Danauk
<font color=green>I would be sitting on the patio
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2003
- Messages
- 14,597
Day 3 - 23rd December Backstage Magic tour
The cast:
Me (Karen) mad planner and disaholic
Pete, my husband, hates planning, goes along with what we happen to be doing
Andrew, best friend and Disney mad
Sue, best friend, married to Andrew, also Disney mad but doesnt often admit it (although admits it more these days!)
Was wide awake again at 6:30am so I got up and showered ready for the day. I grabbed the mugs and made the mug run (buying a jumper at the same time this going for morning drinks and buying things at the same time became a bit of a theme of mine throughout the trip!!) After breakfast we drove over to the front of Epcot to register for our tour. We were met at 9pm by Nancy out guide and the group introduced them selves. There were about 20 of us all together. Firstly we all walked into Epcot and then walked back stage to our bus. Nancy explained to us how several of the areas of Epcot that you might take a while to walk to are actually sometimes next to one another, we just dont realise it. We were driven around the back of the world showcase and stopped at the American Adventure. We went into the back of the theatre and saw all the animatronics. Nancy explained how the models worked and how the different scenes of the show appear at the correct time. The back stage area was huge and very interesting. I have to admit at this point that I had not actually seen the show but made sure I would do it at some point during the trip. Then we came back to the front of the buildings and Nancy explained how false prospective is used all over the WDW parks to make the building seem taller or smaller than what they are.
Next we were driven to the Epcot casting building. There we saw where the cast members got their costumes and we saw some of the wig makers setting the various wigs for the characters. I loved watching them at work as I love all elements of theatre. Then we stopped for a rest room break. Whilst stood there we noticed the carpet was just lots of samples. Apparently when WDW want to test a new flooring for an area, hotel room or something they put a sample of it down in the Epcot locker room for a few weeks to se how it wears as lots of traffic walks past there each day. That was the floor there is constantly changing!
Then we driven away from Epcot and over to the laundry facility. We saw where all towels used in WDW are taken for washing. The building was huge and all automated, including a folding machine. Bedding and other items were also done there but in a different section of it. What struck me about this place was even though is was a purely functional building it still had lots of Disney elements in it with pictures on the wall, hidden Mickeys etc.
Next we were driven over to MGM and into the costume making department (the bit you see on the back lot tour. It was neat being in there was the tours were going through as the people kept waving at us. We saw where all the costumes were made for WDW and the cruise line, we even saw Mickeys pants being fixed! We saw the tools and machines that they use and it was explained to us how everything works.
By now it was lunch time so we were taken back on stage. We noticed though that by the gates to go on stage there are mirrors next to the gates so people can check themselves before appearing. We were taken to Mama Melrose where we had lunch family style. The food was lovely and we had so much of it and were even given a bag for our driver who had to stay with the bus. After lunch we headed back to the bus and on to the Christmas warehouse. We saw where the decorations not used this year were kept and where some of the decorations were being fixed. We learned how the trees and decorations are designed and how they are put together and set up so quickly. Then we headed over the road to the engineering shop. Here we were shown how some of the animatronics were made. Then we moved on to the workshop where the sets and furniture are built. We saw some ride cars in for repair and some props being made for various attractions.
Soon it was time to board the bus again and headed over to the MK where we were taken straight to the utiladoors. The tunnel system was explained to us and we saw how the waste system works and where things were stored. We saw how people know where they are in relation to the park due to the words and pictures on the walls. Then we went back on stage to watch the Christmas parade which was great fun. Nancys daughter was in the parade as a dancer and she pointed her out to us. She later explained how her daughter was nearly cast as the Tinkerbelle that flies at that start of Wishes. This girl has to be between 5ft and 5ft 2 and weigh between 105lb and 115lb. She has to be able to fit the costume and they see how she flies by harnessing her to a crane in the AK after it has closed and swinging her around!! The person playing Tink gets triple pay and gets paid for an 8 hour shift but only works for 4!! As soon as the tour was over we boarded the bus and went back to Epcot where the tour ended. It was such a fun 7 hours that I really recommend the tour. We were given collectors tour pins (up until now I didnt collect pins, yet another thing that changed this trip, I now have a lanyard full of them!!)
We decided to drive back to the BCV for a rest before our evening meal at the Yachtsmans Steakhouse. We love the Steakhouse and all had the Fillet Mignion which was as delicious as usual. After our very filling meal we went for a walk around the Boardwalk and watched holiday illuminations from various locations around the lake. I loved the ending to the show, I have never seen so many fireworks go off at the same time before. The lights were so bright and the bangs so loud it was amazing (more about that later.) By now we were tired so we headed back to the room and off to bed by 10pm.
The one thing that has struck me about this trip so far is that it is not as busy as I thought it would be. I had been warned that the crowds would be unbearable but I actually though so far it had been relatively quiet compared to what I had anticipated. The parade today did not have a priority area for us and we walked up to a good spot 5 minutes before it began. Also the restaurants I have eaten at have been taking walk ups and have had spare seats.
