BEYOND THE THEME PARKS

ANITA ANSWER
Archives

11/3/08
--The Semi-Annual Refillable Mug Question
--Disneyland Disappointment?
--Does This Question Make Scents?
--Dining on a Steamship?
--Was Barbie Ever at Epcot?
--Restaurants with Organic Foods on the Menu?

10/27/08
--The Path between Epcot and the Studios
--It's Holiday Shopping Time! How to Purchase Park Merchandise from Home
--Which Resorts Have Only One Bus Stop?
--What Is That White Plastic Card on a Lanyard?
--Stroller or Pediatric Wheelchair for a Disabled Child?
--Where to Rent a Car on Property

10/20/08
--Dining at Crockett's Tavern?
--Is Changing Resorts Mid-Trip a Good Idea?
--What's Going On When Cast Members Show a Slip of Paper and Switch Places?
--When Does Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas Parade Begin Daytime Performances?
--Will Universal Tear Down Dueling Dragons for Wizarding World?
--Who Is the Candlelight Processional Celebrity Narrator on Christmas Eve?

10/13/08
--Who Lives Behind the Magic Kingdom?
--License Plates on the Sci-Fi Dine In "Cars"
--Anita's Annual Holiday Crowd Predictions 2008
--If You Knew Sushi...
--The Demise of Pal Mickey/Will He Still Work in the Parks
--Harry Potter Coming to the World?

10/6/08
--Is There a Lounge at the Wilderness Lodge?
--Characters That Can't Sign or Stamp/A Hunchback of Notre Dame Show?
--YoMD: Can You Still Send in Postcard Entries?
--When Are the Summer Crowds Lightest?
--What Is the Difference Between the Dining Experience and the Dining Plan?
--Best Place to Get Sushi at the World?

9/29/08
--Treasure Hunts at the World?
--Is Park Admission Necessary to Dine at Cinderella's Royal Table?
--No More Characters at the Garden Grill?
--How to Get a Christmas Tree for Your Resort Room
--Fort Wilderness Movie Schedule
--Who Is the Voice of Teddi Barra?

9/22/08
--When Does the Holiday Decorating Commence?
--Looking for a Wooden Leg Named Smith?
--More, MUCH More on Those World Showcase OmniBuses
--An Old-Fashioned Phone on Main Street?
--Name of Soap Store at the Grand Floridian?
--Two Tracks at Everest?

9/15/08
--Parking Fees: How Many Times Per Day to Pay?
--Where Is Roy O. Disney's Statue Located?
--Castle Dream Lights for 2008?
--What Happens in Stormy Weather?
--A Mardi Gras Parade at French Quarter?
--Where Is This Hidden Mickey Located Inside the Haunted Mansion?

9/8/08
--When Do Charging and Dining Plan Privileges End after Check-Out?
--A Book with WDW Trivia and Stats?
--Should Guests Worry about Hurricanes and Tropical Storms?
--Is the New Pool at Caribbean Beach a "Zero Entry" Pool?
--The Grand Floridian and the Hotel Del Coronado
--Will Portobello Close for Rehab?

9/1/08
--No More 180-Day Dining Reservations?
--When Did the World Stop Using Dated Guidemaps?
--Was There a Double Decker Bus at Epcot?
--The Bonnet Creek Resort -- Any Disney Perks?
--Disney's Worst Kept Secret
--Seasonal Passholders and Block-Out Dates
--What's Going On in Mid-January?

8/25/08
8/18/08
--What is a "Premium Night" at the Parties?
--A New "Land" for Animal Kingdom?
--Best Route to Expedition Everest from Animal Kingdom's Entrance?
--Magical Express Reservations and Luggage Tags
--What Is This Hotel Near Saratoga Springs?
--Yo Ho and Hi-Diddle-Dee-Dee Similar?

