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Category Archives: Magic Behind the Scenes
Top 5 Ideas For Going Beyond the Attractions
Walt Disney World is one of those vacation spots we feel like we can visit again and again. Not everyone understands that, of course, and we Disney addicts get questions along the lines of “But weren’t you just there?” all the time. What those people fail to understand, and what we Disney addicts love so much, is how different the Disney parks are from other theme parks. Sure Disney has great rides and shows, there is something for everyone, from Expedition Everest to It’s A Small World, but the parks offer a lot beyond the attractions. This fall our family is headed to Walt Disney World for an 8-day trip, our longest in quite a while. Our son will be almost 13 and a Disney veteran. We are of course looking forward to all our favorite attractions, but this year and on future trips we will take the time to explore the parks a little deeper. Here are our Top 5 Ideas For Going Beyond the Attractions.
Imagineering –There are tons of books about Disney Imagineering. I’m working my way through the four Imagineering Field Guides, one for each park, and can’t wait to try to spot all the little details these books point out. The Disney parks were built to be immersive experiences and to tell stories. The imagineering team takes a lot of tricks from cinema to pull this off, such as using forced perspective (building the top of a structure smaller in scale than the bottom) to make structures seem taller than they actually are. They designed the transition areas between the “lands” of the Magic Kingdom to be smooth and not jarring to visitors. They use landscaping and architecture and art and technology in subtle ways to make the guests at Disney parks feel like they are inside another world. These things are meant to be unobtrusive, but we are planning to seek them out and learn a little about what makes the magic work
Hidden Mickeys — These are perhaps the worst kept “secret” in Disney world. There are books and web sites devoted to the search for these sets of three circles resembling in various degrees the familiar head and ears of Mickey Mouse. They can be found all over the place, from the attractions to the restaurants to the resorts. Most are intentional and some are coincidence, but the search is fun either way.
Disney Benchmarks — Surveyors and architects use certain fixed points of reference to help in their design and construction work. Many times, these are brass disks a few inches in diameter set in sidewalks and walls. Disney’s designers use these benchmarks as well, but in true Disney style, theirs are just a bit cooler. There are benchmark disks all throughout the Disney property featuring a stylized globe with Mickey ears and the words “Walt Disney World Survey Marker.” Finding these little disks is tricky as they tend to be in seemingly random places and crowds are usually walking right over them, but there are a few websites that can help. Patty Winter’s Disney Benchmark Pages offers either a latitude and longitude for the benchmarks she and her readers have discovered, or sometimes just a general description of the location. We plan to bring our handheld GPS unit loaded with the coordinates, but most smart phones have a working GPS feature which will make hunting these benchmarks much easier. And we hope to find some not on the page so we can add to the list.
Funky Photography — Everyone gets the obligatory shot of the family at the end of Main Street in front of the Cinderella Castle, right? But the Disney parks offer so much more to even the most amateur photographer if you look hard. Disney is all about detail, the names of imagineers and others on the windows of shops on Main Street and the funny tombstones in the Haunted Mansion queue are just a couple ideas. There’s a lot to see and to photograph in about all the queues for Disney attractions, actually. How about the topiary, or the flowers or the fountains? Looking around you with a careful eye instead of rushing from one ride to the next can be a lot of fun, and who knows, you could end up with some new artwork for the living room to remind you of your trip.
Behind The Scenes Tours — Sure it’s fun to research the hidden side of Disney and then go look for it yourself, but for a true look at what goes on “behind the curtain” you’ll want to try one of Disney’s behind the scenes tours. Disney offers a wide range of tour experiences, allowing you to do everything from get a glimpse into the utilidors under the Magic Kingdom to swim in the dolphin tank at Living Seas. There’s a tour that explores the steam trains, one that focuses on the gardens, one that takes you across a rope bridge over crocodiles and one that takes you behind the scenes at all four theme parks in one day. Some of these tours require park admission and some don’t. Some have age requirements as well. We are looking forward to the big behind the scenes tour ourselves, but need to wait a few years as guests must be at least 16 to participate and our son is only 12.
