Over the Falls of Catastrophe Canyon!!

  

 Stop writing for a couple of months and the world is changed forever. In the past couple of weeks we lost most of the Epcot staple entertainment, Norway pavilions Maelstorm and now the Backlot Tour (what was left)! So in all honesty I never put that much into the Stable of musicians at Epcot. I have seen the Jamitors a couple of times and past by a performance of Off Kilter and the British Invasion while drinking my way around the world. Other than that really no opinion for these bands either way, hate to see them go but good luck to them and moving forward.

Maelstrom oh dear sweet Maelstrom, what can I say about you sweet cool air conditioned Florida sun retreat. As much as I enjoyed showing everyone your mickey mouse hat wearing Viking in the mural, or the creepy eye following child in same said mural. As Odin’s great eye showed me the past of its great land or the Trolls sending me back, back over the falls. Oh and at the end the great….Oil Rig, really the climactic end to that ride is an oil rig. 

Yep Odin’s Eye, some Vikings, polar bears, trolls, oil rig, movie of Norway, gift shop full of things we saw except oil rig. I remember seeing  Willard Scott and other C list  celebs in the inaugural voyage of Maelstrom on and ABC Disney special back in July of 1988 all of them clad in Gorton’s Fisherman rain slickers. I could not wait to ride this water soaking ride. The next time we went to Epcot I could not contain the excitement my pre- pubescent year old self had. Me my mom and dad and my brothers went to world showcase, but always started on the Canada side because mom loved going to France for a pastry. So by the time we got to Norway we were very excited we waited about 30 to 40 minutes in line then boom! we were in. In for the slowest non wet ride of our lives. After that initial year we always went on the ride as a “well it’s a ride” type of thing, really until it was announced it was closing I had no feeling, now it will be missed. So long old friend, hello Olaf!

Now we come to the announcement that hurts the most. The Backlot Tour is closing. Ever since May of 1989 when the Disney MGM Studios opened I have loved this ride. I have always loved movies and the glamour of all things Hollywood, so when this park opened I was enthralled watching the opening ceremonies with my mom at Grady Hospital. (My mom had broken her foot.) I remember being so excited that next spring when we went. I remember every last bit of that tour from the costuming and prop departments, to residential street with all the homes from golden girls and other shows, then New York street. The junkyard was awesome and the Catastrophe Canyon. After that you were dropped off in the ACME warehouse where all the stuff from Roger Rabbit was. 

Then there was part two of the tour, the walking tour. Here you went to the water tank where if you were lucky you were picked to act out a war movie on the seas. Then you continued and there were different studios you walked through. Each studio was a different part of film making, production, prop making green screening and so on. I remember TV’s along the way that told you what was happening with celebrities like Pee Wee Herman, Mel Gibson, Robin Williams(R.I.P.) and others. I even remember wanting to be picked as the kid to ride the giant bee in the green screen part. All in all this was like 3 hours of your trip.

Unfortunately it has not been this way in a long time. Over time we lost parts, residential street turned into part of Lights, Motors, Action show, we lost part of the walking tour to the Studio catering company and so on and so forth. All this until all we had left was the water tank, Catastrophe Canyon a small boneyard and the exiting museum part.

I know Walt always wanted the park to move forward and I accept it, but I don’t need to like it. I always held out hope the Tour would rise as the great Phoenix from its ashes into what it once was, but now as of September 27, 2014 its doors will be shuttered for what I am sure will be something great from our Imagineers. Good bye old chum.

Magic Stamps

You ever get that memory from back when you were a kid and you have no idea where it came from and then boom you are transported to that time. So I was watching a show on TV and they were talking about ultraviolet blah, blah, blah. I dozed off and then ended up dreaming about the Magic Kingdom. When I awoke all I could think and talk about was Main Street’s House of Magic.

  

The House of Magic was that non-attraction that I had to visit every trip or else it felt like the trip was a wash. I have always been a fan of the macabre and spooky so just that funeral parloresque look of the outside would bring me in.  Inside was very dark and ominous compared to the rest of the Penny Arcade. There were all sorts of gags and tricks on the walls the counter was were the clerk would show of magic tricks you could buy at the shop.       Everything from fake dog poo and vomit to t-shirts like the one below.

  

Up above the shop on the upper shelves were horror masks. They scared the heck out of me. Yes I said earlier that I loved all things scary, I did not say I was ok with them. As a matter of fact I was scared of almost everything till about 13, but that’s another story. The masks scary as they were always intrigued me because they were sort of out of reach, not only height wise but price wise as well. Now the reason we are all here, on the wall where the windows were was all this stuff that had black light to make it glow. Posters, shirts, knick knacks, and cool stuff that now you can find at a Spencer gifts.

