arieljasmine
<font color=magenta>Who says these things pass you
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2004
- Messages
- 6,098
Laurs & Andy do the Universe and the World Day Ten
Me Laurs 27
DH Andy 28
Day ten 30 September 2006 Tigger in boxer shorts
Mickey and Stitch had us waking up at 7.20 am today, early for us, as today is the day of our much anticipated Keys to the Kingdom tour. We had a cup of coffee whilst we waited for the room service breakfast we had ordered the night before. I had froot loops and Andy had rice krispies. We made it out by 8.30 am, arriving at the Magic Kingdom by 8.50 am. It was very exciting because we got to see the opening ceremony for the first time ever, meaning there were tears before we even got into the park today!
I have gone into quite a lot of detail about the tour so if you are thinking of taking this tour and want it to be a surprise look away now!
We went to book in for our 9.30 am tour, and were given name badges with Mickey and Minnie on, guest passes and ear pieces. We were also shown menus for the Columbia Harbour House and asked to choose what we would like for lunch. We both picked Starboard Deck sandwiches because we had enjoyed them so much the other day, and diet cokes. We were then told to meet back up at 9.30 am.
When everyone had arrived for the tour, we met our guide, Abby, who was very friendly and informative. We had to introduce ourselves to the group by telling them our name, where we were from and our favourite character. I picked Winnie the Pooh (of course) and Andy chose Mr Incredible. Andy and I were the only non-American people on the tour.
After introductions had been made and ear pieces fiddled with, we set off, stopping first to look at windows and buildings on Main Street. Abby told us a little about who the windows were named after and why. We then moved up to the central hub to look at the Partners statue. We were told that Disney has a Partners in Excellence award which is given to the most exceptional Disney CMs and the award is shaped like this statue.
As we stood at the hub, Abby pointed out that the pathway leading off to the left was smaller and the one on the right wider, the reasoning being that as more people are right handed than left, they are more likely to choose the path on the right.
Next we head over to Adventureland and sit in the shade while Abby tells us about Walts life and the companys history. Although we knew a lot of this from reading Walts biography, it was lovely to listen to these stories being told. We were going to go on POTC whilst we were here but it was so busy that we had to give it a miss.
We walked over to Frontierland and were told the Disney legend of how the McDonalds cart ended up where it did. It was then time to go backstage. I was jumping up and down excited by this point.
We were shown the yellow line on the ground behind which CMs cannot be seen by guests, and then went properly backstage. We saw Woody and Bullseye getting into their costumes for the Woodys Roundup show, and some other CMs dressed up for the show. They were very patient with us all trooping past, and I even heard one of them comment on the cutie Pooh on my arm, which made me even more excited after all they are celebrities, arent they?!
We got to see the Spectromagic floats and the ones for the daytime parade, and Abby told us how float drivers are required to have been characters previously so that they understand the constraints these people are under. There are three classes of float, and they are checked every day for defective lamps. She also told us the height requirements of characters, and I was very disappointed to hear that I wasnt tall enough to be a princess. I was somewhat cheered to hear that I was exactly Winnie the Pooh height though.
We were shown the water tanks for Splash Mountain and the trash compactor that is used for non-recycable waste. There was an odd smell, a lot like cider, in the backstage area which we were told was the smell of the trash. Strange thing, I had never smelt this before in the parks but smelt it several times after I knew about it.
We went back on stage and had a look at the Liberty Bell, and were told that it is an exact replica of the original bell. We also had a look round the Hall of Presidents, and Abby told us how the man who makes the busts is 75 years old and still working for the company.
We went for our lunch at the Columbia Harbour House next, and sat with a couple from Florida. I thought they were cute because they had said at the start of the tour that their favourite characters were Lady and the Tramp. We were also very jealous when they told us how many times a year they get to visit WDW! We also received our very special Keys which are only given to people on this tour.
After lunch, we went on the Haunted Mansion through the back entrance, and I thought it was very exciting to see the CM only area.
After disembarking our Doom Buggies, we headed back to Main Street, and went backstage again through the Emporium shop. It was now time for the highlight of the tour, the Utilidors! It was so exciting to see really backstage and watch the CMs going about their daily work, and all the posters on the walls of work related advice but featuring Disney characters! We were shown how the tunnels are colour coordinated, so CMs know whereabouts they are under the park. There was only one thing I was disappointed with, we saw the man playing Tigger in his boxer shorts, half his suit and two other CMs carrying his head! He looked so disenchanted and unhappy I think its put me off Tigger for life.
