Tom's Reading List

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Hello Thomas!
Here's your copy of the latest ALL EARS® Weekly newsletter,
per your subscription request! Enjoy!
Deb Wills, Editor-in-Chief

ALL EARS(R) Weekly Newsletter

Sharing the Magic Worldwide

Walt Disney World News and Information

January 1, 2008 Issue #432

Established September 1999 Library of Congress ISSN: 1533-0753

------------------------------

Hello Thomas!
Here's your copy of the latest ALL EARS® Weekly newsletter,
per your subscription request! Enjoy!
Deb Wills, Editor-in-Chief

ALL EARS(R) Weekly Newsletter

Sharing the Magic Worldwide

Walt Disney World News and Information

December 18, 2007 Issue #430

Established September 1999 Library of Congress ISSN: 1533-0753

------------------------------

----------------------------------

Welcome to ALL EARS(R), a weekly electronic newsletter about
Walt Disney World, affiliated with Deb's Unofficial Walt Disney
World Information Guide. http://allearsnet.com

This newsletter is available by subscription only -- you're
receiving this newsletter because you subscribed, or because a
friend who subscribes forwarded it to you. If you wish to
unsubscribe, please scroll to the bottom of this newsletter
and follow the appropriate links or send an email message with
UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line to: unsubscribe@allearsnet.com

----------------------------------------------------------------

THIS ISSUE SPONSORED BY:

PASSPORTER TRAVEL GUIDEBOOKS

Happy Holiday Wishes From PassPorter!

In this season of giving, we are so grateful for what YOU --
our wonderful PassPorter readers -- have given to PassPorter.
You've generously bestowed your support, tips, stories, news,
experiences, and friendship. Thank you for making PassPorter
part of your happiest days and most magical moments.

As a thank-you gift, we've created free gift tags for you
featuring our
most recent holiday photos. You can download your free gift tags
at:
http://www.passporter.com/free-holiday-gift-tags.htm

P.S. Thank you for putting PassPorter's Walt Disney World 2008
on the national travel bestseller list already!

----------------------------------------------------------------

Here's what you'll find in this issue:

Feature Article: Dining Out and About: Le Cellier Steakhouse

Tips of the Week: Bathroom Storage; Sweet Souvenirs; Flying with
Car Seats

News Bites: Man Dies after Riding Everest; Christmas Day Parade
Celebrities; ESPN Weekend Coming Soon; Rehab News; Chef's Gala
Benefits United Way

ALL EARS(R) Hears -- LETTERS FROM OUR READERS! Anniversary Trip
Article Feedback; Options for Diabetics; Working Toward Your
Dreams

FROM OUR EARS TO YOUR EYES! What's New on AllEarsNet.com?

Mousy Mindbogglers: Brain-teasing Riddles about WDW! Enjoy the
issue!

Deb Wills, Editor-in-Chief

----------------------------------------------------------------

FEATURE ARTICLE

Dining Out and About:
Le Cellier Steakhouse

by Jack Spence
ALL EARS(R) Columnist

In early May of this year, I decided that I wanted to eat dinner
at the Le Cellier Steakhouse in the Canada Pavilion at Epcot. I
called central reservations and foolishly requested a table for
sometime between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on the following Saturday.
When the reservationist told me that the restaurant was booked
for that night I asked about Sunday. Again, they were booked.
Since my schedule is very flexible, I asked about Monday... and
Tuesday... and Wednesday. This very kind and very patient
reservationist continued to check day after day for me.
Occasionally he would offer me a 3:45 or 8:30 time slot, but I
was insistent. I wanted to eat between 5 and 7. Eventually, we
found a 5:40 opening on Halloween, just five and a half months
after my starting point.

I ate at Le Cellier for the first time in October 1983. At that
time, it was a buffeteria restaurant. It featured salmon,
pork-and-potato filled pie, maple-syrup pie, and other
delicacies from north of the border. This restaurant was never
very popular so in late 1994 it closed for retooling. Nine
months later it reopened, serving sandwiches and salads.
Attendance still wasn't what Disney wanted so the restaurant
went through another change. It reopened for a third time in
July 1997 as a full-service steakhouse. Ever since, Le Cellier
has become one of the most popular restaurants at Epcot.

The restaurant is located in the cellar of the Hotel du Canada.
The entrance can be reached by walking through Victoria Gardens
or as you pass by after viewing the "O Canada" CircleVision 360
movie.

This restaurant is lovely. The same stonework that you see on
the outside of the Hotel du Canada is continued in the interior.
Think old wine cellar. Thick, sweeping arches, dark woods,
smoked mirrors, low ceilings, and dim lighting set the mood. The
chandeliers and wall sconces are designed in the shape of maple
leaves supporting heavy glass chimneys. There are no windows in
this establishment so it is perpetually dark, but not too dark.
I've been to a number of authentic wine cellars around the world
and this restaurant recreates that feeling very realistically.

Donald and I arrived at the Le Cellier Steakhouse 10 minutes
early, just as I was instructed to do when I made the
reservation. The waiting room was unusually quiet. Instead of
the customary hordes of people that I have encountered in the
past, there were only two other couples waiting to be seated. I
checked in and took a seat on one of the three benches in the
lobby. While we waited to be seated, four other parties came in
and inquired if there were any available tables for "walk-ins."
The hostess politely told each guest that the restaurant was
completely booked, but perhaps if they stopped by later they
might have an opening. "Good luck," I thought to myself.

At exactly 5:40, my name was called and the hostess took us to
our table. In the past when I've eaten here, the host or hostess
would tell you that the restaurant is divided into different
sections, each section representing a different province of
Canada. Today that bit of information was omitted. This actually
didn't bother me since the restaurant is decorated identically
throughout and this always seemed a little too gimmicky for me.
However, a small brass plaque behind me said Saskatchewan.

This restaurant is small. It only seats 157 guests. The tables
are packed in tight. Our table for two was situated in a small
corner nook. There was a table for four on one side of us and a
table for six on the other. Donald insisted that I get the
better seat on the cushioned bench running against the wall,
affording me a view out into the restaurant. He took the chair
facing the wall. As it turns out, he may have gotten the better
seat. His view was somewhat tranquil while I looked out into the
continual activity of the restaurant.

Our waiter, Jason, approached us in a timely matter and asked us
if we'd eaten here before. When we said that we had, many times,
he asked if we'd like to order something to drink. A wine list
was already on the table. Le Cellier promotes wines from the
U.S. Pacific Northwest and British Columbia. Having just
attended a wine tasting at the Artist Point Restaurant that
featured Washington State wines, I decided to try something from
Canada. I selected a 2003 bottle of cabernet sauvignon by
Jackson-Triggs.

When Jason opened the bottle, he failed to present me with the
cork. I don't know if this is the practice of the restaurant, if
he forgot, or if it was one of those plastic corks so that it
wouldn't matter anyway. The wine was good but the first sip had
a slight bite to it. I think that this will be a very good
bottle of wine once it has aged a couple more years.

At the same time he brought the wine, Jason brought thick and
chewy bread sticks. These were attractively placed in a wire
container already on the table. Three types of bread are
included: sour dough, multi-grain, and soft pretzel. All are
scrumptious and I could make a meal on these alone. We were also
each given our own butter.

