Let's turn around. Magic Kingdom is open till 1AM! 3/23 Some Final Thoughts

[afwdwfan]

It’s just not a Disney Picture without random people in the way.


That’s a given.

Unless you can get one of those coveted ADR's before the park opens...

And don't think I wasn't bummed that it didn't work out.

Nice!

They were getting to be good friends by this point. DS still wouldn't walk up to him on his own though.

I’ve been both the recipient and the presenter of bonus FP’s in my time at The World. I love when stuff like that happens.

Is that even possible? I suspect not…

You're probably right.

I can just see Barry getting into a duel with the Skipper to see who get in the last-worst word (and I’d like to be on that boat to hear it).

It would be like a bad wreck. Not something you want to see, but you just can't look away.

Early indoctrination is important.

Indeed

He's got his priorities in order… he probably had more fun then the rest of the kids there (just for a different reason)

He definitely was having some fun...

This attraction gets a bad rap, but we rarely miss it (including my teenager) and for the same reason.

It is one of those things that, to me anyway, just IS Disney. I truly enjoy it, even if it is a bit dated and cheesey. And as far as catchy songs that you can't get out of your head go, give me It's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow anytime. Tim can have IASW.

Really? Just… wow.

Some people...

The photo pass picture was nice, but that’s the best one of this bunch.

Thanks

It was eventful… you were on a boat.
That’s an event (well… to me it is anyway).

I always thought a boat was a little more than an event to you.

But of course…

It isn't Disney without 24/7 junk food.

We had a couple of those…
They were so good that I’m pretty sure the AMA has declared them to be a dangerous substance and a health hazard.

I could feel my life expectancy get shorter by about 5 years... but I'd still be willing to have another one.

That’s the addiction talking (but I have the same addiction).

There are worst addictions to have.

Looked like you had a really nice evening at the Magic Kingdom.

It was a very nice evening. But aren't all evenings in the MK a nice evening?

I don't know, that's probably one of the nicest pictures of the railing around the Dumbo ride that I've ever seen.

Thanks, I really tried to capture the essence of the paint and the struggle that this railing is going through knowing that it will probably be sold for scrap once the new Dumbo opens.

You wonder why the cast members at CoP talk to everyone like they're idiots and then you find out why....

As Ron White says, "You can't fix stupid."

Mmmmm....brownie brick.

I could use the sugar rush right now...

Great updates!!!

Thanks

I LOVED seeing WL and GF decorated for Christmas!! So so beautiful. I wish we had been able to explore WL more on our Christmas trip, especially the grounds after seeing your pics, but the pouring rain kept us in the main lobby. That is one Disney resort I would LOVE to stay in. The GF is nice for a visit, but you're right, it's a little too posh for me. Oh man, this is making me want to visit at Christmas time again!!

I think I would be just fine with making a visit to Disney an annual Christmas tradition. Realistically, that ain't happening though. It's a shame you couldn't explore the grounds at WL, but there's plenty to see indoors. I'm sure you know that well enough though. I'm really glad to see some agreement with my point about GF. It seems like everybody loves it and you seldom see a negative viewpoint about it. I feel a lot better about the fact that I didn't love it.

Too funny about the people trying to leave CoP during Wishes. I swear, some people just don't pay attention to ANYTHING! How did DS like it? We were afraid to take Paxton...I didn't know how well he'd sit, and once you're in there, you're trapped!

Well, he was out by the time the fireworks started... so I guess he loved it!

I love your DS's Mickey beanie!! The pics in front of the Castle are some great family shots.

Thanks, we bought that during our stop at the Mercantile that afternoon. We needed a hat and mittens for him and they sold that with mittens for probably $15-20. He still wears it everyday, so it was a decent purchase.

Love the update and the plan to hit the attractions while Wishes going on!

We would have loved to have seen it again, but we saw it once and you've got to take advantage of short lines at Disney World!

The photopass pictures are great, and I love the one with the little man and Mickey Mouse.

Thanks, that's one of my favorite character pictures.

You could hear the fireworks in COP???? That would ruin the only reason I go in there...so that I can nap.

You could hear them, but they weren't loud. DS slept through them. If the volume of the music doesn't wake you, then I'm sure you'll be fine.

 

[ddwalls]

Am I noticing some Purdue t-shirts in these photos?

 

[My sister's princess]

I guess I missed that you had updated!!!!

I love that the Cast Member told you guys about 100 times that you couldn't leave and people still tried to. It takes all kinds I guess... Your little one sure does well with longish days! What a trooper!

Can't wait for more!

 

[afwdwfan]

Am I noticing some Purdue t-shirts in these photos?

Yes. Yes you are!

I guess I missed that you had updated!!!!

Slacker.

I love that the Cast Member told you guys about 100 times that you couldn't leave and people still tried to. It takes all kinds I guess... Your little one sure does well with longish days! What a trooper!

You know, I was sitting there as he repeated it over and over and over, thinking "how dumb do you think we are?"

Well, I guess somebody decided to go and show it.

Can't wait for more!

Thanks... doubt I'll have time to get one done this week though. Hopefully early next week.

 

[My sister's princess]

Slacker.

I know you are, but what am I.... sorry, I had to

 

[afwdwfan]

I know you are, but what am I.... sorry, I had to

Always appreciate a Pee Wee Herman reference.

 

[Shannon84]

I love the pictures with the castle in the background, great shots!!

Too funny that the CM was pretty much talking people out to see Wishes, they are probably not used to seeing people skip the fireworks for CoP

 

[ddwalls]

Boiler Up!!

 

[afwdwfan]

I love the pictures with the castle in the background, great shots!!

Thanks. We really like them. I just love seeing the castle lit up like that.

Too funny that the CM was pretty much talking people out to see Wishes, they are probably not used to seeing people skip the fireworks for CoP

Yeah, I was pretty sure we'd be in a nearly empty theater. I was right.

Boiler Up!!

Hammer Down!

 

[afwdwfan]

We should have taken the bus

I was the first one up, as was becoming the routine for the week, and headed down to Roaring Forks to get a Bounty Platter to share while DW and DS were waking up and getting ready to go.

It was Friday, Dec. 2, or as it might be better known, the day before they filmed the Christmas Parade. We originally had an ADR for Crystal Palace at 8:10 this morning, and hoped to get a bit of a headstart in the park without the crowds. When they changed the park opening time from 9 to 8, I considered canceling the reservation, and by mid-week we did so.

We knew they were going to be taping concerts in front of the castle and it would likely get crowded. We hadn't been to MK in the morning yet this trip, so our goal for the morning was to be in front of the MK to see the rope drop show, head to Fantasyland to ride everything there once more and maybe hit a few other things we wanted to do again before we said goodbye to the Magic Kingdom.

We were off to a good start. We were standing on the dock waiting as the first boat of the day pulled up. It was going to be a crowded boat, so I let DW go sit down and I walked up to the front with the stroller to stand out of the way. We were soon on our way, and in plenty of time to catch the show at the Train Station!

I settled in for the ride and as we rounded the bend approaching the Contemporary, our boat slowed and then came to a stop. I saw some small boats up ahead of us dragging some jetskis through the water, towards the shore. I thought maybe they just forgot to tie something up last night and once they were secured, maybe we’d start moving… unfortunately, we were still sitting there.

We waited…

And waited…

And waited…

And then I finally saw something big coming through the waterway that our boat would need to cross in order to reach the Magic Kingdom.

DW was sitting in the front row, so I stuck my head around to corner to talk to her.

“Hey, do you remember that excavator on a barge that we saw at the GF, yesterday?”

“Yes.”

“Somebody decided that between 7:30 and 8:00 in the morning would be a good time to move it. I think we’re going to miss the park opening.”


Once the barge was clear, we were underway once again. When we got close enough, I could see that the train was already at the station, and by the time we were docked, it was 8:04. Our day was not off to a great start.

We got in the park and noticed that they had taken down the garland and wreaths that hang across Main Street in preparation for the parade. They had also added some other decorations that weren’t here last night and put some camera platforms in place. It was neat to see how much things had changed overnight. We were walking out of the park during the good night kiss the night before and just missed rope drop this morning. The Cast Members had put in a lot of work overnight, getting things ready for the TV cameras.

