Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts Tres

[RSoxNo1]

I had one of my best Disney trips in recent memory, although I think the person I was with had a lot to do with that. So did staying at my second favorite WDW resort ... and spending lots of time at the resort pool and water parks ... and doing special things like the Wild Africa Trek and touring the lounge at The Seas.

As to the Tangled toilets, they are nice enough on their own. BUT just dropped into MK they clash terribly with both Liberty Square as well as the tournament tent style of surrounding Fantasyland. They are a mess where they are and stick out like a toon tower would in my 'hood.

Love those relatively new Pirate potties though.

To me it means that they have to re-theme the Peter Pan and it's a small world facades, otherwise it doesn't make much sense.

 

[tissandtully]

This is the problem with the Disney Dining Plan, it leads to decisions like this.

You can't really blame people though. It doesn't make sense to pay for DDP and then end up paying twice as much than if you hadn't bought it. I did DDP once and ended up saving maybe 10% and it was a huge pain to plan it out and allowed zero spontaneity. Never again.

 

[RSoxNo1]

You can't really blame people though. It doesn't make sense to pay for DDP and then end up paying twice as much than if you hadn't bought it. I did DDP once and ended up saving maybe 10% and it was a huge pain to plan it out and allowed zero spontaneity. Never again.

I agree, the one time I was on the Dining Plan (free dining), I typically ordered the most expensive item on the menu. I like steak and that's typically where it ended up (I'm not sure the Filet was the most expensive item at Cali Grill, but it was close).

When fitting the food options into a homogenized price structure is the #1 menu qualification, that's a problem. This is why on the whole, food is better in Anaheim (although I miss the old menu at Taste Pilot's Grille).

 

[wdwmagic]

Hey guys, lets not start this thread into a downward spiral again. Anything of interest is easily lost with post after post of hero worship or troll accusation. Let's keep it on subject.

 

[Jakester]

So regarding maintenance at the parks, On Friday, Pirates had a super foggy Pirate Ship scene, Splash looks fabulous, and Jungle Cruise had a misty rainforest so misty it was quite dense.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

I would pick Busch Gardens over Animal Kingdom anyday. DAK is so incomplete in comparison to BG.

I just wish we would get a dark ride there!

Would anybody ever visit DAK again if BGT were in Orlando?

 

[The Empress Lilly]

So regarding maintenance at the parks, On Friday, Pirates had a super foggy Pirate Ship scene, Splash looks fabulous, and Jungle Cruise had a misty rainforest so misty it was quite dense.

Foggy, splashy and misty - you sure love your moist! Maybe you can add some of these observations to the 'Out of Babylonian Captivity' thread: http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/out-of-the-darkness-a-list-of-wdw-fixes.865674/

 

[lazyboy97o]

Wrong thread. That's what I get for trying to multitask on my phone.

 

[Figments Friend]

I agree, the one time I was on the Dining Plan (free dining), I typically ordered the most expensive item on the menu. I like steak and that's typically where it ended up (I'm not sure the Filet was the most expensive item at Cali Grill, but it was close).

When fitting the food options into a homogenized price structure is the #1 menu qualification, that's a problem. This is why on the whole, food is better in Anaheim (although I miss the old menu at Taste Pilot's Grille).

Agree....and i miss the original menu at TPG , too!
I was surprised to see the changes last Summer. Now it is pretty much off my list of choices when at DCA.

 

[Figments Friend]

Would anybody ever visit DAK again if BGT were in Orlando?

I would be willing to wager that is Busch Gardens was closer to Disney*s Park, we would be seeing a LOT more being offered at DAK.
That could be a good thing...or at least we would have a DAK that had a lot more in it, and more to experience.



Egad...talking about BGT has me in a time spin.
Last time i visited was in 1982 when the Congo River Rapids was the new thing. Wow....talk about old school.
This was back when all their marketing was calling BGT *The Dark Continent*....remember that..?

I still have the hand towel i bought printed with the then-Congo logo, emblazoned with the words * Survival Kit* across the towel.
Good times.

 

[tissandtully]

Would anybody ever visit DAK again if BGT were in Orlando?

I would. I love DAK even with shortcomings.

 

[disney fan 13]

Was just at UNI last monday,spent the night in orlando after seeing paul mccartney there sunday night(awesome show btw).

Anyways i liked seeing all the work being done on HP2 phase
and the simpsons surrounding area,esp. seeing the signage for krusty burger and moe's tavern.

Transformers building looks just average in themeing to me, but i brought my annual pass for the very reason to experience this one ASAP.

the despicable me attraction was delightful, esp.the preshow and was a welcome replacement to jimmy neutron.

WDW74, any idea when the simpsons expansion and HP2 will launch?

I'm not 74, But I can answer.

June 20th is opening for TF and rumored for Simpsons, but if you go next weekend you should be able to see both soft.

Summer (Likely June) 2014 for Phase II.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

I would be willing to wager that is Busch Gardens was closer to Disney*s Park, we would be seeing a LOT more being offered at DAK.
That could be a good thing...or at least we would have a DAK that had a lot more in it, and more to experience.



Egad...talking about BGT has me in a time spin.
Last time i visited was in 1982 when the Congo River Rapids was the new thing. Wow....talk about old school.
This was back when all their marketing was calling BGT *The Dark Continent*....remember that..?

I still have the hand towel i bought printed with the then-Congo logo, emblazoned with the words * Survival Kit* across the towel.
Good times.

