AllEars® Team Blog

Review of Tales From the Laughing Place Magazine

2008-07-29T10:03:04Z

by Michelle Scribner-MacLean

When it comes to magazines, the rule of thumb in our family is to stick to the Three Rs – reduce, reuse, recycle. We’ve tried to reduce the number of magazine subscriptions we receive each month. When we’re through with an issue we try to hand it off to a neighbor who might be interested in the topic. When our pile of magazines starts to resemble a skyscraper and is in danger of crushing a small pet should it topple, then we haul it off to recycling.

I’m sharing background info so you can understand my reaction when I asked a friend to borrow some copies of Tales from the Laughing Place so that I could do a review. I was not a subscriber, so I thought this would be a great way to look at several issues at once.

Her response? “Sure, but please send them back when you’re done….because I save them.”

“What?” Thought I. “Why would someone want to hang on to a magazine?”

As soon as the envelope arrived, I could quickly understand why these magazines were treasured. Tales From the Laughing Place isn’t so much a magazine as it is a collector’s item for anyone who loves Disney.

Each issue is devoted to a specific topic related to Disney parks all over the world. Past topics have included a focus on The Happiest Celebration on Earth, an in-depth look at Hong Kong Disneyland, and a retrospective on twenty-five years of EPCOT in celebration of its anniversary last year.

I found the EPCOT issue particularly interesting and difficult to put down. In the space of a few minutes, I read an interview with Marty Sklar about the development of EPCOT and learned about the design considerations of Figment’s eyes.

I knew that the geodesic dome was a design of Buckminster Fuller, but found that the name Spaceship Earth was also his (based on his publication Operating Manual for Spaceship Earth which was published in the 1960s). Finally, in an article about how the O’ Canada film was updated, I was intrigued to learn how the producers used “green screen” technology to build scenes around Martin Short.

Anyone who has a deep fascination with all things Disney will appreciate the time taken to develop these articles. The editors and writers often reach back and choose stories about the history of the attractions to help readers understand the next steps Disney is taking in park development. Each article I read was well researched, clearly explained, and interesting enough to warrant rereading.

Tales from the Laughing Place is published four times per year and subscriptions cost $36. That seems a bit pricey for so few issues, however, I used to work in the publishing business and the first thing I noticed about this magazine is that it’s made with the “good paper,” that expensive, high-gloss paper that makes it seems more like a book than a magazine.

The layout of the magazine is more than eye-catching – it is stunning. From the choice of fonts to the way each page has been carefully crafted made me look forward seeing the way the pages were constructed nearly as much as the content.

Many of the park photographs are from unconventional angles and I found myself trying to figure out where each photo was taken, wondering why I hadn’t noticed some of these things, and looking forward to taking a closer look the next time I am in the parks.

So, as I carefully pack up the issues that I borrowed and prepare them to be sent back to my friend, I should mention that in the course of writing this review of Tales from the Laughing Place, I became a subscriber. Old issues of this publication will end up on my bookshelf among my Disney books and not in the recycling bin. And I won’t even pass the issues on to a friend (unless they promise to return them, of course).

You can subscribe or find past issues of Tales from the Laughing Place by visiting http://www.talesfromthelaughingplace.com.

Check out my other Disney Magazine Review:

Orlando Attractions Magazine

Media Preview Day at Disney's Hollywood Studios

2008-05-15T16:38:49Z

by Debra Martin Koma
Senior Editor

Just back from Wednesday’s Toy Story Midway Mania media preview at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and I have nothing but good news to report.

Although it was a very low-key affair, the outcome had to have been better than Disney was hoping for -- everyone I spoke to thoroughly enjoyed the ride, many riding it multiple times not just for research purposes, but because they genuinely had that much fun.

My day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios started around noon, when I checked in for the media preview. I was greeted by Justin Muchoney, Disney’s first Chief Magic Official, who, it turns out, is from my (original) neck of the woods. His hometown, Seven Fields, Pennsylvania, (and Justin, I think they had it as Seven Field on your nametag!) is about 20 miles north of MY hometown, Pittsburgh. Justin told me that this event is just the first of about eight that he would be present for – with some occurring at Disneyland, as well. “So far,” he said, “it’s been amazing. I’ve had some training and everyone’s been great – this truly is a Dream Job.”

And then Justin gave me a wonderful gift – a pass to ride the new Toy Story Midway Mania that I was to give out to a group of my choosing. Yes, I myself got to bestow a “dream” during this Year of a Million Dreams! What fun! (I eventually gave my dream pass to a mom, dad and son who were lunching at the Studio Catering Company. Son claimed he was a BIG Buzz Lightyear and Toy Story fan, so I thought it was only fitting. I didn’t get their names, so Family X, if you’re reading this, please drop me a note and let me know what you thought of the ride!

Around 1:30 p.m. in front of the Sorcerer’s Hat, an abbreviated version of the imported-from-Disneyland Block Party Bash kicked off the media preview event. Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Bo-Peep and Mr. Potato Head, among other Toy Story favorites and assorted gymnasts and dancers, encouraged young audience members to do the twist and macarena, ending with an explosion of bouncing balls.

Walt Disney World President Meg Crofton was on hand to welcome the media with remarks that reinforced what seems to be a recurring theme at Disney these days. Calling it an example of “classic Disney storytelling” Crofton quoted Mr. Potato Head, the greeter of the new attraction, saying, “It’s a ride that’s a game. It’s a game that’s a ride.”

Noting that the attraction had been “playtested” exhaustively, Crofton asserted, “It’s fun for the entire family. Toy Story Midway Mania joins an impressive lineup of new experiences here at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.”

She then invited the media to fall in line and head over to “play away” at the attraction located in a soundstage along the former Mickey Avenue, now dubbed Pixar Place.

