Traveller: Me, myself and I.
Destination: Coronado Springs Resort
Duration: From 29 april through 13 may.
Chapter: DAY 3 (thursday 1 May).
This morning I woke up about 7.30am I think the jetlag was over now. Of course I put on the TV, which I did very morning to see what the weather forecoast, a quck watch at the Disney Today channel if any new information comes up and browsed some other channels, most times channel 9 (ABC) and CNN headlines.
Today was the first day I had my breakfast at the Peppermarket.
Loved the atmosphere there. My over all meaning was that everything was a little bit overpriced. For a few dollars more you have a all you can eat buffet next door, depending on what you like to order for breakfast. Orange juice was not for free with the mug, so a hot breakfast skillet with an orange juice was about $10. The portions however were large enough. Why aren't they selling cheaper, but littler portions?
However I had a good meal to start with and as I said the atmosphere looked very good and it was not too crowded.
About 10am I think I went on the bus to EPCOT. EPCOT is sucdh a large park and there is so much to do, so yesterday evening was just a very sneak preview. EPCOT is also a very relaxing place. Its not that busy as the other three parks, because of its large grounds.
Don't remember myself in which order I did the attractions today, but what I know is that I started with Spaceship Earth. I know its advised to do the ride later, because there should be longer lines at this ride, but I saw a very short line, so this was the first I did. Its one of the oldest attractions at EPCOT I think. I love darkrides and this ride is very good done.
Also this day I did the mega long ride Universe of Energy. I allways do this ride just one time during a WDW trip. The ride is very long and if you know exactly what is in it it gets boring for that long. But however its a great ride. Only the ride system is incredible. It looks like that the Great Movie Ride at MGM studios (it was closed my whole trip) has a smaller, but simular ride system. Its amazing that such a large theater can rotate and finally move while it splits into separated sections. At the end every piece of the theater returned to its original position.
Only this ride system is worth a visit, but of course the ride itself and the decors in it are good done. The dino's, of course not so good as in the Dinosaur ride at Animal Kingdom, are very good done and nice to see.
Also did the Wonders of Life. Main reason of course is the simulator ride Body Wars. Of course the main attraction inside the Wonders of Life. The simulators are the same types that are in use at Star Tours at MGM (and other Disney parks around the world). Since I can dream Star Tours (know it very good), its nice to do an attraction with a different theme. Also I think the movements at Body Wars are strongern then at Star Tours. I could be wrong, but it just feels that they are stronger. Most times I do this ride at leas two times after each other. Most times there isn't much of a line for it and because Epcot is so large you can better do it more times when you are there.
Als I took a quick look at the other presentations insie Wonders of Life. Allways the presentations about feeling are fun.
The ride yourney into your immagination was total different as it was a few years before. A few years before the ride was a new version of the old one, which I never saw),and everyone was complaining about the new ride. I hadn't any form of comparation, and I thought the ride was just OK, nothing very special.
Now, after the many complaints I think, they have changed the ride again and man it is much better. The appearing of Figment and the immagination song are the most different things. The ride is much nicer than the one I saw a few hears ago.
After finishing this ride I waited sometime to get a free terminal to make a photo and send it to a few friends with a short message and to myself of course.
Of course did ono or more, can't remember rides on Test Track. Of course I use the single riders line. This doesn't mean that the wait time is very short, but its not a very long wait. Its just depending on how many single riders there are and how much they need them to fill up places. Its just a gamble how long the wait is, but I think its never more then 20 minutes.
