My Favorite WDW YouTube Channel : "See Ya Reel Soon"

I love this Youtube channel, called "See Ya Reel Soon". It is a series of vlogs from WDW (mostly) by Ashley and Joe, and they are so wonderful.

They are such a happy and sweet couple, I love being a small part of their WDW vacations! They include lots of great footage from around the parks and resorts at all different times of the year, including holidays.

Check out this one to see what I mean. After watching this video (a couple times), I liked the song so much I even bought it on iTunes (you buy it here: Katie Sky "Sweet, Sweet, Melody")




Their most recent video, below, is definitely my favorite so far. Check it out, especially the 7:30 mark...!!



I hope I get to run into Ashley and Joe someday at the parks!

If you want to follow them on Facebook you can follow them HERE.

They are also on Twitter!

Goodbye SpectroMagic

This post is overdue, but I wanted to bid SpectroMagic (1991-1999, 2001-2010) my fond farewell, as it will never be returning to any Disney park.   SpectroMagic's music was beautiful, emotional and varied. The costumes and floats were beautiful, and it was a lovely experience.

I will always remember my first trip to WDW, 10 years old or so, SpectroMagic was new and it was my last night before flying back home to the cold northeast...and I was crying. The music, warm weather, happy memories, were wrapped up in a lovely experience with SpectroMagic.

I brought my boyfriend to WDW a couple of years ago (his first time!) and I was sooo excited to show him SpectroMagic....and then to my complete shock it was the Main Street Electrical Parade instead. We asked the front desk when SM might come back, they didn't have an answer. I was crushed.



Still today every time I listen to the SM music I get misty, especially now knowing we will never see it again.

The Main Street Electrical Parade is fine and serves the purpose for a night parade, but I'm simply not a fan.  I know it's "a classic" and all that, but I really don't like it.  I'm a musician, so the biggest problem I have with it is the music. It's repetitive, boring, and grates on my nerves after listening to the same dumb 8 bars looped over and over for 10 minutes straight.

Compare that to SM's thoughtful lyrics and varied melodies, featuring different voices, sound effects, and characters...there is no comparison.

I hope WDW works to produce a new night parade to replace the Main St. Electrical, although SpectroMagic will be a tough one to beat...it even had Chernabog and Night on Bald Mountain! My favorite part.


On this magic night, 
A million stars will play beside us, 
Cast a spell of light, 
Glimmering, shimmering, carousel-ling 
'Round the world tonight,
A symphony in SpectroMagic.
Pure enchantment lights our way!

[JIMINY CRICKET]
"Welcome to the splendor, the spectacle, the sparkling sensation, where the comedy and thrill of Disney fantasies come to electric life.

And now, the Magic Kingdom proudly presents, in a million points of musical light, the magic worlds of Disney...in SpectroMagic!"

Music surrounds us
Laughter that found us 
Twirling around this
Carousel of light and laughter!

We shall remember 
This moment together
Let this night forever 
Live in our dreams!

On this magic night, 
A million stars will play beside us, 
A special spell of light, 
Glimmering, shimmering, carousel-ling 
'Round the world tonight,
A symphony in SpectroMagic. 
Pure enchantment lights our way!

Music surrounds us 
Magic around us 
Twirling around us
Carousel of light and laughter!

Though we say goodbye
We cast a spell that won't be broken 
Let this night forever 
Live in our dreams!

[JIMINY CRICKET]
So long! Se ya later!

On this magic night, 
A million stars will play beside us, 
A special spell of light, 
Glimmering, shimmering, carousel-ling 
'Round the world tonight, 
A symphony in SpectroMagic. 
Pure enchantment lights our way!

[JIMINY CRICKET]
So long! I'm Jiminy Cricket...in SpectroMagic!

"A Model Day"at Disney World - Tilt Shift Video

I haven't posted anything for a while and this video made me smile. Wanted to share!



Or if you prefer Epcot :)

Starbucks in the Disney Parks - starting June 2012

Yes. That's Mickey Ears on Mrs. Starbucks or whatever her name is.  Starting in June 2012 the first of six themed Starbucks locations will open in Disney's California Adventure. Starbucks coffee will be served INSIDE the Disney Parks. 

According to Disney Parks Blog, "The café will serve Starbucks items, including coffee and espresso beverages, Frappuccino® blended beverages, and signature breakfast sandwiches and pastries. Guests also will have their choice of Disney favorites, including signature sandwiches and other items, as well as delicious desserts and sweet treats."

OK, that sounds lovely, but I have mixed feelings about this.

Disney knows food. It knows themed dining. It certainly knows customer service.  Why do they need Starbucks to step in for the assist with this?  I’m no coffee aficionado, but seriously, the coffee selections in Disney parks are um, sub-par, to put it lightly. So I guess the quality will improve, that’s one good thing.

Which brings me to my devils-advocate point I’m trying to make here. As I said, Disney knows how to do food, they know how to do themed dining, but for some dumb reason they don’t know how to do coffee. The Nescafe insta-crud they offer for their coffee selections in the parks is barely drinkable. So… if their coffee is bad, which it is, and they have the money to hire the know-how, which they can…why don’t they just make the coffee better?! Doesn’t that sound a tad more reasonable than bringing a chain restaurant inside the parks? 