***SOME SPOILERS AHEAD***

For those of you who haven’t read much about Toy Story Midway Mania, I’ll refer you to Mike Scopa’s blog about the attraction’s Passholder Preview HERE for photos of the exterior and queue. (We also have more photos HERE.) As for the ride itself? Well, at the risk of giving out too many spoilers, the ride is a 4-D experience – that means in addition to seeing a series of 3-D scenes (yes, you have to wear the dorky 3-D glasses), you’re also treated to other sensory effects, like a sudden blast of air or a spritz of water. The ride vehicles are designed to look like a carnival tram ride. Each car holds four riders who sit in couples, back-to-back. In front of you is a “spring-action shooter,” a mounted gun that moves freely and has a pull-string with a large ball at the end of it. A monitor on the vehicle shows you your score.

It’s a herky-jerky ride, as you whip around corners, pausing for a minute or so at each “game booth,” where your shooter spews out darts or rings or balls at a variety of targets. Before you know it, your time at each station is up, ending with a pressure-inducing “5-4-3-2-1!” countdown, and then you’re on to the next challenge. After facing five different games, your scores are tallied and the next thing you know you’re walking out the door heading back to the entrance to give it another go.

So… my opinion of the ride? I loved it. Rode it five times, and noticed new things each time – also noticed that my score improved each time, as well – I ended up with a high for the day of 115,000-plus points. (I think the first time through I scored about 70,000.) Before riding, I was a little concerned about how the ride would be for the less coordinated among us, but I needn’t have worried. The string is very easy to grip and pull, and the shooters are very maneuverable.

For those with other challenges, I noticed that there were several cars designed to accommodate wheelchairs or ECVs – guests can ride their chairs right into the attraction vehicle. I was happy to see that accessibility had been built right into the attraction from the beginning.

It’s something I had the chance to speak about with Imagineer Chrissie Allen, who served as senior show producer for Toy Story Midway Mania.

“Obviously, we wanted to make sure that everyone can ride this ride as comfortably as possible,” Allen explained. “We made sure that this ride could engage as many guests as possible. That’s something that we’re passionate about. And,” she added with a smile, “did you notice that the monitors onboard the vehicles have closed captioning?”

Allen noted that although this attraction integrates several different technologies in a new way, that was not the main goal in the design process. “Using all the new technologies isn’t the imperative,” she said. “In this ride, we use all these new tools, along with our usual 3-D and 4-D tricks, but we’ve incorporated them in a way to further the storytelling. At Disney, we love to tell stories in a seamless way – storytelling is the imperative.”

Rilous Carter, vice president of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, added that all the new interactive technology was key to the park’s new style.

“What we have started in Pixar Place is going to resonate with people for a long time,” he said. “The park has added Block Party Bash, the new Playhouse Disney, new High School Musical show – these things are all less than a year old. Now we have a new ‘toy’ for everyone – no pun intended,” he added with a smile.

He stopped short of calling the addition of these new attractions a “revitalization” of the nearly 20-year-old theme park. But Carter noted that with the new attraction based on American Idol coming in the fall, Disney’s Hollywood Studios was likely to be noticed more and more, “and we want to enjoy the glory for a little while.”

Part of that “glory” is supposed to come from the Block Party Bash, recently brought to Walt Disney World after a few years at Disney’s California Adventure. There was a special media viewing area near the Sorcerer’s Hat for this 3 p.m. street party, which I took advantage of, since I’d not seen it yet.

Block Party Bash is not so much a parade as it is a moving show that makes two 12-minute stops along its route. It’s a vast improvement over the Stars and Motor Cars Parade, in my opinion – I never cared for the car-themed cavalcade, and I really didn’t like its music. The Block Party Bash instead features a mish-mosh of contemporary dance tunes (from “Footloose” to “Shake Your Booty” to “The Twist” and “The Macarena”) with choreographed dancing and gymnastics, and plentiful characters from Disney-Pixar movies.

It was entertaining, and the little ones pulled from the crowd to participate really seemed to be enjoying themselves. But as I stood there in one spot in the direct sun for nearly a half-hour I had to wonder if I was the only one who was feeling fried to a crackly crunch? I think I would have felt the fun a bit more if I had been in the shade, or if the performances and been about half the time. Having seen this "bash" once, I don't feel the need to see it again anytime soon... unless it's a cool, cloudy day.

Never mind, there was still one more enjoyable part of the media day to come – a meet and greet with a new character. The new movie “Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian,” opens in theaters on May 16, and so to promote that film, a new Prince Caspian character will begin meet-and-greets in the Studios on that day. We had a chance to meet the new prince in advance of his “official” start date, and what a lucky thing that was. The young actor portraying the handsome prince is both dashing and gallant, as he poses for photos, making small talk with an indefinable accent and in character. (See my photo with him, as he very regally holds my hand in our posed photo. He is quite debonair – I can imagine he’ll be extremely popular when he begins his official “meet-and-greet” duties!)

The Journey into Narnia attraction, located between One Man’s Dream and Toy Story Mania in the Studios, is slated to reopen soon with behind-the-scenes footage, sets and props from the new movie. When the attraction opens, the Prince Caspian meet-and-greet will be located near the beginning of the queue, against a backdrop of the "Dancing Lawn," the location where the Narnians first confront Prince Caspian in the film. As someone who avidly read the Narnia books as a child, I can't wait to see both the next installment in the film series, and this new walk-through attraction.

Finally, the very low-key but fun-filled media preview day concluded, and I made my way back home to my mundane existence in the wilds of northern Virginia.

But of course I'm already planning my next visit to the World... which will undoubtedly include a stop (or two) at the new Toy Story Midway Mania... and probably to Narnia, as well!

Whirlwind Weekend Getaway: Part 2

2008-05-10T10:00:42Z

By Michelle Scribner-MacLean

Beautiful weather was a welcome theme for this entire weekend, after traveling from New Hampshire, where it is still struggling to get out of the 50s. This May weekend was in Orlando absolutely beautiful with temperatures in the mid-80s and abundant sunshine for nearly the entire time I was there. This provided a terrific backdrop for my second full day at the Flower and Garden Festival at EPCOT.

