Disney World PF Gathering and Tips for Disney Mania!

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A gathering for Disney enthusiasts is planned at Disney World during Memorial Day week (May 28 to June 5), inviting others to join for fun activities like measuring the drop rate at the Tower of Terror and pin trading. For those unable to attend, a return trip is already scheduled for Labor Day week (Sept. 3 to Sept. 11), with tips to find deals on the Disney website. The discussion includes a promise to share a shortlist of must-do attractions at Walt Disney World, encouraging contributions from others. Key tips for visiting include utilizing Disney's transportation, making reservations for dining, and understanding ticket expiration policies. The thread fosters community among Disney fans while providing practical advice for an enjoyable visit.
  • #2,581
ZapperZ said:
It's no surprise that I love, LOVE the Dumbo ride. Yet, I barely have any video of it (except when Moobie and I were there last January) till now. We videotaped this ride at Disneyland, CA this past May/June during our Mini Grand Tour trip. Try to spot the golden dumbo (as if you can miss it), which was part of their Golden Anniversary celebration (both Integral and I have posted pictures of it on here).

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7371377135616669749&hl=en"

Zz.

I have uploaded the Walt Disney World version of the http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6606650604645919173" , so you can view both and compare.

On a related note, they will be releasing a jumbo pin of the Dumbo ride on Nov. 5th, and it's a gorgeous one! This is part of a series of jumbo pins celebrating 50 years of Disney theme parks.

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/10929426.jpg

Zz.
 
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  • #2,582
Hi ZapperZ,
Thanks for the information about Big Thunder Mountain.
We have conversed before on this forum about my trips to WDW, I think it must have been about 1 year ago.
I think this will be our sixth trip to Florida in 8 years and we expect to go at least once a year from now on.
We usually stay at Old Key West where my sister-in-law has points.
This year however we've decided to save the points (for a Grand Villa next year perhaps) and we are renting a 5 bedroom villa.
My sister-in-law is also thinking of buying a villa herself.

This year we are an adults only party and I think we might not spend as much time at Disney as we usually do. There are so many other things to see and do in Florida but because we always pre-buy our Disney tickets we tend to spend most of our time at Disney.
So we've decided to use up all our existing leftover days on our old tickets and then see what else Florida has to offer.
We're also hiring at least one car so we should save a fortune on taxi fares and I'm absolutely determined to get to the Space centre!
 
  • #2,583
ZapperZ said:
Cybersteve, in case you missed this:



Zz.


Hmmm. That ride always seems to be breaking. 2 weeks before i went last time it was closed because someone died on it. That didnt stop me from going on it though. It was an awesome ride:biggrin:
 
  • #2,584
Cybersteve said:
Hi ZapperZ,
Thanks for the information about Big Thunder Mountain.
We have conversed before on this forum about my trips to WDW, I think it must have been about 1 year ago.
I think this will be our sixth trip to Florida in 8 years and we expect to go at least once a year from now on.
We usually stay at Old Key West where my sister-in-law has points.
This year however we've decided to save the points (for a Grand Villa next year perhaps) and we are renting a 5 bedroom villa.
My sister-in-law is also thinking of buying a villa herself.

This year we are an adults only party and I think we might not spend as much time at Disney as we usually do. There are so many other things to see and do in Florida but because we always pre-buy our Disney tickets we tend to spend most of our time at Disney.
So we've decided to use up all our existing leftover days on our old tickets and then see what else Florida has to offer.
We're also hiring at least one car so we should save a fortune on taxi fares and I'm absolutely determined to get to the Space centre!

I'm guessing that that means that Old Key West is your sister-in-law's home resort. She must have bought into the DVC very early on then. Ours is almost next door to that, at Saratoga Springs. However, last Sept., we stayed at OKW for the first time. It was a very pleasent experience. The only thing we missed was not being able to walk to Downtown Disney, something you can do at SS.

In any case, after your November trip (when is it exactly anyway?), if you're planning on coming again next year, let me know when you have it planned. Who knows, I might pop up during that time too if I can swing it. :)

Stevedye56 said:
Hmmm. That ride always seems to be breaking. 2 weeks before i went last time it was closed because someone died on it. That didnt stop me from going on it though. It was an awesome ride

There's a lot of rehab going on especially during the "slow" part of the year. Thunder Mountain Railroad typically shuts down once or twice a year for its regular maintenance. I think the one you are referring to with that unfortunately incident is at Disneyland.

BTW, have you been on both Thunder Mountains at WDW and Disneyland? If you haven't, check my video of both rides.

