Disney-Did You Know? – No Peter Pan in Magic Kingdom

Peter Pan’s Flight has been one of the most popular attractions in the Disney parks on both coasts since they each opened. Both attractions almost always have wait times of more than an hour and why wouldn’t they? Who wouldn’t want to fly over London aboard an enchanted pirate ship on its way to Never Land?

But! Did you know that Peter Pan’s Flight was almost left out of Magic Kingdom?

According to sources, in the original plans for Magic Kingdom there were plans for a Mary Poppins themed “Jolly Holiday” attraction which would have taken the place of Peter Pan’s Flight. In these plans there were two different versions of the ride being played around with. One version created by Imagineer Tony Baxter, had carousel horses riding through chalk drawings pulled from the movie. The other was an umbrella flying over the rooftops of London (very reminiscent of the concept for Peter Pans Flight).

The idea behind this was that there was already a Peter Pan’s Flight attraction in Disneyland, and even though the attraction remained insanely popular, it was thought that maybe guests of Walt Disney World on the east coast wouldn’t want the same attractions as their west coast counterparts.

The Imagineers in Walt Disney World also wanted to make this new park something new and different and therefore wanted to implement new technologies and attractions.

The Jolly Holiday was planned to be an opening day attraction. But, it was actually Roy Disney who stepped in and put a stop to this new ride idea. Roy believed that eact coast guests would be very disappointed if they did not get some of the familiar attractions. He also argued that only 1% of Disneyland’s guests actually came from the east coast so if the Peter Pan themed attraction was not placed in Magic Kingdom then most guests would never get to experience it.

In the end Roy won the battle and Peter Pan’s Flight opened along with the rest of the Magic Kingdom in 1971 and to this day is still one of the most beloved attractions in the park.

 

So, what do you think? Would you trade Peter Pan and Tink for Mary Poppins and Bert?

 

References

Picture: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/attractions/disneyland/peter-pans-flight/

http://www.wdwradio.com/category/podcasts/

https://www.mouseplanet.com/articles.php

Disney- Did You Know?- Flying…Mary Poppins?

Who doesn’t love seeing Tinker Bell fly over the park during the night time fireworks show?

Tink began her flying debut in Disneyland in the summer of 1961. She flew from the top of the Matterhorn and over Sleeping Beauty Castle. But, when Magic Kingdom Park opened in 1971, Tink was nowhere to be found.

It wasn’t until 1985 that guests at the Walt Disney World Resort finally got their wish and were able to watch Tink’s first flight on July 3, 1985.

But did you know that, according to reports, in 1966 in Disneyland it was not Tinker Bell but Mary Poppins who made the trip from the Matterhorn over the top of Sleeping Beauty Castle?

 

Disney- Did You Know? – This is NOT a Walt Disney quote

We have all heard the words spoken or seen the quote sprawled across Pinterest boards and the covers of journals and planners, and painted across trendy coffee mugs. (I myself own a few of these items

But, did you know that these words were not actually uttered by Walt Disney himself?

According to Disney Legend and Historian and founder of the Disney Archives, Dave Smith, he was once told the truth about whom actually first spoke these infamous words.

So who was it?

It was actually Imagineer, Tom Fitzgerald. Tom originally wrote this line specifically for an attraction in Walt Disney World… Horizons in EPCOT. The words were part of a song that played in the attraction as well as being seen on graphics used for the attraction. Horizons opened on October 1, 1983… 17 years after the death of Walt Disney.

Don’t feel too bad, even the Disney Company has occasionally incorrectly attributed this quote to their name sake.

So, although this is an ideal that I am sure Walt would have whole heartedly agreed with…it is not one that he ever actually said.

 

Coming Soon…

“Welcome to the universe of X-S. You are about to observe the latest scientific works brought to you by X-S Tech, the galaxy’s leader in innovative high technology.”

In honor of Halloween quickly approaching; for the next few posts we will be taking a look at Disney’s (scariest?) attractions.

