Tweet
G-Fan and I ventured into the MK today on one of my long-delayed "Quality Control Walks" to check out the TDL-wannabe parade version of the old same shoe. Of course, we were stunned to find the MK so empty today... but then we realized it was due to the holly roller crowd taking over the MK tonight for Nights of Joy, which meant the MK was closing promptly at 6pm. No big deal..
Of course, both G-Fan and I agree the Snowglobes parade is much improved by TDL's current Parade of Dreams music. However, this parade is still a long way from being TDL-quality but hey...that's what tourists get for being just that. I was also happy to see the float that killed Pluto (the Princess float that looks like a Godzilla-size wedding cake) was back in action. But could someone please finally retire the old and tired Tencennial Parade castle float that appears in virtually every parade the MK does thru the year???
I was much surprised by the fact that much of the Castle's Happiest Celebration stolen from DL Park decor has already come down, with some minor details still up.. like the HUGE revolving castle window. See this photo taken with my cellphone:
http://albums.photo.epson.com/
j/AlbumIndex?u=4334673&a=32295536&f=
Also, a portion of Peter Pan's building facing the Columbia Harbor House was also under tarps.. with painted building facade which make these renovation necesities look more presentable. Such is the case with TDL's castle which is also undergoing some renovations AGAIN, after the summer season. As for the MK's castle... I am glad it is getting it's former look back for a change and I hope this is the last time we see some silly overlay on it for many years to come. Of course.. with most of the "bling" gone..comes the harsh reality that lies beneath.. the castle is simply in major need of new paint job and color, but I am sure that will come later on... hopefully before december.
As for the rest of the MK.. G-Fan and I rode POTC again.. and found it a bit improved. For some reason, the audio soundtrack was much more audible to the naked ear as I could finally comprehend clearly the new dialogue coming from the classic character scenes. I even found the last Depp AA in the jail scene to be somewhat improved... as if they had positioned the character in a more accessible way to the audience... but then again, I may be imagining this. However, I did notice the new booming sound of the cannons in the battle scene gone and the jumping water effects absent. Also, there seemed to be a prevailing detergent-like foam floating on the water for practically the entire lenght of the river throughout the ride. What's up with that?
Finally, with a very slow MK, comes the very obvious poor state of most walking surfaces thru the entire park, most visibly and jarring in the Frontierland and Liberty Square areas. However, with lesser crowds, the MK overall was cleaner than normal. Yet, the same old problems persist... water spills from most vending carts selling drinks, spray water bottles, and everywhere they have a huge can filled with ice for refrigerating purposes or in areas below water fountains. This creates unsightly mildew and microflooding problems.
One more thing... while the custodial cast had their job cut out for them due to low crowds... I have come to the realization that most guests are impaired in the use of trash cans. For some reason, many guests seems to discard their trash ON TOP OF the trash cans, rather than deposit them INSIDE the trash cans. This makes for more unsightly occurrences thru the park itself. C'mon people!! Get it together and discard your trash properly!!!
Finally, with the entire west side of Main Street USA opened for (retail) business..and after the renovations done to the former Magic Shop/Sports shop locations... now you can walk from the Emporium end of the Street, all the way to the Coke Corner stand and feel like you have walked thru a HUGE and LONG version of the Emporium. There is simply no variety in there at all! Just as fine since they sell the same KB Toys quality garbage in every shop.. something OLC seems to be doing just as well in TDR as of late.
Anyways, It was in all an enjoyable few hours at the MK.
Of course, both G-Fan and I agree the Snowglobes parade is much improved by TDL's current Parade of Dreams music. However, this parade is still a long way from being TDL-quality but hey...that's what tourists get for being just that. I was also happy to see the float that killed Pluto (the Princess float that looks like a Godzilla-size wedding cake) was back in action. But could someone please finally retire the old and tired Tencennial Parade castle float that appears in virtually every parade the MK does thru the year???
I was much surprised by the fact that much of the Castle's Happiest Celebration stolen from DL Park decor has already come down, with some minor details still up.. like the HUGE revolving castle window. See this photo taken with my cellphone:
http://albums.photo.epson.com/
j/AlbumIndex?u=4334673&a=32295536&f=
Also, a portion of Peter Pan's building facing the Columbia Harbor House was also under tarps.. with painted building facade which make these renovation necesities look more presentable. Such is the case with TDL's castle which is also undergoing some renovations AGAIN, after the summer season. As for the MK's castle... I am glad it is getting it's former look back for a change and I hope this is the last time we see some silly overlay on it for many years to come. Of course.. with most of the "bling" gone..comes the harsh reality that lies beneath.. the castle is simply in major need of new paint job and color, but I am sure that will come later on... hopefully before december.
As for the rest of the MK.. G-Fan and I rode POTC again.. and found it a bit improved. For some reason, the audio soundtrack was much more audible to the naked ear as I could finally comprehend clearly the new dialogue coming from the classic character scenes. I even found the last Depp AA in the jail scene to be somewhat improved... as if they had positioned the character in a more accessible way to the audience... but then again, I may be imagining this. However, I did notice the new booming sound of the cannons in the battle scene gone and the jumping water effects absent. Also, there seemed to be a prevailing detergent-like foam floating on the water for practically the entire lenght of the river throughout the ride. What's up with that?
Finally, with a very slow MK, comes the very obvious poor state of most walking surfaces thru the entire park, most visibly and jarring in the Frontierland and Liberty Square areas. However, with lesser crowds, the MK overall was cleaner than normal. Yet, the same old problems persist... water spills from most vending carts selling drinks, spray water bottles, and everywhere they have a huge can filled with ice for refrigerating purposes or in areas below water fountains. This creates unsightly mildew and microflooding problems.
One more thing... while the custodial cast had their job cut out for them due to low crowds... I have come to the realization that most guests are impaired in the use of trash cans. For some reason, many guests seems to discard their trash ON TOP OF the trash cans, rather than deposit them INSIDE the trash cans. This makes for more unsightly occurrences thru the park itself. C'mon people!! Get it together and discard your trash properly!!!
Finally, with the entire west side of Main Street USA opened for (retail) business..and after the renovations done to the former Magic Shop/Sports shop locations... now you can walk from the Emporium end of the Street, all the way to the Coke Corner stand and feel like you have walked thru a HUGE and LONG version of the Emporium. There is simply no variety in there at all! Just as fine since they sell the same KB Toys quality garbage in every shop.. something OLC seems to be doing just as well in TDR as of late.
Anyways, It was in all an enjoyable few hours at the MK.
Comment