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BEYOND THE THEME PARKS

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Archives

6/2/08
--The Apartments in Disneyland
--What Happened to Pam Brody?
--Was Walt Disney Accused of Being a Communist?
--What Is the Next "Celebration" for WDW?
--Where Are All the Seagulls?
--What Became of the Chinese Theme Park?

5/26/08
--Who Is This Main Street Character?
--Closest Dialysis Facility?
--An Imagineering Field Guide to the Studios?
--Difficulty of Getting DVC Reservations at Non-Home DVC Resorts

--Marco Polo Land?
--Who Put the "WED" in WEDway?

5/19/08
--Can the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Style All Kinds of Hair Types?
--Dry Cleaning Services
--Where Is the Garden Town Cafe?
--What Happened to the Wilson World Resort?
--Is World Showcase Closing?
--Is Toy Story Midway Mania Officially Open?
--More About the YOMD Prizes and the Tower of Terror's Drop Shafts

5/12/08
5/5/08
--What Is a Soft Opening, and How Does It Benefit Disney?
--Which Group Did the Flyovers in April?
--What Is the Significance of Soarin's Flight Number?
--What Was This Aladdin-Themed Restaurant?
--The New "Tiered" Pricing for the Parties: Discounts and "Premium" Nights
--Who Actually Wins the Year of a Million Dreams Prizes?

4/28/08
--How Likely Is It That WDW Will Add More Christmas Parties?
--Which of the Value Resorts Have the Largest Rooms?
--Which Beverages Are Included in the Basic Dining Plan?
--Has the Partners Statue Always Faced Main Street?
--When Is "Love Bug" Season in Florida?
--Are There Any Tributes to Ub Iwerks at the World?

4/21/08
--Anita's Favorite Rides and Attractions
--Is Tink Real?
--Where to Get a Counter Service Breakfast at Epcot
--What's That Mission: Space Song?
--How a "Hard Ticket" Event Works
--How Many "Elevator Shafts" on the Tower of Terror?

4/14/08
--How Much Was a Burger in 1998?
--Mystery Area near the International Gateway
--Why Is There No Land/Sea Package with Deluxe Dining?
--Boat Dock Locations at Downtown Disney
--Mystery Restaurant of the 1970s!
--Park Capacity Closing Phases Explained

4/7/08
--Best Time to Arrive on New Year's Eve When Staying Offsite?
--Which Will Be the Least Crowded Park on Christmas?
--Do Park Hours Change?/Quiet Places to Dine
--DisneyQuest in 1990?
--Did the Rainforest Cafe Move?
--Who Is the Person "Finding Nemo" Is Dedicated To?

3/31/08
--What Does This Phrase Mean?
--More About the Contemporary's Construction and the Epcot Monorail Extension
--Fastpasses, Re-Entry Passes and Park Tickets for Sale on eBay?
--Attractions That Infants Can Experience
--How Does the Rider Switch Program Work?
--A Disney Institute Pin?

3/24/08
--Contemporary Resort Decor/Using Clear Bags
--What Happened to the Wand?
--What's on the Radio on the Safari?
--A Watery Hidden Mickey?
--What Is the Symbol on Walt's Tie?
--Finding Nemo - The Musical

3/17/08
--Car Washes Of The World?
--Using Two Single Park Tickets in Two Parks on One Day
--Early Morning Transportation from the Grand Floridian to the Polynesian
--Uh Oh! We Left Something Behind in Our Room!
--An Outside Service That Stores Your Stuff?
--How Much to Tip Bell Services?

3/10/08
--How the Polynesian and Contemporary Resorts Were Constructed
--What Was This Film Attraction?
--Your Key to the World, Tickets and Extra Magic Hour
--The Deluxe Dining Plan
--Where Exactly Is the "Maingate" Area?
--Why Does the Magic Kingdom Close So Early in April?

More Anita Answer Columns

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Anita Answers

 

 

Hi! I'm Anita!

aaphotoGot a question about Walt Disney World? I probably have the answer! Deb's Unofficial Walt Disney World Information Guide is the most comprehensive guide to the World on the Web, but if you still can't find the information you're looking for by using the Site Map, the Search Function, or the Anita Answer Archives, drop me a line and I'll do my best to find the answer for you. Since there are only 24 hours in a day, I can't answer every email I receive - however, I do read every one and try to answer as many as possible.

Check back weekly and see if your answer is waiting, and be sure to check out my blog, Anita Talk. Meanwhile, I'm All Ears!

