Mouse Extra

By now, every Disney fanatic has heard about Summer Nightastic coming to Walt Disney World this summer.  The centerpiece of the marketing program is a return of the famous Main Street Electrical Parade to the Magic Kingdom after a decades’ long absence.  And now we find out that the upcoming run in Florida will be barely over two months long.

Yesterday, the Disney Parks Blog added an update to its original story about the parade’s return informing us that Summer Nightastic will run from June 6 through August 14, a much shorter run than many wishing to see the parade had hoped.  This gives fans just over five months to get to Orlando or risk missing the parade for who knows how long.

In years past I have complained vociferously about this kind of short-term announcement from Disney, but this one takes the cake.  Most often, I have moaned about how long it takes for them to announce the dates for Star Wars Weekends, but at least fans who want to attend that event have a relative idea when it might take place and can start planning accordingly.  This event, containing something nearly every Disney fan over the age of 25 gets overly nostalgic about, was completely unexpected.  And now, we all have only five months to raise funds, find the time to take off from work, and do all the planning.  You think this bugs?  You’re darn right it does!

Last week, Disney World officials announced “Summer Nightastic”, a promotional program for this summer at the Orlando parks.  Like last year’s Disneyland promotion of the same name, Florida officials hope that a one bit of big news for Disney fans combined with few relatively modest changes and a catchy tagline, will be enough to put a sense of urgency into potential visitors.

For the Disney purist, the center piece of this promotion includes something that is certain to be very exciting.  The Main Street Electrical Parade will finally return to the Magic Kingdom.  But truth be told, that is the only part of what has been announced so far for Summer Nightastic that is really worth talking about.  The other elements include…

• A very non-specific announcement of a new fireworks show coming to the Magic Kingdom, which we really can’t get too excited about until we know more about what to expect.
• The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is planning “New lighting effects and the addition of a new drop sequence”.  While new lighting can be interesting, I am not sure what the virtue is of a new drop sequence when the current sequence is supposedly random.  What can be more new and exciting than a random sequence that is new every time you ride?
• A summer concert series at Epcot, which again we can not judge until we know more about it.
• Extended evening operating hours at the Animal Kingdom.  A good idea to be sure, but not exactly earth shattering news.

The obvious conclusion to draw here is that Summer Nightastic is Walt Disney World’s response to the opening of Universal’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter this spring.  But let me give Disney the benefit of the doubt and assume that is not the primary reason for this promotion.  I mean, if someone there thinks this program can compete with Potterland they ought to be fired.

No, Summer Nightastic is just simply too sparse to be considered by anyone with a brain to be an adequate “response” to Universal’s project.  But that shouldn’t take away from the potential positives here.  For the tourist with plans to head to the Mouse this summer, this comes as really good news.  The return of the Main Street Electrical Parade is truly a treat for the longtime Disney faithful.  And how could extended hours and a new fireworks display ever be considered anything but positive?

So rather than dwell on the obvious “could haves” with this promotion, lets just say that Summer Nightastic seems like a nice addition  to the Disney World slate for this year.  We all want more and expect more out of Imagineering.  And while it does seem strange that Disney is obviously allowing Universal to take center stage for the time being, let’s not draw conclusions on what this promotion was intended to do and then criticize it for not achieving a phantom goal.

Perhaps this is no big deal, but McDonalds is definately leaving Downtown Disney. Frankly, Its hard for me to remember it even being there. With the slew of food offerings at Disney I haven’t had the need for the golden arches, but McDonalds has had a long association with Disney.

So what will replace it? Apparently some chicken joint called Pollo Campero. According to the Daily Disney blog, the new chicken quick-service chain will be in place by late 2010.  I have never been there not have I even heard of it, but the chain is international and apparently, serves fresh latin food. Thats gotta be better than McDonalds, right?

Earlier this month we reported on a new waterfront dining spot at the Mexico Pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase.  Now, it seems that is not the only exciting new, and hopefully somewhat affordable, restaurant coming to Epcot.

The official Disney Parks Blog reported yesterday that we can expect the Italy pavilion to add a new “authentic pizzeria” to the list of dining options for guests. 

The new 300-seat restaurant will have traditional Florentine architecture, vaulted-ceilings and outside dining. And the food will be authentic — Italian dishes (complimenting the offerings at Tutto Italia ) and pizza from wood-burning ovens.

The pizzeria will be the newest flagship restaurant in the Patina Restaurant Group’s portfolio. And one of the special touches at the Epcot location will be the water. It’ll be imported from a source where the composition most resembles water used in Naples, Italy, to make the authentic Italian dough.

The pizzeria is scheduled to open in the fall of 2010, as apparently construction has already begun.  If anyone has any info about where exactly in the pavilion this is going to be located, please post it in the comments sections.

Along with the aforementioned addition to Mexico, this looks like it has some serious potential.  For one thing, finally being able to get a decent slice of pizza at Walt Disney World would be a welcome change.  But really, whether this is truly a big deal all comes down to how expensive it is going to be.  If these two new restaurants represent something somewhat more affordable then the average Epcot table-service offering, then they may really be on to something here.

Many people look for ways to experience some of that “Disney Magic” at home. One of the more popular ways to do that is the Disney on Ice shows that are constantly touring the country. I know, for example, one show Lets Celebrate came through my area in November and just this past weekend another show, 100 Years of Magic, was here. I was able to take my two kids to Disney on Ice for the first time.

