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

Main Street USA

Welcome to Main Street USA where everyday stress disappears and life slows down to a stroll.  The streets are free from clutter.   The tiny shops are owned by friendly townspeople. 

Walt Disney summed up the themed land when he said, “for those of us who remember the carefree time it recreates, Main Street will bring back happy memories.  For younger visitors, it is an adventure in turning back the calendar to the days of their grandfather's youth.” 

That quote, now over 50 years old, may not pertain to today’s visitors since they have no recollection of the late 1800’s/early 1900’s, but the spirit of experiencing America’s past—a past that many have seen in pictures, on TV, or heard about from grandparents or great grandparents—still makes it personal for guests .  Though historians may argue that Walt Disney’s Main Street USA is a fabricated, “romantic” recreation of a small American town from over a hundred years ago, there is no denying the sense of nostalgia Walt Disney created.   The calendar IS turned back the moment guests emerge from beneath the train station out into Town Square.   Main Street USA dazzles the eyes, ears, and nose in a remarkable tribute to a bygone era.   A rare tribute only found in a Disney theme park.

Filming Tips

You’ve all seen the dopey guy in the Mickey Mouse tank top, with one eye behind the viewfinder, plodding aimlessly around the parks shooting video of anything and everything he passes.  He’s the same guy who climbs aboard the Space Mt. rocket with film rolling through the entire attraction even though the finished product will be a black screen full of laughing and screaming.  Yes, this is the same guy who films the right side of Small World first, then gets back in line to shoot the left side.  And yes!  This is the same guy who can’t even go from the hotel room to the food court without getting the short walk on film.

But enough about me, let’s talk about you and how you can benefit from the numerous blunders I've made while filming my Walt Disney World vacations.  Some tips may seem obvious while reading them in their printed form, but believe me when the excitement of a Walt Disney World vacation hits, the mind doesn’t always think rationally.  Common knowledge sometimes gets forgotten or overlooked.  So without further delay, I will yank back the curtain and unveil EJ SIVAD’S TOP TIPS FOR A BETTER FILMING EXPERIENCE AT WALT DISNEY WORLD.

First—here’s a “duh” moment—don’t forget to pack your camcorder and accessories.  You and you alone should be responsible for putting them in the car or suitcase.  Bring an extra battery or two.  You’d be surprised how quickly they drain.  Be sure to charge your batteries before you leave on vacation and whenever resting at the hotel.  If you have less than a quarter of power left on your battery, put in the backup before you enter lengthy attractions.  I have only the first half of Splash Mt. recorded from three different vacations because I was too cheap to buy an extra battery.

Bring along a microfiber lens cloth.  At Walt Disney World your lens will occasionally get wet.  Nothing ruins a home video more than dried water spots on the TV screen, especially when the sunlight hits the lens just right.  Keep your lens cloth on you in a safe, dry place at all times.  Wipe the lens clean before each recording session or whenever water sprays the lens.

Scenery shots are my favorite.  The best scenery shots are the stabilized ones.  If you don’t have a tripod or don’t wish to carry one or don’t want to waste time setting one up, steady your camcorder by resting your arm on a bench, railing, or a garbage can.  A still video shot looks remarkably better than a wobbly one.  I’ve taken enough bobbing footage while walking in the parks to make even a yachtsman sea sick.

Another great tip for filming scenery is to arrive at the parks early.  There will be little to no people in the shot.  Some of my favorite home videos to watch are when I arrived at the Magic Kingdom or Epcot ahead of most guests.  My camcorder captured unobstructed views of the Main Street shops and the World Showcase pavilions. 

Some recording opportunities take place in dark places—Fanatasyland dark rides, Fantasmic, nighttime parades, and nighttime scenery shots.  Some recording lights (the red ones that signal the camcorder is recording) can be annoying to other guests.  A simple solution is to place a strip of black tape over the red light.  This will keep everyone happy.

If you have a must film attraction or show, be sure to record it.  Do not…I repeat…DO NOT put it off.  During my first few visits to WDW I kept telling myself to film the Magic Kingdom from up above on the Skyway.  Each time I rode the Skyway I either left the camcorder at the hotel or I’d convince myself to film it the next time.  Before I knew it, the Skyway closed and I never got the footage I wanted.  I also put off filming Tarzan Rocks.  Suddenly, it was replaced with Finding Nemo the Musical.  So be sure to get your filming done. 

For first time visitors, I recommend the opposite.  Don’t worry about capturing an attraction or show on film the first time through.  Experience it with your own eyes.  Leave it for the second or third time around before you view it through a lens.  Not only will it be much more rewarding of an experience, but you’ll know where the action is and what should be filmed.

One final bit of advice; don’t hide behind the camera.  Have the wife, a relative, or a friend film every now and again.  It’s your vacation too and you should be seen taking part in all of the wonderful memories.  Friendly cast members will take photos or shoot video of you and your family.  All you have to do is ask.  Then hand them your camera and don’t forget to smile!

Follow these simple guidelines and you won’t be disappointed when you’re at home watching your vacation memories on TV.  In fact, it’ll seem like you’re still on vacation.   

Try Something New

With a multitude of attractions, dining experiences, shops, and resorts to choose from, anybody who claims “they did it all” on their Walt Disney World vacation better hope their growing nose doesn’t give them away.  Sure a park guest can hit all of the rides they circled on their maps or dine at the restaurants they chose months in advance, but to say they experienced everything Walt Disney World has to offer would be a misstatement; a little white lie; a breach in protocol; a crucial game ending error; a missed…OK…ok…enough metaphors—clearly you get my drift. 