The cast:
Me (Karen) mad planner and disaholic
Pete, my husband, hates planning, goes along with what we happen to be doing
Andrew, best friend and Disney mad
Sue, best friend, married to Andrew, also Disney mad but doesnt often admit it (although admits it more these days!)
Was wide awake again at 6:30am so I got up and showered ready for the day. I grabbed the mugs and made the mug run (buying a jumper at the same time this going for morning drinks and buying things at the same time became a bit of a theme of mine throughout the trip!!) After breakfast we drove over to the front of Epcot to register for our tour. We were met at 9pm by Nancy out guide and the group introduced them selves. There were about 20 of us all together. Firstly we all walked into Epcot and then walked back stage to our bus. Nancy explained to us how several of the areas of Epcot that you might take a while to walk to are actually sometimes next to one another, we just dont realise it. We were driven around the back of the world showcase and stopped at the American Adventure. We went into the back of the theatre and saw all the animatronics. Nancy explained how the models worked and how the different scenes of the show appear at the correct time. The back stage area was huge and very interesting. I have to admit at this point that I had not actually seen the show but made sure I would do it at some point during the trip. Then we came back to the front of the buildings and Nancy explained how false prospective is used all over the WDW parks to make the building seem taller or smaller than what they are.
Next we were driven to the Epcot casting building. There we saw where the cast members got their costumes and we saw some of the wig makers setting the various wigs for the characters. I loved watching them at work as I love all elements of theatre. Then we stopped for a rest room break. Whilst stood there we noticed the carpet was just lots of samples. Apparently when WDW want to test a new flooring for an area, hotel room or something they put a sample of it down in the Epcot locker room for a few weeks to se how it wears as lots of traffic walks past there each day. That was the floor there is constantly changing!
Then we driven away from Epcot and over to the laundry facility. We saw where all towels used in WDW are taken for washing. The building was huge and all automated, including a folding machine. Bedding and other items were also done there but in a different section of it. What struck me about this place was even though is was a purely functional building it still had lots of Disney elements in it with pictures on the wall, hidden Mickeys etc.
Next we were driven over to MGM and into the costume making department (the bit you see on the back lot tour. It was neat being in there was the tours were going through as the people kept waving at us. We saw where all the costumes were made for WDW and the cruise line, we even saw Mickeys pants being fixed! We saw the tools and machines that they use and it was explained to us how everything works.
By now it was lunch time so we were taken back on stage. We noticed though that by the gates to go on stage there are mirrors next to the gates so people can check themselves before appearing. We were taken to Mama Melrose where we had lunch family style. The food was lovely and we had so much of it and were even given a bag for our driver who had to stay with the bus. After lunch we headed back to the bus and on to the Christmas warehouse. We saw where the decorations not used this year were kept and where some of the decorations were being fixed. We learned how the trees and decorations are designed and how they are put together and set up so quickly. Then we headed over the road to the engineering shop. Here we were shown how some of the animatronics were made. Then we moved on to the workshop where the sets and furniture are built. We saw some ride cars in for repair and some props being made for various attractions.
Soon it was time to board the bus again and headed over to the MK where we were taken straight to the utiladoors. The tunnel system was explained to us and we saw how the waste system works and where things were stored. We saw how people know where they are in relation to the park due to the words and pictures on the walls. Then we went back on stage to watch the Christmas parade which was great fun. Nancys daughter was in the parade as a dancer and she pointed her out to us. She later explained how her daughter was nearly cast as the Tinkerbelle that flies at that start of Wishes. This girl has to be between 5ft and 5ft 2 and weigh between 105lb and 115lb. She has to be able to fit the costume and they see how she flies by harnessing her to a crane in the AK after it has closed and swinging her around!! The person playing Tink gets triple pay and gets paid for an 8 hour shift but only works for 4!! As soon as the tour was over we boarded the bus and went back to Epcot where the tour ended. It was such a fun 7 hours that I really recommend the tour. We were given collectors tour pins (up until now I didnt collect pins, yet another thing that changed this trip, I now have a lanyard full of them!!)
We decided to drive back to the BCV for a rest before our evening meal at the Yachtsmans Steakhouse. We love the Steakhouse and all had the Fillet Mignion which was as delicious as usual. After our very filling meal we went for a walk around the Boardwalk and watched holiday illuminations from various locations around the lake. I loved the ending to the show, I have never seen so many fireworks go off at the same time before. The lights were so bright and the bangs so loud it was amazing (more about that later.) By now we were tired so we headed back to the room and off to bed by 10pm.
The one thing that has struck me about this trip so far is that it is not as busy as I thought it would be. I had been warned that the crowds would be unbearable but I actually though so far it had been relatively quiet compared to what I had anticipated. The parade today did not have a priority area for us and we walked up to a good spot 5 minutes before it began. Also the restaurants I have eaten at have been taking walk ups and have had spare seats.
