Wandering the World with Wally
Episode 01: It's a Wonderful Shop
by Walter Octavius March
Wandering the World by Wally is a regular column written for the Disney Dispatch by Walter Octavius March, otherwise known as Bruce G., whose Disney World adventures will both electrify and enlighten his faithful readers. In this episode, Wally finds a quiet spot, enjoys a meal, and shops for Christmas.
Welcome to the first episode of "Wandering the World with Wally". I'm Walter Octavius March, World Traveler, Philanthropist, and all-around Adventurer. KUNGALOOSH! I used to visit the Adventurers Club on what was left of Merriweather Pleasure's Island, but alas, that is now gone.
So I have found myself wandering this Wonderful World of Disney. I have met many people here enjoying the same sights that I have seen, but I also have discovered that many people miss some of the great things that exist "off the beaten path".
I invite you to accompany me as I journey through the Walt Disney World Resort and share some of the wonderful things you may have missed.
A Quiet Street in Hollywood Studios
Our first stop Wandering the World is in Disney's Hollywood Studios. Of course, like anyone else, we can wander down Hollywood Boulevard and enjoy a Hollywood that never was, stuck eternally in the 1930's, or we can travel over to the Hollywood Tower Hotel where I used to stay, before the "incident".
But one of my favorite places to wander is down the Streets of America, a great area to explore, especially at night. Not many people wander these streets at night, but the house lights are left on and you can enjoy sitting on a stoop and listening to the sounds of the city. I have spent a few very fine evenings doing just that.
It's a Wonderful Shop
There's another great place that you mustn't miss when you're in the Studios. I found it one day after an extremely good meal shared with Dr. Honeydew, the world famous scientist, at Mama Melrose's Ristorante Italiano. The meal as well as the company was extraordinary. And after the meal I found this very exciting, "hidden" place near Mama Melrose's, just around the corner from the Muppet Theater, called It's a Wonderful Shop, a Christmas store stocked year-round with holiday gifts.
It's a Wonderful Shop is inside the Parkside Antiques building and sells Disney-themed Christmas decorations and other Christmas merchandise. The shop itself isn't that large but it is one of those places that makes you feel happy that you found it. You can buy all kinds of Christmas and even Hanukkah ornaments to decorate your tree and your house.
The shop is always ready for the holidays, both inside and outside where you'll find a snowman, snow on the sidewalk, and even a sled that some kid left behind.
There He Goes Again...
Which reminds me of tobogganing down the side of the Bernese Alps when I was a younger man. It was a cold, dark night, blizzard conditions were coming in across the mountains. Our small group had been separated from our guide, we lacked supplies and other essentials, and we needed to do something. As the winds whipped, I decided that the only thing for it was to seek help. I told the rest of the group to hunker down for the night and that I would return in the morning with not only a way back but also with much needed supplies. As I...
Sorry, I forgot this isn't the Adventurers Club. Anyway, It's a Wonderful Shop is a wonderful shop for holiday gifts and it's a great little find when you are exploring in Disney's Hollywood Studios. Enjoy the Adventure!
KUNGALOOSH!
Stuff Not to Skip
- Unknown Magic Within Walt Disney World
http://www.umwdw.com - Disney's Hollywood Studios
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/hollywood-studios - The Adventurers Club
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventurers_Club - How to Make a KUNGALOOSH!
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Kungaloosh
About the Author
Walter Octavius March is an Aviator, Explorer, and two-time winner of the Balderdash Cup, whose exploits only seem to grow when he is telling them. An adventurous, daring man, friend to many, he is always ready to take others along on his travels. Some remark that he bears a striking resemblance to a fellow named Bruce who runs a Disney blog known as the Unknown Magic Within Walt Disney World, though they have never both been seen at the same time.
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