Eric M. Davis : Orlando

Behind-the-screams at Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights

Eric M. Davis — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 04:00:00 GMT

This may seem like kind of an odd question, but ...

Have you ever been to Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights ? If so, have you ever found yourself stumbling through one of their mazes? And as some performer jumps out of a darkened corner and scares the living cr*p out of you, have you ever thought: Who would take a job like this?

Well, meet Matt.

Matt works here at Orlando Fun Tickets. And for the last two years, he's been one of the scare-actors at this seasonal event. A job (that I might add) that Matt enjoys very much.

As to how he got this gig ...

"I went to the auditions that Universal Orlando holds annually for that resort's Halloween Horror Nights. These typically start in July and run through the end of September.

Copyright Universal Orlando. All Rights Reserved

The process itself is pretty simple. They look at actors in groups of 5, making note of your size, shape and sex. At that time, you're quizzed about why you want to work at Halloween Horror Nights. They ask you what your favorite horror film is. More importantly, why that's your favorite horror film.

Which -- I know -- seems like kind of a weird question. But the reason that Universal does that is they're trying to get a sense of the type of performer you are. The role you might potentially fit.

You then might be asked to demonstrate a scare tactic. Or be asked to remove your shirt and show off your physique. Because -- after all -- this is an audition. And they want to know if you look right for the part that they're trying to cast."

Matt must have impressed the folks at Universal. For he found himself cast in one of the "starring roles" for Halloween Horror Nights 17. You see, Matt played Leatherface from the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" movies.

"Actually, I was one of the scare-actors who played Leatherface. Leatherface 13, to be precise. Last year, there were 24 performers who played this chainsaw-wielding maniac in 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Flesh Wounds' maze.

Copyright Universal Orlando. All Rights Reserved

Why so many? Well, you have to understand that there were multiple Leatherfaces in that maze. More to the point, that each of these performance positions in the maze was doubled. That way, you could perform a 45 minute set, then go take a break while another Leatherface stepped in and filled your position."

And when it comes to portraying a horror icon like Leatherface, Universal expected a lot of its scare-actors.

"We were actually asked to watch the 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre' movies so that we could learn the character's mannerisms. There were also strict rules about how & where Leatherface could be seen in the park. Given that this character is one of the true stars of the horror realm, they never wanted to give the Guests the impression that there was ever more than one Leatherface. So while you were in costume and moving through the park, you had to wear these hooded robes. So that no one would know who you were until you were backstage and in position."

But it wasn't just the characters that Universal was protective of. During the 23 dates that Halloween Horror Nights is presented this year, the theme park also stresses safety both for its guests as well as this event's performers.

"They kept drilling into our heads to 'Scare but Be Aware.' To always be aware of our surroundings. And it's not just for the guests' sake. Sometimes when people get frightened, they'll react instinctively and lash out at you, actually try & hit you. And if you maintain a proper distance between you and the guests ... Well, it's safer for everybody."

Copyright Universal Orlando. All Rights Reserved

Beyond that, if you can look past all of the horrific details -- the scary make-up, sound effects and smells -- working at Halloween Horror Nights is just like any acting job. Sort of.

"We have two nights of rehearsals before the event actually begins. The first night, we're just in costume and no make-up. And that night is actually kind of fun because the people who are going through your maze are performers from all of the other haunted houses in the park.

That's when you learn how to deal with all of the technical issues involved with the operation of your maze. How to quickly switch from A cast to B cast so that those change-outs every 45 minutes don't interrupt guest flow through your house."

Speaking of the guests ... Matt was always surprised at how people would react when confronted by a horror icon like Leatherface.

"When we closed up for the night, we'd often find shoes or pieces of clothing inside of our maze. Which meant that people were so frightened by what they saw that they'd literally jump out of their clothes. Or that they were moving so fast in an effort to get away that they'd leave things behind.

Copyright Universal Orlando. All Rights Reserved

But then there were the guests who -- when they got frightened -- would just stop in their tracks and/or ball up in a corner and wouldn't leave. We'd sometimes have to get a member of our backstage crew to come in and help clear a guest who reacted like that out of a scene."

