A.J.

Here's the thing - I actually sort of liked it as well. The problem is that all sorts of other fantastically-made attractions and renovations have grown up around Scary Adventures, and it's just sort of staying put. I know the ride has a really nice charm about it, but I think the Mine Train will be a lot better (not because it's a coaster), even though it's not based around Snow White's entire story.

A.J.'s Latest Trip Report A Fantastical Off-Season Tour of the Magic Kingdom As some of you may already know, I'm a Walt Disney World cast member as part of their college program. As such, I am currently living in Orlando, Florida, which means I am able to get to the parks with relative ease on my days off. The Five Parts of the Trip PART I - Main Street USA and Fantasyland - this post Toontown Fair's Last Hurrah! OVER THE FENCE construction! A Philhar-orgasm! AND...artsy failures! PART II - Adventureland, Liberty Square, and Frontierland - CLICK HERE Kids being taken on a magic carpet ride! The Hall of Shame! The WORST puns in history! AND...Splash Mountain TESTING with its new LAP BARS! PART III - The Monorail and Frontierland - CLICK HERE A redhead's attempt at being the first Splash Mountain rider of 2011! Big Chunder Mountain! Stranded on a deserted island! AND...someone I hope gets shot and/or beaten! PART IV - Tomorrowland - next update A road test of the WORST car in history! The BIGGEST fail of an aerial shot ever taken! Flying through SPAAAAAAAAACE! AND...a talking trash can's cousins! PART IV - Main Street USA, Fantasyland, Toontown Fair, and the Castle - the following update The Mad Hatter that ISN'T Johnny Depp! Toontown Fair's last hurrah, for real this time! The BEST projection show on the side of a castle larger than Disneyland's...IN THE WORLD. AND...fireworks fallout! Also, I'd like to introduce you to my buddy Wobbuffet. He's not very big. He's my memento from home on this trip, and whenever I go play in the parks, he comes with me. He likes standing on my keyboard for some reason. He also likes to be in front of the camera. I told him "no" to cameos in the Fantasyland update because we here at TPR appreciate the hard effort it takes to get construction pictures when there is a large colorful wall that we can't reach over blocking our path. Maybe in the Adventureland update... PART I - The Monorail, Main Street USA, and Fantasyland What was originally supposed to be a day off to do laundry and be semi-productive turned into a wonderful day at the Magic Kingdom. One of my old friends has a birthday coming up, and I had planned to get her a "Happy Birthday" button Friday night after work. Well...I forgot. So, to set things right, I had to take a trip into the Magic Kingdom to get it for her, because I care that much. So, I hopped on a bus and made a stop at the Transportation/Ticket Center. My 20th-century chariot awaits! I got on Monorail Teal (my personal second-favorite - the Tron-o-rail was not in operation today) and set off toward the park. I was determined to get that birthday button no matter what. Unfortunately, my hopes were delayed when the monorail stopped to hold for traffic. I was able to get this shot though: Artsy or poor camera work? You decide! Those monorails are very jerky. The train I was on started and stopped more abruptly than a bus. We stopped again just outside of the Contemporary Resort, and I snagged a shot of the architecture: Reflection got in the shot again... [censored] We eventually stopped at the Magic Kingdom's entrance. The gates were very busy, so I wanted to bolt to get through bag check and the ticket turnstiles quickly. Unfortunately, my hopes of getting that button were once again shattered when I got stuck in the middle of a Puerto Rican tour group. Kids everywhere! The tour group was this massive exodus of people all trying to stuff themselves through a narrow exit pathway instead of walking in a single- or double-file line! Is it really that hard? Are these the kinds of people who have cursed Splash Mountain with those dreadful lap bars? They could have just as easily broken up into two smaller, more organized groups, but no! They choose to travel in a herd like twenty white mice all trying to drink from the same water dispenser! New campaign for the park. Get yer 40th anniversary pins now, they'll be gone soon! Gawrsh! And so, my quest for the birthday button began! I was determined to find a place with both a birthday button and a sharpie to write her name on it. Unfortunately, I got distracted. Honestly, if you look at this facade straight on, it looks real! They are renovating the interior and exterior of Exposition Hall as part of the Toontown removal. All the little kiddies need a place to meet Mickey and Minnie now that Toontown is going to be rap...I mean...removed, and I've heard that they're going here. I could be wrong. Don't go posting it to Screamscape, because I don't want to be held accountable for my own mistake. Exposition hall...way. Get it? It looks like a...never mind. One question you might ask me is: "A.J., where on Main Street do you work at?" Lately I've been *performing my role* at the Main Street Confectionary, known to "civilians" as a "candy shop". Normally, the Confectionary is the building that most people see first as they walk under the railroad tracks and onto Main Street. That's not the case right now. The first thing you see when you walk onto Main Street is this: A facade with big beige walls in front of it. Because the Confectionary looks like it's under construction, a lot of the general public thinks that the Confectionary is closed. It is most certainly not closed. Unfortunately, because of that and that we're in an off-season, the Confectionary has not been raking in very many guests. Do you really think the general public thinks there is an entrance to the Confectionary in this hallway? Do you really think coaster geeks would know this either? Important questions! Now that I was distracted by construction, I completely forgot about the birthday button and got on the Walt Disney World railroad to check on the Fantasyland construction. Guess what? I got distracted again! Hooray! No sign of Roger Rabbit ANYWHERE?!? Lame-sauce! If you have been sitting in a cave for the past month (or all your life), you probably haven't realized that Mickey's Toontown Fair is on its way out. So, as a lovely parting gift, I have done you all a kindness and given Toontown Fair a nice and hearty last photo trip report hurrah. So, I'll shut up for now, and let the pictures and captions speak for themselves. Kids' play area themed to Chip and Dale. Apparently grown adults act like little kids? Maybe someone should put up a huge disclaimer in white text so that people will know that members of a certain message board have a sense of humor. Too...much...sun...no wonder Donald is moving. If he would stay there any longer, we'd be able to eat him! Apparently this is where Mickey Mouse lives. Apparently his meet-and-greet is in the Toontown Judges' tent. No use for the house then. Minnie has her own house too? I thought I saw a figurine in Uptown Jewelers that inferred that she and Mickey were married. WHO LIED TO ME?!? The Barnstormer - the only piece of Toontown Fair that ISN'T being rap...I mean scrapped. The scenery around it will be removed and replaced, but the credit is staying. Good news if you haven't gotten your Barnstormer credit yet. Goofy can't ride a horse. Goofy can't use a credit card. Goofy can't fly a plane. But he does make good candy! I tried very hard, but I couldn't find this station on my FM radio. Anyone know what it is? Another artsy shot attempt. Pass? Fail? Leave the country? Don't trust Pete with your car. He'll eat chocolate in it, leave the wrappers, and drag race it against a Ferrari 458 Italia. See ya real s...*CRUSH* My opinion on Toontown Fair is this - it's well-themed and the atmosphere is great, but it doesn't look like Walt Disney World put a lot of effort into making it. I'm liking the Fantasyland expansion more and more. Speaking of which: OVER THE FENCE construction shot! Don't say I don't love Theme Park Review. I waited in line for 45 minutes to get on Dumbo to get over-the-fence construction shots. Thank you, thank you, and thank you. Another angle. Stupid trees! Last shot. Now, onto actual Fantasyland stuff. Apparently Snow White's Scary Adventures is out the door as well due to her cottage and the Mine Train being constructed, opening up her old ride's space for a princess meet-and-greet. So, I thought I'd share some parting shots of the ride. Hello. Goodbye. Scary Adventures not getting any love, even on its farewell tour...I think it's one of those "you'll miss me when I'm gone" things. And here we have a nice little well, which...zzzzzz...huh? What? Oh yeah, a well... Zzzzzz... As for the ride itself, I thought that it was a nice little dark ride, but that it is outclassed by the Haunted Mansion. I'm sure the mine train will be better. Now for something different: THIS. THIS. THIS. THIS. Mickey's Philharmagic could possibly be one of the best 3-D movies/shows I have ever seen, even though it lasted less than ten minutes. It was funny, it was fun, and it's also a water ride! My favorite part is [censored for potential plot spoiling]. I laughed so hard. I absolutely consider Philharmagic a must-see attraction for anyone who goes to the Magic Kingdom. Some of you probably don't agree with me, but I don't agree with some of you either. Win-win. WHY does this show only have a 5-minute stand-by? IT'S SO GOOD! Now that my Philhar-gasm is over, let's do a typical attraction showcase: Peter Pan...45 minute wait...no... Small World...25 minute wait...NO NO NO NO NO. I refuse to do Small World on anything more than a 5 minute wait. Showcase over. That was quick. As I walked out of Fantasyland toward Main Street, I heard some music. The music was for the Move It, Shake It, Celebrate It Street Party Parade. This parade is my personal favorite because whenever I'm performing my role I get to teach guests the fun motions to the parade as it goes by! I've gotten "you're awesome"s from Mickey and the Mad Hatter even waved at me once! Hee hee! This is the lead float. The parade/party's DJ is on the top, Mickey and Donald are in front, and Goofy and Minnie are in the back. The parade makes its way around center circle, and stops. Then, a party ensues for about...uhh...five minutes. MASSIVE hoards of people that I did not wish to try and drill through... To end part one of my fantastical Magic Kingdom Off-Season Tour, one more parting shot of Scary Adventures: So long, farewell...never mind. Coming Soon! PART II - Adventureland, Liberty Square, and Frontierland Kids being taken on a magic carpet ride! The Hall of Shame! The WORST puns in history! AND...Splash Mountain TESTING with its new LAP BARS! Stay tuned!

