Your best Disney fact or insider story...

[bcrook]

Maybe they will pull a huge surprise and renovate them both. But I would miss that train. But right now, it looks like festival of lion king is moving and Rafiki is not.

 

[PrincessTori96]

for Fantasia references

in the Great Movie Ride there's a Fantasia area (brief but there).

Also at the end of GMR when they're showing the movie clips there's one of the hippo dancing

I would think there would be something in One Man's Dream but I"m drawing a blank

of course you can meet Mickey as Sorcerer Mickey in DHS

Isn't Philharmagic a play on Fantasia?

There's a Sorcerer Mickey on top of the Animation Courtyard building as I recall

Technically it's a 3-D movie about Donald trying to get mickey's sorcerer hat back in time for the orchestra to begin on time. I guess you could count it but the only reference to fantasia is the hat.
And yes there is a sorcerer mickey on the top of the sign of the magic of animation building.

 

[bcrook]

In Ellen's universe of energy, the dinosaur fighting scene is an homage to the Rite of Spring in Fantasia. I think that scene was in the 1964 Worlds Fair too.

 

[bcrook]

If I remember right, there is quite a bit of fantasia imagery in the Contemporary Lobby.

 

[amfie928]

I took the Keys to the Kingdom Tour in the MK and the guide told us that the Walt/Mickey statue and the Roy/Minnie statue are purposely placed in their spots as if Walt is pointing to Roy and telling his buddy Mickey that he can look to his brother when he is gone. Brought a little tear to my eye!

I took the KttK tour too and didnt hear that one. But that makes me all warm and fuzzy inside! When we were in the utilidors our tour guide stopped at the photograph of opening day at MK. Roy was scheduled to make a speech to welcome everyone. He was very sad that his brother wasn't there to see his dream come to life. He was sitting on a bench and all the big wigs were telling him it was time to go. He said he needed a minute. A CM came and sat next to him and talked quietly with him. When the CM left they asked Roy if he was ready and he said he needed a few more minutes.

The CM came back with Mickey in tow. Mickey sat next to Roy and put his arm around him. Roy looked at Mickey and took his hand and said now he was ready. And Mickey stood next to him during the speech. He wasn't supposed to be there but since that day Mickey is at every opening at WDW. For Roy, Mickey and Walt were one in the same. So having Mickey beside him was like having Walt there too.

I was a sobbing mess when she told that story!

 

[maddiebee]

I took the KttK tour too and didnt hear that one. But that makes me all warm and fuzzy inside! When we were in the utilidors our tour guide stopped at the photograph of opening day at MK. Roy was scheduled to make a speech to welcome everyone. He was very sad that his brother wasn't there to see his dream come to life. He was sitting on a bench and all the big wigs were telling him it was time to go. He said he needed a minute. A CM came and sat next to him and talked quietly with him. When the CM left they asked Roy if he was ready and he said he needed a few more minutes.

The CM came back with Mickey in tow. Mickey sat next to Roy and put his arm around him. Roy looked at Mickey and took his hand and said now he was ready. And Mickey stood next to him during the speech. He wasn't supposed to be there but since that day Mickey is at every opening at WDW. For Roy, Mickey and Walt were one in the same. So having Mickey beside him was like having Walt there too.

I was a sobbing mess when she told that story!

aaaaaand now I'm a sobbing mess.

 

[meliss8599]

aaaaaand now I'm a sobbing mess.

Ditto!!!!!!!!!!

 

[tjmj9801]

aaaaaand now I'm a sobbing mess.

Same here. Wow!

 

[Amyz00]

I took the KttK tour too and didnt hear that one. But that makes me all warm and fuzzy inside! When we were in the utilidors our tour guide stopped at the photograph of opening day at MK. Roy was scheduled to make a speech to welcome everyone. He was very sad that his brother wasn't there to see his dream come to life. He was sitting on a bench and all the big wigs were telling him it was time to go. He said he needed a minute. A CM came and sat next to him and talked quietly with him. When the CM left they asked Roy if he was ready and he said he needed a few more minutes.

The CM came back with Mickey in tow. Mickey sat next to Roy and put his arm around him. Roy looked at Mickey and took his hand and said now he was ready. And Mickey stood next to him during the speech. He wasn't supposed to be there but since that day Mickey is at every opening at WDW. For Roy, Mickey and Walt were one in the same. So having Mickey beside him was like having Walt there too.

I was a sobbing mess when she told that story!

That is just so sad and sweet all in one. What a touching story. Thanks for sharing. And now I'm a mess.

 

[richard39]

No way! That is good story whether it is true or not!

It is they discussed this during the segway tour at epcot this past june also you can see the top of tot over morroco

 

[richard39]

This is definitely the idea behind the suite... but Tom and Suri got up there somehow.

Tom Cruise donated a million dollars to walts charity to get suri to stay there one night!!

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I know there is or has been a topiary in Epcot of Sorcerer Mickey with the brooms. Its definitely in Future world, but heading toward Mexico in World Showcase. I hope that makes sense.