I spent the first part of the day on my own, taking my time and carefully checking out the special exhibits and plants that were highlighted in Future World. I got the chance to speak with two beekeepers, whose booth was located in Future World East, between the Mousegear store and Mission Space. They brought two living hives, samples of honey, and were very willing to talk about the bee-plant relationship, as well as what is involved in keeping hives.

Next I made my way over to Minnie’s Butterfly Garden (Can you see a theme here? I'm a science teacher and love learning about bugs!).

Sandwiched between two amazing butterfly topiaries, this popular attraction is back with an array of local butterflies including zebra longwings, orange julias, and painted ladies.

It was fairly crowded (with lots of enthusiastic photographers getting shots of these interesting creatures on their native plants. Here’s a photo I took of a common buckeye.

Later in the morning I was joined by my friend, Pat, who had never seen the Flower and Garden Festival. I visit Walt Disney World frequently, but one of the things that I really enjoy is introducing my friends and family to new things that they haven’t seen before. Pat was thrilled with all that she saw and kept saying, “I can’t believe that I never knew this was here!”

At lunchtime we made our way over to Garden Town, former home to the Wonders of Life Pavilion. (I met up with a cast member friend who said that, although they’ve been opening the Wonders of Life for five weeks a year during the past several years, now it is officially closed for good – or, as we like to say in the Disney fan world – it has become an “extinct attraction”).

For Flower and Garden, they’ve converted this space into sort of an exposition of things related to plants and growing. There are two spaces for lectures and demonstrations (I caught a horticulturist talking about garden irrigation and walked by a group learning about proper ways to plant trees), there is a little garden store, and there is a wonderful 20-minute film which shows behind the scenes footage of how the Disney team of horticulturists prepare for this event.

Pat and I then ventured to the Garden Town Café for lunch. This was a perfect spot for a few reasons. First, it seems that not many people know about this café….so it was not crowded at all. Second, there were some great food choices. We had salads with edible greens and flowers and both agreed that it was really yummy (and I definitely felt as if I’d had my vitamins for the day after eating that).

We spent the remainder of the day walking around World Showcase, where each country featured some special plant arrangement, spice, or fragrant flower collection. The topiaries were just spectacular. I noticed these familiar characters in Germany.

My last morning at Walt Disney World was filled with interesting events. I decided that I could not go home without going to the Magic Kingdom (what trip to WDW would be complete without seeing the castle?). Taking advantage of my planned reservation later in the day, I parked at the Grand Floridian and took an easy monorail ride over to the Magic Kingdom. I spent quite a bit of time in Tomorrow Land and must comment that every time I’ve gone to the Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, I’ve really enjoyed myself. I sort of feel that I don’t want to like it – because it’s so goofy, but every show that I’ve been to has been different and really funny. I’d recommend it if you’ve never been.

Crowd levels we really high, but I decided to venture over to one of my favorites – Splash Mountain – because I had a Fast Pass. Not a good idea. Ten minutes into it, the ride broke down and we were stuck for 25 minutes. Because we stopped at a difficult to access place in the ride, our evacuation required that we climb over the back seats of several boats before being taken backstage to exit (cast members requested that we take no photos). Although this doesn’t happen often, it happens occasionally, so here is a tip for parents: make sure that your child has visited the restroom before going on a long attraction. The poor family behind me had a 5 year-old girl who had to go and that 25 minute wait was not a pleasant one for her!

On the way out of Splash Mountain, I had a bit of a celebrity sighting. Cole and Dylan Sprouse (a.k.a. Zack and Cody from the show on the Disney Channel) were walking toward Splash Mountain with a VIP guide. There were so many people in the park, they seemed to be walking around unnoticed. Sadly, I didn’t have my camera out when they passed.

The final treat for my weekend was meeting my friend for high tea at the Grand Floridian. This was a new experience for me and I was very excited. The tea is served at a small restaurant at the back of the lobby called Garden View Lounge. The tables are small, the chairs are comfy, the room is sunny, and the wait staff was excellent. Pat and I both ordered three course teas and settled in for a wonderful experience. I treated myself to a Prince Edward’s Tea (but shared the pate with my friend since I’m a vegetarian). The first course also came with sherry (a fun surprise), delicious cheese, and an assortment of berries. Later I had scones with Devonshire clotted cream, while Pat, who had ordered the Sally Lunn Tea, had beautiful strawberries and cream. It was a perfect ending to a whirlwind getaway weekend and I highly recommend high tea as a change of pace from the parks and a new experience at Walt Disney World.

You can download your own copy of the Flower and Garden Festival at: http://adisneyworld.disney.go.com/media/wdw/Images2003/languagespecific/eng/nontheme/parks/epcot/events/flowerandgarden/FlowerGarden08_lores.pdf

Take a look at menu for high tea at the Grand Floridian Garden View Lounge.

Whirlwind Weekend Walt Disney World Getaway: Part 1

2008-05-09T10:00:28Z

By Michelle Scribner-MacLean

Ah, the generosity of friends….and all my friends happen to know that I love Walt Disney World. So, when my dear pal Pat invited me to stay at her off-property Orlando timeshare for the weekend, I jumped at the chance. I was particularly happy because, although we usually trek down to WDW in May as a family, this spring we’d decided to postpone our family trip until later in the year….which meant that I was going to miss the Flower and Garden Festival at EPCOT. However, yesterday, after a very early flight from cold and dreary New Hampshire, midmorning I found myself standing in front of Spaceship Earth taking in this splendid site:

The entrance area to EPCOT didn’t have its typical music, but instead featured tunes that you’d hear at a beach party….which is fitting since all of the topiaries are decked out in beach gear. Minnie had a cute bathing suit and her dear boy…..er…..mousefriend looked like this:

I didn’t get very far into EPCOT when my friend called and invited me to Downtown Disney for lunch. (See! I told you it was whirlwind). We met at Wolfgang Puck’s for a lunch on the outside patio (something that it pretty tricky to do in New Hampshire these days).

