This is press reporter Johnny Guerre reporting from the Down Under Resort. After several years of great coverage, I was invited to the Magic Kingdom "Press Preview Days". Here's my report from that.
Upon arriving by train, we exited and were shutted to the Magic Kingdom entrance. We were greeted by lovely young ladies at the gates who were giving out these gorgeous press jackets. They were white and had the Magic Kingdom logo and on the back, it was a larger version of the logo with fireworks and it says "The Kingdom Of Dreams and Wishes!" It was beautiful, I put it on because the wind was blowing. They huddled all the press infront of the stage infront of the Train Station. Camera and tripods were everywhere, so space was tight. Thank gosh Disney designed this area with plenty of space. The Disney World Ambassador, "Hillary Young" took to the stage to welcome the press. It was around 8:00 A.M. right now. She told us, everything was still in test and adjustment and so, everytihng was not finalized yet. Everthing we saw was subject to change. Mr. Brian DeLoera, the Down Under Resort President took to the stage and gave a brief speech. He said, we will be opening the park shortly. We heard a chiming sound and suddenly an opening show was starting. A young lady came out and greeted us and explained that we were going to open the Magic Kingdom. Suddenly, dancers rose out of nowhere and there was this great dance number. It was facinating and before I knew it, CHOO! CHOO! Here came the train, with Mickey, Minnie, everyone! It was just so excellently and amazingly timed. It arrived and suddenly, the characters were talking and Hillary Young walked out and asked us to help Mickey countdown to open the park! 10 (and fireworks shot up from behind the train station), 9 (again), 8, 7, and we got to 3, fireworks were going off with each number, 2, 1, and BLAST! Confetti exploded form the trees and the topiary and fireowrks exploded with loud bangs! I felt almost deaf. The silvery confetti rained down on us and the streamers covered cameras and the ropes were dropped. Mickey and the gang did some more dance numbers and they closed the show and everyone disappeared almost as quickly as they came. They just sank down into the earth. I was amazed!
I began walking under the bridge with my camera-man and guess who I bumped into? Mr. Kent B., my old colleague from when I worked at the "Sydney Times". He was covering this event for them today. We exchanged hellos and we both began to move towards the hub. We stopped by a few shops. We stopped by the Main Street Cinema. Great place to waste time. I loved it. We were only in there for 1 cartoon, we were on a strict schedule. The Emporium was huge and beautiful, bough some merchandise and had it sent to my hotel. The Greenhouse was very excellent with many garden goodies. I stopped by the Candy Wagon for some candy to enjoy the shows with. We were free to roam the park now. There were some planned events going on, but for the most part, we were here to have fun! It was 9:30 now.
We headed to Adventureland because that's where the first events were going to take place later in the morning. Crossing from Colonial Boulevard into Royal Street, we were greeted by a beautiful Southern Band playing "When the Saints Come Marching Home." We decided to run to the Haunted Mansion before the first event began at 10:00 A.M. We got in the queue and winded throught the beautifully designed queue. There were only about 25 people throughout the queue a that time. The got to the main rooms and the first one was gorgeous. There was a grand chadelier there and during the pre-show someone cut it and it came crashig to the ground, landing inches from us. It was an amazing effect. Of into the stretch rooms, and from there, into the Grand Staircase hall, we boarded our Doombuggies and began our journey. I'm not going to spoil anything, but let's say this Haunted Mansion is by far the best one. We left with the biggest grins on our faces. The fastpass area was roped off, but it was very similar to the Magic Kingdom one in Florida except with a colonial and