Disney Gaming and the Nintendo 3DS

The new gaming system the Nintendo 3DS comes out March 2011. Disney or not I am going to get it one way or another. This little device is an amazing piece of machinery. Some of the features of the system are: the ability to play video games in 3D without glasses, The ability to take 3D pictures, the ability to watch 3D movie and so much more. Of course you can do this all in 2D to, if 3D is not your thing and like the video games all the 3D is glasses free. Nintendo has already announced that they will be teaming up with Disney to release their 3D movies on the system, but you can also watch them in 2D like I mentioned earlier. My question is how else could Disney use this handheld system to their benefit. My thoughts are that they could release a Walt Disney World Explorer type game where you can view pictures and videos of Walt Disney World all in 3D. Since It can take 3D pictures this would be a great device to have in the parks with you so you will have 3D photos to show your family and friends back home. This device is something I can not wait for and I hope Disney will take advantage of it.

Poll Results: Opinion on Bolt

So the results are and most of you thought Bolt was just okay. I respect your opinions but I personally loved this movie. If you have not seen this movie I highly recommend you do.

Disney Pins: Halloween

A good way to get started pin trading or collecting is to pick a certain theme, and then buy only those types of pins. One good theme to collect is Halloween. The theme of Halloween has many pins to choose them whether it is a Nightmare Before Christmas pin or simply just a Disney character going trick-or-treating. I went on to the official Disney Pin Trading website at disneypins.com and was able to find 499 results. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start trading!

Let the Memories Begin

A new promotion is starting in 2011 called "Let the Memories Begin" focusing on Disney vacationers Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Disney Cruise Line memories. A website has already launched that lets guests post pictures, video, and stories of their Disney Parks memories.You can find this website at disneymemories.com. Here is the one I submitted: "After a morning at Walt Disney World we were going back to our resort hotel All Star Movies. It had only been a few weeks since my birthday and when we opened the door we found a Mickey Mouse balloon and a birthday card signed by the big cheese himself. It was a wonderful moment I will never forget." I have my fingers crossed hoping in will be posted. Starting in January 2011 there will be a show at Cinderella Castle showcasing pictures families have submitted of them having a good time at Walt Disney World. I have no opinion on it now since there is nothing to really critique but we will just have to wait and see how this promotion goes.

Disney Movies: Bolt

Let me be honest for a second, we all know we can not just go to Walt Disney World whenever we want to go. So what is a Disney fan supposed to do to get their Disney fix? Watch a Disney movie of course! This week I wanted to share with you one of my favorite Disney movies that happens to be one of the most underrated Disney movies of all time, Bolt. Bolt is the story of a dog named Bolt (voiced by John Travolta) who is the star of a successful T.V. show. On the T.V. show Bolt plays a superhero dog. To get a realistic performance out of Bolt the producers rig up special effects that make him think he has superpowers.  When Bolt accidentally ends up in New York he must make it back to his owner Penny (voiced by Miley Cyrus) but the problem is he thinks he has superpowers to help him along the way. On his journey he meets a cat named Mittens (voiced by Susie Essman), and a hamster named Rhino who is (voice by Mark Walton a story artist a Walt Disney Feature Animation) The movie is a great ride and is both funny and heartwarming. I highly recommend you watch this movie.

Poll Results: Best Non Theme Park Activity at Walt Disney World.

The results are in and the winner of last week's poll, Best Non Theme Park Activity at Walt Disney World, is Downtown Disney. Downtown Disney is a shopping/dining/club area on Walt Disney World property. Keep an eye out for a new poll.

Opinion of the Week: Disney Dining Plan

Do these taste better with the dining plan?

No, but they might cost less. 

This week I am going to discuss my opinions on the Disney Dining Plan. The Disney Dining Plan is an extra cost where you prepay for your meals. Each day you get three credits: one snack credit, one counter service credit, and one table service credit. Disney states that you can save up to 30 % on meals with this plan. Here is my opinion. The Disney Dining plan is good if you take advantage of it. If all you are planning on eating is mickey ice-cream bars and turkey legs, than this is not worth it. If you are going to make reservations for expensive restaurants that are on the dining plan then this is a good deal. The most important thing to do when deciding whether to get the Disney Dining Plan is look at your plans for your vacation and see whether it is worth it or not. Either way, you will still be able to enjoy the great food at Walt Disney World even if you do not use the dining plan.

