Hey again everyone. I don't know what I did, but today was just not my day today. Everything seemed to be going wrong. As always, I started off at DTD. I was waiting for a bus to the Contemp. for nearly 50 minutes. Not to mention, my bus driver almost crashed the bus into the safety gate. After I walked over to the MK, the bus driver came up to me and said "You were going to MK...Why didn't you say anything". Anyway, lemme give you the updates, and I'll throw some events of today into the middle of it all...
At DTD...
--The only thing I could really tell that has changed is that the "Merry Christmas" photo op, but the 25 Days of Christmas shop has been removed.
The real updates start here...MK...
--The Splash Mountain gift shop has been changed. The register has been moved to the far, right hand side of the store. It used to be on the wall, just as you were coming out of the exit. It helps alot with guest flow, into and out of the store.
--Work finally seems to be starting on the SGE queue.
--The Tomorrowland Indy Speedway sign and roof are still gone.
--Some of the work on the side of the "Main Street Clothiers" building has been finished.
--Now work has been done on the Skyway Station yet (or atleast what I could see). They just drained the small waterfall/pond area about 2 weeks ago, and it is still like that.
--From what I can tell, 2 smaller (and weirdly shaped) stages will be built in the spot where the large Tomorrowland stage once stood.
--Tom Sawyer Island was closed today, and you could hear hammering all through out Frontierland. They seem to be doing alot of work on the load/unload dock on the island.
--Splash Mountain seems to be having some problems again. The hopping Brer Rabbit is no longer working, along with some other AA's that don't say their lines when they should (the sweeping bunnies). The Brer Bear audio was not working either, at the part where he says " *something* Just Bees". (Right before the "to the laughing place drop).
--"Frontier Trading Post" (the shop in Frontierland) has been completely remodeled. Now, it is a pin store. It used to be candy and food, but now, it's just pins pins pins. I asked the CM to be sure that I wasn't imagining things, but he said that they changed it about 3 weeks ago. He also said it has done PHENOMENAL, with that one store making $1,400 in just pin sales, the very first day it was open. I can't tell for sure, but it looks like the "Frontier Trading Post" sign has been stripped, and may come down, to make way for what the stores new name may be: "WANTED: Pin Traders".
After MK, it was over to AK...
Before I get to the updates, I want to share what happened when I got my bag checked. Since I got there at like, 1pm, there was no line to get my bag checked. I unzipped my bag, and walked up to the security guard. I put my bag on the table, and he started searching through it. He stopped halfway and said
"Do you have an ID?".
I didn't have my Florida ID, so I said
"No, I don't have an ID". Then he was all
"You are breaking the law. It is against the law to be walking around in the US without a full facial ID." Having just remembered I had my School ID and Universal AP (both with my picture and name) I told him
"I have my school ID, but not my Florida ID". He just said
"Ok, but you know you are breaking the law by not having a full facial ID"
I was like "Ok, do you need to see my school ID or anything?" and he replied
"nope".
I don't know what was up with that, but I have never had it happen to me before. The more I thought about it, the more it bothered me. I would of appreciated a reason of why he basically made an
@$$ out of me in front of everyone that piled up behind me. Anyway, here are the updates...
--The fake Gorilla cage Photo op they had at the exit of Kilimanjaro Safaris has been removed.
--Everest keeps getting bigger. The started rockwork on the front, aswell as the whole left side. You can also see the stairs that will be used in case of an evacuation. I also got some pictures from above the park, showing just how high Everest is compared with the Tree of Life.
--Speaking of the Tree of Life, I was walking to Asia from Dinoland (on the new bridge) and I noticed that a cell phone tower is visible right by the Tree of Life. I don't know if it is new or has always been there, but you can plainly see it and isn't really convincing when you are looking at a giant tree with a cell phone tower next to it. I don't think it is in the park, but backstage somewhere.
Pretty soon, thunderclouds moved in, and it started drizzling. I went over to the Flame Tree BBQ and sat in the seating area by the lake to wait the storm out. Well, it went from drizzling to pouring and thundering and lightning. I didn't mind it, I was the only person in that whole section of the park and I was just relaxing looking at Everest...and then, I feel water by my feet, and I look down, and the WHOLE seating area had been covered with 1 inch of water. I was like "It's alright...I'll just wait". 10 minutes later, that water got deeper and kept on coming. It literally looked like the whole seating area was sinking. The water was like, 3 inches deep, enough to cover a good portion of the chair legs. So I got up and ran for the nearest bathroom (the drip drip of the water had gotten to me). Pretty soon, I left and went to MGM...
At MGM...
Getting in there was like suicide. I slipped and fell 3 times because of the wet cement. Anyway, the updates...
--The San Francisco backdrop is complete (I'm almost certain). The construction wall was removed, and it looks great. I didn't have time to scour it our for Hidden Mickey's yet.
--A large stage was set up in front of the hat. A HUGE stage, with 2 tents, and 2 other booths on each side.
and that is pretty much it. I'll post (a BUNCH) of pictures soon.