Mind you, it wasn't just the guests who'd freak out when they'd come face-to-face with Leatherface. Matt often got some interesting reactions from Universal cast members as he wandered around backstage in costume.

"I'd have the mask off. I'd actually be carrying it in my hand. But as I walked back to the break room to get a drink or a snack, I was still in costume. I was still wearing Leatherface's trademark apron. And the people who were working Food & Beverage who were walking back into the park would see me coming and then cross over to the other side of the street."

It was these sorts of stories that Matt and his fellow scare-actors would share after a long night of frightening tourists. They'd gather together at the Orlando Ale House and then decompress, compare notes on what the crowds had been like that night.

"Like on Halloween night. I thought for sure that that would be our busiest night ever. But it was actually pretty quiet. I guess only the true hardcore fans come out to Universal on Halloween night."

Speaking of which ... Where does Matt fall when it comes to being scared? Is he more of a hardcore fan or something of a wimp? By Matt's own admission ...

Copyright Universal Orlando. All Rights Reserved

"Universal has this one scare zone at this year's Halloween Horror Nights -- The Skoolhouse -- that's so scary that I almost burst into tears walking through the thing. That one was really, really intense."

And when you can almost make Leatherface cry ... Well, that must be one very scary maze.

Universal Orlando's Halloween Horror Nights will be presented 23 times this year, now through November 1st. For further information on this year's event, please follow this link.

And if you're looking to score some tickets to this year's Halloween Horror Nights, why don't you drop by Orlando Fun Tickets? Our offices are located less than 2 miles from the Walt Disney World Resort, 2 lights west of I-4 at 8472 Palm Parkway. Their office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. EST Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. For further information, please call 866-225-4712 and/or check out the official Orlando Fun Tickets website.

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Do you ever wonder what became of Splendid China Florida?

Eric M. Davis — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 04:00:00 GMT

What with Pleasure Island closing this weekend, I've been getting nostalgic for some of the other attractions that Central Florida lost over the years. With perhaps the most bizarre being Splendid China.

I don't know how many of you ever got the chance to visit this 76-acre theme park during the 10 years that it was in operation. But Splendid China Florida truly was something worth seeing. This $100 million attraction featured 60 recreations of famous Chinese landmarks, among the Great Wall of China.

It took two years to build this theme park, with 120 artisans laboring to make sure that Splendid China Florida was authentic in every way. Which -- in the case of the park's quarter mile long replica of the Great Wall -- meant that 6.5 million miniature bricks that were used to build this Wall had to be laid by hand.

Splendid China Florida opened with great fanfare in December of 1993. And given how close their theme park was to World Drive (i.e. Walt Disney World's main entrance road), SCF investors thought that Orlando's newest attraction was sure to be a hit with both tourists & locals.

Alas it wasn't meant to be. Though the people who did visit Splendid China Florida marveled at the obvious care & craft that had gone into the creation of the place, they were also puzzled by this theme park's lack of traditional rides, shows and attraction. And once word got out that SCF was beautiful but boring ... That's pretty much all she wrote.

Splendid China Florida limped along for ten years before its owners finally threw in the towel in December of 2003. The contents of this theme park were auctioned off back in December of 2004. And since that time, the property has basically been abandoned.

But ever since then, I've heard stories from friends who have actually visited what's left of Splendid China Florida. And from what they told me, there was a surprising amount of stuff still standing within the walls of that park.

So one recent Saturday, I decided to go see for myself. I drove over to Splendid China Florida and -- at the entrance of this now-defunct theme park -- I encountered a very sympathetic security guard. Who -- after hearing my extended explanation about how I just wanted to experience Splendid China one more time, and how I promised not to disturb anything -- let me into the park. But only after saying "Okay. But I didn't see you and you didn't see me."

And once I got inside the gates ... I have to admit that I was stunned by what I saw. Nature is rapidly reclaiming the land that Splendid China Florida was built on. So there were weeds everywhere. But if you can look past all of this overgrowth, you can see that a lot of this theme park is still intact.

Oh, sure. A good portion of the park's miniature recreations of famous Chinese landmarks were sold off at auction. But the truly huge pieces -- the ones that were too heavy to carry -- are still here. The Stone Forest, for example ...

