Category: Travel

When In Rome…

On By Brent AbellIn Brent's Crossroads, Roman Catacombs, Roman Colosseum, Roman Crypts, Rome, Santa Maria dell’Orazione e Morte, Spanish Stairs, St. Peter's BAsilica, St. Peter's Square, The Vatican, Travel, Traveling Writer, Trevi Fountain, Uncategorized, Vatican MuseumLeave a comment
The Trevi Fountain

Welcome back to the Crossroads! Today, I want to travel to Rome and share with you my three favorite things I experienced during my visit in October. We spent four days exploring the Eternal City, and it wasn’t close to being enough time. Our hotel was within walking distance of many sites and several metro stops, making traveling around the city easy. Our favorite thing to do when visiting foreign countries is to walk around and see things a tour may not show you. The food in Rome is excellent, and it is better to be a few blocks away from tourist stops if you would like to try local cuisine. My best meals were found a few blocks off the main streets and away from big, popular locations. This trip had one drawback; due to the Jubilee next year, multiple sites and streets were closed, closed off, or under construction. I guess I’ll have to go back. Now, let’s take a look at my three favorite things to visit when I vacationed in Rome.

Inside a Roman Crypt

Number one on my list is visiting any of the Roman catacombs. These burial places for Christians had to be outside the city walls. In fact, no person could be buried inside the city walls, not even the emperor, and most citizens were cremated. It is advisable to book a tour because of the distance needed to travel to visit the different catacomb locations. We explored two places, and the experience was very humbling. The picture is from the crypt at the Santa Maria dell’Orazione e Morte. The remains inside the crypt are displayed artistically, and the rooms are themed. One is the Pelvis Room, with wall decorations made from hundreds of pelvic bones. The catacombs are a solemn location, and no pictures are allowed inside. Most of the bodies there had been removed, but some still remain at rest in their tomb.

The second stop on my Roman tour was the Colosseum. My degree is in Ancient Studies, so this was a ‘have to’ stop for me on this trip. Once again, I recommend going with a tour group to bypass the enormous lines to enter the Colosseum gates. The only drawback to tour groups is you might not get as much time to explore specific areas of the ruins. I wanted to spend more time in some places, but between crowds and the tour schedule, I didn’t get to. I want to warn you to be prepared for the site to be very busy. It is one of the most visited locations in Rome, and it is packed. You will also want to book ahead of your visit. The Colosseum has multiple different ticket types, and they sell out quickly.

St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican

The last stop on this brief tour is the Vatican. The lines to enter St. Peter’s Basilica can be lengthy, but they move quickly. Be sure to take water and sunscreen if it is a hot and sunny day. The lines are outside in the square, and there aren’t shady places in line. Inside, I enjoyed not being part of a tour group because it allowed us to spend time at each of the sculptures and holy spots within the basilica. The basilica is the resting place of St. Peter and features Michelangelo’s Pieta. I found the sacred location to be bigger on the inside than it appears on the outside. Rome has an embarrassment of riches regarding Catholic churches, and St. Peter’s is the greatest. After visiting the Vatican, we also had tickets for the Vatican Museum. This is another venue where tickets sell out fast, and you need to pre-book your visit. Tour groups go through the museum, but we went on our own here, too. The museum is massive and is like a maze in some areas. It was better to have time to examine and study the various rooms and collections on our own time than be rushed through in a large group. We observed many groups, and they crowded exhibits when they tried to gather around their guide to hear what they were saying. So, another win for being self-guided!

I have a few more stops, but we’ll save those for another day. I want to wish everyone a happy New Year, and I hope you’ll take some time to travel and experience new places in 2025!

See you at the Crossroads,

Brent

The Spanish Steps. Yeah, that’s it, steps…

Disney Rides We’ve Loved and Lost Pt.2

On By Brent AbellIn Alien Encounter, Brent's Crossroads, disney, Disney Adult, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Lilo and Stitch, Magic Kingdom, Star Wars, Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser, Stitch's Great Escape, Tomorrowland, Travel, Traveling Writer, Walt Disney WorldLeave a comment

Greetings from the crossroads, my friends! I started down a rabbit hole that I didn’t intend to start down. My last article discussed rides I loved at Walt Disney World when I first visited as a kid. Well, I started thinking about everything I’ve enjoyed over the years that has been closed and was either revamped or destroyed. The list grew larger than one article could do justice to.

So, here we are in a growing series that we’ll touch on for a few weeks.

I see you looking at the picture of me on the Galactic Starcruiser. I know you’re reminding me it wasn’t a ride but an immersive experience. I believe the experience puts it in the same categories as a ride. I also wanted to take a step out of the Magic Kingdom. Don’t worry; we’ll get back to it soon enough.

The Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser was a two-day immersive experience hotel running in conjunction with Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The hotel puts you in the action and intrigue of a voyage set during the New Republic era. This disappointed many fans because it focused on the First Order era, not the classic Empire era. I believe fans would’ve wanted the prequel era over the sequel one, but we’ll never know. The very steep price included your two nights at the hotel, food, the actors, and passes to go to Galaxy’s Edge to ride Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon Smuggler’s Run in the morning of your only full day at the hotel. The price was most likely the other colossal factor hastening the Halcyon’s demise.

The Galactic Starcruiser experience was terrific, but it closed before it had a chance to take off. The price and era worked against it, but Disney could’ve tried to alter the experience to lower the price or change the timeframe it took place. Once a guest went on the voyage, there wasn’t a real sense of needing to repeat the trip. Yes, some did take repeat voyages, but it was cost-prohibitive to go multiple times. Shutting down briefly to refresh the story could’ve gone a long way to saving the Halcyon. Instead of a cool hotel set in the Star Wars Universe, we now have a plain gray block building that doesn’t serve much purpose. Will Disney reopen the hotel as something else? Only time will tell.

Still with me? We’re running back to the Magic Kingdom for a ride that’s closed twice. One ride that stood out was the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter ride in Tomorrowland, which was inspired by the movie Alien. The ride put guests in a room where an alien was held in a containment unit in the center of the room. Horrifically, the alien breaks free, and the experience becomes a 4D attraction in the darkness. You feel the alien running along your chairback, hear it breathing down your neck, and get drenched in blood when the creature rips a company employee to pieces. The water sprayed on guests during that part of the show gave me a jolt of love for the twisted. Alien Encounter was dark, adult, and scary. It got many negative complaints and reviews due to the nature of the attraction being in Disney World. Plans to add it in Disneyland, Paris, and Tokyo were scrapped after the reviews became negative. Because the ride was so terrifying, it didn’t last. The ride ran from 1995 until closing in 2003.

But wait, the ride didn’t die…yet.

When Alien Encounter’s closing was announced, Disney also announced it would be replaced by a new attraction featuring Stitch from Lilo and Stitch. The latest version used the same show sets and effects but added some gross stuff, like Stitch belching behind you and releasing a foul stench instead of the alien breathing on your neck. This version would last longer, running from 2004 through 2018. The building now remains closed, and nothing has replaced Stitch’s Great Escape. You can say this ride counts as two-for-one in the dead attraction department.

Well, fellow travelers and Disney adults, I must pause our discussion for now and work on the new book some more. Don’t worry; we can meet back here at the crossroads again soon to talk about how much we’ve lost at Epcot and especially MGM…I mean, Hollywood Studios.

Until next, we meet my friends; I’ll see you out at the crossroads,

Brent

Disney Rides We’ve Loved and Lost

On By Brent AbellIn 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Brent's Crossroads, disney, Disney Adult, Fantasyland, Magic Kingdom, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Seven Dwarves Mine Train, Snow White's Scary Adventures, Travel, Traveling Writer, Uncategorized, Walt Disney, Walt Disney WorldLeave a comment
I miss Toad Hall in Orlando.

Welcome back to the crossroads! I’m happy we can meet up here again. Today, I want to shed some tears for the attractions we’ve lost in the Disney Parks over the years. Many beloved rides have fallen victim to the WDI expansion drive. I don’t fault Walt Disney Imagineering; I blame a company that would rather destroy than build. The parks in Florida have plenty of room to expand their footprint and thus their park capacity, but they refuse to expand the park sizes for some odd reason.

I visited Walt Disney World for the first time when I was twelve years old. Being from southern Indiana, this was a big deal, and it was an experience that would shape my love of Disney parks and the movies into adulthood. I watched Disney animated movies before, but visiting the park cemented my fandom. There were rides I loved and rides I didn’t love. I didn’t think about it at the time, but at any moment, Disney could take them away. This article will focus on the rides I loved on my first visit that have been replaced, but l will return to the topic later to discuss other attractions lost to the march of Disney expansion. The funny thing is that three of the ones I miss the most were removed and replaced in Fantasyland.

The first Disney World ride I want to discuss is Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. The good thing about this attraction is you can still experience it at Disneyland in Anaheim. The picture in the article is from Disneyland. The ride left an impression on young me. Before going to Disney World, I’d never watched the entire movie The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad. The only part I’d watched of the movie was a clip from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow that aired on television around Halloween in a Disney Halloween special we had taped for our VCR. I had no expectations of the ride, so I was surprised when it ended with the car you ride in being hit by a train and you go to Hell. The ending scenes even featured demons and the Devil. Let’s just say it shaped my horror love at an early age.

When the announcement came that Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride was being replaced, I didn’t hear about the sad report. I didn’t follow Disney on the internet in those days, and a story like this wouldn’t be in the local newspaper. I was shocked when I returned to Disney World as an adult in 1998 to find a Winnie the Pooh ride where Mr. Toad once stood.

