Mouse Extra

So here I am, only days away from a trip to Walt Disney World.  I am obviously excited and counting down the days, but this trip offers a new wrinkle that I can never be prepared for.  There is an uncertainty before this trip that I am not used to.

Like most of us that go to the Mouse often, you learn that planning is essential.  For some, myself included, this can easily turn into an obsessive, near clinically treatable, compulsion that begins on that all important 180 day mark.  Those who have let this fixation come close to taking over their entire lives have turned this problem into podcasts, blogs, or other such outlets.  But on this trip, planning was a near impossibility.  (My wife is expecting the nervous twitching to stop soon…)

There was nothing I could do about it.  It’s not just my wife and I going this time.  I can’t keep a plan in my head and spring it on her at the last minute, giving it a clever disguise of spontaneity.  We’re going with my wife’s relatives, and I think she is in some ways enjoying torturing me by giving me little to no information on what they may like to do, where they would enjoy eating, or what kind of attractions they may want to see.  I have nothing to go.  None of Len Testa’s famous touring plans can help me.  I have no idea what to expect or where we may end up.

So I guess I can expect waiting on lines, not making it for rope drop, and eating at places I don’t prefer; three things I haven’t done in years of going to Disney World.  At least I need to prepare myself for it.  Can we still have fun at Disney without hitting the trip planning websites, listening to Matt Hochberg crying about Dinosaur, or without ever even referring to the Unofficial Guide?  I know it sounds tough, but I think I can hack it. 

In fact, I am kind of looking forward to it.  Just letting things happen and see what the Mouse and friends can come up with without months of me planning and scheduling.  I think it can be done.

The Magic Kingdom is a place of wide-eyed wonder and excitement for 4 -5 year youngsters. There is nothing like capturing a child’s first glimpse of Cinderella’s Castle as they ride the monorail from the TTC to Main Street.  And more than any other park, the Magic Kingdom exemplifies what Walt Disney World is to most visitors. This especially rings true for young kids. Today’s article will touch upon the highlights of this park for the Pre K crowd.

Two attractions that set the Magic Kingdom apart from every other non-Disney park are the Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. Both take a light hearted look at fairly dark topics; rampaging pirates and spirits from beyond the grave. Many kids are able to take these rides in stride, grasping the fun tone of them. Our son loved Pirates. He easily handled the skeletons, explosions and creepy plunge into the dark. The Haunted Mansion, however, was a different story. He was terrified from the get-go. We were greeted by the eerie butler to the mansion who instructed us to drag our corpses to the dead center of the room and observe the stretching walls. While waiting in this door-less chamber and watching the walls “stretch”, the butler approached our terrified son to reassure him that, he in fact, was just a cast member and this was all a joke. We had hoped the ride portion would improve things but he covered his face the entire time. So be warned, you may need to make a hasty retreat. Fortunately, the cast members are prepared to leave character and console the younger generation if need be.

Another attraction that many young kids may find frightening is Snow White, which features the creepy witch more than Snow White or the dwarves. Our kids were OK with it, but did not find it as enjoyable as the other Fantasyland offerings such as Winnie the Pooh or Peter Pan. This is also a good age for Mickey’s Philarmagic as these kids tend to keep their 3-D glasses on. Then there is the famous Dumbo, one of Fantasyland’s signature rides. At the risk of sounding blasphemous, our kids were just as happy to ride Aladdin. The lines are generally shorter and many kids today are more familiar with Aladdin than Dumbo.

Like Fantaslyand, Tommorrowland has plenty to do for the Pre-K crowd. Astro-orbiter was a big hit as was the relaxing Tommorrowland Transit Authority (which will always be the Wedway People Mover to us). The best ride in the land for this age is probably Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. Not only is the character very popular, but the video game style of the ride has additional appeal. This is also a good area for lunch as my kids loved Sonny Eclipse, an animatronic alien lounge singer with a long running gig at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe.

And we’d be remiss not to mention the Mountains, the hallmarks of the Magic Kingdom’s thrill rides. Most 5 year olds and many 4 year olds meet the height requirement of Big Thunder, Splash and Space Mountain, the question is should they ride them? I would certainly say yes to Big Thunder which is the tamest of the three. Although our child loved Splash Mountain, many children might have a problem with the height of the ride or show some trepidation as they watch others take the watery plunge. We decided not to try Space Mountain for two reasons. The ride is completely in the dark and was designed to seat one person per row, which can be a bad combo for the Pre-K age.

