Travel Maven blog

President Obama preps for Disney World

Wonder if President Barack Obama cares about his image, soon to grace the Hall of Presidents exhibit at Disney World's Magic Kingdom near Orlando? 

Yes he does. Check out this report from the New York Times.

The Hall of Presidents is set to reopen July 4. Disney folks call the Animatronic figure of the current president "Robobama."

The wax version

The likeness business is busy with President Obama. On a recent visit to Washington D.C., I got close to the Madam Tussauds image of the president. And he listened to me.

Michelle Obama also is on display at Madam Tussauds in Washington.  

New at Disney, President Obama and treehouse villas

News from Disney World, near Orlando

The Hall of Presidents, my favorite attraction at Disney's Magic Kingdom, reopens July 4, with Disney's Audio-Animatronic version of President Barack Obama. His likeness -- and words -- will join 43 previous presidents of the United States as part of a celebration of American history.

The Treehouse Villas at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort will re-open this summer -- 60 new self-standing lodgings that replace the worn octagonal treehouses built in 1975. The villas, part of the Disney Vacation Club, will also be available to other resort guests.

Because Disney plopped the new buildings from a crane into old clearings, the treehouses look as if they have been there for years, surrounded by mature trees. Inside, though, the units, which sleep up to nine people, offer such modern luxuries as granite countertops in the kitchens and flat-screen TVs.

Best treehouse? I like Number 7026 for its views of the river passing by, with boats that can be rented at Downtown Disney. A nice way to paddle home. Disney web site. 

For the latest on cruises, destinations and insights for travelers, go to THE TRAVEL MAVENS.COM

Disney World parade offers new Main Street party

For kids, Disney World is all about parades and familiar characters of fantasy.

Most of the time, visitors to the Magic Kingdom crowd to a line of kids and adults at the edge of Main Street and do their best to make sure the youngest and most shy child has a good view as the parade of Disney characters passes by.

This year, Disney, near Orlando, has a new wrinkle.

When the parade stops near Cinderella's Castle, adults and kids may go into the street and dance with Mickey, Minnie, Pluto and the usual cast of Disney characters, plus Mad Hatter, Genie, Lumiere and Sebastian. Five floats stop for about 15 minutes.

The parade, three times a day on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom, is called "Move it! Shake it! Celebrate it!"

And don't forget, during 2009, you get into the Disney theme parks for free on your birthday.

For the latest on cruises, destinations and insights for travels, go to THE TRAVEL MAVENS.COM

Live from Disney World: The American Idol Experience

One path to stardom as the so-called "American Idol" starts at Disney World near Orlando, Fla. 

All you have to do is buy a ticket to the theme park, audition, and compete with other park visitors. The daily winner gets an audition for the popular television show.

Disney operates seven shows each day in its Hollywood Studios Theme Park. The park's "American Idol Experience" theater looks a lot like what you see on TV. At Disney's show, the audience is packed with 1,000 park visitors who watch -- and vote on keypads at their seats -- for their favorite singers. Three judges express their views, and, as you might expect from the TV show, one acts rather smarmy.

At the end of the day, the seven winners compete for a chance at Hollywood. Any park visitor, 14 and older, can try out, but you must be 16-28 to appear on the TV show.

The trio of singing contestants I watched at a Disney show in March showed some talent, but I wouldn't vote for any of that group to reach television.

Disney American Idol Experience
American Idol site

Toy guns and milk shakes

If you spend the day at Disney's Hollywood Studios Theme Park, I recommend a stop for a more childish competition at Toy Story Mania, an attraction that opened last year.

You'll sit in a two-person moving car, each of you equipped with 3-D glasses and a spring-action toy pop gun for shooting at moving animated targets. The game keeps score as you buzz past the targets. I won over my seatmate, but he had a broken arm, or so he said.

Nearby is the Fifties Prime Time Café, nice for a quick lunch and noted for its peanut butter and jelly milk shake, which does not stick to the roof of your mouth.

For the latest on cruises, destinations and insights for travels, go to THE TRAVEL MAVENS.COM

Disney World: Magical moments

Sleeping like Cinderella, text-messaging monsters

The hot word at Disney World in Florida is "Magic." Not that Magic is a new Disney word. It's as old as Mickey Mouse in "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" (1940). But Magic is working overtime in the Disney kingdom near Orlando.

Maybe it's just a coincidence that Disney's focus is on hocus-pocus while the hottest celebrity in America is a boy from the world of magic.

Harry Potter, hero of the series that ended in a final book installment in July 2207, was not a figment of the fertile Disney imagination. But the magical boy from the United Kingdom would fit right in.

Planning a Disney vacation now is called "Magic Your Way." Riding a bus to Disney World from the Orlando airport is called the Magical Express (it does not stop anywhere near Hogwarts). Even the mundane is Magical. At a little convenience store where I bought a newspaper, the clerk wished me -- and every other customer -- a Magical Day.

If your vacation includes a stop at Disney World, you will be wished a Magical Day so often you may be tempted to take out a magic wand and wish your wisher away. Unfortunately, magic wands are issued only in Harry Potter's world.

Cinderellas hang out

Disney World focuses its major magic on Cinderella's Castle in the Magic Kingdom. Thanks to a Magical Makeover, the castle now includes a private suite. Nearly every day through Dec. 31, 2008, a guest at Disney World will be selected randomly, tapped on the shoulder -- it's called a Magical Moment -- and told that he or she has been chosen to sleep that night in the castle, which has been Magically Transformed.

The winner may bring up to four friends to sleep overnight in the suite. They should be close friends, because castles are known for their tight quarters. The Cinderella suite has two double beds and a salon with a couch that pulls into a third double. All residents share one bath, with one magical tub.

Cinderella's cozy suite, decorated with stained-glass windows, rich wall coverings and a familiar glass slipper, is well worth dreaming about. Who wouldn't want to live a night in a 17th century French chateau where the clock never strikes 12? It is ... magical.

Joking with monsters, send a text message

Below Cinderella's Castle suite, on the grounds of the Magic Kingdom's Tomorrowland, is a magical experiment that all guests can experience. On the 400-seat Laugh Floor at Monster's Inc., kids -- and adults -- may converse directly with animated monsters. It's a technological marvel.

Characters are from Disney's Pixar movie, "Monsters, Inc." The show features a one-eyed Mike Wazowski as monster of ceremonies.

Key to the story: Monsters have discovered that laughter is 10 times more powerful than screams from scaring people. What a great idea, especially if you can persuade your little ones that the monsters they fear under their beds only want to make them laugh.

Don't forget to bring your cell phone, if it allows text messaging. As they wait in line for the show to begin, kids are encouraged to send a text message of their favorite joke for possible use on the show.

One May afternoon, McKenzie, from New Hampshire, offered this joke that was read to the audience.

Question: Why did the cookie go to the doctor?

Answer: Feeling crummy.

Even the monsters laughed.

More from Disney World:

Conquering Disney's Everest
Soarin' over California, Disney's most popular ride
Use Fastpass to beat long lines
Theme park prices

The writer: David Molyneaux is editor of TravelMavens.net