BEYOND THE THEME PARKS

ANITA ANSWER
Archives

8/24/09
--Anita's Mini Blog for 8/24/09
--Space Mountain's Seating Configuration: Has It changed?
--Which Direction Was the Wand Set?
--Booking Accommodations for Six Online?

8/17/09
--A Brief History of Castaway Cay
--Name That Restaurant!
--The Morse Code Message in Spaceship Earth
--Answer to the 8/10 Trivia Question

8/10/09
--What Castle Served as the Inspiration for Cinderella Castle?
--The "Hotel" in the Canada Pavilion
--What About the Original Back Lot Tour?
--Anita's Mini Blog for 8/10/09

8/3/09
-- Anita's 8/3/09 Mini Blog
--What Was This Old Ride?
--Backlot Tour Bet
--Base Tickets and Extra Magic Hours
--Answers to Trivia Questions and Doctor Who Challenge

7/27/09
--Anita's 7/27/09 Mini Blog
--What Was the Name of This Ice Cream Shop?
--Square Footage of the New Treehouses
--When Do the Holiday Decorations Come Down?

7/13/09
--2009 Dates for Epcot's Candlelight Processional
--Using Music's Bus Stops When Staying at Movies?
--How Old Is Too Old for the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique?
--Answer to the June 29 Trivia Question

7/6/09
--A European Trip Blog
--The Difference Between B and C Tickets?
--A Lounge with Live Music?
--No Car, No Grocery Stop. Where to Get Alcohol?

6/1/09
--Where is the Randy Pausch Plaque Located?
--What Was This Old Store in the Studios?
--Rod Serling and the Tower of Terror Pre-Show
--Answer to the May 25 Trivia Question

5/25/09
--Is Christmas Really That Crowded?
--Adult or Child Ticket When Child Turns 10 in the Middle of the Trip?
--Which Was the First Disney Vacation Club Resort to Open?
--Answer to the May 18 Trivia Question

5/18/09
--Will Pirates and the Haunted Mansion Be Closed In June?
--Where Would Anita Stay and Dine?
--What Are Those Stone Things at Epcot's Entrance?
--Answer to the May 4 Trivia Question

5/11/09
5/4/09
--The Mural in the Contemporary
--Showers at Old Key West's Pool
--A Flashing Light above the Blue Bayou Restaurant
--The Wasps' "Sting" in Tough to Be a Bug
--Answer to the April 27 Trivia Question

More Anita Answer Columns

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Anita Answers

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 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 to see if your answer is waiting! Meanwhile, I'm All Ears!

April 27, 2009

The Pirates League
Could Guests Once Walk from the Magic Kingdom to Epcot?
Date of Magic Kingdom Slides
What Happened to Tinker Bell's Treasures?
Answer to the April 20 Trivia Question

Neysa writes:

Hi, Anita. Websites are reporting that there is a new Pirates League Experience (similar to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique) coming to the Magic Kingdom in June. Do you know anything about this?

Hi Neysa!

Yes, it's true. The Pirates League, a (long overdue, in my opinion) new dress up experience with lots of options for boys, will be opening on June 29. The new Pirates League will be built next to the Pirates of the Caribbean gift shop in a former retail area that has been closed and unused for quite a while now. Reservations will open on May 11. Call 407-WDW-CREW to book.

According to the press release, the following packages will be available to both boys and girls:

First Mate Package ($49.95): bandana, choice of facial effects, sword and sheath, pirate coin necklace, 5x7 photo and a "personalized pirate oath."

Empress Package ($49.95): bandana, "shimmering" makeup, sword and sheath, pirate coin necklace, 5x7 photo and a "personalized pirate oath."

Captain's Package ($124.95): choice of costume, facial effects, sword and sheath, pirate coin necklace, three 5x7 photos and the personalized oath.

All prices subject to change. You can read more about the Pirates League here.

Trivia Question:

What was the original name of the shop where Pirates League will soon be located? Answer in next week's column.

A.A.

Jo Anne writes:

Was there a time in the past that you could walk from the Magic Kingdom to Epcot? We visited both parks in 1982 and remember walking from the Magic Kingdom to Epcot. Was that possible at one time in history?

Hi Jo Anne!

Though I suppose it would have been possible to walk between the two parks, it wouldn't have been a good idea, and outside of WDW marathon runners, it's unlikely that guests would have attempted it. There are no pedestrian walkways and the roads are very busy multi-lane roads that cut through undeveloped land. Also, since it's approximately four miles from the Magic Kingdom to Epcot, it would take an awfully long time to make the trek between them on foot. You probably took the monorail or your family car between the parks. Hope that clears it up!

A.A.

