Happy New Year! In the first batch of letters this week, staff writer Brian Bennett answers letters in response to some of his recent “Eyes on Orlando” photo tours. September Roltsch writes:
For some reason I had thought you’d done an “ABC’s of Walt Disney World” list but can’t seem to find it anywhere. Is it possible to get a link to it—if such a thing does exist? As part of my daughter’s Christmas present I’m putting together a scrapbook for her with that theme, and am getting stuck on a few of the letters and was looking for inspiration.
Thank you for any help you might be able to offer.
I did have an ABC list for the resorts at WDW, but that was really a “nuts and bolts” kind of page, not one filled with fun things to remember. Here’s a link to it anyway, in case you’d like to look it over.
This might be more useful, although it’s never been alphabetized… It’s a link to an updated list of “my favorite things” that I just recently re-posted at MousePlanet.
Martin Smith writes:
You mentioned the Grand Floridian opened in early 1989; I believe it was June 28th 1988. Geeky I know, but thought I’d mention it should you want to verify/change/tell me I’m wrong!
I can’t argue with you. All I can remember is that the resort was still under construction and not yet opened when I visited in the Spring of 1988 and was open by September 1989 when sticker shock drove me to a Quality Inn on International Drive.
Lynn Murnane writes:
My family and I stayed at your resort in June of this year. We absolutely loved it! I had purchased a T-shirt, which somehow got a stain on it. I would love to replace it with the same one if possible. I was also interested in purchasing other items from your shop. How can I go about doing so? Does this shop have a website that I can purchase on line, or possibly a catalog? Please let me know.
MousePlanet, the site you contacted, is not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company or Walt Disney World. I would suggest that you contact MouseShoppe to see if they can help you find the items you’re looking for.
If not, you can also contact the Walt Disney World mail order department at (407) 363-6200. Be aware, however, that they tend to be slow and expensive in shipping.
Geoff Salt writes:
Your article sure brought back great memories of this amazing hotel. We stayed there in 2000 when we visited for the Millennium celebrations combining our hotel stay with a cruise on the Disney Wonder. The hotel itself is a star in the Disney crown of hotels with its touch of detail brought down to a fine art. The restaurants, particularly Victoria and Albert’s, have such atmosphere and the beautiful pool and accessibility of a beach makes you believe you are at the coast.
We would sit on our veranda in the early morning watching the housekeeping staff come to work in their Edwardian outfits and carrying parasols to keep off the early morning sun. It was like being in a time warp. The fact that the monorail departs from the balcony level straight to the Magic Kingdom made us feel really special.
We have also stayed at her sister the Grand Californian and whilst that too is grand in its own style, for us The “Grand Flo” has the edge. Hopefully we’ll be back there in 2009.
I am so glad you enjoyed the photo tour! I really do love the Disney resorts (not just the Grand Floridian) because of the incredible attention to detail. Even the moderate resorts have wonderful theming.
Geoff replies:
True what you say about moderate resorts—the best at Disneyland Paris is the Hotel Cheyenne—you really feel you are in a cowboy town—there are even bullet holes in the bed head!
Fred Canfield writes:
I enjoyed your article; I also enjoyed our early visit to the Grand Floridian Beach resort when you could actually use the beach and swim there. We also enjoyed a late dinner at the water front restaurant (Nar…). I can never remember the name.
What happened to the swimming in the lagoon and the wave machines?
The wave machines were actually installed for the beaches at the Polynesian Resort back in the early 1970s and were discontinued after just a season or two due to the erosion that the waves caused on the beaches. No wave machines ever were installed or operated for the Grand Floridian.
I’m surprised that you said that swimming was allowed in Seven Seas Lagoon back then, too. I thought that the ban on swimming in the lagoon went back to the early years also. In any case, swimming is forbidden at all of the lagoon and Bay Lake resorts (that includes the Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge, and Fort Wilderness Campground).
Last, Narcoossee’s is the name of the restaurant that you’re thinking of. It’s a very nice place, isn’t it?
Next, staff writer Lani Teshima answers letters about the Walt Disney World marathon, whose 2007 edition is being run this weekend. Megan Donaghy writes:
You should post information for families who plan to spectate at the marathon. Thanks.
You will be happy to know that I’ve written just such an article.
Shane Byington writes:
I am interested in participating in the 2008 Walt Disney World Marathon. I rarely plan this far ahead to so something, but I wanted to ask what I needed to do in order to enter, get information, etc. I plan to get one of my older brothers involved too. He lives in Tampa and I know that our children will enjoy a weekend at WDW. Please contact me via e-mail or mail an information packet for the 2008 race.
Thank you for writing to MousePlanet. Although we cover the Walt Disney World Marathon in our articles, we are not officially affiliated with the Walt Disney Company in any way. For this reason, we cannot send you an official registration form.
Historically, Disney has made the registration for the following year’s event available a day after the year’s event is over. If you wish to participate in the 2008 version, I suggest you make sure to visit their Web site at disneyworldmarathon.com following the 2007 marathon weekend on January 8, and you should be able to register online (or print a form that you can mail in).
Cast Place editor Shoshana Lewin answers a question from Maureen Mockler, who writes:
I really enjoy all the stories about the Disney CMs who have made someone’s vacation extra special. I, too, have had great experiences with CMs. Could you suggest a way to say thank you to them? Just saying thanks isn’t always enough. Is there a small item I could give them? I thought of candy kisses but am not sure. I also thought about having a small thank you card printed up to give them. Any help you can give me would mean a lot. Thanks!
The best way to thank them is to contact City Hall and write up a comment card—which gets delivered to the CM’s manager and then everyone will know how wonderful the CM is. Presents aren’t really done because they can’t accept a tip or anything—you could give them a card in person if you wanted—I haven’t seen anything about those being prohibited. Also, feel free to share your story with us at Cast Place.
Finally, two readers wrote letters in response to previous mailbags. David Ross writes:
You recently answered a question to a reader about a specific song containing bagpipes that is played as part of the pre-Illuminations songs at Epcot.
I am certain that the song they are looking for is called “Busindre Reel” by Hevia. It is on an album entitled Tierra de Nadie.
Howard writes in with another answer to the Disney paint question:
I was reading today’s mailbag (11/30/06), and thought I would contribute what little I know on the subject of paint used at Disneyland. I was down there about a week ago with my sister and brother-in-law, and he got into a conversation with one of the painters working by the Golden Horseshoe. Below is what he told me of the conversation…
The painter I spoke with was working on one of the square railing end posts on the walkway that leads to the ‘Billy Hill show’ and he told me that he was using epoxy filler and then would be using a two-part epoxy paint manufactured by the Deft Corporation. The paint products Deft manufactures are formulated for specific locations, climatic conditions, moisture content, the type of lumber being used in construction and many other subtle conditions.
For the metal surfaces such as metal railings, they use Emron paint products. That is a high quality automobile paint. It is also used to paint many small personal aircraft.
So Stephanie, maybe a little more information you would be able to use? Have a Disney day!