Join me as we take a trip back in time and visit one of Walt Disney World’s scariest and most controversial attractions, The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter in Tomorrowland. This attraction lasted less than a decade, but made a huge impact on any guest who was brave enough to ride it. Most people don’t equate Disney with terror but they cleverly placed it right there in the name a warning. And still this attraction because one of Disney’s most popular and hated rides of all time. Hated due to its fear factor, but popular because of its celebrity cast and sophisticated plot line. We’ll take a look at the history of the attraction, the changes that ensued after guest complaints, and its ultimate demise.

Secrets of Disneyland: The Haunted Mansion

This year marks the 45^th anniversary of the Haunted Mansion in Disneyland.  The attraction opened on August 9, 1969. So, in the spirit of that celebration I have spent several weeks researching this week’s subject.

I personally favor the Grand Tudor style Haunted Mansion tucked away in its own little corner of Magic Kingdom; but I have developed a soft spot for the antebellum style mansion located in Disneyland’s New Orleans Square, mainly because the ride was in part Imagineered by Walt himself.

For many Disney attractions, the journey from idea to reality can be a long and difficult one and one of the best examples of this is the Haunted Mansion.

Come witness a ghoulishly glorious sight as we take a look back at the creation of one of the Disney parks most popular attractions.

Creation

• The journey from time of conception to opening was a 14 year long one.
• While the Mansion itself was built in 1963, the attraction didn’t open until 1969, six years later.
• The idea for the Haunted Mansion came about in the early 1950’s from Walt himself. In fact, Walt wanted a Haunted Mansion style attraction in Disneyland long before it ever even opened.

 

Location, Location, Location

• One of the very first maps drawn up of Disneyland showed a haunted house down at the end of Main Street because that is originally where it was going to be located in the park.
• It is believed that Walt’s way of thinking was that every small town had its City Hall, its Drug Store etc. and they all had that house at the end of the street or up on the hill that everyone believed to be haunted. And Main Street was meant to be just that…a small town.
• Even though this was Walt’s original concept, the first idea for the Haunted Mansion to truly make its way off of the drawing boards was the one that featured the Haunted Mansion in New Orleans Square.
• Originally New Orleans Square was to be in the area where Indiana Jones currently sits, which would have been where the Haunted Mansion was located.
• In the end, around 1950, the attraction was assigned to Imagineer Ken Anderson. He was the one who truly moved the mansion away from Main Street and onto New Orleans Square. The decision eventually ended the debates over what the exterior façade of the house would look like.

 

Scary V. Funny

• One of the reasons why it took so long for the attraction to open was because there were many disputes and disagreements about just what the attraction would be.
• In those early stages, there were several different machinations and ideas of what type of attraction the Mansion would be. Imagineer Marvin Davis had the idea for a House on the Hill; Ken Anderson thought of it more as a Ghost House and San McKin had the idea of a rundown decrepit mansion.

 

Walk or Ride/ Pirates or Ghosts

• Ken Anderson’s original idea had the attraction set as a standard haunted house type attraction following in the same suit as the Pirates of the Caribbean. They wanted to continue the theme of the Pirates of the Caribbean Wax Museum.
• That was due largely to the fact that the Haunted Mansion was originally going to be about pirates. Eventually it was decided that this did not have to be the case and the Haunted Mansion did not have to tie back into Pirates.
• The story line for the Haunted Mansion was originally that Captain Gore had killed his wife in their home and her ghost comes back to haunt him which eventually drives him crazy, causing him to hang himself.
• In the original design the guests would walk through the attraction going from room to room through this Haunted Mansion and they would eventually come to an enclosed chamber and there would be a scene where heavy winds from outside would blow open the chamber doors and in could come this ghost ship with Captain Gore on board and he would give the back story of the house before disappearing. Even though the animatronics for this scene were said to be beyond their years, eventually this idea was scrapped because the scene took about 2 minutes to run through and it did not allow for a steady flow of guests through the attraction. There are reminiscent of this story line though out the house; there is a painting of Captain Gore in the hall as you enter the mansion, the hanging figure in the elevator and the bride in the attic.
• Although you can see a reincarnation of this idea in the current attraction where guests enter a chamber (actually an elevator) and witness a scene from the backstory of the attraction.
• Eventually it was decided that this did not have to be the case and the Haunted Mansion did not have to tie back into Pirates.
• Another idea was for the attraction to be centered on the Bloodmire family. In this design the guests were lead through the house by a “Ghost Host” (which obviously stuck around), called the Lonesome Ghost, at the time.
• At one point the scene with the ghost ship and captain was changed and in its place was the headless horseman.
• Several years passed as these ideas were tossed around and designed. But, eventually it was decided between Walt and Imagineer Marty Sklar (who just passed away on July 27, 2017) that the story would be of a house that attracts ghosts. It was no longer about what happened in the house in the past but what was currently happening to the ghosts who had taken up residence within the house.

