Halloween time in Walt Disney World!

It's been over six months since Halloween, so at this point we are half way to Halloween!  Better start thinking about costumes for this year.  Belle's Blue dress?  Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas?

I have a bit of time until October 31st.  For now it's time to recap the end of my Walt Disney World Adventures.

Rachel left work a bit early so that we could change back at her apartment.  She went as Cousin June from Katamari damacy.  It's a video game character.  She made her dress herself!  

I went as Mary Poppins.  I found everything at thrift stores.  I added flowers and berries to the hat, pin stripes to the jacket, and a bow to the shirt.

We came into the park before official party time and went to take a picture with the mouse himself.  Minnie was there too.  From there we joined the princess line.  For Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party the Princes hang out with the Princesses.  After waiting for an hour and half we met Snow White, Snow Prince, Cinderella, Prince Charming, Flynn Rider and Rapunzel.  Word to the wise, don't wait in that line.  Not worth it!

And to top off my Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom card set we got the limited edition Bag of Tricks card.  61 cards and counting!

From there we found characters that neither of us had taken photos with.  It had been since 2005 since I had seen Jane, not very long since seeing Terk and I've never seen Tarzan.  Rachel waiting in line as I met some other characters.  By the time we got to the front Tarzan had wondered off.  NOOOOO!  So after the fireworks we came back and found all three together.  They were the most entertaining gang of the night!

While Rachel was waiting in line for the Tarzan gang I went over to Pixie Hollow to meet Tinkerbelle.  She always has a friend with her.  With the new movie coming out soon after my visit her friend was her long lost sister Periwinkle.  Both were very cute and I make it back in time to meet Jane and Terk.

Right after meeting with the Tarzan gang we walked deeper into Adventureland to get photos with the Aladdin gang.  Another first was getting a photo with Abu!  Two new characters so far!

Fireworks, or as Disney cast members call it Pyro, was not as good as Disneyland.  The next time I visit for the party, which I'm sure I will, I will skip it!  And I love fireworks way more than parades but the Boo to You parade changed my mind, at least for the night.

Wow!  This is the best parade that I've ever seen.  There were tons of characters in the show that you never get to see in the parks, either in other parades or meet and greets.  All of the lost boys, lots of villains, the hitchhiking ghosts, Kanga and Roo, and more Haunted Mansion awesomeness.  What a parade.  Maybe next time, watch it twice, skip the pyro.

One more new character for me.  Maleficent.  After working in the parks to almost three years and more visiting I've never seen her!  Finally!  And we also saw her nemesis of Aurora and her Prince Phillip.

As the clock was coming closer to striking midnight we found two more characters.  Another first for me was Experiment 626.  Buzz was our final character of the night.

We missed out on so many characters!  No princess line for me next time.  There were Minnie, Mickey, Donald and Daisy in costume.  Gaston was around plus more villains.  Next time...

After collecting many character's autographs and photos we headed out.  Even with broken shoes, 100 percent humidity, and bruised toes we had a fantastic time.  But it was a bit light on the candy.  So I guess I will have to go to Disneyland's Halloween party to make up for it!

Epcot's 30's anniversary! On October 1, 2012!

Well, the anniversary was on October and it is April 30, but who's really counting.  So happy 30 1/2 year Epcot.  

I visited in June 2012 as well which I did not feature on my blog as I was taking time off from it. So here you go.
Brave came out in the summer time and before the film came out they had Highland Games at the entrance to the World showcase.  You could be separated into clans and earn badges (a button) once you completed the games.  The most impressive thing was a huge sand sculpture.  Merida is sand, with all that hair, very impressive!

Then onto characters.  Surprisingly Merida was not in Epcot, but the Magic Kingdom, but there were plenty of other characters to see.  We stumbled upon a character explosion next to the American Adventure and found Mr. Smee and Max!  If only we had made it there about 20 minutes early.  There were about 12 characters out all at the same time.  Why doesn't this happen every visit?

To close out one evening we ate at the Rose and Crown in the British Pavilion.  We enjoyed the dinner on the patio, the side unfortunately.  But I had read that they have a Illuminations viewing patio so we asked and we were let in.  I'll have to say that Illuminations is a not my favorite show.  I fell it's kinda boring, low fireworks, fire, low fireworks, turning globe, low fireworks, then everything together.  Meh.

Now I'm back to September 2012!  In April 2013!

But the real reason why I spent the most time in Epcot than I ever had before was the Food and Wine Festival.  I tried going in 2011 but it didn't work out so I was very happy to make it in 2012.  

All the food comes in tapas form.  Usually about $3-4 you can easily eat your way around the world.