They were all neat things but the neatest was the one day when my brothers and I had been at Epcot then we went to the Magic Kingdom . This was the day we went to the the House of Magic and were just looking around and reached for something on the black lit wall. As my brother reached for a t-shirt I noticed a glimmering something on the back of his hand. Closer inspection made it clear what it was, it was the returning to park stamp for re-entry sort of like the one below.

  The importance of this is that this was the first time we ever noticed this. So many times in and out of the parks, getting stamped and putting our hands inTo the little lamp at the park. It was a black light stamp, you can't see it until under that special ultraviolet light. Which brings the story full circle, see the ultraviolet show made me think of this moment in 199something. That triggered the memory of the house of magic which had the black light and Ta Da!... full circle! Again the Magic inside the park what a beauty. Well time to get back to the Utilidors, thanks till next time. 

Lights On!!!

So during my down time at the utilidors I was thinking about little things in the kingdom you don’t see every day. I remembered one of my favorite times. My family was visiting the Kingdom during a summer vacation in the late 80s and we went on one of my go to rides the Tomorrowland Transit Authority (TTA), known then as the WedWay Peoplemover. I liked this ride for two things, first it never has big lines (unless it is raining), and B the TTA would go through the ride If You Had Wings (later Delta Dreamflight) which was sponsored by Eastern Airlines and my Dad worked for Eastern so it was like we owned part of it.

So we got on the TTA and started our ride towards the autopia tracks down on the ground. There is our first destination the Space Mountain A Journey Through Time and Space. This was always in the past kinda boring, the Space Mountain part was dark and all you really could see was the queue line and static sets….so we thought! Here comes the turn and then BOOM went our minds. It was not dark; the lights were on inside Space Mountain! This could not be real, this sort of thing cannot happen, this is awesome and only we (And everyone before and after us) have seen this. Space Mountain is a roller coaster, not a real space craft to the moon? How can this be I’ve been on there and it seemed huge and expansive and with the lights on it was small and diminutive. Now as our minds were blown we kept telling each other we needed to see it again.

We jibber jabbered about seeing it again so much we missed If You Had Wings and most of the rest of the ride. We saw it from what I remember a couple more times and thought it was the greatest thing ever. Looking back on it I feel silly but it was worth it because to this day I hold it as one of my favorite moments not only of Kingdom, but of my brothers. We have our own lives now and I am the only one that still thinks that the Magic Kingdom is just that: MAGIC! The great thing about memories is that you can relive them over and over. This is probably one of the last times that the family went down together. It is also the last time that ever happened to me. I hear it happens all the time because the TTA and Space Mountain systems are autonomous so if Space Mountain goes down TTA stays moving and vice versa.  I still love this ride and my wife rides it with me all the time so maybe one day. Until then I will keep making my TTA trips and trying to keep my wife’s hat on her head not on the awning near the beltway up to the TTA, but that is another story. Any ways it is time for me to get back to the utilidors. Until next time have a magical time.

Mickey Retires!

Good day utiladorians! So scavenging through the stuff down here I have found something that was fantastic…for about 4 years. No not the retooling of a figmentless Imagination Pavilion, but PAL Mickey. PAL Mickey was a stuffed interactive Mickey Mouse doll that guided you through the parks and played games and trivia with you when away from the parks. PAL Mickey came out in May of 2003. Version 1 was a Mickey stuffed doll with his iconic red shorts, yellow buttons and shoes. What you did with PAL Mickey is you turned him on using the button on his back, and then clip him to your belt, using the pager-type clip provided. As you're walking through the park, Mickey will giggle and shake when he has something to say. Just squeeze one of his hands or tummy within 15 seconds and listen. A spokesperson for Disney stated “Pal Mickey not only knows where he is in the parks, he knows where he's been, so he doesn't keep repeating the same information, he has 700 pieces of information to share on everything from the parade times to attraction wait times." A sample of what he may say: "I hear Belle is over in France about now. Let's go say hi!" It is pretty cheesy but it is all in Mickey’s voice. If you miss what Mickey said, and want to hear it again, press his hand or tummy within 15 seconds and he'll repeat it up to five more times. This is all using Infrared Technology that is set up all throughout the park.

