Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<A cell phone in the toilet would have been better.>> Better for who? (I've always feared that will happen, btw). Just glad they were my cheap outlet glasses and not my designer ones. <<Do I have to guess who the friend, and fellow LPer is, and did he just get back from a cruise?>> You could guess, but you'd never know him as he has one of those very long names. And, yes, he did cruise recently. But being a Disney hater, did he go with DCL like the Spirit? Hell, no. He had to go on that big giant boat that charges extra for everything from food to (possibly) toilet paper. <<So what is going to be the theme of the new ride that Tony Baxter is designing at the Magic Kingdom that even LeeMac doesn't know about yet.>> Sadly, Tony isn't working on ANY MK projects. It's a shame when you have top folks like Tony working on small scale redos (as great as things like the new Castle walk thru and the Lincoln show turned out, they are not what someone of his caliber should be doing) or DVC/hotel projects in Hawaii. <<I did some advance promotions for your upcoming thread by passing out hand bills about it while I was panhandeling at F.M. 1960 @ I-45 North today.>> How much did you make? I may be doing so soon myself. <<Will you have pictures of the Construction Walls?>> Why would I want to spoil others' life work? ... But oldwhatshisname that was with me did indeed snap a photo or two (while I secretly mocked him!) <<When you got back home did you find the cuffs of your trousers filled with Pixie Dust?>> Nah. I spilled it out on some fanbois who dared to say that Harry Potter was so far better than anything Disney has done ... I wanted to make sure they got the magic back before returning to MAGIC! <<Has Meg Crofton gotten a Mickey Tatto yet?>> Isn't the better question whether she has gotten a Spirit tat yet? <<Did you spend the entire day at the MK. >> You're trying to get details before I am prepared to give them ... but since typing this is the only thing keeping me awake (I learned that while I can still do a complete day at DCA/DL in August, doing a complete day at WDW two weeks later is bit tougher ... or I'm just way too old to do it on three hours sleep!) But I'll answer your question ... spent the morning at MK and the rest of the day until close at EPCOT ... we could have then gone over to TPFKaTD-MGMS for the 9:30 Fantasmic, but neither of us deemed that to be a necessary evil!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 >> Sunglasses in the toilet << <<I see what you're doing, Spirit. Piquing my interest so that I'll read the rest of your report. Very clever.>> You figured me out!!! There will be more toilet talk too ... so stay tuned! >> It's just not fun till something lands in the toilet!! << >> A cell phone in the toilet would have been better. << <<So much toilet talk around here today, I must be in heaven or Peter Pan's magical quail restroom. One or the other.>> There were many facilities used for Spirited activities, but no go in the PP restrooms. Remind me to mention the new restrooms (rehabbed) near EPCOT's lockers if I forget!
Originally Posted By A Happy Haunt <<<<It's just not fun till something lands in the toilet!!>> Hey, that's a line I'd expect from leo (who was mentioned when said glasses decided to fly into the magical toilet next to MK Guest Relations).>> girls just wanna have fun too!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<OK ... that last part was a lie. The quality time was actually with Imagineering Legend ... Tony Baxter ... and right outside the Imagination pavilion too>> <<Lower case to that legend please. He isn't one yet....>> I KNEW you were going to say that. I absolutely KNEW that! (why can't I be so sure about lottery numbers?!) But I'd be willing to bet that capital 'L' will come sooner rather than later ... better to soothe him into 'retirement'. <<So what is going to be the theme of the new ride that Tony Baxter is designing at the Magic Kingdom that even LeeMac doesn't know about yet.>> <<I think you know by now that MK could sink into the Seven Seas Lagoon and I'd probably be the last to know. What stays in hot and humid central Florida stays there as far as I'm concerned...>> I think that's why you don't seem as concerned by the general sucking/staleness of WDW parks. You are lucky enough to spend much more time in all the other (better run, fresher ... maybe even more magical) parks/resorts. If it makes you feel any better, then I think very few people know what's going on at WDW. ... from the folks who run the place to those who are digging lots of holes and putting up those oh-so-photogenic construction walls. Solid word from numerous sources suggests the Snow White mine train coaster ride that was taken out for meet and greets is back in as is more retail.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 >>Do I have to guess who the friend, and fellow LPer is, and did he just get back from a cruise?<< <<I refuse to either confirm or deny my participation in any foolishness that may or may not have transpired at one or more Disney parks yesterday.>> Foolishness?!?!? ... You weren't the one buying $11.95 Taco Bell quality tacos just because the Cantina was reopening ... I do think grabbing onto Tony's leg, while your vinylmation were falling all over the walkway, and crying out for him to 'Bring Back Dreamfinder' was a bit much though. (I will be talking to Mrs. Lee about this as the woman deserves so much better!) <<Did have fun, though...>> Yes, it was a lot of fun. Better to set me up for a lousy Friday ... should have stayed in bed resting my tired old body!