8/11/08
--Fantasmic!, IllumiNations and SpectroMagic Performances Scaled Back?
--Of Luggage Tags and Fastpasses
--What Is This "Creek" Resort?
--Pin Backs That Don't Fall Off
--A T-Rex Update?
--Where Did Cinderella's Carrousel Originate?

8/4/08
--Splitting a 10-Day Pass Between Two People?
--Boating to Epcot from Riverside?
--What Will Be Open at Pleasure Island?
--How Do Tickets with the No Expiration Option Affect the Dining Plan?
--Value or Moderate Resorts with More Than Two Beds
--What Does That Morse Code Message on Spaceship Earth Say?

7/28/08
--Bus Service and Best Location at Pop Century
--Riding Horseback at the World
--The Mystery Tower next to the Contemporary
--How to Get a Guest Assistance Card
--Correct Size of Moderate Resorts' Rooms
--Tipping Housekeeping/Offsite Visitors at Extra Magic Hours

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Anita Answers

Hi! I'm Anita!

Got a question about Walt Disney World? I probably have the answer! Deb's Unofficial Walt Disney World Information Guide is the most comprehensive guide to the World on the Web, but if you still can't find the information you're looking for by using the Site Map, the Search Function, or the Anita Answer Archives, drop me a line and I'll do my best to find the answer for you. Since there are only 24 hours in a day, I can't answer every email I receive - however, I do read every one and try to answer as many as possible.

Check back weekly and see if your answer is waiting, and be sure to check out my blog, Anita Talk. Meanwhile, I'm All Ears!

Jana writes:

My family and I just returned from WDW. One of the cast members told us that they were going to start doing Fantasmic! only twice a week. She also said that IllumiNations would only be done once a week and that they planned to cut the number of times SpectroMagic runs as well. I know that sometimes cast members' information is correct and sometimes it is a bit off. Do you know if there is any truth to this one and if so when it would start and what the exact details are? When I heard this I was very anxious to ask you for the whole truth. Thanks for all your awesome answers!

Hi Jana!

Your cast member had the information sort of correct. Here's the current scoop, keeping in mind that the schedules for any and all WDW performances can change at any time:

Fantasmic! will indeed be cut back to two performances per week, on Mondays and Thursdays, beginning in early January 2009. No one knows if this is a permanent change, or if it is just during the slower season right after the holidays.

IllumiNations will be performed in an abbreviated version during a planned refurbishment of the Earth Barge. Currently, the barge is scheduled to be out of the show for approximately four to six weeks beginning in mid-August. That said, it has been scheduled for rehab a few times before and the rehabs have been cancelled for various reasons. We'll have to wait and see what actually happens. During the planned rehab, IllumiNations is scheduled to be performed every night as usual.

SpectroMagic will not be performed between August 15 and 29 while the Liberty Square bridge is repaired. Instead, there will be two daily performances of the Dreams Come True Parade, at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., performed on an abbreviated route up Main Street, around the Hub and back down Main Street. SpectroMagic is scheduled to return to a nightly performance on August 30 at 9:00 p.m., just in time for Labor Day Weekend. In the past, SpectroMagic has been scheduled for weekends-only during slower seasons, so we'll have to watch the schedule for any updates or changes in the schedule.

Remember, this is what is currently scheduled to happen with these shows and parades, and the schedule could be altered at any time. The best thing to do is to check the weekly Times Guide & New Information sheet handed out in the parks.

A.A.

Luke writes:

I read your column every Monday, and I know you are the one person to answer my questions.

#1: We are going to Walt Disney World in a couple of weeks, and we recently received our check-in package including luggage name tags. We have gotten these several times and can never figure out how the little plastic loop attaches the tag to your luggage.

#2: On past trips I have been told by Disney cast members that you can use Fastpasses at anytime during the day as long as it is after the start time. For example, if your Fastpass has a return between 10 and 11a.m., can you go at 5 p.m.?

Hi Luke!

