|
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!
Becky
writes:
Hi Anita!
I just want to start out by saying that I love your column and it definitely
helps me to start the week out with a nice dose of Disney!
I hope
this doesn't sound too weird, but let me try to explain. My parents
took me to Walt Disney World in 1998 for the first time. Being a typical
11-year-old and having never been there before, I carried around my
little autograph book and made all the characters sign it when I saw
them.
The day
that we walked into the Magic Kingdom, I kept my eyes peeled for any
characters that might pass me by. When walking down Main Street, I walked
past this woman who was wearing an early 1900s dress and hat. I asked
her for her autograph, which she gave me, but to this day I have no
idea who she was.
I still
have the book and the best I can make out the signature is "Hildegard."
I have no idea who this is or what she would even be from but I am hoping
that you will have the answer because you seem to have most! Thanks
in advance!
Hi Becky!
You had
the pleasure of meeting Hildegard Olivia Harding, the foremost socialite
of Main Street, USA. She's one of the many citizens of Main Street,
who also include Mayor Weaver, reporter Scoop Sanderson, and many others.
They aren't in any films, but are known as "Streetmosphere"
performers. They are usually found strolling
Main Street, USA at the Magic Kingdom
during the earlier part of the day.
If you
enjoy Streetmosphere performers, Disney's
Hollywood Studios has several hilarious interactive performances
throughout the day on Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards, as well.
A.A.
Kathy
writes:
Hi! We
are planning a trip next year with our entire family. Our daughter-in-law
is on kidney dialysis. Does WDW have facilities on the property for
this procedure and if not, where is the closest place to have this done?
We don't
want to have to leave my son and her behind because of this. She needs
a break.
Hi
Kathy!
While there
is not a dialysis facility on Disney property, there are a few within
a few miles, and there are many in a 20 mile radius. There is very useful
website called Dialysis Finder (dialysisfinder.com) which will show
you where they are. Go to the site and type "32830" in the
zip code field. This will pull up a list of local facilities, their
addresses, how far they are from WDW, and where they are located on
a map.
I hope
you and your family have a magical trip to the World!
A.A.
Kevin
writes:
Anita,
I'm new to All Ears®, but I love the blogs and your column especially.
Yours and Mike Scopa's discussions about doing four parks in a day have
given me the gumption to do it myself! Now, onto my question:
I'm not
sure if this falls under the jurisdiction of "about WDW,"
but I've become wildly frustrated with trying to find information on
this and I hoped you could help me.
I have
fallen in love with the Imagineering Field Guides for the parks - Magic
Kingdom, Epcot, and especially Animal Kingdom. I have yet to hear anything
about an Imagineering guide for Hollywood Studios, and I'd love to have
a full set someday. Is there any word on this? Thank you once again!
Hi Kevin!
So far,
there is no word on when the Disney's Hollywood Studios Field Guide
will be published. I suspect that the hold-up has much to do with the
recent name and image change from Disney-MGM to Disney's
Hollywood Studios. The multiple MGM contracts were made between
Disney and several owners of different parts of the MGM name and were
very complicated. Depending on what subject was being written about,
Disney may not have owned the rights to use certain images or trademarks.
This would make publishing the book very difficult until Disney owned
the rights to everything it wanted to use. Add in the acquisition of
Pixar, and it further complicates things. Now that all traces of MGM
have been removed, and the first part of Pixar Place is open, I'm guessing
they're waiting for the dust to settle before going forward with the
book.
In the
meantime, the next in the series is coming out this fall, and will be
"The Imagineering Field Guide to Disneyland." I don't know
about you, but I'm really looking forward to that one!
Good luck
on your four parks challenge, and let us know how you did!
A.A.
Molly
writes:
Hi Anita.
Let me begin by saying YOU ROCK. Your info is priceless and has enabled
most of us to become die hard Disney groupies.
My question
has to do with the Disney Vacation Club (DVC). We are looking into buying
resale. By the way, I learned from All Ears® that resale existed!
