May 2014 Walt Disney World Bits and Bites

Feature Article

This article appeared in the April 29, 2014 Issue #762 of ALL EARS® (ISSN: 1533-0753)

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STEP BACK IN TIME
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by Debra Martin Koma
AllEars® Editor

Each month, we rummage around in our archives for this featurette, which indulges in a bit of nostalgia, taking you back in history for a glimpse of Walt Disney World and The Walt Disney Company through the ages. This month, we take a look back at Disney's Hollywood Studios, which marks its 25th anniversary this Thursday, May 1.

The story goes that when Michael Eisner was brought in as Disney's Chief Executive Officer in 1984, he was charged with developing the underutilized Florida property. Supposedly, when Eisner saw the plans for "The Great Movie Ride," which was being considered as a future attraction for Epcot, he decided to use it as the centerpiece for a third theme park. In addition to attractions, the new park would feature actual film and TV production facilities allowing guests to witness the magic of a working film studio.

As the park developed, there were rumors that Disney was rushing to open the Studios before neighboring Universal could open its new theme park. As a result, when the Disney-MGM Studios officially opened on May 1, 1989, there were only a handful of attractions: The Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, Backlot Tour, Monster Sound Show, Superstar Television, New York Street and Walt Disney Feature Animation, as well as the Great Movie Ride (whose pre-opening name was at one point Great Moments at the Movies, presented by Sears).

The dedication ceremony was led by then-CEO Eisner. More than 100 stations broadcast the public opening live. Among the celebrities present were Kevin Costner, Bette Midler, Bob Hope, George Burns, Steve Allen, Jayne Meadows, Buffalo Bob and Art Linkletter. Later that same day, there was another dedication ceremony in front of The Magic of Disney Animation building with Roy E. Disney and several Disney Legends who had made significant contributions to animation: Frank Thomas, Ollie Johnston, Ward Kimball, Marc Davis, Ken O'Connor and Ken Anderson. The very first handprints placed in the forecourt of The Great Movie Ride were those of original Mouseketeer Annette Funicello.

When Disney-MGM Studios opened, a one-day ticket to Walt Disney World cost $28.00, which covered any one of the three parks, with re-entry privilege, but no park-hopping.

Obviously, the park has grown in the ensuing 25 years. A number of Studios attractions opened in 1990, including: Star Tours, the Honey I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure, Here Comes the Muppets stage show, as well as the nightly fireworks show, Sorcery in the Sky. An entire new section was added to the park in 1994: Sunset Boulevard. This area was home to the popular Twilight Zone Tower of Terror attraction, and eventually the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster featuring Aerosmith (1999) and the amphitheater that hosts the nighttime show, Fantasmic! In 2001, when the park became the focal point for the "100 Years of Disney" celebrations marking Walt's 100th birthday, a new park icon was introduced — the Sorcerer's Hat, which obscures the Great Movie Ride, and, some would argue, the heart of the park.

Sometime around 2004, the animation department that had made up much of the Studios left its Florida location, and in January 2008, the name of the park was officially changed to Disney's Hollywood Studios. Shortly after that, in May, Toy Story Midway Mania and Pixar Place opened, injecting that somewhat quiet area of the park with new life. With The Walt Disney Company's acquisition of Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel over recent years, who knows what lies in store for the Studios future?

Although the park's original focus has shifted, the words on its dedication plaque, which can be found at the end of Hollywood Boulevard, still hint at its potential:

"The World you have entered was created by The Walt Disney Company and is dedicated to Hollywood — not a place on a map, but a state of mind that exists wherever people dream and wonder and imagine, a place where illusion and reality are fused by technological magic. We welcome you to a Hollywood that never was — and always will be."

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RELATED LINKS
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For a look at how the park will be observing this silver anniversary:
http://land.allears.net/blogs/dnews/2014/04/disneys_hollywood_studios_obse.html

Chinese Theater Handprints:
http://allears.net/ae/issue751.htm

The Hidden Handprints of The Magic of Animation:
http://land.allears.net/blogs/guestblog/walt_disney_world/theme_parks/disneys_hollywood_studios/

Disney's Hollywood Studios:
http://allears.net/tp/mgm/mgm.htm

Disney's Hollywood Studios Archives:
http://allears.net/tp/mgm/dhs_archive.htm

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HIDDEN MICKEYS ALERT
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Steve Barrett, author of the Hidden Mickeys books and webmaster of www.HiddenMickeyGuy.com, describes a few Hidden Mickeys and other Hidden Images at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Happy Hunting!