After our wine was poured, we placed our order. We told Jason
that we were in no rush so please don't hurry our food out to
the table. Within five minutes our appetizers arrived. Sigh.

I ordered the Prince Edward Island Mussels served chowder-style
with applewood smoked bacon and potatoes. When they arrived at
my table, I was given two bowls, one with the mussels and one
for the empty shells. Artist Point, take a lesson. This made it
much easier to eat. My first bite was fantastic. The combination
of mussel, potato and bacon created a wonderful taste. However,
about five of my mussels had grit in them. I think they could
have been rinsed a little better.

Donald ordered the Beefsteak Tomato Stack with caramelized
onions, marinated mozzarella and yuzu vinaigrette. He enjoyed
this dish, but was expecting more than just a small dab of
mozzarella. He was expecting a slice (or two). Also, he detected
a strong taste of cucumbers -- something he's not fond of. He
wasn't sure if they were actually there or if it was the taste
of the yuzu dressing.

Our entrees took a little longer to arrive from the kitchen. In
fact, the timing of this course was perfect. It gave us plenty
of time to sip our wine and engage in conversation before eating
again.

For my entree I ordered the 14-oz. New York Strip Steak with
balsamic red onions, watercress, and roasted Yukon gold
potatoes, and finished with veal demi glace. I asked for it to
be cooked rare. When I cut into it, it was dark pink, not the
red which I consider to be rare. However, the waiter did ask if
everything was cooked correctly and I said yes. I'm certain that
he would have brought me a new steak if I had complained, but I
didn't feel that it was worth it in this case.

I have said for a number of years that the best NY steak at
Disney World can be found at the Flying Fish Restaurant on the
Boardwalk. My opinion hasn't changed -- it's still the best. But
the Le Cellier NY steak is also very good. It was extremely
flavorful and tender. The Yukon gold potatoes were... potatoes.
They were fine, albeit lukewarm.

Donald ordered the Herb Crusted Prime Rib. This dish also comes
with the Yukon potatoes. He asked for an end cut cooked
medium-well, which the kitchen was able to accommodate. He likes
the extra spices you get when you order an end cut. He was very
pleased and had no complaints other than the lukewarm potatoes.

I grew up in the 1950s. Unless we were having a casserole, my
mother always served three items for dinner, a meat, a starch,
and a vegetable, arranged attractively on the plate. I wish
today's upscale restaurants did the same. The trend nowadays is
to only serve two items, usually stacked on top of each other so
you have to rearrange everything on your plate once it's served.

Since I wanted a third item to round out our meal, we ordered
the Oven-Roasted Wild Mushrooms, and I was very glad we did.
They arrived in a hot pan and there was plenty for the two of us
to share. And they were extremely good.

For dessert I ordered the Chocolate Whiskey Cake and Donald
ordered the Chocolate Moose. The cake was moist and a chocoholic
would love it; however, any whiskey taste was undetectable. The
Chocolate Moose arrived looking like the head of a moose,
complete with cookie antlers, candy eyes, nose and tongue.
Besides being very cute, Donald said it tasted good too.

With the exception of our first course arriving too soon, our
service was very good. Jason was attentive yet not intrusive.

This restaurant is physically small, something I'm sure Disney
wishes they could remedy, but alas, they can't. And it can get
noisy in here, especially since this restaurant caters to
families. For the most part, the din becomes white noise and you
don't even notice it, but every so often you'll hear the shriek
of a little one that brings you back to reality.

I don't believe any trip to Epcot is complete without trying at
least one of the World Showcase restaurants, but when you do,
you need to have the right mindset. With the exception of the
Bistro de Paris, which is quiet and sedate, as most diners do
not bring their children here, the Epcot restaurants can be
hectic.

Our meal came to $145. That's a lot of money. But I arrived at
Le Cellier knowing that the restaurant is small, the tables are
close together, and there would be multiple children in
attendance. Because I had the right mindset going in, I enjoyed
my time here, and even though I had a few minor complaints, I
left happy.

As mentioned at the beginning of this review, reservations are
difficult to secure here. If you're willing to eat at an off
time, you might have a chance at getting a reservation with
little advance planning. However, if you want to eat at a
traditional lunch or dinner time, you should definitely plan
ahead.

The Le Cellier Steakhouse serves lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
and dinner from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. Note: Epcot officially
closes after the 9 o'clock showing of IllumiNations. However,
diners at the World Showcase restaurants are not rushed out and
can conclude their meal past this time.

One final comment concerning all restaurants at Walt Disney
World... When the sugar substitute Splenda was introduced,
Disney replaced Sweet'N Low with this new product. Most
restaurants outside the "World" offer all three sugar
substitutes, Splenda, Sweet'N Low, and Equal, but not Disney. I
like Sweet'N Low and I can't for the life of me figure out why
Disney can't offer all three.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Related Links:

Other reviews by Jack Spence:
http://allearsnet.com/btp/jacks.htm

----------------------------------------------------------------

FEATURED SITES

Quicksilver Tours and Transportation

Service includes:
Meet & Greet, luggage assistance, free car seat and booster.
Free 30-minute stop for groceries included with airport
round-trip reservation.

Call Toll-Free: 1-888-GO TO WDW (468-6939)
or visit www.quicksilver-tours.com

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

MouseFanTravel.com

~ 5-night Cruise w/ Deb Wills & Steve Barrett ~
Sept 1, 2008 - from $634* - Stop Twice at Castaway Cay
Book with us & enjoy daily meets, dining with the hosts &
special surprises

To get more info or to request a quote, please visit our website
at:
www.MouseFanTravel.com

*Rates are per person, dbl occ subject to availability. Incl
cruise fare, port & tax. CST207807440
See website for full details. - As to Disney artwork/
properties: (C)Disney. Ships registry: The Bahamas

----------------------------------------------------------------

TIPS OF THE WEEK!

Pete Johnson: In the room at the hotel, there typically isn't
any place to store your bathroom stuff. Toothbrushes, makeup,
medicines, shaving supplies, or whatever else ends up sitting on
the counter where it either gets moved or is subject to cleaner
overspray when the staff comes in to make up the room. My wife
found this tip on a cruise ship website and it worked great for
our Disney trip over Thanksgiving. She found a clear plastic
hanging shoe holder, the kind that has pockets for holding
individual shoes. We hung this in the closet and put all our
bathroom stuff in there. It was out of the way, but easy to see
where individual items were. The holder went down to the floor,
too, so we could put things our 5-year-old needed towards the
bottom so she could get them herself. Everything had a place so
the bathroom countertop was completely clear when we left for
the parks each day.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Kelly Adkins: On every trip to Epcot we try to collect different
things from each country, but I'm beginning to run out of space.
So this year we decided to collect candy from each country. We
usually picked up two different candies at each country. The
only country that did not have candy was Morocco, so we bought a
pastry. It's a tasty treat that you can enjoy at the park and
later at home. I took some to my family and we had a contest to
see what country they thought the candy came from. So, in
essence it's a treat, collection, and later a game, but only
needing short-term storage space. What a fun, tasty thing to do
-- my family enjoyed it!

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Kim Mazzola: We just came back from a 10-day stay in Florida. We
flew AirTran, which had us install the car seat on the window
side. Going there, it was extremely difficult to install due to
the restricted access to one side of the seat. However, on the
plane on the way back, the flight attendant gave us a seatbelt
extender to help install the car seat. It was much easier as it
gave us extra length to feed through the back of the seat. It
was a time and frustration saver!