March 24, 2008

Contemporary Resort Decor/Using Clear Bags
What Happened to the Wand?
What's on the Radio on the Safari?
A Watery Hidden Mickey?
What Is the Symbol on Walt's Tie?
Finding Nemo - The Musical

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Joy writes:

Great column and advice!!

Two questions for you. My family of seven is hitting the World in late spring. We'll be staying at the Contemporary. I've checked several websites and I noticed that on AllEars.net the rooms are decorated with nice white bedspreads and muted earthy colors, etc. Other sites show very busy rooms. We're staying in the Garden Wing, so what can I expect?

Also, I have purchased a see-through purse and backpack along with see-through wallets, etc. Would I be able to bypass the park security check line, as nothing I carry into the parks will be hidden from view? Thanks.

Hi Joy!

All rooms at the Contemporary Resort have been refurbished and look like the white and brown-toned rooms in the AllEars.net pictures. The "busy" rooms are gone, and the other pictures you saw are of the old room decor.

Although transparent purses and bags will help get you through the security checkpoints quicker than regular ones will, you will still have to go through the checkpoints. The only guests who can skip the checkpoints are those without bags.

Have a magical time at the World!

A.A.

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Mike writes:

What happened to the "Epcot" sign that hugged the ball at the entrance and was put up for the Millennium Celebration?

Hi Mike!

The giant Mickey hand holding a wand and the "EPCOT" banner were removed late last summer as part of new sponsor Siemens' plans for the refurbishment of Spaceship Earth. The last time I saw the wand and banner, they were in pieces in a remote backstage area awaiting sale as scrap metal.

When it was erected in 1998 for the Millennium Celebration, which was headquartered in Epcot, the wand and banner were only intended as a temporary enhancement, and the banner read "2000." It was later changed to "EPCOT" and stayed that way for several years. Last summer, as it started to come down and you could see it closely, it was obviously quite worn-looking and past its prime. It really was time for it to go. The newly refurbished Spaceship Earth, Epcot's icon, once again looks as great as it did at the park's opening in 1982.

A.A.

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Thor writes:

I've been trying to find out the artist and song title of the music that plays on the Kilimanjaro Safaris ride for about five years. I submitted the question to the Disney Archivist and never received an answer. Figured I'd give this a shot. Thanks!

Hi Thor!

The song heard on the radio on the Kilimanjaro Safaris ride Is "Hapa Duniani" and can be found on the CD "African Dawn" by African Dawn. Produced in 1998, the CD is still available for purchase at online retail websites such as Amazon.com. You can find a direct link to Amazon in the AllEars.net store by clicking here.

Happy listening!

A.A.

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Colleen writes:

Hi Anita. If anyone has the answer to this question it is you. I was playing around with online map software, and zooming in on WDW I found a body of water that is in the definite shape of a Mickey. It is west of North World Dr. Where exactly in the World is this? Thanks.

Hi Colleen!

The Mickey-shaped body of water you saw is located in the middle of Walt Disney World Speedway. The Speedway is located on the south end of the Magic Kingdom's parking lot. There is at least one other Mickey-shaped body of water on property, albeit much smaller. Flamingo Island on the Kilimanjaro Safari is also shaped like Mickey.

A.A.

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Will writes:

When viewing my 2007 Walt Disney World pictures on my computer, in the one of the "Partners" statue in front of the castle, on Walt Disney's tie there was a strange symbol. Could you possibly tell me what it means?

Hi Will!

The strange symbol is actually the initials of Smoke Tree Ranch. Smoke Tree Ranch is a Palm Springs, California vacation retreat, where Walt Disney used to own a home.

A.A.

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Lisa writes:

I was wondering if you knew how I could get a copy of the current show times for "Finding Nemo" at Animal Kingdom? Do you know how long the show is and how many times it is played during the day? Any info would be helpful. We missed this show last year and are mainly going back to just this park to see it.

Hi Lisa!

Finding Nemo - The Musical is usually performed daily at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:45 p.m., 3:15 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. Occasionally, the show is scheduled differently for various reasons, or a show has to be canceled due to technical difficulties. Check the tip board or the daily entertainment guide for any changes for the day you visit.

Finding Nemo - The Musical is approximately 30 minutes long. It is advised that you line up very early to see this popular show, as it nearly always plays to a full house. If the line stretches back under the large yellow dinosaur in Dinoland USA, chances are slim that you will get in, and if you do, it will be standing room only.

Have a great trip!

A.A.

 

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