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From: [e-mail] (Al Lutz)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney.parks,alt.disney.disneyland,news.answers,rec.answers,alt.answers
Subject: [FAQ/DL] D-I-G: The Disneyland Information Guide 4/7
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Summary: This posting provides up-to-date tips and information about the Disneyland theme park in Anaheim, California
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Archive-name: disney-faq/disneyland/part4
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Keywords: Disneyland, amusement-park, Disney, FAQ, California

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This document is copyright (c) 1997 by Al Lutz, [e-mail]  Please
refer to the copyright paragraph at the beginning of this document for
detailed information.


TIP: In order to get the best seating location, plan to see the final show
of the night. The first wave of humanity has left by then, which makes
access much easier. Arrive at the edge of the "Rivers of America" in
Frontierland / New Orleans Square just as the preceding performance is
ending, and as the crowds move out, you move in. If you are visiting the
park with a group, you may want to send one member ahead in the middle of
the preceding performance to stake out spots as it ends, and that way the
show won't be spoiled for you. (In the Summer & holiday seasons, this can
be tough, since prime seats are claimed right away.) Crowds between shows
are usually routed out like cattle through Adventureland, and herded in
through Frontierland. (You can also take the train from Main St. to the
Frontierland station / New Orleans Square station to avoid crowds by
entering the back way, just plan enough time to do so.)

The "sweet spot" for both sound and visuals is located at the river's edge
facing the shack on Tom Sawyer's Island. You'll sit on the cobblestones
around where a metal manhole cover is, between the river and wall. (Avoid
sitting right on the metal cover, it's COLD!) Find it by looking for three
tall hydraulic light towers, (which are hidden underground during the day)
and heading for the center one, which is across from the "Pirates" entrance
/ bridge, on the second walkway tier above the river. (This tower is
different from the others in that it has a control panel with tech people
right at the base.)

This area can also be located by looking for the "Kodak Photo Spot" sign on
the river's edge, and then sitting to the RIGHT between the next two light
posts, as you face the island. Despite what the announcer says, unless it's
windy, you won't get wet. (TIP: Make a mental note of where this location
is early in the day by finding it ahead of time so you know right where to
go.) When the show ends, stay put, listen to the three minutes of much-too-
hyper exit music and wait till the crowds die down. Afterwards you can move
easily to your next destination. You can watch the performance from other
locations, but you may have to stand for the entire thing, and / or the
view may be partially obstructed. (Don't you hate it when people put kids
on their shoulders blocking the view?) Also, all show action is timed to
take place right at stage center. where the effects can literally envelope
you, making this a much better experience. Is any show worth all this
hassle? (And writing about??) Like Ursula from "The Little Mermaid" says
during the performance, "Just do it!" You won't regret it.

TIP: If you feel like being pampered, and are willing to pay for the
privilege, the Disney Gallery above "Pirates" hosts a FANTASMIC VIEWING
DESSERT BUFFET in the balcony at each performance. You and 14 other guests
get reserved seats, and all-you-can-eat desserts including wicked
cheesecakes and wonderful coffees while being waited on hand and foot by
terrific CMs. The view is spectacular, and it's relaxed and un-crowded.
Just before show time you are handed a small little program / keepsake.

The big advantage here is that you can arrive at about 20 to 30 minutes
before show time and not tie-up your whole evening. It's as expensive as
admission to the park, but if you want to really live it up, short of being
a Club 33 member, there's really nothing quite like it at DL.

Keep in mind the limited seating ensures this always sells out, and if
Disney is hosting VIPs in the park, the first performance will be reserved
for them. Attending the first performance will also get you the bonus of
seeing the fireworks / light show (if performed) from this location. Look
in section ENTERTAINMENT & EVENTS for details on cost and how to book your
reservations.