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Submit your Tip of the Week to: allearsnet@yahoo.com

And don't forget to check our searchable database of reader tips
:
http://allearsnet.com/rta/tips.php

----------------------------------------------------------------

NEWS BITES

Due to the upcoming holidays, the December 25 and January 1
issues of All Ears(R) will be "lite" issues. The All Ears(R)
Team is taking a much-needed break and enjoying the holidays
with family and friends. Our full-feature newsletter will return
on January 8, 2008.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

A 44-year-old man has died after riding the Expedition Everest
roller coaster at Disney's Animal Kingdom today. Jeffrey Reed,
of Navarre, was unconscious and unresponsive when his ride
vehicle pulled into the unload area, around 11:25 this morning.
Walt Disney World officials said the ride was inspected this
morning and was operating properly, but is currently closed
while Disney officials reconfirm the ride's status.

For more details, read the Orlando Sentinel article:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/
orl-bk-disneyaccident12182007,0,7179266.story?coll=
orl_tab01_layout

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

REMINDER: Holiday dining surcharges are in effect now through
January 5, 2008. Prices will be a few dollars higher than usual
at many of the buffets and character meals both in the parks and
at the resort hotels.

http://allearsnet.com/din/restnews.htm

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Disney's 24th annual Christmas Day Parade Holiday Special
(filmed earlier this month) will be shown on ABC-TV on December
25 at 10 a.m. EST. Once again, Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa will
host the special. Stars scheduled to appear include: Jessica
Simpson, Miley Cyrus, Patti LaBelle, Josh Groban, cast from
"High School Musical 2," favorites from "Dancing with the
Stars," The Jonas Bros., Menudo, Katharine McPhee, and the
Harlem Gospel Choir.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

16th Annual Chef's Gala benefiting Heart of Florida United Way
will be on Saturday, April 5, 2008, from 6 to 10 p.m. at Epcot's
World Showplace at Walt Disney World. More than 20 of Central
Florida's top chefs from the finest dining establishments will
prepare unique dishes paired with best in class wines. The event
also includes live jazz music and an elegant silent auction, all
to benefit local health and human service programs supported by
Heart of Florida United Way. Each entree and dessert item is
carefully paired with wines that have been identified as
complimentary to each menu selection. Sommeliers will be on hand
to provide information about each wine and discuss pairings. The
Chef's Gala helps provide critical assistance to the nearly 200
programs operated by nearly 100 local social service agencies
supported by Heart of Florida United Way. Funds raised at the
Chef's Gala will help serve more than 375,000 Central Floridians
in need in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. Tickets are
$175 per individual. To purchase tickets, call 407-835-0900 ext.
377 or email chefsgala@hfuw.org.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Visit www.espntheweekend.com for details on the fifth edition of
ESPN The Weekend, being held February 29 to March 2, 2008, at
Disney's Hollywood Studios.

http://allearsnet.com/tp/mgm/espn.htm

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

REHAB NEWS/UPDATES:

Mad Tea Party is closed from December 15 - 21, 2007.

Playhouse Disney Live on Stage will be closed January 3 -27,
2008. An updated show featuring Mickey Mouse and Clubhouse
friends will debut on January 28, 2008.

The International Dinner and IllumiNations Dessert Reception
offered as part of the Grand Gathering Experience will not
be available January 28 - February 10, 2008. The Odyssey
complex will be refurbished during this time.

The Courtyard Pool at the Grand Floridian will be closed
January 14 to mid-February 2008. The Beach Pool will remain
open. Grand Floridian guests can also use the Nanea Volcano
Pool at the Polynesian during this time.

The Doubloon Lagoon pool at Port Orleans French Quarter will
be closed January 28 to mid-March 2008. Riverside's Ol' Man
Island Pool will be open. If you're staying at the resort,
you can also use Riverside's Alligator Bayou and Magnolia
Bend pools.

Jellyrolls at the BoardWalk Resort is closed for
refurbishment December 12 - 26, 2007.

Nine Dragons Restaurant in China will be closed from January
6 - November 30, 2008 for rehab.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: We have had conflicting reports about the
start date for this rehab. As with any rehab/closing
information, call Disney before your trip to verify.)

http://allearsnet.com/tp/rehabs.htm

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Walt Disney World was named the world's leading theme park
resort at the 14th annual World Travel Awards. Travel agents and
tourism professionals around the world are eligible to vote for
these awards, which also named the Walt Disney World Swan and
Dolphin both the leading convention hotel and the leading resort
hotel in the regional awards. Orlando was named North America's
leading tourism destination.

----------------------------------------------------------------

ALL EARS(R) HEARS

EDITOR'S NOTE: Items we run in ALL EARS(R) HEARS are from emails
we receive from our readers, and are not necessarily confirmed
announcements from the Walt Disney Company. We run these items
merely as points of interest; they often contain speculation or
hearsay. If we are not able to confirm a piece of information we
receive from a reader by the time we go to press, we may publish
it in the ALL EARS(R) HEARS section to get feedback from others
as to whether the item has any foundation. For factual
information that has been confirmed or published by the Walt
Disney Company, please refer to our NEWS BITES section, which
generally runs above this section.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

... from Kelly: I loved Michelle Scribner-MacLean s article
about celebrating their anniversary at Disney! (ALL EARS(R)
issue #429, December 11, 2007). I feel like her trip could have
been ours! We just returned from OUR 20th anniversary trip
without our kids (ours, too, have been several times before and
will go again). It was amazing. We did the Segway tour, and took
our time looking at some of the Disney Magic that passes us by
so quickly when we are running from ride to ride with our kids!
We enjoyed some very nice restaurants. It was an amazing time.
Our friends and family harassed us about how strange they
thought we were for choosing Disney for our anniversary! They
just don't get it. We also had the anniversary pins, and were
inundated with good wishes from cast and guests alike. We highly
recommend it!

... from Monica Alderman: I loved Michelle's article on
celebrating an anniversary at Disney. My husband and I
celebrated our 20th with a 3-night Disney cruise (our first),
followed by some time at Disney (while the kids stayed home). We
had many pixie-dust moments on the cruise. At the parks we wore
our anniversary badges and almost every cast member wished us a
happy anniversary. A lovely cast member at The Land gave us a
cookie on the house and as I purchased a soda at one of the
permanent kiosks as you leave Future World for World Showcase,
the cast member told me there was a phone call for me and we
also got anniversary wishes from Mickey. We'll be cruising once
again for my birthday in April and visiting the parks (this time
with kids -- their first cruise) and I can't wait to get my very
first birthday pin! Michelle summed up my feelings when people
ask us why Disney all the time and why go without children.
Thanks, Michelle!