Then it was on to World Show case. Of course I did not everything in Future World, but at this time I really wanted to see the American Adventure show. The animatronics of that show are one of the best they have on property and you can watch them really good. Of course every visit to this show I want to sit in the middle and front. Not much a problem, because most people don't want to sit there. Before I had thought for a while if I should boycot this attraction and also the Hall of Presidents at the Magic Kingdom. At the moment that the USA or you can say better Mister George W Bush started the war against Iraq there was no moment that I thought not to go. Only in case of a negative travel advice I should cancel, but as long as planes are flying and Disneyworld is in operation I should come. At that moment I thought serious about not to go to this two shows that are just about the USA and how good they are. Thinking about seeing the proud of a nation in of course a beautifull setting and on the other hand the mixed feelings that I had about the current government of the USA. They started a war without an agreement in the UN. Although I agree that Saddam Hussein was a bad guy and at this time they did a good job, I will never agree with the fact they started the war without an agreement in the UN. At the moment that I was going the war was almost over and I was glad for the Iraq people that their bad guy is gone.I decided to no longer think about it and just enjoy these attractions at WDW. I thought the shows were there allready before Mr. George W. Bush. During my two trips before to WDW Bill Clinton was the president and in my eyes a very good man that has done many good things, so I thought these shows aren't about the actual situation, but are just about the history of the USA.
Anyway I enjoyed the show very much. Its such large and beautifull theater. Also all the different USA flags from the past.
Also I did some wandering and sight seeing in World show case and had a lunch at the Japan fast food restaurant. Found it to be a very good meal.
After lunch it was about I think 2 o clock or a little bit later when I exited EPCOT at the International gateway. This was new to me. I never exited EPCOT here and I never had been to the resort area overthere. I wanted to see where the Cape May Cafe exactly was located. Next sunday I had a PS there for breakfast and didn't want to go search it at that time. I have an eye handicap and sometimes I can't locate everything as fast as anyone else it can. Finally found it where it was and after wandering around and browsing the shop at the Beach Club I looked for the bus stop, since I wanted to go to Down Town Disney. Went on a downtown Disneuy bus at the Beach Club. Also here was a seperate section for the Down Town Disney. Waited about ten minutes and the bus was there. I arrived at Downtown Disney about 3.30pm. Exited the bus at the Market place. Didn't much shopping, but I just wandered along the market place and on to the West side. Had a pass where admission to Disneyquest was included, so I wanted to take a look inside. Also wanted to try to read some email there.
At DQ I did of course some games and spent time at the Internet terminals. Although I could read some emails, it wasn't that great at all. To write an email the keyboards were very unpractical to me. That keyboards had a few keys for the space bar in case of one big bar what is usual. This was very frustrating. Also after a few minutes, I think ten minutes or so they broke your connection and you have to activate the connection again and you have to go to the website and through the login process again. Because of the very unusual keyboard there wasn't enough time to write at least one answer to an email. After that I decide to not use thes terminals anymore to use it for viewing my emails.
Think that it was about 6pm when I exited Disneyquest.
Went on a bus to the Contemp. Resort and from there I walked to the Magic Kingdom.
Of course I needed to be there today because this was one of the three evenings that they stay open longer and have Spectro Magic and Fireworks.
What rides I did exactly I can't remember, but not so many. About 7.45 I grabbed a snack and looked for a good viewing spot. One tip to everyone. It was so busy in the main street and in front of the castle. In liberty square and further along the parade route it wasn't that busy at all. Many good spots to choose from. So if you don't like to wait for the parade for an hour or longer, you have better chances if you go find a spot in Liberty square or Frontierland.
This was the first time I saw this Parade and I can tell you its fabulous. I found it much better then the Electrical Parade. The Electrical Parade was also a good one, but the music of the Electrical Parade gets boring if you listen to long to it. That isn't the case with Spectro Magic. You hear very different kinds of variantions on the main theme and sometimes the music changed into a Disney song for a moment. The final floats were the nicest, also the music with vocal support this time.
After the parade it was time to go see the Fireworks. Although it was busy, its not so difficult to find a good spot. The only thing to look out for is that you aren't behind a tree or so.
Als I remembered it was a good pure Disney fireworks show. It was the same as I had seen before, but its nice to see the show each time again.
After the Magic Kingdom was over I saw that it was very crowded at the busstop outside. It was difficult to go through all the people to my busstop to the Coronado Springs. At that moment I thought why not just walk to the Contemporary and take a bus to Downtown Disney. I wasn't as tired as the day before and I really wanted to drink a beer. I had never been to Pleasure Island at night before, so I also wanted to see the place.
