A faint mist fills the air as you pass through a wrought iron gate, following a twisting path towards an old hotel. The mist seems to bring the strains of music. Big band music from another era, familiar and yet the old recordings are eerily tinny sounding. A completely different dimension of sound from current music.
The landscaping is overgrown, broken. It looks like no one has come this way for seventy years. Reaching what should have been a fountain and pool, you find it dry and filled with dead leaves. The music is a bit stronger here and it’s near the pastel pink stucco of the building.
This is the building you’ve come to see. An old 1920s, abandoned Spanish-Renaissance styled hotel. Each step closer to the lobby entrance brings more anxiety, more anticipation. The lobby is cool, yet dark. A thick layer of dust covers everything. A mah-jongg game half-played. Empty glasses, luggage, coats. It seems people left this place in a hurry, never returning for their belongings. Stopping in the midst of their cocktails. Outside it’s hot, inside here it is cool. Preternaturally cold.
The bellhop leads you to a large library. Once inside the library, your situation has become clear. This is not reality, you unlocked a door with the key of imagination. You’ve entered a different dimension. You’ve traveled directly to…The Twilight Zone.
With this pronouncement still ringing in your head, you enter a basement. Towards a freight elevator, which is the only way to get out of here. The hum of boilers accompanies you. Another bellhop directs you to a seat with the freight elevator. Did the bellhop just wish you good luck? Or say that if you had any questions it was now too late? That disembodied voice just said that people long ago had also stepped through an elevator door and into a nightmare.
Slowly the elevator moves up. Here’s your stop. A mere hotel hallway. But what are those phantasmagorical figures waving at you to join them? What was that you just saw? Did you really see what happened after the apparitions disappeared? The doors close and you move up again. When they open, this is no hotel hallway. Your elevator car moves out and forward. That’s right! It moved forward! Past a large blinking eye, E=MC2, into the deepest darkest corner of the imagination.
Then you fall. And fall. Raising up, windows open to give you a view of the outside. You fall again. The rising and falling doesn’t seem to show any sign of stopping as it does it again and again!
Then as quickly as it started you blink in the soft glow of electric light. You’re on the ground, being warned to be more aware the next time of exactly what sort of place you are checking into. Everyone in the elevator staggers out into the light, many walking as if slightly drunk. Big band music heralds your return into the living dimension. Vera Lynne ominously crooning out how you’ll meet again.
Beats standing on plain asphalt ground in a cordoned off queue for a tower drop ride staring out over more asphalt with your legs hanging out of a harness, doesn’t it?
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Storybook Love
One of the cheaper and easier to book alternatives to Cinderella’s Royal Table in Magic Kingdom is the Princess Storybook meal in Epcot at the World Showcase. For a Princess fan, this one is highly recommended. There are three options all with appearances by four Princesses, which are breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast is the cheapest, so if you want to get in to see Princesses with the least amount of money possible, this is the choice for you.
Many reviews online are rather critical of the Princess character meal, treating the Storybook meal like the ugly stepsister of Cinderella’s Royal Table. This meal lacks the thrill of actually eating inside Cinderella’s Castle, instead being inside Norway’s Akershus restaurant. Although, really, once you are inside the décor around you won’t make that much of a difference. Although, I will admit that I tend to take the easy way out. I preferred getting a spot, in fact, a choice of days and times, than to have to fight for any spot at any time by getting up at 5:30am or earlier depending on the time zone.
The big difference between the Epcot and Magic Kingdom experiences are the Princesses you are likely to meet. Cinderella’s Royal Table will always have Cinderella in attendance and part of the photo package. (Both include a photo package with the price you pay.) Norway’s photo princess is Belle. The Princesses tend to vary at the Storybook meal with a rotating cast that could include Belle, Sleeping Beauty, Jasmine, Mulan, Snow White and sometimes Mary Poppins and Ariel. An appearance by Cinderella isn’t entirely unheard of at the Epcot meal. This meal is definitely the one with more diverse Princesses.
Another complaint about the meal is the amount of time Princesses spend at each table. They do have a large room to work through and every Princess has to try to see every table before their meal is done. This does put a limit on the amount of time a Princess will spend with each family. Don’t expect one to sit down and chat for 10-15 minutes. However, I did time them ranging between three minutes and five, depending on the level of interaction from the little ones at the table. Obviously, the more into a Princess your child (or you…admit it) is, the longer one will stay.