HUNCHBACK FESTIVAL OF FOOLS SHOW

This is a brand new 22 minute extravaganza that utilizes the former Big
Thunder Ranch area located between Frontierland and Fantasyland behind the
Big Thunder ride. A huge and very busy cast (bigger than any show I've seen
at the park before) compete for your attention all over a large, almost
distracting, semi-circular set. The basic premise is that Clopin (King of
the Gypsies) tells you the story of the Hunchback, and all the celebrants
on the stages around you (the performers) volunteer for the parts. The
stage is gigantic - and its shape encourages action all over it with Quasi
on ropes swinging back and forth or sliding down poles from some of the
multi leveled platforms - some as high as four stories. The action also
takes place in the audience area with dancers at ground level and on tops
of carts that are wheeled back and forth between the main set and the
center stage area. Set dressing / changing consists of large wooden panels
or drapes being pulled open or over walls. Confetti cannons are used
liberally.

The song / production numbers ["The Bells of Notre Dame" "Out There" and
"Topsy Turvey" a short "Hellfire"] take up the bulk of the show's time with
spectacular staging. Because of this the rest of the movie's plot is then
shoehorned into the last 7 minutes of the performance. As is typical with
any DL show - everyone works very hard and is very talented.

All of the music and the singing chorus of the show is on tape - some, but
not all of the lead performances are live. Since Quasi can not sing because
his costume - four singers are assigned to shadow him during the "Out
There" number. They sing for him as he swings around the set - it does work
well as a theatrical device. The music arrangements are top-notch as we've
come to expect on the DL shows. (It's a much more briskly conducted version
of the score than the film's soundtrack.)

There are some problems - mainly having to do with the incredible amount of
confusion 50 or so performers can engender while rushing around this huge
set. The biggest is a dramatic device that is introduced by Clopin at the
beginning, where he tells you that you will see people running all over the
stage with red flags - which will be waved near where you should be
focusing your attention to hear the story. I don't know about you - but
anytime you have to tell folks where the play is - you're in trouble I
would think. A few times it seems the flag wavers couldn't make it over to
the action quick enough - confusing things a bit.

Also this is the second show [after Pocahontas's missing Meeko and Flit]
where the comic sidekicks that are so prominent in the film are not
represented. Hugo, Victor and Laverne are nowhere to be seen. Just try and
explain that to a six year old. Another major problem develops when the
show ends. Because they funnel everyone though the gift shop area - which
when people begin to browse and shop - it slows down the exiting. This was
just plain stupid - accommodations should have been made to provide a
swifter exit, and word is that DL is suffering from excessive shoplifting
here.

WARNING! If for some reason you decide to brave a show during the afternoon
in the heat, make sure YOU ARE SLATHERED WITH SUNBLOCK AND HAVE A HAT. Once
you get into the show THERE IS NOT A SPECK OF SHADE TO PROTECT YOU IN THE
ENRIRE VIEWING AREA - so again MAKE SURE YOU ARE PREPARED. It's a brutal
way to treat an audience, let's hope they come up with at least some kind
of shade material that can be strung over the area. (As of this date DL had
re-scheduled the shows to begin starting at about 3 PM because of the
avalanche of complaints they had received about this problem.)
Here's what you have to deal with: 30 minutes before show time you and
about 2,000 other people are herded from the line in the walkway into a
holding pen area - where upon you will then be told how the seating for the
show works. Cast Members pair up and try to explain that different color
flags that you will see being waved once you enter the show area indicate
what kind of seating there is.

No matter how loud they shout - how many flags they hold up - or how many
diagrams they thrust in the air - trust me you will not understand a word
they are saying. Since they are not amplified - plus someone got the
brilliant idea that they had to affect an accent - mostly English, what
that has to do with France I have no idea - you will not be able to know
what to do.

Basically this is what they are trying to communicate to you: There are
three ways to see this event. 1) Sitting on a semi circular series of
benches facing the center structure looking towards the half circle of the
stage, 2) Sitting on the ground right at the base of the stage with the
center structure and then the benches across from you, or 3) Standing.
If you sit on the benches, in particular in the center area facing the
center tower head on and NOT at an angle, everything happens in front of
you with some show action to your sides. In the other two areas, the show
surrounds you somewhat - but you will be at a viewing disadvantage during
some moments in the performance.

