Originally Posted By CaptainMichael >>>So ... our intrepid 'little' explorer heads to O-Town and doesn't go near IOA (SHAME TO THE NTH POWER!) and apparently only visits MK and EPCOT. I wish I could say I was surprised, but the Spirit is many things, a liar not being one. Glad you had a good time, naturally. But one day someone really needs to teach you how to visit WDW the right way. Short weekends where you only visit two parks, including MK, wouldn't be it. As to the pyro, that's something that has happened many times in the past ... I've had it at DL and EPCOT as well as MK. Never saw folks acting like it was an attack by 'evildoers' however. 90% of the time, they do fix things and start right up like they did in your case. I can bash Disney for many things, but not for something like that. Tech issues happen from time to time. And even if someone in the cast ranks reported a non-existent fire, it is better to be safe. I'm eagerly await you telling us how MAGICal it all was!<<< So. Much. Win. Spirit, he's even trying to get out of IoA in December now. The pixie dust is too strong!
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<The tiresome, awkward, forced storyline of MMM drives me crazy. If it was just music and not vocals, it would be tremendous. The Faux-Capt. Hook voice is just unnatural to hear blaring across the MK.>> I dunno. I've never seen MMM from the MK because that would entail paying a second entry fee. But I've seen it while dining at both the California Grill and 'Ohana ... and once from the beach at the Poly ... and really enjoyed it. Maybe the soundtrack doesn't bother me because nothing can be more grating than listening to the Wishes moppets singing! (I hope, btw, that for his old pals at MAGIC EE stopped by City Hall and demanded freebies since his trip was ruined with no Spectro and no Wishes! How can Disney have the nerve to switch things up for all those once in a lifers?)
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<So. Much. Win.>> The Spirit tries ... all the time. <<Spirit, he's even trying to get out of IoA in December now. The pixie dust is too strong!>> He really needs to be slapped silly. If WWoHP was at one of the Disney parks, fanbois would all need to wear Depends because they'd be constantly wetting themselves. It is the ONLY (theme park) reason I may hit O-Town this summer.
Originally Posted By CaptainMichael <<The tiresome, awkward, forced storyline of MMM drives me crazy. If it was just music and not vocals, it would be tremendous. The Faux-Capt. Hook voice is just unnatural to hear blaring across the MK.>> I dunno. I've never seen MMM from the MK because that would entail paying a second entry fee. But I've seen it while dining at both the California Grill and 'Ohana ... and once from the beach at the Poly ... and really enjoyed it.<<< I've seen it from behind Main St. while on break,on youtube, and I heard it during my CP days when one of my roommates was playing it. The soundtrack ruins it for me. Same for Holiday Wishes. Great, fun pyro...awkward soundtrack. Illuminations has spoiled us all I think. I've also been spoiled by the version of Fantasy in the Sky they dust off for NYE.
Originally Posted By MousDad I think the overpowering Wishes-defending aura oozing from EE's presence caused the glitch in MMM.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>Glad you had a good time, naturally. But one day someone really needs to teach you how to visit WDW the right way. Short weekends where you only visit two parks, including MK, wouldn't be it. As to the pyro, that's something that has happened many times in the past ... I've had it at DL and EPCOT as well as MK. Never saw folks acting like it was an attack by 'evildoers' however. 90% of the time, they do fix things and start right up like they did in your case. I can bash Disney for many things, but not for something like that. Tech issues happen from time to time. And even if someone in the cast ranks reported a non-existent fire, it is better to be safe.<<< We all have our different way of doing things, Spirit. ;-) This is ours. We'll have an extended stay there sooner than later, I am sure. Odd about the pyro.... Agreed about being safe than sorry....But it was just SO odd to see, so disconcerting to not know what was going on, and honestly, it could have been handled better. Why don't they TELL you that they HAVE to finish the pyro show at some point? Why did they make everyone file up MSUSA? I dunno. The event reeks of Disney/TDO mismanagement in that respect, but also shows that they still can fix things quickly. Beautiful show, though. (In two parts!)
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>The tiresome, awkward, forced storyline of MMM drives me crazy. If it was just music and not vocals, it would be tremendous. The Faux-Capt. Hook voice is just unnatural to hear blaring across the MK.<< His voice over does sound odd, I agree. But the storyline and the "battle" for the castle is quite cool. Gets a good reaction from guests.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>> He really needs to be slapped silly. If WWoHP was at one of the Disney parks, fanbois would all need to wear Depends because they'd be constantly wetting themselves. It is the ONLY (theme park) reason I may hit O-Town this summer.<<< My parents need to be slapped silly...I want to go to Uni, you all know that. However, when the parents are offered an upgrade to our passes that cover the expenses of tickets, it'll be an interesting proposition to ask them to spend money on something I think that they don't have a vested interest in. We shall see. I've pulled off harder things with them before.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>I think the overpowering Wishes-defending aura oozing from EE's presence caused the glitch in MMM.<< That's exactly it.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<I want to go to Uni, you all know that. >> Somehow I don't believe you. Haha
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Somehow I don't believe you. Haha<<< Haha, funny. Why wouldn't I want to go? You forget that I'm hoping that this kicks WDW's ass in a way...I would like to help out with that. ;-) And I would also like to see the most immersive environment created in Florida in about 20-25 years.
