How many of you out there use refillable mugs at the Walt Disney World Resort? Do you use them often? Do you get many free refills with them from different counter services? Do you bring back mugs from previous trips and use them on your trip, or bring other beverage holders with you to use? Well, enjoy it while you can because it looks like Disney is looking into a way to change the refillable mug system into an easily monitored system.
Last week I talked about all the different ways you can live the Disney Driven Life on Facebook. This week, I’d like to expand that communication to Twitter. Twitter is also a social networking site, but it focuses more on real time updates, whereas Facebook focuses more on profiles. To join, simply visit twitter.com and click “sign up.”
Bill W. in NC (NDD#101)
Mark J. in WV (NDD#102)
Doug H. in MA (NDD#103)
Ray P. in TX (NDD#104)
Josh S. in MI (NDD#105)
Matt H. in MA (NDD#106)
Rob W. in VA (NDD#107)
Mark D. in LA (NDD#108)
Jeff C. in IN (NDD#109)
Mark W. in KY (NDD#110)
Jason L. in CO (NDD#111)
Chuck L. in VA (NDD#112)
Humberto R. in Puerto Rico (NDD#113)
Doug R. in PA (NDD#114)
Jonathan L. in UK (NDD#115)
Phil W. in GA (NDD#116)
Tim S. in LA (NDD#117)
Scott P. in TX (NDD#118)
John C. in NY (NDD#119)
Scott H. in IL (NDD#120)
Ramon R. in FL (NDD#121)
James K. in VA (NDD#122)
Matt R. in KS (NDD#123)
Paul R. in NV (NDD#124)
Mike G. in OH (NDD#125)
Chuck M. in VA (NDD#126)
Don S. in WA (NDD#127)
James H. in UT (NDD#128)
Darren O. in ND (NDD#129)
Bronson G. in IN (NDD#130)
Jared B. in IL (NDD#131)
Martin C. in AL (NDD#132)
Clark B. in MI (NDD#133)
Tim P. in DE (NDD#134)
Kevin E. in LA (NDD#135)
Mark B. in CA (NDD#136)
Ryan K. in GA (NDD#137)
Jeff D. in FL (NDD#138)
Jameson D. in IL (NDD#139)
Kris G. in MO (NDD#140)
Jon L. in CT (NDD#141)
Charles A. in TX (NDD#142)
Tom H. in IN (NDD#143)
Bruce G. in NJ (NDD#144)
Thom W. in KY (NDD#145)
Brent H. in FL (NDD#146)
Jim O. in NY (NDD#147)
Kyle S. in WA (NDD#148)
Chris O. in CT (NDD#149)
Paul B. in NJ (NDD#150)
Michael S. in NY (NDD#151)
James D. in NJ (NDD#152)
Keith C. in MA (NDD#153)
Pat C. in IN (NDD#154)
Aldo C. in Rio De Janeiro (NDD#155)
Tom W. in MI (NDD#156)
Rick D. in MA (NDD#157)
Phillip A. in FL (NDD#158)
John M. in TX (NDD#159)
Ed M. in NH (NDD#160)
Glen B. in MA (NDD#161)
David R. in OH (NDD#162)
Mike R. in MO (NDD#163)
Greg P. in KS (NDD#164)
Jerry L. in GA (NDD#165)
Bill W. in IN (NDD#166)
John K. in OH (NDD#167)
Brian B. in NC (NDD#168)
Robert M. in TX (NDD#169)
Brock M. in Ontario, Canada (NDD#170)
Mark M. in PA (NDD#171)
John M. in NY (NDD#172)
Jeremy L. in Ontario, Canada (NDD#173)
Jim S. in IL (NDD#174)
Reid D. in MA (NDD#175)
Steve S. in AR (NDD#176)
Darren J. in TN (NDD#177)
Mark V. in WI (NDD#178)
John C. in NC (NDD#179)
Carlos R. in PA (NDD#180)
Kevin B. in SC (NDD#181)
William V. in VA (NDD#182)
Jamie W. in GA (NDD#183)
Jim B. in MA (NDD#184)
Terry F. in MA (NDD#185)
Mario P. in TX (NDD#186)
Jim M. in GA (NDD#187)
Jason B. in TN (NDD#188)
Steve H. in IN (NDD#189)
Craig D. in MA (NDD#190)
Bryan B. in MO (NDD#191)
John T. in TX (NDD#192)
Mark S. in FL (NDD#193)
John M. in NY (NDD#194)
Todd S. in NJ (NDD#195)
Paul S. in PA (NDD#196)
Steve T. in MA (NDD#197)
Kevin Y. in FL (NDD#198)
Walt C. in FL (NDD#199)
Frank J. in NY (NDD#200)
The announcements in the last week were quite exciting; they brought back something old and introduced something new.
Lets start with what was brought back, or rather extended at the Disneyland Resort in California. To the dismay of many people, the show “Disney’s Aladdin- A Musical Spectacular” was scheduled to close in August of this year to make way for a Toy Story Musical. These plans have been sidelined, for now anyway, and Aladdin is staying where he is. There is scheduled construction in the area near the theater, so show times will be affected by this. How much longer this stay is has not been said, but for now, you can go to Disneyland and enjoy seeing Aladdin, Genie and the rest of the cast singing and dancing their hearts out.
Often times Saratoga Springs gets a bad rap. It’s big. Bus service isn’t good. If I book my DVC trip last minute I’ll only get Saratoga.
But my firm opinion is that you have to look at the good values to realize how the resort can benefit those who stay there overall.
