There are two basic ways to approach a day at Disney World's Magic Kingdom.

1. we'll just go and enjoy the things we can
2. we are going to conquer this kingdom and suck every last bit of mirth out of it until we can hear Mickey cry "uncle!"

The interesting thing is that both camps generally go away after the fact very satisfied with their results.

1. "Oh, we had a great time, even though we may have missed a few things."
2. "Oh, we had a great time, even though we may have beat ourselves close to the point of death."

The adherents to Camp 2 have a kindred soul in Len Testa, co-author of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. His crack team of researchers consistently evaluates the queueing in the World, analyzing wait times and attraction load capacities, and producing touring plans tailored to different groups of people visiting each of the four theme parks. These are published in the aforementioned book, and online (via subscription for most plans) at touringplans.com.
The Magic Kingdom is probably the most challenging of the four parks to tour, because of its popularity, and because of the sheer number of attractions in the park. Many of the touring plans are "two day" plans for families, older couples, etc. But there is one... one plan to rule them all... the Ultimate Magic Kingdom Touring Plan.

The goal of the Ultimate plan is to see "all" of the Magic Kingdom in one day. I say, "all," because a big part of the "all" of the Magic Kingdom is the charm, ambiance, and people watching times. These are not covered in the plan. What is covered is every show, every ride, every ceremony and every parade that happens in the course of a day at the Kingdom.

It is not intended for families, first-time visitors, or for anyone simply wanting a nice day in the Magic Kingdom. It is designed for physically fit theme park veterans looking for a unique challenge.

So, of course, I had to try it.

I didn't make this an "official" attempt because I knew we'd have a couple of challenges. First, it was a gametime decision. I didn't know whether it would fit in our schedule, or our dining reservations. As it turned out, the Sunday of our trip was the day that worked the best. Since I didn't print out the plan before we got to the park, I was sneaky and used faxzero.com to send it to the Pop Century fax machine. Second, to make it official, you have to have a cell phone in hand and let Len know in advance. The third reason was that Lydia's current "condition" prohibits her from some attractions, and I didn't want her to feel like she was letting me down on an official try. In retrospect, I'm glad I didn't try for an official one. This attempt taught me a couple of things.

The first thing on the plan after "get to the park 30 minutes early" is "ride Dumbo." If you're familiar with the Magic Kingdom attractions, you might quickly be thinking, "Dumbo?? What about Space Mountain? What about Splash Mountain? Haven't you seen the line to see Mickey? Start with Dumbo?" Dumbo is a cycle ride, which means that it cycles on and off. Load up with sixteen to thirty-two riders, run for a minute, unload sixteen to thirty-two riders. The ride is actually NOT in a ride cycle more than it is... it takes a lot longer to load and unload passengers. Contrast that with something like Buzz Lightyear where there are 90+% of the vehicles going through the ride at any given time. Combine the cycle ride fact with the fact that Dumbo is the centerpiece of Fantasyland, and it makes it one of the least efficient rides in the park.

So we got to the park early, and to our surprise, they were already letting folks in. We re-checked our schedule... yep... evening extra magic hours... so we're not supposed to be in until 9:00. Maybe they're letting folks in early for rope drop. We get to the castle, and it's open.

We get through... and Fantasyland is open. Woops. I guess because we didn't check in with any preschoolers, we didn't get the memo. There goes the plan. We had to wait 20 minutes to get Dumbofied, and by the time we got through, we were "off plan" for the rest of the day.

Luckily, because the crowd levels were fairly low, I did manage to get a lot of the tour done. The second lesson of the attempt was to work early viewings of the shows in to the plan. I was all set for the 4:05 "Storytime with Belle" so that I could make the 5:00 flag retreat ceremony, and the heavens opened, replete with lightning. When I got to Belle's storytime spot, the cast member there was telling a six year-old that "Belle had decided to go to Mickey's ToonTown where she could be out of the rain."

I'm sure there will be a "next time" (maybe when our child is somewhere in the eight to ten year-old range...) and I'll achieve the Ultimate!

