Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, around the world we go. It's the Weekend Update for 8/16/08!
One of our newest MiceChat members, JediMasterMatt, shares his magic moment with The Blue Fairy with us this week. Matt tells a great tale and illustrates it with some spectacular photography. We also present the first part of MiceChat reader Greg L.'s three part European theme park tour, TDLFAN is still taking in the sights and sounds of China and SummerInFL takes a walk on the ritzy side.
First up, though, is some breaking news from the Disneyland Resort.
The Year of a Million Dreams Pre-Parade is about to suffer a cut back. All of the Dancers, Banner Boys, Rope Girls, and Characters will be cut from the Pre-Parade after Saturday. Starting tomorrow, it will be just the car and the Mayor until the Year Of A Million Dreams ends. Thank you to TweedlDum9 and www.DisneyCastMagic.com for the pictures and news.
Now on to the Weekend Update!
Walt Disney World
Orlando, Florida
MiceChatter JediMasterMatt shares these great images from Walt Disney World. This first photo, the arrival of the Blue Fairy during the Wishes fireworks show, has quite a story behind it. You can read about the significance of this photo to Matt in his post “Well I’ll be… it’s the Blue Fairy!”.
I absolutely love the magic hour lighting on this picture, plus I got the fireworks from the show.
We'll be featuring some more of Matt's fantastic photography in an upcoming Weekend Update.
We recently received an email from MiceChat reader Greg L. "Here are some photos that I thought people might be interested in. They're a couple months old as I was studying/traveling Europe January through July, but I'm settled back here in the States to share them. The first are from Disneyland Paris from March, then Efteling in the Netherlands from late May, and Europa Park in Germany from early June."
Now I hate to be a tease, but we are going to take a look at the DLRP photos this week and save the other two European parks for the next few Updates.
Disneyland Resort Paris
Paris, France
No matter where I visited in Paris I could not escape the vendors selling light-up Eiffel Towers, even in the plaza between the Disney Village and the parks.
I wasn't expecting the very cold, rainy, and windy couple of spring days in France. Never had to wear so many clothes to a theme park before.
Enjoyed the new juxtapositions of rides and this view from Big Thunder Mountain to Phantom Manor (I've only been to the Disney World prior.)
Cool silhouette on Adventure Isle.
Indiana Jones et le Temple du Péril was cool looking, but nothing I wanted to ride more than the once.
Exploring the resorts I found some interesting landscaping including these cars planted at the Hotel Santa Fe.
Another view of Phantom Manor as the skies cleared up.
The intricate peak of Paris' Space Mountain.
Hong Kong Disneyland
Hong Kong, China
TDLFAN braves the soggy wet weather in Hong Kong and visits HKDL and the city. Arriving at HKDL on a very wet day...
A very wet Main Street USA
A very wet Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Huge TV monitors by the castle forecourt display live images from sport events in progress at the Beijing Olympics.
A very wet Tarzan's Treehouse.
A very wet Astroblasters.
Tea Pot near Alice's Mad Tea Party.
A very wet It's a Small World.
The entire indoor queue of IASW was filled to capacity.
Pocahontas with Meeko and Flit in the USA scene.
The happy ending..
Le tres jolie finale.
Enough with the rain...and after the WaterWorks Parade and Olympic Dreams Sports Moments show were cancelled, TDLFAN said 'goodbye' to HKDL and headed to the city.
Over in Kowloon...near the famed Clock Tower and the Hong Kong Cultural Center, TDLFAN stumbled upon "The Hong Kong Olympic Piazza". Hong Kong happens to be hosting the Equestrian competitions of the Beijing 2008 Olympics... and this festive area has been opened for the enjoyment of visitors in the City. It features exhibits, an Olympic Items gift shop, live broadcasts from Beijing and other tourist displays from around Hong Kong. Here is the entrance to the Olympic Piazza. The tall walls behind is the Hong Kong cultural center and the walls serve as giant screens where live broadcasts from Beijing are projected periodically.
Small replica of the Water Cube Olympic Center. This structure puts on a colorful show every 15 minutes or so.
Chinese-style lanterns of the Olympic mascots.
