Intersections - Adventureland, Lahina's Pioneer Inn

What Ho!

The thing about the worlds of Disney is that a fellow can often tuck himself inside one and be whisked off to all sorts of exotic locales. Photographs are a fun way to explore the intersections between Disney and the world beyond.

Take for example this charming Adventureland balcony:

The fishing nets (and the "Chandler" sign near the back) evoke a seaside setting. Taking it all in, I am rather reminded of Lahina's historic Pioneer Inn:

The Pioneer Inn, Lahina, Maui

There's quite a bit of history associated with the Pioneer Inn. According to the Honolulu Star Bulletin, it is one of the oldest operating hotels in Hawaii (having been restored by Best Western somewhere along the way).

The story is that the Inn was founded by an Englishman who came to Maui to embody the long arm of the law, but decided to stay in Hawaii and go into the hotel business instead.

Sounds like a clever chap.

Cheers!

- The Management

A Charming Cave, A Valuable Lesson

Greetings Adventurers!

I'm reporting to you at the start of Day Three of our "personal food & wine festival" here on the shores of Crescent Lake.

I don't know if any of our previous reports have successfully made it back to the Veranda (we had high hopes for the passenger pigeons, but in retrospect I'm starting to wonder).  Suffice it to say we've found some rousing successes, and are accumulating invaluable field notes to be properly compiled and cataloged when we return.

Until then, here's a tidbit from Day One:

La Cava del Tequila is an exotic oasis hidden in a sweltering tropical furnace.  We secured a charming nook and tucked in for some chips, Queso, and a pair of the local beverages:

I believe the drinks are called "Margaritas"

The food and drink were an unqualified success, but next came an important Life Lesson - when travelling, allow yourself time to adjust to the local climate.  Braced by our success at La Cava, we naively ventured forth out of the cave to discover new horizons, and that is when it hit us. Chips, Queso, and margaritas are one thing when safely ensconced in a cool, comfortable, cave - but when combined with the steamy tropical sun they certainly pack a wallop!

These are cool and refreshing, but they are not for lightweights!

Perhaps the indigenous population find warm cheese and tequila to be just the thing to prepare one for the afternoon heat and humidity (or perhaps that's why they kept saying something about "siesta").

We managed to execute a recovery of sorts (the details are fuzzy, but I believe we found soft pretzels and bottled water to be a helpful remedy), but we spent the balance of the day in something of a heat-induced stupor.

But fear not, even under those circs we found some delightful snacks, and a good night's rest put us right. The next day we set out both refreshed and wiser in the ways of the world.

More updates later,

- The Management

Humble Beginnings

As it turns out, our expedition to Crescent Lake included a stop-over at a rustic nearby village.  The hour of our arrival was late, so quickly after receiving a warm welcome, we toddled down to the cooking fires to see what food could be found.

And what did we find?  Well, one doesn't want to sound ungracious, so let's just say the options were limited. However, we Adventurers are accustomed to the vagaries of travel and quickly made our selection (Angus cheeseburgers with bacon) and trundled to our rooms:

Modest Beginnings

Fortunately, we had arranged to rendezvous with some dear friends that night, and they had the foresight to bring along a bottle of wine -  an appealing 2009 Reserve Cab Franc from Virginia:

A bit of the grape can add life to even the simplest of meals

Taken as a whole, the dinner wasn't half bad. The burgers were satisfying, and the wine added a touch of refinement to the humble surroundings.  Afterward, we settled down for the night, confident that better times awaited us on the morrow.

More updates are forthcoming,

- The Management

Food & Wine - Native Guides

The caravan is packed, and the expedition is under way!  In less than 24 hours, our "personal Food & Wine Festival" will commence.

Although some of our members prefer the mad spontaneity of "winging it", it is rarely a good idea to venture into the field totally blind.  So, in addition to our (ahem) not inconsiderable experience with eating and drinking in the vicinity of Crescent Lake, we also consulted the following invaluable travelogues from renowned Native Guides:

•  The Disney Food Blog Mini-Guide to Epcot Snacks
•  touringplans.com extensive WDW Dining info

Looking for some Grub(s)? 

As promised, we will attempt to send periodic dispatches from the field (there is still some internal debate about the relative merits of messenger pigeons, smoke signals, notes-in-a-bottle, and jungle drums - but I'm confident we can make something work).

Bye for now,

- The Management

Food, Wine, and Festivities

Greetings!