Zz.
 
  • #2,585
We arrive on 7th November and leave 21st November.
Two years ago the main pool at OKW was closed whilst they built the water slide and we had to use the pool at Saratoga Springs. We were quite impressed with SS and were shown around by one of the sales reps.
We couldn't decide whether to buy into SS or to buy more points at OKW, in the end we did neither and we're still trying to make up our minds.

I've no idea when we'll be going next year, when we first started visiting WDW it was in early September but each subsequent year we seem to be going later and later, I've no idea why.
Next year we'll probably be bringing 3 or 4 kids with us, so the school holiday dates will play a role in our plans.
 
  • #2,586
Cybersteve said:
We arrive on 7th November and leave 21st November.
Two years ago the main pool at OKW was closed whilst they built the water slide and we had to use the pool at Saratoga Springs. We were quite impressed with SS and were shown around by one of the sales reps.
We couldn't decide whether to buy into SS or to buy more points at OKW, in the end we did neither and we're still trying to make up our minds.

I've no idea when we'll be going next year, when we first started visiting WDW it was in early September but each subsequent year we seem to be going later and later, I've no idea why.
Next year we'll probably be bringing 3 or 4 kids with us, so the school holiday dates will play a role in our plans.

OK, please, please, please tell me that you are going to attend the Mickey Very Merry Christmas Party! I would love to see pictures from that!

When I was at WDW this past early Sept., there were a lot of guests from the UK. I spoke to one of them, and they said that it was the best time for them to come over because (i) the US schools are back in session so the parks are not going to be busy and (ii) the UK schools do not open till mid Sept., so they have about 2 weeks holiday left. So that was the perfect time for them to go if they have school-age kids.

And yes, the water slide at OKW is fully built and fully used, from what I could see, shown below:
IMG_4742.jpg


This was taken very early in the morning before the pool opened.

Zz.
 
  • #2,587
I think you must have been on this bridge when you took your photograph.

http://s141.photobucket.com/albums/r65/SHendrix_photos/?action=view&current=OKWpool.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch1
 
  • #2,588
Yup! I was exactly on that bridge.

Hey cybersteve, would you be willing to be a spy for me? :)

If you will, I have a simple task for you. It appears that there is a very juicy rumor that a new attraction is being built at Disney-MGM Studios. It is rumored to be something called "http://www.mgmstudios.org/midway.html" for some of the technology!

So your task, if you choose to accept it, is to take PICTURES, lots of pictures, of what you can see while you're there, including the boarded-up area, construction equipments, etc. Hopefully you remember where the old Who Wants to Be A Millionaire building was so you know where to take the pictures. I haven't seen anyone else posting pictures on this, so yours could be the first ones!

Zz.
 
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  • #2,589
I accept the challenge!

I think I can remember the location, we always tried our luck but as some of the questions are US biased we never got too far!

I wonder if there are any high vantage points that might enable me to peek over the hoardings?
 
  • #2,590
That water looks really really cool completely still. Its just waiting to get disturbed by the little kids, just kidding. It would be cool to put one drop in and take pictures.
 
  • #2,591
Cybersteve said:
I accept the challenge!

I think I can remember the location, we always tried our luck but as some of the questions are US biased we never got too far!

I wonder if there are any high vantage points that might enable me to peek over the hoardings?

Terrific! Now I'm looking forward to your trip almost as much as you do! :)

Just make sure you don't put yourself in a dangerous situation, or break any rules! Don't want you to get thrown out of the park just because you wanted to get a good angle on a picture! :biggrin:

Zz.
 
  • #2,592
OK, we have a slew of rumors flying around here...

The first one, reported first by WDWmagic.com, is that Tusker House, a popular counter service eating place at Animal Kingdom, might turn into a character dining. I only have one thing to say to that:

THIS SUCKS!

Tusker House is one of the best counter service eating estabishment in ALL of WDW. Why couldn't they either build a new place (it's not as if they're lacking in space there) or take over another standard burger joint they already have? The unusually high quality of food offerings at Tusker House is a major attraction to many people who wish to have something beyond just burger and fries. Taking this away and making it into a sit down character meal is mind-boggling.

So Cybersteve, if you haven't had any meals at Tusker House, you may want to try it on this trip, or it will be gone from the way we know it.

The second rumor that has been reported at a number of places, is that the Epcot wand might finally go. The wand was added to Spaceship Earth for the mellennium celebration and stayed. Several places are reporting that the enginners at WDW have been instructed to find ways to take down the wand some time in 2007.