Summary
Attractions experienced (36):Dumbo, Tomorrowland Speedway, Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan's Flight, it's a small world, Snow White's Adventure, Mickey's PhilharMagic, The Mad Tea Party, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Barnstormer, Toontown Hall of Fame (w/one character autograph), Mickey's Country House, Minnie's Country House, Space Mountain, Ariel's Grotto, The Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Carribean, Tom Sawyer Island, Fort Langhorne, Enchanted Tiki Birds, Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Afternoon Parade, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Country Bear Jamboree, Frontierland Shootin' Arcade, Tomorrowland Transit Authority, Tomorrowland Arcade, Flag Retreat, Carousel of Progress, Stitch's Great Escape, Monster's Inc. Laugh Floor, Exposition Hall on Main Street (photo), Jungle Cruise, Evening Fireworks, Woody's Round-up

Closed or not scheduled (5): Hundred Acre Wood, Donald's Boat, Swiss Family Treehouse, Character Greeting at Diamond Horseshoe Revue, Evening Parade

Missed (8): Cinderella's Carousel, one of the Main Street Vehicles, WDW Railroad, Liberty Belle Riverboat, Hall of Presidents, Story Time with Belle, Dream Along with Mickey, Shrunken Ned's Junior Jungle Boats

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I wonder if anyone has ever liveblogged a choir rehearsal before.

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As Connie Lane blogged today, tonight is the last choir rehearsal, tomorrow is the last Thursday Business Lunch (c'mon Lacy, no anchor tag?), Saturday is the last choir concert, and Sunday is the last worship service where Mark Edwards will be leading worship at First Baptist Nashville.

When Mark started in 1977, Fleetwood Mac was at the top of the charts, the Toronto Blue Jays had just come into existence, no one had ever heard of Star Wars, Andy Warhol had just visited the Grand Old Opry, and Elvis was still alive. I was in the first grade choir at First Baptist Richardson, TX, in the old building, mind you. Still, it only took me 2/3 of Mark's tenure to end up in his music ministry for the last ten years.

When the choir met last week to honor him and his wife, they recounted lots of stories from the past thirty years, but interestingly, hardly any of them were about music. Story after story about him being there at the high school graduation, or when the staff changes happened, or late one night on a choir tour, or whatever... the impact that Mark has made on the people of First Baptist Nashville and beyond isn't solely about the music. It's about the ministry.

I think that the memory of Mark's ministry at First Baptist that will always be the most present for me was when Lydia and I were facing a deadline to sell our condo and we had to deal with squeaky floorboards. Mark helped us pull back carpet and screw them down with hundreds of drywall screws. It was good, hard fun, but it was also an investment in our lives as a young couple in the church he served. His response to our need was a living out of his response to God's call on his life - an act of worship.

Mark's approach to ministry at our church has had two additional results: it has drawn like-minded living-a-life-of-worship people to lay leadership within the ministry, and it has made everyday participants within the ministry feel connected and that their contribution has mattered, both to the church, and to the living out of the will of God.

That's not to minimize the excellence with which he's executed the music at First Baptist Nashville, but it is important to show it in its proper context. Too many times, a casual observer thinks that the effectiveness of a worship ministry is based solely on the notes that are sung or played. Too many times, church leadership tries to unlock a formula for "making it work" and tries to focus on worldly talent or a musical style overhaul. Mark Edwards demonstrates that the effectiveness of a worship ministry is based on its leadership living out a life of worship, and inviting the church to join.

On Music City Bloggers, one of the comments asked who Mark's "successor" will be. I like the idea of a "successor" simply because it has the word "success" in it. That measure of "success"will be how well First Baptist Nashville executes its mission of loving God and loving people. I hope we won't look for a follow-up, or a next-in-line, or even a carbon copy. I also hope we won't look for someone "who can get us to the next level" or "who will take us in a totally new direction" or "will really shake things up," unless that's what God wants for us. My prayer is that the church chooses someone who will make our ministry most likely to succeed, and finding that worship-filled worship leader is going to take lots of prayer, time and discernment.