Olympic mascots' lanterns.
The Hong Kong skyline is one of the most breathtaking cityscapes in the World. The tallest building seen here (one of the World's tallest) is prominently featured in an action scene from this summer's blockbuster movie "The Dark Knight".
This particular building proudly displays the Olympic Spirit.
"A Symphony of Lights" is a nighly multimedia extravaganza at 8pm, and involves more than 40 buildings on both sides of Victoria Harbour. Buildings light up in ever changing colors, with dancing searchlights, lasers, strobe lights, and even seasonal fireworks and effects choreographed to chinese music and other sounds. It is considered to be the World's largest permanent light and sound show by the Guinness World Records. It is a "must see" show for all visitors to Hong Kong. The Bank of China tower is prominently seen on this photo, with it's striking needle-like triangular design.
So ends this very wet and rainy day in Hong Kong.
SummerInFL shows us how the upper crust lived at the turn of the last century.
Henry B. Plant Museum
Tampa, Florida
We paid a visit to the Henry B. Plant Museum in Tampa, FL last Sunday and had a really great time. The building and craftsmanship is very eclectic and provided a very unique experience.
I looked out onto the veranda and tried to imagine people in the late 1800's sitting out here in the hot Florida summer and thinking how uncomfortable it must have been for them.
The building is topped with these crescent finials.
History Lesson:
Quote:
If you’re railroad magnate Henry Bradley Plant, in the midst of the sand swamps that would be Tampa, you construct the most astonishingly magnificent hotel of its day, then fill it with treasures from around the world. With its splendid Moorish architecture, opulent furnishings, and spectacular tropical gardens, Plant’s Tampa Bay Hotel attracted a host of celebrated guests, from Teddy Roosevelt to Sarah Bernhardt to Babe Ruth. A visit to the Henry B. Plant Museum and the authentically restored rooms of the Tampa Bay Hotel will transport you back to a time of indulgent ten-course meals, waltzing on the veranda and alligator hunting by moonlight.…
What the hotel looked like in the late 1800's...
The Plant's also toured Europe and picked up various pieces of furniture to adorn their hotel.
Also from Europe, these seats were scattered periodically throughout the gardens.
The numbers you see periodically were for the audio wand they passed out. As you were touring, if you entered the number it would give you a little bit more information regarding the piece, room or whatever you happen to be viewing. If you go, I highly recommend this, made the experience a lot better for us.
A typical suite with floor to ceiling windows that open up fully to provide great cross ventilation for guests during more humid days.
This was the Writing and Reading room where guests would frequently sit in and write letters and postcards home to loved ones. It's also the most historically accurate room in the entire building, most of the pieces and the molding is original and everything has been virtually untouched.
The museum is only a portion of the entire building, the remaining area is used for the University of Tampa and has been converted for the school. They give you a map and allow you to go into the University, which gives you descriptions of what some rooms are now and what they used to be.
The main entrance to the school and what used to be the hotel lobby.
The grand staircase.
The first elevator ever in Florida. It swayed side to side when you stepped into it and was rather creepy and alarming.
The Music Room, which is still being used for music, used to hold grand balls and various entertainment.
Quote:
Open from December to April throughout the 1890's, the Hotel was a lively place with magnificent balls, tea parties, and organized hunts during the winter social season. Guests enjoyed an array of diversions, including wild game hunting, fresh and salt-water fishing, sailing, rowing, and canoing. Bicycles and carriages were at their disposal. Rickshaws were available for tours of the property or an afternoon ride to see and be seen. The Hotel also boasted a golf course, tennis and shuffleboard courts, billiards, and even a racetrack. The Casino, a vast performance hall, billed national and international performers.
The balcony area was used for women who wanted to enjoy the music but didn't have anyone to escort them, my how times have changed!
The Dining Lounge was kept separate from the main hotel building, guests had to walk through this Solarium hallway to get there.
Fletcher Lounge
The ceiling and upper floor area was gorgeous and the acoustics were wonderful. Phil and I snuck in a little singing and dancing while we were there.
Out in the main hallway we found this stairwell that brought us up to the second floor.
