Walt Disney World, January 2017, Part 3

By Nick

Monday 1/23/17 

I woke up very early and couldn't get back to sleep because I was excited for our 8 am Keys to the Kingdom Tour!

Because we were told to be early, I had us at the bus stop by 6:45am. Not only was a bus there waiting, but we had it all to ourselves. And, unlike every other time we'd caught a bus to the Magic Kingdom from the Boardwalk, it did not stop at the Swan and Dolphin, so we arrived at about 5 after 7, where we were told the gates wouldn't open until 7:30!

We took a walk to the Contemporary and back, just to kill time, and returned to the front gates just as the security guards started checking bags. After about 15 minutes of waiting underneath the train station, we were walking into a relatively empty Magic Kingdom.

We checked in at the Town Square Theater, got name badges, were given headsets, and made our lunch selections.

At 8am we were brought outside where we met our guide, Dana. We were told no photos were allowed as we would be going backstage at several points.

If you plan on taking this tour and want to be surprised, read no further. In other words:

Spoilers ahead!

The tour lasted about 5 hours. After taking a tour up Main Street, learning about some of the names on the windows, we entered Adventureland and rode the Jungle Cruise and learned some interesting facts about this Disneyland original, rode the Haunted Mansion, got to see the floats backstage, and spent time walking through the utilidors beneath the Magic Kingdom, our favorite part. But, if you are a Disneyphile, most of the information you'll hear throughout the tour is probably already known to you.
Lunch was included. I was at first disappointed it wasn't at Columbia Harbour House, but really enjoyed my meal at Tomorrowland Terrace.
I feel it was worth it for the cost. Without a discount, it is $99. We saved 15% with our Annual Pass.

We returned to the Boardwalk Resort, and found a very nice surprise in our room! Cookies!
A nice card was included. Barbie said, "I wonder..." went to the fridge, and, yep, milk!

We have no proof, because the card simply reads "Welcome to the Boardwalk Villas, we hope your stay is magical." and isn't signed, but believe this was the Cast Member Barbie had given a button to the day before (see part 2) repaying her kindness.

After splitting a cookie, we went to Epcot to meet with our friend Marilyn. I made a stop at the Rose and Crown on the way, and got a Black and Tan.

Barbie and I also stopped at the Masterpiece Kitchen food booth, part of Epcot's International Festival of the Arts (see part 1) and had the Smoked Salmon Tartare and Wild Mushroom Risotto. Both were ok. Perhaps my palate isn't refined enough, but I found many of the Salmon dishes flavors overpowered each other, and couldn't find a taste combination that I found truly satisfactory. Plus, and I am not usually one to nitpick about prices, these 2 relatively small portions were $12 (salmon) and $9!

After meeting Marilyn, the 3 of us walked over to the Odyssey, where we all got the Trio of Savory Croissant Doughnuts, and I had the Neapolitan Beer Flight, consisting of a chocolate stout, vanilla porter, and a strawberry ale. Delicious!

We finished our snacks and made our way to the front of the park to say hello to our friend Kathy, a Cast Member at Epcot's main entry.

Kathy, me, Barbie and Marilyn

Marylin planned on seeing the Broadway Concert Series at the America Gardens Theater, so the 3 of us started walking back to World Showcase, when I spotted 2 more friends walking in the same direction! 

 Kelly and Karen

We said our goodbyes to Marylin and talked a little while with Karen and Kelly before Barbie and I started back towards the Boardwalk. 

On the way out of International Gateway we heard our names being called! Readers of the blog and listeners of The Disney Exchange Podcast had spotted us and wanted to say hello!

 Sheila and Warren

As we were speaking with Sheila and Warren, another friend, Kory and his friend Andrea walked by, so we spoke with them for awhile also! Kory, I can't believe I didn't get a picture of us!

We got back to the room early and called it a night.

Disney Parks Tickets - Episode 114 of The Disney Exchange Podcast

The Disney Exchange is Lisa Green, Dave Hodges, and me, Nick

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

The main topic this week is Disney Park Tickets, but before we get into that, Dave talks about his recent trip to Walt Disney World, including dining highlights, his love of musical theater and art, and his favorite new Festival at Epcot, the International Festival of the Arts.

We talk about the latest ticket price increases at Walt Disney World, Annual Pass prices, our recommendations for the type of ticket you should purchase depending on your length of stay, and touch upon Disneylands AP prices as well!

