The ABCs of a Very Merry Christmastime Land and Sea Adventure-R is for: Second Half of A Superb Day at MK (6/15)

[Steppesister]

R is for: Real Magic on the MK Rides
Dec. 18, 2024​

A light fog wrapped the castle like a warm blanket on a Winter morning. At 7:00, I waved hello to her and in return she whispered back, “Life is good; Seize the day!”

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There was so much in store as I began my adventures with one of the few occasions that 7DMT happened to be up and running right at RD. Because I do the AM hustle, I was on the 1st train, putting me well ahead of the dilly-dalliers. Steppe's RD Rule #29: Those who dilly wait in excessively long lines…. If they ride at all. As a side note, I was able to snag a Bayou Adventure VQ Gp. 42 right at 7:00 as well while walking (or just shortly before) to the rope.

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If you want to ride 7DMT without spending enough to buy a Gaston's cinnamon roll or waiting in line for a couple of hours (in an ideal world), best to get there WAY before the park opens and be at the front of the pack. That was stop #1 when the rope dropped.

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I’d never bothered to notice before, but at the launch site, an ore/tool bucket on a pulley is off to your left. Is this just a disconnected prop with no congruity?

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Nope! As you go up the lift portion, there it is again, right where it should be above ground, all primed with the next load of whatever the dwarfs might need in their lucrative mine.

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Peter Pan is the next obvious move for the Rope Drop progression and, after making sure the Dwarves were on track, I took off for Neverland. The new Native American scene is nicely done, and I was happy that all was well with Peter and the kids.

(Yes, you will definitely see this style of dance at a Pow-Wow)​

I left them in the (pixie)dust and booked it to Jungle Cruise next, barely beating out the Main Street folks who were not staying on property. My strategy is to try and finish up with both 7DMT (when it’s running or WtP, if it’s not) and PP, then stand at the next rope by Rapunzel’s Garden so you can do the 2nd RD when everything else opens up.

I was on one of the first couple of boats, and, as I’d already booked my African Safari trip, I was super excited about seeing this Imagineered version of what I might see abroad!

Like this: (BTW, if you're interested in what a REAL safari and East Africa is like, join my African safari TR HERE: <<LINK)

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More JC Fun...

(Look at the name on the awning: https://junglecruise.fandom.com/wiki/R.V._Laust)
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L is for: Letters To Santa

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It was especially great this time around as the Holiday overlay was adding so much fun!! The sight gags on the attraction are everywhere and there are just tons of hidden Easter Eggs and backstory bits to find. I don’t know if it’s just me, but the S.E.A. has a few more nods now than in years past.

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And Disney never passes up and opportunity to lose a chance at some advertising!

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And now, for the BEST detail find of trip:

If you zoom in on this one guy here, you’ll notice he’s Asian- Chinese to be exact. Look very carefully at the tag on his collection cage. I used Google Translate, and lo and behold it says “SPIDERS”. This is one of the S.E.A. biologists/adventurers and is almost certainly the one responsible for obtaining the tarantula you find at the loading dock. Has it snapped at you before? Disney does NOTHING by accident or haphazardly. (Zoom and use Google Translate)

(His spider, ready for Christmas!)​

The next part of this ride is quite inspirational to me and the adventurer in me yearns to go to Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Perhaps someday you might find another Disney-inspired Steppe trip in the making!

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Continued in next post...

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[Steppesister]

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Continued from last post:

I skippered my way over to Pirates for a walk-on ride and by 8:30 I was done with: 7DMT, PP, JC, and Pirates. YO-HO, Baby!

(Me waiting for my last patient to show up for the day)


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With zero wait for HM, I was on and off by 9:00. Photos are pretty tough to snag here but here are a few mediocre ones to enjoy…

(Peek-a-boo!)


(Did they remove the hidden Mickey?!)




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By 9:08 I’d done all my must-do’s and was already in slow it on down mode. The lines were slowly building, and I don’t put up with long ones anymore as a general rule. People are rude and my patience is about as strong as a Disney drink, and we all know how I feel about those. It was time for the attractions that others aren’t clamoring quite as much for- like IaSW. Sing it with me now… There's so much that we share, that it's time you're aware, if you stand in long lines, I don’t care…

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Oops, there it is again: SE Asia… <needs me a visit!>

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Hey! I was just THERE!! VV

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As close as I'll ever get to seeing a platypus:

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I bounced on over to WtP and was on by 9:39. I am ON FIRE!!! It was a blustery ride, but no day is a bad day that ends with a birthday party!!

