TS4? Really?

Tom Hanks has made some comments in recent interviews indicate he was in talks to do another Toy Story movie. Apparently, Mr. Hanks wasn't just blowing smoke. Popular website IMDB (Internet Movie Data Base) has a listing for Toy Story 4, with a release date in 2015.

I'm just not sure what to think about this. The TS3 ending was so perfect and definitive...and the audience had grown attached to Andy and his family over the years...just not sure I'm ready to see how things play out in a different scenario. What do you think?

Friday Photo

This bit of art was hanging in the World of Coca Cola museum in Atlanta. We visited in the spring, and I just had to take a pic of it!

YES Programs Introduce "Kingdom Keepers Quest"

My 7-year-old daughter loves the Kingdom Keepers novel series by Ridley Pearson. (OK, I admit it...I like the books too!) We were super excited to hear that Disney's Youth Education Series has introduced a unique educational experience centered around the books: The Kingdom Keepers Quest. The post mentions that this is for groups of 10 or more students (no age specs given). Here's hoping that they open this up to homeschoolers for individual enrollment!

Thursday's Tip

Today's tip goes out to those who push their way to the front of every group waiting for the magical theatre doors to open before a show. (Careful--doors open toward you, so please stay behind the yellow line!). The tip? Choose your seat wisely.

You see, those who push and crowd are rewarded with the worst seat in the house--as far to the side as you can get. Unless the crowds are extremely light, Disney has a policy for guests to "move all the way to the end of the aisle, leaving no seats between you and the other guests." And I have seen them enforce this policy, too. (When the crowds are light, they tend to overlook it.) Although most theatres at WDW provide a decent view from all angles, a little planning can help you snag the best view in the house.

In most cases that means finding a seat in the middle of the theatre--that is, about halfway back and toward the center. So before entering those magical doors, you need to position yourself in the middle of the crowd. And if that doesn't work out, you can guage the crowd as you enter the theatre, hanging back and allowing other guests to pass you when necessary. Just make sure you're not holding up traffic--be courteous!

Of course, if you have little ones that may cause a fuss during the show, it's always a good idea to position yourself near an emergency exit. Cast Members will usually identify the doors you should use to exit once a show is in progress.

There is definitely truth in Matthew 20:16, "The last will be first, and the first last."  Sometimes letting

Refillable Mug Crackdown Begins

I warned you it was coming. And now it seems that the All-Star Sports End Zone food court is the first to implement new drink stations that restrict the use of the refillable mugs that are so popular among return-visit Disney guests.

The "rules" for the refillable mugs have traditionally gone something like this: purchase a mug in the food court or gift shop (most recently costing around $14), then you have the right to unlimited soft drink refills at the resort's food court--not in the Parks--for the length of your stay. Years ago, the mugs were themed specifically to the resort where they could be purchased, and guests were supposed to use them at only that resort. More recently, there has been a yearly design that was the same for all resorts, allowing guests to use it at any resort food court. The mugs are intended for the length of your stay, but many have gotten around this by bringing mugs on return visits (or even sharing them with friends traveling to WDW).

Abuse of the system has been rampant. I myself have witnessed guests refilling mugs that were clearly several years old--even some that were from the individual resort mug days. And with the open drink dispensers, guests could actually get refills in a non-refillable cup or even in a (gasp!) water cup.You can't really blame Disney for coming up with a solution. Sadly, this solution is going to be quite restricting.

The new drink machines installed at All-Star Sports no longer have a typical push lever that releases the beverage, and they have software to restrict use to each mug's allotted length of stay. (I'm not sure of the exact technology, but I'm guessing the mugs have some sort of bar code that hold the info on the guest's resort stay.) Instead of pushing the cup against the lever to dispense a beverage, guests simply place the mug in the appropriate spot, and the machine "reads" the mug and dispenses the liquid automatically. (Not sure how that works if you just want a partial refill.) Old mugs or other cups will be denied anything other than ice and water.

While I know this will be a serious downer for some families, especially those that make multiple trips each year, I'm not all that bummed about it. Disney has every right to enforce the rules of their system, and we can choose not to buy into it. (Our family stopped using the mugs once milk was no longer a "free" refillable beverage. We're not big soda drinkers.) 

Let's remember, it's one thing to work within a system to get your money's worth--and another thing entirely to cheat a system to get something you didn't pay for. Some might counter-argue that it's highway robbery what Disney charges for a soft drink, and I don't disagree. All the more reason to bring your own on your next visit!

When Characters Meet Technology

This viral video (with more than a quarter of a million views!) shows the grace and poise that Disney characters display when presented with modern technology. Watch as Rapunzel and Flynn are introduced to the wonder that is the iPad.

I think we'll start to see more scenarios like this as iPads become commonplace in the Parks, both for signing purposes and, of course, for all the great Disney apps that are available. At some point, characters will probably just go about their signing without comment, as they do now with traditional autograph books ('cause aren't those a little foreign to the settings of most fairytales too?). Still, it's fun to see their reaction to this new technology.

Interactive Park Game HQ to Take Over Main Street Firehouse

When Disney recentlyannounced that the gift shop in the Main Street Firehouse would be closing--without acknowledging what would take its place--tongues started wagging on fan sites. It seems that we now have our answer: Sorcerors of the Magic Kingdom, a new interactive game--not unlike the Kim Possible Adventure in Epcot--will have its headquarters there.

Much like KP, this new interactive adventure will send guests on a quest to find clues that will trigger some sort of action in the various Lands of the Magic Kingdom, and ultimately allowing guests to solve some sort of mystery or dilemma. Unlike KP, however, guests will not be given handheld cell phone devices, but rather cards with bar codes that will somehow drive this experience. (Hey, I'm no technology guru...maybe I'll understand it when I see it.)

Disney has plans for similar games in its Alauni Resort in Hawaii and already has implemented a game using this technology on the Disney Dream cruise ship.