A Croc, a pair of crocs, Karma and what is all this stuff around my neck? update 6/17

[puggymom]

The Tour – I will preface this installment by letting you know I may spoil some Magic for you, if you don’t mind, please keep reading. Nothing earth shattering, like I know where Walt’s frozen head is, but just thought I would warn you.

Before you start the tour they pass out these ear pieces so you hear the tour guide speak no matter how noisy it gets when walking around. Once that is done she takes us in the park, around SSE and through a cast member entrance near the Seas. Behind the seas is a Cruise Line bus waiting for us. OOH, did we win a cruise Uh no, it's just an available bus that they have. We drive along the road that runs along the perimeter of the park. You get to see the back of future world and part of WS.

We park direct behind the American Adventure. We go onstage at AA and the guide explains that due to the AA show the American pavilion is so large, it wasn’t intentional that our country got the largest pavilion. To lessen the size (who said size doesn’t matter) the American 1st story is really 2 stories. You ever noticed how tall the doors are? From there she took us around back into the back stage area of the AA show. It was so interesting seeing how they manage all the “sets” on that one stage. Did you know the movie is shown from behind. Traditionally a movie is shown pointing towards the front of the screen, to avoid shadows from the animatronics, the AA movie is pointed from behind the screen. Because of this an addition was placed on the back of the building when imaginers realized about the shadows. She did say the movie is getting replaced in June too.

From there we went to the building where the CM’s get their uniforms, have a break room etc. It was there that I got to see pics of the Epcot Dream Squad, including the famous, or not so famous Elton.

We were taken into the room where costumes are checked in and out. Did you know the yellow that the parking lot attendants wear is patented? This room is unbelievable, it is huge. NO exaggeration, it is bigger than my house. From what I could see, your neighborhood dry cleaner could learn a thing or 2 about finding your clothes.

After Epcot we were taken to WDW Florist. WOW! While we were there they were making the most beautiful center pieces. Such beautiful flowers. I only wish I could take pics, but they do not allow any pics on the tour. I also saw some great looking gift baskets. Gave me some ideas for when I take my goddaughter next year.

Next we drove by the Arribas Brothers warehouse, wish we could have gone in there for some free samples. And then we drove past 1 of 2 onsite day care for CM’s kids. It is amazing the parts of WDW you never see or know exist.

Next up: the rest of the World.

 

[puggymom]

We love YCG for breakfast - we never have an ADR and we always walk right in. I don't get it either but I'm not going to complain - this may be one of the last places on Disney property where you can still get a table without a reservation (at least for breakfast).

Can't wait to read about your backstage tour!

No complaining here either, I just hope it sticks around.

 

[jcc0621]

Nothing there to spoil the magic. Another great installment. The backstage area is a little strange though isn't it? My mom is a CM and when we visit she will take us to Cast Connections (CM Store that you get stuff DIRT CHEAP). Anyway, the road to get there takes you past the back of Space Mountain, the terminal for the monrail, and these huge warehouses. They have one huge warehouse that hold just the Christmas decorations. This is where, after Christmas, they start working on them (refurbishing, etc) for the next year. It's always cool to see that!

 

[Disneyland_Mama]

The Tour – I will preface this installment by letting you know I may spoil some Magic for you, if you don’t mind, please keep reading. Nothing earth shattering, like I know where Walt’s frozen head is, but just thought I would warn you.

 

[puggymom]

Nothing there to spoil the magic. Another great installment. The backstage area is a little strange though isn't it? My mom is a CM and when we visit she will take us to Cast Connections (CM Store that you get stuff DIRT CHEAP). Anyway, the road to get there takes you past the back of Space Mountain, the terminal for the monrail, and these huge warehouses. They have one huge warehouse that hold just the Christmas decorations. This is where, after Christmas, they start working on them (refurbishing, etc) for the next year. It's always cool to see that!

Yep, we went there too, I am just too lazy tonight to write the rest up . I haven't even gotten to lunch yet

 

[daisy_77]

puggymom-I am really enjoying your TR!
I cannot wait to read more!

 

[boysmom5150]

Wow sounds great so far. All that and not even to lunch yet??
I would love to do a tour however I dont think I will be doing any tours anytime soon as I have these 2 kids that are holding me back
Glad I get to learn about them through your report. Cant wait to hear more.

 

[PittypatBR]

Okay, I'm caught up now. I started reading before I went down last week, but you suddenly got busy while I was gone! Looking forward to the rest.