I wanted to take a quick glance at a new offering that will hopefully make Saratoga more appealing to many. And to digress for a moment, I truly love this resort. I have said it before and I’ll say it again, Saratoga really does have a ton to offer DVC members and those who have booked it with a great rate on cash. You just have to know how to maneuver the resort. If you understand that you can experience the gorgeous setting and location, as well as have a chance to catch the otter family that lives on Saratoga property!
Characters inside the parks are always there to take pictures with guests, having the perfect smile every time-perfect smile of course because their faces are frozen in a way. This is no longer so with a new Mickey that debuted last week in Disneyland! And the biggest surprise of all – Mickey talks!
In the last few years, characters with moving mouths and blinking eyes have been seen mainly in stage shows. This Mickey seems to use the same technology, but with the added feature of talking! The talking is not just recorded speeches like what is seen in parades, shows, and the park openings, this is an interactive talk, using the names of the people he is meeting just as Crush does in Turtle Talk with Crush in Epcot!
Last week, I was listening to JL Knopp, the Disney Driven Life’s creator of all things neurotic on the WDW Today Podcast with Len Testa of TouringPlans.com and Matt Hochberg of StudioCentral.com. If you somehow managed to miss the show, it is episode number 714 here.
While listening to the show a light bulb went off with an idea for a blog article. As many of you know Len Testa is the co-author of The Unofficial Guide To Walt Disney World. It got me thinking, Len probably knows his way around Disney World as well as anyone. If there’s anybody who would know how and what to pack for a Walt Disney World vacation it would be Len Testa, right?
early a.m. sounds / over coffee and pastry / main street crescendo
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.
While driving to work I was listening to Lou Mongello’s WDW Radio Show #166 for the week of April 18, 2010 as he discussed Pinocchio’s Village Haus with Jim Korkis. For those who don’t know, Jim Korkis is a man of many talents including professional actor, magician, teacher, author, foremost authority on animation history, and a renowned expert on Disney. As they were talking, Jim Korkis made a revelation that caused me to slam on my car brakes. Did I hear right? Could it be? Was it really possible? I had to rewind a section of the show on my ipod and listen again. Once again, I could have sworn I heard Jim Korkis say that Lou Mongello never had Figaro Fries. I was flabbergasted! How could it be that the great Lou Mongello could have missed out on this fried food delicacy? To find out the answer you’re just going to have to listen to the show at http://www.wdwradio.com/.
You are soon leaving on your vacation to Walt Disney World and the time has come to put together a list of what you plan on bringing with you. Well, the first two things on my list are my iPod and laptop. My iPod is essential for the trip down as it is filled with my favorite Disney podcasts. Over the last year my laptop has become indispensable as it allows me to keep in touch with the Disney online community no matter where I am and now I’ll be able to write about my experiences while they are fresh on my mind. My wife and kids will really enjoy that. While they’re trying to sleep I’ll be transferring my notes to a word doc or tweeting.
Contributed by: Debbi G (NDA#7). Debbi is one of our roaming DDL photographers and creator of Bits of Disney Bliss.
boardwalk all silent / captivated by starlight / in ripples of time
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.
Whether it’s the warmer temperatures or stopping by Casey’s Corner in the Magic Kingdom for a bite to eat, we are reminded that spring is in the air and its time to play baseball. It’s the time of year when baseball teams and fans alike have renewed hope of what the season could bring and nothing compares to the bitterest rivalry in all of sports, the Yankees vs. Red Sox.
Contributed by: Debbi G (NDA#7). Debbi is one of our roaming DDL photographers and creator of Bits of Disney Bliss.
When I started teaching, I was 22 and I literally had to practice my “tough” faces in the mirror before school. I’m now in my pre-40s and I don’t have to practice anymore.
In fact, over the last snowstorm, we passed some time playing with costumes, and when I put on my old Snow White costume, spoke in a very soft voice, and watched my own kids quickly fall into line as they tried to impress the princess. In fact, there is much discussion of expanding my wardrobe to include the princess who reads (Belle), the princess who is tough (Mulan) and the princess who swims (Ariel) although I’d have to work on that voice.
The kids have been tucked in. Books have been read and the nightlight is secured in your bathroom at Old Key West “just in case”. Grandma has offered to stay with the kids for a bit and tells you and your significant other to go have a night on the town.
What better town than Disney?
Last week we talked a bit about my love affair with Boardwalk Villas so this post will just continue that love. Because one of the best spots adults can enjoy while at Disney is the Boardwalk itself!
my spine shivers / as she steps from silhouettes / into colored worlds
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.
As a child, just like many other little boys, I was fascinated by steam engine trains. Whenever my parents would take me and my brother to an amusement park the one ride I couldn’t go home without doing was the train.
I may not remember the first time I rode the railroad but I remember my son’s. He was 3 at the time and my daughter was a newborn. It was the middle of the summer, the sky was crystal clear, and it was very hot outside but we had been promising our son for the longest time that we would take him for a train ride. There was a nearby park complete with railroad tracks and a working locomotive. When we told him where we were going he raced to put on his pinstriped overalls with the matching train conductor’s hat.
Contributed by: Debbi G (NDA#7). Debbi is one of our roaming DDL photographers and creator of Bits of Disney Bliss.
When purchasing into the Disney Vacation Club, you purchase into a home resort. Fear not, Disney lovers, you are not stuck staying here and only here for the rest of all Disney eternity. Buying into a resort as your “home” gives you a booking advantage there. At 11 months from the date of travel a member can reserve their trip at their home resort. At 7 months from the date of travel a member can book their trip at any DVC resort.