Merf's 6/6/06 Update

[mousermerf]

Hey guys!

Hit MK, Epcot, and spent a few mins in MGM. Photos can be found at the Unofficial Guide's Website: http://www.touringplans.com/tp2/UG2_index.php?PageID=44

Quick rundown of new happenings...

SSE Postshow work has expanded, the West exit is clsoed and new walls are up.

Living Seas mural work has begun. Thetre's scaffoldin the whole way along it, and some interesting spray paint marks. They seem to be trying to keep the mural, but make small modifications.

Electric Umbrella has started some rennovation.

They're now selling the old Mickey shaped balloons on Mainstreet, as well as a cute new princess hat.

Single Finger biometric ARE being used in normal operation at MK on some turnstyles.

Whoo, that's it, let me know if you want to see extra-large versions of any particular pics. I shrink them small to fit the website's update format.

 

[MissM]

They're now selling the old Mickey shaped balloons on Mainstreet...

It's totally hit-and-miss when they do it. I got one a few months ago. It was the first time in a couple years I'd seen one. The balloon CM told me that they only make them when they're bored and have free time. For $3 they're not a bad deal, but they do deflate very quickly and mine died before the end of the night. Still, it was fun having one - even with the one ear deflating pattern. :lol:
-m

edit: Here ya go. March 2006

 

[mousermerf]

Oo! Looks like you got see-through ones too! Luckey.

Anywho.. here's a pic that shows off the Seas exterior work pretty well..

Note the spray painted boxes.. In a pic from the monorail they form 3 distinct groups. Far, middle, and near the sun. What they're for is anyone's guess. I ruled out signage because they're too high, maybe lighting or electrical boxes for lighting? A fanciful theory is them running lights along the "waves" and uses those points as electrical junctions.

 

[mousermerf]

Here's the shot from the monorail. I shrunk it down to fit on the web, but before i did i went and drew a red line over all of the boxes I could make out. The line matches their width/length roughly, and the one near the sun and also one toward the far end are the only two which appear at an angle, whereas the rest seem to be level with the ground.

 

[Coastercameron]

Can I see a larger version of the new biometric scanner please?

Thanks for the update... cant wait to go in a week and a half!

 

[mousermerf]

Here's ya go:

Essentially in the circular pad atop the box, there's a slot just the right size to lay down your finger, and in that groove is a little glass panel that apparently lets it look at your finger. Measuring what? Who knows.

 

[Connor002]

Here's ya go:


Essentially in the circular pad atop the box, there's a slot just the right size to lay down your finger, and in that groove is a little glass panel that apparently lets it look at your finger. Measuring what? Who knows.

Ah, thanks for that. I was wondering what they looked like...

So, do they seem to be working better than the biometric finger scanners?

 

[mousermerf]

No one seemed to be getting stuck at them.. which was happened with the two fingers at Epcot. It's just easier to do that the two-finger scan.

However, my first scan didn't work, and it spat out my card without really telling me it didn't work. Either i missed something or there doesn't seem to be an indicator that it failed, and the shape of the box makes seeing your ticket pop-out not possible.

 

[JimboJones123]

It's totally hit-and-miss when they do it. I got one a few months ago. It was the first time in a couple years I'd seen one. The balloon CM told me that they only make them when they're bored and have free time. For $3 they're not a bad deal, but they do deflate very quickly and mine died before the end of the night. Still, it was fun having one - even with the one ear deflating pattern. :lol:
-m

edit: Here ya go. March 2006

GOOD, now the muppets 3d ending won't bug me so much.. it's like the white rockets ending from stitch 2 years ago. AHHHHH

 

[T-1MILLION]

HA ha ha. Muppet Vision 3-D's ending is the first thing I thought of as well when I had seen that the baloons came back:lol:


Funny they are changing the classics like pirates but bringing back some old school good disney classic merchandise. :lol:

 

[JimboJones123]

just no wagon rides.

 

[Skippy]

I wonder, oh I wonder what those boxes could mean.
An addition of Nemo characters to the mural?

 

[Timmay]

Good stuff, as always.

Thanks

 

[joel_maxwell]

Oo! Looks like you got see-through ones too! Luckey.

Anywho.. here's a pic that shows off the Seas exterior work pretty well..

Note the spray painted boxes.. In a pic from the monorail they form 3 distinct groups. Far, middle, and near the sun. What they're for is anyone's guess. I ruled out signage because they're too high, maybe lighting or electrical boxes for lighting? A fanciful theory is them running lights along the "waves" and uses those points as electrical junctions.

uuwww, ahhhh, i like htis theory.



hopefully not as disco as the Soarin lights :lol:

 

[mousermerf]

Along those lines...

Is anyone else suprised they would spray paint "No More" with a big giant arrow at the top of the building in plain view?

 

[joel_maxwell]

Along those lines...

Is anyone else suprised they would spray paint "No More" with a big giant arrow at the top of the building in plain view?

monorail view only or is it in plain view from the sidewalks?

pic?

 

[JEDIsney]

Thanks for the update, as always.

The work on the mural is very neat, I can't wait to see what they're doing with it.

I'm glad to see that the balloons are back! Can't wait to buy one before they go missing again.

 

[SirNim]

uuwww, ahhhh, i like htis theory.



hopefully not as disco as the Soarin lights :lol:

Mmm... Maybe fiber optics... Mmm...

 

[mousermerf]

monorail view only or is it in plain view from the sidewalks?

pic?

Sidewalks, in most photos it's hidden by the glare on that corner, but it's the top section just above the mural.

 

[jmvd20]

I wonder, oh I wonder what those boxes could mean.
An addition of Nemo characters to the mural?

Just another theory but typically when painting if any defects are noticed in the walls etc... they are marked as they are noticed for repair. We typically do this as they are found so they can all be repaired at the same time - saves a lot of labor doing it all at once even if some areas have to touched up in terms of painting.

But if there is somewhat of a pattern to them they could be anchorage points or like suggested - electrical boxes for lighting. I really like the idea of lights following the waves on the building.

Thanks for the update Merf - it did upset me though as I wish I was there right now! Here I go again, getting jealous of everyone that gets to go there whenever they feel like it!