Hi everyone!
First of all, I'd just like to say I've been terribly entertained reading this thread.
Next, I'd like to say (again, as I put in quite a bit of input into the 180top thread referenced earlier) that I am indeed a SSE cast member and I worked the entire weekend! And I'm so glad someone put pictures up of the craziness outside, because I swear no one would have believed it.
I'm also surprised no one's seemed to mention our fantastic new costumes. (Okay, so, in case you couldn't tell, some of us aren't fans.)
I know that even I myself while the ride was open this weekend only got to ride once, but I got a pretty good look at the show scenes from 180top back down to load (walked the track backwards) and I'm a big fan of the improvements.
A couple of things I know people wondered about...there's no language selection, but we've always had Ears to the World for guests that you can get at guest services which translates many attraction to different languages with individual rides having their own...broadcasts or something or other. It may not be functional yet, but it's always been an option before.
I also know that if no selections are made on the monitors it probably choses a video at random. On my initial ride through there was no one in front of us and there was still a video on the way down.
Photo capture is coming, I know. As other people have said, these are just previews and everything isn't done. Not to mention, we haven't even been told about anything that isn't there.
Personally, I have a few favorite touches. I love the new video for the Caveman/Mammoth scene, it looks very impressive to me. While I'm also sad to see the greek theater scene go, I'm very impressed with the new Greek classroom (it's supposed to be some sort of astronomy class, I believe) and I really do love it. The Sistene Chapel scene was opened up significantly and you can now see Michelangelo painting and even his face! The main frame computer room is also a big favorite of mine. And, from what I understand, that Dodge Charger outside the garage scene is, in fact, a real Dodge Charger. Or so I've been told. Yet no one seems to want to tell us how they got it there.
Overall, I can assure you from my studying of the ride, every scene has been touched. There are a lot of new costumes, and everything in general has most definitely been spruced up.
I will also say, in defense of myself and my fellow cast members, if we seem slightly put off by the questions, forgive us. I think while I was working this weekend I didn't go 30 seconds without someone asking me if the ride was going to open and in truth we don't have any advance notice. It fluctuates greatly (especially because as someone stated, the Imagineers are there and they are actively working in the ride during the day). I can also say most of us have been working quite a few hours due to this event. We love it, but lots of hours make tired people.
I'd be willing to answer any other questions (if I can, of course) so feel free to throw them my way. I know I'm very excited myself about all this. SSE has a very special place in my heart now, so I was just as eager to see it as you all were!