Our next Disney trip is just around the corner, and we've decided to try something different this time.

Here at the veranda, we believe in Leisure With Dignity - and in that spirit my wife and I have decided to conduct our very own "private little food and wine festival for two." The plan is to dedicate four nights and three leisurely days to food, beverages, and exploration at Epcot's World Showcase and the adjacent resort area.

I'm sure we are not the first to pass this way, but this is something that's been on our minds for a while now, and we're excited to give it a try.

We really like the official Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, but having done that a few times, we've reached some conclusions:

• In years past, some of the items we enjoyed the most were available year-round (like the soft pretzels at Germany).
• Juggling snacks and drinks while standing around  is not our favorite pastime. Finding a place to sit, with a table (or at least a place to put our comestibles), gives us a better opportunity to appreciate what we eat.

Not exactly our favorite table...

The world showcase is loaded with wonderful details. Our goal is to "go beyond the promenade", seek out quiet spots, take in the surroundings, and let ourselves be transported to far-off locales.

Of course, we will also be investigating some of the Epcot area's more recent additions with great anticipation.

Did someone say Wine Bar?

The edible excellence doesn't stop at the turnstiles. Just across the International Gateway, the Epcot resort area also beckons - and that is a call we intend to answer.

We will be bringing the cameras along, and our goal is to dispatch updates throughout the weekend.

Stay tuned,

- The Management

The Columbia Restaurant

Greetings Adventurers!

Here at the Veranda, our members believe that a restaurant can be more than simply a place to eat, and that a great meal is more than just tasty food.  We understand there are times when food, friends, and setting come together in a way that turns dinner into An Evening.

Some of our members recently had just such an adventure at the historic (and tasty) Columbia Restaurant in the Ybor City district of Tampa, Florida.



Founded in 1905, the Columbia Restaurant claims to be Florida's oldest restaurant, and (perhaps more remarkably) has remained family-owned for over 100 years.

It began as a small cafe serving Spanish, Cuban, and Italian immigrants - but today it covers an entire city block and is has been recognized as one of the finest restaurants in the United States (check out their list of awards).

We were impressed with the Columbia's exterior - which features beautiful painted tiles (and historic markers documenting some of Ybor City's rich history).

On the inside, the Columbia consists of multiple rooms.  We dined in the historic "Cafe Room".  This was great because of the historic tile work and pictures on display in the room (and also because of the live piano jazz).  We were also close enough to hear (although could not see) the live Flamenco dancing which the Columbia is also famous for.

We decided to check out their menu online before arriving - which was a good thing, because it is almost a book in itself.  Most of the menu items come with a little story sharing the origins of the dish.  Several of these stories also give glimpses into the storied history of the restaurant.  Their menu is faithfully reproduced on their web site (I encourage you to check out the dinner menu -- it is a good read, but prepare to become famished!).

The online copy of the dinner menu is worth checking out!

We began by sharing some *tasty* Cuban bread and Tapas:

• Gambas Barbacoa - Char-grilled shrimp and red onion skewers, seasoned and brushed with chimichuri sauce. 
• Empanadas de Picadillo - Grandmother's recipie, served with roasted corn and black bean salsa. 

For the main course, everyone at our table decided to order something different.  This was great, since it allowed everyone to sample and share:

• Pompano en Papillot - Pompano fish with seafood stuffing, wrapped in parchment and baked. 
• Roast Pork "A la Cubana" - Served with black beans, white rice, yuca and plantanos.
• Arroz con Pollo "Valenciana" - The best chicken and yellow rice I have ever eaten. 
• Paella "A la Velanciana" - Seafood, chicken, pork, yellow rice and veg.  Individually prepared in a traditional pealla pan.  Simply magnificent. 

Be Advised - The portions of Arroz con Pollo and the Paella were *each* enough food for two or three people, but it was all so good...

I was particularly impressed by how the Arroz con Pollo and the Paella each had a distinct flavor - even though they shared many of the same basic ingredients.

To accompany our Spanish feast, we selected a bottle of Pascual Toso Reserve Malbec 2009 from Argentina from the extensive and amazing wine list. 

As you may have guessed by now, we were extremely impressed by the Columbia restaurant.  So much so that we left with a bag of goodies from the giftshop, including a very neat cookbook and a sangria-in-a-bag kit (complete with ingredients, a hand-painted pitcher, and a wooden spoon :-]).

