The Finding Nemo, Cars, and Lion King themed buildings at Disney’s Art of Animation resort all feature the family suite style rooms. Although they’re designed to sleep six adults comfortably, you’ll still need to convert the couch and the dining room table to beds before… Read More »Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Family Suites – Converting Bed from Table
On a recent visit to The Happiest Place on Earth, my dear friend Kristin and I decided to visit the newly opened Art of Animation Resort to check things out as well as try their some of their unique breakfast offerings. Kristin and I, along with my husband, will be staying at DAAR in January over Marathon Weekend, so we definitely wanted to explore a bit and see what it would have in store for us as guests!
Upon pulling into the parking area, you are already able to get a sense that this resort is not quite as kitschy as any of the other value resorts. Most of the decoration/color is left to two dimensions instead of three, giving the building a very sleek, clean look while still being bright and colorful. The basic layout of the main building is the same as POP! Century: the main areas are located in the same places; the front desk, gift store, food court, arcade, etc. It might feel empty in comparison to many props and shadow boxes that adorn POP! Century, except there is so much color around you that it never feels undecorated; it just feels clean. Shapely lines and curves are everywhere, making you feel as though you’ve stepped right on to the animator’s desk. The front desk sparkles with color while the backlit storyboard sketches that decorate the Ink & Paint Shop entrance positively glow.
Read More »A Breakfast Visit to Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
It’s been a few weeks since we visited Disney’s Animal Kingdom, so we’re overdue for a photo update. We’ve also got some good rumors to discuss.
You may have heard that DAK is starting a ‘Sundowner Celebration’ with extra entertainment and unique food offerings in an attempt to keep people in the park after the parade. It didn’t work for us, we had to leave before Noon.
This truck was parked up front with a giant sign advertising options of activities to enjoy before sundown.
While on vacation with his family, Brazilian soccer (aka football) star Kaka took a few moments to pose and kick around a soccer ball with Mickey Mouse at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Later the Real Madrid player, whose real name is Ricardo Izecson… Read More »Brazilian Soccer Star Kaka Plays With Mickey Mouse at ESPN Wide World of Sports
Yesterday I shared some of the changes to the exterior of the new twin-spinner Dumbo the Flying Elephant attraction in Storybook Circus, today I’m excited to be sharing some photos of the interior of that attractions. Wait, you say. Why would a spinner have an interior? It’s all part of Imagineering’s plan to make waiting for the ride less painful.
Back when WDI first started talking about the new Dumbo queue they said rather than lining up in a switchbacks, it would be a place where kids could move freely and interact with various elements in the building. Parents would be able to wait comfortably while watching their kids run around. One’s place in line would be held virtually and an announcement would indicate when your boarding group was ready to head to the loading zone.
Looking at these pictures shared by Disney, that vision looks essentially intact. Perhaps it’s a bit more playground / obstacle course than I envisioned.
Also, Disney says that instead of an announcement to tell you when to grab your kid and head to a loading zone, some sort of paging device will be used. Disney has tested out, in theory, how this system will work during some experiments over at Rock-n-Roller Coaster. According to sources, results were mixed. So we’ll keep a close eye on how this is working out once it opens to guests.
Update: Video of the queue ‘in use’ by kids and some background on the project from an Imagineer.
Read More »Dumbo Interactive Queue Preview from Storybook Circus
The hurricane prediction team has revised its forecast for the 2012 season that began yesterday. Previously, they believed there would be 10 named storms, with 3 major storms. Now they have upped that number to 13. Considering there have already been 2 storms this year,… Read More »Hurricane Forecast Revised Upward
When I lived out in California, there were frequent problems with ducks or seagulls camping out on the monorail beam. Usually a horn honk or two would scare them off, but sometimes it could take quite a few attempts to clear the beam. Thanks to the magic of ubiquitous smart phones, we now get to see the equivalent problem unfold at Walt Disney World.
According to reports, the resort loop at the Magic Kingdom Monorail was delayed by 45 minutes as the pilot of Monorail Gold attempted to clear the beam of a poor little squirrel who, for some reason, wouldn’t run down a support beam and instead, kept running straight down the line all the way from the Grand Floridian to the Magic Kingdom Monorail Station where it finally jumped off the track into the station.
Kudos to the pilot for being sensitive to other forms of life! Apparently the Monorail Gold pilot is not the only friend to squirrels at the Walt Disney World Monorail. Check out this video below the jump: The Squirrel Whisperer!
Disney’s Art of Animation Resort (DAAR) officially opens later this week. When completed it will add over a thousand rooms to Walt Disney World and a new level of theming for ‘Value’ level accommodations. Most of the rooms at DAAR will be of the family… Read More »Disney’s Art of Animation Resort Finding Nemo Suites Tour