Many of us on the MousePlanet staff are busy preparing for MouseAdventure World Explorers this week. We hope to see you there! In the meantime, this week’s mailbag starts with a letter to staff writer Mark Goldhaber about the new Disney Dream cruise ship that’s set to sail in 2011.
Alfred O. writes:
We wanted to find out about the ship that will be sailing out in January 2011. If I’m right, my wife and I will be ready to sail and will be able to bring along our adopted daughter. I wanted to know how long do we have until we make a reservation and if they allow pets on board. We have two pomeranians.
The Disney Dream sails on January 26, 2011. Reservations for the general public open on November 9, 2009. As far as I know, pets are not allowed on any of the major cruise lines. For definitive answers, as well as any brochures (which may not yet be available) and booking information, you can go to the Disney Cruise Line Web site, call the Disney Cruise Line at 888-DCL-2500 (888-325-2500) or contact your travel agent. MousePlanet is not a travel agency, but you can contact one of our preferred Disney travel providers, MouseEarVacations.com, Small World Vacations and Get Away Today.
Enjoy planning your trip!
Next Chris Barry answers some Disney collectible questions.
Jim writes:
The coolest Mickey watch I’ve seen was the one that a boat driver was wearing. It was a retirement watch, and it was pretty. He was pretty proud of it, too.
That is an awesome watch indeed! I don’t suppose MousePlanet will get me one of these if I write for 20 years, will they?
Sue writes:
I am looking for the Disney transportation bus and the Magical Express bus to put on a train layout. I need a size compatible with “O” gauge trains. Do you know where I can purchase them? It’s ok if it’s a little bigger than scale.
Here’s the thing. I’m not sure of how large O gauge is, but regardless the only Disney transportation busses that I am aware of are roughly Matchbox or Hot Wheels size. They are actually a touch smaller. They are sold in the parks and hotels in a 3 pack – Magical Express, Transportation and Cruise Line. They’re very cool, but I’m thinking they may be too small for your needs. You can order them from the Disney Merchandise line which is 407-363-6200.
Finally, staff writer Steve Russo fields reader opinions on the Best of Walt Disney World list (November 6, 2009), but first
Brodie B. writes:
In your fairly recent column “It’s the Little Things” (August 28, 2009), you mentioned the nifty trick Imagineers came up with to allow The Tower of Terror to be as tall as it needed to be while still blending into the Morocco skyline in Epcot. While I was there on a recent trip, I took this picture of it from across the World Showcase Lagoon. The picture was taken out in front of the defunct Odyssey restaurant, right by the first aid station. I don’t think Tower of Terror is visible while you’re in World Showcase itself, it’s from across the lagoon where it really comes into play. The picture is posted online here.
Nice photo. I’ve been searching for my own – unsuccessfully. I agree that it’s only visible from across the lagoon but, if I remember correctly, I was able to view it as you walk from the World Showcase Plaza toward Canada. That’s a bit away from the Odyssey but still across the lagoon. Oh well, something to check on my next trip.
John H. writes:
May I suggest something missing from your list of nominees for Best Of at Walt Disney World? I would suggest the flip side: the things we most wish could revert to the way they used to be, when they were Best before being changed. It would be a much smaller list, I think, but I could suggest a few, and if there’s some way of telling Disney what people miss the most, maybe one or two miracles could happen. After all, it looks like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea will finally be reborn as the Little Mermaid ride, and Lincoln is once again reciting the Gettysburg address in the Hall of Presidents.
- Image Works at the Journey to Imagination: Could it be returned to what it was fifteen years ago? Now it is only a pale remnant of what was once unforgettable and fun.
- The Enchanted Tiki Room Under New Management: Junk the new management, bring back the show Walt created, and let happiness reign.
- Centorium in Epcot: Once a unique store where you could find futuristic things available nowhere else. Now just another World of Disney.
- The Penny Arcade: The vintage games were fun, and it didn’t take up that much space.
- The video restaurant reservation system: It was simply cool to enter Epcot and deal with a person on a video screen to make a restaurant reservation. Is there any reason the new online reservation system couldn’t use characters to interact with people in the same way, simulating a video-conference?
Great points all. I’ve actually written several columns in this vein… More or Less, The Bottom Three, and my next column called Misses. You can find them on my author page on MousePlanet here. I will take your suggestions for consideration – I’m always looking for new ideas.
Carol S. writes:
First I want to thank you for all you do to bring Magic into our lives. I so look forward to your articles on Mouseplanet and your trip reports. It’s hard to work when I know there is a trip out there just waiting to be read. Also, this list was a lot of fun to pull together. My husband and I just got back from Walt Disney World just a little over a week ago so it gave us another reason to talk about our trip (not that I usually need a reason to talk about Disney).
Thanks for those very kind words – you made my day. And thanks for your votes.
Bob B. writes:
I was actually surprised that Soarin’ made the list for Best of Epcot and Technology. After thinking about it I could see why. Test Track is driving or riding in a car, while Mission Space I would think would get the nod if it wasn’t for the motion sickness that the centrifuge creates; the lame side is basically lame.
Now for Technology I would have thought Mission Space all the way; centrifuges have been around for awhile but it just seems more techie to me making it all work together. Soarin’ is a very basic concept thought out using a construction set. But appearances in this case probably makes Soarin’ a winner. When you get onto Mission Space there’s not much to see when you’re loaded into a capsule. But loading on Soarin’ you can see all those mechanical gizmos that pick you up and let you fly. Also for me after riding Soarin’ for years at Disney’s California Adventure it’s just not as fresh if you only just visit Walt Disney World. I can’t wait to see the next installment.
I agree. I love Soarin’ but would have given the Best Technology nod to Mission: Space. Thanks for writing.
Chris H. writes:
Two things I was surprised by:
- All-Star Movies was fourth? I can’t imagine All-Star Music or All-Star Sports being better as far as theming goes. Giant bowling pins? That doesn’t sound too appealing.
- Toy Story Mania beat out the two best thrill rides at Walt Disney World. Tower of Terror is the best themed and best tricked-out ride of all time.
And I’m glad Coronado Springs came in fourth; that means it’ll be easy to get into next time I go.
There were more than a few surprises for me as well. From simple observation and word of mouth, I would have expected Movies to come in second, behind Pop. Ah, well…
