JenniBarra
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2002
- Messages
- 415
Thursday, January 30
Each day has been a bit warmer than the last. (I was somewhat concerned about what to expect when it was so cold in FL the previous week. We still saw evidence of this in that the grass looked dead when Im always used to it being so green everywhere.) I decided that it was time to pull out the shorts!
As we ate breakfast in our room, we could see a load of new furniture being moved in. Our room must have been just recently remodeled as we could smell new carpet as soon as we entered and our furniture matches whats on the truck outside.
We decided to try out the Fantasmic! dining package as it was just $3 more than what we were already going to pay for dinner at Hollywood and Vine anyway. I suppose we got them so easily because of it being off season and all.
Once at Disney-MGM we of course had to do the Great Movie Ride first thing. As we were exiting, I had someone approach me and ask if I would take a survey about the ride. (Whenever a Disney survey taker asks if I can answer some questions, I always do so gladly because I like to feel like Im getting to add my own input! I will also be receiving a survey once I get home since I was approached at Epcot earlier in the week.) The survey was actually very detailed and covered pretty much everything in the attraction, from ranking each item to discussing my favorite parts. (That being the Oz section and finally getting to see the gangster scene.) If you see improvements in the lip movements of the Audio-Animatronics in the future, Id like to think I helped motivate that change. ; )
Later on that day, we took the backlot tram tour. I was surprised that it was the end of January and yet they were still taking down lights from the Osbourne Spectacle of Lights.
After the tram tour, being a movie buff, we checked out the AFI villains exhibit and then I wandered the Showcase Shop. I was delighted to find a book on Jimmy Stewart (one of my favorite actors) that I hadnt known about. I also noticed that there was a fair amount of Nightmare Before Christmas merchandise available. Maybe this was due to the Oogie Boogie puppet featured in the AFI exhibit? Some of it was stuff Id seen at the Disney Gallery in Disneyland in November, in honor of the holiday overlay of the Haunted Mansion, and some I didnt recognize. While I was still browsing, Keith noticed that a family had been eagerly eyeing these items and, when he found out that they had never seen Haunted Mansion Holiday, he recommended a trip to Disneyland late in the year.
In the middle of the afternoon, I was craving a hot dog for a snack and was directed to Backlot Express when I couldnt find any outdoor vending carts selling them. I remembered Backlot Express from our February trip last year, so I was then looking forward to the topping bar. (Unfortunately, they no longer offer cheese, though.) When we were ready to go, we ended up catching the tail end of the Stars and Motor Cars parade since we were now stuck on one side of the parade route. Although I saw the full parade last year, it ended up being good fortune to have to wait for the parade to finish since theres a new Lilo & Stitch car in it that I hadnt seen before. (Earlier in the day, we visited the picture spot where the pair proved to be quite mischievous!)
After more rides and shows, it was eventually time to head to Hollywood and Dine for our dinner. Keith referred to it as Thanksgiving dinner food (meaning things he typically only eats about once a year and thats about his limit!), but I thought the soft serve section with its multitude of toppings was pretty cool.
Soon it was time to head to the theater for Fantasmic! While we waited, I especially enjoyed the music, since it was primarily remakes of various Disney tunes, as featured on Mad About the Mouse and Mouse House. (One of my collections is Disney music, particularly compilations and/or cover recordings.) I suppose some might think it sacrilegious to say this, but I do prefer the stadium seating (since, as a short person, I can actually SEE!) However, I still think Disneylands finale is stronger. Anyhow, at this particular show, there seemed to be an awful lot of Beauty and the Beast fans in the audience, as I actually heard a large number of people start singing along during the princess section.
Of course, once Fantasmic! ended, the park was closing. Rather than take a bus back to Coronado Springs, we took the boat to the Swan and Dolphin. From there, it seemed like we walked miles to get to the Fantasia Gardens miniature golf course. It was worth it, though, because it really is a cute course. For those who havent been there yet, I wont spoil the little surprises along the way, but, suffice to say, there are some neat little tricks. : ) It was fun watching the other golfers, too, because you could tell who else was a first timer, due to their reaction to different parts of the course. We also got the bonus treat of seeing the fireworks finale of IllumiNations as we golfed. We were good and tired at the end of the end of this day!