Originally Posted By Mickeymouseclub In another post the Witches are reporting Tinkerbell was bitten by a snake backstage. That would definitely shut down Fireworks. Crowd reaction is always interesting and we always want an immediate explanation but I never expect anybody to tell the details just from a legal viewpoint. The important thing to remember is follow the cast directions and remain calm in a crowd as it exits. Who knows someday you might be thankful for this dress rehearsal to be better prepared in case of a true emergency. I know I would want to pay attention to the exit for my family and not want to stand in the middle of Main street demanding an explanation. So thanks for sharing your experience it has given me much to think about next time I am disappointed and told to exit.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<In another post the Witches are reporting Tinkerbell was bitten by a snake backstage. That would definitely shut down Fireworks.>> Nah, if that was the case they'd do it without Tink. It's actually a fairly normal occurance.
Originally Posted By WDW Imagineer ^yes, people get bit by snakes all the time 170 feet up in the castle
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>In another post the Witches are reporting Tinkerbell was bitten by a snake backstage. That would definitely shut down Fireworks.<<< And I'm hearing tell that some idiot guest reported a fire on the castle...That's why the show stopped. *headdesk*
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer Ready for Part II? The general maintenance of both parks I visited this trip around (EPCOT and the MK), were perhaps the best I had seen them in quite a while, as opposed to December when both MK and EPCOT felt very run down and dirty. Despite the rain, which I always feels brings out the worst in the park, both were VERY clean, very manicured, and exceeded expectations. EPCOT’s gardens especially. Very pleased with the level of “icky plants” in FW East… For the first time in a long time, FLOWERS have been planted in some of the planters. Maybe they were left over from F/G? Regardless, it’s better than palms, and better than the bushes left iin there that always seem overgrown. Also nice, they’ve made a small exhibit out of the bird feeders and “butterfly garden” close to CCore East. Quite idyllic. The only place that was disappointing in regards to outside upkeep would be Innoventions Plaza where it seems that the planters are just allowed to be left overgrown. That, combined with the hard colors from the kinetics, and building, and lighting leaves the place feeling VERY arid. You know this already. FoN looks to be in working order again, wasn’t leaking, as in Dec. MK follows this line of thought as well, and there are even some improvements. AdvL looks much better than it did a year ago, and looks much less shabby. The same can not be said for Tomorrowland, though, rust and wear and tear is much more apparent especially on the TTA tracks. Also something much to my annoyance… The Stitch Stage and it’s “party”. Major issues with this, blasting the Macarena, “who let the dogs out”, and other “pop” songs isn’t really conducive to the feel of the land, or even one of a Disney park. How does this fit in Tomorrowland? Why does it fit? Doesn’t Disneyland at least hire local bands for their dance parties instead of a DJ that sounds bored out of his mind? Also…the level of music, WAY too loud…seeing that I could hear it from the first scene in CoP, and the last one. Total thematic aberration, and I know it’s temporary, but really, something better could be done. Speaking of CoP, let’s talk about attractions. Not to many issues to discuss, save for the usual ones: Soarin’ has lost many of it’s dots and spots but retains two HUGE ones on the left side of the screen, Pan looks like it opened in 1955 and has not been touched since, HM was pitch perfect, save for the brats screaming at everything, Audio issues with the first part of Pirates, but the bulk of the ride was fine. The Hat Pirate is even back. Splash looks fantastic after it’s refurb, so many effects that had been missing are back, and the colors and lighting just works much better. Philharmagic’s queue really looks to be in shambles, but the video and screen was surprisingly very clear, and the stains that are usually present where the faux gold outline rests at the beginning and ending of the show is gone, or very, very light. I could not see them, if they were there, while in December it was horribly dark. Yet another show that keeps growing on me. Across the walkway, IASW needs it’s refurb, lots of missing dolls, and ones that are missing body parts. Hands, usually. Over in EPCOT, no attraction issues, again, save for the matter of a unfinished descent in SSE. Did get to explore Base21, though, and it’s quite nice. It’s a shame that they didn’t put the design effort that they put into Base21, that they did into SSE. Especially like the animation they use on the screens, SSE transforming into earth, as it’s tiles fly off, and them a diagram of the building’s ride path. On the matter of tiles, however… What’s up with SSE’s west side? Near the top of the sphere, huge, black marks cover the tiles. Looks either like soot, or dirt, or perhaps even lightening. I’ve heard of this before, and there is never a explanation. Asked CMs and most didn’t notice or care. Bad show on that part. Finally got some feedback from a older CM that said that the marks had “appeared” a few days before. He too was concerned and said that they should clean it soon…. So much for self cleaning tiles. Speaking of CMs... Most on this trip were very, very good. Carried conversations, knew their stuff, and were personable. Only bad experience with them came when no one knew or cared about SSE’s dirt problem, or when they didn’t speak English. This, of course, is in reference to the CMs who are in training from Shanghai. It’s a little frustrating, but I can’t blame them. Best CM, however, was, by far, Ms. Carol, The Hat Lady at the Rose and Crown. Undeterred by the surroundings, she played, and interacted with us, and was just a joy to watch. The reason I bring up our surroundings, was the fact that the Rose and Crown was PACKED, it was pouring rain outside, and we were surrounded by drunks. Seriously not pleasant, and certainly not a “Magical” atmosphere. I really don’t want to hear a whole group of grown men from Chicago drunkenly yell about their sex lives. Yep. Classy, no?! Would have stepped outside, but as I was said, it was pouring, and I had no desire to eat dinner wet. Seeing IllumiNations was another story, and I’ll save that for next time. Enjoy, and feel free to ask any questions! Maybe I’ll put up some pictures, too. ☺
