The Knight Armory

Across the way but equally close to the castle is Sir Mickey's, a shop with two distinct identities, the first of which we'll explore today. The southern wing of the shop continues the French Gothic look of Cinderella Castle and is home to the Armory, outfitting the brave Knights whose task it is to defend the Kingdom.

Some of those Knights can be seen just outside, in the form of Donald Duck and his mischievous nephews. They're leaving their own armor at the door, as instructed. On the wall hangs a banner, warning of a giant at large. Huey has irreverently scribbled a mustache on the face of the giant, but we should take heed. The big guy may just "pop up" later on in the Sir Mickey's story.

Inside the Knights' keep, the decor is decidedly masculine, quite different from nearby Castle Couture. Heavy beams and candle-filled iron chandeliers dominate the room. Scattered about are a selection of shields, armor and weaponry awaiting use.

A door at one end of the room bears a crest featuring a two-headed eagle, an ancient heraldic image symbolizing strength and courage. The Knights will need plenty of both if they plan to defend against that giant. Of course, I understand that he who vanquishes said giant will earn fifty golden pazoozahs and the hand of the fair Princess Minnie!

Ye Royal Dressmaker

Immediately inside the castle walls are a handful of facilities to serve the needs of the royal family and their distinguished guests. The first of these is Castle Couture, home to the Royal Dressmaker to the Kingdom. The architecture here is still heavily connected to the castle itself, but there are plenty of fantasy touches.

The heraldic crest above the door includes a crown along with needle and thread. Take a look at the finials over the entrance. You may notice they're comprised of pincushions, scissors and ribbon. There's even a swirl of pink ribbon flying up around the dress sculpture at the peak, a nod to the way the birds and mice built their first dress for Cinderella.

Castle Couture is the place where anyone who's anyone would come to be outfitted for a Royal Ball or celebration. The interior of the space is sumptuous and covered in gold accents, befitting the noble stature of those who are served here.

In the back of the shop, beyond the showroom, are the Royal Dressing Chambers and Dressmaker's Workshop, where visiting Princesses might try on their custom creations.

Of course, Cinderella herself would have all of her dresses handmade and delivered directly to her private chambers inside the castle.

The Royal Dressmakers at Castle Couture have crafted their fair share of fantastic gowns over the years. One of their proudest achievements, the 16th birthday dress worn by none other than Princess Aurora, is on display in the center of the shop. Even though time has passed and their Briar Rose has moved on, the good fairies Flora and Merryweather still continue their argument over the color.

Make it pink! Make it blue!

A Castle Fit for a Princess

This week, we return to the Magic Kingdom for an exploration of Fantasyland. Our journey begins where it ought to... with Cinderella Castle. The design of the castle is a blend of many different European styles, from 13th-century French chateaux like those at Ussé and Chenonceau to medieval castle keeps and ornate late-Rennaisance palaces.

The lower walls of the castle are more like a fortress, designed to protect the village beyond. Note the moat surrounding the structure and the battlements and arrow slits for defense. The upper reaches of the castle are more refined and detailed, befitting the elegance of the Princess who lives here. The gargoyles on the towers may seem imposing, but are actually typical of French gothic architecture. They serve as water spouts, helping with drainage and protecting the castle from a buildup of rainwater.

Regal details abound on Cinderella Castle, from heraldic tapestries to finely carved stonework on the bridge.

The family crest cast in stone above each entrance to the castle is actually the Disney family coat of arms. Whether this is the crest historically associated with the Disney name or just one that Walt Disney picked out is a matter for debate. In any case, this bit of Hidden Disney is appropriate here, since lions as charges on coats of arms were common among ruling families of several European states.

The clock on the castle is an important symbol from the Cinderella story, but it's also full of details representative of the period. The Roman numeral for "4" is shown as IIII (the use of IV is more modern in nature), and the arms of the clock include astronomical symbols used to indicate such things as the relative position of the sun, moon and zodiacal constellations.

Of course, while there are elements here that come from the story of Cinderella, you might notice that this castle looks nothing like the one seen in Disney's 1950 animated classic Cinderella. That's because that was the King's castle. The castle in the Magic Kingdom is truly Cinderella's castle, the home built by the King as a wedding present for his son, Prince Charming, and his new daughter-in-law.

