Cheshire Cat's Trip Report (Pictures.)

Cheshire Cat · Post by **Cheshire Cat** » Jul Sat 19, 2008 9:08 pm

The first thing I want to let everyone know is that it is completely possible to see both epcot's and DHS's fourth of july fireworks in one night with almost a half an hour to spare. In fact, I recommend it to make the most of youir Disney 4th of July. We stayed just in front of crossroads to see dhs's fireworks (which was my favorite of the two, I've never seen fireworks synched so well with music) and then as soon as it was over we walked to epcot and got there a half hour before showtime. We found a spot on the bridge betwen france and the uk. we also got both on videotape

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There was nothing really new since our last visit (Christmas) except Toy Story Mania... which I wasn't all that impressed with. I was expecting something a little more like Spiderman. The queue was probably my favorite part. It was fun to play, but easily gets old after the third of fourth time unless you're really into the interactive rides or competitive rides. At least on Buzz you can still enjoy the ride without having to play, but on TSI there would be nothing else to do. I don't really like the "video rides" (ie in a ride vehicle passing video screens, nemo, el rio, etc...) so maybe my judgement is a litt unfair. I like to see physical scenes and AAs. It's a decent C-ticket, not hardly as "E-ticket" as they're making it out to be. Overall, I don't understand why it's a ride. The ride vehicle's only purpose is to move you from one screen to another. They could just as easily have installed a moving platform to stand on that stopped in front of each screen.

We also stopped at Hard Rock Park on the way home, which is a little gem, not getting enough praise. The advertising they're using is completely wrong. The rides are ok... Led Zepplin is nothing after Rockin' Roller Coaster and the other coasters are very short. The main draw for this park is the shows. They blow away any day time shows Disney has. The ice skating show could easily cost upwards of $100 to see anywhere else. The only ride that really stands out is Moody Blues' Nights in White Satin: The Trip. Genius. Feels like a classic carnival dark ride with modern effects. Not the greatest dark ride I've ever been on, but the most unique. Overall, it was a watered down Busch Gardens, with lots of Disney-like details.

Pictures of WDW and HRP coming soon along with any other commentary I think of until then!

PS... my new favorite Disney sound is the sound the tea cups make when the "spinning" mechanism is turned off.

agingerbugg · Post by **agingerbugg** » Jul Sat 19, 2008 9:50 pm

Sounds awesome. I hope you post the videos on YouTube. *hint hint*

DisBeamer · Post by **DisBeamer** » Jul Sat 19, 2008 10:03 pm

Welcome home. =)

Looking forward to the pics! Did you manage to resolve the Future World plaza restaurant mystery?

Cheshire Cat · Post by **Cheshire Cat** » Jul Sat 19, 2008 10:12 pm

Ah yes. I got a picture of the same spot today, but I also did one better. I found a picture of a model of epcot in the Innoventions gallery that shows exactly what we needed. I have no idea why that picture hasn't made it online yet. When I get the pictures up, I'll show you what I mean.

Post by **Len90** » Jul Sat 19, 2008 10:45 pm

Oh my we must have been right next to each other at DHS fireworks on July 4th. We actually had our picture taken with the photopass people during the fireworks who were set up right by crossroads. We made the first boat to Epcot which was the only possible boat to make for the fireworks at Epcot.

Sounds like you had a blast and can't wait to see your pictures.

Shinku · Post by **Shinku** » Jul Sun 20, 2008 6:11 am

Very cool! Can't wait for the pics!

Cheshire Cat · Post by **Cheshire Cat** » Jul Sun 20, 2008 9:07 am

Oh my we must have been right next to each other at DHS fireworks on July 4th.

That's funny! I always wonder if ever "see" anyone in the parks that I talk to on forums. Especially since there were so many people from online visiting over the last few weeks.

Cheshire Cat · Post by **Cheshire Cat** » Jul Sun 20, 2008 3:36 pm

Select Pictures!!! (You'll have to wait to see a the rest of them in "Where in the World?"

)
This post will probably take up the entire page. Sorry.

In no particular order...

Bastille Day, 14 July (I won a Frecnh Flag! woohoo!)
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g101/ ... tille4.jpg
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g101/ ... 040633.jpg
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g101/ ... 040569.jpg
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g101/ ... tille3.jpg
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g101/ ... tille1.jpg
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g101/ ... 040627.jpg

Canada Day, 1 July (I didn't win anything

Hard Rock Park pics coming soon!

