Resort Hopping

The family has just enjoyed a few days at the Walt Disney World theme parks. Unfortunately, the park tickets have expired with one day of vacation left. Many guests faced with that situation opt for a relaxing day on the beach or near a pool. Some guests will crack open the wallet and pay a premium for a one day park pass (been there done that!). Others may embark on an end of trip shopping spree (been there done that too!). Of course, there is always a golf course to tee up on or an air-conditioned digital movie theater to catch the latest flick in.

But another option...one that can be every bit as relaxing as a day sunning on the beach...and one that costs cero dinero—as in zero, zilch, zippo—is resort hopping. Resort hopping is a simple, gratifying way to spend a magical morning, afternoon, or whole day inside the Walt Disney World resort free of charge. Of course, if you wish to spend some dough on a nice meal or a grand souvenir, nobody will fault you.

Though I love staying at the Pop Century because of the family friendly room rate (I also love the theming), I can’t help but feel like I’m missing out on something big by not staying at one of the moderate or deluxe resorts. A day of resort hopping takes care of that void. With bus transportation to anywhere on property, each resort and its unique theming is only minutes away.

Climb aboard a bus to the Magic Kingdom. From there, journey over to the monorail station and board the monorail resort loop. Take a ride to the ultra-modern Contemporary Resort and explore it’s A-framed architecture, a 90 foot floor-to-ceiling ceramic mural, and the stunning views of Space Mountain and Cinderella Castle. If you’re in the mood to eat, venture up to the 15^th floor and enjoy the exquisite Pacific Coast cuisine of the California Grill. Head back down to the fourth floor and pick up the monorail over to the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC).

Exit the monorail at the TTC and enjoy a short stroll over to the tropical paradise known as the Polynesian resort. Stop by the Nanea Volcano pool and hear the kiddies scream with delight as they plunge down a 40 foot volcano tubular waterslide and emerge victorious at the foot of a shimmering pool. Relax along the sandy beach line for a breath taking view of a distant Cinderella’s castle. If you need a snack, visit Captain Cook’s for pizzas, burgers, salads, pastries, sandwiches, fresh fruit, and ice cream .

Time to walk off all those delicious calories with a leisurely walk along the Seven Seas Lagoon pathway. Your next visit, the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa. Don’t forget to check out the wedding pavillion on the way. The magnificent Victorian-style architecture of the Grand Floridian resort is a delight to the eyes. Tour the resorts bright and beautiful courtyards and its stunning white sand beach and beach pool. If you haven’t eaten already, you’ll enjoy dining at your choice of six different restaurants including Citricos, Narcoosee’s, and Victoria and Albert’s.

When finished touring the Grand Floridian, Downtown Disney is only a bus ride away. Find the connecting bus to your home resort and you’ve just spent a wonderful morning or afternoon touring three of Walt Disney World’s deluxe resorts at little or no cost. On your next visit, hit the Epcot resorts; Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, the Yacht and Beach club and the Swan and Dolphin.

Bring along a camera or camcorder and get some great shots of the family at each resort. The pictures make for an incredible scrapbook or slideshow. Years later, you may even convince yourself that you shelled out top dollar to stay at each of the resorts. Hey, a guy can dream can’t he?

Next time you have a free day at Walt Disney World, consider resort hopping. It’s the best way to explore and enjoy all of the resorts Walt Disney World has to offer.

The Next Trip

Just my luck! Two weeks too early. My recent trip to the World was—as always—a joyful time. I knew going into it that Star Tours would be closed. I also knew it would only be a matter of weeks before it re-opened. My wife, being a teacher, only has certain weeks she can take vacation: winter or spring break and the summer months. So year after year we take a trip during Easter and/or one week in July or August (think crowds, heat, long lines, and heat...did I mention Florida is very humid in August?) I’m OK with that. Any week in WDW regardless of the date is well worth it. But this past trip was too much. Each time I walked past a closed Star Tours my lungs unleashed a frustrated wookie yell and my furry arms banged on the construction wall. Once I realized I wasn’t actually Chewbacca, I tried to use an old jedi mind trick on a cast member. Getting nowhere with that, the next logical step was to offer a monetary bribe. Nothing worked, not even the force push or the threatening “I find your lack of faith disturbing” force choke and crush.

