|
Hi!
I'm Anita!
 Got
a question about Walt Disney World? I probably have the answer! Deb's
Unofficial Walt Disney World Information Guide is the most comprehensive
guide to the World on the Web, but if you still can't find the information
you're looking for by using the Site Map,
the Search
Function, or the Anita Answer Archives, drop
me a line and I'll do my best to find the answer for you. Since
there are only 24 hours in a day, I can't answer every email I receive
- however, I do read every one and try to answer as many as possible.
Check back weekly and see if your answer is waiting! Meanwhile, I'm All
Ears!
March
27, 2006
Other
Guests Backed Out! What to Do about Our Dining?
No Fantasmic in Late March?
Splenda™ in the Parks?
Is Bonnet Creek Resort as Good as the Disney Resorts?
Any Ghostly Guests?
Pirates: Closed or Not?
Marie
writes:
My family
of four and another family of three were planning on going to Disney
World in the summer. I made Advance Dining
Reservations way back in December for some of the more popular
character dining places. Now the family traveling with us is backing
out on the trip! What is going to happen with our reservations? What
happens if we show up at the restaurant with a party of four but our
reservations were for a party of seven? Thanks! You're the best Anita!
Hi Marie!
You should
call Disney Dining (407-WDW-DINE) as soon as possible and change all
of your reservations to reflect the correct number of guests. This is
very simple to do and it will free up a table for a reservation for
another party. Also, in some cases, if you don't call to correct your
reservations and you were asked to leave a credit card deposit, you
could lose your deposit if the entire party did not show up.
Have a
magical trip to the World!
A.A.
Jayne writes:
Oh please,
Anita, say it isn't so. We are finally returning to Disney after a short
hiatus, and planning to take our son to see "Fantasmic!" We
will be there March 30-April 2. I don't see it on the schedule. Is it
not happening while we are there? When we made reservations for dinner
we were told that it was at 7:30 p.m. Please advise! Thanks!
Hi Jayne!
It isn't
so! According to the official Disney World website,
Fantasmic! will be at 7:30 p.m. on March 30 and 31, at 7:30
and 9:00 p.m. on April 1, and at 8:30 p.m. on April 2.
Have a
Fantasmic trip!
A.A.
Missy
writes:
Okay, my
question may seem a little strange, but since beginning a weight loss
plan, I am now carrying Splenda™ wherever I go. Do they have Splenda
(tm) in the parks?
Hi Missy!
I use it
myself, and I'm happy to report that most Walt Disney World restaurants
and food courts do have Splenda™ sweetener. I usually carry
a small zip-type bag of it in my purse anyway in case I encounter a
restaurant that does not have it on hand, but I usually don't have to
use my own.
Have a
sweet trip!
A.A.
Julia
writes:
I am a
Disney fanatic. There is nothing like staying in the park. I just purchased
with Fairfield Resorts and was lucky enough to get a 2-bedroom full
kitchen unit at Bonnet Creek. My question is, is Bonnet Creek like the
other Disney hotels with great friendly staff, transportation etc.?
Thanks for all your information.
Hi Julia!
While it
is the closest non-Disney resort to the WDW property, the Bonnet Creek
Resort does not belong to Disney, is not run by Disney and does not
sit on Disney-owned property. Guests of the resort are not afforded
the same perks as Disney resort guests are. I'm sorry, but I can't answer
as to the friendliness of the staff or the efficiency of the transportation,
because I've never stayed there, nor do I know anyone who has.
I sincerely
hope that your salesperson did not mislead you into thinking that you
were buying a Disney timeshare, as that is not the case. The only timeshare
properties at Walt Disney World belonging to Disney are the Disney
Vacation Club resorts: Old Key West, Boardwalk, Villas at the
Wilderness Lodge, the Beach Club Villas, and Saratoga Springs Resort
and Spa. These are the only properties that should be sold as being
"Disney." I hope you find this information helpful, and I'm
sorry I don't have more information about Bonnet Creek.
