Theme Parks - Offstage WDW

Behind the Scenes with Nemo the Musical

offstagewdw — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 17:32:11 +0000

Let’s dive into the Big Blue World, to learn some fascinating details about the Broadway styled musical which was located at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Before it was “Finding Nemo” the Theater in the Wild was home to Journey into Jungle Book followed by Tarzan Rocks!

The musical’s soft opening began November 5, 2006 and its grand opening was January 24, 2007.

©Disney

All 14 songs are original music composed by husband-and-wife duo, Robert Lopez & Kristen Anderson-Lopez, the lyricists for Frozen, Coco, and more!

Photo Credit: Janet Susan R. Nepales/HFPA

The show was directed by award-winning Broadway director, Peter Brosius. and the puppet designer for The Lion King on Broadway. Michael Curry.

©Disney

Some of the puppets are the size of a standard car and requite multiple puppeteers.

©Disney

During the live performance, the actors sang, acted, and controlled the puppets; however, on the official musical soundtrack, the parts of Marling and Dory are sang by Robert and Kristen Lopez!

©Disney

The song, “Big Blue World” is also heard at the end of the attraction, The Seas with Nemo & Friends in Epcot.

©Disney

Closed since the Covid pandemic hit in March 2020, the beloved musical is getting a revamp. “Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!” is scheduled to open sometime this year with a new storyline. The show will center on the friends at The Marine Life Institute with a focus on Dory’s timeframe in Finding Dory. I cannot wait to see it! Stay tuned for more opening information = )

The post Behind the Scenes with Nemo the Musical first appeared on Offstage WDW.

One Little Spark of Kindness!

offstagewdw — Sat, 22 Jan 2022 23:20:12 +0000

Figment has taken Epcot by storm! With the start of the International Festival of the Arts, running from January 14 to February 21, 2022, Figment has been highlighted throughout the festival in many different ways, but I think the most popular thing people were trying to get their hands on was the Figment popcorn bucket.

It’s no surprise why the Figment popcorn bucket is so popular, it’s quite possibly, the cutest and BEST popcorn bucket that has hit parks recently! It’s been reported that guests were in line for up to 7+ hours to get one of these. It definitely takes some dedication and patience to wait that long. One guest wanted to brighten someone’s day and decided to spread some kindness by gifting a popcorn bucket to an unsuspecting Figment fan who was at the back of the line. You can watch it all unfold here:

@tattootraveldad

The Disney Spirit! #figmentday #popcornbucket #tattoodisneydad #purplepigment #disneycommunity #distok

♬ Figment – Whimsical

What an awesome magical moment. Hopefully this will help to ignite others to pay it forward and spread a little Disney cheer in their own way because One Little Spark of Kindness really can go a long way!

The post One Little Spark of Kindness! first appeared on Offstage WDW.

A Step-By-Step Guide to Mobile Orders

offstagewdw — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 14:00:03 +0000

Timing can be everything, especially during peak season at the park. When you are running from attraction to attraction, there is an easy way to order and pick up food at the time you designate. All you need is the My Disney Experience App, which can be downloaded for free on the Apple App Store or Google Play for Android. The correct App looks like this:

Please know this feature is available for participating locations only, which are subjected to change.

Magic Kingdom

Aloha Isle
Casey’s Corner
Columbia Harbour House
Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café
The Friar’s Nook
The Lunching Pad
Main Street Confectionery
Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe
Pinocchio Village Haus
Sleepy Hollow
Sunshine Tree Terrace

Epcot

Karamell-Kuche
Regal Eagle Smokehouse: Craft Drafts & Barbecue
Sommerfest
Yorkshire County Fish Shop

Hollywood Studios

ABC Commissary
Backlot Express
Catalina Eddie’s
Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo
Dockside Diner
Fairfax Fare
Milk Stand
PizzeRizzo
Ronto Roasters
Rosie’s All-American Café
Woody’s Lunch Box

Animal Kingdom

Flame Tree Barbecue
Harambe Market
Pizzafari
Restaurantosaurus
Satu’li Canteen
Zuri’s Sweet Shop

