Mean Queen
<font color=blue><marquee> If only life were like
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2007
- Messages
- 12,323
We check in for the Keys to the Kingdom tour at the package pickup place in the park. It was before the park opened and the place was empty. We heard the ropedrop show going on near us. Once the show ended, the characters walked by us to get backstage. Then we saw a mad dash of people coming into the park. Glad I wasn't in that crowd!
They give us nametags, a bottle of water and an ear piece to hear the guide. We felt very secret service. Our guide gives us a little primer on Disney, they aren't employees, they are ______. They don't wear uniforms, they wear ________. As we get the answers right, we get stickers.
The tour starts off on Main Street. We get a detailed explanation of some of the names on the windows and how Disney always follows 4 things - safety, courtesy, efficiency and show. We are asked to give examples of what we see as we walked up Main Street. She gives us some very interesting examples of park design made for safety - notice the sidewalks and Main Street are totally different colors so you notice when to step down. Also, there are lightning rods on all of the buildings. Most blend in very well with the buildings. We walk past the Crystal Palace and stand between three areas, Main Street, Adventureland, and Frontierland. Next time you are there, pay attention to the lights in this area. Disney paid so much attention to theming (show.) As we head through Adventureland, she points out more ligtning rods. These have little discs on them. This helps boost signals for the CM Nextels. She asks if we want to go on a ride. We all get excited like a group of 3 year olds. She takes us over to the Jungle Cruise. We take a ride, but instead of the usual bit, she gives us behind the scenes information. She told us how they take care of the animatronics, pointed out a hidden Mickey, and even a hidden Minnie.
Before heading for our first backstage stop, we got a brief history of Walt and Roy. Then it was time to go behind the magic. We entered at the gate where the floats come out near Splash Mountain. The guide points out the only thing missing backstage is the show. We got to see the garbage vacuum system, the water for Splash Mountain, and the floats for the parades. They were even running the music for Spectromagic while testing lights on a float.
Some castmembers were practicing for the upcoming Electrial Light Parade (or whatever they're calling it now.)
About this time, we're starting to get hungry. We walk along Adventureland to get to the Harbour House. The guide showed us how the buildings changed but subtly. For example, the restaurant at the end was stucco. The next building was part stucco/part brick. Then the next was all brick. A very subtle shift in architecture. Oh, and lots of lightning rods.
Lunch was great because it was waiting for us at tables with little name plates. No lines, no fighting for tables. Plus, the name plates had our "keys to the kingdom" pin.
Once lunch was done, we were ready for our next ride. We got a brief description of all of the effects in the Haunted Mansion and how it's done. Then we went through the back entrance to the ride.
After the ride we walked back toward Main Street and into the Emporium. We took a back way into the underground tunnels below Main Street. It was pointed out that the lightning rods back here don't blend in like the ones in the guest area.
The utilidors or tunnes were just big long halls with pipes and cables running along the roof for easy access to electric and other utilities. We were shown a map of the tunnels, which are massive. The guide said it takes her 30 minutes to get to her office from the employee parking lot! After a trip down Disney memory lane, we saw a video showing all the laundry and the computer system. Next we took a back way to get back to the front of the park for the end of the tour. We were exhausted by this time. The guide said it was a 2 mile walk, over 5 hours.
As a Disney lover, if you can find the time and money to do this tour, do it! I have so much more respect for what Walt and mostly Roy accomplished.
I'll post another time about the Wishes Dessert buffet. It definitely was a fun trip of firsts for me.
They give us nametags, a bottle of water and an ear piece to hear the guide. We felt very secret service. Our guide gives us a little primer on Disney, they aren't employees, they are ______. They don't wear uniforms, they wear ________. As we get the answers right, we get stickers.
The tour starts off on Main Street. We get a detailed explanation of some of the names on the windows and how Disney always follows 4 things - safety, courtesy, efficiency and show. We are asked to give examples of what we see as we walked up Main Street. She gives us some very interesting examples of park design made for safety - notice the sidewalks and Main Street are totally different colors so you notice when to step down. Also, there are lightning rods on all of the buildings. Most blend in very well with the buildings. We walk past the Crystal Palace and stand between three areas, Main Street, Adventureland, and Frontierland. Next time you are there, pay attention to the lights in this area. Disney paid so much attention to theming (show.) As we head through Adventureland, she points out more ligtning rods. These have little discs on them. This helps boost signals for the CM Nextels. She asks if we want to go on a ride. We all get excited like a group of 3 year olds. She takes us over to the Jungle Cruise. We take a ride, but instead of the usual bit, she gives us behind the scenes information. She told us how they take care of the animatronics, pointed out a hidden Mickey, and even a hidden Minnie.
Before heading for our first backstage stop, we got a brief history of Walt and Roy. Then it was time to go behind the magic. We entered at the gate where the floats come out near Splash Mountain. The guide points out the only thing missing backstage is the show. We got to see the garbage vacuum system, the water for Splash Mountain, and the floats for the parades. They were even running the music for Spectromagic while testing lights on a float.
Some castmembers were practicing for the upcoming Electrial Light Parade (or whatever they're calling it now.) About this time, we're starting to get hungry. We walk along Adventureland to get to the Harbour House. The guide showed us how the buildings changed but subtly. For example, the restaurant at the end was stucco. The next building was part stucco/part brick. Then the next was all brick. A very subtle shift in architecture. Oh, and lots of lightning rods.
Lunch was great because it was waiting for us at tables with little name plates. No lines, no fighting for tables. Plus, the name plates had our "keys to the kingdom" pin.
Once lunch was done, we were ready for our next ride. We got a brief description of all of the effects in the Haunted Mansion and how it's done. Then we went through the back entrance to the ride.
After the ride we walked back toward Main Street and into the Emporium. We took a back way into the underground tunnels below Main Street. It was pointed out that the lightning rods back here don't blend in like the ones in the guest area.
The utilidors or tunnes were just big long halls with pipes and cables running along the roof for easy access to electric and other utilities. We were shown a map of the tunnels, which are massive. The guide said it takes her 30 minutes to get to her office from the employee parking lot! After a trip down Disney memory lane, we saw a video showing all the laundry and the computer system. Next we took a back way to get back to the front of the park for the end of the tour. We were exhausted by this time. The guide said it was a 2 mile walk, over 5 hours. As a Disney lover, if you can find the time and money to do this tour, do it! I have so much more respect for what Walt and mostly Roy accomplished.
I'll post another time about the Wishes Dessert buffet. It definitely was a fun trip of firsts for me.
suddenly, I 'm in the mood for....uhhhhh, I dunno...
I'm trying to find a reputable, recommended place around here to take it. Meanwhile I'm on the laptop, which is great that I can still get on here, but the keyboard takes SO much getting used to. So I'm either constantly hitting Backspace to correct my mistakes, or I end up looking like I'm typing in the dark!!
