Firsts, Fourths, and Farewells (4/28 Back to the Future!)

[Curoly06]

Just joined the boards, but I'm a huge fan of your TRs! Hope you guys have a great time at Disney! Can't wait to read about it later on :0)

 

[thecapells]

Just joined the boards, but I'm a huge fan of your TRs! Hope you guys have a great time at Disney! Can't wait to read about it later on :0)

We are very excited!
We're just about packed and the kids don't know yet but have suspicions something Disney is happening tomorrow.
They just don't know what!

 

[thecapells]

We're back and I'm struggling to catch up with everything!
We had a great time and now I'm several TR's behind again so I better get back to it!
My goal is to have some updates up this weekend and then a bunch more over the Turkey Day Holiday.
So stay tuned!!

 

[SimplyGoofy]

I hope you had a great time!

Looking forward to the updates...

 

[thecapells]

I hope you had a great time!

Looking forward to the updates...

We had a blast as usual.
But now I'm even FURTHER behind on my reports!
I hope to have a new segment up tonite!

 

[thecapells]

Sorry for the delay.
Things have been very hectic and we had a minor family emergency.
Everything is okay now and I have a segment all ready for you.
So without further delay, let's go see Fantasmic!

 

[thecapells]

Okay, so where were we?
DS and I had just added his Jedi Academy pics to Photopass.
And now we were heading over to meet the rest of the gang on Sunset Boulevard.
We stopped at the restrooms near the entrance to Fantasmic! and then all backtracked to the special new Dinner Package entrance.
It was about 30 minutes before showtime and there were plenty of seats left in our reserved section.
Now I know there are lots of complaints about this section as it is off to the side and when the princess boats float in front of you, they are no longer lit and the wrong music is playing.
Oh, and you can see backstage somewhat.
But I’ll trade in those negatives in order to relax at dinner (usually), not worry about getting a seat, and wait less than 30 minutes for the show each and every time.
And, as you can see, our view was not bad at all…

And if we hadn’t been on the Fantasmic Dinner Package! we would have to contend with this:

So we settled in and began to eat our dessert.
Remember those Chocolate Meatballs?
Well, here they are.
They literally were a Chocolatey meatball on what looked like spaghetti sitting on a cupcake.
Very, very odd.

J had his Tiramisu but that was all melty by now and not as good.
Nevertheless, once of my favorite shows was about to start so we all cuddled up in our Disney jackets and sweatshirts (it was a little chilly) and prepared for the show!

And then….
IMAGINATION!

Watch Out Mickey!!

And then my favorite part.
Enter Maleficient the Dragon!

But Brave Little Mickey can use imagination as well!
Cue the water jets!

It’s such a great show and I love the idea of animation on water screens (yes, I can’t wait to get out to California to see World of Color one of these days).

Then the finale.
And who better than to be driving the cavalcade of Disney characters than Steamboat Willie!

And how about some sparklers?!!?!?

“Some Imagination, huh?”

 

[portobello_rd]

i liked fantasmic. its fun, and the pictures on the water were awesome.
we did not do the dinner package but were able to get front middle section area seating. it wasn't full.
what were the noodles made of with your chocolate meatball?
just looks and sounds odd.

 

[thecapells]

i liked fantasmic. its fun, and the pictures on the water were awesome.
we did not do the dinner package but were able to get front middle section area seating. it wasn't full.
what were the noodles made of with your chocolate meatball?
just looks and sounds odd.

Yeah, the chocolate meatball and spaghetti was very disconcerting.
While the meatball was chocolate, the spaghetti was strands of white frosting or icing or something similar.
Very weird - even moreso since we had it in "to go" boxes.

 

[thecapells]

After Fantasmic, we realized the park was still open for Evening Extra Magic Hours and I still owed DS his turn on Toy Story Mania.
So we decided to split up – Mom and J would take DD and X to Voyage of the Little Mermaid while I would veer off with DS.
Mom and J will fill you in on the adventures from their side – there was a bit of a miscommunication.

As for us, we headed towards Pixar Place.
On the way, however, I wanted to show DS Journey Into Narnia: Prince Caspian.
We had just finished reading the first three books in the series and I knew this would soon be gone so I wanted him to take a peak at the Stone Table.
They don't allow pictures inside so I got some outside of Aslan's How.

After our trip to Aslan’s How, we headed to Pixar Place for our long-awaited 3-D Adventure!
I LOVE the details in here – so much to see!

We had fun as usual and I won (as usual).
It is funny how DS aims much more and is more precise with his shots.
(You can see how much better his accuracy is on our scores)
I just let loose and fire as many times as humanly possible.
The carpal tunnel in my wrist is not happy with me afterwards.

