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Fun to meet Disney characters at any age
Disney Fans
Happy Birthday, Roy O. Disney!
We owe our gratitude to Roy O. Disney. His dedication to his brother’s dream of the “Florida project” insured that fans would be able to enjoy Walt Disney World!
Happy Birthday, Roy. And, thank you for keeping your brother’s vision alive.
Historical Magic in Liberty Square
Liberty Square in the Magic Kingdom transports guests back in time to colonial-era America. The buildings reflect various types of architecture from the 1700s. The Imagineers have also included many details, large and small, that add to the colonial-period theming.
As you travel from Fantasyland into Liberty Square, notice the transition in architecture. Peter Pan’s Flight and the Tangled rest area are designed in a European style, including part of the Columbia Harbour House, half of which sits in Fantasyland. Once through the portal into Liberty Square, you will notice that the restaurant is designed to reflect a colonial New England Inn. This quick-service restaurant is a favorite of The Mature Mouse™. The food and service are excellent. Here is a little tip many guests are not aware: there is a large dining room on the second floor offering great views of both lands that this structure spans.
Upon entering Liberty Square from Fantasyland, you will see Memento Mori, which is defined as an object serving as a warning or reminder of death. This gift shop specializes in Haunted Mansion souvenirs. The store also acts as a warning to guests that death awaits at the Haunted Mansion.
It should come as no surprise to followers of this blog that the favorite attraction of The Mature Mouse™ is the Haunted Mansion. Home to 999 happy ghosts, this Dutch Colonial style mansion sits high on a hill at the edge of Liberty Square and the Rivers of America. Its architecture reflects palatial homes in the Hudson Valley during the mid 1700’s. The Imagineers chose this style so that the attraction would seamless fit into this section of the Magic Kingdom.
Liberty Square is also the home of The Hall of Presidents. I realize there are guests who avoid this attraction, seeing it as a waste of time, while others regard it as a great place to nap in air conditioning. I thoroughly enjoyed this attraction during my April trip. The Hall of Presidents fills you with a patriotism and respect for the office and the people who have served.
You board the authentic steamboat, Liberty Bell, here in Liberty Square to take a 17-minute tour on the Rivers of America. This trip offers you a fantastic view of Frontierland, and then returns to the loading dock, passing by the Haunted Mansion.
Guests should take the time to examine and appreciate all the details Imagineers included in Liberty Square. There is a replica of the Liberty Bell mounted in the center of the square, and behind it sits the Liberty Tree. There are 13 lanterns hanging in the tree, each representing the original 13 colonies.
The road through Liberty Square is intended to mimic the dirt road of a colonial town. There are hoof prints imprinted in the cement because that would be the mode of transportation in colonial America. Imagineers added a brown patch through the pavement. This represents a river of waste common in the streets of colonial towns.
The Muppets will be arriving in Liberty Square in October 2016. Sam Eagle will lead the cast of characters, which include Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo, and James Jefferson, a new town crier. The Muppets will offer their unique interpretation of the historical tales we have been brought up with, like the midnight ride of Paul Revere. Even though this show has not yet premiered, there is concern that the Muppets will bring add a sense of chaos and irreverence to American history. As a Muppet fan The Mature Mouse™ is looking forward to this show. It will definitely add something kid-friendly to this historical section of the park. Wacka – Wacka!
Please use this link to visit The Mature Mouse™ store for logo merchandise. Many of the items would make great gifts for the Disney fan in your life.
Make sure you consult Jennie Nowers about your next Disney vacation. She will assist you with all your vacation planning. Tell her that The Mature Mouse™ sent you and you will receive a special gift from Jennie with your next booking.
A Stroll Down Disney’s Main Street, U.S.A.
First-time visitors to the Magic Kingdom are looking forward to experiencing the sights and sounds in the five lands that comprise the park. In reality, there are 6 lands that comprise Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. They are Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Liberty Square, Frontierland, Adventureland, and Main Street, U.S.A. Yes; Main Street is considered its own land.
The Mature MouseTM likes to think of Main Street, U.S.A. as Yesterday-land. Like it’s counterpart in Disneyland, Main Street, U.S.A. in Magic Kingdom depicts Walt Disney’s vision of the quintessential American town, circa 1890-1920. However, Magic Kingdom’s Main Street, U.S.A. does differ in architecture from Disneyland’s.
Most guests do not stroll down Main Street, U.S.A. examining the number of Victorian-styled buildings, reminiscent of a developing east-coast town. The Imagineers applied forced perspective to create a sense of scale to the buildings. Reducing the scale of the second and third levels creates an optical illusion, so the buildings appear to be larger, grander. Imagineers apply this optical illusion throughout the Disney Parks, not just on Main Street, U.S.A.
The next time you are in Magic Kingdom, stand in Town Square, directly in front of the Walt Disney World Railroad and look down Main Street at Cinderella’s Castle. The use of forced perspective creates the illusion that the street is longer and the buildings are taller than they are in actuality.
