jedimaster1227

My next WDW park on my list of visits was to Animal Kingdom. During this trip, I rode Kilimanjaro Safaris for the first time since I rode it on opening day (way back when I was in first grade and Rainforest Cafe was so cheap that they wouldn't give us ketchup for free). I do have to say that hte safari isn't as good as Rhino Rally, but it was still fun. We rode Everest and passed by the new Theater in the Wild featuring the new Finding Nemo show. Also, in the photos I have a few exciting extras (like a progress update on MGM's Midway Mania ) So...Now that I have covered Animal Kingdom, all that is left for me is MGM! Meet the magnificent "Tree Lady!" Pink Flamingos in Africa? Elephants anyone? Our guide told us that this Baoyobob Tree was 1000 years old. Is Animal Kingdom 1000 years old too? We didn't want to wake the hippos... Our guide was really good today! A friendly cast member waves to me from across the station at Kilimanjaro Safari. Stephanie decided to get a picture with the Duck from Tailspin. All I know is that he has a giant cleft in his chin that bugs me! Who is this? This is the Christmas tree at the front of Animal Kingdom. Where is the love for the Jews? I'm not liking this... The new sign at the front of the Lake Buena Vista entrance to WDW has been updated to inform guests about the Year of a Million Dreams.

Well, I be will happy to meet you, as I am at Epcot at least twice a month and I normally see Soren when I am there- So, the more the merrier! Congradulations! Just PM me when you get to Orlando and we will set something up.

Ryan's home-made Vekoma might work. You'd have to ask to borrow it though...

Classic! Truly classic (#14 I mean...)

One of my dreams has come true. Heres to hoping that they will come out with some sort of frequent visitor pass, because I will be going alot. The one thing that I hope doesn't happen is that the show remains the same for over ten years (I know I am getting ahead of myself here). Cirque de Soleil has been open for a good while and very little of La Nouba has changed since its opening.

I really do love your part about Ryan and also the one about Dan! I can't wait to see more, because you have to have Guy and Kim featured in your next!

Here are the rest of the photos from yesterday... As we were walking back to our car, we found Herbie in the parking lot. One last shot of Spaceship Earth before I go. I just thought this was a cool shot. I am the commander! Wes...This is my tribute to you! I got to have my first breakdown on Mission:Space last night. Right after Hypersleep ended, the screens shut off and then turned back on saying "This flight simulation has been interupted, please wait for a ride operator to help you out." The pods landed

Last night, my parents suprised me by getting seasonal passes to Disney for themselves (so that they can go with me to Disney as much as I do- which is at least once a week). We went to Epcot for some more Food and Wine Festival goodness. I also got to see the new post-show exhibit at Test Track, along with a visit to Soren and my first breakdown on Mission:Space. Enjoy! (Comments are always welcome!) One last shot of the entrance to Fuel for Thought. If not that future car, then this one will do just fine! This is my future car right here! Fuel for Thought The exit to the post-show has a long chain of video screens that finish off your lesson about alternative fuels. Here is the underside of the SUV during its process video. Different knobs and switches are on each of the pods like this, showing a different process of a hybrid vehicle. As hard as it is to see from this picture, a video is projected onto this pad. This monitor is attached to the front end of the underside of a hybrid SUV. As the video plays, the processes of the vehicle light up in syncronization with the command. Going back to the Edutainment tradition of Epcot, Fuel for Thought provides an interesting look at the world of alternatively fueled vehicles. After riding Test Track, I figured I would take a look at the new exhibit that took the place of Dreamchasers. The sign has been updated and the flowing water has been restored. The only problem is that the water is overflowing from its pond and spilling into the walkway near Universe of Energy. Wonders of Life is getting ready to reopen for a 5 week period. Lights were on inside and everything was operating, but the pavilion itself was closed to the public. No visit to Epcot is complete without visiting our resident member, Soren!

Thanks! Yesterday, I was able to make my way over to Epcot and they have started to get their decorations ready. I now have the photos up here.

^ Unfortunately, they aren't managing fine. The park itself is in bankruptcy due to the damages brought by the three hurricanes that inspired the title of "Triple Hurricane" and legal aspects of the insurance claims for said damages. The park itself isn't in a location that attracts many, nor does it have enough advertisements to get guests to spend the 30-45 minutes to drive out to Winter Haven. I don't see how Cypress Gardens can afford to assemble the Starliner, considering that they still haven't paid the debt they owe to the construction company that dissasembled it in the first place. The project is so far behind schedule-as it was planned to open in January of 2007. If they are to announce this project, I think it will take much longer to be completed, due to less money being pumped into the construction. All of the park's other coasters took a few days to assemble compared to what the Starliner will require. But, I guess we will just have to see what the 9th brings. My thoughts on this is that we Orlandonians will be having a great day on the 9th, because not only will we get an announcement from Cypress Gardens, but we will also get an announcement from Universal (most likely related to the new Blue Man Group show that will be added to our resort).