We also talk about Rivers of Light debuting at long last!

Wheel of Distiny Topic: Wishes is being replaced, are you upset or looking forward to the new show, "Happily Ever After?"

You can send us an email at info@thedisneyexchange and reach out with show suggestions, submit Wheel of Distiny topics, or request a listener number (remember those?) on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedisneyexchange, Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneyexchange

If you would be so kind as to leave us a 5 star review on any of the social media sites or iTunes, we'd really appreciate it. Thank you!

Thank you for listening to The Disney Exchange!

Figment's Brush with the Masters

by Gaylin

On my recent trip to Walt Disney World (January 18-31, 2017), I discovered that I love the scavenger hunt games at the parks. Whether it was Sorcerer's of the Magic Kingdom or Wilderness Explorer's, I loved them all.

A game they have at Epcot, only during the hastily announced Epcot International Festival of the Arts, is called Disney Figment's Brush with the Masters.

You play this game by going to the Disney Traders store and purchasing a map and sticker set for $6.99 (usually these scavenger hunts are free but you will understand the cost at the end of this article). As you can see, at the World Showcase there is a spot at each country where you can put a corresponding sticker!

I started my Figment painting hunt at Canada, where else would I start - I am Canadian! You need to look in the shops, Kidcot areas etc, until you find the painting that is on the sticker. Wait! There is a catch, the sticker is the original painting, the painting you are looking for will have Figment in it.

At Canada, I found the painting, (nope, not telling you where) and put the right sticker on my map. Look closely, can you find Figment?

United Kingdom, no need to look closely for this Figment!

France, Figment on a bridge . . .

Morocco, this painting was different. As the original painting is a design of colours, Figment does not actually appear in the painting, just the colours that represent him.

I loved the original painting (on the small sticker) and it was a fairly easy find at Japan as well!

The American pavilion, Figment takes his place in history. 

Italy . . . is this Mona Figment or Figment Lisa? You decide. 

Germany, unlike the other pavilions, I don't recognize the original painting at all. I do like it better with Figment in it! 

China, this one was a hard find as the store is quite big and colourful, it was also very busy there the day I was searching.

Norway was another difficult one, especially since I didn't know they had added a building to the pavilion! I did love the painting of screaming Figment, how fun is this. I admit, I needed cast member help in finding this one.

And finally Mexico, this was the most difficult for me to find. It was the last one I needed and I was tired and, ahem, getting a bit cranky. I asked for help from a cast member again, and when she noticed me wandering around, totally unable to find it . . . she walked me right to it. Thank you, anonymous cast member, couldn't have done it without you. The Figment in this painting isn't that noticeable at first glance, I think that I walked by it twice without seeing it.

When you complete the map, it looks like this. 

Then you return to where you bought the map, Disney Traders store and they stamp the with an old stamp from 2013, that says 'Holidays from Around the World 2013 - Complete'. And you get your prize!!! This is why there is an initial cost for the map, your prize is a choice of 4 magnets. Each of the magnets is a copy of one of the Figment paintings. I chose Mona Figment!

One of the things I really enjoy about doing these games at the parks, is that it makes me look at things differently. Looking at the walls, paying attention to the decorations and theming. A great way to learn and have fun.

Our Epcot Festival of the Arts Food Booths - Episode 110 of The Disney Exchange

Podcast: Play in new window | Download 

The Disney Exchange is Lisa, Dave and me, Nick.

We thank Alabama and share a few news items from Walt Disney World.

I share a couple of my ever evolving Walt Disney World plans (as this show is released, I'm in WDW with my wife and friends). Our plans keep changing because Epcot's International Festival of the Arts as well as the fact that Disney Springs is having a special event called "Rock the Dots" today, 1/22, National Polka Dot Day!

This leads into our main topic. Polka Dots!

Of course I'm kidding! We each design a booth for Epcot's Festival of the Arts food booth!

For instance, my choice was based on the book Van Gogh's Table, and featured entrees, desserts and beverages.

The Wheel of Distiny topic: A rumor is circulating that the Tomorrowland Speedway may be on the chopping block, your thoughts?

You can send us an email at info@thedisneyexchange and reach out with show suggestions, submit Wheel of Distiny topics, or request a listener number (remember those?) on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedisneyexchange, Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneyexchange

If you would be so kind as to leave us a 5 star review on any of the social media sites or iTunes, we'd really appreciate it. Thank you!

Thank you for listening to The Disney Exchange!