Originally Posted By leobloom >> Hey, that's a line I'd expect from leo (who was mentioned when said glasses decided to fly into the magical toilet next to MK Guest Relations). << Just to know my LP moniker was brought up in such prestigious company makes me think my life's work is complete. I can go become the 1,000th ghost in the Haunted Mansion, now.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<I refuse to either confirm or deny my participation in any foolishness that may or may not have transpired at one or more Disney parks yesterday.>> <<Hmm... that seems to contradict a particular Magical site post from yesterday. Let's go to the tape! "Not sure who tweeted, but it was myself, Martin, Spirit and a couple others that ran into Tony last night. Yes, it was near Imagination, but that was just a coincidence. He wasn't in the park on business, just visiting. He's not involved in anything on this coast. He did have some quite amusing opinions about the current version of Imagination, though... Oh, and Kodak pulling out of Imagination had nothing to do with EO.">> Aha ... so leewhateverthehellhecallshimselfhere was singing like a Tiki bird (in Anaheim because chances are in FLA they won't be working) ... well, at least it means I don't have to go lurk over there (some people really don't like me there ... I KNOW ... shocking ... right!) <<So... no new ride headed up by Tony, no new redo for Imagination, and adios to Kodak. Did I miss anything?>> You missed the fun in being there ... and the exact comments, which I won't post here out of fairness to Tony, who was quite blunt (something I have always admired about him ... he doesn't lie to fans/guests just because that's corporate policy). But you did generally hit on the key points as far as Tony's possible involvement and anything actually happening in that building. A friend mentioned afterward that Disney would probably close the attraction within a few months of Kodak pulling out. I think that Danny 'I am not in this position just because Lee's my daddy' Cockerell would absolutely shutter it if he didn't have so much of FW looking like a ghost town as is. FWIW, the Kodak signage is still up all over the building ... and the company is even mentioned prominently in the new pre-show for EO, which is actually an improvement over Honey, I Bored The Audience as Far Back as The late-1990s But Disney's Penny-Pinching Leaders Kept Me Until 2010 Anyway. With or without Tony, with or without Kodak, it's very clear they are going to have to spend some money on that pavilion. When the best thing going is the retro-80s carpeting and paint in the pre and post shows of EO, they can't leave things as is. People are avoiding that pavilion like it's an establishment politician (you know, one with an IQ above room temp in Wasilla in December!) and that ain't gonna fly long term. As an aside, I had two encounters with Tony and the first was when a crazy pal visiting from the UK (no, not the dude I shared a bed with at Heathrow ... a more MAGICal dude who says he will be posting here in the future and I will hold him to it because he is a treasure of knowledge and just a kewl dude) told me to check out the facilities that no one remembers exist on the far side of Imagination if I wanted to take a Magical Journey as well as a leak. As I walked over I didn't expect anyone to be there and almost walked into Tony. Well, sure enough my UK bud (we'll call him 'Marty') was right. While much of the background music at EPCOT has been destroyed over the past 10-15 years, those restrooms still play the ORIGINAL 1982-era BGM track ... so if you are looking for a clean quiet place to take care of business while being taken back to a better time, that's the place. (all this restroom talk makes me wonder if the trip was just an ode to Leo!)