 

The Empty Years

• After this idea took shape the half built Haunted Mansion sat vacant for years. One of the reasons for this was Walt’s passing in 1966.
• After Walt died, the arguments over the attraction began again.
• Eventually, Dick Nunis (the Director of Disneyland) told the then Illusioneers, that before anything else could be decided, a ride system needed to be set into place that could move guests through the house in an efficient manner, allowing for maximum guest turnaround.
• Eventually, the Illusioneers at WED realized that they already had such a system. It was the Omni-Mover that had been used to transport guests on the People Mover in Tomorrowland. They realized that they could use the same mechanism in the Haunted Mansion attraction.
• Once this idea was realized, another “battle” began between the two camps who wanted the attraction to be scary versus those who though that is should be silly or funny. On one hand was Mark Davis for the funny side and on the other Claud Coates for the scary side.

 

Legendary Effects

• Once all of the details were sorted and the fighting had finally fizzled out. The potential for this attraction was truly brought to the forefront and it began to take shape.
• Imagineer X. Atencio wrote the now immortalized Grim Grinning ghost song that can be heard playing during the attraction.

 

Hat Box Ghost

• Created by Yale Gracey
• Originally only worked within the attraction for about two weeks before it was removed because they couldn’t get it to work.
• Not only was the figure itself removed from the ride but virtually all evidence that the Hat Box Ghost even existed disappeared; everything form the mold, the figures and the drawings.
• The Hat Box Ghost was not seen again until it resurfaced in early 2015 bringing back much of that mysteriousness from the early days of the attraction.

 

 

 

Coming Soon…

Keep calm and look out for Hitchhiking Ghosts…

This month marks the 48th anniversary for Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion. So, I thought that this would be the perfect time to switch things up a little bit and do a post on an attraction in Disneyland rather than one in Walt Disney World.

I have been doing tons of research and have found many new details and tid bits to share with you guys. I am super excited to talk about one of my favorite attractions with you guys and hope that you are too!

 

 

 

 

Pictures Courtesy of: Tours Departing Daily http://toursdepartingdaily.com/

Secrets of Disney World: Typhoon Lagoon

“A furious storm once roared across the sea, catching ships in its path, helpless to flee. Instead of a helpless and watery doom the wind swept them here to Typhoon Lagoon.”

 

Background

The legend of Typhoon Lagoon tells that before the furious storm roared ‘cross the sea, this peaceful little spot was known as Placid Palms. The community of Placid Palms was turned upside down by the destructive storm.  In the aftermath, the local residents, decided to stay in their home and press on. They appropriately renamed their resort Leaning Palms and have kept the village running despite the scattered marine debris, uprooted trees, and ships literally turned upside down.  Today the Leaning Palms resort is a part of what has become Typhoon Lagoon.

Many people on the outside believe that the Disney parks are just amusements parks filled with attractions, but they are so much more than that. They are chalk-full of detail and story, they provide an environment and an ambiance and an immensely interactive experience, if you just take the time look around you. Typhoon Lagoon is such a great example of that, this park is just a glimpse into the rich backstories that the Disney Imagineers create when they build these parks, these worlds they create for us to step into.

When Walt Disney World opened in October of 1971 it immediately became known at the vacation kingdom of the world. The Walt Disney Company has been working diligently ever since to ensure that they retain that reputation. This is why they do their best to continually bring their guests new and innovative experiences. The first way that they did this was by introducing an idea that was relatively new at the time… the water park.

 

River Country

Before Typhoon Lagoon and eventually Blizzard Beach, there was River Country.

