Category — w. Most Recent Stuff

(For the first page of this review of Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, see this.)

PHOTO TOUR OF A FOUR PERSON QUEEN BED ROOM AT DISNEY’S CARIBBEAN BEACH RESORT

Most rooms at Caribbean Beach sleep four on two queens, five on two queens and a fold down bed, or, in the Pirate rooms in Trinidad, four on two fulls.

This photo tour is of a four person, two queen room. (For five person rooms, see this, and for Pirate rooms, see this.)

A 2014 refurb added queen beds to most Caribbean Beach rooms, replacing the full beds in all but the Pirate rooms in Trinidad.  Some rooms also had a fifth sleeping spot added.

The bed side of the four-person, two-queen room has the queens on one side and a small bedside table between them.

Here’s the bed side from the back. This side will also have the connecting door (at right) if present, and a coat rack near the door.

There’s fun light fixtures.

A closer view of a queen.

The bedside table has a storage shelf below…

…and a drawer large enough for your most valuable books.

Further back is the bath. The sink area of the bath is separated from the rest of the room by sliding solid doors–rather than the fabric curtain you will find at Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter, and in the Pirate rooms at Caribbean Beach. The sliding doors improve the trapping of both light and noise from the bathroom, plus make it feel more private. (This photo is of a different room than the rest of the images on this page; note the bed stripe, which is disappearing.)

Here’s the sinks themselves.

Note the storage underneath.

At the side is the clothes hanging area, iron, ironing board, and wall safe.

A closer view of the hair dryer.

In their own separate space you’ll find the toilet and tub/shower combo.

Back in the main space, the other side of the room has a table and chairs with mirror above, a dresser/mini-fridge combo with a TV above, and a thingy  that can be used either as a bench or for luggage.

The TV side from the back.

A closer view of the table and chairs…

…and of the lamp overhead, styled like the ones at the heads of the beds…

…and the window curtains.

The object on the table was a “welcome back gift, which Disney has recently started giving to visitors returning to a resort they’d stayed at before.  This was my ninth stay in a Caribbean Beach room, so it’s about time!

The gift itself–nice chocolate.

The dresser has three small drawers on either side, a TV above, and min-fridge in the middle.

A closer view of some drawers. To give you a sense of size, my book is 6″ by 9″.

The mini-fridge with scaling objects. Note the glass door–a new thing now common across Disney World that helps you see what’s in the fridge without opening the doors. It’s amazing how much energy a little thing like that can save when spread across 25,000 rooms…

The last item on this side of the room is this bench/luggage stand.

The art above the bench.

For families that don’t need the fifth sleeping spot, these rooms are slightly more livable than five-person rooms, as the dresser drawers are more accessible, and there’s more of an open feeling to the TV side of the room.

PHOTO TOUR OF A FIVE PERSON QUEEN AND MURPHY BED ROOM AT DISNEY’S CARIBBEAN BEACH RESORT

This review continues here.

PAGES IN THIS REVIEW OF DISNEY’S CARIBBEAN BEACH RESORT

• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort: Overview and Summary
• Theming, accommodations and villages at Caribbean Beach
• Photo tour of a four person queen bed room at Caribbean Beach
• Photo tour of a five person queen and murphy bed room at Caribbean Beach
• Photo tour of a four person full bed Pirate room at Caribbean Beach
• Amenities at Caribbean Beach
• Dining at Caribbean Beach
• The main pool at Caribbean Beach

OTHER KEY PAGES FOR WHERE TO STAY AT DISNEY WORLD

• Where to stay–the Basics
• Where first-timers should stay
• Reviews of all the Disney World resorts, based on my 160+ stays in them

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Welcome back to Fridays with Jim Korkis! Jim, the dean of Disney historians and author of Jim’s Gems in The easy Guide, writes about Walt Disney World history every Friday on yourfirstvisit.net.

THE ITALY PAVILION IN EPCOT’S WORLD SHOWCASE

By Jim Korkis

The Imagineers decided to theme the Italian pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase to the city of Venice, because they felt Venice would be the most readily recognizable location to guests as representing Italy since that city had so many famous architectural icons.

The Isola del Lago on the lagoon side of the pavilion (Isle of the Lake) was to give the opportunity of seeing the pavilion from one of the over 120 islands connected by canals, rather than streets, that make up the city of Venice. It includes several pedestrian bridges, a very common sight in Venice and gives it an aura of authenticity.