1. At Star Tours, along the entrance queue, a robot watches a continuous scan of luggage moving along a conveyor belt. You can spot images of a plush Mickey Mouse and a plush Goofy, along with images of Buzz Lightyear, Aladdin's lamp, a Sorcerer Mickey hat, a Mr. Incredible shirt, Madame Leota's crystal ball, and others. (Thanks to Jonathon Young, Octavio and Maya and Suzanne Perez, and William Miles.)

http://allears.net/btp/images/hidden-mickey-429.jpg

2. As you exit Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show, walk to the left side of the show lagoon. A dark classic Mickey formed of rocks is in the water at the bottom. (Thanks to Stacy, Lorri Gumanow, and Claire Monahan.)

http://allears.net/btp/images/hidden-mickey-430.jpg

3. Inside Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant, face the kitchen, then look to the right of it at the tall fence. You'll find two Hidden Mickeys in the mural above the right side of the tall fence. Look at the treetops. One classic Mickey, tilted slightly to the right, is above the right corner of the tall fence. A second classic Hidden Mickey is just to the left of the first one; it appears to be waving with its left hand. (Thanks to Sharon and Chloe Dale.)

http://allears.net/btp/images/hidden-mickey-431.jpg

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You can find a selection of past Hidden Mickey Alerts here:
http://allears.net/btp/hiddenm2.htm

And check out our Searching Disney with Steve blog:
http://land.allears.net/blogs/stevebarrett/

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RATE & REVIEW SPOTLIGHT
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Compiled by AllEars® Team Member Cathy Bock

In this monthly featurette, we take a look at recent comments made in the AllEars.Net Rate & Review section about a particular restaurant, resort, event, etc. This month, we examine what AllEars® readers are saying about lunch and dinner at Chefs de France, which is located at the France pavilion at Epcot.

Chefs de France is a table service restaurant. AllEars® reviewers give it an average rating of 8.1 and it is recommended by 87% of reviewers.

From recent reviews:

Food (general): "food was divine, from the French onion soup to the sorbet we had for dessert"; "As a vegan I was thrilled to have my needs accommodated"; "food was wonderful"; "a wonderful meal and experience".

Entrees: "especially enjoyed the beef short ribs"; "included the macaroni and cheese, chicken and beef tenderloin. Everyone was pleased with their choices"; "had the onion soup and quiche which was very good"; "tasty but not memorable"; "ordered the flat bread for my entree, it was nothing to rave about but it wasn't bad either"; "was the filet which was excellent but not up to the level of Le Cellier"; "one of the tastiest duck dinners that she has ever eaten".

Service: "we were warmly greeted"; "staff at the restaurant was top notch"; "Drinks were never empty, tables were cleared quickly and the meal was paced perfectly"; "friendly and open to our questions about the food, and his home nation"; "so attentive, warm & friendly"; "very nice and attentive waitress".

Atmosphere: "Tables are close but it was not a problem"; "really need to do something about how close the tables are"; "noise level seemed especially loud and it made it very difficult to understand the waiter"; "got a lovely round window!"; "love the atmosphere".

Overall: "best restaurant on Disney property with the exception of Victoria and Alberts"; "really enjoyed this restaurant and hope to eat here again";"probably our favorite meal of the trip"; "best meal of the week"; "Definitely recommend".

Chef de France Lunch Menu:
http://allears.net/dining/menu/chefs-de-france/lunch

Dinner Menu:
http://allears.net/dining/menu/chefs-de-france/dinner

Children's Menu:
http://allears.net/dining/menu/chefs-de-france/child-lunch-dinner

Help others plan their vacations by rating Chefs de France here:
http://land.allears.net/reviewpost/showproduct.php?product=81&title=chefs-de-france-lunch-dinner&cat=34

And don't forget to check out all of our Rate & Review section here: http://land.allears.net/reviewpost/

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MONTHLY REMIND-EARS
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EVENTS

"Rock Your Disney Side: 24-Hours," is a bi-coastal, 24-hour event that will occur Memorial Day Weekend at Magic Kingdom in Florida and at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure in California from 6 a.m. on May 23 to 6 a.m. on May 24, 2014. The celebration on both coasts will feature events showcasing the good-vs.-evil of classic Disney stories and will include character meet-and-greets throughout the parks, special entertainment, event merchandise, and food and beverage offerings.

http://land.allears.net/blogs/dnews/2014/02/disney_parks_invites_guests_to.html

Mother's Day

Animal Kingdom

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Epcot

ESPN Wide World of Sports

Disney's BoardWalk

The 2014 AllEars.Net group cruise embarks on the Disney Fantasy for a Western Caribbean cruise starting May 10, 2014. The cruise will depart from Port Canaveral and sail to the ports of Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Jamaica & Castaway Cay. Read more about this cruise in our blog, and watch for reports from the cruise as it happens!

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Don't forget to check our Events page for current updates: http://allears.net/pl/events.htm

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REHABS AND CLOSINGS

Animal Kingdom

Magic Kingdom

Downtown Disney

Animal Kingdom Lodge's Jambo House — The roof is being refurbished through May 3, 2014.

Boardwalk Inn will undergo a room refurbishment from approximately May 4 through September 9. All guest rooms will get new carpets, new tubs, and new bed linens. The Innkeeper's Lounge (Concierge club level) will have some upgrades as well.