I am enjoying these stories.

Ok, I just thought of something...from Bay Lake or the backside of the resort...the windows on the Wilderness Lodge looks like a bear. I almost walked off a staircase getting back to my room while looking at it.

 

[FuzzyLump502]

I took the KttK tour too and didnt hear that one. But that makes me all warm and fuzzy inside! When we were in the utilidors our tour guide stopped at the photograph of opening day at MK. Roy was scheduled to make a speech to welcome everyone. He was very sad that his brother wasn't there to see his dream come to life. He was sitting on a bench and all the big wigs were telling him it was time to go. He said he needed a minute. A CM came and sat next to him and talked quietly with him. When the CM left they asked Roy if he was ready and he said he needed a few more minutes.

The CM came back with Mickey in tow. Mickey sat next to Roy and put his arm around him. Roy looked at Mickey and took his hand and said now he was ready. And Mickey stood next to him during the speech. He wasn't supposed to be there but since that day Mickey is at every opening at WDW. For Roy, Mickey and Walt were one in the same. So having Mickey beside him was like having Walt there too.

I was a sobbing mess when she told that story!

Sounds like you had Ray.... She was our guide and was above and beyond magical

 

[bcrook]

I know there is or has been a topiary in Epcot of Sorcerer Mickey with the brooms. Its definitely in Future world, but heading toward Mexico in World Showcase. I hope that makes sense.

I am enjoying these stories.

Ok, I just thought of something...from Bay Lake or the backside of the resort...the windows on the Wilderness Lodge looks like a bear. I almost walked off a staircase getting back to my room while looking at it.

The wilderness lodge part is new to me. Also very funny! I will look for that. I will be careful!

 

[Chuckers]

I know there is or has been a topiary in Epcot of Sorcerer Mickey with the brooms. Its definitely in Future world, but heading toward Mexico in World Showcase. I hope that makes sense.

Did they move it, because I could swear there is one in HS too... (or did someone mention that and I missed it?)

 

[PrincessTori96]

Did they move it, because I could swear there is one in HS too... (or did someone mention that and I missed it?)

I believe it is now outside the gates of HS.

 

[lucas]

I took the KttK tour too and didnt hear that one. But that makes me all warm and fuzzy inside! When we were in the utilidors our tour guide stopped at the photograph of opening day at MK. Roy was scheduled to make a speech to welcome everyone. He was very sad that his brother wasn't there to see his dream come to life. He was sitting on a bench and all the big wigs were telling him it was time to go. He said he needed a minute. A CM came and sat next to him and talked quietly with him. When the CM left they asked Roy if he was ready and he said he needed a few more minutes.

The CM came back with Mickey in tow. Mickey sat next to Roy and put his arm around him. Roy looked at Mickey and took his hand and said now he was ready. And Mickey stood next to him during the speech. He wasn't supposed to be there but since that day Mickey is at every opening at WDW. For Roy, Mickey and Walt were one in the same. So having Mickey beside him was like having Walt there too.

I was a sobbing mess when she told that story!

Our guide, Jessica, told us that story, too. It choked everyone up.

 

[lucas]

Re: the smells being pumped out in Magic Kingdom....

I just took the KTTK tour 2 days ago. They will no longer be pumping smells out of the bakery. They repositioned the vents for the ovens and you can smells the baked goods that way now.

Thank you for that! That is what they told us on our recent tour, too. Now I know I didn't dream it!

 

[lucas]

What is your source for this?

I think saying that a Victorian seaside resort matches up with turn of the century small town USA is a real stretch.

My source is my once upon a time class

Im just relaying what they told me, I'm not sure I believe it because of the grand, but its architecture does somewhat fit in with main street in the sense that they are close to the same time period. But my biggest problem with it is where would the venetian and the other planned hotels fit in, i mean the persian resort could fit into adventure land but its a bit of a reach

Found this about the Grand Floridian:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disney's_Grand_Floridian_Resort_&_Spa

"The hotel was inspired by the Victorian era beach resorts built along Florida's east coast during the late 19th century and early 20th century; its exterior is modeled after the Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire and Hotel del Coronado in Coronado, California, with red gabled roofs and white walls. Additional design inspiration was taken from the Belleview-Biltmore Hotel in Belleair, Florida. The resort's outer lodge buildings — Sago Cay, Sugarloaf Key, Conch Key, Boca Chica and Big Pine Key—are named for islands in the Florida Keys.

Initially, Walt Disney wanted a Polynesian resort (reflecting Adventureland), the Contemporary Resort to echo Tomorrowland, and other resorts that mirrored the 'lands' of the Magic Kingdom. Main Street and The Grand Floridian act as analogous reflections."

 

[Leeanne]

aaaaaand now I'm a sobbing mess.

Ditto!!!!!!!!!!

Same here. Wow!

That is just so sad and sweet all in one. What a touching story. Thanks for sharing. And now I'm a mess.

At least I am in good company!!