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and Tip Database

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Guest Columnist

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Scribner-MacLean
Feature Writer

Brian Martsolf
Guest Columnist

Mike Scopa
Feature Writer

Amy Warren Stoll
Guest Columnist

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To get a taste of what AllEars® has to offer each and every week, click on the links below -- these tidbits are from our June 2009 "WDW Bits and Bites" issue:

STEP BACK IN TIME
REMIND-EARS
MAGICAL MOMENTS

STEP BACK IN TIME

Ever wonder what Walt Disney World was like way back when? We rummage around in our archives for this monthly feature, which takes you back in history for a glimpse of Walt Disney World through the ages.

On May 28 the Wilderness Lodge turns 15 years young! As we looked back through our materials, we could not find the date that the Wilderness Lodge had been announced. But what we did find was a Walt Disney World News Press Release from 1992 that announced groundbreaking for two new themed resorts, The All Star Sports and the Fort Wilderness Lodge. Yes, the early press materials did have one reference to the resort as the Fort Wilderness Lodge, a woodland retreat in a national park-lodge setting. Later in the same article it says, "The famous lodges of American National Parks at the turn of the century are recalled at Disney's Wilderness Lodge."

The 728-room lodge was designed by Peter Dominick, Jr. who later designed the Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, and Jambo House and also Kidani Village at Animal Kingdom Lodge. Room rates began at $149 and the value rate in 2009 began at $240.

The 82-foot tall stone fireplace, one of several focal points as you enter the cavernous lobby, recreates two billion years of history in the rock. From black, to green, to magenta, to light buff, reds and browns, the rock has been recreated in the proportions they occur in the Grand Canyon. As you gaze upward, rock types include Vishnu Schist, Bass Limestone, Redwall, Temple Butte Limestone, Kaibab Limestone and Toroweap Formations.

Native American tribes including Cheyenne, Crow, Sioux and Blackfoot are represented in the lodge by various art and artifacts.

With the exception of the Disney Vacation Club's Villas at Wilderness Lodge addition, not much has changed since the resort first opened. The dining establishments that opened the resort remain: Artist Point, Whispering Canyon Cafe, Roaring Fork Snacks and even the Territory Lounge and Trout Pass poolbar.

Interesting facts about the Wilderness Lodge:

-- The Wilderness Lodge Flag Family of the day gets to climb up to the roof of the Wilderness Lodge and assist with raising the flags. It's a wonderful treat that can only be requested at check-in; prior reservations are not possible.

-- You can request a Hidden Mickey list from the Front Desk to search out some elusive Mickeys!

-- The Lodge's Activity Sheet lists special tours of the resort.

-- The "Indian Carpet" floor pattern in the lobby is made up of four different types of wood: Brazilian Cherry, White Oak, Bird's-Eye Maple, and Burl Walnut. The design depicts the symbol of unity among the four seasons, wildlife, man, and the cosmos.

-- A 10-foot "totem" of Disney characters stands adjacent to Wilderness Lodge Mercantile. It took Orlando-based artist William Robertson months to carve out the intricate features of Humphrey Bear, Donald Duck, Goofy, and Mickey Mouse.

-- The Electrical Water Pagent goes by the Lodge every night around 9:35 p.m. (check at the front desk for exact time) and can be watched from the beach or boat dock.

-- The 120-foot geyser spouts every hour on the hour from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Walk from the lodge to the back of the pool and there is a walkway to watch the geyser. Be sure to look for the rainbow that sometimes joins the show.

-- There is a wooded path that runs from the Wilderness Lodge to the Fort Wilderness Campground. It's a great activity when the weather is cooler.

MONTHLY REMIND-EARS

EVENTSEVENTS

Disney's Hollywood Studios

2009 Star Wars Weekends continue through June 14. The celebrity host for each weekend will be Jay Laga'aia (Captain Typho). Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka) will host Clone Wars: Behind the Force.

May 29-31 -- Peter Mayhew & Matthew Wood. Peter Mayhew has appeared in four of the six Star Wars movies as Chewbacca. Also appearing will be Matthew Wood, Supervising Sound Editor for the Star Wars prequels and The Clone Wars, as well as the voice of General Grievous and the battle droids.

June 5-7 -- Jeremy Bulloch, David Prowse, and Matt Lanter. Jeremy Bulloch is best known for his role as Boba Fett in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, and also made a brief cameo in Revenge of the Sith as Captain Colton. David Prowse played ultimate villain Darth Vader throughout the original trilogy as the man behind the mask. Matt Lanter, the voice of Anakin Skywalker in The Clone Wars, appears as a guest in Behind the Force.

June 12-14 -- Dave Filoni & Temuera Morrison. The creative force behind The Clone Wars, Supervising Director Dave Filoni is also a die-hard Star Wars fan! Filoni will be joined by Temuera Morrison, who plays Jango Fett as well as the unmasked clones of Episodes II and III!

