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X-E’s Disney World Adventure – Part 1!

Finally! There was no way I was going to Disney World without writing about it, and after 4,000 hours of labor, here's the first part of my 45 Favorite Disney World Things -- 1-15! You'll see everything from Monorails to Greedo, big bugs, Mickey Mouse and Space Mountain! Three pages worth of SHIT. (I'd intended to make each part of this feature one page, but it's just way too long.) What you'll see is just a random mash of Disney World stuff that moved me while I was there, and a special note for blog readers that isn't mentioned in the article: There's a lot of secret links to movie files, and most of the smaller images can be clicked for larger versions. Disney is worth a bandwidth explosion. Look for Part 2 soon!

Posted by Matt on 06/04/2006. E-mail me!



Discussion Thread: 156 comments

I live in Orlando. I hate the mouse. There is nothing creepier at Disney than its employees. They get paid meager salaries yet their only statement about Disney is (in a zombie manner): "Disney is good, Disney is great…"

Chestnuts roasted by Joe @ 06/09/2006 2:15 PM

all i can think about is how i can see boobies in one picture in the rearview mirror.

Chestnuts roasted by nowaux @ 06/09/2006 3:55 PM

Loved your article. I am a native Floridian, born in Miami, later moved to Gainesville, where day trips on the cheap were easy. Now I have money (well more) and I have to agree with the whole "staying on premises" thing. And Concierge level? AND Super Fast Pass? You were smiled upon by the Rat Gods.

I would have told you to stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge instead of Grand Floridian. Much, much prettier.

I’ve now been to Eurodisney, -World and just recently -Land. Those mourning the passing of Mr Toad’s in DW, take heart: it’s still in DL. As is "It’s A Small World," which was also removed from DW.

As is the original Tiki Room show. DW has a newer one with Iago (Aladdin) and Zazu (Lion King). It pays a humorous homage to the orignal show, and the articulation is just stunning on the ‘bots. The old show in DL still makes great clicking noises from the plastic-moulded beaks.

More trivia: there is a full steakhouse-style restaurant in Cinderella Castle. Which is much, much bigger than Sleeping Beauty’s in DL (the whole of DW is a much larger scale).

Still more trivia: you can buy wine and beer in EuroD in the Magic Kingdom. Not even the Rat could separate the French from their alcohol, bless them. EuroD was an experience. I went there with another American friend of mine. Definitely fun, with things just slightly out of whack from DW. We called it BIZZARO DISNEY, because of this. And the restaurant inside the French Pirates of the Carribean? Oh. Em. Gee. Watch the boaters float by and eat really good french-carribean nosh.

But that’s also why you go to EPCOT. I used to prefer the futury-part, and then I came of drinking age. Start with those Margaritas in Mexico, and by the time you hit Norway, you won’t think twice before trying some domestic Norwegian alcoholic . . . concoction that I can say is definitely made from potato. Yes. Potato. Hm.

Glad you had a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious time.

Chestnuts roasted by Samael7 @ 06/09/2006 5:29 PM

Not sure if someone mentioned it, but that isn’t a Rod Serling lookalike in Tower of Terror – it’s the real deal, with a SOUNDALIKE and some Disney magic.

Chestnuts roasted by Poppa Boner @ 06/09/2006 5:45 PM

Why are our nuts still being roasted?

I just dont understand the hate! You don’t find many places anymore where the employees express genuine concern for the experience of there guests. Sometimes all it takes is a smile. Drink your milk.

Chestnuts roasted by Murdock @ 06/09/2006 7:24 PM

Polynesian resort,breakfast with Lilo & Stitch,Monorails…spicy drinks?!

Get me to Disney World right now.

Chestnuts roasted by Felix @ 06/09/2006 9:50 PM

i literally just walked in the door not even twenty minutes ago from my trip to disney world. i find it somewhat odd that i got home flipped on the computer and checked here to see if it was updated and there is a GIANT article on a place i just was at for an entire week. sppoooooooky!
<3

Chestnuts roasted by Andrew @ 06/09/2006 11:22 PM

Mmmm, you can usually find a real-life substitute in Africa for Disney rides… Take Zanzibar: Little quaint hotels on the sparkling Indian ocean, real dhows, fish markets that smell like…dead fish, diving conditions in perfect visibility, etc. Kenya has game coming out its ears, and some of the trippiest people you’ll ever meet. I met some on our beachfront, selling (guess what?) curios. All the backpackers buy em. Six foot tall ironwood giraffes, guaranteed to make even the most vicious air hostess cry. Lovely stuff.

Namibia has the world’s most awesome dunes, and you can still accidentally meet lions and elephants wandering around the desert at night. They wont eat you – your clothes are too tough. Botswana is picturesque, and nearly the diamond capital of the world. But me home country is still the best: South Africa is Africa lite. You can get the experience without being eaten by Tuaregs. Not that Tuaregs are cannibals, of course. And I’ve always wanted to see Marrakesh… So COOOOME South!!

ps guess who, emperor Klash McCoy…

Chestnuts roasted by arete @ 06/10/2006 6:45 AM

But what of Aerosmith’s Rock and Roller Coaster? Kicked Space Mountain’s ass in my opinion…

Chestnuts roasted by Stimpak @ 06/10/2006 11:37 AM

Great jumbo sized article!

When it comes to me and Disney World, I don’t find it as exciting as so many do. It all has to do with the fact that I went a little too many times growing up. My parents overkilled me with the "Disney Experience."

