Character Hunting Spree! - EPCOT (3)

Character Hunting Spree! - EPCOT (2)

Character Hunting Spree! - EPCOT

EPCOT -- Part II

Entertainment, Parades, & Fireworks

[ ] Illuminations: Reflections of Earth - Duration: 30 min. - Location: World Showcase Lagoon

* Synchronized to a symphonic world-music score, this nightly fireworks and special effects extravaganza uses the entire World Showcase as its stage, as strobe lights flash on, and laser beams shoot from various international pavilions. A rotating Earth moves across the water and shows moving images on its continents, eventually unfolding to reveal a giant torch. There's no narration, the show tells the history of the world in three acts: "Chaos", "Order", and "Celebration".

[ ] Kim Possible World Showcase Showdown - Duration: 45-60 min. - Location: World Showcase

* A cell-phone-like 'Kimmunicator' helps you trigger special effects around the World Showcase pavilions in a secret agent scavenger hunt. Your mission? To save the world, by helping Kim Possible and her friends vanquish evil!

Character Meet & Greet

+ Aladdin, Jasmine, Genie - Morocco Pavilion; Jasmine often at ARB Hall, Norway Pavilion

+ Alice - Toy Soldier, UK Pavilion; often at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Norway Pavilion

+ Ariel - often at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Norway Pavilion

+ Aurora - France Pavilion; often at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Norway Pavilion

+ Belle, Beast - France Pavilion; Belle often at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Norway Pavilion

+ Cinderella - often at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Norway Pavilion

+ Donald Duck - Mexico Pavilion

+ Esmeralda - often at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Norway Pavilion

+ Goofy - Epcot Character Spot

+ Mary Poppins - Toy Soldier, UK Pavilion

+ Mickey, Minnie Mouse - Epcot Character Spot

+ Mulan, Mushu - China Pavilion; Mulan often at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Norway Pavilion

+ Pluto - Epcot Character Spot

+ Snow White, Dopey - German Pavilion; Snow White often at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall, Norway Pavilion

+ Winnie the Pooh, Tigger - Toy Soldier, UK Pavilion

Street Performers

Acrobats

+ Dragon Legend Acrobats - Duration: 20 min. - Location: China Pavilion

+ Serveur Amusant - Duration: 20 min. - Location: France Pavilion

Candy Artist

+ Miyuki - Duration: 20 min. - Location: Japan Pavilion

Improvisational Troupe

+ World Showcase Players - Duration: 20 min. - Location: Italy & UK Pavilions

Juggler

+ Sergio - Duration: 20 min. - Location: Italy Pavilion

Musicians

+ American Gardens concerts - Location: American Adventure Amphitheater

+ The British Invasion - Duration: 20 min. - Location: UK Pavilion

+ 'Hat Lady' Carol Stein - Duration: 20 min. - Location: Rose & Crown Pub, UK Pavilion

+ Jammitors - Duration: 20 min. - Location: Innoventions Plaza, Future World

+ Mariachi Cobre - Duration: 20 min. - Location: Mexico Pavilion

+ Matsuriza Taiko Drummers - Duration: 20 min. - Location: Japan Pavilion

+ Mo'Rockin - Duration: 20 min. - Location: Morocco Pavilion

+ Off Kilter - Duration: 20 min. - Location: Canada Pavilion

+ Si Xiang - Duration: 20 min. - Location: China Pavilion

+ Spirit of America Fife & Drum Corps. - Duration: 10 min. - Location: America Adventure Promenade

+ The Voices of Liberty - Duration: 20 min. - Location: American Adventure

Storyteller

+ Honobono Minwa - Duration: 20 min. - Location: Japan courtyard

Have a Magical Day!

(c) The Complete Walt Disney World 2010

(c) Photos Flickr photographers

Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow -- Part I

This is my favorite park. And I haven't even ridden all of the rides. I love learning, and EPCOT is the park that makes learning fun! (Sheesh, if THAT doesn't sound nerdy, wait until my Harry Potter post...) I don't want to work here. I don't know what it is, but the merchandise in Epcot just doesn't interest me, unless you count the World Showcase, but apparently only International College Programmers can work in those. However, I will absolutely be using my 50% holiday discount to my advantage in those WS shops.

It's probably safe to say that Epcot was what Walt most wanted to build after the success of Disneyland. Designed to demonstrate new technology and innovation, Walt envisioned it as a sort of permanent world fair for companies, universities, and governments to show off their newest creations. Epcot is a theme park about ideas, such as ecologies, energy sources, and the role communication systems and how they play in human societies.

