MousePlanning

One of my favorite locations in Walt Disney World is Main Street, USA. This is kind of ironic in that, on my first trip to Disney World I sped past Main Street as fast as I possibly could in order to get to 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. As an 11 year old kid, I wanted adventure and excitement. To me, Main Street was just a street and didn’t hold much appeal except for maybe the Magic Shop and the Penny Arcade.

When I plan people’s itineraries, Main Street USA poses the biggest problems. There is so much to do and so much to see there, but when a family only has one day in the Magic Kingdom it can be critical for them to just walk right down the middle of Main Street USA in order to get to all the attractions in the other lands that they want to see that day. They often have it in their mind that Disney World is all about “rides” and, since there are no “rides” on Main Street (except the trolley and jitneys) they don’t even consider it, much as I didn’t my first time. This is nothing short of a tragedy, for Disney World is not about “rides.” It’s about “attractions,” and there are plenty of attractions on Main Street, USA.

The first attraction on Main Street USA is the opening ceremony that happens every morning at the Main Street Station. It sets the tone for the day and never fails to bring a tear to my eye. (There’s a reason I wear sunglasses to see it.) Singing, dancing, characters, and the Walt Disney World Railroad all play a role in opening up the Magic Kingdom with a little magic mixed up with pixie dust.

I consider the theming and the views on Main Street to be attractions in and of themselves, and a big part of this are the window displays. Rather than rush down to the Hub and the Castle, why not stroll down the sidewalk and look at the amazing details of the window displays?

By far my favorite attractions on Main Street USA are the live entertainment offerings. Each group is awesome in and of itself and adds to the atmosphere of Main Street. Whether you’re listening to the amazing harmonies of the Dapper Dans barbershop quartet, clapping along with the Main Street Philharmonic marching band, or watching the Main Street Trolley Show, there is always something interesting to listen to or watch. People need to be aware that these performances are worth stopping for (and participating in!). Also be on the lookout for custodians who draw pictures on the street using water, Cast Members handing out hula hoops and getting people playing jump rope, and more!

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the residents of Main Street. Sure, you can meet characters like Chip & Dale, Daisy Duck, Pluto, and even Mickey Mouse, on Main Street, but I’m talking about the residents of Main Street. People like Mayor Weaver, Fire Chief Smokey Miller, Councillor Dewey Cheatem, Inga DePoint, and Hildegard Olivia Harding. These characters are just as real as Mickey Mouse and help reinforce the story that you’re immersed in.

Wait a minute! Story? There’s a story behind Main Street USA? Yes, there is! While it’s beyond the scope of this humble blog entry to tell you why every day is the 4th of July on Main Street, you can learn a little bit about it by downloading these two episodes of the WDW Radio Show (#197 and #198) and also by purchasing Lou Mongello’s Audio Guide to Main Street USA.

These are just some of the things that I really enjoy about Main Street, U.S.A. Please, take the time to explore and enjoy this often-overlooked gem.  You just might be surprised at the memories that you create when, instead of making a mad dash for Space Mountain, you instead take a leisurely stroll through this amazing land in the Magic Kingdom.

I’ve had quite a busy month!

I was a guest on the Tiara Talk Podcast as part of a round-table discussion giving a recap of the WDW Radio Dream Cruise, complete with fun anecdotes and tips.  If you want to find out if I’m really Lou Mongello’s brother, just listen to Episode 2.

I also managed to appear on an episode of “See Ya’ Real Late” with Tom Corless of WDW News Today.  We were discussing the new interactive queue at the Haunted Mansion as well as the new Hitchhiking Ghost audioanimatronics and effects. Needless to say, I’m thrilled with the updates.  I think the interactive queue not only gives kids something fun to do while waiting on line, it gives kids a sense of the “fun” side of the Haunted Mansion and sets the tone for the attraction.  I’ve also been a long-time advocate of upgrading the audioanimatronic figures and effects in older attractions, provided that the upgrades don’t change the attraction.  The Imagineers got it right in this instance.

I also attended a Disney Interactive media event in New York City where they previewed three video games.

I had a chance to play all three of these games and I honestly couldn’t decide which I liked more.  Each had a different feel to it.  The Lego Pirates of the Caribbean game was just a blast with the fun puzzles and cut scenes that I’ve come to expect from Lego video games.  Cars 2 was a fun, high energy racing game that reminded me of a slick version of Mario Kart.  Phineas and Ferb was a throwback to my favorite classic adventure games from the late 1980′s or early 1990′s, but with a modern twist to it.   I’m going to have to purchase all three once they are released.

