Car Masters DownTown Disney June 2012

Over 120 of the finest automobiles set up "camp" in DownTown Disney's West Side as well as Lot "K" (in front of DisneyQuest) of the vast parking lot. They came from near and far and what a collection. There is a car to suite every one's vehicular dreams.

I worked yesterday and only got a glimpse of the beauty of these classics. Today, was a different story. I set out in the heat of the early afternoon with camera in hand to photograph a fair number of these beauties.

Out of this eclectic mix of dream machines, there's gotta be a ride for everyone.

A Mustang with a Falcon roof!

A "sterling" Cadillac.

The Camaro is nearly every one's favorite! Pat owned a 1967 convertible.

Let's get serious for a minute or two!

I thought I purchased big tires for our motor home...

... and from the side....

I'm going to tease you with one of my favorites!

The Ford GT-40

'Ya Baby!

....and I thought it was the heat was getting to me!

You just cannot have a car show without the "General!" ........ Lee, that is!

Here's a crowd pleaser...

Sprinkle in a few "oldies but goodies."

A few "muscle" cars. (I know, this one doesn't fit the definition of a "muscle" car but it sure looks the part!)

Ya gotta have a few "Hot Rods!"

Something with a really BIG foot!

A real "Sleeper" (this may look familiar to all of you)!

Here's a few for the kids!

... "Herbie" was wired to "greet" children. He can get their attention with the windsheld washers, give a "tip" of the hood, blink his lights and honk his horn when a boy or girl talks to him!

They set up the "Richard Petty Experience Go-Cart Track.

The show included a great variety of vehicles.

Yep! Above is a PT Cruiser. Our first towed vehicle was a PT.

(But without the special effects!)

I blitzed through the show and took pictures of the ones that caught my eye.

I'd have to say, this one is my favorite.....

Have you guessed it yet? The engine certainly isn't the one Rambler had in mind for this adorable car.

Everyone together....

it's the

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Nash/Rambler.....

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Metropolitan!

Now think back, wouldn't you love to have your Mom drop you off at High School in any one of these?

"Open Mouse"

At least that's what Disney calls the "Open House" for the (soon to open) "Art of Animation" Resort.

It is awesome! This place will be a hit for young and old alike. Today was an "Open Mouse" for Cast Members only. I'm going to let the photos say it all....

The above stitched photo is just the entrance and sign in building.

Check in.

Once you've checked in, bought a trinket in the "Ink and Paint Shop"...

...relaxed and had a lunch...

...and played in the "Pixel Play Arcade"...

You can head to your suite in one of the four themed resorts.

Two are finished and set to open this month. We toured the "Finding Nemo" and "Cars" resorts. The "Lion Kind" and "little Mermaid" resorts will open later this summer.

In typical Disney fashion, this resort "hides" the best yet to come. You need to pass through the Check in at the front desk and walk out the other side of the building and enter the "Finding Nemo" courtyard.

This will give you an idea of the "scope" of this courtyard...

The "dry" kid's play area. The areas where you can be active are covered with a super soft cork type surface.

The entrance to the second "Finding Nemo" building.

One end of the huge pool.

The "jelly fish" are showers. Adjacent to the pool is the largest "non-pool" wet area. (Numerous surface water jets for guests to walk over, jump around, etc.)

The "show" is literally on the exterior surface of the resort walls facing inward of this seven building resort.

Now for the "Family Suite."

Below is a "Murphy" bed that folds down onto a table.

Every bit of every room in each of the themed resorts are decorated to the hilt with "Finding Nemo" artifacts, including the dressers, shower curtains, etc. (You can buy the shower curtains in the "Ink and Paint Shop."

Just around the corner you walk smack-dab into the desert town of "Radiator Springs" of "Cars."

You enter trough an open chain link fence and you're walking on Rt. 66.

Cars are set out for the kids to climb on and play in this outside "dream world."

If you've seen "Cars" you'll enjoy standing next to all your favorite four-wheel "personalities!"

All of them are "life size" and on a soft pad so guests can climb on them and take your pictures with them.

Here's a look around the town....

"Luigi's Resort"

"Tow Mater's" Resort.

Remember the "Cozy Cone" Motel?

These are like "cabanas" around the pool.

The "Wagon Wheel Motel" is still under construction.

Here is one of "Cars" Family Suites.

The couch is rolled and pleated leather. The chair is made of "seat-belts" and is very comfortable. You'll notice that the drawers and all dressers look like "tool boxes."

Check out the night light on the table... a road cone... as are all the lights on the walls in the halls.