Blizzard Beach

Avalunch
Lottawatta Lodge
Warming Hut

Disney Springs

Disney’s Candy Cauldron
D-Luke Burger
Goofy’s Candy Company

Disney’s BoardWalk

BoardWalk Bakery
Pizza Window
Trattoria al Forno To Go

Resort Hotels

All-Star Movies: World Premiere Food Court
All-Star Music: Intermission Food Court
All-Star Sports: End Zone Food Court
Animal Kingdom Lodge: The Mara
Animal Kingdom Lodge- Kidani Village: Sanaa To Go
Art of Animation: Landscape of Flavors
Beach Club: Beach Club Marketplace
Campsite at Fort Wilderness: P & J’s Southern Takeout
Caribbean Beach: Centertown Market
Caribbean Beach: Spyglass Grill
Contemporary: Contempo Café
Contemporary: Steakhouse 71 To Go
Coronado Springs: Three Bridges Bar & Grill To Go
Grand Floridian: Gasparilla Island Grill
Old Key West: Olivia’s Cafe To Go
Polynesian: Capt. Cook’s
Polynesian: Kona Café To Go
Pop Century: Everything POP Shopping & Dining
Port Orleans- French Quarter: Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory
Port Orleans- Riverside: Riverside Mill Food Court
Saratoga Springs: The Artist’s Palette
Wilderness Lodge: Geyser Point Bar & Grill To Go
Wilderness Lodge: Roaring Fork
Yacht Club: Ale & Compass Restaurant To Go
Yacht Club: The Market at Ale & Compass
Riviera Resort: Primo Piatto

Once you are at a park and/or resort, ordering is easy peasy lemon squeezy!

There you have it, order and pick up at your convenience! While restaurant options are limited, it can help to free up your time, especially when trying to make it to your next attraction.

The post A Step-By-Step Guide to Mobile Orders first appeared on Offstage WDW.

Okay, but what is a Disney Wienie and why are they EVERYWHERE?!

offstagewdw — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 14:00:00 +0000

Alright, let’s talk about Wienies. What the heck is a Wienie? It is a termed coined by Walt Disney himself, to describe a large visual element within a park. Wienies can be seen from a distance and are meant to draw people in towards an area.

It is pretty obvious the main Wienie for each park.

These large structures can be seen from various areas within each park. Cinderella Castle and The Tree of Life are situated more or less in the “center” of their park. The “lands” or areas then radiate out from them like the spokes of a wheel.

Wienies also help guests to navigate throughout the park more easily. There are the main ones as listed above and secondary ones.

Magic Kingdom

[See image gallery at offstagewdw.com]

Epcot

Each Pavilion, with maybe the exception of Germany & United Kingdom, have their own secondary Wienie.

[See image gallery at offstagewdw.com]

Hollywood Studios

This park is filled with secondary Wienies! The most famous, their former Sorcerers Hat and Mickey Mouse Ear Water Tower, which has long since been removed.

[See image gallery at offstagewdw.com]

Animal Kingdom

At Animal Kingdom, the lush landscapes are visual magnets on their own.

[See image gallery at offstagewdw.com]

What’s in a Name?

Soooo why name these visual magnets “Wienies?” The story goes something like this: the Disney family had a standard poodle named Duchess, whom adored Walt… she was his dog! Duchess was an old gal with several ailments, who spent her final days sleeping. The only time she showed excitement was when Walt came home. Here is a quote from Diane Miller (Walt’s oldest daughter) in an 1956 interview:

“In the evening it was cooler, so maybe that helped. Dad would park his car in the garage and come in to the house through the kitchen. He would go to the refrigerator and pull out two uncooked hot dogs, one for himself and one for the dog. He would play with her, wiggling the hot dog around and she would go wherever he moved around and was so happy when she finally got her treat. It was part of an evening ritual and both of them loved it and looked forward to it.”

Photo Source: D23

During the initial construction of Disneyland, Walt spoke with amusement park developer George Whitney. Whitney explained that the flow of the crowd could be controlled with lighting, sounds, and raised buildings. People would tend to move to the taller structures that they could see once they left a ride. Walt knew the perfect name for these visual magnets… Wienies! Just like the hot dog wienies he would use to entice Duchess to move around.