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Here are some pictures from our most recent trip to Disney for Patrick's birthday:

Disney World Free Dining Trip

Also, we are quoted about Disney in today's Tennessean.

Here's the text of our original submission to Mary. Lots of props for this information goes to all our usual online haunts, but especially the WDW today podcast. Mary really did pick the best tips!

PLAN, PLAN, PLAN AHEAD

• Head to the Nashville Public Library and check out a copy of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. This single volume covers 90% of what you need to know to make your trip as perfect as possible. If you're going down more than once in a calendar year, go ahead and invest in one for keeps.
• To shrink the number of days you need for your vacation, use the touring plans in the guide to hit the maximum amount of attractions in a minimum amount of time. This "guerilla-style" park touring really works!
• mousesavers.com is a goldmine of discounts and tips.
• Plan your food first. Allearsnet.com is a great resource for menus for park restaurants.
• Compare on-property and off-property hotels before you book. Most hotels off property are forced to be competitive since Disney has such a wide variety of resort options now. Once you've found a hotel or two you think you might consider, check their reviews at www.tripadvisor.com. You may find that your $39/night bargain is located right next to a helicopter tour launch pad!
• Study and learn the ticket options... they're more complex than most advanced trigonometry texts. The "Water Park and more" option is only useful if you're planning on spending several days in the water parks. If this is a repeat trip for you and your style of park visiting doesn't demand it, consider not adding the park hopper option.
• If your trip is five nights or longer and you're staying on property, consider purchasing at least one annual pass for an adult in your party. Annual pass holders can get seasonal discounts on Disney resorts. Check mousesavers.com for typical room discounts and then do the math to see if you'll save money.
• Be realistic. This is a vacation. There will be some things that you want to do that will cost more than you ever would spend in another situation. Plan your splurging opportunities and enjoy them when you experience them.

GENERAL IDEAS

• Buy souvenirs before you go. Buy Disney stickers, stuffed characters, etc., before you go and don't let the kids see them. Pull them out when you get there and you don't have to pay the inflated resort prices. You can even buy Disney snacks here (I saw some at the Wal-Mart market today) and they can stick those in a fanny pack to have in the park. For instance, the last time we were there, they were selling spray bottles with fans attached that were full of ice water. They were displayed in huge ice-filled carts and were very tempting. The cost for them was around $17 dollars. I found the same type product at Wal-Mart for $5. It even has a strap like the ones Disney sells. You may be able to find some things like that on sale now and save them for your trip.
• Wal-Marts and Walgreens around Disney are an excellent source for deeply discounted Mickey schwag.
• Hit the Disney outlets in Orlando... especially if you went last year too! All of Disney's "expired" merchandise from last year's big movie, holiday or event can be found at their official outlet stores. The closest is at the "Premiere Outlets" mall just off of I-4.
• Mickey ears are one of those things a child must have, and there's no discount route to them. When you go in the Magic Kingdom and go under the railroad tracks, the hat shop will be on your right. The kids can pick out their Mickey ears and watch the person there embroider their name on it. To keep it cheap, have them sent back to your resort for free (although they may not want to part with them immediately) and they won't get damaged or lost during your park visit.

TRANSPORTATION (This is always a big issue.)

