Tuesday, August 27, 2013

It's in the Details #11

 In this series, we'll be looking at details that are hidden all around you at the parks. The Imagineers do a great job placing in many hidden gems and things to try that one has to take a moment to notice, or explore. Many of these are obvious and in plain sight, and some are hidden quite well, you just have to know where to look.

  In this It's in the Details, I wanted to cover how Imagineers develop an environment to tell a story; to help immerse the guests further into the world they create, they do their best to incorporate and add details that are obvious, and not so obvious, to help tell the tale.
  In Magic Kingdom, two new areas opened up this past year, New Fantasyland and Storybook Circus. Part of the Storybook Circus was a redesign of the WDWRR Train station in the area, with a new look and added excitement. To help tell the story of a circus travelling by train, such as Casey Jr. from Dumbo, a whole roundhouse and train depot was added, with little details to make it feel like an extension to the WDWRR itself; it's definitely one of my favorite environments, just for the "what if" it evokes.



Behind the train station is a set of bathrooms, modeled to look like a train depot, where the engines would be housed overnight, or on an extended stay at the location. Each bathroom entrance is an engine shed, and you can even see where the tracks lead up to each door. They even extend the story into the bathroom itself, where a pattern of tiles forms the rails heading into the shed. (I couldn't get a picture of this because of obvious awkwardness).


In front of the depot is a round table for directing trains along the different spurs; sitting atop it is the new water interactive area, in the form of Casey Jr. It seems as if he just pulled up from travelling along the cross-country rails and is sitting happily on the table while the circus is underway, much like any other train off of the main line.


 Continuing with the story it's supposed to be a depot, at each end of the area are two lines that run off from the round table. They give the illusion that they are to connect to the WDWRR as a spur. Above is an image of the end of the line that follows along the Storybook Circus/Tomorrowland path. When originally built, there had not been a buffer plate, so it looked like an unfinished connection to the railway. With the buffer in place, that's not really the case, but looks more like an unfinished connection due to oversight on level and grade between the two lines.


That second line, extending in the other direction, actually holds Casey Jr.'s caboose, which provides merchandise space. This line actually continues off in the distance, out of sight of the guest, so as to appear it connects to the WDWRR at a point. It makes you think that one day, one of the trains may pull right up that track!

Missed It's in the Details #10? Check it out here!

Monday, August 26, 2013

Hidden Mickeys #13

One of our favorite things to do in the Parks is find hidden Mickeys. Every week we will share a new hidden Mickey from Disney World but won't share where it is till the next week. See if you know where they are!

Can you spot the Hidden Mickey? 
Do you know where it can be found?
Share your guesses below!



Did you guess where last weeks hidden Mickey is?


 This Mickey can be found in Journey into Imagination in the last room with all the Figments!
Try to spot it the next time you ride.

Sunday, August 25, 2013

The Little Things #9

In this series we want to take some time to appreciate the Little Things that just make Disney, Disney. These are those moments and experiences that just make you smile and laugh; those moments that create memories to last a lifetime; and those that only Disney magic can create.


Towel Animals


Who doesn't love coming back to one of these in the room?
What is your favorite towel animal?


Have a favorite Little Thing? Share it below or on Twitter and we will share some in a future post!


Missed The Little Things #8? Check it out here!

Monday, August 19, 2013

Hidden Mickeys #12

One of our favorite things to do in the Parks is find hidden Mickeys. Every week we will share a new hidden Mickey from Disney World but won't share where it is till the next week. See if you know where they are!

Can you spot the Hidden Mickey? 
Do you know where it can be found?
Share your guesses below!



Did you guess where last weeks hidden Mickey is?



 This Mickey can be found in the Living with the Land
 attraction, and of course, is made out of produce!

Saturday, August 17, 2013

It's in the Details #10

 In this series, we'll be looking at details that are hidden all around you at the parks. The Imagineers do a great job placing in many hidden gems and things to try that one has to take a moment to notice, or explore. Many of these are obvious and in plain sight, and some are hidden quite well, you just have to know where to look.



  This week's It's in the Details covers a small detail placed in an attraction as a tribute. In Animal Kingdom is the excellent time travelling ride Dinosaur, you're led to a secret basement time travel facility at the back of the Dino Institute, where you're on a journey to capture an Iguanadon, while evading a hungry Carnotaurus. Originally called Countdown to Extinction, it was changed to Dinosaur in 2000 to correspond and promote the movie of the same name; it opened with Animal Kingdom on April 22, 1998. As you begin safety checks in the Time Rover, to far right of the facility, on the wall above several electrical boxes and interfaces, is a label for the current sector within the facility:

SECTOR CTX-WDI-AK98

 It's fairly easy to break down given the previous information I gave:
CTX = Countdown to Extinction
WDI = Walt Disney Imagineering
AK98 = Animal Kingdom '98
    It serves as a tribute and reminder of the attraction's opening and origins.

Missed It's in the Details #9? Check it out here!

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Hidden Mickeys #11

One of our favorite things to do in the Parks is find hidden Mickeys. Every week we will share a new hidden Mickey from Disney World but won't share where it is till the next week. See if you know where they are!

Can you spot the Hidden Mickey? 
Do you know where it can be found?
Share your guesses below!


Did you guess where last weeks hidden Mickey is?


 These Mickeys can be found in the lobby of the Grand Floridian!

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

It's in the Details #9

  In this series, we'll be looking at details that are hidden all around you at the parks. The Imagineers do a great job placing in many hidden gems and things to try that one has to take a moment to notice, or explore. Many of these are obvious and in plain sight, and some are hidden quite well, you just have to know where to look.

  The Peoplemover of WDW has always been a fan favorite, ever since the WEDway Peoplemover appeared at Disneyland in 1967. It's also one of our favorite places, one we try to frequent and ride at least once each trip to the Magic Kingdom. It also happens to be special for another reason now. 
  For many years, it had changed its name to the Tomorrowland Transit Authority, Blue Line. It was one of several modes of transportation alluded to within Tomorrowland. However, what many people don't know, as they zip along the rails, that they pass by two other lines, Green and Red, once mentioned in the spiel. You just passed a transportation hub for Tomorrowland's denizens! While the name has reverted back to the Peoplemover, you can still find Red and Green in the first tunnel along the route, just after you pass by Walt's Progress City model remnant.



  Technically, you don't actually see Green line, but apparently, crossing the path of your Peoplemover to the left takes you to the Green line, with service to the Hover-burbs of the Land.


    The Red line is interplanetary, taking you across the galaxy to many locations. Here you can see it's a rather snug rocket, ready to take off with its two robot passengers. The current occupant appears drowsy and ready for the trip, while his portly partner appears with ticket in hand.


Missed It's in the Details #8? Check it out here!

Monday, August 5, 2013

Hidden Mickeys #10

One of our favorite things to do in the Parks is find hidden Mickeys. Every week we will share a new hidden Mickey from Disney World but won't share where it is till the next week. See if you know where they are!

We will continue with the resort theme this week. Can you spot the Hidden Mickey? 
Do you know at which resort it can be found?
Share your guesses below!


Did you guess where last weeks hidden Mickey is?


 This Mickey can be found at Animal Kingdom Lodge in the lobby. Just look up!