The bath... "Carwash!"

The shower curtains are great. (Sorry I didn't get a photo of one. But, you can get one in the store!)

Our self-guided tour took us back to the "Ink and Paint Shop." We showed the Cast Member behind the cash register our "completed guide map (we had to have it stamped in nine locations) to receive our "Open Mouse" 2012 pin. And, as you might guess, in typical Disney fashion, the nine hand stamps were letters.

Can you guess what they spelled? ....................."ANIMATION!"

The Disney "Imagineers" certainly worked their "magic" with "Art of Animation."

Just walking around and taking in all the color and art wok, never mind the "giant" sized "movie stars," will bring a smile to your face and make you feel like a kid again.

Our "Art of Animation" Resort map says it all...

"Get drawn into Disney's Art of Animation Resort! With 1,120 suites inspired by "Finding Nemo," "Cars," and "The Lion King." and 864 rooms inspired by "The Little Mermaid," you'll fee like you're staying in the middle of a Disney story with all of your favorite characters.

Open Mouse 2012

 We hope you enjoyed the "tour."

"Listen People"

By now you know where we went!

We forgot all about the remaining "Flower Power" shows at EPCOT. We just wanted to see the fireworks and get a "Sweet Pretzel" in Norway. (Although, I don't really know which one was our first choice.)

That really didn't matter, the show was great.

It's nice to be back but Pat's got me doing some chores we've put off until all of you left! Things like washing windows, and a sundry of other household chores!

We'll be back into our work routine next week and Pat will finish up at DisneyQuest. She put in for a transfer six months ago and she got a call while we were in CA. She's transferring to Food and Beverage in............

ESPN Wide World of Sports.

We're both very excited.

The only thing is she is required to provide "full availability," and the summer season is particularly busy. We'll need to head north in August for our Doctors appointments. I won't mind picking up some shifts at EWWS in addition to (staying cool) in the big green building in DownTown Disney!

As some of you already know, we've heard from Pete and Joan who had an awesome trip to the FL Keys. Traveling sans their camper is a plus for them to "scoot" about on their way back home. I hear they'll be taking the train down in the fall. That should be a fun trip for them. We're glad to hear from Steve and that he's back on his bike again. Hey Steve, "no fair" staying in shape for our bike rides this fall!

Oh Jack, your truck and trailer are still there!

Darlene and Buzz, your golf cart got a whole lot of rave reviews going up and down our street and into the woods and through the streams and over some stumps! Oh don't worry it's repairable. The Tech said he can put the steering wheel on another cart!

Remember, June 5, 2012, the Venus transit of the sun!

Photo from Sky and Telescope. 

Fred Espenak combined 17 exposures taken at 20-minute intervals to create this sequence from the transit of Venus in June 2004.

I watched part of this transit in 2004 through two arc welding lenses. Obviously, the image was much smaller but easily identifiable. I watched as Venus moved slowly and steadily to the lower right and off the of the sun's limb. There's something special about witnessing events happening hundreds of thousands of miles away (even light years) with your own eyes.

On Tuesday June 5th North America gets to see Venus transit the Sun late afternoon to sunset.

(For your safety, never look at the sun without a proper solar filter.)

The following site is an in depth article on SAFE ways to look at the sun.

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/highlights/Safely-View-the-Upcoming-Eclipse-and-Transit-150863835.html 

For ways to see this event that no one currently alive will see again, here are a few sites to help you.

These site will help the novice and/or the serious astronomer find their way around the night sky the next time you're out camping and happen to "look up" while enjoying the evening.  

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/ A Great resource

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/search?searchKeywords=venus+transit Everything about "transits"

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/home/Transit-of-Venus-February-2012-134332798.html

A specific site for the June 5, 2012 transit

http://spaceweather.com/ A site for all things happening above us.

http://www.astronomy.com/ Another great resource

Here is the ultimate site to see the transit: http://www.ccssc.org/transit2012.html

FYI all of you "smart phone" users, "Stellarium" is a FREE downloadable planetarium program. Once loaded onto your phone, go out at night, begin the program and point your phone at any section of the sky. It will tell you all of the objects that are in the viewing screen. You will need to "play" with the functions of the program a little but, in no time you'll learn to see what planets are visible, star names and constellations and more. As you move your phone around the celestial dome you'll be surprised to see what you've been missing for all these years by not taking the time to "look up" the next time your outside enjoying the evening air!

Now, you have your assignment. There will be a test on June 6!

I'll leave you with this.....

Now you know it's made of Coco-Cola cartons....

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...and this is what it looks like......

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Cool huh?