Where in WDW? Challenge 30

Time again to ask and answer the question, Where in WDW?

Last week you were offered this chilling challenge ... to find your way out ... to find this ...

As was guessed, it is outside of the Stave Church at Norway in World Showcase, EPCOT.

So now the 30th challenge in the series ... Where in WDW is this?

As always, make your guess in the comments section below and then check back next week to see if you are correct.

Where in WDW? Challenge 29

It's time once again to play the game that is taking the country by storm ... Where in WDW?

Last week you were asked to guess Where in WDW? this is ...

As has been guessed, this is in Animal Kingdom, in front of the bathrooms across from Tusker House. You know ... where it is always so crowded you can barely walk?

So now it's time for a new challenge so ... Where in WDW is ...

As always, make your guess below in the Comments section (please do!) and then come back next week to check your answer.

Disney Fireworks

One of everyone's favorite things at a Disney park is the fireworks, and I am no exception. On this last trip we watched two sets of fireworks ...

The first group is Hallowishes - from Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party in the Magic Kingdom.

And the second set is from Illuminations - Reflections of Earth at EPCOT.

Wordless Wednesday - Disney Letter G

This week's Wordless Wednesday's theme is Disney Letter G.
Thanks to Deb for hosting this blog hop - why don't you stop by and join in.

It has been a while since I have been able to participate due to a trip to Disney World, Hurricane Sandy followed by a nor'easter. But I am home and power and internet are back so let the fun begin!

What comes to my mind immediately is Goofy! (Especially for reasons that will become clear to you very soon!*)

So here is my tribute to Goofy ...

*And finally ... many fathers will tell you that their son-in-law is goofy ... but I have the photos to prove it ...

Here he is with his mom

Here he is playing with the boss!

Where in WDW? Challenge 28

Okay - let's get right to it ...

Last week you were asked Where in WDW? this is ...

The answer is that it is from the wall of the dining area in the 50's Prime Time Café. (Sorry, I had intended to take a shot which showed the whole area, but was feeling the effects of a debilitating cold at the time. Thanks go to my daughter for pointing out that this would make a good subject for this challenge.)

This week we offer this challenge ... Where in WDW? is ...

As always, make your guess below and then stop by again next week to see the answer.

October 2012 - Final Day - New Fantasyland

As happens each trip - we have reached our last day here in Disney World. But although we leave tomorrow morning, we still have one day left here, so we are off to The Magic Kingdom this morning.

Our first destination will be Liberty Square and the Haunted Mansion. As my favorite attraction, I always try to do it whenever at The Magic Kingdom, but since I have ridden it so many times, if the queue is very long, I usually will skip it at that moment. That was the case when we were here earlier in the week, but today the line is fine so we head in - and take the trip through the graveyard before entering the foyer. (You can see pix of today here.)

Tomorrowland is next and then we decide to see if there will be a soft opening today for the New Fantasyland. When we were here earlier in the week we had just missed one. When we get there, this is what we find.

We head inside. Be Our Guest will not be opening today, but most of the rest of the first phase of the expansion is.

We make our way to Gaston's Tavern where we purchase LeFeu's Brews (two of them in souvenir cups). They are a very refreshing concoction of frozen apple juice with foam - and a hint of marshmallow taste. We find a table in the Tavern and enjoy our drinks.

Next it's off to Under the Sea with The Little Mermaid. This was a case in which I wish the queue had been longer as we walk right through. I would have liked to have had to wait a bit and have time to really spend some time there, as it may be one of the more interesting parts of this attraction. Like in The Seas with Nemo and Friends, you ride through the attraction in a clamshell shaped omnimover. It is a classic dark ride but well done.

On our way out of Fantasyland my wife and daughter stop to look at the gift shop and while I wait outside, Gaston is meeting with guests. At one point he excuses himself to check himself out in the reflection in his tavern's doors, and do a little preening.

By this time we are all tired and a bit hot - and I am still reeling from this nasty cold that has been plaguing me all week - so we decide to head back to the hotel to relax and (sadly) pack for the next day's departure. We had, however, accomplished our main goal of seeing New Fantasyland so the day has been a success.  (Don't forget, you can see pix of today including more of the New Fantasyland here.)