Yesterday, I was fortunate enough to make my way back to the Magic Kingdom for some afternoon/night time goodness. But, a trip to the Magic Kingdom wouldn't be complete without a bunch of photos. Enjoy! This is the best view in the park! Mainstreet at night is nice, but not as nice as it is at Disneyland. You Californians have one up on us Floridians there! The castle does look great at night! Fireworks! Guy would be doing his Beavis impression right about now! A five minute wait on Buzz is nearly impossible. The park must be closed! It is now after hours at the park, and Tomorrowland is virtually empty! Now this might not be the Hidden Mickey of the day, but it is the Hidden Jew. He definitely has the Russian-Jewish nose! It is now official. Jews have infiltrated every aspect of society, even Disney. (Yes, I am Jewish.) I can actually see the Cinderella's Table restaurant! It looks pretty nice next to the crane. But I would probably chose to eat on the crane first. "Mirror Mirror on the wall, who Disney park in the world is the best of them all?" (I'm hoping that it is Tokyo DisneySea!) Tomorrowland still looks wonderful. We will be back here later tonight. It is Christmas in November. Now you know that we are in Disney... The castle looks brand new now. I had forgotten what it looked like without the 50th celebration decorations. It really is a pretty (and large) castle. Take that California!

This is a really great (and heart warming) trip report! Great job! All I can say, is that I didn't look that happy at Disney when I was that young.

^ As I have said, it is still the best I have heard! Another perk of going was being able to hang out with Ryan, and of course, seeing him denied by the Mummy on stilts. That was a classic moment of the day!

^ "Fire, Fire Fire!" when we were walking up into Jurassic Park, and then on the River Adventure where the sparks were- more "Fire, Fire, Fire!"

I swear the Power Rangers must have been alot more cool when I watched them (way back in the day), because these ones just look lame. Nice TR though! Did you see the electrocuted people on the left elevator shaft during your drop sequence this time?

Join the TPR crew for a few days while your there. It is guaranteed to be an experience you will never forget. Or... ...it might be an experience you will want to permanantly erase from your memory. Either way, it would be an experience. Whether you remember it or not. I can attest to that, and I was only with the group for one day. I thought it was a memorable experience. In fact, it has made me even more giddy in anticipation for the 2008 Summer trips, as I hope to go on one that year. I got to have plenty of time with Ryan, Guy, Robb and Erik's wife. I also got to talk with everyone else including Dave and Elissa. Everyone was extremely welcoming and within the first few minutes, my feeling of being an outsider went away. But, I guess that could also be attributed to Guy's fire noises at the beginning of the day (still the best Guy)!

Its not even the restraints. The corkscrews are so loose and you go through them so slowly that you can't help but be in pain the entire time. Plus, the drop comes so quickly (at least from the back) that you hurt you rear on the landing.

Its worse than an SLC. Lets just say that... My ears still hurt from my ride three weeks ago!

I'm not judging on how smooth the rides were. I actually found Cypress Gardens to be a pretty big let down. None of the coasters were on par with anything else I have ever ridden. Triple Hurricane was extremely short, extremely dull and lacking in the charm that most wooden coasters possess. Gwazi actually has all of the things that Triple Hurricane lacks: Airtime, excitement and the creeky and bouncy charm of a wooden coaster.

^Python is one of them. Racer at PKI Swamp Thing and the Triple Hurricane at Cypress Gardens

The Racer- Paramount Kings Island Python- Busch Gardens Africa (soon to be history)

Kraken- My brother dragged me on the ride and about half way up the lift hill, I realize that there is more to the ride than what is visible from the queue (basically, I missed a vertical loop and a batwing). I basically cursed out my brother for the first time in my life we went up. I told him that he was going to kill me, I was gunna die and that he should burn. Of course, I didn't mean that (this was back when I was still a non-coaster enthusiast, in fact, far from it). After the ride, I was so happy that I enjoyed it, we went back on 20 more times that day. Sky Shot- I had wanted to ride it for a while, so on my last day before school, my parents gave me the choice of what to do with the family for the day. We did SkyVenture first and after our flight, we stopped at Magical Midway and I got in line. Once in the car (alone, since everyone else in my family are not as insane as I have become), I was lowered into the launch tube with smoke coming over the top so I couldn't see the sky. I thought to myself that I was technically killing myself by doing it, but the "You only live once..." quote came into my head. I laid my head back and as I did, the car flung forward. That was basically the only time I have greyed out on a thrill ride-even though it was amazingly fun and amazingly painful at the same time. At the end of the ride, I stopped screaming and failing my legs. Due to this, my parents (looking from the ground-up) thought I was either unconcious or dead. I landed down and laughed my head off as my legs tried to gain enough strength (and blood) to support my body weight. It truly is and will be one of the most memorable and insane "I'm gunna Die" moments I will ever have.

Not saying that the Python doesn't deserve to go (because its time is definitely up), this is the first and only permanent corkscrew coaster Florida has had (I say permanent because we have had some come with fairs). Floridians are losing their one corkscrew coaster- but to me, its a needed loss.

Michael Jackson (Or has that been done?) Robb and Elissa Coaster Sooper Dooper Looper Scooper Kim Possible Gravity Grid (Guy would like this one)

While the Cop Car Chase looked like a fun ride, I can't resist the urge to get wet and then dry off on a Stargate themed Simulator. I love Stargate!