Originally Posted By Expo_Seeker40 Hello dearest fanbois, sweatshirt moms, 2 timers, and gramfans! Just returned from 1.5 days in the vacation kingdom only to go back next week with another set of relatives. (God, why can't they pick Kennedy Space Center instead). The parks are busy. Very busy. The south is on spring break, national colleges are on spring break, and British tourists visit whenever they feel like so God Bless. Went to Epcot before my co-workers showed up. Park looks festive for Pollenfest ,I mean F&G! Lotso the evil bear was reeking of strawberry jam, but I stopped to smell, only to sneeze. Rode test track with a 5 minute opening hour wait. Haven't been on TT in a while. It reminds me of the Golden Glades interchange in Miami. co-workers showed up around 11, by then the fastpasses for soarin' weren't excepted until 5:15-6:15pm, I'm pretty the sign original said "better luck tomorrow", but I rubbed my eyes and it said 5:15. Sleeping with the Land had a 20 minute wait. Journey into a lack of Imagination had a 10 minute wait. Walked around future world, went into mouse gears and stared at the 40th merch. BTW club cool is all out of beverly. Can we please demolish blunders of life? I went in it the first time since 1996! Knowing full well what happened to it. It was like a 80s fall food court. I expected to find a Benaton store and 99 cent scrungies. I was hoping to find some teased hair too. Strolled into world showcase, sneezing on the way. They should open a visine pavilion at epcot! Had some wine in france, thanks to my co-worker for pairing the wine. The CM looked shocked that an American would even choose a whine like that. Maintenant, c'est magnifique! Went and saw Impression De 1982, and while it's still a pretty film, 2 projectors were going shaking so bad. Had lunch at restaurant Marrakesh. That was fun. We had to rush through world showcase. Voices of Liberty, whoever they were this time, did a great show, then watched AA. Reflections of China, and then SSE. Let me just say (still) that project tomorrow feels like earth station 2.0, smart, interactive, but informing. SSE looks great with it's blue legs, and the merfcove still sits abandoned since 2007. Co-workers then left, and I headed to the packed kingdom. Oh....my...god...... Lines, but I didn't care. I just stared wide eyed at the beautiful new paint job on the main street expo..I mean theater. It looks great. Got me a pineapple float. I swear they raised the prices. Exit door to tiki room was left open and you could hear "let's all sing like the birdies sing" on the speakers as WDI was toying with the show. No not really, but needless to say I can't wait for trop serenade to return. Haunted Mansion: Sorry guys, I have no problem with the queue. Finally got to see it in person. I agree with complaining about the hat, the SSE wand, leave a legacy, a big main street emporium, but this queue which you have the option to go through thanks to a metal fence installed, does not effect the HM experience. The HM has no clear storyline other than it's a retirement home for ghosts, and I'm amazed how some people spend HOURS online researching and then writing lengthy stories about the HM. It's...a freaking queue. It's not a hat blocking a chinese theatre, it's not faded millenium tarps, or an unused imageworks....it's a freaking queue you have the option to go through, and it's off to the side, that by the time you reach the door, you've already passed it! Huge props to the CM making the HM experience yesterday ghoulish! Everything went as planned, from getting guests into the foyer to see the painting change, to hearing all the narration, and door closing on time in the stretching room. A lot of guests were talking about how you can't see yourself riding with the ghosts, that's something I'm more concerned about, what will happen INSIDE the ride when that effect changes, not some optional queue on the side of the house! Then went on TTA, errr PMR, and then CoP. Had a nice chat in line (yes there was a line) with a couple, who first saw the show in NY! Very cool. CoP, the father in the first act looks like his jaw has finally been fixed, and the father in act III isn't tapping his foot sporadically anymore. Took an excursion to the Polynesian, and had some strong magical drinks at the Tiki Hut, buzz called a couple fanboys, and watched the electrical wawa pageant. Sobered up and drove back to my relative's house. All in all, main street USA is seeing some love, some rides are getting little touch ups, but the spring break crowds are packed in, and please, stop freaking out over the optional graveyard queue.
