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Hi! I'm Anita!
 Got
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!
Sharon
writes:
Hi Anita,
I see that the tickets are soon going to be available for Mickey's Very
Merry Christmas Party. Can you tell me if they are likely to add on
any more dates after the 19th of December? We arrive from the UK on
the19th so we won't be able to go the day we arrive. Thanks!
Hi Sharon!
There is
no chance at all that party dates will be added after December 19th.
The reason is that December 20th marks the start of the busiest week
of the year at the World, and the parks will be open to all guests late
every night.
Hard ticketed
events like Mickey's Very Merry Christmas
Party are designed to bring in more people during traditionally
slow times of the year, and Christmas week certainly isn't slow!
Fortunately
for you, during that whole week, the Magic
Kingdom will feature the special holiday shows, parades and
fireworks that are performed only at the Christmas Party earlier in
December and November. You won't miss a thing other than free cocoa
and cookies, and you won't have to buy a special ticket to experience
it all.
Have a
very merry trip to the World!
A.A.
Edward
writes:
Hey, Anita;
love your column. My family stayed last year at Port Orleans-Riverside.
We are planning our trip for next year and since you are the most informed,
we figured on asking you: Of all the Value resorts, which is the best
to stay at for room size, beds (queen size) etc. We're trying to not
go to Moderates or Deluxes. Thanks.
Hi
Edward!
There's
bad news and good news. The bad news is, all of the standard Value
resort rooms at the three All Stars and Pop Century resorts
are generally the same small size of 260 square feet, and they are all
set up essentially the same way. A standard room at a Value has two
double beds, and sleeps four, plus one child under the age of 3 in a
crib. Prices range from $82 - $151 per night, not including tax.
Now for
the good news! There is one notable exception and that would be the
Family Suites at the All Star Music.
There are 192 of these mini-suites, which are 520 square feet. They
have a living room area with a sleeper sofa and two convertible twin
beds, a bedroom with a queen size bed, a kitchenette and two full bathrooms.
Family suites sleep up to six people plus one child under 3 in a crib.
Prices range from $184 - $315 per night, not including tax.
Family
suites book very quickly, so call as soon as possible if you wish to
book one.
A.A.
Joe
writes:
I have
been reading many negative comments on the basic dining plan for 2008.
Since so many things have been removed from the basic plan can you tell
me anything about how Disney has changed the "beverages" included
with meals? I have heard everything from the plan including any beverage
as long as it is non-alcoholic from the plan only including soda pop,
basic coffee or iced tea. Do you have any up-to-date information on
the drinks, especially for the sit down restaurants? Please tell me
as we are headed down to Walt Disney World this summer. Thanks!
Hi Joe!
The 2008
Basic Dining Plan beverage policy hasn't really changed much
since the 2007 version. The only change is for counter service breakfasts,
where you're now allowed both juice and another non-alcoholic beverage
when you order a single serving entree. If you order a combo meal, you
only get a choice of one.
Other than
that change, it's all the same:
For lunch
and dinner at a counter service restaurant, you get your choice of one
single serving of a non-alcoholic beverage.
For breakfast
at a table service restaurant, you get your choice of juice plus one
single serving of a non-alcoholic beverage.
For lunch
and dinner at a table service restaurant, you get your choice of one
single serving of a non-alcoholic beverage.
For snacks,
you get your choice of a 20 oz. bottled soft drink, a 12 oz hot coffee,
hot chocolate or hot tea, a medium fountain drink, or a single serving
of milk or juice.
What is
NOT included:
Some bottled drinks
Alcoholic beverages
Specialty drinks
Drinks from a hotel minibar
Beverages served in souvenir mugs
Glow cubes
Have a
great trip, and don't forget to stay hydrated!
A.A.
Liza
writes:
My father
recently returned from a trip to Walt Disney World and noticed that
the statue of Walt and Mickey in front of the castle at the Magic Kingdom
was turned. He could have sworn that on previous trips the statue pointed
toward Tomorrowland but on this trip it was pointing down Main Street
toward the entrance. He stopped and asked several cast members, but
they didn't recall the statue ever facing another way. I told him I
knew where to go to find the answer! I look forward to reading your
column every Monday to have my Disney fix. I hope you can help us with
this, Anita.
Hi Liza!