As for food, breakfast is pretty standard. Eggs, cheesy hash browns, bacon, sausage and a cold buffet with a selection of pastries, breads and fruit. Lunch and dinner here is more exotic than at the Castle, featuring Norwegian inspired dishes to choose from. Picky eaters may want to check out the menus at allears.net to see if there is something that appeals to them.
Far from being Cindy’s ugly stepsister, the truth is, this character meal is a wonderful experience and should be given the same chance to try on the glass slipper as any scullery maid.
Many reviews online are rather critical of the Princess character meal, treating the Storybook meal like the ugly stepsister of Cinderella’s Royal Table. This meal lacks the thrill of actually eating inside Cinderella’s Castle, instead being inside Norway’s Akershus restaurant. Although, really, once you are inside the décor around you won’t make that much of a difference. Although, I will admit that I tend to take the easy way out. I preferred getting a spot, in fact, a choice of days and times, than to have to fight for any spot at any time by getting up at 5:30am or earlier depending on the time zone.
The big difference between the Epcot and Magic Kingdom experiences are the Princesses you are likely to meet. Cinderella’s Royal Table will always have Cinderella in attendance and part of the photo package. (Both include a photo package with the price you pay.) Norway’s photo princess is Belle. The Princesses tend to vary at the Storybook meal with a rotating cast that could include Belle, Sleeping Beauty, Jasmine, Mulan, Snow White and sometimes Mary Poppins and Ariel. An appearance by Cinderella isn’t entirely unheard of at the Epcot meal. This meal is definitely the one with more diverse Princesses.
Another complaint about the meal is the amount of time Princesses spend at each table. They do have a large room to work through and every Princess has to try to see every table before their meal is done. This does put a limit on the amount of time a Princess will spend with each family. Don’t expect one to sit down and chat for 10-15 minutes. However, I did time them ranging between three minutes and five, depending on the level of interaction from the little ones at the table. Obviously, the more into a Princess your child (or you…admit it) is, the longer one will stay.
As for food, breakfast is pretty standard. Eggs, cheesy hash browns, bacon, sausage and a cold buffet with a selection of pastries, breads and fruit. Lunch and dinner here is more exotic than at the Castle, featuring Norwegian inspired dishes to choose from. Picky eaters may want to check out the menus at allears.net to see if there is something that appeals to them.
Far from being Cindy’s ugly stepsister, the truth is, this character meal is a wonderful experience and should be given the same chance to try on the glass slipper as any scullery maid.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Sign Here Please
One of the dangers of Disney World, especially with kids, is the merchandise. It’s everywhere. Main Street is lined with stores. Every on-site resort has a shop. Most attractions lead out into a shop themed for that ride. Sometimes, in places like the World Showcase and Downtown Disney, the attractions are the shops and the whole reason for visiting. I’ve written articles here on souvenirs before and the best places for them. However, what about a souvenir that doesn’t cost much, can be more satisfying and stave off a large credit card bill?
That’s where autographs come in. First timers may find the concept funny, but almost all kids and even some adults love getting the autographs of various Disney characters. It becomes a game to find as many different characters as possible to collect the autographs. Books are sold cheaply in the shops along with thick pens that are easy for the gloved hands of characters to handle. However, many people do bring their own collection books and pens from home. Just make sure that the books can lay flat and that the pens are big enough for the characters to manipulate. Some people like to have an autograph on one page and a photo with that character on the facing page.
There are some interesting facts about autograph collecting. One, is that no matter where you meet the character, you can expect the same signature. If you meet Belle in Epcot and then the next day in Magic Kingdom, it will look the same. If you meet Belle five years from now and get her autograph again, it will match the previous autograph. Sometimes I suspect some adults like to collect the autographs just to test this out. (The others are trying to get as many characters as possible. Some characters are quite rare, it’s like bird watching or Pokemon collecting.)
Even more impressive, is that some characters, due to the nature of the costumes (like Goofy and Pluto) are signing blind. Try signing a signature that isn’t your own, but due it by holding your hands above your head and that’s basically what they do.