The standing areas behind the benches across from the stage may probably be
the best way to view this show for now. When you get accommodated vendors
come out and sell you drinks - and the CM's try to get the audience spirit
up with making everyone do the wave or have sections out-shout each other
until the show starts.

Overall, the Hunchback "Festival of Fools" is enthusiastically performed
and very well done - Disneyland should be commended for trying something
this major and elaborate, and the cast certainly deserves major bows for
the hard work they put into it. When they make the viewing conditions more
civilized for the audience, they will have outdone themselves again.

JOHN FROST [e-mail] posted his own extensive guide to the show
online in the Disney Usenet Newsgroups, and at his new Harbor Club 1313
website, he offers some terrific detailed advice, much more than I can
possibly squeeze into this guide: http://members.aol.com/frost1313/


THE SPIRIT OF POCAHONTAS SHOW

This show replaced Beauty and the Beast Live at the FANTASYLAND STAGE
(formerly Videopolis). This show did NOT impress me - and it probably has
to do with the fact that "Pocahontas" as a movie is just a much tougher
challenge than something like "Beast" to create a half-hour theme park
extravaganza out of. Since my initial review DL has steadily improved it,
but I think it's still much too arty and stylized for children especially,
as they end-up getting quite restless. (Meeko and Flit, who keep them
entertained in the film, are not represented on stage -- although you may
be able to find Meeko out as a walk-around in the general show area.) There
is a long prelude before the show starts with a simulated moonrise and
forest effects as the audience gets settled, and then there is a very VERY
long overture before the actual show starts up.

Basically an elder storyteller recounts the Pocahontas legend to his tribe,
and they, through the use of primitive props, (silver masks represent the
British for example) act out the story. The exception of course is that
Pocahontas and John Smith "magically" appear to perform. The performers and
dancers (the woman performing Pocahontas especially) are quite good and
there's lots of bouncy and running type choreography. (Want to get an eerie
feeling? Listen to everyone sing along word by word to the songs. - Ahhh
the Disney promotion machine at its finest!) As always with any DL show,
the sets, costumes, and clever effects with trapdoors and wind-blown leaves
are all top-notch. The recorded musical score improves upon the film's
since it's more briskly and brightly conducted. Make an effort to see this
show at night since the lighting adds a lot to it. As it probably won't run
anywhere near as long as "Beauty & the Beast" did, you may want to catch
this show soon.

Susan Paulukonis [e-mail] was kind enough to offer the following
additional thoughts on this show: "The Pocahontas show is wonderful if you
are a preschool through preadolescent child, especially a girl. My 3 year
old daughter and the other girls around us were enthralled, despite the 45
minute wait and seats in almost the back row. It sounds like they've made
changes for the better since then, which we adults will appreciate, but
besides meeting Mickey in person, I don't think there was a better event in
2 full days of DL for my daughter."

TIPS: On busy days people are waiting up to an hour before show time to
get a seat during the day - with the only performance that's not brutally
crowded being the last one of the night. Your best bet to get a seat
without waiting for hours in the sun is to get in line for the last show
just as the previous show gets out.

Make sure you get a pass from the CM's guarding the entrances and exits of
the show if you decide to get something from the snack bar or use the
restroom. This will insure you can get back in and to your seat.

WARNING: There have been some show cancellations due to performers getting
injured while dancing on the very steeply raked stage. Since DL has not
been announcing cancellations until just before show time, a wait in line
may end up being a total waste of time for you. Keep this in mind if time
is tight during your visit.



