With the first hints of Spring showing up here in the cold Northeast, it’s time for another edition of the mailbag. This week, mailbag editor Stephanie Wien answers a potpourri of letters, with subjects ranging from Dream Fastpasses at Disneyland, to Walt Disney World vacations and the Mary Poppins musical in London and New York City. First, David writes:
My partner and I visited the Disneyland Resort this month and we were the lucky winners of Dream Fastpass. The cast member was lurking in the shadows near the entrance to Frontierland handing out the passes; we initially thought she was part of some creepy marketing campaign (not unlike the trench coat-wearing Muppet on Sesame Street who used to try and sell Ernie an O).
The pass was a terrific prize, though we felt a little bit guilty walking on rides while everyone else was waiting in line—Of course, this feeling subsided quickly.
It seems to me that if everyone knew about the Dream Pass, that they would be mobbing the cast members who pass them out. Do you know how they manage to protect the cast members from getting tackled for their passes?
Also, we were lucky enough to get a theme park view at the Grand Californian Resort for around $200 (Yes, we were having a really good weekend). The monorail track was right outside our window and sometime after midnight, we noticed a mysterious, one-car monorail train ride along the track. Do they have some kind of service vehicle that checks the track at night?
Congratulations on getting the Dream Fastpass! Cast members can only give the passes away according to the randomized prize schedule, so people can’t just come up to them anywhere to receive one. I’m sure if a guest got too rough, security would be alerted.
That sounds like a great rate for a Grand Californian room! There is a service vehicle that travels up and down the track. It can also be used to tow a disabled monorail into the maintenance area.
Nichole M. writes:
I am surfing Google trying to find the plastic lunch bowls you have pictured on your site. I am planning a 3rd birthday party for my triplets. The theme is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. These bowls would be perfect, but I can’t find them anywhere. I have been told they are the plates that kids meals come in at the theme park in Florida.
Do you know if it is possible to purchase a few of these? We are planning to take the children to Disney when they turn 5. Is it too soon to begin planning that trip using your site?
The bowls come with some of the children’s meals at Disney parks. They can not be purchased anywhere directly. You might find some for sale online.
It’s never too soon to begin planning, but a lot can change in two years! You might take a look and decide what type of accommodations you would like to stay in while at Walt Disney World. That would help you work out an estimated budget so you can start saving up early.
Jerry V. writes:
We are planning on visiting Walt Disney World in May 2007 and were wondering if Walt Disney World had a store similar to the one in Disneyland park called the Castle Heraldry that would provide family crests and histories. Any help would be appreciated.
Unfortunately, Walt Disney World does not have a heraldry shop like the one at Disneyland. Honestly though, I doubt the authenticity of much of that material. You’d be better off doing research on your own through your local library.
Andy M. writes:
I took a trip to Walt Disney World about 7 or 8 years ago—We ordered the Walt Disney World vacation video and watched it before leaving home. On the section about Pleasure Island, they were really hyping up this place called “The Adventurer’s Club”—it was supposed to be “thrilling, and suspenseful.” When we actually got to Walt Disney World and went there however, it was confusing at the very least. It seemed like there was just 1 person in the center of the room droning on and on about nothing while everyone else was holding up the walls. We left shortly after we arrived confused because it was nothing like what we saw on the video. Does anyone know what the point of that club was? I noticed on my last trip down that the Adventurer’s Club is no more—I was wondering if I just didn’t “get” the joke and may have missed out on a wonderful attraction.
The Adventurer’s Club is alive and well. It’s an interactive theater show, where the cast members portray characters that all belong to a club modeled on old British adventure clubs. It’s actual really fun when there’s a large crowd and the actors play off of the guests and one another. It is a bit odd though, so it’s not necessarily for everyone.
You might want to give it another try. Kungaloosh!
[Editor’s note: Part of the reason for the confusion may have stemmed from the fact that, if you happen to enter the center room area while the shows are already in progress, you would have no idea what you’re missing. Although that central room does provide some entertainment, the actual “shows” are presented inside various side rooms. Most of the shows are 10 to 20 minutes long, and involve actors in period costumes telling tall tales and interacting with the audience.]
Shannon H. writes:
I just wanted to pass along a note of advice to anyone planning a Walt Disney World trip. My husband and I recently visited the resort for our honeymoon and stayed at the Port Orleans French Quarter. We unfortunately had to leave from the wedding to the airport and therefore had to carry a larger sum of money than we normally do while traveling. To make a long story short, we had $400 stolen from our hotel room during our stay. We didn’t take the vacation insurance and we are now having a huge battle with Disney regarding this (and sadly many other issues we encountered. If we would have taken the traveler’s insurance, we would have avoided the huge headache we are going through now.
The bar has been raised so high with Disney that it is easy to forget, it is a theme park that hires an enormous amount of people. Things are not always going to be what we have come to expect for Disney, so be prepared! We are sadly wishing we would have been…
I’m sorry to hear about your situation. It’s always a good reminder to keep valuables in the room safe, or avoid carrying large amounts of cash altogether.
I hope you are able to resolve your dispute. Thank you for writing.
[Editor’s note: When carrying large amounts of cash or valuables, it is best to put these in a lockbox. Many hotel rooms come equipped with safes that you can program with your own PIN code. If your room doesn’t come with one, ask to switch to a room that does, or ask to use a safety deposit box at the front desk.]
Although the review was written back in April 2005, we recently received some letters to the mailbag from readers who have gone to see Mary Poppins on stage, and wrote in to take exception to Michael Standstrom’s review.
Stuart writes:
First I would like to say your Web site is amazing and so useful! But I would also like to tell you something you may already know, but the Mary Poppins musical that you reviewed in London (and now on in New York) was never meant to be a copy of the film. It sounds as if you were expecting to see the film acted out on stage, when in fact the musical stays true to the original books, using parts of the Disney version.
Thank you for taking the time to write. I didn’t personally write the review of the London production, but I did have the pleasure of seeing the New York City version during previews. It is really something! Luckily I knew about the book elements going into the show, otherwise I might have been a bit confused. Overall, it was a great show and I’m sure many people will enjoy it during its New York run.
Karla L. writes:
We saw Mary Poppins at the Prince Edward Theatre, London, this past Wednesday night. It was utterly fantastic. I am so glad I didn’t read your review until returning home; I might have avoided the play entirely.
Thank you for your letter. I didn’t personally write the review that is up at MousePlanet, but did enjoy it when I saw it during previews in October. I hear New York stole the Bert from the London cast.
Karla replies:
We are very lucky to get Bert from the London cast, because he is excellent in that role!
You were so right about Bert. He was absolutely marvelous! Ashley Brown does a fantastic job as Mary Poppins as well. Those two made the show for me. I loved the “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious ” dance number. I want to learn how to do that!
Finally, Donald F. writes:
I’m a big Mary Poppins and Scarlett Strallen fan. If it is at all possible, can you please send me her autographed picture? It would really mean so much to me because I am such a big fan of hers and of the play.
Thank you for writing MousePlanet. Unfortunately, we are not affiliated with the Walt Disney Company. I would suggest you write to Scarlett Strallen in care of the Prince Edward Theater in London if you’re interested in obtaining an autographed photo. Here’s the address:
Prince Edward Theatre
Old Compton Street
London
W1D 4HS
Have you seen the Mary Poppins musical currently being performed onstage, either in London or on Broadway in New York? If so, please send your review in to MousePlanet, in care of the Mailbag and let us know what you thought!
