Dave's Disney View

 Overview: I take a look at some news from around Disney World.  Attraction changes - including Ellen's Energy Adventure, The Jungle Cruise, and of course the Hall of Presidents.  Also transportation changes, and a couple of pieces of odd news Notes: As I noted, the HoP was likely to undergo a change, regardless of who sits in the office.  It was time. Be sure and check out the history here- DDV #74 - audio from the Hall of Presidents (show through 2016) Episode #116 - Hall of Presidents history Episode #117 - Hall of Presidents original show Episode #125 - Hall of Presidents 1990s changes Episode #126 - Hall of Presidents Clinton version --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daves-disney-view/message

 Overview: Some friends of mine visited Disney World recently, and were lucky enough to be selected to get a preview of Pandora the World of Avatar.  They were more than happy to share their thoughts about the land (hint: they loved it), so come and hear all about the new land and Disney's Animal Kingdom.  Notes: They also timed it well enough to see the end of Wishes and the start f the new nighttime show, so they tell us about that experience, too.  My thanks to Mike & John for sharing their experiences and their photos! Photo tour: http://mydisneyworldblog.blogspot.com/2017/05/flight-of-banshee-12.html?view=sidebar http://mydisneyworldblog.blogspot.com/2017/05/flight-of-banshee-22.html?view=sidebar http://mydisneyworldblog.blogspot.com/2017/05/navii-river-journey-12.html?view=sidebar http://mydisneyworldblog.blogspot.com/2017/05/navii-river-journey-22.html?view=sidebar  http://mydisneyworldblog.blogspot.com/2017/05/pandora-13.html?view=sidebar http://mydisneyworldblog.blo

 Overview: If You Had Wings was a hybrid of dark ride, creative effort, and advertisement.  I took a look back at how it came to be, what it was, and give you the ride audio. I also discuss the Omnimover ride technology.  Remember, you do have wings...   Notes: If You Had Wings was quite memorable in spite of its limited effects, and lack of an immersive storyline.  I suppose it was the music, the general fun of it all, and the fact that it was free in an era where you paid per ride.  People talk about the attraction with reverence.  Or at least I do.  https://youtu.be/Azp_BM_eK_0  Want to know more about the Omnimover? Check out Disney's Omnimover patent  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daves-disney-view/message

 Overview: Today's podcast is a tribute to the Norway pavilion. I take a thorough look at the design, layout, and theming. Then, I spend some time talking about shopping and dining. This was the last new pavilion added to World Showcase, way back in 1988!   Notes: Norway is intriguing because it represents the area known as Scandinavia generally.  I am not a huge fan of what they did to get the fictional area of Arendale into the real country of Norway, even thought it was cute and clever. I did enjoy putting together this retrospective on all 11 World Showcase pavilions.  I hope you enjoyed listening to it, and learning more about the history of Epcot. Want to take a quick photo tour of Norway?  Check out my post here. A reminder that the general overview of Epcot's World Showcase is in podcast #208 I explored the Japan pavilion in podcast #209 The Germany pavilion is in Podcast #216  Mexico is in Podcast #233 Canada is in Podcast #240 China is in Podcast #24

  Overview: I welcome back to the show Kristi Petersen Schoonover.  She's here to share a few not-so-well-known urban legends that include some ghost story-type elements.  Put on your headphones and have a listen! Notes: Maybe it is just a trick of the light, but who knows?  The stories are fun, in any case. Kristi Petersen Schoonover has been going to WDW since the 1970s, and her favorite ride of all time was If You Had Wings—but since that’s long gone, the Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Mountain, and the Peoplemover top her list. Her collection, Skeletons in the Swimmin’ Hole, is a collection of ghost stories set in Disney Parks. Her novel, Bad Apple, was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in December 2012, and her fiction has appeared in many magazines and anthologies. She lives in the Connecticut woods with her husband, occult specialist Nathan Schoonover, and still sleeps with the lights on. www.kristipetersenschoonover.com ------