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<C'mon guys, we want stories! I can't wait until Sunday! >> Some stories just aren't fit for a world-wide audience!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<A-ha!! A Spirit is amongst us. You slime!! Getting my hopes up about an Imagination redo! For shame, Spirit! FOR SHAME!!>> I would love nothing better than to tell you that Tony was riding herd on a total pavilion redo ... and working on a new ride thru with both original characters, although totally new experience (except theme song, natch) with a real budget and the Hunny Hunt/Ratatouille/Mystic Manor (if they haven't killed the system, which seems unclear) trackless system. I would love to tell y'all that, but I can't. I do admit I did toy with the idea of tossing that out there because some folks are so gullable, so full of MAGIC that they'll believe anything. That said, I do really think they're going to have to do something there. They're getting lower guest counts than 1.0 got in its final years and that has been the case for a while.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<<<It's just not fun till something lands in the toilet!!>> Hey, that's a line I'd expect from leo (who was mentioned when said glasses decided to fly into the magical toilet next to MK Guest Relations).>> <<girls just wanna have fun too!>> Hmm ... that's very catchy ... perhaps you could ... I dunno ... put it to music?
Originally Posted By jkayjs Boy this must have been a last minute thing as you never gave a hint on Tues. BTW I'm looking those dates & will let you know. I'm glad you got out & about for a little fun. I'm all ears for a full report.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 OK ... so back to our magical story. In an effort to be a more spontaneous Spirit (and an effort to not lose my loose grip on reality) I decided on about half a day's notice to ride shotgun on a Magical Dudes Day Trip to The Timeshare Kingdom of the World. I figured with all the new kewl Harry Potter stuff that it was about time I got to WDW to check it out. How was I supposed to know that Potter was down the road at vile Universal-FLA, while fanbois and Imagineers cry tears of pettiness? So ... I figured I get to see the amazing WoC fountain show ... but then I was told that's something you can only see in Anaheim (they never told me that when I dropped in to see how George K's triumphant 2.0 show at TDA was playing in real life). At this point, I was in near tears ... shaking ... clutching at my Figment plush, while my pins bounced around ... but that's when 'the other Lee' (as Leemac no doubt calls him) assured me that things would be alright. And soon we'd be riding thru the cosmos while listening to Starryophonic sound. I tried to open the door (which didn't have a handle, something that did concern me a bit!) and jump out while he was doing about 80 near Yeehaw Junction. Then, he promised me Dole Whips and Judi Dench and I was all good. In short order we were pulling into the EPCOT parking lot. Or at least that's what he said it was. I always view the BW, BC and YC as the EPCOT parking lot, so I'll just take Lee's word about that. It did have plenty of spaces, albeit in dire need of repaving. Then, as I got out of the car (dude drives a VW bus painted in Dharma colors, only not in as good shape ... likely 'splains the lack of a door handle ... and the 'roids I developed from bouncing all over Florida's Turnpike on those 70s springy seats), I realized something shocking. It was a time I heard existed, but hadn't experienced. Something called ... 'morning'. How do people get to theme parks at ungodly hours like 9:45? I would have tried out one of those magical WDW trams I hear they have at their parking lots, but being that a.) they're cheap; b.) we were a few rows from the park; and c.) despite anything you may read online do not believe it unless it concurs with what I am about to tell you, which is THE PARKS WERE EMPTY ... not uncrowded, not moderately crowded ... they were (say it with me LPers) EMPTY. So, we trudged up to the main entrance (now with anti-terrorism themed fences to go with evildoer poles because the future and global village are scary places) where someone had to actually buy his AP (shhh ...it wasn't me). AP in hand. We were off for the monorail station, once someone figured out where it was (how can a so-called Disney expert walk by it? ... I can't answer that one). Up to the station we went, where we greeted by monorail CMs ... who looked bored and were milling about, talking amongst themselves and didn't actually greet us at all. At this point I was thinking, 'I'm not in Anaheim' ... 'I'd really like to head over to one of the Lodges and go to sleep' ... 'I wish Pierce were here' ... and ... 'I really could use a magical WDW restroom'. Monorail comes. And yep ... you knew it was coming ... so does Complaint No. 1 ... 90 degrees out and the AC wasn't up to the task ... it was on, but it wasn't cold or even cool inside. Off to the TTC or as I like to call it 'that relic from the 70s when people needed a transport hub there' ...it was there we located our only line of the day (other than the throngs who wanted my autograph, naturally). It was there I was thinking a few things, including 'I'm not in Anaheim' ... 