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And it was close enough to my half birthday that I thought I should celebrate with a Gaston’s gigantic cinnamon roll! Breakfast (okay, 2nd breakfast, I did have a little more of my yogurt and granola before I left the room) was at 10:00- a perfect time to enjoy a low crowd at Gaston’s AND a table with a view. I can only eat less than half but it sure was tasty!! And sticky! Mmmm!

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This seems like a sweet spot to leave off, no?

Next time I’ll share what the Imagineers and Tiana have cooked up.

Meanwhile, a very merry un-birthday to yooooooooooooooooouuuuuu….

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

(Me waiting for my last patient to show up for the day)

I am ON FIRE!!!

You really are!
Fabulous day altogether!

 

[Wood Nymph]

A light fog wrapped the castle like a warm blanket on a Winter morning.

We had several foggy mornings during our February trip. The fog messed up our MK morning since the WL boat was not running until later in the morning. It also kept the safari at AK closed until later in the morning.

I skippered my way over to Pirates for a walk-on ride and by 8:30 I was done with: 7DMT, PP, JC, and Pirates. YO-HO, Baby!

You really got a lot done. I'm impressed with what you could accomplish during a very busy time in December.

It is a huge advantage to get there for early opening.

 

[pkondz]

A light fog wrapped the castle like a warm blanket on a Winter morning.

Point of order.
While your prose is top notch...
I'd like to point out that fog is not warm. It's cold. And wet. Blech.
You go stand out in it!

At 7:00, I waved hello to her and in return she whispered back, “Life is good; Seize the day!”

Oh great. Not just a fog, but a haunted fog. Setting for every scary movie ever.
You should've gone straight to HM

Makes for a cool shot, though.

Because I do the AM hustle, I was on the 1st train,

Impressive!

Steppe's RD Rule #29: Those who dilly wait in excessively long lines….

As a side note, I was able to snag a Bayou Adventure VQ Gp. 42 right at 7:00 as well while walking (or just shortly before) to the rope.

Multitasking on the run. Pretty good!

Never noticed all the mining equipment before.

I’d never bothered to notice before, but at the launch site, an ore/tool bucket on a pulley is off to your left. Is this just a disconnected prop with no congruity?

Nope! As you go up the lift portion, there it is again, right where it should be above ground, all primed with the next load of whatever the dwarfs might need in their lucrative mine.

Huh! Never noticed that either. Cool!

One of (if not the) best scenes in all of Disney.

Yes, I'll fight you on this.

I left them in the (pixie)dust and booked it to Jungle Cruise next, barely beating out the Main Street folks who were not staying on property.

You sure are hitting the highlights.

I was on one of the first couple of boats,

More impressive stuff

as I’d already booked my African Safari trip, I was super excited about seeing this Imagineered version of what I might see abroad!

Never thought of that. I bet it made the ride even better.

2 things. All those characters have a back story. (And no, I'm not going to Google... but I have read about them, once upon a time.
And, rhino... wondering if you saw one? Not sure if there are any where you traveled, or how difficult to find even if you were where they were.

Like that one.

I never noticed the company name before. Didn't have to follow your link to get the pun.

I don’t know if it’s just me, but the S.E.A. has a few more nods now than in years past.

Had to Google that, though. Now I know.

And Disney never passes up and opportunity to lose a chance at some advertising!

[][/]

yup.

If you zoom in on this one guy here, you’ll notice he’s Asian- Chinese to be exact. Look very carefully at the tag on his collection cage. I used Google Translate, and lo and behold it says “SPIDERS”.

Huh! No way I would ever have caught that.

The next part of this ride is quite inspirational to me and the adventurer in me yearns to go to Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. Perhaps someday you might find another Disney-inspired Steppe trip in the making!

by 8:30 I was done with: 7DMT, PP, JC, and Pirates. YO-HO, Baby!

You're really moving!!

(Me waiting for my last patient to show up for the day)

We want's the original redhead back.

This shot in particular is pretty good.