Anyway, I don’t see the fascination with this one.
It’s basically just a big video game.
Yes, it’s better than Buzz but I don’t think it’s worth a stampede at park opening.
Toy Story Mania is no Soarin’, that’s for sure.

On the way out, Pixar Place was empty.
So I thought we could check out some details across the street at “Hey Howdy Hey!”
The CM there even let us behind the ropes to take pics of whatever we wanted!!

DS’s favorite detail in Pixar Place is Andy’s map of the area.
Basically, Andy lays out the entirety of Pixar Place explaining where the troops are, where the secret decoder is, and where the recon position is.
It’s actually a pretty cute little detail.
And if you follow the map, everything is in its place (and what the characters are doing makes a little more sense).

 

[MEK]

Hope your most recent trip was great!

The whole chocolate meatball and spaghetti thing is a little odd, for sure.

Really cute pictures of everyone at Fantasmic.

I have to agree with you that TSM is NOT worth the stampede. Nevertheless, I will stampede in December because my son has never ridden it and I will let him decide for himself.

I never noticed those spoons before. Cute.

 

[boxmaster]

Definitely a great show. I'm pretty sure this was my first time watching it. (Did it exist in nearly this fashion ~1995 the only prior time I had gone to then-MGM Studios?)

Hey, Mike, any chance you can take a few still shots from the video(s) I took of the on-water animation during the show? (The full video(s) are probably a bit too long to post as is.)

 

[boxmaster]

After Fantasmic, we realized the park was still open for Evening Extra Magic Hours and I still owed DS his turn on Toy Story Mania.
So we decided to split up – Mom and J would take DD and X to Voyage of the Little Mermaid while I would veer off with DS.
Mom and J will fill you in on the adventures from their side – there was a bit of a miscommunication.

Yes, there was definitely a bit of miscommunication. Largely stemming from the fact that it was unclear to us whether Mike and DS would be attempting to make their way back to meet up with us or not, and there being no phone call forthcoming when we were getting close to the time we'd have to head on into the show from the initial staging area.

After waiting on the outer line for a relatively short time, the four of us entered the staging area for the show. Slowly but surely, the place was filling up. Stacey and I didn't really know what the deal was with Mike and DS, and after long, there was going to be no way we'd be able to have a reasonable line of sight to them if they did arrive. So, I made my way from near the front by the doors into the show to the door at the back of the staging area, cell phone in hand, looking in both directions to see if I could catch a glimpse of the wayward vagabonds. Any calls that Mike made to either of us never managed to get to our phones.

While I waited in the back, I caught a glimpse of a detail most people likely just stream on past:

And, clearly DD and X were a little on the bored side waiting inside this room that didn't have anything interactive going on. So, they chose a different kind of interaction:

Eventually, I gave up on Mike and DS making their way to this show (good thing I did) and worked my way back through the then-packed room over to where Stacey, DD, and X were. A few more minutes and in we went into the show.

 

[thecapells]

Hope your most recent trip was great!

The whole chocolate meatball and spaghetti thing is a little odd, for sure.

Really cute pictures of everyone at Fantasmic.

I have to agree with you that TSM is NOT worth the stampede. Nevertheless, I will stampede in December because my son has never ridden it and I will let him decide for himself.

I never noticed those spoons before. Cute.

Yeah, I definitely want the kids to get a chance at it, but I'd rather head over to Star Tours with no lines.

Definitely a great show. I'm pretty sure this was my first time watching it. (Did it exist in nearly this fashion ~1995 the only prior time I had gone to then-MGM Studios?)

Hey, Mike, any chance you can take a few still shots from the video(s) I took of the on-water animation during the show? (The full video(s) are probably a bit too long to post as is.)

Fantasmic! has been there for some time but probably not in '95.
I know back in 1993, I saw it's predecessor "Splashtacular" in Epcot.

As for the videos, I'll see what I can do.

Eventually, I gave up on Mike and DS making their way to this show (good thing I did) and worked my way back through the then-packed room over to where Stacey, DD, and X were. A few more minutes and in we went into the show.

In our defense, DS and I called on the cell phones several times.
Apparently the Voyage of the Little Mermaid staging area has lead walls or something preventing Mom from getting a signal.

 

[thecapells]

On the way out of Toy Story Mania, I called again but no answer.
(See? I was trying...)

Assuming the gang was still in Voyage of the Little Mermaid, I decided to check out One Man’s Dream with DS.
DS had never been in here before and was finally showing some interest.
And I wanted to see the new revamp of the area.

Remember - it was All Started By a Mouse.
Well, here's Walt in a famous picture with that mouse.
Oh, and who's that with them?
Looks like a brilliant, young, up-and-coming Imagineer!

DUMBO!!!

A replica of the Nautilus!
I loved that ride as a kid!!!