Many guests feel they accomplish everything because they limit themselves to what is in the theme parks.  They overlook the ton of experiences not mentioned on the park maps.  Even a “savvy” park veteran like me with 16 years and 25 trips worth of experience can safely say I have yet to do everything at WDW.  Which is why planning the next trip takes several hours.  Each planning session starts with a list of 10 new experiences, ranging anywhere from finally riding the Tea Cups to taking a walking tour of the Animal Kingdom Lodge.  If I had more money (or better yet, if the wife had more money) vacationing at a new resort would top the list.  But for now I’m fine with staying at the Pop Century or All Stars and bussing over to spend an afternoon at a new resort.  Throw the money out the window and I‘d eat at a top of the line restaurant every day of vacation instead of settling for counter service burgers…  Who am I kidding?  I love Pecos Bill and Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café.  With two growing boys to feed, I usually limit my new dining experiences.  This spring I hope to convince the wife and kids to try out the T-Rex restaurant in Downtown Disney. 

Besides new attractions, resorts, or restaurants, I try to expand my Disney horizons with entertainment not covered in the hotel reservation or park passes.  Fortunately, the extras I have tried in the past are well worth saying goodbye to a few Abes.  After committing my 10 choices to memory, I then set a goal of experiencing at least 3 of them.  Sometimes, with money being a factor, I don’t get to eat at a place like the California Grill or take a ride on Characters-In-Flight.  But rest assured I end up reaching my goal of 3.  Last summer I ate at Earl of Sandwich, rode on one of the Friendship Boats from Epcot to Hollywood Studios, and went on a backstage tour of the Light, Motor, Action Extreme Stunt Show which my brother arranged through a stuntman he gives tennis lessons to. 

When planning a next trip, which usually starts the day I’m back from my last vacation, I remind myself to “try something new”.   That slogan gets stuck in my head even when I belly up to the Chef Mickey breakfast buffet. Perhaps I should try some seasonal melon or yogurt?  Nah! Gotta have my scrambled eggs and sausage gravy.  Sometimes I listen...sometimes I don’t.  But by vacations end, I will have experienced at least three different things, sometimes many more.  It gives me something to look forward to all year round.  So the next time you’re planning a Walt Disney World vacation, go ahead and “try something new”…you’ll thank me for it.

How Times Change

Walt Disney World is in a state of constant change.  New resorts pop up.  Old attractions make way for the latest thrill ride.  Classic attractions undergo minor refurbishments or major overhauls.  This continuous evolution is what brings many visitors back year after year.  And every one of those visitors will tell you no two trips are the same. 

Type an internet search of Walt Disney World followed by a specific year and you will find a ton of images, videos, articles, and information about the World for that year.  Go ahead.  You have my permission to open a new tab in your browser and google Walt Disney World 1975.  Just be sure to finish reading the rest of this blog.

The other night as I vegged out on the sofa—still stinging from my beloved Falcons playoff choke—I put in the video of my WDW honeymoon vacation.  Wait a minute!  Don’t click away yet.  I’m not going to go bore you with a vacation review.  I won’t tell you how lovely the wife looked sporting a “Just Married” button or how stunningly handsome I looked in my mouse ears top hat.  Won’t even mention how many times cast members congratulated us—it was too many to count anyway.  Even if you beg me, I won’t tell you how the wife and I stood up on our seats at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater to an arousing round of applause.  You won’t get any sappy “I love you” moments in front of a glowing Cinderella’s castle at night or any sentimental rehashes of the many smooches or hand holds shared while riding the Haunted Mansion, Splash Mt., or Pirates of the Caribbean.

While watching the video from 1998, what amazed me most (other than how thin I looked and the thickness of my hair) was how different the parks were a little over a decade ago.  Seeing Alien Encounter housed where Stitch now lives and the Horizons Pavilion—though not as sleek and futuristic looking as its predecessor Mission Space—made me want to lift my fat... (Wait!  That’s too harsh)...my “slightly overfed” bottom (that’s better) off the couch and hop through the TV. 

Each of the four parks had plenty different about them.  Since I’ve already used up too much space, I’ll name the attractions that were present in 1998 that are no longer around.  If you or anybody else you so graciously command to read my blog wishes for more information on any of these bygone attractions, an internet search will do wonders.

Magic Kingdom

Adventureland Challenge, Legend of the Lion King, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland Skyway, The Time Keeper, Galaxy Search (In the Galaxy Palace Theater), Disney Mania (Castle Forecourt Stage), Every Day’s a Holiday (Castle Forecourt Stage)

EPCOT

Body Wars, Cranium Command, the Making of Me, Goofy About Health, Horizons,

Food Rocks

Disney-MGM Studios

Backstage Pass to 101 Dalmatians, Goosebumps Fright Show, Hunchback of Notre Dame Musical, ABC Sound Studio, Superstar Television, Sorcery in the Sky Fireworks

Animal Kingdom

Discovery River Boats, Colors of the Wind: Friends from the Animal Forest, Journey into Jungle Book

Many attractions that exist today weren’t present in 1998.  Soarin’, Expedition Everest, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and Aladdin’s Magic Carpets just to name a few.  The parades are different.  Many restaurants have since been added or changed.  Innoventions, Image Works, Project Tomorrow (Spaceship Earth Post Show), and many other exhibits have been upgraded or overhauled extensively to the point where one may not recognize them if they jumped straight from 1998 to today. 

Thinking about how different Walt Disney World was back in 1998 compared to today makes me wonder what the World will be like a decade from now.  Will I be watching a 2011 home video in 2021 wishing that Carousel of Progress was still in operation?  Or will I be salivating at the memories of the defunct fixing bar at Pecos Bill?  I don’t know.  And that’s what makes a WDW vacation a yearly must do for me.  People ask me “Why do you go there all the time?”  To that I simply reply, “Because I know I’ll enjoy myself.”   And that’s true no matter what the year is or what attractions and restaurants are in the parks.