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!
REPLIES: 151 comments
Sweeeeet
Chestnuts roasted by Eddie Lightning Frog @ 06/04/2006 11:31 PM EST
YAY! ... But I gotta get up in about 5 hours. Should I feel like I'm at Disney, or sleep? Hmm...
Chestnuts roasted by Ryane @ 06/04/2006 11:36 PM EST
hmmmm... well this is just IMO but i think you should sleep lol its more imoprtant for u 2 rest than to read about sum ones trip lol BTW 3rd post!!!!!!!
Chestnuts roasted by Tougi @ 06/04/2006 11:38 PM EST
Ugh...Sorry. I haven't posted anything here for a while, so, in celebration, I decided to get really Internet-y. It won't happen again.
Chestnuts roasted by Tougi @ 06/04/2006 11:40 PM EST
That Epcot background kept sliding around on me dude. And I thought my pictures I took at the topiary sculpture attraction at the local conservatory were cool. Foiled again. Still love X-E...can't help myself.
Chestnuts roasted by Jessica Marie @ 06/05/2006 12:04 AM EST
So did you see the wierd plant people that hang around Animal Kingdom? One of my fondest memories of a trip i had a few years ago.
Chestnuts roasted by Bizzar @ 06/05/2006 12:16 AM EST
Any thoughts, people, on the removal of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride? Both were there last time I was at Disney (late '80s) but have since departed. Makes me not want to go back as much.
Chestnuts roasted by Thorzul @ 06/05/2006 12:16 AM EST
Maaaann, I haven't been back to DW in ages. They took out Mr. Toad's Wild Ride there? Only Disney ride that would literally take you to hell..XD The 20,000 Leagues ride might be giving way to a FInding Nemo ride; s'what they're doing in Disneyland.
Tower of Terror.....I rode that thing my first time 5 times in one day. They still give out the stickers at the end of the ride anymore in Disneyworld?
Chestnuts roasted by CardCaptor Loki @ 06/05/2006 12:28 AM EST
Matt- Please tell me you had the chance to take a ride or two on the Haunted Mansion! Looking forward to 16 through 45--
Chestnuts roasted by BrianTone @ 06/05/2006 12:32 AM EST
I'm really pissed about 20,000 Leagues. It's the main reason I wanted to go back to Disney someday,that ride was so awesome.
I tried to post this yesterday during all the Youtubery,but the board thought I was spamming it,so I couldn't post. Anyway,click my name for JAPANESE SPIDER-MAN!!!!!!
Live action of course. Spider-Man is the prototype version of the shows that became "Power Rangers" in the U.S.
Chestnuts roasted by Kid Nicky @ 06/05/2006 12:43 AM EST
Oh the flashbacks...I myself visited the Tokyo Diz (I know, not nearly as much stuff) a year ago and was compelled to take the same pics (ie. Cinderella's Nazi inspired castle, day & night).
Looking forward to the rest! (Pirates, et al)
PS: Link for video of Polynesian resort leads back to home page
PPS: Yes, the "breakfast parade" was unnecessarily long
Chestnuts roasted by Mizzat @ 06/05/2006 12:45 AM EST
Looks like I will finally get a chance to use some of my native Floridian/WDW knowledge:
20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA closed in 1994 due to its slow loading time and HIGH MAINTENANCE.
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride closed over Labor Day weekend in 1998 but not without a fight. Click my name to read about the struggle. I have the ride downloaded, it MAY have come from that site.
This is the longest stint in my life between trips to the Magic Kingdom (six years). I think me and Mrs. Manimal will go to EPCOT in the fall. Never been to ANIMAL KINGDOM though.
Special awards go to Pluto for really selling it during the parade (I can't believe I watched that whole video) and to the kid with the RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK shirt on.
Looking forward to the rest of the article with some PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, MAELSTROM, and SPLASH MOUNTAIN action.
P.S. still laughing from the "I LOVE SPICE" remark. 
Chestnuts roasted by The Manimal @ 06/05/2006 12:54 AM EST
Bravo!! That was awesome. Well worth blowing off my own deadlines for...
Just wondering - were the kids in the breakfast parade as miserable in real life as they looked in the video? You're at freakin' Disney World! Smile! (And Pluto was definitely hopped up on something - during his second lap, he was way too excited to be there at 8:00 am...)
Chestnuts roasted by seawoolf @ 06/05/2006 01:00 AM EST
Yes...yes...YES!!!! I should clean that up, I got so excited.
The article was awesome! And you're damn lucky to get those fastpasses & going during Star Wars weekends.
And please tell me you saw the infamous talking trash can of Epcot (or at least the remote controlled one in Tomorrowland).
Chestnuts roasted by Invader Norbert @ 06/05/2006 01:20 AM EST
I can't believe you made it through a whole Space Mountain writeup without mentioning Ric Flair.
I went down that very same Mickeyland-Tommorrowland path,and there was noone else on it when I was there,too. No free fastpasses though.
I'm not sure if everyone knows this or not,but it's possible to ride with the monorail pilot if you want to.
Chestnuts roasted by Kid Nicky @ 06/05/2006 01:24 AM EST
Holy fraking shit, this article is awesome. Makes me want to go to Disney. Hell, makes me want to watch every Disney movie I have and read all the Disney books I have...
Seriously, even if it was just part one, this would be one of the greatest X-E articles of all time, even more so than the Minature Golf thing with the Lion with asshole....
Awesome, Matt...simply Awesome..
Chestnuts roasted by Cameron T. @ 06/05/2006 01:29 AM EST
As a child, I went to Disney World with my grandmother and wouldn't let her see Captain EO because I was selfish and wanted to spend the time on other rides. Nearly 15 years later I still feel absolutely terrible.
Chestnuts roasted by Brian @ 06/05/2006 01:32 AM EST
Haha, designer drugs AND Disney make for the ultimate absolute favorite vacation.
I know that "too tall" Space Mountain feeling well, and I'm only five foot two. I never got to ride the Monorail, I think they got rid of it at DL before I would have found it interesting. Looking forward to going back through the article and checking out the little details, too much to absorb at once.
Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 06/05/2006 01:41 AM EST
I thought the bling added to Cinderella's Castle kind of killed it for me; that and Pirates of the Caribbean not being opened -- otherwise I was all smiles. I always attached Space Mountain to the mental image of sleeping with Ric Flair, and now, I look at it in a total different light.