... from Cathy: I just read the article about spending your 20th
Anniversary at WDW. My husband and I did that in 2005. We had a
great time, but please warn your readers that WDW does not have
to do anything "special" for your anniversary. All of our
reservations, both resort (Beach Club) and all ADRs, were marked
as celebrating our 20th anniversary and we were given nothing.
I'm not complaining -- I just want to make sure that the
expectations are set correctly.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

... from Kathy Glaze: My husband is diabetic and I've found that
they have sugar-free pancake mix available upon request at the
new Tusker House buffet in Animal Kingdom. Also at Flame Tree
BBQ, if you call ahead, they can prepare the ribs or chicken
without the sugar rub.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

... from MP: We just got back from a four-day stay in WDW
December 9-13. I bought my son Mickey Mouse ears. In the past
we'd always gotten the embroidered name done for free. This time
they told us to go across Main Street in the Magic Kingdom.
There was a $2.00 charge to have this done. The seamstress said
unfortunately Disneyland had already stopped doing the
embroidery and was just doing them by computer, and next year
WDW will stop offering the embroidery also. The woman was very
disappointed and we are too at the thought of losing this
service. If you want a hat embroidered with a name, you should
hurry up and get it done now!

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

... from Tammi Ritter: I'm a stay-at-home mom, and I've made it
a goal to take my family to Disney World every four years. The
twist is that I've also made it my goal to pay for the trip
myself, so our family budget doesn't feel the effects. In order
to do it, I've done everything from participating in focus
groups to babysitting to mystery shopping. Some of the jobs are
better than others. Last time we went to Disney World, I wrote
down a list of all the things, big and small, I had done to save
up enough money for the trip. I took a moment while on vacation
to read over my list and reflect on just how much work it took
to get here... and how worthwhile it was! This time, since my
older son is old enough to understand money, I will show the
list to him as well -- not as a way to seek his congratulations
but as a way for him to understand that it is possible, with
hard work, to earn enough money to pay for your dreams!

----------------------------------------------------------------

MOUSY MINDBOGGLERS
Sponsored by
http://www.dvcbyresale.com/

Think you know Walt Disney World inside and out? This ALL EARS
(R) feature is designed to stump WDW enthusiasts.

The Mousy Mindboggler is going green -- that's right, as we
approach 10,000 subscribers (yes, we're getting close!), we
realize that many of you have never seen some of our earliest
Mousy Mindboggler riddles, so we've decided to RECYCLE a few
over the next several weeks as we ease our way toward the
holidays! Put on your thinking cap, and see if you know the
answer to this oldie but goodie from more than five years ago!

When you see me you'll wonder why
Gravity's laws seem not to apply

I'm made of good old H2O
Though I go against the flow

I'm not a figment, though he's near
Where mice and snakes cause cries of fear.

What and where am I?

Do you know the answer? PLEASE, please read our rules carefully:

1) You must be an ALL EARS(R) subscriber. 2) You must be 18
years of age or older. 3) Only ONE entry per subscriber.
Multiple entries will result in disqualification. 4) All entries
become the exclusive property of ALL EARS(R) and will not be
acknowledged or returned. 5) Only ONE winner per household. If
you've previously won a Mousy Mindboggler snowglobe, please do
not enter again. Your entry will be disqualified. 6) Void where
prohibited.

Our complete Mousy Mindboggler rules can be found at
http://allearsnet.com/ae/mbrules.htm

TO ENTER: Send your guess IN THE SUBJECT LINE of an email
message to: mmindboggler@yahoo.com

NOTE: If your answers do not fit in the subject line, you may
send them in the body of the email, but please do this ONLY if
your answers will not fit on the subject line.

DEADLINE: Send your guesses in NO LATER THAN 11:59 p.m.
(Eastern), Sunday, December 23, 2007. One email will be chosen
at random from the correct answers.

The winner of this week's Mousy Mindboggler will receive a
beautiful Disney snowglobe courtesy of Shontell Crawford and
http://www.dvcbyresale.com/

LAST WEEK'S MINDBOGGLER:

I'm a cute cartoon in a Disney film,
But in this park I'm for real
I sun myself, play with my mates,
And eat bugs for my meal
Live versions of my cartoon friend
Live elsewhere in this place
You'll never find them on my path
Jeeps roam around their space

Who am I? (Hint: I'm one of the critters you'll find at Disney's
Animal Kingdom!)

Solution: A MEERKAT (like The Lion King's Timon) found on
Pangani Forest Exploration Trail

Photo: http://allearsnet.com/tp/ak/ak259.jpg
Description: http://allearsnet.com/tp/ak/ak_pang.htm

Congratulations to Steve, whose email was chosen from about 220
submitted with the correct answer this week. Steve will receive
a beautiful Disney snowglobe courtesy of Shontell Crawford and
http://www.dvcbyresale.com/ -- a perfect year-round reminder of
the Disney Magic!

Many thanks to all of you for playing!

----------------------------------------------------------------

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

It's that time again! Which photo was the most magical for YOU
in 2007? Cast your vote and let us know!

~Visit the 2007 photo gallery.
http://allearsnet.com/pw/pwgallery.htm
~Choose your favorite photo.
~Send an email to allearsphotovote@yahoo.com with the PHOTO DATE
of your favorite photo in the subject line.
~Please submit one (1) vote only!
~Voting ends at midnight, Monday, January 1, 2008.

We'll post the results here the following week!

http://allearsnet.com/pw/pw.htm

----------------------------------------------------------------

FROM OUR EARS TO YOUR EYES!
WHAT'S NEW ON ALLEARSNET.COM?

Spaceship Earth continues to have periodic soft openings. Lucky
folks at the right place at the right time have been able to
experience the newly rehabbed attraction. Read what they have to
say (but beware of spoilers):
http://allearsnet.com/tp/ep/e_spe1.htm

Lisa Berton shares her photographs of Hercules the Muse-ical
shown on the Disney Wonder 3- and 4-night cruises:
http://allearsnet.com/cruise/hercules.htm

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

There's always something new at All Ears(R) Blog Central:
http://www.allearsnet.com/blogs/

AllEars(R) Team Members continue to share photos and reports
from Mousefest 2007:

Deb Wills: http://allearsnet.com/blogs/debwills
LindaMac: http://allearsnet.com/blogs/lindamac
Mike Scopa: http://www.allearsnet.com/blogs/mikescopa
Michelle Scribner-MacLean:
http://www.allearsnet.com/blogs/guestblog/

In the World According to Jack, Jack Spence shows us the new
Crystal Arts store in the Magic Kingdom:
http://allearsnet.com/blogs/jackspence

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

All Ears(R) Reader Kathy Lowe was Wandering the Land for the
first time ever this week. She has photos of Disneyland's
holiday decorations and festivities:
http://allearsnet.com/dlr/wander/dlwander.htm

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Need an answer? Then read Anita Answer! This week Anita answers
questions on the characters' missing relatives, fog and
fireworks, the history of ticket prices, the moving Christmas
tree in the Magic Kingdom, the large building behind The Land,
and Disney holiday trees for your room.

http://allearsnet.com/aa/anita.htm

----------------------------------------------------------------

FEATURED SITES

"Guide to the Magic for Kids" is here!

It's a guidebook, souvenir photo book, sticker book, journal and
more!
For kids and kids at heart.
Special AllEars(R) offer $25 - FREE SHIPPING

http://www.guidetothemagic.com/shoppingaenspecialoffer.htm

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

2008 Unofficial Guidebook to Walt Disney World

Our website has more than 100 stress-free touring plans for all
four Disney parks, for parents, seniors and adults.
Use this week's code AEN1218U for 20% off the one-year
subscription of $7.95.
(AllEars(R) Readers pay $6.36.)