 

[puggymom]

puggymom-I am really enjoying your TR!
I cannot wait to read more!

Welcome aboard! Glad you are here.

 

[puggymom]

Wow sounds great so far. All that and not even to lunch yet??
I would love to do a tour however I dont think I will be doing any tours anytime soon as I have these 2 kids that are holding me back
Glad I get to learn about them through your report. Cant wait to hear more.

This is only the 2nd one I have done, did KTTK last year and LOVED it. They are definately worth doing.

 

[puggymom]

Okay, I'm caught up now. I started reading before I went down last week, but you suddenly got busy while I was gone! Looking forward to the rest.

Thanks, hope you had a grat trip, I have to go check your TR too.

 

[puggymom]

Ok, after seeing the Florist, etc. we were taken via a backstage entrance to MGM. We entered behind TOT (btw, anyone know what that crane over by TOT is for?) and drove on that perimeter road. Did you know there is a parking garage back there? We were dropped off at the costuming building. OMG, this was awesome. In the lobby are miniature dresses for some of the princesses. One was Ariel’s ball gown. Here the tour guide showed us how the dress tells Ariel’s story. Very cool, I never noticed that there is a “tail” or the netting on the front ( for fish netting) or the layers that represent scales.
An announcement was then made that a tour was about to enter the building. This was so if anyone was not “decent” due to a fitting we shouldn’t see anything we are supposed to.

We were then introduced to a woman that does the costume designs on a computer. I’m running out of adjectives, but again VERY COOL. She passed around samples of her work and went into to detail about what she was working on, which was for DL Paris. See all costumes, including the cruise line and all the parks are done in WDW.

We continued to through the building and were taken into a room where the material is cut. They have this huge machine that takes the information from the computer and can cut several pieces at once. We were able to watch as the material was set and watched the machine make the cuts. If you take the Backlot tour you see this machine as you go through the costume building.

It is now time for lunch at Mama Melrose. Ok confession, I never knew where this place was. MGM is the one park that I still need to refer to the park map sometimes. I do like this park, but hate the layout.

Lunch was very nice, I loved the flatbread pizza and they also gave some chicken dishes (four cheese chicken was one) and the I saw this seafood marinara type dish that had calamari. I LOVE me some calamari. OOPs, very spicey. Puggymom can’t do very spicey. It was seafood Fra Diablo. I just wish when serving family style, they could have said something. Then they bought plates of desserts, YUMMY!!!!!! I would try this restaurant again (now that I know where it is).

After lunch we were driven to behind Magic Kingdom. First we drove past the monorail building. This is where they are repaired/maintenanced and where they are stored during a hurricane. Then we went to the warehouse where the Xmas decorations are stored. OMG !!!!!! It is huge, and what I wouldn’t give to have an hour in there to pick up a few things. They store everything in here, including the decorations for Vero and the cruise line. Each theme is selected for a 5 year time frame, after 5 years a new theme replaces the old. They have a full time staff that works year round on getting the decorations ready. How cool would that be to work on Xmas decorations all year?

Next we went across the street to the ride repair/maintenance building. It is 9 football fields big. There are different sections that do different things, Painting, woodwork, electrical. We got to play with an animatronic that didn’t have its skin on so we could see how it works. Very cool, again.

From here we were taken via a back entrance to the MK (it was near the Contemporary walkway). We parked behind mainstreet (sort of near the candy shop). First we went into the park near the Plaza Restaurant and talked about Tink’s flight etc. You want to know the high tech way that she lands…. Two guys holding a mattress.
We went back stage again and went down into the utilidors. I did this once before with KTTK, but this was a different experience and just as interesting. It is a whole city down there. Just thinking this was designed in the 60’s and then built in late 60’s early 70’s really shows the progressive thinking of Walt, Roy and their team.

We then went back up and onstage for preferred viewing of the 3 pm parade.

After the parade we took a walk up Main Street and discussed the names on the buildings. We also talked about the perspective you have coming up MS and then going back down when leaving the park.

Snapped this when we were by the Roy statue.

It was now time to board the bus and head back to Epcot. We were all given souvenir pins as we got off the bus. I was exhausted. As I started walking through the park to go back to BC, I called in and check on my boys. Everytime I go away we have this conversation. See, Mom loves Rocky, he was a rescue. He went from being sick and needing a home, to being healthy and have the 2 of us fight over him.

