#Disneyland60..........Today In Disneyland History...............August 26, 2005

Disney Legend Fred Joerger Passes Away

August 26, 2005

On August 26, 2005, Disney Legend Fred Joerger, a master model maker who helped create Disneyland's look by molding three-dimensional models of the Sleeping Beauty Castle, the Haunted Mansion and other attractions, passed away at age 91. Born in Pekin, Illinois, on December 21, 1913, Fred graduated from the University of Illinois with a fine arts degree in 1937. He then moved to Los Angeles and joined the art department at Warner Brother’s building models of movie sets.  Walt Disney handpicked Joerger back in 1953 to become one of the first three members of WED Enterprises (today known as Walt Disney Imagineering) along with Harriett Burns and Wathel Rogers. Joerger's unusual knack for creating gorgeous rockwork out of plaster led to his reputation as Imagineering's "resident rock expert." Imagineer Fred Joerger helped realize Walt Disney’s visions by crafting three-dimensional miniature models of Disney theme park attractions, as well as motion picture sets and props, before they were brought to full-scale life.

As Fred recalled, “I was given artists’ drawings of an interior set or a building and interpreted them into models. It’s very easy to make something like the Haunted Mansion look good on paper, but if you don’t get it into three-dimensions first, you may have a disaster. Well, my job was to create the model to avert disaster, which was fun, but a challenge.”

Among his rocky mountain highlights; the huge stones featured on the Jungle Cruise and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Joerger also built miniature sets and props for Disney motion pictures, including Mary Poppins, Darby O'Gill and the Little People, and 20,000 Leagues under the Sea. It was Joerger who designed and constructed most all rockwork at Walt Disney World for its 1971 opening, including the breathtaking atrium waterfall featured in the Polynesian Village Resort.

In 1979, after 25 years with the Company, Fred retired. He soon returned, however, to serve as field art director for EPCOT Center prior to its 1982 opening.  His legacy lives on not just in his creations but in the Haunted Mansion as well where guests can still see the Haunted Mansion tombstone is a tribute to Joerger. The "Here Lies Good Old Fred - A Great Big Rock Fell On His Head". And that’s what happened today in Disneyland history. 

Dining For Less at Walt Disney World

 Dining for Less Cha-Ching at WDW

For breakfast I suggest eating a granola bar or pastry in your hotel room, bring them from home or stop off at a local Target- 3200 Rolling Oaks Blvd
Kissimmee, FL 34747, (321) 677-3971) or Wal-Mart Supercenter- Kissimmee 3250 Vineland Road, Kissimmee, FL 34746,407-397-1125 for breakfast items, drinks, snacks and Disney souvenirs at a huge discount.

Magic Kingdom- I would grab some yummies at Main Street Bakery, for starters a Starbucks, Venti White Chocolate Mocha & a breakfast sandwich or a delicious house-made Disney sweet, you’re spending somewhere between $10 to 15 bucks. At DHS- Starring Rolls Café is my choice; my family might grab a croissant or apple turnover for under $7.00, any grab & go type of food. Over at EPCOT- Fountain View in Future World has Starbucks espresso and specialty beverages or just fill up on warm and tasty treats like Artisan breakfast sandwiches and house-made Disney sweets. While at the Animal Kingdom- try Kusafiri Coffee Shop & Bakery.

*I would definitely save my largest meal for lunch, it’s usually less expensive during lunch hours and you could experience upscale dining without spending all your cha-ching, maybe try “Be our Guest” a quick service dining facility at Magic Kingdom with fine dining appeal, based off the popular tale Beauty & the Beast. Here you have a choice of three enchanted rooms & meals under 15.00 pp. Try the Speedy Salads and Sandwiches, Quick Quiche or the Chefs fave 8-hour-braised pork & for the little beasts, they’ll love Mickey meatloaf or whole-grain macaroni. Lunch time at DHS- 50’s Prime Time Café, it’s a stick to your ribs kind of lunch with a 50’s theme & fun lovin’ family humor. EPCOT-is a great place for Sushi, Sunshine Seasons- has an inexpensive selection, gourmet sandwiches, soups and salads, and wood-fired entrées. Animal Kingdom-Tusker House hosts “Donald’s Dining Safari Character Buffet” 11am-2:45pm, with the price being a bit steep at $30 to 59.99 pp, but it’s a character buffet with African influences and it will definitely fill up the hungry hubby’s out there.