Arrived at PI I think about 10.30pm. What I noticed is that there was no bagcheck and also the they didn't have the finger readers at the turnstyles. It was no long wait to get inside.
The first thing I did was ordering a beer and after this I entered the Adventures Club as everyone here on the boards tells much good things about this club.
Now I can tell you that it wasn't my peace of cake. The first thing I experienced was that guests, also I were invited into the Treasure Room. In this room were all sorts of items from different countries in the World. The actor just took some of the items and told a, little bit funny, storie about these items. At a given moment at the far end of the room in the middle happened something. It was nice, but nothing special in my opinion.
After this show was finished we were invited into the Library.
It should be American humor I think, but it was all about asking people out of the public if they are married and inf for how long, how did they meet each other at the first time etc etc.
There was not something else about this show. Maybe I did mis some of the things that are happening. You know I can't see that good in distance and also I'm not a native speaker and listener to the English language. Maybe this also made it that I didn't enjoy the show as much that I would like to go back and back.
The comedy warehause show however, which I visted on another evening during my stay was much more fun to me and I enjoyed that much better. Even should go back there, read about it in on of the further chapters of my tripreport.
After exiting the library show They started a show in the main room where the bar is. I followed it a little bit, but I had enough of it and exited the club. I really wanted to hear some good music, so I bought another beer and entered the Beach Club where they should have live music.
Enjoyed to sit on a stool there and watching the band playing and listening. However the band that was on the West End stage was better in my opinion.
Stayed at PI till 12.00 to see the new years eve fireworks.
It was a nice addition, but nothing great in comparison to the MK fireworks or illuminations. Short after that I exited PI and went on a bus to my resort.
When the bus drop me off, I went to my room and within 30 minutes to bed. I wanted to be up early next morning to start the day with an early visit to the Magic Kingdom. This was the first time I set the phone wake up call.
Comming soon DAY 4.
Marcel.
Destination: Coronado Springs Resort
Duration: From 29 april through 13 may.
Chapter: DAY 3 (thursday 1 May).
This morning I woke up about 7.30am I think the jetlag was over now. Of course I put on the TV, which I did very morning to see what the weather forecoast, a quck watch at the Disney Today channel if any new information comes up and browsed some other channels, most times channel 9 (ABC) and CNN headlines.
Today was the first day I had my breakfast at the Peppermarket.
Loved the atmosphere there. My over all meaning was that everything was a little bit overpriced. For a few dollars more you have a all you can eat buffet next door, depending on what you like to order for breakfast. Orange juice was not for free with the mug, so a hot breakfast skillet with an orange juice was about $10. The portions however were large enough. Why aren't they selling cheaper, but littler portions?
However I had a good meal to start with and as I said the atmosphere looked very good and it was not too crowded.
About 10am I think I went on the bus to EPCOT. EPCOT is sucdh a large park and there is so much to do, so yesterday evening was just a very sneak preview. EPCOT is also a very relaxing place. Its not that busy as the other three parks, because of its large grounds.
Don't remember myself in which order I did the attractions today, but what I know is that I started with Spaceship Earth. I know its advised to do the ride later, because there should be longer lines at this ride, but I saw a very short line, so this was the first I did. Its one of the oldest attractions at EPCOT I think. I love darkrides and this ride is very good done.
Also this day I did the mega long ride Universe of Energy. I allways do this ride just one time during a WDW trip. The ride is very long and if you know exactly what is in it it gets boring for that long. But however its a great ride. Only the ride system is incredible. It looks like that the Great Movie Ride at MGM studios (it was closed my whole trip) has a smaller, but simular ride system. Its amazing that such a large theater can rotate and finally move while it splits into separated sections. At the end every piece of the theater returned to its original position.
Only this ride system is worth a visit, but of course the ride itself and the decors in it are good done. The dino's, of course not so good as in the Dinosaur ride at Animal Kingdom, are very good done and nice to see.
