The Many Hidden Tributes of Winnie the Pooh

A really fun example of Hidden Disney in the parks comes when one attraction pays tribute to another. This is often the case when a new attraction has replaced an older one. The Imagineers like to work in subtle references as a nod to the past.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh opened in Fantasyland in 1999 in the former home of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. Before Toady headed off for nowhere in particular, he passed the deed to the property to his friend Owl. A picture of the transaction hangs in Owl's treehouse and can be seen to the left as you pass through on your adventure. Take a look down to your right in the same scene, and you'll catch a picture of Mole from The Wind in the Willows, tipping his hat to one silly ol' bear.

Winnie the Pooh is found at the far edge of the castle walls, where the village borders a wooded area. Here is Pooh's Playful Spot, a playground built on a portion of the site once occupied by the submarine adventure 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. The land here is about to be reclaimed once again by the Fantasyland expansion, but for the time being a tribute to the original attraction can be seen.

Enter Pooh's house through the door at the side of the tree. Once inside, turn around and look in the wood grain just above the doorway. There, you will find a stamped impression in the distinctive shape of Captain Nemo's Nautilus.

Some tributes, like those mentioned above, are placed intentionally. Others exist in the form of objects which remain from the past, like these lava rocks in the area close to Ariel's Grotto which were once part of the edge of the 20,000 Leagues lagoon:

Also in this stretch of Fantasyland, tucked back in the bushes behind Dumbo's Circus, are two themed utility covers. The casual observer might just think they're painted dark green to blend into the foliage, but the color and the rivets in the design call them out for what they really are: another remnant from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and a glimpse into Fantasyland's past.

Stories, Stories Everywhere

Every location in a Disney Park has its own story to tell. Some of those stories are incredibly rich and linear. Others can be summed up in a sentence or two and simply fit into the setting of the story told in a land or region. Even these smallest spaces still have fun little details to find.

Take Mrs. Potts' Cupboard, for example. When the park opened, this spot was known as The Round Table and served ice cream treats just as it does today. The name and architecture were all that was needed to tie it to the Medieval village story line of Fantasyland. With the success of Beauty and the Beast in the 1990s, the ice cream shop was rebranded with its present name, and one additional detail was introduced. The menu is presented on dishes. Of course, since this is Mrs. Potts' Cupboard, you may want to decide what you want quickly, since the enchanted plates are likely to dance away at any moment!

Next door is The Friar's Nook, offering French fries and other quick bites. The name is a play on words, referring both to Friar Tuck from Disney's Robin Hood as well as the fried foods available over the counter. The sign above the location notes that it was established in MLXXI. That's 1071 to you and me, a nod to the October 1971 opening of the place. Back then, though, it was called Lancer's Inn (later changing to Gurgi's Munchies & Crunchies, Lumiere's Kitchen and then Village Fry Shoppe).

At the Seven Dwarfs' Mine (originally the Royal Candy Shoppe), not only has the product selection expanded over the years, but so have the storytelling details. Step up to the shop today, and you'll find yourselves in the middle of the dwarfs' mining operation, straight out of the Disney animated film.

Heavy wooden beams hold up portions of the earth where it's been dug away, revealing dozens of sparkling gemstones. Fixtures are made to resemble troughs, wagons and carts, and the dwarfs' mining tools can all be seen nearby.

My favorite details, though, are over by the Vault (really just the door leading to a stockroom). There's the dustpan and broom the dwarfs' use to discard the imperfect stones, and you can even see where Dopey has hung the keys to the Vault... safely right next to the locked door.

It Takes a Village

The Pinocchio Village Haus Restaurant complex makes up a large part of the town within the walls of the castle. Yesterday, we took a look at the exterior and saw how this large building is broken down into smaller facades, each with a different character, to better fit the story and the charming scale of Fantasyland.

Today, we'll explore the inside of the restaurant. Before we go in, though, take note of the wagon parked nearby. It belongs to that master showman, The Great Stromboli.

Stepping into the main room of the restaurant, we find ourselves in the Village Tavern (aka The Stromboli Room). Beer steins and mugs are on display, and you can almost picture Beauty and the Beast's Gaston kicked back in a corner or the weasels from The Wind in the Willows swinging from the iron chandelier.