  

 Above is a picture of Version 1. As you can see it is the regular Mickey we all know This version was available starting May of 2003 it is commonly known as “1.0” This sold for $50.00, and could be rented for $8.00 per day with a $50.00 deposit and needed to be returned by noon the following day, if not returned the deposit was taken and you have just bought yourself a PAL Mickey. The rental aspect ended at the end of 2004.This version came with a clip that clipped onto your belt and you could clip him there. You could buy and rent at Island Mercantile at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, The Dark Room at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Epcot Camera Center and MouseGear at Epcot, The Emporium at the Magic Kingdom and the World of Disney at the Downtown Disney Marketplace. This version was a bit heavy and cumbersome. It would fall off the clip easily and was hard to keep facing forward. It needed to face forward due to the fact that the sensor was in his nose. Also there were issues with his audio, his eyes are the speakers and through the bustle of park music and noise you could not hear.

These and other improvements brought us the "Happiest Celebration on Earth" version of the toy or "2.0". This version was introduced on May 5, 2005 with the start of the Happiest Celebration on Earth. It was priced at $65.00. With a greater price tag you got a Tuxedo jacket, gold bowtie, and is dressed in red shorts with gold buttons, white gloves, and yellow shoes. This time you get a clip and a lanyard for carrying it. This version improves on the original in many small ways, the speakers are louder, this Mickey sings and has trivia, and this version has a gold medallion on his right hand that lights up and makes him giggle when pressed. To me the lanyard makes this version a little easier to carry.  In September 2006, Pal Mickey Sorcerer came out this version is known as "3.0". 3.0 replaced the previous Happiest Celebration on Earth version. This Pal Mickey is dressed in a Sorcerer Mickey outfit hat, red robe, and blue shorts. Missing is the Gold Medallion and oddly enough he has red shorts with the blue sorcerer shorts sewn over them. A Spanish language version of Pal Mickey was also available. This version was still $65.00. Here is a picture of Sorcerer Mickey 3.0.

Four costumes for the toy were made available in early 2006. The costumes were Mickey Mouse Club, Pin Trader, Safari Guide, and Rain Wear. These sold for about $10.00 each. Later in October 2006 they came out with some costume style suits. A Pirate Cap'n and Santa Mickey costumes were made available for $12.00. The Santa Mickey sold out during December 2006; however, it returned for the 2007 holiday season here is a picture of the outfits on the PAL Mickey.

The toy was discontinued in fall 2008. It was said that all previously purchased toys will still work; Disney is simply no longer producing any more of the toy. With my experience with my 2.0 PAL Mickey it seems that as rides get refurbished we are losing the infrared markers. On my last trip (January 2014) I wore him all day and the only place it actually did something was in Tomorrowland, one at Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, and the other on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority. It was pretty funny because it was towards the end of the day and my wife kept asking if he had said anything. When we went to get in line for Buzz he started shaking and giggling. I pressed his hand and he told me about how Emperor Zurg was taking over the Galaxy and only Buzz and I could stop it. Tracy said I looked like an excited kid at Christmas as I was giggling and yelling that he was working. Then on TTA he told me that he did not know much about the future but that he enjoyed being with me today. We will take him again on our Halloween trip and see, but after that we will probably leave him at home.

Other facts on the doll, the first version had three games That Isn't Here, Mickey chose a park and asked what did not belong, Mickey Says which was a Disney Simon Says, and Fast Friends, Mickey will say things about characters and you answer who that is. Version 2 and 3 added Follow Me similar to the game Simon. You have to repeat a sequence of actions. Try 'n' Keep Up where you must react quickly to Mickey's directions and Repeating Myself Mickey will say Disney Character names and you listen to the one he repeats. Before the games begin Mickey gives you rules and how to answer by squeezing the hands or tummy depending on the rules. Pal Mickey's electronics and batteries are encased in plastic housings which can be seen by unzipping the back of the doll. There is an on/off switch which enables or disables the doll’s squeeze and infrared sensors so as not to use up your battery. The dolls have batteries when you buy them, and they are set to "demo mode" while they were in the store. Rumors are that if this would have been a widely successful endeavor we would have seen PAL Poohs and PAL Buzzes all over the Disneyverse but as I said that is a rumor.

All in all I enjoy my 2.0 and I had a 1.0 that now lives with the niece. It would be great if all still worked in the park but I think the demise of PAL Mickey was smartphone technology. I mean why buy a $65.00 doll if you already have a phone that can do all the things PAL Mickey can do and more. It seems as though PAL Mickey may have done better as an APP than a doll, but then we would not have these memories. Well back to the utilidors til next time! 

