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INTERCOT Insider
January
2003
- Edition Two |
Brought to you by
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<<
Introduction >>
Welcome to the second edition of the January 2003 INTERCOT Insider. We
apologize for the delay in publication. Co-Editor Gary has been nursing a
sick baby and has not been able to get this edition out. He apologizes and
offers himself up for all appropriate punishment to be doled out by all
members of INTERCOT.
This edition is about Love and History at Walt Disney World. Valentine's
day is coming up and we want to help our fellow WDW travelers to plan the
most romantic getaway possible. Whether you enjoy an afternoon of pampering
or a nice, quiet dinner, we have some wonderful ideas for you.
Can't get to WDW for your romantic getaway? Order the freshest flowers
available anywhere thru INTERCOT's partner Proflowers. Right now in time
for Valentines, they have special selections starting at just $29.99. Our
staff has ordered from Proflowers in the past and has had nothing but
glowing praise for them.
And, for you trivia buffs, our very own WDWDriver (who is now really a
WDWNatureGuide) takes a look at a variety of interesting tidbits of Walt
Disney World History and minutiae. Enjoy.
<< A Disney Valentine
with Valerie >>
One of America's most timeless couples is Mickey and Minnie Mouse, not to
mention Cinderella and Prince Charming. Walt Disney World is a place full of
romance. Couples flock to Walt Disney World, making it America's most
popular honeymoon destination. Since many couples marry around Valentine's
Day, INTERCOT would like to spotlight activities around the resort that
would make sweethearts fall even more in love.
The Grand Floridian Resort offers a specialized way of spending Valentine's
Day: being pampered together! Inside the Grand Floridian Spa and Health
club, massages and facials abound, especially in the candlelit "couple's
room", where each person receives a custom aromatherapy massage. There are
also 3-hour massage instruction sessions available. Call the spa at (407)
824-2332 to get information about spa treatments for two.
For ultimate romantic moments, a private dinner for two is in order. If you
are at the Grand Floridian, you can have dinner on the beach gazing at
Cinderella's Castle. Simply call private dining from any phone on the
resort.
For the ultimate in Walt Disney World dining, be sure to check out Victoria
and Albert's, honored with a five-diamond award from AAA. Only 18 tables are
served on Royal Doulton China and Sambonet silver while perusing
personalized menus. There is even a Chef's table with special service by
Chef Scott Hunnel. Call (407) WDW-DINE to set up this special meal of a
lifetime.
If a night of watching the Magic Kingdom fireworks while floating on a yacht
sounds romantic, you might want to try booking the Grand 1, the 45 footer
located at the Grand Floridian. You could even bring along 10 friends and
make it a sweetheart party of 12. How about a private butler dishing out a
gourmet meal? All this can be yours starting at $350 per hour, including
captain and private deck hand. Call (407) 824-2439.
For something not quite so pricey, try the Yacht and Beach Club Resort
Marina, where you can find "Breathless", a 1930 Mahogany runabout. For up to
7 people, 10 minute excursions are $23.58, 30 minutes are $80.18. The real
treat for $179.20 would be an Illuminations Cruise traveling across Crescent
Lake to Epcot for the spectacular sound, lasers, and fireworks. Call (407)
939-7529 to book in advance or for more information.
For the folks with the smaller budgets, be sure to check out the special
Valentine's Day merchandise located at the World of Disney and the Emporium
at the Magic Kingdom. The Disney merchandisers have pulled a few things out
of their hats just for Happy Hearts' Day. Also, be sure to check out special
Valentine souvenir mugs at selected Magic Kingdom's counter service
locations and popcorn stands.
Romantic cards can be purchased at most WDW resorts, and a Valentine in
front of the castle can be extra special. If you are more creative, writing
special notes for your loved one can have greater meaning in a garden of
roses around Fantasyland.
Speaking of roses, the Walt Disney Florist can deliver just for you!