Wienie or Weenie?

If you google Disney Wienie, you will see it spelled both ways; however, I used the spelling of Wienie as it is used in this form in “The Imagineering Field Guide to (insert park name…I have them all!) at Walt Disney World.” It is an Imagineer’s tour of the parks written by Imagineers! With the Imagineers as the source, I think it is safe to say the correct spelling is in fact, Wienie.

There are far more Wienies than people would think, and there are some that I probable left out. Next time you are walking around a park, see how many Wienies you can find!

The post Okay, but what is a Disney Wienie and why are they EVERYWHERE?! first appeared on Offstage WDW.

Sizes of Disney Castles Around the World Ranked

offstagewdw — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 22:05:50 +0000

Disney castles, a beacon of magic for the parks. Below you will find them ranked in size from shortest to tallest.

Disneyland

[See image gallery at offstagewdw.com]

Location: Anaheim, California Height: 77 ft Did you know: Sleeping Beauty’s Castle is the original and oldest Disney castle. Guests are able to walk through parts of the castle to view dioramas/scenes depicting the classic story.

Hong Kong Disneyland

[See image gallery at offstagewdw.com]

Location: Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China Height: 77 ft-original 167 ft-2020 redesign Did you know: When the park was built in 2005, a survey of people showed that they wanted the same Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland and the Imagineers delivered. As the park’s 15th anniversary approached, Imagineers wanted to do something special to have the castle stand out. They decided to make it bigger and dedicated it to not just one princess, but ALL the princesses! Since the castle already existed in a busy park, they painted and assembled 15 prefabricated parts off site, then moved them to add onto the castle. Now named ‘Castle of Magical Dreams’, the gorgeous castle features 12 towers specifically designed to represent the 13 princesses (Anna & Elsa share a tower).

Disneyland Paris

[See image gallery at offstagewdw.com]

Location: Coupvray, France Height: 167 ft Did you know: The castle Le Château de la Belle au Bois dormant is a literal translation of the name Sleeping Beauty. Imagineers found the name quite lengthy but the French residents loved it! The castle looks different from the original Sleeping Beauty one located in Disneyland because Imagineers wanted to design something completely different than a “typical” castle. France just so happens to be home to more than 40,000 castles; therefore, they made one that looked more fairytale like than any castle found along the French countryside.

Tokyo Disneyland

[See image gallery at offstagewdw.com]

Location: Urayasu, Japan Height: 168 ft Did you know: Based off of Walt Disney World’s Cinderella Castle in Florida, Tokyo’s Cinderella Castle features a walkthrough attraction of the classic film.

Magic Kingdom Park

[See image gallery at offstagewdw.com]

Location: Walt Disney World Resort- Lake Buena Vista, Florida Height: 189 ft Did you know: Cinderella Castle is exactly 189 feet tall and not a foot taller because if it was, it would require a blinking aviation beacon. While this castle does not have any walk through attraction, the walls within the interior archway are covered with five intricate mosaic murals. The pieces are made up of 300,000 Italian glass and completed with real gold and silver laced throughout.

Shanghai Disneyland Park

[See image gallery at offstagewdw.com]

Location: Shanghai, China Height: 197 ft Did you know: Acreage wise, Shanghai Disneyland is one of the smaller parks at 100 acres (Disney’s Hollywood Studios is bigger) BUT it has the largest castle! Named Enchanted Storybook Castle, it includes a restaurant, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, walk- through attraction, stage, and boat ride that goes beneath the main level and outside the castle.

Honorable Mentions

[See image gallery at offstagewdw.com]

Labeled as an attraction, the Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast located inside the Beast’s castle in Tokyo Disneyland, takes guest through scenes of the beloved story. Opened in 2020 as part of a massive expansion, the castle stands at an impressive 108 feet tall. If it were an official castle on our list above, it would be ranked at number six in size.

[See image gallery at offstagewdw.com]

Located at the Magic Kingdom Park at the Walt Disney World Resort, the Beast’s Castle stands host to the highly sought out restaurant, Be Our Guest. Looming off in the distance, the castle is one impressive optical illusion. In reality, the castle that was built as part of the New Fantasyland addition in 2012, sits at about 15 feet tall!

