A Magical Place at a Magical Time of Year

[jenneth79]

239 days until Disney.

What name was originally planned for Walt Disney World?
A Florida Disney
B Disney America
C Disney World
D Discoveryland

No idea, but I will guess "D" because that sounds something like Walt would think up!

 

[Native NYer]

239 days until Disney.

What name was originally planned for Walt Disney World?
A Florida Disney
B Disney America
C Disney World
D Discoveryland

I'm going to go with A Florida Disney. Was't WDW called the Florida Project when it was in development? Or did I get that mixed up?

 

[swwake]

Since you are going at Christmas, I HAVE to follow along. Do you mind if I join you? Can't wait to read all about your plans!

I somehow missed you. I'll have to check out your PTR and see if you'll be there the same time as we will.

 

[swwake]

No idea, but I will guess "D" because that sounds something like Walt would think up!

I'm going to go with A Florida Disney. Was't WDW called the Florida Project when it was in development? Or did I get that mixed up?

Good guesses - the answer is coming up!

I somehow missed you. I'll have to check out your PTR and see if you'll be there the same time as we will.

Ok, I see that I didn't miss your first post. I must not have remembered welcoming you because I had had a glass (or two) of wine that evening.

 

[swwake]

Yesterday's question and answer:

What name was originally planned for Walt Disney World?
A Florida Disney
B Disney America
C Disney World
D Discoveryland

Answer: C When Walt Disney passed away on December 15, 1966, there was great concern within the Disney organization that Disney World would never be built without his leadership and guidance. But his brother, Roy O. Disney, postponed his planned retirement to helm the organization, and the first item on his to-do list was to complete "Disney World." As it neared completion, Roy officially changed the name to Walt Disney World so, "People will always know that this was Walt's dream."

Today: 238 days until Disney.
What real-life castle served as one of the inspirations for Cinderella Castle?
A Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria
B Windsor Castle in England
C Buckingham Palace in England
D Linderhof Castle in Germany

 

[swwake]

Yesterday's question and answer:

What real-life castle served as one of the inspirations for Cinderella Castle?
A Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria
B Windsor Castle in England
C Buckingham Palace in England
D Linderhof Castle in Germany

Answer: A
Cinderella Castle, the majestic icon of the Magic Kingdom, was inspired by a number of castles and architectural styles, including the French castles and Chateaux of Fontainbleu, Versailles, Chenonceau, Chambord, Chaumont, and Usse. In fact, French writer Charles Perrault, the author of the original "Sleeping Beauty" and "Cinderella" (also known as "The Little Glass Slipper"), was said to have been inspired by Usse, the "chateau of dreams," for his fables.

Disney's designers also borrowed a large number of elements from King Ludwig II's Neuschwanstein, Cinderella Castle fuses several architectural elements. In the case of Cinderella Castle, the base resembles a 13th century medieval fortress, while the upper portion is lighter and more delicate like a Renaissance palace. In addition to being an inspiration for Cinderella Castle, Neuschwanstein was one of the models for Sleeping Beauty Castel in Disneyland and the castle in the animated film, Sleeping Beauty.

Today: 237 days until Disney
If you listen closely as you walk through Future World past Spaceship Earth, you will hear the distant sound of a bird. What is the significance of that sound?
A It is the sound of a bird that's been nesting on the property since Epcot opened
B It is a recording of a bird in distress, played to keep other birds out of Future World
C It is a recording of birds from Discovery Island used as background noise to soothe guests
D Bird? What bird?

 

[swwake]

Let's introduce our travelers, shall we?

First, there's Haley. She was introduced on Page 1, but here's another photo:

Haley just turned 16 and just finished her driver's ed. She will be fully licensed soon. She's a sophomore in high school and is extremely creative. She also has an amazing voice and loves to make videos of herself singing Disney princess songs. She also plays the ukulele and I believe she just got an acoustic guitar. Haley wants to work for Disney in some capacity when she grows up. I think she should be a face character in the parks - a princess.

Next, my sister Joann. Here's a photo of the two of us atop Rockefeller Tower when we went to NYC last fall:

Joann is 18 months younger than me. She's happily married and has twin sons (14) in addition to Haley. Haley is a carbon copy of Joann when she was Haley's age.

On to Katie. This is a picture of Katie with our new puppy, Sandy, taken in January of this year:

Our daughter Katie is 19 and is a freshman at the University of Colorado at Boulder. We miss her at home, but she is really enjoying her time away. She loves music and concerts, volunteers for the school's radio station, is in a sorority and a leadership program, and runs her own business. She makes me super proud.

That leaves Chris and me. Here we are with Pluto on our last visit to WDW in September 2010:

We've been married almost 13 years. Most kids and many adults call Chris "Dude", since Katie gave him the nickname when she was about 2. Chris shares my love for travel and Disney. He is the funniest guy I know and my best friend. He also loves dogs as much as I do (we have two golden retrievers - Harry (5) and Sandy (4 months)). I'm a super lucky girl! He likes motorcycles and has a street bike and a dirt bike.

Me - I love to travel, love to plan, and love Disney. I am a CPA and I speak quite often on our niche, affordable housing. So I do a fair amount of travel for work, and often Chris and/or Katie will join me. My favorite places to travel for pleasure are WDW, cruises and Vegas.

Together, Chris and I like to explore new places and hope to go to Europe (specifically Europe and Greece) one day. We (Katie included) enjoy all board sports - wakeboarding, snowboarding, surfing, skateboarding, Flow Rider (on the Royal Caribbean cruises). We also like music - mainly 90s alternative, concerts and music festivals.

So there you have it - these are our travelers. It's gonna be a wild ride...

 

[annmarieda]

Happy Easter!!!!!

 

[swwake]

Happy Easter!!!!!