• Even though Disney's Magical Express service is free, if you are flying, RENT A CAR. There are several reasons for this. Staying on property means you're paying inflated Disney prices for every last snack or grocery item, and if you have an emergency... forget it! With a rental car, you can stock up on inexpensive snacks, take advantage of the discount food options all around the parks (like the battling buffets at Sizzler and Ponderosa: under $5 for breakfast!), go out for diapers or other supplies, or make a quick trip to the drugstore. There are several grocery options very close to Disney property. And, at the end of a long day in the parks, you don't want to wait for a crowded bus with potentially cranky children.
• Guests staying on property can park at the parks and the resorts for free, saving you $10 a day in parking. Also, having a car also cuts down on transportation time back to the resort for the all-important nap.
• To save on a rental, send mom and kid(s) on Disney's Magical Express to the resort with the luggage. Dad rents a compact car and meets us at the resort. This way, you have the flexibility of having a car, but won't pay big bucks for a minivan just to haul your luggage twice.
• There is an Alamo car rental on Disney property, but renting at the airport is almost always cheaper. We usually rent from Budget. They are on airport property (no shuttle!). If you have a Costco or USAA membership, they have great deals, especially in September.
• Gas at Hess stations on property is the cheapest in Orlando. I know this sounds crazy, but it's true. Fill up before you make the airport trip. Then you can top it off at one of the overpriced stations nearby.

DINING

• We are big fans of the Disney Dining Plan, especially when it's FREE. For the past two years, Disney has offered free dining in September, which also happens to coincide with the time of the year that hurricanes tend to hit and their attendance drops. We are going this year for the third weekend in September to celebrate Patrick's birthday. Again, if you have the dining plan, a car is a must. It is difficult to "resort hop" on Disney transportation, so when your dining plans are at a resort, drive. The great thing about the dining plan is that you know EXACTLY how much you are going to spend (or not spend) on food. When we have used it, I brought cereal and bowls with us, and we used snack credits to buy milk at the resort. There was a coffeemaker in the room. This makes getting to the parks early much easier.
• Until Disney changes their policy, snack credits on the dining plan can be used for just about any food item in the resort gift shops under $4. The nice thing is that you can pick up a package of bagels and a jar of peanut butter for two snack credits and dine quite heartily for breakfast just on the snack credits!
• At the "counter service" restaurants (what Disney calls their "fast food" places) the portions are HUGE! Consider splitting an adult entree between two adults or an adult and a child. If you aren't sure what you'll be getting, scope out what everyone's taking back to their tables.
• EVERYTHING on the counter service menu is available a la carte. Feel free to add or delete individual items like grapes and cookies and french fries so that meals can be spread around your party.
• If you're a light-eating adult, consider the child's menu. Actually, if you're not a light eater... consider it! Sometimes the entrees are identical to the adult ones (like the hot dogs) except they're served in a Mickey-shaped plate. Although their signage says "10 and under," it's never enforced. Hey... you might have kids waiting back at the table!
• If you want to eat at a sit-down restaurant on Disney property, get your "Advance Dining Reservation" called in as soon as you have a reservation. "ADRs" save you money because you've pre-planned your meals and you aren't caught spending money you hadn't planned. You can book 180 days in advance. If you have a Disney resort room reservation, you can book 180 days in advance, plus the number of nights of your reservation. For instance, if you had a ten day vacation that started on June 1, you could book all of your reservations on January 1. Non-resort guests would have to call back each day to make the next day's reservation.

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I believe in lifelong learning. I also believe that there are certain things that are revealed or taught to you at different stages of your life because you are ready to learn them.

I turn 37 today, and, thanks to closed captions on a commercial as I was surfing channels, I now know that the fourth line of the chorus of "Respect" is "take care to T.C.B." I did not know that before I turned 37. I did not pursue that information - it was revealed to me.

I'd love to know the significance of this. Maybe I'll find out when I'm 38?

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Apple's big iPod announcements today all seem to have a "throw them a bone" factor involved. What Apple wants is to give you a "phone-less iPhone" with a ton of storage, but flash memory prices haven't caved to the point where they can do that. So what do they do for this Christmas? Flashy shuffle colors, a pudgy little feature-laden nano, the "old" iPod with ludicrous amounts of storage, and the "phoneless" iPhone with double the flash storage of the iPhone, sure to tick off hundreds of recent iPhone purchasers who didn't really really want the phone, and are now slaves to AT&T.

Where's the "iPod Touch" with the 160GB drive? I'm sure folks wouldn't mind a slightly weightier and thicker device that could store 3400 hours of music.

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