A frequent visitor of the Walt Disney World Resort, I can’t wait to visit the other Disney castles located around the world! Which one are you most excited to see in person? Share your pick in the comment section below!

The post Sizes of Disney Castles Around the World Ranked first appeared on Offstage WDW.

Which Disney Park is the Largest?

offstagewdw — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 14:55:32 +0000

With 12 theme parks located around the world, Disney Parks are a sought out destination! How do they rank in size? Do you know which of the 12 is the largest? Let’s break it down from smallest to largest!

Walt Disney Studios Park

Source: Disney©

Location: Chessy, France Size: 44 acres Did you know- Walt Disney Studios Park is the much smaller sister park of Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

Disney California Adventure Park

Location: Anaheim, California Size: 72 acres Did you know- There is a reason it is so small. The park was built on Disneyland’s former parking lot!

Disneyland

Source: Disney©

Location: Anaheim, California Size: 85 acres Did you know: The very first park to be open in 1955, it cost $17 million to build. That would be approximately $174,002,611 today!

Shanghai Disneyland Park

Source: Disney©

Location: Shanghai, China Size: 100 acres Did you know: It’s Enchanted Storybook Castle is the tallest and largest castle at any Disney park.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Source: Disney©

Location: Lake Buena Vista, Florida Size: 103 acres Did you know: The Studios was initially going to be a land in Epcot, but Imagineers felt they had enough to create an independent park. The announcement of Universal Studios building a theme park didn’t hurt either.

Magic Kingdom Park

Source: D23

Location: Lake Buena Vista, Florida Size: 107 acres Did you know: At 124 acres it’s parking lot is actually larger then the park itself!

Tokyo DisneySea

Source: Disney©

Location: Urayasu, Japan Size: 122 acres Did you know: The two Tokyo Disney parks are not actually owned by the Walt Disney World Company. They are owned and operated by The Oriental Land Company who licensed the Disney name, attractions, and characters from the Disney Company.

Hong Kong Disneyland

Source: Disney©

Location: Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China Size: 123 acres Did you know: It was originally a small 68 acres, but the addition of Toy Story Land, Grizzly Gulch, and Mystic Point on the other side of the park’s railroad would add much needed space, almost doubling the park in size.

Tokyo Disneyland

Source: ©Disney

Location: Urayasu, Japan Size: 126 acres Did you know: Opening on April 15, 1983, Tokyo Disneyland was the first international Disney park to be built.

Disneyland Paris

Source: ©Disney

Location: Coupvray, France Size: 127 acres Did you know: France happens to be a hot spot for castles, averaging more than 40,000 so when it came time to build a Disney castle, Imagineers had to think outside of the box. That is why their castle is more fairytale like in appearance than the others!

Epcot

Source: ©Disney

Location: Lake Buena Vista, Florida Size: 200 acres Did you know: The iconic Spaceship Earth (pictured above) weighs 15 million pounds and is 165 feet in diameter.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park

Source: ©Disney

Location: Lake Buena Vista, Florida Size: 300 acres Did you know: When including the animal care/backstage area, the massive park actually encompasses 500 acres!

There you have it! I hope you learned some fascinating new facts today about the incredible Disney parks. I don’t know about you, but this makes me want to visit all the parks even more! Let’s plan a trip, who’s with me?!

The post Which Disney Park is the Largest? first appeared on Offstage WDW.

Disney Genie+ versus Individual Lightning Lane

offstagewdw — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 14:07:33 +0000

There is some confusion with the new Disney Genie+ service. We are going to break it down as quickly and easily as possible.

FASTPASS+ is no more. Lightning Lane is the new FASPASS+. The biggest difference is now you need to pay for it.

There are two choices when purchasing:

Pay $15.00 for Genie+ per person per day and have access to 40+ attractions OR
Buy the Individual Lightning Lane for a higher demand attraction. It can cost between $7 to $15 per person per attraction, depending on the busyness of the day.

How do I get it?