... was still intact. As was that not-so-miniature recreation of Potala Place.

But -- that said -- it was still rather depressing to see this theme park's elaborate recreations of famous Chinese landmarks (Like SCF's beautiful miniature version of the Forbidden City) ...

... reduced to rubble and strewn with trash.

But then again, nothing lasts forever. Even the real Great Wall of China is in need of repair these days. Which is why it (sort of) seemed okay to stroll the length of the miniature recreation of this Wonder of the World the day that I visited Splendid China.

Now remember, folks. This Central Florida theme park is no longer open to the public.

I only got to tour Splendid China Florida because I was in the right place at the right time.

Given the general conditions of the grounds ...

... I can understand why Security shoos most visitors away.

But given that so many JHM readers seem to be concerned about what's happening to Pleasure Island this week, I thought that it was important to remind you guys that WDW's nighttime entertainment district isn't only thing that we've lost over the past few years. That not that long ago, there was this neat little place in Kissimmee called Splendid China.

And speaking of neat little places in the Kissimmee area ... Orlando Fun Tickets is located less than 2 miles from the Walt Disney World Resort, 2 lights west of I-4 at 8472 Palm Parkway. Their office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. EST Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. For further information, please call 866-225-4712 and/or check out the official Orlando Fun Tickets website.

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September's the very best time to sea ... er .. see SeaWorld Orlando

Eric M. Davis — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 04:00:00 GMT

You hear that? All over Orlando, the people who work at your favorite theme parks are now heaving a sign of relief. The summer season -- with all its heat, crush & crowds -- is finally over. Which gives us all a bit more breathing room down here.

And I mean that literally, folks. When you drop by the Magic Kingdom this time of year, you're no longer going to run into 60,000 tourists who are also eager to ride Space Mountain. No, during the first few weeks of September, you'll typically only going to encounter 22,000 - 25,000 other people whenever you visit the Kingdom. Which will make getting on your favorite ride, show or attraction there a relative breeze.

Me personally, while I do dearly love all of the Disney parks that we have down here in Central Florida, whenever the weather starts to get cool and the crowds begin to thin out, it's SeaWorld that I really want to see.

Never mind the fact that now would be a really great time to visit Aquatica (Ever since SeaWorld's waterpark opened back in March, that place has been doing turnaway business. With Aquatica actually having to restrict entry almost every day because the huge numbers of tourists that were turning out). During this quieter time of year, when it's a lot easier to get around this 200-acre marine park, you can really take in the bigger picture. See how truly innovative Sea World Adventure Park is.

I mean, sure. The Walt Disney Company gets all sorts of positive press when it announces that it'll be reinventing DCA. But where were the kudos when SeaWorld Orlando did this exact same thing? First in 1998 when Worlds of Discovery retooled this theme park's bland 1970s-era entrance plaza by adding a million-gallon lagoon with a scenic lighthouse as well as statues of sea lions & killer whales.

Then in 2003, Busch transformed the very heart of this theme park by creating the Waterfront at SeaWorld. The largest expansion in the park's 35-year history, this 5-acre project took a boring stretch of asphalt & shops and turn it into this dynamic nautical neighborhood. A fanciful recreation of some of the more exotic seaports found on the map which was loaded with exciting new shopping & dining opportunities.

Yeah, Disney gets all the press. Yet SeaWorld did it first.

The same pattern hold when it comes to simulator rides. Here the Mouse is getting all this great buzz lately about the work that's being done of "Star Tours 2.0" (They can't really be serious about having that ride film end with your Starspeeder conking Darth Vader on the helmet ... can they?). Truth be told, it was SeaWorld Orlando that was first to refresh / revitalize that park's simulator attraction by changing out its ride film. First by replacing the "Mission: Bermuda Triangle" movie with the "Wild Arctic" ride film back in 1995, then by adding "The Polar Express Experience" to SeaWorld's growing roster of holiday-themed shows.

Speaking of which ... Given how popular "The Polar Express Experience" was last year (To accommodate guest demand, SeaWorld actually had to extend the run of this "Wild Arctic" replacement into the second week of January), you can bet that this holiday-themed attraction will be back again this year. And from what they say in the Orlando Sentinel, "The Polar Express Experience" will be " ... the cornerstone of an even bigger holiday celebration" in 2009.