River Country was located on an island in the middle of Bay Lake. One of the most vivid things that I can remember from my MANY trips to Walt Disney World as a child, is riding the ferry across Bay Lake to and from the Fort Wilderness Campgrounds and seeing the abandoned structures and dried out slides of River Country. It always drew my attention and peaked my curiosity and it wasn’t until I was older that I was able to do my research and find out what the island had once been. But, as a child it seemed to me a lost world waiting to be explored and discovered…if I only they would let me.

In 1976, Disney World’s River Country was introduced. It was the 1^st water park to open in the Walt Disney World Resort. It opened on June 20, 1976, intriguingly enough on my birthday (13 years before my actual birth). Typhoon Lagoon then opened 13 years later on June 1^st, 1989. (19 days before my birthday)

It is impossible to discuss Typhoon Lagoon without first discussing River Country because River Country is really where the story of Typhoon Lagoon began.

 

• As stated above, River Country was located on an island, near the shores of Bay Lake, in the Fort Wilderness area of Walt Disney World.

 

• River Country was themed as a sort “Swimming Hole”, the type that Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn would have visited (which tied the park back into the Magic Kingdom’s Tom Sawyer Island).

 

• Again, Disney is all about theming and story. Even though it wasn’t very big (about a quarter of the size of Typhoon Lagoon) River Country was the quintessential swimming hole with rope swing and all. The water park had the same type of feel as Tom Sawyer’s island with its rock formations, caves, and rope and barrel bridges.

 

• What people did not realize at the time is that they were literally swimming in the waters of Bay Lake. Water from the lake was pumped from the lake into the artificial mountain and rock formations and then spread throughout the park, and then eventually pumped back into the lake.

 

• Because the water was unfiltered lake water, eventually issues arouse with water safety and algae content.

 

• As these problems mounted, it was decided that rather than fix these problems it would more cost effective to close River Country and to open a brand new park.

 

• Thus, Typhoon Lagoon was born.

 

Typhoon Lagoon

The Story

• Again everything with Disney is about the story. People don’t realize it but every single park, every ride, every restaurant has a story. Every miniscule detail is there for a reason, nothing in any Disney park is done by accident. Therefore, a new water park meant a new story.
• The original concept for Typhoon lagoon was themed after the Disney movie Splash.
• This lead to the original story for Typhoon Lagan being that a cruise ship had run aground and washed up on the shores of a beach.
• There was also a time when the idea was to have the water park themed as if in the middle of a Florida swamp; very dense and tropical
• In the end, the story of Typhoon Lagoon goes much deeper than what most people realize.
• In the 1950s, Hurricane Connie brought total destruction and devastation to the town of Placid Palms; bringing earth quakes and volcanic eruptions.
• After the hurricane, the remaining townspeople took what was left of their town and rebuilt it into the Leaning Palms resort.
• There are exotic creature, such as sharks in the reef (now replaced by Miss Adventure Falls), because when Hurricane Connie swept across the town it deposited these creatures there
• When you enter the park the first thing that you see is a souvenir shop owned by Singapore Sal; whose girlfriend is Typhoon Tilly who owns the restaurant down the road. Both are inhabitants of the Leaning Palms Resort.
• The ship “The Tilly” was thrown on top of Mount Mayday which erupts every half hour, the steam being emitted from the volcano can be seen from almost every area of the park.
• After Hurricane Connie struck and Mount Mayday erupted the lava flow created what are now the water slides throughout the park
• You can still see remnants of the “Old Key West” type village that Placid Palms once was in the debris left around the area.
• There is even a capsized boat near the storm slides.

 

The Water Park

• Typhoon Lagoon has the world’s largest surf pool. It is not just a wave pool, you can actually surf there.

 

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/recreation/surf-lessons/

• The park has under gone two expansions in its time. Once in 2005 when Crush ‘n Gusher was opened.
• This area was once a fruit washing and packaging plant called Tropical Amity Fruit Exporters, but was irreparably damaged during the hurricane.
• Then another expansion was done in 2016 when the tropical fish where moved and the reef drained in order to make way for Miss Adventure Falls.
• The park is closed 3 months out of the year
• Typhoon Lagoon follows on the path of the other parks in that it offers its own big reveal, the same way that Magic Kingdom does with Cinderella’s Castle. Once you get past the turnstiles and into the park you have to go down a winding path and up a hill before the lagoon is revealed in front of you.

