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THANKSGIVING 2016 AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

Thanksgiving week at Walt Disney World is busy–particularly Wednesday through Saturday.

While not as crowded as some other holiday weeks–Easter and Christmas, for example–it can be very challenging, and the material below gives some hints on how to deal with it.

WALT DISNEY WORLD 2016 THANKSGIVING WEEK ITINERARY AND DINING

Park schedules indicate that this site’s FastPass+ Itinerary for Higher-Crowd Weeks mostly works for Thanksgiving Week, with one change and one however.

• The change is that you will be best off if you swap Thursday and First Sunday in both the itinerary and its To-Do List.
• The however is that the parks–especially the Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom–may open an hour earlier than it indicates many days Thanksgiving week, and may also have morning Extra Magic Hours added as well–making the day start two hours earlier than indicated on the itineraries.

So you’ll need to stay in touch with schedules–even on the night before–to make sure when you need to arrive to beat park openings.  

Moreover, a couple of other things are worth noting.

First, making the suggested change has you off on Thanksgiving morning, and at the Animal Kingdom park Thanksgiving afternoon, with all meals at counter service joints.

Believe me–that’s a wonderful way to spend Thanksgiving.  Animal Kingdom likely will be the least crowded park, and you’ll need a low-impact day by this point in your vacation anyway.

However, if you are looking for something both more formal and fun in your Thanksgiving dinner (not necessarily in menu, but in ambiance and waiters and such), then consider moving your Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue reservations from Tuesday evening to Thursday evening.

A more formal option would be to take advantage of the nearness of the Animal Kingdom Lodge–just a short bus ride away–and book dinner at Jiko there.

Note that to get a sit-down meal on Thanksgiving it’s critical that you make your dining reservations well in advance. See this for more.

SEEING EPCOT’S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

Starting the day after Thanksgiving, Epcot is open thirty minutes later, and a special Christmas version of Illuminations is shown nightly at 9.30p rather than 9p. Moreover, the Candlelight Processional also begins the Friday after Thanksgiving.

UPDATED PARK SCHEDULES

You can get updated park operating hours when you arrive at Walt Disney World. If you want to know what’s up before then, check the park calendars a day or so before you depart for Florida on the My Disney Experience website. and while you are there as well.

And Disney veterans–please feel free to add more suggestions for Thanksgiving dinner at Walt Disney World to the comment box below!

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DISNEY WORLD’S SPECIAL CHRISTMAS PARTY IN 2016

While Christmas itself is December 25 of course, Walt Disney World provides a special Christmas celebration at the Magic Kingdom many nights in November and December.

This celebration is called “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, or “MVMCP” for short.

At the party, many of the Magic Kingdom’s rides are open, and cookies and hot chocolate, special events, and different Christmas parades and fireworks, and even snow (!) are offered.

The official Disney World page for this event (where you can also buy tickets) can be found here. For a review of the 2016 version of MVMCP, see this.

MORE ON MICKEY’S VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS PARTY

This party occurs from 7p-12MN on certain evenings at the Magic Kingdom in November and December.

The 2016 dates for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party are as follows:

• November 2016:  7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 18, 27 and 29
• December 2016: 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18 and 22

You need to buy a special ticket for this party. This ticket is different from regular Walt Disney World park admission tickets.

• The special party ticket does not allow you to enjoy the rides and attractions of the Magic Kingdom before the the Party starts–you need a regular ticket for that (note that you can usually enter and enjoy the rides as early as 4p–although your ticket will say 7p)
• Regular tickets used to enter the park earlier the day of a Party do not give you access to the Party–you need to have the special Party ticket

The party tickets are expensive, so why would first-time visitors be interested? A couple of potential reasons

• Evening fireworks shows are rare this time of year, so going to one of the parties is a way to guarantee you can see them
• Operating hours at the Magic Kingdom are shorter this time of year, so the Party allows you more time there within the same visit
• Walt Disney World sells only a limited number of tickets to each party, so the evening can be less crowded, particularly compared to whenever the Magic Kingdom is doing evening Extra Magic Hours that week

Many families go the first time for one of these reasons…and then going becomes a tradition!

On the other hand, families following one of the standard 8-night itineraries on this site will see the fireworks and evening parade, and have plenty of time at the Magic Kingdom. For that reason, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is not designed into this site’s pre-Thanksgiving itineraries.

It is, however, built in to this site’s Christmas-oriented Basic Itinerary, which works for the three weeks beginning the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

For details on what the party offers, suggested approaches, etc., see this!

Here’s the 2016 brochure–as always on this site, click to enlarge:

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(Note: this is from the FastPass+ Higher Crowd Itinerary, Seven Night Variant.)

MAGIC KINGDOM DAY 1: TUESDAY AGENDA

Today you start your visit to the Magic Kingdom,  seeing Tomorrowland and then touring some lower-wait attractions in Adventureland and Frontierland. You have brunch at Chef Mickey’s at the Contemporary Resort near the Magic Kingdom, and end your day at Fort Wilderness’s Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue.

You should have FastPass+ for Space Mountain, the Tomorrowland Speedway, and the Jungle Cruise. The other fixed points in your schedule are Chef Mickey’s and Hoop-Dee-Doo.