That wasn’t the only change coming to the rides I loved in Fantasyland; Snow White’s Scary Adventure would be next.

Snow White was Walt Disney Animation’s first full-length animated feature film, and it remains one of my top three favorite Disney films. The ride was a scary dark ride that followed Snow White and the evil queen through the spooky forest, the queen’s creepy castle, the queen’s transformation to the hag, and finally, the dwarves chasing the queen to her death. The mood was dark, and the scenes were scary for the target audience, but it remained a fan favorite until its demise. It was on my list to ride before Peter Pan or anything else in Fantasyland.

Snow White’s Scary Adventures remained in operation until 2012. Once the plans were in place for the Seven Dwarves Mine Train roller coaster and the upcoming Fantasyland 2.0 upgrades coming, Snow White’s Scary Adventures became expendable. I could ride it on a few visits before it closed, so I didn’t feel blindsided like I did with Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. The internet news for Disney was also a bigger thing, and I followed it at this point, so I knew the ride was closing soon.

Still, it was a sad loss.

Lastly, for Fantasyland, I mourn the loss of the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Submarine Voyage attraction.

I was only able to ride this scary ride once before it closed. It wasn’t scary because of the images in the attraction, but instead because of how bad the submarine ride cars leaked when underwater. This made the ride expensive to maintain and led to its demise. There is still a version of it at Disneyland Anaheim, but it has been re-themed to Finding Nemo. Honestly, I think I like the Nemo version better.

The Submarine Voyage closed in 1994, and the area around it has witnessed many changes since then. Once the water was drained from the ride, it became Ariel’s Grotto, with a statue of King Triton and a meet-and-greet area for Ariel. Winnie the Pooh also shared the space with a play area until the plans for the Fantasyland expansion and the Seven Dwarves Mine Trains were announced.

I will close by saying I planned on this being a single article, but I think it is now a multi-part series covering the other Magic Kingdom lands and the other Walt Disney World property parks. We will also discuss the numerous upcoming closures and changes. If I started on the Muppet*Vision 3D closure now, I’d have a stroke.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to see you at the crossroads again.

Happy travels,

Brent

So, I’ve Taken the Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Plunge- What Did I Think?

On By Brent AbellIn Brent's Crossroads, disney, Disney Adult, Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, Splash Mountain, Tiana's Bayou Adventure, Tokyo Disneyland, Travel, Traveling Writer, Uncategorized, Walt Disney WorldLeave a comment

Greetings and welcome to the Crossroads! Welcome back, and I’m happy we crossed paths again. Today, I want to look at what happens when Disney rethemes a ride instead of building a new one. They are about to make the same mistake with the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island to construct the new Cars attractions in the Magic Kingdom (or Muppet*Vision 3D, The Great Movie Ride, and Rocking Roller Coaster, to name a few others), but that’s a discussion for another day. We are here to discuss another Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom ride.

When the news first broke that Disney World was closing the Splash Mountain flume ride and replacing it with a new version based on The Princess and the Frog, I was a little upset. The first time I visited Walt Disney World as a kid, Splash Mountain was still under construction. Seeing the partially constructed mountain top was jaw-dropping to a kid, and I couldn’t wait to return and ride it when it was finished. Once we returned, it was open, and I rode it multiple times that trip. I wanted to ride so much that the rest of our group was sick of it. The only ride I go on more than I did Splash Mountain then is the Haunted Mansion anytime I set foot in a Disney Park.

I never had much of an attachment to Song of the South. Growing up, I watched the classic animated movies, but it was one we never owned or rented. Not knowing the story of Brer Rabbit, Brer Bear, and Brer Fox made the ride a whole new experience. The Laughing Place and the briar patch became new places I could explore on the journey and get wet in the end on the hot Florida days. Once I got older, I viewed the movie more out of curiosity than anything else. I was more offended by Disney taking Pecos Bill’s cigarette than Song of the South being removed from the shelves. So, the change to a movie I had seen multiple times and enjoyed didn’t bother me, but I still had a connection to the original version I grew up with.

The outcry was loud online when the announcement that Splash Mountain was closing came out. I was upset because it was one of my top five favorite rides at Walt Disney World, but I would wait and judge it once I could ride the Tiana version. I’ve ridden it twice in the past few months, and I must say it surprised me.

I first rode Bayou Adventure at Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party this year. Before I rode, I was afraid it would break down or wouldn’t even run at all during the party because of all the issues Disney was having keeping the ride operational. We rode it without any problems, and I must admit, I liked it a lot. The animatronics were a significant upgrade, and some areas seemed to have more figures and action than Splash Mountain. The story isn’t very good by comparison, though.