Outside the parks, anything goes as far as I’m concerned. Outside the parks is the “real world”.  For example, I live in Manhattan, so what does Starbucks remind me of…morning commutes, crowded subways, long lines, and cubicles.  Not exactly a fantasy world.  Starbucks serves its purpose in the real world, providing caffeine fixes for millions of people day in and day out.  But I don't want it in my fantasy world.

Inside the parks is not the real world, it’s fantasy world, a happy place where cubicles, deadlines, commutes, and emails don’t exist.   I don’t want to be reminded of the real world when I’m at a Disney park.  I go to Disney specifically to escape that very drudgery.   But now we’ll be surrounded by cups plastered with that smiling green Mrs. Starbucks, to remind me that the real world is still out there…waiting for me to return.

The Disney Starbucks locations will no doubt be themed and lovely in every way. They’ll be aesthetically beautiful, service will be excellent, the drinks will be varied and palatable (Not to mention ridiculously overpriced). You’ll be able to get your ‘Venti, Non-Fat, No Foam, No water, 6 pump, extra hot, chai tea latte’ (wtf? I never know how to order at Starbucks).  Just how you like it...every day on your commute to work. It will be familiar and that will make us happy. To get the same stuff we enjoy in the day to day "real world".  When "worlds" collide, eh?

Americans like Wal-Mart, too. I don't see that being plunked into Animal Kingdom anytime soon (I shudder at the thought).

Top 10 Don’t Miss and Top 10 to Skip: Magic Kingdom

Space Mtn is a Must Do in the MK.

Note: This Post has 4 Parts

Magic Kingdom

Epcot

Hollywood Studios

Animal Kingdom

--

These Top 10 lists are aimed at adults or teens/big kids visiting WDW.  Except for when I was visiting as a young'un myself and went with my younger brothers and family, I have never been to WDW with children, so I cannot advise for those with young families.

Here are my Top 10 List of Must-Do’s and Top 10 for things you could Skip (if you have limited time in WDW), plus my Quick Serve food faves for those without a minute to spare.

MAGIC KINGDOM

Top 10 Must-Do:

1. Space Mountain – the Mountains are all a Must-Do. Period. No ride in the Top 5 require any explanation. Just do them!
2. Splash Mountain
3. Big Thunder Mountain
4. Haunted Mansion
5. Pirates of the Caribbean
6. Wishes Fireworks – Walt wanted his guests to go home with a "goodnight kiss" every night, so he made fireworks a regular event at Disneyland.  If you're only in WDW for 2 days however, Wishes and Illuminations are the only night shows worth making time for. 
7. Philharmagic – 3D flying carpet chase into the clouds. Enough said.
8. Jungle Cruise – Disneyland Classic. Did you know Walt originally wanted REAL hippos for this ride! LOL. Love that you can get a different Skipper nearly every go-round, which makes for a very different ride each time!
9. Buzz Lightyear – Friendly competition is fun.
10. Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover – I love this ride. I just do.

I can pass on the Main St. Electrical Parade.

Top 10 to Skip:

1. Main St. Electrical Parade – Compared to SpectroMagic, which recently left WDW, this parade is lame. I guess if you've never seen SpectroMagic to know the difference, then check it out. (You will see that I am not a fan of parades in general.)
2. Small World – If you can walk right on to the ride, then go ahead and do it so you can make fun of it...I mean, say you did it. Otherwise, it’s OK to skip.
3. Dumbo / Aladdin – 2 rides, same thing. They go around in circles and up and down for a minute and a half.  Yes Dumbo is on all the TV commercials but anybody that’s been to a local town carnival has probably been on a similar type thing.
4. Astro Orbiters – Line’s not worth it, unless you really get off on heights.
5. Mad Tea Party –Again, since, like Dumbo, it's in all the TV commercials it has the fame, but it’s just a spinny ride, just like any other at any carnival.
6. Stitch’s Great Escape – I keep wanting this attraction to be better than it is. But it’s not.
7. Tomorrowland Speedway – For anybody with a real driver’s license, this is understandably not so exciting.
8. Swiss Family Treehouse – Lots of little kids climbing around.  Not fun. Time-waster.
9. Hall of Presidents – Good only if you need a 20 minute nap in AC.
10. Prince Charming Regal Carrousel – Horsies go around and around, up and down. Just like a carrousel should. It’s very pretty though - great photo opportunities.

Look for this sign for Dole Whip goodness.

Food Favorites (Quick-Serve, since you won’t have time to sit for too long!):

1. Main St. Bakery (Main St.) – Their cinnamon rolls in the morning are just perfect.
2. Aloha Isle (Adventureland) – Dole Whip. Just do it.
3. Casey’s Corner (Main St.) – The best hot dogs in WDW
4. Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café (Tomorrowland) – Huge toppings bar for everything you could want to pile onto your burger. Tip: The terrace is a pretty good spot to watch Wishes while you chow down.
5. Turkey Leg cart (Adventureland) – the Turkey Legs are hilarious, great photo opportunities.  Please read my post about how unhealthy they are though!