Mouse Extra

During my last trip to Walt Disney World, I was hoping to find a good t-shirt dedicated to Epcot’s 25th Anniversary.  I had heard that some merchandise was available, and was certainly aware of many trading pins that have been released for the event, but I was not sure of exactly what was on the racks.  Truth be told, it was not too much.

It’s not like the 25th is plastered all over the park.  I think that many of us who saw the celebration on the internet thought they made a bigger deal of this than they actually did.  Only a few days later there are only the smallest reminders that anything ever happened for the anniversary at all.  Pretty much all you will find is the old-school flower logo behind Spaceship Earth…

And it is accompanied by a fairly nondescript sign…

As far as merchandise is concerned, beyond the pins there really is nothing.  They have released a few retro looking t-shirts that are somewhat interesting in a silly early 80’s sort of way.  But regardless of that, they don’t mention the anniversary at all…

So, am I missing something?  Why would they release a barrage of pins as the only merchandise offered for this event?  Was their more offered during the actual day that I am not aware of?  

Its almost the holiday season at Walt Disney World. The parks will be decorated for Christmas in short order. Santas from around the World will be gracing the World Showcase pavillons. The Osborn Family Lights will soon be dazzling Studio guests. And starting November 12th the “hard” ticket event Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will be packing them in at the Magic Kingdom. Tickets for this event are about $50 for adults and slightly less for kids. The question is, of course, is it worth it?

I must say yes. There are a number of holiday shows going on around the park. These include Celebrate the Season, Twas the Night Before Christmas, and a special version of Wishes. The big highlight is probably the holiday parade which runs twice. Another highlight is the imagineers have created a snowfall to set the mood down Main Street. There are also character dances and, of course, you can meet Santa Claus. An important note about the shows is that many of them play during the day starting in the middle of December just as the crowds really intensify and lines for attractions become virtually unbearable.

You also get holiday treats like hot chochlate, apple slices, and cookies. For real meals, there are unfortunately limited choices. Cosmic Ray’s and the Pecos Bill Cafe are open as are the sit-down Tony’s Townsquare and Liberty Tree Tavern. My suggestion would be to either eat at a Magic Kigdom resort just before the event as crowds can get tough or try Cosmic Ray’s.

For sure the event can get crowded. The number of tickets sold is about 20,000 and most nights sell out well in advance. Tickets go on sale around 6 months before the events begin. The party closes at midnight (give or take) but the crowds begin to thin after the holiday version of Wishes which starts at 9:30. It really drops after the second parade which sets off at 10:45. You want to be around after 11 o’clock as many of attractions are virtually empty. I would do the Mountains during the first parade. Just before and immediately after the second parade do many of the attractions that ordinarily get very busy. We enjoyed Big Thunder 4 times in a row without getting off as it was virtualy empty which is true for much of the park after 11 o’clock. During the early portion of the evening enjoy the shows you want to see. I would watch the second parade as it is much less crowded.

The event is not by any means cheap. Furthermore, the decorations are out for everyone to enjoy all day. Other events like the Osborn Lights are included in your park ticket. Plus, if you’re at the park for the few weeks prior to December 25th, most of the shows play during the day as well, except the fireworks and parade. Still, I think its well worth your time and money, and a fun way to kick off the holiday season.

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

In today’s Suggestion Box I place an idea that is really more of a plea for help than just a suggestion.  I hope if Disney World management reads this they truly understand that distinction.

Dear Mouse,

I don’t just want today’s suggestion…I need it.  Please, in the name of all that is good in this world, can we have some decent coffee!!!

You’ve given us so much to do when we visit.  We are up at the crack of dawn for rope-drop so we can see the e-ticket attractions without waiting in an hour long line.  We spend all day walking miles and miles to great restaurants.  We stay out past the kid’s bedtimes for fireworks, and maybe the adult beverage if we have no kids.  We can squeeze in a few hours of incredibly sound sleep due to exhaustion, but it is never enough after all that activity.  We always wake up excited for a new day, but more and more tired as the vacation goes on.  A nice cup of coffee would make a huge difference.  But no, we can not find such a thing in our resort or even in the parks.