Special packages include Mickey's Romantic Moments: Asti Spumanti with
exclusive wine flutes, aromatherapy bath sets with beads, a Mickey towel and
candle all within a unique Mickey signature basket. Special vases and
arrangements will be available for Valentine's Day and can be ordered
beginning the last week in January by calling (407) 827-3505.
For getting back to nature with your loved one, the Fort Wilderness Resort
offers 45-minute horseback tours through the pines. Private carriage rides
are also available. Tours occur only a few times per day, so be sure to call
(407) 939-7529 to reserve your horse. Detailed information can also be found
at Intercot's info central.
How about renewing those vows without the pain of planning the ceremony? Try
the "Rehitching Ceremony" at the Garden Grill restaurant at the Land
pavilion in Epcot. Here's the information straight from Intercot's Info
Central:
Have you ever considered renewing your wedding vows while vacationing at
Walt Disney World? Are you celebrating an Anniversary or just want to
surprise your spouse? With a little advance planning it can be done.
The Rehitching Ceremony takes place at the Garden Grill restaurant, in the
Land Pavilion, at Epcot. Your server acts as the clergy person. They read
some fun vows for you to repeat. You have to kiss in front of the whole
restaurant, often to the count of 100. You'll receive a special certificate
to commemorate the event and a cake. Mickey, Chip and Dale have been known
to attend the festivities.
You must request the ceremony when you make your priority seating
arrangements at the restaurant. Tell the cast member when you phone that you
want to get 'rehitched'. Also when you arrive at the restaurant remind the
Staff at the podium. Arrangements can be made by calling 407-WDW-DINE.
<< Romance on Disney
Cruises with Mikki or is that Mickey? >>
Sure, going on a cruise is romantic! You eat, drink, watch water go by,
eat, drink, visit islands, eat drink etc etc. Well, it is a little better
than that, at least on Disney cruises! I experienced the 3-night cruise for
Halloween with my husband and we found plenty of fun things to do.
Now we don't have kids, but we can vouch for the fact that whether you do or
not, you hardly see them on the voyage. Disney will look after and
entertain them for the majority of the day and night. Yes, they give you
pagers so you can have peace of mind as well as a peaceful day! And what
will you do with yourself on your romantic break? Here are a few
thoughts...
A Surial Bath: I had read about this and was fascinated! LOL! It is also a
very cheap treatment option (only $69). So what is it? Well, it is for two
or three people. We had trouble imagining three people doing it, even if
they were very good friends, but for a couple it was relaxing, fun and good
for you! The only thing missing was a clock so you could make sure you did
everything you wanted - exfoliate, shower, face mask, mud, steam, shower
(again), massage oil / moisturize! More by luck than judgment we got the
timing right. The fun part was you were locked in this room and slathered
mud et al on each other and did whatever else you wanted while in there -
all in your birthday suits! There were so many options you could have done
with more time ;-)
Wine tasting from stem to stern at $12 a head is another hour well spent -
informative, humorous and tasty! We were impressed by the skill that breaks
open a Champagne bottle by rubbing a sword on the join but can't understand
why anyone should want to do it! The wines were all ones you could buy with
meals on the ship and it was a fun way to try some.
Talking of meals, a very romantic end to the day (or cruise) is to have a
meal at Palo's, the adult only venue which you have to specially book once
you get on board the ship. And yes, if you have children Disney will take
care of them while you enjoy this little piece of heaven! We found it the
highlight of our trip. The food & service was exquisite - hot shrimp
cocktail as a starter & rack of lamb for me, Portobello mushroom then fillet
for Andrew. We both had the chocolate soufflé for dessert, which was
divine. All in all a lovely way to end the cruise.
There is something romantic about any cruise but the way Disney can turn a
family outing into a joy for everyone has to be seen to be believed.
