Disney World Dining - Mouse Chat Podcast

5:24 AM | Posted by Steve


This weeks show is about the dining places at Disney World that we love to hate. There are so many places to eat at Disney World. Which ones should you maybe skip. Plus the latest news happening at Walt Disney World.

Next week join us for our in-depth review of the Disney Wonder’s Mexican Riviera Cruise and we will also sprinkle in some Disneyland as well.

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5:11 AM | Posted by Steve

Disney California Adventure "To all people who believe in the power of dreams, welcome.Disney's California Adventure opens its golden gates to you."
-- Michael, Eisner, February 8, 2001, opening day

Disney California Adventure Park was conceived as a tribute and a celebration of the history and cultural diversity of California, and meant to feel as if guests had just walked into a vintage California postcard. Construction began in 1998 on the 55 acres that once housed a 5,000 car parking lot. The expansion of Downtown Disney, the renovation of the Disneyland Hotel, and the addition of the whimsical Paradise Pier Hotel and the humungous Grand Californian Hotel (based on the famed Ahwanee Hotel in Yosemite) were all completed in 2001.

The new theme park was not an immediate success. Locals and Disney purists were disappointed with the quality and the limited number of rides. Today the park is the eleventh most visited theme park in the world! The entire park was been rennovated, refreshed, and re-themed, with more expansion underway. Popular rides like Grizzily River Rapids, the Hollywood Tower of Terror, Soarin over California, and the world class rollercoaster California Screamin' have been joined by A Bug's Land for the smaller children, Toy Story Midway Mania, Silly Symphony Strings, the Golden Zepher and Mickey's Fun Wheel (the swinging cars are much more thrilling than they first appear!).

The spectacular World of Color features music, lasers, the most fantastic colors of lights and fire over 1200 fountains and a mist screen. With the colorful lights of Paradise Pier as a backdrop, up to 6,000 guests at a time are mesmerized at this literally breath-taking production.And its not only the technical aspects of the show that are amazing. In true Disney fashion, the blend of Disney music, characters, and stories elicits a cavalcade of emotions from its viewers. You can hear a collective gasp of wonder as the fountains begin, a series of awestruck "wow"s as zebras stampede towards you or Ariel.s undersea world comes to life, and thunderous applause when you revisit beloved Lady and the Tramp sharing spaghetti or Tron's light cycles and grid light up the nighttime sky.

ElecTronika is an interactive light show and dance party in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot. All of the glow sticks and glow discs and dancin' in the street of a family friendly rave, it is a treat to watch kids of varying ages dance, compete and spotlight each other in circles around the DJ. Gather up all your energy and see if you can jump and fist pump for an entire song! The kids can do it for hours at a time, and love it. A theatrical preview of Tron and Flynn's Arcade are offered as well, and you can see blue glowing drinks against the light projections and the infectious techno beat.

Another showstopping experience is "Disney's Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular" housed in the 2,000 seat Hyperion Theater. You can enjoy popcorn and churros while you wait in line. Along with the familiar music and great dancing, there are dazzling special effects (the flying carpet, Prince Ali's Parade complete with elephant), and the Genie's hysterical and sometimes topical irreverent humor. Loved it, and can't wait to see it again!


And don't miss the Disney Animation Building. Inside you can experience early animation techniques, learn to draw a Disney character, see the Beast's Library, sing and act with Disney characters in Ursula's undersea lair, and experience magic of all sorts, all unexpected. Another unexpected pleasure: Ariel's Grotto Restaurant and Avalon Cove lounge. The table service restaurant offers authentic Santa Maria style tritip and California wines, and a special pass to World of Color. We enjoyed sitting under the gazebo like roof of the Avalon Cove, enjoying the breezes, the fountains and the views of Paradise Pier. It was lovely and relaxing, and we shared a huge plate of very fresh Lobster Nachos and delicious tri-tip sliders. Excellent service and just the right break in the day.