Splash Mountain had a linear story you followed as you rode and featured antagonists like Brer Fox and Brer Bear. You knew you were in danger of being thrown into the Laughing Place, and tension ratcheted up on you during the ride. The new story lacks any tension or fear of danger. The original story for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure was about finding a special spice, and the final story is about finding a critter band for a big party Tiana wants to throw. Not something filling riders with dread. I miss the buzzards mocking you before you make the drop because the new ride lacks the same soul as the original.

The story could have been based on the film and not been an original concept. I believe the weakness is the missing villain, Dr. Facilier. By removing him from the story, it removes any sense of danger from a fifty-foot drop in a log. The original music is also better. The final scene is better on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, but Zip-a-dee-doo-dah is a far superior closing tune.

Overall, I do like and enjoy Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. I wanted to ride it again before forming my feelings on the reskin. I rode it a second time and still had a fun time at the attraction. It does creep in slightly above Splash Mountain, but not by much. I can’t wait to ride it again in Tokyo Disneyland. The rumor is that it is the best version of Splash Mountain, and I’m ready to test that theory. Don’t ignore Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. It may not be Splash Mountain, but you’ll have fun if you give it a chance.

If you’ve been on Splash Mountain and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, which do you like better? Drop a comment below, and we’ll discuss it.

Well, back to planning the next trip! Take care, and I hope we’ll meet again out on the crossroads!

Brent

Disney’s Haunted Mansion Love

On By Brent AbellIn Brent's Crossroads, Disney Adult, Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, Haunted Mansion, Magic Kingdom, Mystic Manor, Phantom Manor, Shanghai Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland, Travel, Traveling Writer, Uncategorized, Walt Disney, Walt Disney WorldLeave a comment
The Haunted Mansion in Walt Disney World

Greetings, fellow travelers and Disney Adults! Today, I want to discuss my favorite Disney attraction, The Haunted Mansion. This was one of Walt Disney’s favorite projects, but he unfortunately never got to experience any of the ride’s completed versions. The original Disneyland project underwent many changes, and after a delay in the design phase and building due to the World’s Fair, it didn’t open until 1969, three years after Walt’s death. I have ridden three versions, so let’s talk about it.

The first version I want to discuss is the original in Disneyland Anaheim. This one started it all and is considered the standard by many enthusiasts. The Haunted Mansion began as a planned walk-through attraction where a host would guide guests through a haunted manor. It later shifted to a collection of bizarre items and artifacts. The shifting of the tone and theming led to design delays while the mansion’s exterior was built. The World’s Fair happened during this time, and attention at Disney Imagineering focused on it instead. So, the mansion sat in Disneyland with a sign posted by the entrance gate proclaiming it was a retirement home for ghosts and spirits.

While the attraction sat empty, the idea of the walk-through portion fell through. The decision was made to make the ride a ‘people eater’ and the concept of the Omnimover. This would be a continuous stream of Doom Buggies taking passengers on a tour of the mansion and the graveyards beyond. Unfortunately, Walt passed in 1966 before the final plans were made and built. The main Imagineers who worked on the project were Claude Coates, Marc Davis, Rolly Crump, X Atencio, and the narration performed by Paul Freese. The Haunted Mansion opened to all guests on August 12th, 1969.

I’ve ridden the original, and it is a classic, but is it the best? Many of the scenes in it are shared with Disney World and Tokyo Disneyland. There are some slight differences, but recent updates bring it closer to the Florida version. Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland are the only two that transform into a Nightmare Before Christmas version during the holidays. The overlay was supposed to be on the Disney World one, but it ended up being what is used in Tokyo. I still need to experience the overlay because I love both the ride and the movie.

Second is Disney World’s Haunted Mansion. I have been through this mansion hundreds of times, which has left an impression on me. I love this mansion’s look, which is better than the original’s southern design. This one looks like how I would want my haunted house to look. Walt Disney wanted the original mansion to look pristine on the outside but dusty and old on the inside. The Florida house keeps up this tradition.

The stand-by line is designed and decorated better than the Disneyland mansion, but the insides are nearly identical, as stated above. The new stand-by line in Disneyland is an improvement, but Disney World’s mansion wins. This one is my favorite because it was my first and the one I experience the most often.

Lastly, let’s give some love to Disneyland Paris and Phantom Manor. This version is very close to being my favorite. I feel that not saying the original two aren’t the best is sacrilegious, but damn, this one kills it. The outside of the manor is broken down and weather. It looks abandoned and haunted. The grounds around the manor are dead and run down. The story is more defined here as well. It is a family tragedy concerning a jealous father and his daughter. All of her suitors end up dead, and Henry Ravenswood is responsible. The story also ties to the nearby Big Thunder Mountain roller coaster and the Thunder Mesa area of the theme park. Explaining it doesn’t do the weaving narrative any justice. Go there, lol!

