The Fact That It's October First and 45° In Ann Arbor Is Not Helping

[filkertom]

Today, Walt Disney World is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its opening in 1971.

We haven't had a good Disney conversation for awhile, so:

1. What are your favorite WDW rides?
2. What are your favorite non-ride attractions at WDW?
3. What rides or attractions do you specifically dislike (as opposed to things you just don't care about)?
4. Where do you get your favorite (relatively) cheap eats?
5. Where do you get your favorite money-is-no-object eats?
6. What's your favorite WDW souvenir?

In my case:

1. The Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain, The Great Movie Ride, Spaceship Earth, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Soarin', Winnie-The-Pooh, Tower of Terror, Jungle Cruise. (This list is subject to reevaluation when I finally get into the dang Toy Story ride at Hollywood Studios.)
2. The entire World Showcase -- all of it, from the wall painting at Italy to the toy trains at Germany to the Japanese flavored ice. And especially, especially all of Epcot's gardens. The main intersection in Hollywood Studios and the street leading down to Tower of Terror. The lemurs and gardens surrounding the Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom. The Country Bear Jamboree, The American Adventure, China's Circlevision 360 (I haven't been there in awhile -- the version Keye Luke narrated, if it's still there), Maharajah Tiger Trek, MuppetVision 4D, Finding Nemo: The Musical, Hunchback: The Musical (years ago).
3. The BAH (Big-Ass Hat) at Hollywood Studios. It blocks one of the best views the parks used to have -- from the main entrance right down the street to the faux Grauman's Chinese Theater with the Great Movie Ride.
4. The Yorkshire County Fish Shop, attached to the Rose & Crown at Epcot. The Tangierine Cafe at Morocco. Yakitori House at Japan. Flame Tree Barbecue and Yak & Yeti at Animal Kingdom. Casey's Corner and Pinocchio Haus at The Magic Kingdom. The 50's Prime Time Cafe in Hollywood Studios.
5. Jiko and Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Ohana at the Poly. Artist Point at the Wilderness Lodge. The California Grill at the Contemporary. I haven't yet been to Victoria & Albert's at the Grand Floridian. We will get there. Oh, yes, we will get there.
6. Besides the lovely little stuffed polar bear Leslie got at the AK's Rain Forest Cafe, there's a picture of Anne, Les and I on Splash Mountain that I have right here next to the computer. Hee -- I should scan it. Also, we've all got some amazingly amazing cloisonne pins. I think my favorite is a Beauty & the Beast stained-glass window pin, although Minnie Mouse dressed as the Redhead ("We want the redhead! We want the redhead!") is right up there. Some pewter Christmas ornaments as well, and a hanging medallion from the year 2000. And a lot of great memories.

You?

Comments

Kungaloosh!

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Gods, do I miss the Adventurer's Club. The only reason it's not up on top is because it's closed, and, hey, I did put the old Hunchback show up there, so maybe I should list it anyway. That was the best.

One of my very favorite memories of WDW is Anne and Leslie dancing with those fiber-optic walkways (we call 'em "footlights").

And, yeah, I just slip past the Norway movie every time.