Also did the Wonders of Life. Main reason of course is the simulator ride Body Wars. Of course the main attraction inside the Wonders of Life. The simulators are the same types that are in use at Star Tours at MGM (and other Disney parks around the world). Since I can dream Star Tours (know it very good), its nice to do an attraction with a different theme. Also I think the movements at Body Wars are strongern then at Star Tours. I could be wrong, but it just feels that they are stronger. Most times I do this ride at leas two times after each other. Most times there isn't much of a line for it and because Epcot is so large you can better do it more times when you are there.
Als I took a quick look at the other presentations insie Wonders of Life. Allways the presentations about feeling are fun.
The ride yourney into your immagination was total different as it was a few years before. A few years before the ride was a new version of the old one, which I never saw),and everyone was complaining about the new ride. I hadn't any form of comparation, and I thought the ride was just OK, nothing very special.
Now, after the many complaints I think, they have changed the ride again and man it is much better. The appearing of Figment and the immagination song are the most different things. The ride is much nicer than the one I saw a few hears ago.
After finishing this ride I waited sometime to get a free terminal to make a photo and send it to a few friends with a short message and to myself of course.
Of course did ono or more, can't remember rides on Test Track. Of course I use the single riders line. This doesn't mean that the wait time is very short, but its not a very long wait. Its just depending on how many single riders there are and how much they need them to fill up places. Its just a gamble how long the wait is, but I think its never more then 20 minutes.
Then it was on to World Show case. Of course I did not everything in Future World, but at this time I really wanted to see the American Adventure show. The animatronics of that show are one of the best they have on property and you can watch them really good. Of course every visit to this show I want to sit in the middle and front. Not much a problem, because most people don't want to sit there. Before I had thought for a while if I should boycot this attraction and also the Hall of Presidents at the Magic Kingdom. At the moment that the USA or you can say better Mister George W Bush started the war against Iraq there was no moment that I thought not to go. Only in case of a negative travel advice I should cancel, but as long as planes are flying and Disneyworld is in operation I should come. At that moment I thought serious about not to go to this two shows that are just about the USA and how good they are. Thinking about seeing the proud of a nation in of course a beautifull setting and on the other hand the mixed feelings that I had about the current government of the USA. They started a war without an agreement in the UN. Although I agree that Saddam Hussein was a bad guy and at this time they did a good job, I will never agree with the fact they started the war without an agreement in the UN. At the moment that I was going the war was almost over and I was glad for the Iraq people that their bad guy is gone.I decided to no longer think about it and just enjoy these attractions at WDW. I thought the shows were there allready before Mr. George W. Bush. During my two trips before to WDW Bill Clinton was the president and in my eyes a very good man that has done many good things, so I thought these shows aren't about the actual situation, but are just about the history of the USA.
Anyway I enjoyed the show very much. Its such large and beautifull theater. Also all the different USA flags from the past.
Also I did some wandering and sight seeing in World show case and had a lunch at the Japan fast food restaurant. Found it to be a very good meal.
After lunch it was about I think 2 o clock or a little bit later when I exited EPCOT at the International gateway. This was new to me. I never exited EPCOT here and I never had been to the resort area overthere. I wanted to see where the Cape May Cafe exactly was located. Next sunday I had a PS there for breakfast and didn't want to go search it at that time. I have an eye handicap and sometimes I can't locate everything as fast as anyone else it can. Finally found it where it was and after wandering around and browsing the shop at the Beach Club I looked for the bus stop, since I wanted to go to Down Town Disney. Went on a downtown Disneuy bus at the Beach Club. Also here was a seperate section for the Down Town Disney. Waited about ten minutes and the bus was there. I arrived at Downtown Disney about 3.30pm. Exited the bus at the Market place. Didn't much shopping, but I just wandered along the market place and on to the West side. Had a pass where admission to Disneyquest was included, so I wanted to take a look inside. Also wanted to try to read some email there.