I know of many Disney purists who, for some reason, dislike the wand with passion. I don't mind it at all. In fact, I kinda like it, especially at night when it is all lit up. It adds light and collor to the globe. So if this rumor is true, I will be very sorry to see it go. My only consolation here is that I have taken tons of pictures of it, such as the one below.

IMG_5444.jpg


Zz.
 
  • #2,593
Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights

You saw the pictures both Moonbie and I took at last year's Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights at Disney-MGM Studios. This year, as I reported earlier, they have added synchronized dancing lights to their spectacle. The first of what promises to be a slew of videos from this are http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6823335247663525204" . It's spectacular! (I just wish this guy learns to turn off the autofocus on his camcorder for shots like this.)

I almost wish that I am going this year! :( Moonbie, let's plan for the 2007/2008 holidays! Anyone else going?

Zz.
 
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  • #2,594
Hi Zz this might be a silly question-What is this disney mania?
 
  • #2,595
Splash Mountain

It's no secret that my most favorite ride at The Magic Kingdom is Splash Mountain. However, we never attempted to videotape this ride for obvious reason - we don't want the camcorder to get wet. So as of now, we have no video of this attraction.

However, that doesn't stop others from videotaping this attraction. This is one of the http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2319192226518923107" (I just wish he went easy on the closeup zoom). It is interesting to note that this came from a company that actually sells DVD's of fan-based video of various ride attractions at Disney theme parks. I mean, if this is what people would pay for, then the quality of the videos that *I* have produced compare quite well (maybe even better in some - see the Wishes video) with these videos.

Maybe I should produce my own DVDs and sell them! :biggrin:

Zz.
 
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  • #2,596
ZapperZ said:
OK, Disney just pulled a fast one on me!

Still in the middle of editing the video for this trip, and I was editing our footage of Illuminations. If you've looked at my video of Wishes and an earlier version of Illuminations, you'd know that we like to replace the live sound with the actual music for those shows.

We videotaped Illuminations again on this trip, because our earlier version was taped last year in Sept. when the inferno barge was out of commission. As usual, I replaced the live sound with the actual music. Getting them to synchronize is usually the most tedious part of the whole thing, especially for Illuminations since it uses two different tunes.

Things were going very well during video editing until the very end! The part where the song goes "We go on..." and the sky turns bright with a flood of fireworks... whoa! They added about 3 seconds to it! The horns section that gets repeated 4 times in the original soundtrack is repeated FIVE times in the version we taped! So the fireworks went on 3 seconds too long. So my video is in synched with the actual music all through Illuminations up to the last 20 seconds of the show and then BAM. It goes out of synch!

I'm disappointed! While I do have tools to edit the original music to try to add an additional repeatition of the horns, this may not turn out as well and will take a lot of time to do. Drat!

I wonder how many people actually realize that Illuminations as it is now is 3 seconds longer than it was before? :) Not that it is a bad thing, mind you. It only causes problems for people like me.

Zz.

Disney may have tried to get me, but I'm not letting them!

It took a while, but we finally managed to edit the music to add that extra 1-2 seconds in the final music accompanying Illuminations-Reflections of Earth. It is now available online.

So far, this is the best version of http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6710208895411670287" that we have, which is my most favorite night time show anywhere in WDW. While it is good, I am still not 100% happy with it. This is a difficult show to videotape, especially when you have a fixed angle of view like what you get when you use a tripod. The show has a lot of things going on low to the water, and a lot of fireworks high up in the sky. You just can't cover all of them easily.

We hope to videotape this again on our next trip and use 2 camcorders - one for the wide-angle sky view to capture the fireworks, while the other for the tight show low, especially at the globe. Maybe we can edit that and get a better version of this awesome show.

Hope you like this one. It's spectacular and with the BEST music accompanying a fireworks anywhere!

Zz.
 
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  • #2,597
The Thanksgiving pins are out in force. There are exclusive pins for Disneyland, and for Walt Disney World. So far, the ones being released at Disneyland are absolutely spectacular. Here are a couple of the very best ones.

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/11488406.jpg

http://eventservices.disney.go.com/files/11489564.jpg

Zz.
 
  • #2,598
I'm getting the feeling that ZapperZ is having an affair with a Disney forum somewhere on the internet!
 
  • #2,599
JasonRox said:
I'm getting the feeling that ZapperZ is having an affair with a Disney forum somewhere on the internet!

AN AFFAIR??!

