Not Marty Sklar

I hope to post enough about Mr. Sklar so that his PR people will contact me and magically invite me to dine with him.  A girl can dream, can’t she?

Thanks to prttynpink who suggested the next best thing would be the Walt Disney World experience of “Dining with an Imagineer”.

From the Walt Disney World website:

Dine with an Imagineer at Walt Disney World Resort! During this one-of-a-kind experience, meet up with a Disney Imagineer for a delectable, 4-course meal at one of two Disney restaurants:

• The Bamboo Room of the Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park
• Flying Fish Café at Disney’s BoardWalk

Up to 10 diners can delight in a fascinating discussion with one of the innovative artists who bring the magic to Walt Disney World Resort. To commemorate this special occasion, you’ll receive a souvenir plate that can be personalized by the Imagineer!

*Price: $60.99 Guests 10 and older (6.5% tax and 18% gratuity will automatically be added to the check).

First of all, a very reasonable price for the dinner AND the experience.  An intimate group of 10 would allow for adequate conversation with the Imagineer, without everyone trying to talk over one another.  Both of these restaurants are reasonably quiet so that you could hear what was being said.

I’m adding this to my Walt Disney World bucket list.  Feedback appreciated from anyone who has participated in this venture.  Hoping that you felt it was informative and worth your time.

The Lion Sleeps Tonight

The longer I do this blog, the more stuff I find out about Disney World.  I really don’t know everything there is to know, which is why I have not been picked for the Mom’s Panel, and why I started the blog so that I can beef up both my writing and my knowledge.

Mr. T and I try to do something different on each of our visits.  We have taken several backstage tours, and because of suggestions from my blog readers, I am adding new stuff daily.

I recently was made aware of the Wild Africa Trek.  From the Walt Disney World website:

Join the ultimate animal adventure! Journey deep into Pangani Forest on a thrilling, privately guided expedition featuring close encounters with exotic wildlife species. Get closer than you ever dreamed possible to Nile crocodiles and massive hippos. Venture on to a VIP safari across an open savanna teeming with native African creatures!

Once-In-A-Lifetime Experiences

Dozens of massive Nile crocodiles patrol the jungle riverbed. Mammoth hippos move deftly underwater. You are there to see it all!

Adventurers are fitted with an expedition harness that attaches to an overhead track. Once your group reaches the riverbank, get a stunning look at the hippos, just 10 feet below. After a seemingly precarious trek across a rope bridge dangling over a throng of enormous crocodiles, experience another unbelievable view as you hang over the crocs’ riverbed lair!

VIP Safari

Enjoy a brief hike onto a sweeping African savanna for a VIP safari, including a visit to an exclusive safari camp with incredible views of everything from towering giraffe to powerful rhinos.

True Life-Adventure

Wild Africa Trek is a jaw-dropping journey only a few Guests get to experience. The expedition is a true encounter with African creatures in their native habitat. Come with us on this Disney True-Life Adventure!

Photography

A Disney photographer captures your experiences along the way. When you return home from your visit to Walt Disney World Resort, you’ll receive a photo CD in the mail, so you can relive your wild adventure again and again. Photo CD is included in the cost of the tour.

Not being a fan of Animal Kingdom, I do think this one would be a fun time.  Any excursion where I am in a smaller group of people, getting individual attention, and participating in an exclusive experience is something I’m on board for.

For more information you can view the video at Wild Africa Trek.  If anyone has done this, I would love to hear your feedback.

Twilighter

Image via Wikipedia

I’m embarrassed to say that I am a “Twilighter”. I have not read any of the books, but one recent Sunday, while surfing channels, I started to watch the saga; Twilight, New Moon and Eclipse.   I wanted to see what all the fuss was about, so watched the first movie.  After finishing that one, I was dying to see what came next, and found the second the third movies back to back on On Demand.  After Eclipse, they showed previews from Breaking Dawn, and I just had to find out what was in store for Edward, Bella and Jacob, so went to the movies this week-end and saw the latest installment.

The story probably appeals more to teenagers; two star-crossed teens, one a vampire, the other a beautiful mortal girl, who also happens to be in love with a werewolf.  Far fetched, maybe, but it works.  The special effects showing how the vampires move around is pretty cool, but what really makes these movies special for me is the cinematography.  The locations in Oregon, Washington state and California are breath-taking, and I want to live in the house that the Cullen’s live in; floor to ceiling glass windows surrounded by forest.  Research on the web shows that this is a private home, the M1 residence in Forest Park, Portland.