A.A.
Dennis
writes:
An unusual
question: Considering all the people who are Walt Disney World fanatics,
have there ever been any reports of the ghosts of any fans roaming the
parks after they have crossed over to the other side? Has anyone ever
seen a phantom "guest?" Do you plan to come back? Thanks.
Hi Dennis!
Technically,
that's three unusual questions, but I'll allow it anyway.
There are
many stories about other-"World"ly visitors at our favorite
place. The biggest obstacles I found in researching these answers are
that 1) Over the years, the stories have been told and retold and Disneyland
lore has now become confused with Walt Disney World lore in some cases;
and 2) I couldn't find any first-person accounts of actual sightings.
They were all "I heard from this friend who knew this guy who worked
at WDW..." etc. etc.
The stories
I hear most commonly told involve the Haunted
Mansion (what a surprise!) where there are claims of sightings
of a man with a cane who supposedly died in a plane crash in Bay Lake
back in the '40s, and of another unknown man dressed in a tuxedo. (Did
this "man" have big ears, white gloves and a tail, I wonder?)
There are also tales of a crying boy, but I understand that this is
actually a Disneyland legend and not from WDW, although the story is
told there.
Over at
Pirates, Cast Members allegedly
must say good morning and good night on the PA system to their resident
spectre, "George," or else they can count on "going 101"
all day long. ("Going 101" is Disney-speak for a ride breakdown.)
Supposedly, George worked on the construction of the building and fell
to his death there.
Meanwhile,
over at the Hub in front of Cinderella
Castle, a man in out-of-date clothing has supposedly been seen
strolling around. Hmmm....Could it be Walt?
At Disney-MGM,
the Tower of Terror supposedly
is haunted by a man who roams the halls, and also there may be an apparition
in the lobby. Some say that Spaceship
Earth at Epcot is visited
by a ghostly girl with long blonde hair and a little boy who vanishes.
I personally
have never seen any sort of supernatural phenomena in any of these locations,
nor do I know anyone who has, so please take these stories for what
they are: stories. If anyone has any more good tales, or has seen anything
unusual at WDW, I'd love to hear from you about them!
And to
answer your last question: Heck, yes! Why not come back to my favorite
place? WDW is much more fun than hanging around some dank old cemetery
for eternity, don't you think?
Hurry baaaaack....Hurry
baaaack...
A.A.
June
writes:
First of
all, you are the most knowledgeable person on Disney I've ever come
across! I read weekly since I found the site. Next, I've been into a
Disney store twice recently only to meet an employee who thinks she
has all the answers. She informed me of the closing/refurbishment of
Pirates. When I saw her again I asked if she heard the rumor it would
be open for Easter break (when my family will be there for two weeks,
yippee!) at which point she said it wasn't closing until after said
break. Do you have the answer? It's one of my favorite rides. I'm still
kicking myself for not getting a t-shirt last year. Will the gift shop
be open if the ride is closed? YO-HO!
Hi
June!
Pirates
of the Caribbean is already closed and the rehab has begun.
The Rumor Mill says that the work is being done in phases and that the
ride is RUMORED to be re-opening between April 9 and 30 to handle
the huge Easter crowds, before closing down again to complete the remaining
refurbishing. Remember, this is only a RUMOR and no official
announcement has come from the Walt Disney Company.
If the
Rumor Mill is correct, and you are lucky enough to find it open, I would
love to hear what changes have already been made! If the ride is not
open, the shop most likely will be, and if the shop isn't open, Pirates
merchandise will be found for sale elsewhere in the parks.
Have a
plunderful time, and don't forget to say good morning to George!
A.A.
That's
it for this edition!
Gotta
question?
Then you need an answer!
Anita Answer, that is.
Check
back weekly for Anita's latest answers!
|
Subscribe to AllEars®.Net's RSS feed