 

The Attractions

Lagoon:

• 6 foot waves every minute and a half
• The pool offers different experiences depending on where in the pool you are, the closer to the front you are the higher the waves and the rougher the water
• Towards the front of the pool are two islands where you can sit in the water and relax

Castaway Creek:

• The parks Lazy River
• It takes 20-25 minutes to go all the way around
• You can enter Castaway Creek from a number of entry points and use a tube to float, drift or walk
• The lazy river is about 2000 feet long

Ketchakiddee Creek:

• Children’s area; 48 inches or smaller only
• Full of small slides, a sandy beach and splash areas

Keelhaul Falls:

• Where daredevils can ride through roaring rapids

Mayday Falls:

• Take a trip through caves and waterfalls on the parks longest slide

Gangplank Falls:

• Gather the gang for a raft ride in a giant inner tube with room enough for 4 people!

Storm Slides:

• Hurtle down a trio of winding, water-gushing slides for a sensational 3-story splashdown.

Bay Slides:

• Twin body slides offer scaled-down thrills and spills suitable for tiny tots while parents wade in the Surf Pool.

Crush ‘n Gusher:

• Grab a friend for this multi-passenger, roller-coaster-like raft ride

Humunga Cowabunga:

• Plummet down Mount Mayday for a near-vertical, 5-story drop—in the dark!

Miss Adventure Falls:

• Board a treasure raft and hit the high seas for family fun during the longest ride in the history of the Disney water parks!

 

I hope you have enjoyed learning more about the Leaning Palms Resort! Stay tuned for more “Secrets of the Disney Parks” and keep an eye out for our post about a one-time ski resort that has melted into a watery wonderland.

 

Part 2- Secrets of Disney World: The Contemporary Resort.

 

“Walt Disney World’s Contemporary Resort Hotel is one of the world’s most dynamic new hotels. It’s a place to stay and a place to play… where monorail trains glide silently right through the soaring A-frame structure…and beautiful Bay Lake is right outside your room.”

Hello everyone! Because there are so many great facts about the Contemporary Resort, it was all too much to include in one post. SO here is Part 2 of “Secrets of Disney World: The Contemporary Resort. “

 

1. Unfinished Project

• When the Contemporary opened on October 1, 1971 it was not finished; there were still cranes all over it.
• The estimate for the cost of the rooms was originally $15,000-$17,000 per room. But, they actually ended up costing approximately $100,000 per room.

 

2. Edible Monorail

• There is ONE place in ALL of the Disney parks around the world where you can order and eat a replica of the Walt Disney World Monorail.
• What is that one place you ask? It is Disney’s Contemporary Resort!
• The replica that you receive is made of white chocolate with molten milk chocolate inside of it and is served with a plate of gourmet truffles.
• In order to get your hands on this beauty you must be a guest of the Contemporary Resort and can only order it through room service for a price of $45.

3. Secret Pathways

• Originally, there was to be a pathway that lead directly from Tomorrowland to the Contemporary and was supposed to have some sort of People Mover on it. This path would lead you into Tomorrowland near Space Mountain.
• When the Contemporary was built it was meant to be an extension of Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom.
• This is why you can only see the Contemporary from Tomorrowland. If you get on the TTA (People Mover/Blue Line) as you approach the Carousel of Progress, if you look to your left, you can see the Contemporary through the trees.

4. Christmas at the Contemporary

• The Contemporary is home to the largest Christmas Tree in Walt Disney World
• During the holidays just outside of Fantasia Gift Shop towards the Magic Kingdom, by the glass wall, a choir comes in and sings Christmas carols and performs a free holiday concert.

5. Brunch with a View

Although I haven’t yet had the privilege of dining at California Grill, I have heard that it is by far one of the best restaurants on property. And have come to discover that in February of 2016 they began to offer a Sunday Brunch.

