Here's the latest Where in the World photo. Can you guess where this item is located?

Here's a clue: If you are on a mission (Mission Space), it's a world away from you (World Showcase)...

Hold your mouse over the photo to see the answer.

One of my favorite movie "stars" from my childhood was that lovable bug, Herbie. He made a special appearance at the Lights, Motors, Action! stunt show at Disney-MGM Studios last May when we were there and he really pleased the crowd. Little did we know that he was really a dicartomy, or a car made of two separate parts. (Yeah, I just made that up.) He was actually a stunt Herbie with two cars with two drivers. I took the picture of the two pieces as we rode by them on the Backlot Tour. He's not half bad, huh?

Fast forward to last Sunday. Our kids, Jake & Katie, have birthdays just 10 days apart and we have their party together because they have basically the same circle of friends. This year they wanted a movie party and we were fortunate to have it work out with the release of Herbie Fully Loaded. The party was a lot of fun and the kids seemed to really enjoy themselves. I really thought the cupcake cake turned out very cute (thank you Wal-mart bakery). However, I'm sure everyone's favorite part was watching the movie, especially the parents. It was so good to see the bug on the big screen again. Once again, nostalgia ruled the day. Watching Herbie took us back to our childhood when we first fell in love with that bug!

The Wishes fireworks show in Magic Kingdom is an exciting firework show narrated by Jiminy Cricket. As the fireworks literally light up the sky, you'll recognize familiar voices and music from many different Disney movies. The theme of Wishes has roots deep in our collective childhoods; memories of starry nights and making a wish on the first star spotted in the sky.

As soon as you hear"Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight...", you realize that they've got you by the heartstrings.

Disney knows how nostalgic parents of today are. We were the first generation of kids to go to Disney World in the 70's and now we are coming back with our own kids. We've got great childhood memories and we love reliving those memories with our own kids.

Our family loves to go to the "Goofy's Liberate Your Appetite" character dinner at the Liberty Tree Tavern. This lovely colonial restaurant is located in the Magic Kingdom in Liberty Square. The meal is served family style, meaning they bring platters and bowls of food to your table and you serve yourself as if you were at home. Dinner includes items such as ham, turkey, flank steak, vegetables, salad, and macaroni and cheese. Not only is the food good, the characters are really wonderful at this dinner, too. Minnie, Goofy, Chip, Dale, and Pluto usually make it around to your table three to four times. They get really playful with you by the second or third go 'round since they don't have to spend time posing for pictures and signing autographs. Sometimes, they even get in the booth with you and help you celebrate your birthday!

We've been there three times (2001, 2003, and 2005) and have enjoyed ourselves each and every time. I'll never forget the first time we went to this dinner. Katie was asleep in the stroller when Minnie Mouse first came around. Minnie leaned into the stroller and made gestures like she was saying "awww, how sweet" and then kissed her hand and put it on Katie's head. By the end of the meal, sleepyhead was up and
hugging all the characters nonstop. We have some great memories from the Liberty Tree Tavern and I'm sure we will go back again in future trips.

There is nothing like the detail that goes into the decor at Disney World. I love taking pictures of those little things that are sometimes overlooked but really help give the place that extra thematic touch.

This is a picture of something in one of the parks. Can you guess which park it is in and which land or attraction it is near?

This little statue is in the pre-show queue of this
attraction which is located in Magic Kingdom. Stay tuned for another Where in the world? photo.

Well, I'm certainly glad that we didn't break tradition and skip Ice Station Cool last month.
I just read on
Allears
that Ice Station Cool was closed as of June 6, 2005! Rumor is that it will be closed for a six month rehab and will open up under the new name of "Club Cool." I hope these changes are positive ones and that they didn't lose the Coca Cola sponsorship of this special attraction. Please don't take the Beverly away!

I took this picture of a shelf stuffed with plush Mickeys at The Emporium on Main Street. I just liked the way they all looked there together, waiting for some little kid to come snatch them out of there. It's like the calm before the storm, don't you think?

