Something's Fishy

Ariel's at the Beach Club is a special area normally reserved for private parties, and features a colorful decor of bright, tropical colors and lots and lots of fish. Everything from the colorful chandeliers to the whimsical carpet reflects the beauty of the ocean.

More Where-Speak

As the Year of a Million Dreams reaches its last couple months, it seems appropriate for another Where-speak menu. This time the Old Key West Resort:

Mickey at the Races

Mickey must be a horse-racing fan, as his famous ears can be found in the clouds above in this gate by the Grandstands pool at Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa.  

Keel Haul

The Mike Fink Keel Boats may be a long lost memory in the history of Disney attractions, but the legacy of the legendary race between Davy Crockett and Mike Fink lives on at the Trail's End Buffet at Fort Wilderness.

A model of the Gully Pitts vessel sits in a handsome display case.



A piece of Mike Fink's own boat, the Gully Whumper, hangs on the wall. The Gully Whumper was one of the actual keel boats that navigated around Tom Sawyer Island until 1997.

Trinkets Galore

A variety of turn of the century items lines an ornate bookshelf in one of the main hallways of Disney's BoardWalk Inn.

Rustic Ranchos

The Ranchos section of Coronado Springs is a surprisingly detail-rich area of the resort. While the Cabanas and Casitas are more or less boxy hotel buildings with little fountains and gardens in between, the Ranchos transport you to an entirely new environment. Here, cactus and rocky dry riverbeds instantly engulf you in an arid, desert landscape - something you would not necessarily expect to see in tropical Florida. Hitching posts and animal tracks in the concrete add to the look.

A Horse is a Horse (Of Course)

Walt Disney loved horses as much as their iron counterpart. So it's no surprise that a tribute to the Disney family of horses can be found tucked away in the stables of the Tri-Circle D Ranch at Fort Wilderness. A true "who's who" photo display of four-legged celebrities can be found hanging on the walls, including one special bovine, Minnie Moo, who resided at the Magic Kingdom and Fort Wilderness until she passed away in 2001.

Another Where-speak

It's been quite some time since the last Where-speak, so here is another one - this time, coming from the Kona Cafe at the Polynesian.

Down the Stretch They Come

The pool area at the Grandstands section of Saratoga Springs is perhaps one of Disney's most clever designs. That is, if you are a fan of horse racing.

The details begin as soon as you approach the pool area, where the gate features a white metal design of horses running on a race track.

The kids play area is designed to look like the Saratoga starting gate, complete with "horses" breaking from the gate that spray water.

Large planters take on the shape of horseshoes...

...while the pool itself is wonderfully shaped like a race track, complete with furlong markers and finish line.

The bar, laundry, and bathroom area is designed to take on the appearance of the backstretch, the area where the horses are stabled. From the name of the bar itself, to the elegant horse designs in the corners of the hallway, even the "stalls" of the bathrooms are made to look like, well, horse stalls.

As anyone who has been to Saratoga would notice, the predominant use of red and white is a tribute to the colors found at the actual track. As a final touch, posters displaying past races at "The Spa" can be found inside the laundry room. As you can see, the Imagineers went to great "lengths" to ensure the authenticity of this particular area.

The Want Ads

The ceiling of the Screen Door General Store at the BoardWalk is papered with antique advertisements, giving you a chance to shop while looking upwards.

Wired

These gorgeous baskets are found near the restrooms and telephones outside Jiko and Boma at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. Handcrafted from old telephone wire, these creations are a beautiful tradition in South Africa, linking the past with a more modern weaving material. With their bold colors and intricate designs, the baskets move away from functional items and become artwork for the walls. The Lodge is full of museum-quality pieces direct from Africa, and these baskets are no exception.

Light on the Water

The Yacht and Beach Club's outdoor lighting features four distinct styles in close proximity to one another. Yet the nautical theme is prevalent throughout, and the different light fixtures work harmoniously with one another to help set the scene.

Goofing Around

Fulton’s General Store over at Port Orleans Riverside is arguably one of the best resort gift shops around. The decor helps to strengthen this claim, including the scene that takes place in the middle of the store.

Huey, Dewey, and Louie are seen wearing straw hats and matching shirts, pulling on a rope with an unseen outcome (though it is probably not a good one!).

Chip and Dale are up to their usual mischief - antagonizing poor Donald once again. This time they have dropped a crate onto his head, which gives him a look that is famous in the cartoon world.

Goofy exercises what not to do on a ladder, and seems to be having some problems with the stove pipe.

Even Morty and Ferdie Fieldmouse make a rare appearance, helping to fan the fire.

Beach Bums

Hidden Mickeys in the carpet are nothing new at the Disney Resorts, but the pattern at the BoardWalk takes it to a whole new level.


Colorful patterns of seashells and flowers are intertwined amongst human footprints, as well as the trademark items of some familiar characters.

Camouflage

When you first walk into the Great Ceremonial Hall, you may begin to feel inundated by sensory overload. There are things to see everywhere, and they are all expertly themed to make you feel like you walked into a tropical oasis. The ceiling is no exception, as it carries a pattern influenced by Polynesian culture. Yet look even more carefully, and you will find that it was designed so cleverly that you probably won't see the vents, speakers, and other items, which adds wonderfully to the resort's handcrafted appearance.