• The restaurant offers breath-taking views of the Magic Kingdom and the Seven Seas Lagoon.
• AND you may return later to watch the Happily Ever After fireworks show from the rooftop deck by bringing your receipt to the California Grill check-in desk on the 2nd floor.
• There is an open air kitchen which allows you to interact with the guests
• The Brunch is part buffet, part table- service
• The menu is extensive with delightful selections such a Sushi, a “Build-Your-Own” Greek Yogurt Station, and a “Build-Your-Own” Bloody Mary bar

 

 

Well, there ya have it folks. I hope you have enjoyed this edition of “Secrets of Disney World” and I hope you’ll stay tuned for our next edition where we take a look at one of Disney’s most evolutionary parks.

 

 

Sources

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2016/09/06/guest-review-brunch-at-the-top-at-california-grill-in-disneys-contemporary-resort/

http://www.disneytouristblog.com/disney-world-christmas-decorations-tour/

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/contemporary-resort/california-grill/menus/brunch/

http://www.wdwradio.com/

 

 

Secrets of Disney World: Disney’s Contemporary Resort Part 1

“Walt Disney World’s Contemporary Resort Hotel is one of the world’s most dynamic new hotels. It’s a place to stay and a place to play… where monorail trains glide silently right through the soaring A-frame structure…and beautiful Bay Lake is right outside your room.”

 

Although I have never been lucky enough to stay there myself, the Contemporary resort in Walt Disney World has always been my favorite. I can clearly remember the wonder that I felt as a child sitting on the monorail as it sailed into and through the Contemporary. I remember thinking about how amazing it would be to stay in the huge multi-level hotel.

Hopefully, someday, that dream will come to fruition but for now I will settle for nestling myself among the history, facts and lesser known details of this beautiful resort.

 

So without further ado here are the Secrets of Disney World: The Contemporary Resort

 

The sleek and modern Contemporary Resort has become well-known for its proximity to the Magic Kingdom and for its spectacular views of Bay Lake (and, of course, Cinderella’s Castle), but there are still plenty of secrets that the average guest or first-time visitor to the resort may not know.

For starters, here are some background details:

• The Contemporary resort was Walt Disney World’s original flag-ship hotel.
• The Contemporary opened its doors to guests on October 1, 1971 along with the Polynesian resort and the Magic Kingdom.Originally, the Contemporary was actually supposed to be known as the Tempo Bay Resort 

1. The Wave Lounge

• According to the Disney World website, the Wave Lounge is “A place where you can immerse yourself in a “swell” time at this stylish bar. Serving organic beer, New World wines and trendy cocktails, this elegant oasis promises a chic retreat for adults looking to unwind.”
  • Outside of the lounge are these 1960’s-ish circles that lead you from the lobby of the hotel into The Wave. These circles are reminiscent of the circles that used to lead into the original Journey into Imagination attraction.

The Wave:                                                                        Journey into Imagination:

                                     

 

• Once inside of the lounge, everything is dark and low lit. There are these semi-circle shaped rooms that are bathed in blues and purples and there are lights dangling from the ceilings.

    

• Once inside The Wave, there is one drink that is sworn by…the Seven Seas Lagoon Cocktail. This cocktail consists of agave (instead of simple syrup), vodka, coconut rum, lime, pineapple juice and soda water and will cost you approximately $22.
• There is a rumor that the bartender has an eye dropper of fluid that is taken from the actual Seven Seas Lagoon outside and puts it into the drink. But this, for various reasons, is not true.

 

2.The Mary Blair Mural

• Mary Blair was an American artist who was known for in producing art and animation for The Walt Disney Company, drawing concept art for such films as Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Song of the South and Cinderella. Blair also created character designs for enduring attractions such as Disneyland’s It’s a Small World, the fiesta scene in El Rio del Tiempo in the Mexico pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase, and an enormous mosaic inside Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
• The mural is 90 feet tall and made up of 18,000 fire-glazed tiles.
• Depicts Southwest Native American areas of the Grand Canyon, which is why this area of the hotel is known as the Grand Canyon Concourse.
• The mosaic features Mary Blair’s use and sense of colors as well as her unique way of depicting children (which should look familiar because ,as stated above, Mary also created the character designs for the children inside the It’s a Small World attraction).
• On mural you can find the signatures of the artists who worked on it, as well as the signature of Mary Blair herself up towards the top.
• The Mary Blair mural is one of the few locations in the Disney parks where an artist was able to sign their work.
• (All though it is no longer visible) There is also another Mary Blair mural in another area of a Disney park: There is a Mary Blair mural located in Disneyland’s Tomorrowland. This mural was actually two separate pieces that sat across from each other in Tomorrowland. The mural could be seen when guests rode the People Mover (sadly also no longer in Disneyland). The murals were 55 feet long and 15.5 feet high but were sadly covered up around 1997 when Tomorrowland was renovated. There are now Buzz Lightyear and Star Tours murals on either side.