I thought I had a picture of this, but can’t seem to find it. The clocks on Main Street had wreaths hanging on the faces of them. Whether this is true or not, I don’t know, but one of the Potopass CM’s told us they put them there so that if a camera pans across it during the parade, you can’t see the time on TV. That way you can’t tell that a float that comes by 10 minutes later in TV time actually came down Main Street 3 hours after the one shown before it. Don’t know if it is true, but it makes sense.

We grabbed some Photopass pictures and made our way towards Fantasyland.

I could hear someone at the castle giving the concert crowd instructions. Sounds like we might get to hear Scotty McCreary and Cee Lo Green perform today.

Wait a minute, doesn’t Cee Lo Green sing that “F” You song? And he’s performing for Disney’s Christmas parade????

 

[amandaw]

I can't believe y'all got stuck on the boat! Why in the world would they choose that time to move something so big?

The photopass pictures are cute....as always. Can't wait to hear how this day was....we should've been arriving that day for a very short getaway. But, we had to cancel.

 

[glennbo123]

I thought maybe they just forgot to tie something up last night and once they were secured, maybe we’d start moving… unfortunately, we were still sitting there.

We waited…

And waited…

And waited…

“Hey, do you remember that excavator on a barge that we saw at the GF, yesterday?”

“Yes.”

“Somebody decided that between 7:30 and 8:00 in the morning would be a good time to move it. I think we’re going to miss the park opening.”

Whether this is true or not, I don’t know, but one of the Potopass CM’s told us they put them there so that if a camera pans across it during the parade, you can’t see the time on TV. That way you can’t tell that a float that comes by 10 minutes later in TV time actually came down Main Street 3 hours after the one shown before it. Don’t know if it is true, but it makes sense.

And all the men along the parade route, they have them shave every 20 minutes or so...so people don't see their 5 o'clock shadow getting darker and darker as the parade goes on.

We grabbed some Photopass pictures and made our way towards Fantasyland.

And they were quite nice!

 

[Moodyzblu]

We actually went during taping 2 years in a row (on purpose ) and it's a loooong and tedious process .. but kind of cool too (if you like that sort of thing). We got to see lot's of stars and such and my dd, who was a teen then, just soaked it all in and LOVED it all. But yeah, they start and stop the parade over and over again and what is only 10 minutes on TV actually took like an hour to film .. it's weird.

LOVE the PP pics !!

 

[that's nice]

It was Friday, Dec. 2, or as it might be better known, the day before they filmed the Christmas Parade. We originally had an ADR for Crystal Palace at 8:10 this morning, and hoped to get a bit of a headstart in the park without the crowds. When they changed the park opening time from 9 to 8, I considered canceling the reservation, and by mid-week we did so.

Gotta love those changing park hours.

We waited…

And waited…

And waited…

And waited....

And waited....

Once the barge was clear, we were underway once again. When we got close enough, I could see that the train was already at the station, and by the time we were docked, it was 8:04. Our day was not off to a great start.

Man that stinks.

Wait a minute, doesn’t Cee Lo Green sing that “F” You song? And he’s performing for Disney’s Christmas parade????

 

[FreezinRafiki]

It was Friday, Dec. 2, or as it might be better known, the day before they filmed the Christmas Parade. We originally had an ADR for Crystal Palace at 8:10 this morning, and hoped to get a bit of a headstart in the park without the crowds. When they changed the park opening time from 9 to 8, I considered canceling the reservation, and by mid-week we did so.

Have a magical day! <- not thumbs.

It was going to be a crowded boat, so I let DW go sit down and I walked up to the front with the stroller to stand out of the way.

Like any good dad would do. <-thumbs.

“Somebody decided that between 7:30 and 8:00 in the morning would be a good time to move it. I think we’re going to miss the park opening.”

Oh man, that's like getting stuck behind a combine on the road. They're just so sloooooooow. That ever happen to you? Man that sucks.

Once the barge was clear, we were underway once again. When we got close enough, I could see that the train was already at the station, and by the time we were docked, it was 8:04. Our day was not off to a great start.

It's not tooooo late, but I know the feeling. Sitting there not moving for a few minutes seems like hours when you're that close.

