Greetings all from the geek labs with my FIRST trip report of 2004
I took in all 4 parks this weekend and I have some news from each one.
I started my day out at Animal Kingdom. I wanted to see how things where going with Expedition Everest. The construction is coming along nicely. Though the main mountain base I have not seen a change externally from my view points. I have seen allot of work being done on the village that will run along the side of Everest. There is work being done on the retaining walls and village huts. That is coming along quiet well. The village is really taking shape and the retaining walls look nice. I have a feeling allot of “accent” details are going to be added to the walls.
Next stop for me was MGM right off the bat I noticed something when pulling into the parking lot. There is a rehab wall and fencing in a large portion of the parking lot where buses would normally park. Upon asking a CM what was going on they stated there was work being done on the non-Disney bus parking appears some resurfacing is going on but no word of any additions of bus stop style seating or cover like they have currently for WDW bus transportations. The Stunt Show construction is going along very nicely. You can see allot of side work going on in the back of the current construction. Where I imagine the actual show will be going on. Currently the one building that is visible from behind the rehab wall is colored with gray pillars and black bricks currently. I don’t know if the black color is just a primer of the final color. It appears some window work may be happening soon since plastic sheets where covering the areas where windows would be installed. The back lot tour is blocked off and it appears the have also blocked off where the Santa Claus 2 props where. The construction continues on New York Street and is going along nicely. I noticed the outside rope effect at the Indiana Jones stunt show was broken. It appears someone tried ripping the rope off from its pully.
My next stop was to Epcot where I can confirm the cell phone tower in the parking lot is now complete. From what I can see there was nothing done to “camouflage” the tower. I checked out how the Finding Nemo rehab was going at The Living Seas. I like the one area they added inside where they have “friends of Nemo” and also Mr. Ray’s Lagoon. The lower observation deck is completely closed off for rehab currently. Outside The Living Seas Disney Photographers now can take your picture at the meet and greet area with Nemo and the gang. Next was a stop by The Land pavilion to see the now closed and barren Food Rocks area. There are now 3 pieces of Soarin’ advertisement in The Land Pavilion. Two of the ad’s can be found right when you enter the Pavilion the other of course covers the former home of Food Rocks attraction Poster. I must agree with others when they say they where very disappointed with the current ad artwork for Soarin’ I found it cheesy and very Amateurish. It gives you no clue of what the attraction will be like at all. Soarin’ construction is continuing well. I did not take any photos this time but I can tell you it is moving along quiet well.
My last stop was to The Magic Kingdom. I walked over to Mickey’s Philharmagic to see if I wanted to wait in line for it. Let me say the attraction is still packing in the crowds and the sea of blue strollers is amazing to see. It still causes some what of a little traffic jam for people to move around the Carousel but nothing like it was during the Christmas holiday weeks. I then went over to the Haunted Mansion since it had been sometime since I last rode it. I have some very troublesome and sad news to report. If you are fan of Disney heritage like I am you may want to skip this part. I was walking into the main queue area of the Haunted Mansion and was getting into the single file queue line that you take before reaching your doom buggy and when I went to make the infamous right hand turn I went to place my hand on the Gargoyle that has had no face for the 20+ years people had touched it when they made the turn and I was shocked to see it had been replaced with a new FACED gargoyle. The original faceless gargoyle that was worn away by people like me placing my hand on it as we turned is gone. I am very saddened to see it is gone from there. Hopefully it wasn’t thrown away but yet put in the archives. Also Haunted Mansion fans I don’t know if this was mentioned in any previous trip reports so I apologize in advance for double information. The small wagon cart that stood outside the Haunted Mansion is now gone and the store merchandise has been moved into The Yankee Trader. I went to Tomorrowland next to see how the Timekeeper queue / gift shop is doing since being implemented. My opinion if it is worth anything is that it is ok looking. I think it throws guest off walking into see the TIMEKEEPER and being greeted with a store first but I am glad it’s just temporary. I stayed for Wishes. Of course seeing Wishes is the best way to top off a busy day of having fun. After watching Wishes I was making my way to leave for the night and went through the backstage exit that they allow guest to use and I spotted something interesting. Two of the 75 year Mickey Statues where backstage with their faces pointed away from the crowd. I don’t know if something was wrong with the statues but I just found it odd. Speaking of Wishes I spoke with several Cast Members and cast friends and they do not know when the soundtrack will be available. So for now the lucky few of us who have copies of the media week CD will have to do with that.
I have sent some of my pictures in but haven’t finished going through all of them. I still have some to process.
