The Disney Driven Life

Community Blog for Neurotic Disney People

My first reaction when asked if I would be interested in reviewing a book for my blog contribution was it couldn’t have come at a worse time. My wife was already on my case for spending too much time on my Disney obsession, also I just started working on a project, and I’m preparing to begin a brand new job. I didn’t think there was any way I could find the time to read and review a book. Then I found out it was a poetry book and the only poetry I know are in the lyrics in rock ’n’ roll music. So, I did a little bit of research on the author and it was that research that made me change my mind. What I found was someone whose every word has substantive meaning. I found someone who has a love for his family, humanity, and Disney. Someone we all would and should be honored to know.

The author J.B. Conway is a police officer with a poetic passion for life and Disney. This is not the first poetry book written by J.B. who after the September 11^th tragedy penned ‘Crime Scene Lyrics’ to share his emotions of that horrific day with the rest of the world. He created the Mouse of Zen http://www.mouseofzen.com/ after a 2006 family vacation to Walt Disney World which sparked an enthusiasm that needed an outlet of expression which J.B. found through his love of poetry.

I won’t pretend to know anything about poetry and don’t ask me what haiku is but I do know what I like and don’t like and ‘Mouse of Zen Disney Inspired Mouse-Sized Poetry’ is something I really liked. It was such an enjoyable read from start to finish. It really made me feel like I was in the parks.

In a blog I wrote sometime ago I equated listening to Lou Mongello’s descriptive narration on the WDW Radio Show Audio Guides to watching an artist painting a masterpiece. Well, the same can be said of J.B. Conway and his new book. When you read the book you will feel his words come alive. The words paint a vivid picture of the parks as they bring to life all the sights, sounds, and even the smells we know,  love, and remember from our own visits to Disney World.

These short verse poems are packed with a powerful passion that immediately grabs your attention. The author connects with our emotions and memories of Disney as he takes us on a magical journey worth repeating over and over.

Before I began to read the book I really thought I would struggle through it because of my lack of understanding poetry. I couldn’t have been more wrong and whether you’re a fan of poetry or not is really immaterial. As long as you’re a fan of the mouse I wholeheartedly believe you’ll enjoy the book.

This book of magnificent poems gets 2 thumbs up from me and is a must read for every Disney fan.

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

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It’s always a thrill for me to visit Walt Disney World and my last trip was no exception. My entire family had a great time sharing new experiences and making new magical memories that will not only last until our next visit but will last a lifetime. Unfortunately, I also experienced guests behaving badly.

As perfect a place as Disney World is sometimes guests can make it not so perfect. I contemplated long and hard whether or not to write about this because I know I am preaching to the choir. However, this bothered me enough that I had to get it off my chest.

My last Disney trip was in the middle of July which is traditionally a very busy time of year to visit the parks. The day we went to the Magic Kingdom it was unbelievably crowded. I have been to the Magic Kingdom with high crowd levels before but this was Christmas day crowded! Nevertheless it was still manageable.

When day turned into night we got to thoroughly enjoy the Electric Light parade followed by the brilliant Nightastic fireworks. Then as the crowds dispersed I saw something I have never seen before in a Disney park and something I hope to never see again. It was something that gave me a sinking feeling in the bottom of my stomach. I didn’t say a word to anyone nor did I let on what I witnessed because as appalled as I was I didn’t want it to ruin anyone’s night or my own.

I couldn’t believe what I saw covering the ground of Main Street U.S.A. It looked like giant confetti had fallen from a ticker tape parade except this wasn’t confetti. The street was littered with garbage from paper plates, cups, dirty napkins, and leftover food. What boggled my mind was the lack of care these guests had for themselves, the park, other guests, and the cast members whose job is tough enough already.

The cast members work around the clock to keep Walt Disney World in pristine condition. It is a shame that a small percentage of guests in a matter of minutes can do something like this to detract from the beauty of the park. The cast members are on top of things and the garbage is quickly removed but the streets shouldn’t be littered in the first place for them to clean up.

Being on vacation doesn’t give anyone a license to litter. How would those littering in the parks feel if they found garbage strewn all over their front lawn? My guess is most wouldn’t be too happy. So, why is it okay for them to use Main Street as if it were a giant trash bin? If a child sees their parent leaving garbage in the street or conversely a parent doesn’t ask their child to pick up after themselves then what kind of example are they setting?

It also bothers me when I see people in the quick service restaurants finish their meal, get up from the table and leave their tray and garbage for the next guest to clean up. What happened to common courtesy?

One can only hope that the few inconsiderate guests remain just that, a few. I’m very grateful the majority of guests do care, do get it, and do their part to help keep the parks, our parks clean.

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

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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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Late last week, the Disney Parks Blog posted about a couple changes being made to Magic Kingdom in the near future. There were two things announced and it’s one of those something old and something new situations

First change is the something old; it is old news that “it’s a small world” is under refurbishment now until October 22^nd. The announced changes include bringing back the old style of queue that the attraction had prior to the 2004-2005 refurbishment.  The Imagineers have said that there are no plans during this refurbishment to put Disney characters in the attraction, as seen in other Disney parks.

