MK Questions and Observations

Originally Posted By leobloom

A few observations and questions from my family's visit to MK last Saturday:

--First thing my group noticed when we got on the monorail was how much it stunk. Literally. Not sure if someone had vomited in the car or what, but it smelled horribly. Nothing starts a magical day like a trip on the stinkorail.

--Our mission for the day was to visit attractions my wife had never tried before. New attractions for her included Astro-Orbiter, Monsters Inc, Tom Sawyer’s Island, the Riverboat, Tiki Room, Swiss Treehouse, and the Aladdin spinner. She liked the Tiki Room, which I grudgingly admit wasn’t quite as bad as I remembered it being.

--The two caves and the escape tunnel at the fort made Tom Sawyer’s Island a nice diversion. Never had noticed the stable in the fort has very crude animatronics: a couple of blacksmiths, chickens, horses. Nice little surprise. Also enjoyed sitting by the river at Aunt Polly’s, though they weren’t serving food there. Is Aunt Polly’s permanently boarded up, or do they sometimes serve food? Similarly, does the burning cabin on Tom Sawyer’s Island ever burn? Or has it been permanently extinguished?

--We had breakdowns at Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, and Big Thunder. Is anyone maintaining these rides or is it acceptable and expected for a guest to experience multiple breakdowns each day?

--Wait times were incredibly low, I thought. Pooh had a posted wait of 30 minutes, but was closer to 8 or 9. The fact that Fastpass wasn’t being used at Pooh made the line move very quickly. Snow White had a posted wait of 25, but was 10. On the other hand, the posted wait time of 45 minutes at Jungle Cruise turned into 60, which was almost unbearable. I can’t remember the last time I waited an hour for a ride. Probably 10-15 years ago. I usually don’t wait more than 30 minutes for anything. I didn’t expect the wait to be 45 because the wait times elsewhere had been misleading. But to make matters more frustrating, there was a constant stream of people in the Fastpass line. Not sure if the Fastpass line gets longer in the afternoon when people are coming back after their hour-window, but the wait at Jungle Cruise was the only painful moment of the day.

--The Jungle Cruise skipper’s delivery was okay—nothing remarkable, mind you—but she stayed so close to the script that I felt like I knew all the jokes already. Maybe Hokie will know the answer to this, but are skippers allowed to veer from the script or is every trip filled to the brim with tired chestnuts (“Twelve inches to a foot,” “Got it to turn over,” “Get the point in the end,” etc.)? Coupled with the wait, this was the one ride I wish we’d skipped.

--Space Mountain was a huge disappointment. The “soundtrack” is little more than a collection of sound effects. They aren’t musical and the dance club music that purists were freaking out over is hardly audible. If I wasn’t listening for it I would’ve missed it entirely. Could hear it better waiting in line than on the ride itself. Space Mountain—which has long been a favorite of mine, even in its declining state—wasn’t worth a second ride this time.

--Had lunch at Columbia Harbour House and talked to a very pleasant College Program CM who cleaned off the table that was dirty when I sat down. She was enjoying her CP, although she’s only a few weeks into it. The tuna sandwich wasn’t too bad, although it goes without saying for what it was the price was ridiculous.

--The audio for the Country Bears was an absolute mess. Could barely (har har) hear Henry’s dialogue when he introduces the different performers. When he sang the first song with the Five Bear Rugs, his lines were completely drowned out by the music. The music, I suppose, sounded crisp, but I’m positive that people who weren’t familiar with the show couldn’t follow what he was saying.

--Waiting for the MSEP, wife and I had a burger at Pecos Bill’s and it was nothing special. However outside Pecos Bill’s was a nice spot to watch the parade. We watched the fireworks from the edge of the Rivers of America, weren’t crowded, had an unobstructed view of the big shells that are fired behind Fantasyland. And on top of that the river creates a nice reflection of the fireworks.