The cookbook is also available on Amazon.com

In summary, we had a fabulous evening at The Columbia Restaurant, and will certainly be back for more.

We encourage you to check it out for yourself.  Although we suggest you venture to their original location in Tampa's Ybor City, they also have eight other locations throughout Florida (including one in Celebration, FL).

Bon Appetit,

- The Management

WDW Artifacts - Bus Transportation Routes

October 1, 2011 marked the 40th Anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort. This week at the Veranda we are celebrating the occasion by exhibiting items from our WDW collection (one new item per day).

Today we conclude the series with this curious artifact -- an early list of WDW bus routes:

What could be simpler? ;-]

For better or worse, bus transportation has played a significant role in the history of the resort.

Artifacts like these remind us of the scope and scale of the resort, and also point out historical oddities (such as the one-time prominence of the Transportation and Ticket Center).

Thanks for joining us in this week-long look back at some pieces of WDW history.

- The Management

WDW Artifacts - Golf Resort Bag Tag

October 1, 2011 marked the 40th Anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort. This week at the Veranda we are celebrating the occasion by exhibiting items from our WDW collection (one new item per day).

Today's curious artifact is this bag-tag from the Walt Disney World Golf Resort:

Note the classic WDW Mickey-Globe motif

Come back tomorrow for the conclusion of our exploration of WDW artifacts.

- The Management

WDW Artifacts - EPCOT Center Puzzle

October 1, 2011 marked the 40th Anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort. This week at the Veranda we are celebrating the occasion by exhibiting items from our WDW collection (one new item per day).

Today's curious artifact is a puzzling piece of EPCOT Center merch:

Some re-assembly required (much like EPCOT itself).

Come back tomorrow as our exploration of WDW artifacts continues.

- The Management

WDW Artifacts - Fort Wilderness Two-Play Giveaway (1988)

October 1, 2011 marked the 40th Anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort. This week at the Veranda we are celebrating the occasion by exhibiting items from our WDW collection (one new item per day).

Today's curious artifact is this adorable little critter from Fort Wilderness:

TWO-PLAY GIVEAWAY
Y'all exchange the coupon for 2 free play tokens for the Davy Crockett Arcade in Pioneer Hall, or Daniel Boone's Arcade at the Meadow Recreation Complex.
Trade 'em in at the Pioneer Hall ticket window or the Meadow Recreation Complex Snack Bar during operating hours.

Come back tomorrow as our exploration of WDW artifacts continues.

- The Management

WDW Artifacts - EPCOT Center Patch

October 1, 2011 marked the 40th Anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort. This week at the Veranda we are celebrating the occasion by exhibiting items from our WDW collection (one new item per day).

Today's curious artifact dates back to the early days of EPCOT Center:

Come back tomorrow as our exploration of WDW artifacts continues.

- The Management

A Very Merry (Un)Birthday to WDW!

October 1, 2011 marked the 40th Anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort.

This week at the Veranda we will be celebrating the occasion by exhibiting items from our WDW collection (one new item per day).

Let's start things off with this curious artifact - a five-day children's pass for the Magic Kingdom:

These tickets were only available to members of the Magic Kingdom Club, and date back to an era when most park guests were still using the A-E ticket books for individual attractions.

Note the hole near the top -- the passport was designed to be tied to an article of clothing with a string.  The level of wear on this item is consistent with a pass that would have to be displayed on your person while in the park.

As we can see from the back, this piece dates back to August of 1980:

On a personal note, the Veranda Management like to add "Happy Birthday, WDW! Thanks for the Adventures, looking forward to making new ones."

Intersections - Reflections of Japan

Here at the veranda our interest in the created worlds of Disney whets our appetite to explore the wider world which inspired them (and vice-versa). Photos are a fun way to discover the intersections, between Disney and the world beyond.

Consider for example these two structures.  Although both are inspired on Japanese architecture they reside on opposite sides of the U.S. continent.

You may recognize this pagoda from Epcot's Japan Pavilion:

Apparently a replica of a 7th century Horyuji Temple

But have you ever been to the Japanese Tea Garden at San Francisco's Golden Gate Park?

A lovely spot for reflection and tea

- The Management

Creative Connections - In Search of the Disney Coat of Arms

Back in June, we made a creative connection between shop-front signs at Epcot's UK pavilion and some real-world signs that are still evident in today's United Kingdom.

Following the connections also showed us how images from family heraldry play a role in both historic and WED-created UK signs.

