The Disney Driven Life

Community Blog for Neurotic Disney People

I was really delighted the year Disney decided to feature Peter Pan for the Flower and Garden Festival front entrance topiary display.  Peter looked dashing as ever, taking over Hook’s pirate ship, while Tinkerbell looked on from above.  That line from the crow’s nest leading up to her is a string of lights that sparkled at night, making it look as though she was taking flight and leaving a trail of pixie dust in her wake.

Contributed by: Erin is one of our roaming DDL photographers and creator of My Mobile Adventures.

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Can you all stand yet another shot of the “Swolphin” from Mexico?  I believe it was winter time when this shot was taken, which makes the presence of clouds a bit unusual.  There used to be an event called “MouseMeet” during the first week of December each year, and a group of us decided to have a “Mango Margarita Meet” in EPCOT, with the requisite guacamole platters being passed around.  What a wonderful evening, spent in fabulous surroundings – Disney somehow makes memories keener and more satisfying than anywhere else.

Contributed by: Erin is one of our roaming DDL photographers and creator of My Mobile Adventures.

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With the rumors and news I wrote about last week, I decided to follow it up with a few more that have come out in the last week. The two rumors that came out this week are from the same source, the Orlando Business Journal and both rumors have been talked about in the past.

First rumor is that there really is a 12th country coming to the World Showcase in Epcot. While there are many ideas that people have as to what country should be added, it seems that the first choice of Disney is Spain, though there has been on confirmation.

The other Disney rumor to come from the Business Journal is that Disney was given the go ahead to finally build the Monster’s Inc. Coaster that has been talked about across the internet for years now. There is confusion as to where the coaster will be located as of right now, but I will cover more information as it becomes available if this coaster is to become a reality.

Contributed by: Jessica C. (NDI#21). Jessica is our resident “Gossip Girl” and creator of The True Disney Fan Blog.

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Most of us are familiar with hidden Mickeys and whether or not you avidly search for them I’m sure you have spotted one or two every time you visit Disney property.

Started by Imagineers, a hidden Mickey is an image of Mickey Mouse found in many different forms that have been discreetly placed throughout Disney locations most notably their theme parks. The most frequently used hidden Mickey is three circles representing a head and two ears. Other variations of Mickey can be more difficult to spot and one must have a keen eye to find them. No one has a keener eye than renowned Dr. Steven M. Barrett celebrated author of “Hidden Mickeys A Field Guide To Walt Disney World’s Best Kept Secrets” now in its 4th edition.

Professionally Dr. Steven M. Barrett is quite an accomplished individual with 30 plus years experience in the medical field specializing in emergency room medicine. Dr. Barrett attended Baylor College of Medicine and completed his residencies at Georgetown University Hospital and Georgetown University School of Medicine.

As an author Dr. Barrett takes us on an adventuress hunt for hidden Mickeys. There are clues, hints, and tips to help us search out and find the locations of the hidden Mickeys. It’s an enjoyable book that makes finding hidden Mickeys a fun game for the entire family and friends.

On my last vacation to Walt Disney World I had the pleasure of meeting the Hidden Mickey Guy known to many as Steve Barrett. What started as an occasional tweet here and there turned into a thrill of a lifetime and a day I’ll never forget.

I was in Epcot with my family waiting for the next showing of Turtle Talk With Crush at the Seas with Nemo and Friends in Epcot. I kept my cell phone in my pocket but I would periodically check it for any calls or messages. I pulled the phone out of my pocket and I see I have a message from someone I don’t recognize. So, I looked at the message and it was from Steve letting me know he was going to be in Epcot and would I like to meet him at a certain time and place there? It doesn’t take a rocket scientist or an emergency room physician to figure out how I responded.

My family has always enjoyed searching for hidden Mickeys so when I told my wife and kids we were going to meet with the Hidden Mickey Guy they were very happy to say the least. When we met up with Steve we exchanged pleasantries, spoke about hidden Mickeys, and how his book got on the shelves in Disney parks but, what struck me the most was how genuine a person Steve is. He personifies what being a Disney fan is all about and someone that everyone should aspire to be like.

A list of books written by Dr. Steven M. Barrett:

The Hassle Free Walt Disney World Vacation
A Field Guide To Walt Disney World’s Best Kept Secrets
Disneyland’s Hidden Mickeys A Field Guide To Disneyland Resorts Best Kept Secrets
Hidden Mickeys Go To Sea A Field Guide To Disney Cruise Line’s Best Kept Secrets
Hidden Mickeys of the Disney Cruise Ships and Castaway Cay

In addition to the books Steve Barrett also has an iPhone application called ‘Hidden Mickeys Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot, Animal Kingdom.’

To find out more about Steve Barrett and hidden Mickeys go to http://www.hiddenmickeysguide.com/. Also, Steve Barrett’s blogs appear twice a month at AllEars.net http://allears.net/.

Contributed by: Stuart S. (NDD #47).  Stuart is our resident Disney geek and creator of Disney Geek Dad.

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You can tell how old this picture is by the fact that Spaceship Earth is still adorned with the “EPCOT” sign, along with the glove and wand.  While taking pictures of the twirling Tinkerbell topiary in the World Showcase Plaza, I realized that there was a unique photo opportunity – geosphere, monorail and Tink, all in one shot.  Unfortunately, every time the monorail came through, Tink was facing the wrong way!  I had to wait for countless monorails to go by but eventually I got the shot – and a sunburn from standing there so long!