 Overview: Today's podcast is a mashup of a little news, a few questions, and a movie review.  The movie is Beauty and the Beast, and I also talk about Pandora, Memory Maker, and how I got my tag line.  Enjoy!  Notes: The movie was quite enjoyable,  If you want to know more about Horizons, check out the podcasts I did about it, starting in DDV #3 - An overview of the pavillion that was "Horizons" --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daves-disney-view/message

 Overview: Today's podcast is a tribute to the Morocco pavilion. I take a thorough look at the design, layout, and theming. Then, I spend some time talking about shopping and dining. It was the first pavilion to come to world showcase after opening day. This pavilion also has the distinction of being personally overseen by the King of Morocco.   Notes:The Moroccan pavilion has amazing aesthetics. It’s just beautiful, and makes you feel like you’re actually on the streets of or in a marketplace in Morocco. Part of that feeling is due to the smell of incense that wafts through the area, but more so it is because of the stunning mosaic artwork that fills the pavilion. Want to take a quick photo tour of Morocco?  Check out my post here. A reminder that the general overview of Epcot's World Showcase is in podcast #208 I explored the Japan pavilion in podcast #209 The Germany pavilion is in Podcast #216  Mexico is in Podcast #233 Canada is in Podcast #240 China is in Podcast #

 Overview: WToday's podcast is a look at a few news items - the loss of a parade in the magic kingdom, a new gondola possibly coming - and I cover the basics of the magic bands.    Notes: Visit MouseSavers.com for details on saving at Disney  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daves-disney-view/message

 Overview: World showcase had grand plans and ambitions.  There were 21 sites plotted for World Showcase when the original idea was pitched.  But, we only got 9 on opening day. Many other countries were oh-so-close to being built, but alas it didn't happen. This is the story about some of the proposed countries.    Notes: Its still a remarkable thing that Disney was able to create a permanent worlds fair, that at the time was unprecedented and made the world a little smaller.  But we can only speculate about what might have been had they managed to get even more countries to commit. Thanks to Yesterland.com for both photos in this post. A reminder that the general overview of Epcot's World Showcase is in podcast #208 I explored the Japan pavilion in podcast #209 the Germany pavilion is in Podcast #216  Mexico is in Podcast #233 Canada is in Podcast #240 China is in Podcast #245 The American Adventure is in Podcast #254 The UK pavilion is in Po

 Overview: Today's podcast is a tribute to the Italy pavilion. I take a thorough look at the design, layout, and theming. Then, I spend some time talking about shopping and dining. Its the 9th (and final) Epcot opening-day pavilion I discuss.  Come and take a visit to Venice with me.   Notes: Italy is unique among the pavilions, in that there is no ride or show in the pavilion.  Its shopping, dining, and a couple of performers. Primarily the focus of this pavilion is its architecture and things you can see.  No doubt its worth exploring, but its hard to "talk" about on a podcast. Here is an interesting factoid that I don't mention in the podcast: The statues that look like marble in the Italy pavilion are hollow. Since they were so lightweight and liable to blow away during the slightest breeze, they were held in place with rods running from their base through the hollow center. Want to take a quick photo tour of Italy?  Check out my post here. A reminder that the

 Overview: Today's podcast is all about a rather fun book called Disney Tale of the Tape, by Dan Sisneros. Essentially the book "pits" two things head-to-head and has judges compare them on various aspects.  And yours truly was a judge in some of the bouts.  Come and take a listen as Dan talks about the book and what it's all about.  Notes:  This is a clever way to look at rides, accommodations, food, and more in a unique way.  It was a lot of fun to contribute to it. Disney Tale of the Tape is available at Amazon  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daves-disney-view/message

 Overview: Joining me on today's podcast is Scott Shindeldecker, owner of epcotmanifesto.com. We talk all about Epcot, from its history, to what we loved (and still love) about it, to what's in store for its future ... at least as far as we know.   Notes: EPCOT (in all caps) was an intriguing idea from the mind of Walt himself.  Whether even he could have pulled off is anyone's guess, but what the Disney company did manage to execute was a pretty good alternative.  But the world has changed, and Epcot kind of stayed stagnant, so updates and changes are probably in order. Our hope is that these changes keep the essence of what the 70s designers of Epcot had in mind. Scott's site is a blog about his perspective on the parks, and is a fun read if you are a devotee to the idea that is Epcot. It's a podcast so big it spans three regular shows in length! You won't want to miss it!  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daves-disney-view/messag

