WDWNT: The Wallpapers #3

WDWNT on June 1, 2010

Thanks to the amazing talent and generosity of photographer Tim Goodchild of timgoodchild.com, we are able to provide these downloadable wallpapers for your computer monitor. Simply click the link corresponding to your monitor’s resolution, then save the resulting image file to your computer. We will have select wallpapers available for dual-monitor and triple-monitor setups as well.

We will try (note we said try) to present a new wallpaper image once a week. This week, we “Thank the Phoenicians” for this wallpaper of Spaceship Earth at Epcot:

1024×768
1280×800
1280×1024
1440×900
1680×1050
1920×1080
1920×1200
Dual Monitor 1024×768 = 2048×768
Dual Monitor 1280×1024 = 2560×1024
Dual Monitor 1680×1050 = 3360×1050
Triple Monitor 1024×768 = 3072×768
Triple Monitor 1280×1024 = 3840×1024

Hoop Dee History by Chuck Mirarchi

WDWNT on May 26, 2010

When thinking about a trip to the Walt Disney World Resort, there are almost as many planning strategies as there are attractions.  But in addition to planning your schedule around attractions, shows, and parades, many guests also plan their days with an eye to meals and dinner shows.

Having presented over 35,000 performances to more than 10 million guests, the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue is one of the most popular dinner shows at the Walt Disney World Resort.  Located in Pioneer Hall at the Fort Wilderness Campground, the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue is performed three times a night, seven days a week, at 5:00, 7:15, and 9:00 pm.  Guests call months in advance for reservations to try to get one of the coveted seats, and there is almost always a line of people hoping for cancellations at each show.

Whether you are a loyal follower of the show or one of those who haven’t yet seen it (but will), we are going to explore the history and creation of this loveable wilderness goofball of a vaudeville dinner show.

One the creators and writers of the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue was Ron Miziker, who also created many classic pieces of entertainment for the Walt Disney World Resort (see our previous Main Street Electrical Parade article).

The show is considered the longest continuously running musicals in American theatre history.  It holds a special place for everyone who has seen the show.  Often when you first try to describe the show to someone, they will typically be skeptical, but interested.  It’s not until someone experiences the show for the first time do they understand the undying love and affinity for the Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue.6

Despite its longevity, the evolution of the Hoop Dee Doo Revue has just as many do si dos as a square dance.

Read More about Hoop Dee History by Chuck Mirarchi

Passholder Not-So-Exclusive Summer Nightastic! Preview

WDWNT on May 25, 2010

Disney has confirmed that the Main Street Electrical Parade and Summer Nightastic! Fireworks Spectacular will debut on June 5th at the Magic Kingdom for what is being called a Passholder preview:

Clear your calendar for Saturday, June 5, 2010, and get over to theMagic Kingdom® Park for an advance viewing of the return of perhaps the most beloved and adored Disney parade in history! The Main Street Electrical Parade is back as part of Summer Nightastic! Check it out at 9 and 11 p.m., or both!

Plus! That same night, Passholders* can check out the new Summer Nightastic! Fireworks Spectacular at 10 p.m., with special light effect viewing glasses, provided free to who? Passholders, that’s who. Pick up your free glasses between 4 and 8 p.m. at the Rose Garden entrance near Tomorrowland® and enjoy the show.

To learn more about the special advance viewing of Summer Nightastic! for Passholders, go to disneyworld.com/passholder.

*Weekday Select and Epcot® After 4pm Passholders are welcome but will require admission to Magic Kingdom Park.

While listed as a passholder preview, the park is open to the general public during these performances. The only real perks for Passholders are that they are being informed about these preview performances (it is still advertised as Spectromagic and Wishes! performing on the DisneyWorld.com calendar) and are provided the strange glasses usually distributed at the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel To Be Renamed

WDWNT on May 25, 2010

From the Disney Parks Blog:


Prince Charming Regal Carrousel

A quick update to share tonight…our antique carrousel ride in Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom Park –Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel – is officially changing its name to Prince Charming Regal Carrousel. The name change takes effect June 1.

The name change helps tell the rest of the Cinderella story that inspired the carrousel. Here’s the official story behind it:

Following their fairy-tale romance and happily-ever-after wedding, Cinderella and Prince Charming took up residence in Cinderella’s Castle. With peace throughout the kingdom, Prince Charming had time to practice for jousting tournaments. In the countryside near the castle, he built a training device of carved horses, on which he could practice the art of ring-spearing, a tournament event in which a knight rides his horse full speed, lance in hand, toward a small ring hanging from a tree limb, with the object of spearing the ring. This event was known by various names throughout the lands, but generally came to be called “carrousel.”

The carrousel device drew the attention of the villagers, who wanted to take a turn on this amazing spinning contraption. So Prince Charming had a second carrousel constructed closer to the Castle, where everyone could take a spin on this wondrous invention. Instead of a working knight’s training device, however, this new carrousel is more befitting its regal location in the Castle Courtyard – its rustic training horses replaced with ornately decorated prancing steeds adorned with golden helmets and shields, flower garlands, feathers and other festoons. Prince Charming invites one and all to test their horsemanship skills and to enjoy their own happy ending.