I've Been Working on the Railroad...

One of my to-do items for my recent trip was to scope out the current level of construction on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride. For those of you who rode Snow White's Scary Adventure while it was open, you can see just by looking at the coaster rail that this ride is VERY different.

Imagineers have designed an amazing ride system that allows each mine car to individually swing back and forth as the train twists and turns along the track. I for one, cannot wait to see another true coaster ride open at the Magic Kingdom, and these rails just make me want to whip out my calendar and plan a trip for opening weekend.

Here's a sneak peek. Mind you, if I were five feet taller, you'd have a much better peek but as it is, you'll just have to oooh and aaah along with the rest of us who can barely see over the top of the imagineering wall.

See ya real soon,

Karen

The First and the Last

One of my favorite things to do is people watch. There's something settling about losing all sense of time while sitting on a park bench as people stroll by. Disney World is no different. Today I had the fortunate pleasure of being one of the first ones in the Magic Kingdom, and one of the last to leave.  Normally, my family would be with me, and our agenda would not include people watching, nor would we close down the park at the end of the day. Today, however, was much different.

I started with a Keys to the Kingdom Tour that began right as the park opened. Our task was to be in the park before our tour departure time.  Let me just say that standing outside Guest Relations when those fireworks go off in the morning is no less than amazing. I liken it to the Running of the Bulls. You either run with the group, move out of the way, or face certain trampling. I fully intended to take a picture of the people coming in, but that's just it – if you blinked, you missed them! They were in and gone, strollers wheeling at break-neck speeds, undoubtedly off to Space Mountain and New Fantasyland.

We let them go by and started our tour. Once it was over, I had several other things on the agenda, including stops at Hollywood Studios, the Boardwalk, and EPCOT. My traveling companion opted to call it a night at 10 pm, but for me, that was the perfect time to head back to the Magic Kingdom. Most people were trickling out, not in, and I found myself standing in a nearly empty Magic Kingdom, staring at the beauty that lives within the walls. I walked back to the jungle cruise – a completely different experience at night than it is during the day – and over to the dualing Dumbos. But my favorite shot of the night was coming out of the back of New Fantasyland.

I was the last one off Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid, and even then I was the only person in the entire ride queue. I could walk slowly on purpose and enjoy the details in this shot...

this one...

and this...

(Can I just say that I think that the backside of the castle is ah-maze-ing?!)

One cannot be the last person out of the Magic Kingdom and not be in awe of the dream that Walt began. Each detail - these finials in front of the castle could be round, but they aren't - they're pumpkin carriages.

When the children are tired, and the families are leaving, to stand around and capture the very essence that is Disney is amazing.

And that's just it. To be the first is exciting, exhilarating, and energetic. But to be the last... to bid adieu to the Magic Kingdom as it rubs its eyes in preparation for a night's slumber is in fact, magical.

Thanks for a beautiful evening, and don't worry, Walt. I'll see ya again, real soon.


ºOº Karen
4.7

New Testing at Test Track

You already know that EPCOT's Test Track has undergone an amazing new refurbishment, but have you heard the latest news?

Today on Test Track, I ran into Cast Member Jesse. Jesse was holding this sweet board, can you see what's on it?

First, note the new plastic cards. They're park tickets, and they replace the PAPER tickets you're used to if you stay offsite (or if you're an annual Passholder). Aren't they pretty? And check out the new Minnie character. So excited for a girl-card! Check out the back of the card.

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Do you see the My Disney Experience logo, mid-bottom? I'm sure you are wondering what the two have to do with each other. Well, check it out.

When the Test Track refurbishment first opened, there were two different but similar experiences. For guests in the stand-by line, you would come in, get a plain white card on a rubber band string, and head to the design area where you designed the "car" that you are testing. You choose your color, choose the features of your car, then load the car you've designed onto your plain white card. Just before you board your vehicle, you load the newly designed vehicle, and board your custom car. Sweet, right? 

The refurbishment made the complete ride experience much more personal. You are no longer riding en masse on a course chosen by GM. Au contraire. Now you're riding in a car YOU designed, racing against everyone else, vying for the top score to beat at the end of the race.

Two big differences are currently in the works. First, instead of using the generic white card to design and track your car, NOW your park tickets or your Key to the World card (with the My Disney Experience at the bottom) will do the same thing. Second (are you paying attention?) Currently, there are two ways to design your car. The full configuration takes place on the stand-by side, while FastPass guests only get to choose two aspects of the configuration. Today, Test Track was testing full configuration ability for BOTH stand-by AND FastPass riders! Plans for implementation are in the works pending feedback from today's testing! Is that awesome news, or what? Stay tuned for that awesome modification to the FastPass experience!