more jungle theme. It was amazing. We did a quick Jungle Cruise ride with close to a 10 minute line and our skipper, "Tracey" was hilariously funny. She definately was a great skipper. We were just in time to catch the 10:30 A.M. Pirates Of The Caribbean opening show. This was leaked to us to be a real treat by Tracey, as she had seen them rehearsing before. Now, we lines up on the Rivers Of America in Frontierland (weird considering Pirates is in Adventureland). I quickly understood why. Spanish colonial soldiers surrounded the press people with their guns and bayonettes. A big cannon blast sounded and what do you know, a pirate ships comes from around the corner with all of those scurvey Pirates on it. It was just...amazing to say the least. The ship stopped infront of the Rivers and the soldiers boarded. This giant fight began. Pirates began tumbling overboard. Soon the press was getting wet from all the people being thrown overboard. So many Spanish soldiers were falling. OH NO! The Pirates were winning. They began to leave the ship and began harassing the reporters. It was crazy! One started poking me with his sword yelling, "Move it lad! You're interrupting our pillage." And the Pirates began to move towards Adventureland. We followed. The Spanish were there guarding the entrance to the ride. They quickly took as many of them as they could down and with a giant battering ram they BUSTED the huge wooden doors down infront of the ride. The soldiers lay on the ground and the press was in shock! They began singing Yo Ho! and suddenly the doors were cleared out of the way, and the Captain came out. He invited us in. Me and Kent were busy clearing our cameras so we could board first. We weren't even close to first. As a matter of fact, we were towards the end, but that was alright. We made out way through the extremely detailed queue. It was just, WOW! So many details it was hard to take it all in. I just couldn't believe it. We passed a lagoon and I could see boats already leaving full of reporters, pirates, and of course, our favorite Disney characters. We finally made it to the boarding station and we were lucky to get a boat with Minnie Mouse and the Pirates captain. All of us were in the front frow. It was Minnie, Me, the Captain, and Kent. We exited the station, and immediately I noticed that while we were in the bay, the Blue Lagoon Restaurant (or Blue Bayou) was not open. It was actually under construction. They were exercting a temporary mural and behind them you could see the restaurant going up. I felt so priveldged to see that. The ride was spectacular. It was like the EuroDisney Pirates but with more and better exectured. My favorite scene is when we were transported to the past, the park used an Indiana Jones effect. There was a skull there, and he was echoing "Dead men tell no tales." Suddenly, BOOM! POOF! and giant fire/smoke ring was coming straight for our boat and just as it his us, BAM! we went down a drop! Minnie was holding on to me and the lapbar for dear life and I was holding Kent who had a death grip on the lapbar. Boy, was that a fun ride. Minnie was just so wonderfully played by that Cast Member. At the end of the ride, she went out of her way and located a cast member to get a picture with me and then with Kent. Now that's my mouse! We exited into an open area, but I ran straight for the gift shop! I bought some souvenirs for us and we decided we wanted to be on our way. We did make several observations though, There was giant tree going up near the Jungle Cruise. We noticed a giant "COMING SOON!" pposter near the entrance, but didn't read it. It seemed to us, based just on the amount of construction walls around the park that many things were schedules to open in the coming year or two. It was about 11:00 now, and we decided to head to Frontierland and that we were going to catch the shows in Adventureland later. To be honest, many reporters had headed over to Tomorrowland and other lands to check out rides and other entertainment there instead of following the recommended "Premier Guide". I guess we were doing the tourist thing.
