Mouse Travel Tips

Mouse Travel Tips Episode 76: Disney Guide Books, Buzz Lightyears Astro Blaster, and Tomorrowland Terrace (click to listen or right click to download). We start off at looking at several Walt Disney World guide books.  We list a few that we like to use and give some tips to help you find the one you like.  Afterwards, we head over to Disneyland and help Buzz defend the galaxy against Zurg.  We, then grab a a bit at the Tomorrowland Terrace.

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen to us.  If you enjoy the podcast we welcome feedback our website www.mousetraveltips.com or you may contact us via E-mail or voicemail. We also ask you if you enjoy the show to leave a review on iTunes or Zune.

Contact:

Twitter: RayMTT
Facebook: Mouse Travel Tips
Voicemail:1-641-715-3900, extension 601469#.
Email: mousetraveltips@yahoo.com

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Mouse Travel Tips Episode 68: Minimum Height Requirement, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, and Carnation Cafe (click to listen or right click to download.) We talk about the minimum height requirement for children for the thrill rides.  We share our experience from our recent trip to Walt Disney World and what we learned from it.  Our attraction for the day is Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln in Disneyland. Afterwards we grab a bite at Carnation Cafe on Main Street.

Thank you very much for taking the time to listen to us. If you enjoy the podcast we welcome feedback our website www.mousetraveltips.com or you may contact us via E-mail or voicemail. We also ask you if you enjoy the show to leave a review on iTunes or Zune.

Contact:

Twitter: RayMTT
Facebook: Mouse Travel Tips
Voicemail:1-641-715-3900, extension 601469#.
Email: mousetraveltips@yahoo.com

Images

Podcast:

I nearly forgot today was President’s Day.  My kids had to go to school (making up those snow days from earlier this month), but the veterans putting out the flags along Rufe Snow Boulevard in Keller, TX reminded me that this was a day to remember some of our great U.S. Presidents and how they have impacted our lives.

In honor of President’s Day, we’d like to recommend three patriotic and presidentially oriented activities at Disneyland and Walt Disney World that will help you remember the contributions of our early, and current, Chief Executives of the United States.

First – take in a showing of “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” at Disneyland park in Anaheim, California.  Walt Disney had a great deal of affection and respect for our 16th President.  In fact, Mr. Lincoln is the main reason we have Audio-Animatronic figures today!  Walt and his Imagineers created a lifelike mechanical representation of Abraham Lincoln for the 1964 World’s Fair – and gave birth to a whole new technology that other companies have never been able to duplicate as successfully as Disney.

Second – you can meet all of our U.S. Presidents  at the “Hall of Presidents” Attraction, located in Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom in Florida.  The attraction was retrofitted in 2009 to add our 44th U.S. President, Barrack Obama.  What I love about this attraction is the Presidential memorabilia out in the lobby – including the boots worn by George W. Bush at his Inaguration (yes – we Texans love our boots!).  It’s also funny to watch the Presidents fidget and whisper as the others are talking – you can’t get much more lifelike than that.

Third – live the Golden Dream at the American Adventure Pavilion in Epcot.   This 30 minute combination of audio-animatronic show and film clips is a frank look at the history of America – the good, the bad, and the ugly.  Presidents like Thomas Jefferson make appearances throughout the show, along with American icons like Mark Twain and Benjamin Franklin.  The show makes no excuses, but instead shows how Americans have grown up as a country.  The final montage is both stirring, with inspiring quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,  and heartbreaking with clips from the 9-11 tragedy and aftermath of that terrorist attack on our country.  It’s definitely worth seeing over and over again so you can catch all of the history and nuances.

Happy President’s Day from all of us at Mouse Travel Tips podcast!

February is International Friendship month:  a time for people around the world to celebrate the bonds that unite us despite our different nationalities.  At Disney parks, the friendships and bonds between nations is celebrated year round, and not just in February.

In Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom, guests riding the “It’s a Small World” attraction are reminded again and again that people all over the world are the same.  The attraction, created for the 1964 New York World’s Fair, was created to show how children all over the world share common goals and dreams.  Love it or hate it, the ride’s theme song was really meant to be a “prayer for peace”, according to composer Richard Sherman.  While the words are simple, the song’s lyrics really promote world friendship:

It’s a world of laughter, a world of tears

It’s a world of hope and a world of fears

There’s so much that we share that it’s time we’re aware

It’s a small world after all.

There is just one moon and one golden sun

And a smile means friendship to everyone.

Though the mountains divide, and the oceans are wide

It’s a small world after all.

It’s a small world after all.

It’s a small world after all.

It’s a small world after all

It’s a small, small world.

The Disneyland website overview of the attraction says it best:  “The joyful journey ends with a magical and heart-warming grand finale featuring all the world’s children singing together as one. Say goodbye, Aloha or au revoir to your global friends —you’ll be humming their melody all day long.”

In addition to the “Small World” attraction, Disney celebrates world friendships and cultures daily at Epcot’s World Showcase.  Eleven countries are featured side by side, so guests can easily go from one culture to another.  In addition to highlighting national history and culture, guests can consume native foods and drinks, and converse with native cast members about their cultures.  Kids can have a great time at the Kidcot stations where they can get a “stamp” on their passports, and even have their name or a short message written in the country’s native language.  Cast members entertain guests with stories and shows from their home country, and guests have the opportunity to purchase souveniers from those home countries.  What better way to celebrate international friendship than with food, drinks, and shopping!

No matter what you do at Disney parks, remember that Disney is not just an American park.  It’s a world park – and it’s a small world after all.

Lewis Carroll, the author who created the fantastical world of Wonderland, was born on January 27, 1832.  To celebrate his birthday, we’d like to suggest five fun Alice in Wonderland related activities you can do at Disney parks:

1)      Enjoy the Alice in Wonderland ride at Disneyland:  One of the unique attractions at Disneyland is the Alice in Wonderland ride, located across from the Matterhorn in Fantasyland.  Opened in 1958, the dark ride takes guests through the story of Alice’s adventures in wonderland.  Play croquet with the Queen of Hearts, get lost in Tulgey Wood, sing with the flowers, or have a spot of tea with the Mad Hatter and the March Hare.  This enchanting ride is a colorful way to spend time together as a family.  Can’t get there in person?  Enjoy YouTube videos for a vicarious vacation to Wonderland.

2)      Take a ride with Alice and the Mad Hatter on the Teacups:  whenever Alice and the Mad Hatter visit the Mad Tea Party teacups ride, they like to take a spin before they greet guests and pose for pictures.  If you time it right, and have a little bit of luck, you might be selected to ride with them in the teacups.  If not – you can still enjoy a spin any time of day at both Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom parks.  Whether you spin left or right, you are sure to have a wonderful (if dizzy) time.

3)      Meet Alice in the UK Pavilion at Epcot:  On most good days, guests can meet Alice in the English garden just behind the Tea Caddy Shop.  Alice will pose for pictures and sign autographs.  If it’s not too busy – you might ask her to teach you how to curtsey to the Queen (say “yes, your Majesty…it saves time”).   Character greeting times are usually between 1:30pm and 6pm most days, but check with a cast member to confirm.

4)      Have breakfast with Alice and the Mad Hatter at 1900 Park Fare:  the Supercalifragilistic breakfast is a great way to meet Alice and the Mad Hatter.  Every day, the 1900 Park Fare restaurant brings together the best British characters for a yummy breakfast meet and greet event.  Alice and the Mad Hatter are usually in attendance, ready to pose for pictures and sign autographs for guests.  You can make dining reservations online at the Walt Disney World website.

5)      Enjoy the classic animation or re-imagined fantasy of the movies:  if you just can’t make it to the parks, you can always celebrate Lewis Carroll’s birthday by curling up with the 1951 animated Disney movie “Alice in Wonderland”, or with the 2010 Tim Burton version of the classic tale.

If all else fails – you can always read the book for free online (see Amazon’s Kindle store or other free ebook sites for the book).  Any way you slice it, you too can wish Lewis Carroll a very merry (un)birthday!