Also at the media event, I found out the Disney is celebrating the upcoming royal marriage of Prince William and Catherine Middleton with the Happily Ever After Contest. While following royal weddings isn’t really my cup of tea, getting a chance to win a free trip to Disney World is.  There are also some great activities for young Princesses to be found on the website, too.

Finally, I wrote an article for The Disney Driven Life giving tips on how to avoid losing your children when vacationing at Disney World.  If I do say so myself, it is well worth your time to read it.

In September of 2008, I took my family to Disney World and when we returned I told my mother all about the trip.  About a month later, my mother asked me, “James, if I went to Disney World, would you be my guide?” I was doing something else when she asked me this question, and I responded with a distracted, “Sure, Mom.”  About a minute later she asked, “How soon can we go?”

“Go where, Mom?”

“Disney World!”

“You were serious?!?”

So I arranged to take her to Disney World in November.  One of my brothers wanted to join us, and then my uncle tagged along as well.  On our second night, I had us going to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.  However, a torrential downpour around 7:30pm, in addition to a day taking them through Hollywood Studios in commando mode, brought my three charges to their limit.  They literally followed the first parade down Main Street and left to go back to our resort.

Of course, I stayed.  I looked like a drowned rat from having ventured out from the Frontierland churro cart to go to the Haunted Mansion before the parade.  It didn’t bother me, though.  I’m from NJ, and even though it was the middle of November and I was soaked to the skin, the temperature was 60°F so I was quite warm.  I decided to walk over to Mickey’s Toontown Fair to meet Tinker Bell, since I had never met her before.  As I passed the old Skyway station in Fantasyland, I saw they had a character meet set up.  However, there were only four people on line, and there was no character there.  I decided to take a chance and get on the line.

In less than a minute, Belle and the Beast arrived.  I felt I had hit the jackpot! Belle is my favorite princess, and I had never met her wearing the red Christmas dress, nor had I ever met the Beast.  I chatted with the people to either side of me in line, and soon it was time to meet the characters.

Belle started talking to me, and asked if I had met her prince.  ”Prince?” I asked.  Gesturing to the Beast, she replied with much love in her voice, “Yes, this is my Prince.”

Something in me was disturbed by this emotional pronouncement.  I told Belle, “If I didn’t know better, I’d think that you had feelings for this monster!”

Belle looked a little shocked.  Still, she declared, “Yes, he’s my Prince.  I love him.”

I suddenly turned away from her and faced the people who were still on line.  I shouted to them, “The Beast will make off with your children! He’ll come after them in the night! We’re not safe until his head is mounted on my wall! I say we kill the Beast! Who’s with me?!?”

My impromptu proposal was met with shocked silence. Suddenly, a guy in the line shouted, “I am!”  A gasp emanated from Belle, and I turned around.

“Oh, no! You have it all wrong! He wouldn’t hurt anyone. He’s really kind. And gentle,” implored Belle.

I looked at the Beast, who posed in what might be considered a friendly manner.

“Kind and gentle, you say?” I replied. “Well, then, I guess there’s no reason to worry.”

Belle looked relieved.

So we let bygones be bygones. I inquired as to what her Prince’s name was.  She told me he is called “Beast.”  I told Belle that he certainly looks like a Beast, but that he must have a real name.  Belle then told me why her Prince was named “Beast.”

“Once he was human and had a name, but he was cursed. It was so long ago, and he’s been a Beast for so long, he has forgotten what his name was. So now he just goes by ‘Beast’ even though he is no longer a beast inside.”

Having learned something new for the day, I decided it was time to depart.  The three of us posed for a picture together.

Yeah, I can be crazy like that, but sometimes you just have to have fun with the characters.  Give them a moment to remember.  I have to say that I was impressed with the Cast Member portraying Belle. She took what was (probably) a completely unexpected turn of events in stride. Not only that, she responded with Belle’s exact words from the movie! She really did a great job.

I’m just glad that the Beast didn’t prove her wrong about being kind and gentle. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here to write this blog post.

