Cruisin' Crescent Lake with the Disney Friendship Boats

Welcome to those of you joining me from Focused on the Magic and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the 6th stop on our Magical Blogorail.

It's FRIENDSHIP! Friendship! You're about halfway through this special edition transportation Magical Blogorail loop. Since the Magical Blogorail is the happiest group of Disney bloggers in the world, we should talk about Friendship!

Because friendship is sort of an elusive theme, let's discuss Friendship boats!

The friendship boats are a series of ferries which provide transportation from the Epcot Area resorts to Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios. They also serve as internal transportation within Epcot. The Epcot Area resorts include:

• Disney's Boardwalk Inn
• Disney's Beach Club Resort
• Disney's Yacht Club Resort 
• Walt Disney World Swan 
• Walt Disney World Dolphin

Within Epcot, the routes are very simple. The friendship boats depart from the entrance (Canada to Morocco / Mexico to Germany) to World Showcase and head to Morocco and Germany.

The resort friendship boats take you from the parks to the various resorts. While I love the friendship boats, there's one rather apparent downside to them: they are incredibly slow. You can often out walk the friendship boats, especially if you have to make stops at several resorts before reaching your destination.

However, when your feet hurt at the end of the day, there's nothing better than a leisurely ride on the friendship boats. They are one of the many reasons why I prefer staying at the Epcot Area resorts. They are peaceful and relaxing. They are easily accessible for all guests.

I will leave you with this Vine that I took on my most recent trip to Walt Disney World. My husband and I stayed at the Boardwalk, and while running down to the Bakery I took this peaceful video:


Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is Can Do It Mom aka Mouse Fan Diane.

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 ~ Dave ~ YourFirstVisit.net 
2nd Stop ~ Kuleen ~ The Disney Kids
3rd Stop ~ Heidi ~ Heidi's Head 
4th Stop ~ Didi Marie ~ DISTherapy 
5th Stop ~ Deb ~ Focused on the Magic
6th Stop ~ Rosanne ~ The Disney Point (You are here!)
7th Stop ~ Diane ~ Can Do It Mom aka Mouse Fan Diane 
8th Stop ~ Tricia ~ Return to Disney
9th Stop ~ Jodi ~ Magical Mouse Schoolhouse
10th Stop ~ Beth ~ A Disney Mom's Thoughts
Final Stop ~ Amy ~ Disney Living

Hollywood Nostalgia & Special Giveaway with American Tourister

Hooooorrrrrrraaaayyyyy for Hollywood!

There's something fun going on at Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World. Have you noticed?

Look CLOSE. 

Photo credit: Disney on Wheels

 Nothing? How about a little closer?

Photo credit: Disney on Wheels

Still don't get it?

Well, I have the inside scoop on a really fun campaign by American Tourister, the Official Luggage of Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts. In addition to these old fashioned American Tourister luggage props around Hollywood Studios, you'll notice:

1) This fun 1940s style billboard

Photo credit: Capturing Magical Memories

2) This authentic old time NYC park bench on the Streets of America

Photo credit: Disney on Wheels

 3) Bright and colorful American Tourister window displays

Photo credit: Capturing Magical Memories

It's all a part of Hollywood Week, a special Facebook campaign and giveaway by American Tourister. All this week, American Tourister will ask a fun question on their Facebook page. If you comment, you'll qualify for a chance to win the exclusive American Tourister D23 Mickey or Minnie luggage set. Haven't seen it yet? I got a sneak peak and it's phenomenal. There will be a winner chosen for every day of the campaign - from today, October 21 through October 25.

Some legal stuff:
One comment qualifies as one entry and there is only one entry per person. The sweepstakes are only open to permanent legal residents of the United States and the District of Columbia who are physically located and residing therein and who are 18 years of age or older at the date of entry. This excludes Guam, Puerto Rico and all other US and foreign territories and possessions.

So really, what the HECK are you waiting for? Go comment now!

A Philharmagical Attraction

Welcome to those of you joining me from The Magical Mouse Pad and those of you just hopping aboard. I am the second stop on our Magical Blogorail.


It is always hard when old friends leave us forever. And when I say old friends, I mean Walt Disney World attractions.

However, as much as I enjoy the movie "The Lion King", I never really liked the show "Legend of the Lion King" at Magic Kingdom park. (Festival of the Lion King at Disney's Animal Kingdom is so amazing, it makes any other Lion King show look like child's play!) I wasn't heartbroken when I heard it was closing and, to be honest, I didn't really have high expectations for its replacement. 

Scott Smith (SRisonS) via Compfight cc

I was skeptical at first. Another 3-D film? What can they possibly do that they haven't done already? 

As it turns out, I was completely shocked. In the summer of 2004, shortly before my Walt Disney World College Program, I walked into Mickey's PhilharMagic for the first time. Approximatley 12 minutes later I emerged with tears in my eyes and a new favorite attraction.

What is it about Mickey's PhilharMagic? It could be the crisp new 3D animation. It quite possibly could be the terrific songs from Disney's golden age of 90s musicals. Maybe it's the sugar sweet story with the underdog (underduck?) Donald, everybody's favorite angry bird. 

Whatever it is, it absolutely works. In the middle of a hectic Magic Kingdom day, I always appreciate a stop at Mickey's PhilharMagic, and not just because of the comfortable seats and air conditioning. 

For some reason, there is never a long line (if any) at Mickey's PhilharMagic. It is a rather large theater and it turns over pretty quickly. But because of its location in the heart of Fantasyland and in the shadow of Cinderella Castle, plus the quality of the show, I often wonder why it isn't more popular. 

Do you agree that Mickey's PhilharMagic is an under appreciated attraction? Sound off in the comments. 

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is The Disney Chick.

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 ~ The Magical Mouse Pad
2nd Stop ~ The Disney Point (You are here!)
3rd Stop ~ The Disney Chick
4th Stop ~ Manda’s Disney Blog