The inside of the ride features a darker tone. There are similar scenes and themes, but most of this version is a variant parallel to the others. The ride doesn’t end in the graveyard scene but in an undead western town. The phantom spirit of Henry Ravenswood is present in various locations and is creepy, with his skeletal face laughing at your doom.

The other versions are in Tokyo, and a Haunted Mansion variant called Mystic Manor is in Shanghai Disneyland. I will be crossing Tokyo off the list next year, but it is primarily an exact copy of the Disney World attraction. Because of the cultural differences concerning ghosts and spirits, Mystic Manor is an entirely different attraction. I won’t discuss the differences here; we’ll revisit that later, fellow travelers.

I hope you enjoyed this brief look at my favorite Disney ride. If you’ve been on any of them, what are your thoughts and favorites? The YouTube channel for Brent’s Crossroads has finally posted its first video; you can check it out here. I’m working to get the links to the other associated social media sites in the sidebar. Don’t forget to enter for a chance to win a Hollywood Studios Jollywood NIghts pin by subscribing or following the other sites by December 9th. You can get one entry per follow here, on Instagram (@brenttabell), Threads (@brenttabell), or TikTok (@brent.abell).

Glad you could stop by and see me on the Crossroads, and I hope to see you out there!

Happy travels,

Brent

Ready for Phantom Manor

Disney Vs. Universal- Refillable Cups

On By Brent AbellIn Brent's Crossroads, Coke Freestyle, Disney Adult, Halloween Horror Nights, Magic Kingdom, Travel, Traveling Writer, Universal Studios OrlandoLeave a comment

Greetings, and welcome to the Crossroads! I’m a little behind on seeing you all again due to some traveling and holidays. One of the things I will talk about here on occasion is the differences between Walt Disney World (or other Disney Parks) and Universal Studios Orlando (or another park). Today, I want to discuss a topic that has really bugged me about the two parks since October.

I want to compare the refillable cup systems at the two Orlando parks. I will explain each program and then give you my take on the best one.

I will start with Walt Disney World. If you’re visiting a Walt Disney Park in Orlando, drinks are served in either paper cups or plastic bottles. In the parks, there is not a refillable option. You can refill cups at water fountains, but there isn’t anything like a Coke Freestyle machine. The resorts are the only place you can buy and use a refillable cup for sodas on the Walt Disney World property.

The resorts all sell refillable plastic cups, but they can only be refilled at the soda stations at a resort. You can’t buy a refillable cup at the Caribbean Beach Resort and refill it in a park during the day. There are Coke Freestyle machines in some of the resorts, however. During my last stay at Caribbean Beach, I found one in the room areas (not the main resort restaurants) close to our room. It was a pain to refill at times from the room, but it beat going back to the main building for a refill. I really wish you could do this in the parks.

Next, we look at Universal Studios Orlando. When I visited during Halloween Horror Nights, I decided to try their refillable cup option. The cup wasn’t a cheap plastic one but a sturdier one. The Universal cup was also more insulated than the Disney one, keeping my drink cooler longer. This was advantageous because the afternoon and evening we attended were hot. The cups are refillable at any Coke Freestyle machine in the Universal theme park areas. The park has them located at various points, making them easy to find and use.

The other plus to the drinks is you can get Icee fills in the cup. This isn’t at every Icee station, but they will post it on the menu board if you can refill it with an Icee at that cart. The only drawback to the Coke Freestyle machines at Universal was that the ice had to be refilled in the machines manually. Team members had to carry out large tubs of ice to refill the machines instead of making their own ice. This can lead to downtime for the Freestyles when the ice is refilled, or the machines run out of ice. A problem, but the drinks still taste cool when they come out of the Coke Freestyle. They also sell a cool sling to hold your cup while you run around the park.

Overall, they both have a couple of issues, but Universal Studios Orlando wins this bout. Walt Disney World wants to think it is a super green park, but it can eliminate a ton of plastic waste by not selling bottled soft drinks in the parks. Disney already has a Coke deal for the parks, and bringing Coke Freestyle machines in shouldn’t be a problem. I see plenty of people who buy the cups at the resorts, and charging a little more to have them usable in the parks would be a win-win for everyone. The process at Universal was smooth, and I feel I got a better bang for my buck with the Universal Studios Orlando cup.

Maybe Walt Disney World Orlando will follow suit one day, or maybe not. They could also make merchandising money from selling cup slings like Universal does. I don’t think Disney would turn down the chance to make some extra merchandise cash if they can. What do you think Disney should do? Should they add Coke Freestyle machines or stay the course? Comment below to let your voice be heard.

Before I go, be sure to check out my friend Bobby Linn at Pixie Travel Co. for help booking your next trip to the Magic Kingdom and beyond! Email him at bobbyl@pixietravelco.com and tell him I met you at the Crossroads and sent you.