Happy Easter to you as well, Ann. Hope you had a great day!

 

[Native NYer]

Hope you had a great Easter Susan!

Great intro! Disney is so much fun with a group.

Sandy is adorable!

 

[swwake]

Hope you had a great Easter Susan!

Great intro! Disney is so much fun with a group.

Sandy is adorable!

Jen, hope you had a great Easter too. I have tons of pics of Sandy on my FB. I'm sure you've seen them. She is growing up too fast!

 

[jewels1916]

Woohoo, another December PTR! I'm going to be there December 4th-9th, so I'm excited to read about all of your plans! Also hello fellow Texan! I'm in the DFW area.
Subbing!

 

[swwake]

Woohoo, another December PTR! I'm going to be there December 4th-9th, so I'm excited to read about all of your plans! Also hello fellow Texan! I'm in the DFW area.
Subbing!

neighbor! I hope I can stay current with our PTR. Current enough to at least be somewhat entertaining.

 

[swwake]

Yesterday's question and answer:

If you listen closely as you walk through Future World past Spaceship Earth, you will hear the distant sound of a bird. What is the significance of that sound?
A It is the sound of a bird that's been nesting on the property since Epcot opened
B It is a recording of a bird in distress, played to keep other birds out of Future World
C It is a recording of birds from Discovery Island used as background noise to soothe guests
D Bird? What bird?

Answer: B
Most guests don't notice the sound. However, soon after Future World opened, Cast Members and Imagineers noticed that birds were making nests in signs, eaves, and on buildings. Needless to say, it caused a little bit of a mess, ...and the birds often swooped down near guests to pick up food that had fallen to the ground. To alleviate the bird dilemma naturally, without actually ahving to go in and evict the "new tenants," Disney installed a series of hidden speakers to broadcast the recorded sound of a bird in distress. The sound is an alert to other birds that there may be danger in the area, which causes them to stay away. Have no fear, though...no birds were harmed in the making of this recording.

Today: 236 days until Disney.
Why is the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror built to a height of 199 feet and no taller?
A It was supposed to be 200 feet, but the builders made a mistake when finishing the building
B The actual Hollywood Tower hotel is 199 feet tall
C Disney wanted it to be shorter than Cinderella Castle
D If it were one foot higher it would have to have red lights on top

 

[swwake]

Today's question and answer:

Why is the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror built to a height of 199 feet and no taller?
A It was supposed to be 200 feet, but the builders made a mistake when finishing the building
B The actual Hollywood Tower hotel is 199 feet tall
C Disney wanted it to be shorter than Cinderella Castle
D If it were one foot higher it would have to have red lights on top

Answer: D
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires structures 200 feet and taller to be topped with red, blinking lights to warn away planes. So if The Hollywood Tower Hotel that houses the Tower of Terror were a foot higher, it would have to sport the warning lights, and the Imagineers did not want to spoil the 2930s look of the hotel. Back then, there were no regulations requiring warning lights on tall buildings.

 

[swwake]

Haley and I have started a list of things we want to do and see while we are at Universal and Disney. So, I present to you, in no particular order, "The List":

Disney/Universal Wish List:
Forbidden Journey
Simpsons Ride
Mummy Ride
Hulk
Rip Ride Rock-it
Mythos
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
California Grill
Resort tour (Wilderness Lodge, Animal Kingdom Lodge)
California Grill (with fireworks)
Poly beach fireworks
Illuminations
50s Prime Time Café
Boma (maybe)
‘Ohana (maybe)
Osborne Lights
Fort Wilderness campground – lights tour (how to get around?)
Whispering Canyon Café (maybe)
All 4 parks
splash mountain
the little mermaid play
the seas with nemo
pirates of the Caribbean
haunted mansion
peter pan ride
the nemo play thing
The Festival of the Lion King

 

[annmarieda]

Ok, I see that I didn't miss your first post. I must not have remembered welcoming you because I had had a glass (or two) of wine that evening.

No worries... I totally understand. I too have been known to have a glass of wine (or two ) and then dis. Then I am left wondering if I wrote anything completely stupid.

Great intros and what a cute pup!

I love the trivia... please, please PLEASE do not stop.

Haley and I have started a list of things we want to do and see while we are at Universal and Disney. So, I present to you, in no particular order, "The List":

Fort Wilderness campground – lights tour (how to get around?)

Great list... I have not heard of this lights tour though.. what is it?

 

[jenneth79]

I'm loving the trivia, what fun!

Also like that you have Poly Beach fireworks on the list...I certainly hope to check out Wishes from Poly/GF beaches as well!

 

[Native NYer]

I love the list! It's so much better than rigid touring plans.

 

[swwake]

No worries... I totally understand. I too have been known to have a glass of wine (or two ) and then dis. Then I am left wondering if I wrote anything completely stupid.

Great intros and what a cute pup!

I love the trivia... please, please PLEASE do not stop.

Great list... I have not heard of this lights tour though.. what is it?

Yeah, I find myself going back to re-read in the morning to make sure I didn't do something dumb. Thanks for the compliments on Sandy - we just love her. I'll keep doing the trivia - glad you are enjoying it.

I think you're asking about the Fort Wilderness "lights tour". There is not a formal tour. I have read that people staying in RVs and tents at the campground go all-out decorating for Christmas. We are hoping to try to find time (and a vehicle) to go see the lights.

I'm loving the trivia, what fun!

Also like that you have Poly Beach fireworks on the list...I certainly hope to check out Wishes from Poly/GF beaches as well!

Thank you!!! I'll keep the trivia coming, now that I know it's appreciated We can't wait to see the fireworks without fighting crowds leaving the park!

I love the list! It's so much better than rigid touring plans.

I totally agree. My group isn't going to do a touring plan. They just won't.