Instead, we buy our refillable mugs out of pure necessity and fill it with something that tastes like someone ran mulch and motor oil in a blender.  It even smells bad as it comes out of the machine.  All the sugar and half and half in the world can not successfully mask the pungent after-taste that stays with you until lunch. 

Isn’t there something we can do about this?  You have so much good food.  Why can’t we have good coffee too?  Can’t we find a good corporate sponsor to take over the coffee contract?  I don’t need Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts.  I’m not being greedy.  All I need is something that is drinkable.  Is this really too much to ask?

Thank you,
An Exhausted Guest

Whenever anyone hears about changes coming to Walt Disney World’s beloved Cinderella Castle, most fans start to develop an involuntary nervous reaction.  The giant pink birthday cake of years past appears in the purist’s nightmares regularly.  So even though the announcement of adding holiday lights seemed to be a good idea, most still were cautious.  Well, this weekend they lit them for the first time and I for one am no longer nervous.  It looks stunning.

According to Disney, this project required 15 miles of cable, 32,000 feet of fish netting, 500 stobes, and over 200,000 twinkle lights.  Now these guys can truly say they have put Clark W. Griswold to shame with this project.

There will also be an appropriate lighting ceremony that guests can enjoy.  Here are some details from Disney’s press release…

Show times will be nightly at 5:45 p.m. Cinderella Castle aglow will also play a supporting role in other Magic Kingdom entertainment such as live stage shows, the nighttime fireworks extravaganza “Holiday Wishes,” and the after-hours Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, a specially-ticketed event featuring the new “Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade.”

Am I the only one who can’t believe how close we are to the holidays?  Where did 2007 go?

Yesterday marked the final day of this year’s Epcot Food and Wine Festival. So let’s finish off our multi part tour of the festival with a stop at the American Adventure pavilion, and some of the new and musical happenings over there.

New to this year’s festival is something called the Pearville Fair.  It is an elaborate, if somewhat offbeat, tribute to…you guessed it…the pear.  You can see culinary demonstrations focused on the pear, as well as buy some pear-related gifts.  And it is all set in a “county fair” type theme.  This one must have been a bit over my head because I just didn’t get it…

Luckily Samuel Adams was back with their Hops and Barley Market only step away.  It has a full selection of Samuel Adams beer, as well as great New England food selections.

Samuel Adams also brought back the “History of Beer” seminar offered just to the right of the American Adventure gift shop.  All in all, the seminar is not bad.  But the name is very deceiving.  Yes, you get free beer, if only a very little bit, and that is always a good thing.  But this is not about the history of beer in America.  It is about the History of the Samuel Adams Company.    Calling anything but that is a bit silly.

Finally the American Gardens Theater is home the Eat to the Beat Concert Series.  If you are lucky, you’ll get a performer you really like.  We got to see the Four Tops, and they were just great fun to watch.  The crowd really responded to them.

My love for the Food and Wine Festival is no secret.  It is something I try not to miss.  Great food, great drink, and great music.  Can it be any better?

Today we walk around the World Showcase Promenade and show you some of the more elaborate displays set up for the countries of the Food and Wine Festival.

An old favorite, especially of the wine lovers, is the Australia area setup over by the Japan Pavilion.  It includes the predictable Shrimp on the Barbie, and a great selection of the country’s wine.  There’s also a gift shop with some aboriginal art and souvenirs from down under.

Located just off the German Pavilion is a fairly large display dedicated to the country of Turkey.  They have, in addition to food and drink, what seems to be a photo opportunity.  There is also a “Grand Bazaar”, which sells exactly what one would expect to see at such a place.

Finally we have an area that is new to this year, dedicated to the state of Oklahoma.  The food includes seared buffalo, and I did find it a bit strange that they put a nice artistic tribute to the buffalo right next to the place to eat it.

Oklahoma uses a potpourri of theme, including Native American and the traditional American Diner, called the Rose Rock.  They also sell some interesting western and Native American pieces.

The festival closes today, so tomorrow will be our last stop on the tour.