This week’s mailbag starts out with two of our Northeastern contributors. First, contributing writer Chris Barry answers some questions on the San Angel Inn (Top 5 Reasons That I Love Dining at the San Angel Inn, October 30, 2009) and Disney collectibles.
Pammer writes:
You had asked how my inaugural experience with the San Angel Inn went, and I wanted to let you know that we had a delicious lunch with great service! We loved the chips and salsa (and even asked for seconds) and they didn’t taste store-bought at all like some people have reported. My husband and I both had the chicken enchiladas and they were very tasty as well. Our server was very attentive, and several sang to me in Spanish when they brought me a piece of birthday flan! We definitely will eat here again!
Who wouldn’t enjoy a piece of birthday flan? I’m so glad you enjoyed your birthday visit! Thanks for getting back to me. Welcome to the San Angel Inn fan club.
David W. writes:
With Valentine’s Day coming up I am looking to see if I can find anybody that does sketches of Disney characters. She loves Disney and especially Dumbo. Do you know anyone that would be willing to either do me a sketch or anyone that has a number of Dumbo drawings?
Sounds like a wonderful Valentine’s gift. I don’t know of anyone who draws Disney characters that could help you. My best suggestion for you is going to be to go straight to the source. A few years back, we were at Walt Disney World for my wife’s fortieth birthday. She is a big Tinker Bell fan and I was off on my own shopping for her. At Uptown Jewelers on Main Street there was a Disney artist sketching characters. The finished sketches from various artists were in a book and were available for purchase. There was also the option of turning the sketch into a watch face. I opted for the full package: a Tink sketch, framed and the sketch turned into a watch. It was a great gift, which I had shipped home as a surprise.
Now I realize that perhaps between now and Valentines Day, you may not be able to get to Main Street (on either coast) but try calling the Walt Disney World Merchandise Mail Order number. 407-363-6200. I have used them several times to locate items that I remembered seeing in the parks and either forgot to purchase or needed them at a later time for a gift. They were tremendously helpful, made phone calls for me to specific stores and shipped to me in a timely manner. Tell them you’re looking for a sketch of Dumbo by a Disney artist and they should be able to come up with something. I’m not sure if the watch store is still offering what I bought, but they should be able to guide you. They might refer you to the Art of Disney stores that are in the parks.
Good luck and Happy Valentines Day.
Next, staff writer Steve Russo addresses some more Walt Disney World topics.
Mitch K. writes:
I was reading the [January 19, 2010] mailbag, and as I read Gil’s letter about whether to book now or later, I was already forming my thoughts. You ended up saying exactly what I was thinking: book now and make changes along the way prior to the cancellation requirements. But you left out an important piece of information. A few years ago my brother and I booked a trip and got what we thought was the good value-season pricing.
About two weeks later a pop-up window appeared on disney.com mentioning the $55 nights for the time we were to be there. I called and asked about getting the cheaper rate. They couldn’t just change the price but had to book a new reservation. The person I was talking to almost canceled my vacation before booking a new one. He caught himself and checked on the availability of the new rates before losing my original booking. So, be sure to book a new trip first, then after getting that reservation, cancel your original trip.
You bring up a great point. I’m sort of used to doing things that way with Disney Vacation Club so I consider it second nature to check availability before a cancel/re-book transaction. I should have mentioned it to Gil and will remember to do so next time.
Tina D. writes:
I was reading the [September 15, 2009] mailbag and saw your comment about the rental car. I got a SWEET deal this last trip. I took Magical Express to and from the airport so that I didn’t have to deal with the luggage. The second day, we went to the car care center by Magic Kingdom (could’ve taken their shuttle, but we took a cab instead) and rented there.
I got a Sebring convertible for $199/wk. With all the taxes and fees, it was $253. EXCELLENT deal. The hours are better at the car care center than at the Dolphin and it was an easy process. It was also a rather long process as there were only two attendants working (but still faster than the airport!). A friend went earlier than we did (he was there at 7; we got there about 8:15) and didn’t have to wait at all.
