I’m back from the MiceChat Walt Disney World Invasion. It was amazing, and I’m very, very sick. I’m actually writing this lying on my side. I didn’t get sick there, I had a small thing here, thought it would go away and ended up needing minor surgery, antibiotics and bed rest over there. So, I took it easy and cut way back on the plans and still had a fantastic time. I just looked like hell while I was having it.

The MiceChat Sip and Nibble was incredible. If you’re a Food and Wine Fest newbie, you MUST DO THIS. Not only do you get to try a little of everything, but the cameraderie along the way is the best best best.

I was able to take Alice around like an expert later. The pork with mangu from the Dominican Republic (pictured), Filet with Wild Mushrooms and Truffle Butter from Canada and Banana Ginger Soju Milkshake from Korea were our favorites.

The Halloween Party was wonderful. Oh, that parade! Alice and I loved the castle show, the fireworks, the Hocus Pocus show, and thought the dessert party was really worth it. If you have someone with a food allergy, it may not be. The replacements are decidedly lackluster. Our friend got some berries, which were nice, along with a dry-looking brownie and two pre-wrapped off the shelf treats.

I saw Disney’s Animal Kingdom for the first time in memory, part of it anyway. I had to take it really easy, so we went early, did Kilimanjaro Safaris, Finding Nemo the Musical (which I thought was even better than the movie) and Expedition Everest before heading to Sanaa for bread service and pressed coffee — and a baby zebra making his first appearance!

Space Mountain at the Magic Kingdom is still my favorite roller coaster on the face of the earth, now that Comet Express is gone. Just as fun as I remember. Smooth? No. On-board audio? No. If I wanted those, I’d get a Volvo. This is Space. Freaking. Mountain. The ORIGINAL. The 90s ending to Carousel of Progress almost makes sense now, because it’s so dated it seems like just another scene from the past. I sang “If You Had Wings” to Alice throughout the entire Buzz Lightyear ride, which is my excuse for getting 7100 points to her 310,000. Pork shanks are a beautiful, wonderful, magical thing. It was raining when we rode the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, so I held my hat on.

We stayed at the Coronado Springs, which was lovely, but felt more “resort” and not at all “Disney”, which Alice preferred. She loved the hammocks on the beach. We moved to the Contemporary Resort Garden Wing for the last two nights as a last hurrah, spending time at Fort Wilderness, riding the monorails (They used to smell like new toys, now they smell like a nursing home. What is with that? They should have Febreeze sponsor them.)

Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto was a gem, and I got to meet Kevin-John, who did the gorgeous Bert for the Walt Disney Birthplace silent auction at the Dick Van Dyke event earlier this year. He happened to be there with his beautiful girlfriend, enjoying the show. I returned to the hotel that night with a Nautilus and a Zombie head and a very giggly daughter. I really, really wish that they had merchandise for Trader Sam’s in Anaheim. The crew there is fantastic, very nice. I watched them get berated by angry parents over and over because it was past eight o’clock and they weren’t allowed to bring their young children into a crowded, noisy bar. At least I kept mine under the stairs at the Club.

Fab Veers Off into AdventureClubLand

And speaking of which – I went and stood in front of what was left of the Adventurers’ Club and took it in. I could look at the framework and see where the banners hung, where the zebra stood, where the library was. It looks like it cannibalized the building next door, or was expanded on its own. Whatever takes its place will be a lot bigger. I don’t think it will have the same spirit. However, Jock Lindsay’s comes pretty close, and there’s even a picture of the permanent members of the Adventurers’ Club on their final journey before the Pleasure Island club faded into legend.

So, nit-pickers, here’s the question for you: is it canon? Is what is in Jock Lindsay’s Bar canon to Indiana Jones? The first thing you see when you pick up the menu is the SEA – the Society for Explorers and Adventurers – this links the two worlds. Is Dr. Jones a member of the SEA along with Lord Henry Mystic and Harrison Hightower? Can anyone recall if Drs Henry Jones Sr. or Jr. were members of the Adventurers’ Club in terms of artifacts, letters or photos in the club? This is why I wanted to go back and document everything on the walls before it closed. I was just too broke. Did anyone do it? Contact me!

Also, I got a look at the construction of the Jungle Cruise Skipper Canteen. The veranda is almost finished. I couldn’t see the SEA room from where I was; but here’s another thing: SEA now goes from The Magic (Captain Oceaneer) to Tokyo’s Tower of Terror (Harrison Hightower) to Hong Kong Disneyland’s Mystic Manor (Lord Henry Mystic et al) to the Indiana Jones Universe (Jock Lindsay) to the Jungle Cruise (Canteen) to Trader Sam’s (via Adventurers’ Club, Jungle Cruise and Indy), to Aulani (library SEA portrait from Adventurers’ Club is now hanging there). And Trader Sam’s is tied to the Tiki Room, so that is part of it, too. Am I missing anything? I have a serious special focus thing going on for the SEA, forgive me.

We actually started our trip at Universal Orlando, as I mentioned last week. Two nights at Cabana Bay, one day split between parks, mostly at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Words cannot even begin. If you’ve been, you understand. If you have not been, you will never, until you are standing there. Debate time: Butter Beer, I like it hot.

Springfield’s nice, and we had a nice time cooling our heels in the Popeye area of Toon Lagoon. Really nice representation of the classic homespun, extremely violent, but caring characters in that universe.

While the Wife’s Away

Noe worked the parade! The Anaheim Halloween Parade, that is, pushing floats out at the beginning and back in at the end, and he even had time to take a few photos. His legs still hurt, but he says it was worth it.

Everyone had so much fun! I really wish I could have been there. Maybe we can move the invasion a week or two earlier next year so that we can be back in time to catch the parade. Only my fairy godmother would know.

If you want to be part of the parade, you can be! You can get together a team (hint, hint MiceChatters) and make a float based on one of the old Disney float designs, or you can just come in whenever you can, starting in January. If you don’t have the time, put your money where your mouth is and donate some paint, hardware or tools. This thing is magical and it’s only going to get better every year. I know I want to be part of it. For more information, visit AnaheimHalloweenParade.org

Why Should You Go See This?

Mark your calendars. The last two years’ shows have been incredible. Steve Davison and company really know how to put the magic in a little city Christmas. Even the family Scrooge sings along.

It was wonderful finally getting to meet some of you in Florida, and I promise I won’t stay away so long next time. I really want to thank my patrons and supporters. I couldn’t have gone and met all the people, made all the networking connections and gotten all the stories  and experiences I did without your help, and I can’t express my appreciation enough. If you would like to help support Fab News, click on one of the banners below.

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