[SOLVED] How do I "Access" variables inside of smarty php tags?

[Ninjakreborn]

I hav a varible that is passed into the view it's $subarealist.  There is something I need to do using {php}{/php} tags but when I try to access it via $subarealist the array is not there.  It works in Smarty like normal {$subarealist} but it does not work in php tags like that.  I tried {$subarealist}, $subarealist, I tried setting it to global like

{php}

global $subarealist;

echo '<pre>';

print_r($subarealist);

echo'</pre>';

{/php}

That comes back with nothing.  What do I need to do specifically to make php give me access to that variable.  Inside of cakes controller that variable is both set to that variale as well as passed into the view (both).

[DyslexicDog]

Are globals disabled?

[Ninjakreborn]

Not sure but I just got it working.

$subarealist = $this->_tpl_vars['subarealist'];