First you will need to purchase your park ticket (through Disney or Travel Agent), then you will need to download the My Disney Experience Mobile App.

When can I pick my attractions?

Unlike FASTPASS+ which guests could choose their attractions months in advanced, Genie+ & Individual Lightning Lane is day of.

I purchased the Genie+, how many Lighting Lane passes can I choose at a time?

ONE at a time folks! The day of your visit, starting at 7:00 AM for guests staying at the resort or 9:00 AM for all other guests, open up the app and choose the first attraction you want to ride. The earlier the better. Once you ride the attraction or the time window passes, you can get back on the app and choose another experience!

Sooo how many total can I choose?

That is up to you and your schedule. Make your first time as early as possible. You have until the park closes to choose times.

Can I choose any ride I want?

No, not every attraction is available for Lighting Lane. But not to worry, here is a list for you!

Magic Kingdom

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Haunted Mansion
“it’s a small world”
Jungle Cruise
Mad Tea Party
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
Peter Pan’s Flight
Pirates of the Caribbean
Splash Mountain
The Barnstormer
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Tomorrowland Speedway
Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid

Epcot

Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival
Journey into Imagination with Figment
Living with the Land
Mission: SPACE – Green
Mission: SPACE – Orange
Soarin’ Around the World
Spaceship Earth
Test Track
The Seas with Nemo & Friends
Turtle Talk with Crush

Hollywood Studios

Alien Swirling Saucers
Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage
Disney Junior Play & Dance!
For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration
Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular – returning Dec 19, 2021
Millennium Flacon: Smugglers Run
Muppet*Vision 3D
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
Slinky Dog Dash
Star Tours- The Adventures Continue
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Toy Story Mania!

Animal Kingdom

Celebration of the Festive of the Lion King
DINOSAUR
Feathered Friends in Flight!
It’s Tough to be a Bug!
Kali River Rapids
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Na’vi River Journey
The Animation Experience at Conservation Station

Got it. So how does the Individual Lightning Lane work?

The Individual Lightning Lane is basically an á la carte for the higher demand attractions. You only pay for the ones you want.

Is there a limit for how many I buy?

Yes! Like the Genie+, you can only choose one at a time for a max of two attractions a day.

Do I have to purchase Genie+ to use it?

Nope!

Can I choose any attraction I want for an individual purchase?

No, there are only a few attractions at each park that are available for Individual Lightning Lane purchase. Here they are!

Magic Kingdom

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Space Mountain

Epcot

Frozen Ever After
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

Hollywood Studios

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
Stars Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Animal Kingdom

Avatar Flight of Passage
Expedition Everest- Legend of the Forbidden Mountain

How much does the Individual Lightning Lane cost?

That all depends on the day. If it is high peak season (holidays, Spring Break, Summer, etc.) the cost per attraction will be higher. Prices range from $7 to $15.

Can I book my Individual Lightning Lane early?

Just like Genie+, you are able to purchase an attraction pass the day of your visit.

Can I purchase Genie+ AND Individual Lightning Lane?

You sure can! Since they are separate, you can be flexible with the times you choose.

Can I use Genie+ or Individual Lightning Lane to ride the same attraction over and over?

No- if you want to ride an attraction again, you will have to use the regular Stand-By line.

I already bought my park tickets for a future trip. Can I still add Genie+ or purchase Individual Lightning Lane?

You sure can! You can purchase the services now or day of. Just remember, you cannot select the attraction times until the day of your visit at 7:00 AM if you are staying at a Disney Resort, or 9:00 AM if you are just visiting the park.

Wow, a park ticket already costs so much and this is just an added expense.

True, that true. You are easily looking at $150 per person per day with park ticket purchases, the Genie+ and both Individual Lightning Lane passes. The services are just an added bonus. If you are traveling during a busy time, you may want to just spend the money on the Individual Lightning Lane. It is something you can always decide when you arrive at the park. IF you are a Disney novice, there is an added benefit of purchasing Genie+- the service helps guests to build itineraries based on their interests. This will help maximize park time.

I hope this question and answer session with myself helped! This entire system is brand new and a learning process for everyone, even Disney. Be sure to keep up with the latest news prior to your trip to account for any changes.