--Why do CMs feel it necessary to put four adults uncomfortably in the same row on Pirates when the ride’s wait time is five minutes? Ridiculous, and I told the CM that as we sailed away.

--Wife had an interesting question/observation when we were riding Pirates at the end of the day. She asked where did the idea for POTC come from? I said, “I don’t know, Walt Disney’s brain.” She said, “It wasn’t based on a movie? Why don’t they build rides like that anymore?” I told her because they think rides based on movies will be more profitable. She thought that was disappointing. That kind of redeemed her for saying she liked the Tiki Room and reminded me why she was worth marrying in the first place.


--Restroom count:

1. Space Mountain (plain Jane…not very magical like they ride next door)
2. Peter Pan (swan painting for the ladies, quails for the men…nice fauna tile work for everyone)
3. Tom Sawyer Island #1 (had to fix my contact in here)
4. Tom Sawyer Island #2 (inside the fort...felt very safe from Indian attacks in here)
5. Pirates (lovely tile work with Spanish galleons...the Jack Sparrow statue next to the sinks was a nice touch)
6. Frontierland/Adventureland cut-thru (Aladdin toilet paper…too much synergy)

 

Originally Posted By bobbelee9

Aladdin toilet paper????

There's a Mrs Leo???

 

Originally Posted By HokieSkipper

<< Is Aunt Polly’s permanently boarded up, or do they sometimes serve food? Similarly, does the burning cabin on Tom Sawyer’s Island ever burn? Or has it been permanently extinguished?>>

Both permanently closed/not operating respectively.

<<On the other hand, the posted wait time of 45 minutes at Jungle Cruise turned into 60>>

Random. Very random. Must have been understaffed...

<<The Jungle Cruise skipper’s delivery was okay—nothing remarkable, mind you—but she stayed so close to the script that I felt like I knew all the jokes already. Maybe Hokie will know the answer to this, but are skippers allowed to veer from the script or is every trip filled to the brim with tired chestnuts (“Twelve inches to a foot,” “Got it to turn over,” “Get the point in the end,” etc.)? Coupled with the wait, this was the one ride I wish we’d skipped.>>

They try to get people to not deviate from the script. Even then the script is funny with the correct delivery. All the jokes you mentioned there I use(or used...I guess) in my spiel and get laughs almost all the time.

<<The audio for the Country Bears was an absolute mess.>>

It will be until they get new speakers in there.

<<Why do CMs feel it necessary to put four adults uncomfortably in the same row on Pirates when the ride’s wait time is five minutes?>>

Did you ask to be split up once they told you what row to go in? If not I'm sure they would have complied.

 

Originally Posted By A Happy Haunt

The Monorail always smells, take the boat!
Is Will Turner in the Ladies Room? hey baby!! And will he sing that KISS song to us!

 

Originally Posted By Witches of Morva

ORGOCH: I keep tellin' ya's all not ta ever git on that dang monster rail!! It's not safe! It eats folks alive!!

ORDDU: Indeed! It didn't always stink like it does now. For the past several years it smells like the inside of a barn on a hot summer day.

 

Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer

Great report, Leo.

>>>--We had breakdowns at Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, and Big Thunder. Is anyone maintaining these rides or is it acceptable and expected for a guest to experience multiple breakdowns each day?
<<<

Normal, unless you were evac'd off.


>>>--The audio for the Country Bears was an absolute mess. Could barely (har har) hear Henry’s dialogue when he introduces the different performers. When he sang the first song with the Five Bear Rugs, his lines were completely drowned out by the music. The music, I suppose, sounded crisp, but I’m positive that people who weren’t familiar with the show couldn’t follow what he was saying.<<<

I'm really thinking it's on and off. Sounded good in June.



