JoeZerboy
New Member
Hello All...
Was down in Orlando over the weekend and went to EPCOT while I was down. Here are a few highlights...
**Some Disney Parking CMs are using the Seqways to get about and help direct traffic. Also being used in Future World outside of Innoventions.
**After 20 years, I still get goosebumps hearing the music in the park entry area around the ticket booths. Still not sure about whether or not I like the look of Leave a Legacy. I miss the lucite pillar thing that was on the fountain in front of Spaceship Earth as you enter the park.
**Imagination is cute and better than the version that was around on my last trip to EPCOT [March 2001]. But, it still doesn't match the original with Dreamfinder and Figment V1.0. Cute finale scene...but the static figurines didn't seem as whimsical as the video scene display on the original.
**At 12:45, Test Track had an hour wait with Fast Pass still available for 6p-7p. Grabbed a Fast Pass and explored a bit more [see below]. At about 4-ish, my round of exploring over, I headed back to TT and jumped into the Single Rider line. Sorry guys, but Test Track left me a bit UNDERWHELMED. First point on this is I was seated in the back row -- not enough leg room for a 6' tall person: knees kept banging the front row. Second point is that with traversing Atlanta roadways, I drive faster and in more challenging conditions than these tests. For some reason, I could not find the WOW factor that everyone else seems to get on this one.
On a side note: I still have my unused Fast Pass for Test Track. Should anyone wish to add it to their collection, please PM me - first one to PM gets it - no charge.
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*****EDIT [10/23/02]: The Fast Pass for Test Track is no longer available. It has been claimed and in the mail to the lucky first PMer.**********
**Stopped in at Living Seas...just not the same anymore with the Sea Cabs closed down. Having that part gave a nice leisurely intro to the exhibit. Without it, now it just feels like a glorified aquarium. Poor ole thing...
**Never noticed these before, but the landscaping to include little butterfly gardens dotted all over the park in both Futureworld and World Showcase.
**Took lunch in Morocco at the Tangerine Cafe. Highly recommend, especially for lamb dish lovers. Roasted lamb was yummy.
**Visited the Grand Dame of the park, Spaceship Earth. Not too keen about the video screens at the beginning - no real benefit to them besides cutting out some voice over dialog and ride effects. Jeremy Irons is a likable replacement for Walter Cronkite - yet there are still volume problems on the speakers with it going in and out. Omnimover track squeak noise seems to have been reduced quite a bit, but there are still the usual track noises. Too bad they aren't able to get it down as quiet as the HM's track. In the finale scene, I miss the satellite and astronauts - but I did notice that the starfield moves across the ceiling like in a planetarium during a showing on the night skies. And, like others, I despise the VOICE at the end just before disembarking the ride. I realize that the attraction [still w/AT&T stamped all over it] is about communication, but why employ a high pitched, grating yet overly perky voice? Honestly, if I wanted my ear drums popped that badly, I'd use red hot knitting needles.
**Also poked my head in at Ice Station Cool. I did not go anywhere near the dispenser for Beverly after seeing a few faces of those who did try it. Found the ginger ale one to be one of the better samples.
**Ended my day with taking the monorail out and back in so I could get a higher vantage point for Mission: Space. The building looks WAY pretty...am hoping that the attraction that it will house can match.
Joe
Was down in Orlando over the weekend and went to EPCOT while I was down. Here are a few highlights...
**Some Disney Parking CMs are using the Seqways to get about and help direct traffic. Also being used in Future World outside of Innoventions.
**After 20 years, I still get goosebumps hearing the music in the park entry area around the ticket booths. Still not sure about whether or not I like the look of Leave a Legacy. I miss the lucite pillar thing that was on the fountain in front of Spaceship Earth as you enter the park.
**Imagination is cute and better than the version that was around on my last trip to EPCOT [March 2001]. But, it still doesn't match the original with Dreamfinder and Figment V1.0. Cute finale scene...but the static figurines didn't seem as whimsical as the video scene display on the original.
**At 12:45, Test Track had an hour wait with Fast Pass still available for 6p-7p. Grabbed a Fast Pass and explored a bit more [see below]. At about 4-ish, my round of exploring over, I headed back to TT and jumped into the Single Rider line. Sorry guys, but Test Track left me a bit UNDERWHELMED. First point on this is I was seated in the back row -- not enough leg room for a 6' tall person: knees kept banging the front row. Second point is that with traversing Atlanta roadways, I drive faster and in more challenging conditions than these tests. For some reason, I could not find the WOW factor that everyone else seems to get on this one.
On a side note: I still have my unused Fast Pass for Test Track. Should anyone wish to add it to their collection, please PM me - first one to PM gets it - no charge.
*
**
***
****
*****EDIT [10/23/02]: The Fast Pass for Test Track is no longer available. It has been claimed and in the mail to the lucky first PMer.**********
**Stopped in at Living Seas...just not the same anymore with the Sea Cabs closed down. Having that part gave a nice leisurely intro to the exhibit. Without it, now it just feels like a glorified aquarium. Poor ole thing...
**Never noticed these before, but the landscaping to include little butterfly gardens dotted all over the park in both Futureworld and World Showcase.
**Took lunch in Morocco at the Tangerine Cafe. Highly recommend, especially for lamb dish lovers. Roasted lamb was yummy.
**Visited the Grand Dame of the park, Spaceship Earth. Not too keen about the video screens at the beginning - no real benefit to them besides cutting out some voice over dialog and ride effects. Jeremy Irons is a likable replacement for Walter Cronkite - yet there are still volume problems on the speakers with it going in and out. Omnimover track squeak noise seems to have been reduced quite a bit, but there are still the usual track noises. Too bad they aren't able to get it down as quiet as the HM's track. In the finale scene, I miss the satellite and astronauts - but I did notice that the starfield moves across the ceiling like in a planetarium during a showing on the night skies. And, like others, I despise the VOICE at the end just before disembarking the ride. I realize that the attraction [still w/AT&T stamped all over it] is about communication, but why employ a high pitched, grating yet overly perky voice? Honestly, if I wanted my ear drums popped that badly, I'd use red hot knitting needles.
**Also poked my head in at Ice Station Cool. I did not go anywhere near the dispenser for Beverly after seeing a few faces of those who did try it. Found the ginger ale one to be one of the better samples.
**Ended my day with taking the monorail out and back in so I could get a higher vantage point for Mission: Space. The building looks WAY pretty...am hoping that the attraction that it will house can match.
Joe