We spend our last night at Disney's Art of Animation Resort and then in the morning our daughter drives us to the airport for an uneventful trip home.

At this point it looks like our next trip down (shortly) will be for a DCL cruise ... so keep checking back here to see how that develops.

October 2012 Trip - Day 5

Today is moving day. Since Disney's Art of Animation Resort (DAAR) has recently opened, and my daughter has been telling us how amazing the family suites are, we have decided to spend our last 2 nights in one.

We have selected the "generic" option when making our reservation, but are hoping that we get assigned to the Cars section.

Our daughter arrives in the morning and we are all packed and ready to make the move. We bring our luggage to her car and make the short drive from Pop Century to DAAR and head to the desk to check in. We find that we are indeed assigned to Cars (and our suite is ready) so after a stop in the food court for breakfast, head to the room to move in.

(Photos of the resort - and our room - can be seen here.)

The theming of the resort in general and our section in particular is amazing. Everything in the room is related to automobiles in some way. The dressers are tool chests, the couch is a 1950's car seat. The bathrooms (2 of them) are themed as car washes. The table opens up to a queen size bed (there are 3 of them in the suite - the table/murphy bed, the living room couch and the one in the bedroom) and turns out to be very comfortable - unlike most folding beds.

Once we are settled in we head over to Animal Kingdom. Still feeling quite under the weather, I give in to the inevitable and rent an ECV. Without it I would be slowing everyone down, and we would not accomplish what we want.

As usual, our first stop is to get Fastpasses for Kilamanjaro Safaris. We have a return window a bit more than an hour from the time we get them, so we decide to have lunch before our safari. We go to Pizzafari - where we hardly ever go - and quickly remember why. Finishing lunch we start back towards Harambe and soon it is time to use the Fastpasses.

(More photos from the safari can be seen here.)

Checking the schedule, we decide that our next stop will be The Festival of the Lion King so we head over to Camp Minnie Mickey in time for the next performance.

(More photos from The Festival of the Lion King can be seen here.)

After the show we see that we have some time until the next Finding Nemo: The Musical so we spend some time in Chester & Hester's Dinoland. My wife - as she usually does - decides to play a carnival game, and soon we have a number of stuffed animals which we have to figure out how to get into our suitcases for the flight home.

Soon we are approaching show time so it's off to the Theater in the Wild to find Nemo.

(More pictures of Finding Nemo: The Musical can be found here.)

We eventually head back to our room where we meet up with my son-in-law as he returns from work. (My daughter has worked a few of the days while we were here, but has most of the time off.)

We all have dinner at the resort food court and then my daughter, son-in-law and I take a walk around the resort to check it out. (Once again, these photos can be seen here.)

After dinner we settle back to watch the final Presidential Debate and then off to sleep.


Don't forget to have a look at the photo sets ... Disney's Art of Animation Resort can be seen here ... the safari can be seen here ... The Festival of the Lion King can be seen here ... Finding Nemo: The Musical can be found here.

Where in WDW? Challenge 27

After the devastation that was Sandy (the storm, not my wife), we now are back online here so it's time to return to Where in WDW?

Before we were so rudely interrupted you were asked to identify Where in WDW? you could find this:

I am happy now to be able to tell you that this is the workshop of the glass blower at the rear of the Crystal Arts shop on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom.

Did you get it? Don't worry - here is another one ...

Where in WDW? would you find this?

As always, make your guesses in the comments section below. Then check back next week for the reveal - assuming that today's nor'easter doesn't leave us without power/cable/tv/phone/internet again.

A Temporary Interruption

Just a quick note for those looking for the next chapter of the trip report or Where in WDW?

As many of you know, I live on Staten Island and we have been hit hard by Sandy (the storm, not my wife). I am lucky to now have power but no cable so no phone/TV/Internet. We are safe and my house has suffered no damage. However, until I can get online from my computer, online posting of those two series will have to wait. Happily my cell service has been restored and I am not totally disconnected.

I hope all who have been in Sandy's path are safe and hope to "see" you all back once thing start to return to normal.

And just so you know - the last Where in WDW? photo was taken at the back of the Crystal Arts shop on Main Strret in the Magic Kingdom. That is the glass blower's equipment. More about it when we are once again up and running.