Walt Disney World: It's Not Just for Kids

Welcome to the first stop aboard Magical Blogorail Green. Enjoy the ride as we share with you our special Disney memories with our loved ones.

As Singles Awareness Day Valentine’s Day is coming up soon, I thought it would be topical to choose a favorite memory with a loved one.  I am truly a blessed woman, because I have so many.  Quality time with my nephews?  My brother quoting my father, leading to me laughing so hard I am reasonably sure half of Columbia Harbor House was staring?  My dad on Tower of Terror, and how I finally got “our” ride photo this summer?  The time my mother thought Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was the train?

But there is one memory which stands out above all other memories.  One of the dedicatees of this blog is my grandmother.  She accompanied me on my High School Graduation Trip on February of 2002 (about 10 years ago.  Yay me for being extra themeatic).  On that trip, she and I had some time together in World Showcase.  Grammy loved Europe, and she loved World Showcase.  We just walked around talking, and had  good time.  She talked about how much she loved the UK, and if I ever went there, to think of her.

And I did.

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is Your Highway in the Sky.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ Walt Disney World: Not Just for Kids
2nd Stop ~ Your Highway in the Sky
3rd Stop ~ Disney Living
4th Stop ~ Adventures of a Disney Princess

Final Stop ~ A Disney Mom’s Thoughts

At home, I’m a huge fan of getting discounted restaurant gift certificates at Restaurant.com. However, I always thought that there was no point in looking at them for Orlando, as I stay on-site at both Universal and Disney World.
This led me to do my own poking around on there, and I found that Bice at the Portofino Bay Resort at Universal Orlando is also on Restaurant.com.

While poking around there, I found that they had Giraffe Cafe at Royal Plaza Hotel. Now, if you’ve never been there (we returned a rental car there, but that’s another story for another day), it’s within spitting distance of Downtown Disney. Additional, Restaurant.com also has the Outback Restaurant and Kook Sports Bar (both at Buena Vista Palace) and Andiamo Italian Bistro, both of which are also at Downtown Disney hotels. If you’re looking to save on food, it might be worth the trek there.  Restaurant.com also has Tradewinds at CocoKey Water Resort, which is very near to property.

Every month, new certificates go up on Restaurant.com. on the first of the month (they are also re-stocked, so you can pick up any which may have been sold out in the previous month.

Between now and January 31, save 80% at restaurant.com using the code DATE.

As I have now welcomed our evil Apple overlords, I am planning on reviewing apps much as I did with Disney Android Apps. I am starting with an app which I find, at kindest, pointless and at most honest stupid: the WDW Acronym Decoder.  I downloaded it shortly before I got my iphone, as StitchKingdom had tweeted out that it was updated, and I thought it sounded cool.

It is exactly what it says on the tin.  You can look for an acronym, and find it’s meaning.  Maybe useful if you’re on an iPad or iPod touch, but on an iphone couldn’t you just google it or use an online resource?  That said, it’s free.

Chevy Sign at Disney's Hollywood Studios, August 2011.

Aight, so I have to start this post off by smacking myself in the head.  I had totally thought that I once did a Friday Favorite on Test Track, but I guess I was wrong.  I love Test Track.  It’s fun, vaguely educational, and great if you are traveling solo-the single rider line moves really quickly.

I also blame credit Test Track with why I wanted anti-lock breaks on my first car (and also possibly why I did not want an American car).  The fact that Test Track often broke down was joked about in the Unofficial Guide as being an anti-ad for GM.

Wel, apparently there’s truth in talk, because Disney announced last week that they and GM are revamping Test Track* as “The Chevrolet Design Center“.  It’s going to be a ride where you design your own car, then ride a “SimCar”.  The SimCar sounds strikingly similar to the current part of the ride, minus the Henry Ford production line clanks in the queue.

What are your thoughts on this attraction or its changes? Let me know in a comment, Twitter , Facebook, or Google Plus. Come get pinned with me on Pinterest.
*Test Track is 13 years old, holy snakes!

Beauty and the Beast 3-D

Beauty and the Beast is my favorite Disney movie.  I saw it when it first came out.  While I was sitting all slack-jawed and this is awesome at the movies last night, it occurred to me that it has been twenty years since I had seen it in theaters.  I still remember how excited I was that there was Beauty and the Beast paper products for my birthday party that year (January baby).  Of course, in the intermingling years I’ve seen it on ice, and the stage show* (thrice!).

So when I heard it was coming out it 3-D, I knew I had to see it.  I was accompanied by my Beauty and the Beast loving (but non-Disney decade)aged friend, who also enjoyed it.

Folks, I gasped when I saw the villages first 3-D rose.  It was freaking epic.  It was beautiful, and well-done.  I know it’s heresy, but 3-D Be Our Guest totally pwns the Philharmagic version (though there were no scents).  The ballroom scene?  Even more gorgeous than in the original.

However, as an adult (and especially one who feels like Belle gets a rap as being the anti-princess princess), I did wince a little at the non-consentual fooling around/cure your abuser messages.

That said, do not miss this movie.

Did you see it?  What did you think?  Let me know in a comment, Twitter , Facebook, or Google Plus. Come get pinned with me on Pinterest.

*Does the stage show cannon and movie cannon blur for anyone else?  The fact “Human Again” never made it into the movie is a crime.  Also, I was completely expecting the “In the Town I come from, people think I’m odd” bit in “Something There.”


Beauty and the Beast 3-D review

Or any vacation really. Given that we obsessive Disney planners book cruises out over one year in advance, and vacations (especially for those of you who are DVC members) as well, things can change in a year. If you are looking at an awesome new job offer, can you still go on your magical vacation?
I’ve done it successfully three times. I bring it up during the negations once the offer is on the table. I just state the facts, and I flat out state that I am willing to take it unpaid. I have had to take vacations unpaid, but I have been able to take them. Ask a Manager has some good tips (and if you are job hunting, you need to be reading her).

Have you had to request this?  How did it work for you?

Amity sign at Universal Studios, August 2009. Now a piece of Theme Park history

For this week, I have a reminder of what was: Here’s what Amity looks like today.