Now you've gotten me all in old skool mood too! I remember when I was young, and we would visit the MK, and Busch, and Circus World and the Mystery Fun House. Man, I miss that stuff! There was a full vacation's worth of stuff to do even before all those things we do now in Orlando were ever build. UNI and four park WDW and Int. Drive are really Orlando 3.0. Orlando 1.0 being central Fla before Disney, which is from before was born.

 

[cheezbat]

Agreed, though I've been going to BGT my whole life, I think some of the theming is good. Yes, DAK's theming is much more accurate, but I don't know if it makes it nicer (which I've discussed in the past on other threads).

What's funny to me is people who say to me "Why didn't they build BGT in Orlando? Seems kinda dumb." Then I tell them that it was built WAAAAAY before Disney or any other theme parks were built in Florida (early 1960's).

Yep Busch Gardens opened in 1959...12 years before Walt Disney World and the Magic Kingdom!

 

[ThemeParks4Life]

Would anybody ever visit DAK again if BGT were in Orlando?

Everest, even if Disco Yeti was there. Best coaster I've been on, no contest.

 

[Figments Friend]

Now you've gotten me all in old skool mood too! I remember when I was young, and we would visit the MK, and Busch, and Circus World and the Mystery Fun House. Man, I miss that stuff! There was a full vacation's worth of stuff to do even before all those things we do now in Orlando were ever build. UNI and four park WDW and Int. Drive are really Orlando 3.0. Orlando 1.0 being central Fla before Disney, which is from before was born.

Heck yeah i remember!
All that you listed i also used to visit when i lived in FL in the early 80s.
I still have my fancy decorated Circus World ticket.

I adored old-school Sea World. Loved it. Back then it was a small, local attraction with simple pleasures.
The logo did not even have a orca on it...it was a dolphin! Yeah..i am talking 1981/1982.

This was back when Florida Festival was still there across in the parking lot.. in those huge white coned tents. I tried gator for the first time there ( Al E. Gators was the name of the resturant..) and made pinback buttons there as a kid.

Remember how hip waterski shows were back then? It seems like EVERY tourist attraction in FL at that time near a body or water ( real or man made ) had a waterski show.

Oh, and sold local citrus.
Sending a crate of oranges and locally grown grapefruit to your pals in areas beyond was a must for early travelers. Even WDW offered it back then!

Oh...and don*t forget about early 80s Weeki Watchi, Wet N* Wild, and Silver Springs ! Cypress Gardens too..and Gator Land !

( gets all nostalgic ).

Man...this was back when The Vacation Kingdom of The World was just TWO Parks...and they both rocked.

I-Drive was a different world then. Now it is the Las Vegas of the East Coast.
When i went back to FL in the early 2000s, i was stunned at how much it had been built up. Insane!

When i went back to Sea World two years ago i was dissapointed in what it had become. It is basically catering to thrill seekers now, and i am not a coaster nut. So it was a big dissapointment to me.

 

[Darth Sidious]

Hey guys, lets not start this thread into a downward spiral again. Anything of interest is easily lost with post after post of hero worship or troll accusation. Let's keep it on subject.

But...



... ok fine!

 

[Goofyernmost]

There was also Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg and the Wax Museum on St. Petersburg beach.

 

[marni1971]

Eh, BGT is great for coaster fans. I've always found BGT to be unkempt and their employee's attitudes can give the current crop of WDW CMs a run for their money.

Quite the opposite now. The past two years we've actually congratulated them on the cleanliness of the park, the landscaping, and the staff.

Apart from Cheetah Hunt load. I hope that's improved by the fall.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Heck yeah i remember!
All that you listed i also used to visit when i lived in FL in the early 80s.
I still have my fancy decorated Circus World ticket.

I adored old-school Sea World. Loved it. Back then it was a small, local attraction with simple pleasures. The logo did not even have a orca on it...it was a dolphin! Yeah..i am talking 1981/1982.
Remember how hip waterski shows were back then? It seems like EVERY tourist attraction in FL at that time near a body or water ( real or man made ) had a waterski show.

Yeah...back when Florida Festival was still there across in the parking lot.. in those huge white coned tents. I tried gator for the first time there ( Al E. Gators was the name of the resturant..) and made pinback buttons there as a kid.

When i went back to Sea World two years ago i was dissapointed in what it had become.


Oh...and don*t forget about early 80s Weeki Watchi, Wet N* Wild, and Silver Springs ! Cypress Gardens too..and Gator Land !

( gets all nostalgic ).

Man...this was back when The Vacation Kingdom of The World was just TWO Parks...and they both rocked.

I-Drive was a different world then. Now it is the Las Vegas of the East Coast.
When i went back to FL in the early 2000s, i was stunned at how much it had been built up. Insane!

I still adore Sea World. Only thing is, I am beginning to feel really uncomfortable about SEA's animal wellbeing. Those 6000 kilo killer whales aren't made to be kept in captivity, no bassin is big enough to emulate an ocean environment. And then there are all those North and South pole animals who never even see the light of day because they would simply melt if exposed to the Florida sun. Sad.
Other than that, great park!

I liked the innocence about it all that Central Florida used to have. Or maybe that was just my young me being sheltered from real world stuff yet.

As for waterski...would you believe that at some point, when I was an adult, it suddenly dawned on me that it was not normal to have a waterski show in every body of water? I grew up in the seventies, so as far as I knew, a million people had waterskiing for a profession, it was normal. It was what people did when they got together. They'd put on skis, grab a rope attached to a speedboat, and climb on top of each other's shoulders three people high. It took me decades to figure out that waterski shows were just a temporary fab.