Luggage tags: I have to admit this one of the most unusual questions I've gotten lately! Assuming you're talking about the Walt Disney Travel company luggage tags that come with Magic Your Way package bookings, I'll attempt to explain how they attach. This is a simple three step process.

1. Remove the paper inside the tag, fill it out and tuck it back in, or else insert a business card inside.

2. Take one end of the plastic strap (it looks like a big rubber band) and put it through the oblong hole in the end of the luggage tag. Insert the other end of the strap into the loop you just put through the hole, and pull it tight.

3. You should now have a tag dangling from a plastic strap. To attach it to your luggage, put the loose end of the strap under the handle of your suitcase. Push the plastic tag through the opening in the loose end of the strap. You may have to bend the tag a bit to get it through. Once you've gotten it through, pull it tight like you did in step 2. Voila! Your luggage is identified with a nifty tag with Cinderella Castle on it!

Fastpass Return Windows: Yes, it's true that you can use your Fastpass at any time after your return time window opens, as long as it's during the same park operating day. It is not always possible to get back to the ride within that exact window. Disney understands this and will allow you to use your Fastpass later, if necessary.

Have a wonderful time at the World!

A.A.

Chris writes:

Hi Anita! First time question, long time reader.

What is Reedy Creek Resort? I see it whenever we are leaving on the Disney's Magical Express from the Boardwalk, but I cannot find any information on it anywhere. All I know from seeing the sign for it is that it appears to be in the area of Downtown Disney and Saratoga Springs, but that is it. Is this a resort that guests are allowed to stay at, or is it something special? Thanks!

Hi Chris!

I think you may be confusing the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which provides public services to the cities of Bay Lake, Lake Buena Vista, and the balance of the 38.6 square miles surrounding them (which includes all of Walt Disney World property) with the Bonnet Creek Resort.

Bonnet Creek Resort, located near the intersection of Bonnet Creek Parkway and Buena Vista Drive, has a very interesting history. It is not owned or operated by the Walt Disney Company. It does not sit on Disney property, even though it looks like it does, and it seems the owners would like you to think that it does. It's important to note that guests of Bonnet Creek Resort timeshares and hotels DO NOT have direct access to Disney transportation to get to or from the parks or Downtown Disney, nor are they afforded any of the perks that Disney's on-site guests receive, like free parking at the parks, package delivery to resorts, or charging back to the resort.

Getting back to Bonnet Creek Resort's history, when The Walt Disney Company was buying surrounding land in order to build the Walt Disney World Resort, there was a landowner who refused to sell. This piece of property is bordered on three sides by Disney property, and by I-4 on the remaining side. After the owner's death, his heirs sold the property to a developer who has been building several hotel and timeshare brands on the property. The reason the resort entrance is on Buena Vista Drive, which is on Disney property, is that Disney was required to give right-of-way to the resort. The reason is because it was deemed unsafe and impractical to place the entrance on I-4, the only non-Disney border of the Bonnet Creek property. Next time you visit, note that any road signs referring to the Bonnet Creek Resort are not the same colors as signs for Disney resorts.

A.A.

Kristina writes:

Our family trip to Walt Disney World is rapidly approaching. I can't wait! I think I am almost as excited as my boys, ages 7 and 9. This year my 9-year-old is extremely interested in pin trading. I recall reading a tip in the AllEars newsletter about the clasps on the back that may fall off causing pins to be lost. I think I remember something about a rubber Mickey-shaped clasp, but I am not sure. Where would I buy these? Please help. I would hate for my son's pin trading career to start off on the wrong foot.

I LOVE your column. It keeps the magic alive! Thanks for your help.

Hi Kristina!

You remembered the tip from the AllEars® newsletter correctly. The little metal clasps have a history of falling off and causing pins to be lost or at the very least, damaged when they fall. Many pins are now sold with the rubber backs, but if you have some that aren't, you can purchase a package of the rubber "Mickey-shaped" backs at any location that sells pins. They come in little bags that hang on the pin racks and can sometimes be hard to find. If you don't see them, ask the cast member.

