August 2002 WDW Bits and Bites

Feature Article

This article appeared in the July 30, 2002, Issue #149 of ALL EARS® (ISSN: 1533-0753)

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STEP BACK IN TIME
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Ever wonder what Walt Disney World was like way back when? We rummage around in our archives for this monthly feature, which takes you back in history for a glimpse of Walt Disney World through the ages.

In MARCH 1982…

The Magic Kingdom was in the midst of celebrating its Tencennial (which ran from October 1, 1981, through September 30, 1982). A One-Day Unlimited Passport was $13 for adults, $12 for ages 12-17, and $11 for ages 3-11. Each ticket had a notation promoting the complimentary presentation on EPCOT Center at the EPCOT Center Preview Theatre on Main Street U.S.A. A Two-Day Passport was also available for $22.50 for adults, $20.50 for ages 12-17, and $18.50 for ages 3-11.

Each afternoon the Tencennial Parade came alive with gala floats and 250 singers, dancers and Disney characters!

Elsewhere in the World, golfers paid $29 (with cart) for 18 holes of golf at the Palm or Magnolia golf courses.

River Country admission was $6.50 for adults and $4.25 for kids ages 3-11. Discovery Island, located off the shore of Fort Wilderness, had more than 500 birds, the Galapagos tortoise and bald eagle. Admission was $3 for adults and $1.50 for kids 3-11.

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HARMONY BARBER SHOP
By Pete Saroufim
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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to receive a haircut at the Barber Shop in the Magic Kingdom? Well, 14-year-old Pete Saroufim enjoys having his hair cut there and shares his experiences:

Everyone has their "place" to get their haircut, and for me that place is Sebastian's — a little corner barber shop in the area of Boston where I live. Changing your barber is akin to cheating on your girlfriend, or switching doctors in the middle of surgery. However, when you're vacationing in the hot Florida sun, sometimes you have to make an exception. The barber shop in Magic Kingdom is an easy exception to make. It doesn't matter if you're a 6-year-old, a teenager, or a parent just looking for a trim, you'll walk out of the Harmony Barber Shop with a smile on your face and a masterpiece on your head.

You can read Pete's entire review and see the photos at: http://allears.net/pl/mk/mk_barber.htm

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TIMELESS TIP O' THE WEEK
courtesy of themouseforless.com
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This tip was submitted by Lori Wagner:

I buy a larger-than-standard waistpack, which I call my "Mary Poppins Waistpack." I want to be sure I have all the essentials I might need, and a small waistpack can't fit my needs. I use the Mini-Sidekick by Eagle Creek.

It can hold:

-theme park pass
-room key card
-photo ID and credit card
-Disney Club card
-mini flashlight
-pen
-small notepad for trip report notes
-PDA
-cash
-pain reliever (Aleve, Advil, etc.)(travel size)
-Imodium-AD chewable tablets
-Band-Aids (travel pack)
-Shout wipes
-Wet Ones wipes
-hand sanitizer
-sunblock
-tinted lip balm (better than lipstick!)
-large-tooth comb (great for post-Splash Mountain hair!)
-APS Camera (tiny and portable)
-rain poncho packet
-assorted pins for trading (just a few that aren't on the lanyard)
-park map
-autograph book
-safety pins
-moleskin bandages

All first-aid items are mini or travel-sized, and I have room to put my pin lanyard and sunglasses inside when I need to stow them away.

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HIDDEN "WALTS" in
SHARE A DREAM COME TRUE PARADE
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A few months ago, ALL EARS® mentioned the Hidden Walts that can be found disguised on the floats in the Magic Kingdom's Share a Dream Come True Parade. Kevin Page emails more details on these fun-to-find figures:

When we took the Keys to the Kingdom tour, our guide said there is a Hidden Walt in each float, but did not know where they were. So we saw a maintenance worker there and I said, "Ask him, he should know." He proceeded to point each one of them out to us.

Assume you are looking at the float from the back, so that you are facing in the same direction as the float, and your left is the float's left.

Mickey Snowglobe: There's a silhouette of Walt's face (in black) on the left side of the video projector on the very top of the float (above the bubble that Mickey stands in).

Genie: On the rattle that Dumbo is holding in his trunk, there are multiple outlines of Walt's face in different colors.

Pinocchio: In the very front of the float toward the right there is a wooden statue of Walt and Mickey holding hands (just like the one in front of the castle in the central hub of the park).

Villains: On the right side of the float, there is a dark face shape carved into the blue rock that sticks out a bit.

Princess (final float of parade, three globes connected): There is an outline of Walt on the very front glass of the float. Also, on the back left of the first globe, where it connects to the second, there is an outline or silhouette of Walt's head.

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JUNIOR CHEFS PROGRAMS
IN EPCOT
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Several interactive "Junior Chefs" programs are available each day in Epcot! Some are simply "luck of the draw," but others you can actually plan and participate in.

Junior Chef at the Garden Grill: The 100th child to enter the Land's Garden Grill restaurant each day is selected as the Junior Chef! The child gets to wear a chef's hat and jacket and help prepare a salad.

Restaurant Akershus Junior Chef of the Day: A child selected at random gets to wear a chef's hat and jacket, gets a tour of the Akershus kitchen and helps make a cookie at the dessert station.

Toll House Junior Chef Kitchen in the Land: Several times a day, children can participate in this fun program sponsored by Nestle, in which they make chocolate chip cookies from scratch! The program runs every hour on the half-hour and also teaches children about kitchen safety. There is a limit to the number of children who can participate so check before telling your young one.

In a related note, ALL EARS® Reader Jennifer Smith adds: My daughter was Chef of the Day at the Crystal Palace breakfast with Pooh and Friends. I asked how she was picked and was told they usually pick the kids that had priority seating made earliest. We made ours five months in advance.

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WDW PINFORMATION
from Dizpins.com
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Did anyone ask for Pin Events?

Well, if you looked into your crystal ball, you certainly saw many of them! All of these special events are in conjunction with Disney launching Worldwide Pin Trading on August 3-4, 2002. This will include Disneyland Resort, Disneyland Resort Paris, the Disney Catalog, the Disney Club Walt Disney World and the new Official Disney Pin Trading Website at http://www.officialdisneypintrading.com

Here is a look at some upcoming Disney Pin Events. Hold on to your pin backs!

Beginning August 4, and running through August 31, 2002, you can "Conquer the World" with a new and exciting pin pursuit! For the first time ever, guests will be able to pick up their free pin pursuit map at locations throughout Walt Disney World. Their journey will have them traveling the entire World to answer a trivia question or trade a pin with a Cast Member at seven different locations. This is sure to be the adventure of a lifetime, so don't hesitate! The adventure ends on August 31!

Don't forget the Big Pin Celebration at Epcot September 20-22, 2002. The Breakfast Package is sold out, but there is still much in store for pin enthusiasts from all over the world.

I hope that your pin backs are still secure, because both Disneyland and Walt Disney World will be holding some spectacular pin events for the holidays, including the 999 Haunted Haunts Ball at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom on October 30, 2002.

Be sure to visit Dizpins.com so you don't miss a thing. Happy Trading!

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Editor's Note: This story/information was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all current rates, information and other details before planning your trip.