The Isola would also offer the opportunity to have gondolas moored at the distinctive poles. Gondolas are the main method of transportation in Venice. Different types of watercraft were originally meant to distinguish the various pavilions for guests viewing the area from across the World Showcase Lagoon or from the Friendship boats.

(c) Disney

Standing 83 feet tall, the campanile, or bell tower, resembles the one in Piazza di San Marco or St. Mark’s Square in Venice. Just like the original on which it is based, it is located adjacent to the Doge’s Palace.

However, to balance the skyline by giving it greater symmetry and not to give the pavilion more acreage than the other pavilions, it is placed on the opposite side. It was built to one-fifth the scale of the original.

On top of the campanile is the Archangel Gabriel. This exact replica of the original was painstakingly covered in gold leaf. That detail was done for practical reasons since it would not tarnish and prevent frequent refurbishment. An unadorned replica of the statue was placed in the garden to the right for guests to get a better view of it.

The pink and white Doge’s Palace is a reproduction of the residence for the Dukes who ruled Venice for seven centuries. The palace facade is lavishly adorned with ornamentation and statuary. At the very top is the statue of Justice that stands guard over the building. The building is a blend of Gothic and Renaissance styles.

The Doge’s Palace is schematically correct in its delicate and profuse ornamentation, columns, colonnades and distinctive design pattern. Working from photographs and on-site visits, the Imagineers made a remarkably convincing facsimile right to down to the elaborate door handles.

Unlike the original, this version was made from fiberglass and plaster although it was made to look like the original marble and stone. The marble on the façade is actually brick which has been treated with fiberglass. Underneath the columns and arches are steel girders and beams providing the actual support for the building.

The statues seem to be made of solid stone but are actually hollow. They are lightweight and could easily blow away. To prevent this from ever happening, they are held in place with rods which run from their base through their hollow centers.

The interior does not duplicate the interior of the original. Imagineers adapted architectural elements from the periods during which the palace was built and so is an accurate representation of the styles from the 9th through the 16th century.

At the far end and around the corner of Disney’s Doge’s Palace is a carving of a grotesque face. Citizens could anonymously, and often hidden in the darkness of night, drop slips of paper into the open mouths of these types of faces and report their neighbors for crimes or voice complaints about government actions. The face located at the Doge’s Palace was specifically intended to be used to report financial crimes including tax fraud.

*  *  *  *  *

Thanks, Jim! And here’s a little more on Italy, from The easy Guide to Your Walt Disney World Visit:

Come back next Friday for more from Jim Korkis! In the meantime, check out his books, including his latest, Secret Stories of Disneyland, his Secret Stories of Walt Disney World: Things You Never You Never Knew, which reprints much material first written for this site, and his contributions to The easy Guide to Your Walt Disney World Visit, all published by Theme Park Press.

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2018 RESORT PRICE SEASONS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

The material below shows resort price seasons at Walt Disney World at different times of the year in 2018.

(For 2019 Disney World resort prices, see this.)

Although this will change shortly, currently only one-day ticket prices vary over the course of the year. Resort prices, however, can be almost twice as high during some periods as they are at others.

In the material below, “X% Higher” means compared to the lowest prices of the year.

In addition to the details listed below, Disney ups prices even more during certain weekends and holidays–particularly over the Martin Luther King Day weekend, President’s Day weekend, Memorial Day weekend, Columbus Day weekend, and Veterans Day weekend.

The images give an overview of the year, with specifics in the lists.

2018 DISNEY WORLD PRICE SEASONS: VALUE RESORTS

• 30-40% higher–the peak season–begins 1/1/2018
• 15-25% higher–Marathon rates–begin 1/2/18
• Lowest of year–the value season–begins 1/7/18
• 20-25% higher–the regular season-begins 2/11/18
• 30-40% higher–the peak season–begins 2/15/18
• 20-25% higher–the regular season–begins 2/25/18
• 30-40% higher–the peak season–begins 3/9/18
• 55-65% higher–the Easter season–begins 3/25/18
• 20-25% higher–the regular season–begins 4/8/18

• 30-40% higher–the summer season–begins 5/25/18
• 20-25% higher–the regular season–begins 8/12/18
• 5-10% higher–the fall season–begins 8/26/18
• 20-25% higher–the regular season–begins 9/16/18
• 5-10% higher–the fall season– begins 10/28/18
• 30-40% higher over Thanksgiving begins 11/17/18
• 5-10% higher–the fall season—begins 11/24/18
• 20-25% higher–the regular season–begins 12/9/18
• 30-40% higher–the peak season–begins 12/14/18
• 60-70% higher–the holiday season–begins 12/21/18