Inside the castle are carved columns, beautiful tapestries and other commissioned works of art that tell the story of Cinderella and how she and the Prince came to meet. Decorative tile story murals like those found in the castle breezeway were highly popular in ancient Rome and Egypt, but during the Middle Ages, they were created almost exclusively for the wealthiest landowners and members of the nobility.

The panel pictured above has some particularly fun details about it. Notice the stepsisters who are depicted as "red with rage" and "green with envy" over Cinderella's foot fitting the glass slipper. Also, the images of the Footman and Grand Duke bear the likenesses of Imagineering legends (and key designers of Cinderella Castle) Herb Ryman and John Hench.

Out back is the beautiful La Fontaine de Cendrillon, depicting our Lady's humble beginnings as a scullery maid in the Tremaine household. (Remember, her actual name is Ella Tremaine. "Cinder Ella" is a nickname given her by those wicked stepsisters.) View the fountain from the proper angle, though, and a golden crown rests down upon her head.

Stepping inside the castle walls, we're greeted with the most beautiful view yet of Cinderella Castle. This is the view enjoyed by the Princess's loyal subjects who live and play in this magical land of fantasy.

Gorillas in Their Midst

Returning into the Pangani Forest, we come upon an open-sided shack which is a base of operations for researchers studying gorillas in the area. One whole side of the shack has been glassed in to allow up close observation. During the day, a primatologist named Mirza works out of this outpost, studying gorilla nutrition interactions.

The outpost is also set up for overnight monitoring and recording of gorilla behavior. The two researchers engaged in this work are Stephanie Lukas, an American student working in Harambe, and Ruth Kimutai, a Tanzanian. During the night, they work in shifts, taking turns sleeping. Peek through the mosquito netting on their bunks, and it's easy to tell who sleeps on top and bottom. Ruth lives far more simply, with far less personal gear than Stephanie seems to require.

Just as we've seen throughout the Pangani Forest School, research notes and other documentation can be found here, sharing information with Guests. The large chalkboard in the corner is left over from Dr. Kulunda's recent lecture on gorilla anatomy.

Next to Stephanie Lukas's note to Ruth (above) is a map of the region, marking a natural boundary between two troops of gorillas. As we leave the outpost and cross a suspension bridge into the valley, we suddenly find ourselves right in the middle.

On one side of us is a family troop. A troop of bachelor males resides on the other (gorillas are patriarchal, where one dominant male will often have multiple females in his troop, leaving other males out of the mating game). The boundary of the stream prevents the territories of these troops from overlapping, but that doesn't mean there aren't occasional expressions of dominance, just to show the others who's boss.

The Pangani Forest Conservation School and Wildlife Sanctuary is an incredible place where important research work is being done and the citizens of Harambe can make a vital connection with the animals that share their world.

A bit of Hidden Disney: Remember the Swahili reference to the original attraction name back at the entrance to Pangani Forest? Well, here's the one place where the name remains in English. This crate (above) in the area of the gorilla observation outpost still carries the label for Gorilla Falls Conservation School. Since the crate is made of wood, though, it's a detail that isn't likely to last forever.

An Overlook Look Over

As Guests approach the edge of the Pangani Forest, they come to an overlook structure, built in a traditional, upcountry style. The overlook provides a dramatic view of Baobab trees and some of the animals of the dry savanna grasslands beyond the forest. Gerenuk can often be seen grazing here. Giraffes occasionally come into the area as well.

Apart from the view, the overlook was also constructed as a place to host school groups and other visitors. The interior of the space is decorated with a variety of things to educate not just about wildlife, but about some of the area's cultural heritage. The spears, shields and gourds (used for drinking or storage) are artifacts of the Maasai, a semi-nomadic people who inhabit the Serengeti plains.

While the rest of the structures at the Pangani Forest Conservation School are utilitarian in nature, the overlook has been purposefully designed to evoke the tribal traditions and romance of East Africa.

Alongside the overlook, a colony of meerkats has created a home by burrowing into and under an old, eroded termite mound. The meerkats can often be seen frolicking or rooting around for grubs. There's always one member of the colony, though, who is keeping watch for predators (that's the sentry sitting atop the mound at the top left of the photo below).

A notebook on a nearby table contains some of the observations of researcher T. Gikungu, who has been studying the meerkats. Also on the table, Gikungu has left examples of a tiny meerkat skull and the much larger skull of a warthog. Since the wide world of Disney even reaches out to the schoolchildren of Africa, using references to familiar characters and stories is just another way to engage the kids in caring about these creatures.