---------------------------------
     16) PARADES & FIREWORKS
---------------------------------


THE LION KING CELEBRATION

This is a "performance" parade, stopping three times on the route between
Fantasyland and Main St. to perform Circle of Life, releasing white doves
as a finale during daytime performances. If you want to see a complete
show, rather than the parade just walking by, position yourself in any of
these three areas, which are pretty standard for optimal views no matter
what the procession:

A) MAIN ST. PLAZA: Anywhere in the plaza across from the train station.
(The parade wraps around you here!)

B) MAIN ST. ITSELF: In the middle, where Carnation and Disney Clothiers are
across from each other.

C) THE HUB IN THE CENTER OF THE PARK: Across from the Tomorrowland plaza
entrance.

These are the best locations of course, so get your viewing spots an hour
before parade time. If the temperature goes past 85, due to heat exhaustion
the performers may face, (and the fact that the floats may start sinking
into the hot asphalt), only the B & C areas will get complete performances.


FANTASY IN THE SKY FIREWORKS with TINKERBELL

Shows begin on selected weekends and holidays beginning May this year and
are then performed nightly, usually until the week of Labor Day. (There is
also a midnight show on New Year's Eve, and shows are enhanced for several
days before and on the 4th of July.) "Tinkerbell" has returned for Summer
performances to start things off, flying down from the Matterhorn to a
shack located up in the trees between Fantasyland and BIG THUNDER MTN. A
new computerized DISNEY LIGHTS show joins the fireworks over the skies of
DL which adds to the experience, they then repeat soundlessly a few times
over the course of the rest of the evening.

There are four really great viewing locations, (listed here in order of
preference) depending on how you want to deal with the crowds:

A) FANTASMIC!: The show either starts about 10 minutes before or after the
first show. The fireworks appear above BIG THUNDER MTN. to your right, and
you get to hear the music on the FANTASMIC! sound system. If you look
closely in the trees between the Matterhorn and BIG THUNDER MTN., you can
see Tink fly across. (Note TIP above.)

B) FANTASYLAND: While the masses clog Main St., you can view the show in
relatively un-crowded conditions by sitting in the table area located
between DUMBO and CASEY JR'S CIRCUS TRAIN behind the Carousel, 60 to 45
minutes before show time. Here is also the best location for getting an up
close view of Tink as she flies right over the Carousel from the
MATTERHORN, upon which you'll then turn around to look over at the back of
the park for the fireworks.

C) MAIN ST. USA: This has to be the most crowded location, due to the fact
the nighttime parade ends here, and people want to relive those few opening
and ending moments of the "Wonderful World of Color" TV show by watching
the fireworks over the Castle. If you want to brave the crowds, best
viewing spot is in the middle of the street right between the PLAZA INN and
PLAZA PAVILION restaurants, moving back and forth until you have a clear
view of the Matterhorn. You will also be optimally positioned to see the
new DISNEY LIGHTS show from here.

D) BIG THUNDER RANCH / FESTIVAL OF FOOLS STAGE AREA: If there is a 9 PM
Hunchback show, and the fireworks are on time - CM's will allow you to stay
in this area and see the fireworks go off right over your head. A
wonderfully un-crowded area with bench seating, this is a great viewing
alternative, (they even have thoughtfully piped in the music). The loud
explosions - because they are launched almost directly over your head - add
to the fun.

TIP: Robert Pinsky [e-mail] made the following very wise
suggestion about loud fireworks scaring the younger ones - "After the
parade, my little boy and I run to the Plaza Inn. We enter through the exit
door and sit in the north facing solarium and watch the fireworks over the
castle. I think he's afraid of the loud sounds, not the fireworks
themselves. I guess I'm the only one that has ever thought of going there
because the room is always empty during fireworks time."



THOSE LITTLE DETAILS THAT MAKE DL SO SPECIAL...


---------------------------------------
     17) DON'T MISS / DON'T BOTHER
---------------------------------------

DON'T MISS:

Some of the most charming places and things in the park always seem to get
missed when you try and do everything at once. Here are some nifty things
you may want to look or listen for on your visit:


MAIN STREET USA

WALT'S MINIATURE TRAIN ENGINE AND CABOOSE, which he built and ran in his
backyard home are on exhibit at the Train Station. There is also an aerial
map of DL with little lights that is used to show where the trains are on
the track around the park. The photo dates back quite a few years and is
fascinating if you want to know more about how the park is actually laid
out.