2018 DISNEY WORLD PRICE SEASONS: DELUXE RESORTS

• 20-40% higher–the peak season–begins 1/1/18
• 15-20% higher–Marathon rates–begins 1/2/18
• Lowest of year–the value season–begins 1/7/18
• 10-20% higher–the regular season–begins 2/11/18
• 20-40% higher–the peak season–begins 2/15/18
• 10-20% higher–the regular season–begins 2/25/18
• 20-40% higher–the peak season–begins 3/9/18
• 30-50% higher–the Easter season–begins 3/25/18
• 20-40% higher–the peak season–begins 4/8/18

• 10-20% higher–the regular season–begins 4/15/18
• 5-15% higher–the summer season–begins 5/25/18
• 5-10% higher—near-lowest of year–the value season 2–begins 7/6/18
• Lowest of year–the value season—begins 8/24/18
• 10-20% higher–the regular season 2–begins 9/21/18
• 5-15% higher–the fall season–begins 10/14/18
• 10-20% higher–the regular season–begins 11/2/18
• 5-15% higher–the fall season–begins 11/12/18
• 25-40% higher during Thanksgiving begins 11/20/18
• 5-15% higher–the fall season–begins 11/24/18
• 10-20% higher–the regular season–beings 12/9/18
• 20-40% higher–the peak season–begins 12/14/18
• 55-75% higher–the holiday season–begins 12/21/18

2018 DISNEY WORLD PRICE SEASONS: MODERATE RESORTS

• 20-25% higher–the peak season–begins 1/1/18
• 15% higher–Marathon rates–begins 1/2/18
• Lowest of year–the value season—begins 1/7/18
• 15-20% higher–the regular season-begins 2/11/18
• 20-25% higher–the peak season–begins 2/15/18
• 15-20% higher–the regular season-begins 2/25/18
• 20-25% higher–the peak season–begins 3/9/18
• 30-45% higher–the Easter season–begins 3/25/18
• 15-20% higher–the regular season–begins 4/8/18

• 10-15% higher–the summer season–begins 5/25/18
• 15-20% higher–the regular season–begins 8/12/18
• 10-15% higher–the fall season–begins 8/26/18
• 15-20% higher–the regular season–begins 9/16/18
• 10-15% higher–the fall season–begins 10/28/18
• 20-25% higher over Thanksgiving begins 11/17/18
• 10-15% higher–the fall season—begins 11/24/18
• 15-20% higher–the regular season–beings 12/9/18
• 20-25% higher–the peak season–begins 12/14/18
• 35-50% higher–the holiday season–begins 12/21/18

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DISNEY WORLD NEXT WEEK: JUNE 24 TO JULY 2, 2017

The material below details next week’s Disney World operating hours, Extra Magic Hours, parades, and fireworks.

For more on June 2017 at Disney World, see this.

OPERATING HOURS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 6/24/-7/2/17

The Magic Kingdom will be open from 9a-10p 6/24 and 6/25, 9a-11p 6/26 through 6/28, and 9a-10p 6/29 through 7/2

Epcot will be open from 9a-9p every day

Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be open 9a-9.30p every day

Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be open 8a-11p every day

EXTRA MAGIC HOURS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 6/24-7/2/17

Saturday 6/24 Morning:  Animal Kingdom Evening: Animal Kingdom

Sunday 6/25  Morning:  Hollywood Studios  Evening: Animal Kingdom

Monday 6/26 Morning: Animal Kingdom  Evening: Animal Kingdom

Tuesday 6/27 Morning: none Evening:  Epcot, Animal Kingdom

Wednesday 6/28 Morning: none  Evening:  Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom

Thursday 6/29 Morning: Epcot Evening: Animal Kingdom

Friday 6/30 Morning:  Magic Kingdom Evening: Animal Kingdom

Saturday 6/24 Morning: Animal Kingdom Evening: Animal Kingdom

Sunday 6/25  Morning: Hollywood Studios Evening: Animal Kingdom

PARADES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 6/24-7/2/2017

The Magic Kingdom: Afternoon Festival of Fantasy Parade: 3p every day

FIREWORKS AND EVENING SHOWS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 6/24-7/2/17

Happily Every After at Magic Kingdom: 9p every night

IllumiNations at Epcot: 9p every night

Fantasmic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 9p every night

Star Wars Show and Fireworks at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 9.30p every night

Rivers of Light at Disney’s Animal Kingdom 9.15p and 10.30p every night

SHOW SCHEDULES FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD 6/24-7/2/17

See Steve Soares’ site here. Click the park names at its top for show schedules.