Don’t let the second movie “New Moon” keep you from watching the third and fourth installments.  New Moon was kind of a drag, literally, but does set things up nicely for Eclipse.  And now, “Breaking Dawn” is only Part 1, so they have me hooked for whatever comes next.

Are you a Twilighter?

Dining with Mr. Disney

Image via Wikipedia

One of my prized possessions, is a picture, given to me by my mother, which says ” If favors are allowed…May I dine with Mr. Disney and dance with Fred Astaire?”  The artist is D. Morgan and is signed, from 1988.  The picture hangs prominently in my bedroom, and reminds me of the possibilities of having these favors granted, metaphorically, of course.

I was recently reading about a man who probably dined quite a bit with Mr. Disney, Marty Sklar, the leader of Walt Disney Imagineering.   He is the only Cast Member to have been involved in every single Disney park opening.  He retired from Disney in 2009 and his memoirs will be published sometime next year.

In the Disney Files magazine, he recounts the very early days of Walt Disney World from standing on the 100 acre clearing where the Magic Kingdom was going to be built to the opening of the park on October 1, 1971 to a crowd of 10,422.  McCoy Field, now known as MCO, Orlando airport, had only seven flights per day in 1967.  In 2010, daily flights numbered 878. Lots of other interesting facts and figures that us Disneyphiles will find interesting.

But, back to dinner plans.  Since I can’t dine with Mr. Disney, Marty Sklar would be the next best thing. Imagine all the stories that he could tell!  Mr. Sklar, I’m free whenever you are.  Just tell me when.

Welcome Home (for a price)

If you are a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) member, you know the phrase “Welcome Home” quite well.  This salutation is used extensively by the guards at the gates, as well as the front desk cast members at your resort. While browsing through my “Disney Files” magazine today, I noted with interest, a new “Welcome Home” package being offered.

The package consists of a Welcome Home sash on your villa room door, balloon, plush toys, cookies, backpack,travel blanket, and artwork signed by Mickey Mouse.  This all can be yours for the reduced member price of $295.00.  Yikes!  I’m not sure if this whole thing comes under the heading of “priceless”;  when your little Mouseketeers enter their room and see the swag laid out before them and squeal with glee, or if this is just WAY too much to spend for a few minutes of enjoyment.

What say you, readers?

Related articles

• Welcome home! (disneyliving.wordpress.com)
• Vacation planning (mindlessoptimism.wordpress.com)

Christmas Comes Early

I try to dedicate my blog to Disney stuff, but I feel compelled to write about my sister.   If you have been reading, you know that she has been fighting cancer.  Today, her doctor spoke the words that she has been waiting to hear; cancer free!  Her 18 month journey has been tough, to say the least.  I want to celebrate her courage, and the early Christmas gift that her friends and family have received.

She has been keeping a journal at Caring Bridge.com, which is like a blog for those facing serious illness.    I would like to share part of her journal regarding what she has learned from cancer. ( I have to admit that she is a better writer than I will ever be.)  Her words are so inspirational that I think we all can benefit from at least one, if not all, of the lessons that she so eloquently expresses.

Things That Cancer Taught Me

To be patient with my body – The journey through treatment and chemotherapy was long and filled with suffering and the journey home, body weary and bruised, may take a long time, maybe for the rest of my life.

To celebrate each day – I can’t know if cancer will make another appearance but I know for a fact that I will die of some cause, some day – just not today. I will therefore celebrate each day until I have no tomorrows left.

To love the ones who love me – I know who my true friends are now and – though I never doubted my family’s love – cancer has helped underline and establish it’s importance. The people who love us are the most important people in our lives. I tell them I love them – and show it – every day.

To be kind to others – I have no idea why a stranger didn’t return my smile or the cashier at the store was crabby. I have not walked in their shoes and don’t know their back story. So I ask. I listen. I am kind to everyone. And I try to express the empathy I have been so blessed to receive.

To not sweat the small stuff – In the scheme of things, being late, chores not being done, and other little things are insignificant. I do my best and try not to worry about the rest.