After our tour finished and we'd handed back the backstage passes and headsets, we went for a relaxing ride on the TTA, and then on the train from Toontown Fair to Adventureland.
After all the hype surrounding pineapple dole whips I knew we had to try them. The queue was very l-o-n-g and it took us about 30 minutes to get to the front, but I concede that they were worth it! By the time we got our ice cream, the Pirate tutorial was about to start so we watched that with our ice creams. When Captain Jack arrived at the tutorial, he wiped his hands on Andy's t-shirt before entering the circle, which amused us no end. Andy now thinks you should be able to get t-shirts that say Ive been touched by Captain Jack dont tell me youre not jealous, ladies! I think the pirates were taken with Andy because Mack also complimented him on his mast hoisting skills!
Last stop before leaving MK was Jungle Cruise. We haven't done this since our first time in Florida, as the queue always seems to be ridiculously long. This time we only had to wait for a load of fastpassers to go before us and the CM kept us amused by taking the, er, Mickey. We had a great guide, an English girl, and I am ashamed to say that I giggled all the way round!
We got back to the AKL at 5.50 pm, had baths and then headed down to the Mara for tea. We both had tandoori chicken pizza (nice) and I had some pink milk and Andy had pink lemonade. We set off out again at 8.30 pm for Disney Quest.
We rode POTC, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin and Aladdin's Flying Carpets. I don't think I'll be going on these carpets again, the headset was so heavy that I could hardly move my head, and pretty painful too. We also played Tekken 5 and Tekken Tag and I won, more because of my wasted youth and knowing how to press the buttons fast than any great amount of skill. We had to ride POTC twice more as I was worried that by our next visit this place might not exist any more. It's a shame they don't let you play on your own any more as I spend most of the time trying not to fall over anyone else.
We head out of there and see a fantastic stretched Hummer, much bigger than the pathetic excuses for stretched Hummers over here. We arrive back at the AKL at 11.30 pm and get beer for Andy and Malibu and diet coke for me from the bar, and bed at 1 am.
ArielJasmine
Me Laurs 27
DH Andy 28
Day ten 30 September 2006 Tigger in boxer shorts
Mickey and Stitch had us waking up at 7.20 am today, early for us, as today is the day of our much anticipated Keys to the Kingdom tour. We had a cup of coffee whilst we waited for the room service breakfast we had ordered the night before. I had froot loops and Andy had rice krispies. We made it out by 8.30 am, arriving at the Magic Kingdom by 8.50 am. It was very exciting because we got to see the opening ceremony for the first time ever, meaning there were tears before we even got into the park today!
I have gone into quite a lot of detail about the tour so if you are thinking of taking this tour and want it to be a surprise look away now!
We went to book in for our 9.30 am tour, and were given name badges with Mickey and Minnie on, guest passes and ear pieces. We were also shown menus for the Columbia Harbour House and asked to choose what we would like for lunch. We both picked Starboard Deck sandwiches because we had enjoyed them so much the other day, and diet cokes. We were then told to meet back up at 9.30 am.
When everyone had arrived for the tour, we met our guide, Abby, who was very friendly and informative. We had to introduce ourselves to the group by telling them our name, where we were from and our favourite character. I picked Winnie the Pooh (of course) and Andy chose Mr Incredible. Andy and I were the only non-American people on the tour.
After introductions had been made and ear pieces fiddled with, we set off, stopping first to look at windows and buildings on Main Street. Abby told us a little about who the windows were named after and why. We then moved up to the central hub to look at the Partners statue. We were told that Disney has a Partners in Excellence award which is given to the most exceptional Disney CMs and the award is shaped like this statue.
As we stood at the hub, Abby pointed out that the pathway leading off to the left was smaller and the one on the right wider, the reasoning being that as more people are right handed than left, they are more likely to choose the path on the right.
Next we head over to Adventureland and sit in the shade while Abby tells us about Walts life and the companys history. Although we knew a lot of this from reading Walts biography, it was lovely to listen to these stories being told. We were going to go on POTC whilst we were here but it was so busy that we had to give it a miss.