You have it all wrong! I have been carrying out SEVERAL affairs with a number of Disney forums!

:biggrin:

Zz.
 
  • #2,600
ZapperZ said:
AN AFFAIR??!

You have it all wrong! I have been carrying out SEVERAL affairs with a number of Disney forums!

:biggrin:

Zz.

ZAPPERZ!

Greg won't be happy.

Anyways, I've never been to Disner World or Land. When people tell me about it, it sounds awesome. One day, I shall go. :biggrin:
 
  • #2,601
JasonRox said:
ZAPPERZ!

Greg won't be happy.

That's alright. They all know that I have not been completely faithful. But at least, I am not cheating with another physics forum! o:)

Anyways, I've never been to Disner World or Land. When people tell me about it, it sounds awesome. One day, I shall go. :biggrin:

If you have to choose just one, I strongly recommend Walt Disney World. There's just a whole lot more to see and do there, and you can spend a week and do new things each day. Besides, I bump into a lot of Canadians there on any given trip, so obviously there's precedent! :biggrin:

In any case, the older you get, I think the MORE you tend to appreciate and notice the little details about the place, which most kids would be oblivious to. So the experience is certainly a lot richer as a mature adult. That of course does not apply to me since I become utterly immature when I get there - just ask Moonbie.

Zz.
 
  • #2,602
ZapperZ said:
In any case, the older you get, I think the MORE you tend to appreciate and notice the little details about the place, which most kids would be oblivious to. So the experience is certainly a lot richer as a mature adult. That of course does not apply to me since I become utterly immature when I get there - just ask Moonbie.
Me?! I have no idea, I was too busy acting like a little kid to notice if you were being immature, remember? :biggrin:

2007 holiday season sounds like a good time to go! With any luck, one or more of the grants keeping me from enjoying THIS holiday season will get funded and I can enjoy the holidays next year. :biggrin:
 
  • #2,603
Moonbear said:
Me?! I have no idea, I was too busy acting like a little kid to notice if you were being immature, remember? :biggrin:

I remember it well. You were going to take a bite out of the chocolate carousel, and I had to restraint you!

2007 holiday season sounds like a good time to go! With any luck, one or more of the grants keeping me from enjoying THIS holiday season will get funded and I can enjoy the holidays next year. :biggrin:

Shall we make a very, very, very tentative plan for the first week of January 2008 like last time? I don't know if I have the patience to deal with record holiday crowds again if we go any earlier, even when I so am dying to see all the holiday specials. The Osborne spectacle should still be on at that time. We just need to go to all the resorts early on before they take those down, especially the Gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian.

Now, if only we can convince Evo to come along...

Zz.
 
  • #2,604
Governor, You Had Just Won An Election, What Are You Doing Next?

Why, I'm going to Disney World!

If athletes can do that, why not politicians? The governor of Oklahoma is wraping up his election business after winning his re-election bid. And then, http://www.kotv.com/news/local/story/?id=113981" !

He'd better not do it on taxpayers expense, though.

:devil:

Zz.
 
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  • #2,605
It's A Small World

I posted a while back about the video that I uploaded on It's A Small World attraction at http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3544915256512014256" in Walt Disney World. You'll see a number of major differences in both attractions. Which one is better is, I suppose, a matter of individual taste.

As with the earlier version, be warned that the tune can easily sticks in your head after just the first couple of minutes.

:biggrin:

Zz.
 
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  • #2,606
This is a http://www.mouseplanet.com/articles.php?art=ww061115ws" from MousePlanet on how Disney celebrates the various Mickey Mouse birthdays. At the very least, one now knows the official date of Mickey's birthday. There is also a wonderful essay attributed to Walt on what Mickey meant to him.

Zz.
 
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  • #2,607
This site list the http://www.top500.org/list/2006/11/100" sites around the world. An impressive list indeed.

So why is this mentioned in a Disney thread? Look who is at #197!

:biggrin:

Zz.
 
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  • #2,609
neutrino said:
Are non-Disney-crazy members allowed to post here? :rolleyes:

Anyone can post here about anything Disney.

Disney Dolphins "sing" Batman theme :biggrin:

That is strange!

Edit: these news reporters should get on with the program. Epcot hasn't been called "EPCOT Center" since the mid 80's.

Zz.
 
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  • #2,610
Cybersteve said:
We arrive on 7th November and leave 21st November.

Cybersteve and his family should be right in the middle of their vacation in Orlando. Hope they are having a blast of a time. He'd better have a long trip report when he gets back!

:biggrin:

Zz.
 

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