Based on these discoveries, I started to wonder if there might be evidence of a Disney family Coat of Arms somewhere in the parks.

The Disney family name is apparently derived from the Norman d'Isigny ("from Isigny"). Given their European roots, Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle seems a likely spot to search for a Disney family crest:

A likely place to find a Coat of Arms?

Sure enough, if we look closely over the portcullis  there does appear to be a shield containing what look to me like three lions. Unfortunately, this is the best picture I have. You can find better images by searching the Internet for "Disney family crest castle picture":

Trust me, it's a shield with three lions

Could the "three lions" image be related to the Disney family? Perhaps not.  A little internet surfing makes a few things clear:

• Selling items displaying family heraldry appears to be quite the business
• Depending on the family name, one can find contradictory images all claiming to be "the family crest".

I wont pretend to speak with authority on this subject -- but I found an explanation on a discussion board that seems plausible to me. In brief, the explanation claims that: 

• Coats of Arms were given to individuals (not families).
• A Coat of Arms is passed on the the eldest son.
• Opinions vary on the propriety of displaying heraldry based on a common surname.

Although somewhat deflated by this information, I decided to push forward to see if there is evidence of a possible Disney family Coat of Arms on display somewhere in Disneyland.

The most consistent information I found online is that a Disney Coat of Arms consists of three fleur-de-lis:

• http://www.4crests.com/disney-coat-of-arms.html
• http://www.houseofnames.com/disney-coat-of-arms
• http://search.swyrich.com/searchresults.asp?Licensee=8566&Surname=Disney&z=

So the three lions on display over the drawbridge appears to be a bit of a red herring. But as I thought about it, I remembered something I'd heard before (probably on the "A Walk in Walt's Footsteps" guided tour at Disneyland):

Now what was it our Tour Guide told us?...

If I recall correctly, the Guide said something about the Disney family and the crests on display at the back of the castle:

Waterfalls and castles are sometimes better viewed from the backside

There are multiple uses of the "three fleur-de-lis" motif on display here, especially in the smaller shield symbols over the banner:

So, have we found another creative connection hidden in plain sight at Disneyland? Maybe, maybe not. I'm satisfied that it is at least a possible link. Fellow Adventurers are encouraged to decide for themselves.

- The Management

Out There - Chapel of the Transfiguration

Greetings Adventurers!

Some of our members recently returned from an expedition to Grand Teton National Park.

Our plan is to ply them with drink and ask them to regale us with tales (and photos), but so far they are still shaking off the dust of the trail and could not be bothered with lengthy exposition.

We did however manage to extract one quick image for Veranda photo gallery:

Chapel of the Transfiguration,
with the Teton range in the background
Moose, WY

Stay tuned for further developments.

- The Management

Curious Artifacts - 1983 EPCOT Center Map

Here's a curious artifact from the Veranda collection, an EPCOT Center map from 1983:

Unlike today's maps, this one was designed with an additional fold, presumably to fit more conveniently in a pocket.

When fully folded, the reverse side gives us a quick overview:

Note the period icons for both EPCOT Center and Walt Disney World!

Unfolding the map reveals:

Click here for a high-res version

Comparing the map to a more contemporary version brings several differences into sharp relief.

For example -- the stylized line drawing style and reduced color palette are both typical features for maps from this epoch.

One also quickly observes the empty spaces destined to hold future pavilions in both World Showcase (Norway, Morocco) and Future World (The Living Seas). We also see evidence of lost wonders such as Horizons and the famous lost potties of Denmark and Morocco.

Scanning the map more carefully reveals more curiosities. For example, can you locate the WorldKey Information Satellites? And how about the short-lived Renaissance Food Festival?

And how's this for quaint? Notice the friendly dining advice:

How did we ever survive before the days of 180-day ADRs?

(For extra credit, check out which World Showcase eateries did not rate the asterisk).

In the category of things not present, where is the International Gateway? Looking at the resort map on the back sheds light on this strange absence -- there's no point in having a gateway where there are no Epcot-area resorts to connect to!

Revel in the idyllic simplicity of the 1983 WDW resort!

Here's the map legend for the section near the Walt Disney World Village:

The resort map also continues the use of simplified graphic designs:

To round out our tour, here are thumbnails for the remaining map images in the Veranda collection:

Click on the thumbnails for high-res images

Feel free to linger and explore the map in greater detail. Leave a comment if you find anything noteworthy.

- The Management