Epcot

Epcot's Flower & Garden Festival -- is winding down and will finish on May 31, 2009.
5/29 - 5/31 -- Tony Orlando ("Tie a Yellow Ribbon")

Disney's Pin Celebration 2009, The Museum of Pin-tiquities, June 26-28, 2009, at Epcot's World ShowPlace. Disney Pin Traders from around the world will celebrate the "10,000-year history" of Disney Pin Trading during this three-day event. The event will feature unique Disney pins created for the Museum's opening, Disney pin trading activities, a silent and live auction of artifacts direct from the Museum's vault and much more. DisneyPins.com.

Sounds Like Summer concert series, which features tribute bands at America Gardens Theatre in Epcot, has revised its schedule somewhat. Concerts, which are included in regular Epcot admission, are nightly at 5:45, 7 and 8:15 p.m. (except July 4, when show times will be 5:15, 6:30, 7:45 and 9 p.m.). The current lineup (subject to change):

June 15-21: Stayin' Alive – A Tribute to the Bee Gees
June 22-28: Hotel California – A Tribute to the Eagles
June 29-July 8: Slippery When Wet – A Tribute to Bon Jovi

NFFC World Chapter meeting for Disney Enthusiasts -- Saturday, June 27, 2009. Very Special Speaker will be Disney Artist Bev Bergeron, Past-President, International Brotherhood of Magicians, Society of American Magicians Hall of Fame. His lifetime of entertaining includes 15 years of performing 5 shows a day at Walt Disney World Diamond Horseshoe Revue. Location: Quality Inn and Suites, 8700 S. Orange Blossom Trl, Orlando, FL 32809-7912 (4 miles east of I-4). Doors open at 6 p.m., Meeting starts PROMPTLY at 6:45 p.m. Admission: $1.00 for current NFFC Members, $5 Prospective Members. For more information: 407-ASK ARLO (407-275-2756) or worldchapter@magicalmountain.net.

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Don't forget to check our Events page for current updates: http://allears.net/pl/events.htm

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REHABS AND CLOSINGS

Magic Kingdom

Space Mountain is closed until November 21, 2009 for refurbishment.

Tomorrowland Transit Authority will be closed through August 24, 2009.

The Hall of Presidents is closed for rehab through July 1, 2009.

The Heritage House Shop is closed until July 1, 2009

Downtown Disney

Three times each year, Cirque du Soleil's La Nouba performance schedule is altered so the cast can rest and rejuvenate and the production crew can refresh and refurbish the theatre at Downtown Disney West Side. The theatre will go dark following Saturday, May 16, performances and resume production on Tuesday, June 2.

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Bookmark our frequently updated list of Rehabs.

MAGICAL MOMENTS

Dawn A Hormel: On March 22, my family entered the Magic Kingdom after having a wonderful breakfast at Chef Mickey's. I had gotten a stroller for my two daughters (Haley, 7, and Molly, 5), pins that announced their "First Visit," and settled everyone in as we pushed our way through the train station. I dont think I was 10 steps out of the station when a Cast Member approached my girls in the stroller noticing their first visit pins. She told us she had a surprise and asked us to park our stroller near the entrance of the Kodak building. We anxiously followed her as we entered a "Cast Member Only" section. She came to a huge curtain where she asked my girls to say Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo. She pulled back the curtain and there stood... CINDERELLA! We had a magical personal visit with Cinderella! My eyes filled with tears. I couldn't believe it! My girls were so excited, they still talk about it. Thank you to the cast member, for making this such a magical memory for us!

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Mary Slater: I'd like to share how pin-trading made our Super Bowl Sunday very Super. We were exiting Camp Minnie-Mickey at Animal Kingdom around 2 p.m. just after Festival of the Lion King. We hadn't seen Divine (http://allears.net/tp/ak/ak_art1.htm) yet so I suggested going to find her and then heading back so my husband would be able to get settled at the sports bar at Shades of Green in time for kickoff. I'd recently gotten into pin-trading and spied a cast member and asked to check out her pins. Even though I didn't see any pins I wanted to trade, she stopped to chat and asked what we were doing next. I said that we were going to see Divine and she replied she was heading that direction so she asked to join us. We chatted and she asked if we had ever seen the Animal Kingdom parade. In our more than 10 trips to WDW, we had never seen the Jammin' Jungle Parade. So she asked if we would like to be IN the parade. Well, would we ever! What a treat! We were on Rafiki's float and just had such a ball, waving and taking pictures! Thank you to Michelle at Animal Kingdom for making our whole trip magical! And hubby made it back in time for kickoff!

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Marcia Faulkner: While visiting Hollywood Studios with our 7-year-old son in February, we were waiting outside of the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster for our Fastpass time to roll around. My son was so excited because he was finally tall enough to ride this year. While noticing him bouncing up and down waiting, a cast member named Richard told us to put away our Fastpasses for a souvenir because we were going to go in the VIP way. My son was so thrilled as Richard explained that this was the way in for the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus. He then escorted us through the exit and got us seated on the first row! He even promised to wait around until our ride was over to make sure my son was OK. Sure enough, he LOVED the ride and Richard arranged for us to ride again! Needless to say, this kind of magic is why we go to Disney every year!

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The photography of AllEarsNet Photo Blogger Scott Thomas features som Magical Moments in the latest Wandering the World HERE.

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Send your Magical Moments to: allearsnet@yahoo.com