FUTURE WORLD

Gleaming futuristic structures of immense proportions define the first themed area beyond the main entrance. Broad thoroughfares are punctuated with billowing fountains--all reflected in shiny space-age facades. Everything, including the landscaping. is sparkling clean and seems bigger than life.

WORLD SHOWCASE

This half of Epcot is devoted to a collection of elaborate pavilions representing the landmarks and cultures of various countries from around the world. It is an ongoing world fair encircling a picturesque 40-acre lagoon. The cuisine, culture, history, and architecture of almost a dozen countries are spaced along a 1.2 mile promenade.

Attractions

[ FAVORITE / * Fastpass Available / [ x ] Experienced ]

Future World

[ x ] Spaceship Earth - Duration: 15 min.

[ ] Innoventions - Duration: up to you!

[ x ] Mission: Space* - Duration: 6 min.

[ x ] Test Track* - Duration: 5 min.

[ x ] Ellen's Energy Adventure - Duration: 45 min. - The Universe of Energy Pavilion

[ x ] The Seas with Nemo and Friends - Duration: up to you!

[ x ] Soarin'* - Duration: 5 min. - The Land Pavilion

[ x ] Living with the Land* - Duration: 14 min. - The Land Pavilion

[ x ] Circle of Life - Duration: 20 min. - The Land Pavilion

[ x ] Honey, I Shrunk the Audience - Duration: 20 min. - Imagination Pavilion

[ ] Journey Into Imagination with Figment - Duration: 8 min. - Imagination Pavilion

World Showcase

[ ] O Canada! - Duration: 17 min. - Canada Pavilion

[ ] Impressions de France - Duration: 18 min. - France Pavilion

[ ] The American Adventure - Duration: 30 min. - America Pavilion

[ ] Reflections of China - Duration: 19 min. - China Pavilion

[ x ] Maelstrom* - Duration: 10 min. - Norway Pavilion

[ x ] Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros - Duration: 9 min. - Mexico Pavilion

Have a Zippidy-Doo-Da Day!

(c) The Complete Walt Disney Guide 2010

(c) Fodor's WDW 2010 Guide

(c) The Color Companion to Walt Disney World

(c) Photo by Jeff B. (Flickr)

Quick Service Food & Bev!

So you're officially in the Disney College Program. You've accepted your role: QSFB, chosen an arrival date, and are now super pumped about coming to Disney! You look at the Disney College Program Fall 2010 Facebook group page every so often (or if you're me, ever 10 seconds) and you are seeing that a lot of people are requesting locations to work. Now you've become worried because one of two things have happened to you: you've never been to Disney World, or Disney is so huge that you can't possibly think of anywhere to request! Never fear! I've come to save the day by providing you with a list of most QSFB choices in each of the four parks-- Magic Kingdom, Disney's Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom.

MAGIC KINGDOM

Aloha Isle: Dole whip, pineapple spears, juice, floats. Adventureland.

Aunt Polly's Dockside Inn: Desserts. Frontierland.

Auntie Gravity's Galactic Goodies: Soft-serve ice cream, smoothies. Tomorrowland.

Casey's Corner: 11A-park close. Hot dogs. Main Street U.S.A.

Columbia Harbour House: 10:30A-park close. Sandwiches, fish, chicken, veggie chili. Liberty Square.

Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe: 10:30A-park close. Chicken, burgers, ribs, kosher. Tomorrowland.

Diamond Horseshoe: Open seasonally. Sandwiches. Frontierland.

El Pirate y el Perico Restaurante: Open seasonally. Tacos, taco salads. Adventureland.

*Note that if you work at Pecos Bill's you may get moved to work here.

Enchanted Grove: Swirls, slushes, orange juice. Fantasyland.

Friars Nook: Hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, salads, fries. Fantasyland.

Liberty Square Market: Corn on the cob, baked potatoes, fresh fruit. Liberty Square.

The Lunching Pad: Turkey legs, frozen drinks, pretzels. Tomorrowland.

Main Street Bakery: park open-park close. Bagels, pastry, yogurt, parfaits, quiche. Main Street U.S.A.

Mrs. Potts' Cupboard: Soft-serve ice cream. Fantasyland.

Pecos Bill Cafe: 10A-park close. Burgers, wraps, salads. Frontierland.

Pinocchio Village Haus: 10:30A-park close. Pizza, chicken, salads. Fantasyland.

