Eureka was a wonderful parade! and then I saw a pic of the floats being smashed behind Screamin and it was so sad
at least Pixar Play Parade is great and an improvement over Block Party.
I loved Eureka. It was great, unique and tied together the theme of the park. It was a knee jerk move by TDA (Cynthia and George K) to kill it. Frankly, destroying the floats was a crime when they could have transported them out to one of the big warehouses they had (I think they still do) in Ontario and stored them.
And agreed, PPP is a terrific parade, even if the some of the music was 'borrowed' from the also terrific 'Mickey's Waterworks Parade' at HKDL.
POD had a good run just enough as far as years shown, heres hoping for a new one for the 55th
I would hope so. Last I heard, though, they aren't having one ... just opting for the Celebrate Street Party.
Hmm overall what made it so enjoyable upkeep, cast, new offerings(though minor this year)? Did you go during Halloween Time? any thoughts on how it was kicked up this year? How was seeing DCA full of walls? thats all I can think of for now.
The upkeep at DL is pretty damn good. Better than MK by far. Simple things like having beautiful flower beds and landscaping everywhere with color exploding (much like DLP did a few days prior) make a huge difference. The pavement all looks great, especially where they have swapped out red for pavers and textured.
The cast were all good to excellent in my dealings (except a mediocre server at Wine Country at DCA who seemed very nonchalant about the basics). Many were very friendly and were eager to talk about my recent visit to DLP and compare thoughts on WDW.
Since I hadn't been out there since late last year, there was a fair amount that was 'new' to me. The redone/reopened Castle walk-thru for example. Just a terrific, reality small-scale addition that adds so much to the texture (wish they'd add this or something to HKDL's version) of Fantasyland and a visit. I hope WDI can incorporate some of these type of things in the MK redo. Nothing there was very expensive, but the effects were quite cool and the story wasn't dumbed down. Even having the dramatic music playing at the appropriate times wasn't made less scary for the kiddies. Sleeping Beauty is a very dark tale, albeit one with a happy ever after ending. It shouldn't be neutered to bland princess stereotypes and at DL, it isn't.
The 'Magical' fireworks were also new. Saw them the last weekend they played. They were terrific. Seeing Dumbo fly in some ways worked more than Tink because he is so large, his wires didn't seem as obvious as when Tink makes her flight. I love Eden's voice and the soundtrack was very well done ... nice to hear music from classics such as Dumbo and Mary Poppins that often get past over for newer stuff in Disney productions.
I loved Remember. In many ways, it's the best MK park pyro show ever. But I wasn't sorry to see it 'replaced' by Magical. It's nice to keep things fresh. Two days after I returned to FLA, Halloween Screams debutted and it looks very cool too. In 2009, DL had/has FOUR regular pyro shows (not including the special July 4th and Dec. 31st) shows. It would be nice if WDW offered the same variety ... or didn't make you pay twice for the privilege.
Obviously, I missed Halloweentime, and unlike WDW, which had the gall to decorate for Halloween starting in August, most decorations weren't up yet.
DCA looked like ... well, what the pics show. It's funny because on my last trip in 2008, the walls and work was just about to start and now ... well, it's Wall Land. But that's not bad because there's a lot to get excited about.
Which brings me to the Blue Sky Cellar, which was also new to me. Although I hope it relocates in the future, so that Seasons of the Vine (a very nice small scale attraction) can return, it was so nice to see what -- as a young Spirit -- the type of 'attraction' I used to drool over. Seeing all the models (even ones that have already been changed and aren't accurate ... like seeing King Triton's with an ornate covering, a more themed/complete queue for Mickey's Funwheel and a Green Army Men Parachute drop where Maliboomer stands now) reminded me of how Disney used to build excitment with future attractions (usually in the Walt Disney Story post-show on Main Street ... now wasted space except for timeshare presentations).
There weren't really any lowlights. Just highlights. And I'm pushed for time now, so I may come back to this over the weekend ... but, for example, both Mansion and Space Mountain were down for their holiday overlays and Casey Jr. and Storybook Land were down for long rehabs, but my magical visits (was in the parks for one full day and half another) weren't 'ruined' because DL has so much to make up for it.
I love the single-rider lines, something that DLR does so well (especially on TSMM, Screamin, Soarin and Splash) and something WDW struggles with (should I point out here that UNI doesn't have that problem in O-Town?) ... Nothing like seeing a 90 minute wait for Soarin or two hours for Splash and practically walking right on. One afternoon, I used Single Rider for Screamin and rode four times in maybe 25 minutes, including once in the very front.
Indy and Pirates were highlights at DL. Also, almost forgot, the redone Small World ... I was/am against the inclusion of the charaters there. They are there only to shill the 'Disney brand' and sell merchandise. That's really an inarguable point (but folks will anyway). But they didn't ruin the attraction for me. It was bright and vibrant and we didn't bottom out with the new boats for fat Americans!:ROFLOL:Still, I prefer DLP's version sans characters, which I had ridden just 72 hours earlier.
Had a great JC skipper at night. ... Loved the new dragon in Fantasmic. ... Saw merchandise I'd actually buy if I had more disposible income.
Only had two meals 'inside' the parks. At Wine Country at DCA and Redd Rocket's at DL. Both were tasty, but the full serve at DCA was a much better value ... great veggie lasagna and breadsticks.
I could say running into Al Weiss was a lowlight, but he was very personable (as always). He asked if I was going to stay at the new GC villas and I said something along the lines of 'I hope to' ... instead of 'when you give me a free stay to try and sell me DVC, maybe!'
All and all, it was great.
Also, spent time at DD, the three hotels and even three Disney outlet stores in the area (and I had time to go to some small-scale TV awards show at the Nokia and a few industry parties too!) ... but time is running low.
As for the topic at hand if there isnt anything significant or minor save a trip from going to WDW this year
and head to DLR and see World of Color! and the minor things like the updated Lincoln(even though it opens in Dec) Silly Symphony Swings, Goofy's Sky School, and a firework show for each season, R...DCT winter/spring, Magical summer, Halloween Screams Sept-Oct and Believe Nov-Dec but if you go Jan-May ROA is walled and drained taking Fantasmic! out with it too Jan-June, and watch out for the walls at DCA
It's not an either/or with me. I'm headed to WDW for a holiday visit. Haven't done so since 2006. But I plan on being at DL again soon ... and will be there for the WoC debut next spring.
But if someone gave me an either/or choice, I would likely tell them to head to Anaheim if they had been to both places.
Thanks for asking.
You're the running joke of this forum, so me being a troll to one person isn't anything huge.