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Taking a Disney Geek’s Look into the Walt Disney Railroads by Noah Cory

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For some of us riding the railroad at the Magic Kingdom is something we do every trip. This is the first attraction you see walking into the Magic Kingdom and was part of the opening show since the park opened in 1971 until January 7, 2017. Since this is such an icon in the Disney Parks I want to share with you some unknown facts about the railroad and the story of it’s history. Before Disneyland: Walt Disney loved locomotives and as a little boy he wanted to become an engineer. As a teenager, he obtained a job on the Missouri Pacific Railway , selling products to train passengers including newspapers. (Walt was a paperboy when he was a little kid as well) This love for trains continued to grow and Walt started to collect train models. The small trains were not good enough for Walt and he decided to buy a 5 acre lot in California. This lot would soon become home to the site to his new house and his own miniature railroad. Disney named his railroad Carolwood Pacific Railroad (CPRR) referencing his address at 355 Carolwood Drive. The railroad featured the Lilly Belle , a 1:8-scale live steam locomotive named after his wife and built by the Walt Disney Studios’ machine shop team led by imagineer Roger E. Broggie. The Lilly Belle ran on the CPRR for the first time on May 20th, 1950

Disneyland: Walt knew straight from the beginning that a railroad had to be in his first theme park. While designing the railroad with the rest of the imagineering team Walt looked to the CPRR for inspiration. He first started looking at making a miniature railroad but when a seller would not accept his offer Walt knew he had to do a full size handmade railroad. Through WED Enterprises Walt Disney was allowed to have personal ownership of the DRR and financed two trains to make sure it was done on time for Disneyland’s opening day. The names of both trains contained the word Retlaw , which is Walter spelled backwards. On July 17, 1955, Disneyland and the Disneyland Railroad opened, and kicked off with Walt Disney driving the Disneyland Railroad No. 2 locomotive into Main Street, U.S.A. Station with California Governor Goodwin J. Knight on board. Today the Disneyland Railroad has 5 locomotives with 4 stations. It received a complete renovation due to Star Wars:Galaxy Edge construction. The railroad recently reopened on July 29th, 2017 with a new route along the northern edge of the Rivers of America which features rock formations, five waterfalls, a trestle bridge , and the line’s only left-hand turn.

Walt Disney World: Since the Disneyland Railroad was doing so well Walt knew he needed to make one in Florida. The Walt Disney World Railroad was once again managed by imagineer Roger E. Broggie. Since he has experience with the Disneyland Railroad he knew exactly what to do for Walt Disney World. Roger determined that the best and cost effective way to make the railroad was to use already built locomotives, as opposed to building them entirely from scratch like the Disneyland Railroad’s first two locomotives. Broggie and a team of imagineers traveled to a railroad boneyard in Mexico. They found four locomotives built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in the boneyard and a fifth built by Pittsburgh Locomotive and Car Works that could potentially be transformed. The imagineering team wanted the locomotives to look like they were used in the 1880s to go along with Main Street U.S.A. Three of the Baldwin locomotives were at WDW opening day and the 4th went into service on December 1st, 1971. The Pittsburgh locomotive could not be salvaged. For the first few months of Walt Disney World the Main Street, U.S.A. Station at the park’s entrance was the only stop. On May 1, 1972, they opened another station near Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café in Frontierland. It was taken down in November 1990 to make way for Splash Mountain and was replaced by the current Frontierland Station, which opened in late 1991. During construction of Splash Mountain and the Frontierland Station, the Walt Disney World Railroad was temporarily renamed Backtrack Express and operated a single train, which only traveled back and forth along the section of track between the Main Street, U.S.A. section and the Mickey’s Starland section. Today the railroad has 3 stations and circles the entire park. The railroad could be affected by the new Tron Lightcycle Power Run attraction coming to Tomorrowland.

I hope you all enjoyed this Disney Geek’s look into the Walt Disney Railroad’s and if you did please share! If there is an attraction or resort that you would like to suggest for my next article let us know below!

Disney’s Golden Oak Ranch By Bill Iadonisi

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For any movie aficionado, a trip to your favorite movie theater or sitting in front of your own TV, complete with the requisite snacks of popcorn, candy and pop; and immersing yourself in the magic of the silver screen is one of America’s favorite pastimes. This love of watching almost any genre come to life began with the first primitive movies, and has not showed any signs of abating. It is almost magical to go from a western town, New England fishing village, a haunted house, a farm or ranch, A Civil War battlefield or a Roman Colosseum. The greatest magic in the movies are the limitless background scenes and locations that bring the film to reality! From the earliest films, Voyage dans la Lune, Le, A Trip to the Moon, produced in 1902 France, by pioneer French director Georges Melies, considered the first Sci-Fi movie, to today’s computer-generated characters and backgrounds, the locations and sets so to speak, make the movie.