And let's not even talk about Disney's worst kept secret. Which is their Night Kingdom / Jungle Trek project. Which the Mouse is only pursuing because SeaWorld's niche park -- Discovery Cove -- proved to be so popular with theme park goers.

You see what I'm saying here? SeaWorld Orlando Adventure Park (to my way of thinking, anyway) never quite gets the credit that it deserves. The staff of this theme park works really hard to stay ahead of guests needs. Whether it be by regularly plussing the overall look & layout of this theme park and/or changing up its already great assortment of attractions (Wait 'til you get the chance to ride Manta next year). Or even those tours and interactive programs that SeaWorld Orlando offers its visitors, like the Polar Expedition Tour that takes tourists behind-the-scenes at the park's Penguin Encounter exhibit so that they can then personally interact with some of these flightless birds.

So, sure. While you're in Central Florida to commune with the Mouse, make sure that you also set aside a day or more for touring SeaWorld Orlando Adventure Park. For if you haven't been to this Worlds of Discovery park in the past few years, there's lot of new stuff here that you really need to sea .. er ... see.

Orlando Fun Tickets is located less than 2 miles from the Walt Disney World Resort, 2 lights west of I-4 at 8472 Palm Parkway. Their office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. EST Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. For further information, please call 866-225-4712 and/or check out the official Orlando Fun Tickets website.

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How does Aquatica stack up against Central Florida's other waterparks ?

Eric M. Davis — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 01:00:00 GMT

You'll have to forgive any typos that you find in this month's OFT column. You see, I've been to Aquatica 2 1/2 times over the past month. And -- to be honest -- my fingers are still kind of pruney.

But after a month of soft openings, SeaWorld Orlando's waterpark has its official grand opening this past Friday. And -- to date -- the only real complaint that I've heard about Aquatica has to do with that park's capacity.

Now I know that this is going to sound kind of strange. Particularly given that Aquatica is a 59-acre waterpark with more than 80,000 square feet of beach. But this waterpark really can't handle more than 7,000 guests at any one time.

Aquatica's entrance sets the tone for the entire park.
Which entertains but doesn't overwhelm.
Photo courtesy of Denise Preskitt of MouseSteps.com

Mind you, that was a deliberate choice on the Busch Entertainment Group's part. They wanted Aquatica to be a much more intimate & luxurious experience for SeaWorld Orlando visitors. Which (they hoped) would help set their waterpark apart from all the others in the Orlando area.

The downside of this is that -- according to what SeaWorld insiders have told me -- Aquatica typically fills to capacity by 11:30 a.m. Which is why -- if you really want to experience Orlando's newest waterpark during your next Central Florida vacation -- you need to be entering Aquatica no later than 11 a.m.

The upside of arriving by 11 is that you'll be just in time for lunch. Which would be an excellent time to sample Aquatica's three restaurants: the Beach Coconut Cookout, Mango Market and the WaterStone Grill. These onsite eateries offer a much wider variety of foods & beverages then you'll typically find at a waterpark.

But that was the Busch Entertainment Group's goal all along. To create a different sort of waterpark. Which explains the bigger chair-to-guest ratio that you'll find at this new SeaWorld Orlando facility. Not to mention those 18 private cabanas that are available for rental inside the park. You can really live the lush life when you spend the day at Aquatica ... If you'd like.

Okay. This isn't to say that SeaWorld Orlando's new waterpark is completely flawless. Take -- for example -- Aquatica's highly touted Dolphin Plunge. Where you're supposed to get this great view of some Commerson's dolphins as you slide through a clear acrylic tube. Well, it took me three separate trips down Dolphin Plunge before I finally learned which angle I needed to keep my head at (More importantly, when to keep my eyes open) before I finally got to see those dolphins.

You see? There really are some Commerson's dolphins in that pool.
Photo courtesy of Denise Preskitt of MouseSteps.com

But that quibble aside, I have to admit that I've really enjoyed the days that I've spent at Aquatica so far. And after chatting with other friends who work in the hospitality industry down here, I'd have to say that SeaWorld Orlando's latest addition is quickly becoming the preferred waterpark of young professionals in the Orlando area.

