The "World" According to Jack - Page 49 of 61

Ghirardelli – Downtown Disney Marketplace

October 15, 2008 by Jack Spence

I used to live in San Francisco. My apartment was within easy walking distance of Ghirardelli Square. Occasionally I would take the cable car home from work and stop by Ghirardelli for an ice cream cone before heading home. Or walk over on a foggy Sunday morning for a steaming cup of hot chocolate. I … Continue reading "Ghirardelli – Downtown Disney Marketplace"

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Main Street Train Station Bulletin Board

October 9, 2008 by Jack Spence

There is an “Arrival and Departure” bulletin board on the ground floor of the Main Street Train Station. The locations depicted are not just random names, but have meaning. Here they are: Grizzle Bear Flats: The Grizzly Flats Railroad was the name of Ward Kimball’s backyard railroad. Kimball Canyon: Animator Ward Kimball was one of … Continue reading "Main Street Train Station Bulletin Board"

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Tower of Terror

September 30, 2008 by Jack Spence

What’s wrong with this picture? Come on. Look closely. You can figure it out. No? Then take a closer look – specifically, the Tower of Terror. What’s wrong with it? The Imagineers do an excellent job when detailing a restaurant, shop, or attraction. They never miss a trick. But this one slipped past them. Take … Continue reading "Tower of Terror"

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Friends from Japan

September 28, 2008 by Jack Spence

Usually, I try to keep my blogs informational rather than personal, but today I’m going to share a pleasant day I had with one of my readers. While writing my blogs about the Tokyo Disney Resort, I received an email from a gentleman in Japan. He introduced himself as Katsumi and told me that he … Continue reading "Friends from Japan"

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Epcot’s Nine Dragons Restaurant in China

September 26, 2008 by AllEars

The Nine Dragons Restaurant in the China Pavilion reopened yesterday after an extensive rehab. Since I was at Epcot today, I decided to stop by for lunch and check things out. My friend Donald and Allears photographer Linda Mac joined me. The first thing guests will notice is that the atmosphere has been toned down … Continue reading "Epcot’s Nine Dragons Restaurant in China"

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Food & Wine 2008

September 25, 2008 by Jack Spence

The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival officially opens on Friday, September 26, but Disney held a preview or “soft” opening today, September 25. This year’s theme is “Cities in Wonderland” and the entrance to Epcot features a large “Alice in Wonderland”-type table, all set with dishes and teapots and waiting for the March Hare … Continue reading "Food & Wine 2008"

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Dolphins at Walt Disney World

September 22, 2008 by Jack Spence

On several occasions, while driving along World Drive with out-of-town friends or family, we pass by the Dolphin resort. Invariably someone says, “That doesn’t look like Flipper.” Well, it’s not supposed to look like a “real” dolphin. It’s a representation of a mythological dolphin. Architect Michael Graves selected both the dolphin and swan because they … Continue reading "Dolphins at Walt Disney World"

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Haunted Mansion Attic

September 13, 2008 by Jack Spence

In mid-September of last year, the Haunted Mansion reopened at Disney World after a lengthy rehab. A number of effects were either enhanced or added. The Attic Room is one such example. Gone are the carnival-like pop-up heads to be replaced with state-of-the-art effects. This blog is going to discuss some of the nuances of … Continue reading "Haunted Mansion Attic"

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Hollywood Studios Update

September 9, 2008 by Jack Spence

I stopped by Disney’s Hollywood Studios today to do a little blog research. Before I got started I decided that I’d take a quick spin on Toy Story Mania and headed in that direction. When I got there, Fastpasses were already longer than I cared to wait and the Standby Line was 50 minutes, so … Continue reading "Hollywood Studios Update"

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Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

September 8, 2008 by Jack Spence

For many years, Universal Studios featured Halloween Horror Nights. This was a separate, ticketed event and the park was transformed at night from its regular theming into a frightening ghost town. It was marketed toward teenagers and young adults and the idea was to truly scare their guests with monsters, vampires, werewolves, and other terrifying … Continue reading "Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party"

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