Plaza Ice Cream Parlor: Hand-dipped ice cream. Main Street U.S.A.

Scuttle's Landing: Muffins, pretzels, coffee. Fantasyland.

Sleepy Hollow: Funnel cakes, caramel corn, soft-serve ice cream. Liberty Square.

Sunshine Tree Terrace: Frozen orange juice swirled w/ vanilla soft-serve, slushes, floats. Adventureland.

Tomorrowland Terrace Noodle Station: Seasonal. Menu varies. Tomorrowland.

Toontown Farmer's Market: Yogurt, fresh fruit. Toontown.

EPCOT

*please note that I am only putting up those in Future World because I have heard that the QSFB that are in the World Showcase may only go to International CPs. If anyone knows if regular CPs can work there, let me know and I will include the World Showcase in this section.

Electric Umbrella: 11A-9P. Burgers, salads, sandwiches. Innoventions Plaza.

Fountainview Ice Cream Shop: 10:30A-9P. Hand-dipped ice cream. Innoventions Plaza.

Sunshine Seasons: 9A-9P Quality salads, soups, sandwiches, noodle dishes, grilled meats, bakery, breakfast egg dishes, oatmeal, cereals. The Land.

DISNEY'S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

ABC Commissary: 11A-park close. Burgers, chicken, fish. Commissary Lane.

Backlot Express: 11A-8P. Burgers, hot dogs, grilled sandwiches, salads. Echo Lake.

Min & Bill's Dockside Diner. 10A-8P. Shakes, beers, pretzels, frozen lemonades. Echo Lake.

Peevy's Polar Pipeline: Flavorful frozen drinks. Echo Lake.

Starring Roles Cafe: 9A-4P. Pastries, sandwiches, coffee. Sunset Blvd.

Studio Catering Co.: 11:30A-7P. Sandwiches, chili dogs, salads, dessert. Streets of America.

Sunset Ranch Market: park open-park close. Food court. Bagels, burgers, fresh fruit, hot dogs, pizza, salads, sandwiches, turkey legs, hand-dipped ice cream. Sunset Blvd.

Toy Story Pizza Planet Arcade. 11A-7:30P. Individual pizzas, salads. Streets of America.

The Writer's Stop: Coffee, baked goods, frozen drinks. Echo Lake.

ANIMAL KINGDOM

Flame Tree BBQ: BBQ meats, baked beans, corn on the cob. Discovery Island.

Pizzafari: 9A-park close. Individual pizzas, salads, sandwiches. Discovery Island.

Restaurantosaurus: 11A-park close. Burgers, chicken, hot dogs. DinoLand U.S.A.

These are just the main QSFB locals and does not include the different carts that are prominent throughout the parks. As for requesting, nothing is a guarantee, but it doesn't hurt to try. They don't choose where you're going to work until they have a good idea of what they have to work with, so I'd say you still have a window to request. I know that it's hard to request during your interview because depending on what role you chose would change where you'd want to work! I hope this list helped some of you!

Have a Magical Day!

What's New? WDW 2010

So it’s a new year. A lot of us won’t get to see Disney until our arrival date—I know I haven’t been to WDW since Sept. ’08. So, because of this, I thought I’d blog about everything new and exciting that’s waiting for us down at our new home!

MAGIC KINGDOM
Barack Obama has finally joined the Hall of Presidents! The attraction has been completely redone, including a new movie with a new narrator (Morgan Freeman) and all-new staging.

Tinker Bell and her fairy friends now pose and sign autographs at the Toontown Hall of Fame.

The seven-month $12 million refurbishment has made Space Mountain more exciting with a darker, quieter track and faster swoops and drops; a more colorful view of space; and an optional souvenir photo.

The Tomorrowland Transit Authority has new audio narration.

Donald Duck is among the Disney characters who shake their tail feathers at the Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party.

New characters have been added to the Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade.

Princess Tiana has now officially joined the princesses and now greets and signs autographs with Prince Naveen in Liberty Square.

The Pirates League makeover salon transforms adults and children into swashbucklin’ pirates.

Say goodbye to the long-empty Tomorrowland Skyway Station as it has been demolished & removed.

EPCOT
Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure is a new high-tech scavenger hunt around the ‘world’.
Living with the Land is reopened in 2009 after a refurbishment.

Test Track now features a post-show area displaying a Chevy Volt Extended Range Electric Vehicle that appeared in Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen.

Remy from Disney’s Ratatouille now appears as a small audio-animatronics creature at Chefs de France.