"But where does that put Central Florida's other waterparks?," you ask. Well, Wet 'n' Wild ... I'd have to say that that's the waterpark in town that has true teen appeal. This International Drive mainstay -- with its assortment of speed tubes as well as its cable-operated knee-boarding & wake-boarding WakeZone area -- goes over big with the high school crowd.

Whereas Blizzard Beach over at Walt Disney World ... That's the waterpark that (I think, anyway) appeals most to tweens. I don't know if it's BB's silly backstory (i.e. The place is supposed to be Central Florida's first ski resort) or the park's goofy mascot (i.e. Ice Gator) or just the fact that there's a miniature golf course right next door (i.e. Disney's Winter Summerland). But 9 to 14 year-olds just can't seem to get enough of Blizzard Beach.

As for Typhoon Lagoon ... I think that this WDW favorite (Which celebrates its 20th anniversary next June) is the area's best waterpark for families. With that huge wave pool at the very heart of the park (Which -- FYI -- is still the largest one in the U.S.) as well as its elaborate theming, Typhoon Lagoon is still a great place for you, the wife and kids to go cool off. Particularly since that they've added those Crush 'n' Gusher water coasters to TL's Hideaway Bay section.

But if you're looking for a more intimate & upscale waterpark experience while you're vacationing in Orlando ... I'm thinking that Aquatica is the way you ought to goo ... gop ... go ...

(Sorry about that. Dang pruney fingers.)

Orlando Fun Tickets is located less than 2 miles from the Walt Disney World Resort, 2 lights west of I-4 at 8472 Palm Parkway. Their office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. EST Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. For further information, please call 866-225-4712 and/or check out the official Orlando Fun Tickets website.

And if you've like to see even more great shots of Aquatica (like the one below), go check out Denise Preskitt's photos of SeaWorld Orlando's new waterpark at MouseSteps.com

(L to R) Heather, Eric and Aaron doing their "High School Musical" poster impression.
Photo courtesy of Denise Preskitt of MouseSteps.com

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Will Aquatica finally turn Orlando into a three resort town ?

Eric M. Davis — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:00:00 GMT

A while back, I found myself watching "Jaws 3D" (Alright. I know. It's a really awful movie. As Statler said to Waldorf in "The Muppet Movie," "I've seen detergents that leave a better film than this").

Mind you, I wasn't watching this Joe Alves film because I'm a "Shark Week" enthusiast. But -- rather -- because "Jaws 3D" was shot on location at SeaWorld Orlando back in 1983. Which makes this movie a fascinating look back at what this marine-based theme park used to be like.

If you look past Dennis Quaid and those water skiers in the above image capture, you'll see some South Seas-themed structures. Conversely, if you look past the bumper boats in the picture below, you'll see some pseudo-modern-looking blue-roofed exhibition halls in the background.

That -- in a nutshell -- pretty much captures what SeaWorld was like back in the late 1970s / early 1980s. Back when this theme park was owned & operated by a company that printed textbooks. The accent back then wasn't so much on theming and entertainment. But -- rather -- on education.

But all that began to change when Anheuser-Busch acquired the SeaWorld chain of theme parks back in October of 1989. Immediately recognizing that its Central Florida property would seriously have to step up its game if it wanted to compete with the Walt Disney World and the Universal Orlando resorts, Busch Entertainment aggressively began reinventing this theme park. Doing things like ripping out SeaWorld's old 1970s-era mall-style entrance ...

... and then replacing that bland looking area with a beautifully themed million gallon lagoon that featured statues of sealife as well as an iconic lighthouse.

"Why did Busch Entertainment do that?," you ask. Because they wanted to raise people's expectations. Give guests some sense of the fun & excitement that could be found just beyond those turnstiles.

And for the past 10 years, SeaWorld Orlando has worked hard to meet those raised expectations. Continually adding exciting new thrill rides like Journey to Atlantis and Kraken as well as world class shows like "Blue Horizons," "Mistify!" and "Believe." Not to mention that theme park's new Waterfront area with its highly themed collection of restaurants & shops.

