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Ken Pellman

I was a Disneyland Cast Member for 15 years. Currently a freelance writer.

The Seas with Finding Nemo

The Cast Member Previews and Annual Passholder previews are now over and regular soft openings will begin next week on Disney World’s next attraction, The Seas with Nemo & Friends at Epcot. I’ve been on it four times now and rate it a solid C ticket, possibly a D ticket. They’ve included a huge queue for this thing, so obviously they’re expecting crowds.

From here on out thar’ be spoilers. So warned ye’ be.

You enter the attraction by passing three seagull’s from the movie, through the old pavilion entrance. If you want to enter the pavilion to see Turtle Talk with Crush or the aquarium, you’ll continue to enter through the old exit. The new entrance is only for the attraction. Also, there is no fastpass for this attraction. This is a good thing as the capacity for this attraction appears large. So as long as the attraction keeps movie, the queue will keep moving. No need for fastpass to artificially slow the queue down.

The initial queue hasn’t changed much in layout or lighting, but the scenery is a nice overlay of beach themeing with some foreshadowing and humor spread throughout. When you leave that queue you quickly (and somewhat abruptly) transition to the ‘under-water’ portion of the queue.

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Disney’s Funai Classic PGA Tournament Loses Woods, Sponsor

If you’re planning to be in attendance at Disney’s Funai Classic, you’ll miss seeing 9 time participant and two time winner of the event, Tiger Woods. He’s sitting this one out. Not a good sign for Disney who is looking to sign a new sponsor for the 10 year old tournament. Disney has sponsored the… Read More »Disney’s Funai Classic PGA Tournament Loses Woods, Sponsor

Win a personal video greeting from Tim Burton for your MySpace Profile!

Calling all artists, designers, creative geniuses, film lovers and fans of Nightmare Before Christmas! This is your chance to create an original character for Walt Disney Pictures’ holiday classic, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, making its return to the big screen this month in Disney Digital 3-D. You are free to create the scariest,… Read More »Win a personal video greeting from Tim Burton for your MySpace Profile!

Orlando Sentinel’s Chow Hound tours Epcot’s Food and Wine

Scott Joseph, the Orlando Sentinel’s Chow Hound columnist, reports on his visit to this year’s Epcot Food & Wine Festival. I’ve sniped about the parsimonious portions in years past, hardly worth the prices that average around $3 per plate. But I have no complaints about value this time, especially when portion and quality have both… Read More »Orlando Sentinel’s Chow Hound tours Epcot’s Food and Wine

Disney Announces New Hosts for 2007 ABC/ESPN NASCAR Broadcasts

ABC is returning to its roots next year with broadcast rights for the second half of the NASCAR season, which includes the playoff-esque race for the chase. Hosting the shows will be television veteran Brent Musburger, former stock car champion Rusty Wallace and longtime pit reporter Jerry Punch. TV newcomer Andy Petree, former NASCAR crew… Read More »Disney Announces New Hosts for 2007 ABC/ESPN NASCAR Broadcasts

Disney Feature Animation Downsizing again.

Wasn’t it just a few days ago that Disney announced they were launching an online portal for aspiring artists to submit their portfolios? Now comes news that Walt Disney Feature Animation has been told to brace for layoffs. The Animation Guild blog has the news. Be sure to read through the comments for some juicy… Read More »Disney Feature Animation Downsizing again.

Answer: Adonis Reeves and Garnett Schoonover?

Question: Who are the 2006-2007 Disneyland Ambassadors? As Ambassadors, they will represent the Disneyland Resort and its 20,000 Cast Members during the "Year of a Million Dreams," a first-of-a-kind event celebration where Cast Members will award a million dreams; both large and small; to randomly selected guests. They will also be the official hosts of… Read More »Answer: Adonis Reeves and Garnett Schoonover?

Animal Kingdom Lodge Vacation Club Announced

The Disney Vacation Club is the time-share arm of the Walt Disney World Resort. It operates a little differently than your average Timeshare. It also accounts for the largest growth in rooms at WDW, Pop Century was the last non-DVC hotel built, Disney has since added Wilderness Lodge DVC, Beach Club DVC, & Sarasota Springs… Read More »Animal Kingdom Lodge Vacation Club Announced