Oh well. Nobody to blame but myself. Actually, I can and have blamed the wife, but all that got me was a night’s stay at the K-9 Bed and Biscuit Resort. I should have waited to book a trip during Star Wars Weekends, even if the wife couldn’t go along. Lesson learned!

After my “failure at the cave”, I decided to concentrate my efforts on when I could ride Star Tours 2.0 by planning the next trip. Unfortunately, the family is booked through the summer so there will be no July or August trip. That means, a whole year before I’d get to ride Star Tours. “There is no way I am waiting a whole year!” I said to my wife.

Enter my five-year-old genius of a son who asked. “Mommy, can we pweeze go to Disney Wo’wd fow my biwfday?” I cannot confirm nor deny that he was coaxed (by coaxed, I do mean bribed—as in five bucks) into acting all cute and innocent. Either way it worked. We looked on the calendar and my son’s birthday falls on the Thursday of in-service training for teachers in October. So we booked a trip for the last few days of the month. Now, not only will I get to ride Star Tours 2.0, I’ll also be able to trick or treat at Mickey’s not so scary Halloween party and eat, drink, and eat at Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival. Woo Hoo! They’ll have to roll me back to the hotel. It will be a much shorter trip than I’m accustomed to, but there will be so many fantastic events that I haven’t tried yet. How many days until October 26^th? Let the countdown begin!

"Cycle of Fun"

Vacation can be a fun and rewarding experience. In my opinion, there is no better place to vacation than Walt Disney World. From a wide range of themed resorts to high-speed thrill rides, every moment at Walt Disney World is magical. Though I usually never choose to vacation elsewhere, I have to admit, there is a downside to spending a week at Walt Disney World. What would that downside be? you ask. Leaving, of course. After checking out of the WDW resort, gloominess seems to hang around awhile. Carefree thoughts of when to take a dip in the pool or what attraction to ride are suddenly displaced by worries over the piles of paperwork waiting at the salt mines and the mound of bills sitting on the kitchen table.

When the post vacation blues attack, the next few days can be rough. To help transition from fun, exciting vacation to regular, day in day out routine, several methods are available. The car ride or plane flight home can be lengthy and boring and your mind can go crazy thinking about everything that needs done the moment you get home. This is the perfect time to have a family discussion about memories from the vacation. Take turns talking about favorite attractions, funny moments, best dining experiences...anything you can remember. A family discussion is a great way to relive your vacation while learning more about your family. Park maps not only make great souvenirs but also excellent discussion pieces. Unfold that Magic Kingdom park map and ask your family what they liked about the rides or shows. Another great question to ask the family is “What type of ride would you make if you were an Imagineer?” Ask questions, give answers and before you know it, those post vacation blues will be history.

Vacation photos and videos are a great way to relive your vacation. Upload your pictures and videos the moment you finish unpacking. Gather the family around and start the slideshow or movie. Smiles will spread and laughter will erupt. Don’t forget about the Disney Photopass card. Go to the photopass site, register or log in and enjoy the memories.

Other ideas to combat the post vacation blues are reading WDW guidebooks, fictional works involving WDW; The Kingdom Keepers series by Ridley Pearson is an excellent example. Celebrations Magazine has fantastic articles and pictures devoted to WDW and is a nice way to discover and learn about things you may have missed or never knew existed at WDW. Surf the web for numerous WDW web sites to get an idea of the other resorts available on property.

There are many ways to deal with the post vacation blues, but the best of all...and of course, I saved the best for last...is to plan your next WDW vacation. On the ride home, after you unpack, the next day, or a week later, it doesn’t matter when or how often you discuss the next trip with your family. Your mind will be so focused on what lies ahead that before you know it, you’ll be looking forward to all the pre-planning festivities and all those petty problems about work and bills will magically disappear. Thoughts and ideas about what resort to stay at, what restaurants to try, what stores to shop at, and what attractions to hit will consume your mind. Soon you’ll be booking your next stay and then shortly after that, getting ready to leave for your next vacation. So enjoy everything from the planning of the vacation, to the vacation itself, to the reliving of memories back to the planning. This “cycle of fun” is a guaranteed way to beat the post vacation blues.

Getting There is Half the Fun Part 2

For part 1 of “Getting There is Half the Fun,” please scroll down to the previous entry.

Now that everyone is entertained, time to concentrate on keeping everyone’s stomach happy. After all, you don’t want to be so hungry that you could eat a sandwich from a gas station, do you?

