We continue our exploration in EPCOT. Although the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow didn't turn out quite the way Walt envisioned it, it is still a very innovative park. Like having two parks in one, there is Future World with it's dedication to technology and advancement and World Showcase which celebrates some of the most interesting counties in the world. On a side note: I took this photo in 2006. The wand and sign were added for the millennium celebration in 2000 and removed in 2007. Do you prefer the sphere with or without it?
Often referred to as a "permanent World's Fair", EPCOT Center was originally planned by Walt Disney to be a real working city. It would be a constantly changing working community showcasing new developments in American industry and research. It was to have been built in the shape of a circle, with businesses and commercial areas at its center, community buildings schools and recreational areas around it, and residential areas around the perimeter. After Disney's death, the company decided it did not want to be in the business of running a city. So, ideas were explored to turn his vision into another park. The original plans showed indecision over the park's purpose. Some Imagineers wanted it to represent the cutting edge of technology, while others wanted it to showcase international cultures and customs. At one point, a model of the futuristic park was pushed against a model of the World's Fair international theme and the two were combined creating the EPCOT we have today. It's like two parks in one!
As you enter the park, you pass through Leave a Legacy Plaza. This program began in 1999 as part of the millennium celebration. It allowed guests to have a digital photo etched on steel plates that were mounted on the plaza megaliths. The program was discontinues in 2007 and over a half million plates are displayed. Side note: yes, I am still kicking myself that we didn't do this when we had the chance!
Serving as the icon for EPCOT, Spaceship Earth is actually a ride! This 15 minute ride uses an Omnimover to take you on a journey through historic breakthroughs in communication. This time-travel experience takes you from the time of cavemen through the invention of the alphabet, telegraph, and telephone all the way through the present-day computers. You can also use the touch screen to answer questions and create your own future. At the end of the ride, you can email the future you created to friends and family back home. It also makes a cute keepsake to print out once you get home.
Universe of Energy is home to Ellen's Energy Adventure. This indoor dark rides takes you on a 45-minute journey through multiple theaters as you explore the dinosaur era and learn all about past, present and future energy sources. It's also a popular attraction for a nice air-conditioned cooldown on a hot day.
Mission Space is a motion-simulated thrill ride that shows guests how it feels to be an astronaut. Each member of your "flight crew" will be assigned a task to attain liftoff and take your mission to Mars! This is a highly intense ride with many signs posted throughout. Due to the intensity of the ride, which caused multiple trips to the hospital and even two deaths related to pre-existing conditions, a tamer version (green team) was offered in 2006 where the centrifuge does not spin. This is the first time Disney has offered two different versions of a ride. For those with a healthy, strong constitution, this ride is probably one of the most closely related experiences to an actual liftoff. But those on the green team will also get a thrilling experience which I personally feel still leaves you a bit queasy!
Test Track takes you on a simulated excursion through rigorous testing procedures that General Motors uses to evaluate its vehicles. The main attraction is that it takes you on a speed trial test at a maximum speed of 65 miles per hour, making it the fastest attraction at WDW. If you haven't been on it lately, you are in for a surprise as a major refurbishment changed some of the ride which reopened in December 2012. Guests now entering Test Track are led into Chevrolet's Design Studio where they are given an RFID card and then learn how to design a car. Then they enter the "Sim Car" they designed with the use of the RFID card to put their design to the test.
The Sum of all Thrills presented by Raytheon is the first ever ride in Innoventions. It lets park guests design their own thrill ride using mathematical tools, an innovative touch screen and a robotic simulator. Once designed, guests climb aboard their customized design in a 4D robotic simulator that uses sight, sound and movement to give them a realistic experience.
Stop by the recruitment center at Odyssey Bridge (or several other starting points throughout EPCOT) and pick up your interactive handheld device and assignment to play the Phineas and Ferb Agent P's World Showcase Adventure. This self-guided adventure takes you through World Showcase finding clues to help Agent P defeat the evil Dr. Doofenshmirtz's plans. Each mission takes between 30 and 45 minutes and you can return to different pavilions to play a different mission.
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As you head down Sunset Blvd, you pass many shops and some great places to eat, but something is looming at the end of the street. As you get nearer, you hear screams in the distance. What is that strange burn mark on the front of the Hollywood Tower Hotel? Walk through the abandoned lobby and you know something has gone terribly wrong here. Step into the library and watch an episode of The Twilight Zone describing the strange tale of what happened here. And finally, make your way through the cellars to the service elevators and strap yourself in tight because you have entered The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror! A fabulously fun, totally terrifying drop from 13 stories high! Computer randomization makes your ride different each time, so ride it again and again...IF you dare!
