BEHIND THE EARS

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Debra Martin Koma
Senior Editor

Jack Spence
Columnist

Jack Marshall
Keeper of the
AllEars® Archives
and Tip Database

Michelle
Scribner-MacLean
Feature Writer

Mike Scopa
Feature Writer

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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 August 2010 "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. This month we go back to August 10, 1994, when the Concourse Steakhouse opened on the Grand Canyon Concourse (4th floor) of the Contemporary Resort. The Steakhouse opened in the space previously occupied by the Concourse Grill. The area was totally renovated to provide a state-of-the-art dining experience. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were served daily.

Cast members dressed in black pants and white oxford shirts trimmed in colors. Plates were rectangular instead of round, wine glasses were cut an an angle instead of straight. An English-style, amber beer called Monorail Ale, was created especially for the Concourse Steakhouse.

Unique menu items included: Choose-your-own topping Mickey waffles, home-made Contemporary chips topped with melted blue or cheddar cheese, hand-tossed specialty salads and pizza bread containing bits of olives, shredded pepperoni and sun-dried tomatoes. The Concourse also offered an inexpensive child's menu, displayed on a cardboard monorail which they could put together and take home.

The Concourse Steakhouse remained open until May 31, 2008 when it closed its doors to make way for a major renovation of the Contemporary's 4th floor. Today, the Contempo Cafe occupies that space.

Want to reminisce a bit more?
Read Jack Spence's review from 2006.
Photos can be found in our Rate and Review Archive.
Hankering for the red wine butter steak sauce that was served? Here's the recipe.

MONTHLY REMIND-EARS

EVENTS

Magic Kingdom

Summer Nightastic! - Shimmering shining Disney magic lights up the parks through August 14.

The joyous sights and sounds of the Main Street Electrical Parade return to the Magic Kingdom. The parade will be led by Tinker Bell, who will wave from aboard a new float.

Summer Nightastic Fireworks Spectacular, will also fill the night sky with vivid colors and brilliant visual effects set to a backdrop of whimsical music.

There will also be a dance party featuring high-energy music played by DJs.

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Summer Nightastic! - through August 14.

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror will feature surprises for unsuspecting guests with new lighting effects created especially for Summer Nightastic!

On a special stage in front of the Sorcerer Mickey's Hat, DJs will spin sizzling summer tunes at the "Rock N' Glow Dance Party," along with a live performance from Mulch Sweat and Shears.

Last Tour to Endor -- As previously announced, Disney's Hollywood Studios will host "The Last Tour to Endor," an exclusive private event on August 14 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. to celebrate the coming of a new 3-D Star Tours attraction. The after-hours party, which costs $75 per person in advance, $89 at the gate (if available), will feature live entertainment, Disney characters in their favorite Star Wars attire, a special Star Wars-themed fireworks spectacular, the "Death Star Disco," Jedi Training Academy, Star Wars trivia challenges and more. The new, 3-D Star Wars adventure will open in May 2011. Purchase advance tickets online at starwarscelebration.com.

Epcot

Via Napoli, the newest restaurant in Epcot's Italy, will begin taking reservations August 6 for September 10, the official opening day. A "Grand Opening" celebration will be August 5, but the restaurant will be in a "soft opening" walk-in phase with no reservations between then and September 10. This table-service restaurant features indoor and outdoor seating and the Disney Dining Plan will be accepted. The wood-fired pizza comes in three sizes: individual; large with eight slices; and a "mezzo metro," or half meter, that is 12 slices. There are several vegetarian options, including the pizza Margherita, fusilli pasta in a Southern Italian-style pesto, salads, minestrone and more.

ENCORE! Cast Choir and Orchestra, formed in 2002 by a group of Disney Cast Members, will be performing DREAM OUR DREAMS -- A Musical Tribute to the Legacy of Disney on August 6, 7, and 8 in Epcot's World Showplace. Over the past eight years ENCORE! has performed concerts featuring the music of Broadway, patriotic songs, gospel hymns, rock anthems, movie themes, and pop favorites, raising more than $110,000 for a variety of Central Florida charitable organizations. This year's designated charity is Make-A-Wish Foundation. For more information about the group visit: http://encorecentral.org/

Disney Pin Celebration 2010 - Trade City, U.S.A. will be held August 27-29, 2010, at the World Showplace in Epcot. Guests will find themselves immersed in Trade City, an eclectic town nestled in Trading Valley that is home to the world's longest lanyard and the world's biggest ear hat. Guests attending this ticketed Disney Pin Event will enjoy fun trading activities, the opportunity to purchase specially designed pins, and meet Disney pin traders from around the world. DisneyPins.com will have more details on this annual event soon.

Disney's Pin Trading Nights -- August 26, 2010 - 7 - 10 p.m. - Location to Be Determined.

Don't forget to check our Events page for current updates.