FIRST THINGS

Be at the park by 45 minutes before open.

AT THE PARK

• At open, head to Tomorrowland and see Buzz Lightyear
• See Space Mountain (FP+)
• Ride Astro-Orbiter
• Ride the Tomorrowland PeopleMover
• Ride the Tomorrowland Speedway (FP+)
• Exit the park about 10.30 and either walk or take the resort monorail to the Contemporary Resort. Eat at Chef Mickey’s
• Return to the park, head into Tomorrowland, and see the Carousel of Progress, Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor, and Stitch’s Great Escape
• Go to Adventureland and fit the Swiss Family Treehouse and the Enchanted Tiki Room around your FastPass+ for the Jungle Cruise
• Find the passage into Frontierland and see the Country Bears
• If you have time, find the rafts near Big Thunder Mountain and see Tom Sawyer Island
• Around 5p head for the main entrance and look for the boat docks right in front
• Take the boat to Fort Wilderness (not the Wilderness Lodge), and follow the crowds to the Hoop Dee Doo area, and check in for the 6.15p show.
• See Hoop-Dee-Doo
• Ask cast members outside for the best way to get back to your hotel.  Most likely you will return by boat to the Magic Kingdom, and catch a bus or monorail there.

PREVIEW OF TOMORROW

Tomorrow you have the morning off, then begin your visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

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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 ORIGINAL ARTWORK OF DISNEY WORLD’S DOLPHIN HOTEL

By Jim Korkis
Architect Michael Graves had complete creative control over every aspect of Walt Disney World’s Swan and Dolphin resort hotels from uniforms to room keys to its murals.

The murals were rendered in miniature by Graves, then the builder Tishman Realty & Construction Company commissioned Maer-Murphy Inc. (a company specializing in murals and decorative finishes) to follow those designs and execute the final full-sized paintings.

In a 4,000 square foot studio under the Manhattan Bridge in Brooklyn, shifts of eight artists worked on fireproof linen canvases up to 40 feet long to create 64 dramatic floral-patterned murals, which ranged in size from 200 to 600 square.

The artists painted in teams, each responsible for different mural elements. The fast-paced process, using more than 160 gallons of paint for the ballroom murals alone, achieved a consistent feel throughout each series without sacrificing the individual artists’ touch.

As the murals were completed, they were rolled onto carpet spools and driven to Walt Disney World. Once there, they were stretched and stapled onto large birch frames, eight to twenty-three feet above the floor, and finished with trim molding.

Fifteen doors leading to audiovisual control rooms posed a special challenge. Workers cut out the canvas around these passageways, then re-stretched new canvas directly onto the doors. Artists then painted the doors on-site, integrating the pattern.

The Maer-Murphy team produced other murals that were painted on canvas at the studio and then affixed directly to the hotel’s walls, such as a nine by one hundred and twenty nine foot floral patterned mural hanging behind the lobby reception desk, seven stairwell murals, composed of a collage of textures and geometric patterns and ten floral-patterned corridor murals.

One of the highlights was the Copa Banana Night Club that featured three giant fruit murals and three-dimensional fruits made of hand-painted wooden cut-outs which festoon the furniture. These works included a fifty foot long banana bar, watermelon, cantaloupe and grapefruit drink rails up to ten feet long and palm tree cut-outs thirteen feet high.

Some artwork was produced on site, such as the three and half by two hundred and forty two foot hand painted wooden leaf valance that edged the ceiling of Harry’s Safari Bar and Grille, and the five foot square checkerboard patterns painted directly onto the light blue wall covering in Tubbi Checkers Buffeteria, the 1950s themed fast food restaurant.

In the Coral Café, twenty-four oversized fish (catfish, mousefish and even a school of fish sporting mortar boards) seem to “float” from the ceiling with another twenty affixed to the walls. The four to six foot long wooden cut-outs were by artist Robert Braun.

Braun painted the floral patterned mural for the rotunda lobby and also created beach scene murals, complete with palm trees, beach balls, and pails and shovels to line the corridor, which the carpet design was meant to resemble a sandy beach with beach towels, balls and suntan lotion designs.

Like Walt Disney World areas, some of these areas had back stories. Harry’s Safari Bar and Grille was owned by a legendary traveler who roamed the world in search of gourmet treasure which included open-flame cooked meats, fish and vegetables flavored with exotic herbs. The staff never knows when Harry may stop in so his table is always ready and Harry’s Safari Ale is always in the cooler.

In addition, over 4,500 prints of classic paintings hung throughout the hotel representing artists who had influenced Graves’ style including Picasso, Matisse, Hockney and Rousseau.

*  *  *  *  *

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

In the meantime, check out his books, including Secret Stories of Walt Disney World: Things You Never You Never Knew, which reprints much material first written for this site, and The Vault of Walt: Volume 4, and his contributions to The easy Guide to Your First Walt Disney World Visit, all published by Theme Park Press.