Just the opposite happens when you look down Main Street from the Hub in front of the castle. The Walt Disney World Railroad was not built using forced perspective. This sets up the illusion that Main Street is shorter during your exit from the park. Why did the Imagineers design the architecture of Main Street in this way? Well, think about it. You enter the park excited to be there and full of enthusiasm. However, even after the best of days in Magic Kingdom, most of us are tired and eager to exit the park.
During your next visit to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom remember that Main Street is a land unto itself. Take some time to appreciate all the nuances created by the Imagineers, while taking a trip back to an American town of yesterday.
For more information about Main Street in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, The Mature MouseTM recommends listening to Lou Mongello’s recent podcast 10 Secrets You Never Knew About Main Street, U.S.A. If you have not previously had the opportunity to hear the WDW Radio podcasts, Lou never sticks to just 10.
Make sure you consult Jennie Nowers about your next Disney vacation. She will assist you in all your vacation planning. Tell her that The Mature Mouse™ sent you and receive a special gift from Jennie with your next booking.
Country Bear Jamboree: A Walt Disney Classic
I have been AWOL from this blog for some time. My apologies! Life will, at times, throw you a curve ball or two. Thank you very much for sticking with me through the gaps in posts.
The Mature MouseTM enjoys those experiences in Walt Disney World that are connected, in some way, to Walt himself. There are not many types of those attractions in the Florida resort. Walt was involved in the design and development of Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, which was the first audio-animatronic show. It debuted in
1963 at Disneyland Park. Carousel of Progress and It’s a Small World were created, under Walt’s guidance, for the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair. Country Bear Jamboree is another classic attraction Walt was involved in before his passing.
According to Disney.com, “Country Bear Jamboree is one of the very last attractions that Walt Disney personally helped develop before his passing. Originally slated for a never-built Disney ski resort in Mineral King, California, the show with the singing bears happily moved out to Florida in 1971. The bears have been performing daily at Magic Kingdom park ever since.”
Country Bear Jamboree is marketed as “The Wildest Show in the Wilderness.” I experienced this timeless attraction for the first time during my previous solo trip in April, and I thoroughly enjoyed my experience. The attraction is housed in a rustic cabin, called “Grizzly Hall,” off the main street through Frontierland. The waiting area is air conditioner, always a plus at Walt Disney World. The theatre area is comprised of five stages, each framed by well-themed carvings.
The hillbilly cast of bears performs a funny musical revue that relies heavily on the “country-western” theme of that area of Magic Kingdom. This is a family-friendly show with a sense of humor geared toward children and adults.
Please use this link to visit The Mature Mouse™ store for logo merchandise. Many of the items would make great gifts for the Disney fan in your life.
Make sure you consult Jennie Nowers about your next Disney vacation. She will assist you in all your vacation planning. Tell her that The Mature Mouse™ sent you and receive a special gift from Jennie with your next booking.
The Magic of Disney’s Tinker Bell
During my 
2015 solo trip, The Mature MouseTM had the pleasure of meeting Mickey Mouse. My inner child leapt for joy, as the adult could not stop smiling. I set out on this recent solo trip with the goal of meeting many more Disney characters; to bring joy to my inner child.
The Mature MouseTM had the opportunity of meeting the magical pixie known as Tinker Bell. The pixie was friendly during this meeting, greeting The Mature MouseTM as one of the lost boys. Tink then asked me if I had stolen pirate’s treasure in my backpack. Later that evening, Tinker Bell was seen flying across the hub, from atop Cinderella’s Castle.
The Disney Corporation may have all started with a mouse, but Tinker Bell has become the icon for the magic of Disney. According to the History of Tinker Bell, after her appearance in Disney’s 1953 animation classic, this little fairy “went on to be featured in many Walt Disney ventures. [Tinker Bell] made appearances on television in the show Disneyland, which was [created] to promote the new theme park Walt Disney was [working] to complete. In addition, she appeared on Walt Disney Presents, Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color, and finally, The Wonderful World of Disney.” These were new venues for the Disney Corporation. Although Mickey Mouse often made appearances, he was not the symbol of Walt’s new enterprises. If these new ventures failed, Walt Disney did not want Mickey to fail with them. Tinker Bell, as one of the newer Disney’s characters, was expendable.
Peter Pan tells Wendy, John, and Michael that they, too, can fly. All it takes is faith, trust, and just a little bit of pixie dust. From her first appearance in Disney’s Peter Pan, Tinker Bell has become a delightful success. She has helped to keep the magic of Disney soaring toward the second star to the right.
Please use this link to visit The Mature Mouse™ store for logo merchandise. Many of the items would make great gifts for the Disney fan in your life.
Make sure you consult Jennie Nowers about your next Disney vacation. She will assist you in all your vacation planning. Tell her that The Mature Mouse™ sent you and receive a special gift from Jennie with your next booking.