Snacks that work well for kids are; granola bars, fruit snacks, crackers, raisins, and popcorn. The best items are the ones that don’t need refrigerated and can be stored in a Ziploc bag. Adults may prefer chips, pretzels, Hostess fruit pies, and other items. For drinks, a cooler will do wonders. We bring two small portable coolers with ice packs. One in back by the kids for milk and juice and one in between the driver and passenger seats with soft drinks for the adults.

As for the actual driving, nothing is more exciting than passing through the major cities on the way. Forget about the bypass (unless traffic is extremely backed up). On our way down to Florida we drive through Chicago, Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville, and Atlanta. Seeing the skyscrapers and billboards of the major cities breaks up the monotony of grass, trees, and pavement. It also breaks the trip down into smaller goals, which gives the driver something to shoot for. It’s easier and more fun to set a goal of reaching Chicago in 3 hours than it is to dwell on the fact that you have 22 hours until you reach WDW.  The next goal is then three hours to Indianapolis, two hours to Louisville and so on. 

Also, be sure to stop at the State Welcoming Centers. This is a great opportunity to get out, stretch, and take bathroom breaks while learning about what each state has to offer. Pick up any brochures or coupon books of area attractions to page through while you drive to the next state. The Florida Welcoming Center is a must do. Visitors can sample freshly squeezed Florida orange juice and pick up some WDW and other Florida attractions brochures.

If you choose to drive straight through, a great idea is to have one person drive through the night while the other sleeps. In the morning find a suitable place to stop for breakfast, then switch drivers before heading out. If you decide to break up the trip over two days, I highly recommend travelling beyond the halfway point the first day. Traffic can get congested the closer you get to Central Florida. The extra time spent driving the day before will help even out the amount of time spent in the car between the two days. After an hour and a half of driving beyond the Florida Welcoming Center it would be a great idea to take a quick restroom break before you hit the Central Florida traffic. The last thing you want to do is try to fight your way through the traffic to find an exit, then have to fight your way back in several minutes later.

A Global Positioning System (GPS) is also highly recommended. They come in handy locating the nearest McDonalds or Target for those occasions when the kids want to eat lunch or when you suddenly remember a must have item you forgot. They also do a fantastic job keeping the driver on the right course. If you do not have a GPS, a United States Road Atlas is a nice option. You never know when you may miss an exit or merge on to the wrong freeway. Who knows, you could end up in a different state, like the time we ended up in Michigan when my brother and I were discussing fantasy football instead of paying attention to the road signs.

No matter who goes along for the ride, or how long the drive takes, just remember that a happy family makes for a happy vacation.

To coin a phrase from Clark W. Griswold, “Getting there is half the fun, you know that!"

Getting There is Half the Fun Part 1

In one week, the family truckster will be burning dust, forcing all others left behind to eat rubber. There will be no time to stop and visit Cousin Eddie or to pick up Aunt Edna. It will be an epic 22-hour voyage from the tundra of the mid-west to the warm glow of the sunshine state. Joining me on the trip will be the wife and my two sons. Oh yeah, my mother is going too (yikes!). And the mother-in-law (double YIKES!). Hey, two backseat drivers are better than one, right? Cousin Eddie and Aunt Edna sound pretty good about now don’t they?

All joking aside, it will be such fun listening to Mom scold me for driving too close to the semi in front of us while having the mother-in-law scream for me to pick one lane and stay in it. Only a fool and the fool who follows him are foolish enough to travel a whole day and night with two moms. Of course, I’m joking. Mom and I get along great and I’ve learned to somewhat tolerate the mother-in-law over the years (again...joking). It won’t be so bad. This is why some smart person invented earplugs. Besides, a great deal of the driving occurs while they sleep. My music will drown out their snoring, gurgling, burping, and gas passing. Nose plugs anyone?

OK, now that I have all the humor out of my system, it’s time to get serious and offer a few suggestions for making the car ride to Walt Disney World live up to Clark W. Griswold’s claim that “Getting there is half the fun.”

Start with entertainment. A well-entertained family is a happy family. Make sure the Ipod or MP3 player is charged and loaded with several playlists. Start the trip with music the whole family enjoys. I play Walt Disney World music or songs from Disney movies to get the family in the right mood. Once everybody starts doing their own things or fall asleep, I switch the playlist to my favorite songs.