*Dinner at Magic Kingdom, I would grab a combo-style meal at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn in Frontierland, they have a terrific “toppings bar” so you can make the simplest item on the menu go a lot further. I like the 1/3 Angus Cheeseburger-$10.79 served with fries or apple slices or the Taco Salad-$8.79 & add some hot cheese, caramelized onions or Pico de Gallo, yummy to my tummy. I particularly like to dip my fries in the hot cheese, always a late night family fave! At DHS- the Hollywood Brown Derby $15 to $29.99 per adult from 3:30-9:30pm. Enjoy a nice signature dinner with herb-roasted rack of lamb over buttermilk blue cheese-corn pudding, desserts & more. EPCOT- Rose & Crown Pub, fish & chips with a beer, simple & tasty! Animal Kingdom-Flame Tree Barbecue for none other than yummy barbeque.

 These are just a few suggestions for daily meals at WDW. By no means are they the cheapest for dining, but they offer a nice value for your money. Happy Eating*O*

Previously published on http://theadultsideofdisney.com/.

The Power of the PONCHO - making the most out of your rainy Walt Disney World vacation!

So I just finished my first blogging series ever - Gearing up to "Meet the Mouse".  No where in my series of articles did I mention bringing a poncho for rainy weather but I am sure glad that we did!  We usually visit WDW in July so we are well aware that late afternoon we will be greeted by a  rain or thunderstorm for a quick cool off!  Sometimes we would step out of an attraction only to see the grounds wet and lingering poncho wearers, only to realize we missed a quick hit.  Well this past vacation it was a different story!

We have just returned from a 9 day visit.  While I feel that I have almost mastered the new fast pass system I know I have mastered the POWER OF THE PONCHO!

It rained and rained and rained.  Not your quick "cool off" storm but I'm talking hours upon hours of rain for several of the days and nights that we were there! 

I interrupt this blog for an important announcement: BRING CROCS!  Yes I know sneakers are more sensible but read on!

Did the rain ruin our Disney vacation - no way!  I had saved for two years straight and worked to hard in the planning process to let this minor (ha ha) weather issue ruin our trip.  Here are some things that we did in each park that helped to keep us dry aside from the ponchos!

Hollywood Studios ranked very low on the SOAK-O-METER as most of the attractions are indoors!  We were able to use all our fast passes and view many other attractions without getting soaked.  This park is also very easy to navigate as it is smaller than the others!  We spent some good quality indoor time at the Animation Studio which I can't wait to blog about later!  

Animal Kingdom ranked moderate on the SOAK-O-METER.  We were able to stay dry on DINOSAUR and the Lion King show.  We also were able to not only stay dry but to see many animals on our trip on the Kilimanjaro Safari ride.  Most of the animals were out during the rain!  It takes a while to get from place to place at Animal Kingdom and there appeared to be a lot of construction.  Take a detour to Kali River Rapids!  Hey you are already wet - why not take the plunge!  You will get soaked but by the time you get there, you already will be!  

Yup - that's us!!! On a dry day!

Epcot ranks SOAKED on the SOAK-O-METER!  Although most of the attractions are indoors, Epcot requires a lot of walking!  We were able to stay dry taking in all the attractions around Future World and the gift shops were a great stopping point as well!  Test Track closes in the rain but all else remained open.  When we explored the World Showcase we quickly became soaked - some of the walkways to get to the World Showcase (leading to  England and Mexico) had 6 - 8 inches of water!  Drainage issues?  The kids loved it and my hubby who wore sneakers did not (see CROC note).  Note: Great huge umbrellas that hold 2-3 people are sold right across from China in a small shop!

Lastly on our rainy park tour was the Magic Kingdom which is still magical in the rain but in my opinion it ranked SOAKED on the SOAK-O-METER!  But.. a happy soaking!  Many rides close making your wait times even higher for the others!  Some of the attractions that we were able to walk right onto were:  Hall of Presidents (a favorite), Country Bear Jamboree, Carousel of Progress, and MIckey's Philharmagic!  These attractions are great and if you are one of the lucky ones you will exit the show and see sunny skies!  

Here is what happened when we exited Small World:

my favorite

It was actually a double rainbow!  Double the magic!

Rain or shine - Disney is such a magical place you will be sure to make the most of it.  But.. if you go during rainy season... don't forget the "power of the poncho".

 

Gearing Up to "Meet the Mouse- It's Magic Band Time

   

While gearing up to meet the MOUSE, make sure you accessorize! Aside from our family MICKEY shirts from the Disney store, we made our own family shirts.   Nothing says "stick together" like  everyone wearing matching Mickey's!  We created tie dye shirts using white t-shirts, elastics, and navy blue tie dye powder.  First you make a large circle and put an elastic on it.  Then create two smaller circles with elastics.   The more Mickey's the better.  After dying the shirts and removing the elastics - presto!  You can even do this with white socks! 
Aside from choosing the colors (um, why no purple?), you can also accessorize your Magic Bands!  We received a pack of Magic Bandits to use on our bands.  Although we have yet to try them, Minnie is waiting to hop on my wrist!  That is until I see an Olaf one!  T-shirt tip: Wait to tell your husband about all the matching clothing until packing day when he sees multiple shirts!  Once he gets to the magical world of Disney he will be so happy, he will wear anything!

