Hidden Gems: Le Chapeau Party Line

Have you ever noticed the old fashioned phone on the wall inside Le Chapeau, the hat shop on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom?

Have you ever picked up the receiver and held it to your ear? Make sure you give it a try next time. You might just end up eavesdropping on a party line call from the days of yore...

...and that's just a snippet! Have you ever listened in? What kind of conversation did you hear? Tell us about it in the comments.

The Secret World of Disney's Corporate Lounges...

Sounds pretty mysterious, right? Perhaps not so mysterious, but definitely a little-viewed slice of semi-secret Epcot history...

 Nestled in under the great orb of Spaceship Earth, 

a special event inside the Siemens' lounge is visible from the plaza.  
Photo credit: Amy Simpson Swiss, August 2013

Tucked away off stage, mostly out of view from the casual guest, are a host of special VIP areas scattered throughout the pavilions of Epcot. They are not widely advertised, and they have subtle access points. You've probably passed by an entrance to one, completely unaware of what was beyond the door.

Each of the major pavilions in Epcot once had a private lounge. In the heyday of corporate sponsorship, these lounges served as VIP areas for hosting employees, entertaining guests, and holding special events. Some are active for current sponsors, while other lounges are no longer in regular use.

Siemens has a lounge inside Spaceship Earth. HP's private lounge inside Mission:Space overlooks the queue and the Advanced Training Lab post-show area. The Test Track building is home to GM's lounge- though this area was reported closed for quite some time after the Test Track overhaul. Kraft once had a lounge in The Land, back when they were the sponsor of that pavilion. The Imagination Pavilion was the home of Kodak's corporate lounge.

One of the most impressive of the corporate lounges was said to be found in The Seas pavilion. I once read that an entire wall of the lounge was floor to ceiling glass, looking into one of the huge aquarium tanks in the pavilion. A transparent acrylic grand piano helped entertain guests in this exclusive space. Grand, indeed! This pavilion no longer has corporate sponsorship, and the area now goes largely unused.

These special areas are the stuff of legend for many, probably because they are off limits to all but those with corporate connections or personal invitations. Most of the throngs who would clamor for new experiences never get access to these areas of respite in the park. That doesn't stop people from embellishing the lore, though, or even from videotaping attempts at unauthorized access (not that we condone that sort of thing here at Plus the Magic... but we did uncover some footage while doing research). The attraction to these exclusive areas is understandable, especially to people who have experienced all that Epcot has to offer to the general public. Who wouldn't want to get a chance to see something off the beaten path?

The lounges mentioned so far are all in Epcot's Future World.  What about the World Showcase?

American Express used to have a VIP lounge inside The American Adventure, but their sponsorship ended and the lounge is not regularly in use. This parlor space is now used for private functions.

Another "secret" area in in World Showcase is The Norway Loft. While not a corporate lounge, it's one of the little-seen spaces that's sometimes used for private functions. A search of the Disney Events site shows some of the other areas available for the discerning event host. And now that we're on the subject...what exactly is in that hotel structure in the Canadian pavilion? I'm curious.

A private lounge overlooking Norway, my favorite World showcase pavilion? Or a secret bird's-eye view of one of my favorite attractions? I think I may have a new entry on my Disney Bucket List. I'd love to get a peek inside any of these corporate lounges or special event locations one day. If any of you Plus the Magic readers are interested in hosting a private event, or if you are eligible for entry into a corporate lounge, please do get in touch! (Hey, it never hurts to ask, right?)

So, dear readers, do you know any details about any of these secret spaces? Have you even been fortunate enough to spend any time in one of these Epcot hidden gems? Please share your story with us in the comments!

Favorites on Friday: The Stave Church

One of my favorite places in all of Walt Disney World is The Stave Church in Norway. Countless people pass by this favorite each day, unaware of the hidden gem that lies behind the wooden doors. Located at the front of Epcot's Norway pavilion in the World Showcase, this impressive structure is a replica of a Norwegian Stave Church, an architectural design popular in Norway between 1100 and 1200 AD.

The attention to detail is amazing, from the top of the steeple all the way to the elaborately carved designs facing out over World Showcase Lagoon.

Stepping inside is like stepping through a gateway to a different world. It's cool, dimly lit, and quiet. Soft music floats in the air as the doors close and shut out the crowds beyond. When I'm inside the Stave Church, I feel like I've been transported to another place and time. It's usually not crowded, as many people don't realize you can enter the church. I have often been the only person there- something that's hard to accomplish elsewhere in Epcot! When's the last time you were alone in an attraction? For those of us who can't always visit during low attendance periods, this is a rare treat.