Originally Posted By Disneymom443 All in all you sound like you had a good time. Thats great... the only thing that suprised me was the fact that the Beverly was all gone. I guess everyone wants to try the horrific soda.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>> It reminds me of the Golden Glades interchange in Miami.<<< *shudder*
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Haunted Mansion: Sorry guys, I have no problem with the queue. Finally got to see it in person. I agree with complaining about the hat, the SSE wand, leave a legacy, a big main street emporium, but this queue which you have the option to go through thanks to a metal fence installed, does not effect the HM experience. The HM has no clear storyline other than it's a retirement home for ghosts, and I'm amazed how some people spend HOURS online researching and then writing lengthy stories about the HM. It's...a freaking queue. It's not a hat blocking a chinese theatre, it's not faded millenium tarps, or an unused imageworks....it's a freaking queue you have the option to go through, and it's off to the side, that by the time you reach the door, you've already passed it!<<< Expo... It's not about the "story" in ANY way. I agree with you that there is no REAL story. It's merely a progression of thematic events, that you are privy to. The real issue is the fact that it's out of place, and ruins the mood and pacing of the attraction. It's unnecessary, out of place, and tacky. The Mansion starts of with Claud Coats' moody and subtle and DARK opening and setting. It's wry, and sinister humor. It's wit. We read the epitaphs. We see the looming Mansion, it's angles and features cutting a foreboding figure. We see the unsettling transformations in the Stretching Rooms and do double takes at busts that we THINK are looking at us. The first part of the ride is a psychological thrill more than a show. It's based wholly on what YOU THINK YOU SEE. Later, is when we see the zany fun of Marc Davis' spooks and haunts. Now.. With that said.. Do you really think the loud noices, the incredulous gags, and the sheer humor fit into the brooding atmosphere of the first, Claud Coats part of the Mansion? Queue or not, fake story or not, this is a issue in thematics. The queue now clashes with that. I don't know... ...it's akin to topping Spaceship Earth with a wand, and Hollywood Blvd with a BAH. Not needed, clashes with existing mood and placemaking, fails at bringing a more cohesive environment and believable illusion to WDW.
Originally Posted By rhodisney I enjoyed your commentary. Sometimes it's fun to just go there and not be analyzing everything to death, looking for things that need improvement, or droning on about the long lines. I think it's great when you meet people, like the couple at COP who will talk to you, and reminisce when you're waiting in line..rather than have the tired kids with the cranky parents yelling at them in line behind you. ( I've got 5 kids, I've been there done that.) Now that I'm older though, I think I'd like the chance to chat.
Originally Posted By Tony C To the OP it sounds like you had fun, which is the point of visiting WDW.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer And everything else should be ignored? You can go to have fun AND take in what makes the thematics of the place work...
Originally Posted By vbdad55 Exit door to tiki room was left open and you could hear "let's all sing like the birdies sing" on the speakers as WDI was toying with the show. ---- oh man , we can only hope
Originally Posted By vbdad55 expo seeker - thank you for a well crafted and uplifting post. It reminds me of why I come here. Shots taken where shots deserved but hey - what news- everything doesn't suck ! Imagine that. Glad to hear the HM queue is not an issue- looks fine ( in pictures/video) to me also. I am also happy about main street -now weneed to get some content inside the buildings they have been sprucing up... It sounds like you had the kind of time I always want when we make the tek- and why we go back...cool !
Originally Posted By magic0214 Completely agree with the comments on the new HM queue. I don't mind it at all, for your reasons or Explorers reasons. Sidenote, Hokie....so no more Under New Management?
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<To the OP it sounds like you had fun, which is the point of visiting WDW.>> I think the spirits (not moi, the alcoholic kind) likely helped the mood. ;-) But interesting comments. And what is merfcove? (is that where Merfy used to try and entice Imagineers into elicit activity?)
Originally Posted By Tony C <<And everything else should be ignored?>> From reading this section it sounds like you get to visit the parks quite frequently. I don't. So my perspective is going to be a little different.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>From reading this section it sounds like you get to visit the parks quite frequently. I don't. So my perspective is going to be a little different.<<< Hardly. Maybe twice a year, when I am only 200 miles away? Regardless, even if I was 2000 miles away, I would still look for the same things- thematic integrity. And if I WAS 2000 miles away, you can bet that I would not be visiting WDW... Very often, at least.