Ready for more thrills? Then head next door for a wild ride on Rock n Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith! Take a stroll through G-Force records and see some cool displays from the history of music recording. Then step into the sound studio to see Aerosmith laying down some new tracks before they head out to their next concert. But wait! Steven and the guys don't want you to miss it so they order up a super-stretch limo to get you to the show. This steel roller coaster will take you from 0 to 60 in 2.8 seconds and shoot you through the LA freeways with inversions and corkscrews turns while some of Aerosmith's greatest hits are blasting away! Finally, you will pull up to the red carpet and be ushered inside to see the band's performance. This thrill ride features five different light shows with five different soundtracks because if you ever rode it, you know, once is NOT enough!
After you've had your thrills, head over to the Theater of the Stars to see a performance of Beauty and the Beast, Live on Stage. This 25 minute show is a broadway-style musical based on the hit film.
As evening approaches, we conclude our tour of Sunset Boulevard and Disney Hollywood Studios. On certain nights, guests gather in the amphitheater for Fantasmic! This nighttime spectacular is a show that combines fireworks, pyrotechnics, water effects, boats, live actors and projections onto giant water mist screens. It's the ultimate battle of good vs. evil with Sorcerer Mickey saving the day! A fabulous show not to be missed!
Again with the help of HiddenMickeyguy.com, we have some Hidden Mickey images from DHS.
Top left: stars on the wall in Pizza Planet
Top right: the dot on the exclamation point in Toy Story Mania
Bottom left: Bill and Min's Dockside Diner
Bottom right: a shovel on the Mulch, Sweat and Shears truck
Here are a few others:
Look in the fountain outside MuppetVision 3D
In the Tower of Terror video, see what the little girl is holding
In 50's Prime Time, see what's holding the white tabletops together
In front of the Chinese Theater, look for Carol Burnett and Harry Anderson's tiles
At Mama Melrose's, check out the spots on the dalmatian
Now that we have concluded our exploration, I leave you with these DHS Fun Facts:
*Mickey Mouse on top of the Crossroads of the World, is not just fro decoration. Notice how his hand is outstretched? It acts as a lightning rod.
*Hollywood Blvd also has second-story window advertisements like Main Street USA in MK
*Carthay Circle Theater Gift Shop is a replica of the real theater where the first full-length feature, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, premiered
*Many of the props inside the Tower of Terror library represent episodes of the Twilight Zone
*If you see a bellhop with gold epaulets, you have found an original ToT cast member!
*The back of the Tower of Terror is somewhat Moroccan in style. This is because it is visible from behind the Morocco pavilion in EPCOT
*Nearly 5 Gs of force is used to propel you through the Rock n Roller Coaster. The space shuttle only uses 3 Gs for liftoff
*The Hollywood Brown Derby has a guest book where real celebrities who have dined there have signed their name
*If you pass by Star Tours after sunset, listen closely. You can hear the Ewoks chanting and drumming in the forest
*California, New Mexico and Arizona are the only license plates used in the Sci-Fi Dine In Theater. They are the 3 states with the most UFO sightings in America
*To the left of the entry to Indiana Jones, down a path to the right you will see a well with a sign that says "Do Not Pull the Rope". Pull it!
That's a wrap!
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Now that we have some idea of what's to come at DHS, we move into the next few areas that have seen the most closures recently. Currently, these 3 areas combined now host only 4 attractions. Of these 4, 2 of them have been heavily rumored to be closing as soon as September. We can assume that the closing of all the attractions in this area will pave the way for work to begin on the Toy Story Land expansion.
The first area, Pixar Place, is the home of the wildly popular Toy Story Midway Mania ride. This 4D attraction "shrinks" you down to toy size as you travel through Andy's room. Then you will don your 3D glasses and be put into spinning ride vehicles that take you through virtual worlds based on classic midway games where you will compete for high scores! After 7 years, this is still one of the busiest attractions and most sought-after Fastpass selections. It's mega popularity has led to a third track being installed as part of the Toy Story Land expansion.
For the true Disney historian, take a walk down Mickey Avenue to visit Walt Disney: One Man's Dream. This self-guided tour is full of historical items showcasing the career of Walt. From early animations to designs for the parks, there are tons of interesting exhibits to see. A continuous 15-minute film tells the story of Walt's dream. Rumors abound that this exhibit will soon close. Since it honors the man responsible for creating all of magic we love, many have expressed a desire to see this exhibit relocated. However, no official news has been heard. Don't miss your chance to see it now.