To be humble – Spending five months completely hairless, swollen from steroids, nauseated every second of every day, avoiding mirrors, worrying that I was going to die a bald, bloated, cancer-riddled woman has a way of humbling a person. Undergoing cancer treatment has given me a universal smack down – a cosmic lesson in humility – and for that I am grateful.

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Generations

When our girls had grown up, we made the decision to save quite a few of their toys and stuffed animals.  The other day, it finally came time to dust them off and bring them out for my grandson.

The little guy really loved the bean-bag Pooh, Tigger, Rabbit, Owl and Eeyore, and that’s because I read a Pooh Golden Book to him when he sleeps over. (a remnant from my girls’ library)  I began to wonder at the generational appeal of Disney.

Pooh is not really Disney (A.A. Milne if we’re being picky), but Disney has perpetuated the Pooh stories and characters.  Same with the main characters of Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Goofy.  My girls grew up with them, and now my grandson will, also.

I remember some of Mickey Mouse when I was growing up.  I do have a vague memory of my Dad having an 8mm movie of Steamboat Willie, (which was probably worth a lot of money, but no one knows what happened to it, and my Mom has since moved from that house).  I watched the Mickey Mouse Club with Annette Funicello and Bobby Burgess and Cubby, and when we got a color TV, I was glued to the set on Sunday nights to watch “The Wonderful World of Color” hosted by Walt Disney.  My favorite episodes were those that were filmed in Disneyland and I remember always wishing that I could go there.

The enduring message of the characters and Disney is one of good-versus-evil and the childlike innocence in all of us, which is why there is such a generational appeal.  My grandson recognizes Mickey and Minnie Mouse and the other characters, and that makes me smile.  I wish for him the joy that I have experienced with all things Disney, and hope that I am alive long enough to see him pass it on to his children.

Pixar is genius!

I recently sat down to watch “Cars 2”, with my 2-year-old grandson, and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the movie.  He was good for about 30 minutes or a bowl of popcorn, but I was enchanted.

If you think this movie is just for kids, think again.  It’s probably more for adults.  The movie is a spoof on the James Bond genre, complete with pulse pounding action in the opening scenes.  McQueen and Mater travel to Japan and Europe for the races.  The animation in the Tokyo sequences is fabulous, especially if you’re watching in Blu-Ray.  The gag about the Tokyo toilets is hilarious, and also watching Mater eat wasabi.

It is sometimes hard to discern animation from reality because the animation is just that good.  Watch for little nuances in each of the countries, as well as various sight gags. (The Gastro Nomy restaurant in the U.K. is particularly funny)

I actually saw the movie twice; the second time with friends of ours who enjoyed it as much as I did.  Lots of fun, and well worth your time.

Have you seen “Cars 2” yet?  What did you think about the movie?

Let the countdown begin

I’m supposed to be writing a paper for school on  Borderline Personality Disorder, but that is not quite as interesting as planning my next trip to Disney World.

I get a rush when I call Member Services at DVC to make my reservation.  It’s so exciting to choose our dates and hope that we can get the hotel and view that we want.  Luckily, I’m in my 8-11 month window for my home resort;  a 1BR, Boardwalk View, for 6 nights starting Saturday October 20, 2012 was available.  Yeah!  Now I can put this date in my new countdown clock, and start planning for the Food & Wine Festival for 2012.

Only 319 more days until my next trip!  It will go by fast.  It always does.  Do you have your Disney trip planned for 2012, or another special vacation?  I would love to hear about it.

Paying It Forward

I really wanted to post every day, but this week was a bit hectic; work, babysitting, Christmas prep, all seemed to prevent me from sitting down and writing.  Life gets in the way sometimes.  What are you going to do?

Today, I want to send my readers in a different direction, literally, to check out some of the blogs that I am following because they really are quite amazing.

• Lesley Carter– amazing photos and adventures from this young woman.
• My Year With The Mouse-Shelby is witty and fun and always posts great pictures of Disneyland
• Mirth & Motivation-always has great quotes and inspirational messages
• Pretty Grievances– funny blog and fashion commentary.
• Alone in Walt Disney World- lots of good Disney information on her page.  The author is a runner and writes extensively about her races, plus has an insight about traveling alone to Disney World.

(click on the name and it will link to their sites)

All of these bloggers also have helped me in one way or another and I would just like to say “thanks” for:  following me, responding on my blogs, blog ideas, inspiration, or pointing me in the right direction.