Went to Blizzard Beach for free thanks to staying on property (All-Star Music – Country Fair); my mother had never been before, so it’s always fun to be the one person who knows the way around
We all had dinner at Frontera Cocina; had a really good steak quesadilla
Soloed Hollywood Studios on Saturday; rode Rock’n’Roller Coaster for the first time since the retheme – thought it was a huge improvement (got the Def Leppard performance)
Rode Star Tours three times, and Tower of Terror + Alien Swirling Saucers twice each (SDD was down for most of the day, and the queue for TSM was stretched out past the entrance)
Had my favorite lunch at Docking Bay 7 (falafel and hummus) and the Buffalo Burger at Sci-Fi Drive-In – I seem to have made the mistake of thinking it was a burger made of buffalo meat, rather than a burger being absolutely smothered in Buffalo sauce. But I’m a big boy, not gonna throw a way food
FINALLY got the captain’s chair on Smugglers Run – it was the first time riding that the ship didn’t crash and Hondo didn’t deduct more than our share of the loot. Coincidence?
Was supremely disappointed to see the boulder has still not been returned to Indiana Jones; and don’t take this the wrong way, but with most of the stunt team being short skinny girls, the “fight” scenes are more like a gymnastics floor routine
Had purchased an ILL for Rise of the Resistance, and the ride broke down as soon as we entered the main show room. So everyone was asked to exit, but the cast members were willing to give everyone a free Lightning Lane pass good for any ride
Finally got to see the new Unfairly Ever After:
PRO: the theatre itself is gorgeous; the costumes are incredible; the cast members (especially Cruella) gave great performances
CON: 1) no gift shop, just sharing one of the kiosks infront of RNRC; 2) the story itself makes zero sense. Maleficent was the only one of the three who has a legitimate grievance that she was treated unfairly. It’s impossible to sympathize with someone who wants to kill puppies for fashion. Captain Hook could theoretically make a case that he was the victim of a bully who cut off his hand because he thought it was fun, but instead he just whines that Peter is more popular than him.
Hades and Jafar only had cameos, and they have a better case to make then the other two (or at least Cruella). Hades had the task of overseeing the Underworld forced upon him [note: in mythology, Hades was an introvert who didn’t mind staying in the Underworld, was the only Olympian who had a genuinely happy marriage, and was the only God who didn’t toy with the lives of mortals for his own amusement]. Jafar was basically running the kingdom of Agrabah, but because he was born a commoner he could never be sultan. Then there’s that bit at the end where everyone is clamoring for space in the mirrors, and even with just one line, some of them could probably be expanded upon: Doctor Facilier being looked down on by New Orleans high society; the Sheriff of Nottingham protesting to Friar Tuck that he’s just doing his job; and of course, Magnifico, the one “villain” I think everyone agrees was in the right (and may or may not have become the Magic Mirror itself).
I say give it another year, the show will probably go through some rewrites; Imagineering will try to find something that works.
The cast members I spoke to after the show seemed cautiously optimistic that it would return eventually
I mean, the boulder roll is one of the defining moments, not just of the movie or the franchise, but of 80s cinema, the adventure genre, and of Lucasfilms as a creative force
Without it, you might as well retheme the whole show
So the next day was the family outing to Epcot, for my infant nephew’s first time at Disney
Rode Test Track 3.0 for the first time since the retheme. Don’t get me wrong, I loved 2.0, but this improves on it in every way. For the first time in a long LONG time, I felt Epcot was returning to it’s roots
Rode Soarin’ Over America. Nothing wrong with it. A new intro from Patrick Warburton was the only real positive (and thankfully they meshed it with the original). Is it just me, or has Disney been getting stingy with the smellitizers?
Had time to kill while waiting so I saw Awesome Planet. Not as memorable as Circle of Life, but I really wish more parents would take their kids to see it.
Rode Remy’s for the first since the removal of the 3D effects. What a freaking dud.
Lunch at Regal Eagle. Got there just in time for the ringing of the cowbell. Love me a good brisket sandwich
Then things took a downturn. Met back up with my family of drunks. They had to stop at every pavilion to get a beer. It was nearly two hours of doing nothing (wasting money and time) before I finally had to break off on my own again.
Rode both sims at Mission Space. Honestly, what I think would improve this, is if there were actual consequences for not fulfilling your assigned role. If you just sit there and do nothing, the “computer” takes over. There should be disastrous outcomes, like if you mess up on Smugglers Run
Walked right on to Spaceship Earth. A damn shame that people don’t appreciate this formerly iconic ride. I want to reiterate what I said about the fading of the smellitizers. Got nothing during the Xtian destruction of the Library of Alexandra. Then there was a significant breakdown during the 1920s with the first switchboard operator. Please Disney, bring back the old space station. And I still hate that stupid choose your own future thing. It never takes your picture right!
Rode Cosmic Rewind for the first time thanks to ILL. It’s fun. We even got Earth, Wind, and Fire. But strike me down with all your hatred, I don’t think it lives up to the astronomical hype. The GOTG theming is what sells it.
Nothing will ever get me to stop hating Connections or the enormous Disney store. Nothing even remotely close to being on theme to the park. A shining example of the creative bankruptcy of the Iger era.
The sooner that Mickey & Friends building is demolished and replaced with anything else the better.
Nemo & Friends is still one of the worst rides in WDW, while Living with the Land is still my happy place
Anyone have any idea why Sunshine Seasons closes at 4??
That’s a shame. I enjoy an occasional drink but the whole drinking around the world thing by people who can’t handle themselves and the company’s focus on selling alcohol everywhere feels pretty unnecessary. Glad you got to reclaim some time!
Preach!
This is admittedly dramatic, but I really feel like the heart of Epcot was kind of ripped out and I still miss it! I enjoyed wandering into Communicore/Innoventions growing up. It all seems kind of tacky and loud in the center now. I do like the Moana water area though!
It came up for discussion elsewhere not that long ago. I think it was guesstimated that most people eat dinner in WS, and the Connections was the primary FW option. Saved staffing? No one knew for sure.
Not much. I put Little Mermaid and Nemo at the same level. Pan has the different twist of hanging down from the track and also has the nostalgia factor for those who went to WDW in the 70s and 80s. The theming in Pooh is arguably more immersive than Nemo and Little Mermaid.
To me, Nemo at EP is just video screens, no actual 3D figures/scenes that you watch as you ride past. Very passive. The others have physical substance, including bouncing motion at WtP and PP’s ship motions (up, down, turning a corner).
thank you @davej and @mkmuzzy for explaining.
I think I am easier on it bc I love how my kids have loved Nemo, and it never has a wait, and I like the entrance, and it’s cold in there. It’s certainly not must do. But it seems pretty unoffensive.
It’s one of the few rides I’m able to ride at Epcot. Anything that goes backwards or sideways makes me very ill. That leaves me exactly two rides: salad and Mexico.
Even if you’re memory of Little Mermaid or Peter Pan is minimal to none, I think those 2 tell the story fairly well in darkride form. Nemo is like “here’s some scenes” the story is practically non-existent.
WtP is so fever dream wild that story doesn’t matter
I’m not even too crazy about all the lounges. Save the drinking for Disney Springs.
It’s okay. I’m glad they tried to do something genuinely educational again. At first I had wished they had done a Polynesian Pavilion. But after reflecting, I’m sure it would have just be another projection screen nightmare