Just remember if you do decide to do autographs that the books should be open to a blank page before approaching the character and the pen should be uncapped/clicked and ready. This is just common courtesy to all others in line behind you and helps the characters, since most of them aren’t going to be able to turn pages easily.
At the end of the trip, the autograph book will be filled with different signatures all in the style of the character who wrote them and like a photo will last longer than that giant lollipop. Those lollipops almost always are broken anyway. I haven’t bought an intact one yet.
That’s where autographs come in. First timers may find the concept funny, but almost all kids and even some adults love getting the autographs of various Disney characters. It becomes a game to find as many different characters as possible to collect the autographs. Books are sold cheaply in the shops along with thick pens that are easy for the gloved hands of characters to handle. However, many people do bring their own collection books and pens from home. Just make sure that the books can lay flat and that the pens are big enough for the characters to manipulate. Some people like to have an autograph on one page and a photo with that character on the facing page.
There are some interesting facts about autograph collecting. One, is that no matter where you meet the character, you can expect the same signature. If you meet Belle in Epcot and then the next day in Magic Kingdom, it will look the same. If you meet Belle five years from now and get her autograph again, it will match the previous autograph. Sometimes I suspect some adults like to collect the autographs just to test this out. (The others are trying to get as many characters as possible. Some characters are quite rare, it’s like bird watching or Pokemon collecting.)
Even more impressive, is that some characters, due to the nature of the costumes (like Goofy and Pluto) are signing blind. Try signing a signature that isn’t your own, but due it by holding your hands above your head and that’s basically what they do.
Just remember if you do decide to do autographs that the books should be open to a blank page before approaching the character and the pen should be uncapped/clicked and ready. This is just common courtesy to all others in line behind you and helps the characters, since most of them aren’t going to be able to turn pages easily.
At the end of the trip, the autograph book will be filled with different signatures all in the style of the character who wrote them and like a photo will last longer than that giant lollipop. Those lollipops almost always are broken anyway. I haven’t bought an intact one yet.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Big Groups and World Wars 2
Unless every member of the large party has memorized every detail regarding Disney World along with having years of park-going experience, eventually one member will get stuck somewhere. I did say that splitting up was the answer to a lot of the problems inherent in large groups with an agreed upon meeting place. However, a line may be longer than normal or a group may find themselves further away than they intended to be from the meeting spot causing missed meeting or general confusion in the massive crowds.
Using some form of communication may seem to be advisable at this point. Such as a cell phone, with at least one person in each separate group having one. This can work very well. However, Disney is known for a continual soundtrack in addition to the noise created by the guests visiting. It won’t be heard. If it is heard, it will be because it’s in a place where having a ring go off would be rude. A vibrate feature may help here, if the phone carrier isn’t on a ride that might mask the vibrations, such as Star Tours.
That isn’t to say that phones won’t work as an option for coordination. Especially if a text feature is used.
One of the better ways to solve the missed meeting problem is to make sure the meeting place isn’t time sensitive. Depending on the others in the party, a dinner reservation usually isn’t the best choice without a lot of time padding. A large icon or easily found shop is usually a better choice with a time range rather than asking that everyone get there on the dot.
The sorcerer’s hat between 1-1:30 is the sort of meeting arrangements that should be made. Usually, a central area rather than one on either extreme side of the park is best. However, when it comes to exactly where at the sorcerer’s hat, be as specific as possible. Agree on a specific side or particular bench. I know from personal experience that it can be easy to pass the person waiting for the rest of the group for up to an hour because the meeting place was too vague.
Lastly, when splitting up, try to be conscientious to the rest of the party and get to the agreed upon place in a timely manner.
Using some form of communication may seem to be advisable at this point. Such as a cell phone, with at least one person in each separate group having one. This can work very well. However, Disney is known for a continual soundtrack in addition to the noise created by the guests visiting. It won’t be heard. If it is heard, it will be because it’s in a place where having a ring go off would be rude. A vibrate feature may help here, if the phone carrier isn’t on a ride that might mask the vibrations, such as Star Tours.
That isn’t to say that phones won’t work as an option for coordination. Especially if a text feature is used.
One of the better ways to solve the missed meeting problem is to make sure the meeting place isn’t time sensitive. Depending on the others in the party, a dinner reservation usually isn’t the best choice without a lot of time padding. A large icon or easily found shop is usually a better choice with a time range rather than asking that everyone get there on the dot.