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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 ROSE & CROWN AT EPCOT

By Jim Korkis

In the United Kingdom, the “Rose & Crown” title is the twelfth most popular name for a pub, with over four hundred known different pubs having that same name. The origin of that combination of images goes back several centuries.

King Edward III used a golden rose as a personal badge, and two of his sons adapted it by changing the color: John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster, used a red rose, and Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, used a white rose.

The dynastic conflicts between their descendants are collectively called the Wars of the Roses. In 1485 Henry Tudor, a descendant of Lancaster, defeated Richard III of the York dynasty and married Richard’s niece Elizabeth of York. Since then the combined red-and-white Tudor rose, often crowned, has been a symbol of the monarchy of England and demonstrates loyalty to the monarchy.

So, when Disney decided to create an authentic “public house” in the U.K. pavilion at Epcot, they selected that name but created their own distinct design of the two images that was reminiscent of the signs researchers had seen but still recognizably different.

The original sign concept for the Rose and Crown was developed through extensive research of the various signs located in numerous authentic and historic pubs throughout Great Britain.

After deciding on the number of signs required, refining the rough design and negotiating the projected budget, Bass Ale and Stout, the pub’s sponsor, gave its approval.

Color comps were produced and a rough working drawing was developed. Finally, after all the costs were computed, Imagineering decided to offer the job for doing the finished sign to an outside freelance illustrator.

“Originally, we were going to go outside,” stated Bruce McCurdy of WED Graphics, “but the Studio Sign Shop in Burbank showed an interest and when we saw Charles Opie’s original rendition, we loved it and went with his design.”

Underneath the image is the Latin motto ‘Otium Cum Dignitate’ that means “Leisure With Dignity”.

Disney based their version of a typical pub on four different styles of British pubs according to the publicity release when Epcot Center opened.

• The city or “street” pub dating back from the 1890’s Victorian city center features brick and wood paneling on the facade and relates to the interior mahogany bar, the etched glass and molded plaster ceiling and is the main entrance area.
• The Dickensian pub inspired by the Cheshire Cheese pub in London offers a brick walled flagstone terrace with covered tables, slate roof and half timbered Elizabethan styled exterior.
• The Waterfront or “River” pub, facing the World Showcase Lagoon, is represented by a facade with a modest stone building, clay tiled roof and decorative doorways, stone terrace with an iron fence lining the village inn-styled dining room. Nearby in the lagoon is a replica of the 137 mile long Grand Union Canal. The replica once had two locks, one at each end, which have since been removed.
• The Country pub from the suburbs of the 17th and 18th centuries is represented by a slate roof and plaster exterior with stone quoined corners.

There are authentic pints of British ales, lagers and stouts that are available including Bass, Harp, Guinness, Boddingtons and Strongbow. The menu offers traditional British specialties including Harry Ramsden’s Fish and Chips and Bangers & Mash (sausage and mashed potatoes).

In fact, guests were so anxious to get just the fish and chips that Disney eventually offered a separate cart for ordering that specialty and then built the quick serve Yorkshire County Fish Shop outside to satisfy that want.

*  *  *  *  *

Thanks, Jim. Come back next Friday for even more from Jim Korkis!

In the meantime, check out his books, including Secret Stories of Walt Disney World: Things You Never You Never Knew, which reprints much material first written for this site, and The Vault of Walt: Volume 4, and his contributions to The easy Guide to Your First Walt Disney World Visit, all published by Theme Park Press.

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As many of you know, Kelly B. is the dedicated travel agent for readers of this site.

In a cool development, she’s been selected by Disney for specialized training (kinda like for astronauts, except tailored to travel agents), and will be at Disney World receiving it this week!

Here’s the rest of the  story, straight from her:

“You can dream, create, design, and build the most wonderful place in the world

……..but it requires people to make the dream a reality” – Walt Disney

As the dedicated Destinations in Florida travel agent for yourfirstvisit.net readers, each day I have the privilege of helping fans of yourfirstvisit.net plan their Disney vacations. I’m honored that you share your families with me and let me be a part of your magical memories.

I’m so pleased to share with you some exciting news. I’ve been selected to attend Disney’s Earmarked Agent Education Program this week.

This five day program takes place at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. From the moment I board the Magical Express until I wave good-bye to Mickey, I’ll be learning all I can. I already know a lot…and I’ll gather even more information to help make your vacations more magical.

Even though I’ll be at Disney, and will get some time in the theme parks, it’s not all fun and games. This extensive training program includes hours of classroom sessions, resort tours, and even the chance to tour one of Disney’s Cruise Line ships.

I’ll also be able to experience first hand special events like a private Dessert Party while watching Illuminations: Reflects of Earth and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. By the time I’ve finished this program I’ll have gained even more of in-depth knowledge to better help you create the best Disney vacation for you and your family.

I would love to have you “follow” along with me from 12/8 – 12/12.  As time allows I’ll be posting updates and sharing news and information.  So be sure to follow me KellyBTravel on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.  I’ll looking forward to sharing all I’ve learned and helping you book your next vacation.  Contact me at KellyB@DestinationsInFlorida.com or 980-429-4499 .

Kelly, I’m so jealous! Have a great visit, and I look forward to you being able to help this site’s readers even more!