We walked over to Frontierland and were told the Disney legend of how the McDonalds cart ended up where it did. It was then time to go backstage. I was jumping up and down excited by this point.
We were shown the yellow line on the ground behind which CMs cannot be seen by guests, and then went properly backstage. We saw Woody and Bullseye getting into their costumes for the Woodys Roundup show, and some other CMs dressed up for the show. They were very patient with us all trooping past, and I even heard one of them comment on the cutie Pooh on my arm, which made me even more excited after all they are celebrities, arent they?!
We got to see the Spectromagic floats and the ones for the daytime parade, and Abby told us how float drivers are required to have been characters previously so that they understand the constraints these people are under. There are three classes of float, and they are checked every day for defective lamps. She also told us the height requirements of characters, and I was very disappointed to hear that I wasnt tall enough to be a princess. I was somewhat cheered to hear that I was exactly Winnie the Pooh height though.
We were shown the water tanks for Splash Mountain and the trash compactor that is used for non-recycable waste. There was an odd smell, a lot like cider, in the backstage area which we were told was the smell of the trash. Strange thing, I had never smelt this before in the parks but smelt it several times after I knew about it.
We went back on stage and had a look at the Liberty Bell, and were told that it is an exact replica of the original bell. We also had a look round the Hall of Presidents, and Abby told us how the man who makes the busts is 75 years old and still working for the company.
We went for our lunch at the Columbia Harbour House next, and sat with a couple from Florida. I thought they were cute because they had said at the start of the tour that their favourite characters were Lady and the Tramp. We were also very jealous when they told us how many times a year they get to visit WDW! We also received our very special Keys which are only given to people on this tour.
After lunch, we went on the Haunted Mansion through the back entrance, and I thought it was very exciting to see the CM only area.
After disembarking our Doom Buggies, we headed back to Main Street, and went backstage again through the Emporium shop. It was now time for the highlight of the tour, the Utilidors! It was so exciting to see really backstage and watch the CMs going about their daily work, and all the posters on the walls of work related advice but featuring Disney characters! We were shown how the tunnels are colour coordinated, so CMs know whereabouts they are under the park. There was only one thing I was disappointed with, we saw the man playing Tigger in his boxer shorts, half his suit and two other CMs carrying his head! He looked so disenchanted and unhappy I think its put me off Tigger for life.
After our tour finished and we'd handed back the backstage passes and headsets, we went for a relaxing ride on the TTA, and then on the train from Toontown Fair to Adventureland.
After all the hype surrounding pineapple dole whips I knew we had to try them. The queue was very l-o-n-g and it took us about 30 minutes to get to the front, but I concede that they were worth it! By the time we got our ice cream, the Pirate tutorial was about to start so we watched that with our ice creams. When Captain Jack arrived at the tutorial, he wiped his hands on Andy's t-shirt before entering the circle, which amused us no end. Andy now thinks you should be able to get t-shirts that say Ive been touched by Captain Jack dont tell me youre not jealous, ladies! I think the pirates were taken with Andy because Mack also complimented him on his mast hoisting skills!
Last stop before leaving MK was Jungle Cruise. We haven't done this since our first time in Florida, as the queue always seems to be ridiculously long. This time we only had to wait for a load of fastpassers to go before us and the CM kept us amused by taking the, er, Mickey. We had a great guide, an English girl, and I am ashamed to say that I giggled all the way round!
We got back to the AKL at 5.50 pm, had baths and then headed down to the Mara for tea. We both had tandoori chicken pizza (nice) and I had some pink milk and Andy had pink lemonade. We set off out again at 8.30 pm for Disney Quest.
We rode POTC, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin and Aladdin's Flying Carpets. I don't think I'll be going on these carpets again, the headset was so heavy that I could hardly move my head, and pretty painful too. We also played Tekken 5 and Tekken Tag and I won, more because of my wasted youth and knowing how to press the buttons fast than any great amount of skill. We had to ride POTC twice more as I was worried that by our next visit this place might not exist any more. It's a shame they don't let you play on your own any more as I spend most of the time trying not to fall over anyone else.
We head out of there and see a fantastic stretched Hummer, much bigger than the pathetic excuses for stretched Hummers over here. We arrive back at the AKL at 11.30 pm and get beer for Andy and Malibu and diet coke for me from the bar, and bed at 1 am.
ArielJasmine
shame about tigger tho 
