Originally Posted By RoadTrip TDLFAN, Thanks for a great report. Although my WDW reality seems to be a little more rose tinted than yours, I must admit that after almost two years of reading reports here on LP yours are the most accurate and unbiased of the bunch. Now, if you could just get your opinions about Minnesota straightened around we could maybe be buddies. Nah... would never happen. ;-)
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>I'd say the electronic tag was right on -- by Disney standards. I think it is SOP to advertise a longer line than actually exists so that guests are pleasantly surprised when their wait is shorter.<< That doesn't seem to be the case at TDR. When they post 1 hr at TDL, they mean 59 mins. Their posted times are amazingly accurate for some reason... at least in my experience. I also wish they did put up time signs for the waits to *collect* FPs for any particular ride. I remember when it used to be about 45 mins to get a FP for Hunny Hunt. Lucky for us, now all it takes is about 15 mins every morning at opening time. ..AS for Minnesota, nothing to see or do there... let's move along...
Originally Posted By kennect TDL, Lack of smiley's never throw me off...I hate them...Just consider me in a foul mood at the time....Sorry...The minute I hit submit I knew that your post was in jest....
Originally Posted By Inspector 57 <<..AS for Minnesota, nothing to see or do there... let's move along...>> Harsh. Very harsh. In Minneapolis there's a museum that has a cool reproduction of a grain silo. So there. TDLFAN, thank you for yet another wonderful Quality Control report. Not only are your notes consistently colorful and fun, but as Trippy said, they're the most consistently critical yet objective. I'd suggest you save the link to this thread to use the next time someone accuses you of seeing only the negative. I'm glad you so thoroughly enjoyed your ride in the driver's seat!
Originally Posted By avromark And in Ann Arbor is an intersting home. TDLFAN you seem to have a very keen eye.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> ..AS for Minnesota, nothing to see or do there... << You obviously have never been to Austin, Minnesota. International home of the Spam Museum.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy Then there's the St. Paul Winter Carnival parade. In February. -15 degrees.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>Harsh. Very harsh. In Minneapolis there's a museum that has a cool reproduction of a grain silo. So there.<< Hahahaha!!! I love it when your catty side comes out screaming!!! >>You obviously have never been to Austin, Minnesota. << In all seriousness... the problem is I *have* been to MN many many times... reasons why I *know* better... >>Then there's the St. Paul Winter Carnival parade. In February. -15 degrees.<< After seeing the winter festival and humongously tall and big (and colorfully lit) ice sculptures in China in near 0 degress... nothing is as spectacular as that.
Originally Posted By Labuda "You obviously have never been to Austin, Minnesota. International home of the Spam Museum." How odd. They have an ustin in Minnesota? Who allowed that? Anyhow, here in the *real* Austin we have the annual Spamarama <a href="http://www.spamarama.com/history.html" target="_blank">http://www.spamarama.com/histo ry.html</a>.
Originally Posted By ssWEDguy >> How odd. They have an Austin in Texas? Who allowed that? << They've got a Spam festival in Austin, Texas too? There's GOT to be a connection, don't you think? Austin, MN is the original "Home Planet" of Spam. Here's a link to the Spam museum and SPAMJAM in Minnesota <a href="http://media.hormel.com/templates/knowledge/knowledge.asp?catitemid=16&id=276" target="_blank">http://media.hormel.com/templa tes/knowledge/knowledge.asp?catitemid=16&id=276</a>
Originally Posted By Papi_Yay The sound and film equipment that was up Monday was not for the opening ceremonies. America's Funniest Home Videos filmed there Monday night. They will be filming at Magic Kingdom tonight (Wednesday). The ceremonies will be held on the 7th...but all the VIPs are already making appearances. Met Bob and Al at work Tuesday morning.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN So... It's 5:35pm here in the east coast and I just got back from DTD. Much like a criminal returns to the scene of the crime at some point, so did I return to WOD to re-evaluate my opinions on Bibbidi Boutique, Adventure Room and other stuff, concidering the big broohaha my opinions have created here and at other sites I post (Yes people, you are not the only ones I tick off). Anyways... Today was the official "GRAND OPENING" of Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. I peaked my head in there again to see what the situation was... To say the least.. BBB is off to a promising start. The place was busy with little princess wanna-be's, and even though not all "makeover stations" were occupied, the place seemed rather well staffed with female CMs for the most part (no Sergios, Carloses or Javiers in this area at all) wearing a rather lovely medieval style costume (the kind of lovely costuming that should be worn at the MK's Fantasyland for example) which adds greatly to the overall