LIVE from OKW - Photos added on Page 2, 3 & 5

[dianeschlicht]

Thanks for posting the pictures, but you are making me miss my May trip even more than I already was! We are doing May again next year, and it is quickly becoming one of my favorite times.

I loved how those first flower power pics had the RCA victor dog in them!

Toy Story Mania looks really cute. Do the cars have two sets of cannons in them for 4 people or is it just two? It kind of looks like you sit back to back with two others.

 

[abk96]

Your pictures are great! Thanks for posting them.

Where is Midway Mania located in HS? Is it back near One Mans Dream?

Enjoy the rest of your trip.

 

[SandyCA]

Thanks so much Doc for sharing your trip with us . Thanks, too, for the pictures. My sister and I will be there the end of September and can't wait to go on Toy Story Mania, looks like a lot of fun (I love Buzz LY).

 

[Credit Man]

Wonderful pics, Doc. Thanks for posting.

 

[RobDoc]

... Where is Midway Mania located in HS? Is it back near One Mans Dream?

...

Mania is located where Millionaire used to be - the fastpass machines are in the same spot. You can get to it from either end of that street. Right now, the access is right next to One Man's Dream, but that should be opened up completely very soon. Today is the last day of the previews and I expect it will go into full soft opening tomorrow.

We were able to get on several times today - my high score today was 156,600. At the end of the ride they list the top 3 scores each day and the high score for the month. An hour ago, the high score for today (so far) was 255,150 and for the month it is 303,300. There is definitely a knack to scoring well and there is a rythym you need to get into at each midway station.

Diane - each vehicle seats 4 riders (2 on each side) and each rider has their own cannon. You never see other the riders in your car since you sit back-to-back with a partition in between - there are two sets of play stations and each one accommodates 2 of the vehicles so everyone plays simultaneously at each station. (16 players will be at each midway station at the same time.)

We enjoyed our lunch at the Brown Derby. We did not have ADRs, but were seated immediately just after noon. We both had the Mushroom Bisque and the Cobb Salad. Nice meal. It had been awhile since we dined at the Derby and we were surprised we got in so easily.

Park crowds were down today and the temps are delightful - it was 75 when we left the villa (predicted to go to 88) but the biggest improvement is the humidity - down to 35%. There are some BAD brushfires along I-95 in Brevard and Volusia Counties now and lots of homes/schools has been evacuated. At least 3 homes have burned down and some of I-95 has been closed. We've seen no sign of smoke at WDW although that may change in the next few days as the wind will shift and come out of the east. The weekend is supoosed to be back in the low 90's.

 

[abk96]

Thanks for letting me know where Mania is located. It sounds like a fun ride. Can't wait to try it.

That's my kind of weather, 80s and low humidity. I know we're in for some severe heat when we go this June.

Have a great night.

 

[funatdisney]

Going to WDW in mid-June. I may be able to ride Toy Story Mania at DLR in early June. That is if I make the lottery for AP's soft opening. It would nice nice to do both in one month.
Nice pictures, too. The Toy Story Mania at DLR has a very different facade. I have been able to "interact" with Mr. Potato Head. He kinds of tells jokes, but not very well. I think they were working out the kinks. Cast members would only open his area periodically. Does DHS have the same thing?

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Thanks so much for sharing your pics with us!

We will be at OKW for the first time in August so I am trying to gather all the info I can!

 

[2Princes2Princesses]

Doc-

Wish I had logged on, we just left OKW yesterday! I am glad the heat and humidity are down, it was brutal Sat and Sun.

We rode Toy Story Mania on Saturday morning. We loved the queue and the ride. I have about 200 pictures.

I really liked the PIXAR sign leading up to the ride.

Mr Potato Head is inside at DHS. He is really quite an amazing animatronic. The way his lips move and the things he does are great.

Enjoy the rest of your trip!! This was our first stay at OKW and we absolutely loved it. Wonderful resort. We can't wait to stay there again. Just beautiful and the rooms are huge. We were extremely impressed.

 

[funatdisney]

Mr Potato Head is inside at DHS. He is really quite an amazing animatronic. The way his lips move and the things he does are great.

The one At DLR is in DCA. The Mr. Potato Head is located just inside one part of the queue. Passerbys can see Mr Potato Head tell his jokes and talk to the folks in line. I guess the one at DHS does the same thing? Anyway, can't wait to see both.

 

[RobDoc]

Another good day here at WDW!

We had a quiet morning. The humidity was again low today, but there was less wind, so it felt warmer. High temp was around 86. Humidity was reported as 30%.

We went back to DHS this morning to see the status of Toy Story Midway Mania, but it was not running today - at least when we were there around noon.

We left DHS and took the boat over to Epcot and strolled around the lake stopping to enjoy the Voices of Liberty at the American Pavillion before having a great lunch at LeCellier. We both had the onion soup and I had the salmon and DW enjoyed the steak salad. Everything was great. We also purchased 4 "hanging" Tinkerbelles and one "hanging" Hook (these are the LED lights shaped as Tink and Capt. Hook which can be hung on the side of a glass - and illuminate the drink like those Glow Cubes). We purchased that specific number for the four Tinkerbelles and one Capt. Hook grandchildren waiting at home for our return. They even gave us the DDE discount on this purchase. They were $4.95 each and are pretty cool.