UPDATE: In August, it was reported that the display containing Walt Disney's desk and office has been removed from the exhibit. No further information is available at this time.
The other rumored closure is the Voyage of the Little Mermaid in the Animation Courtyard. This 15-minute show features your favorite characters telling the story of Ariel through some of your favorite songs from the movie. It is a combination of live actors and puppetry set in a theater that looks like an undersea cove.
After the recent closure of the Magic of Disney Animation, the final attraction in this area is Disney Jr. Live on Stage! Young children can sing, dance and play along with some of their favorite characters from the most popular Disney Jr. TV shows including Doc McStuffins, Sofia, Jake and the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse crew. Your Disney host Casey leads the puppets through fun skits and lively songs!
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As you leave Echo Lake, you enter Streets of America. Originally part of the Studios Backlot Tour, this area was later opened to pedestrian traffic. Life-sized sets of New York and San Francisco make cool photo opportunities. This area is also home to some special entertainment.
One of the entertainments you can find on Streets of America is Mulch, Sweat and Shears. These Disney gardeners love to take a break from landscaping to put on a great rock n roll street show. Check your Times Guide for show times.
UPDATE: Official announcement was made in September that this show will be discontinued in October.
During the Christmas season, Streets of America is home to one of the largest displays of Christmas lights in the world, the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights! This amazing display features over 5 million lights dancing in synchronized choreography to popular Christmas songs as the snow falls. So many lights are used for this amazing display, they begin stringing them up months in advance. The displays are also full of interesting finds such as the leg lamp from A Christmas Story, a cat the designers hide each year and lots of Hidden Mickeys.
UPDATE: Official announcement was made in September that this will be the final year for this show.
Just down the street is MuppetVision 3D. You can't miss the huge Muppet fountain outside. Inside you will see inside Muppet Labs as you are escorted to the Muppet Theater for the show hosted, as always, by Kermit the Frog. You will see a 3D show with audio-animatronic characters as well. As with most Muppet shows, mayhem erupts and Statler and Waldorf are on hand to heckle it all! Enjoy a fun time with all your favorite Muppets!
Visit the Honey I Shrunk the Kids Play Set Adventure. See how Professor Wayne Szelinski's kids felt as you wander around this gigantic playground featuring 30 foot blades of grass, giant bugs and even Quark the dog!
Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show is a live-action outdoor show that lasts approx. 40 minutes. You will get a behind-the-scenes look at how car-based stunts are done for movies. It features pyrotechnics, chases and physical stunts.
You can enjoy a little Toy Story fun at Pizza Planet. Modeled after the restaurant from the movie, this counter service restaurant features indoor and outdoor seating plus an arcade.
If you are not in the mood for pizza and arcade games, you can grab a bite at Studio Catering Co for sandwiches, wraps and salads. Or, relax with a drink from the full bar at High Octane Refreshments.
If you prefer a more relaxed dining experience or need a break from the heat, head up Commissary Lane to the ABC Commissary. This indoor, quick service restaurant offers burgers, chicken, fish and chips and more. While you dine, relax in the air conditioning and enjoy closed-circuit television featuring behind-the-scenes looks at ABC's most popular TV shows such as Once Upon a Time.
The newest addition to Commissary Lane is the Ice Palace Boutique. Children between the ages of 3 and 12 can get a Frozen-inspired makeover including makeup, nails, braided hairpiece and an exclusive photo opportunity. Other packages give your party (up to 6 people) access to the Ice Palace Cafe for snacks and reserved seating for "For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing Along Celebration" Reservations are recommended.
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This month, Daily Pixie Dust celebrates their 3rd anniversary on Facebook! To celebrate, we are paying tribute to another big anniversary being celebrated right now.
Daily Pixie Dust started as a fan page on Facebook. Over the last 3 years, we have expanded to include: a fan group, 2 freecycling groups, a yard sale group, a pin trading group, a contest group and our newest addition: specialized trip planning groups for every month of the year! We invite you to visit them all and if you like what you see, invite your friends!
From now until the end of the month, everyone who joins (or already belongs) our fan group can enter to win this great prize. The Disneyland 60th Anniversary Pin was a Limited Release from Disney Movie Rewards. Demand was huge and this pin SOLD OUT within a day. So, to thank all of you who have supported us and helped us spread Pixie Dust for the last 3 years, we will be giving up ours for you! :)
So, join 1,000,000 Disney SUPER Fans on Facebook to enter today!