                                                                    Ready for the trip!

Candlelight Processional Dining Packages Are Ready and Waiting For You! It's Christmas In July!

Photo Disney Parks Blog

It's Christmas in July! Starting on July 8, you will be able to start booking their Candlelight Processional Dining Packages. This is great for you early planners since the event starts the night after Thanksgiving (November 28) and runs through December 30.

We also have a partial list of celebrity narrators including Candlelight veterans Whoopi Goldberg and Jodi Benson, and two fabulous new narrators – Academy-Award-winning actress Sharon Stone and Saturday Night Live alum Ana Gasteyer.

For those of you unfamiliar with the event, it’s a gorgeous re-telling of the Christmas story with a celebrity narrator each night and seasonal music from a massed choir and huge orchestra. The event started at Disneyland park in the 1958 with Walt Disney himself. At Walt Disney World Resort, it’s presented at the America Gardens Theater at Epcot, a beautiful venue, especially when all decked out for the holidays.

I’ve had the honor of being in the cast choir – you know the folks in the green Christmas tree robes – for six years. I thought it was a magical experience watching this program. Little did I know that being on stage, a part of it, would be even more. I’ve had a chance to sing along side actors like Neil Patrick Harris and Gary Sinise, and gospel legends like Amy Grant and Steven Curtis Chapman, who is back again this year.

Here is a partial list of celebrity narrators:

• Jodi Benson – 11/28 – 11/29
• TBD – 11/30 – 12/2
• TBD – 12/3 – 12/4
• Whoopi Goldberg – 12/5 – 12/6
• TBD – 12/7* – 12/8
• TBD – 12/9 – 12/11
• TBD – 12/12 – 12/14
• Sharon Stone (New) – 12/15 – 12/17
• Ana Gasteyer (New) – 12/18 – 12/20
• Marlee Matlin – 12/21 – 12/23
• TBD – 12/24 – 12/25
• TBD – 12/26 – 12/27
• Steven Curtis Chapman – 12/28 – 12/30

Narrators are subject to change without notice. – Show Times are at 5 p.m., 6:45 p.m. & 8:15 p.m. each night. *Show Times on December 7 are 6:45 p.m. & 8:15 p.m. only

Candlelight Processional Dining Packages, available on select days, start at $35 for lunch and $50 for dinner for adults, include a delicious meal at an Epcot restaurant and a guaranteed seat for one of the Candlelight Processional performances. Note: Availability is limited. Guests can call 407-WDW-DINE (407-939-3463) or book online at www.disneyworld.com/holidays.

Gearing Up to "Meet the Mouse"- A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned

                                                                       Spare some change?
How do you save for your Disney vacation?  Aside from our special savings account and our Disney Visa we have a family tradition which gets the kids involved, we collect spare change.  Each year we start collecting all the spare change we find or have and put it in large jars (we are big applesauce eaters).  We then designate what we will use the money for when we cash it in.  This year our kids chose to save for character dining (after overhearing Mom and Dad say it is more expensive this year now that our 10 year old is an "adult").  We will put our change towards dinner at Chef Mickey's and our breakfast at  The Crystal Palace.  Our kids get very excited to see a jar get filled and then to start a new one.  They are even more excited to roll the change and make the deposit at the bank.   For our upcoming trip we have $351.00 to pay for dining with our favorite "friends". Tip: encouraging your children to ask their grandparents for change every time they visit will fill the jars faster!

Gearing Up to "Meet the Mouse"- The Countdown Begins!

For those planning a trip to Walt Disney World, 180 is a magical milestone number.  At that time you can book all your dining reservations and who doesn't think about food on their vacation?  Mmmm, can smell those MICKEY waffles already.  But, to your young ones at home 180 days will seem like forever.   Keep a countdown in your house so your little ones can see the number going down and their excitement levels will be going up!  We have a "countdown in the kitchen" where we take turns changing the number.  You can highlight certain days like: 100 days (kids just happen to love that number) and 60 (fast pass selections - pick your favorites kids) and as the number gets smaller they will realize their magical vacation is near!  My son has a countdown app on his kindle device and our family phones have the countdown to the minute! 