Even though the restaurant takes its inspiration from Pinocchio, an Italian story, it combines design elements from all over Europe (it's called "Village Haus" after all, a decidedly German reference). Most notable throughout the space are the large frescoes painted on the walls. Done in a storybook style, they help tell the tale of the little wooden boy.

Following Pinocchio's lead to the food service area, we step through this archway and find ourselves...

Back outside! Well, sort of. The counter service area of the restaurant is designed to look like an exterior courtyard (notice the shingles, windows and balcony). The skylight above is meant to give the impression of natural light in the space.

Leaving this courtyard and exploring the rest of the village, we flow through each of the rooms of the restaurant. Along the way, the murals tell the rest of the story in beautiful, hand-painted art.

Be sure to look for the collection of cuckoo clocks (just like some of the ones Geppetto might make) in the Cleo Room, and take a moment to appreciate the finely-crafted woodwork in the Figaro and Jiminy Cricket Rooms.

The story frescoes even include the parts of the tale where Pinocchio found himself in a bit of trouble, from misbehaving with Lampwick on Pleasure Island to his run-in with Monstro the Whale. Naturally, the Monstro Room sits at the western edge of the village, overlooking the Seven Seaways of "it's a small world."

In the end, everything works out for Pinocchio and for us. He gets to be a real boy, and we get a great meal in a wonderful fantasy village setting.

All Through the Town

Within the walls of Cinderella Castle is an entire Medieval village. The structures of the village take their inspiration from several different styles and European regions, from English Tudor to Swiss Alpine. These diverse styles are brought together through a broad use of storybook colors and exaggerated romantic elements.

While this is a fantasy place where fairy tales come to life, it feels more believable and real as a result of this attention to detail.

Even the former Fantasyland Skyway station (below) plays its part. The Skyway attraction may no longer be operating, but leaving the building in place adds to the rich look of the land.

The bulk of the castle village, where the majority of the Kingdom's residents would live and work, is incorporated into the form of the Pinocchio Village Haus Restaurant. In order to meet the demand of thousands of daily Magic Kingdom Guests, the restaurant is a massive structure. To help it fit better in the scale of Fantasyland, though, the outside of that structure is divided into several different facades.

Across the front of the building are varying styles of roof coverings, chimneys, windows, wall treatments, balconies and doors. Some of these structures are businesses, such as the Village Tavern, while others would be private residences. Unique weather vanes atop the buildings each identify a different family.

At the center of the village, right on the square, is the bell tower. The bells chime throughout the day, marking the hour, but can also be used to call open a festival or celebration like the one taking place throughout the Kingdom of Fantasyland today.

Presenting Dumbo the Great!

As part of today's Cinderellabration, a traveling circus has pitched its tents in the village square. Circuses have a long tradition in Europe, but this one actually hails from the New World (with winter quarters in Florida, according to the film). It's the world-renowned Dumbo's Circus, featuring everyone's favorite flying elephant!

The centerpiece of the circus (and the attraction) is an elaborate golden calliope covered in fanciful gears, pinwheels and other mechanisms. Carvings and details on the calliope recall the artistry of the circus wagons of old and include elements from the Dumbo story.

More story details can be found on the finials atop the lampposts in the area, where pyramid piles of ponderous pachyderms perch precariously on the poles. (Sorry. Couldn't resist my inner Ringmaster.)

Overseeing the entire show is none other than Dumbo's #1 pal, the one who always believed in him, Timothy Q. Mouse. Timothy is in full circus costume and carrying the so-called "magic" feather, but Dumbo knows he doesn't need that anymore. He has all the confidence he needs to spread his ears and soar.

Flying high above the circus grounds, we spot the sideshow tent and one of the wild animal wagons (with a pair of monkeys on top). This location, a relatively new Disney Vacation Club kiosk, fits right in with the Big Top motif. Even the ad copy on the posters inside the tent does its part to help tell the story.

Of course, the circus never stays in one place for long, and Dumbo's Circus is preparing to pull up stakes. As part of the Magic Kingdom Fantasyland expansion, opening in 2012, Dumbo will soon have a new home in a part of the park now occupied by Mickey's Toontown Fair. Guests visiting the attraction will step into the Big Top for an interactive circus experience before taking off with the flying elephant, and with double the capacity, many more people will be able to enjoy this quintessential Disney attraction than ever before.