These awesome metal coasters come in their own tin and were created for Walt Disney World Resort’s 40th Anniversary. "SHAG’s" retro collection of Walt Disney World-inspired collectibles, home goods and apparel pay homage to the Magical Kingdom. They are fun, bright and just my style.
Mmm, after a hard day of trekking about Everest, it sure is nice to have a steaming hot cup of Ye-Tea.
In 2006, Expedition Everest opened in Disney's Animal Kingdom. This high-speed train adventure combines roller-coaster like thrills with the excitement of a close encounter with the Yeti himself. The ride is an awesome 200 feet high, making it quite an obvious attraction around the park. Riders will discover the legend of the Yeti while walking through the queue at Expedition Everest.
The outer shell was designed so that when it rains, no water pours off the sides onto the people below. (How amazing is that? Has anyone ever wondered about that on a rainy day at EPCOT?) Water is channeled through one inch gaps in the facets where the triangles meet and is collected in a funnel system and diverted into the World Showcase Lagoon.
Spaceship Earth contains a ride that takes you on a time machine type experience that shows how advances in human communication have helped to create our future, step by step. The attraction involves a timeline from the origins of prehistoric man to the dawn of the 21st century, where guests can then create a future for themselves on touch screens in front of them.
Walt Disney's childhood desk, his initials carved into it. Amazing, if you think about it.
Early Disney Character Plush from 1932. As soon as children fell in love with the Disney characters on screen, they wanted to take their favorites home with them. Plush toys allowed children (and adults) to give a hug to Mickey, Minnie and of course, Pluto. Walt Disney Archives Collection
The temperamental but loveble Donald Duck made his debut in 1934 in the animated short "The Wise Little Hen," and soon, his star status began to eclipse even Mickey Mouse. The appeal of a character who could act out his every impulse was so appealing, everyone wanted a duck of their own. Walt Disney Archives Collection
During the 1930's, Walt Disney worked at this very desk while the production of many of the early classics, including Snow White and Silly Symphonies were in the works.
Looking for the perfect balloon, it is an important decision that takes some thought and wrangling once it has been chosen. These girls spent an inordinate amount of time weighing the pros and cons of each balloon. I understand that angst over a purchase, how it has to be just right. I hope they loved the balloons they ultimately picked out.
Nick received a package in the mail today. It is a DVD containing nine episodes of Jim Henson's "The StoryTeller," an anthology series featuring both humans and Henson creations retelling classic fables, folk tales and legends. Tucked inside the mailer was an envelope with a little something for me too! Even our mail is Disney related, and boy, life doesn't get much better than that! Thank you to our wonderful friend Tammy! You are so thoughtful. These will be loved! 
Then we headed to Italy in the World Showcase.
We had 11:30am reservations at Via Napoli with John and Kandi. Nick had the calamari appetizer, and Nick, Kandi and I split a large pizza with mushrooms. John had the soup and Chicken Parmesan. Really good. Afterwards we walked into the plaza, where a show was going on. We had no idea what it was about, but no sooner had we stopped, then I was being pulled into it! From what the rest of them could gather, it was some sort of fashion show. I think it had to do with me being one of their long lost sisters. Really, we are all still clueless. But I had a great time hamming it up anyway.
We then walked down to the Land, to ride Listen to the Land. We met briefly with a couple of Nick's Facebook friends, and then headed to Spaceship Earth.
After that we headed back to World Showcase, for sipping and snacking. Mmmm, I loved the snacking part, and Norway is my favorite place to find snacks. We met up with Robyn in Germany, and talked for a while. It was getting very chilly and windy out, so we walked back to the Resort to get warmer clothes. We said our goodbyes to Robyn, as she and Scott were heading home.
I started to feel quite ill, so I stayed behind to hit the gift shop's cold and flu section, which surprisingly, was well stocked and had everything I needed. John, Kandi and Nick went back to Epcot to continue their food and drink tour. They met up with Millie and Ken at the Liberty Inn, in the American Pavilion, and continued their tour. They eventually wound up in the United Kingdom, Millie and Nick with beers thanks to Ken, and watched Illuminations. Looking back on this and other trips, Disney friends are the best!
We then went over to Tower of Terror. I've never seen lines that long! It was popular that day.
We grabbed a bite at Starring Rolls, always good for a nibble...
and then went on to Star Tours.
Our friends were good luck for us, as we finally got the Podrace scene. We were really getting tired of Hoth. We met up with Ken and Millie outside the ride. Some of the group went off to Epcot, while Ken, Millie, Nick and I rode the Great Movie Ride.
We'd been told to get there a half hour early, yet weren't let in till exactly 4:00pm. We had booked 3rd tier seats, but because the show wasn't even half full, we were seated on the floor, not to far from the stage. This, we thought, was great, a magical start to the evening. But, sadly, no so much. To start, our server, Bob, didn't come around to take a drink order for several minutes. Then acted surly when I asked for salad without dressing for Kandi and myself. Our drinks were never replenished without a great deal of show on our part. Food was a little better. Except dessert. Strawberry Shortcake. If you've seen the show, there is a big song and dance about Strawberry Shortcake. The wait-staff is in it, even. Well, Bob danced off that stage with a shortcake for everyone around us and vanished, never to be seen again. We never got ours! In fact, none of the other staff was seen again. It seemed to me that they were hoping we'd all just eat dessert and go away, and ask for nothing else. Maybe they spend more time with the "evening diners" but we paid the same as the later showing. Trying to move the 4:00 show along just so they could set up early and relax is unacceptable.
Thursday, 1/12
Nick and I went to Starring Rolls and got a Chocolate Peanut Butter muffin, and a Strawberry parfait. While checking out, a Cast Member handed Nick a Mickey shortbread cookie with chocolate dipped ears to give to me, I had said something nice to her and turned around to take some photos, so I was oblivious to the transaction. I immediately ran back in to give her a big hug!
As we were finishing eating, the Citizens of Hollywood were just starting their Citizen Roll Call, so we watched that, then headed to get our photos with characters in the Animation Building.
We got our photo taken with Pooh.
Then we spent about an hour going through One Man's Dream. Nick loves this attraction/exhibit. I love the historical items they have displayed, Walt's early school desk is displayed where he carved his initials, his office and all the furniture is set up in a room, so many personal items. It is something worth walking through if you have always passed it by.
We didn't have time for the film, as we were meeting John and Kandi for lunch at the Brown Derby. As usual, a great meal. Nick had the crab egg rolls, Cobb Salad, and Grapefruit Cake. I had the Cobb Salad, which was invented at the Original Brown Derby in California. Sometimes it's all I crave in the summer.
On our way out of the park, I stopped to ask a Cast Member if I could see her pin lanyard, a Stitch pin had caught my eye. I traded for the Stitch pin, and the Cast Member asked if I had gotten a chance to see Stitch that day. I said no, I had not seen him on my whole trip! The CM got a real big smile on her face and asked us all to come with her. We walked into a little side area next to Guest Services. The CM went "backstage" for a moment, and then Stitch popped his head out from behind a wall! Then out came Donald, Daisy, Piglet, and Minnie Mouse! We were all just floored! A big hug fest ensued. We were thrilled beyond belief!!
It was all we could talk about as we returned to the Boardwalk to get John and Kandi's rental, then drove over to the Winter Summerland Mini Golf Course. We did the Winter side, and had a very good time. This is a great escape from the parks, if you are looking for something different, or just need to get away from the crowds.
There was nothing left after we got done with it! We went to Epcot, and watched Illuminations, then made it an early night.