To keep children (and adults) entertained throughout the long journey; portable DVD players do the trick. Just pack their favorite movies and shows and the kids will be set for hours. Portable game systems work well also, as do books, and a pad of paper or coloring book with crayons. For repeat visitors to WDW, I highly recommend “The Walt Disney World Trivia Books Volumes 1 & 2” by Lou Mongello. Make a game of it by having one person read the questions (hopefully, not the driver) while the others try to be the first to answer, or take turns reading and answering them. Walt Disney World guidebooks are a fun way to kill time. If you have park maps from a previous visit, bring them along or print some from the many websites available on-line. Kids enjoy looking at the attractions they’ll soon be visiting and it is a great way to spark a planning session or a top 10 favorite attractions discussion. Iphones and other portable electronics entertain for lengthy periods as well.  

Now that I’ve glorified portable devices and electronic gadgets as a way to entertain during the car ride, it’s time to discourage their use once the family truckster reaches its WDW destination. With so much to see and do at the resort, I encourage all to leave their DSI’s at the hotel and their phones in their pockets or carrying case. The main point of a WDW vacation is to enjoy the attractions and build lasting memories with the family. So instead of “Little Johnny” gluing his eyes to the DSI screen while Mom or Dad play “Crazy Birds” on their Iphones, take a good look at the queue lines or strike up a conversation about favorite attractions or where the family should go next or where the family should eat lunch.

For part 2 of “Getting There is Half the Fun,” please scroll up to the next entry.

A Stay at Disney's Polynesian Resort

Escape to an authentic, 39 acre, South Seas paradise.  Your luxurious retreat begins in the Great Ceremonial House where you mosey past a waterfall cascading down a three-story garden.  The chirping of live tropical birds sets your sights on the thatched ceiling of the A-framed roof.  Hawaiian-style music soothes the airwaves as you step in rhythm on the sleek, rock-tiled floor and out the glass doors onto a winding path adorned with tiki torches and swaying palm trees.  The pleasant stroll along the sandy white shores of the Seven Seas Lagoon brings a caressing breeze that welcomes you to your South Seas Island longhouse. 

The comfortable, queen-size canopy bed invites you over for a short snooze.  But the captivating view of a distant Cinderella’s Castle from the balcony beckons you across your 410 square foot room.  While relaxing on a wicker patio chair, the engaging ambiance of swimmers splashing in the nearby pool lures you in for a refreshing dunk.  What’s that?  Do your ears deceive you?  Polynesian music is playing…underwater!  After a plunge down the volcano waterslide, your poolside fun gives way to an early evening rest on one of the gently swinging hammocks along the beach.  The sloshing waves hypnotize you into a peaceful state of mind. 

Suddenly, the mouthwatering scent of lanai chicken and island pork ribs reminds you of your dinner reservations at the Spirit of Aloha Show.  The open air theater comes alive with Polynesian drummers thumping a fast paced rhythm, hula dancers shaking their hips, and flame throwers twirling hot torches.  The entertainment continues even as you enjoy a South Seas feast of tropical appetizers, sautéed vegetables, savory meats, and bread pudding—a delicacy your taste buds won’t soon forget.

Your wondrous day ends climactically with a beachside seat to the Electrical Water Pageant, a parade of colorful, shimmering floats drifting along the Seven Seas Lagoon.  You turn in for a cozy night’s sleep beneath the revolving ceiling fan, excited about tomorrow’s festivities: catching the monorail on the 2^nd floor of the Great Ceremonial House to the Magic Kingdom.  You drift happily off to sleep wondering if it could possibly get any better than this.

What I Miss Most about Mickey's Toontown Fair

With the Fantasyland expansion in Walt Disney World pushing Mickey’s Toontown Fair into extinction, I got to thinking. What will I miss most about Mickey’s Toontown Fair? This post should be short; a paragraph or two since Toontown didn't offer much for adults. 

Of course, Mickey and Minnie’s country houses come to mind first. Over the past several years, Mickey and Minnie’s houses have been a favorite of the family’s. I have video of my two sons as toddlers wandering through and exploring both houses. They would ask to go to Mickey or Minnie’s house the moment we set foot in Central Florida.