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REHABS AND CLOSINGS

Magic Kingdom

"it's a small world" will be closed for refurbishment from August 1 through October 22.

Liberty Square Riverboat will not operate August 16 - 25, 2010.

Fantasyland Update: Pooh's Playful Spot playground, Ariel's Grotto Character meet-and-greet and Scuttle's Landing have all closed. Sometime late 2010 or 2011, Mickey's ToonTown Fair will close to make way for the Fantasyland Expansion.

Epcot

Cantina de San Angel at the Mexico pavilion in Epcot has closed for a significant refurbishment and expansion until September 2010. The company that operates the restaurants in the Mexico pavilion, San Angel Inn, LLC, plans to open Hacienda San Angel on the site, a new 250-seat waterside restaurant. La Hacienda will open daily for dinner ONLY at 4 p.m. (It was originally announced that the restaurant would serve both fast food at lunch and table service for dinner.) For starters, the menu will feature queso fundido (warm cheese with poblano pepper and chorizo); a taco trio with rib eye, roasted chicken and pork; and traditional black bean soup. Entrees will include a mixed grill for two with flank steak, chicken, chorizo and vegetables (a seafood version features grouper, shrimp and scallops); roasted shrimp in pepper garlic broth; flank steak with spring onions, refried beans and cactus leaves; and grilled red snapper with roasted corn and cactus leaves. Desserts will include chocolate churros, sweet tamales and fruit empanadas. The other Mexico restaurant on the promenade, La Cantina, will be open daily at 11 a.m. and will have 150 outdoor seats. The new La Cantina menu will offer chicken and beef tacos on fresh handmade corn tortillas, nachos, a cheese empanada, guacamole and chips and churros. During the refurbishment, the San Angel Inn Restaurante and La Cava de Tequila, located inside the Mexico pavilion, and the Taqueria Del Lago, located alongside the promenade, will still be open for Mexican dining.

Disney's Hollywood Studios

Toy Story Mania! will be closed for refurbishment August 16 - 28, 2010.

Walt Disney: One Man's Dream will be closed for refurbishment August 16 - November 2, 2010.

The Breathless II is unavailable until further notice due to unforeseen maintenance issues. If you have an existing reservation you will be contacted to reschedule if possible.

Saratoga Springs Resort

Work will begin this spring on a new feature pool in the Paddock area, building on the resort's turn-of-the-20th-century, upstate New York theme. Plans call for the new pool, scheduled for completion in mid-2011, to replace the Paddock area's 1,100-square-foot quiet pool with a 3,300-square-foot zero-depth-entry pool, a 146-foot water slide, a 1,600-square-foot wet-play area, an expanded pool deck spanning more than 11,000 square feet and, for hungry swimmers and sunbathers who'd rather not make the trip across the lake to Artist's Palette, an on-site, quick-service-dining location.

Complete list of rehabs can be found HERE.

GIVE A DAY. GET A DISNEY DAY.

Even though the program has reached its goal of recruiting 1 million volunteers and is not taking any additional applicants, we'll be sharing reports of guests who have experienced special Magic as part of the "Give a Day. Get a Disney Day" program:

Even though the program has reached its goal of recruiting 1 million volunteers and is not taking any additional applicants, we'll be sharing reports of guests who have experienced special Magic as part of the "Give a Day. Get a Disney Day" program:

Jeanni Cahill: My mom, son and I went to our local Red Cross and created handmade thank you cards for local service men and women. We had to make 15-20 and it was a lot of fun. Even though my son is under the age to get a voucher, it was a great way to teach him about our military and why we say thank you. He had so much fun making cards and we made sure that the recipient knew it was from him! 

Randi Albertson: My family volunteered to spend an afternoon playing games in a group home for developmentally challenged adult women. I was a little hesitant as to how my three children, ages 12, 10 and 7, would react to the women, particularly because I couldn't really tell them in advance what to expect. Three of us were wearing Disney t-shirts, and two of the women were also wearing Mickey shirts and one had Mickey slippers. It was a good ice-breaker for us! We brought several games, and after a quick assessment, were able to decide which were the most appropriate to play. Turns out one of the women was a card shark, and she beat my girls at Go Fish and War several times! The Pictionary card game we brought was a hit as well. We played the Disney version of Clue, and my children were very good about helping the women figure out which cards to play and how to move around the board. My children really rose to the occasion, showing compassion and patience for these women. I told the volunteer coordinator that we would gladly come for another afternoon visit!

Karen: My mom has given my daughter a Disney cruise for her birthday this year. Her birthday is the day after we disembark and we were planning to spend her that day at Hollywood Studios. As luck would have it, I got laid off and was not sure I would be able to afford the birthday day at the park. We found out about the volunteering opportunity and decided that this was the answer to the issue. The three of us volunteered together at a local food bank and earned three free days at Disney and helped the food bank at the same time!

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