The design of Pop Century is bright, colorful, and a celebration of American pop culture from the 1950s to the 1990s. An example of Pop Century's design is the array of shadowboxes you can find on the wall in the lobby which containing popular toys and fads from throughout the decades!

I believe that part of Pop Century's appeal is the nostalgia. Parents enjoy seeing items from their own childhood while making memories with their own children at the same time; and for me, these shadowboxes are one of my favorite ways to take a trip down memory lane. They are also a great way to pass the time if there's a wait to check-in!

One of my favorite shadowboxes is one from the 90s. Since I was a kid during this decade, viewing this shadowbox is like looking at a piece of my childhood! I found lots of toys that I hadn't seen in years or that were on my Christmas list years ago.

Fellow kids from the 90s, do you remember Furbys and Tamagotchis? How about Gameboys before they had color screens? Hand-held Fishing Games, Beanie Babies, and Power Rangers? Blues Clues and Pokemon? I have to mention Pocahontas too, I watched that VHS tape over and over. Remember when "Colors of the Wind" was on the radio all the time?

The next time you visit Pop Century, take some time to enjoy these shadowbox exhibits. There are several so you are sure to find something you had or remember from your childhood. Check them out and include your kids and grandkids! They will probably enjoy learning about the toys you had as a kid. It's a way to make new memories while revisiting old ones!

Come check out other Wordless Wednesday posts or link up your own!

A glass Cinderella Castle at the Crystal Arts shop on Main Street U.S.A.

"Welcome to those of you joining me from
Magical Mouse Schoolhouse
and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the 3rd stop on our Magical Blogorail."

My Disney Bro is 15 years old and has been a big fan of Walt Disney World his whole life. (You can see him in the picture on the left with FastPasses to his favorite attractions in hand, grinning and giddy with anticipation). When I asked him what his favorite attraction at Disney World was, he said that it would probably be... Rock n' Roller Coaster! The combination of speed, music, and the cool atmosphere, he says, make Rock n' Roller Coaster the ideal ride for teens.

He says that the beginning of the ride is the best part. It's the coolest feeling being strapped in the limo right in front of the tunnel, hearing Steven Tyler screaming the countdown in you ears, and then being catapulted into the dark at 60 mph straight into a loop! You just can't beat that! He also enjoys the corkscrews too!

My Teen Disney Bro also explained how cool the atmosphere of Rock n' Roller Coaster is. The recording studio setting is awesome, especially with the vintage band posters on the walls. The whole atmosphere is just pure fun!

My Teen Disney Bro says that even though Rock n' Roller Coaster usually has a long line, it's an attraction that is definitely worth the wait; and it's one that doesn't get old! While this ride is one of my favorites too, he's more willing to wait in a long line for it than I am; and it's usually one of his top priorities when we visit Disney World.

Why else would teens enjoy Rock n' Roller Coaster? It's smooth, fantastic coaster, an adrenaline rush, and what teen doesn't enjoy cars, rock music, high speed, and an incredible sound system built into each seat? You just can't lose with this attraction!

"Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is Focused on the Magic 

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

1st Stop ~ Ramblings, Reviews and Reflections
2nd Stop~ Magical Mouse Schoolhouse
3rd Stop~ A Glass Slipper Vacation
4th Stop~ Focused on the Magic
Final Stop~ Capturing Magical Memories

If you want to get your money's worth on a Disney souvenir, visit a Disney artist for a portrait! While these artists offer fun, cartoonish portraits of guests, they also do realistic portraits as well. On our last trip, it was decided that my Disney Bro and I would have our portraits drawn at the Magic Kingdom!

We visited the artists behind the Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe, facing Cinderelle Castle. The artists can fit one to two people per canvas and draw them one at a time. Because our artist, Annie, was drawing the both of us, we took turns sitting for her and this took several minutes a piece.

Being drawn was actually a pleasant experience. We visited just before sundown and while I was being drawn, I got to watch the Magic Kingdom begin to light up for the night and the castle turn colors while I chatted with Annie about some of her park experiences. 

When Annie was finished, we were presented with a beautiful masterpiece for the cost of $50, (but do remember she was drawing two of us). We also had the option of purchasing a frame along with our portrait, which we did for an extra $20. Since we would be flying home, it gave us peace of mind to have our new treasure sealed behind glass.

We were pleased to find that the quality and accuracy were spot on. After all of our trips to Disney World, we all agreed that this souvenir tops all others. It's a souvenir that will never be outgrown, worn out, or in our yard sale in future. It was also a great way to end our vacation and was a fun experience in itself!

If you are looking for a way to make and preserve some family memories, we highly recommend this souvenir for you! We also recommend that you visit the artists behind the Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe. The artists were great and the quiet corner where they are located offers a relaxing, quiet atmosphere and a picturesque view. Curious about their work? Check out our finished portrait below!

This week we are recommending:

The Magical Blogorail had two, very interesting loops running this week. First of all, Magical Blogorail Teal shared the educational side of Disney World. Believe it or not, you can learn a lot at Walt Disney World; but don't be too concerned, they make learning fun! To check out Disney's smart side, start with The Many Adventures of a Disney-Lovin' Spectrum Mom.

