Confession # 24 : Changes- Like and Dislike

WDW has made / and is making / a lot of changes lately, some I've liked a lot, some not so much ...

   The new Fantasyland:

Tried 'Under the Sea-Journey of the Little Mermaid' - nicely themed, but unless you're six, just eh.

I do like the Le Fou Brew and am excited about the new '7 Dwarfs Mine Train' (although a CM friend said it was 'just okay').

Loved Toon Town Fair (now gone), totally dislike Storybook Circus.

Overall: not so hot.

    Then there's Hyperion Wharf  Disney Springs.

Looks like more shopping and dining, fewer things to do.
I wish that a few of the clubs would have been kept (Comedy Warehouse, Adventurer's Club, maybe one dance club). It would have given those of us over 18 something to do at night after the parks close.

The new multi-level parking garages will definitely ease the parking place shortage. And hopefully the traffic engineers will design everything perfectly.

Overall: I've felt that DTD need a face-lift for a while, so mostly YAY.

    The Polynesian Resort will return to its original name, Disney's Polynesian Village Resort.
  "The sweeping renovation happening now also includes a new food and beverage experience opening for guests next year, Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto — based on the popular themed lounge at the Disneyland Hotel in California." Disney parks Blog

  

 

 Photo: Orlando Attractions Magazine

From the look of the artist rendering of the new lobby, the waterfall and 'rainforest feel' will be gone.  Booooo.

Aaaand, a new DVC resort is being built over the lake, like a real South Seas resort, too cool.

Photo: Orlando Attractions Magazine

Overall: Mostly like.

Now this is what I'm truly excited over....

Coming over at the Animal Kingdom:

Pandora, The Land of Avatar    

This sounds most interesting!

New rides (on a Banshee!) and a nighttime show: Rivers of Light!

Photo: Disney Parks Blog

Pandora-the-land-of-Avatar-name

Avatar-land-Animal-Kingdom-Disney

Since Camp Minnie-Mickey is gone to make room for Pandora, The Festival of the Lion King has been relocated to a new theater in Africa (where it belongs!). It looks so much better than the former location, more in keeping with the African theme! 

Overall: Bring it ON!

Happy 25th, DHS!

Disney's Hollywood Studios has been open 25-years today!     

The Hollywood Tower of Tower is my most favorite ride of all WDW rides.

And Toy Story Mania is loads of fun.










I love the little things that you might not notice as you rush around:

Know what this is??

A net full of jello.



Hint: It's an homage to a very special person.

Say it out loud. Say it fast.

Here's 'a ton of bricks' ... don't let it hit you.

Ever noticed this? 

Stop and pull the rope!!

I also enjoy the American Idol Experience. There are some talented people out there!

DHS remains my favorite WDW park ... even with some changes.

What changes you ask?


Remember  Residential Street?

It was the original location of the Osborne Lights... and I really liked them much better back there.

It was bulldozed to make way for the stunt show arena.

Remember "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire"?

Now it's the location of Toy Story Mania, which I like a lot, but  wish it could have been built elsewhere so that  WWTBAM could have stayed.




And I do so hope that Carsland (like at Disney California Adventure) will come to the Studios!!!

Star Wars Weekends 2014

May 16 - June 15

Disney Hollywood Studios: Star Wars Weekends

NEW this year:

the "Star Wars" Dine-In Galactic Breakfast! at the Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant. 

At dinner, Disney characters get dressed up for Jedi Mickey's "Star Wars" Dine at Hollywood & Vine. 

Both of these exciting new character dining experiences will be offered only from May 4 through June 15, 2014.

Check it out here: May-the-fourth-be-with-you

Disney Parks Video

Halloween at D's Animal Kingdom

Just came across this:



Loved the tigers!

Disney Picture of the Day

Just adorable:

Unknown Disney

Came across an interesting site today ...

buzzfeed.com: things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-disney-parks

Here are a few that I didn't know:

   The brownish winding path in Liberty Square is meant to represent raw sewage that flowed down the streets of Colonial America, since indoor plumbing wasn’t yet invented.

 Photo: flickr:vmpyrdavid

    
While most of the lawns at Disney parks are meticulously tended to, the lawn at “The Haunted Mansion” is left to grow out and die, to match the mood of the ride.

 

Photo: flickr:eccentricscholar

    

Look for a wedding ring embedded in the concrete in line at “The Haunted Mansion.” It’s said that it belongs to the hanging bride you see in the stretching room and attic scenes on the ride.

 

Photo: justoffmainstreet.wordpress.com

    

 The futuristic palm trees in Tomorrowland actually fold up at dusk, and unfold at dawn.

 Photo: flickr: expressmonorail

    
 The lobby and queuing area for the “Tower of Terror” ride are full of hidden Twilight Zone references, such as Burgess Meredith’s broken glasses and a book with alien script that has been translated to “To Serve Man.”

 Photo: Towerofterror.org

   

 On the “Dinosaur” ride in Animal Kingdom, there are three pipes in the queuing area with chemical formulas printed on them. The formulas on the pipes are for ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise.

 

Photo: disney-pal.com

 I'll be looking for these!!

Finding Dory

Coming in June 2016  (not nearly soon enough!):

  Finding Dory ,
the Disney-Pixar sequel to Finding Nemo (2003), featuring Dory and her family!

Today !!

Disney Festival-of-Fantasy parade steps off at MK park

Cannot wait to see THIS :

Photos: Disney Parks Blog

Confession # 23: I Miss ToonTown Fair... Still!

Today is the 3rd-year anniversary of the demise of WDW's Toon Town Fair.

ToonTown was closed in 2011 to make way for The Storybook Circus part of the new Fantasyland.

Dueling Dumbos, Pete's Silly Sideshow, Casey Jr, Splash 'n Soak Stations, The Storybook Circus Giggle Gang (clowns)....

just cannot compare with Mickey's and Minnie's houses. Ever.

2014 Year of the Horse

Since way before 1959!

Chinese Zodiac