The GREAT MOMENTS WITH MR. LINCOLN lobby hosts THE WALT DISNEY STORY
exhibit where you can see Walt's original offices from Burbank and lots of
neat momentos. Also in the lobby look for the Owl from "So Dear To My
Heart" do a brief presentation on Walt Disney's "True-Life Adventures"
series of films. Many children delight in this simple presentation - which
runs just before the widescreen film discussing the work that went into the
Mr. Lincoln exhibit at the other end of the lobby.

The MAIN STREET CINEMA offers five Mickey silents, along with STEAMBOAT
WILLIE.

Where the CONE SHOP and Lockers are located, look up at the windows and
listen. You'll hear someone getting their tooth extracted at the dentist; a
child being "taught" how to play the piano ("OUCH") at the piano teacher's;
at the Hotel Marceline (named after Walt's home town) you'll hear someone
gargling, or being told to turn his "musical cylinder machine" off, and at
the Detective's Office you'll hear a gumshoe snoring.

At the MARKET HOUSE shop look for the old-fashioned crank telephones on the
wall and listen in to a 1890's party line.


ADVENTURELAND

While waiting in line for the JUNGLE CRUISE, look for an animated cobra and
hornbill in the rafters of the second story queue area. Listen carefully to
the radio which is blaring 30's & 40's music and news about Dr. Indy Jones'
amazing discoveries at the temple of Mara next door.

There is a great STEELBAND which performs most weekends / holidays and
during the Summer (sometimes alternating with a terrific 40's Brass Band)
on top of the Tropical Imports shop, which is part of the new JUNGLE CRUISE
two-story wait area.

The BAZAAR shops across the way now include two animated arcade-like
attractions, a Robin Williams-sounding light-up / smoke-emitting lamp and a
shrunken head medical advisor. They require 50 cents to operate.

The TRUCK parked at the entrance of the INDY ride is the actual one that
was used in the famous chase (where Indy gets thrown out the windshield) in
the first movie. Look for the initials (in the Mara code of course) of all
the Imagineers who worked on the new INDY ride in the obelisk room, down
the corridor as you enter the temple. Of note are the late Frank Wells
initials, which are at the right hand side of the wall next to the exit
door. Down the corridor from this room you will see a statue with an
inscription above it, when decoded it says "Earthly Riches," and the face
intentionally resembles Walt, down to the mustache.

You can set off the "drop" ceiling in INDY'S spike room by pushing lightly
on the bamboo pole holding the ceiling up. Further on in the Indy queue, in
the large circular room before you enter the movie area, yank on the rope
coming out of the well for some neat sound effects.

Look for MICKEY on the cover of the Life Magazine which is on the desk in
the office cage after the movie room. The cage itself is constructed from a
crate, which still bears the ID number of the one that contained the ark of
the covenant which you see getting wheeled away in the final few seconds of
the first Indy movie.


NEW ORLEANS SQUARE

THE DISNEY GALLERY, (enter via a stairway above the PIRATES OF THE
CARIBBEAN) is a wonderful spot to enjoy a relaxing moment in the hustle and
bustle of DL. Exhibits include DL Paris models and renderings; an "Indiana
Jones" exhibit with models & artwork; and a permanent display about the
creation of DL. The patio there is a wonderful place to sit down and relax,
and the balcony, (where you can reserve seating for Fantasmic viewing /
dessert buffet) offers a great view of the park.

Listen to the clicks coming from the TRAIN STATION TELEGRAPH in New Orleans
Square / Frontierland, it's Walt's DL opening day address that's being
transmitted. To the right of the train station platform - there is a small
walkway which leads to a viewing area for the DL RAILROAD engine. (There is
also a similar viewing area in Tomorrowland.) Younger guests will
especially enjoy this up-close look at the real steam engines - and don't
be surprised if the train engineers take a few moments to chat and give you
a special toot on the whistle.