Ha! I didn't even look at the posts before this - I was asked that question yesterday.

Especially if the ride were equipped with OTSRs or overhead lap-bars (because, there is the inevitable situation that a carriage could be stuck in an upside-down position).

I would count out a Diving Machine - they may be able to fit on a small land plot, but the horizontal clearances needed for those coasters are enormous. If Hersheypark is going to design the ride in a similar manner to the other Comet Hollow/Minetown coasters, it's going to have to weave through some tight spaces.

"Excuse me, when does the 3:00 parade start?"

... MY MISTAKEZ PLZ RETURN 2 HAVNG SENZ OF HUMR TY SOZ

Off-season? What off-season? I've had walk-ons wherever I go! This is fantastic!

Not sure what the proper word is to describe these rides... Durrrr... or Derp?

UR COPYRITEZ R INVALID I WINZ HA HA

I personally don't think the lap bars will change the experience at all, other than the "no more 12-person logs" policy. I'll be heading into the Magic Kingdom as a guest next Tuesday (one day after Splash Mountain reopens) to check it out.

I applaud them for doing something different. Now, if I run out of gas after several hours of pure driving enjoyment and get stranded in the middle of nowhere, I can fold the seats down and sleep for the night!

There's nothing wrong with consistency, y'know.

Kings Island Bat? Mt. Olympus Dive to Atlantis? All of Hard Rock/Freestyle Music coasters? I love this game!

What about Spiral Coaster/Sky Plaza Comet? I think that coaster would fall into this category. Or an Ultratwister outside of Japan (or even the all-forward one IN Japan). Or Galaxy Express 999 just because it's the only articulated-train launcher Intamin has ever made (right?).

Loading and capacity shouldn't change much IMO - there are just as many single-person rows sent as there are three-person rows sent.

I was merely referring to the stereotype that Engineers are wicked smart but have no common sense. I fit that stereotype, and I have for most of my life. Don't judge me! A traditional lap restraint (U-bar or T-bar) is anchored at the level of the riders' feet, and moves up and away from the rider when unlocked. An "over-head" lap restraint is anchored where a shoulder harness normally would be anchored. Bars that come down from the anchor secure the rider in laterally, and the lap restraint is attached to the bars. When the restraint is unlocked, it moves up vertically, but it stays relatively in the same space horizontally. This design allows the trains to safely navigate inversions because A) the riders are secured laterally and B) if the restraint comes a bit loose the riders are still somewhat secured at the lap. For example, blue fire Megacoaster at Europa Park - Restraints Unlocked Restraints Locked They're essentially shoulder harnesses without the shoulders. DISCLAIMER: I am not an expert! Don't think I am one, I am only comparing the placement of where the restraint anchors!

In an attempt to rectify my mistake somewhat, I figured out the reason why it's safe is because the lap bars are over-head as opposed to U- or T-bars. If the over-head lap bars come loose a little bit, riders are still safe through inversions because the bar's position gets horizontally closer to their lap as it gets vertically higher. Same reasoning behind Blue Fire too. I'm an engineer - I'm smart and stupid at the same time!

Resist the urge... Resist the urge... Put flame-proof gear on... Now that I watched the video again, I hear them! While they might not be hitting the bolts and just the insanely tiny gap between each track section, there's still a little bit of...something.

HA HA HA HA Florida has had a giant themed test track for over twelve years.

^^ Oh, sure. My Mac drive only takes DVDs, so I'm automatically satisfied with DVD quality no matter what!

I don't have a Blu-Ray player. I have an Apple TV and I stream everything, usually streaming movies from my Mac. I would much rather have a higher-definition download than a Blu-Ray Disc.

Congratulations. Honestly, I thought this whole project was a big fat fail. Once again, I'm wrong. What's going to happen if I start thinking new projects are awesome? Will they turn out dreadfully bad?

It seems like it was built to a height constraint - like "you can only build it at a maximum of _ height above the terrain".

THAT would be grand as well.