For more information or why not visit INTERCOT's Cruise forum?
http://www.intercot.com/boards/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum&f=20&submit=Go
<< Romantic Dining at
Bistro de Paris >>
If you want a romantic spot in WDW you can do a lot worse than a meal at
Bistro de Paris. This restaurant is above Chef de France and over the years
has been open and shut at whim. If it is open it can be a wonderful place
for a quiet, sophisticated, exquisite meal out. If you are very lucky you
may have a window seat and get to see Illuminations from your table!
The food and service cannot be faulted. The food is cooked perfectly and
delicious. The service is suitably obsequious and attentive without being
over the top. Presentation of the food was impressive. On our last visit
the Crepe suzette was prepared and flambéed at the table efficiently and
spectacularly. It tasted every bit as good as it looked! The menu is
unusual and varied but all delicious.
One word of caution. You need to be careful on alcohol. The wine cost
rises from the normal extortionate to the genuinely outrageous: $52 for "Vin
de pays D'oc"! I found the same bottle of wine for sale in our local
supermarket at $9. Without wine the meal is worth every penny. The
atmosphere is peaceful and the surroundings comfortable. I can't wait to go
again!
- The Odd Romantic idea
Did you know there were lots of opportunities to have your picture taken
with character 'couples' in the parks? Mickey and Minnie of course, but
there are also Aladdin and Jasmine (Morocco), Beauty and the Beast
(France). Which couple do you model yourself on?
Looking for a quiet spot with your partner? There are lots of little nooks
in all the parks but if you venture to the resorts then pay a visit to
Martha's Vineyard at the Beach Club one evening and you will find a
delightful wine bar with comfy seats and very little company. Perfect for
couples!
<< Disney History & Trivia with WDWdriver>>
Just weeks before his death in 1966, Walt Disney walked into a planning
meeting with his final vision of the first phase of the "Florida Project".
It was a sketch drawn in Walt's own hand on a breakfast napkin. The sketch
eventually became the 7th Preliminary Master Plot Plan, which depicted the
northern portion of the newly acquired Florida property much as it is seen
today. The Magic Kingdom was to be to the northeast of Bay Lake, and the
Contemporary Hotel was to be built between the lake and the Magic Kingdom.
But there was more. Walt didn't want the huge parking lot to be adjacent to
the park.
Instead he wanted an additional lake to the south, which would ease the
transition from highways, and parking lots to Disney magic. Arriving guests
would take a ferry across the lake or a monorail around it. The new lake was
to be called the Seven Seas Lagoon, and it would eventually be connected to
Bay Lake by a unique water bridge over World Drive.
There was much work to be done. Bay Lake's waters were a greenish tea color.
The
Lake bottom was a tangle of muck, roots and vegetation. Dredging was begun
to clear away the muck, and a pleasant surprise were revealed. The lake
bottom was covered with white sand, which was soon used to create the
beautiful beaches still seen today around the lake.
To create the Seven Seas Lagoon, more than eight million cubic yards of
sandy soil was dug from the site. It was put to use just a short distance
away as fill around the Utilidor (contraction of utility and corridor) level
of the Magic Kingdom. This "basement" level was actually build on the
surface of the ground, and then nearly covered with the fill from the
lagoon. The Magic Kingdom was then constructed atop the Utilidor level,
twelve feet higher than the original land surface. The subterranean Utilidor
is referred to today by Cast Members as "the Tunnel". More about the Tunnel,
and what's down there, in a future Insider issue.
<< Conclusion >>
That's it for us this month. Look for us again on the 15th with more
exciting WDW and INTERCOT news and information.
As we write this, we know what a sad day this is for all Americans and space
buffs. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families and friends of the
crew of STS-107. The seven members of the crew were true pioneers and are
worthy examples of the boundless curiosity of the human spirit to
continually explore and expand the edges of our knowledge of the universe
that we inhabit. We wish to honor these heroes with our heartfelt
condolences and express our pride in all of NASA's past and future
accomplishments.
<< INTERCOT Would Like To Thank>>
The INTERCOT Insider and INTERCOT.com
are supported by the following sponsors who in turn, help us bring the Magic
to you!
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The Official Ticket
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