Character Hunting Spree! - Magic Kingdom

The Magic Kingdom Part Deux

Entertainment, Parades, & Fireworks

[ ] SpectroMagic - Duration: 20 min. - Location: Main Street USA

* Magic Kingdom's night parade; A high tech affair that employs electro-luminescent and fiber-optic technologies, light-spreading thermoplastics, and clouds of underlit liquid-nitrogen smoke. The parade also features a memorable soundtrack, many major characters, and thousands of sparkling lights.

[ x ] Wishes - Duration: 12 min. - Location: Main Street

* Wishes features memorable vignettes and music from beloved Disney films, along with a stellar fireworks display, while Jiminy Cricket narrates a lump-in-your-throat story about making wishes come true. Cinderella Castle is used as a backdrop for various mood lighting.

[ ] Frontierland Hoedown

[ ] Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade - Duration: 30 min. - Location: MS-->LS-->FL

*Floats feature Mickey, Goofy, and most of the Disney storybook gang. The "Celebrate" them rings out, though classic Disney tunes are woven in the score to accompany the story told throughout each float. Performers in bright costumes wave flags and perform high-energy dance numbers.

[ ] Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! - Duration: 20 min. - Main Street USA

Character Meet & Greets

Mickey Mouse & Friends

+ Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse - Judge's Tent, Mickey's Country House, Mickey's Toontown Fair

+ Donald Duck - Across from Frontierland Shootin' Gallery

+ Goofy - Left of Splash Mountain, Frontierland

+ Pluto - Town Square, Main Street USA

Princesses

+ Ariel - Adventureland

+ Aurora - Toontown Hall of Fame, Mickey's Toontown Fair, Cinderella's Royal Table, Cinderella's Castle

+ Belle - Toontown Hall of Fame, Mickey's Toontown Fair, after Storytime with Belle, Cinderella's Royal Table, Cinderella's Castle

+ Cinderella - Toontown Hall of Fame, Mickey's Toontown Fair, Cinderella's Royal Table, Cinderella's Castle

+ Jasmine - Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Adventureland, Cinderella's Royal Table, Cinderella's Castle

+ Snow White - Town Square outside of Expo Hall, Main Street USA, Toontown Hall of Fame, Mickey's Toontown Faire, Cinderella's Royal Table, Cinderella's Castle

+ Tiana, Prince Naveen - Behind Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe, Liberty Square

Other Characters

+ Aladdin - Magic Carpets of Aladdin

+ Alice, Mad Hatter - Mad Tea Party, Fantasyland

+ Buzz Lightyear - Carousel of Progress, Tomorrowland

+ Captain Hook, Mr. Smee - Pirates of the Caribbean, Adventureland

+ Chip n' Dale - Town Square, Main Street USA

+ Daisy Duck - Town Square, Main Street USA

+ Dopey - Town Square, Main Street USA

+ Fairy Godmother - Cinderella's Royal Table, Cinderella's Castle, Fantasyland

+ Gus, Jacques - Cinderella's Royal Table, Cinderella's Castle

+ Lady Tremaine, Anastasia, Drizella - Fairytale Garden, Fantasyland

+ Mary Poppins - Town Square, Main Street USA

+ Penguins - Town Square, Main Street USA

+ Peter Pan, Wendy - Pirates of the Caribbean, Adventureland

+ Pinocchio - Town Square, Main Street USA

+ Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Piglet - Pooh's Playful Spot, Fantasyland, Crystal Palace, Main Street USA

+ Rafiki, Timon - Adventureland front entrance veranda

+ Stitch - Carousel of Progress, Tomorrowland

+ Tinker Bell, Fawn, Iridessa, Rosetta, Silvermist, Terence - Toontown Hall of Fame, Mickey's Toontown Fair

+ Woody, Jessie - Splash Mountain, Frontierland

Street Performers

Musicians and Singers

+ Casey's Corner Pianist - 20 min. - Casey's Corner patio - Main Street USA

+ Dapper Dans - 20 min. - Main Street USA

+ Fantasyland Woodwind Society - 20 min. - Fantasyland

+ Main Street Philharmonic - 20 min. - Main Street USA

+ Main Street Saxophone Four - 20 min. - Main Street USA

+ The Notorious Banjo Brothers and Bob - 20 min. - Frontierland

Street Shows

+ Captain Jack Sparrow's Pirate Tutorial - 20 min. - left side of Pirates of the Caribbean entrance, Adventureland

+ Frontierland Hoedown - 20 min. - 4:45pm - in front of Prairie Outpost, Frontierland

+ Magic Kingdom Welcome Show - 8 min. - Park entrance inside turnstiles

+ Main Street Trolley Parade - Three 5 min. shows - Mornings only - Main Street USA

Improvisational Troupe

+ Citizens of Main Street - Main Street USA

Performance Artist

+ PUSH, The Talking Trash Can - 20 min. - walkway between Indy Speedyway and Auntie Gravity's, Tomorrowland

Flag-Lowering Ceremony

+ Flag Retreat - 20 min. - Town Square, Main Street USA

Tomorrow -- Dining at the Magic Kingdom!