Of course, they were in good company. There were also a whole lotta Minnies, Goofys, Donalds, etc. However, the Mickeys are what caught my eye.

Okay, I'm waxing nostalgic today and reminiscing of things you'll never see again at Disney World. Case in point, the "E" ticket or any paper ticket for that matter. I vividly remember holding and flipping through those little paper booklets and tearing them out. Those were the days when you didn't ride the same ride too many times without buying extra tickets, which I didn't know you could do until recently. I think my parents must have made us work through the booklet. I like the convenience of the new ticket media, but I do miss those old booklets with their nostalgic looking fonts and colors.

I also miss 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Skyway to Fantasyland (or Tomorrowland, depending on which way you were headed). Okay, so 20,000 Leagues was a little cheesy. I don't know if my kids would be as thrilled with it like I was. Skyway was just a cool way to get an overview of the park while going from point A to B.

I always get a little knot in my stomach when I pass by where these attractions used to be. But for everything that is gone, there is something new that has taken its place. That's just the way it goes...

Who doesn't love those hidden treasures affectionately known as Hidden Mickeys? My kids love them and find them all over the place, not just at Disney World. They will make anything with three circles into one. Of course, there's nothing like finding one firsthand at Disney World. When you see three circular objects strategically placed, it is so much fun to be the first to scream out "Hidden Mickey!"

The hidden Mickey above is in the right side flower bed in front of Thunder Mountain Railroad. I don't remember ever seeing it before. I just happened to look up and see it when we were walking past. There is so much more to WDW than just a theme park. In fact, there are so many hidden treasures if you're willing to take the time to look for them.
For example, look at this rhino made of rocks in Animal Kingdom. No, it's not a hidden Mickey, but it's a treasure nonetheless. It's pretty far off to the right of the bridge on the way to Camp Minnie Mickie, in a cluster of trees. I wonder how many people hurry past it every day unaware as to the wonderful sense of humor there on display?

That's also very true about life, isn't it? We hurry past every day treasures that we'd miss if we didn't take the time to find them. We worry about our destination and forget about the journey there. Take time to find those hidden treasures...

I asked Katie what her favorite things were about the trip and here is what she said:

Katie’s Top 10 Favorite Things

10 - Pool at Pop Century.
9 - Thunder Mountain.
8 - Cinderella’s Castle.
7 - Donald’s Breakfastosauras.
6 - 50’s Prime Time with the glowing ice cubes.
5 - Parades. (She’s my child!)
4 - Arriving at Disney World (she said she and Jake yelled!)
3 - Playhouse Disney.
2 - Our room at Pop Century.

And her absolute favorite thing was ...
1 - Splash Mountain!

Not to be outdone by his sister, here are Jake's top ten favorite things about our 2005 trip:

10 - Pop Century.
9 - Rock 'n Roller Coaster.
8 - World Showcase.
7 - Toon Town.
6 - SpectroMagic. (Yep, he's my child, too!)
5 - Lights, Motors, Action!
4 - Fantasmic! 3 - Wishes. (See what I mean? The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.)
2 - Soarin'.

And his absolute favorite thing was ...
1 - Splash Mountain!

Nevermind that I sang that song as the Mother Abbess my junior year in highschool and I'm sitting here now with those lyrics in my head. Being someone who always has to sort things through my mind and come up with a summary, I decided to write down my favorite things about this last trip. So, here you have them -- my favorite things from our last trip presented in Top 10 Letterman-esque fashion.

Top 10 Favorite Things about Our 2005 Trip

10 - Meeting special people from Birmingham, the U.K., Illinois, New Jersey, and Louisiana.
9 - Seeing Wishes from the Fort Wilderness ferry.
8 - The new dining plan.
7 - Lights, Motors, Action!
6 - Seeing Lucky the dinosaur.
5 - Breakfast with Cinderella in her castle.
4 - Hearing B.J. Thomas in concert.
3 - Seeing Soarin’ for the first time.
2 - Seeing my husband in a pink tutu!

and of course my number 1 favorite thing is ....
1 - Spending time with my family at our favorite place.