Just got back from the World, and I have a buncha updates for you!
First, we stayed at Pop Century--loved it. A little smidgen of knowledge I learned is that the reason there are 3 50s buildings has to do with the pins. Each building has 3 bowling pin stairwells for a total of 9. Then we add the pin that forms the pool here, and we have 10, the number of pins in a standard set.
Since Pop Century has been so vastly popular, Disney has decided to move construction on Legendary Years into 2nd gear and hopes to have it operational by summer 2005!
At Animal Kingdom, Everest is looking absolutely gigantic, and Disney is currently very optimistically hoping to open it in October 2005.
At MGM, I noticed a new loading spiel on the Tower of Terror, taken directly from the Tower of Terror at DCA--right before you get into your elevator. Cast Members don't quite have the system down so that guests hear the entire spiel before getting into the elevators, though.
The Stunt Show's grandstand now towers of MGM, and can easily be seen from the road. It is going to be gigantic and, in fact, an upgraded version of the Paris show. Our show will have the addition of extensive boat use, in addition to the cars. The big jumbo-tron style television is now installed, as well.
Over at Epcot, the air conditioning is not working on Test Track, which makes for some very hot rides--it was at least in the mid 80s throughout the ride building! Also, most of the on-ride computer monitors are now broken. I only saw a display on those little tvs on one ride out of maybe 7.
Soarin' is almost entirely enclosed, and from what I saw, the side facing World Showcase is sky-blue along with the roof, and the side facing out (not visible inside the park) is painted Go-Away Green.
At the Magic Kingdom, I noticed several of the seats for PhilharMagic do not have working effects, but from the seats that did have working effects--incredible show.
Wishes was absolutely amazing, but I wish there were a way to control how the fireworks explode in the sky better...quite a few of the stars come out at odd angles so people don't know what they are supposed to be, and the frown face only came out right-side up once out of my three viewings. I know it would be really hard to control this, but I hate to not hear all of the deserved oohs and aaahs b/c guests don't know what the fireworks represent.
Stitch was being very loud from behind his construction wall!
I noticed that they turned down the jets of water on Splash Mountain that used to drench guests in logs waiting to head up the 2nd lift hill--you don't get sprayed very much by them any more...and poor hopping Brer Rabbit is broken again.
I was very pleased with the new (new to me, anyway...which is all relative) signage around Blizzard Beach to direct guests to the three slide complexes...Blizzard Beach used to be really confusing, and those new signs help. The water parks just need one more thing--CLOCKS. For anyone walking around the water park without a watch on (not water resistant or they don't want to scratch their watch on the rocks) that needs to get anywhere at a set time, it's hard to keep track of what time it is. A few clocks would be very nice. That goes for all of the Parks and Resorts, too--there is a severe shortage of clocks (I know I should just wear a watch or buy one of Disney's, but it seems like it wouldn't be very hard for them to add clocks for guests as a favor, especially when trying to attend various shows). Of course, the fact that all of the Fastpass attractions have Returns clocks helps, but I still found it difficult to keep track of the time.
Overall, a great trip...absolutely beautiful weather--sunny and 90º every day! Bus service was very efficient at Pop Century, although the stations were swamped at park close--I saw 5 busloads of people leave before I got on a bus after Wishes last night haha. Cheers!
First, we stayed at Pop Century--loved it. A little smidgen of knowledge I learned is that the reason there are 3 50s buildings has to do with the pins. Each building has 3 bowling pin stairwells for a total of 9. Then we add the pin that forms the pool here, and we have 10, the number of pins in a standard set.
Since Pop Century has been so vastly popular, Disney has decided to move construction on Legendary Years into 2nd gear and hopes to have it operational by summer 2005!
At Animal Kingdom, Everest is looking absolutely gigantic, and Disney is currently very optimistically hoping to open it in October 2005.
At MGM, I noticed a new loading spiel on the Tower of Terror, taken directly from the Tower of Terror at DCA--right before you get into your elevator. Cast Members don't quite have the system down so that guests hear the entire spiel before getting into the elevators, though.
The Stunt Show's grandstand now towers of MGM, and can easily be seen from the road. It is going to be gigantic and, in fact, an upgraded version of the Paris show. Our show will have the addition of extensive boat use, in addition to the cars. The big jumbo-tron style television is now installed, as well.
Over at Epcot, the air conditioning is not working on Test Track, which makes for some very hot rides--it was at least in the mid 80s throughout the ride building! Also, most of the on-ride computer monitors are now broken. I only saw a display on those little tvs on one ride out of maybe 7.
Soarin' is almost entirely enclosed, and from what I saw, the side facing World Showcase is sky-blue along with the roof, and the side facing out (not visible inside the park) is painted Go-Away Green.
At the Magic Kingdom, I noticed several of the seats for PhilharMagic do not have working effects, but from the seats that did have working effects--incredible show.
Wishes was absolutely amazing, but I wish there were a way to control how the fireworks explode in the sky better...quite a few of the stars come out at odd angles so people don't know what they are supposed to be, and the frown face only came out right-side up once out of my three viewings. I know it would be really hard to control this, but I hate to not hear all of the deserved oohs and aaahs b/c guests don't know what the fireworks represent.
Stitch was being very loud from behind his construction wall!
I noticed that they turned down the jets of water on Splash Mountain that used to drench guests in logs waiting to head up the 2nd lift hill--you don't get sprayed very much by them any more...and poor hopping Brer Rabbit is broken again.
I was very pleased with the new (new to me, anyway...which is all relative) signage around Blizzard Beach to direct guests to the three slide complexes...Blizzard Beach used to be really confusing, and those new signs help. The water parks just need one more thing--CLOCKS. For anyone walking around the water park without a watch on (not water resistant or they don't want to scratch their watch on the rocks) that needs to get anywhere at a set time, it's hard to keep track of what time it is. A few clocks would be very nice. That goes for all of the Parks and Resorts, too--there is a severe shortage of clocks (I know I should just wear a watch or buy one of Disney's, but it seems like it wouldn't be very hard for them to add clocks for guests as a favor, especially when trying to attend various shows). Of course, the fact that all of the Fastpass attractions have Returns clocks helps, but I still found it difficult to keep track of the time.
Overall, a great trip...absolutely beautiful weather--sunny and 90º every day! Bus service was very efficient at Pop Century, although the stations were swamped at park close--I saw 5 busloads of people leave before I got on a bus after Wishes last night haha. Cheers!