Chestnuts roasted by Review the World @ 06/05/2006 01:45 AM EST
Its good to know the monorail is still awesome. Its practicaly the only thing I can remember from going when I was 8, and I remembered it being *the best thing ever!!*. Love your site.
Chestnuts roasted by chance @ 06/05/2006 01:55 AM EST
Brian: type "Captain EO" into YouTube. Yes, it's that simple.
Matt: You didn't include a photo of what Lilo looks like. Was she a costume, or a human made to look like a Hawaiian girl? Oh well. At least I found out one thing: your girl's name is SHARON. You've never revealed anything about her before at all--was the naming an intentional act, or just a slipup of the tired typing fingers?
I've never been to a Disney theme park, so I'm getting all my info through you. I can hardly wait for the rest. I'm too excited ta sleeeeeeeeep.....
Chestnuts roasted by Mars @ 06/05/2006 03:11 AM EST
Mars, there's a video linked in the part of the article that talks about the breakfest parade, and you can see the costumed Lilo there.
Chestnuts roasted by Mr. Mr. Mr. @ 06/05/2006 04:45 AM EST
brilliant article, can't wait for the follow-ups!
Sharon? I must have missed that bit.
Anyway, I wish I was in DisneyLand!!
Chestnuts roasted by Pete @ 06/05/2006 05:59 AM EST
Matt, I hope it isn't too rude to ask, and you don't have to answer if you don't want to, but what did your trip cost roughly, per person? I am turning 30 later this year, and was considering a trip to Disney World as a last hurrah to my rapidly fleeting youth. I have never been there, I feel like the only 20-something on the planet that didn't get to go as a kid. I'd love to make the trip, but was told a 3-5 day trip to Disney World would cost me over $2000 not even counting the plane fare down.
Chestnuts roasted by Destro @ 06/05/2006 06:53 AM EST
Cool.
Even though I can't even afford a normal priced potatohead at this moment I want to go to disneyland now.
I guess I'll havta suck a fuck to go. At least it'll be for a good cause.
Chestnuts roasted by Goob @ 06/05/2006 07:55 AM EST
Oops I almost didn't say it, you can get waffle irons that make mickey's, I've heard that it's a huge hit with the kiddies. And a decent one on amazon is about 50 bucks. But it's one of those things that it's special if it's on a rare occasion. I seen on the food network how Disneyworld is like around christmas and talk about magical, wow. They have a huge gingerbread house and shit like that. You wouldn't EVER want it to end.
Chestnuts roasted by Goob @ 06/05/2006 07:58 AM EST
Oh man, I enjoyed the shit out of this update. Especially since I've gotten to go to Disney a lot more times in the last 3 years, thanks to some friends who lived nearby for a while. I even have a friend who I believe still works as a Kilimanjaro tour guide. I was down there once right before he got the job, so he spent most of the day regurgitating all his FUN FACTS that he had to memorize to us.
Chestnuts roasted by Fireball @ 06/05/2006 08:01 AM EST
I just spent over an hour reading and watching. Really great article. I only went to WDW once after a week long church camp in Orlando. I was so tired from the camp I was in a daze the whole time at the park. I don't remember anything.
There's no more Mr. Toads? The time I went to Disneyland, that was the one thing that made the trip for me.
Chestnuts roasted by kb @ 06/05/2006 09:18 AM EST
Sometimes hurting the InterWeb feels sooo good
Chestnuts roasted by The Kraken @ 06/05/2006 09:28 AM EST
Your article is great. I have to agree with you on Animal Kingdom. They have two really good attractions there but they're not enough to make me want to go back there often. BTW, Everest is now the tallest structure at Disney World, not the Tower of Terror.
Chestnuts roasted by Kaploc @ 06/05/2006 10:00 AM EST
That was a nice way to blow off the morning's work.
The lady and I have been at odds about vacation destinations lately.
I want Disney she wants Egypt.
Hopefully this article will help my cause at home.
Chestnuts roasted by selvig @ 06/05/2006 10:25 AM EST
Obviously not a Goof Troop fan, with the Max-disparaging. I didn't even remember that Dinosaur movie!
I want to go to Disney World so badly now. I can't believe how much awesome stuff they've got going on.
Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 06/05/2006 10:45 AM EST
Matt, I could have sworn that I read that the video shown in the beginning of tower of terror was actually culled from actual footage of Serling from a lost TZ episode. Maybe I'm crazy. Do you know anything about that?
Chestnuts roasted by Jay @ 06/05/2006 11:39 AM EST
Holy shit, I cannot wait to read this- I have been so busy that I haven't been online for a few days, and THIS is the first thing I find after being away with work for awhile. Yes- this has made my otherwise crappy, stress filled day! Now- off to read!
Chestnuts roasted by Muppet Baby @ 06/05/2006 11:40 AM EST
...Thanks, Matt- you totally took me back to the one day I spent at the Magic Kingdom, and made me SO eager to try and get down to DisneyWorld again! I need to try out all the things I never got to do the 1st time.
Thanks for taking the time to re-live your awesome trip.
Excellent.
Chestnuts roasted by Muppet Baby @ 06/05/2006 12:17 PM EST
Matt, I knew you were good people. I totally agree with you on the cephalopod thing. Cuttlefish are by far the coolest animals on the planet. I live in San Diego, so we have Sea World and The Scripp's Institute with some great cuttlefish exhibits. I'm glad to hear people on the other coast get to see them too.
Chestnuts roasted by Shannie @ 06/05/2006 12:23 PM EST
What they shgould do is create a special, seperate park to which any retired ride gets set up. Sort of an Island of Misfit Attractions.
By the by, Space Mountain (WWOOOOOOooooo!) is another ride that has multiple pathways inside. There are at least two track configurations under the white domes.
The bit about the gang invasion at Minnie's house is kinda creepy. I heard once that some dude got tossed at DL because he got all hot and bothered and started feeling up Minnie. I would warn against doing anything like that. Mickey's a real bastard when it comes to dealing with guys who make passes at his woman. I hear'd things.
Chestnuts roasted by kingklash (not affiliated with the Magic Kingdom) @ 06/05/2006 01:00 PM EST
Those're nice tits in the rearview mirror of the safari truck.
Chestnuts roasted by Pedro @ 06/05/2006 01:38 PM EST
Hey... I just thought I'd stop in to say Sprite has brought back the Lymon in all its glory.
Chestnuts roasted by TransponderHut @ 06/05/2006 01:43 PM EST
ToonTown always creeped me out, too Roger Rabbit-y for my tastes. Keep waiting for someone to come round up the characters and throw 'em in a big vat of toxic goo.
I'm s-o-o-o-o hopping for a review of Splash Mountain. I have a vague yet very distinct memory of the Song of the South movie -- which you will NEVER see released to DVD because it is so politically incorrect (or so the urban legend goes). But the ride's still incredible.
I gotta say that my biggest disappointment in Disney the last time I was down there (summer of '99) was the complete and total focus on current Disney movies and eradication of older characters and themes. The 20000 Leagues ride was the very first ride I ever went on (when I was like 5) and remember it vividly -- knowing that it was all fake but loving every second of it, even the damned cattle shute lines. They've since turned the lagoon into a picture spot with the Little Mermaid. They got rid of Uncle Toad (another venerable old favorite and old skool Walt-era cartoon) for Pooh. Don't get me wrong, I love Pooh and all, but he ain't no Toad.
Not only that, but just walking around the park, it was all Little Mermaid and Pocohantas and Mulan (which had just been released, I think, at the time) and Dinosaur. My pops, who's like a real guy and missing two fingers from and industrial accident, was actually whining about the lack of old skool characters. When the Old Man starts asking where the hell his Chip 'n Dale is, you know it's bad. But I gotta say that a lot of that ill will washed away by the old Main Street Electrical parade. Nothing like seeing the Cheshire Cat all done up in lights.
Chestnuts roasted by LemurCat @ 06/05/2006 02:39 PM EST
Splash Mountain will join the feature either in Part 2 or Part 3.
To the person who asked, we spent too much money. Not even worth telling the amount because there's no reason to spend as much as we did -- we jacked our prices up by picking crazy expensive hotels, demanding certain flights and just buying buying buying for the sake of later convenience. If you want to do it that way, it can be nice, but expect to pay in the realm of 1600-2000 per person. Realistically, you can do Disney for half that and still not dog it. Just keep in mind, that price doesn't include meals or toys. :0
Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 06/05/2006 02:44 PM EST
Is Cactus Jack taking the Nestea plunge? Or is Mestea something completely different?
Great article Matt. I'm going to Disney Land in a couple weeks, now I'm even more excited. They better have that Mr. Potato head thing there.
Chestnuts roasted by AoDfan @ 06/05/2006 02:47 PM EST
The biggest question I have is why is Dino-Rama mascoted by two characters named Hester and Chester instead of Earl and Baby Sinclair from the old Dinosaur show. I would had them walking around there.
I'm a chicken and would probably avoid the Tower of Terror. Especially since people died on it I got a neckache from a Tilt-o-Whirl last year at a fair. I'm a wimp.
This article SO makes me want to go there. Maybe if I ever get the $$$ to do it I will.
Chestnuts roasted by JLAJRC @ 06/05/2006 03:01 PM EST
I think Mission Space had a recent casualty...I avoid Big Thunder Mountain at DL because it seems like every other week it has some kind of accident.
I believe snopes.com has some interesting info about Song of the South, as well as other Disney myths.
Off-topic, but I thought some might be interested to know that Rob Zombie's signed to do a "reimagining" of Halloween.
Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 06/05/2006 03:29 PM EST
Wow! great article Matt. Goin to Disney with the woman and my family this summer. First and last time I was there, I was 13 and I spent most of the time playing arcade games in Epcot with my brother. Don't remember much else, so I plan on actually making the most of the Disney experience. Hot Disney Thing list will go a long way come trip time.
Chestnuts roasted by Double G @ 06/05/2006 03:50 PM EST
Great article Matt. I have to agree with you about Animal Kingdom. Hot, crowded, and tiring. I also agree about Epcot being my favorite park out of all of them.
Chestnuts roasted by Jeremy @ 06/05/2006 03:50 PM EST
Those bitches MADE me put a potato body in my box.
Chestnuts roasted by Rebecca @ 06/05/2006 04:03 PM EST
LemurCat
Actually, there was a rumor that Disney might release the DVD of Song of the South in the next year. It would sell millions just for it's controversial aspects.
I've seen the film, and have it on illegally copied VHS, and it really is not very "politically incorrect"...If anything, the film is more politically incorrect in it's portrayal of poor white people than african americans..
Disney would be stupid not to release it...do a two disc special edition with introductions by famous african american people, include a documentary, etc. They could even market it to the serious film collector, rather than young children.
Chestnuts roasted by Cameron T. @ 06/05/2006 04:21 PM EST
Have I told you recently how much I love you? Because I do. Love love love.
<3 Matt.
Chestnuts roasted by Evin @ 06/05/2006 04:29 PM EST
Finally got to finish part 1, that was great. I guess I was about 12 when my parents took my brother and I to Walt Disney World. They did something that was, for them, surprisingly smart- they got us out of school a few days prior to the weekend, and we went to the park while the rest of the nation's brats were stuck away in class. It was terrific, my brother and I could endlessly repeat any ride we liked. I recall one day it rained for a short time and we got stuck at the Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. Not that we minded, what with the non-existant lines my brother and I must've gone through that ride 12 times in a row.
Chestnuts roasted by The Kraken @ 06/05/2006 04:30 PM EST
Here's a YouTube video of the old Ninja Turtles stage show from the Disney-MGM Studios:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDZCTlEItwE
Chestnuts roasted by Luap @ 06/05/2006 04:38 PM EST
Cameron T. -- Actually, I heard November of this year, though you have to wonder, will it be in it's original form? I wouldn't put it past Disney's Imagineers to tinker with it a bit to make it more palattable.
Chestnuts roasted by LemurCat @ 06/05/2006 04:42 PM EST
dude, you have to change that epcot background
When i try to focus on the words, the crazy epcot stuff gets all blurry and trippy.
there is no way i will read part 2 high like i did part 1 with that epcot crap
Chestnuts roasted by skynet1984 @ 06/05/2006 04:56 PM EST
matt, damn you, i vowed to never go to disnry eotld again after i got crazy sick there when i was a kid, but i think youve converted me, i mean, greedo that chick from the cosby show and a rod serling look-alike, fuck, sounds awesome.
"Step off, big lizard. I'm fluent in fucking your shit up."
HIGH-LARIOUS!!!
