So we stayed over the Fourth of July weekend at AS Sports. Things in the park on July 4th:
I'll probably post pics later. I love some of my fireworks shots.
- EPCOT, for the busy weekend, actually had nice low crowds, up to 1:00. I recall being able to ride Soarin twice in the stand-by line, and a almost empty UoE around 11:30!
- Remember that Innoventions breezeway floor that is being refurbished? It is nearly 2/3 done, and it looks nicer than the previous tiles. Plus, it could mean less 'slip ups'.
- There is now a white Coca-Cola vending machine in Club Cool. Only with a touch screen that features its choices with eye-catching colors. The prices were $2.50 per contour bottle.
- Tried out The Great Piggy Bank Adventure. It is really fun, with the aspects of saving for your future, but kind of impossible in teamwork, (depending who is in your group).
- Quick question: There is a Cool Keeper refrigerator nearby the Segway Central I have seen for the longest time. Are the apples tied up in that fridge from Horizons? They sure look familiar....
- Thought we would ride the Monorail to get out from the heat and those increasing crowds. I would later realize it was the ill-fated Monorail Purple. (More later...)
- After checking in, we came back to EPCOT around 7 pm to see the July 4th fireworks. We stationed in the Canada pavilion, and after a great showing of Illuminations: ROE, thus began the Independence Day tag. It was epic! And did some fireworks occur behind the American Adventure? That view over their was blocked... But a great showing, especially the end! I noticed the DHS fireworks began a minute or so before, distracting the opening, but all went well.
- Something funny that night as well. A CM kept telling people to step this way and go that way. I thought it was just controlling traffic, but it was something else. Someone left their blue picnic bag by the railing, 8 feet away from us. A woman saw the bag, picked it up, and went to that same female CM about it. I never saw a CM so hysterical, saying, "STOP! Put that down! NOOWW!". The bewildered woman did and left. 5 minutes later, an elderly man came to retrieve it.:ROFLOL:She proceeded to tell him what happen and quickly left. I then realized she never told us to move away, being that close to it. What if it was real? Oh well...
- Around midnight, our bus finally picked AS Sports guests up and back to our rooms. On the way, we discovered the route from the MK was completely at a standstill from all the traffic as far as I could see!
It does pay to stay overnight in such holidays!
- Woke up that morning to the news of the Monorail Crash. Apparently, it happened around 2am. My condolences to the driver and his family. I sometimes I feel like I curse whatever I touch. In fact, I remember riding AE back in 2003 without knowing that it'll close a few weeks later!
- Since it was EMH Mornings at EPCOT, we went there again, rode a Soarin' twice, Mission: Space once, and Spaceship Earth once. All with no lines whatsoever!
- On the bus trip back, noticed the EPCOT Monorail track had Monorail Coral (Peach?) just sitting there.
I assumed it's for obvious reasons... - After checking out, we went to DTD, since the parks would be full by that point in time. The former Guest Relations by Once Upon a Toy has now been converted into a Stroller & Wheelchair Rental, with medicine and pediatric accessories. And if has been reported already, Guest Realtions now resembles Wilderness Lodge. (Expects to bump into a totem pole).
- It's probably the summer months, but I never seen so many DCL pins and merchandise at once! And those Star Wars/Disney Character series? Finally found an Ewok Chip & Dale. But at $10, I passed it. I mean, they're an inch tall, each!
- At the Art of Disney, David Doss was there with his artwork. Found two similar paintings, but one was $525, and the other $10,000! Was the latter the first one he made, it didn't say...
- Also in the Art of Disney, a Vinylmation corner has been created, complete with a white 5 foot tall Mickey figure. And in one part of the store, there are two HM figures by Jim Shore and Dusty Horner for its 40th anniversary at DL to be released in September 18. One features the Hitchhiking Ghosts (JS), and the other is the Organ Player, or the Spirited Entertainer (DH).
- As for the World of Disney Store, they added a Belle statue in Luminere's place, and moved him more to the front. And the Huey, Dewey & Louie sculpture outside opposite Basin is still missing. Whatever happened to it? Is it permanent?
- Quick Question 2: Reading The Art of WDW, it shows concept art for a UK pavilion boat attraction similar to the Rhine River Cruise once planned for Germany. Another page shows an AA show that retells The Christmas Carol. Why don't we hear these ideas? I believe it'll be nice for the UK to have an attraction of its own.
- At the Polynesian Resort, the Great Ceremonial House's roof wood craftmanship was being refurbed.
For what I have no idea, whether painting or fixing something. - That Richard Petty race car from Test Track's postshow is now randomly outside AS Sports, near the Bus Unloading area.
- Finally got to see Must Do Disney. :hurl: Whatever happened to the annoying energy? It is just past WDW commercial footage & Must Sees, with a small percent of new footage. They made Stacy stoic and (almost) lame. I like some newer 'eye-rollers' ("Sorry Mickey, Sorry Mickey, Sorry Mickey!" happens to now be another personal fav) but overall, I feel it lost its charm. On a funnier note, on the segment of Fastpasses, it shows a family with a Fastpass maching. The ticket that pops out next say "Invalid Fastpass". :lol:
- The Surf's Up Pool was first over-chlorinated the first day there. It would reopen the next day. I asked the lifeguard if the pool was neutralized before closing at midnight last night. I was told it probably just had to add a chemical solvent. After she radio'd someone after I asked, I hear the same lifeguard tell everyone: "Due to unscheduled maintenance, the pool has closed for now". :brick:Coincidental? Because rain would appear withing a half hour?
I'll probably post pics later. I love some of my fireworks shots.