We all live in a Grey Submarine???

Before starting I would just like to say I am a huge Disneyphile, only one thing beats Disney in my house and that is Ghostbusters. As a geek and fan I would like to send out my deepest sympathies and prayers to Harold Ramis' family. I may never have met Mr. Ramis, but Dr. Egon Spengler and I have been great friends for 30 years. R.I.P. 1944-2014.  

Hello once again from Past the Utilidor. This time it’s another withdrawal from my Disney memory bank. One of my favorite rides in the Kingdom was always 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. I was enveloped in a underwater adventure with sea life, serpents, Atlantis, a struggle with a squid, who wouldn’t love this. Back to that in a minute. The Ride opened in the Magic Kingdom on October 14, 1971, just 13 days after the park opened. It was in Fantasyland right as you came out the castle you saw it just passed Dumbo and the Carousel.

                

Above is an old pic of the park, Dumbo is in the front there and sky buckets above. The open water was the ride. Now mind you this is all from memory since the ride is now defunct. As I remember it was an outdoor que, the decoration was green brass looking so it seemed it had been there for awhile. Once you got to the loading dock the Nautilus would dock and you were allowed on board. It was a front loading vehicle that you walked down into, there was a divider inside and you either went left or right. Against the divider were seats facing the portholes that sat up and had to be pulled down like toilet seats (this is the best way to describe the seats). When you sat you were facing a porthole with an air vent. As the ride started the captain came on and told you about your voyage. First you passed by local sea life crabs, fish, sea weed, followed by Divers in the ocean dressed like the Harper Goff designed suits in the movie. After that you entered the waterfall disguised show building by being told that we were diving due to a storm. That was done by air bubbles blowing outside your porthole  so you felt like you were going down. Next was the graveyard of lost ships with shipwrecks and shadowy figures of sharks, then followed the polar ice caps and the ship avoiding icebergs before heading into the Abyss! This was always a bit frightening for younger kids, it was dark and everyone and a wile lights would hit a weird unknown fish or two.

Now we see the lost city of Atlantis in ruins amongst it’s columns a sea serpent slumbers, is that another ship caught in its clutches?  Yes it was and the captain tells us we need to rise and get out of here, more bubbles another waterfall and we ride to the dock. It was great you want to get right back on, but very busy back then and no fast pass.

Unfortunately it has not sailed since September 5 1994 when 20,000 leagues closed permanently. With huge popularity and no notice the ride closed suddenly. All that was left was nice picture taking spot of the lagoon. That is until 2004 when the water was drained and the lagoon and show building demolished, making way for Pooh’s playful spot. Now it is home to the new Fantasyland with Beauty and the Beast area, Ariel’s Under the Sea ride and Pete’s Circus. A cool thing is if you are in the que for Ariel’s ride look to the walls of the waterways, you may find a familiar sub.

 3 of the ride vehicles actually made it passed the scrapping. 2 were taken to Castaway Cay the Disney Cruise line island for snorkeling views, only 1 remains and that one has had severe hurricane damage. The last one is on the bone yard part of the Back Lot tour at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Another top fiberglass part of the vehicle is behind Sorin’ at Epcot next to an old Jungle Cruise ride vehicle. So if you wanna have this same experience you have got to go all the way to Tokyo Disney Sea, in their mysterious island are because it is the last place is still running. Well let me get back to the Utilidors until next time.  

It's great to be back here at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe'!

On our last trip to the kingdom we ate at one of our favorite spots, Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe. Cosmic Ray's is just another counter service restaurant in Tomorrowland, but once you walk in it's a whole different world. If you have not been to The Magic Kingdom in a while you may not remember it, but the building has been here since opening day 1971. Back then it was called the Tomorrowland Terrace and it served up some choices like Orbit Burgers and Space Dogs to go along with the Sci-Fi seen of that land. It is said that it was the largest fast food restaurant until 01/31/1990 when McDonald's opened up the new largest fast food restaurant in Pushkin Square, Moscow. I read this on a couple of sites but cannot get a confimation.

What is really cool about Cosmic Ray's is the stage. When the building was built they put in a stage that appears from the bowels of the park. So say a high school band is coming to play, they would enter from the Utilidors and rise unto the stage from below. In 1994 the entire land got a makeover and was revamped into the New Tomorrowland. At this point the Tomorrowland Terrace was temporarily closed and when the "Pardon Our Pixie Dust" walls came down Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe emerged from the rubble. The Tomorrowland Terrace moved to the entrance of Tomorrowland where the Plaza Pavilion used to be. 