Each day has been a bit warmer than the last. (I was somewhat concerned about what to expect when it was so cold in FL the previous week. We still saw evidence of this in that the grass looked dead when Im always used to it being so green everywhere.) I decided that it was time to pull out the shorts!
As we ate breakfast in our room, we could see a load of new furniture being moved in. Our room must have been just recently remodeled as we could smell new carpet as soon as we entered and our furniture matches whats on the truck outside.
We decided to try out the Fantasmic! dining package as it was just $3 more than what we were already going to pay for dinner at Hollywood and Vine anyway. I suppose we got them so easily because of it being off season and all.
Once at Disney-MGM we of course had to do the Great Movie Ride first thing. As we were exiting, I had someone approach me and ask if I would take a survey about the ride. (Whenever a Disney survey taker asks if I can answer some questions, I always do so gladly because I like to feel like Im getting to add my own input! I will also be receiving a survey once I get home since I was approached at Epcot earlier in the week.) The survey was actually very detailed and covered pretty much everything in the attraction, from ranking each item to discussing my favorite parts. (That being the Oz section and finally getting to see the gangster scene.) If you see improvements in the lip movements of the Audio-Animatronics in the future, Id like to think I helped motivate that change. ; )
Later on that day, we took the backlot tram tour. I was surprised that it was the end of January and yet they were still taking down lights from the Osbourne Spectacle of Lights.
After the tram tour, being a movie buff, we checked out the AFI villains exhibit and then I wandered the Showcase Shop. I was delighted to find a book on Jimmy Stewart (one of my favorite actors) that I hadnt known about. I also noticed that there was a fair amount of Nightmare Before Christmas merchandise available. Maybe this was due to the Oogie Boogie puppet featured in the AFI exhibit? Some of it was stuff Id seen at the Disney Gallery in Disneyland in November, in honor of the holiday overlay of the Haunted Mansion, and some I didnt recognize. While I was still browsing, Keith noticed that a family had been eagerly eyeing these items and, when he found out that they had never seen Haunted Mansion Holiday, he recommended a trip to Disneyland late in the year.
In the middle of the afternoon, I was craving a hot dog for a snack and was directed to Backlot Express when I couldnt find any outdoor vending carts selling them. I remembered Backlot Express from our February trip last year, so I was then looking forward to the topping bar. (Unfortunately, they no longer offer cheese, though.) When we were ready to go, we ended up catching the tail end of the Stars and Motor Cars parade since we were now stuck on one side of the parade route. Although I saw the full parade last year, it ended up being good fortune to have to wait for the parade to finish since theres a new Lilo & Stitch car in it that I hadnt seen before. (Earlier in the day, we visited the picture spot where the pair proved to be quite mischievous!)
After more rides and shows, it was eventually time to head to Hollywood and Dine for our dinner. Keith referred to it as Thanksgiving dinner food (meaning things he typically only eats about once a year and thats about his limit!), but I thought the soft serve section with its multitude of toppings was pretty cool.
Soon it was time to head to the theater for Fantasmic! While we waited, I especially enjoyed the music, since it was primarily remakes of various Disney tunes, as featured on Mad About the Mouse and Mouse House. (One of my collections is Disney music, particularly compilations and/or cover recordings.) I suppose some might think it sacrilegious to say this, but I do prefer the stadium seating (since, as a short person, I can actually SEE!) However, I still think Disneylands finale is stronger. Anyhow, at this particular show, there seemed to be an awful lot of Beauty and the Beast fans in the audience, as I actually heard a large number of people start singing along during the princess section.
Of course, once Fantasmic! ended, the park was closing. Rather than take a bus back to Coronado Springs, we took the boat to the Swan and Dolphin. From there, it seemed like we walked miles to get to the Fantasia Gardens miniature golf course. It was worth it, though, because it really is a cute course. For those who havent been there yet, I wont spoil the little surprises along the way, but, suffice to say, there are some neat little tricks. : ) It was fun watching the other golfers, too, because you could tell who else was a first timer, due to their reaction to different parts of the course. We also got the bonus treat of seeing the fireworks finale of IllumiNations as we golfed. We were good and tired at the end of the end of this day!
I thought that the Fantasia Gardens course was quite unique - lots of surprises!