Have a Magical Day!

(c) The Complete Walt Disney World 2010

The Magic Kingdom Part I

I am going to start doing trilogies of the four Disney parks. I've been wanting to do this-- not only to enlighten those who have never been or haven’t been since they were younger, but it also serves as a helpful reminder to all of us frequent guests who can’t wait to plan out our first day at Magic Kingdom. This is to reiterate about all of the magic and excitement the Magic Kingdom stands for, but it is also a stress reliever to me because talking about it (or rather, writing about it) makes me happy and even more pumped about what's to come in four months. A lot of people think: Magic Kingdom = Cinderella's Castle, but to me, I think of the Railroad. So here we go...

The Magic Kingdom is the heart and soul of the Disney empire and is comparable (in scope) to California's Disneyland. It's divided into seven 'lands': Main Street USA, Liberty Square, Adventureland, Frontierland, Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, and Mickey's Toontown Fair (which will be closing in order to expand Fantasyland, so I will not be touching on this one).

MAIN STREET USA

You begin and end your visit of Magic Kingdom with Main Street, U.S.A. It may open half an hour before and close half an hour to an hour after the rest of the park. It is a Disneyfied turn-of-the-19th-century small-town American street. Along the street are shops, eating places, City Hall, and a fire station. Occasionally horse-drawn trolleys, fire engines, and horseless carriages transport visitors along Main Street to the central hub.

ADVENTURELAND

It is the first land to the left of Main Street. It combines African-safari theme with a Caribbean atmosphere.

FRONTIERLAND

Frontierland adjoins Adventureland as you move clockwise around Magic Kingdom. The focus is the Old West, with a stockade-type structures and pioneer trappings.

LIBERTY SQUARE

This land recreates America at the time of the Revolutionary War. The architecture is Federal or Colonial. A real 130-year-old live oak, the Liberty Tree, lends dignity and grace to the setting.

FANTASYLAND

Fantasyland is the heart of the Magic Kingdom, a truly enchanting place spread gracefully like a miniature Alpine village beneath the steepled towers of Cinderella Castle.

TOMORROWLAND

It is a mix of rides and experiences relating to the technological development of man and what life will be like in the future. If it sounds like Epcot’s theme, it is because Tomorrowland was a breeding ground for ideas that spawned Epcot. However, Tomorrowland is more fun, depicting the future as envisioned in science fiction rather than Epcot, which is more educational.

Attractions

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

Main Street, U.S.A

[ x ] Walt Disney World Railroad - Duration: 21 min.

Adventureland

[ x ] Enchanted Tiki Room * - Duration: 12 min.

[ x ] Jungle Cruise * - Duration: 10 min.

[ ] The Magic Carpets of Aladdin - Duration: about 3 min.

[ x ] Pirates of the Caribbean - Duration: 10 min.

[ x ] Swiss Family Treehouse - Duration: up to you!

Fantasyland

[ x ] Ariel’s Grotto - Duration: up to you! [CLOSED]

[ ] Cinderella Castle and Bippidi Boppidi Boutique

[ x ] Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel - Duration: 2 min.

[ x ] Dumbo the Flying Elephant - Duration: 2 min.

[ ] Fairy Tale Garden: Story Time with Belle - Duration: 25 min. [CLOSED]

[ x ] it’s a small world - Duration: 11 min.

[ x ] Mad Tea Party - Duration: 2 min.

[ x ] The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh * - Duration: about 3 min.

[ x ] Mickey’s PhilharMagic * - Duration: 12 min.

[ x ] Peter Pan’s Flight * - Duration: 2.5 min.

[ ] Pooh’s Playful Spot - Duration: up to you!

[ x ] Snow White’s Scary Adventures - Duration: 3 min.

Frontierland

[ x ] Big Thunder Mountain * - Duration: 4 min.

[ ] Country Bear Jamboree - Duration: 17 min.

[ x ] Splash Mountain * - Duration: 11 min.

[ x ] Tom Sawyer Island - Duration: up to you!

Liberty Square

[ ] Hall of Presidents - Duration: 25 min.

[ x ] Haunted Mansion - Duration: 8 min.

[ x ] Liberty Square Riverboat - Duration: 15 min.

Tomorrowland

[ ] Astro-Orbiter - Duration: 2 min.

[ x ] Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin * - Duration: 5 min.

[ x ] Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor - Duration: 15 min.

[ x ] Space Mountain * - Duration: 2.5 min.

[ x ] Stitch’s Great Escape - Duration: 15 min.

[ x ] Tomorrowland Indy Speedway - Duration: 5 min.

[ x ] Tomorrowland Transit Authority - Duration: 10 min.

[ x ] Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress - Duration: 20 min.

That's it for part one, check back tomorrow for the second installment! It will be about the Character Meet n' Greets, parades, shows, and fireworks!

Have a Magical Day!

(c) Fodor’s WDW 2010 Guide

(c) The Complete Walt Disney Guide 2010

(c) Photo by Jeff B.

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.