At night the HAUNTED MANSION has a spooky dim light moving around inside
past the second story windows. Also take a few moments to read the very wry
tombstones in the pet cemetery, located to the left of the building as you
approach it. One contains a grammatical error, can you spot it? The horse
drawn hearse outside once carried famous Mormon leader Brigham Young to his
final resting place.

Take a quiet break on the patio around and behind FOWLER'S HARBOR which is
where they dock the COLUMBIA or the MARK TWAIN across from SPLASH MTN.. The
pathway behind lets you look down to where the logs come out from the drop
at SPLASH.


FRONTIERLAND

Next time you ride BIG THUNDER MTN. listen for the dialog coming from the
bar in the little Western town, RAINBOW RIDGE, located above the ride next
to the Mexican food place.

The two JUMPING FISH have returned occasionally to the lake across the
bridge from where BIG THUNDER rolls by in the path between Frontierland and
Fantasyland. I know this is kind of dumb to note - but if you only saw how
much e-mail I get on this...


FANTASYLAND

DL now allows weddings to take place in the park, you can see them
sometimes in the grassy areas to the left or right of the castle as
you approach it from the center hub. You don't want to know what it
costs trust me.

LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW: SNOW WHITE'S WISHING WELL (to the
right of the Castle as you face it) echoes Snow's voice as she sings "I'm
Wishing" just like in the movie. The song repeats every few minutes. (The
tracks were newly re-recorded for Snow White's 50th Anniversary re-release
by the original Snow, the late Adriana Caselotti.) Any money thrown into
the well (as well as any similar locations in the park) goes to children's
charities.

Look above the entrance of SNOW WHITE'S SCARY ADVENTURES in Fantasyland.
After a few moments the curtains in the window will part, and you'll see
the EVIL QUEEN glare out at you, again just like in the movie.

Below the queen's window at SNOW WHITE there is a BRASS STORYBOOK ON A
PEDESTAL featuring a magic wishing apple. Touch the apple and you'll hear
one of several different laughs or cackles from the witch.

In the castle forecourt (just before you go over the bridge to enter it
from the hub) look for the giant compass markings in the cement, and look
down below the "S" (South) marker to find the plaque marking the spot where
the 40th Anniversary DL TIME CASTLE is buried.

The exact center of DL as originally built is marked by a BRASS SPIKE HEAD
embedded in the ground right as you walk into the entrance of SLEEPING
BEAUTY CASTLE. In the courtyard you can also see a new brass sculpture of
Princess Aurora and Prince Phillip from SLEEPING BEAUTY.

Between the PETER PAN entrance and exit there is a second story window,
where if you listen carefully, you can hear Wendy and Peter Pan discussing
their trip to Neverland.

The SLEEPING BEAUTY WALK-THOUGH is accessed via a door next the Castle pass-
thru beside the TINKERBELL'S TOY SHOP. Go up the steps into and through and
then out the other side of the castle to see animated dioramas from "Sleeping
Beauty." Make sure to turn the turnstile an extra couple of times on your way
out so the Disney folks think more people are going through it and won't try
to close it down again. (Thanks for the suggestion Rich & Carol Koster! And
thank YOU CM extraordinaire Roberta Brubaker for caring enough to organize the
campaign to save this.)

At IT'S A SMALL WORLD the clock tower has a mechanical doll parade every
quarter hour.

In the first ice room you go through in the MATTERHORN look for a crate and
a pick-ax, recently added during the last rehab. On the crate it says
"Wells Expedition," this is another tribute to the late Disney exec. Frank
Wells.


MICKEY'S TOONTOWN

TOONTOWN has talking manhole covers and mailboxes near the ROGER RABBIT
ride. Most doorbell buttons activate a sound or animation effect when you
push them. Try and open the door at the POWER COMPANY. Shocking!

