So, as a committed Disney fan and lover of Walt Disney World, I often dream of Disney. When you’re sitting at work and things get a little stressful, you have those moments where your mind escapes. Where does it go to? Spaceship Earth at Epcot? The castle at the Kingdom? For a drop on the Tower of Terror?

At times, I imagine the “shopping day”, where I hit gift shops at the Yacht & Beach Club and Boardwalk resorts, or the always relaxing escalator ride at the Swan or Dolphin as I people watch. But, as a fellow Disney fan asks you, what is your personal Disney World? What do you imagine when you dream of the world?

I have some thoughts to share as I have talked with many folks about this subject over the years:

The Monorail

No doubt the monorail is Disney for many folks. A more common fame, the “Please Stand Clear of the Doors” has been quoted more than any favorite movie. The smell of the monorail, the sound and the feel all give the sensation that “oh, yes, I am back at Walt Disney World again!”. I always know the first sight on the monorail is one of the most reassuring visuals that “yes, you have arrived!”

Resort TV’s “Top 7 Must Sees”

Some may say we check into their hotel and rush to the TV for “Walt Disney World’s Top 7 Must Sees” hosted by Stacy Aswad. Stacy’s voice and presentation have given a many the feeling of “yes, we are in Disney now”. My wife and I always enjoy the show and often let it repeat the entire time we are on vacation. Who needs news, weather, etc. when you are at Disney? Give me the Top 7 again Stacy!

Hotel Lobby

Standing in line at check-in and waiting to start your vacation at your favorite Disney resort should have a name. Maybe I could contact Webster’s and see if they would add it to their dictionary. Let’s see… it would be something like…  ”Mouseness”  -the feeling one gets while waiting to check into their favorite Disney resort to start their magical vacation. Oh, sorry to the online check-ins, while I respect the efficiency of saving time, you also sacrifice a possible Magical Moment being made by the Cast Member at check-in. There is a story here for another day and another article, one day I will share how a guest received a complimentary 5-day park-hopper at check-in.

Disney’s Magical Express

A great vacation usually starts with a successful flight into Orlando International Airport. Upon landing, skip baggage claim and proceed to the Disney’s Magical Express Welcome Center. This has become the first feel of Disney World for many since its inception in May of 2005. Disney’s Magical Express service collects your luggage and delivers it directly to your Walt Disney World hotel room within a short 3 hours or so after you check-in at your favorite resort. Nothing can be better than a cool ride on a Disney motor-coach heading to the start of your vacation (Please note: Disney’s Magical Express will not handle your bags if you arrive in Orlando International Airport after 10:00pm). This service has been especially great for families traveling with small children (I am one of those who mobilize a small army through the airport).

Character Meals

I have had many Disney friends say a breakfast at Chef Mickey’s is the best way to start day one of a Walt Disney World vacation. The monorail ride, breakfast with Mickey Mouse are a great prequel to a day at the Magic Kingdom! Even as I write this, I get excited thinking, “man, this sounds like fun!”. Our family has also always enjoyed the first evening of a trip with a character dinner.

Planning

I saved the best for last. As someone constantly wishing to be at Disney, you may find yourself just like me. The planning process can never be overlooked, it is half the fun! As the old saying goes, it is not the destination, it is the journey (or maybe it’s the other way around, oh well). Planning your trip, collecting your favorite Advanced Dining Reservations (ADR in Disney jargon), and surveying your friends or family who are traveling can build the anticipation. Enjoy this process, even in the pre-planning without an unknown travel date.

So my Disney friends, I presented some random thoughts for you to shut your eyes and imagine about. Where-ever you may be, sit back, relax, and think: “what is my “Disney World”?

The center robot is labeled as originating from Star Tours in 2011. If that is any indication, ALY SAN SAN will be a flight attendant droid when Star Tours re-opens at Disneyland and Walt Disney World next year. This droid may even be the female voice announcing the arrival of the Star Speeder 1000 on the special preview vehicle toy that was released at Star Wars Celebration V in August. Whether the droid will be represented in audio-animatronics or simply on screen is unknown at this point, but stay tuned to WDW News Today as more information on Star Tours: The Adventures Continue” becomes available.

We hope you enjoyed our coverage of Celebration V and Last Tour to Endor over the last few weeks, many thanks to WDWNT’s Matt Paul and Adam Roth for the coverage.