The "Partners"
stature of Walt and Mickey has always pointed down Main
Street USA. There are several interpretations of the story of
why Walt Disney is pointing in that direction, and they each have a
bit of credibility to them. The one I believe to be most true is that
Walt's stance is intended to convey the idea of Walt telling Mickey
"Look what we've accomplished! Look at all the happy people coming
into our park!" Other interpretations I've heard are that Walt
is pointing toward the future, or that Walt is pointing toward the statue
of his brother Roy at the other end of Main Street as if to bring attention
to his lesser-known and unsung brother. They're all nice stories, so
take your pick.
And while
we're on the subject of the Partners statue --there has been a story
circulating around Disney fan websites for about a month that the statue
has suddenly had gold highlights added to it in certain areas such as
Mickey's face, shorts, shoes and gloves. This is simply not true. Those
highlights have probably been there since the statue was placed there
in 1995, and I know they've been there since at least 1998. Hanging
over my desk, I have a postcard of the statue that a friend sent me.
It's postmarked December 1998, and the gold highlights are all there
in the picture, as plain as day. What probably happened is that the
statue was recently cleaned and polished, revealing the true colors
of the metal, and someone mistakenly wrote that the highlights were
a new addition.
A.A.
Elizabeth
writes:
We visited
Walt Disney World at the end of September 2006 and were surrounded by
little flying bugs which we found out were called "Love Bugs."
We were also told they tend to come out one or two times a year in Florida.
Although they weren't harmful in any way, they were extremely annoying
and we were wondering if there was a specific time frame that they tend
to swarm because we would love to go back at that time of the year again.
Thanks for your help!
Hi Elizabeth!
Love Bugs
(Plecia Nearctica) are commonly found all along the Gulf Coast of the
United States and northward on the Atlantic coast from Florida to South
Carolina. Love Bugs have two "flights" a year, one spanning
April and May, and one spanning August and September. The flights generally
last for four to five weeks, and the number of bugs varies year to year,
dependent on certain weather conditions and the presence of natural
predators.
Adult bugs
have no natural predators because they don't taste good (not that I
know this personally...) but their larvae are apparently quite a treat
for birds and other insects, and armadillos like them too. If natural
predators are around in abundance during the Love Bugs' larval stage,
then the flights may not be as dense.
Love Bugs
themselves aren't dangerous, as they don't bite or sting. They can be
a huge annoyance, however, when they appear in large numbers and can
seem to be everywhere, plus their acidic bodies can cause damage to
automobile paint jobs if dead bugs are not washed off immediately.
There are
a couple of things you can do to keep them at bay: First, wear dark
clothing, as they're attracted to light, bright colors. This is counter-intuitive
during times of hot weather, but you'll have to choose between being
cooler or being annoyed by Love Bugs. I personally would rather deal
with the annoyance of the bugs than Florida heat. The other thing you
can do is visit the parks after dusk. Love Bugs don't fly after the
sun goes down. This, of course, will severely limit your park time.
Once again, I'd choose the annoying bugs over staying out of the parks.
Even if you don't want to take those steps, the good news is you still
have eight other Love Bug-free months to visit the World.
A.A.
Allison
writes:
Hello Anita!
I love your writing and I look forward to learning new things about
Walt Disney World every week! I just watched a wonderful documentary
about Walt Disney's relationship with Ub Iwerks. I was wondering if
there are any places in Walt Disney World that honor or memorialize
the work that Ub Iwerks did in Disney animation. Thanks for your help!
Hi Allison!
As a matter
of fact, there is a window on Main Street dedicated to Ub Iwerks and
his son Don, who was also a long-time Disney cast member. The window
is above the Main Street Bakery and says:
IWERKS
- IWERKS
Stereoscopic Cameras
Ub Iwerks
Don Iwerks
Repairs
Modifications
Most people
remember Ub Iwerks (who died in 1971 at age 70) for his hand-drawn animation
and for bringing Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse to life. However, he's actually
better known in professional circles for his camera innovations and
special effects work, as well as being the inventor of several film
and projection systems including Circlevision 360, which his son Don
helped him to develop. Ub Iwerks' final project for Disney was the film
in the Hall of Presidents. One
of Don Iwerks' many contributions to the Disney parks during his own
35 year tenure was the projection system for the Star
Tours attraction.
I guess
you could say that there are many tributes to Iwerks and his son all
over the parks, as chances are excellent they played some part in the
films featured in so many WDW attractions.
A.A.
That's
it for this edition!
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