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Yesterday prices for 2018 Disney World packages were released. I’ve largely updated my 2018 price seasons page, but have more checking to do, so have left it with its “projected” label for a day or so.

I’m also collecting and analyzing actual nightly prices, comparing them within resorts and to 2017. This is always a pain, and is much more so for 2018, as there is much more variation in prices across the days of the week than we’ve ever seen before, especially for the value, regular, peak and fall seasons.

This pricing messiness means that more than ever before it makes sense to use a travel agent, as the agent can help your figure out if small changes in your planned dates will yield huge savings.

If you want to use an agent, I recommend Kelly. She’s the agent from Destinations in Florida dedicated to the readers of yourfirstvisit.net, and hundreds of my readers have had great experiences with her.

Kelly can be reached at KellyB@DestinationsInFlorida.com or 980-429-4499.

Knowing I was swamped with pricing analytics, Kelly also wrote for me (thanks, Kelly!!!) the following update:

The wait is finally over. 2018 Walt Disney World® packages have been released. Now is the perfect time to book your Disney vacation. From the youngest child to the wisest Main Street citizen, there is something for everyone. 30 unique resorts, 4 theme parks (including the all new Pandora at Disney’s Animal Kingdom), 2 water parks, 100’s of places to snack, sip and dine across Disney property, not to mention the unique mix of dining, shopping and entertainment found at Disney Springs.

When you book a Walt Disney World® vacation package you are in for a magical experience like no other. Your Magic Your Way package includes:

• Resort accomodations at a Disney Resort hotel
• Magic Your Way Tickets (2-10 Days. Base tickets allow admission to one theme park per ticket day. Add the Park Hopper Option to visit more than one park per ticket day. To visit the water parks as well, be sure to add the Park Hopper Plus option)
• Complimentary MagicBands (1 per resort guest)
• Free airport transfers aboard Disney’s Magical Express (this service is only available at Orlando International Airport – MCO)
• Keepsake Luggage Tag (one per resort guest)

As a Disney resort guest you also have the option of adding one of Disney’s Dining Plans. Quick Service Dining Plan, Disney Dining Plan or Disney Deluxe Dining Plan.

(All guests staying in the same room must have the same package -dining and ticket options. Children ages 2 and under are free).

The magic doesn’t stop there. These exclusive Magical Extras are included with Walt Disney Travel Company packages at the Walt Disney World® Resort.

Things to Do

• Miniature Golf: Receive four (4) vouchers per package, each voucher valid for one (1) 18-hole round of miniature golf prior to 4:00 p.m. on one (1) day for ONE (1) Guest at either Disney’s Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course or Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course. Voucher and Magic Band or resort key card are required at time of redemption. Voucher is non-transferable and expires at midnight on the day of checkout. Lost or stolen vouchers will not be replaced. Not valid with any other offer, discount, or promotions, and may not be redeemed for cash in whole or in part. Due to capacity limitations, occasionally it may not be possible to accommodate Guests at the time they choose to visit. No photocopy or reproductions of voucher will be accepted. VOUCHER IS VOID IF SOLD.
• ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex: Receive four (4) vouchers per package, each voucher valid for one (1) general admission to ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on one (1) day for ONE (1) Guest. Valid only on event days. Some events require an additional admission charge. There are no events on certain days. Days and hours of operation of concessions, venues and attractions varies. Visit www.espnwwos.com for more information.
• Voucher and Magic Band or resort key card are required at time of redemption. Voucher is non-transferable and expires at midnight on the day of checkout. Lost or stolen vouchers will not be replaced. Not valid with any other offer, discount, or promotions, and may not be redeemed for cash in whole or in part. No photocopy or reproductions of voucher will be accepted. VOUCHER IS VOID IF SOLD.
• Sammy Duvall Water Sports: Receive 10% off the non-discounted price of all activities, including parasailing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, tubing trips and personal watercraft rentals at Sammy Duvall Water Sports Centre located at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Restrictions apply. Excludes merchandise. Subject to availability. For reservations call (407) 939-0754. Due to capacity limitations, occasionally it may not be possible to accommodate Guests at the time they choose to visit.
• Splitsville Luxury Lanes™: Receive 10% off the non-discounted price of bowling (walk-in bowling only); receive 10% on the purchase of food and non-alcoholic beverages (dine-in only); and receive 10% off the non-discounted price of merchandise at Splitsville Luxury Lanes located in Disney Springs® West Side.