The post Disney Genie+ versus Individual Lightning Lane first appeared on Offstage WDW.

The Dread Family Mystery- The Murders Unveiled

offstagewdw — Wed, 13 Oct 2021 23:57:38 +0000

The family located at the start of the mansion’s cemetery has a sinister secret…they all murdered each other for Uncle Jacob’s money! Under each bust is the person’s name and how they died. Imagineers have given guests all the information that they need to solve the ghastly murders.

Busts & Clues

Read the clues to see if you can unveil the order that each person died:

Bertie: “Avid hunter and expert shot, in the end that’s what he got.”

Aunt Florence McGriffin Dread: “Never did a dishonorable deed, yet found face down in canary seed.”

Uncle Jacob Dread: “Greed was the poison he had swallowed. He went first, the others followed. His killer’s face he surely knew. Now try to discover who killed who.”

Wellington and Forsythia Dread: “Departed life while in their beds, with identical bumps on their heads.”

Cousin Maude: “Our sleeping beauty, who never awoke the night her dreams went up in smoke.”

Extra Clues

A sack of Canary Seeds can be found back between the twins.

Source: DisneyWiki

Cousin Maude appears to use matches as hairpins.

Source: DisneyWiki

Answer

Do you think you figured out the order of the deaths? Read on to find out…

Uncle Jacob was clearly the first to go. He was greedy and his crazy family wanted his fortune. He was poisoned by….

Bertie Dread, Jacob’s brother, was super crafty and used venom from his pet snake to poison Uncle Jacob. Once he inherited the fortune Bertie was shot by….

Aunt Florence ironically killed the avid hunter & expert shot with a pistol. I guess killing a murderer isn’t considered dishonorable? Happy to have her husband Jacob’s money, she met her end when she suffocated in canary seed by…

Wellington & Forsythia Dread. These two lovely children put a sack of canary seed over their aunts head and suffocated her…how they did it is speculation on my part. The canary seed between their busts is evidence against their awful deed. The twins were then killed in their sleep with a mallet by…

Cousin Maude. Wow, talk about cold hearted. So how did Cousin Maude pass? You know what they say about karma…Cousin Maude met a horrendous end as she burned to death in her sleep from the matches in her hair.

It is unknown what became of the family fortune. Perhaps it burned with Cousin Maude. I would not be surprised if she slept with the money beneath her mattress or as an unconventional blanket. Some people like to swim in money while Mad Maude liked to sleep in it!

Easter Egg

Check out the Dread Family Easter Egg within the mansion. In the very last scene with the Hitchhiking Ghost, there is a portrait of Cousin Maude surrounded by flames!

Source: DisneyWiki

How did you do? Did you solve the mystery?! I hope you had as much fun as I did trying to figure it out. Next time you visit the Haunted Mansion, make sure to stop and take a closer look at the deranged Dread Family!

The post The Dread Family Mystery- The Murders Unveiled first appeared on Offstage WDW.

What Makes a Dark Ride, a Dark Ride?

offstagewdw — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 19:59:40 +0000

True or False? A ride must take place in the dark to be considered a Dark Ride… FALSE!! What the what?! Then why in the world are they called “Dark” Rides?! There are a few important elements that make an attraction a Dark Ride:

The attraction is more or less contained inside a building.
Guests are moved from room to room.
Lighting and show elements control the narrative.
The attraction tells a story!

Some of the most beloved attractions are considered Dark Rides.

Example: The Haunted Mansion

1.The attraction is contained inside a building

Fun Fact- This is only the façade of the attraction. The building that houses the ride is located behind it!

2. Guests are moved from room to room.

Guests are taken through each scene on a “Doom Buggy”. The track is in continuous motion (unless they have to stop it to aid passengers getting on/off). The Buggies are programmed to turn and face specific scenes, another example of how Imagineers drive the story.

“Doom Buggy”

3. Lighting and show elements control the narrative.

Ominous music fills the air, the sound of an organ. What’s this? Who is playing the dreadful tune? The Doom Buggy turns to face the organ. With the help of effects and lighting, guests can see it is one of the ghosts who live at the mansion.

