Random Thread & The Interchangeable Inside Joke

[DisGirlAllie]

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[AmandaSparks730]

INTERESTING FACTS

I was able to listen to a trainer discuss the Behavior Program the Gorillas are on. It was quite interesting to hear how the Gorillas are being trained to present parts of their bodies to staff for medical exams. For instance, one young male is being trained to put his arm out into an x-ray machine. They are also being taught to turn their head so their ear is facing the vet for examination. These behaviors will hopefully cut down the need to give anethesia to the animals for routine exams. We were able to watch a 10 minute training session through the live cameras. This talk made my trek out to Conservation Station worth it.

During the Millennium Celebration, the Conservation Station area received a new name: Rafiki's Planet Watch.

 

[DisGirlAllie]

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[AmandaSparks730]

TOURING TIPS

The only way to get to Conservation Station is by train. Keep in mind that if there is a LONG wait for the train heading out there.....there will be an equally long line when you are ready to head back to the main part of Animal Kingdom.

While aboard the Wildlife Express train, pay close attention as you pass the first animal housing area. Pride Rock (home of Animal Kingdom's lions) can be seen in the distance.

Don't rush through the entryway of Conservation Station. The animal murals are full of Hidden Mickeys!

The visit to Conservation Station was a nice break from the hot park. I LOVED the murals and hunting for Hidden Mickeys. I like sitting in the Sounds of the Rainforest -- it was very relaxing and cool and quiet. Meli

 

[AmandaSparks730]

I found the exhibits fascinating but it does require some patience. When something is going on in the areas, there are crowds of people watching. During my half hour visit, there was not a lot happening. Perhaps I needed to spend more time.

I know that everyone is running to get to the E-ticket rides, but the first thing I do on each trip is take the first train to Rafiki's Planet Watch. If you get there early and are interested in animals, this is the place to be. It is a hive of activity. There are medical procedures being performed, animal food being prepared and lots of characters (Rafiki often sits on the floor meditating). The early morning at this oft-overlooked treasure is a wealth of information and fun. Also, the Affection Section presents animals wide awake and eager to be hugged, petted and brushed, and Cast Members are full of fun information and stories about the animals. Jean Betses

 

[AmandaSparks730]

EDITOR'S NOTE: Medical procedures are most likely to be seen first thing in the morning (usually taking place at 9 a.m. and/ or 10 a.m.). Rafiki, Pocahontas and Stanley are the characters usually available for pictures and autographs here.

If you or your family get overwhelmed by packed crowds on the narrow path on the walk from the Wildlife Express Train Station to Conservation Station, just stay behind at the Train Station just outside the loading/unloading area. Once most of the crowd has headed down the path, you and your family will be able to enjoy the walk at your own pace and will be able to enjoy the habitat exhibits without as many people crowding for the same view. (Lisa Edmonson)

 

[AmandaSparks730]

ANTM time! Final 4!

 

[MickeyisBeast]

Allie e-mailed me (':
I MISS HER, SO MUCH.
But I informed her of everything that has happened since she left.
EVERYTHING.
Yeah, it took me a whole, so she better be apprectiating me effort.

Dang, now she knows my last name too.
But I know hers. It's such a common last name though.

 

[nerdylightbulb]

Like I said, Stoner Dude XD


Takes off glasses. Looks 4832084980213 times manlier.

And still unattractive x(

 

[AmandaSparks730]

My feet are freezing!

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Put socks on; all good. Back to ANTM!

 

[AmandaSparks730]

INTRODUCTION

"The story begins when guests are transported to a distant world of exploration and the mythical village of Serka Zong. A canopy of prayer flags, an ornamental monastery, intricately carved totems, and a garden of stone carvings of the yeti clutching the mountain immerse guests in a far-off realm. The yeti's role as protector of the sacred mountain is reinforced in this detailed environment rich in culture and tradition.

Despite forewarnings, the proprietors of Himalayan Escapes tour company entice explorers to embark on a rugged train journey to the mystical Everest. First stop is Norbu and Bob's booking office to obtain permits, and then it's off to Tashi's General Store and Bar for needed supplies for the journey.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

ATTRACTION

After passing through the entrance, explorers pass through an old tea warehouse that houses an elaborate museum run by Professor Pumba Dorjay, a conservation biologist who believes the yeti's existence is grounded in fact. The richly designed yeti museum showcases artifacts reflecting Nepalese culture, plus a history of the Himalayas and tales of the yeti. Photos show Sherpas and others who have conquered the summit.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Now equipped to conquer the mountain, trekkers board the Anandapur Rail Service. This aging 34-passenger industrial railway, which was once used to transport tea, is now destined for the foot of Mount Everest.

