"Wait...What?" - From All of Us to You

No matter how much information we think we have at our disposal, every once in awhile we learn something new about Disney...

Busky3 writes "Donald Duck is huge in Sweden around Christmastime" with a link to a Slate article that explains just that!

WAIT...WHAT?!?

Apparently there is a tradition in Sweden that every afternoon on Christmas Eve the majority of the nation sits down to watch Disney cartoons on television. What a great (and unusual) tradition.

Happy reading and Merry Christmas Eve Eve!

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Feel free to re-post anything from WDWorld Traveler but please link back to http://wdwtraveler.blogspot.com

"Wait...What?" - Rosie's Victory Garden

No matter how much information we think we have at our disposal, every once in awhile we learn something new about Walt Disney World...

I was prepping for this week's Blogosphere and I happened upon a post on The Disney Food Blog that mentioned a place at the Studios called "Rosie's Victory Garden."

WAIT...WHAT?!?

Apparently there is a little garden back near Rockin Roller Coaster that continues the "golden age of Hollywood" theme of the park, giving it a World War 2 twist. It's a victory garden, much like what you would have found in the states during the war, and the theme extends to the nearby Rosie's All American Cafe food stand.

Never really heard of or, for that matter, seen these places. Thought I'd pass it along. You can read about them from The Disney Food Blog here and here.

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Feel free to re-post anything from WDWorld Traveler but please link back to http://wdwtraveler.blogspot.com

"Wait...What?" - The World Showcase Wine Walk

No matter how much information we think we have at our disposal, every once in awhile we learn something new about Walt Disney World...

Today I noticed a post on The Disney Food Blog about something called "The World Showcase Wine Walk." Initially I dismissed it, assuming it was one of the many features of the Food & Wine Festival which, while excellent, is not something I will be able to personally experience this year. I went ahead and read it anyway and boy was I surprised.

As it turns out, this event may be offered year-round at Epcot but only promoted during the Food & Wine Festival. Wait...What?!?

The way it works is, you go a select shop in either the Italy, Germany, or France pavilion and pay $20 for a "passport" that allows you to sample six select wines, two from each country. I know what you're thinking and the answer is "yes." Disney has actually taken the concept of "drinking around the world" and made it official.

If they make a "beer walk" ("beer stumble?") then you'd better believe I'm making a b-line for the World Showcase on my next visit to Epcot.

"Wait...What?" - The Oregon Ducks

I consider myself at least a casual fan of college sports so, of course, I know that the University of Oregon's sports teams are known as the "Oregon Ducks." It wasn't until today, however, that a Mickey Extreme report brought to my attention the fact that the mascot is Donald Duck.

WAIT...WHAT?

The report, citing a Mail Tribune story, note that "it all started in 1947 when then-university Athletic Director Leo Harris and Walt Disney shook hands on an agreement allowing the school's sports teams to use Donald Duck's image as its fighting duck mascot."

I looked it up and sure enough, as you see above, it really IS Donald that is used at the school's mascot (though the much more often seen logo is the traditional "O" seen here.) The mascot appears different from the Disney version of the Donald "costume" seen at Disney theme parks, however.

"Incidentally, Donald Duck was made an honorary alumnus of the University of Oregon during his 50th birthday celebration in 1984," the story goes on to note.

Yet another piece of evidence that no matter how hard you try, you can never know too much about Disney.

"Wait...What?" - Rix Lounge

It happens to the best of us. No matter how many times we visit, no matter how many websites, magazines, and travel guides we read, no matter how much information we think we have at our disposal, every once in awhile we learn something new about Walt Disney World. This new feature is intended to point out whenever such moments take place.

This morning I had one of those moments.

As I was checking the Orlando Sentinel's coverage of Gay Days, the annual event that brings the gay community to Orlando in red shirted mass, I came across mention of a private event at Rix Lounge at Coronado Springs. Rix, the article went on to point out, is an "upscale nightspot."

WAIT...WHAT?

I went on to investigate via a Google search and came across the venue's official (and very un-Disney) website. Hold on a second? Is this Disney World or Atlantic City?

Apparently, and I promise you that I had no prior knowledge of this, Disney World has an ultra lounge. An ultra lounge, for the unenlightened, is a combination bar/nightclub/lounge that is all the rage in Vegas. The general idea is that you get the pulsating DJ music and hip crowd without having to be crammed onto a dance floor and with the benefit of tables, couches, more upscale bar choices, and, more often than not, "bottle service" to a private VIP table if you choose to reserve one. Rix Lounge also serves food if you so desire.

From what I can tell, Rix is similar to what you might expect to find at a traditional ultra lounge only a bit more toned down and geared towards the conventioneers at Coronado Springs. I don't know for sure because I've obviously never been there...but, believe me, I will be.

An ultra lounge at Disney World. How about that?