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DIZcovery: Unknown Magic Within Walt Disney World

Bruce's blog bares all (unknown Disney magic, that is)

- by Bob McLain, December 5, 2010

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A DIZcovery is a mini-feature about an outstanding but perhaps not well-known Disney site and a mini-interview with its owner. If you know of a site that needs DIZcovery, please get in touch.

Lots of folks are afraid of the unknown. It's often dark, scary, and creeping closer. But today we're not talking about that kind of unknown. We're talking about Disney unknown, which may be a little scary, but usually not dark or creepy. And if even that's too much for you to handle, I know a guy who specializes in making known the unknown. Meet Bruce!

Unknown Magic Within Walt Disney World

Right off the bat, I want to give you some 'unknown magic'.

Back when I first discovered Bruce's essential Disney blog, Unknown Magic Within Walt Disney World, I would type in the whole name because generally I'm too lazy to bookmark a site until I've visited it a few times. It's such a long name to type (probably the longest URL of any Disney blog!) that I'd sometimes miss medical appointments or new episodes of The Walking Dead before I could finish. Then I found a shortcut: umwdw.com (probably the shortest URL of any Disney blog!). What a relief!

Of course, I then went ahead and bookmarked the site since I visit it every day...

You'll want to bookmark it, too. Bruce's brand of unknown magic is trivia with a personal touch: rarely does a day pass (and Bruce posts something every day) that I don't learn something new about Disney World and enjoy the glimpse into Bruce's own park adventures that comes with it. Bruce's writing is clear, down-to-earth, and ... happy! You can tell he loves Disney by the way he writes about it. And there is no other way to write about it (though quite a few people try).

Not only is Bruce a good writer, but he's a good guy, too. It's a real pleasure to feature him and his site here on Disney Dispatch.

A Chat with Bruce

The best part - for me - about writing new DIZcovery features is meeting the brains behind the blogs and plying them with steam beer into making all sorts of revelations about themselves and their sites.

So I'm kidding about the steam beer. But not about the revelations.

Spotlight on Bruce...

Your site, Unknown Magic Within Walt Disney World, is a personal favorite of mine and occupies a prominent spot on my short-list of daily must-clicks. How did you come up with the idea for your blog?

Bruce: I started out by trying to come up with a name. I wanted to talk about things that a lot of people miss because they rush through the parks - being what I call a Disney Commando. When you go Commando you seem to miss things. I wanted to write about how my family and I 'Do' Disney.

Bruce Voted for Mayor Weaver - Twice

Did any existing sites inspire you to start your blog?

Bruce: Before I started writing, I listened to Lou Mongello's podcasts, read AllEars, and read some Intercot forums, but never thought about doing my own blog until I read The Relocated Tourist. That blog got me thinking about starting my own.

You write a new article every day. I wouldn't have thought there was so much unknown magic within Walt Disney World but daily you find more. Do you worry about running out?

Bruce: I do write everyday and yes, I actually was talking to my wife earlier this week about how, sooner or later, I may have to change the focus of the blog.

What's your definition of 'unknown magic'? Is it simply a bit of trivia? Or does it encompass something broader?

Bruce: The Unknown Magics to me are the little things that everyone sees but don't realize how special they are at the time and so rush right past without taking the time to enjoy them. They are the things that if you take the time to really see and do, they will make your time in Disney even more magical.

What's your earliest memory of visiting Disney World? Your latest?

Bruce: I went with my parents, brother, and sister in 1979, when I was 12. I remember the snack bar at the arcade in the Contemporary having the best chocolate cake. Of course, I remember other things, but I remember that very well, for some reason. I also remember watching a few Davy Crocket movies in a little movie theater off the side of the arcade and the Country Bear Jamboree. I loved that show so much I bought the Official Record Album so I could listen to it at home. I still have it somewhere around the house. I know the whole show word-for-word because of it.
My latest memory is from this past summer. We (my wife, son, and I) were down with another family. We drove down in an RV and stayed at the Saratoga Springs Resort. We were there for five days and visited the Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and the Magic Kingdom. We never made it over to Animal Kingdom.

Bruce with family at 'Ohana

What strikes you most about how the park has changed between those memories?

Bruce: The size. When I was there in 1979, it was the Contemporary, the Polynesian, the Campground, and the Magic Kingdom. We stayed for a week back then and had a great vacation, never got bored, had plenty to do, but now, wow! You could go for two weeks and not even come close to doing everything there is to do.

I know you live in New Jersey and I know you sometimes drive to Disney World. In the 1970s my parents would always drive (never fly!) from Pennsylvania to Disney, and so I can sympathize with the rigors of that trip. What do you do to make the miles less monotonous?

Bruce: That's funny, my mom wouldn't fly from Pennsylvania, either. We actually took the train once, when I was a kid. As for what we do en route, besides talking, we listen to sports radio (XM radio is great) Mike and Mike in the Morning and the Dan Patrick Show are some favorites. Sometimes we listen to Disney Podcasts that I have downloaded on the iPod. Disney Music is always a must. And my son has a collection of movies he watches.

Your wish is granted: a full day of Disney, anywhere, with no worries about money or logistics or crowds. What do you ride? What do you see? Where do you eat?

Bruce: We stay at the BoardWalk. We ride Soarin' and Test Track in Epcot; we 'do' Big Thunder Railroad, the Haunted Mansion, the Laugh Factory, and the Jungle Cruise in the Magic Kingdom; Expedition Everest and the Lion King Show in the Animal Kingdom, and we go through Toy Story Mania a few times in the Studios. Of course, we'd also visit other attractions, but those are the big ones. And I'd make sure we got over to the Contemporary because I don't feel as if I am 'In Disney' until I get to the Grand Canyon Concourse (I think that stems from being there as a kid), and we would eat at Le Cellier and 'Ohana.

Now Bruce feels as if he's 'In Disney'...

What are some of your favorite Disney sites and blogs?

Bruce: Growing Up Disney, The Relocated Tourist, Days in the Park, WDW Facts, and Disney Dispatch, of course.

When you're not making unknown magic known, what are you doing? Occupation?

Bruce: I teach 5th and 6th graders. Hobbies? Reading Disney history, watching sports, and spending time with my family.

I'm always curious about what non-Disney books Disney fans are currently reading and what non-Disney shows or movies they're watching. So...

Bruce: I just finished Blue Eyed Devil by Robert B. Parker (better known for his Spenser novels). It's the third of a Western series he had started before his death. We usually watch sports but also like Chuck, Modern Family, Big Bang Theory, and the new Shatner show - $#*! My Dad Says. I actually want to read the book with the same title.

Disney dream job: what is it?

Bruce: Archivist - although I would love to work in the parks and just wander around and talk to people and make them smile.

Looking down the road a-ways, where do you see yourself in a few years? Still writing about Disney? Maybe full-time? Any plans to move closer to the Mouse?

Bruce: I have a yearning to move to the Orlando area and work for Disney. My wife would also like to do so, it's the boy who is not to thrilled with it right now. He's 15 and a sophomore in high school and wants to graduate from his school. So maybe when he goes away to college...
As for writing, I was discussing this with my wife, too. I've been trying to figure out what I want my blog to become. I think eventually I will run out of Unknown Magics, but at the same time, I would like to keep writing about Disney World and sharing my experiences so that others can enjoy their trip to Disney a little more. Maybe it will grow into a book someday; that would be really cool, I think, if I could take some of what I write about and put it into a collection to be published. But who knows. For now, I am enjoying writing about the Disney World that I have found and enjoy.

Don't stop there! More Features Await...

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