Another nice capture.

(Did they remove the hidden Mickey?!)

I believe I read that there isn't supposed to be one and the plates are deliberately not arranged that way... but staff keep putting it back.

People are rude and my patience is about as strong as a Disney drink,

It was time for the attractions that others aren’t clamoring quite as much for- like IaSW.

What's the opposite of "clamoring"?

Sing it with me now…

No!


Dang it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As close as I'll ever get to seeing a platypus:

Still a little salty about that, are we?

I bounced on over to WtP and was on by 9:39. I am ON FIRE!!!

You really are. Seriously.

I can only eat less than half but it sure was tasty!! And sticky! Mmmm!

I can eat it all... and it really is good. One of the better ones I've had.

Meanwhile, a very merry un-birthday to yooooooooooooooooouuuuuu….

Thanks!

 

[Steppesister]

You really are!
Fabulous day altogether!

I'm just getting started! And I even did more than I shared because I forgot to add in BTMRR. Oops! But I'll stick in with Pt. 2

 

[Steppesister]

We had several foggy mornings during our February trip. The fog messed up our MK morning since the WL boat was not running until later in the morning. It also kept the safari at AK closed until later in the morning.

Foggy mornings are the BEST! I remember staying at AoA once and got up early and the fog over hourglass lake with all the colors and the Skyliner made for an INCREDIBLE scene. Just beautiful!

And, yes, I've also seen fog shut down the ferries too. Really clogs up the monorail too. I guess the Safari would be a hazard to the critters?

You really got a lot done. I'm impressed with what you could accomplish during a very busy time in December.

It is a huge advantage to get there for early opening.

Pays to get up and out for sure. I timed the trip right (but didn't on purpose or know it); just got lucky as it didn't get crazy busy until a few days into the trip- the first few were very tolerable crowds.

 

[Steppesister]

Point of order.
While your prose is top notch...
I'd like to point out that fog is not warm. It's cold. And wet. Blech.
You go stand out in it!

Au contraire, Mon Ami! You've not been to East Asia- plenty of fog and 80 degrees (or more).

Oh great. Not just a fog, but a haunted fog. Setting for every scary movie ever.
You should've gone straight to HM

Nope, there's an order that will keep waits down, and ... HM isn't open during EMH.

Makes for a cool shot, though.

I thought so.

Multitasking on the run. Pretty good!

Huh! Never noticed that either. Cool!

So many cool details there for the finding!

One of (if not the) best scenes in all of Disney.

Yes, I'll fight you on this.

Hmmm.... the casket scene is pretty sweet too.

2 things. All those characters have a back story. (And no, I'm not going to Google... but I have read about them, once upon a time.
And, rhino... wondering if you saw one? Not sure if there are any where you traveled, or how difficult to find even if you were where they were.

I'll have to check out the rest now! So cool!

I will keep you in rapt suspense for a few chapters more on that one.

I never noticed the company name before. Didn't have to follow your link to get the pun.

I'd never noticed it at all before and do wonder if it's a relatively new addition to the ride?

Had to Google that, though. Now I know.

Rest in peace Adventurer's Club.

Huh! No way I would ever have caught that.

I thought it was one of the coolest hidden details I've EVER Found!

You're really moving!!

Vroom, vroom!

We want's the original redhead back.

YES, YES!!

This shot in particular is pretty good.

Thanks!

I believe I read that there isn't supposed to be one and the plates are deliberately not arranged that way... but staff keep putting it back.

I do wonder about things like that. I'm sure that there's an official blueprint for the set up.

What's the opposite of "clamoring"?

LOL!

Dang it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's a small world, afterall, It's a small, small wor...

Still a little salty about that, are we?

If those silly Yuppie yappers hadn't walked up and yapped I might have had a fighting chance.

 

[pkondz]

Au contraire, Mon Ami! You've not been to East Asia- plenty of fog and 80 degrees (or more).

I stand corrected. I sit corrected. Imma go lie down now and be corrected there too.

Nope, there's an order that will keep waits down, and ... HM isn't open during EMH.

Picky, picky. HM screams fog.

So many cool details there for the finding!

So I see!

Hmmm.... the casket scene is pretty sweet too.

I said "one of" not "the" best.

I will keep you in rapt suspense for a few chapters more on that one.