The sorcerer’s hat between 1-1:30 is the sort of meeting arrangements that should be made. Usually, a central area rather than one on either extreme side of the park is best. However, when it comes to exactly where at the sorcerer’s hat, be as specific as possible. Agree on a specific side or particular bench. I know from personal experience that it can be easy to pass the person waiting for the rest of the group for up to an hour because the meeting place was too vague.
Lastly, when splitting up, try to be conscientious to the rest of the party and get to the agreed upon place in a timely manner.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Big Groups and World Wars I
Disney World is huge, so huge in fact that it has no problem accommodating large groups. It even encourages them with their Grand Gatherings for groups of eight or more. Large groups, however can end up falling apart and leading to disgruntled and crabby members of the group if not planned carefully.
While a small group can get away with the bare minimal planning, big groups by their nature are already sheer chaos. This doesn’t mean you have to go to the extent of mapping out all possible logistics for your vacation. Just keep a few tips in mind each day as you set out.
There will disagreements. There will be attractions some can’t go on because of size restrictions or because they don’t want to go on them. These are the members to take into consideration first. It’s no fun at all if a couple people have to spend all day every day just waiting for people to get off a ride. Forcing a young child not ready for the Tower of Terror to go on it so that someone doesn’t have to miss out staying with the child is not a solution. Waiting on a bench for an hour while everyone else is having fun isn’t the best solution either.
Sometimes the best solution is to agree to split up. While this may sound like it defeats the whole point of family togetherness or will make things chaotic, it actually won’t. It will most likely foster family togetherness by avoiding grumpiness, irritability and the desire to kill each other. That isn’t to say that there aren’t moments for bonding at Disney World. They are every where, if the party is in the proper mood and spirit of things.
So talk about the attractions before you go and then again over breakfast the morning you are visiting the Park. Then, set a time and place to meet back up after splitting up. Lunches are a good one for this. Also, make sure to be fair to everyone. No one person should be stuck on toddler duty the whole entire trip. Likewise, only responsible teens should be allowed to go on their own without an adult.
If you chose for a time not to split up, then make sure to use the child swap to your advantage. Go up to a Castmember and say you’d like to do a child swap. They will give out passes for the person who will stay with the kid who can’t ride and a few extras. Once the rest of the group returns, you hand off the child and get to skip most of the line to take a turn. The extra passes are for any one else in your party to accompany you so that you don’t have to ride along and feel like the odd one out. This is a good chance for anyone who went on it the first time to go again very quickly if they liked the ride.
I cannot emphasize enough that the one thing that will ruin a vacation at Disney World are temper flare-ups. Despite what commercials show, the size and nature of the World cultivates flare-ups very easily. If you think a bit of advice will avoid these clashes, then do not hesitate to use it.
While a small group can get away with the bare minimal planning, big groups by their nature are already sheer chaos. This doesn’t mean you have to go to the extent of mapping out all possible logistics for your vacation. Just keep a few tips in mind each day as you set out.
There will disagreements. There will be attractions some can’t go on because of size restrictions or because they don’t want to go on them. These are the members to take into consideration first. It’s no fun at all if a couple people have to spend all day every day just waiting for people to get off a ride. Forcing a young child not ready for the Tower of Terror to go on it so that someone doesn’t have to miss out staying with the child is not a solution. Waiting on a bench for an hour while everyone else is having fun isn’t the best solution either.
Sometimes the best solution is to agree to split up. While this may sound like it defeats the whole point of family togetherness or will make things chaotic, it actually won’t. It will most likely foster family togetherness by avoiding grumpiness, irritability and the desire to kill each other. That isn’t to say that there aren’t moments for bonding at Disney World. They are every where, if the party is in the proper mood and spirit of things.
So talk about the attractions before you go and then again over breakfast the morning you are visiting the Park. Then, set a time and place to meet back up after splitting up. Lunches are a good one for this. Also, make sure to be fair to everyone. No one person should be stuck on toddler duty the whole entire trip. Likewise, only responsible teens should be allowed to go on their own without an adult.