The second change is happening at the beginning of September.  To the right of the castle, there has always been this cute show called “Storytime with Belle”, where Belle comes out and tells her fairytale with some help from the young audience members.  On September 12^th, this feature will be closing to make way for a meet and greet area with Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder, the stars of the new Disney movie “Tangled”.  The meet and greet will be opening on October 15^th.

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

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a fragile young girl / left wonderland much wiser / woman in motion

Photo credit: Knell Studio Works

Contributed by: J.B. C. (NDD# 27) of Mouse of Zen. J.B. is our resident Disney haiku writer and author of the soon-to-be published book “Mouse of Zen”, which is a collection of his work.

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I think as a Neurotic Disney People we are mostly aware of that familiar aroma as soon as we set foot on Main St. USA. Do I even have to say it?

Yep, that smell of those warm, “just out of the oven” cookies from the Main Street Bakery whisper my name softly as I first enter the Magic Kingdom saying “Kim, we know you can’t resist, head this way”…usually I think “no, I gotta get my fast pass to space mountain!” but sometimes its just TOO tempting. However, this isn’t the first smell to hit your nose upon entrance to the Magic Kingdom.  As I stated in my Previous Post , popcorn is the first scent your nose will receive, to help play into Walt’s vision of the entrance to the Magic Kingdom being like an entrance to a movie theater.

Walt Disney wished for his 5 senses theme park to engulf ALL of the senses, and in my opinion, the hardest is the sense of smell.  Not only because it is the least recognizable of the senses, but also because it is the sense most associated with memory, so the Imagineers know these smells have to be good.

Different senses are incorporated into shops and attractions all over the Walt Disney Properties. One of my favorite smells is the familiar scent of Cinnamon and Pine at the Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Liberty Square.

On some of your favorite attractions, such as the Haunted Mansion, smells are blasted at you using Air-cannon technology. Sensors will detect passing guests and blast smells as far as 200 feet!

After some research, I was able to find some scents strategically placed by the Imagineers. Next time you are on these attractions, think about the smells! When it comes to the “show” elements at Walt Disney World, no detail was left out:

Haunted Mansion:Notice the cold musty smell once you enter the stretch room.  It really makes you feel like you are a part of a house that hasn’t been occupied in many years!

Mickey’s Philharmagic: There are definitely some distinct smells in this ride. Notice the familiar aroma of Jasmine and Apple Pie!! Yum.

Pirates of the Caribbean: I heard that you can smell faint sea salt in the air during the ride, especially during the scene with the the battling pirate ship.  I personally have yet to experience this one.

However, the imagineers, in keeping with their sense of humor, don’t always like to give guests pleasant smells to experience.  In attractions such as Stitches Great Escape, and It’s tough to be a Bug, you will actually smell some pretty foul things. Consider this a warning.

The next time you are in the Magic Kingdom, or any Disney Park for that matter, make sure you stop to smell the flowers! or whatever smell you happen to encounter, because there sure is a lot of hidden magic to discover.*

If I forgot an attraction or area of the Magic Kingdom that incorporates your favorite smell, let me know!

Contributed by: Kim M. (NDI#85). Kim is our resident Imaginerd and hopeful future Imagineer.

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Hello all, my name is Beth and I have been asked to share my expertise on special needs with everyone here. I’m often asked why the term “disabled” is not used. Special needs encompasses so much more than disabilities. I will cover topics on anger, stress, parenting and more as this affects many and is not limited to disabilities.

I am a mental health professional so I will focus on the mental health aspects of travel to a Disney park.

I am starting with a series on “Letting Your Child Go on Their Own in the Parks”. This is a seven part series.

All are invited to ask questions and oh yes…there are no current therapies for what ails you…the Disney Neurosis.

Preparations for Letting Children Go on Their Own in the Parks

For those traveling with children at some point in time the question will arise — When should I let my child go into the park alone? This decision calls for a child’s readiness and not chronological age. In weeks to come I will present a series of articles on recommendations for letting their child venture alone at a Disney Park. The article will discuss preparations for letting a child go on their own, developmental basics guiding that decision, rules and consequences for such adventures and the radius of the child’s outing. Most segments are written for the average child without developmental disabilities, behavior problems or significant family stress. Special needs and family issues will be addressed separately and your questions are welcome.

Preparations for letting a child go on their own can start with your very first visit. Parents should start training their child/children early. A common mistake many parents make is to assume that the transition from childhood to adulthood is like an on/off switch. This transition does not occur overnight; it’s a slow process where the child is shaped and groomed to take on the adult role by developing independence and confidence by gradually exposing the child to situations where they are allowed to assume more responsibilities. Walt Disney World is a great place to start because there are so many skills that can be developed in a relatively safe environment.