Days 4 & 5 WDW Solo Trip Recap
The fourth day of my solo trip was a busy one, and the next two days were spent traveling home and visiting family. Then, I headed back to work. I finally have a moment to give you a recap of my last days at Walt Disney World.
The Mature MouseTM took advantage of the Extra Magic Hour at Epcot, arriving at 7:45. After a ride into the past on Spaceship Earth, I enjoyed several of the exhibits of the Flower & Garden Festival. Very few Future World attractions, restaurants, and stores are open during Epcot’s Extra Magic Hour.
My afternoon and evening were spent in Adventureland, Frontierland, and Liberty Square at Magic Kingdom. I had planned my three visits to the MK to focus on specific areas of the park. This minimizes walking, and allows for flexibility in experiencing these areas.
Mark Twain once described golf as “a good walk spoiled.” The Mature MouseTM finally rode Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. And, to paraphrase Mr. Twain, BTMR is a well themed attraction spoiled by a thrill ride. This rollercoaster never slows down long enough to enjoy the scenery created by Disney’s Imagineers.
The Mature MouseTM also had the opportunity to ride the Liberty Square Riverboat, something I have not done since my first visit in 1972. This ride down the Rivers of America afforded me a great view of Frontierland and Haunted Mansion.
I make every attempt to make appropriate FastPass+ selections each day of touring the parks. Because I used one of my FP+ for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and the other two were used for the Haunted Mansion and Jungle Cruise, I had to wait about 15 minutes in the stand-by line for Pirates of the Caribbean. This attraction is always worth the wait.
The morning of my last day at Walt Disney World was spent roaming All Star Music Resort. If you are planning a WDW vacation with a very tight budget, All Star Value Resorts are a good choice. I did not take advantage of the pools or play areas, but many of the guests did and they looked to be enjoying themselves.
The Mature MouseTM will be posting more detailed reports from my experiences during this trip.
Please use this link to visit The Mature Mouse™ store for logo merchandise. Many of the items would make great gifts for the Disney fan in your life.
Make sure you consult Jennie Nowers about your next Disney vacation. She will assist you in all your vacation planning. Tell her that The Mature Mouse™ sent you and receive a special gift from Jennie with your next booking.
Walt Disney World NextGen+
Over the past several years, Walt Disney World has invested in a next-generation technology, which brought us MyMagic+, MagicBands, and My Disney Experience. Disney had always planned on guests using this technology for more than just a room key and admission to the parks. There had been discussions and rumors of how Imagineers would add various aspects to existing attractions to enhance, to plus, the guest experience. However, after spending close to 2 billon dollars on the creation and implementation of this new technology, it did not seem likely that Disney would move forward from here.
We are now seeing the early signs of the next step in the evolution of next-generation technology. In the last room of It’s a Small World, right before you disembark, there is a sensor that reads guests’ MagicBands and offers them a personalized “goodbye message” on one of four flat screens. MagicBands are also being used on Seven Dwarfs Mine Train to link a video of you on the ride to your Memory Maker account. The Mature Mouse™ can imagine some incredible magic coming from Disney Imagineers via this next-generation technology.
Please use this link to visit The Mature Mouse™ store for logo merchandise. Many of the items would make great gifts for the Disney fan in your life.
Make sure you consult Jennie Nowers about your next Disney vacation. She will assist you in all your vacation planning. Tell her that The Mature Mouse™ sent you and receive a special gift from Jennie with your next booking.
Dreaming of Home
Strolling Disney’s Streets of America
The Mature Mouse™ enjoys a stroll along the Streets of America while visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It is just a matter of time before this site is gone. Unfortunately, I never had the opportunity of experiencing The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights along these streets. Plans suggest that this area will become a part of the new Star Wars Land.
Formerly known as New York Street, for its theming of an American cosmopolitan city, it was rename in 2004 with the addition of the San Francisco street scenes. The Streets of America area was built to serve as set locations for the working Disney-MGM Studios. Disney’s Hollywood Studios is no longer a functioning studio, and many of those attractions are closed or slated for closure.
Just off the Streets of America is a mermaid fountain, which was used in the movie Splash. It sits between the Studio Catering Company and Toy Story Midway Mania. This statue has been in the park since it first opened 1989. It depicts a classic demure mermaid sitting on a curved platform supported by four dolphins that are spouting water. This is not the only reference to the movie Splash that can be found in the Disney Parks. At the time of its creation, then-CEO Michael Eisner suggested the new flume-ride attraction be called Splash Mountain to help promote the movie.
Will you miss the Streets of America once they are part of a galaxy far, far away?
Make sure you consult Jennie Nowers about your next Disney vacation. She will assist you in all your vacation planning. Tell her that The Mature Mouse™ sent you and receive a special gift from Jennie with your next booking.
Please use this link to visit The Mature Mouse™ store for logo merchandise. Many of the items would make great gifts for the Disney fan in your life.
The Mature Mouse™ 