WDW Update: June 2009

Well, my friends, I have returned from ten wonderful days in Walt Disney World. As anyone who's been to WDW will know, the place is constantly evolving and changing. This trip was no exception. Here are a few minor updates on the goings on at WDW.


GENERAL: The crowds were about normal for this time of year. Heavy, but nothing to be afraid of if you know what you're doing. The weather, on the other hand, was horrible. It was hotter and more humid than I ever remember it being down there. Additionally, it only rained twice when I was at the World (right around 3:00, just as they always are - good to see some things never change!). Luckily, there are ways of avoiding the heat.


MAGIC KINGDOM: The middle entrance to the Emporium is still open, but the construction walls and scrims indicate that they're doing some touch-up work.

There were scrims and walls abounding in Liberty Square, too, at both the Hall of Presidents and Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe. The Hall of Presidents walls were actually removed on the last day of my trip, and there's a big blue cover over where the attraction will get its first ever marquee.

Incidentally, I've just found out that the new attraction will be voiced by the great Morgan Freeman, and I'm pumped up. His voice is amazing!

The front of "it's a small world" was also walled up, with a small gap under the main tent for riders to enter. It's encouraging to see all these walls up in MK - they may actually be planning something big for the 40th!


EPCOT: Spaceship Earth's descent is still in need of fixing. I'm sorry, but an episode of The Jetsons with your face superimposed on the characters just doesn't work at all as a finale for this ride.

The Innoventions West breezeway is currently being stripped of the 1980s slick brown tiles in favor of a green swirling concrete walkway. I can only assume that they'll also do this in the Innoventions East breezeway.

Over at Imagination, they've opened up the passageway between the queue and the Imageworks. And some of you may remember what's in that passageway:




That's right, it's the caged off escalator from the old upstairs Imageworks that took you down to the Magic Eye Theater! I was shocked that this area was open to Guests, but who knows? It could be a way of generating excitement that the second floor will once again be open!

I finally got the chance to experience the new Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure, and I have to say that the Imagineers did an incredible job designing this attraction. It blends in seamlessly with the theming of the WS pavilions, and draws Guests deeper into the countries than they probably have ever gone before. Also, they're very fun to play (especially the UK mission)!


DISNEY'S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS: Nothing too major going on here, now that Idol is open. Walls are still up in Pixar Place where the Luxo AA will be. No work yet either on Sounsdtage 1.

The only slightly different thing that I experienced was my final ride on the Great Movie Ride. I was in the Western cars, so I was fully expecting my guide to be replaced by a rogue bank robber. Not so. Sure, the bank robbery happened, but there was no fire and the guide returned to the vehicle. Even stranger was the scene where the bank robber attempts to steal the priceless jewel and the guide makes a triumphant return. Instead of the normal turn of events, the guide went up the left hand set of stairs, set off the recording, and everything went as normal except no skeleton appeared after the smoke.

I have no idea why the bank robber was scrubbed from this particular ride - anyone out there know the reason?

Other than that, the Studios were operating as normal. Well, as normal as you can be with Fantasmic! only showing for three days out of the week.


DISNEY'S ANIMAL KINGDOM: I noticed nothing out of the ordinary here, except that they uncovered one of the It's Tough to be a Bug! Fastpass machines for the exclusive use of the Birthday Fastpass Cards. Why anyone would choose to utilize their birthdat Fastpass on this particular attraction, where the wait is always 10 minutes or less, is beyond me.

On a side note, Dinosaur went 101 while I was on it, and I got to experience it briefly with the lights on. No, I didn't get to walk the track, and no, I didn't get a No Strings Attatched pass.


Those are the major updates to the theme parks. I'll post some more details of the trip later. For now, I have to prepare for what is sure to be another heart-attack inducing baseball game tonight.

See ya real soon, and GEAUX TIGERS!