But the Busch Entertainment Group really put Disney & Universal on notice when it opened Discovery Cove, Orlando's first boutique theme park. This hugely popular SeaWorld spin-off is only open to a thousand guests each day. There they can dive down and explore a coral reef, drift along in a tropical river or swim with dolphins.

It was the July 2000 opening of Discovery Cove that really began to change the way that Central Florida tourists viewed SeaWorld Orlando. No longer was this the theme park that you only saw if you had an extra day on your vacation. Now people actually began building their Orlando trips around Discovery Cove reservations. And then to make the most of all the new rides, shows and attractions to be found at SeaWorld Orlando, these folks began spending two or more days exploring that theme park as well.

But now comes the real game-changer: Aquatica. Opening on March 1st, this state-of-the-art water park will feature 36 slides -- including two enclosed tubes that will send you flying through a lagoon filled with Commerson's dolphins. Built on an 59-acre parcel that's located right next door to SeaWorld Orlando directly across International Drive, Aquatica will have 80,000 square feet of beach, private cabanas, a wave pool, exotic animal encounters ... Everything that you could possible want to experience during a day at the water park.

Then when you factor in the news that Grove Street Partners (i.e. That Atlanta-based real estate firm) will be building two brand-new 200-room Marriott hotels directly adjacent to Aquatica ... More importantly, that Busch Entertainment is reportedly partnering with Marriott to create new SeaWorld-themed vacation packages that will allow that hotel chain's guests to have special access to SeaWorld Orlando, Discovery Cove and Aquatica ... One has to wonder: Is Orlando about to become a three resort town? Where SeaWorld can position itself as the more relaxing alternative to staying on property at Disney and/or Universal?

The folks at Busch Entertainment Corporation certainly seem to think that something big is about to go down in O-town. Otherwise would they be moving their corporate headquarters from St. Louis to Orlando? Clearly the officers of this division of Anheuser-Busch believe that they need to have their feet on the ground here in town if SeaWorld Orlando is finally really going to become truly competitive with Disney and Universal.

That's why it's going to be really interesting to see what happens over the next 25 years. Given everything that's happened to SeaWorld Orlando since 1983 (Where -- according to "Jaws 3D" -- all they had to worry about was the occasional Great White Shark slipping into the lagoon and eating members of that theme park's water skiing team) ... I can't wait to see what the future holds for this place.

Mind you, if you can't really wait to see what the future holds for SeaWorld Orlando, you may want to check out Orlando Fun Ticket's latest offer. Which gets you a second day free at this theme park.

Orlando Fun Tickets is located less than 2 miles from the Walt Disney World Resort, 2 lights west of I-4 at 8472 Palm Parkway. Their office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. EST Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. For further information, please call 866-225-4712 and/or check out the official Orlando Fun Tickets website.

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Get a (turkey) leg up on the competition by visiting WDW on Thanksgiving Day

Eric M. Davis — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 02:00:00 GMT

Okay. It's time to talk turkey. As in: Is it really a smart idea to try & spend Thanksgiving Day at a Disney theme park?

Well, if we were talking about Disneyland … Then I'd have to say "No." I was actually at the Happiest Place on Earth last year on Turkey Day. And the tens of thousands of people who were crammed into that theme park on that autumn afternoon did not seem happy. At least not to me.

Photo by Jeff Lange

More importantly, if you hadn't made advance reservations, there wasn't a table to be had at any of the Disneyland Resort's on-property restaurants. We even went so far as to wave a $100 bill in front of the hostess at the Blue Bayou, with the hopes that she might then be able to hook us up with some holiday fare. But no such luck.

Which is why - last year - my Thanksgiving dinner consisted of a turkey leg that I ate standing up in Frontierland. So much for having things to be thankful for …

But if we're talking about spending Thanksgiving at Walt Disney World … That's a whole 'nother story, kids. You see, unlike their Southern Californian cousins, Central Florida's annual passholders tend to stay home on Thanksgiving Thursday. They seem to prefer spending time with their friends & family, rather than standing in line with perfect strangers for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Photo by Jeff Lange

The end result is … Thanksgiving usually winds up being a very pleasant day to spend at the parks. Where it's relatively easy to get your fill of your favorite rides, shows and attractions.