Places to Eat

• EARL OF SANDWICH®: Receive 10% discount on the purchase of food and nonalcoholic beverages at EARL OF SANDWICH located at Disney Springs Marketplace. Valid for dine-in only. Gratuity not included.
• Ghirardelli Ice® Cream and Chocolate Shop: Receive 10% discount or $1 off any Specialty Sundae at Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop located in the Disney Springs Marketplace. Cannot be combined with any other offers.
• House of Blues® Restaurant & Bar: Receive 20% discount on the purchase of food and nonalcoholic beverages during lunch or dinner at House of Blues Restaurant and Bar located in Disney Springs West Side. Valid for dine-in only. Excludes Quick Service location. Discount limited to six guests per party. Gratuity not included. Receive 10% off the non-discounted price of merchandise, excluding CD’s, art, sundries and sale items, at House of Blues Restaurant and Bar located at Disney Springs West Side.
• Joffrey’s Coffee and Tea Company®: Receive 20% off entire purchase excluding alcohol at Joffrey’s Coffee and Tea Company at the following locations at Walt Disney World Resort: Magic Kingdom® Park, Epcot®, Disney’s Animal Kingdom® Theme Park, Disney’s Hollywood Studios®, Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park and Disney Springs The Landing including Tea Traders Café by Joffreys, or purchases online at Joffreys.com and use coupon code: travel.
• Planet Hollywood Observatory™: Receive 10% discount on the purchase of food and nonalcoholic beverages during lunch or dinner at Planet Hollywood Observatory located at Disney Springs Marketplace. Valid for dine in only. Gratuity not included. Offer not valid for merchandise.
• Wolfgang Puck® Express: Receive 10% discount on the purchase of food and nonalcoholic beverages during breakfast, lunch or dinner at Wolfgang Puck Express located at Disney Springs Marketplace. Offer not valid for merchandise.

Places to Shop

• Basin: Receive 10% off entire purchase, (excluding sale items), at Basin located at Disney Springs Marketplace or Basin White located in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.
• Crystal Arts by Arribas Brothers: Receive 10% off purchases at the Crystal Arts by Arribas Brothers stores at Disney Springs Marketplace, Magic Kingdom Park and Epcot. Exclusions apply. Not applicable for shipping charges. Some other restrictions apply. Discount may not be combined with any other offer.
• Curl® by Sammy Duvall: Receive 10% off the non-discounted price of merchandise at Curl by Sammy Duvall, located at Disney Springs West Side, excluding sale items.
• JOHNNY WAS: Receive 20% off a single full priced item at JOHNNY WAS located at the Disney Springs Town Center. Not to be combined with any other discount or offers. Exclusions may apply.
• Live Trends: Receive 10% off the non-discounted price of merchandise purchased at Live Trends located at Disney Springs Marketplace.
• Pop Gallery: Receive 10% off the non-discounted price of merchandise at Pop Gallery located at Disney Springs West Side. Published artists excluded. Not valid toward shipping. Other exclusions may apply.
• Set The Bar: Receive 10% off the non-discounted price of merchandise at Set The Bar located at Disney Springs The Landing.
• Something Silver®: Receive 10% off the non-discounted price of merchandise at Something Silver located at Disney Springs West Side.
• Sublime Gifts and Finds: Receive 10% off the non-discounted price of merchandise at Sublime Gifts and Finds located at Disney Springs The Landing.
• Sugarboo & Co: Receive a gift with any purchase of US $50 or more at Sugarboo & Co. located at Disney Springs Town Center. Cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions. Exclusions may apply and subject to availability.
• UGG: Receive customization up to US $35 with any merchandise purchase at UGG located at Disney Springs Town Center. Exclusions may apply.
• Vince Camuto: Take 15% off your Vince Camuto purchase located within Town Center at Disney Springs. Offer valid in Disney Springs Vince Camuto store only. To redeem, present card at point of purchase. Not for use on previous purchases, with purchase of gift cards or in combination with other offers. No price adjustments on items purchased after 30 days. Some exclusions may apply. See sales associate for more details. Code: MAGIC15

With so many options and choices, planning a Disney vacation can be a bit overwhelming. But no worries, Kelly B is the designated Destinations in Florida travel agent for yourfirstvisit.net. As your personal Disney World expert, when you book a vacation package with Kelly, she is able to provide you with the agency’s many valuable services including:

• Free Itinerary Planning
• Free Mouse Perks – Tips, Updates, and Fun Freebies
• Free Dining Services – Dining suggestions and reservation planning
• Free FastPass+ Services – FastPass+ planning and reservation assistance
• Free Future Discount Search – Ongoing searching for future discount to apply to your vacation
• Give Kids The World – Our agency is proud to support one of Orlando’s local organizations called Give Kids the World. This organization is a 70 acre storybook village in Kissimmee where children with life-threatening illnesses are treated to a cost-free fantasy vacation. For every package booked with our agency, a donation goes to Give Kids the World. Thank you for helping support this wonderful organization.

Contact Kelly B today at KellyB@DestinationsInFlorida.com or 980-429-4499.

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Welcome back to Fridays with Jim Korkis! Jim, the dean of Disney historians and author of Jim’s Gems in The easy Guide, writes about Walt Disney World history every Friday on yourfirstvisit.net.

THE LIBERTY TREE IN MAGIC KINGDOM

By Jim Korkis

The Liberty Tree was an iconic symbol of the American Revolution. Walt Disney included a version of it in his live action feature film Johnny Tremain (1957) and intended to have a living representation in his proposed but never-built Liberty Street in Disneyland.

(c) Disney

Instead, it is in Magic Kingdom’s Liberty Square. The tree in Liberty Square displays thirteen lanterns commemorating the thirteen original colonies. It is the largest tree ever transplanted on Walt Disney World property.

The preparation to move the live oak from the east side of the property to the Magic Kingdom, a distance of eight miles, took almost a year of planning. The tree was forty feet tall, sixty feet wide and weighted thirty-eight tons. The root ball measured eighteen feet by sixteen feet by four feet deep.

It was too large and heavy to tie a chain around the trunk and lift it as was common because that would have caused massive damage to the bark and sensitive cambrium layers and potentially kill the tree.

In 1985, I did an interview with Director of Landscape Design Bill Evans who said, “Necessity is the mother of invention. We occasionally had to move trees and couldn’t use the accepted practice of putting a large box around the root system because sometimes the weight would have been more than we could have handled.

“We drilled through the hardwood center of the trunk and steel rods inserted to form a cross. North-South and East-West. These rods served as handles for hoisting and hauling the tree with a 100-ton crane to its present location. We went around with pruning shears to reduce the root system to something we could handle. By doing all this, we reduced the weight to about one-fifth.

“Local nurserymen and landscape people were absolutely horrified including the professional pathologist from the University of Florida who predicted the tree would die in two years if we bored a hole through it.

“When we planted it, we re-inserted the original wood plugs. Unfortunately, over time they became diseased and had to be removed and we filled the holes with concrete to stop any further spread of the disease. We also grafted a small live oak onto the tree to give it that fuller shape it has today.”

The tree began it journey June 11, 1970 but was so heavy that the trunk could only move slowly inches at a time much like the vehicles that haul rockets to a launch site. The tree was re-planted on March 6, 1971.

According to the sign at the side of the tree:

“The original Liberty Tree, a stately elm, was a rallying point for pre-revolutionary activities. The open space under its branches was called ‘Liberty Hall’ and a flag pole was erected through its branches with a hoisted flag the symbol for action.

“Countless inflammatory cartoons and verses were nailed to its trunk and many Tories hung in effigy from its branches. Perhaps its proudest moment was the repeal of the Stamp Act when innumerable lanterns blazed among its branches for all to see.”

On the bronze plaque located at the base of the tree are the following words:

“Under the boughs of the original Liberty Tree in Boston in 1765, Patriots, calling themselves ‘The Sons Of Liberty’, gathered to protest the imposition of the Stamp Act.  In the years that followed, almost every American town had a Liberty Tree —  A Living Symbol Of The American Freedom of Speech and Assembly.

“Our Liberty Tree is a Southern Live Oak, Quercus Virginiana, more than 100 years old.”

The tree is the proud parent of more than 500 young trees that started out as acorns harvested from it.

*  *  *  *  *

Thanks, Jim! And come back next Friday for more from Jim Korkis!

In the meantime, check out his books, including his latest, Secret Stories of Disneyland, his Secret Stories of Walt Disney World: Things You Never You Never Knew, which reprints much material first written for this site, and his contributions to The easy Guide to Your Walt Disney World Visit, all published by Theme Park Press.

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