3.The Fiesta Fun Center

• The Fiesta Fun Center was an arcade type area that used to be located in the Contemporary. It was located where The Wave now sits.
• The Fiesta Fun Center was not original to the hotel and was not there on opening day. The large area was originally built as convention space, known at the Sunshine State Exhibitorium, but the demand for more facilities for evening entertainment for guests necessitated the building of the Fiesta Fun Center in 1972 or ‘73.
• The center housed arcade games, mechanical games, and when it first opened, a large shooting gallery. There was also a snack bar as well as a small theater where Disney films were played.
• Near the entrance of the Fiesta Fun Center was a mural created by Bill Justice featuring the Three Caballeros and other characters from the Mickey Mouse Review. The mural remained in tat spot until the Fiesta Fun Center was moved upstairs onto the Grand Canyon Concourse and The Wave was then put into that spot.

 

4. Nixon at the Contemporary

• On Nov. 17, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon held a news conference before Associated Press managing editors, in which he defended himself against a number of allegations. Most of the questions related to the Watergate break-in, other questions focused on reports that he had cheated on his tax returns. This news conference was held at none other than Disney’s Contemporary Resort in the Ballrooms of America.
• The best-remembered part of the news conference came as the president defended himself against claims that he had unlawfully profited from his years in public service.

 

“I made my mistakes, but in all of my years of public life, I have never profited, never profited from public service — I earned every cent,” he said. “And in all of my years of public life, I have never obstructed justice. And I think, too, that people have got to know whether or not their president is a crook. Well, I am not a crook. I have earned everything I have got.”

 

5.  Removable Rooms?!

• There is a rumor or myth stating that the rooms of the Contemporary can be slid in and out-of-place in order to be redecorated or remodeled. This is obviously not true. BUT…
• The rooms for the Contemporary WERE built modularly, meaning that they were built off site, transported to and then slid into the frame of the hotel. But, they were never meant to be taken back out.

 

 

 

Well guys, there are so many great facts and lesser known details about the Contemporary that it was all too much to include in one post. SO keep your eyes out for Part 2 of Secrets of Disney World: The Contemporary Resort.

 

Sources:

samlanddisney.blogspot.com

http://www.themeparktourist.com/features/20140616/18585/3-unexpected-historical-events-happened-disney-parks

http://fiestafuncenter.blogspot.com/

http://www.wdwradio.com

 

 

 

Celebrating a birthday in the Disney parks!

“Let’s get loud and dance through the crowd. We’ll throw it all down. Get up! Get up! Party People! Fists are bumpin’. Music is pumpin’. We’re gonna jump. Feel it, Feel it Come together.”- Disney: Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! Street Party

 

Celebrating birthdays at Walt Disney World (or any Disney park for that matter) can take a great day and turn it into a magical one.

If you’re celebrating during your Disney vacation, there are a lot of special activities and add-ons that can make the trip even more special and you don’t have to spend a ton (or any) extra money to ramp up the birthday celebrations unless you want to do so.

Celebratory fun at the Disney parks can come both from pre-planned activities and via the spontaneous acts of Disney Cast Members.

 

Here are some of recommendations for celebrating your birthday at a Disney park…

 

PLANNING

• When making your reservations with Disney either note on your online reservation that you are celebrating a birthday or let the Cast Member whom you are speaking with know. If you are staying on Disney property you can also let the Cast Members you speak to at check-in know.
• Other things that should be planned in advance are add-ons such as cakes, gifts, flowers, or other surprises.
• Disney Floral & Gifts do a lot of great things and can help make a birthday celebration even more special.

For WDW: http://disneyworld.disneyfloralandgifts.com/home.do?rel=https://www.google.com/

For Disneyland: http://disneyland.disneyfloralandgifts.com/home.do?rel=https://www.google.com/

 

WHAT TO DO?

