Happy 40th Disneyworld!

Back in the summer of 1971, as a 9 year old Minnesota kid, I remember reading a magazine article about the NEW Walt Disney World theme park. I was extremely excited when I read that the Grand Opening would be October 18th! I thought it was a sign, certainly my parents would want me to be there on opening day for my 10th birthday. Of course, my mom's reaction was not so positive. Guess I should have known as our family of seven had never taken a road trip longer than 2 hours to a Wisconsin lake cabin. Disappointed yes...but one can dream right?

Fast forward 40 years. We are planning our 7th family vacation to Walt's magical world of the mouse in Orlando Florida! (There was also a honeymoon in Florida and a work trip to Disneyland over the years.) We have become Disney-Junkies and we have to visit this year as I turn 50 and WDW turns 40! Yes, my family collects and trades pins. We stay at the WDW resorts and travel using the food plan so we can visit all the best Disneyworld restaurants. Every trip is an adventure that we anticipate for months and get teary-eyed when it comes to an end. 

One of our favorite places to spend time at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is the often overlooked, One Man's Dream exhibit. (It is tucked in on the way past the big sorcerer's hat on the way to the Toy Story ride. ) It recounts the journey of Walt Disney's life in pictures, videos and displays. Several of the actual models of the parks and rides are on display in the building. There is also a short biographical movie about Walt. If you have never visited, One Man's Dream, I encourage you to take the time to do so this year. It is the perfect way to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of this Disney destination!

Copyright 2011 Magical Mouse Tales 

Speechless Sunday (Almost)--Fast Hands at Teppan Edo

Fast hands of the teppan-yaki style chef are quite a sight, aren't they?

A few years ago when I started this blog, I wrote about the Can’t Miss Disneyworld Restaurants and a few to skip on the next trip too! Though some of my opinions have not changed, a couple of them have. There are many more restaurants that my family has enjoyed as our kids grew up and became more adventurous.

Our family visited Teppan Edo for the first time on our 2009 trip and it has become a MUST DO for our next! As you can see the chef puts on quite a show and kept the entire group entertained while we waited for our dinners. It is better if you have a group of 8 because the tables are arranged in such a way that 8 people surround the chef. We were paired with another family of four and though awkward at first, it was a pleasant dinner. Definitely Teppan Edo in the Japanese Pavilion of Epcot is a wonderful addition to any Disney World vacation. We will be back...the food and show were fabulous!

Copyright 2011 Magical Mouse Tales

Hidden Disneyworld Freebies--Learn to Draw Mickey Mouse!

Have you ever wished to be a Disney animator?

If you are planning an upcoming trip, be sure to take the time to visit the Animation Building in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This is my family’s favorite places during our bi-annual treks to Orlando, FL. Now, I know I shouldn't but I still call this park MGM Studios, but that is just me. After the animation tour don't rush out the exit too quickly. Take advantage of the area where you (and 30 or so other would-be illustrators) can go for a half hour class with a Disney artist. It is located off to the side and under a screen where various Disney characters are being drawn. There is usually a 10-15 minute wait for the next FREE class but with step-by-step instructions on how to draw Mickey , Goofy, Pluto, Stitch or another beloved Disney character, it is worth the wait.

I should mention, talent is not a prerequisite. At the end of the session, everyone leaves with a drawing that somewhat resembles the character that is up on the screen. My husband is first to admit his skills at drawing are very limited but he always comes out with something to be proud of.

As soon as we finish the tutorial, we always compare our drawings. Here are examples of my family’s drawings from one class on a previous trip. At the time my sons were in grade school yet every drawing was a success All of our drawings are a pretty fair representation of Walt’s buddy, Mickey Mouse, but none are identical to each other. Maybe with a little more practice we can be as good as the instructors...At least we can dream right?

Don't miss this awesome Disney Freebie! Everyone who can hold a pencil and follow simple instructions can learn to draw from a great Disney artist and take home a magical memory & free souvenir. We have taken several classes and drawn character after character; everyone from Daisy Duck to Jack Skellington! Drawing at the Animation Studio is always on our "MUST Not Miss at Disneyworld List" on every trip!

Copyright 2011 Magical Mouse Tales