Park Update 2/10/05

[KumbaRider]

Brief trip yesterday, 2/10/05....short summary if anyone is interested:
MK
The castle is taking shape, much of the additions to the spires and other golden features have been added. The hub is still walled off.
Epcot
The Land is beginning to level out, I spoke to a CM and he said they are leveling the entrance path to the first floor, instead of an entrance on the second floor as before. I'm not sure how accurate that information is, however, it was from an attractions CM in the area.
I didnt make it elsewhere because I had a project for school that made me go to all of the resorts to collect information. Of course, I did have to end the night with MK and Epcot.

 

[imagineersrock]

thanks for the tid-bits, and hopefully the info about the land is true... a first-floor entrance would be much more logical with the addition of soarin.

 

[mikeb_86]

good update!!

 

[marni1971]

Levelling the entrance to Soarin` level is a huge job - the ground floor of The Land is far lower than the surrounding area, think how far the escalators go - and this is after you have travelled down the far wall ramp too. Any levelling would need to begin at Innoventions:lol: , unless they plan to drop the outside as far as possible then ramp down the rest internally, but from the front of the pavilion this time (Hence the food courts removal)... Makes sense though. Unfortunatley. Hey Grizz, at least they are keeping THIS pavilion standing!

 

[Scooter]

Thanks for the update.

Going into The Land Pavillion on the first floor...that's going to seem soooo weird.

I'm so used to going into this place on the 2nd floor.

May 4th..Can't wait! :sohappy:

 

[Dayma]

Thanks for the update. I do however wish they would add some more features to the LAND like walkthrough areas of vegeitation and so forth. Kinda like a Jungle Green house to help people appreciate it.

 

[royorb1]

Yes thanks for the update it is very appreciated!

 

[KumbaRider]

The CM said the main reason the path was being leveled is to accomodate wheelchairs and make it more accessible to others, because before people complained about pushing the wheelchairs up the slope. He also mentioned adding elevators and so on. Although, if I recall correctly, I don't remember thinking the slope was that steep? Eh, I guess we'll just have to wait and see...

 

[CTXRover]

When I saw the Land construction recently (over a week ago), it didn't look the path to the entrance was being leveled to the first floor. Perhaps it is being made less steep, but it would require quite a bit of digging to make the entrance on the first floor. They've started to rebuild the planters and the walkway still goes to the original doors. Perhaps they are building a second entrance as well? Haven't heard that at all though before.

 

[speck76]

From everything that I have heard, The Land entrance will still be on the second floor, but the escalators will be in the front now, so people do not have to walk to the back of the pavilion to get to the first floor.

I was at Epcot today, and from what I could see, they look to be about to pour the concrete for the walkway, and it still leads to the second floor.

Most likely the grade of the slope had to be reduced to meet ADA guidelines.

 

[MicBat]

From what I've seen and heard, the entrance is still going to be on the second floor, but they'll be adding 2 new escalators and elevators.

 

[speck76]

more update:

Area 14 in Innoventions (East) is closed off....this area previously had some small exhibits, but no main sponsor/theme.

The area that had the Disney video games in Innoventions west is also closed off now.

IASW looks great on the inside in the loading platform area......very Disneyland'ish.......if you want to see for yourself, go to Pinnochio's Village Haus.....the black paint covering the windows is scratched in a few areas.....or, click this link for a crappy picture : http://miceage.skyfirehosting.com/mc020905pics/mc020905d.jpg

Dumbo is back open, and trees can be seen growning in the old 20K lagoon area.

 

[imagineersrock]

thanks speck

 

[KumbaRider]

Wow, IASW looks cool.
I should be over there again, when the guy mentioned they were entering on the first floor maybe he was confused by the fact that the escalators will be right inside the entrance.