As the steam train rolls through thick bamboo forests and fern groves up the first hill through a fortress, ritualized music signals riders to dangers ahead. En route, a cluster of sacred yeti totems and a massive yeti mural crafted on the rockwork gives further warning to turn back.

The train continues across a teetering bridge into the mountain, dives into shimmering glacier valleys and then climbs up through the snow-capped peaks.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Skulking silhouettes and shadows of the lurking yeti, coupled with startling special effects and climate variations, enhance the attraction as the steam train darts in and out of the picturesque mountain range.

But suddenly the train screeches to a halt near a gnarled mass of twisted metal. In a fit of rage, the yeti has torn apart the track. The thrills intensify as the runaway train moves both forward and backward through darkened mountain caverns and icy canyons and guests head for an inevitable face-to-muzzle showdown with the towering yeti -- known to some as the abominable snowman.

The train accelerates into a fog of spiral curves taking mountaineers down an 80-foot plummet to escape the wrath of the powerful yeti."

 

[AmandaSparks730]

INTERESTING FACTS

A perilous journey aboard a runaway train through the Himalayan mountains. Adventurous riders push deep into the lair of the feared yeti, guardian of the forbidden mountain. En route, they encounter torn tracks, spiral backwards through the fog into an ice cavern and dart into and out of the mountain in a high-speed adventure.

Mountain peak: At just under 200 feet, one of 18 mountains created by Disney Imagineers at Disney parks worldwide.

Chilling thrills: A careening adventure including an 80-foot drop, plus frightening encounters with the mystical yeti.

Length: Nearly a mile of track as riders encounter harrowing twists, tight turns and drops.

Ride vehicle: Modeled after an aging, steam-engine tea train; 34 passengers per train.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Yeti, Guardian of the Mountain: The mammoth-sized Audio-Animatronics yeti has a potential thrust, in all of its hydraulic cylinders combined, of slightly over 259,000 pounds force -- potentially more instantaneous power than a 747-400 airliner.

Forced perspective: To create the sense of an enormous mountain range, Imagineers painted a "mural" of shadows across the face of the mountains. The range, glaciers and valleys is a canvas of rockwork, carvings and painting creating a forced perspective where closer-in objects have a massive look while appliqués trick the eye into perceiving far off objects.

Bringing the Himalayan environment to Florida: More than 900 bamboo plants, 10 species of trees and 110 species of shrubs are being nurtured and planted to re-create the lowlands surrounding Mount Everest.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

Steelwork: 1,800 tons of steel were used in the mountain structure. That is about six times the amount of steel used in a traditional office building of this size.

Mountain make-up: The mountain is crafted with more than 3,000 pre-fabricated "chips" created from 25,000 individually computer-molded pieces of steel.

Color palette: 2,000 gallons of stain and paint were used on the rockwork and throughout the village. The color scheme has ritual meaning to the Himalayan culture.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

In the Himalayan regions, villagers commonly preserve yak dung and dry it out on village walls. They later use the hardened material as fuel in their homes. Disney Imagineers recreated the look of these walls in the Serka Zong village area.

Artisans at work: Artists from Imagineering used hammers, chainsaws and blowtorches to "age" wood and buildings in the village, giving them the appearance of being longstanding parts of the landscape.

Hillary step: The 1953 famous final ascent of Sir Edmund Hillary is represented in Disney's man-made mountain. The coloring of Mount Everest differs from the rest of the mountain range because at more than 29,000 feet elevation, hurricane-force winds often blow the snow off its peak, revealing a raw sheet of rock.

Authentic detail: Some 2,000 handcrafted items from Asia are evident in the props, cabinetry and architectural ornamentation.

 

[AmandaSparks730]

INTRODUCTION

You might feel as though you are entering a crumbling fortress as you enter the Caravan Stage outdoor amphitheater in Animal Kingdom's Asia, where Flights of Wonder is performed several times daily.