For those of you who don’t know, they officially announced yesterday that Snow White’s Scary Adventures, a long running attraction in the Magic Kingdom, will be closed permanently as part of the Fantasyland Expansion.  I’m sad to see Snow White’s Scary Adventures being closed.  I will admit that this was an attraction that was hard to swallow — too scary for little kids and not enjoyable enough for most adults.

I remember the first time I rode it.  The year was 1983. I was ten years old. Back then it was just titled “Snow White’s Adventures” (or something akin to that) and unbeknownest to me, Snow White didn’t appear in the ride at all at that point in time. I loved the movie and was looking forward to going on the ride. I was excited to get into one of those mine cars. While in the queue, I experienced my first aura of foreboding when my sister pointed out that the Evil Queen kept opening the curtains in the castle window, gazing down menacingly at the line of people.  When the mine car made the quick transition from shaded-but-sunny outside to a dark-and-dismal ride interior, I got chills up my spine that weren’t from the temperature difference between the Florida heat and the air conditioning.  My blood finally froze when the Evil Queen, looking into the mirror, suddenly spun around and was transformed into the Wicked Witch!

There I was, a ten year old, scared by a Snow White ride! But being the oldest of four children, I would never admit to it. So once we got off the ride, I made fun of my siblings who had been, of course, scared by the ride.  My parents did not take kindly to my derogatory comments and, probably knowing that I was trying to hide the fact that I had been frightened, called my bluff.  They told me that if I wasn’t scared, I wouldn’t mind going back on the ride again all by myself.  To save face, I had to do it!

Although it took me 4 more rides over the next 2 years to really overcome my fear of the Snow White attraction, in doing so I came to love it.  In my mind, it became a right of passage for me, for my siblings after that, and in recent years for my two oldest children.  Now that Disney is closing it down, I’m saddened that people, including some of my own kids, will never have that opportunity.  That said, I’m very happy that they’re keeping Snow White around in the form of the Dwarfs’ Mine Car attraction! It looks like it has the potential to be a fun ride that everyone will be able to enjoy.

Were you or your kids ever frightened riding Snow White’s Scary Adventures?  What are your thoughts on its closing?

The recent fire in the Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management) got me thinking about changing/modifying attractions.  To me, the suits at Disney made a big error when they “updated” the attraction.  To quote Vizzini from Princess Bride, they fell victim to one of the classic blunders; the most famous of which is, “Never mess with a classic, timeless attraction by adding content that will automatically date the attraction in a few years.” But only slightly less well-known is this: “Never add potentially child-frightening content to an attraction that shouldn’t be frightening!”

If I had my way, I’d have Disney do with the Enchanted Tiki Room what I want to see done to the Country Bear Jamboree — keep the original show but update the audio-animatronics. Do I think that is going to happen any time soon?  No.  But a man can dream…

My tweep Tammy inspired me to post this little personal quiz I made up about the Magic Kingdom.  I’ve put down my questions and my answers.  I invite you all to post a comment with your own answers.  I’m really curious as to what you think.

What are your top 3 favorite attractions in each land in the Magic Kingdom (MK)?

Main Street USA: (Yeah, I know these aren’t exactly attractions, but go with it.)
1. Main Street Bakery
2. Dapper Dans
3. WDW Railroad Station

Fantasyland:
1. It’s a Small World
2. Prince Charming Regal Carousel
3. Mickey’s Philharmagic

Liberty Square:
1. The Haunted Mansion
2. Liberty Square Riverboat
3. Hall of Presidents

Frontierland:
1. Splash Mountain
2. Country Bear Jamboree
3. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Adventureland:
1. Pirates of the Caribbean
2. Swiss Family Treehouse
3. Jungle Cruise

Tomorrowland:
1. Carousel of Progress
2. Tomorrowland Transit Authority
3. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin

Mickey’s Toontown Fair
1. Minnie’s Country House
2. Pixie Hollow Meet & Greet
3. The Barnstormer

What are your top 3 favorite MK attractions?
1. Haunted Mansion
2. Carousel of Progress
3. It’s a Small World

What are your least favorite MK attractions?
1. Stitch’s Great Escape
2. The Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management)
3. Magic Carpets of Aladdin

What are your favorite “extinct” MK attractions:
1. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
2. Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
3. Enchanted Tiki Room (original)

What is your favorite table service restaurant in MK?
1. The Plaza Restaurant

What is your favorite counter service restaurant in MK?
1. Casey’s Corner & Main Street Bakery (tie)

Thanks for reading and don’t forget to post your own answers!