In addition to the rubber backs, you can also buy locking pin backs. I use these for pins that are particularly rare or valuable. They are much more expensive than the rubber backs, and can also be harder to find than the rubber backs. Also, you'll have to keep track of the little tool that comes with them so that you can remove the backs when necessary. Under normal circumstances, the rubber Mickey pin backs will do a fine job.

Have a very magical time at the World!

A.A.

J.D. writes:

Hey kiddo! I love your column! I looked through your old articles and haven't seen an update since 10/07 about the T-Rex Restaurant. Have you heard anything about the opening date, reservation policies (booked through Disney Dining) etc.? We heard it was to be opened in late spring or early summer originally but has it been pushed back? Thanks a lot for your help past, present and future!

Hi J.D.!

The most recent information I have (from mid-July) is that the T-Rex Cafe is scheduled to open in mid-November 2008. I have also heard RUMORS that construction is ahead of schedule, which may or may not indicate a slightly earlier opening. As of Friday, August 1, Disney Dining (407-WDW-DINE) has no information on reservations, the Disney Dining Experience (DDE) or the Magic Your Way Plus Dining program for T-Rex.

Since T-Rex is owned and operated by Landry's, which also owns Rainforest Cafe and Yak and Yeti, I would assume that it will follow the same pattern that Yak and Yeti did when it opened last fall -- that is, Advance Dining Reservations will be booked through Disney Dining. The DDE and the Dining Plan details will be up to restaurant management, so we'll have to wait and see on those. This is one of my most frequently asked questions, so if I hear anything more, I'll be sure to let everyone know.

A.A.

UPDATE (8/14/08): Disney has announced an October opening for the T-Rex restaurant in Downtown Disney. This is a month earlier than previously announced. A firm date has not yet been announced, nor a date that ADRs may be made.

Erika writes:

Hi Anita. My husband's work colleague told him that the carousel in the Magic Kingdom came from Olympic Park in Maplewood, New Jersey. She said there is a plaque there explaining this. It is something I'd never heard before and was wondering if it is true. Can you clear this up for me? Thank you!

Hi Erika!

It's true. Cinderella's Golden Carrousel has a long, rich amusement park history. It was built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in 1917 for Palace Gardens in Detroit, Michigan. Originally patriotically-themed in red, white and blue and called the Liberty Carousel (with only one 'r'), it was relocated in 1928 to Olympic Park in Maplewood NJ. After the park closed in September 1965, the Liberty Carousel sat deteriorating until it was found by Imagineers in 1967. It was purchased by the Walt Disney Company, and the handmade carousel was completely restored to a Cinderella theme.

To me, there is not a more lovely sight than to see this gorgeous piece of history at night, silhouetted by the passageway through Cinderella Castle. If you are familiar with Disney park history, you'll remember that Walt Disney said that he got the idea for Disneyland while waiting for his daughters to ride a merry-go-round at Griffith Park in California. It is a significant tribute to Disney to have the Cinderella Carrousel placed where it is at the Magic Kingdom, where it is the first thing you see beyond the castle in Fantasyland. Pre-opening, the original placement of the Carrousel was slightly off-center, but Roy O. Disney had it moved to this location before opening day in 1971.

TRIVIA: All 72 of the original horses were restored, and by removing the chariot seats, Imagineers were able to add 18 more horses from various sources for a total of 90. In order to make the Carrousel ADA compliant, during a 1997 refurbishment one of the original chariots was placed back on the Carrousel, reducing the number of horses to 86. Each of the 86 horses is unique and features its own color scheme.

TIP: If you look carefully, you can find Cinderella's very own horse. Look for the one with the golden bow on its tail. (Hint: It isn't on the outside row.) This is Flo's favorite horse, so you may have to arm wrestle her for it. (Kidding!)

A.A.

That's it for this edition!

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