Looking for the Best in Dining? Don't Miss the "Flavors of Summer" Menu now at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress

A Feast Fit for Papa Himself

Last month I was lucky enough to be treated to a feast fit for a king or queen when I was given a preview and special tasting of the brand new Flavors of Summer Menu that is now being served at the upscale 

Hemingway’s located inside the luxurious Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in the heart of Orlando Florida.  From the moment you enter the spacious and open atrium lobby of this deluxe hotel, with expansive views and grounds, you know what you are about to experience is nothing less than first class all the way. Walking into Hemingway’s you are immediately transported into the days of Hemingway's fishing expeditions from “Cayo Hueso” to the coast of Cuba.   

The open and airy seating, whether you are alone or with a group, lends itself perfectly to the culture and cuisine of these areas are where the inspiration of this restaurant comes from.  Add to that their new Flavors of Summer Menu and you have the perfect ending to any day or the perfect way to celebrate that occasion. 

...

This new fixe prix menu, which you can also order with a wine pairing, is served by their top notched and ever attentive wait staff that go out of their way to make you feel more like long lost family then first time guests.  

Appetizers range from a Key Lime Caser Salad or the Key Wester Salad to a smooth and rich Florida Rock Shrimp Chowder.  Entrees ranged from Hemingway’s “Cayo Hueso” Crab Cakes, Duvall Street Shrimp Scampi and the incredible Crispy Black Fin Snapper to the Cuban Criollo Chicken that literally melted in your mouth.  Every dish was seasoned to perfection and accompanied by a wide variety of vegetables and plated in such a way that made you feel that you were looking at a work of art. 

Even though it is easier said than done, make sure, whatever you do, that you save room for dessert because they truly save the best for last. 

Whether you choose the Key Lime Tart or the delectable Peanut Butter Bombe, it is absolutely the perfect end to a first class meal. The Flavors of Summer Menu is only being offered for July and August but if you in search of fine dining at its best, search no further than Hemingway’s located in the beautiful Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in the heart of Orlando Florida.

“Frozen” Fun Coming to Walt Disney World Resort This Summer!

This summer the world of Disney’s instant classic “Frozen,” takes center stage at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®, coming to life like never before in a full range of all-new, immersive experiences through the park.

From July 5-Sept 1, 2014, you can enjoy “Frozen Summer Fun – Live at Disney’s Hollywood Studios” daily. And, most activities are included in regular theme park admission.

Some of the fun and highlights include:

Olaf on Summer Vacation – Olaf the snowman is having the time of his life on his very first summer vacation! He chimes in throughout the day to keep everyone updated on all his adventures. Plus, the best part is that you can pick up your very own Take-Along Olaf from locations in the park, so he can join you on your summer vacation. Share the fun with your photos with Olaf on social media and tag them with #OlafSummerVacation, and who knows- you may just get selected to appear in that day’s grand finale!

Anna and Elsa’s Royal Welcome – At 11 a.m. each day, Anna and Elsa arrive in Hollywood as part of their goodwill tour of neighboring kingdoms, making their way down Hollywood Boulevard in a horse-drawn sleigh. Kristoff is along for the fun, too, joined by a flurry of skaters, skiers, ice cutters and more! The entire procession culminates in a special moment at the Sorcerer Hat Icon Stage to officially welcome the visiting royalty to this kingdom of Hollywoodland. 

For the First Time in Forever: A “Frozen” Sing-Along Celebration –Now you can cool down inside the Premiere Theater, where Anna and Elsa join the Royal Historians of Arendelle for a fun and comedic retelling of the unique history of their Kingdom, filled with delightful, sing-along moments from “Frozen.” Guests will be invited to join in special sing-along moments from the film’s chart-topping soundtrack

Wandering Oaken’s Trading Post & Frozen Funland – Inside Soundstage One, Oaken and his cousins have created a Frozen Funland filled with cold weather activities, unique photo opportunities, and more! There’s a frozen pond with ice skating demonstrations, wintertime fun for kids in the “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” play area, a “big summer blowout” with plenty of “Frozen” merchandise, and special “Frozen”-inspired food and beverage offerings.

“Coolest Summer Ever” Dance Party – Starting at 5:30 p.m. each day, a dance party takes over the area around the Sorcerer’s Hat Icon Stage, with a DJ and live band. The band plays a variety of classic and contemporary summer rock & roll hits, as well as a cool, rocking medley of “Frozen” favorites. It’s going to be hot!

“Frozen” Fireworks Spectacular – Everything wraps up at 9:45 p.m. when Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, and Olaf come together at the Sorcerer’s Hat Icon Stage for a grand finale to the day’s festivities, kicking off an awe-inspiring fireworks display set to the glorious music of “Frozen!

So now the only question left to answer is “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?”