Chestnuts roasted by JoshC @ 06/05/2006 04:58 PM EST
Once again, Matt comes through with a kick ass article.
Chestnuts roasted by Darth Galvatron @ 06/05/2006 05:18 PM EST
Wow great article. I can't wait to read the next two. I'm going back to Disney in January with my girlfriend and this is the perfect article to get us psyched.
Chestnuts roasted by Darkzeid @ 06/05/2006 05:21 PM EST
I think I can drop the "original" part, since that other Paul seems to be good and gone...
Anyway, an addendum to Cameron T.'s comment on Song of the South: it wasn't a rumor, but it ain't gonna happen. Iger vetoed the plan, although he did say that this wasn't a "forever" no.
If you want to read what he said, click on my name for a link to his comments on it.
I've got some nasty Disney memories because my family blew up while we were there. I'm going to go back someday, but considering how badly the one trip I've made to it went... :-/
Chestnuts roasted by Paul @ 06/05/2006 05:41 PM EST
Blew Up?
As in "sudden emotional meltdown of family bonds along individual partisan lines", or do you mean "sudden violent expansion of individual units into component chunks and pieces?"
'Cause either one would suck the yolks from great big ostrich eggs.
Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 06/05/2006 05:55 PM EST
Are you going to show us all the nifty stuff you got with your Mr. Potatohead? Or perhaps the doll you beat a 6 year old for? 
Chestnuts roasted by Ronald MacKinnon @ 06/05/2006 05:57 PM EST
by the way those were madagascar hissing cockroaches
Chestnuts roasted by mary @ 06/05/2006 05:59 PM EST
My husband and I went to Disney World back in 98 for our honeymoon. We stayed at Port Orleans and it wasnt too bad, awesome pool. Is the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacle still there at MGM-Studios. My husband and I got to participate in the show, we had to sign waivers, which was kinda weird, and "Marion" took our picture. Someday we will go back....someday.
Chestnuts roasted by Amber @ 06/05/2006 06:05 PM EST
kingklash - I'd say the first, although at the time, the second one would've been a very appealing option.
That was two years ago, though, so things have had time to heal. Still a bit wary of Disney, but darn it...I will go back someday, and I will enjoy myself.
After having read the article and watched the videos, I've got to say that Pluto put the rest of the characters in that breakfast parade to shame. Mickey and Stich should've been embarrassed of their maraca schtik - Pluto's bouncing off the walls is where it's at.
Chestnuts roasted by Paul @ 06/05/2006 06:07 PM EST
A bit random this, but how do you make your text go into italics when you're typing here?
Chestnuts roasted by Pete @ 06/05/2006 06:26 PM EST
oh thats gonna be a great article to read! I'm going to disneyworld in july and this article will be fun to read before I go there
Chestnuts roasted by Jeff @ 06/05/2006 06:28 PM EST
how come your hotel room had two beds?
Chestnuts roasted by Eddie Lightning Frog @ 06/05/2006 06:49 PM EST
Rebecca's post made me laugh XD
Pete, you use the standard html for italics, which is "i" inside of brackets, followed by "/i" inside of brackets. If you're going to get fancy and use html tags, be careful to make sure you close them, or else you'll make the whole blog screwy. For anybody that needs to learn html basics, I recommend Webmonkey's html teaching tool, which you can find with Google if it's still around.
I had a huge Disney related "duh" moment earlier courtesy of a commercial for POTC m&m's: The one-eyed pirate who gets it with a fork is none other than Mackenzie Crook, aka Gareth Keenan from The Office. I know I'm the only person who never realized this before, but there you go.
Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 06/05/2006 07:28 PM EST
Is it just me or is the music in the background of the cuttlefish video so great that you want to listen to it all day long?
I did a big DisneyLAND vacation 'bout a year ago. Loved every minute of it. Dis Disney all you'd like, but they do make you feel like a kid again. It's like some freakin' honest to goodness miracle.
The character breakfast. I loved the one I did. Got in with Pooh, Eeore, Chip and Dale-- just wonderful. And Captain Hook really dug my hair a lot. I won't forget that. I guess he thought it looked like his.
The monorail fascinates me too Matt. I thought boarding it again as an adult would bore me, but the thing's so freakin' fast it caught me off-guard, and banks around turns the things practically a roller coaster in itself.
Chestnuts roasted by inkmage @ 06/05/2006 07:36 PM EST
Oh yeah, and the castle, Matt--
Like the Sleeping Beauty castle at DisneyLAND I believe Cinderella's was at one time an attraction with a walk-through tour of different diorhama's etc. But at DisneyLAND they excavated the whole interior to make room for the trillions of fireworks shot out of the place every night. Plus, I hear wild cats live inside; no joke, no rumor. Probably the same thing happened to Cinderella. Isn't that always like big companies, kicking women out of their homes to make room for explosives.
Chestnuts roasted by inkmage @ 06/05/2006 07:41 PM EST
Been a long time since I was at Disney World. Won't be going again for a very long time, either. I'm taking a quieter vacation to visit my best girlfriend in New England later in July.
It does look like fun, though. My sister, (late) stepmother, biological father, and I did do a character breakfast at Fort Wilderness when we were there in 1990. We even have pictures to document that yes, we sat between Chip and Dale and yes, I made fun of Donald's coon-skin cap.
I also have fond memories of "Star Tours," which had only been open for a few months when we went to Disney-MGM. We also saw the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular. I was too shy to volunteer to get picked, though my sister tried her darndest. "Dick Tracy" was the craze at MGM that summer; I still have the video I made when I was chosen to do a "scene" from the film with a few other girls at one of the shops. (I was Tess Trueheart, incidentally.) There was even a show called "Dick Tracy In Diamond Double-Cross" where the Beauty and the Beast show is now at MGM.
Though I'm a big Pooh fan, Mr. Toad will be missed at the Magic Kingdom. My sister and I always road that one together and had a blast (one of the few rides we WOULD ride together). My sister won't be too happy that "20,000 Leagues" is gone, either. I always found that a bit of a bore, but she adored it.
My fondest EPCOT memory wasn't of any of the rides, but of catching the infamous Illuminations while I was there alone with my dad. It one of the most gorgeous fireworks displays I'd ever seen...but staying for it meant we got caught in the rush going home and it took twice as long to get back. I also remember how the Maelstrom, also new in 1990, got stuck briefly and somehow didn't go over the infamous dip, disappointing my sister and me.