We move on to the second park in our exploration of Walt Disney World - Disney Hollywood Studios! This park has seen the most changes recently with more on the horizon.
Opening May 1, 1989 as Disney MGM Studios, this park transformed in 2008 becoming Disney Hollywood Studios. This year, announcement was made that another name change is coming. The new name, yet to be released, will also come with a new look and new attractions. These highly-anticipated changes were officially announced this past weekend at the D23 Expo. We now know we will be seeing Toy Story Land as well as Star Wars Land. Although no timeline was given when these new lands will open, they have led to a multitude of closures. Some welcome, some not. In the wake of these closures, we will explore the attractions still operating at this park as we anxiously await more news.
You can begin your day at Disney Hollywood Studios by strolling straight down Hollywood Blvd. To me, it is the Studios version of Main Street USA with lots of great shops carrying some unique and fun items! For the last 15 years, this boulevard led you to the giant Sorcerer Hat, serving as the "icon" of this park. However, earlier this year the hat was removed, much to the delight of some park guests and disappointment of others. However, you can still find fun at the end of this street meeting some of your favorite Disney characters decked out in their Hollywood finest!
The removal of the hat once again cleared the way for the visually stunning replica of Hollywood's Chinese Theater, home of The Great Movie Ride. This ride has recently been renovated due to a new collaboration between Disney and TCM, Turner Classic Movies. The attraction employs the use of audio-animatronic figures, live actors, special effects and projections to recreate iconic movie scenes. Changes include new pre-show video and finale footage hosted by TCM's Robert Osborne. Robert also provides new in-ride narration.
One of my favorite attractions at DHS are the "streetmosphere" characters known as the Citizens of Hollywood. These street performers can usually be found on Hollywood Blvd and Sunset Blvd throughout the day. There are many citizens from the early Hollywood era that can be found roaming the streets. You may find aspiring actors, directors, policemen, stars, agents, moguls and more! Their comedy skits are wildly funny and family-friendly and usually interactive. With hilarious names such as Ben Appetit (the caterer), Officer Les Manly, Roman Holiday (star) and my personal favorite, Shelby Mayer, these performers will have you in stitches. They are definitely worth the time to stop and watch (and video!).
Now playing in the Hyperion Theater, formerly Superstar Theater, home of the American Idol Experience, is For the First Time in Forever Frozen Sing-along Celebration. Join Anna, Elsa and Kristoff for this 30 minute show as they relate the story of the film using subtitled animated clips so everyone can sing along!
As you stroll around Echo Lake, you will find the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame. This display honors those who have made a significant contribution to the world of television. Take notice of that guy up front!
Further along, you will find Star Tours: the Adventure Continues. This ride was reopened in May 2011 after some big changes were made. The guests (space tourists) are still brought through the spaceport terminal at Star Tours for their intergalactic journey. After some confusion, C3PO is now trapped inside and has become our pilot. Your ride now features 54 randomized 3D adventures featuring some of the most well-known characters. As we speed through different star systems, it becomes clear that this tour has a higher purpose, to deliver the rebel spy to safety. The rebel spy can be anyone on board, even you! This is a fun, 3D motion simulator ride featuring many various scenarios. If your tummy can handle it, ride it again and again for a new experience!
For even more Star Wars fun, young Jedis between 4 and 12 years of age can sign up for Jedi Training Academy. Sign ups are held outside ABC Sound Studio at park opening. Children will then be given a show time. Children will don their brown robes and enter this 20-minute training academy where they will learn to use the force and defeat the dark side! If you can defeat Darth Vader, you will be given a certificate proclaiming you a true Jedi Knight! Check the times guide for show times and don't forget to sign up early. Spots fill up fast!
At Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, you can watch Indy and Marion perform wild stunts, learn from the director how stunts are performed, and even be part of the action if you are chosen as a volunteer! This long-running stunt show is also on the rumored list for closure. So if you are a fan of Indy or just want to see how actors perform these epic stunts, be sure to stop by and see it before it's gone!
Hollywood Blvd and Echo Lake are packed with tons of food options. For great table-service food, there is the Hollywood Brown Derby, Hollywood and Vine and 50's Prime Time Cafe. For lighter fare, there is Backlot Express, Oasis Canteen and Min & Bill's Dockside Diner (pictured here). Or, you can stop by the Tune In Lounge for a beverage. They serve both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
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Disney started the D23 Expo at the Anaheim Convention Center by bestowing the title of Disney Legend to several well-known recipients. Among them, surprise guest Johnny Depp!