If we were to buy a DVC membership at the Vero Beach Resort, just how
hard would it be to get reservations at an on-property DVC resort? I
know we can book a non-home resort six months in advance, but just how
hard is that? If I don't book right on that six month date, am I destined
to be hanging on the World gate looking in? Please help. My vacation
future is in your capable hands.
Hi Molly!
Thank you
for all of the lovely compliments!
I've been
a Disney Vacation Club member for
over 10 years now, and here's what I always advise potential new members
to do: Buy where you plan to stay.
The reason
is this: You can book at your home resort 11 months before your trip.
Members can also book at any other DVC
resort at the seven month mark, that is, IF there is availability.
That's the rub. There may not be any openings at the WDW resorts by
the time you get to that seven month window. In particular, Boardwalk,
Beach Club, Animal Kingdom Jambo House and the Wilderness Lodge tend
to book very quickly at 11 months.
Depending
on the season you're trying to book, you may find some availability
at Old Key West or Saratoga Springs, or you may not. At popular times
like Christmas, Thanksgiving, spring break, Easter, etc., it will be
very very difficult to find availability anywhere at the WDW DVC resorts
at seven months. Now you'll be forced to put yourself on a wait list,
which may or may not come through. Your mileage may vary, but I would
find it very stressful not to know where, when or if I'll have a place
to stay. Being able to book at your home resort at 11 months will give
you peace of mind, while also allowing you to possibly change at the
seven month mark or to get on a waitlist for another resort if there's
no availability. I prefer having these sorts of options open to me.
By the
way, I predict that the availability situation is only going to get
worse, as tourism slows again due to high travel costs. Why? Because
DVC members don't have to pay a big hotel bill at the end of the week,
plus they can save a bundle by eating meals in their villa. For these
reasons, DVC resorts remain busy even when the other resorts aren't
booking as quickly. And by the way, using your DVC points to stay at
a non-DVC Disney resort is very expensive points-wise, and definitely
not the best use of your membership. So, let me repeat: Buy where you
want to stay or you may end up not being able to use your points to
your best advantage.
Sign up
for updates from a resale site, and be patient. Eventually, a contract
for a WDW property will come up at a price you're willing to pay. All
Ears® recommends DVC
By Resale. A quick glance at their site shows many bargains
at WDW DVC resorts.
Happy shopping!
A.A.
Keith
writes:
I don't
know if you will know anything about an amusement park called Marco
Polo Land. When I was younger we use to go to Walt Disney World and
also Marco Polo Land. Is this park still around? What happened to it
if not? Thanks.
Hi
Keith!
The theme
park, actually named Marco Polo Park, was located in Bunnell, Florida
just off I-95 near Daytona Beach. It was themed to the international
travels of explorer Marco Polo. It was open a very brief time, so if
you blinked you might have missed it! It was open from 1971 until 1975,
when two fires about a week apart destroyed much of it. I found one
account that said the park reopened briefly in 1975/1976 as something
called "Passport to Fun World" but I couldn't find any other
mention of that name anywhere else, so I couldn't verify it. A couple
of years after the park closed forever, all of its assets were sold
at auction in 1978 and its attractions have scattered to the winds.
A.A.
Vanessa
writes:
When the
Tomorrowland Transit Authority (TTA)
was the WEDway People Mover did the "WED" part stand for Walter
Elias Disney?
Hi
Vanessa!
Indeed
it did. It was meant as an homage to Walt Disney who was always a proponent
of anything unique and inventive, as witnessed in all of the interesting
things Walt Disney Imagineering has invented and put into use in the
parks. WDI, as a matter of fact, was originally called WED Enterprises.
A.A.
That's
it for this edition!
Gotta
question?
Then you need an answer!
Anita Answer, that is.
Check
back weekly for Anita's latest answers,
and be sure to visit Anita's blog, Anita Talk,
on AllEars.net's Blog Central!
|
Subscribe to AllEars®.Net's RSS feed