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Tom Sawyer: the Man, the Myth, the Island
Tom Sawyer: the man, the myth, the island…or the boy, the novel, the attraction.
Samuel Langhorn Clemens, aka Mark Twain, is one of America’s best-known humorists, lecturers and novelists. His The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) launched him to celebrity status, with his subsequent The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885) being considered “the Great American Novel.” Mark Twain’s masterfully written colloquial speech and dialect created lively, authentic characters who, it seemed, lived out the action in front of the reader’s own eyes and helped develop and popularize a distinctive American literary genre.
Twain’s Sawyer/Finn books appealed to Walt Disney as they were set in his familiar boyhood home state of Missouri and they spoke of true adventure, something Walt could never resist. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer chronicled the escapades of a kid who was prone to mischief, loved to explore and often found himself in a heap of trouble.
Of Tom Sawyer, Twain wrote, “MOST of the adventures recorded in this book really occurred; one or two were experiences of my own, the rest those of boys who were schoolmates of mine…Although my book is intended mainly for the entertainment of boys and girls, I hope it will not be shunned by men and women on that account, for part of my plan has been to try to pleasantly remind adults of what they once were themselves, and of how they felt and thought and talked, and what queer enterprises they sometimes engaged in” (Mark Twain, Hartford, 1876, emphasis mine). I think Tom Sawyer, the book and the character, certainly reminded Walt Disney of what he once was, and it’s no surprise he added an entire island dedicated to those “queer enterprises” of youth to his beloved Disneyland Park in 1956. The attraction was also added to the Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom Frontierland in 1973.
At Tom Sawyer Island, kids can relive the adventures of Tom Sawyer and his pal Huck Finn. Located in the middle of Rivers of America, this lush playground is accessible only by rafts that periodically launch from Tom’s Landing near the entrance to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Here the deepwoods mischief Mark Twain’s characters got into along the banks of the mighty Mississippi River springs to life.
Once ashore, kids can scramble up the hill and explore the old windmill. They can hide from “Injuns” and discover treasure in cool, dark caves. They can man the guns at Fort Langhorn, watch out for river pirates and escape down the tunnel and across the “barrelly” bridge if the enemy gets too close! And if they trek to Tom Sawyer Island first thing in the morning and discover one of the paintbrushes Tom has cleverly hidden in the scrub, they can return it to a Cast Member and receive a special prize. Tom Sawyer Island is a great place for kids to release some energy (and for their parents to reclaim a bit of their youth).
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Top 5 Imagineering Touches at The Magic Kingdom
Imagineers are mythical creatures that supposedly come out at night throughout the Magic Kingdom. They impishly fly around and tinker with things, always trying to make them better. But when the sun starts to come up in the East, these strange little creatures disappear… until the next night!
And just what do they do during their nocturnal visits? They create little touches that affect our Park experience, whether we realize it or not.
With great difficultly, I’ve managed to discover the TOP FIVE touches, and I will reveal them to you now:
5. Use of Forced Perspective
From the buildings to the vehicles, nothing is exactly what it seems at the Magic Kingdom! The higher something is, the smaller its upper portions become. The farther away something is, the narrower the streets to it become. Only an Imagineer will know all of the tricks used, but everyone will be fooled by forced perspective while visiting the Disney parks.
4. The Hub
Need a meeting place? The Hub. Need a starting place? The Hub. Need a place to relax and watch the World go by? The Hub. Only Walt Disney, the first Imagineer, thought of designing his parks with a central spot. From there, you can reach every land or destination easily and quickly.
3. Textured Walkways
You won’t notice it, but then, you not supposed to. But the next time you walk from one Land to another, look down. You’ll then notice that the ground you’re walking on has changed. From the smooth surfaces of Tomorrowland to the rougher ones of Frontierland, the Imagineers have found a way to get you out of one mood and into another: Your feet. As you’re busy looking up and all around, your feet ‘notice’ a subtle change in the terrain, and immediately your brain starts to shift gears.
