Let's start our tour now, shall we?! In 2008, I followed the directions to leave cameras behind as the CMS said you aren't allowed to take photos. However, while you are "on stage" in the main park areas, you are able to take photos. You may not take any photos backstage, however. So this time, I did bring my camera. Spoiler Alert-if you don't want to know any of the little details, you may not want to read along.
Our tour started once again with our guide, AVA, talking about the windows along Main Street. She told us about some of the names and how they took part in the building of Disney's parks/movies.
This window is at the front of the park-"The Opening Credits" so to speak. It's the Roy O. Disney window. Along with his statue, Roy opens the park welcoming one and all to enjoy Disney's little town and Main Street
And at the other end of Main Street, the closing credits of the movie-the "Director" Walt's window, along with his statue. Sort of neat how they tie in the names along the windows to the way movie credits are run.
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Then Ava talked about how, as you walk up Mainstreet, you are actually walking uphill. At the start of the day everyone is fresh and you hardly notice the incline, but as you can sort of see in this photo, you are indeed walking uphill. Not only was this to create the "Utilidors" on the lower level, but it makes leaving at the end of a tiring day a little easier on your legs as you are walking downhill to leave the park.
We began our trek into the "lands". We started off heading into Adventureland. Ava talked about how the music begins to fade as you round the corner from Mainstreet and how the scenery begins to change. Once you cross the bridge, you no longer see the Mainstreet buildings. She even pointed out how Crystal Palace has different tiles on its' roof facing Mainstreet than the ones facing Adventureland. Take a look next time you are there!
We learned the "thatched" roof on the Tiki Room isn't thatched at all but just made to look that way. It is made of aluminum? strips (I think) that have been made to look just like a thatched roof. Thatching would not hold up to a hurricane or the FL rains. We also learned that the Tiki birds' fur is made from Cashmere! Some expensive robotic birds!!!
Last time on this tour, we rode Jungle Cruise at this point. However, Jungle Cruise was down for refurb so we headed to Pirates of the Caribbean instead. And here is where my camera was forced to go down for rehab!!!
I have NEVER before gotten wet on Pirates. NEVER dreamed that was even a possibility (I know, it is a water ride and there is always that risk!! I know!!!) Anyways, we were in line (which, by the way, you do get taken to the front of the lines when they bring you on the rides) and Pam and I were sent to the front of the boat. Cool!! Awesome photo op!
As our group continued to board, the last two folks left to get on had little room to board. So our guide had them
into the front row with Pam and I. Are you getting the picture?! Our boat was front heavy. Still not taking the cue, I kept my camera out for the photo ops.
As we go over the very first drop, a HUGE wall of water comes over the boat, over me, and over the camera!!!
Needless to say, I heard very little about the interesting facts of PotC. I was in a panic. When we got off, I looked like I'd just stepped off of Kali River Rapids.
From here, there are no photos for a bit. Ava took us to our first backstage area-where I held my camera into a blowing breeze from a fan as we sat to listen about the AVAC machines used for disposing of all the trash in the MK, viewed the backside of Splash Mountain and wandered through the parade float storage areas where we could see the floats being readied for the Halloween parade. There was also a rehearsal going on for the Villians float. I got a little Boo to You music fix!!
I LOVE that parade!!!
Ava talked a little more about how the music and the atmosphere changes as you walk from land to land and the tale of Walt supposedly seeing a cowboy walking through Tomorrrowland in
Disneyland that ruined the magic for him and how that was where the idea for the utilidors was conceived.
About that time, it was time to go to lunch.
I decided now was as good a time as any to test out my camera.
Whew!!! I learned my camera could survive an accidental soaking. But we won't soon test that theory again.
I had the tuna sandwich for lunch and Pam had a salad. Really good food as always. I love Columbia Harbor House. It's sort of a tucked away hidden gem. At lunch we received our special pin for taking the tour. It's a gold key.
We stepped back out into Liberty Square and Ava talked about the little things you may not notice or pay much attention to that puts that land into its' "period time". The shutters sort of lean-simulating the time period because leather straps were sometimes used to hold the shutters on as metal was in short supply due to the war. The "brown" path running along the walkways simulates the dumping of the chamber pots and the sewage that would run along in the roads. I am sure there were more little tidbits, and I know we learned some things about the Hall of Presidents. I recall the rug in the entrance of HoP is the only replica of its' kind and is an exact duplicate of the one in the Capitol. But that is about all I can remember from here.
Haunted Mansion was up after lunch. Ava brought us in through the exit area!!
I love all these little plays on words.
Ava told us of the CM concocted backstory to the Haunted Mansion. Walt died before he could create a storyline for it himself. The backstory involves the bride killing off her husbands. Pay close attention to each wedding photo as you pass. She gains a strand of pearls with each marriage.
2 men worked on the design for HM. One really wanted a scary HM while the other wanted to add in humor. That is why you will find a mix of both elements in the ride.
The other thing I remember learning about was "is this haunted room actually stretching?" Well, it is stretching indeed, in WDW. However, in DL you are going down in an elevator-the walls are not stretching upward.
Last, in our tour, was the Utilidors. No photos here, folks. We were brought backstage and entered a door that lead down a couple flights of stairs. It is an entire working city down there. They have a laundry facility where CMs pick up their uniforms and drop off others for dry cleaning. There is the pin store where all the CMs fill their lanyards for the day (I could have spent hours there browsing around at the pins), and of course there are lockers and lunch rooms. We saw photos along the walls of the parks as they were being developed and photos of Walt and his family. Each tunnel is color coded by land so CMs can find their way and are sure not to enter as a "cowboy in Tomorrowland". The golf carts are all around down there bringing supplies here and there. It's quite something.
And this, my friends, is where the tour ends.
We were brought back up onto Mainstreet and made our way back to turn in our headsets. Pam and I made a trip to New Fantasyland so I could get another LeFou's Brew. And then we headed out for the day to grab a bus back to our resort.
Up next......a little relaxation and then a trip Around the World!!!
Thanks for sharing the tip!!!
One thing in DL that does drive me bonkers is the fact that you DO see cast members walking around in their costumes, including outside of the park on the public buses, at the bus stops etc! I had a lovely conversation with a CM at the bus stop outside of DL when I was heading home. He said that he tries not to walk around in his uniform.... I mean, don't they have change rooms somewhere?
Thank you so much for sharing about the tour - what a great thing to get to see some backstage doings and learn such interesting info.