At the Japan pavilion the Tin Toy exhibit has been replaced by Timeless Beauty: World Heritage Sites of Japan.

Mexico’s new La Cava del Tequila offers 70 varieties and a ‘tequila ambassador’ to teach the history of the drink.

Kidcot children’s arts-and-crafts stations in Future World have been removed.

DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS
The American Idol Experience lets you compete for a chance at ‘stardom’.

A street show High School Musical 3: Right Here! Right Now! features songs from HMS3.

Luxo Jr. (Pixar’s hopping desk lamp) performs in Pixar Place.

Fantasmic is now only performing a few nights a week.

The indoor ABC Commissary no longer serves breakfast. Instead outdoor Fairfax Fare food court will.

The Sounds Dangerous sound-effects show is only open seasonally.

The ambient sound inside Once Upon a Time gift shop is now the actual radio broadcast of the 1937 premiere of Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Kids can now draw and color at the new arts and craft area near the exit of Rock n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith.

The colorful chicken coop featured in Hannah Montana: The Movie is now a prop on the Studio Backlot Tour.

The Coca-Cola bottle in front of the Studio Backlot Tour has been replaced so now it opens to spray mist.

The hot air balloon outside of MuppetVision 3-D and Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat have been repainted.

DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM
At Festival of the Lion King host Timon’s eyes now blink and move.

Two male giraffes were born at AK in Oct. ’09.

Amphibian widows at Conservation Station now display unusual frogs, newts, salamanders, and toads.

WATER PARKS
Summer guests can now meet Goofy at Blizzard Beach and Lilo and Stitch at Typhoon Lagoon.

DOWNTOWN DISNEY
Characters In Flight takes guests on a 400 ft hot-air balloon ride above the West Side.

The Virgin Megastore and Starabilias memorabilia shop is now closed.

Although the Pleasure Island’s club scene was closed in 2008, their new restaurant and bar, Paradiso 37, features ‘street cuisine’ from North, South, and Central America and nightly entertainment.

SPORTS AND REC
The ESPN Wide World of Sports complex is installing large video screens at many of its venues.
Disney has introduced two new tours: Epcot’s Nature-Inspired Design and Holiday DeLites.

The Richard Petty Driving Experience has lowered the minimum age for it’s ride-along program to 14.

The Pirate & Pals Fireworks Voyage, formerly the Magical Fireworks Voyage, is now open to all guests, not just those booking Disney’s Grand Gatherings.

Two foot races are no more: Disney’s Race for the Taste during Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival and the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 13K… the Wine & Dine Half Marathon will pass through multiple theme parks and end at Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival. It will be held Oct. 1 & 2.

ACCOMMODATIONS
Rooms at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort have undergone an extensive renovation that includes flat-screen TV's and all-new furnishings and carpet.

Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort has redone some rooms in a pirate theme; all others have a subtle 'Finding Nemo' decor.

Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground have added archery lessons as well as bicycle abd surrey rentals.

The Downtown Disney Holiday Inn is scheduled to reopen this year.

Three new Disney Vacation Club properties opened in 2009: Bay Tower Lake at Disney's Contemporary Resort, Kidani Village at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, and Treehouse Villas at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort.

A Four Seasons hotel, golf course, and vacation-home complex is being built on the site of the former Eagle Pines golf course.

First announced for 2009, a luxurt pet resort is now promised for 2010-2011.

RESTAURANTS
Kouzzina is opening at the BoardWalk Resort (replacing Spoodles).

The Wave at the Contemporary Resort (replacing Concourse Steakhouse).

Sanaa at the new Kidani Village at Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Effective Feb. 7, 2010: Cinderella's Royal Table will feature Cinderella in the lobby and other Disney princesses mingling with guests in the dining room.

Walt Disney World no longer sells all-beef hot dogs. They will now be a mixture of chicken and beef.

PRACTICAL MATTERS
Disney is experimenting with a centralized Fastpass distribution system where guests can pick up multiple Fastpasses at one location.

A new handheld device delivers audio descriptions of visual images at 33 attractions for use by the blind; the same device has captions for hearing-impaired guests.

You can now order over 500+ theme-park merchandise items online at DisneyStore.com.

A new mobile website mdisneyworld.com offers a handy overview of the resort.

SPECIAL EVENTS
MK's Totally Tomorrowland Christmas show has replaced Twas the Night Before Christmas.

At Epcot, Lights of Winter has been removed and gospel choir D'Vine Voices has been added.