TIGGER TUESDAY!

My Disney Pin Collection Monday

This week we continue on our journey around World Showcase at EPCOT, and arrive in Italy!  

The Italy pavilion is one of my favorites, and I just love this pin with Chip and Dale as gondoliers.  They are adorable, right??  

UPDATED closings and refurbs!

Great information from our friends at It's All About the Mouse Travel!

Magic Kingdom® Park

Monorail
The Walt Disney World® Resort Monorail System will undergo refurbishment that will impact the Express monorail beam, which runs between the Ticket & Transportation Center and the Magic Kingdom. Express beam shutdowns will occur between the hours of 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The Resort beam will continue to run during downtimes. Guests arriving at the Ticket & Transportation Center during downtimes will be directed to the ferry boats: Mar. 10, 2015 - Summer 2015 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. - 6 p.m

Harmony Barber Shop: Feb. 16 - Mar. 29, 2015
Pirates of the Caribbean®: May 11 - Sept. 25, 2015
Jungle Cruise®: Apr. 13 - May 8, 2015
"it's a small world": Apr. 14 - 17, 2015
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad®: Apr. 27 - 30, 2015
Space Mountain®: Apr. 20 - 23, 2015
Liberty Tree Tavern: Jul. 6 - Nov. 19, 2015
Dream Along with Mickey: Jul. 19 - Aug. 22, 2015
Liberty Square Riverboat: Aug. 4 - 10, 2015

Disney's Hollywood Studios®
Lights, Motors, Action: Apr. 20 - Apr. 24, 2015
Voyage of the Little Mermaid: Sept. 7 - Sept. 10, 2015

Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park
Flame Tree BBQ: Jan. 5 - Apr. 22, 2015
Creature Comforts: Jan. 5 - Jun. 14, 2015

Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village
Floor Resurfacing
During this time Guests may observe construction taking place in or near the lobby. Noise will be isolated to the lobby area. Work will take place between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m: Mar. 23 - 27, 2015

Disney's Art of Animation Resort
Finding Nemo Schoolyard Wet Play Area: May 26 - Jun. 29, 2015

Disney's Beach Club Resort
Guest Room Renovations
Guest rooms will be refurbished with new hard and soft goods. Guests will not be accommodated in the affected areas but it is possible that some noise could travel while work is in progress (between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily): Oct. 13, 2014 - Aug. 22, 2015

Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
General Construction
The east portion of the beach (near the Transportation and Ticket Center) and Sunset Point are being refurbished and are unavailable. Guests may see or hear work in progress: Dec. 2013 - Mar. 2015

Feature Pool and Slide
The main pool and slide will be closed for enhancements. Guests who stay at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort while the main pool is closed will receive one complimentary ticket for each member of their party to visit Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park during their stay: Through Early Apr. 2015

Polynesian East Pool
Closed for enhancement. During this time, Guests will observe construction taking place and certain pathways and buildings may be unavailable. Noise may be overheard while this work is being completed; however construction will not begin until after 9:00 a.m. The recently renovated Feature Pool will be available (weather permitting): Mid-Apr. 2015 - Early 2016

Downtown Disney® Area
Roadwork on Buena Vista Drive
Due to heavy roadwork, expect delays on Buena Vista Drive. It is recommended that Guests use complimentary Walt Disney World Resort transportation from Parks and Resorts to Downtown Disney and plan to arrive early for reserved dining and entertainment experiences: Through Mar. 2016

Parking Lots - Entrance 2 - Lots A-G
Loss of parking lot Entrance 2 to Guest/Cast traffic and associated lots A-G in preparation for the construction of Town Center and the East Garage: Dec. 1, 2014 - Aug. 1, 2016

FOODIE FRIDAY!

Artist Point at Disney's Wilderness Lodge

Have you ever dined at this location?  Rustic elegance abounds.  This is the location where you can dine on a Pacific Northwest fare.  Artist Point has an award-winning wine list with over 130 wines to choose from.  

Menu options change seasonally, the kitchen’s signature dish is a cedar plank-roasted salmon. For dessert, they feature Artist Point Cobbler, made from seasonal berries and topped with house-made black raspberry ice cream.

This is just yummy!

                                                Photo credits: Walt Disney World website

At this Signature Dining experience, Guests are asked to adhere to the dress code.Men may wear khakis, slacks, jeans or dress shorts and collared shirts. Sport coats are optional.Women may wear Capri pants, skirts, dresses, jeans or dress shorts.

Join us again next week for another FOODIE FRIDAY!

Throwback Thursday!

This week on TBT, we take a look at the Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs topiary display from the EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival in 2013.  This was the last year of the "faceless" Snow White, as the next year she had a visible face with details.  

Top 60 Disney Songs Countdown

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY! EPCOT Flower & Garden Show 2013

It's TIGGER TUESDAY!!

Walt Disney World Picture of the Day by Joe Diebold

Little Mermaid storybook style - i just felt the B&W was needed in this photo.

From Moments of the Magic by Joe Diebold

My Disney Pin Collection Monday!

Here we are arriving at our next pin stop in World Showcase.  Below you will find the pin from the American Adventure pavilion.

