With just a few days to go before my flight leaves I thought it would be a neat idea to give those who want to read an insight into how myself and my family take our WDW vacations.
Firstly a little about me and my family: I'm 20, and going to the World with my parents. This will be our 12th trip, flying across the Atlantic from London. Our first trip was in 1994 and we feel like we have got the whole thing down.
This year though, especially since listening to the podcast for the last couple of years, I've decided that I want to take it a bit slower and see all the extra details in the buildings and all the backstories. I've also taken a bit more control of the planning as I keep my finger on the pulse a little more than my parents.
So the general plan for our 2 week trip:
We fly out of London to Detroit Saturday morning, then fly down to Orlando International (We basically do this to split up the journey as I really really hate flying, and works out cheaper than flying direct for us)
Sunday is always an off day for us, a bit of breakfast, shopping, Downtown Disney, and this year we have reservations for Kouzzina . My Mum is especially pleased after reading the review in Celebrations Magazine.
Monday, traditionally is always a visit to DHS. Time to take some fastpass for Toy Story Mania, a walk through the little things in the Muppetvision queue, a visit to Starring Rolls for the first time, and several rides on Star Tours before it closes ( although I'm personally hopeful to ride it another day before it closes on the 8th)
The next thing planned is seeing Wishes on the Wednesday, we'll be at the Wishes Dessert Party (thankfully extended through September) which from other people's pictures on twitter looks amazing.
The next day I am taking a day away from the parents to go on the Backstage Magic tour by myself. I will be getting dropped off somewhere, probably getting a bus to EPCOT and then onto the tour. Tour finishes in MK (lunch I think is in Whispering Canyon Cafe "KETCHUUUUUUP!!!!") will probably have to monorail it back to EPCOT and maybe view Illuminations.
Friday is possibly going to be one of my favourites as we have a dinner reservation for the new Via Napoli. After Lou's video I was straight onto the online reservation system and so looking forward to arancini and blood orange flavoured water.
Nothing is then set in stone until our trip on the 2nd Wednesday over to Tropicana Field to watch my Tampa Bay Rays take on the Yankees. A bit of hotdog, chillidog, corndog, or something of the sort.
We are staying off property, close to the Downtown entrance. This allows us to do our own thing a bit more and also to go eat out at our favourite restaurants.
Well there you go. That is our general plan for the next 2 weeks, I'll fill you all in on what happened around our reservations at a later date.
tdf192
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
Friday, 20 March 2009
The First Day
I'll start off my blog in the same way that I have always started my WDW trips. After arriving on Saturday nights, Sunday becomes a day of rest, eating and shopping. However the WDW trip starts properly when we first arrive in the parks on Monday.
The first park to visit has always been (mainly due to tradition rather than anythng else) Disney-MGM Studios, now known as Disney's Hollywood Studios. After its opening in May 1989, the park was a mixture between looking behind the scenes and attractions that put you within the films. On of these rides is The Great Movie Ride.
The Chinese theatre is a spot on replica by the Imagineers, unfortunately hidden (some would say spoilt) by the Sorcerer Mickey hat, erected in 2001. The hat has become the new icon of the Studios replacing the Earful Tower. Outside the theatre there are many famous handprints. In the queue area are props from famous films. At the moment these include Chronicles of Narnia coats and a merry - go round horse from Mary Poppins.
The ride itself is pure Disney at their best. As you travel through different movies you are met by the brilliant life-like sets which have been painstakingly painted and tributes left at every turn. Of course everyone has their own favourites, but the 2 which seem to stand out to a lot of people are the Wizard of Oz and Raiders of the Lost Ark. This I guess is due to the actions of the cast member and the detail in the scenes.
The colours in the Oz scene defnitely take you within the film and Munchkin-land. The munchkins themselves are so alive that on their first trip I have heard people actually say that they thought they were real actors. The Wicked Witch herself just shows off how WDW's animatronics are the best, even compared to other Disney parks. Although she is now slightly stiff and jars about alot (compared to the new Mr Potatohead in Toy Story Mania), she retains the character and prowess that she was given in 1989.
"I hate snakes!!"
Not just said by Indy but by many guests as the Raiders scene is strewn with various snakes, both moving and still. I find it best to try and ignore these (I know difficult!) and look at the hieroglyphics, both detailed and stunning throughout the scene. My favourite include the one of 2 of George Lucas' other creations: C-3PO and R2-D2.
The beauty of the ride is that it includes so many different films and film scores in its final scene that it really does make you appreciate all the great cinema made in the last century (and a bit). This ride for me really has to be one of the first rides to do at DHS, just because it sets up the rest of the park, and for those younger guests let them see some of the history of cinema and give an insight onto what modern films draw from.
Where onto next I wonder...
The first park to visit has always been (mainly due to tradition rather than anythng else) Disney-MGM Studios, now known as Disney's Hollywood Studios. After its opening in May 1989, the park was a mixture between looking behind the scenes and attractions that put you within the films. On of these rides is The Great Movie Ride.
The Chinese theatre is a spot on replica by the Imagineers, unfortunately hidden (some would say spoilt) by the Sorcerer Mickey hat, erected in 2001. The hat has become the new icon of the Studios replacing the Earful Tower. Outside the theatre there are many famous handprints. In the queue area are props from famous films. At the moment these include Chronicles of Narnia coats and a merry - go round horse from Mary Poppins.
The ride itself is pure Disney at their best. As you travel through different movies you are met by the brilliant life-like sets which have been painstakingly painted and tributes left at every turn. Of course everyone has their own favourites, but the 2 which seem to stand out to a lot of people are the Wizard of Oz and Raiders of the Lost Ark. This I guess is due to the actions of the cast member and the detail in the scenes.
The colours in the Oz scene defnitely take you within the film and Munchkin-land. The munchkins themselves are so alive that on their first trip I have heard people actually say that they thought they were real actors. The Wicked Witch herself just shows off how WDW's animatronics are the best, even compared to other Disney parks. Although she is now slightly stiff and jars about alot (compared to the new Mr Potatohead in Toy Story Mania), she retains the character and prowess that she was given in 1989.
"I hate snakes!!"
Not just said by Indy but by many guests as the Raiders scene is strewn with various snakes, both moving and still. I find it best to try and ignore these (I know difficult!) and look at the hieroglyphics, both detailed and stunning throughout the scene. My favourite include the one of 2 of George Lucas' other creations: C-3PO and R2-D2.
The beauty of the ride is that it includes so many different films and film scores in its final scene that it really does make you appreciate all the great cinema made in the last century (and a bit). This ride for me really has to be one of the first rides to do at DHS, just because it sets up the rest of the park, and for those younger guests let them see some of the history of cinema and give an insight onto what modern films draw from.
Where onto next I wonder...
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
Very first post!!
Welcome to my new blog!! Here at The UK Progress City I'll talk about all things WDW. Whether it'll be the parks, rides, history, facts, music or even the food, I hope you'll enjoy reading all about it as much as I will writing it. Although I'll be at times looking at WDW from a UK perspective, I hope that my US (and other international) friends will also enjoy learning about WDW from a British perspective.
Well, although bare at the minute, I'll be posting in the next few days and starting my journey properly along Main Street USA, Pixar Place, World Showcase, Discovery Island...
Well, although bare at the minute, I'll be posting in the next few days and starting my journey properly along Main Street USA, Pixar Place, World Showcase, Discovery Island...
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