We walked into Frontierland and I was amazed. It was just beautiful. It was the Frontierland of my dreams. When I visited the Magic Kingdom in Florida as a kid, I had loved Frontierland, but this blew every other Frontierland out of the water! I mean, WOW! I was amazed by how much there was. We entered and to our left was this huge imposing mountain of rock! WOW! It looked so much like the old "Western River Expedition" postcards and renderings. There was a big construction wall blocking off the area, but we took a peek inside. There was some sort of work going on. It appeared as if there was a fastpass distribution area being set up or some sort of building. The big wall just said, "Coming Soon!" We turn back around and started towards Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. There were already many trains zooming in and out of the island mountain. It was imposing. We zipped through the line, it's huge, in about 10 minutes and boarded and we were greeted by that ever friendly "Howdy Folks..." Before we knew it we were in a dark cave and there were sparks and flashes and we were climbing up a lift hill and past a separated waterfall and most of the rest is a blur. I remember twists and turns and twists and then a drop into the water with splashing and then more twists and turns and another drop into the bones with more water explosions. I mean, WOW! We exited into the station and I bought our picture. We both had this look of surprise on our faces when the picture was taken, exactly like dumbfounded and amazed fools. It was around 11:20 around now. We ran over to Splash and spent like another 10 minutes in the queue, before we boarded. Talk about themeing! The entire ride was so plussed and each scene was transitioned by trees and their foliage. Before we knew it, we were climbing up the big lift hill and next thing, WHOOSH! into the Briar Patch. Our pictures were hands-up and the biggest screams ever! I bought those too! I'm such a reporter. We had time to spare, so we quickly ran over to the Chaparral Theater and found great seats for "The Spirit Of Pocahontas". It was lucky of us to be one of only several dozen people in the theater. The show began with a giant curtain of leaves opening up and there we were in Virginia. It was a pure genuine spectacle! AMAZING! The show started and it was the villagers and then the Mother Willow puppet, and the battle with the guns and the fire! WOW! Then for the finale, we were covered by a blanket of leaves (confetti shaped like leaves). It was amazingly beautiful. It was 12:00, and they were announcing the Frontierland opening ceremonies were going to begin. The water on Splash had been turned off, Big Thunder Mountain wasn't running any trains, it was dead. There were all of us, reporters lines up on the banks and there we were, all of us, cameras and everything in hand and ready to roll. There we were, it was silent, and all of a sudden, these HUGE spotlights turn on and start cahning multicolors and are swirling and around and what do we see? The Mark Twain rolls around the corner with all sortfs of Disney characters imaginable and driven by Steamboat Mickey and suddenly fireworks start exploding from the rivers and the mountains. The big mesa behind Thunder started water flowing down it forming waterfalls and then BAM! Fireworks began exploding off the Mesa. It was amazing. Then suddenly, Zip-A-Dee-Doh-Dah came on and the big watertower on Splash mountain exploded and suddenly, water began to pour down the main drop and through the ride and down comes a log with no other than Brer Bear, Rabbit, and Fox screaming their heads off, hands in the air! Then we heard Frontier music and the focus became Big Thunder Mountain and a train comes into view with no other than Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse and suddenly explosions start accross the mountain with barrels exploding and the river lights on fire and a DRAGON emerged and we hear the closing to Fantasmic! and with many huge blasts of fire, everything suddenly became normal again and disappeared as soon as it began, and it was announced that Frontierland is NOW officially open. Luckily we got Big Thunder and Splash before all of this mess happened. Everyone scattered to the rides and we, smart as we were headed towards Fantasyland.
It was 12:20 when we reached the inside of Frontierland and we realized, let's run! Feel the Magic is starting soon! We got inside the beautiful Fantasyland theater. About 10 minutes later, after the announcements, we heard the themesong start. The curtain parted and suddenly after some song, BAM! Mickey comes out and what's this, Vegas looking show girls. We were having fun, but boy, this was ridiculous. Next came Pocahontas, followed by the Lion King, and BAM! A gold curtain drops down and we're in Aladdin now. Next came the Little Mermaid, that was beautiful! She actually flew off her clam sheel and began flying. It honestly looked real, we were in awe. Next came Beauty and the Beast. That was a lot of fun, a giant can-can. Then suddenly came a villains section. That was really bad, it was