ON THIS DAY IN DISNEY HISTORY ...
NOV . 1 , 2003
On this day , Brother Bear , Disney ’ s 44th animated feature , opened in theaters nationwide . Though he is more often credited for his Tarzan music , Disney Legend Phil Collins wrote some beautiful compositions for Brother Bear as well . Learn more about Collins ’ experience writing for this film on the blog .
NOV . 9 , 2001
Twenty years ago today , Disney ’ s California Adventure kicked off its very first Christmas with Disney ’ s LuminAria , a beautiful fireworks spectacular to celebrate the season . What was this one-year-only fireworks display like ? Get all the deets on the blog .
NOV . 15 , 1980
Though Big Thunder Mountain Railroad had technically been running in Magic Kingdom since September , today marked the ride ’ s official grand opening . Chances are good , you ’ ve ridden dozens of times since . But how much do you know about its backstory , and have you spotted all the hidden Mickeys ?
NOV . 24 , 1995
For the first time ever , Disney-MGM Studios ( now Hollywood Studios ) lit up with the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights . For more than two decades , Christmas lovers from across the world came to see this magnificent light display . But how did this Christmas tradition come to be at Disney World ? Check out last year ’ s Christmas issue for an in-depth look .
You may have known these dates , but do you know the details ? Visit WDW-MAGAZINE . COM / THE-BLOG to find out more .
There are over 140 different wines available by the glass , bottle , or ounce . PHOTO COURTESY OF WINE BAR GEORGE
DIY GEORGE INTERVIEW Want to talk to Miliotes yourself ? Chances are , you will .
Guests love to report interactions with Miliotes himself at Wine Bar George , and not by coincidence . He is often there , working right alongside the team to chat about wine , serve , and keep the restaurant guest-ready .
When I asked why he was such a strong presence , he gave the best answer : “ My name is on the sign , isn ’ t it ?”
Miliotes feels a large responsibility for both the guest experience and the staff . If you catch him at Wine Bar George , you ’ ll probably see his hands-on leadership style in action .
“ I enjoy being in my restaurant . I work with my team five to six days a week . Yesterday was supposed to be a work-from-home day , but we needed help in the kitchen doing prep , so I came in from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM . It is as much about working with the team as delighting guests .”
For guests on vacation who have worked in the service industry , this leadership style is a breath of fresh air . Miliotes is a teacher first and foremost , and during our interview , he talked with ease about the values that power his team : “ Nobody is better than somebody else at the restaurant . Servers bus tables , I bus tables … I run food , sometimes the chef runs the food . We all care about the restaurant , and I like to go in and work with my team .”
While working for Darden Restaurants , Miliotes opened 75 restaurants in 15 years . Now dedicating all his energy to Wine Bar George , he ’ s enjoying the ability to direct all his attention to one place . Miliotes said , “ There is a beauty to having my one restaurant , coming in , educating , talking to , and caring about people . It ’ s not just about me ; it ’ s about teaching servers , cooks … it ’ s about having fun at work and providing a living .”
Places born out of a desire to educate are often the best spots to be . By the end of our chat , George Miliotes had quelled my newbie fears , and I was feeling pretty confident about walking into Wine Bar George and greeting the whole team .
But just in case you have any lingering doubts , George has a message directly for you , dear reader , that accidentally summed up his attitude that anyone can enjoy wine : “ If you wanna learn about wine , come have a bit of fun and some good food . We would love to see you .”