Details - The Last Weekend in November...

Walt Disney World's "Value Resorts" have their limitations, but they also offer solid value for the money and have a strong fan following in their own right.

Although clearly not WDI's best work, I do enjoy their festive, over-the-top exterior theming. The value resorts also contain a nice selection of Disney details.

As we reach the end of November, I am reminded of one of my favorite of Disney details, which can be found at Disney's All-Star Sports Resort:

Here we have a colorful tribute to the pageantry of American football, with two larger-than-life helmets facing each from their respective sidelines at mid-field.

This location always reminds me of the classic Goofy short "How to Play Football".

But this scene contains at least one additional layer of detail. Take a look at the color schemes on the two helmets:

Are the helmet colors a co-incidence? I think not.

The fact that "Orange and Blue" is facing off against "Garnet and Gold" seems to me to be no mere co-incidence, as these are the colors of Florida's largest two universities -- two schools that annually face each other on the gridiron in the last weekend of November (by mandate of the state legislature). Many similar in-state rivalry games take place all across the United States near the end of each November.

Castaway Cay - Castmember Homage

(This is part of a series about cruising on the Disney Magic. Click here if you want to go back to the start of the tour).

Welcome back to Disney's Castway Cay:

This remote paradise is apparently home to a number of small island businesses, as is evidenced by the many signs on display.

Some of the names on display in these signs may seem familiar. For example:

A quick trip to wikipedia confirms our suspicions:

"Big" Al Weiss - President, Worldwide Operations, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
(former President - Walt Disney World Resort)

Here are some other examples:

Notice that each sign has it's own look, and that all of them incorporate one or more dimensional elements (i.e. none of them are completely "flat").

Some quick work on the internet will show you that each of these signs contains an homage to a Disney executive (most of them refer to Cruise Line exec's). Or, if you prefer, you can look at this little photo set on flickr to see what I found.

Next time, we'll bid a fond farewell to Castaway Cay and the Disney Cruise Line.

Castaway Cay - More Disney Details

(This is part of a series about cruising on the Disney Magic. Click here if you want to go back to the start of the tour).

Let's continue our tour of Disney's Castaway Cay by pointing out more of the Disney details that dot the island:

For example, as we exit the tram from Serenity Bay, look up to find this hidden Mickey:

As one might expect, some of our aquatic friends can also be sighted:

Perhaps my favorite character presence is simply known as Mount RUSTmore:

Do you fondly remember the bygone days when the Nautilus plied the waters of the Magic Kingdom? Well, the island map hints that those who venture beneath the surface of the snorkeling lagoon may be rewarded by the sight of an old friend:

Next time - castmember tributes.

See you then.