Pack Your Pixie Dust
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Playing in Spaceship Earth's Project Tomorrow
High-tech gadgets, globe-trotting clues and friendly cast members make touring EPCOT a fun, interactive experience you won’t soon forget. While waiting for your turn to ride Test Track or Soarin’, explore the hands-on exhibits at Innovations or take a relaxing trip through the refurbished Spaceship Earth. When exiting the ride, spend some time reconstructing a 3-D skeleton or sending friends email photos from the interactive games and activities found at Project Tomorrow: Inventing the World of Tomorrow. If adventure is what you seek, travel the world. Take a unique tour of the World Showcase by picking up a free Kimmunicator and joining Team Possible. As Kim Possible’s honorary secret agents, you will follow clues and foil super villains while learning about eleven different countries and their cultures. While on your mission, take the time to interact with the World Showcases’s knowledgeable cast members. They can provide you with unique insight into their countries and cultures. For an interesting twist on collecting autographs, ask cast members to sign your book and write “hello” in their native language. These world ambassadors love to teach others about their homes, and by the end of the day, you could be multilingual.
The key to magical moments at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is participation. Aside from the popular, pulse-racing rides and heart-stopping stunts, there are multiple opportunities to become part of the show. Cast aside your insecurities and interact with one of the quirky characters roaming the park or volunteer for a role in one of Disney’s productions. They’re always looking for willing victims, I mean, guests, to embarrass. If you are not comfortable with being the center of attention, don’t shy away from watching the hilarious ad-libs of Hollywood’s Studios talented cast. They are only on the lookout for enthusiastic volunteers. So whether you are hungry for your big break in show biz or are most happy watching from the audience, relax, and enjoy the show.
The Tree of Life
At Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park the magic is in the details. In your rush to Kilimanjaro Safari and Expedition Everest, take a moment to soak in the gorgeous landscaping. Choose one of the quiet detours that will take you off the beaten path through lush vegetation and beautiful animal exhibits. Marvel at the 400 carvings that adorn the Tree of Life, or take a leisurely train ride to learn about animals and conservation. Because, let’s be honest, what guest can deem his or her vacation magical without first earning a certificate in Poopology from Rafiki’s Planet Watch.
Frozone at the Studios
In every Disney commercial, there is one ingredient essential for a magical vacation: the characters. When you picture your perfect trip, what characters do you see? Mickey? Cinderella? Buzz? Well, you’re not alone. Every guest entering the park is looking for those beloved characters, which can lead to long lines and cranky kids…and parents. Not the best formula for magic. So, when it comes to characters, think outside the box. Usually they come out for autographs in groups of two or more. If every guest in the park is lining up to see Mickey, take a look around. Who else is available? Less popular characters, like Mr. Smee from Peter Pan and Radcliffe from Pocahontas, may have shorter lines and be able to spend more time with you. On a recent trip, while the line for Peter Pan, Wendy and Captain Hook stretched past Aladdin’s Magic Carpets, we found Mr. Smee all alone. He spent five minutes going through my children’s autograph books, drawing hearts around his picture and funny sketches next to his fellow Neverland characters. When my boys showed him a picture of the crocodile, he ran over to inform Captain Hook, who immediately tried to scale a nearby pole. We talked about our interactions with Smee more than any other character that trip, including the main Mouse.
The last step in creating your own magical Pixie Dust is simple, smile. Smiles are easy to pack and don’t require extra baggage fees, but you’d be amazed how many people forget to bring them on vacation. Sure, it’s easy to wear a smile when you discover you’ve received a free room upgrade or when there is no line for Space Mountain. But I urge you to try one on while waiting 70-minutes to ride Dumbo or when it rains on your Spectromagic parade. At first it may feel uncomfortably tight, like a new pair of Mickey ears, but if you wear it throughout your trip, those around you will remember to wear theirs. The magic of smiles is that they are contagious; share them with every guest, cast member and character you meet.
So load up your sunscreen and swimsuits, but don’t forget to pack your Pixie Dust. There’s no need to set off on a quest to shake the dander off some poor, unsuspecting fairy; Pixie Dust is easy to find. Just pack up your thank yous and small treasures, bring along your spirit of adventure, hike up your smile and watch your spirits soar.
The magic will be yours!
Discuss It
-- Text by Keely Hutton
Keely Hutton is a secondary English teacher who has been writing for three years and is an active member of the Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators.
-- Posted January 28, 2010