Did You Know?

Prince Charming Regal Carousel is the oldest attraction at the Walt Disney World Resort. 

The carousel was originally built in 1917 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Comany.  In 1967, Walt Disney purchased the handmade carousel and horses from the Olympic Park in Maplewood, New Jersey.

Electrical Water Pageant

Favorite Night Time Show

Welcome to those of you joining me from The CanaDisney Blog and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the 3rd stop on our Magical Blogorail.

This month we are talking about a Favorite Night time Show at Disney.  Mine is a long standing favorite that is unique to Walt Disney World complex in Florida:  The Electrical Water Pageant.  The Electrical Water Pageant has continuously run (weather permitting) every evening on Disney’s Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake since late October, 1971.  The show has changed little since then and remains one of the few original opening year shows to be still in operation.  

The Electrical Water Pageant consists of seven barges carrying large screens with colored lights in the shape of various characters.  The lights flicker on/off in order to create the effect of movement.  This stunning display is set to Disney themed music.  The Pageant concludes with a tribute to the United States, a huge flag, and patriotic music.  The light show can be seen from all of the resorts on Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake, but interestingly, not from the Magic Kingdom. 

The Electrical Water Pageant (EWP) traverses the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake making stops in front of each resort to perform it’s show.  Weather permitting, the EWP starts at the Polynesian Resort usually at 9pm, travels to the Grand Floridian, then the Wilderness Lodge, over to Fort Wilderness and ends at a stop in front of the Contemporary Resort at little after 10pm.  The best viewing spots are from the beaches and boat docks of the Magic Kingdom Resorts.   The light show does not make a stop in front of the Magic Kingdom, although, you could be fortunate to see some of it from the Ferry Boat or the Monorail.    

The Electric Water Pageant is often created as the idea that led to the creation of the original Main Street Electrical Parade at Disneyland...and eventually to Spectromagic at the Magic Kingdom.

The EWP is one of my favorite evening treats at Disney World.  It's quirky and fun.  It's also one of the few parades where you don't have to line up hours prior to view.   For my family, it's a wonderful way to end the evening!

Here’s a sampling of the current music line-up for the EWP:

   Opening music: "Fanfare" from The Little Mermaid

   Sea Serpent (four floats) featuring "Boo Bop Bopbop Bop (I Love You Too)" from Pete's Dragon

   Whale (one float) accompanied by "Whale of a Tale" from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

   Turtle (one float) 

   Octopus (one float) accompanied by "Poor Unfortunate Souls" from The Little Mermaid

   Three Jumping Dolphins (three floats)

   Brachiosaurus (one Float) accompanied by "Walk the Dinosaur" 

   Crocodile (one float) accompanied by "Never Smile at a Crocodile" from Peter Pan 

   Four Seahorses (one float) accompanied by "Fanfare and "Under the Sea" from The Little Mermaid

   Neptune (one float) accompanied by "Fanfare and "Under the Sea" from The Little Mermaid

   All floats change to the American Flag & Stars and are accompanied by:  "You're a Grand Old Flag", 

   "Yankee Doodle", and "America the Beautiful".

   Closing music "Fireworks" and "Jig" from The Little Mermaid 

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is The Disney Point.  

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ Manda’s Disney Blog

2nd Stop ~ The CanaDisney Blog  

3rd Stop ~ The Magical Mouse Pad

4th Stop ~ The Disney Point

Final Stop ~ The Disney Chick

Favorite World Showcase Pavilion

Welcome to those of you joining me from 400 Miles to Disneyland and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the final stop on our Magical Blogorail.  

Our topic on the Magical Blogorail this month is our favorite World Showcase Pavilion.  I must admit, this topic is hard for me as it’s difficult to pick my FAVORITE pavilion.  Each country represented is so unique in its own right that it’s hard to compare apples to apples.  But if I must pick, I’m going to pick the one that is most intriguing me.  That pavilion is Morocco.  I think I find Morocco the most fascinating because it’s the culture represented in Epcot that I know least about.  