At DQ I did of course some games and spent time at the Internet terminals. Although I could read some emails, it wasn't that great at all. To write an email the keyboards were very unpractical to me. That keyboards had a few keys for the space bar in case of one big bar what is usual. This was very frustrating. Also after a few minutes, I think ten minutes or so they broke your connection and you have to activate the connection again and you have to go to the website and through the login process again. Because of the very unusual keyboard there wasn't enough time to write at least one answer to an email. After that I decide to not use thes terminals anymore to use it for viewing my emails.
Think that it was about 6pm when I exited Disneyquest.
Went on a bus to the Contemp. Resort and from there I walked to the Magic Kingdom.
Of course I needed to be there today because this was one of the three evenings that they stay open longer and have Spectro Magic and Fireworks.
What rides I did exactly I can't remember, but not so many. About 7.45 I grabbed a snack and looked for a good viewing spot. One tip to everyone. It was so busy in the main street and in front of the castle. In liberty square and further along the parade route it wasn't that busy at all. Many good spots to choose from. So if you don't like to wait for the parade for an hour or longer, you have better chances if you go find a spot in Liberty square or Frontierland.
This was the first time I saw this Parade and I can tell you its fabulous. I found it much better then the Electrical Parade. The Electrical Parade was also a good one, but the music of the Electrical Parade gets boring if you listen to long to it. That isn't the case with Spectro Magic. You hear very different kinds of variantions on the main theme and sometimes the music changed into a Disney song for a moment. The final floats were the nicest, also the music with vocal support this time.
After the parade it was time to go see the Fireworks. Although it was busy, its not so difficult to find a good spot. The only thing to look out for is that you aren't behind a tree or so.
Als I remembered it was a good pure Disney fireworks show. It was the same as I had seen before, but its nice to see the show each time again.
After the Magic Kingdom was over I saw that it was very crowded at the busstop outside. It was difficult to go through all the people to my busstop to the Coronado Springs. At that moment I thought why not just walk to the Contemporary and take a bus to Downtown Disney. I wasn't as tired as the day before and I really wanted to drink a beer. I had never been to Pleasure Island at night before, so I also wanted to see the place.
Arrived at PI I think about 10.30pm. What I noticed is that there was no bagcheck and also the they didn't have the finger readers at the turnstyles. It was no long wait to get inside.
The first thing I did was ordering a beer and after this I entered the Adventures Club as everyone here on the boards tells much good things about this club.
Now I can tell you that it wasn't my peace of cake. The first thing I experienced was that guests, also I were invited into the Treasure Room. In this room were all sorts of items from different countries in the World. The actor just took some of the items and told a, little bit funny, storie about these items. At a given moment at the far end of the room in the middle happened something. It was nice, but nothing special in my opinion.
After this show was finished we were invited into the Library.
It should be American humor I think, but it was all about asking people out of the public if they are married and inf for how long, how did they meet each other at the first time etc etc.
There was not something else about this show. Maybe I did mis some of the things that are happening. You know I can't see that good in distance and also I'm not a native speaker and listener to the English language. Maybe this also made it that I didn't enjoy the show as much that I would like to go back and back.
The comedy warehause show however, which I visted on another evening during my stay was much more fun to me and I enjoyed that much better. Even should go back there, read about it in on of the further chapters of my tripreport.
After exiting the library show They started a show in the main room where the bar is. I followed it a little bit, but I had enough of it and exited the club. I really wanted to hear some good music, so I bought another beer and entered the Beach Club where they should have live music.
Enjoyed to sit on a stool there and watching the band playing and listening. However the band that was on the West End stage was better in my opinion.
Stayed at PI till 12.00 to see the new years eve fireworks.
It was a nice addition, but nothing great in comparison to the MK fireworks or illuminations. Short after that I exited PI and went on a bus to my resort.
When the bus drop me off, I went to my room and within 30 minutes to bed. I wanted to be up early next morning to start the day with an early visit to the Magic Kingdom. This was the first time I set the phone wake up call.
Comming soon DAY 4.
Marcel.
