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

 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:

 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 

 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.

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!

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

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 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"

 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.

 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 

 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.

 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.