Learning Is Hip. Oh.

Throughout the year, the Pangani Forest Conservation School and Wildlife Sanctuary plays host to groups of school children, hoping to introduce them to the wonder of their animal neighbors. Sometimes, those children write or send pictures to the school staff to express their appreciation. The drawings on display above are from Ms. Debra Murang'a's class at Matumaini Primary School. The sentiment expressed in her letter reinforces the main focus of the Pangani Sanctuary: "Many of my students come from urban areas and have little contact with our native wildlife. I think this outing helped them realize what a wonderful heritage the animals of Harambe represent."

The researchers do their part to help educate the children when they visit. After all, if the next generation of Harambeans has a passion for conservation, the important research work being done today will be able to continue. To that end, props and tools can occasionally be found along the trail that help illustrate some of the work they're doing.

One of the biggest projects currently underway involves a study of hippos, one of the most dangerous and misunderstood animals in all of Africa. Substantial grants acquired by Dr. Kulunda over the years have allowed the Pangani team to construct a dam along a stretch of the Safi River, so hippos may be observed below the water as well as from above. The dam is starting to show its age, however. It has sprung a couple of leaks on the far side, creating a tiny stream of water through the observation area (an intentional effect which has been turned off of late, due to drought-induced water restrictions in Central Florida).

In a corner of the observation area by the dam is a cabinet of video equipment belonging to researcher Morris Kyengo. Morris and his partner Will Carr-Hartley are studying the hippo population and the animals' ability to communicate underwater. Clips from their documentation video is playing on the monitor in the cabinet. (In a bit of Hidden Disney, some of the footage seen here is actually taken from Disney's 1955 True-Life Adventure film The African Lion.)

The researchers' notes on bulletin boards in the area point out some observations they've made in regards to hippo territoriality and the ways in which hippos help local ecosystems:

For one thing, the hippos are nocturnal grazers, keeping area grasslands healthy and growing. All that grass they eat ends up enriching the river in the form of hippo dung, helping to increase the populations of tilapia and cichlids, fish that feed on the organic material (yuck, I know).

Adam Mathenge, another researcher, has been fascinated with the study of cichlids for years. He's currently here in Harambe, where the dammed sections of the river allow him to study the fish up close underwater, but he's also spent time observing various species of rock cichlid in Africa's Lake Victoria.

Research Centre

Eventually, Guests come to the Research Centre, the base of operations for the Pangani Forest Conservation School. The Centre is a simple, wooden structure built up against an earthen embankment. Apart from the many unique animals to be discovered here, the Centre is also packed with story details inside and out.

On the porch are several tools and other pieces of equipment, along with this crate addressed to a Morris Kyengo. We'll learn later that Kyengo is conducting research on hippos. One can only wonder what might be waiting for him in this box.

Inside the building is the head office, along with a collection of reference materials used by the researchers at work here.

At the center of the office is Dr. Kulunda's desk, which also gets used by the rest of the team. A notice on the bulletin board tells us that Kulunda is presenting a lecture tonight at 6:30. He also keeps handy a supply of stamps, his binoculars and a can of Doom bug spray (the same brand seen advertised in Harambe and used in "It's Tough to be a Bug").

The cabinets and drawers throughout the Research Centre contain supplies for those working in the reserve, everything from lanterns and water jugs to sample vials and small cages for collecting specimens. Other items for study can also be found here, including a variety of skulls and well-preserved insects. Visitors to the Centre are encouraged to open the drawers. You never know what you might discover.

At one end of the Research Centre, the building is open, revealing the side of the hill. The earth has been carefully opened up to reveal a series of burrows inhabited by a colony of naked mole-rats. A researcher named Ms. Muthoni is studying the mole-rats and their fascinating behavioral patterns.

Another researcher, Rebeccah Davies, is studying a local clan of spotted hyenas. Some of her work is on display at the Centre. She is photographing and identifying individual hyenas in the clan and trying to establish their position in the matriarchal heirarchy.

These projects are just the tip of the iceberg of the research and conservation efforts currently underway in the Pangani Forest region of the Harambe Wildlife Reserve. We've already come across Apti and Omari's okapi observations. Next, we'll leave the Research Centre and head down toward the Safi River to catch up with what Mathenge, Kyengo and Carr-Hartley are doing with cichlids and hippos.