Musings and Observations – 2011

I offer you some random musings and observations from high atop the mountain…

• There are only two states in the life of a Walt Disney World fanatic: you’re either on a trip or planning the next one.

I guess I could add a third state. This is the time in the weeks and months before a trip when all the heavy lifting has been done. You’ve booked the airfare, reserved the room, secured park passes and made all your dining reservations. The only thing to do now is wait… and wait… and… I call it the “Dead Zone” and I’m there right now.

• It appears Disney is starting to make efforts to deter the minor swindling that’s been going on in the parks and resorts. For some time now, they’ve been phasing in refillable mugs that contain Radio Frequency Identification tags or RFIDs. These can be electronically verified and beverages will be dispensed within stated guidelines (x number of refills within y minutes), during the dates of your stay and only at valid locations. Maybe the days of the refillable mug abusers are numbered.

I admit to thinking this “abuse” of refillable mugs is a non-issue. After all, the cost of the ingredients (syrup, water and carbonation) for a mug of soft drink is a pittance. Then I thought about the cost of the equipment, maintenance, cleaning, service, etc. and multiplied the pittance by the millions (billions?) of drinks consumed in a year, and realized it’s not long before we’re talking serious money.

While I have purchased refillable mugs in the past, I never buy them now—mainly because I consider them somewhat of a nuisance. To explain… As an early riser, I would often head out for an early morning walk around the resort and drag the mugs with me. Before returning to the room, I’d stop at the resort’s food court and grab coffees, milk, etc. for my family. The “nuisance” component appeared whenever we’d decide to have a food court breakfast before heading out to a theme park, which was often. Bringing along the mugs for breakfast meant either you had to carry them with you to the theme park or someone had to detour back to the room before hitting the bus stop.

As an alternative, I suppose you could absorb the expense and store the mugs in a locker at the theme park. In any case, I felt this was an annoyance. I would have much preferred a disposable container somehow linked to me as “refillable”. I could then get a beverage any time I was within arm’s length of the beverage station without regard for mug storage. I’d still get the mug as a souvenir. Are you listening, Disney?

• One of the negative fallouts from the Dining Plans has been the practice of some inconsiderate folks making multiple reservations for the same period—and letting one or more go unused. It now appears Disney is taking steps to deter this by imposing a $10 per person charge for unused and un-cancelled reservations at the more popular table service restaurants. I say “deter” because there’s almost no way this abuse of the system can be stopped entirely. At any rate, I applaud this effort.

• It appears that Disney will, at last, begin offering free Wi-Fi networks at their resorts. I am not a prolific cell phone user so a sophisticated smart phone lacks real value for me. My compromise is that I use an inelegant pay-as-you-go-plan for a cell phone and an iPod Touch for Web surfing, music, smart apps, etc. That works fine for me until I get to Walt Disney World and its dearth of Wi-Fi. I welcome this and long for the day when free Wi-Fi is available throughout the resorts and theme parks.

• Does anyone else wish there was more television programming from the Disney theme parks? Just me?

I remember years ago, when I first discovered the Disney Channel, how disappointed I was that it was mostly shows for children.

• Is there a better service than Resort Airline Check-In? Seriously. I was denied this service for quite a while as Disney and Southwest worked out the kinks. I consider the ability to check your bags at your resort on the day of departure a godsend. Traveling through the airport without hauling luggage is…well…civilized.

• The other side of that coin is Disney’s Magical Express. I’m a huge fan. I love that it’s a free service and I can check my bags at my home airport and not touch them again until they magically appear in my room. Nevertheless, I recognize the convenience and flexibility offered by a rental car while on vacation. I continue to check prices before each trip but I’ll only go the rental car route if it’s absolutely necessary or I can find a super deal on price.

• I love having an Annual Pass. It makes it so easy to visit a park for nothing more than a cup of coffee. Or to see Illuminations… or Wishes. When I just have a Park Hopper, there’s a need to justify using the “day” from the pass. I hate that.

• Is it me or is no one from Disney mentioning Hyperion Wharf?

• Is there a better feeling than when you first board the train to the main terminal at Orlando International Airport?

Well… maybe when I pass under the arch… or see my first purple road sign.

Purple road signs, the arch and Disney's Magical Express – all in one photo. Photo by Steve Russo.

Or pull up to the front of my resort.

• It seems like you shouldn’t bother looking at rental car rates until you reach approximately 45 days before your departure date. I looked early and often for a minivan prior to our family trip last January. It was common for me to find weekly rates running from $400 to $550. Roughly six weeks prior to the trip I secured a rate of $160. I stayed persistent, and with less than two weeks to go, found a rate of $87. Did I mention that all this was through the same (rhymes with shallamo) rental company?

• A very unofficial survey of the Disney internet community tells me that the recent announcement of “Avatar Land” is polarizing. It seems most people are in either the “love it” or “hate it” camp. Very few fall into the middle ground or are taking a “wait and see” approach.

• I don’t think I’ve looked forward to any Disney World vacation as much as this upcoming one. Of course, I could probably say that about all my trips. This one will be very close to a repeat of our first “solo” (just the missus and me) trip in 2003. That trip was our first time visiting during the Christmas season when the resort is in its full holiday splendor. We’re replicating the dates of that trip, and just like in 2003, will spend the better part of a day simply visiting resorts taking in the decorations.

• I still hate making dining reservations 180 days out. I don’t think that will ever change.

• Speaking of reservations…do you remember the days when dining reservations were “same day?” I recall stopping at a kiosk in Future World and making reservations by talking with a cast member over a 2-way video link—very cool for the 1980s-1990s. I miss those days.

• Speaking of dining…I still think Le Cellier is vastly overrated but I’m giving them another chance on my next trip. It’s just for lunch though.

• Speaking (again) of dining…We’re also scheduled for dinner at the Coral Reef. I’m not sure why but I find it surprising that we’ve never dined there before.

• I can’t wait to ride Star Tours: The Adventures Continue on my next visit.

I first heard of the Star Tours attraction from a friend/co-worker who visited Disneyland in 1989. He explained the attraction and told me what a great time he and his family had riding it. I’m not a huge Star Wars fan but I like the films and love flight simulators so I was psyched. We visited Disney MGM Studios in 1990 and Star Tours did not disappoint. Since that trip in 1990, I’ve probably ridden Star Tours more than 50 times. I still loved it but readily admitted it was in need of an update. I am happy to say once again I can’t wait to ride Star Tours: The Adventures Continue on my next visit.

• Have you ever noticed the number of people that stay off-site (or are local) and park at Downtown Disney to avoid the daily parking fee at the theme parks? I actually saw that advice on a Disney-related website. I’m guessing they feel it’s worth an extra 20-60 minutes (or more) of their time in bus transfers to avoid the $14 fee. If you're wondering, that is wasted time each way.

• Is there a better ride than Soarin’? Or a better 3D film than Mickey’s Philharmagic? I’m just saying.

• If you’re reading this, you obviously read MousePlanet so… If you haven’t read Jeff Kober’s series of articles on the Four Decades of Walt Disney World, what are you waiting for?

• I’d say the same thing about all of Jim Korkis’ work here, but especially his upcoming articles on the real story behind the Partners statue (check back next week.) Fascinating stuff.

• Lastly… please send me your suggestions for future articles. I have a few ideas but I’d really like to know the types of things you’d enjoy reading. Fire off an email to steve@mouseplanet.com and let me know. Thanks in advance.

As always, thanks for reading.