Photo tours are a great way to have a vicarious visit for those of us who are too far away from the parks. They also help to highlight some of the wonderful details that make Disney parks so unique. This week’s mailbag features letters written in response to photo tours from MousePlanet staff writers Brian Bennett and Lisa Perkis.
First, Brian Bennett responds to Lisa, who comments on Brian’s photo tour of Liberty Square in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom (link):
I enjoyed your site. It offered good information on history and how the layout of Liberty Square was developed. I was looking for more information and photos for the pillory that is located in the square. While on previous vacations I recalled seeing the pillory. The middle school is working on a project in history covering that period.
I was hoping to make it a fun project from our most favor place we visit (Walt Disney World). When I visited other sites they did not offer the information you had. Thank you for your time.
Thank you very much, Lisa. I’m glad that the piece was helpful to you.
Massimo Poti writes:
Hi! Just wanted to know if you will be doing a picture tour of the Italy Pavilion? I worked there in 1997 and would love to see some detailed pictures of it.
Thanks for the suggestion, Massimo! I’ll make sure to do Italy in the near future.
[Editor’s Note: Brian’s most recent tour did in fact cover the Italy pavilion (link.]
Ian writes in response to the China Pavilion photo tour (link:
I’m loving these images and articles. It’s giving me a little mini vacation at my desk while I sort of can feel myself strolling through the parks… but alas 8 more months before that. I just wanted to drop you a line to say that those birds and dragons… they are phoenix and dragons. It is not uncommon to see the two images together.
As you know the phoenix is a symbol of rebirth and rising from the ashes, and the dragon has many meanings, one of which is good luck. The term gargoyles isn’t too far off, as I believe those to be symbols to ward off evil… unfortunately the name escapes me. I’m sure others will write in with more helpful things for you, but I thought I’d contribute what I could. Take care and keep up these great articles!
Thanks so much for the great note, Ian. I’ll be sure to share your information with our readers.
A reader writes:
I find your articles informative and entertaining. You always paint a beautiful picture with words.
I must however point out an error in your report on the China showcase. The large round structure that serves as the entrance to the preshow and Circlevision theater is not the Temple of Heaven. It is actually a replica of the “Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest,” which is located in the Temple of Heaven park. Thanks for allowing me to point this out.
Wayne writes:
Thanks for your article and pictorial on the Canadian Pavilion (link. I agree that it’s a triumph of aesthetic design. However, I’m wondering if the stores on the upper level were a victim of poor design with regards to traffic flow.
Other pavilions have a logic and simplicity to their traffic flow, but Canada is different.
China – the acrobats lead you to the movie, which dumps you into the tempting store and finally past the eateries. France is similar.
Italy and Germany’s stores are on the “street.” In fact, in Germany the original idea was to walk through the courtyard to get to the ride.
In England, “The Beatles” play at the back of the pavilion, forcing you to walk by the stores. Same with the World Showcase Players. They perform amongst the store entrances.
Mexico – to get to and from the ride and restaurant you have to walk past the stores.
Japan was designed so that to get to the attraction you would walk past the steps leading to the restaurants, and would essentially walk the length of the store, always glancing over and wondering what was in there.
The Norway ride dumps you in a store.
But again Canada is different: you are given a choice. You can climb the steps, or take the descending path to the lovely gardens. I think most guests choose the latter. You take note of the restaurant, then are lured by the walkway/waterfall to the mineshaft and the movie. On exit, you are directed back down the path to Le Cellier. Thus, you can visit the movie and restaurant without ever having to pass any stores. It is beautifully designed for the explorer, but perhaps not if you are the proprietor of a store on the upper level. Even Off Kilter perform on the street, and after listening it’s easy to continue on to the U.K.
That is true even now as the exit from Oh Canada! dumps guests out into Victoria Gardens rather than into a store.
I like your idea of having another restaurant in the pavilion. Le Cellier, in its previous “buffeteria” format was not so busy, but since they’ve changed it into an upscale steakhouse, it’s become much more popular. I really do miss some of the old Le Cellier dishes, though, such as the “Saskatchewan” chicken and meatball stew.
Wayne writes back:
Thanks for the response. I vaguely recall the original setup. Oddly though, that would make the pavilion “backwards.” Usually, the shops are after the ride and not before, with the attraction instilling in the guest the urge to buy something. The chateau would be a nice spot for another restaurant as Le Cellier is very busy!
Brian responds:
Your comments are certainly valid. The shops up on the upper level of the Canada pavilion are certainly out-of-the-way. However, before a relatively recent (say, early- to mid-1990’s) redesign of the pavilion, the only way to get to the Oh Canada! Show was up and over. At that time, guests had to walk past the shops on the upper and top levels before descending back down to ground level to enter the show waiting area. Back then, only those folks requiring handicapped access entered the show by walking down the ramp and past Le Cellier.
Next, staff writer Lisa Perkis answers letters in response to her photo tours, including her most recent on Disneyland’s Winter gardens (link).
Arnold Tang writes:
I enjoyed your article about Disneyland’s Christmas Trees, and I was wondering if you might help settle a really funny debate.
I am looking at Disneyland via Google Earth. I have found that it is actually possible to date the photo by carefully examining Disneyland. Here’s the detail where you might come in:
The principal clue about the date is that it was taken of Disneyland:
- With the Christmas tree erected!
- The Christmas tree is green
- Town Square landscape is poinsettias
- Santa appears to be in Town Square
- Small World Fastpass is set up and appears open
- Small World appears to be open
- Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters appears to have a construction wall
- Superstar Limo does not have a construction wall
- Hub landscape is red poinsettias
I’m trying to pin down a year. That should be easy because the Christmas tree is green. In 2005 it was gold, but I can’t remember what year (2004 or 2003) that it was flocked.
If I recall correctly, it has been white-flocked only once in the recent past—2004. Yet, your article says that it was flocked in years prior to 2003, the year of your article.
Can you shed any light on the subject? Or perhaps start a debate with your fellow MousePlanet writers?
According to my picture files that date back to 2001, the Main Street Christmas tree has been flocked twice in the last five years: in 2001 and 2002. I don’t recall what it was before that—I think you can search that out on Google. After 2002 the tree has been a natural, blessed green. I hope that helps in your debate.
Paul Krueger writes:
I just wanted to commend you Lisa on those pictures; they are so amazing. The colors seem so perfect as if my own eyes are there seeing them with the person next to me. Good job and keep up the good work.
Thank you so much for your kind email. People probably think I’m strange at the park—most of the time I’m taking pictures of the landscape rather than people!