Secondly, Magical Blogorail Green discussed extinct Disney attractions! Whether you have been visiting Disney for decades, or you're new to Disney World, it's fun to see past Disney magic! To read more, hop aboard Your Highway in the Sky! 

The Disney Food Blog discussed additions to two popular Magic Kingdom counter service restaurants: Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe and my personal favorite, Columbia Harbor House! Interested? Check out Menu Additions: Columbia Harbour House and Cosmic Ray’s now!

The Main Street Gazette posted about a mural in Downtown Disney's Once Upon a Toy store. Have you ever noticed Disney toys hiding in this mural? Click Meet the toys to see for yourself!

Are you a fan of Toy Story? Personally, I'm a huge fan! Lee Unkrich, the director Toy Story 3, and who co-directed Toy Story and Toy Story 2, shared some titles that were considered for these popular films! Check out Chip&Co's A Toy Story by Any Other Name!

Have you heard? Date changes have been announced for the FREE DINING OFFER from October of 2011 to March of 2012.

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The new dates are:
 2011: Oct. 1 - 6, Oct. 22 - Nov. 3, Nov. 12 - 17, Nov. 26 - Dec. 1, Dec. 10 - 15
2012: Jan. 8 - 12, Jan. 21 - Feb. 2, Feb. 11 - 16, Mar. 3 - 8, Mar. 24 - 29

For those of you who are concerned about how this will affect your trip, we have some good news, as well as a tip for you!

First of all, if you have already book your trip for this Free Dining offer before the dates changed, your trip will not be affected.

Secondly, if these dates don't quite fit your ideal time frame, here's a tip! If you book your trip on the last day of the offer, such as December 15th or March 29th, you can still get the Free Dining Offer for the length of your trip. Therefore, if you arrive on December 15th, the offer will carry over, even though the dates aren't listed!. The key is that you must stay during at least one night of the listed offer dates. 

We hope that this info helps if the new date changes have caused a problem in your vacation planning! If so, let us know!

This Disney Mom loves taking her teens to WDW!  A few recommendations when planning can make all the difference in a magical and memorable vacation for you and your teens. For example...

1. Ask your teens what Disney Resorts they would like to stay at. Look at the atmosphere and the amenities on the menu the Glass Slipper offers to aid in a "group" decision. 

2. Include them in making Dining Reservations.  Give each person their pick of their favorite restaurant. 

3. Include them in planning each days itinerary.  If you have enough days in your vacation, let the day that you dine at the restaurant they picked also be their day to set the schedule.  You'll be surprised how their leadership skills "kick in."

4. We surprised our teen with a Disney gift card.  It was much easier for him to track his expenses, plus it was a great budgeting tool!

5. Make sure they have a camera with them and encourage them to snap lots of pics to add to the family scrapbook. (Our Disney teen is quite the comedian, so creativity can go a long way at Disney!)

6. Turn your teen loose with a video camera.  Trust me, you'll enjoy watching the family vacation through the eyes of your teen....after all, that's what Disney is all about!

"I" is for the International Gateway

Icing at the Boardwalk Bakery

Frozone from the Incredibles

"I" love Rock n' Roll"

"I'm watching you Wazowski, always watching..."

Expedition Everest is one of Animal Kingdom's most popular attractions and the newest addition to the Disney Mountain Range! This attraction is truly one of Disney's best with it's impressive exterior, intriguing story line, a thrilling forwards and backwards ride experience, and fantastic design!

Today, we're are sharing with you a few pictures that show the incredible detail found in the design of Animal Kingdom's Expedition Everest queue area that truly set the stage and contribute to the ride itself.

I found these little posters in Asia plastered on some boulders near the ride in Asia. I like how old and worn they appear to be!

Almost as soon as you enter Asia at Animal Kingdom, little hints and references to Everest's Yeti and the ride begin to make an appearance. I think these little details really spark a guest's interest and start building anticipation, which makes the ride itself even more thrilling and exhilarating due to the build-up. Think of these little design elements as the creepy music you hear in a movie when something bad is about to happen.

One of my favorite things about Expedition Everest is the queue line because it appears so real. This is one attraction that I don't mind waiting a bit for! There is so much to see and this is really where Imagineers begin to tell the story. The shelves of supplies make it look like you're wandering through a base camp. It's here that you begin to understand that expeditions and trips into the mountains are common. The detail here is incredible; and as you wander through, you truly feel immersed in a different world.

Towards the end of the queue line, you find yourself wandering through what appears to be a little museum about the legendary Yeti. It apears that people have been researching and gathering evidence to prove the Yeti's existence up in the mountains and then displaying their work at this little museum.

Not only is the museum a detailed and entertaining part of the queue, it also serves to create drama. While the rows of backpacks and hiking boots show guests that they were going up into the mountains, the Yeti evidence makes guests realize that this creature is the antagonist of the story they have entered and that he is where they are about to go. By the time guests board their train bound for the Forbidden Mountain, the Yeti is on their minds and their adrenaline is pumping!

Disney's use of design to add to the ride experience and story line is one of the reasons why Expedition Everest is one of my favorite rides in all of Disney World. Be sure to pay attention to the design of this ride next time you visit, you will leave with a greater appreciation for the extras that contribute to the fun and thrills that this ride offers!

Come check out other Wordless Wednesday posts or link up your own!

"Friends"