We got in the park and noticed that they had taken down the garland and wreaths that hang across Main Street in preparation for the parade. They had also added some other decorations that weren’t here last night and put some camera platforms in place. It was neat to see how much things had changed overnight.

We were there just before and just after Halloween and the change dramatic!

 

[GoofyIsAsGoofyDoes]

I was the first one up, as was becoming the routine for the week

I know that song-n-dance well when it comes to traveling.

It was Friday, Dec. 2, or as it might be better known, the day before they filmed the Christmas Parade.

Interesting… I wonder what ramification this will have on the proceedings.

I settled in for the ride and as we rounded the bend approaching the Contemporary, our boat slowed and then came to a stop.

Hummmm… Odd.

We waited…

And waited…

And waited…

Frustration levels rising….

“Hey, do you remember that excavator on a barge that we saw at the GF, yesterday?”

Nooooooooo…

“Yes.”

Well… you said we’d be seeing it again.

Our day was not off to a great start.

It’s early yet… maybe this will work itself out in the near.

They had also added some other decorations that weren’t here last night and put some camera platforms in place. It was neat to see how much things had changed overnight.

They’re generally real good about that. Of course that’s also when they should have moved the blasted excavator… but I digress.

Hummm… that elbow looks familure… I’ve seen that somewhere before.
That is a great shot.

I could hear someone at the castle giving the concert crowd instructions. Sounds like we might get to hear Scotty McCreary and Cee Lo Green perform today.

Seeing all the tuff that goes on in the background for the parade and concerts must have been interesting. I can see where it would get in the way of a good touring plan, but it’s the kind of stuff you don’t get to see every day.

Wait a minute, doesn’t Cee Lo Green sing that “F” You song? And he’s performing for Disney’s Christmas parade????

Does seem a might jarring… well, we do have a tendency to forgive our celebrities transgressions a bit quicker than we would our neighbors.

Don’t know why… but it happens.

 

[afwdwfan]

I can't believe y'all got stuck on the boat! Why in the world would they choose that time to move something so big?

When I saw that thing coming through in front of us, I just couldn't believe they'd do something like that in the morning when people are trying to get to the park. I was disappointed by it.

The photopass pictures are cute....as always. Can't wait to hear how this day was....we should've been arriving that day for a very short getaway. But, we had to cancel.

I'm sorry you had to cancel. It really was a beautiful day in the parks.

And all the men along the parade route, they have them shave every 20 minutes or so...so people don't see their 5 o'clock shadow getting darker and darker as the parade goes on.

Well, there's that, and the fact that if they didn't force everyone to shave, it would look like Santa was riding his sleigh into a ZZ Top concert.

And they were quite nice!

Thanks!

We actually went during taping 2 years in a row (on purpose ) and it's a loooong and tedious process .. but kind of cool too (if you like that sort of thing). We got to see lot's of stars and such and my dd, who was a teen then, just soaked it all in and LOVED it all. But yeah, they start and stop the parade over and over again and what is only 10 minutes on TV actually took like an hour to film .. it's weird.

I think it would be interesting to see. But I'm not sure I'd want to be there the whole time. Maybe see the process for the filming of 1 or 2 floats and then sneak off to ride Space Mountain or something.

LOVE the PP pics !!

Thanks!

Gotta love those changing park hours.

So frustrating.

And waited....

And waited....

What's Disney without some kind of an unexpected wait?

Man that stinks.

It was very frustrating. We were really looking forward to seeing the Rope Drop show at MK. It was one of the main goals for the day.

I'd heard Scotty McCreery was going to be there, but the first time I'd heard Cee Lo Green was performing was when I heard the guy on the stage announce it that morning. I thought it just seemed a little bit... odd.

I'm just glad the Beibster didn't perform till Saturday.

 

[petals]

Oh wow Cool to see the film stuff in Magic Kingdom. Dec 2 was the start of our non disney stuff for a while and we didn't see most of that. I love the photopass pics esp the one of your DW and DS together it's so cute! Sorry you missed the opening

 

[afwdwfan]

Have a magical day! <- not thumbs.

Like any good dad would do. <-thumbs.

Just abiding by the MAN LAWS... even though it was a boat, not a bus.