I'd never noticed it at all before and do wonder if it's a relatively new addition to the ride?

That, I'm not sure...

A quick Google says it was added only in 2022 in time for Jingle Cruise. So... no... I've not seen it.

Rest in peace Adventurer's Club.

And I never got to visit.

I do wonder about things like that. I'm sure that there's an official blueprint for the set up.

I'm sure there is too.

It's a small world, afterall, It's a small, small wor...

Noooooooooooooooooooooo..........

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

I thought it was one of the coolest hidden details I've EVER Found!

Definitely! If you hadn’t pointed it out I’d never have known about it but now that I do I'll be looking more closely at everything to see what else I’ve missed.

 

[Steppesister]

Just keep eating. It'll come up again.

:urp:

I think I have? It's got some spice to it, no?

It does! And a bit of cinnamon as well.

With buttah.

Germany is where most of our Christmas traditions originated. Truly magical.

Indeed! I hope to see Ground Zero before my time is up.

But you have your own unique take (and photos!) on it.

I suppose that is true.

 

[Steppesister]

Definitely! If you hadn’t pointed it out I’d never have known about it but now that I do I'll be looking more closely at everything to see what else I’ve missed.

YAY!! I'm glad I could share something new!

 

[pkondz]

:urp:

See???

Indeed! I hope to see Ground Zero before my time is up.

You should!

 

[missjackiemcg]

I've had that update open on a tab on my laptop for a week! I'm taking a DIS break from packing up my classroom, so they can wax the floors this summer, so I finally got caught up!

The sight gags on the attraction are everywhere and there are just tons of hidden Easter Eggs and backstory bits to find. I don’t know if it’s just me, but the S.E.A. has a few more nods now than in years past.

I LOVE the Jingle Cruise overlay!!!! I agree, there seems to be more and more SEA representation, and I LOVE it!!!!

(Did they remove the hidden Mickey?!)

So, my Mom and I did the Keys to the Kingdom tour a couple weeks ago, and our tour guide talked about how that was never an "official" hidden Mickey! It would come and go from CMs putting it back and imagineers or whoever moving it back, and they finally removed the spotlight from that area entirely! Kind of a bummer because that has always been one of my favorites!

 

[Steppesister]

R is for: Second Half of A Superb Day at MK
Dec. 18, 2024​

I’d just finished my wonderful cinnamon roll congratulating myself on a productive, hassle-free morning with no lines and no cranky people melting down. I was way ahead of the crowd and needed to decide what to do until my boarding group was called for Tiana’s Bayou.

Up until now, I’d done 7DMT, WtP, HM, (I forget to mention) BTMRR, JC PotC, and IaSW. Time for the less popular ones with short lines- let’s start with LM! Always cute with a toe-tapping soundtrack. I do love the theming in the queue and the sea shanty music in the grotto entrance.

I knew the TTA might very well get pretty busy as the day went on so headed there next. Mr. Morrow was paged, the beauty shop was still working on the same gal (does her hair EVER get dry?!), and Buzz is still looking for new recruits. Feet up, My Friends!

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It wasn’t but a few minutes that my VQ number was called, and I made my way there via the Liberty Square Route. I picked up a couple more items for my Christmas Scavenger Hunt including an “S is for Sleigh” and “F is for Family Around the Fireplace”.

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Because Tiana’s was new to me, I went a little crazy and WAY overboard with photos. I’m very late to the picture posting party with this one, but here are my contributions anyway. (More commentary after the (too many) photos.

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So, what did I think?

I miss the familiar, uplifting songs from the movie. I miss the funny antics of the Brer characters. I miss the happy ending in the laughing place after a suspenseful storyline.

I think the best-done parts of Tiana’s Adventure are the queue and the swamp bits right after the first drop. After that, meh. I dunno, “let’s find some musicians” seems like such a vanilla storyline comparatively. The whole psychedelic bit with over-sized mushroom is reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland and makes me wonder what similar drugs the Imagineers were taking when they designed this part. Obviously, this is only 1 girl’s opinion; your mileage may vary.

Continued in next post...

 

[Steppesister]

From the Bayou, I hopped on the WDWRR and rode to Main Street, USA. Saves the feet and some mileage.

