A Magical Place at a Magical Time of Year

[swwake]

I have read and seen on TV that the campers at Fort Wilderness really do it up at Christmas time, with decorations on and around their RVs and campsites. Here are a couple of examples:

This is something our family would really like to see. I am trying to figure out how to squeeze it in and how to get there. I posted a question on the boards and here's what I've learned:

- Best to get there by boat from the MK. So we would need to leave wherever we are (Poly, another park, another resort) and get to MK to take the boat launch. Or I guess if we are at another park, we could just take a bus to Fort Wilderness.
- Some of the best decorations are fairly close to the Settlement Depot Dock.(There are some campers in that area that come EVERY year with their elaborate decorations.)
- there is a Wagon Ride that departs from near Pioneer Hall at night and is only $8.00 per person.The Wagon takes Guests throughout the Campground and is an AWESOME way to see the decorations.
- the wagon ride has scheduled departures and is first come first served. No reservations.

We are going to just play it by ear. We really don't mind walking, and we have WCC planned for dinner the night we arrive, so maybe we can take the boat from WL and walk around before or after our dinner. Also, it sounds like it might be just as cool to see this during the day as it would be at night. I have that question outstanding, so we'll see what the opinions are.

Pretty excited about this! I bet we might cancel Boma for this. Or we could go before our late Wishes reservation at California Grill at the Contemporary.

Today's trivia:
121 days until Disney. Where were the spitting camels at The Magic Carpets of Aladdin ride first used or seen in WDW?
a.) In a parade
b.) As decorations in a restaurant
c.) The entrance to Adventureland
d.) In the Backlot Tour at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Yesterday's trivia:

Where have you heard "...a world of laughter, a world of tears..."?
a.) Spaceship Earth
b.) it's a small world
c.) The Many Adventures of Winnie the Poo
d.) Peter Pan's Flight

Answer: b.) it's a small world.
"It's a world of laughter,
A world of tears;
It's a world of hopes
And a world of fears."
Listen, if you didn't get this one, you obviously haven't ridden it's a small world. Ever.

And, YOU'RE WELCOME! I know you will love having that song in your head for the rest of the day.

Now, on to the hard part. This point tallying. I am an accountant, so this shouldn't be so hard!

Congratulations, tankgirl, Ann, Amy and Tammie for the correct answer this time!

Also, tankgirl gets a bonus point for a photo of IASW in Disneyland (still relevant!)

And Tammie (who's not very competitive at all) gets one bonus point for each of her 9 trivia points.

Point tally:
Ashley - 5
Amy - 2 (1 point today)
Ann - 7 (1 point today)
Tammie - 16 (includes 1 point for today's correct answer and 9 bonus points)
tankgirl - 3 (includes the bonus point I give so you don't start with zero, a point for today's answer, and a bonus point for the photo)

I am so glad I have readers!!

 

[annmarieda]

So...being a bit competitive today myself...

This was originally in the parade "Aladdin's Royal Caravan" This took place in DHS.

So my answer is A. in a parade

 

[momabaarjo]

Dang...Ann beat me, so I will make up for the answer with some trivia about the ride...hee hee

Like Dumbo, guests riding Aladdin can control the ride height of the ride vehicle using a lever, but unlike Dumbo they can also pitch the ride vehicle forward or backward. Water-spewing camels around the ride occasionally "spit" water at the riders. As expected, music from the film Aladdin (Disney 1992) plays throughout the ride.
Each of the ride vehicles can seat a total of four guests at a time.

 

[FosterA]

I have read and seen on TV that the campers at Fort Wilderness really do it up at Christmas time, with decorations on and around their RVs and campsites. Here are a couple of examples:

This is something our family would really like to see. I am trying to figure out how to squeeze it in and how to get there. I posted a question on the boards and here's what I've learned:

- Best to get there by boat from the MK. So we would need to leave wherever we are (Poly, another park, another resort) and get to MK to take the boat launch. Or I guess if we are at another park, we could just take a bus to Fort Wilderness.
- Some of the best decorations are fairly close to the Settlement Depot Dock.(There are some campers in that area that come EVERY year with their elaborate decorations.)
- there is a Wagon Ride that departs from near Pioneer Hall at night and is only $8.00 per person.The Wagon takes Guests throughout the Campground and is an AWESOME way to see the decorations.
- the wagon ride has scheduled departures and is first come first served. No reservations.

We are going to just play it by ear. We really don't mind walking, and we have WCC planned for dinner the night we arrive, so maybe we can take the boat from WL and walk around before or after our dinner. Also, it sounds like it might be just as cool to see this during the day as it would be at night. I have that question outstanding, so we'll see what the opinions are.

Pretty excited about this! I bet we might cancel Boma for this. Or we could go before our late Wishes reservation at California Grill at the Contemporary.


I am so glad I have readers!!