But the Imagineers aren’t finished messing with your mind yet…
2. Themed Land Music
Again, you won’t notice it, but even the music changes from one Land to another. But it does so so gradually that your brain just goes along with the cheat. So by varying the terrain and the music, the Imagineers reduce the shock of changing from, for example, a space age environment to an old west environment. And all while you’re happily oblivious!
1. The Weenie
This is my favorite term that Walt Disney ever coined. No, it isn’t a new edible treat, but actually… Cinderella’s Castle! Yup.
Cinderella’s Castle is a great big weenie. Perhaps I should explain! Disneyland broke the first rule of Theme Park layout by having only one entrance. Then went a step further: How do you keep people moving into the Park? The answer: Put a big ‘weenie’ at the far end, hence, the placement of Cinderella’s Castle. It’s so beautiful that you just naturally gravitate towards it. And before you know it, you’re at the Hub, or the center of the Magic Kingdom with every option open to you.
Tricky fellows, those Imagineers. Maybe someday, we’ll be able to catch one, and make him tell us all of the other touches made over the years.
So what’s your favorite Imagineering Touch at the Magic Kingdom, or elsewhere in Walt Disney World/Disneyland?
View of Fantasyland Construction from the Contemporary
Our friends at wdwmagic have posted some “birds eye view” photos of the Fantasyland construction from the top of the Contemporary Resort.
Looks like things are coming along…look at all those rocks! Looks like Belle’s portion of the Fantasyland expansion is coming along nicely…but dear Imagineers and architects…PLEASE HURRY UP!
What part of Fantasyland expansion are YOU most excited about?!
P.S. – Chip posted pictures of the construction as well from his recent trip to Disney World. You can check them out here.
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Top Five Places to Hide Out at Walt Disney World.
As much as I love Disney World, I sometimes need a little break from the frenzy of the parks. Here are my favorite places to hide out and get away from it all. Shhhh, don’t tell anyone, okay?
1. Tom Sawyer Island. This underrated spot is full of quiet, cool spots to lounge around or explore. If the Magic Kingdom gets too crowded, hop on a raft and head over. You can even bring a snack from the “mainland” and find a little spot with a chair and watch the world go by on the other side of the river.
2. Baby Care Centers. Okay, this one is tough because you need a baby (under 3-ish) to use these centers, located in all four parks, but if you’ve got a tot in tow, they can be more than just a place where you can change your baby. There’s a quiet area where she can eat (highchairs are provided) and toddle around safely while you enjoy the cool air conditioning and quiet.
3. The Library at Kidani Village. The library at Kidani Village, part of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, is one of the most private public areas on property. I’m not sure why it’s called a library–it doesn’t have any books. But it does have a beautiful fireplace and comfy couches where you can sit and enjoy a book or just look out on the Savanna. I visited here during my trip in December, and hated to leave. Best of all, it’s almost always empty.
4. The Carousel of Progress. This is one of my favorite attractions, but it’s also a great place to decompress; even little kids snuggle in and relax for a bit. The familiarity of the scenes, the music and the narration all add to the experience. It’s a must-do on every trip.
5. The lobby of the Grand Floridian. Now, I know that the Grand Floridian isn’t what most of you think of when you think “relaxing.” You probably think it’s formal and stuffy. Well I’m here to tell you that you’re wrong. It’s Disney, so it can’t be stuffy and even though the resort itself appears to be quite formal, it’s actually just as welcoming as any other Disney resort. Next time you’re in the Magic Kingdom and you need a quick break, hop on the monorail and head on over. Have a snack or a quick lunch and just relax and take it all in. The lobby is cool, the surroundings are beautiful, right up to the soaring ceiling. I promise you that you won’t feel uncomfortable just stopping by for a quick visit. Then just get on the boat and head back to the park.
For more check out this article Finding peace and quiet at Walt Disney World!
Where are some of you favorite places to hide out? Let me know in the comment box below.
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