Oh man, that's like getting stuck behind a combine on the road. They're just so sloooooooow. That ever happen to you? Man that sucks.

Only combines tend to move over and let traffic pass. At least in Indiana.

It's not tooooo late, but I know the feeling. Sitting there not moving for a few minutes seems like hours when you're that close.

It wasn't TOO late, but it was just late enough to make us miss the show that we really wanted to see. You'd think that wouldn't be an issue if you're on the first boat of the day.

We were there just before and just after Halloween and the change dramatic!

I saw a TV special about all the work that goes into getting the park decorated for Christmas. It really amazes me how organized it is and how quickly they can do some pretty significant work. I would love to be in the park some evening just to see the CM's in action. Or to see the Kingdom Keepers battle the Overtakers. Either one would be a cool way to spend a night in the MK.

I know that song-n-dance well when it comes to traveling.

It's a dad thing.

Interesting… I wonder what ramification this will have on the proceedings.

Actually, not a whole lot. We just got a different soundtrack as we walked around the MK.

Hummmm… Odd.

Frustration levels rising….

Nooooooooo…


Well… you said we’d be seeing it again.

I just don't know why they had to move it at that particular moment.

It’s early yet… maybe this will work itself out in the near.

The day was clearly not ruined, but the start was a disappointment.

They’re generally real good about that. Of course that’s also when they should have moved the blasted excavator… but I digress.

I was thinking the same thing, but I wasn't referring to it as a "blasted" excavator.

Hummm… that elbow looks familure… I’ve seen that somewhere before.
That is a great shot.

Yeah, I might put a post on here about the Photopass incident to share with the non-dads after I complete the TR.

Seeing all the tuff that goes on in the background for the parade and concerts must have been interesting. I can see where it would get in the way of a good touring plan, but it’s the kind of stuff you don’t get to see every day.

It really didn't get in the way of our plan. We had enough days that we could plan around it to get everything done that we wanted to do inside the parks. This morning was just about seeing Rope Drop, doing a few rides and seeing what the taping was all about.

Does seem a might jarring… well, we do have a tendency to forgive our celebrities transgressions a bit quicker than we would our neighbors.

Don’t know why… but it happens.

It wasn't really a transgression. It was a song.

I can't really say that I know Cee Lo Green as anything other than "the guy who sings that "F" you song." I really don't know what else he does, so maybe this is more the exception to the type of music he performs, but it just struck me as funny that he was in Disney World singing a Christmas song.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I was the first one up, as was becoming the routine for the week, and headed down to Roaring Forks to get a Bounty Platter to share while DW and DS were waking up and getting ready to go.

Ever get that feeling of deja vu?

We hadn't been to MK in the morning yet this trip, so our goal for the morning was to be in front of the MK to see the rope drop show, head to Fantasyland to ride everything there once more and maybe hit a few other things we wanted to do again before we said goodbye to the Magic Kingdom.

Not to mention the fact that Rope Drop is a Man Law.

We waited…

And waited…

And waited…

“Hey, do you remember that excavator on a barge that we saw at the GF, yesterday?”

Ever get that feeling of deja vu?

Once the barge was clear, we were underway once again. When we got close enough, I could see that the train was already at the station, and by the time we were docked, it was 8:04. Our day was not off to a great start.

Sorry you missed the show. Still, if being 4 minutes late at the Magic Kingdom is the worst of your problems, life is pretty good.

I thought I had a picture of this, but can’t seem to find it. The clocks on Main Street had wreaths hanging on the faces of them. Whether this is true or not, I don’t know, but one of the Potopass CM’s told us they put them there so that if a camera pans across it during the parade, you can’t see the time on TV. That way you can’t tell that a float that comes by 10 minutes later in TV time actually came down Main Street 3 hours after the one shown before it. Don’t know if it is true, but it makes sense.

Interesting. I'd vote for them to leave the wreaths up all the time, so it would never be closing time at MK.

We grabbed some Photopass pictures and made our way towards Fantasyland.

Wait a minute, doesn’t Cee Lo Green sing that “F” You song? And he’s performing for Disney’s Christmas parade????[/COLOR]

Know who does the best version of that song? The Muppets.