From the very beginning, early movie studios built on site, the sets and buildings needed to bring realism to the film, i.e. a wild west town, turn of the century village or cityscape. In the beginning of the industry, it was easy to find locations to film; even in the small towns or cities. But as the population increased and urban sprawl encroached on everything, just finding pristine locations to film was becoming a challenge. One of the biggest challenges was locating vast outdoor vistas in order to shoot battle scenes, create a Medieval castle or film car chases or shoot miles of railroad tracks complete with an old western steam train.

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Animal Kingdom’s Pandora… “The World of Avatar” by Bill Iadonisi

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Animal Kingdom’s Pandora… “The World of Avatar” by Bill Iadonisi

Right now, Walt Disney is looking down at Animal Kingdom’s new “World of Avatar” with a Cheshire Cat grin on his face and nodding his head in approval, as the world’s greatest storyteller takes in this new land. Since it was announced on September 20th, 2011 that Walt Disney was joining creative forces with James Cameron, the filmmaker who brought us the film Avatar. This groundbreaking film released by 20th Century Fox on December 18th, 2009, concerning the mining operations of Humans on a fictional moon called Pandora in the Alpha Centauri system and the struggles of the indigenous people, called the Na’vi who opposed the Humans, fearing this will destroy their ecosystem.

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Picking your WDW Resort with Kids and Teens!

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Figuring out what resort you want to stay at during your Walt Disney World vacation is one of the most important decisions you will make……… that is for most people. Some people just see it as a place where you will sleep and that it doesn’t matter that much. For me it is much more than that. It is a place where you will make so many memories and also a respite from the rush of the parks. You also want to make sure your children are going to enjoy it so the magic doesn’t stop at the parks! So how are you going to pick which one to stay at? I have some suggestions that may just help you out.

  1. Look at the resorts theme: Depending on the age of the group you’re traveling with will have a big influence on what resort you decide to stay at. If you have children you may want to look at some heavily themed resorts including Art of Animation, Pop Century, or any of the All-Star resorts. These resorts are perfect for children as they are based around movies, characters, and other things kids love! I personally really enjoy the Art of Animation as you get to experience 4 different Disney movies with 3 different pools. My personal favorite resort is Port Orleans Riverside. This is a really good resort if you are traveling with teenagers.
  2. Price: For many pricing is their first priority when planning a Disney vacation. You should be aware that your resort choice will have a big impact on how much your vacation is going to cost. There are 4 different price levels for Disney resorts: Value, Moderate, Deluxe, and Deluxe Villas. The children themed resorts we listed above are in the value category, while Port Orleans is moderate. Your deluxe resorts include the Contemporary, Polynesian, and Animal Kingdom Lodge, along with others. If you have a tight budget and don’t want to spend that much I would recommend the value resorts even if you don’t have children. The Art of Animation is a great resort for teenagers as well! If you do plan on staying at a value, you should know, that for the most part the value resorts will be more crowded due to the price and kid friendly theme. Moderate resorts are great for those willing to spend a little bit more and want a more relaxed resort. I would recommend a deluxe resort for special family celebrations!
  3. Food: Not all resort food courts are the same. Most resorts have awesome food available while others may not have as many options available. I really enjoy the food at all of the resorts I have mentioned, especially Riverside. The Riverside Mill has a variety of options and is an amazing building to relax in. When you’re looking into what resort to stay at definitely look at what kind of food they offer. These quick services will come in really handy before an early morning or long day. Most resorts also have a sit down restaurant that you can reserve seating for.

Now that you have some tips on how to choose what resort to stay at it’s time to pick! Your kids/teens will have an amazing time but picking a resort they’ll love will make it even more magical. There is still a lot to talk about with resorts but this the basic outline of what to look for. Now, I would love to hear what your favorite is or any tips that you have!

By Teen Blogger Noah

Noah has been visiting Walt Disney World ever since he was a little kid and has a deep passion for the parks. He wants to share this passion with everyone and help bring a little bit of Disney magic to your life. 

Pandora – The World of Avatar Pictorial Review

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Pandora – The World of Avatar immerses guests in a mystical world of massive floating mountains, bioluminescent rainforests and breathtaking new experiences. Fun and adventure await in this entirely new land found in Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort. Here guests explore an awesome alien landscape, encounter a larger-than-life Na’vi shaman and soar over Pandora on the back of a fearsome mountain banshee.

