Originally Posted By Expo_Seeker40 I'm going to be visiting WDW a bit too much this month as it seems everyone I know from the arctic wants to go to WDW on their spring break and wants me to go with them. (They also mentioned the top of their list is to see WWoHP) Just got back from a brief trip to the Vacation Kingdom (only to go back in two weeks, and then the week after that................) Met up with some friends visiting from the arctic, who were already burnt to a crisp and smelled like Rome burning (more on than effect and why it wasn't working right later) Got up with the doity boids and drove to the Vacation Kingdom, proudly sporting my vintage WDW bumper sticker the entire time. Parked at the Magic Kingdom and then transferred to Epcot. Epcot was deserted. This was 11am I got there. Everything, including Soarin' under 30 minutes....World Showcase was a ghost town and Duffy had 2 people in line wanting to see, who the heck he was. Captain EO still makes me scream for joy likes it's 1986 (although I would have been an unfertilized egg at the time) Only one whirley gig remains in Innoventions, the rest are resting in piece....es.....at the side of the UoE. Spaceship Earth had a ton of effects not working...no steam or fog in any of the scenes that are supposed to have them and Rome Burning was so faint it smelled like a leftover 4th of july. (YOU EVIL FANBOY, TELL US SOMETHING YOU ATLEAST ENJOYED?!) Loved exploring more of World Showcase that I don't normally see. With small crowds it was great to walk in and out of many shops I haven't been to in years. Spent a lot of time in Germany going crazy over the cuckoo clocks. Ate at the Beirgarten for my first time...sat down with a group of interesting people. First off, food was great, beer was great, CM's were very nice, and the music was nice too. Met a couple that reminds me of my grandparents...I call them the DisneyVets...been there since the 70s and can't seem to leave Flawhriduh. Met a sweatshirt mom who's sister lives in Celebration and she (the sweatshirt mom) is from PA, but has to come to the Vacation Kingdom like...every other month or something. Road Maelstrom for the first time in years. Damn their queue is boring! Some potential lies ahead me thinks! Maelstrom was a walk-on...rode it with some elderly couple, who had no idea what was going on. Maelstrom was themed well, but not as exciting to me as it was when I was 9. Really liked the image of the SS Norway (former SS France) painted on the mural before you go over the waterfall. The giant (well not giant) oil rig at the end is so cool, I want one in my living room. As seen on that MAGICal forum, the theatre doors are now open and you can see the film anytime you want. Because it was not busy, I got to see the whole film....I really like it regardless if it's outdated, it is a charming film. SSE naked legs make it look sexy and youthful as it did in 1982....just hoping leave a legacy gets the axe next. Monorail hopped to the Magic Kingdom after Epcot. Rode with a family from New Yawhk. Got the back of the cabin all to myself, layed down and looked up through the ceilings and watched the clouds roll by. Monorials look great without any balloons, but tronorail is still running. Magic Kingdom wasn't too busy...but deff pockets of crowds. Main Street still looks great. All that fresh paint, new sidewalks, everything about it looks good! Brazilian Plaza....I mean...the MK hub was toasting in the sun, I think I saw a family frying eggs on the pavement, rather then use one of their dining plan points. Peoplemover was peoplemoving nicely through Tomorrowland. Rode in the back of Rave Mountain, and that was one hellofa trip! Awesome air time and almost made me vomit. Rode the carousel of progress, which saw nice crowds all day, and had people laughing at the bad jokes and kids waving to Rover. HM graveyard is progressing ghoulishly well. Thought some effects in HM were not working...just a feeling. If they really do tear down the fantasyland skyway I'm gonna cry...It is a nice little themed area. Buildings rising fast for mermaid and be our guest. Mickey's Star Birthday Demolotion Town is showing more signs of dirt everyday I guess. Has a fanboygasm when I was playing with the penny arcade machines inside the train station. Met up with some friends off of MAGICal international drive and then headed back to eat at the wave for dinner. The wave is a cool restaurant. Reasonable menu, our meals for dinner were nice and in good proportions. Friendly service. Only complaint was the backs of the chairs were very uncomfortable. Rude comment: I'm overweight in the city I live in, but am anorexic when I visit Orlando. Anyway...after smelling like the wave, sunscreen, and Big Al...we ventured upstairs to the california grill (eating there in a few weeks!!!)...observation deck has great views, and the restaurant looks to be fun and nice. Monorail hopped to the grand floridian so we could see how the other half lives. Watched wishes from their dock, where wealthysweatshirtmoms cried along as they took 30000 photos with their overprices SLR camera of their pirates and princesses watching the fireworks. Almost vomited in the pool. Monorail hopped to the Poly because we all needed a drink after seeing that.....I had something called the Macaw...and had 2 of those and starting seeing things...my friends had a MAGICal buzz. We then crawled out onto the beach and watched the water pageant, which as old as it is (1971!!!) it's still fun. We sobered up, and went back home. THE END!
Originally Posted By leobloom >> We then crawled out onto the beach and watched the water pageant, which as old as it is (1971!!!) it's still fun. << I like the Electrical Water Pageant, too. I'm shocked they still operate it. I'm sure they could save Bob Iger $300 a year by not running it. And all those sweatshirt moms sound like headcases.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>Spaceship Earth had a ton of effects not working...no steam or fog in any of the scenes that are supposed to have them and Rome Burning was so faint it smelled like a leftover 4th of july.<<< Fantasmic. It was actually quite smelly (in the good, bacon-y, way,) in December. REFILL THE SMELLIZER! >>Maelstrom was themed well, but not as exciting to me as it was when I was 9. Really liked the image of the SS Norway (former SS France) painted on the mural before you go over the waterfall.<<< It's aged horridly. Needs a lot of work, and a overhaul, honestly. Still love it, though. >>>Brazilian Plaza....I mean...the MK hub was toasting in the sun, I think I saw a family frying eggs on the pavement, rather then use one of their dining plan points.<<< NICE.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost >>>Spaceship Earth had a ton of effects not working...no steam or fog in any of the scenes that are supposed to have them and Rome Burning was so faint it smelled like a leftover 4th of july.<<< A number of effects were stilled, purposely with the re-do a couple years back. They even took the news boy and turned him around facing the back of the building. Don't know why, but obviously designed because he was moved a good twenty feet from where he stood before. As for the "burning" effect, I wouldn't be surprised if that wasn't the result of someone who has asthmatic problems and claimed damage because of the effect being too strong.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros As one with asthma/allergies, I think most folks would be way more concerned with all the pollen outdoors than the burning scent inside. It may affect some, but I've never heard of anybody having issues (unlike the Davy Jones fog screen in POTC, which people start fake-coughing at all the time, apparently not realizing that it's just fog). As for the newsboy, I think they were just trying to change the effect some as that area got redone, and try to make it feel a little less cramped. Instead of having him facing the cars (since no other AA's are talking directly to the riders), he's facing away, presumably to sell his papers to a large crowd in the distance, which helps make the room seem a little bigger. It does kind of look like he's been put in time out, but I get what they were going for.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>As for the newsboy, I think they were just trying to change the effect some as that area got redone, and try to make it feel a little less cramped. Instead of having him facing the cars (since no other AA's are talking directly to the riders), he's facing away, presumably to sell his papers to a large crowd in the distance, which helps make the room seem a little bigger. It does kind of look like he's been put in time out, but I get what they were going for.<<< That's exactly it.
