Ask Magically Speaking

In each issue we like to answer questions from you. What are your questions? Are you wondering about a certain attraction? Are you curious about a resort or cruise? Do you have some nagging little trivia question that you are just dying to know the answer to? If so, please send them to us. We have a great team of Disney experts and sleuths that would love to answer your questions! If you have a question, send it to us at magicallyspeaking@themouseforless.com.

Ask Magically Speaking is a regular feature in the Magically Speaking newsletter. The following Ask Magically Speaking was published in the May 21, 2007 issue
of Magically Speaking ISSN: 1556-3863

Q. Can you tell me anything about the Wonders of Life pavilion at Epcot. We missed visiting it in 2006 when it was open. I'm hoping that it was popular enough last year so that it will be open again this year during December.(Submitted by Stephen S.)

A. Hi, Stephen. Unfortunately, the status of The Wonders of Life pavilion hasn't changed all that much in the past couple of years. It operated for a few years without its original corporate sponsor, MetLife, but it was decided to open it to the public only during peak periods, which essentially meant Easter and Christmas weeks. In late 2005, the pavilion was removed from the Epcot map altogether. Signage pointing to the pavilion was also removed. In 2006 and 2007, it wasn't opened during Easter week, but it was kept open for a total of five weeks between November - December last year. Body Wars, Cranium Command and the Making of Me were fully operational, but the pavilion didn't see many visitors the entire time it was open, probably due to the fact that it was removed from the map and mentioned only as an exception on the park's times guide.

Whether it will open again this December remains to be seen, but the pavilion is still intact and is available complete with attractions for private events. Unless a sponsor steps up, however, it's not likely the pavilion (which could use a heavy makeover) will be open full time anytime soon.

Q. I've heard that there are new refillable drink mugs at Disney that are the same at all the resorts. Is this true? And if so, does that mean that we can use one mug at more than one resort? We have a split stay coming up, and would love to just have to get one mug. Thanks for your help.(Submitted by Dianne P.)

A. Dianne, it's true that a new universal mug design has been popping up at resorts all over Walt Disney World, replacing the original resort-specific mugs. The new design is inspired by Disney's Year of a Million Dreams promotion and is even dated 2007, suggesting there may be another design come 2008. The new mug isn't at every resort quite yet, but its presence is increasing day by day.

As to whether there's a policy change in terms of where the mug can be refilled, the policy printed on the mug itself by the handle isn't as clear as it should be, but it's certainly more open-ended than the previous designs' policies were. The resort specific mugs that are being replaced specifically state "Free refills until the end of your stay. Refills only at location purchased." The new mugs however feature the wording "Free refills available at our Resort Beverage Islands until the end of the stay in which the mug was purchased." So while it's still only good for that single vacation, the policy might imply that it's good at any resort's food court. That'd be a welcome change to those with split-stays, but since the mugs haven't been introduced at all resorts, it's unfortunately too early to have a definitive answer. I'm with you, though, in hoping that the policy is moving in that direction.