Chestnuts roasted by Hart704 @ 06/10/2006 3:02 PM

Ohh great article! Makes me soo excited. I’m going to Disneyworld for Halloween. Been almost 8 years since I’ve been there last. And yeah, Haunted Mansion used to be muuch more creepy and such before they revamped it alittle to make it ‘better’. Hehe, I’m gonna be on the edge of my seat to read the rest. ^_^

Chestnuts roasted by Emosewa @ 06/11/2006 1:36 AM

Any time you write "fuck your shit up" and the like, I giggle for ten minutes straight. Looks like you had a kickass time, and I look forward to seeing the next two parts.

Chestnuts roasted by Alex @ 06/11/2006 8:40 AM

When i went to the London Dungeon they had one of those penny pressing machines, but it was free, except well it cost you a penny and you had to turn a handle for it to work. Pretty rocking though.

Chestnuts roasted by Gorm @ 06/11/2006 3:43 PM

I caught this article late, but CardCaptor Loki said something about 20,000 league sbeing replaced with a Nemo ride..I can confirm that, as I manufactured some brackets of some sort for the ride…the blueprint was from Disney, and description about some DW Nemo Project. And this is probably supposed to be confidential. Whoops.

Chestnuts roasted by Bill @ 06/11/2006 10:40 PM

And Matt, if you ever come up to Salem, MA again, I wish you’d give some advance warning. My girlfriend goes to Salem State, and I’m there all the time. I want you to sign my ass so I can get it tattooed or something. This is actually the first time I’ve posted here, but I’ve been reading this site for probably 5 years.

Chestnuts roasted by Bill @ 06/11/2006 10:43 PM

Man, I haven’t been to DW since ’97. I used to live in Gainesville so we had season passes and went about once a month. But I’ve missed a lot since then. I have many fond memories of Disney but after reading this, three in particular came to mind: 1) Being completely terrified of that crazy, evil silver woman(?) creature that came down from the ceiling in the "Captain EO" movie (anyone know what I’m talking about?); 2) Totally crushing on a guy named Sa’ad who worked at the Morocco exhibit at Epcot; and 3) Learning that you should NEVER make out on the Haunted Mansion ride because they have cameras that can see all the action. My high school bf and I used it as our personal "tunnel of love" until we were (politely) asked to "refrain from misconduct" by the attendant at the end of the ride. But I’ve bet they’ve seen worse than first base! Good times! :D

Chestnuts roasted by Jillybeann @ 06/12/2006 12:06 PM

Also, I must shamefacedly admit that there was a time in my ‘tween development that I couldn’t go to MGM without thinking of Disney’s "New Kids on the Block- Wildest Dreams" special that was filmed there. (I was mildly NKOTB obsessed) "This is the street where Joey danced! There’s the gas station where Jon had his ‘date!’ That’s where Donny played Indiana Jones with Danny dressed up as Marion!" Okay, I know that is an incredibly lame memory, but any 27-year-old chicas out there probably know what I’m talkin’ ’bout.

Chestnuts roasted by Jillybeann @ 06/12/2006 12:11 PM

Jillybeann, I know for a FACT that they’ve seen worse than first base. *wink* Who knew there were cameras? And apparently the attendants enjoyed out show a little too much, because we weren’t asked to refrain from anything!

Chestnuts roasted by purplegirl247 @ 06/13/2006 4:40 PM

That Rod Serling "look-a-like" is actually footage of Rod Serling. They spliced footage of old Twilight Zone episodes together to make an all new intro with the voice over recorded by a sound-a-like.

Chestnuts roasted by G0aT CheEZeY @ 06/14/2006 10:40 AM

Dude! Next time you hit Florida, let me know. I’d have gotten you into Disney for free. After working for those greedy bastards, it is my goal to make sure as many people as possible get to enjoy all those kick-ass rides without contributing to the care and feeding of Disney Executives (who eat human flesh of course, and drink Blood mixed with Vodka).

All that having been said, loved part I and can’t wait for part II! :D

Chestnuts roasted by Nicole @ 06/14/2006 12:15 PM

Matt, I hope you got to ride in the front of the Monorail, you can even get a co-captains license if you ask.

Nicole, I would like to be one of the "as many people as possible" that get to enjoy all those kick-ass rides without contributing to the care and feeding of Disney Executives

Chestnuts roasted by Tom @ 06/14/2006 4:45 PM

Fantastic article Matt. Very much looking foward to the continuation.

I went to Florida back in ’92, when I was 7. I have vague memories of Disney, but they are definitely good ones. I aim to go back there one of these days. Its certainly an excuse to have kids!

If I do go back, I’ll have to ride Dinosaur. Phylicia Rashad! HA!

Chestnuts roasted by CWH @ 06/15/2006 8:21 AM

You hit the Polynesian dead-on. I went there a few years back and almost thought I was about to see Thomas Magnum III sitting at the Tiki Lounge with Rick Orville in their garishly tropical early 1980′s garb (ITC Bauhaus fonts and all). Of course, the strange thing about the Polynesian is that while most dated places are run-down, Disney appears to maintain the place rather well. The overall effect is a near-perfectly preserved time capsule.

Chestnuts roasted by Mebaman @ 06/17/2006 1:42 PM

The path you went in is pretty much for groups with wheelchairs to easily get to Tomorrowland without having to go through the large crowded areas. I’m sure if you look in a map it’s labelled as such.

Chestnuts roasted by Will @ 06/19/2006 1:10 AM

Lovin’ this one, Matt. EPCOT is my favorite too. Can’t wait to see your take on it.

If I win the lottery I’ll have them build you your own Spaceship Earth filled with cuttlefish.

Chestnuts roasted by Melanie Lemon @ 06/19/2006 4:13 PM

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This entry was posted on Sunday, June 4th, 2006 at 11:25 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.