Free samples at www.TouringPlans.com

----------------------------------------------------------------

ALL EARS(R) Archives: ALL EARS(R) feature articles through
November 27, 2007, have been archived. If you want to receive
the rest of the ALL EARS(R) news and other juicy bits of timely
WDW information, you must be a subscriber! Why not sign up now?
http://allearsnet.com/ae/ae.htm

----------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright - Disclaimer - Reprint - Contact

(C)1999-2007, All Rights Reserved. RYI Enterprises, LLC.

RYI Enterprises, LLC owns and operates AllEarsNet.com, which
comprises Deb's Unofficial Walt Disney World Information Guide
and the ALL EARS(R) weekly newsletter(allearsnet.com ), and
the Ears to Ears moderated forum on yahoogroups (email
earstoears-subscribe@yahoogroups.com [38] to subscribe).
AllEarsNet.com and ALL EARS(R) are not affiliated with,
authorized or endorsed by, or in any way officially connected
with, The Walt Disney Company, Disney Enterprises, Inc., or any
of their affiliates. For official Disney information, visit
http://www.disney.com

Editor-in-Chief: Deb Wills
Senior Editor: Debra Martin Koma

For questions on general Walt Disney World planning info that
appears on this site, send a query using our feedback form:
http://allearsnet.com/forms/feedback.htm

For advertising and other business-related issues contact:
admin@allearsnet.com

Direct any US Mail correspondence to:

Deb Wills
President RYI Enterprises, LLC
3520 Sugarloaf Parkway
Suite F03-105
Frederick, MD 21704

No parts of this newsletter may be reprinted without prior
written permission from RYI Enterprises, LLC and AllEarsNet.com.

Terms of Use: http://allearsnet.com/terms.htm
Privacy Policy: http://allearsnet.com/privacy.htm

Advertisements appearing in ALL EARS(R) are paid advertisements
and are not meant as an endorsement by Deb Wills, RYI
Enterprises, LLC, ALL EARS(R) or AllEarsNet.com.

--
ALL EARS® Archives: http://allearsnet.com/ae/archives.htm

To unsubscribe or change your profile:
http://www.mailermailer.com/x?u=42323452b-72cfbaf1

You may also Unsubscribe by emailing unsubscribe@allearsnet.com
Please put Unsubscribe in the subject line.

All Ears Net 12-11

Hello Thomas!
Here's your copy of the latest ALL EARS® Weekly newsletter,
per your subscription request! Enjoy!
Deb Wills, Editor-in-Chief

ALL EARS(R) Weekly Newsletter

Sharing the Magic Worldwide

Walt Disney World News and Information

December 11, 2007 Issue #429

Established September 1999 Library of Congress ISSN: 1533-0753

------------------------------

----------------------------------

Welcome to ALL EARS(R), a weekly electronic newsletter about
Walt Disney World, affiliated with Deb's Unofficial Walt Disney
World Information Guide. http://allearsnet.com

This newsletter is available by subscription only -- you're
receiving this newsletter because you subscribed, or because a
friend who subscribes forwarded it to you. If you wish to
unsubscribe, please scroll to the bottom of this newsletter
and follow the appropriate links or send an email message with
UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line to: unsubscribe@allearsnet.com

----------------------------------------------------------------

THIS ISSUE SPONSORED BY:

MouseFanTravel.com

Take a Vacation & Help Us Make a Difference, too!
Book your vacation package or cruise with us by Dec 31, 2007
and we'll make a donation thru Make-A-Wish to benefit
the Dream Team Project! Visit our website for more details.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Last Call! FREE Ticket Upgrades - Walt Disney World(R) Resort
Magic Your Way package 4 nights from $385*
Valid most nights 01/01/08 03/15/08 Book by 12/15/07

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To get more info or to request a quote, please visit our website
at: www.MouseFanTravel.com

*Rate is per person based on dbl occ. 3-nt min and Some black
outs and tier pricing may apply. The number of rooms
for this offer is limited - CST207807440 - As to Disney artwork/
properties: (C)Disney - See website for full details.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Here's what you'll find in this issue:

Feature Article: It's Your Anniversary! A Case for Spending It
at Walt Disney World

Tips of the Week: BYO Soap; Rainy Day Tips Revisited; Using
Snack Credits

News Bites: Spaceship Earth Sneak Previews; Cruise Line Adds
Itineraries; Rix Opens at Coronado Springs; Religious Services
Scheduled; Some Party Dates Sold Out; Flower Power Acts
Announced

ALL EARS(R) Hears -- LETTERS FROM OUR READERS!

FROM OUR EARS TO YOUR EYES! What's New on AllEarsNet.com?

Mousy Mindbogglers: Brain-teasing Riddles about WDW! Enjoy the
issue!

Deb Wills, Editor-in-Chief

----------------------------------------------------------------

FEATURE ARTICLE

It's Your Anniversary!
A Case for Spending It at Walt Disney World

by Michelle Scribner-MacLean
ALL EARS(R) Guest Columnist

I knew I was in trouble. This past summer, as my husband and I
started to brainstorm ideas about where we might spend our 20th
anniversary, the idea struck me -- and I just knew that I'd get
a reaction from family and friends. Nine words. Nine little
words started a flurry of discussion, caused some jaws to drop
open, and even a elicited few small gasps...

For our anniversary, we're going to Disney without kids.

Yep. Those were the words and people had trouble with two parts
of that particular statement.

Let's start with the first part: For our anniversary, we're
going to Disney... People's reaction to that ranged from, "Why
would you go there when you could go to some beach or go
someplace you've never been before?" to "Haven't you been to
Disney enough?"

My reply? Well, yes, we could have gone to those places, but for
us Disney is fun and familiar and even after dozens of trips, we
still haven't explored every part of each park, resort, and
restaurant. This was a perfect chance to spend time together in
a place that we love... so why not?

The second part of the statement also proved difficult for
people to grasp: ... without kids. "What!?" Friends asked, "How
can you not take your kids? Won't you feel guilty?" My reply:
no. My kids are fortunate enough to have been to Disney
countless times (and they will be going again), so the thought
of leaving them at home with their grandmother didn't really
bother us, and she was thrilled to have the opportunity to spend
some alone time with her grandkids. There are so many times when
we've been at WDW with our kids when we've gazed longingly at
some fun restaurant and said, "Ah, we'll visit that place
someday, but it's fairly expensive and our kids wouldn't enjoy
it. Someday..." Well, someday had arrived and we had a fantastic
time. If you're thinking of spending your anniversary at WDW,
here are some reasons that it is a good choice.

--------------------
Try New Things
--------------------
Even though we are WDW veterans, there is plenty that we haven't
tried before. For instance, as Disney Vacation Club Members we
usually stay in our home resort, Beach Club Villas, but we
decided to try a new resort -- the BoardWalk Villas -- and we
loved it. It was close enough to walk to Epcot and terrific
restaurants, but it was a bit different than what we were used
to.

We also decided to try Jiko at Animal Kingdom. Having visited
Boma many times, we'd always looked longingly at the Jiko menu
with kids in tow, thinking that they wouldn't quite appreciate
it. We enjoyed a quiet dinner and tried some really yummy salads
and entrees.

