Toy Story Midway Mania!

So, what is the hardest ride to get on at WDW right now? If you said Soarin’ you’re close. Close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades and elections though. Without a doubt, the hottest Fastpass in Mickeyland right now is one for Toy Story Midway Mania.

TSM is like Buzz Lightyear but with a college education. WDW officially opened their Toy Story Midway Mania in Disney’s Hollywood Studios on May 31, 2008 and Disneyland opened theirs in California Adventure on June 17, 2008. Ever since then, the lines have been long and the Fastpass machines working overtime. Believe me when I tell you that if you aren’t at the Studios before noon, you probably won’t have a shot at getting a Fastpass as they are usually gone by then.

The educational difference between Buzz and Toy Story has to do with the game play. Sitting in a carnival ride vehicle with one other person next to you and back-to-back with two others, you’ll move from one screen to another, each with a different game. Beginning at the first screen you’ll have a practice round where you can become acquainted with your little carnival cannon by throwing pies. With a pull string at the back, you can aim the cannon at any part of the screen (it’s anchored to the car). One thing to note: you don’t have to wait for the string to return before shooting again. Feather that bad boy back and forth as fast as you can and shoot as much as possible. Forget the accuracy here kids, we’re going for POINTS!!!

After the practice screen, you’ll move to five other mini games including egg, dart and baseball throwing, ring toss and suction cup shooting. The final bonus round will help you rack up some additional points and then you’ll find out what your “prize” will be. You don’t actually get a prize; it just shows what it is for your point range. ; )

The best thing about the game is that there are only two of you shooting at a screen at any given time and you always know where your eggs, darts, etc. are going. It’s a bit easier than trying to decipher which little red dot is yours amongst a sea of hundreds!

The lines are long, for sure but it is SO worth it to check this ride out. Get there early in the morning, at park opening if you can. Grab a Fastpass and then jump in line. That way, you’ll get in before the line gets too long and have a chance to ride again before it gets CRAZY crowded! Have fun!

Sleeping Beauty Castle

We’re all familiar with Cinderella Castle. It’s nearly impossible to see any commercial or add for WDW without at least a silhouette of it in the background. So, why don’t we pay that much attention to Sleeping Beauty Castle? A good friend of mine likes to cast aspersions on this pretty pink castle simply because it's short. Hey, a short castle is STILL a castle! Personally, if I were Princess Aurora, I’d be upset about this.

When the castle first opened, the upper level featured a walkthrough assortment of dioramas that depicted the story of “Sleeping Beauty” and were then redone in 1977. In October of 2001, the walkthrough closed and remained that way until recently. In November of 2008, the doors were opened yet again and were greeted with LONG lines of people eager to get a first look or the first in years.



How about some quick facts about Aurora’s castle?

- Sleeping Beauty Castle rises to a height of 77 feet, less than half that of Cinderella Castle.
- The drawbridge in front of the castle was only utilized two times: when the park opened in 1953 and during the rededication of Fantasyland in 1983. The gears were removed during a refurbishment in 1996.
- The coat of arms over the door is that of the Disney family.
- When the moat around the castle is cleaned, the money collected is donated to charity.
- The castle’s original color was blue.

While it might be shorter than its younger sibling, the castle is still beautiful and is a bona fide part of popular culture and American history now. If you’ve never seen it then that’s just one more reason (or excuse) to visit Disneyland!!!