Well, back to the writing and planning the next trip,

Brent

Bittersweet Goodbye, Muppet*Vision 3-D

On By Brent AbellIn Brent's Crossroads, Disney Adult, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Electric Mayhem, Jim Henson, Muppet Courtyard, Muppet*Vision 3D, Muppets, Rocking Roller Coaster, Travel, Traveling Writer, Uncategorized, Walt Disney WorldLeave a comment

Welcome back to the Crossroads! Today, I’m not here with happy news from the Disney landscape. A few days ago, word officially came down on something we knew was probably coming. The final announcement was about the future of Muppet*Vision 3-D and also the Rocking Roller Coaster featuring Aerosmith. The news is both good and bad, depending on your point of view and fandoms.

First, Muppet*Vision 3D and the Muppet Courtyard area will be the future home of the Monster’s Inc. themed land in Hollywood Studios. The new location will feature the Monstropolis roller coaster, dining, shopping, and stage show. Since the original concept art for this new land was shown at D23 in 2023, it appeared the Muppet Courtyard was always going to be going bye-bye. What did surprise us in the announcement of Muppet*Vision 3D‘s closure was the retheming of Rocking Roller Coaster to the Muppets.

Next, so what about Aerosmith? The band was never the first or second choice for the ride-theming, to begin with. Add in the band’s retirement and the allegations against lead vocalist Steven Tyler; the days for this ride were numbered. Since Disney+ released the Electric Mayhem show, rumors about Dr. Teeth and the band taking over the attraction have swirled. Well, it looks like it will be happening. The Muppets are taking the roller coaster and making it their own. This wasn’t a surprise on the surface, but the timing seems like it was to lessen the sting of the Muppet*Vision situation.

Why is closing Muppet*Vision a bad thing? If you look at the wait times or visit the Muppet Theater, there never seems to be a wait, and the theater is rarely very full at all. The Muppets have a sizable fanbase, but since Disney bought Jim Henson Studios, they’ve criminally mismanaged the IP. This attraction was the final project Jim Henson worked on before his untimely death. This alone makes it something that should be culturally preserved. Disney has reported they digitally mastered the show and are looking for ways to put the visuals out for the public. I hope they’ll build another theater by Rocking Roller Coaster, but it will probably end up on Disney+. Disney+ would be a great disappointment because the film needs to be experienced in the theater with all the effects and mayhem.

Overall, I am saddened by the loss of Muppet*Vision 3-D, but I hope we can have a suitable replacement for Rocking Roller Coaster. It won’t have the same magic and memories of our times in Muppet Courtyard, but maybe we can love it too. I made a reaction video on TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@brent.abell/video/7440205287061081390), and you can check it out. These are my raw feelings on the day the news dropped. I’ve calmed down a little since then, lol.

Well, back to the grind my friends!

I hope to see you all out on the Crossroads,

Brent

Is Mickey’s Very Merry Party Very Merry?

On By Brent AbellIn Brent's Crossroads, Disney Adult, Magic Kingdom, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, Travel, Traveling Writer, Walt Disney WorldLeave a comment

Greetings, fellow travelers! Welcome back to Brent’s Crossroads. To stay in the Christmas mood, we will look at Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Yes, that is a long title and a mouthful to say. How did I like the party? Well, let’s talk about the experience, and on Friday, I’ll compare the two to see which will win the prize for the best Disney World Holiday party for 2024.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party will be held this year in the Magic Kingdom on select nights from November 8th through December 20th. It is an extra-ticketed event that runs from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. Party guests can enter the Magic Kingdom as early as 4 p.m. to enjoy the park before the party begins. The early entry is nice to rise rides and grab a bite to eat before the merriment starts. Pricing ranges from $169 to $219, depending on the date. Unlike Jollywood, this event sells out most of its dates, so if you choose to go, it’s better to pick a date quickly once tickets go on sale. The dates change yearly, so you must watch the Walt Disney World website to book (or contact Bobby Linn at Pixie Travel Co. at bobbyl@pixietravelco.com and tell him I sent you).

The night features special menu items, ride overlays, merchandise, a parade, a stage show, and an exclusive fireworks show. The offerings are a fun and festive way to get in the holiday spirit. You know I’m a Halloween boy, and this always puts me in a cheery mood. Now, I’ll break down each party section and give you my thoughts.

First, the early entry is valuable. Being in the park before the party begins allows you to ride the rides without party overlays and get some dinner. Not taking time during the party hours to ride regular rides helps give you more time to enjoy the party’s unique offerings. You have to be aware that some holiday food items are available all day, but some are only sold during party hours. The app and party map can help you find out which is which. The restaurant menu boards will also show what is only at the party. Rides like Tomorrowland Speedway, Mad Tea Party, and Space Mountain have holiday effects and lighting only during party hours. The holiday overlays on Jungle Cruise (Jingle Cruise) are on the ride all day, so this is one to hit when you arrive for early hours to check it off your list.