As announced today on the Disney Parks Blog:

Listen up Space Mountain fans, there’s a new addition to the Walt Disney World Resort attraction that just may be music to your ears. It’s an enhanced audio experience with sounds you’ve never heard before. Walt Disney Imagineering has added a new composition that’s exclusive to the attraction at Magic Kingdom Park that will play with varying sound effects throughout all “flights” on 60 newly installed speakers. “Starry-O-Phonic Sound” compliments a slew of enhancements that debuted on Space Mountain last year, including new lighting, storyline elements and updated decor. Here’s a special message from The Space Mountain Project Team.

Today, Tomorrowland in Magic Kingdom park launches a new era ins Super Sonic Space Travel! Now all flights departing from Space Mountain will zoom across the galaxies in the new dimension of Starry-O-Phonic Sound!

Space was once a silent voice, but now, every twist and turn on your galactic journey will be accompanied by a zippy musical track, the whoosh of passing asteroids, and the rush of interstellar traffic, making your space voyage an all-encompassing cosmic joy-ride.

Space Mountain had a grand re-launch in November of 2009, but Starry-O-Phonic Sound is arriving a bit later, in the Summer of 2010. We needed the extra time to test every aspect of this hyperspace audio technology, without disrupting the continued on-time departures and arrivals of this busy space hub.

We hope you enjoy this new amenity, brought to you by Starport Seven-Five. The future of space travel is sounding better all the time!

As promised we have that new audio right here for you in a WDWNT exclusive, we also have the new exit music as well. Please right click and select save as to download the audio below. Enjoy!

Download Space Mountain On Ride Audio!

Download Space Mountain New Exit Music!

From the Disney Parks Blog:

Yes, there’s a new fairy in Pixie Hollow at the Walt Disney World Resort and her name is Vidia. She’s known as the fastest-flying fairy there is and beginning today you’ll be able to meet Vidia and her other pixie friends – including the world’s most beloved fairy Tinker Bell – at Magic Kingdom Park. Vidia is one of the stars of the upcoming movie “Tinker Bell and the Great Fairy Rescue”set to be released on Blu-ray, DVD and via movie download on September 21.

Though we have heard rumors that Pixie Hollow maybe off the table a lot may have to do with just how well this latest installment of the Tinker Bell series of DVD movie releases does. Either way it seems that WDW hasn’t thrown in the towel quite yet on this franchise. As always you can see the ongoing progress of the Fantasyland Expansion at our project tracker. Stay tuned right here for more information on the ever changing Fantasyland expansion as it becomes available.

For just 14 days in August and 14 days in September-October, Chef Mickey’s restaurant at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is adding a lunch buffet, complete with Disney Characters to meet and greet diners.

High demand for the free dining package necessitates the expanded dining time, but anyone (not just guests on the package) can make a reservation at 407-WDW-DINE or here. Cost is $28.75 including tax, $15.97 ages 3 to 9, under 3 free.

Dates are now through Aug. 28, and Sept. 19-Oct. 2. Lunch hours are 12:30-2:30 p.m. Breakfast and dinner are still offered as usual.

It will be interesting to see what happens to restaurant schedules next year as the free dining promotion is available for most of year with just a few blackout dates if you book before mid-december. As always stay tuned to WDW News Today for this and more news as it becomes available.

Hacienda de San Angel is nearing completion

Cody stopped for some pizza at Via Napoli

What does the rest of the Italy pavilion look like from Via Napoli? Here’s the answer

Interesting…

Back to Hacienda de San Angel

The signage is up

When the WDWNT Network announced a late night Disney talk show concept back in May, many questioned if Tom Corless, Chris Lastrapes, Jose Castillo (and the Soundboard Band), and the rest of the WDWNT crew could carry out the project. Could they combine interviews with the Disney online community with a comedy show that was actually funny? Apparently, the listeners of this program think so! Since the debut episode back on June 16th, “See Ya’ Real Late” with Tom Corless has been drawing record numbers of listeners to WDWNTunes, the WDWNT Network’s online radio station. In celebration of the successful first season and season finale of this one-of-a-kind LIVE program, WDWNTunes is dedicating Sunday to “See Ya’ Real Late”.

The fun begins at 1PM ET with a marathon of the first 9 episodes of season 1. If you missed any of the excitement of these episodes during their original airings, this is your chance to catch each and every episode of the entire first season back to back. Don’t miss all of the incredible interviews, moments, and skits that have made this show such a success. Following that, our virtual red carpet returns with hosts Brandon Struve and Banks Lee of the WDWNTunes Super Obscure Show. Banks and Brandon will be walking up and down the carpet, interviewing guests as they arrive for the HUGE season finale.

