Tomorrowland - Exploring the World, One Land at a Time

Everyone knows "Four Parks, One World", but each of those parks is made up of multiple, themed "Lands". Each land contains it's own unique decor, dining, experiences and history. With so much to do and see, it's easy to miss many of the details that make these lands special in their own way. This series will explore each of these lands in detail to show how they are part of the Magic that is Walt Disney World resort.

The final land in Magic Kingdom takes us into the future. Walt Disney was fascinated with technology and space travel. He hoped to fill this land with all the wonder and hope of great things to come. However, Walt had no idea just how fast progress would happen and at times, new technology actually surpassed many of the ideas showcased in this land.

 "Tomorrow can be a wonderful age. Our scientists today are opening the doors of the Space Age to achievements that will benefit our children and generations to come. The Tomorrowland attractions have been designed to give you an opportunity to participate in adventures that are a living blueprint of our future." - Walt Disney 

Feel the thrill of racing when you get behind the wheel atTomorrowland 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.

In mid-2017, rumors circulated that the Speedway would shut down to make room for a new Tron Lightcycle Power Run. However, it was later revealed at D23 that the new attraction would, in fact, be next to the speedway as shown in this concept art. In light of this new attraction, which should be completed ahead of Magic Kingdom's 50th anniversary in 2021, perhaps the speedway will receive some sorely needed updates to better fit in with it's futuristic counterparts.

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!

In 2004, the ExtraTerrorestrial Alien Encounter, thought to be too scary for young guests,  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. Due to it's lagging popularity, this attraction has only been open on a seasonal basis in recent years.

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 your Monster 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!

Finally, 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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photo credit: some images may have been obtained from Google Images

2018 WDW Free Dining Promotion Info

The dates for the 2018 Free Dining Promotion at Walt Disney World are as follows:

• August 20 – September 29, 2018
• November 24 – 27, 2018
• December 7 – 23, 2018

**Disney Visa Cardholders may book this offer for dates beginning August 2, 2018 through August 19, 2018
A Disney Visa Cardmember must stay in the reserved room, and guests must use a valid Disney Visa Card or Disney Rewards Redemption card to pay the deposit.

This offer excludes the following room types: 3-bedroom villas, campsites, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – Little Mermaid Standard Rooms and Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows
Resorts that are EXCLUDED from this offer are:

• All Stars Movies
• Art of Animation - Little Mermaid standard rooms only
• Port Orleans French Quarter
• Port Orleans Riverside 
• Fort Wilderness campsites and 3 - bedroom villas
• Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort
• Disney's Polynesian Villas and Bungalows (available for Studios only)
• The Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa

The Disney Dining Plan will be offered free to those staying at a Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resort. 
Those staying at a Moderate or Value Resort will receive the Quick Service Dining Plan free. 
Guests at Value and Moderate resorts may upgrade to the Standard or Deluxe Dining plan just by paying the price difference between the two plans. Speak with your booking agent for more information and price.

To qualify for this promotion, you must book a minimum 5-night package and add 4-day minimum ticket with either the Park Hopper or Park Hopper Plus option to your tickets. As in the past, your check-in date must fall on one of the qualified dates to receive free dining. You will receive free dining for every night of your stay, even if the entire trip is not within the qualified dates.

You must book by:  July 7, 2018

Get full details on their website HERE

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Fantasyland - Exploring the World, One Land at a Time

Everyone knows "Four Parks, One World", but each of those parks is made up of multiple, themed "Lands". Each land contains it's own unique decor, dining, experiences and history. With so much to do and see, it's easy to miss many of the details that make these lands special in their own way. This series will explore each of these lands in detail to show how they are part of the Magic that is Walt Disney World resort.

As we leave Colonial America, we step into a world of Fantasy. This is where all of our most-loved fairy tales come to life and we leave the real world behind. In December, 2012, the largest-ever expansion in Magic Kingdom made it's debut, New Fantasyland, adding more rides, restaurants, shops, and magic.

“Here is the world of imagination, hopes, and dreams. In this timeless land of enchantment, the age of chivalry, magic and make-believe are reborn - and fairy tales come true. Fantasyland is dedicated to the young-in-heart, to those who that when you wish upon a star, your dreams come true.”-Walt Disney Co.

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. It also serves as the backdrop for several of the most popular shows in Magic Kingdom. 

Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire debuted in June, 2016 replacing the long-running "Dream Along with Mickey". In this castle stage show, Mickey and his friends celebrate the stories of some of the more recent Disney animated classics, including Frozen, Tangled and The Princess and the Frog. 

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! 

Each day, the fantasy spreads throughout the kingdom with the Festival of Fantasy parade. This new parade pays homage to the unbridled magic and vivid pageantry of Fantasyland and its many inhabitants. Many floats feature moving and spinning parts not normally found in Disney parades. The most notable new piece is the Maleficent dragon float that spits actual fire! 

At night, the castle features two magnificent shows. Once Upon a Time is a spellbinding nighttime show that brings Cinderella Castle to life with projections of beloved Disney scenes and characters. The grand finale of the night is the Happily Ever After fireworks show.

Beyond the castle walls, we explore this land of Fantasy. 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.

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.

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. For reasons I personally don't understand, this ride regularly experiences exceptionally long wait times. Getting a fastpass is recommended.

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.

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!

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 many other favorite princesses.

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.

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.

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." After the performance, children have the opportunity to take a photo with Belle.

If you need even more Beauty and the Beast in your life, 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 Rose Gallery of Beast's castle. Because of the popularity of this restaurant, reservations are available for all meals and highly recommended. It was recently announced that as of July 27, 2018, an enhanced dinner menu will be offered here. As a result, dinner will now require 2 Disney Dining Plan credits. 

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. This is the only spot to grab LeFou's Brew, a tasty drink you don't want to miss!

Outside, you will also find one of the most unforgettable character experiences with everyone's favorite guy!

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!

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.

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.

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photo credit: some images obtained from Google Images