Other events at the park also can make your day very special. For our son, the pirate tutorial with its dead-on Jack Sparrow impersonator was a huge hit. Toontown is also a cool place for younger kids who might be interested in seeing where Mickey and Minnie live. Goofy’s Barnstormer, a kiddie coaster, is a good test ride for kids who have never tried a thrill ride since it is the shortest ride in the park. Oddly, characters don’t seem to appear for meet-and-greets as much as you would think. We found it easier to mingle with characters at the other parks. We also found Wishes to be slightly inferior to Fantasmic and Illuminations as the day ending event. Still, it is a good show and a nice way to end a magical day.

Today’s touring tip is by Mike and Brooke, contributing writers to Mouse Extra.

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This year is the 12th annual International Food & Wine Festival at Epcot’s World Showcase. Every Fall Epcot throws a culinary party at its lagoon featuring cuisines from around the globe. It was launched on September 28th and will close on November 11th just before Walt Disney World busts out their Christmas decorations.

This year’s festival, like many before it, features many special events. The dining programs can be expensive. For example, you can partake in a specially cooked three course meal from a well-known cookbook author for about $150 per person. To be a part of a PBS kids’ cooking show runs about $165. There is also an event called Exquisite Evenings where a team of celebrity chefs prepares a five course meal based on a region’s cuisine, such as Tuscany or the Pacific Northwest. This event costs more than $200 but unlike the others does not require theme park admission. Most of these events take place in the old Odyssey restaurant.

But don’t forget about the wine part of the Food & Wine Festival. There are talks from wine makers and several wine tasting events, as well. Many of these, however, take place at one of the resorts.

The real highlight of the Festival is the food booths located throughout the World Showcase lagoon. Nations represented by permanent pavillons have booths showcasing things such as pizza from Italy and quesadillas in Mexico. A popular treat is the cheddar cheese soup in Canada. But make sure you hit those countries not ordinarily a part of the World Showcase. From Spain, there is papas con chorizo (a potatoe/spicy sausage combo). The spicy beef empanadas of Argentina are great. You can sample cold potatoe soup from Ireland or butternut squash soup from India. New this year are two Oklahoma booths. One called “Route 66″ features pecan pie and another called “Native America” has three sister soup and seared buffalo.

This is the kind of event that I like at Walt Disney World. It does not require the park to be shut down so another group of tickets can be sold. Its also now an established tradition at Epcot, much like the Flower festival or the Star Wars Weekeneds at MGM. I personally love walking around the lagoon after dark sampling all the different appetizer-sized dishes from Peru, New Zealand and Turkey. Definately spend a meal time there if you’re at WDW in the fall.

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

Todays is part 2 of Mike and Brooke’s guide to touring the Animal Kingdom with toddlers.

Rafiki’s Planet Watch combines entertainment and education for the small ones. Since this attraction is only accessible by train ride, it adds an adventurous flair for children. Designed as an interactive zoo, children can spy through glass while veterinarians perform anything from routine checkups to surgery on different animals residing in the park. Cast members are on hand with such animals as snakes, rabbits and other critters for children to touch and learn about. There is a petting area with goats, pigs, rabbits and other domestic animals plus, Pocahontas, Jiminy Cricket and, of course Rafiki come out periodically for visits.

As mentioned above, there are a few attractions that toddlers cannot enjoy. The most popular being Expedition Everest and Dinosaur. Fortunately near these rides is the Boneyard, a playground that is perfect for little tykes to explore while the adults and bigger kids hit the coasters. Toddlers love climbing around this faux archaeological dig site complete with dinosaur bones and slides (what dig site doesn’t have those?). Another option if near Asia is to take the kids through the Maharajah Jungle Trek to view the tigers, bats and Komodo dragons. Of course, these are also attractions the entire party would enjoy, so multiple trips through this exhibit may be required. The same can be said for the Pangani Forest Trail which features, meerkats, an aviary and gorillas.

We have always found Disney’s Animal Kingdom to be a fun place to shop and so do the kids. It’s emphasis on animals appeals to young children, especially toddlers whether purchasing toys or clothing. Our kids loved their Lion King action figure set and stuffed fruit bat bought outside of Rafiki’s Planet Watch. But they were just as pleased when receiving safari t shirts and Mickey Mouse underwear.