4. The attraction tells a story!

Welcome to Master Gracey’s home. Here you will be greeted by a Ghost Host (he is not Master Gracey) who will take you on a tour of the spooky estate. You will meet the 999 ghosts who call the mansion home. As you leave you will be reminded that there is always room for one more!

Now that you know how to identify a Dark Ride, let’s test your skills! Check out each picture and determine if it is considered a Dark Ride-

QUIZ START

Which Dark Ride is your favorite? Were there any rides on the quiz you were surprised about? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

The post What Makes a Dark Ride, a Dark Ride? first appeared on Offstage WDW.

New Space 220 Restaurant Opens!

offstagewdw — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 16:27:35 +0000

Located in Future World next to Mission: Space, this unique dining experience allows guests dining among the stars!

Surrounded by a 360 view of our expansive galaxy, guests will enjoy a cosmic inspired menu.

Prix Fixe Menu

Space 220 offers a prix fixe menu for lunch and dinner.

Adults- Lunch- $55 a person- one appetizer & one entrée; Dinner- $79 a person- one appetizer, one entrée & one dessert

Children- lunch & dinner – S29 a person for one entrée, one dessert & one beverage

Let’s take a sneak peak at some of their offerings!

©Disney

Blue Moon Cauliflower- Tempura Fried Cauliflower, House made Hot Sauce, Blue Cheese Dust

®Disney

Space Greens- Bibb Lettuce, Dried Cranberries, Roasted Pears, Spiced Pecans, Apple Cider Dressing

®Disney

Flat Iron Steak- (lunch only) Coffee Space Rub, Smashed Fingerling Potatoes, Cabernet Butter, Haricot Vert

®Disney

Bluehouse Salmon- Glazed Carrots, King Oyster Mushrooms, Baby Bok Choy, Ginger, Beurre Blanc

®Disney

Roasted Free-Range Chicken- Chicken Roulade, Mashed Potatoes, Brussel Sprouts, Roasted Garlic Thyme Jus

®Disney

Galactic Lobster Globe- (lunch only) Maine Lobster Salad, Quinoa, Bulgur Wheat, Avocado, Lettuce, Mango, Citrus Dressing, Crispy Wonton. Supplemental to the Prix Fixe menu $18.00

®Disney

Terra-Bolognese- Corn Linguine, Tempeh Ragu, Macadamia Nut “Ricotta”, Zucchini, Mushroom

®Disney

Lemon Mousse- dinner only- Lemon Mousse Sphere adorned with White Chocolate Rings, Lemon Custard, Marinated Blueberries, Lemon Curd

®Disney

Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake- dinner only- Dark Chocolate Sauce, Caramel Crunchy Pearls, Salted Toffee Drizzle

®Disney

Stargarita- Herradura Plata, Cointreau, House Made Agave Sour, B’lure $16.00

Kids’ Prix Fixe Menue Lunch & Dinner

Entrées-

Space-Ghetti w/ chicken meatballs
Cosmic Chicken w/ space fries
Mission Macaroni
Galactic Salmon w/ mashed potatoes and broccolini
Smashed Burger w/ space fries

Dessert-

Cosmic Cupcake- Chocolate Devil’s Food Cake
Sorbet- strawberry or mango
Gelato Scoop- chocolate or vanilla w/ chocolate sauce

Additional Options

In addition to the Prix Fixe menu, bites can be added:

Astro Deviled Eggs- $12.00
Blue Moon Cauliflower- $17.00
Short Rib Sliders- $18.00
Starry Calamari- $19.00
Chicken on Waffles- $18.00
New England Lobster Roll- $34.00

and sides:

Roasted Fingerling Potatoes- $9.00
Brussels Sprouts- $10.00
Fried Potato Wedges- $8.00
Broccolini- $9.00

While this table service restaurant is on the pricey side, you are for sure paying for the atmosphere & experience. When my family goes to Disney, we like to splurge in a dining experience if possible. I am very intrigued to check this one out! What are your thoughts? Would you like to check out Space 220? Does it seem worth the price? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

The post New Space 220 Restaurant Opens! first appeared on Offstage WDW.