So, what I miss most about Mickey’s Toontown Fair is Mickey and Minnie’s country houses. Wait a minute! Wait a pumpkin planting minute! I just remembered my sons’ first roller coaster rides ever: Goofy’s Barnstormer. How could Barnstormer not be what I miss most? All right, we have a tie folks. I miss both Mickey and Minnie’s country houses and Goofy’s Barnstormer the most. There! Finito! End of sto...

Ooh, Donald’s boat is a great way to rest and cool off after hiking around the Magic Kingdom in the midday sun. My boys would spend 45 minutes (longer if I let them) in Donald’s boat. I have to include Donald’s boat. So, without further delay, my final What I miss most about Mickey’s Toontown Fair is Mickey and Minnie’s country houses, Goofy’s Barnstormer, and Donald’s boat.

Guess what? I forgot about the Judge’s Tent. The big cheese himself, IN PERSON! Without a doubt, I’ll miss the Judge's Tent. What a character that Mickey is. Speaking of characters, the Toontown Hall of Fame had photo ops with characters; Snow White, Winnie the Pooh, Tinkerbell, and many others. The Toontown Hall of Fame is hard to beat. Oh man! Mickey’s mailbox! I have to include Mickey's mailbox.

Okay, updated list. What I miss most about Mickey’s Toontown Fair is Mickey and Minnie’s country houses, Goofy’s Barnstormer, Donald’s boat, the Judge’s Tent, Tootown Hall of Fame, and Mickey’s mailbox. Oops! Am I stupid or what? I forgot about the best restroom in all of Walt Disney World, Pete’s Garage. Okay, maybe the bathroom isn’t the best, but the theme was great. Pete’s slogan “Trust me with your car” and the floating key in the Gulp gas pump are classic.  I also forgot about the Toontown Playground and the Welcome to Mickey’s Toontown Fair sign, the best spot for a group photo.

So, to update one last time; what I miss most about Mickey’s Toontown Fair is Mickey and Minnie’s country houses, Goofy’s Barnstormer, Donald’s boat, the Judge’s Tent, the Toontown Hall of Fame, Mickey’s mailbox, Pete’s Garage, the Toontown Playground, and the Welcome to Toontown sign. Gee whiz! I failed to mention the Toontown Train Station, the Toontown Farmer’s Market where I’d enjoy fresh fruits, snacks, and beverages, and the air-conditioned County Bounty where I could pick up a souvenir or two. Toontown also had Pete’s Paint Shop where families could get their faces painted. I haven’t even mentioned the many props throughout all of Toontown, the street signs, or the statue of Cornelius Coot. WOW! There is A LOT I’m going to miss about Toontown. I guess this blog went way past two paragraphs. How wrong could I be? Toontown offered plenty for adults.

To sum up; what I miss most about Mickey’s Toontown Fair is EVERYTHING!

Peter Pan's Flight

The storybook flight to Never Land begins by stepping aboard private, two to three passenger pirate ships complete with mast and sail. Peter Pan rounds up Wendy, Michael, and John from the nursery. Tinker Bell spreads some pixie dust and the ship lifts off, sailing over a shimmering, nighttime London. Still climbing, the vessel sets course for the second star to the right. 

Never Land comes alive with pirates, a volcano, a mermaid lagoon, and an Indian village. The airship glides around the Lost Boys camp, Skull Rock, and of course, the Jolly Roger where Peter Pan duels Captain Hook.

Victorious, Peter Pan commandeers the pirate’s ship back to London, leaving Hook to his inevitable demise, much to the delight of a certain ticking crocodile. After a smooth landing, the restraint bar raises and the fanciful, 2 minute and 45 second journey to Never Land has ended.

Based on Walt Disney’s 1953 animated adaptation of James Matthew Barrie’s 1904 play, “Peter Pan”, also titled, “The Boy Who Couldn’t Grow Up”, the Walt Disney World version of Peter Pan’s Flight was an updated version of the Disneyland attraction. The attraction, which opened on October 3, 1971, two days after WDW opened its gates, had a longer running time with larger sets and backdrops including a 48-foot replica of Captain Hook’s pirate ship, the Jolly Roger. Flawlessly constructed and maintained, Peter Pan’s Flight inspired changes in the Disneyland version, which was completed on May 25, 1985 as a part of the New Fantasyland unveiled in California. Other than regular maintenance, no major refurbishments have been made to the Florida attraction. Both Tokyo Disneyland and Dinseyland Paris have a Peter Pan attraction in their theme parks.