• The degree to which you celebrate the occasion is entirely up to you. Disney trips are usually a celebration unto themselves, so if you only want to do a little to acknowledge the celebration, that’s pretty easy. If you want the trip to revolve around the birthday celebration, that’s possible, too!Celebration Button– I am firmly convinced that City Hall at Walt Disney World has a button in stock for every conceivable celebration. Celebrating a birthday? There’s a button for that. Honeymoon? Check! Anniversary? No problem.

Besides City Hall, you can obtain the Celebration Buttons in a multitude of places on property: hotel front desks, restaurants, guest relations, etc. If you are celebrating one person’s special event, besides just getting the birthday button for that person, make sure the rest of your party gets the generic “I’m Celebrating” buttons.

*If you are shy, getting these buttons may not be the best of ideas. Cast Members (and even other guests) typically pay extra attention to guests wearing these buttons. It can be as simple as a passing “Happy Birthday,” or as involved as a conversation and a complimentary food item.

Conversely, PLEASE don’t wear the button with the expectation that you will receive extra attention or freebies.

• Decorate– If you stay on Disney property, chances are that you’ve seen decorated room windows at one of the Disney hotels. Christmas decorations seem most common, but you can decorate for any type of celebration such as a birthday.
• Surprises! – Try to spice things up with some surprises unique to the person for whom you’re celebrating. For a child celebrating a birthday, you could plan an in-park scavenger hunt leading them to a present “from” their favorite character.
• Itinerary– Let the birthday boy or girl, man or woman set the itinerary for the day. They decide what and where to eat and what attractions to go to when. This is an easy and cost-free way to make things extra special for the person celebrating their birthday. Even adults will like this, as I’m sure most of us have at least one favorite attraction that the rest of our party dislikes.
• Snack or Drink around the World in Epcot – A challenge where guests aim to have a drink or snack at every one of World Showcase’s eleven countries in one day.

 

• Evening of Signature Dining –If planning this birthday celebration for your significant other than consider booking a Signature Restaurant that will allow for a nightcap. Restaurants on the monorail loop are great for this. Such as, California Grill at the Contemporary, Victoria & Albert’s at the Grand Floridian, the Blue Bayou inside Pirates of the Caribbean in Disneyland or Carthay Circle in Disney’s California Adventure. You can either make your Advance Dining Reservation early enough so that you’re done with dinner by the time the evening entertainment begins, or time your meal so that dessert coincides with the fireworks (arrive early to the restaurant and request a window seat). Same goes for dinner at an Epcot-area restaurant (Flying Fish Cafe at the Board Walk resort and Yachtsman Steakhouse at the Yacht Club) followed by Illuminations. Conclude the evening in a lounge such as Hearthstone Lounge inside the Grand Californian.

 

You could also make reservations for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the birthday boy or girl’s three favorite restaurants.

• Private Event, Fireworks Festivities, or Tour – Depending on your budget you can make this relatively inexpensive, or very expensive. On the inexpensive end of the spectrum is the Fireworks Dessert Party at the Tomorrowland Terrace in the Magic Kingdom or the World of Color Dessert Party in Disney’s California Adventure. On the other end of the spectrum, the sky is the limit on private events, such as the Tower of Terror private party. Somewhere in between these two options, price-wise, is the Illuminations Cruise. If fireworks aren’t your thing, try the Wild Africa Trek, the Keys to the Kingdom tour, or Behind the Seeds at Epcot.

                                       

• Fun for the Kids – Since kids aren’t allowed on many tours, if the celebration is for a child, you’ll need an alternative. The Pirate Cruise at the Grand Floridian and the Wonderland Tea Party are out of the ordinary options that are geared towards kids. Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at both WDW and Disneyland and Pirates League are two more common options, and are great not just for the experiences, but for the photos you can get of your kids all dressed up on their birthday. You could also get them prepared for their birthday celebrations with a haircut on Main Street.

 

 

• Shopping Spree! – Take your loved one over to Disney Springs in Walt Disney World or Downtown Disney in Disneyland, give them a dollar amount and let them go crazy!

 

These are just some of the basics for celebrating at Disney parks; the unique ways you can celebrate are truly endless.