 Overview: On today's show I welcome a fellow Dave - the founder of MouseMingle.com to talk about the site, the service...and of course we talk a lot about fun things to do at the parks! Notes: It was fun chatting with Dave about all things Disney.  And hearing that he worked in the roundhouse and was an engineer on the DisneyLand Railroad was pretty cool.  Of course we delve into that for a while and just chat about a shared "passion" for the Disney parks...and that's really what his site is all about anyway...   --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daves-disney-view/message

 Overview: I saw Rogue One this past weekend, and I have a movie review of sorts for you! This episode does have spoilers, so I'll wait in your queue for you to watch the movie. Notes: The movie was a lot of fun, and fills in many blanks in the storyline.  But (limited spoilers here) it has an unexpected tone, and does a lot of setting up the storyline - perhaps too much to get to the final payoff. Meaning, its good scifi but not good star wars for a period of time. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daves-disney-view/message

 Overview: Today's podcast is quite simply a ride around the Magic Kingdom on the Walt Disney World Railroad.  Come along and imagine you are taking the scenic ride from Main Street, to Frontierland, to Fantasyland, and back to Mainstreet! Notes: The WDW Railroad is comprised of 3 real working steam locomotive that was purchased and refurbished and run around the park.   --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daves-disney-view/message

 Overview: On my most recent visit, I got a chance to see the new ride in the Norway pavilion: Frozen Ever After. Come along and hearthe ride audio, my thoughts about the ride, and I toss out a few things about Epcot as well. Notes: I admit that I found the ride quite enjoyable.  It was cute and clever and it represented Frozen really well.  But, I honestly don't think the fictional world of Arendale fits into the real world of Norway.   --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daves-disney-view/message

 Overview: After my food and wine day, I stayed for another day and park hopped. Come along as I talk about what I did, and make some observations. Notes: Yeah, I caught the clarification that the $5 fee applies to packages coming from outside the resort.  That was not clear in the original announcement.  Also, I don't mention the Cabanas that are for rent at a hefty $700 in the theme parks - but I'll note it here: stupidest. idea. ever.  I don't care if someone is willing to pay it.  Its just dumb.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daves-disney-view/message

 Overview: I went up to the last day of the Food and Wine Festival, so naturally, I have to tell a couple of stories about the day. Also, to celebrate good food, I went into the California Grill to grab a bite to eat   Notes: Food and Wine is always a great event, and I haven't missed it in many years.  The downside is that it is quite a bit more crowded and that crowd can get a little rowdy as more wine is consumed. But there are tricks, like going early and leaving the park around dinner tine as the crowds swell.  You can definitely make it suit your personal style.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daves-disney-view/message

 Overview: Joining me on today's podcast is friend of the show Gary Miceli.  We are talking all about Disney movies, and share some of our favorites.  Come and take a listen as we discuss the history of movies and how Disney continues to churn out memorable films.  Notes: If you are lucky enough to one day be able to get a peek behind the shelving over in the shop that sits at the exit of the Mickey & Minnie meet-and-greet, you can see a remarkable mural.  This was at the entrance to The Walt Disney Story, and included drawings of every animated character through the mid 1980s.  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daves-disney-view/message

 Overview: Today, I look at emergency preparedness at the Orlando Theme Park, and how ready Disney World was for Hurricane Matthew.  I think overall it was well handled, but there are a few tweaks they could make in the future   Notes: Global Climate Change seems to be bringing more - and bigger - storms along the coast of Florida, so Disney World has to have good plans in place to be ready.  And that's why they started an Emergency Operations Center to run 24/7.  If you want to know more about Disney's Ham Radio Club, check out http://www.wd4wdw.org  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/daves-disney-view/message