almost incoherent and just plain awful looking. Finally came a shining gold finale with those Vegas looking show girls. It looked tacky. It was a lot of fun, the show, but we saw a few people walk out on it, that was just rude. The show wasn't too bad. No confetti here either, which was downside to the show. Fantasyland was just WAITING to be explored now. We ran out like two kids who had ADHD. We ran to "it's a small world" which was next door. What a fun little ride. 15 minutes of torture, but whatever for a classic. Quickly over to the teacups. I was disappointed, they looked like Disneylands, but MUCH bigger. Mad Tea Party was a blast, but we got a little sick afterwards. We ran over to Snow White's Scary Adventures. That was a 0 minute wait. We boarded the cars and into that classic Magic Kingdom ride we went. WHAT FUN! Until we got to the forest of spooky trees. Now I now why it is "scary adventures." We see the witch and BAM! with an explosion of smoke she gone and we make fast turn and BAM! another explosion of smoke and she there and FAST TURN left and BAM! she appears again and she says, "Want a bite deary?" and BAM! with more smoke, she disappears and we make a dip and a sharp turn and trees are reaching to us and there is fog, and when we least expected it, BLAST! there is smoke and there she is with the apple and we DIP right under her and into the castle. It was scary, me and Kent were screaming the entire time, but we enjoyed the ride so much! The ending was very happy and made us very happy too! We had much fun on this ride. We decided to run to the Matterhorn, while it was open, and guess what, 15 minute wait! DARN IT! We waited around the mountain to the polka music and finally into our bobsled. It was exciting, and into the mountain. At the top, into the light, and under a waterfall, and in the mountain and YETI! That audio animatronic was a fine piece or work that moved very realistically and reached at us, and then it was a series of dives and twists and turns and what not! I can't remember anything and then, when we least expected it, SPLASH into the water and into the brakes! What a RUSH! You can guess what I did, I bought our photos. Our hair is standing on edge and we are screaming our heads off. What a blast! It's about 1:40 now. We ran over to Pooh's Hunny Hunt, and what luck! The ride had just restarted up, and we ran right in and into the ride. The ride used this amazing trackless technology and in pot groups of three we paddled the waters into the hundred acre woods and saw Pooh, and suddenly we were bouncing with Tigger, well, the WHOLE room seemed to be. And backwards into the most amazing dream sequence and into a giant bumpercar room! WOW! Then we moved into the finale with the honey and finally back into reality. WHAT FUN and amazing technology. There were many glitches to be worked out though, with many of the park's rides. This park still has a lot to work on. Especially in the "getting rides open departement". This park must have opened 1 year too early because there are so many green/themed walls with "COMING SOON!" signs or already "Being Refurbished For Your Future Enjoyment!" signs. It's amazing, I'll post some plans of where all of this is going on at. We decided to skip the rest of Fantasyland and stake out a spot infront of the castle stage for another opening ceremony for Fantasyland. We got out there and we steak out for 10 mintues and a crowd starts building. Suddenly, the show was starting. It was very basic. Mickey and Gang came out to welcome us to Fantasyland with the Princesses and suddenly, BAM! explosions of smoke and the villains come out! The Princess become trapped in the castle towers and the villains were laughing evily. Mickey wanted to make them go away and using his sword, he fired it, but they didn't die. Maleficent grew mad and with an explosion of green fire, began rising into the sky on a huge column with smoke and evil laughter. Prince Phillip took out his sword and fired fireworks from it and she began to die and smoke explosions occured from the column and fire and she died screaming with the other villains and confetti exploded all over the audience. Mickey and Minnie talked and danced a number while the Princes ran to their Princesses in the towers of Snow White Castle. They all kissed and it ended with a "Someday My Prince Will Come" closing exit music. The confetti was beautiful and pink with heart shapes. That's a memory to keep.
We did not bother doing Toontown, it was still under some construction and we weren't willing to navigate the maze of walls to get to the rides. We decieded to eat at The Queen Of Heart's Banquet Hall. This place was Alice in Wonderland themed to the max. You entered through the doorknob's mouth and into a giant hall with the Queen and King of Hearts overlooking everyone. Even the silverware was oddly shaped and with ends shaped like
hearts. Even the plates were oddly shaped hearts. It was so elaborate and beautiful and EXPENSIVE! The portions were a tad small, but the price was pretty hefty. ALL worth it though. The service was superb and we loved it.