--------------------
You Can Indulge
--------------------
We decided to spoil ourselves a bit. We started our first
morning by having breakfast in our room. Eating pancakes
overlooking the BoardWalk pool was a treat. We also indulged by
hanging out on the porch at the BoardWalk. We ordered beverages
at the carousel pool bar, and relaxed our tired feet by sinking
into wicker rocking chairs and just people-watching. What a fun
way to indulge and relax.

--------------------
Take A Tour
--------------------
As a science teacher, I'd always wanted to take the Behind the
Seeds tour at the Land Pavilion, but my kids really weren't that
interested. For $14 (less if you have an annual pass and can get
a discount), we embarked on the hour-long behind-the-scenes
tour. I was fascinated to learn about how they use Integrated
Pest Management and hydroponics and got to ask many questions
about how the team manages the growth of a variety of
interesting vegetables. It was great!

I surprised my husband by booking the Around the World at Epcot
Segway tour one morning. This is something that we've wanted to
do for a while, but the 16-year-old minimum age level prevented
us from doing it with our children. Along with 10 other guests,
we received about an hour of safety and operation training by
three friendly and helpful cast members and then we ventured out
into World Showcase on our Segways for a behind-the-scenes tour
before that part of Epcot opened. Included in our adventures was
a visit to China, where we got to drive around the gift shop
before it opened, a stop at Italy where we wove between the
pillars, and a final trek through Future World where park
visitors gaped at us with mouths open as we rolled by.

--------------------
Take Your Time
--------------------
Because it was Food and Wine Festival time we also enjoyed
indulging ourselves each day by trying the food from many, many
of the countries represented. For lunch we shared samples of
many of the different types of foods (and loved so many of them
that we bought the festival cookbook to take home). We really
got to take our time and enjoy the food and did not feel as if
we needed to rush to an attraction. Without kids, we were also
able to take our time to carefully check out the theming in the
lobby of the BoardWalk, in each restaurant, and at each
attraction. What a treat!

--------------------
That Disney Touch
--------------------
When we checked in we mentioned that it was our anniversary and
received anniversary pins. It seemed that every cast member and
many visitors wished us a happy anniversary (and we giggled in
delight every time). However, that Disney touch was really
evident when we visited The American Adventure at Epcot. We were
settling in, sitting on the floor waiting for the Voices of
Liberty when Lonnie, a wonderful cast member who exudes
enthusiasm for this pavilion, tapped us on the shoulder and
said, "Please come with me. There is a phone call for you." We
were a bit bewildered as he brought us into a back room, opened
a wooden box to reveal a phone, and handed it to us. To our
delight, Mickey and Minnie both wished us a happy anniversary!
When we returned to our seat, Lonnie once again tapped us on the
shoulder and wished us a happy anniversary and then led us to an
elevator where we got to listen to the Voices of Liberty from
the top of the pavilion (with a couple who were celebrating
their 60th anniversary!), and then were led into the theater
before the masses to choose our seats. This cost Disney nothing,
but this little act of kindness in recognition of our
anniversary really made our day.

--------------------
Get Ideas and Take
Your Kids on the
Next Trip
--------------------
One of the things we enjoyed most was attending Mickey's Not So
Scary Halloween Party. We wandered throughout the park, taking
in the fun and innovative costumes that people wore, and enjoyed
the Boo to You parade... and we decided that our kids (even our
14-year-old) would love this party! So we are making plans to
bring them back next year for Halloween.

While we were on our WDW anniversary adventure without kids, we
noticed that there were many other couples without kids enjoying
their anniversary -- so we weren't the only ones. When we
returned home, our kids had had a wonderful time spending some
quality time with their grandmother... and we have started
thinking about fun anniversary trips in the future!

====================
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
====================
Michelle Scribner-MacLean is a college professor by day and a
Disney fanatic in every other bit of free time. She first
visited WDW when she was a teenager and now is a DVC owner who
visits Walt Disney World two or three times per year. Michelle
lives in New Hampshire with her husband and two boys and loves
roller coasters, the fantastic food at Disney, and always cries
when she sees IllumiNations. She is also a Disney podcast addict
and adores WDW Today.

====================
RELATED LINKS
====================

Other AllEars(R) articles by Michelle Scribner-MacLean:

MouseFest Primer: http://allearsnet.com/btp/issue421.htm

Tune In to a Disney Podcast (or Podcasts 101):
http://allearsnet.com/ae/issue417.htm

Vero Beach with Kids: http://allearsnet.com/ae/issue403.htm

Navigating WDW with a Picky Eater:
http://allearsnet.com/ae/issue395.htm

Science in the Parks: http://allearsnet.com/ae/issue390.htm

----------------------------------------------------------------

FEATURED SITES

GREAT HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS from SKY MAGIC:

Free Epcot Mini-Poster with Every 2008 Calendar!

Get a free full-color 8.5" x 11" Epcot Mini-Poster with every
2008 Calendar!
Our new Calendar includes 12 ALL-NEW aerial photos from the
Magic Kingdom,
Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios, Disneyland, Animal Kingdom, and more!

We also have full-sized posters of Epcot, the Magic Kingdom &
Disneyland.
Order by 12/19 and receive by Christmas!

http://www.sky-magic.com/allears
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

MapleLeafTickets

Save time and money with no lines. Tickets delivered to your
home,
hotel or pickup in our conveniently located tourist information
center.

Receive a 5th Day FREE when you purchase a Walt Disney 4-Day
Base or Hopper with 14-day Expiration

MapleLeafTickets.com is an authorized Disney ticket vendor with
over 20 years of happy customers!

http://www.MapleLeafTickets.com/?c=AllEarsNL

----------------------------------------------------------------

TIPS OF THE WEEK!

Ruth Ann Hastings writes: When traveling, bring your own soap
for face and body, wrapped up in a face cloth and packed in a
large secure zipper-lock bag. You never loose the "scent" of
home nor do you have to use provided soap. Since you have your
own soap products there's no need to worry about potential
allergies to the provided soaps.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Jon Patti comments: Just finished reading your series on what to
do when it rains, and I thought I'd throw in my two cents worth.
When my wife and I are visiting the World, we try to visit a few
of the other resorts. You know, sort of like seeing how the
other half lives. Rainy days are perfect for this. Take a bus to
one of the parks, wait under the cover of the bus stop overhang
and pick a resort, jump on the bus and go. You can spend the day
ping-ponging like this for quite a while. We've seen the
longhouses of the Polynesian, the lobby fireplace of the
Wilderness Lodge, and a myriad of holiday decorations. This has
come to be sort of a tradition for us. If we don't get a rainy
day, we usually try to do it on our last day, when we only have
a portion of it to spend before the flight home. Besides, eating
is a hobby for me so I get an opportunity to sample the food
from a variety of the resorts.