I found Jiminy Cricket and Stitch!  Two unusual characters to me that I had to see.  I was the last one to see Jiminy for the day.  For the win!  Rachel finally found out what my love of characters was all about and had a hilarious game of charades with Chip and Dale.  One of my best memories of the trip for sure!

It was the last day of my trip to WDW that also happened to be the 30th Anniversary of Epcot.  They gave out cool maps that showed the changes over the years to Epcot and a button.  Rachel could not make it into the park because of work so I got her a set too!  I love free buttons!  I wasn't able to make it to any of the presentations because I was occupied by eating around the world and having to fly out at 6pm.

I would love to go back to Epcot during the food and wine festival.  The food, in the restaurants or pavilions  is the real reason to visit Epcot at any time of the year.  But there is nothing really like eating around the world with a friend during the food and wine festival.
Up next, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party

Hollywood Studios aka the Park of Terrible Shows

Hollywood Studios is truly a theme park with shows.  Good shows?  Maybe not.  

The first show that I saw was The Little Mermaid.  Thank goodness it's only at 20 minute show because it was awful!  Ariel was underpitched the entire time, Eric was a bit fluffy, and the show was so chopped to bit is wasn't enjoyable even if the actors were good.  I wanted to leave but I was sitting in the middle of the row of a full theater so I stuck it out.

One thing I always enjoy in the park is the Magic of Disney animation area.  They always have displays set up for the next Disney or Pixar film.  As I was there in September they had Wreck it Ralph. 

As always I look for characters both inside and outside the Animal courtyard.

The next show was the parade.  They use music from the two California Adventure parades with only about half the interesting floats.  But I do love the music anyways and seeing characters you can't see in meet and greets in the park.

Rachel and I also hit up the 50's Prime Time Diner.  I got a pot roast and Rachel the pork chop.  And man were both of them delicious.  Followed by their smores, what could be better?  We both cleaned out plates but did not get stickers.  I want my money back!

Now to my last adventure in June.  I saw the Beauty and the Beast show.  It is one of my favorite full length musicals so I was excited.  The theater is very nice but the show again is a bit disjointed, but not as much as the Little Mermaid.  The show was decent but there was one thing that still sticks in my head.  What is the deal with the bright pink dresses?  Why?!  They are so ugly!

And finally from my trip in June was Fantasmic.  I love the show in Disneyland.  It is my favorite show there and when I visit I never miss it.  I must have seen it about 50 times.  

The Walt Disney World show just doesn't quite have it.  Missing are my favorite parts with the large boats around the Rivers of America.  There is one part where characters are stuck it bubbles that goes on for about 2 mintues, why?  The changes from the original show certainly don't make it better in my opinion.

I think that Hollywood Studios may have made it's way to the bottom of my Walt Disney World trip.  I certainly spent the least amount of time there compared to the other three parks.  

Up next, Epcot.

Off to Animal Kingdom

This might be a crazy statement to most but Animal Kingdom is probably my favorite Walt Disney World Park.  It's a zoo, which I always love, with a budget!  

Kilimanjaro Safaris is the icon attraction for the park and rightfully so.  What's not to love about a narrated safari with animals that are always in view.  

My other favorite attraction in the park is Everest.  It's a fantastic roller coaster with a temperamental yeti.  The best moment for me on the attraction is riding up the mountain for the first time.  Look to your left and you will see the Epcot ball, the Swan and Dolphin hotels, and The Tower of Terror.

And of course the characters.  The lines for characters in Animal Kingdom are always reasonable if non existant for characters like Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore and Tigger.

The details of this park are what set it above any other.  It feels more like Disneyland when it comes to attention to detail.  Good job Mr. Rohde.  Walt would be happy.  It's like the Jungle Cruise he always wanted.

And more characters.  It was my first time visiting with Russel and Dug.  Gotta love new characters, ka kah!

And finally Dinosaur.  It's the terrible version of Indiana Jones.  But it is my favorite bad ride in the parks so I must go on it each visit.  I never quite remember where the camera is so the picture is always fantastic.  We're the bottom two on the left.  I usually have a "you cannot be serious" face.  Rachel does not look happy either.

Until next time Animal Kingdom!

Up next, Hollywood Studios

Walt Disney World for the third time in one year!

Ahh the Magic Kingdom.  I got there before the official park opening to find that they open the park with tons of characters on the train every morning.  How fun is that!  If only I were selected to open the park with them.  My guess is that they don't often choose a single person to do it.  Sadness.  

Anyways once I was in the park I was happy to see all of the Main Street vehicles out and taking guests to Cinderella castle.  And the Dapper Dans doing a show on the horse drawn street car too.  Where was this on my last three visits?