Unfortunately the door was locked but looking at the flooring around the upper balcony made me think it wasn't secure enough to walk around in there. I did manage to snag this photo however.
Heading back towards the main building, we took the high route and found this fabulous hallway that had a very "wonderland" feel to it.
Back in the main building you can see the rooms have now all been converted into classrooms.
On the way out we passed by this lovely café and the gardens.
Eye Spy
In our EyeSpy feature, we provide you with Disney details which we challenge you to identify. Where in the universe can you find this little beauty?
Where can you find this hidden Tinker Bell?
Eye Spy Answer from last week:
At the exit to Maelstrom in Epcot.
That will do it for this week. Don't forget to check in next week for Greg L.'s trip to Efteling, the largest and most popular theme park in The Netherlands. We also have one of hollywood1939's comprehensive attraction photo studies; next week he will show us Disneyland's Splash Mountain in unforgettable detail.
Thank you to all of our wonderful readers, and as always, a huge thank you to our amazing team of global photographers, spies, and gossips:
Jack Hollywood 1939 Wixom
TDLFAN
Denise nbodyhome Preskitt
SummerInFl
PhotoMatt
Fishbulb
sir clinksalot
MickeyMaxx
A very special thank you to our wonderful guest photographers JediMasterMatt and Greg L. for sharing their vision with us.
Your Editor - Rixter
If you have interesting theme park shots that you would like to share with the readers of the Weekend Update, please send a message to oceansiderick@gmail.com.
It is readers like you who make MiceChat such a special place.
It is readers like you who make MiceChat such a special place.
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Total Comments 17
Comments
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Amazing shots this week everyone! Thank you!!!
Posted 08-16-2008 at 01:10 AM by Dustysage
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FABULOUS photography by Jedimatt.. Kudos.
On a side note... it's too bad about the cut back in the preparade at DL. It's sad when cute boys (like the one pictured above) are let go.Posted 08-16-2008 at 02:07 AM by TDLFAN -
Great job everyone!Posted 08-16-2008 at 08:16 AM by hollywood1939 -
Great pictures!Posted 08-16-2008 at 08:54 AM by WheresMickey - great pics SummerInFL... im actually attending the University of Tampa this coming fall. Such a cool building!Posted 08-16-2008 at 10:11 AM by disneylandlvr729
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The Henry B. Plant Museum looks amazing. I hadn't heard of it before, thanks of sharing!Posted 08-16-2008 at 11:03 AM by JesterMn -
WOW. Those pics of the buildings in Honk Kong are amazing. I also really loved the picture of Phantom Manor. It looks really cool. I so hope that one day I can visit DLP.
Posted 08-16-2008 at 12:15 PM by Craigroy8287 -
Great pictures of the world.Posted 08-16-2008 at 12:27 PM by pratt55 -
That boy is so cute!!!! booo!!Posted 08-16-2008 at 01:52 PM by TravisMT81 -
The girl is cute, too! Am I a pig for saying that?Posted 08-16-2008 at 02:10 PM by BassBone 
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Hotel Santa Fe cars were crazy. Thank you for sharing.Posted 08-16-2008 at 08:29 PM by MirandaPen - Not to be a whiner but I find the Hotel Santa Fe to be offensive. It is a clear explotation of American culture and it makes light of a serious art form (cars in the yard). Of course I am just kidding but it is a bit tacky.Posted 08-17-2008 at 08:44 AM by toemblem
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Fantastic photos Summer. Looks like a very interesting place to visit and commune with the past.Posted 08-17-2008 at 11:36 AM by Timmy55 -
The banner boy is proving popular, and I'm not surprised.
Shame that they're cutting back like that.Posted 08-18-2008 at 01:30 PM by Hathaway Browne -
I was just looking at that skyline photo of Hong Kong and wonder which one of those buildings Batman jumped off of in Dark Knight.
Posted 08-18-2008 at 01:36 PM by Barbossa - The Tallest one you see on that photo.Posted 08-18-2008 at 09:55 PM by TDLFAN
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Another great update this week with some STUNNING photos. Kudos to all of the photographers!Posted 08-21-2008 at 11:42 PM by Mac Daddy