DisBeamer · Post by **DisBeamer** » Jul Sun 20, 2008 4:26 pm

Haven't gone through 'em all yet but I had to come back to see the mystery resolved.

I don't think I've ever noticed there's an outdoor seating area there, though obviously now I can see exactly where it is. It's sad how it's all encased in clutter now. Do you think that tree trunk in the bottom left of your pic (well one of them) is the same little tree from the old picture? And look at the difference in the trees around Communicore. As much as I'm not for the clutter, it's kinda cool how much 'lusher' the plaza looks now.

<DisneyNerdMoment> This was a cool project - thanks for clearing up the mystery! We should do more of these 'then and now' kind of things.

</DNM>

kcarts · Post by **kcarts** » Jul Sun 20, 2008 6:10 pm

Great pics. Looks like we have some closure on that mystery! Where did you stay while you were down there?

Post by **Len90** » Jul Sun 20, 2008 7:31 pm

Great pictures. I was able to figure out that I was about 10-15 feet in front of you during the DHS fireworks.

Captain Schnemo · Post by **Captain Schnemo** » Jul Mon 21, 2008 2:35 am

Is it just me, or does it look like the castle wants to eatcha!!!!?
http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g101/ ... 030769.jpg

Thanks for the pictures resolving the mystery. The model EPCOT was a nice find. Did you get any shots of that area from a different direction so we can see it in context of the rest of the plaza?

By the way, what's with the temporary bridge at IOA? I saw the ginormous building that's going to be part of the Potter thing where JP meets Magical D&D Land, but they didn't have any areas closed off when I was there. Are they creating an entrance to Colonel Potter Island?

I thought that transitional bridge was one of the nicer ones, particularly with that cool tingly music they played as you walked across.

Cheshire Cat · Post by **Cheshire Cat** » Jul Mon 21, 2008 10:28 am

There's a hug building going up directly behind the Jurassic Park Discovery Center (I sure hope they don't destroy the great view from Port of Entry). They had cranes and whatnot on the path just beyond the Jurassic park gate. There's a temporary path that goes down (and over) where the Triceratops Encounter used to be and then there's a bridge connecting Jurassic Park to the area just in front of Poseidon. It looks like it's always been there though; nothing like Disney's Temporary structures. Dueling Dragons is sort of in a dead-end zone with the enchanted Oak and Flying Unicorn walled off. Massive amounts of family members waiting for riders!

I'm really concerned about that new building though. It's supposed to be taller than even the grey River Adventure building, yet it's right behind the JP Discovery Center, already towering over it. They're going to need lots of foliage to hide it from anywhere in that section of Jurassic Park.

Did you get any shots of that area from a different direction so we can see it in context of the rest of the plaza?

It's the one labeled "I Spy Spaceship Earth"

edit: I didn't get any other angles, but it's taken just after coming through the breezeway from M:S and turning right.

Croaker · Post by **Croaker** » Jul Mon 21, 2008 11:26 am

Great pics! thanks! loved the different area's shot. not the norm!

Captain Schnemo · Post by **Captain Schnemo** » Jul Mon 21, 2008 2:14 pm

Cheshire Cat wrote:I'm really concerned about that new building though. It's supposed to be taller than even the grey River Adventure building, yet it's right behind the JP Discovery Center, already towering over it. They're going to need lots of foliage to hide it from anywhere in that section of Jurassic Park.

I wonder if they're just going to try to paint something on the side of it. They did a pretty good job with the painting in Portofino Bay (a lot of the stuff that appears to be 3D adornment is really just nice painting), so maybe they will be clever in that respect.

It'd be kind of cool if the outside of the Potter building reflected the theming of another island. It would show they can use their brains a little bit and don't need to, say, put a giant sign saying "Epcot" over Epcot.

Did you see the Simpsons ride? Some amusing Disney references in there.

I didn't get any other angles, but it's taken just after coming through the breezeway from M:S and turning right.

I'd be kind of interested to see a shot of the same place, taken from the direction of the SSE building. It's just not an area of I've ever paid much attention to, and I'm still having a little trouble placing it exactly.

Anyway, thanks for the great detective work!