Enjoy and have a magical day:)

courtesy of masontrueblood (youtube)

Walt Disney World's Splash Mountain

Song of the South was released in 1964. It tells the story of Johnny, a young boy saddened by the divorce of his parents. He finds help and comfort from the kind Uncle Remus who shares with him stories of adventure based around Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox and Breb Bear. These stories teach Johnny and his friends valuable life lessons and help him deal with situations that arise. It is a movie with mixed live action and animation filled with wondeful messages for people of all ages.

The movie was last released in 1986. Many Disney fans have since called for the re-release of the movie but it has been met with resistance and reluctance, due to an suggested racial tone. I won’t go in to the details on this, it’s complicated, and if you are so inclined more information can be found online.

Poster from Song of the South

The downside of Disney not re-releasing the movie is many riders are unfamiliar with the story behind the ride. It is based around one of Uncle Remus’s many stories. It tells the story of Brer Rabbit’s quest to find his Laughing Place. BUt along the way he runs in to the menacing Brer Bear and Brer Fox who trap him. As you go up the final drop you can see Brer Fox on the side about to devour the poor rabbit. But Brer Rabbit outsmarts them both and tricks them in to dropping him in to the Briar Patch where he is safe. The ride then ends with a safe and happy Brer Rabbit and the loveable song Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.

Inside Disneyland's Splash Mountain

I personally would love to see the movie be re-released, if only to finally see and understand all the little details you encounter on Splash Mountain. But until the day Disney releases Song of the South I encourrage you to check out all the clips on Youtube and familarize yourself with the story behind the ride. It’s a great tale filled with moral values, great tales and classic Disney songs.

R2? Lightspeed to Endor!

Harbour Attack is a large water stunt tank that shows guests what filming a battle at sea can be like. This is without a doubt my favourite preshow in Disney.

The Harbour Attack stunt tank.

Guests are brought into a large canopied outdoor viewing area that overlooks the water tank. Props that make up the set include a scaled down version of a navy PT boat, the inside of an engineering room, and a large ocean and blue-sky set background. The show itself recreates the scene of enemy fighter planes attacking the ship, and how Hollywood creates these stunts. It’s complete with fiery explosions and bombs going off as the PT boat is attacked, and the poor engineer getting drenched from two water tanks holding gallons upon gallons of water.

Scanning the skies from the PT boat.

I warn you if you’re in the first row of the viewing area, you may get wet!

As the effects demonstration is taking place, a crew is filming the happenings. Once all the scenes are shot, cast members show how the various scenes are spliced together to form the final sequence that viewers get to see.

If you’re feeling brave, then I’d suggest trying to get yourself picked to be one of the volunteers.

Andy as the PT boat Captain, being attacked!

Back in 2005 my Dad and I were lucky enough to be chosen – and wow was this ever a fun experience! Cast members outfit volunteers with large rainsuits (so you don’t get too soaked!), and then assign each volunteer a position: I got to be the PT boat Captain, while my Dad was the engineer. Two other volunteers were the deck crew on the boat. In these jobs, you get to experience the show by being in the middle of the stunts. Bombs will come flying at you, fireballs erupt around you, and you’ll get flooded by the water. Being apart of the show definitely makes for a unique park experience!

Andy's Dad the engineer, getting soaked.

So if you get the chance, definitely stop and see the Harbour Attack preshow of the Studios Backot Tour. How can you go wrong with explosions?

(And okay, so I’m perhaps bending the definition of what a preshow is, but who’s splitting hairs? )

Although celebration is in order for the new opening, I wanted to have one last walk down memory lane for what was once my favourite restaurant in EPCOT, L’Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante, or simply Alfredo’s.

Alfredo's

It was after a long day park hopping that my two friends and I made our way to Alfredo’s with which we had reservations. From the moment you entered you felt like you had walked in to an old Italian restaurant, which is exactly what it is based on. Alfredo’s first restaurant was in Rome and was the birthplace of the famous fettucine alfredo. The restaurant became well known after becoming a favourite hot spot for many celebrities and the restaurant branched out to create more locations, including the one we all used to love in EPCOT.

Andy enjoying some Caesar Salad

It was atmosphere, the food and cast members that made this place special to me. On this particular visit we started with a ceaser salad and bread which were both delicious. Then of course we all had to have the restaurant’s namesake, fettucine alfredo. Being used to the westernized alfredo I was shocked to find out that it merely consisted of noodles, parmesan cheese and butter and that is was de-lic-ious. We then Finished off the meal with an assortment of desserts, including cannoli, custard and chocolate cake.

Being serandaded.

During our meal we were treated with great service and even serenaded by two wonderful Italians. So as we ring in the era of a new Italian restaurant in Epcot, take the time to think back about all the yummy eats and friendly Italians you met. Alfredo’s you will be missed.

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What is a bucket list? It’s essentially a list of things that you would like to do before you die. The items that typically make a list like this are things that you dream of doing – perhaps a trip to Australia, or volunteering some time.

But in this case, this list is composed of Disney Theme Park related items.

I call my bucket list my “Disney To-Do List”. It has so many items on it that I’m not even sure what number I’m at and it started when KP and I were on the WDWICP. If you have never been to Walt Disney World then you won’t realise how many things there are to do and see there. Living there for three months I still wasn’t able to do all the things I would have liked to.

And thus, my bucket list.

Currently my list is an ongoing Facebook note between KP and our friend Cee. Each time we find something we would like to do on a future trip to either Walt Disney World or Disneyland, we reply to the note.

The items could be something simple – like eat a carrot cake cookie from the Writer’s Stop at Disney Hollywood Studios – or it could be something that will require some money saving on our part.

Kitchen Sink - Now scratched off my To-Do list.

Things that I’ve managed to cross of my To-Do list include eating the Kitchen Sink and going to all four WDW parks in one day.

Here are few of the items on my Disney To-Do List:

KP about to enjoy a fruit tart from Norway.

* Dessert Around the World
Late one night while vedging out on the couch in our Florida apartment, KP and I were surprised when Cee came home from her shift at Epcot with a little white box. Inside the box were delicious pastries from the France Pavilion! At one in the morning the three of us huddled over the box of goodies, stuffing our faces with these yummy treats. And thus we spawned the idea of Dessert Around the World.

The Epcot World Showcase is known for it’s culinary delights, as each world pavilion presents its regional dishes. On one Disney trip, KP, Cee, and I would like to make a stop at each pavilion and try a dessert!

* Iluminations Cruise
This is something that I didn’t know about until working at Epcot, but you can rent a boat for up to ten people and watch Illuminations: Reflections of Earth from a boat anchored in the World Showcase Lagoon. How fun is that?!

* Mickey’s Not So Scary Hallowe’en Party
I’ve been to Disney around Christmas time before, and nobody does a celebration like it. But I always thought it would be fun to go during Hallowe’en, be able to dress up in a costume, and go trick or treating in a Disney park!

* Le Cellier
I’m a Canadian. I have to eat at the Canadian pavilion’s restaurant at least once!

* Watch Wishes from the top of the Contemporary / California Grill
I have seen Wishes from many different locations (even going past Main Street on the monorail as the fireworks go off), and KP has seen the show more times than I have… but never have we seen them from here!

One of the many possible views of Wishes.

So, what’s on your Disney Bucket List? We’d love to hear from you!