lavish details in the BBB itself. I have to admit.. I do like the sparkles in almost every piece of ornamental furniture they have there... especially the checkin/out desk, and the sparkling light sign above the entrance. However... as I expected.. Do not think for a minute this is Glamour Shots, Disney-style. Far from it. Some of the little girls I saw (who seemed rather happy to be there and I can't blame them, I'd be excited too, especially If the chance of roping Prince Phillip was a part of this pricey deal...) the little girls I saw seemed to be having a blast being made over with costuming and such. I approached an older CM and inquired about this.. playing the part of the dumb tourist from the midwest, and found out what I already knew... No hair cutting here, just hair styling and hair assesories to go with it, some finger nail and makeup application, and princess costuming dressup. I also inquired about that other rumor... if this venue was actually owned and operated by Photopass instead of Disney... But the CM pretended not to hear me, or maybe she really didn't. So I pressed on no more. I also took the time to re-check the new AA figures that are placed in the center of both Princess and Adventure Rooms, since some people love them to tears... But I am sticking to my guns here. I stood there and watched them perform at least twice each. I am more convinced than ever they are garbage, and are there as conversation and photo pieces (reason why they look good in photos) and not much else. Bad stiff animation, bad texture on the faces and bad overall execution. You all just have to make up you minds about this when you visit, but the AA's do lack the charm and artistry of the AAs we are used to seeing at the parks. Again... Rainforest Cafe quality. Thumbs down. One bright spot here in the Adventure Room... a rubber yellow ducky with pirate hat and eye patch for sale. Cute! No bathtub should be without one. Outside.. by the Adventure Room entrance with Spitting Stitch on top, I noticed something I did't see on my previous visit... a statue of a pirate skelleton at the wheel of a gallion, similar to the famous scene in the POTC ride. Nice photo spot for what it is: not much. Also... Stitch's saliva tank has been refilled as it was "spitting" very often and with much more preassure than I recall.. To my surprise, many college-age kids were there having a blast under the rainy faux-saliva shower, squeeling in delight. I guess that's the most fun you can have when you are not able to afford one of WDW's many entertaining water parks. Oh well... At least I have to say (in shame) the Stitch statue is probably my only favorite aspect of the new makeover at WOD. Finally, I found a couple of limited edition "Grand Opening BBB" pin and "Grand RE-opening WOD" pin feat. the Stitch statue. Cute. I had to buy since I am a sucker for those grand opening and special event pins. In closing....It's no secret I don't care much for the new areas of WOD, but since I witnessed how much fun the little girls can have playing Princess and how much it is to be "spat" on by Stitch, then as long as some people are happy, I guess I should be too. But Disney needs to exceed expectations more often, as it once did in an almost 100% way.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<After seeing the winter festival and humongously tall and big (and colorfully lit) ice sculptures in China in near 0 degress... nothing is as spectacular as that.>> There's been some pretty nice ones in St. Paul: 1992 <a href="http://www.winter-carnival.com/history/images/l_clear.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.winter-carnival.com /history/images/l_clear.jpg</a> 2004 <a href="http://www.stpaulunions.org/photo_gallery/Ice_Palace/images/castle-9858_JPG.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.stpaulunions.org/ph oto_gallery/Ice_Palace/images/castle-9858_JPG.jpg</a>
Originally Posted By LuvDatDisney "In closing....It's no secret I don't care much for the new areas of WOD, but since I witnessed how much fun the little girls can have playing Princess and how much it is to be "spat" on by Stitch, then as long as some people are happy, I guess I should be too. But Disney needs to exceed expectations more often, as it once did in an almost 100% way. " I haven't seen the WoD since the changes, exceppt in your photos, but I think you're going too easy on Disney on this. The figures might as well be mannequins ... the princess thing is so overdone and shows no sign of slowing down as consumer products forcefeeds people ... and Stitch spitting ... oh yeah, that so wicked awesome!
Originally Posted By TDLFAN MY apologies... Post #33 above shoulkd have been posted in this thread insted: <a href="http://mb.laughingplace.com/default.asp?WCI=MsgBoard&WCE=T-74294-P-4&Refresh=0405160353" target="_blank">http://mb.laughingplace.com/de fault.asp?WCI=MsgBoard&WCE=T-74294-P-4&Refresh=0405160353</a> and not here. My mistake. Please use the link above to comment on that post. I have pasted that post as well where it belongs. This topic is about DAK, not DTD. Thank you
Originally Posted By dlgirler Your Everest report was very well done and entertaining. I felt like I was there - quite descriptive. Thanks!