I ordered spinach salad with pecans and gorgonzola cheese, but had asked them to take the apples out since I am allergic. The waitress assured me it would be no problem at all. After the salad arrived and I started eating it….I bit down into an apple! Luckily, I only had a slight reaction, but I made sure to tell the waitress. The chef came out to personally apologize, but I wanted to mention this because, although anyone with allergies is very careful, mistakes do happen so be sure to double check (it reminded me that I need to remember to carry my benedryl wherever I go).

As my friend Pat headed to a water park with her son, I had some time to myself before we met later for dinner. As I got into my car I had an email on my phone from a friend suggesting that there might be soft openings of Toy Story Mania at Disney Hollywood Studios. Well, I guess that made the decision of where I’d be going next! When I arrived I found out that the soft openings were just for Cast Members….and that the line was a 90 minute wait (those Cast Members love the new attractions as much as we do!). This is was the area looked like.

You can see that it was blocked off, but there is a Pixar Studio banner, some plastic monkeys, and some army men on the roof. Looks like it is going to be a fun area….but I’ll have to wait until my next trip.

I did get to see something new…the Block Party Bash, which has just been around for about a month. The parade is a bit different from other Disney parades because there are about six or seven floats with performer and different characters and they start by moving up the street and then stopping to perform for 10 minutes….then they move to another part of the parade route and stop again. I was sitting at the second stop….and it seemed like a long wait until they got there.

The characters are from Pixar films so you’ll see Toy Story characters, the Bug’s Life crew, and the ones that stopped in front of me were from Monster’s Inc.

The characters, along with dancing Cast Member friends, engage the audience in jumping, clapping, and dancing to pretty much any party song you can imagine (think YMCA and macarana). It was different and the kids around me were thrilled when they were pulled out into the street to dance. At the end of the mini performance, they shot mini rubber balls into the audience.

After two trips on Aerosmith’s Rock ‘n Roller Coaster and two more on the Tower of Terror, I headed off to Boma for dinner (see previous note about the whirlwind nature of this trip). I introduced Boma to my friend last year….and now, just like me, she likes to make a visit to Boma part of every trip. Our new tradition is arriving about 45 minutes before our reservation so that we can walk around the lobby and check out the interesting artifacts and go behind the resort where you can see some African animals.

So, after a wonderful dinner at Boma….we headed back to her resort and preparation for another fun day. More to follow…

The Disney Mickey Mom’s Club

2008-04-29T10:00:37Z

By Michelle Scribner-MacLean

About a year ago something Disney popped into my email box. Well, to be honest, this happens several dozen times each day, but this was a bit different. Disney was launching something called the Disney Mom’s Panel: they would choose about 10 Disney parents, regular people who love Disney, to serve as “advice givers” to trip planners visiting the Disney site….and as reward, Disney would spring for a trip to Walt Disney World in December.

Did this have Michelle written all over it?! Well, my family and friends certainly thought so…they encouraged me to go for it. Sensing this was something that was going to generate an enormous response, I quickly fired off an application which consisted of telling a bit about myself, my family, and, of course, making a case for my Disney expertise.

Well…I was correct….this offer from Disney generated a gazillion responses from Disney-loving parents (in truth, it was several thousand) – the response was so overwhelming, in fact, that Disney was forced to close the application process fairly quickly. So, I submitted my application, crossed my fingers, and waited….

….and waited…and kept on waiting until early November when I found out that they had chosen some other worthy candidates, but not me. Awww. I was disappointed but quickly got over it….

A few months later I got yet another Disney email which basically said, “Hey, all of you thousands of people who didn’t make it….we want to stay in touch with you and we’re forming a club of Disney-loving parents such as yourself…and we’ll let you name the club and promise to send you lots of neat stuff…for free!”

Well, that sounded like my cup ‘o tea! Disney gave the runners up of this contest a chance to vote on the name of this new club – and the name I chose – The Mickey Mom’s Club, was the name that was eventually chosen.

I was excited, but unsure of what this meant. Would I have responsibilities? Would I need to be at my computer, at the ready for Disney planning questions that may come my way? It was all a bit nebulous.

Then it hit me: this was a stroke of Disney marketing genius!! Disney had several thousand people who were all willing to coach their friends and neighbors through planning their trip to Walt Disney World – they had, in essence, a cadre of Disney mini-mouseketeers….er…marketeers at the ready (smart move, Disney!).

Soon I started receiving emails with planning tips, desktop wallpaper, and lots of praise for being a member of the Disney Mickey Mom’s Club (I thought, “Gee, thanks, Disney, but I haven’t actually even done anything).

About two weeks ago I received a huge lavender envelope with Mickey Ears all over it. Oh, boy, was I excited and I opened it to find a bundle of really fun Disney stuff including:

- Two Disney Tinkerbell pins (one for me and one to share)
- A huge Disney Mom’s Club (DMC) magnet for my car
- A DMC “mouse pad”
- A glossy photograph and stickers of the “Fab Five”
- A Disney planning DVD
- A pocket guide to planning for WDW trips

This is great stuff! I feel very spoiled…and, although I know I’m being rewarded for doing some Disney marketing, it doesn’t bother me. Every day I give trip and planning advice, as I suspect the other thousands of DMC members do… We love Disney and we’re happy to help our friends and family.

So, I’m happy with my DMC loot….now I could just need find a worthy recipient of that other Tinkerbell pin.

Orlando Attractions Magazine - A Review

2008-03-25T18:00:43Z

Orlando Attractions Magazine - A Review

By Michelle Scribner-MacLean

I remember the fateful day back in 2005….I received my monthly Disney Magazine and, just as I had every other month, I devoured its contents, wanting more and more Disney information …only to receive a notice a few weeks later that this issue would be the last: the magazine was abruptly closing its doors and would no longer be available.