When the doors opened in 1995 there was a new atmosphere a new menu and a new alien about town. The atmosphere was you are in a space station and the type of food you want is in the different "Bay" areas. The menu is now in Bays, Bay 1 is Chicken burgers and Chicken sandwiches, Bay 2 Burgers and Hotdogs, Bay 3 Soup Salads and Sandwiches. All three Bays have coke products for drinks. The great part about this food joint is the free condiment bar. Sauteed mushrooms, onions, relish, lettuce, tomatoes, ketchup, mayo, mustard, and my favorite hot cheese sauce. Why you can practically eat from just the bar. Now side note in the early years of the Starlight cafe they had colored condiments, but those have gone the way of the dodo. Speaking of Dodos the biggest difference to the place is Sonny Eclipse (voiced by Kal David) an alien lounge singer. Sonny is on the stage and performs a 25 to 30 minute show that runs almost on a loop. Sonny tells jokes and sings rat pack style tunes with his never seen backup singers the Space Angels. He plays on the original Terrace stage, when they have a special band or show the stage still rises and Sonny takes five out of sight above the stage.

Sonny is an alien from Yew Nork on the planet Zork and is employed by Cosmic Ray who he does reference in his act. While you eat he plays music and tells corny jokes. Now interestingly enough Sonny is not the only Zorkian employed by the Disney company. That's right Sonny's cousin Captain ZZZYXX he is also from Zork but not Yew Nork, the Captain is from Joo Nerzey. He works as the baggage screener at Tokyo Disneyland Star Tours. Below is a shot of the Captain, and above is Sonny you can see the family resemblance.

So the next time you are hungry and near tomorrowland, stop by for a bite and see if Sonny will dedicate a song for you on his amazing Astro Organ. Till next time, I gotta get back to the Utilidor.

Extra, Extra Here's the Scoop!

      So you know all the characters of the Kingdom. Mickey and Minnie Goofy, Merlin, Simba, Scoop Sanderson, B.O.B., Gadget, Philoctetes, even Gurgi. From known to obscure, new to old the characters of the Kingdom......What?, you don't know a Scoop Sanderson! Scoop is one of the overlooked treasures of Walt Disney World. Scoop Sanderson is one of the Main Street USA characters that come out usually at around Easter time and the holidays. They are people who live on MainStreet USA. The Dapper Dans are the most recognizable, they are the Barbershop quartet that sings on Main Street USA, but there are other members to this unique ecosystem. Some of these are Mayor Weaver the Mayor of Main Street, Beatrice Starr, President of the local thespian group, Fire Chief  Smokey Miller, and Hildegard Olivia Harding the local woman's suffragette. They are not greatly advertised, but when you see them it's like they are always there.

     Now, I collect the pins ( and just about everything else) to the older rides and characters but especially the Haunted Mansion. I like it because it's cheaper way of collecting, my wife likes it because we get to talk to a myriad of people. It is really nice stopping looking at all the different pins where they got them, making the complete sets. About two years ago my wife and I went to the Magic Kingdom in April near Easter. We did not expect to see anything new since we come all the time. We were walking down Main Street and in front of the Emporium was this guy in a straw hat and old timey clothes dragging two little wooden dogs.

     So we went over and it was Scoop Sanderson the local Press, and pin trader extraordinaire! He started talking to the crowd and pulled out a lanyard that was almost as long as his body, with tons of pins on it. We watched him interact with the crowd for a bit and he kept joking with the kids and adults alike. He was pretending to pull pins out of kids ears, and taking photos with people, and telling his wooden dogs Butterscotch and Licorice to stay. So we thought it was cute and started to walk away, but thanks to the quickness of Tracy (my wife), she looks at me and reminded me I was missing a pin. Earlier in the trip I had acquired two other pins that were missing their third. I had gotten Gus and Phineas but was missing Ezra. To those of you who don't know these are the hitchhiking ghosts from WDW's Haunted Mansion, Gus is the little guy with the beard and ball and chain, Phineas is the chubby top hatted carpet bagger, and Ezra is the skeletal looking one.

    Ok usually I am the outspoken one and my wife just goes with it. Unfortunately when it is something for me like an autograph, or meeting someone, or (look at that) getting myself a pin I have no backbone. So Tracy tells me to go up and ask for Ezra, I get up the courage and make it to the front of the crowd. There stood Scoop in all his glory so I walked up and asked if he had Ezra, he looked up and down his lanyard and no sign of the elusive skeletal ghost. He looked at me and said " I don't have him here but I think I saw him somewhere, meet me back at 2pm in front of the Cinema." I told him ok and Tracy and I went about our business. 