'I'd really like to head over to one of the Lodges and go to sleep' ... 'I wish Pierce were here' ... and ... 'I really could use a magical WDW restroom'. Another monorail pulled into the station (thankfully no fatalties were recorded) and soon we were on a magical trip past Disney's beautiful Bay Lake, which is an odd name when you think about it ... like calling a sea River Ocean, really. We also passed an amazing new attraction to the WDW landscape, a giant timeshare tower themed to a Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato Sandwich with one of those plastic Mickey sticks thru the top to hold it all together. I truly understand now why DVC is so popular and just as soon as this depression is over and I have an extra $1.4 million, I'll consider renting a room for a few nights if a cast pal gets me a discount! The monorail, which I think was Black but why should color be an issue, decided to hold in front of the MK (something that no doubt really irked my friend TDLFAN, even though he wasn't with us and likely was in some exotic place like Detroit). While holding (and holding it in) I noticed many trees had been chopped down along the MK berm/WDW RR track and in many cases, you could see the stumps. Landscaping wasn't up to par, at least by my neighborhood standards, and Lee (ever the critic) was quick to point out the topiaries weren't there. I chalked that up to a severe lack of pixie dust on his part and just hoped that if I wished really hard for something (like the monorail moving, so I could get to a MAGICal restroom) it would happen. Next up: be careful what you wish for and a shoutout to Lee's pal Phil Homes ... as always thanks for reading and remember it is not too late to sign up for the World Famous Take a Spirit to Dinner Program (appetizer and gratuity both required).
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 It's at this point that I must make a correction (shouldn't do trip reports on lack of sleep), but the AP that was 'allegedly' purchased by someone else at EPCOT really wasn't. Well, I'm sure someone bought one ... possibly even at that time ... but it wasn't one of us. Now ... back to our story. Since no AP was purchased yet and one of us (again, no character aspersions here, folks) needed one, we trudged down the ramp happily singing Disney show tunes. Just as Lee was about to take on the Pumba role in Hakuna Matata we both noticed the railings on the ramp down from monorail station were rusty and needed paint/replacement. Now, who notices this stuff, right? Anyway, we also happily talked about our childhoods at Disney and how many times we had walked in front of monorails, walked into the water on PoC and Small World and fallen onto the tracks of BTMRR and lived to tell about it. Makes you wonder how we ever survived Disney ... no gates everywhere ... we also had to survive no pintrading, no character meals and meet-greet-and-gropes, and had to actually decide what we wanted to eat at mealtimes and not six months ahead of time ... I'll tell you folks something, it's just a miracle we lived through that stuff. So, while someone went off to Guest Relations, I found the most MAGICal site ... I mean sight ... a restroom where I ... where I ... proceeded to immediately drop my sunglasses in the toilet. I thought somewhere, maybe even in the next stall, Leo was having quite the laugh. I was, like I am when viewing Stitch's Great Escape, less amused. The MK is well ... timeless ... you can take that two ways ... and I guess they're both true. I tend to look at it as the park DL never wants to become, but that's me. ... And I am right. Seeing the MK so soon after DL reminded me again of why it's not a good idea (and I hope my pal 'Marty' chimes in here on this when he returns from his holiday) to visit this park so soon after another MK-style park. The flaws just hit you that much harder. The fall/Halloween decorations were out (as you no doubt know by the 1,097 pics that have been plastered around). Since it's now mid-Sept. (where did summer go?), I will say it's timely. They're nice, but they're also pretty much exactly the same ones that have been going up for 4-5-6? years now. But we weren't there to look at pumpkins or squash or anything else that says 'is it too soon for Christmas yet?' Nope. We had a mission. Space Mountain. Unfortunately, it wasn't Mission 2 in Paris. It was WDW's rickety old 1975 special (trivia note: the Miami Dolphins didn't make the playoffs that year for the first time under Don Shula, Saturday Night Live debutted and top music included Rhinestone Cowboy by Glen Campbell, Love Will Keep Us Together by The Captain and Tennille and Philadelphia Freedom by Elton John -- all currently on Pierce's iPod for eight-tracks). I will point out that listening to any of the above music tracks is more entertaning than a spin on Space Mountain. I will also point out that one way to plus the ride would be to listen to said songs while hurtling -- or hurting -- thru the now dark again dome. We rushed breathlessly thru the non-existent crowds (the same ones you'll hear were packing the place in others' inaccurate reports) to Space Mountain where we were greeted by a 20-minute stand-by wait. It wasn't that it was inaccurate. If you stood under the sign and waited 15 minutes and then walked the queue to load, it indeed would have been 20 minutes. We opted to just ride. And what a ride it was. The music, techno-clubby in nature, doesn't detract from the ride. It also doesn't add much to it because you simply don't get to hear much as you wiz by the speakers that were tossed in after Phil Holmes went to a Circuit City going out of business sale last year and picked them up. Since I was told I should only say nice things about Disney (curiously, Tony Baxter wasn't the one who told me this), I'll say the ride is dark. And the coaster cars stay on the track. And we all know how important a Horizons-like postshow is! After our exciting journey thru the cosmos and back to 1975 ('My Eyes Adored You' by Frankie Valli hit No. 5 that year, another Pierce fave) we exited into what has to be the only place at WDW that sells these cool little pieces of plastic shaped like Mickey. Vinylmation is the name. Hooking you like an addict on heroin is Disney's game. While my cohort searched for the perfect Hannah Montana shirt for himself, I noticed that they indeed sell a few Space Mountain items (so what if they're DL tees!) By the time we exited, I was thinking a few things including 'I'm not in Anaheim' ... 'I'd really like to head over to one of the Lodges and go to sleep' ... 'I wish Pierce were here' ... and ... 'I really could use a magical WDW restroom'. So ... naturally, we decided on riding some new attraction called the Peoplemover. I was very disappointed to see this as it takes the place of my beloved favorite the Tommorowland Transit Authority. I was going to start blubbering like a baby, but Lee promised we could go look at construction walls soon so I said I'd try and enjoy the ride. Unlike our Space Mtn CM who had to look at us for approximately 3 minutes and 12 seconds before asking 'how many?', we had a friendly greeter wearing the new MK area lead costume (otherwise known as J.C. Penny) and a friendly CM at the top. The attraction looked quite fresh ... clean ... and much-like Space Mountain, also came with Starryophonic Sound. I was impressed. The narration also included some reference to a Mr. Johnson and all I could think was 'No one who isn't a fanboi or an Imagineer is going to get this'. While riding this new attraction we both commented on seeing vast vistas of something you don't see much at Phil Holmes Magical Park of Toons and Walls. What did we see? Pavement. Because even with the strollers and ECVs (again, so many more than Anaheim) the park was so uncrowded that you didn't look down on a sea of humanity (even though I tend to look down on humanity as a rule, since most humans don't possess it today). We gleefully exited the PeopleMover, so happy about our trip around what was once known as Tomorrowland. I tried to talk Lee into doing a Glee-inspired exit (like the Emmys opening), but he was busy trying to figure out if there was actually anything left in the park he wanted to see or do. Then, I reminded him about all those walls. And off we went ... down the candy path. OK, the thing is, if you want candy you have to wait for nightfall on various nights and pay an extra (what? is it $75 yet?) fee to pretend you are there for anything other than candy. But we still admired the flat Alice in Wonderland themed plywood cutouts and banners hung in the area (no doubt in homage to all the workers and guests killed in Anaheim by not having an ugly safety wall on its Alice attraction). This is when things got a bit ugly and Lee and I came to blows in the middle of Toontown while trying to ascertain where the Dueling Dumbos would be located. He said I was 10 feet off, I told him he was a UNI fanboi ... next thing I know some soccer mom from Ohio is pulling us apart near stroller parking for Barnstormer and offering us some candy if we made up. We soon realized it really didn't matter where they stuck Dumbo. Just so long as we didn't have to ride it. We then went into the Tentland gift shop as Lee was still hankering for something with Hannah Cyrus on it. What was odd was I didn't see any Marvel merchandise yet in there. It seemed plastered over DLR and seemed all over WDW in May ... so maybe I missed it in my excitement over walls. Anyone who isn't excited by theme park construction walls is anti-American as far as I am concerned. And walls really are the new not walls at WDW. MK has walls or scrims all over the place. From Main Street to the F-land project, they are all over the place. I was tempted to go to City Hall and demand a refund of my $8,000 magical WDW vacation, but decided against it. I can't say walls bother me. At least they signify something is going on. And that's progress. I should also point out that other than some dirty walkways with stains and gum etc (because they do NOT pressure clean them), the park was very clean. Of course when you are dealing with almost no guests, it shouldn't be hard to keep it clean. Next up: You getting hungry?