Second, it is all about the cookies. Five stations featuring different cookies are set up around the Magic Kingdom. The stations also have apple cider, hot chocolate, or egg nog to drink with your cookies. This year’s cookie offerings were two different sugar cookies (round red iced and tree-shaped green iced), red velvet cake cookie, buttercream frosted gingerbread, and caramel pretzel chocolate chip. I will be tasting and reviewing the cookies as soon as I get the YouTube channel set up. The hot chocolate was delicious. The apple cider tasted like regular apple juice with a splash of cinnamon. Lastly, the egg nog was a thick concoction with a flavor hint of bubble gum. The egg nog was weird.

Next are the rides. The Mad Tea Cups feature festive music and lights while you spin yourself sick. It is fun to let the ride take you around without spinning the cups. Life is better when you aren’t ill from cookies and spinning. Tomorrowland Speedway was the best of the ride overlays. The last time we attended the party, right after COVID-19, the speedway didn’t have the lights and decorations around the track. Seeing it all lit up while driving around the course was beautiful, and I’m glad they had the overlay this time. Space Mountain is a different animal compared to the usual ride experience. The ride is usually dark inside; you can’t see the track when you speed through space. Red and green lights illuminate the inside during the party, and holiday music blasts through the show building. The last ride I want to discuss is Jingle Cruise. This is a fun alternate version of the Jungle Cruise and worth waiting to ride. The boats are renamed, and the animals have a good time showing their Christmas spirit. Jingle Cruise is a must-ride during the holiday season.

Now, a quick word on merchandise. Like any other Disney event, merchandise is out there in force. Disney knows how to merch you to death, and they hold true here. Besides the regular holiday offerings, the party has specially branded merchandise with the Very Merry logo that is only sold in select locations during party hours. This year also features a gingerbread house ornament as a free token for partying with the mouse.

Food? There are plenty of party and holiday exclusive choices. The sweet treats far outnumbered the savory ones, and it was hard to find something that sounded good to eat during the party to combat the sweets. I’ll discuss this in depth when I compare this party with Jollywood Nights.

Lastly, the shows. There are three exclusive shows during Very Merry: a stage show, a parade, and a fireworks show. These are different from the regular park shows and are only during party hours. The stage show, Mickey’s Most Merriest Celebration, is a festive show that is located on the stage in front of Cinderella’s Castle. It features Mickey and friends in a fun show that will make you smile. The Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas Parade follows the regular park parade route from Frontier Land to Main Street, USA. Many characters get in the spirit with holiday costumes, and Santa makes his appearance at the end in grand fashion. The best of the three is Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks Show. The show includes festive projections on Cinderella’s Castle and a jolly fireworks show. It is my favorite of the Disney World fireworks shows.

Is this a perfect party?

No, because it’s geared more for children. One plus is that once the parade ends, there is a mass stroller exodus to the exit. This reduces wait times for rides and clears the park. The park is already at reduced capacity for the party, but the kids and parents leaving make it even less crowded. This makes for a fantastic experience in the Magic Kingdom.

In closing, I won’t tell you which party I liked more, but I will say it started with fewer strollers in the park. If you can attend the party, it is worth the price to experience it. I won’t turn down going again, and you won’t either.

Okay, back to writing this novel I’m super behind on. I hope you get to travel where you want to go, and I’ll see you out on the crossroads!

Good night,

Brent

Christmas Tree on Main Street, USA

Is Disney’s Jollywood Nights Worth It?

On By Brent AbellIn Brent's Crossroads, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Jollywood Nights, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, Travel, Traveling Writer, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Walt Disney WorldLeave a comment

Greetings, travelers! I want to welcome you back to the crossroads. I hope all is well. Today, I want to discuss the Jollywood Nights party at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios. The party is an extra-ticketed event happening once the park closes. Attendees can get in early, at 6 pm, to enjoy the park before it closes to the general public. Without a party wristband, you can’t ride rides or do anything in the park after 7:30 pm. The price ranges from $159 to $179 and is only on select nights. This year, it is only being held on thirteen nights. So, if you want to go, check the Disney website for ticket availability (or email Bobby Linn with Pixie Travel Co. to help book your trip at bobbyl@pixietravelco.com and tell him Brent set you).

The Jollywood party is geared more to an adult audience than Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom. I attended both over the weekend, and I will review Mickey’s Very Merry later this week. There are some distinct differences, and I will get into those in the reviews. Both parties feature special food and drink, events, ride overlays, shows, and merchandise.

Now, let’s talk about Jollywood Nights.

Jollywood Nights is billed as a throwback to Hollywood’s golden age. The streets are lit with lights, a Christmas tree is in the lake, and festive projections adorn the Chinese Theater where Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is housed and also on the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Overall, the mood is like Christmas, leaving this Halloween fan feeling jolly.