After a break this afternoon, we headed back to Epcot and caught the 2nd Davy Jones show before heading to the Owners Locker winefest held in France. There was a nice group of OL members there (around 15) plus Brian and John (jdvm here on the boards). There was a great breeze coming off the lake - but I expect it will not be good spot for Illuminations because of the wind direction.

Speaking of wind direction - the wind is shifting today and overnight which will possibly bring the smoke from the brush fires in the direction of Orlando/WDW. There was more fire damage today and over 200 homes in the affected area are now uninhabitable with over $9 miilion in damage so far. They hope to get the fires under control soon and hope to find those responsible for the suspected arson. More sections of I-95 were closed today - mostly SE of WDW near VB. No rain is expected thru the weekend, but temps will again be above 90 by Thursday.

We hope to have a couple of quiet days ahead.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Thanks for the updates. I'm having to live vicariously through these reports, since we aren't going back until January! Seems like ions from now!

 

[abk96]

Great update.

I hope they catch the person(s) responsible for those fires. It's just an awful thing. Prayers for all those affected by this.

Enjoy your day.

 

[MiaSRN62]

Doc,
So glad to hear you are having a great trip. Love the photos. The butterfly ones are gorgeous.
I have relatves in FL on the east coast. My one uncle in Sebastian is smelling alot of smoke today. He said they have to keep all doors and windows shut. Prayers going out to all that the fires can be totally contained and the damage is minimized.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

It's a little cooler here today in WPB, and hopefully a little cooler for you in Orlando. I will be there in 23 days, but for now I'm day dreaming reading about your vacation. Enjoy today, I'll look forward to reading about it.

 

[aprince&princess]

Doc, I just wanted to say that I always enjoy your reports while you are at Disney. It does make me wish that I could be there myself. Only 5 months to go! Enjoy the rest of your vacation.

 

[childsplay]

Doc,
Just another "Thank-you" for taking the time to share your experiences Enjoy the rest of your trip.

 

[RobDoc]

Another quiet day today. We had a leisurely morning and then headed back to DHS to see whether TSMM was in soft opening yet. When we got there, a bunch of CMs were milling around out front and the "landscape blockade" had been parted to make an entrance as it had for the previews over the weekend, but we were told it was only open for a "press event". There was also a display set up in front of the Sorceror's Hat along with a bank of cameras - probably for the "press event". They told us they did not know (wink/wink) when the ride would start soft opening. We'll try again tomorrow.

So... we left DHS to try go over to the Nemo show at AK. After clearing our 2nd security check of the monring on our way to the turnstyles there was a sign stating that Nemo was not operating today - so another failed plan! We went into the park anyway. FoTLK was starting in 30 minutes, so DW headed in there while I hustled back to KS for fastpasses - but when I crossed the bridge there was a sea of humanity in the Harambe street. When I got close enough to read the FP return time - it read 3:20pm - 4:20pm and it was now 12:35pm - so I headed back to FoTLK without the FPs and got it line after finding DW.

As always, the show was great. Afterwards we headed back to KS and decided against a long wait in the standby line, so we walked over to have lunch at Flame Tree Barbeque. We had a good lunch there - using the DDE for the 20% discount and then returned to OKW for the afternoon.

Thus far, we've saved almost $150 over what the DDP would have cost us for the meals we've had. We've gotten the DDE discount at Narcoossee's, Brown Derby, Coral Reef, Le Cellier and Flame Tree and also had counter service at Columbia House, Lotus Blossom, Backlot (at DHS). We've had a few things in the room purchased thru Garden Grocer and have figured that into the cost too. Many of our dinners have included "adult beverages" - which also get the DDE discount but would have been additional with the DDP. Altogether we are very pleased with the DDE - it paid for itself long ago since we've had 7 trips in the past 12 months.

The fire situation has been improving and they have now caught an arson suspect in the Palm Bay area. They are still looking for other potential arsonists, but the guy they caught sure looks like a good suspect with a past record and currently on probabtion - although not for arson. He evaded police for quite awhile when they tried to stop his car - ha ran into the woods, but residents there started chasing him since his photo has been plastered all over the local TV. He was eventually caught with the help of neighbors as well as the police canine unit.

Temps were a little warmer today - winds not too bad and tomorrow will be a little warmer again.

 

[bluslag]

Doc, you mentioned that they might have changed the sofas at OKW. We were there in March and stayed in room 3125 and one of our sofas was great. The little one was so stiff that we took off the back pillows to make it more comfortable. Are those gone now?

 

[RobDoc]

They have been changing the furniture in the villas for awhile now. I think most now do have the upgraded sofa/love seat, but there may still be some villas not yet changed.

The ones in our 1BR are the new style, but they still look the same as the original sofa - so the decor itself has not changed. The color scheme and general style are still unchanged from when the resort opened. Over the years, appliances, carpeting and furniture have been changed as needed and all of the villas have been repainted more than once in the past almost 17 years. Some of the original accessories have disappeared and not been replaced (peach colored towels, cloth place mats, hot pads, silk flowers/plants), but the basic style has been preserved unchanged over time.