Chestnuts roasted by starwenn @ 06/05/2006 09:08 PM EST
Oh, and I'm tired myself and forgot to mention it, but I've always been a Monorail fan, too. It's as good as riding any of the actual rides in the parks, maybe better in some cases.
Chestnuts roasted by starwenn @ 06/05/2006 09:11 PM EST
god, you reminded me of when I went to disneyland last year. I want to go to disney world even more now! I'm so jealous.
Chestnuts roasted by Tiare @ 06/05/2006 09:34 PM EST
God damnit, Matt... The idea of Disney was always an "eh" thing for me. Sure, I'd go if I had the chance, but it was never a "OMG I gotta go there before I die!" thing.
Well, now I gotta go there before I die, and the sooner the better.
I really hope you got a picture of Pooh in those 700 pictures somewhere. 
Chestnuts roasted by Ryane @ 06/05/2006 10:15 PM EST
If you live in NYC, there is a make your own Mr Potato head station in the Disney Store on 5th Avenue. Same thing, fyi.
Chestnuts roasted by Bryan @ 06/05/2006 11:24 PM EST
I'd only ever had a passing desire to go to Disneyworld, but this changed it. Now I REALLY wanna go.
Unfortunately, it's also making me want to go buy Kingdom Hearts 2.
Chestnuts roasted by Timmy @ 06/05/2006 11:42 PM EST
To add to the SONG OF THE SOUTH discussion, not sure how accurate it is but click my name for a website which is all about it.
I saw it in the theater for the 1986 re-release but I don't remember much about it. I think it is supposed to be pretty boring but I couldn't say for sure. It was also recently paradoied on SNL as was some other Disney legends. I think if it were to be released, it would be like the WWII cartoons that have a Leonard Maltin disclaimer that CANNOT BE SKIPPED on the DVD. Good stuff.
No comments on the SaveToad site I posted?? 
Chestnuts roasted by The Manimal @ 06/05/2006 11:56 PM EST
Woot my first time ever posting. I went to Disney when I was 5 and I was a lucky little bum because I got in front of all the lines because I was in a wheelchair. My mom and grandmom definitely didn't mind either. What really sucked though was we left the day before the opening of Tower of Terror. Bastards...they planned it.
Chestnuts roasted by Martini @ 06/06/2006 12:11 AM EST
I vow to never go to a disney park again until I can find someone who can take me here:
http://moderndrunkardmagazine.com/issues/11-03/11-03-club-33.htm
Disney was a blast when I was last there (1994 I think), but that would make it all the more worthwhile :-)
It is a real shame about the loss of attractions. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride was my favorite thing there, hands down. Why scrap that when you have the gaudy "It's A Small Fricking World, Even After We Sing This Song 15 Trillion Times" still running? Bah.
Chestnuts roasted by josh @ 06/06/2006 12:13 AM EST
Just a great article and I can see that you put a ton into it. So much fun, thank you!
Chestnuts roasted by John @ 06/06/2006 12:17 AM EST
Destro- Try to go off-season if you can. My boyfriend and I went in September a few years ago for 6 nights, 7 days and stayed at Port Orleans Riverside, and got Ultimate Park Hopper passes (they let you go anywhere in Disney on any day). This was part of a "Fall Magic" travel agent package, so including airfare from Philly to Orlando, the total was $800 a person. That's pretty damn good for roughly $100 a day. Of course you spend another $100 on food and frivilous toys, but that's why you go in the first place.
As for Song of the South, if Disney does release it and it sells because of the controversy, Disney will be laughing all the way to the bank. I've seen it, because it's been out on the UK for a while and my uncle has a copy. The thing about it is: it's boring. The story is about a rich white boy trying to fit in when his family moves to a new place. Local boys are mean to him, but their sister becomes his friend. The cheerful old black man who works on his parents' farm teaches the boy how to get back at the bullies using stories about Br'er Rabbit. The boy almost dies but doesn't, gets a puppy, the end.
Of course the premise of black people as nothing more than servants and entertainers of white people feels uncomfortable and wrong, but the movie was no more racist than the cringe-worthy scene with the crows in Dumbo, and Disney hasn't censored that.
Sorry about all the blah blah blah, I guess not coming here for a week filled me with pent-up words. On an unrelated note, I did just find out that Oz Season 6 has a release date- September 5th. w00t!
Chestnuts roasted by Welsh Rabbit @ 06/06/2006 12:20 AM EST
Another classic article. Keep up the good work!
Chestnuts roasted by crusty @ 06/06/2006 01:22 AM EST
Next time get the ADD pass - seriously - go to guest services & tell them you have ADD. You get to go to the front of every line (although anyone with a soul feels a little guilty butting in front of childern who really do have ADD)
Chestnuts roasted by Shannon @ 06/06/2006 01:29 AM EST
one day i will make it to disney world. ive been to disneyland as a lad and made a point to hit eurodisney (disneyland paris)while backpacking through europe. i plan to hit every disney related park. there is one in japan, right?
but eurodisney... sigh.
i would just like to post a few words about the terrible notoriety of eurodisney. first of all, it is not as bad as people seem to think. in fact, it was awesome. recall the swipe the simpsons made at it? "hello, is anybody there?" im afraid i dont recall much of the day. i do recall being sneezed on by a giant dog!! (honey i blew up the audience) which made the 16 hour flight across the ocean worth it alone. i remember the space mtn jr. or closer to the truth, the line. what matt said regarding the line for space maoutain is true for the baby version across the atlantic. i recall some musical theatre type place that you watched while eating over priced fast food. i recall not enjoying it. oh! but the lost boys tree house was bizzare and seemingly forgotten, which only added to the charm of it.
all that remains of the trip of myself looking as exicited as ive ever been in front of the (somewhat unimpressive sleeping beauty's castle; certainly no cinderella's castle). i have no idea who took said picture, considering how tightly i held on to my camera in a foreign country, let alone a french speaking country! yet upon leaving the magical world of disney, it seemed to cause one to forgo all memory of that magical world. im afraid im not much of a documentarian.
on a side note (even though the whole eurodisney thing was something of a side note), does anyone recall seeing "captain eo"? in all honestly, i think that it was one of the greatest, if not THE greatest, thing i have ever seen. doing a quick search here, there has yet to be a review, and precious little said about it. and it appears you, matt, dont seem to think much of it. although you do place it above the clue video board game. which was also incredible and grossly been shown injustice in that review. two things that need a serious reconsider, dear friend.
but it seems captain eo no longer exists. it was replaced with "honey i shrunk the audience", whlie, though great, rick moranis' exploits do not justly compare to the greatness that is captain eo.