Until next time See you at the parks
I took in all 4 parks this weekend and I have some news from each one.
I started my day out at Animal Kingdom. I wanted to see how things where going with Expedition Everest. The construction is coming along nicely. Though the main mountain base I have not seen a change externally from my view points. I have seen allot of work being done on the village that will run along the side of Everest. There is work being done on the retaining walls and village huts. That is coming along quiet well. The village is really taking shape and the retaining walls look nice. I have a feeling allot of “accent” details are going to be added to the walls.
Next stop for me was MGM right off the bat I noticed something when pulling into the parking lot. There is a rehab wall and fencing in a large portion of the parking lot where buses would normally park. Upon asking a CM what was going on they stated there was work being done on the non-Disney bus parking appears some resurfacing is going on but no word of any additions of bus stop style seating or cover like they have currently for WDW bus transportations. The Stunt Show construction is going along very nicely. You can see allot of side work going on in the back of the current construction. Where I imagine the actual show will be going on. Currently the one building that is visible from behind the rehab wall is colored with gray pillars and black bricks currently. I don’t know if the black color is just a primer of the final color. It appears some window work may be happening soon since plastic sheets where covering the areas where windows would be installed. The back lot tour is blocked off and it appears the have also blocked off where the Santa Claus 2 props where. The construction continues on New York Street and is going along nicely. I noticed the outside rope effect at the Indiana Jones stunt show was broken. It appears someone tried ripping the rope off from its pully.
My next stop was to Epcot where I can confirm the cell phone tower in the parking lot is now complete. From what I can see there was nothing done to “camouflage” the tower. I checked out how the Finding Nemo rehab was going at The Living Seas. I like the one area they added inside where they have “friends of Nemo” and also Mr. Ray’s Lagoon. The lower observation deck is completely closed off for rehab currently. Outside The Living Seas Disney Photographers now can take your picture at the meet and greet area with Nemo and the gang. Next was a stop by The Land pavilion to see the now closed and barren Food Rocks area. There are now 3 pieces of Soarin’ advertisement in The Land Pavilion. Two of the ad’s can be found right when you enter the Pavilion the other of course covers the former home of Food Rocks attraction Poster. I must agree with others when they say they where very disappointed with the current ad artwork for Soarin’ I found it cheesy and very Amateurish. It gives you no clue of what the attraction will be like at all. Soarin’ construction is continuing well. I did not take any photos this time but I can tell you it is moving along quiet well.
My last stop was to The Magic Kingdom. I walked over to Mickey’s Philharmagic to see if I wanted to wait in line for it. Let me say the attraction is still packing in the crowds and the sea of blue strollers is amazing to see. It still causes some what of a little traffic jam for people to move around the Carousel but nothing like it was during the Christmas holiday weeks. I then went over to the Haunted Mansion since it had been sometime since I last rode it. I have some very troublesome and sad news to report. If you are fan of Disney heritage like I am you may want to skip this part. I was walking into the main queue area of the Haunted Mansion and was getting into the single file queue line that you take before reaching your doom buggy and when I went to make the infamous right hand turn I went to place my hand on the Gargoyle that has had no face for the 20+ years people had touched it when they made the turn and I was shocked to see it had been replaced with a new FACED gargoyle. The original faceless gargoyle that was worn away by people like me placing my hand on it as we turned is gone. I am very saddened to see it is gone from there. Hopefully it wasn’t thrown away but yet put in the archives. Also Haunted Mansion fans I don’t know if this was mentioned in any previous trip reports so I apologize in advance for double information. The small wagon cart that stood outside the Haunted Mansion is now gone and the store merchandise has been moved into The Yankee Trader. I went to Tomorrowland next to see how the Timekeeper queue / gift shop is doing since being implemented. My opinion if it is worth anything is that it is ok looking. I think it throws guest off walking into see the TIMEKEEPER and being greeted with a store first but I am glad it’s just temporary. I stayed for Wishes. Of course seeing Wishes is the best way to top off a busy day of having fun. After watching Wishes I was making my way to leave for the night and went through the backstage exit that they allow guest to use and I spotted something interesting. Two of the 75 year Mickey Statues where backstage with their faces pointed away from the crowd. I don’t know if something was wrong with the statues but I just found it odd. Speaking of Wishes I spoke with several Cast Members and cast friends and they do not know when the soundtrack will be available. So for now the lucky few of us who have copies of the media week CD will have to do with that.
I have sent some of my pictures in but haven’t finished going through all of them. I still have some to process.
Until next time See you at the parks