For the Disney fans who can’t get enough (and if you’re reading this, that probably includes you), it doesn’t matter what the medium: We want our Disney!

Books, Travel Channel specials, podcasts, blogs, and websites – it doesn’t matter – if it’s Disney-related – bring it on! That’s why I was so excited to see a new, Orlando-based publication spring up.

Orlando Attractions magazine, published by Ricky Brigante (of the Inside the Magic podcast) and edited by Matt Roseboom, hit the stands with its premier issue in December 2007 and, in many ways, is filling a void for fans who need more Disney…and who are also interested in learning more about the happenings in the Orlando area.

I took a peek at the first two issues and noticed some things that I really liked, for example both issues had several reoccurring features that were interesting. The Work in Progress section gives readers a snap-shot of the status of the attractions at Disney, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and other attractions in the area.

I was pleased to see a description and projected opening day for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal’s Islands of Adventure. The progress of Disney Studios’ Toy Story Mania, with a photo and link to the attraction website was also described in this section.

The Photo Finds section appears as a bulletin board with fun photos and captions of happenings and special events in the area. The Restaurant Report section offers a glimpse at some of the areas new and long-standing dining experiences. The Vacation Planner is a handy three-month glimpse at special events, concerts, festivals, and special parties around the area (quite handy to browse and check off what you might want to do when you’re in the area). T

he magazine also features attraction-inspired cartoons (there is a niche for everything) called Bemusement Park, as well as some puzzles. At the accompanying website (http://www.attractionsmagazine.com/) , readers can order back-issues of the magazine, review videos and photos, and read a blog about current Orlando happenings.

Based upon the first two issues, a strength of this magazine is its in-depth feature articles.

Issue One documented EPCOT’s 25th anniversary celebration in October 2007 with construction photos and early EPCOT maps, perspectives from Disney leaders, a special merchandise overview, and park milestones. In addition, the writers recognized the extraordinary efforts of the Disney-fan community (led by Celebration 25’s Adam Roth) who attracted the attention of Disney and who worked with Disney leaders to make the event a tremendous success.

This first issue also featured an article describing the enhanced features of the Haunted Mansion, which re-opened after an extensive refurbishment this past fall.

Issue Two took an in-depth look at the development of the new Simpsons ride a Universal Studios including an interview with the executive show producer. This sneak-peek details the theming and merchandising in the area that will immerse visitors in the world of the Simpsons.

While the magazine has a lot to offer, there is still room for improvement. In some sections the magazine layout looks and feels more like a free flyer that one might find in a road-side pamphlet stand (the higher-quality paper chosen for Issue Two was a good choice in helping the magazine distinguish itself from the freebies).

Also, because the format of the magazine combines all area attractions together and I found myself saying, “Ok, now where is this happening again? Where was this event?” Another suggestion would be to group attraction info together in their own sections or code them in some way (by color or by icon) so that readers can quickly identify where the events are taking place.

Finally, while I’m thrilled that the magazine is choosing to review some new and interesting dining experiences, I’d like the see the Restaurant Report section extended to include reviews of more menu items and suggested choices for those with special diets.

However, it would seem reasonable that any new magazine would go through some “growing pains” and this publication has the potential to fill a niche for those who want more in-depth information about the many attractions in the Orlando area.

While it doesn’t completely replace my beloved Disney Magazine, Orlando Attractions is a fun read for those of us who adore Walt Disney World, Universal, and other attractions in the area.

Here's the cover for Issue #3!

Website: Orlando Attractions Magazine

Marathon Weekend Trip Report

2008-02-01T10:00:27Z

All Ears® feature writer Michelle Scribner-MacLean visited Walt Disney World with her son during Marathon weekend. She shares this trip report.

It happens every time I come back from WDW. A day or two after I return, my husband looks at me and says, “You have that glimmer in your eye again….I know what you’re thinking…!” And he’s right. I’m usually starting to think about my next trip to WDW. So, with MouseFest a month behind me, I knew it was time to return.

I’m fortunate enough to have a job that is very flexible in January, as well as a friend who has an Orlando timeshare during this time of year, so making the trip in January has been something I’ve been able to do for the past several years. This trip has evolved into a time when I bring one of my kids to WDW – for some alone time together. This year I brought Evan, my 14 year old for some Mom and teen bonding. It is such a treat to visit WDW with just one kid. When we go alone I allow each of my two kids to set the agenda for the trip. They get to visit the parks they want to visit and ride the attractions they choose (as many times as they want – within reason, of course).

I peeled him out of bed so that we could make our super-early trip out of Manchester. We were running away from the cold, but also the impending snow storm that would add another 10” of snow to the nearly 40” we’ve had so far in New Hampshire. We made our way down to Orlando with ease and, before we knew it, found ourselves at the Magic Kingdom sitting down at Aloha Isle for Dole Whips by 1 p.m…..when who should come ambling by…well, who would we expect to be walking in the direction of a Dole Whip but Mike Scopa, who had just completed his running of the Disney Half Marathon. After a quick chat we headed over to the Tomorrowland Noodle Station to congratulate some of the other runners.

It was quite a rainy day – and we found ourselves running for cover more than once. The lines were moderate to long – there was about a 40 minute wait for Space Mountain.

At the advice of a good AllEars.net friend, each time I visit WDW I try to do something new, something that I’ve never tried before. This trip we opted to stay one night in a new resort. We checked in to Port Orleans French Quarter and explored. What a beautiful resort! I’m always amazed that an area that was once Florida swamp land can take on so many personalities with some Disney magic – the theming at POFQ is terrific, from lush vegetation and quaint and colorful units, with wrought iron fences – I felt like I was in the heart of a historic New Orleans neighborhood. The Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory Food Court offers stations with a wide-variety of choices and some terrific, Mardi Gras-inspired theming. Very fun. I feel like I have some more exploring to do at that resort so I will definitely stay there again.