Walt Disney World History: Walt Disney World Explorer

The Walt Disney World Explorer was a CD-ROM application that acted as a guide to Walt Disney World. It featured interactive maps, pictures, video,and info on  each attraction you clicked on. Not all attractions had video but they all were informative.You could also learn about hotels and other activities to do around Walt Disney World. The attractions where divided up so that you had to click on a certain area for a certain attraction. An example is you want to learn about the Epcot attraction Horizons (which no longer exists) you would click on Future World then click on Horizons. The CD-ROM was a great way to get your Walt Disney World fix.  The CD-ROM also sported an interactive timeline of Disney World, interactive tours, and a trivia game. It was not just a ploy to get you to book a Walt Disney World vacation, but a true piece of entertainment. I used to have a copy but sadly it was lost when my house was flooded. When I was younger I used to spend hours on it learning new information on Walt Disney World. This CD-ROM accounts for one of the reasons why I am such a fan of Walt Disney World and why I know so much about it. Only two editions of it were made, one in 1996 and one in 1998. Sadly it is out of production. It may be gone but it will be long remembered.

Resort Spotlight: Disney's Art of Animation Resort

Opening in 2012 is Disney's newest value resort: Disney's Art of Animation Resort. To the left is an artist rendering of the resort recently posted on the official Disney Parks Blog and the official website of Walt Disney World. The resort will have four different themes: Cars, Finding Nemo, The Little Mermaid, and The Lion King. The Cars, Finding Nemo, and The Lion King areas are planned to be dedicated solely to family suites, meant to give families more room to stretch out and be comfortable. In my opinion this looks great. Not everyone can afford a stay at the deluxe or moderate resorts and this will open up even more opportunities for families who could not afford a vacation at Walt Disney World will now be able to. The All Star Resorts and Pop Century have been doing a good job of  helping families go to Walt Disney World but they could always use a helping hand.

Ratatouille at Walt Disney World

My favorite animated movie is a 2007 Pixar film by the name of Ratatouille. Not only was it an Oscar winning picture, but it won the greatest prize of all: having a presence at Walt Disney World.  The main character Remy used to be a character you could meet at the former Disney MGM Studios (now Disney's Hollywood Studios) but sadly he had to go so new characters could take his place. To my delight and other Remy fans as well he is coming back to Disney's Hollywood Studios with his brother Emile in a new parade.  Right now you can get meet Remy in France, well the France Pavilion in Epcot. A life size audio-animatronic of Remy is brought around certain times each day (times and days may vary) on a dining cart in the restaurant Les Chefs De France. Not only is he a life-size audio-animatronic, he is also the smallest to date. Though not exactly Walt Disney World related, a new restaurant is coming to the new Disney Cruise Line ship the Disney Dream called Remy, named after the lovable rat from Ratatouille. Remy is and will remain my favorite Pixar character. If you have not seen the film Ratatouille I recommend that you do.

Resort Spotlight: Disney's Pop Century Resort

Pop Century is in the Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sport Area but is also near Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot. It is considered a value resort along with the All-Star Resorts. The theme of this resort is the late 20th century with buildings and hotel rooms with 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s,and 90s themes. There are three pools: one is a computer pool, another one is The Hippy Dippy Pool, and the last one is a bowling pin pool.The gift shop and food court are combined into one section called Everything Pop. The resort is decorated with over the top landmarks such as a large pile of floppy discs among other things. Guests who stay at this resort get all the amenities of staying on Disney property including transportation, extra time in the parks, and transportion between the airport and your hotel. Disney's Pop Century Resort hotel is a great place for anyone who is on a budget to stay at Walt Disney World.

Poll Results: Favorite Theme Park in Walt Disney World

The results for the first poll are in and the winner is Epcot. Opened in 1982 Epcot Center, now known as Epcot is the the readers favorite theme park at Walt Disney World. The next poll is "What is your favorite non-theme park activity to do at Walt Disney World" Thanks to everyone who voted and be sure to vote on the newest poll!

Disney Pins: Pin Bags

A great way to organize your Disney Pins is by using a pin bag. Pin bags allow you to store many pins in a small space. They are great for the trader going to a trading event because it allows you to carry around many pins to trade without multiple lanyards. If you are a pin collector like me It is a great way to store and view your pins. Disney Pin collecting and/or trading is a great hobby. If you do not own any pins go out and buy one, though it is hard to buy one and be done because they are highly addictive!

Disney Parks: The Secrets, Stories and Magic Behind the Scenes

I recently picked up a copy of Disney Parks: The Secrets, Stories and Magic Behind the Scenes. This is a six disc DVD set all about the Disney Parks, really only being Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and the Disney Cruise Line. The set is fifty dollars but you can find it for less on amazon or at Best Buy. For anyone like me who does not have the convenience of being able to go down at least once a year, this DVD set is a good way to get your Disney fix. Here is a list of what is on each disc:

Disc One: Walt Disney World Resort: Behind the Scenes

Disc Two: Disneyland Resort: Behind the Scenes

Disc Three: Ultimate Walt Disney World

Disc Four: Disney's Animal Kingdom

Disc Five: Disney Cruise Line

Disc Six: Undiscovered Disney Parks

Each special can be seen on the Travel Channel but these are updated and extended with more recent announcement and attractions. It also includes 10 special features though they could have been longer and better due to a lot of already well known information, or at least well known to Disney Fans In total I would recommend this DVD set.

