Originally Posted By TDLFAN Jiminy Cricket said it best.. "Night time is the most magical time at WDW...especially if you are in the company of TDLFAN conducting a 'Quality Control Audit' walk around the MK and Epcot!" Of course, he didn't say all of that but you know what I mean. Took a short evening stroll at the MK and EPCOT tonight and took some photos...just because. Parked the TDL Mobile at EPCOT's lot then took the Mono to the TTC and on to the MK. As usual..we had to wait not once, but twice for traffic clearance into the MK station. Typical. Of course.. here are some other observations as well from the MK... -TTC has gone to the dogs! (see photos) -MK definitely looks much better at night, partly because the issues I have with maintenance and cleanliness are less apparent in the evening hours.. Still MK looks it's best at night. -The Castle's revolving window is broken again.. Funny how DL has lasted 50 years but no one seems to be able to get this turkey ornament to work properly for more than 50 hrs.. A shame indeed because I like the strobes that accompany the spinning effect, and always get a kick to see the "TDL" name represented up there. -Buzz' ride has reopened after a brief refurbishing.. however, DO NOT make a special trip to see what has been done, which is virtually nothing. Show wise, there are no changes but at least it doesn't look as dusty in there as it did prior to the closure. However, the queue area looked like it had not been cleaned since opening time this morning. A very bad show indeed. -Stitch's Great Escape...with FP being offered, the stand by wait for posted at only 5 mins at 7:45pm. But! if you wanted to FP it later, you could not see the show for another 40 mins at 8:25pm when the FP window would open. Meanwhile at the same time... Buzz's stand by was posted at 30 mins and FP were available as well... Seems to me it's clear Stitch's show does not need FP whatsoever. The fact that Stitch'e Great Escape logo has been delted from the front cover of the MK's guidemap speaks volumes to me. It's a lost cause. So it was now past 8PM and I wanted to get to EPCOT before SpetroTragic parade started, since Main Street was beginning to get busy with guests claiming their view spots for the parade... I headed out to EPCOT on the monorail...again. So help me God. We again, had to endure not once but TWO "waiting for traffic clearance" before reaching the TTC..one in front of the Wedding Pavillion where a wedding was underway... "Don't do it sister!!!", and the other wait stop by the front of the Polynauseaus Hotel. Finally after what appeared to be 10 mins since our departure from the MK, we arrive at the TTC in time to catch our monorail to EPCOT. God help us again... As we are ready to depart..the mono CM comes on the PA system to tell us we are being "briefly delayed due to a maintenance check" on our monorail... So here we go again... It took about 2 mins before we were finally on our way! And you wonder why I am so harsh on the monorail system at WDW... Finally we arrive at EPCOT about 28 mins after I left the MK. BTW...memo to Disney: Monorail Pink, 3rd car, forward door... carpet needs shampooing... smelled like a kid peed inthere. Not pleasant at all... Don;t take it from me, but ask the silly teen girls next to me going "yuk! phew! etc etc"... So now were at at EPCOT... Sad to say the wand is still there. But EPCOT does not feel as crowded as I thought it would be on a Saturday evening. I made my way to World Showcase and after a little while, I find a spot right on the fence by the lagoon, between UK and Canada, and set up my camera to take photos of "Reflections of Earth". This is my first time seeing the show after the barbee-Q barge has been brought out from rehab.. The lights go out and the show begins.. and ... Pretty. Flames galore..bright and high into the air. I don't know about you but I like my Reflections flame-broiled. The show goes off without a hitch and I enjoy the reaction from the newbies parked next to me... "Oooooh! Aaaah! WOW!!! etc etc etc". I think to myself "ain't my show pretty? and BTW... you need to get out of Omaha more often, please". After the show is done, the pop version of "We go on" plays and colorful spotlights came on from over some of the World Showcase pavillions, while the lasers coming out of the American Adventure pavillion paint a "Presented By Siemens" on Spaceship Earth. The little light show lasts about 5 mins before everything returns to normal, and I leave EPCOT and return home. All in all, it was a nice enjoyable walk around the MK and EC, and fun was had by all. Enjoy the photos...but caution.. do NOT read the captions if you are easily offended by constructive criticism about WDW. Otherwise, enjoy! <a href="http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=4334673&a=32098320&f=" target="_blank">http://albums.photo.epson.com/ j/AlbumIndex?u=4334673&a=32098320&f=</a>
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>Is there an AP rate ?<< No, but I do have a DVCer rate.... That will be $16.99 plus tax please.
Originally Posted By captainoblivious Nice low-light photos! I'm impressed with how steady your hand is (or were you lugging around a tripod?)
Originally Posted By mickey_ring Great pictures and captions, as usual! I did like the Splashtacular reference. I have it on video somewhere. The Lady and Tramp inflatables look like they are ready for the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. They are inflatables, right? Takes a heck of a leash to hold Tramp down. Epcot at night, 'specially post-Illuminations World Showcase, is one of my favorite places to be. I like to hang back and wait for the swarm to clear, and just enjoy the look of everything. Plus the stores close up so I'm not inclined to buy anything.
Originally Posted By Coachbagfanatic TDLFAN Wonderful pic's. They bring you right there. What kind of camera did you take the pic's with? I am trying to find a great camera for night time photo's as we are going to Disney in December. Thanks for your time {)
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>The Lady and Tramp inflatables look like they are ready for the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. They are inflatables, right? Takes a heck of a leash to hold Tramp down.<< Yes, they are inflatable balloons. They look pretty if a bit odd in this particular area... but it doesn't surprise me since the monorails have become "commercial ad trips" rather than the Seven Seas Lagoon tours they used to be. So why not turn the TTC into a big huge advertizement center as well... (argh!) >>What kind of camera did you take the pic's with?<< Coach, I use a rather cheap digital camera from Best Buys... Fuji FinePix 2650. If you are rather serious about photography... I would shop around for a better option, with more advanced techonology and especially a sensor focus feature and stabilizer, both of which my camera do not have.
Originally Posted By Coachbagfanatic Thanks TDLFAN for getting back to me. Well, the pictures sure don't look like they came from a cheap camera. Excellent, well done.
Originally Posted By lesherb TDLFAN, as usual, fantastic pictures and great commentary. I think you are the Edward R. Murrow of WDW reporting! Is there any chance you have a blog? It would be great if you did! Thanks for sharing.
Originally Posted By disney pete some of ya best shots there TDL once again i am so envious you can just pop out and go to WDW,keep the pics coming theyre great.
Originally Posted By Labuda FABULOUS pics - as for the person mentioned in the caption for #7 - her parents should be ashamed. Photo #16 - GORGEOUS! I wanna take it and photoshop the wand out!
Originally Posted By basas Speaking of "Night Time", the hours at MK are quite impressive (and getting slowly back to the old days). Remember the last few years where every summer day has been 10pm closings? Look at this June for example: Out of 30 days: 3 days are 10pm closings 12 days are 11pm closings 15 days are 12am closings
Originally Posted By TDLFAN I remember the days when the MK was opened from 9-12 mindnight every day of the summer, which extended hours on the 4th of July.
Originally Posted By LuvDatDisney ^^That's good news. I hadn't looked that far ahead on the operating schedule. It appears as if the trend is continuing all summer. But until Epcot gets back to nightly 11 and midnight closings and MGM gets 11 and a new version of Sorcery in the Sky, it won't really be the 'old days.' And great photos, TDLFAN. I LUV the captions!
Originally Posted By LuvDatDisney ^^I can beat you. I remember when the MK was open daily from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. during the summer, with 2 a.m. closings on weekends.