Chestnuts roasted by kevin. @ 06/06/2006 02:59 AM EST
My favorite thing about DisneyWorld? Three words: Live Kim Possible.
Chestnuts roasted by Nadbaffler @ 06/06/2006 06:51 AM EST
Thanks so much for writing this article! Finally, two of my favorite things together. X-E and Disney! Nothing gets the workday blues away any better. When can we expect part 2?
Chestnuts roasted by TC Falcon @ 06/06/2006 08:33 AM EST
Thanks all!
Part 2 will be posted this weekend, featuring the best of Epcot, Star Tours and a lot of the more random stuff.
Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 06/06/2006 09:08 AM EST
Wow- did anyone read that article that josh posted? A secret club above the Pirates of the Carribbean ride? ALCOHOL at Disney? Awesome.
Chestnuts roasted by Muppet Baby @ 06/06/2006 09:20 AM EST
Please tell me that you were caught in at least one terrential downpour? No visit to Disney is complete without being soaked to the bone while running from one ride to another.
The last time we went we were hit between Splash Mountain and Pirates of The Carribean.
Chestnuts roasted by Scooter @ 06/06/2006 10:09 AM EST
Kevin -- I saw Captain EO on my second trip to the Land the Mouse built in Summer '90 or '91 (don't know for sure, don't feel like calling Mom to ask). Very impressive, I think it might be out on YouTube. I remember being pretty blown away even though I had alreadly developed a sneering dislike of Michael Jackson. They replaced it with "Honey, We Shrunk the Audience!" which was pretty cool, but not as cool "It's Tough to be a Bug" at Animal Kingdom.
Muppet Baby -- Club 33 is at Disneyland in Cali. The Magic Kingdom in Florida is booze-free, though I *think* all the other parks might have adult beveriges available. There is a long-running urban legend that there is a private functions room at the MK called Club 21 but it doesn't exist. A soccer buddy of mine was Mickey for three summers in college and she confirms this. She also confirms that there is a warren of underground tunnels that runs all through the park so costumed characters can jump pop up without having to wade through crowds.
Are they still running Fanstasmic! at MGM? Now that was effin' impressive -- it was a combo live show and movie presentation, but the movie part was/is done on a water screen. Last trip down there, I drug my poor sister (who'd been released from the hospital a mere two days before and was still suffering from a case of viral meningitis or malaria, they were never really sure which it was) from the Electric Light Parade to Illuminations (after Drinkin' Round the World) and then the last shot at Fantasmic! which was really kick ass because it was mid-August, 99 degrees with 100% humidity and the vapor was blowing right over us. We were supposed to go back to the Magic Kingdom for an E-Ticket Night (because booze and roller coasters mix) but well, we ended up nearly getting escorted back to the hotel by Disney Security when my sister demanded she be allowed to sit down. I made the mistake of doing the same and "fell asleep" (yeah, officer, just sleepin'! Promise!) on a bench. Apparently my sister has incriminating pictures of me and a smoked turkey leg from this night, though they have yet to surface.
Chestnuts roasted by LemurCat @ 06/06/2006 10:10 AM EST
Fantasmic will be covered in Part 2.
It really didn't rain the entire week. Got some drizzle but nothing much.
Will also be covering the "Booze in Disney" aspect in Part 2.
Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 06/06/2006 10:12 AM EST
Thanks for the super Disney writeup.
We're going in two weeks, and this has been unbelievably helpful and interesting.
Thanks, you rock.
Aloha.
Chestnuts roasted by woodrow @ 06/06/2006 11:36 AM EST
OOOOhhhh, Live Kim Possible. You think she's related to that Erin chick in those eSurance ads?
Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 06/06/2006 11:53 AM EST
Awesome, awesome writeup....bringing back so many memories. I havent been back to WDW for a few years but im hoping this year to get down there.
Matt, if you want to re-live some of your trip, visit the online radio stations at Live365.com ... theres a channel called D-Magic, and another called MouseWorld radio... they are chock full of ride attraction soundtracks, monorail sound clips and more.
Chestnuts roasted by m1928mouse @ 06/06/2006 12:48 PM EST
Matt, check out Disneyland around Halloween. I was shocked to find that they give the haunted mansion a makeover to be themed entirely "nightmare before christmas." Not only that but it is exclusive to Disneyland. And should you ever go out there check out Mr. Toad's wild ride. I never understood why they got rid of a classic until I was older. But now I realizer perhaps a ride that is a morality tale about drunk driving and ends in the pits of hell is a bit much for five year olds.
Chestnuts roasted by Jeremy @ 06/06/2006 12:54 PM EST
I think I found SNL's parody of Song of the South. Click my name for a link to NBC's page for SNL. The videos come up in a pop-up window so I can't give a direct link, sorry. Click Videos on their page and look in Season 25, it's the sketch titled Uncle Jemima's Pure Mash Liqour. Pretty silly lol
Chestnuts roasted by The Kraken @ 06/06/2006 01:00 PM EST
Click my name for the snopes page on Club 33... And yeah, there is a TON of hidden secrets at Disney parks(like the basketball court in the Matterhorn), you could spend a week just looking at things you weren't supposed to know about!
Yay for my first comment!
Chestnuts roasted by Dr Sketch @ 06/06/2006 01:22 PM EST
It's funny how Matt loved Dino-Rama, but the average Disney-Dweeb hates it. Guess the suits really had the average Guest in mind. hahaha
All in all, great article, Matt, can't wait for the rest. It warms this Brazilian heart to go to his home away from home again through the grat time you had.
Chestnuts roasted by Roddy @ 06/06/2006 01:29 PM EST
My boss used to work at Disney World, so every time we have a job down in Florida we MUST go on the company dime. I have to say, Epcot gets my vote for #1 park, if only for the awesome fact that you can walk around the world with several adult beverages in your hand.
M'boss also used to work at the 10,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride. There was a point during the ride where the sub would go into the end que by a large mechanical octopus--thereby stopping the sub momentarily. My boss tells me that they were supposed to say, "I'm sorry, it looks like we're wrapped up in the Octopus' tentacles--it'll be just a moment." The adults and children would giggle appreciatively. One day, my oh-so-stoned teenage boss was repeating his line and said, "Oh, I'm sorry, it looks like we're wrapped in the Octopus' testicles..." and no one laughed. He didn't realize what he said until a small child piped up, "Daddy, what are testicles!?"