The relocation of Dumbo was new to me.  I don't think that I ever made it to Toontown Fair but that is where Storybook Circus is now.  And these days there are two Dumbos spinning next to each other, Barnstormer (a small kiddie coaster), Casey Jr. Soak zone water play area, and a huge shop in the land.  I'll have to say that I think that the painting on the Dumbo attraction is garish.  Clashing colors and too much gold does not make me happy!  And I just missed the opening of the New Fantasyland with the Be Our Restaurant, now open!

Of course there were characters.  I couldn't help myself than to join every character line I could find.  Princesses, Mice, Ducks, Pixar characters, and every other one I could find and get their autograph!

This time around I saw the Main Street parade.  Mainly just to see the characters.

The stepsisters were having a bit too much fun as they were booty scooting down the street.  Cinderella was not amused!

And the finale float with the rest of the princesses and princes.  I can't help it.  I just love those couples!

Now for my favorite picture of the trip.  Walt Disney World band, clear day, open street and the castle in the background.  What's not to love!

And more characters.  My favorite interaction was with the evil stepmother and step sisters.  The mom and child infront of me asked someone to hold onto their ice cream while they were taking their photo.  Being the former Disneyland cast member as I am I offered my help. They thanked me and the next two groups cut in front of me.  I finally made my way up to them.  They though that someone should buy me an ice cream and that everyone else was being very rude.  The evil stepsister and stepmother may be evil but they notice things!

And as always I finished my adventures in the Magic Kingdom with Minnie and Mickey.  Gotta say goodbye to the boss.

The Last one out of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

What does my blog need.  More Harry Potter and/or theme park posts!  Of course!

So after an evening asking "students" in Hogwarts Castle everything about the attraction, from rider capacity (2000 per hour), ride vehicles (40) and riding it 11 times in one day I ended up being the last one out of Hogsmeade.

 I love being in a park alone.  It's just like being back at work in Disneyland.

 The park closed at 6 that evening as dusk was falling.  The photos came out beautifully.

 Honeydukes with no students.  It's so quiet!

Look Ma no tourists!

Until next time.  Sometimes it happens sooner than one thinks.  And hopefully it does!

The Attractions of the Wizarding World

Yes this does warrant it's own post.  

Lets start with the smallest attraction in the area.  The Flight of the Hippogriff is a nice little roller coaster for everyone.  My mom with her terrible motion sickness could probably go on this one.  Like everything in the area the theming is excellent.  Looks like Hagrid is in charge of everything here.  You walk by his house with very large pumpkins, and scarecrows to end up in his cabin.  Which just happens to have a roller coaster inside.

As you climb higher on the roller coaster look to the left and you will see Buckbeak sitting in his nest.  The best thing about this attraction are the views that you get of the area while you are riding.  Where else can you see the rooftops of Hogsmeade.

The other traditional roller coaster in this area is Dragon Challenge.  Again the themeing is fantastic.  Dargon Challenge is themed after the Goblet of Fire. When you first enter after dropping off you bags at the Train station you pass next to banners for the four champions.  The que climbs towards the challenge area which again gives you great views of the castle and the town.

  Outside Don't miss the Ford Anglia and Hagrids cabin before entering the training tent.  The egg clues are all there, along with the Goblet itself and a candle lit ceiling.

One of my favorite details about the area are the warning signs.  They are Ministry approved.
Anyways, once you get to the challege you must choose your opponent.  Would you choose the Hungarian Horntail or Chinese Fireball?  Either way its a good roller coaster.

Now the the piece de resistance.  Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is unlike any other ride I've ever been on.  It is the best attraction out there.  You start at the base of the castle, put your bag in the lockers, and off you go on an adventure before the adventure.

The first entrance into the castle leads you by the potions class room, the Mirror of Erised, and back outside into the greenhouse.  I can only imagine how long this wait would be if the entire place was full.

Then back inside the castle you go.  There is so much to see.  The hourglasses with the house points, Dumbledore's staircase, his gadgets, and the man himself in his office

 Then off to why you are really there.  Harry, Ron and Hermione have worked out, mostly by Hermione's work, how to sneak muggles onto the grounds.  Board an enchanted bench and hopefully it turns out alright. Once you leave the defense of the dark arts classroom you pass the Fat Lady, the Hogwarts founders talking about Hermione and her flying bench, and the sorting hat before boarding.

I don't think I can really give justice to this attraction by describing it since the experience is like no other.  It's just amazing.  I had to go 11 times in one day, I love it that much!  

I just wish there was a Disneyland and a Wizarding World in Kansas City.  One can dream. Or move...