Finally, it’s the main event, the season finale of “See Ya’ Real Late” with Tom Corless, starting at 11PM ET. There is literally too much show! Following the events of Wednesday night’s show, members of D64 (the anti-D23 coalition) will be invading to battle D23 members in a war to finally settle the score. We’ll also etch the final chapter in the “Lou-Log” and find out if Lou Mongello of the WDW Radio show has accepted the invitation to appear. Tom also welcomes guests Suzannah DiMarzio of the “Zannaland” blog and Paul Barrie of “A Window to the Magic”. If all of that wasn’t enough, listeners can expect a few HUGE surprises that promise this show will be a shocking one from start to finish!

Don’t miss Super “See Ya’ Real Late” Sunday, a celebration of WDWNT Network’s revolutionary LIVE late night talk show. Again, the fun begins Sunday, August 22nd, 2010, at 1PM ET, with the season 1 marathon, continues with the virtual red carpet special at 10:30PM ET, and concludes with the historic season finale of “See Ya’ Real Late” with Tom Corless at 11:00PM ET, all at www.WDWNTunes.com. We hope to see you there!

We caught up with Richard Debler, the president of San Angel Inn LLC, and Executive Chef Ernesto Zendejas, in charge of the big changes at the Mexico Pavilion at Epcot. The all-new La Hacienda de San Angel and La Cantina de San Angel are on schedule for a mid-September opening, taking reservations for Oct. 15 and thereafter. (The first few weeks are a “soft opening” with no reservations.)

What’s going to wow guests about the new look?
The architecture resembles an old hacienda, and you’ll see the distinctive blue dome from a distance. It’s right on the water, and very eye catching. And the view – the whole building is geared to World Showcase Lagoon and the fireworks…during the day it’s great for enjoying the waterfront.

Tell us about the “flex space” idea.
We need quick-service capacity, but at the same time we want to increase table service. This space allows us during the lunch period to use a section of the dining room for quick-service guests – an air-conditioned space that will complement the terrace outside seating. So we will have 250 to 300 seats during the day; later in the afternoon La Hacienda switches to table service with 250 seats. We have a total of 400 seats.

What’s special about La Hacienda cuisine?
We’re bringing two taco specialists from one of the best taquerias in Mexico to work with us. Corn tortillas are a major component of a great Mexican meal, and all of ours will be made fresh right there every day, also for La Cantina. Salsas will be made fresh – and not just tomato salsa. We have salsas made with chipotle and Serrano peppers, tomatillos, mangos. There are unique flavors from different regions of Mexico. Cilanto, habanero, spicy flavors from Southern Mexico . . . this will be a little different than our past menus.

Any favorite menu items?
We have three or four spectacular appetizer items at La Hacienda. The trend in Mexican food is appetizers, such as mini tacos. [One that sounds especially delicious is chiles toreados y chorizitos, roasted sweet peppers with lime and sea salt and mini chorizos (pork sausage).] And I really like the skillet entrées – skillets with cuts of meat, veggies, seafood, to make your own taco. I’m still tweaking the menu!

How does La Cantina menu change?
The Cantina menu will focus on tacos with meat or chicken, properly grilled, and garnished with fresh pico de gallo. We want to create an authentic Mexican taco, something that locals would buy at the market. Less Tex-Mex, more regional authentic Mexico.

We have to talk margaritas!
La Hacienda will have a tequila ambassador on staff every day. We will feature tequila flights there like we do in La Cava [inside the Mexico pavilion]. We’ve developed a whole new line of margaritas with a mixologist from New York City.

New flavors?
The coffee margarita is one of my favorites. We wanted to incorporate a little mescal, which has more of a smoky flavor than regular tequila. The Mescal gives it a cacao flavor, almost like a cappuccino. The top sellers right now are passion fruit and lime-raspberry, but we’re going to serve a mango-blueberry-basil margarita with fresh blueberries, mango puree and mashed basil. And an orange mango fire margarita with a dash of Tabasco and chile powder and ginger liquer.

Frozen or on the rocks?
All frozen margaritas at La Cantina, on the rocks at La Hacienda.

And desserts?
[Chef Ernesto chimes in.] At La Cantina, paletas, or popsicles, with fresh fruit, such as mango with peppers. At La Hacienda, the sorbets are outstanding, like tamarind, watermelon – very tropical fruit flavors. And a sweet tamal del dulce filled with guava paste. That’s a good one for sharing!

Are La Cantina and La Hacienda on the Disney Dining Plan?
Yes, for 1 point, except for the larger entrées that are for 2 guests, they are 2 points.