Koutoubia Minaret
of Marrakesh

Quite unassuming on the outside, Morocco is often passed by for more familiar countries by many guests.  Morocco doesn’t have an attraction, so most people don’t bother with it and that is a shame.  Just inside the walled city, lies an amazing architecture, adorned with beautiful tile work and impeccable craftsmanship.  A walk through the local bazaar (or market place) reveals delightful treasures.  It’s a truly unique shopping experience.

The Morocco Pavilion was the first expansion pavilion to be added to the World Showcase, opening in 1984.  The pavilion is the only one designed with the named government’s aid.  King Hassan II sent Moroccan artisans to design and create the many mosaics and buildings you’ll see in the pavilion.  Due to Islamic beliefs on the content of art, the mosaics contain no representations of people.  To this day, the Moroccan government continues to sponsor the pavilion, while corporations hold sponsoring rights to the other World Showcase pavilions.  

Bab Boujouloud gate

Three cities of this northern African country are represented here:  Casablanca, Fez, and Marrakesh.  Guarding the entrance to the pavilion is a reproduction of the Koutoubia Minaret of Marrakesh.  This intricately carved tower was built by native craftsmen.  As you delve deeper into the pavilion, you’ll see more exquisite craftsmanship in the gate to the Medina (or old city) in a replica of the Bab Boujouloud gate.  Through the gate, you’ll find the bustling bazaar.  All the shops are interconnected to give you the feel of being in a real outside shopping bazaar and it’s easy to get lost in these shops!  The bazaar is a wonderful place to find unique gifts for that hard-to-buy-for person in your family.  Doesn’t your Cousin Tim need a Fez?  How about a belly dancing video for your Aunt Helen? 

Enter the Fez House to see a representation of a typical Moroccan home.  The tile and word work is amazing.  If it’s quiet, I’m sure you can hear children playing in the distance!

One of many
fountains

A flower filled courtyard is surrounded by native plants -- citrus and olive trees, date palms, banana trees, and a fountain.  Some of the gardens are irrigated by an ancient working waterwheel.  

Since these buildings were designed and sponsored by the country of Morocco, they hold great religious significant.  As a result the pavilion is the only one not lit up during the nightly Illuminations performance.  

Here is a sampling of what’s available to you in this pavilion:

Attractions:

• Gallery of Arts and History - A museum of sorts filled with a display of science, music, and technology of Morocco.  
• Moroccan Style:  The Art of Personal Adornment - An exhibit that features clothing and jewelry of Morocco.  

Dining 

Lunch at Tangerine Cafe

• Restaurant Marrakesh - Sit down restaurant location serves various types of Moroccan cuisine.  Belly dancers provide entertainment to diners.
• Tangerine Cafe - Serves hummus, salads, rotisseries chicken, lamb, and baklava along with moroccan beverages include strong coffee, mint tea, and beer.  The amount of food you get here in their platters is enough for two!

Shopping

• Tangier Trades - Sells jewelry, and Moroccan clothing and shoes.
• Brass Bazaar - Handworked brass items.
• Outdoor Bazaar - extension of the Brass Bazaar. Items include ceramic tiles and vases, music instruments, and handmade baskets. 
• Medina Arts - Woodcrafts, lamps, leather goods, furniture
• Casablanca Carpets - Rugs and other textiles.
• Souk-Al-Magreb - Cooking utensils and food, fez hats, perfumes, and belly dancing accessories

Entertainment

• Mo'Rockin - Live performances vary.  See park guides for times.  The band offers a blend of rock music and Arabian rhythms.  

Meet & Greet Disney Characters 

• Here’s the place in Epcot to meet Aladdin, Princess Jasmine & Genie.

A final fact about the Morocco pavilion you may not know - The Tower of Terror at Hollywood Studios is seen at an angle from the Moroccan pavilion.  The top of the Tower of Terror is designed so it blends in with the Moroccan architecture.

Thank you for joining Magical Blogorail Peach this month. We will be back in December with an all new theme.  If you are looking for more Disney magic, you can make your way over to Magical Blogorail website to see all our members and their blogs.

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ Disney in Our Blood
2nd Stop ~ Joanna and her Amazing Technicolor Interwebs
3rd Stop ~ Can Do It Mom AKA Mouse Fan Diane
4th Stop ~ 400 Miles to Disneyland
Final Stop ~ The Magical Mouse Pad