Dan and JAckie - Oct 09 - Day 5 - Magic Kingdom

[danandjackie]

It's Early Entry in the MK this morning so we're on the motor coach bright and early and without a breakfast. We have a cunning new plan to have a lovely relaxing breakfast on Main street. Its a bit of a gamble because we don't actually know if the words "relaxing" and "breakfast at Main Street" are compatible but the parks have been that quiet it should not be a problem. The Main Street Bakery soon fixes our hunger needs with a breakfast croissant for myself and a slab (slab being the operative word, there's enough cake in this potion to last a week) of hot cinnamon cake for Jackie. The cake in three words is de-lic-ious.



The Halloween decorations are looking very lovely in the bright sunshine. Now I have to admit this park does slightly disappoint me for various reasons. Main Street is really nice, having a slightly grander scale than it's counterparts around the globe. However from then on it all seems to go a bit wrong. Lands seem to lack the careful transitions and theming that the other parks have. I have always put it down to being the second park built; perhaps there was more of a rush and a sense of let's just make a vague copy of the original rather than the careful Imagineering that developed over time originally in Anaheim and then in the wonderful (spend whatever you want - oops we've gone bust ) planning stage at Paris.



I can't help looking for those wonderful hidden streets of New Orleans from Anaheim, or the secret paths and bazaars of Paris with its storytelling theming in the lands themselves. And I can never get over why Fantasy land looks like $10 was spent on the exterior buildings theming and it looks like it's just dumped on a car park.



But my biggest gripe has to be what happened to the classic rides, has someone stolen the other 3/4 of Pirates of the Caribbean? It seems wrong to me that the most popular MK in the world only has a half baked version of one of Walts favourite creations and a Haunted Mansion where a silly design issue in the planning stage means you don't enter through the front door.

Oh dear I sound a grump and a half. But I still walk around with a smile on my face despite all this. Especially after a quick FP ride on the River Cruise, a ride that sends you into familiar territory as you say the script in your head before the CM actually says it, but it's all part of the charm. Anyway the suns shining all the CM are smiling and the good news is in a few years time it should all be fixed up, well fantasyland should be anyway, Here's a rendering of Eric's Castle from the new Little Mermaid section.

[SusanEllen]

Originally Posted by danandjackie

with comments by Susan in REDThe Main Street Bakery soon fixes our hunger needs with a breakfast croissant for myself and a slab (slab being the operative word, there's enough cake in this potion to last a week) of hot cinnamon cake for Jackie. The cake in three words is de-lic-ious. . . .
. . . I've had those--wish I had one of them right now!
Tommorow lands latest addition "Monsters Inc Laugh Floor" is a bit of a disappointment. . . . I suppose it still needs some fine tuning and really depends on the audience but it's a pity they couldn't have squeezed the Monsters Inc Dark ride in from California Adventure. I agree on both points--the success of the show depends on good interaction with the audience and that must vary widely and yes, they should duplicate the DCA Monsters ride at WDW.

Dan, I think your assessment of the MK's shortcomings is fair. Here's hoping that Mr. Iger and Co. make headway with planned improvements as soon as possible. Your comments remind me so much of things Scott used to say. He loved Disneyland and WDW better than any other places on earth, but even as he was enjoying all of the wonderful things there he was thinking of ways things could be made better. Sounds familiar, doesn't it, Jackie?

[wicket2005]

Thanks enjoyed reading your report.

[danandjackie]

Thank you Susan, that is probably spot on and a lovely thing to say.

Though it seems I managed to post the draft version from the blog rather than the final version before Jackie had checked a) my use of English and b) the spelling of said English.

I can't believe I wrote... Main Street is really nice.I hate the word "nice" it's such a lazy word.. now amended to Main Street is looking bright and beautiful

To say Philharmagic is a favourite I should at least try to spell it right and as for Haunted Mountain what on earth is that.

The blog is now corrected.

Oct 09

Day One - Journey and EPCOT
Day Two - Studios
Day Two Eve - Narcoossees
Day Three - Animal Kingdom
Day Three Eve - California Grill
Day Four - EPCOT
Day Four Eve - Coral Reef

[wicket2005]

Well I still found it nice.

[Cyrano]

Editorial changes aside another excellent report Dan