EDITOR'S NOTE: To read the series "Who'll Stop the Rain? Rainy
Days Tips," visit our AllEars(R) feature article archives: http:
//allearsnet.com/ae/archives.htm

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

pdonenfeld notes: We used snack credits on the dining plan for
cinnamon rolls at the Main Street Bakery for breakfast one
morning -- delicious! I was glad I had read that tip on your
website before we went or I would not have even thought of using
the snack credit like that.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Submit your Tip of the Week to: allearsnet@yahoo.com

And don't forget to check our searchable database of reader tips
:
http://allearsnet.com/rta/tips.php

----------------------------------------------------------------

NEWS BITES

After weeks of rumors speculating that there would be December
"sneak peeks" of Spaceship Earth, a few lucky AllEars(R) readers
have had the chance to experience the newly rehabbed ride. We
have their reports on our "Hot News" page, but remember, there
are SPOILERS included. If you don't want to read about the
changes to the attraction, don't visit this page!

http://allearsnet.com/news/hnews.htm#120907

EDITOR'S NOTE: The ride is really not finished yet -- it's still
closed more than it's open -- and there will undoubtedly be
changes between now and the actual opening. Several folks
reported waiting for a couple hours to see if they could ride
and it did not open. Senior Editor Deb Koma waited for a short
while Friday evening after being told it would open soon, only
to be finally turned away -- there were some mechanical
problems. It really is a matter of being in the right place at
the right time -- there are no guarantees that you'll get to
ride before the official reopening. But, if you SHOULD get to
ride Spaceship Earth, please let us know about your experience:
http://allearsnet.com/forms/feedback.htm

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Disney Cruise Line plans to make Port Canaveral home base for
both its ships in 2009. The company will return the Magic to
Central Florida, where it will spend the year cruising the
Caribbean. Its new schedule will include four seven-night
itineraries -- three that visit islands in the eastern part of
the sea and one that goes west. The new schedule adds new
options to next summer's lineup as well, including trips to the
Mexican Riviera and some cruises that make multiple stops at
Castaway Cay, Disney's private island in the Bahamas. The
company isn't ready to make announcements about its 2010
deployments, but it will be a pivotal year as Disney prepares to
receive two new, and larger, ships. The first of the two ships,
which haven't been named, will be delivered in 2011, the second
in 2012.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Rix Lounge, a 300-seat nightspot, has opened at Coronado Springs
Resort. Rix offers house music, specialty drinks and tapas-style
appetizers. It is the first venue of its kind on Disney property
outside the Downtown Disney entertainment and dining area. Rix
is open daily from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. A DJ will play Top 40 music,
and bands will perform some nights. There is a dress code
(specifically, we hear from a friend, no sneakers).

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Christmas Day religious services will be held this year in the
Fantasia Ballroom of the Contemporary Resort. The resort parking
lot will be operating under parking restrictions, so you must
take resort transportation to the Magic Kingdom and then
transfer to a shuttle bus to the Contemporary. If you're staying
on the monorail line, take the monorail or watercraft system to
the Contemporary Resort. The service schedule for December 25 is
as follows: Catholic Mass at 8 and 10:15 a.m.; Protestant
Service at 9 a.m.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Mickey s Very Merry Christmas Party is sold out for tonight
(December 11) and Friday, December 21, 2007. Tickets are still
available for all other remaining dates.
http://allearsnet.com/tp/hol_mk.htm

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

The American Adventure will be closed for refurbishment from
January 7 February 3, 2008. (Earlier reports set the reopening
as February 18.) The American Heritage Gallery, merchandise and
food and beverage locations will remain open.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

The 2008 Epcot Flower and Garden Festival will run March 19
through June 1. Several artists performing at the festival's
Flower Power Concerts have already been announced, subject to
change:

March 19 - 22 The Guess Who
March 23 - 24 Petula Clark
March 25 - 29 Paul Revere and the Raiders
April 6 - 9 Herman's Hermits Starring Peter Noone
April 10 - 12 The Grass Roots Starring Rob Grill
April 14 - 16 The Happenings
April 17 - 18 Peter & Gordon
April 19 - 23 Starship Starring Mickey Thomas
April 24 - 26 The Ventures
April 27 - 30 B.J. Thomas
May 4 - 5 The Searchers
May 6 - 10 The Tokens
May 11 - 15 Davy Jones
May 16 - 17 Jose Feliciano
May 21 - 24 Gary Puckett
May 25 - 27 The Cowsills

----------------------------------------------------------------

ALL EARS(R) HEARS

EDITOR'S NOTE: Items we run in ALL EARS(R) HEARS are from emails
we receive from our readers, and are not necessarily confirmed
announcements from the Walt Disney Company. We run these items
merely as points of interest; they often contain speculation or
hearsay. If we are not able to confirm a piece of information we
receive from a reader by the time we go to press, we may publish
it in the ALL EARS(R) HEARS section to get feedback from others
as to whether the item has any foundation. For factual
information that has been confirmed or published by the Walt
Disney Company, please refer to our NEWS BITES section, which
generally runs above this section.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Congratulations to AllEars subscriber Kim Howe! The Dream Team sprinkled Pixie Dust on Kim after she road Soarin' in Epcot. She spent Saturday evening, December 8th, in the Magic Kingdom Castle!

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

... from Teri Hanson: I visited Jellyrolls (the dueling piano
bar on the Boardwalk) every night during my stay last week. I go
VERY frequently and am friends with many of the employees there.
They've told me that Jellyrolls will be closed from December 15
to (approximately) December 25 so that a new floor can be
installed. I know that there are lots of Jellyrolls fans among
your following who would want to know about this rehab.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

... from Anne: We were at Epcot today (December 2, 2007) and
discovered that the Tangierine Cafe no longer has shawarma
sandwiches or kid's pizza. My whole family always looks forward
to those two items, and we are so disappointed. I have no idea
if this is a permanent change or not, but the overhead menu
board sure looked like it had been permanently changed.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

... from Kristy Fritz: I was just at Disney and noticed that at
the Studios the single strollers they were giving out were not
the mesh ones. They had the hard ones there now. Just a little
FYI since I do not know when they changed -- last November they
had the mesh ones.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

... from Stephanie: In the All Ears(R) Hears column a few weeks
ago, Joan C. was relating how much trouble she had getting
additional money to her son, who was staying at the Polynesian.
I used to be a cast member at the Polynesian and I just want to
let people know there is another alternative. If you call the
Front Desk of the resort and ask for a manager they should be
able to take a charge from your card over the phone and add it
as a credit on the guest's Key to the World card (room key).
Then they can use it like a charge card at any Disney location
until the money is used up.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

...from AllEars(R) Senior Editor Deb Koma, just back from
Mousefest 2007: Wow, what an amazing, whirlwind weekend! Met so
many great people, and crammed so much into such a short time.
Just wanted to share a few thoughts:

-- The Cinderella Castle lights are spectacular -- the photos,
which are gorgeous, do not do the lit castle justice. As I stood
there the other night, I couldn't believe what a fabulous job
the Imagineers did with this. I think even castle "purists" will
have to be impressed.

-- The new Tusker House character buffet is indeed like "Boma
Lite," as others have described it. Menu items included Boma
staples bobotie and pap, as well as blintzes that were to die
for (skip the corned beef hash, though). Food quality overall
was very good, although service was a bit slow. The kids looked
like they were having fun meeting the characters (Donald, Daisy,
Mickey, Goofy), but the room's acoustics were such that the
noise was almost overwhelming. Think next time I'll try the
non-character buffet lunch or dinner.

-- The Magic Kingdom on Saturday night was insanity. I have
never been to Disney World on New Year's Eve, but I can't
imagine that it could possibly be any more crowded and crazy
than what I experienced that evening. People crushed against
each other, unable to move forward or backward, at a standstill
in the middle of Main Street. Ugh. With much persistence and
patience I eventually made my way up to Liberty Square to catch
the second SpectroMagic parade, rode a few rides and then
decided to beat feet. Note to self: avoid Magic Kingdom on
Saturday nights during the holidays!

