecting screams. They are in the laugh business now! So, they have opened up this comedy club in Tomorrowland called the Monsters Inc Laugh Floor. Mike Wazowski is yourMonster of Ceremonies for this funny, interactive show. The jokes keep coming until the laugh canister is full. While waiting, guests can text in jokes that may be used in the show.

Magic Kingdom's first "thrill" ride, Space Mountain, opened January 15, 1975. It would be the first of the three mountain rides at Magic Kingdom. Space Mountain is an indoor, in-the-dark, outer space themed steel roller coaster. It remains the oldest operating roller coaster in the state of Florida. 

The Carousel of Progress was an attraction created by Walt Disney for the 1964 World's Fair. It was then moved to Disneyland until 1973. It was then placed in the Magic Kingdom in 1975. The show follows a family through the technological advances of the 20th Century. It is reported to have been Walt's favorite attraction and is the only attraction in WDW that has been touched by Disney himself. It also features the classic song "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow". It is a wonderful nostalgic ride. 

Tomorrowland is full of treats to satisfy you. Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant is open seasonally for burgers, pasta and more. It has also become home to the famous dessert parties that give you a fabulous fireworks view while enjoying a huge buffet of sweet treats. Auntie Gravity's Galactic Goodies is your stop for smoothies and frozen treats. Or, try the Lunching Pad for specialty hot dogs and more.

You can also find out-of-this-world gifts and souvenirs in Tomorrowland. Check out Merchants of Venus, Mickey's Star Traders, Space Mountain shop and Buzz's Star Command!

Some Tomorrowland FUN FACTS:

*While riding the TTA Peoplemover, you will pass a model of a city which gives us a glimpse of what Walt envisioned for the City of the Future, which was the original idea for EPCOT.
*When passing the Tomorrowland Speedway, heading towards the Mad Tea Party, you will discover the only area in Magic Kingdom where no music is piped in because Imagineers could find no natural way to transition from Tomorrowland to Fantasyland.
*Tomorrowland was not completed when Magic Kingdom opened. There were only 2 attractions open at that time, Grand Prix Raceway and Skyway to Fantasyland.
*Tomorrowland was not completed to its original design until 1975.
*To become a Galactic Hero at Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, you need to score at least 900,000 points.

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TCM's Halloween Edition of Treasures from the Disney Vault

Coming soon! The newest edition of TCM's Treasures from the Disney Vault offers up some great Halloween treats!

On Wednesday, October 28, set your DVR's. The spooktacular fun begins at 8 pm with some classic shorts followed by the Disney classic, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad.

Don't miss Mickey, Goofy and Donald as they go to work as members of the Ajax Ghost Exterminators in the 1937 classic "Lonesome Ghosts".

And who can forget the Malone twins, Tony and Tia? Revisit this psychic pair in the classic double-feature "Escape to Witch Mountain" and "Return to Witch Mountain".






The full schedule is shown in the header photo. Don't miss this FULL night of spooky Disney fun!!


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Magic Kingdom's Liberty Square - Exploring the "World", One "Land" at a Time

Next, we visit another period in history: Colonial America. Liberty Square opened as one of the six original themed lands at Walt Disney World's grand opening on October 1, 1971. It is the only land yet to undergo a major refurbishment. All of the attractions, original from October 1, 1971, still exist in some form or another. No major additions have been made.

As you stroll through Liberty Square, the design and decor have a very colonial feel. The Liberty Tree is more than 100 years old and is the largest living specimen in Magic Kingdom. It represents the original Liberty Tree christened in Boston by the Sons of Liberty in 1765. It features 13 hanging lanterns to represent the original 13 colonies. You will also find a replica of the original Liberty Bell. In 1976, 50 replica bells were created, one for each state to place in honor of the bicentennial. Since Pennsylvania already had the original Liberty Bell, Walt Disney World requested their replica years later. Pennsylvania agreed and it was place in Magic Kingdom on July 4, 1989. And be careful not to get into any trouble while you're there, or you may end up in the stockade!! 

Take a riverboat ride on the Rivers of America around Tom Sawyer Island aboard the Liberty Belle. A pre-recorded narration plays along your tour. Magic Kingdom once featured two riverboats, the Admiral Joe Fowler which was retired in 1980 and the Richard F. Irvine, which was refitted and renamed the Liberty Belle in 1996.

A favorite dinner spot is Liberty Tree Tavern. Currently undergoing an extensive refurbishment, this restaurant is due to re-open in November, 2015. You can get more info and read reviews under our group's files section.

One of the most patriotic and educational attractions at Walt Disney World is the Hall of Presidents. The lobby displays some historic memorabilia including gowns and place settings from some of the White House's most memorable First Ladies. The multi-media show features a film about the history of America and a stage show featuring audio-animatronic figures of all the U.S. Presidents, some of whom stand and address the audience. It's a lovely and informative show and it displays the hard work and dedication of Walt Disney in developing the human-like audio-animatronic figures. 

A favorite meet and greet in Liberty Square is princess Tiana, sometimes accompanied by Prince Naveen.

Liberty Square is home to my personal favorite ride in all of Walt Disney World, The Haunted Mansion. By a happy coincidence, this ride officially opened at Disneyland on the day I was born August 12, 1969. It was an opening day attraction at WDW. Guests enter the mansion and are introduced to the ride at a walkthrough show narrated by your Ghost Host. After which, you board your "Doom Buggy" and are taken through the mansion where you will find the 999 Happy Haunts. An interactive queue line was added in 2011. This ride showcases some of the best audio-animatronics and special effects of any attraction at Disney and is fun for all ages. It is definitely not your "typical" haunted house ride!

There is plenty to satisfy the hungry in Liberty Square. The Diamond Horseshoe is open seasonally, serving a quick service lunch or an all-you-can-eat dinner. Or, visit Columbia Harbor House for a counter service lunch or dinner featuring some tasty seafood favorites. For something on the go, visit Sleepy Hollow refreshments. Always a favorite spot to pick up funnel cakes or Mickey waffles. 

Now, some Liberty Square Fun Facts:

*Did you ever notice that all the maps and artifacts in Columbia Harbor House are dedicated to a ghost ship or a ship lost at sea? It's no coincidence since you look out the windows and see the Haunted Mansion.

*In keeping with authenticity, there are no restrooms in Liberty Square (except those required in full service restaurants) as there would have been no indoor toilets in colonial times.

*Notice the doors around Liberty Square have two numbers on them resembling an address. But if you put an 18 in front of each number, it represents the year that style of house would have been popular. Look in the upstairs window next to the house with number 26 on the door. There are two lanterns that represent the lanterns hung to warn Paul Revere the British were coming by sea.

*Do you love to ride the Haunted Mansion at night? Look up at the top story window above the front door and you will occasionally see a ghost moving about.

*Does your Ghost Host sound familiar? Not only did Paul Frees provide the voice for the auctioneer in POTC, but he also voiced Ludwig von Drake, Boris Badenov and even the Pillsbury Doughboy!

*The pipe organ in the ballroom scene is a replica of the organ used in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

*Notice the singing bust that looks very much like Walt? He is actually voiced by Thurl Ravenscroft who also voiced Tony the Tiger and sang the infamous song "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch".

*The real Madame Leota, Leota Toombs, can be heard in the attraction, but NOT coming from the crystal ball because her voice was considered too child-like. She is the voice of the bride above the exit door urging you to "hurry back". The voice of the Leota in the crystal ball is none other than Eleanor Audley who famously voiced Maleficent  in Sleeping Beauty and the Wicked Stepmother in Cinderella.

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