The next day we made our way over to EPCOT and got to cheer on some of the marathoners as they made their way toward the end of the race through Future World.

When we entered the park we saw that SpaceShip Earth was open and all of the scaffolding that had been there in December when I was there for MouseFest was down. The attraction is a still officially in the “soft-opening” phase and there is a sign indicating that the grand re-opening until February (meaning that it can close at any time). Of course we jumped on! The script is very different, the animatronics are spectacular, but the ride descent part of the ride is sort of a let down (no pun intended). To me, the interactive screens doesn’t provide that Disney “WOW” that we’re accustomed to.

After jumping on to Soarin’, we joined fellow All Ears® blogger and photographer extraordinaire, Barrie, for a quick bite to eat at Sunshine Seasons. This is one of my favorite vegetarian spots in all of WDW. There are lots of choices for kids and adults.

We had one of those rare days in the parks where we did just about everything there is to do in the park, we left no stone unturned, no attraction unvisited in EPCOT. As we rounded World Showcase at the end of the night, we ran into more friends in time for Illuminations. Perfect end to a perfect day.

The next day was Animal Kingdom…and we spent half the morning doing just one thing – riding Expedition Everest. By getting there early, using FastPass, and queuing in the Single Rider line, we ended up riding the attraction six times in a row. If that doesn’t a bond a mom and her teenage son, I don’t know what does!

We met my long-time friend Sharon and her family for lunch at Pizzafari. Sharon had just completed her first ½ marathon and raised lots of money for diabetes research. Her family was there to cheer her on – and it was their first trip to WDW, so it was really fun to listen to their perspectives on touring the parks.

That night, my teenager wanted some “me” time in one of his favorite Disney attractions – Disney Quest. I know that this attraction is not on the top of a lot of people’s lists, but my kids really enjoy this five-story interactive theme park and we try to visit every time we visit WDW. My son and I parted with this request from him: “Please just leave me here for five or six hours.” Although he wouldn’t exactly have his wish, this afforded me some time to meet a colleague from work at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Boma. I love Boma. It is one of my top three favorite WDW restaurants because of the variety of different foods available and because of the setting. The Animal Kingdom Lodge is just spectacular and, having spent much time in real African lodges, I can tell you with certainty that they got it right when they created this resort. My friend had never visited AKL and it was such a thrill to see her face when she first entered the resort and to hear her say how much she loved Boma, too.

The final day started with breakfast at the Polynesian’s Kona Café, where Evan experienced his first Tonga Toast, followed by a whirlwind tour was a visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

While we focused on the thrill rides in the morning (hardly a surprise if you’ve followed this blog carefully from the beginning), we took the rest of the day to take in shows such as Indiana Jones and the Lights, Motor, Action Stunt Show, two shows on top of a teenage boy’s To Do list at the Studios.

Later that night, we made our way back to snowy and cold New Hampshire…and the next day my husband said, “You have that glimmer in your eye again….”

Lou Mongello’s Audio Guide to Walt Disney World - A Review

2008-01-29T17:00:00Z

Lou Mongello’s Audio Guide to Walt Disney World:
Your Portable Personal Guide to Main Street, USA

By Michelle Scribner-MacLean

Think about that first time you went to the Magic Kingdom. Remember all of the excitement as you hit Main Street, USA as you entered the Happiest Place on Earth? Perhaps you “rocketed” over to Tomorrowland to get a ride on Space Mountain. Maybe you scooted over to Adventureland to hop aboard a pirate boat? Quite possibly you were drawn right to Cinderella’s Castle to get a closer look.

Remember the second time you visited? You were probably a bit more confident, took your time…and maybe by your third or fourth trip you felt like a pro….and started noticing all of the details that make Walt Disney World so special?

For many of us, the details are one of the many reasons we keep coming back to the Magic Kingdom. Lou Mongello, author of the Walt Disney World Trivia books, has put his love of the history and details of WDW to create The Audio Guide to Walt Disney World. The recording, which took Mongello about 18 months to write, record, and edit, can be likened to an audio guide that you rent when you go to a blockbuster museum exhibit, the type that gives you more inside information about what you’re looking at, listening to, and experiencing.

This on-going series, which will eventually feature each the lands of the Magic Kingdom, has high-appeal for those wanting to get the “back story” about the architecture, music, and production aspects of Main Street, USA.

Mongello had several goals in mind when producing this audio guide. “I really want to be able to both enhance the vacation experience for the Guest who is visiting the parks, as well as give people a little bit of the “magic” at home as they prepare for their next visit, or just when they need a little bit of Disney in between their visits.” In addition, this recording is an excellent resource for those visitors who are visually impaired, as Mongello’s descriptions are rich and detailed.
Production is a strength of Mongello’s, who has earned two podcast awards during the past few years. His narration is that of a seasoned tour-guide: the pacing is excellent, allowing the listener time to take in the details being presented.

Another appealing aspect of the production is the ambient noise in the background. Normally, “noise” isn’t viewed as a strength – but, as Mongello narrates, he uses “Main Street” activity and music to enhance the topic at hand. You’ll hear the Dapper Dans, horse-drawn trolleys, visitors mulling around, as well as rag-time piano players who perform outside of Casey’s. Mongello spent days just recording the background sounds that helps the listener feel as if they are really at the Magic Kingdom, strolling down Main Street – you can almost imagine Cinderella’s castle off in the distance.

“Spending 7 hours walking up and down Main Street in complete silence, or standing in one spot hoping that the kids in the family of four walking towards me weren’t about to have a loud, screaming meltdown was a pretty unique experience,” says Mongello.

From the significance of the bricks and signs as you enter Main Street, to Crystal Palace bordering Adventureland, to the hub at the center of the park, Mongello explains some truly interesting aspects of the park encountered by arriving visitors.