And when it comes to getting your fill, food-wise … Thanksgiving at WDW gives you plenty of options. Take - for example - if you're pining for the sort of turkey & trimmings that you used to get down at Grandma's place in Georgia. Well, Boatwright's Dining Hall at Disney's Port Orleans Resort will be offering a traditional southern holiday feast tomorrow. Where adults can then pull on the feedbag for $29.99 per person, while the kids can tuck in for just $9.99 per person.

What's that you say? You deliberately came to Disney World this year because you wanted to avoid the whole clichéd Thanksgiving experience? Not to worry. Over at Disney's Boardwalk, Spoodles is offering a decidedly different holiday meal. Here you'll find a buffet that simply loaded with Mediterranean fare. Where there won't be a single cranberry in sight.

Photo by Jeff Lange

Okay. So what if you're the sort of person who actually likes Thanksgiving traditions? Like - say - sacking out on the couch after eating that big meal and then watching a movie with your family. Well, Disney's All-Star Music Resort has found an interesting way to put a fun new twist on that holiday tradition.

You see, they're first going to set up this huge inflatable movie screen at the edge of Piano Pool. And then they're inviting all of the families who are staying at the All-Star to come on by after Thanksgiving dinner to catch a screening of "Toy Story 2." (Hmmn … I wonder if that old don't-go-in-the-water-for-at-least-an-hour-after-you-eat rule actually applies in this particular situation? )

Speaking of food … I'm told that the food courts at all three of Disney's All-Stars will be offering a traditional turkey dinner as a dining option tomorrow afternoon. Of course, if you'd prefer to eat your Thanksgiving dinner off of fine china, rather than a plastic tray … May I suggest heading over to the Grand Flo? Where I'm told that both Narcoossee's & Citricos will be serving hoity-toity holiday meals.

Mickey meets May and Flower, the two turkeys that President George W. Bush
officially yesterday at the White House. Look for these gobblers to roll through
the Magic Kingdom tomorrow aboard a parade float as part of that theme park's
Thanksgiving Day festivities. Copyright 2007 Disney. Photo by Diana Zalucky

But what if you're too busy taking advantage of those smallish-sized crowds at the theme parks to take time out for Thanksgiving dinner? Does that mean that you actually have to miss out on that wonderful holiday meal?

Heck, no. Let's remember that the Liberty Square Tavern - what with its home-style American dining - actually serves Thanksgiving dinner 365 days a year. So if you need a turkey-and-stuffing fix come Friday, just head on over at the Magic Kingdom.

Of course, if you'd like to see some real turkeys (And - no - I'm not talking about those tourists who aren't smart enough to do any prep work before they go off on their Disney World vacation), be sure and catch the parade tomorrow afternoon at the Kingdom. That's when you'll be able to see May & Flower, those two oversized gobblers who were originally supposed to be on the bill of fare at the White House on Thanksgiving Day. Luckily, they were eventually able to hang onto their giblets. Thanks to George W. Bush's last minute presidential pardon.

Youngsters with Camp Fire USA and other guests join President George W. Bush
around May, the 2007 National Thanksgiving turkey, during Rose Garden
festivities surrounding its official pardoning ceremony yesterday.
Official White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian

As you can see, there's a lot to be thankful for if you were smart enough to plan on spending Thanksgiving Day at Walt Disney World. So give this some thought if you're looking for something different to do next holiday season.

And while you're planning ahead … Why not plan on dropping by Orlando Fun Tickets the very next time you're in our neck of the woods? Our experienced staff (Which is made up of many WDW veterans) will be happy to share our insights about how you can make the most of your next Disney World vacation. More to the point, we can give some great price breaks on admission to the parks thanks to some of the exclusive ticket packages that we now offer.

Anyway … Have a great Turkey Day, folks. And be sure and save a drumstick for me!

Orlando Fun Tickets is located less than 2 miles from the Walt Disney World Resort, 2 lights west of I-4 at 8472 Palm Parkway. Their office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. EST Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. For further information, please call 866-225-4712 and/or check out the official Orlando Fun Tickets website.

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