The largest addition in the history of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Pandora carries on the park’s tradition of celebrating the intrinsic value of nature, transformation through adventure and a personal call to action.

Based on Oscar-winning filmmaker James Cameron’s record-breaking box-office hit, AVATAR, the new land welcomes guests to the lush world of Pandora long after the human conflict with the Na’vi has ended. The dramatic daytime beauty of the land transforms to glow by night when bioluminescent flora and intricate nighttime experiences add a dreamlike quality to Pandora.

Pandora – The World of Avatar is a creative collaboration of Walt Disney Imagineering, Cameron and Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment.

 

New “Happily Ever After” Fireworks and Projection Show Debuts at Magic Kingdom Park

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In addition to fireworks, the stunning new nighttime extravaganza features more lasers, lights and projections than any show at Magic Kingdom Park before it. “Happily Ever After” is also an entirely new kind of Disney storytelling, one that takesbguests on an inspiring journey filled with heart, humor and emotion. Guests become part of the journey themselves as they follow favorite Disney characters on an adventure to seek out their destiny, face adversity and ultimately fulfill their dreams on the road to their happily ever after.

The 18-minute spectacle features moments from classic Disney films such as “The Little Mermaid” and “Aladdin” to modern blockbusters “Moana” and “Zootopia.” Cinderella Castle becomes part of the story itself, with dazzling projections bringing heartfelt Disney stories to life on and around the iconic 18-story-tall castle. Quasimodo from “Hunchback of Notre Dame” swings from the turrets. Woody and his pals from Disney•Pixar’s “Toy Story” recreate the castle entirely out of toys. And Maleficent from “Sleeping Beauty” envelops the castle in her signature green flames.

The story begins with scenes of fantastic dreams full of hope, wonder, magic and light. Disney villains soon become part of the story, attempting to quash those beautiful dreams and forcing the heroes to fight for what they believe in. Overcoming their fears, the heroes triumph and are celebrated with spectacular fireworks.

Because no Magic Kingdom Park fireworks display is complete without this little bit of magic, Tinker Bell flies across the night sky, reminding guests that with a little faith, trust and pixie dust, everyone can find their own happily ever after.

Characters and scenes from more than 25 Disney films are featured through state-of-the-art projections, enhanced by more than 50 choreographed spotlights, brilliant lasers and plenty of awe-inspiring fireworks. Paired with an emotional score, the new spectacular drives the message home that anyone can grab hold of their dreams and make them come true as long as they are brave enough to listen to what guides them and bold enough to pursue their destiny.

Have you seen this new show, lets us know what you think in the comments below!

Pandora The Word Of Avatar Preview Review

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Beginning May 27, 2017, Discover an All-New Land That Celebrates the Magic of Nature ….

There are 2 attractions:

Avatar Flight of Passage launches each guest on an exhilarating, wind-in-your-face experience on a winged mountain banshee over the awe-inspiring world of Pandora. Guests will actually feel the banshee breathe beneath them as they soar through the forest and past floating mountains. What was a rite of passage for Na’vi in Cameron’s film becomes a multisensory experience for guests seeking the ultimate adventure – an encounter with the most feared predator of Pandora, the Great Leonopteryx.

On the family-friendly Na’vi River Journey, guests travel down a sacred river deep into a bioluminescent rainforest. Aboard reed boats, they float past exotic glowing plants and Pandoran creatures into the midst of a musical Na’vi ceremony. The mystical journey culminates in an encounter with the breathtakingly realistic Na’vi Shaman of Songs who is deeply connected with Pandora’s life force and sends positive energy into the forest through her music.

There is 1 quick service restaurant called  Satu’li Canteen There is 1 drink kiosk and 1 gift shop.

Here is our Pandora review

When you go to Pandora please stop by and leave us your comments below!

See You in the parks!

 

 

Beauty and the Beast CD giveaway!

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We are giving away a Beauty and the Beast Soundtrack from the new movie.

Also, The Beauty and the Beast soundtrack will be on sale for $7.99 starting May 12th through May18th.

Check out the CD on iTunes >> iTunes link: http://disneymusic.co/BATBiTunes.

Visit the “Moms” playlist on the Disney curator profile on Apple Music: http://disneymusic.co/MothersDayA! M .

Contest begins May 11 and ends May 25, 2017

 a Rafflecopter giveaway