True to his modest nature, Johnny quipped "I don't know why I'm here." And, expressed his gratitude with the remark “I will treasure it and hopefully get to meet Mickey Mouse,” Depp said, prompting a big laugh.
The star also added star added: “I never really liked the word ‘fan.’ It implies that someone is over someone else. I would say that you are actually my employer.”
But, those of us who love this mega-star know exactly why he's there and believe he is more-than-deserving of this honor. His film credits with Disney include: Alice in Wonderland's Mad Hatter, Into the Woods' Big Bad Wolf, and The Lone Ranger's Tonto.
In addition to those, he is credited with what could possibly be the best-loved film character ever created: Pirates of the Caribbean's Captain Jack Sparrow! Johnny's portrayal of Cap'n Jack has been so wildly successful, he has recently been in Australia filming the franchise's FIFTH installment!! Pirates of the Caribbean, Dead Men Tell no Tales is due to hit theaters in the summer of 2017, and die-hard fans just CAN'T wait!!
All of this, in addition to his musical talents (he has recently formed a band with Alice Cooper and Aerosmith's Joe Perry called Hollywood Vampires) and his well-known acts of kindness (he can frequently be found visiting children's hospitals in full Jack Sparrow costume) make Johnny a TRUE Disney legend!!
And, on a personal note, those of you who follow me regularly know that I think Johnny Depp is THE MOST incredible man on the planet!! So, I am super-excited about this announcement! Congratulations Johnny, and much love from your fans at 1,000,000 Disney SUPER Fans!
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We are now ready to journey through the last land at Animal Kingdom park. This land deals with animals that are no longer with us. Join us as we explore Dinoland USA!
Take some time to relax while the kids run around in The Boneyard in Dinoland. It is an interactive playground where kids can play, climb, slide and dig for fossils in this fun play area.
Like most Disney attractions, there is an interesting backstory to Dinoland USA. When dinosaur fossils were found in the area and the area began to grow with researchers, local residents Chester and Hester decided to profit on the new-found fame of their homestead and set up Chester and Hester's Dino-rama. Here you can find good old-fashioned carnival style games at Fossil Fun Games.
Also in Dino-rama, you can ride Primeval Whirl, a steel wild mouse spinning roller coaster!
The other Dino-rama ride is Triceratop Spin. A Dumbo-like ride that features triceratops vehicles spinning around the hub until a dinosaur pops out of the center.
Looking for a bite that's not from a T-Rex? You can stop by this dorm where the paleontology students dwell also known as Restaurantosaurusl. You can get burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches and salads. They even have draft beer available.
If you need a break after spinning around Dino-rama, then head over to Finding Nemo, the Musical. This stage show is a mix of live performance, theatrical puppetry, music and spectacular color. 6 original songs were created to produce this stage adaptation from the non-musical Finding Nemo movie. This 40-minute show takes place in the enclosed Theater in the Wild.
Last on our tour of Dinoland USA is Dinorsaur! Inside the Dino Institute, you will find prehistoric exhibits and fossils narrated by Bill Nye the Science Guy along with a full-scale exact replica of Dino-Sue, the largest and most intact T-Rex skeleton ever found. Afterwards, you enter the research control center where you will board your Time Rover and travel back to the time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Your secret mission is to return with an Iguanadon before meteors wipe them off the planet forever! This ride is loud and bumpy with lots of audio-animatronic dinosaur action.
We wrap up our tour of Dinoland USA and Disney's Animal Kingdom with these final FUN FACTS:
*The original Dino-Sue is 65 million years old.
*Imagineers created their own species of Carnotaurus for the Dinosaur! ride.It's technical name is Carnotaurus Robustus Floridana.
*Listen closely as you stroll the shady trails between Dino-rama and Dinosaur! You may hear creatures stomping around in the distance.
*In Chester and Hester's Dinosaur Treasures, try to locate the photo of the owners. Look closely. It's a split image! Chester and Hester are played by the same person!
*The themed farewells in Dinoland USA are "rock on" and "dig ya later". Be sure to say it to a cast member on your way out!
*There are 2 large boxes in The Boneyard that look like a good place to sit. Before you do, lift the lid to hear what is scurrying around in there.
We hope you enjoyed touring all the lands of Disney's Animal Kingdom. In our next segment, we travel to "old" Hollywood and explore Disney Hollywood Studios!
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