Trip Report 6/28 to 30/2002

[MouseRight]

Just got back from WDW. Here are the highlights

MGM – Crowds were light. Didn’t see many lines at all. Big Balloon Stitch outside of Entrance by Tram Station. Lilo and Stitch character greeting in Animation Building Area. Follow the Blue Footsteps. ABC Show in The ABC Theater is a ½ hour commercial for the network’s new shows. Clips of shows introduced by Jim Belushi, Bonnie Hunt, & Ben Affleck (all on Tape). Only redeeming part of this show is chance to get free ABC T-Shirts thrown to audience during the show. Sit in front for best chance to get a shirt. Otherwise skip if you have other things you want to do.

EPCOT – Light Crowds. Test Track was crowded. FastPass was 6 hours ahead at 12 Noon (e.g., 6:30 PM fast passes given out at 12 noon). Test track broke down a few times while I was on line. Don’t know what happened. No problems when I was on ride. Shockwave is a must see. Energetic, humorous music and dance show. Blast was better but this show is still great. If you like music, high school marching band competitions, etc. – see the show.

Animal Kingdom – Again light crowds. Primeval Whirl is a great ride. Mixes a roller coaster with the Whip (You may have to over 40 to remember this ride). A must ride for all coaster enthusiasts. Something new and different. Also tame enough for those in your family who are scared of roller coasters. My wife will not go on coasters but she went on this and really enjoyed it. We even went on twice.

Magic Kingdom Fireworks Boat Ride. - We went on this Saturday night. Lots of fun. Pick up boat at Wilderness Lodge. Spend time checking out the lodge. This is part of the fun. Boat ride gets a bird’s eye view of 7 Seas Lagoon Electrical Parade. Real cool. Then off to see fireworks from middle of Seven Sea Lagoon. Real Cool. Then boat captain takes you on tour of Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake with lots of trivia thrown in. Nice ride. Rumor – River Country was shut down since there were major structural problems and Disney decided to spend the money to make a new world-class park instead. Supposed to be on the same site and ready in 2004? Remember I said this was told to us by the boat captain and I have no other substantiation. Other trivia note – The Windows on the back face of Wilderness Lodge, when lit up at night, give the look of a bear’s face. Real cool – I never knew that.

That’s all for now.

See ya real soon!!!!

 

[tiggerlover1971]

great update sounds like you had a great time thanks for the trip update

 

[MouseRight]

Thanks. We always have a good time at WDW.

More Stuff:

Tarzan Rocks at Animal Kingdom. We saw a new lead singer. He didn't seem to have the power and range as the other singer we have seen in the past. It also could have been that we were sitting on far right side and sound system seemed to put the voices in the middle and the music on the sides. Thus we were closer to the music and could barely hear the voices! Don't know which it was - his voice or the sound system.

Discovery Island is home to rare birds (I forget the name) Since the Island was shut down, the birds have multiplied from 300 to over 3000. You can see them sitting in the trees lining the shore at night.

 

[WDWManic]

Thanks for the updates hopfully I will be able to give a DIsney update when i go July 31st

 

[ToTBellHop]

I don't honestly see how they could build a new waterpark in two years, and I think Disney learned its lesson about that location....if you build a world class waterpark, you want it to be more accessible....and visible...like Mount Gushmore.

 

[MouseRight]

DogsRule - I agree with your assesement. Given the current economic climate and other stuff, I don't think that a new waterpark will be built soon. I also don't think that it will be built at the RC site. I do think that the RC site had to be closed due to the slow down in visitors and the condition of the park. IMO the site will not be abandoned. At the least, it will be spruced up, maybe add a few new rides, and re-opened sometime in the future.

However, Disney cannot, and will not, be ale to delay improvements and additions to WDW. Even with the economic realities facing it, Disney is spending considerable funds on new stuff - Space, Figment, Mickey's Philarmagic, etc. etc. It is only a matter of time before they add new stuff (Like the Water Coaster at Schlitterbaum in Texas) to TL or BB or Create and open a new World Class Water Park.

:sohappy: