You’d think Celine Dion would have gotten the best seat in the restaurant that night. But no, there the pop diva was–our gossipy waiter had pointed her out–filing in from the open-air observation deck with the rest of the crowd. Meanwhile I sat regally at a table by a vast window and, between courses, enjoyed an unobstructed view of the very same fireworks that poor little Celine had schlepped out to see.
I didn’t have special tickets or celebrity status or Disney connections or even press privileges to pave my way. As a greenhorn to Walt Disney World, I didn’t even have a prior visit for a frame of reference.
No, I had something better than all that: the expertise of Bruce Pecho, native Chicagoan, authority on Walt Disney World and lifelong Disney enthusiast, making his 41st trip to WDW to light my way. As a kid who’d already been to Disneyland in California, Bruce studied everything he could get his hands on about the new park that would open in Florida in October 1971. With that knowledge, he convinced his parents that Walt Disney World was the place for the family’s summer vacation in 1972. He’s been studying it ever since. Now, as a proud uncle, he vacations here with his brothers and sisters and their children, and is such a frequent guest that on our visit, when Snow White spotted him from her parade float at Disney-MGM Studios, she pointed to him and mouthed “I remember you.”
The fireworks dinner was only a prelude to six full days of WDW According to Bruce. I came away with a depth of knowledge, experience and appreciation that only veteran visitors can claim.
I won’t say you should be so lucky, because you already are.
Just stick with Bruce, and you’ll see.
OUR EXPERT’S MUST-DO LIST
Magic Kingdom
1. The Haunted Mansion
2. Pirates of the Caribbean
3. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
4. “Mickey’s PhilharMagic”
5. “SpectroMagic”
6. “Wishes”
7. Splash Mountain
TONI’S TAKE: The little girl in me, who never got to go to Disneyland, blossomed at Cinderella’s Royal Table, delighted in the “SpectroMagic” night parade, thrilled to the ghosts of The Haunted Mansion, sailed on a magic ship in Peter Pan’s Flight, wished for a sword in Pirates of the Caribbean, played with the kitchen gizmos in Minnie’s Country House and indulged in carrot cake at Main Street Bakery.
Epcot
1. “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth”
2. Soarin’
3. The American Adventure
4. Spaceship Earth
5. Test Track
6. “Impressions de France”
7. “Honey, I Shrunk the Audience”
TONI’S TAKE: How’d they do that? Get a cartoon turtle to converse in real-time at “Turtle Talk With Crush”? Fit Spaceship Earth inside the geodesic sphere? Create multiple G-forces on Mission: SPACE? Teach me to hang glide on Soarin’? Reproduce 11 international architecture styles in World Showcase? Pull off a grand production like “IllumiNations” and still offer small surprises like the talking water fountains?
Disney-MGM Studios
1. “Voyage of the Little Mermaid”
2. Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
3. “Fantasmic!”
4. “Beauty and the Beast–Live on Stage”
5. “Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream”
6. “Disney Stars and Motor Cars Parade”
7. The Great Movie Ride
TONI’S TAKE: In a park that’s all about the movies, it was great to: see action scenes shot at “Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular” and “Lights, Motors, Action! Extreme Stunt Show”; live the golden age of television at the 50’s Prime Time Cafe; cringe from the dragon in “Fantasmic!”; learn about Walt at “Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream”; just sit inside The Hollywood Brown Derby; and walk along the buildings of Sunset Boulevard.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
1. Kilimanjaro Safaris
2. DINOSAUR
3. “It’s Tough to be a Bug!”
4. “Festival of the Lion King”
5. Kali River Rapids
6. “Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade”
7. Expedition Everest, in anticipation
Note: Expedition Everest, the Animal Kingdom’s newest attraction, was undergoing testing but was not in operation when we visited. Neither of us rode it.
TONI’S TAKE: Finding DeVine (the name as published has been corrected in this text) among the greenery is my most vivid memory here. Of course, spotting real lions, elephants and giraffes with Kilimanjaro Safaris was a happy jaunt. For varied reasons, I also felt good about “Festival of the Lion King,” counting the animals carved into the Tree of Life; “Flights of Wonder”; “It’s Tough to be a Bug!”; and the colorfully-clad tribal musicians in Africa.