I want to start off with the special shows. Jollywood Nights has a Christmas fireworks show, a musical show hosted by Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, and, new this year, an ice skating show called Glisten! on a special surfaced area in front of the Chinese Theater. If those shows aren’t enough to squeeze into your five hours, there is also a Nightmare Before Christmas Sing-Along show and a Pixar dance party. We did all the shows, and each one was fantastic.

The next thing to discuss is the food. The event features exclusive food and drinks that are only available during the party hours. We tried some of the offerings and liked everything we ate. The prices seemed more reasonable than the food at Mickey’s Very Merry, and the food tasted better, too. The highlights were the birria taco, yuca con chicharron, and the two popovers (main dish and side dish themed). We also tried the caramel apple cider and the drinks featured at the Tip Top Club’s Twilight Soiree at the Hollywood Tower Hotel (or the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, as we like to call it). There were so many choices, and trying them all would take multiple trips. It sounds like a goal for next year.

Lastly, the merchandise. Outside of the Haunted Mansion, I don’t pick up other Disney things. I do, however, like to pick up a trinket or two from events as a memento of the trip. This was the first year for Ollie, a gingerbread man who acted as the mascot for this year’s party. There was Jollywood Nights-dated merchandise like shirts, coffee mugs, Mickey ears, ornaments, and pins, to name a few. I’ll be curious to see if Ollie sticks around as the mascot going forward. Disney won’t want to pass up on a way to brand the party for future merchandise. The offerings were few, but deciding what to pick out was easy.

Overall, the party is amazing. It is better than its partner party in the Magic Kingdom. Once I finish my review of Mickey’s Very Merry, I’ll tell you why Jollywood Nights are better for your money and sanity. I would go again and can’t wait to spend more time at Jollywood Nights.

I have to go and do the writing thing again, lol. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to see you at the crossroads! Don’t forget to subscribe here, on Instagram (@brenttabell), Threads (brenttabell), and TikTok (@brent.abell). Each follow on a platform will enter you for the first of two subscriber giveaways for one of two pins from the two parties. More info on when the deadline is for the first drawing is coming later this week.

Enjoy the road ahead,

Brent

Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party 2024

On By Brent AbellIn Brent's Crossroads, Magic Kingdom, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, Travel, Traveling Writer, Walt Disney WorldLeave a comment

Welcome to the Crossroads! Today, I want to give my final thoughts about Walt Disney World’s Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (check out the details here). The event is a ticketed party after the Magic Kingdom closes down. The night features trick-or-treating, a special fireworks show, and a villain stage show. Disney also has exclusive food, drink, and merchandise available to purchase.

Now, how was it for the cost?

The tickets range from $119 to $199 per ticket, depending on which date you attend. This event isn’t every day, so you have to plan when you want to party with the mouse. You can get into the Magic Kingdom a few hours before the party begins to ride the rides and grab a bite to eat. Once guests without a wristband have left the park after regular hours, the party gets going.

When the spooky lights come on, the fun begins. While kids can dress up and get candy from designated locations, there are plenty of other things for everyone to enjoy. Some rides have special overlays or lighting to give them a Halloween feel, and lightning effects are projected on Cinderella’s Castle. The vibe is enjoyable and festive. The highlight is seeing the Haunted Mansion portion of Mickey’s Boo-to-You Halloween Parade and riding the attraction multiple times. By the way, I am a huge Haunted Mansion fan.

The lines for the rides are almost all walk-on since the park capacity is significantly reduced during the party hours. Once the first parade and fireworks end, the crowd gets even smaller. The Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular stage show is done multiple times. Wait until the end of the night and see the last show right at the end of the party. This allows you more time to ride rides and pick up some treats or merch.

Overall, it is worth the money to do this extra-cost event. Being able to get right on most rides without waiting almost makes the cost worth it. We’ve heard you get a ton of candy in the past, but it seemed like we didn’t get much this year. They also have special dietary treats, and I didn’t get much of it when I cashed in my tokens for them. I should’ve stuck with the regular candy instead of trying to be good. We’ve also been to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, and I feel it is a better party for the money. I’ll have to compare them again after attending this year’s Very Merry.

Thanks again for visiting! I will bring home some goodies from Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party to have as giveaways for subscribing here or following my TikTok over @brent.abell. Everyone subscribed here, following on TikTok, or subscribing to the new YouTube channel will be entered when it launches next week. You can get an entry for each one you subscribe to.

In closing, I want to give a shout-out to my Disney trip guy, Bobby Linn, at Pixie Travel. He does fantastic work helping you plan your trip, and best of all, it is a free service. Be sure to contact Bobby at bobbyl@pixietravelco.com to get your dream vacation rolling.

See you out at the Crossroads,

Brent