I also know an ex-server in Cinderella's Castle who used to do naughty things in the service elevators. Wonderful Disney and their cursedly naughty "castmembers".
Chestnuts roasted by Missy @ 06/06/2006 01:32 PM EST
Matt, one more thing: no mention of Everest? It's supposed to be THE hottest attraction up there now. It's brand new and stuff.
Chestnuts roasted by Roddy @ 06/06/2006 01:41 PM EST
I too share that mortal fear of having my head cleaved off by an errant support beam on Space Mountain. I thought I was the only one who spent the moments before descending into the darkness in pants-wetting terror! Lordy, it's good to know I'm not alone in spending the whole ride hunched over. =)
Chestnuts roasted by jason @ 06/06/2006 02:22 PM EST
I have to say, Animal Kingdom wasn't my favorite either. I wanted to go on the safari and ride Everest, but it was so hot and stinky and crowded and litter-y.
Someone asked earlier how much it would cost to go there, and we just got back and you can go there pretty cheap. It cost about $1300 dollars between airfare, 5 nights at a Disney Value hotel and park tickets. We paid $77 dollars a night through Expedia for the Pop Century hotel. You could definitely stay offsite for less, but you don't get the Disney perks. Our plane tickets were $200 per person ($99 one way) on Airtran airways, which is super cheap, and bought our Disney tickets beforehand (about $250 per person or so for a 6 day park hopper). The hardest part is resisting souveniers, which I did not do. The food there is also pretty expensive. $2.50 for a 20 oz. soda out of a machine. Ridiculous. As if Disney doesn't get enough of our money by just entering. But it's definitely worth it. Endless amounts of fun once you get past the screaming children, intense heat, ungodly crowds, and overpriced everything.
Chestnuts roasted by Rebecca @ 06/06/2006 02:23 PM EST
Is that sweat on Greedo's shirt?
Gross.
Chestnuts roasted by Rebecca @ 06/06/2006 02:28 PM EST
Wow, your trip to D-Dubb(as the kids call it nowadays) was 132748x better than mine.
It rained...for three days....straight. Thank god space mountain is indoors. rode that thing like 30 times a day. That and spent some time playing Spades with Goofy and Dale. Chip sucks a cards.
Chestnuts roasted by Fitzyroo @ 06/06/2006 02:29 PM EST
Beautiful article! Now I really, really want to go to Disneyworld! I'm vacationing in California soon, and I really hope to make it to Disneyland, especially since they added new stuff to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride!
Chestnuts roasted by Ariel @ 06/06/2006 03:33 PM EST
Disney is fucking evil. Stay away from this cesspool. My company had the last 2 conferences there and I had to go. I never had been and didn't want to go, but you know, it was my job. It was just as bad as I thought it would be. That fake "Have a magical day" smiling crap threw me into fits of rage.
The only funny thing was on the Animal Safari 2 rhinos were going at it, and the drivers are instructed to speed up and deflect attention away, cuz you know, you can't have THAT much "real" nature shown to kids.
Where can I get a copy of "Songs of the South?"
Chestnuts roasted by Bob Abooey @ 06/06/2006 04:22 PM EST
Wow. Great article.
I went to Disney World back in '95, I think (it was all Pocahontas! all the time), and it was okay. It was a nice time, but I missed a lot of things, I guess. Mostly I remember the rain and the little lizards that lived at our hotel.
I was really disappointed that we didn't go see the Little Mermaid show. I wanted to go so bad, but (as they still believe today) my parents didn't know I wanted to go.
And I don't know if it was just the time that I went, but there really weren't that many characters around the park. Yeah, there were several movie characters here and there, but the only one of the Big Five I got to see at all was Minnie. And she tried to autograph my book with the pen upside-down. That was really funny to me. But I did get to meet the Genie, so that was pretty awesome. I had a chance to do the breakfast thing, but I didn't want to wake up that early. I regret that now, so should I ever find myself in Disney again, I know what I'll be doing.
Also, I LOVE squashed pennies! It cracks me up that they offered Sneezy, Villains, and Buzz Lightyear in one machine. So random. I should start saving up my change for that should I ever make it to Disney again. Can't have too many squashed pennies. When we went to Wisconsin I got one and Abe Lincoln's face was still present on the flat side. So neat.
Yeah, I'll probably recover other memories when the next articles surface. I'm totally looking forward to that. Yay!
Chestnuts roasted by Rainbowfeet @ 06/06/2006 05:06 PM EST
Awesome stuff as usual. Can't wait for parts 2 and 3.
Very funny
Chestnuts roasted by Chris @ 06/06/2006 05:29 PM EST
I'm going to Disney World this year! This article really tells me where too go, and what to look out for.
Also, that I should do shit I wouldnt normally do(breakfast with Stictch? o_0?)
Chestnuts roasted by Jeremy C. @ 06/06/2006 07:19 PM EST
Longtime lurker (think I got hooked on X-E with the "Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue" article), first time poster. Anyway, great stuff! Looking forward to the rest of the Disney series. Keep up the great work with this website, its one of the few I visit everyday.
Chestnuts roasted by Jon @ 06/06/2006 07:52 PM EST
Matt, I'm not quite sure what the Black Sushi Market is all about, but I'm pretty certain that you shouldn't be selling black sushi to people. Even if the tuna isn't stolen.
Jon: Welcome to the collective.
Chestnuts roasted by Jedoc @ 06/06/2006 09:48 PM EST
Great article Matt, as usual. I've been reading the site off and on for years and is my favorite. But oddly enough, just as I began to read the Disney article, I got mail in my inbox from Disney, which I can't recall ever getting. But thanks for the great reading.
Chestnuts roasted by Tony @ 06/06/2006 10:43 PM EST
I live here in Orlando and I washed dishes at the Polynesian for one day 3 years ago, working for a labor company. It might be interesting to add that none of them spoke English and were paid horribly, but could still afford Gold teeth.
Chestnuts roasted by BBBoggs@AIM @ 06/06/2006 11:16 PM EST
OMG Me and my girlfriend left to go to WDW on May 18th and stayed til the 25th, and we stayed at the Polynesian (Rapa Nui, floor 3)
Good times!