That is so cool about the campground!! Geez thanks, now I want to get over there and look around too but am running out of free time!
I love camping and think it would be so fun to have a trailer and stay here one day.

 

[tankgirl427]

I'm going with A too.

The Christmas decorations is half the reason for the quick weekend trip!

 

[shocky5]

Okay my answer is A!!! I have to be honest though and let you know I was going with C until I saw Ann's pic.

SO happy to have the information about Fort Wilderness. Don't know if you've been over to my PTR today but we are going to be arriving earlier in the day now! And I think your information has officially answered my questions about 'what to do' that day...

I think we will book WCC for dinner, check out those decorations at WL and then go over to Fort Wilderness and see theirs! I think my kids would love it and it would give the beginnings of our trip a nice Christmas-sy start!

 

[swwake]

Busy at work, so I'll post responses and more info later, but I wanted to get today's trivia question posted so you all have time to guess.

120 days until Disney. What is the first spoken line in The American Adventure?
a.) "We the people"
b.) "Four score and seven years ago"
c.) "I have a dream"
d.) "America did not exist."

 

[shocky5]

Oh boy... I'm first... which is a good thing bad thing...

Good because I'm never first... Bad because I can't glean info off of the others!

Alright... I pick D!

 

[tankgirl427]

I"m going to guess....... A

 

[annmarieda]

I am guessing B.

 

[swwake]

Still trying to catch up. Here's today's trivia. I promise to catch up and tally by tomorrow!

119 days until Disney. The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights moved to the Studios from what city?
a.) Killington, Vermont
b.) Point Pleasant, New Jersey
c.) Villanova, Pennsylvania
d.) Little Rock, Arkansas

 

[tankgirl427]

D!

I know for sure it isn't A since that's by my parents house and if it started there I wouldn't have to fly to FL to see it for the first time!

 

[swwake]

That is so cool about the campground!! Geez thanks, now I want to get over there and look around too but am running out of free time!
I love camping and think it would be so fun to have a trailer and stay here one day.

Yes, I am now super excited about visiting the campground. It has been promoted from "if we have time" to "not-to-be-missed" for our trip.

The Christmas decorations is half the reason for the quick weekend trip!

I didn't realize that was part of your trip! It will surely be fun and neat to see!

Okay my answer is A!!! I have to be honest though and let you know I was going with C until I saw Ann's pic.

SO happy to have the information about Fort Wilderness. Don't know if you've been over to my PTR today but we are going to be arriving earlier in the day now! And I think your information has officially answered my questions about 'what to do' that day...

I think we will book WCC for dinner, check out those decorations at WL and then go over to Fort Wilderness and see theirs! I think my kids would love it and it would give the beginnings of our trip a nice Christmas-sy start!

I never said you couldn't cheat. Even if you looked it up instead of guessing, you'd be learning something new about Disney, and I think that's cool!

We will be one day after you at WCC (*if* we don't decide to stay at US/IOA longer that day). So we'll just be walking in your footsteps.

 

[swwake]

Let's start with the answers and tally. In the next post, I'll give a quick planning update.

Where were the spitting camels at The Magic Carpets of Aladdin ride first used or seen in WDW?
a.) In a parade
b.) As decorations in a restaurant
c.) The entrance to Adventureland
d.) In the Backlot Tour at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Answer: a.) In a parade. The camels that occasionally "spit" on riders of The Magic Carpets of Aladdin were first used in Aladdin's Royal Caravan Parade at Disney's Hollywood Studios. When that parade ended in 1995, they were relocated to the Soundstage Restaurant in the Studios, which closed in November 1998. Later they became part of the Magic Carpets ride when it opened in 2001.

Ann gets a point for the correct answer and a bonus point for the photo of the original parade. She also gets a point for knowing the name of the parade, and one more for knowing it was at DHS. 4 points for Ann.

Tammie gets a point for the correct answer, and bonus points for explaining the controls, how the camels spit at riders, the music that is played and how many riders per vehicle. 5 points for Tammie.

tankgirl and Amy get a points for the correct answer.

What is the first spoken line in The American Adventure?
a.) "We the people"
b.) "Four score and seven years ago"
c.) "I have a dream"
d.) "America did not exist."

Answer: d.) Benjamin Franklin opens The American Adventure with those emotional words. They come from John Steinbeck's 1966 work, America and Americans, a book of essays on the American people combined with pictures of the 50 states. The excerpt continues: "Four centuries of work, bloodshed, loneliness, and fear created this land. We built America, and the process made us Americans, a new breed, rooted in all races." Don't miss this attraction.

Amy gets 1 point.

Point tally:
Ashley - 5
Amy - 4
Ann - 11
Tammie - 21
tankgirl - 4

 

[swwake]

118 days until Disney. Many attractions in WDW have two separate entry lines, usually a left and a right. Which of these has only one?
a.) Space Mountain
b.) The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
c.) Pirates of the Caribbean
d.) The Haunted Mansion

 

[annmarieda]

Still trying to catch up. Here's today's trivia. I promise to catch up and tally by tomorrow!