So where do we start? Believe it or not you start training your child with language development. This training can help develop a child’s intellect as well. Every time we ask a child a question like “where is the monorail?” or “where is the castle?” we are developing the child’s ability to think independently and some research suggests we can even help develop abstract thought which is associated with developing a higher IQ.

IQ is very flexible below the age of five; enrichment often helps develop or increase the child’s IQ. So age appropriate questions like “Where are we?” “What is that?” “What do you want to ride next?”, “Who is that character?” could enhance your child’s intellectual development and prepare them for that first independent outing. As they mature, from five to seven, start asking your child for direction, e.g., “How do we get to the bus? What is the name of our resort?” “Do you see a Cast Member?” Help your child develop vocabulary, confidence and abstract thought, all while preparing your child to think independently.

What is the ideal age? There is no magical age for letting a child venture off alone. Years ago the Disney tickets stated that children under seven should be accompanied by an adult. I strongly suggest respect for the Disney’s current guidelines. Again it is more an issue of readiness than age.

In the weeks to come I will present a series of age appropriate questions many parents should ask before allowing their children wonder off without an adult. These include: limits, consequences, fears, communication, friends, disabilities, predators and more. Hope you will join me.

Next week: Part II—Communication

Contributed by Beth (NDM #226). Beth is one of the DDL’s experts on special needs at WDW. She can be found blogging at Mouse-aid.com.

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Whistle. Hum. Sing. While strolling about the Magic Kingdom it’s hard to not do one of these things at any point in time. To play along with the movie theme from my previous post, sound in the Magic Kingdom is also an important element to incorporating the 5 senses into Walt’s movie idea.

Sound is a crucial element to a well-themed park, and this is easily achieved through music.  Music can be heard throughout the Magic Kingdom, starting from the opening day performance, The Magic Kingdom Welcome Show, and ending with Wishes, narrated by Jiminy Cricket.

Main Street USA is the place to start. As a former actress in “The Music Man,” whenever I hear the theme around Main Street and town square, I think of the “Wells Fargo” song.   This is very fitting for Walt’s vision of Main Street USA being a part of the small town Kansas City suburb from his childhood. As the Music Man was set in small town Iowa in 1912, this type of music is perfect for setting the small town charm scene.

To keep with the theme of a typical small town, if you duck down one of the side streets on the right hand side and listen closely, you can hear someone giving a piano lesson on the second floor! It’s this attention to detail that separates MK from any other theme park.

However, as soon as you leave the Main Street and Cinderella castle hub and proceed into the different lands, you start to hear changes in music to incorporate the different themes.  In Imagineering terms, this is called a “scene change”, which is very much appropriate for the movie theme.  While scene changes don’t seem like a big deal, to Imagineers that simple transition is important.  Unless you are paying close attention, it will be hard to notice that transition at all, until you are fully standing in the next land.  For starters, the music in each of the lands is in the same key, so the transition is easy on the ears. Secondly, the speakers playing the different music are positioned just so you get a “fade in-fade out” effect.  This is done by some speakers facing towards you as you enter the land, and others facing away from you as you exit. As you are walking from Liberty Square to Frontierland, the Frontierland music will be facing you, and vice-versa.  There is only one spot where this music transition cannot be found, and that is the scene change from tomorrow land to fantasyland, and this is because the Imagineers couldn’t figure out a way to incorporate the music together, without sounding silly. Next time you’re at the MK, try to find that “Background music-less spot”.

The musical fun doesn’t stop at the different lands, either. Many rides feature background music and songs that will have you humming well after you dis-embark from the attraction.  Two of my favorites are the Haunted Mansions (where ghosts come to socialize!) and the different songs in Splash Mountain (Laughing place, zip-a-dee-do-da).

However, if you have a real soft spot for classic Disney tunes, then Mickey’s Philharmagic is for you. This ride incorporates all of the senses (except for taste) in Walt’s vision for a senses movie, and it is filled with Disney music classics and really is a must-do for the Magic Kingdom.

Whether it’s singing “yo-ho” with captain Jack Sparrow on Pirates of the Caribbean, or listening to the subtle sounds of Main Street USA, you will never find yourself standing amongst silence in the Magic Kingdom.

Contributed by: Kim M. (NDI#85). Kim is our resident Imaginerd and hopeful future Imagineer.

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It’s twilight in the Magic Kingdom.  You’ve staked out a place in the hub from which you will watch the parade.  Others have had the same idea, and the hub is filling quickly.  Cast Members are coming around with jump ropes, hula hoops, and impossibly large beach balls to keep the children entertained while they wait.  The air is filled with joyous laughter and breathlessly-rendered jump rope rhymes. It’s getting darker and darker as the sun goes down.  You look up.  Oh my – speaking of breathless!  Quick, get a picture of that before the light changes.  *click*

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

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My sanctuary / land where a mouse rules / where we never age

Photo credit: Tom Bricker

Contributed by: J.B. C. (NDD# 27) of Mouse of Zen. J.B. is our resident Disney haiku writer and author of the soon-to-be published book “Mouse of Zen”, which is a collection of his work.

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