Polynesian Resort

Magnolia and Oak Trail Golf Courses will be closed May 21 – June 4, 2014.

Osprey Ridge golf course, its pro shop and the Sand Trap restaurant are closed. When Osprey Ridge reopens in 2014, it will be under Four Seasons ownership. To date, there is no indication whether play will be limited to Four Seasons Orlando guests and Golden Oak residents, or if Walt Disney World guests and/or the general public will have access. This closure leaves Walt Disney World with three 18-hole courses, Palm, Magnolia and Lake Buena Vista, as well as the Oak Trail 9-hole course. (Thanks to wdwgolf.com for the update.)

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A complete list of rehabs can be found here: http://allears.net/tp/rehabs.htm

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MAGICAL MOMENTS
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Robert Ziegler: On 12/11/2006 I received the greatest gift I ever received — my granddaughter was born. Her name is Kiley, and on her first birthday I gave her a Snow White dress. My wife and I go to Disney World every year, so we planned for her first trip, in October 2009, when she was 2-1/2 years old. My wife and I stayed at Caribbean Beach, and my daughter's family stayed at one of the All Star resorts. The first day my wife and I waited for our daughter's family to come to the Magic Kingdom. As they came walking up, my daughter says I hip-checked her away from the stroller and started pushing Kiley around. I was so proud of her, and I wanted her mom and dad to enjoy watching her face. When we got to Main Street, my wife said, "Look Kiley there is the castle!" She sat up in the stroller and was so excited. The whole day she was in heaven, the whole week she was in heaven. One night we went to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. They were to meet us that night at the Rose Garden, with my granddaughter dressed as Minnie Mouse. Only my wife and I knew that I had brought a Mickey Mouse costume, which I wore to the park. Now, I'm 6' 6" and 270 pounds. As we walked through the park, kids were running up and grabbing me. When we got to the Rose Garden, Kiley saw me and she went nuts, rubbing her little hands together, and smiling. That made me feel so great. To this day she still talks about it. Well she has been back two more times, and loves it more each time… I could go on for hours talking about our trips, but my granddaughter's first trip will always stand out in my mind. We will be back at Disney World in October, and are looking forward to it.

Brandy C: For the last three years, we have been creating magical memories in the slower season of January and February at Walt Disney World. This year was definitely the warmest yet! Our little family of three consisting of my husband, now 6-year-old daughter and I have had new experiences every year. This year, we tried the Fantasmic Dining Package at Hollywood Studios. After a delicious lunch at Mama Melrose's, we spent the rest of the day in the park and then headed with our special reserved passes for Fantasmic. We had avoided it before because we were warned it could be a little dark and scary to little ones. We took our seats in the beautiful Hollywood Amphitheater a few rows up from the bottom in the center. The pre-show entertainers had a sing-off with the crowd and toward the end, one of the emcees came up to us and said, "And now a mother and daughter duo…" While I am no singer, I still am not afraid to sing ANY Disney song. The idea was to finish the song after hearing a few notes and after getting some call-outs to our great state of Texas, the music played and this Texas girl got to sing with her sweet girl, "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!" At Disney World, with a microphone to 7,000 people! Our daughter was so excited and kept whispering afterwards how excited she was that we were picked. I am too! And that, my friends, is one of our magical moments.

Rodrigo Barros, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: My parents brought me on a trip to Orlando to help them do some shopping, and I managed to squeeze in a day at the Magic Kingdom. Unfortunately, my wife and our 8-year-old had to stay home because of work and school. One of the things my wife asked me to do was take a picture with Rapunzel. Last time we went to the World was in 2012, when the Princess Fairytale Hall was still under construction and we missed Rapunzel's meet-and-greet. So after Wishes, I bolted to New Fantasyland, hoping the wait would be shorter than the two hours it had been all day. And it was — only 15 minutes. This is where I also have to praise Disney's WiFi system. The whole property is covered, and it works beautifully. I had spent the whole day taking pictures and posting them on Facebook instantly. I even managed to Facetime home and broadcast the Main Street Electrical Parade, the Castle projection show and Wishes! But the truly Magical Moment happened at Fairytale Hall. I was chatting with my wife while in line, and when it was my turn to approach the princesses, Rapunzel noticed me talking on my iPad. She asked me if I had someone there and then proceeded to chat with my wife and my boy, no rush, just as if they were there in person! When it was Snow White's turn, she did the exact same thing. My wife was completely floored. I posted this on Facebook and I'm also going to let Disney know how gracious and considerate those princesses were.

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We just bet you have a story to tell about an unforgettable moment during your Disney vacation! Please send your favorite memory for inclusion in a future AllEars® to: [email protected]

This month we also have a collection of photographic magical moments with "Characters Everywhere!." See them in our photo feature, "Wandering the World":

http://allears.net/tp/wander/wander.htm

Thank you all for sharing!

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Editor's Note: This story/information was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all current rates, information and other details before planning your trip.