If you chose for a time not to split up, then make sure to use the child swap to your advantage. Go up to a Castmember and say you’d like to do a child swap. They will give out passes for the person who will stay with the kid who can’t ride and a few extras. Once the rest of the group returns, you hand off the child and get to skip most of the line to take a turn. The extra passes are for any one else in your party to accompany you so that you don’t have to ride along and feel like the odd one out. This is a good chance for anyone who went on it the first time to go again very quickly if they liked the ride.
I cannot emphasize enough that the one thing that will ruin a vacation at Disney World are temper flare-ups. Despite what commercials show, the size and nature of the World cultivates flare-ups very easily. If you think a bit of advice will avoid these clashes, then do not hesitate to use it.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Uncle Scrooge Would Be Proud
I appreciate it when the Travel Channel does their Season of Disney shows, especially when they show new ones. I was recently watching Disney on a Dime and couldn't help feeling that they missed a few things that would really have made the trip cheaper for the families.
Don't eat breakfast at the food court or restaurants if you are staying on-site. Character meals are the exception of course, but those get pricey and aren't conducive to being cheap at the parks. You'll save about $10 per person per day to bring breakfast items such as bagels or rolls with you. You can easily pack these items in your check-in luggage or if you are not using Disney's Magical Express pick them up en route to your resort.
Of course, you can't avoid eating in the parks or at your resort all the time and you may even want to splurge on a meal. Food is probably almost a third of the cost of a trip to Disney World. You may even be able to better afford your splurge if you cut costs during lunch and dinner. Portions are big. You can split them. The moderate and value resorts all have a whole pizza option in the food courts. For $16 you can feed up to five people, sometimes even six if some of them are kids with one of those pizzas. Which works out to be much cheaper than $11-$13 per person for a dinner in your resort's food court.
The refillable mug. A very big subject to broach on the Internet. You do so at your own risk. However, the gist of the refillable mug is that you buy it once for $12.99 (currently) and you get as many free refills at your resort for your length of stay. This is not only soft drinks, but includes tea, coffee and hot chocolate. At about $2 per drink purchased singly , this pays for itself and then some if you merely use it just twice during a three day-four night stay. The cups also become souvenirs that prove to be useful at home as they are very good insulated travel mugs. I also like to bring mine into the Parks themselves and fill them up with cold water at the drinking fountains. It saves me having to buy bottled water or having to suffer heat stroke plus dehydration at the same time.
Let's face it, if you are passed out from the heat or slowed down, you really aren't getting your admission's worth of the Park are you? The admission alone is another third of the cost and the one Disney doesn't usually discount. You want to try to milk that for all it's worth. Being ill is not the way to do it.
Don't eat breakfast at the food court or restaurants if you are staying on-site. Character meals are the exception of course, but those get pricey and aren't conducive to being cheap at the parks. You'll save about $10 per person per day to bring breakfast items such as bagels or rolls with you. You can easily pack these items in your check-in luggage or if you are not using Disney's Magical Express pick them up en route to your resort.
Of course, you can't avoid eating in the parks or at your resort all the time and you may even want to splurge on a meal. Food is probably almost a third of the cost of a trip to Disney World. You may even be able to better afford your splurge if you cut costs during lunch and dinner. Portions are big. You can split them. The moderate and value resorts all have a whole pizza option in the food courts. For $16 you can feed up to five people, sometimes even six if some of them are kids with one of those pizzas. Which works out to be much cheaper than $11-$13 per person for a dinner in your resort's food court.
The refillable mug. A very big subject to broach on the Internet. You do so at your own risk. However, the gist of the refillable mug is that you buy it once for $12.99 (currently) and you get as many free refills at your resort for your length of stay. This is not only soft drinks, but includes tea, coffee and hot chocolate. At about $2 per drink purchased singly , this pays for itself and then some if you merely use it just twice during a three day-four night stay. The cups also become souvenirs that prove to be useful at home as they are very good insulated travel mugs. I also like to bring mine into the Parks themselves and fill them up with cold water at the drinking fountains. It saves me having to buy bottled water or having to suffer heat stroke plus dehydration at the same time.
Let's face it, if you are passed out from the heat or slowed down, you really aren't getting your admission's worth of the Park are you? The admission alone is another third of the cost and the one Disney doesn't usually discount. You want to try to milk that for all it's worth. Being ill is not the way to do it.
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