You learn the history and the development of many of the buildings. For example, many Disney fans know about the use of forced perspective for the buildings on Main Street, where the scale of the buildings changes on the upper stories to make the buildings appear larger than they really are), but did you know that the Exposition Hall is the only building on Main Street that was built to full scale to block the view of the Contemporary Hotel in the background?

I also learned that Main Street was actually designed to look long and majestic, with the castle in the distance as the visitor enters, but looks shorter as you look towards the train station, with your back toward the castle so that weary visitors would not be overwhelmed by the long walk back down the street after a tiring day at the park.

The names features on the windows on Main Street have long held a fascination for many visitors, but, if you’re like me, you might only know handful of names. Mongello details the backgrounds and histories of many Disney notables and legends, as well as how they each had a significant impact on the park’s design.

Among the many things I learned about these “credits” which “roll” on Main Street was that not all of them are listed on windows. There is actually a door, located at the end of Disney clothiers, which says “Open Since 1971, Magic Kingdom Casting Agency. This door, dedicated in 2005, recognizes the contributions of the thousands of Disney cast members, who are, of course, some of the most important contributors to the success of the park.

Of this project, Mongello says, “I hope to be able to open people’s eyes to the incredible detail, history and story that is present throughout the parks and resorts, introduce them to some true “hidden treasures”, and even use it as a planning tool. It was designed not only for the WDW “expert,” but for the first-time visitors as well.”

He has achieved this – and I highly recommend this audio CD for Disney-lovers of all ages. It is available for $9.99 (plus shipping).

Mongello plans to tackle Adventureland next, as well as the remainder of the lands in the Magic Kingdom. Plans for audio tours of EPCOT are also in the works in the distant future.

Haunted Mansion Comes Alive!

2007-09-15T12:45:41Z

All Ears® Team Member Jack Spence (accompanied by Anita Answer and friends) files this report:

The good news: it’s still the Haunted Mansion. It has been improved. Some changes are obvious, others would hardly be noticed. They come together to update a wonderful attraction. Somebody who had never been on the attraction wouldn’t have a clue of which effects are new, and which are the originals from 1969 / 1971. Even people familiar with the attraction might have trouble.

First, what hasn’t changed:

It’s still the Haunted Mansion.

The feeling of the attraction is the same.

The entire graveyard scene is the same.

The busts that turn to watch you pass are the same.

The hitchhiking ghosts still join you on the way out.

The ballroom dancers are still backwards.

Rumors that weren’t true:

There are no live bats

There is no new shop at the exit.

What is different outside:

Outside, the queue begins near the old fastpass structure. The line has a couple of switchbacks in this area before proceeding under the “13 minute” sign. (The line was long this morning, so all the queue was in use.) The awning over the queue area next to the Rivers of America is wider than it used to be. This provides enough space that they can divide it into thirds – so one line goes in front of the mansion toward the attraction entrance, then it switches back toward the 13-minute sign, then switches back toward the attraction entrance again. The line is narrower than it used to be, so people more naturally fill the available space without worrying about passing (or being passed by) somebody else.

The color of the building is subtly different.

WARNING: SPOILER ALERT AHEAD. DO NOT LOOK/READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU WANT TO BE SURPRISED AT THE HAUNTED MANSION CHANGES. DETAILS OF THE CHANGES INSIDE OF THE ATTRACTION ARE BELOW THIS WARNING.

What is different inside

The first improvement I noticed was the sound. In the stretch room, the ghost host doesn’t bounce from one location to another. Rather the voice moves smoothly around the room. Also, some new sounds have been added to improve effects – when the room stretches, it creaks.

The interior of the attraction has been spruced up. For example, the wallpaper in the stretch room is new. The old was looking rather shabby. The frames on the stretch pictures look better.

The lighting throughout has been improved. While the ambient lighting isn’t brighter, most anything of interest is better lit. The hanging body above the ceiling is more visible; the ballroom characters are brighter.

Some of the pictures with the eyes that follow you have been moved to the loading area. The hallway where these pictures used to be now has windows on the left side, with lightning outside and the appropriate thunder. On the other side, there are still pictures, some with the eyes that follow you, and some not. But all of the pictures change appearance with the flashes of lightning.

One of the most obvious changes is the area where giant spiders used to be on giant webs. Those are completely gone, replaced by stairways going up, down, and around at odd angles. Some room décor around the area (such as candelabra and small rugs) are also at odd angles, even upside down. You can even see the foot falls as a ghost is walking on the steps. I always thought the spider webs were put in because there just wasn’t enough space in this area for anything more. The Imagineers certainly overcame that limitation.

The séance room has more items floating around the outer edges (or are they just better lit?) Madame Leota’s crystal ball floats and moves above the table.

The other most obvious changes are in the attic room. The pop-up heads are gone. Similar to the Disneyland HM, there are several pictures, each with the same bride, but each with a different groom. At Disneyland, the faces of the grooms fade out. I believe the effect is supposed to be the same here, but it wasn’t working. Finally, you see the bride, holding an ax which appears and disappears.

One of the best effects is that there are eyes (bats’ eyes, I think) which watch you from the darkness. Some of the eyes even move. As you move along, the eyes transform into the wallpaper – the same wallpaper with eyes that has been on the walls since opening day.

If you're looking for more information on the Haunted Mansion, Jason Surrell has written a great book on this attraction. The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies fleshes out how the Mansion's 999 grim grinning ghosts were brought to life. Rare early sketches and story concepts, and stunning architectural drawings illustrate the Mansion's evolution as it was constructed at each Magic Kingdom Park around the globe.
The Haunted Mansion: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies

MagicMeets…what can I say?

2007-07-22T10:05:05Z

All Ears® Team Member Linda Eckwerth attended this past weekend's MagicMeets festivities.

My memories are just unbelievable. Fred, you out did yourself, yet again!

