Juan's News and Notes of the World - A Progressive Update

juan

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
***UPDATE 4-14 with FL construction***
(* denotes new info)
I'm down at WDW for the next 3 weeks and I'll try to post as much new info as I see.

The parks have crazy spring break hours like MK 7am -3am, but overall, the parks don't feel extremely crowded.

MK:
*** Large land clearing on other side of train tracks near Toontown station. Very noticeable from pathway to Tomorrowland.
* All of the construction walls are up from Pinnocchio to Toontown. No more Pooh playground!
- PotC - Hat guy is back and he really leans now, Davy Jones works again
- express monorail broke 4-12 evening - saw gold getting towed
- saw bulldozer heading into backstage from backstage on center drive

Epcot:
-Rockin' Robots is now completely removed and has be replaced with a large sitting area :hurl:
-WOL-it is really hard to recognize where anything used to be. It feels really empty now.
-Mexico cantina is progressing and the outside deck is going to be rather large
*cantina is now visible above the walls and outside deck is going vertical
- I could be mistaken, but I'm almost positive that there is a new ending tag to Illuminations that thanks and then refers to Illuminations as a "celebration of love." If this is the case, I'm really disappointed and this lame change!
- I noticed the benches are slightly different on the new LWTL boats, but didn't notices any other big changes. The last refurb added a small rock waterfall and pool to the "bubble" greenhouse - it has lilies and water chestnut growing in it
- fountain show is off at times, random shooting jets with no music, etc



DHS:
-Dog the Bounty Hunter at the park - 4/5 (in a Kilimanjaro Safari vest :ROFLOL:)
-Backlot Tour has reopened. New flatscreens are in Harbor Attack making it much easier to see in the sun. Catastrophe Canyon has better pacing between events and sound has been updated including a TON of bass.


DAK:
-E:E - I too can confirm that the yeti is messed up. He is definitely in "C" (for staring at crotch :lol:) mode. The bird is working.
-Dinosaur looks amazing! The Styrachosaurus is out from behind its tarp and the lighting and sound throughout the ride is so much better!
-During the busy season, they are offering Fastpasses for Nemo, Lion King, and Flights of Wonder. FP Distribution is at It's Tough to be a Bug.

****
I will be periodically updating this over the next few weeks. :wave::wave:
 

ttalovebug

Active Member
So happy about Dinosaur!! That's one of my favorites, and it's great to see them updating effects on any ride. Now only if E:E would follow.......
 

RSoxNo1

Well-Known Member
DAK:
-E:E - I too can confirm that the yeti is messed up. He is definitely in "C" (for staring at crotch :lol:) mode. The bird is working.
-Dinosaur looks amazing! The Styrachosaurus is out from behind its tarp and the lighting and sound throughout the ride is so much better!
-During the busy season, they are offering Fastpasses for Nemo, Lion King, and Flights of Wonder. FP Distribution is at It's Tough to be a Bug.

****
I will be periodically updating this over the next few weeks. :wave::wave:

Great to hear that Dinosaur is looking good. Have they brought back any of the long gone effects?

As for the Fastpasses for the shows, are they using the generic Fastpass paper like they did at Christmas, or did they design Fastpasses for these attractions:

Here's a photo of the generic ones:
AnimalKingdom-Fastpass-Festivalofth.jpg
 

_Scar

Active Member
RSox, when I go I will try my best to get those rare fastpasses for you! :)


Great update Juan!

I'm looking more forward to my trek with Dinos than my visit with a certain yeti.... ! :D
 

Pete C

Active Member
I rode Dino a couple weeks ago...it was working great minus the swooping Pterodactyl, which I seem to remember from when I first rode CTS many years ago. Anyway, it seemed like there were less meteors at the beginning of the ride from even a few years ago. I seem to remember a lot more streaks of light. Also, at the end of the ride when you hit the time warp, the lights are all red now. What happened to the brilliant, blinding white light? I loved that part!! The red just does not provide the same sensation.
 

Figment632

New Member
I rode Dino a couple weeks ago...it was working great minus the swooping Pterodactyl, which I seem to remember from when I first rode CTS many years ago. Anyway, it seemed like there were less meteors at the beginning of the ride from even a few years ago. I seem to remember a lot more streaks of light. Also, at the end of the ride when you hit the time warp, the lights are all red now. What happened to the brilliant, blinding white light? I loved that part!! The red just does not provide the same sensation.

The light at the end is in B-mode :shrug:
 

IWant2GoNow

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the updates, Juan. Can't wait to get back on Dinosaur this summer. My girlfriend thinks that was her favorite ride at The World and now it should look even better.

Now look to "higher peaks", Mr. Disney Ride Fixer Man... or Woman.
 

Master Gracey 5

Active Member
Thanks for the update, but I really want to go ride Dinosaur now. :(

I'd be interested in riding Backlot Tour too. I didn't go last fall because we had lunch reservations we would have missed. It was too bad too because I asked one of the CM how long the wait was and he said we could be on the next tour if we wanted to be part of the show! Unfortunately, the GF didn't want to participate.
 
The leaping Compsognathus are also not working. I believe they and the Pterodactyl have been off since they "toned it down" to lower the height requirement. The blinding light at the end worked a few weeks ago? Perhaps a sensor glitch on your ride through?
 

RSoxNo1

Well-Known Member
The leaping Compsognathus are also not working. I believe they and the Pterodactyl have been off since they "toned it down" to lower the height requirement. The blinding light at the end worked a few weeks ago? Perhaps a sensor glitch on your ride through?

I don't ever remember the hopping Compsognathus, or the swooping Pterodactyl, and I was there on opening day. It's entirely possible that I have just forgotten these effects because it's been so long.

I had read that the Pterodactyl stopped swooping for safety reasons, and not a height restriction/scary issue.

RSox, when I go I will try my best to get those rare fastpasses for you! :)

Thanks, I appreciate it.
 

wdwmagic

Administrator
Moderator
Premium Member
The leaping Compsognathus are also not working. I believe they and the Pterodactyl have been off since they "toned it down" to lower the height requirement.

I was under the impression that both of those effects had technical issues that couldn't easily be resolved. They had a period of being on/off, and ultimately got decommissioned. Real shame, because they both added a lot to it. The Comps in particular moved very well over head.
 

MythBuster

Active Member
I was under the impression that both of those effects had technical issues that couldn't easily be resolved. They had a period of being on/off, and ultimately got decommissioned. Real shame, because they both added a lot to it. The Comps in particular moved very well over head.

Actually, the Compy's and the Yeti have similar problems. Structural cracks and need to be repaired or re-engineered. And you see what happened to the Compy's, just turned off and ignored to save money and inspections. I fear that same fate awaits the Yeti. Same Department, Same Management.
 

wdwmagic

Administrator
Moderator
Premium Member
Actually, the Compy's and the Yeti have similar problems. Structural cracks and need to be repaired or re-engineered. And you see what happened to the Compy's, just turned off and ignored to save money and inspections. I fear that same fate awaits the Yeti. Same Department, Same Management.

Thanks for the info, not good at all. How difficult can it really be to get those effects working?
 

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