 And I would have to say, it was OK. First of all, I am not a figure skating fan. I find it very dull. So, I would take this over professional figure skating any day of the week. However, there was portions of the show that were that kind of boring to me. Some parts were way too long, like the drawn out princess ice dancing stuff. Other parts, like the Incredibles scene, were just down right dumb.

Basically, Mickey and the gang come out and introduce abbreviated 10 minute versions of a few Disney movies to short snippets of songs from those movies. They had sequences on Nemo, Alladin, Beauty & the Beast, Toy Story, the Lion King the Incredibles, and Pinnochio. The best of these was probably Mulan. It had the right tempo to it. The Pinnochio scene was well done, as well. I particularly liked the Monstro.

My vote for the best scene in the entire show was the Its a Small World scene where Jiminy Crickett comes out to transport Mickey & the Gang to Disneyland. The skaters were dressed as various dolls from around the country. This was followed by a SpectroMagic parade with lit up vechiles and Mickey floating over them in a balloon. I suppose the good outweighed the bad, and you’re child will likely love the show. Just be prepared from some boredom.

Today’s posting is from Mike, contributing writer to Mouse Extra

It seems that every time I go on vacation to Walt Disney World, especially during my longer trips, I find something else that blows my mind, something new that I happily place on my “you must go back here” list.  This year, that place was Kidani Village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.

I had been to the main Jambo House portion of the lodge a few times in the past, but never stayed there.  During those visits, we went there just to eat at Boma, and maybe added in a few extra minutes to wonder around the place.  But we never stopped really to appreciate it.  However, earlier this month as fate would have it, thanks to not being able to book our first choice of the Disney Vacation Club resorts for our stay, we finished our vacation with three nights in a Savanna view room at Kidani Village, and I didn’t want to leave.

Things couldn’t have worked out better for me.  Our entire vacation was spent during a historic cold-snap in Florida that made touring the parks difficult, and spending anytime at a pool was out of the question.  Daytime highs rarely eclipsed 50 degrees during our stay, so by the end of a week I was pretty much frozen solid and ready to relax indoors.  Plus the marathons that weekend made getting to the parks in the morning an impossibility, so we were stuck in the hotel.  But thankfully Kidani Village, and the entire Animal Kingdom Lodge complex, supplied the perfect setting for just such a lazy weekend.

Of all the hotels I have stayed in on Disney property, none possesses that “magic” we all love as much as the Animal Kingdom lodge.  It is a totally immersive experience from the minute you walk through the lobby doors.  The Jambo House is gigantic, and very, very impressive.  But I actually enjoyed Kidani Village a bit more.  It has a more intimate atmosphere which brings the African theme and details into more focus for the guests and enhances the overall experience.  Also, even though the Savanna and the viewing areas may be larger at Jambo House, at Kidani Village you feel like you are right smack down in the middle of it.

During our lost day, when getting to the parks was impossibly difficult and it was too cold and rainy anyway, my wife and I made a day out of the Animal Kingdom Lodge.  We took a free guided tour of Kidani Village where our cultural representative talked about the artwork and artifacts, the African design influences and inspirations, as well as some information on the animals at the Village’s two Savannas.  He was informative and entertaining.  It really made us appreciate how above and beyond the normal designing of a resort Disney’s Imagineers went when dreaming up this amazing place.

Both sections of the Animal Kingdom Lodge are filled with amazing pieces of artwork and artifacts, most of which come directly from Africa.  At Kidani Village, the details are presented within a theme in different areas of the resort.  You will find beautiful shields, masks, and even a belt worn by a king.  Inside the Palace Library, a wonderfully warm area off the lobby with a terrific fireplace and panoramic view of the Savanna, you will find so many incredible details that it is almost too much to comprehend without asking a few questions of a cast member. 

If you get there, check out these large tapestries hanging next to the fireplace pictured below.  Even though they look authentically African, these were made especially for the Disney Vacation Club as the names embroidered on them are the first 600 DVC members.  It’s a terrific tribute and act of appreciation.

Later in the afternoon, my wife and I spent some time at the bar in Sanaa, the Indian and African inspired restaurant at Kidani Village.  Unlike the more popular restaurants at the Jambo House, Sanaa has a gorgeous ground level view of the Sunset Savanna.  As strange as it may seem, it makes you feel like you are eating alongside the giraffes and zebras.  The bar itself is set off the windows a bit, but still has a great view.  Unlike the open and noisy Victoria Falls in the main building, Sanaa’s bar is cozy and very inviting.  I would recommend it alongside any other drinking space found in the Disney Resorts.

What you will realize is that you become attached to the animals and completely fascinated by these magnificent creatures.  Every time you enter your room, you will head straight to the sliding-glass door to see who is out there.  Every time you walk down the hallways or enter the lobby, your gaze will find its way out to the Savanna.  The animals are outside 22 hours of the day, so even when you get up late at night to head to the bathroom or get a late-night snack, you will somehow find it necessary to take a peak outside.  There is nothing cooler than peering through the darkness and seeing the white stripes of a zebra strolling along outside your window.  There is no doubt you are in someplace you have never been before.

Sure, there are resorts with better access to the theme parks, but the Animal Kingdom Lodge is worth the extra ten minutes in travel time, especially if you want to take some time away from the parks to relax and really enjoy what the Imagineers and Mother Nature can do.