This is the third Meet that Deb and I have attended. I must admit that I was hesitant about the first one, (Fred’s second). I thought it was just a gathering of a few folks - nothing that great, just go up for the day, say hi to some fans and then back home.

Boy! Was I WRONG! Each year it has been more fun than the last. And yes, each year has been more work than the last. Each year there are more new fans to meet and old ones to greet. Each year there is more laughter and magic to share with one another. Each year there are many more memories to embrace.

It's important to know that this type of an event doesn’t just happen overnight. There is much planning that goes into it. In fact, for AllEars, we start planning right after the last meet ends.

Deb and I give much thought about gift baskets and collecting items throughout the year. What shall we include? We look for special sales just about every time we are in a store that just might have Disney related merchandise!

Would Deb be a Main Ballroom speaker or breakout session speaker? Deb chose the Breakout room for its intimate feel. What decorations would we have in the room? What items would we giveaway at our table? What items could AllEars® contribute to the charity auction? Would Deb Koma’s schedule allow her to attend this year? Are we going to be able to get all our stuff in one car or have to take two?

Well it all worked out! Everything looked great when the doors opened at 10:00 AM Saturday morning. All of us already in the room could not wait for those doors to open. We could not wait to share with each of you the excitement we had been feeling all year!

It is so hard to explain what that excitement is. I just get all warm and fuzzy when I think about it. Seeing folks with great big grins on their faces, hugging one another, hearing screams of joy, seeing photos taken to capture and hold the memories. It just amazes me each year. It is so wonderful to meet everyone that stops by the AllEars table and “thank you” for all of your thank you’s!

The prizes have been awarded, the charity auction is over - $9000 to Make a Wish…AWESOME, all of the screams have quieted from the roller coaster rides at Hershey and everyone is safely home. Wait! Is it time to start thinking about next year?!

We at AllEars will do our part to help make 2008 as good or better! I can’t wait to see all of you again!

Having fun sharing the Magic!

Linda Lou
P.S. Several folks at the meet thought I was LindaMac. So instead of just going by Linda, I'm now going to go by Linda Lou!!!! OK? So now, AllEars® has Orlando resident LindaMac and me, LindaLou!

Spaceship Earth Photos

2007-07-18T23:16:57Z

Debra Martin Koma is in Walt Disney World right now. She sent these photos of the continued removal of the wand/arm that's been on Spaceship Earth for several years.

Also, this morning she reported that at 10ish, the standby wait for Soarin was 75+ minutes. They were able to get FastPasses with a window beginning just after noon.

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Photo Updates from Walt Disney World

2007-06-25T00:06:25Z

All Ears® Team member Jack Spence was roaming the parks recently, and sent in these photos.

First, an updated view of the space that once was occupied by the North Garden Wing of the Contemporary.

Larger Version Here.

Next the Haunted Mansion entrance, closed for rehab!

Larger Version Here.

Finally, a new figurine for sale at the Watch Shop on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom.

Larger Version Here.

Around the World.... Dateline June 22, 2007

2007-06-22T11:03:34Z

AllEars Team Member Jack Spence files this report:

Here's a photo of the latest construction on Toy Story Mania at the Disney-MGM Studios. The attraction was officially announced at the January Press Event in Walt Disney World. This ride will also be opening in Disneyland's California Adventure next year as well.

Over in Animal Kingdom..... A CD of “Finding Nemo, The Musical” is now for sale at the Animal Kingdom for $12.98. This is a very nice recording of the entire show.
Construction on Yak and Yeti restaurant continues. To fit in with Anandapur, the fictional village that is home to Expedition Everest, the restaurant will be themed as a rural village in the Himalayan foothills. The pan-Asian establishment will house both a table service restaurant that seats 300 and a quick-service eatery that can hold 200 customers. The restaurant was announced in February 2006, and is set to open October 8, 2007.
The “Leave A Legacy” purchasing area at Epcot is now all boarded up as is the “Leave A Legacy” display under Spaceship Earth. Speaking of Spaceship Earth the new rehab dates are July 9th through November 13th.

Below are a couple photos of the new Arcade on the 4th floor of the Contemporary. The operating hours are 8:00am to 11:30pm. Lots of other changes coming at the Comtemporary too. Big changes are coming to the dining options at the Contemporary Resort. The Food and Fun Center will close in July to be converted to a new table service restaurant. Beginning July 30, 2007, a temporary quick service restaurant called Tempo Grab and Go will operate near the Outer Rim lounge on the 4th Floor. It will be open through August 14, 2008. The new table service location will be called The Wave, and is tentatively set to open in late March or April 2008. Once The Wave opens, the Concourse Steakhouse will close and a new, permanent quick service restaurant will be constructed in that space, set to debut in mid-August 2008.

Glo and Gary Cruising the Med - Almost the End of the Journey

2007-06-06T14:08:01Z

Almost the End of the Journey

Today (Tuesday) we slept in and then went for a light lunch at Lumiere’s. In just a bit we are going to pack our bags so we can put them in the hallway for pick-up before we go to dinner this evening. Packing will be challenging since we were within a pound of the maximum weight limit on both of our large bags. Fortunately, we really didn’t purchase any souvenirs at all …so, if you were expecting a gift, forget it ;-) Seriously, I bought three Donald pins for my collection and a Med Cruise Christmas ornament and that’s it. Gary bought a small bag of candy to take to work, but I didn’t even do that. I’m confident we’ll be ok on the bag weight limits.

So, we have just a couple more hours to relax and then it’s the hustle of packing, last night dinner with our friends, what will probably be a bit restless of a night’s sleep, then off the ship and back to Miami via Atlanta.

Our cruise is virtually over. I’m so glad we did it and it has really met or exceeded our expectations, but I’m ready to be back in the US and home.

Glo and Gary Photos from France

2007-06-05T16:59:36Z

French Greeting Party at the Port

The Grand Casino in Monte Carlo

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Eze - One of the Narrow Streets

Eze - Door to Private Residence