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At this point, I was simply wandering, taking in the atmosphere, and working on my Holiday Scavenger Hunt. I browsed the shops along the street pausing to watch the glass blower, listen to the Casey’s Piano Player, and smell the cookies pumping out of the Scentilators.

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You didn't think you'd escape with a bird-free chapter, did you? Hooded mergansers are probably the loveliest of all the ducks!

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A really tough 50th statue to find!

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Eventually, I had come almost full circle and found myself inside Crazy Aviary. Fritz, Michael, Pierre, and José, and all of their friends cooked up some mischief by riling up the S. Pacific Volcano gods and then told us to get out. I always find it hilarious when unsuspecting parents take their toddlers in there thinking it’s a completely benign “bird show” with catchy tunes then end up having to carrying out their screaming, traumatized kiddos. It’s dark; it’s loud; there is lightning.

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By the time I was on this trip, the announcement had been made that Tom Sawyers Island, the Liberty Belle, and the Rivers of America itself was doomed to “progress” I made sure to catch at least one last spin around the circuit. I won’t lie that didn’t make me sad and that I’m pretty salty about this in general. Like… WHY?!

Here are a few scenes that you will NEVER see again:

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And just like that, a beautiful and honoring tribute to our Native American history and culture is gone. Just like that… poof! Gone is the mysterious river marauders hideout, gone is the Settler’s cabin, gone is the hermit’s cabin in the Alligator swamp.

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Gone is the depiction of America’s history of river transportation and life along its banks.

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Gone is a wonderful place where kids could use their imaginations of exploration and make believe they are characters in a story taken from one of America’s greatest authors. One could argue that Walt wanted his parks to be ever-changing, and I still stand by my sadness that instead of adding, the model is replace.

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One of the last attractions I fit into my day was Country Bears. The re-make gets a resounding thumbs down from me. It’s NOT new material, but rather it’s a mash-up of Disney’s pop culture songs re-arranged in a country twang. It’s simply got zero imagination and was a one and done.

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Feeling kind of done for the day, I headed to the front of the park with the intentions of park hopping. I had played out all I wanted to do and needed something different. I had no agenda, no solid plans about anything so went as my feet and heart led. I had been hoping that the re-furb of the Treehouse would be done, and I'd heard from several CMs that they hoped it'd be as soon as that day, but I think that was a futile wish...

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Moving on...

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About 3:00 I stumbled across the Dapper Dan’s and was able to catch about 2/3’s of their set. I’ve never been anything but completely happy as I tap my foot to their tight harmony and crack up at their really stupid jokes.

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And then, on a complete whim and betting against all odds, I popped into Tony’s with a bit of a rumbly tummy. I hadn’t eaten anything since my cinnamon roll and needed some dinner. To my surprise, they were able to get me in with only about a 10-minute wait. Another resounding huzzah! While there are definite advantages to pounding pavement at RD, there are equally good advantages to eating outside the regular mealtimes. 3:30 seemed perfect for snagging a table at Tony’s.

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I’ve had some really good luck with Tony’s the last couple of solo trips and I was hopeful as I was seated at small corner table against the glass along the outdoor eating area. Even better, I found an outlet right under my table where I could plug in my quickly dying phone. My server joked with me that I had found the most prized possession in the parks.

The food was pretty good. Nothing special by any means, but substantial and better than a TV dinner. I ate about 2/3s of it and gave up. While not as obscenely huge as a lot of servings used to be at Disney restaurants, I do fear that the easily sharable portions are a thing of the past. No, they did not lower the prices.

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Fueled for the night, I had just enough oomph in my to do one more attraction- COP. Between my carb-load dinner and the AC there, it was nearly lights out. Obviously, I had hit my wall and time to be done for the long day. I had done everything I had wanted and more with very minimal waits for any of it.

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I must have hit Main Street just before 5:00 as The Flag Lowering Ceremony was just getting started. It is incredibly reverent and patriotic, and I am always so happy when I can catch this. What a perfect way to end a pretty great day!

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I took this a 5:45, so clearly it took me less than 30 minutes to get home and in the door from the park entrance. It was shocking even to myself that after a nice, long soak in the tub I went straight to bed. With plans for another RD start, I needed all the rest this old fart could get.

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Stay tuned for another EPCOT (Holi) day….