Dianne writes:

When our "adopted" grandmother passed away I got her WDW slides because I am the only Disney fanatic in the "family." I'm trying to figure out approximately what year they were taken. There is no Adventureland, no Tomorrowland, and of course no Toontown. The parade was called America on Parade. The attractions in Fantasyland are The Mickey Mouse Revue, 20,000 Leagues, Cinderella Castle, It's a Small World, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, and Brer Rabbit and His Friends (can't tell if it's an attraction or just a display). Frontierland has Mike Fink Keelboats, the Riverboat and some Indian War Canoes and a burning settler's cabin. If you can help me figure out an approximate time frame these slides were sold in WDW I would appreciate it.

Hi Dianne!

Everything on your list above was an original Magic Kingdom attraction and open in 1971, with the exception of "America on Parade". I think the Brer Rabbit and Friends slide may actually be Brer Bear and Friends. The lack of Adventureland and Tomorrowland slides is probably irrelevant, as it's my understanding the Pana-Vue slides were sold by sets of "Lands," attractions, resorts or characters. The Brer Bear slide is from the Frontierland set, for instance, as are the Keel Boats, the settler's cabin, etc. Everything other than the parade slides could have been taken and sold at any time post-1971 park opening.

The "America on Parade" slides are a great clue, however, and would date that set of slides as having been taken between June 1975 and September 1976, when this bi-centennial parade ran. Although I can date the period when the parade slides were taken, I can't pinpoint when these slides may have been sold, as it could have been anytime after those dates.

A.A.

Lisa writes:

Hi Anita. Your answers are so helpful. Thank you so much for continuing to do this. It is truly a delight to read.

During my last trip to WDW my daughter and I went to Tinker Bell's Treasures. We looked around for our favorite spot and to our surprise it was gone! We would always go in there to see the secret Tinker Bell appear in the tiny keyhole in a piece of furniture (I think a chest of drawers). When I asked about it the CM really didn't know what I was talking about.

I know it was there in the past. It was something my daughter and I looked for each time we visited. Any idea what happened to it? Is it gone forever? I really did miss seeing it. It was always so magical for my little girl (and me too).

Hi Lisa!

I can't impart to you how sad the loss of small bits of magic like the one you describe above make me. I too recently discovered that the dresser was removed during the last rehab, along with other wonderful little touches that shop used to have. Guests can still "wake Tinker Bell," but she's at the other end of the store now, and that's about all that is left of the old store.

The average visitor may not have noticed these details, but once upon a time, the shop used to be richly themed into two areas: the children's bedroom, where the Tink dresser was located, and the pirate ship on the other end of the store, where the floor was made of planks and the wood trim and fixtures looked like what you might find on a sailing ship. Also in the store was one of my favorite little touches in the Magic Kingdom: on the wall were pencil markings of the heights of the children. I was heartbroken to find it had been painted over! The loss of details such as these actually bother me more than an attraction closing, believe it or not. Is all of this gone forever? Well, nothing is ever forever at the World, but I doubt any of it will be back, I'm sorry to say. It has to live on in our memories.

A.A.

Last Week's Trivia Question:

The construction of the original three buildings built in 1971 (of which only two remain) at the Contemporary Resort share something in common with the original longhouses at the Polynesian Resort. What is it that they share? For bonus Disney Geek Points, what was the Contemporary's name originally supposed to be, and what was the Poly's original name when it opened?

Hi, Disney Geeks!

The construction of both the original Contemporary buildings and the original Poly buildings all used Modular Construction. A steel frame was built and the rooms, which were constructed offsite, were trucked in and lifted up and inserted with cranes. Although there is a continuing story that claims that the rooms were intended to be removed and replaced when needed, I have never found any evidence that confirms that plan. There was a concept floated very early on in the planning stages that mentioned it, but there is no evidence that the buildings as constructed were designed to have "removable" rooms. Only the exact number of rooms needed plus a few spares in case of damage were built, for instance.

Also, another bit of trivia: In early construction photos, it can be seen that the original Poly longhouses and the Contemporary Garden Wings were identical before theming was added to the outside. It's amazing what a little theming and a different roofline can add!

The Bonus Question answers are: the Contemporary's pre-opening name was the Tempo Bay Resort, and the Poly's opening name was the Polynesian Village Resort.

The Geeks of the Week, who got the construction question correct, are: Mark J, Heather J, Karen W, Jim Mc, Suzette F, Mary C, Jerry M, Giesela H, Don J, Noreen, Stephen M, Robin F, Ernie D.

The Uber Geeks of the Week, who got all of the questions correct are: Andrew H, Paul H, Chris R, Chris B, Bob R, Crissy S, Scott D, Ken F, Andrea S, John T, Kim C, Lynn J, Kristin F, Matthew P, Zachary W, Donnie R, Brian T, Theresa K, Jamie P, Kendall, Nicole, Heather D, Mary Beth M (Hi, Mary Beth! Great to meet you in March!), TK, Mike T, and James.

Congratulations, everyone!

Anita

That's it for this edition!

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