I don’t know if we just got lucky on the price or if that’s what it usually is. There were times that we used Disney transportation (to and from the Magic Kingdom), but the car was sure nice! I’ve not had the pleasure of renting a car in a while and I think I’m hooked, especially because of all of the resort hopping and dining we do.
I’ve actually been able to get deals in the $200-250 range (although the Sebring convertible at that price is sweet); it’s those in the $100-125 range that I can’t find. It seems I’m always reading posts from someone that got a great deal on a rental that I can never find.
I hear you on the Car Care Center but, for us, the Dolphin is better. We typically stay at the Boardwalk (Disney Vacation Club) so it’s just a short walk over. Thanks for the tip.
Next, reader Brian M. weighs in with his opinion on staying on property (On or Off Site, July 17, 2009):
The last two visits to Walt Disney World we stayed on park property. The reason for this was when I drove the equipment truck for my son’s high school music department down to Florida where they performed at the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. We arrived a day early so we took a bus from the hotel to the Magic Kingdom. Among the phone calls from timeshare hawkers, ominous 10 p.m. bus pickups and lugging around souvenirs all day, you try to remind yourself to enjoy the moment. What took the cake was when I had to drive the truck back to the hotel at night. It was like leaving a Penn State football game at night but much worse since you had no idea if you were headed in the right direction. The best thing to come out of that adventure was that I found I can drive from home down to Disney World.
In 2002 we drove down and stayed at the All Star Music and just this past June we stayed at the All Star Movies Resort. We had no problem with the bus transportation, the rooms were just right, and it just seemed that everything fell into place. There was no hassle with the souvenir purchases, we just filled out the form and back to the resort they go. Extra magic hours are a big plus and the overall feeling of that Disney magic that you cannot find off property. Price wise even though you might save twenty to thirty bucks a night off property the thought of driving to each resort paying for parking or even taking the hotels bus is it worth it? I’m on vacation so why should I deal with all of that when I could just walk out of my room and pick whatever park I want to go to hassle free. The wife absolutely loves staying on property, which I think is a no brainer.
Finally, staff writer and Mouse Tales author David Koenig answers a letter about the loss of the animation lobby (Animation Abomination, January 21, 2010).
Greg writes:
I loved the Peoplemover, too. Sad to see it go, but I see that the ride would have had tremendous operating costs, and so if the company shuttered the attraction they saved money (more liked slimmed down the loss total).
I love Lincoln, and when I saw it again in December I almost felt like crying. It’s not only touching to see it brought back, but brought back without the cheesy gimmicks. Disney put money into the installation, and based on the attendance from my visit I’m pretty sure they’re going to add to that loss column on this, but for a noble and respectable cause so cheers to that!
The Animation Lobby, really? How are they losing money on this? I’m sure that of all the costs California Adventure haven’t been repaid; they have been simply written off or just reassigned to the Grand Californian or the Resort as a whole. Why target this space?
I’m not totally in your mind-space here; I do love those small details. One of my favorites is the door to the dentist on Main Street, Dr. Silver I believe, which happens to have a Mezuzah at the door in just the correct position (I give it a kiss every time I visit). I also can’t get over the rain effect in the Tiki Room, but to me both these examples are original details in the narrative of the experience. It’s like how the Matterhorn is the only ride in the entire universe that has the warning spiel in Spanish at the end of the ride (you’re saying it out loud now aren’t you?).
But the lobby is a little Disney-nostalgia to me. It’s not as much an original idea as a glowing reminder of the beauty of the craft and the tradition. This removal is where they expect to save or make money? The lobby is as convenient to that pricey animation gift shop as they’re going to get. They want to spend money on demolition, then design and build something else and hope to recoup this new investment when, three years later? That’s bad business and it seems just idiotic to me. So for your sake, I hope Disney does a thorough, cold examination of their ROI report on this one to save your happy place. It might just be better for everyone.
Doesn’t make much sense to me either. But that’s rarely an impediment to their “progress.”