Me: Hi, how’s everyone doing.
Mom: I’m keeping Rocky
Me; Uh, no
Mom: Yes, he told me he wants to stay.
Me: he better be home, my home, when I get back on Saturday.
Mom: silence
Me: OK, I will call the police and have you thrown in jail
Mom: you will not
Me: He’s my dog
Mom: oh no he’s grammy’s boy

It’s all tongue in cheek, and this conversation happens every trip. I am grateful that she takes my boys, but she can’t keep Rocky, he’s mine.

 

[oybolshoi]

The tour sounds really interesting, thanks for sharing all the details.


Puggymom can’t do very spicey. It was seafood Fra Diablo. I just wish when serving family style, they could have said something.

I feel your pain. I have this kind of problem at work every time they cater lunch and bring in salad and BBQ and raw veggies and every other thing under the sun that I can't eat. I'm not asking for a special menu, but surely it's not too much of a stretch for someone ordering the food to realize that an alternative selection for the culinarily challenged would be appreciated?


Love the dialogue between you and your mom over your babies. My mom does that when she watches our cat for us when we vacation.

 

[Goofyluver]

My family tries to steal my dog too...Kadee...she is very special and is a rescue too. funny thing is, I stole her from my mother. And I won't let her take her back!

Those pics and the tour sound awesome. Maybe when DS is older we'll do some touring!

 

[DisneyJo]

The tour sounds amazing, tiring but amazing! Love the conversation with your Mum

 

[puggymom]

The tour sounds really interesting, thanks for sharing all the details.


Puggymom can’t do very spicey. It was seafood Fra Diablo. I just wish when serving family style, they could have said something.

I feel your pain. I have this kind of problem at work every time they cater lunch and bring in salad and BBQ and raw veggies and every other thing under the sun that I can't eat. I'm not asking for a special menu, but surely it's not too much of a stretch for someone ordering the food to realize that an alternative selection for the culinarily challenged would be appreciated?


Love the dialogue between you and your mom over your babies. My mom does that when she watches our cat for us when we vacation.

I can't wait to do more tours, I think I am going to do the backstage safari one next.

I hear ya family style too. I can do a little spicey, just not Fra Diablo style.

Oh you should hear Mom and me when we get going, I am told we can be quite a show.

 

[puggymom]

My family tries to steal my dog too...Kadee...she is very special and is a rescue too. funny thing is, I stole her from my mother. And I won't let her take her back!

Those pics and the tour sound awesome. Maybe when DS is older we'll do some touring!

OOH, don't let Mom read this,she may get an idea I won't like.


I can't recommend the tours enough, they are so interesting.

 

[tiggerbell]

Your Backstage Magic tour sounds... well, like the one I took! Glad you enjoyed it,t oo! We did Keys to the Kingdom this trip. In September, we're doing the Family Magic Tour for Brooke and I will watch Brooke while the rest of the group does the Around the World on a SegWay Tour. I would also love to do the AK tours, they both sound so cool!

OK - back to

 

[CatStarr]

"The guy on stage gave THE SIGNAL to some kid sitting in the audience. He didn't know this kid, I don't think either one DIS, they have no lime on and there he is giving THE SIGNAL to some kid. I don't know what to do. Do I stand up and give THE SIGNAL? Are they Focker Watchers? Do I flash a LGMH? I checked my spreadsheet, but nothing on it about THE SIGNAL happening at US. I am just dumbfounded."

Loving this!! But what is THE SIGNAL?

Cat

 

[puggymom]

"The guy on stage gave THE SIGNAL to some kid sitting in the audience. He didn't know this kid, I don't think either one DIS, they have no lime on and there he is giving THE SIGNAL to some kid. I don't know what to do. Do I stand up and give THE SIGNAL? Are they Focker Watchers? Do I flash a LGMH? I checked my spreadsheet, but nothing on it about THE SIGNAL happening at US. I am just dumbfounded."

Loving this!! But what is THE SIGNAL?

Cat

Welcome

See the DeNiro pic in my siggie, it's from Meet the Parents. He does the signal when he says I'm watching you Focker.

There is a group of Dissers, who call themselves Team Focker Watch, we wear lime green in the parks to try and identify one another. There are even Focker lanyards, thanks to another Disser *Mickeys Fan* When we see another Focker we are to give the signal.

Here is the Focker watch chat thread if you want to learn more, come join in, they are hilarious.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1410032