Still under construction is a new entrance, and the intriguing looking building for The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventures opening the summer of 2011. I'm sorry to have missed it, and it will be a great excuse to come back and visit soon. There are more facelifts, rennovations and re-imaginings of the current park, and the additon of a massive (12 acres) new area with an already visible imposing mountain which will be Cars Land. Based on the Disney-'Pixar movie, it will be a recreation of Radiator Springs, with dining and shopping and three new rides. Mater's Junkyard Jamboree will be a teacup-like attraction, Luigi's Roamin' Tires will be a hovercraft/flying saucerlike ride, and Radiatior Springs Racer, will be one of the most expensive rides ever built (estimated at $200 million). Using the technology from Walt Disney World's "Test Track", it will feature Lightning MCQueen in a duel race with tunnels, bridges, waterfalls and banked turns. All the lilttle boys we passed in Cars hats and nascar=like costumes are eagerly awaiting this one.

The Disney California Adventure Park is now a thrilling, lovely, happy and fun place to be -- so much so, that we overheard guests saying it was now their favorite park. And with Disney, you know there will always be new adventures just around the corner. Stay tuned and check back soon!

Still under construction is a new entrance, and The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure coming in the summer of 2011..


Barbie Graham
Pixie Vacations
You can contact me with any of your Disney Vacation Questions
There is No Charge for my Vacation Planning Services.
email: Barbie@PixieVacations.com


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Time to Cast Your Line at Disney World - Bass Fishing at Disney

8:41 AM | Posted by Steve




Time to Cast Your Line at WDW

Trying to please your kids that love the outdoors is easy to do at WDW. There are
several excursions offered for those that love to fish. Here you will have a unique fishing
experience inside the Disney lakes that are very well stocked.


These excursions are for the beginner from expert angler. There are large-mouth bass
up to 14lbs that swim in the waters just yards from the magic on land. You are not only
supplied with the latest in rods and reels but expert WDW guides. These castmembers
are experts and will guide you through your 2 hour catch and release fishing excursion.
The boats are comfortable enough for everyone in the family-up to fiver people-to hang
out on. Being Disney you are even provided with beverages and insider facts from your
guide. Our guide took us into the lagoon at Epcot where the illuminations show takes
place. He showed my boys where certain effects come from and how the show is set up.

When WDW was built in the 1960s more than 70,000 bass were released and left to
populate until the late 70s. Due to this period of time the lakes are ripe with enough bass
to “lure” anglers from the comfort of their resorts. Our guide told us about several 11 and
12 pound catches and the legendary 14 pounder. Our sons each caught at least 6 fish and
even our three year old caught a couple. The guides are very accommodating and made
sure everyone had a memorable experience. We also got beautiful pictures of Epcot with
the sun rising over the world showcase.

The guided fishing excursions last two hours and are available on the pontoon boats (that
hold up to 5) or the nitro boats that hold up to 2 anglers (see resort list below).

The nitro boats have the ability to get closer to shore

Guided Fishing Excursions are available at the following Resorts:
• Disney's Boardwalk Resort
• Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort nitro
• Disney's Contemporary Resort
• Disney's Coronado Springs Resort nitro
• Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campgrounds
• Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa
• Disney's Old Key West Resort
• Disney's Polynesian Resort
• Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside
• Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa
• Disney's Wilderness Lodge
• Disney's Yacht Club Resort
• Downtown Disney® Marketplace

Pricing: 2 hour excursion at 7 am or 10 am $270; 1:30 pm is $235

Cancellations: Reservation is required. 24-hour notice required for cancellations. A
credit card is required. Guests failing to show or cancel with 24-hour notice will be
charged in full.

This is an experience to add extra magic to your Disney vacation. Perfect as a surprise
for any fisherman, fisherboy, or fishergirl in your life.

Julie Gable is a travel agent with Pixie Vacations and a Disney addict. She is happy to
build a personal Disney itinerary for your trip complete with Pixie Dust!

Contact her at 440-853-8PIX (8749) or Julie@pixievacations.com

Or follow her on Facebook at Pixie Vacations by Julie

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