It features a colonial Mickey Mouse with the American flag in front if the pavilion.  

FOODIE FRIDAY!!

       Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory

             at Port Orleans French Quarter

                       It's such a fun place to dine, and I love this resort!  

             Port Orlean's French Quarter is my favorite moderate resort on Disney                         property.  It's smaller than most resorts, and I think that's why I like it.  

                              The whole Mardi Gras feel of this place is so fun! 

Oh, and they have beignets!!

 The amnbiance is really stunning!

Oh, and did I mention the beignets????

                  Join us again next week for FOODIE FRIDAY!

THROWBACK THURSDAY! EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival 2013

Taking a look back again this week at my 2013 visit to Walt Disney World, when I attended my first Flower & Garden Festival for the 20th Anniversary.

                         This is another of my favorite areas of World Showcase.  

The Italy pavilion is one of my favorites, and with all the beautiful flowers around, it makes it even more lovely.

The gorgeous potted flowers and plants here are co colorful!   

Join us again next week as we stroll over to another pavilion and see more beautiful floral displays.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY! EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival 2013

My Disney Pin Collection Monday

This week, we take a trip to the Japan pavilion via the adorable pin that represents that beautiful pavilion.  It is one of my favorite pavilions at World Showcase in EPCOT.  

Great Things Happen with the Disney Company For Local Man

Our local paper, The Times featured the following article about a local guy who has made it big in the Disney Company.  So happy when a local person makes it big with one of the most important things in my life, Disney!!  Enjoy the article.

                                                         Photo Credit: Walt Disney Company

Disney Career Magic Continues for Hammond's Bob Chapek  By: Phil Potempa

Good news from the world of Walt Disney travels fast.

Hammond's own Bob Chapek has been named chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts as just announced by Robert A. Iger, Disney chairman and CEO, and Thomas O. Staggs, chief operating officer for Walt Disney Co.

A 22-year veteran of Walt Disney Co., Chapek has served since 2011 as president of Disney Consumer Products, driving a technology-led transformation of the company's consumer products, retail and publishing operations. And he tells me he assumes his new role effective immediately.

"Under Bob's leadership, Consumer Products has seen great success, focusing on brands and a franchise-driven strategy while launching new products and retail experiences that combine technological innovation and creativity," Iger said in a news statement.

"He is an experienced and versatile executive well suited to lead Parks and Resorts into the future."

As chairman of Parks and Resorts, Chapek succeeds Staggs, who was named Disney's COO in February. Chapek will report to both Iger and Staggs.

"Bob is stepping into this role at an incredibly dynamic and exciting time for our Parks and Resorts business," Staggs said.

"The ongoing construction of Shanghai Disney Resort as well as the new Avatar-themed land at Walt Disney World continues an era of unprecedented growth and historic expansion."

Chapek, 54, is a 1977 graduate of Clark High School in Hammond.

"I am grateful for the many opportunities I have had during my years at Disney, and am thrilled to join the incredible Disney Parks organization," Chapek said.

"I look forward to working with the remarkably talented team dedicated to creating magical memories for millions of guests around the world."

Prior to leading Disney Consumer Products, Chapek served as president of Distribution for The Walt Disney Studios from 2009 to 2011 and was responsible for overseeing the Studios' overall content distribution strategy across multiple platforms including theatrical exhibition, home entertainment, pay TV, digital entertainment and new media. He also served as president of Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, where he spearheaded the successful "vault strategy" for the company’s iconic films and transformed the primary format of home entertainment from DVD to blu-ray.

Before joining Disney in 1993, Chapek worked in brand management at H.J. Heinz Co. and in advertising at J. Walter Thompson. He earned a bachelor's degree in microbiology at Indiana University Bloomington and an MBA from Michigan State University.

"Coming from Hammond, the first thing you consider when thinking about a career is not necessarily working for Disney in Hollywood," Chapek said in a previous interview.

"On the other hand, somebody has to do that job, and why not me?"

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at philip.potempa@nwi.com or (219) 852-4327.

#waltdisneyworld #bobchapek #waltdisneyparksandresorts #nwitimes #philpotempa

FOODIE FRIDAY! What in the World is a Tipsy Duck in Love?

Have you ever walked about in World Showcase at EPCOT, and said........"I want to see what a Tipsy Duck in Love tastes like"?  If you are crazy like me, your answer is probably yes!  I have to say, it's one of my favorite adult beverages, anyplace!

This concoction can be found at the Joy of Tea kiosk across from the China pavilion.  

I am not really a bourbon lover, but I gotta tell you, this blend of the bourbon, coffee, and the chocolate with the whipped cream on the top........well, it's just yummy!!

Next time you head over to EPCOT, stroll your way over to China, go and find the Joy Of Tea!  

CHEERS!!!!!!!!!!!!

#waltdisneyworld

THROWBACK THURSDAY!

This week on TBT we continue with our visits to the EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival 2015,  we stroll on over to the Tinkerbell Butterfly Garden.  I loved walking through this exhibit.  All the beautiful flowers, with the precious butterflies flitting here and there.   The Tinkerbell characters topiary were along the path way, they were adorable.

I hope you enjoy the pictures!