    We went and walked around to Tomorrowland had lunch at Cosmic Rays and while listening to Sonny Eclipse croon pondered if he would really be back at 2. Is this what this guy does, is the magic this strong in the kingdom? Well 1:50 came around and Tracy and I walk back towards the Main Street Cinema and there he was, talking to some kids, Butterscotch and Licorice right  next to him being very obedient. All these things going through my mind, will he remember me, did he find Ezra, how awesome would this be. I see Scoop and he sees me, he smiles, and I twitch like I am a 8 year old and Santa just winked at me. I walk up and he tells the kids "Kids I gotta talk business with this gentleman." he turns to me. He pulls out the lanyard and holds it with his hands as though he is displaying them for all to see, and starts pointing at Ezra with his thumb asking if I saw anything interesting? I told him "Yeah that's the one!" with all the excitement I could muster. Then he takes it off and we trade, he palms it into my hand but does not let go of my hand. He asks me how big a Haunted Mansion fan I am, "A huge one." I reply. He sticks his loose hand in a pocket and hands me another button, I start to trade and he says "No trade this is a gift." he puts it in my hand, I look at it as if it were jewels from One Eyed Willie himself. Scoop tells me that it is a limited edition out of 500 made from a special dinner Disney did for the Haunted Mansion. I look at it and it is Madame Leota on her table, but when you open the table it has her spiel from the haunted mansion inside, Scoop says don't loose that. I thank him and  hastily I put it in my pocket, I look up and he has already grabbed Butterscotch and Licorice and off they go in the direction of the train station. 

   As I write this my hairs are on end and I am feeling as amazed as I did that day! This is why the Magic Kingdom calls you back, one word MAGIC. Where else can you feel this way.... don't try you can't! Well now you know of one more thing that Walt Disney's world has, and I hope that next time you can find some magic of your own.

To all who come to this happy place, Welcome.

Walt Disney World is a tribute to the philosophy and life of Walter Elias Disney... and to the talents, the dedication, and the loyalty of the entire Disney organization that made Walt Disney's dream come true. May Walt Disney World bring Joy and Inspiration and New Knowledge to all who come to this happy place ... a Magic Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages can laugh and play and learn — together.

—Roy Oliver Disney, October 25, 1971

Welcome. I have been in love with all things Disney since my first trip to Disney July 4th 1976. I was 2 years old, it was the centennial of the country and my little mind was BLOWN! So much for a 2 year old to take in the penny arcade, the magic shop, the smell of confections in the air. Of everything I saw that first time the parade was most memorable. The parade was awesome, characters that I had only seen in books on television and in my mind were dancing around for my enjoyment.My enjoyment, no one else was there just me those characters and my parents somewhere. Gepetto, Brer Bear, the seven dwarves, those weird big headed patriotic figures, all for me, waving at me, dancing for me I was immersed in Disney forever.I cannot describe the type of joy that walking through that train station fills me with every time I go. My wife says she can see me transform into a child as we pass the attraction posters and enter the main street hub.I have to visit all the spots on Mainstreet U.S.A. as if I am a postman on my daily route. 

I think of this as my family is gearing up to go to the Magic Kingdom for my nieces 2nd birthday. I cannot wait to see the wonder in her eyes. Just the other day my brother told me her favorite princess was Rapunzel, this made my wife and I ecstatic as we had gotten her a Rapunzel and Flynn dolls for her first Christmas and she could have cared less. He said he had walked by her play room and seen her playing with two dolls he had no idea who they were, later he realized that those two dolls were Rapunzel and Flynn. Yay us, another life started on the Disney path. Hopefully she will love Disney as much as me, so we will have a bond for life.

People like me are strange, you say something that has a remote connection to Disney and boom! Like a My Pal Mickey here comes a diatribe of useless information. Even when I am not at the parks or going, I am stalking the web like Johnny 5 for data. So you will get my thoughts, old stories, and new happenings.

This is the type of stuff the blog will be about. Stories, anecdotes, hidden Disney gems, rides that have disappeared or never were. I hope you will enjoy this trip and join me down Walt's rabbit hole. Now Welcome aboard the Walt Disney World Express Monorail, our highway in the sky to the Magic Kingdom. For those of you standing, please hold on to the handrails throughout our journey and stay clear of the doors. For the comfort of others, no smoking please. Thank you.