Chestnuts roasted by Chuck @ 06/07/2006 12:52 AM EST
Thanks for all the feedback concerning Disney costs. It is definitely something I would consider for late in the year, if I can hold the cost down to about 1000 per person. I'd definitely do it in the off season to avoid the insane crowds, insane heat, and to escape the lousy cold weather in NY for a while.
On another topic, regarding the TMNT stageshow, was the whole show in the little video clip on YouTube? That was it? Anyone ever see TMNT on that "Coming Out Of Their Shells" tour? I heard that was something.
Chestnuts roasted by Destro @ 06/07/2006 07:20 AM EST
OK, I feel a ned to say something about the article, being an employee and all. I hate to burst your tower of terror bubble, but it's actualy only 199 feet tall, in fact there is only one structure over 200 feet tall on the entire property, and that's the massice wand on the side Spaceship Earth (The Giant golf ball thing) The reason is simply this. Acorfing to FAA (Federal Air Athority) all structures over 200 feet tall have to have a little red blinky light atop them to warn aircraft they exist. Now those annoying red lights would take away from the Magic, just like litter on the ground does (I'm a costodian at Disney/MGM)and we don't want to do that. So we intentionally make sure nothing will break the 199 ft mark. Even Everest, the new coaster at Animal Kingdom, is unter that mark. Too bad you couldn't have gotten on that, it would have been in the top 15 easy.
Well, I guess that's enough out of me. Can't wait to see what you think about the rest of the park.
Chestnuts roasted by Bryan The Rat @ 06/07/2006 08:31 AM EST
Bryan, hooray for Custodians! I was a Custodial at MK as part of the International Program. Great 2 months, those were. Never imagined sweeping trash around and hauling garbage cans could be so much fun! The freedom Custodians get because of the same-costume-everywhere deal is amazing! I usually worked at Frontierland, but in slow days we could literally walk around the whole park without a problem.
Chestnuts roasted by Roddy @ 06/07/2006 09:25 AM EST
My boyfriend is a tech for some of the characters at Universal, and from what I understand, Disney and Universal are pretty similar in treating their characters. Anywho, during the summertime, if it gets over 90 degrees, the sets get dropped from thirty minutes down to twenty. Also, when it rains, their sets get downed altogether. So if you go during the summer, the odds of seeing a chracter (outside of a character breakfast) is significantly reduced (because it's hot and rainy here everyday, you see).
We used to be big annual passholders to Disney back in the day, when we could afford to cough up the roughly $300 per person per year. Epcot was the boyfriend's favorite, MGM was mine, we both loved the Magic Kingdom, and we both agreed that Animal Kingdom was excessively...slow. But oh, how I love the Disney experience in general (and in Orlando, you either LOVE the mouse or DESPISE the mouse).
Chestnuts roasted by purplegirl247 @ 06/07/2006 02:50 PM EST
Someone mentioned "It's Tough to be a Bug" being better than "Honey, I Shrunk The Audience." That's true...but not because of the movies themselves.
The Flik and Hopper animatronics were masterpieces. Flik wasn't too complex but he actually pulls his hands into the hole when he leaves. Hopper, though...he's BEAUTIFUL. Fluid movement, complex animation, the fact that he just looks good...I may be a nerd, but seeing that AA was one of the highlights of my trip.
The Buzz Lightyear in the Magic Kingdom is pretty nifty too, though I didn't especially care for the projected face on the character. It just felt...wrong, maybe?
Chestnuts roasted by Paul @ 06/07/2006 10:30 PM EST
hey 28 here. first time in disney when i was in the 3rd grade. brought back memories. worked as a cast member when i was 20/21. just by this first entry i can see you had a magical time. and i enjoyed reading your experience. its all about the smiles!!! thanks again!
Chestnuts roasted by scott @ 06/07/2006 11:11 PM EST
My wife doubts the veracity of the Super Fastpass story, but I am a man of faith. I believe in the magical super fastpass fairy and will make it my life's mission to hunt him down in Disney World this weekend.
Chestnuts roasted by Jack Sparrow @ 06/08/2006 05:53 AM EST
Oh, the Super Fastpass story is totally true. He even told us we could use the special super tickets on non-Fastpass rides; we didn't try it, but why would he lie? I'm sure it's rare to find a random cast member hiding in a bush with miracle tix, but it happens.
Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 06/08/2006 09:40 AM EST
Ahem.
Chestnuts roasted by Googler @ 06/08/2006 11:18 AM EST
I don't know what, funnier, that X-E is the first entry for that search string or that the search string rings up 4 million plus hits.
Chestnuts roasted by LemurCat @ 06/08/2006 11:40 AM EST
The real disney conspiracy is suicide. The morgue reports zero; they actually get several a month. Employees aren't supposed to talk about it. Families are essentially paid off.
Chestnuts roasted by Jast @ 06/08/2006 12:16 PM EST
I live in florida and work at disney's fort wilderness resort. so I 'm already familiar with most of the article.
Chestnuts roasted by eddie the head @ 06/08/2006 08:01 PM EST
Matt I'm alittle concerned about the "sausage" thats sitting next to your eggs. Somewhere in Disney there is a pissed off monkey with a band aid on his no no special place.
Chestnuts roasted by ButchCass @ 06/08/2006 08:02 PM EST
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 02:15 PM EST
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 03:55 PM EST
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 05:29 PM EST
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 05:45 PM EST
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 07:24 PM EST
Polynesian resort,breakfast with Lilo & Stitch,Monorails...spicy drinks?!
Get me to Disney World right now.
Chestnuts roasted by Felix @ 06/09/2006 09:50 PM EST
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 EST
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 06:45 AM EST
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 EST
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 03:02 PM EST
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 01:36 AM EST
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 08:40 AM EST
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 03:43 PM EST
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 EST
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 EST
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!
Chestnuts roasted by Jillybeann @ 06/12/2006 12:06 AM EST
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 AM EST
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 04:40 PM EST
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 EST
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!
Chestnuts roasted by Nicole @ 06/14/2006 12:15 PM EST
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 04:45 PM EST
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 08:21 AM EST
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 01:42 PM EST
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 01:10 AM EST
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 04:13 PM EST
I just find all of this delightful because I actually went to Disney a few days after you!
Chestnuts roasted by Sara @ 06/21/2006 11:22 PM EST