Originally Posted By leobloom >> The music, techno-clubby in nature, doesn't detract from the ride. It also doesn't add much to it because you simply don't get to hear much as you wiz by the speakers that were tossed in after Phil Holmes went to a Circuit City going out of business sale last year and picked them up. << I thought he stole the speakers out of cars that he broke into on Orange Blossom Trail. Or maybe it was cars abandoned on the 408? >> So, while someone went off to Guest Relations, I found the most MAGICal site ... I mean sight ... a restroom where I ... where I ... proceeded to immediately drop my sunglasses in the toilet. I thought somewhere, maybe even in the next stall, Leo was having quite the laugh. << Now, now. I never laugh in WDW restrooms. They are serious business to me. Like construction walls are to other fanboys.
Originally Posted By leobloom >> I tried to open the door (which didn't have a handle, something that did concern me a bit!) and jump out while he was doing about 80 near Yeehaw Junction. << Incidentally, the Desert Inn Restaurant at Yeehaw Junction is the kind of old Florida spot that offers a nice alternative to the Turnpike service plazas (which are such 'interesting' places south of Orlando). The Desert Inn used to be a brothel and a hangout for cowboys, Seminoles, moonshiners, and the like. Sounds like Pierce's kind of place, right? But they also have an alligator burger on the menu, which I don't recall seeing anywhere else. Anyway, a nice place to wash the pixie dust out of your mouth. (The ADMIN gods are licking their chops waiting for a smart remark about that last sentence.)
Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1 Between that and the $15,000 per night Japanese ladies comment in the TDR section(which shocked even ME and I am about the farthest person you will get from the pathetic and cop out PC movement), I am starting to think the admins are asleep! But then, it is 3:35 on a Saturday afternoon here in Perth,which means they probably ARE!
Originally Posted By leemac <<I KNEW you were going to say that. I absolutely KNEW that! (why can't I be so sure about lottery numbers?!) But I'd be willing to bet that capital 'L' will come sooner rather than later ... better to soothe him into 'retirement'.>> A lot of folks would spit out their pacifiers if Tony got it before any of his '70s peers. The next imagineer to get the Legend nod will need to be carefully chosen - I can think of a few folks that I'd select ahead of Tony. <<I think that's why you don't seem as concerned by the general sucking/staleness of WDW parks. You are lucky enough to spend much more time in all the other (better run, fresher ... maybe even more magical) parks/resorts.>> I am concerned but it doesn't impact my world so there is little point getting upset about it. I don't have any inclination to visit for work or play - a sad indictment on the state of the resort.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub Well that might just be the most honest trip report ever! Very insightful and entertaining. Love to feel the "timeless" holiday excitement over and over again. ANd it is good to know Disney does help the economy what will all those lawyers making it safe and security guards inspecting for bubblegum cause Disney doesn't want to steamclean anymore. Perhaps you should sell Vintage DL t-shirts with "I survived DL before PinTrading Character Meals MeetnGreetGropes & the DDP"
Originally Posted By vbdad55 I do think grabbing onto Tony's leg, while your vinylmation were falling all over the walkway, and crying out for him to 'Bring Back Dreamfinder' was a bit much though. (I will be talking to Mrs. Lee about this as the woman deserves so much better!) -------- oh so want the 9" Dreamfinder with 3" Figment in tux vinyl-- is that bad ? Is thsat what he got? Calling Art of Disney EPCOT today to find out where mine is - if so