When dining in the Animal Kingdom, there is currently only one sit down restaurant. The Rainforest Cafe features period lightning storms, animatronic jungle animals and huge fish tanks, it is very appealing to kids. However, the park is adding a sit-down place called the Yak & Yeti which will serve Asian food. Plus, the Tusker House is becoming a buffet eatery. Our favorite happens to be the Flame Tree BBQ, with it’s pleasant outdoor setting around a Chinese garden and pond. The tots certainly savored the chocolate covered bananas but had to fend off a hungry Meeko who was trying to steal it from them.

Finally, we would like to mention two things about the Animal Kingdom’s design. First, when its hot out, the pavement in this park can be oppressive. Be prepared to keep the family fully hydrated. Also, the designers of the park inexplicably did not make the pathways wide enough at all. Congestion occurs often mostly around Harambe, on the path to Camp Minnie Mickey and on the path between Asia and Africa. The only theory we have surmised, is perhaps the imagineers wanted to keep the vegetation close enough to give a sense of being in the wild. However, it does not permit three strollers the ability to creep along these paths causing quite a bottle neck at certain times of the day and during busier seasons. Plus, if a character pops out, like Baloo, all traffic comes to a stop. This problem is especially horrendous when DeVine, a lithe woman covered in vines and on stilts parades through different parts of this park. The patrons (especially men) stop in the middle of the path to gawk at her writhe around in an exotic fashion. Still despite these snags, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is fully appreciated by toddlers.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom is often criticized for not creating enough attractions to fulfill a visitor’s day. There are rides, such as Expedition Everest and Dinosaur, that are strictly built for the thrill seekers.  Yet, there are also many walk through zoological exhibits which aren’t found at the other parks, and seem to astonish the youngest guests that roam this exotic Kingdom.

While there may not be many rides for children this age, a toddler can certainly enjoy the Kilimanjaro Safari, one of the best attractions featured in all of Walt Disney World. The tots get a kick out of the collapsing bridge and the race through the geysers while seeing live elephants, giraffes and other magnificent creatures along the way.  Passengers also get the feeling of being transported through the African Savannah when paired with the experienced tour guides Disney so aptly provides. Another good attraction to satisfy a toddler is Triceratops Spin.  Although it is essentially a clone of Dumbo and Aladdin, this ride tends to have shorter wait times and is a great option to take a little one on when the big kids ride Primeval Whirl.

Camp Minnie Mickey is a favorite meet and greet spot for children not intimidated by the sometimes too big characters.  This area is designed with several trails leading to different characters and, although this may not be the best place to do this (since it gets pretty congested), it definitely allows for the most characters in a single area.  However, the biggest event not to miss while venturing through Camp is the Festival of the Lion King.  Our daughter was blown away by this production and literally sat in awe watching the giant elephant “puppet”, the flying dancing woman, the fire dancer and a plethora of other great characters perform for King Simba. The music is well known to kids who are entertained by singing along and making animal noises on cue.  Also, the talent at this show is top notch making it a favorite for adults as well.

Take a trek across the park to Asia where toddlers will also enjoy Flights of Wonder, a bird show that boasts our “feathered friends” quite well. The story is a bit campy but the kids like it.  And they especially delight in the birds flying directly above their heads. Perhaps the most impressive in this show is the large crane that swoops overhead merely missing audience members by inches.  However, one show that might frighten the little ones, is It’s Tough to Be a Bug.  Located under the Tree of Life, this 3D animated movie features some intense moments that may scare the 2 to 4 year crowd.

Today’s Touring Tips is from Mike and Brooke, contributing writers to Mouse Extra.  Check back for part 2, including Rafiki’s Planet Watch, dining ideas and more.

Although Epcot has just turned 25 years old, it is a park that continues to flourish and change since its first rope drop.  In its beginning years, Epcot was chock full of dark rides designed to teach visitors about technology, agriculture and efficient energy use. There were no thrill rides nor characters to meet and whining bored children could be heard complaining from every direction traveled.  Over the years, Disney has redefined this park, even changing its name from Epcot Center to simply Epcot. There are now plenty of characters and a wide variety of attractions created for the preschooler set.

As for thrill rides, there are two that preschoolers will really enjoy. Soarin’ is an attraction even fraidy cats will love. The seats are gently raised into the air and give riders a sensation of gliding over California.  The ride also pumps in different scents throughout various sights of this beautiful state. Test Track takes riders into the career of crash test dummies with 34 turns, 50 degree banking and a top speed on the straightway of 65 mph. While fast, young kids generally handle this ride better than some of the coasters and Tower of Terror.

Mission Space has a height restriction of 44 inches which may leave out some of the 4 to 6 crowd. But for the tykes that can ride, Epcot offers two versions of this attraction.  One with an intense centrifuge and the second tamer version.  The tame version is an easy simulator ride created after a 4 year old boy died while riding the original in the summer of 2005. While a tad claustrophobic, the tame version is perfectly fine to take a preschooler on. The height restriction is only in place due to the seat design (mainly the speakers in the head rest) and locking device. Elsewhere in Future World, hop on Spaceship Earth and Journey into Your Imagination.  Both are dark rides, but Imagination is more whimsical while Spaceship Earth is a relaxing trip through time.

Future World also holds some pleasant surprises for preschoolers. At Innoventions, there is Ice Station Cool, where kids can taste sodas from around the world. Flavors can range from the good, to the odd, to the down right disgusting.  Our son particularly enjoyed the watermelon soda and had plenty of refills. Also, near Mission Space, there is a little water fountain that rises from the ground soaking kids and unsuspecting adults. Many parents don’t sense the trouble until their child is dripping from head to toe. As we have discovered, the kids love it so let them go to town, it is vacation after all.  A little word of advice, though, as we learned the hard way, bring extra clothing for the tykes to change into.  It will save your wallet from having to purchase expensive apparel from nearby souvenir shops.

Nowhere is the evolution of Epcot more apparent than at the Living Seas. At its opening, this attraction contained informative movies followed by a brief ride through the (then) largest aquarium in the country. Outside, the attraction currently features the “Mine Mine” seagulls from the Nemo movie to greet visitors. The ride is entirely devoted to the characters of “Finding Nemo” and ends with the neat effect of superimposing the singing cartoon fish with the real fish in this aquarium. The highlight for many kids of this park is Turtle Talk with Crush, which is truly amazing. In a nutshell, or turtle shell, I suppose, kids sit up front and interact with a cartoon Crush who is animated in real-time behind the scenes.  Kids and adults are typically blown away in a real “how did they do that?” moment. And since the show is animated real-time, each viewing is unique.

Epcot features other great shows besides Turtle Talk. Kids may enjoy Honey I Shrunk the Audience at the Imagination pavilion.  To avoid any fears with this show, our advice is to warn them about the 3-D technology. There are a few parts in this movie that could scare small children.  The effect of mice running beneath their feet, for one, as well as a snake that gets released into the audience can be seemingly too real.

Music shows are popular around the World Showcase Lagoon. Our families like Off Kilter, a Canadian rock folk band, British Invasion, a Beatles cover band, and the Mariachi Cobra who perform outside the Mexican pavilion. Times for these and other performers can be found at the entrance.  But be advised that the Mariachi Cobra sometimes play inside the Pyramid.

While visiting the World Showcase Lagoon, our son especially loved the Maelstrom in the Norwegian pavilion. This attraction is relatively brief, but riders cross paths with vikings and trolls before a quick plummet down a short flume. At the end, guests are deposited into a norse fishing village and a travelogue movie on the country.  Rumors abound that this movie will be upgraded, until then, enjoy the ride but skip the movie.

Food can be a major part of the day at a visit to Epcot. The dining options are unlike any at the other parks of Walt Disney World or of any other theme park. Each country has their own eating establishment and many feature more than one. Also, children do not need to be adventurous diners for parents to taste Morroccan or Norwegian cuisine. Most of the eateries have kids’ menus with the obligatory chicken fingers and mac n’ cheese. We discovered our child loved Alfredo’s for the fettucine and the ability to visit the living statues in the courtyard between courses. Another good option, if not feeling up to a sit down restaurant would be to try tacos and churros at the Cantina in Mexico. Just make sure kids and adults save room for the delectable Haagen-Dazs Mickey Mouse ice cream bars located at various kiosks throughout the park.

After dinner stick around for the fabulous fireworks display Illuminations. Preschoolers will be wowed by the giant floating globe as it opens and creates an amazing display of lights in the nighttime sky while creating a child’s most magical moment.

Today’s Touring Tips is by Mike and Brooke, contributing writers to Mouse Extra