The original Abe Lincoln audio animatronic…
DS was fascinated by this.

But me, I ran over to the new case with my old favorite.
The Original Figment!

And Dreamfinder’s contraption!

Along with the robot butler from Horizons…

And the cast of Kitchen Kabaret – another old favorite!
“Veggie, veggie, fruit, fruit! Veggie, fruit, fruit!”
Author’s Note: My kids now sing that song since I’ve talked about it so much and played them the audio!

In the back are the cool models of the different parks.

Along with the original Tron helmet!!

And the new D23 room which I was really excited to see.
Looks kinda like my office (or at least I wish it did!)

And a recent tribute to Epic Mickey – which we are hooked on at home!

Looking to the future, here’s some pieces of the New Fantasyland…

After that, we met the gang on a bench near the Sorcerer’s Hat and headed out for the evening.
But not before Mom spotted a last Hidden Mickey on the trim of a building on Hollywood Boulevard.

And, of course, our nightly Photopass shots…

Then we hopped the bus but left J behind to enjoy some of Hollywood Studios on his own since it was an Extra Magic Hour Evening.
But that’s his story.
We tucked the kids in with their Disney PJ's (of course) and gave them each a present for the night.
DS has been collecting Disney Racers so he wanted the Donald Racer.

As you may recall, X was busting in the Muppets gift shop for a 2011 bus so that’s what he got…

And our princess got a teaser of what was to come for tomorrow.
An Animal Kingdom Barbie doll…

But before we can head into the jungles of Day Three, J did some exploring on his own.
Take it away J!

 

[boxmaster]

Having split with the “weak-stomached” for the remainder of the evening, I had a few hours to myself, to go at my own pace, including going on my favorite ride from my first foray down to MGM Studios over 15 years ago, now. For some reason, neither Mike nor Stacey can even contemplate going on it and, the same goes for the kids, naturally. (I might be able to partially “correct” the latter problem. But I'm getting ahead of myself.) As if the title didn't give it away, that ride is the Tower of Terror. (insert Twilight Zone music here)

This is such a great ride, IMO. Not only is the actual 2-3 minute “ride” a thrill, literally, the theming throughout the entire thing is wonderful!

When you first enter the long-abandoned “hotel” lobby, you are greeted with tons of details.

Even down to a tapestry with the Holywood Tower Hotel logo

More bags seem to have been left abandoned for years.

And probably a record-length game of mah jongg, still in play.

Doesn't the front desk look like someone will just appear any minute now?

So just where IS everything in this hotel? Just take a look at the Directory listing. Granted, over the past few years some of the letters have naturally fallen off, but you can still make it out. And the beauty of it all is that we actually get to see (almost?) all of those rooms, even though they're not labeled as such that I saw.

So far we've gone through the lobby level lounge and are now making our way to the library. Further proof of the great theming throughout this attraction are all of the trinkets and props.

Some of the props are from the original Twilight Zone, even. Recognize the devilish one here? It's from one of the two episodes that actually starred a pre-Star Trek William Shatner.

Proof that this once was a truly international hotspot.

After making our way through the bowels of the hotel (the Steam Baths, according to the Directory), we arrive at a rather rickety set of elevator doors topped by a rather foreboding sight.

Then, the “do or die” moment. Do we want to see the High Society Suite and the Tip Top Club or not? To chicken out, supposedly satisfied at seeing all of the details so far, or forge on further, enjoying more Twilight Zone and the “terror” of the “13-story freefall”? Please! No-brainer! Onward, march.

 

[thecapells]

Yeah, and that's about as far as I would go.
Chicken Exit please...

Actually - it's cool J went and took so many pictures as I know I'll never be near that place.
And I know he's got some more up his sleeve...

 

[dawnbu40]

Loved the dual update

I love wandering through One Man's Dream. There is so much to see! How cool that the kids know the veggie/fruit song That was Caitlin's favorite thing at Epcot on her first visit at age 2.

The photopass pics at the Sorceror'sHat are great!

As for Jared's update-as someone to chicken to ride I love to see pics of TOT. The theming is so cool. I have gone through the queue though I just take the smooth elevator ride back down

 

[thecapells]

Loved the dual update

I love wandering through One Man's Dream. There is so much to see! How cool that the kids know the veggie/fruit song That was Caitlin's favorite thing at Epcot on her first visit at age 2.

The photopass pics at the Sorceror'sHat are great!

As for Jared's update-as someone to chicken to ride I love to see pics of TOT. The theming is so cool. I have gone through the queue though I just take the smooth elevator ride back down

Yeah, for stuff like this, we live vicariously through Uncle J!

 

[MEK]

Looking forward to seeing all your pictures when I get home tonight. I never tire of looking at ToT queue pictures and there appears there are quite a few.