Contributed by: Erin is one of our roaming DDL photographers and creator of My Mobile Adventures.

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My husband and I are total foodies. We enjoy food and wine to an ultimate level. One of my favorite parts of visiting WDW is for the cuisine. We do try to go to our favorite restaurants as well as trying new places each visit. I am so happy that we get to experience the Food & Wine festival again this year. For those of you who don’t know what that is, allow me to take you on a gastronomic journey.

Disney has a festival in Epcot’s World Showcase that has kiosks throughout with different foods and wine from different countries. It ranges from $2-$7 for tapas sized portion, as well as a variety of wine selections. It is worth it to try new cuisine due to the fact that you can try diverse foods from other cultures. If you are on the Disney Dining plan, you can use your snack credits for some of the tastings. Last year I purchased a gift card at a kiosk that I wore on my wrist. Each time I visited one of the kiosks, I paid with the gift card. It was easy to use and I didn’t have to fumble for cash or my Key to the World card. You can also reload the card at the kiosk as needed. When you receive your receipt from the cast member at the bottom, it will show what your balance is left on your card. It’s a great way to keep track of your spending.

They also have wine events and wine dinner pairings. Most of the dinner pairings and tastings require reservations that must be made in advance by calling Disney’s festival line. It is a good idea to do some research ahead of time if something interests you, since these events tend to sell out quickly. We usually go to the Party for the Senses event while we are there. It’s a grand tasting with delicious food and fabulous wine. It is a three hour event with celebrity chefs, Cirque Du Soleil performances, and hand prepared fresh cuisine. Although it may be pricey, not many food and wine events give you the quality of food and caliber of wines that this event brings.  We get dressed up and it’s always a great experience. They are held on Saturday nights during the festival.

As you enter Epcot be sure to pick up a Food and Wine Festival guide in the front of the park. This guide is chock full of information on schedules of wine demos, maps of the kiosks, and special events that are taking place throughout the week. There are also free food seminars and lectures taking place in the festival center.  Most food and wine festivals held in random cities are usually one to two days at best, but Disney has found a way to create a less chaotic atmosphere and are able to sustain a complete month long event! Even if your only there for a day trip or a week’s vacation, you will not feel the need to rush to see and taste it all.  Buon Appetito!

Contributed by: Ashley R. (NDW#43). Ashley is our resident Disney food expert.

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I’ve only been a Florida resident for about 4 and a half years, so I’m still fairly impressed with how big the sky seems and how populated it can become with fabulous cloud formations.  I spied this amazing scene one day while strolling around the World Showcase in EPCOT.  One cloud has taken on the shape of a genie emerging from the bottle.  The fact that it’s directly over the Morocco pavilion almost made me expect to hear a Robin Williams voice-over.

Contributed by: Erin is one of our roaming DDL photographers and creator of My Mobile Adventures.

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It may very well be that the topiaries I’ve photographed the most have been Snow White and her vertically-challenged BFFs.  I sometimes find them anywhere but where they are supposed to be – randomly placed in the front of EPCOT, or gracing the lawn by The Brown Derby in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  This time, she’s right where The Brothers Grimm invented her – she’s dancing with Dopey at EPCOT’s Germany pavilion.    Don’t you just want to hear them yodeling now?

Contributed by: Erin is one of our roaming DDL photographers and creator of My Mobile Adventures.

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The new pizza shop and restaurant coming to the Italy Pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase will be here in about a month and Disney Parks Blog has given us the latest scoop as to what will be on the menu.  Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria will be a 300-seat table service restaurant located near the back of the Italy Pavilion and one of the main features of the restaurant will be its wood-burning stoves used to cook the pizzas.

Naturally, the dishes at this restaurant are traditional Italian dishes. Appetizers include minestrone with basil pesto, Sicilian eggplant with olives and raisins, arancini with meat ragu and more.  There are three groups of main courses; Salads, Pastas and Wood-fired pizza, all with their own unique offerings.

The pizzas are not the kind of pizza that you would get from your local chain, they are true Italian pizzas, so don’t let your pizza loving little ones be fooled.  They would, however, enjoy some of the dessert offerings, which include Tiramisu, zeppole di ricotta and gelado, or ice cream!  While more picky eaters may not enjoy the offerings of this restaurant, for those looking for a taste of the Italian countryside, you have found your place!

Contributed by: Jessica C. (NDI#21). Jessica is our resident “Gossip Girl” and creator of The True Disney Fan Blog.

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This past Friday, Captain EO Starring Michael Jackson returned to the 3D theater at the Imagination Pavilion in Epcot.  The return of this classic attraction was preceded by the outcry from many Disney and Michael Jackson fans after the death of the pop star just over a year ago and the successful return of the attraction to Disneyland in California, Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris.  Soft openings and media previews began on June 30, while the official opening was July 2.

What are the people saying so far? Most seem to love the return of the attraction and those who saw it when it was first out in the parks say that it brings back great memories for them.  The 3D seems to be nothing special though, since it is an older film, but you can still expect to flinch at a few objects “thrown” at you.  Just be prepared for the older video quality when you go to see it.

Contributed by: Jessica C. (NDI#21). Jessica is our resident “Gossip Girl” and creator of The True Disney Fan Blog.

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