A Tribute to Snow White's Scary Adventures

The lap bar of the wooden mine cart lowers.  Snow White’s melodic voice can be heard singing a song as the cart glides around a corner.  There she is sitting in front of a wishing well, holding a dove.  The courtyard is bright and cheery.  But the mine cart takes another turn through the doors of a castle and the scene immediately becomes dark and dreary.  A magic mirror with a green, glowing face delivers a disturbing message to the Queen, prompting her to transform into a haggard witch. 

The cart weaves through a gloomy, haunted forest as several creepy eyes peer out from within the shadowy depths.  The forest thins and a pleasant looking cottage appears.  The doors open to a spectacle of tiny, bearded men playing musical instruments, all singing a jolly tune. 

Snow White accepts a deceptive gift from the disguised witch.  The cart rambles through the Dwarf’s mining cave.  The witch appears atop a cliff about to send a huge boulder caving down upon the cart, but her evil plan is foiled.  Snow White’s prince arrives just in time, leans over—his kiss of true love bringing her back to consciousness.  A joyous reunion takes place in front of a magnificent castle and everyone lives happily ever after.

Snow White’s Adventures, inspired by Walt Disney’s 1937 animated feature “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,"  first operated at Walt Disney World on Opening day of the Magic Kingdom, October 1, 1971.  Originally, Snow White was not seen in the attraction.  The idea was that guests would feel as if they were the central character wandering through the Enchanted Forest, seeing and hearing everything, and encountering the same characters Snow White did.  This approach proved confusing.  Along with the fact that several dark scenes scared young children, Disney Imagineers went to work redesigning the attraction.  In December 1994, the name changed to Snow White’s Scary Adventures.  Snow White finally appeared.  The scary witch scenes were toned down.  The wait and load times were reduced as each ride vehicle expanded its capacity from 4 passengers to 6. 
 

With the new Fantasyland expansion underway at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, Snow White’s Scary Adventures will soon be extinct.  A newly themed Snow White ride called The Seven Dwarf’s Mine Train is set to debut when the expansion is complete.  Farewell to a classic Disney dark ride.  Snow White’s Scary Adventures is a soon to be extinct attraction worth remembering.

Harmony Barber Shop

Haircuts and vacations... Vacations and haircuts.  The two just do not seem to go well together.   The last thing on a vacationer’s mind is where to go for a decent haircut, especially since most of their trims get done beforehand.  Who wants to spend time finding a suitable barber anyway?   Well, at Walt Disney World the delight of getting a barber shop haircut happens daily on Main Street USA in the Magic Kingdom from 9 am to 6 pm. 

An American tradition “combs” to life at the Harmony Barber Shop.  Stop in and receive a professional cut or just peek in the windows for a “snippet” of nostalgia.  Need a beard or mustache trim?  How about some classic shaving items or some hair tonic and colored gel?  Just look for the red and white striped pole in front of the shop and “brush” in for some old-fashioned entertainment by The Dapper Dans barbershop quartet.  A “cut” of the action is only moments away.

At the Harmony Barber Shop the experience of baby’s first haircut is priceless and will give guests everlasting memories.  A dozen or so Mickey Mouse stickers and the use of a light up spinning Mickey or Buzz Lightyear toy keeps the youngsters occupied during the trim.  Bubbles drift through the air and pirate treasure or pixie dust can be sprinkled in to celebrate the momentous occasion.  Guests leave with a special certificate, a set of mouse ears, and a snippet of baby’s hair, all to be cherished for years to come.  

For toddlers on up to adults, the Harmony Barber Shop offers professional trims as well as a few extra’s like hidden Mickey’s painted in or the application of colored gel to give the styling an added boost of magic.  The shop boasts a few authentic, turn of the century items like a 1912 cash register, a potbellied stove, a 100 year old hat rack, and an old-fashioned Western Electric phone box.

For special photo opportunities, Cast Members sport giant scissors and comb and pose with guests seated in the old-fashioned barber’s chair.  A final photo opportunity with the freshly trimmed and sometimes spruced up do is available by the red and white striped pole in front of the shop.  Great memories and fun times await guests and their families at the Harmony Barber Shop, a hidden gem among the treasures of Walt Disney World.

To learn more about reservations and pricing at the Harmony Barber Shop please check out the official Walt Disney World website:  http://disneyworld.disney.go.com