In Minnie's house look for a copy of JESSICA'S SECRET catalog (a take-off
of the "Victoria's Secret" catalog) on the arm of the chair in the front
room, and in the kitchen look at the bookshelf on the right of the exit
door for the book "Elvis, What Happened?"

At GOOFY'S GAS STATION look for the drinking fountains labeled GOOFY WATER.
While you get a refreshing drink listen to the little gremlins in the
drain, and at night marvel at the multi-colored lighted water that pours
out.


TOMORROWLAND

Did you know the original CircleVision America the Beautiful film has
returned for a short (until Spring) engagement? Before this theater gets
zapped forever to become an integral part of the new Rocket Rods ride that
replaces the People Mover. WD Imagineering thought it would be nice to
salute this departing attraction with the original film that played here
when the park opened. Catch it before it becomes an addition to Werner's
charming "Yesterland" site.

In SPACE MOUNTAIN look for TVs in the dark queue area right next to the
ride. (Identical to WDW's Space Mtn.) The video loop on them features a
channel hopping host showing you some very funny stuff being broadcast
around the Galaxy. Segments include Charles Fleischer (the voice of Roger
Rabbit) as a used satellite salesman, PNN (Pan-Galactic News Network, a CNN
take-off) with quick news-bites utilizing old campy sci-fi footage - look
for some stuff from "The Black Hole," "Robo-cize," a FedEx ad (they sponsor
the ride) and my favorite: "The Blast-Off Channel." A new surround sound
high seat-back system has also been installed in SPACE MTN. utilizing a new
Dick Dale surf guitar soundtrack, the familiar melody used as the basis for
this is actually classical composer St. Saens' "Aquarium" from the
"Carnival of the Animals."

In STAR TOURS look quickly to the lower right hand side of the screen as
your Starspeeder takes its first major dip after going the wrong way, and
you'll see a replica of the MIGHTY MICROSCOPE which used to "shrink" you in
the old Monsanto ADVENTURES THRU INNER SPACE attraction, which STAR TOURS
replaced. And yes, that is PEE WEE HERMAN (Paul Rubens) doing the voice of
the first-time droid pilot - and GEORGE LUCAS ducking as your Starspeeder
careens back into port at the end of your ride.

To the right of the Tomorrowland train station platform - there is small
walkway (just like in Frontierland) which leads to a viewing area for the
DL RAILROAD engine. [Currently closed due to construction, but reopening
soon] Again, younger guests will especially enjoy this up-close look at
the real steam engines - and don't be surprised if the train engineers
take a few moments to chat and give you a special toot on the whistle.


DL HOTEL

In the MAIN LOBBY building, the entrance to the GRAND BALLROOM is flanked
by two photo walls. One features photos of DL and Walt as the park was
built and expanded, the other wall has a great collection of celebrity
visitor photos over the years. Walk around the corner to the left into the
next hall and see a wonderful Disney memorabilia wall collage. Across from
this is a reproduction of the original DL concept map that Walt used to
sell the park on TV. Also all throughout the various hotel lobbies concept
sketches and art for the attractions in DL are on exhibit.

The FANTASY WATERS show at the hotel is pretty tame, but if you're tired
and need a break, it can be a nice way to get away from the day's
whirlwind. 7 & 8 PM nightly. (There is a holiday edition performed from
Thanksgiving to New Year's.)

On some weekends, Summer and holiday periods a very entertaining brass
group THE BELLHOPS shuttle around the hotel in a golf cart and put on a
charming show.

Sometimes you can also catch a DISNEY WEDDING in progress at the hotel,
which you can view from a distance if you remain quiet. Seeing the bride
arrive in the horse-drawn crystal Cinderella carriage is simply amazing for
two reasons - the amount of money this must have cost, and just how radiant
the bride is stepping out of the carriage. Check the events guide posted
near each hotel elevator for any events that are planned for that day.

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