Glass cases display artifacts and weaponry, some over 1,000 years old. The displays are well-detailed, and I always find it fascinating to look closely at these tools and weapons- the age is staggering, and I can't help but imagine them in the hands of Vikings, sailing the seas.

photos courtesy of Z.S. Swiss

The dioramas showcase Viking exploration. In addition to artifacts, they also include replicas of ships, as well as a few famous Vikings- like King Olaf II.

My sister and I spent a very long time standing in front of this case, staring endlessly, searching for a Hidden Mickey that was supposedly on  King Olaf II's tunic. We were never able to find it. Apparently this is one of the disappearing Hidden Mickeys- ones that are lost, at least for now. Can you see that fold in the fabric, on the top of his right leg? That's right around the spot the Hidden Mickey used to be. Perhaps a Cast Member shifted the garment the last time Olaf was being dusted?

photo courtesy of Z.S. Swiss

I always make a stop in the Stave Church, and I always continue to check Olaf's tunic for the elusive Hidden Mickey. If you happen to know a Cast Member who works with the Vikings- just a small readjustment of the fabric on Olaf's right thigh is all we need....

A few great things about Writer's Stop...

There's a special out-of-the way place in Disney's Hollywood Studios: Writer's Stop. Part food service, part souvenir shop, part relaxation location, Writer's Stop is a hidden gem. It's not technically out-of-the-way, as it's at a busy crossroads. It's tucked away between the SciFi Dine-In Theater and the place where the Streets of America meld into Endor. But it's set back a bit, and the outside is somewhat unassuming. I often hear people say they had no idea it was there.

                                                           
This is a special little oasis, for a few simple reasons:

1) When it's hot out (and let's face it, that's most of the time), this place has some superior air conditioning. There's a spot near the front of the shop, about halfway between the front doors and the first service counter, where a big duct of cold air just pours right down, full blast. Do not underestimate the power this can have when you're overheated, dragging, worn out, sweating, or otherwise in need of a boost.

If you stood next to this shelf of mugs, across from the service desk, you'd be bathed in cold air...

2) They serve good coffee, and a variety of tasty treats to go along with it. The left side of the shop is a food and beverage service area, filled with tasty delights.

 (This photo does not do the food and beverage selection justice- trust me, or google some images...)

3) This really is a place to stop. It offers comfortable seating, arranged in clusters, with lots of reading material available for perusal and/or purchase.  Music and DVDs are also for sale, as well as a selection of small housewares. A stop here, for a fifteen minute break to refuel and recharge, can do wonders for the rest of your day.

But as is often the case with Disney, the story doesn't stop there. There's another reason why I'll always love Writer's Stop- and that's because of a kind Cast Member.

During one of our trips, my daughter and I had split from my husband so we could each go off to do a few different attractions. We had a rendezvous time and a meetup spot, and we needed to be prompt because we had to make it to a reservation at one of the resorts. We couldn't be late! As things often go, we were having a blast when we suddenly realized we were very late. My husband had no doubt been waiting already, and we needed to fly. But there was a problem: my daughter had her heart set on getting a bag of Chip 'n Dale pretzels that day. This was a major souvenir in her eyes, and she had been talking about them and looking forward to it the whole time we toured the park. I foolishly waited until the end of the day to get them. (Yay, go Mom!). I knew they sold them in the Writer's Stop, but I didn't think we'd have time to go and still make it back within a reasonable window after our scheduled meetup time. We reluctantly decided to go for it, but I warned my daughter that we had to be quick- in & out!  We raced into Writer's Stop, and she went to the pretzel rack (as I stood bathing in the cold air from point #1 above). Bag in hand, she walked to the counter, only to hear the CM say, "Sorry, my register's down- you'll have to bring them to the register at the coffee counter". We turned toward the coffee counter....and saw a line about 12 people deep. My daughter and I locked eyes for a few seconds, she bowed her head, then slowly turned to walk toward the rack to put the pretzels back. The CM watched her, and asked what was wrong. "We're late- we're supposed to be over at Indy, so I don't have time for the line", she said, swallowing back a  tear. The CM shook her head, leaned over, and said, "Take them- they're a present from me".

A simple, kind gesture- but one that I will always remember.

I believe stories like this happen all over the parks and resorts, all the time. The company empowers its employees to make this sort of thing happen, and Cast Members can- and do- spread little bits of magic with guests.

Have you ever had a CM interaction that left a big impression?

Have you visited the Writer's Stop?

Please share your story with us in the comments!