119 days until Disney. The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights moved to the Studios from what city?
a.) Killington, Vermont
b.) Point Pleasant, New Jersey
c.) Villanova, Pennsylvania
d.) Little Rock, Arkansas

D. Little Rock, Arkansas
Due to legal issues was turned off in 1994. In 1995, it was moved to the then MGM Studios in WDW on the no longer in existence "residential street". When LMA was created it was moved to the current location in "streets of America". The original display back in Arkansas did not include any hidden mickeys. The current display does in fact have them.

118 days until Disney. Many attractions in WDW have two separate entry lines, usually a left and a right. Which of these has only one?
a.) Space Mountain
b.) The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
c.) Pirates of the Caribbean
d.) The Haunted Mansion

Hmm, since I only ride two of those..and one of them I know has two lines...

D. The Haunted Mansion

Here in WDW it is located in Liberty Square.

In DL however it is located in New Orleans Square and if memory serves has a different queue than in WDW. One line becomes two and then one again. Of course, it has been since 2007 since I have been there...so

 

[momabaarjo]

Look at Ann, racking up all those points for the great information! I am tired...so I am going to bow to her today. But my answers and D and D!

 

[lilpixiebabe101]

D. Little Rock!


D. Haunted Mansion.

Mom's favorite ride!
"Hurry back.... Hurry back.... be sure to bring your .... death... certificate..." Blue ghost lady up in the rafter at the end.

 

[lilpixiebabe101]

Being out for over a week from the DIS is not good for my trivia scores

 

[swwake]

The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights moved to the Studios from what city?
a.) Killington, Vermont
b.) Point Pleasant, New Jersey
c.) Villanova, Pennsylvania
d.) Little Rock, Arkansas

Answer: d.) Little Rock, Arkansas.
The Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights is an incredible display of holiday lights that has been seen on Residential Street at the Studios since Disney purchased it in 1995. The spectacle was born in 1986 when Jennings Osborne created a 1,000-light display as a Christmas gift to his six-year-old daughter, Breezy. By 1993, this little Christmas gift had grown to a display of more than three million lights and could be seen by planes flying 80 miles away. Well, three million lights might make a few people stand up and take notice...and they did. Droves of folk came from miles away to visit the lights, making neighbors just a bit perturbed. In fact, they took legal action to make Osborne take the lights down. The case went all the way to the Arkansas Supreme Court (an appeal to the United States Supreme Court was denied by Justice Clarence Thomas). After fighting the good fight and paying multiple fines (one of which was ten thousand dollars), Osborne figured he'd have to pack them in. Step up and take a bow, Mickey Mouse...
In 1995, WDW purchased the entire display and brought it to the Studios. That holiday season, more than four million lights adorned Residential Street, making it the third largest attraction in the park! Since then, the show has grown to over five million lights and Disney has enhanced the spectacle with free holographic glasses and nightly "snowfalls"!

D!

I know for sure it isn't A since that's by my parents house and if it started there I wouldn't have to fly to FL to see it for the first time!

You get a point!

D. Little Rock, Arkansas
Due to legal issues was turned off in 1994. In 1995, it was moved to the then MGM Studios in WDW on the no longer in existence "residential street". When LMA was created it was moved to the current location in "streets of America". The original display back in Arkansas did not include any hidden mickeys. The current display does in fact have them.

Ann, you also get a point for the correct answer. Plus bonus points for the year it was brought to WDW, the current location, and the hidden mickeys. Total 4 points.

118 days until Disney. Many attractions in WDW have two separate entry lines, usually a left and a right. Which of these has only one?
a.) Space Mountain
b.) The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
c.) Pirates of the Caribbean
d.) The Haunted Mansion

Answer: d.) The Haunted Mansion.
Each of the other rides has a left and a right queue line. Here's a tip: You should usually try to take the queue on the left when given a choice. Why? Well, most people tend toward the right side. Thus, the line on the left will usually be shorter.

Hmm, since I only ride two of those..and one of them I know has two lines...

D. The Haunted Mansion

Here in WDW it is located in Liberty Square.

In DL however it is located in New Orleans Square and if memory serves has a different queue than in WDW. One line becomes two and then one again. Of course, it has been since 2007 since I have been there...so

Point for the correct answer. Plus bonus points for the photos, and locations at both WDW and DL. Total 5 points.

Look at Ann, racking up all those points for the great information! I am tired...so I am going to bow to her today. But my answers and D and D!

She is ON today! You do get points for both correct answers!

Point tally (revised for Ashley's posts just before mine):
Ashley - 9
Amy - 4
Ann - 20
Tammie - 23
tankgirl - 5