>>>>--Wife had an interesting question/observation when we were riding Pirates at the end of the day. She asked where did the idea for POTC come from? I said, “I don’t know, Walt Disney’s brain.” She said, “It wasn’t based on a movie? Why don’t they build rides like that anymore?” I told her because they think rides based on movies will be more profitable. She thought that was disappointing. That kind of redeemed her for saying she liked the Tiki Room and reminded me why she was worth marrying in the first place.<<<<

Your wife rocks.

>>>2. Peter Pan (swan painting for the ladies, quails for the men…nice fauna tile work for everyone)<<<

QUAIL TILES FOR LIFE. Pics? ;-)

 

Originally Posted By DlandDug

Ahem.

It's TOM SAWYER ISLAND. The island is named for Tom Sawyer, it does not belong to him.

That is all.

 

Originally Posted By DlandDug

>>The fact that Fastpass wasn’t being used at Pooh made the line move very quickly.<<

Actually, the fact that the line was short meant they did not us FastPass. If the wait time had increased, they would have most likely activated the FastPass system for the attraction.

 

Originally Posted By DlandDug

And yes, very good report on the Magic Kingdom.

I probably hit TSI once in all the years I have gone to the MK-- and that was some time ago. I have always been a bit jealous that the MK had full food service AND a cabin that was still burning. Alas, they are no more, it seems.

 

Originally Posted By hopemax

Not when they reason for no Fastpass is construction work.

 

Originally Posted By leobloom

>> Actually, the fact that the line was short meant they did not us FastPass. If the wait time had increased, they would have most likely activated the FastPass system for the attraction. <<

I think it said on the Times Guide that FP wasn't activated on the Pooh dark ride last week. Not sure the reasons why exactly.

 

Originally Posted By leobloom

>> Not when they reason for no Fastpass is construction work. <<

I should've read ahead. I see Hopemax answered my question about why no FP at Pooh.

 

Originally Posted By leobloom

>> Ahem.

It's TOM SAWYER ISLAND. The island is named for Tom Sawyer, it does not belong to him.

That is all. <<

Interesting, had never noticed that. Kinda like "Disney California Adventure." Do they have something against possessive 's?

 

Originally Posted By leobloom

>> >>>2. Peter Pan (swan painting for the ladies, quails for the men…nice fauna tile work for everyone)<<<

QUAIL TILES FOR LIFE. Pics? ;-) <<

And pictures of every other bathroom. Actually just took a picture of the Spanish galleon in the Pirates restroom, and only took that one because I felt an obligation to live up to my LP persona. Was quite refreshing.

 

Originally Posted By leobloom

<<Why do CMs feel it necessary to put four adults uncomfortably in the same row on Pirates when the ride’s wait time is five minutes?>>

>> Did you ask to be split up once they told you what row to go in? If not I'm sure they would have complied. <<

I asked, and he was insistent. It was around 10:30, so I understand he was probably tired, too. But really when the line is that short, it shouldn't have been a big deal.

 

Originally Posted By HokieSkipper

<<I asked, and he was insistent. It was around 10:30, so I understand he was probably tired, too. But really when the line is that short, it shouldn't have been a big deal.>>

Yea, that's weird. Usually we don't give a crap and put you where you want to be at times like that.

 

Originally Posted By vbdad55

>and reminded me why she was worth marrying in the first place.
<<

that's always a cool thing isn't it ?

 

Originally Posted By leobloom

<< Is Aunt Polly’s permanently boarded up, or do they sometimes serve food? Similarly, does the burning cabin on Tom Sawyer’s Island ever burn? Or has it been permanently extinguished?>>

>> Both permanently closed/not operating respectively. <<

Was afraid of that. Wonder why the burning cabin was shut off. Was "safety" the excuse? Or perhaps "guests prefer the cabin when it's not on fire"?

 

Originally Posted By leobloom

>and reminded me why she was worth marrying in the first place.
<<

<< that's always a cool thing isn't it ? >>

Yeah, kinda magical. There's that word again.

 

Originally Posted By DlandDug

Cabin no longer burns to save the environment.

Really.