Opinion of the Week: The Loss of Orginal Attractions

Nemo is great but do we need a ride and a show about him?

What ever happened to attractions that are not based on a T.V. show or movie? I have asked that question to myself on many occasions. I was inspired by other bloggers and podcasters who have complained about this before. Today I want to share my opinion on this matter. Is there not enough original attractions being made any more that are not based on any movie or T.V. show? Yes. Is that a terrible thing. In my opinion no. The Walt Disney Company was built on movies and cartoons involving well developed characters. If Walt Disney had not made those movies we would not have the Walt Disney Company or Disneyland or Walt Disney World. That being said I do not mind attractions being based on movies as long as they are good. In my opinion attractions and shows based on movies in the parks are not terrible, but we need a better balance of these two types of entertainment in the parks, that being movie rides and non-movie rides.

Attraction Spotlight: Monsters, INC. Laugh Floor

The Monsters, INC Laugh Floor opened in 2007 replacing the previous show/ride The Timekeeper.  It is located in the Magic Kingdom in Tommorowland. This show follows Mike Wazowski as the MC of a comedy show starring monsters. Mike must reach his quota of laughter or he will be fired by Roz. The Monsters on screen interact with the guests similar to The Seas With Nemo and Friends' Turtle Talk with Crush. The Que is wonderfully themed with a door that takes you into the monster city name Monstropolis similar to the movie. The actual show area feels like a comedy club, except in a monster world. The technology behind the show allows guests to interact with the monsters through Disney's living character initiative. Guests can also text a joke to the show and if they are lucky it might be told during the show. One guest is picked as "that guy" who will be referred to as that guy many times during the show and then at the end will receive a sticker that says "I was that guy." All around the show is entertaining, and is a good place to sit down and get out of the hot sun

Disney Pins: Tips on Getting Started

For anyone who is new to the wonderful world of Disney Pin trading I have a few tips as to how to become a master trader or collector:

• If your goal is to just collect, do not buy a pin just because one is available, save your money and buy ones you will enjoy and cherish.
• When buying pins on websites like eBay check the history of the seller. Trust me, I have had experiences before where I have ordered fake pins.
• Always make sure that the pin you are trading for is one you really want. You never want to end up losing your favorite limited edition pin just for some open edition pin you can buy at any cart around one of the parks.
• Have Fun!

Disney Pin trading can be a fun hobby if you approach it the right way, so just have fun.

Resort Spotlight: Disney's Beach Club Resort

Disney's Beach Club Resort is located in what is considered to be the Epcot Area of Walt Disney World. The Beach Club is styled after New England area cottages and homes. There are two restaurants located in the resort, Cape May Cafe and Beach's and Cream, both offering unique dining experiences. Cape May Cafe is a buffet and character restaurant combination while Beach's and Cream serves ice-cream and what is considered standard American food. There is also a poolside quick service eatery called Hurricane Hannah's that, besides it's restaurant aspect, is also a sports a bar. The resort also features a large pool called Stormalong Bay that features a mini water park and sand bottomed pool. Rooms are spacious though expensive at the Beach Club Resort. This Resort is a fantastic place that will help you enjoy your Walt Disney World vacation even more.

Opinion of the Week: My Favorite Ride

I am not sure if any of you understand this, but I don't have a favorite ride at Walt Disney World. It is just to hard to choose. One day it is Muppet Vision and the next day it is Pirates of the Caribbean. I know no one is forcing me to pick a favorite ride or show, but I wish I had one so I could post about it. But, that might take me awhile, if any of you have this same problem leave a comment and if you don't leave a comment telling me why not. Thanks for reading!

A Review of All Star Movies

All Star Movies a great value for all the amenities you get. The rooms are small but always clean. The cast members are friendly and cheerful, the same as any Disney World resort hotel. The theme is very apparent being movies. The theme is done in an over the top way with giant Dalmatians and Toy Story characters among other things. The hotel has a food court named the World Premiere, a gift shop called Donald's Double Feature and an arcade named Reel Fun Arcade. The resort also has two pools and one kiddy pool. The two main pools have two different themes. The big pool has a Fantasia theme and the smaller pool a Mighty Ducks themeThe food court has a wide variety of choices including the famed Mickey Waffles at breakfast time. This hotel is a great value and I highly recommend it. It gets four Mickey ice-cream bars, out of five.

A Standard All Star Movies room.

Welcome

Hello, and welcome to The Four Parks Walt Disney World blog. This blog is your source for news, reviews, and anything else involving Walt Disney World. Please leave a comment and tell me what you think and sign up to follow over on the right of the page. More posts are coming soon, please check daily for new thoughts reviews and news.