-- I'm not much of a buffet person, but in addition to the new
Tusker House, I also had breakfast at Fresh in the WDW Dolphin.
This restaurant continues to serve a high-quality buffet with
offerings that are a little different than the norm, but not so
offbeat you don't want to try them. The made-to-order eggs and
pancake/waffle station are superb, and the sticky buns and
cheese danish are outstanding treats to end the meal. I was even
brave enough to try the freshly blended wheat grass juice, which
wasn't half-bad since they also added yummy kiwi to the mix.

-- We had 257 Mousefesters attend the Kilimanjaro Safari meet on
Friday morning. Yes, I said 257! There were attendees from
literally all over the country, and the world! In fact, I rode
in the jeep next to AllEars(R) contributor and friend Masayo,
visiting from Japan. It was something to behold -- Mousefest has
grown by such leaps and bounds! Be sure to check our Blog
Central for more details on Mousefest events from AllEars(R)
Team Members.

----------------------------------------------------------------

MOUSY MINDBOGGLERS
Sponsored by
http://www.dvcbyresale.com/

Think you know Walt Disney World inside and out? This ALL EARS
(R) feature is designed to stump WDW enthusiasts.

The Mousy Mindboggler is going green -- that's right, as we
approach 10,000 subscribers (yes, we're getting close!), we
realize that many of you have never seen some of our earliest
Mousy Mindboggler riddles, so we've decided to RECYCLE a few
over the next several weeks! Put on your thinking cap, and see
if you know the answer to this oldie but goodie, another that we
used at an event at Mousefest 2004!

I'm a cute cartoon in a Disney film,
But in this park I'm for real
I sun myself, play with my mates,
And eat bugs for my meal
Live versions of my cartoon friend
Live elsewhere in this place
You'll never find them on my path
Jeeps roam around their space

Who am I? (Hint: I'm one of the critters you'll find at Disney's
Animal Kingdom!)

Do you know the answer? PLEASE, please read our rules carefully:

1) You must be an ALL EARS(R) subscriber. 2) You must be 18
years of age or older. 3) Only ONE entry per subscriber.
Multiple entries will result in disqualification. 4) All entries
become the exclusive property of ALL EARS(R) and will not be
acknowledged or returned. 5) Only ONE winner per household. If
you've previously won a Mousy Mindboggler snowglobe, please do
not enter again. Your entry will be disqualified. 6) Void where
prohibited.

Our complete Mousy Mindboggler rules can be found at
http://allearsnet.com/ae/mbrules.htm

TO ENTER: Send your guess IN THE SUBJECT LINE of an email
message to: mmindboggler@yahoo.com

NOTE: If your answers do not fit in the subject line, you may
send them in the body of the email, but please do this ONLY if
your answers will not fit on the subject line.

DEADLINE: Send your guesses in NO LATER THAN 11:59 p.m.
(Eastern), Sunday, December 16, 2007. One email will be chosen
at random from the correct answers.

The winner of this week's Mousy Mindboggler will receive a
beautiful Disney snowglobe courtesy of Shontell Crawford and
http://www.dvcbyresale.com/

LAST WEEK'S MINDBOGGLER:

When you see me you might think
"Wow, that thing is big!"
Then you might start to wonder
"Is that critter just a pig?"
Truth is that's what my name means
At least that part is clear
Like pigs I wallow in the mud
But I run just like a deer

Who am I? (Hint: I'm one of the critters you'll find at Disney's
Animal Kingdom!)

Solution: The BABIRUSA or Pig Deer from Indonesia

Photo: http://allearsnet.com/tp/ak/ak362.jpg
Description: http://allearsnet.com/tp/ak/oas2.htm

Congratulations to Kari S. of Michigan, whose email was chosen
from only 46 submitted with the correct answer this week. Kari
will receive a beautiful Disney snowglobe courtesy of Shontell
Crawford and http://www.dvcbyresale.com/ -- a perfect year-round
reminder of the Disney Magic!

Many thanks to all of you for playing!

----------------------------------------------------------------

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

It's that time again! Which photo was the most magical for YOU
in 2007? Cast your vote and let us know!

~Visit the 2007 photo gallery.
http://allearsnet.com/pw/pwgallery.htm
~Choose your favorite photo.
~Send an email to allearsphotovote@yahoo.com with the PHOTO DATE
of your favorite photo in the subject line.
~Please submit one (1) vote only!
~Voting ends at midnight, Monday, January 1, 2008.

We'll post the results here the following week!

http://allearsnet.com/pw/pw.htm

----------------------------------------------------------------

FROM OUR EARS TO YOUR EYES!
WHAT'S NEW ON ALLEARSNET.COM?

There's always something new at All Ears(R) Blog Central:
http://www.allearsnet.com/blogs/

Several AllEars(R) Team Members are back from MouseFest and
share photos and reports:

Deb Wills: http://allearsnet.com/blogs/debwills
LindaMac: http://allearsnet.com/blogs/lindamac
Mike Scopa: http://www.allearsnet.com/blogs/mikescopa
Barrie Brewer: http://allearsnet.com/blogs/photoblog

In the World According to Jack, Jack Spence discusses recent
changes around Epcot, including the new food stands stationed
around World Showcase:

http://allearsnet.com/blogs/jackspence

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Message from Anita Answer: Anita vacation and so does Ditto!
We're taking a couple of weeks off during the holiday season to
attend MouseFest, spend some time with our families, get some
shopping and decorating done, and to tackle those reindeer-sized
dust bunnies that have been living under the bed since last
summer. When we return next week, December 17, we'll make our
final 2007 appearance. Then, during the weeks of December 24 and
December 31, we'll be repeating columns from earlier in the
year. We'll return to our regular schedule of new weekly columns
on Monday, January 7. In the meantime, please continue to send
in your questions!

The entire All Ears(R) Team wishes you a wonderful and magical
holiday season.

http://allearsnet.com/aa/anita.htm

----------------------------------------------------------------

FEATURED SITES

2008 Unofficial Guidebook to Walt Disney World

Our website has more than 100 stress-free touring plans for all
four Disney parks, for parents, seniors and adults.
Use this week's code AEN1211F for 20% off the one-year
subscription of $7.95.
(AllEars(R) Readers pay $6.36.)

Free samples at www.TouringPlans.com

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

"Guide to the Magic for Kids" is here!

It's a guidebook, souvenir photo book, sticker book, journal and
more!
For kids and kids at heart.
Special AllEars(R) offer $25 - FREE SHIPPING

http://www.guidetothemagic.com/shoppingaenspecialoffer.htm

----------------------------------------------------------------

ALL EARS(R) Archives: ALL EARS(R) feature articles through
November 13, 2007, have been archived. If you want to receive
the rest of the ALL EARS(R) news and other juicy bits of timely
WDW information, you must be a subscriber! Why not sign up now?
http://allearsnet.com/ae/ae.htm

----------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright - Disclaimer - Reprint - Contact

(C)1999-2007, All Rights Reserved. RYI Enterprises, LLC.

Tom's Reading List

Saturday, January 5, 2008

All Ears Net 12-11

Blog Archive

About Me